GreerMUG Mac News

AT&T executive says iPhone 3G tethering coming 'soon'

2008-11-11T01:08:00.001-05:00

Apparently this is only for the 3G models and may incur additional charges. - Tim Godby

AT&T executive says iPhone 3G tethering coming 'soon': "Speaking at a conference on Thursday, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega said that Apple and AT&T would bring tethering to the iPhone soon.

(Via Macworld.)

iPhone surpasses RAZR as top selling handset

2008-11-11T01:02:00.001-05:00

iPhone surpasses RAZR as top selling handset: "After 12 straight quarters as the number one handset among U.S. consumers, Apple's iPhone beat out the Motorola RAZR in the third-quarter to take over the top spot.

(Via Macworld.)

Podcast downloading feature of iPhone 2.2 activated in beta

2008-11-06T12:27:00.001-05:00

Podcast downloading feature of iPhone 2.2 activated in beta: "

The previously-discovered ability to download podcasts directly to the iPhone or iPod touch has been activated and is in testing now.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Steve Jobs says MacBook Pro trackpad fix "coming soon"

2008-11-05T22:50:00.001-05:00

Steve Jobs says MacBook Pro trackpad fix "coming soon": "

Getting a one sentence e-mail from Steve Jobs is the new getting a phone call from Henry Kissinger. Steve Jobs weighs in on trackpad clicking issue.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Easy iWeb Publisher 3.0

2008-11-01T19:51:00.001-04:00

I haven't reviewed this, but the idea is intriguing for those who use iWeb and don't want to maintain a Mobile Me account. - Tim Godby

Easy iWeb Publisher 3.0: "So what if you want to post an iWeb web site but don't want to pay $100 for MobileMe? This free utility does what its name says: it makes it easy to upload your iWeb site to any server.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple moving Finder to Cocoa

2008-10-18T15:37:00.001-04:00

Apple moving Finder to Cocoa: "

At long last, Apple has rewritten Finder using its Cocoa development environment for Snow Leopard, according to a report.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple has finally rewritten one of the most important applications in Mac OS X in its preferred programming environment, according to a report.

AppleInsider reports that Finder, the ubiquitous ...

(Via One More Thing.)

Report: New Apple iMacs due in next couple weeks

2008-10-18T15:16:00.001-04:00

Report: New Apple iMacs due in next couple weeks: "On the heels of last week's unveiling of a new MacBook lineup, there's now buzz about an iMac refresh in time for the holidays."

(Via CNET News.com.)

FireWire’s MacBook absence—inconvenience or fatal flaw?

2008-10-18T15:14:00.001-04:00

Hate to admit I missed this on initial inspection. I was too busy plahying with the new glass trackpad sans button and admiring the beauty of this new machine. For this editor, the lack of Firewire is a deal breaker. (Sigh) - Tim Godby

FireWire’s MacBook absence—inconvenience or fatal flaw?: "The most-talked about feature in Apple’s new MacBook may be something that’s not there—FireWire ports. Peter Cohen weighs in on Apple’s decision.

(Via Macworld.)

DisplayPort: What you need to know

2008-10-18T15:08:00.001-04:00

DisplayPort: What you need to know: "When it introduced its new laptops this week, Apple also introduced a new term to the vocabulary of Mac users—DisplayPort. Peter Cohen takes a closer look at this emerging industry standard and how it could benefit Mac users.

(Via Macworld.)

Microsoft pushes for Silverlight on G1 and iPhone

2008-10-18T15:06:00.001-04:00

Microsoft pushes for Silverlight on G1 and iPhone: "Microsoft reportedly wants to push Silverlight onto the iPhone, PC World reports.

(Via Macworld.)

OpenOffice 3.0 released, for Mac

2008-10-13T22:10:00.001-04:00

I use the OpenOffice Suite on my office PC. It is more than adequate for the majority of tasks. Where it fails most is in comparison to PowerPoint. I'll be curious to see what if any improvement the Macinotsh version makes in that regard. - Tim Godby

OpenOffice 3.0 released, for Mac: "OpenOffice.org 3.0, the first Mac-native version of the free office productivity suite, is now available.

(Via Macworld.)

Perian 1.1 just released

2008-10-01T19:31:00.001-04:00

This is an absolute MUST HAVE piece of software. Like everything Macintosh, it just works! Download it. Now. - Tim Godby

Perian 1.1 just released: "

Filed under: Software

Perian, the ultimate QuickTime plug-in, was just updated to version 1.1.1. Some of the changes in this version include:

H.264 in AVI fixed

Some anamorphic AVI files are now supported

Performance problems due to PIC fixed with Xcode 3.1

Incorrect frame skipping on H.264 intra frames fixed

Better character set detection

The update checker is now much more polite

Several parsing and rendering bugs with subtitles fixed

Player freezing while loading subtitles with embedded fonts fixed

Audio fixed for some older MKV files with AAC/FLAC

Strange values in MKV chapters or video sizes are handled better

Initial support for SAMI subtitles added

Worked around a QuickTime bug (#5770288) causing frames to be lost during export

New codecs: DosBox ZMBV, VP6+Alpha, Nellymoser ASAO

Crashing on PPC G3 fixed

Fraps decoding artifacts fixed

You can view the full change log on the support website. Perian is a free System Preference pane that can be downloaded from the Perian project website.

Thanks, Chris!

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Install Boxee or XBMC on an Apple TV

2008-10-01T19:27:00.001-04:00

The Apple TV is definitely on my wish list. This software hack is one of the most intriguing I've seen. - Tim Godby

Install Boxee or XBMC on an Apple TV: "

Filed under: Multimedia, Hacks, Apple TV

Please read the article from The Unofficial Apple Weblog.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Microsoft Adds More Perks to Live Search

2008-10-01T19:19:00.001-04:00

Imagine having to pay people to use one's search engine? - Tim Godby

Microsoft Adds More Perks to Live Search: "Microsoft has gotten some flack for the perks it has offered via Live Search to gain ground in the search advertising market, but that isn't stopping the company from launching another search-rewards offer for the distant third most popular search engine.

