The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gif The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com en-us Copyright 2008 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The OS X desktop as music videohttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/10/the-os-x-desktop-as-music-video/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/10/the-os-x-desktop-as-music-video/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/10/the-os-x-desktop-as-music-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A digital filmmaker named Dennis Liu has made an amazing video for The Bird And The Bee's lovely song "Again & Again". The set? His Mac desktop. You sort of have to see it for yourself to understand; luckily, Dennis has dropped it on YouTube so that the world can see it in low-res glory:



Innovative, and definitely cool. It doesn't seem to be an "official" video for the song...but if it isn't, it oughtta be. (Hey, Bird! Bee! Y'all paying attention?)

Thanks, Ted Roddy!

[via MacRumors forums]
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]]>music videoMusicVideotweet-thisJoshua Ellis2008-05-10T10:00:00+00:00Feist on Colbert: Become an iPod artist, get citizenshiphttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/03/feist-on-colbert-become-an-ipod-artist-get-citizenship/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/03/feist-on-colbert-become-an-ipod-artist-get-citizenship/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/03/feist-on-colbert-become-an-ipod-artist-get-citizenship/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Not only does being shown in an iPod commercial lead to fame and fortune for many artists, but Canadian singer Leslie Feist apparently got something else out of the deal: she got American citizenship. We have no idea how that works, but she says as much in this clip of her appearing on Stephen Colbert's show. When he mentions that she's from the Great White North, she says that she's actually a dual citizen now. Colbert asks if Steve Jobs really stepped up to make her an American and she says yes, that's pretty much how it worked: "They offered me citizenship, that was part of it."

Is she joking? Or has Jobsy actually got the ear of the government now and is giving out citizenships as part of Apple contracts? Either way, we know this: Leslie Feist rocks. We'll have her as a citizen any day, via a backroom Apple deal or otherwise.
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]]>citizencolbertcommercialipodleslie-feiststeve-jobsMike Schramm2008-05-03T07:00:00+00:00iPhone as Tricorderhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/iphone-as-tricorder/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/iphone-as-tricorder/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/iphone-as-tricorder/#commentsFiled under: ,

Set phasers to Huge Frakking Nerd.

I'll be honest and admit to trying this as soon as I saw it. Point Mobile Safari to http://38i.biz/tricorder and view an iPhone-optimized web page that resembles a Star Trek Tricorder.

So, what does it do, you ask? Why, it scans a given area, interprets and displays gathered data and records all findings to isolinear chips.

Actually, it doesn't do to much. Once you "turn it on" by clicking the power button, you can switch between three functions and view related animations. Every minute or so, a window pops up with a snide remark like, "The Federation is shocked. The Enterprise actually ferried an alien VIP from one place to another without serious incident." It's even got a snazzy webclip icon.

Sadly, there are no sounds to accompany the visuals. It might not offer much more than a little entertainment, but one thing is certain ... it will definitely help you pick up chicks.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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]]>humoriphone.web appsIphone.webAppsstar trekStarTrekDave Caolo2008-05-01T21:30:00+00:00Flickr Find: Grand Theft Auto hides Apple and iPhone parodyhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/flickr-find-grand-theft-auto-hides-apple-and-iphone-parody/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/flickr-find-grand-theft-auto-hides-apple-and-iphone-parody/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/01/flickr-find-grand-theft-auto-hides-apple-and-iphone-parody/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What do the authors of Grand Theft Auto IV think about Apple users? Tossers. (Warning: definition link NSFW). They've embedded a brilliant Apple parody into one of the Internet cafe computers in the game.

Among other points, they take down Apple (called "Fruit") for being overpriced minimalism. A white shiny unit, superficially similar to the "i" sits next to a near-cinema display and readers are encouraged to "Think Fruit" and live in the Fruit Cocoon.

And if that's not enough, the site advertises a new banana-shaped iFruit phone. Its sales points made me laugh out loud: No buttons, no reception, no storage capacity, all Ego!

