We are giving you, our readers, the opportunity to nominate your favorite Mac OS X applications to receive an award in one of five categories: Best New App, Best User Experience, Most Innovative App, Best K-12 Education App, and Best Student-created App. We will accept nominations until Friday, May 21. At that time, we’ll tally the top five nominations in each category, and the Ars staff will choose from among these a winner for each award. We’ll also collect the top ten apps among all categories receiving the most nominations, and put those ten apps to a vote for a special Reader’s Choice award.

The nominees will be announced and Reader’s Choice voting will begin on Monday, May 24. Reader’s Choice voting will be open for one week, giving us enough time to tally the votes, and winners for all awards will be announced during WWDC in June.

(Note: Though Apple’s decision was the inspiration behind our own awards, we will also be awarding apps for Windows and possibly Linux at a later date. Windows awards will coincide this year with PDC in fall.)

Without further ado, please nominate your picks for top Mac OS X by Clicking Here.

First of all the design is pretty spectacular. The front is dominated by the large 9.7″ LCD Led lit display that without a doubt will look great. Just below the screen you get the iPhone home button that allows you to go back to the beginning at all times. One less pretty feature for me are the black borders around the screen. They are a bit too wide for my taste, it would’ve been better if Apple was able to stretch the display a little and remove the borders. On the top you get the sleep button that will deactivate the display. On the right side you get the volume buttons and the silence switch, interesting is that the buttons have been moved from left (iPhone) to the right. On the back you get the large black Apple logo in the middle of a big gray (aluminum?) mass. It also says iPad on the back, the number of GBs and a few FCC things that are required to be there I think. It’s not impossible to assume that the new iPhone will feature a similar back. The tablet is really thin, in fact it’s just 0.5 inch thick, that’s as thick as an iPhone. Height and width measures come in at: 9.6 inches and 7.47 inch.

Now lets talk about the software of the iPad. It works very similar to an iPhone. Slide to unlock and you’re in the main screen with the typical iPhone icons. You get: YouTube, mail, Safari, contacts, iPod, iTunes, app store, video, settings, maps (by Google!), calendar, photos and last but not least notes.

The apps have been modified a bit for the new capabilities though. For example photos are now arranged by event blocks. Tapping on a block of photos will show you a preview of the photos in that event (or map for windows users). However you can also view your most treasured memories by list, location, faces or date. We can imagine that it will look really fantastic to manipulate the photographs on a huge touchscreen and to show it to your friends.

Another app Steve Jobs showed extensively was the Safari app. The browsing experience exceeds the desktop experience because you can touch and flick through the pages. And unlike the iPhone you now see the full webpages.

The App store will transform this device into things Apple alone could never achieve. You can run all the iPhone applications on it in either full screen or 1:1, the latter being the actual resolution we’re used to from out favorite smartphone. But in addition to running the iPhone apps, the iPad will also get its own apps. Developers can create programs for it and utilize its full potential. The things we’ve seen in the keynote, including software from EA, looked okay but not very impressive. In a few months some amazing piece of codes will come out for the tablet we’re sure.

I have taken everything into consideration and a few things bug me as of now. Firstly does the iPad have flash support? The tablet is suppose to deliver the best browsing experience ever, but flash is a big part of the experience.

Another thing is the hardware. Apart from the case and the touchscreen things aren’t looking good on paper. It has a quadcore 1ghz processor built in from Apple, a company not specialized in these chips. I have fears that this A4 processor might not be fast enough for the really interesting apps. Another downer is the lack of iSight camera. This thing would have been amazing for conferencing or instant messaging, an opportunity missed there. Other hardware figures are a mystery. Like how quick is the graphics chip? And how much system memory does it have to work with?

And last but not least I’m having a hard time giving the software my two thumbs up. I think it looks to much like the iPhone software. The iPad would have been a much stronger product if the software allowed some advanced things like video editing or the ability to access and store files in finder windows (or maps for windows users).

To conclude. The iPad looks amazing and with a price of €499 it will sell really well. But much like the first iPhone launch the iPad has some obvious shortcomings. It isn’t really fast, has no webcam and on top of that the software is lacking premium computing features. With that said I might still get one if the experience is as amazing as Steve Jobs expressed during his presentation. Which knowing Apple will probably be the case.

