Inhaltsverzeichnis für March 2014 in Macworld Australia

Apple showed off the original Macintosh on 24 January 1984. Just over 30 years ago. And so much has changed since then (have a look at Page 32 if you’re sceptical). While the Macintosh was vital to the success of Apple for the first 20 years of the company’s existence, it no longer feels that strain. The popularity of the iPod, after its introduction in October 2001, brought the company out of the dwarfing Microsoft shadow that had previously consumed Apple and left many considering it on the brink. While its influence is sadly now diminishing, the iPod also boosted the popularity of the Mac. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 had a similar effect, likewise the arrival of the iPad in 2010. The latter two may now be…

SALES UP, BUT PROFITS DOWN Revenue is up, but profits have slipped a little in the latest Apple figures released in late January. The figures cover the first quarter for the 2014 fiscal year (1 October to 31 December 2013). The numbers show that quite clearly it is the iPhone that is the Cupertino, California company’s greatest source of income. Apple reported that it sold 51 million iPhones during the period, which is over three million more than during the same period a year ago (the figures for the first quarter in 2013 were 47.8 million). This figure is an all-time quarterly record for Apple, which may be seen as at least some vindication of the company’s decision to release two different iterations of the smartphone at the same time.…

WIFI EXPLORER UTILITIES Adrian Granados $2.99 Adrian Granados’ WiFi Explorer is a nifty Mac utility that allows you to gather an impressive complement of data about all the Wi-Fi networks within range of your Mac. It shows you a plethora of numerical data points, but it also graphs the signal strength of each network, and it shows which networks overlap on common channels. It supports 802.11a/b/g/n networks in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency spectrums, as well as 802.11ac networks on the 5 GHz band. WiFi Explorer is a fun and useful app that would be a nice addition to any Mac tinkerer’s toolbox. It’s packed with features and represents a great value. COMMAND-C UTILITIES Danilo Torrisi FREE Developer Danilo Torrisi’s free Command-C is a great little app…

PKparis K’lip The K’lip USB key’s chief distinction is that its carabiner clip allows it to clip to just about anything, providing some insurance against loss. It’s also strong, able to withstand 200kg of pressure, according to the company. But it’s still a European delight – you’ll have to order from France, where the basic 16 GB model starts at €21.99. €21.99 (16GB); €32.99 (32GB) PKparis www.pkparis.com/en Griffin Technology StudioConnect HD The US$199.99 StudioConnect HD is a highdefinition recording deck for “serious producers and musicians”, but one that puts the iPad at the centre of the recording process. It works in conjunction with top-notch recording apps such as Auria, GarageBand, LogicPro X and JamUp. It’s compatible with both Macs and iOS devices. US$199.99 Griffin Technology store.griffintechnology.com Henge Docks Gravitas dock…

OS X’s Finder is your window to the documents, spreadsheets, photos and other files you’ve tucked away on your Mac and on other connected computers and drives. One oftenoverlooked Finder tool is the sidebar, the left-hand section of every Finder window where you see small icons and names for folders and other items. The sidebar is intended to give you one-click access to the items you use most often. To make sure it serves your needs, tweak both what the sidebar displays and the way it displays it. SEE MORE OR LESS First, customise the Finder’s built-in guesses about what items matter to you. In the Finder, choose Finder > Preferences and click Sidebar. Here you’ll see a list that you can pick and choose from by checking or unchecking…

Jawbone UP If the word from this year’s CES is to be believed, then 2014 will be all about wearable tech. The Jawbone UP is a bracelet that monitors you to provide information about your movements and sleep. The UP is made up of just a handful of simple components. Within the bracelet, which comes in three different sizes and colours, are just a few components. There’s a small battery that keeps the UP going for about 10 days, an accelerometer that measures movement and some memory for storing data between syncs to your iOS device. Syncing is via a 3.5mm connector that plugs into a headphone port. Charging is via the same port using a USB cable that comes with the UP. The new UP24, which wasn’t yet available…

The case+ range from Logitech is based around a metal-backed, iPhone 5/5s case. Logitech has released three accessories that attach onto the case. The central element is the case+. It features cut-outs for all iPhone buttons, switches and ports; feels very durable and is available in white/grey and black/grey. The first of the three additions is the +tilt. Available in six colours, it doesn’t cover the front of an iPhone like Apple’s iPad Smart Cover, despite its similar appearance, rather the +tilt attaches to the rear and provides a kickstand. The cover is thin and extremely lightweight, adding very little inconvenience. It can also used as a two-sided magnet to securely mount your iPhone to metal surfaces. The +energy is the most expensive accessory in the case+ range, but offers…

