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 | Apple Store, White City is now open
27 October 2008
The new Apple Store in White City, London, is now open for business. Pay us a visit to test-drive the full range of Apple hardware and software, and attend a variety of presentations and workshops - all free of charge. Read more: apple.com
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 | Oxford Univeristy no.1 at iTunes U
The University of Oxford occupies the number one spot in the global iTunes U top download chart thanks to the popularity of Joseph Stiglitz's podcast about the credit crunch. Professor Stiglitz was invited by the James Martin 21st Century School to give his talk as the May Day Public Lecture.
Oxford has 9 podcasts in the top 30.
On 7 October 2008 the University of Oxford launched its podcast site on iTunes U. In the first week there were 168,000 visitors to the site and 60,000 downloads.
This free site features public lectures, teaching material, interviews with leading academics, information about applying to the University, and much more.
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| Apple updates MobileMe
"Since MobileMe is primarily a server-side, or "cloud"-based, service, the MobileMe team can make improvements and push updates to MobileMe without any action being required of MobileMe customers.
"Since server-side updates are a bit more innocuous than a standard software update to Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows, it's easy not to notice that updates are occurring. Usually the only hint of these updates is that things just "work better", the company informs.
The lengthy list of improvements and tweaks covers most services, including Mail, Calendar, Contacts and the MobileMe Gallery.
Specific highlights from the extensive list include improved localization for MobileMe web applications; improved support for keyboard shortcuts in Mail and better Junk Mail filtering; improved performance when logging into Mail and better calendar performance with reoccurring events.
Users also re-gain the ability to export vCards from MobileMe contacts.§§
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| Sculley on the Newton and iPhone
Former Apple CEO John Sculley believes the iPhone may be bigger than the Mac - and says the popular Newton handheld PDA was "15 years too early".
Speaking to TechRadar, Sculley explains the importance of the iPhone launch - and of the man he fired, current Apple CEO, Steve Jobs: "Jobs's genius is his ability to use technology to create products that define fundamental cultural shifts. The Mac defined 'personal technology', and the iPhone defines 'intimate technology' as a convergence of communications, content and location."
He stressed the aesthetic, uncompromising attitude to design evinced by the Apple co-founder, observing, "I don't see any mobile device company who has figured out how to replicate Steve's design principles," and continues to observe Jobs to be "still defining the platform".
While Sculley bemoans the absence of a physical keyboard on iPhone, he's bullish on the App Store, calling this "more important than anything else".
Proof positive of that latter allegation is seen in Google, Nokia and RIM's various moves to offer their own equivalent stores for application purchase.
On the failure of the Newton, Scullet remarks, "We had the right idea, but we didn't have Steve's unique talent to create a culture-changing product..."
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| Apple Supports Same Sex MariagesLOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) --
When voters in California cast their ballots on Nov. 4 for the U.S. presidential election, they will also say yes or no to a proposal against same-sex marriage that was legalized earlier this year through a ruling by the state's Supreme Court.
Although recent polls showed a majority of voters oppose the controversial Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage, political experts said the result is hard to predict because the margin is too close.
A latest poll found that 44 percent of California voters support the measure, which would amend the state Constitution to disallow marriages between gays and lesbians, while 52 percent oppose it.
California's Supreme Court ruled in May that the state constitution's promise of equal protection affords gays and lesbians the same rights to marry as couples, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage.
The ruling overturned an earlier measure passed by voters in 2000, which defined marriage as only between a man and a woman, making California the second state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage after Massachusetts.
After same-sex couples began marrying in June, conservative and religious groups have worked to take the issue to an referendum, managing to put Proposition 8 onto the Nov. 4 ballot. The measure, if passed, would remove the basis for the court's ruling by amending the state constitution.
Even California's first couple were divided on the issue, as the state's first lady Maria Shriver said in an interview that she believes in people's right to choose a partner who they love.
However, her husband, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he still stands by his previous statements opposing same-sex marriage.
The battle over the issue has emerged as the most expensive ballot measure campaign in the United States this year, as millions of dollars in donations for both sides came from across the country and even foreign countries.
Observers say that California is largely considered a bellwether over the issue and what happens here could shape the future of same-sex marriage across the United States.
It was reported that at least 64,000 people from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries have so far given a total of nearly 60 million U.S. dollars to support or oppose a same-sex marriage ban in California.
Even Silicon Valley giants like Apple and Google are taking risk to make clear their stance on the controversial issue. Apple, now rather a consumer electronics manufacturer than a niche computer maker, announced last week to donate 100,000 dollars to fight the proposed ban on same-sex marriage.
Google earlier said it opposes Proposition 8 but has not given a corporate donation, but company founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin recently donated 40,000 dollars and 100,000 dollars respectively to the campaign in favor of same-sex marriage.
Such unusual political announcements by companies that sell goods and services to consumers could be risky, as they may drive away some potential customers who are against same-sex marriage, marketing and corporate governance experts say.
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| Microsoft reveals Live Mesh for Mac
Does Microsoft's free file syncing service mean the end for MobileMe?
Mark Hattersley
Microsoft is gearing up to take on Apple's MobileMe with a Mac version of its Live Mesh file syncing service, with beta copies now undergoing testing.
Live Mesh is a Software Plus Service application that can be used to sync files between PCs and store files in a Microsoft “Cloud“ server. The Mac version will be able to sync files between Macs, PCs and Windows Mobile devices (although it will not be able to sync files with the iPhone).
The announcement was made at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) and Microsoft’s Ian Moulster, Windows Live Commercial Lead explained to Macworld how it works: “At mesh.com you have the Live Desktop which is a Web based storage space containing folders. On your computer, you can right-click on a file and select ‘add to my mesh’. After a few seconds the folder will turn blue to signify that it’s been added to your Mesh”. From here it is pushed out to all the other computers on the Mesh network. In that sense Live Mesh is like iDisk, but rather having the single iDisk folder it works throughout your Mac and PC’s file system, syncing up multiple folders and containing your information online.
