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/Talkcast live tonight at 10pm EThttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/30/talkcast-live-tonight-at-10pm-et/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/30/talkcast-live-tonight-at-10pm-et/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/30/talkcast-live-tonight-at-10pm-et/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Hardware, Multimedia, Podcasting, TUAW Business

Our fearless co-lead Dave Caolo will be aboard the USS Talkcast this evening with me, and we'll be talking turkey -- cooking them, chasing them down, plucking them, and how to get the most stuffing in there. Oh wait, wait? Thanksgiving is over? Oh well then I guess we'll just be talking Mac and iPhone news as usual.

On the menu: Black Friday and the deals we may or may not have been suckered into, new releases from Boxee (read the interview yet?) and uTorrent for the Mac, and since we've got to get our requisite iPhone talk in there, we'll hit on the Linux install, and the tough subject of App Store pricing. Join us, won't you?

Do so on TalkShoe by using the shiny browser-only client; or you can also use the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client that we all know and love. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. You can also listen in on the Talkshoe page or call in on regular phone or VOIP lines: dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. Talk with you then!

Recording support for the TUAW Talkcast provided by Ecamm Network's CallRecorder for Skype.

Talkcast live tonight at 10pm ET originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Talkcast live tonight at 10pm ET originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>black-fridaychattingconversationdave-caolomike-schrammtalkcasttalkshoeuss-talkcastutorrentMike SchrammSun, 30 Nov 2008 17:00:00 ESTApple discontinues 23" Cinema Displayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/17/apple-discontinues-23-cinema-display/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/17/apple-discontinues-23-cinema-display/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/17/apple-discontinues-23-cinema-display/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Retail, Apple, Deals

While some of us are waiting to purchase the new 24" LED Cinema Display, Apple has quietly pulled the old 23" Cinema Display from the online store. Apple is still selling the 20" and 30" Cinemas, but they have put the words "Ships: Discontinued" on the 23" model.

I'm sure these are very sad words for the folks who don't like glossy screens; however, this could also mean local retailers (and Apple Stores) might have 23" models on sale very soon (did someone say black Friday sales?).

If you still want a 23" model, you can check Apple's online refurb store where they are currently being sold for $749 (US).

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple discontinues 23" Cinema Display originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple discontinues 23" Cinema Display originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>23breakingnewscinemaCinema DisplayCinemaDisplaydisplaymonitorCory BohonMon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:00 ESTTom's Hardware says Apple and PC prices are equivalenthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/07/toms-hardware-says-apple-and-pc-prices-are-equivalent/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/07/toms-hardware-says-apple-and-pc-prices-are-equivalent/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/07/toms-hardware-says-apple-and-pc-prices-are-equivalent/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Hardware, Apple, Macbook Pro, Mac Pro

I love Tom's Hardware -- they're traditionally a PC site (and being a gamer, I've built and run my share of PCs), but like most PC guys, they aren't afraid to lay out the specs and draw direct conclusions from there. And that's exactly what they've done with a very Mac misconception: that Apple computers traditionally cost more than the average PC.

To the average user, that seems true -- if you go to, say, a Best Buy or a Circuit City, and look at the Macs they're selling versus the seemingly equivalent PCs they're selling, then yes, you're seeing higher pricetags on the Apple stuff. But when Tom's lays out what you get out of each computer, the prices are generally the same. In fact, they even build an equivalent Mac Pro, and there's only a $5.67 difference.

Of course, that doesn't stop people from trying to prove otherwise (Apple, you'll note, is not a client of NPD, and they don't actually share which computers they're talking about in the study). And of course, as Tom's Hardware commenters will tell you, there's really no argument for gamers yet, as amazing hardware is nothing when it doesn't run your software the way it should. But it's good to see TH taking a serious, relatively unbiased look at the price differences, and Apple getting a little more love from the traditionally PC crowd.

