Tips and Tricks

From the 9to5mac Toys section:

Amazon.com offers the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. 0A38016, for $70.67 with free shipping. That’s the lowest total price we could find by $8, although we saw it for $4 less back in June (since expired). It features a 16MB cache and runs at 7200 rpm.

 

 

 

Amazon.com offers the OEM Seagate 7200.12 1TB Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. ST31000528AS, for $79.51 with free shipping ($0.08/GB). That’s $10 under our May mention of this hard drive and the lowest total price we’ve seen. This drive features a 32MB cache, runs at 7200 rpm, and is made with 70% or more recycled materials.

 

 

TigerDirect.com offers the Hammer Storage MoreSpace 1TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, model no. HU1100-1000, for $89.99 with $7.49 for shipping ($0.09/GB). That’s $9 under our March mention and the lowest total price we’ve seen. It features a 3.5" drive and weighs just over 2 lbs.

Amazon.com offers the Patriot Duplicator 16GB Class 6 SDHC Secure Digital High-Capacity Card with Auto Backup, model no. PD16GSDHC6, for $36.97 with free shipping. This $15 mail-in rebate chops it to $21.97 ($1.37/GB). That’s $23 off and the lowest total price we could find. It features auto-backup software (for Windows only) which requires no installation. Rebate expires July 31.

Of note, although this card can be used as an ordinary 16GB SDHC card in Mac operating systems (including the new SDHC-equipped MacBook Pros), the auto-backup software works only in Windows.  On Leopard, you can simply use the built-in Time Machine. After you set options, the software automatically backs up data you have specified.

It isn’t just GMail.  Quicktime w/Perian alternative VideoLAN just came out of beta today.  VLC offers you a way to watch just about any video out there on the net.  It also allows you to watch DVDs without those pesky region coding as well as an important Handbrake helper for backing up your DVDs. 

Félicitations!

So we’ve been playing with the Snow Leopard for awhile but didn’t know how to use old Quicktime 7 – Snow Leopard comes with Quicktime 10 by default.  Turns out, it’s pretty easy.  Just open a Quartz compozer file from your computer with Quicktime and it will prompt you to update.  To find a .qtz file simply do a Spotlight search.

Here’s a video of the process from ijustapple. Turn off the sound on your computer before hitting play…unless you happen to be DJing at a 1990’s club.

Quicktime 7 gets put in your Applications/Utilites folder.

From the Toys section:

Amazon offers this new Samsung 2233SW 1080P Display for $160 after $20 rebate + free shipping.  This lineup offers full high quality 1920×1080 Full HD resolution in a much smaller/lighter form factor.  The monitor and stand weigh less than 13 lbs.  It comes with a distinctive soft design with rich piano finish and features 5ms response time, up to 15,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Samsung Magic technologies for rich, natural color.  Full specs from Samsung.

Apple released two separate software updates today. The first is a firmware update for Time Capsule and Airport Base Station devices, and the second is an update for Final Cut Pro, Apple’s professional video editing software. 

The wireless base station firmware update addresses the following issues:

• Fixes some problems with extending and maintaining connectivity with extended networks.
• Fixes an issue with clients that enable 802.11 "Power Save".
• Fixes connectivity issues with some third-party devices.
• Fixes an issue when the base station is configured for PPPoE.
• Fixes some Back To My Mac issues with connectivity and support for third-party routers.
• It is recommended that AirPort Utility 5.4.2 or later be installed before upgrading to Firmware version 7.4.2.

The Final Cut Pro update addresses a problem with real-time playback on Mac Pros and Xserves released earlier this year.

