Macenstein’s “Mac Chick of the Month” (August 2010): Caitlin Hixx
Welcome to Macenstein’s “Mac Chick of the Month”, proudly sponsored by MacLove, makers of some of the sexiest iPad, iPhone, and iPod cases and accessories available. Each month we feature a different die-hard, Mac-loving girl who is (almost) as well designed as the Apple products they love. This month we present you with the lovely Caitlin Hixx, a Mac Chick from deep in the heart of Texas!
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Mount your iPad or iPod touch IN-wall with iPort
Do you love your portable Apple gear, but just wish it wasn’t so… portable? Well, iPort may just have the solution. The company specializes in mounting systems for both the iPod touch and iPad that will allow you to place your Apple device inside the walls of your home, ideal for home audio, home automation, or just getting people to say “Is that a #$@-ing iPAD in your wall?!?”
The iPort CM2000 for the iPad will run you $499.00, while iPod touch owners can get in on the fun with the $250 CM100. Both units will keep your iGadget fully charged, and ensure that your title as the ultimate Apple Fanboy in the neighborhood will remain intact. More pics after the jump. Read more
Review: Fun in the Sun with the Eco Extreme All-Terrain MP3 Speaker
Ever since the app store first opened, I’ve pretty much become addicted to internet radio. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons I’ve chosen to keep my unlimited data plan for the iPhone – I pretty much have to have music everywhere, common courtesy and Wi-Fi be damned. And this summer one of my favorite places to listen to tunes is at the Jersey Shore, Snookie-watching. Of course, the idea of letting sand, water, or Snookie anywhere near my iPhone was almost as frightening as the idea of trying to listen to music via the iPhone’s tiny speakers, so I began searching around for a rugged, portable iPhone speaker that could not only crank out the tunes, but also protect my precious glass-backed iPhone 4 from the elements.
Grace Digital, more famous for their wireless speakers, has built a truly impressive portable iPhone/iPod sound system with their Eco Extreme All-Terrain MP3 Speaker. Available in black, blue, or orange and costing only $49.99, you might be surprised to find just how tough and rich sounding this somewhat “toy-looking” speaker is. Read more
What, no lobster mask?
Lady Gaga, or someone else with a horrible taste in fashion, stopped by Apple’s Cupertino headquarters today for a tour. I’m not sure whether or not it is a slight or a sign of respect that she didn’t show up in fishnets and a lobster mask, but I swear she walked out of there with 3 iPads hidden in her ‘fro.
FYI, if anyone wants to know what I’ll be dressing as for Halloween, I suddenly had a great idea for a Blonde Elvira in a garbage bag. Not sure why, but if you see me, I like Kit-Kats.
via 9 to 5
Kickbacks are outs if you catch them
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Paul Shin Devine, “A midlevel Apple manager was arrested Friday and accused of accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks from half a dozen Asian suppliers of iPhone and iPod accessories in a federal indictment unsealed and a separate civil suit.”
When I first read that, I thought it said a “medieval ” Apple manager was arrested, which would probably have made a better movie, but this rare taste of Apple espionage is still pretty juicy. Apparently Devine’s MO was to use his position as an Apple Global supply manager to leak info on upcoming Apple products to various Asian suppliers in order to help them secure more favorable contracts with Apple.
I’m actually dying to know how that would go down, exactly. Does Devine find out Apple’s making an iPad with a 9.7-inch display, and say, “Hey LG, next time you’re in Cupertino, try to casually mention that you are dying to make touchscreens in the 9.6 to 9.8-inch range, and are wondering if Apple has heard of anyone who might be interested?
Ultimately the really interesting thing will be to see if Apple actually drops any suppliers over this, instead of just singling out Devine. Apple’s official response so far has been Spokesman Steve Dowling’s statement that “Apple is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way we do business. We have zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company.”
So will any big names fall? According to the indictment, Devine received about $1 million over the course of “several years”, and while a million bucks is nothing to sneeze at, somehow I feel like we’ll see Apple shopping for a new company to make the cleaning acid the iPods are dipped in more than we’ll see them dropping a big name like LG.
Oh, and I of course would be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge that Paul Devine is one of the best names ever, and he probably could have commanded $1 million a month in Las Vegas doing SOMETHING. What a waste.
