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Snow Leopard
News & Opinion
Products & Services
Software
Snow Leopard
4 Reasons Not to Upgrade to Snow Leopard Yet
ZD Net's Robin Harris says:
"Upgrading to a new dot release of Mac OS X is almost a no-brainer.
The dot releases typically offer better security, more stability and -
maybe - a few new features. Apple's record of high quality dot releases
means that for most users when Software Update says there are updates,
you do.
"But Snow Leopard isn't
like that. Under the hood it is a very different beast than the Leopard
version of Mac OS 10. If you make money with your Mac, make haste
slowly...."
Reasons include owning a PowerPC Mac and incompatible hardware.
Link: 4
Reasons Not to Upgrade to Snow Leopard Today
Tiger Users Can Upgrade Directly to Snow Leopard,
but Mustn't
The Guardian's Charles Arthur reports that he finally got a
definitive answer from Apple on the issue of upgrading directly from
OS X 10.4 "Tiger" to
OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" without first purchasing OS X 10.5 "Leopard".
A big part of the issue is that buying and installing OS X 10.5 is
no longer an option since Apple stopped selling Leopard about a month
ago and instead offers Tiger owners the £129 "Mac Box Set"
compared with the Snow Leopard upgrade disks that sell for
£25.
Arthur cites Alan Eyzaguire, director of software product marketing
at Apple Europe (and Middle East and Africa) acknowledging that
"technically" Tiger users can in fact just buy the upgrade disk and
install Snow Leopard onto an Intel-based Mac running Tiger, but adding
that doing so breaks the end user licence agreement (EULA) and the
boilerplate proviso that "We think Apple customers would like to
benefit from the best software that there is, and we think that's
offered by iLife 09 and iWork 09."
Link:
Apple Spokesman Acknowledges Tiger Users Could Upgrade to Snow Leopard
for £25 - But Mustn't
Hackintosh Upgrades to OS X 10.6.1 without
Problems
Life Hacker's Adam Pash reports:
"If you happened to follow along with my guide to building a Hackintosh with Snow
Leopard, start to finish, you may be curious as to whether you need to
do anything special to upgrade to yesterday's Snow Leopard 10.6.1
release. In short: You don't. Just upgrade like normal; your Hackintosh
should handle it like a charm. (Mine did.)"
Link:
Hackintosh Upgrades without Problems to OS X 10.6.1
Apple Releases HP Printer Drivers for Mac OS X
v10.6
This download includes the latest HP printing and scanning software
for Snow Leopard.
System requirements: Requires Mac OS X v10.6.1 or later.
For information about supported printer models, see: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3669
File Size: 381.5 MB
Link: HP
Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v10.6
Smultron Snow Leopard Update Beta Available
Semiretired Smultron developer Peter Borg writes:
"For 10.6 Snow Leopard there is a special beta version here which
should fix most bugs introduced in Snow (and some others as well as
being generally faster) but please note that there are no localisations
included."
Link:
Smultron for Snow Leopard
News & Opinion
New iMacs, MacBooks Coming Soon?
Barrons' Eric Savitz says:
"Is Apple (AAPL) about to unveil updated Macs?
"Research firm Wedge Partners thinks so. They assert in a note today
that the company will release both new iMacs and new MacBooks 'in the
next several weeks.'
Perhaps more exciting for us Mac laptop fans is that Wedge also
expects more price cuts as a foil to competition from PCs based on the
imminent Windows 7 and the booming netbook segment.
Link:
Apple: New Macs Coming Soon?
The One and Only Cheap Alternative to iPhoto
Mac 360's Bambi Brannan says:
"If you really care about digital photos, and can't bear to use
iPhoto, your choices range from a folder buried deep in your Mac's
Documents folder, or Apple's Aperture, or Adobe's Lightroom. Sure,
there are a couple of other alternatives to managing a lot of photos on
a Mac (or a PC), but give me a list that's topped by a household name.
