The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/TUAW Gift Guides: Gifts for tech-savvy womenhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/tuaw-gift-guides-gifts-for-tech-savvy-women/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/tuaw-gift-guides-gifts-for-tech-savvy-women/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/tuaw-gift-guides-gifts-for-tech-savvy-women/#commentsFiled under: ,

Holiday time is drawing near, with Black Friday just over the horizon. So have you started thinking about what to get your favorite gal? You might want to subscribe to a Monoprice e-mail alert to catch the latest restocks for your beloved's iPhone or iPod touch. Last night, they sold out of their 2200 mAh charge boosters within minutes. I snagged mine just in time.

Because, gentlemen, you need to face it: cables, remotes, and batteries are made of holiday win. Why not consider a miniDisplay cable to give your lady that second Mac mini monitor she's been dreaming about? Those redesigned Apple remotes make the perfect accompaniment to the treadmill, when watching "The View." Or, for that matter, when watching the morning financial news. Whatever floats your boat.

One of my female TUAW colleagues writes, "Last year I got earrings and returned them for a MacBook. My husband also knows that on Black Friday morning, in the dark, I will be at Radio Shack or MicroCenter -- elbows out to fend off other customers -- hissing at the sunlight and hoarding hard drives, enclosures, and spindles of DVDs."

Face it: Chicks love technology. Trust me. I'm a woman.

Results are not typical or representative of all real women's buying habits. Please check with a lawyer before deciding whether purchasing Mac peripherals are right for you. Side effects, including being kicked out of your home and/or marriage, may occur. Peripherals are not a substitute for fine jewelry. Do not attempt to offer technology when the spouse is pregnant or nursing. Consult a physician should a piece of technology make an accelerated impact with your head. In case of technology overdose, seek professional assistance, or contact a family counselor immediately.

TUAW Gift Guides: Gifts for tech-savvy women originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Gift Guides: Gifts for tech-savvy women originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>giftshggholidayshoppingwomenErica SadunWed, 04 Nov 2009 19:00:00 ESTSony offers 1,000 ringtones for iPhone for 20 bucks. Pass.http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/sony-offers-1-000-ringtones-for-iphone-for-20-bucks-pass/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/sony-offers-1-000-ringtones-for-iphone-for-20-bucks-pass/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/sony-offers-1-000-ringtones-for-iphone-for-20-bucks-pass/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Let's file this under 'really bad ideas done poorly.' Sony would like to sell you 1,000 ringtones, sound effects, and comedy voices on a data DVD that's just oh so ready to import into iTunes. Sony doesn't seem to offer a comparable product for other cellphones, like maybe the Sony Ericsson brand, so I can only conclude this is a plot by Sony to make iPhone owners look dumb when a call comes in.

I listened to some of the samples on the Sony website, and the DVD seems to be a collection of bad and unmemorable production music, obnoxious sound effects, and jokey voices saying things like "Dude -- everybody keep your voice down, I think it's my Dad calling."

Continue reading Sony offers 1,000 ringtones for iPhone for 20 bucks. Pass.

Sony offers 1,000 ringtones for iPhone for 20 bucks. Pass. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Sony offers 1,000 ringtones for iPhone for 20 bucks. Pass. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>GarageBandiPhoneringtonesSony RingtonesSonyRingtonesMel MartinWed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 ESTI heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ...http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/i-heart-my-apple-tv-but-as-for-3-0/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As we learned yesterday, not everyone loves the update to Apple TV.

For me, however, the upgrade was an improvement to an adequate piece of hardware -- when it chose to work. By mid-afternoon, I was listening to classical music being streamed over Internet radio, and I was very happy with the Apple TV for the most part. The flagship new features -- iTunes Extras and iTunes LPs -- were finicky and hard to work. Trying to navigate through iTunes Extras was akin to herding cats. When it works, it's fantastic. When it doesn't, you want to hurl something at the wall.

I'm quite the opposite of fellow blogger Steve Sande when it comes to the Apple TV. I chose the device over getting cable back in February. I promptly did the hacks to open up the USB port and utilize Boxee (with Hulu) and XBMC. Please note that these hacks will be wiped when you upgrade to 3.0.

I frequently use it because it became the perfect home for streaming content from first an external hard drive, then my new iMac. I'm an anime fan, and used the chance to rip my DVDs to my hard drive and have all the episodes in one place. It's very nice not to have to get up and change DVDs after every 3-4 episodes. I also stream YouTube content and play music over it.

