Reviews of Apple's Mac desktops, MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops, and accessories

Remains of the Day: Contradiction in terms

Dan Moren — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0800

The white MacBook was still alive, but now it's dead for sure; the Air Force wants a little or a lot of iPads; and one of Steve Jobs's associates told the FBI that he was deceptive and manipulative, but that he would whole heartedly recommend him.

Hackers attack Foxconn for the laughs

John P. Mello Jr. — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Hackers claimed to have stolen internal data from Apple supplier Foxconn and leaked the information online, apparently as prank and not in response to media reports of poor working conditions at the electronics manufacturer's factories as had been reported earlier.

(Insider) The Macalope Daily: Self-covering tracks

The Macalope — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:30:00 -0800

The nice thing about being a silly pundit is that sometimes your articles expire.

(This story is viewable exclusively by Macworld Insider members.)

In UK, Apple grows PC market share while rivals stuggle

Ben Camm-Jones — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:45:00 -0800

Apple sold 267,000 Macs in the UK in the final quarter of 2011, increasing its share of the PC market in that country to 9.1 percent.

Apple to stream McCartney concert live to iTunes, Apple TV

Jim Metzendorf — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:30:00 -0800

Apple is hosting a live performance by Paul McCartney on February 9 on iTunes and Apple TV. Could this be a harbinger of future live content from the company?

Updates enable Lion Internet Recovery for more Macs

Roman Loyola — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:15:00 -0800

On Tuesday, Apple released three EFI firmware updates that enable Lion Internet Recovery on some 2010 iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models.

Remains of the Day: ARM wrestling

Dan Moren — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0800

Apple continues to try and port OS X to every chip, up to and including those delicious chocolate tortilla ones, Siri keeps bugging Wolfram Alpha for information, and it looks like your used music files will clutter your iTunes library until the end of time.

Remains of the Day: Look around you

Dan Moren — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0800

Google looks outside the company to hire some integrity, Best Buy looks outside to consumers for mythical product research, and spammers look to Steve Jobs for inspiration. The remainders for Monday, February 6, 2012 are looking sharp.

U.S. viewers can watch Super Bowl on Mac, iOS

Jason Snell — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:20:00 -0800

U.S. viewers can watch Sunday's Super Bowl on either their Macs or their iPad.

Weekly Wrap: Lion bugs, iBooks Author, Final Cut Pro X

Lex Friedman — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:55:00 -0800

Once a week, we gather together to recap the best stories published on Macworld over the past seven days. This week, those include software updates from Apple--and the problems that go along with them--tips on using your Mac more efficiently, and plenty more.

Apple revises Snow Leopard security update

Dan Moren — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:57:00 -0800

Apple updated the latest Snow Leopard security update, 2012-001, to version 1.1. While the company didn't spell out what changed, many users who installed the previous version of the update had encountered problems with the Rosetta technology used to run PowerPC-based apps.

Rage: Campaign Edition brings mayhem to the Mac

Joel Mathis — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:20:00 -0800

The makers of the popular (and quite violent) Doom and Quake franchises have brought their newest mutant-slaughtering game to the Mac. Rage: Campaign Edition, from Id Software, debuted Thursday on the Mac App Store.

Mac Basics: How to set up Time Machine

Leah Yamshon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:34:00 -0800

Have a new Mac and want to back up your files? Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up your external drive with Time Machine.

(Insider) The Macalope Daily: Consistency

The Macalope — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:30:00 -0800

John C. Dvorak is talking about Apple again. No, you're right, that can't be good.

(This story is viewable exclusively by Macworld Insider members.)

Opinion: Should we applaud Apple's China dealings, rather than condemn them?

Tom Kaneshige — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0800

CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige thinks a case can be made that Apple and other tech companies have improved working conditions in China.

(Insider) The Macalope Daily: The squeeze

The Macalope — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:30:00 -0800

Apple devices in the enterprise? Cats and dogs living together? MASS HYSTERIA!

(This story is viewable exclusively by Macworld Insider members.)

Remains of the Day: Shoot the moon

Dan Moren — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:35:00 -0800

Tim Cook shoots off an email, Donald Trump shoots off his mouth, and the new iPod nano may shoot (not great) pictures.

Macworld | iWorld: All our videos

Macworld Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:12:00 -0800

Miss one of our Macworld Live sessions from last week's Macworld | iWorld? You can find an archive of presentations live from the Macworld | iWorld show floor on our YouTube channel.

Wunderkit offers collaborative project management on Mac, iOS

Joel Mathis — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:26:00 -0800

Wunderkit, a collaborative getting-things-done web-based application for Mac and iOS, has emerged from beta testing and is available to the public.

Wrapping Up Macworld | iWorld

Christopher Breen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

In our final podcast from the Macworld | iWorld show floor, Christopher Breen recaps this year’s event with a panel of Macworld editors.

Opinion: Macworld Expo is dead, long live Macworld | iWorld

Christopher Breen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Macworld | iWorld was a show as much about doing as having. Chris Breen thinks it's a solid blueprint for the show's future.

Opinion: Macworld | iWorld changed more than just the name

Chris Holt — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:45:00 -0800

Chris Holt spent a few days wandering up and down Moscone West to get a feel for the revamped Macworld | iWorld show. Sure, some exhibits fell flat, but he came away impressed with the new focus.

Attendance steady for Macworld | iWorld

Lex Friedman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:51:00 -0800

IDG World Expo said Tuesday that attendance was steady at 25,000 for this year's Macworld | iWorld conference.

Analysis: Apple forcing IT shops to adapt or die

John Cox — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:50:00 -0800

Many IT departments are struggling with Apple's take-it-or-leave-it attitude, based on discussions last week at MacIT, which is Macworld|iWorld's companion conference for IT professionals.

Will this be the year of Apple in the enterprise?

Ryan Faas — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 -0800

Apple has never been considered an enterprise technology company, but that might change this year.

Apple hires John Browett as new SVP for retail stores

Lex Friedman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:02:00 -0800

John Browett leaves behind a post as CEO for Dixons Retail to take the reigns from Apple's departed retail chief Ron Johnson.

Remove unnecessary System Preferences icons

Lex Friedman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:00:00 -0800

If your System Preferences window feels cluttered, you can remove icons that you no longer need.

Expo Notes: Professor gives attendees a look inside the brain

Mauricio Grijalva — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:21:00 -0800

This year’s Macworld | iWorld wasn’t only about accessories and apps—attendees got a chance to see the inner workings of the brain.

Accuracy of Times report on Foxconn abuses challenged

Ben Camm-Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 -0800

The accuracy of parts of a recent article in the New York Times criticizing Apple for its complicity in the abuse of workers' rights in China has been called into question.

Mac 911 Live

Serenity Caldwell — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:00:00 -0800

Host Serenity Caldwell presides over a session featuring Christopher Breen and Ted Landau answering your Mac and iOS troubleshooting questions.

Expo Notes: Rhythm Touch helps treat the show floor aches

Mauricio Grijalva — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:20:00 -0800

The Rhythm Touch is a small rectangular box the size of half a deck of cards, and it uses electric stimulator pads to ease muscle pain.

Pundit Showdown Live

Philip Michaels — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:00 -0800

An all-star panel of Mac experts battles it out at Macworld | iWorld to determine who's got their finger on the pulse of the latest Mac and iOS news.

Slideshow: Macworld | iWorld 2012 Best of Show winners

Roman Loyola — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:30:00 -0800

Hundreds of products are on display, but a few stand out from the rest.

Ihnatko, Gruber, and the State of Apple

Jason Snell — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:11:00 -0800

From the Macworld | iWorld show floor, Jason Snell talks with Daring Fireball's John Gruber and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Andy Ihnatko about Apple in the post-Steve Jobs era.

