The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/C-Mac and Steve's excellent Cupertino adventurehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/c-mac-and-steves-excellent-cupertino-adventure/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/c-mac-and-steves-excellent-cupertino-adventure/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/c-mac-and-steves-excellent-cupertino-adventure/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Cult of Mac, Apple

Every other year for the last 7 years, Shawn King of the Your Mac Life podcast has given the Apple faithful a chance to go on a pilgrimage to 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, the location of Apple headquarters.

As part of our continuing coverage of Macworld Expo 2009, Christina Warren and yours truly hopped on the bus along with about 30 other alpha geeks to visit the Mecca of Macdom and pick up some Apple swag at the Company Store. Former TUAW blogger and Realmac Software PR Ninja Nik Fletcher joined to take photos.

I dropped some spendolas on Apple gear, including a logo hat, long-sleeve black mock tee, polo shirt, and three big coffee mugs. C-mac, being the resident TUAW fashionista, bought an Apple notebook (the kind with paper sheets in it), a couple of pens, a navy hoodie, a knit cap, two caps (one knit, one military), and a short sleeve tee.

There were several prize drawings on the ride home, and I won an 8GB blue iPod nano courtesy of a "Secret Santa." Suh-weeet!

It's too late to join this year's Tour de Cupertino, but keep your eyes and ears open before future Macworld Expos to see if Shawn is planning another trip. Check out the gallery below.

Gallery: 2009CupertinoBus

On the bus

C-mac hard at work on the bus

More on the bus

Nik Fletcher / Christina Warren

The sign

C-Mac and Steve's excellent Cupertino adventure originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

C-Mac and Steve's excellent Cupertino adventure originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>cult of macCultOfMaccupertinogallerymacworld 2009macworld09Macworld2009macworldexpomwsfSteven SandeMon, 05 Jan 2009 20:30:00 ESTTUAW at Macworld 2009 -- First Photoshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/tuaw-at-macworld-2009-first-photos/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/tuaw-at-macworld-2009-first-photos/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/tuaw-at-macworld-2009-first-photos/#commentsFiled under: Macworld, Cult of Mac, First Look

Your intrepid TUAW team (a substantial portion of us, anyway) are on the ground in San Francisco to bring you all the latest Macworld 2009 news, reviews, tips, photos and video we possibly can. To kick us off in the photo department, here's a few pics from our first day here in San Francisco. Hopefully, these will whet your appetite for the bigger and more exciting stuff sure to follow.

And yes, that's a photo of someone already in line for the "Philnote" -- which, as you probably already know, kicks off tomorrow morning at 9 am Pacific Time. Of course, we'll be liveblogging the keynote tomorrow so be sure to check back right here at TUAW for all the details.

Gallery: Macworld 2009 First Photos

TUAW at Macworld 2009 -- First Photos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW at Macworld 2009 -- First Photos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>macworld09mosconetweet-thisChris UllrichMon, 05 Jan 2009 16:30:00 ESTiPod tossed 154 yards by an Olympic throwerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/02/ipod-tossed-154-yards-by-an-olympic-thrower/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/02/ipod-tossed-154-yards-by-an-olympic-thrower/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/02/ipod-tossed-154-yards-by-an-olympic-thrower/#commentsFiled under: Humor, iPod Family, Cult of Mac, Found Footage

Roald Bradstock is a champion javelin thrower, but lately he's been throwing more than that, including an egg, a golf ball, and a soccer ball. You know when people start breaking random things in creative ways, an Apple product will show up. Sure enough, in the video above (turn the sound down, the wind noise is horrendous), Roald tosses an iPod a football field and a half.

There's no reason why he should do this, but it looks like Apple expected this might happen some day -- despite a mess of mud and grass, the iPod is apparently no worse for the wear. You might say it's silly, you might say it's not impressive, but then again: could you do it?

And if you do, could you post it on YouTube, too?

