Apple Ipod Manila

Latest iTunes upgrade makes it easy to share your favorites

2009-09-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

by Walt Mossberg

Apple’s iTunes program is one of the most popular software products in the world. The company says hundreds of millions of copies of iTunes have been downloaded, far exceeding the 220 million iPod music players it has sold.

That’s because many people use iTunes to organize, play and buy music and videos on their computers, or to burn music CDs, even if they don’t own iPods or iPhones. Ironically, the vast majority of iTunes copies are on Windows PCs, not Apple’s own Macintosh computers, because Windows machines are much more numerous.

Last week, Apple released its ninth major version of iTunes – which first came out in January 2001, before the iPod even existed – and I’ve been testing it. This release is the biggest overhaul of the familiar program in recent years, with improvements in the look and functionality of each of the software’s three main portions: the media jukebox, the built-in store and the synchronization features that move media and applications to and from iPods and iPhones.

In my tests, performed on multiple Windows PCs and Macs, iTunes 9 worked as advertised, and I found it to be less cluttered, more intelligent and easier to use than the prior version. It synced music and videos properly for me using both an iPod Nano and an iPhone. It’s available as a free download at apple.com/itunes.

To me, the two biggest new features in iTunes 9 are something called Home Sharing and a new, easier way to organize the apps on an iPhone or iPod Touch.

For years, iTunes users have been able to wirelessly stream music from nearby computers running iTunes whose owners chose to share their music. But Home Sharing takes this one step further, allowing users to actually copy the song files from one computer to another.

Right inside iTunes, you can simply peer into the shared library on another computer set up to allow this, and then select the song you want and drag it into your own library. It doesn’t delete the original from the other computer.

In my tests, this worked perfectly with music, as well as TV shows, movies and audiobooks, and it worked between any combination of my PCs and Macs. You can even configure Home Sharing to automatically transfer to your library new media purchased on another shared computer.

But Home Sharing has limitations. It only works with a maximum of five computers. These computers must be on the same local network, not connected over the Internet. And they must be the same computers authorized to play copy-protected media you buy from Apple.

With 75,000 apps available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it has been easy to download so many that your device becomes cluttered, with numerous icons scattered among numerous screens in a manner that isn’t optimal.

There’s a way to move them around, or delete them, right on the device, but it’s clumsy, partly because you can’t see all the screens at once, and partly because it’s difficult to move an icon from a location on one screen to another location several screens away.

The new iTunes lets you organize your iPhone’s screen right on your computer

Now, in the new iTunes 9, when you plug in your device, the software displays an exact visual representation of your iPhone or Touch screens right on your computer, and allows you to rearrange them with your mouse. When you disconnect, the new arrangement is retained on the phone. It worked fine for me.

In iTunes 9, you also can create up to 12 automated “Genius Mixes” from your personal music library – essentially personal radio stations consisting of songs iTunes considers to be related, that play on and on. I enjoyed this feature, and found it generally made good choices.

There are also a number of small visual improvements throughout the program. In the jukebox, for instance, you can now locate all songs by a particular artist using a Column Browser – an optional left-hand column that lists the artists.

In the store, categories like music, movies and TV shows are now arrayed across the top, with drop-down menus for genres. The store also is generally better organized, with richer graphics, more white space and easier navigation.

A small touch of social networking, not exactly Apple’s historic strength, has been added to iTunes. From inside the store, you can post a link to a favorite title to either Facebook or Twitter, though this of course serves Apple by encouraging others to buy the title.

You can now buy special albums, called “iTunes LPs,” that attempt to replicate the experience of old vinyl albums by including lots of extra material. For instance, for one such title by the Doors, iTunes delivered to me liner notes, digital scans of old posters and set lists, plus photos and video interviews. Another, called Mayhem, by the singer/actor Tyrese Gibson, includes just one song, but also a vivid digital comic book with voiced dialogue.

However, these iTunes LPs take up a lot of space on your hard disk – about half a gigabyte each for the ones I tried.

Overall, iTunes 9 is a nice improvement on a much-used program.

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iTunes 9: Seven Features We'd Kill For

2009-09-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

by Nate Lanxon

1. Text messaging via iTunes

With the iPhone docked, we'd love to see a function that allowed us to send text messages via iTunes using the computer's keyboard. This is something you've been able to do with Nokia's PC Suite for years. But it would be even more useful on the iPhone, what with touchscreens not being geared towards the typing of novels.

2. HDD backup and import

In its recent life, iTunes has introduced a feature to backup your entire library to CD of DVD, but far more useful would be a one-click backup to a networked hard drive, which not only backed up your music and video, but also your playlists, ratings and play counts. And it would be in a format that could be imported back to PC or Mac with a single click.

If nothing else, people moving from PC to Mac would benefit enormously by not losing years of play data and ratings when making the switch. Do we sound bitter?

3. Sync to other MP3 players

Now the iTunes Store has dropped its DRM, the AAC files it sells are compatible with loads of other devices. The store may exist primarily to fuel the sale of iPods, but selling music to owners of non-Apple MP3 players would net Apple a small income and potentially lead to a conversion to the iPod world further down the line.

For this reason, we would like to see iTunes natively detect AAC-compatible music devices, and offer to transfer your DRM-free iTunes Store purchases to them. Yeah, plugins and hacks exist to do this already, but imagine a native function that worked like iPod syncing. Handy.

4. Complete restore from iPod

Simple one this: your Mac or PC blows up, but all your music is on your iPod or iPhone. Plug it into your new computer, fire up iTunes, and instead of installing fresh, choose to install from the iPod.

This would work a little like installing OS X from a Time Machine backup. iTunes would be installed first, then your MP3s, videos, play counts, ratings and playlists would be pulled from the iPod and loaded up into your library, and the iPod would automatically be synced.

Again, hacks and programs exist, but we want a native solution that handles playlists and whatnot as well.

5. Stream content from iTunes

This is a long shot, but extending Apple's Remote app to let you stream music over Wi-Fi (or even the Internet) would bring new meaning to the words 'flipping awesome'.

