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  • Takuro
    What began with iPods has now become a hot seller for Best Buy retailers: Apple products. After a recent announcement to greatly expand their Mac program, stores nationwide have begun to retrofit sections of their stores in an effort to resemble to Apple stores.
     
    Best Buy has gone through great lengths to give their Apple display an authentic feel. A large black wall fitted with cinema displays and illuminated Apple logos welcomes customers to the "Apple Shop." A wooden table adorned with iMacs, MacBooks, and MacBook Pros is available for shoppers to try the latest Apple machines hands-on, just as in full-scale Apple stores. Next to the table lies a wooden shelf stocked with cables, mice, routers, replacement notebook batteries, and 3rd-party Mac peripherals. The "shop" certainly serves as a convenient way to fulfill most of your Mac needs.
     
    The Apple Shop is just one step in Apple's ongoing effort to spread its product line to areas that don't have local Apple Stores. Apple projects that over 200 Best Buy retailers will participate in the program by Fall 07. For people who never previously entered an Apple store, the program allows a wider customer base to get a taste of what it's like to "Think Different."
     
    "Apple Shop" Pictures: (Courtesy of AppleInsider)
     
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/frijole/sets/72157600838727626/
  • EFI
    While recent efforts to successfully create a true "virus" through a "complete hack" for OS X has failed on numerous accounts, there have been some accounts of creating an application exploits under OS X. The most recent one, is documented by an "anonymous" researcher who claims to have proof of concept worm under OS X, which (he says) works by manipulating the mDNS stack in Apple's Bonjour network service.
     
    The individual claims that the worm was only created in several hours, and states that the worm is fully automated and ready for use:
     

     
    Full article link
     
    There are several reasons to speculate and doubt the individual's motive and claims behind this worm. Firstly, why keep the anonymity level if this is infact a real threat to OS X? Previously, Dino Dai Zovi, who was able to create a worm lower in significance to this individual, was appraised for doing such an accomplishment, so when this is at a highler level of threat...why hide the name? Secondly, the individual states that he/she will at some point report it to Apple...not immediately. Why the wait time?
     

     
    OS X is not invincible, nor invulnerable, but regardless of that above statement however, as of today, this hour, this minute, and this second...the total exploits (viruses) in the wild for OS X (from a time period of 6 years)...still stands at 0. Go figure.
  • Ed

    Future Hardware Rumour Round-up!

    By Ed, in OSx86,

    iMacs
    Dear oh dear, the poor old iMac has been starved of an update since last September. Rumours are abound of an entirely new, aluminium-wrapped enclosure just around the corner, combined with an all-new keyboard to boot.
     
    AppleInsider speculates that the new keyboard will be a very slim affair, drawing upon the current 13" MacBook's low-profile keys - here's hoping Jonathan Ive & co. aren't about to ship us a laptop keyboard with our new iMacs in the name of cool aesthetics, but knowing Apple we're sure they'll achieve the perfect balance.
     
    As Apple moves away from the gloss white plastics, we can also expect to see this new aluminium iMac to benefit from an enclosure just 2" thick according to ThinkSecret - a hefty bit of bulk shed compared to the current 17" iMac's 6.8" depth and the 24" mother's 8.1" depth.
     
    Specs-wise, given the iMac's similar architecture with the MacBook Pro's, it is fair to expect speeds of 2.4GHz, possibly 2.6GHz if the recently shipping Intel Core 2 Extremes are implemented. Current launch date expectations are a July/August timeframe which would coincide with the annual iLife update, so expect iLife '07 to be bundled too.
     
     
    iPods
    It's fair to assume that future iPods will be touting many of the features of the new iPhone - in fact, the iPods may well share a very similar enclosure to the iPhone and, in conjunction with rumoured new aluminium iMacs, completely leave behind the old gloss plastic designs originally pioneered 10 years ago with the first bondi blue iMac.
     
    These new iPods are likely to be Mac OS X-based and of course share the same touch screen interface that the iPhone uses. The current range of iPods haven't been updated since 2006, but the expected launch date for the latest generation of iPods is some time in August according to DigiTimes.
     
     
    Ultra-portable MacBook (Pro?)
    Rumours have been abound for quite some time about Apple's return to the sub-notebook market. Their initial foray into the market with the PowerBook 2400 in the 90's was short-lived, but with advances in technology, Apple's move to Intel, and the combo of Jobs and Ive, this could be a real winner, especially in Japan.
     
    AppleInsider reports the ultra-portable is being built around a 13" display which is LED-backlit, like the current 15.4" MacBook Pro. Assuming that this new sub-notebook forms part of the MacBook Pro family, it is fair to assume that this too will don an aluminium enclosure.
     
    Specs-wise, expect the DVD drive to be an external affair in keeping with it's ultra-portable-goodness, as well as the option to have a solid-state flash drive for those who can afford it. Don't expect this bad boy any time soon though, at least not til this fall at the earliest.
  • EFI
    The Mac gaming front has always looked quite bleak compared to the PC side, however there are some top games that do find life on the Macintosh. Needless to say, two of the most hottest games (one of them carrying the hype for several years now on the PC side) are coming to the Mac platform.
     
    They are:
     
    1. Gears of War
    2. Unreal Tournament 3
     
    Article link
     

     
    Both of these games use the spectacular and highly technologically advanced Unreal Engine 3.0.
     
    Update:
    In light of making the Mac version more easier to develop, these games use the TransGaming Cider engine wrapper, so as a result, they will only play on the Intel Macs. Ryan Gordon (programmer), states that neither of these games are utilizing the Cider wrapper. MacRumors.com, as well as the original article linked have updated their stories as well.