Tom's Hardware says Apple and PC prices are equivalent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tom's Hardware says Apple and PC prices are equivalent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applemacmac-pronpdpcpricespricingtoms-hardwareMike SchrammThu, 07 Aug 2008 19:00:00 ESTTroll Touch your iMac screenhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/18/troll-touch-your-imac-screen/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/18/troll-touch-your-imac-screen/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/18/troll-touch-your-imac-screen/#commentsFiled under: Accessories, Desktops, Hardware, Peripherals, Video, Odds and ends

I occasionally work with clients who need to have Macs set up as kiosks. That means that anyone can walk up and use the Mac to watch a video or access information, but they usually can't update anything on the Mac. Kiosks are especially useful when the user interface consists of a finger touching the screen. In my experience, touch screens are generally expensive and require that you send a Mac off to a vendor for installation.

Troll Touch now has user-installable touch screens for the 20" and 24" aluminum iMacs called SlipCOVERs. Priced at $699 (20") and $899 (24"), the SlipCOVERs come with touch screen drivers and calibration software. The video above shows a touch-enabled iMac in action -- I especially liked watching the demo dude playing Bejeweled using his finger instead of a mouse. Pull off the aluminum stand, lay that SlipCOVER iMac down on its back, and you've got a 24" iPod touch!

Troll Touch your iMac screen originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Troll Touch your iMac screen originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imackiosktouchscreentweet-thisSteven SandeWed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 ESTZDNet: Benchmarking the Psystar Open Computerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/14/zdnet-benchmarking-the-psystar-open-computer/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/14/zdnet-benchmarking-the-psystar-open-computer/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/14/zdnet-benchmarking-the-psystar-open-computer/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Open Source

It's a big day for the Psystar Open Computer -- the quasi-Mac clone based on PC hardware and a cracked version of Mac OS X. ZDNet today published their comparison of the Open Computer with a Mac mini, and all three flavors of MacBook.

The results? The Open Computer fares pretty well against all of its Mac cousins. It scored nearly 147 with Xbench 1.3.

It beats the Mac mini, its closest price competitor, by nearly 50 percent. The Open Computer outperforms even a MacBook Pro (with a 2.4GHz Penryn processor) by 10 points. Not too shabby at all, if you can stand the sound of a jet airplane on your desk (Just kidding. Apparently the noise isn't too bad).

~~ZDNet promises results using GeekBench soon.~~ UPDATE: the GeekBench results are here, and the Open Computer still leads most of the Macs, but by a narrower margin. The MacBook Pro, though, edged out the Psystar 3327 to 3244.

ZDNet: Benchmarking the Psystar Open Computer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ZDNet: Benchmarking the Psystar Open Computer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>benchmarkopencomputerpsystarzdnetRobert PalmerWed, 14 May 2008 18:00:00 ESTThe Frankenmac is alivehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/the-frankenmac-is-alive/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/the-frankenmac-is-alive/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/the-frankenmac-is-alive/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Hacks, Cult of Mac

Thanks to the seemingly dubious prospect of a Mac OS X-ready PC from Psystar, running Mac OS X on gear not made by Apple has gotten the Macweb all aflutter this week. Rob Griffiths of Macworld and MacOSXHints, not content with Apple's lineup of Macs, or waiting for some random company to make a clone, has created his very own Frankenmac (hence my lame Photoshop attempt to the right).

Rob documents the reasons why someone might want to run OS X on non-Apple hardware, and lists some potential pitfalls (like updates not working correctly, or hardware/software incompatibilities). Please note that Rob's article isn't a How-To on building a Hackintosh, but rather a look at why some folks find the idea so appealing, and what the drawbacks are.

The Frankenmac is alive originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Frankenmac is alive originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>frankenmachackintoshmacworldScott McNultyFri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 ESTNYC Dept. of Education suspends Mac orders pending wireless issue fixhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/nyc-dept-of-education-suspends-mac-orders-pending-wireless-issu/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/nyc-dept-of-education-suspends-mac-orders-pending-wireless-issu/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/18/nyc-dept-of-education-suspends-mac-orders-pending-wireless-issu/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, OS, Education, Bugs/Recalls, Apple, Leopard

Apple Insider is reporting that the New York City Department of Education has put all shipments of Macs to schools on complete hold while they're apparently waiting for Apple to fix a Wifi connectivity issue with OS X (which should be fixed with the 10.5.3 update). And Apple is apparently scrambling to get it worked out -- they've sent an apologetic email to faculty and have asked schools to try and separate any orders of computers that won't need wireless (that will use a regular ethernet hookup) to ship now.

