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Saying Good-bye To Inkjet Printers
Das Keyboard Model S Mechanical Keyboard Brings Its Click Clack to the Mac
The Ultimate Beginners Guide To AppleScript Revisited
Spoon.net Browser Sandbox Lets Users Run Popular Web Browsers With No Installs
Apple Shareholders Urged to Vote for Conflict of Interest Shareholder Proposal to Determine if Al Gore Violated Apple's Business Conduct Policy
With SOPA In The News: Marketers Are Going Back To School On Fair Use
Copy a Bootable Mac OS 9 Install Disc
Samsung Expanding Transparent Display Market with a New 46-inch LCD Panel
Quick Note 1.3.3 For OS X
Saying Good-bye To Inkjet Printers
Low end Mac's Dan Knight motes that after years and years of offering a $100 rebate on inkjet printers, Apple discontinued the program this week, and that got him looking back at the history of computer printing.
Your editor's first "computer," an old Wangwriter II word processor, has a daisy wheel printer that did a fine job, especially with a single-strike carbon ribbon, but was incredibly slow and extremely noisy.
Then there were dot-matrix printers, like the Apple ImageWriter II that I bought with my first Mac. It was noisy and alow too, but less so respectively than the daisy wheel. Unfortunately, the print quality was also lower. The used mis-'80s Apple LaserWriter printer we had after that was a big step upward but it moved on with one of my offspring's leaving the nest.
Since then, I've been printing on inkjet printers, which have been relatively cheap to buy, provide decent, albeit not stellar quality output, and can print color photos, although a big downside is the cost of consumables.
As Dan Knight notes, laser printers are a lot more cost effective than inkjet printers. They cost more up front, but the cost of consumables is significantly less than the cost of inkjet cartridges. However, if you shop around, you can find inkjet ink a lot cheaper than the manufacturer's brand, so for the amount of printing I do it's hard to justify the capital cost of a laser printer, and I won't be saying goodbye to inkjets for the foreseeable future.
You can read Dan Knight's commentary and brief history of computer printing here:
http://bit.ly/xxLRX7
Das Keyboard Model S Mechanical Keyboard Brings Its Click Clack to the Mac
Das Keyboard, famous for its clicky mechanical keyboard that has a cult-like following, has introduced a new version of its award-winning Model S keyboard designed to appeal to a fan base also known for its extreme loyalty - the Mac community.
The company's new Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac is now available online for pre-ordering, and will be shipping by April 15. Available in the U.S. and Canada, the Model S Professional for Mac retails for $133. A 15% discount is currently available on all pre-orders for this newest member of the Das Keyboard family.
"Mac fans will appreciate the high-quality and sharp design of our Model S keyboard, especially now that it provides the features and functions that Mac loyalists are used to and expect from their peripheral devices," says Daniel Guermeur, creator of the Das Keyboard and CEO of Metadot Corporation. "Essentially, we've introduced the most advanced mechanical keyboard on the market designed specifically for Mac users."
Typing Euphoria?
Das Keyboard's Model S provides users with a satisfying - perhaps even euphoric if you're a mechanical key switch aficionado - typing experience. The keyboard's gold-plated mechanical key switches produce a distinct click with each keystroke, providing unique tactile and audible feedback that some users find makes the typing experience more comfortable, precise and fast.
Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac features include:
Gold-plated mechanical key switches designed to withstand 50 million strokes.
Enhanced 104-key layout with special keys for quick access to common media player and computer functions.
Command and Option keys, helping Mac users to feel right at home.
Instant sleep function, enabling users to easily put their Mac to sleep and save energy during even the shortest of breaks.
6-key rollover, enabling users to enter - and the keyboard to recognize - 6 keys pressed simultaneously.
Two-port, high-speed USB 2.0 hub for syncing and charging iPhone, iPod, iPad and other USB devices.
USB hub connected devices charge up to 5 times faster than with other keyboards.
Extra-long USB cable (2m, 6.6 ft) that goes through desk grommets to keep workspaces neat and tidy.
KVM switch compatible, so users can control more than one computer (Mac or PC) from their Das Keyboard.
Das Keyboard has always had a devout fan base, and were eager to introduce ourselves to another loyal audience of tech enthusiasts, added Guermeur. The Das Keyboard Model S provides a superior and joyful typing experience Mac fans have been longing for.
Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac sports gold-plated, German-engineered Cherry MX mechanical key switches which the manufacture claims compare to the legendary IBM Model M, plus a two-port USB hub, an extra-long 2-meter (6.6ft) USB cable, and Mac-specific special keys that support 6-key rollover, i.e. 6 keys pressed simultaneously. Das Keyboard for Mac's dedicated USB 2.0 hub connector and built-in hub are faster and more powerful, capable of charging and syncing your iPhone, iPad, iPod or other USB devices much faster than with most keyboards. It can also help reduce the environmental impact of your computer and save energy by putting your computer to sleep simply by using its handy sleep function even for your shortest breaks.
