Apple Music and Tablets?

Stitch, check out the link:

Tablet Music

I think it is long overdue to bundle some goodies with online albums! It was a big loss when music began to go online - minimal album art, liner notes, lyrics, extras, etc. I think it's a great idea to take the album concept to the same level and beyond for online music! When I listen to music on the iPod Touch, I absolutely love to see the cool album cover, and I think additional materials you could leaf through on the Touch would be a kick butt idea! I hope they make it happen.

Speaking of awesome ideas done right, how about the much rumored Mac tablet idea? There have been a lot of patents surfacing about a possible tablet idea. I still remember that right before the iPhone was released, there were a lot of patents surfacing which hinted strongly at what was to come. I feel the same thing is happening now. Instead of a clunky, heavy half baked tablet idea from MS, how about a polished, well implemented Apple version! Think about the Macbook Air with only one side! If anyone can do it right, Apple can. Then watch the Microsofts jump on the bandwagon again!

Microsoft Stores

Stitch, what do you think of the Microsoft retail stores?

MStores

It just amazes me that MS for the most part has no innovative ideas. They truly just copy what Apple does. In this case, it is 8 or so years after the fact.

MS claims Apple called to ask them to stop their TV commercials

A Microsoft executive in a presentation said that he received a call from Apple attorneys asking MS to stop the MS ads which claim that MS PC's are a better value. Right. I'm sure that is what happened. On MacNN they had a pic of the executive who happens to be bald and very nerdy looking. Someone in the comments section asked, "Are all MS execs bald and stupid?". I had to laugh.

Apple still running strong

The Q2 earnings are out and Apple continues to grow even during a severe recession. iPhone sales were up 600% from last year! Some of that is because of the transition last year to 3G causing a temporary slump in sales. But still, WOW. I see Apple has said they predict iPod sales to continue to drop over time. But what really is an iPod anymore. Does an iTouch count as an iPod? Does an iPhone too? Not too shabby under the current economic climate we are in.

A proud? owner of an AppleTV

Yes I have kicked the satellite dish out of my home. I figured when more than half of the stations are either infomercial stations like QVC or digital music stations with really bad music. And then since we are on the west coast, many stations go off the air early and show infomercials. I'm done.
I am setting up an over the air DVR on my PC which will add the shows to iTunes to stream to the main TV with AppleTV. You got to love the interface with ATV. I like watching previews of movies by streaming them directly to ATV. But the prices are still too high, $3.99 for a non HD version. I still just use Netflix for DVD's. A better value, even if you have to wait a couple of days. For me, there is a lot of HD science content on the Podcasts. Sure beats the Science channel which actually have a show where a cowboy hunts down people in the woods. What this has to do with Science I have no idea. Its like Shark week on Discovery channel. At least that is less of a stretch.
I like the favorites for ATV. When you find a podcast you like you can add it to favorites. But these don't get backed up as far as I know. So if you reboot the ATV, then you might loose your favorites. I had a little trouble with iTunes not finding the ATV. It would work for a bit then disappear. I ended up having to wipe my ATV clean and start over. Now it seems to be working fine. Too PC like for me though, with the restart deal.
It is cool to have all your pictures streamed to ATV with Ken Burns effects and songs from you iTunes library. There are actually podcast HD shows which are 20 min long. The full program. I like the station Current. I think it is an up and coming network. They are also on cable and dish. I will update this review after I have ATV a while more.
I don't know why there isn't more advertising in Podcasts even from the big networks. I don't mind short ads if it generates revenue and better content. There are a couple that do and you can see that the quality of the broadcast is better than most. Hey they need a revenue source. I have not downloaded any TV shows yet. $1.99 an episode seems a bit much for something I would only watch once. Hey 50 cents a show, or add some short ads. Oh well. ATV has potential, the on demand stuff of the latest version is good. Blurry youtube videos are also available, but why?

iTouch as a Skype phone

I couldn't believe this when I saw it but their is a Skype app for the iTouch/iPhone which would allow you to make telephone calls over the internet using Skype. Skype is the famous voice over IP telephone service which allows you to call over the internet. You can call other Skype users anywhere in the world for free, plus call landlines and cell phones for only about $3 a month. With the increase in free WiFi access points could these give cell phones a run for the money. I hope so. Cell phones are overpriced in my opinion. $40-50 a month for the priveledge, which is $500-$600/year for phone service!. You could buy a new HDTV every year at these prices. And you are charged both ways, for incoming and outgoing minutes. Certainly their is need for an alternative. I would love having a WiFi Skype phone which also has the ability to call using prepaid minutes if needed. Quote me now cause I think this is the future.
If you were wondering how can you talk on an iTouch without a microphone. On the second generation iTouch's they have the ability to accept microphone inputs. It is an extra purchase but hey the calls are cheap.

