DaniWeb IT Discussion Community - 11,77,89,100,101,102,103,109 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/ Tech support, programming, web development, and internet marketing community. Forums to get free computer help and support. en-US Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:41:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.daniweb.com/alphaimages/misc/rss.jpg DaniWeb IT Discussion Community - 11,77,89,100,101,102,103,109 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/ FCP audio problem - related to quicktime 10? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread241432.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:20:02 GMT ok, i'm technologically challeneged so please bear w/ me.
i've just moved up from my old beaten up white macbook to my new 17" MBP came w/ snow leopard etc. i had a friend do the installs for me, including final cut pro - which is the main reason why i'm on a mac.

i start editing some standard footage and sound... after working a little bit, the sound will suddenly go PPZZZZPPP!! it's a loud crackle and seems to happen whenever i hit a sound clip that's not 48khz. then after it crackles, almost everytime i hit a button the sound will come back, when when playing clips that are 48khz, or if i'm just clicking on a button or opening up another app (eg logic) or even just pressing the volume button. it is really bad. i can't work on it once it starts to crackle.

ok, i know i should have all my audio at 48, but i would expect that the MBP would be able to handle this, given that my white macbook could. FCP all seems rather sluggish and dropping frames too often and i'm only editing standard definition footage and not running any other apps, nor on the internet.

i suspect this may have something to do w/ quicktime 10, but i'm not sure. and given that QT 10 is part of snow leopard, there must be a way to do this? i did have QT 7 install as well. (i'm in the process of wiping my HD and re-installing the OS...)

of course i couldn't reproduce the problem at the genius bar....
? ]]> OS X fuzzed http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread241432.html Make a Greeting Card on Mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread241431.html Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:12:24 GMT Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, etc. there are lots of special day we will celebrate. Sending a card to express our greeting seems never be out of fashion. And the DIY card with specific photos would be much better than cards you just pick up from any stores. And iCollage for Mac ... Easter Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, etc. there are lots of special day we will celebrate. Sending a card to express our greeting seems never be out of fashion. And the DIY card with specific photos would be much better than cards you just pick up from any stores. And iCollage for Mac would be a great assistant for you to make DIY greeting card. Check how to make greeting card on Mac with iCollage now!


Step 1: Launch the iCollage for Mac
Free download iCollage!
Choose "Create a New Collage" to enter the main interface.


Step 2: Choose the Suitable Template from Card Category
Choose your favorite template from Card category or from other category to make your stylish greeting card. Select the template, click "Choose" button and go to the edit interface.


Step 3: Drag Photos to the Template and Edit Photos
Drag your photos into the template and begin to edit the photos. Click Mask and give your photos different shapes. Drag paste elements collected from other template in "My Element" file by clicking Decoration. And add text form for writing some greeting words in your card and change the Font and Color of the words.


Step 4: Export the Edited Card
Click Export button and output your greeting card, send it directly to your friends through mail or print it out.

Resources: How to Make Greeting Card with Free Templates on Mac ]]> Mac Software lailayoung http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread241431.html News Story How bandwidth hungry is your iPhone? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story241398.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:53:12 GMT Pretty much anywhere you live, it would appear that the iPhone consumes at least 50% of all mobile data traffic. Whereas the Android has a little catching up to do with just 11% of that mobile data bandwidth consumption. Of course, the iPhone entered the restaurant first and is already on... Pretty much anywhere you live, it would appear that the iPhone consumes at least 50% of all mobile data traffic. Whereas the Android has a little catching up to do with just 11% of that mobile data bandwidth consumption.

Of course, the iPhone entered the restaurant first and is already on pudding while Android devices are still nibbling at the starters so to speak. Still, that's more than RIM (BlackBerry) on 7% and eclipses Windows Mobile phones which consume just 3%.

Only Symbian devices are seriously in the bandwidth consumption fight on 25% (a drop of 4% from the previous figures) which could be important if you use this as a metric of real world popularity of smartphones. The Palm Pre dropped 5%, for what it is worth, to 5% of traffic.

The figures come from a new report by AdMob, a mobile advertising specialist, which has billions of adverts on more than 15,000 mobile websites and uses the data from its ad-serving network to produce the figures.

Of course, the numbers might show that iPhones are popular but also that they consume a lot of bandwidth thanks to the success of all those apps. And that is proving to be problematical for some networks which are struggling to cope. Here in the UK, by way of example, O2 has recently announced that it will be building 1500 new network sites across the UK in 2010 with a total investment of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Derek McManus, Chief Technology Officer for O2 in the UK, says "In the past 12 months the mobile industry has seen an unprecedented change in demand. To put this in context, watching a YouTube video on a smartphone can use the same capacity on the network as sending 500,000 text messages simultaneously. We are now aggressively accelerating our network growth programme to ensure we have significant headroom for the future..." ]]> Apple Hardware newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread241398.html News Story Apple voids Mac warranties for smokers, claims hardware is biohazard http://www.daniweb.com/news/story240428.html Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:06:08 GMT This has to be the most bizarre excuse for voiding a warranty ever, but according to The Consumerist (http://consumerist.com/5408885/smoking-near-apple-computers-creates-biohazard-voids-warranty) at least two Mac owners have been told their Applecare warranties are no good because they smoke. In... This has to be the most bizarre excuse for voiding a warranty ever, but according to The Consumerist at least two Mac owners have been told their Applecare warranties are no good because they smoke.

In both cases, we are told, the Mac owner concerned took the matter up with the Apple supremo, Steve Jobs, or at least with his office. And in both cases they lost that appeal.

According to one of the users, who had an overheating Macbook, his machine had more than a year of warranty to run but the Apple Store called him to let him know it would not be working on the machine and his warranty had been voided. The chap says they told him this was due to the health risks of second hand smoke.

The other user, in a different part of the US entirely, reports a similar experience. She had a non-working iMac with an extended warranty which was voided by Apple due to contamination. When pressed for an explanation the user was told that the computer was contaminated with cigarette smoke and as such constituted a bio-hazard.

Oddly, the Applecare warranty document itself does not seem to mention cigarette smoke as being something that would void the cover. Apple has a long history of making mad decisions (see here, here, here and here for some examples) but this really does take the biscuit.

I'm an ex-smoker myself, and like many ex-smokers I hate the smell of cigarettes and I hate being in a room full of smokers. But I'll tell you what I hate even more, and that's some numbnuts repair guy who mistakenly thinks he will get cancer from looking at a hard drive with tar on it, and some numbnuts company which defends that decision. ]]> Apple Hardware happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread240428.html boot from cd or replace firmware http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread239830.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:38:42 GMT I just got G5 PPC Mac the user who gave it to me claims that it "died during an update. It will not boot from the CD. It was running 10.5 and I have the disk. Using the C key with 2 keyboards. I booted into the open firmware using opt-cmd--o-f . Open firmware is requiring a password. So I pulled the battery on the motherboard and left it unplugged for a few minutes. No luck still wants’ a password. Dropped in more ram and reset the pram 3X. It still wants a password. I have asked the user if she had to enter a password to boot up and she said no just at the normal log in. So I'm guessing that the firmware is corrupt and since I can't boot from a cd I don't know how to reload it. Any ideas? ]]> OS X here2serve http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread239830.html News Story Apple tablet - delayed or fictionware? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story239750.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:38:56 GMT Apple may have delayed the release of the tablet computer, according to a number of sources, because of component selection. Inevitably this has led to a number of reports that it's not going to happen after all; one website in particular believes the whole thing was a result of our overwrought imagination in Apple user-land.

I'm not so sure, but I do believe in the delays (if you can 'delay' a product to which you haven't attached a date). Apple made an astonishing amount of noise with the iPod when there were already music players out there, and it still owns most of the market. It did the same with the iPhone which most emphatically isn't the first music phone.

I have no doubt the company thinks it's about time to launch another category-killer, and a tablet - something HP and others are already more or less making - to demolish the e-reader-only market, zap a few portable DVD players and generally outsell every personal entertainment and business-lite device out there, would be seen as an excellent idea.

Two things have to be right, though. The price is one, and if - as reports suggest - that's increasing rather than shrinking as launch time approaches - then it's not yet ready for the market. The second, closely related, is the economy. People simply aren't going to buy an optional 'nice-to-have' when they're concerned about mortages and similar considerations.

For those reasons I believe Apple is indeed developing a tablet. I'd be surprised if there isn't a working prototype somewhere. But depending on how component supplies and the larger economy shape up, early 2010 is unlikely to be the optimum time to launch it - if 2010 is the right time at all. ]]> Apple Hardware GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread239750.html how to make calendar with templates on mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread239397.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:01:38 GMT Have you ever been thinking to make calendar by yourself? Use your own photo album as decorating picture and mark some special day with special tags rather than only red circle in the calendar. you will get the chance to *use free calendar templates to make calendar on Mac*... Have you ever been thinking to make calendar by yourself? Use your own photo album as decorating picture and mark some special day with special tags rather than only red circle in the calendar. you will get the chance to use free calendar templates to make calendar on Mac for the very first time! Here let's make calendar together!

Step 1: Launch iCollage for Mac and Choose the Suitable Template
Free Download the iCollage for Mac and Launch it, select "Create a New Collage". Then Choose the Calendar template you like.


Step 2: Change the Template if You Do Not Like
If you change your mind and want to use another calendar, click Template button on the top of the interface. And you can choose another template you like by picking templates and clicking Choose. Another operation interface will pop up.


Step 3: Edit Your Calendar Template
Drag photo to the template and add some elements to the calendar. Click Decoration and drag elements from "My Element" to mark some special day. Click Textbox to write down some words to remind you the special day.

Step 4: Print Out Your Calendar
After editing, you can click Print button and start the print settings. You can also preview the print effect before printing. Click Print button after finishing setting.
Print out the twelve months and you will have a beautiful handcraft calendar. Of course, you can make more to send to your family and friends!

Resources: Use Calendar template to make calendar on mac ]]> Mac Software amanda110 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread239397.html Does Anyone Have Proxies for the mac osx http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238550.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:06:48 GMT Does anyone have proxies. im in despret need to play runescape!!! Does anyone have proxies. im in despret need to play runescape!!! ]]> OS X Brenden. http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238550.html News Story How Does Apple Avoid The Commodity Trap? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story238289.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:27:23 GMT At a time when prices are being driven down across the spectrum of electronics, one company clearly has avoided this trap: Apple. While others struggle to squeeze profits from a market that is becoming increasingly commoditized (sub-$200 netbooks anyone?), Apple maintains its edge and its hefty... At a time when prices are being driven down across the spectrum of electronics, one company clearly has avoided this trap: Apple. While others struggle to squeeze profits from a market that is becoming increasingly commoditized (sub-$200 netbooks anyone?), Apple maintains its edge and its hefty profit margin. It got me wondering just how Apple continues to charge prices far above the rest of the market and not only get away with it, but thrive.

Design

First of all, you have to start with quality. If you are going to charge a hefty amount for your products, you better make damn sure you make good ones. I know that critics will say that Apple's proprietary propensity is one reason it maintains control of its market, yet it doesn't seem to bother its loyal legion of customers as much as it does its critics. As I wrote in Apple's Value is so Much More Than Skin Deep, after using PCs for more than 20 years, I didn't come out of the womb as an Apple fan boy (see my missive: The Myth of the Apple Fan Boy):

Quote:
I used the product and I fell in love with it...It is a gorgeous piece of engineering and I paid a lot of money for it, a lot more than I would have had I bought a comparable PC, but when you get down to it, in my long experience, there simply is no comparable PC.
Marketing

Apple is genius at marketing its products. It creates a mystique around them. It builds up interest and excitement. People look forward to their product announcements.

Part of the reason is the design, but part of it is Apple's expertise at creating desire. This is not minimize the importance of the design because mystique can only take you so far. At some point you have to deliver quality goods and Apple for the most part has done that.

Service

The best tech support I ever received was from WordPerfect back in the DOS days. It was free, they knew the product inside-out and they would take the time to help you. Apple Care is a close second. It's not free (except for the first year), but I've called them many times and I find mostly quality people who know what they're talking about.

Just last weekend, the WiFi connector stopped working on my son's iPod Touch. I called Apple Care. The tech had me try a couple of things. They didn't work and he arranged for me to ship back the current unit and send me a new one. No fussing. They just did it and even shipped me a box to return it in.

Apple has been criticized for not getting into the Netbook market, and for not substantially lowering its prices in the midst of a recession. Yet what is their motivation to drive down their own prices? It would only force them toward the commodity trap that they have so successfully avoided and why would they do that? ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238289.html News Story My 5 Favorite Free iPhone Apps http://www.daniweb.com/news/story238040.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:37:28 GMT One of the great things about the iPhone is of course the App Store, which is a growing eco system of interesting applications. I tend to stick to the free ones, and not long ago I went and downloaded a bunch of new freebies. These are my favorites from that bunch: *Louvre* This is one cool... One of the great things about the iPhone is of course the App Store, which is a growing eco system of interesting applications. I tend to stick to the free ones, and not long ago I went and downloaded a bunch of new freebies. These are my favorites from that bunch:

Louvre

This is one cool app for art lovers. It opens to a picture of the outside of the Louvre with famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) glass pyramid, then displays a cover flow with the different parts of the app. You can explore Louvre artwork, take a tour, or explore rooms inside the museum. It's amazing, comprehensive and the navigation is elegant and simple. You can even bookmark favorite places, so you can find your way back easily.

Nasa

If you want to keep up with news from Nasa, this app is a must-have for Nasa fans. It has information on missions and includes images and educational video. For instance, this month it features a video on the Crab Nebula, which is visible in the November sky using a telescope. Like the Louvre app, it's fun and educational, but it also is a very smart move by Nasa because it lets people know what they're doing with our tax dollars (and a lot of it is pretty neat, let me tell you).

ESPN Score Center

I don't know how I missed this one before because it's an essential application for any (American) sports fan. It takes a while to load the first time you open it (I mean several minutes), but once it's ready to go, you can customize the interface to include only the sports you're interested in. What's more, you can define your favorite teams, so they appear prominently at the top of the list of the scores. It also has a ticker with the latest sports news (like you see on ESPN Sports Center) at the bottom of the screen. You cycle through the different sports by dragging across the screen to reveal the next page (in a similar fashion to the Weather app when you add multiple cities). The navigation is not quite as elegant as some of the others, but it's very useful for keeping up with the latest sports news.

The Weather Channel

The standard iPhone Weather app gives you temperature and a general forecast, but if you want a more detailed weather picture, this app is for you. The first time you load it, it asks if it can find your location and then customizes the weather for your location without having to enter any information. You can see the current weather details, an hourly, 36 hour or 10 day forecast. What's more you can view the weather map, video and severe weather alerts for your area.

Yelp

I've been using the Around Me app to find restaurants, but a friend recently recommended Yelp and it offers a similar functionality, but with the user reviews front and center. Once again, it asks to find your location so you can use it wherever you are, then click one of the selections such as Restaurants to find the ones in your vicinity. You can filter by distance, price and whether it's open. I would also like to filter by restaurant type and which ones reviewers liked best (number of stars), but in spite of these limitations, it provides a good starting point for finding food or other stores in an area. Also includes a "Talk" client where you can post questions to people who happen to be online.

So there you have it: my five recent free favorites. Leave a comment and let me know some of yours. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238040.html News Story Warning: iPhone exploit in the wild and stealing user data http://www.daniweb.com/news/story238029.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:37:46 GMT Over the weekend news broke that a worm had started infecting Jailbroken iPhones in Australia. Nobody really took the exploit too seriously as all the 'ikee worm' did was change the phone wallpaper to a picture of 80's pop singer Rick Astley in a kind of warped tribute to the RickRolling Internet meme of last year.

However, I warned at the time that "as code variants continue to appear it is only a matter of time, and probably not that much of it, before a malicious party uses it to deliver a payload that is a whole lot more troublesome than Rick Astley" and my gloomy prediction has now borne fruit.

