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Jonathan
"jonknee"
Gales
Webmaster/
Contributing Editor
Brian
"brian"
Burnham
Contributing Editor
James
"MacManX"
Huff
Contributing Editor and
Forum Über Moderator
Bill
"DigitalBill"
Douthett
Contributing Writer
MacMerc.com is an online community and information source for professional
Mac users.
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Anonymous writes "Ecamm Network today announced the release of Call Recorder for Skype. The new plug-in allows Mac Skype users to automatically record and save their Skype calls. Call Recorder also allows for users to start and stop recording at any time using simple onscreen controls.
Call Recorder creates exact reproductions of Mac OS X Skype calls. The plug-in leverages several Apple technologies. "Utilizing Core Audio, and QuickTime's support for the AAC encoding format, Call Recorder can create reasonably small files that provide high quality audio," says Ken Aspeslagh, Ecamm Network's multimedia chief. "Calls are saved as QuickTime files with a separate audio track for each side of the conversation. This makes podcast post-production much easier." A drag-and-drop MP3 conversion tool is also included with the product.
Call Recorder is available for USD$14.95. A demo is provided free of charge to let users try it out before purchasing."
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General News: Discovery Channels, TLC, Animal Planet, and Travel Channel on iTMS
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 Discovery Communications today announced that content from Discovery's family of networks is now available for purchase on the iTunes Music Store. The offering includes programming from the Discovery Channel as well as TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel and Discovery Kids. With the addition of more than a dozen series and specials from Discovery, iTunes now offers even more video content to download for USD$1.99 per episode for viewing on a computer or iPod.
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General News: Goodbye iBook: Apple Unveils New MacBook and boosts speed on 15-inch Pro
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 Apple today unveiled the MacBook, consumer notebook featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and a new 13-inch glossy widescreen display. With speeds up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook, the new MacBook completes Apple's Intel-based portables lineup and replaces both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.
Apple's entire portables lineup now offers Intel Core Duo processors; a built-in iSight video camera; Front Row with Apple Remote; and several advanced features including DVI with dual display support, optical digital audio input and output, Gigabit Ethernet, Sudden Motion Sensor, Scrolling TrackPad and MagSafe Power Adapter.
The new MacBook is available in Black or White through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Details below the fold.
Apple today also increased processor speeds on both models of the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The USD$2,499 model now includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 2.0 GHz, and the USD$1,999 model now includes a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.83 GHz. Beginning today, the MacBook Pro also offers the new glossy (why?) widescreen display as a CTO option on both the 15-and 17-inch models at no additional cost.
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General News: ShieldZone announces invisibleSHIELD for Apple MacBook Pro
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ShieldZone, a developer of protective coverings for electronic devices, has announced the release of the invisibleSHIELD for Apple MacBook Pro. The invisibleSHIELD is a clear protective covering designed to protect the metallic finish of the MacBook Pro from scratches and dings that can occur from everyday use.
The invisibleSHIELD for the MacBook Pro comes in three designs. The standard shield protects the wrist areas, the trackpad, and the click button, as well as the outside top of the MacBook Pro. The second variety covers the bottom of the laptop, allowing the user to set it on virtually any surface without having to worry about damaging the finish. The third variety is a full-body shield, which is a combination of the standard shield and the bottom shield, giving the user maximum protection against scratches and dings.
The invisibleSHIELD for the MacBook Pro is available for both the 15- and the 17-inch models. The standard shield sells for USD$39.95, the bottom shield for USD$24.95, and the full-body shield for USD$54.95.
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General News: Apple posts new iPod ad featuring Wolfmother's ''Love Train''
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Aussie trio Wolfmother are the latest artists to have their music featured in one of Apple's iconic iPod + iTunes TV commercials, joining mega-names like U2, Wynton Marsalis and Eminem.
Jamming to the song "Love Train" from Wolfmother's self-titled debut, the famed iPod-wearing silhouettes rock-out retro-style while highlighted in splashes of glorious psychedelic color.
"Good things happen when silhouettes dance," says the band's frontman Andrew Stockdale.
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Anonymous writes "YouTube.com is a great resource. Not many sites allows users to freely upload, view, and share video clips like YouTube does. YouTube even lets users easily post videos on their blogs and personal web sites. But because anyone can upload a video clip on YouTube, copyright violations are rampant.
In an effort to prevent the widespread distribution of illegal copied video files, YouTube encodes its video files in the Macromedia Flash format, which prevents viewers from downloading files and making digital copies.
Here's a step-by-step tutorial from MethodShop.com on how to hack video files off YouTube.com and convert them for an iPod Video. This hack will work with Mac OS X using Firefox or Internet Explorer."
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Site News: Reviewed: Keyspan RF Remote for Front Row
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 I had the good fortune to acquire one of Keyspan's new RF Remotes for Front Row. I tested it both on official Front Row empowered Apple hardware and on an unsupported system running Front Row with a bit of help from Enabler.
The use of radio frequency for signaling Front Row opens up a lot of options. Read on in the review.
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General News: RadTech releases dock-less rechargeable Bluetooth mice
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RadTech has recently announced four new dock-less rechargeable Bluetooth mice along with an update to their RadMouse driver for Mac OS X.
 Industrially inspired with a raw, edgy style, the BT100 Mobile Mouse features three buttons and a detented scroll wheel for positive tactile feedback. Finished in glossy white with silver accents, this model is built on a slightly stretched mini chassis for added comfort in larger hands. The BT100 sells for USD$49.95 |
 The low-slung and aerodynamic BT300 Mobile Mouse model draws its styling cues from America's venerable C6 Corvette sport coupe. It too features three buttons and detented scroll wheel--its housing is finished in pearl white over translucent black. The BT300 sells for USD$51.95 |
 RadTech's first full size, five-button BT600 Desktop Mouse rounds out the new hardware introduction. Sporting two additional side-mounted buttons and a comfortable, rubberized exterior, the BT600 completes the size matrix. From mini to maxi, RadTech has a mouse sized for every need. The BT600 sells for USD$59.95 |
 The ever-popular, machine silver BT500 Mobile Mouse received an engine transplant and now sports RadTech's R-Series, in-mouse charging circuitry like the BT100 and 300 models. The new and improved BT500 sells for USD$59.95 |
All models now include a dock-less charging scheme, which enhances portability and allows the mice to be used while charging via a thin, super-flexible USB cable--perfect for road warriors. Each model includes NiMH rechargeable batteries, 2 x AAA for BT100 through 500 and 2 x AA for the BT600.
RadTech also announced that their RadMouse HID Driver software for all RadTech Bluetooth mice is now a Universal Binary.
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Author David Pogue says the world of video is "exploding." Sounds violent, but he's got a point: People are giving each other DVDs instead of greeting cards and watching each other via video on their web sites. Video is fast becoming a new standard document format. Can you say YouTube?
Free VoIP can be had all over the place. And low call-out rates for reaching traditional phone networks is common too. Several services will get you a call in number, reachable from regular phones for dollars a month.