Sleek, comfortable and beautifully balanced, Bowers & Wilkins’ P7 headphones are a pleasure to use. This British audio company has a huge reputation in delivering premium audio quality in an equally polished package, and the company’s first dive into over-ear headphones is another notch in B&W’s seasoned belt. The P7 fits into the B&W headphone line-up right at the top, sitting above the P3 and P5 on-ear headphones. Both of which have received positive reviews by Macworld Australia in the past; the P3s were handed a three-and-a-half mice rating in May and the P5s were given an Ed’s Pick, five mice and won our headphone Group Test in June 2012. While the P3s are available in four colours (red, blue, black or white) and the P5s come in black or…

Favourite Mac from last 30 years? JONATHAN STEWART iMAC (1998) The first Mac that I saw, the original iMac began the lowercase i trend that continues across Apple’s full product range. It was beautiful in Bondi Blue. TYNAN McCARTHY POWER MAC G4 CUBE This Mac may not have had the commercial success that designer Sir Jony Ive desired but it signified his commitment to bold computer designs. MONIQUE BLAIR iMAC (2013) It’s fantastic for my design work, and it’s big, beautiful display is great for watching movies and viewing or editing photography.…

Taken at the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition on New South Wales’ Bondi Beach in October 2013, this month’s image captures the beauty of the Sydney beach and the enormity of man-made structures. The particular structure Ritu chose to capture with her iPhone 5s was a sculpture created by David McCracken titled diminish and ascend and it prompted both childhood memories and a reflective mood. “I immediately thought of Led Zeppelin’s song,” Ritu says. “When I was a teenager, [Stairway to Heaven] was the cool song to listen to in the remote corner of north-east India where I grew up in the late ’70s and early ’80s. “Also, a friend from my university days had suddenly passed away that week; I had just got to know the sad news and…

When it comes to Apple, I’m a pretty trusting guy. I trust that the company will protect my data to the best of its ability. I trust that it will continue to release new iPhones, iPads and Macs every year. But in several important ways, I don’t trust Apple. And given how much I rely on the company, that’s a problem. SPEECHLESS SIRI At times, Siri saves my reminders almost instantly, and composes and sends my iMessages as fast as I can speak. Those are examples of technology at its best. Other times, I get an infuriating canned response from Siri: “I’m really sorry about this, but I can’t take any requests right now.” Siri, like so much in life, is good only when it does what it’s supposed to…

HEYDAY LIFESTYLE By Hey iPHONE FREE Heyday is a free photo/video journal tool for your iPhone or iPod touch that continuously and automatically chronicles your photos, videos and locations, then lets you add your witty commentary whenever you have the time or inspiration. The app continuously analyses your location data throughout the day and automatically adds moments to your timeline. So, at the end of the day, you can easily see where you’ve been, complete with each location’s name (if available) and including any photos you’ve taken there. Despite a few minor location foibles, we’re really happy with the app. For those who need a helping hand tracking daily events, organising and sharing photos, and keeping notes about your daily happenings, Heyday is a great tool at a price that…

Google’s free productivity suite, Google Drive, is packed with tools to help people work together using little more than a browser. Make sure that you’re taking advantage of all it has to offer with these tips. 1. Search by person Google recently added the ability to search not only by document name, but also by the name of anyone who shares documents with you. This is perfect if you can’t remember a document’s name, but you do remember who shared it. To use this feature, navigate to your drive in a web browser, click the Shared with Me link in the navigation bar on the left, and then enter a person’s name in the search field. All documents owned by them (or shared between the two of you) will appear.…

Mirrorless cameras are rapidly becoming the most popular form of photography today, and for good reason. They are positioned halfway between a compact and a DSLR, and not only do you find people stepping up to them from their point-and-shoots, but also professionals are choosing to use them as an extra body, or as a camera to be used discreetly for situations like street photography. Fujifilm caused a lot of people to stand up and take notice when it introduced the X-E1 and the X100, and now it has released its latest version, the X-E2. Beneath the hood, the CMOS sensor produces a 16-megapixel image or a Full HD movie. It has an ISO range from 200 to 6400, and this can be boosted to include 100 (low) and 25600…

Back in November, we reviewed the new $1599 entry-level iMac, the first of the new iMac models that we could get our hands on. Regrettably, it took us a while to get the other three standard-configuration iMacs in the Macworld Lab to test. We finally took a good look at the rest of Apple’s iMac line. Externally identical to the slim-edged 21.5in and 27in iMacs released in October 2012, the updates in this batch of iMacs are all internal, featuring more powerful processors and support for faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The new iMacs come in four standard configurations, two 21.5in models and two with 27in displays. All use quad-core Intel i5 (Haswell) processors, 8GB of memory and 1TB hard drives. The 21.5in models use 5400-rpm hard drives while the 27in iMacs…

