Mac OS X

Review: Club Penguin Plush Toys and ClubPenguin.com

Dennis Gray — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:42:00 -0500

Last year, Disney bought the online virtual polar landscape that is Club Penguin, a virtual world where kids romp and play as penguins do.

This year, they've introduced a plush toy line that extends the virtual polar landscape into the thawed real world with the Club Penguin Series One figures, produced by Jakks Pacific and available at www.ClubPenguin.com/clubpenguinshop.

As of this writing, there are 13 plush polar players to collect, from barristas to cheerleaders, from firefighters (are there fires on a glacier?) to fairies. they've got you covered with any interest your younglings have.

The plush toys themselves are of high build quality, with all the attributes and costuming of the characters they represent. The cheerleader has pom-poms, the soccer guy has a soccer ball and athletic jersey, you get the idea. The figures are roughly 6 inches tall, and soft enough for kids to hurl at siblings without fear. But the real hook for getting moms and dads to buy these plush toys is the secret unlock coin that is attached to the tag. It doesn't seem to be the cuteness factor of the plush toys themselves.

These secret coins unlock features inside the Club Penguin game for players to use exclusively. The virtual items range from guitars and items to decorate their virtual igloos to 'puffles', which resemble small balls of fluff with eyes, which are the virtual pets of Club Penguin. So in short, buying a Club Penguin toy in the real world means instant celeb status in the frozen virtual world.

Club Penguin, the online game and virtual land where kids pretend to be penguins living in a city-sized floating iceburg landscape, is full of activities like ice fishing, and other games that earn virtual coins to buy virtual stuff in The Penguin store, and social networking with other penguins - er - kids - through a heavily controlled web-chat mechanism that protects the kids privacy and keeps them from revealing any personally identifiable info. You can visit their website for details on the privacy aspects of the online game, but I allow my son to play the game mostly unsupervised due to the strict controls placed on the players.

Club Penguin, the online game is free - mostly. There is a paid option, and to take full advantage of the secret coin with the Club Penguin plush toys, you'll need to be a paid member of the service. That said, there are still lots of sctivities to keep young ones occupied, ages 6-10 being the target audience.

So as a gift, these plush flightless birds might be suitable for kids already plugged in to the Club Penguin scene, or into penguins in general. But if your kids aren't driven to waddle or hang out in igloos, you may want to pass. The $20-30 price is high for the toy itself. Its really the benefits inside the Club Penguin game that make this a worthwhile purchase.

Review: Guitar Praise: Solid Rock for Mac & Windows

Kimberly — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:41:17 -0500

One of the problems with games like Guitar Hero for families is the "T" rating for lyrics. For Christian families or fans of Christian rock music, Digital Praise's Guitar Praise offers a family-friendly alternative for both Mac OS X and Windows.

Guitar Praise is a fun game if you like Guitar Hero. Besides the lack of story modes and downloadable content, the gameplay is nearly identical. You strum the notes, pick your songs, and try to make the high score, unlocking more songs as you go. A plus to Guitar Praise is that your first version comes with a wireless guitar so you can rock out halfway across the room once you get the songs memorized. (I actually do know some people that good.) Unfortunately, you still have to buy your second guitar, which you do with any other game like that, so I wouldn’t really count that as a minus. The lyrics show up on-screen, but none of them are inappropriate, so you don’t need to worry about that. And if you still don’t want the lyrics on because you’re worried that the words might be offensive (e.g. child’s party, etc.), then you can go in the settings and turn the lyrics off.

We found the guitar controller to be sturdier than the Rock Band and Guitar Hero controllers, and a ridge on the third fret button makes it easier to figure out where your fingers need to be.

