Today I am as proud as can be to announce my first book, Tips, Hints, and Solutions for Seasoned Beginners Using Apple Macintosh Computers With OS X. For quite some time I have wanted to put together a handbook for Experienced Beginners who are using OS X. Something that would serve as a repository for…
News
Yahoo! Buys Musicmatch To Bolster Online Music Offerings
T he competition arrayed against Apple in the growing online music market is shifting. In a deal valued at US$160 million, Yahoo! announced today the acquisition of one-time Apple partner Musicmatch. Musicmatch makes its self-titled Musicmatch jukebox software that allows Windows users to manage their digital music collections, the same software Apple licensed for its…
MacSword, ChartConstructor, Illumination, & More
MacSword has been updated by its author to version 1.1.1. MacSword, based on the open-source SWORD Project, is a bible study program for Mac OS X. The new version fixes bugs, adds a Chinese localization, and adds a few interface tweaks. MacSword 1.1.1 is available now as a free download. Headshack Software has updated ChartConstructor…
Jupiter Research: iPod/iTunes Combo an Advantage for Apple
The Guardian (UK) has published an article looking at the battle between Apple and everyone else in the online music download business. The article particularly focuses on Microsoft’s new Windows Media Player 10 software, which among other things allows Windows users to take their rented music with them on portable media players. The article quotes…
Forbes/NewMediaZero Call Windows Media Open, iTunes Closed
Forbes’ online arm has published an article from a UK online site called NewMediaZero. That article touts “the relatively open nature” of Windows Media 10, which “stands in stark contrast” to Apple’s closed and proprietary iTunes. The article also quotes a broadband content provider who compares the coming platform war between Microsoft and Apple to…
Kanguru Releases First FireWire Flash Drive
At long last, after years of USB having a corner on the flash drive market, Kanguru has announced its Fire Flash FireWire flash drive line. With capacities ranging from 128MB to 1GB, the Fire Flash is the perfect way to carry your data with you, and since they uses FireWire, you won’t be waiting around…
Marathon Computer Announces New 12U Server Rack
Marathon Computer announces a new enclosed equipment rack, suitable for office workgroup or machine room. “We wanted to give people enough room for their G5s and Xserves,” said Marathon spokesman, David Soch, “but in an equipment rack that is small enough to use in an office workgroup setting.” Marathonis new 12U rack cabinet does both.…
Mireth Technology Releases Music Man
Mireth Technology Corp. announces the launch of Music Man, digital music software that rips from CD, converts between formats, burns to CD or to USB Flash Drive Memory and plays music files, CDs and directly from USB Flash. Music Man runs on Mac OS X. Music Man was developed to provide support for MP3 devices…
Apple Expo - iPod Speaker Makers Battle it Out With New Models
PARIS, FRANCE – The battle for business between iPod speaker makers moved to Paris this week at Apple Expo, as Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. and Bose Corp. announced new products aimed at portable music lovers. Altec Lansing announced the iM3 for iPod and iPod mini at US$180 and the iMmini for Apple’s smallest handheld music…
iTunes Offers Republican Speeches, RNC Promotes iPod
J ust as with the Democratic National Convention last month, Apple is offering free downloads of speeches from the Republican National Convention (RNC) through the iTunes Music Store. For its part, the RNCis Web site is promoting not only the iTunes Music Store, but iPods for people who might be interested in listening to speeches…
Apple Expo - Apple Exec: No G5 Laptop "Anytime Soon"
PARIS, FRANCE – An Apple director reiterated on Wednesday comments made earlier this year that the company has no plans to announce a Mac laptop powered by a G5 processor for some time, and that technical issues of putting the chip in a small PowerBook have not yet been overcome. Tom Boger, director of Apple’s…
Apple Reminds Microsoft Who's #1 With 125 Million Downloads
I n response to the official launch of Microsoftis MSN Music service this morning, Apple has taken the opportunity to remind people whois on top of the music download business. The company issued a statement obtained by The Mac Observer that says the score so far in this business is 125 million downloads for Apple…
