Direct Link: MP3 Version Apple gets control of a critical digital distribution patent — or at least, a critical sounding patent. Also, BitTorrent goes legit. Whaaah? This week’s Context Machine looks at the movie industry’s move to digital downloads. In the Product Roundup, hear three condenser mics compared, including the Behringer B-1. The Weekly Roundup…
Apple Adds More iPod Board Makers
Apple Computer recently added Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) to its growing list of iPod printed circuit board makers. The total number of companies producing the circuit boards for Apple, according to DigiTimes, is up to seven. The other board manufacturers are Tripod Technology, Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC), Unimicron Technology, Compeq Manufacturing, Wus Printed…
Britain Approves iPod Radio Transmitters
Britain has finally legalized the use of FM radio transmitters with iPods, and the amendment to the 1949 Wireless Telegraphy Act goes into effect on December 8, according to Townhall.com. Prior to the change in the U.K. law, owners of products like the iTrip and TuneFM were required to have a radio license, and pay…
WTF: The Ultimate Online Font Finder
This godsend of a Web site analyzes a graphic sample of your mystery font and almost always comes back with exactly what you want to know: Which font is that? I started by scanning a font from a printed document.
Bush: No iPods for North Korea
President Bush is attempting to impose targeted trade sanctions against North Korea to deprive Kim Jong Il of the luxury items he enjoys. One of the items on the list: Apple’s iPod. According to Yahoo! News, the items on the sanction list are products that North Korea’s leader personally covets, or gives as presents to…
Data Guardian 1.0.6
Keeping track of passwords, logins, and account information can be an overwhelming task. Appleis Keychain Access does a fine job of tracking most of that data for you, but sometimes it just isnit enough. Thatis when itis time to bring in the heavy hitters – like Koingois Data Guardian. Data Guardian is a configurable password,…
Your Daily Dose of RPG: DragonFable
For this weekis game, amigo and aspiring programmer Patrick Roanhouse pointed out DragonFable, a cool Flash-based role playing game capable of running on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. And thanks to him, Iim now somewhat obsessed with earning enough money to buy a pig that knows martial arts to add to my party. Players…
What I Want For Christmas
Now it seems that stores start decorating in August, and thereis nothing magical about going toe to toe against a mob of shoppers hell-bent on getting everything on their list. Christmas shopping use to be fun, now its more like a 2 month long game of rugby except there are no teams, itis every man,…
Soldius 1
We live in an age of portable electronic devices, which is perfectly fine until you need to recharge one and there isnit a power outlet around. The Soldius 1 solar charger from mysoldius can get your devices back in business as long as you have sunlight and a little patience. The Soldius 1 folds flat…
The Macintosh iLife '06
Apple Computeris iLife application suite is easy enough to figure out that you donit really need a manual to get started. Once you get beyond the basics, however, a little help goes a long way in making you an iLife pro, and The Macintosh iLife i06 by Jim Heid is one of the best all-in-one…
Smarthouse: Mac Tablet Prototype Built, Manufacturers Bidding
“The Mac tablet has been designed to handle third party applications such as home automation software that will allow users to control lighting, audio, entertainment devices and security feeds,” wrote Mr. Richards. “It also acts as a full blown PC, and has wireless linking for a new generation of Wireless Hi Fi speakers that are…
Analyst Bumps Apple Target Price to $110
ThinkEquity conducted a survey of 28 Apple retail stores over eight states on November 24, “Black Friday,” and counted as many as 1,750 visitors per hour with an average of eight purchases per 100 visitors. Mr. Hoopes commented “The overwhelming majority of purchases fit into a small bag. That said, demand for CPUs (notebooks and…
Podcast - Weekly Roundup: Your Guide to Holiday Shopping
Direct Link: MP3 Version Thanksgiving is over, so let the holiday buying binge begin! Ricky and Jeff give the Context Machine a rest in order to bring you their picks for the best holiday gifts on the market this year. There’s something for everyone: the kid, student, spouse, geek, grandparent — you name it, they…
Computerworld Editor Offers an iPod Killer's How-To Treatise
Microsoft’s Zune has been touted as the biggest threat to the iPod since … well, nothing. But as Computerworld’s Mike Elgin pointed out in a roundup of problems reviewers have had with the new device: “Zune finally shipped, and everyone agrees: It’s nice but definitely no ‘iPod killer.’ But it could be. And should be.”…
Analyst: 'New shuffle Will Have a Material Impact on iPod Units Sold'
“Our checks show that initial interest is strong,” the analyst explained. “If Apple is able to ramp supply to indirect channels, our estimates could be low.” He also found, during checks with 40 big-box retailers, that 70% of clerks are pointing to iPods when asked to suggest an MP3 player under US$200. Thatis up from…
The iMac's Limited VESA Support
VESA adapters let you attach your iMac to a wall or articulated arm.
DragThing 5.7 Supports Dock Themes
. One of DragThingis spiffy new looks.
Australian Law Could Spell Trouble for iPod Owners
A new copyright law that’s under proposal in Australia could potentially lead to criminal action against iPod and other portable media player users. The International Herald Tribune reports that the proposed law substantially lowers the threshold for criminal infringement on copyrights in Australia. The nonprofit Online free speech group, Electronic Frontiers Australia, commented to the…
Analyst Tries to Dispel iPhone Talk
Noting that he hasn’t “seen anything from Apple that the iPhone’s debut is imminent,” Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman on Tuesday tried to dispel rumors about the product during an interview with Tracy Johnke of MarketWatch. With Christmas just over a month away, Mr. Goodman said that right now “is a poor time to generate…
Keyspan VP-24A Cordless VoIP Phone
The Internet-based text and voice chatting system, Skype, is popular enough that some people have started using it instead of regular phone lines, so itis no surprise that companies are releasing products that untether you from your computer desk while you talk. Keyspanis VP-24A Cordless VoIP Phone is one option, and it works well enough…
Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #79: iPod Batteries, Securing Your Files, and More!
Show notes for TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab For November 20th, 2006 Direct Links: MP3 Version or AAC Enhanced Version (courtesy of eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%6a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%40%6d%61%63%6f%62%73%65%72%76%65%72%2e%63%6f%6d%3e%4d%69%63%68%61%65%6c%20%4a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29’))Michael Johnston). Dave and John talk through replacing your iPod battery, locking and securing files and folders, reformatting your Mac, and more. Plus, here more about their plans for Macworld Expo… you…
Al Jazeera Looks to Apple for Tech
The new setup for the network includes 41 MacBook Pro laptops with Final Cut Studio, a 70TB storage system with 10 Apple Xserve 7TB XRAID systems and 14 Apple Xsan Software Licenses, 12 PowerMac G5 Quad workstations, two PowerMac G5 Dual Core systems, and 19 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays for editing and design. The…
Analyst: Apple Working on 2nd Cell Phone, Red Nano Selling Well
American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu on Monday issued a report detailing his belief that Apple is working on a second iTunes cell phone, as well as his thoughts on sales of the new red iPod nano. Of the second cell phone, he wrote: “We are picking up that AAPL is working on a second…
Podcast - Weekly Roundup: Zune's Crash Landing
Direct Link: MP3 Version This week Microsoft launched the Zune portable media player. The press have taken it far more seriously than previous iPod competitors, so Ricky and Jeff use the Context Machine to handicap the new MP3 player playing-field. Also, Blue’s Snowball USB condenser microphone. The Weekly Roundup will be included in TMO’s main…