Unfortunately, there's no hint of exactly how many Macs we're talking about here, but if this is a substantial number of computers, and word gets out causing other organizations to delay shipments as well, Apple will feel more and more pressure to get the problem fixed ASAP. Bad news for the kids who want Macs in New York City (that's the DoE's seal on the right, in case you didn't recognize it), but good news for anyone else having this problem -- Apple's working hard on a fix.

Thanks, Rich!

NYC Dept. of Education suspends Mac orders pending wireless issue fix originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NYC Dept. of Education suspends Mac orders pending wireless issue fix originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>10-5-210-5-3appleapple-insiderbugfixesdepartment-of-educationdoeissuekidsmacsschoolswirelessMike SchrammFri, 18 Apr 2008 13:30:00 ESTDesktoptopia goes free and PC for version 1.5http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/04/desktoptopia-goes-free-and-pc-for-version-1-5/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/04/desktoptopia-goes-free-and-pc-for-version-1-5/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/04/desktoptopia-goes-free-and-pc-for-version-1-5/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Software, Freeware

My personal favorite desktop wallpaper app, the echo-named Desktoptopia, sent us a tip with a great announcement today: not only have they released version 1.5, and not only have they released a PC version (for your work computer to use, I guess), but Desktoptopia is now a completely free app.

Now, I don't know if this is new or not, but their FAQ page says that the reason they're now free is that some of the wallpapers that will show up on your desktop (the app periodically changes your wallpaper for you, as often as you'd like) are "beautiful desktops that reflect a brand." I haven't yet seen any obvious ones pop up in the old version, and I haven't started using the new version yet, but I guess there's a chance that you could have, say, a Wal-mart desktop show up. That would probably give me reason to uninstall the software right there, but of course that's up to you -- if you don't like it, you could always try Desktopia, or just do it yourself with Automator.

I haven't had that problem yet, though -- in my experience, Desktoptopia has provided some great wallpapers (with no brands I could notice) as regularly as I'd like with no fuss at all. If you want some change to come regularly to your desktop wallpaper, but don't want to go hunting around for the right pics, Desktoptopia is a great solution that is now completely free. Great to hear.

Desktoptopia goes free and PC for version 1.5 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Desktoptopia goes free and PC for version 1.5 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appdesktopdesktoptopiamacos-xtuawwallpaperMike SchrammFri, 04 Apr 2008 10:00:00 ESTTo buy AppleCare or not?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/to-buy-applecare-or-not/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/to-buy-applecare-or-not/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/06/to-buy-applecare-or-not/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Hardware, Features, Apple

Most people are split on the decision to buy an extended warranty on their electronic devices. Some think it's the best "accessory" that you can buy for your gear, while others think it's a total waste of money. Speaking from my personal experience with AppleCare support -- it has been a worthwhile investment.

While I have never experienced a major problem with any of my Macs, iPod, or iPhone, AppleCare has definitely been there to solve those minor glitches. Case in point: this weekend my Mighty Mouse's scroll wheel stopped working (this is the 3rd Mighty Mouse in less than one year). I simply called Apple's support and told them what was going on. "My Mighty Mouse stopped scrolling," I said. The Apple representative gave me some simple troubleshooting tips to make sure that my computer wasn't doing anything strange. I was asked to check the scroll speed and then they asked me to reset the PRAM (I don't really understand that one, but OK). After that, the representative said that my mouse was, in fact, defective (no duh), took my address and said they would have a new one out to me in "5 to 7 business days."

That was on Saturday. On Monday I got a knock on the door from a DHL delivery guy with a box in his hand -- you guessed it, Apple overnighted me a wireless Mighty Mouse! The cost to overnight the package: $70. This is just one example of AppleCare's good service.

Continue reading To buy AppleCare or not?

To buy AppleCare or not? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

To buy AppleCare or not? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AppleCareDesktopMacBookMacintoshrepairwarrantyCory BohonThu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 ESTNew Mac Pros and Xservehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/08/new-mac-pros-and-xserve/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/08/new-mac-pros-and-xserve/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/08/new-mac-pros-and-xserve/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Hardware, Apple Professional, Xserve, Apple, Mac Pro

Well, as Nik posted a bit earlier this morning, the Apple Store is indeed down worldwide. As commenters in that post noted, Apple has updated the Mac Pro line before major trade shows before, and as commenter John pointed out, Apple has just updated the front page of Apple.com announcing upgrades to the Mac Pro and Xserve line. I think it's a pretty safe bet that these machines will be available as soon as the Apple Store comes back online.

