Macworld08
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Apple promotes keynote playback on home page
Apple's home page has been updated to encourage browsers to come back and watch the keynote on "Tuesday afternoon." As far as we know this does not mean a live stream of the event (thank goodness, otherwise who would read our liveblog?) but the after-event video should be up quickly and streamable for your viewing pleasure.Thanks elixirgraphics!
Google refreshes iPhone interface again
The developers at Google are hot on the iPhone, due in part to something called the "Christmas cross-over."The number of global Google queries (say that five times fast) from iPhones surpassed queries made from Symbian-based phones for the first time in December, probably due to all the iPhones that were activated over the holiday.Earlier this month, Google released iGoogle for the iPhone as well as an iPhone-optimized Google landing page. Today at Macworld, they announced more improvements for iPhone users (beyond those made in December).First all, Gmail features auto-refresh. Calendar is speedier and features a month view that isn't available at calendar.google.com, and iGoogle gadgets can be used with the iPhone. I've found that Picasa web albums are significantly faster, both over Wi-Fi and EDGE.These are great changes. We don't know just how Google is rolling this stuff out, so keep checking google.com/m today.
Tips on replacing a MacBook Pro's hard drive
Friday I found myself doing what anyone who was soon to be flying across the country to cover Macworld would be doing : replacing the hard drive in my MacBook Pro. A smart idea? Well, considering that my old drive was making some not so good noises I thought it better to replace the darned thing before it failed during the Expo.I headed over to Other World Computing and ordered this drive. OWC is great because they offer up many of the same parts that Apple uses in their machines (in fact the drive I bought turned out to be the exact model drive that was already in my MacBook Pro, though the new one has twice as much space). And no, I am not getting paid by OWC in any way, shape, or form. I just have had several excellent experiences with them.One thing to keep in mind is that the hard drive isn't classified as 'user replaceable' in the MacBook Pro, unlike the MacBook (replacing a hard drive in a MacBook is very, very easy). That didn't stop me because I've swapped out countless drives. I followed iFixIt's great guide to disassembling my MacBook Pro, but one word of caution: be sure you have a T6 Torx Screwdriver before you start. I have access a large number of computer tools, so I didn't think that would be a problem. However, after sifting through 4 different toolkits with no success (most tool kits have a T8 Torx as the smallest screwdriver), I thought I was in trouble. I finally found one in a very large, very expensive set of tools, but the screwdriver itself isn't pricey. Make sure you know that you have one before starting this process because there are 6 Torx screws that need to be removed (2 holding the keyboard to the base of the machine, and 4 holding the hard disk in place), and it is much much easier with the right tool.Overall, this is something I would recommend that only people who are comfortable cracking open a laptop should do. There are lots of little screws and wires one has to move out of the way to replace the drive and a certain level of comfort with a computer's innards is required.
Wired offers up Macworld predictions
One of my favorite things about Macworld is the fact that everyone suddenly feels the need to share their predictions about what Apple will be introducing this time (we at TUAW are not immune to this, and have already shared our predictions. How wrong will I turn out to be? Only time will tell). Wired has listed a few software developments they are thinking will happen at Macworld: Leopard 10.5.2 will be released with new features iPhone 1.1.3 firmware released No updates to iLife/iWork New iTunes with movie rentals The article goes on to talk about Office 2008 (available Jan. 15th), MacHeist, and Core Animation. Check it out, if only to stoke the Macworld fire that is burning in your heart.
Call for Pictures: iPhone demos at Macworld
It occurs to me (at least it does via the prompting of TUAW reader therekerni) that demoing iPhone applications at Macworld may produce a kind of cognitive dissonance with Apple--given their official anti-hacking stance. Sure, we're ready for the SDK in February but I'm interested in what kind of in-your-face iPhone buccaneer products will be seen this week. So I'm putting out a call to all you TUAW readers who plan to attend the exhibits: if you can find any iPhone demos, by which I mean 3rd party exhibitors who are showing off unofficial iPhone apps, would you please snap a picture and send in a short description about the circumstances of the iPhone product? I'll gather them all together and put up a gallery here at TUAW. Thanks!
