Tips and Tricks

36 'Tips and Tricks' stories August 2009 - November 2012

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iPad mini installed into dashboard of car (Video)

Jordan Kahn Nov 2 2012 - 7:50 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCXJIjxvPNE]

The iPad mini has only officially been on sale since 8 a.m. this morning, but one 9to5 reader was already able install the device in the dashboard of a car. Soundwaves of Tampa custom-built a dash in a 2012 Toyota Corolla, allowing folks to easily slide the iPad mini in and out. Soundwaves has more images of the build on its Facebook page.

Spoof ‘banned’ iPad mini promo [Video] (9to5mac.com)
Phil Schiller clarifies iPad mini has stereo speakers following Amazon’s Kindle comparison (9to5mac.com)
Shorter than usual lines at iPad mini Wifi launches around the globe [Gallery] (9to5mac.com)
iPad mini delivered to customer ahead of Nov. 2 launch, unboxed (9to5mac.com)
iFixit tears down the iPad mini (in progress) (9to5mac.com)

Developer gets Fusion Drive functionality running on older Mac

Jordan Kahn Oct 31 2012 - 9:28 am PT

There is still a lot we do not know about Apple’s new hybrid SSD/HDD Fusion Drive option available for the new iMacs and Mac minis. Today we get a little bit of insight into how Fusion Drive will function thanks to a few blog posts by developer Patrick Stein detailing how he was able to build his own Fusion Drive solution on his Mac Pro running 10.8.2 (via MacRumors). Stein was able to get OS X to recognize an attached 120GB SSD and 750GB HDD as a single drive using diskutil and, surprisingly, exhibit Fusion Drive-like functionality with little configuration. MacRumors explained:

Stein then proceeded to test the setup, writing data first to the SSD and then to the traditional hard drive once the SSD had filled up. By preferentially accessing data that had initially been written to the traditional hard drive, Stein was able to watch as the data was automatically transferred to the SSD for faster access. Upon stopping the process, the system automatically pushed the data back to the traditional hard drive, and in one final step Stein began accessing the data once more and after about an hour was able to see it pulled back onto the SSD.

Head over to Stein’s Tumblr for all the details. ArsTechnica also has an excellent breakdown of Fusion Drive:

Based on these findings, Fusion Drive is indeed a base operating system feature, either contained within Core Storage or built into OS X 10.8.x (Jollyjinx notes at the bottom that he’s using 10.8.2). It appears that Fusion Drive detects the SSD-ishness of a drive based on SMART info read across the SATA bus, though it’s possible that Apple might be using Microsoft’s SSD detection method and simply testing attached drives’ throughput. If a Core Storage volume contains an HDD and an SSD, Fusion Drive appears to be automatically activated.

OWC announces 480GB SSD upgrade for 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro

Jordan Kahn Oct 30 2012 - 9:46 am PT

Like it does for the 15-inch model, OWC announced today it is offering its 480GB Mercury Aura Pro SSD for Apple’s new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. As noted by OWC, the $580 aftermarket upgrade option will cost you approximately $220 less than Apple’s comparable 512GB built-to-order upgrade, and will also allow you to keep your original base flash module. The press release (below) also said additional capacities would be available sometime in November, while an OWC Envoy Pro Enclosure for re using the factory flash module will be landing in December:

Available in 480GB capacity for immediate ordering and with additional capacities to be announced in November, the 6G (6Gb/s) SandForce Driven Mercury Aura Pro offers rMBP owners up to nearly 3x more storage and/or backup capacity than the factory 128GB flash module… In addition to offering significantly more capacity over the factory base 128GB SSD, the 480GB Mercury Aura Pro offers a $220 savings over the comparable sized 512GB factory capacity upgrade costing $800. Savings, however, aren’t always measured just in dollars. A key benefit for Apple notebook owners when choosing an OWC SSD is the retention of the original factory flash module.

