Wednesday Afternoon News

<a href="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/67270208_d7404363b2_o.jpg"><img class="imgright size-full wp-image-394" title="67270208_d7404363b2_o" src="http://www.mactalk.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/67270208_d7404363b2_o.jpg" alt="67270208_d7404363b2_o" width="287" height="300" /></a>It's rumour central today, with some bizarre and not-so bizarre stuff flying around. First up is the prospect of 3G mobile network access built in to future MacBooks. <a href="http://blogs.computerworld.com/evidence_points_to_3g_radios_in_macbooks_tablets"> According to Computer World</a> Apple are looking to hire someone for this purpose. <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/05/05/apple_seeks_3g_specialist_for_macs_as_subsidy_deal s_near.html">AppleInsider fill in some more gaps</a>, with Steve Jobs stating he would like to see 3G in a MacBook, but doesn't want to tie MacBooks to a specific wireless carrier.

Now here's the wacky rumours. Apple wants to <a href="http://forums.mactalk.com.au/19/63842-heres-good-one-apple-takeover-ea.html">buy Electronic Arts</a>. Apple wants to <a href="http://forums.mactalk.com.au/19/63864-apple-buy-twitter.html">buy Twitter</a>. Apple wants to buy a <a href="http://forums.mactalk.com.au/8/63865-apple-buy-local-fish-chip-shop.html">Melbourne fish and chip shop.</a>



<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewRoom?fcId=312445448&amp;id=37">Australia has been blessed with HBO shows</a> on iTunes. Excellent stuff. But, only season 1 &amp; 5 of the Wire (perhaps the best TV show ever created), is available on iTunes. Err, where's the other seasons dudes?

The Apple Blog has a quick tutorial on <a href="http://theappleblog.com/2009/05/05/how-to-port-forwarding-on-a-airport-extreme-time-capsule/">how to forward ports on your AirPort Extreme and/or Express</a>. This is what you need to do if you don't like the iTunes store.

MacTalker <a href="http://twitter.com/BeauGiles">BeauGiles</a> has created a Twitter account called <a href="http://twitter.com/AppleRefurbAU">@AppleRefurbAU</a> - it keeps you up to date with the latest stuff popping up on the Australian Apple Refurb Store, so you'll never miss the latest bargains.

For the iPhone loving fanboy in your life - a <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5240017/slide-to-unlock-iphone-doormat">"slide to unlock" doormat</a>. Aww. There's also <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5241432/ipanties-slide-to-unlock">"slide to unlock" panties</a> for the woman in your life. I don't suggest buying these unless she has a deranged sense of humor. Unless you want to be in the doghouse for the next couple of weeks that is.

<a href="http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/0/230168.page#2208295">Sims 3 is coming to the iPhone and EA has posted screenshots to the Sims forums</a>. Huzzah and whatnot if you're into the Sims. Sims 3 will hit the Mac &amp; PC soon too.

Shifty Jelly are the developers of the mighty fine Pocket Weather app for the iPhone (the app every iPhone user should have, as the built in weather app sucks for Australia), and they've been posting a series of entries on their blog about the creation of Pocket Weather. Catch the <a href="http://shiftyjelly.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/who-designs-our-stuff/">first post</a>, then the <a href="http://shiftyjelly.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/who-creates-our-ruby-magic/">second</a>, then <a href="http://shiftyjelly.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/every-trilogy-needs-a-bad-ending/">the third post</a>.

Unfortunately, the issue of mandatory Internet filtering here in Australia hasn't gone away and is still high on the government's priority list. Mark Newton has been writing letters to his local MP, to keep her up to date on the issue. <a href="http://users.on.net/~newton/ellis-2009-05-04.pdf">His latest letter is quite interesting, as it gives you a great overall view of where the issue is right now.</a> Alas, it looks kinda grim, as despite the blatant and obvious stupidity, backtracking and straight out lies peddled by the government, they haven't let up or admitted to anything. So while things may be quiet, the war isn't over yet comrades.

Zoe Keating makes music with her cello and MacBook Pro. It sounds good. Her process is the following: "Using a MacBook Pro running Ableton Live and SooperLooper. She controls the computer primarily with her feet, tapping on a bank of 10 MIDI foot pedals near her chair. The pedals activate custom AppleScripts she has created, which in turn control the audio software, enabling her to create and play back sometimes dozens of simultaneous loops." Pretty nifty huh? <a href="http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/keating/">Wired have a bunch of videos of her doing her musical thing.</a>