Macgasm

Netflix has released its much anticipated Netflix for iPhone and iPod touch. It has delivered on the promise it made back during Apple’s WWDC that Netflix for iPhone would be released this summer, unlike some other companies who claim they will have something but blow way past their own deadline.

Netflix has taken a route with the Netflix app that could potentially make it a bit more difficult for other streaming companies to compete on the iOS platform. The Netflix app allows you to add and delete items to your queue, but does not allow you to actually move them around like you can do with the iPad version. I’m not sure if this was a move to preserve their 3rd party application developers or just due to time limitations.

The application also allows you to search for new items to watch and add to your queue. When adding to your queue it only allows two options, adding to the bottom or adding to the top. I feel as though this is a limitation with their API and not the application since all the 3rd party applications that I have looked at also have this same behavior. It would be useful to add the ability to put an item into a specific spot in the queue.

As with the iPad, the application just works. The videos are good quality, as long as the source is good quality. I have yet to find an instant streaming item that will not play on iOS. I have tested both the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4, and they both look amazing. Obviously though, the iPhone 4 screen does look crisper, but both are very watchable.

If you have access to Netflix, the iPhone and iPod touch version is good for watching videos on-the-go. You can definitely watch the videos over 3G and they look just as good as the Wi-Fi version. If you already have the iPad version, it is a simple app update since the Netflix app is now universal. If you do not have the app, just head over to app store and download your free copy and get watching your instant queue.

What if you wanted to create your own documents, then use iBooks to store them? Until today you had to work some magic with PDFs, import them, and then you were good to go. But, Apple released iWork 9.0.4 today and included in the notes is a sneaky little indication that they’re now giving us the ability to export our documents into an ePub format.

What does that mean? Well it means we can publish out own documents directly to iBooks. We haven’t tried it out yet, so we’re not exactly sure how straightforward the process will be, but we’re pretty confident that Apple’s letting us use iBooks.

Amongst the ePub update is included:

Keynote 5.0.4

• Addresses an issue when printing handouts with rule lines.
• Fixes an issue with the slide switcher.
• Resolves an issue when automatically resizing some images while changing slide size.
• Fixes an issue with tables.

Pages 4.0.4

• Fixes an issue with tables.
• Includes compatibility with the standard ePub file format (for use with iBooks) when exporting.

Numbers 2.0.4

• Fixes an issue with tables.

So, open up your Software Update and patch away. You probably need it anyway.

We don’t know much about Apple’s upcoming event except that it focuses around music in some way, and traditionally has had a lot to do with the iPod line up. But, that doesn’t stop the rumour mongers from dredging away, looking for the smallest slip up that might confirm or deny speculation. Today, there’s some pretty big speculation, as the new iPod Nano and Shuffle cases may have leaked on a chinese website. Oh, but it doesn’t end there either. The iPod Nano update might also no longer include a click wheel.

So, first thing’s first. The iPod Nano and Shuffle could be keeping their form factors, but will now be touch screen. It makes absolute sense, and if it’s true, we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple does away with the iPod Classic entirely. It could be a sad day — the product that put Apple back in the limelight is being retired. Maybe that’s what the country guitar is for on the cover,  to strum a melancholy ode to the traditional iPod. The leaked images, originally reported by iLounge, show cases more in line with a touch screen compared to traditional iPod cases. A touch screen iPod Shuffle is still a little too foriegn for me to wrap my head around, but I’m curious to see what Apple comes up with.

Now for rumour number two. The iPod Nano could see its form factor shrink, and have its scroll wheel put out to pasture, neither of which is really all that surprising if its true. iPodNN says it’s a possibility, but they offer no sound advice on whether the device will use a touch screen or not. If history tells us anything, we could see a touch compatible device in the Nano. Less parts in an Apple device is Apple’s modus operandi lately. Less moving parts means less fixing things for customers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this actually became a reality.

But, take the rumours with a grain of salt. They’re coming from someone who has a poor track record.

Article Via MacRumors and 9 to 5 Mac

If you’re both a Netflix user and an iOS user, you’re in luck. Netflix has officially announced that their Netflix app now works with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad as long as they are running version 3.1.3 or later. So exciting!

The app is completely free, but you do need to have a Netflix account for it to work. At this point, anybody in the US that has any desire for a Netflix account already has one. As long as your account is active, you can stream any of the many available titles right on your mobile device for no extra charge. Best of all, you can pause that episode of the Mythbusters that you were watching on your Wii, and then pick up on your iPhone where you left off. So, so sweet.

This app will certainly make sitting at the doctor’s office much less of a bore. When you can watch that one documentary you’ve been wanting to see anywhere at any time, you’re more likely to get around to it. I don’t know about you, but my Netflix queue is hundreds deep. This might just help me trim a few off.

Just how far are you willing to take your Apple addiction? We’ve all dreamed of a connected car, and I’m not going to lie, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to integrate my Apple Tech into my car. It seems like someone at BRABUS has had the same idea. We’re not talking about a Mac Mini in the trunk either, we’re talking the full monty.

BRABUS has jammed two iPads in the back seat, an iPod Touch, three displays and a Mac Mini into a Mercedes S600. It looks pretty awesome. I wonder how easy it would be to write one of these things off as a business expense, it’s an office on wheels.

It doesn’t get much better than this Applemobile.

We’re gonna let the pictures do the talking.

