New MacFormat podcast - satellite broadband investigated on a Mac, reader QnA and more!
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
Want a faster, more reliable Internet connection? Rob Mead gives you all the details. Chris Phin has two great product reviews, Craig Grannell recaps two great summer shareware picks and Trevor Middleton answer questions from listeners.
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.
We all want our Macs to be labour-saving devices rather than labour-causing ones. And whether you’re undertaking a repetitive task or just a one-off job that seems over-complicated, it’s your time that’s being wasted. But we’re here to put an end to that with 50 brilliant ways to make life with your Mac much easier.
Also in the issue
MacFormat puts the small but mighty Mac mini to the test as a media centre. From managing content to searching for the perfect remote and best set-up, we discover just how far the mini can go.
We also take a speculative glance at what tantalising technologies are in store for Mac users. Is the future all about touchscreen and will it be down to biometric security to keep our information safe? Read now to find out.
Tutorials
Enhance photos in iPhoto ‘09
Stabilise your iLife footage
Understand digital video
Get organised on a Mac
Get started with iCal
Master Tweetie 1.1.1
And more…
Reviews
Axiotron Modbook
Olympus μ Tough 8000
OCZ Apex and OCZ Vertex
Final Draft 8
CrossOver Mac Professional
Spreadsheets Group Test
And more…
Mac questions answered
How do I install digital mapping apps on a Mac?
How can I fix the iTunes bugs on my PowerPC Mac?
How do I import footage to a Mac from a Handycam?
And more…
On the disc
Three full programs: Money 2, Speed Download 4, BatchOutput DOC 1
Plus shareware, tutorial files, top freeware, widgets and more.
It’s all in MacFormat issue 210, on sale now!
Visit the MacFormat forum by clicking here Subscribe to MacFormat and never miss an issue again!
Thursday June 18, 2009
Why can't the original iPhone handle MMS?
Well, I've upgraded to iPhone 3.0 and it went without a hitch. If you count having to wait until Apple's activation servers recovered from the overwhelming demand and actually let me upgrade, which happened eventually. (Cue Apple press release anytime soon stating X million people have downloaded iPhone 3.0 software!)
All my apps work fine, and I can now use the voice recording app, cut, copy and paste and shake to shuffle and undo. What I can't do is MMS (Multi-Media Messaging i.e. send pictures in the Messages app). You see, I have the original iPhone, sometimes called the iPhone 2G, but that's just slang, and not its official Apple name. It's simply called iPhone, as opposed to iPhone 3G or the new iPhone 3G S.
Although O2 fully supports MMS the iPhone can't. Why? I can't think of a justifiable hardware reason that prevents it being capable of MMS. Every time something like this comes up on a discussion forum people automatically assume it's a conspiracy theory, and that Apple is simply creating an artificial reason for people to upgrade their phone, however if you wait until the dust has settled this rarely seems to be the case - there is usually a valid reason why a feature is missing. But for MMS on the original iPhone, I'm really struggling to imagine what that could be.
Of course, in the US nobody has MMS on their iPhone at the moment since AT&T aren't implementing it until "late summer". But eventually they'll get there and it will still be original iPhone owners who are left out in the cold. Maybe I should just upgrade.. hang on, I'm back to conspiracy theories again....
Wednesday June 17, 2009
Win a Wacom Cintiq 12WX!
A brand-new, top-of-the-range graphics tablet could be yours!
For those of you who use serious art applications on your Mac, you need a graphics tablet. And we have one the best ones on the market to give away: the Wacom Cintiq 12WX.
Boasting a built-in 31cm TFT display, the Cintiq 12WX enables you to see what you’re drawing or touching up under your virtual pen and on the screen. The 12WX offers 1,024 pressure levels on the pen tip and eraser, so it feels natural to use – you can even rotate it to find a comfortable working position. Ten programmable ExpressKeys provide quick access to modifiers, keyboard shortcuts and pop-up menus, while two finger-sensitive Touch Strips make it easy to zoom, scroll or change brush size.
Measuring 40.5x27x1.7cm, the Wacom Cintiq 12WX easily packs away into your laptop bag. Its display boasts a 1,280x800 resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio and 16.7 million colours.
For more information on this and all Wacom products, go to www.wacom-europe.com.
New MacBook Pros, iPhone 3G S and Snow Leopard from WWDC in the new MacFormat This Week podcast 15/06/09
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
Is the new 13-inch MacBook Pro worth it? The staff from MacFormat magazine offer their thoughts on the new MacBook Pros, iPhone 3G S and the preview of OS X Snow Leopard from this month's Apple WWDC.
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.
There's only two days left until the iPhone 3.0 software appears as a free download on the 17th for all iPhone owners. All being well you'll be prompted to upgrade to the new software when you sync your iPhone with your Mac on Wednesday.
Of course, new and exciting developments are being made on the iPhone all the time via the App Store. One that caught my eye today was the release of "The World’s Most Trusted Reference Books" from Oxford University Press as iPhone Apps.
Eleven of Oxford University Press’s most popular specialist dictionaries including the bestsellers like ‘A Dictionary of Law’, ‘A Dictionary of Politics’ and the ’Concise Medical Dictionary’ are now available for the iPhone. I can see how having these previously hefty volumes shrunk down to a portable digital format that fits in your pocket will be quite revolutionary to law and medical students around the globe.
