Plus Apple can intervene with Lodsys, Instagram’s real acquisition cost, World Bank v Google and more

A quick burst of 8 links for you to chew over, as picked by the Technology team

If Google’s really Proud Of Google+, It Should Share Some Real User Figures >> MarketingLand

Danny Sullivan, in a long, long post:

I’ve been meaning to write my “Google+ is Like the Apple Store for Google” piece for some time. maybe I’ll never get to it now. but you know when you go into an Apple Store, and it’s filled with sometimes scary Apple fanatics who seem to have arrived at a holy place? That’s Google+ for Google.

if Google+ isn’t anything else, it’s a place that Google fans can call home. It’s a place that Google’s never really had before, a spot for its millions (and let’s face it, there are millions) of fanboys and fangirls to rejoice in all things Google.

I’ve experienced this firsthand in my time at Google. I’ve learned that if I share anything negative about Google, I can expect to get comments, sometimes many, asking why I hate Google or am biased against Google.

Sullivan generally writes positively about Google, and you can see how wrestling with his dislike of its slipperiness over Google+. the “170m” figure this week seems to have been the last straw, and won’t have been improved by the complete lack of useful numbers in Thurday’s quarterly results.

DOJ is likely to lose e-book antitrust suit targeting Apple >> CNET News

The Department of Justice “has a far better case against the publishers than Apple,” says Dominick Armentano, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Hartford and author of Antitrust and Monopoly who’s now affiliated with the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif. “If the CEOs of the various publishers got together in hotel rooms to discuss prices, they are sunk” and might as well settle, he says.

Pretty much only leaves MacMillan to have to fight, then.

The World Bank demands open data in Google mapping project >> Publish what You Fund

The World Bank has confirmed that it will not support the use of Google Map Maker for citizen-mapping efforts unless it gives users free access to the map data they create.

the World Bank and Google have launched a project using crowd-sourcing to populate maps with the locations of public services in the developing world – a resource which could be used by many different groups in humanitarian and longer-term development work.

Good move by the World Bank.

How Samsung beat Nokia >> asymco

Horace Dediu cuts to the chase:

Looking at product mix, Samsung growth is shown to be almost entirely due to smartphones while Nokia’s stagnant growth seems to be a failure to have any smartphone traction.

It’s even more clear when showing the above mixes of devices as percents of total.

Note that it’s not as simple as “Android”: HTC, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson have all adopted Android too, but all dwindled (some even worse than Nokia). Samsung has stayed ahead of the curve. its success is completely deserved.

Inside Foxconn: Exclusive look at how an iPad is made >> YouTube

Rob Schmitz (who was one of those suspicious about Mike Daisey’s claims about Foxconn working conditions) gets inside a factory and gets filming.

Instagram’s Buyout: how Does It Measure Up? >> Waxy.org

The spreadsheet below captures the acquisition date, dollar amounts, and ballpark counts of the users and employees at the time of acquisition. be warned: any of these numbers are very rough, cobbled together from Internet Archive searches, old news articles, Quora answers, and tech blogs. if you have more accurate information, please leave a comment and I’ll fix it.

Upshot: Instagram is a long way from being the most expensive purchase on a per-user basis from the past 13 years. To repeat: Instagram isn’t the purchase that marks the top of the bubble. It’s part of the bubble.

About Java for OS X Lion 2012-003 >> Apple

This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware.

this update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets. Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application. if the Java web plug-in detects that no applets have been run for an extended period of time it will again disable Java applets.

Next step: just zap Java altogether. Works on 10.6 and 10.7. Users of 10.5… should disable Java?

Apple is allowed (at long last) to intervene in Lodsys lawsuit against app developers >> FOSS Patents

I wish the app developer community luck as far as Lodsys is concerned. I saw that some of the smaller defendants, including Iconfactory, settled the dispute on undisclosed terms, presumably because they couldn’t afford the cost and deal with risk of protracted litigation. I wish the remaining defendants as well as all those facing the threat of being sued that Apple’s intervention will help to get his troll defeated. I also hope that Google’s reexamination requests will be successful. I still believe that those large players should do a whole lot more for app developers than what they are doing at this stage (for example, I believe they should give them blanket coverage against litigation costs)

let the games really begin.

