TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

Apps for the 2011 Academy Awards

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST

With the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences 83rd Annual Academy Awards (or as we like to call them: The Oscars) airing this Sunday on ABC, iOS-using movie fans may want to enhance their viewing experience with a few Apps for their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

So, we've put together a little list of some that might help you out, with descriptions from the App developers themselves and some context from us.

First off, if you're interested in the fashion and glamour of the Oscars as well as who wins what award (and we know you are), you'll need Live from the Red Carpet. This app "...lets you experience total VIP access to Hollywood's hottest events, right at your fingertips."

"You'll have instant access to hundreds of E! articles, breaking down everything from the winners and upsets to the shows' best (and worst) moments. Plus, connect with Twitter to share your VIP access with the world."

This App is pretty useful, especially if you're that person who always wants to know what everyone is wearing. Also, its a great way to keep up on that all-important celeb gossip and party info so even if you can't really be there, you can at least feel like it for a bit.

Next up is an App that no certified cinefile can be without: IMDB (AKA The Internet Movie Database). With this App you have instant access to the entire online database of movie knowledge. Do you want to know which movie from 2001 starred Colin Firth and Hugh Grant? It's in there. How about what movie won Best Picture in 1977? It's in there.

Or, how about what was director David Fincher's first movie? In there. All the information you could ever want about every actor, actress, movie, director or writer (well, who cares about the writers really?) is in the IMDB database. It's an essential tool in any Oscar watcher's aresenal.

Moving on, we've got an App from the folks bringing us the Oscar telecast, ABC Digital. This App, called Oscar Backstage Pass, gives fans "access to live streams from exclusive cameras placed throughout the Red Carpet, the Kodak Theatre and the Governors Ball so you can go beyond the tv broadcast and watch more live Oscar action as it's taking place."

That sounds like fun, right? Who knows, maybe one of those cameras will catch someone doing something they shouldn't. Or better yet, a fight.

Finally, you can download the "official" Oscars App which, among other things, lets you "make Oscar predictions, access complete Nominee lists, get insider information on each film, watch viewable trailers and more." You can also "compare with your group of friends and share your picks through Facebook, Twitter, text and email."

We've got our predictions ready, how about you?

The Oscars air on Sunday at 8E/5P on ABC.

Apps for the 2011 Academy Awards originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon iPhone hands-on: better calls, slower data, the iPhone experience you know and love

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

If you've been living on an island somewhere, you might not know that Verizon Wireless now has the iPhone 4. It's available starting tomorrow from Apple and Verizon retail outlets, as well as both companies' web stores. However, as I'm an existing Verizon customer, I was able to take advantage of the pre-order that took place last week.

Thanks to that and to staying up until midnight to order, I now have the new Verizon iPhone in my hands and have had a chance to use it for about 48 hours. Naturally, in addition to using it for my everyday smartphone needs, I've also done some testing and comparisons to its AT&T counterpart.

Continue reading Verizon iPhone hands-on: better calls, slower data, the iPhone experience you know and love

Verizon iPhone hands-on: better calls, slower data, the iPhone experience you know and love originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Outlook 2011 attachment problems, Apple TV alternatives, deleting apps and more

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST

Welcome back to another edition of Ask TUAW. Each week this column will feature questions from readers and answers by the TUAW team. If you have questions for the following week's column, drop them in the comments, and I will do my best to get to them.

When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). If you're asking an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad question, be sure to note which model and version of iOS you have.

For this week we've got a new batch of questions about Microsoft Outlook attachments, Apple TV alternatives, keeping an iPad, getting an iPod touch, deleting applications and more.

Lee asks:

I'm using Outlook 2011 on my iMac and many times when I receive attachments in emails the attachments are Winmail.dat files and I can't open them. How can I fix this?

Unfortunately, those 'winmail.dat' files are created when the sender's Exchange server or Outlook for Windows client encodes the file attachment; if they've got your contact flagged in Outlook as someone who can receive 'Rich Text' messages, you'll get the Outlook PC-only winmail file.

Fortunately, there is the free TNEF's Enough utility; this tool will quickly and easily decode your inbound attachments. (For those who are using Mail.app, there's also the US$29.95 LetterOpener for Mail.app, which integrates winmail.dat handling and several other Outlook-savvy tools into a Mail plugin. There's a free iPhone/iPad app, too.)

You can also contact those people sending you the attachments and ask them to change the format they use when sending email to you.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Outlook 2011 attachment problems, Apple TV alternatives, deleting apps and more

Ask TUAW: Outlook 2011 attachment problems, Apple TV alternatives, deleting apps and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: MacBook Pro cleaning, Mac maintenance, streaming video and more

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST

Welcome back to another edition of our weekly Q & A column, Ask TUAW. Each week this column will appear with questions and answers. If you have questions for the following week's column, drop them in the comments, and I will do my best to get to them.

When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). If you're asking an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad question, be sure to note which model and version of iOS you have.

For this week we've got a new batch of questions about how to stream video from a Mac, proper laptop cleaning, finding applications easily, Mac maintenance and more.

Julie asks

I'm new to the Mac after switching from Windows. Are there any maintenance tasks like defragmenting the hard drive I should perform to keep it running smoothly?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: MacBook Pro cleaning, Mac maintenance, streaming video and more

Ask TUAW: MacBook Pro cleaning, Mac maintenance, streaming video and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Canceling Mobile Me, iPhone backups, playing Windows media files and more

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Welcome back to another edition of our weekly Q & A column Ask TUAW. Each week this column will appear with questions and answers. If you have questions for the following week's column, drop them in the comments, and I will do my best to get to them. I won't be able to answer them all every time, so please, be patient.

When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). If you're asking an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad question, be sure to note which model and version of iOS you have.

For this week we've got a new batch of questions about how to cancel Mobile Me, getting Windows Media files to play on a Mac, backing up an iPhone and more.