One researcher, Peter James of Mac security specialists Intego, has revealed that a new exploit is taking advantage of the same vulnerability that the ikee worm did, the often unchanged default SSH password of Jailbroken iPhones. iPhone/Privacy.A, as Intego have creatively named it, will allow hackers to "silently copy a treasure trove of user data from a compromised iPhone: e-mail, contacts, SMSs, calendars, photos, music files, videos, as well as any data recorded by any iPhone app".

The hacker would first need to install the tool onto a computer which would then scan for any Jailbroken iPhones connected to the networks it discovers, and assuming that the root password has not been changed it can then quietly go about its business. Although there is a chance of the thing being installed on a computer in shop, for example, and scanning for devices within range as people mill about, the actual overall risk is pretty low.

For a start it requires a Jailbroken device, either iPhone or iTouch, and it is estimated that something less than 10% have actually been modified in this way. Although this does mean a couple of million or so devices at risk, you also have to bear in mind that many of those who have gone through the Jailbreak process will be of a technical mindset. Exactly the people who read the newsfeeds, who frequent forums such as DaniWeb, who will be all to aware of ikee and the need to change the default SSH root password. All of the time the number of devices that are at risk is being reduced.

So perhaps the 75% of people who took part in a Sophos poll which asked if the ikee worm author had done iPhone users a favour by alerting them to a significant problem in a harmless way and agreed that he had were right after all. Better to get a grinning pop star on your iPhone as a wake up call to a vulnerability than have your data stolen right off the bat. That said, the ikee worm also alerted the bad guys to the vulnerability and it has not taken them long to get right out there and exploit it.

Personally I would have preferred it if the ikee chap had approached Apple with the discovery and let them get it patched before going public. That kind of disclosure is the responsible way to do it and, assuming that Apple acted quickly enough, the problem could have been corrected without any data stealing tools or faded singers being involved. Of course, Apple might say that if you breach the terms and conditions of usage of your hardware device by modifying it in this way then you deserve everything you get.

Certainly, as far as the Apple campaign against Jailbreaking goes this kind of bad publicity is actually pretty good for the company. It can, quite rightly, proclaim that legitimate users have nothing to fear and warn that the security risk is just one more reason that they should not be tempted down the Jailbreak road.

That said, some researchers are also warning that non-Jailbroken iPhones could be compromised if the bad guys look away from this particular access route and start exploiting other avenues such as the SMS hacking trick revealed at Black Hat earlier in the year. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread238029.html some problem when play or share AVCHD videos on mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237951.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:49:35 GMT Any festival is for friends or family to reunion to have fun, so are upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas. After dinner, friends or family could sit around table, playing some games, chatting together. But funny time always flies, shotting from AVCHD Camcorder is one of the best ways to make memory.... Any festival is for friends or family to reunion to have fun, so are upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas. After dinner, friends or family could sit around table, playing some games, chatting together. But funny time always flies, shotting from AVCHD Camcorder is one of the best ways to make memory. The videos will remind us a lot of things in the future. Some will make us happy; some may be not so good... Anyway, memory is wonderful...

So, fellows, do not hesitate, have a good time with your friends on the special occasion, take your camcorder to make some videos which remind your guys a lot of happy episode and share the happiness via internet. If you encounter some problems in playing MTS videos on Mac or importing them into mobile players, or uploading to Internet, you can convert MTS to MOV, convert MTS to MP4, convert MTS to FLV, etc. After conversion, you can share these warm videos with your friends and family, or even upload to YouTube or Metacafe very easily.

As we know, most AVCHD Camcorders on market are Canon, SONY, Panasonic, JVC, etc. Click HERE to know more about different models and parameters of AVCHD Camcorders, as well as corresponding formats. ]]> Mac Software hsweet http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237951.html Where Can I learn to play poker ? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237938.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:31:44 GMT Hi guys this is my first post and would like to know where can I learn to play poker. I was looking to buy a poker strategy books but was confused as i was not sure which book to refer at. I would appreciate if you guys can provide me links to free books or free online sites for tutorial,... Hi guys this is my first post and would like to know where can I learn to play poker. I was looking to buy a poker strategy books but was confused as i was not sure which book to refer at.

I would appreciate if you guys can provide me links to free books or free online sites for tutorial, strategy and rules according to your experiences. ]]> Mac Software michaelsham http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237938.html Trying to create fold-over booklet for a school directory on MAC http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237595.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:22:34 GMT I need to find software for my MAc that will allow me to print a directory with names and addresses in a fold-over booklet. I need a program that will allow me to compile all of my information and then format it into a booklet. Any ideas? Pages will not let me format the way I need to. I need to find software for my MAc that will allow me to print a directory with names and addresses in a fold-over booklet. I need a program that will allow me to compile all of my information and then format it into a booklet. Any ideas? Pages will not let me format the way I need to. ]]> Mac Software suziemac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237595.html macbook pro wont go to sleep http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237563.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:09:13 GMT I have a macbook pro running snow. I cant get it to go to sleep in 32bit when i boot it up in 64bit it goes to sleep without a problem. I reinstalled the os and now it will not go to sleep in either 32 or 64 any ideas? I have a macbook pro running snow. I cant get it to go to sleep in 32bit when i boot it up in 64bit it goes to sleep without a problem. I reinstalled the os and now it will not go to sleep in either 32 or 64

any ideas? ]]> OS X mrjoli021 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237563.html News Story iPhone virus in the wild http://www.daniweb.com/news/story237206.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:35:34 GMT An Apple iPhone virus is on the loose in Australia. According to reports it's an odd one; it replaces your wallpaper with a picture of singer Rick Astley and an inoffensive slogan. It affects only jailbroken phones, in other words phones whose owners have fiddled with the operating system to allow the use of any software.

There are a number of ways of looking at this. First, it's a relief I use my non-jailbroken iPhone 3G, with all the protection Apple and 02 can muster on it. Second, what a peculiar thing to do - just put a virus out there that doesn't do any harm, just illustrates the possible damage malware could do if it were sent out by someone who isn't very nice.

This in turn raises the awkward scenario - that some virus writers may not be the idiot psychopaths everyone believes. I know an ex-hacker who started very early on, hacking into a member of the British Royal Family's bank account. He didn't do it maliciously, he wanted to highlight the fact that it could be done - and in doing so he believed (and so do I) that he was doing a lot of people a substantial favour, as nobody understood the risks at the time. He is now a security consultant.

I do wonder whether this instance is so different. It appears that someone well-meaning has put an infection out there that doesn't damage anything, just nudges data around a little and puts an extra picture and text onto a phone. The implication, clearly, is that you could suffer dreadfully if you don't address this; it seems benevolent in intent.

A nice virus, who'd have thought it. Coming soon: the happy plague! ]]> Apple Hardware GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237206.html personal laserwriter nt http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237065.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:41:35 GMT Is there any software available that enables me to use my personal laserwriter nt with Leopard? I have an Asante ethernet bridge. Is there any software available that enables me to use my personal laserwriter nt with Leopard?
I have an Asante ethernet bridge. ]]> Apple Hardware carlcash http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237065.html codec question http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237021.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:21 GMT Hello!

I use a Mac; however, I downloaded an avi file that uses the Indeo 4 (IV41) codec which is unavailable for Macs.

Do you know of a software program that can convert the file (re-encode? if that's the proper term...) to another codec that will allow me to view the file?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions! ]]> Mac Software mm4c3k http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread237021.html News Story If Windows, Linux and OSX Opened Cafes... http://www.daniweb.com/news/story236836.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:31:12 GMT Attachment 12481 (http://www.daniweb.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12481)The New York Times reported today (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/06/technology/tech-us-france-apple-louvre.html) that Apple has opened its first Apple Store in Paris, underneath the Louvre no less, and just... Attachment 12481The New York Times reported today that Apple has opened its first Apple Store in Paris, underneath the Louvre no less, and just two weeks after Microsoft opened up a Windows 7 cafe in Paris in another location. The idea of these two companies competing in a retail environment, and especially a Windows-themed cafe, got me thinking about what would happen if three cafes opened each run in the same style of the operating system it was named for. I figure it might look something like this:

Windows Cafe

The Windows Cafe is in a bland store front. The furniture consists of straight wooden chairs with tables with sharp angles. Unfortunately, every so often when you sit in a chair it crashes the to the floor, but you get used to this and figure it's just part of the experience of going to the Windows Cafe. (To be fair they have been testing chairs from a new manufacturer and they are reportedly less prone to breaking in this fashion.) Pictures of a smiling Bill Gates and Windows logos adorn the walls. The coffee tastes fine most of the time, but a surprising number of patrons get sick there, so that it's become standard practice to use hand sanitizer before you go in to protect yourself. The coffee is expensive, and refills are definitely not free, but it's a known quantity, and many people are comfortable going there.

Linux Cafe

The Linux Cafe is a funky place in an artsy neighborhood with eclectic furniture donated by the patrons. It doesn't match, but it's comfortable and the walls are covered with donated pictures and paintings by local artists. The coffee is free, served in black cups (or you can just bring your own), but you need to make it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, the cafe has consultants available to help you for a fee. It's great for people who know about coffee brewing, but many people are intimidated by the idea of making their own coffee and stay away, even though very few people ever get sick who go there.

Apple Cafe

The Apple Cafe is a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The tables are stainless steel and the chairs are ultra-contemporary. Shrines to Apple CEO Steve Jobs are dotted around the wide space. The cups are cool and come in a variety of bright colors. The coffee is well made by a highly trained staff, and even though it costs a lot more, people line up around the block for a chance to drink it. Just don't ask the staff about their coffee-making techniques because they are extremely tight lipped about this. People occasionally get sick there, but it's rare enough for the cafe to brag about its safety record.

So there you have it. Three cafes with three distinct personalities just like the operating systems they represent

Photo by Marfis75 on Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons License.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg coffee.jpg (47.5 KB)
]]> OS X Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236836.html slave drive not mounted http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236815.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:02:49 GMT Sort of long story... OS 10.4.11 on a G4, with a second drive, rebooted with a dialog saying "you need to restart..", with a power button graphic. Tried to restart several times with no luck. Booted into safe mode with the S key. Then restarted with the option key and the second drive was no longer available. It is still present as a device on about this mac, but it has no mount point. There were some errors on it when I ran disc utility, but they were not repairable. How do I access it and/or remount it to repair it? ]]> OS X icefog http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236815.html News Story Free software for your Mac, iPhone http://www.daniweb.com/news/story236804.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:24:08 GMT That's right, free. And if it's free, it's for me. Software promoter MacHeist is my new best friend, and for the next five days is giving away nanoBundle, a package of six Mac OS X applications including the highly-rated Twitterrific, which normally sells for US$15. In all, $154 worth of applications for your Mac OS X (10.4 or higher) for nothing. Nada. Gratis. Free, as in beer. But tap it while you can; the keg runs dry this Friday the 13th.

In addition to Iconfactory's Twitterrific, which is also available for iPhone, the nanoBundle includes two word processors (one of which is not fully unlocked), a cool looking game called Hordes of Orcs, a screen sharing utility called TinyGrab, and ShoveBox, a clever-looking utility that I intend to try out immediately. The tool, which normally sells for $25, provides a "box" into which you drop items that are important but cannot have your attention now. A URL you accidentally came across, someone's resume attachment, a picture of that used car you're selling. Shove them in the box for later action, or send them to your iPhone.

NanoBundle isn't the first MacHeist. Back in March MacHeist drew attention for offering an even larger bundle of apps worth more than $900 retail for just $39. The response was reportedly mixed, with some in opposition asserting that the software was being given away for too little. The move even spurred a group of independent developers to launch One Finger Discount, a coat-tail operation that offers a 20-percent (one-fifth) discount of the retail price. Hardly a similar reduction, but hey, whatever works. ]]> OS X EddieC http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236804.html How to restore a Time Machine Backup after reformat? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236424.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:59:15 GMT I backed up my entire Mac 10.6.1 to an external drive with Time Machine.

I then reformatted it using the disk it came with (10.5 something), and upgraded, and now I'd like to restore that Time Machine backup. The issue I'm having is that it won't let me restore a backup.

When I tell Time Machine to use the drive, it uses it and will let me look at the backup. I love the beautiful aesthetics, but I stopped being impressed when I found that the restore button in the bottom right corner was not clickable.

Is there a way to restore that backup as I expected the name "backup" would let me? ]]> OS X micseydel http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236424.html Any suggestion of parental control keylogger for Mac OS? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236173.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:20:15 GMT My niece is only 8 years old, we really worry about her online safety. Is there any professional parental control software? How about the Aobo Mac Keylogger? Anyone who uses it please give me some advice, thanks!:-/ My niece is only 8 years old, we really worry about her online safety.
Is there any professional parental control software?
How about the Aobo Mac Keylogger?
Anyone who uses it please give me some advice, thanks!:-/ ]]> Mac Software GrayMayday http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread236173.html imac g4 help!!!! http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235777.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:52:51 GMT My imac g4 wont get past the white apple screen with the circle. Ive tried holding c and x but im using a wireless pc keyboard. Is there any alternate key i can push on a pc keyboard for mac to reconize???? My imac g4 wont get past the white apple screen with the circle. Ive tried holding c and x but im using a wireless pc keyboard. Is there any alternate key i can push on a pc keyboard for mac to reconize???? ]]> OS X miked4401 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235777.html ibook G3 headphone jack problem http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235764.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:59:12 GMT I have an ibook G3/600 and the headphone jack has stopped working. ie..the internal speakers stay on even though the control panel says it is in external mode and no sound comes from the headphones. Any idea? I have an ibook G3/600 and the headphone jack has stopped working. ie..the internal speakers stay on even though the control panel says it is in external mode and no sound comes from the headphones. Any idea? ]]> Apple Hardware Chris Grzesik http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235764.html The new ipod nano 5th generation video to computer and DVD to ipod? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235604.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:58:12 GMT hey well i got my ipod nano 5th generation the one with the video camera. i have heaps of videos that i have taken with it, but i dont no how to get those videos and put them in my computer. they wont show in my itunes wen i plug it in i dont get it, how do i get those videos and put them on my... hey well i got my ipod nano 5th generation the one with the video camera.
i have heaps of videos that i have taken with it, but i dont no how to get those videos and put them in my computer. they wont show in my itunes wen i plug it in i dont get it, how do i get those videos and put them on my comp.

I also want to upload a home movie from a DVD to my PC and put it on my IPOD.

Can anyone please walk me through the steps. I have no clue what I am doing! ]]> Mac Software billboll http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235604.html Mac OS X 10.5.8 Virus on documents I send out http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235458.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:09:37 GMT My work computer is a Mac OS X and before working here I am not very familiar to Macs. It's been a couple of months but the people I'm sending documents out to are saying that the emails that they have been getting from me have viruses.

Does that mean that my computer has a virus?

If yes, how do I fix it?

Thanks! ]]> OS X jeysiaye http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread235458.html cant get to boot CD http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread234982.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:25:03 GMT I bought a imac g4 from my university with no OS (the flower pot one). I tried putting tiger on it but I cant get it to boot from cd. I have tried holding the c button but it doesnt work. All it does is flash the folder and ? and nothing else. Any ideas? thank you! I bought a imac g4 from my university with no OS (the flower pot one). I tried putting tiger on it but I cant get it to boot from cd. I have tried holding the c button but it doesnt work. All it does is flash the folder and ? and nothing else. Any ideas?

thank you! ]]> OS X mcc29 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread234982.html Wireless Problem WRT54GS http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread234730.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:37:17 GMT So I am in an apartment using a WRT54GS Linksys router. I am having some major wireless problems. Layout of the apartment. http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv116/AndrewD1022/741643.jpg I have tried resetting the router, changing the channel. Upgraded the firmware and nothing seems to get... So I am in an apartment using a WRT54GS Linksys router. I am having some major wireless problems.

