Apple released an update to iLife today that improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues and includes iLife Support 8.1. iDVD 7.0.1 appears to benefit from the components update, while iPhoto 7.1 addresses issued encountered when moving photos between Events. The latest release of iPhoto also adds new greeting card themes and includes holiday card designs. iMovie 7.1 addresses several areas including video and audio editing capabilities, as well as performance associated with opening and switching iMovie Events and Projects. GarageBand 4.1 addresses isolated graphic display issues, improves compatibility with third-party audio software, and fixes minor problems with Magic GarageBand. The free updates are available via Software Update application.

Amazon has launched their new MP3 download store featuring about 2 million DRM-free tracks. I visited the store and it kind of reminded me of eMusic, the number two online music store, which is a distant second to Apple dominating iTunes.

Both eMusic and Amazon make you install a download manager application. Both eMusic and Amazon by default, store tracks you buy in a new sub-folder inside the Music folder in your home folder. Both add the downloaded tracks to your iTunes library automatically and are of course compatible with iPods and other players that can play MP3s. Both leave tracks in this subfolder after copying them to your iTunes library by default and you end up with two copies — one in iTunes and one in the subfolder. Both eMusic and Amazon allow for a 30 second preview of the song. Both eMusic and Amazon are compatible with Windows PCs and Mac and the Safari browser. Unlike Wal-Mart and some other online stores.

Continue reading Amazon Launches MP3 Store, Should Apple Worry?…

Sling Media makers of the Slingbox is being acquired by EchoStar Communications, which owns satellite provider Dish Network for some $380 million. EchoStar is no stranger to Sling as they were an early investor with a $58 million in investment. Sling will remain intact as a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar, according to Blake Krikorian co-founder and CEO of Sling Media.

Remember Apple’s next OS X version Leopard? Well I hope so, as it seems to be nearing Final Candidate status. Leopard is due out sometime in October. A new build which may end up being the final build was seeded to developers on Friday night.

Leopard had long stated in developer documentation that the software would require “an Intel processor or a PowerPC G4 (800MHz or faster) or G5 processor.” Leopard will probably require Macs with “an Intel processor or a PowerPC G4 (867 MHz or faster) or G5 processor.” Other system requirements include a DVD drive, built-in FireWire, at least 512MB of RAM (additional recommended), and at least 9GB of hard disk space. This may be the last Mac OS update that will support PPC processors.

Oh yeah, iCal displays the current date even if it’s not on.

Friend of mine just got a new iPhone and was surprised to find out that his Monster iCarPlay Wireless car charger combo FM transmitter did not work with the iPhone. Checking it out we found that not only does the FM transmitter not work, but it also does not even charge his iPhone while he is driving around.

I recommended XtremeMac’s InCharge Auto™ that I have been using. The InCharge Auto™ is a simple, but well designed car charger for the iPhone, the new iPod classic and iPod nano, 5G iPod with video, and any other iPod with a dock connector.

Continue reading Review: XtremeMac’s InCharge Auto™ iPod and iPhone Car Charger…

Starbucks plans to offer customers “Song of the Day” cards at more than 10,000 locations that can be redeemed for a free song at he iTunes Store. Starbucks’ promotion will give away 1.5 million downloads on iTunes per day from Oct. 2 to Nov. 7, for a total of more than 50 million free songs.
This is meant to hype the partnership between Starbucks and Apple’s unveiling of the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, Starbucks founder and chairman Howard Schultz explained that support for the new service will require a significant infrastructure upgrade to Starbucks — not all of the company’s 5800 Wi-Fi enabled stores will be online with the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at the same time.
Continue reading Starbucks: Latte and the Song of the Day…

After several days of back and forth emails with Apple iTunes Store, complaints in their forums, and even an email from Steve Jobs I finally have positive news to report. I just received an email from iTunes Support and Apple has offered me a $30 iTunes Gift Card to compensate me for the six games I had bought and could no longer use. I am happy that this is resolved and Apple has done to right thing.

