Friday, February 29, 2008
First Look: ScreenFlow, screen capturing
Every Mac comes with the Grab program, which can capture images of the screen that are helpful for showing others how a certain program should look or what users should see after choosing specific commands. Unfortunately still images cannot always show the complete story, just as viewing a photograph is less enthralling than watching a movie. To fi... [ Full story from MacNN | The Macintosh News Network ]
Office 2008's first update is for updating the updater
Filed under: Software
Even though the Mac BU is targeting March 11 as the ship date for the first official update to Office 2008 (12.0.1), there's groundwork to be laid and preparations to be made. It's in that spirit of watchful readiness that we note the appearance this afternoon of Microsoft's AutoUpdate 2.1.1 updater, available through... well, through Microsoft AutoUpdate 2.1.0, part of the base Office 2008 install. After that, you know, it's turtles all the way down.
Other than the criticality of the update and that it's 2.0 MB in size, we don't know much else, but it's safe to say that this updater updater is a prerequisite for the rea l updater coming soon. As an Entourage 2008 user who is suffering consistent crashes each time the main window is closed and auto-reopens, I'll count myself among those eager for some fixes as rapidly as possible.
Thanks KyleRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments
MenuCalendarClock
We celebrate this 29th day of February with a demonstration of a special calendar-appropriate Mac Gem: a calendar program! In this case, it’s ObjectPark’s MenuCalendarClock for iCal. [ Full story from Macworld ]
iPhone 1.1.4 unlock guide, package manager
A Mac-only guide describing how to jailbreak Apple's iPhone 1.1.4 and SIM unlock the device has surf... [ Full story from iPodNN | The iPod News Network ]
Apple extends iPhoto discounts
Apple extended an iPhoto book and calendar promotion one week due to errors in its online ordering system. [ Full story from Macworld ]
iPhone 1.1.4 unlock guide, package manager
A Mac-only guide describing how to jailbreak Apple's iPhone 1.1.4 and SIM unlock the device has surfaced alongside a graphical user interface port of the Debian APT package management system for iPhone. The new guide, posted on IntoMobile, takes users step by step through the process of jailbreaking -- or gaining filesystem read/write access -- the... [ Full story from MacNN | The Macintosh News Network ]
KeynotePro releases Om '08 for Keynote
KeynotePro today released OM '08 for Keynote, a new theme for Apple's Keynote '08 presentation software with a new framework and new master slide options. OM '08 for Keynote features a bold new color/type variation, according to KeynotePro. "The OM themes have been completely overhauled for the transition to Keynote '08, producing a whole new gener... [ Full story from MacNN | The Macintosh News Network ]
Apple Stores to host Guitar Hero III tourneys
Apple Stores around the U.S. will be featuring Guitar Hero III tournaments in March. [ Full story from Macworld ]
In-depth look at Apple’s new 45nm Penryn-powered MacBook and MacBook Pro
For the past couple of years Intel has been on this tick-tock model of CPU releases... [ Full story from MacDailyNews ]
1,000 rentals? Not yet
Apple promised 1,000 rentals by the end of today. Looks like another February promise may be fulfilled in early March. [ Full story from Macworld ]
PayPal advises Mac users not to use Safari
PayPal is warning users that they are better off using an alternative if they want to avoid fraud... [ Full story from MacDailyNews ]
PayPal: Steer clear of Apple's Safari
If you're using Apple's Safari browser, PayPal has some advice for you: Drop it, at least if you want to avoid online fraud. [ Full story from washingtonpost.com - Personal Tech ]
Engadget tries to fry an egg on Penryn MacBook Pro
Filed under: Hardware, Macbook Pro
OK, they didn't really try to fry an egg. But for those of us using those first searing-heat MBP's, you'll be happy to know the Penryn MacBook Pro's are a little cooler (temperature-wise anyway). On average, about 10° F cooler, and the fans run slower and quieter. Sorry if this kills any MacGuyver-esque plans of using Penryn laptops as emergency griddles.For a much more detailed analysis of the Penryn advantages, check out the Engadget post, complete with X bench tests and a flavorful grid with all the analysis.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
NY TImes: Apple’s Aperture 2.0 offers advantages for amateurs and pros
Aperture, Apple’s photo management and editing software, was originally intended... [ Full story from MacDailyNews ]
Apple's Time Capsule Ships
Reports have been arrving from readers and staff that the Time Capsule they pre-ordered has shipped
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
1,000 rentals? Not yet.
