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The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for May 20, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Microsoft just showed how light its new Surface is by comparing it to a MacBook
Listen, I might write for an Apple website, but I have a lot of respect for Microsoft. I'm a longtime Xbox fan and I have a Windows gaming PC that I adore with all of my heart. That being said, the company's tablet game could use some improvement. For example: the company's iPad competitor, the Surface Pro 3, which was just announced in a special event. As expected, the slate is thinner than its predecessor, but not nearly as thin as the iPad Air. It's also heavier than the iPad, but that doesn't make for a very compelling stage presentation, so Microsoft's Panos Panay did the next best thing: he compared its weight to that of a MacBook Air. But rather than just say that it's lighter than the MacBook, he had an old-timey scale on stage to prove his point. On one side was the new Surface Pro 3 tablet, and on the other was a 13" MacBook Air -- which, it's important to remember, is the larger of the Air options. Huh. Well, OK then. Microsoft's aim in all of this seems to be that the Surface Pro 3 is a laptop replacement, rather than an iPad competitor, so directly comparing it to a MacBook might seem like a solid move. However, the Surface Pro 3 on the scale didn't have the keyboard case equipped, while the MacBook, of course, has its full keyboard along for the ride at all times. A useless comparison? I have to think so, and the Twitter reactions from the tech crowd at the event were a mix of hilarity and confusion at the odd head-to-head. I guess we'll see if this helps them move more tablets, but history hasn't exactly been kind to the Surface line. UPDATE: Later in the event, the scale was revisited to show that the tablet with keyboard case equipped was indeed still lighter than the larger MacBook Air... though there was still no mention of head-to-head comparison with the iPad. [Photo credit: TechCrunch]
Twelve South BookArc möd steps away from metal, embraces wood
Just yesterday we announced Twelve South's new HiRise stand Tactical Black finish and are giving one away; today we're going to take a look at a new take on the venerable BookArc MacBook stand. It's called the BookArc möd (US$79.99) and bring the warm look and feel of wood to a great accessory. Read on for details, then enter a giveaway for a classy walnut BookArc möd from Twelve South and TUAW. Specifications Dimensions: 3 x 5 x 10.15 inches (7.5 x 12.75 x 25.8 cm) Weight: 0.5 pounds (.22 kg) Available finishes: Birch, Walnut, Espresso Compatible with: MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro with Retina display Design Highlights Like the original BookArc that we first reviewed back in early 2010, the BookArc möd uses a graceful curved design with a slot in the middle to hold a MacBook in clamshell (closed cover) mode. This is perfect for those situations where you'd like to use a MacBook with a large screen display, a full keyboard, and a mouse or trackpad. To hold the MacBook securely, each BookArc möd comes with a pair of inserts designed for specific MacBook models. But rather than continuing to follow in the footsteps of Apple design guru Jony Ive, Twelve South's newest BookArc uses wood as a primary material rather than aluminum. The result is very attractive and functional. Functionality Highlights The BookArc möd does a simple job, holding your closed MacBook vertically on a flat surface. It performs that task admirably, with no wobble at all. You should note that you might need to swap out the inserts to get the perfect fit -- although the instructions said that I should use the "7" insert for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, I have a Speck SeeThru Satin Case on my device that adds just a little bit of width and a lot of protection. The result? I had to use the "5" insert to get more space and it worked just fine. To keep the BookArc möd from scratching your desktop, there are four small cork pads located on the "feet". With a MacBook loaded onto the BookArc, those feet also keep it from moving thanks to additional friction between the surfaces. Conclusion Twelve South makes beautiful and useful products for Apple devices, and they've hit another home run with the BookArc möd. The natural wood finishes give the stand a nice look against the stark metal of the MacBook, and the design ensures a nice tight fit to whatever Apple laptop you're using. My only concern is the price, which seems a tad exorbitant considering the materials. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Someone out there has a beautiful office and a MacBook, and we're going to give 'em a BookArc möd in the walnut finish. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before May 13, 2014 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Twelve South BookArc möd MacBook Stand valued at $79.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Caturday: "Always a bridesmaid..."
