• apple,  editorial

    iPod touch: What Are You Going to Do?

    September 14, 2009 /

    I was looking forward to Apple’s iPod event last week with the hopes that there would be some cool new features added to the iPod touch. I was looking for an excuse to upgrade from my G1 touch since my headphone jack is acting flaky and I was hoping to get more storage space for the same price, or less, than I had paid for my 16GB unit. Plus the Internet was abuzz with rumors that there would be a digital camera in the new unit. And let’s not forget that newer versions of the touch also have the hardware buttons for volume control – something I miss from my 5th Gen iPod.

    The Apple event came and went with little more than a memory upgrade for the mid-tier iPod touch. Should I stick with what I’ve got? Should I buy a refurbished 16 or 32GB 2G iPod touch? Should I pick up a 32GB 3G iPod touch? Or should I keep waiting for the camera I was hoping would have been in the new iPod later down the road?

    The day before the Apple event, there was a rumor on the Internet that stated that a run of bad parts (the cameras) would delay the launch of the new 3G iPod touch. Turns out that Apple wasn’t going to hold up the new features that they could deliver.

    iFixit.com recently posted take apart directions for the 3G iPod touch that reveals that the motherboard does in fact have space for a 5th Gen iPod Nano style camera in it. iFitix also revealed that the Wi-Fi chip inside the new touch is capable of 802.11n, provided that Apple release the driver to take full advantage of the chip.

    So, iPod fans, what are we going to do? Since the 32 and 64GB iPod touch models are exactly “cheap”, I think I’ll be sticking with my 1G iPod touch until my headphone jack stops working or Apple finally gives the iPod touch the features it’s price tag demands.

    Click the Comments link below and let us know what you are planning to do.

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  • apple,  itunes,  palm,  pre,  web os

    Apple iTunes 9.0 vs. Palm webOS Media Sync

    September 10, 2009 /

    Yesterday, the world got it first look at Apple’s new jukebox software, iTunes 9.0. Yesterday Pre owners also learned that the Apple/Palm cat and mouse game with iTunes and Media Sync is still very much alive and well.

    So, Pre owners, what are you going to do? Are you going to stick with iTunes 8.2.1 and Media Sync or are you going to make the jump to iTunes 9.0?

    After watching Apple’s keynote presentation last night, and yes, Steve Jobs did take the stage, I’ve decided to make the jump to iTunes 9.0 and iPhone OS 3.1 for iPod touch. In my opinion, there where just too many cool new features in Apple’s new software that I wasn’t going to hold back.

    Take for example, the new sync features for iPod touch and iPhone. I welcome the expanded sync controls over what content lives on my Mac and on my iPod. It becomes super easy to make sure that I have some of my favorite movies (Iron Man) and TV shows (Looney Tunes, Mythbusters, Law & Order) always with me without having to keep marking them as new.

    I also like the new control of your applications for the iPod touch. I have some 60-70 apps on my touch and the newly redesigned applications tab will greatly help my quickly add new apps and reorganize the ones I already have.

    And let’s not forget the new Home Sharing feature in iTunes 9.0. If you have more than one computer in your home, this is going to be a great feature to have. I’ll be able to quickly keep my MacBook and Mac Pro iTunes libraries in sync so I always have all of my music with me when I’m at home or traveling for work and play.

    With brings me back to my Palm Pre and the Media Sync feature. I was really surprised when Palm announced the Media Sync feature and I quickly started syncing content to my Pre from iTunes. With iTunes 9.0, Apple has chosen to close the door to the webOS Media Sync feature. I’m sure Palm or someone from the webOS homebrew app community will figure out a way to re-enable native syncing with iTunes. The bottom line for me is that my iPod touch, combined with iTunes, still represents the best over all user experience for purchasing content, loading it on my device, and interacting with it on the go.

    So for now, the iPod wins, and iTunes 9.0 is on my MacBook. The good news is that I can still sync the Pre with my Mac Pro which I’ve left back at iTunes 8.2.1. Sure, I can’t use the Home Sharing feature, but at least I can get my iTunes Plus tracks synced down to my Pre easily.

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  • apple,  rumors

    Rumor: iPod touch Shipments Delayed

    September 8, 2009 /

    Bad news, iPod fans! If a recent article on AppleInsider is correct, new iPods could be delayed due to bad cameras – a feature long rumored to be in the next generation of Apple’s music players.

    “A person with a strong track record in predicting Apple’s upcoming product launches recently told AppleInsider that the iPod maker has experienced technical problems (bad parts) with the cameras modules. The person said that it was uncertain whether the new hardware, which has been widely expected to debut at Wednesday’s “Only rock and roll” media-centric event, would make the cut for early September retail distribution.”

    I doubt that this news will derail the Apple event scheduled to take place tomorrow. It can, however, put a damper on things. If Apple does unveil a new iPods with digital cameras, don’t expect wide availability of the new devices for a few weeks.

    We’ll have more from the Apple front after tomorrow’s keynote.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • apple,  iphone,  pre

    Consumer Reports: Palm Pre vs. Apple iPhone

    September 5, 2009 /

    The September 2009 edition of the Consumer Reports magazine has a 1/3 page “mini review” of the Palm Pre as it compares against the Apple iPhone 3G S. There is even a video review of the two phones on the Consumer Reports website.

