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[MySpace challenges (?) iTunes with indie music store]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/02/myspace-challenges-itunes-with-indie-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/02/myspace-challenges-itunes-with-indie-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/09/02/myspace-challenges-itunes-with-indie-music-store/#commentsFiled under: ,

MySpace logoMySpace has joined the recent crowd of iTunes wanna-be's. MySpace announced Friday that before the end of 2006 it will give unsigned, independent bands a place to sell their music. Musicians will be able to sell tunes on their own MySpace pages and on fan pages. And here's the best news--the MP3's sold at MySpace will not be shackled by DRM and will work on the iPod and other music players. Prices will be set by the individual bands, who will pay a "small" distribution fee to MySpace.

MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe told Reuters: "The goal is to be one of the biggest digital music stores out there. Everyone we've spoken to definitely wants an alternative to iTunes and the iPod. MySpace could be that alternative."

Whether a MySpace music store is a real threat to iTunes Music Store is anybody's guess, but I'd say it's unlikely. On the one hand, independent, unsigned artists, no matter how good they are, are not direct competition for established musicians who have the backing of the powerful music industry. And iTMS is so entrenched as the place to go for music downloads that it will be hard to unseat.

On the other hand, in its favor, MySpace has a huge potential customer base for indie music. It's been ranked as the #1 most visited site on the Web and is wildly popular with teens, who are a great market for undiscovered bands. It will have lots of music to offer from three million independent bands. MySpace differs from other iTunes challengers, like Microsoft Zune, and the newly announced Samsung music subscription service, because its offerings won't be locked up by DRM, and MySpace is not controlled by the recording industry (although it is backed by powerful parent company News Corporation).

Should Apple be watching its back? What do you think?

TUAWMySpace challenges (?) iTunes with indie music store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DRMiTMSiTunesMySpaceMySpace music storeMyspaceMusicStoreSat, 02 Sep 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Snapz Pro updated for Intel Macs]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/28/snapz-pro-updated-for-intel-macs/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/28/snapz-pro-updated-for-intel-macs/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/28/snapz-pro-updated-for-intel-macs/#commentsFiled under:

Snapz Pro XAmbrosia Software has released Snapz Pro X 2.0.3, an Intel Mac-compatible upgrade to its top-notch screen recording app. Other improvements include a tune-up to make Snapz Pro run smoothly on single processor machines, and a fix to ensure control over whether the cursor appears in your recording.

I use Snapz Pro almost every day to make static screenshots for TUAW and for print publications, and to make movies of my screen for video podcasts. I love, love, love this program. Sure you can use the built-in screenshot capability in OS X, but Snapz Pro offers much more control over static screenshots and the added bonus of recording movement on your screen. Snapz Pro X 2.0.3 is a free upgrade for registered users of Snapz Pro X 2.0.x. New users pay $29 for the static version and $69 for the movie version.

TUAWSnapz Pro updated for Intel Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>screencastscreenshotSnapz Pro XSnapzProXsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateMon, 28 Aug 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple-YouTube deal: farfetched or not?]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/apple-youtube-deal-farfetched-or-not/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/apple-youtube-deal-farfetched-or-not/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/apple-youtube-deal-farfetched-or-not/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Everyone, including the New York Times, is talking about the novel suggestion from GigaOM's Robert Young that Apple buy YouTube. Young threw out the following reasons for Steve to get out his checkbook and snag YouTube:
  • It would give Apple a place (well, another place) among the top 50 web properties. YouTube was ranked as 40th top-visited site in July by comScore Media Matrix.
  • It would be a way for Apple to tap into the growing online ad revenue market.
  • It would empower the video iPod. "The online video phenom can be to the video iPod what iTunes was to the audio iPod. It's not difficult to imagine mass consumers, especially tweens, downloading their playlists of YouTube 'video snacks' and viewing them on the go with their video iPods."
  • The promotional synergy between YouTube and iTunes could be significant, especially if YouTube is able to get music videos from record labels and offer them for free.
  • It would make Steve a social media mogul (as if he weren't already).
What do you think? Is an Apple-YouTube deal sci-fi or possibility?

TUAWApple-YouTube deal: farfetched or not? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleYouTubeTue, 22 Aug 2006 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Getting a podcast listed on iTunes]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/getting-a-podcast-listed-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/getting-a-podcast-listed-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/22/getting-a-podcast-listed-on-itunes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

submit a podcast to iTunesIf you've gone to the trouble of creating a podcast, you're probably going to want to have it listed at iTMS. Whether and when that might happen is anyone's guess. Be prepared for some anxiety time as you wait a week or so to see if your podcast is accepted. Even if it is accepted, it won't necessarily show up on iTunes right away.

I just went through the process myself. It took six days from the time I submitted to iTunes to the time my video podcast (iTunes link -- finally) appeared on the iTunes Music Store. During that time, I wasn't sure if there was some problem with my RSS feed, whether I'd used the right tags, or whether the delay was just part of the iTMS submission process. I finally got a form email from Apple telling me that my submission had been accepted, but it took another day after that for the podcast to show up in an iTunes search.

If you're going through the iTunes submission process, the iTunes tech specs and the Apple Discussions Forum for podcast producers may help you figure out the process. But be prepared to wait.

8/23/06 Update: After reviewing my records, it looks like there were fewer days than I'd originally figured between my submission to iTunes and the day I got my approval email. It came down to one business day because there was a weekend in between, with another day before the podcast came up in an iTunes search. My apologies to the good folks at iTunes. More news since I wrote this post -- my stats show that the majority of my podcast's hits have come through iTunes. So I'd say it's definitely worth submitting your podcasts to iTMS.