Ninjago is a beautiful tuxedo cat who apparently just loves to read TUAW every Saturday, but who wasn't too happy seeing all of those other cats each and every week. Ninjago's human Alica Washington was able to pick up on Ninjago's frustration, and the photo above is the result. Bridesmaid no more, Ninjago! You're now one of the most famous cats on #tuxedocatsofinstagram! We'd love to see photos of your favorite feline soaking up the warmth of an Apple product, chasing a Magic Mouse, or just being a general nuisance while you're attempting to work on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Please let us know via our feedback page and please remember that your cat photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple or its products. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Many thanks to Alica Washington and Ninjago...Photo via Instagram
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for April 29, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
The MacBook Air is directly competing with iPad pricing for the first time
The iPad and MacBook Air have always competed with each other in terms of on-the-go computing, but the two have always been separated by price. No matter the specs of your dreamy iPad, you could never get an ultra-slim MacBook for the same price - until today, that is. With the 11" MacBook Air dropping down to US$899, it's now cheaper than a fully fleshed-out 128 GB, cellular-enabled iPad. That's kind of crazy. Let's compare specs: 11" MacBook Air iPad Air w/Cellular Display 11.6", 1366x768px 9.7", 2048x1536px Storage 128GB flash 128GB flash Processor 1.4GHz Core i5 64-bit A7 w/ M7 coprocessor Camera 720p FaceTime HD 720p FaceTime, 1080p video, 5MP iSight camera Battery 9 hours wireless web 10 hours web on Wi-Fi Price $899 $929 The story that a spec comparison doesn't tell is the usability of these two machines. A physical keyboard, mouse support, and USB ports make the Air the choice for productivity, while the iPad Air is home to many more cheap apps and games than the Mac App Store could ever dream of. It is, of course, still far too early to know whether this pricing shift will affect the popularity of either of the product lines. But with iPad sales beginning to show signs of a plateau, a bargain-priced MacBook could further exacerbate the issue. We're at an interesting crossroads, where potential customers wanting the most capable Apple tablet can pick up a MacBook and save a few bucks along the way. But when you have customers deciding between two $900 Apple products, the company wins either way.
Apple updates MacBook Air models with processor bump, $100 price drop
Apple today refreshed its MacBook Air line, adding slightly faster processors and improved battery life to the portable computers. Apple also dropped the price on each model by US$100, with the base 11-inch MacBook Air starting at $899. All base models of the MacBook Air now ship with a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor instead of the 1.3GHz of the 2013 model. These standard models still include 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 5000 and either 128GB oo 256GB of flash-based storage. Pricing on the 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $899, while the 13-inch entry-level model costs $999. All updated models are available today online and in retail stores.
Waterfield Designs Rough Rider leather messenger bag: Review and giveaway (Updated)
Over the past year or so, we've seen a trend emerging from high-end laptop bag manufacturers like Waterfield Designs and Pad & Quill -- use of leather as a primary material in their products. This not only provides a beautiful finish to the products, but also ensure that your purchase of a quality bag is going to last well beyond the expected lifetime of your laptop. Waterfield Designs recently introduced the US$335 Rough Rider leather messenger bag, and as you'd expect from this San Francisco manufacturer, it's functional, durable, and downright delicious to look at. Check out the review, then have a chance to win a Rough Rider. Specifications Dimensions: 15 x 10.5 x 3.5 inches (38.1 x 26.7 x 8.9 cm) Weight: 2.9 lb. (1.32 kg) Materials: premium naturally-tanned distressed leather Accent colors: black, copper, pine, green, flame, pearl Design Highlights The best way to describe the look of the Rough Rider is to quote some of the verbiage on the SFBags.com website -- "the clean professional look exudes a 'already been around the world a couple of times' masculine confidence". The accent areas are made with what appears to be ballistic nylon, but the primary material used is leather. The inside of the Rough Rider is unlined, but the leather shouldn't cause any abrasions on that nice aluminum finish of your MacBook Pro. Also inside are two large pockets that you can stuff with accessories -- they are lined with waxed canvas. On the outside are two more large pockets into which you might want to place your iPhone or even an iPad mini. Those outside pockets are covered by the large leather flap that snaps closed to keep your stuff inside. I've always liked the way that Waterfield Designs makes shoulder straps, and the Rough Rider's strap is no exception. It has a wide padded center that has a pebbled surface on it so that it doesn't slip off of your shoulder like some competing