The Apple-Project.com

Do no evil.

Google Video has been a marginal success, so when I first ran across the preference option to allow Google to "allow video.google to access your camera and microphone" I wasn't really that concerned:

I'm still not that concerned, but the news of Google buying YouTube puts stuff like this on a vastly larger scale. Google's "Do no Evil" mantra rings even more hollow now than it ever did.

Think of it this way, computer users like you have nothing to worry about. You know how to find stuff like this and make sure your camera isn't being used to broadcast everything you do in front of you Mac or PC. But what about the users who don't know how to track down every last thing their computer is doing? They're vulnerable.

Besides, there's something flat wrong about an option to allow Google Video to control your camera and microphone: their service was built on the idea of pushing video to you, not the other way around. Sure, Google has "plans" to so I'm not seeing the entire picture (rumor has it that they are engineering software to "listen" to ambient noise in a room that then sends the appropriate ads) . I'm aware of that possibility, but until then, check your preferences.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

37Signals.com is improving their already very good Backpack Web app. You can check it out here.

Here's a snapshot of the new layout:

Here's what Jason Fried, with 37Signals had to say about it on their messageboard:

We've been very hard at work overhauling and improving the tools on your Backpack pages. In the next few weeks we'll release these new features, but first we wanted to give you a little preview of one of the major changes.



Once we release this update you'll be able to move any list, note, image, file, etc. around on the page. You can put a note at the top, then a list, then a file, then another note, then a list, then another list, then a photo gallery, etc. You'll be able to organize a page any way you'd like.




We've been using Backpack for quite a while. Nearly a year if that's possible. We use it as a todo list, bookmark list we can access quickly from any connected Mac, and as a way to track things like rebates (complete with URLs). But you can do pretty much anything you want with it.

Wait! There's more. TUAW just posted link to an Apple profile of 37Signals here. They're in good company One of my companies was featured there a few years ago (link no longer live).



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Safari fans, this is the site for you: PimpMySafari.com.

Part Safari.app resource, part blog, and part news site, PimpMySafari.com is a great idea and a boon for Safari-lovers.

You'll find software falling into these categories:

Adblocking
Applescripts
Automator Actions
Bookmarks
File Viewers
Interface
RSS
Searching
Web Development

Don't miss Taboo and Piclens.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Eastbay.com has issued a 20% off coupon code: EMEB6TAB. Good through Sunday.

That's one of the best Eastbay coupons we've seen. Grab some Nike+ shoes for your Nike+iPod kit.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Just a heads up that Apple has posted a new .Mac tip titled, iDisk on a Web Browser. Check it out here.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

The delayed stock quote for AAPL is: 79.88.

That's where Apple's share price was as this entry was posted. AAPL is pushing the 80 mark again on phenomenal earning news from yesterday.

Finally. It's been a long slog back to these levels. Ironically, perhaps, Apple's outlook is exponentially better than it was the last time AAPL was in this territory.

iPod video. iTV forthcoming. Macs running Intel chips push Apple's market share up 32%. And then there's Vista. All of this and more has put Apple in a position to continue grabbing market share from less innovative PC makers such as Dell and HP.

So, while Apple is arguably in the best position it has ever been in, why is one analyst suggesting that Apple should license the Mac platform to Dell and cease being a hardware company?

My conjecture is that the analyst isn't very familiar with Steve Jobs. Jobs has always held that he wants Apple to control the whole widget, be it the iPod or the Mac. If the analyst was indeed familiar with SJ and Apple's track record in this department, he'd understand that this wasn't a possibility.

Steve Jobs also once said that "Apple's market share was larger than BMW's, Mercedes's or Porsche's in the automotive market. What's wrong with being BMW or Mercedes?" Although Apple's position was much different when Jobs made that statement, I think there's evidence enough to support the idea that Apple will still work and think with that philosophy regardless of how much market share Macintosh grabs in the next few years. It's all Apple knows.

And what about those reliability survey results. Apple comes in with over 200 points, while Dell is at the bottom with 4. 4 points. Impressive.

