So this has popped up in the feeds this afternoon, and after my initial excited clicking all I can say is “Oh.”
Because it really isn’t a proper keyboard, it’s a tiny clip on thing that does little more than recreate the built-in software keyboard in plastic. The typing’s slow, and all thumbs anyhow.
I know I’ve been banging on about iPhones and keyboards recently, but this? This is not what I was banging on about.
Wait, what? Barack who?
(Via CrunchGear)
Written by Giles Turnbull on November 5th, 2008 with no comments.
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Other World Computing, an Illinois-based technology company, announced today the availability of a new service that converts your existing Intel Core 2 Duo based MacBook into a tablet computer that lets you draw and write directly on the screen.
Called Modservice, for prices starting at $1300, OWC will convert your Apple machine into an Axiotron Modbook.
MacBook owners who want to convert their computer into a Modbook can also have OWC upgrade the base features of the MacBook for additonal performance and capabilities. Available services include memory upgrades up to 4.0GB; higher capacity and/or faster internal hard drives up to 500GB; and faster DVD and CD burning with a new SuperDrive. They offer a Hard Drive Data Transfer option so your data can be backed-up and reloaded after the Modbook conversion is completed.
The Modbook has the same input/output features of the MacBook, retaining the full range of MacBook connectivity options via 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 (two ports), FireWire® 400 (one port), Bluetooth 2.0 and AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi 802.11n.
Intended for artists, mobile users, students and professionals, the Modbook uses integrated Wacom pen-enabled digitizer technology to offer users unique flexibility and control over the creative process.
It should be noted pre-modded Modbooks are also available from Axiotron, starting at $2200.
Written by Lonnie Lazar on October 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Interested in trying out a cool media center for use with your Apple TV? Cult of Mac readers are invited to receive expedited applications for testing the alpha release of Boxee, a music, video and picture management solution to let your Apple TV play practically any DRM-free multimedia file. Follow this link to receive your alpha testing invitation.
Boxee for (Intel based) Mac works on OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard). Boxee for Linux is supported on Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) or 8.04 (Hardy Heron) x86 (not x86_64) operating systems. The Boxee patch works with the 2.2 update to Apple TV, but remember to install the update before you install the Boxee patch.
Detailed instructions for installing the Boxee patch after the jump.
Boxee integrates with your Apple TV via a flash drive that, if not configured as “bootable” out of the box, at least must be able to be made so. You don’t have to do that yourself, the Boxee patch creator will handle it. Keep in mind these notes from the people at boxee.tv: no need to format the flash drive, the creator takes care of that. A 1gb thumb drive is more than enough. smaller will work too (even a 256mb should work). The unit MUST support being made bootable. The creator will take care of enabling the flag, but there are some units that might not work. To quote Scott Davilla (the creator creator) on this, “even same brand units may not have the same capabilities, geometry, etc. If the stick does not work, get a another one.”
Step 1
Download the ATVUSB-Creator.
Step 2
Insert a “bootable” USB drive into your Mac.
Step 3
Run the ATVUSB-Creator and select your Apple TV version number (e.g., 2.1) and Boxee for Mac.
Step 4
Remove the USB drive and plug it into your Apple TV.
Step 5
Power on your AppleTV. The patchstick will run the ATV bootloader.
Step 6
After the bootloader finishes, remove the thumb drive from your AppleTV.
Step 7
Restart your AppleTV
Step 8
Click Boxee on the main menu. Then select update (this will download Boxee from the Internet).
Step 10
Once Boxee is done installing, restart your AppleTV.
Step 11
Click Boxee, and then select Boxee in the sub-menu to start the interface.
Written by Lonnie Lazar on October 6th, 2008 with no comments.
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Everybody say: “Ohhhhh.”
It’s tiny. It runs Leopard 10.5.2. 80GB. 1GB. 1.6GHz Atom. Niiiiice.
This little MacBook Mini is just what many, many people have been hoping for (myself included).
Shame it’s not real.
In fact it’s an MSI Wind hacked to run OS X, and given the additional flourish of a realistic backlit Apple logo in the lid. It was created by user Spanky over at the German MSI Wind web forum (translation to English).
In recent weeks I’ve begun to see the appeal of a MacBook Air - the lightweight feel combined with a full size keyboard is certainly an attractive option. But for the time being, it’s just too expensive. Until prices come down (which I’m certain they will), hackbooks like this will continue to get me drooling.
(Via Team Teabag)
Written by Giles Turnbull on October 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
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This guy was photographed by Flickr user Rodrigo Galindez in a Berlin coffee shop.
On close inspection, it looks like he’s glued some kind of laminate on to the lid of his MacBook Pro, and made a good job of neatening the edges and the corners. He gets extra points for marrying the wood effect with the sleek metal of the computer and the horizontal stripes of the classic Apple logo, and with a purple jacket. Fantastic.
Mysterious Berlin Mac user: who are you? Do you have any other decorated computers?
(Photo used under Creative Commons license. Thanks to Rodrigo.)
Written by Giles Turnbull on October 2nd, 2008 with no comments.
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