Home / tuaw.com rss archive / August-30-2007


OMG! OMG! OMG! The Apple store is...
Filed under: Retail, TUAW BusinessDeep breaths, everyone. We know, we know. The Yellow Sticky Note of Unpromised Excitement has returned. The store is down. We do not, however, know why. But we thank all of you who have written in. It's probably periodic maintenance--it happens--but if something big shows up, let us know. We love to hear from you, even when it's just a quick "OMG OMG THE STORE IS DOWN" note.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vista SP1 to support EFI booting standard - what does this mean for Boot Camp?
Filed under: Hardware, OS, Software, BlogsRounding up on 9 months of Vista being on the market, Microsoft is of course at work on Service Pack 1 which is slated for an early 2008 release. At the official Windows Vista blog, Brandon LeBlanc has offered extensive details on what the focus of Service Pack 1 is, and while much of it is targeted at businesses and independent software vendors, an interesting section outlining some of the fundamentals mentions that support for the EFI booting standard is on its way (under the Introducing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 section; there aren't any anchors I can link in this extensive post, so you'll have to search for that title or simply 'EFI').In their hype and marketing for Boot Camp, Apple makes a pretty big deal about Intel-based Macs supporting EFI while "Windows XP, and even Vista, are stuck in the 1980s with old-fashioned BIOS" (check the sidebar of the Boot Camp page). So what could it mean if Vista catches up to the EFI bandwagon?...

Leopard's Dock doesn't work on the side
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Leopard, DeveloperRogue Ameoba's got a legit complaint with the Dock in Leopard: it looks horrible sitting on the side. Personally, it's not really a concern for me, because I've never moved my Dock from the bottom of the screen (seems weird to have it on the side, like the workspace is off balance). But they're exactly right-- Leopard's "perspective Dock" just looks strange in the vertical. The icons seem to float in space, and the whole perspective looks weird.Of course, they have other problems with the Dock as well-- the reflections of the Desktop and the Windows happen in Leopard no matter where the Dock is, right? But yeah the angles that normally look like a shelf for the icons to sit on when the Dock is on the bottom of the screen look literally "off the wall" when the Dock is on the side.With something like Cleardock, this is easily fixed. And we're still looking at a dev build of Leopard, so maybe Apple has a trick up...

Is Apple down with an iPhone unlock?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Steve Jobs, Apple, iPhoneCNET's Don Reisinger has a great article up about what may have been Steve's Master Plan: letting an iPhone unlock happen.Pretty ingenious if it's true. Basically, Reisinger maintains two things: that Apple is a hardware company, and that AT&T was just a means to an end for them. If hackers are able to unlock the iPhone, Apple will lose a little bit (because they do get a small cut of service plans), but they'll still sell iPhones, and AT&T will lose everything. Jobs "did his part"-- he closed off the iPhone and declared an exclusivity deal. But now that we're on the verge of completely unlocked iPhones, Apple has no real incentive to cut it out.And that's exactly how it's played out-- Apple's recent iPhone update did pretty much nothing to close off the system, and as Reisinger says, it wasn't Apple knocking on the doors of those who are about to unlock the iPhone-- it was AT&T. The iPhone's unlocking...

Panic releases Transmit 3.6
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Internet Tools, DeveloperPanic has dropped Transmit 3.6, the latest version of the FTP app that we freakin' love here at TUAW. Included in the new version is all the great old stuff (droplets, and the "edit anything anywhere" ability), and the new features of Amazon S3 support and a "Copy URL web preview" (in which you can right click any file to automatically get a URL for it). There's also a whole host of bugfixes and improvements.Transmit, as always, is available from Panic's website free with a 15 day trial, and $29.95 to purchase.[ Thanks, Jonathan M! ]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Beatles at next week's event?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, Rumors, Other Events, AppleNo Beatles next Wednesday? Like pretty much everyone else, I figured the whole "Beat" goes on thing, not to mention that the third Beatle got added to iTunes recently, all pointed to next week's event as not only showing off new iPods, but Beatles music to play in them (and I wasn't the only one-- mockups are all over the place).But now the rumor mill (so, again, grain of salt with all of this) says it's a no go on the Beatles. There will be a new iPod, and supposedly a brand new Ringtones system will be brought to the iPhone, where you can use iTS purchased music as a ringtone, but we won't actually meet the Beatles.Then again, no one really knows but Apple-- Gruber speculates that since the event is being held at Moscone West, McCartney will be on hand to play live. And let's be realistic-- even though there is evidence for both a new iPod and the whole ringtones thing, no one's really sure what's...

