The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

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/How to get the most out of in-flight Wi-Fihttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-in-flight-wi-fi/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-in-flight-wi-fi/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-in-flight-wi-fi/#commentsFiled under: How-tos, Internet, MacBook

Over the weekend, I discovered that my annual flight from Phoenix to Alabama (via Atlanta) had in-flight Wi-Fi. Best of all? It happened to be free, thanks to eBay jumping in on the free holiday Wi-Fi bandwagon. The promotion was already active on the flight I took from Phoenix to Atlanta. If you're traveling for Thanksgiving or Christmas, here's some things to consider about utilizing this service with your MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

Is it worth it?

It all depends. It was very nice being able to talk with my fiancé (who, on his part used FlightStats.com to inform me of where I was at) during the flight. I'm no fan of flying, and when the turbulence got bad, it was a nice distraction. However, I did notice I got a slight motion-induced headache and had to take a break. If the seat in front of you is reclined to the point where your computer is rammed into your chest, the person in the seat next to you is taking up half of yours with their elbows, or if you're inclined to motion sickness, this may not be for you. Still, a free promotion is the perfect time to give the service a try.

Normally, this service can cost anywhere from $6-15 for a flight. Gogo's pricing structure is $5.95 for a flight less than 90 minutes, $9.95 for a flight between 90 minutes and three hours, $12.95 for one more than three hours or a daily pass on a single airline. If you're just using your iPhone, it's $5.95 for a flight less than 90 minutes and $7.95 for one longer than that.

Read on for tips on maximizing your battery life in flight.

Continue reading How to get the most out of in-flight Wi-Fi

How to get the most out of in-flight Wi-Fi originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How to get the most out of in-flight Wi-Fi originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>batteryGOGOInternetmacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookPropowerthanksgivingtipstravelwifiMegan LaveyWed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 ESTHey! Lego my Apple!!http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/hey-lego-my-apple/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/hey-lego-my-apple/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/hey-lego-my-apple/#commentsFiled under: Mods, Macbook Pro, MacBook

No, I'm not talking about any of these Lego Mac mods, A relatively new startup called MacSlaps brings us some personalization goodness in the form of custom vinyl stickers for your MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Using stickers (or even laser engraving) to customize your MacBook is nothing new, but what I think sets MacSlaps apart from some of the others I have seen is the designs are simple and creative. In addition to the Lego design pictured here, their site showcases a few other interesting designs, such as Mario, PacMacMan, and my favorite, Tic-Mac-Toe.

The stickers come on a square sheet of vinyl, ranging from about 4 to 8 inches, so most of them will even fit on the 13-inch MacBook. I know they say these are custom made for MacBooks, but I'm tempted to order one and try it on the back of my 24-inch aluminum iMac, since I'm guessing the effect would be about the same. They also offer custom designs, so if you've got a crazy idea in mind, they can probably help you get it onto your Mac.

Although the selection is pretty sparse, their designs are original and interesting. Plus, it looks like they've just recently started up, as their Etsy store opened in October, and some of their designs haven't shown up on the store yet, so I hope this means we will be seeing more from them in the near future.

All in all, these stickers would make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite Mac geek. Not to mention, if you're picking up a new MacBook for the Holidays, they are a great way to add a personal touch, especially with the custom design offer.

[via iPhoneSavior]

Hey! Lego my Apple!! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hey! Lego my Apple!! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>customizationhggmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookPropersonalizationMichael JonesWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 ESTTime names Apple MacBook, iPod touch among best travel gadgetshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/09/time-names-apple-macbook-ipod-touch-among-best-travel-gadgets/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/09/time-names-apple-macbook-ipod-touch-among-best-travel-gadgets/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/09/time-names-apple-macbook-ipod-touch-among-best-travel-gadgets/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, MacBook, iPhone, iPod touch

Time Magazine has published their list of 2009's best travel gadgets, and the iPod touch and MacBook have made the cut. Time notes the MacBook's size and high green ratings as well as the iPod touch's speed, Wi-Fi compatibility and library of games worked in their favor.