Wired.com

(Via Top Stories.)

Updated HandBrake encodes more than DVDs

2008-10-01T18:59:00.001-04:00

For those of you who use this. I noticed the upgrade was Leopard only. - Tim Godby

Updated HandBrake encodes more than DVDs: "A new version of HandBrake encodes videos from your hard drive, in addition to DVDs.

(Via Macworld.)

More credit for Apple

2008-10-01T18:53:00.001-04:00

My own experience with Software 2.1 has been pretty stellar. MUCH better than 2.0. My backup times have not decreased as significantly as the author's have, but overall performance is nearly back to 1.X days. - Tim Godby

More credit for Apple: "Rob Griffiths shares his thoughts on iPhone 2.1, after a couple weeks of hands-on time.

(Via Macworld.)

Royalty rate hike prompts iTunes shutdown threat

2008-10-01T18:46:00.001-04:00

Royalty rate hike prompts iTunes shutdown threat: "A proposal to raise the royalties paid to music publishers per song has led Apple to threaten to shut down iTunes.

(Via Macworld.)

Two sides of a rumor: Verizon could get iPhone in 2009

2008-10-01T18:42:00.001-04:00

Now here's something worth a read. With all the belly aching Verizon's CEO has done about the iPhone this would be more than an interesting twist. Question is, would you switch (back) to Verizon? - Tim Godby

Two sides of a rumor: Verizon could get iPhone in 2009: "

A new rumor makes a case for Verizon to get its own iPhone in 2009. Ars Technica takes a look at both sides of the story to see whether this rumor is a little too crazy, or whether it could actually work.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

September shows upward trend for Mac OS X, iPhone usage

2008-10-01T18:40:00.001-04:00

The Infinite Loop is reporting encouraging statistics for Macintosh OS X and iPhone internet use. It's still a very small slice, but it is growing. - Tim Godby

September shows upward trend for Mac OS X, iPhone usage: "

Net Applications' latest 'market share' data reveals that Macs, and even iPhones, are slowly but surely gaining ground at the expense of other operating systems on the web. September was a good month

Report: Adobe talks Flash for the iPhone

2008-10-01T18:36:00.001-04:00

Could it be?? - Tim Godby

Report: Adobe talks Flash for the iPhone: "

Our friend Jens Chr Brynildsen, a Flash expert who maintains a number of resources for the standard including Flash Magazine, has reportedly confirmed with Adobe Systems' senior director of engineering, Paul Betlem, that Flash is coming to the iPhone. However, Betlem says that 'Apple calls the shots as to when ...

Originally posted at Crave

(Via One More Thing.)

Apple drops NDA for iPhone developers

2008-10-01T18:35:00.001-04:00

From everything I've read this is a very good thing: for developers and ultimately, end users. - Tim Godby

Apple drops NDA for iPhone developers: "

Developers are now free to discuss software that has been released for the iPhone, after Apple dropped a controversial NDA requirement.

(Credit: Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

Apple has decided to end the nondisclosure agreement attached to software that has already been released for the iPhone, in the latest sign that it ...

(Via One More Thing.)

First Look: Briefcase for iPhone

2008-09-29T13:14:00.001-04:00

Impressive application and review from The Unofficial Apple Weblog. - Tim Godby

First Look: Briefcase for iPhone:

Filed under: Software, Beta Beat, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Briefcase is the latest in a flood of apps for the iPhone that let you transfer files to and from a PC or Mac, then view them on the iPhone. After using a beta for several weeks, my personal opinion is that Briefcase is the easiest of the bunch to use. So far, it's also the only app of this type to allow Wi-Fi file transfer between iPhones.

Several competing applications require running special software on the host computer, Briefcase doesn't. Mac users just turn on File Sharing in System Preferences and make sure that the iPhone and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network. A list of machines appears on the iPhone, you tap on one to connect, and once the user of the computer allows you to have access, you can browse the directories of the machine you're connected to. WIndows and Linux machines simply need to support remote login via SSH. You can also make remote connections to machines if you know the IP address and SSH port number.

When Briefcase arrives in the App Store soon, it will cost US$4.99. A free version, Briefcase Lite, just lacks the ability to zap files to other iPhones. We'll write a full review soon. Until then, enjoy the gallery.

Gallery: FirstLookBriefcase

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Ballmer on mobile: Apple will lose and we will win because 'we're separatists'

2008-09-29T13:01:00.001-04:00

From the Geniuses at Microsoft. - Tim Godby

Ballmer on mobile: Apple will lose and we will win because 'we're separatists': "Steve Ballmer has fighting words for Apple, but he keeps forgetting the party line, probably because it keeps changing."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple shares plummet 17.5 percent

2008-09-29T12:52:00.001-04:00

I'd say it's time to purchase! - Tim Godby

Apple shares plummet 17.5 percent: "

Apple's shares took a plummeted 17.5 percent in early trading Monday, as two noted brokerage firms scaled back their recommendations to a 'hold' from a 'buy.'

Apple fell as low as $105.77 a share in intra-day trading, down substantially from its close of $128.24 on Friday. ...

(Via One More Thing.)

Friday AppStore Bargains

2008-09-27T22:15:00.001-04:00

Straight from The Unofficial Apple Weblong. I purchased Equivalence. What a terrific application. - Tim Godby

Friday AppStore Bargains: "

Filed under: Deals, App Store

TUAW is totally deal-icious these days. Here's our second App Store bargain roundup of the week!

Equivalence
We went hands on with Equivalence just a few days ago and now this converter app is on sale for $1.99 until October 6th. It's normally priced at $4.99.

Fuzzle
CandyCane is selling Fuzzle for a limited time for free. The price will be going up to $1.99 at some undetermined time in the future. Fuzzle is a Jawbreaker-esque game.

FlipBook
Normally priced at $9.99, FlipBook will go on sale for Friday only for $4.99. We reviewed this application last month on TUAW.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Rumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced?

