Tidbits

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Tidbits (styled TidBITS) is an electronic newsletter and web site dealing primarily with Apple Inc. and Macintosh-related topics. [1]

Contents

Internet publication

TidBITS has been published weekly since April 16, 1990, making it the longest-running Internet technology publication [2] and the second-oldest Internet-only publication of any sort. [3] [4] In July 1992, TidBITS launched the first Internet advertising program, [5] based on the PBS sponsorship model.

TidBITS is published by Adam C. Engst, author of a number of computer books, including four editions of Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh, Eudora for Windows & Macintosh Visual Quickstart Guide, and five editions of iPhoto for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide, along with a number of books in the Take Control series. [6]

Staff

The senior staff of TidBITS are: [7]

Electronic books

From 2003 to 2017, TidBITS also published a series of electronic books in Adobe Acrobat (PDF), EPUB and Mobipocket (Kindle) formats [8] that cover issues related to macOS and the digital lifestyle. The "Take Control Books" series first appeared in October 2003 with the publication of Take Control of Upgrading to Panther which was issued at the same moment as the official launch of Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther. Excerpts of the Take Control books can be downloaded free of charge, and some have been published in Macworld magazine. [9]

The series includes many books for using and upgrading the various versions of Mac OS X [10] and iPhone software; [11] applications such as Apple Mail [12] and iTunes; and general technology such as wireless security and choosing a digital camera.

There are also some wider lifestyle titles such as Take Control of Thanksgiving Dinner as well as more highly technical titles such as Take Control of Mac OS X Server by Charles Edge. Reviewers have described Take Control titles as "thoughtful" and "loaded with useful tips and humor". [13]

In 2017, TidBITS sold the Take Control Books imprint to alt concepts, a company run by the author Joe Kissell. [14]

Related Research Articles

macOS Operating system for Apple computers

macOS, originally Mac OS X, previously shortened as OS X, is an operating system developed and marketed by Apple since 2001. It is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers. Within the market of desktop and laptop computers, it is the second most widely used desktop OS, after Microsoft Windows and ahead of all Linux distributions, including ChromeOS.

The history of macOS, Apple's current Mac operating system formerly named Mac OS X until 2011 and then OS X until 2016, began with the company's project to replace its "classic" Mac OS. That system, up to and including its final release Mac OS 9, was a direct descendant of the operating system Apple had used in its Mac computers since their introduction in 1984. However, the current macOS is a UNIX operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT from the 1980s until Apple purchased the company in early 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh SE/30</span> Personal computer released by Apple Computer

The Macintosh SE/30 is a personal computer designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from January 1989 to October 1991. It is the fastest of the original black-and-white compact Macintosh series.

Macworld/iWorld was an information technology trade show with conference tracks dedicated to Apple's Mac platform. It was held annually in the United States during January. Originally Macworld Expo and then Macworld Conference & Exposition, the gathering dates back to 1985. The conference was organized by International Data Group (IDG), co-publisher of Macworld magazine.

<i>MacWEEK</i> San Francisco based trade journal

MacWEEK was a controlled-circulation weekly trade journal that focused on the Apple Macintosh. MacWEEK was based in San Francisco and founded by Michael Tchong, John Anderson, Glenn Patch, Dick Govatski, and Michael F. Billings. It featured a back-page rumor column penned by the pseudonymous Mac the Knife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevenote</span> Keynote speeches given by Steve Jobs

Stevenote is a colloquial term for keynote speeches given by Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, at events such as the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Macworld Expo, and Apple Expo. Because most Apple product releases were first shown to the public at these keynotes, "Stevenotes" caused substantial swings in Apple's stock price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam C. Engst</span> American technology writer and publisher

Adam C. Engst is a technology writer and publisher who resides in Ithaca, New York, United States where he was born and went to college at Cornell University.