I do my share of traveling (as does Steve) and find that my iPhone plus a couple of well-selected apps are enough to get the job done most of the time.

It's strange that the iPhone wasn't included, since its connectivity isn't limited to Wi-Fi as the iPod touch is. It's even stranger that several apps also made the list, like Yelp (tap the masses for dining tips) [iTunes link] and the Zipcar App (find a quick-and-easy rental), but not the device that would get the most out of them. Perhaps it was the high cost of service for the iPhone?

Stranger still is their inclusion of the Droid. We assume it made the cut based upon its proven track record. I mean, it's been out for a whole 3 days now.

[Via MacDailyNews]

Time names Apple MacBook, iPod touch among best travel gadgets originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time names Apple MacBook, iPod touch among best travel gadgets originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>droidgadgetsiphoneipod touchIpodTouchlistmacbooktimetimebot2000travelDave CaoloMon, 09 Nov 2009 15:30:00 ESTSpace geeks love MacBook Proshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/space-geeks-3-macbook-pros/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/space-geeks-3-macbook-pros/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/27/space-geeks-3-macbook-pros/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Odds and ends, Blogging, Macbook Pro, MacBook

Like a lot of my fellow space geeks, I was watching the live feed from Spaceflight Now this morning for the launch of the Ares 1-X test vehicle. Unfortunately, the launch was scrubbed, but I was happy to see that the three guys doing the coverage this morning were all using MacBook Pros.

The MacBook Pros were all being used to do blogging and tweeting during the launch coverage, as well as to receive updates from NASA.

The coverage was being provided by former CNN talking head and well-known aviation enthusiast Miles O'Brien (center), veteran TV reporter David Waters (at left), and Astronaut Leroy Chiao (at right). While the weather didn't cooperate for the launch this morning, that gives TUAW readers another chance tomorrow morning to watch and listen to the launch, and to admire all that gleaming aluminum in the morning sun -- that's the MacBook Pros, not the Ares 1-X.

Space geeks love MacBook Pros originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Space geeks love MacBook Pros originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ares 1-XAres1-xlaunchNASAspaceflight nowSpaceflightNowSteven SandeTue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:00 ESTiFixit shamelessly molests the new White MacBook with screwdriverhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/ifixit-shamelessly-molests-the-new-white-macbook-with-screwdrive/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/ifixit-shamelessly-molests-the-new-white-macbook-with-screwdrive/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/ifixit-shamelessly-molests-the-new-white-macbook-with-screwdrive/#commentsFiled under: MacBook

You have to admire, and fear, the eager curiosity of the folks at iFixit. When they come across a cool new product, they immediately tear it into bits and pieces -- I just pray they never launch a site devoted to domestic pet care. iKilledit.

This time they've taken their scalpels and screwdrivers to Apple's newly released white MacBook polycarbonate unibody laptop and posted photos of every gory detail.

Like all iFixit teardowns, the process is thoroughly documented and designed to provide users with a guide for upgrading, repairing, and otherwise disassembling the hardware (in hopes the process is reveresable). And judging from the looks of things, this MacBook is very easy to upgrade, once the bottom plate is removed.

If you're curious to learn what makes this MacBook tick, check out iFixit's detailed teardown.

iFixit shamelessly molests the new White MacBook with screwdriver originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iFixit shamelessly molests the new White MacBook with screwdriver originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>MacBookteardownKent PribbernowWed, 21 Oct 2009 00:15:00 ESTNew unibody MacBook loses two portshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Hardware, MacBook

The new polycarbonate MacBook released today has gained some tantalizing new features, but in the process of redesigning the case to accept the new integrated battery, it's also lost two ports.

Just like the unibody aluminum MacBooks released last year, the latest version of the plastic MacBook has no Firewire port. This also means that the last Firewire 400 port in the Mac lineup has vanished - all new Macs, save the Firewire-free new MacBook, now have Firewire 800 only. Farewell, Firewire 400, we hardly knew ye.

But that's not all that's been lost: in a more puzzling omission, the MacBook has also lost its dedicated audio out port. Now one port does the job of both audio output and input.