If that wasn't possible, backing up your library to Apple's MobileMe service would put your music into the cloud, accessible for streaming on the iPhone over 3G or Wi-Fi.

6. One-click DVD ripping

Ian Rendall from our forums suggests the ability to rip DVDs within iTunes, for instant transfer to the iPod or iPhone. Legally questionable, and highly unlikely, but no doubt useful.

7. Active folder monitoring

Twitter follower Richard Gunther suggests active folder monitoring. iTunes can create and modify folders within its directory, but what about the other way around? This feature would add anything to iTunes you drop in any folder within the iTunes music folder.

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Apple launches new iPods and we take a look back at it's successful iPod history

2009-09-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

by Andrea

Last night Apple once again did what they do best and launched a new range of iPod players.

First on the list was the new iPod Nano with a built in video camera that lets users capture footage when they're on the move, and upload the clip to video-sharing sites such as YouTube. It also has an FM radio and voice recorder .The video Nano 8GB can store up to 2,000 songs and will cost £115, while the 16GB version is priced at £135.

"Video is exploding in popularity, we want a piece of that," Steve Jobs said.
Next on the Apple play list was a larger capacity version of the iPod touch, which at 64GB can store up to 14,000 songs. This will cost £299.

The company also updated its iTunes software, and showed off a a new service, iTunes LP, which allows users to download cover art, sleeve notes, and other content, such as artist videos and interviews, when they download an album from the iTunes store.

"Some of us are old enough to have bought LPs," said Mr Jobs, who promised that the new service would recreate some of the joys of listening to old records.
However, if you don't fancy any of these new gadgets then you're in luck. The company also lowered the prices of existing iPods.

We think Apple has done amazingly well over the years, bringing out newer products, and in my view, revolutionizing the way we listen to music.

With this new announcement, we decide to look back at the history of this music device, which has gone from brick to slick over the years.

Read on over the jump for more information.

Apple introduced the first-generation iPod classic on October 23, 2001. The first iPod had a 5 GB hard drive capable of storing 1,000 songs encoded using MP3. It also had a 1.8" hard drive, compared to other manufacturers that used a 2.5" hard drives at the time. The iPod had a rated battery life of 12 hours.

The second generation iPod classic was introduced on July 17, 2002 and had the same body style as the first generation. The hold switch was redesigned, a cover was added to the FireWire port, and the mechanical wheel was replaced with a touch-sensitive wheel.

On April 18, 2003, Apple revamped its iPod classic, giving it the very original name of the third-generation iPod classic. Thinner than the previous models, the third generation models replaced the FireWire port with a new Dock Connector.

Released on February 20, 2004, The iPod mini kept the same scroll wheel as the 3rd generation ipod but because of its size the four touch buttons that were beneath the screen were moved beneath the wheel itself. It was the height and width of a business card and was built around a 1 inch 4 GB hard drive.

A second Generation ipod mini was introduced in February 2005 with a new chipset, 6 GB version, and much longer battery life of 18 hours. This year also saw the launch of the ipod photo.

The ipod shuffle was created in 2005 to keep the price of the iPod down. To do this Apple scrapped the scroll wheel and the LCD display and upgraded the device's shuffle mode. This was the year the first iPod Nano was launched and was intended to replace the iPod mini which was discontinued the same day the nano was released.

The old Nano was replaced in September 2006. The new one was still tiny but tougher and dressed in aluminium. It had a brighter screen and an improved battery life and came in three capacities and six different colors; 4 GB blue, green,pink, and silver; 2 GB silver, and 8 GB black. This year the first iPod Touch was also launched.

The iphone. In my opinion one of Apple's best product, this device was launched in January 2007. It didn't have a scroll wheel but used the same touch screen technology as the iPod Touch and let people make calls.

In 2008, we saw the iPod Touch Second generation and iPod Nano 4th and 2009 bought us the iPhone 3GS and our most recent announcements.

We expect to see a lot more from Apple in the future.

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iPod Touch: The Pocket Computer for Motivation

2009-09-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

by restlesslimbs

The iPod Touch as the Motivator in My Pocket

The iPod touch is more than just an mp3 player, it is literally a pocket-sized computer. iPod touch applications are constantly being developed to expand the possible uses of the device. One of the functions my iPod touch serves is being my pocket personal motivator.

Photos - Native iPod App

I use the photos application and slide show as my portable vision board. The purpose of the vision board is to have a visual aid for holding my intentions to be or have something. I collect and create images in a folder I've named "vision board" on my computer and sync it to my iPod touch with iTunes. I play the images in the slideshow to keep the vision fresh in my mind.

Goalkeep - $3.99 from App Store

Goalkeep is a simple application that keeps track of what I am doing each day to acheive my goals. With Goalkeep I create a list of goals and for each goal there is a calendar. I check off every day that I work toward my goal and write a comment about what I did. The Goalkeep app motivates with a congratulatory screen that tells me the number of days streak I am on when I check off a day. I like that I can go back to any of my checked days and my note for the day is displayed.

Note: I generally do not pay for iPod applications but the Goalkeep app is a worthy exception.

DoBot ToDos - Free from App Store

Once I write down my to-dos I am much more likely to get them done. This simple and free application is an almost perfect to-do list. With it I can categorize different lists and set due dates. The only features I would like to see in this app would be access to the iPod dictionary for auto-correction and the ability to nest tasks within tasks.

There are more than a few free to-do apps available from the app store. I like DoBot ToDos because others that I tried turned out to be overly complicated.

Music - Native iPod App

I have motivational mp3s stored on my iPod for when I need to get my mind in order. Some of my mp3s are meditations and some are lessons that remind me that I am in control over my future success. With my iPod in my pocket, I am never far from a positive message.

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Why There Is No Camera In the iPod Touch and Why That Sucks

2009-09-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

By Jesus Diaz

I don't expect Apple to deliver on rumors. After all, most rumors are crap, even John Gruber's iPod touch camera prediction. But that doesn't stop me from asking questions: Why the hell there is no camera on the iPod touch?

