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08:13
bambooapps releases Quiet Read Pro for Snow Leopard
bambooapps has announced Quiet Read Pro (http://www.bambooapps.com/free-stuff), a update to their link management application for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"). It offers a Bookmarklet and MobileMe syncing. Quiet Read lets you save any link for later. There's a free version, but there is a set of features that is only available after purchasing a license for US$9.95. These features are: the ability to send links to Instapaper; the ability to send links to Read It Later; the ability to shorten links; a blobal shortcut; and a link list search and filter Quiet Read Lite is completely free. Quiet Read Pro is $9.95 (USD), and you can purchase a license at our online store. Quiet Read needs Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6), and is available in Traditional Chinese, Polish, Helenic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
08:07
Folx is new download manager, torrent client for Mac OS X
Eltima Software has released Folx 1.0 (http://mac.eltima.com/download-manager.html), a free download manager for Mac OS X. It can download not only common files, but also torrent content. With Folx all your downloads can be split into two threads. The app also sports Tags. Just mark your downloads with tags that characterize them  best, and you'll be able to find them anytime. When downloading several files you can prioritize the ones you need to download faster by just dragging them to the top of the queue. Folx can also automatically resume your downloads in case the process was interrupted for some reason (if resuming is supported by a server). It's also available as an US$19.95 pro version in which downloads can be split in up to 10 threads to achieve even faster download speed. If you need to download torrent content, Folx also features built-in torrent search, meaning you can look for needed torrent right from Folx by just entering a keyword into the dialog. You can also...
Mar 10
Intego releases VirusBarrier X6 Dual Protection for Mac OS X
Intego (http://www.intego.com) has released VirusBarrier X6 Dual Protection, featuring the latest version of its anti-malware and network security software together with BitDefender Antivirus 2010 so Mac users can protect their Windows installations. VirusBarrier X6 now provides protection from both malware and network threats. VirusBarrier X6 includes new threat-detection techniques, improved methods of detection, combined detection protocols, proactive behavioral analysis, and a range of defensive functions. The new version includes more than 100 new features. VirusBarrier X6 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6. Standard licenses protect up to two Macs and one Windows installation. It's also available in family packs that protect up to 5 Macs and 1 Windows installation. For pricing and upgrade information, visit the Intego web site. Also available is Internet Security Barrier X6 DP, which includes VirusBarrier X6 and four other Intego programs, ContentBarrier, Personal Backup, Personal...
Mar 10
iPhone and iPad development classes set for April, May
About Objects is set to offer an updated version of its iPhone development training course that now includes full coverage of iPad development. Classes will be held in Cupertino, California, on April 24-30, and in Reston, Virginia, May 24-28. The folks at About Objects say the new five-day course, "Introduction to iPhone and iPad Development," is part of a series that's proven popular with developers from such companies as Apple, eBay, Genentech, Intuit, Raytheon, NASA, and Yahoo! There are two other courses in the series: ANSI C Programming, and Objective-C for Beginners. This allows developers to "right-size" their training by choosing the mix of classes they need. Classes are taught by two well-known iPhone developers: Jonathan Lehr, founder of About Objects, and Aaron Morse, developer of numerous iPhone apps including TapDefense, and Trenches. Both have extensive training backgrounds that include years of teaching beginner-level, intermediate, and advanced development topics...
Mar 10
Apple leads in customer satisfaction in Vocalabs Tech support study
Apple continues to lead Dell and HP in customer satisfaction with phone-based technical support, but HP made marked improvements since 2008, according to the latest study conducted by Vocal Laboratories (http://www.vocalabs.com), a company that helps brands improve customer service by collecting feedback about customer service quality. In 1,157 telephone interviews immediately following a support call in 2009, 64% of Apple customers were “Very Satisfied” with the experience, as compared to 45% of Dell customers and 47% of HP customers. Compared with 2008, HP customers in 2009 found it easier to reach an agent, experienced fewer problems with the automated portion of the call, and felt like they were made to go through fewer irrelevant or repetitive steps. These changes led to a nine percentage point year over year improvement in customer satisfaction with the agent at HP, and a whopping 17 percentage point improvement in customer satisfaction with the automated portion of the call....
Mar 10
Apple among world's most innovative companies as ranked by '...
"Fast Company" has announced its annual "Most Innovative Companies" issue, which honors major brands including Apple (naturally), Facebook, Google, Cisco, Disney, and GE, along with such rising newcomers Intermap Technologies, Foursquare, and Clearwire. Overall, "Fast Company" recognized 250 plus companies, including the Top 50, 59 Innovation All-stars culled from past Top 50 honorees, plus ranked the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in 24 categories, including advertising and marketing, biotech, film and TV, media, music, and mobile. Intermap was named in the top 10 mobile companies list that also included Apple, Google, Amazon, Ford, and others. To create this year’s Most Innovative Companies issue, "Fast Company" had its editorial team analyze information on thousands of businesses across the globe. It’s not just about revenue growth and profit margins; it’s about identifying creative models and progressive cultures -- to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the...
Mar 10
JAMF Software releases Casper Suite 7.2
AMF Software (http://www.jamfsoftware.com/) has launched Casper Suite 7.2. The Casper Suite simplifies the lives of system administrators with one centralized framework to inventory, image, update and maintain Mac computers. Casper Suite 7.2 allows administrators to extend and automate enterprise products on Mac OS X using Extension Attributes, while unifying administration of software into a single console. Additionally, new setup assistants like the Policy Assistant have been incorporated for easier day-to-day use and unleash the depth of the Casper Suite’s capabilities within a simplified and improved user interface. Finally, version 7.2 offers the ability to use Apple's native technology in managing settings on client computers (also known as MCX) will be greatly enhanced by taking advantage of (and contributing to the expansion of) the offerings of the Manifest Destiny open-source project from the creators of AFP548.com. What's more, version 7.2 broadens the capabilities of the...
Mar 10
TextExpander 3.0 for Mac OS X offers new snippet creation/editing...
