Apple and Macs: New products, iMacs, iWork, iLife

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:22 am

Thanks for the tip 10spro - I'm there. Not really sure why, though, as I'm a little underwhelmed by the new features.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:29 am

Not including all the big changes that are gonna happen here are some of the better lesser known changes that you can expect (from macrumors.com)

• TextEdit: OpenDocument and Word 2007 Formats
• Terminal: Workspaces
• .Mac Sync for System Preferences
• Guest Log-In Accounts
• Grammar Check
• Scroll Non-Active Windows
• Printer Drivers via Software Update
• PDF Manipulation in Preview
• Self-Tuning TCP
• Archive Mailbox
• SMS Forwarding
• Event Dropbox
• Font Auto-Activation
• Instant Screen Sharing from the Finder
• Wikipedia in Dictionary
• Synchronize with Yahoo! address book

Scrolling in non-active windows!!!! that alone will save me hours:)

I'm really stocked on being able to take control of someone's mac via iChat screen sharing. This is gonna make helping my mum with her computer problems much easier (much less "no no no click on the OTHER file menu option, OK now select "new," no no no not quit! are you even listening???)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:01 am

Yeah screen control will be a useful feature.

You can also do some "fun" things with video chats.

Time Machine is going to be key for backing up photo and music collections.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:56 am

Apple is the biggest joke of a company when it comes to tech support and customer service. I'm simply amazed right now.

So I bought an Ipod Touch when it was first released. I then purchased the January Software Update for $20 to add the maps, email, etc. to the device. I went along using it for the past few months. The other day, the device just all of the sudden doesn't recognize any songs/movies/tv shows...nothing. Just like it's empty. I plug it in to iTunes and it says I have all of 300mb left, so I know it's got stuff on there.

So I wipe the device and start over. The problem is that it uninstalls the Software Update. So I try to reinstall it (syncing) and no luck. It just will not accept the new software. So I start an email thread with customer service. We go back and forth...they allow me to download the software update again...no luck. It just does not work.

We go round and round...finally their suggestion is to call tech support...but there will be a charge for the call. WTF? So I call the local store and they say that they suggest calling tech support too.

Turns out the issue is that the software update is corrupt and there is no way for them to delete it from my account so I can go and download it again. Their suggestion then is to create a new iTunes account. I refuse to do that because why should I have to use an email address I don't even check just to use iTunes.

So I offer to even pay for the software again. No luck...their system won't even let you buy the software again. Another WTF? So they won't take MORE money from me? I just don't get it. What makes this all even more ridiculous is the fact that I could go to the store and buy a new Ipod and it would have the F*CKING software installed already and it would be burned into the firmware so that when I restore the Ipod it would still be there.

Unreal...is it just that they are lazy or they just don't have the accounting tools necessary to run a business? They really won't take more money from the customer when the customer would rather do that than spend another couple hours f*cking with an obviously corrupt Ipod Touch? Wow.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:28 am

db your incident does suck. For me Apple is a company that is not high on my list. I do like their stuff but dislike the company with their holier than thou our sh*t don't stink aproach. But when you look at your experience it's not so different from some idiot at the other end of the phone at another tech support company having you try stuff you know won't fix the problem or stuff you've already thought of and tried.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:49 am

Actually, Apple does well in customer satisfaction and support surveys.

For every story like db's, there are stories of people getting their iPhones and MacBook Airs just exchanged, for things like battery issues.

The whole software-updates-for-pay issue though isn't good, however. There's going to be some more grumbling from current customers when there's another software upgrade in June.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:59 pm

I have a question for the Apple experts (don't know if this is the right thread but I'll try):

I have a first-generation iPod (buttons on top rather than on the wheel, big and clunky, etc) and I'm finally thinking of upgrading to a new 80GB iPod 'classic'. I'm one of those people who's absolutely obsessed with my iTunes play counts and song ratings and my question is thus;

If I get a new iPod to replace my old one do I lose all the stats/playback data from my iTunes? Or is there a way to keep my play counts, smart playlists and ratings?

Thanks.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:10 pm

That should be stored in your iTunes, not the iPod.

Playlists definitely are stored in iTunes.

I've synced a couple of iPods to my iTunes library but I haven't paid attention to whether that data changes.

If you're near an Apple Store, you could ask them.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:09 am

Bumpatity bump bump. Anyone else know the answer to my iPod question?

(Thanks for the reply wco but I won't be heading to the Mac Store in a while)

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:39 am

You will not lose a thing. It is all stored in your iTunes. (assuming you sync your iPod with your iTunes for any ratings or 'on the fly' playlists you may have created just on your iPod).

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:28 am

Spooky wrote:You will not lose a thing. It is all stored in your iTunes. (assuming you sync your iPod with your iTunes for any ratings or 'on the fly' playlists you may have created just on your iPod).

Thanks Spooky!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:46 am

The App store is finally here:

http://www.dailytech.com/Apple+Launches ... e12329.htm

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:09 am

Cool stuff! Hopefully I can get my laptop plugged into the work network so I can fuss around with this instead of working:)

MLB app and Super Monkey Ball are two that I'm really looking forward too.

Its a good day to be an iPhone owner! (Oh wait that's everyday:-P)

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:09 pm

I dl'ed the 2.0 firmware and have been playing around in the app store for a bit. Super Monkey Ball is really fun! Its very sensitive, maybe not ideal but still very responsive and best of all very fun. Haven't checked out the MLB app yet though.

