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Open Source Will Never Displace Closed Platforms
WallStreet Series II: A Dozen Years Later
Back-In-Time 2 Restores Time Machine Data
A Reminder On How To Reset Your Mac's System Password
Back-to-school 10" Netbooks - Which Machines Score Top Marks?
Kodachrome And Power PC Obsolescence
How Do I Love My New Mac? Let Me Count The Ways...
How To Reset An Airport Express
NewerTech Lowers Price By Up To 33% For Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station For Mac Notebook Computers
Two New Logitech Speakers Transform Laptop Audio
New Bento 3 Project Manager from FileMaker Makes Project and Time Management Easy
Open Source Will Never Displace Closed Platforms
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
I don't know about you, but I find the projections of the iPad's market share ridiculous. And that's true whether it's iSuppli's prediction that Apple's tablet will control 70.4% of that market next year or Acer's wet dream that it will decline to just 20% of the market.
In the case of iSuppli, it's not the range of its numbers that I find ridiculous, but the level of accuracy. Nobody knows how the "media tablet" market will look at the end of this year, let alone in 2011 and 2012, but iSuppli is making educated guesses with three places of accuracy.
That's nonsense. Predicting "about 70%" for the iPad in 2011 seems reasonable, as would "60% to 65%" in 2012, but iSuppli tries to give a very precise, official sounding 70.4% for 2011 and 61.7% for 2012. They may be in the ballpark, but the level of precision is unwarranted.
To read more, click here.
http://lowendmac.com/musings/10mm/open-vs-closed-platforms.html
WallStreet Series II: A Dozen Years Later
Low End Mac's Dan Knight has posted a retrospective on the significance of the second-generation WallStreet (a.k.a. PDQ) PowerBook G3 introduced twelve years ago in September, 2008, incorporating lessons learned from the first generation that had been rolled out in May of that year, In many ways, Dan observes, the PDQ was the most flexible PowerBook ever. Having bought one of these machines new, I'm inclined to agree, although the two-models-later PowerBook 2000 FireWire (a.k.a. Pismo) in my estimation turned out to be the better all-round machine.
You can check it out at:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/10mm/12-years-of-wallstreet.html
Back-In-Time 2 Restores Time Machine Data
[Press Release]
Time Machine is a great basic backup tool, but the options for locating and restoring data are quite limited. Back-In-Time gives you total flexibility in locating and recovering your data to any location on your Mac.
Transcend Time Machine restoration possibilities
• See the number of versions of each document, the deleted items, etc.
• Drag and Drop Time Machine data to any location in your Mac.
• Access Time Machine backups from multiple disks and from other Macs.
Back-In-Time offers an easy access to all data that was backed up by Time Machine. With Back-In-Time, you can discover any available data in the backup, and easily copy files and folder to any location of your choice.
Back-In-Time shows all your backed-up items in the left pane. Select an item to see all the backup versions in the right pane.
To see all the backups of a file or folder on your Mac, simply drag it from the Finder and drop it in the Back-In-Time item list. Choose the version you want with the date slider, and restore it with a single click. Or drag and drop to restore to a different location on your Mac (including external disk drives).
Restore anything from a single file to an entire disk. Back-In-Time can rename the current versions of your items to avoid overwriting them.
You can even browse and restore from Time Machine backups created on another Mac.
With Back-In-Time, you browse in the Time Machine backups. You select the date of the backup to display via the slider.
Back-In-Time provides a quick view of the contents of the Time Machine backups, indicating the number of versions available for each document, as well as the items that were deleted.
You can recover and copy a file or an entire folder with a drag and drop to the location of your choice.
Back-In-Time restore and copy your data, from a single file to an entire disk. Recovered data can be copied at their original location (to replace current data), or anywhere else in your disks, internal as well as external.
The recovery module compares the contents of the backup with the one of your disk and displays a preview before / after restoration.
Calculates The Space Occupied By The Backups
Back-In-Time calculates the space really occupied on the backup disk by the different versions of a file, an application or a folder. When your backup disk is full, rather than leting Time Machine to delete the oldest backups, you can determine which elements occupy the most space and remove some unnecessary versions to free space on your backup disk.