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Boot up: the Google+ Store?, DOJ v Apple, how Samsung beat Nokia, Flashback fix and more

Apple earlier this morning quietly replaced the online Apple Store’s downtime sign, according to AppleInsider. Long known for its “We’ll be back soon” yellow sticky note, which was joined by the text “We are busy updating the store for you and will be back shortly”, the old sign has been replaced by a more modern looking rounded square note with a textured white background and a gray Apple logo, with the text “We’ll be back. We’re busy updating the Apple Store for you and will be back soon.” the placeholder frequently appears in early morning hours when Apple is doing routine maintenance to the site, as well as during Apple media events where new products are announced.

Apple debuts new Apple Store downtime sign

although Macs are regularly advertised as safe from viruses that commonly plague PC users, employees of Northwestern’s Apple store are keeping an eye out for a virus that recently affected about half a million Mac users.

according to a Russian anti-virus vendor, Doctor Web, over 550,000 machines were infected by a variant of the Flashback Trojan virus, particularly in the United States and Canada. Technology magazine Macworld reported April 6 that Flashback first appeared in 2011, disguising itself as an installer for Adobe Flash. The new version of the virus infecting Macs is a “drive-by download.” It installs itself using a Java vulnerability without the user clicking anything.

So far, the virus seems to have little effect on campus. Dan Wilcox, who works in technical support at the Apple store in Norris University Center Bookstore, said he has not seen any students come in with the virus affecting their computers. he has worked every day since news of the virus made headlines.  

“I was really surprised,” Wilcox said. “When I read about the virus, I expected a lot of students to come in with it, but so far no one has.”

at least one professor warned her students about the virus. Medill freshman Marianna Cooper said Prof. Cassandra West emailed the students in her class an article about the virus.

“I’m usually careful to watch out for pop-up ads that look suspicious, but apparently it’s difficult to tell that this is a virus,” Cooper said. “It’s stressful to think it could infect my computer.”

Students can easily protect themselves from the virus, Wilcox said.

“Run updates,” he said. “There has already been an update that will prevent or repair any problems.”

Apple released the software update on April 3. It is available through Apple’s website.

an article in Macworld said the update will repair the vulnerabilites in Java that the Trojan was infiltrating and other Java-related security holes.

Wilcox said installing the update could be a quick fix to many computer problems students experience.

“When someone comes in with a problem, the first thing we do is update the software,” Wilcox said. “Often, problems that seem like hardware-related problems are actually related to software updates, including firmwire updates.”

The Apple store is not expecting a change in sales due to the virus.

“Really, viruses affect Macs maybe once a year, and Apple always releases a software update quickly to fix it,” Wilcox said. “Comparatively, it’s a non-issue.”

catherinezakrzewski2015@u.northwestern.edu

Northwestern’s Apple Store aware of new Mac virus

  +13

She has the best career money can buy. She’s not exceptionally talented at acting (not from what she’s done so far) nor is she exotic looking at all. therefore, one would ask how she has gathered so much appeal by casting directors and producers…she lives in Beverly Hills and people who work in the area and see her around have told me that she’s quite arrogant and condecending towards people who she believes work in “lower positions” than her.

Lily Collins: ‘Meet’ Me at the Apple Store!

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 is on display at its new U.K. store.

(Credit:CBS Interactive)

Samsung has opened a new retail shop in the U.K. and it seems to feature some rather familiar design ideas.

According to Engadget, which visited the Oxford Street store in London earlier today, a host of Samsung’s popular mobile products are on display, including the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy S II. in addition, the shop is currently in the process of training staff, so they can be well-versed on just about any question that might be posed by visitors.

Interestingly, Samsung’s shop is right around the corner from one of Apple’s London stores. but unlike Apple’s retail location, which is a standalone store, Samsung’s outlet is located inside U.K. retailer Phones 4u’s store, according to Engadget.

What’s perhaps most striking about the Samsung shop is its resemblance to Apple stores. The company’s products are laid out on simple tables so users can try them out. The stores appear to come with the same kind of “clean” look one would find in an Apple Store. and with trained staff roaming about, it might make some customers who frequent Apple stores feel at home.

