Looking to upgrade to Snow Leopard today? Well make sure to BACKUP your Mac and check the list Apple has posted on application that are NOT compatible with Snow Leopard at this time. In another document Apple outlines printer and scanner software that is compatible with Snow Leopard.

I suggest you clone your Mac’s hard drive using a USB or Firewire (preferable) external hard drive using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper. Then make sure an app you must have is not on the Snow Leopard incompatible list before you upgrade.

Here is yet another ridiculous rejection for an application called Convertbot. Version 1.4 has been rejected for using a clock icon to represent “time”, even though the exact same icon was used for versions 1.0 through 1.3. Read developers page. I can feel his pain.

Spinal Tap’s new short film, Stonehenge: ‘Tis a Magic Place, is available for download exclusively on iTunes [$1.99]. I just downloaded the 7 minute short. Spinal Tap must live near Stonehenge because they lasted so long.

I thought this Mac ad just released by Apple, made me think of Windows 7. Many have claimed Windows 7 was trying to be OS X in disguise. What do you think?

Cleverly Apple features Patrick Warburton, best known as “Puddy” on the old Seinfeld Show, a minor character from the sitcom. Many will not even notice, but this is like a small kick to the failed Microsoft ads that had Jerry Seinfeld appearing with Bill Gates.

Parallels has introduced an all-in-one solution for Windows users thinking about making the switch to Mac much easier with their new Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition.

This version helps PC users make the switch without losing the applications and data they already have on their Windows systems. It also includes two hours of video tutorials for new Mac OS X users. See demo video here.

Continue reading Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition…

All I could think of was Ouch! What does this say for MSI laptops? Do they want you to stick up your butt?

TechSmith has announced the release of Camtasia for the Mac. It will cost $149, though is now available for $99 as an introductory price. A 30-day free trial version is available for download.

Camtasia is “screencasting” software that can record everything that’s going on on your Mac’s display. Edit, include mic audio and share it. Create marketing, sales and training videos is made easy with Camtasia.

Continue reading Camtasia Screen Recording Available for Mac Users…

Apple will ship Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on Friday, Aug. 28. Amazon is now accepting pre-orders for Snow Leopard and the Snow Leopard edition of the Mac Box Set.

• Snow Leopard (Upgrade from Leopard): $29
• Snow Leopard Family Pack: $49
• Mac Box Set, Snow Leopard Edition: $169
• Mac Box Set, Snow Leopard Family Pack: $229
• Snow Leopard Server: $499

Order through these links and help support ReelSmart thanks to Amazon’s affiliate program. Thanks for reading ReelSmart.com.

I guess the competition from Google Voice has more than AT&T and Apple running scared. Vonage has responded with adding a new $24.99 World Plan. Providing unlimited calling around the world to more than 60 countries plus Vonage Visual Voicemail service at no additional charge, which provides “readable voicemail” delivered via email or SMS text message.

I just switched my older Unlimited $24.99 Vonage plan online for no charge or new contract. My guess is the older plan will probably be retired. Just tested the Vonage Visual Voicemail service and was quite surprised by the quality of the transcription. Seemed better than my tests with Google Voice.

Switching plans was instant, you also have to enable the visual voicemail functionality on your features page.

Apple has officially answered the FCC publishing answers on their website. Short answer is they are claiming they acted alone in rejecting and removal of the Google Voice apps. Brave? Maybe. Stupid? Maybe. Will iPhone owners like their reasons? Maybe, time will tell? BUT this Apple fan and iPhone owner is NOT at all satisfied with their answers. I will take what I feel is the important parts one-by-one.

Apple claims “the App Store provides a frictionless distribution network that levels the playing field for individual and large developers of mobile applications.” I think the word “frictionless” is so leading, that all I could do was laugh! All I have seen with so many developers was FRICTION! Is this Apple being funny?

Continue reading Apple Answers The FCC – My Take…

Engadget got there hands on a AT&T response to the FCC investigation of the disappearing Google Voice apps from the iPhone.

