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Posts with tag macintosh

NewerTech's dual-bay MacBook battery charger / conditioner


NewerTech's dual-bay MacBook (and MacBook Pro, too) battery charger / conditioner is most certainly tailored for the authentic road warrior, as it allows users to "conveniently charge two batteries one after the other, or charge one battery while conditioning a second one." The device reportedly extends the maximum life and effectiveness of your batteries by doing the conditioning for you, but we're a bit bummed to see that it only charges the second Li-ion "when the first battery is done charging." Notably, NewerTech also seems to offer the device for owners of PowerBooks of days past, but the latest rendition will run you $149.95 for the convenience. Another shot after the break.

LaCie announces LightScribe for Macs

MacBooks and Mac minis use slot-loading drives. Slot-loading drives like to eat labels (they say they're delicious). While some Mac users have been using LightScribe drives on their systems for some time in order to avoid the dreaded label jam (and to make pretty label-less labels), they can finally -- officially -- get in on the label-free disc-etching thing with LaCie's software support. The drive company announced that their LightScribe drives and labeling software are now Mac compatible and ready to go. The drives are $99.99 and come with LightScribe Labeling software v1.4.105.1 for 10.3.9 or higher (check those dots, yo).

Moo be gone! Apple releases MacBook SMC firmware update

Hey MacBook owners, Apple just released an SMC firmware update which might rid your box of any annoying barnyard noises. According to Apple, the new firmware "adjusts fan behavior" in the MacBook, the same fan identified as the culprit behind those wee "moos." Although not as widely reported as the issues with discoloration which Apple has already addressed, the mooing sound (click to listen) seems to stem from the MacBook's fan repetitively turning on and off at certain temperatures and loads. Early reports from those who installed the update over at sister site TUAW, seem to suggest that this SMC update to 1.4f10 does the trick while also reducing the MacBook's overall temperature. So what's keepin' ya sport, best get a mooove on. Yeah, that was painful... but so there.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in, via TUAW]

Logitec intros LBD-A2FU2/WM, first OS X-friendly Blu-ray burner

For those Mac users who just can't wait to start filling up those $20+ Blu-ray writeables, the anticipation is just about over. Later this month, Japanese storage specialist Logitec will begin shipping what's touted as the "world's first Mac-compatible" Blu-ray disc burner. While Blu-ray burners for Windows-based machines have been popping up fairly frequently of late, OS X has been left out in the cold, (but considering the current price of Blu-ray media, we're assuming it hasn't been a total calamity). Nevertheless, the LBD-A2FU2/WM is an external 2x burner that will support DVD-RAM, DVD±R/RW, dual-layer DVD±R, CD-R / RW, and obviously BD-R / BD-RE discs. This FireWire / USB 2.0 combination drive supports PCs and Macs, and it's presumed that Roxio's Toast 7 Titanium software played a role in OS X getting its functionality groove on -- Roxio supposedly began offering Blu-ray drive makers a Mac-friendly version of the software, and sure enough, that's what you'll get with the Logitec. So for all you Mac fans who've felt a bit left behind, you can still get up to speed in just a couple weeks, but know it might cost you more than your MacBook (¥132,000 or $1,148), so you may want to think twice before cruising to Japan to pick one up.

Microsoft's Wireless Laser Desktop for Mac


Proving that it still has (some) love for the fiercely-loyal army of Mac enthusiasts (especially the dual-booters), Microsoft has released its first Wireless Laser Desktop for Cupertino-created computers. This new keyboard and mouse set, which features a Comfort Curve ergonomic 'board and high-definition laser mouse, sounds almost identical to the company's Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 (pictured above) which was released last year for Windows machines, except for the addition of Mac-specific modifier and hot keys. Available immediately, this package will set you back $100.

Mossberg goes to Boot Camp and survives unscathed

While some early message-board reviews of Apple's new Boot Camp software -- which was announced earlier today -- seem to show that there are at least some hazards to running Windows on a Mac (see the pic at right, which is apparently one of the first Boot Camp-assisted Mac BSODs), The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg has given the new boot manager a thumbs up. According to Mossberg (who was able to sneak a copy out of Cupertino a few days ago), after installing Boot Camp and Windows on an Intel iMac, Windows ran "blazingly fast," and all of the apps he tested ran "flawlessly." Mossberg put the install time -- including both installing Boot Camp itself and running the usual Windows installer -- at 57 minutes, 40 of which were claimed by the Windows setup program. Despite being generally pleased, Mossberg did find a few glitches, including having to reset the clock every time Windows is booted (apparently the system clock used by the iMac isn't recognized by Windows) and not being able to use Apple's iSight camera. All in all, however, Mossberg summed things up with what may soon become Apple's new tagline: "Whether you want to run Mac or Windows programs, an Apple computer may be the only computer you'll need."

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Apple quietly fixing MacBookPro bugs


We don't expect to hear anything official about this from Apple, but according to DailyTech, the company has quietly begun repairing some of the more annoying bugs reported by MacBookPro owners, and has also been replacing the computers of customers who complain loudly enough. According to DailyTech, Apple's "revision D" models, which have serial numbers starting with W8611 or 12, no longer have certain issues, including becoming unbearably hot and LCD problems. The company also told DailyTech that anyone whose MacBook becomes too hot to handle should bring it in to be replaced. While we're not suggesting that every MacBookPro user immediately storm the nearest Apple store, if your serial number starts with W8610 or lower, you may want to be sure everything works okay -- especially if you actually want to put the thing on your lap without getting burned.

30 years in Apple products: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Has it really been 30 years since two buddies named Steve sold off their prized possessions (Woz's HP calculator and Jobs'  VW van) to raise money and launch a company? Has it really been 30 years since the two Steves, tired of selling blue boxes, built the Apple I and began selling it for $666.66? Yes, it has, and if you don't believe it, just compare Jobs' hairlines from '76 and today. And while the company has become known for many things, from its groundbreaking GUI to the iTunes Music Store, we know Apple has always been a hardware company at heart. So here's to you, Apple: the good, the bad and, yes, the ugly from the past 30 years. Happy Birthday.



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