Broadband delayed for Kilmacanogue exchange

We have been following closely the availability of broadband in Kilmacanogue in Co. Wicklow. We are located in the area, and when we moved here we were dismayed to learn that this exchange still had not been upgraded to broadband. As an area alongside the N11 and with all surrounding exchanges already enabled, it was bizarre to see that Kilmacanogue was still left out in the cold. At present, some residents can get low speeds, as the Bray exchange has been enabled and some lines are close enough to this exchange to receive broadband. Read More...

Google to introduce Chrome OS

This week Google announced that it would go head-to-head with Microsoft by launching its own operating system, Chrome OS. This follows on from Google's new web browser, Chrome, which launched this year. However, this also raises the question of the future role of Eric Schmidt, Google CEO.

Schmidt has been a board member at Apple since August 2006. However Apple have said that Schmidt leaves the room during Apple's board meetings when the iPhone is being discussed. Google's own mobile OS, Android, means that Schmidt has excused himself from these discussions to prevent being accused of a conflict of interest. The question now is, will he also have to be outside the room during discussions about the Mac OS, a rival to Chrome OS?
Read More...

BT Ireland- providing the worse telecoms "customer care" experience?

Part 2: Our second experience was with BT Ireland. Read More...

Beware of Eircom salespeople offering broadband

Part 1: We reported in May about experiences we had with Eircom and BT. We thought we would share a bit more of what happened now that both cases have been settled.
Read More...

Apple have started their annual Back to School Offer, which gives students and teachers the chance to buy a Mac at reduced prices, and to receive a rebate when buying an iPod and Mac together.

The offer is available for teachers, lecturers and all students in higher education institutions. If they buy a qualifying Mac before September 8th 2009, they can get a €185 rebate on an iPod touch. Read More...

O2 have released their tariffs and prices for the new iPhone 3G S. The new phones will be available form June 26th, although data tethering will not be available at launch. However MMS will be available from the start, something AT&T have been criticised for the in the US.
Read More...

If you watch the WWDC keynote speech you will see Phil Schiller announce the dates for the launch of the iPhone 3G S. Here are three snapshots of those dates: Read More...

Apple set out a realignment of its laptop range at the WWDC conference this week. The MacBook now only has one model in its range, the last of the white plastic MacBooks. Now all of the aluminium MacBook models are MacBook Pros This makes sense as it gives a clear difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro ranges.

Read More...

Apple have launched the new iPhone 3G S, which is due to go on sale later this month. The new phone is faster than its predecessor, the iPhone 3G, and incorporates a new video and stills camera. It also has voice controls for making calls, a built in compass for sat nav software and other apps, and comes with the new 3.0 OS.

Read More...

We have advised on this area before on Mac Information, but it is well worth repeating- if you deal with Eircom or BT Ireland or any internet provider, write down all details of your discussions with them.
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Handy way to share files using your iPhone



One App Store application we really like is Quickoffice Files, which allows you to download or place files on your iDisk, and email them to colleagues. You can also connect your Mac to the iPhone to drop files between the devices. Read More...

Sharing files online and using passwords

Mac Information have put together a PDF guide on sharing files online, using the MobileMe service. The PDF (link below) shows how to set this up, how to configure files with password protection, and how to remove them once you are done. Read More...

A closer look at Amazon.co.uk's pricing

As we reported yesterday, Amazon are offering good prices on some new Macs. With the reintroduction of shipments to Ireland it gives another option to Irish buyers.

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Amazon introduce delivery to a range for European countries



Amazon have started to ship electronic goods to Ireland again after an absence of about 3 years. Amazon had stopped shipments to Ireland when the WEEE recycling fee was introduced, but have now returned to selling goods with new shipping rates. Read More...

Help to avoid huge data bills when abroad

Mac Information have put together a PDF guide on roaming changes for data, and how best to avoid big bills. The PDF shows you how to use WiFi only when roaming, and how to change your settings before stepping on that plane. Read More...

The new iPhone operating system, based on Mac OS X, was previewed this week at a special Apple event held in Cupertino. Version 3.0 promises many new features, 100 according to Apple. Some of these are very welcome and fill gaps which we had hoped would be filled soon.

Read More...

Apple launched a new iPod shuffle today, with two colours available. The shuffle comes with 4GB of storage for 1000 songs. Not only is this shuffle smaller than ever (1.8" x 0.3"), but all controls are now on the earbuds instead of on the face of the shuffle. The only button on the top is an on/off switch- where you can set it to play, shuffle or turn it off.

Read More...

We have been using MobileMe, and its previous incarnations since .Mac and the early days of iTools (remember that?). The main reason is our personal email address- we would hate to change it at this stage; the idea of giving up MobileMe and losing our @mac.com address is more than one could bear!

However over the years, the internet services from Apple have evolved. Three of the best examples are the iDisk (which we use all of the time to host previews for clients' websites), Galleries for photos (called "homepage" in the .Mac days), and MobileMe screen sharing. This last item is a gem. We have used it to retrieve files, start processing tasks before we return to the office and generally it keeps us in touch with our office Mac.
Read More...

Let your visitors online but not into your files

One of the neatest developments this week was the introduction of guest access on the new Airport Extreme and Time Capsules. Up to now, if you had guests staying you would have to give them your password to allow them to go online on your wireless network. This was all very well, but given that most people use the same password for almost all logins, this could mean revealing a bit more than you wished to a guest. Sometimes passwords chosen are personal reflections of the person's likes and dislikes, and revealing a password is like being asked for an intimate secret! Read More...

New Mac Pros, Mac minis and iMacs

Apple today announced revisions to its entire desktop range, with speed bumps and new chips for its Macs. The Mac Pro, Apple's professional desktop range, gets its first speed bump in over a year, with a new chip, the Nehalem version of Intel's Xeon processors.
Read More...

20” display vanishes

Yesterday Apple dropped the 20” Cinema display from its line up on the online store. This reduces the choice of screens to two, the new 24” display which was introduced to work with the MacBook and MacBook Pros, and the traditional 30” HD display, which works with a Mac Pro desktop. This reduces the choice for the consumer to one screen for a Mac model- the 24” for new Apple laptops and the 30” for new desktops.
Read More...