When you open a Live Mesh folder it will have attached to it a new pane on the right hand side that has some information about the activity file (when and who last updated the file, comments, and status of devices).
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| FileMaker has released a batch of software updates for its desktop and server databasing products.
Free updates have been made available for FileMaker Pro 9, FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, FileMaker Server 9 and FileMaker Server 9 Advanced.
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| Apple preps an App Store Halloween
Apple highlights its Halloween selection of (slightly) ghostly applications
Jonny Evans
Apple is highlighting a collection of Halloween-themed iPhone/iPod touch applications as the haunting season closes in.
The company has assembled an ever so slightly edgy selection of apps to suit the Halloween mood, including: Crazy Pumpkin; Spooky Vibe; Trivial memory Halloween; Pumpkins; and Ghosto.
Free application Crazy Pumpkin is a digital lantern in the shape of a pumpkin which inhabits the screen of your phone, changing facial features and colour on request.
Spooky Vibe (£1.19), lets you produce spooky sounds while displaying an animated, singing ghost; while the 59p Trivial Memory Halloween is basically a general knowledge game.
Leading from behind, Pumpkins (59p) lets you carve a pumpkin with your finger, while Ghosto (a £2.99 application) is a gag which layers ghost images into pictures taken with the iPhone camera, lets you add ghostly elements to existing snaps, and more.
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| When replying to a message in Mail - if you highlight only the area you wish to reply to - only that will appear in the new message! Also did you know you can drag images or even your virtual business card or v-card created in Address book to the signatures section of Mail! Wonderful!!
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| The British Mac Pussy Cat Club
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| Say hello and introduce yourself
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| Hi,
I too hail from t’other place. I’m glad to see that my changing Avatar can come along too 
I’m Paul, and I’ve been using Macs for probably 10-15 years now. Previously, I was very much in the Acorn camp, and some of my post may well reflect that. I’m a freeance web designer - though I much prefer the graphic design side to the mucking about with PHP side....
All the best,
Paul
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| Hello Mr Cat,
I'm Stuart, a MBP owner for almost 2 years now, and a huge fan of all (most) things Apple. Got me an iphone too!!!
I stay in Hamilton in Lanarkshire and love listening to the show.
I'm not techie at all, despite being an Emergency Medical Technician in the Scottish Ambulance Service!!, but i love hearing about all of the software that's out there that you introduce me to through The Missing Application!
I'm also a big cycling fan and ride a Cannondale T2000 out and about in the wilds of West Scotland. Must be something about Mac's and bikes!
Keep up the good work and i"ll be subscribing to the mag soon!!
Woof woof,
Stuart
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| Lo childs,
Been registered here for a short while, just put the finishing touches to my profile (though it's liable to change), but why's my avatar not showing up? (8+(
Mark
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| Afternoon all,
I'm Ben, from t'other forums too, invited to this place by the forum cat 
I'm a student at the Aberystwyth university studying computer science, current;y on my industrial year down in Surrey with sun Microsystems, helping to look after the Global Labs which Sun use for testing systems both newer than new, and older than old...
I've been a Mac owner for about two and a half years with my faithful MacBook. Before I owned my Mc, I did a lot of work in our sound studio at school playing with some older Performa machines running System 8/9, and some of the original iMacs running OS 9, then some eMacs running 10.3 (I think).
Good to be here, please don't bork the place like the other web masters do 
Ben
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| Cyber Chimp and the forum cat Mr. Cat
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 | Desert Island Applications
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| My favs are
Visual hub
Quicksilver
1password
Metatax
Hope these are ok !
David dean
Sent from my iPhone
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| Meet Saturday 6th of December at the Malthouse Pub at 8.00 pm in Ironbridge, Shropshire. Here's the link to the pub http://www.themalthouseironbridge.com/
A night of Christmas cheer and beer!
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| Hi Will
Love the prog. One reason Apple has moved to LED screens is because the previous ones used mercury. The new range of laptops are all less toxic or even non-toxic, more environmentally-friendly, less packaging etc, or so they say, which you seemed to overlook in your review.
Kind regards
Thornton
(only macs for 25 years)
Thornton Kay
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| Hi Will,
Thanks for yet another excellent edition of British Mac. I have been a regular listener for ages now and eagerly look forward to the next episode.
I have been wondering what equipment/software you use to produce such a professional podcast? the sound quality of your presentations and the music is excellent. Regrettably the sound quality of your most recent contributer wasn't quite up to par though. It has occurred to me that others apart from me would be interested to hear about your studio setup, so how about it?
Have you tried the iPhone/iPod Touch App Aroundme? If you haven't I strongly advise you to give it a try. I have it on my iPod Touch and think it is absolutely brilliant -it's free too.
Keep up the good work!
Best wishes
Jim Simes
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| I use a Shure SM58 mic, a Yahama o1v mixer, a m-audio firewire 410 interface and my old and trusted g4 powerbook running logic pro 7.
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| Will,
I've been to see Wall.E today and am convinced that Pixar have been listening to BritishMac! Not only does Wall.E produce the Mac startup sound when he fully charges his solar cells(http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tiWoNkgsQRQ), but as Wall.E is following Eve around the soundtrack plays La Vie En Rose of Uncle Mac's Mac Moment fame! (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jmBJQT4JrCU)
Coincidence? I think not!!!!!!!!!!! I'm now 100% convinced that somebody at Pixar listens to BritishMac and I cannot be persuaded otherwise, so there.
All the best,
Neil.
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