We are starting a new automation series where we post tutorials and tips on automating repetitive tasks and batch processing on the Mac. We will cover topics on Automator, AppleScript, Bash scripting and Ruby/Python programming. We give a brief overview to these tools and languages in the first post of the series.

Automator and AppleScript

Mac OS X comes with Automator app to assist you to create automated tasks using an easy to use drag-and-drop user interface. Automator and its underlying AppleScript programming language is Apple’s recommended automation tool and language on the Mac. Most aspects of the Mac can be automated and controlled using the AppleScript language. Many third party OS X apps also provide an interface to allow you to control them via AppleScript.

(The definitive guide by Apple on Mac OS X automation is at www.macosxautomation.com.)

AppleScript is available only on the Mac but is not the only scripting language on the Mac. Depending on the tasks at hand, there are several other choices.

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It is reported that North Carolina officials are tempting Apple with multi-million dollar tax break to house its server farm in the state. The investment by Apple is estimated to be $1 billion. Apple and North Carolina’s Commerce Department, the lead agency in business development, have declined to comment on the report.

The tax breaks could be worth about $46 million in the next decade, assuming the company reaches its $1 billion investment target within nine years of starting, according to a memo by legislative fiscal staffers that does not identify the company. The memo said no current company meets the criteria to receive the tax break and the Commerce Department knows of just one with the potential to qualify.

The new Apple server farm is expected to employ fewer than 100 full-time staffs initially, but legislators justified changing the state’s corporate tax formula for one company based on its potential over the long term. In 2007, Google committed to spending $600 million for a server farm near Lenoir in the western North Carolina foothills. The server farm opened last year.

It is interesting to speculate how Apple will make use of this new server farm, if the report is correct. We suspect the site will be a new addition to Apple’s existing server farms, rather than a relocation. The new server farm’s most likely purpose will be to cater for the Push Notification Service, which will be launched together with iPhone firmware 3.0.

Apple just reported yet another record breaking quarter, with $1.21b profit on revenues of $8.16b. Apple easily surpassed expectation and we do not see the economy having any significant impact to its bottom line.

Again, during the the financial conference call with analysts and members of the media, Apple played down the prospect of an Apple netbook on the horizon, echoing what Steve Jobs said earlier this year.

When I’m looking at what’s sold in the Netbook market, I see cramped keyboards, junky hardware, very small screens, bad software. Not a consumer experience that we would put the Mac brand on. As it exists today, we’re not interested in it nor would it be something customers would be interested in the long term. We are looking at the space. For those who want a small computer that does browsing/email, they might want an iPhone or iPod Touch. If we find a way to deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution, we’ll do that.

There are lots of rumors on Apple releasing a netbook. Will Apple release a netbook? That depends what is your definition of a netbook. If netbook means a portable notebook at less than $400, then Apple is not going to release one if price defines the category. By labeling netbook as junky, Apple is trying to distance itself from this market.

We are predicting Apple will release a portable notebook with a touch screen of 10 to 12 inch, with builtin 3G and a design along the MacBook Air range. It will be a dream machine for those who crave for a ‘tugged along’ anywhere Mac and priced about $1000. Just do not call it a netbook.

Apple has sent out invites to its “Let’s Rock” Special Event on next Tuesday September 9. The place is Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco at 10am Pacific Time.

The invite features an iPod silhouette, suggesting that it will be an iPod event. Apple is expected by the rumor mill to launch new iPod nano and iPod touch.