This tip is specially useful for users that have big monitors. Sometimes, when working with Apple apps, one needs to change some common document properties. That’s the time to call the already well-known Inspector. But what if you are modifying some table properties and, having not finished that yet, you feel the need to change some text properties? “That’s easy”, some would say. “Just click the text button (the big T on the top), change whatever needs to be changed and go back to editing those table properties.” Right, that will do. But if you have a big monitor with enough screen spare space, wouldn’t an extra Inspector be even more useful then going back and forward like that? All you have to do is, instead of clicking the big T, option-clicking it. That’s right! Just hold the option button while clicking any panel, not only the text one, and see magic happen. How do you like that, uh?

Henry here! After a looong while away, I’m back to the blog. And I return with a new series of posts called “It’s A Tip”. Every Sunday I will give a tip of usability for our beloved Macs. These tips will mostly make reference to the OS or the basic Apple software (iLife and iWork). That way, almost anybody will be able to take advantage of them.

Well, welcome back for me then! Heheh. The first tip will be here in a few moments, stay tuned.

Apple’s Macworld 2008 Keynote Address is now live on Apple’s site. It can be viewed by clicking here! Make sure you check it out.

Apple have just posted its guided tour for the new MacBook Air, and it’s definetly worth a look if you’re considering purchasing the upgrade.

Check it out here.

There’s also a new MacBook Air TV Ad that can be viewed by clicking right here.

The new version of Apple’s music/video player iTunes (7.6) is now out, and it houses a feature that we’ve all been highly anticipating for a while now: movie rentals. As announced at the Macworld Keynote earlier today, Apple has made deals with all of the major studios to provide streaming, downloadable flicks for you to watch on your computer, iPod or iPhone. Old Library titles are at $2.99US, and new releases will be available 30 days after the DVD release and will cost viewers $3.99US. Each movie will be available to download within 30 days, and once you first start watching it, you’ll have 24 hours to finish.

Also, if you’re a HD viewer, there’s good news coming your way - HD rentals will be available, but they’ll cost an extra buck (so $3.99 and $4.99 for library titles and new releases. If you’re going to rent, why not rent HD! There’ll be 100 HD titles starting today, and more coming out constantly. And of course, movie rentals will be sync-able with the iPhone and iPod, or have the ability to be downloaded straight on to the revamped Apple TV (announced during the keynote).

This is via [[TUAW]].

It’s been rumored about for months, and finally, Apple has announced a new line of portable computers during Steve Jobs’ keynote speech at MacWorld San Fransisco today. The MacBook Air is Apple’s new laptop which is now a part of the MacBook and MacBook Pro family.

Features of the new portable include being “the world’s thinnest notebook,” at 0.16 inches to 0.76 inches, a new LED backlit 13.3″ widescreen with a magnetic latch. The MacBook Air keyboard is MacBook-like, but with an ambient light sensor. The new machines feature a multi-touch trackpad, allowing the user to double-tap and move. Rotate a photo by pivoting your index finger around your thumb, as well as pinch & zoom.

Mac Rumors has also stated that additionally there’s a 45 Watt MagSafe power adapter, a Micro-DVI out as well as Audio Out, 802.11n + Bluetooth 2.1/EDR. There’s a 1.8″ hard drive for storage - either 80GB standard, or a 64GB SSD as an option. Intel shrunk the size of the Core 2 Duo chip by 60% to fit in the new machine.

The Battery life is approximately 5 hours. No optical drive is on the MacBook Air, but a SuperDrive accessory is available for $99US. There’s also new software being released that allows the portable to “borrow” a Mac or PC’s optical drive, which is sure to make some heads turn. All models feature 2GB of memory standard.

The case is fully aluminum, the first fully mercury and lead free display, circuit boards are BFR free, and retail packaging are 56% less volume than a MacBook.

The new MacBook Air starts at $1799US (1.6GHz model) is available for pre-order today, and is expected to be shipping in two weeks. Additionaly, Apple have released a 1.8GHz model for $3098US.

Yesterday Apple released the very anticipated Mac Pro updates, just one week before Macworld. A few notes gathered about the new Mac Pros (from Mac Rumors:

- Today’s Mac Pro is called “Mac Pro (Early 2008)” in Apple support documents.
- Full Specs and Manual (PDF) have been posted.
- New Mac Pros are already in retail Apple Stores.
- While Apple has standardized on 8-Core Mac Pros as the “base” model, they actually do offer a single 2.8GHz Quad-Core CPU Mac Pro option for $2299.
- Rumors of Apple buying up the high end 3.2GHz Penryn (”Harpertown”) processors were apparently true.
- The 1600MHz front side bus is up from the previous Mac Pro’s 1333 MHz front side bus.
- While the new NVIDIA 8800GT is not yet available in the U.S. as a standalone purchase for old Mac Pros, it is available separately at the UK Apple Store for £220.
- Despite expectations, Apple did not introduce a Blu-ray option.
- Reminder that Apple charges a large premium for RAM for their online store orders, so you will always do better to buy ram from 3rd party vendors. (Discussion)
- Bluetooth is now a standard option

Way to go Apple for this one. Now we just need to hope for the best (touch-screen MacBook, hint hint) during Macworld next week!