Found Footage: Scrolling iPhone dock smashes through 16-icon home screen limit
Filed under: Software, Hacks, Mods, Found Footage, iPhoneThe iPhone home screen doesn't scroll. This 16-application limit is just a reality most users have come to accept. Third party developers have turned to launcher apps that search for additional applications and let you choose one from a list. Today, Nate True introduced an iPhone mod that smashes these launchers into yesterday's news. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/mods/Too_many_iPhone_apps_Mod_your_home_screen_to_fit_them_all'; True's Dock package loads your entire application collection into a single usable list that appears directly on your homescreen. Just use a finger to scroll the bottom row of icons left or right and tap the application you want to launch.This is still a relatively early release--so there are a few bugs here or there--but I've tested it out and it works fabulously. To install, download a copy of iBrickr (Windows) or Breezy (Macintosh Universal Binary) and use them to load the Dock package to your...

iPod gets local nuisance to pipe down
Filed under: Humor, iPod FamilyEvery urban neighborhood has its characters and unique personalities that add to the flavor of the place. In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where I live now, the accordion guy who plays Spanish folk tunes near the subway is a fixture, and he gives a friendly nod or a "Buenos Diaz" every morning. Back in the old 'hood -- Park Slope, PRB (people's republic of Brooklyn) -- one of the local folks has apparently been contributing a rather bitter taste.The New York Times City Room blog tells the story of the Park Slope sidewalk ranter, a dedicated Mets fan who, from his seat in front of a deli, would harangue passing Yankees fans with racial epithets and slurs. Nothing seemed to quiet this guy down. Nothing, that is, until a distinctive pair of white earbuds appeared... and now there is peace and quiet.Only in New York. At least, for the sake of everyplace else on earth, I hope that it's only in New York.[via Fake Steve]Read | Permalink |&...

Planbook: Lesson planning for teachers, Mac style
Filed under: Software, Productivity, Education, Internet ToolsIn an education world where parents make all the decisions and administration knows less about teaching than the students, teachers can use all the help they get. While I wait for Assistants R Us to open in the Denver area so I can take some of the burden off my wife's high school English-teaching shoulders, educators of all kinds might be able to take some solace in Planbook from Hellmansoft. Designed and developed by Jeff Hellman, a 9th grade physics and science teacher, Planbook aims to do away with the clunky ways of writing lesson plans with paper by providing tools to plan, attach files, print, publish and search the digital way. Teachers can plan out lessons for one or multiple classes for the week, month or year, attach files the students will need for homework and publish it all to the web via FTP or to a local folder. Students, parents and administrators alike can then view the site, the daily lessons and...

