Monday, March 15, 2010
Wicked Lasers TORCH Flashlight [review]
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11:31 PM   |
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Wicked Lasers is a company that makes lasers that are so powerful that they can melt plastic and light matches. One of their more extreme products is a flashlight called the TORCHThe Torch, according to Wicked Lasers is the "world's brightest and most powerful flashlight and has 4100 Lumens with an adjustable high efficiency reflector." Let’s put that in perspective. A typical flashlight is only 100 Lumens.
So what can you do with 4100 Lumens? There are videos of people frying eggs and burning stuff with this “flashlight.”
Why you would want to cook an omelet with a flashlight is beyond me, but its nice to know you could. The Torch sells for about $300. The biggest drawback to the Torch is the battery life is a low 15 minutes.
Here’s a full review of the TORCH and several demonstrational videos of stuff being burned to a crisp.
methodshop
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Apple Introduces the iPad for Only $499
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For the past few months, the rumors swirling around a potential Apple tablet device has been dizzying. But Steve Jobs, Apple founder and CEO, just put all the predictions to rest and revealed Apple's new tablet. The name? iPad. The cost? Way less than everyone thought!
What exactly is an iPad and how does it differ from your laptop or smartphone? Apple is calling the iPad more intimidate than a laptop and more powerful than a smartphone. You can use the iPad to do everything from browse the web, watch movies, listen to music, play games and even read books.
Here's a list of the iPad's features:
- Storage: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive
- Size: 9.5 x 7.5 inches; 0.5 inch thick
- Weight: 1.5 pounds Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds Wi-Fi + 3G model
- Battery: Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer 10 hour battery
- Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
- Network: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
- 3G: UMTS/HSDPA; GSM/EDGE
- External Monitor: Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
- Audio: supported formats include AAC (up 320 Kbps), Protected AAC, MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
- Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
- Input and Output: Dock connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, Built-in speakers, Microphone, SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
Let's talk price. $499?! Yep. Apple is being unusually aggressive with price. Most people were predicting that the iPad would cost at least $1,000. Not so my friends. The iPad starts at the extremely attractive $499 for 16GB with just WiFi. There's also a 32GB WiFi only model for $599, and $699 for 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model iPad is the 64GB WiFi + 3G at $829. Not bad at all! Right?
You can't pre-order the iPad just yet. But you can sign up on Apple.com to be notified when they are ready for pre-order. Apple usually has products ready to buy or at least pre-order the day of its announcement. We wonder what happened with the iPad. The wait obviously won't be that long. The WiFi-only model ships in 60 days, and the 3G models in 90.methodshop
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Apple wants iPad trademark from Fujitsu
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| 11:15 AM |
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After years of speculation, it finally looks like we might have a name for the mythical Apple tablet. iSlate? iTablet? Nope... iPad! At least we think. BTW - what a crappy name. Reminds us of that old MADtv skit. We're really hoping for iSlate.
The latest news surrounding the rumored Apple tablet has to deal with the trademark for the name "iPad." Fujitsu is the current owner of the iPad trademark. According to the screen grab above (larger size here), Apple filed requests with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) several times late last year to extend the time given to oppose the trademark with the USPTO. The USPTO granted the request and extended the time to oppose to 2/28/2010 "on behalf of potential opposer Apple Inc."What do you think about the name iPad? Is it too close to iPod? Could it cause confusion with consumers? The Japanese can't pronounce "a" and the Irish already say iPad when trying to say iPod.
The big Apple announcement is next week. Steve Jobs, please don't use the name iPad!
methodshop
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Hands-On with the Boxee Box and Remote
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| 4:49 PM |
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One of the hottest products at CES 2010 was hands down the new Boxee Box from D-Link. The funky almost cube-shaped box is a media player that can play just about every media file you have saved on your hard drive as well as a tons of streaming online content.Andrew Kippen from Boxee let Kelly Sutton and Chris Lesinski from Hack College borrow the prototype for a few minutes.
Here's a hands on look at the Boxee Box from CES 2010.
Compatible media files include:
Video: Adobe Flash 10.1, H.264 (MKV, MOV), VC-1, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI, Xvid, Divx, PCM/LPCM, VOB
Audio: MP3, WMA, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, AAC, DTS, Dolby Digital, Ogg Vorbis
PHOTO: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG
methodshop
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Why it's better to lose your iPhone in the UK vs. the US
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| 3:03 PM |
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Did you get a gadget gift like an iPhone, Kindle or GPS this holiday season? Make sure you keep your eye on it. Thousands and thousands of gadgets are stolen every year. 12,000 laptops alone are lost or stolen from US airports every week. So what do you do when your precious gadget is stolen? Unfortunately devices like GPS units and Amazon Kindles can't be easily tracked. Special software, like the application Undercover, can help you track your laptop or iPhone, but you have to pay for this software and install it in advance.
