iWork is the No. 2 Office suite in the US

Apple quietly discontinues AppleWorks

According to market researcher NPD, Apple grabbed a 2.7 percent unit share, while Corel had a 1.6 percent share. Microsoft maintained its dominance with nearly 95 percent of unit sales.

On the Mac platform alone iWork accounted for 17.4 percent, compared to about 82 percent for Microsoft.

I would guess that a large percentage of iWork owners also own Office or at least Word.

Free Office alternatives

OpenOffice

www.openoffice.org

NeoOffice

www.neooffice.org

Intel Macs, XP no, RedHat maybe?

Red Hat has confirmed it intention to get RedHat running on new Intel based Macs, their developers are just waiting for the machines.

Jobs reveals how to compete with the iPod

In an interview with Newsweek he said, "It just doesn't work. What's going to happen is that Microsoft is going to have to get into the hardware business of making MP3 players. This year. X-player, or whatever."

Suggesting it is the combination of hardware and software integration that is need to make consumer electronics successful and that is why it is different than the PC model.

Microsoft is trying to let 3rd parties control the hardware experience and those 3rd parties are competing over the 20% market share.

Chris Seibold over at Apple Matters has a theory that this may be a trap to lure Microsoft into a fight they can't win. And that licensing FairPlay could be the key to Apple's success.

applematters.com - How to beat the iPod

If you license FairPlay you have built in market share, stay with Microsoft and you have the 20% plus have to compete with a Microsoft player.

In the "real world" Intel Macs prove not quite a speedy

Now we are getting real numbers

In MacWorld tests they are finding real world performance of an iMac 2.0 GHz Core Duo about 10 to 25% faster than an iMac G5 2.1 GHz when running native apps. Rosetta apps seem to run about half as fast on average.

They are starting up in about half the time of the G5

Intels new Core Processors shipping with 34 Errata

At least 34 errata have been found in the Intel Core Duo processors.

Only one fix is scheduled

This issue is not new, the Pentium 4 has at least 65 documented errata with no plans for fixes. The issues are worked around in software

Is this a good sign for a new processor and partnership? Is this common in the chip industry?

Apple launches PowerBook lower memory slot repair program

Apple has launched a PowerBook G4 memory slot repair extension program.

PowerBook G4 Memory Slot Repair Program

Customers who purchased a PowerBook G4 15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz model that was manufactured between approximately January 2005 and April 2005, displaying serial numbers between W8503xxxxxx and W8518xxxxxx are eligible for the program

symptoms which may only occur intermittently include failure to start up--typically followed by three beeps and the sleep LED flashing periodically-- Failure to see all installed memory and slow system performance.

Repairs will be covered even if your system is out of AppleCare.

Amazon.com offering big rebates on new Mac products

The MacBooks and 20" iMac feature a $150 mail in rebate while you can get a $125 back on the 17" iMac.

They are also offering 10% Off iLife '06 and iWork '06 and 20% off .Mac

If you take advantage of the offer, please click one of the Amazon links at shop.maccast.com first

shop.maccast.com

Follow-up: OpenOSX WinTel 2.0 Performance

Listener wrote to emphatically state the claims were false

Open OS X released an update today. WinTel 2.0.1 (app for installing and configuring Bochs ("box")) has Bochs binaries that have been accelerated for the Intel based Macs

openosx.com—Wintel 2.0.1

They are claiming a 200-400% increased performance over the WinTel 2.0.0 release.

Review: Apple photo management applications

Brian looks at Aperture, Lightroom and iPhoto and makes some comparisons

Play the audio (~5:00)

The photos for comparison

Example photos

Follow-up on issues with Nikon white balance in Aperture and Lightroom

From Dave and article on DP review that explains Nikon has encrypted their white balance data on some new cameras

dpreview.com - Nikon White Balance encryption

Nikon has encrypted white balance information in NEF files written by the D2X and the D2HS.

Feedback: Mixed reviews of Flip4Mac

There seems to be a lot still open for debate

Many feel it is a good replacement and it seems like the free version may perform better than the paid version

Some report it crashing, not playing all WMV files and causing issues with iLife apps, especially iMovie.

I personally rely on Video Lan Client (VLC) for the majority of my Windows Media content.

Video Lan Client (VLC)

MPlayer

MPlayer for OS X

Listener feedback on MacBook PCMCIA and Garmin GPS

Play feedback and comments from David

Fredcast Cycling Podcast

www.thefredcast.com

Garmin GPS Mac support. Sometime this year.

www.garmin.com

Spring 2006, Garmin will offer a Mac version of its popular Training Center software and the www.MotionBased.com upload interface Mac compatible.

By the end of 2006, Garmin intends to have made all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible

New Express Cards are a new standard and work use PCI Express or USB interfaces. PCMCIA cards use a ISA-style 16-bit interface.

Follow-up: iMac International pricing mystery solved?

Many listeners tell me that Apple adjusts the prices on new Mac to account for the fluctuations in exchange rates with respect to the US dollar.

Only doing it with the introduction of new models is supposedly less "shocking" to consumers. Interesting that they don't lower prices when the rates are in favor of the US dollar.

Apple "Solutions" makes claims on MacBook battery life?

Play comment from Ken

I would really take this with a grain of salt and it is totally unverified or confirmed, but is what this listener was told.

An Acer TravelMate with similar specifications (Intel Core Duo 2.0GHz CPU, Radeon X1600, 1GB DDR2 667, 160GB SATA 5400RPM, 15.4 WSXGA+ screen) has a runtime of approximately 6 hours

Is good new if it turns out to be true.

Commentary: Most of the time the problem is you.

We are often quick to blame the hardware and software, especially after an update, but more times than not I have found my Mac problems are my fault.

We are quick to blame technology, but more often than not humans make the mistakes.

Backup, backup, backup.

Try and remember any 3rd party software you installed. Especially plug-ins, utilities, enhancers that may not be compatible.

Any new hardware, including new RAM, can cause issues.

Are you due for a spring cleaning?

Check at the Apple support forums and resources like MacFixit.com

www.macfixit.com

"Mac Geek is listening to..." software

It's is an iTunes plug-in called Now Playing from Brandon Fuller. $10 USD.

Now Playing iTunes Plug-in

It's Beta and has some bugs and is missing features, like iTunes and Amazon affiliate stuff.

Creates an XML file and FTPs that and the album art to your server. You can then use code to parse and display the info. There is PHP code and templates available

Mac Switcher Song now available for free download

A track called "That's Entertainment" by MacCast listener Graham McAllister that was featured on the MacCast a while

Play comment from Graham.

Free switcher song download on his iWeb site

Switcher Song download

Free PDF from MacFormat

MacFormat, a UK Mac mag, has offered us a link to a free PDF download of an article from their October 2005 issue

MacFormat - MacMini Car Install (PDF)

It features a story on how to hook up a MacMini in your car

MacFormat Magazine