10/22/2009
It works! Ballmer Demos Windows 7 on the TODAY Show [video]
Fresh off the heels of Apple's new product announcements this week, Microsoft released their new operating system, Windows 7 today.
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, even stopped by the American morning program, the TODAY Show, to show off the new OS to co-anchor Matt Lauer [video].
Ballmer took on some tough questions from Lauer including:
- Can consumers use the iPhone to satisfy all their computing needs?
- Will Windows 7 get the same lukewarm reaction to Microsoft's previous operating system, Vista?
- Is Ballmer envious of Apple's "cool" image?
methodshop
10/21/2009
Apple Stock Hits New Highs
Wow! Wall Street was obviously thrilled with Apple's new product announcements. Today Apple stock reached $208, it’s all time high.A lot of people are probably wishing they bought Apple stock earlier this year. So how much would you have made from Apple stock if you bought it for $12 in 1997? Sayam from CultOfMac.com did the math.
"...$1,000 invested in Apple stock in 1997 is worth more than $70,000 now. And $10,000 - the kind of sum that professional investors typically put into company stock — is worth a cool $700,000 — almost enough money to buy a house in posh Palo Alto where Steve Jobs lives."
By the way, Steve Jobs personally owns 5.4 mil shares of AAPL. So how much did he make today? You can do that math yourself.
methodshop
10/20/2009
Apple Store is Down. New Products Being Released Today.
Have you been to http://store.apple.com/ yet today? It's down. Apple usually only takes their online store down when they're adding new products.So what new stuff will Steve Jobs and Co. have ready for this holiday shopping season? There's a leaked list of new Apple product item numbers swirling around the tech blogs today. It looks like we might see redesigned plastic MacBooks, new powerful iMacs, a 3G SIM card compatible Airport Extreme, Mac mini updates (based on Mac OS X Server), a multi-touch "Magic Mouse", an 84 key keyboard and a multi-touch "trackpad gadget."
Here's the item list:
- MC207LL/A – K84 BEST BTR- USA
- MC238LL/A – MAC MINI 2.26/2×1GB/160/SD/AP/BT-USA
- MC239LL/A- MAC MINI 2.53/2×2GB/320GB/SD/AP/BT-USA
- MC340LL/A – AIRPORT EXTREME (SIM DUALBAND) – USA
- MC343LL/A – TIME CAPSULE 1TB (SIM DUALBAND) -USA
- MC344LL/A – TIME CAPSULE 2TB (SIM DUALBAND) – USA
- MC408LL/A – MAC MINI 2.53/2×2GB/1TB/NO ODD/AP-BT-USA
- MC413LL/A – IMAC 21.5″/3.06/2×2GB/1TB/4670-256MB-USA
- MC434LL/A – APPLE VESA MOUNT ADAPTER
- MC461LL/A – MACBOOK 60W MAGSAFE POWER ADAPTER – USA
methodshop
10/12/2009
Oops! Snow Leopard Bug Deletes All Mac OS X User Data
Haven't upgraded to Mac OS X Snow Leopard yet? Congrats! Your procrastination might have saved your butt. The Apple Support forums are full of users who are reporting that all their user data has disappeared.What's causing the bug? Apparently, all you have to do to accidentally erase all your data is to login into a 'guest' account. When you attempt to log back into your main user account, all your personal data will be gone.
If you are reading this now, and have Apple's latest operating system, OS X Snow Leopard installed, then disable the Guest account ASAP.
methodshop
9/24/2009
Apple Keynote - Brainwash Remix [video]
Here's a remix edit of Steve Jobs latest Apple keynote address. Is Apple brainwashing us into buying their great incredible really cool amazing easy gorgeous beautiful awesome products like the new iPod Nano?!methodshop
9/14/2009
Steve Jobs: New iPods, iTunes and Liver
Last week, a still kind of recovering Steve Jobs, equipped with a new liver, unveiled new iPods with increased multimedia functionality and a new version of iTunes. iTunes 9: New Features
- Smarter "Genius" Feature: The new and improved iTunes now makes "Genius" recommendations for not just music but apps, movies and TV shows too.
- Improved Syncing and File Transfers: iTunes 9.0 also improves syncing functionality and makes it easier to transfer downloaded media from iTunes to multiple computers.
- iTunes LP: Looks like the project "cocktail" rumors we heard in July we're true. Apple and the 4 major record labels, Sony, Warner Music, EMI and Universal Music, have gotten together to invent a new digital album cover format called iTunes LP. These "digital album covers" include extra media such as photos, lyrics, videos and additional songs not available to users who only purchase singles.
- iTunes Extras: Another feature called iTunes Extras gives iTunes users access to extra content for movie and TV purchases typically only included with DVDs. including documentaries, deleted scenes and interviews.
New iPods
- iPod Touch: 50 percent faster than the older models, smoother game play, cheaper prices, and larger storage. Ability to purchase pre-made ringtones.
- iPod Classic: more storage.
- iPod Shuffle: more storage, available in new colors: black, silver, blue, green, pink and a special edition in polished stainless steel.
- iPod Nano: new colors, a larger screen, FM radio, and a built-in video camera.
methodshop
9/04/2009
Gone in 31 Seconds - Apple Store Smash and Grab [video]
What does it take to get 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones, and 9 iPods for free?According to a security video from the Apple Store in Marlton, NJ this week, all you need is four friends, a brick, and 31 seconds.
By the time the security guard was able to run over to the entrance and investigate the sound of the breaking glass, the robbery was already over.
The thieves obviously knew what they were doing. They patiently waited for the security guard to walk away on his rounds before smashing through the plate glass door. They then rush the store, split up, grab as much as they can carry and get out in just half a minute.
methodshop
8/31/2009
Lighter and Faster - OS X Snow Leopard
Apple’s new operating system, Snow Leopard, hit stores last Friday. To encourage upgrading, Apple has slapped a super low $30 price tag on the upgrade.
But hold on Apple Fanboys. Snow Leopard isn't a major OS upgrade. Snow Leopard is mainly just a performance boost for Macs equipped with 64-bit Intel processors.So what should you expect to find in Snow Leopard? Here are the 5 most important things you need to know about Mac OS X 10.6:
- Performance Boost
- Lighter - Less OS Bloat
- Third-Party Software Compatibility Issues
- Minor Interface Improvements
- No PowerPC Support
Performance Boost
Snow Leopard was coded to take full advantage of the hardware in 64-bit Intel Macs. So all applications coded for 64-bit processors will be much faster.
Lighter
As operating systems add new features, they get bigger and bigger and take up more of your hard drive. But Snow Leopard is unlike most bloated OS upgrades. Snow Leopard will actually free up some space on year hard drive. We're read reports of users seeing anywhere from 2-7GBs of extra space after installing Snow Leopard.
Third-Party Software Compatibility Issues
One of the biggest drawbacks to Snow Leopard is the incompatibility of some third-party applications. If your livelihood depends on a third-party application, for example a cash register app, then you will want to wait to upgrade until the developer gives Snow Leopard the green light. Snow Leopard is still compatible with 32-bit applications, but Apple admits that some third party software will have issues.
Minor Interface Improvements
Apple made a few minor user interface and software improvements to SNow Leopard. For example, Expose was moved into the Dock, time stamps added to screenshots and QuickTime Player now has the playback controls from iTunes' full screen mode.
No PowerPC Mac Support
Still rocking an older Mac these days? If you own an older PowerPC Mac and have yet to upgrade sine Apple's switched to Intel, then Snow Leopard is not for you. Snow Leopard will only run on an Intel Mac equipped with at least 1GB of memory. You also need 5GB of free hard drive space and a DVD drive.
Final Thoughts
Snow Leopard isn't enough of an OS upgrade to knock your socks off, but the speed improvements alone are well worth the $30 price tag.
methodshop
8/19/2009
Grandpa Busted Googling Asian Escorts in Apple Store [pic]
Looks like Grandpa is more interested in Asian escorts than the iPhone. This elderly gentleman was recently observed testing out some equipment in an Apple Store... and he came prepared. In front of the iMac's keyboard is the classifieds section from a newspaper. It's difficult to make out exactly what Grandma was reading in the newspaper, but there's no question what he was Googling on the Internet. Just take a look at his display: Asian Escorts. Apparently an ad for an Asian escort service in the newspaper caught his eye.Although the display computers in an Apple Store offer free Internet access, it's probably not a good idea to surf sensitive websites while you're there. Unless you really want someone to take a picture of you surfing for Asian Escorts and post it on Reddit.
methodshop
8/04/2009
Apple Tablet Rumors Intensify
Here we go again. The Internets are buzzing with Apple Tablet and MacBook Touch announcement rumors. Could the rumors finally be true?
According to an article in the Financial Times, Apple's long rumored tablet is reportedly going to be announced as early as September and in stores in time for Christmas.
The Financial Times is quoting people 'close' to the tablet project who say the device would have the same capabilities as an iPod Touch but with a bigger screen. A larger screen could make the rumored device a competitor with the popular Netbook market as well as Amazon's electronic book reader, the Kindle.
Analysts estimate that the gadget would sell between $600 and $1,000. Anything over $500 could make it difficult to compete with the Netbook market. Also, the Apple device must have a keyboard (unlike the iPhone) in order for it to be a viable alternative to similarly priced Netbooks, like the HP Mini.
Will we really see an Apple tablet in time for Christmas? Cross your fingers, but stay skeptical. MethodShop.com has been tracking the Apple tablet rumors since 2006. Here's a time line of our reports:
methodshop
According to an article in the Financial Times, Apple's long rumored tablet is reportedly going to be announced as early as September and in stores in time for Christmas.
