Apple has published a firmware update for its Airport Extreme Base Station that fixes two security flaws in the Wi-Fi router. The patch fixes a bug found in certain versions of the Base Station that prevented the router from acting as a firewall by blocking IPv6 traffic by default. "This may expose network services on hosts connected through an AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n to remote attacks," Apple said in a Monday advisory.
Switching to a Mac infrastructure may sound like an expensive proposition for a small-business owner. However, some businesses who have made the change say they made the right choice. The cost savings on security and ease-of-use quickly paid off incurred expenses, they said. Relearning some tasks that operate differently on a Mac may be a barrier, but Parallels comes in handy.
More information here.
There may come a time when you have to bid a fond farewell to an old computer. Perhaps it just doesn’t have enough processing power or drive space to cut it as a message center or a backup server. Or maybe your small living area can’t hold yet another machine. Whether you want to sell it, donate it, or simply recycle it, you should take steps to protect yourself and the environment.
Just two weeks after Apple released its streaming media box to the public, hackers successfully installed OS X, Apple's desktop operating system, on the $300 device, making it the cheapest PC Cupertino has ever sold.
"The breakthrough is done, OS X runs on Apple TV!" wrote "Semthex," the anonymous hacker responsible for the mod, at his website. "Now we got (the) low-budget Mac we ever wanted."
Independent UK developer Ben Bird has upgraded his video surveillance system for Mac users, SecuritySpy. The system offers powerful video surveillance features for Mac users aiming to protect their home or business – motion detection, real-time compression and network video streaming.
Many of you would love to take your Internet access with you as you travel on family vacation or spring break; for others, terrestrial broadband (cable modem or DSL) is unavailable or prohibitively expensive at your fixed location. Good news for all: the choices on the wireless access front are better than ever before.
The Apple TV comes with a stripped-down version of Apple's OS X, but retains many of its basic features, such as directory structure and file format. In just over a week, hackers have been able to upgrade the Apple TV's 40GB hard drive (derided by many as being too small for any serious media collection) and enable secure shell access (SSH) to the machine, among other things. Most recently, and the most practical hack so far to date (announced on March 29) is to enable the USB port, which had been disabled by Apple in software.
No doubt you know that sharing your internet connection on your Mac is easy. For instance, if want to turn any Mac with a built-in Airport card into a wireless router (e.g. with a cable or DSL modem plugged into the built-in ethernet port), all you have to do is go to the Sharing pane of your System Preferences select it and hit start. However, what if you want to do something a little bit more complicated? This tutorial covers some other ways for turning your Mac into a router, including over FireWire and adding a second ethernet port via USB (which can be really tricky).
Jason writes: "With the arrival of my Apple TV yesterday I needed a solution to get my Xvix/WMV/Divx files converted and imported into iTunes so that I can watch them. I already have Quicktime Pro, which with the recent release added the ability to “Export to Apple TVâ€. Since I have a lot of files, and no desire to sit around and convert these one at a time, it seemed like a perfect job for Automator."
David Chartier writes: "After spending a good 24 hours with a shiny new Apple TV, I agree with Mossberg and Pogue: this thing rocks."
"Apple has produced a great device that makes getting your iTunes and iTunes Store content from your Mac/PC to your TV and entertainment center, and with a nearly 10x lead in the digital media market at 118 million active iTunes users, they have quite an audience for it as well."
In looks, it sits at the top of the heap. Apple TV is a gorgeous, one-inch-tall, round-cornered square slab, 7.7 inches on a side. It slips silently and almost invisibly into your entertainment setup. (You can’t say that for the Xbox, which in comparison is huge and too noisy for a bedroom.)
The heartbreaker for millions, however, is that Apple TV requires a widescreen TV - preferably an HDTV. It doesn’t work with the squarish, traditional TVs that many people still have.
People familiar with the matter say Apple has called upon its award-winning design chief Jonathan Ive and his team to cut the fat from the the current iMac line and outfit a pair of new Core 2 Duo-based models in a form factor that will be both slimmer and sleeker than today's offerings.
For Apple, the impending iMac makeover will represent the first major industrial design overhaul to hit its flagship all-in-one consumer desktop line in nearly three years. The last eye candy to accompany an iMac update came back in August of 2004, when the company retired its "sunflower" iMac G4 design while introducing the portrait-style iMac G5.
Apple's intentions seem clear: It wants to be the company that finally figures out how to tie the television to the Internet and make video downloads as common as music downloads. "With Apple TV, we believe we are providing a new, better way for people to seamlessly and wirelessly enjoy their digital lifestyles," Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer.
Apple has created an attractive package, both in form and features. The Extreme looks like a warmer for a really expensive coffeemaker, whereas its competitors look about as cheerful as an Imperial Probe Droid or worse. Looks aside, it features a USB 2.0 port. Plug any USB hard drive or (nearly) any printer into the port (or plug in a USB hub and use 'em both), and they'll be wirelessly available to any Mac or PC on your network that's running Apple's AirPort client software - another strong vote for media sharing and network backups.
Apple is looking to develop a laptop that eschews conventional hard drives in favour of Flash memory, according to an analyst. The new ultra-mobile device could be classified as a "sub-notebook", and would use Flash memory chips for storage and a stripped-down version of Mac OS X similar to the iPhone's, according to Wu.
Mark Kellner writes: "It's taken 25 years or thereabouts from the arrival of my first computer, a Sanyo MBC-1000, but I believe my search for the "perfect" desktop one is over. The device sports a massive 24-inch liquid crystal display, big enough to make watching a video of the NBC-TV series "Law & Order" enjoyable."
At $179, Apple's AirPort Extreme 802.11 draft-n wireless base station is priced like brand X, but Cisco couldn't have done it any better. Apple's claim of 5X performance and 2X coverage relative to 802.11g is no mere boast; it was proven for this review. Apple's new base station is easy to manage from Windows and OS X, and current AirPort Extreme admins will appreciate the rewritten AirPort Utility's expert features like logging and performance charting.
Apple has delayed the release of its TV set-top box. Initially the company said the $299 device would ship in February, but now expects it to go in mid-March.
With the introduction of AirPort Extreme 802.11n base stations, Apple announced that the majority of its current machines are compatible with the draft of that standard via a drive update. On the other hand, the MacBook and MacBook Pro Core Duo aren't likely to get compatible Airport modules. For Apple, these machines are condemned to always remain at 802.11g. Read on to discover how this situation can change.
A tiny sub-notebook on its way from Apple is expected to re-establish the Mac maker as a leader in the field of compact computing while drawing parallels to the legendary PowerBook 2400 along the way.
