TidBITS#708/08-Dec-03
=====================
We're rolling toward the end of the year with an abundance of
articles! Adam looks at MacPAD, a new way of updating software,
and Dan Frakes looks at a iPod cases and accessories. TidBITS
isn't the only gig for our staff: Matt Neuburg has just published
AppleScript: The Definitive Guide, while Adam and Glenn Fleishman
have released the second edition of The Wireless Networking
Starter Kit. We're also happy to announce a DealBITS drawing
for Bare Bones Software, free Macworld Expo passes, and point
to releases of Security Update 2003-12-05, Business Card
Composer 2, QuicKeys 2.0.2, and Timbuktu 7.
Topics:
MailBITS/08-Dec-03
DealBITS Drawing: Bare Bones Software
AppleScript Gets a Truly Definitive Guide
The Wireless Networking Starter Kit, 2nd Edition Released
MacPAD: The Future of Mac Software Updates
iPod Gift Offerings, Part 1
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/08-Dec-03
<http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-708.html>
<ftp://ftp.tidbits.com/issues/2003/TidBITS#708_08-Dec-03.etx>
Copyright 2003 TidBITS: Reuse governed by Creative Commons license
<http://www.tidbits.com/terms/> Contact: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
---------------------------------------------------------------
This issue of TidBITS sponsored in part by:
* READERS LIKE YOU! Help keep TidBITS great via our voluntary <------ NEW!
contribution program. Our thanks this week to Warren Kibbe,
Duane De Vries, and Joseph Hernandez for their kind support!
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/contributors.html>
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* Bare Bones Software TextWrangler 1.5 -- General-purpose tool for <- NEW!
composing, modifying, and transforming text. Now with full
AppleScript support! US$49. For more info, to download a demo,
or to purchase a copy, visit <http://www.barebones.com/>.
* CREO TOKENS - Send big files or folders, around the office or
the world. Combines compression, encryption, and cross-firewall
technology into a "one-click" package. Download the free Token
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---------------------------------------------------------------
MailBITS/08-Dec-03
------------------
**Security Update 2003-12-05 Protects Your Cookies** -- Responding
to a security vulnerability where an attacker could gain
unauthorized access to a user's cookies in Safari, Apple
has released Security Update 2003-12-05. The update is available
via Software Update, as well as separate downloads for Mac OS X
10.2 Jaguar (a 1.3 MB download) and Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (a 2.6
MB download). [JLC]
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120282>
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120283>
**Free Macworld Expo Passes** -- Our friends at Peachpit Press are
once again offering free passes to the upcoming Macworld Expo in
San Francisco in January. To request a pair of passes (which are
exhibits-only passes, normally $15 to $35), send an email message
to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with your name and postal address.
The passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and
Peachpit must receive all requests by 29-Dec-03. If you end up
with the passes, be sure to stop by the Peachpit booth to thank
them, check out their books, and chat with authors like Adam
Engst, Jeff Carlson, and Glenn Fleishman. [JLC]
<http://www.macworldexpo.com/macworldexposf/V40/index.cvn>
<http://www.peachpit.com/>
**Business Card Composer 2 Offers Online Ordering** -- BeLight
Software has updated Business Card Composer, their elegant
application for creating attractive business cards. Most notably,
Business Card Composer 2 lets you order your custom business cards
from an online print shop for reasonable prices; the process works
much like ordering photos from within iPhoto. Also new in Business
Card Composer 2 is support for custom card and paper sizes,
integration with Address Book for printing cards for multiple
people at once, and integration with Google Image Search for
finding new graphics (although, as the software clearly warns,
there are likely copyright restrictions on the use of images
found on the Internet; in an ideal world, it would let you search
only for images distributed under a Creative Commons license that
allowed use). Business Card Composer 2 is free to registered
users, although you must fill out an update form to get a new
license code; it's a 7 MB download. [TJE]
<http://www.belightsoft.com/products/composer/version2.php>
<http://www.google.com/imghp/>
<http://www.belightsoft.com/products/composer/versch/vers2form.php>
<http://creativecommons.org/>
**QuicKeys X2 2.0.2 Now Panther-Compatible** -- CE Software has
released the completed version of their macro utility QuicKeys X2
2.0.2. The most notable change is of course compatibility with
Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, since previous versions of QuicKeys were
expressly incompatible, and CE made time-limited betas available
upon Panther's release (see "Default Folder X and QuicKeys X:
Upgrade Before Panther!" in TidBITS-703_). QuicKeys X2 2.0.2 also
improves typing of text shortcuts, better handles sheets and
drawers during macro recording, adds support for the new F16 key
on Apple's latest keyboards, and provides several other minor
fixes. The update is free for registered users and is an 11.1
MB download. [ACE]
<http://www.cesoft.com/products/qkx.html>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07412>
<http://www.cesoft.com/downloads/updates.html#qk>
**Netopia Releases Timbuktu 7** -- Bored with controlling only the
computer in front of you? Netopia has released Timbuktu 7, the
latest version of its software for managing remote Macs and PCs.
