Thursday, June 30, 2011

6 ways to make Snow Leopard roar like Lion

6 ways to make Snow Leopard roar like Lion -

If you can’t wait to try out some of Lion’s new features, but don’t have access to the developer preview, I’ve got good news: You can get many of Lion’s features in Snow Leopard using third-party apps, tweaks and downloads.

Lion theme and wallpapers

If you want the new look of Lion, there are already several themes for Snow Leopard that mimic it. One from deviantART user Lukeedee has to be my favorite, though. To use it, you’ll need to install ThemePark, a free theme editing app for OS X. You’ll also need to download the theme itself, of course. To apply the theme, open the “Aqua Lion” file in ThemePark and hit the “Apply Theme” button, and then log out and log back in.

To get the old look back, open ThemePark, go to “Theme “in the menu bar and choose “Revert to Aqua.”

You can make the theme even more convincing by downloading Lion’s new wallpapers, courtesy of deviantART user lordalpha1.

Launchpad

Lion’s Launchpad provides an easy way to access every app on your system. The closest thing to this on Snow Leopard is an app called QuickPick. QuickPick also has a few extra things that Launchpad doesn’t, such as the ability to launch files, and the ability to launch apps with keyboard shortcuts.

AirDrop

Lion’s AirDrop integrates into the Finder and makes it easy to share files with other users on your wireless network. There’s a free app called DropCopy which provides much of the same functionality. DropCopy doesn’t integrate with the Finder like AirDrop does; instead, it places a movable “drop zone” on the user’s desktop. The user simply drags a file to the drop zone, where they can choose to share it with any Mac on their network that’s also running DropCopy.

DropCopy has some advantages over the minimalistic AirDrop. There are DropCopy apps available for iOS, so you can share files with your mobile devices. DropCopy doesn’t require a password to transfer files, and it also has the ability to send text messages to each Mac it’s connected to, which is pretty handy.

Indicator-less Dock

By default, Lion’s Dock hides the indicator lights that show which apps are running, signaling a shift to the way multitasking works on iOS. Removing the indicators in Snow Leopard is fairly straightforward:

  1. Open /System/Library/Core Services/ in Finder and find the file named “Dock”.
  2. Right click on the file and choose “Show Package Contents”.
  3. Open the Contents folder, and then the Resources folder.
  4. Copy every file that has “indicator” in its name to another folder for safe keeping, then move them to the Trash. You can do a spotlight search in the Finder window to find them.
  5. Restart the Dock by opening Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) and running the command “killall Dock”. The Dock will disappear for a second, then come back up with the indicators gone.

If you want the indicators back, select the indicator files from the backup location you copied them to, and copy them back to the location where you first found them, enter your password, and then restart the Dock with the Terminal again.

Reverse scrolling

In Lion, scrolling is reversed, so you push content the way you want it to go, like on iOS. There’s a free app called Scroll Reverser that reverses the scrolling on Snow Leopard, so you can get a feel for this before it arrives. Don’t worry, even if you can’t get used to it, Apple offers a way to reverse it in Lion.

Safari 5.1

A lot of the improvements in Safari 5.1 are Lion-only, like the new downloads manager and iOS-like gestures. However, a lot of these improvements are also coming to Snow Leopard, including Reading List and many under the hood tweaks. Fair warning, though: Once you install the Safari 5.1 beta, you can’t go back to a previous version.

The beta is available for registered developers at Apple’s dev center, and you can register as a developer for free. Resourceful non-developers can likely find a way to download it, as well, but be forewarned that you do so at your own risk.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

HP TouchPad Arrives Friday, Reviewers Find It Merely "Mediocre"

HP TouchPad Arrives Friday, Reviewers Find It Merely "Mediocre" -

HP TouchPadAccording to early reviews of the HP TouchPad that hit the internet late Wednesday, the iPad is still king of the tablet world. The first webOS tablet arrives in stores on Friday, but at least one reviewer bills it as “mediocre,” despite ripping a page right out of Apple’s own playbook.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How To Avoid Traffic with INRIX

How To Avoid Traffic with INRIX -

Ugh, traffic. The TV warns us about it, the radio interrupts music with updates about it, and entire websites are dedicated to sharing the worst traffic situations. Even Google has gotten into the game of battling traffic woes with the Maps app. But if you really want to take on traffic while on the go, you should do yourself a favor and check out INRIX Traffic, a free, universal iOS app.

How to invite your pals to Google+ right now

How to invite your pals to Google+ right now - Even though Google has only fleetingly enabled a direct invitation mechanism for Google+, there's an indirect way that works, too.

(Via CNET News.com.)

'Upgrade' to a Nook, get 30 free e-books

'Upgrade' to a Nook, get 30 free e-books - Barnes & Noble is letting anyone who currently owns an e-reader simply show the device and buy a Nook to replace it to receive the free titles.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Netflix now lets you change your video quality

Netflix now lets you change your video quality - Aimed at mobile users concerned about chewing up the bandwidth on their data plans, Netflix has rolled out a feature that lets users change their video quality from Good to Better to Best.

(Via CNET News.com.)

E-readers outpacing tablets, says Pew

E-readers outpacing tablets, says Pew - E-reader ownership in the U.S. has been surging lately, surpassing even the adoption of tablets, says a new report from Pew Internet.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Dissatisfied Final Cut Pro X customers receive refunds from Apple

Dissatisfied Final Cut Pro X customers receive refunds from Apple - Facing backlash from customers who are unhappy with the revamped Final Cut Pro X, Apple has issued at least some refunds for the $299 Mac App Store purchase.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Turn your iOS device and Logitech Alert into a home security system

Turn your iOS device and Logitech Alert into a home security system -

This is a really neat way to use your iPad. Gear Diary received the Logitech Alert for review, which allows creation of a do-it-yourself indoor or outdoor security system. When you're all set, download the free Logitech Alert app, and you are ready to monitor your home or business when you're not there. You can use the app to access the camera at any time, and you can also have emails sent to you when motion sensors are activated.

Gear Diary was pretty impressed with the results, and it's not that expensive to get a basic security system installed in your home starting around $299. Check out Gear Diary's review, and also one from The New York Times that goes a bit more in depth. If you want other iOS home security solutions, Auntie TUAW has a few suggestions for you.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Weekly Wrap: Bye, MobileMe hosting; hi, Final Cut X

Weekly Wrap: Bye, MobileMe hosting; hi, Final Cut X - Weekly Wrap: Bye, MobileMe hosting; hi, Final Cut X In case you missed a few, here are Macworld's biggest stories from the week gone by.

