| Apple: Snow Leopard release in Q1 2009 |
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Oops. Jordan Hubbard, Director of Apple's Unix Technology Group, made a boo boo. The slide above was pulled from the deck presented last week at the LISA (Large Installation System Administration) conference. Up until now, Apple had only been willing to say that OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard would be ready "in about a year" -- that was back in early June at WWDC. You just know that this will have Steve fuming given Apple's tight control over information. One thing is perfectly clear: the race is on for both Redmond (rumored to be shooting for a mid-2009 Windows 7 launch) and Cupertino, nobody wants to be second with their next gen OS release.[Via MacRumors]Read -- Presentation [Warning: PDF]Apple: Snow Leopard release in Q1 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/19/2008 5:23 PM (6h 43m ago) |
| Iomega external hard drive asks for your MacBook Air's hand in marriage |
| | (Credit: CNET)
The eGo Helium drive from Iomega really loves your MacBook Air and would like to respectfully ask for its hand in marriage.
You see, the two were virtually cut from the same cloth and share an uncanny amount of similarities. From their subtle gray chassis (off topic: what'... |
| | 11/18/2008 5:37 PM (1d 6h 29m ago) |
| Apple iTunes content throwing HDCP flags on new MacBook / MacBook Pro |
| | Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Laptops
Man, you just can't win these days. So Apple offers up an energy-efficient, forward-thinking Mini DisplayPort on its latest MacBook / MacBook Pro, and now users that are still rocking displays sans HDCP-compliant HDMI / DVI ports are up fecal's creek without a paddle. Apparently select content in the iTunes Store is laced in HDCP, which isn't all that unexpected in and of itself; the problem comes in when you realize that the new unibody machines don't offer a VGA / VGA-to-component output, meaning that you have to connect it to an HDCP-compliant display if you want to see anything. We know, one word in particular keeps coming to mind to describe this fiasco: awesome.Apple iTunes content throwing HDCP flags on new MacBook / MacBook Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/18/2008 5:32 PM (1d 6h 34m ago) |
| Apple Issues Fix for Unrecognized Clicks on Glass Trackpads |
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As promised by Steve Jobs, Apple has issued a Trackpad Firmware Update to owners of the new MacBook and MacBook Pros:This firmware update addresses an issue where trackpad clicks may not be recognized on MacBook (Late 2008) and MacBo...
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| | 11/18/2008 5:29 PM (1d 6h 38m ago) |
| Apple Incorporates HDCP (Copy Protection) in New Laptops |
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Apple's new unibody notebooks appear to incorporate a version of copy protection known as HDCP. HDCP is most well known for preventing unauthorized copying across HDMI but is also used for the DisplayPort which is found in Apple's new MacBoo...
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| | 11/18/2008 5:28 PM (1d 6h 38m ago) |
| Apple Releases Safari 3.2 with Improved Security, Anti-Phishing |
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Apple has released a new version of Safari 3.2 through the Mac OS X Software Update. The latest version of Safari provides improved security as well as protection from phishing websites:This update is recommended for all Safari user...
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| | 11/17/2008 12:18 AM (2d 23h 48m ago) |
| Friday Favorite: ShareTool |
| | Filed under: Software, Friday FavoriteAnother Friday Favorite, our weekly opportunity to get all sloppy over our most-loved applications.
If you have an always-on Mac at home, a decent upstream connection and another Mac anywhere outside of your home network, you might find ShareTool to be as useful as I do. It allows you -- with an amazing degree of simplicity -- to access your Bonjour services on a remote machine as if you were still within your home network. It does this over an SSH encrypted connection (and also automatically sets up a proxy for secure web-browsing over the tunnel). Yes, you can get some of these benefits with a simple SSH tunnel, or you could set up a VPN using HamachiX, but the simple fact that ShareTool "Just Works" makes it my favorite choice for everything from screen sharing to iTunes streaming.
I use ShareTool on a Mac Mini, with an Airport Extreme Base Station on a connection that gets about 800k average upload speed. iTunes streaming is flawless, and remote drive access is as good or better than just using SFTP. Setup is as simple as choosing a port (defaults to 22, the standard SSH port) to share on and hitting "Share" on your home Mac. After that, you can set it to start at login, and begin sharing on launch. Then, on your remote machine, you just need to enter an IP or domain and the port, and the rest is automatic. You can select which Bonjour services to enable or just go for broke and enable everything. I've got a static IP these days, but services like No-IP and DynDNS work great if you have a dynamic IP address. ShareTool can even handle updating the dynamic IP service for you, so you don't have to run any daemons.
