The avalanche of little hints that June will see an iPhone redesign mean either that the world realises what benefits can be had from faking some details and getting page hits, or that indeed a new iPhone will make its debut at June's WWDC.
The latest hint is this page from O2, saying that it just doesn't have any more iPhones to sell.
Something about this just feels odd to me, though; if indeed there won't be a new model until WWDC, that's a whole month during which O2 won't be able to sell iPhones, and even though we understand that sales have been a little more sluggish than O2 had hoped, that's still a very long time. It also seems a bit weird that a company would shout so loud about being out of stock of a high-profile product. It's almost like the equivalent of the Apple Store being down – when there's no technical reason for it to be – but I can't see what O2 hopes to achieve by pulling the same stunt. Maybe the new iPhone is closer than we thought? If it were to be released next Tuesday – the traditional day of the week on which Apple launches new kit – then perhaps O2 would have drummed up a little swell of publicity in advance of iPhone 2. It's quite possible, however, that this 'no more iPhones' notice will disappear in the next few days when O2 magically receives new stock.
Are you excited about the prospect of a new iPhone? Just bought one and regret it? What would you like to see in the new model? Let us know in the comments!
UPDATE Our colleagues at TechRadar.com have confirmed with O2 that it's just a temporary supply issue; more 16GB iPhones are on their way, though the fate of the 8GB model is less certain.
Wednesday April 30, 2008
Get your video shown on TV!
We've been contacted by the U show, a new satellite broadcast show that allows filmmakers to pay to have their material broadcast on Sky TV. As long as the film complies with broadcast guidelines then it is guaranteed to be shown. If you've been making movies on your Mac with iMovie or Final Cut then this could be the ideal chance to have them shown to the world on TV.
The show is transmitted on Sky Digital channel 168, Information TV, and aims to give broadcast exposure to talented filmmakers and unsigned bands (U show bands).
Here's the good bit: The first 10 videos (Max 6 minutes) sent in by MacFormat readers will be aired free of charge on the pilot show, so make sure you specify that you are a MacFormat reader. Please send videos on miniDV or disc to:
The U show
PO Box 1052
CHELTENHAM
GL50 9JP
Include a note with your contact details, the fact you are a MacFormat reader and any caption you would like with the video.
Following the pilot show MacFormat readers will receive a 50% discount on booked airtime. The U Show are charging at £0.60 per second broadcast plus a £7.50 production fee. Therefore, with the discount applied, a 5 minute film will cost £93.75 to place in the show. All you have to do is write SHOOTR in the promotional code box when ordering your airtime. Your film will also be repeated on a separate date.
The first pilots are to be aired from June 3rd, so get sending your material in.
Macs are easy to use, but there are still great workarounds and timesavers that can make them even better. This issue’s main feature includes essential tips and tricks to get more from Tiger and Leopard, from sharing data and synchronising settings to working smarter and faster with keyboard shortcuts.
We also investigate the new Apple TV 2 update and try out the movie rental service, and we talk to the development community about the future of the iPhone.
Also this issue
Tutorials
Get to grips with Aperture 2
Customise Leopard’s Finder
Work faster with Flickr
Get .Mac for less
Cut out images in Photoshop
And more…
Reviews
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.5GHz
Apple MacBook 2.4GHz
Apple AirPort Express
Apple Time Capsule
Roxio Toast 9 Titanium
Softpress Freeway Pro 5
Six security programs rounded up
And more…
Mac questions answered
Unbootable iPod after jailbreaking; cursor problems on my MacBook; printing through a firewall; IP conflict for no apparent reason and more…
On the DVD
Three full programs: MacJournal 3.3, NetFinder 2.3.3 and RAGE WebDesign 2.9.6, plus Chinese lessons, Photoshop training videos, hot demos and more…
It’s all in MacFormat issue 195, on sale now!
Visit the MacFormat forum by clicking here Subscribe to MacFormat and never miss an issue again!
