Macworld articles from July 2006

Macworld archives from July 2006

The end of innocence.(macintosh computers, Apple Computers Inc.'s Boot Camp software)(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... OK, I'll admit it: I don't run any antivirus software on my Mac. The last time one of my Macs was infected by a virus was in 1990, when a bug hit my college newspaper's offices. It was transmitted via the floppy disks we passed around so freely...

The iMac makeover.(FEEDBACK)
July 1, 2006... Apple's bombshell decision to start using Intel chips continues to reverberate all over the Mac world. In our March issue, we gave you our first take on the first Intel systems--the Intel iMac and the MacBook Pro. In April, we were able to give...

Inside knowledge.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... ALEX CHUNG * I read your story about the Core Duo iMacs and their performance with different apps ("Inside the Intel iMac," April 2006), and I have a question. I currently have a 733MHz G4 Power Mac. Even with 1GB of RAM, it runs Adobe CS...

Back in the iLife.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... ALEXANDER TRESSOR # For several years, I asked anyone I met who knew anything about Web design to create a Web site for my company. The results always proved--how can I put this delicately?--awful. So I bought the iLife '06 suite with iWeb...

Font fiasco.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... RANDALL ELWOOD # Thanks for the ongoing tips on OS X maintenance ("The Ultimate Mac Tune-Up," March 2006). I may have been a bit careless, though, when following the "Font Fixes" tips. I discovered that trying to resolve a duplicate of a...

Why no Xserve?(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... BILL LEWINGTON # I see lots of articles in Macworld and on Macworld.com about Apple products, but never anything about the Xserve. How come? At my design company, Windows 2003 has pushed us over the edge, and we're thinking about migrating...

Innumeracy.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... LYNDON LUHMANN # I read with interest your editorial in the April issue ("Feedback Loop," From the Editor's Desk). Jason Snell described the confusion some Macworld readers experienced when you said that one Mac was X percent faster than...

Don't bring the noise.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... GUY DALBEC # Regarding the "Noisy Power Macs" letter in the April 2006 issue's Feedback: My son was extremely disappointed when he found out how extremely noisy his new "whisper-quiet" iMac was. The noise becomes very annoying whenever...

Aw, shucks.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... STEVE BRINER # I just finished reading my first Macworld editorial page, in your April edition ("Feedback Loop," From the Editor's Desk). You see, I am a new Mac user, having acquired a used PowerBook about two weeks ago. I found your...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2006... The picture accompanying the April 2006 issue's Top Products review of the Epson Stylus Photo R340 was of a Canon printer. The mouse rating in the June 2006 issue's Top Products review of the Canon PowerShot G6 was incorrect. The correct...

Boot Camp FAQs: everything you need to know about running Windows XP on an Intel Mac.(macbeat)(Column)
July 1, 2006... Most of us feel pretty comfortable when it comes to our Macs, but Apple's release of Boot Camp has knocked many of us out of our comfort zone. What does it all mean? Can you really run Windows on a Mac? What's required to do so, and what are...

Apple releases second Pro Intel laptop model: 17-inch MacBook Pro.(macbeat)
July 1, 2006... For Mac users who require the most out of portables, it should come as welcome news that Apple has expanded its Intel-based MacBook Pro line to include a 17-inch version. The 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 667MHz frontside bus and a 2.16GHz...

Check it out: Web site.(Apple Computer Inc.'s web advertisement)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... If you don't watch much TV--or, like many of us with TiVoenhanced lifestyles, don't watch TV commercials--you may have missed Apple's latest crop of ads. The six spots of Apple's "Get a Mac" campaign feature The Daily Show's John Hodgeman as a...

iTunes keeps 99-cent song pricing.(NEWS IN BRIEF)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Although executives at some of the large music publishers have expressed their dissatisfaction with iTunes' pricing structure in recent months--and have suggested that consumers would be willing to pay more for high-demand music--The Financial...

Apple hosts annual shareholders meeting.(Apple Computer Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... During April's meeting at Apple's campus in Cupertino, California, Steve Jobs told shareholders that, "The new products in the [Apple] pipeline are the best I've ever seen in my life." He also admitted that the Mac's transition to Intel-based...

