Other Sites
Look Before You Flush; You May Have Dropped Your iPod
methodshop.com's Weird iPod Questions include:
"....About 3 days ago, I was listening to my iPod (1st gen, 5gb) whilst brushing my teeth. I held the iPod and was selecting a song to put on, however if fell from my hand, and just happened to land into the toilet. I grabbed it out of there as soon as i could, which was about 1 second. I immediately dried it with a towel, but also shook it allot to get water from the inside out of it..... I plugged it in for recharge but there was no response, and i continued to try and get it working but to no avail.." ~ hsloyal
"....I was listening to my iPod while in the bathroom (don't ask), and when I stood up to take care of things, my iPod belt clip hit the toilet paper roll holder and fell in. I was very angry and then devistated. I don't want to go into detail but I stayed home from my summer job due to bad seafood from a sweet 16 party the night before. Luckily no one was home, so I ran down the hallway and used my little brother's goldfish net to fish it out of the toilet. I then used my anti-bacterial lotion and cleaned it off. But my iPod doesn't work at all anymore!!....Please help me! What should I do?" ~ Miss X
"Oops! I dropped my iPod in the toilet. It was in there for about a second or less. Ever since then, I've been able to play music sporadically, but it will no longer sync from the computer....." ~ epb
"Yes, it really happened, and I'd rather not go into it right now. It was submerged in water for 3-4 seconds, and now the screen is on and not responding..... ~ xboardr720"
For full, unflushed details and remedial advice, see:
http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/articles/iPodSupport.stm#toilet
Apple's Cheaper, Juicier IPod
Reuters reports:
"Apple Computer has introduced lower-priced versions of its iPod digital music player with longer battery life, positioning itself against rivals trying to use lower prices to undercut iPod sales.
"Apple said the new model iPod has up to 12 hours of battery life, compared with eight hours in previous models. Poor battery performance in some iPods has drawn criticism.
"The 20-GB model, which can hold about 5,000 songs, has a list price of $299, lower than the previous price of $399 for a 20-GB iPod. The 40-GB model costs $399.....
"As part of a pilot program, Duke University plans to give iPods loaded with school calendars and other information to its 1,800 incoming freshmen. Students can download class materials to listen to anything from audio examples of textbook exercises to Spanish songs."
For the full report, visit here:
http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64269,00.html?tw=rss.TOP
Legal Music Download Sites Compared
WSJ's Walter S. Mossberg says:
"When It Comes To legal online music download sites, today's choices might be called Steve Jobs and the five dwarves. Since Jobs, Apple Computer's charismatic CEO, launched the iTunes Music Store in 2003, it has sold over 85 million songs and claims about 70 percent of the legal online download market. One key advantage Apple has had is that songs bought on the iTunes store can be played on the company's hot iPod portable music players, while songs bought on the sites of its major download competitors are in a format the iPod — deliberately — can't handle. This gives the iTunes store a powerful boost.
"...consumers looking to download songs legally to their hard disks have six major choices. Most of these sites charge the same prices — 99 cents for a single, $9.99 for most albums. And their catalogs overlap. But there are key differences. So here's a quick rundown of their pros and cons."
You can check it out at:
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200407.html
Apple Pioneer Has Own Window To Future
The Boston Globe's Robert Weisman reports:
"Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original Macintosh designers, hadn't surfaced at a Macworld Conference & Expo in 10 years -- mainly, he said, because he's shy.
"But at last week's Macworld in Boston, where he consented to join a panel marking the 20th anniversary of the Macintosh computer, Hertzfeld, 51, wearing the West Coast software jockey's uniform of blue jeans and a black T shirt, was treated like a rock star."
For the full report, visit here.
Macrovision And SunnComm Court Apple For A Seachange In CDs
Faultline reports:
"The two big US copy protection specialists, Macrovision and SunnComm are both touting the idea that they need to become Apple iPod compliant and they might need the help of the big record labels to twist Apple’s arm into helping them.....
"Macrovision made it clear to us that its next generation technology, due early next year, would also transfer its protection to any burned CDs so that those CDs could not be used as a source to copy onto file sharing networks. At present CD copy protection exists only on the original CD.
"It is clear that both companies were deliberately leaking to the press in order to get their message across to Apple that they need to work together. Apple clearly isn’t so sure and has not yet responded to the overtures from the two companies.
"Once Apple realizes that it may have a new revenue stream, based on a royalty payment from the cutting of every CD in the world, it may become more interested in co-operating with the CD protection specialists....."
For the full report, visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/19/macrovision_and_sunncomm/
Microsoft settles L-----s dispute
The Register's Andrew Orlowski reports:
"Microsoft has made peace with Michael Robertson's Linspire Linux company, paying $20 million to settle all outstanding trademark issues surrounding the Lin---s distribution. Linspire promises never to use the Lin---ws word ever again in its branding. Linspire also appears to have eked out another compromise from Redmond, with a four-year royalty free license to certain Windows media components. The deal smooths the way for a stateside IPO for Linspire.
