Microsoft has provided a new beta Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 0.2 (Beta) that converts Office files that use Microsoft’s new Open XML file format (files created in Office 2007 for Windows) into a file format that Office 2004 for the Mac can read. This release promises improved conversion of files containing inline graphics, amongst other things for Word and PowerPoint documents only.

Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0 (Beta) is now available for download. New in this Beta, which expires on March 31, 2008 are:

• Universal Binary
• Works with Vista, and used the new Remote Desktop protocol
• Multiple session support
• Better printer support, better UI

Overall, this looks to be a solid update to Microsoft’s free Windows Remote Desktop Mac client.

Many have reported problems with WiFi since the OS X 10.4.10 update. Apple has released the Airport Extreme Update 2007-4. Apple doesn’t say much about what the update contains but does say it “is recommended for all Intel-based MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini computers and improves the reliability of AirPort connections.” Maybe this will fix your issues, if you had any.

iPhone Firmware 1.01 and Safari beta 3.03 are both security updates that plug various holes in Safari.

Sorry, iPhone users, no nifty new features appear to be listed, but it will make your iPhone more secure. You must sync your iPhone using iTunes to get the update. Both are available now.

Apple will be hosting a press event at the Apple Town Hall in Cupertino, California on Tuesday, August 7th at 10 AM PST. Mac-related announcements, which may include a new iMac and an update to the company’s iLife suite, which contains applications such as iPhoto for photo management/editing, iMovie for video editing, iDVD for disc burning, GarageBand for music/podcast creation/editing, and iWeb for webpage creation. The company last updated its iLife ‘06 suite of applications more than 18 months ago at Macworld Expo in January 2006. No announcements related to Apple’s iPhone or iPod product lines is expected (but we will see).

Bejewled a popular game on mobile devices now has a free version optimized for the iPhone’s display and input controls. Just take your iPhone here.

Electronic Arts’ The Sims Pool, $4.99 [iTunes Store Link] wraps a mix of light role playing around your choice of 9-ball, 8-ball, and trick-shot pool games. Like EA’s earlier The Sims Bowling, role playing involves limited character customization and currency systems, as well as occasional “life-changing” events that happen at your character’s house as you’re playing pool.

The game’s designed to be played with a single thumb on the Click Wheel, and promises realistic physics, cartoony graphics and immersive sound effects. You can play alone against computerized opponents, or two players can take turns. This brings the iPod games available to over seventeen. You will need a 5th generation iPod (sorry no iPhone games yet from Apple).

BootPicker is new free utility from Mike Bombich (of Carbon Copy Cloner fame) that works with Boot Camp. It helps deal better with multi-boot Macs and permitting end users to choose whichever platform for whatever they’d like to do at the moment.

BootPicker runs on startup immediately prior to LoginWindow, installed as a preference pane. Based upon your configuration, it presents an option to the end user to choose an operating system. Upon choosing that OS, the machine either continues to Mac OS X or reboots to the specified OS. The next time the computer is rebooted, it automatically returns to Mac OS X and the boot picker.

Apple has announced that the iTunes Store has sold more than three billion songs. iTunes Store now features a catalog of over five million songs, 550 television shows and 500 movies. iTunes recently surpassed Amazon and Target to become the third largest music retailer in the US (source: NPD Group).

Continue reading iPhone Tip #7: Quickly Scroll To Top in Safari…

Continue reading iPhone Tip #6: Quickly Silence the iPhone’s Keyboard…

Take that Michael Dell!

On October 6, 1997, in response to the question of what he’d do if he was in charge of Apple Computer, Dell founder and then CEO Michael Dell stood before a crowd of several thousand IT executives and answered flippantly, “What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

A little more than a month later, on November 10, 1997, new Apple iCEO Steve Jobs responded, speaking in front of an image of Michael Dell’s bulls-eye covered face, “We’re coming after you, you’re in our sights.”

On January 13, 2006, after a little more than eight years of hard work, Apple Inc. passed Dell, Inc. in market value, $72,132,428,843 vs. $71,970,702,760 at market close respectively.

Today, in intraday NASDAQ trading, Apple’s market value passed 2 times that of Dell’s, $127.81 billion vs. $63.65 billion. Apple closed at $143.85 with a market value of $124.42 billion doubling Dell Computer which closed at $27.82 with a market value of $62.15 billion.

Continue reading Apple Doubles Dell’s Market Value…

Continue reading iPhone Tip #5: Take Better Pictures…

Apple has announced the availability of AppleCare for the iPhone and is priced at $69 US.

Every iPhone comes with one year of hardware repair coverage and up to two years of technical support. The AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone extends the repair coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPhone & iPhone Bluetooth hands-free headset and included accessories. (Not available to residents of Alabama, Connecticut, Nevada and Wyoming). The AppleCare must be purchased before the end of the original one year warranty.

Note that Apple recently announced a battery replacement program for the iPhone which will cost $85.95 US. Customers may want to look at both options carefully, understand what’s covered, and weigh the relative advantages.

Allo, a smaller VoIP provider is going under joining SunRocket in VoIP heaven. From an e-mail from the company to its customers:

“We regret to inform you that starting 1st of August of the current year, our company will cease commercial activities. Our network will remain up until July 31st, 2007. After this date, we will regrettably no longer offer service to our customers.”

Allo was a smaller company. At least they informed their customers, unlike what SunRocket did when they pulled the plug.

The iPhone was launched at 6PM on Friday June 29. The fiscal quarter reported by AT&T ended June 30 showing figures for what amounts to less than two days of sales of Apple’s new iPhone. In that short period, AT&T activated over 146,000 iPhone subscribers, with more than 40 percent of them new customers. AT&T says the iPhone sales continued to be very strong in July.

AT&T’s financial results were boosted by a net gain of 1.5 million wireless customers, bringing the total to 63.7 million, and a 14.9 percent hike in wireless service revenue, with sales from wireless data service up 66.9 percent.

Apple reports their financials tomorrow afternoon.

TrafficGauge for iPhone allows you to view real-time traffic on your Apple iPhone. The TrafficGauge for iPhone pages have been created to make the most of the iPhone’s unique display and touch screen by increasing control and font sizes. This is a FREE service that gives you access to the detailed traffic conditions that you need for your commute.

Verizon Wireless has announced a licensing deal with Broadcom that enables the cellular provider to circumvent a previous U.S. International Trade Commission ban on imports of new cell phone models containing certain Qualcomm chips, which were found to violate a Broadcom patent. Some see the move as necessary following the successful launch of the iPhone on AT&T. This deal is an industry first that sidesteps Qualcomm in its legal battle with Broadcom adding about $6 in cost or all smartphones affected for Verizon. Verizon claims that they will not pass the cost on to its customers.

Continue reading iTunes Tip #50: Get Missing Album Art…

Shares of Apple Inc. [AAPL] today gained $1.88, or 1.36%, to set a new all-time closing high of $140.00 per share on volume of 25,436,815 shares. Apple’s market value currently stands at $121,092,720,000.

Apple’s share of the US personal computer market grew 26.2 percent year-over-year, making then the 4th largest vendor in terms of unit shipments with 5.6 percent of the market. IDC’s channel checks show that Apple moved 960,000 Macs in the quarter, compared with 600,000 Macs (representing 3.8 percent market share) in the year-ago quarter.

Apple is expected to beat Wall Street analysts’ estimates when it reports results for its third fiscal quarter on July 25.