The Financial Times is quoting people 'close' to the tablet project who say the device would have the same capabilities as an iPod Touch but with a bigger screen. A larger screen could make the rumored device a competitor with the popular Netbook market as well as Amazon's electronic book reader, the Kindle.
Analysts estimate that the gadget would sell between $600 and $1,000. Anything over $500 could make it difficult to compete with the Netbook market. Also, the Apple device must have a keyboard (unlike the iPhone) in order for it to be a viable alternative to similarly priced Netbooks, like the HP Mini.
Will we really see an Apple tablet in time for Christmas? Cross your fingers, but stay skeptical. MethodShop.com has been tracking the Apple tablet rumors since 2006. Here's a time line of our reports:
- iTunes Digital Album Covers and MacBook Tablet Rumors (July 2009)
http://www.methodshop.com/2009/07/itunes-digital-album-covers.shtml - Rumor: $800 Apple Tablet Due in October (July 2009)
http://www.methodshop.com/2009/07/apple-tablet-rumor.shtml - Apple Plans MacBook Event as $800 Laptop Rumors Clog the Blogosphere (Oct 2008)
http://www.methodshop.com/2008/10/apple-notebook-event.shtml - Rumor: MacBook Touch Coming in October (July 2008)
http://www.methodshop.com/2008/07/macbook-touch.shtml - What's Apple's Big Surprise? A Tablet? (Feb 2006)
http://www.methodshop.com/2006/02/what-is-apples-big-surprise.shtml - Touch Sensitive Apple Patent Pictures (Feb 2006)
http://www.methodshop.com/2006/02/touch-sensitive-ipod-patent-pictures.shtml
methodshop
7/30/2009
iTunes Digital Album Covers and MacBook Tablet Rumors
Apple's digital music store, iTunes, has a problem. iTunes users don't like to buy entire albums. iTunes is great for downloading singles, but there's not much incentive to purchase entire albums.
Sometimes Apple will restrict certain songs, especially longer tracks, to "Album Only" purchases. Apple also often includes music videos and special PDFs of album art with full album purchases. However, these incentives haven't really been a homerun with consumers.
In a effort to promote album sales in the iTunes Store, Apple and the 4 major record labels, Sony, Warner Music, EMI and Universal Music, have gotten together to invent a new digital album cover format. These "digital album covers" would include material such as photos, lyrics, videos and additional songs not available to users who only purchase singles.
The "digital album cover" project is code named "Cocktail," and is rumored to be part of Apple's new product announcement in October. Rumors say the big announcement is a MacBook touch-based tablet that would compete with the extremely popular Netbook market. Keep your fingers crossed.
methodshop
iTunes, has a problem. iTunes users don't like to buy entire albums. iTunes is great for downloading singles, but there's not much incentive to purchase entire albums.Sometimes Apple will restrict certain songs, especially longer tracks, to "Album Only" purchases. Apple also often includes music videos and special PDFs of album art with full album purchases. However, these incentives haven't really been a homerun with consumers.
In a effort to promote album sales in the iTunes Store, Apple and the 4 major record labels, Sony, Warner Music, EMI and Universal Music, have gotten together to invent a new digital album cover format. These "digital album covers" would include material such as photos, lyrics, videos and additional songs not available to users who only purchase singles.
The "digital album cover" project is code named "Cocktail," and is rumored to be part of Apple's new product announcement in October. Rumors say the big announcement is a MacBook touch-based tablet that would compete with the extremely popular Netbook market. Keep your fingers crossed.
methodshop
7/27/2009
MacBook Transformer [video]
Check out this viral video ad for La Poste, the French post office. The audio is in French so we're not exactly sure what is being said. Probably something along the lines of how easy it is to send a message. Because after a few clicks, the MacBook transforms into a spaceship and flies away. Maybe to deliver an e-mail?Eagle-eyed Apple fanboys might want to take a closer look at the MacBook before it transforms. Which model laptop is it? It appears to have the MacBook Air's screen but the unibody of a standard MacBook.
methodshop
7/13/2009
Rumor: $800 Apple Tablet Due in October
PC World is reporting that Apple will release its long-awaited tablet in October just in time for Christmas. Sourcing a translated report on the Taiwanese site InfoTimes, the PC World article follows Digital Daily’s John Paczkowski having written; "It’s about to go into production in advance of an October launch date." While continuing to play things close to the chest, apparently a few of Apple’s manufacturing partners are indicating that orders have been placed for tablets.
However... we’ve been teased like this before. Way back in May of 2008 (that’s 112 internet years?) Jason O'Grady wrote; "A little birdy tells me that Apple will announce a 12 or 13-inch tablet in the fall of this year... presumably [running] Intel’s Atom," and that "This particular birdy has been reliable in the past." That same ‘birdy’ is available for palm and tarot card readings. Zing! Admittedly, we jumped on the rumors too and posted this 2008 article Rumor: MacBook Touch Coming in October.Gizmodo also touched on the subject in May of this year when John Herman wrote a fact vs. fiction article with some cool visual mockups. And if you Google “apple tablet” you’ll find tons of conceptual images.
Come on, Apple! Give us what we want!
methodshop
6/09/2009
Apple Pricing Snow Leopard To Sell
Looks like Apple is doing their part to help the struggling US economy... or at least give consumers a break. An upgrade to Apple’s next major operating system, called Snow Leopard, will only cost $29.
The announcement was made at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday morning. Apple usually charges over $100 for their operating systems, but they are heavily discounting Snow Leopard to help encourage users to upgrade quickly. Apple's discounted OS, slated for a September 2009 release, might also spark a price war with Redmond. Microsoft's next OS, Windows 7, is slated for release a month after Snow Leopard. Microsoft hasn't released any pricing information for Windows 7, but Microsoft's operating systems typically cost ~$100.
Snow Leopard will be compatible with all Intel-based Macintosh computers and features an onslaught of new speed improvements. Several of the new speed and interface enhancements were demonstrated for the audience at WWDC.
Snow Leopard isn't just fast, it's also a lot leaner. Compared to to Apple's current operating system, OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard will is 6 GBs lighter.
methodshop
6/03/2009
iPhone 3.0 to Get Direct Video Downloads
According to Apple Insider, the new Apple iPhone 3.0 operating system will include the ability to directly download movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store. Users would be able to skip the step of downloading and syncing an iPhone or iPod Touch with their Mac or PC.Apple already supports the direct downloading of video podcasts and music from their mobile version of the iTunes Store, but has held off directly selling movies and TV shows while mobile carriers expanded their 3G network capacity. The update will make Apple one of the top companies selling paid content to mobile users.
The iPhone 3.0 software update is due to arrive later this summer. In addition to direct downloads, the update will introduce over 100 new features, including the ability to:
- Send photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS
- In App Purchases, allowing developers sell content and services from within their apps
- Peer to Peer Connectivity, particularly useful for multi-player game apps
- Cut, copy, and paste
- Email Push Notification
- A new Map Kit framework integrating Google Mobile Maps
- iPod Library Access allowing users tap into their music, podcast or audio book libraries from third party apps
- The ability to search your iPhone
- Read and compose email and text messages in landscape orientation
methodshop
3/18/2009
Apple Debuts Upcoming iPhone 3.0 Software
Yesterday, Apple disclosed some details about the new iPhone 3.0 operating system, due this summer. The beta release, now available to registered developers, will deliver 100 new features, including:- cut, copy and paste (was it really that hard?!)
- MMS (finally!)
- landscape view for Mail
- Text and Notes
- stereo Bluetooth
- Notes syncing
- shake to shuffle
- parental controls for TV shows
- movies and App Store apps
- a new Voice Memo app
- automatic login at Wi-Fi hot spots.
Apple also disclosed some stunning figures about the iPhone platform. There have been more than 800 million apps downloaded; there are now more than 25,000 apps to choose from at the App Store and over 50,000 companies have joined the developers program to date.
methodshop
2/27/2009
Apple TV 2.3.1 Update Breaks @Boxee
This week Apple released a very minor firmware update for the Apple TV. The 2.3.1 update only adds a "Network Test" option to help users troubleshoot Internet connections. That's it. Seriously, it's hardly worth the trouble. But the update does do something we weren't expecting... it disables and deletes the Boxee software.Boxee is a free open source cross-platform media center application that enables your Apple TV to play streaming content from websites like
So if you've already hacked your Apple TV and installed the Boxee software, you should probably skip this 2.3.1 update and wait for a new version of the Apple TV firmware that actually adds some new features.
Unfortunately this has been a rough few weeks for Boxee. First they had to remove the ability to watch Hulu videos from their software because Hulu's content partners were complaining. And now Apple is releasing minor software updates that disable Boxee.
If you love Boxee, then you'll want to disable automatic Apple TV updates. Here's how:
- After you've hacked your Apple TV and installed Boxee, select "Settings" from the Launcher menu (Launcher > Settings).
- You should now see a screen with two options that say "Use Universal Mode" and "ATV OS Update enabled." Set "ATV OS Update Enabled" to "No."
- That's it. For now on, minor Apple TV firmware updates will no longer ruin your Boxee fun.
Tutorial: How to Install Boxee on Your Apple TV
All you need to hack your Apple TV so it can use Boxee is a USB stick. If you own an Apple TV, then you need Boxee. Install Boxee and set your Apple TV free.
methodshop
1/15/2009
What If Steve Jobs Doesn't Come Back
Photo from datapanik
Yesterday Apple CEO Steve Jobs sent a letter to employees explaining that his health issues are more "complex" that he initially thought and that his medical leave will now likely extend until the end of June.
Tim Cook, Apple's COO, will step in to oversee day-to-day operations in his absence. This will be the second time Cook has taken over for Jobs. Cook is considered a Silicon Valley outsider. He's very low-key, but respected.
