MacUser

Lifehacker: 10 things you forgot your Mac can do

2008-05-15T20:52:49Z

I've been a fan of the geeky self-help site Lifehacker for some time, and their latest Mac-related top 10 list gives me all the more reason to continue my obsessive visits.

Their "Top 10 Things You Forgot Your Mac Can Do" includes neat little tricks like making your Mac talk to you through Terminal, showing off Stacks and Expose in slow motion, displaying custom hard drive icons, and using your Mac as an external hard drive through Target Disk Mode.

Check it out for an enlightening and quick read. You might actually learn something!

Primary category: Geekery

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Sydney's new Apple Store shrouded in mystery (and fabric)

2008-05-15T20:25:08Z

For those of you wondering what the new Apple Store in the land down under is going to look like, you're just going to have to wait it out. CNET has posted some pics of the Sydney Apple Store construction site, and it seems like Apple is doing everything it can to obscure the appearance of the building.

The entire construction area is covered in a tight, black fabric large enough to lead CNET to speculate that the store may be at least three stories tall. Rumor has it that the interior of the store, on the corner of George St and King St, will be based on the flagship NYC store. So Aussies, expect to be impressed. Very impressed.

Primary category: Apple : Stores

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Cyberduck 3 is ready to quack you up

2008-05-15T19:32:03Z

Hard as it is to believe, FTP has been around for almost four decades—predating pretty much the entire staff of MacUser. Of course, it’s gone through plenty of updates and revisions in that time, but the basic concept remains largely the same.

What has changed is how we interact with FTP: whereas ten or twenty years ago, it would largely have been through typing commands into a green-on-black terminal window, these days we have all sorts of nifty programs that make it as easy as pointing and clicking.

My personal favorite among the bunch, the program I turn to when I need to do some serious file transfer protocol…ing, is Cyberduck, the free (donations accepted) and open source FTP client that’s just hit version 3.0. This newest iteration includes a bunch of new features, such as the ability to connect to WebDAV servers (like your iDisk), support for Amazon’s S3 storage service, bookmark searching, Quick Look support, and a new Activity window. They’ve also tweaked the interface a bit, improving the Bookmark editing interface by getting rid of the pesky old drawer. It’s all looking pret-ty slick.

If you’re a current Cyberduck user, just hit the Check for Updates… menu option. If you haven’t tried Cyberduck before, you’re in for a treat. Just waltz over to their site and download away.

Primary category: Software : Updates

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Coming out: Apple is fabulous to the gay community

2008-05-15T18:45:00Z

Stereotypes of the gay community always define it as fashion-conscious, a societal bastion of style and chic that has begun to transcend orientational barriers and spread its fashion flare to the straight community too — metrosexuals and whatnot.

Well, the Queer Eye has blessed our platform of choice, recognizing Apple as one of the most gay-friendly brands today. PlanetOut — GLBT internet group — and Prime Access — urban-focused ad agency — released the results of a survey that polled 2,259 adults to identify the top fabulous-friendly corporate entities.

Infinite Loop explains it for me:

Apple was considered to be gay-friendly by 23 percent of the general population, 39 percent of the gay/lesbian population, and 54 percent of the PlanetOut "universe." These numbers may seem low, but they're not really—the only brand that scored higher than Apple on all counts was the Bravo Network, with 28 percent, 52 percent, and 67 percent respectively.

Understandable: Apple is a trendsetter; a progressive, forward-looking company that embraces change and difference, that seems gender-independent and welcoming of those who proudly consider themselves distinct from the norm; and, of course, Apple products are stylish, obvious apples (pun!) of the fashionistas' eyes. (Oh, and there of course is the matter of that colorful logo. Coincidence? I think not.)

And, um, that attempt at explaining the survey results is based purely on my understanding of the social stereotypes, obvious appeals of Apple to such communities, and perspectives I've seen in my gay friends. So, you know, I just don't want you thinking I'm gay. Because I'm not.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Primary category: Apple

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Buy a super expensive MacBook; give a child a super cheap laptop

2008-05-15T18:07:33Z

If you just received your stimulus check (or if you're just plain loaded) and looking for a way to blow some cash, check out the Workstation from Munk Bogballe. It's a souped up 2.4GHz MacBook Core 2 Duo with 4GB of RAM. No, not souped up inside, but outside. The Workstation's casing is made of anodized aluminum; the underside is lined with European aniline leather. It even comes with a special leather bag. And to top it off, the Workstation comes pre-installed with Windows XP. All this for the low price of £3,500, or $6,700.

And to make you not feel like a bougie jerk -- for every Workstation you buy, Munk Bogballe will sponsor the production and delivery of one XO laptop computer for the One Laptop per Child organization. I'm sold; I'll take 15. Let me just polish my diamond-studded shoes and clean my trusty monocle before I head to the bank. I'm changing the world -- one $6,700 MacBook at a time.

You know what I've always wanted? An iPod classic protected with unicorn skin. Get on that, Munk Bogballe.

