Tuesday, May 3, 2011

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  • Thunderbolt Makes New iMacs an Electrifying Possibility

    Rumor has it that we’ll see refreshed Apple iMacs as soon as Tuesday, May 3, including new Intel Sandy Bridge processors and the Thunderbolt ports that made their debut on the latest MacBook Pro revisions. Even if the iMac isn’t something you’re terribly interested in, this is a release all Apple-watchers should be excited about.

    The refresh seems to be an evolutionary update, as reports only assert that second-gen Core i (aka Sandy Bridge) chips are on their way to the all-in-one, along with the high-speed Thunderbolt port that handles both DisplayPort duties and low-latency simultaneous dual-channel data transfer. Big changes to the looks or other components haven’t been mentioned, and AppleInsider couldn’t get any info regarding earlier rumors that iMac screen sizes would change, or that the 6000-series AMD Radeon HD graphics chips would be making their way into the Macs.

    But even if Apple’s next iMac isn’t a show-stopper, it should have all the ingredients it needs to spark another leap forward in desktop computing. That’s thanks mostly to Thunderbolt, which so far holds a lot of promise but hasn’t really yet begun to make its presence felt. But it’s a technology that makes the most sense when thought of in the context of stationary workspaces, and that’s why the introduction of Thunderbolt to the iMac line (Apple’s strongest desktop holdout in a market that’s moving further toward mobile and portable paradigms) should result in much wider uptake and use of the tech by third-party device and accessory makers.

    Daisy-chained storage, display/storage/USB combo devices, and HD video and photo capture devices all make much more sense combined with a stationary desktop workflow than they do with a mobile workstation. And with iMacs populating creative agencies and development studios worldwide, Thunderbolt will have a much wider reach with an ideal target audience once it gets baked into the iMac. The MacBook Pro is a strong seller, but most accessory makers will be shy about using the spec until it has a wider potential audience. Thunderbolt on more machines should help bring the cost of accessories that use the spec down, too, as manufacturers can count on higher sales volume of those devices.

    I may or may not actually end up purchasing a new iMac (my current desktop workhorse is about three years old and starting to show its age) but I’m still excited for them to arrive, if only because of it what it will mean for Apple’s biggest little tech introduction this year: Thunderbolt.

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  • Bandwidth Diet? 10 Tips for Managing Your Capped Bandwidth

    AT&T customers entered a realm on May 2 previously reserved for niche ISPs (like the one in my hometown): bandwidth caps. Starting on May 2, AT&T DSL customers have a cap of 150 GB, and U-verse customers have 250 GB of bandwidth (combined upload and download) per month. Having lived under bandwidth totalitarianism since 2005, here are 10 tips to economize your bandwidth usage and prevent unexpected overages both for the newly oppressed:

    1. Watch your bandwidth usage at least once a week and plan accordingly.

    AT&T has promised accurate and easy to use bandwidth monitors, and it's up to the customer to check their usage. In our tech-crazy household, we checked our old cable ISP's meter once a day, but most users can probably get by with once a week. Watch for Internet spikes and, if you see one, use these tips to figure out what's up and prevent an overage for that month.

    Unlike AT&T mobile voice plans, any unused bandwidth doesn't carry over month-to-month. That means that if you haven't used all your bandwidth by the end of the month, it's time to go use it. Unfortunately, everyone else has the same idea at the end of the month, so often, you'll notice a slowdown as traffic usage increases.

    2. Turn off software auto-updates.

    Software updates are handy and often increase reliability of your system, but with large updates taking up 500 MB or more, it's time to be careful. In a household with a large number of systems, one major release can take many gigabytes. Turn off auto-updates by going to the Apple Menu, then System Preferences, and then un-check "Check for Updates".

    If you want an update right away, instead of using Apple's built-in updater, go to http://support.apple.com/downloads/ and download the updates manually on just one system and then copy them to all the necessary computers in your household.

    While iOS apps are relatively small, updates in the App Store for OS X are not. Be careful of these updates and only do necessary ones mid-month. Wait until the end of the month, and use your leftover bandwidth for the month, if you have any.

    3. Avoid a lot of HD videos

    Whether it's YouTube, Netflix, Hulu or even iTunes, most video providers give you the option of HD picture quality while viewing. Before caps, you would choose the highest definition your connection could handle. No more. While a few videos won't make a difference, when the entire household watches everything at 720p, you start reaching your cap quickly. Carefully consider each video and determine whether you truly need top quality and advise everyone in the household to do the same.

