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>> Postings for November 2009

Cool but pricey Paul Smith MacBook sleeves at Apple Stores

Mon, 30 Nov 2009

Ultra cool British Fashion Designer Paul Smith has some equally cool MacBook sleeves for sale at the Apple Store just in time for Christmas.

Exclusive to the Apple Store, the slimline sleeves promise strong heavy thread stitching, two-way zip closure and inside pockets for accessories.

NicK Spence | Read more...


On the buses with MacBook Air then this happens...

Fri, 27 Nov 2009

Here's what happens when a MacBook Air gets run over by a bus, not a pretty sight.

Amazingly, as Engadget points out, the MacBook Air does apparently still work - apart from a little issue with the battered screen.

NicK Spence | Read more...


What's gone wrong with the Apple TV?

Fri, 27 Nov 2009

Yes! A new update to my Apple TV has been released! This is going to be awesome! Woo-hoo! Look at... um... yeah, huh, look at that. The menus. They’re all different and stuff. And now there’s support for ‘iTunes LP’ and iTunes Store video with bonus DVD features and other new iTunes-enhanced products that I’ll never buy. Um...hooray?

C’mon, Apple. This is embarrassing. You are not ‘that company’. You have a lean and energised product list and when both you and the marketplace lose interest in a product, it’s gone. Is the Pippin still on the market? Is the Apple PowerCD anywhere in the Apple Store? How’s my LaserWriter coming?

Andy Ihnatko | Read more...


All I want for Christmas is a Throbbing Gristle Buddha Machine

Thu, 26 Nov 2009

This has been doing the rounds for sometime, but with Christmas approaching, it has started showing up on sites such as Rough Trade, a suitable gift perhaps for that special someone.

A dark variation on the low-fi haunting ambient loop player the Buddha Machine, Gristleism features music from the legendary Throbbing Gristle.

NicK Spence | Read more...


OOiZiT - Discovering new music and getting paid for it

Wed, 25 Nov 2009

OOiZiT.com, pronounced ooo-is-it.com, is a new website that aims to help unsigned musicians achieve success without the need for a traditional record contract.

For £9.97 per month the site claims to offer unprecedented promotional and sales tools and services specifically geared towards UK music talent says OOiZiT.com.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - iPhone developers - Rexi Media - Presenter Pro

Mon, 23 Nov 2009

Presenter Pro from Rexi Media, which this week received a major update, is one of a growing number of iPhone business applications. Presenter Pro offers a range of features to improve users presentation skills via a range of resources including graphics, audio and video clips.

The application includes a 'tip shaker' for accessing hundreds of quick presentation tips, a checklist feature, which enables you to store and email any topics you want to refer to later, and a notes feature for writing comments and notes.

NicK Spence | Read more...


The man who named iMac

Mon, 23 Nov 2009

When you think about the people at Apple the name Steve Jobs probably springs to mind. Maybe you’ve heard of the company’s cool British designer Jonathan Ive, or hark back to the old days of Steve Wozniak. If you’re an Apple keynote junkie you may even think of lovable old Phil Schiller. But have you ever heard of Ken Segall? Didn’t think so. I hadn’t heard of him either, until I read Leander Kahney’s fascinating interview with him on the Cult of Mac website.

Ken doesn’t actually work at Apple, but until recently was creative director at Apple’s advertising agency, TBWA\Chiat\Day. He dreamed up the name ‘iMac’, which of course led to all the other ‘i’ products: iPod, iBook, iPhone, iLife, iWork, and so on. And he wrote Apple’s award-winning – some would say company-saving – Think Different campaign.

Simon Jary | Read more...


Five iPhone games you'll play for more than five minutes

Fri, 20 Nov 2009

Regular Macworld readers might be aware that I'm something of a part-time gamer. Traditionally this has been something of a sideline because gaming and Apple don't exactly go hand-in-hand, but I figure it gives me a tech interest outside of Cupertino and that has to be a good thing.

