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Beta Beat: Fontcase
Filed under: Software, Beta Beat

A few months ago, a teaser appeared for a new Mac OS X font management app, Fontcase, developed by Pieter Omvlee and with an UI design by Laurent Baumann. Fontcase is designed to replace Apple's Font Book utility, which is not only a mediocre font management app, but has a less than nuanced interface.

For the last several months, Fontcase has been in private beta. Today, subscribers to the Fontcase newsletter were invited to download the latest beta. The app is very close to completetion, with a release date scheduled for sometime mid-January 2009, after Macworld. I used a few version of Fontcase while it was in private beta, and as a typography nut, have really been looking forward to this release.

First off, the interface is just beautiful. This won't be surprising to anyone who has seen Laurent's work in the past, but it is worth mentioning because of just how elegant and Mac-like the application feels. I think I've used almost every font manager available for OS X and Fontcase is certainly the most attractive.

When you open Fontcase, you are given the option to import your System and user fonts (basically everything that is already in Font Book). If you use Linotype's FontExplorer X , you can also import sets and meta-data directly from that application. You can share font collection via Bonjour to other computers on your network.

Continue reading Beta Beat: Fontcase
TUAW Beta Beat: Fontcase originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Talkcast tonight at 10 pm, last dance for 2008
Filed under: Macworld, TUAW Business, Podcasts
Robert and Dave fought their way through a Talkshoe hardware failure to do a great talkcast last week, covering the concept of the 'kitchen Mac' and more. You can listen to the show from Talkshoe's site, or download the episode in iTunes / via RSS.

We're back again tonight (Sunday 12/21) at 10 pm ET with one item on the agenda: the Macworld Expo announcements from Apple, Schillerizing the keynote address and what it means for the future of the preeminent Mac tradeshow. Of course, we'll be taking your questions and comments on that story and more, including best guesses and rumors for products coming in the new year.

Next week (12/28) we'll be taking our holiday break, so this will be the last live show of 2008; don't forget to join us again on Sunday January 4 as we ramp up for our Macworld Expo-stravaganza of coverage, with multiple live call-ins during the week, reader meetups, videos, giveaways and more!

You can participate on TalkShoe by using the browser-only client, or you can also use the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. You can also listen in on the Talkshoe page or call in on regular phone or VOIP lines: 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!
Recording support for the TUAW Talkcast provided by Ecamm Network's CallRecorder for Skype.
TUAW Talkcast tonight at 10 pm, last dance for 2008 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone 3G now available for online purchase
Filed under: Retail, iPhone

Since the introduction of the iPhone 3G, neither Apple nor AT&T has sold the device online. That is, until now. AT&T is now allowing customers the option of ordering an iPhone 3G on their store website.

You can now pick up an iPhone 3G in either 8GB or 16GB black/white configurations. The 8GB iPhone is being sold for $199US, and the 16GB for $299. If new isn't your thing, AT&T is also offering refurbished iPhones starting at $149 for an 8GB model. You can visit the AT&T online store for more information.

View Poll

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
TUAW iPhone 3G now available for online purchase originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Dell comments on Apple's green commitment, TUAW translates from PR-speak to English
Filed under: Humor
Dell executive Bob Pearson decided to comment on Apple's "green" ad campaign. It was hard to understand. We were confused. Fortunately, Robert was nice enough to translate. The original post, on Dell's site, is here.

"Several Dell folks were surprised and perplexed to see Apple's new 'green' MacBook ad since its release last month and we've been watching the discussions in the blogosphere. After chatting with our environmental teams about the topic, we realized that instead of ignoring it, we should have a conversation about the real meaning of being green from the viewpoint of a Fortune 500 company."

In a desperate attempt to dredge up this environment issue from October, I bought lunch for a few of my subordinates, ordered them to be in the "Sunset Plains" conference room at noon, and told them we would be discussing this.