So what are the specs? For the Mac Pro the machines are now 8-core standard (!) running up to 3.2 Ghz each (and this is on the new 45 nanometer Quad-Core Xeon). "Fastest Mac ever" is a phrase bandied around a lot -- but in this case, it's absolutely true.

From the press release, the basic configuration ($2799 US) includes:

two 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors with dual-independent 1600 MHz front side buses;
2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC fully-buffered DIMM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory;
320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
16x SuperDrive[TM] with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
two PCI Express 2.0 slots and two PCI Express slots;
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; and
ships with Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse.

Full CTO options are detailed in the press release linked above.

As for the Xserve, it now includes built-in accelerated graphics to drive up to a 23" Cinema Display and front facing USB 2.0 ports. It is also taking advantage of the new Intel 45 nanometer core technology.

The basic configuration ($2999 US) includes:

a single 64-bit 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Xeon processor with 12MB of L2 cache and a 1600 Mhz front side bus;
2GB of 800 MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM RAM, expandable up to 32GB;
a single 80GB SATA Apple Drive Module;
dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board;
internal graphics;
two FireWire(R) 800 and three USB 2.0 ports; and
an unlimited client license for Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard.

The unlimited client license for Leopard OS X Server is pretty fantastic, as are the power and cooling specs. Full configuration details can be found in the press release here.

New Mac Pros and Xserve originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New Mac Pros and Xserve originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>mac proMacProoctotweet-thisxserveChristina WarrenTue, 08 Jan 2008 09:20:00 ESTMake your guests feel at home with Leopard's Guest accounthttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/10/make-your-guests-feel-at-home-with-leopards-guest-account/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/10/make-your-guests-feel-at-home-with-leopards-guest-account/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/10/make-your-guests-feel-at-home-with-leopards-guest-account/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Software, How-tos, Tips and tricks, Odds and ends, Leopard

I have my Mac's workspace down to a science-- everything is exactly where I want it and tuned just exactly how I think it should be. And so, even though it's a little silly, whenever a friend comes over and wants to use my computer, I always hesitate for just a second to let people invade my little workspace.

But now, those worries are over-- reader Michael C sent us a tutorial he wrote up for how to make the best use of Leopard's Guest account, and though he comes at it from a business' perspective, it seems like the perfect plan for letting my guests use my Mac without messing up my stuff. Basically, Michael walks you through how to log into the Guest account, and then how to save the settings you implement after customizing it (usually, they're wiped out on logoff, but his method has you backing up the defaults and putting your own in their place).

The only drawback is that any new accounts you create will use the same default settings at first, but I bet you could just load the backups and then create the new account and you wouldn't have any problems. And that's a very small price to pay to have a clean, configured guess account all ready to load up for anyone who happens to come over. Very nice!

Make your guests feel at home with Leopard's Guest account originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Make your guests feel at home with Leopard's Guest account originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>defaultsguest-accountleopardlogonssetupusersMike SchrammSat, 10 Nov 2007 11:00:00 ESTApple ships RAID cards for Mac Pro and XServehttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/01/apple-ships-raid-cards-for-mac-pro-and-xserve/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/01/apple-ships-raid-cards-for-mac-pro-and-xserve/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/01/apple-ships-raid-cards-for-mac-pro-and-xserve/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Hardware, Peripherals, Xserve, Apple, Mac Pro, Leopard

Let me ask you something: do you like fast storage? Redundant, fast storage? Lots and lots of gigabytes of fast, redundant storage? Sure you do, buddy -- but what's with the software RAID on your Mac Pro or your Intel-based XServe? That's so last week, now that Apple is shipping the RAID cards for Mac Pro and XServe; you can now do hardware RAID 0, 1, 5, or (Mac Pro only) 0+1 arrays of SATA drives, or superfast SAS drives on the XServe, for the precise mix of speed and reliability that you're craving.