bags. Anyone who is upset by the least little mark on something they own will obsess over the leather on the Rough Rider and should probably stay away from it. If you like your possessions to have that comfortable worn-in shoes look, then you and the Rough Rider are going to get along famously. Update: We received information from Waterfield Designs that after this review ran, they received a lot of requests for a 15-inch version of the Rough Rider. That bag is now available for pre-order. Functionality Highlights What can I say? You can pretty much stuff a lot of equipment into the Rough Rider. While writing the review, I tossed my 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, its power adapter, an iPhone 5s, and an iPad mini into the bag, and still had plenty of space left. Some folks might bemoan the fact that the four individual pockets lack any sort of closure (zipper, for example), but I find in most cases that those closures get in the way of searching for stuff in a bag -- something I find I'm always doing! Case in point, one of the bags that I use on a regular basis has leather straps that go over two interior pockets. While I love that bag (not from Waterfield/SFBags) dearly, those straps drive me bonkers and I find myself looking for a pair of shears to cut them off. The shoulder strap is comfortable, adjustable, and best of all, will not slide off of your shoulder. My other bag has a tendency to slide off, forcing me to either readjust the strap often or shrug my shoulder to get it back in place. Not so with the Rough Rider, which stays in place. Conclusion Gary Waterfield got his start as a San Francisco bike messenger, and he obviously put some of his practical experience into this classic and durable messenger bag. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- you get what you pay for. The Rough Rider might not be inexpensive (that's my only beef with the bag), but it is going to outlast a lifetime's worth of Apple laptops and accessories while looking better with age. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Wow, this bag is nice enough that I almost wish I didn't work for the site so I could be eligible to win it! You don't have that problem, so all you have to do is enter for a chance to win a Rough Rider messenger bag. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before April 21, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Waterfield Designs Rough Rider leather messenger bag valued at $335. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Here's what your new black MacBook Air would look like, if it existed
In love with the idea of a new black Apple notebook? So am I. There's just no denying that a black MacBook would be an awesome addition to the company's lineup, though whether we'll ever be graced with such a device is anyone's guess. But just to tease the idea, I whipped up some images that show off the idea of a MacBook Air with a decidedly dark personality. Enjoy!
Twelve South's Rutledge BookBook for MacBook: Uniquely yours
The team at Twelve South has done it again; yesterday, they released the Rutledge BookBook for MacBook, an "artisan leather case" for MacBook. Using the familiar antique book format of the classic BookBook, the Rutledge BookBook uses a special process to make each case subtly different. Buying one, you can be assured that you have a completely unique way of protecting your MacBook. According to Twelve South" "We developed an entirely new technique for applying multiple layers of color, then carefully removing selected elements - revealing a radiant tapestry of hues and patterns. Each cover reveals a slightly different finish, as the brilliant tones follow the natural grain of the leather itself." Specifications Price: US$99.99 Dimensions: 11" MacBook Air - 12.3" x 8.3" x 1.25" (312mm x 211mm x 32mm) 13" MacBook Air / MacBook Pro - 13.4" x 9.8" x 1.25" (340mm x 249mm x 32mm) 13" MacBook Pro w/Retina Display - 13.0" x 9.3" x 1.25" (330mm x 236mm x 32mm) 15" MacBook Pro w/Retina Display - 14.9" x 10.5" x 1.25" (378mm x 266mm x 32mm) Design Highlights Twelve South is known for its design work, with products like the BookArc, the Compass 2 for iPad and iPad mini, the BackPack for iMac, and PlugBug all having a signature style and class that make them stand out. The Rutledge BookBook for MacBook is no exception. While it's essentially a riff on the original BookBook case (still available for $79.99), the Rutledge BookBook adds a gorgeous patina to the leather cover that just can't be described. There's a depth and warmth to the finish of the cover that makes it look like a museum piece. But you won't want to hang the Rutledge BookBook on the wall; it makes a great protective cover for your MacBook as well. I always wondered if "hiding" a MacBook or other device in a book-like cover would keep the electronics from being stolen; now the Twelve South site specifically points out that they have many letters from customers who have had a house or car broken into, but the BookBook-disguised MacBook wasn't taken. The inside of the case is covered with a black, somewhat spongy material that should protect your electronics from the occasional bang or drop, and there's a set of small elastic bands to hold the case onto the MacBook's display. A zipper runs around all but the spine of the BookBook, with two leather