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Posts with tag Mac

Filed under: Humor, Flickr Find

They grow up so fast!


Solely for your lunchtime amusement, we bring you this classic, heartwarming picture of a young family celebrating their new addition around the holidays.

Mac is now 25, and had his first TV appearance last year after a short career as a young actor appearing on TV's Seinfeld. Tom and Beth just finished remodeling their kitchen.

[Via BuzzFeed and EatLiver.com.]

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, OS, Software, iPhone, iPod touch

The Sims 3 coming to Mac and iPhone Summer 2009


The Sims 3 is the latest iteration of the best-selling computer game in history -- it features the ability to custom-make and create your Sims and their surroundings, and explore the neighborhoods and cities that they live in. But even more strangely, it's set for an almost simultaneous release on PC, Mac, the iPhone and the iPod touch. The popularity of iPhone apps may have done what Mac gamers couldn't do for years: convince developers that releasing their games simultaneously on Mac and PC was worth it. While EA only has a release date for the PC version so far (June 2), the company is saying that Mac, iPhone and the iPod touch versions will be out in "Summer of 2009," which is much better than, say, years later.

Of course, we'll have to believe it when we see it -- EA uses Transgaming for their Mac ports, and they've left a little bit to be desired so far. But just the fact that they plan an almost concurrent release for the sequel to one of the biggest games of all time bodes very well. The Sims 3 probably won't make too many waves in the hardcore PC gaming set, but anytime a major publisher plans a simultaneous release for a big title, we definitely give a nod of approval.

[via IMG]

Filed under: Hardware, Blast From the Past, Flickr Find, Apple History

Flickr Find: Unusual Apple designs from the early 90s

TUAW reader Mike turned us on to a Flickr photo set and a related post on Aussie Mac site MacTalk.

MacTalk forum regular Donnie Darko was visiting a used book store in the Sydney suburb of Newtown when he came upon a rare find -- a 1991 copy of a Japanese design magazine called Axis featuring concepts that Apple was working on at the time.

In this jewel are a number of concept computers:
  • The bike computer on the front cover (see photo at right)
  • A wrist-mounted Mac called the TimeBand
  • A device called the Exchanger that shows an American dollar being inserted and another currency coming out of a slot
  • Several server concepts that look similar to Apple servers of the early 90s
  • A very cool flat-panel TV that looks cutting-edge even in 2009
  • Several tablet Macs
  • A device that looks like a hybrid Mac / digitizer tablet
A sidebar in the article shows stills from Apple's classic Knowledge Navigator concept video. It's a fascinating look at what products might have come out of Cupertino in an alternate universe.

Filed under: Cult of Mac, Apple History

Happy 25th Birthday, Mac!

All of the bloggers at TUAW write about Apple and Apple products for one reason: we love Apple products.

For most of us, our first Apple was a Mac (although some of us are indeed old enough to have owned the Apple II). 25 years ago today, Steven P. Jobs stood in front of a packed house and had a Macintosh Model M0001 introduce itself to the world:

Over the past quarter century, hundreds of millions of people have fallen in love with the Mac. Read on to hear some personal stories about Macs we have known through the years, and be sure to leave your own memories of your first Mac in the comments section.

Continue readingHappy 25th Birthday, Mac!

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch

Air Photo prints photos directly from iPhone or iPod touch

Our good friends at Download Squad found a great app on the App Store called Air Photo that will let you wirelessly print pictures directly from your iPhone or iPod touch. Just install the app (for $1.99, cheap if you print your iPhone's photos often) on your mobile device, put the server on your Mac (or PC, if you swing that way), and then you can snap and print at will. Connecting to the server from your device opens up a Bonjour window, where you can crop or adjust the picture and then print whatever you like.

While the technology itself won't be that helpful for everyone (who really prints pictures any more, especially iPhone pictures?), it is interesting to see this done so easily and well with a wireless connection. Sure, there's apps like Remote and the Keynote controllers, but it seems like the iPhone-as-wireless-accessory idea is still relatively untapped on the App Store.

Continue readingAir Photo prints photos directly from iPhone or iPod touch

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Enterprise, Software, Odds and ends, Internet Tools, Leopard, iPhone, iPod touch, First Look

First Look: LogMeIn Ignition

This post is a first for me in that I'm typing (or tapping) it in on an iPhone using our Blogsmith CMS. No, there's not a Blogsmith iPhone app that I'm aware of, and I'm not using Safari on the iPhone to pull up our web portal. Instead, I'm controlling my office iMac from about 16 miles away using my iPhone and LogMeIn Ignition.

LogMeIn is a remote access and control application for Macs and PCs that creates a secure connection between two computers by having each logged into a secure server. LogMeIn Ignition adds the ability to control a Mac or PC from your iPhone. To test Ignition, I set up a LogMeIn Free for Mac account and then loaded the app onto my iPhone 3G. How did it work? Read on for more details.