Here's a look at some of the new features:

Continue reading I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ...

I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)I heart my Apple TV, but as for 3.0 ... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Apple TVApple TV 3.0AppleTvAppleTv3.0iTunesopinionMegan LaveyFri, 30 Oct 2009 18:00:00 ESTHands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 updatehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/hands-on-with-the-underwhelming-apple-tv-3-0-update/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Regardless of some of the breathless comments coming out about the Apple TV 3.0 update, it appears that Apple TV is still a "hobby" to Apple. That is my impression after updating my Apple TV this afternoon and giving it a short run around the block.

To start with, I need to qualify this post with a quick reminder that I rarely use my Apple TV. But the gyrations I went through to get it updated are an indication that it still needs a real update, not just a facelift.

I began the update by turning on my Panasonic Viera Plasma TV and flipping the various switches to get the Apple TV on the display. Shortly after, the Apple TV woke up from a few months of sleep and I began flipping screens to find the Update button. I saw something that said "Downloads," and decided that was where I needed to go.

It asked for my Apple ID and password, and then told me I had the password wrong or it couldn't find the Apple ID. All of this was done not by typing on a keyboard, but by using the old white plastic Apple remote to pick one letter at a time off of a grid of letters and numbers. So much for Apple's vaunted skills in user interface design...

Continue reading Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update

Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hands-on with the underwhelming Apple TV 3.0 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvAppleTviTunes 9.0.2itunes extrasitunes lpItunes9.0.2ItunesExtrasItunesLpsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateSteven SandeThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:00:00 ESTTrillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket vetohttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/#commentsFiled under: ,

What do United States politics, a Canadian rock song, and a California computer company have in common? Here are some hints: the Pocket Veto, Freewill, and the App Store.

When the President of the United States is presented with a bill, she or he has 10 days to sign it, or veto it. If the President does not want to be seen as having acted in favor of or against some particular piece of legislation, he or she can simply put it in a pocket and wait for the clock to expire.

Or, as the Canadian rock band Rush once said: "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

Back in late August, Apple claimed not to have rejected the official Google Voice iPhone application. The company claimed it was still "studying" it.

Around that same time, Cerulean Studios submitted the amazing-looking Trillian for iPhone instant messaging application.

Over two months later, Apple has not taken action on either app. Neither app has (officially) been rejected, but they have not been accepted, either. In the case of the official Google Voice app, it feels very much like Apple has simply "pocketed" the application.

Continue reading Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto

Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storegoogle voiceiPhoneMailWranglerrejectiontrillianTJ LuomaThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTUncle Walt says "Apple's built-in software still has the edge"http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/uncle-walt-says-apples-built-in-software-still-has-the-edge/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/uncle-walt-says-apples-built-in-software-still-has-the-edge/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/uncle-walt-says-apples-built-in-software-still-has-the-edge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Walt Mossberg, the curmudgeonly, smooth-pated personal technology blogger at The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, has released his fall computer-buying guide. And when Walt talks, people listen.

Mossberg is usually very kind to Apple products, which probably explains why he gets the latest and greatest equipment sent to him by the guys in Cupertino prior to release, and we don't. In his latest guide, he says some surprisingly nice things about Windows PCs. That's mostly due to the progress in usability and friendliness brought about by the recent release of Windows 7. But he also goes on to say some very interesting things in his lead-in post, titled "Operating Systems Provide New Choices in PC Shopping."

While Walt points out the obvious -- that Windows PCs are usually less expensive than Macs and that Windows 7 has closed the gap between the operating systems in terms of user-friendliness -- he also goes on to say some very nice things about Macs:
But Apple's hardware is stylish and sturdy, and, in my tests, Macs usually boot faster than Windows machines. Plus, Apple's chain of retail stores offers a better buying experience and strong post-purchase support. Also, in my view, Apple's built-in software still has the edge. Snow Leopard is fast and reliable. And it comes with a full suite of excellent built-in programs, including email, photo and video software. Microsoft has stripped Windows 7 of such programs. Some PC makers have restored some or all of these in certain models, although I consider Apple's counterparts better. Another huge plus: The Mac isn't susceptible to the vast majority of viruses and spyware.
That's high praise again from the Prince of Personal Tech, and a list of good arguments for us "Apple Fanboys" to bring up when we're faced with Windows-lovers.