The Apple community is the users, media, and third party companies interested in Apple Inc. and its products. They discuss rumors, future products, news stories, and support of Apple's products. Apple has a cult-like following, especially for the Apple II, Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and luminary staff members. The personal computer revolution, mixed with Apple's vertical integration of its products and services, has increased popularity. Apple's corporate policy of extreme secrecy about future products intensify interest in the company's activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac OS X Leopard</span> Sixth major release of Mac OS X

Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of macOS, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on October 26, 2007 as the successor of Mac OS X Tiger, and is available in two editions: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a server version, Mac OS X Server. It retailed for $129 for the desktop version and $499 for Server. Leopard was superseded by Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009. Mac OS X Leopard is the last version of macOS that supports the PowerPC architecture as its successor, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, functions solely on Intel based Macs.

WebSTAR was a web server application for the classic Mac OS. It supported the common gateway interface (CGI) and its own AppleEvents-based W*API for plug-in support, as well as SSL and similar technologies used in most early web servers. Unlike most servers of the era, WebSTAR was very Mac-like in terms of installation and maintenance, using a number of AppleEvents-based MacOS programs for most tasks. WebSTAR was also part of Apple's Internet Server Solution, a package of internet server software and certain models of PowerMac machines. One popular use of WebSTAR was in combination with FileMaker to make simple database-driven online applications.

Retrospect is a family of software applications that back up computers running the macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Linux operating systems. It uses the client–server backup model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Info-Mac</span> Website covering Apple Inc. products

Info-Mac is an online community, news aggregator and shareware file hosting service covering Apple Inc. products, including the iPhone, iPod and especially the Macintosh. Established in 1984 as an electronic mailing list, Info-Mac is notable as being the first online community for Apple's then-new Macintosh computer. Info-Mac was the dominant Internet resource for Mac OS software and community-based support throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac OS X Snow Leopard</span> Seventh major version of macOS, released in 2009

Mac OS X Snow Leopard is the seventh major release of macOS, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac (computer)</span> Family of personal computers made by Apple

Mac, short for Macintosh, is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple. The name Macintosh is a reference to a type of apple called McIntosh. The product lineup includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, and the iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro desktops. Macs are sold with the macOS operating system.

Mac operating systems were developed by Apple Inc. in a succession of two major series.

iPhone OS 1 2007 mobile operating system

iPhone OS 1 is the first major release of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system. It was succeeded by iPhone OS 2 on July 11, 2008.

Apple Inc. has produced and sold numerous music and multimedia speakers, available for standalone purchase and bundled with Macintosh products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Edge (computer scientist)</span> American computer scientist and author (died 2024)

Charles Edge was an American computer scientist, author, podcaster, and a contributing author for Inc.com and Huffington Post.

References

  1. ↑ David Coursey (2003). Mac OS X for Windows Users: A Switchers' Guide. Peachpit Press. p. 238. ISBN   978-0-321-16889-4 . Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ "TidBits Celebrates 20th Anniversary As Oldest Pure Digital Tech Pub On Net". April 20, 2010.
  3. ↑ "TidBITS Hits a Quarter Century of Internet Publishing". TidBITS. 2015-04-20. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  4. ↑ "TidBITS Marks Its 30th Anniversary in a Time of Pandemic". TidBITS. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  5. ↑ "TidBITS Sponsorship Program". TidBITS. 1992-07-20. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  6. ↑ "The History of Computing: TidBITS and The Technology of Publishing". thehistoryofcomputing.net. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  7. ↑ TidBITS Contact page - lists current staffers
  8. ↑ "Device Advice – Take Control Books".
  9. ↑ "Setting up iPhone tethering: Take Control of iPhone and iPod Touch Networking", Macworld , December 1, 2010
  10. ↑ "Topic: apple articles on Engadget". Engadget.
  11. ↑ "Taking Control of the iPhone 4 with Karen G. Anderson". Seattle24x7. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Book Review - Take Control of Apple Mail in Snow Leopard ebook". August 30, 2010.
  13. ↑ TidBITS provides a thoughtful review of Leopard 10.5.2, InformationWeek , February 14, 2008
    - Review of TidBITS Mac OS X Lexicon in Mac Observer, July 24, 2007
  14. ↑ "Take Control Books Acquired by Joe Kissell". TidBITS. May 1, 2017.
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