Well this is disappointing
When I first heard someone had made an Optimus Prime iPad Stand, naturally I got pretty excited. However, upon seeing what basically amounts to some guy bending the G1 Optimus Prime toy in half and laying an iPad on it, I have to say this doesn’t even warrant an “E” for Effort.
via Tweet Photo
New study shows iPhone users’ vans rock twice as often as Android users’ vans
Well, the big news in the Mac-o-web today seems to be this graph, taken out of this poll, which seems to show that iPhone users have TWICE as much sex as Android users.
I of course have my theories on this data, which mainly boil down to owning an Android phone is not impressive to anyone, and owning an iPhone is, similar to the way owning a BMW might appear more impressive than owning a Hyundai. Like it or not, expensive, sexy cars, gadgets, clothes and houses tend to turn people on, and boot knocking often ensues. This is not to say an Android phone or a Hyundai car is horrible, but just like a Hyundai is trying to be a cheap Honda, the Droid phones are iPhone knock offs, plain and simple. And yes, both are cheaper than that which they aspire to copy, with Android Phones actually being given away free with phone contracts, while iPhones are backordered and have 10 hour lines wrapping around their stores.
Figures don’t lie
Coincidentally enough, I can back up the data laid out in the graph above from my own personal experience based on something that happened just this morning. As you know, the Bride of Macenstein and I both have iPhones, and we banged mightily last night. However, today, while on vacation with my brother and his wife (both Android users) I accidentally interrupted them having sex (returning their 1-year old daughter I had been watching to their room, quite by accident I assure you). I felt horrible, but I had to laugh when I saw this graph. It appears I personally know TWO Android users who actually have less sex than iPhones users. Numbers don’t lie, people, even if the iPhone users are the cause.
Microsoft tells us why PCs are better than Macs
Microsoft has launched a new page comparing PCs to Macs, and guess who comes out on top?
Let’s see if you can find six misleading statements hidden in Microsoft’s arguments below: (thanks to faithful Macenstein reader Billy for the tip!)
Macs can take time to learn.
The computer that’s easiest to use is typically the one you already know how to use. While some may say Macs are easy, the reality is that they can come with a learning curve. PCs running Windows 7 look and work more like the computers you’re familiar with, so you can get up and running quickly.
Macs might spoil your fun.
There are some things you simply can’t do out of the box with a Mac like watch, pause, rewind, and record TV like a DVR.
It’s showtime.
You can’t get a Mac that ships with a Blu-ray player, TV tuner, Memory Stick reader, or built-in 3G wireless. You can with PCs running Windows 7.
Macs don’t work as well at work or at school.
If most of the computers in your office or school run Windows you may find it harder to get things done with a Mac.
Macs don’t like to share.
At least half the fun of having a computer is sharing the stuff that matters to you with other people. This is harder to do on a Mac.
Macs might not like your PC stuff.
Plain and simple, if you’re a PC user, lots of your favorite stuff just might not work on a Mac. With PCs outselling Macs 10 to 1, the reality is that most computer software is developed to run on PCs.
Macs don’t let you choose.
PCs give you a lot more choice and capabilities for your money. You can get the PC you want, in the size and color you want, with the features you want. You just don’t have as many options with a Mac.
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence
Here’s something odd… As we all know, the iPhone 4 does NOT have a reception issue with its antenna. Yet The New York Times is reporting that Mark Papermaster, that hot shot engineer that Apple wanted so badly to head up their iPhone Hardware Engineering department they had to fight IBM for him, and who coincidentally appears to be the driving force behind the iPhone 4’s “non-issue-having” antenna design, has left Apple.
There’s no official word from Apple or Papermaster as to whether he left on his own accord or was fired, but… he was fired.
Of course that’s just my educated guess. However I’m sure it had nothing to do with the iPhone 4’s antenna design or bad press. Odds are he was stealing Post-Its or something.
via 9to5
It’s funny ’cause it’s true
As someone who is trying to get an app made, I find both sides of this conversation to bee eerily accurate. (Flash only, so shut up).
Thanks to faithful Macenstein reader Bill for the link!
via 9to5
