July 5, 2011
∞ I use Apple products because they work, it's that simple
I’ve had a lot of people ask me over the years why I use Apple products and if I even have any experience using PCs and devices other than Apple’s. (more…)
∞ 'Trend…against' cell phone/brain cancer link
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently made headlines when it called cellphones “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” A new review of research from Britain, the U.S. and Sweden says there is, in fact, no evidence linking cancer and cell phone use, according to Reuters. (more…)
∞ Hacker group targets Apple servers, publishes usernames and passwords
Anonymous said on Sunday via its account on microblogging site Twitter that Apple could be a target for hackers and released the data as part of its Anti Security, or “AntiSec,” campaign.Anonymous said the data included 27 usernames and passwords for the www.abs.apple.com website.
Apparently the Web site was only used for online surveys, but I think they made their point.
July 2, 2011
∞ Report: Samsung drops lawsuit against Apple, but continues counter-claim
Bloomberg reports that Samsung has dropped its lawsuit against Apple, but the legal feud isn’t over between the two companies – not by a long shot. (more…)
July 1, 2011
∞ Sprinkler Times app hits the App Store
The Sprinkler Times App makes saving money, water, and plants easy. Outdoor watering accounts for more than 60% of most homeowner’s water use, yet many people are unknowingly overwatering their lawns by more than 50%. Not knowing how to properly set your sprinkler timer is literally like throwing money down the drain. Sprinkler Times can save you hundreds on your water bill every year.
Sometimes I’m just amazed at what we can do from the iPhone. Download Sprinkler Times on the App Store.
∞ iTunes Festival London 2011 is live
Apple’s iTunes Festival is underway in London. You can watch the concerts using an app Apple released on the App Store. Here’s some info I posted on the event on June 21: (more…)
∞ Apple seeds Lion GM to developers
Apple on Friday released a Gold Master (GM) build of Mac OS X “Lion” to developers. It’s no great surprise, since Apple already announced July as the release month for Lion, but it’s a good sign that Lion’s release may come earlier in the month rather than later. (more…)
∞ iPhone, iPad help reunite Mother and daughter in China after 5 years
We’ve all heard some wonderful stories over the years about how the iPhone and iPad have helped people, but a new story out of China really tugs at the heart strings. (more…)
∞ Bungie returns to the Apple fold, sorta
Bungie is the video game developer behind the legendary Halo franchise, so when it makes a move, gamers and game industry analysts tend to pay attention. Now the company’s turning its sites to mobile and social gaming with a new effort it calls Bungie Aerospace.
Long-time Mac users know Bungie as makers of the Marathon and Myth game series, of course, but they’ve been absent from the Mac ever since they were acquired by Microsoft. Now that they’re on their own again they’re looking for new stuff to do, though, and Bungie Aerospace is a new plan to team up with indie software developers in the mobile and social gaming spaces. Their first product is Crimson, which is coming to iOS this summer.
This news comes shortly after Bungie revealed that an independent developer has created a version of Marathon that runs on the iPad. Now, where’s Myth?
∞ Avid joins the Final Cut Pro beat down parade
It just keeps piling on for Apple and its Final Cut Pro team. (more…)
∞ Why Apple built Final Cut Pro X
The pro market is too small for Apple to care about it. Instead of trying to get hundreds or even thousands of video professionals to buy new Macs, they can nail the pro-sumer market and sell to hundreds of thousands of hobbyists like me.
This little tidbit comes from Sachin Agarwal, founder and CEO of Posterous, and a long time employee of Apple working on Final Cut Pro.
Why Apple built Final Cut Pro X | Sachin’s Posterous
∞ More RIM employees come forward with complaints
Just 24 hours after an unnamed executive pleaded with RIM to make changes, more employees have come forward rallying around the complaints and offering new ones. (more…)
June 30, 2011
∞ Interview: HP says Apple is not TouchPad's target
HP’s TouchPad tablet hits stores tomorrow, and while the device is being compared to Apple’s iPad 2, an HP executive told The Loop that’s not its target market. (more…)
∞ RIM responds to employees open letter
RIM has responded to an open letter from one of its high level executives published earlier today on BGR. (more…)
∞ 7 things RIM must do to survive
RIM is past the point of being in hard shape as a company — they are in dire need of change and it has to be done now. (more…)
∞ RIM employee writes a passionate plea to senior management
You know things are getting bad at your company when your senior managers publish pleas in the press to get you to change. That’s what happened today at RIM. (more…)
∞ Video: Using an Audio-Technica USB mic with an iPad
As many of you already know, I have a nice collection of AKG mics that I use to record my guitar amps, drums and vocals in my studio. However, I also have one of these Audio-Technica USB mics that sounds great doing voice recordings. It’s an interesting video to watch if you want to record into your iPad. (more…)
∞ Apple up, Android flat in smartphone growth
A new study released by market research firm Nielsen on Thursday shows that more people are buying smartphones and Apple is seeing growth in the market. (more…)
June 29, 2011
∞ Jason Snell's review of the HP TouchPad
I have to admit, I’m kind of rooting for HP, the TouchPad, and the webOS. Apple needs strong competitors in the tablet market to help push things forward, and I think companies with control of both hardware and software are more likely to produce high-quality products. For years I’ve wondered why nobody was trying to replicate some of Apple’s product-creation success, and that’s exactly what HP is doing with its webOS strategy.
