Appletell

Time Capsule is Apple’s answer to network-attached Time Machine backups within a local area network. It allows multiple people to back-up wirelessly or wired, making it ideal for laptop users. However, online backups are far more secure - as they’re stored in a datacenter away from your own home.

A company called Macminicolo.net has been offering Mac Mini-based backups for a while now, and is now offering a brand new service with Time Machine in Leopard. “Transport” will allow you to purchase a Time Capsule unit which will be hosted at their datacenter - all of your future backups will be stored in this secure location. Their plans start at just $29 per month, with a set-up fee of $25. You have the choice of either asking a hosting provider to purchase and install a Time Capsule, or the option to send one to Macminicolo.net for installation in their server farm.

Which do you prefer, local or network backups?

Via [Macworld UK]

Funnily enough, I was just waiting for Apple to release this. Since I just installed Woopra, a new statistics tracking software, on my website - and it requires Java SE6 on the Mac. Unfortunately, the latest Java SDK doesn’t run on 32-bit Macs - which means my Core Duo MacBook won’t be able to run it. However, all of Apple’s newest products are Core 2 Duo, and are 64-bit (if running Leopard). The update is available for download from Apple’s website or Software Update if you have a compatible Mac.

This latest update adds support for Java SE 6 version 1.6.0_05. This update does not replace your current install of Java on your Mac, it just adds support for SE 6. It requires a 64-bit Intel Mac with Mac OS X 10.5.2

Via [TUAW]

A Gizmodo Reader has reported that they have received their Open Computer from Psystar and they included a video clearly showing the boot of the machine. My conclusion? Money wasted. Psystar is making money off of the OSx86 project, and this is something you could do yourself in a day.

The boot sequence shows a few ugly black screens, typical of a Windows PC boot, followed by the Mac white startup screen. There are absolutely no benefits to buying an Open Computer right now. Eventually after they have proven themselves, it might be a good opportunity for non-computer savvy people to get their hands on a pseudo-Mac, but to me that seems to be quite a small niche.

This would be a phenomenal product if it were genuinely a Mac, but as it stands, this is simply a neatly packaged Hackintosh. It CANNOT be updated, an enormous caveat, it isn’t a Mac through and through, as evidenced by the ugly boot screens, and overall is something that can be accomplished with a cheap PC and a day on the OSx86 project (not that we endorse that...)

One last thing to note: Purchasing it with Leopard is a waste of $129. They will send you a shrink-wrapped retail version of Leopard, probably just purchased from their local Apple Store. It cannot be used to reinstall Leopard onto your Open Computer, begging the question, why sell it?

More [Gizmodo]

This is part two of a series. Read Part One here.

What I Hate About Windows

1) The Taskbar - Windows users will crow on and on about the taskbar’s superiority, but it is crap. It has no one purpose, rather it is a poorly implemented strip that serves as the main control point for the computer. The place where this becomes the biggest issue is if you hide it. You may just want more screen space, or to just hide the start menu, but you have no choice. Everything goes. Your list of programs, your minimized windows, system notifications, everything, is gone. Which brings me to my next gripe. Why would all my windows be displayed in huge buttons? I can understand it if my minimized windows were, but the maximized windows are already there. No need to have them in the taskbar. The argument is that its easy switching between windows, but I don’t find it easy to try to decipher between three Internet explorer windows, or three any windows. In the taskbar they all look the same and that doesn’t speed up the workflow at all.

MORE »

With so much mayhem surrounding Psystar, the company that announced last week the availability of what are essentially Mac clones, I thought it a good idea to give an easy-reader breakdown of all the fuss.

It all started April 14th, when Psystar came out of nowhere claiming to be selling OpenMac computers, essentially really cheap Macs. The internet erupted with questions over the legality of it all. Someone named Robert then came forward and said that Psystar would challenge Apple’s license agreement in court. Then an official spokesperson from Psystar denied that Robert spoke for the company. The company’s website went down due to heavy traffic, adding to the pandemonium. Many assumed Psystar was a hoax or scam and had been taken down.

