Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Top Stories
iTunes Europe Sells 800,000 Songs In First Week
On Wednesday, Apple announced that during its full week of operation, the iTunes Music Store sold 800,000 songs to users in UK, Germany and France. More than 450,000 songs were sold in the UK alone.
News
Jogger Blasts 'Skipping' iPod
Apple maintains that skipping iPods are rare.
Apple: H.264 Codec Coming To QuickTime
Apple on Wednesday announced that the H.264/Advanced Video Codec will be incorporated in its QuickTime software in an upcoming release next year. The video technology has been ratified by the DVD Forum for use in the High Definition DVD format.
Quaker Valley Schools Computer Lease Approved
The school board last night voted 8-0 to approve a $3.1 million contract with Apple to lease about 1,200 laptop and desktop computers. Quaker Valley had been providing laptops to students in grades three to 12 for use on a school wireless network and at home.
Microsoft, Apple Snub Consumer Freedom Coalition
A new coalition of citizens groups and representatives from the computer and telecommunications industry was launched today, with two notable absentees.
Apple, BMW Execs Talk About iPod Integration
"We are beginning a really big push into a world we all spend a lot of time in — our cars."
Apple To Open First Iowa Retail Store
Apple is planning to open a new retail store in West Des Monies, Iowa, at the upscale Jordan Creek Town Center.
Maine Schools Embracing Laptops As Tool
Maine's education commissioner has obtained assurances from at least 47 superintendents that they're ready to press forward with laptops in high schools this fall, giving her confidence that a deal can be struck with Apple.
Opinion
Dell Wants A Bigger Piece Of The School Pie; How Badly Does Apple?
It's past time for Apple to renew — really renew — its focus on the education market.
Apple's Interface Strategy: Building On The Familiar
Apple Needs The Independent Record Labels More Than They Need It, Because They'll Do Just Fine, Thanks, Through The Normal Sales Channels
If Apple doesn't widen its offerings, both musical and technical, then last week's launch may turn out to be one of the biggest missed opportunities in years.
Your Tiger Wish List
Let's take a look at your favorite features.
Review
Dressing Up Your iPod
This roundup includes only a small sampling of the various gadgets that are available for use with the iPod. As long as your wallet holds out, you can do all sorts of things with an iPod.
Of Macs And MIDI
We'll provide some background and show you how to use MIDI files to expand GarageBand's repertoire.
.Mac Travel Tips
Many people don't realize just how much they can do with that $99 subscription.
Tokens 1.1: Program Introduces Flexible, E-Mail-Based File-Sharing Scheme
In an intuitive way, Tokens 1.1 solves the problem of moving large files over the Internet. If creating a local FTP server is beyond your abilities, Tokens is an elegant alternative.
IDL 6.0: Convenience And Distrubtion Power Enhance Visualization Program
IDL offers data-visualization tricks not available in any other math application, and version 6.0 is significantly easier for newcomers to use.
Finale 2004 And Sibelius 3.1: Rival Music-Notation Packages Go Head-To-Head
Freeware Provides Music Data At A Glance
iTunes Track places a single line of text on your screen that lists the name and other information about the currently playing music on iTunes. That probably doesn't sound like a great idea. But iTunes Track has a treat in store.
You Synchronize 2.0: Popular Utility Gets A New Name, New Features, And A Speed Boost
It's still not as fast as some of its competitors, but its comparison methods and data safeguards offset its slower speed.
Voice Recording Magic With The iPod
This pocket jukebox is also a capble voice recorder. I'll walk you through the set-up, then show you some creative ideas (beyond recording biology lectures) for leveraging this capability.
Automounting Servers In Mac OS X
Worms 3D
Worms 3D brings a classic game to the third dimension fairly successfully. If you can forgive a few inconveniences here and there, Worms 3D is a honed, elegant game wrapped up in graphics, sound, movies, and details that just make it ooze personality.
Sidetrack
Here's your cut-and-fold paper model of the eMac.
Life Imitate Art, Or Is Art Too Real?
Here's a story about a Microsoft employee sending an e-mail to Bill Gates, and getting a real reply back, where Bill says he is indeed happy. And everyone celebrates after receiving the e-mail from Bill, and the e-mail got framed on the wall, and the Microsoft employee ended up on cloud nine.
What is interesting is one of the comments below: "Have I mistakenly stumbled across the fabled 'lost chapter from Microserfs'?"
Rumor Today: Signs Point to Major Overhaul of the Apple iMac
AppleInsider: The new iMac will reportedly sport single Power PC G5 processors at speeds below 2GHz and feature a completely redesigned enclosure.
Wintel
Microsoft Appoints A New IE Evangelist
Microsoft has boosted the prospects for some enhancements to Internet Explorer by appointing a new member to its product management team.