MacMost: Archives

iTunes lets you use a variety of file formats for ripping CDs or converting music. Learn about each one: AIFF, WAV, MP3, AAC and Apple Lossless. Decide which format might work best for your music collection.

Apple set the dates for its 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco for June 7-11. The conference, originally centered around the Mac, will certainly have an iPhone and iPad emphasis. Apple has already announced and released to developers a new version of the iPhone OS used on both devices. It is expected that they will unveil a new version of the iPhone hardware during the conference.
The 3G version of the iPad, capable of connecting to wireless 3G networks, has started shipping to customers who pre-ordered the device. Delivery times indicate they should be arriving on Friday afternoon, just hours before the iPad 3G goes on sale in Apple Stores around the U.S. at 5 p.m.
There is more drama around the iPhone that was lost in a California bar and then later sold to the online publication Gizmodo. Despite being returned to Apple, a police investigation has started which included the seizing of Gizmodo editor’s computers. On one side of the controversy are First Amendment considerations that protect journalists from such seizures. On the other side is the fact that Gizmodo purchased what could be considered stolen goods.
In other news, Apple reportedly purchased chip design firm Intrinsity. That company is though to be the brains behind the A4 processor in the iPad.

Learn how to wrap text around images using either a one or two column layout. Find out how to use images with an alpha channel, images with a solid background, or define a shape to wrap the text around. Also, find out how to crop images.

You can use Activity Monitor to see how your Mac is using memory. But what do free, active, inactive and wired mean? How about page ins and page outs? Plus, learn to use them to figure out if you need more memory.

You can use both an Apple Wireless Keyboard and the iPad Keyboard Dock with your iPad. Learn what each has to offer, and what special features you get when using an external keyboard instead of the on-screen keyboard.

Apple’s January-March quarter included record sales and profit numbers. They sold nearly 3 million Macs, almost 9 million iPhones and almost 11 million iPods. Profits were up 90 percent at $13.5 billion from the same quarter last year. This was Apple’s best non-holiday season quarter ever. The stock surged on the news.
But not everything at Apple headquarters was good news for the company and an engineer lost a prototype of the next iPhone model at a bar nearby. The device found its way into the hands of editors at Gizmodo and was dissected and analyzed for the whole world to see. It features a second front-facing camera, a flash for the rear-facing camera, a higher-resolution screen, and a larger battery. Apple asked for the phone to be returned, and Gizmodo replied.
The iPad 3G version now has a shipping date. It will begin to go out to customers who pre-ordered it on April 30. It will be available in Apple Stores on the same date at 5 p.m.
The war between Adobe and Apple continues, with Adobe announcing that it is giving up on a feature of Flash CS5 that allows developers to create native iPhone apps.

Web-based email accounts have been the target of malicious hackers and spammers recently. Find out how they get access to an account, and how to protect yourself. See how to check your Gmail account for unauthorized access. Protect your account with a strong, secure password.

The Photos app is used to view pictures on your iPad that you sync from iPhoto or iTunes. Although the app is very limited, photos do look great on the iPad screen.

Learn about some handy Mac keyboard shortcuts and how you can get a free printable page of common shortcuts at http://macmost.com/j-keyboard.

Apple finally released new MacBook Pro models this week, a much anticipated update long rumored. The new machines feature the i5 and i7 processors in the 15 and 17-inch models, but Core 2 Duo processors in the 13-inch models.
They also have a new NVIDIA video chipset which switches to a low-power Intel video chipset when using the battery to extend the battery like to 8-10 hours. The battery is built-in to the hardware, not swappable.
There are two screen options for the 15-inch model: a 1680×1050 anti-glare screen or a glossy screen. Then 17-inch also has two options, both 1920×1200.
All models come with 4GB of RAM, upgradable to 8GB. You can also get a variety of hard drives, depending on the model, from 250GB to 500GB and even a 512GB solid state drive as an option.
While iPads continue to fly off the shelves in the U.S., Apple has delayed international launches until the end of May. On May 10 the iPad should appear in Apple Stores as a pre-order item, with pricing revealed. No word yet on exactly which countries will get the iPad first.
Adobe released the CS5 application suite, including new versions of Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash. Dampening the launch was news from Apple that third-party developer tools would soon no longer be allowed for iPhone app development. One of the new features in CS5 is the ability to export iPhone apps. But it is not known whether Apple will accept them in the store.