[via Macenstein]

iPod tossed 154 yards by an Olympic thrower originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPod tossed 154 yards by an Olympic thrower originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>154-yardschampionegggolf-ballipodjavelinolympicroald-bradstocksillythrowingwind-noiseMike SchrammFri, 02 Jan 2009 08:30:00 ESTLugaru shows why game devs should support OS X and Linuxhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/lugaru-shows-why-game-devs-should-support-os-x-and-linux/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/lugaru-shows-why-game-devs-should-support-os-x-and-linux/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/lugaru-shows-why-game-devs-should-support-os-x-and-linux/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Developer

Jeff Rosen of Wolfire Games has an intriguing post up about why developers of videogames like himself should go out of their way to support the OS X and Linux markets. Their game, Lugaru, is available on Windows, OS X and Linux, and the upcoming sequel, Overgrowth, is also being developed for OS X.

Rosen says right out that the prevailing opinion, that the smaller markets aren't worth developing for because the audience isn't there, is just plain wrong -- Mac sales accounted for a full half of Lugaru's sales. The people who are buying software, his data seems to say, are using Macs.

And he has five main points why it's worth the time and effort to release builds on these smaller platforms: you have sites like ours (and the great Inside Mac Games) to talk about your game for you. We Mac gamers respect companies that take the time to make sure we have just as great a gaming experience as our PC counterparts, and we talk about it when they do. He says that a Linux version gained them a mention on Slashdot, one place they'd likely never have been mentioned if they were "just another Windows game." And power users are often Mac users as well -- you want someone who will spend an entire night coming up with new content for your game just because they love it so much? Mac users are nothing if not disturbingly obsessive about the software they love.

Good points all around. Many game developers, both large and small, continue to scoff at the Mac markets as too small while at the same time wondering why they can't get a foothold of a community on the Internet. Of course, releasing a Mac version doesn't guarantee you higher sales and a rabid group of fans -- you have to make a good game first and foremost. But some of the most influential and insightful game players online are Mac users, and by shrugging them off as "not a big enough audience," you're shooting yourself in the foot.

Lugaru shows why game devs should support OS X and Linux originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lugaru shows why game devs should support OS X and Linux originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>developerdevelopmentgaminglinuxlugarumentionsos-xrosenslashdotwolfireMike SchrammTue, 30 Dec 2008 15:00:00 ESTSeeing the future from the pasthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/seeing-the-future-from-the-past/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/seeing-the-future-from-the-past/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/30/seeing-the-future-from-the-past/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Found Footage

We'll be seeing a lot of predictions about the immediate future in the coming days. We're not immune here at TUAW and you'll

likely get some predictions from your humble bloggers, but it is really interesting to look back and see how our current technology was (or was not) predicted in the past.

Here is a link to a talk by Nicholas Negroponte from 1984. At the time, Negroponte was head of the MIT Media Lab, and company CEOs were always taking their people there to see what the future might have to offer. This video is from the year the Macintosh appeared. Negroponte talked about touch screens, high resolution monitors, and the future of user interfaces. It is a fascinating presentation, and his predictions for the most part are right on target. It's almost 30 minutes long, but give it a try and I think you'll find it pretty eye-opening.

It isn't easy predicting the future. I remember seeing the General Motors film about the future done for the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. Most of those predictions were wrong, and very 'Buck Rogers.' Robots doing housework, automated cars and a lot of other things that haven't come to pass, at least not yet.

Negroponte, who now is behind the One Laptop Per Child project, has had a very keen eye over time. Many of the things he predicted came to pass in products released by Apple, which have benefited users immensely.

[via Funky Space Monkey]

Seeing the future from the past originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Seeing the future from the past originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>1984Media LabMediaLabNicholas NegropontepredictionsMel MartinTue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST30 years of Apple in three minuteshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/30-years-of-apple-in-three-minutes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/30-years-of-apple-in-three-minutes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/30-years-of-apple-in-three-minutes/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Apple

Megan's great roundup of Apple history from the other day wasn't enough nostalgia for you? It should have been -- wow there was a lot of old Apple stuff in there. But just in case your itch for the days of Apple yore isn't yet scratched, here's a great little video compilation of every Apple product from the last thirty years, squished into three minutes and set to Fiona Apple's cover of "Across the Universe."

