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Ask TUAW: Choosing an iPhone, used Mac disposal, wake from sleep, podcast software and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about getting an iPhone, disposing of old Macs, wake from sleep issues, exchanging a recent Mac purchase, podcast hardware and software, and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions. Tom asks: I'm considering an iPhone but want to know what my options are. Is the iPhone the best smartphone if I'm a Mac user? The short answer to that question is "Yes." The iPhone is the best smartphone for you if you use a Mac. It's designed by Apple to work seamlessly with your Mac and iTunes and for the most part, it does. For Mac users the iPhone offers the best user experience possible and keeps you, at least hardware-wise, entirely in the Apple fold. That said, the iPhone itself may or may not be the best smartphone for your needs. One drawback is that it's only available if you are an AT&T wireless customer. So, unless you are already an AT&T customer, or are willing to switch, you are out of luck. Plus, using AT&T on a daily basis can sometimes be challenging as it's network occasionally has issues. Also, the coverage in some areas is not quite as good as other networks such as Verizon -- even in larger cities such as Los Angeles, where I live.
Podcasting advice for the amateur or expert
There's no shortage of podcasting equipment out there for amateurs or professionals. These audio devices can range from a few bucks to a few thousand bucks, which sometimes makes it difficult to figure out exactly what equipment is best for you. Well, lucky for you Dan Benjamin at Hivelogic has written a very thorough article on the best equipment in every price range. It covers all bases, from the person who has never recorded before to the person making the leap into the "pro" category and ready to drop a grand to improve audio quality. As an amateur podcaster myself I was a little surprised that my beloved Ubercaster and Blue Snowball were left out in the cold, but the article is still very helpful to people looking for the best hardware and software at different price points. If you've been considering buying or upgrading your gear, this is the article to read.
Macworld on 2 USB microphones
Dan Frakes, of Playlist, has reviewed two USB microphones: the Blue Snowball, and the Samson C01U. Now, if you're podcasting and aren't looking to invest in a mixer and a number of other pieces of audio equipment then a these USB mics are for you. They plug right into your Mac's USB port and get the power they need from your Mac. Dan points out that this convenience does come with a price, namely these mics sound good but not as good as more professional mics.At $79 the Samson edges out the $159 Snowball in audio quality, but the Snowball just looks so cool (and I should mention that I own a Snowball and I love it).