Macworld Exhibitor tip: disable the IR port on your Macs
As you may or may not know there has been something of a dust up across the tech blogosphere regarding a prank that a certain tech blog performed during CES. The prank involved a little gizmo that turned off a number of televisions at once, which one could use to turn off displays during presentations (which is just what the people in question did).This childish prank got me to thinking about the havoc that someone could cause with one of those tiny Apple remotes during Macworld. Therefore, I am hoping to help exhibitors avoid this sort of mischief by advocating they either: Disable their Mac's IR ports Pair their Mac to a specific remote Both are very easy to do, and well worth it for any Mac that you might use in public. Simply launch System Preferences and click on Security. You'll see an option in the General tab to disable the remote control receiver (which means no remotes will work with that Mac) or a button labeled 'Pair...' This will allow you to bind the Mac in question to one remote. You can use Front Row, or whatever you need to do with the paired remote but some random blogger won't be able to hijack your Mac.Trust me, either of these steps will take you a couple of minutes but save you lots of headaches.
Reminder: Sunday night pre-Macworld talkcast at 8:30 pm ET
UPDATE: We just found out a conflict with the Typical Mac User talkcast, so we're moving the TUAW talkcast to 8:30pm ET, 5:30 PT.This East Coast-West Coast thing is messing with our talkcast scheduling -- we'll be doing a special earlier show at 8:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm PT to stay clear of the all-important San Francisco cocktail hour. Engineering permitting, we'll actually have multiple bloggers in the same room for the first time on the show; this should be fascinating. As always, can listen in on Talkshoe or call in on regular or VOIP lines; if you want to join in the chat, you'll need a Talkshoe account and the client app. The agenda for Sunday is 100% reader feedback, so you can let us know exactly what you want to see covered from Macworld Expo. We are hitting town with a five-person team this year, in addition to our alumni and colleagues at Engadget and Download Squad, so if you want us to track down the tiniest booth in the West Hall, we're on it. Call in and give us our marching orders!On Monday evening, schedules permitting, we'll do another brief show to wrap up the predictions and rumors before the Big Tuesday Shindig. Keep an eye on the Talkshoe page for details.
TUAW Macworld 2008 coverage
Team TUAW will be covering Macworld 2008 in full force. We'll have five people covering every aspect of the Expo. We'll be doing tons of video stuff, liveblogging the keynote (bookmark this URL and get ready to refresh like crazy), twittering, sending out SMS updates, and talking to the Mac celebs, Mac developers, and Mac fans that converge on San Francisco every year.You'll notice a 'Macworld Coverage' link on the top right of TUAW's website. That'll get you to all our Macworld 2008 posts, and you can even subscribe to that tag's RSS feed if you don't care about the rest of TUAW's post during Expo week.Sound off in the comments if you have anything in particular you would like to see included in TUAW's Macworld coverage, and if you're at the Expo why not say hello to us if you see us running around?