Uncle Walt says "Apple's built-in software still has the edge" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Uncle Walt says "Apple's built-in software still has the edge" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>all things digitalAllThingsDigitalbuying guideBuyingGuidewalt mossbergWaltMossbergSteven SandeThu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 ESTApple iPhone closing in on BlackBerry market sharehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/apple-iphone-closing-in-on-blackberry-market-share/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/apple-iphone-closing-in-on-blackberry-market-share/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/apple-iphone-closing-in-on-blackberry-market-share/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Paul Carton, Director of Research at ChangeWave Research, reported yesterday at investorplace.com that Apple iPhone is gaining steadily on BlackBerry's market share, a great feat considering BlackBerry's entrenched position in the business sector. iPhone market share is now a heady 30%, still behind BlackBerry's 40%, but RIM products are not gaining new users at nearly the same rate. As for Palm? Well, the Pre seems to have leveled out the free fall, but there's nothing terribly encouraging about the data. My guess is they are still pining for those halcyon days of 2006 when Palm was king.



The smartphone market itself is rising; according to Mr. Carton's research, a full 39% of consumers now own some kind of smartphone. Compare that with last summer, when the smartphone market was just cracking 25%.



The good news for Apple is that RIM's stranglehold on the smartphone market appears to be loosening, and with so many consumers still to reach, Apple has the momentum. CNNMoney.com characterized Apple's market gains as putting Apple within "striking distance" of BlackBerry. What's driving the momentum? Customer satisfaction. Among those who plan to buy a smartphone within the next 90 days, 36% plan to buy an iPhone. And among current users, fully 73% of them are satisfied with the device, compared with only 43% of BlackBerry users.



Mr. Carton notes that BlackBerry is planning product launches this year, and Apple has already released the 3GS. If Apple holds true to its history, we won't see a significant upgrade to the phone until next June. Either way, Apple has carved itself out quite a niche and the iPhone can no longer be dismissed as a toy to BlackBerry's business device.

Apple iPhone closing in on BlackBerry market share originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple iPhone closing in on BlackBerry market share originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>blackberryiphonemarket shareMarketSharepalmpresmartphoneLauren HirschWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTVMware Fusion 3.0: Take 2http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/vmware-fusion-3-0-take-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/vmware-fusion-3-0-take-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/vmware-fusion-3-0-take-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Update 5:30p: VMware's Pat Lee has acknowledged the problems on the serial-number system and has posted a universal 30-day trial license code and download link to allow users to install the new version.
---

I never was able to upgrade to a paid version of Fusion 3.0, so I downloaded a demo version and 2.5 hours later received a 30-day serial number.

Installation was trivial, but now I can't find my old version 2.06. That would be bad for people who are trying 3.0 and decide to go back to an older version. I tried a Spotlight search, and my older version is nowhere to be found. That's not good. Has anyone else making the upgrade experienced this? Update: Commenters make it clear that 2.0 will automatically be removed when you move to 3.

I'd already upgraded to Windows 7 on version 2.06, so the same OS came up fine under version 3.0. One of the advantages of 3.0 is that you can assign multiple cores to the app, and since I'm running on a 2 x 2.66 Dual Core Xeon I assigned 2 cores.

Start-up was faster than the old version. About 45 seconds to the Windows 7 desktop, and a few more seconds to bring up a couple of gadgets and settle down. Launch times of apps seem pretty fast, but I don't find the difference dramatic.

Continue reading VMware Fusion 3.0: Take 2

VMware Fusion 3.0: Take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)VMware Fusion 3.0: Take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>virtualizationVMware Fusion 3.0VmwareFusion3.0Windows 7Mel MartinTue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTApple will spend $4 million to renovate Chicago's North/Halsted trianglehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/apple-will-spend-4-million-to-renovate-chicagos-north-halsted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/apple-will-spend-4-million-to-renovate-chicagos-north-halsted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/apple-will-spend-4-million-to-renovate-chicagos-north-halsted/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Technically, I've now moved away from Chicago and am living in Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean I'm not still following the brand new Apple store being built at the intersection of North and Halsted in Chicago -- not only is that my old stomping grounds (I used to be a manager at that Borders), but hearing about and seeing the old place makes me a little nostalgic for that toddlin' town I left only a month and a half or so ago. And there's good news for Chicagoans just south of that Clybourne Corridor neighborhood. Apple will be spending a cool $4 million to redevelop the entire triangle, including that dirty old Red Line station sitting there as well (you can't tell, but the pic above is the old gas station that used to be there, with the train station in the background.

