Archive for the 'Apple' Category
October 23rd, 2009, 3:48 pm by Jayson Peters
 (Paul Connors, AP) Yesterday’s grand opening of Microsoft’s first retail store at Scottsdale Fashion Square, and the accompanying release of the new operating system Windows 7 — generated a lot of media buzz. And, I’m afraid, some media bias.
I considered joining the hundreds of people who waited in line, some as long as 12 hours, to get their first look at the software giant’s first retail operation.
Then I realized that would mean standing in line with hundreds of people. Or at least dealing with corporate PR types on their Big Day.
But lo and behold, I found a way to blog about it anyway.
On the drive home Thursday, listening to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered like the loyal liberal media elite-type that I am, I was surprised at just how harshly host Melissa Block was grilling Microsoft representative Mika Krammer. Today I was wondering whether I imagined it, so I asked some colleagues. One of them had heard the same report and was also left with the impression that it went too far. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Apple • Business • Scottsdale • Technology • Xbox 360 • Media • Microsoft | Post a Comment »
September 8th, 2009, 12:02 am by Jayson Peters
 On Wednesday, Apple will unveil its latest products at an invitation-only event in San Francisco. Speculation is rampant in the blogosphere: Will the “classic” iPod, with its old-fashioned hard drive and Game Boyish looks, finally be phased out in favor of the more sophisticated iPod Touch? Or will the traditional iPod get updated yet again?
Will Apple’s iTunes software evolve into something more along the lines of a social networking site, like Facebook or … what was it called … MySpace?
Or will we finally see the tablet-style device that will blow monochrome e-readers like Amazon’s Kindle out of the water?
You can read more theories in an Associated Press preview, but one thing is for sure — come Wednesday, 9/9/09, all will be made clear.
See also:
Posted in: Apple • iPhone • iPod | Post a Comment »
August 25th, 2009, 10:38 am by Jayson Peters
I know it’s a cheesy name, but I’m sticking with it until something better comes along, OK?
• Microsoft has started hiring for its first two retail stores, one of which will be at Scottsdale Fashion Square (story).
• If you don’t have a smart phone, Microsoft wants you to feel smart anyway with access to “apps.”
• Yahoo may have given in and accepted Bing as its search-engine lord, but that won’t stop the Web portal from rolling out a series of upgrades before the end of the year, months before Microsoft takes over powering Yahoo’s search results.
• Barnes & Noble recently announced a partnership with a Dutch firm, iRex, to provide e-books for a new reader device, hoping to steal some of Amazon’s Kindle thunder (story). And now Sony plans to offer an e-reader with wireless download ability.
• Nokia is joining the netbook bandwagon, announcing Monday it will produce a small, light laptop similar to those that PC manufacturers are selling through wireless carriers.
• Who owns the copyright to the Unix operating system? The matter is heading to trial.
• Apple’s Snow Leopard OS goes on sale Friday.
Posted in: Apple • Technology • e-books • Microsoft • Tech Bytes | Post a Comment »
August 16th, 2009, 10:02 am by Jayson Peters
Do you want to turn your iPhone into a Nintendo DS? There’s an app for that.
Via CNET News
Posted in: Apple • Gaming • Nintendo • Technology • apps • iPhone | Post a Comment »
August 10th, 2009, 12:32 pm by Jayson Peters
 The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is joining Amazon in the digital textbook business.
CourseSmart, which provides e-book subscriptions for college students, is making its 7,000-plus library available on Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch devices. An app will allow subscribers to access full electronic textbooks, keep digital notes and search for specific words and phrases.
Textbooks Offered for iPod, iPhones — Wall Street Journal (subscriber content)
Recently, after Arizona State University launched a pilot program to provide textbooks via Amazon’s Kindle e-reader, advocates for the blind sued because the Kindle, while it has a reading function for the vision-impaired, lacks such accommodation in its navigation menus.
Apple’s iPhone, it seems, doesn’t have the same problem.
Image: Apple
Posted in: Apple • Books • Technology • e-books • iPhone | 3 Comments »
July 31st, 2009, 11:26 pm by Jayson Peters
I wasn’t going to blog about this, but it just got a lot more interesting.