They launch at a price of £8.99 per dictionary, which isn't bad when you consider that Amazon is currently selling A Dictionary of Law for £55 new. More information can be found at www.dictionaryapps.com
Tuesday June 09, 2009
New 13-inch MacBook Pro
Almost hidden away now amongst the iPhone excitement at last night's WWDC keynote is the equally exciting news that Apple has released a 13-inch MacBook Pro, as well as adding SD slots to existing MacBook Pros and longer lasting batteries.
We're teaming up with colleagues at our US sister magazine, Mac|Life to bring you all the news as it happens from today's keynote address at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. New iPhones are expected along with news of the next version of the operating system, codenamed Snow Leopard.
We'll be importing tweets from @MacLife's Twitter feed, and MacFormat deputy editor Christopher Phin will be on-hand with some UK-specific analysis. You can also ask questions from the CoverItLive box below once we get started – Chris will be moderating them and answering those he can. Weigh in with your thoughts, rants and adulation as we go!
It's due to get started at 6pm UK time – come and join in the fun then!
Monday June 01, 2009
New MacFormat Podcast - pirated software investigated plus readers' questions answered
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
We find how easy it is to buy pirated software in China and talk to an industry expert about what's being done to curb it. Also, Craig Grannell reviews to great shareware picks and Trevor Middleton answer questions from listeners.
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.
Discover the hidden features that will improve your Mac skills!
There’s no doubt that OS X is a powerful operating system. You may think you know all it’s capable of, but if you do some digging around, you’ll find there are some ‘hidden’ features in Leopard that can help you be more productive. We’ll also take a look at our top 20 Leopard features.
Also in the issue
With the ever-increasing need for more bandwidth, for services like Twitter, Facebook, BBC iPlayer, etc., it’s apparent that we need better broadband. This issue, MacFormat investigates how to get a faster web connection outside of a city.
We also take an in-depth look at how hardware and software gets born. Christopher Phin talks to equinux about the design process of its album artwork software, CoverScout 3, and to Griffin to find out how the AirCurve was made. You can read the full interviews here.
Tutorials
Use keywords in iPhoto
Create cutaways in iMovie
Create DJ playlists
Stargaze with your Mac
Use Delicious Library 2
Share large files
And more…
Reviews
Canon EOS 500D
Revo Blok
Elgato Turbo.264 HD
Carbonite
Ableton Live Suite 8.0.1
Compact DV cameras Group Test
And more…
Mac questions answered
How are LED displays with older Macs?
What’s the best way to upgrade my iMac’s disk?
Could I run Windows Home Server on a Mac?
And more…
On the disc
Three full programs: Fanurio 1.7, HyperImage 1, Realsoft 3D 6
Plus shareware, tutorial files, top freeware, widgets and more.
It’s all in MacFormat issue 209, on sale now!
Visit the MacFormat forum by clicking here Subscribe to MacFormat and never miss an issue again!
Tuesday May 26, 2009
Behind the scenes at MacFormat
Just what is Deputy Editor Christopher Phin up to in this picture from our latest MacFormat photo shoot? Answers on a postcard to the usual address, or have a look in issue 211 of MacFormat, on sale 24th June, for all the answers.
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Win a MacBook and a copy of Toast 10!
Grab yourself a new Apple laptop and Roxio’s disc creation suite
There are some applications that enthusiastic Mac owners simply must have. Roxio’s veteran, comprehensive disc burning suite, Toast, is one such program.
Toast boasts a crystal-clear interface, making it easy to burn discs. Just drag, drop and go. You can span a large bundle of files over several discs, splitting files where necessary or keeping them intact to copy to another disc. You can create great DVDs, too, with titles, menus, chapters and so on, and you can even burn high-definition video to standard DVDs or Blu-ray discs using a free plug-in which usually sells for £14.99.
Toast 10, the latest version of the suite, offers a host of new features. You can save web video from your favourite websites to burn to disc or transfer to iPod, extract clips from any DVD video and convert them to the format of your choice, and convert audiobook CDs for playback on your iPod, complete with chapters and pause-resume support.
To read more on Toast and Roxio’s other products, go to www.roxio.co.uk.
Speed up your Mac and more! It's the latest MacFormat This Week Podcast for 18/5/09
In this edition of MacFormat This Week...
A valuable consumer alert on counterfeit USB Flash drives. Also, Rob Buckley has some great tips of revving up your Mac to its ultimate speed and Trevor Middleton answers questions from listeners.
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.
Epson's latest 24-pin dot-matrix printer has just arrived at MacFormat Towers. If you think you remember how loud these babies are, think again.
We asked Epson if we could borrow it just for fun, and it's been bringing back many a memory for the folks here. We'll be trying to think of some fun things to do with it – suggestions welcome – but we thought we'd share the nostalgia. If you'd like us to print any document of yours on the LQ-690, send us an email with the file attached – preferably as a PDF – and we'll mail the result to the address you supply. If we get inundated, we may have to call time on this particular little experiment, but we'll let you know!
We're not taking the piss out of the dot-matrix, incidentally – they're fantastic for the public sector and some retail applications, they're cheap as chips to run, and they last for ever.
