The fact that webcams are installed into each and every MacBook (and indeed, most other notebooks nowadays), can be of great usefulness, and the fact that Apple's computers present a green light when the camera is activated means that users are under no illusions as to whether the FaceTime camera is running or not. However, a piece of software in circulation, which has already been utilized by one unscrupulous individual, allows anyone to activate the camera without throwing up that green light, which is more than just a tad alarming.
Apple's Mac Pro was first announced all the way back at this year's WWDC, and although it was looking, for a while, as though the older model would never be afforded an upgrade, the Cupertino company instead came through with a complete redesign. The trash can design has proven rather polarizing - particularly among Mac Pro veterans - but for those interested in making the purchase, it will be available from tomorrow, Thursday 19th December, from $2,999.
Apple has been seeding various builds of OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 to beta testers and AppleCare employees for a few weeks now, and today the final shipping version has been made available as a free update for all Macs running the latest version of Apple's operating system, OS X Mavericks.
OS X has long since been the de facto, Apple-based alternative to Microsoft's domineering Windows, but despite becoming more popular over the past decade thanks to some innovative, MacBook-shaped hardware, it's fair to say that the Cupertino's desktop operating system now plays second fiddle to its very own iOS. Week after week we get to take a look at varied OS X concepts of what the next version of iOS might entail, but in something of a rare treat, and one designer has pieced together an idea for OS X 11. Check it out after the break!
Twitter for OS X had been on the low for quite some time, so much so that some had started to debate the likelihood that the company had pretty much given up on the platform. All of that changes today, when a new and refreshed Twitter for Mac 3.0 has just been released on the Mac App Store. Believe me when I say it, the new version will make you want to use the native Twitter app on your Mac once again, and ditch all the third-party solutions that you might have had employed over the course of time.
It's common knowledge that Apple's desktop computers are fairly popular, but according to research compiled by Parks Associates, the iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro comprise the most sought-after product line in the desktop market - beating off competition from Dell in second place. Although the MacBook range remains extremely popular - more so than the desktop offerings from Apple - portables weren't considered in Parks' study, but even so, with some reputable brands for company including the likes of HP and Acer, it would seem the lure of a computer bearing that iconic bitten-apple logo is very strong indeed.
Apple applies, and is granted, it's fair share of patents. As with any large technology company, the iPhone maker isn't shy about asking for a patent on anything and everything it comes up with that it thinks might be of use later on, which means that just because there's a patent application for something, it isn't guaranteed to make it into a shipping product.
Windows and OS X have been competing for years in the battle of the two major desktop platforms, and although Windows has been comfortably ahead since the beginning of time, Apple's Mac operating system has certainly made some headway in more recent times. Microsoft's Windows 8.1 and OS X Mavericks 10.9 are the latest entrants to the market, and although, as noted in the headline, Windows 8.1 has just sneaked ahead of Mavericks in terms of reach, the latter's 2.42% market share has now surpassed that of each of its predecessors.
OS X contains many useful and intuitive features that collectively make for a seamless experience, but not every little addition made by Apple over the past few revisions has been so well received. As a long-time Mac user, I've always found the Dashboard to be a bit of a waste of time, and although it could be better if developers of widgets hadn't abandoned the Dashboard en masse, it is, to most, a dud of a feature. Don't get me wrong here, some on OS X use their Dashboards on a daily basis, but for those apathetic about the far-left feature, there's a way to hide it and in turn, speed up your Mac.
As far as causes go, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has to be a pretty good one, and with names like Bono, Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, CBE involved in a charity auction for said cause, it was always going to be a success. Though, we suspect the results may have exceeded everyone's hopes by some way.