"Our view is that companies who choose to lead have an obligation to be open and transparent. We have a responsibility to engage in dialogue about the environment, whether we agree or disagree with an individual person or group. It all contributes to the greater good."

We like to sit around and shoot the breeze about stuff. When there isn't enough breeze-shooting, we shoot it ourselves, con-sarn it.

"What is not good is to skip steps, avoid dialogue and pray that people aren't smart enough to figure it out. That doesn't help any of us and it certainly doesn't further the environmental cause for those of us who care deeply about it."

Honestly, talking is the only thing we do well.
Continue reading Dell comments on Apple's green commitment, TUAW translates from PR-speak to English
TUAW Dell comments on Apple's green commitment, TUAW translates from PR-speak to English originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rank and sales data could help figure out App Store popularity algorithm
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Developer, App Store

Joel Comm, publisher of the highly-useful app iFart Mobile, has published some data about how sales related to popularity in the App Store.

While I have only a high-school understanding of statistics, it would appear from Comm's data that as sales rise in a linear fashion, App Store ranking increases (or I should say decreases, because lower numbers are better) logarithmically.

Comm admits that his data isn't carefully tabulated: he hand-counted the sales, as they're broken down by country, and says he didn't include countries "where one or two units were sold." Comm's data was collected between December 12th and 17th.

On Sunday's talkcast, the Iconfactory's Craig Hockenberry and Gedeon Maheux lamented the lack of analysis tools for sales, and said they'd appreciate more transparency about how rankings are mathematically determined.

Comm anticipates more data will be forthcoming from other developers. With more data, a more detailed statistical analysis can be performed, and preferably from someone other than a TUAW blogger who majored in art.
TUAW Rank and sales data could help figure out App Store popularity algorithm originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mac Giving Tree rewards you with free applications
Filed under: Software, Deals

As the holidays quickly move through it would seem that everyone is in the spirit of giving (unless you're a scrooge, but that's a different story entirely). MacHeist, a site that has mainly been known to sell application bundles, is offering something very special this holiday season. The Mac Giving Tree is a place where people with a MacHeist account can go to get free applications. If you don't have MacHeist credentials, you can sign up for free.

When you sign up, you are able to join the Mac Giving Tree -- this gives you a few free applications upon sign up. I got Synergy and Enigmo 2 absolutely free.

On Christmas Day, you are able to visit the site, sign in, and "unwrap" other presents that show up below the tree. When you refer your friends, you are able to get additional presents to unwrap.

Visit the Mac Giving Tree to get your free applications, and while you're there take a look at the page design. If you Twitter a message starting with @macheist, your tweet will automatically show up on the page ... that's just pretty nifty.

Thanks, Phil!
TUAW Mac Giving Tree rewards you with free applications originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Christmas gifts Apple could give me
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Portables, Apple, Mac Pro, Leopard, iPhone, Apple TV, Holidays
It's the Holiday Season, and over the years I have happily spent a lot of my XMAS money with our favorite fruit named company. My love affair with Apple products goes back to the venerated Apple II. I do have a couple of PC laptops in the house, and of course I can also run Vista on VMWare Fusion, but I'm pretty much a Mac guy through and through. Always have been. Always will be.

