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iLife 11 on the way

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:42:33 -0500

A listing for iLife 11 was spotted on Amazon just days ago and may be available within the next month. This long awaited update to the suite of applications for the Mac strangely has no information circulating about new features. Apparently, Apple is super tight-lipped about this update.

New stuff to be announced today

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:09:11 -0500

Today, September 1st 2010, is the iPod announcement day in California. Rumors have been flying around about form factors and cameras on the Touch models. In addition, the Apple TV may become iTV and look for new iLife applications as well since they're woefully overdue.

I'm excited for an iTouch with at least one camera, two cameras would be deal-maker for me.

Erik

New Macs out

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:15:41 -0500

Several new Macs were released recently, with more products to come.

The most impressive is the 12 core Mac Pro in terms of raw power. The 27" iMac i7 that was released recently has won high praise from many computer reviewers for its value. The top model of the i7 iMac is considered a best buy by many.

The new track pad released by Apple is a nice addition to the input devices offered by Apple.

The new Mac Mini has been redesigned to be more user friendly and can be easily upgraded thanks to the new screw-on bottom of the Mini.

Erik

Google has had enough, with Windows

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:00:26 -0500

After an attack that hacked Google last January, presumably from China, Google has announced that it's moving away from Windows-based machines in favor of Macs and Linux-based computers.

This is another blow for Windows, and is among a long list of failures for Microsoft recently. The dominance of Windows in the workplace and at homes is dwindling away, and will most likely lead to more innovations by all computer hardware and software makers in the future to stay competitive.

Apple also passed Microsoft recently as the most valuable computer company in the world.

Erik

Get more from your AppleTV

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:44:44 -0500

I stumbled across some software while researching network storage devices that expands the functionality of the AppleTV. It's called ATVFLASH and it opens up features for the AppleTV that are otherwise not possible. It features options such as using non standard file formats and best of all it enables the USB port to connect to external storage devices.

I haven't used it nor do I own an AppleTV yet, but when I do I'll definitely take another look at this expansion software.

Erik

New MacBook Pros released this week

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:47:26 -0500

On Tuesday, Apple released updated models of its MacBook Pro line. Every model received chip upgrades placing i5 and i7 chips under the hood significantly increasing processor speeds.

Erik

Going HD

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:35:22 -0500

I'm excited this week, as a new camera has been ordered to step into HD production for our clients.

It's been a while since I've made this kind of commitment to new equipment, but I felt like it was time to jump in. I'm expecting delivery on Wednesday of a brand-spanking-new Panasonic AG-HMC150 camera with a few accessories to round-out the upgrade.

I look forward to shooting my forthcoming projects with it.

Erik

Where is iLife 10

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:13:05 -0500

Apple's iLife suite of applications is getting long in the tooth, and a refresh is on the way. It would be nice to see the updated suite of applications released while 2010 is still relatively young. iLife 09 was introduced in January of 2009. It's mid-March now and no word of a release date as of yet. The iPad has taken center stage on Apple's priorities for now.

If I were to guess what the updates would be, I suppose that there would be even greater integration with online social networking services like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and possibly Vimeo.

I don't expect iDVD to be enhanced much more. It seems that Apple is moving away from DVDs in general as sharing of content by home users with online services has become much more prevalent over the past several years.

Don't expect major upgrades, just better integration with social life online.

Erik

iPad orders begin today | Update

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:01:34 -0600

Today is the day that we can all order the iPad. Both the WiFi and the 3G models are available for pre-order. There is a limit of 2 devices per person.

UPDATE:

Apple pre-sold 50,000 iPads in the first two hours that it was for sale this morning, both the WiFi and 3G models. No word on which sold better though. This is an indication that there is great public interest in the iPad.

Erik

New video now online

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:06:14 -0600

I've posted a new video on my site, a shortened version of the full video that appears on the client's site. The video was created to drive traffic to the client site to make people aware of a family situation and what fans of his artwork can do to help out.

Noah is selling his personal collection of his own art to raise money for his son's treatments. This is well documented on his blog, and this link will take you directly to a page that displays what is for sale.

Erik

iPad for sale April 3rd 2010

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:23:56 -0600

A new rumor has the WiFi version of the iPad for sale in stores on Friday, March 26th 2010. This keeps it in-line with the reported March release date, obviously with the 3G version release several weeks later.

Well, the rumor was laid to rest last week when Apple announce a shipping date of April 3rd, 2010 for the WiFi version of the iPad. The 3G version has been slated for arrival four weeks later.

