MacNotables &#187; Hardware

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: iOS 4: Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth? on The Mac Observer

News: Apple Releases iOS 4 for iPhone, iPod touch by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #1022: Ted Landau Reviews the Frantic Pace of Apple, Getting an iPhone 4, What the Mac mini Means, and More

Chuck — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Ted Landau is getting an iPhone 4.0, and talks about why the decision was easy for him, his acquisition strategy, and the implications of the online pre-order meltdown. That’s just the beginning. Ted addresses the rapid-fire rate of Apple product and update announcements, the “Mac is dead” discussions and why they are wrong, and why the iPad will replace some, but not all currently Mac-oriented tasks. The new Mac mini, the future of Apple TV, and whether it might include an Apple TV (you know, the kind with a screen), and Steve Jobs’ performance at D8 are all included in the discussion.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

TiVo HD Digital Video Recorder

Subscribe to MacNotables in iTunes Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: The Mac Lives! by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: Get DiskAid 4 for iOS File Sharing by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive

The Mac mini

Steve Jobs at D8: The Full, Uncut Interview

MacNotables #1021: Adam and Tonya Engst Explain eBook Formats, Outline Safari 5 Features and Ask For Help with a Family Dispute

Chuck — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Adam and Tonya Engst of TidBITS and Take Control Books are the perfect couple to help make sense of the pros and cons of the various ebook formats. The Mac Power Couple first give us an update on their Take Control books, how they are available, the best way to read them, and what some of the plans are for the future. The differences between PDF and ePub formats for ebooks are subtle, but both distinct and important; Adam and Tonya explain those differences, and which is best for what type of books. Adam delivers a summary of the new features of Safari 5 along with his thoughts on each, and then we ask MacNotables listeners to help settle an Engst family dispute over new hardware. Be sure to listen and vote your conscience.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

GoodReader Lite for iPhone in the iTunes Store

Take Control books

Take Control of iPad Basics by Tonya Engst

Take Control of Media on Your iPad by Jeff Carlson

Take Control of Working with Your iPad by Joe Kissell

Take Control of iPad Networking & Security by Glenn Fleishman

Reading Take Control Ebooks on an iPad (or iPhone or iPod touch) by Tonya Engst

Take Control of Mail on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch by Joe Kissell

GoodReader for iPhone in the iTunes Store

GoodReader for iPad in the iTunes Store

MacVoices #1078: Yuri Selukof of Good.iWare Outlines The Long List of The Capabilities of GoodReader for iPhone and iPad

Air Sharing HD app

Apple Extends Safari 5 with Reader, HTML5, Performance by Adam Engst on TidBITS

Readability

Readable

1Password by Agile Web Solutions

Fluid

Prism

MacNotables #1020: Dennis Sellers on the Intersection of a Post-PC World and Apple’s WWDC Announcements

Chuck — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers provides his thoughts on the announcements at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with an eye toward what a post-PC world might look like. Dennis and host Chuck Joiner hit the high points of Steve Jobs’ keynote, including the new iPhone design, the clear shots at Google, and how the biggest surprise announcement was software-based. The iPhone 4 and the newly renamed iOS 4.0 addressed many of the criticisms that have been leveled at the iPhone in recent months; Dennis and Chuck look at those, and more.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Steve Jobs at D8: The Full, Uncut Interview

Macsimum News

MacNews

Notes from Steve Jobs’ WWDC keynote (updated every few seconds) by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

Say hi to the iPhone 4 by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

Steve Jobs’ WWDC Keynote (video)

iPhone 4 Video

FaceTime Video

MacNotables #1018: Jason Snell on Google TV vs. Apple TV, Why TV is Difficult, The iPad as TV, The Flash Debate and More

Chuck — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Jason Snell, the Editorial Director of Macworld, comments on the current state of TV, including why it is such a mess, what the newly announced Google TV means for consumers in general and Apple TV in particular, and where the iPad fits in. Jason also weighs in on the Apple-Adobe-Flash saga, defending his position that Flash is less relevant than it was when the iPhone first came out, and explains his surprise that we’re still talking about it. The conversation wraps up with Jason talking about the how the iPad fits into his life (so far), what apps he uses, and how it is affecting what he and his team do at Macworld.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive

Jason Snell on Twitter

Google TV

Ihnatko: Get ready for second-wave iPad apps by Andy Ihnatko on Macworld

Zinio Magazine Newsstand App

MacNotables #1015: Jim Dalrymple Reviews One Million iPads, WWDC, His Review Philosophy and Anti-Trust Action Against Apple

Chuck — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:10:00 +0000

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop provides his analysis on the impact of 1 million iPads sold and its impact on his way of doing things personal and professional. Jim also examines the issues (or are they?) around Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), how he fearlessly approaches product reviews, and all the questions surrounding the Flash/no-Flash debate from both the user and the anti-trust perspectives.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Chorus review app????

Memo Connect

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Twitterrific for iPad in the iTunes Store

Need for Speed Shift for iPad in the iTunes Store

Real Racing for iPad in the iTunes Store

Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies for iPad in the iTunes Store

Scrabble for the iPad in the iTunes Store

WSJ – Wall Street Journal for the iPad in the iTunes Store

New York Times Editors Choice for the iPad in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #1014: Ted Landau On Airport Networks, WWDC, Flash, Palm, the iPad 3G, Jailbreaking and More

Chuck — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau and host Chuck Joiner catch up on a wide variety of tech stories and happenings in a broad discussion of the Apple universe. From Ted’s sophisticated Airport network arrangement and an analysis of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to the battle between Apple and Adobe over Flash and the fall of Palm, the two cover a lot of ground in this edition. Apple’s dominance in so many personal technology categories, the iPad 3G, the latest in jailbreaking and more are all examined.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Spirit jailbreak application

Apple Announces WWDC Dates: June 7 – 11 by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

News: Apple Facing Possible Government Probe Over iPhone Developer Restrictions by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

News: HP Buying Palm for $1.2 Billion by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog: It’s Time to Get an HD Radio by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

News: iPad Jailbreak Hits the Web by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Review: iPad Wi-Fi + 3G by Dan Moren on Macworld

MacNotables #1013: Jim Dalrymple on the iPad as a Musician’s Tool, The Wall Street Journal Pricing Model, the Microsoft Kin and More

Chuck — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop is back to update us on the status of his album project before discuss a wide variety of Mac news stories. Jim provides his thoughts on Avid’s discontinuance of the Digidesign brand, the iPad as a musician’s device, and Apple’s requirement of native coding for the iPad. Jim also talks about one of the worst iPad apps, along with some of his favorites, the Wall Street Journal iPad app pricing model, Apple’s iPad feature set choices, the Microsoft Kin, and what appears the be the end of Palm.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Dalrymple’s Beard on Twitter

Jim Dalrymple Fans on FaceBook

MacVoicesTV #906: Macworld Expo: Adam Engst and Jim Dalrymple Unleash on Keynote Announcements in the PodLoft

Gruber on why Apple changed the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Ultimate in the iTunes Store

Scrabble for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Real Racing for iPad in the iTunes Store

Pages for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Keynote for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Numbers for the iPad in the iTunes Store

WSJ – Wall Street Journal for the iPad in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #1012: Ted Landau Discusses His iPad Experiences (So Far)

Chuck — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Mac and iPhone expert Ted Landau is well on his way to becoming an iPad expert, delivering a series of articles on his blog on The Mac Observer. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ted discusses why Apple will release iPhone 4.0 so soon after the iPad launch, his thoughts on pre-iPad-launch curmudgeonliness, the iPad “want vs. need” scenario, the iPad vs. netbook debate, iPad app prices, jailbreaking the iPad, and more. Ted also names some favorite iPad apps (of course) and wraps up by helping the hold-outs decide whether they should buy an iPad.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

The Deep Pinball on the iTunes Store

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog: Which Keyboard for the iPad? on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: File Sharing with an iPad: Ugh! on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: The Present and Future of the iPad on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog: How to Know If You Should Buy an iPad on The Mac Observer

Pandora Radio for iPad on the iTunes Store

ABC Player in the iTunes Store

Scrabble for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Magic Piano for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Fieldrunners for the iPad in the iTunes Store

WeatherBug Elite for iPad in the iTunes Store

NetFlix for iPad in the iTunes Store

New York Times Editors Choice for the iPad in the iTunes Store

USA Today for iPad in the iTunes Store

Pages for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Keynote for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Numbers for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Reuters News Pro for the iPad in the iTunes Store

Pandora Radio for iPad on the iTunes Store

Clear Cal for iPad from RadTech

MacNotables #1011: Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus Delivers A Hands-On First Look at the iPad

Chuck — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is one of the privileged very few who received an iPad for early review, and provides his thoughts on the hottest Apple product to appear in a long time. Bob discusses what made the biggest impression on him out of the box, what he’s already discovered about casual usability, and his positive experiences with the iPad’s on-screen keyboard. What came with his iPad, and what didn’t, his app experiences, games, books…even the quality of Apple’s iPad case are all covered in the first look at a production iPad.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Dr. Mac: Apple’s iPad is better than expected by Bob LeVitus on The Houston Chronicle

Incredible iPhone Apps For Dummies by Bob LeVitus

iTeleport (formerly Jaadu)

MacNotables #1010: Ted Landau on Apple Device Tethering, Google Voice vs. Visual Voicemail, and Augmented Reality Apps

Chuck — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Like most of us, Mac expert Ted Landau is looking forward to ordering an iPad, but in the meantime, has been looking at the questions of what configuration to order, especially when it comes to connectivity. Ted discusses the issues surrounding tethering of your Apple devices (and AT&T data plans), why the options are what they are, and what may make sense for you. Ted also discusses his experiences in comparing Google Voice with the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail, and why the latter works better for him, the uses, now and in the future of augmented reality apps, and some of the effects of a maturing iPhone platform.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen, The Mac Media Group

Daemon by Daniel Suarez

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: iPhone Internet Tethering and the iPad by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #1008: Ted Landau’s Evaluation of The iPad

Chuck — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau has been sorting through all the information on the iPad launch, and evaluates what he’s learned. Ted discusses the very smart things Apple included in the feature and software set, examines what wasn’t included and some things we can expect to see in the near future. The iPad is not a tablet Mac; Ted discusses why this is a good thing, why you really don’t want videoconferencing on an iPad, even if you think you do, and examines the ebook aspects of the device. Which iPad to buy? Find out what he recommends (it may surprise you) and why, if it will replace or supplement your current Apple devices, and learn how you might be able to (eventually) own a Ted Landau-autographed iPad. Ted also reveals why he’s looking forward to next week’s Macworld 2010.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen, The Mac Media Group

MacNotables #1006: Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko Review the Amazon/Macmillan Skirmish and Discuss the iPad (Part 1)

The iPad’s Brave New World by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

iPad Asks: Can I Squeeze In Here? by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

The iPad: An Inside-the-Park Home Run by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #1007: Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko Examine the iPad In Depth (Part 2)

MacNotables #1007: Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko Examine the iPad In Depth

Chuck — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:29:41 +0000

In the second of a two-part discussion with Adam Engst, Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko, the panel cover how the Kindle has helped the publishing industry, and why the iPad may represent an opportunity to fix the mistakes of the past. The compelling price points of the iPad, to 3G or not to 3G, how the AT&T connectivity plan stacks up against the MiFi, and who the iPad is appropriate for are all put under the microscope. The panel also discusses their Macworld 2010 sessions and activities. Find out who will be wearing the purple sneakers in San Francisco.

Adam
Engst

Tonya
Engst

Andy
Ihnatko

Chuck
Joiner

MacNotables #1006: Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko Review the Amazon/Macmillan Skirmish and Discuss the iPad (Part 1)

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Andy Ihnatko’s column at The Chicago Sun-Times

Take Control books

DropBox

He Wants To Kill Your Newspaper: An Interview With Webcomics Magnate Scott Kurtz – Andy Ihnatko’s session at Macworld 2010

The Year with No Media – Andy Ihnatko’s session at Macworld 2010

Email Client Showdown – Adam Engst’s session at Macworld 2010

Photo Tour of Apple’s iPad Introduction by Jeff Carlson and Glenn Fleishman on TidBITS

Netter’s Dinner at Macworld 2010

MacNotables #1006: Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko Review the Amazon/Macmillan Skirmish and Discuss the iPad

Chuck — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:00:00 +0000

In the first of a two-part conversation with Adam Engst, Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko, the panel examines the short-lived battle between Macmillan Publishing and Amazon. Who won, who lost and the obvious, “what were they thinking???” are all discussed. Find out why the battle was fought and what it may mean for the future of the ebook market. The panel then turns their attention to Apple’s impending iPad and how it figures into the ebook market, what it is likely to do right, and some of the questions that still remain.

