shownotes_20081220

Opening
  Opening Music
    Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
    Mandaandthemarbles.com
Sponsor
  Smile on My Mac
    Disc Label
    Perfect for adding the finishing touch to custom holiday gifts.
    A favorite music mix, slideshow or video DVD for the grandparents.
    Software, also makes a great last minute gift.
News
  Activate your iPhone at home again
    Last week AT&T quietly started allowing home activation of the iPhone 3G.
    The online ordering process includes credit and number portability checks for new customers, but you can sign up and activate at home.
    Apple is still only offering online purchase and selection of a rate plan with in-store pickup and activation.
  App Store news abounds
    What price my app?
      TUAW has taken a look at an in depth analysis done Mobile Orchard and unless it's free, price doesn't seem to impact popularity.
      iPhone developer Craig Hockenberry (Frenzic and Twitterrific,) wrote an open letter to Steve Jobs expressing concern that developers are rushing to the 0.99 price to get better exposure in iTunes.
      The Mobile Orchard crunching of App store data shows almost no popularity preference based on price unless the app is free.
      Apple use a "popularity" score with a range between 0 to 1 and > 90% of the apps have a popularity of under 0.01
      With popularity to price ratios being equal, it seems pushing your price up would benefit you as your app stands to make more dough.
      That said I think we consumers are savvy enough to recognize the price to value proposition of an app.
    Another developer complaint that resulted in an App Store design change
      Apple changed the individual category pages so that the top apps lists are in separate columns on each side of the page.
      When mixed free apps were dominating the list since they were purely based on download numbers
      Developers complained to Apple since the mixed system placed paid apps a disadvantage.
    Let the bodily functions fill your iPhone
      Apple also added a new "Entertainment" category to the App Store
      The day it was released i was contacted by the developer of the "Pull My Finger" app, letting me know his previously denied app had been approved.
      Apple sent him a note saying the original rejection was sue to them not having a place on the App Store for his application.
      Since the update we have been blessed with all manner of rude, gross, and pointless apps. It's truly a beautiful thing.
  Apple releases 10.5.6 update
    A significant update addressing nearly 40 issues and security fixes
    Some highlights
      Mobile Me contact, calendar and bookmark changes should now sync within a minute regardless of where you make the change. Computer, mobile device, or .Me website
      Fixes for graphics issues reported on some Macs with AMD/ATI video cards.
      General graphics improvements for iChat, Aperture, Cover Flow and iTunes along with performance enhancements for gaming.
      Improved printing from Adobe Creative Suite 3
      Networking, Time Machine, Security and more.
    Reports of some problems with the update
      Mine hung during install on one machine. Fix was to download and use the full combo update from Apple's site
      According to MacNN other issues include, USB devices attached to Apple keyboards ceasing to work and Time Machine backups, failing to recognize drives properly or at all.
    Can't Pwn after upgrade
      iPhone Alley points out that the update has the unibody effect on the Pwnage tool. App used to jailbreak iPhones
      Does it by not allowing your Mac to see the device in device firmware update mode (DFU).
      An ArsTechnica report says connecting the iPhone to a hub rather then directly may by-pass the new restriction, but you might want to wait to update if pwnage is your thing.
    For Tiger users Security Update 2008-008.
      Fixes many of the same issues patched by the 10.5.6 update
      Addresses concerns with threats from maliciously created archives, images, ISO files, and Web sites.
      Shuts down a vulnerability in Adobe's Flash Player plug-in.
      DoS attack when using Internet Sharing
  Apple releases Holiday spun Mac vs. PC ads
    "I Can Do Anything," and "Tree Trimming" are airing on US television and up for viewing on Apple's US web site
    Once again done in that Rankin-Bass style.
    In "I can do Anything" PC knocks a Snowman's head onto a cute bunny who is heading to the Apple Store. In "Tree Trimming" PC rigs the tree lights to spell out "PC Rules" when they are plugged in.
  No Macworld Stevenote and Apple won't be back next year
    Phil Schiller will be giving the keynote this year and Apple will not have a presence on the show floor nor do the keynote at all in 2010.
