Macworld articles from March 2009

Macworld archives from March 2009

Expo without Apple: can the Mac's biggest show survive without Steve Jobs and company?(FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK)
March 1, 2009... The double-whammy news that Steve Jobs wouldn't be appearing at this year's Macworld Expo and that Apple would stop exhibiting at the show altogether (macworld.com/4303) was stunning in its swiftness, but it wasn't surprising. Apple has been...

Slow Apple movement.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... Is Apple Choosing Quantity over Quality? Readers long for fewer releases and higher-quality products Jason Snell's column was dead-on (From the Editor's Desk, November 2008). As a self-proclaimed Apple fanboy, I find it unreasonable...

Glossing it over.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... Optometrists like myself are appalled about the demise of the matte screen on the MacBook and MacBook Pro ("Apple Updates MacBooks," MacUser, December 2008). The glare of the glossy screen creates great unnecessary visual stress when used in...

New product appraisals.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I own a 2G nano and find the 4G nano's sharp edges uncomfortable ("Real Genius," December 2008). The Click Wheel's select button is not as deeply inset, so finding it or adjusting volume while the nano is in your pocket is much more difficult...

Multimedia done wrong.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... It's time we sent Apple a message about how lousy the multimedia messaging is with the iPhone. Apple needs to catch up with the prehistoric phones that allow users to view multimedia without entering a nine-digit number and password.

A better mouse.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I was surprised that you didn't mention the Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse with BlueTrack in your roundup of mice (Reviews, December 2008). I just purchased one and it truly is a mobile mouse. It comes with a case for the mouse, has a slot for...

MobileMe flaws.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I appreciated. Mac's seamless integration with iChat, iPhoto, and iDisk. I also enjoyed the elegance and variety of iCards. Unfortunately, MobileMe's focus is on iPhone synchronization. I have dumped MobileMe and now have a free AIM account...

Air fair.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I purchased a MacBook Air about a month ago and have been very happy with it. The thing that your writers and others need to remember is that not everyone is doing high-level computing. Some of us are just using it for Internet and e-mail, and...

Sour note.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I was disappointed by Cyrus Farivar's sarcastic condemnation of the rock band AC/DC ("AC/DC Hates iTunes in the Name of Artistic Integrity," MacUser, December 2008). AC/DC made music in a time when bands sold whole albums and put some thought...

Overheard on the forums.(FEEDBACK)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... "When purchasing via iTunes is easier than stealing, more people will purchase. When stealing is easier than purchasing, more people will steal." folklore macworld.com/4271 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "In 1999, Steve Jobs stated...

Reader poll.(FEEDBACK)(Table)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] READER POLL Are you OK with the new MacBook's lack of FireWire? It's a mild inconvenience 33% I don't mind at all 28% It's a serious design flaw 39% Source: Macworld.com online poll,...

iTunes' DRM-free music: what you need to know: wondering what Apple's dropping of DRM means for you? We can help.(MUSIC)(digital rights management)
March 1, 2009... During his keynote address at the January Macworld Expo, Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of worldwide product marketing, announced that the iTunes Store would soon completely stop selling music encumbered by digital rights management...

Apple announces its last year at Macworld Expo.(BUSINESS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... At the same time that Apple announced CEO Steve Jobs would not deliver his traditional keynote at Macworld Conference & Expo 2009 (but before Jobs stepped down for a medical leave of absence until June 2009), the company also dropped the...

Best of show 2009 awards.(MACWORLD EXPO)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Every January, Macworld's editors seek out the hottest products making their debut at Expo. This year, we chose nine products to receive a Macworld Best of Show award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Applei Photo'09 Building on its...

Hardware.(PRODUCT WATCH)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ExpressCard SSD, from Verbatim (www.verbatim.com): Solid-state drives connect to Express Card/34 slots (16GB, $100; 32GB, $150; 64GB, $300). Tune Blocker, from Matias (www.matias.ca): USB-to-dock connector cable can act as a charge-only...

Microsoft to enhance Entourage exchange.(SOFTWARE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... During Macworld Expo, Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit announced future updates to Microsoft Office that will enhance collaboration and sharing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Entourage will get an under-the-hood makeover. Microsoft will...

17-inch MacBook Pro gets unibody makeover.(LAPTOPS)
March 1, 2009... Apple made only one hardware announcement at Macworld Expo in January, but it was one that rounded out Apple's laptop line. Phil Schiller introduced a new 17-inch MacBook Pro, which joins the MacBook and the 15-inch MacBook Pro as part of the...

Software.(PRODUCT WATCH)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... PulpMotion 2, from Aquafadas (www.aquafadas.com): Updated slide-show animation software features a revamped interface, better text handling, and the ability to create multi-song soundtracks ($49; upgrade, $15). iToner 2, from Ambrosia...