2008-09-27T22:05:00.001-04:00

From The Unofficial Apple Weblog. - Tim Godby

Rumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced?: "

Filed under: Rumors, Apple TV

We just got an e-mail from an anonymous Apple reseller, stating that they received an e-mail from Apple with instructions to remove all Apple TV displays and literature and to destroy them (which I assume means throw away the literature, send back the Apple TVs) by September 30, 2008 at 5 PM. Additionally, the e-mail says that there will be a webcast 'kick off' on September 30.

Incidentally, September 30 IS a Tuesday (and the last day of the September quarter), making all of this information, very, very interesting.

So, what does this mean? Could this potentially be the introduction of the Mini/Apple TV hybrid we've all been begging for? Is this related to the rumors of 'The Brick?'

I guess we'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out for sure. Hey, it's Saturday, so speculate away in the comments!

Addendum: In the comments and in some subsequent e-mails, we're receiving the impression that the licensing for the shows/images displayed in the literature has run out, and that the actual physical units may not be disappearing. Of course, that still leaves the issue of the webcast event on Tuesday...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Mac 101: Create Custom Email Stationery

2008-09-09T10:10:00.001-04:00

A fantastic tip from TUAW about custom Mail.app stationery. - Tim Godby

Mac 101: Create Custom Email Stationery: "

Filed under: Mac 101

Have you used Mail's stationery and thought that it was too limiting or did not appeal to your tastes? With a simple save button, you can create your own stationery to be exactly the way you want it. Just create a new Mail message, filling in the body as you see fit -- use special formatting, colors, even filler text.

When you have completed your stationery template, click File > Save As Stationery. A dialog box will prompt you to name your new creation. Enter a descriptive title and click 'Save.' Your new stationery will appear under 'Custom' whenever you click the 'Show Stationery' button in a new mail message. Clicking your template name will automatically recreate your template in the body of the new message.

This is handy for businesses or individuals who need to have custom formatted emails, and need them to be uniform each time they send them.

Like this tip? Want more? Just visit TUAW's Mac 101 section.

BestBuy starts selling iPhones, do you buy it?

2008-09-09T10:02:00.001-04:00

Posted from TUAW. I plan to check our local BestBuy for product availability. - Tim Godby

BestBuy starts selling iPhones, do you buy it?: "

Filed under: Retail, iPhone

If you are looking for an iPhone 3G to spend your money on (and who isn't), look no further than your local BestBuy. Last night, BestBuy stores around the country started selling their newly acquired stock of iPhone 3Gs. This deal between Apple and the big-box giant was most likely a strategy to relieve the long waits at AT&T/Apple Stores.

We at TUAW do have a question: Does this change your iPhone buying habits? Will you buy an iPhone at BestBuy, or will you continue to buy at the Apple Store? We want to know, so take part in our poll and chat about in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

View Poll

Microsoft Gurus are not Apple Geniuses

2008-09-09T09:59:00.001-04:00

TUAW has a humorous article about Microsoft's Guru program. Read on!

Microsoft Gurus are not Apple Geniuses: "

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple

iPhone OS 2.1 might be coming soon

2008-07-26T21:02:00.001-04:00

iPhone OS 2.1 might be coming soon: "

The new iPhone 2.1 firmware will apparently improve the iPhone 3Gs GPS performance.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

A new firmware update for Apple's iPhone 3G is said to include improvements for its GPS functions, but it's not clear whether that software will do anything to correct ...

(Via One More Thing.)

WWDC '08: Boinx + TheCodingMonkeys = BoinxTV

2008-07-06T14:27:00.001-04:00

The Unofficial Apple Weblog has an article on some new software from a collaboration between Coding Monkey's (of SubEthaEdit fame!) and Boinx. That was enough for me, but wait until you see what they have up their sleeve. Go on, read the article! - Tim Godby

Apple on how to replace an original iPhone with a new 3G iPhone

2008-07-06T14:16:00.001-04:00

Apple has a very helpful support document detailing how to upgrade an existing iPhone to the new iPhone 3G model. HT TUAW.

Technorati Tags:
3G iPhone, Apple, iPhone

Imation acquires XtremeMac

2008-06-30T12:26:00.001-04:00

Makers of some of the finest interconnect cables for all things Macintosh, it appears XtremeMac has been acquired by Imation. Please, please just leave them alone and let them do their thing. - Tim Godby

Imation acquires XtremeMac: "Imation has acquired XtremeMac, the maker of iPod accessories.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple notebook shipments up 61 percent

2008-06-27T22:17:00.001-04:00

Apple notebook shipments up 61 percent: "Apple notebook shipments surged 61 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter last year.

(Via Macworld.)

Evernote + Screencast ready for prime time and paid use

2008-06-26T07:23:00.001-04:00

Evernote + Screencast ready for prime time and paid use: "

Filed under: Software, Video, Internet Tools

Two of my preferred Mac-friendly cloud services have now made the jump to actually accepting money from subscribers, which is a good thing (really, it is!). TUAW favorite Evernote has moved from private to public beta, and Techsmith video hosting site Screencast.com is now at 1.0 release status. Both services are now offering trial/free plans alongside their premium plans for paid subscribers.

The Screencast.com site is already integrated with the free Jing Project capture tool for Mac and the pro-level (and, at least for the moment, Windows-only) Camtasia Studio app; you can also upload screencasts that you create with almost any tool you like (including ADA multi-winner Screenflow) in a variety of formats for hosting on the service. Selecting which of your screencasts to share and which to password-protect is very easy, and the service automatically sets up RSS and iTunes feeds for the folders you choose to make public.The 60-day trial account includes 200 MB of storage and a 1GB transfer limit; paid plans start at $6.95 a month.

Evernote's private beta grew to include over 125,000 users (ahem), and the new public beta includes an option for a $5/month premium user plan that increases your monthly transfer quota/new note cap from 40 MB to 500 megabytes and gives you SSL for all data, priority access to the text-recognition queues and tier 1 customer support. Plus you get a snazzy t-shirt while supplies last (pink elephants on parade!). The web interface to Evernote has also gotten a facelift, with full drag-and-drop support and an improved clipper feature. Can't say yet if they've fixed the session timeout issue that ate a long note my wife was writing last night, but I surely hope so.

