I love what Benj Edwards is doing over at Macworld:
What few realize about the birth of Apple’s translucent industrial design is that it didn’t start with the iMac. At least five Apple products prior to the iMac incorporated translucent plastics. In fact, the trend originated within Apple some two years before the launch of the iMac and almost a year before Steve Jobs returned to the company.
The Apple PR Machine:
Apple today announced the all-new iMac will be available on Friday, November 30. Featuring a stunning design, brilliant display with reduced reflection, faster processors and an innovative new storage option called Fusion Drive, the new iMac is the most advanced desktop Apple has ever made. The 21.5-inch iMac will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. The 27-inch iMac will be available for order through the Apple Online Store and will begin shipping in December.
Sven Fechner just restored some sanity to my Mac.
I thought I knew about all of Apple’s weird prototypes that had leaked over the years. I recognized everything in this Macworld article except for the Paladin:
In the mid–1990s, Apple tinkered with creating an integrated, all-in-one office appliance that included a computer, telephone, scanner, fax machine, modem, and printer. The result was the Apple Paladin prototype. It combined the guts of an Apple PowerBook Duo 230 (including its grayscale monitor) with a StyleWriter 1200 printer in a sleek white enclosure.
Jacqui Cheng has a look back at the 12-year history of Apple’s music-playing software.
James Gowans:
Does iOS ship with everything you need out of the box?
In an attempt to answer that question, he has been using his iPhone with only five non-stock apps, two of which are built by Apple. Again, Gowans:
And maybe that’s the real reason behind all of this: the less time I spend trying out some new or improved app, the less time I spend tinkering with settings or worrying if Dropbox or iCloud is the better synching solution, the less time I can spend with my eyes glued to a 3" glowing rectangle, means more time I can spend doing things that really matter. Like writing an essay, building a fort with my kids, or enjoying a glass (bottle) of wine (whiskey) with my wife. It’s that simple.
The design is still striking.
That’s one hell of a release name there, Apple.
TUAW has some cool information on the friction-stir welding Apple is using on the new, yet-to-be-shipped-OMG-WHY iMacs.
Emil Protalinski at The Next Web:
What do kids aged six to 12 want for Christmas this holiday season? Is it the highly-anticipated Nintendo Wii U? Sure, but much like everyone else, they want an Apple iPad more.
In fact, out of the top five products out there that kids want, four of them are from Apple: the iPad, the iPod touch, the iPad mini, and the iPhone. It makes sense for the phone product to be in last place, since many kids at that age simply don’t make that many calls, though I’m sure a few of them already know how to send a text.
While initially unhappy with the device, he’s changed his mind:
So, to wrap up: despite myself, despite my initial impressions and despite my expectations, I love my iPad mini and I find it’s really working well for me. I’m a much heavier iOS user than most people and it has handled everything I’ve thrown at it. I have no doubt that it will work perfectly for a huge number of people. I remain a bit sceptical about pupils using it all day every day in a 1:1 situation in schools. For that application, I still think a 9.7" iPad will be easier and more comfortable to use.
With the Wii U’s release this weekend, I thought it would be fun to look at Apple’s foray in to the gaming console market. Long before the iPod touch was the “funnest iPod ever,” Apple tested the waters with the PiPP!N project.
(For sanity’s sake, I’ll be using the far-easier-to-read “Pippin” nomenclature.)
In 1994, Bandai, a Japanese game maker approached Apple about partnering on a scaled-down Mac for CD-ROM based gaming. The company asked for a stripped-down Classic II, with the ability to play Macromedia Director-based games. Bandai suggested that Apple build the internals, and that they would handle the casing, controls and packaging.