Here is what 22 years does to Apple’s portable lineup; the Macintosh Portable was released in 1989, the iPad 2 is 2011 and oozes modernity. Here’s some fun statistics:
Macintosh Portable
16Mhz CPU
1MB of RAM (expandable to 5MB!)
9.8″ Black & White display with 640×400 resolution
15.8lbs
Starting at $6500, or $7300 with a 40MB hard drive
Compare this with the iPad 2 specs: dual core 1GHz, 512MB RAM, 10″ touch screen, 1.2lbs, for $499… what a difference two decades makes huh?
If you want this setup yourself, availability of iPad 2 is very strained and most stores are sold out, but I did see a Macintosh Portable on eBay for a reasonable $75! Read more »
Mac OS X 10.7 Developer Preview can be installed and ran alongside Mac OS X 10.6 on the same drive, all you need to do is partition your existing boot disk and I’m going to show you exactly how to do this in a step-by-step guide (alternatively, you can run it in VMware too).
Why do this? Having two separate installations of Mac OS X has several advantages over installing Lion atop your existing 10.6 installation (the default method), here are the primary reasons I recommend dual booting instead:
Installing future 10.7 Lion releases will be easier
You are free to uninstall Lion at any time – without dual booting this requires a system restore from a 10.6 backup
You don’t have to use Lion as your primary operating system – remember it’s a developer preview and not intended for every day use
Now I’m going to assume you already have Mac OS X 10.7 Lion downloaded (grab Developer Preview from Apple) and ready to go, and that you’re currently running Mac OS X 10.6.
Important: Make sure you have a backup of your existing Mac OS X installation and disk before continuing with this guide. Time Machine makes this very easy. Any time you edit a drives partition table or install a new operating system there is always a small chance something could go wrong, so just be safe and have a backup ready.
If you’re not a fan of the AppleTV remote, or you just don’t want yet another remote control laying around your coffee table, you can sync a standard TV remote with an Apple TV. This should work with virtually any TV remote, cable remote, DVD/Blu-ray remotes, and universal remotes.
How to Sync a TV Remote with an Apple TV
This works the same on Apple TV 2 and Apple TV1:
Turn on the Apple TV and have your remotes ready (including the Apple TV remote)
Using the original Apple TV remote, select “Settings”
Select “General”
Select “Remotes”
Choose “Learn Remote”
Set your TV remote setting to something it currently doesn’t control that can be programmed, like a VCR (remember those?) or the auxiliary option
Still using the original Apple TV remote, select “Start”
You’ll see a series of buttons on screen that represent the up, down, back, forward, select, menu options, etc, you will sync these to your new remote
Start the syncing process by pressing and holding the buttons on the TV remote you want to correspond with the Apple TV buttons, you will know it’s working by looking at the blue progress bar at the bottom of the screen
Complete the syncing for each button
After the initial control buttons are synced you will be able to use the TV remote to control your Apple TV, you’ll also be able to set additional buttons for things like chapter selection, skipping, and fast forward and fast rewind.
Advanced: Get the most out of your Apple TV
If you really want to maximize your media experience, sync your remote and then try installing XBMC on the Apple TV 2, XBMC is great software and it really excels on the ATV platform. While pairing the remote doesn’t require a jailbreak, using XBMC on the ATV2 does, this might seem to make the setup intimidating but Seas0nPass makes jailbreaking the Apple TV extremely simple.
Apple TV Envy: What about the Mac?
Don’t have an Apple TV but still want a sweet media center? No problem, your Mac will do just fine. You can setup any Mac as a media center, we simplified that guide so it’s very easy and a lot of fun. If you want a more advanced setup or a dedicated computer for this purpose, check out how to setup a Mac Mini media center and remote torrents box instead, it’s focused on a Mini but it will work on any other Mac too.
This MacBook is hooked up to an external monitor while the far right display is connected to a Windows PC. The screensaver is Fliqlo if you’re wondering.
Update, May 8: Apple Stores continue to get shipments in daily, they go on sale first thing in the morning. These tend to sell out very quickly, you should call in the morning to verify stock before showing up but generally speaking, the earlier you get there the better. If you’re looking for a specific model, Apple is telling customers to “check back every morning” as shipments arrive frequently. From personal experience, it’s very hard to get one on the weekend unless you go early in the morning.
Update 2: Some stores reportedly have limited stock of select models but they too sell out quickly, check iPad 2 stock in your area by calling your local stores! Variations of the Verizon iPad 2 seem to be the most easy model to find.
Update 3: Some Toys ‘R Us locations are now selling the iPad 2 WiFi models, these are likely sold out so call to verify.
Update 4: Online orders through the Apple Store are now down to 1-2 week delivery time, if you don’t want to deal with calling and waiting in line, this may be the way to go.