zipper pulls making it easy to open and close. Finally, on the spine of the Rutledge BookBook is embossed with gold foil highlights, a title and volume number. In a word, it's beautiful. Functionality Highlights The Rutledge BookBook may look great, but it's also an excellent way to keep your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro looking new. You should note that if you're going to stow the BookBook and MacBook in a bag for travel, you'll need to get a bag that can carry a MacBook "one size larger" than the one you have. For example, for a 13" MacBook Pro w/Retina display, you will want to make sure that your bag can hold a 15" MacBook Pro. For a 15" MacBook Pro, get a bag that holds a 17" laptop. Conclusion Anyone looking for a unique and beautiful way to protect a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro should consider the Twelve South Rutledge BookBook for MacBook. It's classy, each case is literally one-of-a-kind, and it might just disguise your MacBook enough to keep it from being a target for theft. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible
Transformer-like Dock-It Pro provides quirky iPad keyboard case
To call the Dock-It Pro (US$159) quirky is to understate the oddness of this product. This Parle Innovation device offers a flip-case that enables users to treat their iPad as either a mini laptop or a very, very heavy tablet. A well-designed keyboard represents its strongest feature, but the weight, compatibility issues, and awkward usability let a promising product down. If you own an iPad air, this is not the product for you. It works only with the iPad 2, 3, and 4 form factor. To use, you slide the top element in a few directions (there are hints printed onto the product because it doesn't quite open like a laptop) and place your iPad inside. In my testing, this process went very smoothly and I was delighted to find a notch that allows me to connect my old-style charging cable to my iPad 2, even while docked to the unit. The built-in Bluetooth keyboard is battery powered, using a standard micro-USB charger -- which is exactly as hard to plug in as any other similar device. It helps to have good eyes and a steady hand. Now that I own Lightning products, I'm finding my patience wearing thin with some of these USB ports. Your iPad and your case charge independently. Unfortunately in "laptop" mode, the battery connector and the charging port notch are on opposite sides of the product, making cord organization a bit of a hassle. This is especially notable because in "laptop" mode represents the times when you're most likely to make extended use of the product. The built-in keyboard is my favorite part of this unit. Yes, the keyboard is small -- but so are all keyboard cases for iPads. And yes, the keyboard is chickleted, but it's a pretty decent chicklet keyboard with decent travel. There will probably never be a portable keyboard with proper mechanical switches and high key travel, so my evaluation was limited to: "Is this usable?" and "Does it feel pretty okay?" It certainly does. How good? About as good as it gets in the as the top of the middle to the bottom of the top of the keyboard case keyboard product pack. Decent. A set of handy function keys lines the top of the keyboard. At the very left, where the ESC key normally sits, is a home key equivalent -- very handy. Other built-ins include brightness control, volume control with mute key, and a lock key. The product is most suited to someone who needs to move between the touch world and text entry world, presumably in work areas where dictation is out of the question. Compared to my MacBook Air, which I bought refurbished, it's heavier, and less capable, and with the iPad, costs about the same. The target market that would best benefit from a device like this -- such as medical personnel and sales persons on the road -- would probably balk at the weight and awkward use. The product is not ruggedized in any way, so I wouldn't imagine taking it into a construction zone. In the end, I think the Dock-It Pro is probably a much better product concept than an actual product for sale despite its appealing keyboard and fun transformer screen.
Flickr find: Siblings
Don't family reunions bring a tear to your eye? Flickr user Matthew Pearce reunites a MacBook Air with its elder in the form of an eMate 300. He also takes a quick jab when he asks, "How can the MacBook Air be an 'ultraportable' when it doesn't even have a handle?" Good question. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.
Caturday: I can haz TPS report?
Sometimes we don't need to go any further to find a Caturday model than in our own homes. This little sweetie, Shpizi, owns longtime TUAW staffer and TUAW Talkcast regular Mike Rose. When Mike tweeted this image last week with the title "These TPS reports are not going to lick themselves," I knew we had a winner. We'd love to see photos of your favorite feline soaking up the warmth of an Apple product, chasing a Magic Mouse, or just being a general nuisance while you're attempting to work on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Please let us know via our feedback page and please remember that your cat photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple or its products. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Many thanks to Mike Rose!
