Sometime next week we could see the arrival of Mac OS X Lion, according to reports. But this is no ordinary major software launch. The twist is that Lion will only be distributed digitally, the effect of which is difficult to predict. Read more »
With the next major release of Mac OS X, 10.7 Lion, on the way, it’s a good idea to start preparing your Mac for the transition soon. Here are some steps to make sure your Mac is ready for Lion. Read more »
Facebook launched a bunch of new features Wednesday, including group chat, a redesigned chat user list, and the biggest of all, video chat via a partnership with Skype. It’s this last one that will have the biggest implications for most average Mac users. Read more »
OS X Lion can run apps in full-screen mode, allowing compatible Mac software to take up the whole screen, as it does in iOS. Thanks to an update to Fluid, virtually any website can become an independent full-screen app as soon as Lion is ready. Read more »
Skype 5.2 for Mac, released Tuesday, introduces group screen sharing in addition to group video calling, which has been available since the Skype 5.0 beta for Mac. It’s a good update for pro users, but others might not find it so appealing. Read more »
OS X Lion is set to arrive sometime this month, and new reports suggest that it could be here as soon as next Wednesday at 9 AM. Will you be buying when it does arrive, and if not, why are you unsure about upgrading? Read more »
Batteries are decidedly evil. My desk is littered with gear that requires them, and I’d be at a loss to watch movies, control my computer and television, and use many of my Mac peripherals without them. Create a plan that will ensure you never lose power. Read more »
The new Apple Thunderbolt cable costs $49, which is a bit pricey. iFixit took a peek inside one of the new cables and came up with a good reason why Thunderbolt isn’t cheap. Even if costs don’t drop, though, this tech has legs. Read more »
Pocketable drives that carry not just your data, but your entire computer for use with any Mac you encounter are that much closer to a reality today, thanks to the discovery that Thunderbolt on new Macs supports booting from external storage. Read more »
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a video will save you even more typing. There are lots of video chat options out there now for both Mac and iOS, and the competition is fierce. Which is your go-to client on either platform, and why? Read more »
Apple has released a special FAQ page to address commonly voiced concerns about its new Final Cut Pro X video editing software. Arguably, it’s a step Apple should’ve taken before the FCP X release, not now that opinion is starting to galvanize against it. Read more »
If you can’t wait to try out some of Lion’s new features, but don’t have access to the developer preview, I’ve got good news: You can get many of Lion’s new features in Snow Leopard using these third-party apps, tweaks and downloads. Read more »
Apple just released the latest update for Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6.8. Included in the update are countermeasures for the latest variants of the malicious Mac Defender software, improved support for IPv6, and enhancements for the Mac App Store in preparation for the upgrade to Lion. Read more »
It’s updates all around for Apple’s full-sized routers, as the AirPort Extreme joins the Time Capsule with a new model number today. The AirPort Extreme and the Time Capsule both haven’t been updated since early 2009, so refreshed hardware isn’t really a surprise. But what’s changed? Read more »
If you’re just getting started out as a freelancer, the sheer volume of advice out there about what software to pick up can be intimidating. Luckily, there’s a new Mac software bundle that actually acts as a really good one-stop shopping solution for new freelancers. Read more »
Thunderbolt has arrived, but it’s been on the market now since February, and we’ve yet to see it really do much in the way of changing how we use our Macs. Signs indicate that this summer could be the time we do see that happen. Read more »
E-book lending is on the rise, thanks to the continued growth of the e-book market and programs from online retail giants like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Two distinct business models have emerged to serve the ever-expanding number of users and address challenges that arise. Read more »
Apple is dropping Rosetta from OS X Lion, which means PowerPC-only apps won’t work on Macs running the operating system. It might surprise you how many still-useful and used apps that will leave out in the cold. Here’s a few, and some replacement suggestions. Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
