Tuesday, August 31, 2004
The new G5 iMac
Today Apple introduced its new G5-based iMac with a new form factor that resembles the iPod. In fact, it was designed by the same team that created the iPod.
Peering beyond the technology hype
It is extremely difficult to predict which technologies will become part of everyday life in the future.
Some of the best known innovations, like the net, have swiftly become part of the furniture for millions, even though many said it would only benefit academic research and governments.
Similarly, few predicted text messaging would take off the way it has, with millions of thumbs across the globe twitching away every day.
Sometimes, according to Gartner technology analysts, a gadget, gizmo [iPod] or technology just needs one good idea - a trigger - to catapult it into something that even dads have heard of.
But other times a whizzy idea sinks into oblivion, only to be reborn when the other factors come into play.
[Via BBC]
Web Surfers Hit Higher Speeds
The majority of Internet users in the U.S. have ditched dial-up, survey says.
The MethodShop Spin: Broadband isn't for everyone. One of our writers, Marcus, still loves dial-up.
Monday, August 30, 2004
Fashionable and affordable protection for your iPod
"I wanted a small, durable, funky bag made especially to protect my funky iTunes. Sure tons of companies make iPod cases and storage bags. A quick Google search for "iPod bags" returns over 150,000 results. But most of these bags are the boring equivalent of an iPocket-Protector, or way too iExpensive. I want all of the high fashion style of the Gucci ($200) and Fendi ($1500) iPod carriers currently on the market, but I want it for less than the price of my iPod Mini, please.
After an extensive online research mission, I found the perfect solution to my iPod bag headache, the Electra iPod Bag." [Quote: Ashley Gillen]
LaCie launches dual-layer DVD burners
"LaCie today announced two dual-layer DVD burners, updating its DVD line with the latest technology to burn full-length DVDs or back up 8.5GB of data."
[Via MacNN]
The MethodShop Spin: iBling or a good example of someone who has too much money?
Rumor: Apple Announcing iMac G5 at Paris Expo
Speculation is high over whether Apple will unveil the G5 iMac on Monday at the Apple Expo in Paris. Over 7,000 people are expected to attend the keynote event.
Various Apple fanatic and rumor sites are busy buzzing over just what the new iMac will look like. The image above was supposedly leaked. Is it real? Our answer is only hours away.
methodshop
MSN Music: It's really about Windows
Microsoft is expected to enter the online song store market this week, which should put the software giant head-to-head with Apple Computer in the music business at last.
Computer Maker in an Alien World
For one brief moment during a recent business meeting, Nelson Gonzalez wondered whether he'd inadvertently booked himself an appointment for a forced brain reboot by the men in black.
Gonzalez, co-owner of Alienware Computers, was showing off the company's collection of space-invader style machines to a group of potential buyers that included representatives from the Air Force and the Pentagon.
Duke Enrollment Package: New iPod
DURHAM, N.C. -- Newly arrived Duke University freshmen got something considerably snazzier than the usual Blue Devils T-shirts and ball caps: Their goodie bags included a free iPod digital music player engraved with the school's crest and the words "Class of 2008."
Sunday, August 29, 2004
P. Diddy's Diamond Encrusted HP iPod
Coinciding with the release of Hewlett Packard’s iPod digital music player, rap star P. Diddy plans to attend his post MTV Video Music Awards party with his personalized Apple iPod encrusted with 120 diamonds.
HP is a major sponsor of the music awards, and all the guests at P. Diddy’s party, are to receive a gift of their own HP iPod... minus the diamonds.
Don't have the cash to blow on a diamond encrusted iPod? A much cheaper mod for your iPod would be to change the button and backlight colors with LED lights. Check this out.
Review: Mod Your iPod
methodshop
Labels: apple, gadgets, ipod, tech news
Friday, August 27, 2004
Feds launch Internet crime crackdown
Federal agents armed with search warrants conducted raids in three states Wednesday as part of a nationwide crackdown on the theft of copyrighted materials through the Internet, the Justice Department announced.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Apple stock jumps ahead of HP iPod, iMac launch
Shares of Apple on Thursday rose to their highest level in nearly four years ahead of the launch of Hewlett-Packard's version of the iPod digital music player and the launch of Apple's revamped iMac computer. "Tomorrow you've got HP doing their consumer electronics launch and the HP iPod launch, and next week there's the introduction of the new iMac," said Shannon Cross, an analyst at Cross Research. Shares of Apple rose $1.73, or 5.2 percent, to $34.78 on the Nasdaq, where they were among the most active issues. So far this year, Apple stock has climbed 63 percent.
