Time Capsule “makes wireless backups a snap”

“I’ve been using Time Capsule for a few weeks now, courtesy of Apple, and have found it to be an ideal backup for anyone with a Mac — especially a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro,” relates Ken Mingis (computerworld.com). “Not only does it serve as an 802.11n Wi-Fi router, beaming the Internet throughout the house or small office, but it also marries that router with a server-grade Serial ATA hard drive spinning at 7,200 rpm.” [Apr 11, 2008]

Survey says Apple brand has biggest consumer impact

According to a survey conducted by brandchannel.com, “the Apple brand has the biggest impact on the world’s consumers,” reports Rachel Sanderson (reuters.com). Asked “to identify the brands with the greatest impact on their lives,” respondents named Apple [the] overwhelming winner. The creator of the iPod and Mac computer triumphed in six categories including most inspiring brand and the one readers cannot live without.” [Mar 31, 2008]

Quick Tip of the Week: Quick Look

In that folder filled with photos, how can you quickly find the one you want — without even launching an application? With Quick Look. One of the great new features of Mac OS X Leopard, Quick Look lets you scan a collection of images, text files, PDF documents, movies, Keynote presentations, Mail attachments, and Microsoft Word and Excel files. Find out how you can take advantage of Quick Look in the latest Quick Tip of the Week. [Mar 26, 2008]

“A joy to carry and use” — MacBook Air

In his earlier review of MacBook Air, Dan Frakes (macworld.com) thought it “interesting,” but, after using it for three weeks on the road, he now finds MacBook Air “compelling.” Not only does he now consider MacBook Air “a great computer for hardcore road warriors,” he reports that he knows a good number of non-techie people who’ve purchased the Air simply because it does everything they need, in a package that’s smaller, lighter, and more convenient for their around-the-house-and-down-to-the-coffee-shop laptop life. As for me, our family’s new MacBook Air arrived last week.” [Mar 26, 2008]

Backing up a breeze with Time Capsule

“Simply put, there’s never been an easier way to back up,” reports Bob Levitus (chronicle.com) in his review of Time Capsule. After a few minor installation steps, you just “open the Time Machine System Preference pane on your Mac and click a few times. Leopard’s Time Machine backup software takes care of everything else.” And Levitus notes that “in nearly a month of constant use, I’m happy to report that Time Capsule has done its thing every hour without fail, and has never given me trouble.” [Mar 25, 2008]

Four mice for new Xserve

“The quad-core Xeon-based Apple Xserve is a superbly modern 1U server with powerful options for storage and remote access,” reports Andrew T. Laurence (macworld.com). As a result of his tests, he awards Xserve four mice (out of five) and notes that “the new Xserve’s AFP performance is so fast that I could not muster enough client computers to discover its performance ceiling.” [Mar 24, 2008]

“You pretty much can’t go wrong with anything Apple is currently selling”

“We’ve tested the Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, the iMac, the Mac Mini, and the XServe,” exclaims Richard Hoffman (informationweek,com). “There’s not a bad Apple among the bunch, and some are truly superb.” In fact, Hoffman stipulates that “the entire product line is one of the strongest Apple’s ever had. Without hyperbole, it may be the best overall line of computers anyone has had, ever.” [Mar 24, 2008]

The role played by Final Cut Studio in No Country for Old Men

In the making of No Country for Old Men, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen prove “just how influential a Mac and the right software can be,” writes Jim Dalrymple (macworld.com). “The movie won four Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In fact, it is the first movie edited with a completely digital workflow on Mac to win the Oscar. ‘They [Apple] made it really easy for us — we cut now much the same way we cut on film [using Final Cut Pro]. It’s hugely faster,’ said Ethan Coen.” [Feb 27, 2008]

Celebrating No Country for Old Men

The film No Country for Old Men won four Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  Find out more about the making of the film by listening to a podcast recorded during last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. In the podcast, director Barry Sonnenfeld chats with Joel Coen and Ethan Coen about their filmmaking experiences in general and their use of Final Cut Studio to edit No Country for Old Men. Enjoy. [Feb 26, 2008]

Introducing new MacBook and MacBook Pro models

Apple today introduced new models of the MacBook and MacBook Pro. MacBook Pro models feature the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors (running at up to 2.6GHz with 6MB of shared L2 cache), larger hard drives (up to 300GB), and 2GB of memory standard in most models. They also include the latest NVIDIA graphics processors — with up to 512MB of video memory — and an innovative Multi-Touch trackpad, first introduced in MacBook Air.

The three new models of the MacBook feature faster processors and hard drives: sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a stunning black 2.4 GHz model with a massive 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive. The 2.4 GHz MacBook ships with 2GB of memory standard, expandable up to 4GB across the line.

Available immediately, the new MacBook and MacBook Pro models start at just S$ 1,688 and S$ 3,088 respectively. [Feb 26, 2008]

Order your 2GB iPod shuffle

Apple today began taking orders for the new 2GB iPod shuffle. Available in five colours — silver, blue, green, purple, and (PRODUCT) RED special edition — for just S$ 108, the newest model of iPod shuffle holds up to 500 songs. Order yours today from the online Apple Store; or visit a reseller in your area and try one on for size. [Feb 26, 2008]

Xsan 2 makes SAN setup simpler

According to Jim Dalrymple (macworld.com), one of the goals for Xsan 2 was to make it easier for customers to set up a storage area network (SAN). “One of the ways Apple has accomplished this is with the SAN Setup Assistant, which is integrated into Mac OS X Leopard Server or as an application that can be run on its own.” “The setup assistant, Dalryple explains, does ”all the heavy lifting for you, setting up everything including Open Directory permissions.” [Feb 19, 2008]

Xsan 2 offers “sweet new features”

Among the “pretty sweet new features“ that distinguish Xsan 2, Chris Foresman (arstechnica.com) points to the new MultiSAN feature, which “gives simultaneous access to multiple volumes that are hosted by separate controllers.” Xsan 2 “also allows file copies from one SAN volume to another directly over FibreChannel for a significant speed boost.” In addition, Foresman points to the redesigned admin tools that simplify setup and to Xsan 2’s tighter integration with Open Directory, Mac OS X Leopard, and Server Assistant on Leopard server. [Feb 19, 2008]

1GB iPod shuffle now S$ 78; 2GB model, just S$ 108

It’s the world’s most wearable music player, and the 1GB iPod shuffle — just S$ 78 — is now the most affordable iPod ever. It also has a new 2GB sibling that costs just S$ 108 and allows customers to wear even more music on their sleeves. Or belts. Or lapels. While the 1GB iPod shuffle is available immediately, the 2GB will be available later this month. Both models come in five colours — silver, blue, green, purple and a (PRODUCT) RED special edition) — weigh just half an ounce, and are just half a cubic inch in volume. [Feb 19, 2008]

Introducing Xsan 2

Apple today introduced Xsan 2, the first major upgrade to its easy-to-use, high-performance, enterprise-class Storage Area Network (SAN) file system for Mac OS X. Xsan 2 combines enhanced performance with Apple’s legendary ease of use, allowing even first-time users to set up and quickly deploy a SAN. It introduces MultiSAN, which allows users on a single workstation to access multiple SANs at the same time. Fully integrated with Mac OS X Leopard and Mac OS X Server Leopard, Xsan is also now qualified to work with third-party RAID storage. [Feb 19, 2008]

MacBook Air shows: “never been a better time to switch to a Mac”

“As I look at a newly arrived MacBook Air laptop,” writes Dean Takahashi (mercurynews.com), “it occurs to me there has never been a better time to switch to a Mac.” And he points to the new MacBook Air as “a great example of the faster innovation” that Apple offers customers. “The design is attractive and nobody can boast having a thinner notebook computer. It has an innovation dubbed Remote Disc. You install a disk on a desktop’s DVD drive. Then you can use your MacBook Air’s Remote Disc function to take over the DVD drive and install software into the MacBook Air. It’s an innovation that may signal the beginning of the end of disk media.” [Feb 18, 2008]