ShareTool is provided by YazSoft, and a free trial is available for download on the main page. The pricing structure requires a license for every computer, and a pair of licenses costs $30USD (5 for $75USD). YazSoft provides free updates within a major version number (1.x customers get all 1.x updates for free). If... |
| | 11/15/2008 6:42 PM (4d 5h 24m ago) |
| Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air? |
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AppleInsider claims that Apple has been looking into replacing aluminum parts with carbon fiber parts in an effort to make the MacBook Air even lighter than it presently is.Apple enthusiastically claimed ownership to the world's thin...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:15 PM (6d 6h 51m ago) |
| Apple Focusing on MobileMe Improvements in Latest 10.5.6 Builds |
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Apple is still hard at work on the next version of Mac OS X 10.5.6 according to published reports on the hmbt.org.
The latest Mac OS X 10.5.6 (9G35) build appears to focus heavily on testing of MobileMe syncing features for notebook ...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:15 PM (6d 6h 52m ago) |
| Apple Likely to Offer Black Friday Sales |
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Barclay's Ben Reitzes safely predicts that Apple will offer Black Friday sales this year, including $100 price reductions on "at least a few Mac models". Apple has regularly participated in sales on the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday") for a...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:14 PM (6d 6h 52m ago) |
| Parallels 4.0 Promises Significant Performance Improvements |
| |
Parallels has announced the immediate availability of Parallels 4.0. Parallels allows Intel-Mac users to run Windows alongside Mac OS X.
The latest update to their Windows-virtualization software for Intel Macs promises new perform...
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| | 11/11/2008 8:33 PM (8d 3h 33m ago) |
| Software Fix for MacBook Pro Trackpad Issue "Coming Soon" |
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Earlier this week, a number of complaints emerged about a trackpad issue found on the new MacBook Pros. PCPro.co.uk relays one customer's experience:"Every 50 clicks, my trackpad will stop responding for five to clicks," reports one...
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| | 11/06/2008 7:37 PM (13d 4h 29m ago) |
| Your Macbook is too classy to be wrapped in neoprene |
| | Hard Graft's "Held" Macbook Case(Credit: Hard Graft)
While everyone else is rushing out to their local Apple store to buy a mass-produced, cookie cutter case for their new Macbooks and Pros, try to resist the urge and instead look around for something a bit more unique, like the newest "Held" Macbook cases from Hard Graft.
Although they're definitely gender neutral, I personally think this case looks like it was pulled directly off the set of a 1960s James Bond flick. It's actually designed to mimic the look of a leather shoulder holster pressed against a fine wool suit; the entire sleeve is wrapped in a thick heather gray felt with ivory herringbone elastic straps that keep your laptop safe and secure. Of course, all the Hard Graft distinctions are in place as well, including their signature external pocket made from dyed European cow leather and matching pull tab inside.
Hard Graft's "Dapper" iPhone Case(Credit: Hard Graft)
The Hard Graft Shop Window also features cases for your phone (several brands and styles are represented), iPod, Moleskine, eBook, and car keys. Even a foldable mouse pad is available through the site, and at a very affordable price. iPhone cases are only $60 and the "Held" case for your Apple laptops start at $115; not bad, considering Hard Graft strives to only use sustainable materials built independently in Austria in a "medieval Schloss surrounded by vineyards and apricot orchards." No joke, that's what it says on the page! And best of all, imagine how proud you'll feel when you break this baby out at the airport next to a sea of sheep staring drearily at their cookie-cutter neoprene laptop cases. More pictures after the jump.
... |
| | 11/06/2008 7:33 PM (13d 4h 33m ago) |
| AT&T: Tethering Coming to the iPhone Soon |
| | Here’s a bit of cheery news from the Web 2.0 Summit: AT&T Mobility President and CEO Ralph De La Vega just told interviewer Michael Arrington that the company is working with Apple to let the iPhone serve as a tethered wireless modem for laptops soon. And he says it’ll be available “soon.” |
| | 11/06/2008 7:32 PM (13d 4h 34m ago) |
| Pingdom posts insight into latest Mobile Me outage |
| | Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, MobileMeDespite the server-side updates Apple detailed last week, the company's beleaguered Mobile Me service is still problematic for many users. Yesterday, we received a number of e-mails complaining that Apple's Me.com domain was reporting 404 errors. Today, the fine folks at Pingdom.com (which monitors website uptime), posted some details about what was going on.
It appears that there was an issue with the Me.com redirect. If a user directly typed in http://me.com/mail, he or she could successfully access the server. Trying to access the Me.com domain, however, led 404 HTTP error response with the words "Not Found: Resource does not exist," appearing on the page. This outage lasted nearly seven hours, from 2:29 AM EST - 9:25 AM EST on November 3, 2008. Because the outage occurred at night in the continental United States, most affected users were from Europe, where the outage lasted for most of the work day.
If this was a simple redirect error (which it appears to be), why did it take seven hours to fix? My guess is that no one at Apple was alerted to the problem until someone came into work at 6:00 AM PST and started seeing error request e-mails or had problems accessing the domain.
This is a problem. If Apple is truly dedicated to making Mobile Me a service it can be "proud of by the end of this year," the company should really consider having either dedicated 24-hour Mobile Me IT support (or more support) or figure out a way to resolve errors like this in a more timely matter. Redirect errors or glitches are not uncommon, but any company trying to run an international communications service needs to get on the ball.
Despite my vocal misgivings about the service, before it even launched, I signed up for a 60-day trial in early July -- so I could "eat my own dogfood" -- as they say. And even though my service was extended for free until December, I canceled in September. Why? Because the service proved it wasn't reliable enough... |
| | 11/05/2008 10:05 PM (14d 2h 1m ago) |
| Apple releases Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.3 |
| | Filed under: Software UpdateApple just released an update for RAW camera support for Mac OS X Leopard, Aperture 2, and iPhoto '08. With this new update, the following list of RAW-format cameras are supported:
Canon EOS 50D
Nikon D90
Sony DSLR-A900
Nikon Coolpix P6000
Apple also notes that this update "addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability." You can download this update by opening up Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by downloading the installer package from the Apple Support downloads site.Thanks for the tip, Tony! Apple releases Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/05/2008 10:04 PM (14d 2h 2m ago) |
| Apple: No New Products Before Holidays |
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Apple has issued a statement to Macworld clarifying that there are no plans for any new products before the holiday season."Our holiday line-up is set," Apple spokesman Bill Evans told Macworld.This announcement squashes circulat...
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| | 11/04/2008 8:49 PM (15d 3h 17m ago) |
| Apple to Benefit Further from Dropping Flash Memory Pricing |
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Forbes reports on Apple's "secret weapon" that has helped keep its earnings well above expectations: falling NAND-flash memory prices. And according to Forbes, there are no signs that this trend will abate anytime soon.Tech tracker ...
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| | 11/04/2008 8:46 PM (15d 3h 20m ago) |
| Enjoying a laptop that “simply works better”: the new MacBook |
| | “After months of reviewing Windows desktops and laptops,“ exudes Josh Quittner (time.com), “I put the new $1,600 MacBook through its paces — and it was like returning from a backward country where nothing works only to find your homeland is even better than you remembered.”
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| | 11/04/2008 12:46 AM (15d 23h 20m ago) |
| New MacBooks and MBPs can handle up to 6GB of RAM |
| | Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBookIs it just me or is it pretty mindblowing what Moore's Law is doing to our computers these days? I remember when 64mb of RAM was great, and even a few years ago, I wondered why anyone would ever use 1GB of RAM (I've got 2GB in my gaming PC, and I still almost think it's too much). But apparently TidBITS has been doing some testing, and they've discovered that not only can the new MacBooks hold 4GB of RAM as Apple recommends for a limit, but stuffing a whopping 6GB in there is possible and doable. There are two DDR3 slots in the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, and they come with either 1GB or 2GB in each DIMM slot.TidBITS says you can switch out one of those 2GB DIMMs for a 4GB, and voilà, as long as they're the same speed and type, apparently almost everything is hunky-dory. TidBITS says there are two drawbacks: one, that dual-channel architecture requires identical DIMMs, so that's out if you're running a 4GB and 2GB configuration. Plus, it'll cost you an arm and a leg, especially if your leg is priced at around $600, which is what a 4GB stick runs. Even the DDR2 is pricey at that level (then again, if you don't like memory prices, just wait about five minutes, because that's basically how often they change).And for some reason, there's an issue with running two 4GB sticks in there (for a total of 8GB), but TidBITS surmises that may be fixed by the time Snow Leopard rolls around. Personally, I'd love to see a program that needs 6GB of RAM -- maybe a high end 3D modeler or a financial simulator of some kind. But it's good to know that if you really need that much memory (and have the cash to spend on it), there you go.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/04/2008 12:42 AM (15d 23h 24m ago) |
| Netflix Watch Instantly for Mac Now Live (for Beta Users) [Netflix Watch Instantly] |
| | As we reported last Sunday, Netflix Watch Instantly was "coming soon" for Mac users. Well, coming soon is today, dear readers. If you're into being a beta user, head over to Netflix to opt in at the sign in page, and give her a try. Of course, there are a few things to understand before you start streaming. You'll need to download Microsoft's Silverlight; and Netflix is imposing a six machine limit (PC, set top, whatever). Additionally, not all movies are available for viewing through the Silverlight player. Still cool though. Bye-bye DVDs?[Venture Beat]
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| | 11/02/2008 11:14 PM (17d 52m ago) |
| MacBook Airs Arrive, Unboxing Photos |
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The new version of the MacBook Air has arrived and one reader has posted unboxing photos to Flickr. Another forum member has also received the latest MacBook Air.
Apple revised the MacBook Air during their October 14th media e...
