BumpTop hits the Mac, covers your OS X desktop with piles just like your real desktop (video)

PC users have been making a 3D mess of their virtual Windows 7 desktops with BumpTop now for nearly a year, and have been doing it two-fingered since October saw the 1.2 multitouch release. Now you Apple fans can get a feel too, with BumpTop Mac newly available. There’s a free version for you to try, or a $29 Pro edition that adds support for multitouch trackpads, enabling you to quickly form piles of docs and filter through them. Yes, piles of documents, much like that leaning tower of expense reports your co-workers have been giving a wide berth whenever they walk by. After the break you’ll find a video of it all in action, and you can get your free trial at the read link — assuming you’re running OS 10.5 or higher.

Continue reading BumpTop hits the Mac, covers your OS X desktop with piles just like your real desktop (video)

BumpTop hits the Mac, covers your OS X desktop with piles just like your real desktop (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida

It looks like the first phase of the Apple / Psystar Mac cloning saga is winding towards a conclusion, as the two sides have just filed to wrap up their case with the California court that ruled decisively in favor of Apple last month. As you probably expect, Apple hasn’t ceded much ground here: Psystar’s agreed to be deemed liable for illegally copying OS X Leopard, bypassing the OS X kernel encryption in violation of the DMCA, and breaching Apple’s EULA, all to the tune of $2,675,050. In return, Apple’s dropping its various trademark and unfair competition claims, and has promised to hold off on collecting any cash until the various appeals have run their course. Now, considering Apple and Psystar are currently engaged in pretty much the exact same case in Florida over Snow Leopard, we’d say that this agreement isn’t much more than a way for both sides to save money and move on to that fight: Apple’s already won the bulk of its case against Psystar in California, and spending money to litigate trademark claims we thought were weak when we first read them doesn’t really buy Steve any leverage he doesn’t already have, while Psystar probably needs to scrimp all the coin it can.

There’s one other little wrinkle here, and that’s exactly what Apple’s eventually going to be able to prevent Psystar from doing. It’s certain that the California court will bar Psystar from preloading machines with Leopard, but Psystar’s arguing that its new Rebel EFI software shouldn’t be covered by any decision, since it wasn’t part of the case. That’s an interesting argument and definitely worth some consideration — but it’s got some holes in it since Psystar’s now admitted that it’s liable for contributory and induced copyright infringement and violating the DMCA. As we’ve said before, Psystar’s essentially doing with Rebel EFI what Grokster got smacked by the Supreme Court for doing in 2005: it’s trying to build a business around the knowing copyright infringement of customers, and that usually doesn’t fly. We’ll see what happens — and Florida awaits.

Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

We’ve certainly seen plenty of hackintoshes in our time, but Will Urbina’s OS Xbox Pro is also one of the cleanest casemods we’ve ever seen. Built so that Will can run Final Cut Pro for his job as a video editor, the machine is based on an EFI-X hackintosh dongle, and inside it sports an 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s paired with an NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT card, 8GB of RAM, an 16GB SSD, and four traditional hard drives: one each to boot Windows 7 and OS X, and two 500GB 7,200rpm drives in a RAID0 array for video editing. Will says his total parts cost was under $1,500 for a system that matches a $4,500 Mac Pro, but that obviously doesn’t include the value of his time — which, judging by the totally captivating build video, should be plenty expensive. Check it below.

Continue reading OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft group manager: Windows 7 borrowing ‘Mac look and feel’

We’ll be honest — before today, we had never heard of Simon Aldous, but it sure seems as if he’s trying hard to get his name out there. Mr. Aldous, a group manager at Microsoft, recently sat down for a rather lengthy talk with PCR. Most of the back-and-forth revolved around receiving input from partners and other mildly boring topics, but one particular Q&A was pointed directly at the outfit’s newest operating system. When asked if Windows 7 was “really a much more agile operating system,” Simon made a deliberate decision to say the following:

“One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use. What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 – whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format – is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics.”

Of course, he followed that up by slamming OS X’s general stability, noting that Vista’s core technology — on which Win7 is built — is “far more stable than the current Mac platform.” We know we’re opening up a giant can here, but… um, thoughts?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under: Software

Microsoft group manager: Windows 7 borrowing ‘Mac look and feel’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device

Wow, where’ve you been, Orb? It’s been a full year since we heard anything from the once-adored media streaming outfit, and while it’s been streaming out content to iPhones for quite some time, those relying on Macs to do it have been left in the damp night air. Until now, that is. Orb for Macintosh has finally hit the streets, bringing with it OS X 10.5 and 10.6 compatibility that enables any and all media from iTunes to be sent out over the internet and consumed on any outside device with access to the web. We’re talking laptops, UMPCs, smartphones and even that ancient PC your grandmother still uses with Windows ME. There’s no mention of any DRM restrictions, and it’ll even allow you to stream live TV if you can manage to connect a tuner card to your Apple. Oh, and did we mention that Orb is completely free? Hit the download link below to get your weekend started off right.

