Continue reading iPod Tip #28: Convert FLAC, Ogg, or Other Audio Formats…

I once read that McDonalds was really a big “real estate” company that sold hamburgers. Basically the hamburgers sold in the billions, paid for more and more real estate. With Apple iTunes Music Store reaching over one BILLION downloads, their business model does have some similarities, in that their .99 cent songs sell more and more Apple hardware. iPods of course, but Macs as well due the “halo-effect” that is much spoken about. Now with the recent addition of video content and the promise of new “fun” products coming on Feb 28, the sky is the limit.

Apple has sold over a billion downloads to users all over the globe in less than three years of opening the iTunes Music Store. This has surpassed all the competition. Let us remember when it first opened it was only available to Mac users. With competition mounting from the likes of Napster, Yahoo! Music, Real’s Rhapsody, and others using subscription models, it still seems that Apple is way out in front. McDonald’s has their “dollar menu” that works for them all these years.

And it seems Apple has created a “dollar menu” that works pretty well for them.

Continue reading iTunes Music Store Scores One BILLION!…

Well Verizon FiOS Internet became available in my town in New Jersey and I had it installed last week. I ordered the 15MB/2MB (15MB downstream, 2MB upstream) package in our home. Since the Internet is probably more important to us than TV, air, and maybe even food sometimes this was a big decision. Well not that big really, since our cable modem service provided by Cablevision’s Optimum Online has not exactly been great. No matter what the cable company claims about speed our experience was never all that good. More about this later as I will compare Cablevision’s Optimum Online and Verizon FiOS Internet.

Interested in FiOS TV? See Verizon FiOS TV Installed, Cablevision Out

I ordered Verizon FiOS online on Monday January 23, and the install was done on Thursday January 26. The install started at 9:15 AM and was complete by 12:45 PM. This was fast by FiOS install times as all the copper cables are removed from your house and replaced by fiber-to-the premises (FTTP). The small box or “NID” (Network Interface Device) is replaced with a larger “ONT” (Optical Network Terminal). This box is powered, not by the telco backup generators like on your copper service, but by your house power. So a small power supply and a battery backup is installed inside the house. The battery backup is in case of a power failure, allowing continued telephone service providing you have a telephone connected that does not require power. I keep one older plain telephone attached inside my house just in case.

The ONT (Optical Network Terminal) installed on the side of your house connects to the fiber back to the CO (telco’s central office). It has connections for up to 4 POTS (plain old telephone service, using cat 3) lines, and Ethernet (cat 5) connection for very high speed Internet, and a RF connector (RG6) for TV (not available in my area yet). In many cases the existing cabling inside your house can be used, but Verizon technicians will route new cabling if it is needed. Unlike DSL, this is a “high-touch” installation with Verizon technician’s there from beginning to end making sure your phones and Internet service works before they leave. In my case the installation was smooth and “flawless” and the technician was knowledgeable and pleasant. Not even my house full of many Macs, several Windows PCs, two VoIP Linksys PAP2-NA boxes, Tandberg T150 H.323 codec, Polycom H.323 codec, wireless network, 5 Airport Express units, a Giga-Bit Linksys 8-port switch, and two Elgato EyeHome boxes did not intimidate him. Our house is pretty well wired!
Continue reading Verizon FiOS Installed: Macintosh Compatible and Fast!…

Continue reading iPod Tip #27: Podcasts Synced With iTunes…

Continue reading iTunes Tip #36: Podcast Features You Should Know…

Continue reading iTunes Tip #35: Sync Libraries Between Two Macs…

Continue reading iTunes Tip #34: Print CD Jewel Case Sleeves…

Continue reading iTunes Tip #33: Scrub Tracks in iTunes…

Continue reading iPod Tip #26: Stop Your iPod From Auto Update…

Continue reading iTunes Tip #32: Browse and Add Info Fast…