The latest build of Parallels Desktop, the Virtual Machine software which allows Intel Macs to run Linux and Windows in a Mac window alongside Mac OS X, has just been released and I’ve been running it all day – so here’s a quick look at it.
For anyone unsure about using Beta software, don’t worry. This is very stable. I’ve been running Photoshop, some video editing software called TMpegEnc and everything worked just great.
If you avidly watch the videos section on Digg.com as much as I do, you know how frustrating it can be when you occasionally come across a video which requires Windows Media Player. And you can guarantee it’s always the video you really want to watch which refuses to work even using the Flip4Mac Quicktime add-on. Before Parallels came along this meant having to either wait for someone to post a converted version somewhere else, or loading the link on your Windows PC (if you have one). Or how about those sites which simply refuse to run in anything other than Internet Explorer, or those which require Windows Java? Continue Reading »
For the longest time, I have wanted to hook up 2 displays to my Mac Laptop. Thanks to Matrox and their New DualHead2Go and Triplehead2Go, my dream can come true. The DualHead2Go and the Triplehead2Go are both palm sized boxes that hook up to your MacBook or your MacBook Pro’s DVI output and from there you can output to 2 displays. Caroline Injoyan, business development manager for Matrox Graphics Inc. said “Now Mac users can finally benefit from Matrox’s multi-monitor expertise, traditionally reserved for PC environments, by simply incorporating a GXM into their system setup.” The TripleHead2Go makes it so that your laptop has 3 screens (including the one on the laptop), and the DualHead2Go makes it so that your laptop can output to 2 displays (both external). They support resolutions of up to 3849×10241 and 2560×10241 respectively. The DualHead2Go costs $169 (USD) and the TripleHead2Go costs $299 (USD) from http://shopmatrox.com. Sorry iBook and PowerBook owners, but both the DualHead2Go and the TripleHead2Go are for Intel Macs only.
1 Note that the maximum resolution that is supported is system dependent. Please see website for details.
Seems like the best way to get publicity (and hits) for your web site these days is to report on a highly questionable story with no supporting evidence or facts, tack on a Digg worthy headline about Apple selling porn to minors and sit back as the swarm attacks the honey pot. The original report appears on The Consumerist, a consumer watch dog blog, and as of this writing the 2 sentence post titled, “Apple Sells “Refreshed” Laptop Filled With Porn To 11 Year Old Girl” has garnered close to 1300 Diggs and is rising fast. Now to be fair the post does also include a transcript of a chat with a friend of the owner of the new, porn laden, MacBook. In the transcript the friend says the laptop was sold with a “desktop full of JPGs” containing porn. Later in the same chat though, he admits that he doesn’t know how much porn, what type of porn and there is no evidence of the porn as the owner already restored the machine from the original system DVD. Now of course this is hardly definitive evidence that the story isn’t true, but come on. True or not, my point is not many Diggers will even bother to read that far into the story. Heck, I doubt they even click anything other the “Digg it” link.
Refreshed or Refurbished
Now another problem with this story is that while the headline on the Consumerist website clearly states it was a “refreshed” MacBook, most blogs picking up the story are reporting it as a “refurbished” model. The semantics are subtle but there is a big difference. Continue Reading »
[audio:http://media.libsyn.com/media/maccast/MC20061129.mp3] Download today’s show here! MC20061129.mp3 [32.8MB 01:07:25 64kbps]
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 168. A plethora of Apple patents. Apple slip enables extra International iTunes Store content. UK to decriminalize FM transmitter use. Beatles on iTunes soon? Will we see an Apple tablet in 2007? New Mac holiday ads running. Proof of Concept Ad-ware finds its way into OS X. Security Update 2006-007 released and it’s loaded. Apple leaks iPod dock-able keyboard? Using a Zune with a Mac. Listener MacPro review. Next MacCast: Resolution Independence. The good, the bad, the really ugly. What’s an iMix? My thoughts on Walmart digital download service. The Studios still don’t “get it”
I told you about the latest iTunes UK promotion involving a billboard in Piccadilly Circus on the latest MacCast. In case you missed it, Apple and Coke have partnered and placed a billboard at Piccadilly Circus in London. The billboard will occasionally display a code and when you use your UK cell phone to text the code to a special number you have the opportunity to win free songs on the UK iTunes store. Recently listener Brandon was able snap a few shots of the new signage (see Flickr links and YouTube video below) and the Coke+iTunes team handing out samples and vouchers for 5 free iTunes songs. According to Brandon if the billboard code word doesn’t change daily UK listeners can text “vibe” to 85100 up to 3 times for free music. Enjoy!
