David Quilty

Apple By David Quilty

Apple TV / film product placement down, but still ahead of competition

Maybe it's because I am both a fan and a loyal customer, but I do tend to notice how often Apple products pop up everywhere as the de facto computers on TV and on the big screen. According to a report by AppleInsider, Apple doesn't even pay for that product placement, yet 30 percent of the top movies in 2010 prominently featured Apple products. This figure is down from 46 percent in 2009 and 50 percent in 2008, but that 30 percent is still higher than any other brand -- even with other computer brands trying to mimic Apple's placement strategy. Back in 2006 we discussed an article at The Washington Post about all the "free" product placement Apple received in TV shows and movies, so we know this has been going on for quite some time. We've recently talked about the iPad being the star of Modern Family and iPod product placement on The Office, and now CrunchGear has found a video of Apple's Greatest Cinematic Achievements over on Vimeo. At 7:24 long and including everything from 30 Rock, War Games and The Sopranos, it's a fun look at how Apple's products have been placed in film and TV over the years. Click Read More to check out the video of Apple's Greatest Cinematic Achievements. [via CrunchGear and AppleInsider]

By David Quilty Read More

Apple By David Quilty

Rare official Apple playing cards up for auction on eBay

If your Apple collectibles case has an empty slot in it for something new, you may just want to check out these very rare Apple Computer Playing Cards up for auction on eBay. Brought to our attention by MacStories, this official Apple-branded set of OS 7 icon playing cards was purchased at an Apple campus store back in 1997 and is still in brand-new and unused condition. The cards come as a full deck of 52 cards plus two Jokers, and the icons are of OS 7 Bombs, Clocks, Mac Face and Trash Cans rather than the standard card illustrations of clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades. Bidding is now up to £205 with six days remaining in the auction. These sets were available only to Apple employees back in the day, so those of you looking for a rare Apple collectible may want to check them out. If £205 (and still climbing) seems like a little much dough to pull out of your wallet right now for these Apple cards, maybe something like a collectible iPad Cutting Board for US$19.95 is more your speed. Better yet, for the absolute low price of $0.00, Apple fans who are also playing card fanatics may want to check out Full Deck Solitaire, reviewed earlier today here on TUAW. [via MacStories and The Next Web]

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Apple Store retail employee discusses what it's like to work there

Although doing so usually ends with a current employee becoming a former employee, one Apple Store retail worker recently had a lot to say about his experience working for the company. In an article over at Popular Mechanics, an unnamed employee spilled the beans on everything from being in the dark about new products until the Keynote Address (just like the rest of us), the undercover plain-clothes security working in every store, how working the Phone Room is like working a suicide hotline, and how talking to the press about your experiences can get you fired. In that case, one hopes he has another job lined up now that this article was published! We have, of course, seen articles before about what it's like to work for Apple and confirmation that Apple Store employees are usually in the dark about new products, but the article is definitely worth a read to get an insider's view as to what it may be like to work retail for Apple. If you were thinking of trying to get a job with Apple yourself, you may be able to glean a little info as to which subjects to avoid during your interview.

By David Quilty Read More

Tablets By David Quilty

Jetstar airline to offer in-flight iPads in April

Back in June 2010 we first reported on a pilot program by Qantas Airways' low-cost airline Jetstar to offer iPad rentals as in-flight entertainment, and now we have learned that Jetstar will finally start offering them in April for AUD$10 per flight. According to Australian Business Traveler, the in-flight iPads will come loaded with "movies, music, magazines, books and games" and will be available on Jetstar's A320 flights in Australia and Asia. Jetstar had initially intended to launch the rental program in time for the holiday season after successful trial runs last summer, but due to contract negotiations and pending licensing agreements with Apple, they weren't able to get it ready in time. In talking with Australian Business Traveler, Jetstar marketing manager David May said that "if the trial works, we want to put them on every aircraft because they're so much slimmer and lighter than our existing units," and I imagine we will be seeing many other airlines follow suit. With some airlines already offering integration between iPods and in-flight entertainment systems and iPads being used as electronic flight bags for pilots, just how far off are we from flying Apple Airlines? Anyone care to take a guess?