From the Toys Section:

Who bought you your first Apple product?  For a lot of us it was dear ol’ dad.  This year, give the fathers in your life what they really want….some great new gadgets.  We’ll be updating this section as the week goes on but you can always check the latest toys here. 

iPhone:
The iPhone launch is so close to Father’s day, you’d think Apple was trying to tell us something.  Get dad an iPhone from Best buy for as low as $79 (don’t worry, he’s old enough to pay the monthly charges).  That price is for the refurbished 3G 8GB.  Best Buy will be selling the full range of iPhones including the new iPhone 3G S. Also, don’t forget a case.

iPhone in the car:

Amazon.com offers three Kensington iPhone and iPod car mounts for $14.99 each. This $10 mail-in rebate drops them to $4.99. With $5.58 for shipping, or free shipping on orders over $25, all are at least $5 less than the best total price we could find elsewhere. Rebate ends June 20. The deals, after rebate:

• Kensington Dash Car Mount (pictured), model no. K33446US, for $4.99
• Kensington Windshield Car Mount, model no. K33412US, for $4.99
• Kensington Power Port Car Mount, model no. K33447US, for $4.99

Unibody MacBook (with full speed SATA 2 connector!):

The Apple Store has stock of two factory-refurbished unibody MacBook notebooks in its Special Deals section. (Click on MacBook in the left sidebar to find them.) Each is at least $150 off and the lowest total price we’ve seen for these models. Each comes with a 1-year Apple warranty, the same as new Macs. Sales tax is added where applicable. Items are removed from Apple’s site when they sell out. The systems, each with free shipping:

• Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2GHz 13.3" Laptop for $949
• Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 13.3" Laptop with 128GB SSD for $1,449
• Or grab the new Pros for a few bucks off at Amazon.

Amazon Kindle
If your dad is a big reader, introduce him to the world of eBooks and eMagazines on the Kindle.  The newer 6 inch size is $359 while the bigger 10-inch display Kindle DX is $489.  Don’t forget the accessories like leather cover or travel package.

The Flip camcoder

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder is only $55 (wow!)

• Simple to use, pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom
• Holds 30 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 1GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
• Convenient USB arm plugs directly into your computer for easy viewing and sharing
• Built-in software lets you easily e-mail videos, upload to YouTube and AOL, and capture still photos from video
• Watch videos instantly on TV with included cable

Samsung LN40B630 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz Touch of Color HDTV ($400 off $999!)

• 40-inch LCD HDTV with full HD 1080p resolution for the sharpest picture possible and red Touch of Color design
• Auto Motion Plus 120Hz for amazingly fluid motion, 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 4ms response time, Wide Color Enhancer 3 for more vivid colors
• InfoLink RSS feeds of news, weather and sports via Ethernet; ; side-mounted USB port for displaying JPEG/MPEG files and listening to MP3 audio
• Inputs: 4 HDMI-CEC, 2 component, 2 composite, 1 PC, 2 USB, 1 Ethernet, 1 optical digital audio output
• Includes removable stand; measures 39.2 x 27.8 x 10.3 inches with stand

Polk Audio Atrium 45 All-Weather Speakers (Pair, 57% off – – $104)

• Pair of all weather speakers with mounting brackets
• 4.5-inch long-throw polymer cone driver with butyl rubber suspension
• Built-in bracket allows multiple mounting options and full 90-degree rotation
• Handles up to 80 watts per channel
• Gold plated 5-way binding post speaker-level inputs

Speakers from Cambridge SoundWorks:

As part of its its ongoing Fathers Day Sale, Cambridge SoundWorks continues to cut 25% off select speakers and multimedia systems via coupon "DAD25". That’s the best sale we’ve seen from this merchant since February. Shipping starts at $4.95, but is free on orders of $75 or more. Deal ends June 21. Some best bets, with prices after coupon:

• Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series II MC55 for $22.49 (search for "53CW0025AA001")
• Cambridge SoundWorks Computer Speakers for $74.99 (search for "1100001246")
• Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series II MC155 for $89.99 (search for "53CW0035AA002")
• Cambridge SoundWorks MicroWorks II Amplified Speaker System for $149.99 (pictured, search for "53CW0230AA002")
• see all items in the Fathers Day Sale (click the graphic in the middle)

MobileMe Family Pack for $80

Purplus offers Apple’s MobileMe Family Pack, model no. MB825Z-A, for $79.95 with free shipping. (Apple charges $149.) That’s $2 under our May mention and the lowest total price we’ve seen. This includes a single MobileMe subscription with four family member accounts. Each gets their own email address and iDisk with 5GB of online storage.