• No Space:

The iPod touch is much thinner than the iPhone. There is not a lot of empty space in there, so maybe this is a technical decision. Perhaps Apple couldn't find a part that could fit in the current case, and they didn't want to alter the touch's physical dimensions. But then again, if the minuscule iPod nano can get a camera, why not the touch? Perhaps it's because the nano got a pretty weak camera.

• Features Mix:

Apple could possibly have fit the iPod nano camera in the iPod touch, and kept the price. After all, it's a super-tiny, ultra-cheap VGA camera. But maybe that acronym the key: It's VGA. Low resolution. The nano doesn't even do still photography because it will look like crap—video is more forgiving. People buying the iPod touch would be expecting a lot more. I know I would. So while there's the possibility of a camera in the iPod touch, perhaps is not the camera Apple thinks would be right for it—namely, the iPhone's camera.

• Technical Difficulties:

This was one of the late-minute rumors: Apple had technical difficulties during manufacturing, so the rumor said the iPod touch—with camera—was going to be delayed. If that was the case, Apple would have just announced the iPod touch with camera, and get it to the stores later. However, the iPod touch without camera is here, available immediately, which means that they have been churning them out the factory for a long long time. It doesn't seem like a last minute change of plans to me.

• Pricing Issues:

Apple wanted to have a $199 iPod touch, and keep the prices of the bigger units while increasing capacity. This sounds more reasonable than the technical excuses. The 8GB version, however, is just the old one, which is being manufactured like always to get that "low" price. No camera could be added to it, unless Apple wanted to sacrifice on the price front. Only the 32 and 64GB versions have internal hardware modifications. But would Apple have an iPod touch with camera and one without? Seems unlikely for a company obsessed with uniformity and streamlining.

• Market Segmentation:

Here things get more interesting. Apple said they wanted to compete with the Flip, which is a sub-$150 device. It's almost impossible to get the iPod touch to that price level while keeping the large touchscreen, the wireless capabilities, and the strong processing guts that the iPhone OS needs. Not right at these prices—at least, not without affecting their profit margins negatively. The iPod nano, however, can fit the Flip competition role nicely. This is a probable explanation.

• iPhone Cannibalization:

The other explanation is cannibalization. This is a good one too. Add a camera to the iPod touch and, boom, the iPhone loses yet another advantage over its lesser brother. So maybe putting the iPhone's camera into the iPod touch is feasible. Apple may just be protecting the market for the iPhone.

• Feature Evolution:

This, to me, is the most reasonable explanation. Apple is getting oh-so-lazy. Or, better said, greedy. They are the number one player in every single category. They own the market. And they know the competition is just catching on. So instead of releasing an iPhone that is way better than the previous model, they release the modest upgrade of the iPhone 3GS. And instead of releasing an iPod touch with a nice camera, they just slap some new software, slightly updated guts and more memory.

That's what you get when a company owns an empire, and the other tiny people are trying to catch up with an already phenomenal device. The company gets slow and complacent, and does the minimum to keep its products ahead.

So no, I don't expect Apple to deliver on rumors. But it pisses me off that they don't do their best every single time. That they get boring and lazy. And yes, perhaps it's not in their best economic interest to release insanely great products in every single update, but the lack of camera on the iPod touch is sure going to be a letdown for a huge number of people.

Some other people won't agree. Some cheerleaders would even go onto their soap boxes, saying that "Apple is firing on all cylinders." Maybe they are. It's just that they left the Porsche GT2 at home, and they are now driving an old Mini.

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Apple iPod nano with video recorder (5th Generation)

2009-09-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

by Tim Gideon

Remarkably, the latest iPod nano looks almost identical to its predecessor, but this player packs so much more into its small frame: A video camera, an FM tuner (a first for iPods!), a pedometer for joggers, and a larger screen.

Priced at $149 for 8GB and at $179 for 16GB ($20 less than last year's 16GB player), this nano is more affordable and capable than any other similarly priced player out there, so it's our latest Editors' Choice.

With a new polished and colorful paint job (you can choose from seven bright hues), the new nano is one good-looking device. At 3.6 by 1.5 by 0.2 inches (HWD) and a mere 1.3 ounces, it's truly identical in size to the previous (4th-generation) nano.

The screen, however, is significantly larger—2.2 inches as opposed to 2 (it may not sound like a lot, but on such a tiny player, that 0.2 inch makes a big difference), and its 376-by-240-pixel resolution is a bit higher too—the display on 4th-gen nano is 320-by-240.

The big news here is the inclusion of a video camera, a mic, and a built-in speaker on the back panel. At the bottom left on the back of the player, the orientation of the camera is slightly awkward. Since the player is so small, it can be tricky to start recording without a digit slipping into the frame. It's nothing practice can't fix, but my first few videos were full of fingers.

The proprietary connector (now on the left) and the earphone jack (on the right) on the bottom panel of the player are reversed, but the scroll wheel remains the same size and is in the same spot below the display as on the previous nano.

The included (and terribly underwhelming-sounding) earbuds act as an antenna for the new FM radio, and the device also ships with a proprietary cable for computer syncing, a plastic dock adapter, and, of course, two Apple logo stickers.

File support on the nano is standard for Apple. You can play AAC (both old Apple DRM and unprotected files), MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV files. There's still no FLAC or OGG support. Video is limited to H.264 (this is also the format the video camera shoots in), and MPEG-4. For photos, JPEG and most other common photo formats are supported.

One note: While the new iTunes LP feature, which includes video, song lyrics, and liner notes with album purchases is very cool, you can only experience those extras in iTunes, not on the nano (same goes for the touch, classic, and iPhone too).

The menus haven't changed much in appearance—a small space below the main menu displays a visual for whatever menu option is currently highlighted—scrolling album covers if you're on Music, or the last radio station you heard if you're on Radio, for instance.

