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's Halloween rounduphttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/tuaws-halloween-roundup/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/tuaws-halloween-roundup/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/tuaws-halloween-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A look at Halloween posts gone by...

Thumbnail for The TUAW Halloween costume gallery The TUAW Halloween costume gallery
We asked to see your Apple-themed Halloween costumes, and you delivered. As Mac fans everywhere head off to Halloween parties, it's clear that TUAW readers have created some great outfits.		 Thumbnail for A handful of Halloween for your iPhone or iPod touch A handful of Halloween for your iPhone or iPod touch
Ready for Halloween on your iPhone? The App Store provides a quick fix for trick-or-treaters, and the offerings provide a little of each category. Here's a sampling.
Thumbnail for Flickr Find: Mac-O-Lantern Flickr Find: Mac-O-Lantern
Halloween is just around the corner, and you know what means: spooky Macs! Tim emailed us to share his instructions for making a Mac-o-lantern out of a Mac Classic. Some tape, a can of spray paint...		 Also of interest:

TUAW's Halloween roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Halloween roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>costumecult of macCultOfMachalloweenholidayiphoneipumpkinmac-o-lanternTUAW BloggerFri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTFive Gifts for the Mac AV Geekhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/audio-video-mac-geek-gift-guide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

'Tis the season to be buying. But what do you get for that special geek in your life?

I can't speak for your geek, but I know what I'm asking Santa for this year - I just hope he's a TUAW reader. Whether he is or not, maybe going through my list will give you an idea on how to max out your credit card spread some holiday cheer this year.


Dear Santa,

I've been a good boy this year. I've cut back on the booze, and they don't greet me by name at the strip club anymore. So instead of a stocking full of coal, could you find it in your heart to bring me one or more of the following items on the night before Christmas? I know it's a long flight to New Zealand from the North Pole, but you've got to admit, at least the weather down here is waaaay better than in Cleveland this time of year.

First of all, I'd like a shiny new 802.11n Airport Express. I like my Time Capsule (when it's not being a recalcitrant piece of junk), but the 5GHz wireless signal doesn't reach from my living room all the way back to my office. With an Airport Express, I'd be able to extend the wireless signal from my Time Capsule to the other side of the house and geek away in privacy. That way my wife won't have to grit her teeth every five minutes when the theme from Metroid goes off at 80 decibels and tells me I got a new e-mail. And since the Airport Express is 802.11n-enabled, I'd still be able to back up my data to the Time Capsule at a brisk pace.

I'd also like these Shure SE115m+ earphones. I've been using a set of Shure E2cs for about three years now, and I love them, but the one big advantage the SE115m+ has is the controls built into the cord that would allow me to pause, play, and skip through tracks on my iPhone. I'd also be able to take calls, and it even has a built-in microphone. Santa, if I had these earphones I'd be able to put those white earbuds that came with my iPhone into a drawer and never look at them again, and that would make me a very happy boy indeed.

You know how I like to shoot HD video, right Santa? But not those kinds of videos, because that would get me on the naughty list. My MacBook Pro does a good job of encoding video - it works pretty close to real-time - but if I had an Elgato Turbo.264 HD Video Encoder, it would go so much faster. Like 3-4 times faster. That way I could spend less time waiting for videos to encode and more time drinking helping old ladies across the street.

If I'd been a really good boy this year, like if I'd won the Nobel Peace Prize or employee of the month at TUAW, I'd ask for a bona fide guitar amplifier. But since I haven't been that good, I'd settle for a Zoom G2.1U Guitar Effects Pedal with USB interface. This thing will simulate all kinds of guitar effects for me, and it'll plug right into my MacBook Pro. So far playing my guitar through Garageband has been an acceptable substitute for a real, live amplifier, but the one thing I definitely miss is all my effects pedals. Garageband includes lots of neat software effects that simulate pedals, but you can't stomp on them to switch them on and off. I know - I've tried.

Last thing, Santa: if none of those other things will fit in your bag, could you just get me a big, fat iTunes gift card? I've got nearly US$120 worth of songs I want to upgrade to iTunes Plus so I can stop worrying about DRM nonsense on my previous purchases and get higher-quality music in the process.