TUAWGetting a podcast listed on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdobeiTMSiTunesPhotoshoppodcastvideo podcastVideoPodcastTue, 22 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple customer to walk for his cause]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/apple-customer-to-walk-for-his-cause/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/apple-customer-to-walk-for-his-cause/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/apple-customer-to-walk-for-his-cause/#commentsFiled under: ,

map of irelandSince it's a lazy summer Sunday without a lot of ground-breaking news, this story about a Dublin man's "walk of shame" may give you a chuckle. Frustrated iMac owner Karl Hayden plans to show Apple up by demonstrating that it will take him less time to walk to the nearest Apple repair center -- about 156 miles away in Cork -- than for Apple to pick up the computer for a promised replacement.

After some failed repair attempts through AppleCare, Apple apparently promised on August 14 to replace the computer. Four days later, Apple hadn't shown up to retrieve the broken iMac before shipping out the new one. Four days doesn't sound like much of a delay to me, but I guess Mr. Hayden's fuse had been burning for a while. He plans to leave Monday morning and carry his iMac with him. Want to take bets on whether he makes it to Cork before the pickup?

TUAWApple customer to walk for his cause originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecarerepairSun, 20 Aug 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mail attachment reminder saves embarassment]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/mail-attachment-reminder-saves-embarassment/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/mail-attachment-reminder-saves-embarassment/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/mail-attachment-reminder-saves-embarassment/#commentsFiled under: ,

mail attachment messageI've done it again -- sent an email that mentions an attachment, and then forgot to attach the file. It's always embarassing. Here's a way to save yourself from similar humiliation.

Download this free Attachment Scanner plugin for Mail.app, and install it following the directions on the developer's site. Now when you type "attach," "attachment,", "attaching," or similar words in an email, if you hit Send without actually attaching a document, you'll see a warning like this one: "Message Has No Attachment. Your mail appears to refer to an attachment, but none exists. Do you wish to continue?" If you don't mention an attachment, you won't see anything different than usual. I've been using it all day, and really appreciate getting a second chance to save face thanks to developer James Eagan.

[via macosxhints]

TUAWMail attachment reminder saves embarassment originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attachmentattachmentsemailmacosxhintsmailmail.apppluginsSun, 20 Aug 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More free TV episodes in iTMS]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/more-free-tv-episodes-in-itms/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/more-free-tv-episodes-in-itms/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/20/more-free-tv-episodes-in-itms/#commentsFiled under:

iTMS, passionsiTunes Music Store has added more free TV show episodes:
  • Sacrifice episode, Blade: The Series, Season 1 iTMS link
  • Episode 1, Who Wants to Be a Superhero, Season 1 iTMS link
  • Four episodes (8/14, 8/15, 8/16, 8/17), Passons iTMS link
  • Road to the Runway (casting special), Project Runway, Season 3 iTMS link
  • Making a Scene (short), Prison Break: Season 1 iTMS link
The Stargate SG-1, Season 10 iTMS link and Stargate Atlantis, Season 3 iTMS link series have also been added to iTMS, but no free episodes there.

TUAWMore free TV episodes in iTMS originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iTMS, freeItms,FreeSun, 20 Aug 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie execs hint at iTunes movie store by the end of the year]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/movie-execs-hint-at-itunes-movie-store-by-the-end-of-the-year/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/movie-execs-hint-at-itunes-movie-store-by-the-end-of-the-year/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/movie-execs-hint-at-itunes-movie-store-by-the-end-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

lions gate studiosThe CEO of Lions Gate Studios, a small movie studio that specializes in independent films, let it slip this week that his studio has made a deal with Apple to deliver full-length movies through the iTunes Music Store. Lions Gate studio president Steve Beeks confirmed to Apple Insider that the iTunes movie service will probably launch before the end of the year, hedging that: "We know when [Apple is] planning on launching, but since they have not announced it publicly, I do not think it is our place to say anything more about that."

[via DV Guru]

TUAWMovie execs hint at iTunes movie store by the end of the year originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iTunes movie storeItunesMovieStorelions gate studiosLionsGateStudiosmoviesSat, 19 Aug 2006 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iScorch to the rescue]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/iscorch-to-the-rescue/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/iscorch-to-the-rescue/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/19/iscorch-to-the-rescue/#commentsFiled under: , ,

iScorchI lost my lighter to airport security the other day. So I was resigned to being unprepared for the inevitable flame tribute to the bands at the Lyons Folks Festival tonight. That is, until I came across this post at Cult of Mac about the iScorch. I'll just hold up my iPod Video and let this video be my torch. There's also an iScorch for the Nano and the iPod Photo.

TUAWiScorch to the rescue originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 19 Aug 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concertipod videoIpodVideoiscorchSat, 19 Aug 2006 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve reveals 10 features of Leopard for Spring 2007 release]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/07/steve-reveals-10-features-of-leopard-for-spring-2007-release/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/07/steve-reveals-10-features-of-leopard-for-spring-2007-release/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/07/steve-reveals-10-features-of-leopard-for-spring-2007-release/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Leopard sneek peakIf you're waiting for Leopard, you'll have to cool your heels until Spring 2007, when Apple officially promises the release. To wet your appetite, Apple previewed 10 Leopard features at WWDC today:

  • Time Machine - a new built-in backup system that will back up your entire system and allow you to restore the whole thing or just selected files.
  • Enhancements to iChat -- including a tabbed interface, custom still or video backdrops for your video iChat, iChat Theater (which lets you show iPhoto pics or a Keynote presentation during an iChat), and Photo Booth effects to make yourself look silly during a chat. Other iChat enhancements that were mentioned but not demoed include video recording (yes!), invisible mode, and animated buddy icons. The Apple site also shows the ability to share your desktop during an iChat. Now just let me figure out how to use these features to do screen recordings and machinima -- hmmm.
  • Two dashboard additions -- Web Clip, which allows you to build dynamically updating widgets from any Web page (examples -- a cartoon or bestseller list that updates every day); and DashCode for widget development, complete with modifiable widget templates (for RSS, podcasts, and more), and a library of parts to pop into your widget.
  • Additions to Mail.app -- a To-Do list made automatically from emails and that ties into iCal and other apps; Stationery (rich HTML email templates); and Notes (to replace those reminder emails you've been sending yourself).
  • Universal Access features - natural sounding voiceover, closed captioning in QuickTime, and braille support.
  • Core Animation - with features like keyframing and tweening to help developers create animations.
  • Spotlight enhancement - Spotlight will be able to search other machines on your network, do Boolean search, and will launch your applications for you.
  • Virtual desktop Spaces - letting you combine task-based applications into separate logical desktop configurations. That means you can have one group of apps running for Web design, another for print production, and yet another for podcast creation and editing. You'll be able to drag items between Spaces.
  • Complete package - of built-in apps, including Boot Camp, Front Row, and PhotoBooth.
  • 64 bit processing.

