Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) (16 сообщений)

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  • Talkcast tonight, 10 pm ET: the Mac's 25th birthday show

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    Last week, the Mikes played a selection of your phone calls and best wishes for Steve Jobs. You can, of course, download the show from Talkshoe or subscribe in iTunes.

    This week, Christina Warren, Steve Sande and I will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Mac platform, reminiscing about our first Mac experiences, and sharing our predictions for the next 25 years of Mac. We'll also discuss the news of the week, including Apple's first-quarter conference call, the White House's IT woes, and problems with bootleg copies of iWork '09. All this, and your input too! What could be better?

    To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, or you can also use the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VOIP lines (take advantange of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. Talk with you then!

    TUAWTalkcast tonight, 10 pm ET: the Mac's 25th birthday show originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone 101: Basic questions, basic answers

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    This morning I opened my Mail inbox and was greeted with an email from a man who had read my iPhone articles in the premiere issue of iPhone Life magazine. He had a bunch of questions which, on first glance, appeared to be naive. However, I asked my rocket scientist wife (yes, she really is a rocket scientist!) if she knew the answers since she has had an iPhone for over a year, and she could only answer a few.

    That's true not only of iPhone users, but of people who use any technology. For most people, just learning the minimal feature set is enough. It's when you decide that you want to learn more about how to use a particular feature that you can run into questions.

    I often point people to Apple's excellent iPhone support Web site to get details on the minutiae of operating their iPhones. For those of you who are iPhone newbies or just afraid to ask, I've written up some answers to some common questions taken from the email and my reply to the reader. Click the Read More link below to see the rest of the story.

    Thanks to Fred for the inspiration!

    Continue reading iPhone 101: Basic questions, basic answers

    TUAWiPhone 101: Basic questions, basic answers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Happy 25th Birthday, Mac!

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    All of the bloggers at TUAW write about Apple and Apple products for one reason: we love Apple products.

    For most of us, our first Apple was a Mac (although some of us are indeed old enough to have owned the Apple II). 25 years ago today, Steven P. Jobs stood in front of a packed house and had a Macintosh Model M0001 introduce itself to the world:

    Over the past quarter century, hundreds of millions of people have fallen in love with the Mac. Read on to hear some personal stories about Macs we have known through the years, and be sure to leave your own memories of your first Mac in the comments section.

    Continue reading Happy 25th Birthday, Mac!

    TUAWHappy 25th Birthday, Mac! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • One iPhone in a very large crowd

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    In traditional photography, the time elapsed between the shutter snap and the careful, loupe & light table examination of the captured images for some unexpected surprise or Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment" might be days or weeks. With photographer David Bergman's massive panorama of Tuesday's presidential inauguration, the challenge wasn't in waiting for the darkroom process to complete (although the Gigapan software did crank away on his MacBook Pro for over six hours to generate the 1,474 megapixel, 2 gigabyte master file); it was combing through the enormous image to discover those moments Bergman didn't even know he had photographed. Several commenters on Bergman's blog have already found themselves or family members in the crowd.

    One moment that Bergman did discover quickly: a prominent attendee of the inauguration, 'bow-syncing' cellist Yo-Yo Ma, was caught in the panorama making an image of his own, using a familiar-looking smartphone. See the video zoom below for the context of Ma's snapshot in the larger image.

    As digital imaging has replaced film photography for newsgathering and journalism, there have been counterexamples of newsworthy images that would have long been deleted except for the fact that they were shot on film instead of on memory cards. In this case, the image of Yo-Yo Ma and his phone wouldn't have been preserved, except that it was captured by chance and 'mined' out of the massive, frozen decisive moment.

    Image & zoom video used with permission of the photographer; all rights reserved.

    TUAWOne iPhone in a very large crowd originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Original iPod nano owners benefit from scratch settlement

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    The first generation of iPod nano models may have been small and sleek, but they also apparently had an image problem -- mainly, that it rapidly grew difficult to see the screen after the nicks and scratches began to accumulate on the face of the player. As far back as 2005, users expressed their displeasure over the nano's likelihood for damage, including cracks in the screen in some cases.