Glossy black upper enclosure with matching black USB cable - Darth Vader approved
Dimensions: 18in x 6.5in x 1in (thickest portion, feet not extended, 1.5in w/ extended feet)
Weight: 1.36 kg (3 lbs)
One USB port required. A second one is recommend to use the built-in USB hub
No driver required
Regular price: $133.00
Pre-order at: $113.00
For more information, visit:
http://www.daskeyboard.com
Product page:
http://bit.ly/xfQ6Ps
The Ultimate Beginners Guide To AppleScript Revisited
AppStorm's Joshua Johnson has posted as the first in a new series that revisits some of the sites' readers' favorite posts from the past that still contain awesome and relevant information that you might find useful. The forst installment is an AppleScript tutorial that was originally published on July 7, 2009.
Johnson notes that AppleScript is Apple's powerful scripting language that comes built-in to OS X, primarily intended for automation of repetitious and time consuming tasks, and the best part about AppleScript is that you dont have to be a genius programmer, or for that matter have have any programming experience whatsoever in order to use it. His article will show you how to write an AppleScript for nearly any application using the simple instructions that come hidden within each app's framework.
You can check it out at:
http://bit.ly/OlDDV
Spoon.net Browser Sandbox Lets Users Run Popular Web Browsers With No Installs
Spoon.net, a Seattle-based developer of application virtualization technology, today announced a major update to its popular Browser Sandbox. The Spoon.net Browser Sandbox allows multiple versions of browsers to run simultaneously with no installs. The latest version of the Browser Sandbox adds support for the latest versions of all major web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera. In addition, Spoon.net now supports testing of mobile browsers such as Firefox Mobile and Opera Mobile as well as pre-release browsers such as Firefox 10 Beta, Firefox Aurora, and Chrome 17.
The Spoon.net Browser Sandbox is available online at: http://spoon.net/browsers.
"The Browser Sandbox is a great resource for web developers and enterprises that need to test or deploy multiple versions of current, beta, or legacy web browsers without the problems associated with installing browsers on their desktops or maintaining cumbersome virtual machines," says Kenji Obata, founder and chief executive officer of Spoon.net. "The Browser Sandbox is a powerful demonstration of Spoon.net's unique application virtualization technologies.
Available as both a web-based service and on-site server, Spoon.net allows software publishers, enterprises, and schools to deploy and manage desktop applications instantly to any user with an Internet connection. Spoon.net runs applications in isolated sandboxes, allowing applications to run side-by-side without conflicts, dependencies, or modifications to the host desktop. Spoon.nets unique hybrid client/server virtualization technology combines the convenience of web-based delivery with the performance and robustness of local execution.
Spoon.net allows software publishers, enterprises, and schools to deploy and manage desktop applications instantly to any user with an Internet connection. Spoon.net is available as both a web-based service and on-site server.
Spoon.net is used by industry-leading educational, entertainment, financial, government, health care, and information technology organizations including Autodesk, Bank of America, Boeing, KPMG, Novell, and the US Army.
For more information, visit:
http://spoon.net
Apple Shareholders Urged to Vote for Conflict of Interest Shareholder Proposal to Determine if Al Gore Violated Apple's Business Conduct Policy
The National Center for Public Policy Research is urging Apple shareholders to vote for shareholder proposal # 4 in the company's 2012 proxy statement (PDF: http://bit.ly/A7xCBM ).
The proposal, submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research, asks Apple to determine if board member Al Gore violated the company's Business Conduct Policy. At issue is whether Gore played a role in Apple's 2009 decision to end its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as part of an effort to pressure the trade group to stop opposing greenhouse gas regulations.
Several companies, including Apple, ended their relationship with the Chamber over the trade group's aggressive opposition to the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill and EPA regulation of carbon emissions.
Gore's significant personal investments in renewable energy and related technologies would have benefited from these greenhouse gas regulations.
"Board members are obligated to look out for shareholder interests and not for their own personal financial goals. Shareholders have a right to know if Gore was involved in Apple's decision to end its membership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," says Tom Borelli, Ph.D., director of the National Center's Free Enterprise Project.
"It's no secret that Gore has a significant financial stake in clean energy, and cap-and-trade would have boosted his investments. If Gore was behind Apple's decision regarding the Chamber, I believe his involvement was driven by a personal profit motive without regard to the best interests of shareholders," added Borelli.
Gore is a founder of Generation Investment Management and a partner in the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers - firms that have significant investments in clean energy and environmentally-related products.
According to the New York Times, "Mr. Gore has invested a significant portion of the tens of millions of dollars he has earned since leaving government in 2001 in a broad array of environmentally-friendly energy and technology business ventures, like carbon trading markets, solar cells and waterless urinals."
Apple's business conduct policy defines a conflict of interest as "...any activity that is inconsistent with or opposed to Apple's best interests, or that gives the appearance of impropriety or divided loyalty."