Roxio releases Toast 10 Titanium.(SOFTWARE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The newest version of Roxio's Mac CD-and DVD-burning software, Toast 10 Titanium (www.roxio.com), adds the ability to extract and convert clips from DVD-Video discs. You can also save video from the Web, archive AVCHD footage to DVD or Blu-ray...

IntelliScanner offerings get small, go to work.(SOFTWARE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... IntelliScanner (www.intelliscanner.com) has added a pair of products to its line of scanner-based organizational tools--one that shrinks down the scanner and another that targets businesses. The IntelliScanner mini (starting at $179) is an...

iPhone can now download music using 3G connection.(SOFTWARE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... In addition to announcing DRM-free music and variable pricing on the iTunes Store during his Expo keynote address (see "iTunes' DRM-Free Music: What You Need to Know," page 18), Phil Schiller announced that Apple has added support for...

The amazing vanishing Mac desktop machine.(DESKTOPS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... After the introduction of the iPhone at the January 2007 Macworld Expo, I was dismayed at the lack of Mac hardware updates--the show is, after all, called Macworld Expo. I vowed not to expect much in the future. Fast-forward to 2009 and the...

Town hall gives clues to future of Macworld Expo.(MACWORLD EXPO)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... With Apple in the process of finalizing its divorce from Macworld Expo, what does the future hold for the annual trade show? Future Expos could embrace film or music festivals. Or they could return to East Coast destinations like Boston or New...

DownloadShopper.com.(Hot Stuff)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The proliferation of sites selling music compatible with the iPod means that you're not restricted to iTunes for all your listening needs. But how to find the best deals? Matt Brucker's site, DownloadShopper.com, lets you search for an album,...

Pico PK-101 Pocket Projector.(Hot Stuff)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Do you enjoy watching movies on your iPhone or iPod touch, but wish it had a bigger screen? For $400, the Pico PK-101 Pocket Projector, from Optoma, allows you to project movies, podcasts, and YouTube videos from your iPhone or iPod touch to a...

Poladroid.(Hot Stuff)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... People today have no patience--it's all about instant gratification. When I was a kid, the fastest option was a Polaroid camera: you'd snap the shot, shake the camera... and wait for the image to develop. If you miss those days, check out the...

iPhone Coasters.(Hot Stuff)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The iPhone's icons are so colorful and attractive, it's a shame they're confined to your phone's Home screen. But now, thanks to Meninos' $60 iPhone Coasters, you can place those icons front and center in your "real" life. This 16-item set...

Secrets.(Hot Stuff)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... As much as we all love our Macs, we know that there are treasures hidden beneath the surface, tucked away in preference files, that only arcane Terminal commands can reveal. Black-tree's free Secrets preference pane helps bring those concealed...

Visual brainstorm: mind-mapping programs help you put your thoughts in order.(Reviews)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Life doesn't fit into rows and columns. So it's a bit surprising that the most common Mac tools we use for organizing information are so confining. Spreadsheets, databases, and even outlines and lists tend to impose rigidity on our information....

Laptop companion: Apple's LED Cinema Display is a MacBook owner's delight.(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Apple's new LED Cinema Display is the company's first display designed specifically for use with its laptop line. Among the display's features is one that is causing some controversy; the Mini Display Port connector, which is based on...

Billings 3.0.(SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... macworld.com/reviews What we're reviewing online this month RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $59 COMPANY: Market circle URL:www.billingsapp.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Billings has long established itself as a suitable program for...

OpenOffice.org3.(SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: free COMPANY: OpenOffice.org URL: www.openoffice.org OpenOffice.org 3 is a powerful productivity suite that includes Writer, a powerful word processor; Calc for spreadsheets; Impress for slide shows; Draw for basic...

ToCA Race Driver 3.(SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $50 COMPANY: Feral Interactive URL: www.feralinteractive.com ToCA Race Driver 3 lets you race in a simulation of virtually every professional racing circuit in the history of the sport with unrivaled vehicular and...

World of Goo.(SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $20 COMPANY: 2D Boy URL: www.worldofgoo.com World of Goo is a trippy puzzle game that pushes your knowledge of physics to its gooey limits in a postmodernist setting. The Goo functions as building blocks for...

WriteRoom 2.3.(SOFTWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $25 COMPANY: Hog Bay Software URL: www.hogbaysoftware.com When it comes to helping you write without distractions, no program does the job better than WriteRoom. When you launch the program, your windows...