(Via Macworld.)

iMovie '08 Was Originally Called 'First Cut', Ubillos on Final Cut Pro X

iMovie '08 Was Originally Called 'First Cut', Ubillos on Final Cut Pro X - In a lengthy article on DVCreators.net, Josh Mellicker revisits the Final Cut Pro X complaints and what Apple might have to do to address its limitations. The full article may be of interest to video editing professionals.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

Inside the Eiffel Tower's 'secret' bunker

Inside the Eiffel Tower's 'secret' bunker - Road Trip 2011: Most people only go up the Eiffel Tower. But those in the know can arrange a visit to the military bunker located just adjacent and below the tower's south pillar. CNET got a look.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Teardown of Apple's new Time Capsule reveals consumer, not server, grade HDD

Teardown of Apple's new Time Capsule reveals consumer, not server, grade HDD - According to one teardown of Apple's Time Capsule released earlier this week, the hard disk drive inside the wireless base station is a consumer version, not a server-grade disk as advertised by Apple.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

It’s official: What stays and what goes from MobileMe to iCloud

It’s official: What stays and what goes from MobileMe to iCloud -

In case you were an existing MobileMe subscriber wondering what services will and won’t make it through the transition to iCloud (or you’re just curious), Apple has posted an official FAQ detailing exactly what will make the cut, and addressing what will happen to iWeb and other services that don’t.

As you can see from this checklist, iWeb publishing, Gallery and iDisk are all getting the axe. Apple has said that it will continue to support iWeb publishing, posting and viewing photos in MobileMe Gallery, and reading and writing to iDisk cloud storage through June 30, 2012 if you’re an existing customer, even if you choose to transition to iCloud before that cut-off date. If you’re looking around for a hosting alternative for your site, check out Geoffrey’s rundown of some of the options available.

Services you can’t take with you if you transition early include syncing of dashboard widgets, keychains, Dock items and System Preferences. You’ll have to remain a MobileMe user if you want to continue using these features, but they’ll also be shut off for everyone on June 30, 2012. Apple points out that while the services listed above are ending, iCloud brings new features not available in MobileMe, like iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream, Documents in the Cloud, automatic downloads for purchased content, and cloud backup and restore.

Services that you can take with you — including Mail, Contacts, Calendar and Find My iPhone — will still be accessible via web apps after the transition to iCloud, Apple says, which is a nice plus for users who want to be able to access their info, email and contacts on devices they don’t own.

As someone who’s been using MobileMe since the service was first introduced, I can honestly say that I’ve only ever used a couple of the services being discontinued (Gallery and iDisk), including the sync options. Even the ones I did use, I used only sparingly, and not recently. I think Apple’s making the smart move here, by cutting the fat as it shifts the focus to the much more generally useful services coming with iCloud.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

How To Back Up Files With Time Machine Alternatives

How To Back Up Files With Time Machine Alternatives -

I regularly back up new media additions (photos, music, videos) to an external drive. In the Finder, I drag the folders I want to back up over to the external drive’s icon on my Desktop. Is there a way to have just the newly added items be backed up instead of having to back up the whole folder all over again? The only options the Finder gives me are Cancel or Replace. I hit Replace of course, but it copies the whole folder again.

First off, kudos to you for backing up. You’d be surprised how many people never back up at all. We hear from readers every day desperate to figure out how to resurrect data from their Macs, which of course they’ve never backed up. Even Mac|Life editors are guilty of not backing up as much as they should. That’s the thing about hard drives: the question isn’t if they will fail, but when they will fail. So everyone should always be prepared for the day their hard drive decides to conk out.

What you need in this case is a backup app that does incremental backups. Rather than making a new copy of all your data every time you back up (which is what you’re doing now), an incremental backup only copies files that have changed since last time. This will save you a ton of time when backing up an ever-growing media collection.

ChronoSync is one of our favorites, but there are plenty of solutions for incremental backups.

Time Machine works using an incremental backup, but it’s not as flexible as other dedicated backup tools. One of my favorite backup applications is ChronoSync ($40, econtechnologies.com) which lets you create multiple backup scenarios, updating documents every 30 minutes and iTunes media once a day, for example. If you don’t need to get that specific, there are lots of other cheaper (or free) options—just look for something that does incremental backups. In fact, many modern portable hard drives come with backup software already installed. Western Digital’s backup software SmartWare, in particular, is easy to use, and it works with your Mac out of the box.

GOT A TECH QUESTION OR A HELPFUL TIP TO SHARE?

Email ask@maclife.com or write to Mac|Life, 
4000 Shoreline Ct, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Curtains Lifting on MobileMe Transition to iCloud [Updated]

Curtains Lifting on MobileMe Transition to iCloud [Updated] -

The Clouds LiftApple released new information today regarding the pending transition from MobileMe to iCloud. Finally, we know which services will be continued and which will be terminated with extreme prejudice. According to Apple, "The core services provided by MobileMe have been rewritten to work seamlessly with iCloud." The key word there is "core", which is not the same as "all".

We already knew that MobileMe was going away Edit: June 30, 2012 and that iCloud was coming to replace it "this fall". But, are all the MobileMe services going to be continued? And what happens between July 1, when MobileMe is no longer available, and sometime "this fall", when iCloud launches?

For the first question, the following MobileMe services will be continued in iCloud:

  • Mail
  • Contacts
  • Calendar
  • Bookmarks
  • Find My iPhone
  • Back to My Mac

In addition, the following new services will also be available in iCloud:

  • iTunes in the Cloud
  • Photo Stream
  • Documents in the Cloud
  • Automatic downloads and purchase history for apps and books
  • Backup and restore

Dead Man Walking! The following MobileMe services will cease to exist after Edit: June 30, 2012 and will not be continued in iCloud:

  • iWeb publishing
  • Gallery
  • iDisk
  • Syncing of Mac Dashboard widgets, keychains, Dock items, and System Preferences

If you are using these services on MobileMe, you won't be after Edit: June 30, 2012. Apple offers this advice on how to move your website from iWeb; Apple offers this advice on how to move your files from iDisk; and Apple offers this advice on how to move your photos and movies from Gallery.