Rusty Cantor asks

How do I cancel Mobile Me? I can't seem to figure it out. I'm 83 and this tech life is driving me nuts.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Canceling Mobile Me, iPhone backups, playing Windows media files and more

Ask TUAW: Canceling Mobile Me, iPhone backups, playing Windows media files and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: iPad books, Android iTunes sync, printing without applications and more

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST

After some time off, we're back with an all-new edition of your favorite Q & A column: Ask TUAW. As before, I will do my best to answer your Mac and iDevice-related questions with as much candor and accuracy as I can muster.

In case you've forgotten, here's how things work: each week this column will appear with questions and answers. If you have questions for the following week's column, drop them in the comments, and I will do my best to get to them. I won't be able to answer them all every time, so please, be patient.

When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). If you're asking an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad question, be sure to note which model and version of iOS you have.

To kick things off this week we've got a new batch of questions about how to get books on your iPad, syncing music to an Android phone, changing the location of your iTunes library, printing without opening applications, and more.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: iPad books, Android iTunes sync, printing without applications and more

Ask TUAW: iPad books, Android iTunes sync, printing without applications and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, iPhoto library, upgrading an iMac hard drive, gifts for a recent Mac convert and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Hello and welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. We hope you had a great Thanksgiving! This week we've got more questions from readers, such as using Target Disk Mode, moving your iPhoto library to an external drive, putting a bigger hard drive in an iMac, sharing a Magic Mouse, good gifts for a recent Mac convert, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify).

And now, on to the questions.

Kishen asks:

While I connect a 2009 MacBook Pro to a new 27" iMac in Target Disk Mode, is there any way to use the iMac's wireless keyboard and mouse to control the MBP?

When your computer is connected to another computer in Target Disk Mode, the connected computer is effectively just an external hard drive and nothing more. So no, there isn't a way to control the MacBook Pro because it isn't functioning as an actual computer when in Target Disk Mode. It is simply another hard drive and behaves accordingly.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, iPhoto library, upgrading an iMac hard drive, gifts for a recent Mac convert and more

Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, iPhoto library, upgrading an iMac hard drive, gifts for a recent Mac convert and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A dozen daily deals, day four

Chris Ullrich — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST

The Daily Deals just keep on coming from our friends at DealNews.com. Even though today is Sunday, you still have time to hit the Internets and pick up some more great deals for all your holiday shopping needs. After all, there are only 25 shopping days until Christmas, so you better get busy.

Here are the deals for today:

MacMall: [Cyber Monday] MacMall 3-Day Apple Cyber Monday Sale: Up to 25% off Apple systems, more after rebate

Staples: [Cyber Monday] Staples Cyber Monday Savings Event available online

Adorama: [Cell Phones] Unlocked Sony Ericsson W350A Walkman Phone for $70 + free shipping

Best Buy: [USB Hard Drives] Seagate Expansion 500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for $50 + $6 s&h

Staples: [USB Hard Drives] Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for $140 + free shipping

TigerDirect: [Projectors] 3M MPro110 LED Pico Projector for $155 + free shipping

Walmart: [Office Furniture] Orion L-Shaped Desk with Hutch for $89 + $29 s&h

Staples: [22-Inch LCD] Acer 22" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display w/ HDMI for $110 + free shipping

Dell Home: [20" - 22" LCD TVs] Vizio 20" 720p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $165 + free shipping

ZipZoomFly: [USB Drive Enclosures] Thermaltake BlacX eSATA / USB 2.0 Docking Station for $20 after rebate + free shipping

Best Buy: [Plasma TVs] Panasonic Viera TC-P58S1 58" 600Hz 1080p Plasma HDTV for $1,480 + free shipping

6ave: [40" - 42" LCD TVs] LG 42" 120Hz 1080p LCD HDTV w/ NetFlix, YouTube for $788 + free shipping

A dozen daily deals, day four originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even More Daily Deals, Day 3

Chris Ullrich — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Here they are once again: some more daily deals from our friends at DealNews.com for you to jump at and get as much of your holiday shopping done as quickly as possible. Hey, I feel your pain, I don't like to go out to crowded stores either, so these online deals are just the ticket to take care of your friends and family and save a few bucks in the process.

Don't say we never gave you anything. Now, on with the deals!

iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] 9000 BC EP2 for iPhone downloads for free

Staples: [Office & Supplies] Staples printable coupon: 10% off one item in-store

B&H Photo Video: [Office Software Suites] Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student for $75 + free shipping (updated)

RadioShack: [iPod Accessories] Boynq WakeUp iPod Speaker & Alarm Clock for $30 + $6 s&h

OfficeMax: [15" And Smaller LCD TVs] Pegasus 7" Portable Widescreen LCD TV w/ HD tuner for $80 + free shipping, more

OfficeDepot: [802.11n Wireless] D-Link 802.11n Wireless 4-Port Router for $20 + free shipping

Buy.com: [Bluetooth Headsets] LG HBS-250 Bluetooth Stereo Headset for $22 + free shipping

6ave: [40" - 42" LCD TVs] Samsung 40" 1080p Widescreen LCD HDTV for $599 + free shipping

HP Home & Home Office Store: [Color Inkjet Printers] HP Officejet 6000 Inkjet Printer for $40 + free shipping

Abt Electronics: [iPod Accessories] Sony Micro Shelf Stereo System with iPod Dock for $94 + free shipping

Walmart: [Digital SLR Cameras] Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 18-55mm lens, bag for $499 + $1 s&h

Overstock.com: [Office Furniture] Black Wood Corner Computer Desk for $100 + free shipping, more

Even More Daily Deals, Day 3 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we have questions about arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows via Boot Camp, AirPort networks, iMac rotation support, replacing the video card in an iMac, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Leah asks:

Is there a better way to arrange icons on my iPhone than by trying to drag them around on the phone itself. I can't seem to get it to work very well and usually mess it up.

Apple provided a better way of organizing iPhone icons in iTunes 9. In the past, I always tried to arrange my icons on the iPhone the same way you do, by dragging them around on the device itself. This isn't as easy as it sounds, especially if you have larger hands.

