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From the review: "CoverFlow uses the metaphor of a shelf of album covers from the very first time the user runs the application, when it “stacks†the users album covers like a pile of CDs as they are imported. The process is fast enough, importing my 250 album covers in a little over ninety seconds on a new iBook G4, but larger collections of music could easily take much longer."
Dennis Sellers at Macsimum News wrote an interesting piece on what does the UDI-HDMI connection mean for future Macs. "Apple is working with Intel on UDI. The In-Stat research says that HDMI technology is phasing out DVI, the technology used to connect the current line of Apple Cinema Displays. Obviously, changes are in store for the world of computer displays in the coming years."
Inquisitor is an InputManager plugin from David Watanabe that adds live predictive searching to Safari. This replaces the current search bar functionality with a fast live-search style drop down. As soon as you start typing your search, the list appears with possible queries.
Computerworld's Yuval Kossovsky writes: "The good news is that the MacBook Pro, which comes in two models and starts at $1,999, feels and looks just as solid and well built as its aluminum-clad predecessor. The better news is that it outperforms and is better engineered than any G3- or G4-based laptop models Apple has sold."
Rory Prior writes: "How do you get your application to launch in one or two bounces? It's pretty easy if you have a small application, with a fairly simple window layout. But what happens when you have a whole bunch of complex windows and a big data set you need to load? Here are some tips I learned while optimising NewsMac Pro's start-up performance."
Someone good at Photoshop made a MacBook mockup of 13.3-inched, thin iBook, with iSight and Frontrow. I guess it could look something like this?
Tim Gaden writes: "When Bare Bones Software launched their new information manager, Yojimbo, last week I decided to give it a go. I’ve been using it a lot and I like it."
This howto describes how to set up ftp only accounts using Apple Mac's built in ftp server (lukemftpd). This outline requires you to use the terminal, NetInfo Manager and have admin privileges on the machine in question.
Henry Norr writes: "What’s an Intel chip doing in an iMac? Almost exactly the same things PowerPC chips do in older models - just faster on some tasks and, for now, slower on others. According to Apple’s benchmark tests, the Intel iMacs are roughly twice to three times as fast as the last G5 models. Macworld Lab’s real-world tests, however, reveal a more complex reality, in which speed varies widely depending on what software you’re using."
Get noticed with creative design tools that include over 300 customizable logo templates, 1200 unique logo objects, a slogan/tagline library, and a diverse assortment of object and text tools to help personalize your look.
By modifying or importing images, graphics and text in a variety of formats, each professionally created design is able to produce thousands of unique logos with minimal time investment. Designers using Logo Design Studio can also secure their identity using included trademark guidelines, and even sell their logo designs to others.
Logo Design Studio features:
Logo Design Studio is now available for purchase in CompUSA, Apple, Fry’s Electronics, Microcenter and other software retailers or online for an MSRP of $39.99.
Glenn Wolsey writes: "This year’s update to iPhoto is a substantial one. Apple has worked hard, improving current features, and also introducing some cool new features. Upfront, the notable change you will see when launching iPhoto 6 is the interface. The interface now matches that of iTunes 6, which looks very smooth and attractive."
Right on the heels of its release, nearly a dozen reviewers gave Apple a pretty good thrashing over Aperture, Apple's new professional photography software. Not all of the reviews are bad. Some offer very positive insights. But many focus on perceived problems. After delving into Aperture, I've come to some conclusions about where many of the critics went wrong.
Apple Computer this week is expected to begin widespread testing of Mac OS X 10.4.5 update, the next in a series of maintenance updates to its Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" operating system and the first update to address bugs lingering the company's initial release of Mac OS X 10.4.4 for Intel-based Macs, AppleInsider has learned.
Franklin Tessler writes: "At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss Keynote 3 as a minor upgrade - even the icon hasn’t changed. But lurking beneath the surface are many new features Keynote users have been clamoring for. Although the program still isn’t perfect, those enhancements make Keynote an even more compelling alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint 2004."
NetShred is a stand-alone app that protects your privacy on the Internet by shredding the browsing histories and caches of your browsers and email clients.
Smart folders disguise Tiger’s convenient and dynamic Spotlight searches as good old-fashioned folders. You can use a smart folder to keep track of almost anything. Even better, smart folders give you access to hidden metadata and advanced Spotlight features. This article shows you how smart folders can reduce your need to organize.
Ted Landau writes: "I ordered a new iMac the same day they were announced. But it's my job to jump into the deep end of the new technology pool. Before you rush out and order a new Mac, take a deep breath, pause and consider the following..."
AppleScript comes free as part of every Mac OS X system, and with it, users can harness the power of their Mac and control both the system and the applications that run on it. But they need to know how.
"AppleScript: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition" teaches AppleScript as it's never been taught before - with scrupulous attention to detail and clarity.
For everyone who is ready to put their Mac to work, "AppleScript: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition" is a thorough, refreshingly straight-forward reference and instruction guide. Neuburg explains everything users need to know about AppleScript: what it is, why it exists, where it lives, how it works, and how to make it perform better, smoother, and faster.
"I had never seen the AppleScript language taught, explained, and documented in what I would regard as a clear, rigorous, and helpful way," says author Matt Neuburg. So he did it himself. Neuburg's new book presents AppleScript as a programmer, a student, and a thinker would learn it. Completely revised and fully updated to cover Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and AppleScript 1.10, this second edition includes:
With this book, AppleScript users can automate repetitive tasks, customize applications, and even control complex workflows to make their Mac time more efficient and more enjoyable than they thought possible.
If you feel you aren't getting the most out of your iPod battery, perform this simple test before considering battery service or replacement. This test will help you determine how much life (playback time) you are truly getting from your battery.
