Today, we’re releasing Picasa for Mac. While we’ve previously offered both a standalone Picasa Web Albums uploader and an iPhoto plugin for Mac users, Picasa for Mac finally brings all of the advanced sharing and sync features of Picasa to the millions of Mac OS X users who use Picasa Web Albums. Not to mention the “it-slices-and-dices” feature list that covers everything from color balance to collages.

Picasa for Mac looks and works much like Picasa on other platforms, and offers trademark Picasa features — such as non-destructive editing, and the ability to keep track of photos anywhere on your hard drive, then automatically account for new images as you add them.

If you’ve seen Picasa 3 for the PC, it should be just about the same on the Mac. Picasa will also have a one-way integration with iPhoto, being able to import tags and ratings along with the pictures.

Should iPhoto users switch to Picasa? We can only say that once we take a good look at that and iPhoto 09 that’s set

to release today. Before we leave it at that, I just want to comment on how out of place the UI is. Everything from the buttons to the shading doesn’t look like anything on the Macintosh. This will of course be perfect for Windows switchers looking for some familiarity.

The team will be demoing this release at Macworld, but you can download the beta yourself from Picasa.Google.com. Official screencast after the break.

Complete bundled server systems including a Mac mini server with 1 terabyte of storage are available starting at $1,495

In conjunction with a few other rumors I think it’s now safe to assume that we will see an update to the mini. Will it be worthwhile? Not sure, lots of people use their mini’s as home servers and with the inclusion of a much larger hard drive capability along with SeeFile’s software this could very well be something many will upgrade to (not to mention it has not been updated in a very long time).

Don’t forget about to join us for the Macworld 09 Live Chat tomorrow at 8:30 AM Eastern.

[via ars technica][press release SeeFile]

The possible candidates that might make the keynote include: iPhone Touch, Mac mini, iMac, 30” Cinema display, 17” MacBook Pro, Apple TV 3.0, iPhone OS update, Snow Leopard demo, Snow Leopard release, iPhone nano, iPod Touch 64GB, Mac media server, iWork and iLife, Mac Pro, iPhone teethering, and a whole bunch of other rumours we’ve seen in the past phew weeks (try saying that in one breath!). 

Phil Olin
MacWorld 2009, a whole 33 years since Apple was first started. We’ve seen many great products from Apple Inc., but what will we see Tuesday? My predictions? I know we’ll see a new Mac Mini. Its the only computer that hasn’t see a refresh since it was originally designed four years ago, and it’s due for an upgrade. iLife and iWork ‘09 should be there too. Cinema Displays, 17 MacBook Pro and maybe even a demo of Snow Leopard might make the cut. We definitely won’t see a iPhone nano, Verizon iPhone, or Steve Jobs on stage. 

Andy Bewernick
Well I’m not really all the experienced as to what Apple thinks and stuff. I may have been a Mac user all of my life but it’s only been in the recent  couple of years I’ve followed Apple the business. And realistically speaking, I don’t expect anything spectacular. I think we might possibly see an updated Mac mini and maybe some featured iPhone apps. For the finale I expect to see some sort of small update on Snow Leopard but nothing big, that should be saved for WWDC. All in all, it’s not going to be amazing, I’m sure Phil will do a good job but he won’t have the same effect that Jobs has on Macworld attenders. [Ed: This guy seems to have set his expectations to an all time low!]

Milind Alvares
Personally I’d like all the rumours to come true, but that’s not going to happen any time soon. iTablet and iPhone nano can both go straight out the window, not going to happen. The obvious Mac mini, iMac (at least spec bump), Cinema Displays and the iLife/iWork combo will definitely make the cut. I don’t think we’ll ‘see’ Snow Leopard as much as hearing about its progress. 

Other Sources

John Gruber at Daring Fireball has done an amazing job with the Macworld 09 predictions. I particularly like this idea about the next iPhone update being a 3.0 instead of 2.3. Recommended read. 

Gizmodo also has a fairly decent rumours roundup. They seem to have some details about a 28” super sized iMac. 

What’s your prediction for this Macworld 09? Join us in our live chat during the event as we all discover who made the worst predictions.