The IIe! The PowerCD! The QuickTake! And even those early notebooks, which look so blocky today, were impressive in their time. Unfortunately, this video won't tell you much about what these products all were, but just the sight of some of these old units is enough to make the memories come flooding back for us old Apple fans. The iPhone and the iPod are so much hipper, it seems, compared to the units of Apple's past -- you think we'll ever look back with such nostalgia on the first touchscreens we got? A product like the Newton was so charming because it was so quirky, but the iPhone is sleek, popular, and impressive. Do you think future generations will look back at today's Apple products with the same fondness?

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

30 years of Apple in three minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

30 years of Apple in three minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapple-historyapple-iiehistoryipodnewtonnostalgiapower-cdvideoMike SchrammTue, 16 Dec 2008 11:15:00 ESTApple t-shirt quilt available on eBayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: Humor, Retail, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, iMac, PowerBook, Apple

I don't know how comfy a quilt made out of t-shirts would be, but maybe the fact that they're all Apple t-shirts will help. That's exactly what this quilt is made out of -- it's up over on eBay right now, and while the price is only around $36 at the time of this writing, it's probably gone up since then. There are about 20 t-shirts in the quilt total, and they look like they range from the late '90s (there's a bondi blue iMac on there, I believe) up to the Tiger release (at least those are all the ones I recognize). And they do seem like official store t-shirts, which means whoever made the quilt probably is or knows an Apple employee.

If you can get over the fact that someone probably once wore your quilt, it might be a nice Apple-themed bedspread to grab. I've been looking for a good quilt lately, and while this is a little too patched together for my interests, maybe Apple is missing something here. What would an Ive-designed quilt end up looking like?

Apple t-shirt quilt available on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple t-shirt quilt available on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapple-storeapple-storesgeniushandmadeimacquiltretailstorestigertshirtsMike SchrammSat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 ESTMmmmm...Hot Apple Mac mini pie for Thanksgivinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/mmmmm-hot-apple-mac-mini-pie-for-thanksgiving/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/mmmmm-hot-apple-mac-mini-pie-for-thanksgiving/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/mmmmm-hot-apple-mac-mini-pie-for-thanksgiving/#commentsFiled under: Humor, Cult of Mac, Mac mini, Holidays

While purists may sneer, there are a lot of us who love apple pie for Thanksgiving dinner instead of the traditional pumpkin pie. After seeing this Apple Mac mini pie and the dough-logo Apple pie, you may never want to eat pumpkin pie again.

The geniuses at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories provide step-by-step instructions on how to make your own Mac mini Apple pie. While not everyone has a 45-watt carbon dioxide laser to cut the fancy Apple logo-shaped lattice on top, I'm sure you can get perfectly fine results using an X-acto knife or some other sharp cutting instrument.

For those of you on the West coast of the U.S., there's still time to run out, buy a square Springform pan, pick up a carbon dioxide laser, and get one of these pies cranked out just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Don't have the engineering acumen for a square pie in a round-pie world? You could use the overlay method that Dana Knisely attempted successfully this year, for a well-branded and well-browned postprandial treat.

There's no word on whether sun-stamped apples were used in the making of either of these scrumptious desserts. (Update: Dana's husband Matt reports that her pie features 100% organically grown Pennsylvania apples. Yum!)

For all our readers in the US and friends across the globe, TUAW wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks to tipsters hc & Chris for this Thanksgiving treat!

Mmmmm...Hot Apple Mac mini pie for Thanksgiving originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mmmmm...Hot Apple Mac mini pie for Thanksgiving originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applefoodmac miniMacMinithanksgiving dinnerThanksgivingDinnerSteven SandeThu, 27 Nov 2008 11:50:00 ESTThrowboy Dock Icon pillowshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/throwboy-dock-icon-pillows/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/throwboy-dock-icon-pillows/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/throwboy-dock-icon-pillows/#commentsFiled under: Humor, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Stocking Stuffers, Deals

We're in the middle of gift guide season right now, but here's a gift that would fit great on any Mac user's list: Throwboy has designed a set of throw pillows after some of the Dock's most famous icons, including iTunes, iPhoto, Dashboard, and the Finder. They're 100% fleece, hand-crafted, and look cuddly as all get out.