Continue readingFirst Look: LogMeIn Ignition

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Rumors, Software, Odds and ends, Developer

Rumor: Bioshock headed to the Mac


Is there anyone out there who doesn't have a PC, or a console, or a Windows partition on their Mac, or was just somehow able to avoid the critical, cultural, and widespread success of 2007's amazing Bioshock? If so, you're in luck -- while console gamers are breathlessly waiting for Bioshock 2 updates, Mac gamers are still waiting for the first one, and the wait might finally be over. Macworld is reporting that a little birdie (read: back of a t-shirt) at last week's show told them that Bioshock was finally headed to the Mac, courtesy of Feral Interactive.

Too little, too late? Don't get us wrong: Bioshock, the spiritual successor to System Shock and its sequel, is a terrific game, combining FPS gameplay with RPG elements and one of the best videogame stories of 2007. If you haven't played it and you're willing to pick it up for the Mac, you're in for a treat. But these kind of releases just perpetuate the issues with Mac gaming: games come out years late, no one buys them (because everyone who cares has already played them elsewhere), and then developers complain that games don't sell on the Mac. A Bioshock announcement is all well and good, but next time, devs, would you kindly aim for release a little closer to everyone else?

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Internet, Developer

City of Heroes comes to the Mac


Along with EVE Online and World of Warcraft, Mac users have another popular MMO to play with. It took a while, but NCsoft has finally brought their superhero massively multiplayer online game, City of Heroes, to OS X. When we heard the game was ported over by TransGaming, we flinched a bit, but NCsoft has assured us that there is no funny DRM on the release, and our colleagues over at Massively have tried out the client early, and put to rest any major questions about the quality of the port, saying that it runs well, save for a few bumps when the action gets crowded on screen.

As promised, the Mac "Special Edition" is a digital release, and comes with both the City of Heroes and the City of Villians expansion, as well as a month of game time (after that there's a subscription fee to play along), and two exclusive items: a Mission Teleporter power, to get you directly into missions, and a special "Valkyrie" costume set. The game is available for $19.99 over on NCsoft's site right now, so if you've been waiting to get some superhero MMO action underway, now's your chance.

Filed under: Audio, Software, Developer

Roxio announces Toast 10 at MacWorld

Toast is the granddaddy of CD burning apps nowadays, an act that itself has become relatively obsolete (between iPods, internet radios, FM tuners, and streaming services, do we even really need to put media on a physical format anymore?). Roxio isn't sitting back with their software, though: they've released Toast 10 at MacWorld this week, and they are doing their best to stay on your Mac, whether you use your CD burner or not. They added streaming back in Toast 9, but 10 brings with it the ability to extract and control almost any sound or video that comes through your computer, from DVD footage to web video, exported out to TiVo, your Mac, your iPod, or anywhere else that plays it.

The app is available right now on the website for $79.99 (after a $20 mail-in rebate), or they're offering a "Pro" version that comes with SonicFire Pro (that you can use to piece soundtracks together), Bias SoundSoap SE (which will wipe hums and static from recordings), FotoMagico (slideshows from pictures), and LightZone (photo editor and enhancer), as well as a plug-in for Toast that will let you author Blu Ray and HD DVD discs. All that comes together for $130 (after a $20 mail-in rebate).

Whew. Despite the fact that almost no one is routinely burning CDs or DVDs these days, Roxio seems to be going all out to make sure there's still a need for Toast.

[via Ars]

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, iPhone, TUAW Faceoff, App Store, iPod touch

TUAW Faceoff: Mark/Space Fliq for Mac vs. Mobile DropCopy


A few months ago, Mark/Space delivered Fliq for iPhone, a free utility for sending contacts and photos to other iPhones and iPod touches that are also running Fliq. Later, they shipped Fliq for Mac, a US$19.95 application goes beyond the capabilities of the iPhone app by providing an easy way to move photos, contacts and notes from your Mac to any Mac or iPhone on your Wi-Fi network.

There are several free or low-cost utilities that perform similar tasks, most particularly 10base-t interactive's DropCopy and Mobile DropCopy. The latter is a new iPhone app that, like Fiiq and Fliq for Mac, facilitates transfer of non-DRM data between iPhones and Macs. Since news of both of these apps appeared in my inbox on the same day, I decided that a faceoff was in order. So how do these apps compare, or am I comparing Apples and oranges? I think you'll find that they're similar in operation, but different in what they mean to accomplish.

Read on to see how they fare in a TUAW faceoff!

Continue readingTUAW Faceoff: Mark/Space Fliq for Mac vs. Mobile DropCopy

Filed under: Macworld, Apple

Macworld Expo minus Apple still equals Macworld Expo


In the story of love, there is always a winner and a loser (the loser being the one who sits at home with ice cream in one hand and a remote in the other, crying while watching The Notebook). In the romance between IDG and Apple, it seems that IDG is not content to sit at home now that Stevie J. has stopped returning its calls.