Aperture goes universal.(NEWS IN BRIEF)
July 1, 2006... In mid-April, Apple released Aperture 1.1, an update to the company's postproduction tool for photographers. In addition to adding Intel support, Apple made several other changes to improve the application's functionality and make it easier for...

Apple Computer prevails in U.K. lawsuit: Beatles lose case.(macbeat)
July 1, 2006... Back in 1991, Apple Computer and Apple Corps, the Beatles' business affairs company, inked an agreement regarding Apple Computer's use of the Apple logo in association with music-related products. But recently, the British company--still owned...

Multimedia beat.(video editing software)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Avid Xpress Pro 5.5, from Avid Technology (www.avid.com): Digital video-editing software adds support for HD and 10-bit uncompressed SD and native DV50 formats ($1,695). Digital Performer 5, from MOTU (www.motu.com): PowerPC-native audio...

New laptop replaces the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook: apple releases the MacBook.(Apple Computer Inc.'s MacBook)
July 1, 2006... Good-bye iBook, hello MacBook. When Apple introduced the MacBook Pro, the first Intel-based Mac laptop, the Mac community figured that the moniker MacBook Pro left room for a similarly titled, consumer-level laptop. And with the...

Storage beat.(hard drives, adapters)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Flash Drive Max, from Kanguru (www.kanguru.com): Line of USB 2.0 flash drives comes in capacities ranging from 16GB to 64GB ($800 to $2,800). mini SATADock, from WiebeTech (www.wiebetech.com): Device connects a bare Serial ATA drive to a...

Apple market share could double due to Windows defectors: Microsoft's poor image.(macbeat)
July 1, 2006... While much attention is currently focused on the Mac's newfound ability to run Windows (see "Boot Camp FAQs," page 14), a report by market analysis firm Forrester Research says that consumers are so distrustful of Microsoft that Apple could...

VoIP applications: is Internet phone service right for you?(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... Voice over IP, or VoIP, is an emerging technology that allows you to use your broadband Internet connection to place and receive voice and videophone calls. Internet-based calls are less expensive than traditional calls (sometimes they're even...

More reviews.(PhoneValet Message Center 4.0)(Phlink 3.0)(Inspiration 8.0)(endo 1.0)(After Effects 7 Professional)
July 1, 2006... For complete reviews of the products listed here, visit www.macworld.com/reviews. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VERY GOOD 1/2 After Effects 7 Professional ($999; upgrade, $199; upgrade from standard edition, $499), from Adobe (www.adobe.com):...

Home stereo connections.(iPod connecting cables)(Griffin's iPod Home Connect Kit)(Stereo Dock for iPod from Kensington)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD iPod Home Connect Kit ($15), from Griffin Technology (www.griffintechnology.com): Griffin's iPod Home Connect Kit features two cables with gold-plated connectors. On one end of each cable is a minijack that plugs into your iPod or...

iPods.(mp3 players)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Product Capacity Rating Price Display iPod 30GB VERY GOOD 1/2 $299 2.5-inch color iPod 60GB VERY GOOD 1/2 $399 2.5-inch color iPod nano 1GB VERY GOOD 1/2 $149 1.5-inch color...

FlexibleDock.(from Ten Technology )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 flexibleDock ($50), from Ten Technology (www.tentechnology.com): Like the original flexDock for iPod mini, the flexibleDock plugs into your car's cigarette lighter and has a six-inch arm with a dock cradle that holds your iPod....

Remix m-class.(from V-moda)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 remix m-class ($50), from V-moda (www.v-moda.com): If you're a fan of the ear-bud-style headphones Apple includes with the iPod but want to upgrade, check out the remix m-class earbuds. Available in three flashy colors--metallic...

Mork Mount.(NEW: BICYCLE MOUNT)(from )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 Mork Mount ($30), from Risse Racing (www.risseracing.com): The nano has become the iPod of choice for many active types, thanks to its skip-free flash storage and the iPod's famous interface. If you're a cyclist, you can attach Risse's...

American History Lux released.(by Sillysoft Games)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Sillysoft Games (www.sillysoft.net) has released American History Lux, a new strategy game that lets you replay ten wars that helped shape American history. The game is based on Sillysoft's Lux Delux--a 2-D strategy game modeled after the...