Thanks Santa. Next year I promise to be more helpful and honest and say fewer naughty words about New Zealand's telecommunications companies.

Five Gifts for the Mac AV Geek originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Five Gifts for the Mac AV Geek originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>airport expressAirportExpresschristmaselgatofeatureshanukkahhggholidayholiday gift guideHolidayGiftGuideituneskwanzaashuresolsticezoomChris RawsonFri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTApple to bring changes to retail storeshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/apple-to-bring-changes-to-retail-stores/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/apple-to-bring-changes-to-retail-stores/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/apple-to-bring-changes-to-retail-stores/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As the holiday season brings additional shoppers to Apple's retail stores, they'll be making changes to ensure a pleasant experience for the new customers, ifoAppleStore reports.

First, they're going to ditch the color-coded Starfleet uniform T-shirts, which shoppers have found confusing. Instead, all employees will wear the same color. Next, the handheld checkout devices will be swapped out for specially-equipped iPod touches. A new scanner accessory will interact with point-of-sale software on the iPods. Best of all, employees will be able to accept cash from customers right where the stand, eliminating the often time-consuming walk to the cash register.

Watch for these changes at an Apple Store near you.

Apple to bring changes to retail stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple to bring changes to retail stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleholidaysretailshoppingDave CaoloThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 ESTVrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touchhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/vrooooom-start-your-car-and-more-from-your-iphone-or-ipod-tou/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TUAW reader Ethan pointed us in the direction of something new, cool, and available only for iPhone and iPod touch (take that, Palm Pre and Android phones!)

BestBuy has an exclusive on the new Viper SmartStart System, which can do a number of things for your wheels:
  • Start your car with virtually unlimited range
  • Warm your car in winter; cool your car in summer
  • Unlock your car or truck
  • Arm the alarm to protect your car
  • Activate panic alarm to protect yourself
  • Receive push-button status notifications
It uses a free iPhone app [iTunes link] to give you that remote love, like when you are visiting friends overseas and want to scare people by starting your car up while it's sitting by itself in the airport parking lot. The developers also note that in the near future, a new release of the app will give you push notification if your car alarm goes off.

There are two versions available: a module (SmartStart VSM100 Module, US$299.99) for cars that are already equipped with compatible Viper starting systems, and a fully loaded package (SmartStart VSM4000 System, US$499.99) for the rest of us.

Some of the app reviewers have noted that you're not only paying for the system and your iPhone bill, but there's also a US$29 monthly annual GSM service bill that you'll have to pay (the first year of service is complimentary with your purchase). However, if the money isn't an object and you're already clueless about what to get a loved one for Christmas, this might be an idea to consider.

Vrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Vrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bestbuyHGGiphoneipod touchIpodTouchremote startRemoteStartViperSmartstartSteven SandeSun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:00 ESTFound Footage: iPhone costumes are either genius or deeply misguidedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/found-footage-iphone-costumes-are-either-genius-or-deeply-misgu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/found-footage-iphone-costumes-are-either-genius-or-deeply-misgu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/25/found-footage-iphone-costumes-are-either-genius-or-deeply-misgu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


You have to hand it to Reko and Bobby John for their stick-to-it-iveness; they were behind a similar set of iPhone costumes in 2007, but those didn't have the fully-functional power of these new outfits. Yes, those are LCD TVs on the front (not touchable, sadly) showing content from the (almost certainly) jailbroken iPhones mounted on top; yes, each getup weighs 85 pounds because it includes a car battery to power the display. I can see how the illusion would be broken by a 500-foot charging cable trailing behind them as they trick-or-treat their way around the subdivision.

There's a part of me that wants to tell these guys to apply their wild, inventive energy to more productive pursuits. And yet... there's another bit of reptile brain that simply sits and watches, in awe.

Thanks to John for the tip!

[via MacRumors Forums]

Found Footage: iPhone costumes are either genius or deeply misguided originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: iPhone costumes are either genius or deeply misguided originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>costumefound footageFoundFootagehalloweeninsaneiphoneMichael RoseSun, 25 Oct 2009 12:30:00 ESTPachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/pachter-ipod-touch-is-dangerous-for-game-publishers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's been just over a year since we officially noticed that Apple was pushing towards gaming on the iPod touch, and while their advertising hasn't stopped pushing, the actual push hasn't quite gotten to a shove. If you look at this holiday season, certainly the iPod touch is a popular device, butt kids are still asking for the PSP Go and the Nintendo DSi, handheld units meant specifically for gaming. If Apple wants to trounce gaming the same way they've trounced the smartphone market with the iPhone, they've got a long road to travel.