I don't imagine the loss of Firewire will go down well with many people (it certainly didn't the last time this happened), but the audio port seems like less of an issue. If you're going to do any serious audio work, you're generally going to want to use a USB peripheral anyway, and having one port do everything makes it impossible to plug your headphones into the wrong port and unintentionally blast your potentially embarrassing iTunes playlist to passersby. Not that that's ever happened to me...

New unibody MacBook loses two ports originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New unibody MacBook loses two ports originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audioFirewireFirewire 400Firewire400MacBookChris RawsonTue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTThe Apple Store Online is back, so what's different?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/the-apple-store-online-is-back-so-whats-different/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/the-apple-store-online-is-back-so-whats-different/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/the-apple-store-online-is-back-so-whats-different/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, Peripherals, Retail, iMac, Apple, Mac mini, MacBook

Today, as is frequently the case, the Apple Store Online was taken down and modified to feature new goodies from our favorite fruit-flavored technology company. Now that the store is back up and ready for your ordering pleasure, what's changed?

Well, Apple introduced a whole slew of new and updated products today. Here's the highlights of what's new and different at the store:

New iMac - Revamped to include, among other new features, LED-Backlit screens, dual core and quad core processors and up to 16GB of memory.

New MacBook - Entry level MacBook redesigned to feature unibody enclosure, built-in battery and LED-Backlit screen.

New Mac mini - Revised to include more memory, larger hard drives and with a special "Server" version featuring dual 500GB hard drives and Snow Leopard Server.

New "Magic" Mouse - Gone is the trackball, replaced by a seamless top-shell design that acts as one button or two, It also features a Multi-Touch surface with gesture support.

New Apple Remote - Not as exciting as new Macs but still, kinda cool if you like to control your Macs, um, remotely.

Other items of note reflected in the new products today include the removal of Firewire 400 from all Macs and the removal of the last Mac with a replaceable battery. End of an era folks, end of an era.

Be sure to keep it right here at TUAW all day for in-depth reports on all of today's Apple announcements.

The Apple Store Online is back, so what's different? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Apple Store Online is back, so what's different? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iMacMac miniMacBookMacMiniMagic MouseMagicMouseChris UllrichTue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:00 ESTApple updates entry-level MacBookhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-updates-entry-level-macbook/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-updates-entry-level-macbook/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/apple-updates-entry-level-macbook/#commentsFiled under: Portables, MacBook

Apple announced an update to the entry-level MacBook computer today. This is the only true "MacBook" now that the rest of the models have been promoted to the MacBook Pro.

As of today, $999 will get you a MacBook with faster RAM (2x1GB SO-DIMM of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, up from DDR2), a slightly faster processor (2.26GHz, up from 2.13Ghz), and a significantly larger hard drive (250GB, up from 160GB).

But those technical specs are just the beginning. There's a new built-in battery which Apple claims will take 7 hours per charge. This follows the trend of having batteries integrated instead of removable, which Apple has said allows them to make the laptops smaller and lighter. The battery is rated for "up to" 1,000 charges.

The MacBook also now has the glass Multi-Touch trackpad, previously seen on the MacBook Air and Pro models, the LED-backlit display. It is still "rugged polycarbonate" (marketing speak for "plastic") but now a unibody construction, like the Air and Pro models, except they use aluminum enclosures.

The outer shell may be the most notable difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro models now. For $999, it's no longer an underpowered little sibling to the MacBook Pro line; it is a very respectable portable Mac. Students can save $50 using the education pricing.

If you're looking for an even lower price, there are a few refurbished MacBook models currently available for as low as $849, but with the new features available in today's model, I'd be tempted to spend the extra $150.

Apple updates entry-level MacBook originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple updates entry-level MacBook originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>macbookTJ LuomaTue, 20 Oct 2009 12:50:00 ESTSoftware Update Alert! Performance Update 1.0 available for downloadhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/software-update-alert-performance-update-1-0-available-for-down/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/software-update-alert-performance-update-1-0-available-for-down/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/software-update-alert-performance-update-1-0-available-for-down/#commentsFiled under: iMac, Software Update, Mac mini, Macbook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air

Our sharp-eyed iPhone goddess, Erica Sadun, alerted us to the fact that there's a small, but potentially important, update that has just shown up in Software Update.

