News, reviews, and tips for MacBook and iPhone users

Can an SD card startup disk be used on any Mac?

Roman Loyola — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:32:00 -0700

Can an SD card startup disk be used on any Mac? Roman Loyola does a little bit of testing, and finds the answer may be yes.

All about laptops

Christopher Breen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:58:00 -0700

Macworld editorial director Jason Snell and senior editor Dan Frakes join Christopher Breen to talk laptops—Apple-branded MacBooks as well as anything-but-Apple HackBooks.

‘Quicky Jr. II’ USB antenna triples laptop range

Peter Cohen — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:10:00 -0700

The Quicky Jr. II is a new USB device that purportedly triples the wireless networking range of a Mac laptop.

Create an SD card startup disk for the new MacBook Pros

Roman Loyola — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:08:00 -0700

In this video, senior editor Roman Loyola will show you how to create an SD card startup disk for the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros.

Review: MacBook Air (Mid 2009)

Jason Snell — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:31:00 -0700

If light weight and small size are you top considerations, the MacBook Air is the laptop for you. The new models aren’t much faster than their predecessors—in fact, the high-end system is slower than the previous model—but they’re cheaper.

Review: MacBook Pros (13-inch, Mid 2009)

James Galbraith — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0700

With its lower price, the return of FireWire (woo-hoo!), longer battery life, better looking display and a new built-in SD Card slot that you can boot from, the newest member of the MacBook Pro makes an impressive debut.

Fun with iPhone 3G S stress tests

Roman Loyola — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

In this video, we test the iPhone using a more offbeat approach. We’ll take a quick look at how the iPhone’s voice control reacts to different accents. We’ll also test the digital compass, Find My iPhone feature, and the smudge-proof screen.

Apple finds silver lining in verdict on green claims

Agam Shah — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:56:00 -0700

Apple on Friday said an advertising watchdog's ruling against its ads confirmed the company meets high environmental standards.

Review: MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)

Dan Frakes — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:01:00 -0700

The latest 17-inch MacBook Pro is by all measures a minor hardware upgrade over its predecessor, offering only slightly faster processor options and a bump in hard-drive capacity. The more significant change is the value you get for your money.

Review: MacBook Pros (15-inch, Mid 2009)

Jackie Dove — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

This update to the 15-inch MacBook Pro delivers better value and even more specification options to the laptop, though the upgrades to this new model are more nuanced than flashy.

Broadband important for rural areas, groups say

Grant Gross — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:19:00 -0700

Broadband deployment to rural areas is important for the U.S. economy, some groups said.

Gartner: Android an alternative to Windows in netbooks

Dan Nystedt — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:21:00 -0700

Market-research frim Gartner says Android may be a good alternative to Windows 7 on mini-laptops.

Switch network settings with ease

Glenn Fleishman — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:44:00 -0700

OS X's built-in Location feature lets you quickly change network settings based on where you are. Glenn Fleishman shows you how to get the most out of this feature, and how to tweak it with third-party tools.

New MacBook Pro speed tests

James Galbraith — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:47:00 -0700

Macworld Lab tested all six of the new MacBook Pros, and the result show modest gains over the previous models.

Opinion: Reassessing the 'Apple Tax'

Michael Scalisi — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:41:00 -0700

PC World's Michael Scalisi is rethinking the so-called Apple tax after Monday's changes to the Mac laptop lineup.

The case of the missing ExpressCard slot

Peter Cohen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:03:00 -0700

The changes to Apple’s laptop line means the elimination of the ExpressCard/34 expansion slot, at least on the 15-inch models. And Peter Cohen thinks that will leave some mobile Mac users in the lurch.

WWDC Roundtable

Philip Michaels — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:49:00 -0700

There was something for everyone at Monday's Worldwide Developer Conference keynote, and we cover all the highlights in this special edition of the Macworld Podcast.

WWDC: Final Apple predictions

Ian Paul — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:27:00 -0700

PC World offers a final round-up of WWDC predictions in advance of Monday morning's keynote.

The new faces of netbooks

Agam Shah — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:28:00 -0700

Agam Shah of IDG News Service takes a closer look at how the netbook market is evolving given recent product announcements.

Computex attendance falls but Android dazzles

Dan Nystedt and Owen Fletcher — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:45:00 -0700

Devices based on Google's Android software stole the show at Computex, where attendance was down due to the global recession and Swine flu fears.

Review: 13-inch MacBook/2.13GHz (white)

James Galbraith — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:20:00 -0700

If price plays a greater role in a shopper's buying decisions during tough economic times, Apple's recent updates to its entry-level laptop, the $999 white MacBook, should help push some cost-conscious consumers over the laptop-buying fence.

MobileMe 2.0: A wishlist

David Chartier — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:42:00 -0700

Apple has spent the past year fortifying MobileMe and polishing the existing feature set. David Chartier speculates on what the company could add to the service in its sophomore year.

BenQ plans Android smartphones, netbooks for 2010

Dan Nystedt — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:44:00 -0700

The Taiwanese consumer electronics maker plans to launch a smartphone and a netbook running Google's Android operating system next year, a BenQ representative confirmed Thursday.

Lab test: $999 MacBook outpaces pricier models

James Galbraith — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:35:00 -0700

The revamped white MacBook Apple released last week not only outperforms the entry-level machine it replaces; it also beats the 2GHz unibody MacBook in Macworld Lab's latest tests.

Microsoft to leave smartbooks to Google

Dan Nystedt and Martyn Williams — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:05:00 -0700

Microsoft doesn't plan to offer a version of Windows for so-called "smartbooks," leaving the space open to Linux, Google's Android and other operating systems.