Kudos to GTAIV and thanks to Dylan Unutmaz for sending in the links.

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]]>Grand Theft AutoGrandTheftAutoiFruitOverpriced MinimalismOverpricedMinimalismPhoneThink FruitThinkFruitTossersErica Sadun2008-05-01T11:30:00+00:00Found Footage: Conan on iChathttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/09/found-footage-conan-on-ichat/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/09/found-footage-conan-on-ichat/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/09/found-footage-conan-on-ichat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a dedicated Conan watcher, you'll know that Conan O'Brien's normal bandleader, Max Weinberg, is often out on the road playing on tour with Bruce Springsteen, and away from the show for long periods of time. Conan misses Weinberg as much as we do, apparently, and so last night he decided to get back in touch with none other than Apple's own iChat video conferencing.

Sure enough, it's not a fake -- while there are lots of audio and video cables coming off of Conan's MacBook Pro, when they show the desktop (Leopard) and later on bring in a third person, you can see that it really is iChat, running as normal -- the cables are likely just to grab the audio and video for the broadcast.

Unfortunately, this also shows off iChat's limits -- while the technology is cool, it won't necessarily make the people you call any more interested in talking. Odds are that "drummerboymax08" isn't that interested in chatting with you either.

Thanks, Sabi! Video via Macenstein
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]]>appleconan-obriendrummerboymax08excitementfound-footageichatmax-weinbergMike Schramm2008-04-09T21:00:00+00:00Best of April Fool's Day onlinehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/01/best-of-april-fools-day-online/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/01/best-of-april-fools-day-online/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/01/best-of-april-fools-day-online/#commentsFiled under:

Well, we admit we were snookered by the iPhone Dev Team's "we're selling out" alert, and so was our sister site -- but on a day when the hoaxes range from the desperately unfunny to the merely goofy to the silly-but-funny to the triumphantly hysterical, who can keep anything straight? Google's various flavors alone account for more than a dozen fake stories. Here's a couple of Mac-flavored gags that you might have missed:
Do you love the cognitive dissonance of April 1, or despise the silly, lame jokes that seem to propagate? Either way, you'll have another 364 days to wait for the next one.
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]]>aprilfoolsaprilfools08Michael Rose2008-04-01T15:15:00+00:00Clever Get a Mac sidebar adshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/24/clever-get-a-mac-sidebar-ads/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/24/clever-get-a-mac-sidebar-ads/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/24/clever-get-a-mac-sidebar-ads/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Apple has some clever new Get a Mac sidebar ads running on various sites around the net, including ZDNet. In them, PC repeatedly hits an emergency reset lever (attempting to clear negative banners about Vista) to less than good effect. The humorless sort are quick to point out that the quotes PC resets don't come from actual reviews, but instead from op-eds and the like. Personally, this seems like a distinction without difference. The point is that Vista has not been that well-received in the tech world and Apple is right on target about that in this series of ads. (As to various problems with Leopard, well, that's for a another time).

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

[via Gizmodo]

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]]>get a macget a mac adsGetAMacGetAMacAdsMat Lu2008-03-24T20:30:00+00:00MacBook Air: It's a good thinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/21/macbook-air-its-a-good-thing/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/21/macbook-air-its-a-good-thing/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/21/macbook-air-its-a-good-thing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


America's favorite ex-con (that's Martha Stewart, not her dog Sharkey, as seen above) just loves her new MacBook Air, according to her blog. Like most MBA owners, she's "amazed" by how thin it is, and is thrilled that the trackpad "works much the same way as the Apple iPhone" -- in fact, her whole writeup reads exactly like an ad from Apple, complete with the link to the Apple Store at the end. Who knew Martha was such a Mac-head?