The Transceiver works like an antenna booster. It basically takes over the wireless signals functions from the internal AirPort antenna and amplifies them. So you get more networks and far better speeds.
The 27dBm Transceiver works with Apple AirPort networks including all 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi systems. It is Wi-Fi compliant, supporting both 802.11g and 802.11b. The Apple iMac G5 has RF output of no more than 30mW; while this Transceiver blasts out 500mW.
Bare Bones Software, the company behind BBEdit and TextWrangler, announced the release of their new software - Yojimbo information organizer. The product empowers Mac users to manage, effortlessly and securely, the onslaught of information encountered every day at work and at home, even across multiple computers.
Yojimbo stores different data types: text notes, passwords, Web bookmarks, product serial numbers, PDFs, and web archives. Data input into Yojimbo follows familiar Mac User Interface gestures such as copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop, a Quick Input Panel, or PDF Services from the Print menu. Searching and retrieval are instantaneous, using either Yojimbo's built-in search, or the Spotlight search system in Mac OS X Tiger.
An encryption subsystem allows customers to encrypt individual data items for storage, without interfering with ease of retrieval. Yojimbo encrypts data using the secure AES-256 algorithm standard. Its simple, flexible storage system allows for additional, personally-defined organization of data. Support for Mac OS X's Sync Services synchronization provides data portability for .Mac account holders, making irrelevant which computer was used to access, add or modify an item stored in Yojimbo.
Yojimbo takes advantage of several Tiger-only technologies, such as Sync Services to provide easy synchronization across multiple computers for .Mac participants, the system-wide Spotlight search system for inclusion of Yojimbo-stored information in search results, and the Core Data frameworks for reliably storing information.
Yojimbo 1.0 requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later. If you are interested, you can download a fully functional demo version. Yojimbo is available immediately at a suggested retail price of US$39 for a single-user license; US$69 for a family-pack license for up to five people in a single household; or US$29 for an educational license for a single academic customer on one computer.
Vince Horiuchi writes: "So what makes Eva Longoria just as attractive looking like a pixie on a matchbook-sized screen as opposed to seeing her on a big-screen TV? Perhaps it's the novelty factor - the thought that you can enjoy recorded television anywhere, at any time. It particularly makes sense for people who ride Trax or are waiting for that connecting flight. Just one tip: Don't drive with it on - that is, if you want to live."
David Chartier writes: "I finally got around to playing with the Lightroom beta over the last couple of days and I have to say: it's fantastic. I'm running it on the latest version of the 15" PowerBook G4, with a hi-res screen, 1.67 GHz G4 and 1.5 GB RAM, and it runs quick. App startup time is virtually nil, and the whole thing just feels zippy."
iSuppli released a breakdown of the materials contained in the new US$1,299 Intel iMac, coming to the conclusion that it contains $873 worth of parts. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive item is the Intel Core Duo processor, estimated to cost $265, with a $45 Intel mobile 945 core-logic chipset supporting it.
This article covers the conceptual and practical aspects of how Mac OS X workstations and servers use Apple’s Open Directory architecture to store and make use of user account information. It also includes information about computers and other resources within a network.
It may not be official, but a version of Firefox that will run on Apple Computer's new Intel-based Macs has been released by the one-man development team responsible for the open-source project. Josh Aas, the Mozilla coder who has been working on Mac Intel browser, released a working build Tuesday that runs on the new Intel iMacs under Mac OS X 10.4.4.
Intel has released betas of its software development tools for Mac OS X running on the Intel architecture. The tools were announced in August of last year, with the beta release coming immediately after Apple's launch last week of iMac and MacBook Intel computers. The tools consist of a Fortran and C++ compilers, a math kernel library and a performance primitives library.
Adobe AfterEffects 7 delivers with the same power you’ve come to expect, and does it all with a new look and new features.
The first thing you’ll notice when you first launch After Effects 7 is the redesign of the user interface. By default the floating panels and palettes are gone, replaced with an interconnected workspace that fills your screen. This is useful for Mac users who for years could still see the desktop behind their work.
Technology commentator Bill Thompson responds to the feedback he received over his column suggesting that Mac users are too smug about computer security: "I wrote it because I'm a Mac user, among other things, and I worry that we do not take security seriously enough as a community."
Maria Langer writes: "I’m always poking around Mac OS and Apple’s support documents to see what little-known features I can explore and share with readers and listeners. In this article, I’ll discuss five Finder features you may not have noticed. Although I’m working with Mac OS X Tiger, some of these features may be available in previous versions of Mac OS, so don’t feel completely left out if you haven’t upgraded to Tiger yet."
Kelly Turner writes: "iPhoto 6, the latest update to Apple’s consumer-level photo management and editing software, may not have as many revolutionary new features as past versions - the addition of the Adjust panel in iPhoto 5 completely changed the way I use the program - but it does have something special those other versions lacked: a sense of fun."
Eric Bangeman writes: "Externally, the iMac appears identical to its PowerPC predecessor. There's the small camera above the display, the same array of ports in back, and the same white keyboard and Mighty Mouse. It's the inside that's different. Instead of the venerable PowerPC 970 CPU, there's the latest from Intel: the Core Duo T2400." Read the rest of the extensive review here.
Apple has developed a symbiotic relationship with accessory makers. Apple receives a licensing fee and royalties from companies whose products access the iPod port. Even if the company does not receive direct payments, the more businesses that build creative accessories, the more desirable the iPods become.
Follow these easy tips to maximize the battery life and lifespan of your PowerBook or iBook battery.
When Apple migrated the Mac operating system platform to Mac OS X, one of the key components was an underpinning based on the FreeBSD operating system. The use of an open source operating system as the core has in turn led to an increase in the use and availability of free and open source software.
