MacMost: Archives

Gmail is often the choice of email power users. You can optimize your Gmail experience even more by learning some simple keyboard shortcuts that allow you to navigate, read and compose email without having to move your fingers from the keyboard.

Take a look at the new Apple TV. In addition to most of the features of the original, the new device includes Netflix streaming. The new iOS is masked behind an interface just like the original. But the possibility exists for future expansion with apps.

The new Apple TV began arrive on doorsteps this week as Apple shipped the product in September as promised. Reports from those who have examined the device show 8GB of internal flash memory and a very similar architecture to the iPad. The door definitely seems to be open for future Apple TV apps.
Apple also updated iTunes to version 10.0.1 with bug fixes and a new right-side sidebar listing recent activity on your Ping social network. It even lists relevant information based on which artist and song you have selected in your library, such as showing artist posts and profiles.

One option for screen captures and recording is Snapz Pro. It offers more options than the standard capture ability in Mac OS X, such as being able to follow the cursor around and record anything on the screen. It comes with a high price tag, however.

You can use Rules in Mail to create autoresponders that will instantly reply with an automatic message when you get email. You can tailor the autoresponders to reply to messages with certain subjects, from people or domains or to special email addresses.

If you have accidentally deleted an essential Mac application, like TextEdit, Preview, iCal, Address Book or the QuickTime Player, you can get it back without reinstalling your entire system. The packages for these files are on your Mac OS X installation disks. It is just a matter of knowing where to find them and how to get at some of the ones that are somewhat hidden.

Apple rolled out updates to iPad and Mac OS X software this week. This started with a Tuesday release of a minor security update for OS X available from Software Update. The next day brought an update for Mac OS X users who have ordered the new 27-inch LED display, which started shipping. In addition, Apple released drivers for the Magic Trackpad for Windows users, which also allows it to work fully in Boot Camp.
On Wednesday, Apple released versions 1.2 of the three iWork apps for iPad. Pages has new features such as word counts, opening text files from Mail attachments, and object grouping. Keynote now supports exporting to PowerPoint format, object grouping, and new animations. Numbers now allows you to export in Excel format, object grouping, and opening CSV files from Mail attachments.
All iWork app updates also include a variety of compatibility and reliability improvements and all of them now support opening and saving documents to a user’s MobileMe iDisk or WebDAV service. You can get the updates through the App Store app on your iPad or through iTunes on your Mac.
Adobe entered the Mac consumer video editing market this week with Adobe Premiere Elements 9 for Mac. This simplified version of its professional video editing application has never been available on the Mac before. Priced at $99 it should compete directly with Final Cut Express.

Adobe has released its basic video editing tool for the first time for the Mac. With Premiere Elements you will be able to do more than with iMovie, but it also comes with a steeper learning curve. There is support for a timeline, motion, text, transitions, effects and more.

You can block web sites and protect all of the devices in your house using DNS controls. A service like OpenDNS allows you to prevent any computer or device on your network from going to categories of sites or a specific site. You may also be able to block sites using your DSL or Cable Modem's controls.

Your web browser uses to store bits of information associated with the web sites you visit. There are misconceptions about what cookies do and how they are used. Learn how to examine your browser cookies and set your cookie storage preferences.

In a surprise move Apple has once again changed iOS app development rules, this time to relax restrictions on functionality and development. Apple also published a detailed list of review guidelines used by their staff to determine whether apps are allowed to appear in Apple’s online store.
This move once again allows development of iOS apps with tools such as Adobe Flash, which disallowed by a previous change earlier this year. Adobe has responded by saying they will pick up development of the Flash Packager for iPhone tool that they stopped earlier this year.
In addition, it is possible that the new rules will allow previously-banned apps such as ones that access Google Voice and other telecommunications services.

When you present with Keynote you can use your second display in a variety of ways: presenting the current and next slides, times, progress and notes. See how you can switch between displays and use the presenter display to give better presentations.

Check out the new HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography feature of the iPhone 4 and iOS 4.1. The iPhone takes three versions of the picture with different exposures and combines them to make the best image.

Take a look at the new iPod Nano. It features a touch screen and is smaller and lighter than the previous models. It also lacks many of the features of the previous Nano.

Apple released version 4.1 of the iOS for the iPhone and iPod Touch yesterday. This new version of the operating system includes Game Center, HDR photography, HD video uploading and a variety of bug fixes.
Game Center appears as a new app on the home screen, and also as functionality inside any game that uses Game Center. It allows you to compare scores, keep track of achievements and challenge friends to games.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and gives you better quality photos under mixed light conditions. It takes three photos, instead of one, and then combines them to get the best image from different parts of the photo.
iOS 4.1 is available as a free download through iTunes for the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G, and the iPod Touch 2nd generation or later. iOS 4.2 for the iPad, which would be the first version of iOS 4 for the iPad, will be released in November.
The new iPod Nano and iPod Touch have appeared in Apple Stores and the first orders have arrived at homes. The new Nano features a small touch-screen for both controls and a display. The new iPod Touch brings it in line with the iPhone 4 in terms of processor power, screen resolution and other factors. It is also the first Touch to have video cameras: one in front and one in back.
Apple also released updates this week to Safari, iWeb, iMovie 1.1 for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch.
And in late-breaking news, Apple has updated its iOS developer agreement to allow third-party tools for iPhone development. This could possibly allow developers to once again use Adobe Flash and other tools to create iOS aps.

