(Via MacUpdate – Mac OS X.)

Mac OS X only: Never been entirely happy with the way your Mac reacts when you plug in your various camera-sporting devices? Wish it could do something different when you plug in your iPhone versus your DSLR? Cameras can help.

Cameras is a free preference pane that keeps track of cameras you’ve plugged into your Mac and allows you to set custom behavior for each device. For example, whenever I plug in my point-and-shoot, I want to import photos into iPhoto. My iPhone, on the other hand, is normally filled more with screenshots than photos, so I’d rather not import anything into iPhoto (in fact, I’d rather it just do nothing). With Cameras, you can set system behavior on a per-camera basis. Cameras can open any application, do nothing, ask you what to do, or just automatically download your photos.

(Via Lifehacker.)

He said he’d be back, he’s allegedly been spotted at Apple’s Cupertino campus, and Woz thinks he sounds fine. Now the WSJ is saying Steve Jobs—after nearly ’starving to death’—might make it back in time for WWDC.

Yes, this is a Wall Street Journal report, but no, it’s not at all official; in fact, it’s classic Apple rumor:

Two people who do business with Apple said senior Apple managers have told them the company is now trying to coordinate Mr. Jobs’s return with a product launch or public event.

The statements of these ‘people who do business’ with Apple are then supplemented with some info about the new iPhone, which Jobs may unveil, from ‘people who’ve seen the device’:

The new phone will look similar to last year’s model but has more processing power and some new features like video editing.

That side of the story has been more-or-less taken for granted by other publications for a while now—it’s the Jobs angle that matters here. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good Jobsnote, and even if Schiller and co. did pretty well on their own, I think we’re all ready for one. [WSJ]

(Via Gizmodo.)

Analysts are sometimes way off the mark with predictions, but that doesn’t mean that can’t invent ideas we’d actually really like to see implemented—in this case, Gene Munster’s speculation about an app store for the Apple TV.

We need to specify one thing before we start: This is not a rumor. There is absolutely no information to back up this idea, there have been no leaks on the subject, and there’s no reason to believe Apple is working on anything of the sort. It’s an idea based purely on speculation. That being said, we think it’s a smart idea, totally within the realm of possibility, and something we’d really like to see.

Given Apple’s massive success with the iPhone and iPod touch App Store, it makes sense that maybe Apple would try to implement something similar for the underdog in their lineup, the Apple TV. While Windows Media Center has developed quickly into one of the best pieces of software Microsoft’s ever created, and Boxee and XBMC have pushed the limits of user-created media centers, the Apple TV has languished with behind-the-times software and features, seemingly ignored by Apple themselves. With Boxee, it’s a great device, but how many people really know Boxee exists, let alone how to install it? The Apple TV has a ton of mainstream potential, and an app store might be just the way to achieve it.

An app store could deliver loads of new features to the Apple TV, from games to news to other digital video services (like Hulu), and could really exploit the under-used combination of Apple TV and iPhone. It’d be the best of both worlds, with the flexibility of Boxee and the security of the iPhone. Think about it: You could use the acceleromter in the iPhone to control a racing game displayed on your TV through the Apple TV, stream media across the world, or even just use your home theater system for truly epic fart apps.

And this could make media streamers (or home theater PCs, whatever) the mainstream devices they really should be: Despite Windows Media Center’s slick interface and ease of use, mainstream users barely even know it exists. XBMC, with its Linux base, requires users to hunt for apps, just like cell phones pre-App Store. Apple could really capitalize on the possibilities and relative lack of use of HTPCs and media streamers, and they’d barely have to do anything themselves!

Especially given Microsoft’s big push toward what they call the ‘three screen’ strategy (computer, mobile device, television) with the Zune HD and new Xbox 360 features, it really seems like the time for Apple to jump into the ring too.

Remember, there’s no reason to think an Apple TV app store is in the works. But on the other hand, we really hope it is. [via All Things D]

(Via Gizmodo.)

CEO of Sandisk, Eli Harari, has finally thrown in the towel (so to speak) by admitting that Apple has dominated the portable media player (PMP) market in the US in a way that anything else released would automatically be relegated to niche status. For this statement to come from the world’s number two PMP manufacturer goes a long way in cementing Apple’s sheer dominance. Do you think this trend will continue for years to come, or will Apple suffer the fate of American automobile manufacturers who once thought they had cornered the market only to be met by Japanese (and now Korean) makers that leapfrogged them to the top of the pile? If so, which is the best company to usurp Apple?

(Via Ubergizmo.)

creativebits – Apple oriented design community.)

Belkin’s milking its TuneBase product line for all it’s worth, today introducing two new wares that are just marginally different than those we’ve seen before. The new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct both enable iPhone users pick up a call handsfree (via the built-in speakerphone) as well as channel tunes to one’s stereo via an auxiliary input jack (that’s the ‘Direct’) or FM transmitter (and that’s the ‘FM’). The TuneBase FM is set to hit shelves next month in the US for $89.99, while the TuneBase Direct should make its way out this month for $69.99.

(Via Engadget.)

From John Gruber’s diary of an App Store reviewer: ‘Not sure what a ‘lingam’ is, but if it means what I think it means, just thinking about it is making mine swell. Jackpot. Rejected app for inappropriate content.’ Tragicomedy ’cause it’s true: [Daring Fireball, Image via Joy of Tech]

(Via Gizmodo.)

>Have you ever wanted to plug in a professional studio mic to your ipod touch/iphone? There may be a commercial solution, but I couldn’t find one. Even if there is one, I figured I could build one cheaper than a ready-made one. You could also use this for a line-in (my original reason for the project), but the source really needs to be taken down to mic level from line level for good sound quality.

The hardest part was finding the 3.5 mm 4 conductor plug (found it at Jameco). The soldering to the plug was a bit tricky too. I needed a cable with at least 4 conductors inside, and I wanted to build this for next-to-nothing, so I used some CAT5 ethernet cable I had. CAT5 has 8 conductors, so if you know of any other common cable with at least 4, you can use that.

(Via MAKE Magazine.)

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.

Name: AudioBoo

Quick Pitch: AudioBoo is social audio. An iPhone app & platform that effortlessly records audio to the cloud.

Genius Idea: AudioBoo is a platform that I’ve been waiting to review ever since I discovered it several months ago. It’s essentially a way to create and share podcasts and audio clips, but with a simplicity that has attracted some big names like UK actor Stephen Fry and The Guardian newspaper as users.

First, the iPhone app: it’s very simple to use. The most important feature of the app is that you can record audio and upload it to the AudioBoo server and your account. This makes it very simple to create, publish, and broadcast your most recent podcast (also known as a boo). The second feature is the ability to listen to the most recent boos from other users.

Yes, the iPhone app is very simple, but that’s the goal: to make podcasting really easy. Audioboo definitely succeeds in that regard. With very little fuss you can be up and running with your own podcast that can be distributed via social media – you can have AudioBoo automatically update your Facebook and Twitter with new Boos – and even iTunes.

The website itself is also pretty basic. You can only listen and subscribe to boos (although you can sort boos by popularity and time). But once again, this is the point: it’s the Twitter of podcasts – simple to use, easy to distribute. Its focus on simple audio is superb and perfect for anyone who wants to try podcasting without all of the fuss.

Since I’m talking about an audio app, I can’t finish this post up without making my own Boo. So listen to my review and subscribe to my Boos for my future Boocasts.

(Via Mashable!.)