The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gif The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iPhone: The Musical]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-the-musical/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-the-musical/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-the-musical/#commentsFiled under: ,

David. Pogue. Is. Awesome.

Aside from the obvious reasons -- creator of the "Missing Manual" book series, New York Times Circuits columnist, all-around-great guy -- he does one thing no other tech pundit can pull off: he parodies well-known songs and turns them into tech classics. He usually debuts a new one every year at Macworld, and each year they get better and better.

And Pogue's done it again, this time creating an original music video called "iPhone: The Musical" about the drudgery of owning a Phone of Yesteryear, longing for an iPhone, and finally making the glorious purchase. Both the song and video -- some of it recorded with guest singers at the Apple Store Fifth Avenue iPhone launch -- are incredibly clever and humorous, and definitely worth a watch.

You can also check out some of Pogue's older song parodies at his website.

TUAWiPhone: The Musical originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneparodypogueThu, 05 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Tip: iPhone "Will" Contractions]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-keyboard-trick-will-contractions/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-keyboard-trick-will-contractions/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/05/iphone-keyboard-trick-will-contractions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I kept running into this: I wanted to type contractions like "he'll" or "we'll," but they were a hassle: without the apostrophe, they're both words on their own, so the keyboard software wouldn't recommend the contraction. I'd have to click the punctuation button, then hit the apostrophe to form the right word.

But nope, there's a better way: simply add a third "l." Type "helll," and the keyboard software will recommend "he'll." Type "welll," and the keyboard software will recommend "we'll."

Sweet.

[Update:] This also works with "were" and "we're." Type an extra "e" ("weree") and the software recommends "we're."

TUAWTUAW Tip: iPhone "Will" Contractions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneiphone keyboardIphoneKeyboardtipsThu, 05 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oakbrook Store Wrap-Up]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/oakbrook-store-wrap-up/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/oakbrook-store-wrap-up/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/oakbrook-store-wrap-up/#commentsFiled under:

Long day. We're all tired. But you can't end any great 13-hour-in-line experience without a quick wrap-up gallery, to, you know, give you the feel of actually being there. I didn't have a camera on hand, so Charlie Deets was kind enough to shoot a plethora (+2 vocab points) of photos for me.

All in all: great experience. Sure, I could've slept until 1 p.m., saw Ratatouille, had a nice dinner, and showed up at one of the many deserted at&t stores in the area at 5:45 and left with an iPhone at 6 p.m. But honestly: where's the fun in that?

Check the gallery below for some simple photo fun.

Gallery: Oakbrook Store iPhone Release

Appeasing the CrowdJust Waitin'StaringTurned AwayLine Maze

TUAWOakbrook Store Wrap-Up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneoakbrookFri, 29 Jun 2007 23:16:00 EST<![CDATA[In The Line: Carrier poll]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/in-the-line-carrier-poll/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/in-the-line-carrier-poll/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/in-the-line-carrier-poll/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fulfilling my duties as Intrepid Blogger, I took a quick poll of the people in line here at the Apple Store Oakbrook to see which cell carrier they're on, and if they're on another (Verizon, Spring, etc.), were they willing to actually cancel -- with the fee -- their contracts.

Of the 42 people I polled (i.e. those who didn't give me the don't-talk-to-me look of death), the results came in:

  • 27 people were on AT&T.
  • 8 people were on another carrier, but didn't need to cancel their contracts (either they pawned them off or were not on contracts in the first place).
  • 7 people were on another carrier and flat-out canceled their contract, fee and all.
  • 13 times I mistakenly said "Cingular" instead of "at&t".
  • 14 people have read and/or are regular readers of TUAW.
Please note that this poll is completely scientific and 100% reflective of the iPhone purchase demographic.

TUAWIn The Line: Carrier poll originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneFri, 29 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Add New Ring Tone image file in iTunes 7.3]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/add-new-ring-tone-image-file-in-itunes-7-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/add-new-ring-tone-image-file-in-itunes-7-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/add-new-ring-tone-image-file-in-itunes-7-3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A nosy -- but helpfully so -- reader scrounged around the iTunes package files and discovered an image in the Help directory (/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/iTunes Help/gfx/) called "ringtone.gif." The image is a plus sign next to a bell -- add a ringtone, anybody? This helps confirm disputed reports that you can actually add custom ring tones to your iPhone.

For the record, this doesn't mean the feature actually exists (yet) in iTunes -- just that it's likely, if not now, then in a future update. Guess we won't know 'til 6ish tonight.

Thanks Judson!

TUAWAdd New Ring Tone image file in iTunes 7.3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonering tonesRingTonesFri, 29 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple posts "Finger Tips"]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-posts-finger-tips/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-posts-finger-tips/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-posts-finger-tips/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple loves them their videos: first the iPhone Guided Tour, then the Keyboard video, and now ten separate, easy-to-digest videos -- cleverly titled "Finger Tips" -- demonstrating various iPhone functions and offering some pointers to make good use of your new multi-touch monster. Tips include:

  1. Silence the ring.
  2. Delete a message.
  3. Create your favorites list.
  4. Assign a ringtone.
  5. More song controls.
  6. Browse in Cover Flow.
  7. Magnify to edit.
  8. Mail preferences.
  9. Set a passcode.
  10. Reset your iPhone
You can also watch all the Finger Tips in one video.

Thanks, Fraser Drew!