In a conversation a couple of weeks back, Evernote CEO Phil Libin shared some future directions for the product with us as well as a couple of tips from his personal use of Evernote.

First, what many are waiting for will be coming very soon: a native iPhone client for Evernote (shipping shortly after the App Store opens), including one-button publishing to Evernote and location tagging for every item you create from your phone, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading you back to that favorite restaurant or bargain spot. (Phil's tip: whenever he parks his car at the airport, he takes a picture of the parking spot and sends it to Evernote to help jog his jetlagged brain.)

Second, the upcoming platform-wide features for Evernote will soon include more granular controls on publishing and sharing, a revamped Windows client, Evernote for Blackberry, and audio notes. (Phil's tip: he uses Evernote notebooks to share collections of photos or screenshots, like this accidental poetry from CNN rundown.) Later this summer we should expect to see the first public release of the Evernote API, which will permit third-party devs to add features to the service (personally I'd love to have a business card postprocessor tool, which Libin sees as a good 3rd party opportunity).

Other future features are yet to be publicly disclosed, but Libin hinted that the image-processing power of Evernote's servers may be bent to teasing out specific features of photographs. Faces? Product barcodes? Geotagged landscapes? Can't wait to find out. Meanwhile, the free Mac version of Evernote (read Brett's original review here) is downloadable at evernote.com.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Mariner ships MacGourmet Deluxe

2008-06-26T07:16:00.001-04:00

Mariner ships MacGourmet Deluxe: "MacGourmet Deluxe, an expanded version of Advenio's shareware recipe management software, is now available from Mariner Software.

(Via Macworld.)

PocketMac ‘MacTheme’ offered for BlackBerry devices

2008-06-26T07:14:00.001-04:00

Sorry, but I just love this. - Tim Godby

PocketMac ‘MacTheme’ offered for BlackBerry devices: "PocketMac MacTheme for BlackBerry lets you turn your RIM smartphone more Mac-like.

(Via Macworld.)

Logitech's Mac-only QuickCam Vision Pro fills in for iSight

2008-06-26T07:10:00.001-04:00

From Infinite Loop, a report on the first and only iSight worthy webcam replacement. - Tim Godby

Logitech's Mac-only QuickCam Vision Pro fills in for iSight: "

Logitech has released the QuickCam Vision Pro for Mac users looking for a high-quality webcam. If you have lamented the discontinued iSight, the Vision Pro might be a good substitute.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Evernote talks to Ars about public beta announcement

2008-06-26T07:08:00.001-04:00

This is intriguing web-based software. Well worth a read. - Tim Godby

Evernote talks to Ars about public beta announcement: "

Evernote flipped the switch on its public beta today, introducing a new web UI and a premium account for power users. Ars Technica interviewed Evernote's CEO about the milestone.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Microsoft updates Mac Office 2004, 2008, Open XML Converter

2008-06-26T07:07:00.003-04:00

Microsoft updates Mac Office 2004, 2008, Open XML Converter: "

If you use Mac Office 2008, Mac Office 2004, or just that pesky Open XML File Format Converter, Microsoft has an update for you. Stability and reliability are the name of the game, but there are a bunch of fixes to these software packages too.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Assisted GPS and the iPhone

2008-06-26T07:07:00.001-04:00

This Infinite Loop article answers many of the questions I've heard regarding the new GPS chip in Apple's upcoming iPhone. - Tim Godby

Assisted GPS and the iPhone: "

Assisted GPS: why the iPhone 3G may need some GPS assistance of its own.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Starbucks may end its iTunes gift card promotions in Sept.

2008-06-26T07:04:00.001-04:00

Infinite loop is reporting that Starubuck's will likely drop the iTunes free songs program. I would be sad to see this go. While I may not purchase additional music from the majority of those artists, some have been real treats and have indeed extracted real money. - Tim Godby

Starbucks may end its iTunes gift card promotions in Sept.: "

Starbucks has been rethinking its core business for some time now and has reportedly decided to stop trying to hawk so much crap onto customers when they come into the store. That means no more CDs, and no more iTunes giveaways. The iTunes Wi-Fi Store, however, can stay.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Empty Your Inbox: Gmail tips

2008-06-21T11:37:00.001-04:00

If you are a Gmail user this article has some fantastic tips. Tim Godby

Empty Your Inbox: Gmail tips: "For Gmail fans, Google's Web-based e-mail service offers lots of tricks for organizing your e-mail, clearing out your inbox, and finding e-mail messages fast. These nine tips will get you get organized now.

(Via Macworld.)

Adobe works on Flash for iPhone, as Apple looks to Sprout

2008-06-21T11:18:00.001-04:00

My friend, Matt, will consider this welcome news. I have wondered for quite some time what if anything Apple and Adobe could do about Flash and the iPhone. This article provides some clues. - Tim Godby

Adobe works on Flash for iPhone, as Apple looks to Sprout: "Adobe is still working on bringing Flash to the iPhone, but Apple may have a different plan.

(Via Macworld.)

Flaw in Apple Remote Desktop exploited via trojan

2008-06-21T10:39:00.001-04:00

ArsTechnica has an important post regarding a verified Macintosh Trojan. The interesting thing is that actually invoking Remote Desktop eliminates the vulnerability. For more details please read the article. - Tim Godby

Flaw in Apple Remote Desktop exploited via trojan: "

A verified Mac trojan is circulating on the Internet, exploiting a rather egregious flaw in a component of Apple Remote Desktop. There are ways to avoid being infected, however.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Wine pops its cork after 15 years

2008-06-19T07:59:00.001-04:00

Finally. It has taken them years to get here and the "Gold" level application support is still essentially only Microsoft Applications (and Quicken) but this is a major step forward for the Wine Project. - Tim Godby

Wine pops its cork after 15 years: "After years of despair, developers celebrated the release of the open-source Wine 1.0 software by uncorking wine bottles.

(Via Macworld.)