Adam
Engst

Tonya
Engst

Andy
Ihnatko

Chuck
Joiner

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Andy Ihnatko’s column at The Chicago Sun-Times

Take Control books

Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone

Amazon and Macmillan fence over e-book pricing by Dan Moren on Macworld

News: Macmillan Pushes Amazon into Higher Ebook Prices by Jeff Gamet on Macworld

MacNotables #1004: Ted Landau Wraps Up CES, Talks 3D TV, and Protecting Your Hearing on a Plane

Chuck — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Ted Landau is back from the Consumer Electronics Show and gives us his take on the (lack of) Mac presence and whether he will go back next year. Ted contrasts CES with the upcoming Macworld 2010, talks about some of the more interesting products, and names the two products he found most worth following up on. He also stepped foot into the companion Adult Entertainment Expo, purely for journalistic reasons, to interview one of the geekier stars and preview an upcoming iPhone app. Unfortunately, Ted came back from the trip wounded. He talks about what happened and provides some advice on how you can avoid the same problem, especially if you like to listen to the airline-provided entertainment while flying.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

CES Highlights: From iLounge Pavilion to 3D Televisions by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

TedMac – Ted Landau’s blog

The One Where I Interview a Porn Star by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Leaving Las Vegas: Reflections on CES…and Apple by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

My Adventures in Las Vegas: CES and Beyond by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacVoices #906: Macworld Expo – Etymotic’s Mead Killion Discusses Earphone Performance

MacVoices #830: MacVoices at Expo – Mead Killian of Etymotic Discusses Their Many Earphone Options

MacVoicesTV #1002: Jeff Gamet On His Trip to CES, Steve Balmer’s Keynote and Products That Aren’t

MacNotables #1003: Tonya Engst on the State of Ebook Publishing and What It Needs to Evolve

Chuck — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Tonya Engst of TidBITS and Take Control Books spends a lot of time in the world of ebooks, and has some fascinating insights on the most recent developments in the most rapidly-changing part of the publishing industry. Tonya covers the recent flood of ebook readers and the inelegant approach manufactures are taking, the blurring lines between web content, publications and ebooks, and what is needed to produce next-generation ebooks. She has some surprising thoughts on what is needed in ebook standards and why tomorrow’s ebook won’t look like today’s. Tonya also discuses the “silliness” of CES, and suggests an unusual possibility for Apple’s new device: cloth!

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacJury #921: The MacJury Deliberates on The State of eBooks and eBook Readers

Take Control books

Ford Sync

tiwi

MacNotables #1002: Dennis Sellers on Apple Device Information, Streaming Video Options and CES Trends

Chuck — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers and host Chuck Joiner discuss the flood of “for certain” information that seems to be leaking from everywhere about Apple’s alleged forthcoming device, and doubt the validity of almost all of it. Dennis gives some preliminary thoughts on the Google Nexus One, then provides his thoughts on the state of streaming video options from a movie collector’s point of view, why they fall short, and what he wants Apple to do to fill in the gap. CES is generating a flood of press releases; Dennis talks about the trend he sees in the flood, and engages in some good-natured speculation about what may come next from Apple. A TV? A car? The sky’s the limit!

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacNotables #954: Ted Landau Talks about Plane WiFi, TiVo Control from the iPhone, and the Big Picture on Connectivity and Media

Chuck — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau has been doing some holiday traveling, and shares his experiences with WiFi on a plane and what you need to do to take full advantage and programming his TiVo from his iPhone so his wife didn’t miss Oprah’s holiday special (or so he says). Then, taking in the bigger picture, Ted discusses his belief that we are in a transition period for widely available, affordable internet access, the trends, options and opportunities swirling around television content and how it can be obtained, and more.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen, The Mac Media Group

EyeTV iPhone app in the iTunes Store

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog: End of the Year Blog Bits: Wi-Fi on a Plane to TV on an iPhone by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Virgin Mobile offers Mobile Broadband for Mac users by Peter Cohen on The Loop

A not-so-brief chat with Randall Stephenson of AT&T on the Fake Steve Jobs blog

i.TV in the iTunes Store

TiVo Web App

News: CBS, Disney Consider Apple-based Internet TV Subscriptions by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #953: Jim Dalrymple on iPhone App Approval, Apple’s LaLa Purchase and the Importance of the iPod touch

Chuck — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Jim Dalrymple of The Loop discusses the firestorm he started on Twitter by agreeing with Apple’s Phil Schiller on the iPhone App Store approval. Acknowledging that the process is far from perfect, Jim makes the case from Apple’s side by using easily understandable comparisons. Apple is purchasing the cloud music service, LaLa, and Jim comments on why it happened, Apple’s balance of acquisition vs. internal development, and speculates on some of the possibilities it brings to the table. We also talk to Jim about why the iPod touch may insure Apple’s smart phone dominance in the future, and get the latest updates on his music project.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Dalrymple’s Beard on Twitter

Jim Dalrymple Fans on FaceBook

Schiller’s App Store approvals comparison to retail store makes sense by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Study: Apple’s secret weapon is iPod touch by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Report: Apple in talks to buy Lala streaming music service by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Angry Mac Bastards

MacNotables #952: Adam Engst and Andy Ihnatko Discuss iPhone GPS Apps, the CrunchPad and Twitter vs. Facebook

Chuck — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Adam Engst, Andy Ihnatko and Chuck Joiner start with a discussion on the changes on Twitter and the evils of Facebook, then turn to the death of the CrunchPad. What would it have brought to the world of tablet computing? Was it a good idea, or just a crazy one? The panel contemplates the possibilities and more, including the future of open source hardware, then debate their experiences with iPhone GPS apps. What’s the best option out there? Which should you avoid? We answer both questions, and tell you why.

Adam Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Andy Ihnatko’s column at The Chicago Sun-Times

Andy Ihnatko’s Celestial Waste of Bandwidth
iPhone Fully Loaded (Iphone Fully Loaded: If You’ve Got It, You Can Iphone It) by Andy Ihnatko

Twitter Stops Asking What You’re Doing by Adam Engst on TidBITS

TweetDeck

The End Of The CrunchPad by Michael Arrington on TechCrunch

8 Innovative Dual-Display Devices by Adam Engst on TidBITS

Not all iPhone turn-by-turn navigation apps are created equal by Andy Ihnatko on The Chicago Sun-Times

AT&T Navigator in the iTunes App Store

Navigon MobileNavigator by Navigon AG in the iTunes Store

MotionX GS Drive in the iTunes Store

CoPilot Live North America by ALK Technologies, Ltd. in the iTunes Store

CoPilot Live UK & Ireland by SLK Technologies, Ltd. in the iTunes Store

CoPilot Live Europe

Ndrive United States of America by NDrive Navication Systems S.A in the iTunes Store

NDrive Mexico by NDrive Navication Systems S.A in the iTunes Store

Ndrive Germany + Austria by NDrive Navication Systems S.A in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #951: Ted Landau on the Future of the Mac Pro, Holiday Product Picks and More

Chuck — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

A recent article by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer lit a fire of discussion on Twitter and elsewhere about the future of the Mac Pro…and whether it has a future. Ted discusses the article, his reasoning, and why some of the reader responses caused him to re-consider his position. Equally important is the issue of how the reaction was communicated, both in the TMO forums as well as on Twitter, how the denizens of each conduct themselves, and why Twitter isn’t well suited to debate such things with a 140-character limit. Ted also discusses the latest iPhone worm and why you don’t have to worry, the Target Display Mode in the latest iMac that would have kept him from buying a Mac Pro,and also offers some of the products he would be looking at as you venture out (or in) on the biggest holiday shopping weekend of the year.

Links:

MacLevelTen, The Mac Media Group

Apple iMac/A 27-Inch Desktop

Mac Pro: R.I.P. by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Mac Pro: R.I.P.?: Readers Respond by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #950: Dan Frakes On Getting The Most Out of the Mac mini, and Why Apple Is Sometimes Right

MacVoices #9118: Paul Kafasis Talks About Why Rogue Amoeba Is Discontinuing Their iPhone App Development

Canon PIXMA MP990 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One Printer

Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (Simultaneous Dual-Band)

Apple Magic Mouse

LG BD 390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player

Breville The Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ

MacJury #917: The MacJury Deliberates Holiday Gift Picks (Session 1)

MacJury #918: The MacJury Deliberates Holiday Gift Picks (Session 2)

The Deal Brothers

dealmac

MacNotables #950: Dan Frakes On Getting The Most Out of the Mac mini, and Why Apple Is Sometimes Right

Chuck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Macworld Senior Editor Dan Frakes recently upgraded his Mac mini in six minutes…or did he? Dan takes us behind the scenes of his upgrade project to talk about why accomplishing the task isn’t as bad as it looks, but why you might want to buy the Mac mini with the RAM already installed. Dan also discusses a superior option to a Mac mini hard drive upgrade, how the mini has evolved into a very viable option for most Mac users, and why there may no longer be a need for the “mythical Mac mini-tower.” Dan and host Chuck Joiner also offer some thoughts on Apple’s vision, and why they are sometimes right.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen, The Mac Media Group

Dan Frakes on Twitter

Upgrade the Mac mini in six minutes by Dan Frakes on Macworld

MacNotables #947: Ted Landau Delivers More on iPhone Jailbreaking and Apple Hardware for the Holidays

Chuck — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:00 +0000

iPhone expert Ted Landau tackles, yet again, the subject of jailbreaking your iPhone. Why again? Because the situation keeps changing. Ted explains why you may or may not be able to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS, especially if you just bought it, two apps that Ted especially likes that require jailbreaking, and just how much risk is involved in the process…at the moment. Ted talks about Apple’s holiday line-up of hardware, iMac screen sizes, and why he still wants a mini-tower.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen , The Mac Media Group

Jailbreaking iPhones: Going, Going, Gone? by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – iPhone Jailbreaking: The Landscape Shifts Again by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View – An iPhone Killer App May Be Left to Die by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

ScreenSplitr

DemoGod

Cydia

MacNotables #944: Jim Dalrymple on Apple’s Financial Results, New iMacs, New mini, New MacBook and More

Chuck — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Apple made big news this week, first with a record-setting quarterly result, and then with the release of new Mac hardware. Jim Dalrymple helps us make sense of it all, starting with the best Mac sales quarter ever, and how that reflects on the strategies Apple has been pursuing. Jim names his favorite new product out of the mix (not what you might think), reviews the changes to the iMac, Mac mini and MacBook, and discusses his recent conversation with Apple’s Phil Schiller about Apple’s product philosophy. Jim also talks about the rapid development of his web site, The Loop, including some of his new team members and how current technology is making it possible.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Jim Dalrymple Fans on FaceBook

Apple posts $1.67 billion fourth quarter profit by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Apple earnings conference call — live update by Peter Cohen on The Loop

Apple’s new “Magic Mouse” features multi-touch technology by Peter Cohen on The Loop

Schiller: Apple designs Macs for the future by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

New iMacs sport 21.5, 27-inch displays, quad-core option by Peter Cohen on The Loop

Snow Leopard Server-equipped Mac mini debuts by Peter Cohen on The Loop

New MacBook features LED display, 7-hour battery by Peter Cohen on The Loop

macminicolo

MacVoices #703 – The Road to Macworld: Jay Menna Discusses macminicolo.net’s Unique Approach to Web Hosting

MacNotables #943: Ted Landau on The Dangers of the Guest Account Bug, The Return of Typestyler, and iPhone Jailbreaking

Chuck — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau has been watching the Guest Account Bug situation with great interest, and shares his insight into what’s going on and how you can keep from being bitten. Ted also discusses the return of TypeStyler, the venerable Mac graphics program that has been out of action for years, and the challenges it faces in today’s software market. Also known as the MacNotables resident iPhone expert, Ted provides us with an update on the jailbreaking community and why it just may not matter any more.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

MacLevelTen

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View: The Return of TypeStyler by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacFixIt

Snow Leopard Guest Account Wiping Some Home Directories by Bryan Chaffin on The Mac Observer

Microsoft’s Cloud Computing Fail Loses Sidekick Data by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Jailbreaking iPhones: Going, Going, Gone? by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

blackra1n Jailbreaks 3.1.2 Upgraded iPhone, iPod touch by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #941: Ted Landau on iPod nano Video, Ringtones, the iPhone Closed Platform and More

Chuck — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:31:57 +0000

Ted Landau and host Chuck Joiner start out by debating the burning question, “Is a video camera a compelling addition to the iPod nano,” covering uses both serious and frivilous. Then the new ringtone options take center stage for a discussion of the inconsistencies and challenges over the way this all works in iTunes 9. If you’re a ringtone fan, you need to hear about Ted’s adventures with what works and what doesn’t. Ted tells a story about “old” iPod options, covers the video camera you already have (but might not think about), compares the iPhone vs. the Mac as open platforms, and clarifies that his last column at MacFixIt was not his obituary.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Take Control of Your iPhone

MacLevelTen

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog: Apple Adds Confusion to Ringtone Purchases by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

mac.column.ted: The Demise of Troubleshooters? by Ted Landau on MacFixIt (Ted’s last column for MacFixIt)

MacNotables #940: Jim Dalrymple on Microsoft’s Poaching, Apple TV, iPod nano Video and the Best Audio Plug-Ins

Chuck — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

In a far-reaching discussion, Jim Dalrymple of The Loop talks about Microsoft’s poaching of Apple Store employees, the status of the Apple TV and why it can be frustrating and the surprising video and audio quality of the iPod nano camera. Jim also comments on the ease of the transition to Snow Leopard for most, and dives deep into what he feels are the best audio plug-ins for the Mac.

