MacMost: Archives

Learn how to use iTunes on your Mac to arrange your iPhone and iPod Touch apps. You can move them between screens and decide which ones sync. You can get Gold Strike at the App Store.

The popular online game Gold Strike has come to the iPhone. Gold Strike has previously appeared as a Web-based game, downloadable game and smartphone game for the pre-iPhone generation of phones. It has been played by millions since its release in 2003.
Gold Strike is an action puzzle game where you play a miner trying to strike gold in a collapsing mine. You must throw your pick at groups of matching blocks as tremors push the blocks closer to you. The object of the game is to dig as deep as you can, scoring points for hitting gold blocks.
The game was developed by CleverMedia, Inc., a game development company in Denver, Colorado. Since 2003 it has been the top game at CleverMedia’s primary portal GameScene.com. CleverMedia, Inc. also runs MacMost.com.
“We loved this genre of collapsing block games,” said the game’s creator, Gary Rosenzweig. “We wanted to create the ultimate game in that genre, but at the same time make ours unique.”
Gold Strike differs from other block games in that the blocks move in from the left side, rather than dropping down from the top. As the blocks push each other to the right the player must work to clear columns of blocks or risk being pushed off the screen.
The iPhone app includes the original game, plus four alternate game modes: Bottomless Pit, Strategy, Dynamite and Archeology. Each presents a different challenge using the same basic gameplay.
The click-only interface of the original game lent itself well to the touch-only interface of the iPhone and iPod Touch.
“We knew that this game would work well on the iPhone because all you need to do is to touch blocks,” said Rosenzweig. “We didn’t have to mess around with simulating arrow keys or mouse movements like in a lot of other games.”
The game also keeps track of your best scores for each game variation. It is available in the iTunes app store for an introductory price of 99 cents in the United States. It can be purchased through iTunes, or direct on the iPhone through the App Store. The starting price is only 99 cents, though this is just an introductory price.

We might finally be at the end of the rumors and into reality. Apple has sent out a colorful postcard invitation to selected press to hear about their “latest creation” on January 27. It would be shocking to most following the story if this wasn’t the new tablet being announced.
Rumors this week are mostly centered around the name of the device. iSlate and iTablet has been past favorites, but iPad is popular now, with Apple apparently trying to get trademark rights worldwide to the name. A Las Vegas bookmaker has put iSlate as the most likely, followed by iPad, iTablet, iPage, iPaper and iRead.
Most rumors point to only an announcement of the tablet on the 27th, with a release either in March or even as late as June. Predictions for price and capabilities vary greatly. We’ll find out, soon enough.
The event may also bring other announcements. Rumors of iLife 10, iPhone OS 4.0 and a Verizon version of the iPhone are circulating.
There was some real news this week as well. Apple finally released an update to Boot Camp that supports Windows 7, the latest version of Windows. Previously Windows 7 worked in virtualization software, but Boot Camp dual-booting wasn’t supported as Windows 7 drivers for Mac hardware were not included as part of Boot Camp.
AT&T switched up its pricing plans for iPhone users with a $30 price drop for an unlimited voice and data plan. This matches a similar price drop from Verizon earlier. Now only if both companies would stop charging $1,310/MB for text messages.
Apple also released a new iPhone app that provides direct access to MobileMe photo galleries. The free app can be downloaded from the app store.

Take a closer look at Quick Look, the ability to view the contents of a file without opening it. Just select a file in the Finder and press the spacebar. You can also navigate between files with Quick Look active, and browse around inside the contents of a file. Quick Look also works in Time Machine, Mail and iChat.

Since your Mac can handle more than one audio device, it is important to know how to tell it which device to use for output and input. For instance, you can have external speakers and a USB headset, as well as several microphones. You can set this system-wide, or for individual applications like iChat, GarageBand, Audacity and Skype.

You can use Airport Utility to configure your Airport Extreme so you can access your Macs for file sharing and screen sharing. It involves both DHCP reservations and Port Forwarding. It also helps if you have a static IP address for your home Internet access.

A continuing story over the last few years has been Apple’s battle with Greenpeace. The environmental organization initially rated Apple very poorly among technology companies, claiming it shipped products with too much packaging and manufactured using too many harmful chemicals. This seemed to have really irked Apple, so has been striving to appease environmentalists ever since.
According to a new report from Greenpeace, Apple is doing much better, earning a 4-star rating and a 5.1 on their 0-10 scale. That puts them only fifth behind electronics and mobile phone makers, and well ahead of most computer manufacturers. In the past, some have criticized Greanpeace’s rating system, saying it doesn’t taking into account the long lifespan of Apple’s computers.
The rumors about Apple’s mythical tablet continue to point to an announcement at the end of January. New musings indicate an iPod Touch-like operating system with no cameras, a 10.1-inch screen and 3G wireless capability.

On the Mac you can select single multiple items in the Finder or in applications in many different ways. Take a look at how selections work in a variety of situations using modifiers like the Command and Shift keys.

It can sometimes be tricky to set up a printer on your Mac. Make sure you are buying one that is Mac-compatible and that you have a USB cable if you need one. Also, typically ignore the CD-ROM that comes with the printer and download fresh drives from the Web site. Check reviews and support sites for for tips and information.