Digital Praise tech support says you must be logged into an admin account to save profiles (you have to be logged in as admin to install). This runs contrary to the philosophy of the game itself, though. The great thing about this game is that parents can allow their kids to play it without having to make sure all songs are appropriate, but in order to do so, you have to log in as admin, disabling parental controls, and allowing them to go online without filters. We've found a workaround that adds a few extra steps, but it eliminates this problem:
1. Log into your admin account, and install Guitar Praise from the included CD.
2. Launch the game, go to "Band Members," and create a profile.
3. Quit the game, and go to the Finder.
4. On the root level of your hard drive, find the Users folder, then in there, the Shared folder. Open that, and find the Digital Praise folder.
5. Single-click the Digital Praise folder, and choose File: Get Info. In the resulting window, scroll to the bottom, and reveal the "Sharing and Permissions" section. If you don't see a list below it, select the triangle on the left so it points down.
6. Click the lock, and enter your password. Click the + button, and select the names of all other users on the computer (shift-click for more than one).
7. Click Select. Then for each username, change "Read Only" to "Read & Write".
8. Click on the gear-shaped button next to the +/- buttons, and choose "Apply to enclosed folders." It will give you a "can't be undone" dialog, so just give it permission.
9. Close the Info window, and you're all set. Switch to your child's profile, launch the game, choose "Band Members," and create a new profile or use the existing one.
It sounds complicated, and it shouldn't be necessary, but once finished, you shouldn't have to worry again.

Except for that one obvious flaw in the game, this is a lot of fun as long as you enjoy Guitar Hero. This one’s even (somewhat) portable...if you have a laptop. Either way, this game is an easy way to play a Guitar Hero-like game if someone’s busy with the TV! :^)

I recommend it for anyone age 10 and up or anyone used to playing Guitar Hero-style games. Parents looking for an guitar game that their kids can play without monitoring lyrics will love it.

Review: Bejeweled 2 for Mac

Chuck Tomasi — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:28:38 -0500

Recently I had the opportunity to try out the new Bejeweled 2 from PopCap. Our family is not big on computer games, but when we find something we like, we get our money’s worth. One of the family favorites is Bejeweled. A member of the Tetris family, the object of the game is to line up jewels to get them to disappear. Rather than falling from the top, the jewels start on a grid and you manipulate them by clicking them to switch the order and line up similar jewels. When given the chance to try out the new version, I had no shortage of volunteers to give me some feedback.

Being the family IT Manager, it is my responsibility to install, connect, and troubleshoot the family hardware and software. With that I set about the task to download and install Bejeweled 2 for the Mac (also available on PC.) Installing the game on the Mac was as simple as expected. After placing the order on popcap.com website, it downloaded a DMG file which had the simple “drag this icon to the applications folder” and I was done. It’s times like this that I love being the family IT Manager.

After installation was complete, my 15 year old daughter Julie kicked me out of the driver’s seat. She had played Bejeweled (1) a number of times on Grandma’s Windows PC so she didn’t spend a lot of time with the basics. She did note that she liked the instructions coming up at the beginning. They were easy to understand and she could turn them off once familiar with the game play.

In Julie’s words, “The graphics were cool and the sound was nice.” Although she did have a bit of trouble finding the sound controls in the application (hint: try “Menu”).

Julie poked around and found there are four different modes to the game including Classic, Speed (against a clock), Endless, and Puzzle. She gravitated to puzzle most of the time because of her love to solve puzzles. She found it challenging, but often resorted to the “hint” button if it got too difficult.

Bejeweled is a game for many ages. Evidence of this is the fact that after an hour’s play, my wife Donna kicked Julie off and played for another hour. I can only imagine how long it will be before I get to use the Mac when Grandma Dorothy comes to visit.

Episode 58: Creepy Doll

Dale — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:36:38 -0400

Dale and Teresa are back without pumpkins.

Toy News

Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo Doll: Subversive?

Tech News:

MyKey helps parents control teen drivers
Apple's New MacBooks (Note: No FireWire!)

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Music by Kevin McLeod

New MacBook Family Redefines Notebook Design

Dale — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:06:52 -0400

Industry's Greenest Notebooks

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today unveiled an all new MacBook(R) family that redefines notebook design, and at the same time dramatically lowers the entry price for advanced notebook features including all-metal enclosures and pro-performance notebook graphics by $700 to make them far more affordable. The new MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro both have a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, resulting in thinner, more durable and incredibly beautiful designs. In addition, every member of the new MacBook family includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics, brilliant instant-on LED-backlit displays and new large glass Multi-Touch(TM) trackpads that offer almost 40 percent more tracking area and support more Multi-Touch gestures. The entire new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold and RoHS environmental standards, and leads the industry in the elimination of toxic chemicals by containing no brominated flame retardants, using only PVC-free internal cables and components, and using energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury- free and made with arsenic-free glass.