Formerly only available as build-to-order options but now shipping as add-in parts for $999 each, the cards come with a raft of requirements. First, they're only for the machines mentioned above; G5 XServes are out of luck. Second, you can't mix and match drive types on the XServe, it's all SAS or all SATA please. Third, a minor point, barely worth mentioning really, but both these cards are listed as requiring some sort of OS update. Yes, on the heels of this morning's announcement of the MacBook revisions, we now have a total of three pieces of Apple hardware that demand Leopard to work at all.

Update: Clarified that the cards were previously available as BTO parts. Note that even though the specifications say Leopard-only for these cards, existing RAID cards (and possibly these as well, for anyone brave enough to spend a grand to test them) continue to work with Tiger.

via Apple Hot News -- thanks Nelson

Apple ships RAID cards for Mac Pro and XServe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple ships RAID cards for Mac Pro and XServe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>mac proMacProraidxserveMichael RoseThu, 01 Nov 2007 17:30:00 ESTNeXT collection on eBayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/16/next-collection-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/16/next-collection-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/16/next-collection-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Humor, Odds and ends, Steve Jobs, Retro Mac

Combining two of our little trends lately, retroware and eBay vintage, here's the motherload for any NeXT fan-- a complete (and boy do I mean complete) set of NeXT computer cube stuff on eBay.

Holy cow that's a lot of stuff-- he's a matching grayscale (!) display and speakers, all the cables, a spare motherboard, all the books and discs, and even the original sticker sheet. Who keeps the sticker sheet?!? The thing even still runs Omniweb (inside NeXTSTEP 3.3 patch 2), and he's got a screenshot of Google up and working.

So how much will it run you? Currently, the auction is at $710 with a business week left to go even higher, but seriously now-- how much is it worth to you to get a little piece (or in this case, a lot of pieces) of non-Apple Jobs?

Thanks, Richard! (who saw it on Boing Boing)

NeXT collection on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NeXT collection on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ebaynextnextstepomniwebretrosalestevejobsvintageMike SchrammThu, 16 Aug 2007 06:00:00 ESTGet Desktoptopia for half offhttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/11/get-desktoptopia-for-half-off/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/11/get-desktoptopia-for-half-off/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/11/get-desktoptopia-for-half-off/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Software, Deals

Desktoptopia (not to be confused with Desktopia) is a program that automagically delivers the latest and greatest in wallpaper right to your desktop-- just press go, and the app will drop a new desktop on you as often as you want, from any categories that you want, rated however you want. For people who love seeing a brand new desktop, but don't want to take the time hunting around to find one all the time, it's the best. The best, Jerry, the best!

And now it's even better, because they've posted a coupon code on his site that drops the normally $20 shareware application down to just $10. Enter "luckyme" at checkout, and you'll be wallpaper browsing and changing in no time. More desktops, no worries-- sounds great to me.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Get Desktoptopia for half off originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Get Desktoptopia for half off originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>artisticcooldealdesktopsdesktoptopiahalfoffratingswallpaperMike SchrammSat, 11 Aug 2007 13:00:00 ESTApple Announces New Keyboards to Go With New iMacshttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/apple-announces-new-keyboards-to-go-with-new-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/apple-announces-new-keyboards-to-go-with-new-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/apple-announces-new-keyboards-to-go-with-new-imacs/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Hardware, iMac, Apple

Today at a special event Apple, Inc. honcho Steve Jobs announced a whole slew of new products including a revamped iLife '08 suite, enhancements to the .Mac service and something which makes me particularly happy: redesigned and enhanced iMacs. These new computers sport cool new enclosures made of glass and sleek plastic as well as a host of internal refinements to processor, memory and video.

And what goes better with a cool new iMac than brand new input devices? Yes, in addition to the re-designed iMac, Jobs also announced two versions of a slick new anodized aluminum keyboard to go with them or to purchase separately. The new keyboards have been completely redesigned and seriously put previous Apple keyboards to shame -- at least in terms of looks.

The new keyboard comes in two different versions, one is USB 2.0 and sports the full complement of keys including document navigation controls, a numeric keypad and special function keys for Mac features such as brightness, volume, eject, play/pause, Exposé, and more. The second keyboard option is smaller, more compact and is wireless via Bluetooth.