To play music on your iPad, use the iPod App. It gives you access to all the music, audiobooks and podcasts you have synced from iTunes. The iPad version of the iPod app lets you create playlists as well.

Take a look at the Maps app on the iPad. It provides quick access to Google maps, with the ability to search, get directions, view satellite and street view images and traffic.

Take a look at the Mail app on the iPad. It has a beautiful design and is very easy to use. But it lacks powerful features.

Even with the reservations system in place for the iPad launch, there were still lines. In fact, there were two lines at each Apple store: one for those with reservations, and one for those without. Those with reservations were supposedly guaranteed an iPad, but that didn’t stop them from lining up hours before the stores opened, just to be sure.
Apple officially announced that they sold 300,000 iPads on the first day. This would include pre-orders mailed out, reservations picked up, and regular walk-in sales. The iPad was only on sale in the U.S. Analysts estimate the first week at about 500,000 iPad sales.
While shortages of iPads were occasionally reported at Apple stores and other retailers like Best Buy, it seems Apple made enough to go around.
But Apple isn’t resting on this success. Later today Apple will give a sneak peak of the next version of the iPhone OS. Most likely they are doing this because they want to get it in the hands of app developers and beta testers soon, so they might as well announce the new features now. Rumors are that two major new features will be multitasking and printing from apps. Others speculate GPS navigation in the Maps app and a merged inbox email view in the Mail app.
Expect developers to be able to get their hands on the new OS soon, but the general public will most likely wait for a new iPhone model this summer.
We’ll be reporting news of the event on Twitter, Facebook and the left sidebar of the MacMost home page.

Take a look at the three organizational apps that come with your iPad. You can keep track of events and appointments with Calendar. Contacts acts as an address book. Notes lets you write small text files. All can sync with your Mac. But they are pretty simple apps compared to what should be possible on the iPad.

One of the major functions of the iPad is to serve as an e-books reader. The iBooks app from Apple allows you to both purchase and view e-books. Take a look at how the iBooks app works.

Take a look at the new iPad from Apple. After unboxing, you'll get a look at the apps that come installed by default and general impressions of the new device.

Apple sent out iPads to a select few journalists and their reviews have been posted over the last few days. Here is a round-up of major reviews and what they said.

Tim Gideon for PC Magazine gave it 4.5/5 and said “you can actually get real work done with the iPad… when my laptop eventually dies, I’ll be getting one.”

Andy Ihnatko for the Chicago Sun-Times said “the iPad user experience is instantly compelling and elegant…. It’s a computer that’s designed for speed, mobility, and tactile interaction above all other considerations.”

Xeni Jardin for BoinBoing said “I like it a lot. But it’s the things I never knew it made possible — to be revealed or not in the coming months — that will determine whether I love it.”

Walt Mossberg for the Wall Street Journal said “The iPad is an advance in making more-sophisticated computing possible via a simple touch interface on a slender, light device. Only time will tell if it’s a real challenger to the laptop and netbook.”

David Pogue for the New York Times said “If you like the concept, you’ll love the machine.”

Ed Baig for USA Today said “Apple has delivered another impressive product that largely lives up to the hype.”

Apple released an update to iTunes this week that added support for the iPad, so Macs and PCs will be ready to sync with the device on Saturday when people start bringing them home. MacMost will have its first look and review of the iPad starting Saturday and continuing with closer looks at the device in videos throughout next week.

Before you buy a professional word processor consider using TextEdit, a program that comes with your Mac and can handle most non-professional word processing needs. You can format and style text, add images, lists and tables, and even open Word docs.

An Uninterruptible Power Supply is a great accessory for your Mac. It provides surge protection, protection against momentary power outages and gives you a chance to save your work if a longer power outage occurs.