And free. There's only one . . . Kodak's EasyShare is an
alternative, a free alternative to iPhoto."
Editor's note: If you have Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 or Photoshop
CS, there's another alternative that's already on your hard drive -
the
Bridge. cm
Link:
The One, the Only Cheap Alternative to a Mac's iPhoto
Lessons from a Mac OS Switcher
SlashGear's Michael Gartenberg says he used to be a total Macintosh
user, but over time, places he worked depended on Microsoft Windows and
other Microsoft technologies, obliging him to use Windows for much of
what he does. However, he notes that recently Apple has created
machines that more closely match his laptop needs, making for a very
compelling argument to use a Mac full time.
Since "Snow Leopard" pounced, Gartenberg has set aside his PC and
switched to using a Mac full time, settling on a 13.3" MacBook Pro
since he found the 15.4" MacBook Pro a
little too big to travel with and the MacBook Air a little too
underpowered for his needs. He has both Windows XP and Windows 7
installed under VMWare Fusion, but says he finds little need for either
of them.
Link: Lessons
from a Mac OS Switcher
Thousands Heading Back to School Say 'I'm a
Mac'
PR: As students head to school this fall, many are choosing
Macs for their academic and recreational computing, with more than
one-third of respondents (36%) in a survey of full-time undergraduates
at four-year US colleges and universities indicating they plan to
purchase a Mac. However, a significant number of student Mac users
still want to be able to run Windows or PC-based applications, for
example for a specific course element such as AutoCAD for engineering
or architecture degrees, and many solve this problem with Parallels Desktop for
Mac.
"When I started at UCSC, I got a MacBook (which I've named Charlie)
and looking around campus it's pretty obvious that lots of other
students are opting for Macs now too," said Tim Deal, a sophomore
attending the University of California, Santa Cruz. "A year later, I've
learned all about the cool things I can do with my Mac, but I still
want Windows so I can use Microsoft Office and play PC games. Parallels
Desktop for Mac basically gives me the best of both worlds so I can get
the ease of use, security, and functionality of the Mac, without
missing out on the applications I need for school assignments."
To celebrate its collegiate user community, this month Parallels is
launching a competition asking students to help it go "back to school".
A flyer of the Parallels logo is available on its new Mac To School
blog, and Parallels is inviting students across the US to demonstrate
their school spirit by sending in a photograph of themselves and the
flyer taken at their favorite spot. All pictures suitable for
publishing will be posted on the Mac to School blog and each week the
most interesting submission will win a goodie bag. The competition runs
for one month, from September 15th to October 15th, culminating in blog
readers voting for the overall winner of the grand prize.
To kick the competition off, student blogger Tim Deal photographed
himself with the flyer at a rock concert in Seattle, Washington. Tim
started blogging for Parallels as he prepared to head back to UCSC,
reflecting on his experiences of his first year and looking forward to
the year ahead. Mac to School includes a number of features, from free
music downloads to Tim's own musings, and invites contributions from
other student bloggers and commentators. To get involved in the blog or
enter the picture competition, email Tim at tdeal (at) parallels (dot)
com.
For students interested in learning more about Parallels Desktop for
Mac, the solution is available at a 50% student discount in campus
bookstores nationwide or on the Parallels
website. Parallels also offers a product specifically for new Mac
users: Parallels
Desktop Switch to Mac edition, which includes tools for learning
how to use the Mac, and an intelligent moving kit to transfer files and
applications to the Mac.
Products & Services
WD Unveils Smaller, More Secure Ultraportable My
Passport Essential HD
PR: WD has introduced its smaller, smarter and more secure My
Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac ultraportable external hard
drives featuring WD's new WD SmartWare software and equipped with
hardware-based encryption. The new My Passport drives are more than 20
percent smaller than the previous generation My Passport.
