iTunes has a free Battlestar Galactica Podcast containing commentary on each episode, by the show’s Executive Producer, Ronald D. More.
Month: January 2006
iTunes 6.0.2 Streams to Multiple Speakers
A much anticipated feature has made it into the latest version of iTunes (6.0.2). You can now stream to multiple Airport Express Base Stations, and play music on your computer speakers simultaneously. Well, kind of… I can’t seem to get it to work! I can play music on my computer, and on my Airport Express, but if I try to play them at the same time, the connection gets dropped to my Airport Express, and an error is generated.
You’ll need the Airport Express 6.3 firmware update in order to get the new “Multiple Speakers…” menu item. Good Luck!
Found via TUAW
Is iTunes Spying on you?
If you’ve downloaded the latest (6.0.2) iTunes update, you’ve probably noticed the new MiniStore. What you may not have noticed is that it changes depending on what you have selected in your library. It doesn’t change by selecting an artist, but if you select an album name or single tack, the MiniStore shows you information about that album, and offers suggestion of other music.
How does this work you ask? Well… iTunes is transmitting data to Apple, and they are in turn sending info back to iTunes. Is this spying? It depends… is Apple saving this information, or is it just behaving like a standard search? If Apple is collecting and saving this information, then I would call that spying… and I’m not too happy about it. If the information isn’t stored, and it’s simply doing a search, then I don’t mind that too much.
It appears as though turning off the MiniStore (CMD+SHIFT+M) disables this “feature”, but that isn’t confirmed. Boing Boing has a complete write up about it.
Found via TUAW
UPDATE (01.12.05): Apparently Rob, from OSX Hints, has answered the question… iTunes is NOT spying on you. Apple has confirmed they do NOT store or collect information from the MiniStore.
10.4.4 has new Widgets
I just downloaded the 10.4.4 update. I was hoping it would fix some problems I’ve been having with .mac, as SyncServices is listed as one of the fixes. It didn’t help.
Anyway, I noticed that Apple has replaced 2 of the default Widgets… Address Book, and Calendar. I kind of like the new Calendar, but I’m not too happy with the new Address Book Widget. They took away one thing that I thought was a good feature. You no longer have a way to actually open your Address Book app from the widget… that’s just lame.
QuickTime 7.0.4 Pulled without reason
Earlier today Apple released QuickTime 7.0.4. It was said to have numerous bug fixes and provided compatibility with iLife ’06. Now, Apple has mysteriously pulled the updater, and issued a QuickTime 7.0.1 Reinstaller. No reason is given why.
If you haven’t already installed the update… don’t. If you did, it may be a good idea to run the 7.0.1 reinstaller.
Found via MacMinute
UPDATE: It appears as though Apple has re-issued the 7.0.4 update. Both the web site and the Software Update feature of OSX appear to have the new installer. If you are unsure what version you installed, it may be a good idea to run the 7.0.1 reinstaller, and then upgrade again.
Apple’s new Intel ad
Apple has posted their new Intel ad. I like it!
News from Macworld
My internet connection is a bit flakey this morning, but I have been able to get some news about the Macworld announcements.
The Intel Macs are here, at least some of them. Apple announced the new iMac, and in a surprising move, a new Powerbook, ummm… I mean MacBook Pro. I would have bet that the first laptop to be released would be the iBook, or MacBook as I assume it will be called. I didn’t expect them to start at the top. I guess AppleInsider was right.
As expected, Apple released updates to it’s popular iLife and iWork suites. iLife has some nice enhancements, including a new app called iWeb. But, iWork didn’t get the bump that I expected. I had assumed Apple would be adding a spreadsheet application to the next release, but iWork is still only made up of Pages and Keynote. That’s a little disappointing.
On the iPod front, Apple brought back the wired remote, and combined it with an FM receiver, so you can listen to the radio on your iPod. That’s a welcome addition. I’ll probably be picking one of those up.
I’m not too surprised we didn’t see the rumored iPhone, PDA, or HDTV. But, I am a little surprised that the Mighty Mouse still has that damn wire on it. I would have bet money Apple would be announcing a redesigned, Bluetooth, Mighty Mouse. I guess I’ll just have to continue using my Microsoft Mouse… Are you listening Apple?
I’ve been swamped today with my current project, but I hope to make it over to the exhibit floor tomorrow. I’ll post anything I come across of interest.
UPDATE: Apple has posted today’s keynote.
Tomorrow’s Macworld Keynote
The Steve Jobs Keynote at Macworld SF starts tomorrow morning at 9:00am. As usual, rumors are running rampant… everything from the long speculated about iPhone, to an Apple branded HDTV.
I’ll try to keep my speculation to a minimum this year. There’s no sense getting all worked-up over nothing. I do think it’s a safe bet there will be updates announced for iLife, iWork, and .Mac. I also think there will be some sort of BIG announcement, but I’m not certain what that will be.
Unfortunately, Apple is holding to recent tradition and not doing a live webcast of the Keynote, but I’m sure it will be available sometime tomorrow. I don’t have tickets to the Keynote, but I will be walking the exhibit floor this week playing with whatever it is they announce.
We’ll see what happens tomorrow…
UPDATE: TUAW has noticed that the Motorola ROKR (iTunes Phone) is mysteriously absent from the Cingular website. Coincidence? Or, is there really an iPhone on the way?
Google to Launch Video Marketplace
On January 6th, Google announced they will be opening a video store…
“Google announced the planned opening of the Google Video Store, the first open video marketplace enabling consumers to buy and rent a wide range of video content from a major television network, a professional sports league, cable programmers, independent producers and film makers.”
Google is actually building a not-to-shabby list of programs. It looks like this will be a direct competitor with Apple’s iTunes video store. There’s no word on price yet.
Found via Engadget
Memoirs of a Geisha
While we were in Phoenix for Christmas, we had a chance to catch up on some movies. One was Memoirs of a Geisha. I didn’t really know much about it going in, but I thought it was really good. Anne Marie had read the book, and said it held up pretty well to the original story.
The movie was a bit slow (and long), but the story was very interesting, and the performances were great. I would recommend this one if you are looking for break from action / adventure type movies and just want to see a good story told well. But, don’t go in tired, and make sure to pee before the movie starts. You’re going to be there for a while.