Compare The Contents Of Files
Back-In-Time offers a preview function to check the contents of two files, or two versions of the same file.
To help you finding what part of a file did change between two versions, Back-In-Time also offers a build-in comparison tool that graphically shows where the contents are different or identical.
Removing Time Machine Data
To free up space on your Time Machine backup disk, you can selectively remove temporary files and other unneeded items. (Use this option carefully!)
Note: Of course, only items within the Time Machine disk are removed. Your original items in your working disks are not modified.
Important: As for any removing operation, use this carefully (always keep in mind that a backup's goal is to recover data in case of necessity).
Comparison With Time Machine
Back-In-Time does everything Time Machine does &and much more.
Main Features
• Access and preview the contents of any Time Machine backup.
• Handle multiple Time Machine backup disks.
• Restore data to its original location or anywhere else.
• Copy data to any location of your choice.
• Drag and drop restore.
• Restore files, folders, or entire disks.
• Build-in graphical comparison function to compare the contents of two files, or two versions of the same file.
Preview different backup versions with QuickLook.
• See how many backed-up versions are available for each file.
• See deleted items, with date of last backup.
• Delete selected items from a Time Machine backup.
• Browse through all Time Machine backup.
• Open multiple browser windows.
• Access backups made on other Macs.
• See history of each backup (how much data was copied).
• Calculate the space really occupied on the Time Machine disk by the backups of each file, application and folder.
• Combine the backups of multiple disks to display and handle the backups of different disks or Mac as a unique set of backups.
A trial version is available for evaluation. It is fully functional and not time-limited, but can only restore from the latest Time Machine backup.
System requirements:
• Universal binary for Intel and PowerPC Macs with Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
For more information, visit:
http://www.tri-edre.com/english/backintime.html
A Reminder On How To Reset Your Mac's System Password
MacFixIt's Joe Aimonetti says:
One of the most frustrating troubleshooting situations one may come across is when a user has forgotten his or her system password. As an independent consultant this is one the more common issues I encounter. Luckily, resetting a user or administrator password is pretty straightforward. The following tips work for any Mac running Mac OS X 10.3 or later.
You can check it out at:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20015243-263.html?tag=mncol;title
Back-to-school 10" Netbooks - Which Machines Score Top Marks?
Register Hardware reports:
The summer hols are over, and it's back to school for the kids. Or to college, for the older ones. Whatever their age, though, your offspring - perhaps even you yourself - are likely to have their eye on a new computer for the new term.
And with prices never being lower, there's no longer a financial reason to restrict junior to a hand-me-down machine, especially if you consider the lower end of the market where the Small, Cheap Computer - aka the netbook - reigns supreme.....
To help you and yours choose the best netbook to take off to university or to keep at home for homework, we asked six of the major netbook suppliers - Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba - to each submit a 10in machine for testing.
But before we get down to each machine individually, take a look at our Buyer's Guide, which will steer you through the choices and factors you'll need to consider when selecting a netbook, whether it's one of those reviewed here or any of the many other machines on sale.
You can check it out at:
http://www.reghardware.com/2010/09/01/grouptest_netbooks_intro/
Kodachrome And Power PC Obsolescence
MacGroup.org's Jack Beckman says:
The last roll of Kodak Kodachrome film was produced earlier this year and given to a famous photographer to shoot with. In addition, the last place you can even have Kodachrome processed will stop at the end of the year. For anyone still wondering - film photography is dead. Can you buy other brands? Sure, but just as the song Kodachrome says "I can read the writing on the wall."....
What's this have to do with Macs? Mozilla is hinting that the next version of Firefox, now in beta, won't run on PowerPC (PPC) Macs. Now, I know a lot of people are still using PPC machines, and they're doing a great job for them. But If you continue to hold out on buying an Intel Mac, you're going to slip further and further behind.... (Apple will probably drop PPC support for Safari at some point next year I'm guessing).....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://macgroup.org/blog/2010/09/01/kodachrome/
How Do I Love My New Mac? Let Me Count The Ways...
