The first Mac was a well designed machine, but sadly the Mac has become associated with style over content in some people's minds. When really it should be the content has dictated the style, form follows function.

It wasn't always this way, I think people forget the Mac existed for a long time between the first Mac and iMac which helped bring the company back to life.

Macs were for a long time light grey boxes and came in a variety of shapes and sizes, and not all were that attractive. Just take a look at Low End Mac.

Yes, that's a Mac

For years I came across Mac hating PC users, but style was never part of the argument as to why Windows was superior. Nobody ever said, "You're just a fashion victim". It was all mainly about the OS, the speed of the chips, but not what it looked like.

Besides, Apple had licensed the OS in the early 90s and I had happily used it on Mac Clone, a Motorola Starmax. I never chose to use Macs based purely on their design, it's always been OS first. Which is why a lot of Mac ads have been disappointing. So they should just focus on the OS, and less on the case, or humour. Which is where the iPhone adverts I think are more successful.

Motorola Starmax

The people I know that switched to Macs just use their computer more than when they had a PC, I'm talking normal people at home. Mum's and friends.

Apple have brought design to our attention, and although I probably would still use a Mac if it wasn't that great looking (being it's the OS first for me), I have come to expect that a Mac will be generally unobtrusive, which to me helps you focus on just getting whatever it is you're doing done, with less distraction (or at least not like it was manufactured in the eastern block in the 80s)

Gateway PC - It's a new one, honest!

Apple think more as computer as appliance, not some sort of hobby in itself. There are those who think the PC should be some sort toy for those nerdy back-room boys, a bit like train sets (not that there's anything wrong with a train set), but a very male pursuit that you tinker with and bash, like your old car you've been doing up in the garage. Apparently it's a very British thing?

(Oh, and Charlie Brooker, Macs have had two button mice for along time. It just doesn't look like it has.)

Why shouldn't a computer not look like a Frankenstein's monster? Buttons splattered all over and you'd certainly not want it where anyone could see it. An ugly thing that you bash your shins on under the desk, but great for flat pack companies who created a dozen types of boxes to hide your shame away!

My eyes, will someone close the doors!

Apple are not perfect, far from it, but they do have a way of pushing new technology into the mainstream, which is then copied by all and sundry. I'm talking more software there, but Apple were first to get rid of the floppy, and though vilified at the time, who on earth really wants a floppy drive now? You may also remember when the iMac arrived, everything suddenly was coming in transparent plastic and Compaq stuck coloured bits of plastic on the front of their Presario PCs, this is design by decoration.

Compaq Presario - We do transparent plastic too!

Apple doesn't have an exclusivity on design, and there are others I'd use if I could take my favoured OS with me. I think now it's just normal to expect something well designed, and if I ever end up running Linux, I probably would want a non-hideous computer to run it on, call me crazy.

To fault Apple over design should also mean you're questioning all companies concerned with improving design.

After years of many people not knowing what a Mac was, I still find it strange that Apple has risen to such a well known brand, so I guess they're bound to get some people's noses out of joint.

So, my point? Macs aren't and never have been just for those who are design conscious and design isn't just how something looks, but how well it works as a whole. Ah well, seems as a Mac user you can't ever win.

Further reading:

From Beige to Bondi Blue

Mac images courtesy of Apple Computer, Inc.

Tags: Apple design

No, it's not some new secret Apple WiFi means of delivery!

It's an Autogiro (G-AXVK, Campbell Cricket) in old Apple livery. You may remember seeing a similar one in James Bond - You Only Live Twice (1967) called Little Nellie.

I can't remember the programme, it was in July 2005 on the UK Discovery Channel (+1), but I did take a quick snap (on the ancient telly).

Why Apple was sponsoring it I do not know, and the only other images I've found of this particular Autogiro has it in British Airways livery in the late 70s.

Tags: Autogiro G-AXVK

geekculture.com/joyoftech

I've recently deleted my Facebook account; it was no easy feat. If you don't know what Facebook is, essentially it's a way to be nosey with a plethora of people you know, half know, once knew, but mostly don't know. It plays on our natural curiosity & no doubt, boredom.