But what happens if Jobs doesn't come back? Many bloggers and Twitter users are speculating that this may be that time we will ever see Mr. Jobs.
WIRED and nytimes.com even published articles titled: "Steve Jobs Probably Won't Come Back to Apple" and "What If Steve Jobs Doesn't Come Back to Work?"Most people want Jobs to come back. Jobs has done amazing things while CEO of Apple. Jobs has even become a cult-like hero among techies and Apple fanboys. But Apple should have a plan B and the company should live on and flourish for decades to comes.
"Following the initial news around Macworld Expo that Jobs was going to forgo the keynote and had a hormonal imbalance, whispers grew to loud murmurs, saying that Apple needed a backup plan for CEO - and fast - but now that murmuring has become a roaring crescendo," said Louis Gray from LouisGray.com. "And while I put myself at significant risk at being labeled a fanboy who kneels at the multi-colored altar, I have to express how losing Jobs for more than a few months will be a significant blow, not just to Apple and its customers, but to Silicon Valley and the world at large."
Jobs has done wonders for not only Apple and the personal computer, but he also transformed digital media itself. The way music and videos are purchased and enjoyed is a direct result from the success of the iPod and iTunes. Love him or hate him, Jobs has used Apple's technology to revolutionize the world.
methodshop
1/05/2009
Apple Market Share Surpasses 10%
According to NetApplications and Computerworld, the total number of Windows users decreased in December 2008 by 0.94% to 88.7%. As a result of this Microsoft decline, Apple's total share of the operating system market is now over 10%. This is the first time Apple has breached the 10% mark in decades.
Comparing new Apple users is even more impresive. Mac OS X's 2008 market share grew by 31.7% compared to 2007.
Apparently a lot of people woke up Christmas morning to find a new Apple computer under the tree.
methodshop
10/14/2008
#Apple Announces New Notebooks and LED Display
Moments ago, Steve Jobs announced new super slim models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air and a LED-backlit cinema display at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, CA.Sorry kids. A MacBook Touch was NOT announced. Rumors Apple would announce a touchscreen laptop have been swirling around the Internet since July. But in the Q&A session after the announcements, Jobs and company were asked if they planned on adding touchscreens to laptops. This was their response: "So far it hasn’t been a lot of sense to us, but we may see it in the future. We’ve experimented with it before."
Blu-ray support and HDMI connectivity were also NOT announced. Hope you didn't have your fingers crossed for those.
But let's go over the new laptops and display.
MacBooks
The next generation MacBook and MacBook Pro features a LED-backlit display, new NVIDIA graphics card technology, a multi-touch glass trackpad (a la the iPhone), Mini DisplayPort connector and a new unibody enclosure manufactured using an environmentally responsible process.
By using a new manufacturing process where the body of the laptops are cut from a single piece of aluminum, Apple was able to not only make the new laptops thinner but more eco friendly. On stage, Steve Jobs proudly proclaimed "This is the most eco friendly MacBook ever in the history of human existence."
Another amazing feature of the new MacBooks is the inclusion of the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics cards. NVIDIA's new advanced integrated graphics cards provide more responsive gameplay and more realistic 3D environments. Under the 9400, you get 5 hours of battery life vs. 4 hours on the 9600 GT. Apple is the first company to bring these new NVIDIA cards to market.
The MacBook Pro connectors are, in order from the left, Magsafe, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, two USB 2.0 ports, a Mini DisplayPort, Audio In/Out (analog and optical digital), ExpressCard/34, and a battery indicator lights. The MacBook no longer has a Firewire port.
The MacBooks are shipping today. The entry model MacBook starts at $1299. MacBook Pro $1999.
MacBook Air
Although a little overshadowed today, the MacBook Air is also getting an update. The new MacBook Air will also include the new NVIDIA 9400M graphics cards, as well as a 120GB hard drive and a 128GB SSD option (solid state drive). The MacBook Air will also migrate away from microDVI and switch to a Mini DisplayPort.
The new MacBook Air starts at $1799 and you’ll start seeing these in stores starting in November.
LED Cinema Display
The new 24-inch LED Cinema Display has 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, a built-in iSight (with mic), stereo speakers, Mag Safe connector and a 3 port USB hub ($899).
The new MacBook Air and LED Cinema Display don’t start shipping until November.
methodshop
Apple Notebook Event - Twitter Coverage
Want to instantly know what #Apple announces later today at their "Notebook Event"? We'll be posting live via Twitter (twitter.com/methodshop) or you can follow the entire Twitterverse using Twitter's search tool:
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=apple
methodshop
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=apple
methodshop
Labels: apple, social networking, tech news
10/09/2008
Apple Plans MacBook Event as $800 Laptop Rumors Clog the Blogosphere
According to an Apple email sent to the press Thursday afternoon, on October 14th "The spotlight turns to notebooks."
What does this cryptic message mean? According to Ed Sutherland from CultOfMac.com, information coming from several sources including a Taiwanese blog (most Apple products are made in Taiwan and they often have inside scoops) and financial analysts, suggests that Apple might be releasing a sub $800 laptop.
This past July, the Apple rumor de jour was Apple was releasing a touchscreen laptop nicknamed the MacBook Touch. Besides having a touchscreen, the MacBook Touch is also rumored to have built-in GPS and same rotating screen accelerometer technology used in the iPod Touch and iPhone.
During an earnings call this past summer, Apple promised a product transition by the end of September with "technologies and features that others can't match."
Is the MacBook Touch or the $800 laptop the "product transition" Apple was talking about? Guess we'll find out next week.
methodshop
What does this cryptic message mean? According to Ed Sutherland from CultOfMac.com, information coming from several sources including a Taiwanese blog (most Apple products are made in Taiwan and they often have inside scoops) and financial analysts, suggests that Apple might be releasing a sub $800 laptop.
This past July, the Apple rumor de jour was Apple was releasing a touchscreen laptop nicknamed the MacBook Touch. Besides having a touchscreen, the MacBook Touch is also rumored to have built-in GPS and same rotating screen accelerometer technology used in the iPod Touch and iPhone.
During an earnings call this past summer, Apple promised a product transition by the end of September with "technologies and features that others can't match."
Is the MacBook Touch or the $800 laptop the "product transition" Apple was talking about? Guess we'll find out next week.
methodshop
9/22/2008
iPhone 3G Power Adapter Recall
Did you recently buy an iPhone 3G? Do you have an ultracompact Apple USB power adapter like the one pictured on the right? If so, stop using it immediately.
According to an Apple press release issued last Friday, there's a design flaw with the metal prongs that can cause them to break off and get stuck in the electrical outlet. Users may receive a shock when trying to remove the metal pieces, but so far no injuries have been reported.
It's estimated that Apple sold more than 4 million 3G iPhones since it was introduced in July. The defective power supplies were supplied to the following regions: United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Latin America.
If you do own an ultracompact Apple USB power, there are 2 ways you can exchange it for a new, redesigned adapter.
Product recalls are not unusual in the computer industry, but Apple usually manages to avoid them. The last Apple recall was in August 2006, when Apple had to recall 1.8 million Sony laptop batteries because they had a tendency to overheat and catch on fire.
methodshop
According to an Apple press release issued last Friday, there's a design flaw with the metal prongs that can cause them to break off and get stuck in the electrical outlet. Users may receive a shock when trying to remove the metal pieces, but so far no injuries have been reported.It's estimated that Apple sold more than 4 million 3G iPhones since it was introduced in July. The defective power supplies were supplied to the following regions: United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and Latin America.
If you do own an ultracompact Apple USB power, there are 2 ways you can exchange it for a new, redesigned adapter.
- Order a replacement adapter via Apple's website. These replacement adapters will ship within 3 weeks, starting on Friday, October 10.
- Exchange your adapter at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10.
Product recalls are not unusual in the computer industry, but Apple usually manages to avoid them. The last Apple recall was in August 2006, when Apple had to recall 1.8 million Sony laptop batteries because they had a tendency to overheat and catch on fire.
methodshop
9/10/2008
Apple Unveils iPod and iTunes Upgrades
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs was thin, but the new iPods were thinner at Apple's "Let's Rock" press conference yesterday. In addition to new versions of the iPod Nano and iPod Touch, Jobs also announced iTunes 8.0 and a "Genius" feature.
Apple is revamping its iPod line up. The thicker iPod classic is history. It will be replaced with a slimmer 120 GB model for $249. The new iPod Nano promises to be the thinnest iPod yet and ships with the "Genius" ability to create intuitive playlists without having to connect to iTunes. A new version of the iPod Touch, which will be out in time for the holidays, is also thinner and comes with integrated speakers for listening to music and online radio on the go. Both new models will also ship with new headphones that include a remote control and a microphone.
iTunes 8.0 gets a new "Genius" feature that automatically generating playlists of songs that "go great together." The Genius Sidebar can be set to upload your library contents to the iTunes Store so that it's better equipped to recommend songs you might like. If you've ever used the streaming music service Pandora, then you probably have a good idea of what the Genius Sidebar is capible of.
It looks like Kevin Rose's blog post that predicted Apple would release new iPods and an iTunes update this month was correct. The raw image mockup was even right.
methodshop
Apple is revamping its iPod line up. The thicker iPod classic is history. It will be replaced with a slimmer 120 GB model for $249. The new iPod Nano promises to be the thinnest iPod yet and ships with the "Genius" ability to create intuitive playlists without having to connect to iTunes. A new version of the iPod Touch, which will be out in time for the holidays, is also thinner and comes with integrated speakers for listening to music and online radio on the go. Both new models will also ship with new headphones that include a remote control and a microphone.
iTunes 8.0 gets a new "Genius" feature that automatically generating playlists of songs that "go great together." The Genius Sidebar can be set to upload your library contents to the iTunes Store so that it's better equipped to recommend songs you might like. If you've ever used the streaming music service Pandora, then you probably have a good idea of what the Genius Sidebar is capible of.
