odds and ends

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  • Producer mixes up original iPhone ringtone with Siri to create awesome beat

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    05.26.2014

    Talented Indian producer, MetroGnome, took the most recognizable iPhone ringtone, added some Siri and overlaid his own beats to create a fabulously catchy mix that every Apple fan will love. He shared the tune online and, best of all, filmed himself creating it. [Via TechCrunch]

  • Here's what happens when a Beatles' fan takes on app development

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    05.23.2014

    I bet this Beatles' fan turned app developer just could't help himself when he created this part of the app. Image from Jose Izquierdo on Flickr.

  • Original Apple rainbow signs from old Apple HQ for sale

    by 
    Mike Wehner
    Mike Wehner
    05.19.2014

    You might think you're a true Apple fan, but one lucky bidder is definitely going to have you beat in June. That's when bidding will take place for Apple's original rainbow logo signs that once graced the company's Cupertino headquarters, with bidding expected to reach north of US$15,000. As the auction description states, the signs were removed from Apple headquarters in 1997 and given to "a longtime Apple employee," who remains unnamed. The signs themselves are a bit rough looking, showing plenty of wear and tear from the years they graced the company's campus while basking in the California sunshine. The two signs come in two different sizes, one measuring 46in by 49in and the other coming in at a slightly smaller 33in by 36in, each with its own separate "leaf" piece. The larger apple is made of "stiff foam" while the smaller is crafted out of fiberglass and metal. These are two of the most iconic treasures for Apple fans, so bidding is expected to reach a lofty figure before the dust settles. They'll be sold during the Bonhams "The Story of the 20th Century" auction in New York on June 4. [via The Verge]

  • A roundup of last week's popular and featured articles on TUAW

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    05.11.2014

    Last week was a busy one with your favorite TUAW writers posting some excellent How-To guides, commentary and other useful articles. Here's a quick roundup of our recent feature worthy posts you may have missed: HealthPatch biosensor bandage brings clinical-grade monitoring to iOS iPhone 101: How to use Control Center when the keyboard gets in the way Samsung's business strategy detailed: Copy, counter-sue, and delay Crowdfunding Roundup: News from Kickstarter and Indiegogo Steve Jobs' wise decision to avoid Blu-ray Mac 101: How to use OS X macros to quickly enter long strings of text The foolhardy notion that Apple is "too rooted to hardware" and that hardware is "becoming a commodity." Play It On A Mac: Outlast When Steve Jobs and Apple started taking patents seriously Bad App Reviews: Minecraft iPhone 101: Control Center getting in the way? Here's how to disable it Please don't attempt to hunt down your stolen iPhone on your own How to copy text when previewing a document using Quick Look in OS X Dish Network's mistake is a blast from the Mac past Rumor Roundup: Year of the Mockup TUAW will be back next week with another round of handy features, so be sure to drop by to see what's new and what's useful.

  • This is what happens when iPhone rumors get out of hand

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    04.25.2014

    Rumors say Apple is poised to deliver a larger iPhone 6. Well, we have a sneak photo fresh from the Internet archives that shows what it may look like. Just so you know, the burly man is not included with the retail model.

  • What happens when an Apple fan meets an Android admirer (Humor)

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    04.18.2014

    What happens when an Apple fan meets an Android admirer -- a never-ending discussion over which platform is better. If only these dicussions were as amicable as this.

  • Think Different. Or Not.

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    04.15.2014

    Though this image is more satirical then complimentary, you gotta love those glowing Apple logos on the back of every Mac. I have to admit, though, that I would love to see a similar photo taken in the dark.

  • Funny moments with Steve Jobs

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    04.09.2014

    Steve Jobs has been called many things: genius, visionary, and of course, temperamental. However, every now and then Steve gave the public an example of his sense of humor. As you might expect, it was biting, sharp and smart. Here's a collection of funny moments from the late Mr. Jobs.

  • Falling asleep with a good iBook

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.28.2014

    Gather 'round, kids and Grandpa Dave will tell you a story. Back when I was your age, "iBooks" were computers, not software. They were brightly colored, had plastic handles and resembled a Barbie purse. Plus, you could take a nap beneath one, as Flickr user Pinot Dita demonstrates. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.

  • Photo: Wall-mounted Apple keyboards

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.25.2014

    It's like a nerdy Bat Cave. Flickr user Peter Bocken shares this image of several Apple keyboards, carefully mounted on a wall. Can you name them all? We'd like to see a Bluetooth keyboard added to the display. You can see Bocken's mouse collection in all of its glory here. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.