Sure, a computer icon might seem like a strange thing to squeeze, but hasn't Finder been there for you in the worst of moments before? No reason that shouldn't remain the case outside the computer as well. You can pick up a pillow (for yourself or anyone else this holiday season) for $29 each, or $149 for the whole set. They ship in about 3-6 weeks, so there's no guarantee you'll get it by Christmas, unfortunately, but as their order page says "handmade takes a while."

Throwboy Dock Icon pillows originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Throwboy Dock Icon pillows originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>dashboarddockdock-iconsiconsiphotoitunesphotoboothpillowsthrowboyMike SchrammWed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:00 ESTWhat to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guidehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/what-to-get-the-person-with-everything-holiday-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/what-to-get-the-person-with-everything-holiday-gift-guide/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/26/what-to-get-the-person-with-everything-holiday-gift-guide/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Cult of Mac, Holidays

If your diamond-encrusted iPod case is wearing out, or you simply must coat your new MacBook in gold, this list is for you. Presenting the most expensive, ridiculous and sublime gifts for the Apple fan in your life.

18-karat gold iPod shuffle
It isn't enough to have a gold shuffle. How about a gold shuffle that cost you more than $10,000? Or even twice that? Well, here you go -- this coating will cost you plenty but it does come with a wooden box and a certificate.

Casa Gi Diamond Earbuds

There's an entire industry around diamond-and-gold audio headgear. Just check out this gallery over at Luxist. The Casa Gi set (from Italy, of course) wins points because I think they look like I would have seen them on "Falcon Crest," had earbuds been around in the 80's.

Beatles Collector's Box

Even though we may not see the Beatles in iTunes any time soon, you can still cram them into your iPod the old fashioned way: rip them. Yes, even this $795 set makes you put the music into iTunes yourself. It comes with 13 of the fab four's CD's, however and a 120GB iPod classic, but still... I guess you could throw in a Ripstyles offer?

The Ultimate Minimalist Desk

If you didn't already know, Steve Jobs doesn't like cords and clutter. If I bought him a gift, I'd send him this desk. In steel, definitely.

Keep reading for more diamonds, a fridge that acts as an iPhone accessory, and more.

Gallery: Really expensive Mac and iPod, iPhone stuff

Continue reading What to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide

What to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What to get the person with everything - Holiday Gift Guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>giftshggholidashholidayholiday gift guideHolidayGiftGuideseasonVictor Agreda, Jr.Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:30:00 ESTThe sun-stamped Apple doesn't fall far from the iTreehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/22/the-sun-stamped-apple-doesnt-fall-far-from-the-itree/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/22/the-sun-stamped-apple-doesnt-fall-far-from-the-itree/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/22/the-sun-stamped-apple-doesnt-fall-far-from-the-itree/#commentsFiled under: Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Flickr Find

Some forms of Apple fandom are quick and simple -- the button, the tote bag, the temporary tattoo (not to be confused with the more permanent variety). Some forms, however, require commitment and patience. I don't speak the predominant language over at useloos.com, but I can guess that the translated caption for this photo gallery might be "How do you like them apples?"

Update: Per Cult of Mac, It looks like the source for the tattooed apples is this Japanese site -- translations welcome.

Yes, one very patient apple tree owner applied icon stencils for the Apple & iPod logos to a treeful of apples, and then let the sunshine do the work. The results can be seen to the right and at the gallery -- a bushelful of neatly logofied fruit, ripe for the munching. Talk about living your brand.

Thanks Tim!

