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MAMP stands for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL and PHP.  Using MAMP framework, you can access your  PHP server and MySQL server locally on your Mac. MAMP provides all the tools you need to run WordPress on your Mac. Four step process below guides you through the installation process for MAMP and WordPress on your Mac.

1. Install MAMP

Go to MAMP website, click on 'Download now' for MAMP. Current version of MAMP requires that your Mac be running on Mac OS X 10.4.x or later.

Once the installation is complete, you should see a window with MAMP, MAMP PRO and Applications folders in it. Drag MAMP folder and drop it on to Applications folder. Application is installed when the contents are copied to Applications folder.

2. Basic MAMP configuration

Launch MAMP application from /Applications/MAMP/MAMP.app. You will see MAMP application window with options to Stop Servers, make changes to Preferences, Open start page along with status of Apache and MySQL servers.

Now, click the Preferences button. Next, click over to "Ports." The default MAMP ports are 8888 for Apache, and 8889 for MySQL. If you use this configuration, you shouldn't get asked for your password, but you'd need to include the port number in the URL (localhost:8888). If you'd like to leave the port number out of the URL, change the Apache port to 80. If you are using port 80 as your MAMP Apache port, then you'll always be asked for your password.

As we say goodbye to 2009, let's take a look at how we spent the year. Turns out, somewhere between twittering and facebook updates we have been watching lots and lots of YouTube music videos. The 10 most watched YouTube music videos represent 386571072 hours (that is 44,129 years!) that we spent watching these videos. The top 10 list contains three Miley Cyrus videos, two Michael Jackson videos and two videos from Lonely Island. Take a final look at these videos for 2009.

1. Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - 88,113,531 views

Ever since Google employees are presented with the phone, details about HTC manufactured Nexus One Google phone are surfacing daily. Today, Google sent out invitations to media outlets for an Android press gathering event on Jan 05 at it's Mountain View, CA headquarters. Even though there is no specific mention of Nexus One phone in the invite , it is evident from the media coverage that Google's announcement is going to steal a bit of limelight from upcoming CES. The phone is rumored to be a GSM device with Android 2.1, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.7 inch touchscreen, microSD and voice-to-text features. Also, Nexus One is expected to be sold unlocked, which means no more contracts. Depending on how competitive the pricing of an unlocked Nexus One is going to be, it is going to attract lot of  customers (including iPhone users).

Update: According to leaked documents, the unlocked/unsubsidized Nexus One phone is be sold for $530. Subsidized version is going to cost $180 with 2 year contract on a $79.99 monthly rate plan.

Online iPhone sales back in New York City :  AT&T site is updated and you can purchase iPhone online if you are in New York City. As you may already know, starting Sunday night, AT&T stopped online iPhones sales  for New York City area. When people called to know the reason, AT&T representatives responded  saying "NYC was not ready for iPhone", online sales were stopped to prevent credit card fraud etc. Read More...

Advocacy groups ask FTC to block Google, AdMob deal : Consumer Watchdog and Center for Digital Democracy said in a letter to Federal Trade Commission that the proposed Google, AdMob deal would lessen competition in mobile advertising market and created privacy concerns. It was announced on Nov 09 that Google was acquiring AdMob for $750 million.Read More...

Google Chrome OS Netbook specs leaked? : Last month Google showcased Chrome OS, a browser based operation system. Specifications for a Netbook with Chrome OS are leaked which include 10.1 inch multi touch display, 2 GB RAM, 64 GB solid state drive, Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth and Ethernet port. Read More...

According to iSuppli's report for PC sales, Acer surpassed Dell as the second biggest PC manufacturer in the world for Q3 2009. Taiwan-based Acer grew by 17% year-over-year, while Dell's sales slipped almost 6%. HP continues to maintain it's lead for the 13th straight quarter. Acer's gain is attributed to increased Notebook and Netbook sales. Dell's loss is due to the downturn in corporate IT spending.

This year, there were 79.9 million PCs sold, up 1.1% from the 79.1 million sold last year.

Firefox and other browsers have been gaining market share at the expense of Microsoft's IE. For the first time, Firefox's browser market share crossed 25% in the week of Nov 10.

According to statistics from Net Applications for November, Internet Explorer's market share is 63.62%, while Firefox is at number two with 24.72%.  As you can see from the chart below, Firefox gained 10% market share within a span of two years, while Internet Explorer lost more than 15% during the same period.  Safari and Chrome browsers continue to increase their market share as iPhone and Android based phones become more popular.

Warner Home Video announced that they will be offering Blu-ray combo packs for all theatrical new release movies starting first quarter of 2010. Combo pack includes Blu-ray disc, DVD and a digital copy. This combo pack offering trend was started by Disney sometime back. It is evident that these offerings will help accelerate Blu-ray adoption and at the sametime give more viewing choices for customers with no additional cost.

Warner Home Video is also launching Blu-ray double features pack starting at $24.98 that will include a pair of well-matched catalog hits from Warner studios.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) has started providing      wireless connections to all passengers on it's trains  underground. This is a good news for thousands of bay area commuters who take underground tube daily to work. Wireless service underground especially comes handy in situations like technical glitches or natural disasters.  Five of the Bay Area's six wireless providers have agreed to use the system. But, from initial reports, cellular signal seems to be spotty. Hopefully the coverage would improve in coming days. Service availability schedule below:

Ever since Google employees are presented with the phone, new details about the Nexus One phone are surfacing daily. The phone is manufactured by HTC and resembles HTC passion. Nexus One features include Android 2.1, GSM/EDGE support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi support, microSD card, high resolution OLED touch screen, Voice-to-text feature, Two Mics and scroll ball. Google's Nexus One is rumored to be available through T-Mobile for $199 with contract starting January 2010.

It would be interesting to see how Nexus One is is going to fare against iPhone and other Android based phones from Motorola, Samsung, HTC etc.

Similar to Warner Bros. DVD2BLU program, Disney Studios Home Entertainment has introduced Upgrade2Blu. As part of the program, Disney is offering $8 coupon towards the purchase of Blu-ray disc if you already own DVD of the movie. After selecting the DVD titles you own, you would need to send the printed rebate form along with the proof-of-purchase tab for DVDs. $8 savings coupon will be emailed to you. Unlike Warner Bros. DVD2BLU program, you can keep your Disney DVDs with you. Below is the list of titles available for this program: