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Apple Inc

• Apple shares trading up over $6 in pre-market trading - Shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) are currently trading at $176.40 in pre-market action... MacDailyNews
• Wishing and Hoping in the Apple Store Aisles - It's still all about the iPod. In the past year, Apple has introduced two products hailed as revolutionary in at least some corners. The iPhone came to market with almost unmatched buzz for a mobile device. The Apple TV, meanwhile, got a more lackluster welcome, but was still viewed as a steppingstone toward making the Internet a more viable distribution channel for feature-length video. At the same time, Apple has also enjoyed a dramatic resurgence in the personal computer space, with the MacBook and iMac selling better than ever before. MacNewsWorld
• AAPL Tops $172 Again - AAPL seems to be continuing its rebound following Monday's US$153.76 closing price. In early morning trading on Wednesday, Apple's stock climbed back up over $172 after closing Tuesday night at $169.96 Mac Observer
• Apple, others sued for concept of computer-based transcription device - Another day, another lawsuit. A Delaware firm named AutoText Technologies claims that Apple and virtually all of the US electronics industry is infringing on a patent for the concept of a computer-based transcription device, reports AppleInsider. MacimumNews
• Gates oversees last annual meeting as chairman - Bill Gates and other Microsoft executives addressed questions during the company's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday. Macworld UK
  
• CULT OF MAC - Apple Stock Crash Means It’s Time to Go Long on AAPL Wired
  

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Mac Hardware

• Macs: Computers for Everyone - Do you remember when Macs were seen as computers for beginners? I do. There was a time when the simplicity of Macs made them a good recommendation for those who (read more) Applematters
• AMD debuts ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB for Mac - AMD today announced the new ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB for Mac... MacDailyNews
• BusinessWeek: Apple iMac is all-in-one king; favorite Mac application: iMovie ‘08 - A minimalist redesign, a zippy new OS, and terrific new software make the iMac the all-in-one desktop computer of choice... MacDailyNews
• Matias Introduces Folding Laptop Keyboard - Matias unveiled its new Matias Folding Keyboard on Wednesday. The full size portable USB keyboard folds in half for travel and includes a number keypad, navigation keys, function keys, and volume controls. The Folding Keyboard is available for pre-order now at the Matias Web site and is priced at US$59.95. Mac Observer
• BusinessWeek: iMac Undisputed Desktop Champ - In a four and a half-star review, BusinessWeek reviewer Cliff Edwards called Apple's current line of iMacs the "undisputed champ, even as rivals Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony step up their offerings." He cited Apple's hardware design, peripherals, set-up ease, Mac OS X Leopard, and iLife as reasons that make the iMac a "star." Mac Observer
• High Speed Inter-Chip spec, a USB 2.0 supplement, available - The USB 2.0 Promoter Group, responsible for the development of the USB 2.0 specification with support from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), has announced the public availability of the High Speed Inter-Chip (HSIC) 1.1 specification, a supplement to the USB 2.0 specification. MacimumNews
• AMD delivers HDTV experience for Mac via ATI TV Wonder - AMD has announced the new ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB for Mac, which is described as “a new HDTV experience for Mac users.” It integrates two TV tuners to receive off-the-air ATSC/HDTV broadcasts as well as analog television programming. MacimumNews
• Review: MacBook Core 2 Duo/2GHz and 2.2GHz - Apple has once again updated its popular consumer laptop. The newest glossy-screened MacBooks look nearly identical to their six-month-old siblings, but a number of significant under-the-hood improvements have added new zip to this generation with no increase in price. If you bought a Mac laptop recently, this latest MacBook upgrade will cause no reason for despair. However, our review finds that if you’ve been seeking the optimal time to refresh an iBook or even an older PowerBook G4, this might be it. Macworld

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OS X & Software

• Road to Mac Office 2008: Word '08 vs Pages 3.0 - The planned mid-January release of Office 2008 offers a significant overhaul of the productivity suite's look and features. The previous segment described the challenges in front of the Mac Business Unit at Microsoft: deliver a new suite of applications with the features of the Windows side, but with an appearance and behaviors attractive to Mac users. Here's a more in-depth look at the specific new features in Word 2008, with some comparisons to Apple's Pages 08 included with iWork. AppleInsider
• THIS DAY IN APPLE HISTORY November 14, 2005: OS X Rejected for Low Cost Laptops - The One Laptop per Child initiative is a noble pursuit with the goal of providing a Wi-Fi enabled laptop to the poorest and most remote children in the world. The (read more) Applematters
• Home-brew Hackintosh - A speedy computer running OS X that isn't a Mac Insanely Great Mac
• OS 10.5.1 On The Way - Expect an OS X bug-squasher soon. Insanely Great Mac
• Leopard outsells Vista in Japan - A growing share of a shrinking pie? Insanely Great Mac
• FileMaker previews Bento personal database - A preview version of FileMaker's forthcoming Bento personal database is available for download. itwire
• Anti-virus software peddler F-Secure: Apple iPhone malware ‘80-90% likely’ - Apple's reputation for bullet-proof security could soon be blown away... MacDailyNews
• Time Machine Console messages are useful -Reader Geof points out that you can get some idea of what Time Machine is up to - when it is performing backups, and how large each backup is - simply by looking at the Console. Open the Console (in the Utilities folder) and click "All Messages". Now type "backupd" (the name of the background process that does Time Machine's backing up) into the search field, and you'll see all and only the recent log messages from Time Machine. MacFixIt
• FaxSTF Pro Dashboard widgets cause trouble on Leopard - Smith Micro has provided online instructions for uninstalling FAXstf. To see them, head for the Smith Micro site and click Support > Knowledge Base; from there, you can find the entry "Uninstalling FAXstf on your Mac OSX computer". The entry reads, in part (please note that, to help support the world's merriment quotient, the spelling has been left as is): MacFixIt
• Is Leopard slow to load Gmail? - Google's Gmail service has increased its coolness factor considerably by adding IMAP access, but meanwhile, back in the world of Web mail access, one user complains that the initial Gmail Web page has trouble loading under Leopard. He says that there are difficulties no matter what browser he uses. MacFixIt
• VMware Takes Fusion Up a Notch for Leopard - VMware has released an update of its Fusion desktop virtualization software for Intel-based Macs, the company announced Monday. Fusion 1.1 includes support for Leopard, the latest version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, as well as more than 25 enhancements and improvements. "We have been extremely pleased with the success of VMware Fusion," said VMware's Dan Chu. MacNewsWorld
• Hyperbolic's Smart Trash Universal, Updated for Leopard - Hyperbolic Software announced on Wednesday that Smart Trash 1.1.3 has been updated to be a Universal Aplication and also provides full Leopard compatibility. Mac Observer
• Nancy's Leopard Upgrade Advice & Tips for Mac Novices - Computing with Bifocals I'm being asked the same question about Leopard that I was asked about Tiger -- "I'm a beginner, should I upgrade?" And I'm giving the same answer -- "Maybe" Mac Observer
  
• Mail: Leopard's New News Reader - TMO Quick Tip - Keeping track of what's new on your favorite Web sites isn't a big deal if you only have one or two sites to follow. If you have several, however, it can become a time consuming chore that eats away at your day -- unless you use an RSS news reader, and that's exactly what Apple added to Mail in Mac OS X 10.5. Mac Observer
  
• WSJ Sees Apple Being Proactive in Europe for iPhone - iPodObserver - Apple has learned its lesson from early stumbling blocks it encountered with the iPhone in the U.S. market, and is being proactive. This, according to the Wall Street Journal, which said that Apple's efforts to secure WiFi hot spots in the UK for iPhone users before it launched the device in that country were an example of Apple proactively heading off criticism about the iPhone's lack of 3G wireless support. Mac Observer
  
• Mac OS X 10.5.1 Update Finalized? - ThinkSecret believes that Apple is about ready to release the first update to Mac OS X Leopard. MacRumors.com
• Leopard a big hit in Japan - Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”) took a sizable bite of the Japanese retail operating system market during October and accounted for over half of all sales of packaged operating system software despite being on sale for only the last six days of the month, reports InfoWorld. It took a 53.9 percent share of the market, according to figures from Japan’s BCN. MacimumNews
• ‘RealBasic TV’ posts new episode - RealBasic TV has released their latest episode, “Episode 5: Stay In Touch,” which covers topics such as sockets, classes, folder items, data parsing, and more. RealBasic is the cross-platform development environment from Real Software. MacimumNews
• Leopard locking up some MacBook Pro keyboards - Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard’) is locking up the keyboards of some MacBook Pro laptops, according to some users, according to a Tech World report. The only apparent solution is to reboot the computer. MacimumNews
• Spiderweb Software releases Avernum 5 game - Spiderweb Software has announced the release of Avernum 5, the latest in the long running Exile/Avernum RPG series, reports Inside Mac Games. Spiderweb is offering a demo of the game, which requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher, on the official web site. MacimumNews
• First Look: Bento personal database - FileMaker has unveiled Bento, a personal database application aimed at helping casual users manage contacts, track projects, and do the sorts of things that FileMaker Pro is just too much app to handle. Dan Moren takes a look at the public preview of Bento and tells you what to expect should you decide to take this Mac OS X 10.5-geared application out for a test drive. Macworld
• MacMania and games in Iceland - This installment of the Macworld Podcast starts in the Caribbean Sea and winds up in Iceland. We start off our global podcast on board the MS Volendam, where editorial director Jason Snell checks in from the latest MacMania cruise. Then, it’s off to Iceland, where senior news editor and Game Room columnist Peter Cohen attended the annual Fanfest for EVE Online, a massively multiplayer online game that made its Mac debut a week ago. Macworld
• Yahoo settles Chinese dissident lawsuit - Following Yahoo's Capitol Hill apology for co-operating with the Chinese government, the company has settled a lawsuit with jailed Chinese dissidents. The dissidents alleged that Yahoo was responsible for their imprisonment and torture. Macworld UK
• Leopard eats Vista OS sales in Japan - Leopard prowls across Japan as October sales of Apple's latest OS eclipse those of Vista in Japan. Macworld UK
• Leopard knocks out MacBook Pro keyboards - Leopard's roar becomes flaw with news of latest fault, as MacBook keyboards freeze in the eye of the beast. Macworld UK
• Latest Leopard apps updates - Fetch, REALbasic, EarthDesk are among the applications to feature in the latest series of Leopard compatibility updates. Macworld UK
• Additional Office 2008 features confirmed - Microsoft's Mac Business Unit reveals further improvements and enhancements within the soon to ship Entourage and PowerPoint components of its Office 2008 for Mac productivity suite. Macworld UK
• Adobe Design Achievement Awards 2008 announced - Adobe offers student creatives from more than 30 countries the chance to win big prizes and a trip to New York in latest annual design competition. Macworld UK
• VueScan takes Leopard upgrade - Hamrick Software has upgraded its widely-used industry-standard scanning software, VueScan, and ushered in Leopard support. Macworld UK
• SOFTWARE REVIEWS - Mac’s New Database App Is iTunes for Control Freaks Wired

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iPods & iTunes

• DRM-Free v. CD: Which is Better? - As vinyl makes a comeback the CD may be a vanishing species. Insanely Great Mac
• Mossberg: Microsoft’s new Zunes can’t compete with Apple’s latest iPods+iTunes - "Last year, when Microsoft Corp. introduced its Zune music player to take on Apple’s iPod juggernaut, the software giant struck out... MacDailyNews
• Middlebronfman praises Apple’s iTunes Store, iPhone, iPod touch - Speaking at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Macau, Edgar Bronfman told mobile operators... MacDailyNews
• Phase (iPod game) - iPO Review - If you're familiar with the console games Guitar Hero I, II, or III for Xbox and PlayStation (with PC and Mac versions coming real soon now), you'll grok the new iPod game Phase instantly. Like Guitar Hero, Phase is a game of split-second timing -- clicking the proper doo-dads at just the right time and in time with the music. Mac Observer
• Apple updates 5G iPod software - Apple issues bug fixing patch for 5G iPods, available now through iTunes. Macworld UK
• Jay-Z rejects iTunes album sales - iTunes loses famed hip hopper Jay-Z, who refuses to let the service distribute his latest 'concept album'. Macworld UK
• Is the world ready for a 1TB iPod? - Radio Reg How to deal with storage overload The Register
• Hell Freezes Over: Warner Music Claims iTunes is Digital Music Done Right - Talk about a 180. After months of complaining about Apple's "indecent" iTunes pricing model, Warner Music Group appears to have had a complete change of heart. On Wednesday, the label actually praised the iTunes store, calling it a prime example... Wired