"Apple has invented a whole new way of building notebooks from a single block of aluminum. And, just as important, they are the industry's greenest notebooks," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The new MacBooks offer incredible features our users will love -- like their stunning all-metal design, great 3D graphics and LED backlit displays -- at prices up to $700 less than before."

"Traditionally notebooks are made from multiple parts. With the new MacBook, we've replaced all of those parts with just one part -- the unibody," said Jonathan Ive, Apple's senior vice president of Industrial Design. "The MacBook's unibody enclosure is made from a single block of aluminum, making the new MacBook fundamentally thinner, stronger and more robust with a fit and finish that we've never even dreamed of before."

The new MacBook line features the powerful new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, a revolutionary new 3D integrated graphics processor that features 16 parallel processing cores and delivers up to five times the 3D graphics performance as previous MacBook and MacBook Air(TM) designs. Apple has worked together with NVIDIA on this groundbreaking graphics processor and is the first to bring it to market in the new MacBook family.

The new smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad on the MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro gives users almost 40 percent more tracking area than before, making it even easier to use Multi-Touch gestures like pinch, rotate and swipe. New gestures allow users to activate Expose(R) or switch between applications at the touch of a fingertip. The entire trackpad surface is also a button, allowing users to both track and click virtually anywhere on the trackpad. Users can easily enable multiple virtual buttons in software, such as right-clicking.

Every member of the new MacBook family features an LED-backlit display for brilliant instant-on performance that uses up to 30 percent less energy than its predecessor and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights. The ultra-thin displays provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies, and the edge-to- edge cover glass creates a smooth, seamless surface. Every display in the new MacBook line uses completely arsenic-free glass.

The new MacBook delivers the top three features that MacBook customers have told us they want in a new MacBook -- an all metal enclosure, high performance 3D graphics and LED-backlit displays -- at an entry price that is $700 less than the $1,999 price of the MacBook Pro. At only 0.95-inches thin and weighing just 4.5 pounds, the new 13-inch full featured aluminum MacBook is an incredibly compact and durable notebook starting at just $1,299. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, MacBook delivers outstanding 3D game play on a consumer notebook, with up to five times faster graphics performance than the previous generation. The new MacBook is available in two models: the 2.0 GHz MacBook with a 160GB 5400 rpm hard drive, and the 2.4 GHz MacBook with a 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive and a backlit keyboard.

The powerful new 15-inch MacBook Pro at only 0.95-inches thin and weighing just 5.5 pounds offers ultimate performance and extensive expansion features in a remarkably portable design. Starting at $1,999, the MacBook Pro uses the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available, running up to 2.8 GHz, and a new graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance. The new MacBook Pro is available in two models: a 2.4 GHz model with a 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive and a 2.53 GHz model with a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive.

Today Apple also updated MacBook Air and the 17-inch MacBook Pro. MacBook Air, measuring only 0.16-inches at its thinnest point, 0.76-inches at its maximum height and weighing just three pounds, now includes new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a faster architecture to provide robust support for 3D games and enhanced performance. Starting at $1,799, MacBook Air is available with a 120GB 4200 rpm hard drive, a 50 percent increase from the previous generation, or a new 128GB solid state drive. The updated 17-inch MacBook Pro keeps its original aluminum design, and now comes standard with a high resolution 1920 x 1200 LED-backlit display and a larger 320GB hard drive or an optional 128GB solid state drive.

Setting a new standard for environmentally friendly notebooks, every model of the new MacBook family achieves EPEAT Gold status.* Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic- free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free.

The new MacBook, 15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air include a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight(R) video camera, mic and speakers in an elegant, thin aluminum and glass enclosure. Part of the next-generation DisplayPort industry standard, the new Mini DisplayPort delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display. The Mini DisplayPort is ultra- compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, perfect for the sleek design of the new MacBook family. Adapters are available for using the MacBook's Mini DisplayPort with older generation VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays.