It features the same low-profile keys as the wired version as well as the same access to Mac features as its larger sibling. However, it does not have the numeric keypad like the larger version. It also features what Apple calls "intelligent power management" which conserves battery life by powering down the keyboard when not in use and then bringing it back to life the moment you start typing again.

Yes, the new keyboards look super cool. After all, they do come from Apple, which excels at making things that look great. However, I'm a stickler for a good keyboard, so I really hope these work and feel as good as they look. When I get my hands on one, I'll report back. Until then, if any of you get one first, let us know how it is.

Apple Announces New Keyboards to Go With New iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple Announces New Keyboards to Go With New iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleimackeyboardChris UllrichTue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:00 ESTWill the Mini live or die?http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/will-the-mini-live-or-die/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/will-the-mini-live-or-die/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/will-the-mini-live-or-die/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Rumors, Apple, Mac mini

I got a suprising number of "hurrahs" yesterday when I mentioned how afraid I was that the Mini might get killed before I was able to buy one with Leopard pre-installed on it. Rumors about today's Apple event (which we'll be metaliveblogging, so stay tuned) are everywhere, and one that I've heard pretty often is that the Mini's last days are upon us.

Personally, that's really disappointing-- even if the Mini isn't quite the performer or the bastion of beauty that the iMac or the Mac Book Pro is, there's always room for the little computer that could (could convert the Windows faithful, I mean). So that's why I'm so happy to hear that Macenstein says the Mini won't be killed today-- instead, he's heard it'll get a nice upgrade: "The mini will sport a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, a 100GB hard drive, SuperDrive, and cost $699." He also suggests it'll get a design refresh, which I'm totally fine with. However you want to play it Jobs, just don't kill my Mini!

Is Apple's smallest desktop headed for the junk heap, or is a brand new version headed for the Apple store? We'll find out when the press conference starts in about half an hour from now.

Will the Mini live or die? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Will the Mini live or die? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleeventbrushedmetalmacensteinmacminirumorsavetheminiupgradeMike SchrammTue, 07 Aug 2007 11:45:00 ESTRumor: New iMac on August 7http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/rumor-new-imac-on-august-7/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/rumor-new-imac-on-august-7/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/rumor-new-imac-on-august-7/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, iLife, Rumors, iMac, Apple

It's no real secret that an iMac update is most likely in the works, but ThinkSecret says they've narrowed down an actual date for the announcement: August 7th. As soon as two and a half weeks from now, we could be seeing a brand new iMac on the Apple Store.

The rumors, as you may have heard, say the new iMac will sport a brushed metal enclosure, to match up to the MacBook Pros and Mac Pros out there, and other sources say the new iMac will include a matching keyboard. ThinkSecret also speculates that iLife may be released earlier than its expected October date (originally, the suite was tracking a release right alongside Leopard). But apparently those rumors are less solid than the iMac release-- iLife and iWork are both supposed to take advantage of new techs in Leopard, so it would be a bad idea to release them early just for the sake of releasing.

As always, don't forget to take that standard grain of salt with all of these rumors. But if you are thinking about picking up an iMac, looks like it might behoove you to wait a week or two just in case.

Thanks, Corinne!

Rumor: New iMac on August 7 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: New iMac on August 7 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>august7brushedmetalilifeimaciworkrumorsthinksecretMike SchrammThu, 19 Jul 2007 15:30:00 ESTTwo sets of iPhone wallpapers, including SuicideGirlshttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/04/two-sets-of-iphone-wallpapers-including-suicidegirls/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/04/two-sets-of-iphone-wallpapers-including-suicidegirls/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/04/two-sets-of-iphone-wallpapers-including-suicidegirls/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Humor, Apple, iPhone

iPhone eye candy (or should that be iCa... oh never mind) is starting to roll in.

Wes (thanks!) dropped us this "very nice selection" of specially sized wallpaper. Most of it seems to be about birds, but there are a few cool non-bird shots included as well. And Sarah from SuicideGirls says she's a fan of TUAW (hawt!) and pointed out their iPhone wallpaper packs-- one is supposedly a pack of "PG13" desktops (they say it's work safe, but not if you work in a monastery), and there's a pack of R-rated desktops as well as a pack of SG logos which also, upon inspection, turn out to be R-rated. But they all look pretty good (if you like looking at geeky cool chicks), and of course they're all fitted for the iPhone.

