BookArc Stand Turns a MacBook Into a Desktop [MacBook]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uaRgHLAawdM/bookarc-stand-turns-a-macbook-into-a-desktop

Designed to accommodate a MacBook Air to a 17-inch MacBook Pro, the BookArc stand helps you to free up desk space by turning your laptop into a desktop.

The product page goes on about the benefits of running your MacBook closed when using an external display and whatnot, but the bottom line here is that it elegantly orients your laptop vertically. If you use an external display at home with your laptop and you don't mind spending $50 on a stand, you can get one now at an Apple Store near you.

New stand turns Apple MacBook into a desktop

Charleston, SC—August 25, 2009—Twelve South announces the formal release of BookArcTM, a metal stand designed to hold any Apple® MacBook, from MacBook Air to the 17-inch MacBook Pro. The stand is designed to free up desk space and create a cleaner, less cluttered workspace by allowing the MacBook to operate while in a closed vertical position. BookArc is available now at the Apple Store and retails for $49.99. A BookArc "six-pack" geared towards design studios and Mac-based offices is being offered at a bundled discount price of $249.99. More information and images can be found at http://twelvesouth.com.

When a MacBook is placed into the heavy gauge steel stand, it is held in place by a soft silicone cushion. Three different sizes of easy-to-install cushions are included in the box, ensuring the right fit for various Mac models. Silicone footpads also protect the surface of your desk from scratches. BookArc has a compact footprint of just 10 by 4 inches, a fraction of what a MacBook normally takes up when sitting on a desk.

"Our vision behind BookArc was twofold," said Andrew Green, co-founder and design principal of Twelve South. "Firs! t, we se e the MacBook as a beautiful piece of art that deserves to be put on display. Second, using your laptop as a desktop when not on the road is how many Mac users work today, including myself. Running the MacBook in a BookArc tucked behind a beautiful Cinema Display frees up valuable space and provides a less cluttered modern-looking workspace."

Along with a contemporary design and improved ergonomics, BookArc can actually boost the performance of MacBooks when used with external monitors. When a MacBook is running closed in the BookArc, the MacBook will automatically dedicate 100% of its video memory to the external display - instead of splitting it with the built-in display. The result is a noticeable speed increase when working in Photoshop, Aperture, iPhoto and other graphics-intensive applications.

[Bookarc]

Read More...

Summary only...

Adobe CS4 Will Be Compatible With Snow Leopard, But Who Knows About CS3 [Adobe]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_Sd-tCYEijs/adobe-cs4-will-be-compatible-with-snow-leopard-but-who-knows-about-cs3

Here's Adobe's message behind their Adobe CS4/Snow Leopard compatibility report: please buy Adobe CS4 and stop using Adobe CS3.

To make a long story short, Adobe says that they've tested CS4 compatibility with SL and it doesn't need any software updates to be compatible with the new OS. But CS3?

Older versions of Adobe creative software were not included in our testing efforts.

In other words, they don't give enough of a shit to even test it. Even if anybody thought enough to throw the disc in to "see what happened", the results weren't included in this report.

That's about all the FAQ says. Except that it takes two pages to do so. [Adobe]

Read More...

Summary only...

Leaked Shots Show N97 Mini Officially a Bad Idea, N900 Looks Pretty Good [Nokia]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/0JD_zZ0BteY/leaked-shots-show-n97-mini-officially-a-bad-idea-n900-looks-pretty-good

"Hey guys, let's take the N97, not improve or actually shrink it in any way, and call it the N97 Mini." At least, that's what these leaked official shots of the N97 Mini show. The N900 though, still looks decent.

Like, I could see actually wanting this Maemo-powered slab of Finnish tablet. [BeGeek, BeGeek, Thanks Benjamin!]

Read More...

Summary only...

