Thing I'd like to see at WWDC - Part 2 - Updated AirPort
July 23, 2006 In my last update to "Things I'd like to see at WWDC", I wrote about wanting to get my hands on a Pro version of iWeb. Part two of this series will focus less on what we'll be putting on the Internet and more on how we'll be getting there. In short, I'm hoping that Apple will finally upgrade their almost-ancient AirPort technology to something a little bit quicker. For those of you that don't keep up with the latest WiFi trends, 802.11g (the protocol Apple is using in their AirPort Extreme technology) was replaced well over a year ago on the PC side of the house. Although the newest "G" protocol goes by many names (most commonly referred to as ExtremeG), the important thing that it brings to the table is a data transfer speed of up to 108Mbps - twice that of Apple's own Extreme technology...[Read Full Article]
Where's my free iPod?
July 12, 2006 Apple has recently given college students a great opportunity - buy a qualifying Mac, get a free iPod nano. While I think this is a wonderful idea, I'm at a loss as to why a similar offer isn't being made available to the rest of us. Didn't go to college? Already finished four (or more) grueling years of it? Sorry...no free iPod for you!
Don't get me wrong - I get it! Hook the college students on iPods (and the Macs that came with them) and they're Mac users for life. Apple has been going after the educational market with much success for years now, and I think...[Read Full Article]
AppleXtreme - Month in Review (June)
July 02, 2006 Website are all about community, that's all there is to it. Without our loyal readers, there would be no reason to keep putting countless hours into this thing. That being said, I thought it would be neat to actually share with our small community how well the site does each month. Although this information is usually kept private, I don't see any reason not to share it. We're not out to become the next "eBay" or "Yahoo", so why not let everyone see what's really going on in the community that you are each a part of? That being said, here are the stats...[Read Full Article]
Thoughts on Apple’s new “Glossy” displays
June 21, 2006 Many of you may have noticed recently that - in addition to several other ultra-cool features - Apple's new MacBook is sporting an updated screen with a "Glossy" clear-coat. I've read several reviews of the new portable, and I've been disappointed to notice that quite a few of them almost entirely skipped over what some are considering the best tech to come out of Apple in quite awhile. Yes, the new displays have quite a few people drooling, but the technology has a few inherent problems that are certainly worth noting. Not sure what I'm talking about? Read on...
Let me start off by saying that I am a HUGE fan of clear-coated displays. For those of you thinking that Apple came up with this concept, thing again! Several PC laptop manufacturers (most notably Toshiba and Sony) have been doing this for quite some time. The problem with these wonderfully shiny screens is that they normally have more weaknesses than they do strengths. While they often offer better color depth, sharper images, and enhanced crispness, they also "feature" horrible glare problems, distracting reflections, a more pixilated look, and less than accurate color reproduction (did I mention that fingerprints are so obvious on them that most people are forced to keep a cleaning cloth on hand at all times). The technology is a double-edged sword of sorts, which has caused people to either love them or hate them. So what makes Apple's spin on this idea different? Turns out quite a bit...[Read Full Article]
If they call it a MacMac, count me out!
June 18, 2006 An interesting thought occurred to me over the weekend, one that I felt like sharing. Apple's switch to Intel processors had the potential to cause somewhat of an identity crisis. Many feared that this would spell the end for Apple, and as of yet they are still very much alive and kicking. Setting my opinions on the matter aside (I'll save them for another update), consider the following...
As the move from PowerPC processors took place, Apple chose to remind everyone that just because their new line of computers were running Intel chips, they were still Macs. They dropped the "i" from the iBook and named it a MacBook, re-named the PowerBook the MacBook Pro, and a new naming scheme was born. Now I know that the new Intel-based iMac is still holding true to the old naming convention, but who knows how long that will hold up. What I'm really worried about is what may happen to the name of Apple's ultimate machine, the PowerMac...[Read Full Article]
Things I'd like to see at WWDC - Part One - A Pro version of iWeb
June 18, 2006 Unless your name is Steve Jobs and you woke up this morning to a pair of jeans and a black turtleneck neatly set out for you, chances are you don't REALLY have a clue about what will be unveiled at the next WWDC. My name is Dan and I refuse to wear turtlenecks, so your guess is as good as mine as to what we'll see at the upcoming show. Since AppleXtreme.com is not a rumor site, let me go ahead and tell you that I have no "source" hidden deep inside of Apple's walls. I have about as much of a clue as the next guy. All of that out of the way (whew!), I'd like to talk about a few things that I'd like to see (and a few things I wouldn't) over the next few installments of "Things I'd like to see at WWDC"...[Read Full Article]
A Note From DDay
June 18, 2006 For any of you wondering, "What the heck happened to AppleXtreme.com", I'd like to shed a little light on what's been going on:
About a year ago, we started experiencing problems with our hosting company. While I won't mention which company we were with, I will mention a few of the issues that we ran in to. At first, we were just experiencing WAY more server "downtime" than we should have been (given that our old hosting provider offered us a 99.9% up-time guarantee). We then had the hosting provider change the NS servers without so much as an email (those are the servers responsible for getting you here when you type "www.applextreme.com" into your browser). After that whole mess was somewhat cleared up, the company changed its password complexity requirements and locked us out of our own website, databases, ftp accounts, email, etc.
The items listed above are but a few of the Many horrible events that bought about our little hiatus over the past little bit of time. Needless to say, I'd encourage any of you out there wanting to start up a website to be very careful when selecting a hosting provider. Check reviews and ask around in the community prior to making a purchase you may end up regretting. Learn from our mistakes and do your homework before it's too late...[Read Full Article]
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