Cover Flow still pops up when you select music and turn the player sideways to landscape view, but since there's no touch screen, like on the iPod touch or the iPhone, you can only scroll through your albums using the wheel, which dulls the experience a bit, but it's still the best user interface you'll find among comparably priced players.

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A closer look at iPhone 3G S Cortex-A8 ARM and PowerVR chips

2009-06-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

By Prince McLean

The iPhone 3G S uses a Samsung processor incorporating an ARM Cortex-A8 processor core and Imagination's PowerVR SGX graphics core to achieve a significant new class of speed while remaining backwardly compatible with existing iPhone apps.

The use of the Cortex-A8 core has been cited by multiple sources, including an analysis by AnandTech. This makes the new iPhone 3G S very similar in terms of processor design to the Palm Pre, although Palm's phone uses a device built by Texas Instruments.

ARM Processors

The Cortex-A8 is a seventh generation CPU core design licensed by ARM to a variety of manufacturers. The vast majority of all smartphones, handheld games and other mobile devices use ARM processors.

The Cortex-A8 class is referred to in general terms as ARMv7, not to be confused with ARM7, which was actually a third generation ARMv3 used in the Apple eMate300 a decade ago. Previous generations of iPhone and iPod touch used an ARM11 processor, part of the ARMv6 generation.

Apple partnered with its British equivalent Acorn in the late 80s to adapt Acorn's RISC processor for use in mobile devices, forming the ARM partnership. Apple subsequently used a third generation ARM6 in its first Newton MessagePad in the early 90s.

By the time the company discontinued its Newton and eMate devices in 1998, ARM processors had become the most popular mobile processors available, in part due to ARM's licensing of its highly efficient technology to a variety of chip manufacturers. Steve Jobs sold batches of Apple's shares in the ARM partnership at a huge profit to help keep the company afloat.

When the company introduced the iPod in 2001, it used a fourth generation ARM7TDMI processor. The latest generations of the AirPort Extreme also use an embedded ARM processor.

ARM CPU generations

S is for speed

The Cortex-A8 in the iPhone 3G S sports "a two-issue in-order core, capable of fetching, decoding and executing two RISC instructions in parallel," according to AnandTech's report, which also notes, "the ARM11 processor in the iPhone/iPhone 3G has a basic vector floating point unit, but the A8 adds a much more advanced SIMD engine called NEON. The A8 also has twice as many double precision FP registers as the ARM11."

"The combination of higher clock speeds, more cache and a dual-issue front end results in a much faster processor," the report states. "Apple claims the real world performance of the iPhone 3GS can be up to 2x faster than the iPhone 3G, and I believe that’s quite feasible."

The report states that if the processor is running at 600MHz, it would draw three times the power of existing iPhone processors, but notes that in typical use, the device spends a lot of time in standby. Separately, Apple has detailed technologies for maximizing the performance of a processor by running it at less than its top rated clock speed while scheduling tasks more efficiently. This was done with the original iPhone.

As a result of new efficiency measures, Apple claims significantly longer battery life over the current iPhone 3G when using the iPhone 3G S for general processing tasks despite the big leap in performance and the extra power consumed.

Apple has increased the maximum rated battery life of the iPhone 3G S in WiFi internet browsing from 6 hours to 9 hours, video playback from 7 to 8 hours, and audio playback from 24 to 30 hours. Ratings for 3G browsing and talk time are unchanged, as the baseband processor that handles the intensive work of communicating with 3G data networks is independent from the general purpose ARM processor. Apple has bumped up rated 2G GSM talk time from 10 hours to 12.

SGX is for graphics

Just as ARM processor cores are the most widely used in mobile devices, Imagination Technology's PowerVR graphics cores are also extremely popular in embedded appliations, commonly appearing as integrated together with an ARM processor on System on a Chip (SoC) devices.

PowerVR started out in the late 90s as a rival to 3dfx in the desktop PC graphics processor market, with both makers also vying for inclusion into the Sega Dreamcast video console in 1998. However, by 2001 the company's third generation PowerVR began falling behind rival products from ATI and NVIDIA.

Imagination subsequently withdrew from the desktop market to focus on embedded graphics components with its highly efficient PowerVR MBX technology, which, like ARM, the company has widely licensed to a variety of device makers, including Apple.

PowerVR GPU generations

The latest technology generation is branded PowerVR SGX. Anandtech reports that the new graphics architecture improves over MBX in part in that "pixel, vertex and geometry instructions are executed by a programmable shader engine, which Imagination calls its Universal Scalable Shader Engine (USSE)."

The report also states that Imagination's new SGX graphics cores range "from the PowerVR SGX 520 which only has one USSE pipe to the high end SGX 543MP16 which has 64 USSE2 pipes (4 USSE2 pipes per core x 16 cores). The iPhone 3GS, I believe, uses the 520 - the lowest end of the new product offering." It has not yet been confirmed what version of the SGX design the new iPhone 3G S uses.

However, the report noted that "in its lowest end configuration with only one USSE pipe running at 200MHz, the SGX can push through 7M triangles per second and render 250M pixels per second. That’s 7x the geometry throughput of the iPhone 3G and 2.5x the fill rate. Even if the SGX ran at half that speed, we’d still be at 3.5x the geometry performance of the iPhone 3G and a 25% increase in fill rate. Given the 65nm manufacturing process, I’d expect higher clock speeds than what was possible on the MBX-Lite. Also note that these fill rates take into account the efficiency of the SGX’s tile based rendering engine."

Apple's video introduction of the new phone indicates significantly faster launching of and switching between applications and speedier browser rendering and other operations. Overall the company indicates up to a 2x performance improvement.

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iPhone 3G - The Fastest and Most Powerful iPhone Ever

2009-06-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Meet the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet. iPhone 3G S features video recording, Voice Control, up to 32GB of storage, and more.

The Fastest iPhone Ever

The first thing you’ll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view email attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to 2x faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G.

Video

Images of the iPhone 3G S camera's tap to focus feature and the video camera interface.

Now you can shoot video, edit it, and share it — all on your iPhone 3G S. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes.