Apple iPad preview.

I’m Robin Chung, author of the dutch book Tegenlicht. I have a website that brings interesting reading material from all kind of subjects like health and gaming. The website also includes a forum, so you can discuss the articles, and you can order my book from there.

http://www.robinchung.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Chung
http://EzineArticles.com/?Apple-iPad-Preview&id=3659390

The biggest issue with the current iphone has got to be the onscreen keyboard. For me, I much prefer the Blackberry keypad as the keyboard is built directly into the phone. Surely, this has got to be worse? It is far better in my opinion. Although the iPhone does offer an onscreen touchpad it is extremely annoying to use. It’s a shame but it comes down to simple logistics – Your fingers are too big to fit on the screen. Becuase the keys are so small you put in one letter and you end up with the wrong one all the time. There are several areas on the iphone which are very hard to use.

Computer keyboards are harder to replicate the smaller they get however having one on screen does seem like the logical choice for a phone like the iphone. Let us hope that educational keyboards dont end up this hard to use as I am struggling to get use to how a wireless keyboard works myself.

Either way, I think it is something that Apple really need to address. I have used the iphone on numerous occasions and I choose to have a Blackberry because the keyboard is so much easier and simple to use. It is definitely worth considering when you purchase your next phone. If you are thinking of whether to buy an iphone or Blackberry remember that the touch screen keypad on the iphone is not of the best quality.

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard

Apple Mac’s operating system, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, is faster, easier to use, and more reliable than Windows. It has built and maintained this position because Apple has based Leopard on a principle of constant innovation. You can therefore achieve more by doing less.

Apple has created the comprehensive applications that come with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard to give you a fully-rounded Mac computer, at home or in the office. Every Mac has iChat, for example. This enables you to have four-way video chats and conferences, and share the contents of your screen. You also receive iLife, software that beats anything a PC can offer for producing and enhancing music, photos, videos and DVDs.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, however, is Apple’s web browser, Safari. This is the fastest web browser on any platform in the world with features that are a pleasure to use. For instance, put a word in the “Find” box and Safari highlights the matching text and dims the surrounding page, making a search even quicker to complete.

Leopard and Windows

Nonetheless, just because Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard is faster and better than Windows doesn’t mean that Apple ignores users who are new to Macs and more familiar with the Microsoft operating system. To make the transition from PC to Mac as smooth as possible, every Mac has Boot Camp. This allows you to run Windows just as though you have a PC.

If you wish, you can also run Windows side by side with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. First install Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion followed by Windows. You can then switch from Leopard to Windows as you please.

Other software

Another great feature of Macs is that every major piece of software, including Microsoft applications such as Office 2008, is available in a Mac version. This is useful if you want to retain files on a Mac from your former PC. The Mac equivalent of the software enables you to continue using these files without having to abandon them.

Moving files

The process of moving your files from a PC to a Mac is straightforward. Just download the files to a USB or FireWire hard drive and then plug this into your Mac. Alternatively, use a network, or ask your Apple shop to do the job for you.

Networks

There’s always a certain amount of pressure to conform to the type of computers used on a network at home or work. Macs, however, can join any network either wirelessly or with an Ethernet cable and function perfectly. In fact, as described here, if the other computers use Windows, you can easily load this and have the clear advantage of running the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard system as well.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi capability for network and Internet connections applies to all Macs. You don’t need to buy a separate wireless link: every Mac has Apple’s AirPort Extreme, which enables you to access the net wherever there’s a suitable Wi-Fi network.

Viruses

Of course, when surfing the net most people are aware of the ever-present danger of spyware and viruses. But Macs don’t need special anti-virus software because Apple constructs them on a stable UNIX foundation and ensures security is a key built-in feature. Apple maintains this security by offering regular free updates and by having the Safari web browser warn you if you’re downloading a suspect file.

Dependability

It’s a load off your mind to be able to trust a Mac’s resistance to viruses and spyware. Just as important is the confidence you can have in a Mac’s reliability. Unlike many PC manufacturers, Apple creates both the hardware and software of each Mac. This results in computers that are not a combination of different brands but holistic units.