Timbuktu 7 adds support for Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (including Fast
User Switching) and includes a Profile service for getting Apple
System Profiler information from the remote machine. It's also now
easier to work with computers behind NAT routers, thanks to new
capabilities to configure which port Timbuktu uses for network
traffic and choose which IP address is broadcast. The program
requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 and higher, but Timbuktu 6.0.3 is also
included for connecting to computers running earlier system
versions back to Mac OS 8.6. Timbuktu pricing starts at $95 for
a single copy and goes up to $1,650 for 30 licenses (however,
Netopia is running an end-of-year sale that reduces those prices
through 31-Dec-03). Upgrade pricing depends on the version you're
currently using; you must enter your serial number and activation
code online to view the upgrade price for your version. [JLC]
<http://www.netopia.com/software/products/tb2/mac/>
<http://www.netopia.com/en-us/software/purchase/>
<http://www.netopia.com/en-us/software/purchase/tb2upgrade.html>
DealBITS Drawing: Bare Bones Software
-------------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
There are few classes of software that inspire more loyalty than
text editors and email programs, and TidBITS sponsor Bare Bones
Software has long provided favorites in both fields. BBEdit 7.1
remains the text editor of choice for programmers and HTML coders
everywhere, and Mailsmith 2.0.2 has garnered a vocal following
among those email aficionados who want powerful filters and
unparalleled text processing power. And TextWrangler 1.5, Bare
Bones Software's newest program, has become popular with people
for whom BBEdit is either too expensive or too feature-rich.
<http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/>
<http://www.barebones.com/products/mailsmith/>
<http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/>
In this week's DealBITS drawing, we're giving away one copy each
of these three products: BBEdit is valued at $179, Mailsmith is
$99, and TextWrangler is $49, and the order in which the winners
are randomly selected will determine the choice they receive.
Entrants who aren't among our lucky winners will receive a
discount on any of the Bare Bones products, so be sure to enter
at the DealBITS page linked below. As always, all information
gathered is covered by our comprehensive privacy policy. Lastly,
check your spam filters, since you must be able to receive email
from my address to learn if you've won.
<http://www.tidbits.com/dealbits/bare-bones.html>
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/privacy.html>
AppleScript Gets a Truly Definitive Guide
-----------------------------------------
by Matt Neuburg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
AppleScript is Apple's system-level programming language for
driving and automating applications. It was first made available
as an option for the ill-fated System 7 Pro in late 1993; shortly
thereafter Apple came to its senses and AppleScript has been
present in every new system and on every new Mac since then.
Meanwhile, the lack of proper documentation for AppleScript has
been astounding. Danny Goodman made an early attempt, but it
wasn't up to the standard of his brilliant HyperCard book, and
Apple's own manual is often surprisingly vague, allusive, and
incomplete.
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=02388>
<http://www.dannyg.com/pubs/>
<http://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/
AppleScriptLangGuide/>
Which brings us to my latest book, AppleScript: The Definitive
Guide, published by O'Reilly & Associates. AppleScript is a fairly
small language, but I was amazed by how difficult it was to write
this book! It took more than twice as long as I'd expected. My
approach, as readers of my Frontier and REALbasic books know, is
not to rely on documentation, but to bang away at the language
itself, testing and experimenting, trying to deduce the underlying
rules. Well, the underlying rules of AppleScript turn out to be
really strange. As a result, my book contains a great deal of
material I never knew before and have never seen documented
elsewhere. And, needless to say, I present it all in my usual
ruthlessly Euclidean manner - with the usual measure of hidden
humor, of course.