3-Megapixel Camera

The new 3-megapixel camera takes great still photos, too, thanks to built-in autofocus and a handy new feature that lets you tap the display to focus on anything (or anyone) you want.

Voice Control

Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask.

Compass

With a built-in digital compass, iPhone 3G S can point the way. Use the new Compass app, or watch as it automatically reorients maps to match the direction you’re facing.

Landscape Keyboard

Want more room to type on the intelligent software keyboard? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari.

Messages

Send messages with text, video, photos, audio, locations, and contact information. You can even forward one or more messages to others.

Search

Find what you’re looking for across your iPhone, all from one convenient place. Spotlight searches all your contacts, email, calendars, and notes, as well as everything in your iPod.

Accessibility

iPhone 3G S offers accessibility features to assist users who are visually or hearing impaired. These features include the VoiceOver screen reader, a Zoom feature, White on Black display options, Mono Audio, and more.

Internet Tethering

Surf the web from practically anywhere. Now you can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop.

Voice Memos

Capture and share a thought, a memo, a meeting, or any audio recording on the go with the new Voice Memos application.

Nike + iPod

iPhone includes built-in Nike + iPod support. Just slip the Nike + iPod Sensor (available separately) into your Nike+ shoe and start your workout.

Stocks

Stocks on iPhone shows you charts, financial details, and headline news for any stock you choose. Rotate iPhone to see even more detailed information.

YouTube

Watch YouTube videos wherever you are. Log in to your YouTube account to save and sync bookmarks and rate your favorites.

Everything you love about iPhone.

Phone, iPod, and Internet device in one, iPhone 3G S offers desktop-class email, an amazing Maps application, and Safari — the world’s most advanced mobile web browser. And your iPhone does even more when you add apps from the App Store.

iPhone 3G S

The fastest, most powerful iPhone yet.
$199.00 16GB / $299.00 32GB

    * Improved performance
    * 3-megapixel autofocus camera
    * Video recording
    * Voice Control
    * Digital compass
    * Cut, Copy & Paste
    * MMS23
    * Spotlight Search
    * Landscape keyboard
    * Voice Memos

iPhone 3G

New features. New price.
$99.00 8GB

    * 2-megapixel camera
    * Cut, Copy & Paste
    * MMS23
    * Spotlight Search
    * Landscape keyboard
    * Voice Memos

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What's up with Apple's laptops?

2009-06-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

By Seb Janacek

This week's keynote at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference threw up few surprises.

A few developers nearly threw up their breakfasts as their on-stage demos failed to work properly but, by and large, there was nothing that hadn't been predicted or leaked.

The pleasant news was the reasonable pricing of Apple's operating system update, Snow Leopard. Largely about stability and performance tweaks, the upgrade will cost just $29, compared to $129 for previous iterations.

The mid-June launch of the new iPhone and the iPhone 3.0 software update (which also covers the iPod Touch) was broadly predicted.

The most interesting announcement was made towards the start of the keynote, with the unveiling of the new laptop range.

Apple released its new range of unibody aluminium MacBooks and MacBook Pros last autumn - yet already here was a significant upgrade.

The upgrade includes the usual speed bump for processors, storage space and RAM. It also features new battery technology that Apple claims will keep you going for around seven hours.

What was really interesting, though, was what wasn't announced.

Back in the late 1990s, one of the first things Steve Jobs addressed on his return to the company was Apple's confused and disjointed product portfolio. Until his return the company had a maelstrom of competing product groups with little coherence or governance.

Jobs soon rationalized the product strategy and cut the Mac into four segments: pro desktop, pro laptop, consumer desktop and consumer laptop.

Since then, additional products have come and gone with relative degrees of success and failure (such as the MacBook Air and Cube, respectively) but the four segments have remained steadfast as the foundation of the company's Mac strategy.

Today's MacBook announcement clearly leaves one of the most commercially successful segments of the strategy in recent years looking distinctly bare: consumer laptop.

The migration of the 13-inch aluminium MacBook to the MacBook Pro brand leaves just one MacBook in the consumer laptop category - the white plastic model that was first released way back in 2006.

This means the category in need of an overhaul. There are a number of options here.

Apple could leave it as it is, or reintroduce additional plastic models. They were hugely successful but are both long in the tooth from a design perspective and lack the more 'green' recyclable aluminium and glass elements.

Another option is for Apple to introduce a new range of MacBook computers. Given the smallest MacBook Pro now features a 13-inch screen, we may soon see a range of smaller computers.

I suspect one of the reasons for the transition of the MacBook into the Pro family was the lack of differentiation between the ranges. This may well be more of a problem going forward.

There is a current trend of computing that may fit into this category and that is the so-called netbook.

I've written before on the unlikely prospects for an Apple-branded netbook. Both CEO Jobs and acting CEO Tim Cook dismissed the idea while admitting they had some "interesting ideas" for the product space.

Rumors have abounded over various consumer-targeted offerings for Apple, and given yesterday's announcement, the time may be coming where the company shows its hand.

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School to hand free Apple iPod Touch to every pupil

2009-06-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Teachers at a Sunderland academy have gone high-tech in a bid to replace traditional teaching methods. Academy 360 has given staff Apple iPhones and plans to give similar technology to pupils.

The school is researching ways to use the Internet on the computer's applications as a learning tool.

School bosses say youngsters today are perfectly at home with mobile phones, Nintendo Wiis, and PlayStations and many of them spend hours a day chatting on social networking sites.

Academy 360 is working with the University of Hull to instruct teachers in the technology young people use.

Teachers are being encouraged to explore the tools it offers them and put forward suggestions of how it could be included in the curriculum.

Chief executive of Academy 360 Paul Prest believes activities such as blogs, Google and games could be used to teach students.

He hopes to give each pupil an iTouch hand set which has the same features as the teachers' equipment but without the phone.

And he aims to bring the new teaching practice into lessons at the Pennywell academy when the new term starts in September.

He said: "Academy 360 is working to provide a truly modern and innovative learning environment, where our teachers are constantly refreshing their skills to ensure that they are in touch with their students.