ZNet blogger Christopher Dawson says:
Remember that old Joan Jett song, "I Hate Myself for Loving You"? That about sums up my relationship with my new Mac.
I thought about calling this post How a FOSS advocate ended up loving a Mac with Windows 7 running in a virtual machine and a thousand bucks worth of proprietary software cranking alongside it, but it was longer than headlines should generally be, so I figured I'd just steal from Browning for a title. She wouldn't mind, although her classic sonnet doesn't manage to capture the mixture of love and self-loathing that my Mac manages to conjure up.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://snurl.com/1165v9
How To Reset An Airport Express
FairerPlatform says:
Will that be hard, soft or factory, sir? If you need to reset the password and/or settings on an Airport Express base station - brilliant device - then there are three methods available to you and which one you choose depends on what you need to do.
You can check it out at:
http://fairerplatform.com/2010/09/how-to-reset-an-airport-express/
NewerTech Lowers Price By Up To 33% For Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station For Mac Notebook Computers
Newer Technology, Inc. (NewerTech - http://www.newertech.com ) has announced it has lowered the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price on its entire line of NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Stations, the only complete line of chargers/conditioners on the market today designed to keep batteries in optimal charged condition for maximum "unplugged" usage.
Available immediately and starting as low as $99.00 - up to a 33% reduction from the previous MSRP - the NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station is available for the following Apple notebook models:
MacBook Pro 15 3 Unibody
MacBook 13 3 Unibody
MacBook Pro 17 3
MacBook Pro 15 3
MacBook 13 3
iBook G3/G4 12 3
iBook G3/G4 14 3
PowerBook G4 12 3 "Aluminum"
PowerBook G4 15 3 "Aluminum"
PowerBook G4 17 3 "Aluminum"
PowerBook G4 15 3 "Titanium"
The NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station is available for ordering from NewerTech's exclusive distributor, Other World Computing (OWC), as well as through the retail channel. For more details on this adapter, as well as reseller inquiries, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/charger+conditioner
For more information on NewerTech's complete line of accessories and upgrades for Macs, PCs, and iDevices, visit:
http://www.newertech.com/products.
"Intelligent" Design Takes Guesswork Out Of Battery Charging
NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Stations are ideal for users who have one or more batteries and want to keep their batteries in optimal charged condition. The two bay design can accommodate two batteries and when the first battery is done charging, the unit "intelligently" begins charging the second battery. In addition to charging batteries quickly and correctly, the deep conditioning feature can bring back additional life to a battery that's started to show its age.
NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station Features:
• 2 Bays: 1 bay charges, 1 bay charges & conditions
• 2 Year Warranty
• Power Input/Output: 120~240V 50/60Hz 1.5A / 24V 2.3A, regulated
"Whether a user has one of the latest MacBook models or a still useful legacy Mac notebook, the NewerTech Intelligent Battery Charging/Conditioning Station is ideal for getting the longest runtime and lifetime from the battery," says Grant Dahlke, Brand Manager, NewerTech."By both charging and deep conditioning the battery at the same time, users can save both time and restore new life to older batteries."
Compliments Complete Line Of High Capacity Batteries
In addition to its line of battery chargers/conditioners, NewerTech also offers a complete line of NuPower high capacity replacement batteries from $79.99 MSRP for MacBook Pro, MacBook, Powerbook G4/G3, and iBook G4/G3 notebooks with up to 68% more capacity than original Apple batteries. For more information on NuPower high capacity replacement batteries, visit:
http://www.newertech.com/products/laptop.php
Two New Logitech Speakers Transform Laptop Audio
[Press Release]
Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 Offers Up to 50-Foot Wireless Range, Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 Delivers 360-Degree Sound
Laptop computers have dramatically changed the way you enjoy entertainment today, but laptop audio hasn't really kept pace. Because you're watching movies, shows and Facebook!" video clips on your laptop, today Logitech announced the Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 and the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305. Whether you use a Mac or a Windows-based laptop or a netbook, the Wireless Speaker Z515 delivers great sound from your laptop, iPad or iPhone, with no strings attached, while the Laptop Speaker Z305 brings you all-around sound in a compact design.