    4. Beware file synchronization software.

    As a big fan of DropBox, I love being able to sync files between computers both in my house and between home and office. Whenever you use DropBox, SugarSync, iDisk or other services, anytime a file is changed the bandwidth meter is running. That presentation you are working on might only be 20 MB, but each time you save the file, that 20 MB is uploaded and steals bandwidth. If you're good and save every five minutes, within an hour, you'll have used 240 MB of bandwidth. Four hours of work, and you’re reaching a gig. Ouch.

    Instead of working on a live document within a sync folder, consider saving it to your documents folder and copying it to your sync folder only upon the completion of work. You'll still have the benefits of the file being stored up in the cloud, but not in an instantaneous (and bandwidth sucking) way.

    5. Seriously reconsider your online backup strategy

    I've written about various online backup services, but whichever one you choose, that first backup you do is a large one! Because the caps consider both download and upload, a moderate backup could quickly fill your bandwidth allocation.

    When I started with online backup, I specified smaller folders and a slow upload speed until close to the end of the month. Once I knew how much bandwidth I had left, I added folders and increased the backup speed until the first of the new month, and then began the cycle over again. Sure it took quite a few months, but it also meant I didn’t get dinged with overage charges.

    Starting over, I probably would have taken up CrashPlan's option to send them a copy of my hard drive to do the initial backup. Those who already did an initial backup with an online service should be fine unless they add or change a large amount of data. These people will have to accept additional bandwidth charges each month if they keep using AT&T.

    6. Scale down your usage of VoIP and webcams.

    These services can be fun, exciting and really useful for collaborative work efforts. Apple's heart-tugging commercials using FaceTime to bridge the gap between families costs bandwidth. Consider using text when actually hearing someone’s voice isn't required and consider using video only when absolutely necessary and for a minimum period of time especially with the HD-quality desktop FaceTime.

    When doing a "virtual" visit back home with voice and video, start with a video chat so you get that initial warm and fuzzy and then scale back to voice to continue the conversation. The bandwidth you save may be your own.

    7. Watch for bandwidth vampires.

    Many devices in your home use your Internet connection, even when you may not be aware. Security systems, DVRs, and Blu-ray players all use data when online, and game systems will use bandwidth while you are playing games online. Some of this use may be minor, but you still need to be careful.

    Enough of these devices, combined with a high bandwidth month elsewhere, and a few quirks can push you over the edge. For example, one month, our TiVo was caught in a loop and kept downloading its updates over and over again, and it cost us an extra $20 from our local cable ISP. We didn't even notice the problem right away because the update was at night. That is, we didn’t notice until we got our cable bill! Both TiVo and the cable company were unforgiving.

    8. Careful with those torrents.

    Torrents are a popular way of quickly downloading large files over the Internet containing both legal and perhaps questionable content. When downloading a file, your system will also upload at the same time. When you have a complete file, you "seed" it to other systems and you act as an ad hoc server for the file. It's common courtesy to seed for a while so others may download. Reconsider how long you seed. Leaving a torrent open overnight can use a lot of bandwidth. Most torrent clients allow you to slow down or stop your seeds after a period of time. If possible, per tip 1, wait until the end of the month to do your torrenting, and especially seeding.

    9. Close those remote connections.

    Remote connection software like LogMeIn, GotoMyPC, Timbuktu and even Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are handy ways of telecommuting and getting work done. Often we get lazy and leave a connection open because we want to be able to start our work instantly and want to avoid the hassles of authentication and firing up applications. Not only is this insecure, but an "always up" connection can suck your bandwidth if left open 24/7. Always remember to log out when done.

    10. Secure your Wi-Fi connection with a good password.

    There are so many good reasons to secure Wi-Fi, but it's more important now than ever before. Neighbors may accidentally connect to your Wi-Fi network, and their use of your connection counts against your cap. A bad neighbor may even choose your network over their own because they want to keep under their own cap!

    Yes, these tips are annoying, frustrating and extremely miserly. An average light user of AT&T's service will most likely be fine, for now, and not need to use all these tips (expect for #1). These tips are for "the rest of us" who live in multi-device and multi-kid households and are used to using technology to the fullest. Without some careful planning, you can go over your bandwidth allocation and scratch your head wondering why.

