October 28, 2010

∞ Device lets Mac mini, iMac users replace optical drives with second HD

OWC has announced the expansion of their Data Doubler optical bay drive mounting kit. The kit now works in 2009-era Mac minis and 2009-2010 iMac models. It costs $79.99. (more…)

∞ Galaxy on Fire 2 "galactic adventure" game comes to iPhone

Fishlabs has announced the release of Galaxy on Fire 2, the sequel to their outer space shooter and trading simulation for the iPhone and iPod touch. The game is now available in the App Store and costs $6.99 as a promotion; an iPad version is expected to be released in a few weeks with higher-resolution graphics and special controls, and will be a free upgrade for iPhone version users. (more…)

∞ MacPractice doctor software comes to the iPad

MacPractice, the practice management and clinical software for the Mac, is now available with an iPad interface. (more…)

∞ Virtual Programming acquires utility maker Syncode

Virtual Programming – best known for its Mac games, most recently Supreme Commander 2 – has announced the acquisition of Australian developer Syncode, a publisher of utilities for Mac OS X and iOS. (more…)

∞ IK Multimedia releases AmpliTube 2 for iPhone

IK Multimedia on Thursday released AmpliTube 2 for iPhone, the newest version of the companies amp and effects software for iPhone users. (more…)

October 27, 2010

∞ Valve releases Left 4 Dead for Mac

Just in time for Halloween, Valve Software has released Left 4 Dead Game of the Year Edition for the Macintosh. The game is regularly priced at $19.99 but costs $9.99. It’s available through Valve’s Steam download service. (more…)

∞ Keith McMillen Instruments releases SoftStep foot controller

Keith McMillen Instruments on Wednesday released a new foot controller for musicians called SoftStep. The controller can be plugged into a Mac using USB or MIDI. (more…)

∞ SecureMac discovers Mac OS X trojan horse

Macintosh security firm, SecureMac, on Wednesday discovered a new trojan affecting Mac OS X, including Snow Leopard. (more…)

∞ Apple delays white iPhone 4 until Spring 2011

Apple on Wednesday confirmed that the white iPhone has been delayed again. The most recent delay marks the third time the device’s release has been postponed. (more…)

∞ 54% of web video is now HTML5 compatible

Apple CEO Steve Jobs made, what some might consider, a risky decision by excluding Flash from the iPhone and iPad in favor of HTML5, but significant growth rates of the standard shows he was on the right track. (more…)

October 26, 2010

∞ Apple offers free engraving, gift wrapping for iPads

The holidays are almost here and Apple is getting into the spirit of giving. (more…)

∞ Former Xbox exec says Jobs 'mad' over Halo acquisition

Former Microsoft executive Ed Fries says that Steve Jobs was angry with Microsoft when it acquired Bungie Software, makers of Halo.

“He was mad at [Microsoft CEO Steve] Ballmer and phoned him up and was angry because we’d just bought the premier Mac game developer and made them an Xbox developer.”

Fries recounts that Jobs made a heated call to Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bungie, then well-known as a Mac-friendly game company behind hits including the Marathon and Myth series, as well as Oni. Halo had then been in development for both Mac and Windows and had even been featured on the keynote stage of a Macworld Expo.

Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bungie, Halo became a showcase title for the then-fledgling Xbox console. Destineer Studios would eventually publish Halo for the Mac – something that Fries takes partial credit for as well. Read on for details.

Steve Jobs ‘raged at Microsoft’ over game studio sale [Develop]

∞ Apple's Jobs is victor in war of words

Apple CEO Steve Jobs made several comments in the past few months that have angered competitors, most notably Research in Motion. But should Jobs just take his victories in silence and not comment about his competition? (more…)

October 25, 2010

∞ Back to the Future game coming to Mac, iPad

Casual game publisher Telltale Games has announced plans to release Back to the Future: The Game for Mac and PC in December. A version for the iPad and the PlayStation 3 is also planned. The Mac and PC versions are now available for pre-order for $24.95. (more…)

∞ Photography for Beginners: Is the iPhone a good point and shoot camera?