<http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/applescpttdg/>
This book teaches AppleScript to beginners and explains it to
experts; it's an assessment, a guide, and a reference. If you've
been curious all these years, or want to get into AppleScript for
whatever reason (perhaps to take advantage of AppleScript Studio
to write your own apps), or if you're an AppleScript user but
would like to put your understanding on firmer ground, I hope
you'll consider asking Santa for AppleScript: The Definitive
Guide. It lists for $40, but you can get it for $28 at Amazon and
support TidBITS with the affiliate percentage at the same time.
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005571/tidbitselectro00/ref%3Dnosim/>
The Wireless Networking Starter Kit, 2nd Edition Released
---------------------------------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Wi-Fi wireless networking has been one of the major growth
industries to emerge following the burst of the dot-com bubble,
with millions of users, oddly named start-ups, and even some
highly publicized IPOs. In 2003, we also saw the stalwart 802.11b
(AirPort) supplemented with the faster 802.11g (AirPort Extreme),
and although neither Bluetooth nor cellular data yet compete
directly with Wi-Fi, both became significantly more real this
past year. Wi-Fi's much-publicized security problems were finally
addressed late this year as well, thanks to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
Access) replacing the easily cracked WEP (Wired Equivalent
Privacy).
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07421>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07426>
All this is by way of explaining why, when Glenn Fleishman and
I started talking with Peachpit about a second edition of The
Wireless Networking Starter Kit, we thought it would be a quick
update, a veritable walk in the Wi-Fi-enabled park. Well, if
this update was a walk in the park, the park must have been on
the scale and terrain of Yellowstone. While we were writing and
editing, we kept muttering about how the task seemed like it was
taking too long and being too much work, but it wasn't until we
started laying out pages that we realized, much to our shock, that
the book had ballooned from 330 pages to a whopping 560 pages of
wireless goodness.
In retrospect, perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised, since we
added chapters on Bluetooth, cellular data, Palm OS devices and
PocketPCs, Centrino, Linux and FreeBSD, wireless gadgets, bridging
wireless networks, small-office Wi-Fi networking, and configuring
wireless ISP software, along with an extensive glossary. That's
in addition to the now-updated discussions of configuring and
troubleshooting Wi-Fi for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows XP.
We also took the first edition's 10 chapters, some of which
were truly beefy, and split them into smaller and more easily
read chunks, so the second edition has a 34 chapters, 3 lengthy
appendixes for background information, and the glossary.
<http://wireless-starter-kit.com/book_details.html>
Some of our most useful additions include:
* Step-by-step instructions for setting up Bluetooth and pairing
your PowerBook or iBook with a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone for
establishing an Internet connection
* Instructions and advice for extending Wi-Fi networks in a
variety of ways to increase range within a building or to
other buildings
* Discussion of security concerns and solutions for small office
wireless networks
* Step-by-step instructions for software from several common
wireless ISPs, plus coupons worth $125 of wireless Internet
access from Boingo, FatPort, and Wayport
* Detailed explanation of how to set up Wi-Fi connectivity on
a Palm OS handheld or PocketPC
* An extensive catalog of wireless gadgets ranging from cameras
and MP3 players to network sniffers and print servers
* A comprehensive glossary that provides not just definitions of
all the specialized networking terminology throughout the book,
but also pointers to the relevant chapters
It's a good book, and we're certain that anyone with questions
about wireless networking will find useful information inside.
Although we can't say the book will directly answer every question
you might have (our experience is that most people have questions
along the lines of "Why can't I connect to the Internet via my
Linksys gateway when I'm upstairs in the bedroom?"), we're
confident that you can use our advice and details in the book
to work through just about any setup or troubleshooting issue
you may have.
