MacNotables #822 [41:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jim Dalrymple joins us from safari, and shares his love of roller coasters before discussing his latest project: writing, recording and releasing his own album. Jim details how he got started with this and how he is documenting it on Macworld, the response he received from contacts in the recording industry and more. Few projects like this are truly a solo effort; Jim talks about some of the folks he’s working with, why he’s not limiting the software tools he’s using for the project and how GarageBand is taking center stage in the creative part of the process.

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 MacNotables #821 [41:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The man with the last word in Mac troubleshooting, Ted Landau, has just updated his book, Take Control of Your iPhone, and discusses the features included with the current version of the software. Ted provides updates on the subjects of jailbreaking and unlocking your iPhone, topics that change almost daily, and starts thinking about what may be coming for the iPhone at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Ted also updates us on his attempts to create a bootable Leopard flash drive, offering both a simple and a slightly more involved procedure, depending on your needs.

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 MacNotables #820 [53:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is back to tell us what rock he’s been hiding under and the project that put him there. Bob talks about his latest book, Office 2008 for Mac For Dummies, and gives us his bottom-line assessment of the latest version of the Microsoft productivity suite, and how each of the applications compare to their iWork ‘08 counterparts. Bob also discusses his upcoming Mid-Atlantic Mac User Group Tour, and where you can come to see one of his many presentations if you’re in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or near Washington D.C. The session wraps up with a discussion of what Bob wants to see in the next generation iPhone, and Bob’s most recent product picks.

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 MacNotables #819 [46:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

TidBITS is celebrating 18 years of Mac journalistic excellence, and Adam Engst talks about some of the things that make their publication special and how their style helped set trends in tech journalism. Age and experience changes perspective, and Adam explains how those factors affect what you read in TidBITS, how things have changed, and how they’ve stayed the same. Adam also provides some analysis of Apple’s quarterly financial results, including a discussion of their cash reserves, what could be done with them, and how Apple apparently has moved into the lead in yet another retail statistic. Also, as part of the whole show, Adam and Chuck deliver a live performance review of the Blue Snowflake Compact microphone. Find out how it sounds and whether it suits what you do.
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 MacNotables #818 [41:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Andy Ihnatko shares his experiences from the Conference on World Affairs in Colorado, ranging from his panel appearances with James “The Amazing” Randi discussing “bizarre beliefs” to why this is a very different kind of conference from every angle. Andy also discusses the Eee PC, how it compares with the MacBook Air and iPhone, what it offers and why it may be a viable mobile computing alternative…if you have the right expectations. We wrap up with some thoughts on the newest round of iPhone knock-offs and why Andy doesn’t feel they are relevant, no matter how pretty they look.

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 MacNotables #817 [39:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tonya Engst discusses one of the most challenging computing processes one can experience: switching email programs. A long-time Eudora user, Tonya talks about the issues that led her to make the switch to Apple Mail, the process and software she used, and what she did wrong that you can avoid. Two weeks into the transition, Tonya shares the goods and the bads, talks about dealing with email overload and POP vs IMAP.
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 MacNotables #816 [41:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mac troubleshooting guru Ted Landau discusses a wide variety of topics including his dislike of rebates, his views on the Comcast vs. BitTorrent saga in specific and net neutrality issues in general, and the factors that may be leading to the abandonment of the optical drive. Ted also explains the challenges of creating a bootable disc or flash drive under Leopard and why Apple isn’t much help, and provides his thoughts on the passing of Mac online news pioneer Stan Flack.
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 MacNotables #815 [38:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tonya Engst is the owner of an Amazon Kindle. Is she a proud owner? Find out as Tonya discusses why she felt this eBook reader was important enough to own, and why her Amazon shopping habit helped make the decision. The Kindle has received mixed reviews, and Tonya shares her perspectives on usability, readability and the superior buying experience awaiting new Kindle owners. She also covers what was left off of this first version of the unit, the ups and downs of putting your own documents on the Kindle, support for audio media, and the evolving mechanics of eBook ownership.

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 MacNotables Listener Update - March 2008 [02:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

MacNotables producer Chuck Joiner asks listeners for their input via the MacNotables Listener Survey - March 2008, and tells listeners where they can get more information on supporting the show.

 

 MacNotables #814 [28:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner continue their review of the iPhone SDK. Adam explains why he believes the iPhone is more useful in urban areas, Chuck brings up Apple’s 30% cut of gross sales in the upcoming iPhone Apps Store and the two discuss the enterprise aspects of the announcement. Adam provides perspective from the teenage tech user (via a friend) of an important factor that hardware and service providers need to understand, and <gasp> admits he may soon be in the market for an iPhone. Is the iPhone poised to become a platform in its own right? Find out in this second in a two-part conversation.