Apple TV with 160 Gb - Yeah!!

Well, it was bound to happen - Apple will have a build to order option for a 160 Gb hard drive on the Apple TV by June. It will also get the ability to stream videos from You Tube. Sounds like much asked for options are starting to trickle in!

Jobs on new iPods

When asked my Walt Mossberg at the D5 conference about the fact that the current iPod has been around for a while, Jobs responds: "We're working on the best iPods that we've ever done, and they're awesome." I can't wait to see what the new iPods will be like!

Undisclosed iPhone features?

Do you think the iPhone will have higher memory when it ships? Thats the rumor - more flash memory, and maybe a replaceable battery! Does that make sense from Apple's perspective? I would have thought it was a nice bonus to generate even more excitement! I still think the 8 Gb is small for a device that's supposed to play videos!

iTunes Plus!

Gentlemen, iTunes Plus is now available through the software update. There are some awesome albums available DRM free and at twice the bit rate (256 kbps). You can update your entire library at one time, and any new tracks are now at $1.30 instead of $.99. I'd pay for a higher bit rate, especially for genres like jazz and folk stuff. Would you?

iPod Amnesty Bin

Have you heard of the iPod amnesty bin at Microsoft's Zune headquarters? They want their employees to throw their iPods into the bin and get a Zune. Is that appropriate, given that the employees are working for the competitor of the iPod?

Dell to sell pc's in Walmart

Dell is set to sell one model in Walmart. I guess that can help, especially for targeting bargain hunting consumers. I just shudder at the thought of buying a computer at a place like Walmart. They even sell musical instruments! Now that is an afront to all that is decent in this world!

The iGasm

Have you seen the ad for the iGasm? The ad is so similar to Apple's ads that Apple legal is demanding the company remove these steamy ads! Do these ads help or hurt Apple's credibility? You be the judge!

EMI bought by Terra Firma

As you've probably heard, EMI was bought by an investment company called Terra Firma. It's already May 22, and we haven't heard about the DRM free tracks on iTunes. Will it still happen?

Apple stock price rockets forward

In anticipation of the successful release of the iPhone and other Apple devices, Apple's stock price continues to climb. Over the past month, the stock has now increased in value 22%. Not bad for a single month.

Halo 3 Zune coming in June

Here comes a broadside from Microsoft. They are releasing a Halo 3 themed Zune for June. It will have a black case with Halo style graphics. It will also include artwork, music, and videos from the upcoming release of Halo 3 in September, preloaded on the hard drive. So I guess Zune will now offer video too. It will still be a 30GB drive and cost $249. This must be MS answer to the June release of the iPhone.

Amazon to sell DRM free music

Amazon announced today it will see DRM free music in MP3 format, from EMI of course. Would you guys buy in MP3 format when you could buy music in AAC format? Consider this quote from MacDailyNews:

"Apple's iTunes store uses the AAC format which provides audio encoding that compresses much more efficiently than older formats like MP3. AAC offers many advantages over MP3 including improved compression provides higher-quality results with smaller file sizes, support for multichannel audio, providing up to 48 full frequency channels, higher resolution audio, yielding sampling rates up to 96 kHz, and improved decoding efficiency, requiring less processing power for decoding."

McCartney Music to debut online!

I know it may not mean as much to you guys, but this is a moment I've been waiting for! Some of the old Wings and Paul McCartney catalog are going to become available from EMI on iTunes. We should have the option to purchase the higher bit rate music as well. I would have to say I would be just fine with a 256 bit rate for this music! Very cool. Here's the link:

WIngs

Zune out of Amazon top 100

For a while now, the Zune has been missing in action on the Amazon electronics best seller list. Here's the cool thing : the multicolored shuffles are all over the place. Even a blue iPod shuffle is outselling the Zune on Amazon! Very cool. I know Microsoft will be debuting another Zune to compete with the shuffle, but it's so nice right now that the iPod is kicking the pants off the Zune!

iPhone launch June 15?

The word on the net is that the new Apple iPhone will launch on June 15! The Apple stores and the AT & T stores are getting their respective sales associates ready for the big launch. I also heard that Cingular people are visiting the Apple stores to make sure the wireless reception was good. Needless to say, I am starting to get that feeling of sweet anticipation! Perhaps the iPhone should augment my iPod nano? Wouldn't they look good together?

Creative copies iPod shuffle

Gentlemen, does Creative have no shame? The Zen "Stone" is due to be released in May, and it is a shameful knockoff of the iPod shuffle. Is there no innovation left in the world? Tell me!! I want to know!

Tips from Steve Jobs

There's a great article that puts together some quotes from Steve Jobs, and put a little more detail into them. It's a pretty good synopsis! I notice that one or two sentences came from Jobs graduation speech. Check it out:

Jobs Tips