Wireless networking is certainly convenient, but is there a faster way of pushing bits through the home without stringing Ethernet cable? Kevin van Haaren explores Powerline networking, which zips data through his house using the electrical cables already in the walls. Also in this issue, Glenn Fleishman follows up last week’s iPhone coverage with specifics on AppleCare and service options, and Adam explains why the ChangeShortName utility is useful. Rounding out the news, we note the releases of Nisus Writer Pro, an Apple fix for Intel-based Macs that experienced popping sounds under Mac OS X 10.4.10, and the release candidate version of the virtualization software Fusion. And speaking of Fusion, please welcome the program’s developer VMware as the newest TidBITS sponsor!
We're pleased to welcome our latest long-term sponsor, VMware, the company that is not just the latest entrant into the virtualization market for Intel-based Macs, but also the overall market leader in virtualization
If you installed Mac OS X 10.4.10 before 02-Jul-07, you probably got version 1.0 of the update, which caused some Intel-based Macs with external speakers to experience "popping" sounds
Nisus Software has released Nisus Writer Pro, a new word processor based on their earlier product, Nisus Writer Express (which remains available). Nisus Writer Pro adds numerous features that appeared in Nisus Writer Classic but hadn't yet been seen in a native Mac OS X version of the program
VMware last week posted the first release candidate for Fusion, their software for running Windows on Intel-based Macs. This version includes improvements to Unity, a mode in which Windows applications can run side-by-side with Mac applications, rather than in a separate Windows window
Unsatisfied with your identity in Mac OS X? Bothered that the person being asked to provide an administrator password isn't really you? You can always open the Accounts pane of System Preferences and change the Name field that holds your full name
The costs of extending your iPhone's warranty, replacing its battery, and having it otherwise repaired are now available. I mistakenly wrote last week in "My First Days with the iPhone" (2007-07-02) that Apple hadn't yet provided details on its AppleCare plan; in fact, those were apparently available for at least a day on the Apple Store's ordering page for the iPhone (click the Warranty button in the bottom right)
After my PowerBook G4's CPU destroyed itself, I replaced it with a much cheaper, but less portable, Mac mini in my living room. When I made this change my wireless network became just a way to bridge the computers in my home office with the computers in the living room
iPhone without the phone part -- A number of people want all the features of the iPhone except the phone - essentially, a really cool iPod or a small tablet Mac