Finally, isn't it the case that Apple hates Dell and Michael Dell hates Steve Jobs and Apple both? Hate is a strong word, so what about disrespect. That's probably closer to the truth. Apple and Dell go together like oil and water. The two companies couldn't be any different. Let's keep it that way.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Sure. You don't have to live with the super-long http://homepage.mac.com/yourDotMaclogin/. That's unwieldy and hard to share, but YourNewDomain.com, that's easy to remember easy to share, and easy to forward to your current (or new) DotMac account.

When you use a custom domain that is forwarded to your DotMac account you can put that URL on your business card, calling card, email and message board signature, whatever. When that URL is entered in a browser it will take you to the page on your DotMac account you specify.

So, the first thing you need to do is find a domain if you don't have one. GoDaddy is a sponsor of Apple-Project, so we recommend using Godaddy to register your new domain. You can use any registrar you choose, just make sure they offer free domain name forwarding before you sign up.

As for GoDaddy, we've been using them for about five years and don't have any complaints at all. Registering domains is fast and inexpensive, and Godaddy makes managing your domain fairly painless. Give them a try, check below to see if the domain you're looking for is available:


The next step is to swing by our original How-To Forward Any Domain to your DotMac Account. It's on our old site, but we plan to revamp the how-to and post it here, on the new and improved Apple-Project.com site. In the meantime, register a domain and forward it to your DotMac account, it's easy breezy.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Nice. Despite all the bad press MySpace is getting, someone dug up a page Apple presumably created for the blue iPod nano.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Switchers are coming fast and strong according to some reports. That means there are a ton of new Mac users with questions about Mac-PC compatibility. Which Mac applications replicate functions on their PC, are there tutorials to get Switchers started? The answer to this and similar questions is, a resounding yes:

Apple has set up a Mac & PC Compatibility page right here. Visitors will find the following topics, tutorials and more:

• Exchanging Files Between Platforms
  Exchanging files between a Macintosh and a Windows PC is not only easy but extremely common. Nowadays, even highly targeted applications and scientific packages are available on multiple platforms ó allowing for far easier file transfer.
• 
  
• Communicating over the Internet
  The Internet has simplified communication between Macs and PCs. Macintosh and PC users can now transparently exchange files, talk and even play games over the Internet.
• 
  
• Sharing the Same Network Connection
  Macs and PCs can co-exist harmoniously on the same network. They can exchange files and share printers or a connection to the Internet.
• 
  
• Media & Peripherals
  The Mac works with just about all common storage media, including CD-R/CD-RW, DVD, floppies, Zip cartridges and many more. Whatí more, the widespread adoption of FireWire and USB has made cross-platform plug-and-play a reality for most external devices ó from hard disk drives to DV cameras and PDAs.
• 
  
• Using PC Applications on a Mac
  Some Macintosh users occasionally need to run PC applications to exchange data with a client or simply because that particular application does not exist on the Mac. Several easy-to-use PC emulators for the Mac are now available.
• 
  
  Lots more there, so check it out if you're new to the Mac or you know someone who is. Good to know Apple's got this stuff covered.
  
  
  
  
  

  ---

  
  

  Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.
  
  
  

  

  
  Sample and subscribe to thousands of free podcasts at the iTunes Music Store.
  
  

  |

TUAW thinks there might be some more PRODUCT (RED) stuff coming from Apple.

I like the PRODUCT (RED) iPod nano. I'd even like a PRODUCT (RED) iPod video, but a red iMac? Red MacBook? Red MacBook Pro? I don't know. Too much red?

According to TUAW, any future PRODUCT (RED) products from Apple will depend largely on how the red nano fairs.

It might serve Apple well to consider other ways to contribute to AIDS. A red iMac is just too much red, if you ask me.

Perhaps a PRODUCT (RED) Apple T-Shirt would do well; a white shirt with a red Apple logo for $25, with $5 going to the AIDS project. Or, PRODUCT (RED) Apple earbuds, red iPod lanyard. There has to be dozens of viable ways to help stem the crisis short of carrying around a red MacBook.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

CompUSA has about thirty iPod accessories in their Inventory Blowout section. Check it out.!.

iPod mini lanyard for $1.

The Apple nano Dock for $19.98.