Article Via Slashgear

With the September Apple Event date set just six days away, AAPLinvestors has compiled a chronology of past Apple Events and their accompanying imagery, as well as the title of the invitation. In October 2001, Apple said “Hint: It’s not a Mac.” And the first iPod was unveiled.
Some invites have been verbose for Apple, for the September 2005 event the invite said “1000 songs in your pocket changed everything. Here we go again.” The first iPod Nano was released that fall. The invitation for an April 2007 event was very clear, proclaiming “Lights Camera ?” and introducing Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server. Other invites have been more cryptic, with broad statements like “Let’s Rock” in September 2008 (new gen iPod Nano and Touch, and new iTunes 8) or “Come see our latest creation” in January of this year, heralding the introduction of the iPad.

Yesterday’s invitation had no message and only an image of an acoustic guitar with an Apple logo shaped soundhole. What could this mean? The internets are abuzz with speculation. First, most are in agreement that it will be a music focused event, after all, guitars are a musical instrument right? This seems to pour cold water on the idea that they’ll introduce new Apple TV or iTV or whatever they’re going to call it. So that leaves iPods, and iTunes related announcements.

Could it be iTunes in the cloud? Some speculation has it that because an acoustic guitar is wireless and doesn’t need plugging in to make sound, that iTunes streaming is coming. It’s a stretch, but not entirely implausible. We’ve all been waiting for the other shoe to drop since Apple acquired Lala in December 2009.

Another long shot is the addition of the Beatles catalog to iTunes. Apple Corps, EMI and Apple Inc. have been in discussions for what seems like forever. While it would be nice, recent reports suggest that such a deal is a long way off.

Perhaps it should be telling that Apple released only an image and no text. Is Apple giving itself a lot of latitude here, so that they can announce whatever they want? The mystery deepens, and if there’s one thing Apple is good at, it’s keeping us guessing.

Image via Sean Rogers.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have your dock loaded with applications.

It can get really frustrating when you’re working with different applications (I find myself with Dreamweaver, Illustrator & Photoshop open all at the SAME time) and accidentally open another App because they’re all so close together.

So why not have your applications separated into groups that make sense to you? Sounds too good to be true? It’s a little secret, but I’m willing to share it.

Quick Terminal Introduction

For anyone who’s new to Terminal, here’s a quick boots-to-the-ground introduction. Otherwise, feel free to skip to the good stuff.

Open a New Finder Window and Navigate to Applications > Utilities > Terminal. If you’ve never worked in Terminal, this is a great way to learn just how powerful it can be to help customize the look and feel of your Mac’s User Interface.

When Terminal opens you should see something like:

Johns-MacBook:~suzy$

This just tells you that you’re logged in under “suzy” on “Johns-MacBook”. Nothing special really, it’s Terminal’s way of letting you know it’s ready for your bidding.

The Spacer Code

Type this into the Terminal Window:

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' (Press Enter)

You won’t see anything just yet, but you’ve just told your Terminal you want to add a spacer to the Dock.

Kill Your Dock

This is where the magic happens. To get your dock to update, simply type this into Terminal:

killall Dock (Press Enter)

Your dock will go away and when it comes back, Presto! At the right end of your Applications you’ve got a spacer that can be moved to separate your apps.

Add FOUR Spacers To The Dock

If you want to add multiple spacers at once (four in this example), you would type:

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' (Press Enter)

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' (Press Enter)

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' (Press Enter)

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array-add '{tile-data={}; tile-type="spacer-tile";}' (Press Enter)

killall Dock (Press Enter)

Just remember, the more spacers you add at a time before updating the dock, the harder it will be to move them around to make your dock look pretty.

So there you have it, in only a few minutes you’ve managed to organize the applications on your dock into groups.

My Dock’s Logical Structure

In case you’re interested, here’s the “logical structure” I go by to separate my groups:

• Native Mac Apps & MAMP
• Web Browsers (I develop websites)
• Productivity & Communication (Things, Evernote, iCal, iChat, etc.)
• Adobe CS
• iWorks & iBank
• I have an extra space so that applications that aren’t kept in the dock separate from the iWorks group.

Thieves of the 21st Century don’t stand a chance of a successful heist if you own an Apple product. Moreover, if they steal an Apple device from you, they might as well turn themselves in to a local police ptation. With services like Back to My Mac and Find My iPhone, both of which require a MobileMe subscription, the police can be led right to the hidden lair of the thief who stole from you. However, if you want home security and you have an iPhone, get an app called iCam, and some webcams and no thief will stand a chance against this security trifecta.

Cult of Mac is reporting that Vincent Hunter from Dallas used this trifecta of security to nab some unsuspecting criminals. Hunter watched on his iPhone as two men broke into his house. So, “He immediately called the police and officers were immediately dispatched to his home.”  He continued to watch the whole thing go down from his iPhone.  This is some pretty sweet tech, as well as being a very cost effective security system.  You already have a webcam on your Mac, and if you don’t, iCam works with any USB or network camera.  In addition the iCam app is only $4.99 in the App Store.

This sure beats paying for an expensive security system.  The iCam software will support up to four connected web cams, so you will want to strategically place the cameras around your home.  You can also set it to record and send push notifications when it detects motion, just like Hunter had setup in his home.

So criminals beware — you are being watched or tracked.  You better think twice in this day and age of remote security, because you will eventually get caught.  Have any of our readers used iCam or a similar type of security app for the iPhone?  How about Back to My Mac or Find My iPhone?  If so, sound off in the comments below. We would love to hear how these apps and services have served you.

Photo Credit: Burglar

Article Via Cult of Mac