SmileOnMyMac (http://www.smileonmymac.com) has updated TextExpander, a Mac OS X utility that lets users define abbreviations for frequently-used text strings and images, to version 3.0 The new version introduces features to make it easier to create and edit snippets. Users can define a keyboard combination, also known as a hotkey, to open a quick entry window for snippet creation. The last-expanded snippet can also be edited via a hotkey, making it easier to keep snippet content updated. TextExpander 3 features new "fill-in" snippets. A fill-in snippet can have multiple blank fields in the snippet content that prompt for additional information to be entered manually. For example, a user can invoke a fill-in snippet for a receipt and proceed to fill in the name, product, and order number for the recipient. New options for searching and finding snippets have been added. Users can now locate snippets via a search field in the menu bar. They can also type a few letters and then display...
Mar 09
Apple posts iPhone SDK 3.2 beta
Apple has posted the iPhone SDK 3.1 beta and iPhone OS 3.1 beta on the iPhone Dev Center. Apple says they're for developers and testing only and should be installed on devices dedicated to iPhone OS 3.2 beta software development. The iPhone SDK provides developers with the same set of application programming interfaces (APIs) and tools that Apple uses to create its native applications for iPhone. iPhone DSK 2.2.1 is available as a free download for Apple Developer Connection (http://developer.apple.com/) members.
Mar 09
Stanford University study looks at 'iPhone addiction'
According to a new Stanford University study, iPhone users are becoming so reliant on their iPhones that they are actually reporting being addicted to their the Apple devices. Almost half of the respondents in the 200 person study acknowledged an iPhone addiction, reports "The Huffington Post" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/iphone-addiction-study-pa_n_490...). Students were asked to rate their addiction to their iPhones on a scale of one to five, from "not at all addicted" to "fully addicted." 45% answered with a four or above. The "Post" notes that the iPhone is seen less as an outside device and more of an extension of the person due to the amount of personal information held on it and the ways in which students use it to organize and facilitate their social lives. Stanford esearchers were surprised by how readily students seem to anthropomorphize the device.
Mar 09
New FireWire design guide ready from 1394 Trade Association
The 1394 Trade Association (http://www.1394ta.org) -- of which Apple is a member -- has issued its new 2010 FireWire Design Guide, which details the guidelines for implementing FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports on high level complex devices such as personal computers and automobiles, and on simple devices such as consumer electronics products. The new guide, which is available on the 1394 Trade Association web site, includes references to normative specifications as well as full reference designs that can be used as is or -- with the careful consideration of the trade-offs -- as a starting point for an optimized proven design. It also includes a comprehensive checklist of all of the factors and specifications a designer who plans to use 1394 should look for, from 1394-compliant connectors to a full range of power and configuration issues. There are chapters on mechanical issues, robust port design (ESD & Late VG), system design, cable power, link selection, firmware/higher layers and...
Mar 09
Pearson announces iPhone Developers Conference
On April 24-25, Pearson will host the second "Voices That Matter: iPhone Developers Conference," at Seattle’s Bell Harbor Int’l Conference Center. Authors and experts will join developers to share their knowledge, and participate in discussions, how-to sessions, and networking opportunities around the topic of application development. 
What's more, the new iPad will be an integral part of conference activities. The conference is designed for: iPhone and iPad developers; long-time Mac developers wanting to leverage their existing skills; GUI designers; UX experts; and mobile application specialists. Speakers include Addison-Wesley authors Erica Sadun, "The iPhone Developer’s Cookbook, Second Edition"; Kevin Avila, "Core Audio" (publishing in November); Joe Conway, "iPhone Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide; Erik Buck, Cocoa Design Patterns"; Aaron Hillegass, "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X"; Mike Daley, "Learning iPhone Game Programming" (Rough Cut); Suzanne Ginsburg, "Designing...
Mar 09
Source R&D debuts Mac compatible, wireless laptop docking station
Source R&D has released the the US$149.99 Warpia Easy Dock (http://www.warpia.com/Product_Guide-Easy_Dock.pdf), which will allow users to wirelessly connect their Mac (and PC) laptop to any traditional desktop setting.  Based on wireless technology from Wisair, a provider of single-chip based Wireless USB solutions, the Easy Dock consists of a USB dongle that connects to your laptop and a receiver that connects to your monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers. Your laptop will instantly recognize the dongle and begin submitting a wireless signal to the receiver, transmitting the image with a resolution of up to1400x1050 to your monitor’s screen, according to Marc Levaggi, of Source R&D.  It supports up to 1400x1050 resolution and HD video up to 720p. The Easy Dock works with Mac OS X 10.5 and higher, as well as Windows 7, Vista, and XP.
Mar 09
GameSpy updates suite of iPhone development tools
GameSpy Technology, a provider of online gaming services, has announced updates to their suite of tools for developers of iPhone games, including an entirely new customizable user-interface (UI) toolkit and new services such as in-app purchases and push notifications. Developers can either implement the new UI as is, change the appearance to match their game/brand or use the provided APIs (application programming interfaces) to include GameSpy's services into their existing game UI. The GameSpy API is common across all gaming platforms. A preview release of GameSpy's new iPhone development services can be previewed during the 2010 Game Developers Conference, held in San Francisco from March 9 through March 13.  Interested developers can stop by GameSpy, located in Moscone South Hall #1124 on the GDC convention floor. More info can also be found online at http://www.poweredbygamespy.com .
Mar 09
UniPrint 7.0 simplifies network printing for Mac
UniPrint (http://www.uniprint.net) has launched UniPrint Version 7.0.  Incorporating an enhanced printer driver, UniPrint Version 7.0 is the first printing solution that significantly improves overall printing quality, speed, manageability and security for Mac users working in a 32- or 64-bit physical or virtual desktop environment, according to Arron Fu, vice president, Software Development, UniPrint. The new version introduces a completely redesigned central management console. UniPrint can now centralize the task of managing server licenses. With the new management console, system administrators can utilize any machine that has a UniPrint component installed to apply a single license file on the designated license server, and also monitor license usage in real time from any remote location. UniPrint 7.0 also introduces a number of new features that make printing simpler and faster for the user, says Fu. This includes a unique Printer Profiler tool that allows system administrators...

