All about Apple product.(iPod Video, iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iMac, Macbook, iPhone etc..): 5/27/07

Friday, June 1, 2007

Steve Jobs on Apple, Mac, iPod and iPhone

Apple remains focused on the Mac, promises company CEO
Jonny Evans

Apple CEO Steve Jobs also seized a solo spot at yesterday's D: All Things Digital event.
He talked about Apple, categorising its increasingly diverse businesses as: "Three businesses and a hobby." Businesses include Macs, music and the iPhone, while the Apple TV is "a hobby".
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On Apple TV he observed: “The reason I call it a hobby is, a lot of people have tried and failed to make it a business. And it’s a hard problem. So we’re trying. I think if we work on it and improve things over the next year, 18 months, we can crack that,” said Jobs, as reported by Macworld US.
What everybody’s tried, and where we’ve come from, too, is coming from the personal computer market, you first think about getting content from PC to widescreen TV. And I’m not sure that’s what consumers want,” Jobs said.
“It’s great to get that all on there, but we tend to think of that as the entree. And the more we think about it, we think that that stuff is the peas on the side. And the entree might be content on the internet.”
Beyond introducing his audience to the Apple TV's soon-to-come support for YouTube, Jobs wouldn't share any future product plans. He did dismiss the notion that the iPod needs updating, pointing out that new models only debuted in September 2006.
Jobs stressed his company remains deeply committed to the Mac market, predicting June's WWDC would be the best attended yet and adding that the company is making "massive investments in the computer business".
Apple's marketshare is climbing. “Our share in notebooks is ahead of the industry, two-thirds notebooks. I can see a time when notebooks are 80, 90 per cent of what we sell. We’re also always improving our OS, generally have a release 18 months or so. And we had a big release we didn’t get much credit for, which is Mac OS X Tiger for Intel,” he said.
On iPods, he promised more ahed: "We’re working on the best iPods that we’ve ever worked on, and they’re awesome," he said, and hinted at 3G support in future iterations of the iPhone.Jobs also once again confirmed that the iPhone runs a full version of OS X, stripped of inappropriate elements such as sound files, desktop patterns. "If you take out the data, the OS isn't that huge," he said.
Apple's leader chose to dismiss the idea of making the iTunes Store accessible through the iPhone, "we have nothing to announce today", he said, observing that high mobile network data charges at present make such services impractical.
Answering critics who say Apple is missing a trick by not opening the iPhone up to third-party developers, he said the decision was based on security problems.
“I think sometime later this year we will find a way to let third parties write apps and still preserve security. But until we can find that way, we can’t compromise the security of the phone. Nobody’s perfect, but we sure don’t want our phone to crash. We would like to solve this problem, if you could be just a little more patient with us, I think everyone can get what they want,” he said.
Jobs confirmed that 300 million copies of iTunes have been downloaded so far, mainly to Windows machines. "That's like a glass of ice water in hell," he quipped, on the presence of an Apple application on a Windows computer.
Jobs also observed some surprise at the success of the iPod: “I never thought we’d ship 100 million iPods. No, never," he said.
He ended his appearance demonstrating the new feature addition of YouTube videos running on the Apple TV (interestingly, this features an on-screen alphanumeric keyboard for searching for new clips). The company later revealed that YouTube is re-encoding all its video archives into the Apple TV supported video codec, H.264.
Jobs admitted that high-definition videos aren't yet available for the Apple TV, but admitted that this may change.
“We’re not selling HD yet, because of the tradeoffs between download time and quality. But that might change in the future,” said Jobs.

New MacBook Pros on Tuesday, June 5th 2007? [Updated].

While we had heard convincing reports that the MacBook Pro updates would have to wait until WWDC (June 11th), a few new reports have started trickling in that the MacBook Pro could see updates as soon as this Tuesday (June 5th).

Mac4ever.com (French) posts the following from a reseller (roughly translated):

There's some news. We've just ordered the new MBP ! Launch expected for next tuesday... But Apple didnt't say anything about the specifications. We have to order blind-eyed... If i've got some other news, i'll keep you informed.

This information alone would not necessarily be convincing, as resellers tend not to have much lead time on new products... but a few other tidbits we've heard leads us believe that this could be legitimate.Sources are unclear if this will be the LED / Santa Rosa updates that users have been hoping for, and some sources still insist we will have to wait until WWDC for the new MacBook Pro.Update: There is some speculation that Apple may be releasing MacBook Pros next week rather than at WWDC to coincide with their Educational Back to School Program which launches next week. (If Apple waited until WWDC, the MacBook Pro specs would change a week into the Back to School promotion.)

YouTube for Apple TV uses H.264, not Flash.

