MacOSX 10.4 (Tiger) with support for portrait displays

It seems MacOSX 10.4 (Tiger) will support portrait displays, at least on external displays. Eventually it will also support the iBook and PowerBook displays, so we can finally use our portable Macs as eBook readers

Adobe Creative Suite Premium 1.3

For 1229$ the new Adobe Creative Suite Premium 1.3 includes PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive and Acrobat Pro.

WiebeTECH SuperDriveDock+

The WiebeTECH SuperDriveDock+ is a bus powered Firewire2IDE bridge with 2 Firewire800 and one USB2 port. For 250$ it includes an AC adapter and SpinBoost (helps spin up drives).

Seperate active video memory for each MacOSX user

Right now the multiple users feature in MacOSX 10.3 allows background users to continue their work, even playing sound while in the background. Unfortunately, in contrast to Windows XP a background user on MacOSX has no active video. If you run a VNC server on MacOSX and switch another user to the foreground, the VNC connection is lost, as there is no more active video for a background user. So when I am away from my Mac somewhere in the world and access my Mac at home via VNC, when my girl friend at home activates her Mac user, my VNC connection is interrupted.

SK8 on MacOSX

Even better than a carbonized version of Hypercard 2.41 would be a Hypercard compatible version of SK8. SK8 was developed with CommonLISP at Apple's Advanced Technology Group. It's basically Hypercard on steroids based entirely on CommonLISP.

Hypercard without Classic

It's high time, that Apple brings it's last application to MacOSX. A carbonized version of Hypercard 2.41 plus NineToFive Reports would finally allow me to get rid of the Classic environment.

10.4 server usable as software Airport Basestation

Nearly all the features of the client version of MacOSX 10.3 are available in the server version. Only the possibility to use it as a software Airport Base Station is missing. Hopefully 10.4 server will fix this oversight.

Book mini

Now that Apple finally listened to its (corrected from it´s) customers and announced the Mac mini, it's high time for the Book mini. Bigger than a PDA, smaller than a subnotebook, even a little bit smaller than a Newton2000, this would be the perfect companion for a GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA mobile phone. Connectivity via Bluetooth2 and WLAN, an ultra high res screen with more than 200dpi that covers nearly the complete surface and a touchscreen, that you can even use with your fingers. Batterylife should be at least one long business day.

iPod with 80GB hard drive

As the 80GB 1.8" hard discs should be shipping by now, it's time for a 80GB iPod photo.

Mac mini with better connectivity

Apple's miniMac would be even better without raising the manufacturing cost too much by including better connectivity: FireWire800, Gigabit Ethernet, a modem with callerID and voice support and an audio out with surround sound like the Airport Express.

higher resolutions as BTO on all PowerBooks

12" with 1280*1024, 15" either 1680*1250 or 1920*1200 and the 17" should have at least 1920*1200 pixels resolution, at least as BTO. BTW: give us the option to choose the resulution of the display. MacOSX with PDF everywhere can do this easily.

15" (and 12"!) with digital audio in/out

I see no reason why I have to lug around a 17" PowerBook just to get a digital audio in/out connector.

12" PowerBook with real power

I like the Apple 15" PowerBook a lot. For me it would be even better, if it were smaller. But please no iBook in aluminium enclosure with an added DVI port. I want the backlit keyboard, PCcard slot, Firewire800, Gigabit Ethernet and last but not least a display that shows more than the paltry XGA resolution. What about 1280*1024, at least as BTO?

wishful thinking for the next few days

The next few days my postings will consist of wishful thinking by me. These posts are not meant as rumors or insider information, just my personal wish list.

Nokia HS-4W wireless boom headset

The Nokia HS-4W wireless boom headset weighs only 21 grams and can be recharged with a normal Nokia mobile phone charger. Pairing with my PowerBook took just a few seconds, and now VoIP calls via Skype can be done without sitting in front of my Mac. I will try the Nokia HS-4W with mobile phones (Nokia 6630 and 7280, PalmOne Treo650) and PocketPCs (Fujitsu Siemens PocketLook 720) as soon as possible and will post my experiences here.

Boxwave miniSync for Treo650

The Boxwave miniSync simultaneously charges and synchronizes the Treo 650, all in an ultra-portable form factor. I already have similar products for my Palm Tungsten W and my Treo 600. Saves a lot of bulk and weight while traveling. I just wished all new electronic devices would be chargeable via USB...

GSPDA Xplore M98 corrected details

The PalmSource website has some details about the upcoming GSPDA Xplore M98 PalmOS based mobile phone. Unfortunately, the stated specs are not correct, at least according to GSPDAs own literature on the Xplore M98. It states, that the external LCD will be 1.17", whereas it is 1,3", Li-Polymer battery is not 860mAh, but 850mAh, it has no external TransFlash Memory, but a normal SD/MMC slot, the size/weight is not 96.5 x 47 x 24 mm and 4.2 oz or 119 grams, but 95.6 x 46.8 x 23.9 mm and 3.6 oz or 102 grams. And besides the stated Tri Band 850/1800/1900 MHz there will also be a European/Asian version with 900/1800/1900 MHz. BTW: the M98 seems to have all the goodies I have been expecting of a great phone, but unfortunately, there will be no built in Bluetooth.

