maccast_20091202

Opening
  Opening Music
    Music is "Say Anything" by Manda and the Marbles
    Band's MySpace page
  Maccast turns 5
    First Maccast went out on December 13th, 2005
  Thanks for a great Movember
    Huge thanks to all who donated.
    Thank to you, I raised $576.64 and my team (team Nik) earned $1,076.38 to fight prostate and testicular cancer.
    In the US almost 3 million was raised and the money will be split between the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Globally the effort raised over $30 million.
  Podcast Award voting ended
    Thank you to all who nominated and voted
    Winners will be announced 8pm Eastern on December 12th
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News
  Apple Black Friday Cyber Monday numbers
    Gene Munster crunched the numbers from ComScore from the big holiday weekend
      Online sales were up 39% year over year
      And AppleInsider notes an Experian Hitwise poll that indicates Apple's online traffic was up 71% on Cyber monday.
      In going to a sample of retail stores Munster's crew found retail sales down. Selling 8.3 macs per hour vs. 13 per hour last year.
        There are more retail stores for people to choose from and they didn't cover all of them
      Munster is still predicting about 2.8 million Macs sold in the quarter.
      Other analysts noted traffic in Apple Stores looked brisk. Isn't it always?
    Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf reports September worldwide Mac sales were up 16.4% while the PC market sales only rose 2.3%.
      Growth for Apple was mostly driven by Europe (38.7%) and Asia (27.1%). US was up 9.8% in September.
  Apple opens up iTunes LP spec
    Ars Technicia reports that, true to their word, Apple has posted details of the iTunes LP Spec
    Artists and labels can use the templates, guides, and TuneKit framework from Apple to build iTunes Extras and iTunes LPs
    Submissions will be reviewed by Apple for "appropriateness of content and for technical quality".
    For now submissions are manual and limited and you will need to have an existing iTunes contract, so artists will go through their studio or label.
      Apple says they are planning to have an automatic electronic submission process in place in early 2010.
    I had already told you about iTunes LP.net
    Boy Genius Reports is now saying their contacts have info on a revamp of iDVD that will include iTunes LP creation.
    This is great news and should hopefully push the iTunes LP format forward like the iPhone SDK did for apps
    I'm sure will will also start to see more Apple hardware support, like they added for the AppleTV.
  Mac Pro revamp in early 2010?
    The buzz on 27" iMac i7 numbers is that the new all in one consumer powerhouse might be creeping into the Mac Pros territory
    Now rumors that Intel's new 6-core i9 "Gulftown" processor might put the "pro" back in the desktop machines
      The i9 reportedly uses a new 32nm manufacturing process bringing a 50% performance boost and lower power consumption over todays existing quad core Xeons.
      Also features 12MB of L3 cache and can run 12 virtual cores. With 2 processors in a box that would be 12 physical and 24 virtual cores of bit crunching awesome.
    Apple Insider and TMO are hearing rumors of an early 2010 mac Pro refresh, but the Gulftowns debut might be delayed according to the latest Intel roadmap seen by Engadget.
      It shows revamps of the i5s and i7s in early 2010 along with the addition of a Core i3 to meet the budget market, but no mention of i( which leads the Gadgetheads to think the i9 is set for launch in the second quarter of 2010
    Cult of Macs also expects the usual Macbook Pro bump in January
      Intel will reportedly also have their new Core i5 and Core i7 Arrandale-based, 32nm processors ready for that release too, although the piece notes the chips maybe a bit too power hunger for Apple's liking.
  Rumor of new iPhone in the wild
    Saw a post on TUAW that the developer of the iPhone app iBart noticed an iPhone labeled 3,1 in their PinchMedia analytics logs
    The iPhone 3GS has the designation 2,1
    If true, this is the first "in the wild" siting, but a while back several sites noticed 3,1 references in betas of the iPhone 3.0 OS.
    New phone and the next OS could have upgraded maps
      Placebase acquisition and Apple now hiring for a iPhone and iPod touch Maps developer
      Improved GPS and Compass features
      Some speculate Apple may be looking to replace Google Maps, but the Placebase tech could also layer on top of the existing Google map functionality.
  Apple accused of ordering too much NAND
    Cnet cites a piece out of the Korean Times that alleges Apple is trying tweak NAND flash prices buy placing large orders from manufacturers but then not buying it all from Samsung Electronics and Hynix.
    An analyst Cnet spoke to says the practice is not uncommon.
    I seem to remember stories of Apple doing this to IBM and Mototrolla in the PowerPC days.
    The CNet piece also points out that contracts on orders also usually have cancellation clauses.
      It shouldn't be Apple fault if suppliers don't cover themselves in contracts.
      Consumers are benefiting.
  Reports of some 27" iMac issues
    Arriving with cracked screens according to Macworld and confirmed by Greg Homyak (Apple Media Center Podcast) and from Crywolf, our local AAR
    Macworld also notes a discussion thread of some video issues
      Screen flickering, tearing (in which the image on the screen looks like a sheet of torn or ripped paper), and shutoff problems
    Greg also says they had a DOA model.
  Pystar settles with Apple, a little
    They agreed to pay Apple a settlement totaling $2.675 million for copyright infringement, breach of contract, and violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
    This settlement is in CA, but the company still another suit where they want to be able to continue to sell their Rebel EFI software which allows 3rd parties to install OS X Snow Leopard on non-Apple hardware.
    Even with the settlement Apple will likely not see the money. Pystar had filed bankruptcy earlier this year and reportedly has assets of less than $50,000.
    I think Apple just cares that the company is gone.
  iPod Payment System might pay out
    ifoAppleStore says Apple is getting a lot of interest surrounding it's new iPod Touch based in store payments system, but not just from customers and Mac geeks like us. Other retailers are apparently wanting in on the systems.