Also SG and iPhone related, Sarah mentioned that Rob Corddry (of the Daily Show and Frank Wrench fame) has also written a short piece for their site about his experience buying an iPhone, which turns out to be very NSFW as well. But hey, it's the holiday-- kick back and enjoy a little iPhone-related adult humor.

Two sets of iPhone wallpapers, including SuicideGirls originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two sets of iPhone wallpapers, including SuicideGirls originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>comedygraphicshumoricandyiphonensfwrsuicidegirlswallpaperMike SchrammWed, 04 Jul 2007 18:00:00 ESTTUAW Desktop of the Weekhttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/27/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/27/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/27/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Software

This week's TUAW Desktop hails from Flickr user form953, who has managed to turn both Dashboard and the Dock more or less Inside Out. The iStat pro widget is running in Development Mode, which is what allows it to live on the Desktop, separate from the Dashboard. I'm not entirely sure how form953 managed to pin the Dock underneath the menubar, however; I've seen that option in one utility or another, but have never used it so I'm blanking on which apps allow for this. Here's a list of what else form953 has going on here, thankfully provided along with this shot at Flickr:

wallpaper and Disctop from mekentosj.com
iStat pro widget running in developer mode
Bytecontroller
SMARTReporter
Spirited Away
VirtueDesktops (which, sadly, is no longer being developed due to Leopard's upcoming Spaces feature)
Google Desktop for Mac
Chip Set icons

If you'd like to see your unique, functional or otherwise interesting desktop featured in our TUAW Desktops of the Week series, check out past featured desktops as well as the original post for the rules and to get an idea of what we're looking for. Then, upload your desktop screenshot to our TUAW Desktops Flickr group. We'll feature one or more desktops each weekend, giving credit to the desktop owner, wallpaper creator and any apps featured in the screenshot (if available). Keep those desktops rolling in!

TUAW Desktop of the Week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 May 2007 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Desktop of the Week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 May 2007 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bytecontrollerchip setChipSetdesktopsgoogle desktopGoogleDesktopistat proIstatProsmartreportertuaw desktopsTuawDesktopsvirtuedesktopsDavid ChartierSun, 27 May 2007 23:30:00 ESTTUAW Desktop of the Weekhttp://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/20/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/20/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/05/20/tuaw-desktop-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: Desktops, Software

This week's Desktop of the Week may include a little Windows paraphernalia action, but don't let that distract you from some of the mod action that Flickr user dannyuncensored has going for his brand new black MacBook. First up is the wallpaper he's using - it appeared in a February rumor we ran of a possible Black iMac. The actual image was linked by TUAW reader Smitty, and is part of a wallpaper pack at - where else - deviantART. Here are the rest of the resources dannyuncensored is using in a handy list format:

ShapeShifter theme: TenFive from InterfaceLIFT
Byte Controller (free) for iTunes in the menubar
MacBook icon from InterfaceLIFT
Windows Vista icon for the Boot Camp partition created by dannyuncensored's friend (perhaps they would be willing to share it?)
Statistics in the middle of desktop are, again, provided by Panic's popular Stattoo
The clear Dock is provided by Unsanity's free ClearDock

Dannyuncensored also included a nice touch with changing Photoshop's icon, though I have to admit that since installing the CS3 Web Premium suite (as well as After Effects CS3 which runs like butta'), the default 'periodic table of Adobe applications' branding philosophy has grown on me.

If you'd like to see your unique, functional or otherwise interesting desktop featured in our TUAW Desktops of the Week series, check out past featured desktops as well as the original post for the rules and to get an idea of what we're looking for. Then, upload your desktop screenshot to our TUAW Desktops Flickr group. We'll feature one or more desktops each weekend, giving credit to the desktop owner, wallpaper creator and any apps featured in the screenshot (if available). Keep those desktops rolling in!

TUAW Desktop of the Week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 May 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Desktop of the Week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 May 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bytasticbyte controllerByteControllercleardockdesktopsdeviantartflickrinterfaceliftshapeshifterstattootuaw desktopsTuawDesktopsunsanityDavid ChartierSun, 20 May 2007 19:00:00 EST