In a letter to the FCC, AT&T claims “had no role in any decision by Apple to not accept the Google Voice application.” So it appears that AT&T not only has thrown Apple under the bus, they backed over them. This will not end AT&T’s involvement in App store approval shenanigans entirely, since the letter also says “AT&T has had discussions with Apple regarding only a handful of applications that have been submitted to Apple for review where, as described below, there were concerns that the application might create significant network congestion.” Not only did that result in CBS and MobiTV killing the Final Four app’s ability to stream video over 3G, it also explains what happened to SlingPlayer Mobile. This while all iPhone users are STILL waiting for AT&T to get us MMS and a tethering plan!

Apple has also answered the FCC with claiming Apple acted alone in these decisions.

Continue reading AT&T and Apple Answer FCC: One Lies the Other Swears To It…

Continue reading OS X Tip #172: Change Application Icons…

Continue reading OS X Tip #171: Create Desktop Apps from Websites…

Apple’s is building a new data center in North Carolina that will be one of the biggest in the world. It weighs in at over 500,000 square feet, bigger than both Microsoft and Google’s latest data centers and five times its current data center in Newark California (109,000 sq. ft). Microsoft’s new data center in Chicago is around 400,000, for comparison.

Question that is begging to be asked is what does Apple have in mind? New business? Scale up in cloud computing?

Apple’s annual music event they have had every year since 2005, will probably be held on September 9th, a source close to the company says. This is a Wednesday and most likely will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. These events are usually invite only for the media.

Most expect new iPods to be announced for the holiday season. Maybe a third-generation iPod touch with a built-in camera for photo and video capture, along with a microphone.

According to some sources don’t hold your breath waiting for an Apple iTablet type device. Looks like a new iTunes with social addons maybe introduced. Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter integration were recently mentioned in a photo leak. We have to wait and see. I am betting on a Steve Jobs “no show.”

OK one day after the TomTom US & Canada, $99.99 for the iPhone arrives Sygic, a competitor drops its price to $39.99. Sygic Mobile Maps America was selling for $79.99 is now on sale until the end of August according to the developer.

Navigon MobileNavigator North America is still selling for $69.99 until August 31, according to the developer. CoPilot Live is still the best bargain at only $34.99. See my mini reviews on all the iPhone GPS turn-by-turn apps here. There are now nine of them, with more expected.

OK, gang TomTom is now available in the US Store. It sells for $99.99 for the US and Canada version (car kit optional).

TomTom Western Europe, TomTom New Zealand and TomTom Australia are also now available. My review of TomTom as well as all the other GPS turn-by-turn apps for the iPhone are available here.

UPDATE: TomTom has also confirmed that their GPS car kit will work with the iPod touch as suspected, as well as with 3rd party GPS apps.

Oui, je confirme et il fonctionnera avec un iPod Touch ou d’autres logiciels de navigations concurrents. Pour la disponibilité, je ne peux pas répondre.

It will work with the iPod touch and other competing GPS (iPhone OS) software. I can’t comment on availability.

Still no word on price and availability yet.

Probably the beginning of a worldwide rollout. Four regional versions of the long-awaited TomTom iPhone turn-by-turn GPS app are now available in the New Zealand and Australia App Store that include the U.S. & Canada version.

Continue reading TomTom iPhone App Released In New Zealand App Store UPDATE…

iPhone 3G and 3GS turn-by- turn GPS apps come in two basic flavors. Subscription apps that you pay monthly for that the maps are downloaded as needed over the cellular network or pay once apps that load all the maps and info directly onto your device.

The subscription apps usually run about $10 a month and can suffer in performance if you are in a bad cellular data area. The pay once apps, since they download all the needed maps only need GPS signal and usually perform better. The downside is a large download to your iPhone weighing in at over 1GB in most cases. Updates on the iPhone usually means downloading the entire app again.

You would think the map data would be more up to date on the subscription apps, but in practice they are usually not. So it comes down to how you want to pay for the app – every month or once. Personally, I have tried both and prefer to own the app instead of subscribe. Luckily for iPhone 3G and 3GS owners there is plenty of choice.

Continue reading iPhone Turn-by-Turn GPS App Choices – UPDATED…