OWC Announces Mercury Aura Pro as Industry’s First Solid State Drive Upgrade for the New 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display

October 30, 2012, Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, announced today the OWC Mercury Aura® Pro is the industry’s first high-performance Solid State Drive upgrade for the new 2012 13″ MacBook® Pro with Retina display (rMBP) computers introduced by Apple® last week.

Available in 480GB capacity for immediate ordering and with additional capacities to be announced in November, the 6G (6Gb/s) SandForce-Driven™ Mercury Aura Pro offers rMBP owners up to nearly 3x more storage and/or backup capacity than the factory 128GB flash module.

Offers $220 Savings, Continued Use of Factory Flash Module

In addition to offering significantly more capacity over the factory base 128GB SSD, the 480GB Mercury Aura Pro offers a $220 savings over the comparable sized 512GB factory capacity upgrade costing $800. Savings, however, aren’t always measured just in dollars. A key benefit for Apple notebook owners when choosing an OWC SSD is the retention of the original factory flash module.

When upgrading directly with the factory, consumers pay for the base flash capacity module, but do not get that original base flash module returned to them for re-use. Thanks to the OWC Envoy Pro USB 3.0 bus-powered portable enclosure (available late December), rMBP owners upgrading with a Mercury Aura Pro SSD can re-task the original factory flash module as an external drive for additional storage and/or backup duty.

Expert Tested and Reviewed

Several leading technology sites have noted the Mercury Aura Pro’s performance advantage compared to the Apple factory SSDs. Electronista.com pointed out “new and improved” Apple SSDs reach read speeds of 461MB per second and write speeds of 364MB per second, while the Mercury Aura Pro is rated at up to 500MB/s. Expert SSD industry source TheSSDReview.com found LSI SandForce-Driven™ based SSDs offer “excellent performance” over 500MB/s and that these SSDs “excel in highly compressible data testing which is the bread and butter of typical consumer use.” The Mac Observer performed extensive benchmark testing and declared “The Aura Pro SSD outperforms the Apple SSD in nearly every way. For rMBP owners (or soon-to-be-owners) who ordered a model with the stock SSD, the upgrade to the Aura Pro is a no brainer if you need more capacity, speed, or both.”

Pricing, Availability
The Mercury Aura Pro for the 2012 13″ MacBook Pro with Retina display is available immediately for $579.99. Additional capacity models will be announced and made available for ordering in November. For more information on the Mercury Aura Pro for 2012 MacBook Pro with Retina display, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_Retina_2012/

“When we introduced the Mercury Aura Pro for the 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display this past June, we had received significant user feedback that the factory base 256GB flash capacity just wasn’t adequate,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “Considering that the new 13″ models offer as little as 128GB standard, the need for greater capacity is quite apparent. The Mercury Aura Pro offering nearly 3x the capacity, higher performance, and the ability to reuse the factory drive as a high speed external drive is an unbeatable combination upgrade value.”

New Model Continues OWC’s First-to-Market Streak

The Mercury Aura Pro for the 2012 13″ rMBP continues OWC’s two-year streak as being the first manufacturer offering an SSD upgrade for the latest Apple notebook computers. There’s an Aura Pro/Envoy enclosure bundle for 2010 and 2011 MacBook Air computers and an Aura Pro SSD upgrade for 2012 MacBook Air owners.

In addition offering first and only upgrades for the latest Apple machines, OWC also offers world record-breaking 3G (3Gb/s) and 6G (6Gb/s) Mercury SSDs for nearly every Mac and PC produced over the past decade in capacities from 30GB to 1TB with prices starting from $49.99. For more information on the complete OWC Mercury SSD line, including expert benchmark reviews, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/.

For more information on the OWC catalog of over 2,900 performance upgrades and accessories, or for reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/

Gamer Bundle: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Civ V, four more, just $30

9to5 Staff Oct 29 2012 - 10:12 pm PT

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Stack Social’s got a solid gamer bundle headed by two great Apps: Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare and Civ V.