Pad & Quill's Messenger Bag and Sleeve feed your leather fetish
Pad & Quill's iPad, iPhone, and MacBook cases have been popular with TUAW readers and reviewers alike for years. The Twin Cities-based company recently jumped into the computer bag market with three amazing leather bags: The Satchel (US$309.00), The Field Bag ($329.00), and The Messenger Bag ($369.00). I finally got my hands on a review sample of The Messenger Bag and a companion The Sleeve for MacBook Pro/Air 13 ($99.99), and here's my take on both of these high-quality and stylish products. Specifications Dimensions (Messenger Bag): 14" x 11.5" x 4.5" (35.6 x 26 x 11.4 cm) Dimensions (Sleeve): 13.75" x 10.25" x 0.5" without MacBook (35 x 26 x 1.27 cm) Weight (Messenger Bag): 3 lbs, 3 ounces (1.44 kg) Weight (Sleeve): 13.1 ounces (.37 kg) Bag and Sleeve Materials: full-grain American cowhide leather, twill woven waxed canvas, Parachute grade UV resistant nylon stitching, suede lining, cherry wood logo, aged nickel hardware on bag Design Highlights Let's start with a look at The Sleeve. Owners of 13-inch MacBook Pro or Air laptops who want a bit of fashionable protection for the outside of their devices will want to take a look at this sleeve, which is all leather on one side (except for the cherry wood logo) and a mixture of leather and waxed canvas on the other. The leather half on that other side is actually a large pocket for papers or a magazine. The waxed canvas comes in several colors: charcoal (with "whiskey" leather) or olive (with "dark chocolate" leather). A single bookmark-like closure keeps everything in place, while the orange suede lining is perfect for cradling your favorite laptop. Now let's look at the lovely Messenger Bag. It comes in four different finishes, once again matching a color of waxed canvas to a specific leather. Here we have charcoal/whiskey leather, charcoal/dark chocolate leather, navy/dark chocolate leather, and olive/dark chocolate leather as the choices. Our review bag used the navy/dark chocolate combo and it was stunningly beautiful. There's a large flap that closes over the top and front of the bag, with a leather closure that uses a metal peg inserted through a hole in the leather strap to secure the flap. On that front surface is a lined pocket for an iPhone. Inside the case you'll find more storage space than you can shake a stick at. First, there's a large zippered pocket for an iPad Air or iPad mini -- when I say large, I mean that you can have a pretty hefty case on your tablet and it will still fit inside. Next, there are two large interior pockets that are designed to hold things like a MacBook AC adapter or an iPad mini in a really big case. There's a nice big slot into which your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air can slide, either "naked" or in one of the Sleeves. Finally, there are a pair of loops in which to clip a pen or stylus, and a pocket for business cards. Pad & Quill partnered with another company to bring a lot of the sewing work to a plant in Leon, Mexico, and I love one of the personal touches that they've added. The person who sewed your Messenger Bag (in this case it was Magdalena) signs a leather patch on the inside of the case. The shoulder strap is adjustable through a belt-like arrangement complete with a nickel-plated buckle, and can be set up either for comfortable carry behind your back or over your shoulder. There's a big leather pad for cushioning the weight of the bag and its contents on your shoulder. If there's one little improvement I could suggest, it would be to find a way to "roughen" the pad with a different material or perhaps stitched "bumps" to keep it from sliding off a shoulder. Functionality Highlights OK, enough about the good looks of both products and the many pockets in the Messenger Bag -- how do they work in real life? The Sleeve is perfect for fashionable transport of your favorite 13-inch MacBook. The combination of waxed canvas and leather not only looks awesome, but it provides a good secure grip that you don't get with a naked MacBook. This is beautiful and functional protection for a MacBook. The Messenger Bag is kind of a minivan for your digital life -- you'd be surprised what you can fit into it. I started by placing the MacBook Pro (in the Sleeve) into the pocket, added an iPad mini and an iPad Air (with a keyboard cover), threw in my MacBook Pro charger (installed in a Quirky Curl), dropped my iPhone (in a Mophie case) into the outside pocket, and still had tons of room to spare. Conclusion MacBook Pro or MacBook Air owners who are just looking to protect a naked laptop while carrying it to work or school will find the Sleeve to be an affordable luxury. It's beautiful and offers protection for your Apple investment. For carrying all of your digital tools, now and for the foreseeable future, you might want to consider investing in the Messenger Bag. Sure, it's expensive at $369, but the rugged construction is going to make that bag usable for years to come. If you don't need a larger laptop, you're going to have the Messenger Bag for a long, long time. Pad & Quill offers a 25-year leather warranty -- by the time that warranty's up, your bag will look like it has been carried on a number of adventures by Indiana Jones, but it will still be functional. I'm pleased that Pad & Quill chose to expand into the computer sleeve and bag market, as the manufacturer has built a reputation for quality and design with its iPad and iPhone cases that is now obviously carrying over into the new line. Rating (The Sleeve): 4 out of 4 stars possible Rating (The Messenger Bag): 4 out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We have one of the very lovely Sleeves to give away to a lucky TUAW reader. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before February 23, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Pad & Quill The Sleeve for 13-inch MacBook Pro/Air valued at US$99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules Loading...