So what happens between July 1 when MobileMe is turned off and sometime "this fall" when iCloud is turned on?

Not sure. Apple is not very clear on this, and posting information like "After you move to iCloud or after June 30, 2012, whichever comes first, those sync services will no longer be available." doesn't really help.

Whichever comes first? Seriously? July 1 comes before "this fall", right?

Yeah, we're still feeling a bit cloudy on this transition.

Edit: The end date for MobileMe is June 30, 2012, which makes perfect sense, and is not cloudy at all.

Via Apple

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How To Stop Snoring with Your iPhone

How To Stop Snoring with Your iPhone -

Tackling behaviors that cause snoring can help.

Occasional snoring might be cause for good-natured joking, but long-term, heavy snoring is often no laughing matter. Left unchecked, it can become a thorny issue in relationships, and might even be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially serious medical condition. While you should definitely consult your doctor if you or your significant other is concerned about an ongoing problem, the resources at sites like WebMD.com, the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.com), and MedicineNet.com can help you understand more about your symptoms and how to take steps -- like sleeping on your side and avoiding alcohol before bedtime -- to prevent another noisy night’s sleep.

Monitoring your sleep can show how well your efforts are working.

You can also use an iOS device and apps like Stop Snoring & Alarm ($0.99, iPhone), Snore Sleep Inspector ($0.99, iPhone), and AntiSnore ($0.99, iPhone) to monitor your snoring. These apps track your bedroom’s ambient noise levels while you doze, then nudge you with an audio alarm or vibration when they detect unusual noises, like snoring. The incidents can then be saved and charted for later study, allowing you to track how well your anti-snoring efforts are working over time. Sounds more accurate than counting elbow jabs from the other side of the bed.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Yeti Pro Microphone Review

Yeti Pro Microphone Review -

It’s back and better than ever

We loved the original Yeti -- especially as a terrific addition to any podcaster’s arsenal. For the sequel, Blue Microphones made a great mic even better. The Yeti Pro targets singers, musicians, and anyone who needs a studio-quality microphone that hooks to their computer. This second-gen model keeps the easy USB connection of its predecessor and adds an analog stereo XLR out so it now works with all sorts of pro gear, too.

The newest Yeti bumps up the sound quality, delivering 24-bit 192kHz digital audio. These impressive numbers are backed up by the smooth, clean recordings Yeti Pro produces. To be honest, my recordings haven’t sounded this good…well, ever. I used the mic during band practice, and the Yeti Pro was equally adept at picking up everything from high-pitched vocal squeals to low-end bass riffs. It’s so good that it’s replacing our current studio recording mic.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Updated AirPort Extreme Does Have One New Feature: 2.8X More Wi-Fi

Updated AirPort Extreme Does Have One New Feature: 2.8X More Wi-Fi -

FCC filing AirPort ExtremeDespite all the crazy rumors about the new AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule having some kind of built-in Software Update caching or iCloud integration, this week’s hardware refresh was quiet and uneventful -- that is, unless you like your AirPort with stronger Wi-Fi.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Apple confirms iWeb hosting, iDisk to end in 2012

Apple confirms iWeb hosting, iDisk to end in 2012 - Apple confirms iWeb hosting, iDisk to end in 2012 Apple on Friday published a new MobileMe transition FAQ, detailing upcoming changes as the company moves to iCloud. iDisk, iWeb hosting,and Galleries will end in June 2012.

(Via Macworld.)

Conan O'Brien editors publicly slam Final Cut Pro X

Conan O'Brien editors publicly slam Final Cut Pro X - Late-night comedy show Conan has taken the unusual step of satirizing Final Cut Pro X. A skit from the latest episode (see below) features members of the show's production team supposedly praising the new video editing suite. The clip itself is badly edited though, with sudden cuts, missing titles, out-of-sync audio and shifting color and lighting ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Card.io: Credit Card Scanning From Your Mobile Phone Camera

Card.io: Credit Card Scanning From Your Mobile Phone Camera -

Clever idea. I wonder why Square didn’t take this route.

Update: One possible reason: retailers get lower card-processing fees from swiping, because the magnetic strip contains extra data not printed on the card, which can prove that the card was physically present for the transaction.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 -

Perhaps the last dot release of Snow Leopard.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Skype for iPad hands-on: New competition for Apple's FaceTime

Skype for iPad hands-on: New competition for Apple's FaceTime - Skype for iPad is expected to launch Tuesday in the App Store. In the meantime, we got our hands on the app today and it looks like it will be a great option for video calls.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple offers MobileMe to iCloud transition details

Apple offers MobileMe to iCloud transition details - Apple has taken the wraps off which MobileMe services are making the cut on the road to iCloud. The good news: you can still use the Web front-end. The bad news: three MobileMe services are getting axed.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Conan O'Brien rips Apple's Final Cut Pro X on show

Conan O'Brien rips Apple's Final Cut Pro X on show - The popular talk show host devotes two minutes of his show to taking a crack at Apple's latest pro video-editing software, knocking it for missing or otherwise poorly thought out features.

(Via CNET News.com.)

GoDaddy nearing deal to be acquired for $2.5 billion?

GoDaddy nearing deal to be acquired for $2.5 billion? - The domain registrar is said to be nearing a deal with private-equity firms KKR & Co. and Silver Lake Partners. Technology Crossover Ventures is also reportedly involved in the deal.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple confirms iCloud to retain web apps, but ax iDisk and iWeb

Apple confirms iCloud to retain web apps, but ax iDisk and iWeb - Apple on Friday offered some additional transparency on its MobileMe to iCloud transition, specifying which features will safely make the jump to the new service and which will be lost forever -- namely iDisk, Gallery and iWeb.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The camera: Apple’s silent strength in the smartphone war

The camera: Apple’s silent strength in the smartphone war -

With iOS 5, Apple introduced new features for its iPhone Camera app that make it much more of a one-stop-shopping experience for mobile photographers, including photo editing and correction tools, as well as a physical shutter button. A new patent application published Thursday morning also describes a method to automatically correct for “tilt and/or perspective distortion in image capture devices,” indicating that Apple has more in the pipeline for its smartphone camera. The camera hasn’t always been the iPhone’s strong suit, but over the years, it has become one of the device’s most-improved feature, and arguably one of its selling points.