It looks like Kevin Rose's blog post that predicted Apple would release new iPods and an iTunes update this month was correct. The raw image mockup was even right.
methodshop
8/25/2008
Kevin Rose says New iPods Coming Soon
Is Digg.com founder and Diggnation star Kevin Rose abusing his Apple contacts? This past weekend Rose blogged about some new stuff being released by Apple next month including new iPods and an iTunes update.According to Kevin, Apple will announce the following within the next few weeks:
- the iPod nano will take on a slimmer, more rounded look
- the iPod Touch will get an update with a new 2.1 operating system
- Prices of the iPod line will drop to differentiate the product from the iPhone
- iTunes 8.0 will be a major new release with several additional features
- Further out Apple is planning to add Blu-ray support to Mac OS X
Why would Rose risk exposing his Apple contacts by announcing this information? And why now? Rose mentions his Twitter account multiple times in his blog post and urges people to "follow" him on Twitter to get more information. Perhaps Rose is bitter that Barack Obama took the top slot away from him on Twitter earlier this month.
methodshop
8/12/2008
60 million iPhone Apps Downloaded... Already
When Apple launched their new App Store on July 10th, everyone knew it would be a success. But no one could have known it would be this BIG of a success.The App Store has delivered more than 60 million apps to iPhone/iPod Touch owners in less than a month. According to an interview in the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Steve Jobs says that the App Store is bringing in an average of $1 million a day for the fee-based apps which range from $1-$10. That's right. Apple is on track to make $360 million per year from their brand new App Store division even though Apple gives 70% of all App Store revenue to developers.
"I've never seen anything like this in my career for software," ~ Steve Jobs
Sega's Super Monkey Ball ($9.99) game remains the top app, selling 300,000 copies during the store's first 20 days. We'll do the math for you on that one: 300,000 * 9.99 = $2,997,000. Not bad for a game Sega only spent 8 weeks working on.
Sega's Super Monkey Ball game.
methodshop
7/24/2008
Rumor: MacBook Touch Coming in October
What would happen if an iPod Touch mated with a MacBook?According to AppleInsider, Apple is releasing a touchscreen laptop in October. Of course it's still just a rumor, but a lot of people are very excited about finally getting their hands on a Mac touchscreen tablet.
Can this Photoshopped mockup become a reality?
The "MacBook Touch" is rumored to have the following features:
- iPhone-like full-featured multi-touchscreen.
- Full version of Mac OS X. This might help explain why Apple bought chip design company P.A. Semi in April 2008.
- Slot-loading SuperDrive.
- Same accelerometer technology used in the iPod Touch and iPhone.
- GPS.
AppleInsider also reports that at the most recent earnings talk, Apple promised a product transition by the end of September with "technologies and features that others can't match."
Is the MacBook Touch the "product transition" Apple was talking about? We can't wait for more details to emerge that either confirm or negate this juicy rumor.
methodshop
7/13/2008
iPhone 3G Launch Plagued by Long Lines and Network Problems
The long awaited iPhone 3G was released on Friday, July 11th. But what should have been a happy and joyous day for iPhone fans, ended up being an exercise in frustration for many.After waiting in line outside of Apple Stores for hours (or even days), some consumers then spent up to 7 hours inside because of "network problems" that slowed or even halted the activation of new iPhones.
The iPhone 3G line outside the Manhattan Apple Store on 14th Street at 12:52PM.
Estimated wait time was ~4 hours.
Apparently Apple's authentication servers weren't prepared to handle the amount of global network traffic from new iPhone 3G activations. Network slowdowns were first reported after stores opened in Europe. The network then came to a halt after US East Coast stores opened. By the time American West Coast stores had started selling iPhones, Apple's servers just couldn't take it anymore and started crashing. It was AT&T's insistence that all phones get activated in the store that caused the problem. During last year's iPhone 1.0 launch Apple had everyone activate their own phone at home through iTunes.
Fanboys try beat the heat with umbrellas while waiting in line for an iPhone 3G.
Some customers were even sent home with a new iPhone and instructions on how to finish activating the phone at home or even worse... a rain check. This definitely made quite a few people mad.
"I skipped work and waited in line from 12 noon to 2AM to get my boyfriend a new iPhone only to walk away with rain check slip," Paul Hahn told MethodShop.com. "The [authentication] servers were down most of the day and [an Apple store employee] told me I should to come back [Sunday] morning. This sucks. I'm so angry and so hungry right now." Paul also said that employees at the Apple Store were were giving away Apple umbrellas and waters to try to keep the crowd happy.
The new iPhone 3G.
Unfortunately, Apple's network problems also caused headaches for original iPhone and iPod Touch owners who tried to upgrade to the new 2.0 software. "After one of my officemates came back from his lunch hour with a new iPhone, I tried upgrading the software on my old iPod Touch," said Collin Pisarra, a graphic designer in Manhattan. "I really wanted to check out the new App Store but I guess Apple's network problems messed up [my iPod Touch]. It got bricked. I hope I can restore it when Apple's servers are back online. Right now I'm getting an error message that says: [We could not complete your iTunes Store request. An unknown error occurred (type -9838).]"
Networking problems left many users with both iPhones and iPod Touches that couldn't complete the 2.0 update process.
Apple wasn't responding to requests for comments, but a spokesman for AT&T, the exclusive iPhone carrier in the United States, said the problems were caused by iTunes servers and referred further questions to Apple.
Network problems caused many iPhone and iPod Touch users to see this iTunes error screen when attempting to update their device to the new 2.0 software.
Earlier this week, Apple also had problems with the relaunch of their data service now called MobileMe (it was previously called iTools and .Mac). The MobileMe service is designed to synchronize a user's personal data across devices, including the iPhone, but many users were denied access to their accounts this week, including Frank Accarrino."I've been trying to upload pictures from iPhoto to my .Mac website for the past few days but it's offline. I can't even get to my Mac mail. I bet Steve Jobs is pissed right now," Frank said.
Apple is usually known for flawless product launch events. Let's hope Apple solves these network issues for next time. It's estimated that 1 million iPhone 3G models were sold in the U.S. this weekend.
methodshop
7/10/2008
iTunes App Store
Apple launched the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch this afternoon. There are currently 500+ applications available for download. The cost for these applications range from free to over $30.
All the big players have apps in the store including MySpace, Facebook, AOL, and eBay. There's also a mix of games like Texas Hold'em and Super Monkey Ball, lots of utilities and even ebooks.
You can download applications now, but you can't do anything with them until the iPhone/iPod 2.0 firmware is released which will probably happen on Friday July 11th - the official release date of the new iPhone 3G.
methodshop
All the big players have apps in the store including MySpace, Facebook, AOL, and eBay. There's also a mix of games like Texas Hold'em and Super Monkey Ball, lots of utilities and even ebooks.
You can download applications now, but you can't do anything with them until the iPhone/iPod 2.0 firmware is released which will probably happen on Friday July 11th - the official release date of the new iPhone 3G.
methodshop
7/02/2008
Why the iPhone Makes Some Women Angry
One of the coolest features of Apple's iPhone is the mutitouch capable screen. From navigating menus to interacting with features like Google Maps, using the iPhone's multitouch screen isn't just easy, but it's fun.When the iPhone first debuted, some users complained that their fingers were too fat to use the touchscreen. But those cries quickly faded as users got more practice with the mobile phone's interface.
But now, according to a report from the LA Times, there's a new group of iPhone users angry at Apple... women with long fingernails. Why? Well, since the iPhone's touchscreen only responds to electrical charges emitted by your bare fingertips, women with long nails aren't able to effectively use the iPhone's touchscreen.
Erica Watson-Currie, who was interviewed for the LA Times article, even went so far as to call Apple 'misogynistic' because they didn't include a stylus for women with long fingernails. Erica gave the LA Times this quote for their article: "Considering ergonomics and user studies indicating men and women use their fingers and nails differently, why does Apple persist in this misogyny?"
Should every manufacturer change the design of their products to accommodate users with long nails, or should people with long nails learn to work around this problem like they have in the past?
Is Apple being unfair to women with long fingernails?
How do other women feel about this? Is Apple being misogynistic with the design of the iPhone?
Mary, a Production Assistant in the television industry says: "I'll admit, I've had fake nails before and know from experience how difficult they can be. I couldn't type as fast, I lost my ability to speed text, I couldn't even turn on a lamp without fumbling. So I made the obvious choice. I took the stupid things off and stopped blaming the world for not catering to my vanity. I suggest women who have a problem using the iPhone do the same."
Libby, a Senior Associate at a non-profit in New York City, finds this complaint ridiculous. She told MethodShop.com that "...this whole fingernail complaint is asinine. When I hear that other women are complaining about the iPhone's interface because they have fancy long fingernails, it makes me dizzy. What's next? Should the military make fingernail friendly assault rifles so women can look gorgeous on the battlefield. Shut up and cut off your tacky nails already. And stop giving idiotic quotes to the LA Times. You are an embarrassment to women everywhere."
Apple launches its vastly improved 3G iPhone ($199) on July 11, 2008.
methodshop
AT&T to Offer No-Contract (Unlocked) iPhones
This week, American cell phone provider AT&T announced plans to offer a contract-free version of Apple's 3G iPhone... for a price.How much? About 2-3 times more than a "locked" iPhone.
Why are Apple and AT&T selling unlocked iPhones? Probably to eliminate the black market demand for unlocked iPhones that hackers are reselling overseas.