Until the iPhone and the App Store came along that is. The rise of the iPhone as a gaming platform, mostly I imagine due to its younger sibling the iPod touch, has been quite astonishing to watch. With unnerving ease Apple seems to have knocked the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP to the sideline and is on its way to becoming the dominant gaming platform.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Seven days with Bing

Thu, 19 Nov 2009

Recently I saw a challenge on MediaWeek from Mel Carson, Microsoft's Advertising Community Blogger. "Use Bing for a week and let us know what you think". Normally I'd say no, but I've seen a few people using Bing and I love Twitter, and Bing is the first search engine to include Twitter results which could prove interesting.

And a change is as good as a rest, so they say. So in a break from the norm I thought I'd take him up on the challenge.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Need to know - London bloggers offer up lastminute.com topsee

Wed, 18 Nov 2009

Blogs and bloggers are a great source of information, both interesting and trivial.

A new application topsee is compiled by an "all-star cast" of London bloggers, who promise to be real experts on the "latest greatest places to go and things to see, the top foodie finds, cool bars, shopping spots and quirky sights."

NicK Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - Made On A Mac - Kids On Bridges

Tue, 17 Nov 2009

Kids On Bridges, where do they get their names? The electro/pop outfit from Liverpool/Manchester have been receiving rave reviews for their music made on a Mac. Visuals for gigs are also put together in iMovie HD. Kids On Bridges recently played at the 'In The City' event in Manchester and supported Tinchy Stryder, Little Boots and the legendary Gary Numan.

Macworld caught up with the band to discover more about making music on a Mac.

NicK Spence | Read more...


All you want for Christmas is an iPod touch?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

Want signs that Christmas is just around the corner? Over the weekend we spotted more ads for Apple's iPod touch than at any other time this year.

Various offers including free speaker docks, iTunes vouchers and the 8 GB version for £129 could be had. And how about this billboard ad in central London? Space like that, with plenty of traffic passing, doesn't come cheap. Apple may be enjoying record profits but they - and retail partners - must be spending a small fortune on advertising as 2009 draws to a close.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Stephen Fry - From Apple to Orange and back again

Fri, 13 Nov 2009

It may mean very little in the big scheme of things but actor, comedian, author, television presenter, slimmer of the year, Mac enthusiast and Twitter fan Stephen Fry has switched iPhone providers.

Fry, who spent last night sleeping rough in the wind and rain, all in a good cause, used his popular Twitter feed on Thursday to tell the virtual world he'd gone from O2 to Orange.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - iPhone developers - Little World Gifts

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

Launching in time for Christmas, Little World Gifts hopes to bring a little added value to iPhone and iPod touch with a range of "gorgeous, handcrafted, 3D interactive gifts."

A team of developers and 3D designers based in Liverpool promise to redefine digital gifts so people see them as more than simply 32x32 pixel 2D icons.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - iPhone developers - Anorak Magazine and On-Sea

Wed, 11 Nov 2009

You don't have to be a child to enjoy Anorak Magazine

The publication showcases some of the finest artists and illustrators alongside fun and informative words. It's the perfect combination, which has now come to iPhone and iPod touch.

Nick Spence | Read more...


The future's bright, the future's Orange Haglöfs Laptop Drybags

Tue, 10 Nov 2009

On the day Orange starts offering the iPhone in the UK we spotted these 'Mandarin' Orange laptop bags from outdoor clothing specialists Haglöfs.

The Haglöfs Laptop Drybags comes in two sizes suitable for 15-inch and 17-inch MacBooks. Light and durable, the 40 denier polyamide 66 ripstop fabric with double TPU coating - thermoplastic urethane - promises good abrasion and tearing strength.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Top 10 UK iPhone stats by O2

Mon, 09 Nov 2009

What were you doing two years ago today? I was queuing outside a Carphone Warehouse (number two in a queue of four) waiting to get my hands on one of the first official iPhones in the UK.

Carphone Warehouse's registration/activation system went up in smoke, but luckily a collague picked one up for me down the road at the O2 shop.

Lexton Snol | Read more...


Creative Profiles - Macs in Education - Digital Road Trip

Mon, 09 Nov 2009

Digital Road Trip works closely with schools, colleges and  local authority advisory teams to develop digital creativity skills and confidence. The team works with Macs, digital cameras, music, keyboards, guitars and video cameras to educate and inspire.

Macworld caught up with Digital Road Trip's Julian Coultas to find out more about the workshops and Macs in education.

