Happy New Year to .Mac users from Apple

Posted on Dec. 31, ’05, 1:03 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Internet

Apple has given .Mac subscribers one last gift in 2005. A quick visit to your account settings page will show that you now have a 1 TB (1,024 GB) monthly bandwidth allotment. That’s pretty hefty.

No move by Apple can be accepted without some speculation, so I’ll throw my two cents in. Considering Apple’s recent embrace of podcasting and the bandwidth problem that podcasters face, I’d venture a guess that maybe Apple will introduce either an all-in-one solution for podcasters. Then again, maybe they just wanted to improve the service.

[via TUAW]

Update: The bandwidth allotment has disappeared from my account page. The only official thing I can find is on .Mac’s features page which lists 10 GB transfer.

Pieces of G5 everywhere

Posted on Dec. 30, ’05, 9:28 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Hardware

DotMac user thunderaudio brings an inside look at the Quad G5, nasty bits and all. He also has some pictures of the liquid cooling used in a G5. The geek in me likes seeing every inch of the G5s, while the Mac user in me cries that such a beautiful machine was taken apart, even if temporarily.

[via MacView]

Force Safari to adopt the new RSS Icon

Posted on Dec. 30, ’05, 1:20 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Software

Mac Specialist offers a quick and easy way to change Safari’s default blue RSS icon to the orange Firefox born symbol (pictured to the right).

Microsoft recently announced it would adopt the icon for IE 7 and its RSS capabilities. Ever since, a new movement to adopt the icon has sprung up, including a website featuring free versions of the icon in all kinds of formats.

While many people are jumping on the bandwagon for this new icon, I remain unconvinced. Rather than a community designed design, our Mozilla and Microsoft overlords are telling us that this is the one symbol. Maybe I’m just being overly paranoid. I’m personally fond of the existing icon and don’t feel the new icon really is an improvement.

Camino 1.0b2 out

Posted on Dec. 30, ’05, 12:01 AM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Software

The fine Camino folks have released beta 2 of the cocoa Gecko browser. The full 1.0 release is anticipated in the next month.

I’ve been a huge fan of Camino since the Chimera days. Yeah, that far back. That was back when the browser selection for Mac OS X was sparse to say the least. By the time Jaguar had rolled around, it was my browser of choice. It only got unseated because of some extras that Safari provides (bookmark syncing, built-in spell checking).

On the other hand, Camino still subscribes to the school of thought that a web browser should be a web browser and not a swiss army knife (RSS, extensions, etc.), which is still refreshing at times. It’s also fast. It’s good to see it’ll be at 1.0 soon, but with the stability it’s maintained for several milestones now, it’s more deserving of that version number than some other products.

Steve Wozniak Shows Why It’s Called FireWire

Posted on Dec. 29, ’05, 11:35 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | Apple » People

As a trailer for the upcoming British documentary In Search of the Valley, Woz shows us why it’s called FireWire. [via Digg.com] As a side note, Woz’ autograph is one of my favorite pieces of Apple paraphanalia. He’s such an awesome guy.

Charleston, SC Music Store Will Trade iPods for CDs

Posted on Dec. 29, ’05, 10:20 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | iPod

An independent music store in South Carolina will give you an iPod if you give them CDs. If only I’d been born a little later, and had a larger CD collection. Seriously though, those shiny pieces of plastic are just taking up space in my house. I ought to sell ‘em.

Winning and losing

Posted on Dec. 28, ’05, 10:15 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Apple

PC World has come out with its list of winners and losers. On its list, Apple. Hold on though. They’re a winner and a loser. I’ll save you the suspense: they’re not the only ones. Also on the list is iTunes as a winner.

Apple is lauded for the Mac mini, video on the iPod, and the Intel switch. iTunes is praised for sticking to its pricing scheme as well as delivering video content. Apple is criticized for its lawsuits concerning rumor sites.

Is Apple being praised and criticized for the right things? Is praise for the Intel switch premature? Was Steve simply trying to maintain the mystique that is the keynote?