With the advent of the iPhone, many of the people we work with are beginning to turn to MobileMe, Apple’s online email and sync service. However there is one very important lesson which many have learnt over the last few years, with .Mac and the new MobileMe: backup regularly. Read More...

Face recognition or new tagging



After one day playing with Apple’s iLife ’09 package, one thing has become clear to us- the new iPhoto face recognition feature should be called “face tagging”. Read More...

Apple have reported another record quarter, with $1.61 billion profit for Q1 2009. Revenue was a record breaking $10.17 billion, half a billion higher than the same quarter in 2008. Cash and short term investments stood at a staggering $28 billion, up $3.6 billion in the quarter.

Here are a few points we noted from the financial conference call... Read More...

Here are a few sites which we think hit the mark and offered a good comment on the story about Steve Jobs’ health: Read More...

In all of the coverage of Steve Jobs’ leave of absence, we found one article particularly distasteful. This is a report from Bloomberg, entitled, “Steve Jobs May Have Pancreas Removed After Cancer”. The article is based on the premise that Jobs may have his pancreas removed after the a return of the cancer he suffered from in 2004.



I found the article distasteful on a number of levels. Firstly it is based on pure speculation; there is currently no evidence to suggest a return of Jobs’ pancreatic cancer, and suggesting this is pure guesswork. Read More...

Apple CEO suffering from hormone imbalance

Today Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, issued an open letter to the Apple community, giving details of his ill-health. It sought to reassure the Apple, and wider business community, of his health position. Jobs has admitted that he is suffering from weight loss brought on by a hormone imbalance, but has aimed to dismiss rumours of a return of his cancer. Read More...

iPod nano for 14 euro when bought with a new Mac

Apple have launched their “Back to School” promotion which offers students and teachers a rebate when they buy a Mac and iPod together. Read More...

Will Google’s new mobile OS effect the iPhone?

Our initial impression of Android is that it is a solid bit of software, but not a threat to the iPhone right now. There are a number of key features of the software which does not offer the same level of usability as the iPhone.

The first part which is missing is the multi-touch interface of the iPhone. Android doe not offer this feature, and for anyone who has browsed web pages and photos with two fingers on an iPhone, zooming in and out with a finger and thumb, going back would be hard to do. Using arrow keys is soo yesterday!! Secondly you can’t play video on an Android driven phone right now. This will surely change, but it does show the rough edges which are there right now.

However, the bigger drawback is hardware. Until a company produces something better than the G1, HTC’s plastic block of a phone, it will not attract the same market as the iPhone. The G1 is plain ugly, with a plethora of plastic buttons. We know some people who would prefer if there were physical keys on the iPhone, but the idea of the old plastic keys makes us queasy. We like the way the iPhone touch-screen keyboard layouts change depending on the application, and the idea of plastic hardware keyboards takes us back to the days of our Palm Treo.

For now the Android OS looks set to cause a few headaches at Microsoft. Why would a company license Microsoft’s Windows Mobile when there is an open source OS available from a company as large as Google? Windows Mobile has a small percentage of the market, and the introduction of Android must surely begin to seal this position?

As for the HTC handset, the G1, it looks to us like a Nokia type of phone, attracting the Nokia buyer. It lacks in the OS finesse which Apple brought to the market, and given that Google can never control the hardware and software integration, Android phones may never have the same cool factor as the iPhone. So we think this new venture by Google will impact the market share of the traditional phone market. For now the iPhone keeps its own space, but Android 2 may yet be a threat.

How to avoid huge bills on your return

As a reminder to readers, it is worth noting the steps you can take if you are planning to use your iPhone abroad. The iPhone can be used when away and, with a few simple steps, it does not have to mean you return to a huge bill.

First a few basic rules: Read More...

So Canadians think they have it bad...?

Given the recent controversy in Canada over the iPhone 3G charges, we decided to compare O2 Ireland's rates to the Canadian carrier, Rogers Communications. What we found was that in many cases, O2 Ireland are even worse. The Rogers call charges are far more generous, with free unlimited weekend and evening calls, compared to the anytime minutes given by O2. Rogers offer a better number of inclusive text messages and free visual voicemail [not available in Ireland]. However O2 offers much cheaper data charges when the user exceeds their monthly limit. The Rogers contract however runs for a ridiculous 3 years

Read More...

What to do in advance of the launch...

O2 will begin to sell the new iPhone 3G on July 11th, and we have prepared some steps for people intending to buy a new phone. Here is a list of suggestions on how to get your information and settings ready: Read More...

O2 Ireland have no firm plans yet...

We contacted O2 Ireland this week to see when visual voicemail would be introduced on their network. However we received the following statement:
"Unfortunately the visual voicemail is not supported by the network here as yet. We will be looking closely at developing it if its something our customers tell us they want." Read More...

Major price cut announced...

Apple have announced the release of the second generation iPhone, the iPhone 3G. It's due to arrive in Ireland, and 21 other countries, on July 11th. The announcement was made at the WWDC conference in San Francisco, where Apple also demonstrated its new iPhone OS X. This will be a free upgrade for current iPhone owners, and a paid download for iPod touch users. Read More...

O2 Ireland have no firm plans yet...

We contacted O2 Ireland this week to see when visual voicemail would be introduced on their network. However we received the following statement:
"Unfortunately the visual voicemail is not supported by the network here as yet. We will be looking closely at developing it if its something our customers tell us they want." Read More...

New Wi-Fi deal announced...

The iPhone 3G will be available in Ireland on July 11 and can be purchased through O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores. There are two models: 8GB and 16GB. According to O2 Ireland, the iPhone 3G price will be subsidised, and priced according to which of the existing three iPhone tariffs a customer chooses:
8GB iPhone plans: Read More...

Not quite the deal we hoped for...

