MacCast 09.24.2005

Written by: Adam Christianson

Categories: Podcast

Listen to today’s show here! podcast-mini2.gif
MC20050924.mp3 [18.0mb 39:21 64kbps]

A podcast about Macs done by a Mac geek for Mac geeks. Show 91. Apple releases 8th security update of 2005, rumors of Mac Mini updates coming next week, iPod update released for Shuffle, Apple’s margin on iPod Nanos could be as high as 50%. Follow up on keyboard shortcuts for controlling Safari tabs, listeners iCal calendars won’t keep their colors, a trick for syncing the iTunes Library between 2 Macs, review of Hawking Technology HWL2A USB WiFi Adapter, an Applescript for merging iTunes tracks as bookmark-able AACs, tips on having a happy visit to the Genius Bar and the MacCast 100th show contest shaping up. New music, You Remind Me by Velvet Chain. Promos.

And remember, Mud spelled backwards is Dum

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There are 5 comments on MacCast 09.24.2005:

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  1. richardun | Sep 25 2005 - 12:55

    That 4gb nano giveaway is super cool. But using the donations money to subsidize it isn’t, even if it is future donations. Some people are donating to you but more are specifically to the hurricane relief. Since the september donations are already going to the hurricane relief, messing with the original deal will affect your credibility–not that you’re guilty of anything, it’s just that it’s better to keep things un-fett-clutt-erred.

    It’s better to separate this subsidy–maybe a raffle (ugh..raffles) Oh yeah. Instead of a 4gb nano, a 2 gb would fit the bill just as well. For personal use, of course, 4gb, but no one’s going to mind a free 2gb-er.

  2. Russell | Sep 25 2005 - 10:09

    Hello, Great show.

    I just wanted to let you know that when ever i’m playing your podcast and I pause my ipod for a long time the ipod shuts down. The only way to turn it back on is to press the select and menu buttons to reboot it. This seems to only happen with your Podcast. I also listen to TWiT, Digg and slashdot review.
    I own a brand new 60GB color ipod
    I use my windows XP PRO computer running the latest itunes update. But this has been going on since itunes 4.9.
    If you have any ideas of what could be causing this, please let me know.

    Thanks.

  3. maccast | Sep 26 2005 - 01:10

    Richard,
    I am taking all the September donations to date (24th) and doubling that amount to give to the hurricane relief, this will end up being more money then would have been donated in the month by listeners alone. Being essentially 48 days of donations vs. 30. I’m not sure I see where the issue is.

  4. richardun | Sep 26 2005 - 08:15

    Well, not everyone is a regular listener. So people who’ve heard the old podcast about the September donations but not the doubling…actually, it doesn’t really matter. It’s just six days. It’s not the amount I’m concerned over, just the off/rare chance that somebody might donate in mind for Katrina without hearing about the change in policy. Then again, it’s just six days.

    And one thing, make it a contest. You could have something like TUAW’s blogging contest but without the TUAW rigging.

    Poll for contest ideas.
    One of these days i’m going to start writing in passive more….

    I still think TUAW rigged their ipod nano contest. What did you think?

  5. GreenAlien | Sep 26 2005 - 09:38

    I wouldn’t of had an issue with Adam’s idea and it sounds reasonable to me. But Richard raises a valid point, even if it’s mute, other people’s perception isn’t. Never underestimate the ability of others to get the wrong end of the stick ;)

    I reckon you’ve got time to keep the current arrangement to the end of the month, and then do the 100th show prize draw. A raffle might not be such a bad idea if you can’t think of a competition – each dollar could equate to one name in the virtual hat. So for example, if someone donates 5 USD to the iPod prize draw, then they’d be entered 5 times. And when making the draw you could do a simple spreadsheet listing everyone that donated along with the amounts, and a third column to show the running total. Then you randomize a number from 1 to total funds, and use the running total to locate the winner. Otherwise people will be reluctant to donate any money to the draw – there would be no incentive.