Layout of the apartment.
http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/v...022/741643.jpg

I have tried resetting the router, changing the channel. Upgraded the firmware and nothing seems to get the signal any better. I am in the same room and I only get 4 of 5 on the signal indicator.

Also I have done a few speed tests.
Wireless - DL (3.31mb/s) UL (1.72mb/s)
Connected to modem directly
DL (27.96mb/s) UL (1.78mb/s)

The router seems to just kill the signal and I have no idea what else to do. There are very few walls in the way. Also, linksys refuses to help since the router is 1 month out of warranty.

All computers are running Mac OSX 10.5. ]]> OS X AndrewD1022 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread234730.html News Story $50 Wolfram Alpha App Makes iPhone Top Grossing List http://www.daniweb.com/news/story234228.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:36:07 GMT I got a gloating email today from those awfully clever folk at Wolfram Alpha which informed me that the iPhone app version of the 'Computational Knowledge Engine' popped up on the App Store What's Hot list. What's more, they positively gushed at how they were "pleasantly surprised" to see the app "appear on the store's 'Top Grossing' list on the second day it was available and remain there through the week".

Perhaps whoever wrote that email should have first asked the Wolfram Alpha engine why the app was on the top grossing list. I suspect that drawing on more than 20 years of development, 50,000 plus built-in algorithms and 10 trillion pieces of continually updated and curated data, it might have popped out the following answer: because it costs fifty bucks, stupid.

Sure, it may well let you get "expert-level answers to your specific freeform questions—complete with stunning, dynamically generated visualizations and tables, and richer and deeper information than you imagined possible" right there on your iPhone. It may well come replete with "elegant native iPhone interface that includes a special notation keyboard, customized iPhone output, editable history, and integration with maps and other iPhone services" for good measure.

It may well also be less than half the price of a graphing calculator at $49.99 as one Wolfram Alpha spokesperson has insisted, while missing the point that an iPhone graphing calculator app can be picked up for just a couple of bucks. And missing the point that a graphing calculator doesn't need an Internet connection to work. And missing the biggest point of all, that anyone with an Internet connection (including iPhone users) can use the full Wolfram Alpha service on the web for a lot less than $49.99 - to be precise, for £49.99 less as the service is totally free.

Which makes me sit back and ask myself just who is buying this app on the iPhone in such volume as to push it onto those top grossing and what's hot lists? Now I don't claim to be the brainiest of boxes, but I'm not stupid enough to be paying $50 for something that I can get for free. ]]> Apple Hardware newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread234228.html News Story Ads in your OS? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story232693.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:32:19 GMT Sometimes you see something and you really, really hope it's a hoax. Take this story on Slashdot, which confirms if true that Apple has applied for a patent to put advertising into its operating systems.

I really, really don't want adverts when I switch my computer on. Actually that's not strictly true; I tried it once, when ISPs were experimenting with how to go free in the 1990s and one of the ideas was that you could push ads out to people. It rolled over and died because people ignored the ads and didn't click on them.

It will happen again if any major OS manufacturer tries to do it. I hope, hope, hope, this is a hoax. I'm fond of my Apple kit (most Apple users are, we have to go beyond rational because of the price) and would hate to see them blow it completely. ]]> OS X GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread232693.html <![CDATA[Really Freakin' annoying Problems with my mac PLZ HELP!]]> http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread232470.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:11:33 GMT Hey guys

I have an old school macbook, it has caused me many problems but this current one is probably the most annoying:

The fan is CONSTANTLY on like I can't make it stop, this is either with some apps or WITH NO APPS RUNNING.


sorry for the caps I am just, as you can probably tell, a bit annoyed

secondly, the battery life is FU##D I mean it used to last like 3 hours, only a month or so ago

now It has just gone from 100% to 44% in about half an hour

And it's really hot, so I have taken a picture that might be helpfull, I'm sure somethings wrong I just don't know what

[img=http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9494/annoyinnn.th.jpg]

If anyone can help I would be so grateful.

Jon ]]> Apple Hardware jonoj http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread232470.html Methods of play/open/import mts on Mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread232133.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:25:33 GMT Hey people.

If you have any question about AVCHD video camcorders and video files, here is something at least what I got.
Well, just for sharing, and hope it will help you a lot.

If you google "how to play mts on Mac", you will get tons of information, but seldom of them really helps. This is at least what I got from the searching result. Here editor sort out several popular ways of playing, editing and converting mts/m2ts files on Mac and provide Mac users with real useful information.

Question One: What is MTS/M2TS?
MTS and M2TS are included by AVCHD video. AVCHD (Audio and Video Compression for High Definition) is a high-definition and standard-definition recording format for use in digital tapeless camcorders. MTS is the format of rough AVCHD video clips, but when exporting onto computer, it becomes M2TS.

Question Two: Can I use iMovie to play and edit AVCHD files on Mac?
The answer depends on what version of your iMovie is. iMovie'06 doesn't support AVCHD Format, but iMovie'08 and Final Cut Pro(FCP)(6.0) can play and edit AVCHD files without any third party plug-ins.

Question Three:What are the requirements for a Mac in order to work with AVCHD videos?
AVCHD video requires a Mac with an Intel Core Duo processor or better. Visit iMovie ’09 Camcorder Support for details on digital video device and format support. Pre-Intel (PPC) Macs won't handle them, neither will FCP.

Question Four: How can I play/open AVCHD videos on Mac?
There are several popular ways to play AVCHD videos. If your iMovie gives a full support to AVCHD files, you can directly watch AVCHD files on iMovie and FCP. If not, here are several free ways to play.

VLC Player
VLC player is a totally free program that you should already have on your Mac that plays oodles of different video and audio formats, far more than QuickTime and DVD player. It is available for a wide range of operating system, ranging from Linux to Windows, and of course, Mac OS X.

Mplayer for Mac
MPlayer OS X is binary distribution of MPlayer (The Movie Player for Linux) and comes with native GUI in Mac OS X. After installation you can simply (by Drag Drop) play almost all 3ivx, DivX 3, 4, 5 and other codecs files in the window or full screen mode. Rendering of very nice antialiased text-based subtitles is also supported.


Question Five: What should I do if I want to convert mts files on Mac?
Since mts/m2ts couldn't get a better support on Mac, why not converting them to a Mac friendly format like MP4 or MOV? Lots of users know this, but their only worry is: what if they get a poor output result? There are lots of media converters on market which made choice even harder. Here we provide several to refer to.

VoltaicHD
Most Mac users had tried this commercial avchd converter for Mac.It converts AVCHD video on the market. The only thing is, it's really slow, and the export file is even larger and it takes too much space on your Mac.


Aimersoft Total Media Converter for Mac
IIt is a real and perfect solution for Mac users when they came across the problems of rip DVD and convert videos. Aimersoft Total Media Converter for Mac also provides a series of powerful Movie edit function. This Mac-friendly Total Media Converter supports movie cropping, trim, effect adjustment, etc. helps you customize your movies. For years Aimersoft has won lots of Mac users' heart for its good after-sale service.

Aiseesoft Total Media Converter for Mac
It's a Mac video and audio converter that can convert most popular formats on maket. Also it supports almost all popular portable players like DVD to PSP, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPhone (3G), iPhone, Zune, Zune 2, Blackberry, Nokia, Creative Zen, etc. ]]> Mac Software ninjamia http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread232133.html G5 RAM - pc3200u-30330 vs 30440 and Ram DIMM size differences http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread231511.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:07:50 GMT Just recently bought more ram for my powermac g5 - Specs: Machine Name: Power Mac G5 Machine Model: PowerMac7,3 CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (3.1) Number Of CPUs: 2 CPU Speed: 2.3 GHz L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB Memory: 3.5 GB Just recently bought more ram for my powermac g5 -

Specs:
Machine Name: Power Mac G5
Machine Model: PowerMac7,3
CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (3.1)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 2.3 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 3.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1.15 GHz


If anything it seems slower when using Final Cut Studio

My question-- I noticed my newly installed ram is 30440 and the older/original ram is 30330
Is this a problem?

Also, I have the ram installed in pairs- but they are in different sizes.
One 256mb pair (30330)
One 512mb pair (30330)
and one 1gb pair (30440)

Please advise/help!

~Jeff ]]> Apple Hardware prsrose http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread231511.html mac wont load past blue bar http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread231507.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:19:27 GMT my power mac g4 wont go past the blue loading bar it loads all the way but the just doent do anything after that. ive tried all the button commads and it just doesnt do anything my power mac g4 wont go past the blue loading bar it loads all the way but the just doent do anything after that.
ive tried all the button commads and it just doesnt do anything ]]> OS X oleg253 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread231507.html News Story Who needs an iPhone FM radio anyway? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story231232.html Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:26:41 GMT Why so much fuss about the rumour (http://9to5mac.com/iPhone-fm-app) that Apple is developing an in house app to bring FM radio to the iPhone? Sure, the fact that (assuming the rumour is true) this will be a native application that can run in the background just like the iPod app does on an iPhone... Why so much fuss about the rumour that Apple is developing an in house app to bring FM radio to the iPhone? Sure, the fact that (assuming the rumour is true) this will be a native application that can run in the background just like the iPod app does on an iPhone is cool, but do we really need a FM radio on the iPhone? It's a valid enough question. Sure, the new iPod Nano has a radio and it adds a needed function, but the iPhone has apps. And, as any app lover will know, there are plenty of streaming radio apps already out there which bring all the radio functionality you could want, and then some.

Yes, I like the sound of integrating radio and iTunes Store so that you could get more info about a song playing and then go on to purchase it in just a click or two. But to be honest I prefer being able to stream that song through the likes of Last.FM or Spotify rather than having to buy it at all.

Yes, I like the idea of the live pause function, assuming that this carries over from the Nano into the iPhone app that is.

But I'm just not convinced that there is any real need for old technology such as FM radio on a next-generation device like the iPhone. It's almost as bizarre as having a Blu-ray player built into a top end HD TV which lets you play VHS tapes.

Maybe it's just a relatively simple thing to do, from the technology perspective, for Apple which will bring a nice but of publicity and no doubt get the media drooling over added features. The iPhone has been able to receive FM radio signals for a while, it is just not enabled as a radio application. The Nike+ fitness system uses the iPhone FM signal functionality to works its magic, for example.

So what do you think? Would you listen to FM radio on an iPhone or is it just a waste of time? ]]> Apple Hardware newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread231232.html Migration Assistant - A weird problem just occurred... http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230935.html Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:26:28 GMT Hi,

Okay, I have this CRAZY issue. I bough a new MacBook Pro 13inch last week (With Snow Leopard) and figured I'd transfer my data from my older iMac (With normal Leopard) using Migration Assistant. Perhaps that was dumb,.. I don't know.

Everything went fine, it took about 18 hours I think, but I was surprised to find my new MacBook had all of my iMac's applications. It even transferred MS Office 08 and Photoshop, which I had installed in my iMac! I was thrilled.
I started using my MacBook and haven't used my iMac since, although I still want to use it for photo/video editing and all. This MacBook I mainly use for writing.
So, these last few days I just used my MacBook, edited a few documents, etc.

Now, I just got a software update notification from Apple. I don't recall it anymore, some security thing. So I installed it and when the device restarted ... I suddenly found an exact copy of my iMac on it! It's like it changed everything back! Needless to say I quickly checked my edited documents ... but found they were also previous versions! The versions as they are on my iMac! The work I did the last couple of days on my MaBook and saved... is nowhere to be found. What the ... ! :@

Did I do something wrong? Should I not have transferred my things if I want to keep using both machines separately from each other?

It looks like they're somehow linked now, as my HD icon on my MacBook desktop has the password from my iMac....

WHAT HAPPENED? And how do I fix this so I can just use my Mac's separately from each other without any overwriting issues? Do I have to reset the MacBook and just start over? :|

HELP.... ]]> OS X Orbi http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230935.html data recovery software http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230849.html Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:05:31 GMT Boomerang Data Recovery www.boomdrs.com/ WARNING do NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE. I did and got burnt. It’s bugged and crashes. I was trying to recover a 1T drive so the scan would take over 8 hours to get 50% of the way, then crash. I tried repeatedly before contacting tech support. They replied one... Boomerang Data Recovery www.boomdrs.com/ WARNING do NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE.

I did and got burnt. It’s bugged and crashes. I was trying to recover a 1T drive so the scan would take over 8 hours to get 50% of the way, then crash. I tried repeatedly before contacting tech support. They replied one line saying I needed send a log as proof. I did and received another one line email saying use the latest version. I was using the latest version on their site so replied asking where do I find the later version? I was unable to get any more replies from out of them, so after persisting with the software for two weeks, I still was no closer to recovering my data, I wasted near two weeks of time and blew USD 280. The experience left me suspecting that the whole thing is just an Internet fraud. I can’t imagine a reputable software producer would release such an tested product and provide such poor back up. ]]> Burnt http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230849.html HELP! Frequent self assigned ip errors http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230579.html Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:32:55 GMT alright, so i'm running snow leopard i have a wnr2000 netgear wireless n router and a late 2008 macbook pro. ever so often i get a self assigned ip error and when i shut the modem off and back on again things are jolly until it happens again. i tried renewing the DHCP under the settings but that doesn't work, any input is appreciated. ]]> OS X beefstick720 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230579.html Product Review CoPilot for iPhone - updated app reviewed in depth http://www.daniweb.com/reviews/thread230373.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:24:54 GMT CoPilot Live 8 Mobile Navigation on the iPhone has been a runaway success at the App Store, consistently keeping ahead of its TomTom rival in the 'top grossing' app charts at least in the UK Store. It arrived first and costs half as much as the TomTom app, but is it better?

If you had asked me that question a month ago then the answer would have been a resounding no. Extensive testing showed up huge problems in keeping a GPS lock and the app even refused to start half the time I wanted it to. But then, just as I was about to post a truly damning review, something happened: a brand new update appeared at the App Store, promising to fix the problems.

I've now driven nearly 1000 miles with CoPilot on the iPhone, and can report whether the promise has been fulfilled.

After much complaint, the truly awful CoPilot keyboard has been replaced by the app making use of the proper QWERTY iPhone keyboard instead. Although this might seem like a little thing to those of you who never used it, believe me the previous keyboard was a non-QWERTY atrocity that made any attempt at data entry (like inputting a destination address for example) into a time consuming, fiddly, nightmare of epic proportions. So well done to ALK for listening to its users and replacing that, it makes getting to a destination that little bit quicker and, really, isn't that the whole point of a satnav? Oh, and talking of little things that make a difference, you can now turn off those annoying 'beeps' when pressing any of the on-screen configuration buttons!

ALK has also updated the integration with the iPhone contacts book, and this does actually seem to work now. It had no trouble at all in finding every single one of my contacts when asked and plotting a route directly to them. Like the QWERTY keyboard, this improvement now puts CoPilot on an equal footing with arch-rival TomTom (see my TomTom for iPhone review here) as far as this functionality goes. CoPilot also now has the ability to properly and reliably recall your destination after you take an incoming phone call, something that TomTom has been doing well since the first release.

Unfortunately, although the update promises an "improved GPS performance in walking mode" as well as more general "GPS reliability improvements" I am afraid that my testing proved to be something of a hit and miss experience. For sure one area which has seen a major improvement, in fact changed beyond all recognition compared to my experience of CoPilot before the upgrade, is that of start up and time to locate. Beforehand, I would find myself finding something else to do while the app tried to get past the starting flash screen. Unless it was a cloudless day it would often actually refuse to go any further at all, one assumes because it was waiting to lock on to a GPS signal.

Now, however, not only does CoPilot start up very quickly indeed, and grab my location within a few seconds, but it can perform this trick indoors with the curtains closed. I am assuming that it gets a little help from the mobile network signal, but that is pure guesswork on my behalf.