Pangea donates games.(to schools)(Pangea Software)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Pangea Software, maker of Enigmo 2, Otto Matic, Nanosaur, and many other games, has always had a liberal policy for schools: buy one copy, and it'll give the school a free site license. Now Pangea's doing one better: it'll donate free software...

MS nabs Lionhead.(Microsoft Corp. acquired Lionhead Studios)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Microsoft has acquired Lionhead Studios, the original developers of Black and White 2 and Fable: The Lost Chapters. The acquisition won't affect the upcoming Mac conversion of those games by Feral Interactive. But it's unknown whether future...

Arcade: Islands Mini Golf.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... Nothing says summer like a good game of mini golf. For those of us who prefer to skip the crowds, and instead try our putting skills in a lush tropical setting, there's Islands Mini Golf. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Islands Mini Golf, by...

Role-playing adventure: Avernum 4.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD; Spiderweb Software, www.avernum.com; $25 Avernum 4, by Spiderweb Software, offers a return to the classic form of turn-based role-playing games. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it should please RPG fans who value...

Real-time strategy: Tribal Trouble.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD; Oddlabs, www.tribaltrouble.com; $30 Tribal Trouble, by Oddlabs, isn't your typical real-time strategy (RTS) game. For one thing, you won't need an advanced degree to understand how to play. It's also funny--pitting inebriated,...

Puzzle; DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD; Caravel Games, www.caravelgames.com; $20 DROD: Journey to Rooted Hold, by Caravel Games, is a puzzle game with role-playing overtones. The game follows the adventures of Beethro, a sword-wielding dungeon hunter who has lost his...

Children's activity: welcome to Merriweather Farm.(Game Room)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2; Bold Games, www.boldgames.com; $20 Welcome to Merriweather Farm, by Bold Games, is a charming game that lets young kids play with combines, plows, and other equipment on a virtual farm. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Windows games on your Mac.(by using Apple Computer Inc.'s Boot Camp)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Many of us who play games on Macs get frustrated with the platform's limitations--particularly when it comes to getting the big-name games. Mac versions tend to come out later (if at all), play slower, cost more, and often lack cross-platform,...

Port relocater: Desktop Multi-Hub.(from Nyko)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... In December 2004, I wrote about Marathon's RePorter (VERY GOOD; macworld.com/1277), a $59 "extension cord" for your computer's many ports. The RePorter plugged into the various ports on your Mac and then, via a five-foot cable, brought those...

File-copying utility: iPodDisk 1.3.(Mac Gems)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... Though there are clearly unethical reasons for copying music directly from an iPod to a computer, there are also legitimate ones. As I explained when I reviewed Senuti (VERY GOOD 1/2; Mac Gems, macworld.com/0965)--an app that provides an...

Audio-streaming app: Airfoil 2.0.2.(Mac Gems)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... When Apple introduced the AirTunes feature to iTunes, letting you stream iTunes audio wirelessly to an AirPort Express base station, a common complaint about it was that you couldn't stream audio from any application other than iTunes. Not long...

Safari archive extractor: WebArchive Folderizer 1.2.3.(Mac Gems)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... One of the welcome additions to version 2 of Safari (included with Tiger) is its ability to save an entire Web page--text, images, and all--for offline viewing. You can open the resulting .webarchive file in Safari, and it will look pretty much...

E-mail keyword utility: MailTags 1.2.1.(Mac Gems)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... Spotlight drives me bonkers at times, but it can be very useful. One of its best features is smart searching--for example, this technology lets you assign a set of criteria to a mailbox, and then access all items that fit those criteria simply...

Tweaking utilities.(for maintaining, troubleshooting)(Macaroni 2.0.7)(OnyX 1.6.9)(Font Finagler 0.5.3)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2006... When it comes to tweaking settings in OS X, rotating caches, and performing various maintenance tasks, many utilities are available. Because there are so many of these apps, I'm often asked which ones I recommend. You can read my comprehensive...

Magicolor 2430 DL.(color laser printer from Konica Minolta )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Magicolor 2430 DL ($499), from Konica Minolta (www.konicaminolta.com): The Magicolor 2430 DL is a capable networked color laser printer whose setup needs a bit of finessing. (The toner cartridges are preinstalled, but you need to...