Primary category: Hardware

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Consumer Reports says Apple laptops require just as much repair as everyone else's

2008-05-15T17:29:00Z

Granted, we're a little late to the game on this one, but Fake Steve Jobs points us to a Consumer Reports piece on the computer industry. The part that caught CNET's eye, though, was the section on frequency of computer repair.

So how does Apple stack up against Lenovo, HP, Dell and all the rest? On this chart, it appears that Apple is down at the bottom. Not so fast, turbo.

CNET Crave's Dan Ackerman explains:

The chart shows data from about 75,000 laptops purchased between 2003 and 2007, recording how many have had a serious problem requiring repair. The companies listed are Lenovo, Compaq, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, HP, Gateway, and Apple, and all scored between 20 percent and 23 percent. Consumer Reports says a difference of less than three points is statistically "not meaningful."

So, there you have it--no major laptop brand is really much more likely to break down than any other. Why? Because most laptops are essentially commodity products, made from the exact same components, and differentiated only by their outer shells and extra features. So, next time someone says not to buy a laptop from a certain vendor because they "break down all the time," you can assure them that there's about a 1-in-5 chance their laptop will develop a major problem, no matter where it came from.

Don't forget also that last year, Apple's desktops got top marks by CR and this year they snagged the number one position in tech support.

Primary category: Apple : Rivals

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Ruh roh, Rorge: Adobe releases "Astro", Flash Player 10 beta

2008-05-15T16:46:34Z

Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the Web, Adobe rolls out a new beta version of its Flash Player. Can you believe they’re up to 10 already? Seems like just yeterday Flash was still down at, I dunno, five or six. Anyway, not satisfied with hitting double digits, they’ve given this version a fancy schmancy code name, calling it “Astro.”

The new version sports 3D effects, custom filters and effects, advanced text layout, enhanced drawing API, and visual performance improvements. However, as a public prerelease, there are still plenty of kinks to be worked out of this version, so not all sites may be compatible as of yet. Flash Player 10 also drops support for OS X 10.1, so if you were still rocking the Puma, it may be time to upgrade.

You can grab the beta version from Adobe Labs and skim (or read in depth, if you prefer), the in-depth release notes. Or you could—like Astro—just opt to take a nap instead.

[via Macworld]

Primary category: Software : Updates

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"C" is for CBS gobbling up CNet. And that is good enough for me.

2008-05-15T16:03:04Z

Huh. Well. I don’t think I can say I saw that one coming. I mean, on the face of it, perhaps it would seem like CBS and CNet are a perfect fit for one another. I mean, they both start with “C” and they…both…start with “C”?

This is apparently not the first time that CBS has looked into acquiring the Internet portal site, which also owns News.com, ZDNet, GameSpot, Download.com, GameFAQs, TV.com, and a host of other popular sites. CBS will reputedly pay $1.8 billion for the deal, which represents a 45% increase over CNet’s current stock price of $7.95/share. CNet has faced hard times of late, losing $6.1 million in their most recent quarter, but CBS CEO Les Moonves still called the deal “profitable” in a statement.

“CBS stands for premium content and unparalleled reach, and CNET Networks will add a tremendous platform to extend our complementary entertainment, news, sports, music and information content to a whole new global audience”

I’m still trying to figure out what the future of CNet is going to look like. Maybe a CSI spinoff that takes place entirely online. Call it CSINet?

Primary category: Business

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Sneak a peek at Boylston St.

2008-05-15T15:15:47Z

After years of anticipation, I finally set foot in the new Boylston Street Apple Store in downtown Boston yesterday. Upon stepping through the glass doors, I fell to my knees on the imported Italian stone floors and wept unabashed tears of joy. I’m pretty sure they won’t be inviting me back anytime soon.

It’s impressive, to say the least: the largest Apple Store in the US. The all glass facade out front stretches over all three floors, with a prominent glowing Apple logo suspended on the third floor. Apple senior vice president of retail Ron Johnson introduced the store to a cadre of media, explaining that it had taken eight years to get this store built, and that its position in Boston was largely the result of favorable timing for both Apple and Boston.

The store boasts a number of interesting features, including a green turf roof and a rainwater collection system that will help rebuild Back Bay’s water table. Boston’s Mayor, Tommy Menino, gave props to Apple for the new store, which brings 165 new jobs to the area.

Most striking to me, however, is the spiral staircase in the middle of the store, which spans all three floors, wrapped around a central glass column. The top of the column is open, and as I remarked to Shawn King, it was really only a matter of time before kids started chucking change, keys, and pretty much anything else they could get their hands on down there. And man, once they’re down there, they’re gone, man.

If you’re feeling the need to truly immerse yourself in new Apple Store info, you can grab more details from my story over at Macworld, take a look at the pictures I snapped, or listen to me gab over on the latest episode of Your Mac Life.

The store opens to the public tonight at 6PM ET, when the thronging crowds will no doubt attempt their best to see how many people it will take to collapse the spiral staircase.