AT&T says an unlocked iPhone will sell for about $600-700. To get the cheaper subsidized price Steve Jobs announced at the WWDC ($199 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB) you must commit to a 2 year contract and be a new AT&T customer.
If you're a current AT&T customer, you must have already purchased a 2G iPhone or be eligible to renew your contract.
methodshop
6/13/2008
Developers and Consumers Get Ready for Apple's iPhone App Store
A massive new online business is scheduled to launch on July 11: Apple's App Store - an online hub for third party iPhone and iPod Touch applications.Beginning later this month, developers will begin to upload apps to the store accessible by iPhone users or to a new section of the iTunes Store, sharing revenue from app sales with Apple in a 70/30 split. These apps will be in addition to the 1,700-odd apps already developed for the iPhone's Safari web browser.
One of the games people are looking forward to playing is Super Monkey Ball. Sega's Ethan Einhorn showed off Super Monkey Ball on stage at the WWDC. According to Einhorn, after 8 weeks of development, the developers have created 110 stages.
The new 3G, GPS-enabled iPhone should open up a world of possibilities for clever developers in the realms of gaming, entertainment and enterprise applications.
In related news, the AOL Radio app for the iPhone won for Best Entertainment Application at the 2008 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), providing users free access to over 350 online radio stations (including 150 local CBS radio stations) and more than 200 AOL Radio channels.
Other WWDC iPhone App winners:
Best iPhone Game:
Enigmo by Pangea Software
Best iPhone Social Networking App:
Twitterrific by the Icon Factory
Best iPhone Productivity App:
OmniFocus by the Omni Group
Best iPhone Healthcare & Fitness App:
MIM from MIMVista
methodshop
6/11/2008
Was the 3G iPhone a Letdown
In case you've been living under a rock, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the new 3G iPhone during his keynote speech at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week.The iPhone 3G announcement had the blogosphere buzzing with both excitement and disappointment the past few days. While many people are excited for the iPhone 3G, there are plenty of bloggers lamenting about missing features that they feel were unaddressed.
Here's a roundup of the most popular features that still remain on our collective "iPhone Wishlist":
- Physical keyboard - What the BlackBerry lacks in style and interface, it makes up for by having a physical keyboard. It's tough to type out a company memo on the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard.
- User-swappable battery - This complaint goes back to the first iPod.
- Copy-and-paste function - It's hard to believe that this "feature" was overlooked.
- Memory card slot - Many people use their iPhones as cameras. A card slot would be very useful.
- Bluetooth stereo audio - Most of the new 3G phones have this feature. Personally I'm tired of tangled headphone cables and ready to go wireless.
- MMS - MMS is the ability to send photos, video, and audio directly to other cellphones. Most modern phones added this feature years ago. Why was it left out of the new iPhone?
- Video recording - There are several applications for Jailbroken iPhones that use the still camera to record video. It would have been pretty easy for Apple to implement this feature. Again, not sure why they left it out.
- Video Chat - One of the most popular rumors about the new 3G iPhone, was it would have a built-in video chat feature that would allow you to video chat with other iPhones or even computers with webcams.
The last item on the list, the video chat rumor, was the thing that had most bloggers complaining. Many blogs (including MethodShop.com), were reporting on the rumor and many people were excited to conduct mobile phone video chats like Dick Tracy’s watch.
Were you hoping for more features?
methodshop
6/09/2008
iPhone 3G Announced
Apple CEO took the stage June 9th at WWDC 2008 and announced the new iPhone 3G. Jobs said that Apple has taken everything they've learned from the first iPhone and created the next generation of the iPhone... the iPhone 3G.
Here are some of the new features of the new iPhone 3G:
Here's a commercial for the new iPhone that Steve Jobs showed on stage:
The iPhone 3G will be available July 11th in 22 countries. Apple hopes to launch in 70 countries this year. The maximum price around the world is $199 USD. You can order an iPhone 3G at Apple.com starting July 11th.
methodshop
Here are some of the new features of the new iPhone 3G:- Thinner.
- Cheaper. An 8G iPhone 3G will sell for... $199. $299 for the 16GB. Right now, it's actually cheaper than the iPod Touch?!
- Wireless access to the new iPhone "App Store" full of applications and games specifically made to take advantage of the new iPhone's features. You can also access the App Store via iTunes.
- Plastic back cover.
- Solid metal buttons.
- Improved "Accelerometer" that rotates the screen content when you rotate the orientation of your iPhone.
- Multitouch display.
- Better camera.
- Normal headphone jack (you no longer need special headphones).
- Dramatically improved audio.
- Faster. The iPhone 3G is 2.8X faster than the old iPhone on AT&T's slow American EDGE network.
- Advanced GPS support. iPhone 3G uses signals from GPS satellites, Wi-Fi hot spots, and cellular towers to quickly get the most accurate location.
- Longer battery life. 300 hours of standby, 2G talk-time now has 10 hours (as opposed to 5), 5 hours of 3G talk-time (most phones only have 3 hour 3G talk time), 5 to 6 hours of high-speed browsing, 7 hours of video, 24 hours of audio.
- Enterprise email support.
- More colors. The new 3GF iPhone also comes in white.
Here's a commercial for the new iPhone that Steve Jobs showed on stage:
The iPhone 3G will be available July 11th in 22 countries. Apple hopes to launch in 70 countries this year. The maximum price around the world is $199 USD. You can order an iPhone 3G at Apple.com starting July 11th.
methodshop
6/04/2008
iPhone 3G and WWDC Announcement Predictions
There's no doubt that an iPhone update is imminent. But while nearly everyone has agreed on that, nobody knows anything definite about the specifics... except that the new iPhone will be compatible with the Microsoft Exchange email services. There's a link on the main Apple.com iPhone page where you can apply to be a beta tester.In regards to the iPhone, here's what we know today:
- Apple.com lists the iPhone as “Currently Unavailable.” Stock is so low that you can't buy it. Usually a good sign that a new model is coming out soon.
- Apple continues to make iPhone sales deals across the globe. Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and Australia were all announced with the last few months.
- A 3G settings screen was found by hackers in the latest firmware update for the iPhone.
- The new iPhone will most likely be unveiled during Steve Jobs’ keynote speech at Apple’s WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) on June 9th.
- AT&T is prohibiting retail-store employees from taking vacations between June 15 and July 12, claiming that they’re expecting a “heavy selling period”. They implemented a similar policy last year for the iPhone launch.
- AT&T executives have said numerous times that all of their smartphones (the iPhone is one of the) will support 3G networking soon.
- The Apple Stores have been out of stock of the iPhone for weeks. And people are forming daily lines outside Apple stores that still have a few iPhones in stock.
And here are some rumors that MethodShop.com compiled about what Steve Jobs might announce at the WWDC on June 9th:
- Prediction/Rumor: The new 3G iPhone will be about 20% thinner.
- Prediction/Rumor: The new 3G iPhone will have built-in video chat that would allow you to video chat with other iPhones or even computers with webcams.
- Prediction/Rumor: The Apple TV is going to get an add-on USB camera that will turn the Apple TV into a video chat system (see item above). How would it work? A picture in picture effect would happen if you were watching a movie on your Apple TV when someone tried to “video call” you from an iPhone.
Prediction/Rumor: Just like the iPods, the new iPhone will come in several colors including black [pic] and white [pic]. Several colored iPhone photos have already surfaced on the Interweb. There's no doubt that black would be an extremely popular iPhone color.- Prediction/Rumor: The new iPhone will have built-in GPS (it's about time).
- Prediction/Rumor: Apple will also announce a new, wireless keyboard specifically for Apple TV, with multi touch capabilities. Basically it will be a super remote control.
methodshop
5/22/2008
iPhone Line Forms Already at Apple's 5th Ave Store
This morning I had to go buy another copy of OS X Leopard (my original copy got scratched). As I walked closer to the Apple Store on 5th Avenue I was somewhat surprised to see a line of about 50 people waiting in line. The 3G iPhone announcement isn't rumored to happen until June 9th right? Are these people going to wait in line for over 2 weeks or do they know something we don't?I asked the security guard by the Cube what was going on and he said it was for the iPhone. He wouldn't say if it was for the 3G iPhone or for old iPhone leftover inventory That's all he knew and he very was annoyed at me for asking him about the iPhone line. I'm doubt I was the first person to ask.
Still confused I walked downstairs and bought my copy of Leopard. Before I left the Apple Store, I asked Jessica, my cashier, if the people outside were waiting for the new 3G iPhone. She cryptically said "They are waiting to buy an iPhone. We will sell them whatever phones we have in stock." She was kind of pissed off too.
For some reason the majority of people waiting in line were Asian. I was later informed by a friend that to get around iPhone per-person quantity restrictions, you can pay people (usually from Chinatown I guess?) to buy you extra iPhones and even hold your place in line.
The line is most likely for people looking to get their hands on the current iPhone and ship it overseas, but I wonder how many of these people will still be in line on June 9th.
More Pictures: Lines Form Weeks Before Rumored iPhone 3G Announcement
methodshop
5/20/2008
3G iPhone Launch Set For June 9
According to Gizmodo, Apple is set to unveil the 3G iPhone on June 9 at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco.
Here's an excerpt from the Gizmodo post:
The 3G iPhone will also supposedly do away with fixed-price iPhones. Apple will be adopting a more traditional subsidized pricing model. This means that certain carriers can offer discounts and subsidies on the Apple handset. This also means that large companies will probably be able to purchase iPhones in bulk and offer them as part of their companies internal wireless plans.
What will this new 3G iPhone look like? Rumors say it might come in multiple colors including black (see a mockup above). There's no doubt that a black 3G iPhone would be extremely popular.
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, first promised a 3G iPhone at a London press conference in September 2007. Sine then, it's been a guessing game trying to figure out when the 3G iPhone would be released. In April, hackers found a 3G toggle switch in the iPhone's 2.0 beta firmware hinting that a 3G iPhone release was imminent.
methodshop
Here's an excerpt from the Gizmodo post:
"We all suspected it, but now it is confirmed: someone very, very close to the 3G iPhone launch has told me [Gizmodo’s Jesus Diaz] that Apple will announce their new model at the WWDC Keynote on June 9th. The second-generation iPhone will be available worldwide right after the launch, and not at year’s end, as previously thought. The new model will also herald new sales policies in some countries.
In Spain, for example, the 3G iPhone will be available for sale at the June 18th grand opening of Telefonica’s megastore—an Apple Store-like shop located in the company’s historical building in Madrid’s Gran Vía— with nationwide availability the next day or after a few hours. The other European countries with iPhone availability will have similar launch schedules."
The 3G iPhone will also supposedly do away with fixed-price iPhones. Apple will be adopting a more traditional subsidized pricing model. This means that certain carriers can offer discounts and subsidies on the Apple handset. This also means that large companies will probably be able to purchase iPhones in bulk and offer them as part of their companies internal wireless plans.
What will this new 3G iPhone look like? Rumors say it might come in multiple colors including black (see a mockup above). There's no doubt that a black 3G iPhone would be extremely popular.
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, first promised a 3G iPhone at a London press conference in September 2007. Sine then, it's been a guessing game trying to figure out when the 3G iPhone would be released. In April, hackers found a 3G toggle switch in the iPhone's 2.0 beta firmware hinting that a 3G iPhone release was imminent.
methodshop
5/12/2008
iPhone 3G Settings [pic]
Still doubt that the 3G iPhone is coming soon? This settings screen with a 3G toggle switch (see image) was found in the latest beta release of the iPhone's 2.0 firmware.
Why would you want to turn off 3G? Because 3G drains cell phone batteries very quickly. In this screenshot, Apple has included a toggle setting to turn 3G off, and use AT&T's slower but more battery friendly EDGE network instead. Probably a very useful feature if you are almost out of juice.
In April, Apple released beta version 3 of its iPhone SDK. Hackers found that the new firmware contains references to an updated chipset—namely, the SGOLD3H from Infineon. This chip adds support for 3G networking, including WCDMA - the 3G flavor used in Japan and Korea.
So according to Apple's SDK and Firmware updates, a 3G iPhone is definitely coming very soon.
Apple's stores are also indicating that a new iPhone is coming soon. While the Apple stores have been having a shortage of iPhones for a couple weeks now, the Apple website now is also saying there is no ship date available.
Also AT&T employees have already suggested a release date of June 15th.
Add all these clues up and it's a pretty safe bet to say that the new 3G iPhone is coming out either late May or early June.
How much will this new iPhone cost? The 3G iPhone has been rumored to have a starting price even higher than the original iPhone at $599 for the 8GB and $699 for the 16GB. No word on whether the data plans will remain the same with the new 3G data speeds.
methodshop
Why would you want to turn off 3G? Because 3G drains cell phone batteries very quickly. In this screenshot, Apple has included a toggle setting to turn 3G off, and use AT&T's slower but more battery friendly EDGE network instead. Probably a very useful feature if you are almost out of juice.
In April, Apple released beta version 3 of its iPhone SDK. Hackers found that the new firmware contains references to an updated chipset—namely, the SGOLD3H from Infineon. This chip adds support for 3G networking, including WCDMA - the 3G flavor used in Japan and Korea.
So according to Apple's SDK and Firmware updates, a 3G iPhone is definitely coming very soon.
Apple's stores are also indicating that a new iPhone is coming soon. While the Apple stores have been having a shortage of iPhones for a couple weeks now, the Apple website now is also saying there is no ship date available.
Also AT&T employees have already suggested a release date of June 15th.
Add all these clues up and it's a pretty safe bet to say that the new 3G iPhone is coming out either late May or early June.
How much will this new iPhone cost? The 3G iPhone has been rumored to have a starting price even higher than the original iPhone at $599 for the 8GB and $699 for the 16GB. No word on whether the data plans will remain the same with the new 3G data speeds.
methodshop
3/13/2008
Another Apple Patent Infringement
Apple Inc. was sued Wednesday over allegations its iTunes online music store and iPod music players are illegally using a patented method for distributing digital media over the Internet.Atlanta-based ZapMedia Services Inc. sued Apple in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, accusing the Cupertino-based company of violating two ZapMedia patents.
ZapMedia wants royalties on Apple's sales of iPods and iTunes music, which reached nearly $11 billion last year. The success of iTunes has helped make Apple the No. 2 music retailer in the U.S. behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to market researcher NPD Group.
The patents in question cover a way of sending music and other digital content from servers to multiple media players, a broad description that could also apply to a wide swath of other companies selling digital media and the devices to play it.
ZapMedia applied for the patents in 1999. One was granted in March 2006, the other on Tuesday.
ZapMedia said it met with Apple to discuss licensing, but Apple rebuffed the offer.
"When someone takes our vision and our intellectual property without a license after several attempts, we have no option but to protect it through every means available to us," Robert Frohwein, ZapMedia's general counsel, said in a statement.
An Apple spokeswoman said the company doesn't comment on pending lawsuits.
methodshop
2/21/2008
Apple TV 2.0
The newly revamped, reduced-in-price Apple TV Standard def movies rent for $3.99 for new releases and $2.99 for library titles. HD movies (1280 x 720) cost $4.99/$3.99.
The user interface allows you to browse through thumbnail images of available titles from most of the major studios and start watching them within seconds (provided you enjoy a broadband connection exceeding 6 MB/second.)
If you already own an Apple TV, the unit will upgrade itself automatically to the new software.
You can read our review of the Apple TV here.
methodshop
2/08/2008
Apple Pulls Out of NAB
According to Macinstein & TVTechnoogy, Apple is pulling out of NAB this year. In years past Apple has always had one of the largest booths at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) trade show. Actually the last time I was at NAB, Apple's booth was the best part of the show."Apple is participating in fewer trade shows this year. Often there are better ways to reach our customers. The increasing popularity of our retail stores and Apple.com Web site allows us to directly reach more than 100 million customers around the world in innovative new ways." ~ Anuj Nayar, Senior Manager of PR at Apple
Adding insult to ingury, Apple's main competitor in the broadcast industry, Avid, also pulled out of NAB. Looks like CES was the trade show to be at this year, not NAB.
Dennis Wharton, from the NAB, confirmed Apple’s pullout on TVTechnoogy, but adds this confusing comment: "We’re talking about some on-site business opportunities with Apple." I'm not exactly sure what that is suppose to mean.
methodshop
Labels: apple
2/05/2008
Apple TV Update Delayed
Last week Apple announced they needed another couple of weeks to finish updating the Apple TV software that will finally allow users to rent movies directly from the TV rather than having to download on the computer and sync or stream the video to the Apple TV device.
This anticipated software upgrade will be available as a free software download to existing Apple TV users sometime in February. By the end of February, Apple’s iTunes online music store should have more than 1,000 movie titles available including more than 100 high-definition titles. The DVD-quality movies will be available to rent for $2.99 for older titles and $3.99 for newer titles while high-definition costs a buck more.
Also last week, Apple announced the MacBook Air has started shipping. Hopefully Apple packages the MacBook Air in something a little more sturdy than the envelopes featured in the ads!
Here's a video of the old Apple TV software:
Source: Gizmos for Geeks.
1/15/2008
Macworld: Time Capsule
This morning at Macworld 2008, Steve Jobs announced a new hardware companion product called Time Capsule for Apple's Time Machine backup software. Time Machine is part of the newest Apple operating system OS X Leopard 10.5.If you are already familiar with Apple's current products, Time Capsule is basically an Airport Extreme with a hard drive.
Time Machine can now backup multiple Macs on the same network wirelessly to the same Time Capsule hard drive.
The Time Capsule hard drives come in 2 sizes: 500GB ($299) and 1TB ($499). Pretty aggressive pricing. Apple must be serious about helping people backup their computers.
Time Capsule starts shipping in February. You can read more about Time Capsule here on Apple.com
methodshop
12/30/2007
iPhone 1.1.3 Leak [video]
Here it is... video evidence of the new unreleased iPhone 1.1.3 software improvements. The embedded video below is a nice and thorough walk-through of the unreleased iPhone 1.1.3 firmware updates hosted by Andru from GearLive.com. Watch it fast before Apple's lawyers take it down.Anyone still think it's fake?
If the embedded video above doesn't load, then click here.
methodshop
9/20/2007
ReplayTV DVR Geared Towards iPhone and iPod Playback
ReplayTV is not the first to introduce a USB dongle for DVR use, however, they are the first to integrate a format easily playable on Apple hand-held devices like iPhone and iPod touch.
The Personal HD system bundles both digital ATSC and analog NTSC technology and play over-the-air HDTV signals or old school analog TV source. So now you TV junkies can overload on adictively pathetic reality TV shows (well, except Survivor).
The ReplayTV goodie bag for the Personal HD system include direct encoding in a 4:3 ratio, intelligent keyword filter system to find shows by cast member names, show IDs or genre. Although the reply system isn't out just yet, it will be later this fall at the tune of $100.
Source: GetUSBinfoBeSocial: digg story | methodshop
9/17/2007
iPhone Credit Instructions
Were you one of the thousands of people who bought an iPhone (US) before Apple lowered the price by $200? Steve Jobs announced the iPhone price drop after he introduced the iPod Touch and angered a lot of customers. To placate iPhone owners, Jobs published an open letter on Apple.com where he offered a $100 rebate.As of last Friday, you can go to Apple.com and apply for the $100 credit but there's a catch... Much to the dismay of iPhone owners, Apple has released several restrictions on how you can use the credit, who qualifies for it and how long it's available.