I want a new black MacBook
There is a stark contrast between Apple's use of color on its computer hardware and its mobile devices. You can get an iPod, iPhone, and to a lesser extent, an iPad, in a number of hues, but ever since the black polycarbonate MacBook bit the dust in 2009, there's been a distinct lack of flavor in the all-aluminum notebooks. We already know Apple is fine with giving its smartphone the anodized color treatment, so why not the MacBook? In fact, I'd be happy if Apple even just offered a single additional color option for the most portable of the MacBook family, the MacBook Air. I want a black MacBook Air. Sure, Apple would probably want to name the color something silly like "Space Black," but I'd totally be willing to overlook that to get my hands on an Air with a darker personality. So why hasn't it happened yet? That's a tough question, but it's clear that Apple has captured a "look" that has become part of the brand itself. You can spot an aluminum MacBook in a crowded coffee shop without even trying, and that aesthetic has a value all its own. It's clean, sharp, and modern. That's the reason companies like Asus and Samsung shamelessly mimic Apple's notebooks. But would the option of a darker shade actually harm the brand? I don't think it would. It was once insane to consider a gold (or even a white) iPhone, and now those devices are everywhere. Apple's history is a colorful one, and I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing a bit of that come back. The easiest, smallest, most subtle step in that direction would be to offer something you've already offered in the past: a black MacBook.
Engadget laptop buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition
CES has been over for a month now, which means it's high time we update all our buyer's guides with some of the new stuff that was just announced. In the coming weeks, we'll have fresh tablet and phone picks, but today, we're all about the laptops. Whether you're in the market for an Ultrabook, convertible, gaming rig or a Chromebook, we've got a suggestion that should fit the bill. Read on to see what made the cut -- and what's been dropped from our guide since last fall.
Designing a better MagSafe 2 connector
Apple's original MagSafe connector was a simple, but revolutionary new feature for its notebooks. Its T-shaped design also hates being placed in a lap. The straight-out shape makes it difficult to rest a MacBook on a pair of crossed legs without snapping the charger out of place. The second generation of the MagSafe addressed this issue by changing to an L-shaped form factor. Problem solved, right? Well, it was, until the MagSafe 2. For whatever reason, the new, thinner MagSafe 2 connector took a step backward with the lap-unfriendly T-shape. Users on forums across the web weren't pleased with this, and predicted that the change was made so that the company could come out with a "new and improved" L-shaped version at a later date. But rather than wait on Apple to potentially roll out a better MagSafe 2 product in the future, I decided to have a go at designing one myself. Things started modestly, and all I had to work off of was the dimensions of the existing MagSafe 2 adapter. I took those into account and made sure the surface area of the magnetic portion matched perfectly, along with the overall length and width of the connector. After I had the core dimensions in place, it was time to start smoothing a few of the edges and tweaking how far the charger would protrude from the side of a MacBook when plugged in. I used the L-shaped MagSafe 1 adapter as a guide for how thin I could make it. I also added the cord at this point. After adding the materials to the project, I came up with the first version of the adapter, and I thought it looked pretty good. But after walking away for a while and coming back, it struck me just how round the whole thing felt. That would be fine for some of the later polycarbonate MacBooks with their bulbous edges, but not so much for today's Airs and Pros. So I did some additional tweaking. I sharpened a few of the edges and once I did it really started to look like something I could see stuck to the side of my MacBook Air. It's as narrow as the L-shaped version of the original MagSafe adapter, has the exact contact surface of the current MagSafe 2 adapter and doesn't hate your lap. This one is free, Apple.