The iPhone camera has come a long way. In the early days, many complained about the quality of the camera. It started off with just a 2 megapixel sensor, and with a barebones stable of features. The iPhone 3G didn’t even update the camera’s megapixel count, though it does appear to have ushered in some slight improvements in picture quality. Finally, with the 3GS, we got a spec bump to a 3.2 megapixel sensor, but the real advantage with that generation was that it brought in touch-to-focus controls. The camera also seemed to just generally take better photos, in all but low-light situations, and it gained the ability to take videos (without jailbreak).

When Apple revealed the iPhone 4, it was clear that the camera was one big area of improvement. It gained a 5 megapixel sensor (which was also larger, and its the size and megapixel count combined that create better images), and one which is backside-illuminated, allowing for better performance in low-light situations, as did the new LED flash. Reviews of the photos taken by the iPhone 4 were almost unanimously positive, with many being quite free with the superlatives. The iPhone 4 also introduced HD video, and a front-facing camera for greater flexibility with video calling and other applications, like checking your tie just prior to a job interview.

But Apple is also clearly dedicated to improving iPhone camera software, mot just the hardware. iOS 4.1 introduced high dynamic range (HDR) photos built-in to the photo app, which takes three photos in rapid succession with three different levels of exposure, and then combines them to prevent photos from looking washed out. And, as mentioned above, iOS 5 brings many new software features, including quick access to the Camera app from the home screen, which shows Apple is aware that photography is a priority for many iPhone users. The new grid feature for framing shots, white balance correction and editing and enhancement abilities bring the iPhone even closer to feature parity with consumer point-and-shoots, without even the need for any additional app downloads.

The next iPhone is rumored to be getting an 8 megapixel camera, and possibly dual LED flashes, which should make it even less necessary for people to carry around another camera, unless they’re looking for DSLR-level quality. The iPhone 4 has already replaced point-and-shoots for many, apparently, since it officially became the most popular camera on Flickr on June 21, and was probably unofficially atop that list for much longer thanks to photos shared to Flickr through apps like Instagram.

The iPhone’s success is the result of how all of its parts work together, providing an overall user experience that can’t yet be matched by competitors. But the camera, with its steady stream of value-adding improvements designed to improve the once-dismal experience of using a camera phone, may be one of its biggest, and least talked about strengths in the ongoing battle for smartphone supremacy.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Barnes & Noble: Ebooks outsell physical books three to one

Barnes & Noble: Ebooks outsell physical books three to one - Barnes & Noble: Ebooks outsell physical books three to one Barnes & Noble on Tuesday said it sold three times as many digital books through its website compared to physical books during the fourth fiscal quarter.

(Via Macworld.)

Publish iWeb to Dropbox

Publish iWeb to Dropbox - Apple is ending MobileMe, so users will have to find an alternative. I found that you can publish a iWeb webpage to your Dropbox (folder), and have it's own URL. It won't be searchable by Google, though.

Go to your iWeb project, select Publish to: Local Folder, and select your Dropbox folder (or any folder inside it) for Folder Location. After Dropbox is done syncing, go to the Dropbox website and get the sharable link of a file named index.html. You can shorten the link if you want to.

Dropbox opens the file(which is the webpage) instead of downloading the file.

[crarko adds: I'm sure this will be one of many ways to handle the eventual demise of MobileMe's web hosting service. It would sure be nice to find out more about how iCloud is going to handle this, if at all.]

(Via MacOSXHints.com.)

10.6: Sync folder icons with Dropbox

10.6: Sync folder icons with Dropbox - Snow Leopard only hintAs you may know, with Dropbox all is kept in Sync between computers, but there is something that doesn't sync: Custom Folder Icons. To solve this I wrote an Automator Service.

With this Service you can select a number of folders (with custom icons) and launch the menu option 'Dropbox - Backup folder Icons' from the Services menu in Finder. Then when Dropbox does its next sync, in the other computer where you want to recover the icons, just launch the other Service: 'Dropbox - Recover folder Icons.'

INSTALL

Just expand the zip file after downloading and move the Services to your ~/Library/Services folder.

There is more information on how to install and use the Services (including screenshots) here.

NOTE: ...

(Via MacOSXHints.com.)

FastMac's U-Socket wall outlet with USB reaches ThinkGeek

FastMac's U-Socket wall outlet with USB reaches ThinkGeek - ThinkGeek is offering an AC outlet that doubles as a USB charger. The Fastmac U-Socket incorporates two USB connectors into a standard two-plug AC outlet. Using it, any USB powered device, including an iPhone 4, can be connected and charged without a dedicated adapter ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

After Apple, Samsung, Acer vie for No. 2 tablet spot

After Apple, Samsung, Acer vie for No. 2 tablet spot - Samsung and Acer are a distant second and third to Apple, which currently dominates the tablet market worldwide.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple's tweaked AirPort Extreme serves stronger Wi-Fi with 2.8X power boost

Apple's tweaked AirPort Extreme serves stronger Wi-Fi with 2.8X power boost - The new AirPort Extreme was quietly released by Apple this week with no mention of new features, but it actually has increased power output for increased Wi-Fi signal strength and range.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dropbox Left User Accounts Unlocked for 4 Hours Sunday

Dropbox Left User Accounts Unlocked for 4 Hours Sunday - At a time when hackers are on a tear looting information willy-nilly from insecure sites on the Web, Dropbox did the unthinkable Sunday -- it allowed anyone in the world to access any one of its 25 million customers' online storage lockers -- simply by typing in any password.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Monitor your system from the Dock

Monitor your system from the Dock - Monitor your system from the Dock Activity Monitor is a great tool to call up when you need to see what apps are doing in your system. But you can tweak the utility so it always stays visible in the Dock.

(Via Macworld.)

‘Why Should Somebody Buy This Instead of an iPad?’

‘Why Should Somebody Buy This Instead of an iPad?’ -

Harry McCracken:

As a lover of competition, though, I’m itching to see other tablets arrive that deserve to do well, too. So that question — “Why would somebody buy this instead of an iPad?” — is stuck in my head. I’ve been trying to figure out how an Apple rival can come up with a tablet that pretty much answers that question for itself. And I’ve come up with thirteen ways it could happen.

Great analysis. Nothing particularly original, but a comprehensive look at the entire iPad competitive landscape. Lay it all out like McCracken has and you see just how strong a position the iPad is in.