Performance Update 1.0 "addresses intermittent hard drive-related stalls reported by a small number of customers." It may not show up for you, unless you have one of the following Macs:

MacBook Air (Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009), iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008), MacBook Air (Late 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008), iMac (24-inch, Early 2009), iMac (20-inch, Early 2009), Mac mini (Early 2009)

If you own one of these models, be sure to load the update at your earliest convenience, especially if you have experienced the problem described in the update notes.

Thanks to Erica and to Joachim Bean, who provided the link to the Apple KB article.

Software Update Alert! Performance Update 1.0 available for download originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Software Update Alert! Performance Update 1.0 available for download originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iMacmac minimacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProMacMiniperformancesoftware updateSoftwareUpdateSteven SandeWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:15:00 ESTAnalysts: Windows 7 may boost Mac saleshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/analysts-windows-7-may-boost-mac-sales/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/analysts-windows-7-may-boost-mac-sales/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/analysts-windows-7-may-boost-mac-sales/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, OS, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, MacBook

Most electronics industry analysis is obvious at best and misinformed at worst, but this one made us chuckle. Analyst firm Broadpoint AmTech has released a report that claims that, rather than diminish sales of OS X, Microsoft's impending release of Windows 7 may actually help sell Macs. They cite the chart above, which seems to show a boost (especially after Vista) in Mac sales right after Microsoft releases a new OS version.

Now, even they admit they're making connections here that probably aren't there -- there are tons of factors involved in both sales of Windows OSes and Mac computers (we'd just mention that Windows 7 seems to be getting fairly good reviews so far, and while no one would argue that Vista wasn't a disaster, I'd argue that iPods and iPhones were much better "Mac sales helpers" after 2001 and 2007 than Windows would ever be), and there's no real evidence here that Microsoft's releases have any bearing at all on their competitors' numbers.

But it is a nice thought for us Mac faithful to hang on to anyway -- in the next few weeks, as Windows users vibe on their new and shiny and have their super fun release parties, we can know that if we just wait, Mac sales will eventually have their day.

[via Apple Insider]

Analysts: Windows 7 may boost Mac sales originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analysts: Windows 7 may boost Mac sales originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>analystsbroadpoint-amtechmac-salesmicrosoftrelease-partiessalesvistawindowswindows-7Mike SchrammTue, 13 Oct 2009 16:30:00 ESTSwap a Macbook's glossy display for mattehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/swap-a-macbooks-glossy-display-for-matte/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/swap-a-macbooks-glossy-display-for-matte/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/swap-a-macbooks-glossy-display-for-matte/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, Portables, MacBook

Users have a love/hate relationship with Apple's glossy displays. Namely, they either love them or they hate them. I haven't used one myself, as I'll be hanging on to my original MacBook Pro until it ceases to work.

Until now, shoppers could get either a glossy or matte display with the 15" MacBook Pro, but not the 13" model. TechRestore has stepped in to do the "repair." For $200, they'll remove your 13" MacBook or MacBook Pro's glossy display and slap a matte screen in its place. The work comes with a 1-year warranty and TechRestore says they'll have your precious back to you within 24 hours of receipt. Note that this requires a trade-in of your existing screen; you won't get it back.

If you have this service done, please let us know how it goes. Enjoy your glare-free computing!

For comparison, RadTech sells an anti-glare film that can be applied over a glossy display. They're available for the 13in MacBook/Pro (unibody), the 15in MacBook Pro (unibody), the 17in MacBook Pro (unibody) and various iMacs. You can get the full list here. The films start at $19.95US each.