The new portable drives with WD SmartWare software visually
present consumers' data in a control center, providing them peace of
mind that their precious photos, videos and files are securely
protected. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store,
the new My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives are
offered in capacities ranging from 320 GB to 1 TB and come in a range
of colors including Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight
Black.
According to research firm Parks Associates, the average US
broadband household currently has over 120 gigabytes (GB) of digital
media and files, which is expected to grow to over 1 terabyte (TB) of
data by 2013. And while 70 percent of consumers back up their content,
the majority of these people are using manual, cumbersome methods such
as copying and pasting to multiple CDs and DVDs, and less than 18
percent use software that automatically and continuously backs up their
content.
When the My Passport Essential drive is plugged in for the first
time, the simple and intuitive first backup process launches
automatically. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software
gives users a reassuring view of their backup as it happens. After the
first backup, users' files are backed up automatically every time they
change or add a file.
My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives also feature
user-selected password protection combined with military-grade 256-bit
hardware encryption, which scrambles files before they are stored.
Typically found only on much more expensive drive systems, the
encryption acts as a virtual padlock to keep users' data secure.
"The smaller and sleeker design of WD's redesigned My Passport
drives, combined with the intuitive visual backup experience of WD
SmartWare software, makes this drive a smart and secure,
travel-friendly storage choice," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of
marketing for WD's branded products group. "These ultraportable drives
are a stylish and spacious storage solution for consumers to
confidently backup, store and carry their entire digital lives."
WD My Passport Essential hard drives are designed for Windows-based
PCs while WD My Passport for Mac drives are formatted for Mac computers
and are compatible with Apple Time Machine, Apple's integrated backup
solution. WD SmartWare works on Windows PCs and Mac computers and
offers a seamlessly integrated option for Mac users who want an
alternative to Time Machine or Mac OS 10.4 users who don't have Time
Machine compatibility.
The new My Passport Essential drives are offered in capacities of
320 GB, 500 GB, and 640 GB; My Passport Essential SE drives are offered
in capacities of 750 GB and 1 TB. My Passport for Mac drives are
available with 320 GB and 500 GB. My Passport Essential and My Passport
for Mac drives are available now at select retailers and online. MSRP
ranges from $109.99 to $249.99 depending on model.
WD SmartWare Software
WD
SmartWare software features:
- Visual backup displays that show content in categories and shows
the progress of backup;
- Automatic, continuous data backup will instantly make a second copy
whenever you add or change a file;
- Retrieve valuable data to its original location whether it's lost
data or the file has been overwritten; and,
- Customizable data backup that allows user to set drive security,
run diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD
SmartWare control center.
My Passport Essential
The new WD My Passport Essential, My Passport Essential SE and My
Passport for Mac drives with WD SmartWare software feature:
- Smaller, sleeker design offered in a range of colors including
Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight Black;
- 256-bit hardware encryption for peace of mind knowing that data is
protected from unauthorized access;
- USB 2.0 interface that powers(1) the drive directly from the USB
port on user's computer, no separate power supply is needed;
- Planet-friendly packaging derived from recycled materials to
minimize waste;
- Ready to plug-and-play with Windows PCs; and,
- 2-year limited warranty.
The My Passport for Mac drives are plug-and-play ready for Mac
computer users and compatible with Apple Time Machine.
Link: WD
My Passport for Mac
Purchase Links
Western Digital Releases My Book for Mac External
Hard Drives
PR: Formatted for Mac, this elegant, external hard drive now
features a new, smart, visual backup solution that protects your data
automatically and is compatible with Apple Time Machine this drive is
plug-and-play ready for Mac computer users.
The My Book external drive is an elegant, high-capacity storage
solution for all the chapters of your digital life. The latest edition,
formatted for Mac, now features visual, easy-to-use, automatic,
continuous backup software and drive lock security protection. At last,
beauty, brains, and simplicity together.
Product Features
- Smaller, sleeker, more streamlined design - smaller, sleeker, and
more elegant. As always, this book-like shape takes up minimal space on
your desk and allows two or more My Book drives to nestle neatly
together like volumes on a shelf.