So what happens if your phone gets stolen and you haven't already signed up for a software tracking application like Undercover? Unfortunately US residents are kinda screwed. In the United States, all a thief has to do to take over your phone is replace your SIM card. But if you live in the UK, a stolen cell phone becomes useless as soon as it's reported to the authorities. The UK has a national stolen phone database that prevents thieves from activating stolen phones even when the SIM card is swapped out [video].
Let's hope something like the UK system makes its way over the pond soon. In the meantime, keep a close eye on your gadgets kids.
methodshop
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Amazon Kindle 2 [review]
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| 10:42 AM |
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Amazon.com started out as an online book store in 1995. They now sell everything from toys to furniture, but their roots have always been in books. So when Amazon announced the Kindle, an electronic book reader, we were hardly surprised. Amazon's vision for the Kindle is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds.The 2nd generation Kindle, the Global Wireless edition, or the K2 as it's been nicknamed by fans, brings the Kindle much closer to Amazon's vision. The K2 has a lot of new features including free global wireless connectivity, longer battery life and PDF support. But how does the Kindle 2 compare to its predecessor or the competition? Let's find out.
REVIEW: Kindle 2 (Global Wireless Edition)
methodshop
Friday, December 11, 2009
Flip Mino HD [review]
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| 11:31 AM |
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Flip Mino HD puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Flip Mino HD offers all the signature Flip Video features you love—sleek design, simple user interface, flip-out USB arm, rechargeable internal Li-ion battery, built-in editing and sharing software, instant uploads to YouTube and MySpace—plus stunningly crisp, clear HD-quality video. Weighing only 3.3 ounces and featuring a slim, sleek design that fits into any pocket or purse, super-small Flip Mino HD lets you capture life in HD anywhere you go. Weighing only 3.3 ounces, Flip MinoHD features a super-sleek, super-portable design that truly puts the power of HD video in your pocket. Here's a video of Chris Lesinski and Kelly Sutton from Hack College reviewing the Flip Mino HD in their own special way.
You can find the Flip Mino HD on Amazon.com. If you think HD is overkill and are just looking for a low cost stocking stuffer, then check out the non-HD Flip Mino camera.
methodshop
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Spy on Your House or Office with a Panasonic Network Camera
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| 9:04 AM |
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Wonder what your cats do while you are at work? Is the nanny drinking again? Don't trust your roommates? Did the dog walker forget to come today? Are the kids throwing a party at your house while you're on vacation? Want to keep an eye on your store employees while you are at home?There are a million reasons to install a hidden camera at your home or office. Installing a security camera system has traditionally been both expensive and difficult. But not anymore.
The Panasonic BL-C131A wireless network camera sells for under $300 and will do everything from email you a photo when the motion sensor is triggered to to let you watch and control the camera angle live over the Internet.
Unlike a webcam, a "network camera" doesn't need a dedicated computer. Just plug in the power and connect the camera to your wired or wireless network. The Panasonic BL-C131A wireless network camera is about the size of a 16 oz. jar of peanut butter. No clunky tape decks. No frozen computers. And since it's so small, it's easily hidden on a bookshelf or a dark corner. It's also very easy to setup. All you need is a web browser like Safari or Internet Explorer so both Mac and PC users can take advantage of this great camera.
For less than $300, this feature rich network camera can really give you piece of mind.
Tutorial: How to Setup and Monitor Your Home or Office Remotely Using the Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera
methodshop
Monday, December 07, 2009
Chindogu - Bad Japanese Inventions [pics]
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| 9:24 AM |
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Making silly inventions is an extremely popular hobby in Japan. They call it Chindogu. Chindogu inventions attempt to solve a problem or make a task easier. However, despite their attempts, Chindogu inventions usually just create new problems and cause significant social embarrassment. But that's all part of the fun.Here are some of our favorite Chindogu inventions. Enjoy!
PICTS: Chindogu - Bad Japanese Inventions
methodshop
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Apple Store is Down. New Products Being Released Today.