"This programme is part of a wider agenda of inspiring our community and presents a fantastic opportunity for Academy 360's team to be part of a new learning process that will truly engage our young people, delivering a teaching approach that is centred around them."

A college in Kent has already introduced a similar scheme hundreds of free iPods being handed out to its pupils so they can listen to lectures at their own leisure.

Mr Prest said: "This is not just about iPods and iPhones it's about 21st century education.

"The world has changed significantly and young people use an awful lot of technology

"So we have been asking how we can make that leap of faith and bring this into the classroom."

He demonstrated to the Echo how the iPhone could be used to convert kilometres into miles and English language into French.

Mr Prest also said plans were already in place to make sure pupils would be safe from the dangers of exploring the internet.

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Why Apple Could Play It Cool

2009-06-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

by Brian Caulfield

The company is still on a roll and doesn't need to unveil a flashy new product at Monday's developers conference.

BURLINGAME, Calif. -- Some think Apple should build a television set. Others think Apple should consider a netbook computer. Maybe it will even build a gaming console. Apple doesn't talk about its future products. But at least one developer creating software for the company's iPhone thinks Apple may be in no rush to leap into new businesses.

And considering Apple's ( AAPL - news - people ) shares are up nearly 70% this year, Tapulous Chief Executive Bart Decrem has a point. His take: Expect Apple to double down on its hits, rather than spreading its bets around. Tapulous is the company behind "Tap Tap Revolution," one of the iPhone's most popular applications (see "Tapping Into iPhone Games").
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Apple has plenty to do with the iPhone right now. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has been signing distribution deals for the iPhone at a frantic pace. And the company is working with more than 25,000 developers to manage the release of an ambitious new operating system and development platform for the phone. Apple may see no need to take on more right now. "Apple has been pretty conservative about how they build out a family of products," Decrem says.

Decrem has history on his side. After Apple introduced the original iPod in October 2001, it waited until January 2004 to add a second model to its lineup. By then, Apple was on its third iteration of the original iPod. Likewise, Apple may opt to introduce new models to its two-year-old iPhone line at a deliberate pace in an effort to grab as much of the smart phone market as it can, rather than chasing wild new opportunities. "My fundamental belief is that Apple will broaden its lead in the next few months," Decrem says. "They may grab a huge share of next-generation mobile."

Then there's the online rumor mill, for what that's worth. With just hours to go before Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference begins Monday in San Francisco, a number of blogs are claiming the iPhone will get an upgrade, not a makeover. Among the most talked about new features: a faster processor, more memory and new applications such as a compass and the ability to record video. Some blogs were even circulating photos of what could be Apple's next iPhone.

In fact, the biggest news Monday might not be a product at all. If Steve Jobs makes a cameo appearance--he's been on a medical leave since January--Apple can afford to play it cool, because the rest of us surely won't.

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Jobs may spark move in Apple shares on Monday

2009-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

By Clare Baldwin

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A surprise appearance by Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs at the company's annual developer conference could boost its stock on Monday, but his absence might trigger a bigger move in the other direction.

The Wall Street Journal kicked off speculation of an early return by the ailing Jobs, who had said he would be out until the end of June. Blogs and other media jumped on the report that the CEO could appear at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco on Monday.

Jobs, 54, the quintessential man in black, founded Apple, rescued it from mediocrity in the late 1990s, launched the iPod and the iPhone and is seen as its heart and soul.
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Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek sees a rally of 1 to 5 percent in Apple's stock if Jobs makes an appearance, but no downside if he doesn't.

Global Equities Research senior analyst Trip Chowdhry said Apple's stock will likely remain high if Jobs appears, but could sell off as much as 10 percent if he doesn't, a scenario he finds more likely.

But the company's strong performance while Jobs has been recuperating indicates he is no longer crucial to the company's success, Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall said.

Stock in the Cupertino-based company closed at $144.67, about 85 percent ahead of January's 52-week low of $78.20. But it was up less than 1 percent on Friday after news that Jobs might return early.

"It's not just about Steve Jobs," Marshall said. Investors are "very comfortable" with Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook as Apple's next CEO, he added.

BMO Capital Markets analyst Keith Bachman said a Jobs cameo would strengthen Apple shares, but less than in the past.

"If he made a cameo appearance on Monday and the wind didn't blow right through him, the stock would go up," he said, but the size of the rally would depend on other factors such as announcements regarding Apple's iPhone.

Apple's stock is historically volatile during the company's June developer conference. It dropped about 7 percent over the course of the conference in 2008 and about 4 percent in 2007.

"If this had happened one or two years before, the stock would have (had) huge volatility. But I think investors are conditioned to the fact that Steve's health is a variable that needs to be dealt with on an ongoing basis," Bachman said.

Apple managers are trying to coordinate Jobs' return with a product launch or public event, the Journal reported, but cited sources that Jobs is "one real sick guy."

AllThingsD, a website dedicated to "news, analysis and opinion about the digital revolution," speculated that Jobs, who is known for ending presentations with "one more thing," might himself be the surprise at the Monday keynote.

Wired.com reported that such a Jobs' appearance would be "dramatic" and a "crowd pleaser," but Gawker cautioned that Apple might not want a sickly leader on stage.

"The CEO is notoriously headstrong about these sorts of things. If he wants to show up on Monday, he will," Gawker said.

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An Apple a day may keep Jobs' doctors away

2009-06-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

(RTTNews) - Steve Jobs is ready to return to the helm of Apple Inc. (AAPL: News ) by the end of this month, sticking to an earlier announced schedule. But, whether Jobs would be back in time to take the wraps of a new iPhone at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference next week is unclear.

Analysts expect the company to unveil at the conference the latest model iPhone, which has more processing power and new features like video editing. The launch is expected in June or July, when original iPhone owners on a two-year service contract with AT&T Inc. (T) will be eligible for an upgrade.

