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All about the new iPod touch
San Francisco – September 2, 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed the new Apple iPod touch. The new Apple iPod touch is not far from amazing. You can buy the iPod touch for $229 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB. With such stunning new features such as FaceTime, the Retina Display, HD video, and Game Center, what can go wrong?
FaceTime
FaceTime is an iPod touch application that provides video calling from the new iPod touch to another iPod touch or to an iPhone 4 through Wi-Fi. The iPhone 4 also includes the FaceTime feature. The iPhone 4 comes with a front and back camera which are 5-megapixel. FaceTime only requires you to enter your Apple ID and email address to work. FaceTime is rather straightforward and easy to use. It starts by tapping the FaceTime application on the iPod touch screen and sending an invitation to the person you wish to speak to. The receiver will get an invitation and once the receiver accepts the invitation, FaceTime begins. You take full advantage of the iPod touch’s new built-in cameras, one on the front and one on the back. The front camera has been modified for use especially with FaceTime. I think FaceTime is a great addition to the iPod touch line. With this feature, you can have video chats with your friends through your iPod touch. I am also very pleased that there are two built-in cameras on the new iPod touch. You can now take pictures from your iPod touch instead of carrying a traditional camera around.
The Retina Display
The new iPod touch comes with a new Retina Display, which I think is awesome. The Retina Display has a higher pixel density that makes the images on the screen more clear and crisp. The pixels are packed very tightly and there are 326 pixels per inch. Apple has developed pixels that are 78 micrometers wide. LED backlighting and an ambient light sensor are key features that contribute to better battery life and a clearer image. The 960-by-640 resolution is incredible to observe. Apple packs four times the amount of pixels found in older iPod touch models on the same screen, which is why the Retina Display is such a big improvement.
HD Video
The new iPod touch comes with a built-in HD video camera on the back and built-in video editing. iMovie, Apple’s video editing app that costs just $4.99, provides additional opportunities when it comes to video editing. It allows you to combine, edit, add music, and publish your video to the public. You can also use the VGA-quality camera on the front to simply record yourself. The camera in the front provides an easy alternative than trying to record yourself using the back camera and not knowing how the video looks as you are recording it.
Game Center
I will be honest; I am very excited about Game Center. Game Center is a new feature that comes with iOS 4.1. Game Center allows you to play games, which are downloaded from the Game Center, with or against friends and people from all around. Plus, the A4 processor provides a better gaming experience. You are required to have iOS 4.1 and to sign in with your Apple ID. You are allowed a nickname that will make it easier for friends to find you. You can invite someone to play with you by sending a friend request using their nickname or email address. Your friends are listed on a Friends list. You can look at leaderboards and achievements to see how you compare in rank to others. Auto-match will automatically match you with a friend if they are also looking for a match to play, if not, you will matched with another person from around the world. How convenient is that? I am thrilled and excited to use Game Center. Aren’t you?
Environmental Status Report
The new iPod touch is designed to reduce the impact on the environment. The iPod touch is made based on these guidelines:
- Arsenic-free display glass
- Brominated flame retardant-free
- Mercury-free LCD display
- PVC-free
- Recyclable stainless steel enclosure
- Smaller, more compact packaging
There features are definitely important because it affects everyone. The environment is important to all of us and we are responsible to take care of it. Apple is doing their part to save the environment. Now you can look at your iPod touch and know that it was made with a design that lessens its impact on the environment.
What do I think?
Basically, I am excited to use the new iPod touch. Out of all the new features, I think they are all great. I am more enthusiastic about Game Center, FaceTime, and the Retina Display. The video editing feature is not really a big thing for me because the iPod touch is typically used for listening to music, watching videos, and playing games. The video editing feature may turn out to be very useful.
Purchasing Recommendation
I would also recommend the 32 GB because it is only $70 more and it provides 4x the space. The 32 GB is a perfect amount for containing a huge number of songs, movies, and apps. 64 GB is usually not necessary, but if you believe you will need a lot of space, the 64 GB is the way to go. If you don’t think you will use a lot of space, I would still recommend the 32 GB over the 8 GB because you will end up using a lot of space in the long run.
Let us know what you think about the new iPod touch.
[Image Source: http://storeimages.apple.com/1739/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/touch/img/ipodtouch-hero.jpg]
Don’t want to pay for a ringtone online? Ever since Apple took out the feature to buy a ringtone in iTunes 10, where does that leave you? Don’t worry because I am going to show you a quick and easy way to make a ringtone from the iTunes music in your library.
The first step is to launch iTunes and find the song that you want to make a ringtone out of and put it into a new playlist. After selecting the song, press command + I and a new screen will pop up. Select “Options” from the new window. Then select the which part of the song that you want to use for your ringtone in the boxes that say “Start Time” and “Stop Time. Make sure it’s 30 seconds and that the boxes on the sides are clicked. Then click “OK” and right click on the song, scroll down select “Create AAC Version”. By doing this, you have created a new song. Find the new song in “Finder” by going to “Music” folder, then “iTunes” folder, finding the folder with the bands name, and then clicking on the album title. You should see two of the same song names. Choose the newest song by looking at the date modified. Press “Enter” to change the file format and change “.m4a” to “.m4r” and press “Use .m4r”. Now go back to iTunes and remove the song from your playlist, but make sure not to move it to “Trash”. Then re-import the song into iTunes by double clicking the song in “Finder”. You might notice if you click command + I that in summary it is listed as a ringtone. Then sync the new ringtone with your iPhone.
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iOS 4.1 Breakdown
If you have not heard yet, a new update is coming to an iPhone or iPod touch near you! You can expect this update next week, but I am expecting it early( as early as tuesday of next week). But I digress now let’s get down to business and tear this update apart and see what’s new and see my favorites of this update.
HDR Photography
Be a photographer myself I was already familiar with HDR photos, or High Dynamic Range photos. This is a cool feature that helps to “pop” those small features out in your photos. It works by taking three pictures at the same time, but here is where it getting interesting. It over exposes one, under exposes one, and the last is taken at normal exposure. These are all then combined together, and then bam, you have an HDR photo. I think this is definitely gonna be a cool feature I am going to be using a lot.
Game Center
Have you ever been playing a game on your iPhone and thought, I really want to play my friend right now. Well no longer will you have to think that anymore. You will be able to challenge your friends in any game that develops allow support for game center in. But not only is game center only going to allow you to challenge friends, but you will be able to post high scores and compete with friends in scores as well. One game already known to support game center will be Angry Birds.
Bug Fixes
There are also going to be some bug fixes to clean everything up. One big one is going to be the proximity sensor fix. It has been sorta annoying when I accidentally put my phone on speaker phone when my proximity sensor decides it doesn’t want to work. There will also be some other minor bug fixes to fix up any other known problems at this time.
Wrap-Up
I am excited for this update, especially game center. I guess Nick and I will finally be able to find out who is the real champion at Angry Birds now!
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Summary: Apple’s iTunes 10
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?