Mac http://www.seriouslymac.com real-time discovery by s.erious.ly Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:40:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 feature: True story: the making of the Terminator’s laser-sighted .45 pistolhttp://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/AIp02VIG5xI/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/AIp02VIG5xI/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:30:07 +0000 Ben Kuchera http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/03/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

One of the most striking images from The Terminator was the weapon he carried and used in his first attempt on Sarah Connor's life: the .45 Longslide, with laser sighting. Who can forget the scene in the gun shop? The gun was likewise such a striking presence on screen it was used on the film's poster. There are T-shirts dedicated to the gun.

Terminator was released in 1984, and while laser sights on weapons are common now, when the film was first shown the red laser was able to communicate something subtle and powerful to the audience: this is a machine, deadly accurate and futuristic. It made the Terminator seem other-worldly and terrifying. At a party during CES, Deputy Editor Jon Stokes and I bumped into some representatives from SureFire, a company that specializes in tactical flashlights. We talked about some of our favorite moments with technology in cinema, and The Terminator came up.

"We created that laser!" I was told. They told me the gentleman who built the prop was named Ed Reynolds, and he was still with the company. More than a little jazzed about bumping into a fun part of film history, we knew we had to get the full story behind the Terminator's gun.

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]]> http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/AIp02VIG5xI/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars/feed/ 0 Pentax 645D slated for May with 40 megapixel sensorhttp://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=947fc7b44f923ee288b5af32295421cf http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=947fc7b44f923ee288b5af32295421cf#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:50:00 +0000 MacNN | The Macintosh News Network http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/03/09/company.releases.full.specs/ Following several teasers, Pentax has finally announced availability information and detailed specs for its upcoming 645D medium-format camera. The DSLR integrates a 40 megapixel sensor manufactured by Kodak, along with a SAFOX IX+ autofocus system providing 11 sensor points. Like many other Pentax cameras, the 645D features a semi-rugged body with 70 seals for resistance to dust, water and low temperatures....

]]> http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=947fc7b44f923ee288b5af32295421cf/feed/ 0 Free-Form Awesome Note Brims Over With Style, Falls Short On Function [Review]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:48:42 +0000 Eli Milchman http://www.cultofmac.com/?p=33038 Awesome Note is a charming, flexible, free-form app that combines elements of both note-taking and todo apps. But like uncle Chuck at an all-you-can-eat Vegas-style buffet, trying to shoehorn too much good stuff into one thing can sometimes lead to messy results. The good stuff about Awesome Note ($4) is easy to like. It’s eye-catching. [...]


]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038/feed/ 0 Free-Form Awesome Note Brims Over With Style, Falls Short On Function [Review]http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:48:42 +0000 Eli Milchman http://www.cultofmac.com/?p=33038 Awesome Note is a charming, flexible, free-form app that combines elements of both note-taking and todo apps. But like uncle Chuck at an all-you-can-eat Vegas-style buffet, trying to shoehorn too much good stuff into one thing can sometimes lead to messy results. The good stuff about Awesome Note ($4) is easy to like. It’s eye-catching. [...]


]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cultofmac/bFow/~3/SE26Zi6Nmhs/33038/feed/ 0 Briefly: Pages Clipart 6 adds images, Badia unveils updatehttp://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=846050f60ac09a1e40131d0930ad7b39 http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=846050f60ac09a1e40131d0930ad7b39#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:35:00 +0000 MacNN | The Macintosh News Network http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/03/09/exportools.professional.debuts.as.30.beta/ Jumsoft has extended its collection of images for Apple's iWork software, releasing Pages Clipart 6.0. The number of images has doubled from its previous version, from 500 to 1000, and can be used for everything from illustrating presentations and web pages to creating news letters. All images are divided into twelve different categories and are available in PDF and PNG formats. Tools are also included for resizing and rotating each image....