Web browsing in the free software space is now based around two main camps, those based on the Mozilla codebase (Camino, Firefox, Mozilla) and those based on the KDE sourced KHTML rendering engine (Safari and OmniWeb).
Bill Thompson writes: "Mac users demonstrate an indefensible smugness when it comes to the dangers of having their systems compromised by malicious software and opened up to exploitation by others."
A couple of weeks ago we received a review copy of Comic Life. Until that moment I wasn't introduced to this piece of software, but I always liked comics, so I took this software from our review queue. As you can probably figure out yourself, Comic Life gives you the possibility of easy creating your own comics or comic style photo images. I must say I am quite impressed with it, but read on for all the details.
Interface
When you open Comic Life, it automatically starts a new workplace. As you can see from the image below, everything looks very optimized. The work environment is located in the center, on the left you have easy access to seperate pages and the bottom menu hosts a variety of different "talk bubbles" and captions. Following the usual application standards, the right portion of the screen hosts the boxes where you can choose your own page templates, as well as the file explorer where you add in your images.
Page templates
By default, Comic Life offers a large number of comic templates. The templates are categorized in different categories, each of the representing a seperate specific group. Besides some "plain" templates located in the standard group, we have different sets of the usual comic layouts. You name it - Comics styles from different decades (from 1940's to the current ones), different manga sets, european types, you even get a heart-like template. If this is not enough, you can create a new page and drag your own panels that will fit your specific ideas.
Balloons
Changing balloon styles was one of the coolest thing in building a test comic. The balloons are added to the comics with a simple drag and drop. Each of them can be manually moved, stretched and rotated. As you can see from the image below, there is a set of predefined balloons. Each of these balloons can be changed further by chosing one of 25 different style atributes.
One little thing bugged me about changing styles. To do this, you need to open the drop down menu and choose a new style every time you want to change it. It would be quite easier, especially for the novice user, if this drop down menu could be browsed by just pressing the page down key. This way the user could change styles with more ease and see differences quickly.
File importing
There are a couple of ways of adding images to your comics. By default, Comic Life checks the iPhoto Library folder. You will see later, why I recommend putting all the images into this folder. The other way is to browse through your computer. I would definitely want to see some slight changes in this process. The thing is when you are in a folder that has a large number of files, you cannot take a shortcut to a specific file by using the keyboard. What this means is that if you need to open a file called Wigwam.jpg you cannot press W on the keyboard to get to the first image that starts with the letter W, but you need to scroll down manually which makes the whole process more time consuming.
The capture function is one of the things I never expected software of this kind would have incorporated. By connecting your video device, you will be able to include some of the "live" images into your comics. I've checked the software manual to see supported ways of connecting the camera. As no details on this were specified, I've tried both USB and FireWire cables. As expected, it supports only FireWire, which is perfectly OK with me.
If you connect the camera while using Comic Life, do quit and restart the program in order to initialize the capture device.
You can drag and drop the images from the live capture as well as you can freeze the capture and than drag the screenshot.
File output
Comic Life really takes care of all your needs. You can save the file in a .comic format (name.comic folder contains all the specific parts of the actual Comic, such as original images) or you can export as HTML (you can even choose a theme and image compression), image (.tiff, .jpg, .png, .gif), Quicktime (with a setup of page delay and compression) and to your .Mac account. Altogether - fabulous options.
Heavy customization
One of the things I adored about Comic Life is that its developers were thinking about all the possible aspects of customization. Every page, panel and balloon can be "messed" with. You can change colors, styles, frames, shadows, you can add a gradient, change offsets, and more. The bottom line is that you can play with everything.
Although all different parts of the comic creating process are very easy to setup and use, in the beginning you will need some time to get yourself familiar with the concept, as well as different functionalities of this great software.
Creating quick comics
The Quick Comic tool gives the possibility of choosing an iPhoto album and turning it into a laid-out comic ready for balloons and captions in one step. This function is a real pleaser, as it delivers 1-click comic books that can be generated with a load of different page formats. Page formats are different than page styles - formats contain appearances for full comics, while page styles can be set on a per page basis. I have tested a couple of formats: several blog comics, video, iPhoto books and even a CD insert. All of them are just perfect and can be used out of the box.
While testing all the aspects of the Quick Comic tool, I found a bug that should be fixed in one of the next versions. The iPhoto Album box inside the Comic Life by default shows the thumbnails of the images located in the iPhoto Library folder. Let's say we have 4 images. When you go to the Create Quick Comic menu, it automatically says that your Library folder has 4 images and you can create a comic out of these files. This works flawlessyly. In the mean time, while Comic Life is open, you go and add a new image to the iPhoto Library. As you are adding it the Library thumbnails box will be refreshed with the new image but just in one Comic (if you have two or more opened Comics, just one will show the change). By going to the Quick Comic tool in any of the opened Comics, the menu will still show just 4 images, the new image is missing. Try new ringtone maker for real music lovers at Audiko.
This problem is a real issue as if you want to add any new images to be used for Quick Comic tool, you will first need to save the project, quit Comic Life and start it once again. If you do this, everything will work fine.
My first Comic
It isn't anything special, it doesn't have a twist, but it is my first comic and it centers around a cool cat :) On the bright side, I have seen some great comics created solely in Comic Life. You should definitely check out Sims - Comic Life style.
Final thoughts
Comic Life is a fantastic concept, that was made out to be nearly perfect. Every possible aspect of the comic creating process was thoroughly explored and the final product is of a high-end quality.
For more information about Comic Life head over to the developer homepage - Plasq. The software is priced at $24.95 and a 30-day trial is available for download.
Software company GenieCommands today introduced a Macintosh software program designed to give consumers more control and fun over their digital entertainment experiences in their lounge room.
GenieCommands is a unique programmable software application that allows you to control all your applications and media via simple menus, in a theatre or lounge room environment.
