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News & Opinion
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Flawed Sandy Bridge Chipset Creates Stagnation in
PC Sector, May Benefit Apple
Hardmac's Lionel reports that practically all retailers in
computing have stopped marketing computers equipped with Intel's latest
Sandy Bridge CPU due to the discovery of defective controllers (see
Intel Identifies Sandy Bridge
Design Error, Implements Solution in last week's Mac News Review
for more details), noting that for the first time in decades, PC
retailers find themselves not having much to sell, given Intel's
dominant market share. Lionel predicts that this will have a very
strong impact in the computing world during the entire first quarter.
No motherboards means reduced sales of processors, memory, hard drives,
and so forth.
On the other hand, he thinks this state of affairs could benefit
Apple, which has demonstrated over and over that it can sell millions
of machines - however obsolete certain components are - citing the
13" MacBook
Pro that continues to have healthy sales despite still using
Intel's Core 2 Duo silicon from two generations ago. Lionel also notes
that, unlike many of its Windows PC competitors, with no Sandy Bridge
models, Apple has no recalls to choreograph and could even gain market
share due to Intel's blunder.
Link: Intel's Creates
Stagnation in the Computing World
Intel to Ship Dual-core Sandy Bridge Chips on Feb.
20
IDG News Service's Agam Shah reports that Intel will recommence
shipments of its dual-core Core i5 and i7 microprocessors based on the
Sandy Bridge architecture for laptops starting on Feb. 20. These latest
CPUs are more power-efficient than their predecessors and offer faster
application and graphics performance, drawing between 17 watts and 35
watts of power and running at at speeds between 1.4 GHz and 2.7 GHz,
according to Intel's website.
Editor's note: The Sandy Bridge flaw has only been associated with
quad-core i5 and i7 CPUs, so it's possible that this won't derail
Apple's plans for the next generation of MacBook Pro models.
Link: Intel to Ship
Dual-core Sandy Bridge Chips on Feb. 20
60 Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes
MacStories' Federico Viticci says:
"If you're a MacHead, everything that Steve says its law . . . If
you're not a MacHead, maybe this post is not for you.
"Anyway, in this roundup I've collected 60 of the most inspiring
Steve Jobs quotes. "
Here's the first one: "Sometimes when you innovate, you make
mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving
your other innovations."
Link: Collection
of 60 Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes About Life, Design and
Apple
World's First Wireless Electric Bicycle Begins
Production
PR: Ms. Yeg Baiocchi, President and CEO of Toronto-based
Daymak Inc., has announced that production has commenced on Daymak's
new electric bicycle, The Shadow Ebike. The world's first wireless
electric bike, the Shadow Ebike is powered by the proprietary Daymak
Drive, developed in Canada by Daymak Inc.
"We are open for business and
filling orders. The first Shadow Ebike will be ready for delivery by
April 30," says Baiocchi. "This is a dream come true for all of us at
Daymak. From a paper design to commercial production, and over four
years in development, its unbelievable. We have finally reached the
production phase of the Shadow Ebike. With over 100 dealer enquiries in
the last few months alone, The Shadow Ebike, a leading edge product,
will put Daymak on the global map. It is going to be built right here
in Toronto, Canada."
The Shadow Ebike is the first wireless electrical bike featuring
wireless brakes, wireless throttle, and a wireless pedal assist system,
with an integrated battery and motor design powered by the proprietary
Daymak Drive Technology. It is a leading edge power-assisted bicycle
with an integrated wireless design, meaning no wires in the open, which
helps avoid the most common failures found in electric bicycles.
In terms of evolution, the Shadow is setup for future upgrades to
interact with your iPhone, Blackberry, and even your Google Phone or
computer.
The first Shadow Ebike will feature a 350W motor with a 36V 10ah
lithium polymer battery. This revolutionary ebike uses
frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology, ISM Wireless Frequency
(2.4 GHz, to prevent interference).