Now, with iTunes 9 or higher installed and your iPhone connected to your Mac or PC, launch iTunes, click on the Applications tab, and you will not only see the apps you have installed on your iPhone, but the iPhone screens and the placement of the icons as well.

Simply drag the icons around in iTunes and put them in the desired order. The next time you sync, the icons are arranged identically on your iPhone as well. It's so much easier.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more

Ask TUAW: Arranging icons on the iPhone, installing Windows on a Mac, Airport networks and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Choosing an iPhone, used Mac disposal, wake from sleep, podcast software and more

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about getting an iPhone, disposing of old Macs, wake from sleep issues, exchanging a recent Mac purchase, podcast hardware and software, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Tom asks:

I'm considering an iPhone but want to know what my options are. Is the iPhone the best smartphone if I'm a Mac user?

The short answer to that question is "Yes." The iPhone is the best smartphone for you if you use a Mac. It's designed by Apple to work seamlessly with your Mac and iTunes and for the most part, it does. For Mac users the iPhone offers the best user experience possible and keeps you, at least hardware-wise, entirely in the Apple fold.

That said, the iPhone itself may or may not be the best smartphone for your needs. One drawback is that it's only available if you are an AT&T wireless customer. So, unless you are already an AT&T customer, or are willing to switch, you are out of luck.

Plus, using AT&T on a daily basis can sometimes be challenging as it's network occasionally has issues. Also, the coverage in some areas is not quite as good as other networks such as Verizon -- even in larger cities such as Los Angeles, where I live.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Choosing an iPhone, used Mac disposal, wake from sleep, podcast software and more

Ask TUAW: Choosing an iPhone, used Mac disposal, wake from sleep, podcast software and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Emptying the trash, migration assistant, Safari bookmarks, Mac mini server and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about the Trash, Migration Assistant, Safari Bookmarks, Mac mini Server, Windows and Mac file sharing and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

CL asks:

Is there any way to just delete a single item in the trash can? I only see options to empty the entire trash can?

Unfortunately, as they say in computer parlance "That's a feature, not a bug." At the moment, Apple only allows you to go for an "all or nothing" approach to emptying the trash. Of course, the best solution is to only put things in the trash you want to delete. But I'm sure you already thought of that.

Lamdavidortez asks:

I will be upgrading from my current February 2007 Macbook Pro that is running Leopard to a new October 2009 MacBook Pro that is running Snow Leopard I plan on transferring my data via the "Migration Assistant" but being that this is the first time I perform this type of operation ... I want to make sure that I do not run into any issues.

Are there any precautions I should take? My other concern is that I backup my current 2007 MBP via Time Machine to my Time Capsule. What will happen to that data once I switch over to the 2009 MBP? Will I still have access to that data? Will it be rendered useless?

Migration Assistant has been around for several years now and has evolved and become better with each successive update. There was a time when I would never consider using it and did things the manual way by copying each and every thing I needed individually from an old Mac to a new one. Now, Migration Assistant is good enough and, more importantly, reliable enough to be used on its own. So, migrate away.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Emptying the trash, migration assistant, Safari bookmarks, Mac mini server and more

Ask TUAW: Emptying the trash, migration assistant, Safari bookmarks, Mac mini server and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Apple Store Online is back, so what's different?

Chris Ullrich — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST

Today, as is frequently the case, the Apple Store Online was taken down and modified to feature new goodies from our favorite fruit-flavored technology company. Now that the store is back up and ready for your ordering pleasure, what's changed?

Well, Apple introduced a whole slew of new and updated products today. Here's the highlights of what's new and different at the store:

New iMac - Revamped to include, among other new features, LED-Backlit screens, dual core and quad core processors and up to 16GB of memory.

New MacBook - Entry level MacBook redesigned to feature unibody enclosure, built-in battery and LED-Backlit screen.

New Mac mini - Revised to include more memory, larger hard drives and with a special "Server" version featuring dual 500GB hard drives and Snow Leopard Server.

New "Magic" Mouse - Gone is the trackball, replaced by a seamless top-shell design that acts as one button or two, It also features a Multi-Touch surface with gesture support.

New Apple Remote - Not as exciting as new Macs but still, kinda cool if you like to control your Macs, um, remotely.

Other items of note reflected in the new products today include the removal of Firewire 400 from all Macs and the removal of the last Mac with a replaceable battery. End of an era folks, end of an era.

Be sure to keep it right here at TUAW all day for in-depth reports on all of today's Apple announcements.

The Apple Store Online is back, so what's different? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Photoshop alternatives, Windows and Mac file sharing, application switching and more

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about Photoshop alternatives, Windows and Mac file sharing, graphics problems in Snow Leopard and quickly switching between applications, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Matt asks:

I don't have the money for something like Adobe Photoshop. What's the best, cheaper alternative?

For my money, the best Photoshop alternative at the moment, and one I use every day, is Pixelmator. It has many of the same features as Photoshop like layers, masks, level and curve adjustments and a whole lot more. Plus, it's a relatively simple program to use and is written to take advantage of your Mac's GPU when doing image processing.

It also supports most image file formats including Photoshop PSD files and has many useful Automator actions built in. Actually, because Pixelmator is such a good app and takes care of most of my needs, it's pretty rare that I ever open Photoshop anymore. Sadly, Pixelmator is not free, but at US$59.00, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Photoshop.

Some other alternatives include the open source GIMP and its more Photoshop-like cousin GIMPShop. You can also check out Acorn, or if you need very minimal tools like crop and resize, ImageWell. Of course, Apple's built-in Preview.app can handle many of these low-end tasks as well.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Photoshop alternatives, Windows and Mac file sharing, application switching and more

Ask TUAW: Photoshop alternatives, Windows and Mac file sharing, application switching and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, energy saver prefs, iTunes sharing and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about target disk mode, energy saver prefs, Safari file issues, iTunes album artwork, iTunes sharing and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

computergeeksjw asks:

I have an old iMac Blue G3. The fliesystem failed, but I can't reformat because there is a disc in the slot-loading drive. I tried the tricks I know like Open Firmware (gives me a weird error) and holding in the mouse button (I hear the drive spin up but nothing else happens). I have a newer G4 Quicksilver. Will it be able to boot up into Target Disk Mode even though the filesystem is damaged? (Then I can try to repair with Disk Utility or reinstall from there) or will it fail like a normal boot does?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, energy saver prefs, iTunes sharing and more

Ask TUAW: Target disk mode, energy saver prefs, iTunes sharing and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th?