With a fresh new interface, FileMaker Pro 10 delivers the most dramatic design changes in over a decade. The redesigned and customizable Status Toolbar — similar to browser toolbars — puts commonly used FileMaker Pro features, previously only accessible from the main menu, right at users’ fingertips for streamlined navigation, better workflow and time-saving shortcuts.

Other major new features, such as the ability to save the results of a search, and Script Triggers, which launch scripts triggered by user actions or based on time limits, make using databases easier than ever before. - FileMaker Press Release

FileMaker is a professional database application and comes in many flavours. Available immediately, FileMaker Pro 10 is offered at a suggested retail price of $299 /$179 upgrade. Your other options are:

• FileMaker Pro 10 Advanced for $499/$299 upgrade.
• FileMaker Server 10 is $999/$599 upgrade.
• FileMaker Server 10 Advanced is $2,999/$1,799 upgrade

For home and small business users considering using a database app on the Mac, do check out Bento 2 ($49), made by the same people who make FileMaker. Dipped in Cocoa, Bento 2 features the integration that a Mac application should boast of.

Ed note: If time permits, we’ll be doing a full review of both FileMaker and Bento 2, so stay tuned for more updates. 

Letter from Apple CEO Steve Jobs

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

That should settle everyone for a while. In response to that letter, Apple’s Board decided to issue a public statement as well:

Statement by Apple’s Board of Directors

It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world.

As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple’s CEO, you will know it.

Apple is very lucky to have Steve as its leader and CEO, and he deserves our complete and unwavering support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its Board.

This could be the best news I’ve heard all year long (well, it’s just been 5 days since). Steve Jobs is fine and will continue to run Apple. We’re looking forward to a WWDC keynote with Jobs delivering the smoking keynote in full health.

I’ve known about HoudahSpot for a while now (I even won a license back in 2005, which I totally forgot about), but never got round to using it. A recent update caught my attention, and here I am with a small review of this search tool that promises to companion Spotlight during those difficult times

HoudahSpot does not attempt to replace the Spotlight menubar. I still use that for quick look ups, which when used with conditional searches works for most part. I do however sometimes find the need to grab very specific results, and the Finder search as I have mentioned is quite painful. 

Daily use

HoudahSpot instead promises a very advanced search that is super simple to use. I could find very specific files by quickly setting up conditions and locations. Most of the time I could narrow it down to less than 10 results, with my required file right at the top. All this done with just a few mouse clicks. 

The performance of the search is super fast (except in certain cases where it would lock up for a few seconds). This is partly because it conducts the search after you have hit enter, after which it will live update according to the search criteria. It doesn’t render any icon previews, and there’s even an option to turn off the icons completely. 

The interface is very pleasant (I’m told the previous UI colour was a hideous yellow), and features a button for an inspector as well as integrated Quick Look support. The bottom of the window shows a path bar so you know exactly where the file comes from. 

Features

Saved templates is similar to saved searches in Spotlight, but they’re much more flexible. It comes with a bunch of search templates for finding long lost files, recent files, music gone astray, and you can create your own templates. The devs have also put up a whole lot of tips and tricks you can do with the app. 

Blitz Search is something that I just don’t understand. It’s a spotlight-like drop down search from the menubar, but all it does is spawn a new search window. I mean, why wouldn’t I just hit the shortcut to go to the main search instead of coming to this? Perhaps there’s more to it than meets the eye. 

For what its worth

My only complaint about this app, is its price. At $25, it may be a few dollars too much for casual usage. If you plan to use this app extensively, it will definitely be worth it. Features wise, it is perfect. 

For me however, I don’t usually need to use anything other than the spotlight menu (not many files I’d say), and even then, I wouldn’t mind taking the extra effort to find something in Finder. A demo version is available, to give you a sneak preview of what the app is all about. 

Any HoudahSpot users out here? What’s your opinion about this app?

Sure it may not be as exciting, as Jobs won’t be presenting it, but it definitely is interesting as we’ll get a glipse of Apple without Jobs. We’ve also got a bunch of rumours about updated Mac minis, quad-core iMacs, iPhone nanos and maybe even the mythical iTablet. And for all you know, the “one more thing…” might just be Steve Jobs showing up looking all healthy and fit! 