As a kind of update to Bryce’s post Quick Look Your Folder, the same developer has now released a Quick Look plugin that allows you to check all the files archived into a .zip one. The link is here.

When someone looks at Final Cut Studio for the first time while in need of a video-editing suite better than iMovie, I can imagine that they would be quite surprised. $1299.00 is quite pricey (sorry Apple) for software, but I’ll admit that if you are going to be using all the features of FCS, it is worth it. However, one should not need to spend 1299 just to get better Mac video-editing than iMovie.

The solution: Final Cut Express.

The news: Final Cut Express 4 is out.

The updates: A new Open Timeline format allows users to mix and match footage from DV, HDV and AVCHD cameras, and there’s now the ability to take iMovie 08 projects up to FCE. According to TUAW, Apple is also shipping more FxPlug filters, as well as LiveType 2 as part of the bundle.

Final Cut Express will now set you back $199 (down from $299) with upgrades from previous versions costing just $99 (Honestly I think they need to lower the upgrade price, but that’s just me).

However, I’m going to stick with Final Cut Studio if you don’t mind.

Apple had really gone quiet with the Mac vs. PC ads lately, directing its attention to iPod and iPhone ads, but luckily, they’re back and funnier then ever.

The three new ads, Podium, Boxer and PR Lady, all started airing just a little while ago, and are getting a very good response, as can be seen from articles such as TUAWs.

You can either click on one of the links above, or click here to see all the ads, but seriously they are worth checking out - very funny!

I wouldn’t call this old news, but you may have noticed that the website’s been down for the last couple days, so I could only post this today:

About two days ago, Apple released via Software Update, the new versions of iTunes (7.5) & Quicktime (7.3).

According to MacRumors, the updates are as follows:

iTunes 7.5 - 41.3MB
iTunes 7.5 features the ability to activate iPhone wherever service is offered and support for Phase, a new interactive music game designed exclusively for iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod (fifth generation). This release also includes bug fixes to improve stability and performance.

Quicktime 7.3 - 51.8MB*
QuickTime 7.3 addresses critical security issues and delivers:
- Support for iTunes 7.5
- Updated support for creating iPhone-compatible web content
- Updated JavaScript support in the QuickTime Web Plug-in
- Numerous bug fixes

*This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.

For detailed information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

Just today Apple have made a quiet update of the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

This via Macrumors

As rumored, Apple has quietly updated the MacBook tonight to the Santa Rosa architecture with mild speed bumps and the GMA X3100 integrated video.

White 13.3″
$1099.00 2.0GHz/1GB RAM/80GB/Combo/GMA X3100
$1299.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/120GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Black 13.3″
$1499.00 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/160GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Despite comparable clock speeds (2.0 -> 2.0GHz, 2.16 -> 2.2GHz) to the old models, the new MacBooks use the Santa Rosa chipset which boasts a faster 800MHz front side bus over the previous MacBook models. The introduction of the GMA X3100 video card also provides significant benefits over the previous models.

The new specs can now be seen at the Apple Store:

Along with this, apparently MacBooks have already been shipped to Apple Stores, and should be arriving today.

UPDATE 1: This hasn’t been modified on many of the online stores, including the Australian Apple website.

UPDATE 2: The MacBook Pro now has the option to upgrade to a 2.6GHz processor for $250, and also has the option for a 250GB drive.

Apple recently posted a solution to the Blue Screen error on their website (FINALLY). Check it out here, or read below:

Mac OS X 10.5: “Blue screen” appears after installing Leopard and restarting

Issue or symptom:
After completing an upgrade installation of Leopard and restarting the computer, a “blue screen” may appear for an extended period of time.
Products affected

* Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Solutions

You may have third-party “enhancement” software installed that does not work with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Use one of these solutions.

Solution 1: Reinstall Leopard (recommended)

It may be necessary to perform an Archive and Install installation of Leopard. Archive and Install moves your existing Mac OS X system files to a folder named Previous System, and then installs a new copy of Mac OS X on the selected volume. Mac OS X–installed applications, such as Address Book and Safari, are archived, and new versions are installed in the Applications folder. Applications, plug-ins, and other software may have to be reinstalled after an “Archive and Install.” This is covered on page 7 of the Install & Setup Guide included on the Leopard DVD.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sorry I’m 3 minutes late, but…

According to Apple’s Retail page, there will be a huge promotion going on at all Apple Retail Stores, on October 26. Be there from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and if you’re one of the first 500 guests, you’ll go home with a special edition Leopard T-shirt.
According to tuaw, there will also be “live demos” and the chance to “test drive” Leopard, presumably on the in-store systems.

Make sure you’re there tomorrow!