By David Quilty Read More

Apps

Apps By David Quilty

GoodReader for iOS update now provides Auto Sync

GoodReader, the popular document reader for iOS devices, has been updated to include auto syncing with iDisk, Dropbox, SugarSync or any WebDAV or FTP server. Users are now able to download documents and/or entire folders full of documents and mark them to automatically synchronize across all remote servers, making sure that anyone with access sees only the most up-to-date document versions. Supported document types include .pdf, .txt, .doc, html, images, audio/video files and even those from iWork '08 and '09. Good.iWare president Yuri Selukoff said that "this entire update to GoodReader is dedicated to the 'Live on the cloud' idea," and I'm so thankful for that. I have been using GoodReader on my iPhone for quite some time now, and it has definitely helped me out of many a jam when working remotely on documents with co-workers. It's also popular with the TUAW staff here, as our own Victor Agreda, Jr. named it as one of the top five apps on his iPad, and Erica Sadun included it on her list of iPad apps to the rescue. Interested in giving GoodReader a try on your iOS device? There are two different versions on the App Store, both priced at US$2.99 -- GoodReader v.3.2.3 for iPhone/iPod touch and GoodReader v.3.3.0 for iPad. Good.iWare says that v.3.3.1 for iPhone/iPod touch is in Apple's review as of this writing, so we should expect to see an update on the App Store any day now.

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Opera Mini for iPad set for debut

According to a report from Macworld, the iPad is about to get its own version of the popular Opera Mini web browser. The new iPad-centric version will supposedly be released at the Mobile World Congress event starting in Barcelona next week, along with updated versions for the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry mobile platforms. Speaking with Macworld, Opera CEO Lars Boilesen said that "Our developers have been hard at work building the mobile browser of the future for both consumers and mobile operators." Back in 2008 it was reported that Apple wouldn't allow Opera to place their mobile browser in the App Store to compete with Safari, but in April of 2010 it was finally approved for use on the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad and is currently available as a free download from the App Store. Of course, it has to use WebKit for the browsing engine, but it maintains Opera's backend for server-side compression, yielding faster page loads on slower connections. And for those of you still looking for a new browser to try out on your Mac, you may want to check out Opera 11 for Mac, which was released back in December. [via Macworld]

By David Quilty Read More

Tablets By David Quilty

iPads don't make you attractive to the opposite sex

Sorry to burst your bubble, iPad owners, but owning and using an iPad doesn't exactly make the opposite sex swoon, at least according to Retrevo 's Gadgetology Report. The report asked consumers if they notice other people's gadgets and, if so, how they react to them, and it turns out that seeing someone use an iPad is lower on the standard "I find you attractive" scale than seeing them with a pile of books. Only 36 percent of men are attracted to a woman because of her iPad, versus 42 percent liking a woman reading a book. As for the women, 29 percent like a man with an iPad, and 30 percent prefer book readers. Seems that traditional books really won't be going anywhere, even with all the popularity of the iPad. With Valentine's Day coming up, it looks like you are going to have to try harder to impress your favorite somebody and do something other than just carry your iPad around in public. Maybe try making an edible iPhone cake, some iCupcakes or a chocolate-covered iPad instead? The possibilities are endless!

By David Quilty Read More

Smartphones

Smartphones By David Quilty

Camera Mic uses iPhone mic as shutter-release button

Can't seem to get just the right angle when taking a picture with your iPhone? Then you may want to check out Camera Mic, which turns the microphone on your iPhone or on your headset cable into a shutter-release button. Brought to our attention by Lifehacker, Camera Mic snaps a picture any time you tap the microphone -- or possibly even when it hears a loud noise nearby, which of course could lead to a full library of forgettable photos to sort through. But even with the potential to take pictures when you don't mean to, I could see this app coming in especially useful for those of us without forward-facing cameras. When we want to take a group shot that actually includes us, we have to turn the camera around and hope we can hit the shutter button. The ability to just tap the headset cable could make it much easier to take a photo worthwhile of being put somewhere other than in the trash. Available on the App Store for just US$0.99, Camera Mic is compatible with iOS 3.1 and later on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. (Maybe they mean iPad 2? Thanks, @Victimsofgravity.) Between the professional photographers using iPhones and reporters at The New York Times recording the news with theirs, the iPhone is sure showing its versatility in the photography world -- and an app like Camera Mic has the possibility of making it even more popular. [via Lifehacker]

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Walmart to carry Verizon iPhone in 600 stores starting February 10

