Review: Magic Trackpad… turn your computer into a notebook, sorta
by Chiyin on Aug 3rd, 2010 @ 10:56 am
I just received my Magic Trackpad and so far I’m liking it. There really isn’t much to say, it is basically a multitouch trackpad similar to the ones found in MacBooks, just bigger.
Construction wise, the trackpad looks like it’s all aluminum, but inspecting it closely reveals that there is actually a thin glass placed on top of the aluminum base. It has a power button and a bay for battery, very straight forward.
Functionality wise, it takes a bit of getting used to navigating your desktop like a notebook, but if you have used a notebook there really is no learning curve. However, for more precise work, like graphic design and photo editing, a mouse will probably fare better, but for everything else the Magic Trackpad works very well. Maybe with some time and practice I’ll be able to do everything with it.
This is the next logical step for computer input devices. The Magic Mouse, with its multitouch surface, introduced desktop users to navigating with gestures and with more people choosing notebooks over desktops, it is only a matter of time before trackpads replace the mouse as an input device. Perhaps in the future the mouse to be delegated to specific tasks similar to what pen tablets are today.
So should you get it? This I think is a personal preference, so I’ll leave it up to you.
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WWDC 2010 announced for June 7 – 11
by Justin Horn on Apr 28th, 2010 @ 9:20 amLooks like Gruber was right, WWDC 2010 was announced today for June 7 – 11th. So we only have to wait about 5 weeks to get the rest of the details on the 4th gen iPhone hardware, and any new OS 4 updates that only apply to the new hardware.
(via TiPb)
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New MacBooks Mini DisplayPort finally support audio
by Justin Horn on Apr 13th, 2010 @ 5:28 pmFrom Ars Technica:
Until now, the miniDP port only transmitted video, even though the DisplayPort spec supports optional alternate signal channels such as audio or USB.
Apple confirmed to Ars that the just-updated MacBook Pros will pass both video and audio signals to an HDTV or receiver when using an miniDP to HDMI adapter.
Those dedicated When Will Apple blog followers will remember our review of the Monoprice Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. It worked great, but even though the Mini DisplayPort spec and the Monoprice adapter supported audio, the MacBook did not. The good news is the latest MacBooks support Mini DisplayPort audio. The bad is that my hopes for a simple a software update to enable audio are crushed.
(via Rene Ritchie of TiPb)
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Tell us what you think the Apple Tablet will be called Google Wave invite giveaway
by Justin Horn on Jan 20th, 2010 @ 11:19 pmThe title says it all, just leave a comment letting us know what you think the new Apple Tablet will be called…iTablet, iSlate, etc. etc. My personal favorite is MacBook touch, but it seems unlikely now with the latest iSlate and iPad rumors. Also, I guess it makes sense for them to break away from the MacBook name as this will be a very different device.
We will pick 2 comments at random to give the Wave invites to. If you already have Google Wave leave a comment anyway because it will be fun.
Also, don’t forget to register with When Will Apple and take your best release date guess for the yet to be named tablet device for a chance to win a $50 iTunes or Apple store gift card.
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Apple customers targeted by smash and grab auto thieves
by Justin Horn on Nov 9th, 2009 @ 11:23 am
A pretty obvious warning, especially in this economy, but it’s worth mentioning.
The Miami Herald reports:
Shoppers in Pinecrest and Kendall beware: Thieves are preying on customers who leave their electronics purchases in their cars while they eat or continue shopping.
A favorite target: Apple computers.“At some point after the purchase is made, the customers are spotted carrying the purchase in an Apple bag,” he said. “If the customer does not go home directly with the purchase — if they make an intermediary stop — criminals, having watched them make this purchase, know the equipment is in the car.” [Pinecrest Police Chief John Hohensee]
This could obviously happen after a purchase from any electronics store, but we all know Apple’s products can be a bit pricier and much nicer. So it makes sense for thieves to target Apple products over the new Windows 7 computers. The few examples used in this article were all purchases made at the two Apple stores 10 mins from me (yes I have 2 Apple stores that close). So if you must stop somewhere on your way home, lug your new toys with you!
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My thoughts on TG Daily’s “Microsoft blindsided vulnerable Apple with Windows 7″
by Justin Horn on Oct 23rd, 2009 @ 3:51 pmJust saw this TG Daily article on Daring Fireball, Gruber had this to say:
I’m coming around to the idea that Enderle’s really a genius and his doofus routine is a Stephen Colbert-esque schtick.
Unfortunately Gruber is joking (at least I hope so)…Enderle is not a genius. I pretty much disagree with everything he says in this article with the exception of the Magic Mouse (Apple has never been good at making mice) and when Apple almost went belly up.
Let’s take a look at “Windows 7: A New Hope” section of the post:
Steve Jobs and Apple clearly planned for the same traditional behavior [Windows launch failure] and were completely unprepared for both the quality of Windows 7 and the fact Microsoft has a war chest this time. Their near pathetic recent release of a couple slightly improved PCs and a couple peripherals showcases this. They figured they could easily skate through the next few months because, traditionally, Microsoft would be vulnerable and not able to fight back.
The new updates were just that, updates. They got faster hardware and a few other tweaks with the lone MacBook getting the biggest upgrade. Apple is not “unprepared”, but instead sticking with what works and Windows 7 isn’t going to change that. Not sure what Rob thinks Apple should have released? Apple isn’t going to suddenly start competing in the thin margin budget computer business.
Windows 7 should shake some of the bad Vista press (just as XP did for Windows Millennium), but the problem for Microsoft is all the negative press has pushed Apple into the spotlight…even with their teeny weeny market share. People that have never considered a Mac are now thinking about “the switch”. Add in the success of the iPhone and iPod touch and Apple has gained a much larger audience than they ever have before.
Here is what’s really going to happen for Apple and Microsoft in the Windows 7 world:
- People running XP now will continue using XP for as long as they have that computer, especially businesses.
- At lot of people running Vista will pay the upgrade fee since it will probably be worth the price to get the hell off Vista.
- People on a tighter budget will buy a new cheap PC with Windows 7 just as they would if it still had Vista on it.
- People deciding between a Mac and PC will not be swayed to a PC by Windows 7, they just won’t be pushed to Apple by Vista (so one plus for Microsoft here).
Rob wraps things up with:
Two good lessons here, even when you are on top it is very foolish to under estimate a competitor with Microsoft’s resources because they can actually get it right, and picking too many fights at once can take out the most powerful of entities just as it took out a nearly unbeatable Germany in the second world war.
Not even sure how to respond to this one. The “too many fights” is referring to the Droid (Google, Verizon, and Motorola) in addition to Microsoft. I don’t see how Apple is under estimating anyone? Apple is selling more Macs then they ever have before and have the fastest growing consumer devices ever with the iPhone and iPod touch. Looks to me like they are winning both wars.
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