The main advantages of this approach are consistent performance and high working speeds. When you switch on a Mac, it comes to life far more quickly than a PC, which takes a while to check the different aspects of its system. A Mac also crashes or freezes far less often than a PC because its components and applications work so well together.

Peripherals

This is not to suggest that you must use Apple brand peripheral devices such as printers, cameras, and hard drives. On the contrary: Apple installs hundreds of peripheral drivers in each Mac so that it recognises most peripherals the moment you connect them wirelessly or via the USB or FireWire ports. This means you speed up the whole process of using a new device for the first time and also keep the Mac’s hard drive free of additional software.

Ease of use

Such ease of use is a characteristic cited by owners as one of Mac’s chief benefits. Everything about a Mac is coordinated to produce a computer that fulfils a wide-ranging set of tasks in as simple a manner as possible, without compromising creativity and fun. From the clarity of the display and ergonomic features of the keyboard, to the most sophisticated graphics software, Apple has made each Mac’s hardware and software simple and accessible. This is why Macs prove so popular in schools and colleges.

Environmental concerns

These design considerations extend to the environmental impact of Macs. Macs are quiet to run and use the latest electrical developments to reduce power consumption. Apple also run a trade-in and recycling scheme that ensures Macs are either refurbished and sold on, or are broken up with the least possible harm to the earth. This is yet another advantage of dealing with a company that takes its responsibility to you and the world at large very seriously.

Not so long ago, if you were a Mac user, you did not need to know how to detect spyware on your computer. While most Mac users still feel reasonably secure in the ability to keep computer files private, others are beginning to be concerned that computer security threats require some additional resources to manage. Fortunately, you will find that there are programs and procedures that can help you gain an independent evaluation of your computer.

Mac Technical Support

Chances are, one of the things you enjoy most about Mac computers is the ability to obtain rapid responses to a wide range of technical issues. Today, many owners of Mac computers still feel that any security risks will be taken care of quickly and reliably. That said, you will always need to do your part and makes sure that you install updates as they become available.

Programs Provided by Other Manufacturers

When it comes to the security of your personal information, it never hurts to get a second opinion about computer security threats. Therefore, you may want to purchase programs manufactured by McAfee and Norton that will run on Mac computers. While there may be few conventional risks associated with Mac computers, at least you will know that results from two different scans match up.

As you learn more about how to detect spyware on your computer, you may soon recognize the value of using programs from different manufacturers. At the very least, this will give you a chance to assess any threats to your Mac computer from different angles. Even if you do not find any spyware on your computer, it will reduce the tendency to wonder if your computer is as safe as you think it is.

A lot of people think of Apple Mac computers as being more expensive that other laptops. While you cannot buy a Mac laptop for less than about $1000, this is not because Macs are more expensive. Instead, it’s generally because Apple chooses consciously to not compete in the least expensive and low margin categories of laptops. This is probably great for their margins and their shareholders, but it’s difficult for us users who want an affordable computer with the unmatchable Mac customer experience.

A great was to get the Mac experience affordably is to buy a used Mac which is about a year or two old. This often works quite well because the computers are built well and will still be in good condition most of the time. Mac owners also tend to take good care of their computers. You can often find a used computer being sold by someone who is upgrading to a more recent Mac.

Macs tend to have a higher resale value than most PCs but if you do your research and shop around, you should be able to find some good deals. Buying in person versus on a site like eBay is best so that you can examine it in person before committing to the transaction. It’s harder to tell the condition of a computer via small photos on a site like eBay. By carefully buying a used Mac, you can get the amazing mac experience on a limited budget without resorting to a cheap Windows PC!

Compared to a windows PC, Apple Macintosh computers are considerably more user-friendly and easier to use. The launcher, which is the bar of icons at the bottom of the screen when you first start, is a much more straightforward method of accessing commonly used tasks than the windows start menu. It also integrates some handy features like download and document stacks which help you keep track of the files you use the most.

What’s more, the installation of applications is just a few clicks, and the removal is just a matter of moving the applications to the trash, much easier than using the clunky add/remove programs system of windows. The dashboard feature allows you to keep information handy without it getting in the way. Windows has recently incorporated widgets on a sidebar of the desktop, but it takes up valuable screen space at all times.

