MacShrine

Guess Who’s Back!

Kasper — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:10:07 +0000

MacShrine is officially returning to the Mac web from today! We took a break for what seemed like forever, but now we’re amped up and ready to return. Some of our older readers will remember that we launched back in 2005, so our 5th anniversary on the 1st November 2008 is just a few weeks away. To celebrate we shall be launching a total redesign and many new features that will remind you why we were one of the best Mac websites.

Thank you for all your support and here’s to the future!

iPhone 2.1 firmware released

Kasper — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:13:06 +0000

As Apple promised, today they have released the new iPhone 2.1 firmware this morning. The iPhone 2.1 firmware contains the following updates:

- decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
- significantly improve battery life for most users
- dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
- improve email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
- faster installation of 3rd party applications
- fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes if you have lots of 3rd party applications
- improved performance in text messaging
- faster loading and searching of contacts
- improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
- repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
- option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
- Genius playlist creation

The 2.1 firmware is listed as build 5F136 and can be directly downloaded through iTunes. The new firmware also contains a number of security fixes including the well publicized passcode flaw.

3G iPhone to hit UK in June

Kasper — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:30:30 +0000

O2 today confirmed that they are in the process of a $1 billion 3G network upgrade in the UK in preparation for the new 3G iPhone in June. The new iPhone will feature 32GB and a new thinner, black plastic enclosure.

Where have we gone?

Kasper — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:46:59 +0000

To tell you the truth, we’re just not that interested in Apple anymore. Sure we still love all their products and go crazy when they come out, but our poor little minds have clicked and don’t seem to register these stories off new Intel chips as “rumors”.

We’ll hopefully come back properly at WWDC this year where we seriously expect to be WOW-ed. Thanks for your continued readership. If you have any ideas how we can cater to your Mac needs (that no doubt other sites have no taken from us) do let us know. We’re not going anywhere, we’ve been here 5 years and plan to stay at least another 5, we just need some kinda restart.

Apple buys Beatles catalog for $400m

Kasper — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:05:47 +0000

Paul McCartney has signed a $400 million deal with Apple for the distribution of the entire Beatles’ back catalog on iTunes. Under the deal, the money will be distributed to Ringo Starr, the families of George Harrison and John Lennon, Michael Jackson, EMI and Sony, along with McCartney getting his share as well. It appears that this deal is NOT exclusive to iTunes. Not the smartest move by Apple, how are they going to make back all that money? If you already have all the Beatles tracks, why would you buy them again?

O2 raise iPhone tariff in UK from 1st February

Kasper — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:44:17 +0000

From the 1st February, O2 will raise the tariffs for iPhone users in the UK. Those on £35 per month will move up to 600 minutes, 500 texts and unlimited UK internet; £45 per month will move up to 1200 minutes, 500 texts and unlimited UK internet; and £75 per month will move up to 3000 minutes, 500 texts and unlimited UK internet.

MacBookAir.com handed over to Apple

Kasper — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:44:18 +0000

MacRumors has handed over the domain MacBookAir.com to Apple. Rightly so! No mention if they were paid anything or not.

Goodbye ThinkSecret!

Kasper — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:25:22 +0000

Apple rumor site, ThinkSecret, issued a statement today indicating that they would no longer be published due to terms of a confidential settlement with Apple.

Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”

We will miss ThinkSecret. They were one of the sites that inspired us to start up back in November 2003. I think this case puts into perspective what a community the Mac web is and MacShrine will strive forward against Apple’s wish to knock us back.

Not switched to Mac yet? Here’s why you should!

Kasper — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:05:33 +0000

There are now more and more reasons why you would want to switch to a Mac. Macintosh computers are becoming a more and more appealing alternative to Windows computers, and here is why:

1. Beauty – Mac hardware and software is amazingly beautiful. The hardware of a Mac is sleek, shiny and clean. It is modern, light and looks great compared to some of the ugly cases that most computers come with. Mac software also looks great; it comes with a similar style to the computer itself, light, sleek and shiny. Mac software is pleasing on the eye and the Mac OS itself has a great interface. It is easy to find what you want using the glossy and well organised interface.

2. Easy – While many Windows users are put off with changing to Macs because they think that they won’t be able to use it. It is actually far easier to use a Mac than it is to use a Windows PC. While it may take a few days getting used to it is easy to learn. The whole interface of a Mac is organised in such a way that it is easy to find the setting you want or the feature you want to use. (more…)

Animated Christmas “Get A Mac” ad

Kasper — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:32:00 +0000