Links:

Jim Dalrymple’s Beard on Twitter

Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive

Microsoft poaching Apple store managers and sales staff by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Sources confirm no Apple TV at Apple’s September event by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

MenuMeters by Raging Menace Software

iStatMenus by iSlayer

Testing the iPod nano video capabilities by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop (includes video sample)

Hands On: Cakewalk’s V-Studio 100 by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Universal Audio: The best audio plug-ins for the Mac by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Universal Audio plug-ins

Slash Has A Vegas Mirage on Classic Rock

MacNotables #938: Bob LeVitus Says Snow Leopard is for Dummies (and The Rest of Us), and It’s Only Rock and Roll, But…

Chuck — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus starts by talking about his newest book, Mac OS X Snow Leopard For Dummies, and some of the less-recognized, but most useful, features that Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard brings to the table. Bob and host Chuck Joiner then shift to a few issues they are experiencing, including iCal publishing, DVD burning and the odd hardware driver update, before taking on the Flash upgrade that is needed to bring users up to the current version. Bob also provides his thoughts on who shouldn’t upgrade to Snow Leopard, sheds some light on the 32-bit vs. 64-bit question. Too good not to talk about, Bob also advances his theories on the meaning of the tag line for Apple’s 9/9/09 event.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Mac OS X Snow Leopard For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

MacNotables #937: The MacNotables Examine Snow Leopard Issues Large and Small

Nambu

Timbuktu Remote Control Softwre

The Mac Observer’s Mac Geek Gab with Dave Hamilton and John Braun

Spell Catcher from Rainmaker Inc.

TextExpander by SmileOnMyMac

TypeIt4Me by Etore Software

Snapz Pro by Ambrosia Software

snowleopard.wisnowleopard.wikidot.comkidot.com

MacVoices #994: Matt Neuburg Takes Control of Exploring and Customizing Snow Leopard

Inside Mac OS X Snow Leopard: 64-bits by Daniel Eran Dilger on Roughly Drafted

DR. MAC: Why pounce on OS upgrade? by Bob LeVitus on The Houston Chronicle

MyAlltop – LEVITUS (with links to all of the sites Bob mentioned)

MacNotables #936: Ted Landau on GPS Hardware vs. iPhone Maps, An Open iPhone and Snow Leopard’s Arrival

Chuck — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Ted Landau is back to talk about his ongoing research into stand-alone GPS hardware vs. Maps on the iPhone, the repercussions of the rejection (or was it?) of the Google Voice app by the iTunes Store, and whether the iPhone should be opened up as a platform. Ted also discusses the impending arrival of Snow Leopard, and updates us on the upcoming version of Take Control of Your iPhone.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Garmin’s nüvi vs. iPhone’s Maps: The Ultimate Showdown by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MobileNavigator North America by Navigon AG in the iTunes Store

When it comes to Apple and the FCC, the status quo is king by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Bikinis and the App Store Approval Process by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #935: Bob LeVitus’s New iPhone Gaming Picks, A Source for Inexpensive iPhone Accessories and More

Chuck — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:15:00 +0000

In Part 2 of our most recent conversation with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus , we get Bob’s take on some inexpensive iPhone accessories and the balance of quality, price and service that has to be considered when making these purchases. Bob’s also been spending some time gaming on the iPhone, and delivers his current crop of picks for killing time in the grocery line, as well as revealing what game he’s really looking forward to on September 9.

Links:

BudgetGadgets.com

ARC iPhone case from RadTech

ClearCal from RadTech

OmniCleanz by RadTech

BM5OFF8 – 5% discount code for BudgetGadgets.com

Flood-It! by LabPixies in the iTunes Store

Star Defense by ngmoco, Inc. in the iTunes Store

MEVO & The Grooveriders by Red Rocket Games, Inc. in the iTunes Store

Real Racing by Firemint in the iTunes Store

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR by EA Sports in the iTunes Store

In-Depth Review: Tiger Woods PGA Tour by Bob LeVitus on The iPod Observer

The Deep Pinball by OOO Gameprom on the iTunes Store

Crystal Quest by Hands-On Mobile in the iTunes Store

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition by LucasArts in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #933: Bryan Chaffin on “Laptop Hunter,” Apple v. Psystar, the TMO Redesign and His Band’s New CD

Chuck — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:25:00 +0000

The Mac Observer’s Bryan Chaffin and MacNotables host Chuck Joiner have way too much fun talking about the new design of TMO and the release of Bryan’s band’s new CD, but then get down to business to discuss Microsoft’s actions in the “Laptop Hunter” ads controversy…the response to a call from Apple legal, the quiet editing of the ad, and commentary by “The Voice.” The conclusions reached aren’t what you might expect. Bryan also covers the Apple v. Psystar case, why it should be taken seriously in spite of the comedic aspects of the proceedings, and why it could pose a very real threat to Apple. All this and Bryan sings too!

Links:

The Apple Context Machine

Bryan Chaffin on Twitter

The MacObserver

Atomic Love Bombs on Twitter

Atomic Love Bombs web site

Atomic Love Bombs on MySpace

The Atomic Love Bombs – Let It Burn on Amazon

The Atomic Love Bombs – Let It Burn in iTunes

News: Apple, Psystar Settlement Conference Pushed to October by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Psystar Ready to Take On Apple with “Guns Blazin” by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Psystar Files Bankruptcy, Stalls Apple’s Case by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Judge Lays Out New Apple v Psystar Roadmap by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Microsoft: Apple Wants Laptop Hunter Ads Nixed by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

Microsoft Edits Ad After Call from Apple Legal by Jeff Gamet on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #929: Dennis Sellers on Steve Job’s Return, the Vizio Sound Bar and Changes at Macsimum News

Chuck — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers delivers a balanced perspective on Steve Job’s return to work, medical disclosure and SEC regulations, reviews the Vizio Sound Bar for those who want surround sound without the wires and talks about the new face…er…voice of the Macsimum Podcast.

Links:

Vizio Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

Macsimum reviews: sounding off on the Vizio Sound Bar by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

Macsimum Podcast in the iTunes Store

Frank Petrie’s Video Sandbox podcast in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #927: Tonya Engst On Online Resources During A Medical Emergency, Computer Literacy Issues and More

Chuck — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Tonya Engst of TidBITS and Take Control Books gets serious when talking about some of the challenges she recently faced when helping out a friend who suffered a stroke. Tonya’s experiences have changed her view on the iPhone, enhanced her opinion of Google Docs, and demonstrated why having a blog is a good thing. Issues of identity, privacy and password security all factor into an important discussion about issues we will all face at some point. Tonya also reveals a new computer literacy concern, the surprising cause and the opportunities it presents.

Links:

“What is a Browser” on YouTube

Take Control books

Caring Bridge

MacNotables #926: Bob LeVitus Delivers A-List Opinions on the iPhone 3GS

Chuck — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:15:47 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus talks about how his adventures with the new iPhone 3GS required some expedited work on his iPhone For Dummies book. In a broad-ranging look at the new device, Bob comments on the camera and video capabilities, what is good and what is missing in Voice Control, and reveals how you can have more than 180 apps on your iPhone. Bob also discusses Apple’s hesitancy to include features that aren’t up to their standards, delivers some bluetooth headphone recommendations, and discusses the brilliance of the $99 iPhone.

Links:

MacVoices #981: Andrew Stone of Stone Design on The Power of Twittelator Pro and More

iPhone For Dummies by Bob LeVitus

Bob’s video tweet

Twittelator Pro

Flip UltraHD Camcorder

Funny Money

ReQall on the iTunes Store

Jott by Jott Networks on the iTunes Store

Chickenfoot

Fastball

Cardo S-2 Bluetooth Stereo MP3 Headphones S2 Mobile Cell Phone Headset

iSkin Cerulean F1 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

MacNotables #925: Jim Dalrymple On His New Web Site, iPhone 3.0, AT&T’s Reversal On iPhone Pricing and the Palm Pre’s iTunes Challenges

Chuck — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Jim Dalrymple is back in action with a new web site, The Loop, and contributing to CNET. Jim discusses his objectives for the new site, how he plans to achieve them, and some of the challenges he is dealing with. Jim also provides his take on the AT&T’s change of position on iPhone 3G S pricing, covers the iPhone 3.0 software and how it delivers amazing value even for first generation iPhones, and wraps up with some thoughts on the shot across the Palm Pre’s bow that Apple delivered regarding iTunes syncing.

Links:

Jim Dalrymple Fans on FaceBook
(you must be logged in to visit the page)

Apple coverage on CNET

Apple begins sending iPhone 3G S rebate emails by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Apple note warns Pre, RIM customers about iTunes sync by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

iPhone OS 3.0: An update I’d pay to have by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

Is AT&T afraid of iPhone users, MMS and tethering? by Jim Dalrymple on The Loop

MacNotables #924: Ted Landau Goes Off-Road on WWDC, iPhone 3.0, Lost iPhones, an Apple Cable and the End of an Era

Chuck — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Mac troubleshooting guru Ted Landau attended Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference came away with plenty of information and stories. Ted talks about how many vendors view the social aspects of WWDC as an important take-away, the parties that no one seems to hear much about, and why he decided to attend, even though he’s not a developer. Ted also talks about his enthusiasm for the iPhone 3.0 software, a dilemma that the new “Find my iPhone” feature introduces, a Cinema Display cable problem and solution, and what marks, for Ted, the end of an era.

Links:

Apple LED Cinema Display 24-Inch

Take Control of Your iPhone, Second Edition by Ted Landau

Apple – New features make MobileMe the ultimate iPhone accessory (including information on Find My iPhone)

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Off-Road WWDC: Day One (updated)

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Off-Road WWDC: Day Two on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Off-Road WWDC: Day Three (Updated) on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Off-Road WWDC: Day Four on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Off-Road WWDC: Day Five on The Mac Observer

Find Out About “Find My iPhone” by Ted Landau on The iPod Observer

MacFixIt

MacNotables #923: A Macworld MacNotables Panel Discuss Apple, AT&T, iPhone App Approval and More

Chuck — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

An all-Macworld panel of Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes and Jason Snell examine the Apple/AT&T relationship, and its potential impact on the iPhone as a platform. From tethering to subsidized iPhone 3G S’s to lack of MMS support, AT&T is playing with a huge part of their volume. The team discusses the implications of the game before revealing their WWDC surprises, covering developer reaction to the App Store approval process and providing a balanced perspective on just how well Apple really does in that area.

Christopher
Breen

Dan
Frakes

Jason
Snell

Chuck
Joiner

Links:

Christopher Breen on Twitter

Dan Frakes on Twitter

Jason Snell on Twitter

AT&T’s many missed iPhone opportunities by Jason Snell on Macworld

Manic Depression Blues (featuring an 80’s version of Chris Breen)

Twitterific in the iTunes Store

Twitterific Premium in the iTunes Store

Twitter ‘twitpocalypse’ affects Mac, iPhone apps by Jason Snell on Macworld

MacNotables #922: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 3)

Chuck — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:00:00 +0000

In a video chat with the Cowtown Mac User Group at their June meeting, Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner examine the announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The discussion concludes with a WWDC keynote Keynote question, Apple’s advertising campaigns, Take Control books, Mac User Groups and a showing of Mac rarities from Adam’s desk.

Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 1)

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 2)

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 3)

Links:

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 1)

Take Control of Maintaining Your Mac by Joe Kissell

Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac by Joe Kissell

Take Control of the Mac Command Line with Terminal by Joe Kissell

MacNotables #921: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 2)

Chuck — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0000

In a video chat with the Cowtown Mac User Group at their June meeting, Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner examine the announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). In Part 2, the conversation continues with a discussion of Snow Leopard’s pricing and refinements, iPhone 3.0 and iPhone 3G S capabilities, Safari 4 and more.

Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 2)

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 3)

Links:

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 1)

Apple Previews Snow Leopard for September Release on TidBITS

New iPhone 3GS Boosts Power, Performance, and More on TidBITS

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 1)

Chuck — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

In a video chat with the Cowtown Mac User Group at their June meeting, Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner examine the announcements from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). In Part 1, the conversation starts with the new MacBook Pro line, the addition of an SD card slot and loss of the Express Card, then turns to AT&T’s lack of understanding on how to do business like Apple, the iPhone subsidy (or lack thereof) and more.

Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 2)

MacNotables #920: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Discuss WWDC Announcements with the Cowtown Mac User Group (Part 3)

Links:

MacNotables #918: Dennis Sellers on WWDC Predictions and No Steve Jobs, Apple TV’s Future and Pruning Your Apps

Chuck — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:20:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers discusses his predictions for WWDC, the state of the Apple TV and whether there are games in its future, and whether Apple’s plate is too full. Dennis reviews the pricing of iTunes music and apps and the effect on buying patterns, the possibility of scaling apps for the iPhone, and pruning the apps you no longer use. The perception of WWDC without Steve Jobs, Apple patents and more wrap up the discussion.

Links:

The Next Big Thing: an Apple TV for gaming? by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

MaxMenus by Proteron

Macsimum Poll: should Apple slice prices on the Mac line? (Poll results on Steve Jobs and WWDC question) on Macsimum News

MacNotables #917: Tonya Engst Discusses the Kindle DX, the iPhone and the Changing Landscape of eBooks

Chuck — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:20:00 +0000

As the head honcho at Take Control books, Tonya Engst is closely watcing the changes in the eBook market, and delivers her take on how it has developed and exploded. Tonya comments on the Kindle and Kindle DX, their effect on textbook and newspaper publishing, and more. She also covers why users love the iPhone as an ebook reader, explains some challenges to ebook publishing you haven’t thought about, and how they affect you, and why size may trump function in selecting your ebook reader.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Free Kindle content from Cook’s Illustrated

Take Control books

Amazon Kindle

Kindle DX

Links for Kindle reading:
TidBITS on the Kindle

Bruce Tognazinni on the iPhone vs. the Kindle as an ebook reader

Briefcase Lite (recommended app for transferring/reading PDFs on a
Kindle)

Project Gutenberg

Apps to check out if you want to explore ebook reading on the iPhone:

Eucalyptus (nice attention to visual details, accesses titles in the Project Gutenberg library)

Kindle app (iTunes Store link)

Bookworm

Stanza

Summary of eBook formats

MacNotables #916: Ted Landau on the Stealth MacBook Upgrade, WWDC Predictions, Genius Bar Visits and the Java Exploit

Chuck — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Mac tech guru Ted Landau covers plenty of ground by giving us the lowdown on the very quiet upgrade to Apple’s white MacBook and why it is even still in the product matrix, commenting on Apple’s product upgrade cycles, and delivering his World Wide Developer’s Conference predictions. But that’s just the start. Ted’s also talks about hew new articles preparing you for your next Genius Bar visit, and helping protect you from the new Java exploit.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – Solving the White MacBook Upgrade Mystery on The Mac Observer

Beyond the Genius Bar by Ted Landau on Macworld

Five helpful troubleshooting tools you already have by Ted Landau on Macworld

Bugs & Fixes: Solving a mysterious plug-in crash by Ted Landau on Macworld

When quick troubleshooting fixes fail by Ted Landau on Macworld

Ted Landau’s User Friendly Blog – The Java Exploit: How Dangerous Is It? on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #915: From His Mid-Atlantic MUG Tour, Bob LeVitus Discusses “The State of the iPhone”

Chuck — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:14:42 +0000

We catch up with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus in the middle of his annual Mid-Atlantic MUG Tour to talk in person about what he’s showing off this year, how Apple has managed the development of the iPhone market and more. Bob comments on the app approval process, the need for guidelines for developers, and what constitutes “appropriate” pricing for iPhone apps.

Links:

Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf

iPhone For Dummies by Bob LeVitus

Bob LeVitus Kicks Off Mid-Atlantic MUG Tour This Week on The MUG Center

Pull My Finger in the iTunes Store

Nine Inch Nails Access in the iTunes Store

OmniFocus from The Omni Group in the iTunes Store

SlingPlayer Mobile in the iTunes Store

Watchmen: Justice is Coming in the iTUnes Store

Watchmen: Justice is Coming review by Bob LeVitus on The iPod Observer

Links from Bob’s “State of the iPhone” presentation

The Mac Observer Apple Death Knell Counter

Macintosh: The Power to Crush The Other Kids (video)

Griffin SmartTalk Headphone Adapter with Control and Mic for iPhone

Apple In-ear Headphones with Remote & Mic

invisibleSHIELD for the Apple iPhone 3G

Zag Z.buds

V-Moda Vibe Duo Earbuds / Headset (iPhone Compatible)

Matias MiniRizer

SendStation Dock Extender

Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speake

Scosche Showtime A/V Cable

Tekkeon myPower for iPhone

Kensington Mini Battery Extender and Charger for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3G

RichardSolo 1800 for iPhone – External battery pack + power adapter
Mophie Juice Pack

Mophie Juice Pack – Case and Rechargeable Battery for iPhone

Incase Power Slider for iPhone

FastMaciV external battery

iPhone 3.0 Preview

9 Toolbox

Mac Geek Gab

Instapaper (free version)

Pandora Radio

Pandora

Wolfgang’s Concert Vault on iPhone

Wolfgang’s Vault

Shazam

midomi ultra

Simplify Music (original)

Simplify Music 2

iPig 2.1 Stereo iPod Docking Station with 5 Speakers

Comic Touch

OldBooth

Bob’s review of OldBooth on The iPod Observer

Bento for the iPhone

Bento 2 for the Mac

Bob’s review of Bento 2 for the iPhone on The iPod Observer

reQall web site

Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard on The Onion

Apple Commercials

MacNotables #914: Christopher Breen on the Mac mini as Media Center, Mozy Online Backup and Stupid Forum Posters

Chuck — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen discusses his adventures with the online backup service Mozy, an unanticipated benefit of using the password manager, 1Passworld and dealing with difficult people in the Macworld forums. Chris’ latest big project is building a home media center around a Mac mini, and he reviews the results, concluding that while everything is getting geekier as we go along, online content deliver has made the effort involved more worthwhile.

Links:

Christopher Breen on Twitter

Common cures for a slowzy Mozy by Christopher Breen on Macworld’s Mac911 blog

MacVoices #970: Matthew Dornquast On How CrashPlan Backs Up Data Remotely…For Free

BackJack

1Password by Agile Web Solutions

SuperDuper by Shirt Pocket Software

ProSoft Data Rescue II

Apple Mac mini

My multimedia Mac mini by Christopher Breen on Macworld (2006 article)

Revisiting the Mac mini media center by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Mac mini media center: Configuring Front Row by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Mac mini media center: Get content by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Mac mini media center: Control everything remotely by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Mac mini media center: Is it worth it? by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Setting up a Mac mini media center – Macworld video by Christopher Breen

Using Netflix Watch Instantly to feed your Mac media center by Jason Snell on Macworld

XBMC Media Center

Plex Media Center

boxee media center

Hulu Apple Remote for iPhone

Rowmote: Remote Control for Mac and AppleTV

AppleTV with 40GB Hard Drive

MacNotables #913: Dennis Sellers On Broken-Handed Computing, A Different Take on Apple Market, Share 1 Billion Downloads and More

Chuck — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:15:00 +0000

After yet another sports-related injury, Dennis Sellers celebrates his birthday by talking about how he was forced to rely on MacSpeech Dictate to keep Macsimum News up and running, and how it worked out for him. Dennis and Chuck also discuss Dennis’ new way to look at Apple market share, the implications of 1 billion app downloads and how the iTunes Store has evolved as a software distribution platform, the Apple quarterly results, and more.

Links:

Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone

MacSpeech Dictate

MacNotables #819: Adam Engst on 18 Years of TidBITS, Apple’s Quarterly Results and the Blue Snowflake Microphone

The Irony of Failure: Apple, Microsoft … and Google? by Rob Enderle

Apple has changed the world—at least from a technology standpoint by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

Photogene photo editing software featured in the Apple TV commercial

Dual Level by Geometry in the iTunes Store

Tweetie by atebits in the iTunes Store

By my new way of calculating it, Apple is the number one computer vendor in the US by Dennis Sellers on Macsimum News

MacVoices #965: Paul Kafasis Introduces Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil Speakers Touch

Macs do well in latest ‘Consumer Reports’ survey by Dennis Sellers on MacsimumNews

MacNotables #912: Jim Dalrymple Announces A Change of Status, Reviews His Album Progress and More

Chuck — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

A wide-ranging conversation with Jim Dalrymple covers a change in his status, his album project and how it has evolved, and what’s coming next from Apple. Jim provides his thoughts on the latest wave of Apple commercials, the netbook market and where the MacBook Air fits into the mix, and more.

Links:

Norton Internet Security Dual Protection 4.0 by Symantec

Jim Dalrymple Fans on FaceBook
(you must be logged in to visit the page)

jdalrymple at gmail.com (correct the format before using)

Too many Mics, not enough pre-amps by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Recording accoustic, electric guitars into your Mac by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Recording my first music album by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Songwriting with GarageBand by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Adding some magic to GarageBand songwriting by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Resolving preamp problems by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Apple MacBook Air

MacNotables #910: Adam Engst Discusses Apple’s Quarterly Earnings, Netbooks and Why Apple’s Products Are A “Necessity”

Chuck — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Adam Engst discusses Apple’s once-again favorable quarterly results, how they happened, and how Carl Sagan figures in the conversation. (Hint: “billions and billions”) Along the way, Adam and Chuck discuss the relevance of netbooks, the Apple Stores, and how Apple products just may have moved from being a luxury to a necessity.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac.

Links:

Apple Posts $1.21 Billion Profit for Q2-09 by Jeff Carlson on TidBITS

Why Snow Leopard Should Be (Almost) Free by Adam Engst on TidBITS

MacNotables #909: Ted Landau’s Not-So-Secret Gaming Life, Apple Coverage and the iPhone As Mac or Smartphone

Chuck — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:30:03 +0000

Known for being the MacNotables’ resident troubleshooting expert, Ted Landau also has some serious game cred. Ted talks about his world-class standing in a classic board game, and what he took away from spending the day at the iGames Summit. Games are an important part of the Apple landscape, and Ted provides insight into that world from his vantage point. Apple media coverage and how snarkiness may be added value, more on the iPhone 3.0 software announcements, whether the iPhone is more Mac or more smartphone, and Ted’s favorite 3.0 feature are all part of the conversation.

Links:

Attending The iGames Summit by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Fieldrunners in the iTunes Store

MacJury #903: Evidence is Heard and Judgement is Passed on the iPhone 3.0 Announcements (including Ted Landau)

So Close and Yet… by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #908: Adam Engst on How iPhone 3.0 Advances the Platform, His New Production Enhancements

Chuck — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:56 +0000

Adam Engst is back after some time off for repairs and upgrades, and fills in the blanks on his personal productivity setup, including two monitor placement, his pointer choice (it isn’t a mouse) and why Apple’s new thin keyboard doesn’t fit. Then, hitting stride, Adam discusses the new iPhone 3.0 software announcements and how they further the iPhone-as-platform position, the integration of third-party hardware with the iPhone, and how the iTunes Store and its selection of apps is the most important factor for the longevity of iPhone loyalty.

Links:

RollerMouse Pro by Contour Design

USB Overdrive

24-inch Widescreen Black Flat Panel LCD Monitor

Apple Mac Pro

MacJury #903: Evidence is Heard and Judgement is Passed on the iPhone 3.0 Announcements

High App Spending Points to iPhone Lock-in by Adam Engst on TidBITS

Weatherbug on the iTunes Store

Google Mobile App in the iTunes Store

Evernote

Evernote app in the iTunes Store

MacNotables #907: Tonya Engst Talks Group Calendaring and the Kindle eBook Experience

Chuck — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:00:00 +0000

In the second of a two-part conversation, Tonya Engst of Take Control Books and TidBITS discusses her adventures with group calendaring and how she has settled (for now) on Google Calendar as the best way to manage a host of participants and deadlines. Tonya talks about the flexibility of Google Calendar, how it integrates with web sites, iCal and the iPhone, and why that is important for users of all descriptions. With the release of the new Kindle 2 and the Kindle for iPhone app, Tonya shares her perspective on the changing landscape of eBook publishing and use, and why it isn’t as simple as you might think.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac. Enjoy a 20% discount on their products by using the special MacNotables/MacVoices Listener discount link through March 31, 2009.