TUAWApple posts "Finger Tips" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finger tipsFingerTipsiphoneFri, 29 Jun 2007 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iPhone accessories and prices]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-iphone-accessories-and-prices/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-iphone-accessories-and-prices/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/apple-iphone-accessories-and-prices/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple today published a page listing all Apple-branded iPhone accessories and their prices. A brief overview:

  • The Bluetooth Headset falls in line with the rumored $129 price tag, and also comes with an iPhone Dual Dock and the Travel Cable. The headset "delivers up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time."
  • The basic iPhone Dock will set you back $49
  • The "Dual Dock," which plugs into the iPhone and charges the Bluetooth Headset also costs $49
  • The standard stereo headset will set you back $29
  • The iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable, which lets you charge your headset while you're syncing your iPhone (it connects to the bottom of the dock connector): also $29
  • And the iPhone TTY Adapter, designed to accommodate the iPhone's recessed headphone jack and let you plug in any .5mm headphone into the iPhone is a simple $9 [Update: Reader Mike corrects my stupid mistake: the TTY adapter is designed to work with TTY systems, "which allows the deaf to communicate via telephone." But it can double as an adapter for headphones.]
Apple has also officially introduced the "Works with iPhone" logo: "Look for the 'Works with iPhone' logo," says Apple, "to find electronic accessories designed to connect specifically to iPhone and certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards."

Also on the page are details about compatibility with current iPod accessories: Many accessories, like chargers and speakers, will work, even if they haven't been "certified" for use with the iPhone. The iPhone will warn you when you plug in an "uncertified" accessory, and will offer to switch to Airplane Mode, which would eliminate possible audio interference from the accessory -- but also prohibit you from making calls.

Check all the deets at Apple's site.

Thanks Fraser Drew!

TUAWApple iPhone accessories and prices originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesiphoneFri, 29 Jun 2007 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Well. I'm in line. (Oakbrook Mall)]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/well-im-in-line/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/well-im-in-line/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/29/well-im-in-line/#commentsFiled under:

Alright. I'm here. I'm set. 5 a.m. No wasting time, man, no wasting time.

I'm sitting in front of the Apple Store Oakbrook here in Oak Brook, IL., along with sixteen other crazies. The first in line, a nice lady by the name of Jamene Reynolds, got here at 3-freakin-a.m. The rest trickled in a little after that. It's no Michigan Avenue line, but it continues to grow with each passing minute. One kid's getting paid $15/hour, saving a space. Another says if he doesn't get an iPhone, "he'll have to go streaking" (but he may have been joking...?). iPhone Hysteria seems ripe.

We managed to organize ourselves into a stable line -- the Apple Store employees are no help as of yet; they stand at the door, mocking us with their insider-ness -- and things seem orderly. And we're all excited.

Stay tuned with TUAW and our beloved bros at Engadget for the bestest iPhone coverage on the 'net. Only thirteen hours to go. Let iDay (lame) begin!

[Update:] If anyone's at -- or will be at -- the Oakbrook store, I'm about the eighth person in line, wearing a black hoodie, probably sitting on the floor, and most likely fiddling on my MacBook Pro. Feel free to say hi! I forgot how boring these lines actually are.

TUAWWell. I'm in line. (Oakbrook Mall) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonelineoak brookoakbrookFri, 29 Jun 2007 06:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Get out of your current cell contract]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/get-out-of-your-current-cell-contract/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/get-out-of-your-current-cell-contract/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/27/get-out-of-your-current-cell-contract/#commentsFiled under:

Thank you, Wired.

The #1 hindering factor in purchasing an iPhone -- at least for most people I know -- is that they're mired in contracts with other, lesser-blessed carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile. And often cancellation fees are steep, too steep to warrant a cancellation just (hah, just) to buy an iPhone. (Imagine tacking $200 to that $600 price tag.) Well, the good folks -- particularly Daniel Dumas -- at Wired has you covered with 8 ethically-questionable-but-incredibly-clever tips to salvage your soul from the wireless devils.

A few of the gems include changing your address to an area where your provider doesn't offer coverage (nulling the contract); demanding the physical paperwork (if they can't produce it you're free); or faking your own death. Check the full article for more tips, details on how to get it done, and the odds of each tip's success.

TUAWGet out of your current cell contract originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell contractcell phoneCellContractCellPhoneiphoneWed, 27 Jun 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac 101: Spring-loaded folders]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/26/mac-101-spring-loaded-folders/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/26/mac-101-spring-loaded-folders/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/26/mac-101-spring-loaded-folders/#commentsFiled under:

Dragging a file from one folder to another is one of the Great Innovations of Modern Times. It's like the web, or sporks. But sometimes it's a hassle: what if you want to drag a file to a folder...inside another folder? Dum dum dummm...

In comes another Great Innovation of Modern Times: the spring-loaded folder. This allows you to drag a file to another folder through a folder hierarchy. Makes no sense? Give it a try:

  1. Click and hold a file to drag it.
  2. Move the file over a folder and wait a few seconds. The folder opens.
  3. Still holding the file, drag it over another folder. That folder opens.
  4. Repeat as necessary.
Release the file when you're in the folder you want, and all the excess folders close out. You can make the process even quicker by hitting the spacebar key when you're hovering the file over the folder, instead of waiting those few second for the folder to spring-load itself.

Nifty, eh?

[Update:] Two more great tips from readers in the comments (they could do this job for me): From serenity: "Another simple one is that you can change the time it takes for the folder to "spring" in the Finder preferences." Hit Cmd+Comma to open Finder Preferences. And another from aptenergy: "Also, if you drag your item out of a folder that's been spring loaded, it will automatically close." Thanks guys!

