Archive for the ‘Mac’ Category

Why the New MacBook is Different

Monday, December 29th, 2008

A new generation of Apple notebooks has arrived. This time, however, the “new generation” tag doesn’t just refer to upgrades - it heralds outstanding changes to design and technology.

Design
To construct the casing for a standard laptop, you need a lot of different parts. In the process, you increase the weight, the size, and the potential for problems. To address these points, Apple set itself the challenge of building the casing from just one part.

This goal may have appeared far-fetched at first, but Apple was convinced the effort was worth the trouble. The result is the new MacBook’s unibody, a casing created from just one piece of solid aluminium.

The unibody has transformed the look of the MacBook. More than ever, it gives the impression of a sophisticated and brilliantly engineered laptop. The unibody also feels incredibly robust. Furthermore, the use of aluminium helps the new MacBook weigh in at 0.23 kg (0.5 pounds) less than the previous model, and shave 0.34 cm (0.13 inches) from its height.

Different manufacturing techniques
Moulding such a casing, as you would with plastic, is a thing of the past. Instead, Apple makes the unibody by milling it with computer numerical control (CNC) machines.

These machines are some of the most accurate manufacturing tools on the planet. Apple has grasped their potential and employed them to the fullest extent. The sleep indicator light on the new MacBook, for example, appears to shine from behind the aluminium. Apple has achieved this by thinning the metal and drilling tiny holes through it.

Environmental standards
The new MacBook will last for years, but it’s good to know the aluminium unibody is recyclable. This reflects the seriousness with which Apple views its environmental responsibility. The company has applied stringent standards to every aspect of the new MacBook, insisting that manufacturing techniques go hand in hand with the most demanding eco principles.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are absent from all the internal components of the new MacBook; none of the internal cables have PVC; the glass of the screen doesn’t contain any arsenic; and the display behind it is mercury-free. The new MacBook is setting a benchmark for the complete removal of toxins from computers.

In terms of energy efficiency, the new MacBook has a double victory to celebrate. Not only does it meet Energy Star requirements as previously, it has also acquired an EPEAT gold rating. EPEAT is the foremost environmental evaluation system for desktops, laptops, and monitors. To obtain a gold rating is a significant achievement.

Other features
Further outstanding features of the new MacBook are the trackpad, the screen, and the Mini DisplayPort. The trackpad immediately catches the eye because it’s almost 40% larger than before. When you start to use it, you also appreciate its extra functions. The trackpad now has full Multi-Touch capability that includes pinching to zoom in and out; three and four finger swiping; creating a right click area for shortcuts; and using any part of the trackpad’s surface as a button.

The new MacBook’s screen has changed to a thinner LED backlit display that provides full brightness the moment the MacBook comes on. A frameless glass front complements this and makes the widescreen appear larger than its 13.3 inches.

A Mini DisplayPort replaces the Mini DVI and FireWire 400 ports. The Mini DisplayPort provides an easy, plug-and-play connection for an Apple LED Cinema Display, and can show images on both the MacBook and the Cinema Display at the same time. Mini DisplayPort adaptors for VGA, DVI and dual-link DVI connections are available should you need them.

The 2.4GHz MacBook also has another bonus. It now boasts the illuminated keyboard so admired on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Technology
The new aluminium MacBook is available in two models, the 2.0GHz and the 2.4GHz. Both processors use Intel Core 2 Duo technology with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache.

The standard models of the previous generation were 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duos with the same L2 cache. Both new versions, however, have a 1066MHz system bus, compared to 800MHz. In addition, 2GB of memory is now a standard feature (with the capacity to accept 4GB if you prefer). The hard drives are 160GB Serial ATA at 5,400 rpm for the 2.0GHz, and 250GB for the 2.4GHz. You can increase storage to 320GB or 350GB, and there’s an option of a 128GB solid-state drive.

As for the optical drive, the new MacBooks no longer offer a Combo. Apple has passed this over in favour of the superior 8x slot-loading SuperDrive on both models.