You can download Chapter 17, Setting up a Gateway, along with the
full table of contents and index, as a free PDF. If you like what
you see, you can purchase the book for $21 (30 percent off the
$30 cover price) from either Peachpit (with free U.S. shipping)
or Amazon. Want the book in electronic form? If you've already
purchased the paper version of the second edition, you can get
it for $5; otherwise we sell it through eSellerate for the same
$21 price as the paper version to avoid cannibalization of sales.
<http://wireless-starter-kit.com/buy_book.html>
Thanks for all the support you gave the first edition and the
feedback you sent that helped us improve this second edition,
and we hope you find this expanded second edition better than
ever before.
MacPAD: The Future of Mac Software Updates
------------------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Every now and then I run across a developer doing something so
obvious and cool that I think, "Well, it's about time!" Through
a total coincidence, that happened just last week, when Julian
Miller of Script Software called to chat about his latest
products. After we'd talked about Easy Card Creator and iKey
(a macro utility that used to be called Youpi Key) and iClock
(SuperClock on steroids), Julian asked if I'd heard about the
MacPAD project. I hadn't, and he started telling me about
MacShareware.net, a software update site along the lines of
VersionTracker and MacUpdate. I commented that I mostly relied
on developer sites to find updates for products I use, though
I have forever remained disappointed that Apple never opened
Software Update up to outside Mac developers. As Julian continued
describing MacPAD, I realized it could at long last provide the
underpinnings of a Software Update for Everyone Else.
<http://www.scriptsoftware.com/>
**Introducing MacPAD** -- MacPAD is the brainchild of Ricardo
Batista, a Macintosh developer best known for writing Extensions
Manager, Apple's utility for managing extensions and control
panels in the classic Mac OS. As a developer, Ricardo had
become frustrated with the existing software update sites for
a variety of reasons, and being a developer, he didn't simply
get mad, he got even by creating his own software update site -
MacShareware.net - with an eye toward addressing those aspects
of the other sites that he didn't like. I haven't particularly
used MacShareware.net, so I can't say how successful it is,
though I do appreciate the site's policy of having a person
review all submissions and comments before posting them.
Hopefully that addresses the complaints I've heard from
developers about ill-informed and misleading comments about
their products on other software update sites.
<http://macshareware.net/>
One of the areas Ricardo hoped to improve was the submission
process. Right now, if you're a developer with a new product,
you must manually submit your product to multiple sites, each
with their own different system and requirements. That's a pain,
and it's not only unnecessary, it's a problem that's been solved
in the Windows world via a technology called PAD (Portable
Application Descriptions) and developed by the Association of
Shareware Professionals. PAD is essentially an XML file containing
a full and rigidly formatted description of a product, and most
of the Windows software update sites prefer to receive submissions
in the form of PAD files, since that makes life easier for both
developers and webmasters. Ideally, the developer merely puts
a PAD file on her Web site and gives the software update sites
the appropriate URL for them to check on a regular basis for
new versions. If you're into reading your news via RSS feeds,
you can think of a PAD file as an RSS feed for software updates.
<http://www.asp-shareware.org/pad/>
As much as the PAD format was clearly the right direction, Ricardo
felt it was overly complex and not appropriate to the Macintosh
world, so he created - with input from other developers - a
simplified version called MacPAD. Along with the XML file format
and tools that run on MacShareware.net to query developer sites
for updated MacPAD files, Ricardo and others have created an open
source software development kit (SDK) with which developers can
add support for MacPAD to their applications, and that's what
interests me.
<http://macshareware.net/sdk.html>
**Updates Done Right** -- How do you learn about updates to your
software? If you're like me, you receive an email announcement
from the developer, read about it in a news source like TidBITS
or a software update site, or if you're lucky, are alerted by
the application itself. In most of these cases, you must still
download and install the update manually. Only a few programs
come with sufficiently clever update code that they can alert
you, download the update if you agree, and install it for you,
much as Apple's Software Update utility does.