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST

Even though the iPhone, in its several iterations, is most likely the smartphone of choice for the discerning Mac user, that doesn't mean Mac users choose the iPhone exclusively. In fact, RIM's BlackBerry device still commands a sizable share of the smartphone market. So, if you happen to be one of those people who use a Mac and a BlackBerry, wouldn't it be nice if both of your devices could work together by synchronizing files, music, video and more seamlessly via an application supplied by RIM themselves to maximize compatibility?

Well, that dream may become a reality according to a tipster who gave the scoop to the folks at the Boy Genius Report. According the the Boy himself, RIM is poised to give Mac and BlackBerry users something they've sorely needed: a brand new, updated and super cool BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th.

This information isn't 100% confirmed, but Boy Genius does let it slip that he's using a previous build of the software and that it is "running beautifully." So, I guess that's a good sign this is probably one dream that will, in fact, come true -- and very soon.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac on September 25th? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New 'Pub Finder' app helps you find a Guinness

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST

Some of us here at TUAW have been known to hoist a pint or two of a frosty beverage now and again. When doing so there's quite a few selections from which to choose to satisfy that urge for something cold and refreshing. One choice often made by me personally is Guinness. But what if I want a Guinness after a long day but can't figure out where to go and get one? Fortunately, there's an app for that: the Guinness Pub Finder.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of Guinness on September 24th they have created a new iPhone and iPod Touch app that will, according to the company, allow "consumers of legal drinking age across the US (to) join the celebration and more easily raise a toast with friends in the future." Which, of course, sounds great unless you happen to live in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas or West Virginia where the app is forbidden by law from working. Yeah, I don't get it either.

Even if you can use this app for its intended purpose, it actually isn't just about helping you find a drink, although it does do that pretty well. Here's a breakdown of its main features:

o. Locate a Pint - uses GPS to locate the consumer and the pubs serving Guinness nearest to their current location. It then provides name, address and telephone number of the pub chosen, access to directions, and an email setup to invite friends to join.

o. Know Your Pint - provides a tutorial on the 6 Steps to Creating the Perfect Pint, and also includes a ruler that can be used to measure your pint's head.

o. Fun Extras - includes animated screensavers, a countdown clock to the "Arthur's Day" celebrations and a live feed of the latest news regarding the Guinness 250th Anniversary celebration

o. Responsible Drinking - Provides consumers with the DRINKiQ resource which shares important facts about alcohol to aid responsible choices.

The app is US$1.99 in the iTunes store and its available now.

New 'Pub Finder' app helps you find a Guinness originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Backing up photos, remove Boot Camp partitions, Snow Leopard and Windows 7 and more

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about backing up photos, removing a Boot Camp partition, Snow Leopard and Windows 7, Bluetooth menus, iPhone search results and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Han asks:

What is the best way to archive photos without using iPhoto? I have about 100 GB of original photos and I have been saving them on my NetGear ReadyNAS Duo. Sometimes I leave the photos in the folder and just copy it to the NAS or sometimes zip them before I put it in the NAS. What I am worried about is if I zip the folder and somehow the zip file itself gets corrupted, is it harder to recover them? Is it better to just not zip and leave it as a folder then copy it to the NAS?

Because photos are pretty important and almost impossible to recreate I take my photo workflow and backup seriously. First, I never import photos directly into iPhoto and instead, using a card reader, copy the files to a folder I have labeled specifically for these photos which resides in my main "Photography" folder.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Backing up photos, remove Boot Camp partitions, Snow Leopard and Windows 7 and more

Ask TUAW: Backing up photos, remove Boot Camp partitions, Snow Leopard and Windows 7 and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard and Microsoft Exchange first impressions

Chris Ullrich — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:00:00 EST

One of the things touted in this latest incarnation of Mac OSX was its ability to work with Microsoft Exchange using Apple's Mail, Address Book and iCal applications. Well, I'm happy to report that Snow Leopard does, in fact, work pretty well with Exchange 2007.

Granted, this is only after limited testing, and it doesn't, as yet, work as well as Outlook for Windows, but it is a step in the right direction. One thing to consider before we go on is the fact that Snow Leopard will only play nicely with Exchange 2007 so if you don't have it or are not planning on having it, these new Exchange features in Snow Leopard won't work for you. You'll have the same access to Exchange 2003 from Mail (via IMAP) and Address Book that you did under Leopard.

That said, these new features of Snow Leopard offer a nice alternative to using the previous version of Entourage or the new Web Services Edition. Fortunately, if you are running Snow Leopard and Exchange 2007, setup could not be easier. All you need to do is launch Apple's Mail and select "Preferences" from the "Mail" menu.

Read on for more...

Continue reading Snow Leopard and Microsoft Exchange first impressions

Snow Leopard and Microsoft Exchange first impressions originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, keychains and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, the importance of keychains and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Scott asks

When I sync my iphone (3.0.1) with my Mac (10.5.8) and have "sync notes" checked in iTunes, I cannot find my notes synced anywhere in Mail.app - including under "Notes"...what am I missing?

To sync 'Notes' first make sure you have your iPhone connected to your Mac with iTunes open. Then, be sure to have "sync notes" checked in iTunes. Also, be sure to check "Sync Notes" in the MobleMe Sync options in System Preferences.

Then, sync your iPhone as normal. After that, check in Apple's Mail program under "Reminders" to see if the notes appear. You need to click on the little triangle to show the contents of Reminders. If they don't appear, close Mail and open it again. Also, restart your iPhone completely before trying another sync.