The details of the tariffs for the new iPhone 3G are now out and they make unpleasant reading for Irish customers. Looking at the figures, most of the costs are significantly higher for Ireland than for our UK neighbours. First, the good news:
1/ many of the details for Ireland have remained the same in the switch to the iPhone 3G- same tariffs plans, same monthly charge, same texts and inclusive minutes, and same charges for addition voice and text calls. No increased data costs in the move to 3G. Read More...

Speeds reach 3 Ghz...

Apple have refreshed its range of iMacs, the top selling desktop Mac. The new range comes with faster Intel Core 2 Duo chips, and three of the four models have 2GB of RAM built in. Read More...

Upgrading to 1.1.4...

Readers of Mac Information will know that we looked at using an iPhone in Ireland in 2007 before O2 launched the Apple smartphone in March 2008.
We had reservations at the time, but still see the O2 route as the best method for those people who would like to have their warranty honoured and have the help of Apple support if anything goes wrong. However, if you are like us, you may enjoy jailbreaking the iPhone, which is the method which allows you to customise and install third party apps on the phone.
We have been using a iPhone for 6 months now, and the one problem we had was the inability to upgrade to the latest iPhone software. We were unwilling to risk our perfectly working phone by removing software version 1.1.1 and installing 1.1.4. The risk ranged between ending up with a phone which would not recognise our SIM card to a completely unusable unit! Our reason to upgrade was motivated by one small problem- the iPhone under 1.0.2 and 1.1.1 did not send us an SMS message if there was a voicemail message waiting for us, and this was an irritation. Read More...

Some odd drawbacks to what is being offered...

O2 have announced that the iPhone is to be available in Ireland from March 14th 2008. This is welcome news, and somewhat surprising that Ireland has received the iPhone ahead of larger European countries, such as Italy and Spain.
Looking at the tariffs and the offering for Irish customers, we are surprised by some of the specifics: Read More...

Apple add "gestures" feature to both models...

Apple have updated the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines by adding in the new Multi-touch trackpad, first introduced with the MacBook Air in January. The Multi-touch trackpad allows for gestures, such as zooming in and out of an image using two fingers. To make a change, the user "gestures" on the trackpad and this changes the zoom or rotation of the document. This technology is also used in the iPhone and the iPod touch, where users are familiar with the pinching and scrolling techniques.
Read More...

Watch out Rob Enderle...

As reported on many occasions by Mac Information, tech news accuracy isn't the SBP's strong point. Their reporting on Apple related stories is normally at best misrepresented, and at worst, hopelessly inaccrate. This weekend is no exception:
"Apple's iPhone may not launch in Ireland until April 'at the earliest' Apple sources [sic] have told Computers in Business."
Now for a start, if anyone in Apple had told the SBP that the iPhone now won't be sold in Ireland until April, the said employee will be on the way out the door the various pieces of their shredded employment contract. If there is one thing we know bout Apple's launch dates, they are not a fact until they are officially announced, and any rumour, speculation, and imaginative theory from the SBP is entirely without substance.
The statement that the iPhone "will not now launch" until April is entirely fabricated to match the SBP's inaccurate speculation during 2007, that it would launch at the start of 2008. Having created a false piece of "fact" in previous articles, the SBP can now announce that this date has changed. Read More...

Apple announce new pro desktops in advance of Macworld...

In a somewhat unusual move, Apple revamped its pro desktop line today, introducing new Mac Pros, with a new "Harpertown" Intel processors. With Macworld just around the corner (January 15th), most would have guessed that new desktops would be part of Steve Jobs' keynote presentation. However this may indicate that the keynote contains other laptop news, bumping the Mac Pros to their own press release a week in advance.
The new models come with the following standard spec, but can be customised to suit the user: Read More...

Apple's new laptop may not suit everyone...

Apple's new ultra portable laptop has some great advantages and some drawbacks. Here is an outline of what we feel are the pros and cons:

The advantages of the MacBook Air:

• size- the laptop is only 0.76 inches at its thickest point and weighs 3 pounds (1.36kg).
  • compromise doesn't mean tiny screen- 13.3" display, the same as a standard MacBook.
  • strong metal casing- essential given its thickness to protect the internal parts.
  • the included micro-DVI socket means you can connect to an Apple 20" or 23" display.

Read More...

Small pieces we can't live without...

We are regularly asked about small items, such as how can you combine two PDFs, or is there a quick way to update a website? People want small apps which will do a particular task, and do it without waiting ages to launch programs (Adobe are you listening?), or offering too many over complex options.
Here are a few of the gems we use again and again, and which we feel are essential to the way we work:
1/ Combine PDF: This app allows you to take multiple PDFs, combine them (as the name suggests!), but also to lets you merge, remove pages, change their order, and generally manipulate the PDF document's order. And its free. Read More...

What we liked in the past year...

5/ AppleTV: it hasn't been the headline act of 2007, but the Apple TV is just a good, useful machine. We have our music streaming across the network using Airport wireless, and like watching the photos, TV shows and movies from any of our networked Macs. Apple TV brings our Macs together and in a usable and fun way. The interface is great, and watching a streamed movieworks flawlessly. Now if only we could download a great selection of movies directly from the iTunes Store... Read More...

Cryptic Peach offer experience of new Mac OS...

Training provider Cryptic Peach is offering a free session in Dublin on November 30th 2007, covering the new Mac O X Leopard. Leopard is Apple's latest OS version, including new features such as Time Machine (automated backups), improved Spotlight searches and new versions of Apple applications such as Safari, Mail and iCal. Read More...

Our experiences using the iPhone in Ireland...

There are many things we like and dislike about the iPhone after our first few weeks of use. Here is a selection:

What we love about the iPhone:
1/ the screen- we love the clear, crisp display. But above all this, it has no scratches. Whatever Apple have done with the design, it is robust and scratch-free so far, and the materials used are just what are needed.
2/ Safari- this has transformed our use of a mobile phone or PDA. We struggled to use a Treo 650 before the iPhone, and the internet experience on the iPhone is miles ahead of any other handheld device.
3/ The unlock procedure- to wake the iPhone you press the home button and then slide your finger across the screen to push open the slider bar. This is just intuitive and pure genius. There is no chance of the phone accidentally turning itself one, unlike other mobiles. Read More...