Get your Macworld Celebrity Checklist
Yesterday we shared some tips for preparing yourself for Macworld. Today, Joy of Tech adds one more must-have to the list: The Macworld Celebrity Checklist!Carry it around with you and use a marker to check off Steve, Woz, Uncle Walt, Andy Ihnatko (and his hat)...even The Reality Distorted Geek (warning: this could be you), The Schwag Whore and The Guy Who Still Runs Mac OS 8 (I used to work with that guy).We can't help but wonder why there's no TUAW love on the list. Just look for the Hawaiian shirt. [Via Your Tech Weblog]
TUAW Macworld 2008 Keynote Predictions
With the [in]famous Steve Jobs Macworld keynote address mere days away, speculation is, as always, running rampant as to just what new bits of shiny Apple goodness will be announced this year; of course, TUAW will be liveblogging the keynote to provide you the news as soon as it's announced. Last year, as I'm sure you all remember, was the big iPhone unveiling -- a milestone in Apple history and a keynote that will surely be remembered for many years to come.With all the hype, excitement and fever surrounding last year's Keynote and the Phone reveal (we might have caught a bit of iPhone fever here at TUAW as well), how will this year's event hope to compete with the exciting announcements of last year and perhaps even, dare I say it, surpass them? Of course, when considering this event and the impending announcements, these questions, and many others, come to mind. How long will Steve talk about the success of iTunes and the iPod before moving on to the other more exciting announcements? Who will be the musical guest? Will Noah Wyle make another appearance? How about John Hodgman? Or maybe, Bill Gates? What will Steve be wearing? And most importantly: what will be that "one more thing?"Your intrepid TUAW writers have considered those very questions, and more, through long days and nights of deliberation, discussion and discourse. In so doing, we have come up with some interesting, perhaps even controversial, prognostications, pre-visualizations and predictions of what new products and services will be announced at this year's keynote. Sure, a few of our ideas may seem unusual or far-fetched to some of you. But really, a couple of years ago, who would have thought Apple would get into the cell phone business, let alone become a major player almost overnight? Exciting, mind-altering and business defining events can sometimes happen in an instant (or 90 minutes) so sit back, relax and consider our Macworld 2008 keynote predictions...
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 available for pre-order
Adobe announced this week that Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac is available for pre-order. Do you prefer to try before you buy? If you're going to be at next week's Macworld Expo, visit the Adobe booth. They'll have a demo version running for you to play with.I'm a fan of PS Elements. I'm no artist or photographer, so Elements does everything I need (and it's a heck of a lot cheaper that Photoshop).Elements 6 will require Mac OS 10.4.8 or higher, and is priced at US$89.99[Via MacMinute]
Use Pingie to get Macworld alerts from TUAW on your mobile
Next week is going to be a busy one for the Mac blogosphere and TUAW is no exception. Sure, you can watch our Twitter feed for goings-on (we'll be reporting our location regularly), or subscribe to our Macworld 2008 tag feed, but what about keeping tabs while you jog? Enter Pingie. As Nik explains over on Download Squad, Pingie takes RSS feeds and sends SMS messages whenever something new pops up.You can put in pretty much any feed you like, but Dan over at UNEASYsilence was nice enough to create a hot little landing page for TUAW's Macworld feed. Just put your email and phone number in, and you're ready to get updates as we publish them. Please be aware that you're gonna want the unlimited text messaging from whatever carrier you're with-- we don't want iJustine-style bills going to anyone.To unsubscribe from the Pinged feed you can text "Ping Stop" to 95495. Let the pinging begin!
TUAW t-shirts, just in time for Macworld 2008
Please don't go topless to Macworld. TUAW will be giving the rest of our t-shirts away next week, but for those of you who can't make it to Macworld 2008 still have a chance to win a shirt. Six lucky winners will receive a TUAW shirt in their choice of large, medium or small (sorry, XL is no longer available). If you forgot what the shirts look like, here's the gallery.On to the rules:• To enter, leave a comment on this post (and validate it so it appears).• The comment must be left before 11:59pm EST. Contest ends at 11:59pm Eastern, January 8.• You may enter once.• Six winners will be selected in a random drawing.• Each winner will receive a TUAW t-shirt in their choice of Large, Medium or Small. One t-shirt per winner.Complete Official Rules after the jump.
Grab your 2008 Keynote Bingo cards!
With just over a week to go until the Steve Jobs January Riot Macworld Keynote and mockups of desired Apple products flying at us, Ars Technica's John Siracusa has posted his definitive Macworld Keynote Bingo card. Complete with that immortal Jobs-ian catch-phrase "Boom" and "a few squares for the phone weenies," it's everything you need for the keynote guessing-game.Be sure to check out the rules and regulations to see what will tick off each square -- we'd hate for any keynote attendees to jump up and shout "Bingo!" only to find that their line isn't really valid. That would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?