Monday April 28, 2008
Adobe's Photoshop manager, John Nack, joins us to discuss Apple in the latest MacFormat podcast 28/04/08
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
Is the long wait for the 64-bit version of Photoshop worth it? Adobe's Photoshop manager, John Nack, joins us to discuss. Also: are discounted shareware bundles a good investment for developers and consumers? And Trevor Middleton answers your questions.
Here are your links for this week's show...
You can subscribe to the enhanced edition of MacFormat This Week through iTunes. To do this, click here.
Or you can download the files directly: For the enhanced edition of this show, click here.
These formidable Mac and iPod accessories are not to be missed
This month, MacFormat has teamed up with Altec Lansing, which has consistently impressed us over the last few years with well-built and superb-sounding speakers for Macs and iPods alike.
Altec Lansing manufactures so many different variants of speaker that it makes your head spin, but we have yet to see a poorly built model carrying this brand. The prizes on offer in this competition are two models from the new range. Up for grabs are one of three first-prize T612-powered audio systems with their own iPod-docking bays and remotes, or one of ten Orbit-MP3 portable speakers for slipping into your backpack and taking on the road.
The T612 is a flagship release from Altec Lansing. It’s a thoroughly well-built desktop speaker for iPods or iPhones, and comes with a nifty little remote to boot. Audio inputs will even support a signal from your Mac, and whatever the source, expect buckets of undistorted sound at any volume. Everything about it oozes engineering prowess, and it has every feature we could ask for without getting bogged down in showy gadgetry. It’s a superb desktop system that will amplify your iPod, iPhone or Mac.
Enter this competition and you also get the chance to win one of ten excellent runner-up prizes: Orbit-MP3 speakers. These are about the best portable speakers for an iPod we’ve seen. They take a 3.5mm jack and sound brilliant in small areas.
For more info about Altec Lansing speakers, visit www.alteclansing.com. Meanwhile, click here to enter our competition now! Competition closes on 30 April 2008. click here
Tuesday April 15, 2008
Aperture 2 review, Mac health check & more! New MacFormat This Week podcast 14th April 2008
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
This issue we've got some essential health check advice for your Mac with MacFormat editor Graham Barlow, a closer look at our Aperture 2 review with Mark Sparrow, our May shareware picks with Craig Grannell and Trevor Middleton answers your questions in our regular Q&A slot.
Here are your links for this week's show...
You can subscribe to the enhanced edition of MacFormat This Week through iTunes. To do this, click here.
Or you can download the files directly: For the enhanced edition of this show, click here.
A couple of days ago, I was in a conference call with Adobe. John Nack, the product manager for Photoshop, wanted to tell us about what 64-bit computers mean for Photoshop. The bottom line is that while the Windows version of Photoshop will be 64-bit, the Mac version will remain 32-bit. Here's the important bits:
This is not because Adobe hates the Mac as a platform; it's to do with changes Apple made to the tools companies use to develop applications.
Most people shouldn't care – you only see the advantage of 64-bit apps if you need to access huge – more than 4GB – amounts of RAM; in the case of Photoshop, this means working on massive images. The huge majority of folks are likely to see only very minor speed increases.
Nack's post on the subject is a great primer if you want to know more about the switch from Carbon to Cocoa, and the ever-excellent John Gruber has his own post-match analysis here.
And yes, the Mac will get a 64-bit version of Photoshop; if all goes to plan, it should be included as part of CS5.
Wednesday April 02, 2008
MacFormat issue 194 on sale now!
Essential Mac health check
Keep your Mac in tip-top condition
If your Mac has been flagging of late, it’s about time you gave it a thorough health check. It could just need some more RAM to give it a boost, or it could benefit from a full system check. Whatever it needs, our feature will guide you on the way.
Also this issue, MacFormat Editor, Graham Barlow, spent a month with the super-slim MacBook Air – read what he thinks now he’s used it for a while instead of his trusty MacBook. Christopher Phin goes wireless with his music and investigates the crackly world of Bluetooth audio.