But don't count them out yet, says analyst Michael Pachter -- he says the iPod touch is the "most dangerous thing that ever happened to the [major video game] publishers, ever." Apple's main handheld gaming device is $200 this Christmas, but he says next year it'll be $149, and the year after that, maybe $129. When, in the future, you can put down $99 and walk away with an iPod touch, says Pachter, then "every nine year old kid is going to have one of those instead of a DS or a PSP, and if you train kids that this is the game that you want to play... How about Tetris? Why would you pay USD 20 for Tetris when you can get it for USD 6.99 or USD 3.99 on iPod touch?"

Interesting point. It's true that console manufacturers have been hesitant to lower prices on their products (in fact, Sony's latest version of the PSP actually had a price increase), while Apple seems committed to pushing the prices on iPods ever cheaper. And yes, as long as companies keep releasing the same games on both devices for $30 on the DS and less than $10 on the App Store (and why shouldn't they -- no packaging, no distribution costs), people will go for the cheaper one. I don't expect to see the iPod touch as a huge winner this year (as a gaming competitor, I mean -- of course it'll sell by the truckloads), but Pachter seems right: wait until the prices drop, and the iPod touch might have traditional gaming devices shaking in their D-pads.

Pachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Pachter: iPod touch is "dangerous" for game publishers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeapplecompetitiongamersgamingiphoneipod-touchnintendosonyMike SchrammSat, 17 Oct 2009 08:00:00 ESTCatch a satellite on your iPhone this weekendhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/catch-a-satellite-this-weekend/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/catch-a-satellite-this-weekend/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/05/catch-a-satellite-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As summer draws to a close for much of the northern hemisphere, try to get outside for some (hopefully) clear skies and a little star gazing.

We've taken a good look at many of the star gazing apps available for the Mac and the iPhone, and I thought it would be fun to try the 'next step', an iPhone app that finds passing satellites and the International Space Station. There are a lot of websites that give you this information, but having it in an app is even nicer.

I've just tried Satellite Visibility [iTunes link], a US$2.99 app that does the job and worked for me the first time out. You tell the app where you are, or let the phone GPS determine your location. You then get a list of all the brighter manmade objects hurtling around the earth that you can see over the next couple days.

If you click on one, you get detailed info on when it appears, when it falls into the earth's shadow, and what direction to look. In addition, you get little sky maps that show where the object will be in a graphic format.

It was partly cloudy here in Arizona last night, but I did locate the International Space Station as it made about a 1 minute appearance in the southern skies before it went behind a cloud bank.

The data for the app comes from a useful website called Heavens Above which has the information that this iPhone app picks up and uses.

The charts are helpful, but the trail of the satellite against the sky is sometimes subtle on the small iPhone screen. Even though I had my GPS radio on, each time I used the app it turned that option off. It does retain your last location, but I think it should just grab the info and not change my settings.

There are other similar apps available for the iPhone, some more expensive; others are free but missing some features that Satellite Visibility has. I think this app has a nice mix for the money.

If all you want is info for passes of the International Space Station, the developer has a US$1.99 app [iTunes app] that skips all the other satellite data.

I think hunting satellites is fun on a nice clear night, so here's a fresh holiday weekend activity you might enjoy.

Click below for a few screen shots:

Gallery: Satellite Visibility

Catch a satellite on your iPhone this weekend originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Catch a satellite on your iPhone this weekend originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeastronomyiPhoneSatellite VisibilitySatelliteVisibilityMel MartinSat, 05 Sep 2009 15:00:00 ESTTraveling this weekend? Win a $100 gas card from App Cubby and TUAWhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/traveling-this-weekend-win-a-100-gas-card-from-app-cubby-and-t/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/traveling-this-weekend-win-a-100-gas-card-from-app-cubby-and-t/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/traveling-this-weekend-win-a-100-gas-card-from-app-cubby-and-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

According to statistics released this week from AAA, 39.1 million Americans are expected to take a trip of 50 miles or more away from home. That's a lot of driving, a lot of gas, and consequently a lot of cold hard cash. TUAW and App Cubby would like to help make this holiday more fuel efficient -- and for one lucky TUAW reader, a lot less expensive.

