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News & Opinion
Rumor Roundup
Tech Trends
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Microsoft Office Blurry on Retina MacBook Pro:
Microsoft Plans No Fix
Macworld UK's Karen Haslam reports that Microsoft Office for Mac
users are complaining that the software is unusable on the MacBook Pro with Retina
Display, which makes Office look like "crap," with forum posts on
the Office for Mac blog describing it as: very fuzzy, crap and blurry
when viewed on the Retina Display.
However, she cites someone from the Office for Mac team commenting
on the post, claiming that Outlook 2011 supports the Retina Display and
claiming that: "The remaining apps will have the same viewing quality
as on any non-Retina device. Unfortunately at this time, we cannot
comment on any future updates regarding supporting Retina on Word,
Excel or PowerPoint."
Publisher's note: I honestly didn't think it could be all that bad,
but then I found a screen shot on
iJailbreak.com (below) that shows just how unbelievably fuzzy (and
thus unusable) Microsoft Word is on the Retina MacBook Pro. Microsoft
is going to push a lot of Mac users to Pages and other alternatives
with this attitude, especially with a 13" Retina MacBook Pro rumored
for September. dk
Is this is how Microsoft Word looks on a Retina Display MacBook Pro?
Update: This image is a farce. We've done additional research and
posted an article on the subject, Fuzzy Retina Fonts: How Bad Are
They?, complete with sample images.
Link: Microsoft Not
Planning to Fix Retina Display Office Issues
Swedish Website Tests Gullibility of Apple Online
Community
The Swedish Day4 blog's y Lukasz Lindell analyzes how the site
fooled a sizable proportion of the Apple-oriented online community with
a recent hoax, explaining:
"It is somewhat disturbing at times when the bandwagon takes off and
speeds up, without people being critical. People stand up for
situations that may never have happened, and spin on it which
ultimately results in that it will be treated as facts, or a
faktoid.
"One afternoon we sketched out a screw in our 3D program, a very
strange screw where the head was neither a star, tracks, pentalobe or
whatever, but a unique form, also very impractical. We rendered the
image, put it in an email, sent it to ourselves, took a picture of the
screen with the mail and anonymously uploaded the image to the forum
Reddit with the text A friend took a photo a while ago at that fruit
company, they are obviously even creating their own screws.
"Then we waited...."
Link: How
We Screwed (Almost) the Whole Apple Community
Be Part of Space Exploration on Your Apple
Device
MacDirectory's Markin Abras says:
"Instead of playing a game on your iPad or trying to find a date
with your iPhone, why not do something more meaningful? For the first
time, you will be able use your iPhone and be part of space
exploration. Tim DeBenedictis, who developed SkySafari - a cool
astronomy app for your iPhone and Mac - has created a nano-satellite
named SkyCube, which will allow you to broadcast messages and take
pictures from space.
"By contributing to the SkyCube
Kickstarter campaign you will have the opportunity to broadcast your
personal message or take pictures during its mission. You will not only
learn something new, but very likely to impress your friends and
family.
"Campaign contributions start as little as $1 for a single message
containing 120 characters and $6 for six messages and one photograph.
However, to get flight tickets to the historic launch, a contribution
of $10,000 is required. On this contribution level, you will be able to
broadcast 10,000 messages, snap up to 2,000 pictures, receive a movie
of Earth from orbit, get two round-trip tickets to Cape Canaveral to
see the liftoff, get a radio receiver that can pick up the
transmissions and receive cool SpaceX Falcon 9 and SkyCube
T-shirts."
Markin Abras had the opportunity to chat with Tim DeBenedictis to
learn more about SkyCube. A transcript of the interview is online.
Link: SkyCube: The
First Satellite Launched by You!
Rumor Roundup
Geekbench Leaks 13" Retina MacBook Pro Scores
AppleInsider's Daniel Eran Dilger reports that Primate Labs once
again appears to have posted Geekbench benchmark
scores for an unreleased iMac - what is presumed to be a
forthcoming 13" Retina Display MacBook Pro (MacBookPro10,2) - on the
Geekbench website, a second MacBookPro10,2, suggesting that the latter
will ship with 8 GB of standard memory like its larger 15"
stablemate.
Link: Geekbench Again
Leaks 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro Scores, Now with 8 GB Memory
Tech Trends
Asus Zenbook UX32VD: The Best MacBook Air
Alternative?