Earlier this week, Apple announced that YouTube.com videos would become available on the Apple TV after a software update that will be made available in June.iLounge spoke with Apple's Vice President of Worldwide Mac Hardware Marketing, David Moody, who provided more details about this upgrade.According to Moody, not all of the Youtube catalog will be available on day one. Instead, "thousands of videos designed for Apple TV" will be available at launch, but that the remainder will become available by the fall. The reason for the delay is that Youtube will be encoding all of their videos into a "H.264 streaming-efficient compression format" specifically for the Apple TV. All of Youtube's videos are currently encoded in Flash Video (FLV) format. While no official reason is given for the mass transcoding of Youtube's entire catalog, Macformat.co.uk believes it has to do with the iPhone.

As far as I know even now, Flash content per se might not play on the iPhone from day one. But Apple clearly doesn't – indeed, shouldn't – care, as YouTube is for many people the most critical site that uses Flash.

Indeed, both the iPod and iPhone can play H.264 encoded video, and so it seems the entire Youtube catalog will also become available to those devices later this year.

Japanese robot dances to iPod musicTOKYO.

TOKYO - A Japanese robot twists and rolls to music from an iPod in an intricate dance based on complex mathematics, a technology developers say will enable robots to move about spontaneously instead of following preprogrammed motions.Tokyo-based venture ZMP Inc.'s 14-inch long Miuro robot — which looks like a white ball wedged between two halves of an egg — wheels about in time with music from the iPod player that locks into the machine.At a demonstration in Tokyo on Thursday, the 11-pound Miuro pivoted about on a stage in time to beats of a pop music track played through its speakers. The dance wasn't preprogrammed, but generated by the robot itself.Scientists involved in the robot's development believe the technology could lead to robots capable of spontaneous motion. Miuro uses algorithms, or mathematical rules, to analyze music and translate the beats into dances, said ZMP President Hisashi Taniguchi."We aim to create a new form of life that moves freely and spontaneously in ways human beings can't predict," Taniguchi said. "We're hoping to turn Miuro into the ultimate virtual pet."Unlike older Miuros, which hit stores last August, the prototype is fitted with software based on what scientists call chaotic itinerancy, a mathematical pattern similar to the movements of a bee circling from flower to flower as it collects nectar.That allows the new Miuro to act spontaneously and unpredictably — "just like a child playing," said Tokyo University researcher Takashi Ikegami, who developed the software.Other improvements will let users set the Miuro like an alarm clock so it wheels into the bedroom and blasts music at a certain time. Future versions of the Miuro will also use built-in sensors to seek out people to play tunes to, Taniguchi said.ZMP has already shipped 500 units of the original Miuro, which isn't equipped with the intelligent software but instead responds to a remote-control handheld manipulator.The 108,800 yen ($895) original Miuro can also receive wireless signals from a personal computer to play iTunes and other stored digital files. Separately sold options add a camera that beams images to PCs or lets owners control their Miuros by mobile phone.Miuro, short for "music innovation based on utility robot technology," is only on sale in Japan. ZMP did not give a date for the release of the prototype.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Ipod Tricks - Gulf Stream Ipod Sweep Stakes.

There are many things to think about with an iPod than just the songs that will go on it. For one, someone might be wondering how many songs they can still put on their iPod. If someone is wondering how many more songs they can fit on their iPod, there is a simple way to find out. From the Main Menu, anyone can simply scroll down using the Click Wheel and choose Settings. Then from the Settings menu, they should choose About and press the Select button again to see how many songs are already on the iPod, the total capacity of the actual iPod, and how much space is still available for songs. In general, it is safe to assume that a song will take up 4GB of space on the iPod. So, adding 125 more songs would take up only around half of 1 GB. This means if the Available amount is something like 12 GB, they can load a few thousand more songs and still have plenty of room left for more. Another way to know how much room is left on an iPod before adding more songs would be to check iTunes. When the iPod is connected, there should be an indicator on the iPod’s icon in the Source list on the left side of the iTunes window. At that point, simply look down along the bottom center of the main window and it should be easy to see a readout that shows how much space is used, and how much space is still free for adding more songs.Another advantage of the iPod that people don’t always see is that a playlist is capable of being downloaded right on the iPod, although people normally create playlists on the computer in iTunes. It’s called an “On-The-Go” playlist (because the playlist is being created away from the computer). It is fairly simple to download songs onto the on-the-go list. The user simply has to find a song that they want in the playlist, and then click-and-hold the center Select button until they see the song title blink twice (that’s the iPod saying that it’s been added to the On-The-Go Playlist). Songs can be added until the user is ready to start hearing the new playlist. To find the On-the-Go Playlist, the user just has go to the Main Menu, scroll down to Music, choose Playlists, press the center Select button, and it will be at the bottom of the Playlists menu. From there, they can press the center Select button, scroll down to a song, and press the Play/Pause button. And that is all that is required to listen to the On-The-Go Playlist. Once the iPod is in sync with iTunes, the On-The-Go Playlist will appear in iTunes, where it can be tweaked it if need be.Besides playing music and running slideshows, an iPod can also function as a clock, and it can even display the current time while playing songs. To do this, the first step is to set the current time. Start at the Main Menu, select Settings using the Click Wheel, and click the center Select button. From the Settings menu, choose Date & Time, and then slide around the Click Wheel to set the current time zone, time, and date. Once the time ahs been set, someone can have the iPod display the current time while playing a song, by pressing the Menu button to get back to the main Date & Time menu. Then, where it says Time in Title, press the Select button to set it to On. Now the current time will appear up in the title bar when playing a song.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Ipods for Rent on the Plane.

