Category: News

San Francisco – Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs, announced several announcements that change the way we have known the iPod, and additions of several new services. Apple is now beginning to jump into parts of the social networking business with their new server, Ping, which is integrated into the updated iTunes 10.

“iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend.”

Ping

Ping allows you to follow your favorite artists’ photos and tour dates. A new way for artists to keep in touch with their fan database. A neat feature with Ping is a consolidated Top 10 list with other friends you are connected through Ping. These are just some of the features that Ping has to offer,  it will be interesting to watch how Ping is accepted in the social networking business.

iTunes Rentals

Another addition in iTunes 10 pertains to the iTunes Store now allowing renting of HD TV shows for a fee of 99 cents an episode from networks such as: ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America. According to the PR release, episodes are available after the broadcast of the show and you are given a 30 day renting period from the day you press the ‘Rent’ button in iTunes. The rentals can also be transported onto your iDevice, for your viewing pleasure on the go. I do no think there will be much success from the new TV show rentals. Why would a consumer want to pay Apple 99 cents for an episode when most of the time it is available for free on Hulu? Granted, if you are using Hulu Plus app on your iDevice, you are stuck with a limited ‘Free Gallery”, but the $9 fee (with ads) may be more economical compared to 99 cents an episode.

AirPlay

iTunes 10 also dubs AirTunes to AirPlay. The feature is the same, but Jobs wanted to give AirTunes a new name since more than music will not be able to be transferred through the Air – to your new Apple TV for example. AirPlay is a great alternative to expensive wireless music systems such as Sonos – see our guide on AirPlay in the house here. I love the idea of AirPlay and would like to see what creative ideas consumers will create from AirPlay.

“AirPlay now works without AirPort Express, using speakers, receivers and stereo systems from companies including Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, Denon and iHome…”

Final Thoughts

One of the features that I am most happy about is the improved syncing with my iDevices. In past versions of iTunes I have had to suffer painfully slow backups and syncs. Not to mention, iTunes 10 also includes a new look to the icon, with a music note inside a circle. Also, the interface in iTunes 10 has a new feel, with a redesigned user interface of iTunes 10, it gives the application a slick musical look.

Download iTunes at: www.itunes.com

Let us know, what do you think of iTunes 10?

Didn’t pre-order the iPhone 4, but now want one. Here are a few handy ways to feed the iPhone 4 crave.

The Apple Store Online is a safe alternative, but it will take about 3 weeks according to the Apple Store Online. From my conversations with the Apple Retail Stores, they are saying that the reserving in store would be a shorter wait. Note, you do not need to walk in the Apple Retail Store to reserve, you can call; however, reserving means picking the device up in store within 24 hours of receiving the email.

Best buy stores are also an alternative to purchase the iPhone 4. But, from speaking with customers and employees, they do not have a time frame in which you would receive your device. Additionally, from talking to Radio Shack, they do not have the iPhone 4 in stock but can order one for you. But, even Radio Shack claims they do not know when the iPhone would arrive.

All in all, the choice on how you would like to reserve your device is up to you. Personally, I would choose an Apple Retail Store as they tend to have a higher priority on receiving the devices. If possible I would call multiple Apple Retail Stores in the area and reserve the iPhone 4 – it would help increase you chances on receiving the iPhone 4 sooner.

So, you may have noticed that Apple and Pixar are somewhat unofficially associated with one another. Well, that’s because they are. In a sense, they are brother companies. You see, they share a parent: Steve Jobs. After Jobs was booted out of Apple in the 90s, he founded Pixar Animation Studios. If you think about it, the two companies have a lot in common: Both are in the tech category; both have anticipated regular annual release dates (e.g. Apple’s annual iPod updated line, or Pixar’s annual Disney/Pixar major motion picture, such as this year’s Toy Story 3), both have a similar logo style with the white background and simple, familiar picture, both were founded by Jobs, both are highly successful, among many other things such as business styles, etc. Is Steve Jobs not only a tech genius, but also a business genius? I don’t know. But here are some solid examples of the Apple/Pixar love fest:
-Disney Pixar’s Wall-E: the robot’s charging sound is the same as the Mac startup sound
-Apple’s introductions of just about any product with video within the past year have showcased Disney/Pixar’s Up
-In Toy Story 3, the younger sister is shown with an iPod
-In Toy Story 3, the toys clearly use Safari browser on an iMac to map out a route on the Internet
-Many more. . . just search it in Google.

All in all, this whole deal raises the question of how each company benefits from such benefits, and did Jobs plan this? Apple has always had a way with the media. What do you think of this unofficial partnership? Leave a comment below.