The Media Center is a computer like the Mac Mini combined with the GenieCommands software that provides an all-in-one entertainment system for your entire family.
While attached to your television screen it allows you to enjoy your favorite entertainment such as; watch DVDs, record TV or pause TV, listen to music, share your digital photos, access the internet and more
GenieCommands provides a kiosk push button environment where users can get easier access to the best of what the industry has to offer in software. This is achieved through simple user defined graphic menus, to access all the scripts and to control almost any application.
More information on the software can be obtained here and a demo version is available here.
Rob Griffiths writes: "Luckily, iWork ’06 was basically immediately available, and I’ve been using it somewhat extensively this week - I updated all of my presentations to take advantage of some new features in Keynote, and I’ve taken a look at the changes in Pages. Since not everyone can get down to the Expo to check out iWork for themselves, here’s a more detailed look at the changes in iWork ’06."
Planning on buying a new Mac? Not sure whether you are ready to take the plunge and drop Microsoft Windows for good? Give these great articles a read and you will be up to speed on purchasing your brand new Macintosh in no time.
The bloggers over at Lifehacker know that you’ve put down a lot of good money for that shiny black or white monolith, so they strive to help you work your new iPod to its fullest potential.
Browse the Web quickly, make your Mac sing, view a calendar, watch Star Wars, and make a banner with the Terminal.
Owen Linzmayer is not exactly a big fan of Entourage, the personal information manager component of Microsoft Office 2004. Read his top 10 list of "features" that are turning him into a disgruntled user.
Apple didn't say anything about the expected battery life for the new MacBook Pro, the successor to the PowerBook line.
Steve Jobs talked a lot about the new Intel processor, about Performance Per Watt, about the new MagSafe power connector, but didn't say a word about the expected battery life of the new Macs.
This document is designed to help developers determine exactly how much work needs to be done and provides useful tips for general as well as specific code modification scenarios. It describes the prerequisites for building code as a universal binary and shows how to do so using Xcode 2.2. It also discusses the differences between the Intel and PowerPC architectures that can affect code behavior and provides guidelines for ensuring that universal binary code builds correctly.
Apple Computer last week asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office to grant it a trademark on the term "Mobile Me," AppleInsider has discovered. On January 5th, the company made four separate filings on the term, covering a broad range of technologies and services.
Despite pledging its support for Apple's platform, Microsoft has backed out of future releases of Windows Media Player for Mac, and the company's Web site now directs visitors to download a third-party application from developer Flip4Mac.
Acutus Trading released Compost 1.8, a Mac OS X utility that seamlessly manages the OS X Trash. The software solves all your Trash problems by letting you set a time limit on your trash, cap its size and maintain a minimum amount of space. The software also offers some valuable functions such as secure deletion and file shredding.
Compost 1.8 new features include:
Although the company homepage still says that 1.7 is the current version, Compost product specific site contains all the latest info including a download link. Btw, Compost is distributed as shareware. You can try it for free, and if you like it, you can activate it within the application, for $8.95.
Derrick Story writes: "Adobe promotes Lightroom as “the efficient new way for professional photographers to import, select, develop, and showcase large volumes of digital images.†Unlike Photoshop, Lightroom is aimed squarely at photographers.
"That said, Photoshop complements Lightroom when there’s a heavy image-editing task to handle. And Lightroom makes it easy to open a picture in Photoshop. Generally speaking, though, the tools in Photoshop that photographers need most of the time exist right within Lightroom" Derrick adds.
iSeek is an indispensable tool that allows you to instantly search for anything on the Internet, no matter what program you're running at the time. iSeek puts a familiar search field in your menu bar, always at your beck and call, needing just a click or keystroke to start your search. No lengthy startup times, no cumbersome interface to navigate, just streamlined Aqua goodness.
iSeek's slick and seamless interface belies a significant amount of power and convenience; its no mere front-end to Google, it ships with pre-configured search shortcuts for dozens of useful Internet resources, and is eminently customizable and expandable.
iSeek 1.1.0 features:
iSeek costs $15, and a free trial version is available.
Microsoft and a pack of enterprise developers say they are on target for creating Intel-native Mac software despite Apple's surprise Macworld Expo release of the first Intel-based Macs six months ahead of schedule.
Engadget is the first to have the MacBook Pro and they are enjoying it: "Nothing extraordinary from a design point of view -- it looks pretty much like the old 15-inch PowerBook, just thinner -- but the screen on this thing is amazing and the switch to Intel promises to give Apple's laptop line a much needed boost in performance."
Quark announced that QuarkXPress 7, the next version of its desktop publishing software, will be the first major publishing application to run natively on both Power PC and Intel-based Macs. A beta Universal Binary version that supports both processor architectures will be available by the end of January and the production version will ship later this year.
"The availability of this software shows that we're serious about delivering on our commitment to become a more open and customer-focused company," said Jurgen Kurz, senior vice president of desktop products. "With Universal Binary support in QuarkXPress 7, cutting-edge creative teams will be able to work together on the most up-to-date Apple hardware to make the creative process faster and even simpler."
Quark also announced that beta versions of QuarkXPress 7 for Power PC-based Macs and Windows are now available for public beta testing. Starting today, customers can download a pre-release testing version of the Mac or Windows version of the software at no charge here.
Microsoft Corp.’s Macintosh Business Unit (Mac BU) today announced at Macworld a formal five-year agreement that reinforces Microsoft’s plans to develop Microsoft Office for Mac software for both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs.
The Mac BU outlined several upcoming improvements to Entourage 2004 for Mac and said it plans to build converters to read the new Microsoft Office Open XML Formats. The commitment agreement and product announcements emphasize the cooperation between the two companies and serve as significant indicators of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the Mac platform.
