Interconnectivity and networking have become so important in the way that we live our daily lives.  Whether it's the home networks we share with our families, the office networks at work, or the Wi-Fi we enjoy at the coffee shop, interconnectivity is playing an increasingly larger role in our day-to-day existence.  Not only do these networks allow us to share and pool resources and data, but it also allows us to enjoy and live life to the fullest.  Multimedia streaming is an exemplary form of interconnectivity and networking that gives us the freedom of being able to access our files from practically anywhere, giving a sense of continuity and stability in what often seems like a fast-paced and hectic digital age.  Orb is an application for Apple Macs that can give you the best of multimedia streaming.

The buzz on Orb

Orb is a software developed and edited by the company Orb Networks from Emeryville, California.  Orb Networks first gained popularity in 2005, when the company released a Windows-based version of their streaming software.  Then, in 2008, the company started making waves in the Apple community when they developed the first streaming media player for the ever-popular iPhone.  Sometime last year, the company announced a version of the software for Macs.  One year later, still continuing on their successful path, Orb Networks has released a freeware streaming application for Apple Mac units.

Orb software for Mac

The newest version of Orb software is version 2.50+, which has been released in both a Windows and Mac version.  Engineered for OS X, the Mac version of Orb brings streamlined multimedia streaming to your Apple computers and laptops.  After MyCasting your data, you can then access it through the Internet from other gadgets that have Internet connectivity.  From iPhones and pocket PCs to laptops and gaming consoles, practically any device with an Internet connection will be able to access your MyCasted files.  This is great for anyone who wants 24/7 access to their music, videos, photos, and other digital content.  As long as your Mac is on and you are connected to MyCast and Orb, then you will be able to access your files at any time.  In fact, if you have a TV tuner installed in your Mac, then you can stream live television content from your computer to your other devices.  Also, you can stream your media to your entertainment system or console so that you can watch your favorite videos on the big screen or listen to your music from your living room audio setup.  Orb is definitely a great piece of software that anyone should try, even just for the experience of having your multimedia library available from anywhere at any time.

Once upon a time, personal computers dominated the market by landslide figures.  In the past decade or so, however, Apple has successfully risen to great heights in the computer industry, giving personal computers a run for their money.  Today, Apple's Mac computers and laptops are among some of the most desirable computing systems in the market.  With their sleek designs, innovative engineering, convenient functionality, and intuitive designs, Apple Macs are becoming a popular choice for both personal and commercial use.  Another reason that Macs have gained popularity, fame, and droves of supporters is because the Mac is less prone to malware and other forms of cyber attacks.  McAfee wants to take Mac security to a whole new level with their new software called McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac.  Here's an overview of this new piece of software for the Mac.

1.  Gain universal protection from McAfee

McAfee has long been one of the top contenders in security software and the company is making a bold move with their new software.  Although Apple loves to advertise that Macs are generally safer from malware than PCs, this doesn't mean that Macs are completely free from threat.  McAfee Endpoint Protection, however, provides universal protection against all kinds of malware including viruses, phishing attacks, exploits, and spyware.

2.  Security compliance and management is a cinch

Another likable feature of McAfee's Endpoint Protection is that it makes it easy and convenient to manage and monitor security features across multiple computers.  The software allows you to set your security standards that other computers must meet.  When you set your security policies, the program will report on and enforce these policies depending on your settings.  Furthermore, McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac also gives you access to a web-based console for managing both your Mac and Windows endpoints.  The software is also fully functional and integrated with the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator.

List of other features in McAfee Endpoint Protection for Mac

-  Mac look and feel:  One of the things that many Mac-users like is the intuitive layout of Apple operating systems and programs.  McAfee does a good job if imitating the convenient and intuitive look and feel of Apple software in the Endpoint Protection program.
-  Proactive desktop firewall:  The software comes with a firewall that covers both inbound and outbound traffic to help prevent attacks coming through your network.
-  Anti-spyware protection:  Spyware can lead to numerous security, privacy, and performance issues, which is why McAfee has included anti-spyware functionality to help stop and prevent any spyware threats to your Mac.
-  Application control:  McAfee Endpoint Protection also allows you to monitor, allow, or deny certain applications on your Mac, giving your control over potentially malicious programs that may change your system settings.
-  Top-notch anti-virus technology:  McAfee is a big name in the anti-virus industry and Endpoint Protection for Mac gives you that reliable, proven, and comprehensive virus protection that consumers have come to expect from McAfee.

Discuss this another things in ixdownloads security forum.