In exchange (c'mon, this is Chicago, you didn't think they'd be doing it for free, did you?), Apple gets first naming rights for the station ("iStop" jumps to mind), as well as the chance at advertising in there for 10 years to come, with four more five-year options. But even with those conditions, this is actually great news for that whole area -- it's been on the cusp of getting really busy (it's just a city block north of the old derelict Cabrini Green neighborhood) for a while now, and an Apple store with a brand new El stop certainly won't hurt. I'll have to make sure and take a trip back -- they're saying the triangular store could be open as soon as Fall 2010. There's an excellent Italian place just under the Brown line track across from the Steppenwolf just north on Halsted, too. Ah, memories.

Apple will spend $4 million to renovate Chicago's North/Halsted triangle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple will spend $4 million to renovate Chicago's North/Halsted triangle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applebordersbrown-linechicagoctaelgas-stationintersectionnorth-halstedred-lineretailrevamptrain-stationMike SchrammTue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 ESTRetrevo Study: Apple needs to price tablet at $600 or less to attract PC usershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/retrevo-study-apple-needs-to-price-tablet-at-600-or-less-to-at/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/retrevo-study-apple-needs-to-price-tablet-at-600-or-less-to-at/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/retrevo-study-apple-needs-to-price-tablet-at-600-or-less-to-at/#commentsFiled under: ,

The mythical Apple tablet is back in the news again, this time in the results of a new study that shows where the pricing "sweet spot" will need to be for Apple to attract users who would traditionally buy an inexpensive PC netbook instead.

Consumer electronics shopping site Retrevo.com surveyed 753 Americans distributed across age, gender, income, and location, asking them what they'd be willing to pay for an Apple tablet computer. While 68% of Mac users said that they'd willingly drop $600 or more on a tablet, only 36% of PC users said that they'd pay that much.

What does that tell Apple? If they want to continue to make inroads into the PC market, particularly in the netbook sector, the new device should have a price point around $600 so that price is not an issue for PC users. Retrevo's Gadgetology study also noted that Apple has already lost potential sales to early adopters like iPhone users, 59% of whom said they either already own or plan to purchase a netbook this year.

Not only is pricing of the Apple tablet key to making it a runaway success, but the study results show that Apple needs to get this device out the door as quickly as possible to capture the slower adopters who are planning on making a netbook purchase in the next year.

The study does not answer the question on how many dissatisfied netbook owners would make the switch to an Apple tablet, but we can only hope that Retrevo asks that question soon.

Retrevo Study: Apple needs to price tablet at $600 or less to attract PC users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Retrevo Study: Apple needs to price tablet at $600 or less to attract PC users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applenetbookretrevosurveytabletSteven SandeMon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:00 ESTRobert Scoble: 85,000 reasons why the iPhone won't be disruptedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/robert-scoble-85-000-reasons-why-the-iphone-wont-be-disrupted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/robert-scoble-85-000-reasons-why-the-iphone-wont-be-disrupted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/robert-scoble-85-000-reasons-why-the-iphone-wont-be-disrupted/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Whether you think he's the voice of reason on the Web or an annoying pest, when Robert Scoble over at the Scobleizer blog speaks, people listen.

Yesterday, a Twitter follower of Mr. Scoble stated that he thought "iPhone users were beyond reason," referring to the almost unnatural fixation that most of us have for our phones. Scoble brought up a very good point in his blogged response -- every app that comes out on the market (more than 85,000 at this point) provides another way to customize your iPhone to the way that you live and work.

In order for another manufacturer to come out with a device that will pry that iPhone out of our fingers, they're going to need to exactly duplicate or surpass the functionality that we've become used to. That's not likely to happen, in Scoble's opinion, because the 85,000+ apps that filter down to a couple of dozen (or hundred) apps on each iPhone turn that iPhone into something completely unique. It's not likely that any iPhone user is going to want to give up that up unless every app in the special combination on his or her iPhone is replaced by something better.

It makes sense. I've worked with all of the other smartphone platforms, and in no case have there been compelling apps that hold me to the platform. With the iPhone, I've tried thousands of apps, kept about a hundred, and those hundred apps let me work and play the way I want to. iPhone developers have also made sure that the apps are simple to use, too.