I suggest if you are in the same situation as I was, contact iTunes Support and be diligent and patient. Thank you Apple for doing the fair and honest thing. I have redeemed the iTunes Gift Card and now have the $30 in my iTunes account.

Continue reading Apple Sends $30 Gift Card to Replace Useless iPod Games…

It is no secret that many Windows users, especially businesses are not too happy with Windows Vista released on January 30. Seems most are less than “wowed” even almost nine months later. Well this should give you an idea how Microsoft’s latest operating system is doing with customers. So, Microsoft is now “quietly allowing PC makers to offer a downgrade option to buyers that get machines with the new operating system but want to switch to Windows XP.

This the program only applies to Vista Business and Ultimate editions. Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and Dell all have processes in place to ensure that customers have the ability to downgrade (or as many say “upgrade”) to Windows XP. Some vendors are still selling their PCs with XP pre-installed! Dell ending its Vista only load policy back in April and started offering Windows XP pre-installed due to customers outcry.

Many high profile Windows users have professed their dislike for Windows Vista. To say that after waiting over 5 years for a Windows XP update, Vista has been quite a let down, would be NO stretch. This sure does not bode well for the world’s largest software company.

Now this is one many of you might like to succeed. Do you gripe each month about writing checks for the privilege of receiving dozens and dozens of channels from your TV provider you never watch? Don’t we all?

The Associated Press is reporting, a new lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles federal court charges that every major cable and satellite provider–and the entertainment conglomerates that feed them content–form a cartel that deprives consumers of choice and forces them to pay “inflated” prices for services that include programming they don’t want.

The federal lawsuit names every major cable and satellite television system operator as well as every major cable and broadcast television network including NBC Universal, Viacom, Walt Disney, Fox Entertainment Group, Time Warner, Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Echostar Satellite, Charter Communications and Cablevision Systems. Watch them fight like hell to beat this down!

Jeremy Horwitz over at iLounge has posted “Customer’s Ask: Is Apple Going Rotten?” where he points out the new “anti-customer” path that Apple is has paved following the introduction of new iPod line-up. Apple’s customers over the past two weeks are sure angry including me.

The new iPods have broken many of the expensive add-ons many iPod owners already had. Apple’s answer, Buy New Ones! Seems Apple will be happy to sell you a new Apple branded video cable to connect your iPod to your TV. Just pay the $49 and throw away the older Apple-branded AV cables. Oh yeah, while you are at it throw away your Apple branded Camera Connector and some of the Apple AV docks too! Apple what happened to “Made for iPod? My new iPod is called a classic, classic what?

Continue reading iLounge: Is Apple Going Rotten? Good Question…

If you are one of those that can not resist hacking your iPhone by adding third-party applications or worse yet unlocking it to use on another carrier. You may need to know that Apple may be watching. This is not so surprising as Apple does have an exclusive with AT&T, that they do also benefit by sharing revenues.

There have been a reports of a that an iPhone running “third-party apps” and unlocked to operate on T-Mobile, instead of the approved AT&T, was rejected for warranty service at an Apple retail store. The Apple employee was said to void the warranty and “blacklist” the iPhone against future service or return. The owner did manage to get the Apple store manager to allow a return (with a 10-percent restocking fee), to avoid owning an expensive “brick.” I would highly recommend unhacking your iPhone and reverting back to AT&T before requesting service from Apple. Did you really expect Apple to fix your “hacked” iPhone?

Apple seems to getting all its iPhone carriers for Europe in a row, France Telecom Orange has announced an exclusive to distribute Apple’s iPhone in France. The iPhone may be available in France as soon as November. No pricing has been announced yet.

iPhone deals with T-Mobile in Germany and O2 in the UK all expected on or around November 9th, before the important holiday season.

XtremeMac has been making iPod accessories for awhile. I bought a MicroSheild case for my 5th generation iPod video sometime ago and was very satisfied. So I thought I would give their SportWrap™ a try. The SportWrap™ is a soft water-resistant, very lightweight, neoprene armband that allows to to securely wear your iPod on your upper arm, forearm, or wrist.