[Via Cult Of Mac]

Swap a Macbook's glossy display for matte originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Swap a Macbook's glossy display for matte originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>glossy screenGlossyScreenhardwaremacbookmatte screenMatteScreenportablesrepairsDave CaoloMon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 ESTNew iMac, Mac mini, MacBook ads spottedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/new-imac-mac-mini-macbook-ads-spotted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/new-imac-mac-mini-macbook-ads-spotted/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/05/new-imac-mac-mini-macbook-ads-spotted/#commentsFiled under: Rumors, iMac, Mac mini, MacBook

As we and others have posted over the past few days, there is a rumor that a new or redesigned iMac, Mac mini and MacBook models are coming very soon. Now, this week brings reports of Google ads supposedly touting the rumored Mac mini, iMac and MacBook models. These ads have been spotted in several European countries, in Dutch and in a few other languages. They read as follows:

"Apple's Nieuwste MacBook(R)"
"store.apple.com/nl/macbook Dunner, lichter en krachtiger! Gratis bezorging. Bestel vandaag."

Which translates to:
"Apple's Newest MacBook (R)"
"store.apple.com/nl/macbook Thinner, lighter and stronger! Free delivery. Order today. "

"Apple Store: New iMac"
"store.apple.com/nl-store Ultradunne 20 & 24 inch modellen. Vanaf slechts €1099. Apple Store"

Which translates to:
"Apple Store: New iMac"
"store.apple.com/nl-store Ultra thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only € 1099. Apple Store"

"Apple's Nieuwe Mac mini"
store.apple.com/nl-store Sneller en betaalbaarder dan ooit. Vanaf slechts €499. Bestel meeten."

Which translates to:
"Apple's new Mac mini '
store.apple.com/nl-store faster and more affordable than ever. From only € 499. Buy assay. "

Again, this points to yet more reasons why there could be new iMac, Mac mini and MacBook models coming soon. These new models are expected to be released before October 9th, so keep a look out.

[via AppleInsider]

New iMac, Mac mini, MacBook ads spotted originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New iMac, Mac mini, MacBook ads spotted originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iMacMac miniMacMininewOctoberJoachim BeanMon, 05 Oct 2009 12:30:00 ESTNew iMacs, MacBooks in the fall Apple fashion lineup?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/26/new-imacs-macbooks-in-the-fall-apple-fashion-lineup/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/26/new-imacs-macbooks-in-the-fall-apple-fashion-lineup/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/26/new-imacs-macbooks-in-the-fall-apple-fashion-lineup/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Rumors, iMac, MacBook

It looks like the new Mac rumor mill is starting to grind again, as several web sites are reporting that Apple is close to releasing updates to several parts of the product line. Joachim noted the rumors on the 24th, and here's an update.

The first rumor is something I've personally been waiting for -- an update to the iMac line. French Mac site Mac4Ever [translation] is citing tips indicating that a new iMac, possibly quad-core powered, is in the works for a possible release before the holiday season. Like the MacBook Pro line, the new iMac would feature an SD card reader. There's also the thought that a high-end iMac could even pack in a Xeon processor. AppleInsider also thinks an iMac boost is in the works, although they're not speculating on quad-core or Xeon processors, and even reports that a new, slimmer design has been churning off Taiwanese assembly lines for the past two weeks.

While a bump to the iMac line would be nice, I personally think that Apple would concentrate on reducing the cost of manufacturing to maintain their margins while making it possible to reduce prices to consumers. This could help Apple's share of the personal computer market continue to climb while keeping Wall Street analysts happy.

The second rumor, also from AppleInsider, points to a less expensive and slimmer white polycarbonate MacBook. If Apple is able to reduce the price of the low-end laptop below its current US$999 level, it could stem the tide of sales of low-cost Windows and Linux netbooks.

Regardless of what actually happens, design updates to these two lines are long overdue. The iMac has essentially been the same since August of 2007, while the MacBook has remained unchanged since May of 2006. It should be fun to see what Jonathan Ive, Steve Jobs, and the tireless Apple engineers who design this equipment have in store for us.