Firstly, I didn't have a bad Facebook experience, I deleted it because I became uncomfortable that Facebook is very self-serving, as a user you're there just to be moneterized in any way possible, or as I say, you're Facebook's money-bitch. Someone sends you a message, Facebook will email you to tell you, but oh no, won't show you it, you must log-in to see it, can't be missing those ads! There's a nice quote from Information Week which puts it well: "Facebook has all the social graces of a nose-picking, hyperactive six-year-old, standing at the threshold of your attention and chanting, "I know something, I know something, I know something, won't tell you what it is!"

There's been quite a few scandals recently involving Facebook. First putting your information on Google. More recently they've been forced to change their Beacon advertising to be opt-in rather than opt-out. Did you really want all your purchases at say, eBay displayed to all your supposed friends? "Stuart bought Big Girls Go Wild 4". Sounded like a good way to ruin a lot of Christmas & birthday surprises.

Update: Facebook's Beacon system appears to continue to track you even if you've turned it off. See here and here.

Then there's those terms & conditions, if you've ever bothered to read them:

By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose, commercial, advertising, or otherwise, on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing.

You don't mind having anything, your photos etc. used in that way right?

Yet, we all happily give them just what they want, listing everything you like, it's an advertisers dream! Would you seriously put all that information on if it was a government agency? Thinking about it, there's something deeply childish about the whole thing, or what seems to make people act like children; writing lists of favourite things, their best friends, who's their bestest friend, you match so-and-so 98% I like beer you like beer too quiz, every part of your life's ephemera.

I also didn't like the idea of Microsoft taking a stake in the company, after-all, Microsoft aren't exactly above reproach with shady deals. It's not like they've been in the European Court or anything.

Then, maybe you'd not mind having your identity stolen, or screw up your future employment perhaps?

Information on your own website blog of course would be available for all, but then, at least you might think about what you put on it and not just imagine it's all safe in la la Facebook land, because you feel you have some false notion of control.

So, I left, as I didn't really have much a use for it, or use it much (other than doing a quiz when bored), the people on there (which wasn't many) I can just as well talk to in other ways, the internet being one social network, plus there's the phone/texts email, messengers; oh even a letter or a postcard, now there's a thing (not likely I know). Maybe we should make more an effort, instead of pretending that just because you can see someone's Facebook status, it constitutes a friendship and if you'd not talk to them without Facebook, what does that say? Just a thought.

Daily Californian - My friend Ryan Hallahan loves merkins. How do I know this? Because I've seen the collection. How would I know this if he hadn't locked me in his trunk that one time? Because he says so on the Facebook. It's funny how you learn more about your friends via semipublic virtual forum than you do via face to face communication. Wait, did I say "funny"? I meant "soul-crushingly sad."

Enough pontificating, and I'll get to the point: The leaving isn't as easy as you think. Facebook give you the option of disabling your account, but that's not deleting it, all your data will still be there. To have your account deleted, you must first delete everything you've ever done on Facebook, all those posts, messages, photos, everything. It's not so easy with say the wall, having to delete each one by one. After that you can disable your account and then email Facebook at info@facebook.com and ask them to delete it fully, if you happen to have left even one message, they'll email and say you still have user data and they can't help you until you've removed it. I had this problem several times. Ironically the reason they won't just delete your account for you is, they say, to protect the privacy of users. Really? I thought it was to make the whole idea of deleting your account as difficult as possible, which made me think they were even more dodgy than before.

Am I overreacting? Probably a smidge. I'm not the only one of course, here's my list to reinforce my world view (you know; when you Google "so and so is crap" to make yourself feel that you were right all along):


Steven Mansour - 2504 steps to closing your facebook account & Privacy Round-up including the amusing quote (don't take it too seriously): "People - including some of the smartest people I know - have stopped asking questions, not so much because they don't care, but because they don't want to have to reflect upon their perfect little friend-poking, facebook-app-adding, group-joining little sterile world."