The sun-stamped Apple doesn't fall far from the iTree originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The sun-stamped Apple doesn't fall far from the iTree originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applesflickrfruitfunnyipodlogophotosMichael RoseSat, 22 Nov 2008 22:00:00 ESTThe Lego Apple Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/17/the-lego-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/17/the-lego-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/17/the-lego-apple-store/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, Retail, Cult of Mac, Apple

Man, for all of the gadget lovin', excellent software, and community power floating around the Mac crowd, this is the real reason why I'm such a fan of the cult of Mac: someone loved the Apple Store enough to make a Lego version of it. Just awesome -- look at the little nanochromatic iPods, the touches and iPhones, the iMacs and even a Cinema for good measure. The only thing missing, really, is the black t-shirted Geniuses, complete with little credit card swipers so you don't have to go up to the counter.

Really great. I don't know what kind of loyalty exists that would drive a person to recreate a retail space in Lego form, but I'm strangely glad it's out there somewhere.

The Lego Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Lego Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapple-storecult-of-macipodslegomac-communityretailMike SchrammFri, 17 Oct 2008 15:00:00 ESTStudy shows 43% of college women prefer Macshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/study-shows-43-of-college-women-prefer-macs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/study-shows-43-of-college-women-prefer-macs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/study-shows-43-of-college-women-prefer-macs/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, Apple Financial

"Hi, I'm a Mac. And I'm a PC." -- You've probably heard those words more than a few times. Apple has been airing the "Get a Mac" commercials for a few years, and from the looks of it, the ads have been fairly successful. But has it really helped spread the word that Mac is better?

iPhone Savior recently surveyed seven college women at a school in British Columbia (Canada) and found that almost half of them said they preferred a Mac over a PC. They note that their research on the subject was ended early due to "several unfriendly encounters with campus security."

Numbers don't lie ... and Apple has the numbers (quite literally) on their side. Recently, Apple's market share jumped to almost 8.2% for notebook users. That's just amazing (especially for such difficult economical times).

Please note: The iPhone Savior survey is very limited in statistical terms of population, and because of this, the data is probably skewed slightly. We should also note that before you take a poll on a college campus, make sure you're a student or have clearance from the proper school officials. That being said, feel free to take part in our own poll on this issue.

Study shows 43% of college women prefer Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Study shows 43% of college women prefer Macs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>collegemacstudentswomenCory BohonSun, 12 Oct 2008 17:00:00 ESTApple Store Colorado Springs: photos from opening dayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/apple-store-colorado-springs-photos-from-opening-day/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/apple-store-colorado-springs-photos-from-opening-day/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/apple-store-colorado-springs-photos-from-opening-day/#commentsFiled under: Retail, Cult of Mac

Apple Store -- Promenade at Briargate, Colorado Springs, CO

Apple junkies who live in Colorado Springs, CO used to have to drive about 75 miles north to Denver to visit either the Park Meadows or Aspen Grove Apple Stores. Now they finally have an Apple Store of their own at the Promenade Shops at Briargate, which opened on Saturday, September 20th.

Reader Denny noted "Firefighter Memorial Ride happened to be the same day and organized from the parking lot. At first, I thought Apple had a new market in Firefighters and Harley riders." Denny moved to Colorado Springs just three weeks ago from Orlando, FL, where he had his pick of three Apple Stores. Denny's Flickr slide show can be viewed here.

TUAW reader Marc mentioned that "Colorado Springs being a smaller market, the turnout wasn't as great as for some other openings -- there were about 40 people in line when I arrived about 8:30 am and another 40 or so filled out the line by the 9:00 am opening time." They may have T-shirts available for a while at that store... Marc's Flickr slide show is here.

Thanks to Denny, Marc, and Randy for their coverage of the event.