Predict (or satirise) the Stevenote and win Insanely Great t-shirts
Insanely Great Tees, purveyors of fine geeky t-shirts, is running a Macworld bonanza. All you need to do is instill laughter, tears or lust for Apple wares via a specially-designed form for Keynote predictions. If you're a winner in one of the three categories ('Humor', 'Imagination' or 'Accuracy') then you'll nab one of IGT's fantastic t-shirts (or possibly three of the t-shirts -- the contest announcement is a little unclear).In addition to the keynote contest, the folks at Insanely Great have also designed what is likely to be a must-have piece of Macworld schwag: Ambrosia Software t-shirts. As we make our way around the show floor in little over a week's time, we'll be sure to take a detour to admire them. Keep an eye on our Macworld tag for our wall-to-wall coverage from the Moscone Center.
Expo Survival Tips: Everything you need to last the week
Shawn King, famed host of the Your Mac Life podcast, is a Macworld veteran (much unlike myself). Battle-hardened by plenty of visits to Moscone, including his wedding there in 2006, it's fair to say he knows how to survive the on-slaught on the Expo and Conference.It's also fair to say that he makes an ideal author for some Expo Survival Tips - something that he's just published in the Macworld Ning group. Common sense items such as "wear comfortable shoes" may seem obvious points, but it's wise advice nonetheless. Others, such as 'Can I attend the Keynote', may be a little more pressing to Macworld new-comers. One other tip I'd add to the list would be that an iPhone-compatible booth map, such as the one soon-to-arrive from author Dori Smith, might make planning your day just a little more paperless and hassle-free.[Via Twitter]
Answer all your Macworld questions with Macworld Bound
For an Apple blogger, I've a little admission to make: this year is going to be the first time I'll have made the 10,716 mile round-trip to Macworld Expo San Francisco. Whilst I've been to San Francisco before, I'm in the dark when it comes to the insider-knowledge required to survive the week-long Mac-athon (and of course, who's having the parties). If you too are heading to MWSF for the first time and wanting to read-up on what to expect, then you might want to check out Macworld Bound -- a site dedicated to everything you might possibly want to know about the Expo.As we mentioned briefly in our year-end talkcast on Sunday, TUAW will of course be bringing you full Macworld coverage from San Francisco. Stay tuned for more details!
MacCamp
Macworld Expo 2008 is fast approaching (it takes place in San Francisco from Jan. 14th to the 18th) and people's social and conference calendars are filling up. If you don't get a chance to cram enough Mac talk in during the conference itself why not stick around for a Mac centered BarCamp called MacCamp?BarCamp, in case you aren't familiar with the term, is a type of 'user generated' conference. There is no set schedule, no set speakers. Attendees make up the schedule as the event goes along, creating sessions that they want to participate in and attend. MacCamp is a two day event starting around 6pm on Friday, January 18th. The schedule isn't set, but you can see who will be coming at its Upcoming page (sadly I fly back to Philly Friday afternoon) and check out more on its wiki page.
Steve Jobs to give MWSF 08 Keynote
Its not a particularly big surprise, but IDG World Expo - organisers of Macworld Conference & Expo - have announced that Steve Jobs will of course be giving the 2008 Macworld San Francisco Keynote. The date to put in your diary? 0900 on Tuesday 15th January 2008 (overnight queuing for top seats is, naturally, optional).We'll be providing coverage of both the Keynote and the rest of the Expo (with a selection of the TUAW team roster heading west for the biggest Mac event of the year) so save the date: and let the speculation commence, or rather continue....[Via MacRumors]
Macworld 2008 registration now open
Macworld Conference & Expo is the social event of the Mac season. Once a year Mac geeks gather to bask in the glow of new products, learn some cool stuff, and meet Mac notables and fellow Mac users. I've been to my fair share of Macworlds, and it is always a good time.That's why I am happy to report that registration for Macworld 2008, happening in San Francisco January 14 through the 19th, 2008, is open. If you register before October 5th you can get a free Exhibit pass (using Priority Code: 08-E-VF01) or special rates for the higher end passes (which allow you into the various classes and labs offered at the Conference).TUAW will be on the ground, running around blogging, interviewing folks, and shooting some cool videos (well, at least we hope they will be cool). Hope to see you there.Update: Left off the last digit of the code.