Walmart has announced that beginning tomorrow, February 10, it will begin carrying the Verizon iPhone for sale in almost 600 of its retail stores. According to MacRumors, Walmart is the latest retailer to join Apple, Verizon and Best Buy in offering up the VZW iPhone 4 for sale, even if it is only going to be available inside a fraction of its 8,800 worldwide retail stores. However, with Walmart's reach, you can be sure that the sales record Verizon set on the first day of iPhone sales of over 500,000 units will look like peanuts in the coming weeks. While the iPhone is available for online orders starting today at both the Apple Store and at Verizon, retail sales at brick and mortar stores don't begin until tomorrow. Will you be picking up your very own VZW iPhone in the near future? Or have you gotten yours already? If so, and if you are new to the iPhone family, you should definitely check out Erica Sadun's Verizon iPhone 101: What new owners need to know to get started to get your iPhone ownership experience off on the right foot. [via MacRumors]

By David Quilty Read More

Lifestyle

Lifestyle By David Quilty

The Plaza Hotel providing iPads for all guests

The Plaza Hotel in New York City is now providing all guests with iPads both in their rooms and in The Palm Court dining room, according to a report from Luxist. Started in January 2011, the program gives guests complete access to guest services like room service along with the ability to control room functions, such as lighting and AC, using Intelity's ICE (Interactive Customer Experience) software. In talking to Luxist, the hotel's general manager Shane Krige explained "[The Plaza] chose the iPad because it is a great piece of equipment that is here to stay and won't disappear tomorrow. It brings another five star element to the hotel." We previously reported on the popularity of iPads being implemented in restaurants, with owners of one steakhouse even crediting the iPad with playing a role in increasing their wine sales. I myself recently dined in a restaurant that brought an iPad to the table at the end of the meal with a survey installed on it. With political campaigns promising iPads, corporations giving them out as bonuses and even universities providing iPads to students, it was only a matter of time before the hotel industry dipped its toes into the world of the iPad. The Plaza Hotel claims to be the first in the world offering this type of service; I wonder who will be next? Click Read More to check out video of the iPad in use at The Plaza Hotel. iOS users can watch the video on Vimeo here.

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

String Labs' augmented reality showcase app for iPhone

Want to see one of the ways that you're going to use that iPhone in the future? You should do yourself a favor and check out what String Labs is doing with their new augmented reality engine, String. What is AR, you ask? It's the merging of both your real-world environment and a virtual one, allowing for a unique experience that you can then interact with in various ways depending on the application. Did you see the first down lines on the field during yesterday's Super Bowl? That's one form of augmented reality -- the field is, of course, physically there, but the lines are superimposed over it for us to see at home on the TV. To celebrate the launch of their platform, String Labs recently released a showcase app (free download on the App Store) that demonstrates several games and ideas which use String's AR engine. After installing the app on your iPhone and printing out the targets on their site, users can experience AR for themselves at home. This isn't the first AR app on the store by a long shot, but String's play is a platform one, not a one-off app or feature in an app. String aims to provide developers with the "easiest-to-use and fastest augmented reality SDK on the market." It's currently only available for iOS developers, but it will soon be ready for Android and other platforms. We've seen some cool uses for AR, like in the Where To? app and Word Lens (one of my favorites), but if some of these things in the showcase app are only the beginning of what AR can do, I am really looking forward to what the future holds. Click Read More to check out video of Pharaoh's Fury, an AR game demo.

By David Quilty Read More

Tablets By David Quilty

Asustek chairman has "secret weapon" to compete with iPad 2

The chairman of Eee PC netbook maker Asustek Computer Jonney Shih is claiming to have a "secret weapon" to help his company compete with the iPad 2 when it is released in a few months. As reported by PCWorld, Shih recently talked with IDG News Service about the future of Eee PC netbooks, but he played coy when asked if the secret weapon was a new kind of tablet computer, saying "I think it's best not to say now. You will have to wait until the launch." As recently as August 2010 it was reported that Asustek was selling fewer netbooks because of the success of the iPad, with only 14 percent of those shoppers interested in portable computing still considering a netbook over a tablet computer. With this in mind, Shih is going to need something special to keep up with the estimated 48 million iPads to be sold in 2011. Anyone care to chime in as to what the "secret weapon" may be? A nuclear-powered netbook? A tablet computer that doubles as a dinner plate? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