Apple Store Colorado Springs: photos from opening day originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple Store Colorado Springs: photos from opening day originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple storeAppleStorecolorado springsColoradoSpringsstore openingStoreOpeningSteven SandeMon, 22 Sep 2008 11:00:00 ESTMark Hoekstra of geek technique passes away at 34http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/20/mark-hoekstra-of-geek-technique-passes-away-at-34/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/20/mark-hoekstra-of-geek-technique-passes-away-at-34/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/20/mark-hoekstra-of-geek-technique-passes-away-at-34/#commentsFiled under: Hacks, Cult of Mac, TUAW Business

Mark Hoekstra, blogger and hacker extraordinaire, has passed away at the age of 34 after suffering a heart attack last Wednesday. The sad news of Mark's passing is making its rounds, and we at TUAW would like to offer our condolences to his family, his friends and his readers. Many of Mark's hacks and adventures are thoroughly documented on his blog, geek technique ... evidence of Mark's creative drive and problem-solving ability. He was a geek's geek in the proudest sense of the word.

We've regularly admired Mark's extraordinary determination and imaginative solutions. We'll miss you, Mark.

Thanks, Eliot.

Mark Hoekstra of geek technique passes away at 34 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mark Hoekstra of geek technique passes away at 34 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>geek techniqueGeekTechniquemark hoekstraMarkHoekstraBrett TerpstraSat, 20 Sep 2008 23:15:00 ESTAnalysis: Microsoft offers "I'm a PC" retort that falls flathttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/19/analysis-microsoft-offers-im-a-pc-retort-that-falls-flat/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/19/analysis-microsoft-offers-im-a-pc-retort-that-falls-flat/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/19/analysis-microsoft-offers-im-a-pc-retort-that-falls-flat/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac

After canning Seinfeld, Microsoft is now starting stage two (planned all along, they say) of their campaign with a new series of I'm a PC ads by the Crispin, Porter + Bogusky ad agency. As is clear from the John Hodgman look-alike at the start of the ads, they're supposed to be a direct response to Apple's Get a Mac campaign that's been running since 2006.

It almost goes without saying that it's rather sad for one of the richest companies in the world to stoop to this level of reaction. But I think one of things that's interesting here is the difference between the central motifs of the respective ad campaigns. What Get a Mac suggests is that your Mac is your kinda cool, but laid-back and easy-going friend that'll help you get things done. In other words, your Mac is your friend, not who you yourself are.

On the other hand, the I'm a PC ads say exactly that: you (the user) are a PC. Who the heck would want to be that? What they're trying to maintain is that PC users are unfairly being stereotyped as besuited, boring, glasses-wearing losers. But with the repeated exclamation "I'm a PC," the ads actually suggest a kind of Borg-like insistence that I as a user have to be assimilated into my computer.

In short, Microsoft and its ad agency still don't get it. We Mac-heads don't see ourselves as all being Justin Long (or, heaven forbid, wanting to be Justin Long). I can proudly say I'm not a Mac, and I'm not really planning to become one either. Or to put it another way: I use a Mac in no small part because I don't want to be a computer (Mac or PC).

What's your take?

(The three ads can be seen on YouTube: Pride, Not Alone, and Stereotype.)

Analysis: Microsoft offers "I'm a PC" retort that falls flat originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analysis: Microsoft offers "I'm a PC" retort that falls flat originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adsadvertisingGet a MacGetAMacIm a PCImAPctweet-thisMat LuFri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:00 ESTiCupcakes take the cakehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/18/icupcakes-take-the-cake/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/18/icupcakes-take-the-cake/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/18/icupcakes-take-the-cake/#commentsFiled under: Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, iPhone

Laughing Squid posted these yummy, adorable, and prize-winning iPhone cupcakes. The cupcakes, created by Nick and Danielle Bilton, swept the Cupcake Decorating Championship at Ignite NYC II.

I love the phone badge and the timer's tiny details but can't help but feel that the stocks cupcake somehow is missing a bit of white frosting. Also, the calendar date was wrong for the time of the championships, but I suspect that the judges wouldn't notice that.

Congrats to the Biltons!

iCupcakes take the cake originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iCupcakes take the cake originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iPhoneErica SadunThu, 18 Sep 2008 16:00:00 ESTGrammar Girl covers the "funnest" iPod everhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/grammar-girl-covers-the-funnest-ipod-ever/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/grammar-girl-covers-the-funnest-ipod-ever/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/grammar-girl-covers-the-funnest-ipod-ever/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, iPod Family, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Steve Jobs

I'm a big fan of the Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing daily podcasts -- she does a terrific job, day in and day out, of breaking down major grammar gaffes in a very interesting and clear way. After the big "Let's Rock" event on Tuesday, Grammar Girl had to jump to the rescue on Apple's commercial use of the word "funnest" to describe the iPod touch -- as many language elitists noted, "funnest" isn't quite a real word.