Tracking fuel economy over time is the best way to make sure you and your vehicle are driving as efficiently as possible. With Gas Cubby [iTunes link] on sale from now until Labor Day for only $2.99, you've got one less excuse for not being more aware of your gas consumption. Gas Cubby makes tracking fuel economy quick, easy, and, dare we say, fun (that's what Dave had to say in his review of Gas Cubby 2.0).

Leave your favorite green driving tip in the comments and we'll select someone at random and send that person a $100 Shell gas card.
  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
  • To enter leave a comment telling us your favorite green driving tip.
  • The comment must be left before Monday, September 8, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Prize: Shell gas card ($100 value)
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Traveling this weekend? Win a $100 gas card from App Cubby and TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Traveling this weekend? Win a $100 gas card from App Cubby and TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app cubbyAppCubbygas cubbyGasCubbygiveawayiphonetravelVictor Agreda, Jr.Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:00:00 ESTHappy Easter from TUAWhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/12/happy-easter-from-tuaw/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/12/happy-easter-from-tuaw/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/12/happy-easter-from-tuaw/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Today is Easter for those of you celebrating around the world, and what better way to celebrate than with Peeps? Specifically Peeps attending an Apple event -- these guys were made by Sarah Kohari and Erin Mastrangelo of Washington, and are part of the Washington Post's yearly Peeps diorama contest. This one is number 38, and they also made number 39 as well.

We like it, obviously, especially the little Steve Jobs peep, as well as the iPeep nanos (in, apparently, all of the different colors Peeps come in). Happy Easter to everyone -- may you have candy and chocolate of all kinds (if that's what you're looking for today), and may all of your egg finding go well.

Happy Easter from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Happy Easter from TUAW originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple-eventcandydioramaeastereggshappy-easterholidayspeepsrabbitssteve-jobssugartuawwashington-postMike SchrammSun, 12 Apr 2009 14:00:00 ESTTUAW 2016http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/01/tuaw-2016/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/01/tuaw-2016/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/04/01/tuaw-2016/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Good afternoon, and welcome to your daily brainload from TUAW, a division of Weblogs, Inc. owned by Comcast Online. Please make sure the neural connector is clicked in all the way, and then think "Start" when you are ready.

Steve Jobs returns to Apple's Board of Directors after stint at GM
Steve Jobs announced his return to Apple today after a government-mandated stint as CEO of General Motors. Obama White House spokesperson Ruth Christopher stated that since Jobs had saved the American auto company with the introduction of the extremely popular flyCar, he could return to his usual duties. Apple executives released a statement saying they were "overjoyed" to have Jobs back on the job.

New MacBooks and Mac mini appear on Apple Store site
Apple has quietly updated its legacy line of personal computers, adding exabyte molecular hard drives and gigacore nanoprocessors without raising the prices. Fans, unfortunately, were unimpressed with the updates -- "my implants can move faster than that," John Gruber transmitted to his brainload feed, along with a TwitFeeling of disappointment and anger. But Apple defended the updates, stating that the new computers were "perfect for the older member of your family who still need their hardware in the box, rather than out of it." Anyone who has purchased one of the older units in the past six months (if there are any of you out there still buying hardware) can be eligible for an exchange at any Apple center.

MobileMe announces record number of subscribers
Over three billion people have subscribed to Apple's MobileMe service since its reintroduction two years ago, according to a new study transmitted by analysts NPD. Apparently people love the fact that they no longer have to carry an iPhone, a laptop, or any hardware at all, as MobileMe now works directly with tiny processors implanted into your head to bring you brainloads, news, TwitFeelings, and the Webview over the cloud directly into your visual and memory cortexes.

"People really love not having to deal with devices or pesky buttons," said an NPD analyst. "MobileMe allows them to connect directly into the ethersphere, leaving them open to do or think or feel anything while anywhere." The price of the system was also lauded as one of the reasons it's so popular. Apparently after the big economic meltdown in 2010, Apple's customers are thrilled to get a full-service communication package for just over a billion dollars a year. "MobileMe has never been so worth it," said longtime user Dave Caolo.