The handy utility Default Folder X adds extra functionality to your save and open dialogs. You can quickly navigate to folders already open on your desktop, jump to recent and favorite folders, set a default folder for each application, and make changes to files you see in the dialog boxes.

If you are an advanced user with trouble, or someone who like to tinker with Mac OS X settings, then take a look at OnyX. This free utility gives you easy access to Terminal commands and hidden preferences.

Apple introduced its first modern social network with Ping in iTunes 10. Ping allows you to follow your friends and see what music they have purchased and comment on music and other iTunes items.

Apple’s September 1 announcements brought us a whole new line of iPods. The new iPod Shuffle brings back buttons to the device, while taking on a smaller square shape. The new iPod Nano is also square, with a color touch screen replacing the controls. Video playback and the video camera have been removed, however.
The new iPod Touch updates the device to the A4 processor and retina display used in the iPhone 4. It also has a thinner body and includes both a front and back video camera and gyro sensors.
The new Apple TV is a much smaller device and also has a much smaller $99 price tag. Gone is hard drive storage and with it the ability to purchase movies and TV shows. But you can still rent videos, and many TV shows are going to be re-priced at $0.99. The new Apple TV also adds the ability for Netflix subscribers to view streaming movies from the service.
A new version of iTunes adds the Ping social network where you can share your music favorites and messages with your friends. The AirTunes system, which allowed you to stream audio from iTunes to other Macs and Apple devices on your network, has been updated to AirPlay which includes video.
Apple also announced iOS 4.1, which will be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch next week as a free download through iTunes. The iOS update includes being able to take pictures with HDR (high dynamic range) which will help bring more detail to photos taken on the iPhone. It will also include Game Center, a system used by some games to connect players and compare scores.
The next update, iOS 4.2, will be for the iPad as well, bringing features like multitasking and app folders to the iPad for the first time. Release is scheduled for November.

Like many, I was thrilled with Apple’s announcements at yesterday’s special event. New iPods, a new Apple TV and iTunes 10. It all sounded great. But then as the day went on, I began to see problems. By this morning, I’ve identified six issues that will hurt the products announced yesterday.

I Guess Video Was a Fad
The new iPod Nano sounds great. It has a touch screen and is smaller than ever. And that color screen displays video, right? Wrong. According to the specs on the Apple site, the new Nano doesn’t support video. But the last two generations of iPod Nano did. That’s a pretty big feature to remove. I mean, it isn’t like watching video on a tiny little screen was that great, but for video podcasts or watching TV shows on a commute or airplane it was a killer feature. It is like someone took your TV away and replaced it with a radio.

What Happened To the Camera?
The previous iPod Nano was great because it had a video camera. For $149 you had the equivalent to the original Flip video camera, but with massive storage in comparison. It was the lightest, smallest video camera out there. But no camera on the new Nano. Another downgrade.
So the new Nano is the same price, but what new features does it have? None. Well, it has a touch screen, but that doesn’t let you DO anything you couldn’t do before. It is just a change to the interface. So the new Nano is missing a camera and video playback, and really adds no new features.

The iPod Touch Still Doesn’t Have a Camera
Well, technically, it has two: front and back. But these are both video cameras, not still image cameras. You can use them to take still images, but you only get very low resolution pictures. The back camera is the better one, and that only goes to 960×720 — less than 1 megapixel. OK for posting to Facebook, I guess. But you won’ want to print those or use it for anything remotely important. And there’s no flash like on the new iPhone either.

Another Salesperson In Your Pocket
So iTunes 10’s big new feature is Ping, a “social network for music.” But if you are that into music and want to share with your friends, then wouldn’t you already be doing that on Facebook? Are you going to make all your friends join Ping?
Ping is really just an extension of the last big new feature of iTunes, Genius. The latter had Apple recommending music to you. The former now has your friends doing it. And both are designed to get you to buy more music on iTunes.

No One Likes the Beatles
So you sign up for Ping anyway. One of the first things it does is to ask you to specify your favorites. But they must be artists on iTunes. Like the Beatles? Tough. They aren’t on iTunes so you can’t possibly like them. So tell me why I would use Ping over Facebook to share my thoughts on music?

Apple TV Still Behind the Curve
There are really only three new things about the new Apple TV: price, lack of storage, and Netflix. The first is great, sure. The second is a good move, I believe. And even if you don’t use Netflix, it is nice to know the option is there.
But that’s it. Nothing really new. The old Apple TV could run Netflix if Apple wanted to put it there. Heck, the Wii and XBox run Netflix. So does the iPad.
But what about streaming video services like Hulu? Everyone knows that is what needs to be on Apple TV. Now I know why Hulu isn’t there. The powers that control Hulu don’t want Hulu to be on TV-targeted devices. Hulu is for computers. They don’t want it to compete with cable. And Apple would probably rather sell you TV shows, even at 99 cents, than give you the chance to watch them for free with commercials. But these reasons have nothing to do with the end-user. In order for Apple TV to really take off, it needs to tap into the free with-commercials video streams. Apple just needs to figure out how to get this done. What would work is a small subscription fee to use Hulu on Apple TV. That’s how Netflix works, so the stage has been set.