Fresh Apple: GigaOMApple (6 сообщений)

rss2email.ru

Глум над рекламой и брендами

Общественно новостной Автоблог

GigaOMApple

http://gigaom.com
рекомендовать друзьям >>

How to Create CS5 Deployments With Adobe Application Manager
Dealing with the Adobe CS suites can be a daunting task when you have to do large-scale deployments. Trying to use Apple Remote Desktop requires the install be a package file and Adobe doesn’t want to make it easy, so they like to use application files instead. In the past, I’ve tried many different solutions to deploy a configured CS installation to classrooms. I had the most success using Composer from JAMF Software, until now.

Adobe now has its own tool for creating deployment packages of its CS5 products for OS X computers. The Adobe Application Manager Enterprise Edition (AAM) may be a mouthful, but it’s a blessing to those of us who have been waiting for such a tool to arrive. It allows you to create a custom install package file using your CS5 media. Not only that, it will allow you to bundle updates into the install or create a separate update package. I’ll walk through both of these operations.

Creating a Custom Package Install

First thing you need to do is download AAM from Adobe’s site. Once installed, insert your CS5 media and run the AAM program. The first screen will present you with the option to create an Installation Package or an Update Package.
1. First we’re going to do an Installation Package so select that option. Next we need to give our package a name, which will become the file name in the end. We need to give it a save location, too, and also pont it to the install media.
2. On the next screen, give it your serial number and click Next.
3. You then can disable any products you don’t want in the package or just let it install everything.
4. Now we get to the heart of it. We have the ability to disable all the different options that are a pain to deal with when deploying a product like CS5. The default settings are good but I also like to check the “Disable Air…” box also. Updates are shut off so users won’t be constantly bothered by update dialogs.
5. Now we come to the update portion. Unfortunately, the program won’t go out and grab all the available updates for you. They have to be downloaded by hand and added to this window. It’s easy enough though, head over to Adobe’s update site and grab whatever updates pertain to your install. Just click the Add Update button and point it to the DMG files you’ve downloaded.
6. Click Build and go take a break.
When the build is finished, you will have a customized PKG file that you can either use to install CS5 remotely using Apple Remote Desktop, or run by hand.

Creating an Update Package

After you have created you install package, you should also create an Update Package that you can also run through Apple Remote Desktop to remotely update any existing CS5 installation.
1. Re-launch AAM and this time click the Update Package button. Give it a name and a Save To location.
2. Hopefully you still have the updates you downloaded earlier when you built the Installation package. Otherwise, head over to Adobe’s update site and grab the updates you want to include. Click the Add Update button and select the DMG files you want to be a part of this.
3. Click Build and it should complete itself rather quickly.
Переслать
Want an iPad 2 on March 11? Be in Line Early
Around 6:00 AM on Apr. 3, 2010, prospective iPad buyers began lining up at the Apple Store in Durham, North Carolina, with simliar lines forming at other Apple Stores across the U.S. as early as the day before. Nearly a year and around 20 million iPads later, it appears history is about about to repeat itself with the iPad 2 launch.

Today, DigiTimes is reporting Apple has ordered some 40 million iPads for 2011, including 10 to 12 million for the second quarter, and 6 to 6.5 million this quarter. Of those shipping in the first quarter, the iPad 2 will account for some 2 to 3 million units. Setting aside the questionable accuracy of DigiTimes, the cause it cites for supply problems, display yields, was echoed by Goldman Sachs analyst Bill Shope.

Shope citing his own sources (via AppleInsider) in a research note asserted that the “iPad 2′s ultra-thin glass screen is generating yield issues,” though he also said it was more of a “process problem,” and that improving upon the process could see “volumes ramp fairly quickly.” It should be noted Shope accurately, if vaguely, predicted details of the iPad 2.

If those reports seem an insubstantial basis for predicting shortages of the iPad 2 at launch, consider the details of the launch itself. Like the original iPad launch, the iPad 2 will be sold only in the U.S. While the international launch is scheduled for more than two dozen countries on Mar. 25, there are as of yet no details on how to buy an iPad 2 at international Apple Stores. Instead, eager vistors find just a “Notify Me” button for joining an e-mail list.

While the U.S. store does list buying details, the big difference from last year is that there is no pre-order option. Though Apple never announced specific pre-order only numbers, 300,000 iPads, including pre-orders, were sold on launch day. It’s certain that total will be exceeded this year, since the iPad now has a proven track record and a stellar reputation, meaning the pressure on local Apple Stores and retail partners like Best Buy, Walmart, and Sam’s Club will be intense. Further, the iPad 2 will not go on sale until 5:00 PM ET, which means the line will be growing over the course of the entire day, with a big push towards the end as people leave work early to get in line.