Apple has posted AirPort Extreme Update 2007-001, intended for some Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X v10.4.8. The update corrects an issues that could cause system crashes on a wireless network caused by malicious intent, according to Apple.
A forthcoming update to Apple's MacBook Pro line will usher in a generation of more vibrant and uniformly-colored notebook displays thanks to some new underlying backlight technology.
Anyone with a yen for disassembling computers discovered last year that Apple had jumped the gun on wireless standards by including Atheros and Broadcom 802.11n, or “N,†chips into some Intel Core 2 Duo models. This stole some of Apple’s thunder last week at Macworld Expo when it formally announced its adoption of 802.11n and the wireless networking standard’s 100 Mbps-throughput. But what was more surprising was the company’s willingness to commit to a standard that’s a year from completion.
iPhone combines three products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device.
iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone.
Your computer is the center of your digital life. Your TV is the center of your entertainment life. But what if you want to watch movies, TV shows, movie trailers, podcasts, and photos from your computer on your TV? At $299, Apple TV brings iTunes to the big screen.
What can you do when your iBook suffers from a problem that is well documented but the warranty expired a long time ago? Use candles, literally :)
This is a sure fire way to clean your beloved Mighty Mouse you spent $50 for.
Upgrading the DVD burner to a newer model will not only bring shorter burn times, but also Dual Layer capabilities. Opening the PowerBook is considerably more complicated than the Mac Mini - some experience working inside laptops will be useful if you intend to crack open an Apple notebook. First, though, you’ll want to make sure a new drive will fit.
It turns out that it is possible to install Windows to a USB disk without using Bootcamp at all. Here’s the recipe.
"... We have a fairly big sun room with many skylights, and in that room there are problems with the glossy screen (whether it's sunny outside or not). But then, we never were able to use the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) in there either. At least we can try to use the MacBook in that room, and might be able to find positions where it is indeed usable."
About 38 minutes into episode 74 of Diggnation, Kevin Rose may have unofficially kicked off the Macworld Expo rumor season. Amid the detritus of the podcast were a few nuggets of rumor gold from a "solid" source, including comments on the iPhone's size and network standards, "the three big ones." This would be GSM, CDMA, and possibly iDen. No information was given on carriers.
The EyeTV Diversity is the latest digital TV tuner from Elgato, who have been making tuners and supporting the Mac platform since the very first generation of digital TV tuners. It brings a few new features from previous models, most notably being it's Diversity mode, which utilizes two antennas to get a more powerful digital signal.
Matrox announced that its DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go peripherals now support the Macintosh. The devices are small external boxes that connect to the Mac’s display output, and enable it to work with either two or three displays simultaneously. The DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go cost $169 and $299 respectively, and are available now.
Michael writes: "For every Apple product we see on the shelves, there are dozens that never make it to production. Sometimes, these rare gems surface on the web for us to take a look at, and ponder what might have been. Scouring through the interweb, I’ve compiled this list of 5 Apple products that only the most hardcore of hardcore MacAddicts have ever stumbled across."
Apple researchers have apparently have built a full working prototype of a Mac tablet PC and three Companies in Taiwan are now costing a product for a potential launch in mid 2007. Sources in Taiwan have said that the focus has been more on the home and the education environment than the enterprise marketplace.
The Core 2 Duo-based laptops offer more speed, less heat. For speed demons, this is the fastest laptop Apple has yet offered. Aside from the fact that it's about 8% faster in terms of clock speed, underlying changes to the processor design - especially a doubling of the Level 2 cache memory from 2MB to 4MB - mean the uptick in speed is noticeable.
Apple's forthcoming iTV promises to place all your digital media on your TV. But what if you don't want to wait months before enjoying your iTunes music and video or iPhoto pictures in your living room? And is iTV really worth the price? Ryan Faas looks at the options that exist right now and tells you why you might actually be able to spend less money and get a more rounded solution today.
If your Mac system temperature is too high, Mac users can adjust and modify the fan speed to higher speed in order to make the Mac machine runs cooler at lower temperature. There are a few GUI based utility software that can help users to control and adjust the speed of the fan cooler.
Tom Yager writes: "Apple, long known for fancy zoned, heat-piped cooling designs, went for simplicity with Xserve. A wide bank of seven fans, each with dual independent rotors, stand in straight-line formation behind the drive bays. Except for the power supply fans, this long bank of fans produces the only airflow through Xserve. Thermal sensors are scattered around the system board, busses, memory sockets, CPUs and everywhere a temperature is worth taking. Instead, all of the inflow fans, the front-facing rotors, spin up and down in sync. The rear-facing outflow fans run at another synchronized speed." payday loan
Intel-native versions of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office are still a ways off. But Mac users running these and other programs via Apple’s Rosetta emulation technology on their Intel-based Macs have gotten a significant performance boost from Mac OS X 10.4.8. Macworld Lab tests found improvements in the performance of some non-Intel-native apps on systems running September’s OS X update—with some systems seeing their performance jump by more than 30 percent.
Apple laptops are hot items—particularly when they’re sitting on your lap. Does the recent switch to Core 2 Duo processors in Apple’s high-end laptops do anything to help beat the heat?
Apple today unveiled its new line of MacBook consumer notebooks that now include Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Just one-inch thin, the new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation and feature a built-in iSight video camera for on-the-go video conferencing, Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and iLife ‘06, Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.
Continue reading "New MacBook packing Intel Core 2 Duo is here" »
The standard Mac Pro includes one 250GB hard drive. Like the Power Mac G5, the Mac Pro uses SATA hard drives. But while the Power Mac supported SATA drives with a maximum bandwidth of 1.5 gigabits per second (Gbps), the Mac Pro supports the second generation of SATA drives—sometimes known as SATA II or SATA-300—which have a maximum potential bandwidth of 3 Gbps. However, this doesn’ actually translate into doubled speed—drive mechanisms aren’t currently fast enough to pump out that much data in that amount of time.
Naturally, this is a rumor and excitement should be kept at low levels although I must say I am salivating :) According to Macsimum news, a monitor refresh may coming from Apple in early 2007 and may include a 50-inch monitor, presumably tied into the launch of Apple’s iTV.
Apple announced that its entire MacBook Pro line of notebooks now includes the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor and delivers performance that is up to 39 percent faster than the previous generation. All MacBook Pro models now offer double the memory and greater storage capacity than the previous generation, as well as a FireWire 800 port for connecting to high-speed peripherals.
Continue reading "The Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is here" »
The Intel Mac mini's case is just like that on the PPC model and can be opened by prying upward with a sharp putty knife while working your way around the bottom of the case.
