Flip4Mac is the essential QuickTime plugin for playing Windows Media files for Mac users. Flip4Mac 2.1.1.70 update adds the support for Windows Media 9 Advanced playback. If you’ve been running into incompatibilities with some websites check out the latest version.

I am a long time user of Elgato’s EyeTV PVR (personal video recorder) for the Mac. For quite a long time I was using my EyeTV 200 with analog cable TV, allowing me to record, archive to DVD, export to my iPod, and watch my recordings on the TVs in my home. I often used to remote program my EyeTV from the Titian TV website from work to record programs for me at home.

Switching to FiOS TV, which is basically no different from digital cable and satellite TV, leaves you having to deal with a set top box (STB). When I had analog cable TV, I simply used the included analog TV tuner built right into the EyeTV 200 hardware box connected with an RG6 cable. Well this is no longer an option with my new FiOS TV install. Well EyeTV lives again in our home and we are a happy bunch.

Continue reading FiOS TV and EyeTV PVR Happy Together…

Sling Media announced the immediate availability of SlingPlayer for Mac Version 1.0, a software client for Slingbox customers who want to view their Cable TV, Satellite TV, Over-the-Air or Apple TV on their Mac. The look of SlingPlayer for Mac, Version 1.0 is a bit different from the beta I have been using, featuring a more Mac-like interface that has photo-realistic remote controls.

SlingPlayer has the ability to program favorite channels with a full range of viewing modes including a full screen modes. I am very excited to see that Sling Media has added support for Apple TV with the Slingbox PRO. You will need to add the Slingbox HD Connect Cable for Slingbox Pro ( HD200-100 ) to stream and control an Apple TV. I have already placed an order for the $49 option to add my Apple TV along-side FiOS TV to my Slingbox Pro. Slingbox also supports any infrared Mac desktop or laptop (need $19 Apple AV adapter) or iPod in a Universal Dock.

Continue reading SlingPlayer for Mac Reaches 1.0 Supports Apple TV…

Great ad placement guys. Very funny, to web nerd anyways. See here.

Apple released Battery Update 1.2, a small firmware update for the following MacBook laptops:

• MacBook (Late 2006)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Core 2 Duo)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo)

The firmware update is designed to improve battery functionality. The BatteryUpdater application will check to see if a battery needs to be updated on startup, wake from sleep, and when a battery is inserted. The update is available as a 242 KB standalone download.

I am a bit sick and tired of reading comments (i.e. competitors) related to Steve Jobs “Thoughts on Music” open letter about ending DRM and the iTunes EMI deal that will bring DRM-free tracks to the iTunes Store. All I ever read is that Mr. Jobs really does not mean that he wants to end DRM and how he secretly embraces DRM. DRM made the iPod a success, according to some bias pundits.

Apple, contrary to what you might read elsewhere, did not become successful with the iPod and iTunes because of DRM or any “lock-in.” The iPod and iTunes has brought great success to Apple because they are great products that are easy to use and were well marketed. If Apple wanted to win by a “lock-in” they would have made it so that iPods and iTunes would only play a proprietary format, which by the way, Apple does NOT even have. Apple would certainly have not allowed purchased tracks from the iTunes Store to be burned and ripped back to MP3 within iTunes. They probably would have skipped out on the MP3 format altogether. iTunes and the iPod supports MP3, AAC, Audible, Wav, and AIFF, for audio, none of which Apple controls.

Continue reading Apple Will Expand DRM-free Music Offerings…

Windows users have suffered for a longtime when buying brand new Windows PCs even before they opened the factory sealed carton, that have already be sold to the highest “crapware” bidder. Way too many Windows PC makers that clutter systems with unwanted preinstalled junk applications, browser toolbars, search settings and utilities and even advertisements that will self-launch enticing you to buy more junk software.