MacTech Blog

Mar 10
Gaming on the Mac picking up Stream
Now that Vale is bringing its Steam, Valve’s gaming service, and Source, Valve’s gaming engine, to the Mac, the Mac gaming situation should improve. Not that it's been terrible. However, gamers have long complained about the lack of Mac games -- at least compared to the bazillion gaming titles for the PeeCee. Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks application programming interfaces, and Valve has added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge. For example, Steam Play, in combination with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac. "The inclusion of WebKit into Steam, and of OpenGL into Source gives us a lot of flexibility in how we move these technologies forward," Steam development director John Cook told "IT Wire" (http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/entertainment/...
Mar 09
Analyst: iPad will beat Kindle's all-time sales...
Apple could have the bestselling e-book reader of all time in just three months on the market, according to an estimate from FBR Capital analyst Craig Berger. In a note to clients -- as noted by the "Latest Electronics" site (http://www.latestelectronics-dennis.com/?p=3117) he thinks Apple is set to ship five million iPads just in the first half of 2010. At this rate, the tablet would push past Amazon’s unofficial lifetime record of three million Kindles in just the three-month span between early April and the end of June. Saturday, April 3 is when the iPad will go on sale in the U.S. At least the Wi-Fi only version will; the Wi-Fi + 3G model will hit US store sleeves in late April. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April. Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (http://www.apple.com) or...
Mar 09
EFF criticizes the iPhone Developer Program License...
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) -- an organization founded to promote rights in the online and networked world -- has blasted the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, saying that the "entire family of devices built on the iPhone OS (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) have been designed to run only software that is approved by Apple - a major shift from the norms of the personal computer market." "Overall, the Agreement is a very one-sided contract, favoring Apple at every turn," says the EFI. "That's not unusual where end-user license agreements are concerned (and not all the terms may ultimately be enforceable), but it's a bit of a surprise as applied to the more than 100,000 developers for the iPhone, including many large public companies. How can Apple get away with it? Because it is the sole gateway to the more than 40 million iPhones that have been sold. In other words, it's only because Apple still "owns" the customer, long after each iPhone (and soon, iPad) is sold, that...
Mar 09
Apple wins design patents for iPod shuffle, MacBook Air
Apple has won three design patents from the US Patent & Trademark Office. They involve a power supply, the iPod shuffle and the MacBook Air Patent number D11,415 is for the ornamental design of a power supply. Patent number D611,470 is for the ornamental design of an electronic device (the Apple remote). Patent number D611,469 is for the ornamental design of another electronic device (the MacBook Air). The inventors on all the patents are Bartley K. Andrew, Daniel J. Coster, Daniele De Iuliis, Evans Hankey, Richard P. Howarth, Jonathan P. Ive, Steve Jobs, Robert Duncan Kerr, Shin Nishibori, Matthew Dean Rohrbach, Peter Russell-Clarke, Douglas B. Satzger, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene Antony Whange and Rico Zorkendorfer. Three other patents by Apple have also appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. Following is a summary of each. Patent number 7,675,529 is for a method and apparatus to scale graphical user interfaces. To scale a view component according to an arbitrary...
Mar 09
Analyst: iPad content to equal almost 30% of revenue...
According to Broadpoint analyst Brian Marshall, the sale of applications, e-books, newspapers and magazines for the iPad is predicted to equal nearly 30% of the revenue Apple will earn from selling the hardware by the end of 2011. In a note to clients -- as noted by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), the analyst believes content revenue will top 10 percent of total iPad hardware revenue by December of 2010, and a year later that number will nearly triple. He's increased his forecast for iPad shipments in the 2010 calendar year to four million units, up from a previous prediction of 2.2 million. Marshall told clients that "if the device lives up to its potential," he could see it shipping more than seven million in this year alone. "We believe the iPad offers a rich media experience that will translate into a content-based recurring revenue stream over time," he says. Saturday, April 3 is when the iPad will go on sale in the U.S. At least the Wi-Fi only version will; the Wi...
Mar 09
Analyst: Apple's lawsuit against HTC a '...
Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner has issued a behind-the-scenes report on the patent suits Apple filed last week against HTC, the Taiwanese smartphone maker. As noted by "Fortune" (http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/03/09/apple-talks-tough...), Reiner told clients: "Starting in January, Apple launched a series of C-Level discussions with tier-1 handset makers to underscore its growing displeasure at seeing its iPhone-related IP [intellectual property] infringed. The lawsuit filed against HTC thus appears to be Apple's way of putting a public, lawyered-up exclamation point on a series of blunt conversations that have been occurring behind closed doors. "Our checks also suggest that these warning shots are meaningfully disrupting the development roadmaps for would-be iPhone killers. Rival software and hardware teams are going back to the drawing board to look for work-arounds. Lawyers are redoubling efforts to gauge potential defensive and offensive responses. And strategy...
Mar 09
How about a division to help companies to integrate...
Recently I pondered (http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/is_closer_integration_betw...) whether closer integration between Mac OS X proper and the iPhone OS was coming. Regarding that convergence, I would like to see Apple either license or get into the business of helping a lot of different companies upgrade their interfaces. Like what? Home phones, office phone systems, auto information displays and controls, ATM machines, home information and security systems, etc. I could go on, but you get the idea. Now I don't think Apple will license the Mac or iPhone OS. However, there many areas where Apple isn't likely to get directly involved or where the company has little or no interest in making hardware/software. Instead of licensing one of their operating systems, perhaps Apple could create a division that specifically helps companies to integrate iPhone/iPod touch/iPad hardware into their systems. For example, I could easily see an iPod touch integrated as a controller for...
Mar 08
Analyst predicts continued upward swing in Mac sales
Using recent figures from the NPD research firm (http://www.npd.com) Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is predicting a continued upward swing in Mac sales in the months ahead. "We expect the strong year-over-year growth in NPD data that we saw in January to continue in the month of February," he wrote in a note on Monday -- as noted by "TheStreet.com" (http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10697430/1/apple-dell-h-p-poised-f...). "We believe this represents a buying opportunity ahead of NPD data for the month of February on March 15." Mac shipments climbed 33% during the first fiscal quarter of this year reaching 3.36 million units. This surpassed the prior quarter's then-record shipments of just over three million. As noted by "TheStreet.com," Munster explained, however, that Apple experienced weak Mac sales in the first half of 2009, making its 2010 numbers appear particularly strong. Still, he expects the company to ship between 2.6 million and 2.8 million Macs in its seasonally...
Mar 08
IDC computer market predictions look good for the iMac...
Many of the trends that influenced the worldwide computer market in 2009 will continue to resonate in 2010, but their impact will change as new market forces come into play. The news is good for Apple laptops and the iMac and, well, not bad for the iPad. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), the lower prices brought on by last year’s challenging economy will create new opportunities for emerging sub form factors, such as ultrathin portables and all-in-one desktops. “We’re expecting consumer and commercial personal computer buyers alike to be more experimental with new types of computer, especially because of their lower price points,” says Bob O’Donnell, program vice president, Clients and Displays. “Hardware vendors and software developers should seize the opportunity to promote differentiation by rewriting the computing experience to match the new variety of Personal Computer sub form factors arriving in the market.” IDC’s predictions for the personal computer...
Mar 08
Blu-Ray still (slowly) gaining ground
It appears that the pundits who predicted that Blu-ray would never make it are wrong. It’s been an uphill battle—especially once the economy bottomed out—but the next gen optical technology continues to gain ground, if slowly. Overall, worldwide DVD and Blu-ray player and recorder unit shipments declined to 137 million units in 2008. The In-Stat research group expects a modest increase in 2009, with a more healthy increase in 2010, spurred by high volume shipments of Blu-ray players. Standard Definition DVD players will decline at a slow but steady rate as consumers opt for Blu-ray for replacement or upgrades in the primary television room. DVD players will continue to ship in areas where HD programming is less accessible including Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, and for secondary television sets within a household. In North America, significant price drops of Blu-ray players are driving unit shipments to triple in 2009. With Blu-ray players as low as US$99...