For centuries bicycles have been man's leading means of
transportation. With worldwide problems such as automobile traffic
congestion and related greenhouse gas emissions, bicycle demand will
only continue to see a high level of growth. Daymak's proprietary
technologies make ebikes an attractive commuting and recreational
alternative. The Daymak Drive controller brings to the ebike industry a
higher level of performance than currently exists. Now, Daymak, with
the introduction of the Shadow Ebike and its proprietary wireless
technologies, is pushing the bar even higher.
"The market for ebikes is growing rapidly. Global production is
approximately 27 million units and is expected to grow to 40 million
units in 2011. With the Shadow Ebike and the proprietary Daymak Drive,
we are ready to enter the global market," says Baiocchi.
'We have already received expression of interest from around the
world. This product is green, and as gas prices continue to rise, it
makes for a great affordable alternative to gas driven vehicles."
The Shadow Ebike will be available this April, and is priced
starting at $1,999 (US or Canadian dollars).
Link: The Shadow
Ebike
Products & Services
Sonnet Releases RackMac mini
Rackmount Enclosure for Mac mini
PR: Rack 'em Up! For a long time, Apple kept a secret that
was well known to a lot of people - Mac mini computers make sweet basic
servers. They even acknowledged this fact by creating Mac mini Servers
with dual hard drives and no optical disc drive. Apple did not,
however, mention how you should integrate Mac mini into a server rack.
Setting them on a simple shelf is an option, but security is
nonexistent - there is no built-in option to secure the computer, which
limits the Mac mini's potential for widespread use in server racks.
Sonnet's RackMac mini fulfills the potential, making it simple to
install and secure one or two Mac mini (Mid 2010) computers inside a
rugged, powder-coated steel enclosure that occupies a 1U rack
space.
Key Benefits
- Securely installs two Mac mini computers or servers inside a 1U
rackmount enclosure
- Places the computers behind a robust front panel and beneath an
attached top cover to deter theft
- Enables operation of computers' power switches through front panel
buttons, while front panel USB ports allow connection of a USB
peripheral (keyboard, flash drive, etc.) to each computer
Allows insertion of CDs and DVDs and viewing
of power indicator LEDs through front panel slots and holes,
respectively- Shallow mounting depth, and top cover padding which anchors the
computers firmly in place make RackMac mini perfectly suited for
portable rack installations
- Manages airflow through each computer from front to back, even when
RackMac mini is mounted between two other rackmount components
- Provides open access to back of the computers to connect and
disconnect cables; anchor points and included cable ties provide simple
cable management
Compatibility
- Mac mini (Mid 2010, aluminum unibody design)
- Mac mini Server (Mid 2010, aluminum unibody design)
$169.95
Link: RackMac mini
Rackmount Enclosure
Software
Special 99¢ Launch Price for 'Learn the Switch
to Mac'
PR: It's About Time Products' Learn the Switch to Mac is
now available in the Mac App Store at a special 99¢ launch price.
"Today is a great day for Switchers," says About Time Products CEO
Saied Ghaffari. "Now with one click for 99¢ in the Mac App Store,
Switchers can learn the Mac at their own pace with our completely
interactive learning tool. With Click to Learn, Watch Saied, and You
Try, we think Learn the Switch to Mac is a wonderful learning tool for
any Switcher new to Mac."
"Learn the Switch to Mac" is designed for all users - power to
beginners. The authors recommend using their learning tool in the first
couple weeks you get your new Mac. Start by clicking what you want to
learn, then watch Saied, your instructor, teach you about the feature.
After he teaches you, you try it yourself on the virtual Mac we've
built into the learning environment. If you complete the lesson
correctly, you get a gold star.
