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Archive for » May, 2011 «

Apple Stores “Upgraded” to Version 2.0; iPads Pulling Double Duty.

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 | Author: OWC Chris S.

You know those rumors about how Apple had something exciting to showcase on Sunday?

Yeah… well… it really depends on your definition of “exciting.”

Apple “refreshed” its stores into what they’re calling “Apple Store 2.0” Its primary feature… all the paper info sheets that used to stand with the products have been replaced by iPads on little Lucite stands.

I’ll admit, it’s kind of nice to see a “green” alternative to paper cards which become obsolete once one minor specification changes. And, it would seem that several pages on an iPad can convey a lot more info than what I recall seeing on one of those single sheets. However, I’d avoid visiting the iPad display if you’re on any prescription medication – seeing iPads being used to display specs of other iPads might prove to be a bit trippy.

These iPads are running some customized firmware that disables the Home button, and they don’t seem to be powered off of a standard 30-pin connector (which makes it a convenient way to tell the difference between the “info” model and the “demo” model in the iPad display).

However, possibly the most convenient thing about this display is the button to page an Apple Specialist - something that my past experiences at the local Apple Store have shown to occasionally be more difficult than it should be.

So was all this worth the hours we dedicated to speculating on this? No, probably not.

But at least now we have yet another reason for iPad 2’s being so hard to come by.

NewerTech Announces AdaptaDrive Bracket For Installing 2.5″ SATA HD or SSD In 3.5″ Drive Bay Equipped Desktop Mac, PC, or External Enclosure

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 | Author: OWC NewsFeed

Newer Technology, Inc. announced today the NewerTech AdaptaDrive converter bracket for installing any capacity size 2.5″ SATA hard drive or Solid State Drive in a 3.5″ SATA drive bay equipped desktop Mac, PC or external enclosure.

The NewerTech AdaptaDrive is available immediately from NewerTech’s exclusive distributor, Other World Computing, as well as through the retail channel.

Works With All 2.5Drives, Including Latest SATA ‘6G’ 6Gb/s SSDs
The AdaptaDrive supports Article Continues…

SHHHH! “Secret” Apple Store Roll-Out on Sunday.

Friday, May 20th, 2011 | Author: OWC Chris S.

Just a few days after the 10th Anniversary of Apple’s first retail store, our favorite Cupertino-based, fruit-themed computer company seems to be planning something.

According to several rumors sites, there have been a number of “suspicious” activities from the Apple camp:

  • Overnight shifts for Saturday night have been assigned—and they require a cell-phone lockout and an NDA!
  • Mysterious packages of equipment arriving at the retail stores.
  • Large amounts (in the GB range) of password-protected data labeled “training” have been downloaded from Apple corporate.
  • Mandatory staff meetings at all Apple Stores on Sunday, mostly in the AM.

As it always is within the Apple ecosystem, whenever Cupertino makes some “secretive” moves, the conspiracies start flying. This instance is no exception; the theories being bandied about include:

  • iPad-based POS System - This is entirely possible. Apple recently updated to using iPhones/iPod Touches for the stores’ sales floor. An iPad could make for an interesting approach – using larger images for products, etc.
  • “Setup Stations” Replacing the Genius Bar - As we mentioned in OWC Radio #54, Apple has been moving more towards a focus on “personalized setup.” The equipment that’s arrived could be stations where Apple staffers can help a new user get things set up and ready to use, rather than at the Genius Bar itself.
  • iCloud - We all know Apple has that gigantic data center in North Carolina, and there have been rumblings about this service for a while now. Plus, there was a significant “burp” in service to an extremely large number of MobileMe subscribers earlier this week. Perhaps somebody threw a switch, and these were the people who had slipped through the net.
  • Early Release of OS X 10.7. Lion - It’s possible Lion is just about done, and the level of secrecy around this whole thing is about right for a surprise OS release. However, with WWDC coming in just a couple of weeks, it would be a bit of a raspberry to developers hoping for a final SDK at the conference.

So what’s do you think is hiding in those boxes behind the hose black curtains? Whether your theories are probable, plausible, possible, or just plain ludicrous, we’d love to hear ‘em!

Explosion at iPad 2 Factory

Friday, May 20th, 2011 | Author: OWC Chris S.

Early this morning (mid evening local time), Foxconn’s Chengdu manufacturing facility was rocked by a large explosion. At least two people have been killed and 16 injured in the blast which has been said to have originated in the “polishing plant” part of the iPad 2 production line.

One Chinese news source has described one of the walls as “shattered”; though the structural integrity of the facility has not officially been determined. Another site has several videos of the aftermath, including smoke pouring from the building.