Links:

Stanza on the iTunes Store

Kindle 2: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device
Kindle for iPhone in the iTunes Store

Take Control books

MacNotables #906: Tonya Engst Updates The TidBITS’ Mac Selection Decisions and the Consequences

Chuck — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Tonya Engst of Take Control Books has been keeping us informed on the selection of Macs she and Adam have made to keep the TidBITS publishing empire humming along smoothly, and some changes have occurred have changed since her last update. In the first of a two-part conversation, Tonya discusses their adventures with new MacBooks, Mac Pros, 30-inch monitors and ergonomics. Because Adam and Tonya spend so much time at the keyboard, they pay more attention than most of us to their work environment. Find out why their choices are so different, and how you can learn from their thinking.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac. Enjoy a 20% discount on their products by using the special MacNotables/MacVoices Listener discount link through March 31, 2009.

Links:

Apple LED Cinema Display 24-Inch

Take Control books

Apple MacBook

Apple MacBook Pro

Matrox D2G-A2D-IF DualHead2Go Digital Edition

MacNotables #905: Ted Landau on Apple’s New Airport, Reading eBooks and Downgrading Your iPhone

Chuck — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:00:46 +0000

Ted Landau has been spending plenty of time with his iPhone, making it do things Apple would prefer he didn’t, reading eBooks and more. Ted talks about the new Amazon Kindle app for the iPhone and why the experience has been surprisingly positive and why you might want or need to downgrade your iPhone apps. Ted also gives us a first look at the latest iteration of Apple’s Airport Extreme, the ease of set-up and some of the issues that you may run into when trying to access some of its new features.

UPDATE: This message thread on Apple’s site addresses the WDS issue Ted discussed.

MacNotables is sponsored by SmileOnMyMac. Enjoy a 20% discount on their products by using the special MacNotables/MacVoices Listener discount link through March 31, 2009.

Links:

Spell Number in the iTunes Store

Emoji and Downgrading iPhone Apps by Ted Landau on The iPod Observer

“Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions” (Dan Ariely)

AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule: Like Two Base Stations in One by Glenn Fleishman on TidBITS

Hands on with a Dual Network AirPort Extreme Base Station by Glenn Fleishman on TidBITS

AirPort Utility 5.4.1 Update May Be Problematic by Joe Kissell on TidBITS

Answers to Questions about Updated Apple Base Stations by Glenn Fleishman on TidBITS

UPDATE: This message thread on Apple’s site addresses the WDS option

MacNotables #903: Ted Landau Renews His Control of the iPhone

Chuck — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:16:56 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau and host Chuck Joiner briefly wrap up Macworld Conference and Expo before launching into a detailed discussion of Ted’s latest effort, Take Control of Your iPhone, Second Edition, from Take Control ebooks. Ted explains what this book delivers that others don’t, targeting the “motivated iPhone user” who is interested in how things work behind the iPhone scenes and what can be done with that knowledge. That doesn’t mean jailbreaking your iPhone; Ted gives us his current view on who does and doesn’t need to engage in that practice, and reveals how he celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh.Links:

MacNotables #902: The MacNotables Fill the Macworld PodLoft with Opinions, Observations and Show Picks

Chuck — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:00:44 +0000

Taped live in the PodLoft at Macworld Expo, the panel of Bryan Chaffin, Tonya Engst, Andy Ihnatko and Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus join Chuck Joiner to discuss this year’s show, what might happen at next year’s show and what it has to do with the Great London Fire, deliver some show picks, and comment on the nomination of Andy for NASA Administrator.

Bryan
Chaffin

Tonya
Engst

Andy
Ihnatko

Bob
LeVitus

Chuck
Joiner

The video version of this session is available as MacVoicesTV #917.
Links:

MacVoices at Macworld Expo 2009 Photo Set on Flickr

Bryan Chaffin on Twitter

Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker

The Next NASA Administrator – vote for Andy!

Ocarina by Smule

iLife ‘09 including iMovie ‘09

BoinxTV by Boinx Software

IntelliScanner mini

Microvision projector

Windows Training

iFrogz

Brenthaven

Dr. Bott

Things by Cultured Code

Fluid Mask 3 by Vertus Tech
EverNote

MacNotables #901: Adam Engst and Jim Dalrymple Unleash on Keynote Announcements

Chuck — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

From the Macworld PodLoft high above the Macworld Conference & Expo show floor, Adam Engst and Jim Dalrymple join Chuck Joiner to discuss Apple’s keynote announcements. In a freewheeling, out-of-control discussion (so what’s new?), the panel argue about the value of geotagging in iPhoto, beat up on Pages, provide some thoughts on the updates to iLife and iWork, and why the battery is the big story in the MacBook Pro 17″.


Adam Engst	Jim Dalrymple	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Eye-Fi Explore Wireless 2 GB Secure Digital Card (EYE-FI-2EX)

MacNotables #842: Andy Ihnatko Picks Pocket Video Cameras and Talks Upgrading Your Video Editing

Chuck — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

In the market for a video camera? Andy Ihnatko has been testing out a variety of options at all price points, and talks about his picks for best performers in both the standard and compact categories. Andy reviews his experiences with pocket cameras from Flip, Kodak and Aiptek, explains why the day of the consumer tape camera is over, and how the barriers associated with tapeless cameras have come down, especially when it comes to iMovie. You can get into the high-definition video game for under $200, but what about editing? Andy talks about iMovie ‘08 and the transition, when you’re ready, to Final Cut Express. If you’re heading out to Macworld Conference & Expo in January, you’ll want to hear Andy talk about his early plans and schedule.

Links:

Andy Ihnatko on Twitter

Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder

Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera

Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P High Definition Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom)

Final Cut Express 4

Apple Final Cut Studio 2

Final Cut Express Video Tutorials on Apple’s web site

Macworld Conference & Expo

Macworld Pulse

MacVoices #8132: Paul Kent Profiles The New Features of Macworld Conference & Expo 2009

MacNotables #841: The MacNotables iChat with the Northeast Ohio Apple Corps

Chuck — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:40:38 +0000

They had so much fun the first time, they did it again. Adam and Tonya Engst and Chuck Joiner were the guest speakers at the November meeting of the Northeast Ohio Apple Corps via iChat, and recorded the visit for MacNotables. The panel discuss Adam and Tonya’s new MacBooks, why you should not overlook the clock battery when troubleshooting anything, the effects of the influx of Windows users on the Mac community, recent updates to the Take Control eBooks and more.

Links:

MacNotables #840: A Virtual Video Visit with the Huntsville Macintosh Users Group

Chuck — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

The MacNotables team of Adam and Tonya Engst and Chuck Joiner hit the road, virtually, to visit the Huntsville Macintosh Users Group. What’s new is that this was a video session, and even better, we captured it for you to enjoy. Adam and Tonya Engst answer questions about their attempts to make the Take Control books available to the visually challenged, why to upgrade (or not) to Leopard on older Macs, some server challenges, their pair of brand new MacBooks, and more.

(Due to a technical issue, the video goes into watercolor mode later in the show, but the audio is unaffected.)

Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Mac OS X Version 10.5.4 Leopard

RollerMouse by Contour Design

teleport by abyssoft

CrashPlan

Carbon Copy Cloner by Bombich Software

SuperDuper by Shirt Pocket Software

“Apple MacBook

Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display

Screen Recycler

MercuryMover by Heliumfoot Software

MercuryMover 2.0 Puts Windows Where You Want Them by Tonya Engst on TidBITS

MacNotables #839: Hands-On the New MacBook Pro with Bob LeVitus

Chuck — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus has been spending some quality time with Apple’s new MacBook Pro, and has some thoughts on the new feature set. Bob provides his impressions of the glossy LED screen, the glass trackpad and the unibody construction. Bob reviews the benefits of the graphics systems, and has some advice on how to configure your new MacBook Pro with RAM and drive space, and what else you might want to get to complete the package.

Links:

Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)

Speed Racer

Other World Computing

StarTech.com 2 Port eSATA Cardbus PC Card Adapter

TRENDnet 2-Port FireWire PC Card

OmniCleanz by RadTech

RadTech ScreenSavrz

ProCable FireWire 800-to-400 by RadTech

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder

Elgato EyeTV Hybrid

MacNotables #838: Dennis Sellers on Apple Rumors, Analyst Thinking (Or Not), Apple Ads and More

Chuck — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers joins host Chuck Joiner for a free-form conversation about all the Mac news that is news at a time when things are usually quieting down. Dennis provides his thoughts on rumors and Apple’s apparent lack of interest in enforcing silence, the ad duel between Microsoft and Apple, and the MacBook’s lack of FireWire. Chuck and Dennis also discuss some of the silly analyst thinking that is going on, Apple’s financial results, and the case against an $800 Mac laptop.

Links:

Mojave Experiment: Windows Vista – Launch Video

Analyst: Apple should consider big stock buyback on MacsimumNews

Get a Mac ads

I’m a PC ad

MacNotables #837: Ted Landau’s Traveling Tech Adventures, Apple Store Experiences and Macworld Expo Predictions

Chuck — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Ted Landau is back and describes his experiences traveling with the iPhone and MacBook Pro in Japan. Ted discusses the realities of the high price of phone calls, the higher prices of data usage (unless you play AT&T’s game), an amazing lack of WiFi access and more. Tech myths, cheap electronics, $100 cantelopes and more are all part of Ted’s tech adventures, along with some Apple Store experiences and Macworld Expo predictions.

Links:

MacJury #825: Deliberations on the New MacBook, MacBook Pro and Cinema Display

Traveling with my iPhone (and MacBook Pro) in Japan by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

A pleasant (and surprising) visit to my local Apple Store by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View – Gazing into My Macworld Expo Crystal Ball by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #836: Tonya Engst Discusses Take Control Changes on the Horizon and Her Plans for a New MacBook

Chuck — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Tonya Engst discusses some new changes and enhancements that are in store for Take Control ebook owners and customers. The pace of change in the Apple product and software world is increasing, and even the regularly updated Take Control books can’t always keep up. Tonya talks about how they will be delivering online supplements to Take Control titles that go beyond their current update, updating the production process to address their current and future plans to make Take Control books available on many different mobile platforms and more.

Tonya then turns her attention to Apple’s announcement of new MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops, the feature sets of each model, and why she will soon be the owner of a new MacBook.

Links:

MacNotables #833: Adam Engst Takes Control of Buying A New Mac…Again

Take Control books

MacNotables #834: Dan Frakes on Whether “Checkpoint Friendly” Laptop Bags are Worth the Time or Money

Chuck — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Planning a trip? You can ease your security checkpoint time by investing in a “checkpoint friendly laptop bag…or can you? Dan Frakes talks about what the Transportation Safety Assocation (TSA) is trying to accomplish with their new bag guidelines, and how the popular media have missed some of the most important points. Dan explains why, even with a checkpoint friendly bag, there are no guarantees and aren’t going to be in the near future, and some alternatives to help protect your laptop when you have to take it out for inspection.

Links:

Speck MacBook Pro 15″ See-Thru Hard Case

Dan Frakes on Twitter

‘Checkpoint friendly’ laptop bags explained by Dan Frakes on Macworld

TSA Ready for ‘Checkpoint Friendly’ Laptop Bags on TSA web site

Tom Bihn

Spire laptop bags and backpacks

Brenthaven

WaterField Design

Speck MacBook 13″ See-Thru Hard Case

Speck See Thru 17-Inch MacBook Pro Hard Case

MacNotables #833: Adam Engst Takes Control of Buying A New Mac…Again

Chuck — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Adam Engst has just released the third edition of Take Control of Buying a Mac, and talks about what’s new and what hasn’t changed about buying a Mac since the Intel transition. Adam reviews why hard drive size isn’t important, but RAM is, and why an iMac may be your best choice. Laptop or desktop? Which laptop? Adam has the answers about where and when to buy, new or refurbished and more. If you’re about to invest in a new Mac, you need to listen to Adam’s advice and buy the book.

Links:

Small Dog Electronics

Tekserve

MenuMeters from Raging Menace Software

Apple Stores

Audio Hijack Pro by Rogue Amoeba

Wiretap Studio by Ambrosia Software

MacVoices

MacJury

SuperDuper by Shirt Pocket Software

Apple MacBook Air

Apple Mac mini

Apple certified. Good as new. Save on a certified refurbished Mac. Free Shipping.

MacNotables #830: iPhone Battery Life and Stability, MobileMe and the Best Things About the iPhone According to Ted Landau

Chuck — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:15:24 +0000

After a few weeks of evaluations, Mac troubleshooting expert Ted Landau shares his conclusions on some of Apple’s latest offering. Ted provides his thoughts on MobileMe and what it delivers to both individuals and the enterprise market, covers the iPhone’s battery life, and discusses the iPhone 2.0 software’s stability. Just in case you think all the news isn’t good, Ted also tells us about some of his favorite things about the state of the iPhone, and how it stacks up against the compeition. (Hint: there is no competition.)