In the previous (and first) column in this series, I laid out who I was and what I thought this column would be about. In my mind, I had a plan for what I would write about, step by step, column by column. (more…)

∞ Blizzard plans online WoW Cataclysm release

Blizzard Entertainment is planning to release the newest expansion pack to its World of Warcraft game in December. The new Cataclysm expansion pack will further enhance the game with new character capabilities, places to explore and more. And unlike previous expansion packs, you won’t have to get a disc to install the expansion pack – instead, the kit will be available for online download. (more…)

∞ MacUpdate Desktop adds automatic update checking

MacUpdate Desktop, an application developed by the folks that run the MacUpdate website, has been updated adding new features and a number of improvements. (more…)

October 22, 2010

∞ Apple passes RIM in global smartphone shipments

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and RIM executives have been in a war of words lately about which company is selling more smartphones, but a new report from Strategy Analytics may put an end to the battle. (more…)

October 21, 2010

∞ Capo music app comes to the iPhone and iPod touch

SuperMegaUltraGroovy has some great news for musicians — the company’s Capo app is now available on the iPhone and iPod touch. (more…)

October 20, 2010

∞ Aperture 3.1 adds many fixes, iLife '11 compatibility

Apple on Wednesday released Aperture 3.1, an update to its pro-oriented photo editing and cataloging software. The update is available through the Software Update preference and through Apple’s Web site. (more…)

∞ FaceTime for Mac introduced as public beta

FaceTime, the video conferencing feature built into the iPhone 4 and iPod touch, has come to the Mac in the form of a newly available public beta version. (more…)

∞ Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" coming in summer 2011

Apple gave its first look at Mac OS X 10.7 “Lion,” the next major iteration of its Mac operating system, at a special “Back to the Mac” event at its Cupertino, Calif. headquarters on Wednesday. The software is slated for general release in summer of 2011, according to CEO Steve Jobs. (more…)

∞ iLife '11 sports overhauls to iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand

Apple on Wednesday introduced an update to iLife, the suite of applications it includes for free on all Macs and also makes available separately for $49. It’s available beginning on Wednesday. (more…)

∞ Mac App Store coming within 90 days

During Apple’s “Back to the Mac” announcement in Cupertino, Apple revealed some features of the next Mac OS X version – 10.7, code-named “Lion,” coming in summer 2011. One of the key features is a new Mac App Store, which Steve Jobs revealed will go online much sooner than that – within 90 days. (more…)

∞ New MacBook Air starts at $999

Apple took the wraps off two new MacBook Air models, with prices starting at $999. Both models ship today. (more…)

∞ Study: Mac claims 20 percent US consumer market share

Apple COO Tim Cook took the stage at Apple’s “Back to the Mac” event on Wednesday. He shared some statistics to put today’s announcement in context. (more…)

∞ Live update of Apple's "Back to the Mac" event

Apple’s “Back to the Mac” event kicks off today at 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET). The company announced this morning that it would provide a live video stream, but since not everyone will be able to view it, we decided to provide a text-based live update. (more…)

∞ RIM CEO fires back at Steve Jobs comments

During its fourth quarter conference call on Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs made some comments about RIM and its plans for a 7-inch tablet computer. RIM took exception to the comments and fired back at Steve. (more…)

∞ Apple to provide live video stream of "Back to the Mac" event

Apple said early Wednesday morning that it would provide a live video feed of the “Back to the Mac” event being held at its Cupertino headquarters. The event starts at 10:00 am PT. (more…)

∞ Buying AppleCare on eBay? Be careful

AppleCare – Apple’s extended warranty plan for Macs and iOS devices – can save you a bundle when it comes time to repair equipment, but it comes at a price that some consumers aren’t willing to pay, at least if an alternative is available. Some bargain-conscious buyers have found vendors on eBay willing to sell AppleCare plans at a steep discount compared to what it costs in Apple stores and at Apple-authorized resellers, but there’s a catch: some of the AppleCare boxes are counterfeit or have been acquired illegitimately. Apple taking steps to weed them out, and consumers may be caught in the crossfire. Don McAllister explains:

“It would appear that proof of purchase via eBay (or any other online auction or classified advertisement service) is not sufficient [for Apple]. I’ve sent off the request to the eBay merchant and if it’s not forthcoming, I’ll be requesting a refund.”

Caveat emptor – AppleCare via eBay [The Mac Screencast Guy]