Every Mac(R) in the Apple lineup comes with iLife(R) '08, Apple's award- winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring iPhoto(R), the easiest, fastest way to organize and share digital photos, and a completely reinvented iMovie(R), both seamlessly integrated with the MobileMe(TM) Gallery for online photo and video sharing.** Every Mac also includes Leopard(R), the world's most advanced operating system which features Time Machine(TM),*** an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac; a redesigned Finder(TM) that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, the best way to instantly see files without opening an application; Spaces(R), an intuitive feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; and major enhancements to Mail and iChat(R).****

Pricing & Availability

The new MacBook, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are now shipping and the new MacBook Air will be available in early November through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com/), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. An updated 13-inch white MacBook featuring 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, a 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive and a slot-load 8X SuperDrive(R) is now available for $999 (US).

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch aluminum MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:

-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;-- 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- 160GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- Gigabit Ethernet port;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- two USB 2.0 ports;-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting bothoptical digital and analog;-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad; and-- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.4 GHz aluminum MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,599 (US), includes:

-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;-- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- Gigabit Ethernet port;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- two USB 2.0 ports;-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting bothoptical digital and analog;-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual- Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare(R) Protection Plan.

The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch aluminum MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

-- 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;-- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 videomemory;-- 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- Gigabit Ethernet port;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- two USB 2.0 ports;-- one FireWire(R) 800 port;-- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting bothoptical digital and analog;-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.53 GHz aluminum MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

-- 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;-- 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 videomemory;-- 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- Gigabit Ethernet port;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- two USB 2.0 ports;-- one FireWire 800 port;-- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting bothoptical digital and analog;-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the ability to upgrade to 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 250GB 7200 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm or a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:

-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit high resolution 1280 x 800 glossydisplay;-- 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- 120GB serial ATA hard drive running at 4200 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- one USB 2.0 port;-- one headphone port;-- Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 1.86 GHz MacBook Air, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;-- 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;-- 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM;-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;-- 128GB solid state drive;-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- one USB 2.0 port;-- one headphone port;-- Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options and accessories for the MacBook Air include the MacBook Air SuperDrive, Apple USB Ethernet Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple Remote and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 2.5GHz 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), includes:

-- 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200 glossy display;-- 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;-- 800 MHz front-side bus;-- 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM;-- NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 512MB with GDDR3 video memory;-- 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden MotionSensor;-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;-- DVI output port for video output (VGA adapter included);-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth2.1+EDR;-- Gigabit Ethernet port;-- built-in iSight video camera;-- three USB 2.0 ports;-- one FireWire 800 port and one FireWire 400 port;-- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting bothoptical digital and analog;-- Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, anti-glare display, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

*EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit http://www.epeat.net/.

**The MobileMe service is available to persons aged 13 or older. Annual membership fee and internet access required. Terms and conditions apply.

***Time Machine requires an additional hard drive (sold separately).

****Video chatting requires a broadband Internet connection; fees may apply.

Tutorial: Guide to the Xbox 360 for Macintosh Users

Dale — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:30:57 -0400

The Xbox 360, in case you haven't heard, is a Microsoft product, so many of its features are designed to work with Windows right out of the box, but if you're a Mac user, you don't need to be left out in the digital cold. The 360 is a great gaming platform and can offer lots of great content for your family. This tutorial will help Mac users get the most out of their 360's with some helpful tips and tricks, no coding necessary.

Save some money on your wireless network

My first disappointment with my 360 was the lack of built-in wireless. Yes, I got my Wii first, so I was spoiled. Since our TV is nowhere near our router, and even if it were, we have no available ethernet ports, a wired connection was out of the question. Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter retails for $100, and even at Amazon's current price of $87 (~$70 used), it's a bit pricey (although since it draws its power from the USB port, it's pretty nice). A little research brought up a couple different options with some minor advantages.

Xbox Wireless Adapter

If you had an Xbox before upgrading to the 360, note that the wireless adapter from the original works with the 360, so you don't need a new one. If you're new to the Xbox corner of the console wars, you can still pick up an original Xbox wireless adapter. It's a bit bigger, but it's only $50 (~$42 used). If you opt for this choice, skip the installation CD, though. You don't need it, and it could cause problems. It should work right out of the box for you.

