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Find Your Mac's Serial Number

Want to check your Mac's serial number quickly and easily? Select About This Mac from the Apple menu, and click on the text directly below "Mac OS X" that reads "Version 10.x.x." Click once and you'll get a build number which is more specific information about the software. Click twice, and you'll get your Mac's serial number.

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NetNewsWire for Mac and iPhone, Finally Updated

NewsGator has released the latest version of NetNewsWire for Mac and iPhone, and set a final date for the termination of its sync service as it turns over the task to Google Reader. The shut-off date for the in-house synchronization server, originally set for 31-Aug-09 (see "NewsGator Pushes Back Date, Sets Price", 2009-08-28), is now 28-Sep-09.

NetNewsWire 3.2 for Mac OS X ($9.95) and NetNewsWire 2.0 for iPhone ($1.99) are both available today, and also come in free ad-supported versions. Both programs offer the sole option of Google Reader for synchronizing subscriptions (additions, changes, and removals), as well as the read and unread status of individual items. The company also shipped an updated version of FeedDemon for Windows with similar updates.

NetNewsWire 2.0 for iPhone has numerous new features, which include Twitter integration, support for Instapaper, a new application icon, the addition of a Latest News view, improved image handling, and new Up and Down navigation arrows. Items can also now be sent via email from within NetNewsWire.

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NetNewsWire for Mac 3.2 is more of a stopping point en route to major changes in 4.0 that haven't yet been disclosed. The new version's most significant change beyond the sync issue is the addition of Instapaper support.

NetNewsWire for Mac was once a subscription product in a pro flavor to avoid ads, then went entirely free, and now has returned in free and for-fee/ad-free versions. Version 3.2 also drops Tiger support, requiring Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or later.

In addition to shutting down its sync service, NewsGator is also eliminating public access to NewsGator Online Reader, NewsGator Go for Blackberry and Windows Mobile, and NewsGator Inbox (for Outlook). Also gone are NewsGator's Browser Toolbar, the Desktop Notifier, Blogroll, Ratings, and Headlines features.

For more on what has changed, see "NewsGator Switches Users to Google Reader for Sync, Online RSS," 2009-08-04.

 

Pear Note 2: More complete, understandable notes on your Mac.
Typed notes are blended with recorded audio, video, and slides
to create notes that make more sense when you need them most.
Learn more at <http://www.usefulfruit.com/tb>!
 

Comments about NetNewsWire for Mac and iPhone, Finally Updated

WARNING.This app requires 10.5. If you download and install, replacing your prior version you cannot run the app and have lost access to your feed list. It does not check for system version prior to install.
Glenn Fleishman2009-09-24 17:13
Thank you for that note. We generally recommend - but didn't suggest in this article - not installing over existing applications in case of problems, but dragging the old application out of the Applications folder and then copying the new one in.

I've updated the article to note version issues.
Has anyone any information on a reduced upgrade cost for those who had previously purchased a licence for the paid version?
I cannot see any information on their website.
Glenn Fleishman2009-09-24 17:13
Developer Brent Simmons pointed out to me that previous licenses were actually subscriptions, all of which expired in 2008.
Jim Reardon2009-09-24 17:47
NewsGator is on a nose-dive to hell. Anyone who would send money to this company after what they've just done should have their head examined.

Shame, shame, shame.

The good news is that Google Reader is a great replacement for their product -- a complete replacement.