The problem is that rolling a custom update utility is too much
work for most developers, and those that have done so haven't been
able to create a generalized solution. That's where MacPAD could
swing the tide, by providing the standardized XML foundation on
which others can build tools. Developer Mark Fleming has already
provided the first piece in the puzzle, a simple application
called MacPAD that creates MacPAD files, and the code snippets
that ship with the SDK should get other developers started on
adding basic update checking code to their applications. My hope
is that someone will contribute code to the MacPAD SDK for the
more advanced aspects of updating, such as automatic downloading
and automatic application updating.
And, while I'm filling out my development wish list in time
for the holiday season, it would be extremely useful to have
a preference pane that would list all your MacPAD-supported
applications, the currently installed version of each, and the
latest versions with a description of what's new. This update
utility would acquire its data by extracting the URL to each
MacPAD file from the associated application and then querying
MacPAD files on the Internet at a user-specified schedule. A
checkbox next to each item would allow you to select applications
to update, and clicking an Update button would download and
install all the necessary updates. Creating such a utility
shouldn't be too hard, given that it's essentially the equivalent
of an RSS reader (like NetNewsWire, for instance) for MacPAD
files. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the RSS readers
add support for MacPAD files as well, for users who want to
see what's new with their software while they're reading
the latest news.
Why provide such a utility on top of automatic updating inside
individual applications? It provides a centralized location to see
what needs to be updated, lets the user schedule updating for a
convenient time, and simplifies the process of updating multiple
applications at once. It might also allow the user to add the URLs
to MacPAD files to check manually, to facilitate watching changes
to a specific program that wasn't installed on that particular
Mac. I could see network administrators wanting to keep track
of programs that weren't necessarily installed on their personal
machines, but which were in common use among their users.
**First Steps** -- My grand plans can wait for a bit. For the
moment, the most important thing is that developers start using
MacPAD to submit their software to the software update sites;
on 05-Dec-03, TildeSoft's Rendezvous Browser was the first
utility to be updated automatically on MacShareware.net via
MacPAD. Next we need software update sites other than
MacShareware.net to support MacPAD and developers to add
the update checking code to their applications. Once all
that's in place, there will be an audience for this
alternative to Software Update.
But first, Ricardo Batista, Mark Fleming, Julian Miller, Kevin
Ballard, and all the other developers who have worked thus far on
MacPAD deserve a big round of applause for kick-starting a system
that could help the entire Macintosh community.
iPod Gift Offerings, Part 1
---------------------------
by Dan Frakes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The iPod is one cool gadget; in fact, it's the best-selling hard
drive-based music player in the world, with millions of units sold
since its release. So chances are either you or someone you know
owns one. Use that to your advantage this holiday season and buy
your favorite music lover (or yourself) something to accentuate
their iPod.
To help you decide on such a gift, the following are some of my
favorite iPod-related products. (Unless noted, I've actually tried
every item.) I've divided them into some logical categories, and
included approximate U.S. prices for each. You may be able to find
items for less; sometimes significantly less. I've also noted
whether each product is available for the older (FireWire port)
iPods, the newer (dock connector) iPods, or both. One topic
I don't cover here is headphones. For recommendations on those
popular iPod accessories, see last year's "Music to Your Ears:
2002," and an update that will appear in TidBITS soon.
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07012>
(While writing this article, I grew tired of writing variations of
"your gift recipient," so I often use "you." You can pretend I'm
talking about the rhetorical "you" - meaning the recipient of your
gift - or you can 'fess up and admit that you want some of this
stuff, too.)
**The Basics from Apple** -- Everyone can use an extra cable or
dock. Here are some of the more useful Apple-branded gift options.
<http://store.apple.com/>
* PC Cable for Windows users ($40, dock connector): If your lucky
iPod user wants to use a newer iPod with a Windows PC that has
only USB ports (i.e., no FireWire), they need this cable.
* Extra dock ($40, dock connector): Although the dock cable works
just as well for recharging and transferring data to your iPod,
the dock base has a significant advantage for hooking an iPod up
to a home stereo - it has a true line-level output. A second dock
lets the user keep one permanently connected to the stereo.
* Extra dock cable ($20, dock connector): If you connect your iPod
to more than one computer, or want to recharge while on the road,
a second dock cable can be handy. Users of older iPods can use any
FireWire cable.