Father’s day is Sunday, you have 5 days left!

We’re getting a lot of tweets that the WWDC 2009 Developer Preview has hit your local torrent sites.  We’d reccomend you wait until it is available for purchase for $29.99 in a few months but who are we to tell you what to do?  Feel free to discuss in the comments.

From the Toys section for the new 3.0 iPhone software:

Amazon.com offers the Plantronics Voyager 855 Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Headset for $33.99 with free shipping. (You may have to click on "More Buying Choices" on the right).That’s the lowest total price we could find by $7. These sound-isolating Bluetooth headphones are designed to stream both music and voice from your new Bluetooth 2.0-enabled iPhone or iPod touch. 

From the Toys Section:

Best Buy offers the Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body, model no. 2764B003, for $2,499.99. (Add it to your cart to get this price.) With free shipping, that’s $199 under our April mention and the lowest total price we’ve seen. Sales tax is added where applicable. The 5D Mark II features a 3" LCD, 3.9 frames per second burst mode, "Live View" (for framing pictures with the LCD), 30fps 1080p HD video capture with sound (unusual for an SLR), USB 2.0 connectivity, magnesium alloy exterior, and EOS Integrated Cleaning system which includes a self-cleaning sensor unit. 

There was also a recent update to add manual exposure control for video recording.

Harry McCracken breaks down the wide range of patents that Steve Jobs has been a part of.  Interestingly, most of them were published as new products came to market.  All except one:

Jobs mentioned to the NYTimes that at one time Apple had been working on a "Safari pad" but it just didn’t make sense to bring it to the market (at that time). The work they did on that product eventually ended up being the basis for the iPhone.  Jobs was obviously very emotionally tied to that project and the idea of a Safari Pad.

We still like the idea of this little guy being released later this year.

From the 9to5Mac/Toys department:

From the Toys Section:

Best Buy offers the Western Digital Caviar GP 2TB Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. WD20000CSRTL, for $249.99 with free shipping ($0.12/GB). That’s the lowest total price we could find for this model by $11. Sales tax is added where applicable. This "green" product promises reduced power consumption compared to other models by up to 40%. It features a 32MB cache and runs at a variable rate of 5400 rpm to 7200 rpm

From the Toys Section:

Amazon offers the Verbatim 320 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400 Portable External Hard Drive for $64.99. Specs include:

• Warranty: 3 years warranty
• Hardware Platform: PC, Mac
• Hard Disk Description: External hard drive
• Hard Disk Rotational Speed: 5400
• Width: 3.4 inches
• Depth: 5.4 inches
• Height: 0.6 inches
• Weight: 5.8 Ounces

Sure, it could be nothing, and probably is.  But what if all of these drastic changes we are seeing in Intel Atom-based Hackintoshes on 10.5.7 mean something about upcoming Apple hardware?  Some points to consider:

• 10.5.1 – 10.5.6 there were little to no changes in Hackintoshes beyond what was stated in the update
• 10.5.7 updates bricked many Hackintoshes (it even gave a lot of real Macs some issues)
• For those able to update without issue, some MSI users are reporting that battey life has been improved drastically
• If some new Mac kit is released next month at WWDC, it will likely be running 10.5.7.

Why would battery management improve so much on these MSI Netbooks on the 10.5.7 update?  Is there some Atom Mobo software optimizations?  Perhaps the hardware matches up with some Apple Stuff on the way?

Apple’s own Macs aren’t seeing similar battery benefits.

From the Toys section:

You may have heard of a certain app that is finally available on the iPhone.  Well, if you aren’t rockin’ a Slingbox and want to have video on your television shot across the internets onto your iPhone, you’ll need to buy a little hardware. On the high end, you have the Sling Media Slingbox PRO-HD SB300-100 which slings HD content.  It just so happens that Amazon has this on sale for $240, 20% off of list.

On the lower cost side, Amazon has the Slingbox SOLO for $148, also marked down significantly.  Both of these Slingboxes are officially approved by Sling to work on the iPhone and iPod touch.