Apple announces event next Tuesday: "Go ahead. Take a guess, suckers."
Press outlets around the brainsphere have recieved invites from Apple for an event next Tuesday in Chicago's Willis Tower (up until two years ago, events like this were held in San Franscisco at the Moscone Center, but of course the unfortunate earthquakes and flooding in 2014 mean that all of California is currently underwater). Rumors are flying about what might be announced at the event, but Apple hasn't given any indication of what there might be -- in fact, the invite itself features a question mark, and the text: "Take a guess, suckers. You still haven't gotten it right."

Most brainloaders have speculated that the event may finally feature the debut of the long-awaited iTablet, or maybe, finally, the reveal of The Beatles unenhanced audio recordings into the iCollective. Either way, TUAW won't be there: we still haven't gotten an invite. But we will, as usual, be providing Mike Schramm's unfiltered thoughts on the event live as it happens. Remember to make sure your children are unplugged at the time.

TUAW 2016 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW 2016 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapril-foolsbuttonsdave-caolodevicesgruberhumormobilemenpdsillysteve-jobstuawtwitfeelingsMike SchrammWed, 01 Apr 2009 19:00:00 ESTLucky Bags sold in Japanese Apple Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/lucky-bags-sold-in-japanese-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/lucky-bags-sold-in-japanese-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/lucky-bags-sold-in-japanese-apple-store/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fukubukuro, or "Mystery Bag," is a Japanese New Year's Day tradition during which merchants sell sealed bags of various items at a substantial discount, often as high as 50%. Apple participated this year, and one lucky shopper, Justin, blogged his experience.

For the approximate equivalent of $384US, Justin received

  • an 8 GB iPod touch
  • Nike iPod sensor and armband
  • Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere2 speaker set
  • Cool, re-useable bag (at right)
  • Commemorative T-shirt
  • 2009 calendar

Quite a haul! Shoppers lined up at midnight on January 2nd for a chance to buy one of Apple's Mystery Bags. I'm thinking that US retailers need to adopt this tradition.

[Via ifoAppleStore]

Lucky Bags sold in Japanese Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Lucky Bags sold in Japanese Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple retailApple StoreAppleRetailAppleStoreFukubukurojapanDave CaoloMon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 ESTApple ranked #4 among online retailershttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/apple-ranked-4-among-online-retailers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/apple-ranked-4-among-online-retailers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/apple-ranked-4-among-online-retailers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A holiday survey of shopper satisfaction with e-retailers ranked Apple as number 4, with 78% of customers pleased with purchases made on the Apple website. The survey was conducted by ForeSee Results and FGI Research.

Only two online retailers scored above 80 percent, with Amazon and Netflix tied at 84%. QVC.com ranked third. The survey is intended to be predictive for how companies will do in 2009. Retailers losing some customer confidence included Circuit City, Gap, Home Depot, HSN, Neiman Marcus, and Overstock.com.

Larry Freed, President and CEO of ForeSee Results, said that too many e-retailers aren't paying attention to metrics like customer satisfaction and he said "that's just not playing to win in this economy."

Apple is down 1% from last year's rankings. In general, Apple does very well in surveys that measure customer loyalty, product reliability, and service and support.

2009 could be a tough year for brick and mortar and online retailers, so every little bit of customer pleasure really helps translate into sales.

Apple ranked #4 among online retailers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple ranked #4 among online retailers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Apple Storecustomer satisfactionholiday salessurveysMel MartinWed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:00 ESTChristmas iPod touch and iPhone gifts boost App Store volumehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/christmas-ipod-touch-and-iphone-gifts-boost-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/christmas-ipod-touch-and-iphone-gifts-boost-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/christmas-ipod-touch-and-iphone-gifts-boost-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Hello and welcome once again to The Obvious News. Our top story today: the sky remains blue, and we'll have a full report by our man on the scene Chip Thompson about that later. But first, this: apparently App Store downloads are up thanks to large holiday sales of the iPhone and iPod touch. This comes as a shock to absolutely no one, but reports are coming in from developers, publishers, and browser reports and search terms alike that App Store downloads and interest have jumped up three and four times over, thanks, it seems, to more people receiving iPhones and iPod touches for Christmas and the other winter holidays.

