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TheAppleBlog
TheAppleBlog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products.
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FireWire-to-USB: MacBook Redeemer?
Apple’s decision to axe FireWire from the MacBook line is not sitting well with many users, to say the least. For high-quality audio and video transfers, FireWire is the standard for professionals and hobbyists alike. Though USB is technically capable of faster transfer speeds than FireWire 400 (480 Mb/s vs. 400), FireWire has greater effective speed and power distribution because it doesn’t depend on a computer host port.

So what can be done about, short of severe DIY case-cracking, mother-board soldering changes that could result in death and/or dismemberment? One option shows potential. According to ZDNet.com, Pixela offers a FireWire to USB DV transfer cable, designed specifically with digital video transfer in mind.

Don’t go ordering one just yet, though. Currently, the cable only officially supports Windows XP (no Vista, either). So unless you’re running Boot Camp, or virtualization software, you’re out of luck. That said, given the sheer volume of dismayed MacBook owners (and those unwilling to upgrade until they find a solution), it’s likely that OS X support is on the way. Whether that comes in the form of a third-party driver, or (don’t hold your breath) official support and/or hardware from Apple, remains to be seen. When we contacted Pixela, a representative told us that OS X support has been discussed by their planning committee, but no firm decisions to go forward have yet been made.
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How-To: Create iPhone Ringtones in Garageband
If you own an iPhone and a Mac you can easily create ringtones within Garageband. I love music, but am not a music maker, so I don’t really use Garageband at all. Luckily, you don’t have to know much of anything about the program to easily create ringtones for your iPhone. Trust me. If I can do it, so can you, and I’ll show you how now.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, make sure the following are true:
- You have the latest version of iTunes (from iLife ‘08) and it is currently patched. If you bought your Mac after about August of 2007 and keep your software up to date, then you’ll qualify. If you don’t have Garageband, check out this method for creating ringtones.
- You must use music that is not inhibited by DRM. If you have iTunes Plus music from iTunes, or MP3 files from Amazon.com or eMusic.com, or of course any files you’ve ripped from your own CDs, these all qualify.
OK, with those out of the way let’s make a ringtone…
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Tap Tap Revenge: NIN Edition Released

Get ready iPhone-bearing fans of Trent Reznor, a special edition of Tap Tap Revenge has just been released featuring the music of Nine Inch Nails. The game features 16 NIN tracks, from albums Slip and Ghosts I-IV, hand-selected by Reznor himself.

Tap Tap Revenge was one of the first and most popular games on the iPhone platform, and according to some claims boasts more than 2 million users. Tapulous, Tap Tap Revenge’s developer, purchased the game from Nate True, who’d released the original version as Tap Tap Revolution for jailbroken iPhones and iPod touches. The track list for the original release version of Tap Tap Revenge is made up of independent artists, and the NIN edition marks the first time a major label release has been used. This is also the latest in a recent string of attempts on Reznor’s part to experiment with alternative methods of music distribution, like the decision to release “The Slip” for free in downloadable, non-DRM format.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Tap Tap Revenge resembles rhythm-based games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. Players tap glowing dots as they come down one of three neon-colored lines, trying to hit the dots in time with the music as they hit the bottom of the iPhone’s screen. The original version has been featured in Apple commercials, and it is highly likely that their endorsement will see more major artists following NIN’s lead, depending on the success of this most recent release.

Tap Tap Revenge: NIN not only features the band’s music, but also sports a custom red-and-black theme with all new graphics, and unlockable difficulty levels and tracks. You can get it in the App Store now for $4.99, or try the original version first for free.

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eMate 300 Redivivus? The Case for an Apple Netbook Strengthens

It's increasingly clear, at least to me, that Apple can't afford to ignore the netbook phenomenon. Yes, I know Apple doesn't do cheap computers and that there are markets the company chooses not to serve, but netbooks really can't be considered just another class of laptop, but rather a new category of consumer electronics.

Apple competes in the digital music player and smartphone categories, so why not netbooks, which are the brightest star in the computer sales firmament these days? Dell just announced its new Inspiron Mini 12, a new .92″ thick nettbook-cum-MacBook Air challenger with a 12.1-inch WXGA 1280 x 800 display, 1 GB RAM, webcam and Bluetooth for $600.

eMate 300

It's not as if Apple hasn't charted this territory before. We could argue that Apple pioneered the netbook concept back in 1997 with the Newton eMate 300, which combined PDA engineering and features in a laptop crossover form factor.

The eMate was packaged in a rugged, translucent aquamarine and black clamshell case with a 480×320 16-shade grayscale backlit LCD touchscreen display that could be used either Newton PDA style with a stylus, or laptop-style with a built-in conventional keyboard, and came bundled with a suite of built-in software applications including a word processor, drawing program, spreadsheet, graphing calculator, address book, and calendar functions. It could run hundreds of applications that had been developed for Newton 2.0.
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Boot Camp: Taking the Sting Out of Your Sin

I’m not ashamed to admit it. I run XP on my aluminum iMac. My girlfriend is ashamed of me and my brother won’t speak to me. All because of a 40gb hard drive partition and a start button.

