Blog R.I.P., Mac Support Site Lives On

I have decided, after much deliberation and thought, to discontinue this Mac Support Site Blog, and only continue my actual Mac Support Website. This is due to time constraints, etc.

I will leave all the information that's currently on this blog on the Internet for some amount of time, and I will update my Mac Support Website from time to time, but I will no longer be maintaining this blog. It was good while it lasted, but nothing lasts forever! Farewell!

P.S. You can also check out some other cool sites I will continue to maintain at LifeisaPrayer.com.

Microsoft Employees - Favor Apple iPod Over Dozens of MS-Compatibles

From Wired News:

"Microsoft's leafy corporate campus in Redmond, Washington, is beginning to look like the streets of New York, London and just about everywhere else: Wherever you go, white headphones dangle from peoples' ears.

To the growing frustration and annoyance of Microsoft's management, Apple Computer's iPod is wildly popular among Microsoft's workers.

"About 80 percent of Microsoft employees who have a portable music player have an iPod," said one source, a high-level manager who asked to remain anonymous. "It's pretty staggering."

I think it's a good sign that the iPod is better than any Windows-Media-Compatible devices when the employees of the competing company use it! I personally attest to this fact. I would not trade my iPod for any other player, for the simple fact that it is so easy to use, and it stores a complete backup of every document I have on my system (besides the video stuff, which takes up nearly 150 GB of space right now...).

Mac mini - The Mac Media Center Project (Was I right?)

It looks like my earlier predictions of the Mac mini being used as a 'Media Center PC' type computer could bear fruit. I recently discovered a group producing an application for use as a Tivo-like package:

The Mac Media Center Project

"This projects plans to develop a free Media Center application for the Apple Macintosh, bringing togther the power and intuitiveness of the Macs' built in applications under a simple interface, for use as part of a Home Theatre system.

We also have information on 5.1 audio, remote control and video output solutions for the Mac.

The Project aim is to turn the Mac mini into a Mac Media Center."

iMac mini - Media Center? Microsoft 'Digital Living Room' Killer?

I read a recent eWeek online article about the new Mac mini, and thought about it. Could the Mac mini be the media center computer that all those wacky Windows Media Center people have been envisioning?

Think about it: In two to four years, many people will be getting HDTVs with high resolution displays, and probably 26" or larger. Plug it in to your Mac mini, and what do you have? A media center.

I could imagine some company coming out with a 'media center hookup' for the Mac, including:

• Infrared USB adaptor, for remote control.
• DVI-to-whatever input your TV uses adaptor.
• Audio cable to go from your Mac mini to your stereo (or a 5.1 FireWire device for surround sound).
• Some really nice software for PVR functionality (to record/playback cable, TV, etc.).

The product wouldn't need to include anything else, because Apple has already included a music management and playback program (iTunes), a movie editing and DVD burning program (iMovie and iDVD), a photo organization and playback program (iPhoto), and a host of other creative apps. Could you imagine having this little Mac be on your home network and simply playing back shared photos, tunes, video, etc. from any other computer to your home TV and surround sound system? This computer can replace your DVD player, CD player, radio, tuner, cassette player, record player, etc. very easily. And it takes up less space, too!

If something like this comes out for a reasonable price (I'd say less than $300), I'm sure I could convince my parents to buy one (if they are purcasing a new HDTV, which they will be doing in a year or two). Here's to the media-center Mac mini! (And Apple doesn't even have to design new software/hardware for it!).

Apple's New Products - Macworld Expo 2005 Keynote!

Well, folks, it was a great one (even if we couldn't view it live...). Here's a wrap-up of what happened (pretty close, actually, to the original predictions!):

1. 
   
   iLife '05: Many, many new features in all the apps. Price:$79
   I have looked through all the new features now, and it seems that iLife is finally coming into its own, with many amazing new features that will definitely increase the value of the suite tenfold! I especially like iPhoto's RAW file compatibility, iMovie's HD video support, iDVD's new themes, and ALL of GarageBand's new features (iTunes didn't get updated... pity).
   
   I am not sure what is happening with iDVD and external drives... I wonder if the easter egg will still be operational - if anyone can test this, please let me know ;-).
   
   
2. 
   
   Mac mini: Awesome itty bitty inexpensive Mac! Price: $499 or $599
   It looks like this is a definite winner for PC switchers who are only looking for a Mac for light gaming, email, Internet, perhaps a little iMovie editing and iPhoto sharing. Perhaps a dorm student, family, or someone else. I sure would like one for home! Specs: 6.5"x6.5"x2" case, 1.2/1.4 GHz G4 processor, Combo (CD-R/DVD-ROM) slot-load drive, 40/80 GB hard drive, 256 MB DDR RAM (upgradeable to 1 GB!), ATI Radeon 9200 32MB Video, 10/100 Ethernet, 56k Modem, FireWire, USB 2.0, DVI/VGA ports.
   
   
3. 
   
   iPod shuffle: Small as pack of gum, really inexpensive! Price: $99 or $149
   An awesome foray into the flash MP3-player market for Apple - it has either 512 MB or 1 GB of flash memory, and is so simple that it requires no LCD display. Instead, you click play, and it will randomly select tunes for you to listen to (you can also pick your playlist, if you so choose). It has 12 hours of battery life, so it will last quite a while. The price is right - Apple will takeover the market (no doubt in my mind). It even looks pretty interesting. You could stick it almost anywhere, even in your jeans! Dock and belt clips are available, along with some other carrying straps, but I imagine many more products will follow. And, as with some other MP3 player/flash drives, you can use it as a mobile storage 'stick'.
   