Update: Added the video of the billboard from listener Matt
[audio:http://media.libsyn.com/media/maccast/MC20061122.mp3] Download today’s show here! MC20061122.mp3 [21.9MB 00:47:48 64kbps]
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 167. Target takes aim at Disney download plans. Apple files interchangeable interface patents. New iPod Shuffle commercial debuts. Apple may use scorching MacBooks to their advantage. French group exposes Safari OS X security hole. UK Piccadilly visitors can get free iTunes. Apple rumor roundup: iPhone, 15″ MacBooks, AMD Apple notebooks and Blu-ray added to Macs in February. KLM and Air France deny iPods on a plane. Hack to enable Front Row on MacPro. Other tips for silencing your Mac at startup. New features in iTunes 7 you might have missed. Question about viewing Mail attachment sizes. Outlook Calendar syncing not working in iTunes 7. Resurrect a dead iPod Shuffle, maybe?
Normally I won’t cross-post from other blogs, but I just saw this post and the video below over on iLounge and it was too cool not to share.
“Found in the Apple Store in Tokyo, Japan’s Ginza district: as described more fully in this week’s Overseas Report, Apple has now outfitted the multi-story elevator entrances in Ginza with video pillars that explain the contents of each floor.”
Click here now get over to iLounge and chekout the video of this thing. You won’t be sorry.
MacHeist is a great new web site by the same folks who brought us MyDreamApp. It offers a unique way discover some of the great Mac software developers that are out there and an opportunity to get some of their great applications for free (well, if you are willing to do a bit of detective work). The concept behind MacHeist is that each week members are given a “heist” to pull off. These heists are like little scavenger hunts that take place on the Web and via email. The reward for successful completion of a heist is access to a vault full of great new Mac applications (downloads complete with registration codes). These heists have elaborate story lines and are cleverly constructed. You send emails to bots who respond with more clues (assuming you can formulate the right message), try to solve puzzles, break into secret web sites and attempt to uncover hidden documents and files. The MacHeist team has done a great job producing the phony, but realistic, web sites and has partnered with legit sources like MacRumors to tie it all together and add an air of authenticity. If you enjoy elaborate puzzle style games like Myst you are going to like MacHeist. Continue Reading »
[audio:http://media.libsyn.com/media/maccast/MC20061114.mp3] Download today’s show here! MC20061114.mp3 [26.5mb 00:57:50 64kbps]
A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 166. Disney claims success with iTunes. Where are the others? FOX movies coming to iTunes? Apple delays 17″ Core 2 Duo MacBook shipments. Rosetta performance increases under 10.4.8. Buy the album after a track, Apple may want to give you credit. Apple appoints new legal leader. iPod integrated in-flight entertainment coming. Apple release EFI Firmware updates for Intel Macs. Follow-up on suggestions for the new “Mac” guys in the Apple ads. Issues with “fsck” and full hash tables. Silencing your Mac at startup. How to move the “full screen” movie controller. Quality Issues with MacBook Pro and Powerbook G4 LCDs? My thoughts on refurbished vs. new Macs. Question about OS X secure empty trash. My thoughts on the Microsoft Zune. A scary iSight trick. Help support the show, visit maccast.com.
The latest build of Parallels Desktop, the Virtual Machine software which allows Intel Macs to run Linux and Windows in a Mac window alongside Mac OS X, has just been released and I’ve been running it all day – so here’s a quick look at it.
(1985)
I told you about the latest iTunes UK promotion involving a billboard in Piccadilly Circus on the latest MacCast. In case you missed it, Apple and Coke have partnered and placed a billboard at Piccadilly Circus in London. The billboard will occasionally display a code and when you use your UK cell phone to text the code to a special number you have the opportunity to win free songs on the UK iTunes store. Recently listener Brandon was able snap a few shots of the new signage (see Flickr links and YouTube video below) and the Coke+iTunes team handing out samples and vouchers for 5 free iTunes songs. According to Brandon if the billboard code word doesn’t change daily UK listeners can text “vibe” to 85100 up to 3 times for free music. Enjoy!
(1995)
(1986)