We’re using CoveritLive technology to host the chat, as it’s the best one out there. During the chat we don’t do any censoring, other than the usual spam/illegal/adult content. Everyone will be heard. We’ll also be giving out some cool gifts during the chat, so keep your eyes open (Hint: Make sure you have a US iTunes Store account ready and waiting!).

The keynote will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Jan 6th Eastern Time (10:30 p.m. IST) and will go on till 10:30 a.m.. The live chat will begin half an hour before the keynote, that is, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. IST). See you there then!

The most interesting shot of them all? The banner which says “Macworld 2010. The start of a new era. January 4-8, 2010.” As Gizmodo says, “You bet!”

There’s another interesting one, “Even the small talk will be big”, but I’m not sure whether Apple’s or IDG Macworld’s words.

AppleInsider’s latest rumour says that the Mac mini is going to get a dual monitor solution at the coming Macworld update. 

Those familiar with the company’s plans say the small form factor desktop will have both the Mini DisplayPort connector first introduced on unibody MacBooks but also a Mini DVI connector.

I’m calling fake! We’re almost certain that the Mac mini will be updated, and I’m even on board with it having dual-display support. But it having both a DisplayPort and Mini DVI connector is totally impractical!

What’s the second port for? Legacy support? I think Apple is smart enough to know that a converter can be used with the DisplayPort to connect it to a Mini-DVI port. Besides, most monitors in the market need a full sized DVI or Analog port anyway, so the customer will have to buy a converter. Besides, Apple is definitely not one to revisit past technologies. 

Aside from this particular article, the Mac mini is said to be made partially from black plastic, move to SATA, as well as provide an option for a second hard drive instead of the optical drive. All these are, and will remain, at least until the 6th of Jan 2009, rumours. 

[From AppleInsider] [Image sourced from Gizmodo]

Macworld: Hoping for a Steve Jobs surprise »
Apple’s December surprise may have lowered expectations for Macworld 2009 in terms of product introductions, but it only raised expectations in terms of Apple’s CEO — because it didn’t rule out the possibility that the rabbit in Schiller’s sleeve next week is … wait for it … Steve Jobs himself, making a cameo appearance just before the curtain falls.

We do sincerely hope that Steve Jobs makes an appearance. After all, one of our team members has made a 6000 mile trip to Macworld, only to find out last minute that Steve Jobs cancelled out on him. 

Enjoying the show, avoiding the flamethrower: life inside Apple »
What’s it like working inside Apple when the MacWorld announcements are made? The man who set up many of its email systems and worked there 17 years explains the inside story of the preparation, the unveiling – and why it’s sometimes best to avoid Steve Jobs.

The best line from this article? ”Just imagine Steve Jobs wandering the hall with a flame thrower in hand, asking random people ‘do you work on MobileMe?’” when talking about the MobileMess fiasco. A recommended read for the Apple fan.

Raising the App Store’s Base Price to $4.99 Would Be a Good Thing »
A somewhat questionable article, but there are some points here. Without a $0.99 pricing, there wouldn’t be any crApps in the store. While you’re there check out the discussions in the comments as well. For what it’s worth, I think this is a one for Apple to figure out. 

Google’s iPhone app has a hidden menu »
Using a two finger swipe gesture in the settings pane, a new menu appears. You can then change the colour scheme of the app. I wonder if Apple knew about this, and whether this is a nice way for developers to smuggle in features Apple wouldn’t otherwise allow!

Screen savers live! »
Dan Frakes does an impressive job collecting all of the awesome screensavers in a Macworld video. The complete list list is also there for videophobes. Highly recommended if you are looking out for the good stuff.

Unlock your iPhone 3G. A crunchgear guide »
Apparently the success rate is around 50/50, so hang in there if it hasn’t been working for you yet. 

TV analyst who predicted Apple would dump Apple TV in 2008 eats crow - again »
A MacDailyNews research article on some idiot who predicted twice that the AppleTV would fail, and has the guts to do it again!

For live updates on what happens in the Apple community, follow us on twitter @smokingapples!