TheDigitalLifestyle.tv

We've Moved!!! Blog now at TheDigitalLifestyle.tv

2009-01-29T13:57:00.002-05:00

Finally! Our blog has moved to our homepage at www.TheDigitalLifestyle.tv. Please update your bookmarks to point there!

ABC News App For the iPhone and iPod Touch

2009-01-29T07:52:00.000-05:00

There are plenty of ways to get local and national news on your iPhone. Kudos to ABC News for their ABC News iPhone App. Sure, it gives you headlines like most news/RSS sites, but the real advantage to this application is the video capability. Same day clips are available from several ABC shows, and I'm partial to the Tech Bytes segments.

The app also gives you local weather and news/emergency alerts. Take a look:

New Design / Blog Location Coming Soon

2009-01-28T18:46:00.002-05:00

A quick note that things might get a little bumpy around here over the next 24 hours or so: We're migrating the site and the blog to a new location. We're looking forward to your feedback on the new look this week!

Apple doesn't make the Fortune 100 best companies to work for 2009 list

2009-01-27T22:03:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure I agree with Fortune's list which can be found here. Having worked for the Cupertino company, I can say that in all categories judged by Fortune - Apple has strong marks. Employees, Apple has over 32,000 world wide. First place has 7,853. It doesn't look like Fortune uses a more is better formula for this statistic which brings into question why it's listed there.

Lets look at the 2nd stat. Job growth and applicants. There's no way to know about this, but I'm sure Apple has vastly more applicants than openings seeing it did make the Fortune most admired list ranking in first place.

The 3rd stat is pay. Again I can't speak with any certainty, but Apple was quite fair with it's salaries of corporate employees.

The 4th stat is benefits. Apple had pleanty. There was the subsidized gym, stock purchase plan, great healthcare options . . . everything you'd expect from an industry leader.

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that Apple has all the right stuff based on the categories listed in the report so I have to assume Fortune is basing it's rankings off something else entirely. Unfortunately Fortune hasn't identified what that is. I wonder why they've left Apple off the list . . . again.

TDL Live This week: (1/26-2/6)

2009-01-27T10:46:00.002-05:00

It was another raucous edition of TDL Live last night. We talked about breastfeeding photos, Palm Pre, femtocell, and of course all things Apple. First, a quick reminder, you can subscribe through iTunes to never miss an episode. Or you can hope its one of the weeks we remember to post it here in the blog. Don't risk it.

Hydro Tilt for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2009-01-27T07:38:00.000-05:00

I was always a big fan of Marble Madness in the arcade, and at first I thought Hydro Tilt was sort of a Marble Madness clone. I was wrong. It is far more focused on the puzzle aspect of getting your water drop (that can also turn to steam and ice, as needed) from point a to point b.

Essentially, you need to change form at the right time to cross certain bridges/shoots, etc, turn into the frozen cube, and get that cube back to a specific place on the game board. At first I was annoyed by the on-screen directions, but those are there in the first rounds to let you know what's going on. ( A great reason for directions, I suppose...)

Video Interview with Pandora Founder Tim Westergren

2009-01-26T06:16:00.000-05:00

Last year, Pandora released it's iPhone app, and quite possibly changed internet "radio" forever. Suddenly personalized radio, previously only available to the masses on computers, was free from any Mac or PC, and in the wild.

I had a chance to talk to Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora, about the effect the iPhone app has had on the company (spoiler: it now accounts for 15% of daily listening) and the dark days last fall as internet broadcasters were facing a potentially game-ending music royalty hike.

Enjoy, and my apologies for the bad video quality. (That might be another blog post all in itself.) Also, to put this in context, the interview took place prior to the launch of the Palm Pre, another device aimed at massive adoption that sports a Pandora client.

Crazy Tanks for the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2009-01-23T06:03:00.000-05:00

If you remember the classic "Combat" game that shipped with millions of Atari 2600's, then you'll already know the basic idea behind Crazy Tanks. You pilot a tank, and have to shoot enemy tanks and gun positions. Tapping anywhere on the screen allows you to fire, while the radar in the bottom right corner shows the relative positions of enemies, as well as health bonuses, multi-shot upgrades, etc.

