“Transport” moves your Time Capsule backup off-site
Time Capsule combined with Time Machine is a great way to backup your files, but a horrible way to protect them in cases of fire or theft. Odds are, any natural disaster that takes down your computer will likely destroy a Time Capsule sitting a couple feet from it, and odds are if someone breaks into your house to steal your expensive computer, they’ll grab the Time Capsule as well.
Macminicolo, the company that currently offers off-site Mac mini and Xserve hosting, has come up with the solution to this backup problem with their new Transport service. Basically, you buy a Time Capsule from them (or send in your own Time Capsule), and they store your Time Machine backup securely off-site in Sin City, Las Vegas. And as we all know, data that is sent to Vegas STAYS in Vegas, right? 
The service sounds pretty cool, actually, as the hosted Time Capsule appears and functions as if it were connected to your machine locally. All Time Capsule’s features remain intact, so you can set up multiple users, password protect the data, etc, and you use the AirPort admin to set it up.
So, how much does all this peace of mind cost? Prices start at $29/month for 50 GB of bandwidth per month, and go up depending on options (that doesn’t include the $299 or $499 cost of the Time Capsule, of course). Of course, Macminicolo realizes your first Time Machine backup session alone might exceed 50 GB, so during the first month of service they give you 300 GB of bandwidth to do your initial Time Capsule backup/sync.
So, is it worth it? That all depends on what you are storing on your Mac. Personally the most important things on my computer are my digital photos, and I already have a “low tech” off-site storage plan in effect (I burn DVDs of all my photos and keep them at my office). While it would suck to lose everything else on my computer, the photos are the big thing that I would never forgive myself for losing, and more importantly, my WIFE would never forgive me for losing (or let me hear the end of). So for married men with kids, a wife, and a ton of digital photos, odds are it’s a small price to pay.
Thanks to faithful Macenstein reader Nicholas Penree for the tip!
Oh… so THAT’s where Steve got the reality distortion field from
While Steve Jobs’ biological parents have been well documented, faithful Macesntein reader Marcelo Alves has come up with an interesting theory on the origin of Steve’s reality distortion field:
Hi,
(first, English isn’t my native language)
Well, Albert Hofmann, the creator of LSD died today (102 years, died by a heart attack). Don’t you think he looks like a Steve’s father or older brother?
Maybe Mr. Hofmann made the Reality Distortion Field for Steve.
Hmmm.. Well, there definitely is a resemblance. Although, to suggest that somehow Steve’s Reality Distortion Field is linked to LSD, well, that’s just crazy. Everyone knows Steve’s RDF is much more powerful a hallucinogen than LSD, and in fact is the primary reason New York (with its tougher drug laws than that “hippie-friendly California) banned him from attending NYC Macworlds.
On the plus side, though, if Marcelo is somehow correct and Hofmann is in fact Steve’s father, then hopefully Steve will enjoy the same 100+ years lifespan. Must have been all that clean living. So here’s to another 45 years of Steve heading Apple! (Sorry Schiller).
Bill Gates, as Kermit the Frog, praising Apple Computers
Filed under: Apple Fanboyism, Awesomeness, Humor, Microsoft Bashing, video
Welcome to the most surreal video you will see today. Behold the voice of Bill Gates put into the body of Kermit the Frog, praising Apple Computers.
Genius!
The original Gates clip was recorded in 1984, and it’s funny just how much Bill sounds like Kermit. Jim Henson productions should have definitely tried to tap him for Kermit’s voice in Muppet Treasure Island after Jim died. He sounds a hell of a lot more like Henson than Steve Whitmire.
Thanks to faithful Macenstein reader Big Red for the link.
Celebrity Mac Chick sighting – Beyonce
Filed under: Apple Fanboyism, Celebrity Mac Chick, Cynicism, MacBook
Above: Beyonce and Jay-Z do a little pool-side web surfing on Beyonce’s MacBook.
Do I even have to point out at that once again we have a celebrity walking around with a MacBook with no case? Originally I was skeptical as to the conspiracy theories of product placement and pay-offs between Apple and celebs, but looking at these pics, it was almost as though a concerted effort was being made to make sure the Apple logo was visible to the paparazzi.
More poolside pics after the jump. [via JustJared.com] Read more
WTF is up with iTunes’ Audio Book pricing?
Filed under: Cynicism, News, Not Cool, Opinion, WTF, iTunes
Faithful Macenstein reader Kelly writes:
“iTunes song purchases are $0.99, TV shows are $1.99, movie rentals are about $3.99, movie purchase are around $14.99, BUT WHY ARE AUDIO BOOKS SO EXPENSIVE???? THEY COST $29.95!!!”
I’m not sure, Kelly. Must be the cost or replanting all those virtual trees they had to cut down to make the audiobook?
To be fair, I’ve no idea how much say Apple has in audiobook pricing, and most of the titles on iTunes’ top 10 seem to be going for $18.95, although you can find many in the $35.95 or higher range. The Harry Potter books, for example, seem to go for $32.95 to $49.95, and you can’t even stare at Emma Watson. Granted, it is a 26-hour recording, so if you compare it to a conventional 1-hour long music album for $9.99, you may think you are getting a good deal. However, audiobooks do not hold nearly the same replay value as music does.