The demand for iPad 2 is through the roof which is going to make getting the tablet in the first few weeks a challenge. iPad 2 has sold out almost immediately in many stores, and the most popular and hardest to get model is iPad 2 16GB in both colors. If you aren’t picky about color or the exact model you get, you may still be able to get an iPad 2 in this period of highly constrained supply.
Here’s what we currently know about the availability of iPad 2. We’ll update this list as we get more information.
Online iPad 2 Availability
Currently, the fastest delivery for online orders is the AT&T online store with iPad 2 3G models, otherwise:
Apple Online Store: delivery and shipping is now 1-2 weeks
AT&T Wireless Online: iPad 2 3G models will ship in over a week, depending on model
Verizon Online: iPad 2 3G models sold only by phone or in stores
Regardless of where you order online, it’s going to take a while to get the device shipped to you. If you want one right now, get in line at a retail store…
Retail iPad 2 Availability
Most stores are sold out out all iPad 2 models, call ahead to verify stock. Availability numbers differ, stores are the same as our “where to buy” page.
Apple Store: Sells out daily, some have limited stock, call to verify at local stores
Best Buy: generally sold out, but will take pre-orders, call to verify
Walmart: often sold out, call to verify stock
Sams Club: sold out
Target: small shipments arrive periodically, call to verify
AT&T Wireless: sells out quickly, only carrying GSM 3G models
Verizon Wireless: sold out, only carrying CDMA 3G models
Don’t want to order online and wait for delivery? AND you don’t want to wait in line at a local store? Your next option is the resale market, it doesn’t come cheap…
iPad 2 Availability on the Resale Market
If you don’t mind paying highly inflated prices, you’ll be able to get an iPad 2 right away on the resale market
Ebay: base iPad 2 models are already selling for $900+ with immediate delivery, these are likely sold from people waiting in line looking to turn a quick profit
Craigslist: prices vary but those waiting in line are already listing their iPad 2’s, prices are marked up at least $150-$300 each
Of course, if you don’t want to get caught up in the initial launch hype all you need to do is wait a month or two, and you should be able to just walk into any Apple Store or retailer and get a new iPad without a hassle.
Update: In just a few short hours, shipping times on iPad 2 are now 2-3 weeks. If you want one sooner, you’ll need to get in line.
Want to buy the new iPad from Apple’s online store? All current models of iPad 2 available for order online are carrying a 3-5 day shipping time. Additionally, the estimated arrival date of iPad 2 models is March 18 to March 25 for standard shipping methods.
If you don’t want to wait a week or two for an online order to arrive, here’s where to buy iPad 2. Your best bet for getting any of the models is probably going to be an Apple Store, they start selling the device at 5PM tonight and lines are expected to gather.
DeviceStats is a cool iOS app that lets you easily gather technical usage statistics about your iPhone. Some of the things you’ll be able to quickly see within the app include:
Device memory usage, including page in and outs (similar to the Mac Activity Monitor)
Battery statistics & status, including how much time you have for internet, talk, music, and video
Grab a cup of tea or coffee and get ready for a late night! If you don’t want to deal with the inevitable lines at the official iPad 2 launch tomorrow at 5:00 PM, you can stay awake late tonight and order it directly from Apple’s online store starting at 1:00 AM PST.
Other than being able to shop in your pajamas, buying online will get you free shipping, the ability to engrave the iPad 2, and you’ll be practically guaranteed to get one within a few days, whereas many of the stores are likely to sell out of existing stock.
Here’s the clip from Apple’s press release (emphasis mine):
CUPERTINO, California-March 10, 2011-Apple® today announced that iPad™ 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more, will be available tomorrow at 5 p.m. local time at all 236 Apple retail stores in the US and through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. PT.
If you’re committed and want to get your hands on the coolest tablet around as soon as possible, here’s where you can buy iPad 2 tomorrow.
Reviews for iPad 2 are starting to appear, and as expected, they’re overwhelmingly positive and generally conclude that it’s the best tablet on the market. Aside from lavishing praise on the new model, several of the reviewers also confirm one of the iPad 2 specs that every geek was wondering about; iPad 2 has 512MB of RAM.
From a technical standpoint, Engadget probably has the best review, complete with tests on battery life, browser performance, samples from the camera, and a solid software overview. Here’s what they ultimately conclude:
It might frustrate the competition to hear this, but it needs to be said: the iPad 2 isn’t just the best tablet on the market, it feels like the only tablet on the market. As much as we’d like to say that something like the Xoom has threatened Apple’s presence in this space, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to do that.
The fact is, Apple got it right with the iPad 1 in almost every way, and the iPad 2 reflects that. If you didn’t like the original iPad, you’re not going to like the iPad 2. If you liked the original iPad, you’re going to like the iPad 2 even better.
iPad 2 moves the goal posts [of tablets], by being slimmer and lighter, boosting speed and power, and holding its price advantages, available apps and battery life. As of now, I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers.
iTunes Home Sharing is a great feature that lets you share your iTunes 10.2.1 library wirelessly with anyone on your local network. This means you can share any Mac or PC’s media library with any iOS 4.3 compatible iPhone, iPod, iPad, or Apple TV, in addition to any other Macs and PC on your network.