Apple joined the Blu-ray Disc Association in March 2005 but has kept largely mum on its support and adoption of the next-generation disc technology. At the time, Apple's decision to put its weight behind Blu-ray was seen as a coup for Blu-ray and blow to the competing HD-DVD format, but documents recently obtained by Think Secret indicate that Apple may in fact be planning to support both formats equally.
Dude, you're getting a Dell! Well ... maybe not any more. According to the Office of Information Technology (OIT), 45 percent of computers purchased at Princeton this year were Macs, more than in any previous year. In 2003, when this year's seniors arrived on campus, just 15 percent of them chose Macs. The next year, a quarter of incoming freshmen did, and the year after that, 38 percent. These statistics aren't comprehensive, because some students choose not to buy their computers through OIT. Nonetheless, the upward trend is real. Macs are where it's at.
Providing employees with 30-in. computer monitors can boost worker productivity at companies where 17-in. or 19-in. monitors are typically used, according to a French consultant hired for a study sponsored by Apple. The study, which evaluated Apple’s 30-inch Apple Cinema Display, concluded that large screens can offer gains of up to 50 percent to 65 percent in productivity on a variety of specific office tasks and can earn back their extra costs in time savings over several years.
Admit it. You are completely bored with your iSight. Your impulsive, giddy love affair has all but dried up, now that the reality of video chatting has settled in. Why not have a few chuckles while you learn how to extend iSight's capabilities with some nifty programs, add-ons, and apps?
Apple has been shipping two types of burners in the MacPro. The first is far from being unknown, as it is a Pioneer DVR-111D. The second, which one finds more often, is a Sony DW-D150A. However, this burner does not exist in any of the manufacturer's catalogues. Read on to discover how to hack your way to more burning speed and DVD-RAM support.
Apple this month has begun to slow production of its existing Core Duo MacBook Pro professional notebooks ahead of refreshed models that will sport Intel Corp's higher-performance Core 2 Duo microprocessors, AppleInsider has learned.
Tom Yager writes: "Like it or not, buyers of x86 servers, clients, and workstations face a major platform shift as the 32-bit CPUs, operating systems, and applications slowly fade into history. That historic migration will have dramatic impact. After all, 64-bit computing revolutionized RISC-based UNIX systems, allowing them to step into roles dominated by mainframes and minicomputers. Something similar is sure to occur with PC servers as they muscle up with the huge horsepower and memory elbow room inherent in 64-bit computing."
Yesterday, two "reputable" Mac-centric news/rumor sites reported that Apple will be bringing back their "ultra-portable" laptops sometime next year, specifically reserved for the MacBook line. The catch? These computers may turn out to be even smaller than their original "ultra-portable" 12-inch line of the now defunct iBooks and PowerBooks.
The Nike + iPod Sport Kit comes in a display box about the size of a double-CD jewel case. It prominently displays the miniatures inside: a postage-stamp sized receiver that plugs into your iPod nano’s dock-connector port, and a track-shaped sensor/transmitter about the size of a large piece of Bazooka gum. The transmitter fits snugly inside a matching compartment hidden under insole of the left shoe of a pair of Nike+ shoes, which range in price from $100 to $130. (Apple says the transmitter’s battery, which isn’t replaceable, is designed to last 1,000 hours.)
Advanced Micro Devices chief executive Hector Ruiz said Wednesday that Apple Computer will eventually use its microprocessors alongside those from Intel. "Everybody wants choice,'' he said, adding that rival Intel Corp's practices have stifled the PC industry's growth. "Knowing Apple, why would they want to be held hostage like everyone else has been?"
Apple's new "iTV" set-top box has stirred up a lot of interest -- but what do we really know about it? Macworld's guys sort through what Apple's told us so far -- and what we simply have to guess about. Unlike most Apple products, which tend to ship soon after they’re announced, this product isn’t going to arrive for at least three months. Jobs said that it’s due out during the first three months of 2007, which means it could be at Macworld Conference and Expo, or it could ship the day before April Fool’s, or anywhere in between.
The base model of the 24-inch iMac comes equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo clocked at 2.16GHz, an Nvidia 7300GT graphics system with 128MB of GDDR3, a 250GB 3.5-inch hard drive spinning at 7200RPM, and 1GB of DDR2 soaring at 667MHz. So what does that mean for the average user? It only takes 24 seconds to boot up and 23 seconds to shutdown... and that was with it loading Quicksilver and Google Notifier at boot.
James Galbraith writes: "When unveiling the Core 2 Duo processor in July, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said that the next-generation Core Duo chip would deliver a 20 percent increase in laptop performance. Apple’s newly unveiled iMacs—which use the mobile version of the Core 2 Duo touted by Otellini—don’t quite approach that performance gain. But they do handily beat out the previous iMac Core Duo models, posting a 10 percent improvement in Macworld Lab’s Speedmark test."
LaCie now offers a full range of secure desktop and mobile hard drives with biometric access control designed to protect confidential data from unauthorized use. The new LaCie SAFE Hard Drive comes in capacities of 160GB, 320GB or 500GB with a universal Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for use on Mac. Enhanced security features include an internal drive lock and an external port for attaching an optional chain lock.
Apple today announced that its entire iMac line now features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor in every model, delivering up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous iMac. A new 24-inch iMac with a brilliant 24-inch widescreen display joins the 17- and 20-inch models, and iMac prices now start at $999. Every new iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box; Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience; and iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.
Continue reading "iMac 24-inch model released, Intel Core 2 Duo processors in every iMac" »
Adam Pash writes: "While there's no easy way to bring down the starting price of a new Mac, there are ways to save money if you're looking to go top-of-the-line on extras, specifically memory. For example, when I bought my MacBook Pro last month, I saved over $300 by upgrading the RAM myself, a process requiring only a few minutes. Here's how I did it."
To make things easier, the author of this article has split the models into four categories: Pro Desktops, Pro Laptops, Consumer Desktops, and Consumer Laptops. Then he calculated and graphed the minimum overall score, average overall score, and maximum overall score for each model in each category.
Apple is once again denying resellers and large partners the ability to place bulk orders for its petite Mac mini desktop computers, often an indicator that new models are on the horizon.
Apple is once again facing a problem that it has become all too familiar with - not enough supply of its most popular products to meet growing demand. In particular, the company this month is reportedly struggling to fill orders for its consumer-oriented MacBook notebooks, which are arguably its most popular new product of the year.
Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage. No serious injuries were reported. The recalled lithium-ion batteries were used with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. Consumers should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the unit. Detailed information is available here.
