JoT Coffee Widget – Chad Rebel (Free)
This review will be small, mainly because the application i’m reviewing isn’t very big itself. In fact, it’s a widget. Day by day goes by with me working behind my desk and falling into a routine of PC applications one after the other. I rarely open the emails in my inbox that have the subject line starting with the phrase “Fw:”, because I rarely find a forwarded joke funny or short enough not to bore me. Don’t get me wrong, humor is a big part of my life. For example, I enjoy the times that I remember to head over to the Geek Culture’s “Joy of Tech” website to catch their latest comic . They are usually short, funny, and not vulgar, but still meant for adults usually carrying a Mac theme. There are two widgets to choose from right now listed on their site to help you remember to stay on top of the funny. Out of the two, I recommend the JoT Coffee Widget.
Continue Reading »

I am proud to announce the first edition of the enhanced version of the MacCast, the eMacCast. I am in the process of submitting the new feed to iTunes, but until then you can use this feed URL to manually add the subscription in iTunes (see instructions below). The eMacCast will be release a couple of days behind the regular feed. It contains the same content, but has chapters so you can quickly jump to specific parts of the show. It also features changing album art and hyperlinks to allow you to quickly reference relevant content. This special version of the MacCast is being produced my MacCast listener Mitch (thanks Mitch). We hope you enjoy this new addtion to the growing MacCast family.

How to subscribe to the eMacCast
1) Get iTunes 4.9*

2) Copy this URL https://www.maccast.com/erss.xml

3) In iTunes 4.9 go to the ‘Advanced’ menu, Select ‘Subscribe to Podcast…’, paste in the URL and click ‘OK’.

4) That’s it the new eMacCast should begin downloading to iTunes. Enjoy!

*You may subscribe with any podcasting client, but will need iTunes 4.9 or a supported iPod to view enhanced content.

Listen to today’s show here!
MC20050706.mp3 [17.6mb 38:15 64kbps]

A podcast about Macs done by a Mac geek for Mac geeks. Show 72. HP adds iPod Shuffle to the mix, Firefox up an running on Intel based Macs, Dave Winer critical of Apples additions to the RSS spec, Apple counts down to half a billion iTunes songs, reports that some Motorola phones syncing with iTunes, a Brooklyn teen killed over an iPod and the “real” OS X code for Intel is leaked, maybe. I now know how to update my iPod you can stop emailing me now, Thanks. Help with keychain, Onyx has deleted all passwords, looking for audio journal software for the Mac, sortting iTunes 4.9 Podcasts by date, what to do when files open in the wrong application, forcing a re-index of Spotlight, using the Adobe PDF Plugin with Safari 2.0, thoughts on iPod replacement batteries, a follow-up on hooking your Mac to a TV wirelessly, help with Classic not booting after upgrading to Tiger and s special offer for free Alarm Clock Pro software from Koingo. Thoughts on the MacCast as an “enhanced” Podcast. My podcast set-up and advice on where to learn how-to do your own Podcast. New music, Marmalade Maggie by The Merediths.

If I had a million dollars, I’d buy me an llama or an emu.

Shownotes: HTML or OPML

Subscribe:
Standard Feed or Enhanced Feed* new!
*You will need iTunes or a supported iPod to view enhanced content.

A Brief and Warped History of the Mac, part 3 (in which the Mac sucks)

Welcome back to my column – I am surprised you’re still reading this given last weeks warning. Read on, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. In last week’s column, Apple had unveiled the Mac which was rapidly becoming a huge success in the design and graphics industry.

Following Steve Jobs resignation from Apple, John Sculley took on complete control of the company, and hoped to get the most possible from the Mac. He oversaw the Mac product line grow from the original Mac to a whole family – the all-in-one Macs such as the Mac SE/30 that improved on the orignal Mac with a more powerful MC68030 processor and had a built-in hard disk – and also the Mac II series of machines that came in large boxes with separate monitors. The SE/30 was the most powerful of all the all-in-one Macs and I actually have one. My SE/30 hasn’t worked since a month after I bought it in 1998 for £20 from my college Maths tutor, the problem is that no-one fixes Macs that old these days.
Anyone who’s ever had a beige Mac will know the SCSI port, ADB port and Apple serial port used for printing and networking – these were pioneered in the Mac Plus in 1986. The most innovative member of the new Mac family was the Mac portable – the world’s first, um… not really a laptop. In 1989, this machine was released – it was big and bulky and not much lighter than the all-in-one Mac. It did pioneer the use of an active matrix LCD screen on a Mac though.
Continue Reading »