There's some mouthwatering stuff here. Now I wonder what those other top secret items are that Steve said he's still keeping under wraps?

TUAWSteve reveals 10 features of Leopard for Spring 2007 release originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ichat theaterIchatTheaterLeopard, OS X 10.5, WWDCLeopard,OsX10.5,WwdcspacesTime MachineTimeMachineMon, 07 Aug 2006 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook hijack story prompts criticism]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/03/macbook-hijack-story-prompts-criticism/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/03/macbook-hijack-story-prompts-criticism/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/03/macbook-hijack-story-prompts-criticism/#commentsFiled under: , ,

hacking a macbookYesterday Washingtonpost.com posted a video of a couple of hackers allegedly launching a security attack against a MacBook. The video and the accompanying story by reporter Brian Krebs received tons of criticism from commenters. That prompted Krebs to post a follow-up defending his reporting -- which prompted even more criticism. I don't pretend to be a hardware or security expert, so I can't tell you whether the video is a fake or not. What I do find interesting is how the blogosphere policed this "story," proving once again that you can't get away with much out here.

TUAWMacBook hijack story prompts criticism originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 03 Aug 2006 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackmacbookwirelessThu, 03 Aug 2006 22:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Women Mac geeks at BlogHer '06]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/28/women-mac-geeks-at-blogher-06/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/28/women-mac-geeks-at-blogher-06/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/28/women-mac-geeks-at-blogher-06/#commentsFiled under:

I just finished speaking on a panel -- Primp Your Blog -- at BlogHer '06. The audience was mostly women -- for a change. And here's the really good news: a cheer went up when I introduced myself as a Mac user, and a majority of hands went up when I asked how many in the room were Mac users. Women Mac geeks rule! I've always wondered how many women are out there in the TUAW audience. Make yourselves known.

TUAWWomen Mac geeks at BlogHer '06 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlogHerPrimp Your BlogPrimpYourBlogwomenFri, 28 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video tutorial looks at eyeTV2 and eyeTV for DTT]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/video-tutorial-looks-at-eyetv2-and-eyetv-for-dtt/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/video-tutorial-looks-at-eyetv2-and-eyetv-for-dtt/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/video-tutorial-looks-at-eyetv2-and-eyetv-for-dtt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

eyeTVThis week's ScreenCastOnline is a video tutorial on Elgato's eyeTV2. The tutorial shows how to edit your TV recordings to remove ads, make DVDs of your TV recordings, convert recorded programs to iPod format and export to iTunes for syncing with your iPod, and more. It also offers a look at the new eyeTV for DTT device (Digital Terrestrial Television) launched by Elgato in Europe, which Scott mentioned recently.

ScreenCastsOnline is also giving away an eyeTV for DTT to a lucky new subscriber to the free iTunes version of the ScreenCastsOnline video podcast.

TUAWVideo tutorial looks at eyeTV2 and eyeTV for DTT originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ElgatoeyeTVeyeTV 2Eyetv2Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Suggest-A-ZOT]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/suggest-a-zot/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/suggest-a-zot/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/26/suggest-a-zot/#commentsWant a free copy of your favorite Mac app? The crazy kids at macZOT are offering just that if you're the first person to suggest an app you'd like to see on macZOT, and they do cover it.

They post a long list of apps that have already been suggested, so you'll have to find something relatively obscure. But hey, there's always something new on ye olde Web 2.0. It looks like you have to download their Suggest-A-ZOT 1.0 software to enter your suggestion.

Thanks, Brady.

TUAWSuggest-A-ZOT originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macZOTsuggest-A-ZOTWed, 26 Jul 2006 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ScreencastsOnline Demos Flock Beta 1]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/16/screencastsonline-demos-flock-beta-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/16/screencastsonline-demos-flock-beta-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/16/screencastsonline-demos-flock-beta-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Flock browserI've been trying out Flock Beta 1(v 0.7) which, as we told you last month, has been released as a free beta download. First, I've got to tell you that I'm really loving Flock. My favorite features are the built-in blog editor, to which you can drag and drop text snippets from any web site or photos, and the easy-on-the-eyes built-in RSS reader. I also like the developers' approach, which is to try to make the social dimensions of the web (like sharing photos, sharing bookmarks, accessing RSS feeds, blogging, and searching) easier for mere mortals to discover and use.

But back to the point of this post, which is to point you to an excellent movie at ScreenCastsOnline in which Don McAllister demos Flock's features. McAllister does a great job, as usual, of explaining how things work and what they do. I like this screencast and others so much that I sprung for the $25 to become a member of ScreenCastsOnline, so that I could view its extra, members-only content. If you don't have $25 to spare, there's still plenty of good stuff to see for free at ScreenCastsOnline.

TUAWScreencastsOnline Demos Flock Beta 1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FlockFlock Beta 1FlockBeta1social webSocialWebSun, 16 Jul 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefox 2.0 Beta 1 released]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/13/firefox-2-0-beta-1-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/13/firefox-2-0-beta-1-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/13/firefox-2-0-beta-1-released/#commentsFiled under:

Firefox 2.0 Beta 1 has been released and is available for download for Mac (Universal), Windows, and Linux. Our sister site, Download Squad, notes that although there have been reports of this release since Monday, this time it's for real.