Of course, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Apple has been celebrated by retailers worldwide for delivering a top-notch retail experience. and a host of retailers have tried to follow in its footsteps. JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson, for example, was plucked from Apple after setting the iPhone maker’s retail initiative. He’s now planning to bring some of those ideas to his new company.

Samsung store in London follows Apple’s lead

Cheap refurbished Macs: how to buy

Time marches on and technology gets cheaper.

Falling prices and constant improvement helped to underpin one of the longest economic booms in history.

But with the world in the grip of a recession and a pinch gripping consumers’ wallets, Apple has stood firm: it doesn’t do cheap.

Price is the only area in which it refuses to compete. when it rolls out a new machine, its predecessor is retired – no discounts. But for those in the know, Apple does provide a way of getting new computers at bargain prices. It’s called the Refurb Store – an initiative that Apple has quietly run for years.

Waiting game

For a long time, Apple’s official Refurb Store was only open on Wednesdays. Thrifty Mac fans would queue (virtually) to buy products offered on a ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ basis.

Now, however, it’s open all week – head to store.apple.com or store.apple.com/uk and look for the Special Deals section, where all refurbished products live. the products are sold as Apple Certified Refurbished Products. They’re described as pre-owned, which usually means that they’ve been used as a demonstration unit in an Apple Store or been sold (as new) and returned to Apple, for any reason.

One reason buyers are hesitant to ‘go refurb’ is because they think they’re getting something more likely to break. with a PC, you can replace a part if it breaks. with a Mac, that’s possible but trickier. however, Apple insists that its refurb products are in ’100 percent working condition’.

Far from being polished up and bunged in a box, the machines go through a stringent series of checks. Before a Mac goes to the Refurb Store, it’s fully tested, including full burn-in testing – where it’s left running for a period of time performing tasks repeatedly, to winkle out any issues. Any defective parts are replaced, before a full cleaning and inspection process is carried out.

The machine then gets packed up with the relevant manuals and cables, and gets a special serial number. in theory, it has gone though more checks and assurances than a new machine.

"I bought an old-style iMac 24-inch from the Refurb Store," says MacFormat forum regular SwissMac. "Not only did I get a 28 percent discount on its original price but the spec was improved, too. the online store said to expect 1GB RAM and a 250GB hard drive, but both of these were doubled!"

Cheaper Macs: they could be new

There’s speculation that not all items on the Refurb Store are actually refurbished products. Buyers have reported receiving kit that appears brand new.

The reason for this might be that Apple uses the Refurb Store as a clearing house for discontinued products. when a new MacBook comes out, the previous model will be obliterated from Apple’s website – except for the occasional listing on the Refurb Store.

That’s not to say that there are no drawbacks. "as these refurbished products have been unpacked and manipulated, they might exhibit some minor cosmetic imperfections, such as scratches, marks or discolouration," states Apple. Plus, some products don’t come in original packaging, which may affect the resale value if you later put it on eBay.

There’s no telling what will be on offer until you visit. sometimes the cupboards are bare, but other times they overflow with bargains. this unpredictability has given the Refurb Store quite a following, and bargain-hunters monitor it obsessively.

There’s even a Dashboard widget available to help you keep an eye on it. "with the widget, you can always have an eye on the latest refurbished products available in more than 15 countries," says the developer.

As mentioned earlier, a refurb often doesn’t come in its original packaging. If it does, it might be torn or ripped where shipping labels have been added and removed. But this doesn’t seem to reflect the quality of the product inside. "I’ve bought every Mac that I’ve ever owned from the Apple Refurb Store," says Mac fan Jon Waters from Cambridgeshire. "None of them has failed. in fact, I’d go so far as to say that the refurbished Macs have actually run better than a family member’s new Mac."

Some people take the money they save and pimp out their Mac further. "I just got a refurb iMac. it looks and works absolutely perfectly. with the money I saved, I bought an extra gigabyte of RAM, and a wireless keyboard and mouse," says Michelle King from Doncaster.

Bagging a bargain

Getting the best deal from the Refurb Store can be tricky. It’s monitored slavishly by eagle-eyed bargain-hunters, and dithering often means that your item goes. You’ve got to be pretty quick when you know what you want – but choosing often isn’t straightforward because of the variety on offer.

The Refurb Store is seen by obsessives as a bit of a barometer of Apple’s plans for upcoming product updates. Often, in the run-up to big announcements, the Refurb Store will seem to offer more products that look likely to be refreshed.