Data plans and upgrading...

We discovered one important lesson this week in relation to data charges and conflicting plans. Vodafone have introduced a new data plan recently, which gives 500MB per month for around 10 euro. However this is for Vodafne Live services only. Read More...

Sets new record for Mac sales...

Apple reported some astonishing results for the fourth quarter of 2007. Profits hit $904 million, with $6.22 billion in sales for the past three months. One of the most notable figures was for Macintosh sales, hitting a record of around 2.2 million units for the quarter. Read More...

Spectra Photo to sell Mac OS X Leopard on day one...

Spectra Photo on Grafton Street, Dublin, are to start selling the new version of Mac OS X, Leopard, at 6pm on the day of its launch. This matches events being held in the UK and in the US, when Leopard goes on sale on October 26th. Read More...

Our experiences setting up the iPhone with our carrier...

[For updated information on the launch of the iPhone in Ireland- see this page]
We have been using an iPhone in Ireland for the last three weeks and so thought we would share our experiences in setting up the iPhone and using it with our Vodafone account.
Firstly, the background. We bought an iPhone in the US in September, having read stories of users being able to hack the phone and use a SIM card from a carrier other than AT&T, Apple's US cellphone partner. However we were unsure if this would work successfully. We just decided that it was worth the risk. We were going to be asked about it by our clients and it was worth investigating the options. Read More...

Mac focused announcements...

At a special news event held in Cupertino, Apple announced new iMacs, alongside a slew of software product updates.
The new iMacs have been designed with glass and aluminium, making them thinner and lighter. They now come in two sizes, with 20 and 24 inch models.
The keyboard has been completely redesigned, and is much thinner than its predecessor. The iMac also comes with a wireless Mighty Mouse as standard. Both the keyboard and the Mighty Mouse work using Bluetooth technology. Prices start at €1199 or £799 Read More...

Our list of expectations from the Expo...

We still don't know if there will be a keynote at the Apple European Expo in Paris, but here is our wish list for the event. There are a number of expectation from the event, and this is our eternally optimistic favourites... Read More...

No announcement on Jobs' and other executives' presence...

The Apple Expo in Paris is to be held in just under one month's time, starting on September 25th 2007. However, there is still no word on whether there will be a keynote address by Apple. The last keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs was in 2003, with Phil Shiller stepping in in 2004 when Jobs was recovering from a cancer operation. Read More...

Amsys offer OS X 10.4 and 10.4 Server courses in Dublin and Cork...

Amsys, an Apple training specialist, is now offering courses in Ireland, covering OS X and OS X server. The 10.4 Support Essentials course runs over three days and is an intense course on an introduction to the OS and troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.4 issues. The Server Essentials course runs for four days and covers setup and implementation of an OS X Server. Read More...

Repair agents for Irish customers are few and far between...

At Mac Information we are often asked for advice as to where customers can get their Macs or iPods repaired when calamity strikes. We have found that the options are quite limited and easily accessible only to those who live in or near the major cities.
We have written before about the ambiguity in the AppleCare provision for Irish customers. Those who have purchased AppleCare have, in theory, a number of options should they need repair for a piece of Apple hardware; they can arrange for Apple to pick up the computer/iPod that needs fixing, they can have repairs carried out on-site, or they can use a third party for the repairs and the costs are covered through the AppleCare warranty. Currently in Ireland, the third party option seems to be the only one available, and we are still seeking clarification from Apple on this. Read More...

Apple Ireland runs a scheme for recycling old Mac equipment...

Apple Ireland currently run a free scheme to allow for the recycling of old equipment for customers who have purchased a new Apple product.
The service is available only to those customers who have bought something from the Apple online store in Ireland, or using the telesales service. The scheme is also based on a 'like for like' exchange, so that buying a laptop doesn't become an opportunity to clear several generations of desk-top computers out of your attic!
What it does mean, however, is that if you buy a piece of Apple equipment from Apple Ireland, they will take charge of recycling your old Apple equipment (no Dells or Hewlett Packards please!). The customer contacts Apple and makes a request for the equipment that is ready for recycling to be picked up. Apple send a confirmation email detailing the time and date for the pick-up. Read More...

We deal with some of the myths surrounding the iPhone...

When will the iPhone be released in Europe?: Apple have always said it will be towards the end of 2007, followed by early 2008 in Asia. There is currently no indication that this date will change.

Will the iPhone be available in Ireland and the UK?: This depends almost entirely on the final choice of operator. If Apple choose to go with O2 and Vodafone, then this would point to both countries being included in the release. However if they go with T-Mobile or another operator, Ireland may be left out. Apple are likely to aim to include France, Germany and the UK at the outset. Read More...

The 10 mistakes we can find in the Sunday Business Post's article, 24th June 2007...
Read More...

270,000 iPhones sold in first 30 hours...

Apple's third quarter results have shown a profit of $818 million. Revenue was $5.41 billion with 40% of revenue coming from international sales.§ Read More...

Faster chips and more RAM...

On June 6th 2007, Apple updated the MacBook Pro range, moving the entry model's Core Duo chip from 2.16 to 2.2Ghz. The middle (15") and top of range (17") move from 2.33 to 2.4Ghz. The increases seem to be small, but these are new Core Duo chips, offering better speed increases than may be first apparent. Read More...