]]> http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=846050f60ac09a1e40131d0930ad7b39/feed/ 0 I want a Mac Mini on steroidshttp://blogs.computerworld.com/15722/i_want_a_mac_mini_on_steroids?source=rss_weintraub http://blogs.computerworld.com/15722/i_want_a_mac_mini_on_steroids?source=rss_weintraub#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:23:02 +0000 Seth Weintraub 14860 at http://www.9to5mac.com

Quad-Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4850, SSD Drive all in a Mini body. Price: $1000.

Here's how...

read more

]]> http://blogs.computerworld.com/15722/i_want_a_mac_mini_on_steroids?source=rss_weintraub/feed/ 0 WaterField, Quirky launch new cases for Apple’s iPadhttp://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=9ce9341b0aed1748f3349116a83394ba http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=9ce9341b0aed1748f3349116a83394ba#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:15:00 +0000 MacNN | The Macintosh News Network http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/03/09/new.cases.available.now.for.pre.order/ The iPad, not due to ship for another three weeks, is getting its fair share of accessory launches, with several new cases from WaterField and Quirky. WaterField has announced the iPad Smart Case, a drop-in case which features multi-layered padding with a rigid insert and ultrasuede lining, along with a water-resistant exterior to help protect against damage. The case arrives with a low-profile pocket for a charger cable and comes in black, silver, red, brown green and blue. It is due to ship for $60 within one to three weeks of the iPad's initial availability....

]]> http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=9ce9341b0aed1748f3349116a83394ba/feed/ 0 TeamViewer for iPhone allows iPhone to display Mac screenhttp://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=8107faefb151fcdf068b43ca61585111 http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=8107faefb151fcdf068b43ca61585111#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:55:00 +0000 MacNN | The Macintosh News Network http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/03/09/new.app.allows.iphone.to.access.control.macs.pcs/ TeamViewer GmbH has launched an iPhone app that allows users to remotely access the Finder view on a Mac. The screen-sharing app works in conjunction with the company's desktop software which provides a unique password. Entering the info into the iPhone app allows users to access the desktop interface via any Internet connection such as Wi-Fi, 3G or EDGE....

]]> http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=8107faefb151fcdf068b43ca61585111/feed/ 0 Macgamestore launches Murder, She Wrote mystery gamehttp://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=5912446f2987730b80e33c371630dd72 http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=5912446f2987730b80e33c371630dd72#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:40:00 +0000 MacNN | The Macintosh News Network http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/03/09/hidden.object.game.spans.over.80.levels/ Macgamestore.com has launched Murder, She Wrote, a new game based on the classic television show. The hidden-object mystery game allows players to take control of the murder novelist Jessica Fletcher as she attempts to solve a variety of different homicides. The game features over 25 detailed 3D settings for players to travel through, along with familiar TV show characters Seth Hazlitt and Sheriff Mort Metzger....

]]> http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=5912446f2987730b80e33c371630dd72/feed/ 0 HTC lawsuit came after warning by Apple to handset makershttp://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/SPIWab3ejec/htc-lawsuit-came-after-warning-by-apple-to-handset-makers.ars http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/SPIWab3ejec/htc-lawsuit-came-after-warning-by-apple-to-handset-makers.ars#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:25:04 +0000 Chris Foresman http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/03/htc-lawsuit-came-after-warning-by-apple-to-handset-makers.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Apple COO Tim Cook's warning from early 2009 wasn't the only one that handset makers received before Apple sicced the lawyers on HTC last week. According to a research note from Oppenheimer analyst Yal Reiner, Apple began warning top executives at companies such as HTC and Motorola in January that it wasn't too happy about seeing allegedly iPhone-related IP showing up in proposed new products.

According to "industry checks," Cook's comments last January during the quarterly analyst call—that Apple "will not stand for having our IP ripped off, and we'll use whatever weapons that we have at our disposal"—were taken seriously by the likes of LG, Samsung, and even Nokia. Though the Palm Pre openly flaunted multitouch capabilities (what most handset makers believed were at the heart of Cook's warning), its sales numbers haven't proven to be much of a concern for Apple so far.