Some of the new features in Firefox 2.0 that sound like they're worth checking out are:
  • Built-in anti-phishing protections.
  • Automatic session restoration after a browser crash.
  • The ability to reopen accidentally closed tabs.
  • In-line spell checking that comes in handy when you're filling in forms and other text boxes.
  • Microsummaries of bookmarked pages. Microsummaries are regularly-updated short summaries of web pages. As explained by Mozilla, "When you bookmark a web page that has a microsummary, you can choose to display the microsummary as the title of the bookmark. Then, when the page changes, the title will also change, so you can find out the current status of the page just by looking at the bookmark."
The Mozilla Developer Center has a full list of the new features in Firefox 2.0. Like all betas, this one should be installed with caution. We echo Download Squad's warning to backup bookmarks and settings before installing. And don't be surprised if your Firefox 1.5 extensions no longer work with 2.0.

TUAWFirefox 2.0 Beta 1 released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Firefox 2.0 beta 1Firefox2.0Beta1Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review of Photoshop plug-in Alien Skin Exposure]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/03/review-of-photoshop-plug-in-alien-skin-exposure/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/03/review-of-photoshop-plug-in-alien-skin-exposure/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/03/review-of-photoshop-plug-in-alien-skin-exposure/#commentsFiled under:

Here's one for you Macheads who use Photoshop. If you don't mind if I blow my own horn for a second, I had the opportunity to write a review of a cool Photoshop plug-in - Alien Skin Exposure - for Macworld. Check it out here.

Exposure bridges the divide between digital and film photography, by offering a quick way to mimic the look of classic film stocks. One click gets you the saturated color of Fuji Velvia film, the graininess of Ilford Delta 3200 black and white, or the rich blacks of Kodachrome. I  liked it so much I gave it a 4.5 mouse rating.

TUAWReview of Photoshop plug-in Alien Skin Exposure originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alien SkinAlienSkinExposurePhotoshopMon, 03 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court upholds bloggers' rights against Apple]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/27/court-upholds-bloggers-rights-against-apple/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/27/court-upholds-bloggers-rights-against-apple/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/27/court-upholds-bloggers-rights-against-apple/#commentsFiled under:

An appeals court has ruled that Apple is not entitled to subpoena information from a blog's email service provider in order to uncover the identity of  Apple employees who allegedly leaked secret  information to several blogs about Asteroid, a firewire interface for GarageBand that Apple was developing. The decision against Apple has implications beyond the facts of this case. It was a major victory for bloggers, webmasters, and email service providers.

One of the issues in the case was whether bloggers are entitled to protect the identity of their sources to the same extent as offline journalists. In the opinion in favor of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), who represented the blogs Powerpage.org and AppleInsider, the court rejected Apple's contention that the blogs were not engaging in legitimate journalism, writing:

"We can think of no workable test or principle that would distinguish 'legitimate' from 'illegitimate' news. Any attempt by courts to draw such a distinction would imperil a fundamental purpose of the First Amendment, which is to identify the best, most important, and most valuable ideas not by any sociological or economic formula, rule of law, or process of government, but through the rough and tumble competition of the memetic marketplace."

EFF says that the decision is also a victory for anyone who uses email, because it means that litigants in a civil lawsuit can't subpoena your email from your service provider.

The text of the court's opinion is available from EFF. For background on the case, take a look at our earlier post.

TUAWCourt upholds bloggers' rights against Apple originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 27 May 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple legalApple v DoesAppleLegalbloggers' rightscitizen journalistsSat, 27 May 2006 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Store Studio bar]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/07/apple-store-studio-bar/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/07/apple-store-studio-bar/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/07/apple-store-studio-bar/#commentsFiled under: ,

I was at the opening of the Flatiron Crossing Apple Store in Broomfield, Colorado too yesterday, and I wanted to give a shout out to Apple for including a Studio bar staffed with knowledgeable Apple Creatives. This isn't the first Studio bar in an Apple Store, but they are available only at select locations. I'm glad Apple has decided to put one in the Flatiron Crossing store, just 15 minutes from my hometown, Boulder.

The Studio bar, which is right next to the Genius bar, was doing lots of business right from the get go yesterday. The Creatives I talked to, including Ian and Heidi, really seemed to know their stuff.

Creatives are focused on helping customers with real-world projects, from making music with Garageband or Soundtrack to podcasting to creating Keynote presentations. I think this part of the new Flatiron Crossing store will be a real boon to local customers, particularly to switchers who aren't familiar with Mac apps.

TUAWApple Store Studio bar originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 07 May 2006 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple CreativesApple StoreAppleCreativesAppleStoreFlatIrons MallFlatironsMallStudio barStudioBarSun, 07 May 2006 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aperture team gets new blood]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/29/aperture-team-gets-new-blood/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/29/aperture-team-gets-new-blood/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/29/aperture-team-gets-new-blood/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Think Secret's revelation Thursday that a number of engineers on Apple's Aperture team have left or been transferred to other projects raised questions about the future of the app.

Aperture lovers, take heart. Ex-PeopleSoft developer Blake Seely happily posted today that he is joining the Aperture team as of Monday, stating that he hoped this news would dispel the recent rumors about Aperture. Apparently the Aperture project is getting an injection of new blood. Best of luck to Blake and to the team.

TUAWAperture team gets new blood originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 29 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApertureBlake SeelyBlakeSeelyThink SecretSat, 29 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy Birthday iTMS]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/happy-birthday-itms/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/happy-birthday-itms/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/happy-birthday-itms/#commentsFiled under:

Join us in celebrating the third birthday of the iTunes Music Store. That's right -- iTMS was launched three years ago today, April 28, 2003. iTMS may still be a toddler, but its growth has been phenomenal. It's gone in record time from a glint in Steve's eye to the top of the heap among online music stores.