Memo Pad: Hot, Quiet & No Posters
P ARIS, FRANCE – Paris Apple Expo has been an interesting show. When compared to US-based shows, itis similar, but has its own style. Here are some observations from what has been a headline-making event in the city of love and lights. Can it get any hotter?! It is just me or is it hot…
August 22-31: "Welcome, IBM. Seriously," Too Late to License
The week of August 22nd through the 31st is a busy, busy ten days in Apple history. First of all, we have Apple’s infamous "Welcome, IBM. Seriously" full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal. This was in response to last week’s introduction of the IBM Personal Computer. Hubris or naivety? Check the entry below for…
Apple Expo - Initial iMac Availability To Be Limited, Sources Say
PARIS, FRANCE – Apple dealers are being told that flat-panel iMac G5s will be in very limited supply until late-November, early-December. Apple introduced the new iMac today to cheering crowds during the Apple Expo keynote in Paris, France. Independent dealers say that the flow of new iMacs will be a "trickle" when they initially become…
Children's PressLine Uses iPods To Score Political Interviews
While its impact on culture is well known and oft touted, Apple’s iPod is having an effect even on politics, according to a children’s journalist group called the Children’s PressLine (CPL). With its roots in another organization called Children’s Express, the CPL has covered every Democratic and Republican national conventions since 1976. When two CPL…
iPontificate: iPods, Beemers and Walkmans
Last time out, I ranted about why I thought the iPod was such cultural sensation. This time, I want to talk about a couple of iPod related topics that probably have crossed your mind as well. First, Apple has admitted that there needs to be improvements to using an iPod in the car. Duh. Last…
Forbes: New Sony Walkman Can't Break iPod's Stride
Sony’s “iPod Killer,” the Walkman Network HD-1, has come out on the losing end of another comparison to the iPod. In an article titled, “New Sony Walkman Can’t Break iPod’s Stride,” Forbes reviewer Mark Hazlin says that the Walkman would have been more impressive had it come out two years ago, but as it is,…
Apple Expo Begins Tonight, TMO to Cover Keynote
[ Update: Apple had the commercial WiFi network we scouted out in the Apple Expo facilities turned off for the keynote. We are posting short blurbs as they are phoned in by staff on-hand for the event. We will also be posting stories and images of any new Apple products as quickly as possible. Additionally,…
Apple Posts New iPod Ad, Steriogram's "Walkie Talkie Man"
A pple has posted a new iPod ad. The ad features the music of Steriogram with a song called "Walkie Talkie Man," which comes from the groupis Schmack CD. The ad posted on Appleis Web site clocks in at two minutes, and features yet another style of dancing. The commercial was shot following the same…
HP Officially Unveils "Apple iPod from HP"
HP officially unveiled what it is calling "Apple iPod from HP," the first (more or less) non-Apple iPod licensed by Apple. Announced in January, HP’s foray into the music player business is effectively the same product sold by Apple, including the Apple logo. The company is offering two models, the 20 GB and 40 GB…
Research Firms Can't Get Enough Of AAPL
While shares of Apple have climbed more than 10 percent this week, reaching 52-week highs, two research firms told investors Friday they continue to remain highly bullish about the stock. Merrill Lynch reiterated its “Buy” rating on Apple, saying it has heard the company is performing well in the higher education market “based on the…
Microsoft Reportedly Sought iPod Support for Upcoming Music Store
One source close to the matter says that Microsoft has made several overtures to Apple to make its store compatible with the industry-leading iPod but has been rebuffed. (Apple declined to comment.) Manufacturers of players that support Windows Media — essentially all of them except the iPod — are excited about the new site. "Any…
Michael Tsai Revs SpamSieve
M ichael Tsai has released SpamSieve 2.2, an update to his powerful spam filtering software for Mac OS X. The new version delivers improved accuracy, easier training, searchable corpus and rules, and more. SpamSieve brings Bayesian spam filtering to numerous email clients, including Apple Mail, Emailer, Entourage, Eudora 5.2 or later, GyazMail, Mailsmith, Outlook Express…