The DLO BoomBag for iBoom BoomBox for $14.98

iPod battery replacements starting at $9.98

Car charger for iPod shuffle starting at $6.98

Swing by and check it out.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Informationweek.com says analysts are expecting 20-percent increase (YOY) in Mac sales to be announced today. That's very good news for AAPL.

The other interesting tidbit from that article is the fact that despite the iPods overwhelming market share, one analyst expects that iPod sales will total 8.12 million, or an increase of 26-percent over one year ago. The point being, the iPod is not stagnating as some have reported it to be.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

How absolutely fitting: the first virus on an iPod is a Windows virus. The only downside to this story is that the virus "left [Apple's] contract manufacturer carrying the Windows RavMonE.exe virus" reports AppleInsider.com.

Swell for Windows users: you know thousands of Mac-hata's are saying something like, "See, I told you Macs suck." Nice.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

That's right: you don't have to pay $99/year for DotMac. In fact, I just found an unregistered copy on eBay for $49 shipped.

Apple sells retail boxes of the online service, DotMac, for $99, but there are a ton of ways to find it for less. If you're in a hurry, you don't have to do anything more than click on this Amazon link for DotMac

to save 20% (plus, shipping's free).

If you're willing to invest a little more time, you'll find huge savings on eBay.com
border="0" /, which is where I found my $49 copy.

You can also shop other online retailers such as ClubMac, CompUSA, MacMall for your retail copy of .Mac.

For more on how to find a cheap copy of DotMac, check out the Apple-Project's original How-To here. We'll move it over to this, our new site, shortly and we'll even beef it up a little. But in the meantime, check it out and you'll find a step-by-step guide on how to find a copy of DotMac and how to use the authorization key to either sign up or renew your DotMac account.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

This piece about Apple and flat panel TVs from Yahoo! News is rather interesting:

"We saw Apple's iTV set-top box last week, showing the company has targeted the living room as its next frontier. A $299 set-top isn't going to boost Apple's revenues to new heights, but beautifully designed, elegant flat panels would. And such products at stylish stores would extend the company's reach far past computers and iPods into a wide swath of consumers who just aren't going to drop $3,000 or more in a high-touch lifestyle purchase at Home Depot.In my view, it's not a matter of if Apple will enter the flat panel market; the only question is when."So, that makes sense, that Apple would sell a HD flat panel to compliment the iTV, but will it be a branded model? Will it have added features?

I have to say that a 30-inch, or larger, iMac with built-in HD tuner (or the iTV) is much more appealing to me. I actually think that unless the iTV allows the user to access a networked Mac the iTV will represent a step backwards in the networked home.
Of course, I don't need to access the Web, or get my email, or find something on my hardrive 100% of the time when I'm home, but that option is getting more and more appealing. Although I'm not proud of this fact, I always have my black MacBook within reach when I'm away from my desktop Mac. So it just makes sense to be able to access my photos, music, mail, Web when I'm watching something on the couch (which is exceedingly rare these days).

Another article was referenced in the Yahoo piece in which the author suggested that there is a lack of leadership in the home electronics space. I totally agree, and think it's quite possible that Apple will step forward in such a role within the networked HE space with the iTV if it works on both Macs and WIndows.

That statement should be qualified. Apple could become the leader of the networked HE space if they develop PC versions of some or all of the iLife apps, most important among these being iPhoto. iTV featuring Web content, music via iTunes, and photos via iPhoto is a compelling setup. Add iMovie and it gets better.

In fact, I think Apple would be wise to make a PC ready iLife suite. It would drive more Mac sales. Most PC users I know say they actually like iTunes for all the right reasons: simplicity being the foremost reason they like the Apple app.

To put it a different way, Apple has found a couple of really good ways to sell more Macs in the iPod and the forthcoming iTV.



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Here's a nice, long article about Steve Wozniak complete with a huge photo of the legend.

The first story Woz tells isn't about the Mac, but about how he became the first guy to develop a universal remote control. He got sick of controlling piles of high-end electronics with just as many remotes. In a Woz-like fashion, a single remote to rule them all was born. Guy's awesome.