On the road things are also vastly improved, with CoPilot now being able to accurately keep up with my movements (most of the time) and the stuttering performance of old has gone. I was impressed that the GPS now has no problems keeping a lock even in very bad weather conditions such as heavy rain and thick cloud.

So why the use of 'unfortunately' when I introduced the subject of GPS then? Well that comes back to the 'most of the time' reference just now. Where CoPilot let me down was when I was driving very slowly, you know, as you do when traffic is really heavy in town. If your speed drops down below 5 miles per hour then CoPilot assumes you have stopped and so the tracking pointer turns back into the annoying red puck and just sits there while you continue to slowly move forward.

Of course, this means that if you are in a long queue of slow moving traffic then CoPilot does not bother to tell you that you needed to take the next left because it thinks you are stationary.

But it seems this is not a bug, but a feature. Other users have complained about this behaviour and have been told that it is a deliberate 'dead reckoning system' designed so as not to spin the map when you are stationary at a traffic light. The position simply does not get updated if you are driving at less than 5 miles per hour.

Sorry, but I just don't get this. Mainly due to the fact that TomTom and other satnav systems manage to keep tabs on my position when I am stationary or crawling along and also manage to inform me that I need to turn even if I am moving at 4 miles per hour at the time. Guess what? I've never seen a satnav map spinning at traffic lights either!

Overall though, GPS performance was acceptable and managed to get me to my destinations. Eventually. Ah yes, which brings me to the mapping and route calculations bit. No matter which routing option I took, be that the quickest, the shortest or the most economic (nice feature that one, by the way) it steadfastly refused to take me on what I know to be the best route home from a number of locations.

To be brutally honest, some of the suggested routes were just downright bizarre. Either adding miles or minutes to a journey. Unlike the TomTom app with its IQ routes feature which, on the 1 out of 10 times tried taking me on an unintelligently routed journey, would get the hint pretty quickly and re-route me where I expected to be going, CoPilot just kept trying to get me to turn around and get back on the wrong route.

OK, I appreciate that a satnav is not intended to be used when you know where you are going and CoPilot certainly managed to get me where I wanted to go every time, but using one on known routes is a good measure of how the machine thinks during a review test and I have to say I was somewhat disappointed with CoPilot.

This disappointment was carried into usage despite the update notes telling me that a number of additional "stability/performance improvements" had been made. Perhaps I was not looking in the right places, but my application displayed some buggy behaviour such as the route progress bar sticking halfway and refusing to budge. I also saw this message more than once "Error: CoPilot failed to find a valid route to your destination" which surprised me as I had reached my destination at the time. It seems to be a bug associated with the display of the hugely annoying "would you like to return to your trip's origin' message that is shown when you arrive somewhere (why would I want to go back, I've literally only just arrived!) as this triggers the appearance of the FAIL message for me.

Please, don't get the impression that I hated everything about CoPilot on the iPhone, I really didn't. In fact there are some features which I really loved. The 'Live Services' which are starting to appear for example. At the time of testing I could get a live weather report for my local vicinity, at my destination or for any city I wanted to key in. The weather data, provided by AccuWeather.com, seemed to be pretty accurate whenever I looked at it. The roadside assistance button was also active, one click showing your location both in terms of address and lat/long coordinates (and a mapping display option) meaning that the emergency services or your recovery service will be able to find you without hassle. If you belong to the AA, even better, as there's a big 'call' button to enable one click access to the breakdown call centre. Oh, and the speed camera detection database is pretty good, giving a nice clear warning as you approach one.

There's no live traffic information yet though, but I am told that this will be available "via in-app purchase... towards the end of this month or early November". The App Store approval process is being blamed for there not being an exact date that this will become available, which is fair enough. I was unable to get any idea of pricing for the Live Traffic service before publication of this review. As soon as I know I will post the pricing as a comment.

The user interface was something of a mixed blessing as far as I was concerned. I like the big and easy to click buttons, dividing the screen into six squares. I like the destination setting options of address (including full seven digit postcode on the UK and Ireland maps I was using), points of interest, iPhone contact, intersection, coordinates (unlikely to ever use this but I guess it's nice to know it is there if I did need it) and finally the ability to pick somewhere right off a map. Oh, there's a favourites option in the 'My Places' section of course where you can allocate a home and work address to big buttons along with recent destinations and other favourite trips. Hitting the Quick Stop button lets you quickly find a petrol station, restaurant, hotel or garage for vehicle repair and hitting the Save Current Location buttons does just that.

What I don't like about the interface is the actual mapping screen itself. The lack of an auto-zooming feature means that it is not as easy to see where you are going compared to the TomTom application, and the information bar is far less informative no matter how you configure it. The bottom line, during hours of real-world driving on test here, is that the CoPilot screen just does not offer the same clarity on the move as the TomTom. The roads are rendered smaller by default and I don't want to be tapping zoom buttons on the move!

Some of the voice instructions could also be better with CoPilot. Case in point, one junction I use regularly is an offset crossroads if that makes sense, so you need to turn left and then immediately turn right. TomTom tells me to turn left and then turn sharp right, whereas CoPilot directs me to turn left and completely ignores the turn right bit. If I were following the route it would take me in the wrong direction and then have to route me back, a detour of more than a mile!

I must also mention battery life and heat while comparing the two iPhone satnav apps. Both are, naturally enough, huge consumers of your iPhone power resources and an in-car power adaptor is essential. However, while the TomTom cost me 45% of battery capacity (as reported by my iPhone 3GS itself) over the course of one hour driving, the CoPilot cost me 60% in the same time. When it comes to heat, the iPhone gets quite warm after TomTom has been doing its stuff for 15 minutes or so. For reasons I do not understand, it gets much warmer and you could even describe it as quite hot, when the CoPilot app is running for the same amount of time. This is a completely unscientific observation based upon how hot my ears felt when answering a phone call after using each app for the same period of time!

So, to sum up then, there's a lot to like about CoPilot Live 8 Mobile Navigation on the iPhone. Not least the stunning value for money that it represents when compared to TomTom which costs more than twice as much as CoPilot. The UK and Ireland application cost £59.99 for TomTom and yet just £24.99 for CoPilot.

But, despite this newly updated application being made available, it does still feel like something of a work in progress. There are bugs to be ironed out and some more tweaking required to the GPS functionality before I would be happy using it as my in-car satnav solution. At this point in time, of the two, it is TomTom I reach for the most when I have not got my standalone Satnav device with me. Neither are good enough yet for me to want to lose my dedicated in-car satnav though, thanks very much.

If I was giving it a rating out of 10, CoPilot for iPhone would currently be a 6.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg copilot001.jpg (88.3 KB)
File Type: jpg copilot002.jpg (100.2 KB)
File Type: jpg copilot003.jpg (64.9 KB)
File Type: jpg copilot004.jpg (117.5 KB)
]]> Apple Hardware happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230373.html 13.3 inch Macbook Pro Triple Boot with Ubuntu 9.10 and Windows 7 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230181.html Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:08:28 GMT Hey Daniweb, I a 13.3 inch Macbook Pro (5,5) running Snow Leopard that I would like to triple boot Snow Leopard, Windows 7, and Ubuntu 9.10 on. I am running an 80 GB Intel X-25M as my primary drive and I after I have the three operating systems installed via the optical drive I plan to replace... Hey Daniweb,

I a 13.3 inch Macbook Pro (5,5) running Snow Leopard that I would like to triple boot Snow Leopard, Windows 7, and Ubuntu 9.10 on. I am running an 80 GB Intel X-25M as my primary drive and I after I have the three operating systems installed via the optical drive I plan to replace the optical drive with 320 GB hard drive to use as a data drive for all of the operating systems. My question is, how should I format all of my partitions? I am assuming that on the primary drive I will have an HFS+ partition for Mac OS X, NTFS for Windows 7, and an ext3 partition for Ubuntu. Is there any format I can make the data drive so that it can read and written to by all 3 OSs? Maybe Fat32? I do plan to put movies and large files on the drive though, so the format needs to support large files and I think FAT is only up to 4GB...

Thanks for Any Help,
jpdbaugh ]]> OS X jpdbaugh http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread230181.html IBook G4 Aluminum 17 inch will not boot up http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229689.html Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:48:39 GMT I have an Ibook G4 that will not boot up. I bought it used and at first it would boot up with no video. Then I tried to zap the PRAM and once it turned off, it won't turn back on. I have tried every reset option with no luck.I know it is getting power because the bottom case is warm after it has been plugged up for a few minutes. Any ideas? Is it a logic board? ]]> Apple Hardware chloemorgan4unc http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229689.html News Story DVD Jon bites Apple on ass again http://www.daniweb.com/news/story229561.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:53:24 GMT Jon Lech Johansen is perhaps best known as DVD Jon, the chap who cracked DVD movie encryption at the tender age of just 15. He may soon have to adopt a new nickname, how about iTunes Jon, as he releases software that takes iTunes out of the iPod music equation. doubleTwist... Jon Lech Johansen is perhaps best known as DVD Jon, the chap who cracked DVD movie encryption at the tender age of just 15. He may soon have to adopt a new nickname, how about iTunes Jon, as he releases software that takes iTunes out of the iPod music equation.

doubleTwist exists on the foundation that in the same way you don't have a different web browser for every web site that you visit, you shouldn't have to have different software when you use an iPod, a Nokia smartphone, a Sony device and so on. "The typical household today has many such devices" the company website says "there is a need for a simple and powerful software that connects them." Which is where the newly released software comes in, and iTunes goes out the door.

doubleTwist co-founder Monique Farantzos has even gone as far as to describe Apple as the new Microsoft, referring to a dark side that has emerged with apps being blocked from the App Store for example, and the Palm pre not being allowed to sync with iTunes. And so we now have a piece of software that has all the functionality of iTunes, but does not restrict the user to just an iPod or even just to iTunes for that matter. doubleTwist will, so I am informed, allow iPod users to buy their music from the Amazon MP3 store if they prefer. That said, it's the ability to play an iTunes library of music on any device that really appeals to me.

Apple must be getting very fed up indeed with DVD Jon, especially after an advert was placed alongside the San Francisco Apple Store back in June to encourage people to turn their backs on iTunes and the iPhone. Not forgetting the 1984 video parody made by Johansen casting Steve Jobs as Big Brother, for good measure. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229561.html News Story Can Sky beat Apple at the iTunes game? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story229555.html Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:14:37 GMT Sky, better known for news and sport television broadcasting, has today announced that it is entering the online music business with an ad-free streaming download service. All of the four million songs accessible by users of the service will be available by way of unlimited online streaming as well... Sky, better known for news and sport television broadcasting, has today announced that it is entering the online music business with an ad-free streaming download service. All of the four million songs accessible by users of the service will be available by way of unlimited online streaming as well as in MP3 format for storage and playback on any compatible device.

Launching on the 19th October, Sky Songs in the UK will start off by providing access to new release and back catalogue songs from EMI. Sony, Universal and Warner along with a host of independent labels for good measure.

Mike Darcey, Sky’s Chief Operating Officer, says "Our music partners bring an outstanding catalogue and unrivalled expertise that complements Sky’s strengths in content distribution. Sky Songs will reach out to consumers who want legitimate digital services offering choice, ease of use and great value. Offering legal access to digital music is a vital step in combating illegal downloading."

That's as maybe, but the service is up against existing online music powerhouses such as Apple's iTunes and the streaming service Spotify in a market which was worth £106 million in the UK last year, that's an increase of 48% from the year before. Not that the CD market should be ruled out either, in terms of competition, at least not just yet. Sure, it is on the decline with income down 8% last year but it still managed to earn £856 million in the UK which is none too shabby and far outstripped online music sales in terms of income.

So how much is Sky Songs looking to charge users?

According to the press release:

Quote:
Sky Songs offers users unlimited streaming, plus download-to-own tracks and albums from £6.49 a month. Customers can also purchase additional music on a per-track or per-album basis from 65p and £6.49 respectively.

There are two subscription options available:

pay £6.49 and download either a £6.49 album or 10 songs, and receive unlimited access to listen to over four million songs online for one month; or

pay £7.99 and download either a £7.99 album or 15 songs, and receive unlimited access to listen to over four million songs online for one month.

So, unlike Spotify there is no free ad-supported model, which means it will struggle to steal share away from them - although the subscription is cheaper than a Premium Spotify, ad-free, account. iTunes may feel the heat a little more, especially as the downloadable MP3s are in a DRM-free format and the streaming model is certainly starting to appeal to the younger listener these days. Just look at how the iPhone App Store is beating iTunes and the presence of streaming music apps on the iPhone for example. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229555.html News Story The Myth of the Apple Fan Boy http://www.daniweb.com/news/story229385.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:32:37 GMT I have to say that I really hate the term "fan boy." It's usually used as a dismissive term to put down someone who speaks favorably of a product. It suggests that if you like a particular brand, it must mean that you blindly support everything that company does, and will come to its defense even when it's not warranted. The term is most often used with the word "Apple" in front of it, as in "oh, he's just an Apple Fan Boy."

If you speak positively about Apple products, it could be that they are often good, but it doesn't mean they're perfect. Nor does it mean you automatically defend every action of the corporation behind the brand. I use Apple products. I've got an iPhone, a Mac Book Pro and several iPods. I buy them because they are mostly well designed, they work very well and they look great. Yes, they're expensive, but in my 20 years of working with computers and gadgets, I would gladly pay for what I perceive as quality. That doesn't make me a "fan boy." It makes me a smart and reasoned consumer.

Definitely Not Flawless

All that said, it doesn't mean I don't go after Apple in this space when they deserve it because regular readers know that I do. I remember when I bought iPod Mini, having never used an iPod before, I sat there frustrated trying to figure out how to use it. Once I understood the elegance of the scroll wheel, I was hooked, but it was not apparent how to use it out of the box.

As someone who just performed a RAM upgrade on my Mac Book Pro, I would like to talk to the Apple engineers and ask them what they were thinking using five of the smallest screws I've ever seen to hold down a protective case over the RAM. I think two would have done it or maybe a thumb screw would have been nice. Instead, I had to use a Jeweler's screw driver to get the screws out. This was certainly not the most user-friendly approach I've ever seen.

That Famous Apple Arrogance

Let us not forget the famous Apple arrogance or the strange cult of personality that surrounds Apple Grand Poobah, Steve Jobs. Apple doesn't always plan right for obvious demand as happened with the release of iPhone 2.0. That they insist on giving AT&T exclusive rights to sell the iPhone remains baffling to me. They have taken away features users obviously still wanted like fire wire, and they have taken petty steps like blocking iTunes syncing on the Palm Pre. They have even sent out their lawyers to harass a small business.

But They Make Good Stuff

When it comes down to it though, I buy Apple products because they make good stuff most of the time. I couldn't care less if they are fashionable or cool. It doesn't mean Apple's a perfect company, far from it. It only means that what they do right, they do very, very well. There's no shame in reporting that, but it doesn't mean I'm going give to them a free pass for their foibles and screw-ups, nor does it mean I'm a mindless "fan boy," who doesn't consider all of the facts before making a purchase decision. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread229385.html <![CDATA[17" Apple Studio Display LCD w/ OS 9 resolution]]> http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228950.html Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:35:54 GMT A friend just gave me an Apple 17" LCD Studio Display. It doesn't have any controls on it, no buttons except power. It was bought with new with a Dual Core 1000MHz G4.

I don't have any software disks that may have come with it.

I use OSX 10.4.11 almost all the time, and I can set the resolution via the Displays System Preference panel - I get all the resolution display choices.

But I still use OS 9 for a few programs, and in OS 9.2.2 only the 1280 x 960 (maximum) resolution choice us available in the Monitors Control Pane or Control Strip. It's a bit small and I wish I could make it 1024 x 768.