Without much fanfare, Apple has added the new Xserve to the AppleStore: Introducing the new Xserve - Quad Xeon 64-bit server.
Specifications are, as one would expect, very similar to the MacPro ones, with 2.0, 2.66 and 3.0GHz models, and even a built-in Radeon X1300; but the default model is a powered by two 2GHz Dual Core Intel Xeon 5100 processors instead of 2.66GHz Xeon for the MacPro.
Macworld Lab’s 3GHz Mac Pro arrived at their offices, and, as expected, the desktop equipped with the fastest Xeon currently available to Mac users outpaced the 2.66GHz Mac Pro. If you remember, that standard offering of Apple’s new desktop tallied the best score ever in their Speedmark test. That record didn’t stand for long, as the 3GHz machine posted a score of 313, setting a new standard for their system performance test suite.
A new patent filing reveals that Apple is working to streamline the interface on its products and make them more intuitive for users, while shrinking the device itself and maximizing the space available for visual output.
The Mac Pros look like terrific machines, but they clearly weren’t much of a surprise. One downside to Apple’s switch to Intel is that it’s going to be clear from here on out what type of CPUs are going to be available in the next upcoming hardware revisions from Apple, because Intel’s (and AMD’s) CPU roadmaps are available far in advance. Apple can, of course, still surprise us with brand-new hardware enclosure designs, but they’re not likely to ever again offer a big surprise at the system architecture level, like they did with the original Power Mac G5 announcement at WWDC 2003.
Jeff Smykil writes: "If you recently ordered your Mac Pro and decided that 1GB of RAM just wasn't going to cut it in your new age of computing, you probably decided not to pay Apple's premiums and order from Crucial. Well if you headed over at the right time you were able to order the RAM through Crucial's Memory Advisor; at the wrong time and there was no Mac Pro RAM to be found. So what gives?"
Jacqui Cheng writes: "First, we review the problems that either Apple has copped to or that we believe are real issues even though Apple has not publicly addressed them. After that, we'll talk briefly about other happenings at Apple, and then finish by assessing what we've learned in the process."
Is switching a good idea? The answer, as always, depends on the needs and preferences of the user. Apple’s move to Intel processors has made it easier to run Windows on Intel-based Macs, and thus any software a switcher may want to continue using. But even with that ability, there are pluses and minuses to consider.
Apple has done something really different with the Mac Pro, and it's taken a few days to put it all in perspective. Instead of three different models with several build-to-order options, Apple has a single model with a host of build-to-order options. With so many options - Apple says there are millions of possible configurations - it's not easy to come up with a simple value equation for the Mac Pro.
Just an hour ago, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, the world came to know the Mac Pro. Powered by the new Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor - at speeds up to 3GHz - Mac Pro runs up to 2x faster than the Power Mac G5 Quad, answering your dreams for world-class performance, workstation graphics, and (with more than 4 million possible configurations) outstanding opportunities for future expandability. Visit this page for the full technical specifications. The price starts at $2,499.
If you want to grab the attention of a roomful of hackers, one sure fire way to do it is to show them a new method for remotely circumventing the security of an Apple Macbook computer to seize total control over the machine. That's exactly what hackers Jon "Johnny Cache" Ellch and David Maynor plan to show today in their Black Hat presentation on hacking the low-level computer code that powers many internal and external wireless cards on the market today.
Apple has initiated a worldwide battery exchange program for certain rechargeable batteries that were sold for use with 15-inch MacBook Pro computer systems from February 2006 through May 2006.
Between the Macworld forums, Mac OS X Hints, and conversations with family and friends, Rob Griffiths spends a lot of time helping people. And the two questions that come up the most frequently also happen to be the two that are hardest to answer: Which Mac should I buy and when should I buy it? Both questions are hard to answer, but he’s still going to take a stab at tackling both.
Apple Computer plans to release a wireless Bluetooth version of its popular mutli-button computer mouse, a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission has revealed. The mouse will also function as a multi-button scrolling mouse with versions of Mac OS X earlier than 10.4.6, the documents state, though other features will be disabled.
Wilson Rothman writes: "For a field already glutted with gadgets, the Nike + iPod kit is the most elegant of high-tech runner's aids. An instrument the size of a pebble measures your pace from a pocket inside one of Nike's specially designed shoes. The pebble streams data to a computer that keeps time and calculates caloric burn. Instead of making you buy a whole new computerized accessory, Nike and Apple decided to use a computer you may already own, an iPod nano."
Apple's new MacBook is easily the best laptop for the money currently being sold. It packs in spectacular power and some of the most advanced features available. That said, there's always room to accessorize. Being longtime Mac users and new MacBook owners, the people behing Uncrate have rounded up their top 10 products to help you pimp your MacBook.
A blogger writes: "I always thought it would be nice to have a “key†to a computer, or a hard drive, and unless you encrypt your drive anyone can mount it on a different computer and pull data off of it. While my method will probably won’t work so great against the government, it should against parents / siblings / school staff."
Eric Bangeman writes: "There are a couple of ways to approach the question of what Apple's upcoming pro desktops might look like. The first is to look at Intel's CPU lineup and see what fits logically and where. The second is understanding what Apple has done historically with its machines and try and extrapolate that to an all-new architecture."
Derrick Story writes: "I’ve learned the easiest way to end up with good audio is to record it cleanly from the start. After testing various set-ups, I’ve settled on two important pieces of hardware that help me record crisp tracks for my podcasts."
Apple today introduced a new $899 configuration of the 17-inch iMac designed specifically for education customers featuring a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, a built-in iSight video camera and iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications. The 17-inch iMac for education is available immediately and will replace the eMac, Apple’s last CRT based computer, providing students and teachers everything they need to learn and create in today's digital classroom, all in the ultra-efficient iMac design.
Continue reading "Apple introduces $899 education configuration for 17-inch iMac" »
JC writes: "What with all the hubbub about the thermal paste application on the MacBook Pro, I figured I’d throw my officially-trained, Apple-Certified bits into the mix. There’s been conflicting reports as to whether reapplying the paste really makes much difference, but no one’s really done a bang-up, knock-down, scientific experiment on the issue. Well, that’s about to change. Read on for our results."
A blogger writes: "More and more Apple MacBook users are complaining of a “squishy†or unresponsive trackpad button. Some of the Apple Macbooks have a very crispy and responsive feel when you click down the button on the trackpad, however some Macbook owners are unfortunate to be stuck with a button that doesn’t press down quite right." Here is a quick solution to that problem.
When doing a hardware update on an old G3 iBook a happy owner did not use an AirPort card from Apple but rather a Buffalo card. This specific Buffalo card has the same Broadcom chip as AirPort and it fits inside the iBook.