TUAWMac 101: Spring-loaded folders originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foldersmac 101Mac101spring-loaded foldersSpring-loadedFoldersTue, 26 Jun 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone web apps aren't that bad]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/25/iphone-web-apps-arent-that-bad/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/25/iphone-web-apps-arent-that-bad/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/25/iphone-web-apps-arent-that-bad/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I have a Treo 650 on AT&Tingular. I use the web lots. (So much, actually, that my phone bill came out to $175 last month because I downloaded so much data. Damn you, Google Maps!) The included browser isn't all that bad: especially when I can tap to mobile versions of my most-frequented sites (m.facebook, or m.twitter, for example).

Even with mobile sites, though, and particularly when browsing any-ol' page...well, it's slow.

Crowd: How slow is it?

So slow, OS X's spinning beach ball of death would tire out half way through loading NYT.com!

(Ba dum kish!...?)

Sure, there's a lot of disappointment surrounding Jobs' non-announcement announcement that developers can produce Web 2.0 apps for the iPhone, in place of actual, honest-to-goodness integrated apps a la Apple's own offerings. But Apple's emphasis on the optimization of the web for the iPhone is exactly what the forthcoming iPhone World needs: on AT&Ts paltry EDGE network, how could Apple expect us to fully make use of the full-blown internet via Safari if pages take ages to load?

Continue reading iPhone web apps aren't that bad

TUAWiPhone web apps aren't that bad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneweb 2.0web appsWeb2.0WebAppsMon, 25 Jun 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hold yourself over with the iPhone VR]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/hold-yourself-over-with-the-iphone-vr/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/hold-yourself-over-with-the-iphone-vr/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/hold-yourself-over-with-the-iphone-vr/#commentsFiled under:

What did I do when I was forced, inhumanely, to wait for my slick new (at the time) MacBook Pro to arrive at my door in all its aluminum-y goodness? Why, I turned to Apple's MacBook Pro QuickTime VR to ease the anticipatory pains and tide me over 'til the doorbell rang and the heavenly delivery man made my dreams come true.

Well, if you're desperately eager for the iPhone and canna' take it any longer (imagine that was a bad Scotty impression), then here's some Tylenol-style relief: Apple (finally) posted a QuickTime VR of the lovely device, giving you a 360 view of iPhone in all its glory. Play with it, spin it around, check out all the cool angles and curves -- and quickly hide the window when your wife walks in.

Don't want her getting jealous.

Thanks MikeE!

TUAWHold yourself over with the iPhone VR originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonequicktime vrQuicktimeVrFri, 22 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone can read Word, Excel, PDF documents]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/iphone-can-read-word-excel-pdf-documents/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/iphone-can-read-word-excel-pdf-documents/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/22/iphone-can-read-word-excel-pdf-documents/#commentsFiled under: ,

The title explains it all: Revealed in Apple's new iPhone Guided Tour video is the swanky handset's previously-unknown ability to read Word, Excel, and PDF document e-mail attachments. This alleviates fears to the contrary, and will sure be useful for those business-types On The Go eager for their quarterly profit reports and sweet pie charts and whatnot. But without actual editing capabilities, those business-y people still have something to complain about.

Then again, does anybody actually edit Word/Excel documents on their BlackBerry? (Serious question.)

TUAWiPhone can read Word, Excel, PDF documents originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonemicrosoft excelmicrosoft wordMicrosoftExcelMicrosoftWordpdfFri, 22 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WWDC07: Bust or Boon?]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/wwdc07-bust-or-boon/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/wwdc07-bust-or-boon/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/wwdc07-bust-or-boon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



It's not often I agree with Paul "Argue Cuz I Can" Thurrott, but sometimes he hits the proverbial nail on the head: In one sentence on his blog, Internet-Nexus, Thurrott sums up the WWDC keynote snooze-fest that wedgied some of the Mac community: "And now we know," say Thurrott, "that OS X is as mature an OS as is Windows and, in the end, there's really just not much you can do beyond the evolutionary stuff." If you ignore the "as mature as Windows" bit, you see the inarguable logic: OS X is a beautiful, powerful, and mature operating system. It's feature-rich, stable, and could easily be considered the best operating system on the market today. So why mess with a good thing?

WWDC keynotes are no longer about announcing revolutionary new features of Mac OS X, for the simple fact that we're all revolutioned out. OS X has reached its prime: it does what needs to do, plenty more, and any major revisions could wind up doing more harm than good. So now it's all about the tweaks, the "evolutionary stuff," as Thurrott calls it: refining the Finder, cleaning up the interface, fixing the tedious quirks that have plagued the OS from day one, etc. Jobs can't get on stage anymore and wow the audience with drool-y features like Exposé.

One could easily argue that the keynote was fudged. Jobs may have the power to take even the most mundane and make it sound world-changing: but when (most of) the material is genuinely bland, and uninteresting, and expected, even His Jobness himself can't save it. Maybe the problem here is that Apple doesn't realize it can't wow the general public with the minor OS X tweaks anymore -- that instead, if it wants to publicize the hell out of its WWDC keynotes, it should focus on pro hardware upgrades, on maybe a few new software features that might turn heads, on the new markets Apple's posed to commandeer: mobile, web, etc.; on only the stuff worthy of a Jobsian appearance.

From what I'm hearing, with few exceptions, developers loved WWDC. It's all about the sessions, the learning experience, the dev networking. The keynote, on the other hand, is for the public, for the tech-ignorant media: and this year's WWDC failed to recognize that.

[Update:] Already a reader, theodorelee, makes a point I should've mentioned: I'm referring to the end-user perspective, not the dev perspective. Leopard (like Tiger) is full of drool-worthy developer features. Would be remiss to not mention that.