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]]> http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/SPIWab3ejec/htc-lawsuit-came-after-warning-by-apple-to-handset-makers.ars/feed/ 0 Verizon thinks Wifi-only iPads are a selling opportunity (They’re right)http://www.9to5mac.com/mifi-ipad-269276388 http://www.9to5mac.com/mifi-ipad-269276388#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:15:53 +0000 Seth Weintraub 14859 at http://www.9to5mac.com As a Mifi user already, I've decided to forgo the 3G version of the iPad and stick with Wifi.  The reason is simple.  I already use the Mifi to connect my MacBook Pro to the Internet when I am away from home/Wifi.  Why would I get another plan when I already have 5GB of data/ month on a much better wireless carrier (and an iPhone plan with AT&T)?   If I didn't have the Mifi, I'd be tempted to jailbreak my iPhone and use it as a Mifi.

Certainly there have to be a lot of people out there who need wireless data on the go and would rather be able to connect to two (up to five) devices?  That's what Verizon is thinking.

Engadget shows that Verizon is going after people like me with this internal Verizon iPad positioning document.  

AT&T's CEO is thinking people won't want the 3G iPad. He might be right. (or not)

]]> http://www.9to5mac.com/mifi-ipad-269276388/feed/ 0 eBooks outnumber games in the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000 David Winograd http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ Filed under: ,

The number of eBooks in the App Store has surpassed the number of games for the first time, and the spread is widening. Mobclix, a mobile device advertising agency, reports that as of last month, there were over 27,000 eBook apps while games were relegated to the runner-up position of 25,400 apps. Over the last reported month, new introductions of eBook apps more than doubled that of games (158 eBook versus 71 game apps).

There are a number of reasons being kicked around to explain this phenomenon. It's easier to churn out an eBook than a game app. There are more free eBook than gaming apps, since many of the eBooks are out-of-copyright classics or collections of free content; this lowers the cost of development. Once an eBook engine is built it's fairly trivial to use the framework for another book. Currently there are over 10 times more free eBook apps than paid ones. It's different in gaming where paid apps outstrip free ones by over 2 to 1.

These eBook apps will, of course, work on an iPad, but the Apple idea is to have you use one eBook reader and that would be iBooks. Jason Kincaid of Techcrunch, admittedly with no background evidence, posits that there may be an eBook purge coming. It would be very un-Apple to have an iPad owner searching for a copy of Treasure Island, and letting them find over 25 apps with differing interfaces and many of them free.

This could be confusing for new iPad owners, and more to the point, Apple can't monetize it. It doesn't sound unreasonable that Apple will do whatever it takes to make iBooks the eReader of choice at the expense of the plethora of current eBook apps. They will be doing it in the name of providing a simpler and more enjoyable user experience, but of course you can't pocket what you can't sell.

It will be fascinating to watch the eBook market about two months from now, after the first iPads have been delivered, and to see what Apple has planned.

[via The Guardian]

TUAWeBooks outnumber games in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/feed/ 0 eBooks outnumber games in the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000 David Winograd http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ Filed under: ,

The number of eBooks in the App Store has surpassed the number of games for the first time, and the spread is widening. Mobclix, a mobile device advertising agency, reports that as of last month, there were over 27,000 eBook apps while games were relegated to the runner-up position of 25,400 apps. Over the last reported month, new introductions of eBook apps more than doubled that of games (158 eBook versus 71 game apps).

There are a number of reasons being kicked around to explain this phenomenon. It's easier to churn out an eBook than a game app. There are more free eBook than gaming apps, since many of the eBooks are out-of-copyright classics or collections of free content; this lowers the cost of development. Once an eBook engine is built it's fairly trivial to use the framework for another book. Currently there are over 10 times more free eBook apps than paid ones. It's different in gaming where paid apps outstrip free ones by over 2 to 1.

These eBook apps will, of course, work on an iPad, but the Apple idea is to have you use one eBook reader and that would be iBooks. Jason Kincaid of Techcrunch, admittedly with no background evidence, posits that there may be an eBook purge coming. It would be very un-Apple to have an iPad owner searching for a copy of Treasure Island, and letting them find over 25 apps with differing interfaces and many of them free.

