Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2006.07.21
PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Tips
Products
iPod Accessories
Software
News & Opinion
Why I Will Not Buy a New (Intel) Macintosh
OSnews' Thom Holwerda says:
"Not too long ago, I sold my iBook, right after the new MacBook
was announced. I planned to buy that same MacBook somewhere this
summer; however, I started to doubt. I had second thoughts. Let me
explain why I decided to not buy a new Mac, but instead opt for a
used G4 PowerMac....
"To my dismay, I have seen Apple's hardware quality degrade over
the past few years. The MacBook Pro has a whole batch of problems,
of which the most important one was the for me insane amount of
heat it produced; I say this out of personal experience. A recent
report has indicated that the PowerMac G5, as well, seems to suffer
from quite an amount of problems. To put it bluntly: my confidence
in Apple supplying me with superior hardware quality has gotten
seriously dented. I today no longer see Apple as superior in this
aspect compared to its competitors.
"Lastly, I have seen too many negative reports concerning
Apple's customer support. They seem to be very reluctant to provide
support, they are slow to respond; combine this with Apple's
failure to properly respond to various recurring defects, and my
faith in Apple's customer support is now also dented."
- Link: Why I Will Not Buy
a New (Intel) Macintosh
Microsoft May Leave Mac Users Out of Messaging
Plans
itWire's Stan Beer reports:
"An interesting piece of information to come out of the
Microsoft and Yahoo messaging alliance is the news that Microsoft
is still evaluating whether to include the Mac version of Windows
Live Messenger in its interoperability plans....
"Just think about it. You're a teenage Mac user and most of your
friends are Windows users. They all talk to each other at night
after school using Windows Live Messenger (or MSN Messenger as it
was once called).
"You can text message your friends but can't talk to them
because your version of MSN Messenger doesn't support voice. You
feel left out so despite the fact that you like your Mac, you ditch
it for whatever price you can get on eBay and replace it with a
cheap white box Windows PC."
- Link: Microsoft May
Leave Mac Users Out of Messaging Plans
Tips
How to Identify Your iMac
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:
"The ever-popular iMac line of computers has been in existence
in one form or another since 1998. The computers look slightly
different in different eras. Look at the pictures... to identify
which generation of iMac you have.
"In August 2004, Apple introduced the first generation of iMac
G5 that used a PowerPC G5 processor. In May 2005, an enhanced,
second generation iMac G5 was introduced using the same design. In
September 2005, a third generation of iMac G5 was introduced with a
built-in iSight camera. In January 2006, an iMac with Intel
processor and integrated iSight camera was introduced.
"You can identify these various iMac models in several ways.
Just use one of the methods below to help you determine which model
you have."
- Link: How to
Identify Your iMac
Products
TuneRemote Smart Case for Apple Remote
PR: TuneRemote is a smart case for the Apple Remote which
is included in MacBook, MacBook Pro, Intel iMac, Mac min, the iPod
Universal Dock and iPod Hi-Fi. It is made of high quality genuine
nappa leather with a smooth felt lining. The case protects your
Apple Remote from dirt and scratches and at the same time allows
full access to all buttons.
TuneRemote also includes the original high-quality metallic
"TuneWear HOOK" as found with the "PRIE Ambassador" leather iPod
case. Using the hook, you can simply attach the TuneRemote to a
belt loop or bag strap and carry it around anytime, anywhere.
TuneRemote is made from smooth ultrahigh quality genuine nappa
leather and incorporates vivid rosso red and brilliant white colors
to give an air of luxury. TuneRemote is designed to be suitable for
both casual and formal occasions.
$19.95
- Link: TuneRemote
Smart Case for Apple Remote
Chat 50: First Speaker Phone to Enable VOIP
Voice Control on Macs
PR: ClearOne, a leader in high-end audio conferencing and
the creator of the innovative Chat™ 50 personal speaker
phone, and Speakables, a leading voice recognition software
provider for the digital home, has announced that ClearOne's Chat
50 is the first speaker phone that allows Mac users to operate VoIP
applications such as Skype
and iChat by voice command, using
Speakable Items (Apple's embedded speech recognition technology)
and the new Speakables for Skype.