Although she does settle that debate about whether the book counts as a laptop or a laptop support unit: Martha still keeps her HP right next to the Air, not only because she likes to keep up with both platforms, but apparently because when aides come by her desk to work, she wants them to have choices. And we all know what choice is: a good thing.
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]]>funnyhphumoriphonelaptopmacbook-airmartha-stewartsharkeyMike Schramm2008-03-21T09:00:00+00:00Our favorite Charlie Rose caption is...http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/19/our-favorite-charlie-rose-caption-is/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/19/our-favorite-charlie-rose-caption-is/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/19/our-favorite-charlie-rose-caption-is/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yesterday, we pointed out the story of Charlie Rose and his MacBook Air. Just in case you missed it, Charlie was walking along the Manhattan streets with his MacBook Air. He tripped and instinctively saved the Air... and kissed the pavement.

That night, he did his show with one heck of a shiner. We asked you, dear readers, to fill Charlie's thought balloon. After combing through more than 100 entries, we've chosen our favorite, which you can see above. Congratulations, Spudnuts!

The runner-ups to "iAche" include
  1. ""My Sudden Motion Sensor didn't park my head soon enough." by Geoff
  2. "Boom!" by Michael L.
  3. "It's cheaper to fix my face." by x.
Thanks, everyone (and get well soon, Charlie).
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]]>charlie roseCharlieRosemacbook airMacbookAirDave Caolo2008-03-19T15:00:00+00:00TUAW go braghhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/17/tuaw-go-bragh/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/17/tuaw-go-bragh/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/17/tuaw-go-bragh/#commentsFiled under: ,

A big green Happy Saint Patrick's Day from TUAW. What says "American Irish experience" more than iPods in resplendent verdant hues? Or classic green gumdrop iMacs? Or colorwared MacBook Airs? We can't think of anything!

Just remember to keep your electronics away from the jello shots and green beer. Alcohol immersions are not covered under AppleCare. And remember why TUAW celebrates in March: because God didn't make little green apples in the summertime.

If you've got a favorite green Mac, iPod or peripheral, shout it out below.

Update; Green beer, being secular, doesn't conform to liturgical necessities.

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]]>Apple Go BraghAppleGoBraghgreenSt.Patrick'sdayErica Sadun2008-03-17T11:30:00+00:00How a MacBook Air baffled airport securityhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/07/how-a-macbook-air-baffled-airport-security/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/07/how-a-macbook-air-baffled-airport-security/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/07/how-a-macbook-air-baffled-airport-security/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alternate title: The MacBook Air is a device, but it's not a "Device."

Programmer Michael Nygard is used to travel. He's got the process down, from airport to hotel. Unfortunately, the TSA isn't as prepared.

While passing through airport security recently, he was pulled aside and made to sit in the holding area. He watched as a gaggle of TSA workers examined his things, especially his laptop ...

"'There's no drive,' one says. 'And no ports on the back. It has a couple of lines where the drive should be,' she continues...."

As you've probably guessed, Michael's MacBook Air had them all baffled. Fortunately, a younger member of the team eventually arrived and explained that it's not a "device," but a computer with a solid state hard drive. It's good to know they're keeping up with this kind of thing.

Here's a warning to everyone traveling to SxSW this weekend with a MacBook Air: schedule a few extra minutes for the airport.
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]]>macbook airMacbookAirsecuritysxswDave Caolo2008-03-07T15:00:00+00:00Phil Schiller: Apple rumormongerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/phil-schiller-apple-rumormonger/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/phil-schiller-apple-rumormonger/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/phil-schiller-apple-rumormonger/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Phil Schiller isn't only Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing it would seem he is also a fan of Apple rumors. If you watch the video of today's event it is plain as day on his calendar (served up to his iPhone via ActiveSync): 2pm: Brainstorm new Apple rumors. Oh, Phil, you scamp!