TUAWWWDC07: Bust or Boon? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>leopardpaul thurrottPaulThurrottwwdcwwdc keynoteWwdcKeynoteWed, 20 Jun 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turn your smartphone into an iPhone-wannabe]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/turn-your-smartphone-into-an-iphone-wannabe/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/turn-your-smartphone-into-an-iphone-wannabe/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/20/turn-your-smartphone-into-an-iphone-wannabe/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stuck with your current smartphone for the remainder of your service contract? Tied in with business? Just can't wait 'til June 29th to get some of that iPhone-y goodness? No worries: Andy Ihnatko has you covered. In his Thursday column for the Chicago (go Cubs!) Sun-Times, Andy lists numerous ways to turn your multi-touchless Phone of Yesteryear into a genuine 'iFaux.' Included in the list are apps like Pocket Tunes (music app), Pocket Player (video app), Opera Mini (browser app), Google Maps (uh, map app), and a swanky service called SimulScribe that gives you a psuedo-Visual Voicemail feature, sending your voicemails to you as text (plus an audio attachment) via e-mail.

Check the fully skinny, and enjoy Andy's trademark humor, in his full article on the Sun-Times site.

TUAWTurn your smartphone into an iPhone-wannabe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google mapsGoogleMapsiphonesimulscribesmartphonesWed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Dock: Apple's Two Cs]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/01/the-dock-apples-two-cs/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/01/the-dock-apples-two-cs/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/01/the-dock-apples-two-cs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Starting this week and continuing every other Thursday, Dan Pourhadi will contribute The Dock, an opinion column on all-things Apple.

"Dan, stop."

I looked up -- there stood my friend Jennifer, shaking her head, a glance of unquestioned disapproval painting her face. It's the same expression she typically shoots me after I tell an offensive joke or make an overt Star Trek reference. But here I did neither.

What's the matter, dear friend?

"Please, stop pinching your phone."

Continue reading The Dock: Apple's Two Cs

TUAWThe Dock: Apple's Two Cs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsiphoneos xOsXthe dockTheDockThu, 01 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Adam Goldstein]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/22/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-adam-goldstein/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/22/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-adam-goldstein/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/22/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-adam-goldstein/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're on a roll: In this edition of TUAW's Mac Moment series, I sit down with Adam Goldstein, the young author of AppleScript the Missing Manual. "But Dan," you ask, puzzled, "what's so special about this particular author?" Just watch the video to find out: he started his book, working for David Pogue, at age 15. He's also an MIT student, a writer for MacDevCenter, and a killer poker player. He even schools me in my own interview (worth a watch just for that). Click here for the direct mp4 version.

TUAWTUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Adam Goldstein originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam goldsteinAdamGoldsteinapplescriptmac momentMacMomentmacworldmacworld07missing manualMissingManualmwsf07Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Chris Breen (Part 2)]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/19/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/19/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/19/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-2/#commentsFiled under: ,


Part 1 was good. Part 2 is even gooder. Check out my continued Mac Moment interview with Macworld luminary Chris Breen, as we discuss the AppleTV, the lack of Mac announcements at Macworld (gasp!), more talk about the iPhone, and Chris's iPod book. (Click here for the original mp4 file.)

TUAWTUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Chris Breen (Part 2) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris breenChrisBreenmacmomentmacworldmacworld07mwsf07Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Chris Breen (Part 1)]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/18/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/18/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/18/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-chris-breen-part-1/#commentsFiled under: ,


In this edition of TUAW's Mac Moment, I speak with Macworld/Playlistmag editor Chris Breen, unquestionably one of the most notable faces at Macworld. In Part 1 we discuss -- what else? -- the iPhone: his impressions, its various realities (and uncertainties), and the Cingular tie-in. (Those looking for the direct .mp4 file can download it here.)

TUAWTUAW Video: A Mac Moment with Chris Breen (Part 1) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris breenChrisBreenmacmomentmacworldmacworld07mwsf07Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Video: A Mac Moment with David Pogue]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/16/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-david-pogue/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/16/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-david-pogue/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/16/tuaw-video-a-mac-moment-with-david-pogue/#commentsFiled under: ,


Continuing our Macworld Mac Moment series, I talk (more or less) to Macworld fave, New York Times' tech columnist and "Missing Manual" author David Pogue. I ask him "three" versioned questions about iPhone, the AppleTV and, of course, the surprising lack of Mac product announcements during the keynote. (He actually got to touch the iPhone. It's worth watching the interview just so you can say "I watched an interview with someone who actually touched the iPhone." Seriously.) Click here to avoid the flash player and download the original format (.mp4) version.

TUAWTUAW Video: A Mac Moment with David Pogue originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david pogueDavidPoguemac momentmacmomentmacworldmacworld07mwsf07netscapeTue, 16 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Mac Compatibility]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/10/maxtor-onetouch-iii-mini-mac-compatibility/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/10/maxtor-onetouch-iii-mini-mac-compatibility/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/10/maxtor-onetouch-iii-mini-mac-compatibility/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lots of news coming out of Macworld, of course, but this one caught my eye: Seagate has announced Mac compatibility with the software for its OneTouch III Mini line of portable USB hard drives. The software offers security (password protection) and standard Backup features -- i.e. schedule backups or utilize the OneTouch button -- but also a great-looking folder-based Sync option: select your Music folder, for instance, on one Mac, back it up on the drive and sync it with the Music folder on another. It's even possible to modify the files on the drive directly, and sync the changes back to your machine.

The drives come in 80GB ($129), 120GB ($169), and 160GB ($229) capacities and are available now. Check out their website for more details, and check TUAW in the near future for a full review.

