iTalk

Gimme gimme gimme!!!!! The tune in the backround is "In the waitingline" by Zero 7

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Parallels Preps Major Update

According to AppleInsider, Parallels is preparing a humongous update on its virtualization software 'Parallels for Mac. Here are a couple of the new features:

• Drag and drop of files between the Virtual Machine and the Apple desktop.
• Seamless scaling of the virtual desktop.
• Bootcamp support, which enables the user to boot the Windows OS on the Mac in Parallels without the need for a reboot.

Apart from the Bootcamp feature all these things will also be incorporated in the upcoming VMWare release for the Mac. And since VMWare is the biggest name in the virtualization market, I hope that Parallels can cope with the competition. Especially, since the VMWare Virtual Machines can (or will) be used on both platforms. So all the VM's created on Windows (or Linux) can be used on the Mac. On the other hand, Parallels will provide a migration tool for migrating VMWare virtual machines to Parallels. Time will tell.

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Multifunction/purpose Gadgets

Do I really need a multipurpose phone/mp3 player/camera? The talks about the upcoming iPhone from Apple made me think. Sure, a Apple iPhone would definitely be cool, but do I need a cell-phone/mp3 player. I already have a cell-phone (which has a radio, and mp3 player functionality), and I never used the radio, or the mp3 player. Somehow I like to separate functionality. This way I can buy a new mp3 player (read: iPod) without having to buy a new phone. Or, if my phone dies, I can still listen to my music. Or, I can listen to music while having boring conversations on the phone. So, this leaves the question; Would I buy an iPhone?.. Maybe, but only if it's innovating. Just a convergence of a phone and a mp3 player won't convince me. Please note that I 'own' a cell-phone since 1998, and I just got my third in a 8 year timespan. During this period I also got a iMode enabled phone for free, but never used it. Mainly because the menu on the phone sucked big time. So, the iPhone needs to be very special (and available in Europe). However, I'll definitely buy the rumored new full-(wide)screen iPod with touchscreen interface. Just for replacing my 'old' (and still working) iPod Photo.

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Apple Mac Tablet

After a couple of  Microsoft posts, a new Apple related post. According to MacRumors, we may get a Tablet Mac in 2007. Rumors or not, this would be very nice to have. That, and a Mac Pro, Mac Mini, etc. :). Well, I guess that my tax refunds for 2006 are already spoken for :). It's could become an expensive Apple year for me. iMac or a Mac Pro as the substitute for my Windows PC. Replacing my Windows based server for a Mac Mini, new iPod with touchscreen and bigger display (rumor), a Apple iPhone (rumor), and now a Apple Mac Tablet (another rumor). I almost forgot the new announced iTV thing that they showed a couple of weeks ago...... Oh man, so many new Apple wannahaves, and so 'little' money.

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Apple Teams Up With Airliners to Deliver iPod Integration

Good news for the air-traveller, who owns an iPod. Apple is planning a cooperation with several Airliners to integrate iPod support in the seats on the planes

Apple Teams Up With Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM & United to Deliver iPod Integration

Even though that the Dutch airliner KLM denies it at this moment, it definitely adds up to earlier news that KLM would invest millions of euros on improving the interior of their planes.

UPDATE: The denial from KLM seems to hold. Apple acknowledged that there was a misunderstanding. iPod integration is scheduled for Continental, Delta, and Emirates though.

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iSync / .Mac alternative

Since the combination of iSync (for synching stuff on your Mac) and .Mac is expensive, and the performance is poor (slow network, limited space), I was looking for an alternative. A while ago (during my PowerBook days) I found a webpage describing a modification of the Apache webserver on FreeBSD Linux. This combo made it possible to simulate the .Mac servers. Therefore, making it possible to 'run' .Mac on your own Linux server. The main drawback is that I don't have the knowledge, or resources to run a proper linux server. So that was a 'no-go'. After that disappointment I didn't bother to look any further. I didn't use any syncing stuff and just made regular backups, untill I listened to a PodCast from the MacObserver. They mentioned the problem again, and it made me start looking for an answer again. I ran into a program called SyncUpX, which supports syncing to WebDav (which uses iSync as well), and lots of other media (network, local disks, etc.). The fun part of this was that I ran a bit later into an advert for SyncUpX on MacObserver.com. So it seems that they had the answer right under their noses :)

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Apples iPod vs. Microsofts Zune

As many might have heard (or not); Microsoft is going to launch a mp3/movie player. It's supposed to be THE Microsoft answer to the iPod, and it's called 'Zune'. BBSpot did a rather rather weird comparisson/benchmark of the two. BBspot - Digital Music Player Showdown: Apples iPod vs. Microsofts Zune For those who don't care to read the test: the iPod wins :)

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CrossOver

The reasons for not switching to the Mac platform completely are gaming for my regular PC, and some typical Windows software that I use on my server. I use NewsLeecher on my server to download linux distro's and other stuff ;) from the Internet. There is no (Mac) application that comes even near it in terms of usability etc. The last couple of days I heard, and read some good reviews about CrossOver. This application emulates (or whatever you call it) a Windows environment for that single application. So no virtual machines etc, where you need to install windows first, and then the application in that Windows OS. When installing the application in (or with) CrossOver it looks like the Windows application is actually running on OSX. So it was time for an experiment.... I needed to check if NewsLeecher would run in CrossOver (note: NewsLeecher has not been tested according to the compatibility database on their website). The installation process of newsleecher was quite simple. You get all the same screens etc. After the installation I tried to launch NewsLeecher, and the application crashed with an error stating that "gdiplus.dll" was corrupt or missing. After adding this DLL (copied it from a Windows machine), NewsLeecher started :), BUT crashed a bit later on a OLE error :(. Next thing was to copy all OLE related DLL's from my Windows\system32 directory to my Mac. After this the application actually ran (it started with a warning). I could add newsservers, and subscribe to newsgroups. The only downside was that SuperSearch wouldn't work, and downloading news articles crashed the application :(. Eventhough NewsLeecher wouldn't run without crashing, the CrossOver application itself is wonderful. It supports most of the normal Microsoft applications like Office etc., and lot's of other apps. I guess it's just a matter of time before (almost) every application for Windows can run on a (Intel) Mac. This also means that I need to save me some money to buy me a new server (Mac Mini) first, and after that a new workstation (iMac 24", or a Mac Pro).

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