Apple promised 1,000 rentals by the end of today. Looks like another February promise may be fulfilled in early March. [ Full story from Macworld ]
Geek Factor: Leopard power tips
MacOSXHints.com readers share their best tips for ways to squeeze the most out of Leopard. [ Full story from Macworld ]
iPodObserver - Bodog Offers Odds on iTunes Domination
The odds that Apple's iTunes will become the #1 music retailer in the U.S. in 2008 are 5:12, according to online casino Bodog. The odds that it won't are 18:11, meaning that the site is laying heavier odds on iTunes overtaking Wal-mart to become the biggest music retailer in the U.S
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
Apple Updates iPhoto for Wire-Bound Books, Cards
Apple updated iPhoto to version 7.1.3 Friday. According to the sparse release notes and the update download page, the new version simply "addresses issues with wire-bound books and cards." The download is 16.9 MB, and can be downloaded through Software Update, or from Apple's support site
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
Engadget unboxes a Time Capsule
Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Apple
My Time Capsule is sitting somewhere in China at the moment, but our friends over at Engadget managed to get their hands on one, and they have even posted some unboxing pictures. They note that the device itself is a little larger than you might think it is based on looking at the pictures on Apple.com. I'm sure they will post more once they put the Time Capsule through the paces.
I'll certainly be posting my first impressions once I get my Time Capsule up and running.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Apple to exercise tight controls on iPhone SDK?
Apple will announce tight regulation of iPhone applications at its March 6th SDK event, say several ... [ Full story from iPodNN | The iPod News Network ]
Apple: iPhoto 7.1.3
The latest update addresses "issues with wire-bound books and cards." [ Full story from MacInTouch ]
Update: Boinx Mousepose 3.0
Boinx Software's cursor highlighter now includes window highlighting, audible mouse clicks, separate colors for mouse buttons, AppleScript enhancements, and more. [ Full story from MacInTouch ]
Trans Intl Adds RAM Kits for New MacBook/MacBook Pros
Trans Intl announced Friday 1 GB and 2 GB RAM modules for Apple's newly announced MacBooks and MacBook Pros. As with the company's other memory upgrades for Apple's Macintosh computers, the new modules adhere to specs required by Apple
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
Apple unearths Time Capsule
Bested by a basestation, 1TB drive and duct tape
Apple has begun shipping pre-ordered units of its wireless network-attached storage box, Time Capsule, this morning.…
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Redesigned BudCase earbud keychain ships
Extended Access today released an updated design of BudCase, its earbud keychain case made for Apple's iPhone. The BudCase is designed to provide quick access to earbuds any time on-the-go, with the latest revision boasting a lighter and more compact form factor with a slightly increased width to accommodate a greater variety of earbuds. BudCase wo... [ Full story from MacNN | The Macintosh News Network ]
Redesigned BudCase earbud keychain ships
Extended Access today released an updated design of BudCase, its earbud keychain case made for Apple... [ Full story from iPodNN | The iPod News Network ]
Update: Actual ODBC Pack 2.8e
The suite of its ODBC drivers gets full support for Leopard and for FileMaker Pro 9 External SQL Sources, along with other improvements. [ Full story from MacInTouch ]
Apple: New DevNotes
Apple posts new technical notes for updated MacBook and MacBook Pro models. [ Full story from MacInTouch ]
O2 quarter boosted by iPhone; PayPal Safari warning; iPhoto 7.1.3
O2 UK's Q4 2007 buoyed by iPhone Britain's primary cellphone carrier, O2, reported on Thursday that the iPhone was one of the primary drivers of its success in the fourth quarter of 2007. Though still refusing to confirm or deny reported sales ... [ Full story from AppleInsider ]
iPhoto 7.1.3 is ready to go
Filed under: iLife, Software Update
Fire up Software Update and you'll see iPhoto 7.1.3 which, according to Apple, "...Addresses issues with wire-bound books and cards." At least that's better than "Bug fixes."If you've been having trouble with wire-bound books and cards, it looks like the nightmare is over. If you experience any trouble after downloading this update, let us know.
Thanks, Lee!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
PayPal excludes Safari from "Safer Browsers"
Filed under: Software, Apple, Security
I've seen some very convincing PayPal phishing sites in recent years. I've also worried many times that friends and relatives less savvy in the ways of the phisher may inadvertently hand off a password or two and blame me - the one who talked them into a PayPal account to begin with - for the draining of their life savings. Thankfully PayPal shares my concern for said friends and family members and has published a guide to "Safer Browsers." Apple's Safari web browser, however, was not included in the list of recommended browsers.
This is not all that surprising, at least to anyone who's followed Safari security concerns. Despite having improved in certain areas, such as IDN spoofing, Safari still lacks some fundamental security features found in Internet Explorer (7 ), Firefox and Opera. Features such as Extended Validation certificates are heavily promoted by PayPal, despite the warnings of critics who feel that many targets of phishing scams don't notice the green background in the URL field until it's too late -- if at all. Plugins like Saft do their bit, adding a few security features too. But until Safari catches up with IE and Firefox in the area of security, it's not likely that PayPal's list is going to include the otherwise spectacular browser.
[via Macworld]
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iPhoto update fixes issues with books and cards
A new update for iPhoto addresses issues with books and cards, according to notes provided by Apple. [ Full story from Macworld ]
Forget Time Capsule—what about AirPort backups?
At last year's Worldwide Developer Conference, Steve Jobs said Leopard users would be able to use Time Machine to back up to a hard drive hosted on an AirPort Extreme Base Station. Peter Cohen is still waiting for that feature to appear. [ Full story from Macworld ]
Ted Landau's User Friendly Blog - Why a 'Roadmap'?