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| 10:16 AM |
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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
Monday, October 12, 2009
T-Fal Sandwich Maker [review]
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| 11:18 AM |
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Back in college, my parents got me a sandwich maker for my dorm room. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was the perfect gift. My roommate and I used to steal ingredients from the dining hall and keep them in our mini fridge. The hours the dining halls were open didn't always mesh well with the typical college social schedule... and we were poor students and the dining hall food was free. So at any given hour we might be making anything from BBQ chicken and Swiss melts to peanut butter and M&Ms sandwiches (a late night favorite).After freshman year I threw my sandwich maker away because it was so scratched up and dirty. It made great sandwiches but it was impossible to clean. I remember using a plastic knife and trying to scrape it clean in the common bathroom's sink. Yuck.
Ten years later, college is a fading memory, no one owns a beeper anymore, Sean Kelly's band The Samples have broken up and sandwich making science has reached new technical heights. The engineering geniuses at T-Fal made a sandwich/waffle maker with dishwasher safe interchangeable grilling plates that snap in and out.
Review: T-Fal Sandwich/Waffle Maker
methodshop
Harry Potter's Vibrating Broomstick [review]
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| 10:21 AM |
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Looks like the perverts from Mattel have been busy. Their latest creation is a vibrating Harry Potter broomstick that has teenage girls everywhere going wild.
Amazon was selling the vibrating Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 broomstick for only $19.99, but the sex shops in New York City sell it for double. After sending Amazon.com an email asking for a comment, they temporarily stopped selling the item. If you go to Amazon's page for the Nimbus now, you will see that not only did they delete all of the controversial reviews, but they no longer sell the product. Too bad, it would make a great Halloween costume.You still might be able to find the Nimbus on eBay or through a third party seller, but regardless where you buy this thing, make sure you pick up some extra batteries and keep your teenage daughters away from it. Who knew Harry was such a stud?
Review: Harry Potter Nimbus 2000
methodshop
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Assign Drive Letter i to Your iPod
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| 11:10 AM |
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Microsoft Windows assigns drive letters to disk volumes to help tell them apart. For example, the default letter assigned to your computer’s hard drive is probably ‘c.’ Each time you dock the iPod to a PC, Windows will assign the iPod the next available drive letter, such as ‘f’ or ‘g.’ But isn’t the letter ‘i’ the most appropriate drive letter assignment for the iPod?
Here’s a simple tutorial on how to assign the drive letter ‘i’ to an iPod connected to a PC using Microsoft Windows.
Tutorial: Assign Your iPod to Microsoft Windows Drive Letter ‘i’
methodshop
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Make Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker [review]
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| 12:08 PM |
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Feel like using some slamming loops to create a nasty, floor shaking electronic/hip hop track for your next party or record? To get your groove on, just take out your iPhone, go to the App Store and get busy with GrooveMaker.Review: Making Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker
methodshop
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
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| 9:51 AM |
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As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what media you have already imported. Eventually you will end up with duplicate songs and videos. For example, you might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from Limewire or BitTorrent. Or maybe a friend with a big Terabyte hard drive loaded you up with a lot of music recently.Here are a few tips and techniques on how to get rid of duplicate songs in your iTunes Library as well as some precautions you should take before deleting duplicate tracks.
Tutorial: How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
methodshop
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Apple FAIL: Stupid iPod Nano Camera Placement!
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| 8:09 AM |
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The new iPod Nano unveiled by Steve Jobs last week has a serious design flaw: Stupid Camera Placement!The camera is actually on the back BEHIND the click wheel -- exactly where your hand is! There is virtually NO way to hold the new little iPod Nano and NOT have your damn finger in the way of the lens. No joke. What was Apple the thinking?
I went into the Apple Store yesterday and wanted to buy a new Nano. The video camera was so poorly placed that I refused to buy it. I looked at five different Nanos and all of them had test shots by customers. Virtually all photos had fingers in the picture.
Think I'm kidding? Go try it. I asked an insufferable hipster Apple employee about this flaw and he nervously confessed they've heard nothing but complaints since the new iPod Nanos arrived. (This pimply-faced, unshowered hipster by the way, was wearing a wool ski cap inside on a sunny, 80 degree New York day.)
Insane! Apple is usually excellent at this sort of common sense... Who puts a f-ing camera right where your hand holds the device?