    Hopefully, these restrictions will ultimately be seen as a failed experiment to control consumer behavior and extract revenue. As I mentioned before, Apple needs to come out with a public statement against caps, as they are inconsistent with Apple's long-term iTunes and cloud business strategies. As a user, you should let AT&T know your opinion as well and ask them to remove these odious restrictions. Until such times, these tips should help you manage your bandwidth budget and keep your bill reasonable. Be sure to leave your own bandwidth management suggestions in the comments.

    Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):


    The cloud-optimized networks of tomorrow run on Brocade Ethernet fabrics today. Assess Your Cloud Readiness. Download Forrester Study »


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  • Report: Imminent iOS 4.3.3 Update to Fix "Locationgate" Bug
    According to Boy Genius Report, Apple is preparing to release iOS 4.3.3 “within the next two weeks, possibly sooner.” The purported update will specifically address the iPhone “tracking” issue that has mesmerized the mainstream media, specifically:

    • The location database will no longer be backed up to iTunes.
    • The location database cache, and thus the number of days logged, will be reduced.
    • When Locations Services are off, the database will be deleted.
    Additionally, battery life improvements are claimed, as well as “iPod bug fixes.” To BGR’s credit, they correctly predicted the release of iOS 4.3.2 within a two-week time frame last month, but the imminent release of iOS 4.3.3 should surprise no one. Last week, Apple took the extraordinary steps of issuing a press release stating a fix was on the way, and making company executives, including CEO Steve Jobs available for an interview.
    Unfortunately, an issue impacting a far smaller number of users is not mentioned in the rumored update. A minority of Verizon iPad 2s continue to have connectivity issues with Verizon’s network. The most benign of problems results in Verizon iPads requiring data roaming to be turned on to acquire a 3G connection. Supposedly, iOS 4.3.2 was supposed to fix this, but iPad owners continue to report connectivity-related issues in Apple Community discussions. If you have a Verizon iPad 2 with problems, restrained expectations for iOS 4.3.3 are probably a good idea.

    Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):


    The cloud-optimized networks of tomorrow run on Brocade Ethernet fabrics today. Assess Your Cloud Readiness. Download Forrester Study »


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  • Snow Leopard Goes Out With a Market Share Roar

    Come WWDC in June, we'll likely see OS X Lion changing status from preview to official public release. That makes May a good time to look at the April report on OS market share from web-analytics firm Net Applications for some perspective on Snow Leopard.

    According to Net Applications, all versions of OS X combined reached a new high in OS market share in April, with 5.4 percent worldwide as determined by web browsing usage. The previous record was 5.33 percent, set in March 2010. Following that high, OS X declined to 4.98 percent last October before rebounding. Perhaps not coincidentally, that rebound coincided with the release of the redesigned MacBook Air, followed by new MacBook Pros this February. This isn’t to say new Mac portables were the only drivers of Snow Leopard growth. Over the course of its lifespan, Snow Leopard has seen plenty of previous Mac users upgrading, too.

    Snow Leopard was released on August 28, 2009, for as little as $29 for a single-user license. Within a month, it accounted for 17 percent of the OS X market, despite being available only for Intel-based Macs. Undoubtedly, the low cost of Snow Leopard spurred adoption, but was arguably not the only reason. Leopard peaked at 71 percent of the OS X market in July 2009, before being superseded by Snow Leopard, which now accounts for 68 percent of the OS X over a similar time frame. It appears new versions of OS X do quite well whatever the price. The downside of that success, at least for users, is a likely return to a higher price. How high, and the method of distribution, may be intertwined.

    Although the developer preview of Lion has been distributed through the App Store, expecting consumers to download nearly four gigabytes of data seems unreasonable, at least as the exclusive method. Other Apple software — like iWork, iLife, and Aperture — are all available at the App Store and on disc, and there’s also been an Amazon  placeholder sighting for Lion on DVD. Two methods of distribution seem possible, but perhaps not three. The redesigned MacBook Air shipped with system software on a USB drive, but the future is clearly download only. Why introduce another retail distribution method now, especially considering no USB version of Snow Leopard was offered to owners of the previous generation of the MacBook Air?

    More salient, at least to anyone with more than one Mac, would be the licensing terms for downloading OS X. From the Mac App Store Terms and Conditions:

    (i) You may download and use an application from the Mac App Store ("Mac App Store Product") for personal, non-commercial use on any Apple-branded products running Mac OS X ("Mac Computer") that you own or control.