So who's buying one of these? I have to go back to something Steve Jobs said when he introduced Keynote, part of the iWork software package. He said that he had it (Keynote) made for "me." While that statement earned a good chuckle, it says a lot about how Apple, and its 55 year old CEO, thinks these days.

Yes, Steve Jobs turned 55 recently and despite his health issues is still at work changing the way people interact with computers and how they communicate with one another. However, he seems to be one of very few companies that are actually creating items that not only appeal to younger generations, but to the Baby Boomer generation as well.

When the iPad is released, there will be upwards of 150,000 applications that will work on it. Many of those applications already are of great appeal to younger users, games mostly. As well as playing the occasional game on my iPod Touch, I also use it for my email, surfing the web and generally gathering information.

I bought my iPod Touch for a business trip to Los Angeles last February so I could stay connected. It really did come in handy being able to stay connected via email. My iPod Touch has served me well.

So, who will buy one? I think one of the biggest markets will end up being the "Boomer" generation, that would be the generation that Steve Jobs is part of. I believe that a great many of these people are ready for something easier to use than their mobile phone, but don't need something as cumbersome as a laptop for daily use.

Most people don't need to scan documents nor do they produce content for the web, they merely consume data and that's it. My mother, for instance, still uses my PowerBook G4 400. It was my second Apple laptop and her first. She checks her email, surfs the web, and that' it. She has the computer at a desk in a small room because the battery is dead and most likely irreplaceable.

Now give my mom an iPad and she'll be all over the house with it all day long. She does her computing in the morning because she's not crazy about her setup. With an iPad, she'll be able to sit in her big comfy La-Z-Boy and surf and check her mail to her heart's content all while watching some variant of Law and Order.

I'll get the point now. The iPad is a direct response to the "ergonomics of aging" dilemma in our country. As an example, hand over a remote control for any video device to someone over the age of 60 and tell them to change the video input to watch a DVD. Don't forget your plastic tarp to cover up with as their head explodes.

Most technology out there is small and difficult to operate. This has been a problem for my parents since I was a boy. I've always had to figure out everything for them when electronics was the topic of discussion and still do to this day. Do we all remember the blinking 12:00 time on our VCRs that our parents couldn't fix? I do.

The iPad aims to end all the confusion that surrounds everyday computing for a great many people. Touch this icon and your application will launch, pretty simple. Someone still has to configure these devices for mail, but that's what sons and daughters are for.

When my mom's PowerBook kicks it, she'll be getting an iPad as her replacement computer. Soon afterwards, my dad will hijack it from her. Shortly after that, he'll be calling me asking how to set the correct time zone for it.

So who did Steve Jobs make the iPad for? The answer is he made it for us, all of us from ages K through really, really old.

Will I be buying one? You bet.

Erik

MacBook Pros supplies running short

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:27:09 -0600

This could be an indication that MacBook Pros will be updated soon. The rumor that's been swirling around is that the processor will faster, obviously, but may include BTO option for the recently released i5 or i7 processor. These chips are already available in the new iMacs, and a variation of them may be made available for MacBook Pros.

Another possibility may include USB 3, the optical version of USB. It's supposed to be 10 times faster than USB 2, exceeding SATA II speeds.

In addition, SATA III is now out in the wild, so look for that to be made available across the Mac line this year as well.

Erik

10 Billion and Counting

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:23:32 -0600

Today, February 24th, 2010, the iTunes store delivered its 10 billionth song. That number has doubled since 2008.

Coincidentally, today is Steve Jobs' 55th birthday. So, Happy Birthday to Steve Jobs and congratulations to Apple for their success.

Erik

New videos coming soon

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:12:11 -0600

I just finished a couple of videos for an artist I met a couple of years ago. The teaser video will be posted on social media sites and other authorized sites to drive traffic to the artist's site.

For now, I won't be posting these videos here until saturation has run its course for the artist. They turned out nice and I hope they serve their purpose.

The artist is named Noah and his blog has information about a sale he's currently having and why. He's an incredibly talented artist, and his work is worth looking at.

Erik

Updates abound

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:26:40 -0600

Still doing a rebuild of this computer. Copying keychains from previous system since I don't remember all my cryptic passwords.

Erik

Apple online store is down this morning

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:13:12 -0600

That means only one thing, new products today. Aperture 3 was already announce this morning and it is widely expected that new Macbook Pros will be announced today as well.

Erik

iPad announced January 27th 2010

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:21:22 -0600

Well, it's official. After years of rumors, Steve Jobs is on-stage demoing the just announced iPad computer. It's a cross between a laptop and a smart phone and does it look cool.

