Nov 10

parcportIn my sharing of information and knowledge with people from different online communities, I have discovered that there is a good number of interested audience out there who are very keen on improving and tweaking their Mac laptops, or just simply interested with what I have to share about it.

I am a techie at heart. I grew up tinkering with computers and I was learning more from doing this than by actually sitting in the formal confines of a classroom. My latest obsession has been to find quick fix and solutions to any Mac problems. Sometimes there aren’t even any problems but I always was able to challenge myself to learn about how stuff works.

This is what this blog is all about.

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Nov 19

apple-snow-leopard-apple-storeWe’ve barely had a chance to really get down to the nitty gritty of the Snow Leopard’s power and system and here comes buzz that Apple is now working on a new its replacement.

The discovery was made with a new database entry for the “launchd” framework, which is what powers booting of Mac OS X references. This new entry supposedly has an error message “11A47″, the numbering scheme for Mac OS X. Snow Leopard’s release was referenced with 10A432, Leopard was 9A571. 11A47 would have to mean an upgrade.

Based on this string of numbers, MacRumors has assumed Apple has been building the new system for months now.

“It’s still very early days, though, and probably even a long way off from a release to the developer community. We saw a two-year span between 10.4 and 10.5, but only a one year gap between the release of 10.5 and 10.6, because 10.6 represented mainly performance upgrades and refinements. Chances are, 10.7 is at least another year and a half off.”

Of course, details as to the features of the 10.7 are not yet very clear at this point. But it’s is sure that major changes are in the works.

Is there anything you would like for the 10.7? Something you aren’t happy with the 10.6?

Chime in the comments.

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Nov 17

imagesFor many first time Mac users who are about a year into their purchase of an Apple hardware, this question begs some long and hard decision making: Why should I buy an AppleCare?

I’ve got to be transparent and say that of the five Mac systems in our household, only one is with AppleCare, which was renewed fairly recently. It’s the most powerful unit of the bunch, one that we firmly believe should never go without the insurance now.

See, we almost didn’t get one for it.  We almost let the expiration of its first-year warranty pass, thinking it’s going to be a pretty useless expense. AppleCare costs anywhere between P12-16K, perhaps even more. For most Mac newbies like us (we just got acquainted with Apple for a little under three years) if you look at it from the angle of how much you have to shell out for extended warranty now, without actually ever getting the immediate benefit…then it does feel like it’s a waste of  money. It does feel like you’re being suckered into buying an invisible item that’s unbelievably expensive.

It’s a good thing we changed our mind.

So, what prompted the change?

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Nov 16

apple-logo-greenShould Nintendo and Sony be threatened?

Listed under Apple’s official website is this want-job ad for a software engineer who has at least the following qualifications:

-strong C / C++ / Objective-C / iPhone background preferred
-3-4 years of video game development experience, shipped at least one AAA title
-passionate gamer

-skills in audio systems, graphics pipeline, and network programming a plus
-ability to work in small dynamic team

Since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has released only one gaming application (Texas Hold’em, 2008). All the rest of the games available at the Apple store are from different, more established gaming publishers such as Electronic Arts and Konami. And these games have been growing in popularity, especially since the games are cheaper compared to those running on gadgets like DS and PSP.

While iPhone is, first and foremost, not a gaming platform, there is reason to assume the company is  really looking to capitalize on this direction as there seems to be a growing market for it.

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Nov 16

Mac Earrings from PowerBook Medic

By Lira F. Cruz Others Comments Off

PowerBook Medic is primarily a repair site. They specialize in, what else, but Mac products. And although the people running it aren’t exactly jewelry designers, they have come up with a commendable idea.

Perhaps lying around their workstations are a handful of Apple products and parts which cannot be used anymore. Instead of throwing these away, these junk have been fashioned into earrings at $14.95 per pair.

Screen shot 2009-11-16 at 5.22.48 AMScreen shot 2009-11-16 at 5.22.59 AMScreen shot 2009-11-16 at 5.23.06 AMThis could be a start of a new fashion trend.