Does anybody know if this is resolvable? ]]> Apple Hardware dintymoore http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228950.html Burning a bootable Disk of 6.8 gb http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228702.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:58:44 GMT hi , i have downloaded Mac os x 10.6 beta from net. its file size is 6.8 gb, how can i burn in a DVD od 4.7 gb....i tried using Toast its asking another DVD....perhaps i dont know how exactly to use the TOAST ....i need help ......pls tell how to burn the 6.8 gb file size using... hi ,
i have downloaded Mac os x 10.6 beta from net. its file size is 6.8 gb, how can i burn in a DVD od 4.7 gb....i tried using Toast its asking another DVD....perhaps i dont know how exactly to use the TOAST ....i need help ......pls tell how to burn the 6.8 gb file size using toast...its a dmg file..Or is there any other softwre to do it ]]> OS X iyyappan1985eee http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228702.html News Story Warning: Apple Hardware in Danger from the DOJ http://www.daniweb.com/news/story228668.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:50:12 GMT The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating IBM's computer market conduct and, depending on the outcome, it might just affect your beloved Apple computers. As everyone knows, IBM is the major player in the mainframe computer market but now their business practice of not licensing other hardware makers to run their software is causing issue.

The following excerpt is from an article by Associated Press writer, Jordan Robertson:

Quote:
The accusations stem from claims by IBM rivals that they've been illegally frozen out of the mainframe market because of IBM's refusal to allow its mainframe operating software to run on non-IBM computers. IBM doesn't have many rivals anymore that make mainframe computers, but some smaller companies are trying to develop technologies that would allow the software to run on cheaper hardware.

They allege that IBM, which used to license its mainframe software to competitors and for the back half of the last century operated under an antitrust agreement with the government, stopped doing so in recent years to choke off competition.
It's possible that you don't realize the implications of these two paragraphs. Let me attempt to clarify them for you.

IBM created the mainframe software. It runs on IBM mainframes. IBM used to license it to other companies to run on their hardware. They stopped doing it. Now their competitors are upset by this practice.

Implication #1: If the DOJ finds against IBM, it essentially takes away IBM's right to innovate and compete in a market they created.

Implication #2: Apple is in a similar quandary, should the DOJ rule against IBM, in that Apple only licenses its operating system for its own hardware. Apple never sanctioned clones like IBM did in the PC market.

Implication #3: Apple clones will undermine Apple integrity and quality that's been their mainstay for all these years.

Implication #4: No company will ever be able to tie their operating system with hardware. For example, OS400 will have to be licensed for AS400 compatible hardware, mainframe zOS will have to be licensed for IBM mainframe compatible hardware, Solaris will have to be licensed to run on Sparc compatibles and the Mac OS will have to be licensed to run on Apple compatibles (aka Hacintoshes).

Implication #5: Cheap commodity hardware (read 'throw away') will dominate the world's data centers and become such a tragic loss for IBM, Sun (Oracle) and Apple that they each might release their software to the public as 'community' versions but still maintain their own proprietary branded software that runs specifically on their own hardware.

Not all bad, you say?

You haven't considered the real implication that summarizes all five of the others: If you can't innovate and outdo your competitors, why be in business at all? Why should Coke license Pepsi to pour Coke into Pepsi bottles? Why should Chevrolet license Ford to use Fisher bodies on their cars?

At one time, I believed that Apple should have licensed its operating system to run on clones but they were smart in not doing so. When you own an Apple product, you have Apple quality, Apple support and Apple service behind that product. If you have a clone, you have no Apple to assist you because clones can be made of anything.

I'm afraid of situations where innovation and quality are challenged. I don't want to trust mainframe operations to a clone. I don't want my niece to use an Apple clone in college. Too much depends on the integrity of both.

The DOJ hasn't ruled yet but I'm expecting the worst from them.

The only hope is that IBM and Apple would make those license purchases so prohibitively expensive that it would be pointless to purchase them without the proper hardware underneath.

What do you think? Should the DOJ take away IBM's right to innovate? Should they also take away the quality associated with the Mac or a Sun system? ]]> Apple Hardware khess http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228668.html How to mute background voice (not sound) on eMac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228398.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:40:54 GMT HI, i just got an eMac and new Mac user, i want to mute background voice (not sound), how can i do this, there is no option in system pref. in mac. HI, i just got an eMac and new Mac user, i want to mute background voice (not sound), how can i do this, there is no option in system pref. in mac. ]]> OS X ibnyadam http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228398.html Problem in installing DBD::mysql in MacBookPro 10.5.8 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228068.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:54:35 GMT Hi all, I tried to install DBD::mysql module in my MacBookPro 10.5.8. But it is ending with an error message that is fail to find out the mysql_config file. I installed the mysql system using fink command. It will be great if you can suggest a way to fix that. many thanks in advance Vipin... Hi all,

I tried to install DBD::mysql module in my MacBookPro 10.5.8. But it is ending with an error message that is fail to find out the mysql_config file. I installed the mysql system using fink command.
It will be great if you can suggest a way to fix that.

many thanks in advance
Vipin T S ]]> OS X vipints http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228068.html Macbook Air + Snow Leopard = slow internet http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228009.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:12:20 GMT Hi I have a macbook air and am running 10.6.1. My internet connection is running very slow, and is variable. This has been happening since last night. My CPU is running at about 40% with basic web page processes. Data sent/sec is really high sometimes, even when applications are idle. I turned... Hi
I have a macbook air and am running 10.6.1. My internet connection is running very slow, and is variable. This has been happening since last night.
My CPU is running at about 40% with basic web page processes. Data sent/sec is really high sometimes, even when applications are idle. I turned time capsule off to see if this helps but it didn't.

Can anyone recommend a solution? Is there a problem with my hardware/cpu/airport card or is there a chance a windows based virus (or god forbid mac virus) is affecting my computer?

Thanks in advance! ]]> OS X 312pipi http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread228009.html News Story Ultra-thin iMacs coming this week? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story227930.html Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:33:56 GMT If you are in the market for a new Apple computer, you might want to wait a few days. It would appear that new super thin iMacs, MacBooks and even a cheaper Mac Mini are on the way real soon. According to AppleInsider... If you are in the market for a new Apple computer, you might want to wait a few days. It would appear that new super thin iMacs, MacBooks and even a cheaper Mac Mini are on the way real soon.

According to AppleInsider a raft of advertisements were published ahead of time, in error, by the Netherlands Apple Store online.

The Google Adsense adverts were spotted on Google.nl but when eager shoppers clicked the links they arrived at the Apple Store only to discover the goods were not actually available. And what goods. The advertising would appear to confirm many online reports over the last few months that Apple is about to launch thinner polycarbonate MacBook, am ultra-thin series of iMacs and a speed increased but price decreased Mac Mini.

AppleInsider expects them to be "accompanied by redesigns of the company's Mighty Mouse and Apple Remote, as well as aluminum wireless keyboards."

The online grapevine is suggesting that the new product line could be announced before the end of this week. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227930.html <![CDATA[problems installing downloads [iweb themes]]]> http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227598.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:26:39 GMT Hi - I'm having problems installing new templates for iweb which I've just bought from Jumsoft... The first of three installed with no problems - the Standard Install as usual prompted me for my Mac install username and password, and I installed the product on my Macintosh hard drive.

However, I'm unable to install the next two... I choose exactly the same location. I click install, and the Mac tells me it is preparing Target Volume - however it fails, saying -

The installer could not create the folder "/Applications/iWeb.app/Contents/Resources/thumbnails/_Simple Info scarab green". [the last part being one of the file names]

At no point am I asked for my Mac install username or password.

Is it something I'm missing? Please can you help me? Thanks so much, Francis ]]> Mac Software dingwol http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227598.html help installing iWeb themes... http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227595.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:24:35 GMT Hi - I'm having problems installing new templates for iweb which I've just bought from Jumsoft. The first of three installed with no problems - the Standard Install as usual prompted me for my Mac install username and password, and I installed the product on my Macintosh hard drive.

However, I'm unable to install the next two... I choose exactly the same location. I click install, and the Mac tells me it is preparing Target Volume - however it fails, saying -

The installer could not create the folder "/Applications/iWeb.app/Contents/Resources/thumbnails/_Simple Info scarab green".

[the last part being one of the file names]

And at no point am I asked for my Mac install username or password.

Is it something I'm missing? Please can you help me? Thanks so much, Francis ]]> OS X dingwol http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227595.html iBook will not load Tiger or access CD http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227455.html Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:46:45 GMT Best of the weekend to everyone!

This 5 year old iBook (256 MB RAM, 600 MHz CPU, OSX 10.4) has been faithfully operating until recently. It "locked up" and was allowed to shut down normally (but very slowly).

Now when attempting to start the machine, it slowly brings up the BIOS splash page (gray background). On pressing "C" on startup it shows the folder with a happy face alternating with "?". It then eventually shows a circle with a diagonal line on the screen and goes no further. I am unable to get it to access either the Tiger operating system CD or our Diskwarrior CD.

Where do I go next for troubleshooting? Do I need to open the case and inspect? I suspect hardware problems. This is like nothing I or my partner have ever seen before with Macs. We use and repair Macs, Windows and CentOS machines in our business. ]]> SonicSpider http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread227455.html Lost Folder http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread226862.html Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:14:59 GMT Hi Techsters,
I has a weird thing happen today. I had just opened a folder that held all my original forms, found the two I needed and attached them in an e-mail and sent it. It sent just fine, but when I went to find another document in that same folder, it was gone. I've searched every file in my computer and that folder is completely missing. It had several sub-folders in it and they are all gone as well. I'm using a Mac OS X system and Firefox web browser. If anyone can help, or had this happen to them, please reply. All other applications and files are there and working fine. Help! ]]> OS X jackerman http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread226862.html News Story iPhone monopoly lost in UK http://www.daniweb.com/news/story226306.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:29:38 GMT The iPhone's going to be sold by Orange in the UK as well as 02. I confess I was surprised at the announcement since I'd assumed 02 taking on the Palm Pre was as good as a statement that they no longer expected a monopoly on any other smartphone.

What's really interesting about this, though, is that it commoditises the iPhone in a way that wouldn't have been imaginable only a couple of years ago. More than one supplier selling the same bit of tin is going to mean the only way they can differentiate themselves, pretty quickly, will be on price.

This is where the whole debate becomes confused. iPhones sold on price? That's kind of OK because the technology is maturing, but then where's the incentive for the mobile company to sell them in the first place if there's no money to be made on them?

My guess is that Apple has realised, as it has in other territories already, that it's time to stop pretending the iPhone - neat though it is - is some sort of engineering miracle and start selling it as a phone again. This means going multi-channel, and it means more than one announcement is likely to be due; I have no 'in' here but I suspect Orange will be the first of a couple of iPhone announcements in the very near future.

This also means Apple will have to stop going on about iPhones as if they're the most exciting thing on the planet, ever, and find another product to excite everyone, just as it did when the iPod became a commodity.

My money is on a Mac tablet in January. ]]> Apple Hardware GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread226306.html Pagemaker problem http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread226006.html Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:25:20 GMT Hi, I have pagemaker 6.5 which I had used years ago in my business. Since then I have upgraded and been using their newer versions. I need to access some old files that I did on the pagemaker 6.5 but can not find it's product key code. Any suggestions? ]]> Mac Software lunarose http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread226006.html Link Directory Submitter http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225722.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:16:53 GMT Link Directory Submitter is the perfect solution for sending your sites to a multitude of pre-configured online directories. Link Directory Submitter comes with 2700+ link directories to submit to, more than half ranging from PR4 to PR7. Visit us at: http://www.clicknearn.net/2821-53.html Link Directory Submitter is the perfect solution for sending your sites to a multitude of pre-configured online directories. Link Directory Submitter comes with 2700+ link directories to submit to, more than half ranging from PR4 to PR7. Visit us at: http://www.clicknearn.net/2821-53.html ]]> Mac Software afzal001 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225722.html News Story WorkSnug - a new overlay for iPhone http://www.daniweb.com/news/story225641.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:21:09 GMT Occasionally you see something exciting, which is why I'm very pleased to tell you about WorkSnug - a new iPhone app, also coming to Android, I was shown by the founder a day or so ago.

It's one of those things that addresses a need you didn't know you had before. You take your iPhone 3Gs (and it does need that GPS function), you open the application and - as long as you're in a city that's covered - you hold the camera lense up to the street. You see the street on the screen but the clever bit is that you have an overlay of directions to the nearest publicly-available WiFi access.

Touch the various names of the access places and it goes further - you get a write-up on the venue, whether it's actually an eaterie or somewhere more congenial for work, and what the noise level is like. The start-up has been sponsored by Plantronics, so as you might imagine if the noise level is going to be bad you get information on the headsets available for Skype and other audio-related stuff.

It's going to be free when it's approved on the Apple iTunes store, and there will be the opportunity to leave feedback on the various venues. London will be the first city covered with San Francisco coming soon. If I had the 3Gs I'd be signing up on day one. ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225641.html java 6 for mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225475.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:39:28 GMT please how do i get java 6 for mac, i have even checked out their site its just 5 thats there any help... please how do i get java 6 for mac, i have even checked out their site its just 5 thats there any help... ]]> Mac Software tactfulsaint http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225475.html Xcode download http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225257.html Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:43:47 GMT Hi all,
I need to get 'make' on Darwin, so I have downloaded Xcode from apple's website. I am unable to install it, however. I am running Mac OS X 10.4.11. Any suggestions?

Thanks. ]]> Darwin, X11 and BSD aldebaran31 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread225257.html 10.5.8 = no podcasts to desktop. http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224969.html Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:59:32 GMT I have always preferred to download podcasts of my choice directly to the desktop. Normally I do this by clicking on the tab on the bottom of the window or going to "File," and clicking on "Save." Since I updated to version 10.5.8. neither of the two methods above work. I need help! ]]> OS X Marty http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224969.html News Story iPhone battery issues http://www.daniweb.com/news/story224639.html Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:55:17 GMT Apple (http://www.apple.com) appears to be having battery issues again - it is reportedly asking iPhone 3Gs users to get in touch if their batteries are running down. This tells us a number of things. First, that there is a real problem. When a business the size of Apple decides to ask its... Apple appears to be having battery issues again - it is reportedly asking iPhone 3Gs users to get in touch if their batteries are running down.

This tells us a number of things. First, that there is a real problem. When a business the size of Apple decides to ask its customers what the problem is, there is definitely something up. Second, Apple has been caught out by this. Nobody was expecting it and it looks as though they can't duplicate the problem in the labs - otherwise why ask the customers?

One possible theory to account for why this has happened is that Apple has actually allowed its biggest selling point to overrun its best selling products: there are simply too many apps for the company to be able to manage how an iPhone does. What does the product actually do, for example? It's a phone, it's a GPS, it's a games console - it actually depends entirely on what you happen to have installed on it. And unlike previous generations of phones with a bit of gaming, bit of music and bit of other stuff, the extras are at the heart of the iPhone and its competitors, which actually do more stuff than my first computer did 16 years ago. If Apple has no control over people's usage of their device and the demands they make of it I'm not surprised power is an issue.

But then, when I had my first iPhone 15 months ago, before they started upgrading the OS, the power didn't last a full 24 hours without a recharge. I now carry it with a battery pack case the whole time, just in case. And it's not a 3Gs, it's an ordinary 3G.

Call me cynical, but it's just possible this has been a bit of a design niggle for longer than Apple wants to tell us. ]]> Apple Hardware GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224639.html News Story Can a Cosmic iPhone bring order to your life? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story224558.html Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:12:49 GMT It has long been affectionately known as the Jesus Phone (http://www.itpro.co.uk/blogs/daveyw/2008/08/28/jesus-phone-does-not-perform-miracles/) because of the almost religious following it receives, but can the iPhone really harness the power of the Cosmos to help organise your life? Veteran TV... It has long been affectionately known as the Jesus Phone because of the almost religious following it receives, but can the iPhone really harness the power of the Cosmos to help organise your life? Veteran TV presenter Noel Edmonds, he of Deal or No Deal, Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old and Noel's Christmas Presents fame reckons it can.