John Sargent of The Obvious Institute tells us why: "Well, iPod touches are pretty boring without apps, you know? And I guess people probably want to try out apps on their new iPod touches." Thank you, John -- painfully obvious. Our technology analyst Ms. Common Sense also tells us that any time Apple sees a bump in sales of their devices, the App Store will have its own sales bump soon after.

In other Obvious News, having too many meetings can apparently make you grumpy. We'll be back after these messages. Obviously.

Christmas iPod touch and iPhone gifts boost App Store volume originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Christmas iPod touch and iPhone gifts boost App Store volume originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storechristmasdownloadsgiftsholidaysinterestiphoneipod-touchobvioussalesMike SchrammMon, 29 Dec 2008 18:00:00 ESTApple looking pretty good at Amazonhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/26/apple-looking-pretty-good-at-amazon/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/26/apple-looking-pretty-good-at-amazon/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/26/apple-looking-pretty-good-at-amazon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For many online and brick and mortar stores, it has not been a great holiday season. Even with all the after-Christmas sales today, retailers are saying they do not expect to be able to make up for the effects of a dismal economy.

For Amazon, however, things went very well. Today Amazon reported that this has been their best season so far, shipping an amazing 72.9 items per second. Amazon has not reported profits, so with deep discounting they may not have made as much money as last year, even though they have sold more items.

In the electronics category, where computers and MP3 players sit, the Apple iPod touch was a best seller. Of the 25 best selling notebook computers, 7 were Apple laptops when I checked. (These numbers change hourly.) Only one other laptop that sells for more than 500 dollars made the top 25, a Toshiba for $599. The rest of the top sellers were all under $500 and included several netbooks. Are you listening, Apple? Netbooks are catching on. What is so interesting is that Apple users did not seem to be very sensitive to price, and the best selling Apple notebook was not the cheapest, but was in fact the new unibody MacBook.

For desktop computer sales, 3 of the 5 best sellers are Macs, but note these numbers change hourly too. Dell and HP round out the top 5. While not authoritative, Apple seems to weathering some of the economic recession. When Apple releases holiday benchmarks for their retail and online store, the results should be interesting.

Apple looking pretty good at Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple looking pretty good at Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Amazondesktop salesiPod touchlaptop salesMel MartinFri, 26 Dec 2008 16:15:00 ESTSo you just got an Apple TV -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

The Apple TV launched almost two years ago and has yet to really "take off." That's OK, with more and more downloadable HD content, improved support for stuff like podcasts and Airtunes and some awesome third-party solutions, the Apple TV can easily become a great media center.

Did Santa bring you an Apple TV this year? These are my tips for making it even more awesome!

Boxee It

I've made no secret about my unabashed love for boxee, the awesome media center with a social kick that can run on your Apple TV. It should be no surprise that my first piece of advice is that you set-up boxee on your Apple TV as soon as you get it connected to your TV and home theater.

Need an invite? If you don't have a friend to ask, check out the boxee forums, hit up the boxee Twitter feed or pester me (@film_girl) and you should be able to get one pretty quickly. On January 8th, 2009, boxee will be opening up the alpha for everyone.

After you've updated your Apple TV to the latest firmware, follow my instructions or take a look the information at the ATV USB Creator project page for the the details on making a patchstick. The process is extremely easy and you just need a USB stick (1 GB or more recommended) and a few minutes to get everything up and running.

Once boxee is installed, you can enjoy Hulu (if you live in the US), streaming video from other services, last.fm and playback of other file types that won't natively play on the Apple TV; you can store those files either on the Apple TV, or that you access from another hard drive.

Learn about the other cool software add-ons

I really love the Awkward TV Wiki, which is a great way to stay abreast of the latest programs and hacks users have created for the Apple TV. Most of these plugins can be installed via a patchstick -- like boxee -- and they run on-top of the existing Apple TV interface. Some of the coolest utilities, like Couchsurfer, have recently been updated for firmware 2.3.