    For PowerPC users, there is good news on the front. Unreal Engine 3.0, which has now been in development for several years is also in the process of being ported to Mac and Linux platforms, and on the Mac side will be universal, thus providing PPC support. However, the downside is that the final exact date of release is as of today still yet to be confirmed.
     
    Article link
  • Paranoid Marvin

    It's iCal Day!

    By Paranoid Marvin, in OSx86,

    Today is the 17th of July, the unofficial iCal day. The only day of the year where you launch iCal and the icon stays the same.
     
    iCal was released on the 17th of July 2002, so let's all wish it a happy 5th birthday!
     
    Let's blow out the candles and make a wish for iCal 3.
    Hmm, perhaps a better, system wide to-do system or an updating icon?
  • Takuro
    68 "Bugs" and Counting
    After only two weeks on the shelves, iPhone enthusiasts at AppleHound have already begun to discover various minor bugs in the otherwise rock-solid user interface. In an effort to bring these issues to Apple's attention, they have compiled a comprehensive list of over 68 glitches. Issues range from minor screen hick-ups to complete application crashes. Many of the documented "bugs" require a very specific arrangement of steps to be reproduced, while some are relatively easy to replicate.
     
    In addition, many of the so-called "bugs" may actually be following the application behavior guidelines set by Apple. For instance, when exiting "silent mode," the iPhone produces no sound to verify that "audible mode" has been activated, as is the case with most other cell phones. Poor application load times and supposed minor mistakes in the graphical user interface, such as a single misaligned text character in the "stocks" widget, have also been categorized as glitches but may not be deemed by Apple as actual issues.
     
    Apple iPhone Battery Patch
    One very serious bug in particular has caught Apple's attention. It is reported that nearly 60% of iPhone users are complaining about incomplete battery charges. According to AppleInsider, Apple plans to remedy the issue in a software update that should be available soon. Apple spokespeople have stated that the issue is purely cosmetic. Allegedly, the iPhone's lithium ion cells are indeed receiving a complete charge, but a minor glitch causes the iPhone's battery meter to report an incorrect reading.
     
    Despite Apple's claim, those who have used Apple's iPhone update are reporting that their batteries are in fact lasting longer periods of time.
  • EFI

    Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Steve Jobs?

    By EFI, in OSx86,

    To conjure up another twist to Apple's ever increasing success, rumors have been flying that Apple has sought to create a new record label which features Jay-Z, as well as Beyonce. From the past, Jay-Z has been with Def Jam Recordings, which is a record label wholly owned by Universal Music. Beyonce has been with Sony Music.
     
    Moli.com (link to article) has been reported that this deal is done, as told from "an industry inside source".
    Note - the text could not be quoted from the link as it was not selectable, hence why only the link was provided.
     
    Detailed quote from Mac Rumors.com - Link
     

     
    Whether this has anything to do with the recent Universal Music's ("only renewing catalog with iTunes on a monthly basis rumor") proceedings with iTunes is still speculative at this point.
  • EFI

    "Hide-a-Pod"

    By EFI, in OSx86,

    A little humour is never bad in the news, so here goes. Meet Hide-a-Pod open up case for your iPod. What's so good in this design? It's actually a Zune model exterior shell casing (empty of course) with the ability to hold an iPod firmly inside.
     
    Quote from Enagadget
     

     
    Thus, once all is said and done, you will have what looks exactly like a Zune music player on the table...when infact it's an iPod! Genius, isn't it? Now if you accidently leave it at a coffee shop or anywhere on the street...it will be right where you left it when you get back. Therefore the chances of your iPod getting stolen are drastically reduced.
     
    Product Link + Picture
  • Paranoid Marvin

    Apple PyroBook G4

    By Paranoid Marvin, in OSx86,

    It's been quite a while now since the Powerbooks have been replaced by the Macbook Pro we have all grown to love. Despite the teething problems the Macbook Pro had, it seems as though there may be many potential problems with the Aluminum Powerbooks, many of which can take a few years to develop.
     
    Let's start off with the heat problems that the Powerbooks (and the Macbooks, in many cases) seem to have had from the start.
     

    - Justin Blanton 
    High temperatures can be quite damaging for any piece of electrical equipment. But could this dramatically shorten the life of a Powerbook?
     
    Then there was the battery recall.
    On the 14th of August, 2006, Dell and Sony admitted to major flaws in several Sony batteries that could result in the battery overheating and catching fire. As a result, they recalled over 4.1 million batteries in what was the largest computer related recall in ever. Ten days later, Apple recalled 1.8 million batteries after receiving 9 reports of laptops catching fire. The models affected were: the 12-inch iBook G4, the 12-inch PowerBook G4 and the 15-inch PowerBook G4. Later on, Toshiba, Lenovo and IBM, Hewlett Packard, Fujitsu and Acer.
    This video shows how dramatic a battery fire can be.
     
    It is also becoming more apparent that a design flaw in the Powerbook power adaptors can cause them to become damaged and spark and smoke and potentially cause a fire.
     
    This video shows the potentially dangerous adaptor in action. The internet isn't short on videos of burning adaptors! Here is another one.
     
    I have experienced this before as well. My power adaptor was sparking and smoking - and the cable was melted. Fortunately, Apple replaced it despite it being out of warrenty.
     
     
    The moral to this story?
    Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times
  • EFI
    Apple released a firmware restoration patch for Intel powered Macs. This update restores your Intel Mac's firmware to the previous version if a current firmware update gets interrupted or was not installed properly.
     

     
    Firmware Restoration CD 1.3
    File size: 22 MB
     
    Instructions on how to install are posted on the above web page from Apple. Firmware updates/restoration should not be taken lightly. Read the instructions very carefully if you are going to restore.
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