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| | 11/02/2008 2:06 AM (17d 22h ago) |
| Microsoft releases Office 2008 update to fix Entourage issue |
| | Filed under: Software, Bugs/RecallsHow long is two weeks? If you're vacationing someplace warm and sunny, it might seem to pass in a flash; if you're in bed with the flu, it probably seems like a lifetime. For Office 2008 users who got bit by a bug in the recent 12.1.3 update, chances are the latter assessment is more on target. Those who ran the 12.1.3 update and met a particular set of criteria (Entourage users connected to Exchange + a secondary POP or IMAP account for personal email) found themselves unable to send calendar invitations or reply to meeting requests. The most straightforward fix was a rollback to the 12.1.2 version; otherwise, using a webmail client or Outlook was the best way to manage calendars. Not fun.Two weeks, though, is what it took for the Mac Business Unit to get a tested patch out the door that resolves this problem. Today, Product Manager Andy Ruff announced on the Mactopia support forum that Office 2008 12.1.4 is now available for download (16 MB, requires 12.1.3 installed), billed as follows:This update fixes a calendar issue in versions of Microsoft Entourage that were updated with the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update. The issue prevents Exchange accounts in Entourage from sending meeting invitations and responses. This issue can occur when an Entourage identity is configured with more than one mail account. We strongly recommend that all Entourage users who installed Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update install this update.While this particular fortnight may have been difficult for Entourage users, I will say that this is definitely the fastest response to an Office bug that I have ever seen from the Mac BU; in terms of the development cycle on a suite as large as Office 2008, it's an eyeblink. Kudos to the MBU for its quick action; now, the next prudent PR step is a little bit of transparency about why this bug -- which should have been fairly obvious to anyone who tested with both Exchange and POP accounts configured in the... |
| | 10/31/2008 3:42 PM (19d 8h 24m ago) |
| New MacBooks and MacBook Pros Support Up to 6GB |
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ZDNet points out that memory sales company Ramjet has published on their website that the recently MacBook and MacBook Pros can support a maximum of 6GB of RAM. This configuration is possible with the use of one 2GB and one 4GB stick.
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| | 10/31/2008 3:40 PM (19d 8h 26m ago) |
| Apple Details Ongoing MobileMe Upgrades |
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Arstechnica points to a new support document which details many changes that Apple has implemented into the MobileMe site in late September. Apple points out that since MobileMe is a server-side service, updates occur transparently to all users of t...
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| | 10/30/2008 3:51 PM (20d 8h 15m ago) |
| New MacBook offers “speed in a stylish but compact design” |
| | “If you’re considering a small to midsize laptop of any kind or operating system,” suggests Ken Mingis (computerworld.com) in his review of the new MacBook “you really owe it to yourself to look these over before deciding.” He calls the new MacBook “the most solid-feeling laptop I’ve ever used,” one that “ exudes a feeling of solidity every time you pick it up, turn it on and type on it.” |
| | 10/29/2008 5:48 PM (21d 6h 18m ago) |
| Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Cocoa Finder and 64-Bit Changes |
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With the broad seeding of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, a few more details have been revealed about the direction Apple is going with Snow Leopard. According to the seed notes, Apple is migrating more towards Cocoa (rather than Carbon) and continues ...
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| | 10/29/2008 5:48 PM (21d 6h 19m ago) |
| NVIDIA-based MacBook Airs Now Shipping |
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Multiple readers are reporting that the new version of the MacBook Air that was announced on October 14th is now shipping.
The new MacBook Air uses the new NVIDIA-chipset which includes the GeForce 9400M graphics processing unit (GPU)...
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| | 10/29/2008 5:47 PM (21d 6h 19m ago) |
| Apple Releases iPhoto 7.1.5 Update, Improves Printing Services |
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Apple released a small update to their iPhoto application. The new version brings iPhoto to version 7.1.5 and offers improvements in the printing service:This update improves the printing quality of books, cards and calendars ordere...
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| | 10/28/2008 6:03 PM (22d 6h 3m ago) |
| Netflix Video Streaming for Mac Begins Testing |
| | Netflix, Inc., the world's largest online movie rental service, today announced it has begun the deployment of Microsoft Silverlight to enhance the instant watching component of the Netflix service and to allow subscribers for the first time to watch movies and TV episodes instantly on their Intel-based Apple Macintosh computers. The deployment, which will initially touch a small percentage of new Netflix subscribers, is the first step in an anticipated roll-out of the new platform to all Netflix subscribers by the end of the year. |
| | 10/27/2008 11:37 PM (23d 29m ago) |
| Apple Seeds Snow Leopard 10A190 (Mac OS X 10.6) to Developers |
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Apple has seeded a new version of Snow Leopard (Build 10A190) to developers this morning. Last night they had emailed ADC members that a preview build of Snow Leopard was made available to them, but the download links were not live until this mornin...
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| | 10/27/2008 7:47 PM (23d 4h 19m ago) |
| Netflix wants Mac owners to watch movies, too |
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If you're a Netflix customer and you use its Watch Instantly streaming service, well, you're probably used to not having a lot choices as far as which movies you can watch. And if you're a Mac user, you're used to not being able to use the ... |
| | 10/27/2008 7:38 PM (23d 4h 28m ago) |
| More Apple Notebook Details: Clickable Glass Trackpad, GPUs, Pricing |
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Daring Fireball confirms the leaked MacBook Pro photos from earlier this evening and adds some intriguing details about the new notebook.