Steve Jobs gets an iLiver

Well the truth finally comes out about Jobs. With his liver transplant, he was sicker than he had made it out to be. Their are even stock traders who are calling for restitution saying Apple deceived the public and the market from knowing key knowledge about a very influential CEO of a publicly traded company. Companies are required to issue statements about risks in their financial reports. And could be construed that a company is obligated to divulge health problems about a CEO who is intertwined with the company's success. Since it can have an impact on the company performanc. I say, hey this is too personal for stock statements. It will fade. Plus Steve has rebooted with a new iLiver. I wonder if it has WiFi?

Rubinstein is new Palm CEO

The transformation is complete - Jon Rubinstein is now Vader!

Rubinstein

I knew he had a big part of the Palm revival, but I didn't realize he was that high up!

WWDC 2009 a Success

Stitch, I would argue that WWDC was a qualified success. I believe a lot of naysayers feel that Apple didn't introduce whiz-bang products, but I would say Apple is laying an extremely solid foundation for the future. I still remember after Apple introduced the iPhone SDK and the App store, many were concerned. The App store had never been done before, and Apple keeps 30% of the revenue! Now a year later, the iPhone is arguably the hottest mobile development platform on the planet, and everyone else is scrambling to open their own app stores. What a dumb idea that everyone is copying!

With the introduction of the iPhone, Apple insisted that the virtual keyboard would be a game changer because it could be modified with software - it was not a static part of the phone. Fast forward, and here we are with gobs of multiple languages that any iphone used can jump right into, simply because the iPhone adjusts to whatever country it is in. And is anyone else jumping on board with a virtual keyboard?

With introduction of an API that allows developers to offer additional packages from within their app, the entire iphone app ecosystem is jacked up again to higher levels. Want a new game scenario? Have the gamer buy it right from within the app.

With the API allowing iPhone interaction with other hardware, developers can interface to the iPhone with their own hardware. The possibilities for that are endless.

Bottom line, it's about the software, and I believe Apple is hitting this one out of the park. The 'analysts' just don't get it, in my opinion. Just because it's not a new hardware product, they don't think there's anything worthwhile. I disagree!!

Palm Pre syncs with iTunes

Stitch check out the article:

Syncs with iTunes

I don't know if any other smart phone that could do this. And it seems perfectly legal? It is interesting that no other smart phone has ever tried this until now. Or are there others?

Back Stabbed??

Consider the article:

Backstabber?

Jon Rubinstein of Apple fame reportedly had a big hand in the Palm Pre design. Jon was an Apple executive early in the decade, and he oversaw the hardware division. I cannot help but be hurt, Stitch, that Jon was ok with going to Palm to compete directly against Apple. I know it happens all the time, but it hurts nonetheless. Do you feel the same way?

Palm Pre set to launch

Check out the article:

Palm Pre

I don't know, Stitch. The pricing is pretty steep, and I think that's the disadvantage of being a late comer (to the tune of 2 years late). You may have a nice phone, but out of necessity you have to price the entry level product in this case at $200 after a mail in rebate. The iPhone has been in the market for 2 years with a possible refresh right around the corner.

What do you think, Stitch? Have you heard much?

p.s. Apologies for my absence lately - I had a rough semester, and I needed to finish it off!!

The Mac gets dissed

I saw a computer ad on TV yesterday where this guy was searching for the perfect computer. He says he has up to $1500 to spend. He looks at some Netbook computers and dismisses them as toys. He picks up an Apple laptop and says they look cool but he needs a computer with some real computing capabilities. Then he walks out with a Windows computer and says something to the effect, "he has all the computer he needs". And leaves a happy customer.