The 6 Mac Games Include:

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ($40)

Featuring a tense storyline, filled with plot twists, the title thrusts players into battle like never before. With amazing special effects, including rim-lighting, depth of field, texture streaming and character self-shadowing, players are enlisted into one of the most photo-realistic shooter experiences imaginable.

Civilization V ($50)

Sid Meier’s Civilization V Mac reinvigorates the classic turn-based strategy genre with an astonishing new engine built from the ground-up. Players are introduced to an entirely new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience providing hours of entertainment as players build and defend their empire on their quest to become the greatest ruler the world has ever known.

Company of Heroes: Complete ($30)

Company of Heroes redefines real time strategy gaming by bringing the sacrifice of heroic soldiers, war-ravaged environments, and dynamic battlefields to life. Beginning with the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, players lead squads of Allied soldiers into battle against the German war machine through some of the most pivotal battles of WWII.

Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy ($55)

Battle for Normandy faithfully recreates the experience of tactical land warfare in Western France during World War Two. This is quite possibly the most versatile, genuinely accurate and powerful battlefield simulation to date.

And Yet It Moves ($10)

And Yet It Moves is set in a unique world, made of ripped paper. Within the paper collage, you can jump, run and last but certainly not least: rotate the world. Learn how to apply the physical consequences of rotation to master the many tricky situations you may encounter.

LIMBO ($10)

Created entirely in black and white, LIMBO has often been spoken of in terms of gaming art. Hauntingly beautiful, yet also philosophically provocative. LIMBO features a gameplay mechanic that has come to be known as “Trial by Death” in which the player must die in-game in order to discover the solutions to the puzzles set before him. In the event of this, the player spawns at the last save point and must use what he has learned if he hopes to find his sister and get closure on the events set before him.

…game on!

Parallels warns Mac users to not upgrade to Windows 8

Jordan Kahn Oct 25 2012 - 9:38 am PT

Parallels for Mac virtualization software has been getting major updates this year with the recent release of version 8, making it even easier to run Mac and Windows apps side by side. In version 7, it made it a lot easier to upgrade and buy copies of Windows directly from within the app, and we even had a Windows 8 developer preview up and running. Unfortunately, with today’s launch of Microsoft’s Windows 8, Parallel’s is warning Mac users that the app is not ready to update to the new OS.

In a support document on the company’s website, it issued a “critical and urgent Windows 8 service advisory” telling customers it should wait before upgrading from an existing installation of Windows to Windows 8:
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OWC offering RAM upgrades for new Mac minis: $50 (8GB), $85 (12GB), $115 (16GB)

Jordan Kahn Oct 24 2012 - 8:14 am PT

Apple’s new Mac mini lineup that unveiled yesterday comes with 4GB of RAM stock for all three models, but it now allows for up to 16GB of RAM across its two slots. Today, OWC announced some pretty attractive RAM upgrades that offer big savings on factory upgrades and one configuration not available through Apple. OWC sells similar RAM upgrades for iMacs. Unfortunately, though, the new 21-inch model does not provide user accessible memory.

OWC Memory Upgrades for 2012 Mac mini 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, or 2.6GHz Intel i5 or i7 models:

OWC 8GB DDR3L Memory Kit (2 x 4GB memory modules) – $49.99

Replaces existing factory installed 2 x 2GB memory modules with 8GB total memory at 50 percent lower cost vs. same sized factory 8GB option costing $100

OWC 12GB DDR3L Memory Kit (4GB + 8GB memory modules) – $85.99

Replaces existing factory installed 2 x 2GB memory modules with 12GB total memory. This kit offers 50 percent more RAM at 14 percent lower cost vs. factory 8GB option costing $100.

Upgrade not available as a factory option.

OWC 16GB DDR3L Memory Kit (2 x 8GB memory modules) – $114.99

Replaces existing factory installed 2 x 2GB memory modules with 16GB total memory at 67 percent lower cost vs. same sized factory 16GB option costing $300.

OWC has full details here.