    As readers of this blog know, the iPhone and the Palm Pre have a lot in common and the decision as to which one is right for you will end up coming down to personal style and preference. I like the ease of use of the iPhone, however, the primary use for my smartphone is email, and for that I want a physical keyboard and so the Pre wins.

    The article in Consumer Reports is short, you can read it while in the check out line, you’ll want to pick this issue up at your favorite newsstand because the issue also contains a good review of portable GPS units and reviews of the best drugs for allergies, colds, and the flu – a must for anyone who has kids heading back to school.

    For more details, check out the Consumer Reports website.

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  • apple,  att,  iphone

    MMS Coming to iPhone 3G, 3GS – 9/25/09

    September 3, 2009 /

    It’s official! AppleInsider.com is reporting that AT&T will be bringing MMS – multimedia messaging – to the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS on September 25, 2009.

    “It was important to give our customers a positive experience from day one,” AT&T said. “We support more iPhone customers than any other carrier in the world so we took the time necessary to make sure our network is ready to handle what we expect will be a record volume of MMS traffic. We truly appreciate our customers’ patience and hope they’ll understand our desire to get it right from the start.”

    According to AppleInsider.com, the new feature will come in the form of iTunes downloadable update for 3G and 3GS owners. Unfortunately, owners of the original iPhone will be left out in the cold as they will be locked out from getting the update. I guess that is a subtle hint from AT&T that you need to upgrade.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • apple,  appletv

    Apple iPod Event – Will Jobs Make an Appearance?

    September 2, 2009 /

    After weeks of rumors and wild speculation by almost everyone, it is clear that on September 9 Apple will be talking about new iPods, iTunes 9, and possibly a hardware or software update to Apple TV.

    Interestingly, what has taken on a life of its own is whether or not Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs will take the helm and deliver the presentation and product demos or will Apple chose to bring out SVP of Product Marketing Phil Schiller or COO Tim Cook who took on the role of acting CEO while Mr. Jobs was on his medical leave earlier this year.

    Personally, I think there is a 50/50 chance that Mr. Jobs will make an appearance at the event to kick off and wrap up the presentation. If Mr. Jobs doesn’t run the presentation, I would expect to see Mr. Schiller take on the presentation chores as he has done in the past.

    The bottom line is that I like watching Steve Jobs hock is ‘wares, but what I’m more interested in is seeing what new features will added to the iPod touch and the Apple TV.

    On the top of my list for the iPod touch is the addition of a 3.0MP digital camera and the inclusion of a GPS radio. On the Apple TV front, I’d like to see Apple add a TiVo-like TV show recording feature that will record the show to the local hard disk and then transfer down to iTunes on a Mac or PC. It would be really cool if the exiting Apple TV hardware could do that (since I have one), but I suspect that for a TiV0-like feature to become available on Apple TV, it will require a hardware change to add a line-in connection.

    What would you like to see Apple add to the iPod and Apple TV? Let us know in the Comments section below.

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  • apple,  mac os x,  markspace,  pre

    Upgrading to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

    August 30, 2009 /

    This past Friday, Apple unleashed the latest version of Mac OS X, 10.6 Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard looks amazingly a lot like Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which is one of the reasons why Apple is only charging $29 for the OS upgrade. While Snow Leopard may not look very different from Leopard, the latest Mac OS X upgrade from Apple focuses on enhancements to the OS code rather than flashy new features.

    Palm users, specifically those who are using Palm OS 5 and earlier devices, will want to take note of the changes in the latest release of Mac OS X.
    As previously reported, Apple is no longer supporting the Palm OS sync conduit in the iSync software. If you want to continue to sync your Palm OS 5 and earlier device with Apple’s built-in PIM applications, you will need to purchase, or upgrade, to the latest version of Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS. As with every operating system upgrade, not everything transitions to the new operating system 100% cleanly. Mark/Space is reporting minor incompatibilities with their Mac OS production, which includes the Missing Sync for Palm OS. To help customers get everything working correctly again, Mark/Space has posted a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard software compatibility matrix.
    When installing Snow Leopard on my 2007 while MacBook, I was informed that parts of Palm Desktop 4.2.1 Rev D required the installation of the Mac OS X Rosetta module. Rosetta is the Apple module that allows you to run older applications written for the PowerPC platform on Macs that have Intel chips inside. Since I ‘m using a Palm Pre these days, I chose to not install the Rosetta software and instead uninstalled Palm Desktop from my Mac.
    And speaking of the Palm Pre, I had no trouble mounting the Pre’s storage volume to my Mac’s desktop to copy files to and from the phone. I was also able to sync the Pre to iTunes 8.2.1 using the Media Sync feature; however that may change on September 9, when Apple is expected to unveil iTunes 9 along side new iPod models.
    I should also mention that Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is the first version of Apple’s Mac OS X that only supports Macintosh computers that have Intel processors. If your Mac has “Power” in the name, like PowerMac G5, this is a not-t0-subtle hint that it is time to upgrade your Mac.
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  • apple,  mac os x,  palm,  palm os

    No Palm OS Conduit in Snow Leopard iSync

    August 25, 2009 /

    Mac fan undoubtedly know that this coming Friday Apple will let the cat out of the bag as it where, and release Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

    Fan site AppleInsider.com recently posted:

    “Apple has discontinued support for legacy Palm OS devices in Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s iSync 3.1.0, according to sources familiar with the latest Gold Master build, requiring users of Palm OS devices to obtain third party support for syncing their Palm Desktop information with Mac OS X’s Sync Services.”