But before the remote there was Apple. Woz still loves Apple, but why did he leave? As it turns out, that remote control project was one of the catalysts of Woz's departure from Apple:

"So I made some comments like this, and then the reporter asked: "So that's the reason you're leaving?"And I said: "Oh no, that's not the reason. I'm leaving because I want to do this remote control."But The Wall Street Journal printed the article suggesting I was mad at Apple and that was the reason I was leaving. It was very wrong because I went out of my way to tell the reporter not to get it confused. Maybe it was more interesting to shape the story the way they did.

I have to think it was an accident, but it's been picked up by every book and every bit of history.Everyone in the world ended up thinking I left because I was mad at Apple." (Source.)

Cool stuff. Probably not a whole lot of new stuff for serious Steve Wozniak fans, but it's still a great read. Check it out.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Ever wonder how the iPod came about? Who gets credit for the scroll-wheel? Check out this story in today's Wired online mag. Here's a little snip:

"In 2000, Steve Jobs' candy-colored iMac was leading the charge for Apple's comeback, but to further spur sales, the company started asking, "What can we do to make more people buy Macintoshes?"Music lovers were trading tunes like crazy on Napster. They were attaching speakers to their computers and ripping CDs. The rush to digital was especially marked in dorm rooms -- a big source of iMac sales -- but Apple had no jukebox software for managing digital music." (Source.)

One thing led to another, and boom: iPod. Great article.

What struck me most was that while looking for a device to help sell Macintoshes, Apple determined that still and video cameras were already well designed, but the company found weaknesses in portable music players. They were correct in their analysis and the rest is history.

That account of the story rings true to me. I bought an Archos hardrive-based MP3 player when they first shipped. I loved the idea of all my music on one small device at the time, but the player in practice proved to be a study in frustration. Although I still find some huge things that bug me about the iPod, Apple did address most of the problems other companies couldn't seem to get right.

Apple's clearly got plenty of stuff up their sleeves that will ensure that the iPod continues to improve and evolve.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Apple filed a trademark application for "iPhone" according to an AppleInsider.com exclusive story. Nice: Apple can keep some stuff under wraps, but public applications are another story. Now we all know for sure that something's coming.

Now the rumors will focus on ID, features, and carriers. Rumors have that Cingular and T-Mobile are in the running. I'm a T-Mobile customer and I'm very happy with the Mob, but Apple doesn't need them (unless there's some hook required to use the iTunes Store that requires someone like T-Mobile).

Like I've said a few dozen times in the past, I hope Apple Computer ships the iPhone as an unlocked handset: there seems no reasonable argument not to given the success of Sony Ericsson's mobile handsets.

Think about it this way: According to Apple's ease-of-use philosophy the iPhone must ship unlocked, or SIM-free. The user must not be locked into one carrier, as all of the problems that go along with being stuck with a single provider will not be acceptable to Apple.

For example, when an iPhone owner moves to an area where their carrier no longer provides a signal - this happens to millions of mobile users every year - the user must have the option to slip in the SIM from a new carrier not be forced to buy a new phone. This is critical.

If Apple Computer doesn't ship unlocked the iPhone will have to work on a nationwide platform, and that does not exist. There's no reason Apple should partner with a carrier to get this done. If you do know of a reason, let me know.

I'd also like to know if you've found any discussion about the iPhone being locked or unlocked. It doesn't seem like anyone's talking about this.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Go read this article and forget who wrote it, and forget that the author is a Windows user. It would be easy to confuse most of this article as having been written by a long-time Mac user.

But Chris Pirillo, as the lead-in suggests, is a huge Windows user. Yet he has pointed out some really familiar reasons, and one not so familiar, why Windows fans might give Apple a try once they get more information on Vista.

The more familiar reasons to Switch to the Mac have to be the lack of viruses and spyware found on OS X machines. The less familiar argument is the price Microsoft plans to charge for Vista: $399. (My guess is there are very few Mac users that would know M$ charges that kind of dough for their OS.)

However, I thought Chris' most interesting slam on Microsoft has to be the following:

"We’ve all been waiting with bated breath for Vista to revolutionize the way we . . . what the hell is this?! RC1 feels and looks more like an early beta than it does a final product, and they want me to fork over how much for it?"

