I’ve just submitted CocoaBox for review. Again. I really hope this will be the last time for the very first version…

If you like, you can read my very long review of the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display (in German) here…

In line with the style of MOApp and Michael’s suite of applications, you get an app that does what is says, a minimalistic, non-obtrusive set of functions and interface elements, and top-notch support and responsiveness from a developer that owns up to his creations. Recommended without even blinking. MOApp apps are worth way more than there very affordable price.

Review from Greybark Blackcurrant

I’ve just submitted myTexts pro 1.2 with improved Dropbox Support for all grumblers, improved keyboard additions and support for TextExpander snippets…

Currently apps already need 3 or four weeks until they even change their status to ‘In Review’ and some apps of mine are already ‘In Review’ for more than four weeks now.

So, be patient!

Of course I had to purchase a new MacBook Air. The only concern I had is the lack of a backlit keyboard and simply put: that’s the only major demerit I can find. If you’re not used to it it will probably not be a problem for you. I think it’s the best thing Apple ever invented (besides the MagSave connector) and I am missing it badly. I think it’s a shame - especially for 1800 bucks for the ‘best’ configuration. And what makes it worse is the fact, that this sweet little book has the best keyboard ever - I think even better than the PowerBook 1400 keyboard.

But besides that there are only two more minor complaints I have that have been already discussed by others. It’s to ‘airy’ for the MagSave connector to work proper and thats also the reason why it is impossible to open it with just one hand and even when using two you may fail at first try.

I already loved the first MacBook Air and also own the ‘second’ version and of course I had to check out how they compare.

If you own the first generation MacBook Air and you’ve some bucks to spent - I really can recommend to ‘upgrade’ your book, but if you already own the version from 2009 with SSD you may want to wait to the next version.

If you don’t own a MacBook Air or a portable Mac in general and want to know if you can use it as your main computer and you’re not the Mac Pro kinda guy/girl but need a Mac for the typical work like Surfing, Mail, myWritings/Pages/Word and some photo- and video editing - go ahead. But do yourself a favor and take the 13” display and 4GB of RAM.

This thin and lightweight machine has enough power for most of us.

Photoshop CS4 with complete set of onone and nik filter is started in less than 4 seconds (new installation, as a Photoshop user you will know that this does not last long, but after the first crashes you will probably delete the preferences anyhow from time to time) and ‘normal’ editing is not a problem at all.

Compiling with Xcode is of course not that fast as with my Mac Pro - but hey, for average iPad and iPhone projects it is of course not a problem.

I really don’t have a need for installing Microsoft Office and when using apps from Microsoft the party pooper is never the Mac, so I can’t tell you anything about Word and Co - but myWritings and Pages are working perfect (Pages needs a little bit more than 3 seconds to start with an empty page and myWritings not a second.)

I can run ableton’s Live and NI’s MACHINE together with lots of instruments and filters without any problem - the only problem is of course the lack of sound-in but when you’re into serious ‘music making’ you already own a good solution for that.

Even Final Cut is working without any drop-outs - but I am really not the ‘pro’ user.

About iLife and Safari and Co you really don’t have to worry - that ‘normal’ stuff you can do on an iPad :-)

If you’re not used to, the new screen resolutions can be a little bit irritating in the beginning but when you switch to an ‘old’ display you which all your Macs would have such a display. 1440x900 pixel on a 13’ display - well it’s fun and improves your daily work a lot. There is nothing more helpful for getting things better and faster done than working with a ‘big’ screen. That’s why I really need a 60” Cinema Display :-)

The quality of the panel is a mixed bag. I don’t have any pixel errors, the ‘illumination’ ( I hope that’s the correct word?) is ok and it is bright enough to even work in the beer garden - I’ve measured max. 331 Candela for my book). Color fidelity and representation really could be better. I guess it is capable of ‘showing’ about 70 percent of the RGB and 40/50 percent of the sRGB color space and I tried to maintain it in a picture - it has a disposition to ‘break’ gradients and neutral gray - well, a reddish gray has it’s temptations.

The viewing angle is good and you can’t see single pixels when working normally.

What I really like about the new MacBook Air is the fact that it is another step in the right direction of simplifying every part of it, of the experience of working with it. We all know HP and Dell Notebooks with its buttons and switches and screws and colored ports and all the other ugly crap and even compared to the previous MacBook Air or the good old 12” PowerBook it really feels pure, reduced. I admire this aspiration for a perfect design.

The bottom line: I would love to call it almost perfect - but unfortunately I really miss the backlit keyboard. Besides that it is an awesome book and best of all - a silent one. A sexy one and one with enough power for my daily tasks and together with an iPhone and Tethering a perfect solution to go as well. To be fair: I have to tell you that Ollerum does not like it. It does not warm his tiny ass…

Mac.AppStorm review of myTumblr