You do need to travel from your home in one state and then fly up to yet another state all across the country. It would certainly take you more than just a couple of hours so that you can reach your destination and then later on get settled in your hotel. So what do you do during your long and very boring travel all across the United States? If you are from Mexico, then you may be quite familiar with Volaris. Volaris is actually an airplane based on that state and it is one of those airlines that do offer to fly you from one place to another for a really low cost. And as part of their effort to actually bring in more sales and keep the customers coming to their airlines and their business, Volaris is now offering their passengers the chance to enjoy and entertain themselves with music. How? They are offering iPods for rent and each would cost you $5. And $5 to rent an iPod for the whole trip is an okay amount in fact. Sure, the iPods that are going to be for rent on the Volaris fleet of airplanes and airbuses are going to have their own set of headsets and accessories. Of course, iPod Accessories are going to be quite different from those that you are going to use when you are flying over the country. Volaris also did mention that they are going to offer their passengers the option of renting out an iPod for their flights and travels. After all, the company does say that the iPod is very much a popular treat to music and video lovers and by offering such a gadget on their flights, Volaris is going to have a really great advantage over all other grand airlines. The truth is, the world of airlines has been bombarded with rumors that carriers like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and even Continental Airlines would be offering their passengers to plug in and dock their iPods on the seats of the airplanes. However, it does look like Volaris has gone on ahead and took the scoop on the popular gadgets. So what kinds of files are already stored on the iPods that have been sent out for rent for Volaris passengers? According to those who have tried the gadgets out, they have been entertained through the whole flight with popular pieces of music as well as television shows from Mexico. However, because not all are coming from Mexico, Volaris is saying that they are soon going to also add in sitcoms from the US as well as other different types of music for those who are looking for alternative choices.

New Ipod Games.

I can’t say for sure when I know I was bitten but I have the date on my receipts (11/15/06). I guess I was late to the iPod party but I’ve not missed a step since I got involved with “Buck,” my iPod.I’ve got 3 now, one just for movies, and another for music and one for data and I’m negotiating with a contact in China for 5 more.iPod is the brain child of Steven Jobs, Apple guru and all around genius. More than 22 million ipods have been sold to US adults, which amounts to approximately 11% of the population (according to the non-profit Pew Internet & American Life Project). I became a fan and user and my addiction continues to grow stronger.Now I spend my days learning about new applications and my nights surfing for clearance sales, closeouts, underground sources for discounts on accessories. For example, last week I found a site that sells what they call an iPod Converter.This unit allows for unlimited downloads of movies and music and games and software and provides a lifetime membership in their download club. As a full blown movie nut this little handful of technology is gobbling up my free time by the hour.Talk about addiction, I was rummaging through some magazines in the basement of the library at midnight (don’t ask) and found this underground techie magazine. There was a story about an MP3 converter that took me a few minutes to realize was the iPod converter I heard about last week.The techie manual indicated this is better than Blockbuster and NetFlicks all rolled into one very user friendly palm-sized unit. I’ll share the link here anyone who is interested can read all about it.As I continue to learn about all-things-iPod I’ve just discovered about iPod hacks. This reference startled me at first as it is not in my nature to destroy other’s enjoyment in any manner, especially when it comes to something like PCs and iPods.What I learned is the term hacks when it refers to iPod is another way of saying accessories, except that the modification most likely will void your iPod’s warrantee. In any case the lists I found were nothing less than fascinating.For instance, according to howstuffworks.com, the range of accessories includes downloadable iPod games and programs that convert DVDs to iPod-friendly video files. There are also programs that convert PDA files your PowerPoint presentations into files that work with your iPod-compatible.The howstuffworks website also provided a reference to a list of some current applications: “iPod hackers are publishing all sorts of programs that alter the way an iPod works -- some of the software is free, and some of it is for purchase. Some currently available hacks let you:• Make an iPod work with Linux machines and run Linux applications • Remove volume caps (iPods sold in Europe cap the volume at 100 decibels; uncapped iPods can reach more than 115 decibels.) • Turn your iPod into a universal remote • Attach an external hard drive to your iPod to increase the storage capacity • Change your iPod's font and graphics • Watch movies on your iPod in full-screen mode • Plug your iPod into any computer (even without iTunes) and listen to music from the hard drive • Transfer photos to iPod without using iTunes • Replace iTunes all together as the iPod's main jukebox • Use an iPod with a Windows 98 machine “While I am fascinated with the expansion this provides I am too cautious and protective of Buck to try anything other than factory sealed products from Apple. I can be patient until they ramp up to the accessory list I peeked at in an underground publication.The upcoming Apple list is robust and will blow away the hacker’s meager offerings. Meanwhile, I’ll stick to my movie and music downloading which keeps me rather busy and satisfied.However if you hear any buzz about an auto-pilot for long cross-country drives that’s compatible with a 2006 STS, please pass it on. I might just let Buck give it a try.About The AuthorAlex Rich is a hypnotherapist and personal coach. His clients call on him for both personal and business advice. Doc has a growing collection of iPods and accessories.