Listen to today’s show here!
MC20050630.mp3 [26.4mb 57:41 64kbps]

A podcast about Macs done by a Mac geek for Mac geeks. Show 71. iTunes 4.9 is here, iPod updater released, new more colorful iPods, free iPod Minis for college students with Mac purchase and 2nd Gen Shuffle rumors resurface. iTunes 4.9’s impact on the Podosphere, listing iTunes 4.9 Podcasts from other countries, how to convince your wife to let you buy a Mac, Firefox crashes in Tiger, some questions about the iPod Shuffle, connect your Mac to a TV wirelessly, the future of Classic after the switch to Intel, a case for timely keyboard repairs and replacing the hard drive on an iMac G3. New music, Forever by 28.

This is gonna be good, I can tell.

Shownotes: HTML or OPML
Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3

It’s here. Please subscribe so I can move up in the ranks. More later, now I am going to bed. Good night.

Update:There is also a new update available for your iPod too. Thanks Craig. Get everything via Software Update on the Mac. Windows users head to http://www.apple.com/itunes

[ View The MacCast in iTunes 4.9! Click Here! ]

Listen to today’s show here!
MC20050628.mp3 [18.6mb 40:30 64kbps]

A podcast about Macs done by a Mac geek for Mac geeks. Show 70. iTunes 4.9 launches today? French Paper reports iTunes phone launch today, latest Tiger builds add better widget management and Apple prepping Backup version 3. MacCast One Minute Tip #2 – Application CPU Usage. iPed Shuffle and iPed 2 Review. How to capture and record all audio from your Mac, saved mail not showing up in Tiger, PHPiCalendar is still available, another GarageBand fix, plus more MUG feedback. What to do if your iPod does not mount and preparing a Mac for sale. New music, Waking Up by In Stereo Atlanta.

Remember, silence is golden

Shownotes: HTML or OPML
Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3

Update: It’s arrived. Via Software Update at around 1am Tuesday June 28… Thanks Steven.

PixelNews – Pixelated Software ($25.00 USD)
I have to admit that when I heard about the new version of Safari coming with built-in RSS technology, my thoughts were “So what?”. Well now I view RSS feeds about as commonly as I open iPodder with my figers crossed that i’ll see that progress bar start up showing that a new episode of The MacCast is available. RSS has become a part of my normal day as skipping breakfast or complaining about gas prices. Somehow though, I felt that while Safari has gotten me hooked on this new fancy information train, it was still lacking in providing news in a way that I was satisfied.
Continue Reading »

Listen to today’s show here!
MC20050623.mp3 [23.3mb 50:57 64kbps]

A podcast about Macs done by a Mac geek for Mac geeks. Show 69. Is Microsoft going after Adobe? Podcasting comes to iTunes early and not from Apple, new PowerPC Freescale chips may mean faster PowerBooks, Apple sued over iTunes interface, Sony BMG and EMI make a statement by locking out iPods, Apple drops Virex from .Mac, some interesting statistics. When is an iPod not an iPod? Answer, when it’s an Ipod MP4. Inventor of the integrated circuit, Jack S. Kilby, dead at 81. My 2 Cents with Curt, a response to Windows file sharing password issues, iMac G5 fan noise, publishing iCals to your .Mac account, aging Mac users groups, OS 9 iMic extension conflicts, syncing iPod ratings back to iTunes, some feedback on the Dittybot iTunes phone hack and help for a Garagband that won’t stay open. New Music, Shine by Kevin Reeves.

Shhhh. Smell something?

Shownotes: HTML or OPML
Subscribe to the Podcast Feed or Get the MP3

Correction: In the audio I incorrectly refer to Jack Kilby as Jack Kirby. I had it right in the show notes, not sure why I said it wrong. Sorry.

Think Secret has posted information and pictures of the Apple Development Platform, ADP2,1, which is Apple’s official name for the Intel based PowerMac systems they are now shipping to developers. [ Link ]