Although modifying your Apple TV does come with some risks (you might have to do a factory restore if something goes wrong), the methodology of applying said modifications has become much, much easier and you really aren't putting your Apple TV at risk. Still, keep in mind that Apple won't provide any technical support for a modified Apple TV (which means, restore it to factory settings before sending it back :-)).

Try out a new remote, ore the iPhone/iPod touch remote app

One of the most usefulf feature additions in firmware 2.3 is the ability to program a universal remote to work with the Apple TV. If you have a really nice programmable remote, like the Logitech Harmony, you've already been able to use it with the Apple TV -- but now you can do the same thing with your TV or receiver remote.

Even better, if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, the Remote app [iTunes link] is pretty awesome. The Remote app let's you control music from your Apple TV -- which is fantastic if you want to use the ATV as a music center.

Rent some holiday movies or buy a holiday TV show

'Tis the season! Rent or buy a Christmas movie directly from the Apple TV! You can also peruse some holiday TV classics, like The Best Christmukkah Ever from the first season of The O.C.

So you just got an Apple TV -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got an Apple TV -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvapple-tvAppleTvboxeeFeaturesremote.appChristina WarrenThu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 ESTSo you just got a hard drive -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-hard-drive-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-hard-drive-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-hard-drive-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

Some good soul gifted you with a hard drive for the holidays. I can't think of a better gift! There are two ways to use that extra disk space -- the right way, which I'll get to in a moment, and the way many people do it, which is to just expand their disk space because they are running out of room.

I'm here to tell you that is the wrong thing to do with a new hard drive if you don't have a backup strategy already. Let's make a few assumptions here. The new drive has a USB 2.0 interface, or it has a Firewire 400 or 800 interface. It also is at least as large as your primary hard drive. Even better if it is bigger. Use that drive as a backup device, not for more disk space. Old hands around computers already know this, but if you are just getting started, it really is extra important to have all your files duplicated on another drive.

With any computer, stuff happens, like a sudden power surge, a drive failure, or a kid in the house who loves to see how the Mac trash can works. Can you really afford to lose all those pictures, emails, documents and CDs you lovingly ripped to iTunes? I didn't think so.

Getting a heavy duty back up is not too challenging. If you plug a brand new drive in, your Mac (assuming you have Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard) will ask you if you'd like to use it as a Time Machine drive. Time Machine is Apple's built-in backup solution, and it is great for people who constantly change or update files and sometimes have a good reason to go back and get the old versions. The larger your extra drive, the further you can 'go back in time'. Time Machine allows you to restore all the data, but it can take several hours and may require your original system DVD if your machine isn't bootable.

Read on for more...

Continue reading So you just got a hard drive -- now what?

So you just got a hard drive -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got a hard drive -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>backupCarbon Copy ClonerFeaturessecuritySuperDuperTime MachineTimeMachineMel MartinThu, 25 Dec 2008 17:30:00 ESTSo you just got a camcorder -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

Did Santa leave you a camcorder for Christmas? If he did, you probably did what most people do -- ripped open the package, slapped a battery pack on it, and started recording the fun. Hopefully you're reading this post before you've succumbed to that temptation, so you can avoid issues later on. Here are some hints to make your future as a filmmaker as trouble-free as possible.

1) Read The Manual. Most people tend to toss out the manual with the wrapping paper, but for something as complex as a camcorder it's a good idea to keep and read the manual. Sure, with a point and shoot camcorder like a Flip Mino you can get away with giving the camcorder a quick charge and then going to town recording the kids bouncing off the walls in a sugar-induced frenzy. But if you were really good and Santa got you a high-end HD camcorder with a powerful zoom lens, image stabilization, and other cool features, you'd better learn how to use them.

Continue reading So you just got a camcorder -- now what?

So you just got a camcorder -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got a camcorder -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>camcorderFeaturesflip minoFlipMinohow-tovideoSteven SandeThu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 ESTSo you just got an iPhone -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-iphone-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-iphone-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-iphone-now-what/#commentsFiled under: ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

Congratulations, you've finally gotten an iPhone! It's either your very first one, or you've managed to upgrade to the iPhone 3G. As with any new hardware purchase, now you get to have even more fun selecting accessories for it.