Here is what you'll learn in the completely interactive Mac OS X
Snow Leopard tutorials:
Apple Menu
- Discovering info about your Mac
- Easter egg to get serial number
- Quick links to System Preferences
- Sleep, Restart, Shut Down, Log Out
Address Book
- Creating contracts and customizing
- Creating groups and organizing contracts
- Printing Address Book labels and more
- Integration Address Book brings to Mail
Dashboard
- Activating Dashboard
- Downloading more Widgets
- Managing Widgets
- Deleting Widgets
- Closing Widgets
- Creating Widgets from Websites
- Using widgets such as:
- Business
- Stickies
- Stocks
- Translation
- Weather
Dock
- How the Dock works
- Adding Applications to the Dock
- Removing Applications
- Adding your favorite folders
Downloads folder and Stacks
- Downloading Mac OS X Software
- Discovering the Downloads folder
- Using Stacks
- Adding new Stacks in the Dock
- Customizing views of Stacks
- Removing Stacks
Expos
- Activating Expos
- Keyboard shortcuts for Expos
- Customizing Screen Corners
Finder
- Using Finder
- Opening and quitting Applications
- Window control buttons
- Organizing files in the Home folder
- Views
- Using QuickLook
iCal
- Adding events in different views
- Organizing events
- Adding alarms and repeats
- Using the mini Calendar
- Subscribing to new Calendars
iChat
- Using iChat
- Getting a free screen name
- Text Chatting
- Audio Chatting
- Video Chatting
- Screen Sharing
- Sending files
- Customizing iChat windows
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Teach Mac keyboard shortcuts
Spaces
- Activating Spaces
- Customizing Applications Space
- Dragging Applications to different Spaces
- Easter Egg to bring all windows to Space 1
- Adding more Spaces
Mail
- Adding multiple accounts
- Using Mail - Get email and send
- Easter Egg adding attachments
- Searching
- Downloading attachments
- Using QuickLook with attachments
- Notes
- To Do
- RSS
- Stationary
- Customizing the Junk filter
Safari
- Using Safari
- Easter Egg when going to .com sites
- Tabs
- Adding bookmarks to the menu
- Google search
- RSS
- Creating a widget from a website
Spotlight
- Using Spotlight as a:
- Application Launcher
- Calculator
- Dictionary
- File locator
- Customizing Spotlight and Privacy
System Preferences
- Desktop Background
- Right-clicking on the Mac
- Adding a new photo
- Screen Saver settings
- Hot Corners
Network
- Connecting to a wireless station
- Advanced Network settings
- Adding a manual IP
- Creating multiple Locations
- Quick link to them
Software Update
- Checking for new software updates
- Customizing automatic settings
- Ignoring Software Updates
- Installing updates
Time Machine
- Setup a new hard drive for Time Machine
- Changing your Time Machine device
- Customizing what you want to backup
- About Time Machine
- Activating Time Machine
- Deleting previous backup files
- Restoring files
Trash
- Using QuickLook
- Right-clicking on the Mac
- Putting stuff in the Trash
- Empty Trash
Each lesson is about 3-5 minutes long. If you went through every
single lesson in one sitting, it would most likely take you a couple
hours.
Learn the Switch to Mac is available now in the Mac App Store for a
special launch price of 99¢.
Link: Learn the Switch
to Mac (download
link)
TypeIt4Me 5.0.6 Text Macro Utility Released
PR: Available since 1989, TypeIt4Me is the original text
expander for Mac OS. Any time you enter text in your Mac by typing it
at the keyboard, TypeIt4Me can help you do it faster and more
accurately.
Define a number of abbreviations and the full text (or picture)
clippings that they represent, then watch the Mac expand them on the
fly even as you continue typing.
Type a short abbreviation and have it expand to a word, a phrase,
even several pages worth of text in the blink of an eye.
Expand your custom-defined shorthand: some words and phrases are
both common and awkwardly long. Find yourself using the word
"qualifications" a lot? With TypeIt4Me you could just type "quls".
Similarly, "ue" could become "user experience", "infsy" could expand to
"information systems", and so on.
You'll find TypeIt4Me is a real boon if you write lots of emails.
Once you get it up and running, you need never type your full name,
address or email signature again. Common greetings, pleasantries and
signoffs, too: "ds" could be "Dear Susan", while you could define
"tyvmfye" to become "thank you very much for your email" and so on.
"rrgbmch" could become "I've read your report and it's great, but I'd
like you to make a couple of changes". You get the idea.