The Independent - Facebook backlash over sale of personal data.

DannyMadScientist Video

Facebook is the end of humanity

Move-on to Facebook: We caught you red-handed.

and the more disturbing Album of the Day

Update: Facebook founder has had to make an apology.

Tags: facebook, leaving, privacy, how to delete facebook

If only the new Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard dock looked less like this and more like this.

Tags: mac os 10.5, leopard

Let's get this straight; Microsoft doesn't own Apple, has never owned Apple and didn't invest $500 million (contrary to what you may think, or have read).

Here's a little history lesson: "At the 1997 Macworld Expo, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would be entering into partnership with Microsoft. Settlement discussions regarding Apple's "Look and Feel" lawsuit and the "QuickTime piracy" lawsuit resulted in a five-year commitment from Microsoft to release Microsoft Office for Macintosh [Which they've continued beyond 5 years, because it makes them money] as well as a US$150 million investment in non-voting Apple stock. (This event is often inaccurately described as a "bailout" of Apple by Microsoft. At the time Apple had a little over US$1 billion in cash and cash equivalents according to their 10-Q statement.[29] Microsoft later sold its shares for a tidy profit [Had they held onto the stock, it would now be worth a great deal.] Jobs also announced that Internet Explorer [No longer made] would be shipped as the default browser on the Macintosh. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates appeared at the expo on the large screen, explaining Microsoft's plans for the software they were developing for the Macintosh, and saying that he was very excited to be helping Apple. This was met with a less than positive response from the audience"

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org

It was still important at the time, and the ending of legal disputes was was probably more important than any money, but may as well get the facts right. People who say things like 'It's lucky MS saved Apple, or they'd be no iPod' are missing the point, they'd also be no Microsoft Windows if Apple hadn't created the Mac.

I just thought I'd mention Microsoft's Surfaces as it looks like it'll be a cool future technology, I'd also hate to be accused of just being a Mac Fanboy who can see no merit in something just because of a Microsoft label.

Surfaces is a way of interacting with a computer using hand gestures, with the addition of utilising other technology like wifi to interact with your devices in perhaps a more user friendly or human way. At the moment it's accessed using a coffee table top (although the device is the whole thing). The videos are impressive, although it's not quite a real world product yet.

Of course, none of this is really that new. Just go take a look at Jeff Hahn's presentation at TED from last year who has now set up Perceptive Pixel (which seems more impressive). Also you might be surprised but this sort of more human interaction with a computer goes right back to the 70s, for instance the Spatial Data Management System (Scroll down to 1979). The iPhone also of course uses a gesture interface.

Who knows? We might be in Minority Report yet.

Well, at least for replying:

"Thank you for your email regarding 4oD.

Unfortunately we cannot say when the 4oD service will be available to users of other platforms, including Mac OS and Linux. The problem is, our content providers (e.g. the production companies who make our shows), insist on using a DRM licensing system.

The DRM (Digital Rights Management) system basically protects the video content from duplication and broadcast outside the UK & ROI. Currently they insist on using Microsoft's DRM, and because of this we can only support Microsoft operating systems.

Linux currently has no such DRM system available and so our content providers will not allow us to support the Linux operating system. Macintosh do have a solution, however the closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of our content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD and other video content to Mac users at this stage.

We are sorry to disappoint on this occasion and assure you that if changes throughout the industry happen, as we would like, we will ensure the support of other operating systems.

If you require further information, feel free to email me back or visit http://help.channel4.com/4oD/

Regards,

Rebecca O'Kane
Channel 4 Customer Support"


So it seems they're pulling a Steve Jobs, and blaming the content providers (although Microsoft's lack of Mac support is also to blame). I'm not sure how well this holds up in light that the BBC are now committed to a platform agnostic approach.

I just saw an advert for 4od, Channel 's catch up TV online service. I'd heard of it before, just never looked; so I thought, I know I'll give that a go. Would you believe it? Remeber the BBC iPlayer? Well, here's channel 4's notice:

Will you offer 4oD for the Macintosh?
Unfortunately not at the launch of 4oD.