Airport Express

Since we use Apple's Airport routers in our house, I happened to have an Apple Airport Express sitting here, so I plugged it in, connected it to the 360 with an ethernet cable, and it worked instantly. Just use Airport Utility, and choose the options as shown below. The 360 should be set for wired mode, since you're wiring it to the Airport Express router.

This option will likely cost you a bit more ($100/~$75), but it has the advantage of strengthening the signal in your house if the 360 is a bit distant from your main base station.

Use your Media (or..."AppleTV? Why?")

iPod

If you have a Mac-centric house (and even if you don't), there's a decent chance you have an iPod. If so, you can use the iPod's USB cord (the one you use to charge and sync) by plugging it directly into the 360's USB port. Go to the System tab of the Dashboard, select "Music," choose your iPod, and check out the selections--your iPod playlists will show up there and can play while you're playing your favorite games. Sadly, though, you can't access your photos and video this way, so you'll need another option, computer streaming.

iTunes & iPhoto

Currently, Mac users have 2 choices for streaming from your Mac: Connect360 and Rivet.

Rivet ($18.95)

Once you install Rivet on your Mac (It's a small (1 MB) download that runs as a background application, only shown in your menubar.), it scans your iTunes, iPhoto and any folder you request. Once you go to the Media "Blade" (menu) on your 360, you'll need to "Change Video Source" (X), and choose your Mac. You'll need to do this with Music, Video, and Photos separately. (Some report that they all change at once, so YMMV.) After that, you can find all your playlists just as you would in iTunes, and albums from iPhoto, although not the default albums, as well as folder nesting on your hard drive. Rivet also includes support for Aperture if you're a hardcore photographer, and for audio and video, the only thing it can't handle, it seems, is copy-protected (DRM) files, so don't buy video from the iTunes store and expect to watch it on your 360. If you have WMA or WMV files (which iTunes can't handle), you can just put them all in a folder and add to the watch list.

Connect360 ($20)

Connect360 works much like Rivet but has a few differences. Instead of a background application, it installs as a PrefPane in your System Preferences. It still, however, has a menu item for easy access, although since you can access it through the System Preferences, the menu item isn't necessary and would be better as an option. Connect360 also allows you to adjust how often the devices sync and update the libraries. But Connect360's best additional feature is the ability to play shoutcast streaming audio, which allows for radio station play, although I was unable to get this feature to work. Connect360 can also display separate albums from iPhoto.

Both applications can also be set to update play counts and dates in your iTunes library, so if you're watching video podcasts, it will mark them as played and, if set to do so in iTunes, automatically delete them. Both work well, but their demos are fairly limited. Try both out, and decide which works best for you. If you have a lot of media in other folders besides iTunes and iPhoto, you'll want to look at how each displays those folders on the 360, as each is slightly different. Connect360 can only handle 1 folder with subfolders and lists all of them together, while Rivet can select multiple folders, as well as integrating iTunes' video podcasts and video playlists properly. We also found that, every time Connect360 resyncs iTunes to the 360, it resets our wireless digital photo frame. For our family, Rivet's capabilities to handle video folders and playlists outweighs the radio capabilities and iPhoto albums, so we'll be using Rivet.

Use Xbox 360 Peripherals with your Mac

Besides putting Mac stuff on your 360, you can also use Xbox 360 peripherals with your Mac.

Wired Controller

If you have a wired 360 controller from the original core system or a 3rd party one, you can just plug it into your USB port and use the USB driver for Xbox 360 and play away.

Wireless Controller

If you have the wireless controllers, and I bet you do, it's just a bit more complicated (and expensive). You'll need to purchase the Wireless Gaming Receiver ($17/15) and download Pref360 (Donationware) and ControllerMate ($15) to set your button configurations.

Xbox Live Vision Camera

The Xbox Live Vision Camera ($40) works out of the box with iChat, and since Apple stopped making the iSight camera (which now sells for $150+), this makes for a nice, affordable, multipurpose webcam.

More Software

GamerCard Dashboard Widget: See your profile information--great way to keep up with your kids' status.