How to use your iPhone
There is plenty of information out there if you're looking for a basic guide to the functions of your new iPhone. One of the best sources for free information is right here at TUAW. Here's a couple of tips to help you get started:

  • Taking screenshots: Hold down the home button and then quickly press the sleep/wake button. You'll see a flash and hear the sound of a camera click, and a screenshot of your current screen will be placed in the Camera Roll under Photos.
  • Back to home: If you're browsing a page on a home screen other than the initial one, press the home button again and it'll take you back to the first page of the home screen. You can also speed-scroll through your home screens by tapping to the left or the right of the white & gray page indicator dots at the bottom of the screen.
  • Back to the top of the screen: In both Mobile Mail and Mobile Safari, if you've scrolled down to the bottom of the page and want to get back to the top easily, just tap the menu bar and your page will spring back to the beginning.


Headphones
If you're like a good many people, you want to replace the stock Apple earbuds as soon as possible. I love my Bose In-Ear headphones, for example. Shure is another excellent brand for purchasing earbuds, and their SE110MPA Sound Isolating Stereo Headset includes an inline microphone and a control button for receiving and ending calls. Sennheiser also makes a similar headset, but for a lower price. For the true audiophiles, there's Etymotic's hf2 headset. If you have $350 to spend, there is the Beats headphones by Dr. Dre.

If you like Apple's headset but find that it's a poor fit, then it's worth the $9 to purchase a set of BudFits. They attach onto Apple's earbuds and then wrap around your earlobe for a very secure fit.

Continue reading So you just got an iPhone -- now what?

So you just got an iPhone -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got an iPhone -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>FeaturesgiftiphoneMegan LaveyThu, 25 Dec 2008 15:00:00 ESTSo you just got an iMac -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/#commentsFiled under: ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

It was probably the biggest box under the tree (unless you really splurged on the anniversary edition of the Radio Flyer wagon); now that you've got your new, speedy iMac unpacked and plugged in, what's next?

USB + Input

Despite a full set of three USB ports on the back of the iMac, you're inevitably going to need more ports up front at some point. A hub that makes a fashion-forward statement -- or a retro one -- will be a nice add-on for your machine. If you're going to be importing loads of holiday pictures from your new digicam to your iMac, a standalone SD card reader will be faster than using the camera's tethered upload.

If you're feeling restricted by the included wired Mighty Mouse, you could spring for the wireless Bluetooth version... but believe it or not, Microsoft makes a snazzy Mac-friendly wireless mouse too.

Storage

If you've already got a Time MachineCapsule or other outboard storage, you're all set to begin backing up your new iMac; otherwise, a drive for backup should be first on your post-Christmas shopping list. Western Digital's MyBook Studio Edition matches your iMac's aluminum finish and provides quad-interface storage for backups and more. If you forgo the Firewire, you can find USB-only 1TB drives for around $100US -- no excuse not to get the storage you need. Of course, if you need lots of storage, there is another way.

Continue reading So you just got an iMac -- now what?

So you just got an iMac -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got an iMac -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>FeaturesguideholidayimacMichael RoseThu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 ESTSo you just got a digital camera -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-digital-camera-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-digital-camera-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-digital-camera-now-what/#commentsFiled under: ,



If you're one of the lucky people who got a digital camera this Christmas, congratulations and welcome to the fun and exciting world of digital photography. But now that you have your shiny new camera and are holding it in your eager hands, what's next? Fortunately, I've been in your shoes and can offer the following tips to hopefully make your new camera easier to use and more fun to play with. Let me help get you started on the road to taking some great pictures.

Memory Cards

Digital pictures can be quite large when it comes to file sizes; modern cameras can chew up plenty of megabytes with each shot. Consequently, the meager capacity of the compact flash (CF) or secure digital (SD/SDHC) memory card that came with your camera just isn't going to do the trick for very long. So, one of the first things you are going to want is a larger card, or cards, to store your pictures.

I tend to stick to memory cards from Sandisk or Lexar and opt for several medium-sized cards, such as 2GB, instead of just one big one. This way, in case disaster strikes and a memory card fails, which they sometimes do, all of your not-yet-downloaded pictures are not on just one card and are instead spread across several of them.


Continue reading So you just got a digital camera -- now what?

So you just got a digital camera -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got a digital camera -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>digital cameraDigitalCamerafeatureshow-tonow whatNowWhatphotographyChris UllrichThu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST