Battlestations Midway

There’s a certain glory to World War II video games that will never fade, but sometimes you need a slightly different take on the genre. With that in mind, Robosoft Technologies and Feral Interactive present Battlestations Midway for the Mac, a World War II battle simulation title in which players take control of both the…

iWeb Companion App Multisite 2.4 Adds iWeb 09 Support

Multisite, which retails for $19.95, is a utility that allows users of Apple’s iWeb software to use a less cluttered desktop by focusing on the site the user wants to work with. The program also speeds up iWeb, removing its requirement to load every site in a single data file.The new version features the following…

Third Annual A Tale in the Desert Player Meet Planned

Players will also have a chance to discuss the game’s Legacy Tests, which were created by those who led the monument construction in the previous A Tale in the Desert. The game is currently in its fourth iteration, also known as a Telling. Eschewing the hack-and-slash gameplay of other MMOs, A Tale in the Desert…

Cool Waste of Time - A History of the Internet

The video was made by Melih Begil, and posted to YouTube, and offers a look back at the technologies, initiatives, and other early efforts that lead to the existence of the Internet we know today. The look back starts in 1957, “when everything began.” A History of the Internet.

On Being a Computer Language Omnivore

I am in the process of learning Python. It’s a very nice scripting language, but like any language, it has its own unique approach. That’s not lost on me who’s been a Perl nutcase for the last 17 years. Perhaps the biggest issue surrounding Perl vs. Python (and perhaps Ruby) is this idea of the…

iLife '09 Ships Jan 27

The new version of iLife will include updated versions of iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand. The new version of iPhoto adds geo-tagging support, face recognition and improved Facebook support. iMovie now includes video stabilization, a new precision editor, animated maps, and more. The new version of GarageBand adds tutorials showing how to play piano and guitar…

PC World Rounds Up "Six Worst Apple Products of All Time"

PC World’s six products include the Macintosh IIvi and IIvx, Macintosh TV, Pippin, Power Mac 4400, the “Hockey Puck” USB mouse for iMac, and the one controversial choice (in our view), the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (the TAM). The full article offers the specifics on each product, including what it was and why the magazine picked…

Adobe Ships InDesign CS4 Server

Adobe InDesign Server works as a back end allowing companies to automate document design and publishing. Server solutions are available from Adobe partners, and can also be developed in-house for customized automation needs.A list of InDesign CS4 Server solution partners is available at the Adobe Web site.

The Half-life of Steve Jobs' Leadership

First of all, one has to remember that the management structure, as it exists with Mr. Jobs was uniquely designed by Mr. Jobs. In simple terms, Tim Cook handles the procurement and operations side, Peter Oppenheimer manages the money, Scott Forstall handles the iPhone software, Bertrand Serlet handles Mac OS X, Bob Mansfield handles the…

Analyst: Apple Beating Recession So Far

“Desktop units were weaker than expected with [Apple’s] management commenting on a shift toward portables (a trend resembling the overall PC market),” Mr. Um said. “If the trend continues (uncertain if it will, but certainly bears watching), portables will have to grow at a much faster rate to offset desktop weakness, which we think could…

Intego: Pirated iWork '09 Hides Trojan

The Trojan, dubbed OSX.Trojan.iServices.A, is included as a payload in otherwise normal iWork installers, so users may not be aware that they have also installed malicious code on their Macs. Users that have downloaded and installed a pirated version of iWork ’09 can check for iWorkServices in /System/Library/StartupItems. iWorkServices is the malicious payload that’s installed…

Apple COO Says No to Apple Netbook, Denigrates Existing Models

The comments came during Apple’s quarterly conference call with analysts when one analyst asked CFO Peter Oppenheimer and Mr. Cook what they thought of the netbook space, which saw enormous growth during the December quarter for PC companies such as Acer. “We’re watching that space,” said Mr. Cook. “Right now from our point of view,…

SEC Probes Steve Jobs Health Disclosure

Unnamed sources close to the matter have said that the SEC is conducting a private investigation to determine whether or not the Cupertino-based company’s disclosures regarding Mr. Jobs where designed to mislead investors.Mr. Jobs released a statement through Apple on January 5 where he stated that he was being treated for a hormone imbalance that…

A Deeper Look at the Worlds vs. NCsoft Lawsuit

Unfortunately, trying to get to the bottom of the lawsuit’s merits is much like trying to figure out the true origins of that “May you live in interesting times” curse. As M. Scott Boone, associate professor of law at Appalachian School of Law, told me: “The Patent Office was ill-prepared to deal with the onslaught…

Who Needs an 8 Hour Battery Anyway?

To which I say: Who cares? All right, I am sure there are a few people who care (and most of them will likely post critical comments here). But they make up a very very small minority. I contend that, for the rest of us, the MacBook Pro’s extended battery life is of trivial concern and,…

Ableton Unveils Live 8, Suite 8

Ableton Suite 8 will get a new sound library with over 1,600 sounds, a new physical modeling instrument for creating realistic mallet sounds and percussion, Latin percussion, an updated Operator synthesizer, and more.Ableton Live 8 and Suite 8 should be available in the second quarter of 2009. Ableton Live 8 pricing starts at US$449, and…

Analyst: Jobs Absence a Trial Period for Cook

“Obviously we are saddened by the news that Steve’s medical issues are more complex than he previously thought. However, we do feel a 6-month medical leave of absence is the right thing for Apple and believe the company is in able hands under the leadership of COO Tim Cook,” Mr. Marshall said. “It is our…

Manhattan Portage Launches Four New Laptop Bags

The Laptop Tote is a slim nylon bag capable of storing a MacBook or 15-inch MacBook Pro notebook, and includes a total of four pockets and a mesh bottle holder. The bag features an interior padded laptop sleeve and shoulder pad on the strap and arrives with a key ring attached to the exterior. The bag…

TMO's Editor Choice Awards for 2009

There are no categories, and they are listed in no particular order. Without further ado, below you’ll find the recipients of the The Mac Observer’s Editors’ Choice Awards for 2009.  Things and Things for the iPhone, Cultured CodeThings, for Mac and iPhone, from Cultured Code is an extremely well thought-out task management solution. It’s incredibly simple…

iWork '09 is Evolutionary, not Revolutionary - and Great

Apple has often chosen to release new software that seems limited, but is strong on a new way of doing things. Later, as users become accustomed to the app, evolutionary additions come, in a transparent way. That keeps the app fresh and simple, but incrementally adds power. This is what Apple is doing with iWork…

Steve Jobs Should Step Down from Apple

The mentally challenged tech press, pundits and analysts covering Apple are going to give him and Apple no peace. Most every single article regarding the company and its CEO, from here on out, will harp on, allude to, and/or call into question his health, his likelihood of not returning, and potential unclean hands on the…