Friday, March 12, 2010
How to Deauthorize iTunes Computers [tutorial]
Having iTunes authorization problems? Files downloaded from the iTunes Store can only be authorized to play on up to 5 computers at a time. If you try to go over 5 computers, then iTunes will give you an authorization error.For most people, 5 computers is plenty. One computer at home, one at work, a friend's computer, your laptop, your car (wait... did Xzibit Pimp Your Ride and put computer in your car?).
Where you really start to run into authorization problems is when you get a new computer. Before you sell or get rid of an old computer, you should always "deauthorize" it first in iTunes. You should even consider deauthorizing your computer before sending it away for repair or upgrade - in case it doesn't come back in one piece. Deauthorizing your computer does not erase your music files; it simply prevents your purchased music from playing until you authorize that computer again with your iTunes password.
This methodshop.com tutorial will walk you through the entire iTunes Deauthorizing process.

methodshop
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Copy DVDs onto Your iPod or iPhone
Tutorial: How to Rip DVD's for Your iPod, Apple TV or iPhone

methodshop
Friday, December 11, 2009
Ziggy Marley iPhone App [review]


There's a new Ziggy Marley app for the iPhone in the iTunes Store. The app, called Ziggy Marley's Music Mixer, allows users to mix tracks, break beats and create their own dub sounds. There are also a couple features that take advantage of the iPhone's accelerometer feature. Just select one of these options in the app and shake your iPhone or iPod Touch to make instant randomized music.- "Jackpot Mix" - randomly mixes different sounds
- "DJ for Me" - picks a track and then randomly remixes interchangeable reggae riffs
You can download Ziggy Marley's Music Mixer app from the iTunes Store here.
methodshop
Monday, December 07, 2009
Apple Acquires Music Streaming Service LaLa

Looks like Apple did a little Christmas shopping on their own. Over the weekend, news broke that Apple acquired the streaming music service and store Lala. We've been using Lala for awhile now and love it. Do you like to listen to music at work using iTunes? We got sick of trying to sync our music libraries at both home and work. Lala allows you to upload all your music and listen to it anywhere via a web browser. Let's hope Apple's plans on including this feature in a new version of iTunes.
However, in addition to being bale to upload your music to Lala, you can also purchase streaming "web" versions of songs with unlimited listening for $0.10. We didn't purchase many Lala's web songs, but users who did may get upset. According to TechCrunch, "it’s unlikely that the innovative deals negotiated by Lala will survive through the acquisition... If the deals with the music labels go up in smoke, Lala may lose the right to stream those songs. In other words, all the money users have been spending on web songs may go down the drain."
No one is exactly sure what Lala's future is with Apple. Let's hope Apple extends the streaming music deals already in place with Lala and integrates their engineering talent and technology with the end users in mind [GizmosForGeeks and TechCrunch].
methodshop
Thursday, November 12, 2009
NASA App for iPhone

Good news space nerds. NASA just released an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The application is available free of charge in the iTunes App Store.
Here's a quote from the official press released posted on the U.S. Air Force's website:
"Making NASA more accessible to the public is a high priority for the agency," said Gale Allen, director of Strategic Integration and Management for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. "Tools like this allow us to provide users easy access to NASA information and progress at a fast pace."
The NASA App also allows users to track the current positions of the International Space Station and other spacecraft currently orbiting Earth in three views: a map with borders and labels, visible satellite imagery, or satellite overlaid with country borders and labels.
For more information about NASA's iPhone application, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/iphone or you can download the app from the iTunes Store here.
methodshop
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library

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
Monday, September 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
Thursday, July 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
Wednesday, June 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
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Dealing with iTunes Duplicates
As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what music you have already imported and end up with duplicate songs. You might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from 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: Managing Duplicate Songs in Your iTunes Library

methodshop
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
iPod Click Wheel Games