Also this issue
Tutorials
Correct camera distortion
Deign pages in Word 2008
Network Macs and PCs
Master Leopard 10.5.2
Back up and restore your Mac
And more…
Reviews
Apple Aperture 2
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac
Creative Zen Stone Plus & speaker
Griffin Evolve
Group Test of six 32-inch LCD TVs
And more…
Mac questions answered
Desktop publishing on a MacBook Pro; resetting keychains for Safari; stop word files from inflating; Intel MacBook battery problems fixed; speeding up Aperture and more…
On the DVD
Three full programs: Captain FTP 5.2, KavaTunes 1.9 and WebCopier 2.0 plus Portuguese lessons, scrapbooking software, hot demos and more…
It’s all in MacFormat issue 194, on sale now!
Visit the MacFormat forum by clicking here Subscribe to MacFormat and never miss an issue again!
Tuesday April 01, 2008
Issue 194 DVD cover
Our DVD in issue 194 is mounted in a clear plastic wallet. If you'd like a cover to print out then here's the PDF of issue 194's MacFormat DVD cover for you to download. Just click on the image or here for the PDF.
Tiny amount of free RAM
I've just upgraded my Mac mini's RAM – the tutorial will appear in MacFormat soon – and have a couple of 256MB PC5300 chips lying here on my desk. If you want them, drop me an email and I'll mail them out to you in proper antistatic packets.
Monday March 31, 2008
The iPhone SDK; a developer's tale - new MacFormat This Week Podcast 31/03/08
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
We talk to Polar Bear Farm about what the iPhone means as a platform to developers, Craig Grannell tells us all about using the easy, cheap shareware tool SuperDuper to keep all your documents and photos safe from a hard disk crash, and Trevor Middleton answers your questions in our regular Q&A slot.
Here are your links for this week's show...
You can subscribe to the enhanced edition of MacFormat This Week through iTunes. To do this, click here.
Or you can download the files directly: For the enhanced edition of this show, click here.
Today, Adobe launched a public beta of Photoshop Express, its free online photo editor. It's not, you won't be surprised to hear, a replacement for Photoshop or even Photoshop Elements, but as a free online editor and manager – kind of like an online version of iPhoto – it's fantastic. It's only officially open to US residents at the moment, but with Adobe's blessing, we snuck in and took a look around.
The interface is Flash, but it's very responsive and user-friendly. When toggled to full-screen mode, you could easily think you were using a desktop application were it not for the styling and the lack of some basic functions such as the ability to shift-select multiple files.
Adding You can add images to Express from other online sites; there's currently no support for Flickr, but Facebook, Picasa and Photobucket are all there.
Uploading Or, of course, you can upload your own shots from your hard disk. Though there's no iPhoto-friendly import option, Leopard users at least can use the Media drop-down at the bottom of the leftmost pane of the standard open/save dialogue box that pops up when you tell Express to upload some images.
Uploaded Once they're up, you can view them as a list, a grid or a filmstrip, and you can see the basic metadata associated with each shot. Throughout, there's an emphasis on sharing; email links and links to directly embed shots and albums appear wherever you are.
Editing The main editing pane offers you some good basic image editing tools, including the ability to crop, adjust saturation, exposure, red-eye, white balance and more. Each time you click on an effect, half a dozen versions immediately pop up that have applied the effect – in this case, black and white – in different ways, You can apply multiple edits, and there's a handy Reset All button if you get in over your head.
Pop colour Expect to see this one used a lot The idea is that Express identifies a colour range that you want to highlight while turning everything else monochrome – think the little girl in the red dress in Schindler's List – and you also have the option of shifting the hue of the picked-out colours.
Albums You can create ad share albums too from your photographs; the full-resolution grabs from this tour, for example, are available here. Note that you can send an email with a link to your album as well as copying a link, or even by grabbing a little snippet of HTML that allows you to embed your albums in websites, as we have done at the end of this post.