More to come here, but tonight's news will most definitely be reporting on the iPad as well.

Erik

Happy Thanksgiving

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:34:39 -0600

I wish everyone of my friends and clients a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Erik

Comcast SMC 8014 wrestling match updated

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:42:23 -0600

I was back at the new client again today waiting for Comcast to deliver the SMC 8013. They didn't. In fact, the tech told me that they're incompatible with their network which is why they use the 8014.

Long story short, the tech installed a replacement SMC 8014, I turned off all of the services, plugged in the Airport that I had pre-configured with DNS, routable IP, subnet mask and gateway IP, and it worked. I was shocked, and relieved.

Now the client has wireless access, something they had never had before, and their freelancers can connect from home to work on projects.

Everyone is happy!

Erik

New iMac i7 Quad Core arriving dead or with cracked screens

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:21:29 -0600

There's no evidence yet as to why this is happening, but Apple is replacing the faulty units with a lead time of 2 weeks for the replacement to arrive.

Some speculate that packaging is the culprit, but no i5 Quad Core models of the new iMac have reportedly been damaged or D.O.A. Hopefully this isn't a problem that will persist for Apple or consumers.

Erik

Don't smoke around your Mac, or your AppleCare will be voided

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:08:07 -0600

This report just popped up today. If you smoke in front of your Mac and you take it in for AppleCare service, you will be denied based on OSHA rules according to Apple. The tar and gunk inside is considered "hazardous material", and Apple employees are not allowed to work on a device in that condition.

Computer fans suck in air to run across components and heat sinks to cool internal components. Smoking around any computer will also suck in smoke inside your computer. All that tar and nasty stuff binds to the internal fans and components making them sticky, and all the dust that gets sucked in will become permanently adhered inside your computer.

Apple has denied AppleCare claims to two people that brought in computers in this condition, although apparently smoking damage is not currently outlined in the AppleCare warranty. I would expect this to change shortly, adding smoking as a voidable warranty condition.

If you smoke, take it outside.

Erik

Comcast SMC 8014 wrestling match

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:51 -0600

It's been a maddening three weeks with a new client. I was hired to participate in an AT&T to Comcast internet transition for a small marketing/advertising company to make sure that the site had internet access when Comcast was done.

The need of the customer was simple, business class Internet access, including wireless access when clients visited their office. What I wasn't told as I was walking out the door was that they needed remote access for freelance workers. I didn't have time to enable that feature when I was there, so I had to return to do it.

The SMC 8014 is your run-of-the-mill modem with four ports. It also provides DHCP and NAT. We wanted to use the new Airport for those services not the modem, so it was on to Comcast tech support to figure out how to shut all services down so the modem would operate in bridge mode.

Long story short, the SMC 8014 doesn't operate in true bridge mode, so it won't work with what we're trying to accomplish. However, Comcast does have the SMC 8013 modem which does operate in bridge mode and will allow us to utilize the static IP the client is paying for as well as use the Airport for DHCP and NAT services.

Moral of the story is make sure that Comcast, or whatever provider you use, knows exactly how their equipment will be used so they can get you the right hardware for the job.

Erik

OSX.Loosemaque is a Mac file destroyer!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:04:27 -0600

A "Galaga Style" game is malware that deletes files from your Mac until it crashes itself trying to delete System files. It's named OSX.Loosemaque, and it starts by deleting files in your home documents folder as it moves around deleting your files.

So, beware what you download and make sure that what you're downloading comes from a trusted source.

Erik

Why I use a battery backup on my computers

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:00:26 -0500

I've always has APC UPS in my computer workflow. I've never had a critical need for my UPS until last night.

I was coming home with one of my daughters from basketball practice when all of a sudden there was a bright white flash in the sky followed by a very loud buzzing noise, then the entire neighborhood went dark.

We seem to have a blackout once a year. It's never been too inconvenient all things considered. However, last night I had a client's Drobo at home rebuilding itself after replacing a hard drive. If I hadn't have had that UPS, all of his data on the Drobo would have been lost forever.

The power came back on after about an hour. I was very lucky. I am glad that I bought the APC UPS, they're well worth the money.

Erik

27.1 inch Windows 7 to be released tomorrow

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:06:34 -0500

Well, Apple did take away some of Microsoft's thunder yesterday with the release of new hardware. Forget the earnings report, that 27 inch iMac is astonishing. I do have one gripe about the new iMacs; there should have been an eSATA expansion port added to the 27 inch model since Apple is touting it as a Final Cut Studio workhorse. The eSATA interface is an industry standard for external storage devices.

