Tom Schmidt, Author at MyMac.com

The World’s Oldest Apple Dealer’s Final Day

March 30, 2014March 7, 2025 Features 1

It all started in 1941. Maury and Betty Zuckman opened a little radio repair shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1977 a brand new company named Apple Computer struck its first ever dealership agreement for sales of the Apple II with the then-named Team Electronics. By 1987 FirstTech, which switched names two years before, dropped sales of stereo equipment in favor of becoming a full time Apple dealer. Now, on March 29, 2014, FirstTech’s doors have closed forever. A victim of increasing pressure from national retailers and service providers. 37 years as an Apple Specialist, 73 in total, was a pretty darn good run.

Confessions of a Macworld Rookie

January 28, 2012March 2, 2025 iWorld 2012, Macworld Expo 2012 0

The 2012 Macworld | iWorld show is nearly over. Today is the last day and the floor has just opened. As I sit in the press room thinking through the past days there are still a few things to look forward to, like dinner with an old friend and a ride to the airport tonight.

Snow Leopard Tips

November 30, 2009February 28, 2025 Review 0

Some of you do, but most of you don’t, know that I am the senior Repair Technician at First Tech Computer – an Apple

ifrogz EarPollution Reflex and Timbre Earbuds – Review

November 17, 2009June 21, 2010 Headphones, Review 1

It seems like most people just use the Apple earbuds that come with their iPods, but if you’re mowing your lawn you can’t hear your music. If you’re running, the earbuds won’t stay in your ears. Thus the need to buy in-ear earbuds.ifrogz sells an extensive line of earbuds and headphones, some of which have built-in mics like the Reflex and Timbre reviewed here.

Griffin SmartShare USB Hub – Review

May 18, 2009August 13, 2012 Review 0

If you’re a typical Mac user, you’ve got more USB devices than USB ports. Usually thatâ€™s not a big deal. I mean itâ€™s not like youâ€™re going to leave your camera or iPod plugged in all the time. What do you do if you need to connect just one more thing? You get a Griffin SmartShare USB Hub.

Apple Extends iPhoto Discounts Due To Server Overload

November 30, 2008February 25, 2025 Review 0

In December, Apple sent emails offering 20% off coupon codes for the iPhoto book and calendar services expiring February 29th. With the deadline approaching, last minute requests (myself included) overloaded Apple’s servers, according to an Apple representative I spoke with.

First Look – Apple Menu and Dock Enhancements

November 30, 2008February 25, 2025 Review 0

One of the things I missed switching to Mac OS X was the customizable Apple Menu. You could add anything to the Apple Menu

How Can You Find a Mac Developer?

November 30, 2008February 25, 2025 Review 0

I have a dilemma. I’ve got an idea for a new Mac OS X application, but I’m not a developer. I’ve got a mockup

Apple Specialist Dealers Announce Huge Pre-Holiday Sale

November 30, 2008February 26, 2025 Review 0

APPLE SPECIALIST DEALERS ANNOUNCE HUGE PRE-HOLIDAY SALE — More Than 130 Locations in North America to Offer the Best Deals Of the Year On

File Launching Enhancements

May 19, 2008December 2, 2011 How-To 0

Do you miss the customizable Apple Menu from the good old days of Mac OS 9? Did you get stuck when you upgraded to 10.5 because your favorite enhancements didn’t work (and they still don’t)? Here we look at Classic Menu, MaxMenus, RapidoStart, SunnyMenu, and XMenu.

iPod nano Case Family from Macally – Review

February 11, 2008June 27, 2010 Cases, iPod Nano, Review 0

New iPods mean new cases, and Macally has a ton of choices for the new iPod nano. Here we review the Bella, Divo, IceSuit, Metro, and Sportivo.

Finally, An Answer Of Sorts From Unsanity

January 30, 2008February 11, 2025 Review 0

I use FruitMenu. I have since version 1. At work I use it so much that I can’t upgrade to Leopard until I either

Griffin iClear, Reflect, and Elan Form hard cases for iPod nano (3rd Generation) – Review

December 18, 2007January 16, 2011 Cases, iPod Nano, Review 0

New iPods mean new cases, and just in time for stuffing those Christmas stockings. Here we take a look at Griffin’s new line of hard cases for the iPod nano. BONUS: Make your own nano lanyard.

Wi-Fire Long Range USB 2.0 802.11g Transceiver
Review

December 3, 2007January 16, 2011 Features 0

hField’s Wi-Fire is a promising new product, providing wi-fi connectivity at longer range than Apple’s AirPort. It’s a good first effort, but could use several software tweaks and a few hardware ones.

Need help? I need your help.

November 30, 2007February 10, 2025 Review 0

The MyMac.com Help Desk column will be taking a brief hiatus, to be replaced this month by a review of Apple’s new AirPort Extreme

Unsanity Responds, Sort Of…

November 30, 2007February 11, 2025 Review 0

As this is a copy of an email, this is in reverse order, starting with my reply to Unsanity’s reply and ending with my

Unsanity Is Driving Me Insane, take 2

November 30, 2007February 11, 2025 Review 0

OK, let’s try this again… Kind of messes things up when you do a typo & can’t edit changes. I haven’t installed Leopard yet.

Macally BTMouse – Review Revisited

November 30, 2007February 10, 2025 Review 0

Here is the original review. Today I discovered that Macally has released Macally Input Manager 1.0, the software I wished they had included in

iPhone would almost work for me, but…

November 30, 2007February 10, 2025 Review 0

I’ve played with the iPhone a few times. Here at First Tech we can’t sell them yet, but we do have one on the

Need Help?

November 30, 2007February 10, 2025 Review 0

MyMac.com Help Desk 11 is coming soon, featuring free Windows utilities you can use with Windows under Boot Camp or Parallels, but your emails