    Apple said the move was due to changes in it's marking that has less emphasis on trade shows.
    Over the past few years Apple has pulled out of NAB, Macworld New York, Macworld Tokyo and Apple Expo in Paris.
    The big question about Macworld is why did Apple wait until weeks before the show to make the announcement
    Speculation on no Stevenote
      Apple has nothing to announce
      Jobs is not the only executive at Apple
      Jobs health (please).
    Speculation on why Apple is leaving Macworld
      Escalating bad blood between Apple and IDG
      Pressure to always have a big product announcement ready by Macworld deadline
    IDG says 2010 show will still go on.
    Reed Exhibitions announced this week that there will not be an Apple Expo Paris in 2009.
  Speculation on Macworld Apple Announcements
    Updated Mac Minis
      Updated Intel processors
      NVIDIA 9400M graphics
      Mini display port
      No Firewire 400
    Netbook, this seems to be pervasive, but doubtful
    iPhone Nano, 3rd party iPhone Nano case images out of China
    Apple TV?
    iPhone set free from Orange in France
      ILounge reports that the French Competition Council has provisionally suspended the exclusivity agreement between Apple and France Telecom.
      That means other carriers in France are now allowed to sell the iPhone
      France Telecom plans to appeal the decision.
  Apple buy in to iPhone GFX chip maker
    Apple is once again investing in chips. This time, not a complete buy out but a small stake
    Apple this week bought 8.2 million shares (a 3.6% ownership) in Imagination Technologies Group.
    Imagination Technologies Group makes the PowerVR MBX graphics processing technology used in the iPhone
    Couple this investment with Apple's buyout of chip designers PA Semi and it seems like Apple is looking to play a more significant role in the life of it's mobile silicon.
  A few final software updates
    Bonjour for Windows
      improve the usability and compatibility of Bonjour installations
    Pro Apps Updates 2008-005
      Improve reliability for Apple’s professional applications and are recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio.
    Multi-Touch Trackpad Update for Windows XP & Vista
      improves the performance of the Apple Multi-Touch trackpad when running Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista on a Mac computer using Boot Camp.
    Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.4
      Extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto 08 for several newer cameras including the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Sponsor
  Circus Ponies
    Notebook
    Happy Holidays offer for Maccast listeners. Save 20% on a standard or 3-user family pack license of NoteBook 3.0 at the Circus Ponies Online Store. Use the code 'MACCAST' (all-caps) between now and December 24th.
    And if you already own a copy buy one as a gift.
    Help someone get better organized in the New Year.
    Free 30-day trial.
Feedback, Comments and Commentary
  Follow-up: iPhone File Storage
    Play comment from Marc
    File Magnet has uploader for Mac or PC
    Catalin recommends DiskAid, which is free and cross platform
  Auto-tagging MP3 files in iTunes
    Jonny migrated over from a paid Napster account several tracks but in the transition to iTunes the track numbers got messed up.
    Music Brainz Picard
    Jaikoz Auto tagger
    Music Brainz is a community based music metadatabase that the Picard app can search against the music you have on your Mac. If it finds matches you can review the data, see the differences and change the data.
  No sound on Apple TV after 2.3 upgrade
    Havard in Morway has been having issue with ripped content on his Apple Tv since the update
    The files all have Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, but it no longer plays.
    He pointed me to an Apple discussion that seems to indicate that if the tracks have the 5.1 and 2.0 audio they will play the 5.1 track, but if the 2.0 AAC track is not present then there is no audio.
    Usually the problem is that someone used Handbrake did not use the Apple TV preset.
    According to an Apple Support article 5.1 Audio support on Apple TV requires that there be 2 audio tracks present.
    Good news is that if you have QT Pro you can "fix" your already ripped videos by pasting a 0.5 second clip of AAC audio on the front of your movie and save it back out.
  Review: Ped 3 Auto
    Our friend Mike from Thoughout is back with another great product
    Likes
      Versatile mounting options. Options for angle when attaching to base. Suction cups are my favorite.