TUAWMaxtor OneTouch III Mini Mac Compatibility originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hard drivesHardDrivesmacworld07maxtorsyncWed, 10 Jan 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ambrosia releases SketchFighter 4000 Alpha]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/12/01/ambrosia-releases-sketchfighter-4000-alpha/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/12/01/ambrosia-releases-sketchfighter-4000-alpha/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/12/01/ambrosia-releases-sketchfighter-4000-alpha/#commentsFiled under: ,


"Remember those super-cool space ships you doodled on graph paper in Middle School?" asks Ambrosia.

No, I answer. I remember the super-cool space ships I doodled last week in my college Poly-Sci class, though, so I'll play along.

Ambrosia just recently announced their new Mac-only, kinda-space-fighting game, SketchFighter 4000 Alpha. "Kinda," because while it plays like a space-fighter game, the setting isn't space: it's an old doodle-pad, and the ship, enemies, and scenery all take the form of hand-drawn sketches (hence the name). You go around "blasting cute little lady bugs" and other Middle School-esque doodles while exploring and fighting through various challenges. Ambrosia boasts "killer resolution independent OpenGL graphics," "unique two-player gaming mode that's unlike anything you've ever seen," as well as a level editor and online-play. Says our own Scott McNulty: "SketchFighter is loads of fun!"

SketchFighter is $19, and you can download a demo version (you can't do various things, like get past the second boss or create maps) from Ambrosia's website.

[Thanks Shig the Unmentionable!]

TUAWAmbrosia releases SketchFighter 4000 Alpha originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambrosiagamesgamingsketchfighterFri, 01 Dec 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune software review]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/16/zune-software-review/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/16/zune-software-review/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/16/zune-software-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,

So the world has been obsessed with Microsoft's version of the famed "iPod killer," and now that the device is lurking the streets and craftily making its way into the homes of unsuspecting musicphiles, side-by-side comparisons with Apple's products are inevitable.

And yes, we're going to feed the inevitability by providing you with a brief overview of Microsoft's new, unproven Zune software, compared to Apple's battle-hardened iTunes.

As you may have read yesterday, I made the ultimate sacrifice: I paid $250 of my own hard-earned (ha!) money and bought a black Zune, as well as a Zune Marketplace subscription. To review Microsoft's latest foray into the desktop jukebox/music store market, I'm going to post a bunch of screen shots and provide some opinion on its features and functionality.

Click on to read all about the new Zune software...

Continue reading Zune software review

TUAWZune software review originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ituneszuneThu, 16 Nov 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune Marketplace: yuck]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/15/zune-marketplace-yuck/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/15/zune-marketplace-yuck/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/15/zune-marketplace-yuck/#commentsFiled under: ,

Today, I fulfilled my dutiful obligations as an open-minded journalist (ha!)/hard-core masochist and purchased a Microsoft Zune to replace my SanDisk Sansa as my music subscription device of choice. (I am a fan of the subscription model, in case you're wondering.) The Zune device itself is truthfully pretty slick: the interface is responsive and intuitive, not to mention purdy. It's a little bulky, granted, but the outer-casing is smooth and it feels comfortable and "right" in the hand. The controls are a bit sloppy -- plasticky and noisy -- but they work as expected.

My real gripe here, that kinda ruins the deal for me and I'm sure for a lot of you, is the craptacular suckiness of the Zune Marketplace. First, as Engadget adequately reported: install is a pain. I had no errors, but just the amount of work involved was exhausting. Then I bought a Marketplace subscription, and lo-and-behold: some of my -- nay, most of my -- favorite bands are nowhere to be seen. And other albums I've searched for (ie, Radiohead) require that you purchase them, even if you have a subscription. (And the album price isn't even in dollars -- it's in Microsoft's convoluted points scheme.) Some albums -- ie, This Providence -- offer most of the songs for download, but the most popular (in this case, "The Road to Jericho...") you're only able to get if you actually buy the whole album. That leaves me asking: With all of these limitations, what the hell is the point of actually buying a subscription?

So not only have I graciously donated a buck to Universal for simply buying a Zune, they've decided to screw me over by sabotaging the $15/month subscription they're dreadfully eager to impose on customers.

I was cheering Microsoft on here: As I mentioned, I'm a fan of subscription services, and the Zune device isn't so bad. I wanted to see some decent competition, and I want to see Apple add a subscription option to iTunes. But they totally screwed this one up, and no amount of prettiness will save them. Microsoft, fix your Marketplace and your subscription details, then we'll talk. Until then -- stay away. Stay far, far away.

(Stay tuned for my Zune vs. iTunes comparison. Post any questions you'd like me to cover in the comments below.)

TUAWZune Marketplace: yuck originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>marketplacezuneWed, 15 Nov 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OmniWeb on sale, $9.95]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/omniweb-on-sale-9-95/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/omniweb-on-sale-9-95/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/omniweb-on-sale-9-95/#commentsFiled under: ,

I nearly choked on my own excitement when OmniWeb was finally universal, and it seems The Omni Group is making one last push to send me to an early grave: For the month of November, they're offering OmniWeb for a nifty $9.95 -- $20 off the original price.

I know what you're thinking: Why pay for a browser? Because, my friend, it doth rocketh. Workspaces, thumbnail tabs, advanced auto-saving features, site-specific preferences, super-speed...uh...pretty icon...etc.

If you've never used OmniWeb, I suggest giving it a try before November's end; you may like it, and if you do, now's the perfect time get that license.

TUAWOmniWeb on sale, $9.95 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>omniwebThu, 02 Nov 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed touch-screen iPod? [Update: Typo?]]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/confirmed-touch-screen-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/confirmed-touch-screen-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/11/02/confirmed-touch-screen-ipod/#commentsFiled under: , ,



iPodfun.de, a German iPod enthusiast site, did some digging and actually stumbled across a document (PDF) on Apple's own website making mention of a "touch-screen" iPod. It specifically covers the Note feature similar to the current implementation, but states that "other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models." (Emphasis mine.)