Expo Notes: Brevity is the soul of wit at Rapid Fire session

Jeff Porten — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:23:00 -0800

Mac luminaries had just five minutes to impart some knowledge on the crowd at the Thursday night Rapid Fire session at Macworld | iWorld. Here's a rundown of some of the highlights from that event.

Slideshow: On the floor at Macworld | iWorld

Karissa Bell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:30:00 -0800

Can't be at Macworld | iWorld? We've got some photos from the three-day expo that can give you a taste of the products on display as well as some of the other activities going on at Moscone West.

Apple customers reaction mixed to reports of poor working conditions

Kerry Davis, Agam Shah and Grant Gross — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:01:00 -0800

Amid renewed reports of poor working conditions at factories making Apple products in China, it's unclear whether customers will demand change.

Expo Notes: South Park at Macworld | iWorld

Chris Holt — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:45:00 -0800

Three representatives of South Park Studios spoke at Macworld | iWorld this week, explaining how the Mac -- and Autodesk Maya -- play crucial roles in helping produce the long-running animated series.

Macworld | iWorld 2012 Best of Show winners

Roman Loyola — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

The annual expo for Mac and iOS users has evolved to focus on the user community, but the exhibit hall where companies show off their wares is still a huge part of the show—you might even say it’s the most important part. Hundreds of products are on display, but a few stand out from the rest. We call these products the Best of Show.

Expo Notes: Creators panel highlights creative uses for Mac, iOS

Jeff Porten — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The Superfly Presents the Creators panel at Macworld | iWorld brought together musicians, TV and film directors, and media managers for a wide-ranging discussion on the use of Apple products in creating media and running a media business.

Analyst: Apple breaks Microsoft's 'lock' on enterprise

Gregg Keizer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0800

The iPhone may have opened the door for Apple in the enterprise, but it was the one-two punch of the iPad and revamped MacBook Air in 2010 that really did the trick, an analyst said today.

Bill Gates reveals how Steve Jobs inspired him

Ben Camm-Jones — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0800

In a TV interview with ABC's Nightline, Bill Gates says that he has been inspired to push on with his philanthropic work after the death of Steve Jobs reminded him that we only have "limited time" on earth.

(Insider) The Macalope Daily: Better safe than right

The Macalope — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:30:00 -0800

Wall Street analysts continue their 30-plus year run of not getting Apple.

(This story is viewable exclusively by Macworld Insider members.)

Hard drive shortage may have far-reaching effects

Paul Mah — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:38:00 -0800

The global supply of hard disk drives may be slow to rebound, with a ripple effect that's threatening small businesses and PC makers.

Refocused Macworld | iWorld highlights music, art, film

Dan Moren — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:37:00 -0800

Macworld | iWorld kicks off this week in San Francisco, featuring a renewed focus on how people use Apple products to create art, film, and music, in addition to the more traditional conference fare.

MacBook, Mac mini get firmware updates

Philip Michaels — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:20:00 -0800

The firmware updates for the mid-2010 models of the MacBook and Mac mini enable Lion Recovery from an Internet connection.

Intego: 2011 offered bumper crop of Mac malware

Joel Mathis — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:32:00 -0800

Security firm Intego said that 2011 was the most active year for malware since the release of Mac OS X.

(Insider) The Macalope Daily: Off-topic

The Macalope — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:30:00 -0800

The big topics of the day are Apple's quarterly results and the iBooks Author brouhaha. So naturally, the Macalope's going to talk about something else.

(This story is viewable exclusively by Macworld Insider members.)

Remains of the Day: Check all the boxes

Dan Moren — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:00 -0800

A favorite phrase of Steve Jobs takes to the friendly skies, while the Macintosh says hello to another year, and Apple's secret packaging facility is unboxed.

Apple reports record revenue, profit for fiscal first quarter

Philip Michaels — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:47:00 -0800

Record-breaking iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales rang in a stellar start to the 2012 fiscal year for Apple.