Christopher Breen was thwarted by an AirPort network that would not extend. Though both the AirPort Admin Assistant and the AirPort Setup Assistant acknowledged the existence of her AirPort Extreme Base Station, neither saw the AirPort Express Base Station that was meant to extend the Extreme’s signal into the family rumpus room.
Daniel Terdiman writes: "After four days of traveling, I finally found myself camping Sunday night. After setting up my new tent and cooking a "gourmet dinner," I got to try out one of the coolest new features of the MacBook Pro has loaned me for this trip."
In this video, a 2 GHz MacBook sporting 2 GB of RAM is showing off the speed of the built-in applications.
Anton Linecker writes: "Miglia’s TVMini HD is a stylish looking and compact device that enables Mac users to watch, record, and edit over-the-air digital HDTV ATSC content and unencrypted digital cable TV programs. It is a great way to get HDTV content onto your Mac. Since the TVMini HD is a bus-powered USB 2.0 device, you can take it anywhere you go. So, you can watch Lost or Desperate Housewives while camping, if you wish—provided you are in range of an ATSC broadcast tower."
Macs have been instrumental in breathing new life into classic English spy James Bond. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced the July 17 release of the James Bond Ultimate Edition DVD Collection - and this time the infamous secret service spy isn't just licensed to kill, he's also licensed to Mac. The images and sound were remastered by DTS Digital Images (once Lowry Digital Images) using a huge installation of 600 Power Mac G5s.
The following instructions will help you to extend the range of a Linksys WRT54G using an AirPort Express Base Station (AX). With minor modifications, these instructions should also work for an AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS).
When Philip Hollenback, a Linux fan himself, needed to upgrade his aging PB 667 from Panther to Tiger, he used an approach that kept costs down and value high, while preserving his Linux/OS X frame of mind. Here's how he did it.
Small and inexpensive, Apple's Intel-based Mac mini also comes with an infrared remote control, an updated version of the Front Row multimedia management software, and 5.1 digital audio output. Does that make the mini ideal as the centerpiece of your digital world?
Sixty gigabytes don't amount to much in this day and age. That's the size of the drive that comes stock in the 13-inch (white) MacBook. So it's likely you'll want to replace it for something larger and, possibly, faster. Here's a step by step guide for doing just that.
Another lengthy entry at the Red Sweater Blog discusses hand-on experience with a fist batch MacBook Pro that has some big problems (noise, flickering screen, etc.) and tells the tale of an average Joe lost in the maze of Apple support.
Pierre Igot wrote a rather long and very interesting article that lays out his impressions about the new MacBook glossy screen after a few days of usage. This is a must read for anyone contemplating about getting the MacBook.
The MacBook is very impressive, with almost everything one would need in a laptop. The Macworld review finds that there’s not much of a performance difference between the 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz models running Intel-native apps, but Rosetta does somewhat better with the faster processor. If you use non-native apps often, and prefer a SuperDrive to a Combo drive, consider one of the faster models.
Researchers have claimed that "chip-level threats" pose a potential vulnerability for Intel-powered Mac systems. A chip-level attack targets a feature or vulnerability in a chip instead of attacking software as is the case with nearly all of today's security threats. Examples of chip-level attacks are rare. The last known serious outbreak dates back to 1998, when the CIH/Chernobyl virus embeded itself into the flash-BIOS of infected systems.
Apple's new consumer level laptop is full of new features (iSight, widescreen display, MagSafe power connector, optical audio connections, etc.) and the prices are reasonable. The machine's value is increased exponentially by Apple's foresight to sanction the installation of Windows XP alongside the venerable OS X.
This page has a good comparison chart for all of you that are considering getting the new MacBook and are already iBook owners. Check it out to see what the extra $100 gets you.
Although Apple Computer's machines are more expensive than PCs, one Wall Street researcher says the price of a Mac isn't that much more than a comparable Windows-based computer. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that his research shows an average price difference of only 13 percent for desktops and 10 percent for laptops, once you factor in the same components that Apple uses.
If you're interested in an overall first impression of the MacBook I suggest you read this article. As live photos go, check this page at Flickr.
John Siracusa writes: "The new MacBook comes with what Apple calls a "13.3-inch glossy widescreen display." The key word there is "glossy," and it serves as a warning to the scant few Mac users who immediately know what it means in this context. So, what's the big deal? Consider some synonyms for the word "glossy." Gleaming. Shiny. Reflective. Now you're getting it."
What do you get when you put up to 2GHz of pure Intel Core Duo power, an iSight camera, Front Row, iLife ’06, and a 13-inch glossy widescreen display into a sleek case? The new MacBook comes in black or white and starts at $1099.
Naturally, some lucky bastards already got theirs, this guy posted his unpacking session over at Flickr.
The Intel-based iMac is impossibly energy- and space-efficient, giving far more than it takes in both regards. Pushed to the performance red line and with the monitor cranked to full brightness, iMac never consumed more than 95 watts of power -- one-third to half what a comparable desktop with a high-quality 20-inch LCD panel would use.
Apple on Monday introduced the 17-inch version of its Intel-powered MacBook Pro in Las Vegas. The new laptop computer will start shipping next week for $2,799. Philip Michaels tries to figure out what kind of audience Apple hopes to reach with its newest laptop.
Derrick Story writes: "Producing good prints that even come close to what you see on your computer monitor is still the most frustrating aspect of digital photography. It doesn’t have to be, however. Just remember these three steps: calibrate your screen, image edit your photo, and configure your printer."
Apple said that the new revision D MacBook Pros have many issues addressed and improvements made, including fixes to the issues that have been making news lately - flickering scree, hissing noise, etc. The people at DailyTech were able to get a hold of a MacBook Pro that just arrived during the week with a serial number starting with W8612, which did not exhibit any of the above issues.
The author of this video packs his 12" with a Tech 16X Dual Layer Superdrive upgrade for the Powerbook G4, upgrades the hard disk to 100GB, installs some third party speakers with added bass response, and adds some flavor to the apple logo on the lid. This video was created entirely in iMovie ’06 and documents the reassembly process at a 10-times speed increase. A high resolution version that has more detail is available for download as well, which is good since the small one is filled with effects and you don't see the whole thing.
Every iBook G4 model prior to the mid-2005 model from Apple can be Build To Order (BTO) with internal bluetooth support. The problem starts if you did not BTO a bluetooth model when you purchased your iBook G4. First of all, Apple might not want to sell you the neccessary four parts needed in order to install bluetooth yourself. And if they do want to sell it to you, it usually cost over $80 in parts only. What would you say if I told you there is a way to add internal bluetooth support to your iBook G4 for under $10?