* Extra power adapter ($50, both): The iPod's AC adapter is a bit
pricey, but it's nice to have an extra at the office, or wherever
your second location may be. Keep in mind that you can use a
computer with a powered FireWire port instead.
* World Travel Adapter Kit ($40, both): If your favorite iPod user
is a frequent traveler, they'll appreciate being able to recharge
their player wherever their travels may take them, within certain
geographical limits. Apple says the World Travel Adapter Kit
supports outlets in North America, Japan, China, United Kingdom,
Continental Europe, Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong.
* Remote and Earphones ($40, both): The less-expensive iPods don't
include a remote, so you could buy your favorite iPod user one as
a gift. Unfortunately, the price is inflated because you can't buy
the remote by itself; you're stuck buying another pair of the
stock iPod earphones, as well.
Apple also sells their own iPod case for $40; however, if you're
in the market for a case, I recommend one of those discussed below
instead.
**Take Precautions: Cases and Bags** -- The iPod is a stunning
example of industrial design, but one bad drop or bump can turn
it into a shiny (and expensive) paperweight. Here are some ways
to keep it safe. I've tried most of the cases on the market, and
could recommend a few others, but the ones below stand out.
Because not everyone has the same needs when it comes to an iPod
case, be sure to read the description of each to find out what
type of protection it provides. All the cases listed here provide
access to FireWire/dock ports, headphone/remote jacks, and hold
buttons; I've noted when they don't provide access to the front
controls.
Note that the hard cases like the Showcase and iPod Armor only
come in one size, which means that smaller iPods will require
a foam insert or similar spacer - which are included - to fit
snugly. Also, hard cases can make it difficult to use some
accessories that connect flush with the iPod's remote jack -
such as Belkin's voice recording unit and the iTrip, mentioned
below - when the case is on. But that's the trade-off with a
hard shell case.
* RadTech PodSleevz ($20, dock connector): Most cases offer some
degree of protection, but do so by bulking up, leaving you with
a big, fat iPod instead of a sleek, svelte one. If you're not
concerned with protecting your iPod from drops and hard knocks,
the PodSleevz are a great option; they protect the iPod from
scratches and scrapes while retaining its slim profile. They also
deaden the touch-sensitive controls just a bit, which is a good
thing, in my experience.
<http://www.radtech.us/podsleevz.html>
* WaterField Designs iPod Case ($40, both): A step up the
protection ladder, the WaterField case offers a flip-open front
which hides the controls when closed and provides a pocket for
earbuds. The WaterField case also includes a sturdy, rotating
belt clip and is one of the more stylish on the market.
<http://sfbags.com/index2.htm?http://www.sfbags.com/PRODUCTS/iPOD_INFO/i.htm>
* Marware SportSuit Convertible ($40, both): The ultimate "active"
case, the SportSuit Convertible provides a thick layer of neoprene
with rigid side and back inserts for protection, and rubber edges
for a secure grip. The hard-shell, flip-open cover is detachable
and provides a pocket for credit cards/money and earbuds. In
addition, the Convertible uses the popular Multidapt clip system,
which means you can buy any of a number of attachments that allow
you to mount your iPod in your car, on your bike, on your belt,
etc.
<http://www.marware.com/iPodType.html>
* Contour Design Showcase ($40, dock connector): If you want
excellent protection in a case that lets your iPod look like an
iPod, the Showcase provides a white, rubbery enclosure with clear
plastic panels on the front and back so you can still see the
iPod's shiny surfaces. It includes a unique horizontal belt clip
that doesn't leave any protruding posts behind when you remove
it. The Showcase also allows you to take the iPod out of the
case quickly, which is a hassle with many other cases.
<http://www.contourshowcase.com/>
* Matias iPod Armor ($50, $55 with belt clip, both): Like the
Showcase, the iPod Armor encloses the entire iPod in a hard shell.
But because it's "full body armor," it doesn't provide holes for
the front controls, so you need to use the iPod's remote while
it's in the case. You can still access the headphone and remote
jack and the hold switch on the top of the iPod, though. Made of
rigid aluminum, it's a great case if you want serious impact
protection.
