iPhone is your best friend while traveling

 Forbes considers Apple ‘s iPhone the modern alternative instead of packing a phone, lap top, papers and all the other items you made need to have your business done.
iPhone with its related business and travel apps can provide the passengers with the information they need regarding stocks, airline flights, hotel reservations, organize schedules and deliver presentations.
The Iphone’s  travel and business applications are given the customers a wide range of options suit to almost everything they might need; one of these apps is InstaMapper which helps you to find your way back to your hotel. 

اعلنت فوربس ان “ايفون” يعتبر البديل الحديث لاغراض السفر التقليدية مثل الهاتف و الحاسب المحمول و الاوراق و غيرها من الاغراض التى يصطحبها المسافر لانجاز اعماله.

ايفون و برامجة الخاصه بالسفر وعالم الاعمال تقدم للمسافر معلومات متعدده عن الاسهم و رحلات الطيران و حجوزات الفنادق و تنظيم مواعيد العمل و اعداد برامج العرض.

برامج الايفون تقدم للمسافر خيارات واسعة عن اغلب ما يمكن ان يحتاجه مثل “انستامابر”  الذى يساعدك فى معرفة طريقك الى الفندق.

256GB Solid State Drives in Production Expect 300GB Soon

Solid State Drives (SSD) are optional in the new MacBook and MacBook Pros but only in a 128GB model. According to APC Samsung has started producing a 256GB model and Intel says they’ll build 300GB model “next year”.

The 256GB Samsung drive uses the standard notebook 2.5 inch form factor and it has a read rate of 220MB/s and writes at 200MB/s.

This is very good news for everyone wanting SSD but thinking it’s still too expensive. Getting the 128GB SSD in the new Apple notebooks is an additional $600, which is a heavy price to pay (even though I did opt for it in my new MacBook). So far I manage fine with 128GB but I look forward to being able to put a 256GB drive in when they become available.

Saturday’s Apple: The Commercial Dilemma

Let me put a question to you, dear reader: If an ad for a particular product appears in Shufflegazine and a review of that particular product appears in the same issue, would you be surprised if the review is negative?

What I’m getting at is the old question of separation of editorial content and advertising content; a question that magazines have battled with since the very first issue of any magazine came out, I imagine.

Magazines largely survive on advertising revenue, that’s clear, but they also need to be able to write about different kinds of things. In our case we write about different kinds of products, which can make the lives of our readers - Apple fans - easier, better, more fun, more productive, etc. In order to do that, we’ve set a clear line in Shufflegazine that in a section called “Products of the month” we present products in the marketplace, which we think our readers might be interested in, but we give no value judgment about that and say very little about them other than price and where someone can buy that product.

Then we have actual reviews where we present products that we’ve used ourselves so we can say something about them: was a game fun, did a graphics card actually increase the quality of the graphics, was a hard drive fast, etc. It’s important to us that a review we publish is based on our own actual experience because we tell our readers something about that product and hopefully they will trust our judgment. That’s a lot to ask of anyone and it’s a relationship we want to take very seriously.

So with that in mind we come back to the question we debate in this article. Would it be feasible to have in the same issue of Shufflegazine an ad for a product and a review of the same product stating there are serious issues with that product?

Or we can put it in another way, how do you as a reader decide whether a publication (whether it’s a magazine, web site or something else) is credible or not? Whether you trust what they say/write or not?

Where is the dilemma then you ask? Well it’s of course in the fact that we need advertising to survive, so we need companies to pay us money for space where they can advertise their products and services. We have some discretion over who advertises or not in the magazine of course but most pulications are not in a situation where they can be picky about who advertises what. On the one hand we need good relatioships with advertisers and we need to write about their products and services and on the other hand we need a good relationship with our readers built on trust. That’s an equation that doesn’t always solve very easily and it’s up to us to come up with the formula that works in each case, based on our guiding principles.

Be Careful With Drobo Warranty Returns Exchanges

In concept, Drobo is a wonderful product: it’s cool looking, expandable, and really solves most of your storage needs. We’ve had two USB Drobos in our office but they both stopped working and now we’re having trouble getting them fixed.

One was bought from Amazon.com and one was bought locally. They both were stocked with (different kinds of) hard drives bought locally and they both stopped working right around the same time, also ruining apparently the drives inside them. The two Drobos were used in different locations when they stopped working and we’ve tried to put the actual drives in other enclosures and Macs and they all seem dead. Personally I don’t know what the problem is but it seems like some kind of manufacturer’s problem to me.

It’s very strange.

The local rep, Intuit, is saying that per Data Robotics policy they cannot replace the one we bought from Amazon, only the one we bought locally. That may be true, that the policy says that, but what sense does that make in today’s increasingly global world? I understand it’s probably a way to fight gray market but, in the end does it benefit the customer? I don’t think so.

And I know this practice is not that uncommon, but it’s something that customers need to keep in mind. If you do buy a product from overseas, don’t assume that if you have problems with it, that you can take it to some local rep and get it fixed, even if there is a rep for that product in your country.

PC Magazine is Dead at Least in Print

In an open letter a few days ago, PC Magazine Editor in Chief Lance Ulanoff announced that the January 2009 edition of PC Magazine in the US will be the last one in print.

For many this comes as a bit of a surprise since PC Magazine was probably widely viewed as one of the more successful technology magazines and I must admit being surprised as well. To me, PC Magazine has always been a reliable source of news, information, reviews and more, covering not only the world of Windows and PCs but increasingly the larger world of consumer technologies. Perhaps that’s part of its downfall, that it’s not that focused anymore. I understand the temptation to spread out and cover all kinds of things, and with companies like Apple branching out into iPods, iPhones, and Apple TV, it’s hard to draw the line somewhere. When Macworld magazine first came out the world of Apple was just Macs, now it’s obviously a lot wider, including different kinds of technology.

The way we draw the line, and it remains to be seen whether it will work or not, is to say we’re an “Apple lifestyle magazine”. To us this means we cover all types of things that we think might be interesting for people using Apple products in their personal or professional life. This ranges from a car to which they can plug in their iPhone, a gym where they work out while listening to an iPod, an art gallery that inspires them, a printer for printing their photos that they took with a digital camera, software to keep track of their finances, and much more. It’s not a fixed border line between what we would cover and what we would not and some would see that as us being vague. I admit, perhaps we are being vague but to us the concept of an “Apple lifestyle” makes sense so I guess our mission now is to try to convince all our readers of the same.

Of course we can’t help thinking after this is are we crazy trying to get a print magazine going in Dubai? Especially considering the wealth of magazines on offer, I’ve been told around 3500 right now. And perhaps the simple answer is yes, we are. However, I disagree with people who say this is the “death of print”. I think there will always be a place for print in the form of books, newspapers and magazines.

I take myself as an example: I follow some 500 RSS feeds and that’s where I get most of my information for my job, but I also read most of the local newspapers (on paper!) and get a lot of valuable information from there as well, I buy lots of magazines (on paper as well as in digital format), and I buy books (on paper) as well, although not as many as I’d like to because of not having enough time.

For me paper publications, whether it’s books, magazines or newspapers, have always had a certain magic to them and they will continue to, I’m sure. But that’s not saying there aren’t downsides, with the obvious ones being slow production, cost of paper, printing, as well as distribution, etc.

I guess my view is that there’ll always be a place for a niche magazine in print, if it provides relevant content to its readers, which is also reliable, useful and entertaining. Magazines are still highly relevant in our region and I think they will remain so for some time to come.

The monthly publishing-cycle of a magazine like Shufflegazine also offers the writers more time to develop articles, time that might not be there with a web-only publication. At PC Magazine they’ve been doing this for a very long time and they have a great team of experienced writers so they will probably be fine. But at Shufflegazine we’re of course also working hard at our web site so we can offer an alternative to our readers. Certain things we’ll post on the site and other things we’ll develop for the print edition. Some things that go on the site will be worked on some more and eventually be in print and some articles from print we’ll put on the site. In my view it’s a symbiotic relationship where both outlets feed of each other. PC Magazine have been doing something similar since 1992 and I guess now it doesn’t work anymore. And who knows if it’ll work for us, but I think it will.

Press Release: SyncMate 1.4 Released Syncs Windows Mobile and Mac

Eltima Press Release

Eltima Software has released SyncMate vers 1.4!

All Mac Users who own Windows Mobile devices now can easily synchronize all information from both devices with SyncMate - new Mac to Windows Mobile synchronization tool.

Bellevue, WA, USA – November 27, 2008: Eltima Software, a global software Development Company, has released SyncMate version 1.4. SyncMate is presented in two versions, Free and Expert, and provides its users even more opportunities than before.

SyncMate FREE Edition is a perfect solution for information management. It is FREE and easy-to-use synchronizer for Mac and Pocket PC/Smartphone, that will help you keep all your documents, text messages, contacts, calendar entries and events and other stuff well organized. With SyncMate Free edition you can synchronize applications like Address Book, iCal, etc. Also you can easily read SMS directly from your Mac, check detailed device information (battery state, etc) and visually analyze memory usage.

SyncMate Expert Edition (available for a small fee) grants you even more synchronization possibilities. With Expert Edition it is very handy to synchronize time and share Internet between your Mac and your mobile device, which is very important for all mobile people. Synchronize iTunes and iPhoto to keep all your favorite music and pictures within a click of a button.

Expert Edition allows you to synchronize separate folders. Notes, and To Do’s synchronization is also available with SyncMate Expert Edition! You can view all the applications installed on PDA from your Mac.

Manage all text messages not even touching your Pocket PC! Send, receive, create and delete SMS when working at your Mac - that’s what SyncMate Expert gives you. With SyncMate Expert Edition you can even sync your mail.

