TubeSock (USD $15.00)
Website: stinkbot.com

Well I was just listening to the latest creation from the Leo Lapotre TWiT machine, Mac Break Weekly, and I heard them mention this little application for putting YouTube videos on your iPod. Since how to convert YouTube video seems to be something I am getting asked about more and more frequently these days, I decided to check it out. The app is called TubeSock (I know, great name) and appears to be the first creation from StinkBot. What makes TubeSock so great is the same thing that makes many of my favorite Mac apps great, simplicity. It does one task and does it well. There are other ways to save and convert YouTube videos, like through the use Firefox plugins, but TubeSock makes it a pleasure vs. a pain. All you have to do is launch TubeSock, copy the URL of the video you want to convert and hit a button. From there TubeSock takes over, downloads the FLV file (Flash Video File), converts it into a video iPod compatible H.264 video and drops it right into iTunes. Sync your iPod and go. Now that alone would be enough, but Tube Sock also lets you choose other output options. It has settings for PSP, audio MP3, Mac H.264 and you can even save the raw FLV file if you want. It will also let you choose different locations to save the converted video. TubeSock can drop the converted video into your Movies folder for easy viewing in Frontrow or you can choose to place it anywhere else on your Mac. Add to that the option to add a link to your Safari bookmark bar that lets you send videos directly to Tube Sock and you have by far the easiest way to make your favorite YouTube videos available when and where you want to watch them.

I just received an email from a listener who pointed me to this thread on the Parallels web site that indicates there may be a problem running the current final release and Beta versions of Parallels on Apple’s new Mac Pro systems. Looks like the currently available versions of the virtualization software are causing kernel panics for a number of users. The Parllels team says they are aware of this issue and have made releasing fix a “high priority”, but don’t provide any timeframe for the release of a patch. One tech in the thread does offer a temporary work around that involves switching OS X into “legacy (32-bit) mode”, but does warn the workaround is “unofficial (untested and unsupported)”. To make matters worse, as of this writing Parallels does not appear to be making customers aware this issue anywhere on their site other than in the forum thread. This means there may be customers out there still purchasing Parallels for use on their new Mac Pro who will end up in Windows purgatory and be forced to use Boot Camp until Parallels releases a fix. Stay tuned.

Looks like Apple’s battery issues continue to escalate. On Thursday Apple issued a recall of 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries. The issue appears to be rather serious as the reports state batteries could overheat and catch fire. Apple has received nine reports from customer of lithium-ion battery packs overheating including two incidents where customers were burned. Just 10 days ago Dell computer issued a similar recall of 4.1 million batteries also manufactured by Sony.

This latest Apple recall effects PowerPC based systems and does not include the new Intel-based MacBooks or MacBook Pro systems, although some of those models are covered by a prior Apple battery replacement program. This new recall covers 12-inch iBook G4s, 12-inch PowerBook G4s and 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops sold in the United States Worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006. If you own one of these models Apple is advising that you stop using the battery immediately and remove it from your notebook. Customers may continue to use their Macs while plugged in under AC power, but are asked to check Apple’s web site or call 1-800-275-2273 to see if a replacement is required. Replacement batteries will be provided by Apple free of charge.

Well this is a bit strange…. I just received an email from a listener who purchased a new Mac Pro (the 266GHz base configuration) and found something unexpected inside its beautiful designed enclosure. His new system arrived and while gleefully extracting it from the box he noticed an unusual, but familiar, “rattling” sound. This listener, who was a recent switcher, had built his own PCs so he could tell immediately that there may be a loose screw or two rolling around inside his new high octane Mac. He was obviously concerned and sure enough after removing the side door and carefully rocking the case, four (yes four) screws came plopping out (see the picts). These screws were each approximately 1 1/8″ long with 1/8″ thread at the end. After completing the screw extraction, he further inspected the inside of the case and fortunately could not see any empty holes where the screws may have originally resided. He went ahead and set up the new Mac and has been using the machine which appears to be working fine. After reading his email I encouraged him to contact Apple, which he did, and they seem to feel the screws must have “fell” into the case during manufacturing. They did advise him to bring the Mac in so they could do a thorough inspection, just in case.
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It’s about time someone recognized an issue faced by geeks everywhere. More power. As we add more and more devices to our techy lifestyle you need more and more outlets to power all your gear. Of course we all have those bulky power strips and surge protectors and they work, but you definitely wouldn’t call them “elegant” solutions. Admit it. Your cables are knotted up under your feet ready to reach out and ensnare your ankles like a giant octopus from the deep. And don’t even get me started on what you need to do when you have to take your Mac on the road. Most notebook bags just aren’t designed for that 12-inch monster power strip. Well it looks like the good folks at Belkin are feeling our pain too because they just annonced the release of their Concealed Surge Protector (USD$49.99) and their Compact Surge Protector (USD $39.99) and Clamp-On Surge Protector (USD$34.99) products.
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In these days of countless stories of exploding Dell notebooks and massive Dell power adapter recalls, Apple has seemed relatively immune to these sorts of problems. Every once in a while, some odd thing came along, but it seemed like relatively calm waters. I fear, however, the sense of safety for Mac notebook users may be coming to an end. There have aready been hints of problems with the white brick adapters and scattered reports of various failures. Who can forget about the class action settlement around the previous Apple adapters?