Specifically, Gruber confirms that the new MacBook Pros will have "buttonless" trackpad which is ...
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| | 10/14/2008 8:33 PM (36d 3h 33m ago) |
| Apple Announces New Aluminum MacBooks |
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At their Notebook Media event today, Apple announced two new MacBook models which have adopted new all-metal enclosures, improved graphics performance, and glass Multi-Touch trackpads.?Apple has invented a whole new way of bu...
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| | 10/14/2008 8:33 PM (36d 3h 33m ago) |
| Apple unveils 24-inch LED Cinema Display designed for new MacBook family |
| | The new LED Cinema Display features a stunning 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with built-in iSight video camera, mic, and speakers in an elegant, thin aluminum and glass enclosure. Available in November for $899, the LED Cinema Display includes an integrated MagSafe charger, three USB 2.0 ports and a new Mini DisplayPort.
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| | 10/14/2008 8:32 PM (36d 3h 34m ago) |
| Apple introduces new MacBook family |
| | The new MacBook family redefines notebook design while dramatically lowering the entry price for advanced notebook features, including all-metal enclosures, pro-performance notebook graphics, brilliant instant-on LED-backlit displays, and new large, glass Multi-Touch trackpads. The industry’s greenest notebooks, the entire MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold, and RoHS environmental standards. Starting at $1,200, the new MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro are shipping now.
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| | 10/14/2008 8:32 PM (36d 3h 35m ago) |
| Apple schedules laptop event for Oct. 14; leaked photos abound |
| | Filed under: Rumors, Other Events, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Our sister site Engadget received an invitation for a town-hall event in San Francisco about new Apple notebooks, featuring an image of what could be hinting at possible new aluminum enclosures for 13-inch MacBooks.
tw.apple.pro purports to have images of new aluminum cases for the MacBooks. Judging from the height of the ports (and if the photos are authentic) the new MacBooks could be significantly thinner than their predecessors.
In related news, AppleInsider claims to have confirmed that a widely-circulated spy-shot is indeed one from Apple's next generation of MacBook Pro, but is not fabricated from a single "brick" of aluminum, as 9-to-5Mac said.
The top case, however, appears now to include the ports, rather than having them integrated into the bottom case. (This could make case disassembly easier.) The port arrangement appears to include many more ports on the left side of the bottom case, much like the current MacBook.
Combined with earlier images of the back of the LCD and bottom case, the design retains much of the same look that MacBook Pros (and PowerBook G4s before them) have had since January 2001.
Apple's notebook event is scheduled for next Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific time (1 p.m. Eastern). Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/12/2008 6:38 PM (38d 5h 28m ago) |
| Apple releases Security Update 2008-007 |
| | Filed under: Software Update, Security
Apple released Security Update 2008-007 for Mac OS X Leopard and Tiger users today. The update addresses many specific areas of the Mac OS, including: Apache, ClamAV, CUPS, Finder, and more. A full list of the areas affected by the update can be found on the Apple support website. The update is available for the following systems:
Client systems running Leopard
Server systems running Leopard
Client systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Intel)
Client systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (PPC)
Server systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (PPC)
Server systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Universal)
You can get the update by downloading the installer package from the Apple support website, or by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update). Continue reading for a change log for this update.Continue reading Apple releases Security Update 2008-007Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/12/2008 6:37 PM (38d 5h 29m ago) |
| Apple Migrating to NVIDIA Chipsets in new MacBooks |
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Appleinsider reports that they have "confirmed" that the new MacBooks will utilize NVIDIA's new MCP79 platform. While Intel will continue to supply the main processor for Apple's notebooks, the underlying support chips will be made by NVIDIA: |
| | 10/12/2008 6:34 PM (38d 5h 32m ago) |
| Apple Document Confirms MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008) |
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Apple has published a support document (PDF) specifically for the "MacBook/MacBook Pro (Late 2008)" models. Besides the name, the document is not especially revealing. It appears to be a service document when replacing the display on the new...
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| | 10/12/2008 6:34 PM (38d 5h 33m ago) |
| Apple.com, a retrospective |
| | Filed under: Internet, Apple History
TUAW reader Tyler noticed that Google is celebrating its 10th anniversary by digging up its searchable archives from 2001. He took a peek at some Apple history and shared the find with us. The archives dip into the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, which I decided to use to dig up a series of archived Apple.com sites. You can surf all the way back to 1996 ... a land where Apple was still Apple Computers, the rainbow apple was still in effect, and web pages were all stuck to the left side of the screen.
According to Wikipedia, the Apple.com domain was registered in 1987 (and hacked in '97, as a marginally NSFW prank). Unfortunately, the Internet Archives only go back to '96, so that's what we're working with (if you, for whatever reason, have an image of the Apple website in the late '80s, please do make my day and send it in). Also according to Wikipedia, the 1987 registration made Apple.com the 64th oldest .com domain. These wiki-facts may or may not appear on this semester's final exam.