Tips and Tricks

Best Buy has $50 iTunes Gift cards for $40, today only

9to5 Staff Oct 22 2012 - 4:14 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com

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As one of its daily deals, Best Buy offers the $50 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $40 with free shipping. The card contains an iTunes Store code redeemable for music, movies, TV shows, games, iOS/Mac apps, and more.
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Toys: Audyssey desktop speakers $80, more

Seth Weintraub Oct 12 2012 - 7:27 am PT

Some pretty impressive deals from 9to5Toys.com today as we enter into the weekend:

Woot! has the amazing Audyssey Desktop speakers for $79.99 with $5 shipping on everything you order. I have these speakers (and happily paid $200 for them) and they are quite simply the best desktop speakers I’ve used.

We are in love with the standalone LES powered speakers (right). Very simple I/Os and almost perfect desktop-level sound makes these incredibly good for the small room or workspace. Sure, they won’t fill up a large-sized room, but you will find much larger/expensive setups for that. $199 Amazon. Bonus: If you want Airplay functionality, throw in a $95 Apple TV and an Optical cable.

You don’t need a subwoofer and with an optical cable, I don’t think you’ll find better sound at double the price.

Tiger Direct has a monster Centon waterproof 128GB USB stick for $69.99 with free shipping. That’s as big as many of Apple’s internal SSDs.

If you are looking at entry level DSLRs, Woot! offers the Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP Digital SLR
for $599.99 (add to speakers above for free shipping). Fry’s Electronics offers the Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, model no. 6558B003, for $699.99 plus around$11 for shipping.

Update: Amazon ended the deal on SSDs… hope you got in early.

Many more at 9to5Toys.com
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iPhone sat in 6 feet of water for 6 months, amazingly still operates

Jake Smith Oct 10 2012 - 2:25 pm PT

There is nothing worse than dropping your iPhone…except maybe dropping it into a lake. That is just an awful feeling. Not shamed by the occasion, 9to5mac reader Ken Hovanes shared his story of when he dropped an iPhone into Smith Lake roughly six months ago. He dropped it from a dock and was not able to see through six feet of water to pick it up. Hovanes considered it damaged/lost, so he bought a new iPhone.

Thinking all hope was gone, Hovanes was surprised this weekend to find his lost iPhone in the lake once the water levels lowered and the lake became clearer. Even more surprising: he discovered the iPhone still operates. As you can see in the gallery below, the screen turns on when plugged into a power source. There is a little water damage (including Wi-Fi, screen issues, and the bulges you can see below), but he is trying to clean out the 30-pin adapter area.

Lesson to learn? Do not give up hope on a water-damaged iOS device.

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Six iPhone 5 gripes from Apple Support: Date/Time issues, Lightning charging, Wi-Fi, reception, voice quality, and battery life

Élyse Betters Oct 9 2012 - 1:28 pm PT

The iPhone 5 is barely a month old, and almost everyone, present company included, thinks it is the most amazing smartphone on the market. But, it’s not perfect (that’s what updates are for), and Apple’s Support Community has been lighting up with not-isolated issues affecting all matter of functionality on the iPhone 5.

The top 6 iPhone 5 gripes from Apple’s support forums:

1. Date and time

The above issue, regarding iPhone 5 dates and times randomly changing, largely seems to primarily affect Verizon users. One support forum member (Rockyrikoko) even reported the same problem having occurred for Verizon’s Droid devices. The same member later claimed Apple engineers told him/her: “Issues with time provided over the air from Verizon will ultimately be for the carrier to address.” A quick skim through over a dozen pages revealed that —to this date— there has been no quick fix from Apple or Verizon and many users are still manually setting their clocks.