Reviews and Kool Tools

Review: Gridiron Flow keeps you organized
Gridiron Software's Flow (http://www.gridironsoftware.com), which costs US$299) cannot be fully explained in this amount of space -- it’s too vast and too valuable. Instead, I’ll tell you what it does and what it’s good... Read more »
Real People Reviews: New WD My Passport Studio
Making an external hard drive stand out when there are so many to choose from can be quite a challenge, but Western Digital (http://www.westerndigital.com) has always been an innovator in this realm. In addition, they... Read more »
Review: Eos unveils Converge system for Macs, PCs, iPhones
If you want wireless audio throughout your house and office -- and don't mind spending some not-inconsiderable scratch to make it happen -- the Eos Converge from Eos Wireless (http://www.eoswireless.com) offers a... Read more »
Review: Mach Desktop can bring your Mac desktop to 'life'
If you want more than still images on your desktop, Mach Desktop (http://www.machsoftwaredesign.com/desktop.html) for Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 spruces up your screen with Quartz Compositions, QuickTime movies or even web... Read more »

News Scanner

Wednesday March 10

07:00
HP makes MediaSmart servers TiVo-compatible
MacNN
HP on Wednesday has released a MediaSmart Expander for TiVo application that will give TiVo DVRs the ability to transfer recorded TV content to and from HP MediaSmart Servers, freeing up storage capacity on the DVR. The free application will also let users manage the recordings stored on the server and stream the content to any connected compatible devices, including PCs, Macs and gaming consoles....
07:00
Twitter to begin screening some links for phishing
Macworld
Twitter launched a new link-screening service aimed at preventing phishing and other malicious attacks on users of the popular microblogging service.
07:00
HP attacks Apple iPad over Flash, ARM expects 50 new...
AppleInsider
As HP attempts to push its own Flash-playing slate PC over the Apple iPad, one ARM executive said he expects more than 50 tablet-style devices to be introduced this year alone.
06:54
Google Mail
Google Apps S...
 March 10, 2010 6:54:00 AM PST We're experiencing an issue affecting less than 0.004% of the Google Mail user base. The affected users are unable to access Google Mail, but we've provided a workaround below. We will provide an update by March 10, 2010 8:00:00 AM PST detailing when we expect to resolve the problem. Please note that this resolution time is an estimate and may change. Some users may resolve the issue by clearing cache and cookies.
06:50
Pioneer DJ mixer brings multi-touch screen
MacNN
Pioneer hoped to move the technology of DJ mixers forward today by launching a new addition to the DJM line. The DJM-2000 is the first mixer with a multi-touch display and uses the 5.8-inch LCD to provide control over the sound that would be difficult with buttons. At a basic level, it lets musicians put up a set of custom interfaces for controlling a Mac or PC's music software through MIDI. Gestures also work to create "sidechain" mixing, and on-screen sliders can fine-tune the frequency....
06:48
EFF posts Apple’s iPhone Developer Agreement online
iLounge
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has acquired a recent copy of Apple’s iPhone Developer Program License Agreement (PDF Link) and posted it online. Previously seen only by those applying to be a licensed iPhone developer, the EFF used the Freedom of Information Act to ask NASA, which distributes…
06:45
Valve on Mac prompts interest from other game...
MacNN
At least two major game developers are now considering Mac ports in the wake of Valve's move to offer support. Among these is Gas Powered Games, known for titles like Dungeon Siege and most recently Supreme Commander 2. "We, as a developer, will include a Mac platform option in all of our proposals moving forward," says company founder Chris Taylor. "We're in 100 percent support of it, absolutely."...
06:36
News: Google Maps Adds Bike Directions
Mac Observer
Google Maps expanded on Tuesday to include bike route directions for the United States. According to Google, bike directions was the most requested feature by Google Maps users.
06:35
Ex-Sun chief dishes dirt on Gates, Jobs
Macworld
Jonathan Schwartz has started dishing dirt from his days at Sun in a blog called "What I couldn't say..."
06:30
Photo of the Week: iPhone 3GS in Sweden
iLounge
This week’s featured photo is from our iPhones Around the World gallery, and shows an iPhone 3GS overlooking a snow-covered scene near Vanersborg, Sweden. To share your photos and to be considered for our Photo of the Week, you simply need to…
06:17
GDC: Ngmoco hopes to rule with new mobile games
Macworld
At the Game Developers Conference, Ngmoco previewed two upcoming releases for the iPhone and iPod touch. We Rule and Godfinger both put you in the shoes of a usually benevolent ruler -- as a monarch in the case of the former, or as god in the case of the latter.
06:15
EFF Publishes Full Apple iPhone Developer Agreement...
PowerPage
Yesterday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation both posted a recent version of Apple’s confidential license agreement to which all iPhone, iPad and iPod touch developers must agree as well as took a critical stance against the document. Per AppleInsider, the foundation came to the conclusion that by controlling the App Store and preventing rival competition by blocking competing options, Apple’s “future of computing” is headed towards an era that could stifle innovation. It suggested the Cupertino, Calif., company’s actions have been that of a “jealous and arbitrary feudal lord.” “Overall, the Agreement is a very one-sided contract, favoring Apple at every turn,” the EFF wrote. “That’s not unusual where end-user license agreements are concerned (and not all the terms may ultimately be enforceable), but it’s a bit of a surprise as applied to the more than 100,000 developers for the iPhone, including many large public companies. “How can Apple get away with it? Because it is the sole...