Also, keep in mind Notes sync works only via USB and not over the air. If you are not seeing notes appear, be sure you sync your iPhone via USB with your Mac or they won't appear at all. If the notes still don't appear in Apple Mail, it might be time to give a call to Apple tech support because at that point the problem may be something larger than the scope of what this column can answer.

Evan asks

I bought a new MacBook Pro last month, which came installed with Leopard and iLife '09. My purchase was within Apple's "Up-to-Date" program timeline, so I was able to order a copy of Snow Leopard for $9.95. I know Snow Leopard doesn't come with iLife '09 but considering my new computer already comes with iLife '09, I'm not going to have to re-buy iLife, am I?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, keychains and more

Ask TUAW: Syncing notes, iLife '09, iTunes downloads, keychains and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Recovering video files, moving from an old Mac to a new one, MobileMe Sync and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly Mac troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about recovering video files from a corrupt SDHC card, transferring files from an old Mac to a new one, MobileMe sync, virtual machines and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Matt asks:

I recently shot video with a camera that records it to an SDHC card. Unfortunately, that card is now corrupted and when I try to download the video to my computer, it doesn't show up. How can I recover the video from the card?

I know how you feel because this exact thing happened to me recently. We shot a bunch of great video interviews for another site I work with, and one of the SDHC cards became corrupt. Fortunately, all was not lost but recovering the video, at least for me, was a two step process.

This is the method that worked for me, even though there are probably other tools available; I was under a deadline and needed to get this worked out fast so looking for the best free apps or the best deal wasn't an option. However, it did work and all the video was recovered with no loss.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Recovering video files, moving from an old Mac to a new one, MobileMe Sync and more

Ask TUAW: Recovering video files, moving from an old Mac to a new one, MobileMe Sync and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: iTunes libraries, Mac data recovery, Snow Leopard on older Macs and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

We're back with another edition of Ask TUAW. This time around we've answering questions about iTunes libraries, Mac data recovery, Snow Leopard on older Macs and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Daneel asks:

I'm running OS X 10.5.7 and Windows Vista (via Bootcamp) on my iMac 24". I was wondering if there was any way in which I could make the iTunes apps in both Windows and Mac use the same iTunes library. File access is not a problem as I've got the ntfs-3g driver on the mac side and mac drive on the PC side.

I have my iTunes library on an external hard drive. To make iTunes use this particular folder, I create an alias of the folder on the external drive and replace my iTunes folder located in Users> "User Name" > Music with the alias. iTunes has no problem with this setup.

You should be able to do the same thing in both the Mac and Windows versions of iTunes. Just set an alias of the iTunes folder you want to use in Windows pointing to your Mac iTunes library and you should be good to go.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: iTunes libraries, Mac data recovery, Snow Leopard on older Macs and more

Ask TUAW: iTunes libraries, Mac data recovery, Snow Leopard on older Macs and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Taming unruly windows, updating OS X, booting from an SD card, and more.

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST

We're back with another edition of Ask TUAW. This time around we've answering questions about how to resize windows too big for the screen, "compulsive" updating, booting from an SD card, Open GL in Snow Leopard, and more.

As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.

Steph asks:

I recently switched from an iMac to a MacBook Pro and now many of my windows are sized to big for the screen of my laptop. I can't reach the corner to resize them and clicking the "Plus" sign in the corner doesn't help. What can I do?

Fortunately, this is very easy to fix. Instead of clicking on the "Plus" sign (the green button) in the top left corner of the window you are trying to resize, Option-click it and the window will fill your new screen size instead.

John asks:

I realize there's a method for updating Mac OSX all the time and sometimes I get the window popping up saying I have updates. Should I always update immedietly when it tells me I have some?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Taming unruly windows, updating OS X, booting from an SD card, and more.

Ask TUAW: Taming unruly windows, updating OS X, booting from an SD card, and more. originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Recording audio, troubleshooting wireless issues, website hosting and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:30:00 EST

We're back with another edition of Ask TUAW! This time around we've got questions about recording audio, troubleshooting wireless issues, the best place to go for web hosting and more.

As always, your questions and suggestions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions!

Petre asks:

I just bought a new guitar and I'm thinking about using it to record some of my songs with my new iMac. Any recommendations for a good method of connecting a guitar so I can record?

Fortunately, you're in luck, in that the Mac is made for people trying to do just what you want to do. There are several options to accomplish this and it really just depends on how good you want the audio to sound and what your budget is. To get the best possible quality, you're going to need a few items.

First, you're going to need some recording software. Fortunately, that's already on your iMac as you can use Apple's GarageBand for all your entry-level recording needs. Second, you'll need some sort of digital audio interface that connects your guitar's output to a USB or Firewire interface on your iMac. Some good ones to take a look at include the M-Audio MobilePre, the M-Audio Firewire Solo or the Line 6 Tone Port series. Then, all you need to do is plug your guitar into the converter and the converter into your Mac and you're good to go. Of course, you'll want to be sure and update the driver to the latest version and read the manual to get the most out of your converter.

If you're not as concerned about audio quality, you can also use a converter cable, such as the Monster iStudio Link, to connect your guitar directly to the mic input on your iMac. That will allow you to record directly into your Mac but won't give you the best possible audio quality or level of customization you could get from a digital converter.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Recording audio, troubleshooting wireless issues, website hosting and more

Ask TUAW: Recording audio, troubleshooting wireless issues, website hosting and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 20 May 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, streaming movies and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:30:00 EST

Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're answering questions about taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, watching movies streamed from a Mac media server and more.

As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.

Jim asks:

Hey guys, Jim here. I am running OS X 10.5.6 on an Intel 2.4Ghz MacBook Pro (2007 model). Lately, this thing has been getting really, really hot. I've tried a lot of things, fresh OS X installs, laptop cooling pads, but none of it seems to work. A quick Google search told me that my laptop's innards might be clogged with dust, blocking its airflow. I'm thinking of opening it up and using some compressed air to clear out some of the dust. What do you guys think?

Opening up any computer can be sometimes lead to difficulty; opening up an Apple laptop even more so. Apple packs their computers into as small a casing as possible. Consequently, they are sometimes difficult to work on and may require a trained Apple tech.