Don't have an iPhone or iPod Touch? As long as you have a "click wheel" model iPod, you can still play games from the iTunes Store. Unfortunately your selection is dramatically reduced compared to the App Store, but there are still some good games available like Bejeweled, Sims Bowling and Texas Hold'em.REVIEW: iPod Click Wheel Games
Here's the complete list of iPod Click Wheel Games available in the iTunes Store (as of April 2009):
- Asphalt 4: Elite Racing
- Bejeweled
- Block Breaker Deluxe
- Bomberman
- Brain Challenge
- Bubble Bash
- Cake Mania 3
- Chalkboard Sports Baseball
- Chess
- Backgammon
- Chinese Checkers
- Crystal Defenders
- CSI: Miami
- Cubis 2
- iQuiz
- Lode Runner
- Lost
- Mahjong
- Mini Golf
- Monopoly
- Ms. PAC-MAN
- Musika
- Mystery Mansion Pinball
- Naval Battle
- PAC-MAN
- Peggle
- Phase
- Pirates: Aegir’s Fire
- Pole Position: Remix
- Real Soccer 2009
- Reversi
- Royal Solitaire
- Scrabble
- The Sims Bowling
- The Sims DJ
- The Sims Pool
- Slyder Adventures
- Song Summoner
- Sonic The Hedgehog
- SPORE Origins
- Star Trigon
- Sudoku
- Tamagotchi: ‘Round the World
- Tetris
- Texas Hold ’em
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour
- Trivial Pursuit
- UNO
- Vortex
- Wonder Blocks
- Yahtzee
- Zuma
methodshop
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Apple Ends Uniform iTunes Pricing

Used to paying $0.99 for a song on iTunes? Brace yourself... Apple put an end to uniform pricing in the iTunes Store this week.But don't worry, the change in price could be in your favor. Apple now offers 3 pricing tiers for music sold in the iTunes Store ($0.69, $0.99, $1.29). The change in pricing is in response to music labels demanding to charge more money for their popular songs.
So how did the competition react? Amazon, Rhapsody and Wal-Mart all raised the prices of their most popular downloads. So much for shopping around for the best deal. It almost makes you want to fire up BitTorrent and get your tracks for free.
methodshop
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Apple Releases iTunes 8.1 Update
Last night Apple released iTunes 8.1. The new version of Apple's popular digital media player application features performance enhancements, support for CD imports to iTunes Plus, a smarter Genius function and iTunes DJ.One of the biggest enhancements of iTunes 8.1 is speed. As users' iTunes libraries continue to grow, the application has had trouble keeping up. But according to Apple, iTunes 8.1 is now "faster and more responsive," and users "will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing." We definitely saw a major speed increase when backing up an iPod Touch.
Another update to iTunes 8.1 is the re-branding of "Party Shuffle" to "iTunes DJ." iPhone and iPod Touch users can now use the "Remote" app to request and rate songs to any computer on the same wireless network using iTunes. We can't wait to try this out at a party.


In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides several other improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
- Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
- 
Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
- 
Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
- 
Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
- 
Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
- 
Includes many accessibility improvements.
- 
Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.
- New Visualizer
You can download iTunes 8.1 from Apple's website here.
methodshop
Thursday, March 05, 2009
How to Convert Audio File Formats in iTunes

iTunes is much more than a digital music jukebox. It's capable of handling many different tasks involving digital media and your iPod. Some of iTunes' most popular features include buying music online, burning CDs, and syncing files with your iPod or iPhone. But one of the lesser known functions hidden within iTunes is the ability to convert audio files.Why would you need to convert an audio file? Converting audio file types can be useful in many different situations. Here are a few examples:
- You have an AAC file in iTunes that's not compatible with your Zune that can play MP3 and not AAC files.
- A WAV file needs to be emailed to a client for approval but it's too big. You need to convert the file to an AAC so it's small enough to easily send via email.
- You are making a music video and want to use a song you purchased from the iTunes Store as the soundtrack. However, the editing program won't import the song because of Apple's protective DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Tutorial: Converting Audio File Formats in iTunes
methodshop
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Reset Your Play Count in iTunes

What's your favorite song? You may find this surprising, but iTunes can probably answer that question for you. Each time a song is played in iTunes, the Play Count of that particular song increases by one.But what if a song you loathe and only play as a gag for friends happens to creep into your ‘Most Listened To' playlist?
The following tutorial explains how to reset the Play Count of one or more songs in your iTunes library. Most savvy iTunes won't need a tutorial this in-depth, but everyone is a newbie once.
Tutorial: Resetting the Play Count in iTunes
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
iSteam Earns 22-Year Olds $100k in 1 Month