"The speakers built into most laptops are tiny and can't always reproduce powerful audio," says Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit. "Whether you re an MP3 junkie or a movie lover, our two new laptop speakers make it easy to connect, turn the sound up and lose yourself in the things you love. There's no reason that you can t have quality audio while you re watching the latest YouTube sensation or the newest Hollywood release on your laptop."
Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 - Great Sound, No Strings Attached
To free you from the hassle of cords and let you place your speakers up to 50 feet (15 m) away, the Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 uses 2.4 GHz wireless technology to deliver wireless audio. And setup couldn't be easier. Just plug the included wireless adapter into a USB port on your laptop, and you re connected in a matter of seconds. Or if you want to connect to an iPad or iPhone, you won t even need the USB dongle just put your device into Discovery mode and the Logitech Z515 speaker will find it and connect wirelessly.
But these speakers aren't just wireless - they also provide rich sound. The speaker s dual two-inch drivers give full stereo sound and plenty of bass. Plus, so you can take your music with you wherever you go, the Z515 includes a rechargeable battery that can power your speaker for up to 10 hours.
Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 - All-Around Sound from Your Laptop, To Go
If you are looking for a lightweight, compact speaker that is truly as portable as your laptop, look no farther than the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305. Thanks to 360-degree audio, the Z305 emits sound evenly in all directions so you get a great listening experience throughout the room. The plug-and-play USB connection delivers power and pure, digital audio instantly - without the need for software or an external power supply.
So you can easily use the speaker anywhere you use your computer your office, your bed, the airport the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 securely mounts behind the screen so it s out of the way. And the Laptop Speaker Z305 is also extremely lightweight approximately one-half pound which means you'll always be able to take it with you. As an added convenience, the USB cable tucks neatly into the back of your speaker, giving you a look that s sleek and clutter-free.
When you re ready to hit the road, both new Logitech laptop speakers fit easily into the included travel case or your laptop bag.
The Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 is expected to be available in September in the U.S. and Europe for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 is expected to be available in September in the U.S. and Europe for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (U.S.).
For more information, visit:
http://www.logitech.com
New Bento 3 Project Manager from FileMaker Makes Project and Time Management Easy
[Press Release]
FileMaker, Inc. today announced the Bento 3 Project Manager, a brand new set of templates designed to make it easy for Mac users to track their personal projects and manage their time within one integrated, intuitive place. The Bento 3 Project Manager includes a free 30-day trial of the popular Bento 3 personal database for Mac, plus two professionally designed, ready-to-use templates.
Templates in the Bento 3 Project Manager include:
• Project Dashboard, with forms for project overview, milestones, tasks, communications, related files such as photos and presentations, and time sheets; and
• Time Sheets, with pre-defined Smart Collections for hours billed, hours to be billed, and amounts due. All of this detailed information can be located quickly using iTunes-style searching.
The Bento 3 Project Manager also works with Bento for iPad and Bento for iPhone (both sold separately on the iTunes App store). Users can organize their projects and time sheets on one of Apple s popular mobile devices and then synchronize the information to their Mac. The Bento 3 Project Manager links with iCal Tasks and iCal Events providing a central hub of information to stay more organized, on schedule and on task.
"Everyone wants to make the most productive use of their time, but juggling multiple priorities and responsibilities can be tough," sayss Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker, Inc. "With the Bento 3 Project Manager, users have a cost-effective way to organize all sorts of projects. Streamlined time and project management in the Bento 3 Project Manager offer easy ways to keep track of details and also ensures accurate, expedient time tracking and invoicing."
The Bento 3 Project Manager is designed to work with Bento 3, the acclaimed personal database software for the Mac. Recently named among Entrepreneur magazine s Six must-have apps, it also has also garnered 4.5 out of 5 stars from MacNN. Since its introduction, Bento 3 has been used in many areas where project management tasks are important, including solo and home-based businesses, personal organization, home improvement, community fundraisers, and school activities.
For more information, visit:
http://www.filemaker.com
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