    Thanks to a now-settled class action lawsuit, nano owners who experienced the scratchies can apply for a refund of $15 (if the iPod shipped with a slip case, as later ones did) or $25 (for no-case shipments). You can get all the details from the settlement website. Refunds may take up to a year (!) to arrive.

    [via AppleInsider]

    TUAWOriginal iPod nano owners benefit from scratch settlement originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Peggle coming to the iPhone in March

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    We actually heard this last year, straight from Apple, but here's confirmation: PopCap Games has told our sister site Joystiq that Peggle, the distractingly cute-looking yet extremely addictive puzzle shooter, is coming to the iPhone in March of this year. If you've played Peggle (or any of PopCap's games, really) you'll know why this is so exciting, and if you haven't yet played it, you'll be in for a treat.

    Word of the game apparently sneaked out via Popcap's official Twitter account, and while it was originally deleted (someone decided they didn't want to talk about it yet), the company later confirmed the game and the month of release. Of course, the game is currently available on the classic iPod, but it'll be that much better with touch-screen goodness added in. Extreme Fever!

    TUAWPeggle coming to the iPhone in March originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • 25 Years of Macintosh in photos

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    A quarter of a century has passed since the Macintosh was first unveiled, and we're happy to celebrate the silver anniversary of the computer for the rest of us. Here's a look at some of Apple's hits and misses when it comes to the venerable platform.

    For a contemporary perspective, check out this story from the April, 1984 issue of Compute! magazine, where associate editor Fred D'Ignazio writes of the January 30 "coming out party" for the Mac at the Boston Computer Society.

    When was the first time you heard of the Mac? Our team will be sharing their reminiscences later today.

    TUAW25 Years of Macintosh in photos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Install Windows 7 on a Mac

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    Raise your hand if you remember when a Mac was a Mac and a Windows machine was a Windows machine, and never the twain shall meet. I sure do.

    Change has come.

    Our own Christina Warren has written an exhaustive set of instructions for installing Windows 7 on a Mac over at our sister site, Download Squad. Windows 7 is in beta, so don't try and use it for any mission-critical tasks. Meant to be an incremental update to Vista (Snow Vista?), the current iteration of Windows 7 includes changes like a redesigned taskbar, enhanced touch performance and improvements when run atop multi-core processors.

    While Intel Macs can run Windows 7 via Boot Camp, Christina points out that virtualization is probably the best bet for most users. She described how to set up an installation with VMWare Fusion 2.0, Parallels 4.0 and VirtualBox 2.1.2 (and the VMware team has posted a guide of their own for Win7 on Fusion).

    If you're a Mac user who keeps Windows around for compatibility testing or that one proprietary Windows app you can't do without, and you're just itching to try Windows 7, this is the tutorial for you. If you're wondering what the fuss is about over on the Microsoft side, Engadget's deep dive on Windows 7 is a good place to start.

    TUAWInstall Windows 7 on a Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Take two of the Seagate saga

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    When we last left this running soap opera of some Seagate hard drives failing, the drive manufacturer had issued some firmware fixes, then pulled a couple out of circulation, and now has returned them with some fixes for the fixes.

    The firmware updater, at first glance, looks like it needs a Windows PC, but the reality is the ISO images, once burned to a CD, will boot on an Intel based Mac. They will not work on any PowerPC platform, so don't even try. I was surprised that these discs would boot, but it worked for me and there are similar reports all over the tech support boards.

    Let me state up front that firmware updates can be deadly, and only try this if you have good, recent backups of all your data. This is really important, because if it fails because you haven't followed the instructions, your hard drive is offline. The data will be OK, but it will not be accessible. Seagate is saying they will retrieve data from problem drives, but that is a slow process and a gigantic hassle.

    These instructions are for a Mac Pro, which are the Macs most likely to have added internal drives. If you are brave, and only if you are brave, read on for the steps...


