Mac Games and More The Blog

New iPods: “More likely.” Apple refreshes its iPod line in the fall, and there’s no reason it won’t this year. To compete better with the cheaper iPhone, Apple could offer higher-capacity iPods at lower prices, one possible explanation for its warning about low gross margins.

Refreshed MacBooks: “More likely.” No major shape/size changes, but faster laptops at lower prices.

Apple Tablet: “More likely.” Shope wouldn’t be shocked if Apple released a tablet soon to take advantage of its exclusive, multi-touch technology on a product with a bigger screen.

iPhone nano: “Less likely.” It makes sense that Apple would extend the iPhone family the way it’s done with its computers, iPods, etc. And a cheaper, slimmed-down iPhone could reach a broader audience than today’s. Just not so soon after it launched the iPhone 3G, which has strong demand.

Super-cheap laptop: “Less likely.” Eventually, Apple will need to come out with a laptop under $800 to tap into new markets. But Shope’s conversations with Apple “suggest that the company may not be ready for such a drastic change in product strategy in the near-term.”

Super-cheap desktop: “Less likely.” An all-in-one, not the Mac mini, which would expose Apple to the “sweet spot of the desktop market fairly quickly.” Just not convinced Apple is ready to play in the “discount PC market” yet.

Mac TV: “Even less likely,” a “long shot.” Apple could skip the set-top box by building its Apple TV software into a flat-panel TV. While Shope (and we) would probably be buyers, he thinks “this seems a bit outside of Apple’s normal sphere of business for now.”

According to alleyinsider

It slices! It dices! It slashes your arm in a single bound! Look! On your desk! It’s Macbook Air!

From engadget

From mactipsandtricks:

“1) Only use the battery as needed. For example the less you use the battery the long it will last. Instead of using the battery only a little and then recharging keep it plugged in.

2) Drain the battery down. Although it is not as need as much, it has shown (on my battery) that by draining the battery down and then doing a recharge it seems to make the battery last as long as possible.

3) Keep your battery cool. Batteries are designed to run at around 15 degrees Celsius. So if you keep your battery really hot, for example using it outside all day, or two cold (inside a fridge). By keeping your battery at a good temperature you may keep the charge longer and more healthy.

4) Calibrate your battery. It keeps it up to date with the maximum and minimum battery capacity and helps you computer work out how to use its charge more effectively.

5) Keep firmware the latest. Download the latest firmwares and it will help. Although you may not see an immediate difference. It will help you keep it in tip top shape.

Finally buy a new battery. If you battery has really died, and has become a lump of metal it might be time to buy a new battery. Until we develop a battery that always keeps its charge you may have to keep replacing them every 18months.”

Read more about it here.

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Check them out here: mac games

Hope you like ‘em.

Picks are up here: mac games

Something I missed that’s new is:

Tradewinds Legends is a strategy game where you must build a flotilla of ships armed with weaponry, both man-made and magic. Sail into the sky to discover new ports and engage in aerial combat with other magical sky ships. Check it out.

Download it now

iLEVL attaches magically to your iMac’s built-in magnet to be used as a holder to put paper to the side of your screen to easily access text copy. Simple and indispensable. An iLEVL to be used with Macbook and Apple’s cinema displays is envisioned for the near future. See how it works in the video on the site.

Get one here

From Appleinsider:

“Apple Inc.’s Mac mini, a tiny desktop system previously pegged for extinction, won’t fade into the distance after all, at least not yet.

Last Memorial Day, AppleInsider cited sources in reporting that it appeared to be the end of the line for the itsy-bitsy Mac, which had seen limited adoption and an uncertain role during the first 24 months on the market.

Since then, the product line has remained in a state of limbo, with subsequent updates consisting of minor component swaps that required little if any engineering effort.

For the first time in nearly a year, however, people familiar with the matter tell AppleInsider there’s new life in the Mac mini department, where a small team of engineers have recently been tasked with gutting the diminutive desktop and applying fresh internals.

Thanks partly to Intel’s rapid phase out of previous generation Core 2 Duo mobile processors and associated components…”

Read the full article

4th Saturday of every odd month, except where holidays conflict.

Premier Event: Saturday, March 22, 2008.

Mac Day L.A.
CBS Studio Center — “Radford Studios”
4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City CA 91604
Website: Macdayla (for details and required RSVP)

Sort of like pointilism but instead of using dots to paint a picture, Steve is painted with Apple products.
Source

Last generation MacBook Pros are really cheap right now at Amazon.

Check it out

Watch it

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 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

I just posted this week’s picks. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you only have a couple of days to decide what you’ll get your sweetheart, I’ve suggested some things. Here it is: Valentine Gift Ideas for Mac People.

FYI: There’s a separate RSS Feed for the week’s picks, which I usually post on Sundays. Here’s the RSS Feed for that: Mac Games and More Weekly Picks (RSS Feed)

If you are looking for a great company that can host your server, I highly recommend Liquid Web. They are simply the best. Excellent and highly skilled customer service 24/7 - 365 days a year. That includes being open at 3am on Christmas! If you ever have any problems, they are on it right away. (Those of you outside the U.S. Do you think you can find a French server company open on the weekends, let alone on Christmas? Answer: NO.)

Liquid Web
4210 S Creyts Road
Lansing, MI
48917-9526, U.S.A.

Just in case you missed it, here’s the keynote from MWSF 2008 in 60 seconds - with Steve Jobs. If only all keynotes were this short. Also, I wished they could have left out R. Newman.

Click here to watch the vid

Axiotron has converted MacBooks into Tablet Macs (ModBook) and they are now available for $2,290. Particularly interesting to mobile users, artists, students and professionals, the Modbook enables its user to draw and write directly on the screen, while the handwriting recognition built into Mac OSX not only turns hand scribbles into text in every application, but also provides extended control of the system through gesture recognition. The Modbook comes standard with a built-in iSight™ camera and an integrated CD/DVD combo drive that can be upgraded to a 8.5 GB DVD burner, and it is the only portable Mac solution that also features an optional built-in Global Positioning System (GPS).

Axiotron

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This is just wishful thinking but wouldn’t it be totally awesome if Apple reduced the amount of plastic on their MacBooks and replaced it with materials that are more sustainable? And pretty to boot. Wouldn’t you just LOVE Apple even more if they were more ecofriendly? I would. For example, these PC (*cough* *hack* *gag*) laptops have bamboo exteriors. Apple could surely make a version perhaps with lighter color bamboo. It would be totally sleek and wonderful. I would get one immediately!