The possibilities of Apple Stores in Ireland...
In the last few years there have been many changes in the presence of Apple products in the Irish marketplace. The first major change has been within mainstream stores in Irish retail spaces, with Apple products now available in 02 Experience stores, 3G and Spectra Photo. This is certainly a change in the market, as for years Apple products had been dogged by poor positioning in relatively few outlets. We certainly welcome the development in this direction. Apple hardware and software can be viewed, tried and enquired about in high street locations for the first time in many years.
In fact the arrival of the new crop of sellers came after the demise of PC retailer Compustore, and just in time to prevent the complete absence of Apple products in the centre of Dublin. The Compustore shop on Kildare Street was for many years the only prominent Apple outlet the heart of Dublin city. The collapse of Compustore left an impression in the consumer's mind that the "Apple store" had gone out of business (curiously this store used the Apple logo and the name "Apple Store" on its signage). The arrival of the 02 Experience store on Grafton Street re-established a presence for Apple and meant that the consumer could have a hands-on experience of the product before purchasing.
Around the time that the Compustore shop was open, the United States saw the first of the new Apple retail stores which was Apple's first venture into owning the whole customer experience. In 2001, Apple began to build and run their own retail outlets, and since then this has become the benchmark against which all retail experience of their products is judged. This is now carried through to other countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy. Anyone who has visited an Apple retail store, such as the one on Regent Street in London, will know about the unique experience of entering a genuine Apple shop, and will have seen the way in which Apple products are presented to the consumer, a far cry from many consumer experiences of the past.
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The Apple retail experience is one of detail, knowledge and presentation to would-be potential purchasers. The Genius bar, where Mac users can ask questions about their product such as support questions and technical queries, values the purchaser and builds the feeling of community for anyone moving into the Macintosh market. The Apple retail outlet is a sanctuary for the Macintosh user. In contrast, if you have visited the average PC store, such as PC World, you will very quickly feel and experience the difference between the technical jargon-based PC purchasing experience and the open friendly and supportive nature of the Apple retail store.
However, therein lies the problem for Dublin. Any Mac user who has visited London and the Regent Street store will be painfully aware of the absence of such a consumer experience in Ireland. Whilst the 02 store has moved the availability and presence of Apple products many steps forward, there is still no comparison to a genuine Apple run store. Consumers who have struggled for years to receive good customer service as a Mac user in Ireland will long for Apple's move into this country.
So how likely is it that Apple will launch a new retail store in Dublin or any part of Ireland? Given that Apple now have a number of stores throughout the United Kingdom, such as in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Kent and Southampton, it seems likely that extending these retail outlets into the only other English-speaking country in Europe would be a logical step. Apple have also entered the euro-zone by opening a store in Rome, and so there seems no barrier stopping Apple launching in Dublin, except maybe the issue of mass. They may consider that Dublin is too small to warrant a full Apple retail outlet, and indeed it's possible that Apple Ireland's view is that the Mac community is better served by partnerships with third-party companies, such as 02 and 3G.
There are two tiers in the experiences of a Macintosh customer. Firstly there is the purchase experience. As mentioned, this has improved dramatically in recent years, but the potential Macintosh purchaser still faces issues when walking into a store. The current crop of outlets normally stock a very selective range of hardware and software products. It is extremely difficult to find any store stocking a wide range of software titles and so the option of 'browsing', or dropping into a store to pick up an accessory, really doesn't exist in the Irish marketplace.
The second tier is that of support and service. In our own personal experience this has been one of the most difficult aspects of being a Macintosh user in Ireland. Up until about two years ago AppleCare warranty normally offered a level of support and security as, in the event of a hardware failure, Apple would collect the Mac via courier, repair and return it. Although AppleCare isn't cheap, we felt it was a price worth paying to provide a full service from end to end. However in 2006 Apple appeared to withdraw the direct courier service, leaving consumers dependent on third-party repair agents. Our direct experience, and the experience of our clients, is that we have found these third-party agents to be in many cases below the standard we would expect from Apple. We have encountered problems with delays in repair, lack of good quality customer service, and issues around delivery and collection. Quite why Apple withdrew the full AppleCare service in Ireland is unclear. We have contacted Apple on three separate occasions looking for answers, but have yet to receive a full response.
We strongly believe that the introduction of Apple retail stores in Ireland is simply a matter of time and we would strongly welcome any such move. The services currently being offered pale in comparison to a genuine Apple retail store, and we hope that the experience which is now available in the UK and other countries will soon come to these shores.
Simon Spence/2007

Gross margin reaches 35%...

Apple have reported a $770 million profit for the second quarter of 2007, with $5.26 billion in revenue. This compares to $4.36 billion and profit of $410 million in the same quarter in 2006. Operating expenses rose by almost $100 million to $863 million. Read More...

New prices for Apple displays...

Apple have introduced new Mac Pros, with new chips inside. The new Mac Pros come with two “Clovertown” Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5300 series processors. They comes with 1GB of RAM, but there are eight FB-DIMM slots on two memory riser cards (four slots per card) supporting up to 16GB of main memory. The price of Mac Pros remain unchanged. Read More...

New Universal applications available in April...

Adobe have announced the price and range of new their CS3 products. New versions of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash and Contribute will be available from April 2007. There are also four main bundles: Design Standard, Design Premium, Web Standard and Web Premium. Read More...

First views of the AppleTV...

We have spent our first few days with AppleTV and so far we like its simplicity and ease of use. We also see its potential, and how Apple may add more features in the future.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the product, based on our initial experiences Read More...

The choice of network in Ireland...

One of the most important decisions Apple will have to make will be to choose a network when they launch the iPhone in Europe towards the end of this year. There have been a number of recent rumours about their choice of network provider, and this is all the more relevant in the Irish market.
To date, O2 have embraced Apple products in Ireland, including them in their 02 Experience stores. The 02 Experience store on Grafton St in Dublin stocks a number of Apple laptops and desktop machines, along with a selection of accessories and software. It is unclear what would happen if Vodafone won the iPhone contract. The Irish mobile market could see a very unusual set of circumstances, with O2 stocking Macs and Vodafone stocking the iPhone.
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Ireland to be able to download movie and TV content...

With the release of the new iTunes this week (version 7.1), one change has caught our eye. The "Parental" section of the iTunes preferences shows a new option to choose ratings for Ireland and also for the UK. Given that there are almost no video downloads for the Irish and UK iTunes Stores, this seems to point to a future introduction of this type of content. Read More...

Apple adverts: when global beats local...
Apple US adverts succeed where the UK variants fail...

Over the last year, Apple have been running a series of adverts in the US which attempt to personify the Mac vs PC debate. Fans of digital channel More 4 will know one of the actors, John Hodgman, from the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Justin Long, who plays the role of Mac, starred in films such as Jeepers Creepers and Dodgeball. Read More...