The long-standing battle between the personal computer and the Mac has only intensified with the recent release of Microsoft's Windows 7 and Apple's Snow Leopard, which are the two newest operating systems in the market.  It doesn't always have to be about which operating system is better, however.  Sometimes, it's nice to be able to take advantage of the great features of both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard.  This article will give a short tutorial on how to get Windows 7 running on a Mac with the use of Apple's Boot Camp software.  Now, for some die-hard Apple fans, this may seem like sacrilege, but for others it is a great way to explore and use the features and functions of both of these operating system heavyweights.  So here it goes.

1.  Basic system requirements

To install and run Windows 7 on your Mac without any hiccups, your system will have to meet these minimum requirements:
-  An Intel-based Mac
-  The Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or 10.6 Snow Leopard installation disk
-  10 GB of free hard drive space
-  Windows 7 installation disk

2.  Access Boot Camp and get started

If you meet the minimum system requirements, then you can initiate the procedure by opening Boot Camp Assistant on Mac.  Just search for the application with the Spotlight feature.  Boot Camp will then walk you through the installation.  Before actually starting the Windows 7 installation, Boot Camp Assistant will remind you that it would be ideal to back up your hard drive.  Backing up your data is the best way of ensuring that you can restore your files and your system in case something goes wrong.

3.  Create a partition

After the backup warning, Boot Camp Assistant will then go into the next step, which is partitioning.  You will have to create a separate partition on your hard drive for your Windows 7 installation.  It is advisable to make this partition at least 5 to 10 GB.  But if you plan on making full use of Windows 7 by installing applications and games, you may want to bump up the partition space to around 30 to 50 GB.  Select your partition space, click "Partition," and let Boot Camp Assistant do the rest.

4.  Installing Windows 7

Now that your system is partitioned and ready for the Windows 7 installation, you need to grab your installation disk and insert it into the disk drive.  The actual installation of Windows 7 will probably take a while and it will have a few settings and options for you to configure along the way, so don't go too far from your Mac while the installation is in progress.  After accepting the terms and agreements, choosing your language settings, and selecting the type of Windows 7 installation you want, you will then have to select the partition you created with Boot Camp in step 2.  The partition will then be formatted into the NTFS file system, and the installation of Windows 7 will commence.  After the installation is done, all you have to do is select the Windows boot up option from the OS X boot screen, which can be accessed by holding the Alt key while the system is booting.  You may need to install some drivers from your OS X installation disk, which is easy enough once you get into Windows.

To further get into this operating system on mac computers you might be interested in visiting ixdownloads windows 7 forum where you both can ask questions and help other.

For those of you who aren't already aware of Apple's newest operating system, it's time to get up-to-date.  Snow Leopard, also known as Mac OS X v10.6, was released on August 28, 2009, and the new operating system boasts of loads of updates and upgrades over its predecessor, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard.  Aside from offering 64-bit technology, Snow Leopard also increased the efficiency of multiple-core processor management, improved security, and enhanced usability.  The good thing is, you can get these updates and many more for the low price of US$29, which will allow you to upgrade from your current Leopard system.  Here's how to upgrade your Mac from Leopard to Snow Leopard in three easy steps.

1.  Prepare your system

The first step in any OS installation is to prepare your system.  First, make sure that you back up all of the important information that you do not want to lose.  It would be best to backup your files to an external hard drive or to some form of removable media.  Second, clean up your system by deleting unnecessary files.  If you want to ensure that nothing can go wrong, you may want to make a bootable backup of your Mac.  A bootable backup will allow you to restore your system to the state it was in before you start your Snow Leopard installation.  Finally, make sure that you have the necessary media to install Snow Leopard, such as the Snow Leopard upgrade disc.

2.  Option A:  Install over your existing Leopard OS

Apple gives you two options for upgrading your system to the Snow Leopard OS and the first is to do a direct upgrade over your existing Leopard setup.  This is perhaps the easiest way to get your system running on Snow Leopard.  All you have to do is insert your Snow Leopard upgrade disc, click "Install Mac OS X", and follow the on-screen instructions to get your system running.

3.  Option B:  Do a clean install of the Snow Leopard OS

For power users who want full control over the setup and a brand new operating system, option B is the best way to go.  Basically, this will wipe out all of the data on your hard drive partition, installing Snow Leopard on a clean machine.  Insert your Snow Leopard upgrade disc and click on "Install Mac OS X" when you are prompted.  Click on the Utilities menu and choose the "Disk Utility..." option and you will be prompted to format and repartition your hard drive.  Finish up your installation as you normally would by following the on-screen instructions.

Remember, throughout the Snow Leopard installation, you will get a few chances to restore a Time Machine backup that you have previously made.  If you choose not to restore a backup during the installation, you can always do so after Snow Leopard is up and running.  Congratulations on your new Mac operating system!