- Designed for Mac - Formatted for Mac and compatible with Apple Time
Machine, this drive is plug-and-play ready for Mac computer users.
- WD SmartWare - See your life safe in one place.
See your backup as it happens - Seeing is believing. Visual backup
displays your content in categories and shows the progress of your
backup.
- Protect your data automatically - Relax, your data is secure.
Automatic, continuous backup will instantly make a second copy whenever
you add or change a file.
- Bring back lost files effortlessly - Retrieve your valuable data to
its original location whether you've lost all your data or just
overwritten an important file.
- Take control - Customize your backup, set drive security, run
diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD SmartWare
control center.
- Drive lock - Gain peace of mind knowing that your data is protected
from unauthorized access or theft with password protection and 256-bit
hardware-based encryption.
- Illuminated capacity gauge - See at a glance how much space is
available on your drive.
- USB 2.0 interface - A simple connection that offers convenience and
compatibility among multiple computers.
- Power miser - My Book external drives are designed to save energy.
WD GreenPower Technology™ lowers internal drive power consumption
by up to 30%, a sleep mode reduces power during idle times, and a
power-saving feature turns the drive on and off with your
computer.
- Planet friendly - We designed a small retail box from recycled
materials to minimize waste. We encourage you to recycle it.
Compatibility
- Formatted HFS+ Journaled
- Mac OS X, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard
WD SmartWare software is a visual control center with a single
screen view of all your data. From it you can back up, retrieve, and
secure your files.
Password protection: An extra level of security with password
protection and 256-bit hardware-based encryption.
Capacities Available:
Link: WD
My Book for Mac
Purchase Links
- 1 TB My Book for Mac currently available for purchase from Amazon.com
for $107.95 shipped,
J&R Computer at $109.99 shipped.
- 2 TB My Book for Mac currently available for purchase from
NewEgg for $189.99 + $1.99 shipping, Amazon.com
for $191.98 shipped,
OnSale.com at $191.99 + shipping.
Belkin Home Base Network Sharing Announced
PR:
Belkin's Home Base allows anyone on your network to wirelessly share
external hard drives, printers, or other devices - wherever and
whenever.
Wireless Printing: Place your printer anywhere you want and
share with everyone in the home
Wireless Sharing: Saved files, including photos, music, and
videos, can easily be accessed from any computer in the house
Back
Up: Keep your memories safe with automatic backups to your external
hard drive
- Connect and access up to 4 portable hard drives, printers or
cameras over an existing wireless network
- Automatically back up and take the worry out of possible data
loss
- Automatically share pictures on Flickr and Picasa
- Set up an external drive to act as a DLNA server for your media
content
- Media files can be accessed directly from Xbox 360, PlayStation 3,
and other DLNA client devices
System Requirements
- Network: 802.11b/802.11g/802.11n
- Computer with a wired or wireless network interface card and T
CP/IP networking protocol
- Windows XP or Vista 32-/64-bit
- Mac OS X v10.4 or v10.5
- Minimum 1 GHz processor and 128 MB RAM
- Internet browser: Internet E xplorer 6.0+, Firefox 1.0+, or
Safari®2.0+
$129.99
*Router sold separately
Data-transfer rates do not support some high-speed/high-bandwidth
USB devices such as HD-streaming webcams or other video-transfer
applications.
1 Year Warranty
Link: Belkin
Home Base
Software
USB Overdrive X 3.0
PR: USB Overdrive 3.0 is finally here! The new version is
smarter, faster, more powerful and easier to use. It supports the new
64-bit kernel in Snow Leopard and comes with a much better user
interface.
The USB Overdrive now includes support for media buttons on most USB
keyboards and talks to many additional input devices that were
previously not handled. It still supports all compliant mice,
trackballs, trackpads, joysticks, gamepads and other gaming devices
from any vendor.
New in version 3.0:
- Snow Leopard 64-bit kernel support
- New and much improved user interface
- Powerful new low-level engine
- Many new assignable actions
- Device-specific and location-specific settings
- Import/export settings files
- Support for more devices, buttons and controls
- Support for media buttons on most USB keyboards
- Advanced mouse pointer options
- New scrolling method
Missing in action:
- Old settings from version 10.4.8 cannot be imported to the new
version. I am really sorry about this, but the old settings were
handled by legacy code that is no longer supported in 64-bit. The good
news is that this will never happen again, as you can now import and
export settings at will.
Temporarily missing in action:
- Specific support for noncompliant buttons on some devices has not
yet been restored in the new version. I'll do my best to add it back as
soon as possible.
System requirements:
- Any Mac with an Intel or PowerPC CPU
- Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard or 10.6 Snow Leopard
Platform Support: PPC/Intel
$20 Shareware
Link: USB Overdrive X
3.0
Notational Velocity: Unique Free Note Storage and
Retrieval Utility
PR: Notational Velocity is an application that stores
and retrieves notes. It is an attempt to loosen the mental blockages to
recording information and to scrape away the tartar of convention that
handicaps its retrieval. The solution is by nature nonconformist.
Unique Characteristics
- Modeless Operation
- Searching for notes is not a separate action; rather, it is the
primary interface.
- Incremental Search
- Searching encompasses all notes' content and occurs instantly with
each key pressed.
- Transparent Database Encryption
- All content is compressed and encrypted (enabled optionally) before
it is recorded to disk.
- Mouseless Interaction
- Notational Velocity's window was designed for keyboard input above
all else, and thus has no buttons.
- Data Instead of Documents
- There is no manual "saving" in Notational Velocity; all
modifications take effect immediately.
Notational Velocity is Open Source
The source code to Notational Velocity is distributed under a
modified BSD license and is currently hosted on github.
Contributors and collaborators are welcome!
To start working with the source, first install git. Then run:
git clone git://github.com/scrod/nv.git
How It Works
The same area is used both for creating notes and searching. I.e.,
in the process of entering the title for a new note, related notes
appear below, letting users file information there if they choose.
Likewise, if a search reveals nothing, one need simply press return to
create a note with the appropriate title.
If a
note's title starts with the search term(s), that title will be
"autocompleted". This selects the note and consequently displays it.
Correspondingly, selecting a note places its title in the search area
(Deselecting the note restores the search terms).
To create a new note, just type its title and press return. Edit the
note as needed in the bottom pane.
To view or edit an existing note, type one or more words contained
in its body or title. Reveal a note's content by using the up/down
arrow keys to select it.
To make good use of NV, try to maintain one detail/fact/item per
note. Notational Velocity's strength, note-filtering, is diminished
when only a few notes contain most of the content in the database.
Example (note the brevity and specificity of the body):
Title: How to cook with cornsalt
Body: Buy box of Arm & Hammer raw cornsalt.
Sprinkle on poultry before broiling.
Notational Velocity can search thousands of notes at once and works
best when information is distributed.
New in Version 2:
- Option to maintain/synchronize notes as text files for Spotlight
and/or text editor access
- More robust and space-efficient database with encrypted, compressed
write-ahead logging
- On-demand mounting of disk images and servers when loading the
database
- Optional AES encryption with variable-strength key derivation
- Styled text editor supports font-independent formatting, an
alternative to "rich text"
- Partial word-by-word or full-phrase searching
- Highlighting of found words
- Multiple-note selections and sorting by different criteria
- Support for input methods and Unicode searching
- Basic support for editing structured text and code
- Per-note undo histories
- Importing of additional file types, including the Mac OS X Stickies
database
- "Paste clipboard as new note" command grabs the current web
context
- URL and email address recognition
- Universal binary
Link: Notational
Velocity
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers monthly:
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
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iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