Notebook Review Editor Jerry Jackson reports that the $1,299 Asus
Zenbook UX32 offers great looks and great performance in a MacBook Air
flattering 13" Ultrabook running Windows 7 and packed with Nvidia
graphics for some surprising power.
Jackson notes that Taiwan-based Asus was one of the first laptop
manufacturers to announce a premium Ultrabook in the form of the Asus
Zenbook series last year - the Zenbook UX21 and UX31 with 11" and 13"
screens respectively, which were both criticized for not offering
enough in the way of premium performance or features other than the
thin-and-light metal construction.
However, he says Asus promises to exceed expectations with the
Zenbook UX32VD; a more powerful Ultrabook with a 13" display featuring
a 1080p resolution and powered by both an Intel Core i7-3517U dual-core
processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 620M discrete graphics constructed
almost entirely of aluminum, with all corners and edges of the notebook
are smoothed and rounded - very much like the MacBook Air.
Link: Asus Zenbook
UX32VD Review: The Best MacBook Air Alternative?
Products & Services
OWC Announces 480 GB SSD Upgrade for Retina MacBook
Pro
PR: Other World
Computing has announced a 480 GB Aura Pro 6G Solid State Drive upgrade
for the 2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display to be available by
month-end.
OWC Aura Pro for Retina owners who purchase this $579.99, 480 GB SSD
between now and September 30th will be sent the Envoy Pro external (a
$59.95 value) SSD enclosure to be shipped separately when it becomes
available in December (projected).
The Aura Pro 6G SSD features industry leading SandForce DuraClass
Technologies:
- DuraWrite extends the endurance of your Solid State Drive
(SSD).
- Intelligent Block Management & Wear Leveling automatically
distributes data evenly across the entire SSD.
- Intelligent Read Disturb Management spreads the active read/write
across the flash components eliminating data corruption caused by
constant use.
- Intelligent "Recycling" for advanced free space management
gradually rewrites data across the SSD over time to ensure data never
gets corrupted.
- RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) protects
the data on your drive similar to having a RAID setup.
- Best-in-Class ECC Protection for longest data retention and drive
life.
First and Only Complete Storage Upgrade
The Aura Pro 6G SSD for the rMBP Includes all the tools necessary
for installation with free video instructions (coming soon).
More Aura Pro Highlights
- Claimed to be the fastest SSD available built in the USA
specifically for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display
- Ultra-efficient Block Management & Wear Leveling
- 3 year OWC warranty
OWC notes that when it was first introduced earlier this summer, the
MacBook Pro with Retina Display base model offered only a 256 GB SSD
configuration with no upgrade option. Now, instead of being "factory
locked", the OWC Aura Pro 6G gives you the freedom to upgrade your
capacity to meet your storage needs.
Regarding "Mean Time To Failure," while nothing lasts forever, OWC
says its SSD with DuraWrite Technology optimizes writes to the flash
memory over conventional controllers increasing the overall endurance
and reliability of the complete SSD. Highly intelligent block
management and wear leveling also extends the overall endurance. This
adds up to a MTTF claimed to be higher than for most SSDs and
enterprise class hard drives on the market today.
Synchronous Interface NAND
To achieve the higher bandwidth potential of the SATA 6 Gb/s bus
standard, the OWC Aura Pro 6G SSDs utilize Tier-1 Synchronous NAND
instead of commonly utilized Asynchronous NAND. Synchronous NAND
enables reads and writes to be "synced" with the SSD processor's clock
signal for maximum data throughput.
Envoy Pro External SSD Enclosure
The perfect companion storage solution for your MacBook Pro Retina
display, OWC's new Envoy Pro external SSD enclosure is also yours free
when you upgrade to their 480 GB OWC Aura Pro SSD upgrade.
Purchase the OWC Aura Pro for Retina 480 GB SSD ($579.99)
between now and September 30th, and OWC will send you an Envoy Pro
external enclosure (a $59.95 value) when it becomes available later
this year.
The Envoy Pro Enclosure is a sleek, portable external storage
solution designed to complement the MacBook Pro with Retina Display in
both appearance and performance.
With your Apple original flash module installed, the Envoy Pro's
superspeed USB 3.0 interface is capable of speeds up to 500 MB/s to
ensure your workflow moves as fast as you do, and is backwards
compatible with USB 2.0. Its bus-powered design means no AC power
adapter is required making it an ideal portable Plug and Play solution
- just plug the USB cord into your computer and the Envoy Pro is ready
to go.