On March 16, the US Patent & Trademark Office revealed Apple’s U.S. trademark/service mark application 78833929 for iPod Hi-Fi, originally filed on March 9, 2006.
In this article Dan Pourhadi outlines a series of problems he's experiencing with the MacBook Pro along with some tips on how to deal with them. A good read for anyone considering or already using a MacBook Pro. Another interesting entry at the Red Sweater Blog deals with the MacBook hissing nose so check it out.
Keith Robinson writes: "What you’ll find here will show you, regardless of what flavor of Mini you have, a bunch of cool ways to upgrade, hack and modify your little machine into the coolest computer in your home."
When you buy a piece of hardware you get some kind of warranty. Now, there's a whole lot that can happen with your hardware, like launching it from the roof of your house, that is not covered by the warranty. Nevertheless, people try to convince the seller the incident was not their fault, however bizzarre and/or obvious it may be. An interesting article over at Mac Geekery discusses the problems that an Apple Store Genius has to deal with when people try to get something that was their fault fixed under the warranty. Great read!
JC writes: "I have talked up my Mac mini running OS X Server quite a bit in regards to how I use it as the center of my home entertainment center, but I never really touched on why I use OS X Server. The mini is a great little beast, and I use it heavily. Aside from running Front Row on it via a neat little hack, it also acts as my sandbox webserver, my torrent box, and my backup server."
C.K. Sample, III writes: "I like the mini as a development box to run odd experiments on, so I placed my hands on a Mac mini Core Solo this weekend. I can sum up the experience in one easy to understand sentence: I'm considering taking it back before the Apple Store's 14 day return period expires."
Thom Holwerda writes: "This week saw the introduction of various new Apple products. Everybody has their own opinions on these new products. Another issue, however, which got considerable less attention, was that of pricing. And no, I'm not talking about expensive-or-not. I'm talking about price differences between the US and Europe. And quite frankly, it's pissing me off." I suggest you also take a look at the comments below the article, some are very interesting and give an insight on why the price difference might be as high as it is.
From the 7-page review: "All in all, the MacBook Pro is an extremely solid machine that makes me happy to be back in the Apple Pro notebook world after a six month hiatus in 12" iBook-land. The Intel switch has been an important step forward for Apple in general, but particularly for ensuring that its pro lines of hardware keep moving forward, technology-wise, and at a competitive rate."
People love modding and I've seen some pretty weird transformations of all kinds of computer equipment. What this is all about it stripping a Mac mini out of its (lovely white) case and making it fit inside the old school Nintendo Entertainment System. Besides ranging high on the "geek factor" scale, this is also a good way to deterr burglars :)
Just slide your iPod into the built-in Universal Dock to turn on and tune in to digital music as you’ve never heard it before. From pumping bass to bright treble, iPod Hi-Fi delivers natural, room-filling sound. Close your eyes and you’d think you were listening to a huge stack of speakers. But iPod Hi-Fi measures just 17.0" x 6.6" x 6.9." Use the included Apple Remote to control music playback from anywhere in the room. Charge your iPod through the iPod Hi-Fi dock while you play music.
The new Mac mini is now Intel-powered, it has Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB slots, analog and SPDIF input and output and what everybody was expecting - Front Row and the Apple Remote. It also comes standard with iLife '06.
Two models are available - one with the Intel Core Solo processor and one with the Core Duo processor. The latter is 4.8x or 5.5x times faster than the current Mac mini. Both models are available as of today.
The entry-level Mac mini has a 1.5GHz Core Solo CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 60 GB SATA hard drive and the Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW. It is priced at $599.
The "stronger" mini comes with a 1.67GHz Core Duo CPU, an 80 GB SATA hard drive and the 8x SuperDrive. It costs $799.
Both Mac minis support up to 2GB or RAM. Check out all the specifications in detail here.
Steve Wozniak recently said: "It's like consorting with the enemy. We've had this long history of saying the enemy is the big black-hatted guys, and they kind of represent evil. We are different, and by being different we're better. All of a sudden we're the same in this hardware regard, so it's a little hard to swallow your words from the past.â€
Jason Snell writes: "Our first MacBook Pros arrived yesterday—three 2GHz models bought with our own coin—and the testing started immediately. Macworld Lab has been churning away on benchmark testing, and we’ll post a review with complete in-depth results later this week."
Tom Bridge writes: "Over at OWC, they not only received their 15" MacBook Pro, they took photos of its immediate disassembly. The photos reveal some interesting design changes that are worthy of note. Anyone who's ever disassembled their 12" or 15" PowerBook know what it's like to keep the screws straight. Looking at the MacBook, though, they seem to have simplified the design a bit."
It's rumors time again, although this does seem quite probable. Apple plans to unleash a 17-inch version of its MacBook Pro professional notebook by the time its World Wide Developers Conference rolls around in June. The new flagship model should be based around a 17-inch widescreen display and feature at least a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor.
The MacBook Pro finally started shipping and people are getting their hands on this beauty. Andrew posted photos of his MacBook Pro packaging so we can drool over them and wish we had one too. Oh well... :)
Instead of using the previously announced 1.83 Ghz Core Duo processor, Apple said the new high-end MacBook will feature a 2.0 Ghz chip but will remain priced at US$2,499. The lower-end $1,999 model will have a 1.83 Ghz chip, instead of the previously announced 1.67 Ghz chip. Sweet, isn't it?
Aniel writes: "Simply put, this box acts as a splitter for a VGA signal. It effectively takes one VGA input, and splits each horizontal line in half, and feeds one half to one VGA output, and the other half to the (you guessed it) other VGA output. Unfortunately, according to Matrox, it's only supported under Windows. Well, I'm happy to say that this jigger works great under OSX too."
Ken Collins writes: "Like most people that create networks I did not realize that the Mac Mini includes 3 high speed network interfaces and that with a little bit of work and the right architecture they can be used to operate in much the same manner one would see in a high-end network operations centers. I manage one such NOC and I wanted my home network to function like most companies who do serious business online."
When it comes to upgrading your Mac, RAM is the easy choice. It’s inexpensive, it’s relatively easy to install, and it can make a noticeable difference. But as a quick visit to just about any Mac forum will tell you, RAM upgrades can also be horrifically frustrating. Here’s how to do it right.
Jason Snell writes: "Since the publication of Macworld’s first lab tests of the Intel-based iMac and our subsequent review, there’s been a massive amount of discussion about our results. All the while, we’ve continued to test the new Intel macs, including adding some new tests as new Universal applications arrive on the scene. So as the Intel transition moves into the second month of 2006, here’s an update on what we’ve learned so far about how Intel-based Macs perform."