If you have been keeping up with the latest news on Mac systems, then you are probably already well-aware of Apple's upcoming operating system (OS) update, Mac OS X 10.6 - more fondly referred to as Snow Leopard.  Whether you are still using the Tiger operating system or you are already on Leopard, you may be glad to know that Apple is releasing versions of Snow Leopard that will allow you to upgrade directly from either Tiger or Leopard.  Before you start to get all excited about the new operating system though, you may want to know more about it.  This article will cover some of the best changes that Apple has made in Snow Leopard.

1.  64-bit technology

One of the major drawbacks of Tiger and Leopard is that they were both made in 32-bit architecture, which drastically limits the efficiency of memory and processor-use.  Fortunately, the people at Apple came to their senses and decided to integrate 64-bit compatibility in Snow Leopard.  Basically, this means that you can make use of virtually limitless amounts of random access memory (RAM) - up to 16 terabytes of Ram, to be exact.  The 64-bit technology also means faster computing, faster calculations, and better efficiency.  In line with the 64-bit upgrade, Snow Leopard also comes with a number of software titles that are designed in the 64-bit architecture, making them run faster, smoother, and more secure than ever before.  

2.  Grand Central Dispatch

Perhaps the biggest trend in computer technology these days is the use of multi-core processors.  Dual-core and quad-core processors are quickly becoming an industry standard and Apple has jumped right onto the bandwagon by adding the Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) feature to Snow Leopard.  Basically, this feature is meant to optimize the way that the operating system manages the multiple cores in your processor.  Snow Leopard systems allow software developers to tap into the GCD architecture to create applications that are GCD-enabled, making the applications faster and more efficient at using your multi-core processor.  In the end, this translates to a faster system, faster applications, better efficiency ratings, and great performance gains.

3.  OpenCL

Originally, video cards were used solely for processing graphics and graphics-related computations.  So when you aren't using graphics-intensive programs, your video card isn't being used to its full potential.  OpenCL changes all of that because it allows developers to make software that utilizes the power of your graphics card for general processing and computing.  At first glance, the OpenCL feature seems as though it is only made for the benefit of software developers.  In truth, however, this has some great advantages for average users.  This is because OpenCL-compatible applications will allow you to make full use of your video card, ultimately speeding up your computer performance and all of the programs that make use of OpenCL technology.

If there is one piece of computer advice that everyone should take heed of, it would be to always back up your important files.  With all the different file types out there, it's not unusual for your computer to hold important documents, memorable photographs, entertaining videos, and your favorite songs.  Without backing up your data, you can easily lose all of your files if your computer encounters an error.  Luckily, Apple has released an impressive piece of hardware that can help you back up the data on multiple computers into one -- the small Time Capsule.  Apple's newest line of Time Capsules has loads of features that make it an awesome choice for any Mac user.  Read on to learn more about the  features of the Apple Time Capsule, 1TB and 2TB versions.

1.  Time Machine compatibility

Perhaps the most frustrating part of backing up your personal data is having to tinker with all of the settings to get your backup job done right.  Apple has made things a lot easier for you and me by integrating Time Machine compatibility into the Time Capsule.  This means that you will be able to easily, quickly, and conveniently set up your backup job without breaking a sweat.  The Time Machine software is integrated into Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard (which is being released on August 28).  A few clicks and you can set up your Time Machine and Time Capsule to work together for automatic, wireless, background backups.

2.  Backup multiple computers

If you are a true Apple Mac fan, then there is probably more than one Mac computer or laptop in your home.  Time Capsule makes multi-computer backups a cynch.  With its wireless capabilities, the Time Capsule can be tapped by any computer on your network for backing up files.  You can even schedule multiple backups, one after the other with the use of the Time Machine software.

3.  Wireless goodness

A unique feature of the Apple Time Capsule 1TB and 2TB is that it also functions as a wireless base station.  The Time Capsule is designed to work with one of the most recent wireless Internet technologies: 802.11n.  This basically means that the hardware has a built-in AirPort Extreme Base Station that is compatible with 802.11 a, b, g, and n.  Your Time Capsule can be used to network and communicate with any Wi-Fi compatible machine, including a Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod touch, or the Apple TV.  You also get extra features such as guest networking, Wi-Fi printer compatibility, and MobileMe compatibility (which allows you to backup, store, and access your data online).

4.  Space, space, space

In this day and age, when digital files and computers play such a significant role in our lives, storage space is an issue that many people constantly have to deal with.  The Time Capsule seeks to ease your storage space concerns by offering one-terabyte and two-terabyte versions of the Time Capsule.  To give you an idea of just how much storage space the Time Capsule offers, consider that a single terabyte can store 250,000 songs or hundreds of full-length DVD movies.  The Time Capsule can surely handle almost any backup task that you can throw at it, be that a simple data backup, a complex networking system, or a wireless connection job.