Graphics
The features and technology of the new MacBook all deserve your attention, but one in particular is creating both interest and excitement.

The old MacBook had an Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with the main memory. The new MacBook has an integrated processor that provides up to five times better performance. This graphics powerhouse, the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, is the result of development work between Apple and NVIDIA. It has 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM, and contains 16 parallel processing cores. The result is 3D images that are fast, responsive, and more detailed. The MacBook is now a highly desirable laptop for game players.

Battery
With all these extras to cope with, particularly the graphics processor, you might expect the MacBook’s battery to suffer. On the contrary: the official life of the battery has increased from four and a half to five hours.

Apple has accomplished this by keeping the principle of energy efficiency to the forefront of its thinking. From the MacBook’s screen to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor, the design has incorporated the lowest energy use possible.

Innovation
The developments the MacBook represents are profound. This is a laptop that introduces impressive design, manufacturing, performance, and environmental innovations. It also throws down a gauntlet for other companies to pick up if they choose. In the meantime, the MacBook remains exceptional.

Luke B Scott writes about the all new Macbook and the changes in design and technology that make the Macbook such an improvement on its predecessors.

Apple and Mac, is it For You?

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Are you wondering what brand of computer to get? Why not try getting that one with an apple on. I’m sure that all of us have seen that apple logo with a bite of its upper right side and I’m also sure that all of us know who it belongs to. That famous apple is the logo of none other than Apple, Inc. This company is well known for its Macintosh personal computers, the iPod and the much talked about iPhone.

Macintosh, or popularly called as Mac, is a brand name for a group of personal computers produced by Apple, Inc. This also refers to the operating system used by these computers. Apple first introduced Macintosh computers in 1984 but suffered a decline when a cheaper and more efficient Microsoft Windows was introduced in the 1990’s. Since then more people started using Windows instead of Mac. But Apple fought back with the introduction of the iMac in 1998 and started to rise again soon after that. Today, Mac is still widely used by a great majority of people around the world and has given Windows a run for its money.

Apple has produced both desktop and laptops computers. Unlike the Windows operating system which can be used for any computer brand, the Mac operating system is only used with Apple computers. They have produced desktops computers with some of more common and latest models being the Mac Pro, iMac and Mac mini. They have also produced the MacBook Pro, Powerbook Laptops and MacBook air for their portable computers.

The Mac Pro introduced in 2006 is a workstation desktop computer which uses Intel Xeon processors. The iMac introduced also in 2006 is a high-end desktop computer which is the first Macintosh with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The Mac mini introduced in 2005 is the smallest desktop computer to be released by Apple. This computer looks like a small box with a measurement of 6.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches. This also uses an Intel Core Solo or Intel Core Duo processor.

The MacBook Pro first introduced in 2006, is a 15 inch notebook pc with an aluminum casing. It uses Intel Core 2 Duo processors and has 4 GB of RAM. The MacBook also introduced in 2006 is a 13.3 inch notebook computer with a polycarbonate casing. It also uses Intel Core 2 Duo processors and has up to 4 GB of RAM. The MacBook Air introduced early this year is a 13.3 inch notebook computer which weighs only 1.36 kg and is 0.16 inches thick. This uses Intel Core 2 Duo processors and 2 GB of RAM.

Aside from these computers, Apple has also produced the iPod which is a digital media player and the iPhone which is a phone, an iPod and an internet device in one. The computers have the usual accessories but both the iPod and iPhone has accessories too. These accessories can serve to protect your iPod or iPod and enhance them too.

If you don’t have an Apple computer yet and would like to try one after what you have read, why not open an internet window and type into your address bar now and check out Apple computers, components and accessories at the lowest prices. You can look for Apple computers; compare their specifications and their prices to get the most value for your money. Not only that, while on Cheap Shopping Center also take a look at other computer products. You might find something you like or need and you can get them at this site for the best prices.

Marshall is an avid Internet Marketer, and enjoys connecting surfers with the products they are looking for and getting paid to do it. He has been running as a way to present various computer products in a new way.

