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Why Apple’s new Back to School deal is good business

By Jun. 16, 2011, 8:29am PT 16 Comments

When you buy a new Mac for school this year, you get a $100 gift card for use in the iTunes Store, Mac or iOS App Stores or iBookstore. It used to be a free iPod touch: technically a better value. Still, Apple’s playing it right. Read More »

How to get your Mac hardware ready to roar with Lion

By Jun. 14, 2011, 1:33pm PT 7 Comments

Apple is gearing up to release Lion, the first OS X updated to leave some Intel-based Macs out of the party. Even with the minimum specs, you won’t be getting the full experience. Here’s how to make some key improvements without breaking the bank. Read More »

Tested: SSD brings new life to an old MacBook

By Jun. 14, 2011, 9:34am PT 12 Comments

SSDs are making new computers blazingly fast. But how do they affect the performance of older machines? I tested an SSD in my original black MacBook (circa 2006) to find out if it could help my aging beauty get back her youthful charm. Read More »

Apple could kill the finder. Would you miss it?

By Jun. 10, 2011, 3:01pm PT 86 Comments

At the WWDC keynote this week, Steve Jobs remarked that the file system is the trickiest part of adjusting to a new OS. Apple seems intent on a future where the file system is invisible to the user. Is that a good or a bad thing? Read More »

How developers will be able to leverage iCloud for smarter apps

By Jun. 10, 2011, 1:38pm PT 2 Comments

Steve Jobs said at the WWDC keynote this week that “the truth is in the cloud.” He wasn’t just being hyperbolic when he said this, though. It’s actually a clever reference to how iCloud will work behind the scenes, and how it will make apps better. Read More »

Apple’s next MacBook Air will be the new flagship Mac

By Jun. 10, 2011, 10:52am PT 22 Comments

Apple’s refresh of the MacBook Air last fall did much to improve the fortunes of the company’s ultra-slim notebook. And with its next iteration, it could be getting ready to step into the spotlight as the quintessential Mac computer, alongside the release of OS X Lion. Read More »

The future of Mac is not for the faint of heart nor the spinning drive

By Jun. 9, 2011, 11:47am PT 28 Comments

Apple teased the next installment of OS X, 10.7 Lion, again at WWDC on Monday, and set its release for July. But this upgrade might leave a lot of users cold, even as it paves the way for wider adoption of OS X down the road. Read More »

More Must Reads
19 apps to boost concentration
By Jun. 9, 2011, 8:02am PT 2 Comments

Being able to work online has its benefits, such as having the flexibility to work nontraditional hours with clients from countries around the world, but it’s also easy to get distracted. Fortunately, there are several tools available to help improve concentration and productivity. Read More »

WWDC 2011: 5 Programming terms explained for non-programmers
By Jun. 8, 2011, 2:46pm PT 4 Comments

With WWDC well underway, you might have heard a few words related to computer programming that even Mac experts have trouble understanding, but it happens to the best of us. Here’s a quick glossary of the programming terms that are probably most likely to confuse. Read More »

Technologies change in the wake of an Apple event, again
By Jun. 7, 2011, 1:39pm PT 11 Comments

Innovation is best measured by the disruption it causes, and Apple sure has been disruptive this week. OS X Lion being offered only via digital distribution is perhaps the most noteworthy example, but here are a few more that are nearly as pertinent. Read More »

Mac OS X through the ages
By Jun. 7, 2011, 9:30am PT 10 Comments

Apple has come a long way since it first introduced OS X at WWDC 1998. Lion arguably represents the biggest shift for the Mac operating system we’ve ever seen. Here’s a look back at how OS X has grown over time to put it in context. Read More »

Think iCloud is reactionary? Think again.
By Jun. 7, 2011, 6:45am PT 5 Comments

Are iCloud and iOS 5 just Apple playing catch-up with Google and Android? No way, according to Steve Jobs himself in 1997. In fact, the WWDC announcements are actually Apple making good on long-standing promises. Check out Jobs describing the Apple of today 14 years ago Read More »

What to do if you aren’t at WWDC
By Jun. 6, 2011, 8:29am PT 1 Comment

We’ll be providing coverage of WWDC today for those who couldn’t be there. And If you couldn’t make it to the conference, the next best thing might be to attend one or more of the other iPhone and Mac development conferences in the U.S. and abroad. Read More »

iA Writer for Mac: Minimalism at Its Finest
By Jun. 2, 2011, 3:09pm PT 3 Comments

iA Writer for iPad has been popular as a distraction-free writing app, and I’ve been looking forward to the Mac version. Now that it’s finally here, I take it out for a test drive and let you know whether it’s worth the money or not. Read More »

Tips and Tricks: iPhoto
By Jun. 2, 2011, 1:21pm PT Comments Off

Welcome to another instalment of Tips and Tricks, the series of articles aiming to teach you something you didn’t know about your Apple products. Let’s continue by looking at iPhoto, and some ways of speeding up your workflow and making it easier to manipulate your collection. Read More »

Apple Releases Security Update to Address Mac Defender Malware
By May. 31, 2011, 2:16pm PT Comments Off