Jobs announced his leave on January 14, and though the initial reaction was tumultuous, the past 5 months, the company has been operating smoothly without papa. The stock has in fact risen 68.4% in his absence, reflecting investor confidence.

Apple doled out a decent second-quarter report card, even without Jobs, beating earnings estimates by 22%, although the recession took a toll on the sales of Macintosh computers.

Apple sold 2.22 million Macs during the second quarter, representing a 3% unit decline from last year. The company also sold 11.01 million iPods, up 3% from last year, and 3.79 million iPhones, up 123%. Gross margin for the quarter rose to 36.4% from 32.9%.

Known for its conservative guidance, Apple sees third-quarter earnings of between 95 cents and $1 per share, on revenue of between $7.7 and $7.9 billlion. Analysts are currently looking for earnings of $1.14/share on revenues of $8.12 billion.

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Head to head: Sony Walkman X-series vs Apple iPod

2009-06-07T02:34:00.000-07:00

By Dave Oliver

It can't have been easy for Sony to have watched its iconic Walkman brand of portable music players so completely overtaken by Apple's all-conquering iPod. But like John Connor standing up to the Terminators, Sony has finally come up with a device capable of fighting back. We took a close look at both devices to see which is worthy of your hard-earned.

Style
The iPod Touch is slimmer but bigger at 110x62x9mm and 115g compared to the X-series' 97x53x11mm and 98g, though the Touch's angled sides make it appear slimmer than it actually is. The Touch does look sleeker, though the Walkman's rugged stone-effect sides and compact dimensions have a certain appeal. It also has hard buttons on the top and sides which allow you to control playback when it's in your pocket.
Sony X-series Walkman: 8
Apple iPod Touch: 8

Overview
Price: £209 (16GB), £279 (32GB)
More info: Sony
Size: 97x53x11mm, 98g
Formats: Audio - MP3, AAC, PCM, WMA, Video - MPEG4, WMV, H.264
Computer interface: Sony Media Manager
Extras: Web browser, FM radio
Battery life: 33hrs (audio), 9hrs (video)

Screen
The Sony X-series' trump card is its 3in OLED screen, which makes the iPod's LCD look positively dowdy by comparison, though it is slightly bigger at 3.5in. This newish technology is just beginning to appear in TV screens and has the advantage of offering sharper resolution, faster rendering speed and a wider viewing angle, as well as being less demanding on the battery, due to its lack of a backlight. All good stuff, though the benefits aren't quite so obvious on the very small screen as it is on larger models. Nevertheless, Sony's screen is clearly a breed apart, with sharper edges, clearer detail and more vibrant colours.

The capacitive touch aspect of both screens is about the same, with just the right amount of pressure required to brush through menus and activate on-screen buttons.
Sony X-series Walkman: 9
Apple iPod Touch: 8

Sound quality
The Walkman has a range of audio effects that it wears very proudly on its sleeve (or at least its menu options). The iPod on the other hand offers the best sound it can manage as standard. The Walkman has Clear Audio and Clear Bass, plus DSEE (which tries to replicate elements which may have been lost in compression). The sound is always better with these options engaged, so you'll never want to switch them off. Which begs the question - why make them an option?

The Walkman also has a five-band graphic equaliser with five presets and two programmable settings so you can set your own balance. The Touch has 22 EQ presets, which doesn't offer the same flexibility.

The Walkman has a built-in noise cancellation option, which blocks out ambient noise such as traffic and trains. It only works with Sony's supplied headphones, which are pretty good, and clearly ahead of the Touch's for sound quality, though they're lacking a little in the bass. Switching to our preferred Sennheisers on both devices however easily confirmed that the Walkman has the edge for sound quality, with fuller, more controlled bass, crystal clear midrange and additional sensitivity in the treble.

If for some reason you feel the need to play your music in public via loudspeaker, you'll be disappointed with the Sony - it doesn't have one. That said, it's debatable whether the tinny speaker on the Apple device is preferable to none at all.

For audio flexibility and for overall sound quality, it has to be the Sony.

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Report: Steve Jobs recovered, set for timely return to Apple

2009-06-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

By Jacqui Cheng

It appears as if Steve Jobs will indeed return to Apple by the end of June after taking a six-month leave from the company. The world is watching to see whether he'll make a surprise appearance at WWDC next week, though many believe he's saving that surprise for another time.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is reportedly on track to return to Apple full-time later this month, right on schedule. Insiders speaking to The Wall Street Journal claim that Jobs' recovery is "coming along" and that Apple's directors have been receiving weekly updates since Jobs took leave in January. Whether or not we'll see him at next week's WWDC keynote, however, remains up in the air.

"He was one real sick guy,'' one of the WSJ's sources said. "Fundamentally he was starving to death over a nine-month period. He couldn't digest protein. [But] he took corrective action.''

The iconic CEO has been on medical leave for the last five months after endless speculation about his weight and overall health. Indeed, Jobs was looking a little frail during Apple's iPod and notebook events in the fall of 2008, and he first tried to address the issue by publicly acknowledging a "hormonal imbalance" in early January. At that time, Jobs said that he had no plans to step aside as CEO of the company and that he had already begun treatment.

Just nine days later, however, Jobs sent out another public letter saying that his health issues were "more complex" than he originally thought and that he would be on medical leave from Apple until June. In his place would be Apple COO Tim Cook, though Jobs said he would remain involved in major strategic decisions while on leave. Needless to say, this announcement sent the entire tech community into a flurry of rumors and speculation about whether Jobs would ever return to Apple and what it would mean for the company.

Since then, we have heard relatively little about Jobs' progress except for some brief acknowledgments by Cook during two of the company's quarterly financial calls. Both times, Apple emphasized that Jobs still expected to return in June. A number of Apple employees also relayed last week that Jobs had been spotted around campus, bolstering confidence that he was indeed preparing to return soon. So, the WSJ's report isn't exactly shocking.

What is up for debate is whether Jobs will pop in during Monday's keynote at WWDC, to be delivered by Phil Schiller and gang. Apple fans are dying for this to happen, though numerous analysts have expressed doubt that such a spectacle will come to pass.