TypeIt4Me is not just great for short snippets, though - it will
help you type those long messages with multiple paragraphs faster, too.
It's particularly useful if you find yourself wearily writing very
similar messages time and again to multiple individual recipients. With
TypeIt4Me, you can write it just once then add it to your list of
abbreviations so that it's available on tap as an expansion. No more
repetitive brain strain injury for you.
You don't have to remember all your abbreviations, though. You don't
even have to type them at all if you don't want to. TypeIt4Me stays in
your menu bar and allows you to see all your abbreviations in a handy
dropdown list. Click on one and the full text or picture will instantly
be inserted in your current active document or window.
TypeIt4Me can manage your passwords.
You're probably up to your eyeballs in email accounts, blogging
accounts, social networking accounts and myriad other web services that
require passwords to log in and get to the good stuff. Most of these
services insist that you should use hard to guess combinations of
letters and numbers... but the trouble is you also find it hard to
remember them. That's where TypeIt4Me steps in to save the day: you
could store your Google services password as "gpw", your twitter
password as "tpw" and so on. Piece of cake... You don't need to
remember them any more.
Once you get used to this way of doing things, you'll honestly
wonder how you ever coped without TypeIt4Me.
New in version 5.0.6:
Added ~ and ` to triggers in response to TappingBPP's comment on US
Mac App Store.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed a bug that could potentially lead to saving clipping edits
over contents of another abb.
- Fixed crash when expanding in apps that don't have the Edit
menu.
Restored
- Restored "Strip 's' for plurals" functionality.
- Restored showing of licensee name in About dialog.
- Now handles adding esc and nbs when clicking All in the
Triggers
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
TypeIt4Me is $27 shareware. 30-day trial version available.
Link: TypeIt4Me
Daily Bible: Read Through the Bible in a Year
PR: Read through the Bible using one of three great daily
plans. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get through the
whole Bible in a year, this app is for you. The app provides you with
your passages appointed for each day. Plus you can easily jump back a
few days to catch up if you missed a few.
The app uses the Authorized King James Version (KJV) of the Bible,
perhaps the most trusted and widely respected versions in the English
language.
Includes three great reading plans:
- Straight Through. (Genesis to Revelation)
- Straight Through, New Testament First. (Matthew to Revelation,
Genesis to Malachi)
- M'Cheyne Plan Based on the beloved family reading plan created by
the 19th century Scottish pastor, Robert Murray M'Cheyne.
System Requirements: Intel, Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later.
Free
Link: Cross
Forward Consulting (download
link)
Accordance Bible Software 9.2 Adds Zone
Magnification and Image Browsing
PR: Accordance Bible Software has released Accordance 9.2, a
free update to its Macintosh Bible study software, adding new
flexibility for viewing resources on screen, as well as a convenient
way to browse images.
Accordance 9.0 added the capability to divide a workspace into
multiple zones so users could easily view the Bible and a variety of
study aids onscreen at the same time. Accordance 9.2 now lets you
magnify each zone so that it fills the entire screen. This feature is
particularly useful for viewing images, maps, and timelines at full
screen, and is of great benefit on Macs with smaller screens like the
MacBook Air. You can cycle through magnified zones using a key
combination and easily toggle back to viewing all zones at their
regular size.
"Accordance 9.2 also adds the ability to browse through all the
images a resource contains without having to scroll past all the
accompanying text. Were releasing more and more illustrated Bible
encyclopedias, graphic-rich Bible atlases, and Holy Land photo
collections," explains David Lang, Accordance's Vice President of
Development, "Our users want to be able to incorporate those images in
their documents and slide shows, and the new browse images feature
makes it easier to find the image they need."
Other enhancements in Accordance 9.2 include improvements to Easy
Install and Check for Updates, automatic tying of reference tools in
separate zones, and improvements to Greek and Hebrew syntax
searching.
Accordance 9.2 can be downloaded from accordancebible.com and is a
free update for all registered users of Accordance 9.0 or above.
Link: Accordance Bible Software
Desktop Mac Deals
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