The debate on iTunes music and copyright protection...

If you have been following the recent debate on DRM, you will see the way in which the various parties have begun to set out their stalls. The debate was started by Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. CEO, when his open letter was posted on Apple's website. "Thoughts on Music" suggested that DRM free music was the future for selling tunes on the internet. Read More...

Irish & UK buyers receive e-mail from Apple confirming change...

Apple have sent e-mails to customers informing them of a delay in shipping the new Apple TV units. Originally, the online Apple Store for Ireland and the UK listed the shipment date as the end of February. This has now been changed to shipments being made on 20th March, with an estimated delivery date of 30th March. Read More...

Our completely arbitrary view of the best and worst of the year, from a Mac user's perspective...

Its not scientific, its not even widely canvassed, but below is our view on the 2006, and the highs and lows for Macs users from a customer service perspective. These are the things we loved and the so-called providers that got under our skin! Enjoy.
Best product of 2006:

1. The new iPod shuffle: impossibly small, superb design around the clip function, and only 90 euro. This for us is the kind of device we want to buy just because it is out there. We already have full video iPods, but have the urge to buy a new shuffle anyway! Top marks Apple.
   2 The new MacBook: we love the new Intel based MacBook. Cheap, robust, and features such as the iSight camera and a Magsafe adapter.
   3 The wireless Mighty Mouse: what did we do before the track-pea was invented? Damn you Windows oriented USB mice- we don't want a clunky track wheel- the wireless Mighty Mouse just works perfectly for us. The wireless version appeared in July and is just what we were waiting for.
   4 Parallels Desktop- we run our accounts package on Windows, simply due to a request by our accountant. This is fine as we only use it for about 2 days a month. Parallels have developed one of the nicest Windows experiences for a Mac user (sounds like an oxymoron!). Plus the fact that the Intel chip now runs Windows apps at a good speed, this makes Parallels one of those break-through products that comes along every now and again. Makes Boot camp look so yesterday!
   5 Canon HV-10. We liked this HD video camera so much we jumped in and purchased one! Small, compact, light and superb picture quality. Alright, it costs over 1000 euro, but this is what we paid for our original DV camera five years ago at the start of the DV camera boom. Its form and shape means we can now bring this out without feeling like we are a film crew lugging around our equipment. A real gem.

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Only one option available to Irish consumers...

Recently a number of issues around Apple support have arisen for our clients. Over the past few years we have recommended AppleCare to all clients, especially those who had bought Apple laptops. However since the middle of 2006, Apple support to Irish customers has changed, with courier or the mail-in repairs service being withdrawn, and only one option remaining for AppleCare customers. Read More...

Virtual PC 7 "coming soon"...

Just browsing through Microsoft's site for Ireland, it appears that their Virtual PC 7 for Mac OS X is still "coming soon". This misses the fact that Virtual PC launched in October 2004! It looks like their Irish pages haven't been updated in quite some time. Internet Explorer is listed on the left hand side of the page, despite the fact that Microsoft announced in June 2003 that it was dropping development of IE.
The site itself consists of only two pages the home page and one about Office 2004, with the rest of the links connecting back to the main Microsoft site, or to the US based Mactopia pages.
Makes you wonder why they even bothered creating pages for Microsoft Ireland if there is no attempt to update them. Read More...

Event held in the RDS on 25th & 26th November 2006...

Apple are to exhibit at Music Ireland, held at the RDS on 25 & 26th November 2006. The Exhibitor Info page for the event shows an Apple stand. However there are no details on their participation, with no details on what they will exhibit or demonstrate. Read More...

Core 2 Duo processor matches the MacBook Pro range...

Apple have updated the MacBook to include the Core 2 Duo processor. Previously, the Core 2 Duo was available in the MacBook Pro range. The update brings a speed bump to the MacBook, but prices have remained the same. This move makes the MacBook an attractive product as Apple heads into the Christmas buying season.
Other changes include larger hard drives, with the middle of the three MacBook models receiving a boost from 60 to 80GB. The top of the range black MacBook now has 120GB of space, up from 80GB. Read More...

Irish Times swallows rumour site stories...

If there is one thing which really annoys us, its when news sites swallow rumours whole, assuming them to be fact, and reporting them as truth. However, what is suprising is when this comes from sources we generally trust as relaible and well researched. Read More...

Safari users get stuck during bookings...

A number of our clients have complained about the Irish Rail online bookings site. If you go to www.irishrail.ie and try to book a ticket using Safari, you get stuck on the seat allocation page.
You can select a seat, but when you try to click on "Continue" to move to the next stage of your booking, it fails and you can proceed with the booking. Read More...

Photography event to be held in Dublin on Dec 2nd 2006...

Apple's iLife 06 Roadshow has one stop in Dublin. Read More...

Speed bump for Apple's Pro laptops...

Apple have added the faster Core 2 Duo chip to its pro line of laptops, the MacBook Pro. The Core 2 Duo is the same chip used in Apple's iMac line. Read More...

Aperture demo part of seminar lineup...

The Photovision Seminar series is coming to Dublin on 7th September 2006. The day of events includes a Photoshop tips and tricks session, plus a demo of Apple's Aperture program. Read More...

Launch completes Intel transition...

Apple have completed their transition from Power PC to Intel processors with the introduction of the new Mac Pro desktop. This model replaces the Power PC based Power Mac G5, and is aimed at design and video professionals looking for the fastest Mac available. Read More...

160 euro off the price of an iPod...

Apple have extended their US promotion to the UK and Ireland, where you can claim up to 160 euro in a rebate when buying a Mac and an iPod. The offer runs until October 7th 2006. Read More...

All Apple laptops now powered by Intel...

On Tuesday 16th May 2006 Apple released the MacBook, a new consumer-level portable Mac. At MacWorld in January 2006 Apple launched the MacBook Pro, and today's laptops mean that every Apple portable is now powered by Intel chips. Like its older brother, the MacBook is powered by Intel Due Core processors. Read More...

All electronic goods are now UK-only...