Slideshows When someone clicks on a link to your album, they're treated to a rich Flash slideshow with loads of configuration options. It's potentially a great, easy way to share photos with less tech-savvy users.
So there you have it, folks; Photoshop Express. Initial impressions are very favourable. It seems solid, 2GB of free space is great, and while some purists might have preferred a strictly AJAX-based approach that shunned Flash completely, the experience for most people is likely to very positive. And remember that it's still in beta; give it a few months and it'll be even richer.
Update: Well, we just heard back from Mail.Appetizer's author, and it appears development for this add-on is now ongoing. He notes that he's had lots of feature requests and is going to implement some of them soon, such as a 'mark as spam' button. Excuse us—it's time to do a quick 'happy dance' around the office...
Wednesday March 19, 2008
The iPhone: Halo Effect 2.0
When the iPod really started to gather momentum, people started talking about the halo effect. The idea was that the iPod would be an ambassador for Apple-ness, and that people’s positive experiences of using an iPod would make them think favourably of Apple’s other products.
(I was never, by the way, sold on the idea that a PC user would buy an iPod, proclaim it utterly without flaw, and immediately go out and buy a Mac. I think the halo effect was much more subtle and slow-burning, creating an affinity and respect for Apple as a brand and at most making people realise that Apple existed and that it might begin to figure in people’s purchasing decisions.)
The iPhone, though, is destined to be Halo Effect 2.0, and where the iPod helped the company’s renaissance in the consumer market, the iPhone will do the same for business and enterprise.
The new firmware for the iPhone, due in June, not only offers full support for the sort of corporate-level Exchange servers we see in SMB and enterprise markets – with push email and calendaring, and remote wipe – but at least in theory overtakes the market leader RIM’s BlackBerry solution by making a direct connection to the server rather than being funnelled through the company’s apparently vulnerable NOC.
All of which will sweep aside many of the concerns that CTOs and board-level execs have to the highly desirable little iPhone, which should mean that when the decisions are being taken about what smartphones to roll out within a company, the iPhone can figure in the discussions.
And when the iPhone gets into the hands of management-level execs and IT directors wedded to Microsoft, the Apple trademarks of ease of use and polish will slowly begin to soften reactionary anti-Apple sentiment.
When an IT guy sees how well the iPhone integrates, he’ll perhaps begin to question his long-held, inaccurate assumptions about Macs being incompatible with everything else on his network. And when an MD starts eulogising about how easy her iPhone is to use, she’ll be less likely to dig her heels in when a couple of solitary Mac enthusiasts in the company ask if they can be bought MacBooks rather than ThinkPads. And so the ripples spread.
The iPod’s halo effect was a grass-roots, bottom-up thing; the iPhone’s halo effect will be a top-down process that starts with IT directors and management, but it could mean that at last the Mac is taken seriously as a business platform. And that would be huge.
Tuesday March 18, 2008
Safari released for Windows
Apple has just announced version 3.1 of Safari – the first finished version of the Mac's default browser to run in Windows. Though Safari for Windows has been in beta for months, today marks its official debut. It feels odd using it in Windows – especially when dialogue boxes are styled to match OS X, not Windows – and I still miss the ability to sync my bookmarks from my Mac version of Safari, but I've set it as my default browser in the Windows Vista partition of my MacBook and I'll see how I get on.
Think many people will download it for Windows? Think it will lead to more Mac sales? Let us know in the comments!
The idea is that Express identifies a colour range that you want to highlight while turning everything else monochrome – think the little girl in the red dress in Schindler's List – and you also have the option of shifting the hue of the picked-out colours.
When the iPod really started to gather momentum, people started talking about the halo effect. The idea was that the iPod would be an ambassador for Apple-ness, and that people’s positive experiences of using an iPod would make them think favourably of Apple’s other products.