06:15
Dell tablet to get Amazon Kindle, VOD deals
MacNN
A leak of marketing material for Dell's Mini 5 on Wednesday has revealed a heavy focus on Amazon services. The tablet will have a special content deal and should not only carry Android's existing access to Amazon MP3 but a Kindle e-reader app and a viewer for Amazon's video services. The flyer found by Engadget implies Video On Demand, which so far would be new to Android....
05:52
Apple Releases iPhone OS 3.2 SDK Kit Beta 4 for iPad
PowerPage
Yesterday, Apple released beta 4 of its iPhone OS 3.2 Software Development Kit for iPad development. Per iPhone Alley, the new beta includes several fixes for the SDK, including a fix for Safari’s bookmark feature within the simulator. Additionally, it seems that Apple has removed the “Camera” tab from the Photos app within the iPad simulator. The tab led many to believe that the iPad may ship with a camera, however Apple clarifies by saying in the release notes, “The Camera tab represents photos available via the Camera Connection Kit for iPad, and is not relevant for the Simulator. The Camera tab will disappear after a few seconds.” Apple is slated to release the iPad on April 3rd of this year.
05:49
News: Pink Floyd Hits EMI with iTunes Royalty Lawsuit
Mac Observer
The iconic rock band Pink Floyd is suing its record label, EMI, over claims that it hasn't been properly paid royalties for songs sold through Apple's iTunes Store. Part of the band's complain stems from EMI offering individual tracks through the iTunes Store instead of full albums only
05:31
Publishers fight Apple over striptease iPhone app
digg
Shake the phone and the girl loses another item of clothing. Apple wants a German girlie publication to modify its striptease iPhone app so that the girl stays covered by a bikini. Publishers are angry. "Today they censor nipples, tomorrow editorial content," one said.
05:30
Google adds bike directions to Google Maps
MacNN
Google this morning added biking directions to Google Maps. The heavily requested feature navigates using not only bike trails but marks and uses roads that are known to be bike-friendly, including both those with bike lanes or those simply recommended for cyclists. Maps goes so far as to factor in hills and to avoid heavy car traffic....
05:29
Microsoft Updates Office 2004, 2008, Open XML...
PowerPage
Yesterday, Microsoft updated just about everything in its Office suites, the first change being an update of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac to version 11.5.8. The new version, a 9.7 megabyte download, improves security and includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code. Office 2008 for Mac received an update to version 12.2.4. The new version, a 221.5 megabyte download, offers several improvements to enhance stability and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code. The company’s Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition went up to version 13.0.4 yesterday. The new version, a 64.3 megabyte download, offers several calendaring improvements, this new version of Entourage synchronizes notes, tasks, and categories with Exchange Server. This update also enables logging that can be used...
05:25
Game developers eye the Mac after Steam's jump...
AppleInsider
The announcement that the Steam gaming service and Valve's line of games -- including Half-Life 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 -- are being ported to the Mac has convinced major developers like DICE and Gas Powered Games to consider the jump as well.
05:15
Product News: TextExpander 3 Adds New Search, Quick...
Mac Observer
SmileOnMyMac announced the immediate availability of TextExpander 3.0 for Mac Os X on Wednesday. The new version of the auto-expanding utility for abbreviations and text shortcuts added new search features for locating specific snippets along with a quick entry window for creating new snippets.
05:00
Thunder in Cupertino Makes It Rain on Wall Street
MacNewsWorld
Apple has announced the iPad will hit retail shelves April 3, sending the adrenalin surging through competitors' veins. HP and several Chinese manufacturers have announced tablets in what might be perceived as an attempt to capitalize on the not-quite-a-laptop, not-really-a-netbook category. Meanwhile, in a move reminiscent of a high-level chess game, Cupertino has filed a patent suit against HTC, maker of the Google Nexus One smartphone. One of the complaints alleges HTC violated Apple's patent on touchscreens.
05:00
"Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" uses Macs to...
TUAW
Filed under: Cult of Mac If you happen to have gotten caught up in the phenomenon known as the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, then you know that the computer of choice for these world-class computer genius hackers is made by Apple. I screened the film version of the story, and MacBook Pros are visible throughout as the the tool used to solve mysteries. It's a good film as well, as far as taut thrillers from Sweden go. In fact, I found it a refreshing take on the thriller (with a little social commentary thrown in) and was unsurprised to find it was based on a highly-regarded novel. The lead character, Lisbeth Salander, actually uses her MacBook Pro to hack into all manner of places, just as Macs have managed to appear in all sorts of movies. There's even a Flickr group dedicated to chronicling the appearance of them in film and TV. If you got a kick out of Hackers back in the day, Lisbeth will be a little familiar, but she's a nice modern spin on the "cool hacker" type. TUAW is part of...

Rumor Scanner

Wednesday March 10

07:13
Verizon Viewing iPad as Opportunity to Push MiFi Service
MacRumors
Engadget reports on a leaked internal memo from Verizon to its staff members promoting Apple's iPad as an "opportunity" to sell its data plans, seeking to encourage customers to purchase a Wi-Fi iPad model and pair it with Verizon services su...