Check out the full thread: iPhone 5 time and date issues

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Mac Mega Fall App bundle featuring 11 great productivity apps $50 (Valued at $1,209)

9to5 Staff Oct 8 2012 - 3:49 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

Stacksocial is offering a bundle of Mac productivity apps valued at $1,209 for only $50. Each of the 11 apps were handpicked by the Stacksocial staff and include apps to help your eBay business, edit PDF files, be more efficient within Mac Mail, and so much more. The Mac is already one of the most productive personal computers on the market and with these apps you will get even more done. The deal is valid for only another four days, so act now. The full list of apps is as follows:

Kinemac ($299) – Animate everything in 3D real time animation.
MoneyWell ($50) – Powerful proactive budgeting for all your financing needs.
Printopia ($20) – Print to any computer using your mobile phone.
PDFClerk Pro ($50) – A powerful PDF editor.
MailTags 3 ($30) – Tame your email by tagging your mail.
GarageSale ($40) – The all-in-one eBay tool for Mac OS X.
Interarchy ($40) – The better way to FTP.
SitePoint Ebook Bundle ($59) – Two bestselling Ebooks on JQuery and CSS.
Impressionist UI Package ($149) – Over 300 elements for web design.
ThemeSpectrum ($196) – 4 Premium Responsive WP Themes – Your Choice.
Tokokoo ($276) – 4 WordPress Themes – Your Choice.
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Apple extends complimentary iCloud storage for MobileMe users until September 30th 2013

Seth Weintraub Oct 5 2012 - 4:11 pm PT

9to5Mac readers who migrated from MobileMe are reporting that their complimentary extra storage has been extended an extra year. Apple’s support doc is here.

From: iCloud <noreply@icloud.com>
Date: October 5, 2012, 3:38:18 PM PDT
To: 9to5mac
Subject:Your complimentary iCloud storage upgrade has been extended at no charge
Reply-To:no-reply@apple.com

When you moved your MobileMe account to iCloud, we provided you with a complimentary storage upgrade beyond the standard 5GB that comes with an iCloud account to help you with the transition. Originally, this storage upgrade was set to expire on September 30, 2012.

As a thank you to our former MobileMe members, we will continue to provide you with this complimentary storage upgrade at no charge, for an additional year, until September 30, 2013. No action is required on your part. For complete details, please read this article.

iCloud Team

All of the details from Apple’s Support Doc:

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Tip: Vertically mount the new AirPort Express (like the old one) with Apple AC wall plug

Jordan Kahn Oct 1 2012 - 7:19 am PT

rageek has a nice little tip on how to vertically mount the new AirPort Express using just the AC wall plug from a MacBook Pro or other Apple product’s power cord. [via O’Grady’s power tweets.]

We do not recommend this:

[tweet https://twitter.com/brogollack/status/252784743442182145]

Transcend 64GB USB Flash Drive: $29.99

9to5 Staff Sep 29 2012 - 5:54 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon has the Transcend 64GB Jetflash Retractable USB Flash Drive for $29.99 with free shipping.. That’s the lowest price we’ve ever seen on a 64GB flash drive from a reputable brand/store. The drive reads 19 MByte/s and writes 7 MByte/s and ships in Amazon frustration-free packaging. These deals don’t usually last long.
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Woot! has 2011 Dual-Core i5 MacBook Air – New in box (Update: $749)

9to5 Staff Sep 29 2012 - 5:27 am PT

From 9toToys.com:

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Update: MacMall has it for $748.99 with free shipping and the current 4GB USB 3 version for $948.99

Today only, Woot! has the base model 2011 MacBook Air new in box for $759.99+$5 shipping and tax where applicable (Apple charges roughly the same for a refurbished unit). That’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this MacBook Air that was replaced at WWDC in June.

Bonus: Get this Transcend 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $29.99 with free shipping at Amazon.

Specs include:

Eligible for OS X Mountain Lion Up-to-Date Program
Originally released July 2011
11.6-inch (diagonal) high-resolution LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
64GB flash storage
Thunderbolt port with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution
FaceTime camera
Intel HD Graphics 3000

Product Details

Processor	1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
L3 Cache	3MB shared
Memory	2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 4GB
Hard drive	64GB flash storage¹
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory²
Ports	Thunderbolt port, two USB 2.0 ports
Audio	Stereo speakers, Omnidirectional microphone, headphone port, support for Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Wireless	802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible; Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology³
Size and weight	Height: 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm) Width: 11.8 inches (30 cm) Depth: 7.59 inches (19.2 cm) Weight: 2.38 pounds (1.08 kg)⁴

All-Flash Storage

“Wow, that was fast.” With MacBook Air, you’ll find yourself saying that a lot. Because flash storage is up to two times faster than a conventional hard drive,⁵ everything you do is more responsive and immediate — starting up, browsing a large photo library, launching applications, and opening files, for instance. When you combine the speed of flash storage with a fast dual-core processor and power-efficient graphics, your entire MacBook Air experience feels turbocharged. And flash storage doesn’t have any moving parts, which means it’s more reliable and quiet. Lightning fast, durable, silent — qualities that make sense in a notebook tasked with keeping up with you.

High-Speed Thunderbolt I/O

The breakthrough I/O technology pioneered on MacBook Pro and iMac now comes to MacBook Air, letting you connect multiple high-performance devices — such as external hard drives — through a single port. With two 10-Gbps data channels, Thunderbolt lets you transfer data at rates up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0. Thunderbolt technology gives MacBook Air capabilities it’s never had before. Like attaching FireWire peripherals or connecting to Ethernet networks at gigabit speeds — two big gains from one tiny port.⁶

Long-lasting battery. Instant on. Even after a month off.

Since space-saving flash storage leaves room for a bigger battery, you can devote more time to the things you enjoy most. Things like browsing the web, editing photos, and watching videos. Get up to 5 hours of battery life on a single charge on the 11-inch model. Put MacBook Air to sleep, and it enters standby mode to conserve battery life for up to 30 days.⁷ When you come back to your MacBook Air and open it up, it’s on in an instant.

DVD or CD Sharing

With the Mac App Store, getting the apps you want on your Mac has never been easier. No more boxes, no more discs, no more time-consuming installation. Click once to download and install any app on your Mac. But if an app you need isn’t available from the Mac App Store, you can use DVD or CD Sharing. This convenient feature of OS X lets you wirelessly “borrow” the optical drive of a nearby Mac or PC. So you can install applications from a DVD or CD and have full access to an optical drive without having to carry one around.

Backlit keyboard

As incredibly compact as MacBook Air is, it still manages to fit a full-size keyboard that makes typing as natural as it is comfortable. And now the keyboard is backlit, so you can type with ease in even the dimmest light. A built-in ambient light sensor detects changes in lighting conditions and adjusts the display and keyboard brightness automatically. From a seat in a sunny café to a seat on a cross-country red-eye, you’ll always have the perfect lighting for any environment.

Tips and Tricks

Mac Bundle: 9 apps including MacFlux 4, Forklift 2 and Typinator – ‘name your price’

9to5 Staff Sep 18 2012 - 11:59 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

..

StackSocial has another solid bundle of 9 apps but this time ‘you name your own price’ with 10% going to the charity of your choice (EFF, CharityWater or Stand up to Cancer). StackSocial is also giving away a PANDORA ONE (Ad-Free Pro Version) FOR LIFE for FREE to 1 lucky winner.

The apps together are valued at $340 and are listed below:
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Amazon gets new iPods as Best Buy throws a MacBook Sale

9to5 Staff Sep 16 2012 - 5:41 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon just launched pre-order pages for the new iPod Touch, Nanos and Shuffles. They will ship probably right after Apple starts with sales tax in only some states.

Meanwhile. Best Buy is having a MacBook Sale this weekend with up to $200 off MacBooks. The new Airs with 4GB of RAM start out at $949 and many 13″ Airs/Pros are $100 off, which are the lowest prices we could find.