Read – Download Orb
Read – Press release

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software

Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta build brings back Atom support

Well, it looks like reports that Apple might be killing Atom support in the next Snow Leopard update may have been slightly overblown, as the latest developer build of OS X 10.6.2 (10C535) has apparently restored support for the processor and simultaneously brightened the spirits of hackintoshers the world over. What’s more, there doesn’t appear to be any explanation for the switch-a-roo from Apple which, as Electronista notes, could indicate that it was simply a bug or a temporary measure — although it does of course also mean that Apple can just as easily flip the switch again if it sees fit (which seems like at least a 50 / 50 shot).

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Latest Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta build brings back Atom support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

We’re hearing that the PC version of this here software still beats out the Mac counterpart, but equality is slowly but surely becoming a reality. The main new feature over on the OS X side, however, is a good one: the ability to stream iPhone and iTunes media directly to your TV via your FiOS TV DVR. Fire up an iTunes playlist and watch the fun roll by on your home TV, and there’s even support for photo slideshows and the like. It’s available to download right now from the read link, and those still skeptical can catch a demonstration vid just past the break.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Continue reading Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Software

Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook goes unibody, available today

Like a bat out of hell, Apple has just shuttled a new, unibody MacBook in the gadget world’s direction. The new model — which looks like an arctic, glossy version of the familiar 13-inch MacBook Pro line — will be landing in stores today (yes, today), with a familiar price tag: $999. In terms of changes, besides the new, high-test plastic casing (built in the same fashion as the aluminum MacBook Pros) the 13-incher boasts a LED-backlit display, new glass multitouch trackpad, and a built-in, “7 hour” battery. Inside the single SKU will be a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM (upgradable to 4GB), an NVIDIA 9400M GPU, 250GB hard drive and the old standby SuperDrive. We had a chance to play around with the laptop, and it’s pretty snazzy for a hunk of plastic. The surface is super slick (AKA super fingerprint friendly), though the base of the laptop utilizes a soft-touch, non-slip surface that’s nice to handle. The display certainly is brighter and better looking than the previous model, though the one on the desk we saw was slightly dimmer than we would prefer — in its defense it was sitting right next to a super bright iMac. As stated, the new model can be picked up right this very second at stores around the globe, and we’ll have a much closer look very soon — so stay tuned! A full spec breakdown is after the break.

Update: Check out our hands-on!

Continue reading MacBook goes unibody, available today

Filed under: Laptops

MacBook goes unibody, available today originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model

After months of speculation, Apple has unveiled some completely new iMacs, featuring 21.5-inch and 27-inch 16:9 displays and all-aluminum enclosures. The new widescreen IPS panels are LED-backlit and have 178-degree viewing angles — the 21.5-inch iMac has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, while the 27-incher comes in at a staggering 2,560 x 1,440. Ports are the same as the outgoing model with the addition of an SD card slot and video-in on the 27-inch (via a special cable), and the wireless keyboard is now standard (as is the all-new Magic Mouse). Pricing tiers haven’t changed much: there’s a low-end $1,199 21.5-inch model with a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB drive, a $1,499 model that bumps things up to 1TB of storage and ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics, while the base 27-inch config starts at $1,699 with the same bumped specs. All of those can be custom-configured with up to a 3.33GHz Core 2 Duo, but it’s the top-end $1,999 27-inch model that’ll bring the real heat when it ships in November; it’s packing a 2.06GHz quad-core Core i5 processor (with a 2.8GHz Core i7 available for $200 more) and Radeon HD 4850 graphics. Not a bad little refresh — but it looks like all you Blu-ray fans are going home alone again. Check the full specs list after the break.

Continue reading iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model

Filed under: Desktops

iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Intel’s Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files… on a hackintosh

Intel just did a pretty impressive demo of its new Light Peak optical device interconnect, driving a greater-than-HD display while saturating an SSD RAID all over one cable, but we couldn’t help but notice the monster Frankenstein test rig on stage was running OS X — looks like someone’s violating their EULA! Video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Intel’s Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files… on a hackintosh

Filed under: Peripherals

Video: Intel’s Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files… on a hackintosh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live

Well, that was fast — just over week after Snow Leopard officially shipped, the first update’s on the books. Nothing major in the changelog here, but we’re told Flash has been updated to a newer, more secure version. Let us know how it goes for you, eh?

Continue reading Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live

Filed under: Software

Mac OS X 10.6.1 update now live originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard: what’s broken (or working) for you?