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th

2008-06-19T07:53:00.001-04:00

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th: "The Princess Bridge, William Goldman's classic story of true love, is now a video game for Mac, PC and Linux.

(Via Macworld.)

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th

2008-06-19T07:52:00.001-04:00

Princess Bride game coming on June 30th: "The Princess Bridge, William Goldman's classic story of true love, is now a video game for Mac, PC and Linux.

(Via Macworld.)

Ars at WWDC: Preview of OmniFocus for the iPhone

2008-06-16T10:54:00.001-04:00

Infinite Loop has an excellent interview with the Omni Group concerning OmniFocus for the iPhone.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Vista's big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it

2008-06-16T10:50:00.001-04:00

The title nearly says it all, but read on. - Tim Godby

Vista's big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it: "The OS certainly isn't helping Microsoft's popularity with developers. Can it repair the problem?"

(Via CNET News.com.)

Mariner Calc brings Excel editing to the iPhone

2008-06-16T08:05:00.001-04:00

Macworld is reporting on Mariner Calc's new iPhone version. Trusted sources tell me that one of the most significant features is the ability to have up to a million rows. - Tim Godby

Mariner Calc brings Excel editing to the iPhone: "Mariner Software is bringing its spreadsheet program to the iPhone. And with it comes the ability to edit Excel files in their native format.

(Via Macworld.)

Twitterrific will tweet on the iPhone

2008-06-16T08:03:00.001-04:00

Hard to say with certainty, but this will likely be my first AppStore purchase. - Tim Godby

Twitterrific will tweet on the iPhone: "Iconfactory is poised to launch their award-winning iPhone version of Twitter client Twitterrific.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Apple, iPhone, Software

No iTunes Activation for 3G iPhones

2008-06-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

I've been hearing this for the past few days and Dennis Sellers over at Macsimum News is reporting the news that activation for the new 3G iPhone must be done at the AT&T store. This for me is the most disappointing announcement yet regarding this new phone. Having had the pleasure of walking out of the store, phone in hand, and activating it through iTunes in the comfort of my own home I am saddened new users will not have that experience. Instead, they will be subject to the same time consuming, used car feeling experience any other phone purchase engenders. I know nothing of the inner workings of Apple's renegotiated deal that may have made this move necessary, but I am greatly disappointed. Apple and AT&T have eliminated one of the best experiences of the iPhone purchase. Here's a question. Does this mean that the 3G iPhone will not be available for purchase at the Apple Retail stores? Surely not, but how AT&T activation would be done in those locations would be interesting. - Tim Godby

Technorati Tags:
Apple, iPhone, 3G iPhone

Done in 60 seconds: WWDC keynote edited for mass consumption

2008-06-13T06:13:00.001-04:00

Done in 60 seconds: WWDC keynote edited for mass consumption: "

Don't have the patience to sit through the entirety of the nearly two and a half hour WWDC keynote? Mahalo Daily has got you covered.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

File Magnet aims to make Mac-to-iPhone file transfer simple

2008-06-12T22:33:00.001-04:00

Yet another reason why the iPhone is such a fantastic device. - Tim Godby

File Magnet aims to make Mac-to-iPhone file transfer simple: "Ever wanted to transfer files to your iPhone and then view them on the phone? Ecamm Network’s forthcoming File Magnet aims to solve just that problem.

(Via Macworld.)

MOTU adds DSP effects, mixing to FireWire audio interface

2008-06-12T22:30:00.001-04:00

These people design the most amazing products. Even if you're not an audio geek or working musician, it's worth following the link just to step through the pages for this product. Amazing. - Tim Godby

MOTU adds DSP effects, mixing to FireWire audio interface: "MOTU has released a new FireWire audio interface that features compression, limited, reverb and EQ built-in.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Audio, Macintosh, Music

An iPhone User’s Guide to 3G

2008-06-12T22:24:00.001-04:00

An exciting aspect about AT&T's implementation of 3G is simultaneous data AND voice capability! From the MacWorld article:

"AT&T’s HSPA network is designed and enabled to allow simultaneous voice and data calls. Apple confirmed in a briefing with me that the iPhone 3G can browse the Web, retrieve e-mail, and find maps, all while you’re talking (via speakerphone or Bluetooth headset, presumably). While Verizon and Sprint’s EVDO Rev. A network can technically handle both tasks, too, the companies have focused on service-at-a-time: either data or voice, not both. A Verizon spokesperson said that the company is moving towards allowing both voice and data at once."

Read on. - Tim Godby

An iPhone User’s Guide to 3G: "Apple’s latest iPhone adds support for 3G networking. But what exactly does that mean? Glenn Fleishman looks at 3G and how it will change the way you use Apple’s mobile device.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple announces Mac, iPhone design award winners

2008-06-12T22:18:00.001-04:00

The one about which I am most excited is OmmiFocus for the iPhone! I can hardly wait. -Tim Godby

Apple announces Mac, iPhone design award winners: "Apple awarded five Mac applications, 5 iPhone applications, and an iPhone web app at this year's Apple Design Awards on Wednesday.

(Via Macworld.)

What's Good for Apple Is Better for Everyone Else

2008-06-09T06:59:00.001-04:00

This article was quoted in the RSS feed so I'll include it here. Absolutely fascinating take on iPhone sales as they relate to the rest of the Smart Phone market. - Tim Godby

What's Good for Apple Is Better for Everyone Else: "

As Apple prepares to launch the iPhone 2 on Monday, competitors like Palm and RIM are not worried. On the contrary, they are licking their chops, preparing for a surge in sales, even though Apple expects to sell millions of new iPhones worldwide.

'The way I look at it is there are 1.2 billion cellphones out there, and we're just scratching the surface,' said Mike Laziridis, CEO of Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry, the iPhone's closest rival.

Steve Jobs is expected to announce the second version of the iPhone on Monday morning during a keynote speech kicking off Apple's annual Worldwide Developer's Conference.

The iPhone 2 has already been dubbed the 'BlackBerry killer.' It promises to be faster, slicker and cheaper, boasting features like fast 3-G networking, Exchange support and even carrier subsidies. If the rumors prove true, it will be the iPhone many buyers have been holding out for.