(The answer to that question is about $400. OS X costs, as you know, $100 per major update.)

Apple, more specifically, Steve Jobs, would never let any OS of Chris' description go out the door. Ever. Sure, the OS X (which I ordered immediately when Apple made it available during a keynote) was crap, but it was touted clearly as a beta. Subsequent releases have had their issues, but I never thought it wasn't worth what Apple was charging for it.

So, could Chris be on to something? Will there be Switchers heading for Apple Retail Stores in droves? I happen to think so. Here's why, and it's something I've talked about here before:

Apple's OS X is "good enough" for any Windows user. Always has been, but it's more ready for Switchers than ever. This is because Apple has fully refined iLife so as to make media on a PC/Mac about as easy, elegant, and cost-effective as any computer user could want it to be. Plug in a camera-digital still or video-and it works, publish a Website with a few clicks, play and buy music with a few clicks, etc.

Then there's the other stuff like email, browsing the Web, and word processing. Apple's got this covered. No worries. Get into the more murky territory of business apps like Office and Apple's got this covered as well, with a little help from Microsoft, of course. Oh, the irony's getting rich.

Users can do all this stuff on Windows machines, as we know, but productivity on a PC comes with unwanted accessories like spyware, viruses, etc. And, now with Vista, all these niceties will also come with a hefty price tag of $400.

A $400 OS update, what most Windows users are going to be faced with shortly, is about half the cost of a low-end MacBookor iMac. And the kicker is, these Intel-based Macs boot OS X or Windows OS.

Once Windows users start doing the Vista-math, they're going to give the Switch some serious thought.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Eastbay.com $15 off $99 coupon code is: EMEB6T5R. Save on the Nike+iPod and some running shoes (you don't have to use Nike+ shoes, as most of you know):

Tune
Insert the wireless sensor inside the custom, built-in pocket beneath the insole of your Nike+ shoe, then plug the receiver into the Dock connector on your iPod nano.

Run
Now start your workout. As your run or walk, the sensor sends information to your iPod nano, tracking your time, distance, pace, and calories burned. If you choose, real-time, spoken feedback can even alert you to milestones throughout your workout.

Sync
Back at your computer, sync your iPod nano to transfer your workout data to iTunes and nikeplus.com. There, you can evaluate your performance history, set goals, and even challenge other runners to a virtual race.


What's in the Box

• 
  
• Wireless sensor for Nike+ shoes
  
  
• Wireless receiver for iPod nano
  
  
• Printed documentation
  
  



---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

Tim Cook is Apple's Chief Operating Officer, and he's being credited with much of Apple's success since 1998 according to this article in the Wall Street Journal.

Will he be the next Apple CEO? I think this snip from the article says quite a bit on that subject:

"The difference in personalities between Messrs. Cook and Jobs has helped foster a solid working relationship between the two, people familiar with them say. While Mr. Jobs is known to have a mercurial temper and a sharp tongue, Mr. Cook has the courtly demeanor of a Southern gentleman. People who work with him say his quiet manner and slow drawl have a disarming effect in a fast-paced environment like Apple, filled with its share of table-pounders." (Image source: Wall Street Journal Online.)

Read the article and decide for yourself if Cook would make a good replacement for Steve Jobs.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.

This is good stuff. Newsweek asks good questions and Steve Jobs provides great answers. Like this one, for example:

Microsoft has announced its new iPod competitor, Zune. It says that this device is all about building communities. Are you worried?
In a word, no. I've seen the demonstrations on the Internet about how you can find another person using a Zune and give them a song they can play three times. It takes forever. By the time you've gone through all that, the girl's got up and left! You're much better off to take one of your earbuds out and put it in her ear. Then you're connected with about two feet of headphone cable. (Source.)

SJ is so good.
He's got a point about the Zune's WiFi taking longer than sharing some earbuds, but wireless-enabled MP3 players is the future, and SJ knows it. Dollars to donuts, SJ will tell us all that WiFi is indispensable when the iPod ships with WiFi.




---

Don't miss the How to Buy a Macintosh Guide. Save money on your next Apple Computer purchase.