New Apple Lust Objects

Really nice touch in the new iTunes that I'd wanted; ability to sync entire artists / genres onto an iPod / iPhone rather than just playlists.

Anyway, FireWire did the trick, everything fixed and good to go. The one thing that's puzzling me now is why my external CD/DVD drive and iTunes now can't seem to deal with each other (and the computer does recognize that the drive is there and all, even more frustrating...)

is it possible to upgrade from panther to snow leopard straight off the sl disc? i've only found mention of people successfully doing so from tiger. also just to double check if you can do multiple upgrades off the one disc, and not needing the family pack.

(soz if these questions are inane, i'm not a mac dude!)

you can definitely do multiple upgrades with the normal installer. the family pack appears to be an "idiot tax" type system.

re upgrading from panther.. i dunno, give it a shot? if it doesn't work you can use disk utility to clone your hard drive, do an install from scratch, and then use the migration assistant to copy all your info back over.

And drive problem fixed, everything grand, yay life.

A nice bonus was that I've already got someone lined up to take the old MacMini off my hands for a good price.

Do you (the typical Mac user) download all of the software updates that Apple pushes out? (I used a Mac about 20 years ago (not in my toddler years, although the computer I had seems like a toy now) and a lot has changed since then.) Is there a way to change the short name of the admin account once you've configured your computer? Do I really need the Garage Band update? Why are there a million icons on the bottom of the screen? Are all these applications started when you turn on your computer? Thanks.

1) yes, it kind of makes you

2) probably

3) no

4) that is the dock

5) no

no, probably, depends, for quick access, no

xpost

you drag any of those icons off the dock at your pleasure. it's won't delete or move them from the applications folder. and it doesn't load anything automatically unless set in system preferences -> accounts -> login items

re: my "no" answer for #1, I always uncheck the updates for stuff I don't use like Remote Desktop Client and Front Row, and don't install iTunes updates for at least a week or two, in case there are problems that show up quickly.

I'm fairly certain that Software Update has something like an 'ignore this update' option for stuff you never want/need.

I am now about 3/4 of the way through downloading 13 updates, but I will not go for the Garage Band update next time.

On a slightly different topic, I have to conduct an interview on Thursday and I was thinking of bringing my MacBook to take notes, but now I'm wondering if it's possible to record audio. I didn't purchase any extra software. I think I read somewhere that there is a microphone. Thanks.

I realize that some of these posts may be off topic. Please file under lust gratified, what to do in case.

If your Mac is running 10.6 then you have Quicktime X, which has audio recording built in (run Quicktime X, File > New Audio Recording)

youn - you can, but the quality will be poor for extended recording, as it will pick up the sounds of the hard drive spinning. it should be adequate if you just want to record enough to get a transcript from, I'd test beforehand to get all the levels/settings adjusted first.

If you do enough interviews, it'd be worth it to get a digital voice recorder. Setting up a laptop to do a voice recording seems like it would be intrusive/distracting.

this audio recording program is easy, simple and free -

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17392

you also might want to check your phone - many phones will make audio recordings.

in either case yes the quality will be iffy but fine for transcription purposes.

what I want is something that transcribes shit for me

i don't know how good this is, but - http://jott.com/

even if it does work it probably doesn't work for stuff longer than a voicemail, tho :(

Orange has reached an agreement to sell Apple's popular iPhone in the UK.

The deal ends an exclusive arrangement between UK network operate O2 and the Californian phone maker, which has been in place since 2007.

Orange said its customers would be able to buy the phone "later this year" but did not specify a date or pricing.

I admit it: I'm a bigot. A hopeless bigot at that: I know my particular prejudice is absurd, but I just can't control it. It's The Wire. I don't like The Wire. And the better-written and more ubiquitous it becomes, the more I dislike it. I blame the fans. Awful people. Awful. Stop showing me your box sets. Stop stroking your Omar action figure. Stop telling me to watch it.

Oh, roccckkk. <3 Orange.

hey guys, n00b alert here - I just bought my first mac and I'm now wondering how to import all my stuff from my old PC. iTunes library seems pretty easy to import through home sharing, but I'm not sure how I should go about transferring picture folders for example. I see that there's Move2mac that takes care of this for 40 bucks, but I'm just wondering if I couldn't simply do it myself.
Any advice?

I had do to the same thing a few weeks ago and just set up a wireless network between my new mac and old PC. Dead easy.

and you just copy/pasted all your folders?

Yes

sweet - thanks!

Apple Store down. Lots of rumours, but I only care about this touchpad mouse. Can't wait to get rid of the mighty mouse

Unless it's really amazingly innovative, I'd give up on Apple making a good mouse and just buy a Logitech or Microsoft one.

I've been looking, but all their good ones seem to be right-hand only, and there are few that are real bluetooth and don't need a dongle

New widescreen iMacs: http://www.macworld.com/article/143394/2009/10/imac.html?lsrc=twt_macworld (with Magic Mouse, thank fuck)

New MacBook: http://www.macworld.com/article/143393/2009/10/whitemacbook.html?lsrc=twt_macworld

http://www.apple.com/magicmouse/

ia a series of adapters Apple says will be available shortly, users will be able to attach external display sources, such a DVD players or even other computers, to the iMac’s display. At that point, those sources will take over the iMac’s display, effectively turning it into an external monitor or an HDTV.

Big deal imo

that magic mouse looks great, but I can't see a way to set it to open links in new tabs, which is a fucking pain.

Really glad I didn't buy a new MacBook a few weeks ago because I'll almost be definitely be getting one of the new ones.

Also, couldn't agree with en i see kay more.

As Merlin Mann said:

http://www.kungfugrippe.com/post/218214894/apple-mac-mini-features-you-might-want-to

Yeah, new MacBook looks nice. £55 for Magic Mouse in UK. It's not that magic.

new mac book makes me wonder if I should get that instead of the Pro. Only difference is lack of SD, firewire and aluminum, right? Is the aluminum less likely to break then the plastic? Anything I'm missing?

These updates always complicate my strategy, grr.

Yeah, when the time comes (long time out), it'll be much easier to justify springing for a big giant iMac (to replace my still awesome three year old slightly-less-giant iMac) if it's also a nice 1080p HDTV that I can use with a ps3 or hd cable box or what have you.

Now I just need to work on finding that perfect imaginary piece of furniture that can take the iMac from desktop to a good TV place without lifting or looking atrocious.

Don't see iMac as TV works, unless it's in a dorm room or something; want computer on a desk, TV+games in living room. xp haha

New MacBook is again the one to buy, apart from firewire.

We use our iMac as a TV. The power of living in a 550 sq ft apartment.

what do you play ps3 on?

Will def. be getting one of this Magic Mouses. But I might wait until the current Mighty Mouse (my 2nd in 4 years, still scrolling just fine thanks) bites the dust.

No ps3. We do have an actual TV that we use for Wii'ing, but it's 10 years old and has horrible sound. The iMac is for all tv and movie viewing.

One of the seemingly awesome updates about the new 27' is that the iMac FINALLY includes Video-in, meaning you can actually plug other computers/things (blu-ray?) into it. It's mini-displayPort, but you can easily get an HDMI/DVI/VGA adapter for it.

lol at the iMac 'hands-on' at Gizmodo; they took pictures of it in the back of a SUV in some parking lot; it's like a drug deal or something

ok I'm probably going to get a Magic Mouse. it plugs into your neurons directly so it always knows what you want, right?

I like the idea of the Magic Mouse but I'd want a wired version, I think. Or would I? How long do batteries last on wireless mice? I guess I could pause videos from across the room with it. Hmmm.