From the Manufacturer

Meet the Slingbox PRO-HD, the First Ever HD Streaming Slingbox.

With a set of Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) inputs and a built-in digital HDTV tuner, you can truly watch all of your TV anywhere. The built-in TV tuner also allows you to watch your local analog/digital broadcast or basic cable without changing channels on your home TV. Slingbox PRO-HD unleashes the latest hardware advancements to deliver the best video streaming quality of any Slingbox to date, for both local and remote viewing. And you can use the Slingbox PRO-HD with virtually any audio/video device such as an HD-DVR, satellite receiver, cable box, or security camera.

On Screen Remote Control Every feature that’s available on your TV remote control is accessible through the included SlingPlayer software for your Windows or Mac laptop. This means you can view your electronic program guide (EPG) (Windows only) and change the channels, queue a recording on your DVR, or even watch pay-per-view movies.

Full Set of Pass-Through Connections
Easy integration for up to three A/V devices. Includes component, composite, S-video, and ATSC connectors.

 

Additional Features

• No monthly fees.
• Watch your HDTV anywhere on your laptop or mobile phone.
• Watch and control a high-definition and a standard definition A/V device, such as a DVR, cable set top box, satellite receiver, or DVD players, plus your basic cable program content with the built-in HDTV tuner.
• Mobile phone compatibility. SlingPlayer Mobile* software lets you watch and control your TV and all of its programming on compatible Windows Mobile, Symbian, or Palm OS mobile phones.
• Crisp video streaming. SlingStream is the innovative streaming technology that ensures you receive the clearest picture possible at any given location.
• Supports over 5,000 A/V devices.
• Broadband Internet connection with router required.
• Supports Windows XP/Vista, Mac, and Windows Mobile, Symbian or Palm OS-based smart phones.

*Separate download required.

From the Toys section:

Ever want an AC outlet in your car?  Amazon currently has a 5-star rated inverter for automobiles for the lowest price we’ve ever seen, $35+ free shipping.  This one also includes: separate USB power charging and cable, 300 watts of surge capacity, 175 watts peak power, 150 watts continuous power. Utilizes ICC Technology: Low Vehicle Battery Auto Shutdown, Prevents Overload or Short Circuit.  A three year warranty also applies.

Sometimes you’re away from a power supply longer than your battery will allow you.  It’d be nice to have a swapable battery but Apple seems to be going away from that idea in its latest product offerings.  What to do?  One (bad) option is carrying around a heavy UPS.  A better option just came up:

HyperMac is offering an external battery with Apple’s MagSafe connection.  According to their website, this adds up to 32 hours of usage time.  Official times and real times sometimes aren’t always the same.

Users can check the HyperMac battery level anytime with the built-in 4-stage lighted LED indicator. HyperMac battery also comes with a USB power port to charge any USB device including the latest iPhone 3G individually or simultaneously with the MacBook.  The HyperMac battery and car charger are now available for pre-order at www.HyperMac.com and will be shipping later this month for $149.95 (car charger), $199.95 (60-watt-hour battery), $299.95 (100Wh), $399.95 (150Wh) and $499.95 (222Wh)..

We have to wonder how long one could run an iPhone alone on one of these things.  Might be good for camping.  Little pricey for the high end models however.

 via Engadget.

HyperMac – World’s Exclusive Apple MacBook External Battery Pack That Works With All MacBook, MacBook Pro And MacBook Air Models.

Extends MacBook Battery Life Up To 32 hours.

05.04.2009 –

SUNNYVALE, California

– Sanho Corp., the company behind the HyperDrive photo backup devices introduces HyperMac– external MacBook battery packs that work with the entire Apple MacBook family of notebook computers, including all MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models.

Available in 4 different capacities of 60Wh, 100Wh, 150Wh and 222Wh (compared to MacBook Air 37Wh only internal battery), the external battery is capable of powering the MacBook for up to 32 hours – allowing for long haul flights, extended outdoor shoots, expeditions to remote locations or any situation where electricity is simply not an option. When on the road, there is also the HyperMac car charger which powers and recharges the MacBook directly from the automobile cigarette slot.