    Continue reading Take two of the Seagate saga

    TUAWTake two of the Seagate saga originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Second look: Public Radio Tuner for iPhone

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    American Public Radio has updated and improved its free app for listening to public radio streams on the iPhone/iPod touch. We had a look at the first version in early December, and the criticisms Megan Lavey noted in her review have been addressed.

    Public Radio Tuner
    [app store link] has access to more than 200 streams from stations around the country. With this 1.1 update, this version starts up faster, works better over the slower EDGE network, and you can now search for your favorite station by call letters, frequency, city, region or format.

    The app now uses location services to find stations that are near you, which is great if you are traveling.

    Here are some things I'd like to see in the next version. Most important would be to have stations grouped by category. As it is now you can use the search tool and input a keyword like 'jazz' to get a list of stations with that format. I'd rather see some buttons that let me get this information without typing.

    Another welcome fix would be web links. Each station page has the web URL to the station, but it is not click-able. I know you'd lose the stream if you bring up Safari, but the developers could have browser access from within the app as some others have done. Even better, Apple should fix the restriction in the iPhone OS that won't allow multitasking for 3rd party programs.

    A spokesperson for the Public Radio Exchange, which is behind the app, tells me a May update will include program guide information. It will also allow listeners to get on-demand content, which is a big plus. And they say they are working on integrating a web browser. Yippee!

    Not all Public Radio Stations are going to be found with this app. All stations were asked to contribute, but some don't stream, and others didn't want to participate.

    The new features in Public Radio Tuner are most welcome, and I expect to be using it quite a bit. Give it a try and see if it fits your needs for music and talk that goes beyond the usual commercial radio fare.

    TUAWSecond look: Public Radio Tuner for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Got a TiVo? Your iPhone is your friend

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    If you have a TiVo, there are several apps in the App Store that can make recording and playing your favorite shows just a little easier. While none of them allow playback on the iPhone or iPod touch themselves, they're still useful tools for TiVo-holics.

    For those with TiVo Series 3 boxes, DVR Remote turns your iPhone or iPod touch into not only a remote control for your TiVo, but also a much easier way to enter text, compared to using the remote. There is a little bit of setup that you have to do on your TiVo before DVR Remote works, but once all the devices are talking to one another, you can view Now Playing information and select favorite channels straight from this app. DVR Remote (App Store link) is $2.99.

    Also, If you're looking for a less-polished, less-expensive app that has much of the same functionality as DVR Remote, RemoteT might be for you. RemoteT (App Store link) is 99 cents.

    For those with Series 2 DVRs (like me), DVR Shows behaves much like the NowPlaying dashboard widget (sans downloading capability). DVR Shows lets you browse the contents of your Now Playing list and view program details. DVR Shows (App Store link) is 99 cents.

    If you want to take advantage of the TiVo's remote programming option while browsing your media guide and program schedules, the current version of i.TV supports that function. Some testers have had mixed luck with the capability but your mileage may vary. i.TV (App Store link) is free.

    Last but not least is DVRPics, a utility that lets you show a picture from your iPhone or iPod touch's Photo repository on your TiVo Series 2 or newer. (Right now, you can only show one photo at a time, but the developer promises a free update to create slideshows.) You can also take pictures using your iPhone, and immediately display them on your TV. DVRPics (App Store link) is 99 cents.

    TUAWGot a TiVo? Your iPhone is your friend originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store

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    Spawn Illuminati version 2 just hit the App Store (iTunes link). If you haven't seen it, it's an amazing time-killer which allows user interaction with something akin to a screensaver on your iPhone. It's a little hard to explain, which is why we have video. You can also check out some user-contributed screenshots on the developer's Flickr page.

    An interesting aspect of the Spawn story is the author's success with pricing it above the .99 "sweet spot" after mediocre success at that standard price. The second video is a snippet of Spawn's developer Nikolai riffing about App Store economics. Spawn is currently back to .99USD in the App Store, but only for a limited time. Read on for a demo and some pricing opinions from an experienced App Store developer.

    Continue reading Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store

    TUAWMacworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Slate throws Apple a $100B idea, suggests iBank

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    In an interesting -- not to say wildly speculative -- essay, Slate Magazine's Karim Bardeesy says that Apple should take some of its $28 billion and start a bank.