MORE »

Though most seem to be happy with Mac OS X 10.5.2, a select few, Steve Jobs apparently included, aren’t. Mac OS X 10.5.3 is on the fast track to release, as yet another developer build was seeded over the weekend.

While 10.5.2 had widely publicized bugs it was fixing, 10.5.3 has but one: WiFi issues, most recently exemplified when New York schools halted Mac shipments due to the issue. Two other issues it is known to have fixed are shutdown hangs and system mode issues. The others are anybody guess. Or anybody’s guesses, as the list of bugs fixed by this update is apparently longer than 170. This specific build, 9D22, fixes 15, and has no known issues.

Update: After this writing was finished, Apple released Build 9D23, adding 8 more fixes. Once again, no known issues.

Given the rapid succession of build releases, the consensus is that 10.5.3 will be available by mid-May. Perhaps this will give way for 10.5.4 in June?

Have you had any 10.5.2 issues? Or would you just like them to leave well enough alone? Sound off below.

Via [World Of Apple]

Famous modder Ben Heckendorn is at it again, this time with an Apple IIgs laptop.  This laptop is very impressive, and although it may seem dangerous, Ben said it gives off just about as much heat as a pocket calculator (calculators give off heat?).  Here are the full specs:

• 15-inch screen
• Original Apple IIgs motherboard
• Custom acrylic keyboard with laser etched keys
• Compact Flash adapter as the hard drive
• Side port access for floppy drive, joystick, and mouse
• Original mouse
• Glowing blue “][” logo
• Built-in stereo speakers

This isn’t Ben’s only awesome creation, be sure to check out his PS3 mod as well.  Also, there are more pictures and a video up on his site.

What I hate about Mac

1) USB Devices Always Wake the Computer - If my computer is sleeping, and I unplug my iPod to go out, why does my computer wake up? Why, why, why? Same if I’m unplugging my display/USB hub to use my computer as a laptop. The computer should NOT wake up.

2) USB Drives Can’t Simply Be Unplugged - In a similar vein to the first one, I should be able to yank out my USB drive and go. Why do I have to eject the drive first? I don’t on Windows…

MORE »

Earlier this week I blogged about the Psystar OpenMac, a computer claiming to run Leopard.  This, of course, violates Apple’s End User License Agreement (EULA), as Macintosh computers are the only computers licensed by Apple to run Leopard.  In an interview with MacRumors, Psystar employee “Robert” says that making Leopard only run on Macs was like driving a Honda only on Honda-approved roads.  Robert also said that Psystar plans to challenge the EULA, insisting that all actions they have made were legal and that they are simply trying to prevent an Apple Monopoly over Leopard. 

The only legal advantage that Psystar has is the enforceability of EULAs, given that they aren’t actually explicit laws.  Also notable is the fact that the Psystar website is up and running again, and that the name of the computer has been changed from “OpenMac” to “OpenComputer”, taking any chance Apple would have had with a trademark infringement lawsuit away.  As soon as both Apple’s and Psystar’s Legal departments wake up and smell the coffee, certain actions are sure to be taken.

Via [MacRumors]

The problem that has plagued me personally, and seemingly evaporated, has finally been acknowledged by Apple. Graphical “tearing” when scrolling webpages and flickering when watching video seems to be rather common place on new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Apple has said that they know about it and are looking into it.

The issue does not render the computer unusable, just annoying for watching videos. Scrolling through webpages or emails in Apple Mail gets you distorted pages as seen above. YouTube video especially shows large white bands that flash up for less than a second, then flash again, making for an annoying experience.

One user got back a reply: “Apple has received reports similar to the behavior you are describing and we are investigating those reports. Further information will come in the form of a Knowledge Base article, Software Update, or Software Release.” The fix may come in Mac OS X 10.5.3, seemingly coming soon.

Via [Ars Technica]