It is easy to hook up a second monitor to most Macs. Once you get a monitor and the proper cables to connect it, you can use the Displays preferences to control how the monitor fits into your desktop.

While rumors are strong that we will finally see the Apple tablet device before the end of the month, other major companies aren’t waiting. Several tablet-like devices are being announced, demoed and even launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.
Microsoft showed off the HP Slate tablet during a keynote event. The slate looks like what a lot of us have been expecting from Apple: a large iPod touch without a keyboard. It supports multi-touch. What’s interesting about it is that it runs Windows 7, which means it runs Windows applications. Can an Apple Slate that only runs iPhone OS compete with that?
Dell is also getting in on the act, with the expected launch today of a tablet called the “Streak.” But this one runs the Google Android operating system, much more similar to an iPhone or an iPod Touch.
Two other companies, Archos and Pegatron are also coming out with tablets. The first also using Android OS, but the second appears that it may run Windows.
Where Apple beat all the major companies to the market with the touch-screen iPhone, it appears it will lag behind them when it comes to the new tablet devices. Of course announcements and promises are different than actually having them in the stores. And Apple’s marketing lead may overshadow another device even if it ships first.
But it appears that even before we have these devices in our hands, 2010 will be the year of the tablet.

The Ken Burns Effect in iMovie 09 is the default setting for photos inserted into an iMovie project. But you can use it for more than just adding a little motion. You can pan and zoom to focus on objects or move along an image. You can even zoom in and then back out and other similar effects.

Gary Rosenzweig hopes Apple will improve MacBook Pros and Mac Pros in 2010. He also wishes for changes to MobileMe, AppleTV and iTunes. Perhaps 2010 will be the year the iPhone goes beyond AT&T. He also hopes that a new Apple tablet device will be more than just a media player. Leave your wishes below in the comments.

MacMost's look at what could be in store for Apple fans in 2010. Rumors point to a new tablet product, as well as changes in iTunes. We can also expect updates as usual, including a new iPhone in 2010. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Take a look back at the year in Apple news. Steve Jobs leaves and returns, new iPods, new Macs, Snow Leopard, AT&T and iPhone controversy, the iPhone 3GS and more.

Where do Mac users buy their digital music? Well, overwhelmingly they purchase at iTunes. Despite the many mentions I hear of alternative music sources, nearly 75% buy from iTunes.

I wish I could compare this to the same poll taken a year ago, just before Apple announced that iTunes would be DRM-free. Since removing copy protection, I have removed my own personal boycott of iTunes. (My problem was that DRM hurt honest music buyers like myself much more than it hurt pirates).

For online sales there was a strong runner up in Amazon.com. Amazon has been selling DRM-free mp3 files for some time now and nearly 25% of those responding said they have purchased from Amazon.

But Amazon was only in 3rd place. In 2nd place with a 35% response was “Buy physical CDs, then rip them to my Mac/iPod.” This was the original method for getting music on to your iPod before the iTunes store was born. And it was the method I used for years to avoid DRM.

A lot of other services were listed in the poll, but none received more than a 3% response. This shows just mow much of a hold iTunes has on the industry.

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Here is the original poll post:
Where do you buy your downloadable music? Do you get it from the iTunes Music Store? Or, do you have another source? Perhaps you purchase CDs and rip them to iTunes instead of buying online? Let’s narrow down the scope of the poll by not including free sources of music, but only places where you purchase music. And, of course, the music must be compatible with the Mac and iPod or iPhone. You can select up to 6 answers if you use more than one of these services.

Do you use a dictionary word, date or common password for your online accounts? Then it is only a matter of time before your accounts are compromised. Learn how to use strong passwords for your online accounts to protect yourself. You can use the Mac OS X Password Assistant to create random letter and number combinations. Read more about online password security at http://macmost.com/online-password-security.html.

The MacMost.com Guide to Online Password Security
When you create an account at a Web site you are usually asked to provide a password. What do you choose? Your child’s name? Your dog’s name? Your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Choosing a weak password opens your account up to being invaded. Someone could mess around with your Facebook status and spam your friends. Someone could order gifts for themselves on your Amazon account. Someone could drain your bank account or credit card. Or, worse, they could steal your identity and cause problems that could last for years.

If more than one person uses your Mac, you should set up multiple user accounts so each person has their own space for files and their own application preferences. You can use Fast User Switching to keep multiple accounts logged in at the same time so applications remain running and documents remain open.

With the end of the year here and not much news coming from Apple or third-party product makers, the rumor mill is filling the news void. The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times are reporting rumors that the Apple tablet device is almost here, with perhaps a January announcement from Apple and availability a month or two later.
Other rumors point to a smaller-than-expected device with a 7-inch screen instead of a 10-inch one. This would certainly indicate a gadget more like the iPod Touch than a touch-screen Mac. We’ll keep tracking the rumors at the Apple rumors page at MacMost.com.
Other rumors talk about Apple offering a subscription music and/or video service that would include some television networks. The idea would be that you could subscribe to the service and get television programs as an alternative to cable or satellite TV. Reports are that Disney and CBS will offer programming over the service, while NBC, ABC and Fox may wait and see.
There is also an update this week in the 27-inch iMac screen situation. Apple has released an update that may fix some screen issues for some new iMac owners.