2013 MacBook Air WiFi problems continue to plague users
Since its release in June of 2013, the latest version of the MacBook Air has plagued many users with a number of frustrating WiFi issues. Over a 131-page Support Communities thread started within days of the computer's release, 2013 Air owners complain of latency issues, dropped packets, dropped network connections and unstable connections. When using two laptops on the same network, Air users are often finding that their 2013 machines get wildly different speeds than other computers connected at the same time. Users who have faced this issue for months are starting to get restless. To quote a user in the support community: It is certainly driving me crazy. I have a 2010 Macbook Air that works flawlessly but my 2013 Macbook Air is constantly disconnecting. Jeff Geerling of Midwestern Mac has been dealing with this issue, trying to troubleshoot a permanent solution while he waits for Apple to help. Geerling has a few hypotheses as to what could be causing the issues. It seems to me that the WiFi driver and/or Mavericks' power-saving features might be too aggressive-it seems the WiFi chip is put into some low-power state if it doesn't have constant activity (like a ping every 1/5th of a second), and this is causing signal strength and stability issues. Also, perhaps the WiFi antenna(s?) is too close, or oriented poorly, in comparison to the Bluetooth antennna(s?). Disabling Bluetooth often leads to a more stable connection, and some Bluetooth applications (like Knock, which keeps a constant low-power connection to an iPhone) can practically disable WiFi. In the meantime, he has compiled a list of "band-aids" for the issues that may help some users until Apple officially fixes the issues. There's hope, however. On January 19, Geerling updated his post, citing a source who says the issue will be fixed with the impending release of Mac OS X 10.9.2. Whether the update actually fixes the long-running issues remains to be seen. There are a lot of frustrated people in the Support Community waiting with bated breath to finally have these issues resolved.
Caturday: Peek around the Rosie
F If there's anything we've noticed at TUAW, it's that cats prefer two types of Macs: either a laptop like the MacBook Air seen above or a Mac mini. Sure, there are peripherals that are favorites, like the warm and friendly AirPort Extreme, but give a cat a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, and they're sure to be right there on the keyboard between you and the screen. That was the case with Alan Rothberg's cat Rosie, who has an interesting history: This is Rose, or Rosie. I noticed her one day roaming a parking lot looking for food. She was a small, skinny thing and the store owners were looking for a way, "any" way, to get rid of her. I borrowed a trap from our local humane society and was able to get her out of that situation. I occasionally help out our humane society with free computer services, and they were able to take her in for me. Unfortunately, she stayed in the back of her cage and was very anti-social. After about a month of that, I decided to take her home to try to socialize her with our other cats. It worked so well, my wife fell in love with Rosie, and we decided to adopt her. She's become very social and affectionate, to the point, other HS members could not believe it was the same kitty. A happy ending for Rosie. This photo is a pretty common sight when Rosie wants something. She knows that by sitting on my MacBook Air, she'll get my full attention. And, I think you can tell by that determined look, Rosie gets what Rosie wants ;) We're glad to see that the antisocial stray became friends with Alan and his MacBook Air. Perhaps she wants to sit on another type of laptop, though? We'd love to see photos of your favorite feline soaking up the warmth of an Apple product, chasing a Magic Mouse, or just being a general nuisance while you're attempting to work on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Please let us know via our feedback page and please remember that your cat photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple or its products. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Many thanks to reader Alan Rothberg for sharing the photo and back story of Rosie with us.
TUAW video tip: How to "double-wrap" your MacBook power adapter (updated)
It's the Mac tip that's taking the Internet by storm! Just yesterday, Twitter user J Cornelius tweeted out the following: MacBook Pro tip: Use the small cable to hold the big cable in place. pic.twitter.com/i7l6ZJ3xgH - J Cornelius (@jc) December 10, 2013 Tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of retweets later, we bring you a TUAW video tip version of this amazing feat -- the double-wrap! It's an intuitively obvious way of wrapping up your MacBook power adapter cords that for some reason seems to have bypassed most MacBook owners. Enjoy! UPDATE: Some folks at Wired have spoiled all the double-wrapping fun by saying that using this technique can shorten the life of the cables. Me? I use a $10 Quirky Power Curl.