    During Wednesday's conference call, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer made it clear that the company was looking to keep its cash right where it is. Anecdotal evidence suggests that now might not exactly be the best time to get one's feet wet in high finance, but Bardeesy does make a few interesting points.

    First, if Apple takes $15 billion of its own cash, at "regulated reserve ratios," Apple could offer $100 billion in loans. Couple that with the company's tech savvy and trustworthy brand, Bardeesy says, and you're looking at an opportunity to "revolutionize the industry."

    Second, Bardeesy suggests creating an internet-only bank, taking deposits from everyday people -- via an iPhone fund transfer app, of course. He says the rise of Internet banks isn't unprecedented: just look at how popular they were in Iceland! (Ignore for now those banks' participation in the total collapse of Iceland's banking system.)

    And how about a slice of that sweet, sweet government bailout? Apple can have some -- if it's a bank. "Goodie side benefits to banking status include access to some of that TARP money and a steady revenue stream to smooth out any bumps in retail demand for other Apple products," he writes. Contradictorily, in his final sentence, Bardeesy chides the banking industry for "pocketing taxpayer billions while sending nary a penny [his] way." You can't have it both ways, buddy.

    In sum, Bardeesy admits that "Apple has prided itself on sticking to its knitting and not indulging in diversionary acquisitions or enterprises." He claims, however, that "an exception can be made when economy and country are at stake and profits are on the table."

    Can it? Really?

    Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

    TUAWSlate throws Apple a $100B idea, suggests iBank originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Today 1.6 adds natural language parsing for new events

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    Second Gear Software released version 1.6 of Today on Tuesday, fixing some minor bugs and adding natural language parsing to create new events.

    Today is a handy utility that fetches data from your iCal calendars, and displays only the events for today in a tidy list on your screen.

    Adding an event was simple, thanks to the natural language processing. Typing in Thursday at 9 am or today at 2 pm for the start time or end time of a new event yielded good results.

    Bug fixes included improvements to Spaces behavior when in menu-bar mode, and miscellaneous performance tweaks. Version 1.5, released in November, added Growl notifications and alarm support.

    Today is $15, universal binary, and available as a 10-day trial. A screencast showing off the software's major features is also available on Second Gear's website.

    Steve has reviewed a previous version of Today, and Brett spoke with developer Justin Williams at WWDC last year.

    TUAWToday 1.6 adds natural language parsing for new events originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Pencils down, iPhones up

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    The next time someone calls you a pencil-necked geek, take comfort in the knowledge that the humble pencil can be used to do wonderful things, especially if you happen to have a few of them lying around plus some heavy-duty rubber bands. In fact, with the kind of ingenuity displayed by the Geeky Gadgets team, you can whip up one delightful iPhone or iPod touch stand. The same design could work with sturdy twigs and twine, if your office supply oversight is too strict to allow the pencil version -- impress your cubicle-mates with your Adirondack outdoorsy style.

    In a similar vein to the binder-clip stands featured on Cult of Mac and Instructables, this stand does a nice job of reusing found materials. If you've got a favorite iPhone stand made from atypical structural items, throw it into the TUAW Flickr feed.

    Thanks Ged!

    TUAWPencils down, iPhones up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Lights Off returns to the iPhone

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    Hey, remember Lights Off? We first posted about it in the relative Stone Age of iPhone development, when the only SDK we had was writing web pages and when you had to actually jailbreak your iPhone to do anything cool with it. Nowadays, of course, we live in storied times, and so Lights Off has returned, this time on the App Store as a $1.99 app. It does look a little different, but the new version has been redone from scratch, and has added in some sound effects (even though you can't hear them in the video above). If you liked the game then, you'll probably like it now, too.

    And yes, we have now come full circle -- developers have recreated, with Apple's official SDK, a program that was originally created without an official SDK, so people who jailbroke their iPhone back then to play the game can now do so without jailbreaking their iPhone. Got all that? We know -- it hurts our head, too.

    TUAWLights Off returns to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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