Arc Mouse.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $60 COMPANY: Microsoft URL: www.microsoft.com This lightweight mouse from Microsoft has an arc-shaped design and comes encased in a matte plastic shell that's smooth but not slippery. You can move the...

eGo Helium portable hard drive USB.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $150 COMPANY: Iomega URL: www.iomega.com Iomega's Mac-formatted storage device is available with a capacity of 320GB and has a case that resembles the iconic silver exterior of the MacBook Air. In our Macworld...

The Minimalist.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $285 COMPANY: Zegari URL: www.zegari.com The Minimalist is a briefcase-style laptop bag impeccably crafted of leather and a mysterious "innovative material" that looks vaguely like metallic leather. The bag is...

Moondance glow.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $180 COMPANY: Altec Lansing URL: www.alteclansing.com This iPod alarm clock incorporates high quality audio performance into a unit that features sleek lines, touch-sensitive controls, and more. The controls are...

My Passport Studio 500GB.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $250 COMPANY: Western Digital URL: www.westerndigital.com The My Passport Studio 500GB external drive has several nice features: it's compact; it has USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 connectivity; it provides...

Media Composer 3.0.(HARDWARE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $2,495 COMPANY: Avid Technology URL: www.avid.com Avid has completely rebuilt its flagship video-editing software from the ground up for Apple's OS X 10.5 (Leopard) operating system. Media Composer 3.0.5 offers...

Topple 1.8.2.(GAMES)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD 1/2 PRICE: free COMPANY: Ngmoco URL: macworld.com/4264 A puzzle game from Ngmoco that combines elements of Tetris and Jenga, Topple requires that you stack the highest tower possible using a collection of random shapes....

Google Mobile App 0.3.144.(REFERENCE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: free COMPANY: Google URL: macworld.com/3822 Not that Google's search supremacy would be in doubt, but the addition of voice-activated searches puts the updated Google Mobile App a quantum leap beyond what Google...

Loopt 1.2.(SOCIAL NETWORKING)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: free COMPANY: Loopt URL: macworld.com/4208 Using the GPS chip in the iPhone 3G or the cell-tower location data in the original iPhone, Loopt can place you on a map and show you where your friends are and what they're...

iBlogger 1.0.7.(CREATIVE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD 1/2 PRICE: $10 COMPANY: illumineX URL: macworld.com/4209 The mobile blogging tool iBlogger supports a number of blogging engines, including WordPress, Movable Type, and TypePad. It boasts a time-saving Link feature that...

American Heritage dictionary--fourth edition 1.0.(REFERENCE)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $30 COMPANY: Enfour URL: macworld.com/4266 Among dictionary options at the App Store, this 309MB version of the American Heritage Dictionary, from Enfour, stands out for its graphical appeal and functionality...

More reviews.(REVIEWS)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
March 1, 2009... More Reviews See more iPhone and iPod touch apps we've tested at iPhone Central (macworld.com/4164). APPLICATION DESCRIPTION PRICE RATING FIND CODE (A) Concert Vault 1.1 Music collection free VERY...

Top products: your guide to the best hardware we've tested. See more at macworld.com/reviews.(REVIEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAMCORDERS High Definition PRODUCT RATING PRICE TYPE FIND CODE Vixia HV30 (pictured) VERY GOOD $570 MiniDV 3708 www.canon.com HDR-SR11 Handycam VERY...

LoginControl 2.0.(UTILITY)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD PRICE: $10 COMPANY: Thoughtful Tree Software URL: www.thoughtfultree.com Leopard's Login Items, which open when you log in to your account and are listed in the Accounts preference pane, are a problem for some users....

ExpanDrive 1.3.1.(UTILITY)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... RATING: VERY GOOD PRICE: $40 COMPANY: Magnetk URL: www.expandrive.com Using the Connect To Server dialog box (Go: Connect To Server), Mac OS X lets you work with an FTP server in the Finder as if it were any other file server. The only...

Calaboration 1.0.1.(PRODUCTIVITY)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... RATING: GOOD 1/2 PRICE: free COMPANY: Google URL: code.google.com/p/calaboration Google's Calendar feature recently became even more appealing to Mac users, thanks to the addition of CalDAV support, which lets you work with...

Promising prospect: hyperspaces.(Mac Gems)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... One of the most anticipated features in Leopard was Spaces. But thanks to quirks and missing features, Spaces, which lets you set up different workspaces of programs, windows, and documents and then switch between those workspaces, has been a...

iLife & iWork evolve: our first looks at Apple's upgraded multimedia and productivity suites.(FEATURES)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... At this year's Macworld Expo, Apple unveiled updates to its two major software suites: iLife'09, the latest version of the popular home media suite (which includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD); and iWork'09, its office suite...

iMovie '09: video editor has added depth, power.(FEATURES)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Many people hated iMovie '08 (GOOD 1/2; macworld.com/4313). While that version was supposed to make Apple's video editor more accessible, it was widely (and justifiably) criticized for lacking many features its predecessor, iMovie HD, had. ...