Xbox Gamercard Widget: Pretty much the same thing--take your pick.

iPhone/iTouch Software

Xbox 360 Compatible Games List Web App or Xbox Checker Web App: Before you buy that used Xbox game, check the list

iCheat Web App: Get the latest cheat codes, tips, and tricks when you get stuck

1337pwn Xbox Live Friends Application: Check what all your friends are playing to join in with them

Phanfare: Upload your photos from your iPhone to your Xbox 360

Apple Announces iTunes 8

Dale — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:51:22 -0400

Features Apple's New Breakthrough Genius Technology

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Apple(R) today
announced iTunes(R) 8, the next major release of Apple's ubiquitous
music and video player for Macs and PCs which is seamlessly integrated
with the most popular online content store in the world (http://www.itunes.com/).
iTunes 8 includes the new breakthrough Genius feature, which lets you
automatically create playlists from songs in your music library that go
great together -- with just one click. Genius helps music fans
rediscover favorite songs in their existing music library and suggests
related music on the iTunes Store they might want to add to their music
collection. iTunes 8 features new ways of viewing your music and video
libraries, and adds television programs in stunning high definition for
sale on the iTunes Store.

Using Apple's breakthrough Genius feature is easy-select any song,
click the Genius button, and iTunes instantly creates a playlist of
songs that go great together from your own library. You can preview the
playlist Genius creates, refresh the list to choose different songs and
save Genius playlists to enjoy again later. You can even create Genius
Playlists on-the-go with the new iPod(R) classic, iPod touch, iPod nano
and iPhone(TM). The Genius sidebar appears right in iTunes and
recommends music from the iTunes Store that you don't already have,
based on the songs you select.

When you turn on iTunes 8's new Genius feature, information about
your music library is anonymously sent to the iTunes Store, where it is
combined with the anonymously-gathered knowledge from millions of other
iTunes users and processed through Apple-developed algorithms. The
Genius results, specifically tailored to your personal music library,
are sent back to your computer to enable users to automatically create
Genius playlists in iTunes and on your iPods, even when they are not
connected to the Internet.

iTunes 8's new visual browsing interface displays your music and
video libraries using your album and video covers, and also provides a
great way to navigate your movies, TV shows, iPhone apps, podcasts and
audiobooks.

The iTunes Store has become the world's most popular online TV store
and features an incredible selection of over 30,000 episodes from ABC,
CBS, The CW, FOX, NBC and over 70 cable networks including Bravo,
Comedy Central, Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon, Sci
Fi, Showtime and USA. With iTunes 8, television fans can now watch
their favorite programs from ABC, NBC and Showtime in stunning HD for
just $2.99 per episode, perfect for viewing on their Mac(R) or PC, or
on their widescreen TV with Apple TV.

The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music, TV and
movie store with a catalog of 8.5 million songs, over 30,000 TV
episodes and over 2,500 films including 600 in stunning high definition
video. With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as
iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist
sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete
albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and
iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to
legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Pricing & Availability

iTunes 8 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Store and is available as a free download from (http://www.itunes.com/).
Purchase and download of songs and videos from the iTunes Store
requires a valid credit card from a financial institution in the
country of purchase. Video availability varies by country.

The MP3 Cola Wars

Dale — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:27:18 -0400

Both Coke and Pepsi are running specials right now (and have been for a while) that encourage you to collect points with which you can purchase, among other things, free mp3's. But if you, like me, enjoy both Diet Coke and Pepsi One, you may be wondering, "Which is the better deal?"

First off, the greatest difference between the two would be the variety of merchandise. Coke's MyCokeRewards.com promotion includes a lot of physical merchandise, but it's all emblazoned with the Coke logo or other sponsors, and to get anything of real value, you have to use about 1000 points, or 100 12-packs. That's about $300 for a t-shirt, and you become a walking billboard. (Yes, you get the soda, too.) They also have add-ons for games, like Coke seats for your online basketball game, which I consider an even bigger rip-off, since you'll stop playing the game after about a year or so. In fact, the best deal is probably free 12-packs of any Coke product.

But let's look at something we can compare: mp3's. Both offer mp3's as prizes. From Pepsi's PepsiStuff.com promotion, you need 2.5 12-packs to get an mp3. From Coke, you need 4.3 for the same. Both are DRM-free mp3's. Pepsi's are offered through Amazon; Coke's, Real Networks' Rhapsody service. Amazon is cross-platform, but you'll need a Windows PC to enter your Rhapsody codes. Also, it takes a lot more steps to download the music via Coke than Pepsi.