This is an industry-wide issue caused because the accepted Digital Rights Management (DRM) system used to protect online video content, which is required by our content owners, is not compatible with Apple Mac hardware and software. The closed DRM system used by Apple is not currently available for licence by third parties and there is no other Mac-compatible DRM solution which meets the protection requirements of content owners. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to offer 4oD content to Mac users at this stage.


Make a complaint using their feedback form, I'd use their above statment as the error message.

Despite those Mac ads making it seem it’s all fun and games on the Mac, you can do your exciting business work on it too, those lovely home accounts for instance.

Apple have put together a nice page that should give you some pointers, and applications you could. run. There's no need to run out and buy a PC for that stuff.

Take a look

Writes long time PC user John, on his blog John's Adventures: The adventures of a Scotsman living in Yorkshire. He'd been using Windows since 3.1, and had been using Vista before his switch. It’s a great read, I’d recommend it to any new switchers, or those thinking of switching, there are many links worth following.

It also gives you that warm fussy feeling if you're a long time Mac user.


On the same note, well known Tech columnist Walt Mossberg complains of the awful out-of-the box experience you get with new PCs, and Vista's slow start-up times.

Not so much a Mac thing. Microsoft's new Windows OS, Vista is upon us and is being compared to the Mac (what, Microsoft ripping off the Mac? that surely hasn't happened before?), there's an interesting article by the renowned Walt S. Mossberg on the new OS.

I think this says it all: "Nearly all of the major, visible new features in Vista are already available in Apple's operating system, called Mac OS X, which came out in 2001 and received its last major upgrade in 2005. And Apple is about to leap ahead again with a new version of OS X, called Leopard, due this spring."

Well, if you like your OS with plenty of built in DRM, go for it. If you like a little tongue in cheek humour, have a look at New York Times, David Pogue's comparison between the two and The Joy of Tech Comic.

Recently I had a meeting with a technology company for some work. Running windows on a Mac came up, and they mentioned Boot Camp, I told them about Parallels (see below), which unlike Boot Camp allows you to run Windows without the need to restart, oddly, the chap said a colleague had told him about it, but hadn't believed him. Strange that a technology company wouldn't know these things? Anyway, this made me think, I'd quickly note the various ways Windows applications can be run on the Mac at the moment.

Running Microsoft Windows on a Mac.

On PowerPC Mac's there is still pretty much one option (though, there is also some software called Q you could look at). Microsoft's Virtual PC. It will require a copy of Windows, but doesn't require you to restart. Version 7 was designed to take advantage of the G5. I don't believe anyone would describe it as being very fast. You can see a little review here.

Virtual PC will never be released for Intel Macs, for a good reason, there are a lot more better options available.

Firstly Apple's own Boot Camp, available now, and is meant to be rolled into Mac OS 10.5.

Once you've installed Boot Camp (and your own copy of Windows), it's a simple matter of restarting and holding down the option/alt key and selecting Mac or Windows to boot up into. You've then pretty much turned your Mac into a PC and everything should work as such, the only problem being, you do have to restart. But even PC users think it's impressive.

Next comes Parallels, it requires no restart as it takes advantage of the Intel chips virtualization technology (VT). You can run Windows (XP, 2000, 3.1 etc) as a guest operating system, and Linux if you feel like it, all at the same time. It also runs a lot quicker than Virtual PC. You will of course need a copy of the operating systems. You can read more about it here.

The newest addition is Codeweaver's CrossOver. It allows you to run some Windows Applications, at the moment they're concentrating on getting specific applications to run, but the list is increasing. Now, the main difference with CrossOver is, you don't need a copy of Windows! It doesn't run or emulate Windows, you are able to run Windows applications straight from the finder. You can read more about it here and here.