In addition to being a fun trip through web design history, it's a good refresher on the Apple timeline. Revel in the release of the iPod, iTunes 3, and the blazing-fast 700 Mhz iBook. In the process, you'll gain a full appreciation for the current refresh of the Apple site. If you want to save some surfing time, check out the gallery of some gems from my dig. Of course, intrepid Apple explorers can venture into the cave and see for themselves.
Thanks, Tyler!
Gallery: Apple.com retrospectivePermalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/09/2008 4:13 PM (41d 7h 53m ago) |
| Are Apple Laptop Updates Still on Track for October? |
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With the October 14th date quickly approaching, some are speculating that it may be too late to expect an Apple event to be held on that date. That's not to say that Apple can't release new laptops without a media event.
Most of App...
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| | 10/09/2008 4:11 PM (41d 7h 55m ago) |
| Apple to Launch an $800 Laptop? |
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The Inquisitr claims that some Apple retailers have already been given price lists for Apple's upcoming laptops and that there are 12 price points ranging from $800 to $3100. Current laptops are said to have only have 8 retail price points: 3 Macbo...
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| | 10/09/2008 4:10 PM (41d 7h 56m ago) |
| Apple's Notebook Marketshare Growth and High Margins |
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Joe Wilcox of Microsoft-Watch analyzes the latest notebook marketshare data from the NPD Group. He specifically looks at the revenue breakdown and Apple's long term decision to compete at the high-end market for notebooks.
Despite A...
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| | 10/01/2008 3:44 PM (49d 8h 22m ago) |
| Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.5.5 |
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After weeks of developer seeds, Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.5 to customers. The latest upgrade to Leopard is available through your Mac OS X Software Update. The 10.5.5 Update is recommended for all users running Mac O...
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| | 9/16/2008 4:24 AM (64d 19h 42m ago) |
| Macworld San Francisco 2009 Registration Opens |
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IDG World Expo has announced that registration for Macworld San Francisco 2009 (MWSF) has opened for attendees.
Macworld San Francisco is an annual Apple-focused expo taking place between January 5th-9th, 2009 and at the Moscone Center...
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| | 9/12/2008 3:56 PM (68d 8h 10m ago) |
| Buy a Mac, get Office at 30% off |
| | Filed under: Software, Deals
Until September 8th, you can buy Office for 30% off with the purchase of any Mac at Apple resellers. Visit this Microsoft Promo Page and choose "Save Now".
Students can get additional discounts by purchasing Office with academic pricing. This Student Pricing page offers tips about ongoing student discounts that aren't limited to the September 8th cut-off.
A cheap copy of Office ... what more could you want?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 9/06/2008 7:38 PM (74d 4h 28m ago) |
| Apple Continues Mac OS X 10.5.5 Seeding (9F32) |
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Apple is continuing its steady stream of developer releases of the next version of Mac OS X 10.5.5 with a new version seeded to developers just last night.
The latest version (build 9F32) provides more minor fixes but continues to have...
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| | 9/06/2008 7:28 PM (74d 4h 39m ago) |
| Final Cut Express 4.0.1 released |
| | Filed under: Software, Video, Software Update
Final Cut Express owners, check Software Update because FCE 4 has just been updated to 4.0.1. The detailed (and I'm serious, for Apple especially, these are detailed) release notes go over what is new and what has been added, but here are the highlights:
Permission issues resolved - There was an issue on Leopard systems where FCE 4 would not open a project if it contained media that the user didn't have permission to access. This has been fixed.
Tons of AVCHD improvements - There are now Easy Setup options for the AVCHD format/codec and better support for AVCHD cameras.
Improved plugin support and stability
You can download the update from Software Update.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/29/2008 10:33 PM (82d 1h 34m ago) |
| Apple patent filing details touchscreen tablet |
| | Filed under: Tablet PCs
Trying to divine what Apple's up to from patent applications is never easy, but every now and again the diagrams actually make it obvious -- and it looks like Steve and his elves are hard at work on large-format touch interfaces, possibly for a tablet Mac of some kind. The latest touch-related filing is some 52 pages long and details everything from working with multiple finger inputs to onscreen keyboards how window controls would work, but we're mostly transfixed by the claw-like demon-hands that seem to be operating all this kit -- apparently Apple engineers have the same nightmares as the rest of us. If we had to bet, we'd say that a tablet Mac is still a long ways off, but we've been wrong before -- and there's always a chance Steve's got something wild in store for next month.[Via AppleInsider]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/29/2008 10:27 PM (82d 1h 39m ago) |
| My Favorite Mac Apps: Erica's Take |
| | Filed under: SoftwareSo Victor comes to us and says, "Quick, what are your favorite apps?" Without pausing to breathe or think, the words "OfficeCreativeSuiteQuickeys" tumble out of my mouth. That's because these are the three software packages for Mac that I cannot live without. These three apps are where I spend 80-odd percent of my working life.