99.9% of all shots have the user's finger in the way!
methodshop
Thursday, September 03, 2009
AT&T Rolling Out MMS for iPhone Users on September 25th
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| 7:01 PM |
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It's been a long time coming, but today AT&T announced that MMS will finally be available to American iPhone users starting September 25. MMS messaging was probably the most hyped feature of the new iPhone OS 3.0 when it was released this past June.
AT&T confirmed the September 25th release date today in an e-mail to Wired.com.
AT&T had originally promised that MMS would be ready by "late summer." Technically, September 21st is the last day of summer, so a September 25th release means a broken promise.“We know many of our iPhone customers are eager for an update on our rollout schedule for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS),” an AT&T spokesman said. “We’ve been working for the past several months to prepare our systems and network to ensure the best possible experience with MMS when it launches – and today we can announce that launch date: September 25 for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers. MMS will be enabled through a software update on that day.”
Several class-action lawsuits have already been filed against Apple and AT&T. Both companies aggressively promoted the not-yet-available MMS features of iPhone OS 3.0 and the iPhone 3GS using advertising on TV, radio, newspapers, direct mailers, and on the Internet. Failing to deliver on their MMS promise is a violation of the Unfair Trade Practices Act in several US states.
AT&T also told Wired that tethering is next. Tethering would allow iPhone owners to connect their computers to the Internet through their phones. But currently AT&T's mobile network doesn't have the bandwidth to support this increased traffic. AT&T still hasn't specified a release date or time line for tethering. AT&T just says that tethering will be offered "in the future."
We won't hold our breath for that one.
methodshop
Sony A300 DSLR Camera [review]
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| 11:22 AM |
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You might think that in the current economic climate, spending money on a high-end digital camera would be a luxury that most people couldn't justify.After all, millions are being lost on Wall Street and in the city every day. High street sales are down, jobs are being lost and nobody is spending money on anything. How on earth could you think about trading up that little point and shoot camera for something serious?
Well, here's the good news. Sony has come to the rescue of your wallet with this, the Sony Alpha A300 - which is available online for a mere £330 including an 18-70mm lens. Now that is a super price for a digital SLR especially one that includes a live preview mode. And you know what? It's just perfect for some credit crunch-busting fun.
Review: Sony Alpha A300 DSLR Camera
methodshop
Thursday, August 13, 2009
JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
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| 9:18 AM |
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After a recent 4-hour flight with 3 different types of earbuds jammed in, wrapped around and loosely falling out every time I shifted in my seat, it was time to invest in a good pair of nose canceling headphones.I dropped $125 on a traditional pair of headphones 2 years ago and it was a big mistake. Lacking the portability and performance I wanted the head band finally broke a few weeks ago while I was struggling to get them wrapped up going through airport security. If you travel quite a bit, commute on the subway or train, and want the best sound quality to complement your iPod or iPhone it makes sense to spend a little extra and get a more complete package.
After researching several different brands and models I chose the JVC HA-NC250 for their style, performance, comfort, portability and value. According to CNET, "[they] make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3."
Review: JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
methodshop
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Apple Tablet Rumors Intensify
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| 10:33 AM |
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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
Thursday, July 30, 2009
iTunes Digital Album Covers and MacBook Tablet Rumors
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| 9:19 AM |
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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
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Hitachi "Gesture" TV
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| 9:01 AM |
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Misplaced remote controls might soon become a thing of the past. Hitachi "Gesture" TV allows you to use your hands to do everything from change channels, navigate menus and even turn the TV on or off [video].How does it work? Hitachi's image sensor, already integrated at the bottom of its own flat-panel TV, captures the motion. By simply waving a hand in front of a TV, a user can turn on the TV. By moving a hand up and down, he activates a menu display. To adjust volume, the viewer makes circular movements.
Don't get too excited yet. Last September, Hitachi showed off something they call "Gesture" TV at CEATEC, the Japanese consumer electronics show. A more impressive and responsive prototype was then shown at CES this past January. The prototypes require you to be pretty close for the image sensor to work. Close enough to the TV in fact that it might just be faster to just push the power button rather than use a special choreographed hand motion. Hopefully in a few years we'll be able to wave goodbye to remote controls.
methodshop
Monday, July 27, 2009
MacBook Transformer [video]
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| 9:40 AM |
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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
Monday, June 15, 2009
iPhone Helps Apple Triple Total Number of Mac Users in Only 2 Years
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| 8:44 AM |
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Before announcing the new iPhone 3.0 S at WWDC last Monday, Apple's SVP of Marketing, Phil Schiller, presented some big news about the increasing number of Mac users."We’ve TRIPLED the number of users," he said to big applause. "It's astounding."