By David Quilty Read More

Tablets By David Quilty

60% of iPad 2 models to be 3G versions

Contrary to an early claim from AT&T's CEO Randall Stephenson that the iPad would be a "Wi-Fi driven product" and that "there's not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription," AppleInsider is reporting that over 60 percent of the first production run of the iPad 2 will be 3G models. In speaking to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, they learned that at least 62 percent of the 5 million iPad 2 devices Apple is preparing prior to sale will be 3G units, with 46 percent set aside for GSM/UMTS networks and 16 percent for CDMA/EVDO networks. When the iPad was released back in April 2010, the Wi-Fi version was available for three weeks before the Wi-Fi+3G version, so a lot of Wi-Fi-only iPads were sold at first. But in just the first 28 days of sales, Apple sold a combined 1 million units and went on to sell almost 15 million iPads in all of 2010. Recent analyst reports peg sales of the iPad at 48 million in 2011, meaning that almost 30 million of them should be 3G devices. Currently, AT&T offers 3G data plans at US$14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB, while Verizon offers 1 GB for $20, 3 GB for $35, 5 GB for $50, or $80 for 10 GB.

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

The New York Times to provide reporters with the iPhone 4

The New York Times is giving their mobile reporters iPhone 4s to shoot video out in the field along with the ability to upload them to NYT servers using Aspera's high-speed file transfer software. Brought to our attention by MacStories, The New York Times' Editorial Director for Video and Television, Ann Derry, recently spoke to the Beet.TV Online Video Journalism Summit about the decision, saying that the iPhone 4 is a "game changer" for mobile video and the news business. The first NYT staff member to receive and use his new iPhone 4 was Andrew Ross Sorkin, who used it for his coverage of The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. You can watch his report, "Setting the Stage at Davos," over at the NYT site. With a critically acclaimed director shooting movies with an iPhone and even some professional photographers giving them a go, it's no surprise that the media is starting to use them as real-time news-collecting devices. When even my local news station asks me each night to send in any video I take with my iPhone, I know it has become a rather mainstream phenomenon. Click Read More to watch video of Ann Derry discussing the iPhone 4 and The New York Times. [via MacStories]

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Verizon iPhone orders already shipping

Those of you who placed your pre-order for the Verizon iPhone 4 early this morning may be in for a nice surprise tomorrow, as TUAW reader Cameron from The 9magnets Blog wrote in to let us know that his VZW iPhone has apparently already shipped. A screenshot of his order (and the corresponding American Express bill) shows that the device was shipped via FedEx overnight for delivery by 3 PM -- meaning he should have it in his hands by tomorrow afternoon. Verizon's FAQ's states that "iPhone 4 orders will arrive on or before February 10, 2011," so I guess we'll see if that holds true. Many early AT&T iPhone 4 orders showed "shipped" status very quickly last year, but the phones were actually held for delivery until the official launch date. To Cameron and any other readers who placed their order already -- please be sure to let us know if your phone arrives sometime tomorrow. And while you are waiting patiently by the door, be sure to read up on some Verizon iPhone prep articles about saving your old voicemails and migrating your contacts so that you are ready as soon as the doorbell rings.

By David Quilty Read More

Apps

Apps By David Quilty

EA breaks records with App Store sales last quarter

While their sales may not add up to all 10 billion apps that the App Store has sold, Electronic Arts is boasting of amazing third quarter sales of its own iOS apps. Joystiq reports that COO John Schappert recently discussed just how well EA apps did during the holiday season. Schappert said, "The day after Christmas, the millions who were activating their new devices, EA held 14 of the top 25 paid apps for the iPhone and 15 of the top 25 paid apps for the iPad." Part of the reason EA did so well, other than offering titles iOS users were obviously willing to pay for, was that it dropped prices on most of its iOS apps in December, setting off a price war amongst developers on the App Store. EA's timing was impeccable, however, because Apple froze the App Store charts on December 23, leaving many EA titles right near or at the top of the charts for the remainder of the holidays. Very smart indeed.