One quibble, though:

But there are people who take their Flash so seriously that they won’t buy a tablet that doesn’t support it.

Really? Who? I think the people who are Flash-die-hards aren’t buying tablets, period. They’re sticking with their Windows PC laptops.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Apple unveils new Time Capsules

Apple unveils new Time Capsules - After weeks of leaks and rumors, the updated Time Capsule is finally unveiled.

(Via CNET News.com.)

FCC outs new Apple AirPort Extreme

FCC outs new Apple AirPort Extreme - The Federal Communications Commission posts its test report on a new AirPort Extreme Base Station, Apple's wireless hardware.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Righthaven Loss: Judge Rules Reposting Entire Article Is Fair Use

Righthaven Loss: Judge Rules Reposting Entire Article Is Fair Use - A federal judge ruled Monday that publishing an entire article without the rights holder's authorization was a fair use of the work, in yet another blow to newspaper copyright troll Righthaven. It's not often that republishing an entire work without permission is deemed fair use. Fair use is an infringement defense when the defendant reproduced a ...

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Man Robbed Bank for $1, Hoping to Be Sent to Prison, So as to Obtain Health Care

Man Robbed Bank for $1, Hoping to Be Sent to Prison, So as to Obtain Health Care -

NBC News:

That’s right, James Verone says he has no medical insurance. He has a growth of some sort on his chest, two ruptured disks and a problem with his left foot. He is 59 years old and with no job and a depleted bank account. He thought jail was the best place he could go for medical care and a roof over his head. Verone is hoping for a three-year sentence.

Only in America.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Video: Interactive Hockey Riot Shows 360-Degree Chaos

Video: Interactive Hockey Riot Shows 360-Degree Chaos - The Vancouver hockey riots can now be experienced in a fully interactive, 360-degree video presentation, a lot safer than being on the streets following the Canucks' Stanley Cup Finals loss.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Mac Gems: Calibre 0.8.3 e-book software

Mac Gems: Calibre 0.8.3 e-book software - Mac Gems: Calibre 0.8.3 e-book software Calibre is an e-book manager, e-book creator, and desktop e-book reader. It’s also a must-have tool for any bibliophile with an e-reader and a growing library.

(Via Macworld.)

Five ways that the Kindle can still beat the Nook

Five ways that the Kindle can still beat the Nook - Five ways that the Kindle can still beat the Nook The latest Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader is getting a lot of positive buzz, and for good reason. But here are five ways that Amazon can regain the competitive edge in the e-reader race.

(Via Macworld.)

Best Buy to Match Back to School Promo with $100 Store Gift Card

Best Buy to Match Back to School Promo with $100 Store Gift Card -
Readers who are disappointed with Apple's new Back to School promotion may be interested to hear that electronics retailer Best Buy is offering to match Apple's promotion with their own.

Apple recently launched their 2011 Back to School promotion. Instead of the typical iPod giveaway, Apple is now offering a $100 iTunes/App Store gift card instead. We've been told that Best Buy will be matching this promotion with a $100 Best Buy gift card for the same qualifying customers. This is an unadvertised promotion, so customers will have to ask for it specifically.

Apple's Back to School promotion is open to college students, students accepted to college, parents buying for college students or faculty/staff at any grade level. Qualifying computers include the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac Pro.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

HP TouchPad goes up for pre-order in webOS' big gamble

HP TouchPad goes up for pre-order in webOS' big gamble - HP on Monday ramped up pre-orders for the TouchPad. The first ever webOS tablet is up for sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, Staples, HP itself. Every store is so far selling at the official $500 price for a 16GB model and $600 for 32GB ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Point/Counterpoint: On the iPhone 5 replacing the iPod touch

Point/Counterpoint: On the iPhone 5 replacing the iPod touch -

A reader wrote in to us surmising that the iPod touch is on its way out, to be replaced by a lower-cost iPhone 5. It sounded ridiculous at first, but the evidence he gave sounds pretty compelling when it's all put together.

  1. According to iSuppli, "The components that make up the 16 GB iPhone 4 cost just under $188." That of course should be taken with a grain of salt.
  2. Production of the iPhone 5 allegedly begins in July, with a launch in September -- traditionally the time Apple unveils new iPod hardware.
  3. iOS 5 will debut in the fall, and major iOS releases tend to come alongside new iPhone hardware.
  4. Thus far, there is no mention of new iPod touch hardware in the iOS 5 betas.
  5. The next-gen iPhone has reached final testing stage, destined for a September launch. With the exception of an A5 processor and possibly a universal GSM/CDMA design for its 3G hardware, it is expected to be substantially similar to the iPhone 4.
  6. Unlocked iPhones are finally available in the US.
  7. Recently unearthed evidence in the iOS 5 beta suggests the iPhone 5 will use the same 5 megapixel camera as the current iPhone 4 rather than the 8 megapixel camera suggested by rumors earlier this year, suggesting Apple is focused on cutting production costs.
  8. This year, Apple's Back-to-School promotion will offer a $100 iTunes gift card instead of a free iPod touch as in previous years.

Taken together, this does seem to paint a pretty stark picture for the iPod touch's future. It also sparked off an intercontinental debate between fellow TUAW writer Richard Gaywood and myself on whether Apple is likely to lower costs on the iPhone 5 enough to make it a viable replacement for the current iPod touch lineup.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Friday, June 17, 2011

Foxconn to begin iPad production in Brazil in September; Apple posts new iPad 2 ad

Foxconn to begin iPad production in Brazil in September; Apple posts new iPad 2 ad - Brazil's Minister of Science and Technology has revealed that Foxconn is scheduled to start iPad production in the country in September, while Apple has posted a new ad showcasing the iPad 2.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Tablet LCD deliveries suggest big iPad delivery spike

Tablet LCD deliveries suggest big iPad delivery spike -

Apple is facing the mother of all backlogs with the iPad 2, yet still producing enough tablets to be a major player in the tablet display market. Analysis released by Displaybank suggests Apple was responsible for the lion's share of 9.7-inch displays shipped in May.

Apple's two LCD suppliers, LG and Samsung, were responsible for 4.5 million of the 5.38 million tablet displays that flew off the production line in May. Most of these 9.7-inch displays were destined for the iPad as relatively few competing tablets use the 9.7-inch size. The only other high-profile tablet using a 9.7-inch screen is the upcoming HP Touchpad, but its production is still at a minimal level.