Links:

Apple’s MobileMe Status Page

mac.column.ted: iPhone 3G and MobileMe: New features add little value on by Ted Landau on MacFixIt

Apple MobileMe

The long and short of the iPhone’s battery by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Super Monkey Ball on the iPhone App Store

Mophie Juice Pack Case and Rechargeable Battery for iPhone 1G

Jailbreaking iPhone 2.0 works (but…) by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #829: Ted Landau Reviews the Latest on Jailbreaking the iPhone 2.0

Chuck — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:50:33 +0000

When Mac troubleshooting legend Ted Landau got his new new iPhone 3G, one of the first things he did was to jailbreak it. Should you? Ted talks about the two reasons you might consider jailbreaking your iPhone, whether it is a new 3G or an original Edge model, and the two categories of software that still require a jailbroken phone. What you lose (or don’t) by jailbreaking, what Ted misses from the original first round of unsanctioned iPhone apps (that no longer work with the 2.0 software), and why the incentive just isn’t there to create those programs are all part of Ted’s analysis, along with why some highly coveted features are best left to Apple to implement.

Links:

“Mophie Juice Pack Rechargeable Battery/Case for iPhone

User Friendly Blog by Ted Landau – Jailbreaking iPhone 2.0 works (but?) by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

MacNotables #828: Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus Delivers His iPhone Diagnosis

Chuck — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus has spent some time with the new iPhone 3G in preparation for his new book, and shares his thoughts on Apple’s iPhone priorities, compatibility of older iPhone accessories, and a new, must-have one. Bob also picks some of his favorite iPhone apps so far and gives some surprising advice on what protection you should or shouldn’t buy for your iPhone.

Links:

iPhone For Dummies by Edward C. Baig, and Bob LeVitus

Apple Explains Absence of Cut-and-Paste on iPhone, More by John Martellaro on The iPod Observer

Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D by Vivendi Games Mobile in the iPhone App Store

MotionX Poker in the iPhone App Store

Review – MotionX Poker (for iPhone & iPod touch) by Bob LeVitus on The iPod Observer

SpeechCloud Voice Dialer in the iPhone App Store

Omnifocus by The Omni Group in the iPhone App Store

BoxOffice by Cyrus Najmabadi on the iPhone App Store

Pandora

Pandora App in the iPhone App Store

Remote on the iPhone App Store

ShoutIt by Kudit.comon the iPhone App Store

PhoneSaber by TheMacBox in the iPhone App Store

Jott for iPhone by Jott Networks, Inc. in the iPhone App Store

Favorater by Truckasaurus Lex in the iPhone App Store

Bloomberg on the iPhone App Store

MacNotables #826: Dennis Sellers on MacMinute’s Evolution, the Macsimum Podcast and WWDC Announcements

Chuck — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers comes out of hiding to discuss how his site, MacsimumNews, will serve as an alternative for readers of the now-offline MacMinute.com, due to the passing of Stan Flack, and why he decided to jump into the podcast fray and produce the Macsimum Podcast. Dennis also provides his thoughts on the WWDC announcements, including the future of the iPod, Snow Leopard and more.

Links:

Apple iPod classic 160 GB

Stan Flack, a pioneer of online Mac journalism, has died by Dennis Sellers on MacsimumNews

Note from the Flack family posted at ‘MacMinute’ by Dennis Sellers on MacsimumNews

MacTech

Macsimum Podcast

iLugger Carrying Case for 17/20 Inch iMac

PC Tools launches beta version of iAntiVirus for the Mac by Dennis Sellers on MacsimumNews

MacNotables #823: Ted Landau Evaluates the XO Laptop

Chuck — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Subnotebooks come in all shapes, sizes and flavors, starting with the MacBook Air and going down. Ted Landau has been working with one of the least expensive options, the XO laptop from the “One Laptop per Child” initiative, and discusses how it stacks up to the competition. Ted covers everything from the XO’s operating system to the included applications, comments on the laptop’s communications capabilities and helps you decide whether you should try to track down one of these little gems, or if you should spend more money for more capabilities.

Links:

XO Laptop

MacNotables #818: Andy Ihnatko on the Conference on World Affairs, the Eee PC and iPhone Knock-Offs

MacNotables #822: Jim Dalrymple Embarks on a New Adventure: Recording and Releasing His Own Album

Chuck — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Links:

Recording my first music album by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Songwriting with GarageBand by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Adding some magic to GarageBand songwriting by Jim Dalrymple on Macworld

Beta Monkey Music

Guitar Rig 3 by native Instruments

Apple Logic Studio

Cubase 4 by (Steinberg

M-Audio Pro Tools by M-Audio

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock by Aspyr Media

MacNotables #821: Ted Landau Takes Control of the iPhone Again and Updates the Bootable Flash Drive Project

Chuck — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Links:

Lost – The Complete Seasons 1-3

Ziphone

iLiberty

mac.column.ted: Create a Leopard startup flash drive by Ted Landau on MacFixIt

MacNotables #819: Adam Engst on 18 Years of TidBITS, Apple’s Quarterly Results and the Blue Snowflake Microphone

Chuck — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Links:

Blue Snowflake Compact USB Condenser Microphone

USB Microphone Snowball

Follow Along Through 18 Years of TidBITS by Adam Engst on TidBITS

Apple Reports Record Q2 Financials by Adam Engst on TidBITS

Take Control News: Save 50 Percent on All Our Ebooks by Adam Engst on TidBITS

MacNotables #818: Andy Ihnatko on the Conference on World Affairs, the Eee PC and iPhone Knock-Offs

Chuck — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Links:

Conference on World Affairs

“iPod Fully Loaded: If You’ve Got It, You Can iPod It” by Andy Ihnatko

TapesAgain

Asus Eee PC 4G

MacNotables #816: Ted Landau on Rebates, Net Neutrality, the Decline of the Optical Drive, and the Passing of Stan Flack

Chuck — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Links

In Memory of Stan Flack by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Ban mail-in rebates by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

The demise of the optical drive? by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Comcast vs. BitTorrent by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

TedLandau.com

freetheinternet.org

MacNotables #815: Tonya Engst Provides a Users-Eye Perspective of the Amazon Kindle

Chuck — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:11:12 +0000

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.

Links:

Amazon Kindle

Apple iPod touch

O’Reilly Tools of Change Conference

Project Gutenberg

MacNotables #814: The iPhone As A New Platform, the iPhone Apps Store and More with Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner

Chuck — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:59:35 +0000

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 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.

Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables #813: Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner Analyze the iPhone SDK Announcement

Chuck — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:58:25 +0000

Adam Engst and Chuck Joiner address a listener question and provide two differing perspectives on migrating from a G4 Mac to a new Intel Mac, then dig into the iPhone SDK announcements. Adam analyzes on the level of control that Apple is exercising over iPhone development and software, and whether it is a good idea. Chuck comments on the positive response from the developer community, and the two review some of the unanswered questions and the future of the jailbreaking community in the first of a two-part session on the subject.

Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

MacNotables #812: More from The MacNotables on the iPhone SDK, the Apple Laptop Ugrades, the iPhone in the Enterprise Market and More

Chuck — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Adam Engst, Ted Landau and Chuck Joiner are back for the second of a two-part discussion featuring more on the iPhone SDK, the iPhone in the enterprise market and how it is getting there. The trio offer provide some perspective on the newest updates to the MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops and the identify the characteristics of a good hardware upgrade, then turn their attention to why Adam finds eBay too time consuming and why Ted disagrees. The show wraps up by becoming “The Antique Road Show with the MacNotables,” including thoughts on why it is so hard to part with an older Mac.

Adam Engst	Ted Landau	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Apple MacBook 13.3″ Laptop

Apple MacBook Pro 15.4″ Laptop

Apple MacBook Pro 17″ Laptop

Freecycle

MacNotables #811: Adam Engst and Ted Landau on the Effects of the iPhone SDK, the Apple TV and iPod Dominance

Chuck — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Adam Engst, Ted Landau and Chuck Joiner start off the first of a two-part conversation examining the importance of Apple meeting or missing the iPhone SDK introduction, and how it will affect iPhone hacking. The panel discuss some of the unanswered questions that legitimate third-party iPhone applications will raise, review some tricks and tweaks for the Apple TV, express their possessiveness on why non-Mac users don’t deserve an iPhone and discuss how the iPod has maintained its dominance.

Adam Engst	Ted Landau	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Apple TV

MacVoices #865: Paul Kafasis and Mike Ash of Rogue Amoeba Discuss The Apple TV Capabilities of Airfoil 3

MacNotables #810: Christopher Breen’s Apple TV Tips (Part 2)

Chuck — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0000

In the second of a two-part conversation about the Apple TV, Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen talks about why he decided to connect his Apple TV to his home network via Ethernet, what you need to turn an older Mac into a media server, why playlists are more important than ever, why you still need a DVD player if you’re into Blu-Ray, and the tools and techniques to rip your existing DVDs to the Apple TV for the best audio and video quality.

Links:

Macworld Podcast: Aperture, OS X, and Apple TV updates

Macworld Video: The Apple TV update

Upgrading Apple TV’s hard drive by Dan Frakes on Macworld
Handbrake

Mac The Ripper

Visual Hub by Techspansion

MediaCentral 2.x Personal Pack Pro by equinux

Apple TV and the 24-hour limit by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Hands on with Apple TV, Take Two by Christopher Breen on Macworld

First Look: Apple TV, take two by Christopher Breen on Macworld

MacNotables #809: Christopher Breen’s Apple TV Tips (Part 1)

Chuck — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0000

In the first of a two-part conversation, Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen talks about why he doesn’t think of himself as an Apple TV champion, just a really big fan. Chris discusses why this happened, how the first version of Apple’s set-top box distinguished itself from many of the other products that cross his desk and how “take two” makes it even better. Other aspects of the Apple TV covered include praise for the unit’s streaming capabilities and why you don’t need a bigger hard drive to store your media.

Links:

Macworld Podcast: Aperture, OS X, and Apple TV updates

Macworld Video: The Apple TV update

Upgrading Apple TV’s hard drive by Dan Frakes on Macworld
Handbrake

Mac The Ripper

Visual Hub by Techspansion

MediaCentral 2.x Personal Pack Pro by equinux

Apple TV and the 24-hour limit by Christopher Breen on Macworld

Hands on with Apple TV, Take Two by Christopher Breen on Macworld

First Look: Apple TV, take two by Christopher Breen on Macworld

MacNotables #803: MacNotables at Expo: Adam & Tonya Engst’s Macworld Show Picks and More

Chuck — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Adam and Tonya Engst join Chuck Joiner, taking some time off the show floor to visit the Macworld Podcast Studio and talk about some of the interesting things they found at Macworld Conference & Expo. The list ranges from a web service that runs HyperCard stacks, a podcasting service and a mega-iPod collection case to a geocoding solution for digital photographs, a drive maintenance utility that is fun for the Mac and a booth design that splits the panel. The panel also discusses TidBITS podcast ad-libbing, suggestions for new products, the health of Macworld Conference & Expo and more.

Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

Links:

TileStack

Phonecasting.com

Parat Solutions’ Apple products

Prosoft Engineering

Drive Genius 2 by ProSoft Engineering

CrashPlan

HoudahGeo – Geocoding for the Mac

Softpress Systems Freeway 4

BusySync by BusyMac

GadgetTrak

Coda from Panic Software

TypeItForMe by Ettore Software

Axiotron’s ModBook

MacNotables #802: MacNotables at Expo – In the Macworld Podcast Booth with Tonya Engst, Andy Ihnatko, Ted Landau and Friends

Chuck — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0000

In the Macworld.com Podcast Studio, Ted Landau and Chuck Joiner start out alone covering the Macworld Expo keynote and picking some favorite new products, and are are gang-tackled as Tonya Engst, Andy Ihatko and guests Dori Smith and Tom Negrino join them for a discussion of all things Expo.

Ted comments on the MacBook Air from a troubleshooting perspective, Tonya applauds the number of products designed for women, Andy talks about why his backpack glitters and a favorite new tripod, Tom and Dori cover a new calendar-sharing utility and Chuck plugs a set of in-ear earphones (no pun intended).