Believe it or not, Grammar Girl is suprisingly forgiving -- she says that fun, while originally a noun ("we had fun"), has made a transition in the last century or so to an "attributive noun" which can be used as an adjective ("we had a fun party"). And while old-timers may flinch at the words "funner" and "funnest", the correct way to modify one-syllable adjectives is in fact by adding "-er" and "-est" to the ends. So technically, "funnest" is grammatically correct, even if it isn't exactly accepted; Grammar Girl calls it "grating and horrifying."

She finishes today's podcast, however, with a scary note for language traditionalists -- it could very well be that Apple's usage of the word is just what "funnest" needs to go over the edge into regular acceptance. Sure, we get that language evolves, but couldn't they just have said it was "the most fun iPod ever?" Or, even more traditionally, "the most fun you'll have with an iPod?"

Grammar Girl covers the "funnest" iPod ever originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Grammar Girl covers the "funnest" iPod ever originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>funnerfunnestgrammar-girlipodkeynotepodcaststeve-jobsthe-funnest-ipod-everMike SchrammFri, 12 Sep 2008 17:00:00 ESTeeeMac runs OS X on an even smaller portable than the Airhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/eeemac-runs-os-x-on-an-even-smaller-portable-than-the-air/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/eeemac-runs-os-x-on-an-even-smaller-portable-than-the-air/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/eeemac-runs-os-x-on-an-even-smaller-portable-than-the-air/#commentsFiled under: Hardware, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Flickr Find, MacBook Air

I've heard some great things about the tiny little eeePC, but this is the best thing I've heard so far: it can be a Mac. Twitterer Gregory Cohen has pictures on Picasa of his completed eeeMac, an eeePC transformed (perhaps in similar fashion to this previous attempt -- details please, Gregory) into an OS X-running ultraportable, complete with a tiny little lit Apple logo on the back.

Pretty hot. As slim as the MacBook Air is, Asus' unit is even smaller. And it's super cheap, too -- we haven't heard how much this little transformation cost, but considering the eeePC sells at retail for 1/3 of the Air's price, odds are that even tons of modding won't set you back as much as a kitted-out Air. Apple wouldn't be thrilled with it, but you have to admit, that's one good-looking little ultraportable.

eeeMac runs OS X on an even smaller portable than the Air originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

eeeMac runs OS X on an even smaller portable than the Air originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>eeeMaceeepcgregory-cohenhackedmacbook-airmoddedtwitterMike SchrammFri, 12 Sep 2008 07:00:00 ESTWoz talks to developers at Intel Developer Forumhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/22/woz-talks-to-developers-at-intel-developer-forum/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/22/woz-talks-to-developers-at-intel-developer-forum/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/22/woz-talks-to-developers-at-intel-developer-forum/#commentsFiled under: Cult of Mac, Apple, Developer

Steve "Woz" Wozniak is often considered the "God" of Apple. He was the designer of the first ever Apple computers (Apple / & Apple //). At a recent developer forum at Intel, Woz gave a bit of advice to the engineers. He told them that, "the right way of going through life" is pursuing a vision without compromise.

"If you have technical ideas, if you know what you're good at, and you know what you're doing is right ... you have to shut them out," Woz said, in reference to others telling you how to do something.

According to InformationWeek, Woz went on to discuss other topics. He talked about being a successful inventor. While on this topic, he admitted that not having money helps the creativity.

InformationWeek has the full details on the interview.

Woz talks to developers at Intel Developer Forum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Woz talks to developers at Intel Developer Forum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AppledeveloperforumIntelMacsteve wozniakSteveWozniakWozwozniakCory BohonFri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST