Why Apple TV Matters

Ok, so you have heard about the new Apple TV. About how it can stream iTunes, Netflix and how it will save the planet from the evil Cable TV overlords who want nothing but to squeeze every last nickel out of  recession-weary viewers. You also may have heard how the new updated Apple TV came up short of expectations in that there were no apps, no support for component out, and unlike the previous generation Apple TV you can’t purchase, you can only rent. Underneath all of the hype, beyond the excitement and after the Steve Jobs reality distortion field has faded, one question still remains; why? Why is the Apple TV anything to get excited about at all? Don’t we already have several streaming media boxes to choose from? Yes, there are other similar devices out there but the Apple TV brings something extra and I am about to tell you why that might just make all the difference.

… Continue Reading

Steve Jobs wants to save the world from….porn??

Saw this late yesterday and just about fell off my chair laughing. Seriously, porn? What’s wrong with porn?? I can agree with the idea that saving folks from malicious software and the scourge that is Microsoft Windows but I really can’t see the point in attacking good ole porn. Another good point that I think many bloggers are missing about this latest email exchange with Apple’s CEO is just how inappropriate the whole thing was to begin with. As anyone who has ever sent an email while under the influence of heated emotions knows it is almost always regretted later. As for the whole Apple vs. Adobe Flash thing…well I can see where Apple is going with their side of the argument but it is hard to ignore the whole ecosystem of companies and developers that has built up around Flash over the last 10 years or so.  I know of several folks out there that are truly scared that their long term job prospects are at risk over the idea that Flash might go away which really does explain why emotions are running high. The counter argument might be that technology never sleeps (something I completely agree with) and all developers should be keeping an eye out for whatever the latest trends are as a matter of staying current (something else I completely agree with). When the dust does eventually settle over this issue I suspect that both parties will likely have reached some form of middle ground but what that means for Flash developers is anyone’s guess. Till then, let’s just hope Steve keeps the late night anti-porn emails down to a dull roar.

5 Online Video Sites For Both TV Shows & Movies

Right on the heels of my last post about how I ditched cable for internet only video comes a quick list of five sites that let you follow in my footsteps and get both TV shows and movies online. Most folks who are currently stuck with cable or satellite TV might not realize that so much content is now available online but after checking out these sites they might just change their minds. There are literally thousands of movies and just about every major show online for free and the rest will only cost you about $2 per episode to own. So get the popcorn and put your feet up (in front of your computer) and enjoy some of the best programming the internet can offer…

… Continue Reading

4 Tips To Stay Safe Online Without Going To Extremes

After my recent World of Warcraft security snafu I decided to take a few minutes to address some of the issues most folks have these days trying to keep information out of the hands of online thieves. I was very tempted to write something that basically told everyone to just give up on Windows and use a Macintosh but that’s not always realistic for many folks and just seems to stir up too much negative emotions Ultimately all three of the main computing platforms; Windows, Linux, and Mac suffer from similar online threats so here are four things anyone (including Mac users) can do to improve their own online safety without going to extremes.

… Continue Reading

New Deals Make For A Wireless Future

As reported by Engadget (and others) the latest round of industry deals regarding the WiMAX wireless data standard is setting the stage for the next big internet access slugfest. Although WiMAX has yet to really get noticed by the general public there are clear indications that wireless data services such as this are going to be one of the big things this year and not for traditional reasons. Up till now most folks think of wireless as either cell phone data services, home cable or DSL connections (via WiFi 802.11a/b/g) or WiFi hotspot services but with both cable and cell phone providers joining forces this distinction is likely to blur somewhat in the near future. So what does this future look like? Read on….

… Continue Reading

3 Things You Need To Do After You Upgrade To OSX 10.5 Leopard

Just got Leopard? Planning on doing an upgrade vs. a fresh install? Just finished your upgrade and want to know what you can do to make Leopard stop running like a dog? Look no further because I have three things your are going to need to do in order to get Leopard running smooth once you have completed your upgrade.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, OSX

… Continue Reading

OSX 10.5 Leopard First Impressions

Now that Leopard has hit the ground running lots of Mac owners are taking the plunge and installing this beast over the weekend with great anticipation. Apple touted over 300 new features that would make all Mac owner’s lives easier and entice even more folks to make the switch from Windows to the Mac. So far this weekend I have installed Leopard on three systems, all of them went smoothly for the most part but I did find several things about Leopard that I think everyone should know about before making the upgrade that I will detail in another post. Right now here are my first impressions with this latest OS from Apple.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, macbook pro, OSX

… Continue Reading

5 Things I Hate About My Macbook Pro

As many long-time readers of this blog will already know I usually take cheap shots at Microsoft whenever I get the chance but this time around I have Apple in my sights with five things I can’t stand about my Macbook Pro. Don’t get me wrong, I would rather go back to DOS on an old Tandy luggable than buy something else (with Vista installed<gulp>) but there are several things about my Macbook Pro that really wind me up. So read on for just wee bit of Apple bashing to spice up your day.

It is no secret that the Macbook Pro is usually the gold standard for most laptop junkies but what many sometimes overlook are a whole bunch of annoyances that for some users can make the Macbook Pro a less-than worthy notebook. The gripes below are only those that really get under MY skin so feel free to add your own in the comments!

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, macbook pro

… Continue Reading

iPhone Update 1.1.1 Bricks Thousands Of iPhones

As the outrage over the latest iPhone update sweeps across the net it is quickly becoming apparent that more than a handful of iPhones have been “bricked” (rendered useless) thanks to this update. Apple has yet to release any official word on how they are going to handle such a large number of very upset users. Many of those effected have blogs and are very outspoken in the Apple community so I won’t expect this to die down anytime soon.

If the download numbers from several of the 3rd party application sites are any indication (iToner, Install.App, etc) there could potentially be as many as 200,000 users who could be negatively effected by this update. WOW! That is a huge number of users and I would not be surprised to see some class action lawsuits over this. Of course Apple is outright denying help to those affected by this update stating that installing any 3rd party tools or applications violates the warranty. You can see the pain on one customer’s face in this video when he is told that he is completely SOL. Ouch!

Technorati Tags: apple, cell phones, DRM, gadgets, iphone, mac

… Continue Reading

iPhone Update 1.1.1 Here Come The Lawsuits

I would have figured that Apple was smarter than this. The latest update for the iPhone (version 1.1.1) has been confirmed as breaking any ability to install 3rd party applications. According to sources the methods used are encryption key based and will be significantly harder to crack than any previous versions. So much so that it may be enough to completely deter any future development efforts for this platform making this perhaps the biggest mistake Apple has ever made. I almost cannot believe they would be this stupid. One of the most compelling features (till now) of the iPhone was the possibility of installing 3rd party applications since it essentially operates on a lightweight version of OSX. If there is no technical workaround found within a reasonable amount of time you can bet that we will be seeing some class action lawsuits filed to force Apple to do the right thing. Till they back off or someone figures out a fix I highly recommend NOT purchasing an iPhone. There are several new phones running Linux that will feature touch screens that are due out by the end of the year which are likely to replace the iPhone as the “phone to have” if Apple does not step up to the plate (after they wipe all the egg off their face). Since I have had my 8Gb model for over a month I guess I will have to eBay it or just never update (very likely) but the 4Gb my girlfriend purchased less than two weeks ago is going back tomorrow since she now cannot use AIM on it.

Thanks Apple, it is going to be a while before you are trusted with my money again.

UPDATE: As predicted there are more serious rumblings regarding possible class-action against Apple appearing on Slashdot.

Technorati Tags: apple, cell phones, DRM, gadgets, iphone