Overheard in New York : iPods and Podcasts

Posted on Dec. 28, ’05, 10:57 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | iPod

Overheard in New York:

Woman #1: My principal says you can get French lessons as an iPod.
Woman #2: An “iPod”?
Woman #1: Yeah…they’re about 15 minutes long, they come on your computer, and they’re free.
Woman #2: Hmm.
Woman #1: Wait, I mean a podcast.
Woman #2: “Podcast”? Sounds like it comes from aliens.

—Patisserie Claude, West 4th Street

Hello Kitty iPod nano covers

Posted on Dec. 28, ’05, 9:19 AM PT by MacUser

Category | iPod

Yes, there is now a line of Hello Kitty protective films for your iPod nano. It turns out that Cyber Gadget released two types of Hello Kitty and Charming Kitty films on Christmas Day. The packs actually contain a pair of layers: the first is decorative and the second makes sure Kitty doesn’t suffer wear and tear. You can pick these cuties up for around ¥1,200.

Want more iPod craziness? Visit our pals at Digital World Tokyo for the inevitable Snoopy iPod and sickeningly cute Shuffle cases.

[ From Impress (Japanese) | DWT/Paul Kallender ]

Engadget: iPod Charger on an Xbox 360

Posted on Dec. 27, ’05, 12:17 PM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | Hardware

Our good friends at Engadget have put together a way to hack the XBox 360 so that it acts as an iPod charger while you’re hammering away at your favorite video games.

Vice President Cheney Has an iPod, Too

Posted on Dec. 22, ’05, 3:53 PM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | iPod

Not to be outdone by his boss, VP Cheney apparently is a fan of the iPod too. The Associated Press has the story of how Cheney’s staff *must* keep his iPod charged at all times — after the jump, of course.

“Your eyes can deceive you; don’t trust them.” - Obi-Wan

Posted on Dec. 22, ’05, 2:27 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Hardware

I’ve read about Mac minis being mounted to the backside of TVs and even being implanted in cars, but this is the first time my real geek streak has been titillated. Apple, of all people, has a page about modding Mac minis, aptly named Big Ideas.

I must resist the urge to buy a Mac mini. If an Intel version is released soon, I may just lose that battle. I wonder though, even though Apple is displaying this prominently on their site, if you take it in for service, will their official response be “Very cool, but you’ve voided your warranty”?

[via mac tag on del.icio.us]

Google Talk will chat with AIM

Posted on Dec. 21, ’05, 3:58 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Internet

We could already already use iChat on Google Talk via its Jabber support, but due to its deal with AOL, Google Talk users will soon be able to chat with AIM users.

The agreement’s broad range of new features for users and advertisers include:

• Enabling Google Talk and AIM instant messaging users to communicate with each other

That means that soon even users stranded on older versions of OS X with older versions of iChat will be able to talk with their Google Talk using counterparts. Of course, I’ve been using Adium X for a long time now, so I can chat with most anyone.

The question is, is this move a response to the recently announced Yahoo/MSN chat network merger? Does this put Apple solidly in the AOL/Google camp?

[via Digg]

iPod Nano Commercial Spoof

Posted on Dec. 21, ’05, 12:06 PM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | iPod

Our good friends at Boing Boing linked to this great video spoof of an iPod commercial. Ah, the joys of the Macintosh Classic II. I had one of those — it went on Prodigy and everything.

Every Newton Ever Made For Sale?

Posted on Dec. 21, ’05, 10:03 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | Hardware

This guy on eBay is selling one of every Newton ever made. Bidding is currently at $355 — a steal! I still have my Newton 110 kicking around my coffee table. It’s a great conversation piece.

Ultra-Conservative Iranian President Bans “Indecent and Western” Music

Posted on Dec. 20, ’05, 10:50 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | Music

And in international news, for those of you who are going to Iran, you’ll probably want to leave your iPod at home — that is, assuming it’s filled with “Indecent and Western” music. (Hat tip: Melissa Koda) More after the jump.

Do you really know your baby?

Posted on Dec. 19, ’05, 3:47 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Software

Ever wonder where your favorite computer was born and when? Don’t you feel a burning desire to celebrate its birthday? Am I the only one that has tried to feed cake to their Mac through the optical disc slot?

For the answer to the first question, you can download and run coconutIdentityCard. This is from the same guy that wrote coconutBattery so you know it’s good. As a bonus, it even does iPods.