I like the SD slot, especially since some video cameras use SDHC cards, but there should have been an eSATA slot for offloading video projects onto external drives for editing.

So, two new iMacs, a totally revamped Macbook and an updated Mac mini that includes a server version with two 500GB hard drives with OS X 10.6.x server installed.

There were other smaller updates as well. The $20.00 Apple Remote received a make-over. The Airport Extreme and Time Capsule wireless routers now have reconfigured internal antennae that increase its range by 50% over the previous 2009 model.

There's a new mouse, the Magic Mouse, that is wireless and multi-touch and comes standard with the new iMac as does a wireless keyboard. Both devices are Bluetooth enabled and don't require a Bluetooth USB key as Bluetooth is built-in to or is an option on all Mac models.

That should just about do it for this year for Apple hardware updates. Next up will be the January release of what is rumored to be the first Apple tablet computer.

Windows 7 due October 22nd

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:49:06 -0500

Next week, Microsoft will release Windows 7. Pricing according to engadget starts at $119.99, and goes all the way up to $319.99.

In review, Snow Leopard cost just $29.99. Now Snow Leopard was billed as an optimization of OS X 10.5 and not a full-featured upgrade.

I still wonder why people put themselves through the Windows gauntlet of malware and spyware. I just don't get it.

Erik

iMac and Mac Book inventories rapidly running out

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:21:23 -0500

There's word on the street that some online retailers are running low or are completely out of iMacs and Mac Books. This news follows reports that Apple will shortly be updating those product lines and possibly the Mac mini line as well.

We should find out on Tuesday, but no one knows which Tuesday. Look for updates soon, on a Tuesday.

Erik

USB 3 to be deployed early 2010

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:25:47 -0500

USB 3, the new hi-speed communications standard has been slated for release in early 2010. There's never been a better time to not buy a computer.

USB 3 has been estimated to communicate 10 times faster than USB 2, a blazing 4.8Gbps transfer rate. That's very fast, fast enough to stream HD video from a live feed to a computer for capture or streaming to the net. One GB of data should move in about 3.3 seconds.

USB 3 is said to utilize fiber optic cables, will be more energy efficient than USB 2 and will be backwards compatible with USB 2 devices. We'll find out in January.

Erik

Another dead drive and more lost data

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:07:35 -0500

I was talking to a friend of mine last night that I used to work with years ago and he sounded depressed. I asked him what was going on, he began with "I have this 2TB drive..." That's when I stopped him. I knew what he was going to say next.

So, again, if you don't want to lose your data, back it up before you park it on your local hard drive. There are lots of paid online services that do this for you automatically if you're not disciplined to do this on your own. I will provide a link on this site to one that's mac-centric in the coming days.

If you are disciplined, back up data to a separate drive, or to a CD or DVD. Don't trust your data in one place and don't assume that your hard dirve is safe because it's not.

Erik

Technology in schools

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:04:30 -0500

I was sent an interesting article about schools adopting iPods and laptops for classwork and doing away with textbooks.

It's about time.

Erik

iPods 09-09-09

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:55:17 -0500

Well, a lot of people are grumbling about what was missing from Tuesday's iPod event, such as a Beatles music catalog, a tablet computer or an iPod Touch with a built-in camera.

First and foremost, Steve Jobs was there. He hasn't been seen for quite a long time so it was nice to see him back in front of the media. He's still looking a bit thin, but he's back and that's what's important.

I'm not personally in the market for a new iPod. I purchased a Touch model early this year to use on a trip to stay in contact while I was away. It beat the heck out of dragging my 17" laptop. Having said that, I'm really liking the Nano with the video camera.

A major part of what I do is video. I use two cameras at many events, one of which is mounted to a stationary object or a ceiling. I envision using one of these new Nanos for this purpose, although it would be in a limited fashion.

What is really nice about the video feature on the Nano is simply being able to quickly shoot and share video to family and friends. No tape, no logging and capturing.

It's looking good for the iPod. I think Apple is going to sell a lot of Nanos just because of the video feature.

Erik

New iPods on Wednesday, September 9th

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:59:29 -0500

Apple is hosting their annual iPod party next week to unveil updated iPod models.

The rumor mill is buzzing about built-in cameras, video capabilities and up to 64GB iPod Touch models.

The hope of a Beatles catalog release is also rumored to be included in the iTunes Store.

Additionally, the Apple TV is due for an upgrade, although some speculate that Apple wants to keep the iPod event "iPod only."