It's a standard line for companies to say they 'welcome competition,' but it's usually a throwaway meant to deflect attention from strategic vulnerabilities.

In the case of the iPhone, however, competitors earnestly have reason to welcome Apple to the market. Sales show that what's been good for Apple has been verrrry good for smartphone makers. Retail sales of the BlackBerry, for example, are up 38 percent in the year since the iPhone's introduction.

It didn't initially look that way. When the iPhone 2 rumors first surfaced, nervous investors sold off shares of RIM under the assumption that the company would get creamed by Apple. Instead, RIM's market share of smartphones in the United States has actually swelled from 35 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 45 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

'The fact of the matter is this,' said Pablo Perez-Fernandez, an analyst with Global Crown Capital. 'There were a lot of BlackBerrys in those stores where iPhones were selling, and there were people who may not have thought about a smartphone before, wanted the iPhone, thought it was too expensive, and bought a BlackBerry instead.'

And for smartphone makers like Palm, Nokia and RIM, Apple helped whet the market's appetite while they went in for the kill, helped by discounted prices and a choice in carriers.

Palm says the sell-through rate on smartphones over the last two quarters has climbed 21 percent to 833,000 units in the third (and most recent) quarter, from 686,000 in the previous quarter (although the sell-through rate was 689,000 in the first quarter).

'The Centro has played a critical role in moving our transformational efforts along at a fast pace,' said Ed Colligan, CEO and president of Palm, in a March conference call. He added that more than 70 percent of Centro buyers are traditional cellphone users who are purchasing a smartphone for the first time.

'What the iPhone did was make it cool to use smartphones,' said Ramon Llamas, an analyst with research firm IDC. 'Before, you had the BlackBerry, which mostly just resonated with enterprise users or business people. Now, there's a whole new market of smartphone consumers . Before the phone came out, I actually asked guys from companies like Nokia and RIM how they were going to respond, and the answer was unanimous -- it was, 'Welcome to the party, hop in the pool, the water's fine''

It's an odd phenomenon because it's not as though Apple invented the smartphone or any of its features – touch screen devices have been around for years and lots of mobile phones already had music capabilities on phones. What Apple did was package it -- and market it -- in a way that made it attractive to mainstream consumers.

'The fact that it looks cool and sexy has helped Apple, and has called attention to a portion of the market that had been under the radar for a lot of people,' Llamas said.

In many ways, the iPhone's effect on the market can be compared to what the iPod did for MP3 players.

Before Apple rolled out the iPod, the portable audio market wasn't doing much. In 1999, there were really only a handful of MP3-player makers and unit sales were marginal. Just a couple years after Apple rolled out the iPod in 2001, an industry was born.

Total sales of MP3 players in the United States jumped from a paltry couple million (depending on whose data you use) up to tens of millions over the last few years, as less-expensive models have become readily available.

'The combination of Apple's iPod device and its iTunes Store for music downloads has energized the music industry,' gushed a JupiterResearch report in 2003.

Now we'll have to see whether the iPhone will have the same effect on the smartphone market.

Senior Editor Dylan Tweney contributed to this report.

(Via Top Stories.)

Technorati Tags:
iPhone

PGP unveils pre-boot authentication for Mac OS X

2008-06-09T06:56:00.001-04:00

I was an early adopter of Pretty Good Privacy's email encryption products. Though I don't use them as much because so few of the people with whom I communicate wanted to fuss with Private and Public keys, I'll definitely be looking into this. If you value security on your Macintosh read on! - Tim Godby

PGP unveils pre-boot authentication for Mac OS X: "PGP has brought its pre-boot authentication to Mac OS X, protecting the entire contents of laptops, desktops and external drives.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Macintosh, Security

T-Mobile sues Starbucks over Wi-Fi deal

2008-06-08T21:42:00.001-04:00

T-Mobile sues Starbucks over Wi-Fi deal: "T-Mobile says the coffee giant 'secretly' developed a plan with AT&T to provide Wi-Fi at its cafes, despite an exclusive partnership with T-Mobile."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Avery DesignPro software released for free

2008-06-08T21:39:00.001-04:00

Might as well since much of that capability is built-in to AddressBook.app! We did a great demo of this at GreerMUG. - Tim Godby

Avery DesignPro software released for free: "Avery has released DesignPro software for the Mac, a free utility to help you design labels and other printed Avery content.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Macintosh, Software

Apple releases Brother Print Driver 1.1

2008-06-08T21:32:00.001-04:00

This reminds me of my years in Memphis, TN. -TG

Apple releases Brother Print Driver 1.1: "Apple has released Brother Print Driver 1.1, an updated version of print drivers for Brother-branded printers.

(Via Macworld.)

Sneak preview: SlingPlayer for iPhone

2008-06-08T21:25:00.001-04:00

I do not own a Slingbox, but this is an intriguing possibility. -Tim Godby

Sneak preview: SlingPlayer for iPhone: "This week Sling Media is previewing a version of its SlingPlayer place-shifting software on the iPhone, giving users the promise of the ability to watch their home TVs on their iPhones via Wi-Fi.

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Internet, iPhone

.Mac and Me rumors: TUAW inside look at Apple's next-gen service

2008-06-03T20:33:00.001-04:00

TUAW has the most comprehensive discussion yet of the rumored .Mac changes. Read on! - Tim Godby

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi at Starbucks

2008-06-03T20:28:00.001-04:00

Yes, it has. But I must report the following: my iPhone connects flawlessly. My MBP, never. Very frustrating. - Tim Godby

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi at Starbucks: "After months of waiting, AT&T's free Wi-Fi has come to Starbucks throughout the United States."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Microsoft Vows to Keep Windows XP Alive for 'Nettops'

2008-06-03T20:26:00.001-04:00

Whoa. This is a fascinating development. - Tim Godby

Microsoft Vows to Keep Windows XP Alive for 'Nettops': "The software giant says it will continue to sell and support Windows XP on low-cost computers designed exclusively for surfing the web, checking e-mail and other less-demanding tasks.