Stylus Photo R340.(from Epson)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 Stylus Photo R340 ($200), from Epson (www.epson.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Epson Stylus Photo R340 prints the best color photos in its class, and it reproduces shadow detail extremely well. It's a great choice for...

Macs.(personal, portable computers)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
July 1, 2006... DESKTOP Product Processor Display Rating More Information iMac Intel Core Duo/ 17 inches VERY GOOD macworld.com/1153 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo/ 20 inches VERY GOOD...

Desktop drive.(Black Series Triple Interface)(Mercury Elite-AL Pro 7,200 rpm FireWire 800/400 + USB2)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 Black Series Triple Interface, 250GB ($240), from Iomega (www.iomega.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You can't go wrong with its speed, connection options, and low price per gigabyte. It can boot OS X via FireWire and...

Portable drive.(OWC Mercury On-the-Go)(WiebeTech ComboGB)(Iomega MiniMax 250GB)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD Mercury On-the-Go 7,200 rpm 8MB, 60GB ($250), from OWC (www.macsales.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Loaded with useful utilities, this little drive has good connection options and an eye-catching design. It's also fast; it can...

CanoScan 9950F.(from Canon)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 CanoScan 9950F ($400), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The CanoScan 9950F offers improved scan quality and more-intuitive software controls. This model tops its predecessor, the 9900F, in almost every...

23-inch display.(Hewlett-Packard L2335)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 L2335 ($1,599), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Along with its outstanding value, analog and digital connectors, ability to pivot to portrait mode, and adjustable height, the L2335 provides...

20-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)(NEC MultiSync LCD2070NX)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 MultiSync LCD2070NX ($799), from NEC (www.necdisplay.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MultiSync LCD2070NX is great for people who want a moderately priced 20-inch monitor that can display bright, accurate colors. It...

17-inch display.(LCD MONITORS)(Sony SDM-HS75P)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD SDM-HS75P ($450), from Sony (www.sony.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although it's short on bells and whistles--this display doesn't have built-in USB, speakers, or the ability to pivot--the HS75P is a good choice for people...

6-megapixel digital SLR.(DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 EOS Digital Rebel XT ($899; with lens, $999), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Canon defined this market with the original Digital Rebel, and the company keeps its lead with the EOS Digital Rebel XT. The...

Advanced digital camera.(DIGITAL CAMERAS)(Canon Power-Shot G6)(Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30K)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD 1/2 Power-Shot G6 ($699), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is a compact and powerful 7.1-megapixel digital camera that should appeal to advanced photographers. It captures very sharp pictures with...

PX-716UF DVD[+ or -]R/RW.(PX-716UF DVD[+ or -]R/RW from Plextor)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD PX-716UF DVD[+ or -]R/RW ($239), from Plextor (www.plextor.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The PX-716UF DVD[+ or -]R/RW drive features flexible connectivity options; it burns 2.4x-rated dual-layer media at 4x; it has fast 16x...

8.2-megapixel digital SLR.(Canon EOS 30D)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... VERY GOOD EOS 30D (body only, $1,399), from Canon (www.canon.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EOS 30D is a welcome upgrade to an already great camera. The interface is a model of elegant simplicity: almost all the controls you'll use...

7.5-megapixel digital SLR.(Olympus Evolt E-330)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 Evolt E-330 ($1,000), from Olympus (www.olympus.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Olympus Evolt E-330 is a good camera, but its standout feature--the LCD viewfinder--is not that useful. Image quality is good, with precise...

6.1-megapixel digital SLR.(Pentax ist DL)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... GOOD ist DL (with 18mm-55mm lens kit, $600), from Pentax (www.pentax.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pentax ist DL is a good entry-level option for aspiring digital SLR shooters on a budget. While it's not long on features, the ist...

19-inch display.(Samsung SyncMaster 940BF )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... GOOD 1/2 SyncMaster 940BF ($479), from Samsung (www.samsung.com): [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SyncMaster 940BF is a very good all-around LCD monitor, despite its limited viewing angle and inflexible ergonomic design. It lets you split...