In the last few weeks Amazon.co.uk have changed their delivery terms and conditions, and have stopped shipping goods to customers in the Republic of Ireland. Orders for books and music can still be dispatched, but items in the Electronics & Photo, PC & Video Games and other sections of the store are now listed as available for delivery in the UK only. Read More...

FireWire 800 and 8x SuperDrive return; price goes up...

Apple have launched a 17" version of the Mac Book Pro, and this comes with the welcome return of a FireWire 800 port. When Apple launched the 15" MacBook Pro in January it lacked the FireWire 800 port, something its predecessor had (the PowerBook 15" laptop). Read More...

But what of the keynote...

Details for Apple Expo 2006 in Paris have been announced. The show is the largest Macintosh trade show in Europe, and is the only show outside the US which is attended by some Apple executives, including CEO Steve Jobs. Since the demise of MacWorld Tokyo, Apple have focused three shows: MacWorld San Francisco (January), the WWDC (summer) and Apple Expo (September). They also attend a selection of smaller shows such one in London (Sept/Oct) or various specialist trade shows such as NAB (National Association of Broadcasters). Read More...

Designed to integrate your iPod into your home entertainment system...

Apple have released an iPod speaker system called the iPod Hi-Fi. It allows you to integrate your iPod into your home audio system. Read More...

3,500 primary schools by the end of 2006 to use Mac film technologies...

Apple are currently providing the technology at the heart of the FÍS initiative, to provide film skills in the classroom of Irish primary schools. Read More...

Training available in FCP, Logic, DVD Studio Pro, Shake and Motion...

Filmbase are offering a series of training courses in Apple pro applications during 2006. Filmbase is an authorised Apple training centre and so their courses are Apple certified. Participants can also sit an Apple examination at the end of the training period to qualify in their course. Read More...

National broadcaster puts toe in water and offers a small selection of shows...

RTE have begun to offer some of its Radio 1 and 2FM shows as podcasts. There is now a webpage on the RTE site offering a list of the current selection. These include 'Documentary on One', 'The Business' and 'The Weekly Ryan'.
However the selection at present is poor. Using iTunes, we subscribed to a few of the shows, such as 'The Saturday Show' and 'The Business'. The former only included a 'Best of 2005' broadcast, and the latter downloaded a show dated 1st February 2006, a few weeks out of date. Read More...

The start of the end for the PowerBooks?...

Apple have discontinued the PowerBook G4 15 inch model. In January they introduced the new MacBook Pro, and this Intel-based laptop is seen as the successor to the PowerBook range. Read More...

New 1 GB model nudges iPod shuffle lower...

Apple have added another version of the iPod nano, offering a 1 GB model which currently costs 158.99 euro from the AppleStore. The new nano holds approximately 240 songs and is the cheapest colour screen iPod available.
Previously, the iPod shuffle filled this price slot. However since the introduction of the new nano, the iPod shuffles has been reduced in price. The 512MB shuffle is now 79 euro (down from 99 euro) and the 1GB shuffle is now 109 euro (down from 139 euro). Read More...

New laptop ships with faster chips...

Apple surprised consumers who had ordered a new MacBook Pro this week when they shipped the new laptop with a speed bump. The MacBook Pro was advertised to ship with an Intel Core Duo 1.67 or 1.83 Ghz chip. However, when the new range started to ship this week, Apple had changed the speeds to 1.83 and 2.0 Ghz. Despite the change, the prices remain the same.
Apple have also offered a build-to-order option, where a consumer can spend approx. 300 euro extra and boost the chip speed up to 2.16Ghz.
The Apple Store for Ireland are currently quoting 3-4 week shipping time for orders on the MacBook Pro. Read More...

Event to be held in Temple Bar in February 2006...

Apple are bringing their 'Guitarists and the Mac' seminar to Dublin on 27th February 2006. The event is free and is aimed at showing how the Mac is the best OS for creating and editing guitar music. Read More...

iMac available now; MacBook Pro to come in February...

Apple surprised many yesterday by launching the first Macintosh computers powered by Intel processors. The new iMac and the MacBook Pro come with Intel Core Duo, a dual processor chip. Read More...

Promised in 2005, delivered in 2006...?

Mac Information is particularly interested to see if Microsoft makes any announcement about Entourage 2004 at the MacWorld Expo this month. At last year's Expo, Microsoft announced that they would integrate Entourage 2004 into Apple's iSync technology. They also promised to allow Entourage's database to be indexed by Apple's Spotlight technology. Read More...

Largest Mac Expo begins on Monday 9th January 2006...

Apple are preparing for this year's largest Mac exhibition, held in San Francisco from Jan. 9th to 13th. The event highlight is the keynote speech by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. This takes place on Tues. 10th (9am local time; 5pm in Ireland), and is likely to include a number of new hardware and software announcements. Read More...

Limited supply of iPods available for Christmas...

Apple iPods are one of this year's most popular Christmas gifts, and stocks are expected to be limited as we get closer to Christmas. Read More...

Apple's pro post-production software for photographers is now available...

Apple have begun to ship Aperture, a new software package aimed at professional digital photographers. Aperture costs 499 euro (inc. VAT) and is a non destructive image processing application. It allows photographers to download their images in native RAW format, and to organise and edit their images. Read More...

Using Word with an Irish keyboard layout disables spell check

We recently reported on a bug in Final Cut Express, where the application would unexpectedly quit if you had your keyboard layout set up as "Irish" instead of "British". Read More...

Handy widget includes DART timetables

Many of the widgets for Mac OS X Tiger are aimed at North American users, so it was refreshing when we found a new train timetable widget which includes Dublin DART trains. Read More...

CompuB to have stand at RDS with Macs and iPods...

The annual Toys 4 Big Boys exhibition starts at the RDS on Friday November 11th and runs until Sunday 13th.
Amongst the mix of gadgets, stereos, sports equipment and cars will be Apple retailer, CompuB. They will showing off the new iPod with video, the iPod nano and other Apple products. Read More...