Perhaps the Android or some other smartphone platform will eventually evolve to the point that there is a critical mass of compelling apps that provides the same magical combination of power, ease-of-use, and fun, but until that time the iPhone will reign supreme. That's even despite Microsoft CEO and iPhone hater Steve Ballmer's recent assertion about the iPhone, "That's why they've got 75,000 applications -- they're all trying to make the Internet look decent on the iPhone."

Obviously Mr. Ballmer hasn't used an iPhone, or he'd realize that the iPhone is much more than Web apps. That might also give Ballmer a clue why Windows phones aren't even on the radar for most smartphone buyers today.

Robert Scoble: 85,000 reasons why the iPhone won't be disrupted originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Robert Scoble: 85,000 reasons why the iPhone won't be disrupted originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>androidapp storeappsAppStoreiphonescoblescobleizerSteven SandeMon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 ESTMicrosoft retail store opening in AZ copies freely from Apple Storeshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/microsoft-retail-store-opening-in-az-copies-freely-from-apple-st/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/microsoft-retail-store-opening-in-az-copies-freely-from-apple-st/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/24/microsoft-retail-store-opening-in-az-copies-freely-from-apple-st/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The day is Thursday, October 22nd. You're in Scottsdale, Arizona, and you walk into a brand new store being opened by a multinational corporation that produces technology products, including popular operating systems for computers and mobile phones, music/media players, and 'cloud' email and storage services for consumers.

As you walk into the store, employees in brightly-colored t-shirts cheer and applaud. The store is spacious, with large wooden tables placed far enough apart that the opening-day crowd, standing on a hardwood floor, isn't packed into the place. At the back of the store is an "Answer Bar," where you can ask questions about the operating system on your computer.

No, Apple didn't open a new Apple Store in Scottsdale on the 22nd. Instead, this was the opening of the first Microsoft Store. As expected, the stores draw heavily on the highly successful Apple Store concept; the stores are opening near Apple Stores, the former real estate chief for Apple (George Blankenship) was hired to consult on location and placement of the stores, and Microsoft has even attempted to hire away Apple Store managers to run their retail outlets.

The personal shoppers are a blatant rip-off of Apple's Concierge concept, and Personal Training is an echo of Apple's One-to-One training. The Microsoft Store website has similarities to the pages for individual Apple Stores, down to a scrolling list of in-store classes and events (the list for the Scottsdale store is empty at this time).

It's fascinating to see that Microsoft has decided to copycat the Apple Store concept, but it remains to be seen if the execution will be as successful for Microsoft as it has been for Apple.

[via MacRumors]

Microsoft retail store opening in AZ copies freely from Apple Stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Microsoft retail store opening in AZ copies freely from Apple Stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applemicrosoftscottsdale azScottsdaleAzstoreSteven SandeSat, 24 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTWin a Square Trade accident-coverage iPhone warranty from TUAWhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/square-trade-is-giving-away-5-free-iphone-warranties-to-tuaw-rea/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/square-trade-is-giving-away-5-free-iphone-warranties-to-tuaw-rea/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/23/square-trade-is-giving-away-5-free-iphone-warranties-to-tuaw-rea/#commentsFiled under: ,

Two weekends ago, Diet Coke was accidentally spilled onto my MacBook Pro Keyboard. The machine, a Core Duo 15" that was among the first of the Intel Macs rolled out, suddenly didn't work the way it used to. Luckily, damage was restricted only to the keyboard: caps lock, shift, b, h, and num lock didn't function. Not being able to type the word "butt" was a pain in the "utt." While I've since repaired the keyboard -- on my own, thanks to iFixit's instructions -- it made me question, again, the value of an extended warranty. Had the damage been worse, I may have had to get a new machine.

While AppleCare is certainly compelling for many (phone support and timely repairs of manufacturer defects by Apple-authorized technicians, among its values), its defect is that hardware repair coverage is restricted to manufacturer defects. And in my case, even if this had been a new machine still under AppleCare, it wouldn't have been covered. So, if you accidentally drop your iPhone in the toilet (it happens) or if, while looking up your Tiramisu recipe in MacGourmet, you happen to spill Kahlua all over your MacBook, you won't be covered by AppleCare.

While researching third party extended warranties, I stumbled upon Square Trade. In addition to covering manufacturers' defects, Square Trade's warranty covers accidental damage. In effect, it's a warranty with an additional safeguard for dings, drops and drenching.