On Tuesday Apple rejected an iPhone app for Google Voice, a free VoIP service that lets users link their various phone numbers together. Immediately a googol of Google fans cried foul, saying the iPhone maker was stifling innovation by acting only in its own self-interest.
Now, late Friday, comes word via The Wall Street Journal that the Federal Communications Commission has sent letters to Google, Apple and iPhone carrier AT&T, wanting to know more about Apple’s practices of late.
A clash of the titans is brewing, it seems. And now the government is getting involved.
Via Gawker/LifeHacker
Posted in: Apple • Business • Internet • Technology • FCC • Google • Google Voice • iPhone • Law • VoIP | 1 Comment »
July 30th, 2009, 12:05 am by Jayson Peters
Coming to PCs and Macs this fall: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The console and handheld tale of Darth Vader’s “secret apprentice,” set between the two motion picture trilogies, will be released in an “Ultimate Sith Edition” with new levels, characters and costumes.
Pricing and system requirements are forthcoming.
Source: PC World
Posted in: Apple • Gaming • PC • Star Wars • The Force Unleashed | Post a Comment »
July 28th, 2009, 8:08 pm by Jayson Peters
 The East Valley will host one of the first two Microsoft stores when the computing giant enters the retailing world this fall.
The Associated Press reported today that Microsoft announced a lease at Scottsdale Fashion Square, which does not have a competing Apple Store, and at The Shops at Mission Viejo in California, which does. Microsoft picked the locations because they’re “hot markets” with the right demographics, a spokeswoman said. The stores will sell laptop computers, Zune media players, Microsoft and third-party software and Xbox 360 games and consoles.
Posted in: Apple • Gaming • Geek gear • PC • Scottsdale • Technology • Xbox 360 • Microsoft | Post a Comment »
July 15th, 2009, 11:41 pm by Jayson Peters
 No longer will Palm’s Pre smart phone be able to masquerade as an iPhone like a Decepticon.
Apple on Wednesday pushed out an update to iTunes that cuts off Pre users’ ability to load music onto their devices with the free popular software.
A spokesman for Apple told The Associated Press that the update “disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre.”
A Palm spokeswoman called the move a direct blow to users, “who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience.” She suggested Pre users stick with the older version of iTunes or get comfortable with USB cables or third-party applications.
In other news from the Hardware Wars, Microsoft says it will open retail stores “right next door to Apple” this fall. COO Kevin Turner tells The Associated Press the company is “in the game for the long-term.” This follows Google’s recent announcement that it will challenge Microsoft’s dominance in the world of computer operating systems with its Chrome OS for netbook PCs.
See also: 10 iPod games for those who don’t have the Touch
Posted in: Apple • Business • Hmmmmm..... • Technology • iTunes • Palm Pre | Post a Comment »
July 15th, 2009, 12:52 pm by Jayson Peters
CNNMoney.com and Yahoo! Finance chime in on the “8 Dumbest iPhone Apps.”
I can’t believe “iFart” isn’t among them.
See also: 10 iPod games for those who don’t have the Touch
Posted in: Apple • Lists • Technology • Weird • apps • iPhone • iPod | Post a Comment »
July 9th, 2009, 11:33 am by Jayson Peters
Recently I was reading Old iPods Have Still Got Game, an interesting post by Paul Govan at Wired’s GeekDad blog.
I am still toiling in the dark ages with my 30GB iPod Classic — what we used to call a “video iPod” Back in the Day. I even installed a new battery rather than upgrade when the shiny new iPhone and iPod Touch came on the scene. Don’t ask me why.
Paul’s post describes being pleasantly surprised at Texas Hold’em Poker. I considered simply mentioning it and linking to his story, but then I decided to take it a step further and highlight a bunch of additional iPod Click Wheel games for luddites like me. Each costs $4.99. Here are 10 that caught my eye. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Apple • Gaming • Lists • Technology • GeekDad • iPod • Wired | 2 Comments »
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