    The system is an hardware shell that the iPod slides into. It adds a barcode scanner, credit card reader and battery
      The folks at my Apple store were loving it. Less crashing, multi code scanning, and no more dirty looks. Also uses a Pogo Stylus to capture signatures right on screen.
    Apple's not calling their manufacturing partners yet, but they are definitely keeping their options open.
    Apple might already have competition in the space
      Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has a new product and startup company called Square.
      A payment swiper and software for the iPodTouch and iPhone.
      The hardware connects via the headphone Jack. So would be available on devices other than Apple's
  MacTablet name and rumors
    MacRumors uncovered that Axiotron, makers of the ModBook, had a trademark on the term MacTablet, but transferred the mark to Apple back in November of 2008.
      A name doesn't mean Apple will make the device, but heck if you have a trademark you might as well use it, right?
    Kevin Rose, who is generally 50/50 on Apple rumors, prodded his co-host Alex Albrecht whom Rose said "knew something" about the upcoming Apple tablet. After cajoling Albrecht would only say that he "was shocked at how cheap the price point is going to be".
      Keep in mind with some recent rumors putting the price around 1,200 to 1,500. A $800 price tag could seem low.
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      Fine tune what inactive means. CPU usage, memory usage, hard disk usage
      Specify apps that stop power management. Great for iTunes sharing, AppleTV, Front Row, DVD Player, etc.
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Feedback, Comments and Commentary
  Ellipses shortcut
    I mentioned just typing a dot dot dot when adding keyboard shortcuts for menu command that have an ellipses. Mr. Cat has another, and more typographically correct, way.
    Curly commas and curly quotes
      Commas: Option + Close Square Bracket (open) and Option+ Shift + Close Square Bracket (close)
      Quotes: Option + Open Square Bracket (open) and Option+ Shift + Open Square Bracket
  Upgrading cable modems
    John is curious about troubleshooting Internet and how to upgrade the firmware in cable modems
    I have a Motorola SurfBoard SB5101 and looked into it.
      The cable providers are the only ones who can upgrade your modems firmware
      Some sites seem to indicate that this sometimes takes a reboot, which I think normally is triggered when they do an update, but manually powering off and on can help.
      Your cable provider should have a list of supported modems on their support site, if not contact them before buying a modem.
    General troubleshooting tips.
      Reboot. Work from connection back (Modem, router, Mac). Wait each time for a successful connection, usually indicated by lights on the device. Check manual.
      Go Wired.
      Check cables if already wired.
      Check for wireless channel interference.
        AirRadar. USD $19.95
        KisMac, Free
      Eliminate variables. Work backward to connection.
  Flash draining batteries
    Mark noticed he was getting reduced battery life on his Macboook while web surfing.
    Flash was eating up lots of processor and memory cycles as it's oft to do.
    Click-to-Flash Safari Plugin
      Blocks all flash until you click it
      Has a little "cog" icon for settings. Load all flash on a page, whitelist sites, etc.
  Review: TVClean
    I am super cautious about using any kind of chemical cleaning product on my TVs or Macs
    The coatings on new displays are sensitive. Layers also can suck up pooling liquids in a display and ruin it.
    I was not expecting to like the Tv Clean, but it works great and is quick and easy.
    Pros
      Lifts away particle debris before wiping
      Cloth dries streak free
      No liquids or sprays
      Affordable
    Cons
      Rubber roller detached a couple times, but I got used to the proper method
      Cleaning roller loses tackiness fairly quick which could lead to added cost in the long run
    If you don't go for the TV Clean, try the Eco Wipes
  Running an iTunes DJ robot
    Scott wanted to set up a Mac as a kiosk for a party, but wanted to keep people out of anything but iTunes.
    Setting up Opera browser as a kiosk
      Run Kava Tunes, sets up a web interface for iTunes you can access locally or over the net.
      Set up a limited user account with restricted Finder and only access to Opera.
        Login to the account.
        Open Opera and set homepage to be the Kava Tunes local page
        Enable Full Finder to access Terminal and launch Opera into kiosk mode
      I could launch into kiosk mode, but couldn't get the filter to work
    Use a limited user account and FrontRow
      Allow account to run iTunes and FrontRow
      Load music into iTunes on that account
      Launch FrontRow. Command+Esc
      I couldn't get FrontRow to see a local shared iTunes Library from another account using fast user switching.
    Other options? Email.
  One size fits all Itunes video encoding
    Phil has a DVD collection he want to put into iTunes, but want to have 1 file for playback on his TV, iPod, and I'll add iPhone or iPod Touch
    Dilemma is you will have to give up some large screen quality to get 1 encode
      Apple now delivers it's purchased content with a Tv and and iPod version.
      iLounge has a great article from 2007 that goes deep
        Basics are, Format (H.264 or MPEG-4), Resolution, and bit rate
          iPods and iPhone will do H.264 at 640x480 and 1.5mbps or MPEG-4 at 640x480 and 2.5mbps. Not the iPhone and iPod Touch screens have a maximum display of 480x320
          AppleTV will do H.264 at resolutions up to 1280x720 at 5mbps or MPEG-4 at 720x432 and 3mbps
    Tools
      Handbrake
      RipIt
      ElGato Turbo.264 HD
    Of course you can always buy or rent content from iTunes
      Play an Apple TV tip from Doug
Closing
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  "Walk A Thousand Miles" by Matthew Ebel
    From Mevio's Music Alley
    It's time for holiday tunes and this one is from a great Podsafe artist who's been around the "Pod thing" as long as I have I think.
    Artist's website
    Buy on iTunes
  EOL: OS Xbox Pro
    An amazing hackintosh case mod by Will Urbina. Check the pics on his site. Cool video of the build too, but the audio is NSFW.