"Linspire had won several court victories over the Lin---s distribution, which Microsoft claimed devalued its global Windows™ trademark. Microsoft objected to Robertson's suggested alternative name Lindash because "when confronted with 'Lin---s', [customers] will be reminded of 'Lindows'"..."
For the full report, visit here
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/19/microsoft_linspire_settlement/
More Universities Agree To RIAA/Napster 'Protection'
The Register's Ashlee Vance reports:
"The RIAA and its business front Napster signed up six more universities today to their music rental service - a program that could force parents to shell out even more money for higher education costs.
"Cornell University, the George Washington University, Middlebury College, University of Miami, the University of Southern California and the Wright State University (Ohio) have all pledged to have Napster up and running in the near future. The schools join Penn State University and University of Rochester as Napster subscribers. That's a grand total of 8 schools in the last 9 months that have agreed to become music vendors and pay an RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) tax to avoid lawsuits against their students."
For the full report, visit here.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/19/riaa_napster_six/
How to Use Strong's Numbers in Mac Bible Study Software.
CMUG's David Lang has posted a tutorial on how to use Strong's Numbers in Mac Bible study software.
"In 1890, James Strong, a seminary professor, published his Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, a massive book listing every occurrence of every word in the King James Bible. In addition to being "exhaustive," Strong's Concordance was notable for its innovative system of using numbers to link the English words of the King James with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words which they translated. All of a sudden, pastors and laymen who knew little to nothing of the original languages of the Bible could gain access to the Greek and Hebrew words behind their English translation.
"More than a century later, computer Bibles can do in minutes what it took Strong 35 years to accomplish, but while Strong's concording efforts have now been overshadowed by the power of computer technology, his numerical innovation has found new life in the digital age, continuing to exert a profound influence over the way people study the Bible.
"Remarkably, Strong's numbering system has made the transition from print to software essentially unmodified. Both in the print concordance and in most software implementations, Strong's numbers serve as a link between the English words and their Greek or Hebrew equivalents. The process of using them is simple: you look up a word in a passage you're studying, find it's Strong's number, determine the Greek or Hebrew word to which that Strong's number points, and then study that word in more detail. This process is the same whether you're using a print concordance or a software search engine."
You can check it out at:
http://www.cmug.org/articles/Strongs.html
New TypeIt4Me Previewed
david's waste of bandwidth says:
"For years, I've used (even relied upon) the great shareware program TypeIt4Me. It's a simple concept---type in a specific letter combination in any application and the text autoexpands to whatever you want. It's saved me countless keystrokes, and I'm not aware of anything quite like it on the PC side of things....
"Well, the TypeIt4Me 2.0 beta has been made available to me in no less than three versions over the past few days, and I'm very impressed. The clipboard issue seems to be fixed, at least so far. There is a slightly new preference menu, which is hierarchical, but for me the best feature is the shareware application just works as it did pre-OS X. It's not formally released, but the current beta looks very promising."
You can check it out at:
http://homepage.mac.com/dtoub/blog/C1162157567/index.html
Lovable Laptops
Rocky Mountain News' Jeff Smith says
"Laptops don't yet dominate the corporate or consumer landscape, but they're giving desktops a run for their money.
"Despite lingering ergonomic, durability and video quality issues, laptops are selling briskly because of recent performance gains, price drops and their ability to connect into the Internet wirelessly through built-in Wi-Fi devices.....
"The growing popularity of laptops versus desktops is reflected in the data.
"U.S. shipments of mobile computers, including laptops, notebooks and ultraportables, increased by more than 40 percent from 8.8 million units to 12.5 million units between 2000- 2003, according to Gartner Dataquest, a research and advisory firm.
"By comparison, shipments of desktop computers actually declined slightly from 43.1 million to 42.9 million during that period."
For the full report, visit here.
Tech Support for Macs Tutorials For Beginners and Advanced Users
The "Getting Started" tutorials are for people who've never used a computer before and/or who are new to the Mac platform. Each tutorial takes the "newbie" through easy, step-by-step, illustrated instructions that provide a basic introduction to using a Mac.
The "Advanced" tutorials are for anyone beyond the beginner stage.
Getting Started
Getting Started: The Basics
Getting Started: Working with Text
Getting Started: Going Online (dialup)
Advanced
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Tips
Mac OS X Troubleshooting Tips (for Mac OS X only)
Apple "Mail" Setup
Mozilla (Netscape) Mail Setup
The tutorials are PDF files and can be viewed with Apple's Preview or with the Adobe Reader.
You can check them out at:
http://www.tsmacs.org/tutorials.html
Best Mac Laptop Ever?
MyMac's John Nemerovski declares:
"In my work as a traveling computer tutor I sample everything from Apple’s original 100 series PowerBooks through the mighty monster PB 17” G4.
