Amazon Launches Mac Software Download Store

The Loop first spotted the new substore, and many on the Internet are hailing it as an effort by Amazon to “go after Apple,” referring to Apple’s Mac App Store launched earlier this year. The reality, however, is that this is more an effort to pull all of the existing software downloads Amazon already sold…

Protect Your Mac From Bad Guy Phishing

What is Phishing? Phishing is a message to you, on a website, an e-mail or tweet that exploits the human weakness for curiosity, greed, and inexperience in some combination. The message entices you to take some action — log on to what you think is your bank, click on a link, or download and run…

iMac Hard Drives: Why Did Apple Make Them Hard to Replace?

“Since late 2009, there’s been a well-documented issue with the iMac line. If you upgrade the hard drive, the fans can start spinning like crazy. The fans at high speed are loud, mainly unnecessary, and have caused a lot of headaches for DIYers everywhere.” Eventually, OWC found a way to work around this obstacle. Until now. The…

Disk Alarm Monitors Mac Hard Drive Free Space

Features: Alerts you when you have reach a certain amount of disk space Optionally alerts with a sound, very useful when you are away from the computer screen Runs as an agent app, close the settings window and it will still alert you Optionally stays in your menu bar for fast access mentioning the free…

New iMac, MacBook Pro Support Thunderbolt Booting

Thunderbolt is a new peripheral connection first introduced on the MacBook Pro in February with the promise of data transfer speeds that dramatically outperform USB 2.0 and FireWire 800. The interface next showed up on the iMac refresh in early May.Apple’s Thunderbolt portThunderbolt offers two bi-directional channels that support 10Gbps data transfer speeds, and can…

iFixit: Thunderbolt iMac Includes Replaceable GPU

“With a bit of magic, the GPU heat sink detaches from the logic board, exposing the AMD GPU board,” iFixit’s Miroslav Djuric said. “You heard that right, folks — you don’t have to replace the entire logic board if your GPU explodes from too much l33t gaming.”Replacing the GPU, however, comes at a cost since…

Analysts Upbeat on iMac Refresh

Both analysts noted that Apple was able to continue its long-term strategy of using Mac product refreshes to offer more performance at the same price point as the previous generation, the strategy that has allowed Apple to keep its computer business profitable. “The refreshed iMacs are up to 70% faster than the previous iteration with…

New iMacs Sport Thunderbolt, Quad-Core Processors

The new iMac ships with a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 16:9 LED backlit display, 4GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD graphics, four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, two Thunderbolt ports, Gigabit Ethernet, SuerDrive, SDXC card slot, audio in and out ports, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, built-in microphone and stereo speakers, and the same FaceTime HD…

Free Is Good: Four Handy Mac Apps

For example, check out this app description: “… provides an icon in the menu bar to quickly access your installed applications by scanning standard locations such as local, user, network and developer applications.”, or this one “ … helps you to keep all applications, widgets, preference panes and application plugins installed on your Mac up…

Microsoft also Updates Office 2008 for Mac

The update’s patch notes: Improvements for all Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac applications Security is improved This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2008 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code. For more information, see the security bulletin that is listed earlier in this document. Stability is…

Skype for Mac Design Contest - MacBook Air, iPad, Apple TV Prizes

The is structured in three phases, with each stage lasting three weeks. At the end of each stage two winners will be selected, one deemed a “Judge’s Choice” and the other a “People’s Choice” winner. Those six winners will then be judged in a final round where a Grand Prize winner will be chosen. Each…

GoodSync for Mac: File Synchronization Made Easy

Mac OS X provides a great backup utility in Time Machine, but still leaves a gap unfilled: synchronizing files between multiple computers. One of the things I missed after switching from PCs to Macs was SyncToy, a small power tool released by Microsoft’s developers that allowed a user to synchronize files between multiple computers using…

iFixit Dives Inside Thunderbolt MacBook Pro

Unlike some Apple products, the new MacBook Pro is fairly easy to disassemble and repair. The bottom cover is easy to remove, too, since it uses standard phillips screws. That’s good news, since you need to remove the panel to upgrade your RAM and hard drive.Apple’s redesigned MacBook ProiFixit notes that the controller chip for…

TMO Pics of Apple’s New MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt Port

The new models look very similar to the previous MacBook Pro design, and Apple clearly hasn’t yet decided to begin incorporating everything it introduced in the current MacBook Air into its Pro line. The photo below shows the MacBook Pro 15” model. The biggest change is incorporating Intel’s new Thunderbolt (code named Light Peak) technology…

Apple Updates MacBook Pro, Intros Thunderbolt Interface [UPDATED]

Apple’s new MacBook Pro lineupApple’s updated 15.4-inch and 17-inch models include quad-core Intel Core i7 processors, and the 13.3-inch model is available with dual core i5 or i7 processors. The 15- and 17-inch models now ship with AMD Radeon video processors, and the lineup includes a higher resolution camera dubbed the FaceTime HD camera.The 13-inch…

New MacBook Pros May Call Light Peak “Thunderbolt”

Light Peak is Intel’s new high speed connection for laptops that supports displays, hard drives, and other peripherals through a single port. The interface is intended to use fibre optic for its connections, although Apple is rumored to be using copper instead.New MacBook Pro rumor: ThunderboltThe Thunderbolt port apparently looks exactly like Apple’s current Mini…

New MacBook Pro May Include SSD, Hard Drive Combo

New MacBook Pro rumors keep coming inApparently the new MacBook Pro models will include an internal sold stage drive (SSD) with between 8GB and 16GB storage for the operating system, and a standard internal hard drive for data and applications. Apple will reportedly offer an SSD build-to-order option for customers that don’t want a traditional…

Microsoft Brings Zune HD Support to the Mac

Windows Phone 7 Connector lets Mac users sync iTunes content and photos with Windows Phone 7 devices or the Zune HD, uploads photos to iPhoto, supports browsing the content of connected devices, and manages software updates for devices. The application doesn’t, however, sync calendars and contacts.Windows Phone 7 is free and available through Apple’s new…

H-Squared Shows Mini rack for Mounting Mac mini

Mini rack from H-SquaredEach Mini rack can accommodate up to six Mac mini (mid 2010) computers which have a removable bottom panel. The Mac mini is mounted in a vertical orientation, allowing easy access to all of the mini’s ports, and allowing the mini to vent heat via the exhaust port.  The cables attached to…

QuickerTek Intros Solar Charger for MacBook Air

QuickerTek’s Apple JuiczThe Apple Juicz Solar Charger is available in 27 Watt and 55 Watt versions, and includes a MagSafe connector, adapters for other QuickerTek batteries, messenger bag-style carrying case, and a 12 volt car charger adapter. The 27 Watt model weighs 1.78 pounds, and the 55 Watt version weighs 3.9 pounds.The Apple Juicz Solar…

TimePreserver Backs Up Time Capsule, Time Machine Drives

TimePreserver is designed to complement Apple’s Time Machine data backup system, backs up data to external hard drives, maintains incremental backups, doesn’t require users to interrupt their regular backup schedule, and can be used to restore user data as if the backup were the original Time Capsule or Time Machine drive.TimePreserver is priced at US$35…