Internet machine shop offers custom tooling
It's the Internet Revolution meets the Industrial Revolution: a new program that lets people design 3-D objects like car parts and door knobs in metal or plastic then order them online.
Intel Unveils Tri-Mode Centrino
Intel Thursday unveiled tri-mode Centrino technology that will enable laptops to access WLANs based on the 802.11a, b and g specifications.
The new chipset, dubbed the Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection, also will have new software, which the company claims will simplify the end user experience, and support for the 802.11i security standard. Enterprises can also use a single sign-on feature, which the company says simplifies log-in and authentication to corporate WLANs.
HP's iPod to lead consumer push
Hoping to make a big bang in consumer electronics, Hewlett-Packard plans on Friday to unveil its long-awaited HP-branded iPod, along with its first televisions, an entertainment hub and the usual array of new printers and cameras, sources said.
Sprint certifies Xserve, QuickTime for PCS Vision
Sprint and Apple jointly announced today that Apple's Xserve G5 and QuickTime software have been certified as mobile multimedia delivery platforms for Sprint's new PCS Vision Multimedia Services. The technology enables professional content service providers to deliver streaming audio and video clips to Sprint customers using recently announced Sprint Vision Multimedia Services. "We are excited to certify Apple's world-class mobile multimedia platform and make it available to our professional content providers," Sprint said in a statement.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
DMB - Wasting Time
Authorities were considering criminal charges Wednesday against the Dave Matthews Band and one of its tour bus drivers for allegedly dumping human waste from a bus into the Chicago River, dousing a tour boat filled with passengers.
The announcement came a day after the state sued the band and driver Stefan Wohl, accusing them of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws. The lawsuit seeks $70,000 in civil penalties.
Chicago police said surveillance footage from nearby buildings shows a bus crossing the grated bridge Aug. 8 as the tour boat passed underneath.
"Certainly, this is the bus that discharged this fluid," Cmdr. Michael Chasen said. He said the driver told police he crossed the bridge around the time of the incident but didn't admit dumping the waste.
More than 100 people on an architecture tour were showered with foul-smelling waste. The attorney general's office said no one was seriously injured.
The MethodShop Spin: "Don't Drink the Water"
Colleges are Napstering!!
A Stanford University programmer has released new software that allows music to be swapped via Apple Computer's popular iTunes jukebox.
Tell Real Who's Boss!
Whether you think Real Networks is just trying to get attention, or they just plain suck, sign this pro-iTMS petition. The anti Real petition already has more than twice the signatures of the anti-Apple petition.
What's Your Latitude buddy?
Ever wanted to know the latitude and longitude of your house? ZipInfo.com will give it to you down to the last decimal point! Let's hope your enemies don't have GPS enabled Smart Bombs.
Students crazy about iPod follow the music to Apple laptops
Apple's trendy iPod digital music player, which has revitalized the company, is giving laptop sales a boost during back-to-school season.
Many students, after falling in love with the iPod, are packing for college with new Apple Macintosh computers.
JibJab Is Free for You and Me
Ludlow Music dropped its demands that JibJab, a small web animation site, stop using Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" in a satirical Flash cartoon. It turns out Ludlow may not actually own the rights to the song as it claims, a lawyer representing JibJab said on Tuesday.
iSkin eVo for 4G iPod
iSkin announced its plan to ship the new 4G iPod skins on August 31. According to McMinute.com, the eVo 2 is made of high grade silicone (possibly the same type Pamela Anderson has), as well as rear heat release pores and a redisigned belt clip. Some models will glow in the dark. The case is suspected to sell for $29.99.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
iPod as Bootable Hard Drive
Do you still use OS 9 but not that often? Need to keep a backup version of Panther just in case? If you have an iPod, then you're in luck! Read engadget's quick and easy guide on how to use your iPod as a bootable hard drive. Just be sure your computer has FireWire, USB doesn't work!
Engineering the teenager-only PC
This isn't your typical, humdrum, slate-colored computer. Not only is the PC known as the hip-e almost all white, but its screen and keyboard are framed in fuzzy pink fur. Or a leopard skin design. Or a graffiti-themed pattern.
Shadowgate Classic Review
Explore Castle Shadowgate with your Palm Pilot stylus and try to solve devious traps and puzzles laid in your way by an evil Warlock Lord.College P2P use on the decline?
A combination of authorized music services and lawsuits is successfully helping to control illegal file-swapping on campuses, a joint entertainment industry-university group said on Tuesday.
In the last year, more than 20 schools have signed up for deeply discounted access to music services such as Napster, MusicNet and RealNetworks' Rhapsody, the Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities said in a report to Congress. In the same period, 158 students have been sued for copyright infringement, the group said.