Unfortunately, you never see much of that battleground at any given time, and the lack of visibility makes the game more frustrating than it would be otherwise. There are worse ways to spend 99 cents in the app store, and with just a few tweaks, this could be a top game in my book. Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself.

CNN Celebrates The Birthday of the Mac

2009-01-22T09:46:00.002-05:00

See Apple, it's okay to acknowledge your past. Today CNN's iReport section is askingfor photos of your vintage Mac. This Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Macintosh, and all indications are that Apple will let the milestone come and go without any fanfare. It's quite a difference compared to the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (which was released on the 20th anniversary of the company, not of the Mac.)

So send your Mac stories to CNN. And better yet, share them with the Mac community in the comments below as well.

Recession? What Recession? Apple Has Record Quarter

2009-01-21T23:05:00.002-05:00

Apple's quarterly results are out, and they are staggering. Here's the full rundown, but the short story is, it was a record quarter for profit. A record quarter. Now. WOW!

Apple Tax Out of Control?

2009-01-21T14:09:00.003-05:00

We saw this image over on Digg and thought it was worth a quick post. We haven't check these specs ourselves, but if true the so-called Apple tax is truly out of hand. With Q109 results due today, it will be interesting to see how the poor economy and Apple's unwillingness to budge on price effected their sales.

What happened to 'Mac and PC' ?

2009-01-19T11:50:00.004-05:00

Maybe it's just my own TV viewing habits, but I can't help but notice our old friends Mac and PC have been MIA from tv since the holidays. Could it mean a change is in the works? Could it mean they're waiting for a new feature? Could it simply be that I've been watching the wrong channels? Make no mistake, I still see plenty of iPod Touch ads on a daily basis.

Have you seen Mac and PC on your television lately?

Jobs' Announcement May Explain Bland Keynote

2009-01-14T19:15:00.004-05:00

We're all still digesting Steve Jobs' announcement that he will be taking a leave from Apple to care for his health issues that are, in his words, "more complex than I originally thought." First, it's worth noting that this was the suspicion of Jamie here at TDL from day one. I didn't believe it, and still don't want to. That said, this may explain why this year's keynote was so bland, and in a different way than you may have originally thought.

It is my belief that products like the iPhone nano, and the revamped Mac mini are ready, or nearly ready to debut. Apple may have taken a calculated risk: After all, if those new products were released, and Jobs left for an extended time, and Apple had nothing new to ship, what would people say? Apple can't make great products without Steve. Now, they can release these products over the next six months, and give the appearance (whether true or not) that the company can innovate perfectly fine with Jobs on the sidelines.

Commentary: Apple and AT&T Independent Resellers Unite!

2009-01-14T06:31:00.000-05:00

There was a time, when buying a Mac meant a trip to your neighborhood independent Apple reseller. Just about the time Apple decided to take matters into their own hands and open their own stores, the cell phone industry exploded, thanks in no small part to the growth of independent cell phone providers. All of those kiosks in malls and standalone independent phone dealers add a substantial amount of revenue for AT&T each year. Many offer contracts with different carriers. What better way to get them to get more customers onto your service than to arm them with the most sought-after cell phone around?

Instead, these dealers are left with the unenviable task of talking down the benefits of the iPhone to get customers to purchase a different phone. Even though there are still no superior phones to the iPhone yet, more and more decent touchscreen competitors are springing up. And guess what? They aren't on AT&T's network. So in essence, you're making your own resellers push customers to competitors.

