Mac Games and More The Blog

From Macworld:

“If you’re using Apple’s Safari browser, PayPal has some advice for you: Drop it, at least if you want to avoid online fraud.

Safari doesn’t make PayPal’s list of recommended browsers because it doesn’t have two important anti-phishing security features, according to Michael Barrett, PayPal’s chief information security officer.

“Apple, unfortunately, is lagging behind what they need to do, to protect their customers,” Barrett said in an interview. “Our recommendation at this point, to our customers, is use Internet Explorer 7 or 8 when it comes out, or Firefox 2 or Firefox 3, or indeed Opera.”

Safari is the default browser on Apple’s Macintosh computers and the iPhone, but it is also available for the PC. Both Firefox and Opera run on the Mac.

Unlike its competitors, Safari has no built-in phishing filter to warn users when they are visiting suspicious Web sites, Barrett said. Another problem is Safari’s lack of support for another anti-phishing technology, called Extended Validation (EV) certificates. This is a secure Web browsing technology that turns the address bar green when the browser is visiting a legitimate Web site.

When it comes to fighting phishing, “Safari has got nothing in terms of security support, only…”

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In a nutshell, both have more power:

MacBook Pro - The latest Intel processor, a bigger hard drive, plenty of memory, and even more new features all fit inside just one liberating inch. The new MacBook Pro has the performance, power, and connectivity of a desktop computer. Without the desk part.

MacBook - Faster is just the beginning. The new MacBook features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives, and up to 2GB of memory standard. Best of all, MacBook still starts at $1099. It’s the same does-everything-you-want notebook but better.

Here’s the how to.

A little early! Here they are: mac games

Fun etching at Make Magazine [via]

Watch it

Check out the news at engadget!

This week’s picks are up here: mac games. Enjoy!

From likethought:

Opacity is an editor for screen graphics designed exclusively for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. It makes it easy for graphic artists to design great looking images for icons, desktop applications, and the web.

With the release of Leopard, resolution independence is coming soon and Opacity can help you make your graphics resolution independent. It’s been designed from the ground up to make it easy to make gorgeous graphics at multiple resolutions.

Opacity is a powerful tool for professional artists with all the features you’d expect, like vector objects, pixel editing, and live filters. It also has plenty of new features like Variables and Factories to make designing screen graphics even easier!

download it now

From .mac tips:

“You can now protect the movies in your Web Gallery from unwanted visitors, just as you can with your published photos.

1. In iMovie ’08, create a new movie or open an existing one (it can be one that you’ve already published to your Web Gallery).

2. In the menu bar, select Share > .Mac Web Gallery…

3. In the sheet that appears, select your access options from the “Viewable by:” dropdown menu. (If you select Only Me, the movie will be hidden on your Web Gallery home page as well as password-protected.)

4. Click Publish.

Any user/password combinations you’ve created for your .Mac account in iPhoto will also be available in iMovie.”

You know. Valentine’s Day is TOMORROW. You haven’t planned anything for your sweetie, have you? Thought so. Here are some ideas.

[via]

From chimosoft:

Got an Apple TV, video iPod, or iPhone and want more content for it? Wish you could watch YouTube on your TV or iPod? Like to keep copies of your favorite internet videos on your Mac?

TubeTV is a freeware program for Mac OS X Tiger, Leopard, and above which enables you to search for, save, and convert YouTube and many other flash videos to a format suitable for playback on your favorite devices.

A built in search bar and web browser helps you conveniently locate your favorite videos from common sites such as YouTube. If you prefer, a single button or menu option will grab the currently displayed URL or movie from your default web browser (Safari, Camino, Firefox, or OmniWeb). High quality video conversions using the H.264 codec are performed with QuickTime® and Perian. If desired, TubeTV can add exported movies directly to iTunes and set appropriate comment tags enabling you to create a smart playlist. Alternately, double clicking on a converted video file will open it in iTunes or drag and drop a saved video file on to QuickTime Player to view it locally.