Nevertheless, I'd like to find some gifts from Apple under my tree this year. They are not big deals, but would be greatly appreciated. So Kris Kringle, if you're listening, pass these on to Mr. Jobs and friends.
- How about some documentation? I know Steve thinks books are dead, but in the old days Apple documentation was really first rate. Remember that old MacWrite manual? Apple, I know you are in the electronics business, but reading help files on a laptop screen that covers up the application I am trying to learn is a bit of a pain.
- When you release an update to an iPod, iPhone or OS X how about telling me what the update really does. I know you have gotten better at this, but why should people have to guess all the features and fixes that you have put in? Just own up to it and trust your customers.
- Find another partner in addition to AT&T for the iPhone. My phone is a great product that is significantly damaged by an inferior, unreliable network. To me, "more bars in more places" means I'm looking for bars to find a stiff drink so I can recover from my frustration with dropped calls, poor signal strength, and sporadic 3G coverage.
- A lot of your products get really warm. My MacBook Pro can be a sizzler on my lap. My Mac Pro keeps my office pretty warm, and I don't need those high temperatures since I'm in Arizona. Don't get me started on the Apple TV. I do think it is a great product, but I'm thinking I could make a fondue on that top surface. There is no fan in the Apple TV and when I put it in standby to spin down the hard drive it wakes up by itself paying no attention to my command. If I want to be ignored, I can walk into any Home Depot. (Update: Some users say the Apple TV does have a fan. I regret the error. It's still too darned hot!)
OK. it's not a big list, but it's a list just the same. What's on yours? And to all, a good night!
TUAW Christmas gifts Apple could give me originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TUAW Preview: SlotZ Racer for iPhone
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Beta Beat, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
If you're a male who grew up in the 60's or 70's, you probably remember slot cars! You had a plastic race track with electric "rails" running through it, and your car had a little pin on the bottom that rode in a slot on the track for control -- hence the name 'slot car.' I have fond memories of setting up my slot car set underneath the Christmas tree, and racing against my Dad.

Someone at Freeverse apparently has the same memories, since they'll soon be announcing a new racing game called SlotZ Racer. I was able to test a pre-release version of the game, and it's a ton of fun. You can race on pre-defined tracks ranging from a simple oval to a curvy Grand Prix course, and there's a track editor for creating your own race courses. There are settings for the number of lanes, the car scale (1:32 or HO), and whether or not cars can change lanes.

To accelerate your car, you just hold down on the lower left corner of the iPhone screen. Like real slot cars, if you go too fast your car will flip off the track. You can slow the car down by taking your finger or thumb off of the screen.

No price has been set, but expect to see SlotZ Racer officially launched at Macworld Expo. Check out the gallery for pics.

Gallery: SlotZ Racer
TUAW TUAW Preview: SlotZ Racer for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph"
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
Yesterday, Dave published an awesome gift guide for the Twitter addict. It wasn't meant to be an all-encompassing list, nonetheless, the omission of Tweetie [iTunes link] -- one of the newest Twitter clients to hit the iPhone -- generated a ton of response via the comments, our inbox and of course, via Twitter. Because Twitter is my crack, I decided to take Tweetie out for a spin. Developer Loren Brichter was even nice enough to get me in on the Tweetie beta so I could take a sneak peek at some of the features coming in future releases.

My initial thoughts are very, very positive; I now know why so many of you were so vocal about your Tweetie love. No sooner did I crown Tweetsville the current champion in the Twitter for iPhone Battle Royale, Tweetie shows up with some serious moves. At this point, I don't even know if I can adequately name a "champion."

Another Twitter client?

As I've said before, Twitter and the iPhone are a perfect combination -- they just go together. That said, Dave makes a solid point: the number of available Twitter clients for the iPhone is getting a tad ridiculous. I have tried almost every Twitter application available for the iPhone/iPod touch (see below) and they can tend to blur together.

And these are just the apps I've purchased or downloaded for free

Twitter's brilliance is in its simplicity. Twitterrific is my favorite desktop Twitter client, in large part because of its commitment to that simplicity. Having said that, Twitterrific for the iPhone is starting to strike me as too simple. I love the interface, I just often want to be able to do more. A simple interface coupled with lots of features is what makes a great mobile Twitter client.

This is where Tweetie really stands out. On the features front, it is pretty similar to what Twitterlator Pro, Tweestville and Twitterfon offer, but its interface is extremely clean and unobscured. In fact, it took me a little while to figure out where some of the more advanced settings for the app are. They are actually in the main "Settings" panel, rather than inline the app itself. That makes sense, and is apparently something Apple recommends, but it's worth noting because otherwise you might miss where some of the features actually are.

Gallery: Tweetie

Continue reading Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph"
TUAW Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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