Erik

Free is good, but not always

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:34:18 -0500

Online "free" versions of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard come at a cost, the dreaded OSX_JAHLAV.K trojan, otherwise known as the DNS Changer Trojan.

So, is free good? A free doughnut at the DD is good. A free cup 'o' Monday morning joe at McDonald's is good. Free unauthorized, pirated software from an unknown and unverified source that one downloads and installs on one's computer, really bad!

Hey, just pay the $29.00 already. Apple put a lot of work into it and are selling it for what QuickTime Pro used to cost us.

What's $29.00? A week's worth of Starbucks plus tips. Brew your coffee at home this week!

Erik

More site updates today

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:27:26 -0500

Well, I figured out a CSS issue I was having. Thank you w3c for the great site.

I'm sure my web guy will have a few things to say about it, but it's online and ready to go. Minor tweeks will be coming soon, and a video tonight if I have time.

Erik

New to the site tonight

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:26:21 -0500

I became a DriveSavers affiliate recently and have now added banners to the site for your convenience.

DriveSavers has been in business since 1985 and has a proven track record for file recovery on broken hard drives. Clicking their banner link on our site entitles you to a discount on services provided by DriveSavers.

DriveSavers can recover data from Desktops, Laptops, RAID, NAS, SAN, removable media, digital cameras, computer tape, iPhone, iPod and MP3 players.

If you've experienced data loss due to a corrupted or malfunctioning hard drive, DriveSavers is the place to go!

Erik

XProtect

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:47:20 -0500

The Macintosh platform suffers from few virus and malware problems. One of the most recent malware problem affected DNS and was caused by adult websites forcing visitors to install software to view movies. Those of you who did, you earned it.

In fact, many of the malware and virus problems that plague PC users simply don't affect Macs at all. In order to be effective, malware has to be installed deep within the Mac OS architecture which requires administrative authentication in order to be installed.

Beginning with OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, Apple has built in protection that scans decompressed application installers for potential system "tom foolery". It's called XProtect.

Are Macs infallible? No, nothing is when it comes to computers. Until XProtect is fully functional and able to catch everything, the best course of action is to periodically check your system for viruses and malware. A great (and free) program to do this is ClamXAV.

I've used ClamXAV in the past and it's removed Windows viruses from my Mac such as the Word 97 virus. This particular virus lays dormant on Macs but can be propagated back to Windows users.

I've always either had a bootable disc or an external drive to perform these tasks, just to be safe.

Erik

Mac OS Snow Leopard 10.6 available Friday August 28th

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:50:58 -0500

Apple's new OS, Snow Leopard will be available Friday, August 28th for purchase. This is a good week to buy a Mac because you'll be able to run two different OS's.

Even better, the OS is available to current Leopard 10.5 users for an upgrade price of $29.00 for a single user license and $49.00 for a family pack for five computers. This is a first. Historically, the cost has been $129.00 for a single license and $199.00 for a family pack.

Apple is taking pre-orders now online or you can get it at your local Apple Store or other retailers that sell Macs.

Apple has streamlined this release, adding many new features while cutting the installation size of the OS by 7GB.

Erik

Data backups and archiving

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:59:34 -0500

Backing up data is a headache at best. It's work, and after working on your computer all day the last thing many people want to do is more work. So, how does one safely backup the data that's important to them?

The first rule of backing up and archiving your data is to keep your data at two different locations. For instance, burn all your photos to a CD or DVD before adding them to a library such as iPhoto. Burn two copies of the same disc and periodically send one disc to a family member or close friend. This prevents loss of data due to flood, fire or theft. I burn all my discs twice and keep one copy at home and one copy elsewhere.

When burning a CD or DVD, let the software completely verify the data has been burned correctly. This takes longer, but ensures that your disc has been burned without errors or corruption.

USB flash drives are coming in larger capacities all the time. I own a couple, but I use them to move data not store data. I can't recommend them for long term storage because I don't believe that they're designed for that. Additionally, they're small and easy to misplace.

Tape backups are another option, but tend to be costly and out of the price range of most consumers. However, for small businesses, a tape backup and archiving strategy is something that can be considered. Make sure to bill the cost of backups into each job and don't make this and option, charge everyone for the same service and do it whether they like it or not.

Tapes can be expensive, but tend to hold a lot of data. LTO tapes can have a shelf life of 30+ years if stored properly and can be written to and rewritten more times than most users actually will ever do. While it's not the only choice out there, LTO is an industry standard and is compatible on both major computing platforms.