Site Is Mac Daddy of Apple Deals
While most bargain-hunting websites rely on automated price comparisons of online merchants, popular Apple products site dealmac has prospered with an offbeat approach: relying on Mac fans for cut-rate deals.
Monday, August 23, 2004
iPod Mini Software Update?
According to Think Secret, Apple is set to pull the wraps off of a software update for the iPod Mini which would provide the same functionality as the current big brother click-wheel iPod. The update should include the single-click shuffle function, ...
Is Real a Real Hypocrite?
RealNetworks badly needs a PR coup to regain credibility with music fans, but its latest "freedom of music choice" campaign is missing the mark, critics say.
Last Tuesday, the company debuted RealPlayer 10.5 multimedia software, which includes its controversial Harmony program. Harmony enables songs purchased in the Real music store to play on Apple iPods, much to Apple's annoyance. Real has said its technology is designed to give music fans more options in the devices and services they use.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
CVS to sell world's first disposable digital camera
The next time you go to CVS to pick up your prescription of Viagra, there's another item you might consider adding to your purchase: a disposable digital camera.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Fired up over file sharing
roundup As hackers conjure up a new method for trading songs over Apple Computer's iTunes, an appeals court rules that software developers are not liable for file swappers' actions.
15-inch PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange Program
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities, Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide from January 2004 through August 2004 for use with 15-inch PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) notebook computers. These batteries were manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea. You might as well get your free battery replacement before your laptop explodes. You can find more info on the battery exchange program on Apple's website here.
methodshop
Swap Your PC, or Your President
Errol Morris, the documentary filmmaker who produced Apple Computer's well-known series of ads about discontented PC users who switched to Macs, had a similar idea on how to reach undecided voters. His new advertising campaign features Republicans who voted for President Bush in 2000 explaining why they now intend to vote for Sen. John Kerry.
Hackers revive iTunes music sharing
A group of anonymous programmers has released new software that allows music to be swapped via Apple Computer's popular iTunes jukebox.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Konichiwa, Sony! iPod scores a hit in Japan
Apple's IPod Music Player Winning Over Japanese Fans in Home of Mighty Sony
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Macromedia news on your iPod with "Take-Away"
Take-Away lets you read and listen to the latest Macromedia news on your iPod or other MP3 player. Simply download the MP3 files you are interested in, install them on your iPod or other MP3 player, and take the latest Macromedia community news with you wherever you go. Based on the Macromedia XML News Aggregator (MXNA), Take-Away allows you to keep up with the latest community news from virtually anywhere.
SayWear Launches First Online T-shirt Sayings Registry
SayWear LLC today announced the immediate opening of SayWear.com, the first online T-shirt sayings registry and e-commerce site. SayWear.com enables consumers to register their unique saying and own the one-of-a-kind T-shirt bearing that saying.
Making Free IPods Pay Off
The FreeiPods.com website looks as phony as a $3 bill. In fact, it's at the forefront of performance-based marketing, as advertisers discover it's more effective to spend $50 million on gifts than to blow the cash on TV ads.
Audio Hijack More MP3s
Have you downloaded enough mp3s to give your G5 and iPod goose bumps? Already import all your friends and coworker CDs into iTunes? Do you STILL want more? Lucky for you, there's Audio Hijack.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Warner's tryst with bloggers hits sour note
Warner Brothers Records pulled out all the stops recently to promote a rock band, the Secret Machines, on the Internet. But there is one stop that might have been better left unpulled.
RealNetworks Targets iTunes Users with Price Cut
"In a bid to win customers from market leader and now fierce rival Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) , RealNetworks (Nasdaq: RNWK) said Tuesday it would offer 49-cent music downloads, a price-slashing move that the company admitted would cut into its profits.
Real said it would cut its prices in half, offering single-song downloads for 49 cents and full albums for US$4.99. Real said the promotion was for a limited time but did not say how long it would last. Most songs at Apple's iTunes Music Store sell for 99 cents.
The price war comes as tensions between Real and Apple have reached new heights. Apple recently likened the rival company's "tactics and ethics" to those of "hackers" after Real debuted a program, dubbed Harmony, that makes all downloaded songs playable on all devices, including Apple's iPod.
Previously, only songs downloaded from Apple's iTunes site could be played on its wildly popular device." [Source: E-Commerce Times]
Monday, August 16, 2004
MACROMEDIA ANNOUNCES NEW FLASH VIDEO KIT
Easily add rich high-quality video content to websites
San Francisco - August 17 , 2004 - Macromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) today announced a video kit that will enable Macromedia Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional users to add video to their websites without any special technical knowledge. The kit makes it quick and easy to add streaming or progressive download video through a Dreamweaver MX 2004 extension. Video deployed with the kit can be viewed instantly with Macromedia Flash Player, the world's most ubiquitous rich client, making the video instantly accessible to about a half a billion web users.