[Original photo credit: (C) Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com, through Wikimedia Commons]

New iMacs, MacBooks in the fall Apple fashion lineup? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New iMacs, MacBooks in the fall Apple fashion lineup? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imacmacbooknetbooksquad-corerumorsxeonSteven SandeSat, 26 Sep 2009 15:00:00 ESTNew iMacs and MacBooks coming soon?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/new-imacs-and-macbooks-coming-soon/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/new-imacs-and-macbooks-coming-soon/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/new-imacs-and-macbooks-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Rumors, iMac, MacBook

Maybe so, if you believe the predictions of some analysts at Wedge Partners. They proclaim in their neverending analyst-y wisdom that in the next few weeks, Apple will again refresh its lines of iMacs and MacBooks, including a slimmer iMac and an only slightly updated MacBook. Why would Apple announce such a thing, especially so soon after the recent June revamp? Windows 7 is apparently the answer -- Apple wants to distract from Microsoft's big release, according to the analysts

Personally, it all sounds kind of hokey to us -- Apple's already got their back-to-school lineup all set, and while there probably is room for one more update before the holiday season, it's hard to believe they're going to announce some extremely minor updates in a desperate grab against Windows 7.

And not even the analysts will guess at a netbook or tablet release -- they say neither one of those is coming up for an announcement any time soon. You have to think that if Apple is doing one more update before the holidays, it really will come up in the next few weeks, so by the time Halloween candy starts dropping in pillowcases, we should know for sure.

[via PC World]

New iMacs and MacBooks coming soon? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New iMacs and MacBooks coming soon? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>analystsappleback-to-schoolhokeyholidaysimacsmacbookspredictionsquestionablerumorsslimmerupdatesupgradeswedge-partnersMike SchrammThu, 17 Sep 2009 08:00:00 ESTMacBook Car-nage: Surviving a drive-overhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/13/macbook-car-nage/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/13/macbook-car-nage/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/13/macbook-car-nage/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, MacBook

Yesterday, I had a distraught customer come into the store and lay the remains of a black MacBook (13-inch Early 2008) on the front counter. My immediate thought was that the machine had been trashed and was just at the shop to be recycled.

I asked the customer what happened and he explained that it had been run over by a car. At this point I thought to myself, "Yikes, there's gotta be a story behind this one." As it turns out, it was just an unfortunate accident of forgetfulness. He just returned home from a road trip and set the machine down to bring in a load from the car. After being inside for a bit, he came out and decided to check his mailbox, which was just down the road. He stepped into the car, backed up and... CAR-NAGE!

What's most amazing here isn't the accident, but what he discovered when he tried to power up the MacBook. Even after having a car completely crush it, it still worked. When the customer told me this, I couldn't believe it. I opened the display -- which you can see is absolutely smashed in the picture -- and pressed the power button. To my excited surprise, the machine turned on and booted into Leopard.

After running a full suite of diagnostics on the machine, I found it needed a display assembly, optical drive, and optical drive bezel (the part of the inner frame that the discs go through). All of that was cheaper than getting a new machine, so I went to work. It took me a couple hours and some frame bending here and there, but after all was said and done, I gave the customer back a machine that would pass any warranty inspection at the Genius Bar. See the gallery for more pictures!

Disclaimer: The Unofficial Apple Weblog cannot and will not be held responsible for any damage done to your computer by cars. Just because we think it's cool that it may survive doesn't mean you should go out and crush your MacBook.

Gallery: MacBook Car-nage

MacBook Screen

Display & Optical Drive

Inner Frame

Display Bow

Post repair

MacBook Car-nage: Surviving a drive-over originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MacBook Car-nage: Surviving a drive-over originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>brokencarnagedamagemacbookJosh CarrSun, 13 Sep 2009 12:30:00 ESTPowerCurl: A quirky way to wrap up your MagSafe Power Adapterhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/powercurl-a-quirky-way-to-wrap-up-your-magsafe-power-adapter/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/powercurl-a-quirky-way-to-wrap-up-your-magsafe-power-adapter/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/powercurl-a-quirky-way-to-wrap-up-your-magsafe-power-adapter/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Odds and ends, Macbook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iPod nano

quirky is a design firm with a difference. Rather than pay a brain trust to sit around and think up product ideas, they let average Anns and Andys submit designs that are then refined and named by a community of site visitors. When designs are ready for production, quirky sets a threshold number of units to be sold to be profitable, and once that number of orders comes in, they send the design off for manufacturing.