These numbers are only an estimate based on market analysis, but they do suggest iPad sales for the current quarter could be better than projected. Apple is expected to report its Q3 2011 earnings sometime in July.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Review: Déjà Vu 3.7.5 backup software

Review: Déjà Vu 3.7.5 backup software - Review: Déjà Vu 3.7.5 backup software Déjà Vu is a simple, easy-to-configure System Preference pane that helps you backup up your data to any directly attached or network attached drive, including optical media such.

(Via Macworld.)

Review: Kobo eReader Touch Edition

Review: Kobo eReader Touch Edition - Review: Kobo eReader Touch Edition This slim, lightweight e-reader is eminently pocketable and has a responsive touchscreen, but it lacks the finesse of its competition.

(Via Macworld.)

With more than $70B in cash, Apple could buy Nokia, RIM, HTC & Motorola

With more than $70B in cash, Apple could buy Nokia, RIM, HTC & Motorola - Apple's cash is expected to top $70 billion at the conclusion of its current fiscal quarter, a sum so massive it could buy out rivals Nokia, Research in Motion, HTC and Motorola Mobility, according to a new analysis.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Report: Bush White House Wanted CIA to Discredit Blogger

Report: Bush White House Wanted CIA to Discredit Blogger - Mideast expert Juan Cole wrote nasty things on his blog about the Iraq war and the Bush administration. So the Bush White House asked the CIA to discredit him, according to a former agency official. That would take trolling to a whole new level.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

iCloud vs. MobileMe: What We Might Lose and What We Might Gain

iCloud vs. MobileMe: What We Might Lose and What We Might Gain -

Are you a long-time MobileMe subscriber and allured by the niceties that iCloud will bring, but are wondering what you will miss after switching over? While Apple has yet to release their plan of action for switching users over to the new service and a lot of users are wondering what will change come this fall. We hope to answer some of those questions by doing a side-by-side comparison of iCloud and MobileMe.

The chart below is based off of the information that Apple has already released to the public regarding both features.

  iCloud MobileMe
iTunes Music Purchase Restores (Music, Apps, iBooks) Yes No
iTunes Purchase Syncing to all devices (Music, Apps, iBooks) Yes No
iTunes Match Yes No
Photo Storage Yes, 1000 photos through Photo Stream Yes, MobileMe Gallery, uses overall MobileMe storage allotment
Photo Syncing Yes Yes, iPhoto-to-iPhoto only
Document Storage Yes Yes, with iDisk
Document Syncing Yes Yes, with iDisk
Online Document Access No Yes
iOS Backups Yes No
Contacts Sync Yes Yes
Online Contacts List ? Yes
Calendar Sync Yes Yes
Online Calendar ? Yes
Email Yes, 5GBs Shared with total allotment Yes, Shared with overall total MobileMe allotment
Online Email Client ? Yes
Bookmark Syncing Yes Yes
iDisk No Yes
iWeb Sites No Yes
Back To My Mac ? Yes
Find My iPhone ? Yes
iChat/AIM Accounts ? Yes
Online Photo Gallery ? Yes
PC and Mac Synchronization ? Yes
Total Storage Allotment 5GB for mail, documents, Camera Roll, account information, settings, and other app data 20GB Shared among all services
Storage Upgrades None 20 and 40GB allocations
Prices Free; $25 per year for iTunes Match $99 per year for single user / $149 for family

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Griffin's Beacon turns your iPhone into a universal remote

Griffin's Beacon turns your iPhone into a universal remote - Griffin's Beacon turns your iPhone into a universal remote Griffin has released its Bluetooth-powered Beacon, which turns your iOS device into a universal remote control.

(Via Macworld.)

Apple reviving expired MobileMe logins for iCloud transition

Apple reviving expired MobileMe logins for iCloud transition - Apple is resurrecting expired MobileMe accounts in the transition to iCloud, notes 9to5Mac. Under the current arrangement, old MobileMe username and password combinations can be used as iCloud Apple IDs. The option only works, though, if a person has iOS 5, OS X Lion and the iCloud beta client ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Acer needs to get its mojo back

Acer needs to get its mojo back - The company that cashed in on two of the biggest shifts in the PC industry over the last decade has recently had trouble selling PCs, and now tablets. We take a look at what went wrong.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Nook Nails It

The Nook Nails It - By now, most everyone in your circle of friends has played with a Kindle and an iPad. Fewer have picked up a Nook. But you should give this dark horse a shot.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Talking Weather Alarm is great for summer travel and your nightstand

Talking Weather Alarm is great for summer travel and your nightstand -

There is absolutely no shortage of alarm clocks for the iPhone, but I have recently tried and really like Talking Weather Alarm. Yes, it wakes you up to a variety of alarm sounds or anything from your playlist, but it also reads the local weather forecast to you and gives you a smattering of news headlines. The app has a light price tag of just US$0.99.

Talking Weather Alarm is far preferable to those sometimes flaky hotel wake-up calls and the other iPhone alarms that get you out of bed but don't do as good a job of keeping you informed.

The app has a variety of colors and clock faces, and works in either landscape or portrait view. Leaving the app running all night can suck your battery, so it's a good idea to have your iPhone plugged in and charging. The weather info comes from Yahoo, and uses location services to figure out where you are. News sources include providers from the US, the UK, Germany and France. The app comes with a variety of sounds (40) for alarms. They will ring even if your iPhone is running something else. If you want to use your own music, leave Talking Weather Alarm in the foreground.

No app is perfect, and here are some of my suggestions for improvement. First, Yahoo weather is pretty inaccurate in my testing. The developer says he will add more sources for getting the weather. There are plenty of news providers and categories, like business and sports, but you can only choose one. I'd like to get brief news headlines, maybe some baseball news and some tech news. As of now that is not possible. The computerized voice is certainly adequate, but like all similar apps, it suffers from some pronunciations that it has trouble parsing. If you touch the weather symbol on the app home screen you will get a nice forecast, but it isn't wide enough to properly display temperatures above 99.