Indeed, Edmonds already created something of a fuss about the new age concept of Cosmic Ordering after taking to drawing different symbols on his hand for each show in the Deal or No Deal TV programme. The show became hugely popular here in the UK, catapulting the former-star back into the media limelight after having been largely off the small screen for some years. There was plenty of speculation about the images drawn on his hands, but they were eventually revealed to be part of the whole Cosmic Ordering thing which seems to involve making requests of the Cosmos which are then granted for those who adopt a positive attitude to life.

Positive Apps, the developers of the Noel Edmonds' Cosmic Ordering iPhone App, are keen to point out that "Cosmic Ordering is not a whacky form of prayer" and that they cannot "actually prove that it exists" however they also insist that it "can change your life forever".

Noel Edmonds says, in the blurb for the software at the iPhone App Store, that "Cosmic Ordering has over the past 4 years brought me a fresh, exciting lifestyle full of love, laughter, happiness and success." Not quite sure what he was ordering from the Cosmos two years ago, then, when it was reported that Edmonds was believed to have lost a small fortune as a result of the collapse of his Unique Group business. This was the company that owned the intellectual property rights to perhaps the best known of the Noel Edmonds creations, Mr Blobby.

Anyway, allowing for that apparent blip in the cosmic order of things, what do you get for the £1.19 ($1.92) that the iPhone app costs? I bit the cosmic bullet, dipped into my cosmic wallet and downloaded it to find out. While I was waiting for it to install I read some of the instructions, which seem to revolve around the fact that the Cosmos will not deliver upon your life requests unless you set yourself clear goals, open your mind, body and soul to life's opportunities and "most importantly of all" believe in yourself and your own abilities.

Right, so plenty of get out clauses when it doesn't actually work then. Looks like it will be all my own fault. Sweet. Microsoft should try that one.

The first thing you notice, and you really cannot escape it, is the fact that Noel Edmonds is big in Cosmic Ordering: so big his face fills the entire iPhone screen when you launch the app. I could have done without that, to be honest. Hit the big ? button on the toolbar and you get more Noel, explaining in a video how Cosmic Ordering can change your life. I am starting to wonder if I have actually just bought a Noel Edmonds PR application by mistake here. Ah, hit the 'manage' button and you get the chance to 'Make a Cosmic Order' which I do against a pink and blue background of stars and suchlike. Not being too greedy, I opt for winning the UK National Lottery this Wednesday when the jackpot will be much smaller than either the Saturday draw or the Euro Lottery draw on Friday. Hitting the button to launch my order it vanishes in a star-field screensaver effect, complete with Disney fairy twinkling sounds. I'm not sure if this is important to make it work or not.

So what else does it do? Actually, not a lot. I can sort my orders by category such as health, wealth, happiness etc. I can flag them as being completed, although obviously I will have to wait until Wednesday night for confirmation of my lottery win.

Ah, the penny drops: I've bought a Cosmic ToDo list with pink and blue stars, twinkly sound effects and a video of Noel Edmonds. If you do believe in this stuff, save yourself a quid and just use any free ToDo list app on the iPhone and you'll surely still achieve the same results?

If there was any justice in the Cosmos, Apple would have approved the Google Voice app and the South Park app. Maybe I should send a Cosmic Order requesting approval for those two much more deserving apps, and another for a full refund, before I delete this one from my iPhone? ]]> Apple Hardware happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224558.html Firefox and safari crashing with youtube? http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224317.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:57:05 GMT hey guys, I'm having alot of trouble at the moment with my browsers, safari and ff crash frequently whenever I seem to do something flash related, I'm not sure what's going on but I here is something that just happened then;



Add-ons: {d10d0bf8-f5b5-c8b4-a8b2-2b9879e08c5d}:1.1.1,{972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}:3.5.3
BuildID: 20090824085414
CrashTime: 1253414737
InstallTime: 1252643818
ProductName: Firefox
SecondsSinceLastCrash: 74591
StartupTime: 1253412805
Theme: classic/1.0
Throttleable: 1
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQmZ6XnfluU
Vendor: Mozilla
Version: 3.5.3

This report also contains technical information about the state of the application when it crashed.




if anyone has any ideas I would be most greatfull

cheers ]]> Mac Software jonoj http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread224317.html Snow Leopard Print Coupon Install Fails http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread223294.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:11:27 GMT I am new to the MAC Pro Book Intel(6\09)
Hot Coupon World's printer installer fails to install after Snow Leopard was installed Any suggestions? I did not get any useful help from Hot Coupon World. It worked fine in OX 10.5.
As far as I know, I am not restricting anything that I know of.
My wife needs me to get this problem fixed so she can print those coupons. Please help. ]]> OS X eagle1147 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread223294.html Disable Ctrl + Click http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread223288.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:33:45 GMT I've had my mac for a few months, and remember when I first got it during set up that it asked me if i wanted to use ctrl+click as my secondary click. I now want to disable it but cannot for the life of me figure out how or where to do that. I'm running Mac OS X 10.5.8, any help would be much appreciated! ]]> OS X twolfcorner2009 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread223288.html <![CDATA[News Story Maybe Apple's Onto Something with the FM Radio]]> http://www.daniweb.com/news/story223257.html Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:04:45 GMT With the September 9th Keynote in our rear view mirror, we can begin to look back at it with a more unbiased eye, and explore some of the new features more clearly. It's obvious by now that this wasn't in any way a major announcement. This was exacerbated by the tantalizing rumors that floated all about prior to the Keynote (as I wrote in Apple Rumor Mill Comes Up Empty Again). But one new feature that slipped under the radar a bit was the announcement that for the first time, Apple was including an FM Radio in the Nano line.

"BFD," I hear you say, "so it has a radio. Whooptydoo," which is to be honest, is what I thought until a conversation convinced me that perhaps Apple is onto something a bit deeper.

Buying Songs From The Radio

I was having a casual GTalk conversation with my publisher at FierceContentManagement, Ron Lichtinger, when he pointed out there might be more to this FM Radio than meets the eye. In particular, he suggested, "Being able to buy songs instantly from the radio and storing it on your iPod is pretty darn cool – satellite radio has been doing it for a while, but that’s satellite radio. FM (and High Def) radio are free, but now, you’ll be able to tag and then pay for songs (through iTunes of course) as you’re listening to them." And that's when it hit me that including the FM radio was actually another smart move from Apple

What this does is take the same marketing scheme recording companies have used since the advent of radio, and gives it a new digital twist. Instead of hearing the song on the radio a few times and thinking, 'I really like that. I should get in my car and go to my brick and mortar shop, or buy it the next time I'm in iTunes,' you could potentially click a link and buy it instantly in iTunes. Are you a big fan? Maybe they could try to upsell you to the album, or if you're a really big fan, the Deluxe Album (with extras like unreleased tracks which I wrote about in Apple Brings the Digital Album to iTunes).

Keep Feeding that Cash Cow

This could potentially mean more revenue for the iTunes store of course, which in turn could provide additional revenue for the sagging recording industry at the same time. "With the amount of people that buy iPods, that could be a lot of potential revenue for a beleaguered media format," Lichtinger says. He's right of course. It opens up a potentially large revenue stream where none existed before and it didn't require a huge technological leap for Apple to do it.

The new Deluxe Albums and the FM radio provide a couple of new sources of revenue for the iTunes Store, which has always been a cash cow for Apple. The FM radio, which seemed like a throw-in at first glance, could be so much more than that. Now if they could only put a camera on the Touch and everyone would be happy. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread223257.html upgrade G4 Mac mini hard drive http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222946.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:34:18 GMT Hi I have inherited a G4 Mac mini with 40gb hard drive which I want to upgrade to 160gb. I do not have the original Tiger install DVDs and I am using it with a windows keyboard and mouse for the moment. I have created a bootable backup of the current hard drive using Super Duper and have saved it... Hi I have inherited a G4 Mac mini with 40gb hard drive which I want to upgrade to 160gb. I do not have the original Tiger install DVDs and I am using it with a windows keyboard and mouse for the moment. I have created a bootable backup of the current hard drive using Super Duper and have saved it on an external USB drive, I have installed the new 160gb hard drive and would like to boot from the external drive and reinstall what was on the old drive onto the new drive. Is this possible? If not how can I install the new hard drive without the original DVDs or a firewire external drive? Thanks, Richard ]]> Apple Hardware richardspain http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222946.html online backup for mac and pc http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222859.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:46:54 GMT Carbonite is an online duplication care ready to both Windows and Mac users that provides limitless duplicate space to consumers and shrimpy businesses. Though their is a movement of online approving solutions obtainable on the Cyberspace yet their are hardly few of them that can support client... Carbonite is an online duplication care ready to both Windows and Mac users that provides limitless duplicate space to consumers and shrimpy businesses. Though their is a movement of online approving solutions obtainable on the Cyberspace yet their are hardly few of them that can support client spirit. Carbonite backup is one specified online part serving that delivers the mortal realizable consumer spirit due to their hardworking and dedicated group. Online patronage personnel is prefab up for those computer users who spend most of their regular history around computer and Net.

Cynthia Kurtz
DataDepositBox.com now offers free online backup trials for mac and pc users. Try it today.
online backup for mac and pc ]]> Mac Software cynthia145 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222859.html How to Resize Image on Mac OS X (Including Snow Leopard) http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222809.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:07:52 GMT Resize your high resolution image would help you to save more space of your computer, and you can also resize the photos as wallpapers for your iPhone 3GS, PSP or Blackberry. Then how you can resize image on Mac Snow Leopard (http://www.mediasoftmac.com/mac-photo-magic.html)? There are lots of... Resize your high resolution image would help you to save more space of your computer, and you can also resize the photos as wallpapers for your iPhone 3GS, PSP or Blackberry. Then how you can resize image on Mac Snow Leopard? There are lots of online image resize tool, however, what would be better to have an image resizing tool on your Mac to help you resize your photos anywhere any time. PhotoMagic for Mac can be a magnificent tool to help you complete the task. Check the following tutorial for resize image on Mac.

Step 1. Launch Program and Drag in your Photo
Click PhotoMagic icon and drag in your photo according to the instruction or you can drag in the photo folder directly.


Step 2. Resize your Photo according to your Needs
Click Resize button and you can resize the photo to the fixed size offered by the program or you can also change the width and height or scale according to your needs. If you want to share your All Saints' day or Christmas Day photos on facebook or Flickr, just resize it as your bardian requirement.


Step 3. Click Save As to Save Resized Photo
After resizing, save the photo by clicking Save As button. Type in the photo name, choose where and which format to save the resized photo. Compare before and after resized photo here!


PhotoMagic for Mac is especially designed for Mac users which can support the latest released Snow Leopard. ]]> Mac Software wenice http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222809.html hey guys need a little help finding an application... http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222595.html Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:26:49 GMT Hey guys, so i need to find an application that can do the following: * Keep a searchable database on stock * Keep a database of all customers and their data (PO numbers etc) * be able to invoice a customer when a sale is made by selecting the items from the system they have purchased or... Hey guys, so i need to find an application that can do the following:

  • Keep a searchable database on stock
  • Keep a database of all customers and their data (PO numbers etc)
  • be able to invoice a customer when a sale is made by selecting the items from the system they have purchased or ordered.
  • Be able to add up all the taxes and produce a total...
  • and finally keep track of all the orders...

I would need it to be accessible on 3-4 computers, not necessarily all at the same time.
I was thinking if i got a program i could then buy a server and host it in the shop to serve this whole system...

Any ideas guys?

Currently the system we are using is a custom made dos program and its really really inefficient and needs to be upgraded.

Thanks, Dani ]]> Mac Software dani190 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222595.html News Story Apple Rumor Mill Comes Up Empty Again http://www.daniweb.com/news/story222104.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:00:51 GMT Yesterday was Apple's Keynote, and you would think we would have learned by now that Apple rumors are meaningless. As the buzz grows louder before each of these events, there are rumors so convincing we think they must be a fait accompli. I mean how many of you thought you would wake up this morning to find the iPod Touch still doesn't have a camera? Not many, I'm sure and even fewer hands would go up if you suggested the *Nano* would have one. Yet each keynote, we still believe.

Remember the last one? Sure you do. There was a rumor about the $800 Mac Book. It was so solid it was sure to happen, only it didn't. And the Tablet, that one surfaced this year too, yet there was no Tablet. Why do we fall for it every time? It must be that we want to believe.

What Happened to that Camera?

If we were sure of anything prior to yesterday's Keynote, it was that the Touch would have a camera. What we got was pretty good: a price cut, more power; but we wanted a camera, dammit and we didn't get one. I for one am completely shocked, but not nearly so much as the fact that Nano was given one (along with a pedometer and FM radio). Steve Jobs likes to keep us guessing and this one came out of left field. No iPod has ever had an FM transmitter before (or a pedometer for that matter, a neat but frivolous feature).

The Touch deserved this feature. It's worked hard to be a good solider in the iPod line and Jobs gave it to the Nano?! What a slap in the face that was. Rumor has it (if you still believe Apple rumors) that the Touch is so devastated by this decision that it's in hiding and refusing to see anyone. Consumers who fully expected a camera on our Touch this morning feel the same way.

As for That Tablet

Then there's the Tablet. You know the one. People were actually describing this thing and pricing it. It felt so real, and yet once again the rug was pulled out from under us. Alas, there was no Tablet and we were left empty and wondering why Apple would treat us so badly. And there are clearly people who want to buy this lovely bit of vaporware (can hardware be vaporware too?). A market salivating for a product that doesn't exist (at least not yet). Why would Apple do that? Maybe it just wasn't ready for prime time. Perhaps next time.

The Beatles-iTunes thing didn't happen either, a minor disappointment compared to the other items that were rumored yet never materialized. Sure, what they announced wasn't bad, but the Apple rumor mill is so strong and so convincing, it's hard not to be disappointed by what got left out, even if Apple took no part in generating these rumors.

For now, we are left to sit and wait until the next Keynote when you can be sure we will play this same game all over again. And we will still believe. You know we will. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222104.html G4 hard drive upgrade http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222084.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:44:40 GMT I have a PowerMac G4 867 Quicksilver tower, 80G internal hard drive, running 10.3.9, and would like to upgrade to a larger drive. I read that officially, internal drives larger than 128 G are not supported. Is this true, or is there a work around that would allow a drive larger than 128 G? Thanks. I have a PowerMac G4 867 Quicksilver tower, 80G internal hard drive, running 10.3.9, and would like to upgrade to a larger drive. I read that officially, internal drives larger than 128 G are not supported. Is this true, or is there a work around that would allow a drive larger than 128 G? Thanks. ]]> Apple Hardware Doc B http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread222084.html News Story Is this another service pack I see before me? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story221990.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:47:49 GMT Apple has launched new additions to its iPod range and improved two of its working environments, iPhone 3.1 software is out, and joined by a new version of the iTunes store.

Only...there isn't much new in any of this. Let's take a look at the iTunes store first. You can now buy music in 'LP' versions, with extra features like little video documentaries. Well, forgive me for saying so but as far as I can see the company's been selling video for quite a while now. Adding the two together isn't new or revolutionary, and neither is adding art (I've had 'digital booklets' with downloads years ago). Yes it's a bit prettier and easier to navigate than before, but it's a bit like rearranging furniture. Convenient but not essential.

Likewise sticking a video camera on the back of an iPod. Apple makes a big thing of this and woo-hoo, so do many Apple fans. Steve Jobs himself made quite a thing of how they've been watching the Flip Video space.

This got me excited briefly I have to admit, because Flip has an HD model. High definition from something that small was...well, wasn't going to happen because it's not what was announced, this is ordinary if serviceable VGA quality video. Which is fine, but not something with any particular zap. The iPod Nanos remain serviceable and elegant and yes, there are some new colours, but that's about it.

And then there's the iPhone software upgrade. Apple fans will hate this but I've upgraded, had a look at the phone and - call me an idiot if you want - I can't see the difference. Apple says it synchronises better than it did, and it might well - as always, Apple, thanks for fixing a problem I didn't know I had. It was already working fine.