For the record, we agree with the analysts—a Jobs appearance at Monday's keynote would be welcome but almost too expected, not to mention early. A better theory would be that Jobs will make a surprise appearance near the launch of the as-yet-unannounced next-gen iPhone (admittedly, we jacked this theory from former Apple PR guru Anuj Nayar, but it truly is the best one). Either way, it's clear at this point that Jobs will definitely be making a comeback to the company, and he undoubtedly has "one more thing" up his sleeve.

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Apple iPod shuffle (3rd Gen)

2009-06-04T05:05:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Bray

Verdict: Achingly gorgeous and with some intriguing features, but it's not the most practical of designs

The shuffle has always generated heated debate over the merits of the design. But you could never accuse Apple of resting on its design laurels, and its third generation iPod shuffle is the sexiest yet.

Small enough to pass as a hair clip or over-sized earring, there's no denying that this little MP3 player has a huge amount of charm.

Apple claims it's the smallest MP3 player in the world and we wouldn't quibble: we've no idea how the designers managed to squeeze 4GB of memory and a battery big enough to offer ten hours of playback into a package this tiny.

To compensate for the lack of screen, this Shuffle has another trick up its sleeve: VoiceOver. It's the first MP3 player that can talk to you. It will tell you what track is playing and who the artist is, talk its way through your playlists and conscientiously let you know when your battery is running low.

It's no substitute for a screen - there's no way of browsing by album, song title, genre or year for instance - but if you're sold on the no-screen approach then it's certainly an improvement.

As before, the shuffle comes with a spring-loaded clip on the rear to attach it to your clothing and the casing feels very solid indeed - there's a free engraving service too, if you order one through Apple's website. But we think that Apple has taken things too far here.

In order to keep the size down, there are no controls on the player itself, aside from a small three-way power switch that lets you swap between play-in-order and shuffle modes. Instead, volume and track-skipping duties have been offloaded to an inline remote that sits on the cord running to the right-hand earbud.

It's so slim you hardly notice it's there, but it's fiddly to use and feels flimsy. The worse thing about it, though, is that in order to use anything other than the bundled earbuds (best described as mediocre) you have to buy either a compatible set of alternatives (the in-ear Apple headphones work and a limited number of third party manufacturers sell them too), or splash out on a special adapter.

There are undoubtedly irritations and annoyances then, not least over those outboard controls, but with a player this small and beautifully-crafted the foibles are easy to overlook.

It's not a player for the audiophile and doesn't aim to be, nor are there many features, but there's plenty of storage space here for the money and if you're the kind of person who goes for style over substance there's very little out there to compete with it.

SPECIFICATIONS:

4GB flash memory; USB 2 interface; fixed lithium-polymer battery; 10-hour claimed battery life; bundled earbuds and remote control; supports MP3, AAC, Audible, Apple Lossless, WAV and AIFF; 45.7 x 17.5 x 8mm (WDH), 10.7g

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Ultimate iPod Touch Question: Should I Buy an Apple iPod Touch?

2009-06-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

by Palluxo

A lot of people have been posting questions and asking for suggestions whether or not they should buy an iPod Touch for themselves. Clearly, the existence of the iPod Touch, which is yet another revolutionary creation of Apple Inc., has buzzed up a lot of consumers today. It has become a hype, a hit, and a statement saying that when you have it, you simply belong.

Now, before deciding whether you should buy an iPod Touch or just settle for something less like iPod Nano or the Sony PSP, you have to be aware what really an iPod Touch is and what this innovative technology can offer you.

The Emergence of the iPod Touch

Designed and manufactured by Apple Inc. as an upgraded addition to the iPod family, the iPod Touch is a portable digital media player and mobile Wi-fi platform. Unlike the previous models of iPods including the Shuffle, Nano, and Classic, the iPod Touch makes use of the multi-touch graphical user-interface. It comes in 8, 16, and 32 GB sizes of flash memory.

This ground-breaking product of Apple was launched during the event The Beat Goes On on September 5, 2007. Now, it’s available in all Apple stores and Apple retail stores everywhere!

What the iPod Touch Looks Like

If you think that “slim” and “sexy” are only gives definition to people, then you would probably think again if you get a hold of the Apple iPod Touch.

The iPod Touch is designed with a slim factor for convenient hold. Its large touchscreen display covers most of the top surface of the unit. A physical home button is located at the bottom and off the touchscreen. The touchscreen display uses the same system as that of Apple’s current line of laptop computers. So, if you are familiar with the multi-touch trackpad system being implemented on most Apple laptop computers, then you wouldn’t find it difficult to work your way through the iPod Touch.

Features of the iPod Touch

Everybody already knows this, but just in case one might forget, with the iPod Touch, you can play thousands of songs, watch hours of videos, load up several games, run multiple applications, and even browse the web. Yes, you heard it right! You can access the Internet and go online with simply the iPod Touch on hand.

Designed like a mini and portable Apple computer, the iPod Touch includes a Wi-fi technology and Safari web browser that will allow you to browse the web as long a net connection is available. It is the first iPod unit that can connect to and access the iTunes Store and Apple’s App Store because of its wireless capability.

The second generation iPod Touch is designed with a contoured back and comes with a built-in speaker, external volume control, and Bluetooth support.

Getting Inside the iPod Touch

The home screen of the iPod Touch is different from that of the iPod Classic and other iPod models. It features icon list of available applications including, but are not limited to, Photos, Music, Videos, iTunes, Safari, YouTube, Clock, Contacts, Calendar, Calculator, and Settings. Later models added Mail, Maps, Notes, Weather, and Stocks.

For more applications, users are advised to download from Apple’s App Store using the device. That is why the iPod Touch simply offers almost endless possibilities.

Buying the iPod Touch

You could never really go wrong in buying an iPod Touch as it provides more than what its worth. So, no more thinking twice! Head out to the Apple retail stores near you and get your own iPod Touch that will forever touch your (technology-driven) life.

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