Protect your MAC: 18 ways to safeguard your data and your privacy right now.(Cover story)
July 1, 2006... We've said it before and we'll say it again: Your Mac is the safest personal computer on the market. Even though we've had a couple of scares this year, there are still almost no Mac viruses. According to research done by Sophos (a maker of...

The weekend Web site: online publishing made simple with iLife '06.(Column)
July 1, 2006... You've dreamed of having your own Web site--a place where you can share your photos, movies, and life events with far-flung friends and family. But who has the time to learn how all the pieces fit together? Now, thanks to iWeb, the Web-design...

Disk Utility's hidden talents.(WORKING MAC)(Column)
July 1, 2006... Poor Disk Utility. It seems fated to remain one of Mac OS X's most underappreciated utilities. If you've even launched it at all, chances are you haven't gone beyond using its First Aid features to repair a disk (see "Mac OS X First Aid" at...

Manage a large iTunes library.(PLAYLIST)
July 1, 2006... Some Mac users suffer from a serious disease--it's called libraryitis. The first symptom is that you have problems finding what you're looking for. Next, you can't fit your iTunes library on your iPod. As the disease worsens, you'll find that...

Cleaning your SLR camera.(single lens reflex)(Column)
July 1, 2006... Thanks to their interchangeable lenses, digital SLR cameras let you jump from telephoto to wide-angle shots in mere seconds. The downside to all this unscrewing is that you can end up with small specks of dust on the sensor--the light-sensitive...

The IMAP advantage.(Internet Message Access Protocol )
July 1, 2006... Has this ever happened to you? You're on the road or working at home and you need an important e-mail message. The problem is that you downloaded it at the office, and there it sits, inaccessible, on your desktop Mac. If you use standard POP...

Boot Camp basic training.(to install Microsoft Windows XP on macintosh computers)
July 1, 2006... Ready to slap on the fatigues and try out Apple's Boot Camp? If you've got an Intel-based Mac, Mac OS X 10.4.6, the latest firmware for your computer, and--most important--an adventurous spirit, then we've got the answers to your nitty-gritty...

Mac OS X Hints.(operating systems)
July 1, 2006... The Insiders' Tips You Won't Get from Apple A Scan-and-Print Tiger Time-Saver Many new scanners sport a handy Scan And Print button. Push it to scan a document and immediately send it to your default printer. But as long as you're...

Mac 911.(Mac OS X utilities)
July 1, 2006... Solutions to Your Most Vexing Mac Problems Perplexing Permissions Disk Utility will not repair permissions on my iMac running OS X 10.3.9. When I try, it begins but soon stops, displaying the message "Disk Utility has lost its...

iPod Hi-Fi Speaker Case.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Apple iPod Hi-Fi (VERY GOOD; macworld.com/1215) is cool, but its scratchable glossy surfaces and snaggable mesh-fabric grill hinder the system's portability. WaterField Designs' $149 iPod Hi-Fi Speaker Case covers your Hi-Fi in padded,...

Writeboard.(website for writing and editing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Usually, my work consists of trading story drafts back and forth with writers via e-mail. But recently a writer introduced me to a new way to collaboratively write and edit: Writeboard. It's a free Web site where you can create a new document...

Zfone.(email encryption software)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... As someone who uses Voice over IP (VoIP), I sometimes wonder how easy it is for hackers to listen in on my Internet phone conversations. So I was happy to hear about new encryption software made just for VoIP users. The free public beta of...

What's hot.(Burst.com Inc. filed case against Apple Computer Inc.)(Apple Computer Inc. introduced MacBook Pro and Boot Camp beta software )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 1 Steve Jobs announces plans to build a second Apple campus in Cupertino. An ecstatic City Council is torn, however, over Jobs's proposal to rename the city "Jobstonia." 2 Apple releases the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Huh. I guess that means...

Google Calendar.(Our Favorite New Stuff)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Over the years, Google has become much more than just a search engine. And one of my favorite offshoots is Google Calendar. This online calendar lets you view and add events from any Internet-connected computer--perfect when you're on the road....

Coinstar gift cards.(Coinstar machine at the iTunes Music Store )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... I keep a bagful of coins on my dresser, so I was excited to discover that I can exchange my loose change for credit at the iTunes Music Store by using a Coinstar machine. What makes this deal even better is that for each penny, nickel, dime,...