None of this would matter for any other company but Apple has built itself a reputation for making the next big thing. People were (ill-advisedly) expecting the announcement that the Beatles were available for legitimate download (on the day they released their remastered catalogue at great expense, yeah, that was going to happen!) or the long-rumoured Apple Tablet. Instead, the announcements following the distinctly dull Snow Leopard upgrade weren't actually much of an event.

There is nothing wrong with streamlining a Web design, adding an ordinary camera, all those things. But doing so with such a big event and jamboree about it is going to make Apple's events a laughing stock unless they have something substantial to announce next time. ]]> Apple Hardware GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221990.html Question about user accounts. http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221809.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:35:54 GMT New mini - with 10.6 - has been shipped. Should have it any day. :icon_cheesygrin: This is my second Mac. This time I want to set up an Admin. Acct. and a separate User Acct., without admin privileges, for daily use. Will this new acct. be able to access my old files, which are backed up on an... New mini - with 10.6 - has been shipped. Should have it any day. :icon_cheesygrin:
This is my second Mac. This time I want to set up an Admin. Acct. and a separate User Acct., without admin privileges, for daily use. Will this new acct. be able to access my old files, which are backed up on an ext. HD? If not, how can this be resolved? ]]> OS X V_W http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221809.html News Story Apple Brings the Digital Album to iTunes http://www.daniweb.com/news/story221797.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:54:05 GMT Apple introduced a new feature today that lets you buy an album from iTunes complete with extra material like bonus recordings, video footage, lyrics and more. This is the kind of package I was suggesting the record companies need to bring to CDs a couple of weeks ago in my post Record Companies... Apple introduced a new feature today that lets you buy an album from iTunes complete with extra material like bonus recordings, video footage, lyrics and more. This is the kind of package I was suggesting the record companies need to bring to CDs a couple of weeks ago in my post Record Companies Must Stop Being Stupid to Salvage CD Sales. By supplying these types of bonuses, Apple is luring the true fans to buy not just one or two great songs, but an entire package of music and multimedia in a move that should not only boost iTunes sales, but also salvages the idea of the complete album for a new generation of listeners.

One and Done

I know I probably sound old when I say it, but most albums these days only have one or two tracks worth buying, which is probably why young people have been conditioned to buy the couple of songs they like, rather than the whole package. Back in the day, we bought a vinyl album and we listened to the whole thing. As part of that experience, we learned to like the other tracks. And it turned out, they often were well worth listening to. Later the CD enabled us to skip tracks we didn't like, and a remote made that dead simple.

Digital Age

With the advent of iTunes, the idea of a whole package of music went out the window. People bought the songs they liked, made playlists of these individual tunes and packed them on the iPod to take on their way. The idea that an artist could tell a musical story disappeared. In the old days, artists like Bruce Springsteen and Kurt Cobain would agonize over the order of the tracks. They wanted the perfect transition, just the right flow to tell a musical story, but digital music took that control away from the artist. Listeners could reorder tracks themselves if they wished.

Enter the Digital Album

Today, Steve Jobs brought the album back. One example is Bob Dylans' classic Highway 61 Revisited (Deluxe Version) which gives you all of the great tracks that came on the original including Like A Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues and Ballad of a Thin Man, but also provides 13 bonus tracks from the original sessions and some live footage from the Newport Folk Festival. For Dylan fans (and you can count me among them), this is an amazing opportunity to listen to and see some rare material. Jobs has taken the digital buying experience to another level with this concept, and at the same time probably banged another nail into the CD's coffin.

This approach to me is pure genius and it's the reason why Jobs has a reputation of a man on a mission. Even after all these years, and a year of illness, he and the organization he heads continues to think and innovate and the Digital Album is just further proof of their ability to do this. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221797.html <![CDATA[News Story Top 10 reasons why I don't care about The Beatles on iTunes]]> http://www.daniweb.com/news/story221694.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:09:05 GMT All the news and social media feeds seem to have overdosed on one story this week: will The Beatles be on iTunes after the big Apple 'Rock and Roll' event today? News at eleven: I don't give a stuff, and here's my top ten reasons why.
  1. Most people would rather have an iPod with a camera than an iPod with The Beatles.
  2. Reality check: the only people who are really getting their knickers in a knot over the possibility of Beatles music on iTunes, unfortunately, would be we the media.
  3. The Beatles are not, and I'm really sorry to have to break this to the fans out there, I repeat not the biggest/best/hottest band on the planet. The hard truth of the matter is that in 2009 The Beatles are simply not relevant, in music terms.
  4. If I wanted Beatles music on my iPod I would have copied tracks off the over priced Beatles box set CDs I had bought (I don't, and I have not bought a box set, but plenty do and have) rather than be stupid enough to pay twice for the same music.
  5. If the record companies really cared about music fans, also known as their customers, they would have made the Beatles back catalogue available in digital format a long time ago. They have not, ipso facto they don't give a stuff about us so why should we give a stuff about them. Even if there was an announcement at the Apple event today, it's too little and too late to make any difference.
  6. The news feeds have taken two plus two and come out with five. The Apple event was announced with a tagline of "It's only rock-n-roll but we like it" and everyone said oh they are talking about The Beatles. Totally failing to notice that it is actually a Rolling Stones reference.
  7. If you do want Beatles music but don't have the cash or inclination to line the greedy record company coffers, pop down to the local garage and pick a CD out of the bargain bin for a few pennies. There are plenty of them available, then just rip them onto your MP3 player. It's doubtful that the police will be breaking your door down any time soon as a result.
  8. It's not even as if Beatles music isn't already available online for download, it is by the barrow-load. OK, none of it is legal, but it does already exist and how.
  9. The sixties were a long time ago, get over it.
  10. Beatles Rock Band, the game, is a far more relevant and interesting way to get into the 'Fab Four' in the 21st century. You might as well have some fun while listening to the tedious pop melodies of yesteryear.
]]> Mac Rumors and Reports happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221694.html HELP: Install MacOX for VMWare use (windows) http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221461.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:14:46 GMT Hello all, I have been search for days on how to do this without a single thing explaining how it can be done. I have imaged my Mac OS cd to a .iso that is readable by my windows platform, but how do I go about creating a VMWare usable workstation for this? Everyone I find documents saying... Hello all,

I have been search for days on how to do this without a single thing explaining how it can be done. I have imaged my Mac OS cd to a .iso that is readable by my windows platform, but how do I go about creating a VMWare usable workstation for this? Everyone I find documents saying "download torrent xyz" but I want to do this legally. I know I got to patch the disk but still no step by step guide in the process. Please note, I want to make a image for VMware, not install it to boot into (as I already got that)

As for the legal matter I know the speach about "you can't legally install mac on a non mac computer due to licensing agreements." That is not an issue as I am on a brand new MacBook Pro.

The issue is 99% of my development is done with windows Applications. While Parrellel Desktop works ok for some stuff, what I do in my every day to day life just isn't working from Parrellel as it's constant "loading" icon is causing my productivity to be 10 times less. I have gone through all the configuration option since any mac user I asked simply responded is "Its award winning man, I can read a notepad and send an IM without any problem! You must have it setup wrong" and the end result is, no I do not. It simply is running an emulation rom of a windows OS and I do far to much at a given time for it to keep up.

So my solution was BootCamp which works great but now when I do need my mac OS (the reason I bought this), which is to develop iPhone apps, I need to boot into mac closing everything I am doing. Ideally like "Parrellel is for mac" to allow mac use with minimal windows apps at the same time, I want to use my mac from windows, with minimal mac OS (emulating it) as I need.

I know for a fact it is possible as before I bought this mac I invested in looking at the rom, and it did indeed load up just fine in mac OS10 using vmWare. I need to know though how to manually create my OWN image so I can run it legally on my mac bought computer in the background of windows when needed.

Any help is greatly appreciated! ]]> OS X CoderGuru http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread221461.html jdk6 for mac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread216095.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:11:24 GMT i need help on how to get jdk6.. i am using mac OS X 10.4.11 n i wanna get jdk6 but i cant find any...need some help here, any advise?? i need help on how to get jdk6.. i am using mac OS X 10.4.11 n i wanna get jdk6 but i cant find any...need some help here, any advise?? ]]> Mac Software tactfulsaint http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread216095.html login problem http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread216090.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:24:38 GMT Hi,
I'm new to mac and forums so feel free to correct me if I'm in the wrong place. I was given an iMac with os x 10.2.8 and I tried to set up a new user, it froze up and I log off. Now I have a screen with no desktop just a blue screen with white spirals. Any way to get back without the start up disk.
Thanks for any help ]]> OS X vtmac http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread216090.html different types of applicatons n Iphone http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215928.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:52:36 GMT anyone please explain me what is productive application and immersive application.. Thanks and regrards dhanya anyone please explain me what is productive application and immersive application..
Thanks and regrards
dhanya ]]> Apple Hardware dhanya_piit http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215928.html <![CDATA[That's Snow Upgrade]]> http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220788.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:25:08 GMT We've just had a public holiday in the UK. On the last Monday of August nobody works, including the postal delivery men. Which is probably why it wasn't until this morning that I received my copies of Snow Leopard - one for the laptop and one for the desktop - for the Mac.

An Apple OS upgrade. This has always been exciting, with major stuff added, easier and better displays and so on.

Not this time. I have it on good authority that if you're working with Microsoft Exchange then it's an excellent thing and will make your system integrate much better. I'm not entirely convinced that community shouldn't just use Windows anyway, I have to confess. Probably someone, somewhere knows.

Outside of that, an extra keyboard and character viewer on the screen might come in useful - although I'm writing in English we have a lot of contacts on this side of the Atlantic who have a number of accents etc. in their name so easy access to those will be good. Easy access to recent documents just became simpler, although I see the stack of downloads on the launch bar has vanished by default.

And...er...that's it. Nothing more to report. Possibly one of the most-hyped but dullest responses ever. I forget who Tweeted last week that it was a service pack, but...it's a service pack. ]]> OS X GuyClapperton http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220788.html Data CD http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215472.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:05:29 GMT I burned a CD on windows Vista with files/programs I need on a mac laptop, but when I insert the CD, nothing happens. I was told that an icon is supposed to come up on the desktop, but none do. I am extremely new to mac (got it 1 day ago). Is there any way to explore the contents of the CD? ... I burned a CD on windows Vista with files/programs I need on a mac laptop, but when I insert the CD, nothing happens. I was told that an icon is supposed to come up on the desktop, but none do. I am extremely new to mac (got it 1 day ago). Is there any way to explore the contents of the CD?

PS the same thing happens with flash drives. ]]> OS X waldchr http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215472.html Snow Leopard http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215374.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:11:02 GMT Have you downloaded snow leopard yet? I was planning to stop by the Apple Store and get it today instead of ordering online but I was not looking forward to the long line. So what do you think of Snow Leopard? What sup with Apple naming system? I do like it but do you think they are running out of... Have you downloaded snow leopard yet? I was planning to stop by the Apple Store and get it today instead of ordering online but I was not looking forward to the long line. So what do you think of Snow Leopard? What sup with Apple naming system? I do like it but do you think they are running out of animals? ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports InsightsDigital http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215374.html Product Review TomTom for iPhone http://www.daniweb.com/reviews/thread220785.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:30:53 GMT I drive hundreds of miles every week, I write about technology for a living, I've been a TomTom user for years and I own an iPhone. It had to be done, I just had to review the TomTom satnav app for the iPhone.

Being both an iPhone 3GS owner and a happy TomTom satnav in-car user, like many people I had been waiting for the iPhone TomTom application to arrive. The delays seemed to go on forever, and in the meantime other players had entered the market: both Navigon MobileNavigator and ALK CoPilot Live launched before TomTom got into the App Store. But first is not always best, and as TomTom is pretty much the undisputed market leader I decided to hold out and wait for it to finally arrive. Not that it has finally arrived as I was hoping, by which I mean that the software application itself is now in the iPhone App Store for download but the hardware side of the product has yet to be released to retailers. I asked TomTom about this lack of the car kit at the moment, and a spokesperson told me it is "in the process of fine-tuning it so it lives up to the standards and quality we set for our products, and plan to announce the availability and pricing later this summer." Apparently a commercial decision was taken to make the software available despite the car kit not being ready just yet. "Although using the two together will certainly optimise the experience" TomTom says "they work as standalone solutions" so I thought I would put that claim to the test.

Not just the 'I've had the thing for 30 minutes and I'm now ready to review it' which often appears in the rush to be first on the web to have a review of a new product, but a the kind of real world review you can only get by listening to someone who has actually used the product being reviewed and used it over an extended period. In the case of TomTom for iPhone I have been using it every day since it became available, which means the best part of two weeks now. I've used it when driving well known local routes, and I've used it when driving halfway across the country without a clue where I am going other than the address I have been given. Along the way I have uncovered just how well this particular satnav solution performs in terms of routing, display, GPS signal lock, speed and battery life as well as being able to compare it to my dedicated in-car TomTom satnav device.

Just for the record, this review is based upon TomTom for iPhone UK and Ireland edition installed on an iPhone 3GS. The in-car testing was done using a Nissan X-Trail.

OK, so let's start at the beginning with the cost. TomTom is clearly positioning itself towards the premium end of the iPhone satnav market. Of the big three products available at the time of writing, TomTom (UK and Ireland) is the most expensive at £59.99 (US $98) ahead of Navigon MobileNavigator which costs £52.99 (US $86) for the UK edition and the undoubted bargain of the bunch ALK CoPilot Live which comes in at just £25.99 (US $42) for the UK maps. Although there is still no sign of confirmed pricing for the TomTom in-car kit, we did break the news recently that one online retailer had been spotted taking pre-orders at £113.85 ($193.75) which works out to £99 ($168.50) plus tax, for the car kit. TomTom's official stance on this remains "As we have not confirmed pricing for the iPhone app, we are unsure why this website is quoting that price." Whatever the end price, it will only help confirm the TomTom solution as being a premium priced product, so does it deliver in terms of performance?

There have been quite a few complaints within the App Store customer reviews regarding poor GPS reception, with some claiming to be unable to get a lock at all while others maintain that the application would always be stumbling around a few yards behind the actual position of the car - not ideal if it tells you to turn left after you have driven past the street in question. Equally, the GPS complainers recount how rerouting is painfully slow. Some even state that this is in stark contrast to applications such as Google Maps which get a GPS lock on the same iPhone without fuss and hang on to it accordingly. I am not suggesting that their experiences are not real, but I can only review the product as I personally found it: and I found it to not only lock onto a GPS signal very quickly indeed (a matter of a few seconds) but hang on to that signal no matter where I drove. I live in a pretty rural location but TomTom for iPhone always knew where I was, just as it did when I ventured into built up areas including large cities complete with tall buildings. Quite simply, the GPS signal never let me down once and that included a mammoth 5 hour cross-country drive with just a couple of stops to answer the call of nature and grab a coffee.

Now this GPS performance surprised me, and I will explain why. For a start, I did not expect an in-car native iPhone GPS signal to be much cop, to be honest. Especially as one of the main selling points of the in-car kit that TomTom assures me will be available before the end of the Summer (it had better hurry up as Summer is fading fast here in the UK) is a built-in SiRF Star III GSC3f/LPx 7989 GPS chipset and antenna for enhanced GPS performance. You would have thought that was the kind of price boosting component that would only be included if the iPhone hardware was inadequate. Yet there I was, driving around with a rock-solid GPS signal with my iPhone not placed on the dashboard or windscreen, in fact with no clear view of the sky at all! I had the iPhone sitting on a bean bag inside the dashtop glovebox on front of the driver in the X-Trail, with the box lid resting down on the top of the landscape iPhone to keep the sun off. Yet it managed to lock on and retain a good enough GPS signal to ensure it always knew where I was, without any obvious lagging behind my actual position, and even re-route in the blink of an eye when I deliberately went off the planned route.