Although the Square Trade warranty covers accidental damage, consider all your options before proceeding with a purchase -- Is it worth its cost? For example, claims for accidentally damaged items (as opposed to manufacturer defects) require a $50 deductible. In the case of the MacBook and MacBook Pro, this narrows the price gap between AppleCare and the SquareTrade price.

Continue reading Win a Square Trade accident-coverage iPhone warranty from TUAW

Win a Square Trade accident-coverage iPhone warranty from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Win a Square Trade accident-coverage iPhone warranty from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accidentaccidental damageAccidentalDamagecontestExtended WarrantyExtendedWarrantygiveawaysquare tradeSquareTradewarrantywater damageWaterDamageSang TangFri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 ESTMacminicolo writes up their state of the Mac minihttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/macminicolo-writes-up-their-state-of-the-mac-mini/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/macminicolo-writes-up-their-state-of-the-mac-mini/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/macminicolo-writes-up-their-state-of-the-mac-mini/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Steve Sande actually did a brilliant job of explaining just why the Mac mini is so awesome the other day (and we've certainly had our share of mini-love here on the site before), but this is worth a read as well if you're interested in Apple's littlest Mac. Macminicolo, the very company that Steve lauds in his piece for colocating mini servers for a while now, has posted a "state of the mini" piece, complete with unboxing of the new mini server, pictures of its guts and how they all work together. If you've ever wondered why the mini is such a marvel of desktop OS X-ness, check out their writeup (and drool at the beautiful setup above -- so many minis!).

There are a few good things to take away from the big release this week -- while Steve is exactly right that releasing a mini server means Apple is getting on the server bandwagon, it also means that Apple is officially on the mini bandwagon. When these machines were first released, they were marketed as a switchers' computer -- bring your own mouse and monitor, and we'll show you what being on a Mac is like at a fraction of the cost. Frankly, they never shined at that purpose, prompting many people to proclaim death sentences for the little machine that could. But by releasing a server, Apple's saying, "we get it." They get that the mini is much more of a workhorse than it appears (or was meant) to be. In my mind, that's a whole new lease on life -- the mini may have never made much of a splash as a switchers' computer, but it's got a long future as a tiny but powerful computer you can use for all sorts of things.

[via DF]

Macminicolo writes up their state of the Mac mini originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Macminicolo writes up their state of the Mac mini originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapple-hardwaredfhardwaremac-minimac-mini-servermacminicolomonitoros-serverstate-of-the-miniswitcherMike SchrammThu, 22 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTBook Review: "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs"http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/book-review-the-presentation-secrets-of-steve-jobs/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/book-review-the-presentation-secrets-of-steve-jobs/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/book-review-the-presentation-secrets-of-steve-jobs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs," Carmine Gallo provides a framework for you to deliver a keynote like Steve does. The book provides both an Al Michaels and John Madden perspective of Jobs's keynotes: a play-by-play account of events married with analytical insight.

While rich in detailing the stylistics of Jobs's presentations and the empirical evidence supporting it -- for example, limiting bullet points on slides, using simple language, and using the rule of threes to enhance a narrative -- the most captivating portion of the book is how it details Steve Jobs's preparation for his keynotes. Yes, even Steve Jobs, like the rest of us, must prepare for his preparations presentations.

And prepare he does, which is evident in the stories of Paul Vais. An executive at Jobs's former company NeXT (that Apple later acquired, which brought Jobs back into the Apple fold), Vais recalled that "every slide was written like a piece of poetry...[and that] Steve would labor over the presentation. We'd try to orchestrate and choreograph everything and make it more alive than it really is." However, Gallo says that "making your presentation 'more alive' takes practice. Once you accept this simple principle, your presentations will stand out in a sea of mediocrity."

Gallo's book follows many of the "Jobsian" presentation mantras he preaches. Like a Steve Jobs keynote, the book is simple to read and provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for a reference-minded reader. The one thing that most readers will walk away with is that Steve Jobs's on-stage presence evinces a style similar to that of Apple's products when they're on the stage of the showroom floor or marketed on Apple's website. As a result, as much as it serves as a Steve Jobs presentation guidebook, "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" in many ways is a Steve Jobs biography.