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Tips and Tricks

MacUpdate Video/Photo/Utility Bundle: $39

9to5 Staff Sep 11 2012 - 6:13 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

MacUpdate is running a solid bundle today including a bunch of DVD, Video, Image editing tools as well as some network utilities. Not a bad deal for $39

Crucial SATA 3 SSDs 256GB:$165 512GB:$350. USB 3.0 Lexar Flash 32GB: $18 64GB: $40

9to5 Staff Sep 10 2012 - 7:26 am PT

Per 9to5Toys.com: Amazon’s got some pretty sick prices today:

Crucial M4 256GB SATA 6Gbps 2.5″ Internal SSD for $165 + pickup at Fry’s(9to5toys.com)
Samsung 128GB 830 Series SATA Internal SSD for $89 + free shipping, more(9to5toys.com)
Crucial 256GB M4 SATA 6Gbps 2.5″ Internal SSDs from $170 + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
OCZ Agility 256GB SATA 6Gbps 2.5″ SSD for $165 after rebate + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
Transcend 256GB 2.5″ SATA III 6Gbps SSD for $155 + $2 s&h(9to5toys.com)
Samsung 256GB SATA 6Gbps Internal SSD from $189 + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
OCZ Agility 256GB SATA 6Gbps 2.5″ SSD for $120 after rebate + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
Lexar 64GB JumpDrive S73 USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $38 + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
Samsung 256GB SATA 6Gbps Internal SSD for $180 + free shipping(9to5toys.com)
Samsung 128GB 830 Series SATA 6Gbps Internal SSD for $95 + free shipping(9to5toys.com)

iPhone trade-in roundup: Get as much as $500 back on the iPhone 4S, returns due as late as October

Élyse Betters Sep 4 2012 - 12:05 pm PT

Note: This is an update from a previous post in light of the iPhone 5 announcement

The next-generation iPhone is set to launch in next week and trade-ins are peaking, so now is the perfect time to start exchanging those soon-to-be old models to earn some cash for Apple’s upcoming smartphone. 9to5Mac compiled a list of reliable places to help you trade in that ole’ dusty iPhone for cash or credit—up to $500s worth in some cases! That is enough to buy a new iPhone and cover the AT&T early termination fee for moving to a carrier that fully supports FaceTime.

Before browsing the options, take a moment to identify the condition, features, and model of the swappable iPhone. This will help determine its potential value, because most online programs use a survey to calculate the iPhone’s estimate. Moreover, it is prudent to act now, as retailers will likely drop their prices as the launch date draws nearer.

Check out the top 10 trade-ins list below.

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Tips and Tricks

iTeleport VNC software for Mac $2 (96% off) today only (Fumy and ScreenFloat too)

9to5 Staff Sep 4 2012 - 7:03 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

iTeleport: VNC for Mac is $2 today only (The iOS application also discounted to $7.99) as part of the $2 Tuesday promotion. The VNC app is extremely well done, well reviewed and normally comes in at a hefty $50.

Control your computer from anywhere in the world!

iTeleport is a remote desktop application that lets you connect to your Windows, Mac and Linux computers from anywhere. You can view your remote computer’s screen, and use the mouse and keyboard just as if you were sitting right in front of it.

Some of the uses for iTeleport include:
• Access the files on your computer from anywhere.
• Help your parents with tech support easily.
• Watch over your child’s online behavior to make sure they are safe.
• Access your work computer from home.

Optionally install the free iTeleport Connect helper utility on your Mac / Windows PC, or configure VNC / RDP manually if you’re a tech geek.

Other notable $2 Tuesday apps include: Fumy

Paint with smoke! Fumy is a totally unique artwork app with unique tools that allow you to brush and render stunning graphics resembling smoke & more. Create abstract backgrounds, text written in lightning, drawings of smoke or whatever – Fumy will help you to convert your idea into an incredible smoke-effect painting.

…and ScreenFloat

Use ScreenFloat to keep information always visible, no matter which application you’re in. Create a screenshot of the relevant portion of your screen with ScreenFloat and it will float above all windows. With ScreenFloat, you don’t have to move or resize windows around to transfer information from one window to another.

via twodollartues.com

Price Drop: MacBook Airs at the Apple Store now start at $679

9to5 Staff Sep 3 2012 - 7:23 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

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Apple quietly dropped the prices on refurbished MacBook Airs last night by up to $120. Notables above are 2010 releases of the 11.6″ MacBook Air model with options of 128GB SSD or 4GB of RAM. Apple refurbished items are virtually indistinguishable from new items and come with the same 1 year AppleCare warranty. All refurbished Macs purchased at Apple are also eligible for the OS X Mountain Lion Up-to-Date Program.