"Since Apple's business in computers and electronic devices does not make it a major emitter of greenhouse gases, global warming regulations are not a core business issue for the company. This fact raises questions why the company would weigh in on a policy issue matter such as greenhouse gas regulations. Because Apple's decision could have benefited Gore and not the company, we filed this shareholder proposal and urge shareholders to vote for our proposal," said Borelli.
The National Center for Public Policy Research is a shareholder in Apple. The company's annual shareholder meeting will be held on February 23, 2012 at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.
For more information, visit:
http://www.nationalcenter.org
With SOPA In The News: Marketers Are Going Back To School On Fair Use
Compendium, a leading provider of business blogging software, has announced it will offer a free guide to blogging fair use on its website, as recent discussions surrounding the SOPA debate have rekindled bloggers interest in the subject. SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act, has many marketers concerned, since it could potentially change the Internet as we know it. With the concerns brought about by SOPA, many marketers have also begun to think again about other areas of the law that could greatly affect their online strategy, including fair use.
"Because of the high volume of questions we have received regarding fair use, we wanted to create a free resource that would provide credible answers for bloggers and content marketers," says Frank Dale, CEO of Compendium. "We know that many marketers are faced with tough legal issues every day. With input from Alerding Castor, an expert in business law, our resource will serve as a reference that can be used to distinguish between the proper and improper use of content."
"We've always been mindful of fair use given our industry, but SOPA is making the subject even more important. Theres a constant need to balance nimble and timely content with fair use, and SOPA could make the situation even more delicate," comments Ben Hanson, Internet Content Specialist of Swanson Health Products.
Compendium's Fair Use Guide will outline the Fair Use doctrine and will feature basic information on the rights of a copyright owner, so one can better understand Fair Use. It also covers various scenarios that might be considered acceptable fair use, as well as steps marketers can take to make sure theyre not crossing any lines unintentionally.
"As I read more about the SOPA debate, it made me realize that we need to better understand fair use," says Lindsay Schmitt, Director of Marketing and New Media at The College Network. "We work hard to make sure our company blog provides valuable information for our customers, and we try to always attribute sources. We would certainly not want to accidentally misuse any copyrighted material. However, in this day and age, it's becoming extremely hard to discern what can and cannot be used for our blog content."
For more information on fair use, and to download the guide, visit:
http://bit.ly/xKTGjg
For more information, visit:
http://www.compendium.com
or
http://blog.compendium.com
Copy a Bootable Mac OS 9 Install Disc
The PPC Luddite blog discovered through trial and error that the only way to burn a bootable OS 9 disc is with Toast, can confirm it works, and says the procedure is simple.
You can check it out at:
http://bit.ly/wfHV5z
Samsung Expanding Transparent Display Market with a New 46-inch LCD Panel
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced that it is expanding the transparent display market with production of a 46-inch transparent LCD panel, beginning this month.
"Transparent panels, an exciting application of next-generation display technology, have unlimited potential to change our viewing habits over the next several years. As a strong supporter of the transparent display market, Samsung plans to develop this technology into a new growth engine for our LCD business, " says Younghwan Park, Samsung Electronics senior vice president of LCD marketing, Device Solutions. "Transparent panels, an exciting application of next-generation display technology, have unlimited potential to change our viewing habits over the next several years. As a strong supporter of the transparent display market, Samsung plans to develop this technology into a new growth engine for our LCD business."
Samsung's 46-inch transparent LCD panel features a contrast ratio of 4,500:1 with HD (1,366x768) resolution and 70 percent color gamut.
A 2012 CES Innovations Award honoree, Samsung's transparent LCD panel is being produced for a wide variety of retail display applications such as product showcases, commercial freezer doors and platform doors of subway stations in North America, Europe and Asia. Also, it will be used in other applications including e-boards, information windows, medical equipment, e-signage and mobile devices.
Samsung saya its 22-inch transparent LCD panel, which is now being commercialized, has been well received by customers and potential customers in the mobile devices, jewelry and luxury goods sectors due to its compact size and low power consumption, in addition to its attention-grabbing display qualities.
According to market research firm Display Bank, the transparent display market is expected to grow from US$0.9 billion in 2015 to US$87 billion in 2025.
For more information, visit:
http://www.samsung.com
Quick Note 1.3.3 For OS X
Diigo Inc.'s Quick Note is especially designed for lightweight note-taking.
Features:
Quick to add and edit: Add and edit note in the app
Quick to search:Instant search for all notes
Quick to access: One-click to access your notes
Coming soon:
More slick interface
Currently, everything is saved locally. We will integrate the app with some cloud-based services such as Diigo, Dropbox, box.net, Google docs, Evernote, so you can have access wherever.
New in version 1.3.3:
Fixed a bug which may destroy notes while no internet connection
System requirements:
• Intel
• Mac OS X 10.6 or later
• 64-bit processor
Mac App Store:
http://bit.ly/gA8wwW
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