"Looking backward, PowerBook 3400 is a great computer that runs forever but has limited memory capacity and won’t work with OS X. The current PowerBooks and iBooks are lean, mean, workhorse machines, but they only run OS X.
"Why should I mention long-forgotten OS 9, now that Panther, Jaguar, Tiger, Bobcat, and Ocelot are here or around the corner? Mac OS is dead — long live Mac OS! Right or wrong?
"People who spend more time with me than it takes to boot up their OS X systems understand that I actually enjoy working with OS 9.2.2. If this possibility makes you tremble with rage and break into hives, stop reading now and deliver your pithy pronouncements below in the Article Discussion box.
"Is there a viable Macintosh laptop model that runs OS X efficiently and delivers top performance in OS 9? Of course! Plenty of TiBooks and white “Chicklet” iBooks do both with ease...."
However....
"Do a little homework, roll up your sleeves, then let me have it in rebuttal as I pronounce my Blueberry FireWire G3 iBook 366 the best Mac laptop of all time."
Actually, if its a 366 MHz it would be Indigo -- not Blueberry, but that's a niggle.
You can check it out at:
http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=1778
PC Mag: iPod Gets Remixed
"Just in time for Back-to-School sales, Apple has announced the release of the fourth-generation iPod, with both expanded features and a lower price tag than earlier iPods. 20GB models are available for $299 and 40GB models are $399 (both are list prices)-a price cut of about $100. 15GB iPods have been discontinued."
Read more at:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,,1624842,00.asp
ExtremeTech: Apple Launches New iPods
"Apple Computer debuted its next-generation iPod music player Monday, cutting the price in the process.
The new iPod increases the music player's battery life from eight to twelve hours. Apple also lowered the price on the 20-Gbyte model to $299, trimming the price of the 40-Gbyte model to $399 in the process."
Read more at:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,,1624862,00.asp
Ariane 5 Launches Anik F2 - The Largest Commercial Telecom Satellite Ever Launched
Arianespace successfully orbited Telesat's Anik F2 payload on an Ariane 5 Saturday evening, placing the 5,950 kg. (12,118-lb.) spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit.
Anik F2 is the heaviest commercial telecommunications satellite ever launched, and will provide high-speed Internet and digital communications to all areas of Canada and the US from a final orbital position of 111.1 deg. West.
It uses the Boeing 702 satellite bus and carries a mixed payload of 32 Ku-band transponders, 38 Ka-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders.
Flight 163 marked the 15th successful mission of the Ariane 5 (Generic) launch vehicle.
"I would like to thank Telesat, which has - for the fifth time - placed its confidence in Arianespace," said Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall after the conclusion of Flight 163. "I also would like to thank the European Space Agency, French CNES space agency and Arianespace's industrial team for the mission - and in particular the personnel here at the Spaceport, who gave their full support during the past several days."
Previous satellites launched by Arianespace for the Ottawa, Canada-based Telesat were Anik F1 in November 2000, MSAT 1 in April 1996, Anik E1 in September 1991, and Anik E2 in April 1991.
The liftoff of Flight 163 had been delayed by two anomalies and a weather scrub, but the Ariane launch team demonstrated its reactivity by adjusting to the situation and making sure Ariane 5 and the Spaceport were launch-ready.
For more information, visit:
http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/sub_main_news_missionupdate.html
Mac Night Owl: The Mac Hardware Report: Maybe Market Share Counts After All
Yes, it's true.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/index.htm#all
Apple to Open Retail Store in Roseville, Minnesota on Saturday, July 24, 2004
Public Grand Opening
What:
Apple Store Grand Opening for the public
When:
Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. (CDT)
Where:
Apple Store Rosedale
1024 Rosedale Center, Space 470
Roseville, MN 55113
Additional information about Apple's retail stores is available at:
http://www.apple.com/retail
Mac Night Owl: This Week's Mac Night Owl LIVE Update
This week our guests included MP3 guru Eliot Van Buskirk, and multimedia wizard Jim Heid.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletters/2004/07/242.htm#update
ExtremeTech: Intel Intros Low-Voltage "Dothan" Chips
"Intel Corp. moved its "Dothan" Centrino mobile microprocessor chip down into the ultra-low-voltage space over the weekend, scattering additional price cuts among its mobile microprocessor lineup.
Intel introduced the LV/ULV Intel Centrino 1.40-GHz model 738, 1.10-GHz model 733, and 1-GHz model 723 alongside the platform's corresponding Pentium M counterparts. The Centrino bundles include, in addition to the processor, an Intel 855GM or 855PM chipset and either the Intel Pro/Wireless 2100 or 2200BG wireless card. Prices for the new Centrino bundles will range from $299 to $356 in lots of 1,000 units, the company said."
Read more at: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,,1624868,00.asp
The Tech Night Owl: More Follow-ups
Phone services, satellite systems, DVD players and more.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.technightowl.com/newsletters/2004/07/242.htm#ups
***
Charles W. Moore
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