Every HyperMac battery is compatible with all MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models courtesy of proprietary variable power technology which enables the battery to adjust the charging power automatically when connected to different MacBook models. For maximum compatibility, HyperMac charging cables are spliced with the original Apple MagSafe connectors. Not only does HyperMac provides power for the MacBook, it charges the internal battery as well.

Users can check the HyperMac battery level anytime with the built-in 4-stage lighted LED indicator. HyperMac battery also comes with a USB power port to charge any USB device including the latest iPhone 3G individually or simultaneously with the MacBook

Daniel Chin, President of Sanho Corporation, states, "HyperMac allows the MacBook user to easily extend their MacBook battery life." He adds, "With the MacBook moving towards unibody designs with built-in batteries, HyperMac is the only viable option to extend the unibody MacBook’s mobile computing time beyond the power grid.""Using HyperMac external batteries will also help to reduce the strain on the MacBook internal batteries and extend the overall life span of these difficult to replace batteries," he concludes.

HyperMac batteries uses the same high-end lithium ion cells that are supplied to the U.S. military. It is rechargeable up to 1000 times and comes with a ONE-year warranty – comparing to industry standards of only 300 recharges and 3 months warranty. With a great attention to detail, HyperMac batteries’ silver color aluminum housing are color matched to the MacBook. With clean lines, laser engraved logo and all-white accessories completing the Applesque look.

The HyperMac battery and car charger are now available for pre-order at

www.HyperMac.com

and will be shipping later this month for $149.95 (car charger), $199.95 (60-watt-hour battery), $299.95 (100Wh), $399.95 (150Wh) and $499.95 (222Wh).

Specifications

Dimensions: 4.92 x 3.78 x 0.83" (60Wh); 7.48 x 4.92 x 0.8" (100Wh); 8.9 x 4.92 x 0.83" (150Wh); 10.1 x 5.91 x 1.34" (222Wh)

Weight: 0.8 lb (60Wh); 1.6 lbs (100Wh); 2.4 lbs (150Wh); 4.7 lbs (222Wh)

Battery: Lithium ion

4 stage LED battery level indicator lights

USB 5V/1A power out

For more product information and specifications, please visit:

www.HyperMac.com

HyperMac is a trademark of Sanho Corporation

Apple, MacBook and MacBook Air, MagSafe are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc

For those of you iPod Touch users who would like to have an iTunes account without plopping down your CC#, Apple has a nice little gift for you (via) from the Apple KB feed.  While this was posted last week (April 16th), we missed it and thought you might like to know

Read steps below:

To create an iTunes App Store account without a credit card please follow the steps below.

Note: In order to create an account without a credit card, you must make sure you are in the App Store, not the iTunes Store. 

1. If you already have an account, choose Store > Sign Out.
2. Pick your country from the pop-up menu at the bottom of the iTunes Store homepage.
3. If your country also has an iTunes Store, you’ll need to navigate to the App Store by clicking on the "App Store" link from the menu on the left.  If not, proceed to step 4.
   

    

4. Important: Before proceeding to the next step you must purchase a free application by clicking ‘Get App’.
   
5. Click create new account.

   

6. Click Continue.
7. You’ll need to read and agree to the iTunes terms and conditions, make sure you check the box next to where it says "I have read and agree to the iTunes Terms and Conditions." Click Continue.
8. Enter in your email address, create your password, continue to create and answer your security question, then enter your birthday. Click Continue.
9. Select None as the payment option.
   
10. Continue to fill out the required name and address fields.
11. You’ll then see a screen that says ‘Verify your Account’. Click Done and then check your email for a verification email from "iTunes Store."
12. Open the mail, and click on the phobos link enclosed in the email to activate your account.

    

13. Once you click on the link, iTunes should then prompt you to sign in with your account name and password.
14. You’ll then see a "Congratulations" screen. Click Done to be taken to the App Store home page.