Hard drives are the one of the worst devices to backup or archive to. Hard drives fail, it's inevitable. Even a brand new drive can put data at risk. If you have to off-load data from a workstation to an external hard drive, do it over two different hard drives before deleting the data from your local drive. This is known as dual redundancy and it's the safest way to temporarily store data on a hard drive.

So, the best practice tips are as follows: Don't every rely your data to be safe on one device or at one location. Always backup twice, minimum, and don't keep all of the backups at the same location.

If you're simply not disciplined enough to practice safe backups or archiving, then look into online services that perform backups for your computer automatically and at a price.

Erik

Microsoft ordered to stop selling Word

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:52:57 -0500

In a patent infringement lawsuit filed in Eastern Texas, a Judge has ordered Microsoft to stop selling it's flagship word processing application, Word. The lawsuit applies to versions of Word that open .XML, .DOCX or .DOCM files.

Versions include Word 2003 and Word 2007 as well as future versions. It's unclear if the Mac versions of Word are affected.

I guess this is another reason to look at Google Docs, or even a nice little freeware program for the Mac called Bean.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie these days. Lawsuits seem to be the way to get it.

Erik

Mac Tablet on the way

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:53:01 -0500

There's been much speculation over the past couple of years about an Apple tablet, similar to the Newton, being produced. Well, now the rumors are really flying. Some are speculating that the device will be announced in September alongside an iPod refresh and released early next year. Others are saying that it's already in production and will be released with the iPod refresh announcement.

This device is Apple's answer to the NetBook being produced by PC manufacturers. NetBooks are smaller and slower than larger laptops and are designed for ultra-portability for web surfing and email. Problem is they run Windows, so users still have to purchase software to keep them safe from viruses and other malware.

The Mac tablet is rumored to sport a 10" screen and connect via iTunes for software updates as well as App Store integration.

I'm excited to see this device when it's released. It will presumably run a variation of Mac OS Snow Leopard, much like the iPhone runs a stripped-down version of Apple's current OS.

I'm sure whatever it looks like or how it functions, it will give the PC makers and Microsoft a run for their money.

Erik

Consumer Reports likes Mac laptops over PC rivals

Wed, 13 May 2009 19:29:49 -0500

In the June 2009 study, Consumer Reports overwhelmingly recommends Apple MacBooks and MacBook Pros over their PC counter-parts. Additionally, the independent research company gave Apple the highest score for tech support. Apple's Mac Mini and iMac models came in a close second.

Erik

Drobo Pro now available

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:43:30 -0500

A new Drobo model was introduced today, the Drobo Pro. This new model holds up to eight drives for a maximum of 16 Terabytes of storage. The Drobo Pro is capable of RAID levels 0, 5 and 6.

For those of you unfamiliar with RAID, level 0 provides no redundancy which means no protection in the event one of the drives were to fail. If you lose one drive, you lose everything. RAID 0 is commonly used for capturing and editing video.

RAID level 5 will reserve one of the drives for data redundancy. If one drive fails, the user can replace the failed drive and the device will automatically rebuild itself back to RAID 5 protection.

RAID level 6 provides dual redundancy. A device can lose up to two drives without losing any data.

Another feature added to the Drobo Pro is iSCSI, a network ready Gigabit Ethernet interface that compliments the already available USB2 and Firewire 800 interfaces.

The Drobo Pro is also rack mountable for use in Data room racks.

Erik

Security expert says Macs are safer for most users

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:59:51 -0500

Security expert and hacking contestant Charlie Miller says that Macs are safer for most users. Read an interview with Charlie Miller to find out why.

Erik

Things I like in the latest round of updates

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:39:36 -0500

The first item I really liked was the updated Airport Extreme. The feature that impressed me that I'm not sure any other manufacturer has included is the public and private networks on the same device. The new Airport has a public 2GHz network and a private 5GHz network. This is a great feature for businesses that want to share their network but not their data.

The second item which is probably not new but I just became aware of it is that Mac Pros have two extra SATA ports built onto the motherboard that are unused. With a little knowledge, users can add two SATA ports to an unused PCI slot on the back of the computer very inexpensively. Additionally, users can add a Blu-Ray optical drive in their second optical bay in the Mac Pro.

Be advised, Apple prohibits the playback of commercial DVDs on Macs. Your own creations should play back just fine.

Erik

Updates to the site

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:58:41 -0600

Hey everyone,

I've recently been working on the site to emphasize the services we provide by updating the Specials page on this site. Included are pages that describe in detail specials for our Mac work, video work and web work. To visit these pages, start by clicking on the Specials link above.

