Its now Wal-Mart’s turn to screw their digital music customers. Like Yahoo, MSN, Virgin and others they are calling it quits leaving any DRM track you bought in protected WMA (Microsoft’s technology) soon worthless.

They suggest to burn the tracks to a CD (how nice). Of course if you rip these back to MP3 from these burned CDs, it will degrade the quality. I guess that is better than having it not play at all.

Continue reading Wal-Mart Shutting Down DRM Activation Servers…

Adobe Web Premium CS4 Video Tour

Adobe is taking pre-orders for all the CS4 applications and suites. The Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium Upgrade will set you back about $594.99 [Amazon] and is expected to be released on November 14, 2008.

The App Store has now surpassed over 4,000 apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. There are some deals in the store right now (after the jump).

Continue reading App Store Surpass 4,000 iPhone Apps and Has Bargains…

Sling Media began shipping the new Slingbox Pro-HD $299.99, this one can stream true HD either over your local network or if you have at least a 1.5 MB upload capacity (like FiOS), over the Internet. The device is capable of streaming HD content from your cable, satellite or over-the-air as it features its own ATSC and ClearQAM hybrid tuner and will pick up either 720p or 1080i.

Mac users must wait until SlingPlayer 2.0 is available for HD streaming as this updated software is only available on Windows with the Mac version coming later. The soon to ship SlingCatcher (I have pre-ordered one) can also play the HD stream for the new Slingbox Pro-HD.

Continue reading Slingbox Pro-HD Now Shipping…

I have long complained that the on-screen remote for the desktop SlingPlayer did not contain a proper Verizon FiOS remote. In fact they actually removed the older Verizon Remote from the player leaving us Slingbox users with Verizon FiOS with a horrid generic remote control.

I have been allowing readers to download the older missing remote file with instructions to replace it for sometime.

Well the good news is contained in SlingPlayer 2.0 software they have finally added the correct remote that matches the one Verizon uses for FiOS. The bad news is that SlingPlayer 2.0 is for Windows only right now. With no date for the new SlingPlayer for OS X there is no reason to look at that ugly remote anymore. I am offering the VerizonFiOS remote file for download and instructions to install it on you Mac running the older SlingPlayer.

Continue reading SlingPlayer Finally Updates Verizon FiOS Remote…

Even Microsoft’s new ads seem to miss the mark. Can’t we all get along? Watch the video and see we are all really just PCs! Since PC stands for personal computer, what’s more personal than a Mac? Especially, since it can run all the most popular OSes as well as OS X!

Continue reading Aren’t We ALL PCs?…

Apple will be replacing the ultracompact USB power adapters that shipped with the iPhone 3G (and were sold separately) starting October 10.

Check your adapter to see if it has a green dot (see picture on right). If so, it does not need replacement. Apple will be swapping out affected power adapters using a web form or at all Apple Stores.

Apparently, there is a possibility of a prong breaking off in an outlet that could cause fire or shock hazard. See the Apple site for more information. I have about six of these myself.

With over 3,600 4,000 apps available in the App Store now it is a bit daunting to find the best ones. I have tried so many it is not funny. I decided to compile a list of my favorites. Many of these are also on my iPod touch. Several of these apps are on sale at reduced prices right now. Take a look:

Continue reading My Favorite iPhone Apps – UPDATED!…

Microsoft doing what it does best these days, introducing another “me too” deal, has partnered to bring song downloads to Zune at MickyDees.

Since the Zune has no browser, no email, or any app that can really use the Internet saying it is offering free WiFi at participating McDonalds is a bit over the top. All Zune owners can really do with this is, buy songs while they chow down on their favorite McProduct. Sure seems like Microsoft tried to copy Apple / Starbucks with their speciality, “years later and not as good!”

The entire Zune update is a bit underwhelming if you ask me. I may be a bit bias of this one, however. Hey did you ever notice you never see Steve Ballmer and Ronald McDonald together? You don’t think they are really the same….? Nah!

Google has announced an official release of Google Gears for Safari, its open source browser extension that adds support for local data storage and helps web application developers manage resources to make web applications work offline.

Gears-enabled sites include Google Docs, WordPress, and Zoho Office. Google Gears for Safari requires Safari 3.1.1 with Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.3 and up.

Just updated my MacBook Pro today. Seems like a nice update that is free to current registered users. See the details at the Team Fusion blog.

Apple has brought us iPhone users much needed fixes with Tuesday’s arrival of iTunes 8 and today’s iPhone 2.1 update. These updates should make much of iPhone users pain go away. Here is what it fixes add changes.

Continue reading iPhone 2.1 Comes To Smash Bugs…

After an extremely long time Sling Media is finally ready to ship SlingCatcher $299 and you can pre-order now. If you own a Slingbox, SlingCatcher is a no brainer.

Why pre-order? Sling claims limited supply and that SlingCatcher may sell out fast. You can pre-order SlingCatcher from this Amazon link and help support ReelSmart at the same time.

Continue reading Pre-order SlingCatcher Today…

Apple has brought and update to the MobileMe Control Panel for Windows users now version 1.1. The update is free and available for download at the Apple Support web site.

Apple has made today’s “Let’s Rock” keynote available via streaming from Apple.com.

The iPod classic has always had a place in my heart as this was the iPod that is well as close to my original 5G iPod that I bought on launch day October 23, 2001. Seems so long ago.

Continue reading iPod classic the Mature iPod Sorta Updated…

NBC had stopped offering their content on iTunes back in 2007 after it failed to reach an agreement with Apple over iTunes revenue. They sought variable pricing, increased DRM and other issues.

Well as of today NBC will be back in the iTunes Store offering The Office, Monk, Battlestar Galactica, 30 Rock, Heroes and others. Guess they missed us!

iTunes will now be offering TV shows in HD (high definition) at $2.99 per episode along with $1.99 for the SD (standard definition) shows. The HD shows can be watched on your computer or Apple TV.

The iPod touch is being positioned by Apple as a handheld gaming device. Apple is calling it “the funnest iPod ever,” along with the tagline “Millions of songs. Thousands of movies. Hundreds of games. The new iPod touch.”

Continue reading iPod touch Receives Update…

iPhone 2.1 update promises less dropped calls, fix the crashes, faster syncs and better battery life. Along with iTunes 8 which will be available today this is welcomed news for all iPhone owners.

The new 2.1 software is a free update to iPhone and iPod touch users who have 2.0 installed. If your iPod touch is still running 1.x software, it will cost $9.95 to get the 2.1 upgrade. The iPod touch 2.1 update is available now.

There is a new iPod nano in town in 9 colors, rounder thinner with new features. Available for $149 for 8GB and $199 for 16GB model.

Continue reading New iPod nano Arrives…