Iphone; a Class Apart.

Did you ever dream of possessing an all-in-one gadet of the size of a mobile phones? Well, people at Apple Inc., have heard you. And have come up with a stupendously feature-rich state-of-art gadget that boasts a never before aggregation of features of a breakthrough internet communication tool, a revolutionary mobile phone, a high-definition music system, and a high resolution digital camera into a single 'hand-held' device entity. Come to talk on iPhone from Apple Inc., the most appropriate tag line is innovation personified. This is a superb piece of an electronic device that exudes exuberance through its graphic rich user interface. The huge 3.5 inch screen reproduces crystal images with 160 ppi distributed across 320x480 mm of screen area. Running on OS X, the award winning operating system from Macintosh, the Apple iPhone showcases a marked difference from run-of-the mill phones present in the market.This technological powerhouse comes equipped with a 2 megapixel camera and multi-format supporting music player with integration iPod features. The EDGE and Bluetooth phone supports WiFi connectivity. However, in spite of the feature rich functioning, the phone's special attraction lies with the multi-touch input mechanism. This futuristic method helps user to make a call by simply pointing a finger at a name or a number in the address book, a favourites list, and a call log. An innovative photo management tool and SMS application of this phone adds to iPhone's incredible feature list. The predictive soft QWERTY-type keyboard helps in entering texts fast and correctly. The beautiful wide-screen display of iPhone is worthy of a second mention. The large display of the phone lets viewer enjoy movies, TV shows, games, and recorded content all in one go, with added portability that being a mobile phone it has to offer.Considering the incredible functionalities and the sleek body casing that this mobile phone come with, iPhone stands out from being just another mobile phone. To simply put the matter, as iPhone, Apple Inc. comes out with a future leader in the mobile arena and is class apart from its nearest competitor in every true sense.

The New Ipod Has So Many New Features.

The new iPod is now lighter, slimmer and cooler looking, it has new features that surpass other mp3 players. The best new features of the video iPod concern the sound quality. The iPod video is small, compact and sleek, it is very easy to use, and it has tons of great features that are second to none and can only be found on iPods.Taking portable video entertainment to a different level than it ever has been, it features a color screen and video playback capabilities. The new Apple video iPod is pushing the envelope with technology by combining mp3 music and video in one device.Consumers embraced the new iPod, it allows consumers to keep all of their music and video in one place, the device is light weight and is portable so all the videos and music can go where ever you go. The iPod has a 5-inch color display that lets you take your music videos wherever you go. Unlike in the music versions, Apple did not include an option to rip movies to play on the Video iPod. If your priority is storing music over video, get the iPod Video. Many automobiles have the normal AM/FM Stereo and CD player, but many automobile manufactures are including and jack so you can plug in your mp3 player. Most of the people who benefit from the iPod are those people who want to listen to music, watch movies or TV shows or who want to keep photos You can listen to all your music. You can do more than just listen to music. Many manufactures have created accessories so you are able to listen to your iPod in your car, these gadgets work very well and are worth the investment. Until just recently, you used to have to have an expensive CD player and a multitude of CDs with you in order to listen to whatever you want, whenever you want. It is very exciting when you receive your new video iPod, you now have the ability to watch videos on a mobile video player. Once you download the movie or video you can simply transfer it to your iPod, however if you want to be able to watch the movie on your DVD player while at home then you might want to think about this. If you're like many new Video iPod owners, you are excited about the idea of carrying your movie collection along with you wherever you go. According to the informational websites, the number of video downloads have reached and might have passed the one million downloads since it was introduced. There are many companies that have created software that will convert to the iPod format, some even come with extra software so you can view the pictures or videos before the conversion process starts, this comes in handy if you want to view the information before putting it on your iPod. You can download, convert and transfer and you have the ability to watch all kinds of movies, home movies and TV shows.