Happy Birthday iTMS from TUAW! May there be many more.

[via iLounge]

TUAWHappy Birthday iTMS originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iTMSiTMS third birthdayItmsThirdBirthdayiTunes Music StoreItunesMusicStoreFri, 28 Apr 2006 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPod nano lawsuits moved close to Apple's home]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/ipod-nano-lawsuits-moved-close-to-apples-home/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/ipod-nano-lawsuits-moved-close-to-apples-home/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/ipod-nano-lawsuits-moved-close-to-apples-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the few things I remember from law school is a quote from a Charles Dickens story: "The law is an ass." Well here's a case in which someone in the legal system is thinking with his head, rather than the other end.

Remember the brouhaha about how easily iPod nanos scratch? There are still a bunch of lawsuits pending against Apple in which disgruntled iPod nano owners complained that the scratchability (is that a word?) of their nanos constitutes a product defect. Those suits were brought in different courts from California to New Jersey to New York to Louisiana. Fortunately for Apple, six of the cases have have been consolidated and transferred to the Northern District of California court in San Jose, California so they can be heard all at once and close to home.

TUAWiPod nano lawsuits moved close to Apple's home originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iPod nano lawsuitsIpodNanoLawsuitsFri, 28 Apr 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MacGathering & SoHo Tech Show coming up in LA]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/macgathering-and-soho-tech-show-coming-up-in-la/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/macgathering-and-soho-tech-show-coming-up-in-la/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/28/macgathering-and-soho-tech-show-coming-up-in-la/#commentsFiled under:

Just a reminder for all you Southern California boys and girls that the third annual MacGathering & SoHo Tech Show is coming up in LA in mid-May. This regional conference offers seminars on a raft of topics, from podcasting to photography, graphics, audio, and video. And none other than Sinbad is hosting the keynote/show.

The instructor/speaker line-up is pretty impressive for a regional conference. It includes a number of Mac luminaries and authors, among them Victor Cajiao of the Typical Mac User Podcast [iTMS link]; Andrew Shalat, author of Mac Design Out of the Box; Shelly Brisbin, author of The MacAddict Guide to Living the iLife; and Jeff Foster, author of After Effects and Photoshop: Animation and Production Effects for DV and Film. There's a special bonus panel discussion on podcasting, featuring some of the top Southern California podcasters, including my favorite Adam Christianson of MacCast [iTMS link].

MacGathering takes place at the Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn in North Hollywood on Friday and Saturday May 19-20. Prices are pretty reasonable. Check them out on the registration page. Don't overlook the downloadable coupon at iPod Garage that gets you a better price.

TUAWMacGathering & SoHo Tech Show coming up in LA originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mac tech expoMacGatheringMacTechExpoSoHo Tech ShowSohoTechShowFri, 28 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pogue's Town Hall: The OS Wars]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/27/pogues-town-hall-the-os-wars/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/27/pogues-town-hall-the-os-wars/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/27/pogues-town-hall-the-os-wars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

David Pogue has put together another goofy video for the New York Times -- Town Hall: The OS Wars. Pogue answers questions from the "public"  about running Windows on a Mac with Boot Camp and Parallels. Pogue's "public" includes shills like Andy Ihnatko, asking questions the masses are likely to have, like: Why would anyone want to run Windows anyway? Am I going to catch all those Windows viruses? Mr. Pogue, is running Boot Camp like having a real Windows PC in your office? (The response in typical Pogue style: "Let me answer your question in two parts: Yes and No.")

It's all tongue-in-cheek, but it struck me that the staged questions are probably the very ones the masses (who don't read sites like TUAW) are asking.

TUAWPogue's Town Hall: The OS Wars originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Boot CampBootCampDavid PogueDavidPogueParallelsThu, 27 Apr 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Informative review of Aperture 1.1]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/25/informative-review-of-aperture-1-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/25/informative-review-of-aperture-1-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/25/informative-review-of-aperture-1-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If the major drop in price of Aperture (from a stiff $499 for Aperture 1.0 to $299 for Aperture 1.1, which was released earlier this month) has got you thinking about springing for this photo workflow app, take a look at this in-depth review of Aperture 1.1 to get a handle on what's new.

Creative Pro's Ben Long praises Aperture 1.1's badly needed improvements to raw file conversion, touts the new RGB sampler for reading color values in a photo, and evaluates other miscellanous upgrades. His performance tests don't show much of a speed increase between Aperture 1.1 and 1.0 on a PowerBook G4 or a PowerMac Quad G5, but he did find a speed bump for some functions in Aperture 1.1 on a MacBook Pro. He concludes that, "no matter what kind of Mac you run it on, Aperture 1.1 is a very good upgrade that should set aside a number of Aperture concerns. If you're a photographer who's been considering the application, the new version provides several reasons to pick up a copy and give it a try." 

[via photoshopsupport.com]

TUAWInformative review of Aperture 1.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aperture 1.1Aperture1.1photo workflow applicationPhotoWorkflowApplicationTue, 25 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redesigned PowerJolt iPod car charger with free iFill LE]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/24/redesigned-powerjolt-ipod-car-charger-with-free-ifill-le/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/24/redesigned-powerjolt-ipod-car-charger-with-free-ifill-le/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/24/redesigned-powerjolt-ipod-car-charger-with-free-ifill-le/#commentsFiled under: ,

Griffin Technology makes a whole slew of useful iPod accessories. The company's latest offering is a redesigned iPod PowerJolt auto charger and power adapter. The device plugs into your car's cigarette lighter and charges your iPod while you're listening to music or while the iPod is on standby. Griffin's new product announcement says the PowerJolt has been "redesigned for ease of use,"  and has a "stylish black industrial design."