Let's go back to the Macintosh resellers for a moment. These are stores who have stuck through thick and thin with Apple for years and years. They did the heavy lifting for Apple, taking the time to fight the hard fight, to give the best, personalized service, and to evangelize, from the heart, about why the Mac was better. It could be argued that these days Apple gets far more revenue from their own stores than these resellers, so therefore they aren't important. Well, guess what? They are important. And the proof? Well, they're still standing. All those years of building customer relationships continues to pay off. Even as Apple continues to open more and more flashy stores, there is a base of customers who continue to buy products from their tried and true reseller. Maybe the local Apple Store is too far away. Maybe people don't want to brave a mall just to ask a computer question. Maybe the jig is up, and people realize that getting a knowledgeable genius in an Apple Store is really hit or miss these days. Whatever the reason, People still choose resellers.

There have been fundamental clashes before about how products were being distributed, with some feeling resellers were getting shut out. Eventually though, (some) product would arrive. It's a far different story with the iPhone.

I cut Apple some slack on this issue with the original release of the iPhone. After all, it was a new product, and a small(er), controlled rollout could be justified. We're over two years in now, and there's no justification beyond greed. We know the phones can be activated at home, why not allow more people to sell the phone. And with the announced deal to sell the iPhone in Wal Mart, doesn't that shoot the whole theory that this is about controlling the point-of-sale experience? We've visited two Wal Marts (and will continue to do so) and have yet to find a person who could tell us about the phone, or even a working demo model.

The Apple and AT&T resellers would both show far more passion and knowledge in selling the iPhone. It is inexplicable these two groups, who have shown their loyalty to their respective corporate gods, are unable to sell a product they want to sell and could sell with far better enthusiasm than Apple's current third-party iPhone providers. I hope Don Mayer at Small Dog Electronics is right. In his predictions for 2009, Don predicted that "Apple will allow its top independent resellers to sell the iPhone." It's the right thing to do, and way overdue.

Image: Movietonic.com

TDL Live and a Special Thanks

2009-01-13T18:33:00.002-05:00

Here's this week's TDL Live. Originally airing before our "Welcome to Macintosh" documentary event, there's a live skype interview with the filmmakers in the second half of the show. We also cover the post-Macworld news. Enjoy, and don't forget, you can subscribe to the show as well:

Exclusive Online Screening of "Welcome To Macintosh" Documentary, Right Here

2009-01-09T14:59:00.004-05:00

We're excited to let everyone know that on the heels of the wonderfully received debut of "Welcome to Macintosh" at Macworld, we will be presenting the film Monday night at 9:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM PT right after TDL Live. Rob Baca, and Josh Rizzo will chat with viewers throughout the film, and answer your questions.

If you're into such things, the full press release is below. Go forth and spread the word. Oh, and don't forget our channel is completely embeddable, so your site can have show the movie Monday night too!

Exclusive online screening of “Welcome to Macintosh” documentary on tDL

PHILADELPHIA - On the heels of its Macworld 2009 presentation in San Francisco, the new Apple centric documentary, "Welcome to Macintosh" will have a special one-time online screening, Monday, January 12th. At 9:30 PM ET on TheDigitalLifestyle.tv

Filmmakers Rob Baca and Josh Rizzo will participate in a live chat during
the screening where viewers can ask questions about it the movie, the people and the creation process.

"We are thrilled to bring this special screening to the Mac community," said
Ryan Ritchey, founder of TheDigitalLifestyle.tv. The film's Macworld
presentation drew and international crowd and included discussions with Apple legends Steve Wozniak, Guy Kawasaki, Ron Wayne, and others.

TheDigitalLifestyle.tv is an online video network dedicated to Apple news,
rumors, and has the largest collection of Apple-related videos in the world.

“With acceptance in five international film festivals, "Welcome to
Macintosh" is reaching its goal of bringing the story of Apple and the
Macintosh to the new generation of iPhone and iPod users around the world,” said Rob Baca, Co-director of the film.

The widescreen DVD is NTSC Region Free and includes over three hours of
extended interviews, a "making of" featurette, theatrical trailers, behind
the scenes photo journal, Mac symbiosis montage, interactive menus and
subtitles in English and Spanish. It is available today on FilmBaby, Amazon
and the films website welcometomacintosh.com.