Tuesday March 9

20:17
Apple stock hits record prices.
LOOPRumors
Shares of Apple, Inc. (AAPL) closed at a historic high of $223.02 today after rising $3.94 or 1.8% during a busy trading day. The previous record closing price for the company’s stock was set yesterday when it closed at $219.09. Apple is currently ranked the fourth most valuable publicly-traded company in the United States, behind Wal-Mart (WMT), Microsoft (MSFT) and Exxon Mobil (XOM). The all-time record price paid for a share of Apple was also set today at $225.00.
16:59
Sources say Apple was coerced into iTunes LP.
LOOPRumors
Apple was apparently muscled into promoting the purchase of entire albums through the iTunes Store by members of the Recording Industry Association of America. As part of the agreement which lifted digital rights management from iTunes in April 2009 and subsequently introduced a varied price structure for songs, Apple was obligated to support the iTunes LP format. Leaders in the recording industry who’ve seen their businesses take a huge hit due to Apple’s pay-for-the-songs-you-want model hope to reinvigorate the market for complete albums with this move. ipodnn reports that Apple was not especially interested in iTunes LP idea and that the project has achieved “mixed results,” with only around 29 titles to date.
13:42
Apple Reportedly Disrupting iPhone Competitors With Legal...
MacRumors
Fortune reports on a new research note from Oppenhiemer & Co.'s Yair Reiner claiming that Apple in January began high-level talks with major phone manufacturers expressing its displeasure with what it con...
11:57
iPhone Developer Agreement Revealed by Electronic Frontier...
MacRumors
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) yesterday announced that it had obtained a copy of Apple's iPhone Developer Program License Agreement and published it for public consumption. While the contents of the license agreement, which govern...
11:21
Apple Releases iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 4 for iPad
MacRumors
Apple today released iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 4 via the iPhone Dev Center, offering developers updated tools for building applications for the iPad. The last update to the SDK was issued two weeks ago, continuing a trend of biweekly revisions.
10:03
Survey investigates iPhone addiction.
LOOPRumors
A recent survey conducted at Stanford University indicates that students are becoming habitually and compulsively involved with Apple’s celebrated smartphone. In a survey of 20 students with iPhones, 69% reported that they likely forget their wallet before forgetting their phone. On a scale of addiction to the iPhone from 1 to 5, 10% reported themselves a 5, or fully addicted, 34% percent reported a level 4 addiction and just 6% said they were not addicted at all. Of those who had not reached a level 5 addiction, 32% were concerned that they would become addicted in the future. “One of the most striking things we saw in the interviews was just how identified people were with their iPhone. It was not so much with the object itself, but it had so much personal information that it became a kind of extension of the mind and a means to have a social life. It just kind of captured part of their identity,” The anthropolgy professor who oversaw the survey, Professor Tanya Luhrmann, said to...
07:30
MacHeist nanoBundle: 8 Mac Apps for $19.95 [Updated]
MacRumors
A few times a year, MacRumors partners with MacHeist to promote their Mac application bundle deal. Their latest bundle delivers at least eight Mac applications for $19.95 (over $280 value if all purchased separately) including: ...
07:15
FileMaker Pro 11 Brings Streamlined Database Creation With...
MacRumors
Apple subsidiary FileMaker today announced the release of FileMaker Pro 11, the latest version of its popular database application. The updated version brings several new features, as well as streamlined...
06:47
Gruber: No 'Widget Mode' for Minor Applications...
MacRumors
Last month, speculation that a number of minor iPhone applications such as Stocks, Weather, Voice Memo, Clock, and Calculator "missing" from the iPad could reappear in some sort of "widget mode" similar t...

Monday March 8

17:53
App Store clutter reduction continues.
LOOPRumors
Now that many ”overtly sexual” applications that are not offered by a large brand have been givin a swift boot from the App Store, Apple is moving on to the removal of iPhone apps built using templates from app-building services. The company is not nessasarily against templates, however the App Store has become clogged with applications made with them that simply replicate the function of a standard web page. Apple wants to maintain the unique and perceived usefulness of the iPhone, according to observers, and the abundance of these types of apps threatens to dilute that. “This is the ongoing balance point between encouraging innovation and growth on one side and wanting to tightly control user experience on the other,” says Medialets CEO Eric Litman in a report from TechCrunch. “Apple wants iPhone apps to be superior to Web experiences because they are extremely sticky and drive people specifically to buy the iPhone over competing smartphone platforms. Apps that are too simple or...
16:06
Windows 7 tablet spotted; features web cam.
LOOPRumors
For those who do not want to wait for its April 3rd release, a device has surfaced that offers a bulkier, more expensive alternative to the iPad. The Ezy Tablet PC, a tablet computer with a 10.2” multitouch screen, is available now with 2GB or 4GB of RAM and support through 3G and WiFi. The device’s battery life is just 3.5 hours compared to the iPad’s 10 hours and in weighs in at a hefty 2.2 pounds but features a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam. The Ezy Tablet PC is powered by a 1.6G Intel processor compared to the iPad’s 1G A4. The device runs the Windows 7 operating system and sells for $679. Ezy Tablet’s specifications include: 10.2inch touch screen support multitouch with display resolution 1024x600 Broadband Internet access, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi + WCDMATD-SCDMACDMA2000 Processor: Intel Atom N270 1.6G Chipset: Intel 950 Storage: 2.5inch 250GB SATA RAM: 2GB DDR Integrated 5 in 1 SD/MS/MMC/ms-pro card slot support capacity up to 8GB 1.3mega pixels built-in webcam. Integrated high-...
13:36
Game Developers Conference dedicates mobile summit to iPho...
LOOPRumors
The annual Game Developers Conference is taking place this week with heavy importance given to the iPhone OS platform. GCD traditionally invited thousands of game developers to a two to four day summit consisting of panels and sessions, including GDC Mobile, which dealt with all mobile and handheld devices. Realizing the iPhone OS platform’s meteoric rise, the GDC board has now decided to conduct the iPhone Games summit on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in San Francisco. Sessions will include: - How to keep your game on top of the charts - Fastest path from concept to Top Paid - A big dash of success: how to capture the female iPhone gamer The release of the long-awaited iPad tablet device on April 3 will surely provide further spark to gaming on the iPhone OS.
13:22
9 out of 10 Oscar doc nominees choose Apple.
LOOPRumors
Out of the ten nominees in the categories of Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short at the 82nd Academy Awards Sunday, nine used Apple’s Final Cut Studio to make their films. Using programs like Motion and Final Cut Pro, which are included in the Final Cut Studio package, filmmakers are able to produce highly refined rough cuts enabling editors to present a very polished final product. CNet reports that Kim Roberts, editor of Documentary Feature nominee, Food, Inc said, “I tend to work on a lot of independent documentaries and Final Cut Pro is affordable and a good application. It’s been a natural choice for filmmakers.” Filmmakers cite the program’s ability to handle an array of tasks, the range of tools included in the studio and its relative inexpensiveness as reasons for choosing Final Cut for their projects. “Final Cut Pro can do most everything that the million dollar systems can do and it costs you below $15,000 (this includes the cost of a Mac, Final Cut and video...
11:54
CBS to stream live March Madness games over 3G.
LOOPRumors
For the first time ever iPhone users can enjoy the NCAA tournament live through AT&T’s 3G network. The latest version of the CBS March Madness application, expected to be released today through iTunes for $9.99, will stream games live anywhere with AT&T 3G coverage. The application will provide live radio broadcasts, overtime and potential upset alerts, and an interactive tournament bracket with real-time scores. The 2009 version of the March Madness app offered live streaming video and audio of all 63 games in the tournament but only in areas with WiFi. “Last year, we were the first to do a live sporting event with the March Madness app, and since then the appetite for video and live video has grown massively for us…We one-upped ourselves,” said GM of CBS Mobile Rob Gelick, according to paidContent.org. “Now people can stay connected regardless of where they are.” While CBS plans to offer a free, limited version of the app for the Blackberry, the iPhone will offer complete...
10:39
Valve Officially Announces Steam and Game Library Coming t...
MacRumors
Valve Software today officially announced that it is bringing its Steam game distribution platform, as well as its own library of games, to Mac OS X next month. Steam and Valve's library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team ...
07:38
Apple Cracking Down on "Cookie Cutter" App Store...
MacRumors
TechCrunch discusses a picture that is being pieced together from reports from App Store developers suggesting that Apple is looking to crack down on "cookie cutter" iPhone applications that offer little...