I always thought that only RIM and HP had a chance to give Apple any real competition. Clearly RIM screwed things up, so now it’s up to HP. WebOS is a very nice looking operating system that has a lot of potential. The devil is in the developers and whether HP can convince them to make apps.
Hands on with the HP TouchPad | Macworld
∞ Thunderbolt RAID beats pants off FW 800
When connected to the iMac, the R6’s AJA System Test read scores came in at 566MBps—6.8 times faster than the DS4600 using FireWire 800. Even more impressive was the R6’s 644MBps AJA System Test write score, which is 11.5 times faster than the FireWire 800 scores of the DS4600.
There was little question that Thunderbolt would handily beat FireWire 800, but now you can see just how wide the gap is.
∞ Enough with the *gates already
Big or little, significant or silly, real or faux – doesn’t matter. It gets gated.This has been an annoying practice for years. It’s knee-jerk. It’s easy. It’s boring.Worst of all, it suggests a false equivalency.Watergate was serious business. It involved a pernicious and far-reaching abuse of power by the president of the United States and his minions.
Witness recent Apple-related issues, like “antennagate” or “glassgate” to see just how far this has gotten out of hand. Rem Reider is absolutely right. It should stop. But it won’t. Because many journalists are lazy, many of their readers are lazy and now we’re all conditioned to expect “gate” to be attached to every little trivial pissant thing that happens. This has been happening for a long time.
∞ Interview: Adobe discusses Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro
Adobe made a very smart move on Wednesday offering disgruntled Final Cut Pro users an easy way to switch to Premiere Pro for their video editing needs. I sat down with Premiere’s product manager to discuss the market and what’s happening with Premiere Pro and what effect Final Cut Pro X has had on its business. (more…)
∞ Apple posts Final Cut Pro X FAQ
Apple has posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for Final Cut Pro X, its recently released pro video editing software. The FAQ seeks to answer some questions that users transitioning to the new software have asked. (more…)
∞ Blizzard makes World of Warcraft free, up to level 20
Blizzard has announced World of Warcraft “Starter Edition,” a new version of the game that is free to play – up to a point. Gamers who download the software will be able to play as much as they want, but their characters are capped at level 20 until they purchase the full game. (more…)
June 28, 2011
∞ Vox ships the Night Train 50 tube amplifier
The Night Train 50 features an EL34 based, Class AB amplifier design delivering 50 Watts of power through 2 channels. The preamp stage is equipped with four 12AX7 vacuum tubes. The Night Train 50 is a two-channel design. The BRIGHT channel borrows its design from the Night Train NT15H, while the GIRTH channel utilizes an extra pre-amp tube for added crunch. Each channel offers Bass, Middle, Treble and Gain controls. The BRIGHT channel provides a foot-switchable THICK mode that bypasses the EQ to boost the gain. The Master section includes the traditional Master Volume and the VOX Tone Cut control, plus a new TIGHT switch, for use with either channel. The TIGHT mode attenuates the low-frequency range, adding more focus to the low end, providing even more sonic possibilities.
Vox just has such a classic sound. Love it.
∞ Adobe welcomes Final Cut Pro users with open arms
Apple has been dealing with some complaints from Final Cut Pro X users who feel the new application is not up to the professional level they’ve come to expect from the app. Not surprisingly, Adobe is stepping up to welcome those dissatisfied users to Premiere Pro. (more…)
∞ Twelve South intros new BookArc for MacBook Pro
One of my favorite Apple peripheral makers, Twelve South, on Tuesday introduced a newly redesigned BookArc made especially for Apple’s most recent refresh to its line of MacBook Pro laptops. The new BookArc costs $49.99. (more…)
∞ Google Swiffy converts Flash files to HTML5
Swiffy converts Flash SWF files to HTML5, allowing you to reuse Flash content on devices without a Flash player (such as iPhones and iPads). Swiffy currently supports a subset of SWF 8 and ActionScript 2.0, and the output works in all Webkit browsers such as Chrome and Mobile Safari. If possible, exporting your Flash animation as a SWF 5 file might give better results.
Good to see Google doing this.
∞ LoNero releases its latest 'Guitarcore' album to iTunes
I met Bill Lonero a number of years ago and have been an avid fan of his music ever since. His latest album, J.F.L., is the best I’ve heard from the band to date. (more…)
∞ Review: Yamaha DTX-950 Digital Drums
It may be difficult to get over being skeptical about digital drum kits — and it was — until a friend, and well-known performer, recommended (and, in fact, insisted) investigating the Yamaha DTX-950. His point was simply that they are not like anything else on the market and that playing them would remove any skepticism. As a drummer, audio engineer, and a technology writer, the mission was to be impressed. (more…)