“Microsoft has a history of successful collaboration with Apple, and this agreement underscores our commitment to the Mac platform,†said Tom Gibbons, vice president of the Consumer Productivity eXperiences Business at Microsoft. “We’ve had many years of success with Office for Mac, and this formal commitment confirms that we’re in the Mac business for the long haul.â€
For more than 20 years, the Mac BU has collaborated with customers, other Microsoft teams and Apple Computer Inc. to deliver leading-edge productivity software. The agreement paves the way for the two companies to combine talents to meet the needs of Mac customers now and in the future.
“Microsoft’s Mac BU continues to be a great Mac developer, bringing innovative and compatible versions of Microsoft Office to Mac customers,†said Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing at Apple. “The Mac platform has never been stronger, and we’re pleased that Microsoft is committed to delivering great Mac products for many years to come.â€
Entourage 2004 Delivers on Customer Requests
Microsoft is putting the final touches on a number of Entourage 2004 enhancements scheduled for delivery in March 2006. Since the release of Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), the Mac BU has worked with Apple to enable Sync Services integration with Entourage information and data. Customers will soon be able to sync their Entourage calendar, address book, notes and tasks with handheld devices that also work with Sync Services. Support for Spotlight, another Tiger feature, will allow customers to more effectively search Entourage e-mail messages, as they are already able to do with their Office 2004 for Mac Word, PowerPoint® and Excel® files. The Mac BU has enhanced Smart Card technology for customers who need to send digitally signed and encrypted e-mail messages. video chat dating
Messenger for Mac Meets Enterprise Needs
The Mac BU will release new features that continue to make Messenger for Mac an ideal messaging application for Mac enterprise customers. While the current version of Messenger for Mac provides more secure messaging and file transfers within the firewall, Messenger for Mac 5.1 will allow users to send files more securely to external contacts. The updated version also will be better able to determine a user’s location and where to send the message if the user is logged into Microsoft Office Live Communications Server on more than one machine. In addition, IT managers will have improved control over how they save chats at an organizational level. Messenger 5.1 is expected to be released in March.
Mac BU Focuses on Cross-Platform Compatibility
Seamless cross-platform compatibility is of prime importance to Mac users and remains a key focus of the Mac BU. To ensure that Office for Mac customers receive the highest level of compatibility, the Mac BU will issue converters that let Office for Mac users read the new Microsoft Office Open XML Format. These downloadable converters will be released for current versions of Office for Mac following the availability of the next version of Office for Windows. The Mac BU partners daily with many groups at Microsoft to help ensure that its software operates smoothly with software on the Windows platform.
Apple unveiled its new MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the new Intel Core Duo processor which delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.
The new MacBook Pro, the first Mac notebook based on an Intel processor, features a stunning aluminum enclosure just one inch thin, weighs only 5.6 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, and the Apple Remote and Front Row software for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for users to enjoy their content wherever they go.
The new MacBook Pro, available in February, also features Apple's new patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users.
MacBook Pro features the new Intel Core Duo processor which delivers dual-core performance in a breakthrough power-efficient design, making it ideal for use in MacBook Pro's thin and lightweight design. MacBook Pro is up to four times faster than the product it replaces, the PowerBook G4, running industry standard benchmarks.
Every new MacBook Pro comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple's award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife '06. MacBook Pro also includes Photo Booth, Apple's fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button.
The new MacBook Pro is the first notebook to feature Apple's breakthrough Front Row media experience and the Apple Remote, turning MacBook Pro into a portable theatre. Front Row gives customers a simple way to enjoy their content wherever they go -- including songs from their iTunes music library, photo slideshows from iPhoto, videos including TV shows, Podcasts, iMovies and DVDs, and popular movie trailers streamed from apple.com -- all from up to 30 feet away.
The new MacBook Pro also debuts Apple's patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users. The MagSafe power connector makes charging the notebook's battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro. The MagSafe power connector safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface when the power cord is inadvertently yanked.
The new MacBook Pro features a 67-percent brighter 15-inch display, which is now as bright as Apple's Cinema Displays, and offers a completely new system architecture for faster performance, including a 667 MHz front-side bus that is four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB that is twice as fast as the PowerBook G4. Each MacBook Pro comes standard with ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 PCI Express graphics, with either 128MB or 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory. Each MacBook Pro includes built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking, a scrolling TrackPad and Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.
The new MacBook Pro includes iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications. All the iLife '06 applications are Universal applications that run natively on the new Intel-based MacBook Pros for maximum performance.
Every new MacBook Pro comes with the latest release of Mac OS X version 10.4.4.
The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
The 1.83 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:
As expected, Apple today announced iWork '06. The new iWork includes major enhancements within Pages 2 and Keynote 3 including stunning three-dimensional charts, iPhoto-like advanced image editing and masking tools, and spreadsheet-like tables that make it easy to get great results in minutes.
Pages 2 news
Keynote 3 news
iWork '06 is now available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $79 (US).
Apple today unveiled the new iMac featuring Mac OS X running on the new Intel Core Duo processor, delivering performance that is up to twice that of its predecessor. The widely praised iMac design now features dual-core processors, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box, and the breakthrough media experience of Front Row with the Apple Remote for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for consumers to enjoy their content from across the room.
Starting at just $1,299, every new iMac comes with iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications. The new iMac is shipping today, and is the first of a new generation of Macs featuring Intel processors that Apple will roll out during 2006.
"The iMac has already been praised as 'the gold standard of desktop PCs,' so we hope customers really love the new iMac, which is up to twice as fast," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "With Mac OS X plus Intel's latest dual-core processor under the hood, the new iMac delivers performance that will knock
our customers' socks off."