It seems to me that blind people and the elderly, two groups who are likely fans of audiobooks, are getting the shaft here. Consider this: for less than the price of the Harry Potter Book 5 audiobook, you can get the entire books 1-6 of Harry Potter in a set on Amazon for $35. But that is of course for the paperback, not the hardcovers which go for $20 a piece. Still, I don’t see the reason why the “no” cover audiobook versions should be twice that much. Any ideas?
Wait… The Kindle was a hit?!
Amazon.com’s homepage is announcing that the Kindle is finally back in stock, after shortages due to insane demand.
Hello? Is this thing on? I said “insane demand for the Kindle!” Has anyone seen a Kindle in the wild? Apparently the demand is so great they had to rent out the warehouse that the government is storing the Ark in.
2 new conflicting iPhone reports support “multiple iPhone models” rumor
Filed under: Doug's Rumor Corner, Rampant Speculation, Rumors, iPhone
Image via information architects
Remember when crazy faithful Macenstein reader Doug wrote us telling us to expect Apple to release at least two and possibly even three models of iPhone this spring? (see Even more rumors: The new iPhones’ specs) Well, two conflicting reports from two fairly major and reputable sites suggest their may be something to Doug’s claims after all.
First came reports from Engadget that the new 3G iPhone would come with GPS and be a bit larger/thicker than the current model, something Doug mentioned in his claims, and something that most of our readers blasted him for. While it is nice to think that Apple would continue its trend of slimming its portables with each new revision, logic would suggest that the current iPhone’s innards are packed pretty tightly, and adding a GPS module might very well necessitate a slight change in form factor. So when we read Engadget’s claim, reportedly from a trusted source who had actually held one of the new iPhones, we re-read Doug’s report and said, “hmmmm…”
Today, however, Electronista is claiming that “The next generation of Apple’s phone should include a significantly smaller phone that may replace the existing model… with a 2.8-inch screen replacing the 3.5-inch model used today” .
Hmm… One says bigger, one says smaller… So, who do we believe? Or are they BOTH right? Doug’s claims would seem to support the idea that both sites may have correct information, and may in fact be speaking of two different models of iPhone.
Despite the clamoring for “true” iPhone GPS on the internet, I can completely see Apple offering a model of iPhone sans GPS to those who do not view GPS as a must-have feature. Personally, I pretty much know where I am about 99% of the time, so GPS isn’t personally that exciting a prospect if it means increased size/weight and lower battery life. Add to that Apple’s seeming move into the enterprise market (a market used to carrying around laptop-sized PDA/Smartphones) with the iPhone 2.0 software, and even a slightly bigger iPhone would seem like a miracle to business users who might want a larger screen.
Obviously, we’re rooting for Doug, as that means we may have a bonafide rumor source, so perhaps we’re reading too much into these reports (as if you could ever over-analyze an iPhone rumor!). That being said, we’re waiting until we see an iPhone shuffle before we send him a cookie.
What are your thoughts? Will Apple create multiple iPhones tailored for different users, just as they have for the iPod and MacBook lines?
MacUpdate Bundle of Joy turns back into a pumpkin at midnight
A reminder that the MacUpdate Parallel’s Bundle turns into a pumpkin tonight at midnight, so if you were thinking of picking up Parallels and the other 9 apps for less than the price of Parallels alone, now is your chance.
It is coincidentally also your last chance to support Macenstein by buying the bundle by clicking here.
Thanks!
The reader made me do it
[UPDATE: Yep, new iMacs, see below for specs]
I promised nearly a year ago that I would never again write an article saying “Apple store is down“, and I plan to stick to that. But I can’t help what my readers write…
“I just nipped to the store to price up a laptop, and:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore/
They’ll be back soon!
It’s not even a Tuesday!
– Philip”
I suppose with all those iMac rumors/confirmations, and the fact that today is iTunes birthday means Apple was forced to bump up whatever super secret announcement it has a day from its more traditional Tuesday Post-It.
[UPDATE: Yes, Apple did indeed unveil updated iMacs. Here are the specs:] Read more
Review: Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone
I have a tendency to be a bit long-winded in my reviews, so I am rather excited to be reviewing the Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone, an accessory so simple, even I can’t go on too long (I think).
The Juice Pack is essentially an extra battery pack for your iPhone which promises to drastically extend the amount of use you can get between charges, and in our tests, it delivered. Mophie claims the juice pack can add up to 250 of standby time, 8 hours of talk time, 24 hours of audio playback, 7 hours video playback, and 6 additional hours of internet usage – essentially doubling the iPhone’s built-in specs.
Above:The Juice Pack is one of the few iPhone accessories I have found that actually compliments my lime green painted iPhone.
Design
The Juice Pack comes in a lime green and black color scheme, and is one of the few iPhone accessories I have found that actually compliments my lime green painted iPhone. On the back of the Juice Pack is Read more
