Wednesday, February 6, 2008

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) (10 сообщений)

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The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
http://www.tuaw.com
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  • Backboard gives Backpack some Macintosh style

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    Backpack by 37signals is a terrific online organization and collaboration tool (we've written about Backpack many times). Those wanting a desktop application that works with Backpack have used the popular Packrat. This week, Lars Steiger has offered a solution with more Macintosh style, called Backboard.

    Aside from a Mac-like appearance, Backboard also adds a few features to Backpack, like the ability to attach dates and priorities, support for multiple accounts and a nice overview of tasks.

    Backboard is currently in private beta, but if you ask nicely, perhaps Lars will put you in the queue.

    [Via 37signals' product blog]
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  • TUAW Reviews the MacBook Air

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    As you probably know, I'm one of the people who, upon first opportunity after the Macworld Keynote ended a few weeks ago, exited the hall into the lobby of Moscone West and immediately ordered a MacBook Air -- the 1.6 Ghz version with the 80GB hard drive, to be exact. I've already spelled out my reasons for ordering one and you've all had a chance to comment and otherwise make your views known, good or bad, regarding my decision.

    Now, after waiting for Apple to ship my MacBook Air to me, its finally here and in my hands. In fact, I'm writing this very review on it. So, now that it's here and I can examine it more closely, use it and otherwise put it through its paces, does it live up to my expectations? Will I really miss not having Firewire or more than one USB port? Will the MBA become my notebook of choice or now that I can actually use it, do I regret ordering? For those answers, and more, read on.


    Size and Weight

    First, let's talk about what many people (particularly Apple) are talking about: how thin and light the MacBook Air is. At 3 pounds and .76" thick, the MBA is the lightest and thinnest notebook I've ever used and for me, the weight in particular was a major deciding factor in getting the MacBook Air. Now that I have had a chance to carry it around in my bag for a day or so, I can say the lack of weight makes an even bigger difference than I originally thought.

    To be sure, nobody has ever called me small or weak in the past so its not that I can't carry a couple extra pounds around in the form of a notebook and associated peripherals. Its just that if I don't have to, why should I? The MBA being this small and light and still feeling solid and very usable makes for a winning combination. And let's not forget that the MBA's power brick is very small and light as well.

    The power brick for the MBA is even smaller and weighs less than the one used by the MacBook, so that makes a difference too, especially as I'm used to carrying the giant brick for the MacBook Pro. If you still can't imagine how little 3 pounds is or how really small the power brick is, head to your local Apple store and heft one for yourself. Then, go pick up a MacBook Pro. The difference is pretty amazing...



    Continue reading TUAW Reviews the MacBook Air

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  • Subtle new feature in iPhoto 7.1.2: "Actual Size" for gallery downloads

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    In the transition from iLife '06 to '08, one of the shifts in iPhoto functionality was the deprecation of photocasts in favor of .Mac web galleries. Sure, your friends and family can still subscribe to an RSS feed of your pictures (and what kind of loving grandparent doesn't want a newsfeed full of Halloween costumes and messy-breakfast snapshots?), but despite the enhanced gallery views in '08, some key features didn't roll forward -- in particular, while '06 photocasts could include original size, full-res picture files for downloaders, '08 web galleries downsized and/or recompressed most photos. Some may not have noticed the degradation in quality, but for the photo purists, including my colleague Jeff L., this was not an improvement.

    Today Jeff came by my desk practically jumping for joy. Tucked away in yesterday's iPhoto update to 7.1.2, where you'd least expect it, is a slender button on the web gallery dialog box: "Show Advanced," and we all know that means good things for Jeff and his poor pictures. There are two new options in the Advanced section: a checkbox to hide the title of the gallery on your .Mac galleries page (handy for those who have a photography 'hobby,' nudge nudge say no more), and a choice between optimized and actual-size photos for downloading. Huzzah!

    If you've got a web gallery that could benefit from higher-quality download files, try the new setting and let us know your results.

    Thanks Jeff
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  • iPhones from around the world

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    Where in the world are Apple's missing 1.3 million iPhones? Iran? Holland? South Africa? Yes! Lots of other places too.