Thanks for visiting,

Erik

We're back

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:21:09 -0600

Hey,

I've been taking a break from updating the site recently but now I'm back. There has been a lot going on in the Mac community and I'm ready to comment on things soon.

I hope everyone is doing well and had a great holiday season.

Erik

Happy New Year

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:41:11 -0600

I'd like to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2009. Be safe tonight.

Erik

Trevor Carlton at AnimationArt.com Woodfield Mall December 6th

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:57:46 -0600

Hey everyone,

Trevor Carlton is coming back for a live performance on Saturday, December 6th at 1:30 p.m. at AnimationArt.com's store at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg IL. Last years event was great! Trevor painted Winnie the Pooh and Tinker Bell. This year will be another great painting of characters from one of my favorite Disney movies. Sorry, I can't say what it is so don't ask.

Trevor's 2007 performance can be viewed on our website (QuickTime is required) or right here right now via YouTube. The QuickTime video looks better than the YouTube video.

Trevor Carlton performing live at AnimationArt.com December 2007

I was fortunate to spend much of the day with Trevor between performances and he really is a fun, down-to-earth person. I also was able to get an impromptu on-camera interview with him that's available to view on our video page. The interview video is also below via YouTube.

Trevor Carlton pre-show interview December 2007

This year, Trevor will be debuting his latest artwork entitled "Fab Five Go Hawaiian." Here's the official press release for the event.

Here is a close-up of the painting that's being debuted this year.

Of course, all information about this event is available on the AnimationArt.com website.

This is an incredible event to be a part of. Trevor Carlton only appears in the Midwest at AnimationArt.com once a year. In addition to the event on Saturday, Trevor will be signing any artwork that's purchased that day. There's a lot to choose from at the gallery, especially Tinker Bells for those of you with daughters. There are plenty of Mickey Mouse paintings to choose from as well.

On top of all this, there will be a Hawaiian-themed luau Friday, December 5th for people who buy a limited edition copy of Fab Five Go Hawaiian. For details on this invitation-only event, call the gallery at 800-650-2357. There's a limited number of these paintings and they'll go fast. Share the link to this page with friends and family. If you plan on going, give the gallery a call, let them know you're going to Trevor's performance on December 6th, and tell them you found out about it here at Keart Multimedia!

Erik

Amazon.com Widgets

Noah shoot tomorrow at AnimationArt.com located at Woodfield Mall

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:55:11 -0600

Tomorrow from 1:30 to around 6:00, Disney artist Noah will be signing and personalizing his art at AnimationArt.com's location at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg IL. I'll be there shooting video and stills for their website. Hope to see you there!

Erik

You can buy an iPod directly from our site!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:44:16 -0600

Right now, the iPod nano, iPod touch and iPod classic are all available below Apple's MSRP at Amazon. You can buy directly off our site. Just visit our Home page, Experience page or our About page to buy an iPod from Amazon right now.

Erik

$50.00 to $100.00 rebates at Amazon for Apple laptops

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:04:54 -0500

Buy a qualifying MacBook, MacBook Air or 15" MacBook Pro by November 17th to qualify for their rebate promotion. $50.00 rebates are for the MacBooks and MacBook Air, $100.00 rebates are for the !5" MacBook Pro. The last submission date for these rebates is December 17th, 2008.

I have an Amazon link for all models of Apple's latest laptops on my Specials page. Click on a model and you'll be taken directly to Amazon.com where you will also find additional rebate information.

Erik

My current obsession

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:46:34 -0500

Hey, not really a Mac related entry this time. I just wanted to let all you readers out there know that I absolutely love Redbox!

Erik

New Apple laptops and a new Cinema Display

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:04:27 -0500

Apple released new MacBooks and MacBook Pros on Tuesday along with an updated MacBook Air and a new 24" Cinema display with integrated connectors for the new MacBooks as well as an integrated iSight camera, mic, and speakers.

The most interesting note on the new laptops is the new manufacturing process. The body of the new MacBooks is milled, lasered and buffed from a solid block of aluminum. It is a fascinating process and there's a video of it on Apple's site, somewhere.

I like em! I like that the new Cinema display has built-in iSight technology. I would expect that to be integrated into Apple's other display models as well. Looks like we'll have to wait until MacWorld 2009 in January for the 17" MacBook Pro.

Erik

New laptops to be revealed next Tuesday

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:39:27 -0500

It's official, Apple has announced an event for next Tuesday, October 14th, to present the latest versions of their laptop computers.