Government officials and emergency personnel are working to determine the cause of the explosion, but sources are pointing to “ultra light dust” used in the polishing process. Police have supposedly ruled out foul play.

It has yet to be determined how this will affect iPad 2 availability, which has already been in short supply due to heavy demand.

OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express Solid State Drive Named As Finalist In 2011 American Business Awards

Thursday, May 19th, 2011 | Author: OWC NewsFeed

Other World Computing today announced that the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD is a finalist in the New Product or Service of the Year – Computer Hardwarecategory of the 2011 American Business Awards. First announced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show this past January and still the only aftermarket SSD upgrade for the 2010 MacBook Air, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express offers up to 4X greater capacity and up to 68% faster real-world performance than factory available options.

Like The Oscars For Corporate America

The American Business Award program, created in 2002 and nicknamed “The Stevies”, is the only business awards program in the United States that honors and generates public recognition of corporate and executive achievements worldwide. The Stevie Award trophy is often called “the business Oscar”, because it is hand-cast and finished in 24-karat gold by the same company that creates the Oscar. The name “Stevie” is taken from the name Stephen, derived from Greek term for “crowned”. Past American Business Award winners have include Apple, Oracle, Hilton Hotels, and AT&T. Article Continues…

Category: Press Releases

iOS App Review – Friendly for FaceBook

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 | Author: OWC Chris S.

It’s been quite a while since we’ve had an iOS app review for you, but with all the exciting goings-on here at OWC, it’s been kind of tough to get the crew together so we could all contribute. At the same time, we all had fun doing this, and wanted it to continue.

As a result, we’re going to try and resurrect this feature, just with a slightly different format: only one of us is going to review an app at any given time, and the apps themselves won’t necessarily have to be free (though, ultimately, that’s still our goal). Of course, we’ll be counting on you, valued readers, to chime in on these apps, too. After all, more feedback eventually leads to better apps overall. :-D

So… without further ado, let’s take a look at Friendly for Facebook by Oecoway Inc.

App Store Description

click screen shot to enlarge

Facebook for your iPad – FEATURED in Apple’s TOP 10 iPad Apps of 2010

An amazing Facebook experience, designed just for iPad ★★★★★

  • Swipe through Facebook photos full screen
  • Chat with your online friends
  • Upload photos from your iPad
  • Edit photos, add fun effects, change your profile picture
  • Get friends birthday notifications
  • Easy switch between multiple Facebook accounts
  • Secure your Facebook Account with a PIN Code access
  • Customize colors and fonts to your liking

Notes:

  • Facebook® and the Facebook logo are trademarks of Facebook Inc.
  • Friendly is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Facebook

OWC Chris’s Review

Article Continues…

Category: App Review

Space Shuttle Endeavor Lifts Off at 7:56 CDT

Monday, May 16th, 2011 | Author: OWC Chris S.

Amongst the collective weeping and gnashing of teeth over the difficulties replacing the 2011 iMac’s hard drive, it’s nice to hear that something is finally going well. After multiple delays, Space Shuttle Endeavor finally lifted off today at 7:56 AM CDT marking both its final flight and the second-to-last Space Shuttle mission.

Our friends with The Last Shuttle Project were there with their cameras and other equipment (undoubtedly including some OWC storage-related products) to capture it all. Here are a couple of low-resolutions shots of the Last Shuttle crew setting up their equipment and a rather unique road sign. Article Continues…

Are We Headed Towards Driveless Desktops?

Monday, May 16th, 2011 | Author: OWC Mike H.

The recent iMac drive replacement issue topic made me go outside the box in my own thinking, and made me wonder if Cupertino, yet again, had another ace up its sleeve we just weren’t seeing yet.

I thought long and hard because something was always nagging at me… and that’s the question of “why?” My inner three-year-old self was just throwing a temper tantrum. I just had to take the time to listen.  Why make the drive harder to replace in the latest 2011 iMac? I, for one, am not like the many doomsayers. I don’t think of Apple is an evil company run by evil people. In fact, I applaud most everything Apple does. I greatly appreciate their products, the hard work they do, and truly think their contributions to the tech world go under appreciated by most.

However, Apple is a company in the business of making money. They just happen to be a company that makes money doing some wicked cool things. So my hat’s off to everyone who led and built the Apple, Mac, and iOS platforms since day one. The reason I say this is I don’t like to bare out the conspiracy theorist, and Mac vs PC curmudgeons. There will always be parties entrenched on both sides of the debate; some with noteworthy rational points and others irrational. I’m a freedom type guy… buy and use what you like without need to degrade others in the process. I’ve just experienced the debate for so long I simply don’t care, and think my tool of choice works best. Article Continues…