Sunday March 7

22:54
First iPad ad airs during 82nd Oscar Awards. (video)
LOOPRumors
Apple aired the first iPad ad during the 82nd Annual Oscar Awards show tonight. Steve Jobs was also spotted at the Oscars this evening.
17:58
Apple Airs First iPad Commercial During Oscars, Steve Jobs...
MacRumors
Apple just aired their first iPad commercial during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. A description of the ad by Doju: The commercial was just on, depicted a person using the iPad on their lap, going through the various features (iBook...
12:31
O2’s iPhone plan references “video calls.”
LOOPRumors
The “key features” list for the iPhone plan offered by O2’s British division seems to provide evidence that video conferencing will be a feature of the next-generation iPhone. The list of features indicates that “UK video calls” will cost iPhone users on O2’s British network the “same as voice calls” or “20p/min.” Redmond Pie reports that in addition to a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and a faster processor, the iPhone 4G could likely support video calling. The latest version of Apple’s iconic smartphone is expected to be announced at the World Wide Developer’s Conference this June.
08:15
Valve's Portal 2 Confirmed for Mac
MacRumors
After Valve's series of teaser images, it's now been revealed that their upcoming sequel Portal 2 will also be coming to the Mac. The above image comes from a series of scans from the latest issue of Gameinformer magazine which carries a cov...

Documentation Scanner

Wednesday March 10

06:15
Poll updates - iPad results and new Intel/PowerPC su...
Mac OS X Hint...
Two poll updates today. First, I've posted a new poll about the mix of Macs you're presently using -- Intel (via Apple), Intel (via build-it-yourself), PowerPC, or some mix of the above. I'm curious to see not only the mix of Intel and PowerPC, but how many are using self-built Intel powered Macs. The second poll update is that the iPad interest poll has now closed, with just over 10,000 votes. Of those who voted, nearly 44% are planning on buying iPad 1.0 when it comes out in April, with a virtual tie (two votes' difference) between then cheapest and the most expensive versions for the most-popular spot (11.3% each). In total, Mac OS X Hints readers will be buying at least (as the poll didn't allow for more than one purchase) $2.92 million worth of iPads! An additional 29% claim they'll buy the second gen...

Tuesday March 9

15:52
iLife: Troubleshooting Basics
Apple - All P...
If one of your iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iDVD, or iWeb) isn't performing normally, try these basic troubleshooting steps to resolve the situation. Please note that these steps aren't exhaustive and are not intended to cover any specific issue.
13:42
TA10-068A: Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabil...
US-CERT Alert...
Original release date: March 09, 2010 Last revised: -- Source: US-CERT Systems Affected Microsoft Windows Microsoft Office Overview Microsoft has released updates to address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. I. Description Microsoft has released security bulletins for multiple vulnerabilities in Microsoft Movie Maker, Microsoft Office Producer 2003, and Microsoft Office Excel. These bulletins are described in the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for March 2010. Microsoft notes that affected versions of Microsoft Movie Maker were either included with Microsoft Windows or available as an optional download. II. Impact A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code or cause a vulnerable application to crash. III. Solution Apply updates from Microsoft Microsoft has provided updates for these vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for March 2010. The security bulletin describes any known issues related to the...
13:10
MainStage 2.1: Release notes
Apple - All P...
MainStage 2.1.1 is an update to MainStage 2, which is part of the paid upgrade to Logic Studio (2009).
09:44
iPod Hi-Fi: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Apple - All P...
Learn the answers to some of the frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding iPod Hi-Fi.
07:30
Disable AirPort when Ethernet cable is connected
Mac OS X Hint...
At my office, I needed to find a way to turn of the wireless network when someone plugged in their network cable. I also did not want them to be able to turn the wireless network back on until the network cable was unplugged. I came up with the fallowing solution. I created a launchDaemon called com.companyname.ethernetmonitor, and saved it in /System » Library » LaunchDaemons: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Label com.companyname.ethernetmonitor ProgramArguments /Library/Scripts/CompanyName/turnOffAirp...
07:30
Clean .DS_Store, .Trash, and ._resources files prior...
Mac OS X Hint...
Frequently we need to clean a directory before zipping it or copying it to an external USB drive to be used by Windows or Linux users. Apple Finder has the custom of populating directories with those unavoidable .DS_Store files, volumes with .Trashes, and some files (especially pictures) with ._resources. The following interactive script will safely remove these files prior to copying. #!/bin/sh # bash script to clean (delete) Finder .DS_Store, .Trashes and ._resources # Use cleandsstores.sh # juanfc 2010-03-06 if [ $# != 1 ] then echo "ERROR: use\n\t`basename $0` dirtoclean" exit 1 fi res=`find "$@" \( -name ".DS_Store" -or -name ".Trashes" -or -name "._*" \) -print` if [[ -z $res ]]; then echo "nothing to delete" exit 0 el...