Apple promised to release a security update to address Mac Defender malware and its variants, and that update arrived Tuesday afternoon. Security Update 2011-003 is now available for all Macs running Snow Leopard, and brings file quarantine updates, as well as a malware removal tool. Read More »

What to Expect From Apple’s OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud
By May. 31, 2011, 8:02am PT 7 Comments

Apple made it official early Tuesday morning: We’ll see details about three exciting new software products at WWDC 2011 next week. OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud will all be included in the Monday keynote. But what, specifically, can we expect to see announced? Read More »

Steve Jobs to Unveil Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud at WWDC 2011
By May. 31, 2011, 6:02am PT 4 Comments

Apple will unveil Mac OS X Lion, iOS 5 and iCloud at WWDC 2011, beginning with a keynote Monday, June 6 at 10 a.m. PDT, which will be presented by CEO Steve Jobs and other Apple executives. The company revealed its plans via official press release. Read More »

Apple Making Things Right for Unibody MacBook Owners
By May. 31, 2011, 5:41am PT 1 Comment

Apple issued a new support document over the weekend that promises a fix for white, unibody MacBook affected by a problem with peeling rubber on the bottom case. Affected units are now eligible for free repairs, for up to two years from the original purchase date. Read More »

Turtle Beach PX5 Review: Your Home Theater Mac’s New Best Friend
By May. 27, 2011, 2:01pm PT 2 Comments

All Macs released in recent years support true surround sound via optical out, but you need a home theater system to take advantage. Luckily, the Turtle Beach PX5 gaming headset provides an alternative that’s quieter, better for small spaces, and probably cheaper for Mac HTPC setups. Read More »

Paper Trail Links Mac Scareware to Russian Payment Processor
By May. 27, 2011, 8:25am PT Comments Off

The Mac malware threat posed by Mac Defender and its variants recently got worse, thanks to a new version called MacGuard, but now there’s also firm evidence pointing to the source of the ongoing scareware threat, thanks to information security blogger Brian Krebs. Read More »

Amazon Introduces Mac Download Store, a Mac App Store Competitor
By May. 26, 2011, 11:31am PT 3 Comments

Amazon unveiled its Mac Download Store today: a web-based competitor for the Mac App Store. The store provides direct downloads of Mac software directly from your browser, and ships with some marquee titles that aren’t yet available in Apple’s own marketplace. Read More »

Is It Time to ‘Think Different’ About the Back-to-School Promo?
By May. 25, 2011, 3:13pm PT 4 Comments

Apple’s back to school promotion has run the last several years, from the last week in May to the first week in September. However, as the growth of iPod sales has slowed and other products have the spotlight, it might be time to rethink the promotion. Read More »

No Code, No Problem. Prototypes Turns Ideas Into Working Apps.
By May. 25, 2011, 8:17am PT 7 Comments

Taking ideas in your head and making them in to working iPhone apps is a daunting process even for those with coding knowledge. A new Mac app called Prototypes is making it easier for non-developers to share their ideas quickly and easily in concrete form. Read More »

Apple Will Zap Mac Defender Malware With Update
By May. 25, 2011, 6:00am PT 5 Comments

Apple posted a short support article late Tuesday called “How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware,” which provides instructions on dealing with an existing malware infection, and also promises an update in the near future that will automatically seek it out and remove it. Read More »

Mac Malware and the App Store Coming of Age
By May. 24, 2011, 10:10am PT 4 Comments

MacDefender is the latest, and arguably the most significant Mac malware threat we’ve seen in a long time. Apple support reportedly isn’t offering help over the phone to affected customers, but doing so could set a costly precedent, and there’s arguably a better solution available long-term. Read More »

The Real Strength of Apple Retail: Change
By May. 19, 2011, 3:23pm PT Comments Off

On the 10th anniversary of Apple Retail, it is amazing to consider the great success that the company has had with a program many thought was doomed to fail. A big part of the secret to that success can be attributed to Apple’s openness to change. Read More »

The Apple Store at 10: Past, Present, and Future
By May. 19, 2011, 10:08am PT 7 Comments

On May 19th, the Apple Retail Store celebrates its tenth anniversary. Here’s a look back at the unlikely success Apple has enjoyed with its brick-and-mortar stores, and at where we might expect that success to lead future retail endeavors made by the company. Read More »

Quick Tip: Enable iChat Encryption for Private Chats
By May. 18, 2011, 2:32pm PT 3 Comments

Most of the time what I say on iChat is unimportant and would bore any eavesdropper, but on occasion I need to communicate some sensitive info, and I feel uncomfortable doing that over an unsecured connection. Luckily, with MobileMe there’s a way to make it secure. Read More »

Report: MacBook Air Update Coming in June or July
By May. 18, 2011, 6:50am PT 2 Comments

Apple is looking to start production of new MacBook Airs in late May, in preparation for a product launch in June or July, according to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. The new Air would feature Intel Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt ports, according to reports. Read More »

Toast 11: How Does a Disc Utility Survive in a Future Without Discs?
By May. 13, 2011, 2:01pm PT 7 Comments