TransFlash will be SDmicro

The SD card organisation announced, that the new SDmicro flash memory standard will be basically identical to the current TransFlash cards from San Disk. As a matter of fact, TransFlash will be renamed to SDmicro. So in the future we will have just 2 flash memory formats of importance: CompactFlash, which can read nearly all smaller formats via adapters and SD, which is compatible to MMC, RS-MMC, SDmini and SDmicro (formerly TransFash). Now if somebody could develop an adapter to use MemorySticks and MemoryStickDuos in a SD lot...

GSPDA Xplore M68

There is a new Palm based mobile phone from GSPDA called Xplore M68, that features a SD slot, Bluetooth and PalmOS 5.4. It features a 1.3 mega pixel camera, MP3, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and 3GPP playback and weighs 127gram.

LightScribe DVD burner for MacOSX

The LaCie d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe 16x is an external DVD Firewire/USB2 burner, that supports Double Layer recording and LightScribe labeling technology. LightScribe was developed by HewlettPackard and is licensed by Hitachi-LG, Lite-On, Philips and Toshiba.

Qoollabs QMB407 Bluetooth MP3 player

Qoollabs has as a MP3 player, that doubles as a headset for mobile phones, PDAs and PCs. It has a built in microphone and the 3,5mm headphone jack allows you to use your preferred headphone. Now if they added an SD slot to use it as a SD reader, too...

minimo Mozilla soon for PocketPCs

Finally an alternative to Pocket Internet Explorer from the Mozilla foundation. Minimo will be available soon for various Linux and PocketPC based PDAs. Finally tabbed browsing!

Yakumo BlueportPRO Class I USB2Bluetooth adapter

The Yakumo BlueportPRO Class I USB2Bluetooth adapter is pretty small, yet has a range of 100 m.

Southwing Neovoice USB

The Southwing Neovoice USB is a Bluetooth headset, that can be charged via USB. One charger less to carry around. Even available in yellow and red.

Bang & Olufsen creates audio system for Audi A8

Bang & Olufsen announced at the Geneva Motor Show, that they develop a high end sound system for the new Audi A8, based on their own "Acoustic Lens Technology".

Roadtools Podium CoolPad

One of my most essential additions to my PowerBook is the Roadtools Podium CoolPad for 30$. It raises the back of the PowerBook for better airflow. In addition the screen is raised too and there is even some space for 2,5" hard discs on the underside.

Brother MFC-620CN with answering machine

The Brother MFC-620CN is an all-in-one device with printer, scanner, copier, fax, 10 page document feeder and quite unique a built-in voice/fax switch and answering machine. A card reader allows printing from flash memories, and even lets you scan to flash memories without a PC. Connectivity to PCs and Macs is via USB2 and Ethernet. There is an also an optional wireless print server called NC-2200W. Dimensions are 45,5cm width, 40cm depth and 16.5cm height, with 6kg weight.

ElGato EyeTV 1.7.1

Some bugfixes, easier entering of recording date and best of all: the description field is finally scrollable!

MacAlly iPod/Firewire car charger 15$

MacAlly iPod/Firewire car charger 15$

MacAlly CF2PCMCIA adapter 15$

MacAlly CF2PCMCIA adapter 15$ Unfortunately supports only CompactFlash Type 1, so no MicroDrives!

MacAlly portable Bluetooth optical mouse BTmicro 50$

MacAlly portable Bluetooth optical mouse BTmicro 50$

MacAlly USB2/Firewire hub 79$

MacAlly USB2/Firewire hub 79$

MacAlly portable USB data copier SyncBox 49$

MacAlly portable USB data copier SyncBox 49$

MacAlly USB Bluetooth adapter BTsync 39$

MacAlly USB Bluetooth adapter BTsync 39$

MacAlly portable stereo speaker PodWave 39$

MacAlly portable stereo speaker PodWave 39$

MacAlly USB2 MiniHub 35$

MacAlly USB2 MiniHub 35$

Vieta, a MP3 car radio with audio input for 120 Euros

Today I bought a Vieta CCM-20R car radio with MP3 CD player and audio input (iPod...) for 120 Euros. Sound is ok, design quite nice, especially compared to all the other car radios that sell for less than 300 Euros. BTW: Vieta is a spanish company from Barcelona, that also sells LCD TVs and MP3 players...

Make, the new magazine from Oreilly

"The first magazine devoted to digital projects, hardware hacks, and D.I.Y. inspiration". Heard a lot about it in the last few weeks. Today I received the Premier issue in the mail and I am still reading it with pleasure. Highly recommended. They have a nice blog , too.