Bites from the Apple: Hodgepodge

• Web Worker Daily places the two recently upgraded Windows virtualization software titles for the Mac OS--Parallels Desktop 4 and VMware Fusion 2--into its comparative thunder dome and finds that Fusion comes out on top (with better dependability and multi-monitor support).

  AppleInsider takes a look at the new features in Parallels 4 (faster processing, better resource consumption, and inclusion of anit-virus software), while the TidBITS/Take Control ebook publishing house has just released its update to Joe Kissell's tome, which is quite handy for Mac-centric users who need to deal with Windows drivers as well as figure out the best methods for sharing files between Windows and Mac OS X.

• Ars Technica reports that a Greek web site is predicting that we'll see the 2.2 version of the iPhone OS hit the inter-tubes on November 21, and it recaps some of the features that have been viewed in the developer beta versions:

  (E)verything from line-in audio access for developers, Google Street View, mass transit information, walking directions, a toggle switch for spelling auto-correction, a shuffling of Safari's search box next to the address bar, support for Japanese emoji icons, new categories and sorting options in the iPhone's App Store, a prompt to rate applications when removing them, and the Podcaster-stomping ability to download podcasts over WiFi.

• If you're considering one of the new MacBooks, check out this extensive write up by Dan Moren at Macworld with loads of detail on the design.

• Want to share the sounds of your iPod, but don't have a portable speaker system with you? Designer Dmitry Zagga has a simply MacGyver solution for you: the iPod Ghetto Accessory (via Yanko Design):

  

• Adding to Aric's post from earlier this week about adding Boxee to the Apple TV (which I hope to have time to do this weekend), here's a pretty simplified set of installation instructions from Christopher Breen at Macworld.

• If you're a Windows convert to the Mac, you can get an Apple Store Genius to help switch your files and preferences over from your old machine to the new, shiny Mac, or you can purchase this new Belkin Switch-to-Mac Cable with bundled Migration Assistant software (via Boing Boing Gadgets).

• Sounds like GM is in dire straits, but New York Times columnist Tom Friedman has a solution (via MacUser):

  (S)omebody ought to call Steve Jobs, who doesn’t need to be bribed to do innovation, and ask him if he’d like to do national service and run a car company for a year. I’d bet it wouldn’t take him much longer than that to come up with the G.M. iCar.

• David Strom over at TidBITS takes a look at several file transfer applications for the iPhone, which doesn't offer native drag-and-drop functionality for moving files from your desktop. Strom hits the highlights of Air Sharing (his favorite), FileMagnet, Briefcase, Evernote and SugarSync.

• New iPhone apps this week include the Weather Channel (via IntoMobile) and Griffin's iTalk Recorder Premium voice recorder (an ad-free version of the basic app, via Podcasting News). Macworld proffers six free must-download iPhone apps (including SportsTap--finally, a way for me to follow English Premier League scores... as well as standard North American fare like the NBA and NFL)

• If you're not ready to pledge fealty to the GTD task management philosophy, there are a couple of less complex alternatives for the iPhone: Macworld's Jason Snell likes the uncomplicated nature of Things, while Jason Clarke at TUAW is a big fan of Remember the Milk.

• If you didn't know... here's how the iPod got its name.

• And finally, it feels good to have a Mac-head (and a Pac-head) in the Oval Office (via 9to5Mac).

  

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Comments

[Jim Trikakis on November 15, 2008 at 09:56 AM]

President Clinton, VP Gore (for a little while, at least), President George W. Bush, and now President (elect for the purist) and used Mac's while in or about to in the White House. Since they all seem to have the right tool(s) for the job how about making sound decisions for America.

[Jamie on November 15, 2008 at 10:53 AM]

How about a link to that Dan Moren article?

[Agen G.N. Schmitz on November 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM]

Great idea, Jamie. The link has been added (and sorry for forgetting about that).