[via oddEvan]
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]]>apple-rumorsScott McNulty2008-03-06T17:04:00+00:00Meet guys at the Apple Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/meet-guys-at-the-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/meet-guys-at-the-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/meet-guys-at-the-apple-store/#commentsFiled under: , ,


I believe that a good percentage of our staff here at TUAW is married, female, or both, so being the bachelor that I am, I'll be the one to post the news that Apple Stores are a great place to meet single men, sent to us by reader Naveed (and I do believe this might be the first and hopefully the last time that TUAW has ever linked to Cosmo). Yes, Cosmopolitan ranks the Apple Store as the number one place for women to meet guys (although it is on the same long list as political rallies and steakhouses, so maybe Cosmo has no idea what it's talking about).

But hey, the single male bloggers of TUAW can't help but agree that yes, if you're going hunting for us, there's no better place to go than your local Apple retailer. Not only are us male Mac-heads intelligent, green, and playful, but when you single ladies want to know how to share your iTunes media, or hook up your new Time Capsule, we'll be right there with the answer.
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]]>apple-storecosmoflirtinghumormensinglestweet-thiswomenMike Schramm2008-03-01T14:30:00+00:00Return of the iPod familyhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/return-of-the-ipod-family/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/return-of-the-ipod-family/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/01/return-of-the-ipod-family/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A long time ago (three years!), we linked a cute series of photos on Flickr that photographer pinkbelt called "The iPod Family." Basically, she arranged her beloved iPods in domestic scenes that were pretty funny. After three posts from us, however, she stopped uploading new shots in the series.

Today, she's back and the iPod Family has some new members: A green nano and a silver shuffle. We're glad you're back at it, pinkbelt!

While we're all in the mood, here are some additional iPod parodies we've enjoyed
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]]>humoripodDave Caolo2008-03-01T13:00:00+00:00The value proposition of iPhone without phone callshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/26/iphones-without-phone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/26/iphones-without-phone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/26/iphones-without-phone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The other day, I got sucked into a deep iPhone discussion. (It happens. Don't cast stones.) As you may know, I'm not big on the iPhone-as-phone. "What's the point," a friend asked, "of having an iPhone and not making calls on it?"

Back and forth discussion happened. Here's the conclusion: the iPhone transforms people like me from insufferable know-it-alls to insufferable know-it-alls with the entire Internet in our pants. (Or fashionable handbag.) (Or manziere.) (BRO!) Google and Wikipedia don't equate to wisdom and understanding, but they provide inexhaustible streams of on-the-spot factoids. End those "Who's right?" arguments fast.

So if you haven't jumped on the iPhone bandwagon yet, consider this. Put the Internet into your own pants. With EDGE, the Internet is anywhere you've got pockets. Until WiFi becomes ubiquitous, always-on connectivity is better than only being "sometimes-on." Especially when it's your pants (or purse) that are chock full of Internet-goodness.

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]]>insufferable know-it-allsInsufferableKnow-it-allsiTrousersErica Sadun2008-02-26T16:30:00+00:00Has DiskWarrior's Eddy award been statue-napped?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/20/has-diskwarriors-eddy-award-been-statue-napped/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/20/has-diskwarriors-eddy-award-been-statue-napped/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/20/has-diskwarriors-eddy-award-been-statue-napped/#commentsFiled under: ,

Earlier tonight during Shawn King's Your Mac Life show, a chat room participant delivered a chilling warning to Alsoft, publishers of the venerable and vital DiskWarrior utility: a cherished possession, the 2007 Eddy award for DiskWarrior, was being held hostage in an undisclosed location. Indeed, the kidnappededdy.com site does clearly show a rather unhappy-looking award with a succession of rambling, barely-comprehensible ransom demands... cigars, bacon, tofu, birdseed -- either these people have a serious dietary problem or someone copied Wile E. Coyote's shopping list by mistake.

Our crack investigative team has run around looking very busy for the past few minutes, and our sources have all been dragged inside from their eclipse-watching parties to answer our urgent calls for information. We have reason to believe that the reprobates and ne'er-do-wells at Ambrosia Software are involved in some way with this award situation, and we can only hope that the wayward statue is quickly and safely returned to its owners -- unscathed and unscratched.