We’ll walk you through setting up iTunes home sharing, and then how to access these shared libraries from any compatible iOS hardware, in addition to other Mac’s and PC’s.
Some of us who have downloaded iOS 4.3 and updated their iPhones and iPads have run into a strange syncing error that vaguely states “The required file cannot be found.” If this has happened to you, you’re not alone, and thankfully there’s a fix of sorts.
Fix “required file cannot be found” iOS 4.3 syncing error
Important: Make a backup of your iOS device photos before proceeding! The best way to do this is to copy them images to your Mac/PC. If you aren’t sure how to do this, follow our guide to transfer photos from iPhone to a computer, it’s the same for iPad and iPod touch.
Now that you’re photos are all backed up, connect your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your computer, and do the following: Read more »
Some older iPad models have a physical button to use as an orientation lock or mute switch. It might seem mundane, but one of the most appreciated features of iOS for iPad users is the ability to enable the iPad orientation lock switch instead of having it function as a mute switch in iOS on iPad, as that customization can really help some users.
iPad users can now choose to have the side switch function as a rotation lock again, this secures the iPad display in either portrait or landscape mode with the flick of a switch.
Here’s how to get this functionality on all versions of iOS with an iPad that has a physical switch:
Apple has released iOS 4.3, the update includes support for iPhone 4 GSM, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, and iPod touch 3G and 4G, and Apple TV 2. iOS 4.3 brings AirPlay improvements, improved Safari performance, iTunes Home Sharing, the addition of the iPad orientation lock switch, and Personal WiFi hotspot for iPhone 4.
Download iOS 4.3
You can download and install iOS 4.3 by checking for updates within iTunes.
Alternatively, you can download iOS 4.3 IPSW directly from Apple:
If you are having trouble downloading the ISPW files, right-click and “Save As” or use a different browser.
The Verizon iPhone 4 CDMA model is expected to receive the 4.3 update later, although no timeline has been announced from Apple. Older iOS hardware such as iPhone 3 and iPod touch 2G and 3G models will not be supported by iOS 4.3 and are ineligible for the software update.
Anytime you flip between Spaces in Mac OS X there’s a fancy animation, this is nice and all but it makes switching Spaces slower than it needs to be. You can disable the animation which speeds up Spaces transition a bit.
Disable Spaces Animation
Launch Terminal and type:
If you aren’t familiar, Spaces is the virtual desktop manager in Mac OS X, allowing you to maintain several different desktops that are easy to flip between.
The vast majority of Mac users won’t need to manually tweak launchd and launchctl, but there are times when you uninstall or stop using an app in Mac OS X and a service agent continues to needlessly load in launchd. This is annoying, but these rogue agents are easy to remove via the command line, so launch Terminal and away we go. Additionally, there are situations where advanced users may want to tweak agents loaded into launchd for whatever reason. In any case, we’ll detail how to list items in launchd, how to remove them from launchd in OS X, and also how to re-load agents into launchd on the Mac. Read more »
Did you know that iTunes has a wealth of free language learning courses? There are tons of language lessons offered for free, just find a language you want to learn or brush up on, subscribe to the podcast, and start practicing. I have selected 15 popular languages below, but there are many more available through iTunes.
15+ Free Language Lessons from iTunes
Some are updated more often than others. They’re all free, and each one is an iTunes link:
Not finding what you want here? Do you want more podcasts for a specific language? There’s an abundance of lessons available on iTunes, check them out here.
Ever wonder what the deal is with some of the crazy Apple rumors? Refer to this handy Apple Rumor Publishing Guide from JoyOfTech. This is a hilarious flowchart that is frequently dead-on regarding the often silly and sometimes just outright fictitious Apple rumor mill.
My personal favorite part of the chart is the first line:
“Did you receive an Apple rumor? -> No -> Make one up and send it to yourself!”
This cracks me up because everyone knows it’s true. Sure, there are a few legitimate sources out there, but there are plenty more that just make things up to get attention.
And yes I’m posting this knowing full well that we publish rumors ourselves, although we try to focus on solid sources and patents as a basis for citation. And no, someones imagination should not be called a “source” to justify the fabrication of a rumor.
Want to change the crontab editor on the Mac? You can do that! We’ll show you how to use a different crontab editor on a selective per-edit basis, and also how to change the default crontab text editor. You can use vi, emacs, nano, or whatever else you’d like. Most hardcore command line users and unix geeks love vi, but I personally prefer nano, so that will be what is demonstrated here.
If you want to change your default crontab editor to nano, here’s how to do this via the command line in Mac OS X (and linux too but we’re focusing on Mac here obviously).
Grab a cup of tea or coffee and get ready for a late night! If you don’t want to deal with the inevitable lines at the official 
Some of us who have 
