Every year around this time I get e-mail asking for Christmas gift ideas that are appropriate for Mac aficionados, and every year when I make my recommendations, I include the things I would like to get in the hope that Santa reads my column. Apparently he does, but just to be sure, you might want to circle the items that you are interested in, cut out the column, and then leave it lying where one of his elves can find it. You wouldn't want to take the chance that he might not see it. This year I want... er... recommend an iPod, Apple's portable music player. In previous years it was too expensive and had too few features to make my list, but finally, the third embodiment has evolved into a worthy business and entertainment tool. Apple advertises the wonder of having up to 10,000 songs in your pocket, and for some that is reason enough to get an iPod. But what finally won me over was its ability to hold 2,500+ songs (I only have 100 favourite CDs), 2,500+ contacts (500 is all I will ever need), an appointment calendar and a FileMaker database. Combine these features with the ability to transfer large files to and from other FireWire-equipped computers, and the ability to transmit tunes to any FM radio (with an optional extra) or connect them directly to an audiophile stereo, and you have a crave-worthy Christmas surprise. Frankly, in real life, making and fine-tuning your own custom playlists has it all over burning a different CD for every mood. I am frequently cruising down the highway blissfully listening to a custom CD when all of a sudden a song that doesn't fit the mood comes on. It's not exactly torture, but because the song is on a CD it will never get taken off, thus leaving a residue of regret in my rock'n'roll reverie. With the iPod, the next time I am near my Mac it will only take seconds to perfect the perturbing playlist. And, as if I needed further justification, unlike other organisers, the iPod has the ability to remember all your data when the battery goes dead. I am sold. My best friend is a world-class folk musician who has been getting by recording his own albums by plugging a single microphone directly into his Mac. He does a remarkable job under the circumstances, but his guitar is either not loud enough or so loud that it drowns out his voice. He told his wife (one of Santa's favourite elves) that I would know exactly what he needed to compose his creations correctly. I recommended that she tell Santa to get him an M-Audio FireWire 410 Mobile Recording Interface. It takes two separate microphones or electronic instruments (such as a guitar and a harmonica) and records them directly to a Mac as separate tracks. This means that you can filter or adjust each of the sounds independently. It won't replace a US$10,000 studio audio editor, but for $499 (street price $399), it comes with light versions of the awesome recording applications Reason and Live, and will make his songs sound spectacular. I have another Mac buddy who is a devoted and talented photographer. His works have been in many international publications but budget constraints have dictated that he stick with a film camera when a digital camera would really expand his horizons. Again, another elf enquired on his behalf. Since digital photography has finally come of age, I recommended that Santa get him a Canon EOS 10D camera. For US$1,499, it will give him the pro results that he has been getting from film with the added advantage that he will now be able to integrate his photography seamlessly with his Mac. Its 6.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is unique in a number of ways: it does not attract dust like CCD-type sensors, it will capture three photos a second when a subject will not stay still, and it more accurately captures colour in low light conditions. Of course, as you might imagine, the first photos that he will shoot will be of the Santa's elf responsible for his good fortune, all the while humming I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. E-mail Dave Horrigan at horrigan@electriciti.com with your Mac queries
