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ExtraBITS for 01-Jun-09

Hulu Comes to a Desktop Near You — Macworld reports that Hulu, the streaming media giant sponsored by NBC and FOX, has released a new desktop client for both Mac and Windows. The software, compatible with the Apple Remote, has received favorable reviews thus far for its design and functionality. With no browser needed, Hulu Desktop can be more easily integrated into a home entertainment setup, and offers an enticing substitute for traditional cable TV. (Posted 2009-06-01)

The Macalope Disembowels ComputerWorld Security Article — By day, TidBITS Security Editor Rich Mogull runs the Securosis site, which is hosting an article by the pseudonymous Macalope that dissects ComputerWorld’s recent troll bait article about Mac security. Read it, it’s funny. (Posted 2009-05-28)

Jeff Carlson Discusses Apple Genius on Your Mac Life — What makes Apple a “genius” company: software, hardware, marketing? Jeff Carlson plays Pick Your Topic with Shawn King on Your Mac Life. (Posted 2009-05-27)

Apple Spiffs Up White MacBook’s Specs — Demonstrating a continued commitment to the low end of its notebook ladder, Apple has again quietly bumped the specs for the $999 white polycarbonate MacBook. Changes include a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (up from 2.0 GHz), 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (up from 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM), and a 160 GB hard drive (up from 120 GB). (Posted 2009-05-27)

Free iPod with Apple’s Back to School Promotion — From 27-May-09 through 08-Sep-09, any Mac purchased with an education discount comes with a rebate for up to $229 – the cost of an 8 GB iPod touch. If eligible customers want an iPod nano, classic, or shuffle instead, they will be granted a rebate for the corresponding purchase price. (Posted 2009-05-27)

Mac Clone Maker Psystar Files for Bankruptcy — Psystar, the company that has been selling Mac OS-based computers, has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing the economic climate and increased component costs. Apple’s lawsuit over copyright against the resilient company is put on hold during the bankruptcy proceedings. (Posted 2009-05-26)

New Yorker Cover Drawn With iPhone — Artist Jorge Colombo designed the cover for this week’s New Yorker magazine using nothing but his iPhone and the painting app Brushes. Thanks to the help of Brushes Viewer, an app that captures and replays each mark made in Brushes, you can watch the cover image being drawn, step by step. (Posted 2009-05-26)

Adam Discusses GPS Accuracy Issues on Your Mac Life — Shawn King was curious about our coverage of the possible GPS accuracy problems, so Adam joined him on the Your Mac Life radio show to talk about how the problem came about and how it might be solved. Toward the end, the conversation turned slightly into issues of privacy, due to the mistaken impression some people have that they can be tracked by GPS satellites. (Posted 2009-05-21)

Palm Pre to Arrive 06-Jun-09 for $299 — The Palm Pre, potentially the only serious competitor to Apple’s iPhone, will be available 06-Jun-09 for $299. (Palm and Sprint are advertising the price as “starting at $199,” but that price includes a $100 mail-in rebate. Buyers must pay $299 to get the phone and sign up for a two-year service plan, which must include an unlimited data option.) Sprint is the exclusive carrier in the United States, the Pre’s only market at launch. Will people line up for the Pre as they did for the iPhone? Coming two days before WWDC, all eyes will be on Palm and Apple. (Posted 2009-05-19)

Beware MobileMe Phishing Scam — TUAW is reporting on a phishing scam disguised as a renewal notification from MobileMe. The scam comes in the form of an email message claiming that the user’s account’s credit card information is incorrect and must be updated before renewal. Moral of the story? Never, ever, click a link or button in an email message asking for financial or personal information. (Posted 2009-05-19)

The Low-Down on WolframAlpha — Been hearing about the new computational search engine WolframAlpha, but aren’t exactly sure what it’s all about? Peter Cohen at Macworld has the skinny on the latest development in the world of search. (Posted 2009-05-19)

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