Macintosh
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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).
Detailed analysis of Apple's market share
These days it seems like any analyst with an axe to grind or a website to build pageviews with is taking a dig at Apple, making any claims that zing well in a headline, deliberately misinterpreting any data they can to make it look like the Mac is receding into unappreciated obscurity. Fortunately, Switch to a Mac has done their research and laid the smack down, calling out the falsifying data and proving that Apple's market share in the computer market (hooray! Finally talk of 'market share' without 'iPod' in the same sentence!) has been expanding. The article analyzes data from various market share studies, Wall Street announcements (for what those are worth), Apple's own releases and more to see through the fog and find that Apple is really doing quite well. If you need some cold hard numbers to convince family/friends/your boss that a Mac is a good purchase, head over and soak up more statistics than you can probably remember.
Macintosh intro one of the top 10 best presentations ever
We all know that his Steveness is a master showman. His patented Reality Distortion Field often gets people to take out their wallets before he has even uncovered whatever product he is showing off. That is why it should come as no surprise that his 1984 keynote, introducing the Macintosh, made this top ten list of presentations. Martin Luther King Jr also made the list, so Steve isn't in bad company.Dear TUAW'ers, I thought it would be fun to ask you what your favorite Stevenote was. I have to pick the 2006 MWSF Stevenote, since that was the first one that I saw in person. How about you?[via iFlipFlop]
Found Footage: Steve Jobs 1984 keynote
Being that this is TUAW and we're hounds for this stuff, I'm sure we've come across this footage some time ago, but I came up empty handed while traversing our archives, and even Google found nothing, so here we go: it's a blast from the past boys and girls - excerpts from Steve Jobs' 1984 keynote. Watch as Steve razzles and dazzles the audience with new Mac features which, at the time, were groundbreaking. Also note his affinity for just a hint of drama that you can still see on stage today, despite rumors to the contrary. Enjoy.
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.
The Missing Sync gets friendly with WM5
If ActiveSync has been keeping any MDA users out there from springing for that shiny yellow MacBook, your day has come. MarkSpace has just gone gold with The Missing Sync release 2.5, adding badly-needed support for Windows Mobile 5 devices; we can almost hear the collective sigh of relief of Mac-based Pocket PC and Smartphone users across the world. Of course, if the iPhone would hurry up and materialize, maybe this whole point would be moot -- but until then, sync away, friends.
WoW: The Journey to 60 and Beyond
I'm not really sure whether to call this a review or not, but Macologist has posted an extremely in-depth overview of WoW entitled The Journey to 60 and Beyond. It's a look back at the game from a level 60 player designed as a sort of primer for the new or prospective player (so yeah, I guess it is kind of a review, if a belated one). It covers just about everything, from installation, to selecting a server & creating a character, to information about guilds, instances, quests, mounts, the endgame, and everything in between.Not a ton of new info here for anyone who's been playing WoW for a while, but it's a very well-written look at the game for anyone who might be interested in learning more about the game, doing research, or looking to start playing themselves. Also, the article is from a Mac site, so all the tech-talk is Mac-centric, and there may be some tidbits of info that Mac users will find useful. You can read the full article here.
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.
Folklore offers a podcast
Folklore.org is the great site created by original Macintosh team member Andy Hertzfeld. It's a priceless collection of stories from the very early days at Apple as told by the Macintosh team. Derek Warren has launched Macintosh Folkore Radio, in which he reads stories of "...how the Macintosh came to be." You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes here.[Via Cult of Mac]
Who needs an Intel Mac? Sign me up for a PowerPC G6 Macintosh
Intel Macs are so yesterday. I'm all about the "PowerPC G6 Macintosh," and it's only $499 to boot!Engadget found a company (who might have already been threatened/litigated out of existence by the time you read this) by the name of Red PC who is selling a computer they call the "PowerPC G6 Macintosh." But wait - in addition to getting a supposedly next-gen PPC cloned Mac - there's more! Included in their Apple-defying price of $499 (along with this gorgeous case) is a hacked version of Mac OS X (it's reportedly a Pentium-based machine), Microsoft Office 2004 and - drumroll please - Photoshop CS2!Nothing says "I'm feeling suicidal" like stepping on the toes of three of the largest players in the computer and software industries.