(Via Top Stories.)

Directly accessing the Downloads folder

2008-06-03T20:11:00.001-04:00

This is a great tip! - Tim Godby

Directly accessing the Downloads folder: "Sure you can ask Safari to put your files on the Desktop, but with these Downloads folder shortcuts you may not need to.

(Via Macworld.)

Manage your iTunes library

2008-06-03T19:43:00.001-04:00

This is an excellent (if short) article dealing with the advantages and complexities of storing iTunes content on multiple drives. -Tim Godby

Manage your iTunes library: "You probably have a lot of stuff in your iTunes library. Music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks can easily add up to thousands of files. iTunes is both a media player and a database, and it’s the latter feature that helps you organize all these files.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple's Web strategy all about Me

2008-06-03T19:36:00.001-04:00

This is being reported all over the Macintosh universe. Interesting possibilities for .Mac - Tim Godby

Apple's Web strategy all about Me: "

It's hard to believe that no one in the 'Me Generation' beat them to it, but Apple has apparently registered Me.com as a possible replacement for its .Mac service.

Could Me.com be Apples portal linking the iPhone and the Mac?

(Credit: CNET Networks)

John Gruber of Daring Fireball ...

(Via One More Thing.)

Third-party iPhone applications to arrive Monday

2008-06-03T19:34:00.001-04:00

Third-party iPhone applications to arrive Monday: "

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the App Store in March, and third-party applications delivered through the store should arrive Monday.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

The era of officially sanctioned iPhone applications should kick off on Monday.

That's the same day Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to take ...

(Via One More Thing.)

UK university puts lectures on iTunes

2008-06-03T19:33:00.001-04:00

UK university puts lectures on iTunes: "University College London will be the first European university to put its lecture material onto iTunes for free."

(Via BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition.)

Get your Phoenix Mars Mission fix on your iPod via iTunes U

2008-06-03T19:29:00.001-04:00

I'm a huge fan of iTunesU having listened to several university lectures, especially those from MIT. These updates from the Mars mission should be fascinating. -Tim Godby

Get your Phoenix Mars Mission fix on your iPod via iTunes U: "

If you want downloadable, iPod-ready videos of the Phoenix Mars Mission, check out University of Arizona's iTunes U. The three dozen videos posted so far should hold you over for at least a little while.

(Via Infinite Loop.)

Apple releases handy, hefty guide to securing Leopard

2008-06-03T19:26:00.001-04:00

ArsTechnica has article discussing Apple's new security manual for Leopard. It's 200 pages. Read on.

Apple releases handy, hefty guide to securing Leopard: "

Apple has released a new Security Configuration manual for Leopard. The manual is targeted at more experienced Leopard users, and offers over 200 pages of information and tips for securing Leopard client installations.

RapidWeaver 4.0 features new interface

2008-05-29T21:22:00.001-04:00

Rapid Weaver is what we currently use to post the GreerMUG site. Changes to the way RapidWeaver saves files would be one of the most significant things about this upgrade. - Tim Godby

RapidWeaver 4.0 features new interface: "RapidWeaver 4.0 is a major new release of Realmac Software's Web design software for Mac OS X, now with an overhauled user interface and many new features.

(Via Macworld.)

First Look: QuarkXPress 8

2008-05-29T21:13:00.001-04:00

I have always been a Quark fan, even when it wasn't the cool kid on the block. MacWorld has some good coverage on this important upgrade. - Tim Godby

First Look: QuarkXPress 8: "The just-announced QuarkXPress 8 offers new tools and language support that will be of interest to interactive designers, typographers and print professionals alike. Macworld UK ’s Michael Burns takes a tour of the updated software with QuarkXPress product manager Dan Logan.

(Via Macworld.)

Seagate plans SSD, 2TB hard drive for next year

2008-05-29T21:06:00.001-04:00

I won't be in the market for one of these, but the technology is fascinating. - Tim Godby

Seagate plans SSD, 2TB hard drive for next year: "Seagate will introduce its first solid-state drive storage and 2T-byte hard drive next year, the company's CEO Bill Watkins said.

(Via Macworld.)

Photoshop CS4 to include GPU acceleration?

2008-05-25T21:39:00.001-04:00

After demonstrating Pixelmator at last month's GreerMUG meeting, one of the more frequent comments had to do with how fast the application performed. Matt correctly answered the reason was because it takes advantage of the Macintosh's GPU. The following article at TUAW outlines Adobe's plans for a Photoshop upgrade to do the same.

Photoshop CS4 to include GPU acceleration?

Free AT&T laptop Wi-Fi... but not for Macs?

2008-05-23T23:44:00.001-04:00

Free AT&T laptop Wi-Fi... but not for Macs?: "AT&T extended free access to its Wi-Fi Home package of U.S. hotspots to monthly, unmetered subscribers to its broadband subscribers -- but only via Windows software.

(Via Macworld.)

Bugs & Fixes: A new solution for permissions problems

2008-05-23T23:34:00.001-04:00

Bugs & Fixes: A new solution for permissions problems: "An Apple Knowledge Base article on fixing permissions problems alerted Ted Landau to a new feature in Leopard called Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs.

(Via Macworld.)

Eye-Fi adds two new SD cards, including one with geotags

2008-05-13T22:03:00.001-04:00

The Infinite Loop has excellent coverage of two new Wi-Fi enabled media cards. This is an extremely exciting technology that once again changes the way we think about digital photography! -Tim Godby

Today 1.1

2008-05-13T21:19:00.001-04:00

I haven't had a chance to try this, but it reads like an extremely useful combination of Mail and iCal. Read what MacWorld has to say. - Tim Godby

Today 1.1

(Via Macworld.)

Google releases Vidnik video application

2008-05-13T21:14:00.001-04:00

Google releases Vidnik video application: Read the MacWorld article about Google's latest Macintosh application. Elegant, simple, useful. - Tim Godby

(Via Macworld.)

Apple says iPhone online stores sold out

2008-05-13T08:17:00.001-04:00

By now this won't be news to any of you but just in case . . .
Read full story for latest details.