Design changes are expected, along with an aluminum MacBook.

Erik

Steve Jobs isn't dead again...

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:39:03 -0500

Today, Friday October 3rd, there was a report leaked early in the day that Steve Jobs suffered a heart attack. Well, according to Apple, he hasn't.

This is the time each year that Apple typically enjoys a surge in their stock value due to releases of new products. It's beginning to seem, at least to me, that there are many unscrupulous people out there that try to artificially lower the value of Apple stock for personal gain.

Apple stock was down around 10 points this morning following the news, only to jump right back up after Apple denied the report. A person that bought stock after being down would have earned $14.00+ per share. Multiply that by 100,000 shares and someone just made a cool 1.4 million dollars.

It makes me wonder.

Erik

I'm an affiliate!

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:14:57 -0500

Hey all,

I've been busy looking into affiliate programs to post on my site for products and services that I have used and/or trust based on previous experience.

The first posting on my site is for TechRestore, a company that specializes in iPod, PowerBook, MacBook and MacBook Pro services for LCD screen replacement, data recovery, hard drive upgrades and other services.

Soon I'll have a page posted named "Links" that features all of my affiliation programs. Look for it to show up soon.

Erik

Mac trojan horse still causing problems, and now the fix...

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:29:17 -0500

A DNS trojan horse malware program package named "DNSChanger", also known as OSX.RSPlug and OSX/Puper has been causing Mac users headaches for about a year now. This malware is disguised as a video codec needed to view QuickTime movies on porn sites. The program changes the users DNS settings and automatically changes them if a user resets them.

The effect of the malware is very slow web browsing or a complete shutdown of web browsing altogether.

The first fix is to download DNSChanger Removal Tool-1.1 and run it. The link takes you to versiontracker, the most trusted updates site for software that runs on OS X.

Another method recommended by Apple is to remove QuickTime.xpt from Library>Internet Plug-ins. Check both the system Library folder located at the top directory of your hard drive and the Library folder located in your home folder.

As always, it's best to run all OS X updates using Software Update which is part of OS X.

Be careful out there!

Erik

Microsoft cannot catch a break

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:50:08 -0500

In their new "I'm a PC" adds, it's been revealed through metadata that the agency that created the ad did it at least partially on Macs.

What will Microsoft think of next?

Erik

OS X 10.5.5 released

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:09:45 -0500

Apple released another major update this week to its Leopard operating system, along with numerous other updates including iTunes 8, QuickTime 7.5.5 and security updates.

As always, disconnect any external devices when installing updates and quit all running applications. A quick permissions repair prior to installing updates is also a good idea.

One of my favorite free maintenance applications was recently updated for Intel Macs and Leopard, AppleJack. I've used AppleJack for years now and it's resolved multiple strange problems for me. The catch with AppleJack is that it must be run in single user mode otherwise it will ruin your OS.

Erik

New iPods, iTunes 8 and potential VOIP apps for the iPod Touch

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:01:11 -0500

As expected, Apple announced new iPod models yesterday as well as iTunes 8. The new iPods require that iTunes 8 is installed which also corresponds with an updated version of QuickTime and Front Row.

Now I'm a pretty simple guy, easy to please, not "high-maintenance" by any stretch of the imagination. So when I saw the 'Genius' feature in iTunes 8 I didn't think much of it. I activated it, but most likely won't use it. Frankly, I like to listen to what I want to, when I want to. That's the beauty of the iPod. I'm sure many people will really enjoy the 'Genius' feature though.

What really grabbed my attention yesterday was the new iPod Touch. Sure, its smaller and lighter than the original, it has the Nike + hardware built in and is more environmentally friendly in terms of manufacturing and recycling.

That's not the reason why I'm interested in it. I'm intrigued by the optional headphones with the built in microphone.

The fact that the Touch has the option of audio input via a microphone opens up VOIP options (via WiFi only; AT&T contractually won't allow VOIP over their EDGE and 3G networks with the iPhone.) Recently, Apple was allegedly looking for WiMax engineers. WiMax is a broadband wireless protocol that connects wireless devices in a similar manner as WiFi. The difference is that WiMax can have up to a 4-5 mile diameter range (line of sight), and can be extended up to 30 miles if the signal is repeated.

Applications such as Skype and Gizmo can create VOIP applications that can work on the new iPod Touch immediately via WiFi. These applications can make and receive calls on personal computers to phones already.

If WiMax is eventually built-in to iPhones and iPod Touch models, it will open up a entirely new way to stay connected whether it's to the Internet or to a phone.

Erik