Garageband '09: learn to play piano and guitar from the stars.(FEATURES)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... The biggest new feature in GarageBand '09 is its ability to teach you how to play music on real-world instruments, a welcome improvement to the previous version of the program (VERY GOOD 1/2; macworld.com/4314). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Pages' 09: Apple's word processor learns some business-friendly tricks.(iWork '09)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Pages sees some significant changes in '09. Those changes make Pages '09 a much more viable option than Pages '08 (GOOD 1/2; macworld.com/4315) for business-related text processing and page layout. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Templates ...

Numbers '09: spreadsheet handles formulas and charts better.(iWork '09)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... In 2007, the programs that had previously made up Apple's iWork productivity suite gained a new stablemate: Numbers, a new take on the traditional spreadsheet. Numbers '08 (GOOD 1/2; macworld.com/4316) was easy to use and had an elegant...

Keynote '09: presentation software gets updated interface, new effects.(iWork'09)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... As someone who's relied heavily on Keynote since its debut, I scrutinize each release for fresh ways to jazz up my presentations and get my work done faster. Keynote '09 has several exciting new features--as well as a few old shortcomings. ...

First look.(iWork.com)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Apple's new iWork.com (www.iwork.com)--in its current prerelease form--is not a collaborative online productivity tool like Google Docs (www.google.com/docs) or Zoho (www.zoho.com). You can use iWork.com to share documents, spreadsheets, and...

Build a better browser: the best add-ons for Safari and Firefox.(FEATURES)
March 1, 2009... If you're like me, you spend more time in your browser than you do in any other program. And it's not just because of the vast amount of information available on the Web today. With the emergence of the social Web, our browsers are also what we...

Smart Finder strategies: save time by getting the right perspective on your files.(Working Mac)
March 1, 2009... One program every Mac owner uses is the Finder. It's your Mac's filing system, organizational structure, and overseer. We all know how to open, move, and copy files, but most of us go about our business without ever considering the most...

Ripping and playing audiobooks: get your book CD into iTunes.(Playlist)
March 1, 2009... As digital music players such as the iPod have become commonplace, audiobooks have grown increasingly popular. While it's great to listen to music as you're commuting or exercising, you can use some of that time to listen to your favorite...

Five CS4 goodies for photographers: use these tools to organize, refine, and enjoy your photos.(Digital Photo)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... As you might expect, Adobe's $699 Adobe Photoshop CS4 (VERY GOOD; macworld.com/4180) contains a treasure trove of goodies for pixel-pushing photographers. But you'll also find some unexpected helpers tucked inside CS4's bundled applications,...

MobileMe alternatives: sync, share, and publish with third-party tools.(Mobile Mac)
March 1, 2009... Apple's MobileMe service isn't right for everyone. Sure, it enables you to read your e-mail online, synchronize data between multiple Macs and iPhones (or iPod touches), and publish photos and Web sites, all in one convenient package. ...

Fixing startup problems: what to do when your Mac takes too long to boot.(Geek Factor)
March 1, 2009... Your Mac was running fine. It started up quickly, and was zippy when you worked and snappy when you played. But suddenly something's wrong: when you start it up, it takes longer--maybe a couple of minutes, maybe more--than it once did. What's...

Mac OS X Hints: the insider tips you won't get from Apple.(Help Desk)
March 1, 2009... Get a Quick Look at a Video Clip's Remaining Time OS X 10.5's Quick Look has become one of the most-used features of Leopard--at least around my house. It's so nice to be able to get a quick glimpse at a file instead of taking the time to...

Mac 911: solutions to your most vexing Mac problems.(HELP DESK)
March 1, 2009... Change Movie Dates in iMovie '08 Q: I have home movies recorded from 1996 to 2005 that I've recently imported into Apple's iMovie'08. Unfortunately, they appear in the order in which I digitized the original tapes. Is there any way I can...

Bugs & Fixes.
March 1, 2009... Microsoft Office Update Failure When you try to download updates for your Office software, the Installer may stop, complaining, "No version of the software found on volume." The most likely cause is that you removed language files from Office...

The last keynote: couldn't make the 2009 Expo? Don't worry: neither could I.(SPOTLIGHT)
March 1, 2009... (Editor's Note: Due to the tight deadlines required for publication, Moltz's column on the Macworld Expo keynote was due two weeks before the actual keynote. Never one to turn down a paycheck, Moltz agreed to take on the assignment anyway,...