So all things being equal, I recommend the Pepsi Stuff for cost and ease, but remember that you're still paying a lot for that mp3, so in Coke's words, "Obey your thirst."

Review: The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures for PC and Mac

KevinLeeC — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:11:13 -0400

Can noble intentions redeem mediocre game design?

Maybe.

Let’s start with the game. Legacy Interactive's The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures is a straight-up platformer in the Mario mold. The story revolves around a standard issue sitcom family called the Tuttles.

Dad Barry is a doofus with a penchant for high tech, Jess is his brilliant teenage daughter who is more concerned with her social life than her family. Zach is her preteen brother and a proto-doofus in his own right. Barbara is mother to the clan and the only one who seems to have any common sense. Their dialog is a blast from the TV past, resembling the clever back-and-forth exchanges during the heyday of ABC’s sitcom era. And, like the shows of that era, there are hits and misses in every scene.

Reinforcing the game’s sitcom lineage, Bob Saget heads up the acting crew by giving voice to Barry. He’s joined by Ashley Tisdale as Jess, Dominic Scott Kay as Zach, Jamie Lee Curtis as Barbara, and William Shatner as their intelligent, arrogant mini-van Vance. Other big names appearing in the game include Dave Thomas and Dave Coulier. As you would expect, the acting is top-notch and the lines are delivered with the manic energy of sitcom dialogue.

There is one annoying facet to the voice work. Every time a character jumps, they emit a short grunt as if they’ve been sucker-punched in the kidneys. Since jumping is a constant in the game, it starts to sound as if the characters were recorded while working at the local gym as punching bags. An option to turn off the grunting would have been nice.

After an in-game tutorial and a couple of cut-scenes to establish the story, the Tuttles are off on a road trip to visit a re-enactment of the Battle of the Alamo. Like its sitcom forebears, the game doesn’t explore why the Alamo is the ideal destination...it just is. In fact, the game doesn’t explore a lot of the odd territory it covers.

The first actual gaming experience is a side scroller that involves controlling Vance (the high-tech flying min-van voiced by William Shatner) as the family tries to avoid hitting birds and trees while collecting stars and other floating prizes. Vance runs out of fuel and crashes into the desert where Barry has to save the family by battling snakes, scorpions and mummies while collecting a more-or-less random collection of objects.

Game play is pure Mario Brothers. Using the arrow keys or mouse, you control left, right, up, and down and defeat enemies by jumping on top of them. Squash a mummy and it will transform into bundles of money. A friendly on-screen arrow will point you in the direction of the next treasure you need to locate. The graphics are attractive and gameplay is smooth, if somewhat repetitive.

To Legacy Interactive's credit, the sub-levels of the game are all short. Frequent save points mean that you’ll never have to play for more than five or ten minutes to make saveable progress. This is a boon to busy gamers who want to sit down for a quick session before turning their attention to something else. It will also be a boon for younger players who like gaming, but haven’t the patience for prolonged game play.

Periodically, comic-book-style cut scenes advance the story without really explaining how or why the Tuttles find themselves in a desert or jungle on their way to San Antonio.

In the final analysis, the game is an un-remarkable platformer which brings nothing new to the genre. The bright colors and varied environments will appeal to younger players as will the ease of play.

Yet, underneath it all, The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures has a heart of gold which makes it tough to judge it too harshly.

A portion of every sale of the game (75% of the money from each download and 50% of that from boxed sales) goes to fund the activities of the Starlight foundation. According to a company press release, "Starlight helps seriously ill children and their families cope with pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Its programs include mobile entertainment units and laptop computers for hospitalized children, fun family events that take children and families away from medical treatments, a social network for teens with serious medical conditions and much, much more."

That noble aim makes the game worth purchasing. Gameplay will appeal to younger players and the contribution to Starlight will make you feel good about parting with some of your cash.