Thanks to Mat, Shawn King, and "Mr. X."
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]]>alsoftdiskwarrioreddyMichael Rose2008-02-20T23:15:00+00:00The biggest Apple USB mouse in the worldhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


TUAW reader Kim, who runs the Danish blog Kinablog,dk, sent us this piece he wrote about what he calls the world's biggest Apple USB mouse (a.k.a. the iMac mouse, a.k.a. the hockey puck). It's actually a building in China that houses the National Centre for the Performing Arts, with room for 6,500 people in three halls inside 2,000 square meters, designed by Paul Adreu. And he's right-- it bears a striking (though not quite exact) resemblance to the round little early iMac peripheral. Considering that construction started on the building in 2001, and the mouse was released before that, it's a little less of a stretch (though still a stretch) to think that one inspired the other.

But Kim is thinking even bigger-- not only does he dare us to imagine the sound of a click on a mouse that big, but he asks what an iMac that size would look like. Stop bending my mind like that, man! Apple is going thinner, not bigger.
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]]>applechinahockey-puckimacmousenational-centre-for-the-performing-artsthinnerusbMike Schramm2008-02-07T15:00:00+00:00iLolcats on your iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/24/ilolcats-on-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/24/ilolcats-on-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/24/ilolcats-on-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

lolcats on the iPhoneLooking for a cheezburger to go with your iPhone? You're in luck. The goofballs (and I say that with fondest affection) over at ICanHasCheezburger have created an official iPhone app so you can cart the cats around with you wherever you go. Just bookmark this on your phone's Safari browser and whenever you visit you'll be greeted by the 30 most recent lolcat pictures. It even updates every time there's a new post.

Don't have an iPhone? To dream and drool, check out the demo page the creators put together (it's only viewable on a Mac).

Now this site needs the same treatment.
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]]>bookmarkicanhascheezburgeriphonelolcatssafariLisa Hoover2008-01-24T16:30:00+00:00Found Footage: Hit me on my iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/found-footage-hit-me-on-my-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/found-footage-hit-me-on-my-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/found-footage-hit-me-on-my-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The fake lips in the copy and paste demo (and the stealth declaration of love at the end) had me laughing out loud, but this one has me rolling -- who knew the iPhone demo guy was such a hip hop mastermind? Pete Miser was the one who put the song together, and apparently Merritt Duff edited the video. I especially like the dance at the end, and the lyrics are perfect. I've never bought a Bluetooth headset because I think they just plain look dumb, but people have thought I was crazy on the bus as I talked directly into the little mic on the headphones.

I love it. John from the MacBook Air demos should do a dis song, and we have a mobile computing rap feud!

[Via BB, and thanks Josh!]
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]]>headsethumoriphonejankymerritt-duffmusicpete-miservideoMike Schramm2008-01-23T21:30:00+00:00Found Footage: MacBook Air makes thin in againhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/found-footage-macbook-air-makes-thin-in-again/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/found-footage-macbook-air-makes-thin-in-again/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/found-footage-macbook-air-makes-thin-in-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Is anyone else worried about Apple's obsession with being thin? This issue has come up before, but while last time around it was supposed to be serious, this time it's just plain silly. While Apple is crowing about releasing the world's thinnest notebook, nobody's thinking about the self esteem of all those other laptops and notebooks out there. Instead they're left... well, you can see above. Hilarious.

Has anyone considered the feelings of these bulky notebooks, growing up in a world that values computers so small and thin that they fit in envelopes?!? Worry not, little laptops. God Dell, Lenovo or HP made you just the way you are, and it's possible to be big and beautiful all at the same time. Well, not Apple beautiful (come on now-- you could definitely stand to lose that optical drive), but beautiful in your own big, bulky way.

[Via Waxy]
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]]>found-footagehilarioushumormacbook-airparodythinthin-is-invideoworlds-thinnest-notebookMike Schramm2008-01-19T09:00:00+00:00