Monday March 8

15:59
iPhone: Locating the serial number, IMEI, and ICCID...
Apple - All P...
If you need to find your iPhone serial number, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, identifier, or ICCID number this article shows you several different ways you can locate it.
15:37
iPhone: Improve backup and restore times by reducing...
Apple - All P...
Pictures and screenshots taken with the iPhone are stored on the Camera Roll. When you sync or perform a restore, iTunes creates a backup the contents of your iPhone, including the Camera Roll. The more pictures or other multimedia files that are on the Camera Roll, the longer a backup or restore will take. Improve backup and restore times by regularly importing the contents of your Camera Roll, and then sync that content back to the iPhone.
15:20
iPhone or iPod is not recognized properly by compute...
Apple - All P...
When drivers required by a PC's USB interface are not installed correctly or are out of date, an iPhone or iPod connected to this computer may not be recognized properly. One or more of the following may occur: Device does not appear in iTunes Device cannot be restored in iTunes An exclamation point appears next to the device's entry in Device Manager iPod screen does not display "Do Not Disconnect" screen when connected to the computer (does not apply to iPhone and iPod touch) iPod is not recognized as a disk in My Computer (does not apply to iPhone and iPod touch) Products affected iPhone, iPod touch, and iPod (all models) Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows 7  
13:46
Mac OS X Server: Cannot join Windows 7 to a Mac OS X...
Apple - All P...
Microsoft Windows clients running Windows 7 and Windows servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 cannot join a domain mastered by a Mac OS X PDC.   Windows Vista and earlier clients and Windows 2008 and earlier servers can join the domain as expected.
13:36
Mac OS X Server v10.5: SMTP Relay is enabled for loc...
Apple - All P...
When you set up the Mail service on a new installation of Mac OS X Server v10.5, SMTP is restricted by default to the local subnet. Machines on this subnet can relay through your mail service without authenticating. In some cases, such as a home office server connected to the Internet via cable modem or DSL, the "local subnet" may include other cable or DSL subscribers outside the home office.
13:35
Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6: How to use Migration Assistant...
Apple - All P...
You can use Migration Assistant to transfer your files and important settings from an older Mac to a new one.
11:27
Mac OS X v10.6: Issues after restoring a Mac from a...
Apple - All P...
If you use "Restore System From Backup…" to restore a Time Machine backup to a different Mac than the original Mac used for the backup, issues such as these may occur: Graphic anomalies may appear during startup, or may follow the mouse pointer AirPort or Bluetooth may not be available The Mouse System Preference pane may not display the Magic Mouse or its features Brief graphic distortion may appear when shutting down an iMac Other startup issues
07:30
Create SuperDuper! backup reminders using Growl and...
Mac OS X Hint...
I use a couple of shell scripts that use Growl to remind me to run SuperDuper backups. The first script (backupcompleted) is set to run after each SuperDuper backup. It writes a timestamp into an invisible file called .lastbackup in my home directory; here's the script: #!/bin/bash # This script is run by SuperDuper each time a backup is completed. date "+%s" > ~/.lastbackup The second script (lastbackup) reads the .lastbackup file and calculates the time elapsed. It takes one argument: the desired number of hours to wait before showing an alert. If the elapsed time is greater than the time suppled to the script, it shows a Growl notification. If the elapsed time is greater than twice the time suppled to the script, it also increases the priority of the alert (so you can set a diferent colour for it in Growl preferences). Here's the script: ...

Whitepapers & Screencasts

Mar 05
Tips for managing your money
You probably don't like paying taxes. Who does? But everyone really hates preparing their taxes. Now IGG Software (http://www.iggsfotware.com) -- which makes personal and small business apps for Mac OS X -- is offering a white paper on the "Top 10 Tips for Managing Your Money Year 'Round -- Or When Tax Time Looms." It serves up suggestions on how to mind your finances year round to make tax prep a lot easier.
Mar 05
White paper looks at Mac adoption in the enterprise markets...
Mac adoption is rising, even in the enterprise, and IT departments and support staff can't afford to ignore the Mac any longer. A recent survey by the Enterprise Desktop Alliance (http://www.enterprisedesktopalliance.com), an organization that helps IT departments integrate Macs into the corporate environment, shows that 66% of 322 IT administrators from large organizations with both Macs and PCs stated that their organization expects to increase the number of Macs in their sites. Additional responses show management priorities and organizational approaches to managing Macs. The respondents cited user preference, increased productivity, and ease of technical support as leading reasons for choosing Macs. Increased Mac usage can only mean increased Mac-related support issues. Unfortunately, most remote support products simply don’t support Macs at all, and many of the ones that do don’t work through firewalls. This means that if you needed remote support for a Mac outside the company...
Mar 05
White paper looks at using PCIe attached storage
The highest performance, expandable, directly attached storage can be achieved at low cost by moving the server or work station’s PCI bus “outside” and taking advantage of the benefits of the architecture when adding storage subsystems as needed, according to JRM (http://www.jmr.com/), which specializes in storage technology. JRM -- which has written a white paper (attached) on the subject -- says that to make use of high performance, high capacity, low cost SAS3 and SATA disk drives for mass storage, a bridging interface is required from PCI Express (PCIe) to SAS. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a serial connection that operates more like a network than a bus. Instead of one bus that handles data from multiple sources, PCIe has a switch that controls several point-to-point serial connections. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is a computer bus that moves data to and from computer storage devices such as hard drives and tape drives. combines high-end features from fiber...
Mar 04
Disk vs. Tape
Many CTOs and system/network administrators feel that tape is something to be avoided. But a new white paper by the Tolis Group (http://www.tolisgroup.com) -- which makes back-up solutions for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and Unix systems -- begs to different. The Tolis Group says that no longer is tape a performance, usability, or cost gating factor. In fact, the white paper says that LTO-4 technology is actually faster than the filesystems that feed it, the reliability is excellent, and the life expectancy of written tapes is measured in decades. The same can be said for other fine tape formats, though throughput performance varies. What's LTO? It stands for Linear Tape-Open, a magnetic tape data storage technology . IT developed jointly by IBM, HP and Seagate as an open alternative to the proprietary Digital Linear Tape (DLT). Developed jointly by IBM, HP, and Seagate. LTO-4 cartridges offer a native capacity of 800GB per reel -- twice that of the previous generation. Its sustained...
Mar 04
Screencast looks at Xtand AluPad
The Alupad from Just Mobile (http://www.xtand.net/products/show/productid/10) is an US$49.99 mouse pad with an anodized aluminum surface ensuring lasting durability with style. It's designed to complement Apple's Magic Mouse and Apple Aluminum Keyboard. The pad supports all optical mice for precise movements. The design complements Mac desktops and laptops. What's more, non-slip feet keeps Alupad staying secure on your desk. Aesthetically, it matches just about any aluminum "flavored" Mac, from the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the Mac Pro. To view a video about the Alupad, go to: http://www.youtube.com/myjustmobile .
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testing of Macintosh hardware - Definining configuration standards for OS X - Development of tools and scripts to support the management of Macintosh systems... From washingtonpost.com - 10 Mar... Read more
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Job title Apple Store Leader Prog Business Group United States-Retail Job description In this 24-month rotational program you'll spend time working in key store... Read more
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...the IS&T online store team to bring about creative solutions in support of Apple 's online business. You will manage and oversee development of the online store which... Read more
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testing of Macintosh hardware - Definining configuration standards for OS X - Development of tools and scripts to support the management of Macintosh systems... From washingtonpost.com - 10 Mar... Read more
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