The SportWrap™ does a nice job of protecting your iPod and keeping your hands free when hiking, walking, jogging, biking or exercising. I also liked using it just walking around the city. The adjustable Velcro straps will fit just about anybody and are quite comfortable. I sometimes forgot I was wearing it. Controlling the iPod click wheel was no problem thru the clear plastic front and their are opening to accommodate your headphone connection. You can also easily wrap up any excess headphone cable.

Continue reading Review: XtremeMac’s SportWrap™ iPod Armband Case…

Apple and T-Mobile today announced that iPhone will debut in Germany on November 9 with T-Mobile, the leading network operator in Germany, as its exclusive carrier. “I am proud that Apple and T-Mobile have become partners. The best mobile device currently on the market will soon be operating on the best network in the country,” said Hamid Akhavan, CEO, T-Mobile International. This will join the Apple and O2 iPhone debut in the UK on the same day.

The iPod touch ($299/8GB, $399/16GB), like the iPhone is a breathtaking piece of technology with the introduction of Apple’s multi-touch UI. I got my hands on the iPod touch the other day and spent some time with it. My other-half already owns an iPhone so I could easily make comparisons.

There have been reports of the iPod touch having screen problems. Apple has now acknowledged this and my guess will rectify these defects. The unit I tested seemed darker than our iPhone, but I do not know if this is related to the problem being reported. The iPhone is said to have a superior screen. Looks like this is true in my view.

Continue reading Review: My Hands-On the iPod touch…

CrunchGear has a post showing that the new iPod nanos have whet seems to be a manufacturing problem, crooked screens. I just took a good look at my new black 8GB iPod nano and I do see this problem. It is not very apparent, but the display is slightly (millimeters) rotated to the left. I hardly noticed so this not a big deal to me.

Picture from CrunchGear

This may be a bad production run and the others may have perfectly straight screens. Between this and the defective iPod touch screens, is Apple’s quality slipping?

According to CrunchGear, Apple has heard the complaints and will “remedy” the situation. Unfortunately for some folks that had been trying to replace their iPod touch to Apple retail stores have had to pay a restocking fee (to the tune of $30-$40). These defective iPod touch screens appear very dark and are hard to watch video and can appear to have a “negative” effect, resembling LCDs viewed at off angles.

Navizon released its Virtual GPS software for the iPhone. Global Positioning System is a missing application that many iPhone owners had wished that Apple had included. Navizon offers a system that allows for getting location information on mobile devices which lack GPS chips using information collected from Wi-Fi access points and cell towers to give the user their position.

The software, retails for US$24.99 needs to be downloaded (.zip file) directly and added to the iPhone via Installer.app, then connect to a Wi-Fi location and create a login. Clicking the “Locate Me” button to allow the program to find you on the map. For best results, Navizon suggests running the “Locate Me” function at least twice in order to have the Wi-Fi scanner become fully operational.

The program is distributed as trial-ware and will remain functional for 15 days before pushing the user to register it. No idea if future iPhone updates will break this application.

I just found out that Apple’s policy on iPod games sold at the iTunes Store is basically, SCREW you, re-purchase the same games you already bought for the new iPod you just bought! This is a pretty horrible way to treat customers. Totally crappy policy, especially since they NO LONGER SELL a compatible iPod that can play these games when they discontinued the 5.5 generation iPod video!

Continue reading Apple Screws Customers that Bought Games For iPod – UPDATED…

Apple announced the deal with O2 to be the exclusive provider of the iPhone in the UK. A hands on gallery of the O2 iPhone (next to an unlocked US iPhone on T-Mobile) has revealed what Apple has in store for US iPhone owners. Pictures from Engadget clearly show a version 1.1.1 firmware running on the iPhone.

The Wi-Fi Music Store icon is now on the home page of the iPhone.

Continue reading O2 UK iPhone Gives Hints To Upcoming US iPhone Update…