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On its web site Apple lists over 300 new features that were added to OS X, culminating in the system software update that is 10.5 Leopard.
But when you get down to it, what, exactly is new?
I mean, really, really new?
Continue reading "Have Operating Systems Become Feature Complete?" »
It's the weekend, so indulge me as I engage in some more mathematical musings, this time with the MacBook Air vs. the relatively long-in-the-tooth but beloved 12" aluminum PowerBook.
Also, my earlier article on the Air vs. Eee has generated more than a few comments and emails and rebuttals, so I'll reply to a few of those issues as well.
Especially as they apply equally well in any discussion of the PowerBook.
ComputerWorld's Seth Weintraub just published an article detailing ten reasons why you might want to wait before buying a MacBook Air.
Assuming, of course, that you haven't already placed an order.
Among the "concerns" listed are the processor, wireless, "glitchy" components, the drives, docks, speed, expandability, size, and price.
But are those concerns justified? Let's take a look.
The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg has reviewed the MacBook Air and determined that it's not for everyone.
Which to my mind should be obvious.
But it's amazing just how many people fail to appreciate the Air for what it is, and want it to remake it into something else.
Here's an excerpt from a comment on MacNN, "I think I will wait for 3 things to be addressed, Firewire port, 2 USB ports and GB ethernet port or 2 USB ports, GB ethernet port and a Cardbus [sic] slot..."
The same individual also mentions the lack of an optical drive and removable battery, which means that by the time we cram all of the "missing features" back in we essentially have a machine with the feature set and footprint of a MacBook Pro...
Which we already have.
AppleInsider seems to have scored an exclusive, having confirmed that forthcoming MacBooks and MacBook Pros will also contain the Air's new multi-touch trackpad technology.
Wow. Who saw that coming?
But even if Apple adds it to future notebooks, and even if those notebooks are coming soon, I still have a problem. Because my iMac has a acute case of multi-touch envy.
Which leads us to the question of the day:
With gestures becoming more and more important to the Mac interface, when will we get multi-touch on the desktop?
It's given that version one of any product will have a few problems and rough spots, and Apple's new movie rental program is no exception to the rule.
So with that in mind, here are three ways that Apple could improve their new service right now, making it a lot more valuable to all concerned.
Continue reading "Three Easy Ways To Make Rentals More Popular" »
Some people have complained about the footprint the Air needs to support that 13.3" screen and full-size keyboard, saying that they would have prefered a smaller notebook like the Asus Eee PC.
A "true" subnotebook.
Well, their wish has come true, because by my calculations the Air is actually both thinner and smaller than the Eee PC.
You do the math.
According to published specifications, the Eee's dimensions are 8.9x6.5x0.9~1.4, or a total of 66.52 cubic inches in volume. But at 12.8x8.94x0.16~0.76, the Air is only 52.63 cubic inches in volume, making it over 20% smaller than the Eee.
True, the Air does weigh a bit more, and it obviously costs a lot more.
But if small is what you want, then we've got you covered.
There have been a few sites touting various conspiracy theories regarding the MacBook Air's external SuperDrive and the fact that it's only compatible with the Air.
As such, Apple has been accused of deliberately "crippling" the drive so that it doesn't work with their other computers, and some have provided "proof" that other manufacturers can make a standard USB bus-powered drive, and so Apple should have been able to do so as well.
But such accusations, and the proof that goes with them, are really little more than hot air.
Continue reading "The MacBook Air: SuperDrive Conspiracies" »
With iTunes 7.6 you now have several new ways to sync music, movies, and TV shows to your iPhone.
First, you can now turn syncing off.
That's right, now you can finally manage everything by hand, dragging songs, playlists, and individual video files directly to the iPhone icon. Just check the "Manually manage music and videos" checkbox on the iTunes summary page for your phone.
Second, in addition to the venerable sync "X most recent unwatched" options they've added the ability to sync the least recent unwatched episodes.
Why would you want this?
Continue reading "New iTunes Synchronization Features For iPhone" »
Purchased a couple of movies and TV shows and some music all at the same time?
And now you're waiting with nothing to do?
In iTunes 7.6 that's no problem. Just drag the songs to the top of the Downloads list and they'll be done first. Rearrange the movies and shows to your liking too.
Then you can listen to your new music while you wait.