"The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" is available at many booksellers, including Borders, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Book Review: "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Book Review: "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>book reviewBookReviewcarmine galloCarmineGallohggkeynotepresentationsteve jobsSteveJobsSang TangWed, 21 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTWhy an Apple-blessed Mac mini server has big possibilitieshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/why-an-apple-blessed-mac-mini-server-has-big-possibilities/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/why-an-apple-blessed-mac-mini-server-has-big-possibilities/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/why-an-apple-blessed-mac-mini-server-has-big-possibilities/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A few minutes after we heard about all of the new product announcements this morning, this email came in from TUAW reader Daniel:
Can you god blessed brains explain in some easy-to-understand way what are the possibilities for a Mac mini server for us non-tech brained mortals?
Why, of course we can, Daniel! That's why we're here.

I have personally used Mac minis as servers since shortly after the first G4 models came out on the market. In fact, at one point I personally had two of them at Macminicolo.net, a wonderful little company that was founded on the belief that Mac minis were great servers. I've installed at least a dozen for clients, and they are excellent for small businesses for the following reasons:

They're inexpensive. When you start looking at an Xserve, you want to start looking at mass storage and tape libraries as well. Pretty soon, the cost of a fully-loaded Xserve starts looking astronomical to a small business. That's not to say that Xserves don't have their place -- in fact, I have had two of my clients start with Mac minis and then move to Xserves when they found that they were outgrowing the mini servers. With the new $999 price point for a mini with an unlimited Mac OS X Server 10.6 license, two built-in 500 GB drives, and 4 GB of RAM, almost anybody can afford to own a server that provides email, instant messaging, calendaring, a wiki, podcast production, and more to a small workgroup.

They make it simple. The advantage of Mac OS X Server's software suite is power with a pretty face; it exposes the UNIX power of Mac OS X (including the industry-standard Apache, PHP, Samba and Jabber/XMPP stacks) with the relative ease of the Mac. While you can certainly roll your own server setup using conventional Mac OS X (either using Apple's shipped versions of Apache & PHP, or bumping them up), having the server administration tools makes everything a lot nicer. What's more, the standalone unlimited-license version of Server is a full $499, making this a straightforward bargain.

Continue reading Why an Apple-blessed Mac mini server has big possibilities

Why an Apple-blessed Mac mini server has big possibilities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Why an Apple-blessed Mac mini server has big possibilities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>mac minimac mini serverMacMiniMacMiniServersnow leopard serverSnowLeopardServerSteven SandeTue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTExcited about the new Macs? There's a TUAW Talkcast for that at 10 PM EDT!http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/excited-about-the-new-macs-theres-a-tuaw-talkcast-for-that-at/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/excited-about-the-new-macs-theres-a-tuaw-talkcast-for-that-at/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/excited-about-the-new-macs-theres-a-tuaw-talkcast-for-that-at/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're all so excited about the announcements today that we want to talk to TUAW readers about them!

TUAW is going to have a special "The Apple Store is down" edition of the TUAW Talkcast, starting at 10 PM EDT (7 PM PDT). Bring your questions, commentary, and good cheer tonight to chat about all of the new Apple goodness.

To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, or you can try out the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm tonight. To call in on regular phone or VOIP lines (take advantange of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. Talk with you then!

Recording support for the talkcast is provided by Call Recorder from ecamm networks.


Excited about the new Macs? There's a TUAW Talkcast for that at 10 PM EDT! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Excited about the new Macs? There's a TUAW Talkcast for that at 10 PM EDT! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>new macsNewMacspodcastSteven SandeTue, 20 Oct 2009 14:30:00 ESTRock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrillhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/rock-band-out-for-9-99-on-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The good news is that EA has released Rock Band for the iPhone and iPod touch, and you can pick it up from the App Store right now. The bad news is that it seems like a pretty tough sell -- despite the relatively high price tag (Tap Tap Revenge 3, a similar music game, is currently 99 cents and headed for free), there's not much new here.

Sure, there is four-device Bluetooth multiplayer, and that's something that Tapulous' game has never had. But other than that, it seems like this is basically EA's cash in on the tapping concept -- the draw of Rock Band has been getting together with your friends and jamming out the hits on those fake instruments, and touching a button-less screen by yourself doesn't have the same effect. Singing is included, but you're still just tapping out notes for that -- it seems like they missed a lot of potential fun there. And even some of the fun things from the console version like the drum fills for overdrive and the character avatars are missing here.