Continue reading Zapping the Crap OFF new Windows PCs…

Telestream updated Flip4Mac, a free set of .wmv compression and playback components for the Mac that allows Windows Media to be played in QuickTime. Here’s what’s new in version 2.1.1.70:

• Added support for reclaiming file types assumed by other applications
• Added support for Windows Media 9 Advanced playback.
• Improved ASX handling
• Improved support for MPEG 4 playback
• Resolved some issues related to 2-pass VBR encoding

Download Flip4Mac 2.1.1.70, here. Pro versions of Flip4Mac that add more features start at $29.

Continue reading Flip4Mac Updated…

According to ClickZ News, Joost has signed three-month contracts with a group of 31 big brand advertisers, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Nike, General Motors and Visa. It will offer these marketers traditional units such as :30 mid-roll spots as well as unique formats, including a small digital overlay ad.

“The foundation is the traditional :30 spot, which we believe is far from dead, served on a mid-roll basis,” said David Clark, Joost’s EVP of global advertising. “We’re inspired by others who seem to be able to make this work, like ABC for example.”

Adobe is presenting a very compelling challenge to developers who may be considering trying out Microsoft’s Silverlight platform (introduced at NAB) which Redmond hopes to move in on Flash’s dominance. Adobe is moving the Flex SDK to an open source model.

With this newly announced plan gives Microsoft’s planned entry into cross-browser, rich Internet application creation hit a big speed bump. Open source developers who inherently mistrust Microsoft (wonder why?) are likely to check out Adobe Flex for their cross-browser application construction needs.

Continue reading Adobe Flex Enters Open Source, Take That Microsoft…

Periscope 1.0 ($29.95 USD) is a new webcam software from Freeverse, with features like motion detection and built-in integration with Flickr, .Mac, email, iPhoto, and FTP.

Capture A Picture Whenever… Camera sees movement, Microphone hears noise, Timer goes off, Applescript is run, or when Remote is pressed.

Interesting read. Joel Spolsky on Microsoft’s decision to drop VBA from the upcoming Office 2008 for Mac:

But what’s really interesting about this story is how Microsoft has managed to hoist itself by its own petard. By locking in users and then not supporting their own lock-in features, they’re effectively making it very hard for many Mac Office 2004 users to upgrade to Office 2008, forcing a lot of their customers to reevaluate which desktop applications to use.

Joel Spolsky was a member of the Excel Program Management team from 1991-1993, where he wrote the spec for VBA for Excel.

I suggest you try NeoOffice which is a free and open source that supports the new Microsoft Office 2007 Word Files and Macros in Excel Files instead of paying to upgrade Mac Office.

George Foreman, know for being a preacher, world champion boxer, and grilling extraordinaire has really delivered for all of you iPod-loving-grilling-freaks, just in time for the BBQ time of the year. The George Foreman iGrill retails for US$149.99 plus shipping and handling.

Turn your backyard BBQ into an instant party with the iGrill from George Foreman. The iGrill has a 200 square inch nonstick grilling surface that is covered with George’s Tough Nonstick Coating. The included 10 watt speaker system plays your favorite tunes from your iPod, MP3 or other USB music system.

I gotta get me one of these!

Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer announced at yesterday’s conference call, that a third Big Apple store is being planned.

It has been suggested that a building at 401 West 14th Street might be the third Apple store location in NYC. At 52,000 square-feet, it could be a large store.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said on Wednesday that they are unlikely to add a subscription-based model to the Apple’s iTunes store, despite some comments by analysts. “Never say never, but customers don’t seem to be interested in it,” Jobs told Reuters in an interview after Apple reported record March quarter profits of $770 million. “The subscription model has failed so far…. People want to own their music.”

iTunes the leading online music destination has sold more than 2.5 billion songs since it was launched and continues to expand its film offerings. The iTunes store now has over 5 million songs, 350 television shows, and 500 movies and that iTunes accounts for over 85 percent of legal music downloads in the United States (Nielsen SoundScan numbers).

Continue reading Steve Jobs: iTunes Subscriptions Unlikely…