That said, you can take the MacBook Pro apart successfully if you are very, very careful and make sure to keep good track of all the parts and pay close attention to what you are doing. Of course, Apple always recommends you seek help from an authorized repair facility but if you decide to take the plunge, the guides provided by iFixit are especially useful. Check out their MacBook Pro guides here to find your specific model.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, streaming movies and more

Ask TUAW: Taking apart a MacBook Pro, installing Leopard on a Mirror Door G4, streaming movies and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 06 May 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: tracking your iTunes purchases, quitting processes, doing a clean OSX install and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EST

Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're taking questions about tracking your total iTunes purchases, forcing processes to quit, doing a clean install of OSX and more.

As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.

Dima asks:

I would like a way to require a password when the computer wakes from sleep, but not to require a password for just the screensaver. Is there a way for me to accomplish this?

The only way I know of to accomplish this would be to modify the plist file for the screensaver via the Terminal. However, unless this is really important to you, I would not advise doing it. If you want to do it, proceed at your own risk.

Either way, here's the command to enter in the Terminal if you want to try it.

defaults -currentHost write com.apple.screensaver askForPassword -int 0

This will set it so the computer only asks for a password after waking from sleep and not after the screensaver.

Frank asks:

In my finder window, next to my drive's name, there's a number in parentheses. it used to be a (2), but recently it changed to a (3). What does this number mean?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: tracking your iTunes purchases, quitting processes, doing a clean OSX install and more

Ask TUAW: tracking your iTunes purchases, quitting processes, doing a clean OSX install and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Bypass the registration screen, install Leopard Server on the new Mac Mini, iPhone 2G AppleCare options and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST

Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're taking questions about bypassing the Apple registration screen, installing Leopard Server on the latest Mac Mini, AppleCare for iPhone version 1.0 and more.

As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.

Tom asks:

When I do an install of OSX or after bringing home a new Mac I get to a screen that asks me to register. If I don't want to fill out that information in is there any way to bypass it?

Sure. Once you get to the registration screen simply press the Command and Q keys and you will see a new dialog box come up. On it, one of your choices will be to "Skip" the registration process. Simply click it and you'll move on to the next screen to create your user account and finish the setup of OSX.

John asks:

I have a Leopard Server installer DVD from last year and I'm having trouble installing the software on one of the new Mac Minis. It won't even boot the Mini nor will it work when I try upgrading OSX client to server. Once it installs I get endless restarts, etc. What's the best way to accomplish this?

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Bypass the registration screen, install Leopard Server on the new Mac Mini, iPhone 2G AppleCare options and more

Ask TUAW: Bypass the registration screen, install Leopard Server on the new Mac Mini, iPhone 2G AppleCare options and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas bans Microsoft Vista from Government Use

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

We're not Microsoft Windows haters here at TUAW. In fact, Microsoft makes some very fine products for the Mac including some very useful ergonomic keyboards and some terrific mice. They also make a pretty decent suite of Office applications that many Mac owners use each and every day.

Heck, a guy even made a movie using Microsoft products, which we featured right here at TUAW. However, after seeing that the entire State of Texas has decided that Microsoft Windows Vista should not be used in any government agency, we might have to take a minute and reconsider our opinion on the giant from Redmond's flagship product.

According to Sen. Juan Hinojosa, vice chairman of the Finance Committee who proposed the ban, he did so because "of the many reports of problems with Vista." He goes on to say that:

"We are not in any way, shape or form trying to pick on Microsoft, but the problems with this particular [operating] system are known nationwide. And the XP operating system is working very well."

That's all well and good and for many of you Windows XP may, in fact, be working without problems. However, given the well-known issue with Vista, perhaps the Texas legislature is on to something? Who knows, given their current mindset, maybe they'd be interested in switching everyone in government to the Mac?

You hear that Apple, Texas needs you to give them a call.

(Thanks for the tip Melissa)

Texas bans Microsoft Vista from Government Use originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel

Chris Ullrich — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:00 EST

Chances are, if you're reading TUAW, you most likely love all things Apple and Mac. You may also be an iPhone or iPod touch user. And, like many Apple lovers (including myself), you may also be a fan of comic books. If so, what if you want to take your comics on the road with you and don't want to lug around a huge stack of titles? Instead of having to take paper comics, what if you could digitize them and read them on your handheld?

Well, those are just the type of questions I hoped to have answered by attending the Comics on Handhelds panel at South by Southwest Interactive last week. On the panel were Douglas Edwards, CEO of UCLICK, Molly Crabapple of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Dave Bort, a Google/Android Engineer, Rantz Hoseley, CEO of the LongBox Group and Richard Stevens of "Diesel Sweeties" fame. The panel was moderated by comics creator and mobile comics proponent Dan Goldman.

First off, Goldman started with a definition of what comics are: stories told with words and pictures. He explained that comics can be in any form and do not have to be on paper in order to be considered "comics."

With that out of the way and hoping to provide a "common starting place," Goldman next went into a discussion of formatting comics for mobile devices and alternative delivery methods, using Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield's "FreakAngels" as an example; it works well on a mobile device despite being made originally for the printed page.

"Change in platform demands change in format," Goldman said.

Continue reading TUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel

TUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW @SXSW Interview: Pangea Software CEO Brian Greenstone

Chris Ullrich — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:45:00 EST

Pangea Software have made some of the most successful and fun software for the Mac. Games like Cro-Mag Rally, Nanosaur and their most popular title, Bugdom, have propelled them into the upper echelon of Mac game developers. More recently, Pangea is making games for the iPhone and iPod touch and have, in fact, made the decision to develop for those devices exclusively.

I sat down with Pangea's CEO Brian Greenstone during SXSW to talk with him about his favorite games, making games for the iPhone and why he thinks its easier to make games for the iPhone and iPod touch.

CHRIS ULLRICH: Hey Brian, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. First question for you about games on the iPhone is why the iPhone?

