http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/contact/author/6247/Ted Landau/ Daily news, opinions, editorials, reviews, tips, help, forums, comments, and podcasts all relating to the Mac, Apple, the iPod, the iPhone, and the surrounding industries. en ted@macobserver.com Copyright 2012 Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:16 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fapples_six_best_decisions_of_the_21st_century%2F&seed_title=Apple%26%238217%3Bs+Six+Best+Decisions+of+the+21st+Century http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_six_best_decisions_of_the_21st_century/ Looking back at Apple’s unprecedented financial success over the course of this century, Ted Landau asks: What were the key decisions that Apple made over the past 12 years that contributed most to its astounding ascent? What were the pivot points? He put together such a list, consisting of six items. Here they are… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Apple Stock Watch Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:16 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ftop_apps_for_word_processing_on_the_ipad%2F&seed_title=Top+Apps+for+Word+Processing+on+the+iPad http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/top_apps_for_word_processing_on_the_ipad/ You’ve decided to use your iPad for word processing. Not just for brief notes or email, but for tasks that require extended typing. The question is: Which app(s) should you use? In search of the answer, Ted Landau sorted through a diverse collection of text/word processing apps. Here are the results… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iOS, iPad Wed, 09 May 2012 14:58:34 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fshould_your_iphone_be_your_only_camera%2F&seed_title=Should+Your+iPhone+Be+Your+Only+Camera%3F http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/should_your_iphone_be_your_only_camera/ Are point-and-shoot cameras, especially ones at the low end of the price range, reaching the end of their useful life? Is it time to declare that, for the majority of iPhone 4S owners, the phone’s camera is all they need? Yes. But not without a few important caveats. Ted Landau takes an in-depth look at the factors to consider before making your final decision. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone Tue, 01 May 2012 10:20:52 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fwhat_really_happened_with_wwdc_ticket_sales%2F&seed_title=What+Really+Happened+with+WWDC+Ticket+Sales http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_really_happened_with_wwdc_ticket_sales/ Tickets for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference sold out in less than two hours, before most people on the U.S. West Coast were even awake. What was Apple thinking? Most likely, Apple miscalculated the demand. Ted Landau explains. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Conferences, WWDC Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:33:36 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fstop_the_apple_game_center_cheaters%2F&seed_title=Stop+the+Apple+Game+Center+Cheaters%21 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/stop_the_apple_game_center_cheaters/ Cheaters, who hack Apple’s Game Center to enter phony high scores, are threatening to ruin the leaderboards. What’s Apple doing about it? Apparently nothing, and Ted Landau wants that to change. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, App Store, Game Center, iPhone, iOS, iPad Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:06:32 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fatts_outrageous_iphone_and_ipad_rates%2F&seed_title=AT%26amp%3BT%26%238217%3Bs+Outrageous+iPhone+%26amp%3B+iPad+Rates http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/atts_outrageous_iphone_and_ipad_rates/ How many ways does AT&T overcharge its wireless customers? Every possible way. From text messaging to hot spots, AT&T’s rate plans are so inflated as to enter into the realm of the absurd. Other carriers aren’t much different. If you’re not annoyed by what you pay, you should be. Ted Landau wades through the mess… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iPad Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:23:40 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fthe_new_ipads_too_yellow_display%2F&seed_title=The+New+iPad%26%238217%3Bs+%28Too%3F%29+Yellow+Display http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_new_ipads_too_yellow_display/ While much of the press has focused on whether the new iPad is “too hot to handle,” Ted Landau has been tracking another temperature matter: whether the colors of the new iPad’s display are too warm. After settingup his new iPad, Ted was immediately struck by how yellow the display appeared. Is this a feature or a bug? Read on… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPad Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:44:21 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fare_apple_media_biased_of_course%2F&seed_title=Are+Apple+Media+Biased%3F+Of+Course http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/are_apple_media_biased_of_course/ Are Apple news media biased? Do they slant Apple news more positively and more often than other media sources? Does the tone of their articles typically suggest rooting for Apple’s success? Are their editorial positions significanly tilted in the direction of Apple? Do they seem a tad too quick to dismiss the merits of competitors’ products? The answer to all of these questions is: Emphatically yes! Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:19:42 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fipad_squashes_laptops_on_way_to_world_domination%2F&seed_title=iPad+Squashes+Laptops+on+Way+to+World+Domination http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ipad_squashes_laptops_on_way_to_world_domination/ Can an iPad replace a MacBook? For some people, maybe, but not for everyone, at least not yet. Ted Landau argues that while we continue to witness tablets’ gradual but steady eclipsing of laptops, there’s another far more intriguing question to ponder: Are iPads already better than MacBooks for many tasks? The answer is a resounding yes. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPad Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:36:05 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fthe_new_ipad_not_that_much_but_more_than_enough%2F&seed_title=The+New+iPad%3A+Not+That+Much+but+More+Than+Enough http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_new_ipad_not_that_much_but_more_than_enough/ The new iPad is here. Exactly how new is it? New enough that you should run out and buy one today? That depends. If you already own an iPad 2, there’s no need to hurry. Otherwise, it’s time to check your supply of cash. Regardless, the new iPad will cement and extend Apple’s lead over the competition. The iPad total package, hardware and software and price, represents the absolute best tablet you can buy — and it shows no sign of losing that distinction anytime soon. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:47:04 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fof_os_wars_and_app_wars%2F&seed_title=Of+OS+Wars+%26amp%3B+App+Wars http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/of_os_wars_and_app_wars/ A long time ago, in a tech galaxy far far away, the personal computer operating system war came to a close. The current mobile OS war is nearing a similar endpoint. Marketshare battles among application software follow a similar pattern. Except when they don’t. Ted Landau tells us what it all means… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:26:18 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fmountain_lion_does_ios-ification_right%2F&seed_title=Mountain+Lion+Does+iOS-ification+Right http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/mountain_lion_does_ios-ification_right/ If there was any doubt about the direction Apple intends to go with OS X, it has been erased. If OS X Lion (10.7) felt like a cloudy harbinger of what might be coming down the road, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) clearly reveals what’s waiting at the end — and takes us most of the way there. Apple’s plan is to make OS X look and run more and more like iOS. And, mostly, it works. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion, Mountain Lion Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:01:59 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ften_apps_to_show_off_the_iphone%2F&seed_title=Ten+Apps+to+Show+Off+the+iPhone http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ten_apps_to_show_off_the_iphone/ What if you really wanted to impress somebody with how amazing an iPhone can be? If you were limited to showing off only ten third-party apps, which ten would you choose? These apps needn’t be the most practical or most-likely-to-be-frequently-used. Rather, they should be knock-your-socks-off, I-can’t-believe-an-iPhone-can-do-this apps, the sort that will elicit a “Wow! I gotta have this” reaction. Here’s Ted Landau’s list… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iOS Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:45:22 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ffix_avoid_cui_crashes_with_lion_os_x_10.7.3_update%2F&seed_title=Fix+%26amp%3B+Avoid+CUI+Crashes+with+Lion+OS+X+10.7.3+Update http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/fix_avoid_cui_crashes_with_lion_os_x_10.7.3_update/ Almost immediately after Apple released the Mac OS X 10.7.3 Update last week, some users began reporting a serious and anxiety-provoking consequence of the install: Every application on a Lion drive would crash upon launch, rendering the computer virtually useless. Ted Landau offers advice on how to fix this problem and avoid similar ones in the future. For all the details, read on… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:20:43 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fmacworld_iworld_reinvents_itself%2F&seed_title=Macworld+%7C+iWorld+Reinvents+Itself http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macworld_iworld_reinvents_itself/ Last week, the curtain came up and revealed a reinvented Macworld. Even the name was new: Macworld | iWorld. From the exhibit hall to the technical sessions to the midway to the evening events, Ted Landau takes a look at all that transpired and finds that it adds up to: success! Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Conferences, Macworld Expo Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:27:13 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fapple_shines_with_ibooks_author%2F&seed_title=Apple+Shines+with+iBooks+Author http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_shines_with_ibooks_author/ Apple is hoping to change the education with its interactive textbooks and iBooks Author app for the Mac. Despite an assortment of criticisms coming from the media, Ted Landau’s bottom line assessment of iBooks Author is that it is a winner. Here’s why… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:28:30 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fyear_one_a.j%2F&seed_title=Year+One+A.J.