Tonya Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Ted Landau
Chuck Joiner	Dori Smith	Tom Negrino

Links:

Photos from the MacVoices’ Macworld Expo 2008 Flickr collection

Fujitsu ScanSnap S510M

Equinux TubeStick

OmniFocus from The Omni Group

BusySync from BusyMac

“Joby Gorillapod Flexible Tripod

Elgato Eyetv 250 Digital TV Recorder

Spanning Sync

Etymotic Research – headphones

“Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator Earphones

Etymotic Research Ety8 Bluetooth Stereo Wireless In-Ear Earphones

Skitch by plasq

Quicken 2008 Deluxe

Yep by Ironic Software

MacNotables #775: Ted Landau Takes Control of the iPhone, Comments on Leopard and Speculates on the Future of the Mac mini

Chuck — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Mac troubleshooting expert Ted Landau talks about his new Take Control book, Take Control of Your iPhone, how it is different than other iPhone books and why it doesn’t just focus on troubleshooting. Ted also shares some thoughts on the goods and bads of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, explaining why you should pay special attention to security concerns while screen sharing and some limitations in Time Machine. Looking ahead to Macworld Expo, Ted and Chuck speculate on the future of the Mac mini and the Apple TV.

Links:

Take Control of Your iPhone

Tutorial: Screen Sharing in Leopard: How it works and how it doesn’t by Ted Landau on MacFixIt

SuperDuper by Shirt Pocket Software

Data Backup 3 By Prosoft Engineering (ProSoft Engineering)

Carbon Copy Cloner by Bombich Software

AppleInsider

ThinkSecret

What Steve Jobs Will Unveil At Macworld on Forbes.com

TiVo Series2 80-Hour Dual-Tuner Digital Video Recorder

MacNotables #773: Bob LeVitus’s Holiday Gift Recommendations..and You Need To Start Now

Chuck — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Bob LeVitus delivers his annual set of gift recommendations. From speakers to cases to accessories, Bob has a recommendation for iPod owners of every stripe, but his t#1 recommendation isn’t iPod related at all. Find out what you should be shopping for this holiday season straight from Dr. Mac, and then learn where you can join Bob at an upcoming user group appearance where he will present his trademark “State of the Mac” address.

The iPod Observer

iPhoto printed materials

Image Doctor by Alien Skin Software

“mstation 2.1 Stereo Orb

Review – mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb on The iPod Observer

B&W Zeppelin iPod Speakers

“Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere Compact Speakers for iPod

Review – Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod speaker system on The iPod Observer

“Sportwrap for Ipod Nano 3G – B” (XtremeMac)

“XtremeMac SportWrap ArmBand for iPod Black” (XtremeMac)

“Belkin TuneBase FM for iPods

“Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod Nano

Review – TuneBase FM on The iPod Observer

radio-locator

invisibleSHIELD

Review – invisibleSHIELD on The iPod Observer

ClearCal by RadTech

BodyGuardz

“Pioneer DEH-P5900IB CD/MP3/WMA Car Stereo Receiver Head with iPod Controls” (Pioneer)

Capitol Macintosh

“iPhone For Dummies (Edward C. Baig, Bob LeVitus)

“Mac OS X Leopard For Dummies (Bob LeVitus)

“GarageBand for Dummies” (Bob LeVitus)

MacNotables #767: Bob LeVitus’ Favorite iPhone and iPod Products

Chuck — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus has a great job: he gets to evaluate all sorts of iPod and iPhone accessories and products. In this edition of MacNotables Bob discusses why he only writes positive reviews, then picks some of his favorite products for both devices. Bob explains why now is a great time to pick up accessories for your 5G iPod, then he and host Chuck Joiner selects some favorite speakers, video accessories, protective films, car options and some miscellaneous add-ons that should be in everyone’s collection.

Links:

iPhone For Dummies (Edward C. Baig, Bob LeVitus)

“SendStation PocketDock AV” (SendStation)

Sonic Impact Video 55 Portable iPod Speaker System with LCD Screen and Remote (Sonic Impact Technologies)

Dock Extender for iPod (SendStation)

“invisibleSHIELD – Full Body iPod Protector

The User Group Report: Day 2 at Macworld Expo: Initial Show Floor Walk-Through, Invisible Shield, Old Friends and Two Berklee Students Perform Live

ClearCal protective film from RadTech

MacVoices #740 – MacVoices at Expo: RadTech’s New Products for 2007

Logitech 984-000006 Pure-Fi Anywhere Compact Speakers for iPod (Logitech)

Logitech Pure-Fi Elite High Performance Speaker System (Logitech)

B&W Zeppelin iPod Speakers

Radio-Locator.com

Griffin TuneFlex AUX Nano Flexible Docking Cradle for iPod Nano at Dr. Bott

iToner from Ambrosia Software

ProCable – Audio Extension Cable for iPhone from RadTech

The iPod Observer

Bob’s Reviews of gear at The iPod Observer

The Rest of Us – Mac User Group in Chicago

MacNotables #765: Andy Ihnatko on “iPhone Fully Loaded” and the State of the iPhone

Chuck — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Andy Ihnatko talks about the birthing of his latest book, “iPhone Fully Loaded,” how the latest iPhone update required some major revisions and the challenges of keeping a print book up to date in a rapidly changing tech world. After some time offline finishing the book, Andy’s back to cover the current state of the iPhone, some of his favorite apps, why Apple is holding iPhone application development close to the vest, and why it may be the right thing.

Links:

“iPod Fully Loaded: If You’ve Got It, You Can iPod It” by Andy Ihnatko

“iPhone Fully Loaded” by Andy Ihnatko

Box.net – free online file storage

Audio Hijack Pro by Rogue Amoeba

Radioshift by Rogue Amoeba

MacVoices #795 – Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba Profiles Their Latest Product, Radioshift

Will Apple Open the iPhone on BusinessWeek

Apple getting a seedy image by Andy Ihnatko in the Chicago Sun-Times

MacNotables #764: Christopher Breen on Feeding and Managing Video For Your iPods and iPhone

Chuck — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Macworld Senior Editor Christopher Breen has more iPods than anyone we know, making him the perfect person to provide wisdom on how to prepare and manage video for all of Apple’s video-capable devices. Whether you’re a new iPod or iPhone owner or have a long history with the devices, you’ll benefit from Chris’ thoughts on how to feed your mobile video habit. He discusses what programs to use to convert DVDs, capture and convert web video, record broadcast and cable television shows and even move content from your TiVo to your iPod. Since all that video (not to mention music) means that your iTunes library will swell to unprecedented proportions, Chris also provides some tips, techniques and strategies for how to store and manage your content using multiple libraries, multiple hard drives, smart playlists and more.

Links:

Handbrake

DivX for Macintosh

MacTheRipper

Visual Hub by Techspansion

Flvr by TastyApps

TubeSock

Toast Titanium 8 by Roxio

Popcorn 3 by Roxio

TiVo Decode Manager

Elgato Systems

Miglia

“The iPhone Pocket Guide” (Christopher Breen)

Macworld Expo

Did everyone have their Crazy Flakes this week? by The Macalope (where he designates Chris as the “Bouffant of Knowledge”)

Chris Breen’s notes: How to create video-only playlists

Smart playlists can really help you get just the programs you want. iTunes tries to help by giving you the option to choose X number of unwatched, most recently downloaded videos, but that’s no good if you want to create a smart playlist, particularly one for a device like an iPhone or iPod touch that has limited storage.

For this kind of device you want a playlist that places the first three unwatched episodes of a particular show on your iPhone and then deletes the watched one only to replace them with later episodes. That kind of playlist looks like:

Match All Of The Following Rules
Video Kind Is TV Show
Show Contains Name Of TV Show
Play Count Is 0
Season Is 3
Turn on the Limit option and set

Limit to 3 Items Selected By Album

Chris Breen’s notes: access your Series 2 TiVo from your web browser and download content from it.

1. Launch Safari and in its preferences enable Bonjour bookmarks.

2. Choose Bonjour bookmarks and your networked TiVos should appear. Select one and a Congrats screen appears.

3. Change HTTP to HTTPS and you’ll be taken to a screen that lists all the programs on your TiVo.

4. Dig through folders until you find the one you want and click Download.

5. You’ll be prompted for your name and password. Tivo is the user name and your Media Access Key is the password.

MacNotables #763: Bob LeVitus on iPod Selection, iPhone Updates, Amazon’s Music Store and iMovie ‘08

Chuck — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is back after a confluence of simultaneous projects to engage in a spirited discussion with host Chuck Joiner about the iPhone 1.1.1 update controversy, third-party iPhone applications and what the AmazonMP3 music store means for the iTunes Store. Bob gives nod to the iPod nano, is baffled by the iPod touch, and explains why Apple has something for everyone who wants a portable media player. Bob has also learned to love iMovie ‘08 for what it brings to the video editing world, and tells you why you should too.

Links & Notes:

Bob’s iPhone

Bob Levitus’ Web Gallery

“iPhone For Dummies” (Edward C. Baig, Bob LeVitus)

Apple 8 GB iPod Nano with Video

Apple 8 GB iPod Touch

MacNotables #761: Adam and Tonya Engst on the iPhone Price Cut, Starbucks as the Advent of Location-Based Services and More

Chuck — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:00:00 +0000

Adam and Tonya Engst provide some insight into Apple’s handling of the iPhone price drop controversy, citing examples from Apple’s past at how the company has handled similar situations. The couple go on to discuss the new iPod line-up and what they would like to see in the ideal iPhone/iPod device, the Wi-Fi Music Store, how the Starbucks connection may be the first example of location-based services and more in the “Get Off My Lawn” edition of MacNotables.

Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Chuck Joiner

Links:

An open letter to iPhone owners from Steve Jobs on Apple web site

Apple to Offer $100 iPhone Rebate for Early Purchasers onTidBITS

New iPods: The Worst Ever! on TidBITS

Apple, Starbucks announce music partnership on Macsimum News

MacNotables #759: Ted Landau on the New iPod Family, the iPhone Price Drop and the Sale of the Techtracker Network

Chuck — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:30:00 +0000

Ted Landau was on-site at Apple’s music media event in San Francisco and discuses the announcement of the iPod touch, the new designation of the iPod classic, the new video-capable ipod nano, the Wi-Fi Music Store and more. Ted provides his thoughts on where each of the new iPod models falls in the portable music and video market, comments on the iPhone price drop and also discusses the recent change of ownership of a web site he founded.

Links:

iPod touch

Apple rolls out iPod touch on Macsimum News

Apple Revamps iPod with 160GB Storage, New Name on The Mac Observer

80GB or 160GB iPod classic

Microsoft cuts Zune price as Apple ups iPod ante on Playlist

Apple Drops 8GB iPhone Price to $399, Axes 4GB Model on The Mac Observer

Purchase an iPhone

Apple launches the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on Macworld

Apple announces custom ringtone maker for iPhone on Macworld

Refreshed shuffle comes in new colors on MacsimumNews

Sonic Impact V55 iPod Portable Video at Dr. Bott

CNET acquires TechTracker sites on MacCentral

MacNotables #757: Dennis Sellers on Unlocking the iPhone, the New iMac, iDive and More

Chuck — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:00:25 +0000

MacsimumNews boss Dennis Sellers covers a variety of topics in his return to MacNotables after some time off. Find out what Dennis thinks of the New Jersey teen who unlocked his iPhone and why he wouldn’t want one, his hands-on opinion of the new iMac and keyboard, and a utility that helps keep your video clips and projects organized. Dennis also talks about how storage needs have increased for anyone interested in media, and reveals why he is now known as the MacNotables’ version of Spiderman.

Links:

New Jersey teen cleans up with iPhone unlocking solution on MacsimumNews

Unlock the iPhone for money, and lawyers may come a’knockin’ on MacsimumNews

Apple iMac Desktop with 20″ Display

iDive 1.7 is a must-have for videographers by Dennis Sellers on MacsimumNews

iDive by Aquafadas

Mercury Elite by OWC

Join the Apple Nation Panel community on MacsimumNews

MacNotables #754: A MacNotables First Look at the new iMac, iLife ‘08, iWork ‘08, .Mac and more (Part 2)

Chuck — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:00:00 +0000

MacNotables panelists Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko andt Chuck Joiner conclude their discussions of Apple’s August 7 Media Event. In this edition, the newest edition of Keynote, iWeb and the remainder of the iLife ‘08 and iWork ‘08 suites go under the microscope. “Customer One” for Keynote is identified, “silent” updates to the Mac mini and the Airport Extreme base station are reviewed and what .Mac could be are all bandied about in the second of a two-part series.

Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Fake Steve Jobs Finally Unmasked in TidBITS

Apple Releases New Aluminum iMacs, Refreshes Mac mini in TidBITS

New iLife ‘08 Revealed in TidBITS

Numbers Joins iWork ‘08 on TidBITS

Nintendo emulator for the iPhone

AirPort Base Station Upgraded to Gigabit Ethernet on TidBITS

MacNotables #753: A MacNotables First Look at the new iMac, iLife ‘08, iWork ‘08, .Mac and more (Part 1)

Chuck — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:00:24 +0000

MacNotables panelists Adam and Tonya Engst and Andy Ihnatko join host Chuck Joiner to deliver their initial impressions of the announcements at Apple’s August 7 Media Event.