Link: Aura Pro 6G
SSD
Link: Envoy Pro
External SSD Enclosure
GoSmart RestPad Soft Sheepskin Mouse Pad Promises
Pressure Relief for Aching Wrists
PR:
GoSmart, Inc. have announced the GoSmart RestPad, a new patent-pending
mouse pad with a luxurious 100% natural sheepskin wrist rest designed
to give soothing comfort and ultimate pressure relief for computer
mouse users. The GoSmart RestPad is a new kind of mouse pad, featuring
a removable sheepskin wrist rest designed to give pressure relief for
anyone using a computer for hours, for those with repetitive wrist
injury, or for those suffering with Carpal Tunnel. Claimed to relieve
over twice as much pressure as other wrist rests, GoSmart says the
RestPad underwent extensive testing with advanced tactile array sensors
that measured the contact pressures underneath the wrist to show the
GoSmart RestPad's superior results.
A Back to
School gift idea for the hardworking student or computer user alike,
the plush GoSmart RestPad is available in tan, brown, or pink
microfiber to fit your school or home decor. Easy to keep clean, the
sheepskin is attached to the mouse pad with Velcro™, so it can be
quickly removed and washed. In addition, the mouse pad's design is a
comfortable 38% larger than other pads, matching the widescreen aspect
ratio of modern displays, and the wrist rest area is also larger and
rounded to maximize user comfort. Other user-friendly features include
a rigid construction with a high friction rubber base so you always
have a flat and stable area for maneuvering your mouse.
"The GoSmart RestPad is like a relaxing vacation for your wrists.
Once you use it, it will be very difficult to go back to using a hard
mouse pad again," says Jae Son, President and Inventor, GoSmart,
Inc.
GoSmart RestPad Features
- Ultimate pressure relief.
- Warm, soft & breathable, 100% natural sheepskin.
- High quality, large, and stable construction.
- Great for those with Carpal Tunnel or repetitive wrist injury.
- More comfortable at 38% larger than other pads, matches displays
widescreen aspect ratio.
- Rigid construction with high friction rubber base for flat and
stable area to maneuver mouse.
- Sheepskin is removable, easily washed.
- Available in tan, brown, or pink.
The GoSmart Rest Pad is available immediately, priced at $24.95 at
the GoSmart site.
Link: GoSmart
RestPad
Moshi Palm Rest Protector and Screen Protector for
Retina MacBook Pro
PR: Moshi
has announced it has brought its iVisor screen protector and PalmGuard
palm rest protector products to Apple's new 15" MacBook Pro with Retina
display. In combination with Moshi's ClearGuard keyboard protector,
these products provide comprehensive MacBook protection.
Designed for users concerned with preserving the exquisite look of
their MacBook, PalmGuard is a wear-resistant thin film solution that
effectively protects the MacBook's palm rest area against the
deleterious effects of grease, scratches, smudges, and color-fade that
accrete over time. Unlike competing solutions, PalmGuard can be removed
and reapplied repeatedly and easily without causing damage to the
MacBook, or to the palm rest protector itself.
PalmGuard's key features include:
- Color-matched with the MacBook's aluminum finish
- Precisely machined to cover the entire palm rest area
- Comes bundled with a matching protective film for the MacBooks
trackpad
- Semi-rigid film protects against grease, dust, and stains,
scratches and corrosion
- Durable, can last through multiple reapplications
iVisor Pro for MacBook Pro with Retina Display is
the latest in Moshi's line of next-generation screen protectors.
Utilizing Moshi's proprietary technology, iVisor is claimed to be the
only screen protector on the market today that can guarantee a
bubble-free installation with minimum effort.
iVisor Pro has been updated with a new multilayer coating to enhance
screen clarity while reducing glare and relieving eyestrain. Like all
iVisors, iVisor Pro can be washed and reapplied repeatedly, care of
Moshi's resilient polymer adhesive. iVisor has also been
surface-treated to deliver enhanced scratch and fingerprint
resistance.
PalmGuard and iVisor Pro for MacBook Pro with Retina display are
available now for $23 and $39, respectively, in the Moshi online
store.
Link: Moshi
Online Store
Back to School Laptop Accessories from
Kensington
PR: Kensington Computer Products Group is kicking off this
back to school season with smart and affordable products to help
students stay connected to their mobile devices, whether a smartphone,
tablet, or laptop.
"Our customers are looking for products to make sure they get the
most out of their mobile devices this school year and we have a unique
line of accessories that are perfect to meet that need, says George
Foot, Vice President of Marketing & Development, Kensington. "We've
designed ideal companions for students to carry that are built to keep
them connected, protected, and productive in all environments - from
the classroom to the dorm room and anywhere in between."
Kensington Essentials for Back to School
Kensington WordLock Portable Combination
Lock (K64684US; SRP $27.99)
Students and teachers heading back to school need to protect their
laptop from theft while traveling across campus. Protect your laptop
and personal information with the WordLock Portable Combination Laptop
Lock. The pushbutton design offers one hand operation for easy
installation while the Kensington T-Bar secures the lock to your
laptop. WordLock allows you to set the code with four letter words
making it Easier to Set - Never Forget. The self-coiling cable
stretches to 6 to anchor to a desk or fixed structure yet shrinks to 3
for easy packing.
Kensington Washable
USB/PS2 Keyboard with Antimicrobial Protection (White - K64406US;
Black - K64407US; SRP $39.99)
Messy dorm rooms don't have to mean messy keyboards. You wash your
hands to protect yourself from germs. What about your keyboard? The
Washable USB/PS2 Keyboard with Antimicrobial Protection can be run
under your tap and washed to remove germs and contamination. Plus the
built-in antimicrobial material provides continuous microbe
resistance.
Kensington Contour Backpack (K62238B; SRP $69.99)
Mobility for comfort-minded students or teachers. Unique,
fully-adjustable lumbar support that uses a contoured panel to hug the
back and help shift weight onto the hips. The curved, shock-absorbing
shoulder straps help keep the load light while the padded SnugFit
sleeve delivers heavy-duty computer protection.
These Kensington products are currently available for purchase at
Kensington.com, Amazon.com, and major resellers.
Back to School 20% off sale prices currently available at the
Kensington
online store.
Link:
WordLock Portable Combination Lock (currently
$23.14 at Amazon.com)
Link:
Washable USB/PS2 Keyboard with Antimicrobial Protection (currently
$35.99 in white and $30.42
in black at Amazon.com with free super saver shipping)
Link:
Contour Backpack (currently
$56.61 at Amazon.com)
SLAPPA M.A.S.K. Jedi Mind Trix Custom Build
Backpack Back to School Sale
PR: M.A.S.K. helped SLAPPA win the "Best Laptop Bag
Brand" award. For starters, you build the backpack to your liking. You
can choose (and change at any time) the outer face and to choose (and
change at any time) the inner artwork of the backpack and you have the
choice of 3 colors for the inner lining.
Other features include: "quick-scan" laptop and peripheral section
(keep your laptop inside the bag when you go through airport
security); 1680D Ballistix nylon, .5" super-cush padding in every
wall of the backpack, a super-cush padded laptop compartment (that can
store most laptops up to 18"), a large zippered pocket for power bricks
and cords, 3 pockets for handheld gadgets and a headphone strap. A
large 4 gallon middle section is ideal for game consoles OR a small DJ
mixer OR a full SLR camera lens set or our 240 d2i CD case. Each face
has different pocket configurations and straps for many different
needs.
Features
- Patented M.A.S.K. technology enables removable faces, providing
different looks and storage configurations
- Custom Artist-Insert choices to customize your bag
- Quick Scan access enables laptop to stay inside backpack when
scanning at airport
- Super-cush dedicated laptop storage for up to 17" laptops
- 1680D Ballistix Nylon; puncture proof and water resistant
Here's
how to build your M.A.S.K.:
- Choose your lining- either Red, Blue and Black. All of which are
ripstop nylon
- Choose one of the 10 "custom-artist" inserts. Our M.A.S.K.
technology enables you to easily add/change the artwork any time you
like
- Choose a face for your backpack. You can choose between a number of
faces that best fit your style and functional needs. Again, with our
M.A.S.K. technology, you can choose to have more then one face for your
bag, and change the face to change your moods/needs.
All SLAPPA products come with a 360-day warranty that provides the
customer with repair or replacement of defective products.
Product Specifications:
- Outer Bag Dimensions 13"(w) x 18"(h) x 11"(d)
- Laptop Compartment Dimensions 12.5"(w) x 16.5"(h) x 2.5"(d)
- Main Compartment Dimensions 12"(w) x 15.5"(h) x 5"(d)
- Weight (empty) 3.35 lb.
