http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/features/columns/ en webmaster@macobserver.com Copyright 2009 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:33:14 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/dictionary_dictionary_dictionary_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/dictionary_dictionary_dictionary_and_more/ If you are looking for a free dictionary for your iPhone then you're in luck! This week on Free on iTunes, Vern Seward takes a look at three of them: Dictionary!, WordWeb, and Dictionary.Com Dictionary. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iTunes Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:43:00 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_kinder_gentler_snow_leopard/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_kinder_gentler_snow_leopard/ Behind all of Snow Leopard's glamor and the "under the hood" changes, someone has paid attention to some of the little things as well -- such as simpler directions and basic terminology. Nancy Carroll Gravley shares some of the features she's found in Snow Leopard that are easier to use and understand. Columns and Opinions, Computing with Bifocals, Reports, Mac OS, Snow Leopard Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:36 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_and_verizon_will_kiss_and_make_up/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_and_verizon_will_kiss_and_make_up/ I don't really believe that Apple and Verizon have severed ties for good.  There's too much money at stake on both sides.  The current activities are just a pillow fight.  Maybe plate throwing. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:45:48 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_multiple_personalities_of_tweetmymac/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_multiple_personalities_of_tweetmymac/ Imagine sending a Twitter message from wherever you happen to be, containing a command such as "open Safari," and having the requested command carried out on your Mac back home. That's the way TweetMyMac works. After playing with TweetMyMac over the past few weeks, I find myself vacillating among three different reactions: "Wow, this is truly amazing," "Technologically impressive but, really, who needs it?" and "Gak, the implications are a bit scary." Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Blogs, Ted Landau's User Friendly Blog Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:08:31 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/want_to_stream_your_content_check_out_darwin_streaming_server/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/want_to_stream_your_content_check_out_darwin_streaming_server/ John F. Braun check out Darwin Streaming Server, an Open Source version of the same media streaming technology used in Mac OS X Server. Columns and Opinions, Monday's Mac Gadget Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:45:04 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_weather_channel_ted_dr._tran_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_weather_channel_ted_dr._tran_and_more/ In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward takes a second look at some freebies; The Weather Channel app, T.E.D. app and the Dr. Tran podcast. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, App Store, iTunes Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:44:47 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_tv_3_is_it_us_or_them/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_tv_3_is_it_us_or_them/ Apple continues to post updates to Apple TV that disappoint a segment of the customer base and TV industry experts.  This time around, the update 3.0 merely adds a new top level shell for navigating and some minor enhancements such as iTunes LP and Internet radio stations. The big question is: should we really feel disappointed? Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial, iObserver, Apple TV Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:44:12 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_iphone_killer_app_may_be_left_to_die/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_iphone_killer_app_may_be_left_to_die/ There's an incredible iPhone app that you should know about. Its implications are far-reaching, of potential relevance to almost everyone that owns an iPhone. Yet chances are good that you know nothing about it. Even worse, rather than getting the popularity it deserves, the app may vanish from the scene altogether. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:15:00 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/balderdash_theres_plenty_of_room_for_itablet_dedicated_ebook_readers/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/balderdash_theres_plenty_of_room_for_itablet_dedicated_ebook_readers/ My learned colleague John Martellaro got me thinking - as he so often does - with his piece this morning saying that Apple's (as yet unannounced) iTablet will crush the life out of the dedicated Ebook readers from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony, and my primary thought was, "BALDERDASH!" Or maybe, "NONSENSE!" Columns and Opinions, The Back Page Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:42:05 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_itablet_will_erase_the_dedicated_book_readers/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_itablet_will_erase_the_dedicated_book_readers/ Several companies, recognizing the potential interest in electronic books, are attempting to get out ahead of the long-awaited Apple iTablet.  Examples are the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader and the Barnes & Noble Nook. However, soon after Apple ships its own competing product, these early efforts will become just a memory. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:43:40 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/history_stuff_brain_stuff_coolest_stuff_and_more_stuff/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/history_stuff_brain_stuff_coolest_stuff_and_more_stuff/ In this installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward shows us how to keep our brains filled to the brim with knowledge with Stuff You Missed in History Class, Brain Stuff, and The Coolest Stuff on the Planet. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:17:16 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/iphone_3gs_3g_ipod_touch_could_make_apple_a_major_mobile_gaming_player/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/iphone_3gs_3g_ipod_touch_could_make_apple_a_major_mobile_gaming_player/ In a little over a year, Apple has gone from an after-thought in mobile gaming to a major force that could dramatically change the direction of that market segment, according to a few industry folks I spoke with recently. The new iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch could fuel major market share gains for Apple, especially when considering their technical specs, which now rival the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. Columns and Opinions, Oh the Games You'll Play, Reports, Games, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iPod Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:29 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_preparing_us_to_live_in_app_space/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_preparing_us_to_live_in_app_space/ When all we had were PCs and Macs, we thought of apps as programs that provided a function: word processing or web browsing.  Magically, however, the portability of the iPhone has encouraged developers to think on a grander scale about what an app is -- even to the extent that every popular TV show should have its own app. That progression will change everything. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, iObserver, iPhone Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:01 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/photoshop_fotokasten_a_zoom_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/photoshop_fotokasten_a_zoom_and_more/ Images! Pictures! Photos! In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward shows you how to get the most out of you iPhone camera with Photoshop Mobile, Fotokasten and A+ Camera Zoom. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:36:08 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/windows_7_launch_is_a_dangerous_time_for_mac_advocates/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/windows_7_launch_is_a_dangerous_time_for_mac_advocates/ Yesterday was full of news and commentary about Apple's reaction to Windows 7, including some nice quotes from Apple SVP Phil Schiller.  However, at your level, the project level, there are pitfalls for Mac enthusiasts who go about evangelizing the wrong way. Here's what to avoid, and here's what to do. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:09:32 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/surprise_apple_sells_to_the_federal_government/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/surprise_apple_sells_to_the_federal_government/ John looks at the presence Apple has in the U.S. federal government. It's small and growing. Those who suggest that Apple has no presence at all in the federal government are just misinformed. To the tune of about $200 million dollars. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:06:37 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/pangeas_brian_greenstone_app_store_far_exceeded_my_expectations/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/pangeas_brian_greenstone_app_store_far_exceeded_my_expectations/ Brian Greenstone, founder and president of Pangea Software, has been around the block more than a few times since releasing his first commercial Mac game 20 years ago, but even he had no idea how big the App Store could be when it launched in mid-2008. "I thought it had potential," he said in an interview, "but I grossly underestimated just how much potential that was. It far exceeded my expectations." Columns and Opinions, Oh the Games You'll Play, Reports, Games, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iPod Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:00:01 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/paranormal_research_lucid_dream_tv_transylvania_tv_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/paranormal_research_lucid_dream_tv_transylvania_tv_and_more/ In this installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward continues his weird ways and hooks you up with the Paranormal Research Association of Boston, Lucid Dream TV, Transylvania Television, and direct links to lots of other free stuff. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, App Store, iTunes Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:41:08 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/blinded_by_the_light/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/blinded_by_the_light/ John Martellaro takes a look at the smartphone landscape and surmises that the iPhone competitors are doing everything they can to copy Apple. Except, that is, do what Apple did.Build a great app development and delivery system and marry it with integrated and lovable hardware. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:16:33 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_return_of_typestyler/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_return_of_typestyler/ Back in the 1990's, there was a popular text-manipulation program called TypeStyler. When Mac OS X arrived on the scene, the developer announced that an OS X compatible version of the program was on the way. It took almost a decade, but TypeStyler for Mac OS X is here at last! Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:20:46 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_determinator_spirit_board_iesp_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_determinator_spirit_board_iesp_and_more/ In this week's Free on iTunes, Vern Seward gives his sixth sense a work out and predicts you'll read about The Determinator, Spirit Board, and iESP. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:50:25 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/can_microsoft_grab_the_brass_ring/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/can_microsoft_grab_the_brass_ring/ Microsoft has had plenty of opportunities in the post PC wars world to grab the brass ring. In 2002, Microsoft, with its business focus, passed on music. Then, in 2007, Steve Ballmer scoffed at the iPhone. Now, we're on the precipice of a third revolution, the next generation tablet.  Will Microsoft turn its back one more time? Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:15:08 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/selected_shorts_evernote_grammar_up/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/selected_shorts_evernote_grammar_up/ In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward puts on some Selected Shorts, takes note of Evernote, and ganders at Grammar up in this week's edition of Free on iTunes. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:24:51 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_itablet_design_and_technical_specs/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_itablet_design_and_technical_specs/ Digging into battery capabilities plus CPU, SSD and display power consumption can provide some hints about what the Apple iTablet may be like, at least from a hardware standpoint. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:47:51 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/more_tips_for_beginners/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/more_tips_for_beginners/ Nancy Carroll Gravley shares some great tips for sending high resolution images to friends and family, resending email messages, and annotating images quickly and easily so you can get back to checking out your photo collection. Tips, How-To, Columns and Opinions, Computing with Bifocals Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:00:34 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/gendai_talks_iphone_game_creation_with_gamesalad/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/gendai_talks_iphone_game_creation_with_gamesalad/ Gendai Games on Wednesday announced its GameSalad iPhone Early Access Program, which lets users of its software development kit (SDK) create and publish iPhone games at Apple's App Store. In an interview, Gendai president Michael Augustin stressed that GameSalad is "a tool for those getting started developing games but who don't know how to program. It's a robust toolset for game building." Columns and Opinions, Oh the Games You'll Play, Reports, Games, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iPod Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:45:55 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/jumping_ship_to_microsoft_stores_good_for_some_apple_employees/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/jumping_ship_to_microsoft_stores_good_for_some_apple_employees/ There have been some stories lately, based on anonymous sources, that Microsoft has contacted some Apple retail store managers about moving to Microsoft retail stores. That may actually be good for some Apple employees, whether or not Microsoft's retail store initiative succeeds. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:45:14 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_guru_bars_could_be_a_success/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_guru_bars_could_be_a_success/ I've been a vocal critic, some might even say jackass critic, of Microsoft's planned and upcoming retail stores, but some reader reaction to the news that Big Redmond was poaching Apple's retail management gave me pause for thought. That thought - and I assure you no one was as surprised as me - was that the company's "Guru Bars" might not be as big a disaster as many expect. Columns and Opinions, The Back Page Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:32:45 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/wolfenstein_rpg/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/wolfenstein_rpg/ In a world of fast paced first person shooters can turn-based Wolfenstein RPG be any good? Vern Seward that a peek at this new iPhone and iPod touch game from ID Software Columns and Opinions, Just a Peek, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iPod Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:07 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/road_trip_car_accident_repot_max_injury_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/road_trip_car_accident_repot_max_injury_and_more/ In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward test drives Road Trip Lite, Car Accident Report, and gives Max Injury Lite a few tumbles. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:10:30 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_art_and_dangers_of_selling_without_selling/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_art_and_dangers_of_selling_without_selling/ Apple is able to use the iTunes 9 app to sell products without actually appearing to sell anything. Because no one likes high pressure, in your face, sales tactics, iTunes services keep the money flowing with the appearance of customer enthusiasm, not offensive sales tactics. But the line is all too easy to cross. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:51:19 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/new_itunes_apples_media_event_defying_gravity/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/new_itunes_apples_media_event_defying_gravity/ If you are a luddite hermit who has just been revived from a coma then you might have missed the tech news story of the week: Steve Jobs is back! You can watch the video which is free on iTunes this week. Vern Seward also shows us iTunes itself and Defying Gravity. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iTunes Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:35:38 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_stirs_muddy_waters_with_ipod_touch_emphasis/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_stirs_muddy_waters_with_ipod_touch_emphasis/ There was one thing from Wednesday's media event I just didn't get. I mean, I've chewed it over with people that were there and people that weren't. I've thought about it and thought about it, and it just bugs me: What the hell was up with the 15 minute iPod touch recap during an event that's usually used to introduce new products to the media? Columns and Opinions, The Back Page, iObserver, iPod Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:28:26 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/open_sourcing_grand_central_is_crazy_like_a_fox/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/open_sourcing_grand_central_is_crazy_like_a_fox/ Apple has taken it's Grand Central Dispatch technology open source.  That's the higher level API that assists developers with making their apps run faster by better exploiting CPU threads. Why would Apple make this technology available to the competition?  Here's why. Columns and Opinions, Opinion Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:07:14 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/my_quick_take_on_apple_event_09-09-09_new_ipods_new_itunes_new_iphone_os/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/my_quick_take_on_apple_event_09-09-09_new_ipods_new_itunes_new_iphone_os/ It's 09-09-09. And a lot seems to be happening. The Beatles released newly remastered CDs and a Rock Band video game. Obama's speech to Congress on health care reform is coming up. And, oh yes, there was an Apple Event, highlighted by the first public appearance of Steve Jobs since his return to active duty a few months ago. The event was hyped as focusing on music: iTunes and iPods. And so it was. Here's my quick take on what most impressed me (or disappointed me) about the day's announcements and what is most essential for you to know. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:04:11 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/restrained_evolution_of_ipod_touch_speaks_to_itablet/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/restrained_evolution_of_ipod_touch_speaks_to_itablet/ Apple added some considerable new features to the iPod nano today.  By comparison, the evolution of the iPod touch seems restrained. That may have implications for the forthcoming iTablet. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, iObserver, iPod Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:55:41 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/steve_jobs_rdf_creates_new_event_horizons/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/steve_jobs_rdf_creates_new_event_horizons/ Mr. Jobs is back as Master of Ceremonies. That fact alone, despite what some other observers have claimed, puts the excitement back into Apple and its events. Why? Because we know that the guiding hand of the CEO is percolating throughout Apple. Good things happen. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:13:08 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/traffic_traps_bikinis_and_more/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/traffic_traps_bikinis_and_more/ In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward steers us towards Traffic! and Tapster, both free apps at the iTunes Store, and Bikini Driving School, where driving hot cars is only part of the fun. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver, iPod Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:13:56 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/sweeping_up_after_snow_leopard/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/sweeping_up_after_snow_leopard/ Snow Leopard is out. The initial reviews and feature summary articles are in. Like the person that sweeps up debris after a party is over, it's time for someone to come along and clean up the Snow Leopard litter — to clarify some points of confusion and offer a bit of troubleshooting advice. It's not a glorious job — but someone's gotta do it. I volunteered. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:48:08 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/bodyrock_balanced_body_food_and_fitness_tracker_and_more3/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/bodyrock_balanced_body_food_and_fitness_tracker_and_more3/ In this week's installment of Free on iTunes, Vern Seward shows us some of the many get-in-shape, run-lift-step, and other exercise-oriented podcast on iTunes. From BodyRock to Food and Fitness , this week Vern helps us get in shape. Columns and Opinions, Free on iTunes, iObserver Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:49:28 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_perilous_pit_and_snow_leopard_maneuvers/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_perilous_pit_and_snow_leopard_maneuvers/ Microsoft is a company that cut its teeth on the Enterprise. Yet, somehow, the company is unable to ignore Apple's market share and attend to its own business. The release of Snow Leopard continues to mess with Microsoft's mind. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Reports, Mac OS, Snow Leopard Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:09:33 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/plextor_px-610u_portable_usb_2.0_dvd_drive/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/plextor_px-610u_portable_usb_2.0_dvd_drive/ Vern take a good hard look at Plextor's wee USB DVD drive. Columns and Opinions, Just a Peek Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:55:12 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_the_fcc_questions_for_apple/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_the_fcc_questions_for_apple/ The issues surrounding the FCC questions about Apple's App Store and approval process are complex.  The Mac Observer spoke with an attorney familiar with the matter and obtained a better insight into what's going on. As usual, nothing is as simple as it appears. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:17:53 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_really_makes_apple_different/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_really_makes_apple_different/ What sets Apple apart is often hard to articulate. Some would like us to believe that Apple is merely a premium brand for the well-heeled. However, there are more fundamental elements to Apple's thinking that define the company. The current ruckus over Redbox provides an instructive example of customer focus, vision, and simplicity. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:10:43 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/nancys_tips_for_cover_flow_mail_and_preview/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/nancys_tips_for_cover_flow_mail_and_preview/ Nancy Carroll Gravley has rounded up some new tips concerning Cover Flow, Mail, and Preview; and she explains the difference between backup software and Time Machine. Columns and Opinions, Computing with Bifocals Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:28 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/windows_enterprise_columnist_builds_marvelous_apple_straw_man/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/windows_enterprise_columnist_builds_marvelous_apple_straw_man/ This just in: "Early Release Won't Help Apples Snow Leopard Win Corporate Converts." In other news, "Chevy Volt's High Mileage Won't Help GM Land DoD Jet Fighter Contract." Columns and Opinions, The Back Page, Reports, Mac OS, Leopard, Snow Leopard Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:33:39 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/itablet_the_truth_is_out_there_and_i_want_to_believe/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/itablet_the_truth_is_out_there_and_i_want_to_believe/ Vern Seward puts on his shiny tin foil hat and shows us "hard" evidence of the much rumored Apple Tablet device. Columns and Opinions, Just a Thought Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:41:28 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_emotional_toll_of_twitter/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_emotional_toll_of_twitter/ Twitter allows one to tap into the stream of consciousness of a subset of the world. When that stream goes largely negative, it can adversely affect the life balance that most of us seek. Here's what I'm doing about it. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Editorial, Blogs, John Martellaro's Blog Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:00:20 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_critics_are_a_bag_of_hurt/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_critics_are_a_bag_of_hurt/ Apple seems to be under attack lately, but mostly from bloggers and journalists with an axe to grind.  Or perhaps it's just mob psychology.  But is Apple really doing anything wrong or illegal? John doesn't think so. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:30:01 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/why_the_apple_tablet_is_critical_to_apples_future/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/why_the_apple_tablet_is_critical_to_apples_future/ Trends that appear to be continuing unabated to extremes often become unstable and unsustainable.  If that happens in the business world, a company either seizes control or fate dashes its hopes. That's why Apple is planning now for the product line of the future. Columns and Opinions, Hidden Dimensions Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:20:31 -0400