Even with the caveats, this is a great little alarm app that will certainly improve. I still really like Night Stand for the iPad, but Talking Weather Alarm is great for both travel and sitting right next to your bed at home. If you want to try it, there is a free version that won't let you choose your own music or change clock colors. You may have your own favorite alarm clock app, so feel free to share it with us in the comments.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Joanna Stern Reviews the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Joanna Stern Reviews the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 -

She gives it high marks for the hardware — display, camera, build quality — but low marks for battery life and third-party app selection. Not much of the review is about software, period. Nor is any sort of answer to “Why buy this instead of an iPad?” proffered.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Hands-On With Baseball's Biggest Scientific Mysteries

Hands-On With Baseball's Biggest Scientific Mysteries - Why does a curveball curve? Where's the sweet spot on a baseball bat? The Science of Baseball exhibit at San Francisco's Exploratorium answers these and other baseball mysteries with hard science.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Ten WYSIWYG HTML editors for Mac OS X

Ten WYSIWYG HTML editors for Mac OS X -

OK, I'm sorry if I have been stuck on the theme of website creation lately, but the TUAW inboxes have been inundated with emails from readers who are concerned about the probable demise of iWeb.

One of our readers, Mickey, wrote to say that "I'm a former Mac user who was forced to switch to PC and has since come back to the Mac. In the interim, however, I have created a personal webpage (mostly for family). I've got hosting and a domain and all that, and I have coded it in Microsoft FrontPage. The way I see it, I have two options 1) use Boot Camp or VMWare Fusion to continue writing the webpage in FrontPage or 2) find a Mac program that might be at least relatively amenable to importing the HTML code from FrontPage."

Mickey wanted to redesign his website in iWeb, but had concerns about the future viability of the app. For that reason, and the fact that being able to edit his existing website on the Mac would keep him from having to do a complete reboot of the site, I figured he needed a Mac replacement for FrontPage -- a Windows application that has been abandoned by Microsoft.

I've compiled a list of ten possible candidates to replace FrontPage with lovely Mac goodness. FrontPage was one of the first WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) website tools that allowed you to design a page by moving elements around while it handled writing the HTML code behind the scenes. If you're looking into a way to move to Mac but still need to keep up a website that you originally created in the dreaded Land of Windows, then you'll find this list of Mac HTML editors to be very useful.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Reeder makes a successful leap from iOS to Mac

Reeder makes a successful leap from iOS to Mac -

When I heard that Reeder for Mac was being developed, I was thrilled. Ever since I had moved to Google Reader, I had been looking for a Mac app which was more compelling to use than the web interface. Reeder for iPad (US$5) was so good that I used it almost exclusively. Could Reeder make the jump from iOS to Mac?

I purposefully waited until the first few public beta versions of Reeder for Mac were released, to let the early bugs get sorted out. When I started to hear good reports about it on Twitter, I downloaded it and tried it for myself. Initially, it felt awkward. I couldn't stop noticing that this was an iOS app ported to Mac OS X. It just didn't feel right. So I deleted it. A few beta releases later, I tried again, but the result was the same: I used it briefly, then gave up.

When the final version arrived, I went to the official website hoping to find a demo version that I could try before buying. (I will pause briefly to repeat my firm belief that the biggest shortcoming of the iOS and Mac App Stores is the lack of full-featured demos.) At US$10, Reeder was above my "just buy it to try it" threshold. I found screenshots, but those are hardly enough to give a good feel for the app.

For a few days I continued my routine of using a Fluid.app browser for Google Reader on the Mac and Reeder on my iPad, but eventually curiosity got the better of me and I dropped my Alexander Hamilton on it. Despite my first rule for purchasing software, I decided that even if it didn't meet my needs now, it was likely to be popular enough that it would continue to be developed and improved.

Five minutes later I knew I had made the right choice.

Make no mistake, Reeder still feels like an iOS app which jumped to the Mac, but it has pushed through the awkward teenage years into a promising young-adulthood. That may be due to the fact that Lion has already started to push acceptance of iOS ideas and concepts coming "back to the Mac," or maybe the app itself has changed enough to make the jump seem less dramatic.

But enough with the vagaries of opinion, let's take a closer look at what's there.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Mac 911: What (else) prevents you from upgrading to Lion?

Mac 911: What (else) prevents you from upgrading to Lion? - Mac 911: What (else) prevents you from upgrading to Lion? If you've followed along, you know Rosetta is kaput under Lion. (Weep, AppleWorks users, weep.) But what else might put the kibosh on your Lion upgrade?

(Via Macworld.)

Security flaw prompts updates to Office for Mac

Security flaw prompts updates to Office for Mac - Security flaw prompts updates to Office for Mac Microsoft on Tuesday released updates to the 2004, 2008, and 2011 versions of its Office for Mac software, citing security concerns.

(Via Macworld.)

Mac Gems: VidConvert 1.0.5

Mac Gems: VidConvert 1.0.5 - Mac Gems: VidConvert 1.0.5 Video conversion can be tricky for those who don’t know (or care) about bit rates, frame sizes, and so on. Reggie Ashworth’s VidConvert 1.0.4 makes the process easy with some simple settings, but also offers fine-tuned control for those who want to tweak to their hearts’ content.

(Via Macworld.)

How to build your own AirPlay audio system

How to build your own AirPlay audio system - How to build your own AirPlay audio system Wanted to wirelessly stream your music to speakers using Apple's AirPlay technology, but don't want to buy an expensive (and still somewhat rare) AirPlay-enabled system? Dan Frakes explains how to make your own.

(Via Macworld.)

Griffin Beacon gives iOS an all-wireless home theater remote

Griffin Beacon gives iOS an all-wireless home theater remote - Griffin on Wednesday shipped a wireless remote bridge for iPhone and iPod touch owners that promises a simpler link than most for controlling a home theater. A Beacon adapter translates a Bluetooth link from the iOS device to an infrared signal that upwards of 200,000 devices can understand. It supports navigation, input, volume, and other common controls on anything from TVs and Blu-ray players to DVRs and the Apple TV ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Acer collapses: tablet, netbook shipments cut by up to 60%

Acer collapses: tablet, netbook shipments cut by up to 60% - Acer signaled major trouble on Wednesday through both official and unofficial sources. Company chairman JT Wang said in a shareholder meeting that the company's forecast for tablet shipments was being cut by as much as 60 percent, dropping from an originally forecast 5-7 million Iconia Tabs in 2011 down to 2.5-3 million. About 800,000 tablets were due to ship each quarter for the spring and summer ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

How Lego makes its bricks (photos)

How Lego makes its bricks (photos) - Road Trip 2011: They may be the most popular toy on Earth, and watching them get produced in Lego's home town is a rare treat.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple's AirPort Utility points to next-gen Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme

Apple's AirPort Utility points to next-gen Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme - A routine update to Apple's Airport Utility application contains references to new 4th generation Time Capsule and 5th generation AirPort Extreme devices, according to a new report.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Mac RSS reader roundup: Reeder, NetNewsWire Lite, and Pulp

Mac RSS reader roundup: Reeder, NetNewsWire Lite, and Pulp -

For all the talk of social media services like Twitter and Facebook replacing RSS, I still find it to be the best way to get news quickly and efficiently, and it seems like Mac developers agree. A quick look at the Mac App Store shows quite a few RSS reader options, but here’s a look at three of the best: Reeder, NetNewsWire Lite, and Pulp.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

What to do with your MobileMe-hosted site post-iCloud

What to do with your MobileMe-hosted site post-iCloud -

Sometimes, not saying anything at all is saying something. Apple failed to update iWeb in its latest iLife refresh, and at last week’s keynote at WWDC, there were plenty of details about iCloud, but no mention of what was to become of the web hosting side of MobileMe. Now it appears Steve Jobs has spoken via email, and those of using this part of MobileMe will be forced to look elsewhere.

The usual suspects. By simply searching for the term “Top 10 Web Hosting,” you will find several lists, all vying for the honor of the definitive top 10 list of web hosts. I’ll save you a lot of trouble, and point you to hostmonster.com, justhost.com, fatcow.com, bluehost.com and hostgator.com, all of which appear ranked highly in most of these lists. Be sure the package you select supports hosting domain names on the account, and be aware of page limits and bandwidth caps on entry-level accounts. You should be able to find decent virtual accommodations for personal use for less than $5/mo.

Domain registrar. Apple doesn’t provide a domain service of their own. You can point your registered domain to your MobileMe account, but Apple is not a registrar themselves. Many, if not all, domain registrars also offer web hosting solutions, too. I happen to use GoDaddy as my domain registrar, and have been looking at what they have to offer.  I was able to find a plan that suited my needs for less than $10/mo.

Squarespace. This is where things start to get interesting. Squarespace has lots of nice features to offer its customers. It is featured on many of the podcasts I listen to and watch. Squarespace’s strength lies in its easy-to-use, prefab template-based site development that is highly customizable supports multiple authors. But if you’re handling your web design and development elsewhere, this may be more than you need, and in order to avoid a ten page limit you have to start looking at plans that costs as much as $20/mo.

Apple may be getting out of the web game in favor of moving to the cloud, but it’s a feature that’s well-represented by many providers already, so it really isn’t a great loss. Nor is the demise of iWeb, which, truth be told, wasn’t a stellar web page creation tool to begin with. If anything, this may be the shot in the arm needed to get users to make some timely improvements to their personal websites.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Ten ways to replace iWeb and MobileMe hosting

Ten ways to replace iWeb and MobileMe hosting -

Yesterday, we reported on a rumor that Apple's website creation software, iWeb, is about a year away from obsolescence, along with MobileMe's hosting of iWeb sites. An iWeb user allegedly sent Apple CEO Steve Jobs an email asking if he should start looking for another website builder and a new host, and Jobs provided one of his patented terse replies: "Yep."

In my post about this, I mentioned some alternatives that TUAW readers might want to look at. Here I'm going to take a more detailed look at several easy website creation tools and hosting alternatives, so that you can start making your plans to move away from iWeb and MobileMe. I will not be covering professional web design tools in this post, as iWeb is designed for easy creation of sites. Instead, all of the suggestions I'll make here are aimed at the folks who just want to create a relatively good-looking website quickly, without a lot of training.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

How To Move Your iWeb Sites to a Dedicated Host

How To Move Your iWeb Sites to a Dedicated Host -

With Apple’s recent announcement of iCloud, many MobileMe users have been wondering what will happen to their current services once the switch to iCloud becomes official. An alleged email from Steve Jobs claims that iWeb sites hosted on MobileMe may bite the dust when Apple flips the iCloud switch. And even though Apple has already renewed everyone’s MobileMe registration until Jun 30, 2012, it’s no guarantee that MobileMe iWeb hosting will be available for that length of time. In the meantime, however, you might want to take the necessary precautions. We’ll show you how to begin the transition of your iWeb sites to a dedicated hosting solution.

1. Choose Your Domain Name and Host

The first step to getting your own hosting solution is to find and purchase a domain name and hosting plan. Domain names are the names that you type into a web browser to get to a website (such as Apple.com or Maclife.com). There are many domain registrars and names to choose from. Some of the most popular registrars are Domains.com, GoDaddy, and Netfirms.

After you've purchased a domain name, you will also need hosting to store your files on the web somewhere. Once again, there are a lot of different hosting options, from DreamHost, BlueHost, and GoDaddy. You will need to look for a host that supports FTP and/or SFTP uploads.

Once you've purchased the hosting plan that suits your needs, you will need to link your domain name with your hosting account. Because each hosting and domain name company will have a different system for doing this, you will need to contact their customer service for information on how to set up your domain names to point to your hosting company’s DNS servers.

2. Open iWeb and Change Your Settings

You will be issued either an FTP (file transfer protocol) or SFTP (secure file transfer protocol) account for uploading files to your online hosting. With this account information, open up iWeb on your Mac.



To change your iWeb hosting from MobileMe to your new web hosting company using your FTP connection, click on the title of your site in the left-hand sidebar of iWeb. Once there, click on the drop-down menu labeled “Publish to:” and choose FTP Server from the list.



After you do this, you will be presented with connection options for connecting to an FTP server. To begin, type in your server address (usually your domain name without the “http://www.” in front), then type in your FTP username and password. For the Directory Path, put a single forward slash (ex. “/”). If you are using SFTP as opposed to FTP, be sure to choose it in the “Protocol” drop-down menu. The last thing to configure is the Website URL. Type your domain name once again here, putting in the “http://”.

When you have finished inputting your information, click the “Test Connection” button. If the test succeeds, then you have entered everything properly; and, if it fails, you will need to check over your information or contact your hosting company for support.

3. Upload Your New Site


After a successful connection test, you are now ready to upload your iWeb site to your new hosting. To upload your site, click on File > Publish Entire Site. After a few minutes, your site will be uploaded to your new hosting account and be available for viewing by going to your domain name.

(Via Mac|Life all.)