Buying a new MacBook should be a joyful experience, not a grudging choice.
Spotting Fake News, MacBook Complaints – TMO Daily Observations 2019-11-08
Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to talk about finding misinformation in your news, and Apple’s laptop situation.
Create a Touchscreen MacBook With $1 Worth of Hardware
A proof-of-concept touchscreen MacBook was created with a dollar’s worth of hardware, called Project Sistine. The main principle behind Sistine is the surface reflection.
Surfaces viewed from an angle tend to look shiny, and you can tell if a finger is touching the surface by checking if it’s touching its own reflection.
The hardware is a modified version of ShinyTouch. By fitting a small mirror in front of the MacBook’s built-in webcam, the software can see fingers touching or hovering over the display. It’s a cool concept that you can read more about here.
Suspending Siri Grading, MacBook Saga Ends – TMO Daily Observations 2019-08-02
John Martellaro and Adam Christianson join host Kelly Guimont to talk about Siri’s grading program and the end of John’s MacBook repair saga.
Hilarious Deconstruction of Microsoft's 'Mac Book' Surface Commercial
The Next Web has a hilarious deconstruction of Microsoft’s Meet Mackenzie “Mac” Book commercial. If you haven’t already seen this ridiculous commercial, watch it. You’ll probably be mad at me for telling you to do that, but your reward will be Callum Booth’s excellent snarkfest at TNW. Here’s a snippet, where he questions the premise of the commercial star’s name, Mac Book.
What are your credentials here, bud?
Just because my last name is ‘Booth’ doesn’t mean I have any understanding how phone booths or toll booths actually operate. You wouldn’t come to me if you were planning on upgrading a selection of traffic kiosks on the strength of my surname. I can categorically say that’d be the worst mistake you’d ever make. My entire selection rationale would revolve around which booth I think looks the most bitching, which, unfortunately, is no way to actually run a business.
I’m sorry, Mac Book, but I do not value your opinion on this matter.
MacBook Saga, DirecTV and CBS Squabble – TMO Daily Observations 2019-07-26
John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to talk about the latest in John’s MacBook saga, and the CBS/DirecTV kerfuffle.
Evidence Mounts: Apple's Butterfly Keyboard is on the Way Out
Evidence is mounting that the ill-fated Butterfly mechanism keyboard that Apple has been using in its notebook computers ever since the MacBook debuted in 2015 will eventually become history. AppleInsider has the goods:
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suspects that the [rumored] 16-inch MacBook Pro will be the first Apple laptop to shift [back] to a scissor mechanism …
Furthermore, Kuo is predicting that the entire MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines will migrate in 2020 to the technology.
Some think this is evidence of the subtle hand of Apple’s COO Jeff Williams.
The Man Behind Apple's Renewed Focus on Engineering
Recent events at and products from Apple suggest that there’s a re-emphasized focus on engineering. John suspects who’s behind it.
Alas, Poor MacBook! I Knew it Well
John has loved his 2015 MacBook. It served him well.
Which Now? Mac Pro or iMac Pro?
Now that the Mac Pro has been announced, it’s time to put it into perspective against the 2017 iMac Pro.
Why Customers Are Complaining About Apple's Keyboards
It’s irritating when the keyboard on a MacBook of some kind fails. But are the complaints out of proportion? John weighs in.
Apple Service Provider Talks MacBook Keyboard Problem on Reddit
An Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) breaks down the MacBook keyboard problem on Reddit, saying Apple’s dust explanation is BS.
Apple Finally Serious About MacBook Keyboard Problems
Apple is now serious about MacBook keyboard problems some people may have, and repairs at Apple Stores promise next-day turnaround.
Most keyboard-related repairs will be required to be completed in store until further notice. Additional service parts have been shipped to stores to support the increased volume.
These repairs should be prioritized to provide next-day turnaround time. When completing the repair, have the appropriate service guide open and carefully follow all repair steps.
Scare Off Potential Thieves with the First Alarm System for MacBooks: $39.99
We have a deal on Beepify, an alarm system for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. Beepify uses three triggers—laptop closed, charger disconnected, or charger and display—that when violated, will beep extremely loudly to scare would-be thieves away. You can get a lifetime subscription for one device for $39.99 through our deal.
SALE: Today Only Get a 2017 MacBook for $999 on Woot
Today only Woot.com is selling a refurbished 2017 MacBook with 512GB SSD and 1.3GHz Intel Core i5 for US$999.99.
Listen up! These MacBooks are Refurbished by Apple, but do not come with an Apple Warranty. In this case, we’re backing them with a 90 Day Woot Warranty.
Apple Back to School Offers Available in Australia, Brazil, South Korea and Brazil
Apple is offering Back to School promotions in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea, including free Beats headphones.
10 Things We Wish Apple Would Do in 2019
Just because a focus of Apple is making metric boatloads of money doesn’t mean that worthy projects that surprise and delight the customer must remain off the table.
Apple's Black Friday Is Here and Mostly Ho-Hum
Apple has never been big on sales, but there’s something about making everything but the newest models eligible for gift cards extra insulting.
Latest MacBook is $251 Off at Amazon
This is the latest 12-inch MacBook model on sale at Amazon for US$1298. And new, not refurbished. Here are the specs. “Apple MNYL2LL/A 12″ MacBook, Retina, 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core Processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, MacOS, Gold.” Only 9 left in stock, but more are said to be coming. MSRP is $1549.
Apple RAM and SSD Prices, Apple's Pipeline, the Future of iOS - ACM 488
Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest-host John Kheit, who has a bee in his bonnet about Apple’s upgrade pricing for RAM and storage on the new Mac mini and MacBook Air models. They also discuss whether or not Apple actually has a “deep pipeline,” as well features they’d like to see come to iOS in the future.