Plato said "...the true creator is necessity, who is the mother of our invention." In this case quirky community member Jeff Scholen was driven not only by the need to neatly wrap up the thin power cable and thick AC line going into his Apple MagSafe Power Adapter, but also keep the transformer "box" off of the floor or desk and give it a way to stay cool.

In less than 24 hours, the design was finalized through input from Apple fans worldwide and the PowerCurl (US$9.99) was ready to roll. It comes in "quirky orange" only, but has two sizes to match the 60W and 85W MagSafe Power Adapters.

The quirky community has also come up with a case design for the new iPod nano that not only protects that shiny finish, but acts as a stand and video handgrip as well. The Kickster (US$14.35) is awaiting your commitment to purchase before it moves into production.

PowerCurl: A quirky way to wrap up your MagSafe Power Adapter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PowerCurl: A quirky way to wrap up your MagSafe Power Adapter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriescool stuffCoolStuffipod nano 5gIpodNano5gmacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookPromagsafepower curlPowerCurlquirkySteven SandeSat, 12 Sep 2009 16:30:00 ESTWill Snow Leopard really make my computer any faster?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/will-snow-leopard-really-make-my-computer-any-faster/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/will-snow-leopard-really-make-my-computer-any-faster/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/04/will-snow-leopard-really-make-my-computer-any-faster/#commentsFiled under: Macbook Pro, MacBook, Leopard, Snow Leopard

We've seen the benchmarks. We've heard from the techno-geeks. According to Apple, Snow Leopard should result in some impressive speed gains, and hefty hard drive space recapture. But does this speed bump actually result in tangible benefits for the average user? Do you really get back a functional amount of hard drive space? I undertook an intentionally low-tech approach to find out, looking at the space on the drive, and using my iPhone's stopwatch function to time various functions before and after upgrade. I took measurements on two computers: a low-end, bare bones white MacBook used lightly as a secondary computer, and a higher-end MacBook Pro used heavily as a primary computer. The white MacBook was generally speedy and efficient before the upgrade, due to the fact that it had very little installed on it. However, the MacBook Pro was bloated and slow due to lots of programs, with problems magnified by years of hard drive image flashes over various computer upgrades, typical of the non-technical business user.

All start up times are true start up times. In other words, I didn't deem the computer to have "started up" until I had full, no-lag control of a fully-propagated desktop. Same went for the programs whose start up times I tested -- none were deemed started up until the program was responding to input and usable. I picked some common programs that I felt reflected typical use. I turned on auto-login to the primary account on both computers to gain timing accuracy. Not all the results are comparable between computers; certain programs were on one computer but not the other. But, in general, the task was instructive.

Continue reading Will Snow Leopard really make my computer any faster?

Will Snow Leopard really make my computer any faster? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Will Snow Leopard really make my computer any faster? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>benchmarkfeaturesmacbookmacbook proMacbookProsnow leopardSnowLeopardspeedupgradeLauren HirschFri, 04 Sep 2009 09:30:00 ESTHave a MacBook running Snow Leopard? Give someone your Autographhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/have-a-macbook-running-snow-leopard-give-someone-your-autograph/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/have-a-macbook-running-snow-leopard-give-someone-your-autograph/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/have-a-macbook-running-snow-leopard-give-someone-your-autograph/#commentsFiled under: Video, Odds and ends, Macbook Pro, MacBook, Found Footage, MacBook Air, Snow Leopard

Up to this point in time, if you wanted to "sign" an electronic document (other than a secure PDF), you either had to scan your signature with a scanner and import the resulting graphic into your document, or purchase a digitizing tablet. Ten One Design, the same folks who brought us the Pogo Sketch stylus, have come up with a way for anyone with Snow Leopard and a MacBook that supports multi-touch gestures to sign documents.

Autograph (US$6.95) is a signature capture application that works with your MacBook and a finger or stylus to make signing your name a snap. If you don't know if your MacBook will work with Autograph, you can download a trial copy that adds a watermark to the signature just to try it out.