For a limited time, customers who purchase or upgrade to Macromedia Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional and register online by September 30 will receive the video kit for free. In addition, for a limited time, the kit will be available for purchase to existing Studio MX 2004 with Flash Professional customers for $49.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Another iPod Update
On August 12th, Apple released iPod software 3.0.1 for iPods with a click wheel. The company says that the updater contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2004-07-15 for all other iPod models. According to the release notes, iPod Software 3.0.1 provides improved connectivity with some FireWire cards using the VIA chipset, improved performance with the optional external battery pack, improved power management, and improved connectivity with FireWire hubs, and with 4-pin FireWire ports. The updater will also correct a glitch that would awake iPods when a user removed the headphone jack while the hold switch was turned on. iPod users may obtain the 10.6 MB updater through Apple's Software Update mechanism. [Source: MacNN]
Friday, August 13, 2004
RoadTrip is your iPod buddy
Griffin Technology is taking orders for its new all-in-one iPod accessory that acts as a car charger, FM transmitter, and cradle. Its FM transmitter is detachable for home use and, when connected via USB, can broadcast iTunes to your home stereo. Unlike its cousin, the iTrip, Road Trip features exterior controls and a backlit LCD. RoadTrip will accomodate 3G and 4G iPods as well as iPod mini.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
DVD Jon cracks Apple's AirPort Express encryption
The world renowned Norweigen teen (now 20 years old) famous for cracking DVD encryption has fooled Apple a third time. This stunt involves reverse engineering the encryption software used by Apple for its wireless music streaming audio technology, "AirPort Express."
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
iPod chipmaker plans stock offering
"PortalPlayer, the Silicon Valley company whose chip powers the iPod, is looking to play its tune for Wall Street.
Santa Clara, Calif. based PortalPlayer filed registration papers last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the first step toward an initial public offering. The company said it hoped to raise as much as $75 million. PortalPlayer did not say how many shares it expects to sell in the offering." [Source: ZDNet]
Roxio to sell Toast; rename itself 'Napster'
Roxio recently announced it is selling its consumer software division to Sonic Solutions in a deal expected to be completed by the end of the year. As a result of the transaction, Sonic will acquire Toast, Easy Media Creator, Photo Suite and other CD- and DVD-authoring software titles.
Monday, August 09, 2004
iPod Toilet Trap
The iPod is barely a few years old and already we've gotten a bowl-load of these "Help! I dropped my iPod in the toilet!" emails. It's an epidemic.
Free iPod Support: The iPod Toilet Trap
For those of you who haven't dropped your iPod in the toilet yet, try not to take your iPod in the bathroom. If you really need to hear music, try singing the next time you are in the shower.
methodshop
This is such a common problem that we've created a rather gross iPod toilet graphic (see above) and made a special "iPod Toilet Trap" tech support page. If you've dropped your iPod in the toilet, this page might prove useful.Here's a sample: "Yes, it really happened, and I'd rather not go into it right now. It was submerged in water for 3-4 seconds, and now the screen is on and not responding. It's making a little sound like it's still running.
I tried opening it but couldn't get the case open except for a corner. SOMEONE HELP! 15GB new iPod. What a shame."
Free iPod Support: The iPod Toilet Trap
For those of you who haven't dropped your iPod in the toilet yet, try not to take your iPod in the bathroom. If you really need to hear music, try singing the next time you are in the shower.
methodshop
Mayer Unleashes Live Material On iTunes
Four live shows from John Mayer's current North American summer tour will be posted exclusively in the iTunes Music Store. Each Tuesday during the month of August, a 10-song collection called "As/Is" will be added until August 31st. "The wrong notes are as wrong as the right ones are right. In the end, the way the songs make you feel is the only thing that matters," Mayer says, describing the newly recorded material as "a mainline from the stage directly to the fans."
Friday, August 06, 2004
Rick James - Dead at 56
Rick James, the famous funk rocker, passed away August 6, 2004, of what appeared to be natural causes. Rick James struggled with a cocaine addiction in his younger years, as well as numerous run-ins with the law. James saw a recent surge in his popularity due to several recent skits involving him on Dave Chappelle's "Chappelle's Show." James was scheduled to return to season three of Chappelle's Show.
Here's the famous sound clip from the show: I'm Rick James Bitch!
Rick James: actor, singer, icon, is survived by three children.
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