To say I have been impressed by this performance is an understatement. I was equally impressed by the mapping and routing, allowing for the fact that I have yet to find any satnav which gets things 100% right 100% of the time. Full seven digit postcode input is supported, or you can use the usual array of streets, maps, points of interest etc to plan a route. TomTom for iPhone uses the latest TeleAtlas maps just like the dedicated in-car products it sells, and they come complete with TomTom IQ routing technology. This basically calculates the quickest routes based upon the time and day of the journey, drawing upon the experience of millions of TomTom users who have driven those roads before you. It manages to base your route calculation upon the actual speeds of those drivers compare to speed limits, and manages to get it right most every time in terms of the most efficient route taking into account distance and speed. As I've already mentioned, go off route and the automatic rerouting kicks in. I found this to be very quick, in fact comparable to the standalone in-car TomTom solutions. But perhaps most importantly the maps on the iPhone, which I kept in landscape mode during my drives, were clear and precise. They scrolled very smoothly, zooming automatically, and were accompanied by a nice loud voice of my choosing to call out the turn by turn instructions. Unfortunately these were of the turn left, turn right variety instead of calling the road names. Equally unfortunately, the TomTom for iPhone interface is missing the hugely useful (especially when you drive as many motorway miles as I do) advanced lane change guidance which shows you exactly where you should be when motorways merge or junctions approach.

The biggest omission from the maps side of things, though, has to be the double whammy of no mapshare support at this time and no TomTom LIVE services. This means that without mapshare support you cannot report when the maps have got it wrong (road is one way, doesn't exist or whatever) and upload that information so that the whole TomTom driving community can benefit by having their maps and routes updated. Quite incredibly though, given that the iPhone is a smartphone and that data is at the heart of the beast, the lack of LIVE service support means there are no traffic reports so no routing around the jams. I can understand the lack of data support for the iPhone when using a standalone TomTom satnav, that's more to do with Apple than it is TomTom after all. But given that the application is running on the device itself, I can see no reason why data integration should not have been available from launch. I can only assume that it will be added on later as an upgrade, no doubt at additional cost but then again LIVE services carry a subscription fee for in-car products so that should not come as any real surprise. You do get a freebie in the form of built-in speed camera alerts on TomTom iPhone which was a nice surprise.

Talking of no surprises, I was a little taken aback to see people complaining that the iPhone battery was being drained quickly by TomTom, as if that was not going to happen with something that is pushing the iPhone to the limits in terms of the hardware being used. I would not dream of using an in-car satnav of any kind on battery power, to be fair, and the iPhone should be treated no differently. Just for the purposes of review, however, I did unplug it from my cigar lighter adapter to record the rate of battery depletion. I guess the best word to sum it up is fast. I lost 45% of battery capacity in 1 hour of usage. No surprise there then.

I was kind of expecting a poor performance when it came to contacts integration, the ability to tap on one of your iPhone contacts and be routed right to them, given the poor performance experienced by some App Store reviewers. But again, it was like I was using a different product to them as not a single one of my contacts threw up the dreaded cannot recognise address format message some report seeing all the time, it just routed me straight to the right address. The Points of Interest, although not supporting user editing at the moment, are well integrated with the iPhone. By which I mean that it is nice to be able to not only route to a POI by way of it being near to your current location, in a city, near your home, near the destination or along the route, but also to be able to place a phone call to those POIs using the same criteria. Talking of phone calls, all is not rosy in the telephony integration garden although you cannot blame TomTom for this one. If you get an incoming call while driving a route, you have a choice to make: accept the call and lose the routing for the duration, or decline the call. The iPhone cannot run multiple applications at the same time, so you will see an accept/decline screen when an incoming call is received and if you decline that's it, no interruption. Accept the call and you fall out of the satnav application until you hang up, then it restarts and dumps you back into the route you were on before. Obviously, as you have been moving there will then be a slight delay while the GPS gets a lock again and puts you back on the right bit of the route. This is annoying, if you take a lot of calls when driving. Personally it's not a problem as I very rarely accept calls when on the move, preferring to concentrate on the task of getting from A to B without killing anyone, so no biggie. If you'll excuse the pun, your mileage may differ.

So, do I think it is worth the money? Ultimately yes, even though it is currently missing some bits that I would want before I will switch from standalone TomTom satnav to the all in one iPhone solution. Those bits being the in-car kit, mapshare support, LIVE services for traffic avoidance and the advanced lane change advice. Once they arrive this will be so good that, dare I say it, we could be looking at the start of the end for dedicated in-car satnav units. When phone-based navigation is this good, why bother with anything else?

If I was giving it a rating out of 10, TomTom for iPhone would currently be an 8.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg tomtom001.jpg (65.5 KB)
File Type: jpg tomtom002.jpg (101.8 KB)
File Type: jpg tomtom003.jpg (97.3 KB)
File Type: jpg tomtom004.jpg (77.1 KB)
]]> Apple Hardware happygeek http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220785.html News Story Has Linux Fallen into a Well? http://www.daniweb.com/news/story220784.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:18:31 GMT Does it seem to you that Linux distributions have fallen into to a well or other deep support chasm that defies the space-time continuum? It seems so to me. Linux distributions are lagging behind Windows and Mac in significant ways.
Well, it doesn't work for this chipset. Well, it works but you have to tweak it. Well, it works but...is the common theme for many Linux installations. This generates frustrations for users old and new. It's hard to convince someone to use Linux when it's even hard for me to do something that would be impossible for a newbie.

For example, yesterday I had heard enough complaints from my kids about their shared Windows XP laptop's slowness, unresponsiveness and general lack of pep. I summoned them all from their caves (Rooms with TVs) and told them to save off their valuable documents, songs and other files of interest to a flash drive because I am going to reimage the laptop. They complied. I planned to reimage it with Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop. There began my problems that appeared to remain unresolved until I put Windows XP back on it.

Don't fret, I went ahead with the installation of Ubuntu 9.04.

The installation went fine. The updating via apt-get went swimmingly. Sound, wired networking, video--everything was just perfect--until I tried to use the wireless networking, that is. The kids have to use wireless because the only wired connections are in my office and I don't want them in that close proximity to me for extended periods of time. I have to work, after all.

Much to my disappointment, though, my built-in Broadcom wireless network adapter wasn't supported by default. Why does it seem like that Linux supports everything except what I have? This is why, as I told a friend of mine, Linux will never unseat Windows as the reigning desktop computer dominant force. Never.

Oh, don't think for a minute that I'm turning my back on Linux--I'm not. Quite the opposite, in fact, since it would be so much easier to simply reimage the laptop with Windows XP from the rescue disks.

It does seem though that I wrestle with configurations for laptops, desktops and sometimes servers when using Linux but I've never given up on it. I likely never will. It would be nice, however, if everything just worked right out of the box like it's supposed to--at least once in a while.

And, no, I don't check the hardware compatibility list prior to purchase. If I did, I might not have any hardware at all. I buy what's available without regard for compatibility because I know that mass-produced hardware will have support--or should.

Like many of you, when I install Linux for someone else, I'd like for it to just 'work' without any problems so that they can see how awesome it is. Now, my kids are wondering if it was really worth all the trouble. 15 minutes to install and 15 hours to troubleshoot is not a good showing for a basic service like wireless networking.

Late-breaking Update: Fortunately, just a while ago, I found this fix that worked for me. Now the kids have a fully functional laptop that runs like one with much more RAM and a more powerful CPU.
I'll update you on their adoption of Linux. Who knows, this could be the beginning of a whole new era of posts generated from the experiences of the cave dwellers in my house. ]]> Apple Hardware khess http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220784.html News Story Apple Could Be Looking for New iPhone Partners in 2010 http://www.daniweb.com/news/story220783.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:09:56 GMT Apple Insider reports this morning that Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is predicting that Apple will end its exclusive agreement with AT&T by next summer. This rumor has been out there for some time (as I wrote back in June in Is Apple Getting Ready to Dump AT&T?). The exclusivity agreement never really made sense to me, but as the market matures, it makes even less.

Look at RIM

If you want an example of a handset maker that has thrived with a multiple carrier strategy, look no further than RIM. Today, in the US, you can buy multiple flavors of the Blackberry including the Storm, the Flip, the Bold, The Curve or the Tour. Each carrier has its own particular flavors. For instance, AT&T has the Blackberry Curve 8320, while Verizon has the Curve 8330. They are essentially the same phone, tuned for each carrier's network? Could Apple do something similar?

The Multiple Carrier Strategy Works

Munster points out that Apple has already experimented with a multiple carrier approach in France and found it worked to increase their market share. I've found carrier choice is based mostly on how good the coverage is in your area. In my home, for instance, I've found that I can't get a good Verizon signal, so I'm inclined to stick with AT&T.

I have friends who pine for an iPhone, but are tied to another carrier because of a family plan with different contract expiration dates (or for reasons like mine), but if the iPhone were offered by multiple carries, these folks have reported they would definitely take the plunge. This would likely mean an increase in market share since these folks are essentially tied to a particular carrier that's not AT&T.

Not All Wine and Roses for AT&T

As I wrote in AT&T's Love-Hate Relationship with Apple, it turns out that AT&T takes a big hit for subsidizing the iPhones, at least up front, but they most definitely make it back: As I wrote:

Quote:
As Renee Ritchie reports in the iPhone Blog, [monthly iPhone] data fees added up to hefty $3.4b in data revenues for the quarter. Yet even with that and selling and activating 2.4 million iPhones in the quarter, AT&T still managed to record a 15 percent year over year loss because they had to eat a bunch of money on those iPhone sales. Tough to swallow? Perhaps in the short-term, but in the big picture, AT&T knows that very soon the money spigot will be wide open and they will make that money back and then some.
In fact, the iPhone has been very, very good to AT&T, so much so Apple Insider says that AT&T is lobbying for one more year of exclusivity.

I'm with Munster on this one though. I'm betting they don't get it. As George Harrison once wrote, "all things must pass," and while the exclusive deal might have worked for the initial launch, the time has come for Apple to diversify across multiple carriers. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220783.html <![CDATA[MAC Wireless Issue & non MAC user]]> http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215093.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:46:55 GMT Greetings!

The facts. My girlfriend's MAC - I am a windows guy - and I am not in front of the computer. She is having issues connecting to the internet via wireless. The airport utility says that it is connected to the home wireless network (other people have internet in the house) like it always has. However, when she loads a web browser (firefox) it cannot connect to server.

Also she has noticed that the time and date have been reset to factory (I assume) settings; Dec 31, 2000.

we have tried:

- Plane restarting the computer
- Hard reset of the computer (starting without the power cord in)
- Resetting the wireless
- Purging the wireless network "remember list" (I am not totally sure on this, because I was doing it over the phone and mostly guess, but I am about 95% sure we did this correctly.)

I am generally at a loss of what to do next. My knowledge of MAC is very limited at best. I would truly appreciate some advice. Thanks in advance. ]]> OS X Dragonfyre http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread215093.html News Story Music industry serves up lyrical piracy lawsuits http://www.daniweb.com/news/story220777.html Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:58:07 GMT Continuing on its charm offensive, the music industry is apparently not satisfied with the $675,000 fine for sharing 30 songs imposed on Joel Tenenbaum or the $1.92 million Jammie Thomas-Rasset was hit with for illegally downloading 24 tunes. Now it is going after the lyrics pirates. The what?... Continuing on its charm offensive, the music industry is apparently not satisfied with the $675,000 fine for sharing 30 songs imposed on Joel Tenenbaum or the $1.92 million Jammie Thomas-Rasset was hit with for illegally downloading 24 tunes. Now it is going after the lyrics pirates.

The what? Well, exactly. But apparently three music publishers have filed copyright infringement suites against a couple of sites which display song lyrics so you can sing along while the music plays. According to an article in Billboard the two businesses concerned, Liveuniverse Inc and Motive Force LLC, have been accused of "exploiting unlicensed lyrics for profit through the operation of four web sites."

The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) accuses the businesses and their owners of engaging in willful copyright infringement on a vast scale. A press release explaining the action says "These sites are profiting on the backs of songwriters. It is unfortunate that copyright holders must so frequently divert energies to protect their rights to license and distribute their works. However, the demand for music prompts a seemingly endless stream of illegal business models."

The NMPA argues that music fans are the losers when free lyrics are posted online, and made available with iPhone apps for example when music is playing, because licensed businesses cannot prosper in the face of unlicensed competition. But some fans have been making it clear by posting to various forums online that they think just the opposite, with applications and websites removing the ability to display lyrics in fear of being sued themselves.

I think they, the fans, have a point. I cannot actually recall ever being tempted into going out and buying some sheet music to get the lyrics of a song. However, I have been known to buy more music by an artist when I have access to the words of the music I have already bought. Remember, in this digital age the CD sleeve with the lyrics printed inside has died out, why should I not be able to get those lyrics in the most convenient format and for free?

Until I see the details of how much money the music publishers are losing because of lyrics piracy I think I will choose to believe it's just a sinking industry desperate to screw fans out of every last penny before it finally dies. Here's a thought, Mr Music Industry Man, why not change your business model to adapt to the modern world instead of hitting music fans with the biggest sticks you can find at every available opportunity? ]]> Mac Rumors and Reports newsguy http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220777.html News Story Good Apple, Rotten Apple http://www.daniweb.com/news/story220774.html Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:42:15 GMT It certainly has been a roller coast ride of a month for Apple, and it continued this week with news they had allowed an iTunes competitor, Spotify (http://spotify.com/), to place an app in the App Store surprising many industry pundits who believed they would reject it. Meanwhile, earlier this... It certainly has been a roller coast ride of a month for Apple, and it continued this week with news they had allowed an iTunes competitor, Spotify, to place an app in the App Store surprising many industry pundits who believed they would reject it. Meanwhile, earlier this week Apple showed its petty side by issuing a take-down notice on Tuesday to UK IT publisher, The Register for posting a review of Snow Leopard, the new Apple OS in violation of what Apple lawyers called "confidential trade secrets."

That would have been more than enough for the entire month, but they've dealt with rumors of a possible Tablet, lawsuits, an FCC investigation and oh yes, they released a new version of that Snow Leopard OS this morning (Am I the only one who mixes up versions because they are all feline names?). This month has shown Apple is a complex organization, perhaps more so than we had previously thought.

First, The Good News

PaidContent.org reports that Apple has approved an iPhone App from Spotify. This is significant because Spotify is an online music service that at least has the potential to compete with a core iPhone application, iTunes (which is also a significant revenue source for Apple). This probably has less to do with altruism on Apple's part, so much as fear of an anti-trust or anti-competitive action by the government. As previously reported, Apple is already under investigation by the FCC for allegedly blocking the Google Voice app from the App store. Apple could very well be simply responding to the pressure this investigation has brought to bear on the App Store application approval process.

Then The Bad News

Apple has show it can be quite petty (as I wrote about in Apple Sinks to Blocking Pre Sync) and this side of the company was on full display this week when it issued a take-down notice to UK technology publisher, The Register, which to their credit was not intimidated by the considerable clout of the Apple legal team. The publication rightly pointed out the abject hypocrisy of the move when other publications published their own reviews just a day later. John Lattice wrote in a Register article:

Quote:
"This morning you may also have noted a rush of first looks at Snow Leopard in other publications, from Wired, MacWorld and the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg. Snow Leopard is out tomorrow, not today, but we suspect that Uncle Walt et al will not be hearing from O'Melveny & Myers LLP, and we have our doubts about whether we'll be hearing from them again either."
Another strange week in month full of bizarre tales from Cupertino. Perhaps the upcoming media event on September 9th will dazzle us anew and make us forget about all the front-page bad news coming Apple in August. New iPods with cool features could do a lot to turn the news around and back in Apple's favor. ]]> Apple Hardware Techwriter10 http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread220774.html