Nick Spence | Read more...


iWork: where's the app for that?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009

There have been days when I’ve filed an article, closed my office and gone on a long weekend. Sometimes, though, just after setting off, I’ve received a call saying that my usual editor’s away and could I send my copy to her assistant, or could I rewrite it to take in some late news, or that I’m not allowed to say, “Right about now, Palm is about as embarrassed as that ‘lady’ athlete who was caught smuggling plums.”.

Were it not for my ASUS Seashell netbook, I’d have to turn round and go home to do the edits. The thing is, though, I’d like to be able to leave behind my netbook and do the edits on my iPhone. So my question is, why doesn’t Apple make a version of iWork for the iPhone?

Andy Ihnatko | Read more...


Creative Profiles - PixPainted - Art from photography

Fri, 06 Nov 2009

Isle of Wight based professional portrait photographer Chris Bamber has this week launched PixPainted, a service which promises to produce original paintings from a modest £149.

Based on photographs, a team of Chinese artists produce the actual paintings, while PixPainted also offers a range of print options from the paintings along with traditional photography services.

Nick Spence | Read more...


USB breast warmers brings warmth on a winter's day

Thu, 05 Nov 2009

Only in Japan perhaps, but an enterprising company is offering the 'USB Bust Beauty Pad,' a device which plugs into any computer and promises to warm the cockles of your heart.

The U-shaped pads slip under your bra, or possibly taped to your moobs, and costs around $20.

Nick Spence | Read more...


The Symphony of Science via the power of YouTube

Wed, 04 Nov 2009

The Symphony of Science is a musical project by John Boswell designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.

Two songs, Symphony of Science - We Are All Connected featuring Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and my favourite, A Glorious Dawn featuring Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking have proved big hits on YouTube and numerous blogs.

Nick Spence | Read more...


3 feet tall iPod dock ready to rock the world

Tue, 03 Nov 2009

Want to impress friends, annoy the neighbours? Then this massive and expensive iPod dock may be for you.

From $4,495 (around £2,740), with shipping rates available on demand, the Wall Of Sound by Brothers iPod speaker is three foot tall and rising.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Adobe points at Apple for lack of Flash on iPhone

Tue, 03 Nov 2009

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the circle of sniping over Flash on the iPhone has begun anew. This time, the ball’s being launched at high velocity from Adobe’s side of the court; as Gear Diary noticed, the company has posted a passive-agressive note on the iPhone version of its Flash download page.

Previously, when you visited the Flash plug-in download page on the iPhone, it would inform you that no version was available for the platform you were viewing on. Instead, it now reads:

Dan Moren | Read more...


Knitting, Embroidery, Crochet - There's An App For That

Mon, 02 Nov 2009

Some of my best friends and family members are big fans of knitting, embroidery and crochet. They even meet up regularly for weekly knitting sessions via Stitch and Bitch London, invading establishments across town in numbers likely to alarm security guards. I've also received a fine collection of wooly iPod and mobile phone cases over the years which would grace any Apple Store.

Good news then that Technical Made Easy has introduced Easy Stitch 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch. The application promises that anyone can now learn knitting, embroidery and crochet thanks to easy to read how-to's, step-by-step instructions with full colour illustrations.

Nick Spence | Read more...


New Windows, more Macs

Mon, 02 Nov 2009

The launch of Windows 7 on 22 October marked another milestone in the long-running, and often rather amusing, operating system war between the mighty monopolist Microsoft and our own feisty underdog Apple. Microsoft paid the Rolling Stones a squillion dollars to have the band’s rocking ‘Start Me Up’ for the launch of Windows 95. This is as cool as Bill Gates ever got to be.

The funniest Microsoft launch video has to be that for Windows 2.1. See it here: bit.ly/1pv4GD. There are parts of it that are beyond weird. I don’t think you can even buy drugs nowadays that could enable you to dream this stuff up. I’m not talking about the naff Mission Impossible bits. I’m referring to the rap that comes in at 2 minutes 37 seconds. It is as bizarre as anything I’ve ever seen. Crop circles appear as mere hedgerows in its presence. Paranormal? Even Fox Mulder wouldn’t want to believe this is out there.

Simon Jary | Read more...