In a disc-less age, what is a disk burning platform to do besides re-invent itself? The challenge is which way to steer your product. In the case of Roxio and its market-leading disc burning tool Toast, that direction points down two different paths. Read More »

New Twitter for Mac: A Step Back to Move Forward (Review)
By May. 12, 2011, 7:55am PT Comments Off

Twitter for Mac got an update Thursday morning that brings some significant changes to the official client. Many of the changes actually represent changes back to an earlier time early on in the life of the official Twitter app, when it was known as Tweetie. Read More »

Carousel Brings Instagram to the Mac Desktop in Style
By May. 11, 2011, 2:24pm PT 1 Comment

Instagram has yet to officially crossover to any platform other than the iPhone, but that hasn’t stopped third-party developers from trying to fill the gaps. One app that does just that is Mobelux’s Carousel, a new Mac program that brings your Instagram stream to the desktop. Read More »

Sandvox 2.0 Makes Push-Button Publishing Even Easier
By May. 10, 2011, 12:41pm PT Comments Off

Karelia Software released Sandvox 2.0 Tuesday, a major upgrade to its website building software for the Mac. I had a chance to get a walkthrough of the new release from Dan Wood, president of Karelia Software, and the new capabilities are impressive. Read More »

Quick Look: Henge Dock for MacBook and MacBook Pro
By May. 9, 2011, 1:42pm PT 7 Comments

With MacBooks getting closer and closer to desktop performance, some may find themselves in need of a docking station. PC docks abound, but there are few Mac options. One of those options is the Henge Dock. These docking stations are designed for MacBooks and MacBook … Read More »

ARM-Based Macs: A Real Possibility?
By May. 6, 2011, 11:48am PT 6 Comments

Tech blog SemiAccurate sped up a slow news Friday with a so-crazy-it-might-be-true rumor that Apple will be switching CPU architecture. Again. Right now, it seems impossible, but given time, could Apple really use in-house designed ARM-based chips to provide the processing power behind Mac computers? Read More »

Apple Execs Tell Analyst the Company Is Software-Driven
By May. 6, 2011, 7:43am PT Comments Off

Apple executives told Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty that Apple “generally views product cycles as software driven.” Huberty met with Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer, SVP of Retail Ron Johnson and VP of Internet Services Eddy Cue Wednesday to discuss the company’s future outlook. Read More »

Can Your iPhone Keep a Secret? Password Managers Compared
By May. 5, 2011, 3:00pm PT 27 Comments

In light of recent events regarding the security of online password managers, it’s worth a look at some of the alternatives out there, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Here’s a look at the three best iPhone, iPad and Mac password managers money can buy. Read More »

27-inch iMac Unboxing and Hands-On
By May. 5, 2011, 1:17pm PT 10 Comments

Apple just released its new iMacs, and I ordered the stock, entry-level, 27-inch configuration to replace my main work computer, a late 2008 20-inch iMac. It arrived today, so I recorded my unboxing and early hands-on experience with the computer. Bottom line: it’s a beast. Read More »

iOS, OS X and The Death of the Scrollbar
By May. 4, 2011, 2:12pm PT 35 Comments

Among those who have tried OS X Lion for the first time, there is near universal dismay at the “reverse scrolling” behavior in the Apple-provided applications. It’s a big change in the way we use computers, but has the scrollbar’s time passed? Read More »

Apple’s iOS Is the Big Revenue Bread-Winner
By May. 4, 2011, 7:54am PT 2 Comments

Apple’s iOS (software and devices) is responsible for about 75 percent of Apple’s profits as of last quarter, while OS X is responsible for only about 20 percent, according to a new report from market intelligence firm Asymco. Still, the Mac is doing better than ever. Read More »

5 Reasons Why Thunderbolt Is a Big Deal (and Why You Should Care)
By May. 3, 2011, 11:01am PT 4 Comments

Apple proved today that it is firmly behind Thunderbolt as a standard for the future of Mac computing with its new iMacs. Some are hailing it as the FireWire replacement, but here are five reasons why Thunderbolt is actually a much bigger deal than that. Read More »

Should You Upgrade to the New iMac?
By May. 3, 2011, 8:49am PT 6 Comments

Considering purchasing a new iMac? Here’s a look at what the new models can do, compared to the previous generation, as per Apple in a call Tuesday morning with GigaOM. The key takeaway here is that these new iMacs are very, very fast. Read More »

New 27-inch iMac Supports Dual External Display Output
By May. 3, 2011, 7:10am PT 9 Comments

The dual Thunderbolt ports on the 27-inch iMac are very exciting. Not only because it provides a lot of potential I/O transfer power, but more importantly because it also allows the new iMac to output to two external monitors simultaneously, Apple confirmed to me this morning. Read More »

Apple Introduces New Quad-Core iMacs With Thunderbolt
By May. 3, 2011, 5:50am PT 1 Comment

The online Apple Store went down Tuesday morning, and when it came back, new iMacs came with it. As rumored, the latest revision to Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer brings second generation quad-core Sandy Bridge processors, the new Thunderbolt I/O port, and more. Read More »

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