While Apple Stores will have the longest lines, they will also have the most stock. Expect Apple’s retail partners to get shorted on units, and there’s no word on whether AT&T and Verizon stores will have any news iPad at all. Especially if you want the 16 GB Wi-Fi model, which is the most popular model, be at an Apple Store as early as possible.

Now is the time to decide whether instant iPad 2 gratification on Mar. 11 is worth the wait in line. If so, plan on making a day of it. It’s what the ten-hour battery of your current iPad is made for.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Add GPS to Your MacBook Using Bluetooth Devices
Location-aware devices are becoming common across Apple’s lineup, except when it comes to MacBooks. But adding GPS to a MacBook is as easy as pairing with a Bluetooth mouse. When shopping for an external GPS device for a Mac, are two main things you want to consider: the ability to live track GPS info on your computer using a Bluetooth receiver, and what software is available to analyze that data for each device. The three GPS Bluetooth receivers compared below all have data tracking capabilities and work well with Macs:

*Items highlighted in green represent the best options for each category.

Columbus V900 – While not from a very well know manufacture, the V900 has been one of my favorite GPS devices. It is available on Amazon for around $105. While it is the most expensive of the three, it also has the most features. Besides being able to remove the microSD memory card, this device will also let you record and tag a voice memo at an exact location. The included software used to read and access the data on the device, called Time Album, is Java-based and will run just fine on the Mac. While it will charge with a miniUSB able, you will need to carry around a microSD card reader in order to import the log data on your Mac.

QStarz BT-Q1000XT – QStarz manufactures several different GPS receivers worth looking into for your particular needs. I have been using one of their Travel series and it has served me well. The Q1000XT is every bit as versatile as the V900 when used solely as a GPS receiver. It currently lists for $99 on Amazon. The major downside with QStarz is that the included software used to access the stored data requires a unique USB driver that is Windows only. There is however a third party utility, BT747 that will work with the QStarz. But you will have to install the CP210x USB to UART Bridge VCP Drivers from Silicon Labs in order to get it to work properly.

USGlobalSat BT-335 – As reputable as QStarz, USGlobalSat is a well known and reputable brand among GPS receivers. The BT-335 is their latest Bluetooth receiver that is also a Data Logger. At just $69 on Amazon, it is the cheapest of the three. The one thing I did not like about the BT-335 is that it does not charge via mini USB and therefore requires you to travel with a dedicated charger specific to the device. There is, however, a native Mac version of the Global Sync utility which makes accessing the data straight forward. The only other downside is that it is the bulkiest of the three to carry around.

Once paired with your Mac, most GPS aware applications will automatically detect the GPS receiver. For instance, in Google Earth, from the Tools menu select the GPS menu item. On the Realtime tab check the “Automatically follow the path” and click the Start button. Google Earth will create a “Temporary Place” in your places that will update the map with your coordinates.

All three devices are excellent data loggers and Bluetooth receivers. While pairing via Bluetooth works identically on the Mac for all three, the same cannot be said of the connectivity and access to the data captured by each device’s logging capabilities. Any one will work just fine with your Mac, but having access to all three, I tend to opt for the Columbus V900 most often.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
Apple Wants to Bring Unlimited Downloads to iTunes Music
Apple wants record companies to let its iTunes customers download music they’ve purchased as many times as they like, on multiple devices, according to Bloomberg. The Mac-maker is reportedly now in talks with its major record label partners to make this happen.

Bloomberg cites three people “with knowledge of the plans” as the source of the information. One of those people also said that an agreement could be reached as early as mid-2011, which could allow Apple to unveil a digital locker service for iTunes customers at or around WWDC 2011, to coincide with the widely-anticipated next generation iPhone’s launch.

As we reported earlier, Apple is shopping this service as a sort of insurance policy for its users, in the event that libraries are accidentally destroyed, lost or stolen. But it would actually be much more than that, as it would finally allow iPhone or iPad owners to sign in and retrieve song and album purchases made on their computers without having to purchase the album again or perform a tethered sync. It might not be wireless syncing, but it would be one less reason to plug your iOS device into a computer.

