Friday, August 27, 2004
News
HP Printable Tattoos For iPod Introduced
Along with today's debut of the "Apple iPod from HP," Hewlett-Packard also introduced Printable Tattoos that enable music fans to personalize their iPod with album cover art from top bands and recording artists, as well as to create their own original artwork and photos.
HP Set To Launch Major iPod Ad Campaign
HP will kick off a new advertising campaign for its version of Apple's iPod during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
FSU To Sign Deal With Apple
In an effort to prevent illegal file sharing on campus, Florida State University is on the verge of finalizing a deal with Apple — a deal that would provide free iTunes software to students and allow them to download music for 99 cents per song.
Apple Mulls iPod Mini Cameras For UK Store
Apple and Yashica are currently in talks over a line of colour-coded digital cameras recently launched iPod mini range of portable music players.
Austin Songwriter Needs Just Guitar And iPod For Reno Show
Filling the air in the intimate Record Street Cafe's side room with both hushed and loud accoustic guitar playing, McFarland — from Austin, Texas — had a pretty unique backing band — an iPod, with everything from full drum tracks to pedal steel guitar.
Staff Changes At Apple Europe
Apple's regional sales director for the "rest of Europe", John Perkins, is to take over as counrty manager of Apple France.
Griffin EarJams Boost Bass In iPod Earbuds
Hewlett-Packard Debuts 'Apple iPod From HP'
The Apple iPod from HP appears to be identical to Apple's own fourth-generation iPod. HP is also selling the iPod at the same price as Apple.
Apple Releases AirPort Update
The update is recommended for all customers with AirPort Express base stations.
"Planet Of The Apes" Remix Made With iMovie
Using imovie, Roger Alford edits "Planet of the Apes" into a 30-minute episode of "The Twilight Zone," complete with fades where commercials would be, a perfectly appropriate closing narration by Rod Serling, and closing credits in the exact style of the classic TV show.
Laptops Will Still Be Allowed Home With SAD 9 Pupils
There were no increases in damage to the Apple iBooks directly attributable to home use.
Apple Stock Jumps Ahead Of HP iPod, iMac Launch
Shares of Apple Computer Inc. rose to an almost four-year high on Thursday ahead of the launch of Hewlett-Packard's version of the iPod digital music player and Apple's revamped iMac computer.
HP Giving Away G5, PowerBook, iMac, More
HP has launched an "Extreme Makeover" contest in which the company will give away more than US$40,000 worth of high-tech gear, including several Apple products.
BIRTV Expo Begins In Beijing — Apple Attends
One of the more important events in the Macintosh world in China, the BIRTV Exhibition for 2004, kicked off on August 25th.
Opinion
Shuffle Theory
Just a few weeks ago, I purchased a new 4th generation click-wheel iPod — and I haven't heard Fugazi once.
A Digital Divide
It would be better for consumers if Apple began licensing its digital rights management software, only because the iTunes Music Store will not be able to lock up access to all the copyrighted music in the world. But RealNetworks' conetnion that Apple is stifling freedom of choice is self-serving.
Review
Best Of Mac: The Best Text Editor On The Planet
Why BBEdit? Ask anyone who uses it. It's sweet.
Macs Are More Expensivve, Right?
Are PCs cheaper than Macs? No, despite what you read in the PC press, it's the other way around. Compare Apples to apples, and Macs are cheaper than PCs.
Sidetrack
What Failure Rate Do You Want To Start With?
A new train system in the UK is causing problems with commuters, with doors not opening at stations because of problems with satellite.
"Keep a sense of perspective on this," claims Southern spokesman. "We run over 1,700 services every day, day in, day out."
Well, keep a sense of perspective on this, Mr. Spokesman. Do we send new doctors into the field and tolerate them when the these new doctors kill one or two patients daily? Give them time, the doctors will get better.
Do we employ new cooks in restaurants, and have a few cases of food poisoning daily? Give them time, the cooks will get better.
Granted, this is no life-or-death situation here, but hey, we learnt in Computer Science 101 that when you introduce new systems, make sure you have fall-back plans that will work.
It will be a sad day when it is taken for granted that new systems will always not work perfectly. It will be a sad day when it is the norm for the actual users to be the beta testers.
"Ooops, sorry. I've just killed your husband. Sorry, but we will get better. New chef, you know? Here's a voucher for your next meal. See you again!"
Apple And DRM — Clueless, Or A Wink-Wink?
What a lot of people may not be aware of is that, all of the DRM or anti-priacy measures Apple implemented in iPod + iTunes can easily be broken. Whether it's the authorisation requirement of purchased tunes from iTMS, or the inability to copy songs from an iPod back to your computer, there are ways to defeat them.
Of course, Steve Jobs is probably aware of the fact that, there is no such thing as a fool-proof DRM. Ever.