    I’m not really surprised that Apple is cutting ties with the old Palm OS conduit. Palm themselves have also halted development of products based on Palm OS so it makes little sense for Apple to continue supporting the Palm OS conduit in their iSync product. Additionally, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard will be the first version of Mac OS X that will not include support for Apple’s own PowerPC-based PowerMac and PowerBook models.

    For Palm users who are also Mac users, I would suggest switching from Apple’s iSync software to Mark/Space The Missing Sync for Palm OS. The Missing Sync will allow you to sync with Address Book, iCal, Entourage, iPhoto, and iTunes. You can learn more about the Missing Sync on the Mark/Space website.

    Read the full AppleInsider article…

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  • apple,  astraware,  iphone

    Astraware Casino Comes to iPhone, iPod touch

    July 30, 2009 /

    Handmark(R) today announced the release of Astraware Casino – a fun, easy-to-use pack of 11 of the most popular casino games from around the world – on the App Store. Astraware Casino is the first new game release from Handmark to use the iTunes Library Integration feature of iPhone OS 3.0. Users with iPhone OS 3.0 compatible devices can select My iPod Music from the game’s Options menu and choose individual songs from their collection to create the perfect casino-themed playlist!

    Handmark will be incorporating iTunes Library integration into a range of their existing and forthcoming iPhone and iPod touch games, allowing players to create their own soundtrack for each game. Updates to existing titles with this great new feature will be rolled out over the summer.

    “We are excited to be able to use these new APIs to enhance our games offerings,” said Cassidy Lackey, vice president of Handmark Studios. “It’s great to be able to design your own playlist to accompany Astraware Casino – there’s nothing like a bit of relaxing lounge music when you’re enjoying a game of Poker!”

    Astraware Casino includes all the usual games you’d expect to find in casinos – Texas Hold ‘Em No Limit and Limit Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and Slots, as well as some more specialist games like Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Video Derby, and Keno. Astraware Casino gives players $1,000 virtual dollars to begin playing with and also includes a fun trophy system – the Souvenir Suitcase – with awards given for a range of achievements in the game.

    Astraware Casino is available at the introductory price of $0.99 for a limited time from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at the iTunes App Store.

    You can read my review of Astraware Casino here. In addition to the iPhone/iPod touch edition of Astraware Casino, there is also versions available for the Palm Centro and Windows Mobile-powered Palm Treo smartphones. For more details on other editions of Astraware Casino, please visit the Astraware website.

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  • apple,  iphone,  itunes

    Read “Comics” on Your iPhone, iPod touch

    July 25, 2009 /

    Iconology Inc., at the San Diego Comic Con, has launch of its Comics by comiXology app on the iTunes App Store. The Comics by comiXology App is a digital comic store, library and reader for iPhone and iPod touch that is launching with over 100 titles available from twenty popular comic publishers and many independent comic writers.

    “The stunning display and innovative multi-touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch have finally made comics appealing in a digital format,” said David Steinberger, CEO of Iconology, Inc. “By combining great comics with iPhone OS 3.0’s In-App Purchasing and location awareness features we are creating a revolution in the way comics are sold and read which could only happen with iPhone and iPod touch.”

    Comics by comiXology heralds an entirely new comic book publishing and connected commerce model. Comic book enthusiasts can now not only read their comics in a format designed to preserve the comic book experience on an iPhone or iPod touch, but also locate and connect with local retailers to purchase the printed version of the titles. Through relationships with comic book retailers, Comics by comiXology will increase both digital and print sales of comics and deliver a powerful mobile marketing tool for comic book publishers and retailers.

    Comics by comiXology offers a “guided view” that keeps the entire page of a comic intact, unlike other solutions where the page is cut into individual pictures the user browses like a photo application. Comics by comiXology is a reader app that contains all a user’s comics and offers its own digital comics store that supports multiple publishers.

    Among the twenty publishers that have already signed up to deliver their titles through Comics by comiXology are many well-known industry icons including:

    * AdHouse Books
    * Arcana Comics
    * Asylum Press
    * Bluewater Comics
    * Com.X
    * Creative Impulse Entertainment
    * Digital Webbing
    * eigoMANGA
    * First Salvo
    * Image Comics
    * Markosia
    * Moonstone
    * Red 5
    * Th3rd World Studios
    * Zenescope

    Additionally, popular comics writer Robert Kirkman has agreed to deliver his titles exclusively through Comics by comiXology making it the only place to get “Walking Dead” and “Invincible” for iPhone and iPod touch.

    The Comics by comiXology App is now available, including over 30 free comics, for $0.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

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