While Apple is known for controversial ads, the newest spot puts Intel in a potentially uncomfortable spot. Clearly, Intel is happy that its newest customer - one that's especially rich on cultural cachet at the moment - wants to celebrate the partnership, and gets some free advertising to boot. But the commercial also takes a swing at Intel-based PCs, which some analysts believe could alienate Intel's other customers.
With her AirPort Express, Maria Langer has figured out a way to get some phenomenal sound from some of that ancient Mac equipment collecting dust in her living room (along with the more modern stuff, of course).
Just days after slashing the price of the 20-inch G5 iMac by $200, Apple has apparently killed off the 17-inch version of the computer. The 17-inch G5 no longer appears in any of Apple's online stores, though it is still available from some resellers, which have begun slashing prices to clear inventory.
Trent Lapinski over at applexnet: "Much like Apple did with the iconic iPod brand, we are now getting an early glimpse at Apple's new "Mac" re-branding efforts. As most have seen by now, Apple is finally advertising the Mac again. Meanwhile, Apple has changed the name of the beloved PowerBook to the MacBook Pro." Read Trent's opinion piece on Mac re-branding.
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."
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."
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?
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."
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..."
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.
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.
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.
Follow these easy tips to maximize the battery life and lifespan of your PowerBook or iBook battery.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
Continue reading "Apple unveils new iMac with Intel Core Duo processor" »
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jonathan Ive, the man behind Apple's iconic iPod and iMac, has become a CBE in the New Year Honours list. He is widely seen as one of the key figures in Apple's resurrection. Apple said in a statement: "We are as proud as could be that Jony is receiving such a prestigous commendation."
Imation has released a very cool looking micro hard drive. Available in 2GB and 4GB capacities, this portable drive features a flexible USB 2.0 connector that locks back into the drive, forming a handy attachment clip for briefcases, backpacks or belt loops.
Chris Saribay writes: "Newer Technology and Other World Computing have come together and created a series of replacement batteries, notably, those that offer the prospect of longer battery life. Apple’s batteries fresh from the factory are good and well enough, but to say that they retain a strong charge is not exactly an accurate statement. In this review, we’ll be testing Newer Technology’s NuPower High Capacity Battery for 12†Aluminum Powerbooks, but the company also offers similar replacement batteries for other Apple products."
Giles Turnbull writes: "When you read the articles and weblog posts by prominent Mac users and Mac pundits, do you ever find yourself wondering what kind of computer setup they're using? I do. So I recently contacted a bunch of Mac professionals - journalists and developers - to ask them straight out: what Mac do you use? And what do you like about it? Here's what happened."
Here are the detailed instructions on how you can replace the hard drive of a 4th generation iPod by yourself and get it up and running for less than $100.
The battery life on the new 5G iPods is much better than the previous versions. Apple states that you can get up to 20 hours of music playback with the current 5G iPods, under optimal usage. Do you know you how to get the best performance out of your iPods battery though? Follow these tips and you will be rocking for up to 20 hours just like Apple says.
If in any case you are not satisfied with the amount of storage on your iPod Nano, you should consider upgrading it. While some people would just buy a new device, others will try to solve the problem by various means of hacking. Uncyclopedia has published a detailed guide on transforming iPod nano 2 GB model into iPod nano 200 GB.
As Apple includes Intel's chips inside its machines, will it also point to the Intel brand on the outside? In particular, will Apple place an Intel medallion on computers, or mention Intel in the ads for computers that house Intel chips?
It mounts away from the iMac to allow you to position it up above from the clutter and obstacles that reduce wireless effectiveness. Not only that, but the 5.5dBi omni-directional antenna design picks up and magnifies wireless signals with three times the power of the stock antenna. Do you need that much power? Of course you do.
Matthew David compares the Gen 5 iPod to the Sony PSP and reluctantly concludes that Sony will come out the loser. Again.
Here you can find some anecdotes about the development of Apple's original Macintosh computer, and the people who created it.
IDG World Expo announced a major focus on digital photography at Macworld 2006. Several new features have been added to this year's event that will provide attendees with more education, services and product insight about digital photography - always one of the most popular topics at Macworld.
Apple has a series of articles that will be of interest to anyone moving from the PC to the Mac and I'm sure many will after the holidays :)
This is (it will be when finished) a complete installation and configuration guide for changing your Mac mini into a full blown internet connected server to be used for all your needs at home.
When finished it will be able to be your web, mail and more server which you can put on the internet connected to your broadband connection. For now, you can read about the prerequisites, building a proper mail server and configuring it.
Jennifer Berger writes: "It’s been a month since I started out as a Mac minimalist, challenging myself to only use the software that came on my well-equipped Mac mini. And what a month - my Mac mini was uncluttered, just cruising along. I was smug, I was feeling good…Until I had to work at home one day and found that my Office 2004 Test Drive had expired."
Paul Murphy writes: "Quite a number of pundits have gone out and predicted the appearance of Intel based Powerbooks from Apple this January - but it isn't going to happen. In fact what I expect is either, or both, an Intel based Mini and/or some Intel based iBooks. Beyond that, however, Intel is just not going to happen for Apple next year - no Powerbooks, no iMacs, no Workstations, and no X-Serves."
Kurt Hanson writes: "Here are three pictures I took of the internal of the new eyeMac G5 (iSight) 20". It differs from the eyeMac 17" considerably, as the HD is on the left hand side and the processor is in the center, being cooled by the center fan which draws its air from the back side vent. The 17" by comparison is just the opposite, and has the processor on the left hand side, and the HD in the center cooled by the fan with the backside vent."
I'm not really that into stuff that can make your warranty suddenly become void but this page has some very cool information.
The author presents a slideshow where you see step-by-step how you can change the color of the Apple on your PowerBook.
Phillip Torrone is in the process of building a $100 laptop using an old Apple eMate. He writes: "I need to find a laptop like device that had great battery life, tons of free apps, the ability to use Wifi and would work with a hand crank to charge it. It might not work out, but here is what I have so far."
All you need is an old Mac Plus with 4 MB of RAM, a hard drive, System 7 or later, some free software, and an Internet connection. Oh yeah, and this article to get you started. You can have your very own web server for your website, and even a Mac Plus can handle a decent load, but not a whole lot.
The year was 1994, and an exciting new technology was about to be unveiled. Apple was leading development of the ambitious project, which had already generated quite a buzz, and several big-name manufacturers had already agreed to support the technology, including Microsoft, Sony and Intel. The name? FireWire. And by 2000, it was practically a household name.