To add your John Hancock to an email or document when Autograph is running (I have it set up to launch at startup), you can either select the menu bar icon or press control-option-A, and then a semi-transparent gray window appears. Using your finger or a stylus on your trackpad like a pen, you can write your name or draw a little picture. Pressing return embeds the signature or sketch into your document.

Autograph works great! I was able to use it in Mail, Word, Keynote, and Pages, and I'm assuming that it will work fine in any Mac application that lets you paste in a graphic. I know I'll be using this handy little program to add a personal touch to my documents. The short silent video below demonstrates Autograph in action.

Have a MacBook running Snow Leopard? Give someone your Autograph originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Have a MacBook running Snow Leopard? Give someone your Autograph originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>autographsignaturesnow leopardSnowLeopardsoftwarestylusSteven SandeTue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:00 ESTFound Footage: The do-it-yourself wedding photo boothhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/17/found-footage-the-do-it-yourself-wedding-photo-booth/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/17/found-footage-the-do-it-yourself-wedding-photo-booth/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/17/found-footage-the-do-it-yourself-wedding-photo-booth/#commentsFiled under: Odds and ends, MacBook, Found Footage

What do you get when you mix a MacBook, a US$99 printer, some Ikea shower curtains, and lot of wedding guests?

In the case of Mac user David Cline, you end up with a very happy sister! During planning for his sister Helen's recent wedding, Cline looked into renting a wedding photo booth that would take pictures of guests, save a digital copy, and then print out a strip of photos for the guests to take home as a keepsake. The cost for the rental was prohibitively expensive -- about US$2,000 a day.

David quickly decided that by combining his Mac, a special Automator workflow that he created, an Epson PictureMate Dash printer, an old wardrobe frame, and colorful shower curtains from Ikea, he could inexpensively re-create the functionality of the expensive rental.

His Automator script prompted wedding guests for their names, took 3 photos, arranged the photos in a vertical strip, displayed the photos on the screen for the guests to view, printed out the photo strip, and then saved the individual photos and photo strips in digital form onto the Mac. After the wedding, the photos were uploaded to an online photo album.

From the looks of the happy wedding guests, the Do-It-Yourself Photo Booth was a success. I'd venture to say that David Cline is ranking high in the standings for the "Brother of the Year Award."

Found Footage: The do-it-yourself wedding photo booth originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Found Footage: The do-it-yourself wedding photo booth originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>automatormacbookphoto boothPhotoBoothshower curtainsShowerCurtainsweddingwedding photographyWeddingPhotographySteven SandeMon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:00 ESTApple issues patch to speed up Airport after troublesome 10.5.8 updatehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/12/apple-issues-patch-to-speed-up-airport-after-troublesome-10-5-8/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/12/apple-issues-patch-to-speed-up-airport-after-troublesome-10-5-8/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/12/apple-issues-patch-to-speed-up-airport-after-troublesome-10-5-8/#commentsFiled under: Airport, Software Update, Macbook Pro, MacBook

Apple has just released a patch to the AirPort client to remedy the wireless performance problems stemming from the recent Mac OS X update to 10.5.8. Some users had been forced to downgrade or replace the wireless-specific kernel extensions to clear up the issues.

The update, weighing in at a svelte 1.4MB, purports to solve an issue found on certain MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Affected machines suffered from significantly slower wireless network speeds while operating on battery power.

Here's the official description from tonight's Airport Client Update for MacBooks and MacBook Pros, version 1.0:

This update is recommended for some Intel-based Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5.8 and addresses an issue with AirPort performance while running on battery power. It may only be installed on:

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2007)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)

While I do own a potentially affected MacBook Pro, I did not experience the performance issues, so I can't vouch for the update's effectiveness.

Have you installed the patch and noticed an improvement (or not)?

Apple issues patch to speed up Airport after troublesome 10.5.8 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple issues patch to speed up Airport after troublesome 10.5.8 update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>10.5.8airportleopardmacbookmacbook proMacbookProoperating systemOperatingSystemsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateKevin HarterWed, 12 Aug 2009 00:30:00 EST