BRIAN GREENSTONE: Originally I chose the iPhone because i wanted to see my games on a mobile device. For years i had been trying to get my games ported to Gameboy or something and companies would always say they would do it then it would never happen. They would just vanish.

I just wanted a mobile version of a game so the iPhone came along and I decided to do a couple games for it. I didn't care so much if we lost money, i just wanted to do it. Of course it turned out well and now it's what we do full time.

CU: You're focusing exclusively on the iPhone now?

Continue reading TUAW @SXSW Interview: Pangea Software CEO Brian Greenstone

TUAW @SXSW Interview: Pangea Software CEO Brian Greenstone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comic Books on the iPhone: 'Super Kaiju Hero Force'

Chris Ullrich — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST

If you're reading TUAW you most-likely are a fan of all-things Apple including the Mac and the iPhone. You may also be a fan of comic books. If so, the folks at Crispy Comics have a deal for you.

Now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch directly from the iTunes store, Crispy Comics is producing a comic book series specifically for those devices. And did I mention the comic is absolutely free.

Here's the scoop directly from Crispy Comics:

"Super Kaiju Hero Force" is the comedic story of 3 young fanboys who win a trip to Japan and end up trapped inside the monster costumes used on the hit live-action superhero show "Colossal Man." This first 11-chapter series follows Garganturo, Democules, and Mungor in the exciting origin to the series.

The series, which will be released on a bi-weekly basis and runs between 20 and 25 pages, will tell a continuing story culminating with a chilling cliffhanger. Then, once the original series runs its course, the Crispy Comics will release a "Special" edition with features such as creator commentary and iPhone wallpapers.

The "Special" edition will come with a minimal cost which is yet to be determined. The company also plans to release the "Special" edition on other platforms such as Android in the Summer of 2009. Check it out and if you do, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.

Comic Books on the iPhone: 'Super Kaiju Hero Force' originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW: On the ground @SXSW

Chris Ullrich — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST

Over the years, Texas has been associated with many things: big guns, big hair, big hats, big hearts and pretty much big everything else. In recent years, Texas, and in particular the city of Austin, has also been known for hosting one of the fastest growing film, music and interactive festivals in the country. That festival is, of course, South by Southwest. Or, as its more commonly known to those "in the know": SXSW.

Along with our pals at Download Squad, TUAW will be bringing you some of the sites, sounds and Mac-related news from the Interactive and film parts of the fest starting today and running through next week. So, check back here at TUAW and at Download Squad for all the latest.

Also, be sure to follow our team of intrepid bloggers on Twitter to get even more scoop on the fest. Here's the details: Nik Fletcher - @nikf, Christina Warren - @film_girl, Grant Robertson - @grobertson, Victor Agreda, Jr. - @vagredajr and me, Chris Ullrich - @chrisu.

TUAW: On the ground @SXSW originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Featured Video: Dennis Liu's 'Pretending to Work'

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST

As you may recall, previously on TUAW we brought you innovative filmmaker Dennis Liu's extremely creative music video for The Bird and the Bee's song "Again and Again." Next, I managed to snag an interview with the busy Liu while he was preparing one of his next projects.

And now, though the miracle of the modern Internets, I can bring you his new project right now. Liu has been hard at work creating a fascinating new piece using a tool many of us use each and every day: Microsoft Office. And, of course, his trusty Mac and OSX. But instead of doing another music video, Liu decided to branch out and instead created a short film highlighting how easy it is to pretend to work while at the office.

Creativity is where you find it and Dennis Liu proves you can find it just about anywhere if you know where, and more importantly, how to look. Check it out.

TUAW Featured Video: Dennis Liu's 'Pretending to Work' originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Review: The Haptique hard shell case

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

As someone who usually likes to go "commando" with his tech, I was highly skeptical as to the usefulness, at least to me, of the new Haptique hard shell case for the 13" aluminum MacBook. Made by the good folks at Uniea out of ABS plastic and designed to be hard on the outside, but soft and protective on the inside, this product is made to help keep your precious laptop from getting any dents, scratches or other blemishes that a somewhat soft and shiny Mac can get while in use.

After using the product for a couple weeks and it most-definitely providing protection for my MacBook in several situations, I'm happy to say that my reservations about it were completely unfounded. In fact, this product has the virtue of being not only very useful, but rather unique in that it works exactly as advertised -- not something you always see with products these days.

Removing the Haptique from the packaging and attaching it to my shiny aluminum MacBook could not have been easier. You just slide the MacBook into the bottom piece, then attach the top piece and that's it. Once done, your MacBook fits snugly inside its hard protective case ready for the bumps and grinds of your daily life.

The designers have, of course, seen fit to include spaces for all of the ports on the side of the MacBook and for the optical drive. Plus, they've made sure to provide ample holes for ventilation in the rear so your Mac doesn't have a problem with overheating. All in all, the Haptique hard shell case is a great product made all the better by its simplicity. Much like Apple products, it just works. And really, that's all you can ask.

The Haptique from Uniea comes in several colors including blue, green, black and pink and retails for $49.95. That may seem like a lot to some, but to protect your investment in a MacBook that sells for at least $1299.00, its a rather small price to pay for this level of protection. Check 'em out.

TUAW Review: The Haptique hard shell case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Recovering pictures, updating Facebook, iPhone battery life and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW: the place where we try to answer all of your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're taking questions about recovering pictures from corrupted compact flash cards, Twitter for the iPhone, extending iPhone battery life and more.

As always, we welcome your suggestions for this week and questions for next time. Please leave your contributions in the comments for this post. When asking questions, please include which Mac and which version of OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.

Okay, let's get to it!

Nick F. asks:

I've got some pictures I need to recover from a corrupted Compact Flash card. What's the best, preferably free, software to do it on my Mac?

This is one of those questions that can get frustrating if you're a Mac user. On the Windows side, there are a few good (and free) pieces of software that can help you accomplish this task. For the Mac, you're choices are mostly limited to pay applications -- at least if you want good results. Fortunately, these pay applications are very good.