I did it mostly so that I could play City of Heroes again (look what you’ve made me do, NCSoft! Release a Mac version already). I also like Corel’s PaintShop Pro Photo XII for quick and dirty photo editing, as I find it doesn’t require as much attention or time as Photoshop for minor changes.

Regardless of whether you agree/disagree with my reasons/excuses, there are a couple indispensable tips for those inclined to be-Windows their Macs the Boot Camp way.
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Stuff iTunes With Videos Using VideoDrive
Are you a video junkie who loves nothing more than stuffing iTunes with videos to watch in Front Row, Apple TV, or on your iPod? If you find yourself spending more time than you should fussing with conversion and the such, VideoDrive can get those videos into your iTunes and iPod quickly and with minimal fuss.

As someone who works in the broadcast industry, I like to load my iPod with videos to refer to as references. Oftentimes, I find myself spending hours importing and sorting videos, which come in a myriad formats, just so I can get them onto my iPod.
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AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to iPhone Users — Browse the iTunes Store for Free on Your Mac Too

Earlier today, AT&T Mobility sent out SMS messages to iPhone subscribers in the US reminding them that they can use free Wi-Fi provided by AT&T at locations including Starbucks shops around the country.

This free service has been a long time coming for the iPhone. The deal was originally announced back in February when Starbucks committed to partner with AT&T and kick T-Mobile to the curb. The new mobile portal started to show up on iPhones in April, but has been up and down since then. Now it appears that AT&T is ready for business.

I went through the process today at my local Starbucks just to try it out. The connection speed was definitely faster than 3G and a nice little benefit if you happen to be camped out at a Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. It should be particularly nice for those staying at hotels, if the service proves to be free to iPhone users in those locations as well.

Here’s how it works…
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ExpressCard Gadgets for MacBook Pro
One of the ports included with all the new (and previous generation of) MacBook Pros is an ExpressCard slot. Having never had this type of expansion before, I’ve decided to have a look around and see what uses it can serve. This article will give a brief overview of some of the most popular ExpressCard gadgets available.

Transcend Solid State Device

Without any doubt, this is the ExpressCard device which caught my eye first. It consists of a high capacity, solid state device which inserts into your laptop, giving you an easy way to add some SSD storage. Initially the price of these was prohibitively high, but SSD is becoming evermore appealing as the costs are pushed lower. It comes in three different varieties:
- 32GB SSD $126.21
- 16GB SSD $44.68
- 8GB SSD $28.68
The major use heralded for the card is to enable Vista ReadyBoost — something obviously not appropriate for a MacBook Pro user. However, other tasks which benefit from high speed storage (a Photoshop scratch disk for instance) could see the benefit of the card. Whether it provides a huge advantage over a high capacity USB thumb drive is debatable though, and the ExpressCard price still carries a slight premium.
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What's the Ideal Strategy to Maximize Notebook Battery Lifespan?

What’s the best way to extend the service life of your notebook battery? Not runtime between charges, but how many charges you can get from a Lithium Ion battery before it will not longer hold a useful charge.

Ivan at CreativeBits has posted a tips column noting that typically notebook computers are used as desktop substitute machines plugged into AC power adapters most of the time, which is problematical. Ivan suggests that batteries “wear off much more faster (sic) if they are not being used enough.”

Is that an accurate evaluation? I think not.
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iMac, Mac Mini Updates November 11 According to… Pure Speculation

When it rains it pours, and the current outlook is calling for torrents of speculation regarding iMac and Mac mini updates from Apple. Just to show how desperate people can be for any shred of “information” regarding Cupertino, let’s look at the latest bit of “news” making the rounds.

Yesterday, Macsimumnews.com published a piece in which editor David Sellers claims to be “pretty sure” that the iMac and Mac mini will see updates on or before Tuesday, Nov. 10 (it’s actually the 11th). He makes no mention of sources, and the article is categorized as an opinion piece.

Which didn’t stop 9to5mac from posting about the piece under the banner “iMac, Mac Pro upgrades loom?” Loom? It hardly seems valid to suggest updates are “looming” based on the guesswork of a single Apple journalist, even if he does have experience in the industry.

MacDailyNews opted to use as their headline the prediction even Sellers himself believes to be a stretch, boldly proclaiming “Apple to debut new Mac Pro at Macworld in January?”. In a move typical of Apple rumor sites, MacDailyNews opts for the more sensational and attention grabbing headline, regardless of the facts.
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iPhone How-To: Synchronizing Your Google Calendar

The iPhone is indeed a wonderful little device and, for some of us, a game-changer in terms of managing our digital lives from the palm of our hands. There are, however, some essential features that Apple neglected to implement.

Regular GMail and Google Calendar users will have noticed the glaring lack of a Calendar synchronization option, making the native iPhone calendar app somewhat less useful.

All is not lost though! Enter NuevaSync, a web-service that enables two-way synchronization between your Google Calendar and the iPhone Calendar app. NuevaSync is secure, easy to use and painless to set-up…and most notably, it’s totally free.