"the last refurb product I bought from Apple came in complete retail packaging, shrink-wrapped," says Mac user IJ Reilly on the MacRumors message board. "the product refresh came a couple of weeks later."

Some have found it possible to snag bargains on the Refurb Store and ‘flip’ them on eBay for profit. Part of the reason products don’t hang around for too long is that they’re snapped up by Mac scalpers.

"you get what amount to brand-new products at less than retail price," says one source, who asked not to be named. "Often you can add £100 and sell them on eBay within a few hours.

You don’t even have to order them yourself – if you’re quick you can sell it on eBay, then order it to be delivered straight to the buyer." in theory, buyers can tell it’s a refurb machine because the serial number is different, but most don’t think to look – or simply don’t know how.

Most refurb customers agree that buying refurbished is the safest way to get a cheap Mac. If you’re still worried, there’s a solution – you could use the money you saved to add AppleCare to any package, and not just to computers that you buy ‘new’. as long as you purchase and register your AppleCare within one year of buying your product, you’ll get an additional two years’ warranty.

Apple Refurb Store vs eBay

Despite the success of the Refurb Store, when it comes to getting a Mac on the cheap, most turn to eBay. Picking up a machine here can be a bargain, but does have its pitfalls.

For some reason, Macs seem to be a popular target for scammers who create copies of legitimate auctions to snag eBayers into sending money via untraceable Western Union. Seasoned eBayers advise paying close attention to sellers’ feedback. If they don’t have a history of selling electronics, or haven’t had a transaction in a while, be careful – their account may have been hijacked.

"Some people look at their 10 feedback and think these sellers are OK," says Roba on the MacRumors.com forum. "the feedback is usually suspect. a good majority of the people who left it aren’t registered members any more."

Macs hold their resale value better than PCs, with used models changing hands for a good chunk of change long after disappearing from Apple’s website. James Stoup of AppleMatters.com recently calculated just how much better they fare:

"a new machine currently costs $2,000, while a year-old one sells on eBay for around $1,500, and a two-year one for about $1,000. at this point, one would expect things to go downhill fairly rapidly, but instead, prices seem to level off a bit. this means you can sell a six-year-old laptop for close to $400. this is even more impressive when you realise you can buy a brand-new laptop from Dell starting at around $600."

Stoup thinks it’s because Apple’s hardware stays relevant for longer. "with Windows 7, reviews seem to recommend you run it on a new or recent machine. How many Mac users bought a new machine for Tiger? Quite a few, no doubt, but I ran Tiger fine on a six-year-old 667MHz laptop."

All of which adds up to one simple fact: if you’re looking to buy a Mac but are concerned about the relatively high purchase prices of Apple’s new machines, you should turn to the Refurb Store before you try looking anywhere else. your next Mac is out there, and it’ll cost less than you thought.

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In Depth: How to buy a cheap Mac from Apple’s refurb store

Features

Apple’s OS X isn’t exactly a gamer’s paradise. but the same can’t be said about iOS – especially when it comes to the iPad. in some ways the iPad is the perfect gaming handheld: It has great battery life and games are cheap. but there are a few things you should know before using the iPad as a gaming device.

Choosing an iPad

There are a few different iPad models, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Do you get a Wi-Fi only version or do you spring for a model with LTE? Will 16GB be enough or do you plan on downloading hundreds of games? should you buy the latest iPad or pick up an older model on the cheap? These are all questions you’ll need to ask yourself before you make your way to the Apple Store.

A 16GB Wi-Fi only model of the latest generation iPad will set you back about $539 with the 32GB and 64GB versions going for $649 and $759, respectively. the new iPad has a high definition Retina display and apps optimised for a Retina display will require more storage than their standard definition counterparts did. Consider your budget and go for the iPad that has the largest amount of storage that is within your price-range.

If you can’t rationalise spending over $500 on something you’re just primarily using for mobile gaming, then you might want to consider picking up an older generation model instead. Apple is currently selling the iPad 2 for $110 less than the new iPad. Other online retailers might still have some extra stock of the first generation iPad left that you can pick up on the cheap. What you lose in specs and extra features, you make up for by getting a tablet while still having enough money left over for rent and a few apps. be warned: Some games won’t run on the first generation iPad and those performance limitations will only grow.