For my money, the piece of software that works best when you want to recover pictures from a bad CF or SD card is Klix ($29.95) from Joesoft. I've used it quite a bit with clients, and on my own bad cards, and each time it performed flawlessly, recovering every lost picture from the card. Other alternatives for the Mac include CardRaider ($19.95), PhotoRescue ($29.00) and Data Rescue II ($99.00).

I realize that $29.95 for a piece of software might seem like a lot to some people. But if the software is easy to use and works as advertised, I think it's a worthwhile investment in the long run. Besides, it would cost far more to go back and take those vacation pictures you lost on the card again when you could buy Klix and recover them from your bad card instead. Given that, a program like Klix is actually a bargain.

If you've got Windows running on your Mac (either through Boot Camp or virtualization) and you've had good luck with one of the tools from the other side of the fence, let us know in the comments.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Recovering pictures, updating Facebook, iPhone battery life and more

Ask TUAW: Recovering pictures, updating Facebook, iPhone battery life and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask TUAW: Removing printer drivers, renaming partitions, running your Mac with the lid closed and more

Chris Ullrich — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Once again, it's time for another edition of Ask TUAW, where we try to answer all your Mac and Apple-related questions. This week we're taking questions about keeping your Mac laptop running with the lid closed, removing unwanted printer drivers, renaming partitions and the best way to prepare for a clean install of Mac OSX.

As always, we welcome your suggestions and questions for next week; they should be left in the comments to this post. When asking a question please include which machine and which version of Mac OS X you're running. If you don't specify, we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac.

Okay, let's get to it.

Our first two questions today come from Quasimoto, who asks:

On my Macbook, is there a way I can keep my computer running without it having to automatically fall sleeping when I have my lid closed?

Absolutely. Just head on over to developer Semaja2's website and download the InsomniaX utility. This handy piece of software will keep your Mac running with the lid closed and prevent it from going to sleep. One thing to consider if you do decide to use this software, however: Even though Apple supports using a MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air and a Powerbook G4 with the lid closed, you may want to keep an eye on your laptop to help prevent any potential overheating issues. This is especially true if you plan on never letting the computer go to sleep using a tool like InsomniaX.

Quasimoto also asks:

I have a partition running Windows 7 perfectly, but when I'm on OSX, it shows that partition as 'Untitled' on my desktop. Is there a way to rename that partition to say 'Windows'?

Sure. It's as simple as using a tool you already have on your Mac: Disk Utility. Just go to Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility and double-click to run. Once open, select your Windows partition and then simply replace 'Untitled' with the name of your choice.

Continue reading Ask TUAW: Removing printer drivers, renaming partitions, running your Mac with the lid closed and more

Ask TUAW: Removing printer drivers, renaming partitions, running your Mac with the lid closed and more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iPhone is magic

Chris Ullrich — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:00:00 EST

We love the iPhone, you love the iPhone (most of you do anyway) and so do millions of other users around the world. It's a great device that empowers users to do almost anything from making calls to checking email, from updating your status on Facebook and Twitter to sending text messages and running a host of cool applications.

All of this shiny goodness is made possible by the vision and technological mastery of the engineers and designers at Apple. Or, so we thought. Turns out the iPhone's greatness has pretty much nothing to do with vision or the skills and intelligence of Apple's engineers and designers. It's all about the magic.

Click through to see what I mean courtesy of the folks at G4's Attack of the Show.

Continue reading The iPhone is magic

The iPhone is magic originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macworld 2009: Interview with VMware's Peter Kazanjy

Chris Ullrich — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

In the world of desktop and enterprise virtualization for the Mac, two companies, VMWare and Parallels, top the list. Each offers a suite of products designed to meet the needs of virtualization aficionados -- whether they need to run a rack full of servers or just use Outlook to check email.

At last week's Macworld Expo, TUAW's Michael Rose visited the VMWare booth and spoke with the company's Peter Kazanjy to get all the latest info on their VMWare Fusion product for the Mac and some news that will be of particular interest to those of you wanting to play some cool Windows-only games.

Click through to check it out.

Continue reading Macworld 2009: Interview with VMware's Peter Kazanjy

Macworld 2009: Interview with VMware's Peter Kazanjy originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Macworld 2009: Interview with Parallels' CEO Serguei Beloussov

Chris Ullrich — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Even though we love our Macs here at TUAW and, if you're reading this site, you probably do to, there's some things you might have to use Windows for occasionally. So, what's a Mac user to do in that situation? Well, most of you probably choose one of the popular virtualization applications available for the Mac to accomplish this.

One of these popular solutions is from a company called Parallels, which recently updated its Parallels Desktop for Mac application. During last week's Macworld Expo, TUAW's Michael Rose visited the Parallels booth to speak with Parallels' CEO Serguei Beloussov and get all the latest on the company's plans for "virtual" domination.

Click through to see what he found out.

Continue reading Macworld 2009: Interview with Parallels' CEO Serguei Beloussov

Macworld 2009: Interview with Parallels' CEO Serguei Beloussov originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Rock Paper Scissors' for iPhone and iPod touch

Chris Ullrich — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

If you've ever had an argument with someone about who gets to play Rockband first or had to decide who gets the coveted "shotgun" seat in the car, this application is for you. Released this week by Zerion Software, Rochambeau for the iPhone and iPod touch settles these kinds of arguments the old-fashioned way -- with rock, paper or scissors.

A bit of info from Zerion's press release about the game:

The new game is based on the classic version of game play, but is far from the run-of-the-mill variety. Choose one of the cartoon characters and play against the capable computer adversary, or one of your friends on your AIM buddy list. Shake your iPhone or iPod touch to make your moves, and then watch the game unfold with creative animation and sound effects. Choose your cartoon player and play against the capable 'bot' or friends across the globe.

Some of the game's features include local or online play, two online play modes, AIM chat support, multiple character selection, different game lengths, different settings for shake sensitivity and it works over EDGE, 3G or WiFi.

Rochambeau for iPhone and iPod touch is free (but ad-supported) and available through Apple's App Store. Check it out.

'Rock Paper Scissors' for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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