   
4. 
   
   iWork: Create, present and publish your work with style. Price $79
   This office productivity suite is not meant, I would say, to compete head-to-head with MS Office (yet...). Rather, it seems like it's aimed more towards home/small business users who would like to do InDesign page-layout type work for creative brochures, flyers, letters, newsletters, etc. but can't fork over the cash - plus, with Keynote 2.0, you can easily present your stuff (the apps are integrated). Keynote and Pages are included in iWork, and Keynote includes some jazzy new features such as cinema-quality slide transitions and flash export. Pages looks to be a very elegant page-layout app, and might turn out to be adequate to replace the old PageMaker-type programs some people still use.
   
   
5. 
   
   Final Cut Express HD: More value in an already stunning video editing app. Price: $299 new, $99 upgrade
   Final Cut Express HD is now set to be my favorite Mac app ever (so far), as it incorporates HD editing and rendering, the awesome audio-editing app Soundtrack, and a cool titling program called Livetype (both formerly found exclusively in the Final Cut Pro bundle). Other than some little tweaks, HD support, and the integrated apps, there's not many new features, but it sure is a lot better!

More updates may come if I find the time...

iPod flash - and Think Secret

Think Secret reports that a "Flash-based iPod" is "days away", noting that they have confirmed the validity of this rumor.

This puts my rumor-truth percentage for the iPod flash up to 95%. But, considering Apple is now filing a lawsuit against Think Secret and other companies, perhaps there may be some negative consequences (thus the 5% margin of error).

iWork - Rumor Update

According to MacMinute, third-party software maker "IGG Software" has changed the name of one of it's flagship products to iBiz (formerly 'iWork'), and notes that Apple bought the patent rights to the name 'iWork' in August 2004. This ups my iWork rumor accuracy rating to 85% (up from 70% as of three days ago).

Pre-Expo Rumor Wrap Up

Since there seem to be more than a few rumors floating around surrounding Apple's ever-present 'Pre-Expo' rumorfest, I decided to post a summary here, along with my take on them.

1. iWork

My Take: I would say the 'iWork' rumor (concerning Apple's release of a completely new office suite, with programs like Microsoft's Word, Excel and PowerPoint) has a 40% chance of being true - I can't count the number of times I've heard this one since the release of AppleWorks 6. I don't see any reason for Apple to do this, especially with one of the main reasons many users are able to 'switch' is Microsoft's Office - made by Microsoft. I would think it more likely that Keynote 2.0 will be released, with some nice new whiz-bang features - a 70% chance.

2. iLife '05

My Take: iLife '05, along with Jam Pack 4, is very likely to be released at this Expo - I'll give it a 90% chance. I think it's essential for Apple to continue to impress people with a modern, well-rounded suite of 'lifestyle' apps if the company wants to continue to impress PC users (essential for increasing 'mind-share' and 'market share').

3. (the BIG one) sub-$600 iMac

My Take: Very rarely do all the major media outlets release rumor stories concerning Apple's Expo releases, and, when they do, they are usually right. It is time for Apple to shuffle their hardware lineup, and the eMac is growing stale for most purposes. A new headless, cheaper Mac -- an eMac without a display -- would do well for Apple. A typical consumer would much rather purchase as low-cost a product as they can, and not care whether or not they have an all-in-one or LCD instead of CRT. If Apple gets this thing right, it could be big. I'd say there's a 60% chance (I'm a skeptic...).

4. iPod flash

My Take: I always told myself, "I will not buy an iPod unless I can get it for under $100." Luckily for me, I was able to get one for $79 when I purchased my iBook due to the 'Cram and Jam' deal Apple had for Education customers last year. I think a lot of people will not buy unless the price point is either $99 or $149. Apple could dominate the market (both flash AND hard-drive based players) with a sub-$150 iPod. Keep the scroll wheel, nice display (maybe a little smaller), and iPod OS, and give it 256 or 512 (heck, maybe even a gig!) MB of flash memory, and 'they will come' and buy it in droves. Likelihood? I'd say 50% (I like to remain safe here... I'm not too sure).

5. PowerBook G5

My Take: I'm not sure what happened to all the discussion about Apple introducing the PowerBook G5, but I'd say it's about time for Apple to give us an update. There are so many people who are waiting for the 'Pro' line of Macs (Power Mac, PowerBook, Xserve) to be aligned with all-G5 processors before they'll upgrade. A PowerBook G5 would be thick, sweet icing on the cake if many of these other rumors pan out to be true. Since it's been so long since the last PowerBook update (also, the Xserve and eMac), I expect something to happen in early 2005. Chances for new PowerBook G5? 30%

Well, there you have it.

Items likely to be introduced (according to me): Keynote 2.0, Jam Pack 4, iLife '05.
Items I'm not too sure of: sub-$600 iMac, iWork, iPod flash, PowerBook G5

New Apple Computer - UNDER $500?

According to various sources (see below), it would seem Apple is getting ready to release a sub-$500 Mac! It is rumored to be very small, with no attached monitor, 1.25 GHz G4, 256 MB RAM, 2 USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port, 100 Mbps Ethernet, 56k Modem, AirPort Extreme ready, have either VGA or DVI video (no card specified), and have an external power brick.

All I can say is (if it's true), "Woohoo!" I know people aplenty who are in the market for a Mac, and are holding off because they only have 600 or 700 bucks to spend. Let's just hope (if it's true) Apple's design is nice, and the computer doesn't have any gaping flaws... of course, one doesn't expect anything bad from Apple!

Sources: MacRumors.com, AppleInsider, Think Secret, CNN Money, San Jose Mercury News, ReutersInformationWeek, and many others!