By the time I can pause and reflect, I realize that I have picked three apps that provide the least Mac-like user experience. With all the rich and beautiful OS X software landscape out there, I've picked the plain but reliable dinosaurs. They're ugly. They're ported (at least Photoshop and Office are). They work.
This isn't to say that I'd change my list upon further thought. Between Word, Excel, Illustrator, Acrobat, Photoshop, and Quickey's Macros (so I rarely have to actually touch a mouse, eek), these packages get the job done. Throw in the equally ugly Eudora mail program (the original, not the almost unusable open source update that's floating around) plus Apple's cadre of less beautiful utilities, namely Terminal, Safari and TextEdit, and we're talking maybe 90% of my work time.
Sure, I've used Apple's Mail, Preview, iPhoto, iWork, Pages and so forth but I always end up going back to the more capable name-brand power-houses. The user experience might not match the slick Apple software but my efficiency goes way way up.
As for the built-in Keyboard prefs or QuickSilver, QuicKeys gives me all the programming control I need for creating and executing my macros. If I'm going to do a job more than once, I'm probably going to write a macro, whether it's sorting my mail or writing my TUAW posts.
In the end, I'm really happy with my paleo-software. One of the big reasons that I'm still (still!) using my 733 G4 Mac as my primary computing machine is that I know I'll have to re-buy these programs should I switch fully to Intel-based computing.
Instead, I'll hang with my favorite dinosaurs and keep getting the job done... |
| | 8/28/2008 7:41 PM (83d 4h 25m ago) |
| Mac OS X 10.5.5 9F23 and New Safari 4 Seeded to Developers |
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Apple has seeded yet another version of Mac OS X 10.5.5 (9F23) to developers on Friday as well as a new version of Safari 4.0 Developer Preview, according to AppleInsider.
The latest Mac OS X 10.5.5 seed came just days after the previo...
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| | 8/25/2008 9:34 PM (86d 2h 32m ago) |
| MacBook Air Software Update 1.0 |
| | About MacBook Air Update: Ultrathin, ultraportable, and ultra unlike anything else. But you don’t lose inches and pounds overnight. It’s the result of rethinking conventions. Of multiple wireless innovations. And of breakthrough design. With MacBook Air, mobile computing suddenly has a new standard. What’s New in this Version: This update is recommended for all MacBook Air computers, and addresses issues with video playback and processor core idling. Third-party software that modifies processor operating characteristics such as frequency and voltage is not supported and should be removed before installing this update. For information on this update, please visit this website: About MacBook Air Software Update |
| | 8/23/2008 9:23 PM (88d 2h 43m ago) |
| Apple tops customer satisfaction survey |
| | “The latest rankings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) show that Apple has dramatically outpaced its rival computer makers in the hearts of U.S. consumers,” reports Asher Hawkins (forbes.com). The ACSI survey “ranks Apple at 85” out of 100, “11 points above the computer-maker industry average.” In fact, “Apple’s rating is also an all-time high for the computer industry.”
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| | 8/21/2008 3:09 PM (90d 8h 57m ago) |
| Fantasktik taskbar app for Leopard |
| | Filed under: Software, Odds and ends
Fantasktik is a taskbar app for Leopard that makes it easy to see what windows and applications are open, and to switch between them. Dockland Software, the developer of Fantasktik, announced in a press release today that the app is available for US$9.99 through the end of September. On October 1st, the price rises to US$14.99.After installing Fantasktik, a small taskbar appears either just below the menu bar or just above the Dock -- you can set the location from System Preferences. The taskbar shows all of your open applications and windows in small icons, and by hovering your cursor over the icons you see a preview of the window contents. The preview is powered by Core Animation and provides a look at all open windows for an application through a MultiTouch-like interface called Click and Slide. You can minimize the Fantasktik taskbar by clicking one of the small buttons on either end, and double-clicking an application icon collapses or expands all window icons associated with that app.Fantasktik requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. A 15-day free trial is available from the Fantasktik website.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/20/2008 12:32 AM (91d 23h 34m ago) |
| Apple Accelerates Mac OS X 10.5.5 Seeding (9F17) |
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Apple has accelerated the Mac OS X 10.5.5 seeding with build 9F17 delivered to developers last night. The latest build still lists no known issues and provides fixes for iCal, Mail Sync, Back to My Mac and Core Animation.
While diffi...
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| | 8/19/2008 5:27 PM (92d 6h 39m ago) |
| Apple Provides 60 Day Extension to All MobileMe Subscribers |
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Apple has sent out emails to MobileMe subscribers tonight revealing that they are extending all MobileMe subscriber accounts by 60 additional days:We have already made many improvements to MobileMe, but we still have many more to mak...