The PowerBook has consistently been one of the most respected and lusted after brands in the portable computing market. This wasn't always the case. Apple's first attempt at repackaging the Macintosh as a portable failed (the 15 lb. Macintosh Portable never caught on). In 1992, Apple scored a hit, and sales of the PowerBook line helped the company generate $7.1 billion in sales, its best year ever. Like the Macintosh, the PowerBook succeeded despite Apple's management. Get some history over at Low End Mac.
The first iMac RevC have been delivered allowing the people over at Hardmac.com to make a review between this new machine and the previous generation. If you click here, you'll find a review between an iMac RevB 17" 1.8 GHz and an iMac RevC 17" 1.9 GHz.
All iPods use batteries that can only be recharged so many times, and their charge capacities get smaller as time passes. If your first, second, third, fourth generation iPod or iPod mini doesn’t play as long as it used to, give it a boost with one of the replacement batteries. In order to replace the battery of your iPod you’ll need specialized tools and instructions which are included in the package.
The Mini Drive Kit features an external drive enclosure that enables users to convert an IDE Ultra DMA 33/66 or ATA-100/133 hard disk drive into a USB 2.0 drive simply by plugging into the ADS Native Bridge Board inside the enclosure. At 480Mbits/sec, you will get the maximum data throughput for your external drive. Now featuring an innovative SimpleTouch Back Up button, that allows easy backup of any number of folders or files. Program the backup process with Software included inside from Intech. A review of the product can be found here.
In this article I will try to share my experience with the best piece of hardware I ever used - a 12.1-inch iBook G4. I focused the article on giving my comments on different aspects of the iBook - software, hardware and the overall appearance. The article is accompanied by screenshots, photos and a small video.
Continue reading "The reasons behind my love for the new iBook" »
XRackPro2 is a rack mount enclosure cabinet designed to reduce noise and add mobility to Apple’s Xserve line of servers and RAID systems. Noise from rack mount equipment located inside the XRackPro2 will be reduced up to 75% while the heavy duty caster wheels provide a method for easily moving the rolling rack enclosure cabinet when needed. XRackPro2 rackmount enclosures are used in scientific and medical work groups, video and audio post production, film and broadcast applications, graphics, animation, pre-press, military and any other environment that needs noise reduction and/or flexibility of equipment location.
The iBook 12" is an excellent compromise between mobility, robustness, performance and price. It can also be transformed to become a strong competitor for its brother, the PowerBook 12". However, it is impossible to equip the iBook 12" as a PowerBook 12" via the BTO from the Apple Store. So, it can be tempting to buy a basic iBook 12" model and upgrade it yourself into a highly performing mobile computer. This article is intended to provide you help to perform such transformation.
With Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, it offers the fast data transfer rates required for substantial jobs like downloading digital photos, saving MP3s or transferring home videos from a camcorder. Available desktop models are: 160GB (white), 250GB (red), 300GB (blue) and 500GB (red). This makes a perfect Xmas gift that can complement every Mac. We all need backup, don't we? :)
Xitel's HiFi-Link for iPod lets you combine the versatility of your iPod with the power of your home stereo. Its unique dock configuration greatly extends your iPod’s connectivity, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with anything from a top-of-the-line surround sound system through to a simple boombox or powered speakers.
It includes a composite video output enabling photo and movie viewing on any TV, a remote that works up to 50 feet and adjustable Trubass processing by SRS Labs.
A unique entry in the MAKE blog shows off a Powebook etched with a 19th-century engraving of a tarsier, a nocturnal mammal related to the lemur (also the vi book cover image from O'Reilly). This is not something you can do at home, unless you have a $20,000 laser cutter laying around in the garage :) The entry page contains a few photos and since the entire process was recorded a video has been announced as well. I wonder how many people would use such a service on their Powerbooks if Apple made it available. They aready engrave iPods for free anyway.
Daystar Technology, an Apple Authorized Reseller and Mac Performance Integrator, is completing development of the first XLR8 PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) CPU Upgrade. The PowerBook G4 upgrade will be a full system upgrade, requiring the user to send their PowerBook to Daystar for installation. Pricing and final specifications are expected to be announced closer to the actual product release date.
Yuval Kossovsky published a lengthy review of the new Power Mac G5 Quad over at Computerworld. Early on in the article you realize he was impressed with the machine: "Yesterday, I had an hour to work with Apple Computer Inc.’s new Power Mac Quad G5, and for anyone in the broadcast, sciences, music, print and photography industries, I have some advice: Place your orders now!"
There are a lot of gadgets that can make life on the road easier and more productive. Since the holiday season is coming soon I think your geek would be happy to get something he truly appreciates, not that sweater you were thinking about. A few ideas can be found in this article over at Macworld. With such a bold title I expected a larger list but hopefully the comments on the article are going to reveal more interesting stuff.
OSNews is running a comprehensive article about the new dual core Power Mac. In the author's own words: "From the outside, the PowerMac G5 is a beautiful machine. It is entirely aluminum, brushed to a gorgeous silver-white color. The perforated front contrasts nicely with the solid sides, and the white pulsing power light is a sophisticated accent. The machine is as solid, and heavy, as a rock."
TuneBox is a speaker system for iPod shuffle that also charges your iPod while playing music. Though it's designed to visually complement the iPod shuffle, TuneBox delivers great sound from any Mp3 player or other audio device that uses the standard 3.5mm stereo jack. If you want more details I suggest you check out this review at macteens: "This speaker set is ridiculously small and light - let’s say, more so than a wallet. In its lightweight design, the TuneBox can be situated most anywhere you want to hear your music."
John Gruber over at Daring Fireball published probably the most in-depth review of a piece of hardware I've ever read. He recently got a 15" Powerbook and this is the result as he covers everything starting from the appearance, the keyboard, RAM, the display, etc. But that's not all, Gruber gets into the fact that Apple will release Intel-based Powerbooks in 2006 and gives a few points on why it's good to wait for them or not. If this doesn't get your mind cleared up about wether a Powerbook is a good choice than nothing will.
The Griffin AirClick for iPod and iPod mini lets you hook up your iPod to your sound system and wander through the house while in full control of your tunes. Pause your iPod to answer the door and then crank it up without even going in the room.
Since Apple is considered to be quite security conscious I was not surprised to find out that they have filed a patent that describes a method for securely running Mac OS X on specific hardware. The patent covers a "system and method for creating tamper-resistant code". In its application, Apple describes a means of securing code using either a specific hardware address or read-only memory (ROM) serial number.