Features
-Built in browser with search bar for YouTube and Google Video movies.
-Support for many other sites which use flash video.
-Support for bookmarking movies (requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or higher).
-Optional history of recently viewed movies (requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or higher).
-Ability to download using the flash video cache if the entire movie has been loaded.
-”Download without watching” technology enables you to save a movie without first watching it.
-Auto export video as flv (flash video), or for Apple TV, Video iPod, the 3rd generation iPod nano, the iPod Touch, iPhone, or other generic cell phone. See full compatibility list below.
-Batch download.
-Batch convert existing movies from your Mac.
-Ability to add exported movies to iTunes with appropriate tags for smart playlist creation.
-Uses the high quality H.264 video codec for export (with exception of the generic cell phone setting).
-Option to grab URL or movie from your default browser (Safari, Firefox, Camino, or OmniWeb).
-Universal binary - Intel, PPC native; written with Cocoa.

download it now

From Reuters:

“Apple, Inc.  is recruiting staff for new retail stores in Germany and Switzerland, according to a job opportunities link on its Web site.

In Europe, Apple operates retail stores in Britain, Ireland and Italy.”

A quick note to let you know I’ve posted this week’s picks early (as usual). Here it is:

iPod and Accessories Week

Note: For those of you who only use RSS readers, the week’s picks have a different rss feed. Here it is: Mac Games and More Weekly Picks RSS FEED

From the smh:

“Apple is to open its first retail store in Germany, according to a situations vacant advertisement on its German website.

The US lifestyle computer company has more than 200 own-brand shops in the United States, Canada, Britain, Italy and Japan. In Germany it sells its hottest trademark item, the iPhone, through Deutsche Telekom retail outlets.

“The store will be located in Munich,” Apple spokesman Georg Albrecht said, when asked for confirmation.

German retail analysts say that alongside Munich, a shopping paradise crowded with expensive boutiques, other suitable cities with plenty of affluent shoppers include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt.”

From shaggymac:
“Avoid screen damage from key contact, dirt, oils, and residue. Even with a recessed keyboard, the MacBook’s lcd is still prone to the same problems faced by most laptops. Utilizing True Micro-Fiber Technology, the ShaggyMac Laptop Screen Protector boasts over 1 million fibers per square inch, which translates into the best possible screen protector available. This screen protector was designed specifically for the MacBook Air. The slimmer material is compatible with the magnetic latch, and all of the Air’s “Thinnovation.” The ShaggyMac Screen Protector even doubles as a screen cleaner to safely wipe away dust & debris. Sensible insurance for your screen….”

Order one now

Watch the slideshow at Geeksugar

If you haven’t thought about what you’re getting your sweetie for Valentine’s Day, what are you doing????! Here are some ideas for ya:

Godiva Chocolate Valentine Hearts - Designed by renowned pastry chef Norman Love, each handcrafted piece surprises the palate with a clarity and brilliance of flavor that makes every bite a memory to be savored. Offered for Valentine’s Day in gorgeous handcrafted boxes.

Valentine’s Day Fabric Heart Gift Box - Milk, dark, and white chocolates, including delicate ganaches, luscious pralines, rich caramels, sumptuous truffles, and more. In a heart-shaped fabric box with sheer ribbon roses. Make your sweetheart’s day.

See all of the gift ideas at Amazon

From Apple:

Apple® today added new models of the iPhone™ and iPod® touch which have double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go. The revolutionary iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499, joining the 8GB model for $399. iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299.

“For some users, there’s never enough memory,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”

Both iPhone and iPod touch feature Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application*; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes® Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari™ and great mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.

Pricing & Availability The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide…

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From Macworld UK:

MacBook Air users might need to move their new ultra-thin laptops to keep bits moving to and fro, Apple said in a note on its support site, just one of several problems posted now that the new portable has started shipping.

Among the documents that populate the support section Apple unveiled this week for its newest Mac was one that outlined an issue between the Air and some external monitors. “If your MacBook Air is closed and an external display is your only display, you may notice a reduction of throughput for wireless networks that use the 2.4GHz band,” Apple said in a document published on the newly-opened MacBook Air section of the company’s online support site.

To fix the problem and get throughput back on track, Apple recommends that users try another channel on the wireless access point, switch frequency ranges, or move the MacBook Air closer to the base station.

Other MacBook Air wireless issues, according to Apple, involve slow speeds when connected to multiple Bluetooth devices and balky routers that refuse to work the Remote Disc magic. For the latter, Apple suggested that users update the firmware of their non-Apple 802.11n wireless routers to get disc-sharing operational.

Apple also confirmed that MacBook Air users who want to install Windows XP or Vista in a Boot Camp partition must have an…

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