View Original Article

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NBC streams Office, 30 Rock episodes in iPhone format

2008-05-10T22:07:00.001-04:00

I've visited this site with my iPhone. It's a very nice implementation. If you're an iPhone owner give it a go. Read more about it at Infinite Loop. - Tim Godby

Can Apple dance with third-party retailers again?

2008-05-10T21:28:00.001-04:00

The Infinite Loop has an interesting article (and picture from the Apple shop in Best Buy) about Apple's foray into third-party retailers. It's worth your time. - Tim Godby

Adobe fixes Photoshop Express

2008-05-10T20:55:00.001-04:00

I have really enjoyed Photoshop Express. We're demoing some of its functions at the next GreerMUG meeting. - Tim Godby

Adobe fixes Photoshop Express: "Adobe has released an updated version of Photoshop Express, its online photo sharing software, days after delaying the update because of a last-minute bug discovery.

(Via Macworld.)

Rumor: .Mac relaunch to coincide with iPhone 2.0?

2008-05-08T21:44:00.001-04:00

If you're a .Mac user/owner and an iPhone owner, you absolutely have to read this post at TUAW! I hope this is all true. - Tim Godby

OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta shrugs off X11

2008-05-08T21:39:00.001-04:00

OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta shrugs off X11: "OpenOffice.org 3.0, the free Office suite alternative, has gone beta, and no longer requires X11 to run on Mac OS X.

(Via Macworld.)

Mophie’s iPhone battery extender gets Apple certification

2008-05-08T21:36:00.001-04:00

Mophie’s iPhone battery extender gets Apple certification: "Mophie announced the release of Juice Pack, the first iPhone-compatible battery extender to be given Apple’s ‘Works with iPhone’ certification.

(Via Macworld.)

Comic Life Magiq debuts

2008-05-08T21:33:00.001-04:00

Comic Life Magiq debuts: "Comic Life Magiq is a whimsical new design and illustration software application from Plasq.

(Via Macworld.)

Tesla Motors opens doors to the rich and famous

2008-05-05T10:46:00.001-04:00

While having nothing to do with Macintosh in general, there is an interesting attribute paid to the Apple Store concept. Read on. - Tim Godby

Tesla Motors opens doors to the rich and famous: "The Roadster, an electric car with a $109,000 price tag now selling at a dealership in Santa Monica, Calif., will be followed by a roomier sedan."

(Via CNET News.com.)

Report: AT&T to sell 3G iPhone at $200 discount

2008-05-03T22:04:00.001-04:00

CNET and others are reporting a persistent rumor regarding possible pricing discounts from AT&T on Apples new 3G iPhone. You can read more about it on CNET. - Tim Godby

Mozy online backup service comes to Mac

2008-05-03T21:50:00.001-04:00

As one of the Beta testers for Mozy I can tell you the client works beautifully. The free account will limit users to choose only the most important few files but that is precisely how I use it. Do yourself a favor and give Mozy a try. - Tim

Mozy online backup service comes to Mac: "EMC has released a Mac-compatible version of its backup service MozyHome.

(Via Macworld.)

Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

2008-05-03T21:40:00.001-04:00

Macworld is reporting this (along with many others). I can confirm that current AT&T broadband customers now have free access to Greenville Starbuck's Wi-Fi spots using one's login. I will experiment further and test access on the iPhone merits alone. - Tim

Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly: "Some iPhone users have reported that the newly launched AT&T hotspots are offering free Wi-Fi access to all iPhone users, as long as you have a valid iPhone phone number with the provider. Unfortunately, the situation is not quite as straightforward as one might hope.

(Via Macworld.)

Purchase New Movies on iTunes Same Day as DVD Release

2008-05-03T21:02:00.001-04:00

Purchase New Movies on iTunes Same Day as DVD Release: "Starting today, movie fans can purchase new releases from major film studios and premier independent studios on the iTunes Store on the same day as their DVD release. New releases and catalog titles will be available from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios."

(Via Apple Hot News.)

AT&T to launch AT&T Mobile TV on May 4th

2008-05-01T10:03:00.001-04:00

I am particularly interested in the review of LG's new phone. Seems an impressive device. Still, I'd like to highlight one quote from a connecting article reviewing the phone. It reads:

"Like with the Apple iPhone, all of the navigation is to be done via the finger, and not a stylus. The navigation is definitely intuitive. It involves finger tapping to select something, and finger swiping to scroll through lists or move across a Web page. A light yet firm touch is required when navigating through the phone, but if you're still having trouble, the Vu comes with Touch Calibration software. There's even a touch-screen tutorial when you first start up the phone, which is very helpful. That said, we still had some issues when scrolling through lists--sometimes we would accidentally select something by mistake. We got used to it eventually, so keep in mind that there's a slight learning curve involved. The Vu also supports haptic feedback, which provides tiny vibrations whenever something is selected. We found this great for confirming a selection, and it is especially useful when dialing and texting."

LG Vu Cell Phone reviews - CNET Reviews

Tutorials? Firm touch? Calibration? Hmm. My iPhone requires(d) none of these. I'm not saying there can't be competing products. Good ones to boot. But it does seem evident that Apple continues to lead the way in design AND execution. - Tim Godby

AT&T will launch AT&T Mobile TV on May 4th

View Original Article

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Sun continues pursuit of Java for iPhone

2008-04-26T20:59:00.001-04:00

Sun continues pursuit of Java for iPhone: "Sun continues to pursue talks with Apple to have Java applications run on Apple's iPhone while acknowledging a third party's efforts toward the same goal.

(Via Macworld.)

Contour offers Hardskin for iPhone

2008-04-26T20:56:00.001-04:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Fine. I'll let the image speak for itself. Just remember to check it out! I'm certainly hoping to own one. - Tim

New iPhone back in black?

2008-04-26T20:40:00.001-04:00

CNET has an interesting quote from Engadget claiming the new iPhone may be all black (losing the aluminum exterior), include a GPS chip and a few other goodies. Check it out. - Tim Godby