Remember that time you installed Windows XP before it even hit the market? Remember how your AGP video card would only display a maximum resolution of 800 x 600 and your audio card would only emit bleeps and bloops? Ah, those were the days. Quite a bit has happened since XP landed to wash away the awful stain that was Windows ME, though it’s still no shock to hear that new operating systems leave more than a few applications broken. Over the past few days, we’ve seen oodles of gripes from across the web from loyal Mac users who just can’t believe Snow Leopard has borked their favorite software, but we’re wondering how things have been on your machine. Have you realized that your Optimus Maximus no longer boogies with OS X 10.6? Are you bummed that iStat pro isn’t giving you the details it used to? What kind of hell has broken loose since you threw caution in the garbage and updated your machine?

Filed under: Software

Snow Leopard: what’s broken (or working) for you? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard review

Snow Leopard. Even the name seems to underpromise — it’s the first “big cat” OS X codename to reference the previous version of the OS, and the list of big-ticket new features is seemingly pretty short for a version-number jump. Maybe that’s why Apple’s priced the 10.6 upgrade disc at just $29 — appearances and expectations matter, and there’s simply not enough glitz on this kitty to warrant the usual $129.

But underneath the customary OS X fit and finish there’s a lot of new plumbing at work here. The entire OS is now 64-bit, meaning apps can address massive amounts of RAM and other tasks go much faster. The Finder has been entirely re-written in Cocoa, which Mac fans have been clamoring for since 10.0. There’s a new version of QuickTime, which affects media playback on almost every level of the system. And on top of all that, there’s now Exchange support in Mail, iCal, and Address Book, making OS X finally play nice with corporate networks out of the box.

So you won’t notice much new when you first restart into 10.6 — apart from some minor visual tweaks here and there there’s just not that much that stands out. But in a way that means the pressure’s on even more: Apple took the unusual and somewhat daring step of slowing feature creep in a major OS to focus on speed, reliability, and stability, and if Snow Leopard doesn’t deliver on those fronts, it’s not worth $30… it’s not worth anything. So did Apple pull it off? Read on to find out!

Continue reading Snow Leopard review

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard box set makes short-lived cameo in Apple’s online store

Whether or not Snow Leopard build 10A432 is really the ready-for-shipment “golden master,” Apple’s own site is giving hope to the masses that its next platform iteration is gearing up for a launch sooner rather than later. MacRumors is reporting that a Mac Box Set containing OS X 10.6 , iLife ‘09, and iWork ‘09 popped up on Apple’s online store today priced at $169 for single users and shipping within 24 hours. The page itself no longer exists, although not before Google’s spiders managed to pick up on it. It’s probably wishful thinking to think this is indicative of a release before its projected September launch window — and really, at this point, that’s only a couple of weeks away — if you were gonna hope for it anyway, here’s some fodder for ya.

Read – Snow Leopard box set briefly appears in Apple Online Store
Read – Google entry for now-defunct page

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard box set makes short-lived cameo in Apple’s online store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard pre-orders now being taken at Amazon

We could’ve sworn it was already available for pre-order, but seeing as Google cache is telling us otherwise, we thought it best to give you a heads up that Amazon is now accepting monies for Mac OS X 10.6 a.k.a. Snow Leopard. Nothing new about the date and price from what we heard at WWDC this year, it’s still listed for September at $29. Five-user family pack is $49, Server version is $499, and you can bundle a single or five-user pack with iWork and iLife for $169 and $229, respectively. We don’t anticipate the OS being in short supply come launch, but if you need a peace of mind and Snow Leopard on day one, pull out your credit card and direct your browser Amazon’s way.

[Thanks, Luis M]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard pre-orders now being taken at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Download Google Chrome for OS X

A portable version of Google Chrome has been compiled for OS X by German developer. By portable it means that you wont have to install this version of Google Chrome to your operating system, but instead you can just copy it to your USB drive and run it directly.

Portable Google Chrome for OS X is actually made from Chromium, which are nightly builds of Google Chrome. Google Chrome for OS X still isn’t very stable to use, and from what I’ve read, it doesn’t even support flash (confirmation anyone?), but it’s worth trying since you wont even have to install it now. It is easily updateable as well, just load Chromium from the ChromeLoader app and update it.

[via Download Squad]

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Colorware offers up $6,000 Stealth MacBook Pro: it’s really dark

Colorware’s well known for offering up all sorts of consumer electronics in all sorts of hues, but the outfit has definitely stepped up its game with the Stealth MacBook Pro. This limited edition piece is an all-black 15-inch MacBook Pro with a matte display, 3.06GHz CPU, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, 256MB SSD, an 8x SuperDrive, zero gloss finish and a SofTouch coating that’ll make it downright impossible for your fingers to stop stroking it. Reportedly, these will be limited to just ten units, and each one will cost a not-at-all affordable $5,999. See Apple, this is what you get when you voluntarily axe the BlackBook. Opportunity, lost.

[Via Engadget Polska]

Filed under: Laptops

Colorware offers up $6,000 Stealth MacBook Pro: it’s really dark originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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