Recently, I have had problems with my Apple PowerBook power adapter which has lead to me take a close look at their design and safety. With no apparent trigger, no visible damage or other warning of any kind, my adapter began to spew sparks and flames and burn the paper notepad on which it was sitting. Thankfully, I was literally sitting right in front of the adapter when it happened and I was able to instantly unplug it – but not before it damaged the paper notepad and my PowerBook. And it could have been much worse.
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In his recent keynote Steve Jobs was quick to point out that 50% of the customers buying Macs at the Apple Stores are new customers. Now that is cool and Mac sales are obviously good, but one thing has been puzzling me. I only buy a new Mac once every 3 years or so and most Mac owners I know are at the same, or an even slightly longer, buying pace. Apple reported a 20% increase in Mac sales year over year for the 2nd quarter of 2006. So who is buying all these Macs? What is going on here?

One theory I have for this trend comes from an experience I had just last night, but the same scenario has played itself out many times over the past year. While at the Apple Store checking out the new Mac Pro there was a guy next to me doing the same. We got to talking over specs and other stuff and I soon discovered he was a recent switcher and was considering purchasing the Mac Pro for his business. He told me his first Apple purchase was an iPod and because of his experience with the iPod, plus the arrival of the Intel Macs and BootCamp, he felt comfortable enough with Apple to buy a MacBook Pro. After the MacBook Pro he picked up an 23″ HD Apple Cinema display to use with his aging PC, but the graphics card was not compatible with his old motherboard. He was now at the Apple Store to return the display and while there decided to just replace the old PC with a new Mac Pro and 30″ HD Cinema display. He also told me he may pick up a Mac Mini for his wife sometime in the near future.

So you see what is going on here?

This guy switched and in the course of a few months went from a PC user to the owner of (potentially) three Macs. And this is not the only story like this I have heard over the past year. Both Victor Cajiao (Typical Mac User) and Tim Verpoorten (Mac Reviewcast) switched and became owners of multiple Macs rather rapidly.

Macs are a disease (and I mean that in a good way). The Mac infects you and spreads like a virus. There is no cure and it will quickly be passed to family and friends. I myself have three Macs in my household which are all in active use and my immediate family, save one, are all own Macs. Now, I am not saying PC users don’t have multiple systems in their homes too, but often times their second PC is more of a toy for the kids and is used to keep real viruses out.

So I guess it’s true. Apple does have viruses. The good news is, the viruses are the Macs themselves.

I am not really sure how I missed this one, but I guess (like many others) I was so blown away by the awesome specifications of the new Mac Pro that I didn’t notice an interesting omission. Now I need to give credit where it is due, because it was listener Scott who actually brought this to my attention, “Despite the great configurability of the new MacPro, did you notice you can’t add a remote control?… “The addition of FrontRow (also missing from the specs) with a remote would have been so nice!”

Ah ha, you see it now too. I guess Apple feels their Pro customers are too busy working to enjoy a little media experience on their Macs?

Now I am sure that to some people who purchase a new Mac Pro this may not be a big deal, but for other customers like Scott it does obviously matter. I think I tend to be in agreement with Scott on this one. The Mac Pro could really serve double duty as a nice secondary home entertainment device. It could be ideal our secondary forms of entertainment like IPTV, video podcasts and iTunes TV downloads. Note that Apple dropped prices on their Cinema displays and many of those buying Mac Pros will also pick up a 23″ or 30″ HD display. Wouldn’t that make a Mac Pro an awesome, and easy, way to add a media center to a spare room or den in your home? We all know that OS 10.5 will have FrontRow built in, so part of this omission will be solved then, but it doesn’t ship until Spring 2007.

There is no doubt that the Mac Pro is the king ca-macho macho of all Mac-dom, but there does seem to be a couple of niceties (FrontRow, Apple Remote, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) Apple has decided to reserve for it consumer customers. I would expect things to change when Apple releases Leopard with FrontRow in the Spring, but I guess for now Pro users will still need to rely on the great 3rd party solutions like Media Central to get their Mac media center fix.

I am probably a bit late on this, but it looks like the video for the Keynote is now available. You can watch it here.

Astute listener Ope just emailed me to point out that we may have seen a glimpse of one of 10.5s new features long before WWDC today. Take a look at the last Apple iTunes “1,000 Songs” commercial for the iPod Nano+iTunes and then head over to Apple Core Animation page in the Leopard preview area of their site. The similarities are amazing. Looks like Steve liked the technology so much he had them make a commercial out of it.

Update: We’ll now that I have actually seen the keynote I know that this demo was recreated based on the TV comercial. The original commercial was animated and pre-rendered. The Core Animation demo was all generated in real-time. Awesome.