The new iMac features Apple's breakthrough Front Row media experience and the Apple Remote, a simple way for customers to enjoy the content they have on their iMac - including songs from their iTunes music library, photo slideshows from iPhoto, videos including TV shows, Podcasts, iMovies and DVDs, and popular movie trailers streamed from apple.com -- all from across the room.
Every new iMac comes with a built-in iSight video camera for out-of-the-box video conferencing using Apple's award-winning iChat AV software, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife '06. The built-in iSight video camera takes advantage of the Intel Core Duo processor to deliver up to four times the resolution over the previous model. Each iMac also includes PhotoBooth, Apple's fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button.
The new iMac comes standard with a SuperDrive for burning professional-quality DVDs, 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB, hard drive storage capacity up to 500GB, and ATI Radeon X1600 PCI Express-based graphics with 128MB of GDDR3 memory for outstanding graphics
performance and realistic game play. With the latest high-performance connectivity options, the new iMac includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme for fast 54 Mbps wireless networking, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), a total of five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire 400 ports. The new iMac now includes mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display. With mini-DVI and the new iMac's extended desktop mode feature, users can more than double their available screen real estate.
The new 17-inch 1.83 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:
The new 20-inch 2.0 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:
In the month of December alone over $3.6 million worth of iPod Nanos were sold on eBay. Research company Terapeak analyzed the sales of both white and black iPod Nanos on eBay for the month of December using price filters of $100 and $500. The results are as follows.
For the 4GB version of the Nano over 70% of sales were for black Nanos. The peak selling times were between 5-8pm (PST), with 8pm being the most successful accounting for an average of over $160,000 worth of sales per hour. During its peak, 4GB black Nanos were selling at a rate of 475 per day and generating over $100,000 in revenue.
The average price for 4 GB iPod Nanos, both black and white in December was $318. The black Nano pulled in approximately $313 per sale, while the price of white Nanos was significantly higher at $330. It is interesting to note however, that when compared to a three month trend it is clear that white Nanos were maintaining their average price, while black Nanos were experiencing a significant dip from their peak of $450 per iPod during high weeks in October and November. The highest average price for a white Nano was $350 during these same times.
The high price of black iPod Nanos during October and November is due to the initial shortage of black Nanos during Apple's original launch. This resulted in a price spike for black iPod Nanos on eBay once they were available. An interesting note for buyers is that 11 p.m., midnight and 2 a.m. resulted in the lowest average prices for iPod Nanos in December.
For the reference, Terapeak is a company started by a couple of eBay sellers with a mission to enable the eBay community by providing quick and accurate marketplace research.
The Blue and White PowerMac G3 is now seen as a relic of the early iMac age, when semi-translucent plastics in various colors where hip and putting the letter i in front of product name implied it was technologically advanced. After seven years, can this engineering marvel still be useful as an everyday machine? The short answer is yes.
Airfoil is a cool piece of software that enables you to send any audio you want to Apple's AirPort Express device. It works in conjunction with your AirPort Express and any audio player. You can use it to send audio from Realplayer, Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player, or even your web browser.
With the new release of Airfoil 2.0, it's now possible to send audio to multiple AirPort Express units simultaneously. Using Airfoil and additional AirPort Express units, you can "wire" your house for audio wirelessly for a fraction of the cost of more expensive audio players. Just plug in an AirPort Express, attach speakers (like the convenient USB-powered Benwin FX 2.0's seen to the left), and start playing. Best of all, Airfoil sends audio to each unit in sync, so you can crank the tunes up and rock the house down.
Airfoil 2.0 can also send audio from AM/FM radios like Griffin's RadioShark. You can also pull audio directly from Dashboard widgets in OS X 10.4 and up, from audio devices such as a microphone, and even all System Audio at once using the optional SoundFlower component. With Airfoil 2, there really is no limit to the audio you can send to your AirPort Express.
Version 2.0 is approx 2.9 MB and requires Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.4.3. It costs $25 and in case you are a licenced user of one of the previous versions, the update is free. There is a fully-functional demo available for download, but the noise will be overlaid on all transmissions longer than 10 minutes.
Maria Langer learned the value of backups the hard way. Follow her example (the good example, not the bad one) and use .Mac Backup to protect the essential information you're probably not backing up right now.
Thom Holwerda writes: "The iMac G5 in its current form is, in my opinion, the best personal computer for home and/or office use that money can buy. If you compare the iMac to what Apple's competitors have to offer, it becomes painfully clear just how far Apple is ahead when it comes to making user-friendly, visually attractive, and plug-and-play home computers." Read the entire review here.
Adobe introduced the public beta of Adobe Lightroom, an all-new digital imaging solution for professional photographers. With its modular, task-based and streamlined environment, Lightroom’s goal is to deliver a complete photography workflow.
As Adobe collects more feedback from photographers, modules and feature sets will likely change, as customers decide on their popularity and priority within digital photography workflows. Initially available as a beta for Macintosh, Lightroom will later support both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.
New Open Architecture Focuses on the Image
Lightroom Beta has been designed with a radical new user interface that puts the focus on what photographers really care about: the image. With just one click, the control panels and tools fade into the background in Lights-Out mode, allowing the image to take center stage. The innovative Identity Plate feature allows photographers to apply their own branding to the application and its output, so that it becomes their own personal gallery for showcasing work. Photographers also can rapidly scroll through hundreds of images and Quick One-to-One Zoom allows instant magnification of the finer points within the image.
High-Quality Raw Processing
Leveraging industry-leading Adobe Camera Raw technology, Lightroom supports over 100 cameras and incorporates raw conversion into a single workflow experience. Adobe continues to advance the state of the art in raw processing, as evidenced by the new split-toning controls which create richer black and white images. This extends photographers’ creative control, providing new parameters for making adjustments and more freedom to address precise areas of the photograph on the histogram. Upon import, files can be converted to Digital Negative format (DNG) or renamed and segmented by folder or date.