Here is the link for the firmware 2.0 upgrade in case you want it early.

http://appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net ... store.ipsw

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:44 pm

macs,

I'm reading about some issues with this advanced firmware i.e. freezing, etc. Have you run into any issues? I know Sport73 (of course) is getting ready to do it and almost had me convinced, but i'm just a little nervous when i can wait 16 more hours and get the "real thing"

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:41 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:macs,

I'm reading about some issues with this advanced firmware i.e. freezing, etc. Have you run into any issues? I know Sport73 (of course) is getting ready to do it and almost had me convinced, but i'm just a little nervous when i can wait 16 more hours and get the "real thing"

No issues at all. I've been messing around with it off and on throughout the day and it seems to be working fine. I've DL'ed 5 apps and all are working as intended. Made some calls, surfed the web a bit, texted my wife... no issues.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:30 am

I have an itouch, I DL a few Apps and it shows clearly on itunes 7.7. However when I do the sync it won't install it on the itouch. Am I missing something?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:56 am

You need 2.0 firmware and for the Touch, you have to pay some money to upgrade, while iPhone users will get the firmware upgrade for free.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:56 pm

The new MacBooks look f'n sweet. Glad touchpad w/ click built in, led backlights, nvidia graphics. Glad I waited.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:11 pm

Macca00 wrote:I have a question for the Apple experts (don't know if this is the right thread but I'll try):

I have a first-generation iPod (buttons on top rather than on the wheel, big and clunky, etc) and I'm finally thinking of upgrading to a new 80GB iPod 'classic'. I'm one of those people who's absolutely obsessed with my iTunes play counts and song ratings and my question is thus;

If I get a new iPod to replace my old one do I lose all the stats/playback data from my iTunes? Or is there a way to keep my play counts, smart playlists and ratings?

Thanks.

Hey,

From what I remember, I believe the 80 GB and 160 GB classic models have been ditched for a new 120 GB version. I can't remember much about what has changed, but off hand I know the "Genius" playlist feature has been included as well as a new back casing for the ipod (sturdier perhaps?). I know that in Canada, it's going for $250. Not bad for a device that can store 30,000 songs.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:19 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:The new MacBooks look f'n sweet. Glad touchpad w/ click built in, led backlights, nvidia graphics. Glad I waited.

Hugely disappointed by the updates and most of all, pricing. The rumored price cuts are only for the old white macbooks. So basically they are dumping their inventory so they can eventually go all aluminum. It's funny, for $999 you get a slightly faster processor than the overpriced $1300 new MacBook. Also, NO backlit keyboard unless you buy the high end Macbook.

Couldn't you get a 2.2ghz processor on the MacBook for around $1300? What gives?

Might as well wait another few months when they will discontinue the plastic MacBooks and maybe introduce a new entry level aluminum MacBook.

Also, whoop-dee-freakin-doo about the Cinema displays. They FINALLY update their old ass, horribly overpriced monitors and get rid of the firewire port in the process.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:25 pm

Firewire port is really useful. There is a target disk mode which lets you mount the laptop hard drive as a drive on another Mac.

Also for camcorders, FW is widely supported.

Looks like they want to see if people will pay a premium for the metallic sleekness.

The plastic MacBook was their best-seller, mostly due to price.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:33 pm

LAking wrote:Hugely disappointed by the updates and most of all, pricing. The rumored price cuts are only for the old white macbooks. So basically they are dumping their inventory so they can eventually go all aluminum. It's funny, for $999 you get a slightly faster processor than the overpriced $1300 new MacBook. Also, NO backlit keyboard unless you buy the high end Macbook.

Yeah, the backlight thing bothers me too. I was planning on spending about 1500 after it's all said and done, so what's another 100 bucks...it gives me the backlight, the smaller enclosure, the multi-touch pad and a slightly faster processor. It's not ALL bad LA. I hated the look of the white and black plastic models, so I'm extremely happy with the new designs. You know, it's gonna be my first Mac...so I might as well get ripped off like the rest of ya. LOL.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:37 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
LAking wrote:Hugely disappointed by the updates and most of all, pricing. The rumored price cuts are only for the old white macbooks. So basically they are dumping their inventory so they can eventually go all aluminum. It's funny, for $999 you get a slightly faster processor than the overpriced $1300 new MacBook. Also, NO backlit keyboard unless you buy the high end Macbook.
Yeah, the backlight thing bothers me too. I was planning on spending about 1500 after it's all said and done, so what's another 100 bucks...it gives me the backlight, the smaller enclosure, the multi-touch pad and a slightly faster processor. It's not ALL bad LA. I hated the look of the white and black plastic models, so I'm extremely happy with the new designs. You know, it's gonna be my first Mac...so I might as well get ripped off like the rest of ya. LOL.

I have yet to buy a Mac for myself. I actually only just bought my first apple product a few weeks ago (ipod nano). It's the price that keeps me away. I was hoping things would change today. I already have a laptop from my job that I can use. No way I'm gonna shell out $1300 for those measly specs.

I'll continue to get my mac fix on a hackintosh. I'll wait until the next refresh and see what they do with the entry level macbook at that point.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:14 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote: I was planning on spending about 1500 after it's all said and done, so what's another 100 bucks...it gives me the backlight,

I am lost. Where does the 100 bucks come in? Is that old price vs new price? I was just looking at apple.com considering getting one and was just looking for the sweet spot.