Counterfeit iPod Shuffles and nanos have begun to appear on the market. The fake nano has an different screen, different interface and different clickwheel. The fake Shuffle has no repeat setting or battery indicator light.
Buyer beware.
Take that spare change laying around to a Coinstar machine and trade for an iTunes gift certificate. Great idea.
Okay - well not just any concert tickets - not yet anyway. As part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers pre-release ordering, you'll get a copy of their new single along with an email with a code. That code will enable you to order concert tickets 4 days earlier than anyone else.
Well - I personally didn't think it would happen, but Apple officially enables consumers to install Windows XP on their Intel-based Macs.
Notice how I didn't say "officially supports". Apple still maintains that they have no interest in supporting or selling windows. However, Apple enables users to install Windows XP and a whole lot more. Boot Camp walks you through the process: it dynamically resizes your startup disk's partitions to create a new one for XP (no reformatting required), automatically burns you a CD full of Windows drivers for Intel-based Mac hardware, and then reboots you into Windows to start the installation procedure. Boot Camp works on the awesome iMac and MacBook Pro Macs.
MacWorld tested the new software basically says the whole thing is "simple". Anyone could do this, and everything is fully supported.
If you've always wanted a Mac (who hasn't), but have been hesitant because you want that Windows safety net, now is the time to switch. Once you go Mac, you'll never go back.
Reset, Retry, Restart, Reinstall and Restore. The 5 Rs will get you out of most any trouble you have with your iPod. Read all about it.
Looking to create a web page that lists all your music? Well, iTunes Catalog to the rescue!
This nice little program will create a web page that looks nearly identical to iTunes itself. Or if you prefer, build a web page that looks just like an iPod with video or an iPod nano.
For the more sophisticated, you can stream your music and much much more.
In addition, the progam also helps you download and maintain album artwork with very easy to see indicators as to which songs/albums/artists have album art and which ones don't.
The stupidity of the MPAA astounds even an old pessimist like me. Hmm, let's see. I got an idea. Let's make our movies available for download the day the DVD is released, but instead of charging the same or less, let's charge double! Yes! Brilliant. That's the ticket. We don't have to print anything, we don't have to package anything, we don't have to ship anything and better yet, the quality of the movie will probably be less than that of the DVD version. But we can charge double for it! People will flock from all corners of the world just for the "convenience" of it all. Oh yeah! I almost forgot, we'll only let the purchaser watch that movie on one computer and not let them burn to a DVD! We're geniuses!
As if I don't drive past at least 5 places that sell DVDs on my way home from work. Hmmmm, 5-10 minutes max to run into Target and pick up the DVD versus, oh, I don't know, 2 hours to download it? Hmmmm....I wonder which one I'll choose.
Since the launch of iTunes in 2003, there have been over a billion songs downloaded, music piracy is down, and Apple is the undisputed leader in digital downloads.
Now what? Well, the record companies are pressuring Apple (and others) to up the price. Can the market survive songs for more than .99? It's a magical number - It's not a dollar - it's ninety-nine cents. Don't believe it? How does $1.50 sound for a song? Sounds a lot more than ninety-nine cents, doesn't it? No? Who asked you?!
Apple released a software update for the iPod yesterday that allows users to control the maximum volume output on their iPods. I assume it's so they don't get sued and we don't go deaf.
Okay, they're all pretty interesting, except number 4. Putting movies on a iPod with video? Wow, that's really cutting edge along the lines of cracking open your iPod nano and doubling the storage. NOT.
Number 6 is my favorite. Not that I'm going to risk my $400 iPod just to play Pac Man.
Apple placed the 60GB iPod on their "At Risk List" about a month ago according to AppleInsider.com.
This basically gives resellers notice that Apple may do any of the following: Price Reduction, Feature Changes, Discontinuation, Replacement or Nothing. Yep, you got that last one right. Nothing.
Of course, this could be further evidence of the rumored true Video iPod which is rumored to be released with Apple's 30th Year Anniversary on April 1. Of course, April 1 is a Saturday, which would be a perfectly horrible day to announce new products. So the announcement would be probably be on the 3rd or 4th. :-)
iMediaConnection is reporting that NBC is working to bring Scrubs to iTunes. If you haven't caught an episode, do it soon. It is one of the funniest shows on TV.
AtomFilms has launched their AtomFilms To Go, a video service aimed at portable video devices such as the Apple iPod and the Sony PSP.
The initial 10 shorts include the hilariously funny star of The Office, Steve Carell.
With the addition of The Daily Show with John Stewart to the iTunes store, Apple has introduced the "multi-pass". With it, you can purchase a month's worth of episodes (around 16) for $9.99. A pretty good deal if you want all the episodes. The savings is around $22 a month.
A sign of things to come? Possibly. Apple has resisted the subscription model for a long time. If the market share of their competitors is any indication (and it is), Apple may be right that most people want to own their music, and not rent it. With the multi-pass model, the user owns the content - they just pay less for committing to more up front.
This will be interesting to watch.
Check out the awesome window display for the iPod Hi Fi. This comes from their flagship store on Michigan Avenue (the magnificent mile) in Chicago.
Playlist Magazine has done a very comprehensive review of the new iPod Hi Fi.
The bottom line? It actually lives up to most of the hype. Audiophile quality? Probably not. But if you're looking to replace a bookshelf system or older stereo system, this is a strong contender.
Hmm, where I have heard that before? Looks like Microsoft is yet again misappropriating classic Mac culture in its lame marketing attempt to gradually unveil details about its "Origami Project." The next announcement about their "ultra-mobile PC device" will come tomorrow. Can it really compete with the iPod? Microsoft may have a lock on the rest of the computing world, but when it comes to toppling Apple on this front, well, they'll really have to blow everybody away. I for one am not on the edge of my seat.
UPDATE: Ok, so they're not intending to compete with the iPod. It sounds like more of a laptop, Pocket PC hybrid. Dumb.
UPDATE: Intel is actually announcing their Origami on March 7. Apparently the "Ultra Mobile PC" is the next big thing. Just like tablet PCs were (are?).
FINAL_UPDATE: Here are the details. I'm underwhelmed and I'm pretty damn sure I'd drop mine or lose it. Although I'd love to see what Apple could design.
As if you haven't already heard, Apple announced yesterday their newest addition to the iPod family. No, not the real version of the rumored, faked-up, true video iPod. Now you can get 
Look, I'm sure the sound is awesome. It's nice that it matches the iPod (although, all black speakers would be kind cool). And of course, I'm much more willing to buy Apple products for my Apple products. But I can't help be a bit underwhelmed by it all. Is anything about the speakers even remotely interesting? Haven't other companies been selling these things for years now? The price? And the design? A box? A frickin' shoebox? Would I really want this as a centerpiece of my media system in my living room? It's decided. I need to go to the Apple Store to hear it for myself. That will change my mind. Then I will drink beer and post again. Maybe I'll be more receptive to it.
UPDATE: Just got back from the Apple store and I have to say, it sounds pretty darn good. And I'm even admitting that without beer. $349 good? Sure, if you have it to spare. For me, no, not that good. It does look a bit spiffier in person, but it just looks like a spiffy shoebox, not a frickin' shoebox.
UPDATE2: A very informative review. Makes me want it.