The new iPad can connect to Australia’s 3G networks, meaning you’ll be able to download games and play online while away from a Wi-Fi connection. if you plan on play a lot of multiplayer games far from a Wi-Fi connection, you’ll want to get a plan with at least 2GB of data. but if you are never far from a Wi-Fi connection, then a Wi-Fi only model should still fill your needs.

In iOS 4, Apple added Game Center to their iDevices. Game Center keeps track of games you played and compares your progress to your friends’. Game Center is also lists achievements you’ve earned while playing games. Achievements work in the same way that they do on the Xbox 360: after completing a task in game, you’ll get a small notification telling you which achievement you’ve unlocked. Each achievement is worth a certain amount of points, but not all games will have achievements. You can tell which games in the App Store are compatible with Game Center, thanks to an icon that appears under the game’s price.

There are more than half a million apps in the App Store, a good chunk of which are games. Every game genre under the sun, from casual games to first-person shooters, is available to download the moment you connect online. Some games will cost you between $1 to $20, but a handful of games are free. here is a breakdown of games you’ll want to check out for your new iPad.

Asphalt Racing: if you’re looking for an arcade-style racing game, look no further than the Asphalt series by Gameloft. Similar to need for Speed, you’ll participate in a variety of race modes, picking up power-ups to give you an edge over the competition. the more races and crazy stunts you pull off, the more money you earn that can be put towards new cars. Feeling confident? You can challenge your friends in local multiplayer or take on the world in online races ($1).

Real Racing: for the car enthusiasts that want a more serious racing experience, Real Racing 2 HD by Firemint should be your first stop in the App Store. with 30 real world cars, stunning visuals and a variety of tracks, Real Racing is the closest you’ll get to Forza on the iPad ($7.49).

Modern Combat: while not as cinematic as call of Duty or Battlefield, Gameloft’s Modern Combat series does a decent job at keeping up with the big boys. You’ll shoot your way through a variety of set pieces in the campaign mode, then take your skills online to show off how good you are at getting headshots. There is even DLC in the form of extra multiplayer map packs. the just-updated Modern Combat 3 takes advantage of the new iPad’s Retina display and is on sale as of this writing ($1). Modern Combat 2 ($7.49) remains a good choice for iPad gamers.

Shadowgun: One of the best third-person shooters on the iPad, Mad Finger’s Shadowgun has all the makings of an epic. You’ll explore huge levels, fight your way past waves after waves of bad guys and take down massive bosses. the latest update added an expansion pack, giving you another adventure once you finish the main storyline. No multiplayer in the iPad version quite yet, but chances are we’ll see it in a future update ($5.49).

Final Fantasy III: the most expensive game on this list, Square-Enix’s Final Fantasy III should need no introduction. Redone with 3D visuals, Final Fantasy III’s gameplay still holds up in an era where games like Skyrim and Mass Effect 3 take centre stage. but it’s still the classic, Japense role-palying game we’ve grown to love. Final Fantasy III may cost a lot more than most apps, but it is definitely worth the price of admission ($17).

Civilization Revolution: Another game series that most gamers should be familiar with is Sid Meier’s Civilization. the $13.99 turn-based strategy game works extremely well on the iPad, allowing you to quickly get a game going or resume where you left off. You still have a wide variety of leaders you can choose to lead your civilization, everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Cleopatra and you’ll sink in a lot of hours leading your people to victory. besides, what other game lets you have the Aztecs develop battleships?

Infinity Blade II: Chair has done it again with Infinity Blade II. This hack and slash action adventure role-playing game will have you fighting off enemies of all shapes and sizes in your quest to rid yourself of the infamous Infinity Blade. if you played the first one, you know you’re in for countless of hours of gameplay coupled with breathtaking graphics. once you’ve been through the campaign once or twice, try out the Arena for even more challenges ($7.49).

Superbrothers: Swords & Sworcery EP: It’s difficult to describe Capybara Games’ Swords & Sworcery. One part adventure game, one part amazing soundtrack, I often found myself just sitting there listening to the music rather than actually playing the game. once you’re done being mesmerised by the awesome music, you’ll be poking around the 8-bit landscape, looking for the right path to take or the puzzle to solve that will allow you to continue in your adventure. the game is short, but Swords and Sworcercy is a must have for any iPad owner ($5.49).