While we know that Macworld Expo is scheduled to continue in 2010, there is not a solid sense of what next year's conference will look like. Because IDG wants to get attendee input on the future shape of the event, it has elected to have a "Townhall" open forum where attendees can meet and discuss the future of Macworld.

The emphasis of Macworld Expo is expected to shift back to the Mac and the many products and services that can enhance it. Because Macworld showcases hundreds of products that are not found in Apple retail stores (including sessions & vendors who focus on large enterprises and educational markets), it is a great opportunity to get them into the hands of users who would not normally get a chance to see them in person.

Here's hoping Macworld Expo continues on for the foreseeable future -- and who knows? Perhaps the popularity of Macworld will bring Apple back in, but who needs 'em, right? Have a good idea for something you'd like to see in Macworld's future? Let us know in the comments, and perhaps one of our intrepid staffers attending the townhall will discuss it with IDG's team.

For continuing coverage of Macworld Expo 2009 from our team on the ground in San Francisco, stay with TUAW -- you can see all coverage in one place, get a feed for our stories or follow us on Twitter for instant updates.

[via Ars Technica]

Filed under: Hardware, Apple

Apple Expert connections not very fast or personalized


Now that you've read up on what to do with that shiny new iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro and spent some good time with the instruction manual in one hand and mouse in the other you've probably come to realize that these things aren't exactly perfect. Using a Mac is about as close to heavenly bliss as one can get while using a computer but let's face it, at some point you're going to run into a problem. Luckily for you there's an Apple Genius Bar right around the corner. What's that you say? You live hours away from the nearest Apple store? Fear not faithful reader; Apple is here for you! Read on for my experience setting up a fast, convenient, and personalized appointment with an Apple Expert.

Continue readingApple Expert connections not very fast or personalized

Filed under: Accessories, Software, Stocking Stuffers, Holidays

Keep your New Year's resolutions: a Holiday Gift Guide

Ahhhh, New Year's resolutions. You promise that you're going to take better care of yourself, improve your life, and then you usually break all of those resolutions by January 2nd. This year's going to be different, right? Here are some gift ideas to help you keep your 2009 New Year's resolutions.

Weight Loss

Unless you're the lean and mean marathon Mac man and real-life action figure Adam Engst, you could probably afford to lose some weight. Resolving to lose a few pounds is a classic New Year's resolution, and one that's very easy to break. Fortunately, there are some Mac and iPhone applications that can help you to stay the course:

CalorieKing Nutrition & Exercise Manager for Mac OS X -- This US$45.00 application has a huge food database and makes it simple to drag-and-drop caloric information into a food diary. Exercise tracking and a weight log are included as well.

BeFit -- TUAW covered the debut of this US$15.95 Mac application earlier this year, and it remains a good program for tracking what you put in your mouth. Remember, you can get BeFit at half-price if you're a current Jon Brown Designs customer.

Continue readingKeep your New Year's resolutions: a Holiday Gift Guide

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple

Apple debuts two Holiday Get a Mac Ads


Apple released two new Get a Mac ads, just in time for the holiday season. The two ads, entitled "I Can Do Anything," and "Tree Trimming," are animated, and very amusing.

In the I Can Do Anything ad [direct video link], PC shows off what he can do because he is animated. He then talks to a rabbit that is on its way to the Apple Store.

In the Tree Trimming ad [direct video link], Mac and PC are decorating a tree. When PC plugs in the tree, Mac discovers that the lights actually say... well, we don't want to spoil it (sorry!).

You can watch both of the ads by visiting the Get a Mac ad website.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Filed under: Multimedia, Video, Internet, Internet Tools

Netflix Streaming officially comes to the Mac



Update: As the commenters have noted -- this service is currently only available for US customers. I truly apologize for my US-centric slant.

Last month, Netflix finally started to roll out its Watch Instantly service to Mac users. You needed to opt-in to use the feature, but it was available for those who wanted to access it. Today, Watch Instantly is available for Mac users without having to opt-in -- as long as you meet the minimum system requirements (Intel Mac running OS X 10.4.8 or higher, and at least one GB of RAM).

Watch Instantly is a great way to catch up on a movie, TV show or documentary without having to wait for the movie to come in the mail. You don't get the extra features or super surround sound, but it's fast, the quality is good and it is free to use. If you have a Netflix Unlimited plan, you can watch as many movies a month as you want. If you have a limited plan, the number of films you can stream is also limited.

You can access Watch Instantly from the tab on the main Netflix page and browse through the selection of movies and TV shows. You still need to install the Microsoft Silverlight plugin, if you don't already have it installed. Watch Instantly works in Firefox 2 or higher and Safari 3 and up.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tip of the Day

You can save screenshots on your iPod touch or iPhone by holding the power button while you press the Home button. The screen will flash white and store the image in Photos.


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