So, it’s time to grab your gear and follow this ten minute guide to setting up NuevaSync. You’ll need your computer, a Google Account and your iPhone, with the latest firmware update. And by the way, iPod touch users can also get in on the syncing fun.
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Sonos Controller for the iPhone/iPod touch

There was no doubt that, when initially released, the Sonos was a game changer.

But as time progressed, and Apple introduced the Airport Express with AirTunes, then the AppleTV (also with AirTunes support), and then the iPhone/iPod touch with the Remote app; the Sonos began to show its age.

While Sonos has continued to release variations of their Zone Players, where they were originally garnered much of their praise, their Controllers — based around the original iPod scroll-wheel design — now feel very dated. Now, breathing some new life into their lineup, and not to let Apple steal all their glory, Sonos has released their own controller app for Apple’s touch devices.

Available for free, the Sonos Controller (iTunes link) allows you to do everything you could via the original controller — including listening to Pandora, Rhapsody, and Last.FM as well as streaming music off your NAS/Time Capsule, and controlling the song/volume in each area. Additionally, now you can also search for artists via the on-screen keyboard and set-up/manage your Zone Players directly from the device.

I can almost hear the collective “finally” from the Sonos community as something like this has been a long time coming.

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TAB Welcomes: Clayton Lai
Hi everyone, from the little red dot known as Singapore!

I have a confession to make: I am a recent switcher. Being in the broadcast and advertising industry, I have always been surrounded by Macs. Just about every one—from production companies to advertising agencies to postproduction facilities—uses Macs. But, for whatever reasons I cannot for my life recall now, it never occurred to me to make the switch; I was pretty happy with Windows XP and the Sony VAIO TR5 ultra-portable it ran on. I was in the minority; I was John Hodgman.

Fast-forward to mid-2007. One fine day in May, I received word through the grapevine that someone was letting go of a seven-month-old MacBook Pro 17″ (Core Duo, 1GB RAM and 120GB HDD) in mint condition. The price was too attractive to ignore. A couple of days later, I sat in front of that MacBook Pro and realized, for the first time, what it must be like to discover an advanced civilization on another planet. Coming from an entrenched power user who had squeezed Windows for all of its worth, for me to say that the Mac experience was a profound life experience is no small praise.

I am never going back. Until the day when, somehow, my Mac gets pried from my cold, dead fingers, you can find me on my MacBook Pro more than I should, writing about everything Mac, instead of being out there chasing the light as a photographer, on a shooting set making television commercials, or working on my first feature film. I’m honored to be part of The Apple Blog and I look forward to your feedback and comments!

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Apple Co-Founder Wozniak Turns To Acting
The Pirate of Woz

With the abrupt end of Bill Gates’s recent promotional tête à tete with Seinfeld, there’s clearly a comedy void left somewhere in the galaxy. Fortunately, Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, may be just the right shape to fill that void and restore equilibrium.

Though far from scraping the bottom of the tech-celebrity barrel by endorsing a lackluster product, Woz is actually promoting Scott Jordan’s ScotteVest apparel. There are currently two webisodes up, the first finds the big guy doing a spot of fishing (using an iPod for bait) and the second one is a nonsensical Star Wars spoof which seemingly has nothing to do with the ScotteVest products.

There’s definitely a smart idea behind the ScotteVest range — the apparel is designed for guy and girl geeks specifically, the kind of folk who carry tons of digital gadgetry and gizmos. We’re talking jackets and hoodies with pockets to hold an array of essential gadgets (including an awesome feature called CollarConnect™ that runs your headphone wires through the clothing for maximum efficiency).

With such attention to detail, it’s clear as to why Woz — with his awful yet wonderfully endearing style of acting — would appear in a ScotteVest advert.

Head on over to the ScotteVest website to check out Steve Wozniak’s adverts now.

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Demand for iPhone Developers Up 500%

The SDK and the success of the App Store have combined to create an emerging professional category, that of iPhone application developer.

According to oDesk, a technology outsourcer billing itself as the “leading marketplace and global IT platform for outsourcing technology jobs to certified, freelance, Apple iPhone developers”, demand has risen for iPhone-related positions from 30 to upwards of 140 jobs per month over the past six months.

While the numbers are drawn from internal oDesk records only, such a steep increase is unlikely to be an isolated phenomenon. Nor is oDesk’s sample pool a limited one, since they have representation in over 100 countries worldwide, including major markets like the U.S. and China.
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Change Notes Font On iPhone/iPod touch
I really, really detest the Market Felt typeface used in the Notes application in the iPod touch and iPhone. It is hard to read, hard to edit points into, and looks plain childish.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon a way to easily have your notes displayed with Arial Helvetica. And, no, you do not need FontSwap, jailbreaking or any complicated deep system maneuvering. All you need is right there in the iPhone OS.

For this walkthrough I am using a second-generation iPod touch with firmware version 2.1.1 loaded. This also works with the iPhone.
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