The combination of the Chat 50 and Speakables gives Mac users
unprecedented flexibility and control, particularly in the Mac
Digital Home environment. These products enable simple control of
VoIP applications without the need to access the keyboard, mouse,
or even view the screen. In addition, the advanced audio processing
technologies of the Chat 50 deliver full-duplex audio and full echo
cancellation, which gives Mac users even greater choice and
flexibility. For example, users can continue to listen to iTunes or
watch TV with the sound output through their main speakers, while
using Skype.
"The Chat 50 personal speaker phone is the perfect addition to
the Mac Digital Home," says Deborah Quinlan, president of
Speakables. "In our testing, the Chat 50 emerged as a clear
standout as the only speaker phone product on the market we have
found to be compatible with both Apple's embedded speech
recognition technology and VoIP applications, such as iChat and
Skype."
"In combination with voice control, the Chat 50 extends the
speaker phone from an office/home office productivity device to a
'must-have' for the Mac Digital Home," adds Kurt Olsen, director of
product marketing at ClearOne. "The ability to control popular
applications like Skype and iChat by voice makes it unnecessary to
even be in view of a monitor screen.
This is important not only for those wanting to make use of VoIP
in relaxed areas of the home, but especially in cases where Macs
are connected to big-screen TVs, since the user doesn't have to
switch from TV mode to computer mode to see their computer
screen."
"Advanced automatic level controls on the microphone of the Chat
50 give it some of the best pickup performance of any microphone
designed for computers. This superior pickup allows for great
accuracy in speech recognition; it also makes the Chat 50 a perfect
fit for other microphone applications, such as recording podcasts,"
continued Olsen.
The Chat 50 is available at leading resellers such as MacMall,
PC Mall, PC Warehouse,
and CDW. Speakables software
solutions are available online, including free trial versions.
- Link: Speakables
iPod Accessories
HO Audio
Waterproof Housing for iPod shuffle
PR: HO Audio, the leading
provider of waterproof housings and headphones for Apple iPod and
other MP3 players, announced today that it has begun shipping its
new patented HO Audio for iPod shuffle
waterproof housing. HO Audio for iPod
shuffle is the latest addition to the company's proven and globally
popular line of adventure sport and outdoor recreation accessories
for iPod and MP3 music players.
"Apple introduced the iPod shuffle to provide an economical
music player available to everyone. According to recent statistics
in Mac Observer, the Apple iPod shuffle owns 58% of the flash
player market," said Kristian Rauhala, CEO of HO Audio. "We created our shuffle housing to
compliment Apple's mission of providing a product that features
great functionality, low cost, compact size, and durability."
The new HO Audio for iPod shuffle
features patented engineering and design and provides economical
waterproof and impact resistant protection regardless of outdoor
conditions or recreational environments.
HO Audio for iPod shuffle features
include:
- Waterproof housing for Apple iPod shuffle players, secure to 10
ft. (3m)
- Patented easy-access control pad function
- Impact protection
- Water, dust, sand and snow safe
- Compatible with standard headphones
- Compatible with HO Audio patented
waterproof headphones
- Secure armband for carefree mobility
The new HO Audio for iPod shuffle
housing provides unique full-function control that gives users
ready access to all of the Shuffle's proprietary command functions
even when fully submerged in water.
MSRP for the HO Audio for iPod
shuffle housing is $39.95. HO Audio
products and accessories for Apple iPods and MP3 players are
available at local surf/wake/swim stores, B+H photo,
Swimoutlet.com, Swimlocker.com, Buywake.com, and other retailers
and dealers globally, as well as from the HO Audio eStore at:
* HO Audio Headphones are sold
separately for $39.95.
- Link: HO Audio
Software
MouseZoom X Speeds Your Cursor
MouseZoom is a Mac OS X Cocoa pref pane which speeds up your
mouse cursor movement in Mac OS X. I've been using it for
years, and I love it. Apple's fastest mouse speed is never quick
enough for me, especially on larger resolution screens.
As of version 2.0, the speed is set "live" without having to log
out before it takes effect. To do this, MouseZoom uses the same
method as Apple's mouse panel.
New in version 2.2: Intel Compatible version released
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 or later.
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
- Link: MouseZoom X
2.2
Desktop Mac
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