Move over iFart, iSteam is now the hottest thing in the iTunes App Store.iSteam turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a foggy glass surface and allows you to wipe it clean with your fingertips. Exactly like a mirror after a hot shower.
The concept behind iSteam may sound simple, but it has already earned the 22-year old kids who created it $100,000 in only one month. Since being released on December 30, iSteam has sold over 1 million copies and overtaken iBeer, iFart, Ocarina, Whoopie Cushion and Pull My Finger to become #1 "entertainment" application in the App Store.
iSteam sells for $0.99 in the iTunes App Store [link].
methodshop
Monday, December 15, 2008
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library

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 in your iTunes Library. 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 media 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
Friday, November 21, 2008
iTunes 8.0.2 Fixes Internet Proxy Issues
If you've been using iTunes from behind a corporate proxy, then get ready to do a swivel chair dance in your cubicle. The latest iTunes update, iTunes 8.0.2, fixes a proxy connectivity issue when communicating with the iTunes Store.
Until now, corprorate users behind a proxy server were unable to install iPod / iPhone firmware updates and frequently got errors when trying to use the iTunes Store while at work.

In addition to the proxy fix, iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
methodshop
Until now, corprorate users behind a proxy server were unable to install iPod / iPhone firmware updates and frequently got errors when trying to use the iTunes Store while at work.

In addition to the proxy fix, iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
- Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers.
- Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
methodshop
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
How to fix iTunes 8 BSOD error on Microsoft Vista
Many Microsoft Vista users were paid an unfortunate visit by the dreaded "blue screen of death" when attempting to sync an iPod or iPhone using Apple's new iTunes 8.0.Apple assures Microsoft Vista users that they have fixed the problem with a subsequent release. Vista users who downloaded the initial version of iTunes 8, need to uninstall iTunes, then re-download the updated iTunes installer and reinstall iTunes 8. Got it? Don't worry, step-by-step instructions are below.
It's up to you on who should get the blame on this one. Did Apple write sloppy code for iTunes 8.0 and not properly test it? Or is Windows Vista just a lemon with a Microsoft logo on it? Regardless on who you choose to blame, you will still need to fix the bad version of iTunes 8.0 for Microsoft Vista. Here's how...
How to Uninstall and Reinstall iTunes 8 (Vista)
- Disconnect your iPhone or iPod from Windows Vista. Pull the plug damn it!
- Uninstall iTunes and Apple Mobile Device Support
- For Classic View
- Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
- Select iTunes, click Uninstall.
- For Control Panel Home View
- Choose Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program.
- First select Apple Mobile Device Support, click Uninstall.
- Select iTunes and click Uninstall.
- For Classic View
- Restart the computer.
- Re-download and install the updated iTunes 8 installer from apple.com/itunes/download.
And for the love of God... Do NOT use the iTunes8Setup or iTunes864Setup file you previously downloaded. If you do, go back to step #1 and repeatably bash your brain deeper into your skull using the nearest iPod/iPhone.

methodshop
Monday, August 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
Tuesday, August 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
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Motion Comic Version of Watchmen on iTunes
"It's a comic! It's a cartoon! No wait, it's a Motion Comic?!!"As part of the promotion for the highly anticipated film Watchmen, Warner Bros. and DC Comics created a motion comic version of the graphic novel.
In case you are unfamiliar with the term, a "motion comic" is somewhere in-between a comic book and an animated video. Slow camera zooms of slightly animated comic book frames are combined with music, sound effects, and voice-overs to bring traditional comic books alive as video shorts.
The motion comic version of "Watchmen" takes viewers through the critically acclaimed Hugo award-winning graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. It's actually very well done. The animation is actually better or at least just as good as animated TV shows like Sealab 2021, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Liquid Television's Aeon Flux.
You can watch a preview of the new episodes here: Watchmen on iTunes

Watchmen doesn't hit theaters until March 6, 2009. Zack Snyder from 300 and Dawn of the Dead is directing.
methodshop
Thursday, July 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
Thursday, June 26, 2008
iTunes - Over 5 Billion Served
According to an Apple press release, the company has sold over 5 billion songs via iTunes. Earlier this year, iTunes surpassed Wal-mart and became the #1 music retailer in the United States. Maybe they should just start saying "billions served," like McDonalds does.Obviously iTunes has been very successful selling music, but what about video? The press release also says that more than 50,000 movies are being rented or purchased each day at an average price of $6/title (~$300k per day), making it the most popular online movie outlet.

methodshop.com
Friday, June 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


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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!. 