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Sabra R Botch-Jones, a forensic toxicologist, researcher/writer, and owner of fTox Consulting (ftoxconsulting.com). I provide consulting services for issues related to forensic toxicology. What hardware do you use? My lifelines to the world are my MacBook Air, iPad and iPhone. Being able to have my devices synced and to access documents with ease is essential for my work. I use a Magic Mouse with my MacBook. I love how it works on a variety of surfaces – as a mum of a seven-month-old, I find myself working in the oddest of places. A QNAP TS-212-US NAS server containing two 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda 7200-rpm hard drives houses some of my data and eventually it will house more, but I use Dropbox for…

WAIT, APPLE MAY REPLACE YOUR MBP ’11 GPU Apple’s own warranty information page makes it clear that, in addition to Apple’s limited warranty, and in addition to any AppleCare you may have purchased, products are warranted under Australian consumer law to last for ‘a reasonable time’. If something fails within a ‘reasonable time’ – and I’m typing this on a 2007 MacBook Pro – you’re entitled to have it repaired or replaced, and that’s your choice. I recently returned a malfunctioning two year-old Magic Trackpad to my local Genius Bar, and it was replaced with a new one, no questions asked. Steve Ball THIS FREE UPDATE IS COSTLY Recently I became the proud owner of an iMac 27in and 27in Thunderbolt display. It arrived with OS X Mountain Lion installed…

Apple’s tightly integrated ecosystem means that the more Apple gear you own, the more sense it makes to keep buying Apple gear. Of course, the rest of your household may not share your passion for the Cupertino company’s wonder gadgets, or you may need to use non-Apple gear for work. Unfortunately, Apple does not play nicely with others, requiring you to make compromises if you have a mix of Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle and Windows Phone devices all trying to live happily side-by-side. It won’t take long to encounter problems when trying to integrate non-Apple gear into your home, as Apple goes out of its way to make life difficult for people who want to have a foot in each camp. Calendars created in iCloud can’t be easily…

PART 1 When Apple releases a new version of OS X, we tend to stick with the way we did things in the old OS, ignoring fresh features in the new one. Eventually we try the new things, and gradually they become the old habits we stick with when the next new OS X comes out. Well, it’s time to adopt the novel features in OS X Mavericks as your new normal. Mavericks has plenty to like and it’s not that hard to get up to speed. So strap on your learning cap, and master the unknown. THE BASICS: TABS, TAGS AND NOTIFICATIONS Now that we’ve been living with it for a few months, we’re familiar with all of the new features in OS X Mavericks, right? No? You aren’t…

Since you’re reading this article, you’re probably thinking about buying a new Mac, and you may be in need of a little guidance. Fortunately, we’ve tested (almost) every standard-configuration Mac model currently in Apple’s lineup. This buying guide provides an overview of all the Mac models available, and explains what each one is best suited for. What is it? The Retina MacBook Pro has a highdensity display – images and text look especially smooth and clean on it. Apple updated this model in October. Who is it for? The demanding user who wants a portable computer that performs well (see chart at right) – it’s the fastest Apple laptop in our tests. What are the specifications? The Retina MacBook Pro is available in screen sizes of 13in (bit.ly/1eLuBaa) and 15in…

!SETTING UP AN AUTOMATIC DROPBOX BACKUP We all use the standard Documents folder in our Finder as the default local location for storing ‘stuff’. The problem with this is that if anything happens to your Mac, you risk losing your local copy of that ‘stuff’. Yes, we all make backups, and we all use Time Machine, but we’re human and sometimes we forget or we aren’t near our Time Machine. So you can use a cloud solution, like iCloud or Dropbox, which keeps a duplicate copy of your ‘stuff’ in the cloud. But iCloud only stores some things, while Dropbox will store anything. But you have to remember to put your ‘stuff’ in your Dropbox folder, which is usually not the same as your Documents folder. Here is a way…

The Magellan Echo watch is a wearable Bluetooth display that provides real-time data about your run, while you’re running. The watch offers a couple of buttons for you to remotely control a supported running (or cycling) app while your phone stays in your pocket or armband or wherever you keep it while you’re running (or cycling). Once you’ve paired the Echo and your running app, you can start a new workout, and the Echo shows you data while you run. The exact data it shows depends on the app – the Echo is merely a wireless display for whatever information your app decides to share. The Echo has four buttons, which you can use, depending on your running app, to pause workouts or switch music tracks. You can use the…

Logitech’s G550 PowerShell caters to gamers who are still enamoured with the traditional console-style controllers, converting a 4in iPhone 5/5s or iPod touch into a more traditional gaming device. The PowerShell features a Lightning plug and is designed to snugly hold your iGadget. Almost doubling the width of your phone, the case incorporates PlayStation-style controls with a D-pad on the left and A, B, X and Y buttons on the right, along with large shoulder buttons on the top under your pointer fingers. There are no analogue joysticks and no forced feedback as you’ll find on other modern gaming controllers; you’re basically back in Super Nintendo territory. The case features a textured nonslip grip, which feels comfortable in your hands, and it still narrow enough to slip into your pocket.…