    That would effectively render the family pack version of OS X, which has always been a great deal, obsolete. The downside would be consumers with only a single Mac would be paying substantially more (if you consider cost per install) through the Mac App Store, no matter what the cost of Lion is. We’ll find out what the next version of OS X costs next month at WWDC, but how much would Lion be worth to you?

    Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):


    The cloud-optimized networks of tomorrow run on Brocade Ethernet fabrics today. Assess Your Cloud Readiness. Download Forrester Study »


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  • Apple's iCloud Referenced in Mac OS X Lion

    Apple does indeed appear to be planning big changes to its cloud services package, according to references found in the latest developer preview of Mac OS X Lion. French blog Consomac discovered code referring to something called “Castle,” which is described as an upgrade to MobileMe in Lion programming strings.

    Consomac was looking for references to Find My Mac and iCloud when it came across something called “Castle,” which was referred to in phrases like “Complete your Castle upgrade,” and “Click OK to open System Preferences and complete your upgrade from MobileMe to Castle.” The discovery of what definitely appears to be revamped cloud services coincides with the revelation that Apple most likely purchased the iCloud.com domain name, so it isn’t a stretch to conclude that these new references are Apple’s internal name for any iCloud offering.

    The discovery didn’t reveal anything more about what Castle might include, but it does suggest it will be an evolutionary product that builds off of MobileMe’s existing line of web services. Last week, we asked what other services you expect or want to see as a part of an iCloud offering, and some interesting suggestions included full online backup solutions (the backup product that ships with MobileMe is extremely limited) and much tighter iDevice and desktop integration.

    Whatever the resulting service is named or brings to the table, it’s becoming quite clear Apple has big plans in store for its cloud service offerings. The company also is set to open a massive new data center in North Carolina, and its cloud strategy is in major need of new direction. But whether we see just another evolutionary development of the .Mac and MobileMe line of products, or a revolutionary offering that brings a number of basic free services to the entire iOS user base remains to be seen.

    Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):


    The cloud-optimized networks of tomorrow run on Brocade Ethernet fabrics today. Assess Your Cloud Readiness. Download Forrester Study »


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  • All Time Inc. iPad Magazine Apps Now Free for Print Subscribers

    Time Inc. reached an agreement with Apple that allows U.S. subscribers of Time Inc. print edition magazines to get free access to digital versions on the iPad. That means instead of paying $4.99 per digital issue, as has been the case, both print and iPad issues will instead cost about $0.28 per month via print subscription.

    The Wall Street Journal reported  Monday that the two companies finally reached an agreement after nearly a year of high-level meetings between Steve Jobs and publishers on the subject. Time Inc.’s People magazine had already offered free iPad editions to print subscribers, but it was the only one to do so. As of Monday, subscribers to Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Time will now also be able to authenticate their existing subscriptions via free iPad apps in order to gain full access to content. It’s a precedent-setting agreement that could pave the way for similar deals with other major publishers.

    Apple was likely resistant to the idea for so long because it means subscription revenue will bypass the App Store altogether, and also because when subscribers sign up for the print edition, all personal info (name, address and credit card number) goes directly to the publisher, potentially to the detriment of a similar relationship forming between Apple and the individual. Under Apple’s own new in-app digital subscription terms, after all, it gets 30 percent of all revenue generated and has exclusive access to customer information, unless the subscriber decides to opt in and grant a publisher access, too.

    Time Inc. had to give up something in exchange for this deal, and I’m willing to bet that we’ll see what it is come June 30. That’s the last possible day publishers have to include in-app subscriptions for their apps. All magazine and newspaper publishers, at least, who offer subscriptions outside of the app have to also offer subscriptions at the same rate using Apple’s in-app purchasing mechanism by that date. No doubt Time Inc. has agreed to begin offering in-app subscriptions on all its titles by that date in exchange for the print deal. That means that if you’re interested in subscribing, but couldn’t care less about the print edition, you should probably wait a couple of months and you’ll get the same deal as a digital exclusive.

    Existing subscribers to Time publications are likely happy about this, but I’m curious: anyone out there who doesn’t currently subscribe to any of these titles tempted to do so now?

    Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req'd):


    The cloud-optimized networks of tomorrow run on Brocade Ethernet fabrics today. Assess Your Cloud Readiness. Download Forrester Study »


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