Wednesday, September 13, 2006
News
Apple Video Move Divides Industry
Macs And Grant Site Just Don't Click
Scientists, scholars and others planning to use their Macintosh computers to submit grant proposals to the federal government in the months ahead should be prepared for a rocky, or at least error-message-littered, road ahead.
New UI Showdown: Apple Vs. TiVo
As Apple has demonstrated time and again, it's all about the interface.
Apple Expo: Griffin Reveals Trio Of iPod Add-Ons
Apple Plans To Inhabit Living Room
Warning To Jobs: Taming Hollywood Not Easy
The king of digital music surprised no one with its new movie download strategy. Now comes the hard part.
Apple Posts QuickTime Webcast Of iTunes/iPod Event
Disney CEO Happy With Apple's Movie Strategy
Apple's Cover Flow Is An Import
The technology for iTunes' new album-browsing technology was the work of two people outside the company. However, Apple, spotting an idea it liked, has purchased the technology.
Apple Releases New iPod Nano
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled a new, "completely remastered" version of the iPod nano on Tuesday at a special press event in San Francisco, sporting a new case that comes in a variety of colors.
Apple Rolls Out New iPod Shuffle
Speaking at a special press event in San Francisco on Tuesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs annonced a new version of the company's iPod shuffle, featuring a smaller enclosure and a new connnection for charging and transferring music.
Movie Downloads Highlight iTunes 7 Overhaul
Apple jumped into the movie retail business Tuesday, offering digital downloads of motion pictures through its iTunes store at prices ranging from $9.99 to $14.99.
New iPods Get Bigger, Brighter, Cheaper
Apple on Tuesday announced an update to its top-of-the-line iPod models, releasing two new models with brighter displays, enhanced battery life, new earbuds, and new software features, including games.
Apple Previews iTV Home Theater Playback Box
Jobs described the forthcoming $299 set-top box as "completing the package" of Apple's multimedia offerings. Resembling a squat Mac mini, the iTV will use wireless networking to stream movies and TV shows from iTunes to a television.
Opinion
New Apple Announcement
The most important element of Apple's announcement today is that the iPod interface is now viewable on your hDTV.
A 'Mistake' Hollywood Had Better Start Making
The record labels appear to have accepted that their job is to sell music, as opposed to selling plastic discs with music recorded on them. Most movie studios still appear confused on that point.
iTunes: Is There A Standard UI Element Left?
Is Steve Jobs, Bill gates 2.0?
iTunes/iPod/iTV - First Take On Apple's Announcements
The key to the announcement is understanding that there's a seamless end to end experience for consumers for consuming digital content both within the home and outside the home. It also re-enforces the Apple vision of the universe with the PC serving as a hub for digital content in the home and it all works together seamlessly.
Aqua Is Dead, Long Live Aqua!
Apple seems to use iTunes as a test-bed for new user interface design styles, and iTunes 7 brings with it an almost complete overhaul the Aqua look we have all grown to love/hate/tolerate.
Return Of The Black Tax?
Apple's again tapped the premium for people who'll be willing to pay more to get the colors of their choice with the new iPod nanos.
Review
First Look: iTunes 7
New views, better iPod controls highlight substantial upgrade.
Sidetrack
An iTunes International Store Is Long Overdue
Yes, I know negotiating licensing rights for music is difficult. Negotiating licensing rights for television shows and movies is probably even more difficult, as you'd probably not have to talk to studios and distribution companies, but you'd have to talk to censorship boards too. So, I'm not asking for that.
However, restricting iPod games and dial-tones (it is coming, right?) by countries is plainly not maximizing your profits, wouldn't you agree Steve Jobs? Furthermore, many of Audible's audio books are already available outside of iTunes Store's geographical reach, and many indie artists are probably going to sign up immeidately once Apple launches the iTunes International Store.
So, how about it, Steve? Negotiations can still continue on a country-by-country basis, but an International Store can probably be opened with relatively ease and minimal expense right now. There are so many of us that are waiting with open wallets, ready to be locked into the Apple platform willingly.
Wintel
Coming Zune
Once again, Microsoft is chasing Apple in the hipster hardware game. Will it make sweet music this time?