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iPhone

• Various issues expected to delay iPhone debut in China - China Mobile chief executive Wang Jiangzhou said Tuesday his company is in talks to carry the iPhone, but telecom executives familiar with the discussions say a number of contingencies on Apple's part are likely to prolong the process. AppleInsider
• Patent suit targets Apple, US cellphone and computer makers - A Delaware firm named AutoText Technologies claims that Apple and virtually all of the US electronics industry is infringing on a patent for the concept of a computer-based transcription device. AppleInsider
• iPhone's assault on Asia - coming soon - There are strong indications that the iPhone will go on sale in China and Australia next year, and discussions are said to be underway in other Asian countries. itwire
• iPhone, iPod touch updates delivered - Apple has begun pushing the iPhone and iPod touch 1.1.2 firmware to owners' devices via iTunes. itwire
• Apple among 23 companies facing lawsuit over predictive text completion tech - Delaware firm Autotext Technologies has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against... MacDailyNews
• Research Finds Higher Text Entry Errors for iPhone - iPodObserver - iPhone owners make significantly more errors on text entry than those using the other two types of mobile phone keypads, according to a detailed study by User Centric, Inc., a Chicago-based usability consultancy. Mac Observer
  
• China Mobile Execs: iPhone Won't Come to China Any Time Soon - iPodObserver - Apple Inc.'s iPhone won't be coming to China any time soon, according to additional comments from China Mobile execs and analysts that cover the Chinese telecom market. Reuters reported Wednesday that issues with the iPhone itself, resistance to change from China Mobile, pricing, and the lack of an iTunes Store in China are all combining to slow down any possible deal in China. Mac Observer
• Apple Looking to Nibble at China's Ripe iPhone Market - Apple is working hard to break into the market for mobile phones in China. The company is reportedly in talks with China Mobile, which has more mobile subscribers than any other company in a world -- a mind-blowing 350 million. Of course, Apple wants in. The company's latest moves came to light after Wang Jianzhou, China Mobile's CEO, spoke to reporters at the GSM Association's Mobile Asia Congress. MacNewsWorld
  
• Study: iPhone owners make more errors during text entry - User Centric, a Chicago-based usability consultancy, finished a third and final study examining the user experience of Apple’s iPhone. Previously, User Centric found that overall design and usability of the iPhone was good, but the iPhone’s touch keyboard was a weak point for many users. MacimumNews
• iPhone may not hit Chinese shelves anytime soon - Although China Mobile, China’s largest cell phone carrier, is purportedly interested in working with Apple to bring the iPhone to China, it may not happen soon. It’s unlikely to hit Chinese shelves soon because of technical and fee issues, according to Reuters. MacimumNews
• Report: 700MHz spectrum auction could transform US mobile landscap - The FCC auction of the 700MHz frequency band scheduled for January 2008 in the United States could have a profound effect on the landscape of the mobile communications market, according to a new study from ABI Research, by opening the door to a major new mobile operator. It will also be critical in the building of a national public safety communications network in the US. MacimumNews
• Apple's new phones lead to iTypos - A new study has found that while iPhone users can type as fast as users of phones with keypads, they make more mistakes Macworld UK
• Google Android wins early praise - Developers welcome Google foray into mobile device software with newly-launched Android platform, but point to the carriers as possible innovation inhibitors. Macworld UK
• Apple iPhone gains GameBoy emulation - As Apple's iPhone creates a gold rush for developers, users can hope for GameBoy emulation on future iPhones as clever coders show it's possible to run Nintendo games on an iPhone. Macworld UK
• How I wrote an iPhone application - An introduction to the world of mobile Web 2.0 The Register
• Testers give iPhone virtual keyboard the thumbs down - Apple vs BlackBerry vs numeric pad The Register
• Chinese Carriers Interested in iPhone - Apple might have a bidding war on its hands in China. A day after China Mobile CEO Wang Jianzhou announced the country's largest wireless carrier is in negotiations with Apple to sell the iPhone, the No. 2 firm, China Unicom, signaled it would like to talk iPhone too. Yahoo! NEWS
  
• China mobiles surge on iPhone talks - HONG KONG - Shares of China Unicom and China Mobile, the mainland's two biggest mobile service companies, surged in Hong Kong Wednesday on news that the latter was in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to China. Yahoo! NEWS
• China Unicom also open to iPhone talks - San Francisco - China Unicom may be open to selling Apple's iPhone in China, giving Apple a second option for bringing its device to the world's most populous market. Yahoo! NEWS
  

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