    We asked for pics and you answered: iPhones from around the world, from countries where the iPhone isn't even sold with service. Canada makes sense, as a quick trip across the border will land you an iPhone. China also makes sense, as it wouldn't be Hong Kong without a gray market plethora of unlocked iPhones, would it? We got reports from almost every part of the globe, and put together a nice little gallery to show just how popular this gadget is -- service or not. Where there's a hack, there's a way...

    Gallery: iPhones around the world

    iPhone IndiaiPhone New ZealandiPhone DenmarkiPhone NorwayiPhone Austria
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  • Freeverse updates Big Bang Board Games

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    If you're a fan of the Big Bang suite of board games, you'll be happy to learn that Freeverse has released a fully Universal version of the seven-game package, with performance improvements, sleeker graphics and greater stability. The new version now offers tighter iChat integration so you can better taunt your opponents invite friends to play against you.

    The updated package weighs in at a hefty 400MB once installed and offers the same games you've come to love: 4-in-a-Row, Backgammon, Checkers, Chess, Mancala, Reversi and Tic-Tac-Toe. The package costs $25 (free for current owners) and you won't feel like a Blue Moon if you buy it. It offers lots of re-play as these games are classics; my kids love them.

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  • Linux creator disses Leopard file system

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    During the latest Linux conference in Melbourne, Australia, Linus Torvalds was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald saying that the Leopard file system was "complete and utter crap." As you may know, Torvalds is the parent of the Linux kernel. He said that he still prefers Leopard to Windows Vista; However, he went on to say that both companies are using their operating systems to propel more software and hardware sales.

    We'll refrain from commenting on various drawbacks of Linux distributions when compared to Mac OS X, but if you're curious about the challenges and pleasures found when moving to Linux, have a look at the Flipping the Linux Switch series produced by our colleagues at Download Squad.

    [via MacNN]
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  • TrueCrypt released for OS X

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    A new OS X version of the well-known open-source disk encryption software TrueCrypt has been released. Basically, TrueCrypt creates a virtual encrypted disk that mounts in the Finder and which provides on-the-fly 256-bit encryption. This virtual disk can reside on your hard drive or a flash drive and can even be hidden. The new version relies on MacFUSE to bring its magic to the fairer platform.

    Unfortunately, the interface is not terribly Mac-like, through this is probably not surprising given its roots. Each virtual disk has to be created and mounted through the TrueCrypt application. Nonetheless, once mounted you can interact with the virtual disk like any other volume mounted in the Finder.

    TrueCrypt is a free download from sourceforge.

    Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
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  • Facebook featured on new iPhone ad

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    Tonight, Apple released two new iPhone commercials in the standard iPhone-esqe style -- Facebook and Cars. In these two commercials, Apple expounds on features that have already been introduced in older commercials. This is the first time that Apple has shown a web application on the iPhone in a commercial. Apple announces in the commercial, "If you love Facebook so much that you check it all the time on your computer, just think how great it would be to check it every time... you're, well, nowhere near your computer."

    Oddly enough, with the two new iPhone commercials, there is no mention of the new 16GB model that was just released today.

    Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
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  • Apple updates Braille support in Leopard

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    Today, Apple released the Braille Display Update 1.0 for VoiceOver in Leopard. VoiceOver, part of the Universal Access family of accessibility tech, allows blind or visually impaired users to hear what's on the screen. Via the new update, when you connect a compatible Braille display, "VoiceOver automatically detects it and sends it information about what is displayed on the screen." This update adds new support for certain Braille displays, including the HandyTech Braille Star 8, GW Micro BrailleSense, and more.

    This update is available for users of Mac OS X Leopard by using Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by downloading the installer package from the Apple support downloads site. If you're currently using a Braille screenreader under Leopard -- or you were waiting for support for your screenreader via this update -- drop us a comment to let us know if the update makes a difference for you.
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  • Super Tuesday iPod touch Easter Egg

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    You have so got to love Apple. If you own a jailbroken iPod touch and have bought the January Software Upgrade, navigate yourself over to /private/var/mobile/Applications. There, you'll find your nikita_receipt.plist. Open it in your favorite property list editor, copy the payload (from <data> to </data>) and use your favorite online base64 converter to decode.

    Perhaps Apple engineers wish they could vote for Lincoln this time around.

    Thanks to the amazing DRP Team and pumpkin, and Francis who gave us the heads up on this

    Continue reading Super Tuesday iPod touch Easter Egg

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