Why do people want to run Windows applications anyway? New switchers are meant to find it comforting, there are still some Windows applications that aren't available on the Mac, so using one of these products would allow you to run AutoCad or Access. Though there are alternatives to these already, for instance FileMaker and various Mac CAD software can be found at architosh.com. Of course, there are situations where you HAVE to run Windows software. Another reason is Games, although surprising to some, there are many games available for the Mac, as can be found at MacGameFiles. There are still a lot of games which don't make it to the Mac (or to the PC from game consoles really), so these solutions above makes running them an option. The other reason is probably web developers, being able to run Windows Internet Explorer to check how sites look.

Anyone fancy buying me an Intel MacBook?

There's a lot more information available on running Windows on the Mac over at macwindows.com.

Then you really ought to sort out how you work with your Mac. Pop along to Macworld for an in-depth article on getting the ergonomics right.

"Body Positioning Your body, monitor, and keyboard should form a straight line—you shouldn’t have to rotate your trunk or neck to type or to read your screen."

Just incase you're thinking of buying a Mac (or iPod) in the next week, it would be best to wait. Apple's World Wide Developer Conference - WWDC, starts on 7th August and there's likely to be some new product releases, many are due. There's plenty of rumours as to what those will be, but it's not long to wait to know for sure.

They should at least be showing off Mac OS 10.5 Leopard.

So hold your horses on buying for now, if you can.

"Security threats to PCs with Microsoft Windows have increased so much that computer users should consider using a Mac, says a leading security firm."

Read the story at the Beeb. We're not perfect, but we are better.

Oh, I'm sure they're cheaper PCs but Apple lowered their prices today.
Go take a look

(Sadly even they've succumbed to using football *twitch* to try and sell stuff)

So, there's nothing on telly, you've browsed all your regular websites, and you're bored? How about a video Podcast?

You're thinking, 'isn't that just for geeks?' Well, once, perhaps, and there probably are more geeky podcasts than not, but there are some gems out there that might have you clicking, rather than tuning in for each episode. The beauty is you choose when you want to watch (and they're free)

So, firstly, incase you have been living in a box: Wikipedia describes it as: "Podcasting is the distribution of audio or video files, such as radio programs or music videos, over the internet. Podcasting; is a portmanteau word coined in 2004, that combined two words: iPod and broadcasting."

Video Podcasts, are also known as 'Vlogs' from Video Blog, 'Videocasting' or 'Vodcasting' etc.

and no; you don't need an iPod or other portable media player to watch/listen to Podcasts. You can watch them straight on your Mac/PC

Now that's out the way, how do you get them?

The easiest way to subscribe to a Podcast is through iTunes. There are other ways of doing it, but iTunes is by far the simplest.

Open iTunes (make sure you've the latest version)

You'll notice in the left pane a little logo, labeled 'Podcasts'



Select it and you'll be presented with an empty window, unless of course you've already subscribed to some Podcasts, and in that case I'm teaching you to suck eggs.

Select: at the bottom.

You'll be taken to the Podcasting directory in the iTunes Music Store.

As you can see, there are a LOT available. There are more Audio, podcasts than video. I don't listen to many audio podcasts, but there are some good ones out there. Great alternative to the radio, and you can take them away with you to listen on your iPod, in your car (if you have the technology) etc.

But, we're talking video here. So click on:

There, a long list of Video Podcasts, you can either press subscribe, which will take you back to your list of subscribed Podcasts in iTunes, but I'd recommend clicking on the picture thumbnail of a Podcast you're interested in. It'll show you more detail, and also you'll be able to download individual episodes, before deciding to subscribe to the whole thing.

If you wanted to subscribe to Tiki Bar, you'd just click Subscribe.



Or, just download one episode by selecting

Once subscribed, whenever a new episode is available, iTunes will download it for you, without you needing to do anything.

To watch, it's as simple as playing anything in iTunes, just double click.


Here are some of my favourites. The name, links you to their website and Feed is a quick link straight to iTunes (Saves you searching).


Mac Observer's; Mac Geek Gab Feed

The Mac Observer's Dave Hamilton and John F. Braun talk about all things Mac. Dave is TMO's publisher, John pens the Monday Mac Gadget column.

One of the few Audio podcasts I listen to on a regular basis, I've even got a mention a few times.