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Verizon iPhone prep: Save your old voicemail, it's not coming with you

Thinking of picking up a new iPhone 4 for your Verizon account in the coming weeks? Macworld's review is already up, as are Engadget's, Techcrunch's and Wired's (spoiler: it's an iPhone 4!). But if you want to save any of those all-important legacy voicemails during the setup process, be sure to read this tip over at Verizon called Getting Ready for iPhone 4 - Saving Your Existing Voice Mail. Depending on whether or not your old phone supports Verizon's Visual Voice Mail service, there are two sets of directions to make sure you don't lose any of your messages when setting up your new voice mailbox. It's important to note that once your new iPhone 4 is activated, you will no longer have access to your existing voice mailbox, so it's vital that you follow the instructions provided if you want to keep any messages. For those with savvy devices, you can add the US$2.99 Visual Voice Mail service pack, which lets you download voicemails to your computer. If you have a phone that doesn't work with Visual Voice Mail, Verizon suggests contacting a third-party service provider to offload the voicemails ... at which point you might consider whether you really want to hold onto them. You can always play them back into your computer microphone for recording if you absolutely need them. Earlier today, Megan Lavey filled us in on the availability of Verizon's Transfer app for migrating your contacts to VZW iPhones. This free app will make sure your contact list doesn't get lost when setting up your new device. The Verizon iPhone 4 is available to qualified customers for pre-order as of February 3. I already heard from my brother that he's going to get up early to get his order in. How many of you will be doing the same?

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Flash-friendly Skyfire browser for iPad gets updated

After the initial iPhone, iPad and iPod touch version earned $1 million in its first weekend on the App Store back in November, the third-party iPad-specific web browser Skyfire for iPad (US$4.99) has been updated to Version 2.1.1 and is available for downloading now. Fixes in the update include auto-completing URLs, stronger privacy controls and several performance improvements. Because Apple's iOS devices do not support Flash, the Skyfire browser provides a workaround that transcodes Flash video into HTML5 and thus enables iDevice owners to access most Flash-based websites and videos. While Skyfire for iPad version 2.1.1 requires, well, an iPad running iOS 3.2 or later, iPhone and iPod touch users can download their own version for $2.99 from the App Store as well.

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Put a Windows Phone 7 theme on your iPhone

Been trying to think of a way to try out a new Windows phone without crossing over to the dark side switching sides? If that's the case and you have been looking for a way to recreate the Windows Phone 7 interactive theme on your iPhone or iPod touch, Wyndwarrior's "OS7" is available in public beta for anyone with a hankering for Windows on their jailbroken iOS device. Here are the instructions from modmyi.com on how you can try it out if you are so inclined: 1. Install Backboard from Cydia. 2. Make sure you have created a "Default" backup; if not, press the add button in Backboard and give it a name. 3. Go on your device and click on this link: backboard://http://wyndrepo.googleco...es/OS7Beta.zip 4. Press "Yes" and wait for it to download. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection. 5. Select OS7 from Backboard. Press Install. Respring. Voting is going on right now to set the as-yet-unknown price for OS7, so if you want in on the action, you may want to get your voice heard. Click Read More to check out video of the OS7 demo. [via Engadget]

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

iOS Safari receiving Google Instant Previews support

Formerly only for desktop browser searches, 9 to 5 Mac is reporting that Google "Instant Previews" is being rolled out for mobile Safari users as well. This new service allows iOS Safari users to get a quick visual preview of sites within their search results without having to actually click through and wait for the pages to load. Previews of search results are displayed like a slideshow, allowing users to flick through the different pages in typical iOS fashion. Google has not formally announced the new feature yet and not every device has it as of this writing -- my own iPhone included. We first saw Google's Instant search service for iOS devices back in November, but this new "Instant Previews" version is definitely a step up from simply seeing textual search results appear as you type your queries. I am sure there will be fans and detractors of this new search preview, but do tell us -- is it live for you yet on your iOS device? [via Gizmodo]

By David Quilty Read More

News By David Quilty

Former Newsweek editor planning iPad magazines

Former Newsweek Magazine President Mark Edmiston is planning to launch a set of magazines formatted for the iPad, according to a report out from Mashable today. Nomad Editions, a new media company launched by Edmiston, started releasing five digital weekly magazines this past fall: Real Eats, Wave Lines, Wide Screen, u+me and BodySmart, with the newest title, u+me, coming in February 2011. Each title is offered as a free trial for four editions/weeks, and after that, the price is US$6.00 per 90 days or $2 per month -- a pretty fair price for a weekly magazine. While Nomad Editions will be in competition with some other high-profile, iPad-centric publications, like Rupert Murdoch's The Daily and Richard Branson's Project, Edmiston has structured his company a little differently with a small staff of freelancers contributing content in exchange for a share of any revenue derived from sales. With some reports saying that iPad magazines aren't faring well over time, this should be a good comparison test to see which model performs better in this new digital marketplace. [via Mashable]