SyncMate installation is very easy. You do not have to unlock device in order to install SyncMate. Mac can be connected to mobile device via USB or Wi-Fi.

SyncMate 1.4 Features at a Glance:

• Bookmarks Synchronization (Entourage, Firefox supported)
• iPhoto Synchronization
• iTunes Synchronization
• Folders Synchronization
• Notes Synchronization (Entourage supported!)
• Time Synchronization
• Contacts Synchronization (Entourage and Google Calendar supported!)
• iCal Synchronization (Entourage and Google Contacts supported!)
• SMS Manager Plugin
• Applications List Plugin
• Device Info Plugin
• SMS Reader Plugin
• Actions Log Plugin
• Internet Sharing
• Mail Plugin
• To Do’s Plugin

Shufflegazine at Macworld Expo 2009

A team from Shufflegazine is heading to Macworld Expo in San Francisco in January 2009. We’re hoping to make a lot of contacts and collect material for a lot of articles for the magazine. If we’re lucky we’ll also get in to the keynote but we’ll see if that will happen.

So we’re looking for ideas for what individuals and companies we should approach about interviews. If you have ideas let us know please. Also we’d like to hear from companies around the Middle East that will have representation at Macworld Expo. If your company will be there again let us know so we can make arrangements to cover your company.

Press Release: Welcome to Macintosh documentary on sale

Los Angeles - “Welcome to Macintosh - The documentary for the rest of us” is now available on DVD. “Welcome to Macintosh” explores the history, culture and worldwide impact of Apple Inc. and the Macintosh. In addition to the film, the DVD includes over 3 hours of extra content including extended interviews, a making of featurette, trailers, photo journal, and more. The “Welcome to Macintosh” DVD is available now at their website for $19.84 with shipments beginning December 15th.

“Welcome to Macintosh is a work of art devoted to the passion that lies in being a Mac-Fan, lovingly created by Mac-Fans” - Mac Life Magazine, Germany

“Welcome to Macintosh” is the first documentary of its kind to mix history, criticism and an unapologetic revelry of all things Apple into a movie experience. The film explores the early years of Apple, the many challenges Apple has faced, and what the future may hold for the company and it’s products. Ex-Apple employees, engineers and community members offer insight on the company’s innovations, failures, cultural impact and what the future may be like beyond the reign of its co-founder Steve Jobs. Interviews include notable Apple personalities Andy Hertzfeld, co-creator of the original Macintosh, Guy Kawasaki, long time Mac evangelist, Leander Khaney, author of the book “Cult of Mac”, Jim Reekes, creator of the Macintosh start-up sound and Ron Wayne, original co-founder of the Apple Computer Company.

With acceptance in five international film festivals, “Welcome to Macintosh” is reaching its goal of bringing the story of Apple and the Macintosh to the new generation of iPhone and iPod users around the world.

“Welcome to Macintosh is required viewing for any Mac user, new or old.” Says James Savage, co-host of the RetroMacCast, a popular podcast dedicated to classic Mac users.

“The film succeeds in chronicling the rich history of Apple through first-hand accounts by the colorful personalities who were there. For long-time Mac fans, it’s a trip down memory lane with a few surprises along the way. For new Mac users, they get an appreciation for those of us who bleed in six colors.” Adds James.

“The DVD goes far beyond the movie, exploring in-depth the stories and experiences that made the Macintosh what it is today” says Rob Baca, co-director of the film. “There are so many great stories to hear, we are very excited to have the opportunity to share them.”

“There are millions of people around the world who are just now learning about Apple through the iPhone or the iPod, and they are interested, they want to know more.” Says Josh Rizzo, co-director. “We worked hard to make the film entertaining and as non-technical as possible, but it does get a little nerd-friendly from time to time.”

“Welcome to Macintosh is an informative and entertaining film for the computer illiterate and Mac geeks alike. From industry insiders to hard-core Mac enthusiasts to eccentric Mac owners, Welcome to Macintosh covers the spectrum of “Mac People” and shows why Apple is unique in the industry.” Jason Dean, The Capital Times, Madison WI.

The widescreen DVD is NTSC Region Free and includes over three hours of extended interviews, a “making of” featurette, theatrical trailers, behind the scenes photo journal, Mac symbiosis montage, interactive menus and subtitles in English and Spanish. The filmmakers have some exciting public events planned for the coming months, all to be announced through their website and social network.

Official Website
Social Network
Trailer on YouTube

“Welcome to Macintosh” is a documentary that explores the many ways Apple Computer (now Apple, Inc.) has changed the world.

Shufflegazine December Cover

Shufflegazine December 2008 is on its way out to subscribers and the usual distribution points. We thought we’d offer you a look at the cover, to perhaps try to tease you to pick up a copy.

Orange Announced iPhone in Jordan

Orange has announced iPhone 3G in Jordan. It’s “coming soon” with no given specific date.

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