Ask A Ninja Feed

A Ninja answers questions sent to askaninja@gmail.com in this hilarious video podcast.

Rocketboom Feed

Rocketboom is a three minute daily video weblog. Agenda includes releasing each new clip at 8am est, Monday through Friday. Some topics involve New York City, the arts, technology, internet culture, commentary on internet culture, commentary on commentary on internet culture, and so on.

Diggnation Feed

The top technology news stories on digg.com (digg is the new slashdot), hosted by Kevin Rose & Alex Albrecht.

GeekBrief Feed

GeekBrief.com is a video podcast featuring the gadget loving hottie, Cali Lewis. The hottest gadget news is delivered to you in 3-5 minute shows 2-5 days a week.

Stu's iTunes Review: Enjoyable, but sometimes embarrassing ***

"The geek brief can be informative on its good days, introducing you to some great things you may have missed. On its bad days, Cali can feel like she's a little too desperate to make the 'big time'. Her laughter, and "impromptu-I'm a sexy geek" dancing, can feel forced almost insincere (maybe she's nervous?) A little less sycophancy would go a long way. If you can deal with a bit of cringe, then it's still worth a watch. I'm staying subscribed"

She is very good at acknowledging feedback.

Danny's Contentment Feed

Drivin' an electric car in London.

Tiki Bar Feed

Swingin' bachelors and forbidden cocktails in a swank pad. One of the big hits in Podcasting.

Strong Bad Emails Feed

Strong Bad answers real emails from real morons, draws his independant comic "Teen Girl Squad!" and freaking lots more. This is a feed from Homestar Runner, where you can see more than just the emails.

Sky News Feed

A Digest of the latest headlines from Sky News, as well as an in-depth look at the day's top story.

Okay, I've never really watched this, but wanted to include something serious, to show it's not all just people being daft.

The Wedding Feed

Paul Knight: "Our wedding video chopped up into 15 small chunks for all to enjoy, 10 of which you can download for your iPod (but not just your iPod), the last 5 you can only watch on my blog courtesy of dailymotion.com"

If you want to be reminded of a good traditional British wedding, then here it is, in all its glory. It's a pure classic!


So, there you go! Never be bored again, you'll be avidly waiting for the next diggnation or what Doctor Tiki will do next? Have a search yourself; there's bound to be something you'll enjoy! This is where TV is headed don't you know.

Some descriptions from PodCastAlley, another source for all things Podcast.

Where have I been? Well, even Mister Mac has Mac problems from time to time.

Normal service shall resume shortly.

Just a quick update on the Postal Service vs Apple video hoo ha. You probably don't really care but...

I posted a little about the similarity between between Apple's new Intel Mac ad & The Postal Service's (a music band, not a delivery company) 'Such Great Heights' video below (see: Happy New Year!)

Spot the difference?

Since then it's been widely discussed on the net. Ben Gibbard from The Postal Service has published a note on their website.

"01/19/06
A Note from Ben
It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent. -Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service"

This follows an earlier statement by Sarah Moody, from their record company Sub Pop (from Cult of Mac)


"... the Apple commercial is indeed very similar, it wasn't licensed in any form, and was made by the same directors as the Postal Service video. We weren't alerted to the fact that it existed until the day it came out."

It's strange Apple didn't try to avoid the same fiasco they had with Lugz. Which also saw comparisons being drawn between an Apple advert, and one previously made by Lugz footwear.

You can look at it two ways, it's either great exposure for the band, and/or a lack of creativity by TBWA Chiat Day (Apple's Ad agency)/Josh & Xander, the directors behind both Ad and video.

I can understand the band being peeved, after-all, they were doing quite well and probably don't want to be know as 'you know, that band Apple nicked the video from'. Still, if it encourages a new album from a band I enjoy, then that's great.

You can watch Apple's ad here, the Such Great Heights video here. Elite Productions, have done a complete comparison, including a side by side video.


Update: A better version of the Such Great Heights video can be seen here, via the Last Minute Blog

Ironically enough, you can now also purchase the video from Apple's iTunes Music Store.

My iTMS UK Review