Transfer IPod Files to Mac and ITunes

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Need to transfer iPod files from iPod playlist such as photo, movie, music to Mac? Or need to get your iPod files back to your iTunes library? I am afraid you will be frustrated if you don’t have a third party application to help you to do this job. We all know that Apple iPod user can put everthing compatible with iPod on iPod with iTunes, but iTunes lacks of the ability to copy the iPod media files back to iTunes, PC and Mac computer.

What’s worse, we just imagine that one day your computer crashed and all of your songs and media files are wiped out. You didn’t back up your files on another computer but your iPod. How could you get your iPod files back to your re-install computer?

Since iTunes will block users to iPod-to-Mac computer song, movie, photo transfer, why not give up iTunes and find out another way to build a bridge between iPod and Mac computer? Maybe, a third party application can copy everything off iPod and put them on your hard driver again without the help of iTunes.

There are a number of iPod to PC applications available for download on the internet. But most of them only work for your Windows PC, merely for Mac OS. 4Media iPod to Mac Transfer is a necessity for Mac iPod user who do not use iTunes to transfer files. To choose a good iPod to Mac transfer, I think there are several key points are very important.

The first thing is compatibility. You must make sure that the application can be well compatible with your iPod and Mac.

Secondly, The transfer must be very easy to use.

Thirdly, transfer speed. Just imagine that if you have a large collection of photo, movie, music on your iPod, how could bear speeding a whole day to transfer the files to Mac or iTunes. The most important thing is that the money refund policy.

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is whether or not the iPod to Mac transfer program is backed by a 100% money back guarantee! I think this is not only the money back, but also the guarantee of the product’s quality.

Overall, if you want to put things back to Mac computer from iPod, I think a thirty application such as iPod to Mac transfer is a good choice.

http://www.downloadatoz.com/ipod-to-mac-transfer
– Lee Davids

Apple Computers - Compatibility With Windows Applications

Friday, November 21st, 2008

In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much has changed over the years, and many applications can be seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is expected that within the next few years, there should be problems at all.

Best of all, in today’s highly wired world, where electronic mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell Computers.

With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across multiple-platforms.

Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications. Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible Windows application suites which include everyday Windows applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.
– By Yina Dong

Extendmac releases Flow 1.1 for Mac OS X Leopard

Friday, October 31st, 2008

La Jolla, California - Extendmac is proud to announce Flow 1.1, an update to their award-winning FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and .Mac client for Mac OS X. Presenting a gorgeous user interface, Flow streamlines both transferring and editing files by leveraging high-speed connections.

Armed with the belief that file-transfer should be both powerful and elegant, Flow brings the best of the Mac to managing server files and folders. By integrating with the latest OS X technologies, like Quicklook, Flow makes working remotely every bit as intuitive and natural as working locally with the Finder.

After uploading a file, the URL to the file on the web can be automatically copied to the clipboard for easy sharing. Flow also includes a powerful integrated editor, as well as support for editing in an external application of the user’s choice. Users may now specify a specific external editor to be used for a particular extension when editing externally.

When using the internal editor, code is colored for easier readability, and can be previewed using WebKit. Flow can suggest completions of HTML, CSS, and PHP elements, properties, and functions, respectively. To further enhance readability, Flow now includes “Bitstream Vera Sans Mono” as the default editor font.

Version 1.1 is a major update delivering many top-requested features, while substantially bettering both stability and polish. The application offers substantially better error-handling for all protocols, public iDisk support, as well as more secure WebDAV and MobileMe iDisk authentications.

Among Flow’s most requested new features is the ability to browse a local disk from within the sidebar. This eliminates the necessity to interface with the Finder for uploads and downloads.

The new version of Flow also sports custom Public Keys for SFTP. Connect to an SFTP server without specifying a password, and Flow will allow the user to select a public key to connect with. Flow 1.1 now offers Multi-touch Support. Users with a multi-touch trackpad can now use swipe-gestures to navigate around in Flow. Swiping left and right will move back and forward. Swiping up and down will navigate to the parent directory, or enter the selected directory.