I was shocked how they blatantly diss the Mac in the Ad. Implying it looks good but is lacking in ability. What a crock.

Saw Netbooks in person

I saw a few Netbooks in person at Best Buy the other day. They look like toy computers. They are about half the size of a regular computer, just scaled down. The prices were only about $250 but I didn't get the feeling like their was a lot of value in them. It seems that every so often there is an attempt to make these mini computers but they don't sell well. It is more a novelty.

After you bring it home, you end up becoming aware of all the limitations you have with the mini computer. I think the only reason they are selling now is the low price. It is about the price of a periferal like a printer or external hard drive used to cost. I can't see it replacing the needs of a regular computer. It is probably more of an extra computer for the road. It gives you the ability to check the internet while away from home and is small enough to pack easily.

I remember back in about the year 2000, this guy I worked with bought a mini computer made by Sony. Everything was scaled down with mini keys and a mini screen. It was a novelty but back then they cost about $800. So it was an expensive novelty. I think they sold only a dozen of these.

Apple Netbook, is it a possibility?

Have you heard about the latest craze in laptop computers? Its the Netbook. It all started with a small company that wanted to make a simple computer which could access the internet with minimal capabilities and sell for $100 so that people all over the world would be able to afford it. Well it cost a little more than $100, more like $250-$300 but it sold like hotcakes and not just to third world customers.
This caught the eye of the big computer manufacturers and now almost all of them have a version. It has a low power Intel chip called the Atom, no hard drive only a flash drive (about 8GB) and can connect to the internet. The market has grown to the point that about 12% of all laptops are now these Netbooks. The computer is very small with a 7in diagonal screen and a miniature keyboard.

A lot of people like them because it is an inexpensive way to connect to the internet, and with a lot of applications now running off the internet gives you an inexpensive computer. The first ones were Linux based to keep costs down, but MS has released an XP version.

Apple has yet to get into this market, but it could be said that the iPhone and iTouch are almost a Netbook only smaller. Maybe Apple will release a larger iTouch to compete in this new market. The problem is that the margins are low for this type of device. Kind of like the entry level car market.

MacFan is now a Touch owner!

It was a complete surprise when I received a new iPod Touch with 32 Gb of memory. I honestly was not expecting it, and let me say I am truly in mobile computing heaven! Stitch, it's absolutely awesome. It kicks butt as an iPod, I can check and manage email easily and on the go, most web sites I like have mobile versions, and it goes on and on. I feel absolutely blessed to have this wonderful device.

And with the coming if iPhone OS 3.0, it will get even better. Stitch, life is beautiful!

Uproar over new Shuffle

So, what do you think of the new Shuffle? There is an uproar over the relocated controls to the earbud cord.

I don't understand why people are so upset. Apple routinely make design changes to appeal to their customers. For the vast majority of us who use shuffles (that includes myself and the wife), the notion of using a simple three button controller makes sense. It's always oriented in the same way if it's on the cord, and I don't see it as difficult to use! One click for play and pause, two clicks to advance. It's simple! And I think we are unnecessarily looking down on the general population to think they can't easily learn how to use the voice over feature.

I do understand the complaint about having to use the earbuds. But Apple and 3rd party manufacturers have already said that there are solutions coming out.

I just don't get it. You buy the shuffle so that it will be as out of the way and simple as possible - not to hook into your stereo! What's your take?

Woz on DWT stars?!

Is it true that Steve Wozniak is really going to be on Dancing with the Stars TV show?

Apple Announcements

What do you think of Apple's announcements today? New versions of everything, just about. I think this was just an update, and it was not meant to reveal anything earth shattering. The new Mac mini is great, but it's still the same machine without any new ground breaking features.

I have the feeling something amazing is in the works. I just think Apple will wait until they get it right. What's your take on the announcements?

Jobs on medical leave

Have you heard that Steve Jobs is now on medical leave until June 2009? Hopefully Steve will be able to nurse himself back to good health and put an end to the rumors that he is dying. Its getting to be like when the Beatles were popular and everyone thought there was a hidden message that Paul was dead. Like the Abbey Road album cover where Paul is the only one leading with his right leg. This must mean something! Ahhhh.