    

From the Toys Section:

Amazon.com offers the Pure Digital Flip Video Ultra F230w Digital Camcorder in White for $59.99. With free shipping, that’s $10 under our March mention and the lowest total price we could find by $20. This VGA-quality camcorder holds up to 30 minutes of video on its 1GB of onboard memory. It offers USB connectivity and direct uploading to YouTube and AOL via the included software.

Manufacturer Description

It’s the power of video in your pocket. Capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere, and share them with family and friends everywhere. That’s idea behind the new Flip Video Ultra Series. It’s portable, simple to use and amazingly affordable. Shoot anything. Share everything.

Flip Ultra Series Camcorder Highlights

Simple to Use

The Flip Video Ultra Series’ simple, one-touch recording and compact size make it the ideal choice for shooting video on the go. Capture memories as they happen – no fiddling around with memory cards, chargers or tapes, With four buttons, it’s incredibly simple to record, zoom, playback instantly or delete your videos. Flip Video’s internal flash memory holds up to 30 minutes of high-quality video.

Quality

The new Flip Video Ultra Series line produces video that rivals that of more expensive camcorders. With 1 GB of memory, a high-quality microphone and no-glare display, now anyone can make impressive videos.

Organize, Edit, and Share

Flip Video makes sharing footage incredibly simple. Its revolutionary software enables you to share videos instantly. Plug the USB arm into your computer, upload your videos and share them in minutes. Direct links to AOL Video and YouTube make it easy to publish videos online.

Flip Video’s software also enables you to email videos or greeting cards privately, create custom movies and capture still photos. Perfect for video blogging and social networking

Optional Accessories

Customize your new Flip Video Ultra Series camcorder with a colorful protective pouch. Extra USB Extension Cables give you even more flexibility when uploading video.

What’s in the Box

TV connector cable, soft carrying case, wrist strap, two AA batteries and instruction booklet.

Product Description

The FVULT30MINW 30-Minute Flip Video Ultra Camcorder lets you capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere and share them with friends and family everywhere. It’s simple, portable, and amazingly affordable. Simple editing tools let you make custom-edited movie mixes with music Create and organize your personal video library 1.5 diagonal color anti-glare playback screen for instant viewing and deleting, 528 x 132 pixels screen resolution Video Resolution – 640 x 480 at 30 frames per second Video Bitrate – 4.5Mbps (average – auto adaptive algorithm) Video Format – Advanced Profile MPEG4 Lens Type – Fixed Focus (0.8m to infinity) Aperture – f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments) Fast lens for great results in low and bright light, smooth multi-step 2x digital zoom Interface – 8 Buttons (Power, Play, Delete, Record and 4 way navigation) PC Connection – Built-in flip-out USB arm (up to USB 2.0 speed) NTSC TV Out with included cable Battery Life – Up to 2.5 hours with 2x AA Alkaline batteries, Up to 6.5 hours with 2x AA Energizer e2 batteries System Requirements – Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista, SVGA display monitor (1024×768) and video card, Windows Media Player 9.0, Microsoft DirectX 9.0, PowerPC G4 1.0 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Mac OS X 10.3.9, SVGA display (1024 x 768) monitor and video card, QuickTime 7 or later Dimensions – Height 4.17 x Width 2.16 x Depth 1.25

We’ve been beta testing the new Adium 1.4 nightly builds for a couple of days, using the new Twitter functionality.  Everything else is mostly the same (except Facebook seems more reliable)  It works fairly well.  If you want to follow along, go grab yourself the freshest nightly build.

Because the nature of Twitter is much different than other instant messaging services, you have to first let Twitter know it’s cool for Adium to connect via a web interface.  Twitter is also different in that you just get a stream of messages in one Adium window.  Had they put each message in a new window, the app would become too annoying to deal with immediately.  The one window updates every minute or so (see below) and shows Twits from all of your followings.

It isn’t as fully functional as other desktop clients like Tweetie (and Twitterific) which we’ll continue to use for our day-to-day Tweeting.  Overall, though, it looks like a solid way to get your Tweets and also to broadcast your important news to the world. 

FWIW, 9to5mac’s Twitter feed is here.