Uniquely identify a Mac
I'm a fan of Apple's Technical Notes (odd, I know). I thought this one, entitled 'Uniquely Identify a Macintosh Computer' interesting enough to share (some people might disagree with me though).It is all about how you should identify Macs in a number of situations (inventory being the big one). I know what you're thinking, why not just use the serial number of the Mac and be done with it? Well, Sparky, it would seem that a Mac's serial number can actually change (well, the value in the system changes at least) when hardware is swapped out.Give the tech note a read, and find out more than you ever wanted to know about serial numbers.
Stewie Griffin: Mac user
Last night on Fox's Family Guy, Stewie had a little fun with his Mac. While practicing for the Olympics, his brother Chris interrupted his "training" (don't ask). Stewie responded by knocking Chris unconscious with a book, and using his motionless body as a landing platform for his pole vaulting practice. Delighted, he announced, "...That was even cooler than playing with the speech function on my Macintosh."Cut to Stewie in his high chair in front of a laptop:Stewie: So, computer, what are you thinking about right now?Mac: Stewie is cool.Stewie: Yaaaay![Via TVSquad]
WoW on the Mac Safe From Windows
For all you Mac-based WoW players out there who have feared that the release of Apple's new Boot Camp software (allowing Mac users to run both Win XP & OS-X) might singal the end of native gaming development for the Mac, Blizzard has announced that the Mac version of WoW will indeed continue to recieve native support, so anyone worried about having to eventually switch to a Boot-Camped Windows version can rest easy.Apple claims the Windows version of WoW should be playable with Boot Camp, but as the Boot Camp software is still in beta, they will not offer support for running in this environment. A story in today's Macworld has more on the issue.I still wanna know: how the heck do you play on a Mac without a second mouse button?
System 7 web simulation
The WebSE is pure genius. This little Flash application simulates System 7, so you can take a trip down Mac memory lane no matter what OS your iMac is booted into. It even has AfterDark on it!I love the Internet.
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."Read (sub reqd)
Blogging the switch to Mac OS X
I found another one of those 'switcher blogs' and I thought it might make an interesting read for both Mac newbies and power users. I honestly can't find any information on the author, but My Journey to Macintosh provides up some interesting switcher experiences, such as loading up Firefox just because that's what the author used on Windows, then discovering that other browsers like Camino offer a far more Mac OS X-like experience, in part because Camino isn't butt-ugly and it uses the Keychain.One thing I like about this blog is that the author seems to be a power user, of sorts; while some posts are about discovering the wonders of working with PDFs on a Mac without the need for Adobe's (fat, bloated, clunky, slow and horrible) Reader, another post laments some hangups in getting PHP and MySQL working. In other words: there's something for everyone!There isn't a virtual library of posts yet, but I thought it might be an interesting switcher blog to watch because of both the variety of topics the author has touched on so far, and an About section that reads: "Microsoft Windows user since Windows 3.0 moves to a Mac and Mac OS/X Tiger. Watch the process, good and bad :)." See? Fair and balanced, too. Enjoy.
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.
Remembering Apple's 20th Anniversary Mac
Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of Apple's existence. Since I haven't seen a whole lot of rumors or speculation as to what awe-inspiring products Apple might launch (if any) in celebration, I thought it might be a good time to reflect on TAM, Apple's Twentieth Anniversary Mac, of which only 12,000 were made. As a nice tech-related reality check: these 250 MHz powerhouses were introduced in 1997 for a whopping $7,499.I'm not trying to waste my time on a prediction or stir up commotion. I simply thought it would be neat to reflect on how Apple celebrated their last decade's anniversary. Check out more details, specs and reminiscience of the TAM over at LowEndMac.