+%28After+Steve+Jobs%29 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/year_one_a.j/ To the vast majority of the world, we are living in the year 2012. To those of us who spend much of our time within the Apple universe, it may be more appropriately labeled as year 1 A.J. (after Jobs). This is the first year, since Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, that we begin to see how Apple will fare without him at the helm. Ted Landau looks ahead to consider how Apple might change in the new era. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:43 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fwhy_a_7_ipad_makes_sense%2F&seed_title=Why+a+7+Inch+iPad+Makes+Sense http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/why_a_7_ipad_makes_sense/ When asked about the wisdom of a 7-in. iPad, Steve Jobs dismissed it as “dead on arrival.” Times have changed. Ted Landau explains why a 7-in. iPad not only makes sense now but offers a great opportunity for Apple to crush the competition. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPad Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:30:57 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2FWhy_apple_strays_from_keep_it_simple%2F&seed_title=Why+Apple+Strays+from+%26%238220%3BKeep+it+Simple%26%238221%3B http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Why_apple_strays_from_keep_it_simple/ Apple is taking some unwelcome detours from the path to simplicity. For instance, how many different locations does it take to accommodate all settings related to iOS’s Notes app? The answer is at least seven. Ted Landau offers an thoughts as to why Apple is proceeding down this path and what a better alternative might look like. Tips, Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iCloud Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:32:32 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fwhy_you_still_shouldnt_care_about_applecare%2F&seed_title=Why+You+Still+Shouldn%26%238217%3Bt+Care+About+AppleCare http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/why_you_still_shouldnt_care_about_applecare/ With the 2011 holiday season upon us, many many many people will be getting Apple products as gifts over the next few weeks. They will all have an opportunity to purchase AppleCare for their new devices — or not. As such, Ted Landau thought it was a good time to consider the AppleCare decision, with a focus on iOS devices. His conclusion remains essentially unchanged from a column he wrote 5 years ago: AppleCare is a bad bet. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:13:50 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fdont_pre-judge_the_kindle_touch%2F&seed_title=Don%26%238217%3Bt+Pre-judge+the+Kindle+Touch http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/dont_pre-judge_the_kindle_touch/ Ted Landau received his Kindle Touch last week. Just in time. He was on the verge of canceling his order due to all the press negatively comparing the Touch to the Kindle 4. In the end, he was glad that he stuck with the Touch. The new model is a bit rough around the edges, but still a better choice than the other Kindle models. Bonus: On a different subject, you’ll find some thoughts on Android devices at the end of today’s column. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iOS, iPad Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:27:10 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ftop_5_apple_stories_of_2011%2F&seed_title=Top+5+Apple+Stories+of+2011 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/top_5_apple_stories_of_2011/ It’s that time. Time for Ted Landau’s second annual Top 5 Apple Stories of Year. There should be no suspense as to what story is number one. Regardless, we’ll count ‘em down. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:54:27 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fmusic_cds_near_dead_ipods_fade%2F&seed_title=Music+CDs+Near+Dead%3B+iPods+Fade http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/music_cds_near_dead_ipods_fade/ A rumor says that music CDs may soon gasp their last breath. In related news, the current sales decline of traditional (non-touch) iPods is likely to continue. Ted Landau sorts out what it all means. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iTunes Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:12:08 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ficloud_forgets_to_keep_it_simple%2F&seed_title=iCloud+Forgets+to+Keep+it+Simple http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/icloud_forgets_to_keep_it_simple/ One of Apple’s mainstay principles — perhaps its key principle — has been to maintain a focus on simplicity and “ease of use.” This means that products, especially consumer-oriented ones, should require very little effort to figure out how they work. Ted Landau looks at iCloud’s varied features and asks “Is this what Apple means by ‘simplicity’?” Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iCloud Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:39:12 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Funderstanding_the_debate_over_apples_mac_app_store_sandbox%2F&seed_title=Understanding+The+Debate+Over+Apple%26%238217%3Bs+Mac+App+Store+Sandbox http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/understanding_the_debate_over_apples_mac_app_store_sandbox/ Apple will require all Mac App Store apps to implement sandboxing restrictions by next March. The goal is increased security and a simpler interface. But these potential advantages come with costs, ones that you may not want to pay. Ted Landau walks you through the debate surrounding an issue that is at the forefront of the future direction of the entire Mac platform. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:25:18 -0500 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fan_apple_television_can_be_a_game_changer%2F&seed_title=An+Apple+Television+Can+Be+a+Game+Changer http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_apple_television_can_be_a_game_changer/ To Ted Landau, an Apple-branded television seemed like a bad idea. That was months ago. Now, Ted reverses course and concludes that an Apple-branded television could well be the company’s next game-changing product. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:22:37 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fitunes_wi-fi_sync_and_back_up_fail_and_workaround%2F&seed_title=iTunes+Wi-Fi+Sync+%26amp%3B+Back+Up%3A+Fail+%28%26amp%3B+Workaround%29 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/itunes_wi-fi_sync_and_back_up_fail_and_workaround/ Overall, iOS 5’s new Wi-Fi syncing works spectacularly well. However, there is one significant glitch. With Wi-Fi sync enabled and iTunes left open, your iOS device will stop backing up to your Mac when syncing! Ted Landau explains the issues. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iCloud, iOS, iTunes, iPad Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:00:20 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fthe_complete_guide_to_ios_5s_new_and_hidden_settings%2F&seed_title=The+Complete+Guide+to+iOS+5%26%238217%3Bs+New+and+%26%238220%3BHidden%26%238221%3B+Settings http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_complete_guide_to_ios_5s_new_and_hidden_settings/ Want to know about every (almost every?) iOS 5-specific option contained in the Settings app? This article is what you’ve been seeking. While a few of the new options are only relevant to selected iOS devices (Siri is only on the iPhone 4S, as one obvious example), most of then work on all devices capable of running iOS 5. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iCloud, iOS, iPad, iPod Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:10:51 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fthe_end_of_movie_extras%2F&seed_title=The+End+of+Movie+Extras%3F http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_end_of_movie_extras/ In yet another example of the film industry getting it wrong, Ted Landau notes that the “extras” are now gone from rented DVDs of recent movies. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:54:21 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fkeynote_disappoints_iphone_4s_does_not%2F&seed_title=Keynote+Disappoints%2C+iPhone+4S+Does+Not http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/keynote_disappoints_iphone_4s_does_not/ Ted Landau’s initial reaction to this week’s Apple keynote media event was disappointment. But not because there was no iPhone 5. Rather, it was because Apple didn’t give the iPhone 4S the showcase it deserved. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iPod Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:01:16 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fios_needs_a_universal_save%2F&seed_title=iOS+Needs+a+%26%238220%3BUniversal+Save%26%238221%3B http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ios_needs_a_universal_save/ Apple may think that the idea of sandboxing apps in iOS and quarantining files within those apps is a splendid idea, Ted Landau takes exception. In this installment of the User Friendly View, he argues that Apple needs to add a Unversal Save feature to iOS to overcome this limitation. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPhone, iOS, iPad Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:20:03 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fnetflixs_trouble_are_a_self_made_pr_disaster%2F&seed_title=Netflix%26%238217%3Bs+Troubles+Are+a+Self-Made+PR+Disaster http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/netflixs_trouble_are_a_self_made_pr_disaster/ With the poorly handled announcement of its price increase and its just announced split into Netflix/Qwikster, it would be easy to ridicule Netflix. And yet…the company is facing a difficult dilemma with no clear sure-fire solutions. Ted Landau explains… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iCloud, iTunes Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:56:26 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fios_file_sharing_unleashed%2F&seed_title=iOS+File+Sharing+Unleashed%21 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ios_file_sharing_unleashed/ When Apple introduced iOS 5 and iCloud at the WWDC last June, it promised to “cut the cord” that bound iOS devices to the Mac. With that in mind, Ted Landau asks: “Is there a way to cut the cord for file transfers among iOS devices of all iOS files — including iOS app package and system files?” The answer is a resounding yes! The one caveat is that you will have to jailbreak your iOS devices. Tips, How-To, Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, App Store, iPhone, iCloud, iOS, iPad Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:46:24 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fethernet_rules%2F&seed_title=Ethernet+Rules%21 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ethernet_rules/ Ethernet? Bah! An archaic technology born before the Macintosh, it should now be on its deathbed — at least for home users. To set up an Ethernet network requires…a whole lot of stuff! So why not go with Wi-Fi entirely? Wi-Fi is more convenient — and much less expensive. End of story! Or so Ted Landau thought… Tips, Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:55:36 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fsteve_jobs_and_apple_past_future%2F&seed_title=Steve+Jobs+%26amp%3B+Apple%3A+Past%2C+Present%2C+Future http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/steve_jobs_and_apple_past_future/ Looking back in time through the lenses of rose-colored glasses, it may seem that Steve Jobs’s genius was recognized from the very beginning. With the glasses off, the harder truth becomes apparent. Ted Landau looks back at the not always rosy past, the incredible present and the uncertain future of Apple — in the wake of Steve Jobs’ resignation as CEO. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:55:28 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Flife_without_print_media_going_all_in_with_my_ipad_part_2%2F&seed_title=Life+Without+Print+Media%3A+Going+All+In+With+My+iPad+%28Part+2%29 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/life_without_print_media_going_all_in_with_my_ipad_part_2/ In Part 1 of this two-part series, Ted Landau explained the rationale behind his self-imposed two-week ban on reading print news media — depending instead entirely on iPad apps. In today’s conclusion, he continues to detail the results of the experiment — as well as assessing its overall success and what it may portend for the future. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, App Store, iPad Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:56:34 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Flife_without_print_going_all_in_with_my_ipad_part_1%2F&seed_title=Life+Without+Print+Media%3A+Going+All+In+With+My+iPad+%28Part+1%29 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/life_without_print_going_all_in_with_my_ipad_part_1/ Recently, Ted Landau queried: “Why am I reading all of this print media when I have an iPad? Isn’t print media supposed to be on its deathbed?” That’s when he had the idea to try going two weeks without reading his print publications. In part 1, he focuses on newspapers. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, App Store, iPad Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:04:53 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fdiscontent_with_lions_my_way_or_the_highway_approach%2F&seed_title=Discontent+with+Lion%26%238217%3Bs+%26%238220%3BMy+Way+or+the+Highway%26%238221%3B+Approach http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/discontent_with_lions_my_way_or_the_highway_approach/ Hear that noise in the distance? It’s the persistent rumblings of users unhappy about Apple’s “my way or the highway” attitude with many of Mac OS X Lion’s features. And the noise is getting louder. Ted Landau argues that in several key areas, Apple has changed the OS so that, what used to be under the user’s control, is now determined by the OS itself, and worse, there’s nothing you can do about it. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:30:37 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fpaul_kent_macworld_expo_2012_will_be_a_festival%2F&seed_title=Paul+Kent%3A+Macworld+Expo+2012+Will+Be+a+Festival http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/paul_kent_macworld_expo_2012_will_be_a_festival/ Forget the traditional increasingly stodgy Macworld Expo. The 2012 Expo is going to be something entirely new and different. Call it a “celebration” or a “festival.” Whatever you call it, Macworld Expo 2012 will be an opportunity to get together and “facilitate the joy of being an Apple user,” according to Paul Kent, the man in charge of Macworld, and the subject of this interview with Ted Landau. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Conferences, Macworld Expo, TMO Interview Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:38:26 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fthe_future_of_the_mac_after_lion%2F&seed_title=The+Future+of+the+Mac+After+Lion http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_future_of_the_mac_after_lion/ Ted Landau has spent the past few weeks using a telephoto lens to zoom in on OS X Lion, examining all its nooks and crannies. For a change of pace, he decided to shift to his wide-angle lens and look at the bigger picture: Where exactly is Apple heading with Lion? What can the new version of OS X tell us about the future of the Mac? Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion, Snow Leopard Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:52:14 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fwhats_best_about_lion%2F&seed_title=The+Best+%28and+Other%29+Features+of+Lion http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/whats_best_about_lion/ Apple touts that Mac OS X Lion has 250+ new features. Actually, if you count every little thing that’s changed in Lion, there are well more than 250 (as Apple omits mention of numerous minor modifications to the OS). Ted Landau has put together a short list of his personal favorites… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:50:25 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Freclaiming_the_finder_in_lion%2F&seed_title=Reclaiming+the+Finder+in+Lion http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/reclaiming_the_finder_in_lion/ OS X Lion still has the Finder, but you may be disappointed if you’re expecting it to work the way it does in Snow Leopard. Ted Landau shows you how to change a few settings so that you can restore much of that functionality. Tips, How-To, Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:46:31 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fquicken_and_lion_intuit_strikes_out_again%2F&seed_title=Quicken+and+Lion%3A+Intuit+Strikes+%28Out%29+Again http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/quicken_and_lion_intuit_strikes_out_again/ Mac OS X Lion is due out any day now. If you are a Quicken 2007 user, you’ll have to make a decision before your upgrade to the new OS because it won’t run under Lion and you can’t even convert your Quicken data to work with a different program. Ted Landau, a long-time Quicken user, considers his options, while bemoaning Intuit’s disappointing lack of support. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:58:06 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Ficloud_predictions_scoring_my_crystal_ball%2F&seed_title=iCloud+Predictions%3A+Scoring+My+Crystal+Ball http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/icloud_predictions_scoring_my_crystal_ball/ It’s not too often that one gets to make a collection of hefty predictions about Apple’s future direction and then have Apple officially confirm (or, as the case may be, deny) those predictions less than two weeks later. Yet this is exactly what just happened to Ted Landau. In this piece, he grades those predictions to find out how he did. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iCloud Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:44:52 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Flion_without_the_finder%2F&seed_title=Lion+Without+the+Finder http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/lion_without_the_finder/ Ted Landau believes Apple intends to “deprecate” the Finder in a future version of OS X. It is all part of Apple’s strategy to move OS X away from a traditional file-based view of our data and towards one that is more closely aligned with iOS (which, by the way, has no Finder). All the groundwork for doing this is already in place in Lion. Here’s how it would work… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS, Lion Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:22:51 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fmobileme_to_icloud_lost_in_translation%2F&seed_title=MobileMe+to+iCloud%3A+Lost+in+Translation http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/mobileme_to_icloud_lost_in_translation/ As explained by Steve Jobs in the WWDC Keynote earlier this month, iCloud has nine main features. What Steve didn’t explain was what would happen to the features, currently in MobileMe, that were not among iCloud’s new nine. From MobileMe’s web-based apps to web site hosting to iDisk and more — Ted Landau offers his view as to their fate. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iCloud Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:48:03 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Flion_ios_5_icloud_this_changes_everything%2F&seed_title=Lion%2C+iOS+5%2C+iCloud%3A+This+Changes+Everything http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/lion_ios_5_icloud_this_changes_everything/ Apple was firing on all cylinders today. It revealed more details about Mac OS X Lion (coming in July) and introduced iOS 5 and iCloud (both due this fall, probably coinciding with the release of a new iPhone). It would be hard to over-hype the significance of these announcements. These are not just minor revisions to the rulebook. It’s more like “It’s time to throw out the old rulebook and start over.” Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, Reports, Mac OS Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:50:50 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fangry_birds_how_to_break_into_the_top_25_on_leaderboards%2F&seed_title=Angry+Birds%3A+How+to+Break+into+the+Leaderboard+Top+25 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/angry_birds_how_to_break_into_the_top_25_on_leaderboards/ Ted Landau is back with another look into the world of Angry Birds top scores. Last time, he offered advice on how to get three-star scores. This time, he “kicks it up a notch” — revealing how to get scores so high that they put you near the very top of the Game Center Leaderboard. Get your oxygen masks out; were going to where the air gets really thin. Tips, How-To, Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View, iObserver, iPad Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:04:08 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fbefore_there_were_apple_stores%2F&seed_title=Before+There+Were+Apple+Stores%26%238230%3B http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/before_there_were_apple_stores/ Last week was the tenth anniversary of the opening of the first bricks-and-mortar Apple Store. Numerous websites have posted columns reminiscing about those early days in Apple’s decade-old grand retail experiment  Pundits have weighed in with their theories as to why the stores have been so incredibly successful. What has not been mentioned much, if at all, is the disastrously awful experience consumers had to tolerate, back in the 1990’s, if they wanted to purchase a Mac at a retail store… Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Tue, 24 May 2011 11:42:39 -0400 http://mint.macobserver.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=rss%2Fauthor%2F6247&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macobserver.com%2Ftmo%2Farticle%2Fimac_hard_drives_why_did_apple_make_them_hard_to_replace%2F&seed_title=iMac+Hard+Drives%3A+Why+Did+Apple+Make+Them+Hard+to+Replace%3F http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/imac_hard_drives_why_did_apple_make_them_hard_to_replace/ If you buy a new 2011 iMac and decide to replace its internal hard drive with a higher-capacity third-party drive, be prepared for trouble. As detailed by Other World Computing (makers of third-party drive upgrades), what had already been difficult to do is now near impossible.Exactly why did Apple make this design change? What was Apple’s goal in creating the redesigned hardware? Who was the intended primary beneficiary of the change? Ted Landau offers the potential answers. Columns and Opinions, Ted Landau's User Friendly View Wed, 18 May 2011 11:00:45 -0400