This could be confusing for new iPad owners, and more to the point, Apple can't monetize it. It doesn't sound unreasonable that Apple will do whatever it takes to make iBooks the eReader of choice at the expense of the plethora of current eBook apps. They will be doing it in the name of providing a simpler and more enjoyable user experience, but of course you can't pocket what you can't sell.

It will be fascinating to watch the eBook market about two months from now, after the first iPads have been delivered, and to see what Apple has planned.

[via The Guardian]

TUAWeBooks outnumber games in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/feed/ 0 eBooks outnumber games in the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000 David Winograd http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ Filed under: ,

The number of eBooks in the App Store has surpassed the number of games for the first time, and the spread is widening. Mobclix, a mobile device advertising agency, reports that as of last month, there were over 27,000 eBook apps while games were relegated to the runner-up position of 25,400 apps. Over the last reported month, new introductions of eBook apps more than doubled that of games (158 eBook versus 71 game apps).

There are a number of reasons being kicked around to explain this phenomenon. It's easier to churn out an eBook than a game app. There are more free eBook than gaming apps, since many of the eBooks are out-of-copyright classics or collections of free content; this lowers the cost of development. Once an eBook engine is built it's fairly trivial to use the framework for another book. Currently there are over 10 times more free eBook apps than paid ones. It's different in gaming where paid apps outstrip free ones by over 2 to 1.

These eBook apps will, of course, work on an iPad, but the Apple idea is to have you use one eBook reader and that would be iBooks. Jason Kincaid of Techcrunch, admittedly with no background evidence, posits that there may be an eBook purge coming. It would be very un-Apple to have an iPad owner searching for a copy of Treasure Island, and letting them find over 25 apps with differing interfaces and many of them free.

This could be confusing for new iPad owners, and more to the point, Apple can't monetize it. It doesn't sound unreasonable that Apple will do whatever it takes to make iBooks the eReader of choice at the expense of the plethora of current eBook apps. They will be doing it in the name of providing a simpler and more enjoyable user experience, but of course you can't pocket what you can't sell.

It will be fascinating to watch the eBook market about two months from now, after the first iPads have been delivered, and to see what Apple has planned.

[via The Guardian]

TUAWeBooks outnumber games in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/feed/ 0 eBooks outnumber games in the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000 David Winograd http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/ Filed under: ,

The number of eBooks in the App Store has surpassed the number of games for the first time, and the spread is widening. Mobclix, a mobile device advertising agency, reports that as of last month, there were over 27,000 eBook apps while games were relegated to the runner-up position of 25,400 apps. Over the last reported month, new introductions of eBook apps more than doubled that of games (158 eBook versus 71 game apps).

There are a number of reasons being kicked around to explain this phenomenon. It's easier to churn out an eBook than a game app. There are more free eBook than gaming apps, since many of the eBooks are out-of-copyright classics or collections of free content; this lowers the cost of development. Once an eBook engine is built it's fairly trivial to use the framework for another book. Currently there are over 10 times more free eBook apps than paid ones. It's different in gaming where paid apps outstrip free ones by over 2 to 1.

These eBook apps will, of course, work on an iPad, but the Apple idea is to have you use one eBook reader and that would be iBooks. Jason Kincaid of Techcrunch, admittedly with no background evidence, posits that there may be an eBook purge coming. It would be very un-Apple to have an iPad owner searching for a copy of Treasure Island, and letting them find over 25 apps with differing interfaces and many of them free.

This could be confusing for new iPad owners, and more to the point, Apple can't monetize it. It doesn't sound unreasonable that Apple will do whatever it takes to make iBooks the eReader of choice at the expense of the plethora of current eBook apps. They will be doing it in the name of providing a simpler and more enjoyable user experience, but of course you can't pocket what you can't sell.

It will be fascinating to watch the eBook market about two months from now, after the first iPads have been delivered, and to see what Apple has planned.

[via The Guardian]

TUAWeBooks outnumber games in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/09/ebooks-outnumber-games-in-the-app-store/feed/ 0