If you don't like the 20 songs included with the game, you can download others at 50 cents (in two-song packs for a buck each), but most people probably shouldn't even bother at that price -- just stick with Tapulous' game unless you really love Rock Band and its aesthetics (even then, I haven't seen my much-beloved Harmonix mentioned anywhere with this port, so I doubt they're even involved. Update: They are listed on the game's splash screen, however, according to our readers).

Even if you want to try this one, wait for the inevitable price drop -- if the game really lived up to its name as the premiere music experience you'll find on the consoles, it might be worth it, but all indications are, unfortunately, that it doesn't.

Gallery: Rock Band iPhone / iPod Touch

Rock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rock Band out for $9.99 on the iPhone... but fails to thrill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storedownloadable-musiceaea-mobileharmonixiphoneipod-touchmusic-gamereleaserock-bandtappingMike SchrammMon, 19 Oct 2009 21:30:00 ESTWhat do you do after you start Twitter? Invent a credit card reader.http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/what-do-you-do-after-you-start-twitter-invent-a-credit-card-rea/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/what-do-you-do-after-you-start-twitter-invent-a-credit-card-rea/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/19/what-do-you-do-after-you-start-twitter-invent-a-credit-card-rea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you were Jack Dorsey, one of the co-founders and current chairman of Twitter, you'd want to think about something else big to follow up on your huge success.

While it doesn't sound like anything groundbreaking, Dorsey's new company Square is developing a tiny white cube (see photo above) that plugs into the headphone jack on either an iPhone or iPod touch. The cube is a credit card reader, something missing from all of those credit card apps currently in the iTunes App Store.

The Square iPhone Payment System consists of the reader and an app. After a card swipe, the customer uses a finger to sign the iPod touch or iPhone, one of the participants in the transaction enters the customer's email address, and a receipt with the location of the transaction, the signature, and other standard information is emailed to the customer.

While most online journalists are anticipating that this device and software are going to be used in retail (can you say Apple Store?), I think Dorsey has bigger ideas - let's face it, the guy doesn't think small. So why not make it possible for anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch to be able to accept credit cards for payments? Word has it that the card reader's manufacturing price will be as low as US$0.40, which means that Square could give away the readers and still make money on the transaction fees.

[via Engadget]

What do you do after you start Twitter? Invent a credit card reader. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)What do you do after you start Twitter? Invent a credit card reader. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>credit card readerCreditCardReaderdongleengadgetiphoneipod touchIpodTouchjack dorseyJackDorseyretailtwitterSteven SandeMon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTDevs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase changehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It was just yesterday that Apple announced they would allow free apps to enable in-app purchases, and developers are already jumping on the "get the app for free, buy the content later" business model as quickly as they can. ngmoco came out swinging, as Touch Arcade reports, with both a free intro version of Rolando 2 out for purchase, with later chapters of the game as add-ons. They've also been working on a shooter called Eliminate, and we're now told that title will be free as well, with extra content to buy later.

The creators of Urban Rivals, an app that is based on a virtual trading card game, have let us know that they too plan to go the free-with-microtransactions model as soon as their app is released, and though we haven't actually heard from Tapulous, Andrew Lacy told us outright that the only reason Tap Tap Revenge 3 had a 99 cent price tag on it was because of Apple's limitation, so we'll expect that app to go free as soon as it can.

Clearly, there's a drive for this model on the developer side, but the question will be just how much this echoes with consumers -- certainly the "download a trial, buy more later" model has worked well on other platforms, so we can expect it to work here on the App Store as well. But on the other hand, just as when the App Store first opened for business, it's a very "wild west" moment -- everybody and their brother is offering up in-app transactions, and they're all of varying prices and quality.

My guess is that we'll see a few "hits" -- a few free apps that everybody buys content for (Tap Tap Revenge 3 is a good guess; considering that because you know most of those songs, there's much less guessing on what the quality of the transactions will give you). At the same time, there will likely be apps that everyone agrees aren't worth the in-app purchase (it's the old story of "horse armor" when Xbox Live started doing microtransactions). Until we find a good balance, where quality meets price, odds are that it'll be tough for consumers to know just what's worth it, and thus tough for developers to convince them that their content is.

Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>andrew-lacydeveloperseliminatefreefreewarehorse-armorin-app-purchasesiphoneipod-touchngmocorolando-2tapulousurban-rivalsMike SchrammSat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST