Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
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Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Rumor Roundup
Reviews
Apple Updates
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Longtime Windows Fan: Mac OS X Means Working
Quicker
Pocket-Lint's Paul Lamkin says he didn't come into this experiment
as a member of the anti-Apple brigade, being a happy iPhone and iPad
owner, but that he is "a PC" because he settled down with Windows when
he was young, made a commitment, and stayed faithful ever since.
However, he says that the new MacBook Airs with their svelte
figures and their alluring aluminum finish and the giant displays of
the 27" iMacs glowing from the
window of the Apple Store have caused his loyalty to falter, so he
decided to try Mac OS X at least for seven days
After a somewhat rocky start, he says he began to get a taste for
the Mac way of doing things, and he even loves the Dock
And after signing up for an Apple Store One to One session, he says
he was basically falling in love with Mac OS X.
He also notes that while he's quite a well oiled machine with
Photoshop or Paint.net on a Windows PC, he can honestly say that, on
his first attempt at doing photo editing on a Mac, it was much
quicker.
By the seventh day, "it just feels right," says Lamkin.
"If that makes me a fully fledged fanboy, then so be it. Nothing
really feels weird or different anymore, it just feels easier....
Without doubt, I was able to work quicker on a Mac than I ever have
done with a Windows PC and I'm still a noob don't forget. And yes, I'm
also aware that I've now become one of those Mac bores that I used to
loathe."
Link: 7 Days Living
with . . . the Other Computer (Apple Mac OS X)
Will the Success of iOS Kill the Mac as We Know
It?
So asks ZDNet's David Morgenstern, who notes that Apple this week
announced its best quarter ever for Mac sales (5.2 million units) and
tens of thousands of Apple fans gathering for the weekend's annual
Macworld Expo in San Francisco, so surely this moment must be one of
the greatest for Mac users in the platform's 28 year history.
Or not. Morgenstern observes that many longtime professional users
of the Mac are worried - very worried - by the smoke signals coming out
of Cupertino, compelled to wonder whether Apple will continue making a
computing solution for the rest of us or for all of us. Of concern is
Apple's evidently wavering commitment to technology that supports its
creative professional market.
He cites several worrying signs, to wit:
- a new App Sandbox requirement
for all apps submitted for the Mac App Store
- shaky support for
AppleScript scripting due to the Sandboxing requirement appearing
to be in conflict with it
-
changes to Final Cut Pro X
- the Mac/iOS Merger - iOSification of the Mac OS, which in his and
many other Mac OS veterans' estimation amounts to dumbing things down
way too far.
Morgenstern cites a rumor floating around the developer community
that Apple wanted even more iOS integration in Lion, the objective
being a single OS that will run on handheld, tablet, and
portable/desktop. "This would be a disaster," he contends. Your editor
agrees, a case in point being the iPad's single screen interface
finding its way into Lion and Mac apps. As Morgenstern observes, not
everyone is a consumer market or enterprise customer.
Well stated.
Publisher's note: In the minds of many longtime Mac users, Apple has
already done so by eliminating the MobileMe features - syncing
calendars, bookmarks, and contacts, for instance - in its headlong dash
to create the iCloud service, which requires OS X 10.7 Lion or
Windows (Vista or 7). Factor in killing off Rosetta and forcing users
to choose between their familiar PowerPC apps and Apple's latest
operating system, and there's another arrow pointing Apple's direction
away from the past. Finally, its control over the Mac App Store is
going to make it more and more difficult for developers to market Mac
software in any other way, giving Apple ultimate control over the
platform - just like iOS. dk
Link: Will Apple's
Success Kill the Mac as We Know It?
Interview with HackintoshUK
HackintoshUK is a new UK
company that sells "Hackintoshes" - PCs that run Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
Recently, MacNews/MacTech interviewed Tristan Kirkpatrick of
HackintoshUK to get some details about the company - including how they
planned to avoid the fate of Psystar.
Prices start at £389 (about $611) for the Hackintosh
Mini, which has a 3.1 GHz Core i3 CPU with Intel HD Graphics 3000,
4 GB of system memory (expandable to 16 GB), a 320 GB 7200 rpm hard
drive, a SuperDrive, and OS X 10.7 Lion. The Mini has three PCIe
expansion slots, four SATA II (3 Gbps) ports, six USB 2.0 ports,
and appears to have at least one empty drive bay. This compares very
favorably with Apple's Mac
mini, which retails
for £529 in the UK, no longer includes a built-in optical
drive, and has no expansion slots.
Link: An Interview with
HackintoshUK - Which Offers PCs That Run Lion
Rumor Roundup
Apple to Adopt 802.11ac Gigabit WiFi This Year
AppleInsider's Daniel Eran Dilger reports that Apple is expected to
rapidly deploy support for the new 802.11ac specification this year,
adding so called "Gigabit WiFi" to new AirPort base stations, Time
Capsule, Apple TV, notebooks and potentially its mobile devices.
Dilger notes that the new 802.11ac standard supports much faster
wireless networking speeds than the existing 802.11n specification in
use on current Mac, AirPort and iOS devices).
Publisher's note: Apple has a long history of embracing 802.11
specifications before they have been finalized. The original clamshell iBook from
1999 was the first notebook computer to support 802.11b (using Apple's
proprietary AirPort Card). It took a while for the 802.11g
specification to get nailed down, but when it was finalized in late
2003, Apple's first generation of Aluminum PowerBooks supported it
using Apple's AirPort Extreme brand. Like most of the industry, Apple
included hardware to support 802.11n WiFi in early 2007,
long before the specification was finalized in 1998. One advantage of
802.11n is that it can use the 5 GHz spectrum as well as the 2.4
GHz spectrum used by 802.11b/g. Since cordless phones and microwaves
can interfere in the 2.4 GHz range, this is a real benefit. 802.11ac is designed
to use the same 5 GHz band and is expected to be finalized in late
2012. Sadly, although 802.11n has been around for years, a lot of
Internet service providers (for instance, AT&T U-verse, which we
use here at Low End Mac headquarters) are still providing 802.11g WiFi
routers. dk
Link:
Apple Working to Adopt 802.11ac 5G Gigabit WiFi This Year
Reviews
Logitech Solar Keyboard and the Scroll Lock/Num
Lock Keys
MacOSXHints' robg writes:
"I wish it had a Caps Lock warning LED, and that AppleScripts
assigned to F-Keys didn't need the fn modifier key to toggle them
(oddly, this is not an issue with the Windows PC version of the
Logitech Solar 'board)."
Logitech Solar Keyboard (Windows version)
He notes that the Logitech Solar Keyboard lacks a few other things,
including dedicated Scroll Lock and Num Lock keys, that you usually
find on other keyboards. I hadn't noted that, but robg says they're
useful if you working in Excel, which I don't use, and after some trial
and error, and some Googling, he figured out how to turn them on and
off.
Logitech Solar Keyboard for Mac, silver version with pink stripe
Editor's note: I use a Logitech Solar Keyboard for Mac. It's not the
perfect keyboard, but it's a very good one, and not having to mess
around with batteries is a huge advantage. See my 'Book Mystique review of on PBCentral.com.
cm
Publisher's note: I haven't yet seen a wireless keyboard with LEDs
for Caps Lock, etc., as this would be an unnecessary drain on the
battery. As a longtime computer user (going back to the Apple II+ and
Commodore VIC-20), I have to say that I find light colored keys vastly
preferable to black keycaps, something that really came home to me with
my 15" Titanium PowerBook
G4 in 2001 with its dark keyboard that was so hard to read in low
light. It's great to see Logitech and others - Apple included - offer
white keyboards. I am especially happy with the Macally iKeySlim
(less
than $24 from Amazon.com!), a white USB 2.0 keyboard that I
reviewed in 2010 and have used ever since. dk
Link: Logitech Solar
Keyboard and the Scroll Lock/Num Lock Keys (Amazon.com currently
has the black
Logitech Solar Keyboard for Mac for $64.25 and the silver
version for $76.84, shipping additional. Also, the Windows
version for $60.08 with free Super Saver shipping.)
Apple Updates
EFI Firmware Update 1.5 for Mid 2010 Mac mini
Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.5 enables Lion Recovery from an
Internet connection on Mac mini
(Mid 2010) models and addresses an issue where the setting to
restart after a power failure may not be retained.
For more information about Lion Recovery, please visit this website:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/
The Mac mini EFI Firmware Update will update the EFI firmware on
your computer. Your computer's power cord must be connected and plugged
into a working power source. When your Mac mini restarts, a gray screen
will appear with a status bar to indicate the progress of the update.
It will take several minutes for the update to complete. Do not disturb
or shut off the power on your Mac mini during this update.
Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MM41.0042.B03
File Size: 3 MB
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7.2
Link: Mac
mini (Mid 2010) EFI Firmware Update 1.5
Products & Services
Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired - and
Secretive - Company Really Works
Adam Lashinsky's Inside Apple reveals the secret systems,
tactics and leadership strategies that allowed Steve Jobs and his
company to churn out hit after hit and inspire a cult-like following
for its products.
If Apple is Silicon Valley's answer to Willy Wonka's Chocolate
Factory, then author Adam Lashinsky provides readers with a golden
ticket to step inside. In this primer on leadership and innovation, the
author will introduce readers to concepts like the "DRI" (Apple's
practice of assigning a Directly Responsible Individual to every task)
and the Top 100 (an annual ritual in which 100 up-and-coming executives
are tapped a la Skull & Bones for a secret retreat with company
founder Steve Jobs).
Based on numerous interviews, the book offers exclusive new
information about how Apple innovates, deals with its suppliers and is
handling the transition into the Post Jobs Era. Lashinsky, a Senior
Editor at Large for Fortune, knows the subject cold: In a 2008
cover story for the magazine entitled The Genius Behind Steve: Could
Operations Whiz Tim Cook Run The Company Someday? - he predicted that
Tim Cook, then an unknown, would eventually succeed Steve Jobs as
CEO.
While Inside Apple is ostensibly a deep dive into one, unique
company (and its ecosystem of suppliers, investors, employees, and
competitors), the lessons about Jobs, leadership, product design, and
marketing are universal. They should appeal to anyone hoping to bring
some of that Apple magic to their own company, career, or creative
endeavor.
- List Price: $26.99
- Amazon Price: $16.19
Link: Inside
Apple: How America's Most Admired - and Secretive - Company Really
Works
FrostWire Distributes 2.5 Million Free Albums
PR: FrostWire proves BitTorrent file sharing empowers artists
and levels the playing field for new comers giving them a zero cost
distribution channel in front of a world wide audience that demands
free music.
Celebrating 2.5 Million Free and Legal Creative Commons licensed
album downloads via FrostWire promotions in less than a year,
FrostClick.com presents the FrostWire Creative Commons Mixtape 2.
Side A of the Mixtape contains a track from each one of the albums
featured on FrostWire during 2011 from vibrant hip-hop beats, through
catchy pop to powerful electronic synths, anybody can find their new
favorite artist.
Featuring Kellee Maize, Bryyn, Azoora, Elemint, Baiyu and many
others, both new and established artists who understand that the future
of the music industry lies in setting their music free to roam the
world. This ever-growing distribution model brings even more
opportunities for monetization, reputation build up, culture creation
and establishes stronger and more meaningful connections between
artists and their fans.
Narrowed down to the best of the best Creative Commons licensed
songs, Side B contains 12 additional tracks hand-chosen out of hundreds
of amazing free albums reviewed by the FrostClick team last year. Its a
gem in itself, showcasing the breadth and quality of free and legal
content available online under Creative Commons.
Music speaks for itself FrostWire just gives it a louder voice.
"It was by far the most valuable promotion I've ever done for my
music career. I've done over 50 online marketing endeavors for my
music, and none compare to the exposure I've gained through FrostWire."
says Kellee Maize, an independent female rapper.
When asked for comparison with other digital distribution channels
and its costs Kelle Maize goes on to say: "FrostWire jump-started my
music career by giving away my album for free to over 130,000 people.
Paying for that type of exposure would have cost me over $50,000 on
other outlets such as taking out FaceBook ads or Google PPC"
After sharing her music for free on FrostWire, Kellee Maize talks
about how she is connecting with her fan-base on social networks
"Because of FrostWire I've accumulated over 100,000 Facebook and
Twitter followers."
FrostWire, one of the leading open source peer-2-peer file sharing
applications, works with FrostClick.com, a free and legal content
review website, to actively promote and help distribute Creative
Commons Licensed content to its wide user base. FrostWire is available
absolutely for free for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.
Link: FrostWire
Software
BackUp Gmail Utility
PR: Davide Gullo's
BackUp Gmail creates a local backup of your Gmail account.
Claimed to be lightweight, silent, and reliable, BackUp Gmail is
touted as the easiest way to back up your Gmail account and protect
your data.
A lightweight Status Bar App that works in background, BackUp Gmail
connects automatically with your account and backs up any new
messages.
You can access your data whenever and wherever you want. All emails
are in plain text (.eml format) and the relationships are stored in a
SQLite DB.
You can personalize how the backup is performed and setup your
destination folders as you wish. You decide if you want an hourly or
daily backup of your account, and set the times yourself.
BackUp Gmail Features
- can access your data whenever and wherever you want
- Install it and forget about it
- is a lightweight Status Bar App that works in background
- can personalize how the backup is performed and setup your
destination folders as you wish
- decide if you want an hourly or daily backup of your account, and
set the times yourself
You'll need some Gmail
settings.
You can read the FAQ here.
New in Version 1.1
- Added more info about Error connection and Availability test
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.6 or later
- 64-bit processor
The app can currently be purchased at a special promotional price of
$1.99. This special offer will last just a few months.
Link:
BackUp Gmail
aText Text Macro Utility
PR: Tran K. Nam's aText 1.5 is an auto-typing utility that
recognizes custom abbreviations you type and automatically replaces
them with snippets you've defined.
This release adds Search Snippets with a hot key, wildcard searches,
suggestions for snippet abbreviations with a hot key, and other
changes.
aText accelerates your typing by replacing abbreviations with
frequently used phrases you define.
E.g. make an abbreviation myname to insert your name First Middle
Last in any application.
With aText you can easily avoid typing the same thing over and
over.
aText also makes it easier to type symbols as well as images and
formatted text.
More Features
- Insert the current date and time in any format
- Embed clipboard content within snippet, embed snippet within
another, send keys, use editable fields in snippet.
- Reposition the cursor in the expanded snippet.
- Built-in snippet groups for misspelling correcting, HTML and
JavaScript coding.
- Import data from TextExpander, TypeIt4Me.
New in Version 1.5:
- New: Search Snippets with hotkey.
- Wildcard Search.
- New: Suggest snippet abbreviations with hotkey.
- Change setting "Expand at delimiter (discard delimiter)" to "Expand
at Tab or Enter key".
- Bug fixes.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or later
$4.99
Link:
aText
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.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