  • Steve Jobs reference in forthcoming Captain America movie

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.19.2014

    Marvel has released the first 11 minutes of Captain America 2: Winter Soldier to get fans excited about the feature. There's lots of exciting action, as you'd expect, but also an amusing reference to Steve Jobs. In the beginning of the clip, Steve Rogers is out for a jog when he comes across Sam Wilson. Now in the present day, Steve is keeping a list of things he ought to check out. Sam suggests he listen to Marvin Gaye's 1972 album, Trouble Man. When Steve pulls out a notebook to write that down, we briefly see the other items on his list (above): I Love Lucy (television) Moon Landing Berlin Wall (Up & Down) Steve Jobs (Apple) Disco Thai Food Star Wars/Trek Nirvana (Band) Rocky (Rocky II?) Seems the Captain intends to brush up on his Apple history. Also note that "Star Wars" has been crossed out. Someone must have warned him about the prequels.

  • Flickr Find: Lego Steve Jobs and our beloved Mac

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    03.18.2014

    Today's Flickr Find is so adorable it may just kill you with its cuteness. Created by Flickr member Sam, aka "purplelime", the Lego recreation commemorates the 30th birthday of the Mac, which was celebrated earlier this year. In true Apple fan fashion, the lego scene was recorded by an iPhone 5s, adding even more charm to the photo. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.

  • A nice, sterile eye pad

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.14.2014

    On a personal note, it's my son's birthday. I know he really wants an iPad. Think he'll appreciate this?

  • Flickr find: The world's most ridiculous and expensive Mac mini stand

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    03.12.2014

    Today's Flickr find is from Stephen Hackett, who has created what he calls "the world's most ridiculous Mac mini stand", and we would have to agree. Not only is all that aluminum stunning, it's also a vintage rig now that the Powermac G5 is will past its prime. As far as expensive, the latest Mac Pro would make a heck of a stand now that it comes packaged in much smaller and much blacker form factor. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.

  • The life cycle of an iPad or iPhone owner (humor)

    by 
    Kelly Hodgkins
    Kelly Hodgkins
    03.07.2014

    This classic comic from The Oatmeal reminds of why we sometimes have such a love-hate relationship with our iOS devices.

  • YouTube find: 10,000 iPhone "dominoes"

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.05.2014

    This clever animation from Atama Studio was produced to illustrate the potential of NFC on the iPhone 5. You'll notice that, as each CG iPhone falls, it triggers the image on the phone next to it. The effect is most dramatic at the end, when a huge grid of fallen iPhones create a single "display" and produce one huge image. Of course, the iPhone 5 came and went without a NFC bone in its body. Still, this is a pretty cool animation. The elevator bit is my favorite.

  • Flickr find: the IPOd clock radio

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    03.04.2014

    This week's Flickr find features an ancient, tired old GE clock radio that's yearning for retirement. It's even making a suggestion for its replacement. Here's hoping Flickr user Telavet got the message. You can contribute to our Flickr pool here. We'd love to see your photos.

  • YouTube find: Macintosh Jr.

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    02.26.2014

    "It said 'public.' I changed it." This is an old parody from Saturday Night Live that still makes us laugh. Watch as Zach's project for Mrs. Hanson blows the other kids away. It's an odd project, though: a dinosaur eating a soldier, an airplane crashing into a vocation and a nuclear explosion. What was this assignment, anyway? In any case, Zach has "the power to crush the other kids."

  • Re-create the iOS 7 home screen in Microsoft Word

    by 
    Dave Caolo
    Dave Caolo
    10.21.2013

    Vaclav Krejci is the madman behind this video. Watch as he re-creates the iOS home screen -- stock icon by stock icon -- in Microsoft Word. I don't know what's more compelling here: Krejci's thorough knowledge of Word's tools or the fact that the word processing software can be used so effectively as an image editor. In either case, it's a mesmerizing video. Watch in awe.

  • Apple Media Event Drinking Game

    by 
    Yoni Heisler
    Yoni Heisler
    10.21.2013

    Tomorrow, Apple will hold a special media event during which it will likely introduce a slew of new products. From new iPads to OS X Mavericks, there will undoubtedly be a whole lot of new hardware and software to digest. Per usual, just what exactly Apple has in store remains a mystery. Will the fifth-generation iPad feature Touch ID? Maybe, maybe not. But why busy yourself with such troublesome questions when you can have much more fun playing a drinking game during the media event?