Secure your Mac at Starbucks
Filed under: Wireless, Internet, SecurityDon't feel badly, I can't resist that green mermaid logo either. Since I like to check the mail and surf the web while I drink my usual, I make sure my Mac is secure while on the T-Mobile Hot Spot. There's a great tip at Mac OS X Hints about locking down your Mac for that very situation. The process involves creating a new 802.1x configuration in Internet Connect, resulting in a secure TTLS setup. It's not too tricky, but will take some clicking around. Good luck, and take your caffeine with confidence.[Via Lifehacker]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Keynote bug: Spontaneous reboots
Filed under: Software, Bugs/RecallsDespite Keynote's maturity, a significant bug remains. Several users are reporting that pressing the "Play" button after composing a project causes the machine to immediately reboot. From what's been reported so far, it seems to be limited to laptops, specifically iBooks and MacBooks, with and without an external monitor attached. At this point, no fix has been found.Have any of you experienced this problem? Can you lend a hand in the troubleshooting?Thanks, tipster!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iFuntastic goes v3, adds PPC support
Filed under: Cool tools, Hacks, iPhoneWhile iPhone hacking remains a sport for the brave, the utility infrastructure to give Grandma iPhone User the same tweaking power as the most l33t denizen of #iphone is coming along nicely, thanks. Now at version 3, iFuntastic provides a GUI for almost any iPhone modification task you might reasonably want to do to your ($500, possibly instantly out-of-warranty) iPhone. New features in this version include: PowerPC support, so G4 and G5 users may join in the fun; a 'permanent jailbreak' tool called Unshackling; multiple, editable home screen layouts with custom wallpaper; and simplified/improved ringtone installation. You can download iFuntastic (needless to say, use at your own risk) from iPhoneAlley or Macenstein and go to town. via iPhoneAlley -- thanks AronRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Migrating to a new Mac - say hello to a Mac Switcher
Filed under: Switchers, Productivity, ReviewsWell, what better way to introduce myself but to sing the praises of the almighty Mac! I'm Jason Clarke, and I'm brand new to TUAW, although I've been writing over on sister-site Download Squad for a couple of years now. I was also briefly the lead blogger for The Unofficial Microsoft Weblog, until it was rolled into Download Squad. Despite my checkered past, this post is going to be me preaching to the choir, so consider yourself warned.Today was a very happy day for me, because my MacBook Pro that I've been eagerly anticipating arrived. I've been a very happy Mac user since I received my first MacBook, about 4 months ago. Now, receiving a new primary computer for me has always been somewhat bittersweet; the excitement of the new machine is always offset by the pain of migrating from the old one. When migrating from and old to a new Windows machine, I would always plan for two days of hell, followed by two weeks of minor (and sometimes...

Roxio releases Popcorn 3, adds TiVoToGo support
Filed under: Software, VideoRoxio has released version 3 of their DVD and video conversion utility Popcorn. The biggest new feature is probably the "exclusive TiVoToGo support for the Mac" that lets you burn TiVo recorded shows to disc or convert them for playback on other devices. However, other improvements include the ability to create compilation DVDs and custom DVD menus as well as improved Apple TV and iPhone/iPod support. Popcorn is $49 and is available now.For my own money, I think the the only compelling feature of Popcorn is the TivoToGo support. Unless that's a big deal for you, I think you'd probably do better with VisualHub ($23.32) plus Handbrake (free), as the ffmpeg based conversion of the former is considerably faster than the QuickTime based conversion that Popcorn appears to use.[via MacMinute]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flickr Find: Apple sans-serifs signs
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Apple, Flickr Find, Apple HistoryThis might be the Mac-geekiest thing I've ever seen, but this is TUAW, so here you go. Sharp-eyed reader Morgan W has a flickr pool up of signs around the Apple campus in Cupertino, and notes that three of their newest building signs (at Bandley Five, Six, and Eight) have an updated logo with no 3D effect, and use Myriad for the font instead of Garamond, which the old signs used.Will Apple's stock prices jump around at the news? Probably not. but as Morgan says, just like the missing Open Apple, it's another sign that we're moving further and further away from the "rainbow and serif Apple of yore."Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

TUAW Back-to-School Giveaway The End: TUAW T-shirt and more
Filed under: TUAW BusinessThis is the end of our fabulous ride through TUAW's Back-to-School Giveaway. We've had some laughs, haven't we? Today's prize is another TUAW t-shirt (in the size of your choice, provided you choose small, medium, large or extra-large). But to sweeten the deal we'll give you an Ambrosia pack and a copy of Awaken.To enter, leave a comment on this post between 5AM and 11:59PM EST on August 29. Validate the comment for it to qualify, and only one per person please. Full rules on our TUAW Back-to-School Giveaway page. Good luck and thanks for reading!Permalink | Email this | Comments