<http://www.halfkeyboard.com/ipodarmor/>
* Pelican 1020 Micro Case ($15-$20, both): Pelican cases have
long been known for their capability to keep the elements away
from your gear, and the Micro series is perfect for personal
electronics - the 1020 is big enough to hold an iPod (even inside
one of the cases above) and some earbuds. If you or your iPod-
loving gift recipient is an outdoors/adventure type, consider a
Pelican case for those times when the iPod needs to be protected
from Mother Nature. You can't use the iPod while it's in the
Pelican case, but for keeping the iPod safe and sound in transit,
it's ideal. It even floats, and it has a purge valve to equalize
pressure.
<http://www.pelican.com/cases/4bo_1020.html>
* Incase Designs Belt for iPod ($25, both): If you walk or run
with your iPod and prefer not to carry it in your hand, the Incase
Belt is the best of its type that I've seen. It's lightweight and
comfortable, with a pouch specifically designed for the iPod. It
also has a separate pocket for keys, money, cards, and the like,
and a handy access hole for the remote/headphone cable.
<http://incasedesigns.com/DetailIPodBelt.php>
* HeadRoom iPod Bag ($40, both): If you're serious enough about
your iPod sound quality that you've purchased a portable headphone
amplifier - like the HeadRoom AirHead - the HeadRoom iPod Bag is
for you. It holds your iPod, portable headphone amp, and a pair
of earbuds/canal-phones in a handy bag that you can clip to your
belt or hang from a strap.
<http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=29&;
productID=0040010060>
* WaterField Design iPod Gear Pouch ($35, both): The iPod Gear
Pouch is one of those "Who needs that?" things that ends up being
quite handy. If you know a hard-core iPod user who takes all
their iPod gear with them when on the go, check it out. It holds
an iPod, AC adapter, dock, earbuds, and all cables in padded
compartments inside a stylish pouch that you can throw in your
travel bag. It even has an external, zippered pocket for storing
other small items.
<http://www.sfbags.com/PRODUCTS/IPGP_INFO/index.html>
* Burton Amp Pack ($200, dock connector): The Amp Pack is a semi-
rigid backpack that works just like Burton's jackets (see below) -
you place your iPod in an EVA molded pocket between the straps
(where it's safe, sound, and inaccessible with the pack on), and
then connect the built-in headphone/remote cable. The right-hand
shoulder strap then provides Burton's SOFTswitch iPod controls,
and the left strap provides a headphone jack, so you don't
have to weave your headphone cable through a bunch of holes
and tunnels. Your iPod is fully protected, yet you can still
change tracks, adjust the volume, and even turn it off. The
other nice thing about this arrangement is that you can quickly
disconnect your headphones, which can be a pain on some other
backpacks; the shoulder strap even has a small pocket for storing
your earbuds.
<http://www.burton.com/Burton/gear/products.asp?productID=731>
**Dress for Success** -- If your gift recipient would rather carry
the iPod in a pocket, then perhaps a coat that hides the iPod
while still providing access to its controls is the way to go.
Or maybe your recipient would like a jacket that accommodates
a bunch of gadgets. Either way, there are some good options
available.
* Burton Jackets (Men's Shield, $380; Men's Ronin 2L, $360;
Women's Radar 2L, $360, dock connector): Burton now has three
snowboard/ski-focused jackets that incorporate their SOFTswitch
iPod control system. They're a bit pricey, but not outrageous as
far as snow gear goes. Like the Amp Pack above, all include an
EVA molded interior pocket to keep the iPod safe and warm, with
a SOFTswitch remote control built right into the sleeve. All
three jackets are "active" snow jackets - two-layer, waterproof/
breathable shells - but differ slightly in their styling. If
someone out there has me on their holiday gift list, I wouldn't
turn down a Shield - the iPod controls are very cool, and the
jacket is great.
<http://www.burton.com/Burton/gear/products.asp?productID=729>
<http://www.burton.com/Burton/gear/products.asp?productID=728>
<http://www.burton.com/Burton/gear/products.asp?productID=730>
* SCOTTeVEST ($80-$450, both): SCOTTeVEST make an entire line of
"technology-enabled clothing" - a buzzphrase that basically means
"lots of pockets to store all your gadgets, and holes and tunnels
to connect their wires." For example, you can store your iPod in
any of the multitude of pockets, then route your earbud cables
through the jacket and exiting from holes near your neck/ears.