[via gerhardlazu.com]

Update: And don’t forget to look up your older Macs using this web based decoder at the pickle’s Low-End Mac FAQ. [via rmcken on del.icio.us]

Goodbye Internet Explorer

Posted on Dec. 18, ’05, 11:00 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Software

As if Microsoft killing Internet Explorer development around the time of Safari’s release wasn’t enough of a nail in its coffin, Microsoft will be ending all support at the end of the yet and removing the download link at the end of january.

In June 2003, the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit announced that Internet Explorer for Mac would undergo no further development, and support would cease in 2005. In accordance with published support lifecycle policies, Microsoft will end support for Internet Explorer for Mac on December 31st, 2005, and will provide no further security or performance updates.

Additionally, as of January 31st, 2006, Internet Explorer for the Mac will no longer be available for download from Mactopia. It is recommended that Macintosh users migrate to more recent web browsing technologies such as Apple’s Safari.

I feel an uneasy tension in the force as Microsoft seems to endorse Safari as the superior (or at least more recent) web browser. For those interested in relics, download now.

[via Digg]

Bush’s iPod

Posted on Dec. 16, ’05, 10:13 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar

Category | iPod

So President Bush has what appears to be a 4G iPod, and he talks about his iPod Shuffle with Andrew Wilson of SkyNews, which was apparently rebroadcast on Fox News. For those of you who don’t want to watch the video, The Washington Post has the transcript. (Note: The Post erroneously credits the interview to Fox’s Brit Hume, and not Andrew Wilson.)

Read my favorite part of the exchange after the jump…

iPod Battery Booster

Posted on Dec. 15, ’05, 5:36 PM PT by MacUser

Category | Music

Here’s yet more music to our ears in the run-up to Christmas. Japan Trust Technology says that Friday it will release the Pod 60, a 50-hour, 6000mAh external battery for all stripes of iPod (except the 5G). The recharger weighs 180 grams, measures 82 millimeters x 58 mm x 24 mm and can itself be charged in 3-4 hours. Well, that’s exact then, isn’t it? On sale for ¥7,980 (US$67) at shops near us, and hopefully you. [IDGNS/Paul Kallender]

Yahoo! updates (and renames) Konfabulator

Posted on Dec. 14, ’05, 5:45 PM PT by Derik DeLong

Category | Software

Yahoo has been buying things up left and right lately. Flickr and del.icio.us were two recent acquisitions as was arguably the forefather of Dashboard, Konfabulator. Fans of the software will be pleased to know that Yahoo has updated it to 3.0. Fans may be less pleased that it’s been renamed Yahoo! Widget Engine.

Regardless, Mac fans can rejoice that they haven’t been left out. However, considering Yahoo’s track record with Mac support, it makes me wonder. What does this mean? Is this the exception to the rule? Alternatively, could it mean that Yahoo is changing its tune? Will we see Mac support dwindle after this initial effort, or could we possibly see more Mac support in other areas of Yahoo’s business?

iPod product placement bonanza

Posted on Dec. 8, ’05, 5:08 PM PT by Jason Snell

Category | Video

So on Monday, Apple and NBC announce they’re releasing numerous shows on iTunes, including “The Office.” It sounded pretty cool to me — “The Office” is one of the funniest shows on TV, if you ask me.

But now it gets weirder. This week’s episode of “The Office” features, as a major plot point, a video iPod as a Secret Santa gift! The word “iPod” is repeated in the episode at least a dozen times, if not more.

So, my question: which came first, the deal to put “The Office” on iPod, or the deal to put iPod on “The Office”? Or both?

Why Macs rule

Posted on Dec. 7, ’05, 10:44 AM PT by Jason Snell

Category | Internet

This blog is about the present and the future, not the past, but I wanted to kick it off with at least some recognition of what came before. For many years I was the webmaster of MacUser.com and an editor at MacUser magazine. I came over to Macworld when that magazine was folded into Macworld. I saved the last home page from that site, and here it is:

Yes, that’s MacAddict’s own Rik Myslewski in the top right. I worked with Rik (and Roman, MacAddict’s reviews editor) at MU and they’re both great guys. The people who worked at MacUser (and Macworld) back in the day have basically scattered to the winds. 1997 was a dark time for the Mac and for the Mac media. Things are better now — a lot better.