In the 5 years after Apple launched Mac OS X, the number of Mac users has grown steadily to 25 million. But between 2007 and 2009, the number of Mac users tripled and now surpasses 75 million.
According to statistics compiled by Net Applications, Mac OS X is the second most popular general-purpose operating system in use, after Microsoft Windows, with a 9.6% market share. It is also the most successful UNIX-based operating system ever released.
So what happened in 2007 that could have caused the spike in new Mac users? If you guessed the iPhone, then give yourself a pat on the back. Apple first announced the iPhone in January 2007.
methodshop
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
iPhone 3.0 to Get Direct Video Downloads
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| 9:09 AM |
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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
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Astronauts’ Drink of Choice: Urine
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| 10:10 AM |
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How to you celebrate the installation of a wastewater recycling system? How about with a bag of recycled urine water? This week 3 astronauts aboard the International Space Station drank their own urine [video], officially testing the facility’s Urine Processing Assembly.NASA has been working on a urine recycling system for years. The system is a vital part of NASA's plan to put astronaut outposts on the moon and Mars. The water recycler will also help budget strapped space mission budgets by reducing the amount of water shipped into space by Russian resupply ships.
While demonstrating the new system for the press, U.S. astronaut Michael Barratt joked "We have these highly attractive labels on our water bags that essentially say 'brought to you by ECLSS,' and 'drink when real water is over 200 miles away.'"
So how does this new $250 million dollar wastewater recycling system work? The system takes the crew's urine from the toilets and pumps it into a big tank where the water is boiled and water vapor collected.
Yummy!
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Palm Pre Release Date Confirmed
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| 8:04 AM |
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Good news iPhone haters, this week, Palm announced the release date for the Palm Pre. The much-anticipated touchscreen/keyboard hybrid will be available June 6th at several locations including Sprint stores, RadioShack, Best Buy and even Wal-Mart.
So why is everyone so excited for the Palm Pre anyway? The Palm Pre has several main advantages over the iPhone. They include:
The Pre was the darling gadget of CES 2009 and Palm has a lot of momentum right now. Palm is using this momentum by aggressively going after Apple. Not only are they matching the iPhone price of $200 with a 2-year commitment, but June 6th is only two days before Apple's WWDC keynote. Two days doesn't give Apple much time to calculate a response. The rumor mills have been pretty quiet, but who knows, maybe Apple has something clever up their sleeves for WWDC.
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So why is everyone so excited for the Palm Pre anyway? The Palm Pre has several main advantages over the iPhone. They include:
- Touchscreen / Keyboard Hybrid - One of the biggest complaints of iPhone users is the lack of keyboard. The Pre combines the QWERTY keyboard of the BlackBerry with the touchscreen easy of the iPhone.
- Synergy - Palm's new Synergy service allows you to group all your conversations by contact not service. This means all conversations with a contact - even if it's a mix of several services including phone, MMS, IM, email, or SMS - will all be grouped together on the same screen.
- Multi-App OS - Palm's new OS allows users to run more than one application at a time and quickly switch between them. In comparison, the iPhone has to shut down each app before opeing another.
The Pre was the darling gadget of CES 2009 and Palm has a lot of momentum right now. Palm is using this momentum by aggressively going after Apple. Not only are they matching the iPhone price of $200 with a 2-year commitment, but June 6th is only two days before Apple's WWDC keynote. Two days doesn't give Apple much time to calculate a response. The rumor mills have been pretty quiet, but who knows, maybe Apple has something clever up their sleeves for WWDC.
methodshop
Monday, May 18, 2009
How to Fix an Inverted Macintosh Monitor
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| 10:03 AM |
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Is the monitor on your Macintosh computer inverted? Are you seeing black where it should be white? Does everything look negative? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you accidentally enabled a Macintosh feature for people with impaired vision.
We've heard of people doing all sorts of crazy things to fix this problem like swapping video cards, buying new LCD monitors, attempting a monitor calibration or even replacing RAM. But there's a much simpler way to fix this inverted screen problem. Chances are, all you need to do is change a few settings in your Mac OS X System Preferences panel. There are some extreme cases where a little more fiddling is required, but we have solutions for those as well.
So don't worry. Your video card isn't broken. Now let's fix your inverted monitor problem.
Tutorial: How to Fix an Inverted Macintosh Monitor
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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.