In fact, many of the jackets even have earbud pockets in the
collar, so you can stow your them away, still connected, when
not in use. You can get both vests and full jackets, from
lightweight windbreakers to limited edition leather coats.
<http://www.scottevest.com/v3_product_info/comparison_chart.shtml>
**What about Software?** Because the iPod is so versatile, a
cottage industry in iPod-related software has emerged. You can
find products that sync news headlines and email with your iPod,
transfer files to and from it, and much more. Consider buying
your iPod lover some helpful software. Because there are so many
titles, I haven't listed any here. I instead recommend doing
a search for "iPod" at VersionTracker, MacUpdate, or
MacShareware.net via these links.
<http://www.versiontracker.com/php/search.php?plt%5B%5D=macosx&mode=basic&;
action=search&str=ipod&x=0&y=0>
<http://www.macupdate.com/search.php?keywords=ipod&os=macosx&;
button.x=18&button.y=16>
<http://macshareware.net/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=search&query=iPod>
**Give the Gift of Music** -- I'm always amazed at how
infrequently music lovers receive music as gifts. Instead of
another gadget, consider giving your favorite iPod owner some CDs
or an iTunes Music Store Gift Certificate ($10-$200, both). The
iTunes Music Store lets iPod users buy individual songs (99 cents)
or entire albums (usually $10), download them to their Mac, and
then transfer them to their iPod. By giving gift certificates
to the Music Store, you don't have to worry that your recipients
won't like the CDs you bought them, and they can use the credits
whenever they want - all at once or a little at a time.
<http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?
productLearnMore=D2683LL/A>
An iTunes Music Store Gift Certificate could be good for
encouraging someone to try an audio book now that Apple carries
thousands of books from audio bookseller Audible. But if you know
they're already fond of listening to recorded books while driving
or commuting to work, consider a gift subscription to Audible,
whose books are compatible with iTunes and the iPod.
<http://www.audible.com/>
**But Wait, There's More!** Stay tuned next week for the best in
third-party iPod add-ons, car accessories, speakers, reading,
and repair options!
PayBITS: If Dan's recommendations helped you find the perfect iPod
gift, say thanks with a couple of bucks via Amazon or PayPal.
<http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P3UQQEWHYLQXIT/>
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=dan%40frakes.org>
Read more about PayBITS: <http://www.tidbits.com/paybits/>
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/08-Dec-03
------------------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
**How does an app attract fans?** What factors draw devoted users
to a product? Beyond features and price, readers discuss other
things (such as the "underdog-ness") that make some software
stand out from the pack. (15 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2126>
**iPod battery life** -- Some people see their iPod batteries
drifting off after two years, while others' batteries are
still going strong. What factors contribute to iPod battery
life, and what are the options for repairing or replacing them?
(21 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2125>
**Shootout at the Disk Repair Corral** -- David Shayer's excellent
article comparing disk repair utilities prompts discussion
of others' experiences with disk failures and other issues.
(26 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2124>
**2003 Holiday Gift Ideas: Hardware** -- It's time for gizmos,
gadgets, and honkin' big Power Macs. What hardware gifts do
you suggest to plug into your Mac? (9 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2123>
**2003 Holiday Gift Ideas: Software** -- Hand your niece or nephew
some source code... or, be traditional and get some pre-compiled
software for the holidays. Which titles do you favor?
(12 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2122>
**2003 Holiday Gift Ideas: Games** -- Whether you prefer to save
the universe or puzzle through some good brain-benders, which
game titles do you recommend? (11 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2120>
**2003 Holiday Gift Ideas: Computer Miscellaneous** -- Have a gift
idea that doesn't fit into an easy category? Suggest it here!
(24 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2119>
**2003 Holiday Gift Ideas: For the Macintosh-minded** -- Mac users
do have other interests, you know. What would your favorite Apple
enthusiast appreciate? (5 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2121>
$$
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