The new system would make the iTunes Store more closely resemble both the Mac and iOS App Stores, where once a user purchases an app, they can download that app again for free from any compatible device an unlimited number of times. Apple is clearly interested in unifying the experience of all of its store fronts, both in terms of how they work from a revenue standpoint (see the new e-book and app subscription rules) and, as in this case, user experience. I know many late-comers to Apple products find it surprising that they can re-download apps but not iTunes media, and a change in this regard would probably prevent at least a few accidental repeat purchases.

Apple has no doubt tried to convince record labels this was a good idea in the past, but now it has new ammo. Digital download sales have stalled in the past year, according to Nielsen, and subscription music services are on the rise. Both labels and Apple stand to lose out if subscription streaming becomes the dominant model, so music companies could be more willing to embrace unlimited downloads as a way to reverse that trend.

In iOS 4.3, Apple is introducing Home Sharing for iOS devices, which gives you access to your iTunes library shared from a computer on your local network, but unlimited downloads from cloud locker storage would make it easy to retrieve your tracks while away from home, too. Let’s hope these talks go Apple’s way, since users stand to gain the most from the deal.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd)
Переслать
Chart: Where to Sell Your Used iPad
According to Mashable’s Christina Warren, people are selling their original iPads in droves to finance an upgrade to iPad 2. So if you’re hoping to do the same, you may be wondering which outlet will give you the best return on your original investment. Here’s a handy chart that looks at a number of your current options, and what you can expect to get paid using each. Click on the chart below to see a larger version.

These aren’t the only options out there, but they do give a general feel for what you can expect to pay. The resale value of other models compared to their original prices does vary a little bit, but generally speaking, the basic 16 GB model is a good barometer of the overall market.

For my part, if I don’t just keep my original iPad as a backup device, I think I might just sell it to a friend or family member for a little bit less than I’d get using any of the above methods. That way I can spread some Apple love while also recruiting yet another person to use collaborative apps or play multiplayer games with. If you’re upgrading, what are your plans for your first-generation device?

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать
The iPad 2′s Killer Feature Is HD Mirroring
People might be split on whether buying an iPad 2 is a good or bad idea, but there’s no denying it promises some impressive improvements over the original Apple tablet. But the most impressive feature of all comes when you combine the iPad 2 with the new Digital AV Adapter accessory: video mirroring.

The iPad 2 will be able to output a mirror image of whatever is displayed on its screen to a TV, monitor or HD projector connected via the Digital AV Adapter and an HDMI cable. Unlike with the current AV and VGA-out 30-pin connectors, what you can output to an external screen isn’t limited to apps that have the feature enabled. Instead, the new mirroring feature works with all apps, and even with iOS itself, including the iPad’s home screen.

Cord Cutting

AirPlay’s new third-party support may leave some content providers gun-shy about mobile content being accessible to TVs, but Apple’s ensured with video mirroring that users can still get content from the device on to the big screen, no matter what media companies happen to think about that. This is great news for those seeking to cut the cord and leave cable behind. It means all your favorite video-watching apps (Hulu Plus, Netflix, Comcast Xfinity) will be available for big-screen viewing in a way that is completely location independent. You won’t even need an Apple TV to receive the stream, just an HDMI cable and the adapter.

Presentations

The iPad 2 also has terrific potential for business and education use thanks to the new mirroring feature. Imagine giving presentations that integrate not only a slide deck, list of notes, or a mindmap, but any application available in the App Store. Rich, interactive elements that really illustrate your point, instead of merely adequately representing what you’re talking about, would be easy to set up, especially given the iPad’s multitasking and fast app switching features. And you can be sure we’ll see the introduction of apps specifically created to take advantage of the iPad 2′s presentation power.

Gaming

The iPad is already a good gaming device, and for many, the ability to play those games on a big screen would make it just about perfect. So long as developers come up with innovative control interfaces that allow users to play enjoyably while their tablet is tethered to a TV, there should be few barriers to the iPad 2 becoming both a mobile and a home gaming powerhouse. We’ve already seen devs use iPhones and iPod touches as control devices for iPad games, so we know that good control options are possible.

Computer Enough for Many

Paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, the iPad 2 and the Digital AV Adapter are probably more computer than many users need. People can use the iPad to edit documents, photos (and now even video), to browse the web, manage email and do any number of other everyday computing tasks. Now that you can hook it up to an HDMI-capable monitor, there’s little reason it can’t be the primary device for light users, so long as there’s a machine they can sync with on the few occasions they need to update, backup or restore.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):
Переслать