SKU: M.A.S.K. Jedi Mind Trix Custom Backpack
MSRP - $139.99
SLAPPA Price - $125.99
Back To School Sale Extra 15% Off - $107.09
Enter Promo Code BTS15
Sale Ends August 31
Link: M.A.S.K. Jedi Mind
Trix Custom Build Backpack
Software
Mobile Mouse Pro Transforms Your iPhone into a
Wireless Mouse & Keyboard
PR:
Mobile Mouse instantly transforms your iPhone or iPod touch into an
in-air, wireless mouse for your computer. Sit back and surf the web,
browse your photo library or control your music player from the comfort
of your couch. Mobile Mouse uses the built in accelerometer to
translate your hand motions into mouse movements on your screen. It can
also operate as a touchpad, allowing you to control your computer with
a fingertip.
Mobile Mouse uses the built in accelerometer to translate your hand
motions into mouse movements on your screen. It can also operate as a
trackpad remote, allowing you to control your computer with a single
finger. Mobile Mouse is an essential part of any home theater PC and a
presenter's best friend. Mobile Mouse uses an innovative application
notification system to let the iPhone know what program you are running
at any time and show the appropriate keys for that program. This allows
Mobile Mouse to provide a single screen remote for controlling all your
media and web applications. Mobile Mouse supports all the most popular
web and media programs for the Mac and PC.
Features
- Accelerometer based mouse controller
- Trackpad(full screen vertical and landscape modes)
- Application switcher (works just like the dock in OS X)
- File Browser
- Ability to hide keyboard (shake to hide/show)
- Landscape keyboard (shake in landscape mode to show)
- Media Remote (w/vol up/down and eject buttons)
- Web Remote
- Presentation mode with Pro option (Keynote/PowerPoint)
- Numeric keyboard
- Application notifications
- Remote keyboard with function and arrow keys
- Programmable hotkeys (can be set to run a program or keyboard
combination)
- Scroll pad
- Left and Right mouse buttons
- Multitouch gestures (two finger scroll, two finger tap, swipe
left/right with 4 fingers, swipe up/down with 4 fingers, pinch with 4
fingers, spread 4 fingers, three finger drag, three finger tap, double
tap three fingers, double tap two fingers)
- Modifier Keys
- On screen typing
- Sleep/Wake your computer
- Password protection
- Custom sensitivity settings
- Foreign language keyboards
- Supports Bonjour or static IP
- No screen size limitation. Works with multiple monitors.
- High resolution graphics for retina display on iPhone 4.
New in Version 2.6.3
- Smoother mouse movement
- Fixed Pro presentation remote to work over ad hoc networks
- Fixed issue with shift key on numeric keyboard
- Added option to use 3 fingers instead of 4 for swipe gestures
- Bug fixes
New in version 2.6.1:
- Fixed problem causing click and drag to not work on multiple
swipes
- Improved trackpad response time
- Fixed slow connection time (Must download version 2.6.6 of the
server from our website or the Mac App Store)
System requirements:
- Mac OS X Leopard/Snow Leopard/Lion (Intel)
- Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
- WiFi router (works best on a local area network or Ad hoc
network)
- Mobile Mouse Server Software
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or
later.
Note: Before you run the software, you will need to download the
server application from mobilemouse.com
$1.99
Link:
Mobile Mouse Pro ($1.99)
Link:
Mobile Mouse Lite (free)
Mobile Mouse Server: Control Your Mac from Your
iOS Device
PR: Mobile Mouse Server (formerly Air Mouse Server) is the
server software to accompany the Mobile Mouse App for the iPhone, iPod
Touch, and iPad.
Instantly transform your iPhone or iPod touch into motion based
mouse, trackpad, and wireless remote for your computer! Sit back and
surf the web, browse your photo library or control your music player
from the comfort of your couch. Our app uses the built in accelerometer
to translate your hand motions into mouse movements on your screen. It
can also operate as a trackpad, allowing you to control your computer
with a single finger. Suddenly your iPhone, iPod and iPad have become
an essential part of any home theater and a presenter's best friend.
Using an innovative application notification system, your iOS device
will always know what applications are running at any time and show the
appropriate keys for that program, providing you with a single screen
for controlling ALL your media and Web applications.
To use this software, you must also download the Mobile Mouse app
from the App Store for your iPhone/iPod or iPad.
New in version 2.6.12:
- Fixed problem with monitor not waking with newest version of OS X
10.7
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later
- Mobile Mouse Pro for iPhone
Free
Previous versions still available that support OS X 10.4 Tiger and
OS X 10.5 Leopard. Also available for Windows XP/Vista/7 and Ubuntu
Linux.
Link: Mobile Mouse
Server for Mac (latest
version also on Mac App Store)
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