Intel pushes low-power chips for sleeker laptops

Agam Shah — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:59:00 -0700

Intel ships an ultra low-voltage processor for affordable ultrathin laptops.

Mac News Briefs: Yenco.com overhauls Finance budgeting app

Macworld Staff — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:31:00 -0700

Yenco.com has overhauled Finance, its bank account and budget management software, as part of its ongoing effort to move its applications to a more modern architecture. In other briefs, RadTech introduced a new notebook case, Studiometry saw an update, and JAMF software announced scripts that let its centralized client management application deploy and manage the VirusBarrier antivirus software.

Google keeps quiet on Android laptop plans

Dan Nystedt — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:07:00 -0700

While two Android-based laptops debuted ahead of the Computex exhibition, Google declined to comment on whether its working on adapting Andorid for laptops.

Amazon.com to ship Kindle DX ahead of schedule

Elizabeth Montalbano — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:24:00 -0700

Amazon.com's new large-screen Kindle DX e-reader will ship earlier than expected,

E-reader screens coming for netbooks

Dan Nystedt and Martyn Williams — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:42:00 -0700

Screen start-up Pixel Qi is showing off its first 10.1-inch screen for netbooks at Computex next week.

Make the most of the Genius Bar

Ted Landau — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:12:00 -0700

Prepare in advance for a trip to Apple's Genius Bar and you’ll likely go home smiling -- with a Mac that’s working again.

Baby monitors, microwaves said to cause Wi-Fi interference

Matt Hamblen — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:41:00 -0700

A report from a regulatory authority in the U.K. has found that baby monitors, security cameras and microwave ovens are causing interference for Wi-Fi users, moreso than overlapping Wi-Fi signals

Check your Wi-Fi speeds

Glenn Fleishman — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:41:00 -0700

Glenn Fleishman shows you how to use AirPort Utility to find out at what speed has connected to an Apple base station.

Understanding Wi-Fi's two spectrum bands

Glenn Fleishman — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:41:00 -0700

The versions of AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule released earlier this year can operate simultaneously over the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum bands. Glenn Fleishman looks at common problems and solutions that might plague you in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and offers advice on manually setting channels in both bands or creating two unique networks with a simultaneous dual-band base station.

AT&T to sell 3G netbooks across U.S.

Nancy Gohring — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:49:00 -0700

AT&T plans to start selling netbooks nationwide in the U.S.

Sprint to offer mobile 3G Wi-Fi device

Peter Cohen — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:29:00 -0700

Sprint will begin offering Novatel Wireless' MiFi 2200; it provides Wi-Fi access to Sprint's 3G data network.

Wi-Fi hotspots get a second wind

Mikael Ricknäs — Mon, 11 May 2009 07:59:00 -0700

Wi-Fi hotspots are back in the spotlight. Cheaper international data roaming and better indoor coverage will help hotspots remain relevant.

Apple breaks into UK Top 5 PC makers

Lexton Snol — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:35:00 -0700

Mac sales grew by 6.6 percent in the UK during the first quarter, allowing Apple to break into the top five of UK market share for the first time, according to Gartner.

Your desert island app

Peter Cohen — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:20:00 -0700

What if you were trapped on a desert island -- one with electricity and Wi-Fi -- and could have only one third-party application for your Mac? Which one would it be?

iPhone Tricks: Stay in the loop with news and broadcasts

Dan Moren — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:10:00 -0700

Thanks to your iPhone, you never have to disconnected from the latest news. Here are a few ways we stay up-to-date with what's going on.

Review: Mini iPod speakers roundup

Roman Loyola — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:00:00 -0700

There are times when you don’t want to don your headphones, and you want your music (or audiobook, podcast, recorded lecture, etc.) fill the air in your general vicinity. For that, you need a mini speaker.

iPhone Tricks: Put your phone’s GPS features to work

Mat Honan — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:30:00 -0700

Need a cab? Want to know how far you've run? Add these apps to your iPhone and you'll always know where you are and what's nearby.

Solve an obscure Back to my Mac issue

Rob Griffiths — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:13:00 -0700

Learn how a matter of time may prevent Back to my Mac from working.

iPass aims for mobile cloud service platform

Stephen Lawson — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:59:00 -0700

iPass introduced an iPhone client and plans someday to offer a platform for third-party applications.

iPhone Tricks: Sync files, notes, calendars, and more

Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:15:00 -0700

As long as you have your iPhone, there's no reason to ever be without your files or other important data. With the right apps you can have instant access to your Mac desktop, files, to-dos, and more.

HyperMac external battery plays nice with all MacBooks

Dan Moren — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:13:00 -0700

Sanho Electronics' HyperMac battery packs offer an additional boost for your MacBook, in four different capacity options.

Amazon may launch newspaper reader this week

Nancy Gohring — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:31:00 -0700

Some people speculate that an Amazon event scheduled for Wednesday could launch a newspaper-reading device.

Netbook shipments rise sevenfold during first quarter

Agam Shah — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:38:00 -0700

IDC said worldwide netbook shipments went up sevenfold to roughly 4.5 million during the first quarter of 2009.

Amazon to offer free cloud services to academics

Nancy Gohring — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:16:00 -0700

Amazon is offering students, researchers and lecturers use of its hosted computing services.

Access all Exposé modes on newer keyboards

Rob Griffiths — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:31:00 -0700

Learn how to access all of Exposé's modes via the F3 key on new keyboards (laptops and standalone)