Griffin is packaging the new PowerJolt with a free LE version of iFill software. iFill delivers content from Internet radio stations directly to your iPod without cluttering up your hard drive. The PowerJolt also comes with a detachable USB Dock Connector cable for charging and syncing your iPod with your computer, and a USB to mini-USB cable for use with the Griffin iTrip or iTrip nano. The PowerJolt lists for $19.99.

TUAWRedesigned PowerJolt iPod car charger with free iFill LE originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Griffin TechnologyGriffinTechnologyiPod auto chargerIpodAutoChargerPowerJoltMon, 24 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Boot Camp Resource Center]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/boot-camp-resource-center/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/boot-camp-resource-center/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/boot-camp-resource-center/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're just getting started with Boot Camp, you may want to head over to VersionTracker to check out their new Boot Camp Resource Center.

You'll find a collection of troubleshooting and opinion articles from MacFixIt, as well as some links to basic Windows software compiled with the Mac user in mind. Of the three software categories -- Essentials, Gaming, and Drivers -- Essentials looks to be most useful. It has links to virus protection tools, spyware, browsers, an image viewer, a screenshot app, and other basic apps for Windows. The other two categories are pretty sparse, but at least it's a place to start.

TUAWBoot Camp Resource Center originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boot campboot camp resourcesBootCampBootCampResourcesversion trackerVersionTrackerSat, 22 Apr 2006 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Boot Camp won't have much impact on Adobe software for Mac]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/bootcamp-wont-have-much-impact-on-adobe-software-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/bootcamp-wont-have-much-impact-on-adobe-software-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/22/bootcamp-wont-have-much-impact-on-adobe-software-for-mac/#commentsAdobe CEO Bruce Chizen, speaking at a Tokyo news conference Friday, indicated that Boot Camp won't have much of an effect on Adobe's plans to make software for the Mac:

"For the majority of our products, writing directly for Mac OS is an advantage and you will see us continue to do so and not work through Boot Camp or the Windows emulator because we think that will not be good for the majority of our customers," he said. "However there are some products that we have today that we have not been able to afford to continue to develop to make available on the Mac. A great example being FrameMaker. The majority of FrameMaker users use Windows as an OS but there is a small percentage that want to use FrameMaker on the Mac so they can use Boot Camp."

Chizen also repeated Adobe's position that it won't be shipping a Mactel-compliant version of Photoshop until Spring 2007, saying:

"We are working very hard on making our products Mactel (Mac Intel) compliant. When we ship the new product Acrobat 8 this fall it will be Mactel compliant. When we ship Photoshop and the Creative Suite products next spring they will also be Mactel compliant."

[via infoworld]

TUAWBoot Camp won't have much impact on Adobe software for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boot camp adobeBootCampAdobecreative suite universal binaryCreativeSuiteUniversalBinaryphotoshop universal binaryPhotoshopUniversalBinarySat, 22 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Appellate arguments heard in Apple v. Does subpoena dispute]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/appellate-arguments-heard-in-apple-v-does-subpoena-dispute/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/appellate-arguments-heard-in-apple-v-does-subpoena-dispute/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/appellate-arguments-heard-in-apple-v-does-subpoena-dispute/#commentsFiled under:

A California appellate court heard arguments yesterday on a highly charged discovery issue about a subpoena issued by Apple in its trade secret lawsuit, Apple v. Does. The twists and turns of legal process can be a mystery to non-lawyers and even to those of us who had the dubious honor of sweating through law school and years of practice. So here's some background that may help put yesterday's proceedings in context.

The discovery issue is an offshoot of the main Apple v. Does case, filed in December 2004, in which Apple alleges that unnamed defendants ("Does"), leaked trade secrets about an unreleased Apple product to several blogs, including PowerPage.org and AppleInsider.com, which published the information. The unreleased product, code-named Asteroid, was a firewire interface for GarageBand.

The discovery dispute argued yesterday is a side issue about a subpoena that Apple sent to nFox, the email ISP for PowerPage.org, seeking emails and other information that might reveal the identity of the sources who leaked the alleged trade secrets. PowerPage.org publisher Jason O'Grady, along with two other online publishers, filed a motion for a protective order against Apple in February, 2005 asking for a stay of the nFox subpoena. Neither nFox, O'Grady, nor the other online publishers in the discovery action are named parties in the main lawsuit. O'Grady et al are represented in the discovery suit by The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

Continue reading Appellate arguments heard in Apple v. Does subpoena dispute

TUAWAppellate arguments heard in Apple v. Does subpoena dispute originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple legalApple v. DoesAppleLegalAppleV.DoesJason O'GradyJasonO'gradyleakFri, 21 Apr 2006 22:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Opera 9 public beta with widgets and BitTorrent support]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/opera-9-public-beta-with-widgets-and-bittorrent-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/opera-9-public-beta-with-widgets-and-bittorrent-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/21/opera-9-public-beta-with-widgets-and-bittorrent-support/#commentsFiled under:

A public beta of Opera 9 was announced yesterday. I'm not an Opera user myself, but the download is free, so I took a very quick look at some of the new features:
  • Widgets. Opera 9 has its own widgets -- clocks, games, and other small AJAX apps. Of course, Mac users have plenty of widgets anyway, so this feature may not be much of a draw for us. You can download currently available Opera widgets, learn how to develop your own Opera widgets, and share any you create at the Opera Community site. There are a reasonable number of widgets there already, and the list is bound to grow.
  • BitTorrent Support. I didn't try this out, but it sounds very tempting. Opera 9 has built-in support for the BitTorrent protocol, so you can download large files directly through Opera without having to use a separate BitTorrent app.
  • Content blocker. The Opera 9 content blocker lets you choose the kind of content, from ads to images, that you want to block on a particular site.
  • Custom search engine. You can customize the Opera search box to use the search engine from any site.
  • Thumbnail previews of tabbed pages. Opera has had tabbed browsing for a while now. There are some nice enhancements to tabbed browsing in Opera 9. Hovering over a tab triggers a thumbnail image of the page that's open in that tab. This is really useful when you have lots of tabs open and you can't remember what's open in each. Another new feature is the ability to lock an open tab so you don't close it accidentally.
  • Site-specific preferences. These come in handy to block pop-ups or deny cookies on a particular site.
Opera 9 has lots of other improvements. For the complete list of goodies check out the change log for Opera 9.0 Beta 1 for Mac.