Primary category: Apple : Stores

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WWDC 2008 sold out, procrastinating geeks heartbroken

2008-05-14T21:00:24Z

For those of you who have been waiting, and waiting, for whatever reason to get tickets for this year's WWDC, it looks like you're SOL (sadly out of luck). As of now, tickets for the Worldwide Developers Conference 2008 are sold out, and so you'll have to wait until next year to get your filling of sessions, labs, and Steve Jobs in his turtle-necked keynote-giving glory.

Either that, or you could look for a scalper. I suggest eBay.

Better luck next time, and let this be a lesson on the downsides of procrastination.

Primary category: Apple : News

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Get stuff done...Today!

2008-05-14T20:20:43Z

We've covered Second Gear's event and task management app Today in previous posts. It's a cool program that keeps your day to day tasks in a small window on your desktop, even if iCal is closed. It also lets you add and change events, keeping everything synced to iCal, Mail, and iPhone.

Version 1.1 is now out, and it includes a couple of new features including the ability to filter what calendars you want to appear in Today, the addition of a location field in the New Event sheet, and the addition of "Today" to the Window menu for Dock users. There's also various tweaks and bug fixes listed in the release notes.

You can download a free 7 day trial or pick up a full license for $15.

Primary category: Software

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Another Get a Mac ad surfaces

2008-05-14T17:00:29Z

Hot on the heels of the two new commercials posted by Apple a couple of days ago, they published another one on the website yesterday (and it was aired during American Idol).

This one, titled "Sad Song", has John Hodgman donning a hat, carrying a guitar, and singing "Vista Blues" in tandem with a dog. He doesn't actually play the guitar, perhaps because of the lack of GarageBand.

Justin Long, as usual, does the introduction and then stares at the camera for the rest of the ad. Is it just me or do these ads show the PC in a more positive light, compared to the Mac? He (the PC) is definitely the funnier of the two.

Thanks to reader 'bluestreak1984' for the tip!

Primary category: Apple : Advertising

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Apple Retail Store website gets a complete overhaul

2008-05-14T16:00:26Z

With the grand opening of the largest Apple Store in the United States scheduled for tomorrow, Apple has spruced up the retail store section of their website to make it easier to navigate and find information.

Most noticeably, the overhauled website puts the latest upcoming event in a prominent spot at the top of the page, along with a slideshow of various Apple Stores and past events and a couple of drop down menus for you to find the store nearest to you.

We have some information about businesses, youth programs, and group workshops, "shopping tips from the Apple Store"--shop early or late, make an appointment, check out anywhere, and don't be afraid to ask for help--and a slew of guided tours to give you a taste of the Apple Store experience without actually having to visit one (which is perfect for yours truly). Go check it out, it isn't half bad.

Primary category: Internet

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Pixar's futuristic robot owes its sleek curves to Jonathan Ive

2008-05-14T15:00:26Z

Look at the picture on the right. That's Eve, the cute little female robot in Disney/Pixar's upcoming animated feature film Wall-E. Doesn't it look familiar--the shiny white body, futuristic minimalist design and soft curves?

In an interview with Fortune, Wall-E director, Andrew Stanton revealed that the striking resemblance to products coming out of Cupertino is not just coincidental. Stanton says that "I wanted Eve to be high-end technology--no expense spared--and I wanted it to be seamless and for the technology to be sort of hidden and subcutaneous. The more I started describing it, the more I realized I was pretty much describing the Apple playbook for design."

So he gave a call to Disney's largest shareholder, founder and former CEO of Pixar, Steve Jobs, who in turn sent Jonathan Ive, the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple, to assist them with the design. According to Stanton, Ive offered to make little changes to the design, generally agreeing with whatever the folks at Pixar were doing--but the end result sure is sweet.

Jobs once said that "Apple is the most creatively advanced technology company and Pixar is the most technically advanced creative company." Imagine the two of them joining forces--it must be some sort of creatively and technically super-advanced blockbuster. Boy, I'm really looking forward to the release of Wall-E on on June 27th now.

[Via Upcoming Pixar]

Primary category: Apple : People

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Apple updates PGP key

2008-05-14T12:48:43Z

Apple authenticates itself to users using a PGP key and updates it every two years. I’ve probably written about this before, but the quick version is that authentication security is based on asymmetric keys. In other words, pairs of keys are used, one public and one private. Apple holds onto the private one not telling it to anyone. The public one is listed here. The key (pun unintended) of this is that something encrypted one key can be unencrypted by the other.

By encrypting a message (or some version thereof, like a hashed version) using the private key, we can check that Apple sent the message by decrypting with the public key. If the two match up, Apple wrote it. No one but Apple knows the private key, therefore if the public key decrypts it, Apple must have written it.

Now, given enough time, brute force methods could discover the private key (how long is up to theorists to decide). Therefore, Apple spawns a new key pair every two years, effectively removing that threat. Apple puts the new public key on its website (which we have an expectation that it isn’t hacked) and sends it out in email, authenticating it with the old key (making that the final use). Now you can verify those security mailing list messages from Apple and know why it works. Don’t you feel better?

Primary category: Security

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