Apple has announced the iPad, in case you hadn't noticed.  The biggest "WHAT" I had was the announcing of the A4 chip.  Apple has most likely taken the technology they acquired in their purchase of PA Semiconductors and produced their own chips.   Does this mean that the future of the iPhone may be Power-PC as well?

While it's likely that the computers (desktop/laptops) will remain on Intel chips, as running Windows on a Mac is partially what has driven the Mac sales, what about other projects?  Is Apple completing the circle and moving back to Power PC chips for non-computer devices?  Has the student become the master and soon Apple's chips will be competing against IBM's?  Most likely not.  But with Apple building their own chips, it could mean we start seeing other devices that can do things that used to be impossible.

Sources confirmed to MacMod that a MacBook Pro update will be rolled out on January 27th.  While this isn't as flashy as the tablet, the MBP's are due for an update.  This is not to say that the upcoming event won't have a tablet release, but it will more likely be the "one more thing" after Steve shows off the next MacBook Pro.

The question that comes to my mind is what features of the yet un-released tablet will be in the new MacBook Pros?  Will Apple hold off on updating the MBP's with some of the "new" technology in a tablet until the tablet has been able to be tested (like they did with the MacBook Air's battery that eventually came over to the MBP's).

Also, if the technology is shared between the MBP's and iTablet (for lack of official name), does that mean that the tablet will be capable of more than an iPhone on steroids?

These aren't answers, but rather questions that I wait to see answered in two weeks.

Nokia has been at battle with Apple for a while now, and a few days before the ball dropped on 2010 they counter-sued Apple (after Apple counter-sued them).  Where's all of this law suit happiness going?  How many counter-suits will there be?  Well, according to Nokia's own press release (here) I'm not sure if they think they have a leg to stand on.

Taken from Nokia's own press release, "It should be noted that certain statements herein which are not historical facts..." which they then go on to list 9 items including their ability to grow their business (c), their ability to develop products (b), and expectations on markets (e & f).  While this might just be legalize, it does offer lots of back peddling space for Nokia.  The sad part is that this legal section of their press release is 856 words, while the actual press release about the lawsuit is only 172 words.

But here is the kicker (for me at least).  In part of this legal BS that Nokia is now spewing one of their "risks" are violations "that could result in additional actions by government authorities" (#21) and "the impact of changes in government policies, trade policies, laws or regulations or political turmoil in countries where we do business;" (#11).  Maybe this was just legal mumbo-jumbo, but I thought I would dig deeper.

Turns out these statements revolve around Nokia Siemens Networks (SNS), an arrangement between Nokia & Siemens AG.  SNS (which Siemens claims that Nokia controls the day-to-day operations of) sold spy equipment to Iran.  Nokia was working with Iran to allow the Iranian government to intercept and alter content on everything from emails to Internet phone calls to facebook and twitter.

That's right.  Let me repeat this.  Nokia sold spy equipment to Iran (washingtonpost article on it here).  No wonder they are suing Apple, they need the money to pay whatever HUGE fine they are going to be getting slapped with in the near future (hopefully).  Good luck Apple.

The Mac Mini's case is small and compact, able to fit in almost anything.  Even an iMac DV.  But with all of that extra space, what would you do?  Klaus Diebel, a life long modder, decided to make his a bass booming coffee maker.  Why not?  Now Klaus has the iMac CS for sale (each a custom job) for about 400 euros, plus the iMac case and optional Mini.

Take a look at Klaus' site (kiwidee.com) for more info on the iMac CS and his other mods (G4 Power Tower & the iMac RMS, aka mailbox).

Google's Chrome Web browser has been increasing in popularity in the past year, with some reports claiming it now has roughly the same market share as Safari (a little over 4 percent).  One feature that's noticeably absent from the Mac version is support for extensions, which Google says is coming "soon."

Thankfully, the software hacking community has found several fixes for this problem. Read on for more details.

We recently told you about the OS Xbox Pro, an amazing mod that started with an Xbox and ended with an awesome triple-booting Hackintosh.  Last week we were privileged to have Will Urbina, the maker of the OS Xbox Pro, on the podcast for an interview.

To hear the episode, subscribe to MacMod:LIVE via iTunes or RSS, or just download the MP3.

Will U. Design has a new mod out that features OS X (as well as Linux and W7).  Will isn't a Mac guy, but he soon realized that the people he wanted to work for were (video editing with Final Cut Pro).  He couldn't make himself walk into an Apple store, so he made himself a Hackintosh.  The thing that gets me is that the new Microsoft stores mimic the Apple stores so much!  Anyways, back to the story.

Since Will is so anti-Mac he wanted to make his Hackintosh with an homage to his Microsoft roots, so he grabbed an XBox and went to work.  Lots of work later (and an EFI-X dongle) he was able to get a triple boot system, the OS XBox Pro.  Reminds me of the XBox G4 from 2008's Mac Mod Challenge.

(photos from willudesign.com)

System Specs
Intel Core2 Q9550s
GeForce 9800MT
Dual 500GB HD (RAID 0)
160GB Boot Drive
300W TFX Micro PSU


Have fun working on OS X Will.



Lots of images and build info at  willudesign.com



P.S.  If you like it, you can vote for it on Intel's Core i7 Custom Challenge.

If you have ever wanted to mod your house to work with your Mac, today is your day.  MacZot's deal of the day is a home automation system for your Mac.  The software is Thinking Home, on sale for $39.50 (retails for $79).  Today's package not only comes with software, though; you also get an Active Home Controller to go along with it.

Thinking Home uses three technologies for home automation, INSTEON, X-10 and 1-Wire.  You can even control your home from your iPhone (with a separate app).

It's worth a shot if you are looking for your next project or have always wanted to play around with home automation.

From MacZot.com

As modders we are used to voiding warranties.  But perhaps you might have already voided your AppleCare warranty even before you opened the case.  Smoking apparently can do as much damage to your Apple as it can to your lungs.  According to CNET News' Technically Incorrect Chris Matyszczyk there have been at least two incidents with Apple where AppleCare has been refused due to second hand cigarette smoke.

The first was reported at the Jordan Creek Apple Store (West Des Moines, IA) by Derek.  His MacBook was having problems and after he brought it into Apple for a look he got a call saying Apple would not work on his laptop due to the health concerns of second hand smoke.

The second report was from Ruth who took it to an Authorized Apple reseller.  She was told that the tar that built up inside the computer made it uneconomical to repair.  Even with only one smoker in the house.

via news.cnet.com

When Apple broke 10.6.2 compatibility with Intel's Atom Processors everyone who has a hackintosh netbook gasped.  Nobody knows yet if the breaking was intentional or accidental, but it did mean lots of questions as to the future of hackintoshes.  It also gave me concern with modding, if Apple can break compatibility with an Atom processor, couldn't it do that with any processor?  If you wanted to upgrade an older Intel Mac with a newer Intel chip, would you run into some of these same problems, or did Apple break the compatibility on purpose to put a hold to the hackintosh netbooks prior to a the official apple netbook/tablet.

Regardless, if you have a hackintosh running an Atom processor there is relief in sight.  A Russian blog has a new Kernel you have to download to get Atom processors back online in Snow Leopard.  Yes, that's right a new Kernel.  

I wouldn't put my computer online with a Kernel from Russia, but if you really want to keep your Atom Hackintosh Netbook running the latest OS X releases you might just have to.  However, that is how Linux started ... "I'm doing a (free) operating system", so who knows, it may turn into something.

More info at TeaTeam's Blog (English Translation via Google HERE) via InsanelyMac Forums