Unless Apple is just messing with us -- distinct possibility -- I think this basically all-but-confirms the touch-screen 'Pod's impending release. As if we really needed a botch like this to convince us.

Here again is the link to the actual PDF document (grab it before Apple does!), and you can visit iPodfun.de's original (German) article here.

[Via MacDailyNews]

Update: Several readers are pointing to the MacRumors analysis of the document: It seems to be referencing older Notes features of the iPod, and when it says "all other Notes feature cabailities," it actually means the less-advanced features. And when they say "touch-screen," they actually mean "touch-wheel" a la click-wheel. A typo. All of this over a typo. They probably did it purposely. Pfff.

Chalk it up to excitement, I suppose.

TUAWConfirmed touch-screen iPod? [Update: Typo?] originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 02 Nov 2006 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo notes]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/24/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-notes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/24/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-notes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/24/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-notes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Laurie just covered the release of the new Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros, which tout an impressive 39% speedboost (or so Apple claims). But some of the best new tidbits are hidden inside the press release:

  • All MacBook Pro models now include a FireWire 800 port -- meaning we can all rest assured in the belief that Apple isn't slowly abandoning FireWire after all. Also great news for everyone who purchased FireWire 800 hard drives during the PowerBook G4 reign.
  • The MacBook Pros also support more memory -- up to 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM.
  • Storage capacity has increased, too -- you can get a 200GB HD via Apple's online store.
  • All MacBook Pros also now come standard with a double-layer SuperDrive (I don't remember specifically if these were included in the previously-updated MBP models -- if not, they are now!)
The gap between the MacBooks and MacBooks Pros is constantly growing, as we see Apple pushing the Pros in a more Pro-line direction. At least now it's easier to justify the huge price difference.

Update: Interestingly, Apple also released a MagSafe airline adapter. From Apple: "With a MagSafe Airline Power Adapter, you'll never again worry about losing power while traveling. Just plug it into your airline seat power port and keep your MacBook or MacBook Pro powered up for the entire flight." It comes with two different connectors (EmPower and a 20mm adapter) and costs $59.00.

TUAWMacBook Pro Core 2 Duo notes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core 2 duoCore2Duofirewire 800Firewire800macbook proMacbookProTue, 24 Oct 2006 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[C4 Tip: Drag-and-drop text in Cocoa apps]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-tip-drag-and-drop-text-in-cocoa-apps/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-tip-drag-and-drop-text-in-cocoa-apps/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-tip-drag-and-drop-text-in-cocoa-apps/#commentsFiled under: , ,

During The Grube's UI presentation at C4, he pointed to one particular example of "functional inconsistency" in Apple's software: the discrepancy in results when you drag-and-drop text in Carbon apps (TextWrangler, AppleWorks, etc.) vs. Cocoa apps (TextEdit, Safari, etc.).

When you select text in Carbon applications, you're able to drag the text by simply clicking the selection and dragging it. In Cocoa apps, however, you need to click the selected text and hold the mouse button down for a fraction of a second before you're able to drag it. Your cursor changes from the text selector to the pointer. But clicking and immediately dragging results in you re-selecting the text.

The Cocoa differentiation is a result of NeXT designing a way to enable both dragging and re-selecting, which was carried into OS X.

It's a minor inconsistency, but has frustrated me countless times. Glad that's all cleared up.

Thanks John!

TUAWC4 Tip: Drag-and-drop text in Cocoa apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Oct 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4carboncocoagrubernextSat, 21 Oct 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[C4 commenceth (Day One) [Updated]]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-commenceth-day-one/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-commenceth-day-one/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/21/c4-commenceth-day-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Gee," said the man across the table, clearly pushing for my attention. "You haven't posted anything yet!"

I looked up from my complimentary breakfast muffin, confused.

"You're supposed to be blogging this!"

Oh, right. Good idea.

I'm here in Chicago, Illinois, after traveling a great distance (3 miles) to attend Jon "Wolf" Rentzsch's two-day C4 Mac developers conference. And like every Mac conference before it, it makes me giddy with glee.

Glee.

Let's forfeit the pleasantries and get straight to it, shall we? Click on to read my Day One recap of C4.

Yes, glee.

Continue reading C4 commenceth (Day One) [Updated]

TUAWC4 commenceth (Day One) [Updated] originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 21 Oct 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4 conferenceC4ConferencedevelopersgruberSat, 21 Oct 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition officially official]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/13/ipod-nano-product-red-special-edition-officially-official/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/13/ipod-nano-product-red-special-edition-officially-official/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/13/ipod-nano-product-red-special-edition-officially-official/#commentsFiled under: ,

We really didn't need any more vindication that this product exists -- what with photos of them sitting on store shelves and all -- but Apple would never leave us without a nice official announcement: the officially-dubbed iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is now detailed on Apple's website, verifying all the facts we reported on yesterday ($10 per iPod donated to The Global Fund, same $199 price, it's red!, etc., etc.).

Not much else to add, other than "buy one, you cheapskate -- it's for a good cause." Oh, and check out "The Oprah Winfrey Show" today for what will probably be the official officially official live announcement by Bono and Oprah.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Update: In my haste to get this post out before I had to abandon the computer, I neglected to mention (as reader Greg notes) that Apple will also begin selling new iTunes RED gift cards for $25 (though they don't mention how much is donated to the charity).

TUAWiPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition officially official originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 13 Oct 2006 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipod nanoIpodNanoproduct redProductRedFri, 13 Oct 2006 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple, Bono, Oprah set to announce red iPod nano]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/12/apple-bono-oprah-set-to-announce-red-ipod-nano/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/12/apple-bono-oprah-set-to-announce-red-ipod-nano/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/12/apple-bono-oprah-set-to-announce-red-ipod-nano/#commentsFiled under: ,

Reader Jim Judd tipped us off early, and AppleInsider reports: Just as Think Secret speculated last month, Apple is collaborating with its fave musician-gone-activist, U2 frontman Bono, and Oprah Winfrey (of all people) to release a red iPod nano that will promote an AIDS charity. According to AI, Apple will price the color-of-love iPod for $199, and for each one sold donate $10 to Project Red.

Bono and Oprah will supposedly unveil the new Apple product during tomorrow's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." And since this seems like an official announcement, one of them -- and frankly I don't care who -- better be wearing a black mock turtle neck and jeans.

Update: Reader tom points to an article on the Chicago Tribune website about Bono and Oprah's trip down Chicago's Michigan Avenue, including their visit to the Apple Store, where Oprah "bought 10 new red iPod Nanos." The picture accompanying the article shows the iPods already on the tables.

The real news here, though, is that both Oprah and Bono were at the N. Michigan Avenue Apple Store, which is only ten minutes away from me! Oh man, that's so awesome! They were so close! I'm freaking out, omg!*

*Please don't take that seriously.

TUAWApple, Bono, Oprah set to announce red iPod nano originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidsipod nanoIpodNanoproject redProjectRedThu, 12 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes icon history]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/13/itunes-icon-history/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/13/itunes-icon-history/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/13/itunes-icon-history/#commentsFiled under: ,

Not much to say about this, other than check it out: A Macteens gallery member posted a pictorial history of Apple's iTunes icons, starting from the wonky multi-note CD to the slick blue one gracing us now. Most of us remember these icons pretty well, but it's cool to be able to analyze the subtle differences in each (i.e., how the CDs get more pronounced with each iteration).

TUAWiTunes icon history originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>itunesWed, 13 Sep 2006 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Live "It's Showtime" coverage]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/12/live-its-showtime-coverage/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/12/live-its-showtime-coverage/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/12/live-its-showtime-coverage/#commentsFiled under:

That's right, we will be providing "live" coverage of the Apple "It's Showtime" event...sorta. None of the TUAW team is actually at the event, but we'll be using our quick refresh skillz and super-typing-speed to relay you the information from sources like MacRumors, iLounge, and our buddies at Engadget.

Of course, if that broadcast does in fact turn out to be live, we will be providing our own, up-to-the-minute coverage, for you folks stuck at work or on a computer/connection not suited for streaming video.

Click the "Continue reading..." link to see the updates, posted newest-at-the-top. Also check out Engadget for pictures and a build-up to The Big One.

Continue reading Live "It's Showtime" coverage

TUAWLive "It's Showtime" coverage originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>september12Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA["Wolf" Rentzsch announces C4: Chicago Mac Developer Conference]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/11/wolf-rentzsch-announces-c4-chicago-mac-developer-conference/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/11/wolf-rentzsch-announces-c4-chicago-mac-developer-conference/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/11/wolf-rentzsch-announces-c4-chicago-mac-developer-conference/#commentsFiled under: ,

When ADHOC/MacHack went bye-bye last year, the Mac development community was aching for something to fill its Big Foot-sized shoes. Drunkenbatman threw his hat into the ring with Evening@Adler, which I thought was a huge hit.

And now Jon "Wolf" Rentzsch is taking it one step further by hosting a three-day, session-packed developer conference in Chicago, with presentations from some of the Mac dev world's Most Notable (including Brent Simmons, Gus Mueller, John Gruber, drunkenbatman, and many more!).

Jon has the full schedule on his blog, and you can look at the conference in more depth at its website. There are only 75 attendee spots, most of which have filled, but Jon tells me there are still a few openings: so register quick! I'll certainly be there, and will post a recap of the whole thing here on TUAW.

TUAW"Wolf" Rentzsch announces C4: Chicago Mac Developer Conference originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4developer conferenceDeveloperConferencerentzschMon, 11 Sep 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's new mag ad campaign]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/07/apples-new-mag-ad-campaign/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/07/apples-new-mag-ad-campaign/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/07/apples-new-mag-ad-campaign/#commentsFiled under: ,

Our buds and brothers at Blogging Stocks recently dove into news that Apple has developed a band-spankin'-new in-print ad campaign: notably, a 14-page booklet (!!) included in a few US magazines, including a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly. MacDailyNews first reported on it, and BS sees it as an opportunity for Apple to break their trend of promoting form over -- nay, instead of -- function.

Check out both Blogging Stocks for their analysis and MacDailyNews for the story. You can also view the entire booklet, compliments of an MDN reader.

TUAWApple's new mag ad campaign originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mac adsMacAdsThu, 07 Sep 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple to introduce iTunes Movie Store, new iMac, iPod nano, and video streaming device?]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/04/apple-to-introduce-itunes-movie-store-new-imac-ipod-nano-and/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/04/apple-to-introduce-itunes-movie-store-new-imac-ipod-nano-and/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/04/apple-to-introduce-itunes-movie-store-new-imac-ipod-nano-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wow, that's a long title. Blame it on AppleInsider, who believes most -- if not all -- of those yummy goodies will be delivered to us in a nice wrapped package by The Jobs himself at next week's supposed media event. According to the rumor peddler, at the yet-unconfirmed September 12th event Jobs will take the wraps off...drumroll please:
  • An $9.99-a-pop movie download service with films from at least one major studio. The idea is that the rest will see how Freakin' Amazing it is and follow suit -- a la TV shows.
  • A new 23" iMac that we reported on earlier.
  • A new non-scratch metal iPod nano with "at least double the storage capacity of today's models."
  • What they believe is a new Airport Express-like device designed to stream video content from your Mac to your TV/home entertainment system. AI says "it's arguably been one of the most closely guarded secrets at Apple since the evolution of the first iPod digital music player."
That list makes this year's Macworld seem lacking.

