Much of this week’s issue revolves around cellular communications, with Glenn Fleishman covering Vonage’s odd apps for the iPhone and iPod touch and Microsoft’s data-destruction debacle for T-Mobile Sidekick users. Glenn also explains why AT&T’s recent about-face with regard to allowing voice-over-IP apps to work over cellular data connections makes business sense for the company. TidBITS contributor Kirk McElhearn also rejoins us after a long hiatus with an in-depth look at the forthcoming international version of Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader. But we also have two articles about the Mac from guest writers: Lewis Butler explains Mac OS X’s hidden single-application mode, and Christian Voelker relates his experiences getting an old Apple LaserWriter 630 Pro working via Snow Leopard. Notable software releases this week include Epson Printer Drivers 2.1 for Mac OS X 10.6.1, iPhone OS 3.1.2, and Nisus Writer Pro 1.3.1.
Vonage has released calling apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, which are restricted to cheap, fee-per-minute outgoing VoIP calls placed to countries other than the United States. Surprisingly, the iPhone version can use a cellular voice connection when Wi-Fi isn't available.
Danger, danger, Sidekick users! Your data may already be lost. Microsoft reveals that T-Mobile Sidekick owners may have suffered two indignities: a major disruption a week ago, and then no real hope of restoring lost data.
While the pundit spin may be that the FCC forced AT&T's hand in allowing iPhone voice calling apps to use 3G networks to carry calls, it's also a smart move for AT&T to keep customers from switching. In the end, it may make more money for the telecom giant.
Amazon has released the international Kindle, bringing its signature ebook reader to the world outside the United States. But do the company's pricing plans blunt an otherwise exciting announcement? Kirk McElhearn, writing from his home office in the French Alps, takes a look.
Do you have an old Apple LaserWriter that you'd like to keep using from a Mac running Snow Leopard? The loss of AppleTalk makes it harder, but Christian Voelker figured out how to lead his LaserWriter Pro 630 into Snow Leopard's territory, and his experience should help people with similar printers.
Interface options lurk deep within the bowels of Mac OS X, but Lewis Butler shows you how to summon one and put it to work helping you focus on just a few applications at a time.
Notable software releases this week include Epson Printer Drivers 2.1 for Mac OS X 10.6.1, iPhone OS 3.1.2, and Nisus Writer Pro 1.3.1.
We've been enjoying an embarrassment of rich content of late, and we didn't want these great articles to go unnoticed by our email subscribers simply because we had more timely pieces that took their places in this week's issue. These articles will likely appear in the future, but if you want to read them now, just visit our Web site (where you can make comments too!).
Read on for a collection of links to some of the most interesting articles and resources that the TidBITS staff discovered on the Web this week.
In this week's TidBITS Talk discussions, Snow Leopard gets a workout with reports of FTP issues and other aggravations that some readers have discovered. The iPhone also gets attention, with readers looking for voice recording apps, inexpensive device holders, dealing with international data roaming charges, and how to resuscitate a dead unit. Also this week, the topic of backups comes up - specifically, synchronizing folders - and the search is on for a resource to replace the discontinued Apple Macintosh Products Guide.