      Rotatable head that is interchangeable with Naja King and Ped 3 stands
      Firm grip. Once adjusted it holds tight. Can be adjusted to accommodate skins and cases.
      Flexible arm
      Excellent build quality
    Room for improvement
      Option for longer arm
      Wish Ped Head was adjustable without pliers.
      A bit pricey at USD $50.00
    Available in iPhone or iPod Touch
    Simple, well built products (Made in the USA) that just work.
  Manually migrating from PPC to Intel
    Play comment from Robert
    The real issue is that some items might still be non-Universal or PPC only code
      Screensavers written for the PowerPC
      System Preference add-ons
      All Unsanity Haxies
      Browser and other plug-ins
      Contextual Menu Items
      Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5
      Kernel extensions
      Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries
    These instructions are based on a great Apple Discussion board post
    Start with a good full cloned backup of the old system to an external.
    In your /Home/ folder: Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites folders.
    In your /Home/Library/ folder:
      /Home/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
      /Home/Library/Application Support/iCal (copy the whole folder)
      /Home/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need including folders for any third-party applications)
      /Home/Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
      /Home/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
      /Home/Library/Preferences/
      /Home /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
      /Home /Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)
      If you want cookies:
        /Home/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
      For Entourage users:
        Entourage is in /Home/Documents/Microsoft User Data
        Also in /Home/Library/Preferences/Microsoft
    For 3rd party apps you will need to check with the vendors site to see where items are installed. I would reinstall all my apps from scratch, but the data you may need to sort out.
    REMINDER:
      Felipe reminds us when doing a migration or an erase and install to de-authorize. iTunes and 3rd party apps like CS3 and CS4.
  Fixing finicky fonts
    Zac had an iCal icon that was out of place and a font conflict was to blame
    Can often get duplicate fonts in multiple formats. Helvetica Neue is one of those.
    Can check FontBook and see if you have any duplicates
      Launch FontBook (Applications-->Font Book)
      Duplicates will appear with a little bullet to the right of their name.
      Select the version of the Font you wish to keep (often their will be different version installed different places). Typically I keep the version in the "Computer" group. That is the shared location for all users.
      With the font selected in the list... go to Edit-->Resolve Duplicates.
      Font Book will turn "off" the duplicate fonts and resolve the dupes.
    The only tricky thing is making sure you select the version of the font you want to keep enabled. Especially if you want to keep say a Type 1 PS version vs. a TT version or something.
    Another pesky problem is that if you try to "delete" or remove Microsoft Office versions of a font I believe Office will attempt to re-install the fonts, so just turning them "off" using Font Book is a better route to go.
  A photo screensaver that displays filenames
    Ray wanted to know a way in OS X to have a screensaver that showed his photos, but also their filenames
    In Leopard the beautiful built-in Photo screen saver added a few new cool tricks like collage
    System Preferences-->Desktop & Screen Saver
      Under "Pictures" select the set of pictures you want to use. Folder, iPhoto event or album, etc.
      Offers 3 display style options (Slide Show, Collage, or Mosaic)
      Choose Collage and click "Options"
      Under the Collage style: options choose "Annotated".
      Check the box for "show name." and click OK.
    Now your all set. The photos will appear to fall onto your screen in a "polaroid" style frame with the filenames or photo titles written on the bottom.
Closing
  Podcast Marketplace
    Thanks to my sponsors
      Merlin 2, Project Wizards - Project management, Gantt Charts, MS Project import/export
      Circus Ponies, Notebook
      Smile on my Mac, DiscLabel - Great for your holiday projects
      Softpress, Freeway Express and Freeway Pro.
      Faronics, Deep Freeze
      Audible, free audio book with Audible Listener Gold
  Keep emails coming. Audio comments.
    maccast@gmail.com
    281-622-4269 or 281-Mac-I-Am-9
      PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
    MacCast Forum
  "Carol of the Bells" by Winzenried a.k.a. Hollywood Drunks
    From the podsafe Music Network
    Bands site
  EOL: Mac Papercraft Ornaments
    Cult of Mac has an idea for a cool holiday project. Decorate the tree with all things Mac.