News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
Given that it's now even closer to 1am on a school night than it was when we started writing this blog, we're quite excited about this news, even though it was really last week when it happened. What news? The news that the Apple iPhone is now, finally, supported by an enterprise-grade management system that will let system administrators do policy and network access stuff. As you'll know if you have been following this blog, one of the main reasons holding back the already extremely popular iPhone from actual world domination was its lack of support for enterprise applications, and the wariness that created in the average system administrator of business networks as a result.
Fleur Doidge | Sep 4, 2008
Many of you will have been counting down to this weekend's opening of the Beijing summer Olympiad using Apple's own Dashboard widget, made by the official Games timekeeper OMEGA (If you haven't, there isn't much time now but you can find it here for your anticipatory pleasure). If, like most of us, you won't be so lucky as to attend the games, you can still technologically slake your desire to follow the athletes in the sports of your choice from Australia — whether on your laptop or your mobile phone.
Fleur Doidge | Aug 6, 2008
Brand, you know, is an inexact science but a powerful phenomenon nonetheless. Manufacturers of the electronic gadgets we know and love, often for years or even decades, have put a lot of thought into the way their toys and tools are perceived by the public, by thee and me. Most of us know that the majority of household consumer electronics as well as business technology these days is made in China and a few other Asian nations. Few of us are aware, though, that actually just about all computers — and in fact most information and communications hardware — is not only made in China but actually made by the same half a dozen or so factory facilities in China.
Fleur Doidge | Jul 12, 2008
The Academy Store has been in turmoil with the departure of high flying Ben Morgan. Channel commentators have been a-rumble in recent weeks with news that one of the most colourful characters on the scene may have ejected. News recently hit the presses that the axe had fallen on Academy Store — as well as owner Ben Morgan's once-seemingly haloed head. Morgan was in the vein of brash young entrepreneurs perhaps more familiar to Silicon Valley than Australia, with its persistent tall poppy syndrome. He was managing director and owner of AppleCentre Taylor Square from the year 2000 when he was just 21, taking the retailer on as a less than stellar business while and turning it into something of a bellwether for the channel's fin de siecle successes.
Fleur Doidge | May 15, 2008
Apple computers have for decades now been considered popular with the creative and artistic among us, and by some to be even identified with or emblematic of creativity. Artists all over the computer-buying world have pledged allegiance to Apple, whether they admit it or not, partly because the brand is, rightly or wrongly, often seen as synonymous with, at the very least, a certain flair or style. Accolades for the design of such Apple successes as the iMac and the iPod have cemented and developed this notion in the minds of many. Yet there's probably nothing specifically arty about Apple machines, no more surely than for any other computer. Yet it is true that recent decades have seen more artistic and creative activity facilitated by the world of information technology. Kids who might have once studied to become cartoonists or signwriters are now computer-aided designers of various stripes — whether working in an advertising studio or publishing company, they use their love of colours and eye for trends to produce beauty both for its own sake and for commercial purposes.
Fleur Doidge | Apr 17, 2008
Melbourne's very own Les Posen, clinical psychologist and Apple aficionado, was invited to the giant Macworld expo in California this year. Did he go? You betcha. While Posen has gained a certain amount of fame by his habit of sourcing and distributing Israeli folk dances online — see 05.2008 Australian Macworld magazine for more on this -- he has also won accolades for his skill with a presentation, using Keynote rather than death by PowerPoint. As Posen argues, Microsoft PowerPoint has become the standard presentation software in use in the workplace. "It has become the standard — because it seems to make the presenter's job easier by acting as projected index cards to keep your notes."
A minute's silence is in order, we think. We ask all the Mac faithful to take some time out, just now, for just a minute, to think on those who have fallen. Those who fought the good fight but will fight no more. Yes, we're talking about the Apple channel. Long have they held the fort against all and sundry. Long may they yet. But we fear they may not. A recent story from Glasgow, Scotland tells why. Apple a year ago expanded its chain of Apple stores in the UK into Glasgow, Scotland's largest city.
Fleur Doidge | Feb 21, 2008
Fleur Doidge introduces her series of blogs for Australian Macworld, featuring the interesting and sometimes unsung heroes of the Australian Mac landscape.
Fleur Doidge | Jan 24, 2008
When the smell of smoke drifted through Designwyse’s Melbourne premises on 23 July, it was Jason, the 24-year-old son of managing director and founding proprietor Robert Kloester, who alerted the company to the possibility of fire.
Fleur Doidge | Dec 11, 2007
Computers Now is a family concern if ever there was one. Started off in 1990 by husband and wife team Carole and Jessel Rothfield, the reseller has grown to include more than the usual number of sisters, aunts, nieces, mothers and daughters as the top echelon of management. And there are more sons and daughters waiting in the wings.
Fleur Doidge | Dec 10, 2007
The Andromeda of ancient Greek legend was a beautiful girl chained to the cliffs at the mercy of a passing sea monster. Yet this Australian developer namesake is aiming at a hero role.
Fleur Doidge | Oct 21, 2007
Much success has been built on obvious foundations, but other stories tell of a more circuitous route along unexpected pathways.
Fleur Doidge | Sep 21, 2007
As I type these words, I am waiting for Apple's Developer Connection web site to ease up sufficiently for me to download the long-awaited Software Developer Kit for the iPhone (and iPod touch, just by the by). In a way, I hate developer-oriented announcements — "here's a really cool thing we're working on, and it's available now, and hoi polloi can have it in about six months". Actually, it's the six months I hate.