Triple Town: Forget Angry Birds and cut the Rope. Triple Town by Spry Fox is the new hotness when it comes to casual games. the premise couldn’t be more simple. You build a town by matching three similar objects. once matched, those objects merge into a new item and you get points. while the items that are created don’t make very much sense (how do three trees become a house?), the challenge comes from having to deal with the bears (and ninja bears) that get in the way of your matchmaking. Triple Town is the perfect example of a game that is easy to learn but difficult to master (free).

Beat Hazard Ultra: Beat Hazard Ultra is a twin-stick shooter that uses music to dictate the gameplay. the louder and more intense the music, the more powerful your weapons become and the more bad guys you’ll have to face on screen. the game comes with several original tracks for you to play around in, but the real fun comes from using your own music. if your iPad is too full of games and doesn’t have any music on it, you can also connect to one of several online radio stations that play different genres of music ($1).

We only covered a fraction of the games available in the App Store and there are loads more to be discovered. if you have a favourite game that you think everyone should play, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

A gamer’s guide to the iPad – Apple, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Reviews, Help, Tips, and News

Apple has updated its official Apple Store app, now available for free on the App Store. the new update allows for options to manage your account and billing right on the phone. You can also browse through all of the various carriers available for Apple’s iPhone. For those of you in the Netherlands, the app is available for you now, too.

Apple has pushed up the requirements for the app, so you’ll need iOS 4.3.3 or higher to run it. We’re all at least up to 5.0 by now, right? You can find the update in Apple’s official App Store app. so… you can update Apple’s Apple Store app by using Apple’s App Store app. Sheesh.

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Apple updates Apple Store app, adds account and carrier options

(Credit:Target)

Who says you can’t score a deal on aniPhone?

Actually, I usually say that. Doesn’t matter if you hit up an Apple Store, a carrier’s Web site, or even your local Wal-Mart — iPhone prices rarely budge more than a buck or two from list.

Except today. Head to Target and you can save $25 on any of three iPhone models. Here’s the rundown:

• iPhone 4 (8GB): $74.99 (regularly $99.99)
• iPhone 4S (16GB): $174.99 (regularly $199.99)
• iPhone 4S (32GB): $274.99 (regularly $299.99)

Now, as any cheapskate worth his salt will point out, it’s not the price of the phone that kills, it’s the ungodly sum you have to pay your carrier every month for the next two years.

That’s true–but that’s a constant no matter what smartphone you buy. the ungodly monthly charge isn’t going anywhere, so you might as well score the best deal you can on the hardware.

And last time I checked, 25 bucks was 25 bucks. if you were planning to spring for an iPhone anyway, why not get it for less?

To get it for less, you’ll need to visit your local Target store and sign a two-year contract (for voice and data plan) with AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon. the deal is good for new and existing customers alike.

The discounts will be in play through March 31.

Target cuts prices on iPhone 4 and 4S

Ever since Apple introduced its support forums, they’ve always been a great option for people to get support on the various products that Apple sells. The forums are a peer-based support system whereMac users can discuss and troubleshoot problems. Apple users do not have to rely solely on AppleCare or Apple Store representatives to fix problems or learn how to use their Macs.

The Apple forums have long been a separate section of the Apple Support site, but Apple has implemented new options for the support forums. Support forums have been rebranded as “Communities,” which are centralized by product.

Apple has also added the ability to participate in the community discussions from the product pages in the Apple Store.  If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a community section that contains recent or common questions that people ask in the support communities. it will also offer you options to search questions, answer those listed, or search for similar questions by clicking a link. in addition, you can browse through questions by category and sort them by various criteria.

This change appears to be an effort to bring the Apple Communities and the rest of the Apple Web site together, with a question and answer option that users can quickly access.

This option is one of several that are available to Mac users for getting help with their systems. another one that we offer here is the question and Answers feature at MacFixIt. you can use the submissions box to the left of MacFixIt articles or the e-mail links at the bottom of each article to submit questions you have about Mac systems, some of which we publish in our weekly MacFixIt Answers column.

Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or e-mail us!be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Apple implements ‘Answers from the Community’ in the Apple Store