.Mac service to be renamed?
updated 10:15 am EDT, Fri May 30, 2008
.Mac o be renamed?
Apple's .Mac online service -- which provides functions such as web hosting, file storage and data sync -- may be nearing a substantial revision, code exploration indicates. Buried within the new v10.5.3 update for Mac OS X are several strings of code which imply that the .Mac name will be dropped, although a new name has not yet been chosen. In iCal's Localizable.strings file, for example, code can be found that reads: "/* Label of .Mac button in iCal’s General preferences. %@ is the new name of Apple’s online service (was .Mac) (remove -XX02)."
This ambiguity extends to the Localizable file for Safari: "/* Title of .Mac alert sheet, with .Mac brand name subsituted */
"You need a %@ account that has syncing enabled" = "You need a %@ account that has syncing enabled";."
Finally, Mail's Prefs.strings file has been altered, and now contains:
"/* Title of button used to open the .Mac system preference pane. */
“AOS_SYNC_BUTTON_FORMAT” = “%@…”;"
"/* Descriptive text for .Mac Sync. */
“AOS_SYNC_FORMAT” = “Use %@ to synchronize Accounts, Rules, Notes, Signatures, and Smart Mailboxes.”; ."
Apple may be intending to announce a revised .Mac at its WWDC conference on June 9th, but no evidence to this effect has so far appeared. This could also require a v10.5.4 update to the Mac OS, which would likely take at least one or two months to implement.
oops
05/30, 10:37am reply
Or, it could be Apple's engineers playing games on the mac community. Punk'd!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Big
05/30, 10:39am reply
Big overhaul with functionality that gives push OTA sync calendar!
surferboy
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2003
?
05/30, 11:04am reply
what they need to overhaul is iWeb.
Super Glitcher
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Aug 2003
maybe
05/30, 11:12am (2 replies) reply
maybe they'll make it worth the $99 :)
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
.Mac
05/30, 11:12am reply
If all they do is rename the service, this will be a huge yawner.
If they give it a major overhaul, with a significant capacity increase, new services and must-have features, then it may just get me to keep my .Mac account when it's due to renew in Fall this year. I've been on the fence about whether or not I want to keep paying the amount they ask for it, since Apple has done so little with it in the last year.
Let's hope something big is in store for the service to keep it relevant!
nativeNYer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
alternative explanation
05/30, 11:14am reply
Maybe Apple will allow to synch with services other then .Mac? Latest Address Book already supports synching with gmail. What if this functionality will be expanded across other parts of Mac OS X?
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
iWeb
05/30, 11:34am reply
iWeb = Part of iLife
iLife = iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, iDvd, Garageband
Standalone Cost = $79
Free on your new computer
chromira
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2007
Re: iWeb
05/30, 11:48am reply
Uhm... this article is about .Mac, not iWeb. THe poster that said $99 is referring to the $99/year price tag for .Mac - which is well worth it for some, not for others.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
Here we go again with $99
05/30, 11:50am reply
Retail is for suckers.
- Cosmo Kramer
jvputten
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
@hayesk
05/30, 11:52am reply
I stand corrected. I combined two comments.
Well worth it for some and not others. Like everything in life.
We'll never be able to please everyone.
chromira
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2007