Images can also be showcased via slideshows with drop shadows, borders, Identity Plates and different colored backgrounds. The size and position of the images can be manipulated and delivered in Macromedia Flash, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) or HTML formats. A variety of templates are offered for contact sheets with the ability to add identity plates or produce a fine art print.
Pricing and Availability
The public debut of Lightroom Beta for Macintosh OSX 10.4.3 will occur at Macworld 2006 on January 10, 2006 in San Francisco at Booth #1307 and is available for free download from the Adobe Labs Web site. Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OSX 10.4.3, 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 768 MB RAM and a 1024×768 resolution screen. Regular updates to the software will be posted on the site, feedback will be collected and the final product is expected to be introduced in late 2006. Further details around pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined.
For a first look at this application I suggest you go to this website.
Familiarity breeds contempt, right? So it stands to reason that anyone who uses a product extensively can find fault with it. Owen Linzmayer is no exception: His work requires him to use Mac OS X every day, all day long. Although Owen is generally thrilled with its capabilities and reliability, some things about Mac OS X really drive him up the wall. Take a gander at his list of 10 pet peeves; then share your own!
DiggUpdate gives you quick access to the front page stories of www.digg.com in your Mac OS X menu-bar.
DiggUpdate will display a small icon at the top right of your screen. When there are new front page stories you have not seen, the lamp in the icon will turn yellow. Simply click on the icon and you will see the new front page stories in your menubar as long with a short description. You can click on any of the stories to visit them.
Secret shortcuts. Hidden helpers. Mysterious menus. You could spend months tracking down all the undocumented features tucked away in Mac OS X 10.4, Apple’s newest operating system. But chances are, you’re too busy using Tiger for more-important tasks—such as doing your job. So Macworld sent in a team of specially trained spies to uncover Tiger’s darkest secrets.
Fraser Speirs writes: "Everyone's tossing around their own wish-lists for the future of Apple's iBook and PowerBook lines in the Intel era. Here's my take on the matter - it's slightly different from most. Almost all the speculation and fantasising that I have read assumes that Apple will keep the product matrix as it is, but simply introduce new models in the same slots."
Whether you are a programmer or a designer, the production of code and markup is hard work. Without an editor dedicated to the task, it is also often cumbersome, overwhelming, and repetitive. Especially when you are dealing with a lot of files at once - like most projects do. TextMate puts you back in control, reduces the mental overhead, and turns manual work into something the computer does.
TextMate is not the first text editor which tries to be broad, but from Apple we get the venerable Keep It Simple. So even users with no or little experience with scripting and regular expressions are able to customize TextMate in ways that no other editor would have allowed them to.
Fonts And Colors
Created by a closet UNIX geek who was lured to the Mac platform by its ease of use and elegance, TextMate has been referred to as the culmination of Emacs and OS X and has resulted in countless requests for both a Windows and Linux port, but TextMate remains exclusive for the Mac, and that is how we like it!
Version 1.5
This is a free upgrade for all registered users and it features hundreds of major improvements over the last non-beta (1.0.2) which was released a year ago. If you don't have a previous version TextMate will cost you €39. More information about this software title can be found at its homepage and if you're already convinced and want to try it out, here is the link to the trial version.
Emily Hambidge writes: "Since iTunes has become so popular, I thought it might be nice to have a basic tutorial on how to use it. There is a plethora of functions available with the application, and Apple is constantly improving it. To help you get the most out of your iTunes experience, I have outlined the most popular and important functions."
Everyone knows Powerbooks have terrible Wi-Fi reception. Unfortunately, only 15" and 17" Powerbooks facilitate adding your own external antenna. With just a few quick cuts you can modify a 12" Powerbook to take an external antenna as well.
The MiniPsi is a little robot that Joscha Bach, from the Institute for Cognitive Science at the University of Osnabruk in Germany, created out of a Mac mini, an iSight camera and a little Java code. Designed for research into artificial intelligence, the MiniPsi is capable of avoiding obstacles as it rolls around the floor.
Since Gmail is all the rage, here’s another way of getting your contact information out of Address Book and into Gmail’s web interface or into Thunderbird.
If you buy the hype, the new iMac G5 is more than just a computer. Thanks to the addition of the Apple Remote and Front Row, it’s a stand-alone multimedia center that can play music and commercial DVDs in lush 5.1 surround sound (as long as you’ve got the right speakers, cable, and adapter), and project your iPhoto albums as slick slide shows. But is there substance beneath that hype? Find out in this article.
Logitech introduced the Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac, a cordless keyboard-and-mouse combination that provides premium controls to enhance the experience of using a Mac.
Logitech introduced the Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac, a cordless keyboard-and-mouse combination that provides premium controls to enhance the experience of using a Mac.
The Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac is a stylish upgrade from a standard keyboard and mouse and the perfect addition for products such as the Mac mini, which isn't sold with a mouse or keyboard. The keyboard and mouse are soft white with silver accents, matching the coloring of the Mac. The sleek, ultra-flat keyboard is less than 3/4 inches (19 mm) high, serving an ergonomic purpose by minimizing wrist extension. To further increase the comfort of the user, the keyboard also includes a large built-in palm rest.
The keyboard features all the standard Mac keys and two narrow panels, one on each of the right and left sides, with 15 additional buttons that make it easy to launch and navigate digital media and the Internet, and to open documents. One-touch media buttons on the right side of the keyboard help people control music and playlists within iTunes, and launch iPhoto and Spotlight. People can use buttons located on the left side of the keyboard to launch an e-mail application, and to efficiently scroll through documents and the Internet. Though all of these buttons have preset functions, they can also be customized with the included Mac-specific Logitech Control Center software.