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| | 8/19/2008 5:27 PM (92d 6h 39m ago) |
| AppleInsider: Mac OS X 10.5.5 hits 9F13 |
| | Filed under: OS, RumorsAppleInsider reports that the Mac OS X team is squashing ever more bugs, and has released version 10.5.5 build 9F13 to developers. Unlike prior builds, Apple released it without any known issues.
The article notes that Apple has made 115 corrections to Mac OS X code as a part of the 10.5.5 update. Improvements to power management, mail sync, preferences sync, networking, firewall, kernel, file system, and the Mobile Me preferences pane are all expected to be included.
AppleInsider expected that the update would be released to the public in "the coming weeks."Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/15/2008 2:01 AM (96d 22h 5m ago) |
| Ten ways OS X rocks |
| | Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, OS, Software, Cool toolsSmashing Magazine does a good old-fashioned "why OS X is so much better" piece -- ok, well they're not that blatant (it's actually focused on the "top ten usability highs"), but with all of the iPhone/App Store news going around, it's kind of refreshing to see some nice, traditional Mac praise.So why is OS X better than other (*cough*Windows*cough) operating systems? Metaphors play a huge part -- when you use a Mac, you're not just browsing through files or using plugins, you're flipping through what look like album covers, or pulling up a "Dashboard." And everything is extremely intuitive -- it's clear upon first look at the screen what does what or where to find certain features of the operating system.Every system has problems, and OS X is no exception. But using it day to day, OS X definitely gives out all kinds of "wait, it was that easy?" and "just works" moments. And that's why we're such big fans of it in the first place.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/15/2008 2:00 AM (96d 22h 6m ago) |
| MacBook Air with Penryn launch imminent? |
| | Filed under: Laptops
File this rumor under the "sure, that makes sense" category. Granted, PhoneNews may not be the go-to source for Apple rumors, still, the site's reputable enough to at least give this one a listen. It claims that national retailers have been alerted to an imminent announcement of a new revision to the MacBook Air. More specifically, PhoneNews claims that the MBA will move away from the stop-gap, 65-nm Intel processor dusted-off special for Apple (and now Voodoo's Envy 133) in favor of Intel's latest "standard" 45-nm Penryn processor. If true, then we're talking about possible clocks ranging from 2.26GHz to 3.06GHz (up from 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz), a 1,066MHz FSB (up from 800MHz), and appreciable increase in CPU power draw to 29W (up from 20W). We can also expect better GMA X4500 integrated graphics assuming Apple adopts the Centrino 2 chipset. To offset the potential degradation in mobility, PhoneNews asserts that Apple will beef-up the battery and replace the 45W MagSafe adapter with a 60W version like those found with existing MacBooks. With this rumor and all the others related to Apple's lineup of MacBooks, we wouldn't be surprised to see Apple announce some kind of special media event sometime soon.Update: It's worth noting that Intel also plans to release a few low and ultra-low voltage Penryns in a 22-mm package (same as now) around the September timeframe. Though these would decrease, not increase, the power draw as described by PhoneNews.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/14/2008 4:19 PM (97d 7h 47m ago) |
| Microsoft Office 2008 updated to version 12.1.2 |
| | Filed under: SoftwareEarlier today, Microsoft released the 12.1.2 update to Microsoft Office 2008, downloadable via MS Software Update and from the MS website. The 160 MB update requires Office 12.1.1 and, in addition to security fixes, resolves several bugs. The hit list includes two of my personal annoyances: Word's sluggish launch speed and Entourage's insistence on truncating URLs after the ampersand character. The full list of changes is in the continuation of this post.Installed the update? Let us know if you see any dramatic performance changes, gotchas or improvements.Thanks to Erik Schwiebert for the heads-up (and best wishes from TUAW for a speedy recovery).Continue reading Microsoft Office 2008 updated to version 12.1.2Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/14/2008 4:44 AM (97d 19h 22m ago) |
| Apple market value exceeds Google's |
| | Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple FinancialDigital Daily, part of the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital site, is reporting that Apple's market value is now greater than that of Google. The current market capitalization of Apple is US$159.37 billion, squeaking by Google's market cap of US$157.56 billion. Next in Apple's sights ought to be the old man on the block, IBM. Their current market value is around US$170 billion. It may take a while for Apple to catch up with Microsoft, though -- at the present time MSFT is worth about US$255 billion.What's your take on when Apple will overtake IBM? I'm betting on April 1st, 2009.Financial information from Forbes.comRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/14/2008 4:41 AM (97d 19h 25m ago) |
| New Apple Cinema Displays Finally at MWSF 2009? |
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Readers interested in new Apple Cinema Displays may have to wait just a bit longer.
Apple has not significantly updated their Cinema Displays in years. Apple currently offers 20", 23" and 30" monitors at $599, $899, and $1799, respe...
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| | 8/09/2008 9:32 PM (102d 2h 34m ago) |
| Apple Seeds Mac OS X 10.5.5 (9F9) |
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Apple has seeded developers with a new version of Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F9) to test. The latest seed comes just one week after the prior seed.
The newest seed lists 24 ne |