TUAWOpera 9 public beta with widgets and BitTorrent support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>OperaOpera 9Opera 9 public betaOpera9Opera9PublicBetaFri, 21 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sneak preview of Leopard at WWDC]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/18/sneak-preview-of-leopard-at-wwdc/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/18/sneak-preview-of-leopard-at-wwdc/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/18/sneak-preview-of-leopard-at-wwdc/#commentsFiled under: ,

Are you dying for a sneak peek at Leopard, the next incarnation of OS X? If so, book a ticket for San Francisco in mid-August. Apple has announced, on its site and by email to customers, that it will offer a preview of OS X Leopard at  WWDC 2006, scheduled for August 7-11.

The Apple site briefly describes five WWDC session tracks -- Application Technologies, Development Tools, Graphics and Media, Information Technologies, and OS Foundations --  but doesn't provide details about specific sessions. If you're considering going, try to get your boss to pick up the registration fee, which is a stiff $1295-$3500 before June 23 and even more after that date. If you're a student, don't overlook Apple's Student Scholarship Program. We told you before -- but it's worth a reminder -- that applications for a free WWDC ticket through that program are due on April 28.

TUAWSneak preview of Leopard at WWDC originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developerdevelopmentfoundationgraphicsinformationLeopardMac OS X LeopardMacOsXLeopardmediaOS XOsXtechnologyWorld Wide Developers ConferenceWorldWideDevelopersConferenceWWDCWWDC 2006Wwdc2006Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPod vending machine seems out of place at the supermarket]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/14/ipod-vending-machine-seems-out-of-place-at-the-supermarket/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/14/ipod-vending-machine-seems-out-of-place-at-the-supermarket/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/14/ipod-vending-machine-seems-out-of-place-at-the-supermarket/#commentsFiled under: ,

While we're on the subject of supermarkets and vending machines, I spotted one of the Zoom Shop vending machines that dispenses iPods at the entrance to the Safeway market in my hometown the other day. These vending machines have been around for quite a while in airports, where they arguably make some sense. But I couldn't help but think that an iPod vending machine seemed out of place next to the soft drink machines at the supermarket.

Unlike the other vending machines you pass as you wheel your cart out of the supermarket, the iPod machine doesn't offer much in the way of impulse purchases. OK, I can maybe see picking up an extra pair of earphones on a whim, but a $199 iPod nano doesn't strike me as something I might buy as an afterthought to throw in my shopping cart next to the lettuce and green beans. Not to mention that the iPods didn't look half as appealing lined up in their vending machine slots as they do in the sleek interior of an Apple Store.

TUAWiPod vending machine seems out of place at the supermarket originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iPod vending machineIpodVendingMachineZoom ShopZoom SystemsZoomShopZoomSystemsFri, 14 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call to take the No Windows Booting Pledge]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/07/call-to-take-the-no-windows-booting-pledge/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/07/call-to-take-the-no-windows-booting-pledge/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/04/07/call-to-take-the-no-windows-booting-pledge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This may appeal only to the 13% of you who told us you think the idea of dual-booting your Mac is pure blasphemy. If you want to make a statement, answer this call from Apple Matters to take the No Windows Booting Pledge. AM rails against the idea of booting Windows on our Macs and begs Mac users to take a pledge of allegiance to the Mac platform. If you're on board, get up from your desk, put your hand over your heart, and repeat:

I won't even think about trying to dual-boot my Mac, now and forever. Amen.

TUAWCall to take the No Windows Booting Pledge originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dual bootmacpledgewindowsFri, 07 Apr 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Automator actions for Photoshop CS/CS2]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/24/automator-actions-for-photoshop-cs-cs2/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/24/automator-actions-for-photoshop-cs-cs2/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/24/automator-actions-for-photoshop-cs-cs2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

David Chartier, at The Unofficial Photoshop Weblog, recommends a set of Automator actions for Photoshop CS and CS2 that you shouldn't miss if you're into Photoshop or digital photography. Version 2.0 of Ben Long's Photoshop Action Pack includes scores of actions for controlling Photoshop functions and automating photography and graphics production workflows from your Mac.

These Automator actions are potentially more powerful than regular Photoshop actions because Automator can control functions outside, as well as inside Photoshop. For example, you can use them to manipulate a batch of images and then automatically upload the images to a server or archive them to a DVD. Version 2.0 of the Photoshop Action Pack includes 22 all new actions, additional features for existing actions, and an important bug fix related to batch processing.

You can download the Photoshop Action Pack for Photoshop CS or CS2 from the Complete Digital Photography site. While you're at the site, notice that Long is also the author of two books, Complete Digital Photography and Getting Started with Camera Raw (both of which are on my bookshelf), as well as numerous articles. If you do download this donationware, Long would appreciate a Paypal donation.

TUAWAutomator actions for Photoshop CS/CS2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automatorphotoshopFri, 24 Mar 2006 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe engineer explains delay in Adobe universal binaries]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/adobe-engineer-explains-delay-in-adobe-universal-binaries/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/adobe-engineer-explains-delay-in-adobe-universal-binaries/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/adobe-engineer-explains-delay-in-adobe-universal-binaries/#commentsFiled under:

Adobe has taken some heat for delaying universal binary versions of Photoshop and other Creative Suite software until the next scheduled release of those apps. If you're interested in a view of this controversy from the trenches, take a look at this post by Photoshop engineer Scott Byer. Byer starts out:

"'But, c'mon', I hear people saying, 'Steve said it was just a recompile!'  Or, 'Back during the PowerPC transition, you guys released a patch?'
Well, this time is different.  And I really wish it weren't.  But let me tell you how..."