Review: diNovo Edge, Mac Edition Keyboard

Dale — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:15:58 -0400

Just a few weeks ago, I swapped an eMac and an iBook for a MacBook as an all-in-one solution. That said, I still prefer a desktop computer, especially the full-size keyboard. When I want to move it (it's a laptop, after all--that's the point!), I have to drag around keyboards and mice or else use the smaller and less comfortable laptop keyboard, so when I heard about Logitech's diNovo Edge, Mac Edition, it seemed like just what the carpal tunnel surgeon ordered. But as a Bluetooth keyboard, the Edge isn't just convenient--the only bells and whistles it doesn't have are bells and whistles (although it beeps when you hit the Caps Lock key to let you know you bumped it before typing an entire paragraph in all caps--yes, I look at my hands when I type). It's also pretty: glossy black with a matte silver wrist rest on the front. All it lacks is the light-sensitive glow of the MacBook Pro keyboard, although that would significantly cut into battery life, so it's an understandable absence.

Setup

Install the included software, restart, and use Bluetooth settings so the Mac recognizes the keyboard, and you're set to go. Play around with the settings if you want, or just use it as is. Besides the necessary restart, it couldn't be easier.

Keys

The full-size keyboard lays very flat on the desk, so those used to the incline of Apple's keyboards will have to get used to the lack of slope, but I got used to it within a few hours, even though I use an Apple keyboard at other times during the day. The keyboard also lacks a number pad and an "Enter" key (Return, yes. Enter, no.), which may be a problem for certain applications, and unlike the MacBook keyboards, fn-Return doesn't do "Enter". That said, the extra keys can be customized, so I just configured one I wouldn't use to be my Enter key. I'll still miss the number pad, though.

The FKeys across the top are by default assigned different functions like Dashboard, Mail, iTunes, Spaces, Cover Flow, and more. You can customize these to whatever you want with a very easy setup. You can even set a key to a particular document or internet URL like Google.com or TechTalkforFamilies.com to allow you to check it often with a keystroke. Controls also include an option to limit the special functions to requiring holding the fn key, thus allowing you to use those FKeys for other uses as well.

Beyond these keys (and yes, it has a dedicated forward-del key, which many Mac keyboards lack), the Edge includes a handful of other useful buttons around the sides of the keyboard. Play/Pause, <<, and >> allow for quick iTunes control from any application (hold to fast-forward/rewind or tap for next/previous song). A power button to shut down your Mac takes the top left, and the left side finishes with a cursor key that functions as a standard (left) mouse button, which makes click-and-drag easier. (I reconfigured the power button to be my Enter button.)

Touchpads

On the right side, besides a Front Row button (which I reconfigured to launch my favorite application launcher, Quicksilver). you'll find a rounded rectangle that adjusts your speaker volume as you slide your finger up and down it, and a mute button below allows for fast silence when the phone rings in the middle of that YouTube video of the laughing baby. Bottom right holds a circular trackpad with both right and left buttons, plus 2 nubs for vertical and horizontal scrolling. The trackpad is a bit small for regular use, but it works when you don't want to drag a mouse with you on your trip, and the scroll nubs take a bit of time to master. I recommend using your pinkie finger for both "mousing around" and scrolling if you can reach, allowing you to keep your fingers on the keys.

Comfort

Besides the aforementioned flat angle, this keyboard has great response. The inverted-t of the arrow keys works well for games, but the page up/down/home/end key layout sometimes makes the keyboard feel crowded, but this again just takes a bit of getting used to. The J and F keys have subtle nubs for touch-typists.

Maintenance

The keyboard comes with a charging base (it ships almost fully charged so you can use it out of the box, and a 4-hour charge is supposed to last a month. Mine says, after 24 hours off the charger, that it still has 32 days left, and you can turn it off when not in use to further preserve the charge. Just don't lose the charger while you're not using it. (Don't leave it plugged in, either--it's a waste of energy.)

The keyboard also includes a chamois-like cleaning cloth to get your finger grub off, although black keys don't show grime nearly as quickly as white keys on Apple's keyboards. Just make sure to turn off power on the keyboard before cleaning.

Verdict

Windows keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, but the Mac doesn't have nearly the variety. That said, like applications, it's often been said that you don't need a lot of different ones when you have the best. The diNovo Edge is, for the average family, the best external keyboard on the market. At $160 ($145 at Amazon), it's double the cost of Apple's offering, but if you want the Harley of Mac keyboards, this is it.