The team discusses why the new iMac isn’t that much different and debate whether or not Blu-Ray drives would have made sense from both a video and data perspective. iPhoto expectations are high with this group, and they point out some of the things that have been addressed and others that they still want to see. iMovie’s new, “Just Give Me The Movie” feature, thoughts on iWeb, some significant improvements in pages and a discussion of Numbers, the new Apple spreadsheet entry are all included in the first of a two-part show.

Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Fake Steve Jobs Finally Unmasked in TidBITS

Apple Releases New Aluminum iMacs, Refreshes Mac mini in TidBITS

New iLife ‘08 Revealed in TidBITS

Numbers Joins iWork ‘08 by TidBITS

Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0

Omni Outliner 2.0

MacNotables #752: Ted Landau on Apple’s Media Event, iPhone Usefulness and the Office 2008 Delay

Chuck — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:38:40 +0000

Author and Mac troubleshooting expert Ted Landau is back to talk about a new project and provide some real-world feedback on iPhone usability. Ted and host Chuck Joiner compare notes on favorite iPhone featues, speculate on the upcoming Apple press event and what they would like to see in a new Mac model and contemplate changes to Apple’s .Mac service. The discussion wraps up with thoughts on Microsoft’s announcement of the Office 2008 delay and where Office fits in today’s software market.

Links:

Take Control eBooks

“Mac OS X Help Line, Tiger Edition” (Ted Landau, Dan Frakes)

“Plantronics DSP-400 Digitally-Enhanced USB Foldable Stereo Headset and Software” (Plantronics)

“Apple .Mac 4.0 Online Service” (Apple)

MacNotables #739: WWDC Announcements From The Safari Perspective with Ted Landau

Chuck — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau delivers a report on the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote announcements by Steve Jobs, keeping Safari at the center of the discusion. Ted comments on how important Apple’s web browser has suddenly become, especially as a key player in the iPhone saga and as a potential second halo-effect generator for the Mac with Windows users. Ted also talks ZFS and 64-bits and whether either matter to most users, revels which of Leopard’s newly announced features turned his head, and tries to justify buying an iPhone when it is released.

Links:

Ted Landau’s User Friendly View – WWDC Keynote: Come on and Safari with Me… by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

Steve Jobs Keynote from the Worldwide Developers Conference 2007

Safari 3

Mac OS X Leopard

MacNotables #731: Breakfast with Dr. Mac – Bob LeVitus’ Favorite Inexpensive Picks

Chuck — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus is back in an in-person interview at the breakfast table in the middle of his Mid-Atlantic Macintosh User Group Tour for 2007. On Bob’s mind this time are some of his favorite inexpensive software and hardware picks for Mac users of every stripe. From utilities to games, audio to mouse control, Bob’s got it covered.

Links:

SRS iWow by SRS Labs

iQuiz from Apple

iQuizMaker from Aspyr

Amnesty Singles by Mesa Dynamics

LaunchBar by Objective Development

SpellCatcher by Rainmaker

“Logitech MX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse”

“Kensington K64210 Turbo Mouse Trackball”

“Kensington Orbit Optical Trackball Mouse”

Future Sonics Atrio Series Earphones by Future Sonics

MacNotables #729: The MacNotables Examine iPhone Lust

Chuck — Wed, 09 May 2007 11:00:00 +0000

In the second of a two-part conversation with Adam Engst, Andy Ihnatko and Chuck Joiner, the subject of iPhone lust is raised and the panel go for the bait, discussing the discovery of iPhone photos on Flickr, the iPhone camera and why a decent cell phone camera may be an oxymoron. At the very first public showing Apple announced much of the feature set for the iPhone, and we discuss why finding the perfect combination is so difficult. As the conversation went later into the night the panel identify the genesis of iPhone lust and the surprising thing Adam has in common with teenage girls in the “Non-Caffeinated” edition of MacNotables.

Adam Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Chuck Joiner

Links:

iPhone

Flickr

Virgin Mobile

MacNotables #721: Adam Engst on the New 8-Core Mac Pro, the Apple TV and Google Desktop (Part 1)

Chuck — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:00:30 +0000

In the first of a special two-part MacNotables discussion, Adam Engst of TidBITS and Take Control reveals his interest in the Apple TV and what the future might hold for Apple’s set-top device. Adam then turns his attention to the newly announced 8-Core Mac Pro, discussing what is surprising in the architecture of the new top-of-the-line Macs and what tasks are best suited for all that processing power. Another major announcement was the release of Google Desktop for Mac, and Adam explains why it may fill in the gaps left in Apple’s Spotlight.

Links:

MacNotables #717: Ted Landau Goes In-Depth on the Apple TV

MacNotables #718: Bob LeVitus’ First Impressions of the Apple TV and iPod Accessory Recommendations

MacNotables #720: Dan Frakes Operates on the Apple TV

Google Desktop

History Hound by St. Clair Software

browseback by Smile on my Mac

MacNotables #720: Dan Frakes Operates on the Apple TV

Chuck — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:00:40 +0000

Dan Frakes has been designated the MacNotables Surgeon. His credentials? He started taking apart his new Apple TV right out of the box. Dan discusses the procedures he’s used (so far) and the internal anatomy of the unit. Dan discusses what you need to know about upgrading the Apple TV’s hard drive if you choose to follow in his footsteps, and what the USB port is good for. Plenty of folks have been doing hacking the Apple TV and Dan reports on the results both practical (such as support for more video formats) and the ones done just because they can be. (Why else would you want to run a web server from an Apple TV?). Think all this voids the Apple warranty? Dan talks about why that may not be the case, if you’re very careful.

Links:

Upgrading Apple TV’s hard drive by Dan Frakes

Hacking Apple TV by Dan Frakes

SuperDuper

AnandTech

Get your Apple TV upgraded professionally on MacUser

RoughlyDrafted.com

Something Awful

AwkwardTV

Perian plug-ins

Flip4Mac plug-ins

Displaying presentations via Apple TV by Dan Frakes

MacNotables #718: Bob LeVitus’ First Impressions of the Apple TV and iPod Accessory Recommendations

Chuck — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:00:00 +0000

Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus just got his Apple TV and loves it. Bob talks about his out of box experience, the ease of set-up, and delivers some tips on getting up to speed quickly. Bob also talks about the picture quality of the Apple TV and what he used to test it the very first day. Then, Bob and Chuck discuss the benefits of owning more than one (or two) iPods and trade some recommendations for favorite products and options to protect your iPod investment.

Links:

AirPort Extreme Base Station

HandBrake / MediaFork

ADS Video Switcher

“Xtrememac 2M Component Video Cable XHD-2MCOM-02″ (Xtrememac)

“Xtrememac 2M HDMI to HDMI CABLE XHD-2MHH-00″ (Xtrememac)

NuPower Video+

Review – NuPower Video+ on The iPod Observer

USB Travel Dock for 2G shuffle

Apple 1 GB iPod Shuffle Blue (2nd Generation)

Apple 8 GB iPod Nano Black (2nd Generation)

Apple 80 GB iPod video Black (5.5 Generation)

Nike+ iPod

Dr. Bott

iMainGo

Review – iMainGo on The iPod Observer

InvisibleSHIELD

Review – invisibleSHIELD on The iPod Observer

ClearCal by RadTech

MacNotables #717: Ted Landau Goes In-Depth on the Apple TV

Chuck — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Mac troubleshooting expert Ted Landau has spent some quality time working with the new Apple TV and gets in-depth on the issues of wireless network speed impact on video performance and the initial set-up, whether you really need a widescreen television, and the similarities to an iPod from a content organization standpoint. Ted talks about the video file formats supported by the Apple TV and their impact on picture quality, the ways that people are already hacking the Apple TV, what the USB port is good for and how the Mac mini compares to it as a home theater option. Ted also goes beyond the video, commenting on the music and photo capabilities of the device. Thinking of buying an Apple TV? This is the interview you want to hear.

Links:

mac.column.ted: An Alternative FAQ for Apple TV by Ted Landau on MacFixIt

Apple TV: Apple Scores Again by Ted Landau on The Mac Observer

AirPort Extreme Base Station

Apple Mac mini(1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo

Elgato Eyetv 250 Digital TV Recorder for Mac

Apple TV Support

MacFixIt

MacNotables #713: Ted Landau on Creating a Bootable Flash Drive, More Airport and Daylight Saving Time

Chuck — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:45:49 +0000

Mac expert Ted Landau delivers a triple-threat show on three topics you’ll want to know about. Ted adds to his previous extensive examination of Apple’s new Airport Extreme Base Station and answers some listener questions about mixing the various flavors of 802.11 on the same network. Ted also talks about how to create a bootable, iPod or even flash drive to help you out in emergency situations. Yes, you could opt for the commercial products (which may or may not have been based on Ted’s original article), or you could listen to the master and do it for free. Finally, if you’re worried about the upcoming change in Daylight Saving (not Savings) time, Ted tells you what you need to do to protect yourself and where to find the software to do it.

Links:

Mac OS X Daylight Saving Time Software Fix 1.0

Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.4 Update

Unofficial Daylight Saving Time Workaround for Entourage X

“Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station” (Apple Computer)

Creating a custom bootable 1GB Flash Drive by Ted Landau

QuickerPicker by 360Works

Path Finder by cocoatech

“Micromat Protogo” (Micromat)

DasBoot from SubRosaSoft

Deal Mac

MacNotables #712: Dennis Sellers Discusses His Satellite Internet Access Experiences

Chuck — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:00:00 +0000

Dennis Sellers shares a problem with many Mac owners: he lives in an area not serviced by either DSL or cable. What’s a MacNotable to do? Watch the skies! Dennis opted for the latest generation of satellite internet connectivity and he’s here to tell us about the experience. While not a perfect solution, you’ll find Dennis’ experiences interesting, especially if you have been thinking about signing up for this flavor of internet access.

Links:

MacsimumNews

HughesNet

Satellite Internet access on a Mac, part I: the costs

Satellite Internet access on a Mac, part II: the Hughes HN7000S modem

Satellite Internet access on a Mac, part III: setting it up

Some final thoughts (for now) on satellite Internet

MacNotables #709: Ted Landau on the 802.11n Airport Extreme and Steve Job’s Position on Digital Rights Management

Chuck — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:15:27 +0000

Thinking of upgrading to the new Airport Extreme with 802.11n? You’ll want to hear Ted Landau talk about his first experiences with Apple’s latest wireless base station. Ted outlines the challenges that you’ll face and provides some suggestions on what you can do to ease the transition, and why you may want to continue to use your existing base station along with your new one. Ted and Chuck also discuss Steve Jobs’ position on Digital Rights Management (DRM) and who the real culprits are in the dispute over where and how you can play your music.

Links:

MacFixIt

Thoughts on Music by Steve Jobs

Podsafe Music Network

iPO Reports – Apple & Beatles Reach Agreement on Apple Trademark Dispute

“Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station” (Apple Computer)

Designing AirPort Extreme 802.11n Networks

MacNotables #707: An Eclectic Conversation with The MacNotables

Chuck — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:13:44 +0000

In what may be the most eclectic edition yet, MacNotables panelists Tonya Engst, Adam Engst, Andy Ihnatko and Chuck Joiner touch on a wide variety of topics, including the UK version of the Apple ads, the issues facing both Mac and all electronics users with the change in daylight savings time rules, why you need to pay for the 802.11n Enabler, the iPod shuffle’s colors, some random thoughts on Valentine’s Day and a way Microsoft could sell more copies of Vista.
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Tonya Engst	Adam Engst	Andy Ihnatko	Chuck Joiner

Links:

Take Your Child to Work Day, Macworld Expo Style by Tonya Engst

How to Google Earth by Tristan Engst

Daylight Saving Time May Bite the Out-of-Date by Andrew Laurence

Panther Time Zone Fix by Ian Ward

United Kingdom “Get A Mac” Ads

VeryFunnyAds.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Anthro eNook

Apple 802.11n Enabler for Mac

soyburger’s mac basement

Speck Products hardshell MacBook covers

MacNotables #706: Andy Ihnatko on the iPhone and “The Mystery of Leopard”

Chuck — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:00:13 +0000

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Andy Ihnatko was just quoted about the iPhone on Apple’s start page. Andy talks about how that happened, his thoughts after enjoying a thirty-minute get-acquainted period with the iPhone and whether the new interface may lead to even more cool new Apple products. Andy also gets in-depth on “the mystery of Leopard,” commenting on the strange lack of any new information on about the next generation of the Mac OS.

Links:

Nikon aims to lift amateurs’ game by Andy Ihnatko

You could call iPhone perfect by Andy Ihnatko

iPhone