I would want a variety of designs though. I think these recycled buttons would look cute as dangling earrings, charm bracelets, or necklace pendant.

Where to get this: PowerBook Medic

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Nov 16

idf2_arrandaleDigitimes is reporting that when new generation netbooks are launched as early as January of next year, it will be powered by Intel’s latest chip called the Arrandale.

This chip is rumored as the core that will help new generation Macbook Airs run.

The chip is quite powerful, specs below:

The Intel Core i5-430M runs at a clock speed of 2.26GHz, but with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology, it can run up to 2.53GHz for a single core. The Intel Core i3-350M also runs at 2.26GHz, but does not support Turbo Boost technology; Intel Core i3-330M runs at 2.13GHz and also does not support Turbo Boost technology.

Core i5 CPUs will feature a graphics clock that runs at a base speed of 500MHz but can also run at speeds up to 766MHz. The Core i3 also runs at 500MHz but can also run at speeds up to 667MHz. Both series support DDR3 memory up to 1066MHz and feature 3MB L3 Cache with a TDP of 35W.

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The processor is particularly best for thinner and lighter netbooks, like the MacBoor Air.

What that means in layman’s terms, is that for these newer, smaller, thinner, next generation netbooks, there will be less power consumption, delivering more battery life.

Apple usually gets first dibs on many of Intel’s products, which means that we could also see the launch of the latest MBA as early as the first quarter of next year.

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Nov 12

You have less than 24 hours to grab the nanoBundle Freebies!

Screen shot 2009-11-12 at 3.21.00 PM

You can get it here.

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Nov 12

images Movie giant, Universal Studios, through its Universal Media, has just released the first ever Blu-Ray application with the Vin Diesel/Paul Walker starrer, “Fast & Furious”.

Called the pocketBLU, which may now be freely downloaded at the App Store, this application turns your iPhone into a remote control for the Blu Ray player. With this, you can make use of your iPhone to playback, fast forward, search chapters and anything else you would do with a standard clicker.

But this just won’t work for any movies. It has to be specifically from Universal, and it must be a movie with the pocketBLU logo conspicuously displayed on its disc case. The Blu-Ray player must also have its Wi-Fi capabilities enabled.

So, really it’s just an application to control a mechanism, something we think is only interesting…for five minutes. And then it’s pretty much useless. Good thing it’s only free.

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Nov 12

You have to watch this Mac advertisement which had become quite an issue in the community a couple of months back and Apple was contemplating on pulling out the ad:

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Nov 12

Screen shot 2009-11-12 at 2.36.52 PMGoogle has released its Chrome 4.0 to Windows users yesterday which now carries a customization feature through extensions (which Firefox has long been offering). Along with this release comes news that the Chrome will also be made available  to Mac users in beta version as early as December.

A preview version of the application is actually already available in the just-released Windows version.

Have you tried using Google Chrome for Windows? Does it live up to your expectations? Will you be trying this out once the version for Mac is released?

Sound off with your comments.

Source: CNET

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Nov 12

171-macbook-air-apple-1I did have to double check this bit of detail but apparently, Apple does free service to your MacBook Air’s hinge problem, even if they are not under the warranty anymore. This was one of the more problematic features of the MBA, and the company indeed acknowledge there was some fault with its production. Hence, replacement for this is optional, but free.

You can read about it here.

Here are the symptoms that might qualify you for this:

  • Unable to close lid completely.
  • Broken or cracked plastic near one or both of the hinges.
  • More than one inch (2.54cm) of free play while opening or closing the lid.
  • Lid falls freely into closed position from a 30-degree open position. (From a closed position, open the lid approximately 30 degrees and let go.)

Do take note that only MacBook Air is covered with this free service. But free parts are, as always, is subject for investigation by Apple to determine if this is an actual production problem or due to user’s negligence.

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Inquiring from Apple Service centers, I was told that a replacement like this should cost around P40k, at least, since it would have to involve the whole panel with an LCD and not just the hinged parts.

Take really good care of your MBA’s. Just a thought.

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