The sculpted mouse tracks accurately on virtually any surface and enables pixel-precise editing in photo and graphics applications, thanks to Logitech's high-performance laser tracking technology. The innovative Logitech tilt wheel design allows people to scroll through documents and Web pages from top to bottom or side to side. Five customizable buttons on the mouse allow people to control volume, and to move forward and backward in a Web browser without moving the mouse. The sculpted mouse follows the natural shape of the right hand, providing a comfortable grip.
Logitech's battery management technologies provide a battery life of up to six months on both the mouse and keyboard. The keyboard and mouse feature convenient battery-level indicators that flash when approximately 10 days of battery life remain. The mouse features an on/off switch to further extend battery life.
The Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac features a USB mini-receiver that plugs directly into a Mac's USB port. It´s easy to unplug the mini-receiver and mouse for use with a Powerbook or iBook, around the house or for travel.
The Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac will be available in February in the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $99.99. In Europe, the desktop will be called the Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Mac and will be available in March.
FileMaker has announced the immediate availability of FileMaker Server 8 Advanced, an enhanced version of FileMaker Server 8 that lets administrators securely and reliably manage and deploy shared FileMaker Pro 8 and 7 database files over networks, intranets, and the Internet.
FileMaker Server Advanced is an "All-in-One" server solution for sharing FileMaker databases among teams of any size. Extending the networking and security features of FileMaker Server 8, Server Advanced enables rapid deployment of web solutions, custom integration with internal and external web sites, and links with external corporate data sources through ODBC, JDBC, and XML.
New features in FileMaker Server 8 Advanced
Web usability improvements:
Enhanced Security:
Improved Performance:
Free special development licenses for FileMaker Solution Alliance members:
FileMaker Solutions Alliance (FSA) membership now includes a free copy of the FileMaker Server 8 Advanced Development license. This license enables developers to create and test server solutions for as many as three users. Members of the FileMaker Solutions Alliance (FSA) may build and test the deployment of FileMaker 8 files running on FileMaker Server 8 Advanced using a special FileMaker Server 8 Advanced Development License for as many as three users.
Pricing and System Requirements
The upgrade price from FileMaker Server 7 Advanced to FileMaker Server 8 Advanced is attractively priced at just $749. The full U.S., suggested list price is $2,499. The software runs on Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Windows 2000 Server SP4, and Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition and leverages their built-in security to provide Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption of data transferred between FileMaker Server 8 Advanced and the web.
FileMaker Server 8 Advanced web publishing supports Apache web server on Mac OS X and IIS web server on Windows. The software also provides support for industry-standard connectivity options such as XML, ODBC, and JDBC.
For more information visit the FileMaker website.
It's that time of year again, time to dust off the crystal ball and prognosticate about what Apple has in store for us. Macworld Expo opens in San Francisco soon and predicting Expo announcements has become nothing short of a sport. So before you lay your money down for that shiny new computer, here are Jason the Greek's Vegas odds on Steve Jobs announcements.
Don't have a shiny new iMac G5? But you want to make a Mac the center of your home entertainment system? Don't despair. Instead of shelling out thousands for a system, use this guide to connect an existing Mac to your home stereo and television. Emory Christensen shows you why it's not as hard as you think.
J.J. Franzen, technology supervisor at South Park Studios in Los Angeles, said the show was simply running out of storage space on its digital linear tape (DLT) library and direct-attached disk storage. So in May, a new linear tape open (LTO)-2 tape library from Exabyte, and three Xserve RAID disk arrays from Apple were installed. Franzen said he chose Apple hardware based on a “gut†feeling that its technology would be good, and so far, he has not been disappointed.
While browsing, I often send interesting links to a colleague of mine. Every time I want to do this I need to copy the URL, open the Mail.app, fill in his info, paste the address and send the e-mail. As I am doing this about 4-5 times a day, it starts to be a little annoying to do all these repetitive steps. There is an easier way to do this by using Automator.
I just need to note that this works with Safari. I am still testing similar scenarios for other browsers. First we need to create an Automator workflow. The first action we will use is Mail -> New Mail Message. Here we will setup the needed e-mail message fields, as well as the account that will be used for sending.
The second action will be Mail -> Send Outgoing Messages. This action sends the e-mail.
You need to save the workflow as an application.
To make things easier copy the application link to the dock. As the Automator applications have the standard icon, it is best to change it, as it would be confusing to have two Automator icons in the dock (one for your new application and the other for the Automator app).
Now when you want to share a link with your colleague, just drag and drop the web site address icon located on the left side of the URL to the dock shortcut for your application.
Your colleague will receive the URL in Apple Webloc format and by clicking it the URL will open in the web browser.
Btw, as you probably figured out, you can use this application or a simple variation of it for sending any kind of files to the same colleague.
Profiles represent the color capabilities of your color-imaging devices. They are used by color management systems and applications to ensure predictable and accurate color reproduction. Therefore, the quality and accuracy of your profiles are crucial. In this lesson, you'll explore the differences between generic and custom device profiles and look at the options for acquiring both types.
The DLO HomeDock includes everything necessary to attach your iPod to your Home Stereo and TV to enjoy its music and pictures at home. It includes a 14-function remote control to play your tunes from across the room. It also includes a standard AC plug to power and charge your iPod while docked. It even allows you to connect your iPod without removing it from your favorite iPod case. For a review head over to TUAW.
Apple may be about to phase out - or replace - one of its low-end iPods, if the availability of the device on the company's Web site - and through its retail partners - is any indication. Customers can no longer buy the one-gigabyte iPod shuffle through Apple's Web store or through those of such leading online retailers.
In this article Emily Hambidge shows you how to unlock the power behind your digital pictures with Apple's iPhoto 5. She covers importing, editing and sharing your photos among other topics.