SPENDING RESTRICTIONS
I hope you didn't already have a spending plan for your $100 iPhone credit. The credit can only be used to buy items from Apple's retail stores or Apple.com. The credit cannot be used to buy Apple gift cards, content on iTunes, or be redeemed for cash.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE CREDIT
Not every iPhone owner qualifies for the credit. Any iPhone registered with an address outside the U.S. won't be eligible. iPhones bought between Aug. 22 and Sept. 4, also aren't eligible but fall under Apple's price-protection program until Sept. 19. If you qualify for the credit, go to the iPhone section on Apple.com and click on the $100 credit link on the left side of the page. After you fill out the form, you'll get a text message coupon on your iPhone that you can redeem.
TIME LIMIT
If you do qualify for the credit, use it fast. The credit offer expires on November 30th.
BeSocial: methodshop
9/06/2007
An open letter to iPhone owners from Steve Jobs
This week Apple announced new iPods and lowered the iPhone price by $200. But what if you were one of the millions of people who bought an iPhone 2 months ago? You'd probably be a little pissed off right? Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, got so many emails from angry customers that he wrote an open letter on the Apple website today. The letter says that every customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T will receive a $100 Apple store credit.
It's a brilliant move by Apple. This rebate will placate the angry early iPhone adopters who are feeling cheated, still keep the money in Apple's pocket and generate lots of press (like this article).
Here's the open letter from Jobs:
Once again Apple has proven why they are so loved by their fan base. But, hey Steve, shouldn't it be a $200 store credit?
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
It's a brilliant move by Apple. This rebate will placate the angry early iPhone adopters who are feeling cheated, still keep the money in Apple's pocket and generate lots of press (like this article).
Here's the open letter from Jobs:
To all iPhone customers:
I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.
First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent'. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.
Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.
Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.
We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
Once again Apple has proven why they are so loved by their fan base. But, hey Steve, shouldn't it be a $200 store credit?
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
Apple Unveils Wi-Fi iPods
Apple unveiled its new line of iPods yesterday including a model with an iPhone-like touchscreen interface and Zune-like WiFi access. The "iPod Touch" sports a 3.5-inch widescreen and a Safari browser, creating a mobile YouTube delivery device that essentially replicates the iPhone browsing experience for non-AT&T subscribers. It's going to run $299 for an 8 GB model and $399 for a 16 GB version, scheduled to ship later this month. You can pre-order the new iPods from Apple.com.The former Video iPod has been renamed the "iPod Classic" with a slimmer design and a bigger hard drive.
Although the new iPod Touch is very impressive with its Wi-Fi and touch-screen, the fact that it only has a 16GBs sucks big time. I like to keep my current iPod Video full of movies and TV shows that I ripped from DVD for my morning commute. The new smaller hard drive is a major sticking point for me. The reason the new iPods have smaller hard drives is because they are Flash memory based (no moving parts) and are able to withstand an occasional bump or drop better than traditional hard drives.
Apple is also teaming with Starbucks to allow customers to browse a new WiFi iTunes store for free inside of its coffee shops. Go near a Starbucks and an icon pops up. Click on it and you can buy Starbucks' current music selections.
Steve Jobs also announced he was phasing out the entry level iPhone and cutting the price of the upper-end model from $599 to $399.
BeSocial: methodshop
7/30/2007
WTF - Microsoft steals Apple's Universal logo
Did Microsoft steal Apple's Universal logo? Now, granted it's just a yin yang symbol, but M$ just flipped the image horizontally. They even used the exact same colors. WTF?!
BeSocial: methodshop | digg story
BeSocial: methodshop | digg story
Labels: apple
7/02/2007
500,000 iPhones Sold Last Weekend
The iPhone was one of the most anticipated product launches of 2007. So how did it do? According to Blackfriars, an analyst firm that has been monitoring Apple's stores, iPhone sales topped 500,000 last weekend. Here's a quote from the Blackfriars daily blog:
Apple must be pleased with such strong sales over the first weekend, it will be interesting to see if they can keep the sales up, over the coming weeks and months.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
"The bottom line: some analysts claimed that the iPhone launch would be a failure if Apple failed to sell 100,000 iPhones during the first weekend. Based upon the limited data we have, we believe that number was exceeded in just the first two to three hours. Blackfriars’ prediction is that Apple will sell 500,000 iPhones this weekend, and based upon limited sales rates reported, that number now looks quite achievable. The only question is whether the demand and iPhone supply is great enough that they might push past the million unit mark this weekend."
Apple must be pleased with such strong sales over the first weekend, it will be interesting to see if they can keep the sales up, over the coming weeks and months.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
6/13/2007
Security Bugs in Safari for Windows
It's been an interesting few days for Apple and their Safari web browser. On Monday, Apple released a PC version of Safari 3 (beta) at the 2007 Worldwide Developers Conference. But within a few hours, Internet security specialists and hackers had uncovered several bugs capable of crashing the Windows operating system as well as a major security flaw making it possible to remotely take control a PC without the owners knowledge.Just hours after Apple made Safari 3 available for Windows, David Maynor from Errata Security and independent expert Aviv Raff both blogged about the Safari security bugs they found.
"I can't speak for anybody else, but the bugs [I] found in the beta copy of Safari on Windows work on the production copy on OS X as well... The exploit is robust mostly thanks to the lack of any kind of advanced security features in [Mac] OS X." erratasec.blogspot.com
"A first glance at the debugger showed me that this memory corruption might be exploitable. Although, I'll have to dig more to be sure of that. Again, this is just a beta version. But, don't you hate those pathetic claims?" net-security.org
At last count, 6 total bugs in Safari have been recorded despite this claim on the Safari 3 download page: "Apple engineers designed Safari to be secure from day one."
But hell, Safari 3 is just a beta version, it's supposed to have bugs, right?
So why did Apple decide to make their Safari web browser Windows compatible in the first place? Three reasons come to mind:
- A cross platform web browser will encourage web developers to create web-based programs for the iPhone and make their sites more compatible for existing Safari (Mac) users.
- A PC version of Safari is an opportunity to expose Windows users to another Apple product. Apple hopes PC users will enjoy their Safari experience and think about getting a Mac the next time they get a new computer. So far, they are off to a pretty bad start.
- Search dollars. The little search box in the upper right corner of the Firefox web browser is a major revenue generator. Every time you use that little search box, the browser manufacturer makes money off the search ads you are exposed to when you are taken to the results page. I've seen reports that Firefox (an open source project) made around over $50 million dollars from that little search box in 2006 alone.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
4/25/2007
Modest Mouse Music Video Contest
Want to make it big as a music video director/editor? The band Modest Mouse wants help making a video for their new song "Missed the Boat." With the help of Apple, Modest Mouse posted 12 high quality videos (each shot at a different angle) of them performing in front of a green screen.The public is encouraged to download these video clips and edit them together into one final music video. Feel free to use your own footage and experiment the green screen.
Why is Apple generously providing massive amounts of bandwidth for people to download these giant high resolution video clips? Apple would like you to use their new editing and sound mixing software Final Cut Studio and Logic, of course.
Once you're finished with your video, upload it to Apple for judging and cross your fingers. The contest ends May 22, 2007. Good luck. More info can be found on the official contest page.
BeSocial: digg story | flickr | methodshop
Labels: apple
4/24/2007
Bill Gates Hates Apple Ads
Recently Bob Garfield, from AdAge, got to interview Bill Gates during the Corbis Creativity 2.0 panel in Manhattan. Garfield asked Gates about a number of topics from Vista to IPTV. He also tried to get Gates to comment on a very sensitive topic... Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign. The campaign features actor/author John Hodgman who looks like Bill Gates and personifies a PC.As you can imagine, Bill Gates is not amused by the ads. Here's the portion of the interview transcript where Garfield asks Gates about the ads. Enjoy:
GARFIELD: I want to ask you one more thing: Those Mac ads -- how do you feel about the John Hodgman character?
GATES: I can't comment on someone else's ad.
GARFIELD: OK ... but he's you.
GATES: Yeah, I'm not gonna comment on someone else's ad.
GARFIELD: OK, well, Bill Gates, thank you so much for joining us.
(Silence)
GARFIELD: Can I just have a clean goodbye?
(Silence)
GARFIELD: OK, can you just say goodbye? Thank you or goodbye or something like that?
GATES: Goodbye.
BeSocial: linkcritics | methodshop
2/11/2007
Steve Jobs Hates DRM
If you went to Apple.com last week, then you might have seen an article written by Steve Jobs about DRM and the music industry called Thoughts on Music. In the article Job talks about the history of DRM (digital rights management) and how companies, including Apple, who sell music online have to change in order to survive.In case you haven't read the article yet, the bottom line is Jobs doesn't like digital rights management and thinks it has been ineffective at stopping music piracy. The root of his argument is how music companies failed to come together and create an audio CD format with built in copy-protection.
Here's a quote from the article:
"Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player."In contrast, the movie industry was able to set aside their differences and DVDs were invented with copy-protection built in. So since the music industry can't get their act together, what should happen now?
If Steve Jobs has his way, DRM would be abolished entirely:
"Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music."So why would Jobs write this letter and why now? Recently there's been a lot of pressure coming from Europe, including consumer groups in Germany and France. The Europeans claim that Apple's iTunes Store violates consumer laws because iTunes songs can only be played on iPods. Since the iPod has about 80% of the portable media player market, the Europeans believe that Apple is stifling competition.
The other option would be for Apple to license their DRM technology, called FairPlay, to other companies. Licensing FairPlay could end up making Apple a lot more money in the long run, but Jobs doesn't want Apple's secrets behind the FairPlay technology leaked, copied or modified by hackers. He'd rather just do away with DRM altogether. That would be the easiest solution for everyone... especially the consumer.
I give Jobs a lot of credit. Who knows, years from now people may look back at this article as the Emancipation Proclamation for digital music.
BeSocial: digg story | flickr | methodshop
Labels: apple
2/06/2007
Gadget Birthday Cakes
How do you know you are a true geek? Well, when someone bakes you a gadget themed birthday cake, you might as well admit your chosen place in life. In a weird coincidence (or was there a gadget cake bake off recently) I found both an iPhone and Mac Mini cake on Digg's front page this past weekend.
A flickr user named icruise was surprised with this iPhone cake for their birthday. It looks like a sweet cake with a multitouch interface you can lick. Can you hear me now? No? Must be all the frosting in your ear.
The other photo is from 123macmini.com. Miles, the birthday boy, got this Mac Mini cake from his loving mom for his 15th birthday. Hopefully not too many people at his high school saw this online. He might get the frosting kicked out him after school. Just don't try to eat the disc. It looks like Miles' mom used an actual CD and covered it with frosting. Good luck trying to upgrade the RAM.
If you want to look for more Apple themed birthday cakes, try searching flickr for icake. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a black MacBook tray of brownies for my next birthday. I didn't find any Zune cakes on flickr for some reason. Poor Bill. :(
BeSocial: digg (iphone) | digg (mini) | flickr | methodshop
A flickr user named icruise was surprised with this iPhone cake for their birthday. It looks like a sweet cake with a multitouch interface you can lick. Can you hear me now? No? Must be all the frosting in your ear.
The other photo is from 123macmini.com. Miles, the birthday boy, got this Mac Mini cake from his loving mom for his 15th birthday. Hopefully not too many people at his high school saw this online. He might get the frosting kicked out him after school. Just don't try to eat the disc. It looks like Miles' mom used an actual CD and covered it with frosting. Good luck trying to upgrade the RAM.
If you want to look for more Apple themed birthday cakes, try searching flickr for icake. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a black MacBook tray of brownies for my next birthday. I didn't find any Zune cakes on flickr for some reason. Poor Bill. :(
BeSocial: digg (iphone) | digg (mini) | flickr | methodshop
12/12/2006
1984 Apple LISA Demo
Want a good laugh? This video clip from a local cable show has a rare demonstration of Apple's 1984 Lisa computer as well as some sexy 1980s hair styles. In the video, some guy named Alfred takes the $10,000 Lisa computer for a test drive. Yep the Lisa sold for $10,000. Pretty expensive for a clunky word processor. In case you are wondering, the Lisa would cost about $19,500 in 2006 dollars. Another funny thing about the video is the TV host. For some reason she talks like a robot. She's also wearing a pair of over-sized 1980s eye glasses that probably have more glass than an automobile windshield.Warning: There is a very long 5 minute introduction before the Lisa demo clip. Alfred, the guy giving the demonstration in the video, is now a YouTube director and loves to suck up to his subscribers. He also apologizes for his 1984 haircut, suit and a recent nose surgery. But once the actual demonstration clip starts to play, you will probably enjoy it.
If you pay close attention, you will see the cursor switch to the hour glass quite a lot. Every time Alfred opens a window or document, he has to wait several moments for the Lisa to catch up. Good thing he's such a good talker and can fill the time blabbing with the robotic female host. You can see the video here.
Highlights of the Lisa demo include such state-of-the-art innovations as the floppy disk, digital clock, calculator, graphical user interface, icons, pull down menus, and a rodent input device called 'a mouse'.
If you want to copy this video off of YouTube and save it on your hard drive, then check out this tutorial: Copy Videos Off YouTube. Enjoy!
You can also read this article on USA Today.com
digg story | methodshop
5/16/2006
MacBook Has Replaceable Hard Drive
On Tuesday, Apple announced their new consumer laptop called the MacBook (prosumer users should check out the MacBook Pro). This new laptop features an Intel Core Duo processor and a 13" inch glossy widescreen display.
But what really has people excited about the MacBook is a new user replaceable hard drive feature. According to Apple Insider.com, MacBook owners will find that upgrading or replacing the computer's hard disk is as simple as adding more memory. Just flip over the MacBook and pop out the battery. You will immediately see the RAM slots and the MacBook's hard drive. Previous Apple laptop models required the skilled hands of an authorized service provider to perform a hard drive replacement. Now, any savvy MacBook owner (with some guts) will be able to upgrade their laptop's hard drive without completely disassembling the computer.
Beyond the replaceable hard drive feature, the stats for the new MacBook are great. Take a look:
The new Intel MacBooks can be purchased directly from Apple's website.
BeSocial: digg it | methodshop.com
But what really has people excited about the MacBook is a new user replaceable hard drive feature. According to Apple Insider.com, MacBook owners will find that upgrading or replacing the computer's hard disk is as simple as adding more memory. Just flip over the MacBook and pop out the battery. You will immediately see the RAM slots and the MacBook's hard drive. Previous Apple laptop models required the skilled hands of an authorized service provider to perform a hard drive replacement. Now, any savvy MacBook owner (with some guts) will be able to upgrade their laptop's hard drive without completely disassembling the computer.Beyond the replaceable hard drive feature, the stats for the new MacBook are great. Take a look:
13" inch widescreen; 1280x800 display- 2 colors: sleek black and bright white
- 1 Firewire 400, 2 USB 2.0 ports
- Built-in iSight camera
- Integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics with 64 MB shared graphics memory
- mini-DVI with extended display support
- Airport Extreme + Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) Standard
- Front Row (remote control media center)
- 512MB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300)
- Intel CoreDuo chips: 1.83 - 2 Ghz
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Low prices: $1,099 - $1,499
The new Intel MacBooks can be purchased directly from Apple's website.
BeSocial: digg it | methodshop.com
Labels: apple
2/28/2006
What is Apple's Big Surprise? A Tablet?
Apple is announcing some "fun new products" today but what could they be? Howard Wolinsky from The Chicago Sun-Times asked his readers to send in their thoughts. Here's what they had to say:Francois d'Anethan, dean of UBI, a business school in Brussels, Belgium, said, "The flip side of the iPod could be the face of a 'Mac' cell phone. That would be the ultimate piece of technology. Everybody I know who uses an iPod, would go for it without the slightest hesitation."Although the Sun-Times readers tended to keep their speculation centered on the iPod, other people think Apple might announce an Apple touch sensitive tablet computer or a TiVo like Apple Media Center. You can read more about these announcement speculations here.
Daniel Schattnik, a lawyer in downstate East Alton, said, "If they paired an iPod with built-in XM or Sirius radio, I would buy it tomorrow." He said he would have no use for FM radio if he had satellite.
A half dozen iPod dreamers said they would like to see the MP3 player morph into a personal digital assistant to track appointments, list contacts, link to the Web and move images, music and files wirelessly. This would revive Apple's pioneering Newton PDA from a decade ago.
John Soles of Yorkville said Wi-Fi on an iPod PDA "opens up so many possibilities. It would be cool if two or more people in the same room . . . could share music so each could listen to the others' songs. The screen would be large enough to have a digital album with song lyrics and information similar to what is found in the jacket of CDs that one buys. Wi-Fi would be great for remote control and so many other things."
Vincent Verweij, chief executive of Makayama Interactive in Amsterdam, which developed iPod Media Studio software to copy DVDs for use on iPods, said iPods should have A/V inputs to capture video signals.
methodshop.com
2/15/2006
Touch Sensitive Apple Patent Pictures
Here's a few patent pictures Apple submitted to the US trademark website.Is the touch sensitive iPod going to be a reality? You be the judge. After seeing these images, I must say it looks like an iPod to me. And with the increasing popularity of tablet PCs, a touch sensitive iPod would be something that would be very plausible.
However, it is still unclear if we are going to see an Apple tablet, full screen iPod or a combination of both. Nonetheless the multi point touch screen is a major revolution.
Check out the following video to see the possibilities:
http://mrl.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/multitouchreel.mpg
Also here's a link to Apple's Patent Application on the US trademark website:
Mode-based graphical user interfaces for touch sensitive input devices
digg story | methodshop
8/29/2004
P. Diddy's Diamond Encrusted HP iPod
Coinciding with the release of Hewlett Packard’s iPod digital music player, rap star P. Diddy plans to attend his post MTV Video Music Awards party with his personalized Apple iPod encrusted with 120 diamonds.
HP is a major sponsor of the music awards, and all the guests at P. Diddy’s party, are to receive a gift of their own HP iPod... minus the diamonds.
Don't have the cash to blow on a diamond encrusted iPod? A much cheaper mod for your iPod would be to change the button and backlight colors with LED lights. Check this out.
Review: Mod Your iPod
methodshop
RSS Subscribe
Email Subscribe
Turkey Bowl is a 3D perspective target game where you celebrate the fall harvest by knocking over turkeys with bowling apples. Here's a hint, the turkeys further away are worth more points. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Has a virus or hard
drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? No
problem. Here's how to copy music off your iPod or iPhone and back onto your computer.
Bugs tend to freak us out. Mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, centipedes... you name it. If it crawls, bites or buzzes anywhere near our faces, then we squirm, swat and run. But what's worse than a little bug crawling on or biting you? How about a really, really big one? Here are some of the biggest bugs on Earth. Enjoy!. 
Need
something to watch on your iPod or iPhone? Here's a tutorial that
explains how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's
into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.
Post a Comment