If ever you needed a sign that Apple was a different kind of technology company, this is it.
What other computer manufacturer would remove its top-selling, hype-inducing, industry-altering new product from the prime spot on its website home page, and replace it with an obituary to an investor?
This is one of those “Here’s to the [...]
Fake Steve creator Dan Lyons just signed a deal to bring Steve Jobs to another small screen near you.
The half-hour series called “iCon” is billed by the presser as “a savage satire centering on a fictional Silicon Valley CEO whose ego is a study in power and greed.”
Making sure the barbs prick will be the [...]
Way back in 1991, just as Apple was transitioning from 68k to PowerPC chips, the braniacs at Xerox PARC were predicting it’s entire iPod, iPhone and iPad strategy. And next up for the iPad is a blackboard-sized device.
Nearly 20 years ago, just as personal desktop computers were taking off, researchers at Xerox started thinking about [...]
A new app called Silent Bodyguard features a panic button that sends an SOS distress signal with GPS coordinates to potential rescuers without alerting onlookers.
While the $3.99 app, available on iTunes, isn’t the first ICE (in case of emergency) app, this one is backed by Dr. Clint Van Zandt, former FBI chief hostage negotiator and criminal [...]
1:30 pm, October 22nd, 2009, Leander Kahney
In case you missed it first time around, here’s our totally unbiased review of Windows 7.
Posted by Leander Kahney in Reviews | Comment on this article
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Leander Kahney is the editor of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.
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Last year I signed up for a landline phone for my office. I wish I hadn’t for two reasons:
1. No one calls me.
2. Toktumi’s Line2 iPhone app, which adds a second, distinct number to my iPhone.
With a service like Line2, there’s no need for a physical phone at my place of work. I give my [...]
About a hundred years ago, while I was still a Windows user and thought that a Mac was what you covered in a cheese and slurped down for lunch, I whiled away way too much time playing a DOS-based artillery duel game called Scorched Earth. Dot Matrix Interactive Designs have created their own version in [...]
It’s time for our weekly digest of tiny iPhone reviews, courtesy of iPhoneTiny.com, with some extra commentary exclusive to Cult of Mac.
This time, we review Air Assault, Bad Apples, Fire Drop Free, Ghost Capture – Free, Heli Rescue, Internet Radio Box, Sunday Lawn, synthPond Lite, Tiki Totems, and Titanic Rescue.
APP OF THE WEEK
Internet Radio Box: [...]
There must be a special space reserved at the table in Valhalla for any designer able to make a fat brick look hot; if that’s true, then there’s a seat reserved right next to Jonny Ive’s for the Vers 1.5R’s designer (and yes, both design heaven and design hell are Scandinavian. Don’t believe me? Take [...]
On Windows, when you’ve finished using a particular piece of software, you close it with the X symbol in the top right corner of the application window.
Many switchers assume that the window close control in the top left of an OS X application window does the same job: but that’s not quite true.
On Windows machines, [...]
In the Hackintosh community, the MSI Wind is somewhat legendary for being the first netbook out there that could essentially run OS X out of the box, with all features working and no hardware hacking required.
Now it looks like the venerable Wind has another Apple bragging point: with its keyboard ripped out and its [...]
The Menu Bar sits at the top of your screen at all times. Let’s take a moment to get to know it. It’s worth doing, because the Menu Bar is going to be one of your best friends.
When you used Windows, you were used to see menus inside each document window. File, Edit, all [...]
With just a few weeks to go before the iPad hits stores, here’s the best way to ensure you’re at the head of the line to get one (or three).
If history is any indication, the iPad will be in short supply when it goes on sale April 3. Plus there are rumors of production delays [...]
Why is the article 5 months old?? In any event, I feel your pain, especially about the ribbon part. I have Office 2007 at work and it’s THE most un-intuitive interface I’ve ever had to use. Designed by retarded monkeys, absolutely goddamn right.
Somegreekdude, on October 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Even ‘Dog’ can’t help you, as he runs OSX.
Erin's Dad, on October 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
This comment is for the linked article.
Leigh McMullen wrote:
“Oh I know, I’m just picking on you poor Windows users now, mean-old-Leigh. But answer for me this question: In Windows, what is a Window?
Is it an Application, or a Document?
See in OS X, a window is a document. It’s always a document, and it’s only one document. Always. That’s why when you close the window, the application still shows as running, because the window is just the document. Not the application.”
So my question for Leigh: Is System Preferences an Application, or a document? What happens when you close the System Preferences window? Using your standard for comparing consistency, Mac OS X is just as guilty of being inconsistent.
ktula, on October 22nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I wish I was on here earlier to comment how much of a moron Leigh is. I prefer Windows OS, but I still use OSX occasionally just due to the fact that things like the Iphone development tool is only for OSX. He needs to be fired as a writer for not looking at the fact that he is comparing VERY different things. His lack of humor was obvious also. I like being able to have the ability to customize and that’s what Windows offers. Apple likes their users to be stuck in a little box so that they can prod the hell out of all of you. If Apple ever wanted to be better then Windows, then they should let people update hardware, update programs, have freedom. But hey, if you Mac users enjoy being Apple’s Bitch, then more power to you.
Jealz, on October 22nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
It’s called Windows because unlike other operating systems, you can actually maximize and enlarge windows. And you don’t even need a keyboard most of the time. You can do pretty much everything with a stupid old multi button logitech mouse.
kobe, on October 22nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
@kobe Other than Linux distros that lack a window manager, I’m pretty sure every OS does that now.
Jake, on October 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
@Jealz
Mac users can update their hardware (albeit the process is slightly more limited) and as for update their programs…..well, when COULDN’T we do that? I honestly don’t know what you mean by that point.
Both Windows and OS X are proprietary software, they don’t really allow you much freedom at all. But that’s a price we pay for functionality and ease of use. OSes that DO offer the end user complete freedom in terms of customisation are open source ventures such as Linux and BSD. So if it’s freedom you want, maybe you should look into them. Don’t expect them to be as easy to use however (although maybe one day Ubuntu will be able to fill this gap).
Jake, on October 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
@Somegreekdude: The Ribbon interface is a lot better than Apple’s ‘inspectors’. I hate floating windows. I think Microsoft made a leap forward by improving the interface. I find everything very quickly.
Totie, on October 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
@ktula: “System Preferences” is an application, the preference you modify therein are documents really, I promise.
Aside: Snow leopard has done somethings to make life easier for windows users that stretch this metephor, specifically on versions of OSX BEFORE 10.6 if you closed the system preferences document window the system preferences application was still running in the background (I realize I asserted differently in the article).
The same is true of Aperture, Logic, iPhoto, and Garage band now as well… so we may have a new interface metephor here where if the last document window closes the application auto shuts down.
Nevertheless, the window is the **document**
Leigh McMullen, on October 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
P.S. I do love to be right frequently, one will note that in my 5 month old article I wished for the Click-hold-reveal all open application windows feature present in Windows 7 to be included in Show-Leopard… and Ta-Da!
No thanks needed folks, just send beer.
Leigh McMullen, on October 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
It supports touchscreen!
Yep, touchscreen in the middle of a Flu pandemic!
New slogan….
“Windows 7 with touchscreen! Now spreads even more viruses than ever!”
LOL!
Fuzzypig, on October 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
What is it like being too stupid to use windows?
Fuggles, on October 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 am
Wow, do Americans have no sense of humor or what? Its a joke, you’re supposed to read it, enjoy/not enjoy it and fuck off. Oops, Puritan sensibilities hurt have I? Save me souls, don’t stick me up a stake with you
.
What’s even more amusing is the sheer dearth of productive lives for all of you posting here, oh wait, its recession time, half of you posting are at home.
P.S–I loved the Mac guy who said “PEOPLE LIKE YOU GIVE MAC USERS A BAD NAME,” Don’t you support your sports teams, countries like a cultist fuck? Cultism isn’t really about using your brain, its about what makes you happy by being a part of a group.
It makes me chuckle, do you guys need to grow up, or do you guys need to let the youth in you come out a bit? I think a bit of both.
P.P.S–I’m a Windows user and have never used a Mac (Though would love to).
Subhash, on October 24th, 2009 at 1:41 pm