New Feature highlights include:
* Local Browsing in the Sidebar
* Custom External Editors
* Custom Public Keys for SFTP
* Public iDisk Support
* Substantially better error-handling for all protocols
* WebDAV and MobileMe iDisk now use digest authentication
* New editor font: Bitstream Vera Sans Mono
* Multi-touch Support

Minimum Requirements:
* Mac OS X Version 10.5 Leopard or later
* Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel
* 8.5 MB Hard Drive space
* Internet connection

Pricing and Availability:
Flow 1.1 is available as a single-user license for only $29.00 (USD), and available as a full-featured demo. Version 1.1 is a major update delivering many top-requested features and a recommended download for all customers.

Extendmac Website
Flow 1.1
Download Flow 1.1
Purchase Flow
Screenshot
Flow Icon

Based in La Jolla, California, Extendmac is a small privately funded company founded by Brian Amerige. With a bent for usability, user experience, and simplicity, Extendmac focuses on designing beautiful, intuitive, and functional software for the Mac and iPhone platforms. Copyright 2008 Extendmac. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Computer in the U.S. and/or other countries.

The New Generation Of Apple Computers

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Despite losing ground to Microsoft and clone PCs, Macs still have a strong following, especially since an Apple Computer rarely becomes affected by viruses. Also, Mac enthusiasts, especially those in the design and journalism fields will attest to the power of the Macintosh in these environments.

Apple Computer is still adding new lines to the brand. Also, they once more revolutionized the computing industry a few years ago when they came out the the iPod.

iMac - This is the Company’s leading desktop computer, and the popular iPod was developed along with it. The introduction of the iMac in 1998 was directly responsible for Apple Computer’s rising profit margins.

Power Mac - This is Apple’s high end personal computer; it is also referred to as a Power Macintosh.

MacBook - The current Apple MacBook laptops come in three models, 1.83GHz, and two 2.0GHz, one white and one black; all using Intel Core Duo processors and equipped with 13-inch monitors. These replaced the previous PowerBook laptops.

MacBook Pro - This is the high-end version of the MacBook, designed especially for business and other professional applications. There are currently three models available, two 15.4-inch models, a 2GHz and a 2.16GHz version, as well as a 17-inch 2.16 GHz model.

Mac Mini - This PC is similar to the very first Apple I; the Mini Mac is the lowest price Mac on the market. This Mac is available in two versions and comes without a keyboard, monitor or mouse. They also use Intel processors.

Xserve - Apple’s contribution to the server business, Xserve, was first released in 2002. The Xserve can be used in a wide number of applications.

iPod - This portable media player was another in a line of innovative designs from Apple Computer. This device has undergone various improvements since it was first introduced in 2002, the latest being the addition of video capabilities. Many now act as external flash drives as well, allowing the storage of photos and videos in addition to music.

Apple computers have come a long way since they were first introduced and continue to fire the imagination of Mac users worldwide.

Training For Apple Mac Certification

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Apple’s certification training is meant to produce a highly proficient technician, systems administrator and user. Apple offers you its certification exams at various training centers throughout the United States and various locations around the world. Apple Mac training courses and tests are carried out according to a specified schedule. The faculty at these the various centers consist of Apple Certified Trainers. Training is delivered through lecture, hands-on lab work and exercises. The following are the various certifications that can be achieved through Apple Mac training.

1. Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACHDS)

This Apple Mac training course is specially formulated for the individual who desires to become an Apple Mac help desk specialist, service tech or technical worker.

2. Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA)

This Apple Mac training is the certification typically arranged for system administrators who admin large IT networks and use Mac OS X Server and other Apple technologies.

3. Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC)

If you are a system administrator and offer help desk to Mac OS X users and keep the Mac OS X Server platform, then this is the Apple Mac training course for you.

4. Apple Certified Desktop Technician (ACDT)

This certification is for those individuals who have interest in achieving the landmark of Macintosh desktop service technician.

5. Apple Certified Portable Technicians (ACPT)

This certification is for those individuals who have interest in achieving the landmark of Macintosh desktop service technician.