Chipotle iPhone App's Super Convenient Burritos Are Going to Make Us So, So Fat [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3JrGI9_bO-A/chipotle-iphone-apps-super-convenient-burritos-are-going-to-make-us-so-so-fat

You can delete every other fast food app on your iPhone now. Chipotle's new app sets the standard for deliciously unhealthy fast food convenience. Like seriously.

The design is top notch. After it locates the nearest Chipotle, you can build your taco, burrito, bowl or salad exactly how you want it, easily adding in whatever fillings you want, plus sides and drink. You can even include special instructions, like "easy on the beans" before you check out. It's fast and pretty. And yes, it synchronizes and saves your order, so you can get your favorite gut-busting burrito every single day without going through the process of re-building it every single time.

Every food ordering app needs to be this good. Or, you know, maybe not.

Chipotle Ordering Application Now Available on the Apple App Store
Burritos on the go: Locate, Order and Pay Using iPhone and iPod touch

DENVER – August 25, 2009 – Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG and CMG.B) today announced its new ordering application is available on the Apple App Store. The mobile ordering app gives iPhone and iPod touch users the ability to create their favorite Chipotle order, place it at the Chipotle location of their choice, and also pay for their food direct from their device.

"The breakthrough iPhone and iPod touch have really given us the ability to deliver a compelling experience to customers which includes simplicity, personality and attention to detail," said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. "We are changing the way the world thinks about and eats fast food, and the iPhone and iPod touch give us powerful new ways to engage and serve our customers. While we have always m! ade our high quality food affordable and accessible so everyone can eat better, we've probably never been this accessible."

Chipotle's time-saving app is being released in conjunction with a newly updated web-based ordering system, available on www.chipotle.com. Customers can place orders through a secure credit card payment capability that allows users to save their information for quick repeat orders and an expanded group ordering feature that allows customers to place multi-item orders under a single name. The app also allows customers to save their favorite Chipotle meals online, as well as those of friends, family, or co-workers. Using location-based technologies customers can also quickly find the nearest Chipotle.

The Chipotle app is available for free from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

The app was developed by Pervasent, a Berkeley, Calif. firm that develops mobile applications, and Chipotle's internal IT team and designed by San Francisco-based Sequence.

About Chipotle

Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food with Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food not only from using fresh ingredients, but ingredients that are sustainably grown and naturally raised with respect for the animals, the land, and the farmers who produce the food. Chipotle opened its first restaurant in 1993 and currently operates more than 860 restaurants. For more information, visit chipotle.com.

[iTunes]

Read More...

Summary only...

MSI Confirms Wind U150 Netbook with Touchscreen and Intel's Next Atom [Notebooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/D3FQ3iZ0nYU/msi-confirms-wind-u150-netbook-with-touchscreen-and-intels-next-atom

We heard that MSI may release a touchscreen netbook with Intel's next generation Pine Trail Atom platform, and it will. According to MSI, the new Intel Atom chipset is planned to be officially launched at CES.

However, Intel tells us that it has not nailed down the launch of Pine Trail yet though maintains it will ship products to its customers before the end of the year. MSI hopes to be first to market with Pine Trail netbooks, including its 10-inch convertible U150 with Windows 7.

Either way, the sooner we get a newer Atom the better (also keep in mind the next version of the all-popular Atom also differs by blending the CPU and GPU on the same chip). According to MSI's Andy Tung, Pine Trail is showing improved graphics performance and at least 20 percent better power consumption.

Either way, here is hoping the netvertible with its planned resistive touchscreen performs better than ASUS' Eee PC T91. However its lack of a capacitive screen and multitouch support means it won't support any of Windows 7's cool Touch Pack apps.

But before going touch, MSI will release the 12-inch Wind U210, which like the recently released Gateway LT3100, has AMD's Yukon platform rather than Intel's Atom. MSI will offer it in two different skus, including one with Windows XP, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive for $379 and another with Vista Premium for $429. The U210 will be available in the U.S. during the first weeks of September.

Read More...

Summary only...