He goes on to explain why Adobe can't perform the same kind of midcycle shortcut for the Intel platform that it could for the PowerPC. His explanation is worth a read. This kind of communication from the trenches is a very good thing IMHO.

TUAWAdobe engineer explains delay in Adobe universal binaries originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobe creative suiteadobe photoshopAdobeCreativeSuiteAdobePhotoshopuniversal binaryUniversalBinaryThu, 23 Mar 2006 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside Mac Radio podcasts Photoshop World keynote]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/inside-mac-radio-podcasts-photoshop-world-keynote/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/inside-mac-radio-podcasts-photoshop-world-keynote/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/23/inside-mac-radio-podcasts-photoshop-world-keynote/#commentsFiled under: ,

photoshop worldOdds are you're not in Miami right now partying at Photoshop World 2006. At least you can listen to the conference keynote on the March 22 episode of the Inside Mac Radio podcast [iTMS link]. This is not your vanilla brand, ultra-serious conference keynote. It includes goofy skits by The Photoshop Guys, stars of the popular Photoshop TV podcast [iTMS link], and a sneak peek at an unreleased beta build (build 3) of Adobe Lightroom, Adobe's answer to Aperture. If you're into Photoshop and you've never been to Photoshop World, it's worth listening to--if for no other reason than to see what all the fuss is about.

TUAWInside Mac Radio podcasts Photoshop World keynote originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Inside Mac RadioInsideMacRadioPhotoshop WorldPhotoshopWorldThu, 23 Mar 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iphone.org to apple.com]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/iphone-org-to-apple-com/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/iphone-org-to-apple-com/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/iphone-org-to-apple-com/#commentsFiled under: ,

iphone.orgHere's one to chew on. Try typing http://www.iphone.org into your browser. It brings up the Apple home page. And whois shows iphone.org registered to Apple Computer, Inc.

What could it mean? Is this more evidence of the rumored Apple iphone?

[Thanks to Crome Tysnomi]

TUAWiphone.org to apple.com originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple siteiphoneiphone.orgTue, 21 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Education Store live chat service discovered]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/apple-education-store-live-chat-service-discovered/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/apple-education-store-live-chat-service-discovered/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/21/apple-education-store-live-chat-service-discovered/#commentsFiled under: ,

live personThe Apple Education Store has a new, but hidden live chat service for helping its customers. A reader sent in a link which opened a text chat with an Apple representative in LivePerson chat.

According to the rep, the service is less than a month old. There is no direct Web link to initiate a chat, at least for now. You may be invited to chat if you meet an internal rule while ordering through the Apple Education Store, like entering the wrong credit card number or staying on certain pages too long. The rep said the service is only available to education customers (including college, but not high school students) at this time, but promised that "we will expand as we get to know our customers and their specific needs."

This apparently is not a service for answering tech support questions. The rep said, "We try and steer those to the tech support experts as this avoids any possible incorrect information. . . [the live chat service] is for help with computer questions and order issues, credit card, best choices, education discount, etc."

I think this is a terrific idea. The Apple rep was courteous and gave me immediate, helpful replies. I found it more efficient than wading through phone menus. I also like the idea of having answers in writing. Apple--if you're listening, here's my vote for expanding this service to the entire Apple Store, using it to offer tech support, and making it more accessible. Has anyone else run into this service?

[Thanks Shrimp]

TUAWApple Education Store live chat service discovered originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Apple Education StoreApple live chatAppleEducationStoreTue, 21 Mar 2006 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[March Madness on iTunes]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/march-madness-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/march-madness-on-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/march-madness-on-itunes/#commentsFiled under: ,

ncaa logoApple made an announcement today that will warm the hearts of all you college basketball fans. You'll be able to download condensed versions of any of the 2006 NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Championship games from the iTunes Music Store for $1.99 per game. The die-hards among you can purchase a Season Pass from iTMS for $19.99, which will get you condensed versions of all 63 NCAA Men's tournament games the day after each is played. If you sign up for the Season Pass, each game's highlights will be placed in your download queue the day after the game airs on CBS, and you'll be notified by email when the download is available.

Full-length versions of the semifinal and championship games, as well as compilations of memorable moments from past NCAA tournaments, will also be available from iTMS.

TUAWMarch Madness on iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iTMSMarch Madness/NCAATue, 14 Mar 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AOL's In2TV not for Mac]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/aols-in2tv-not-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/aols-in2tv-not-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/14/aols-in2tv-not-for-mac/#commentsFiled under: ,

in2tvAOL's free, online vintage TV service, In2TV, is ready for prime time -- but apparently not on Macs. According to the In2TV beta site, Windows XP is the operating system required for viewing In2TV. TV Squad confirms that Mac users, as well as Linux users, will be out of luck.

Come on AOL. What's up with ignoring Macs? This is a major collaboration of two powerhouse Time Warner units, Warner Brothers and AOL, which has been in development for over two years. So it's not like the powers-that-be just didn't have time or resources to develop a Mac version. If this is an attempt to take over the nascent online TV market or to steamroller iTunes, where's the logic in leaving Mac viewers out of the mix?

In2TV is reportedly scheduled to open to the public tomorrow. Windows users will be able to stream, but not download, full-length episodes from classic TV series free and on-demand. The lineup includes thousands of episodes of oldies but goodies from Warner's huge TV library, like Welcome Back Kotter, Sisters, Beetlejuice, Lois & Clark, La Femme Nikita and Growing Pains. Shows will be organized into six channels: comedy, drama, toons, horror and superheroes, action, and vintage shows. In2TV is being billed as the largest offering of popular television shows ever available on the Internet. Why should it be just for the masses who are into TV, but not into Macs?

TUAWAOL's In2TV not for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>in2tvonline televisionvideoTue, 14 Mar 2006 17:00:00 EST