The dashboard, by contrast, is gone when you don’t want to see it and only a keystroke away from letting you see the weather, translate a phrase, or manage your calendar and to-do list. This is a major player in the main strength of the Macintosh operating system, which is that it’s less cluttered. Whereas windows frequently shows large menus with every program you’ve ever installed cluttering your view, the engineers behind the Mac OS seem to realize that most people only use about 10 applications with any regularity, and make those visible while making the other applications easy to find in just a few clicks.

It’s also remarkably easy to back everything up, thanks to the time machine program, which will make periodic backups of your computer on an external hard drive behind the scenes. The macintosh software suites, iLife and iWork, are well designed and useful applications that help to make a Mac useful without buying a lot of applications. Considering that such common applications as Adobe’s creative suite and Microsoft’s Office suite can be purchased and installed if needed, you can easily make a Mac do almost anything you could want to use a PC for.

Another advantage of the Mac OS is that viruses are much rarer, making an antivirus program almost unnecessary which you could never do on a PC. Since such programs are normally a drain on system resources and an annoyance to manage, you can rest easy knowing that smart browsing habits should be enough to keep you safe on your Mac.

Add to this the convenience and thoughtful organization mentioned earlier, and the appeal of a Mac should begin to be clear. On a final note, the hardware is just beautiful and modern Macbooks, iMacs, and Mac Minis have incredible visual appeal compared to the often utilitarian designs of most other PC computers. So, the question no longer is Mac or PC but what kind of Mac do you want?

Sales of Mac computers surged in 2007.

Many analysts attribute the Mac’s increased popularity
to the “Halo Effect” of the iPod and/or iPhone.

It could also be due to the fact that PC buyers are fed
up with the constant threats of computer viruses and
spyware programs.

However, many potential Mac converts are understandably apprehensive
about diving into unknown waters.

This being the case, here are 10 “Mac Facts”:

• Despite the advantages that Mac computers have over Windows computers, both computers operate pretty much the same way. Basically if you can point and click the mouse and use a computer keyboard, you’re golden.
• Transferring files between Macs and PCs is no longer an issue. You can send a Microsoft Office document from your PC at work to your Mac at home; work on the document on your Mac; and then send it back to your PC at work without any problems.
• The software bundle that is included with new Mac computers makes them a better value than similarly equipped PCs.
• You can open and edit pictures, photos, and Microsoft Word documents that were created on a Windows computer without any additional software.
• You can purchase Apple’s iWork suite of Applications to be able to open, create & edit Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
• Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac has a January 08 release date.
• You can run Windows XP and Windows Vista on newer Mac computers without any additional software (except the installation disc for the Windows OS that you want to install on your Mac).
• Due to the increased compatibility between Windows and Mac computers and the plethora of software that has been created for the Mac platform, installing Windows on your new Mac will probably not be necessary.
• I have never installed any form of virus protection on my Mac computers and have never experience any problems with viruses or spyware.
• If there is an Apple Store in your area, you can have a “genius” transfer the data from your old PC to your new Mac. You can also copy the files from your PC to an external hard drive and then copy the files from the external drive to your new Mac.

If you’re looking for file management software for your Mac, you probably already know what’s wrong with Finder. Xfile solves those problems, and probably solves problems you didn’t even know you had. My top 5 reasons Xfile is the best file manager suite available for OS X.

#1: Speed

Xfile is the fastest file manager available for OS X. It’s not just the fastest available, it’s likely the fastest that will ever be made. Put it to the test: Xfile and associated applications (like Xscan and Xfind) are fully initialized by the time the dock icon bounces once. Click the icon and start managing files. It’s that fast to start, and it’s that fast when it runs. The refreshes are instantaneous – no waiting 15 seconds for Finder to get around to what you want. This is possible not through tricks but through quality engineering. Xfile was clearly designed to manage files, not sing you a song while you wait for it to catch up.