These typically run out of stock very quickly.

Update: All gone. You snooze, you lose.
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Labor Day deals: Apps, more

Sep 2 2012 - 7:29 am PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

StackSocial has a bunch of excellent deals including a $79 solar iPhone case and MacLegion Bundle.

Best Buy offers the refurbished, last gen Apple AirPort Express 802.11n Wifi Base Station, model no. MB321LL/A, for $49.99 with free shipping.

Legend Micro via Buy.com offers the factory-refurbished Samsung SyncMaster 22″ 1080p LED-Backlit Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. S22A300B, for $110with free shipping.

iOS App & Game Deals for Labor Day Weekend (Most EA Titles 99 cents)

Many iOS devs are slashing the prices on some of their hottest iOS titles to celebrate Labor Day Weekend. These are some of the lowest prices we’ve seen for major iOS gaming titles. Use the direct download links below to cash in on the savings before they disappear.

iPhone

Madden 2012, regular $2.99 now only 99 cents
Fight Night Champion, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
The Sims 3, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
Risk, regular $2.99 now only 99 cents
Battlefield Bad Company 2, regular $2.99 now only 99 cents
The Sims Medieval, regular $2.99 now only 99 cents
Dead Space, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
FIFA 2012, regular $6.49 now only 99 cents
Hipstamatic for iOS is currently on sale for only 99 cents, it retails for $1.99.

iPad

NBA Jam, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Tiger Woods PGA 2012, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Scrabble, regular $9.99 now only 99 cents
Command and Conquer Red Alert, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Flight Control HD, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Mirrors Edge, regular $9.99 now only 99 cents
Sim City Deluxe, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
Risk, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
Shift 2 Unleashed, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Battleship HD, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents
Fifa Soccer 2012, regular $9.99, now only 99 cents
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit HD, regular $9.99 now only 99 cents
Dead Space, regular $9.99, now only 99 cents
Battlefield Bad Company 2 HD, regular $9.99 now only 99 cents
Madden 2012, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
Real Racing 2 HD, regular $6.99, now only 99 cents
Monopoly, regular $9.99 now only 99 cents
NBA Jam, regular $4.99, now only 99 cents
Tetris, regular $2.99, now only 99 cents

Universal

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, regular $6.99 now only 99 cents
Max Payne Mobile, regular $2.99 now only 99 cents
Mass Effect Infiltrator, regular $4.99, now only 99 cents
Burnout Crash, regular $4.99 now only 99 cents

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Roxio updates Toast Titanium 11.1: Fully Cocoa-ized, Mountain Lion/Gatekeeper compatible, hundreds of changes/fixes

9to5 Staff Sep 1 2012 - 3:48 pm PT

Update: Commenters pointed out the update is not going well…so proceed with caution.

As Roxio’s Toast moves from burning DVDs and BluRays to a “media toolkit” that allows easy social sharing and converting of audio/video (as well as burning/archiving), it is also getting updated with new Macintosh features. Today, Roxio’s Optical media burning software goes to 11.1 and adds the following updates:

Toast has been fully Cocoa-ized – Hundreds of changes and fixes implemented as a part of this effort
Added OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility
Added support for recording to 100GB and 128GB BDXL media
Implemented Gatekeeper Support
Web-Video feature improvements
- Requires using Safari to capture web-video
- YouTube users may need to OPT OUT of HTML5 Trial
Mountain Lion users will need to update to 10.8.1 or later to publish video to YouTube

The boxed package is $99, the non-App Store download is $79, and a Toast 10-to-11 upgrade is $59. Amazon also has it for $52, while the free update to 11.1 is here.

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