Major Macintosh UK show starts on 27th October 2005

Apple will be attending the Mac Expo, held in Olympia's National Hall, London from 27th-29th. This is the only other significant European show, following on from the Apple Expo, Paris, in September. It is also probably the easiest show for Irish Mac enthusiasts to attend. Read More...

Apple and Disney agree deal to sell top US shows for viewing on iPod

Apple have launched the new iPod which can play video on its new wider TFT screen. The new iPod is thinner than its predecessor, but has a larger screen and better battery life.
The video iPod comes in two colours- the traditional white, and a new black model. There are also two sizes available: the entry level 20GB, and the 60GB top of the range model. Read More...

iSight camera now built into the new iMac

Apple announced the new iMac yesterday (12th October 2005). The new model comes with some ground breaking features, such as a built-in iSight camera for video conferencing (using iChat AV). It also comes with a new Apple remote control, which works with the included Front Row media software. Front Row is an interface which allows you to turn your iMac into an entertainment system, to play your music and watch movies. Read More...

Ships second largest number of Macs in the company's history

Apple reported the highest revenue and earnings in the company's history this evening (October 11th 2005). Here is a breakdown of the main figures from the results Read More...

Adrian Weckler's review continues a poor record on Apple products

In the past, this site has been critical of Adrian Weckler's poor knowledge about Apple products. Weckler's inaccuracy in reporting products was seen again on Sunday (9th Oct. 2005). Read More...

iPod nano expected to boost Apple results

Apple are due to announce their financial results at 10pm (Irish time) on October 11th. There will be a webcast of the conference call with analysts. During the webcast, Apple executives will be questioned by members of the financial media about Apple's results and their views on future prospects for the company. Read More...

Apple launches replacement for the iPod mini

Apple have replaced the iPod mini with the new iPod nano. The iPod nano comes in two storage sizes, 2GB (500 songs) and 4GB (1000 songs), and both of these models are available in two colours, the traditional iPod white, and black. Read More...

Apple Expo website removes all mention of a keynote speech

The keynote address in Paris, the highlight of any MacWorld or Apple Expo, has been cancelled. Over the past few months, the show's organisers had allowed visitors to apply for tickets for the Paris keynote, although the details of the event were yet to be announced. Last week Mac Information received their tickets for the event, including the keynote pass and a map showing how to reach the keynote venue. However on Monday 5th Sept., the event was pulled from the Apple Expo website. Read More...

Two prominent outlets selling Macs and iPods

The availability of Mac products at city centre locations in Ireland has long been a problem for Apple. In recent years Compustore opened (and then closed) an "Apple Store" on Kildare Street in Dublin, when the company folded.
However over the last two years, O2 and Spectra have moved into stocking Apple products and both now have a strong retail presence in Grafton Street, Dublin.
O2 have an Apple Store above its mobile phone "experience" outlet in the middle of Grafton Street. They sell iPods, PowerBooks, iBooks, Mac minis and a limited number of accessories and software titles for the Mac. Read More...

Microsoft expect sync feature to arrive in first half of next year

Mac Information contacted Microsoft this week to find out when they expected to ship their update to Entourage 2004. Since Tiger was released on April 29th 2005, we had expected that an update would be released for Office 2004 users. Read More...

Interview with Mark Rogers, head of Apple UK & Ireland

MacWorld UK has posted an interview with Mark Rogers, head of Apple UK and Ireland. Rogers talks about Apple's presence in education, including their relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. The RCSI, based on St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, have had a long term relationship with Apple, with students using iBooks in their course work. Read More...

Dublin film centre running courses in Final Cut and DVD Studio Pro

Filmbase, the Dublin organisation supporting independent filmmakers in Ireland, is offering training courses in a number of Apple's professional software applications.
To take part in a training course you need to be a Filmbase member (cost: 55 euro) and courses include Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. Course fees start at about 400 euro. Read More...

Solution for Irish keyboard users

Just thought it was worth running this one by readers, in case anyone is experiencing the same issues:
PROBLEM:
Final Cut Express (FCE) 2.0.2 & 2.0.3 on Mac OS 10.4.2 unexpectedly quits if you try to use any keyboard shortcut. This is an issue which effects Irish keyboard layout users (but not British or US layouts). Read More...

Faster Macs to kick off the education buying season

Apple have updated their iBooks and Mac minis, with the laptop line now coming with built-in Bluetooth. The range has now been reduced to just two products.
The 12" iBook starts at €1059 and comes with a combo drive (burns/plays CDs, plays DVDs), comes with a 1.33 Ghz chip, 512MB of RAM and a 40GB hard drive.
The larger 14" iBook costs €1368.99, comes with a SuperDrive (burns/plays CDs, burns/plays DVDs), comes with a faster 1.42 Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM and a larger 60GB hard drive. Read More...

Expo to be held from Sept. 20th to 24th 2005

The annual Apple European Expo is to be held in Paris from 20th-24th September 2005. This is Apple premier European event. Apple now only hold three major conferences per year, with MacWorld San Francisco (January), the WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference, held in May) and the Apple Expo in Paris. Each of these are normally attended by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who delivers the keynote address. His attendance has not yet been confirmed for 2005, but this would be expected. Read More...

Discounts on refurbished products from Apple
Although not heavily publicised, Apple offer deals through their Irish online store (www.apple.com/irelandstore/). The Special Deals section on the front page points buyers to discounted products which have been refurbished by Apple. These still come with the standard one year limited-warranty, but because they are refurbished goods they come at a lower price tag. Read More...

Last Friday's 'The Ticket' supplement in the Irish Times ( June 17th 2005) contained a column by Brain Boyd which attacked Apple for its treatment of Francis Hwang, and its general treatment in relation to intellectual property.
The first section looked at the case of Hwang who, according to Boyd, loaded songs onto his U2 iPod, modified the case of the iPod, and tried to sell it on eBay as an "extra special edition." There is a certain rebellious element in this story which makes us smile, but Boyd seems to miss the point, that loading an iPod and then flogging the songs to another user is illegal. After all, is Boyd suggesting that we can all load our music onto iPods before selling them? Or maybe loading ours PCs with software before putting them on the open market? Read More...