#2: Most Complete

Xfile, as I mentioned, was built to manage files. Because of this, there is no door closed to you. Xfile lets you set executable (X) bits, unlike Finder and similar Mac file managers. Unix has 8 file types: named pipe/FIFO; block device; character device; socket; symbolic link; whiteout; directory; and ordinary (regular) file. You can see them with Xfile, not with Finder and similar file management software. Remember how everyone had a fit trying to transfer their songs from the iPod? The problem and solution was in the file manager, and Xfile users never had that problem. They could see the files they owned on the devices they owned, as it should be.

In addition, Xfile gives you control of sticky bits, which Finder doesn’t show you. Same story with set ID bits, which can be security holes if misplaced. Since you can’t see them with Finder, how would you know if they were misplaced? Xfile also shows you extended system/user flags (user no dump, user immutable, user append, user opaque, user no unlink, user hidden, system archived, system immutable, system append, system no unlink, and system snapshot), hard links, and metadata.

If the purpose of file management software is to manage your files, don’t you have to see them first? Finder won’t show you what it thinks you shouldn’t know. Xfile shows you everything, and anything that is possible within the file system is possible with Xfile. Ever tried to save a file only to be told it wasn’t possible? Ever had a file you simply couldn’t get rid of? That’s because you weren’t using Xfile.

#3: Handles All File System Drivers

This is crucial because Finder and the other most well-known alternatives can’t even handle the file system drivers you already have on your hard drive – much less the ones expected to come shortly! Xfile handles fdesc, volfs, ZFS and HFS. It’s written to use only portable Unix file system APIs, so that it is ready for any file system driver that comes its way.

#4: Stable

Xfile is stable. File managers must be robust. Your file system is your most precious resource. You can have programs that crash or even operating systems that crash but you simply cannot risk any mishaps with your file system. Xfile is deliberately written with this in mind so it protects you far better than any other tool out there. Xfile is the definition of rock solid.

#5: Safe & Secure

It’s amazing what you can do to screw up your file system if you rely on Finder or other file managers. You can wipe out entire directories with a wayward click of your pointing device. Should this be possible? Of course not! But it is possible with Finder and other file managers. Xfile won’t let you get near such things. Remember those eight Unix file types? Xfile not only stops you from overwriting directories with files; it stops you from any type of file mismatch. You simply cannot shoot yourself in the foot. Should you be able to shoot yourself in the foot if you really want to? In some cases, yes; in this case, absolutely not. Never. Xfile protects you.

Xfile really is the best file manager for OS X, for the reasons above and so many more. It’s unlike any other software available, in a good way.

Xbox, developed by Microsoft, has emerged as one of the most popular gaming console available in the market today. Xbox deliver quality entertainment by providing stunning graphics and tremendous sound effects.

But, what if you want to play Xbox games but you don’t want to purchase Xbox for the reason of you already have a home computer such as Mac OSX machine and you are only interested of playing certain common Xbox games. So, how you would be able to play the many Xbox game titles that aren’t available for your Mac OSX?

The answer is simple, what you need is a software emulator, or to be exact, an Xbox emulator for your Mac OSX. These emulators for Xbox can be developed on your own, provided you have enough knowledge and skills computer programming. Or, the second option is by downloading the various kinds of working Xbox emulator available in the internet.

However, before you download any Xbox emulator software available in the internet, you must consider checking the reviews first and finding out if there is any positive or negative feedback from the current users. By doing this, you also have taken a steps of avoiding downloading a computer virus instead.

Xbox emulators are great software and can be utilize to play Xbox games using your Mac OSX machine. By right, you don’t have to purchase the Xbox console itself. Simply say, just download and install the approved working Xbox emulator into your computer, you are on the way of playing your favorite Xbox games.

Please remember, one of the main limitations when you use Xbox emulators for your Mac OSX is the compatibility of the Xbox games to the emulator. Certain emulators can only play a limited amount of Xbox games in your Mac OSX. In other words, you will never able to play all the different game titles available in Xbox. Therefore, make certain to download the emulator that can support the Xbox game you want to play in your Mac OSX.

Therefore, if you have an interest in playing Xbox games but not really into buying yourself the Xbox console, or if you are only after one game or a few games of Xbox you can opt to use the Xbox emulator by download the software form the internet for your Mac OSX machine. On the other hand, if you want to play and experience Xbox to the fullest and use all features available, consider yourself to purchase the actual Xbox itself.