By David Quilty Read More

Gaming

Gaming By David Quilty

Oregon Trail is turning 40 this year

You may not have heard about it lately, but the classic game Oregon Trail is turning 40 years old this year. Initially developed as an educational game for a history class in Minneapolis, Oregon Trail was released to the public in 1971 developed for mainframe use starting in 1971, and it was later released for the Apple II computer. As an educational tool, players take on the identity of a wagon train leader bringing settlers from Missouri to Oregon in 1848, using their problem-solving skills to help their group survive disease and food shortages along the way. Points are rewarded based on how well one did at these jobs and keeping their family members alive until the end of the journey. For fans of the game, back in August we found a clever trailer for the sweding of Oregon Trail, but for those of you looking to hearken back to a simpler time in computer gaming, you can give the game a try by either downloading the iPhone/iPod touch version from the App Store for US$0.99 or by playing the original Apple II version online at Virtual Apple. Oops! Yes, that should have read 1971, not 1981. While the game itself was originally designed starting in 1971, the MECC Apple II version was first published in 1978. Our apologies for the confusion.

By David Quilty Read More

Gaming

Gaming By David Quilty

iOS game The Incident recreated in real life

The Incident, a retro-style game for iOS devices that makes players avoid and jump on mountains of debris falling from the sky in order to reach the top, has been recreated in real life by some enterprising young gamers. Brought to our attention by MacStories, the video of the "sweding" (remaking something from scratch using whatever you can get your hands on) of The Incident is quite amusing to watch as these guys remake everything, from the opening credits to the music and the large items "falling" from the sky that the real-life player must avoid and climb up on. Our own Mike Schramm reviewed The Incident back in August of last year and called it "worth every cent of the US$1.99" it sells for on the App Store, so you gamers into retro action may want to check it out. We've seen some creative sweding of games before, like this live-action version of Angry Birds, but the video of The Incident is a must-see for gaming fans of any ilk. Click Read More to watch the real-life video of The Incident in action. [via Kotaku and MacStories]

By David Quilty Read More

Apple By David Quilty

RBC ups its target price for AAPL to $425

It could be partly because of Apple's 71% year over year revenue growth reported in yesterday's first fiscal quarter 2011 earnings report, or it could be the result of the 17 million iPads shipped in 2010. But either way, Boy Genius Report just let us know that RBC Capital Markets has revised their Apple stock price estimate, raising it from last week's $395 to $425 today following the earnings report. They are expecting Apple's revenue for 2011 to come in at just a shade under $100 billion, and 2012 looks to come in at $108 billion. With the first quarter showing Apple selling 16.24 million iPhones, 7.33 million iPads, 4.13 million Macs and 19.45 million iPods while revenue rose to $26.7 billion, 2011 looks to be off to a solid start -- and yet another year that I think back to 2005, when I could have bought Apple stock at around $65.

By David Quilty Read More

Computing

Computing By David Quilty

Mac Plus reused as a Time Machine server

Showing us that there is, in fact, a much more useful application for an old Mac Plus than a DJ using it as a helmet, Macenstein reader Dean Gray has turned his 1986 Mac Plus 1 MB into a Time Machine Server. By using an Intel Atom motherboard and replacing the screen with a 10" digital picture frame, Gray has taken an important piece of Apple's history and made it into what could be the coolest 2.3 TB-capacity Time Machine server we've seen yet. Sure beats using a run-of-the-mill Mac mini as a server on style points alone! While I do both online backups with Backblaze and local backups using Time Machine, Gray's Mac Plus server would look a lot better in my office than my boring Western Digital drive looks now. But even if you don't have a Mac Plus to call your own, if you aren't yet incorporating backups into your daily life, you may want to read Erica Sadun's piece about why Time Machine holds a special place in her heart, or Steve Sande's Mac 101 on backup basics. The most important thing is that you start backing up your computer today, no matter the method.

By David Quilty Read More