The more closely I scrutinize Apple's latest iPhone event invitation, the more I begin to believe that we will not actually see the SDK released next week. And it may be even longer before users have access to SDK software
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
[ Full story from The Mac Observer ]
Apple releases iPhoto 7.1.3
Apple today released iPhoto 7.1.3. The update addresses... [ Full story from MacDailyNews ]
Apple’s Time Capsule now shipping
Apple's Time Capsule, the wireless hard drive you can use to back up multiple Macs using... [ Full story from MacDailyNews ]
1.1.4 update hints at iPhone launch in Austria, too?
Filed under: Handsets, T-Mobile, Apple
'Bout time we got some fresh European iPhone launches under our belts, and it looks like we might finally know where they're going down. Italian site Macitynet tore down the 1.1.4 update, only to discover packages indicating that support for T-Mobile's Austrian and O2's Irish networks are in the cards. We now know the Irish launch is legit, and the Austrian move would make total sense considering that T-Mobile's got the iPhone locked up in Germany. Only question, we guess, is when it's going to get official.[Via Macworld UK, thanks Conan]
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[ Full story from Engadget Mobile ]Quick Tip of the Week: A reminder about To Do’s
Spend lots of time in email? Then wouldn’t it be great if you had a quick and easy way to create a convenient To-Do list when you get a message about something you need, well, to do? In Leopard Mail, you’re just a right-click away from creating a new item for your To-Do list. Find out how in the latest Quick Tip of the Week. [ Full story from Apple Hot News ]
Apple's Time Capsule Wi-Fi hard drive shipping
The solution to the problem of backing up a Leopard MacBook wirelessly is Time Capsule, a combination Wi-Fi access point and external hard drive. [ Full story from CNET News.com ]
MacBook Air patent hints future expansion
Apple has filed for several patents related to the MacBook Air that cover currently implement technology and hint at future expansion potential for the sub-notebook. Included is a patent for the collapsible port, which apparently was originally earmarked for the rear of the notebook and was to present additional options. The patent reveals that the... [ Full story from MacNN | The Macintosh News Network ]
Twitterrific 3.1 released; Iconfactory joins us live Sunday night
The shiny goodness that is the Iconfactory's Twitterrific has been officially revved to version 3.1, adding new features and bugfixes to the $14.95/ad-supported freeware Twitter client for the Mac. The new version has added 'teh snappy' to improve performance and reduce user kvetching, always an important design goal.If you've got comments or questions about Twitterrific, or indeed any of the Iconfactory's projects or products, then you'll be happy to know about this Sunday's talkcast -- IF dudes Gedeon Maheux and Craig Hockenberry will be our special guests, live at 10 pm ET March 2nd on Talkshoe. For everyone who wants to know the secrets of icon design, iPhone development or how to make things pretty, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Register at our TalkShoe page for updates and notifications (or just follow @tuaw on Twitter!).
New features in Twitterrific v. 3.1 include:
- Growl notifications are now sorted correctly and summarized
- New keyboard shortcuts and action menu on tweets
- Changing logins on Leopard will no longer hang
- Status message updates now work correctly with Adium 1.2
- Plugged memory leaks that slowed Twitterrific down over time
O2 bringing the iPhone to Ireland
As you might have heard by now (especially if you're an iPhone fan in Ireland), O2 will be bringing the iPhone to the Emerald Isle. Starting on March 14th our Irish friends can pick up a 8 gig iPhone for €399 or the 16 giger for €499. Plans start at €45 per month and all include 1GB of data per month (there is no unlimited data plan at the moment for the iPhone in Ireland).
One thing to note is that the Irish iPhone does not support Visual Voice mail, as is mentioned on this O2 page.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Time Capsule: shipping now
Filed under: Accessories, Apple
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I penned a post reassuring people that the Time Capsule would, in fact, be shipping on time (where on time is 'by the end of February'). We are now getting reports that people who pre-order the Time Capsule are receiving shipping notifications. See? Nothing to worry about.
Sadly, my Time Capsule is still being prepared for shipment, but it should ship by tomorrow. Soon I will not have to hang my head in shame when someone asks me about my backup strategy.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Apple MacBook Pro (with Penryn and multi-touch) unboxing
Filed under: Features, Laptops
We just got our 2.5GHz Penryn / 4GB fourth-gen MacBook Pro. Plenty of power under that hood, but the outward differences are few: it's got the new, reorganized F-key layout (which we're not all that fond of), and the trackpad physically the same (with the addition of multi-touch, which works just as well as it did on the MacBook Air). It's definitely an anticipated upgrade to the flagship, but whether you think the form factor's still got the longevity necessary to keep you coming back after, what, more than two years on the market with no major changes -- well, we'll leave that to you. We'll have some updated benchmarks shortly.P.S. -It includes the same model 60 Watt battery they've been selling on these for a while, for those puzzled about the battery life changes made to the Apple's MBP spec page.
[ Full story from Engadget ]