Reggie Watts, An iPhone App, Lots Of Win [Video]

By Federico Viticci

So here’s the thing: I bought some music apps for iPhone, thinking that maybe I could accomplish something good. I mean, have you seen what Atomic Tom came up with? Or all those other iPerformers on Youtube? And DJ Rana June? I suck at music apps, plain and simple. Yet I keep buying them hoping that maybe someday the musician in me will find his way out to be great with a touch screen. Whatever.

Reggie Watts, famous stand-up comedian /musician / life genius, proved once again that if you want to do something great with a music app, you need to have what it takes. While he was interviewed on Sirius XM radio, he told the host and the people in the studio he forgot his stuff and he pulled out his iPhone. He fired up Everyday Looper and started improvising.

The result of what happened is embedded below. Damn, I suck at music apps. [TUAW via CrunchGear] Read more

The Banned White iPhone 4 Promo Video

By Federico Viticci

From the same guys who created the hilarious iPhone 4 and iPad “banned” promo videos and the even better Antenna promo video, here’s the white iPhone 4 version.

Because if you waited for the white iPhone 4, you’re an idiot. A stupid human being who has waited 5 months for a phone that’s a different color. Or so they say.

Check out the video below. Then go search for some replacement cover on eBay, if you really want the white thing. Read more

A Black Menubar in Lion?→

Linked By Federico Viticci

A Black Menubar in Lion?

Neven Mrgan:

A suggestion for Mac OS X Lion: since the team is trying to integrate the menubar into the desktop a bit more, to make it less prominent - the translucent menubar was an attempt at just this - why not go all the way and make it black?

I’ve always wanted such an option, and it would fit with the latest trend of monochromatic icons. The new Airs don’t come with black bezels, though.

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BulletTrain Express Keyboard: MacBook, Meet Desktop Mac

By Federico Viticci

I bought an iMac about a month ago. It’s a great machine, it’s sexy and it’s powerful. Still, when I’m working on it I do miss one thing: they keyboard and trackpad configuration of the MacBook Pro. Having a full-size keyboard above the trackpad is undoubtedly more comfortable than having to constantly switch from the keyboard to a Magic Trackpad on its side. Placing the Magic Trackpad under the keyboard doesn’t help either as it’ll end up moving and sliding on your desk.

So what we have here is possibly the coolest gadget we’ve covered on MacStories in a while: the BulletTrain Express Keyboard is a solid aluminum platform that can embed a Magic Trackpad and an Apple keyboard, all in one single and ergonomic surface. Read more

The Importance Of AppleCare →

Linked By Federico Viticci

The Importance Of AppleCare

Others will tell you they’ve owned several Macs, without AppleCare. This is the same lot who never purchases “extended warranties,” which they consider “scams.” To them I say that AppleCare is an exception, especially since Macs are increasingly difficult or impossible to get into. Still others will say that Apple ought to include 3 years’ worth of protection with every Mac they sell. Perhaps, but the world as it exists is often disappointing compared to the world as we wish it existed.

And Stephen Hackett’s reply, who worked as Lead Mac Genius at Memphis’ Apple Store:

I know all of this, and I buy AppleCare for my computers. Why? Because stuff breaks. And when Apple stuff breaks, it can be expensive. Unlike a PC that might use a separate board for everything, Apple’s all-in-one logic board approach makes for expensive out-of-warranty repairs.

Computers break. Like it or not, buying AppleCare would be a wise move.

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The Most Awesome Screensavers for Mac →

Linked By Federico Viticci

The Most Awesome Screensavers for Mac

While the hype about screensavers has certainly died down, mostly due to iOS coolness, people still use them. I agree, they’re wasteful, but still nice to look at. Yesterday, internet superstar Steve Streza asked his followers for screensaver recommendations. I tuned in to his mentions, and then did some digging around on the interwebs, and here’s a few that will definitely keep your screen occupied.

The Polar Clock one is a thing of beauty. Check out Steve’s bundle here.

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Phone Disk: Mount & Browse Your iPhone In The Finder, No Jailbreak Required

By Federico Viticci

They say one of the biggest advantages of jailbreaking your iPhone ( or iPad) is that you gain root access to the device. By root access they usually mean that the filesystem becomes visible to the end user, thus allowing people to play around with the device’s system files and modify stuff. From graphical modifications to file browsers available in Cydia to extra functionalities granted by access to hidden folders, root access is one of the most important aspects of jailbreak.

But it turns out, jailbreak isn’t required to access the iPhone’s internal files in the way most people would need: Phone Disk, a Mac (and Windows) app gone free until December 1st, lets you mount and browse your iDevice directly in the Finder without the need to jailbreak anything. Read more

WorldView+: Webcams Worldwide, With An Elegant Interface

By Federico Viticci

The iPhone 4 has got a great camera, but this app is about checking on images captured by other cameras around the globe. If you’ve ever wished to have access to more than 14,000 webcams from your pocket, WorldView+ might be just the app for you. With a nice icon and a redesigned UI by Marcelo Marfil, this app combines the functionality of checking on live webcams with additional data pulled from Wikipedia, weather stations and Google Maps.

AnandTech’s Epic MacBook Air Review →

Linked By Federico Viticci

AnandTech’s Epic MacBook Air Review

While both models are extremely light, the 11-inch MacBook Air is portable perfection. It’s the closest thing to an iPad with a keyboard (short of an iPad with an actual keyboard). I’m afraid that’s where the comparison ends. Despite what Apple would have you feel, the new MacBook Air is no more an iPad than its predecessor.

If you need to read another review about the new Airs, make sure it’s this one. Insightful and unbiased. [tip: print the page as .PDF and read it on your iPad]

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