I'm most interested in that streaming device. This isn't in the article, but imagine: plug your Airport Express to a TV and be greeted by a Front Row-like interface that streams videos/music/photos directly from your Mac, controllable by the included Apple Remote. Pipe dream? Maybe. But I guess we'll find out next week.

Check out the article for more in-depth information and AI's standard "it could be pushed back a little" disclaimer.

TUAWApple to introduce iTunes Movie Store, new iMac, iPod nano, and video streaming device? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport expressAirportExpressappleinsideritunes movie storeItunesMovieStoreseptember12video streamingVideoStreamingMon, 04 Sep 2006 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Macworld San Francisco in two expo halls]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/macworld-san-francisco-in-two-expo-halls/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/macworld-san-francisco-in-two-expo-halls/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/macworld-san-francisco-in-two-expo-halls/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Chalk this one up to the Mac's growing popularity. Typically the Macworld San Fransisco expo is held in the Moscone center's South wing, which is just large enough to fit all the exhibitors. Not anymore, says Chris Saribay, who discovered that for MWSF 2007, IDG will actually be utilizing both Moscone South and, for the first time in years, North. According to Chris: "Apparently the main exhibit hall is already nearly filled to capacity, making sense to bring another exhibit hall online."

Is this Good or Bad? Well, let's see:

Upside: More Mac users
Downside: More Mac users (you know what I mean)
Upside: More Mac products
Downside: More substandard Mac products
Upside: More press coverage for the platform
Downside: More work to do Macworld week
Upside: More free swag from the booths

Upsides win!

TUAWMacworld San Francisco in two expo halls originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macworldmosconeThu, 31 Aug 2006 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[ThinkSecret writes for PC Mag; predicts updated Mac mini]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/thinksecret-writes-for-pc-mag-predicts-updated-mac-mini/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/thinksecret-writes-for-pc-mag-predicts-updated-mac-mini/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/31/thinksecret-writes-for-pc-mag-predicts-updated-mac-mini/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PC Magazine today announced a new bi-weekly editorial column called OpenApple, penned by none other than the infamous ThinkSecret staff.

Wait...really? OK. Cool, I think.

According to PC Mag, OpenApple is "designed to help our readers bridge the shrinking gap between the Apple Macintosh and Windows PCs. The staff of ThinkSecret will be sharing news, insights, and analysis in a column running every other week." And in their first column, DePlume and Co. cover Apple's firing of Leopard-downloading employees, the predicted Mac mini update right around the corner, and the slow demise of Apple's keynote dependency.

Not much news in the way of the Mac mini update: ThinkSecret basically says that, um, yes, it will be updated soon in the form of a minor speedbump -- though with little to no fanfare.

Check out the full article for more Information You Already Know. I'm still reeling from their decision to hire the sketchy ThinkSecret staff (what, WIN bloggers not good enough for ya?) -- with ThinkSecret's declining track record and their shady reporting practices, PC Mag seems to be stepping onto thin ice. Hey, it's what Real journalists are supposed to do, right? But at least now they have someone to combat the blabber spewed by the mag's certain other columnists.

[via MacDailyNews]

TUAWThinkSecret writes for PC Mag; predicts updated Mac mini originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mac miniMacMinipc magazinePcMagazinethinksecretThu, 31 Aug 2006 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[OmniPlan Beta Released]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/omniplan-beta-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/omniplan-beta-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/omniplan-beta-released/#commentsFiled under:

Come one, come all: get your copy of OmniPlan beta, straight from the...code...thingy. The Omni Group has officially released the public beta of OmniPlan, their brand-spankin'-new project management doohickey which manages projects and such. Their website boasts a "user-friendly interface, easy task management, efficient resource allocation, smart scheduling, visual timelines, violations and critical paths, options for sharing data," and other features I really don't understand. But it looks purdy, and I'm sure many of you will find for it many pertinent uses.

Note, though, that the current release expires on August 26th, and the final version will set you back a gut-wrenching $149.95. See the website for more details.

TUAWOmniPlan Beta Released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>omniplan betaOmniplanBetaWed, 26 Jul 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TUAW Poll: Do you use your phone as an MP3 player?]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/21/tuaw-poll-do-you-use-your-phone-as-an-mp3-player/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/21/tuaw-poll-do-you-use-your-phone-as-an-mp3-player/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/21/tuaw-poll-do-you-use-your-phone-as-an-mp3-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last night I posted about a kinda kooky article predicting the iPod's future doom at the merciless hands of MP3-playin' cell phones. Well, that got me to thinking: how many people actually use their phones as MP3 players? To come to a wholly scientific and 100% accurate conclusion, I'm posting this poll, and I ask -- nay, demand -- that all answer accordingly. And see more thoughts (and reader comments of note) on the topic after the jump.

Do you use your phone as your primary MP3 player?
You bet, all the time.
Nope, iPod (or another MP3 player) all the way.
I use both, but my phone more.
I use both, but my iPod more.
Free polls from Pollhost.co

Continue reading TUAW Poll: Do you use your phone as an MP3 player?

TUAWTUAW Poll: Do you use your phone as an MP3 player? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipodmp3 phonesMp3PhonesFri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 EST