"The DVD goes far beyond the movie, exploring in-depth the stories and
experiences that made the Macintosh what it is today" said Josh Rizzo,
co-director of the film. "There are so many great stories to hear, we are
very excited to have the opportunity to share them."

"When we set out to create an online video network dedicated to Apple and
its fans, this is just the kind of programming we wanted to find," says
Ritchey.

Robert Baca a & Joshua Rizzo are 2002 graduates of Ithaca College's Roy H.
Park School of Communications. Robert resides with his family in Columbus
Ohio where works as a producer of industrial and commercial videos. Joshua
currently resides in Los Angeles and works as a post production systems
engineer for TV and film. Welcome to Macintosh is the first feature-length
film they have directed.

Fake Calls for iPhone (and iPod Touch, Actually)

2009-01-08T23:51:00.004-05:00

I suppose in an ideal world, we wouldn't need an app like Fake Calls. After all, what good can come from lying to others about getting a phone call. And if you're like me, you'll be so anxious to show your friends how it works, they'll never believe you really have a phone call in the future.

The premise is simple. You select a contact from your contacts list, or a phone number. Then select a time up to one hour in the future, and the ringtone you'd like to use for your "call." The ringtones include the iPhone standard rings (except for the alarm, which is one I actually use) which adds authenticity to the experience.

I've had the most fun having people call me while they're sitting in front of me. I sell it as a mind-over-matter exercise. Of course with this blog post, the jig will be up.

For $0.99, you could do worse as iPhone apps go, and it might just get you out of tight spot someday. Oh and a bonus for iPod Touch owners: I haven't tested it, but reports are it will work with the iPod Touch as well. Voila! an instant fake iPhone in your hand!

Did Jon Rubinstein Just Save Palm and Sprint

2009-01-08T17:47:00.003-05:00

Apple Vet Jon Rubinstein landed at Palm awhile back. I believe the collective reaction was, "good luck with that." But today, Palm unveiled the fruits of Rubinstein's labor, the Palm Pre. The name is rough, and the design is quite thick, but when you look at the features, you see a device that does everything an iPhone does, but does it without coming off as mimicking the iPhone. And there are plenty of improvements many of would like to see in the iPhone already in the Pre.

Engadget did a thorough job of blogging the Pre unveiling. Click here for a look at what could become the biggest competitor to the iPhone. And it's from Palm. Who would've thought!?

photo: engadget

Platypus for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2009-01-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

So what does it take to bring new life to a side scrolling game on the iPhone? Well, a fun twist on a space shoot-em-up, and a retro soundtrack are a great start. Platypus for the iPhone and iPod gives you a modern-day Defender, but with a twist: All of the ships (and landscapes) are made of clay. It's amazing how much such a seemingly small change makes the game play more fun. Combined with a retro 8bit-ish soundtrack Platypus proves to be one of the most addictive iPhone games we've tried yet. Take a look, then give it a download.

Phil "The Thrill" Schiller T-Shirts Available

2009-01-07T17:38:00.004-05:00

Whether you loved or hated this year's Macworld Keynote, hey, let's not blame Phil. Let's show Phil we know he's just the messenger... And what better way to do that (and support TDL at the same time, than with your very own Phil "The Thrill" t-shirt!

The Day After The Meh

2009-01-07T13:49:00.004-05:00

We finally got a chance to digest Tuesday's announcements, and here are a few quick thoughts/observations.

1) Overall the announcements were solid enough, but lacked anything to truly get the faithful excited. We think none of it deserved center stage. Perhaps it's best this is the (unofficial) last Macworld. Let's save future press events for the really big stuff.

2) Variable iTunes prices was inevitable. We don't have a problem with it, but wonder how the mainstream audience will view a price increase on some tracks. No DRM is great, but there are some reports that suggest the 69 cent tracks may still include it. Anyone know if this is true or not?

3) We expect all future portables to include the non-user-replaceable-super-battery of the new 17 inch Macbook Pro. This will continue to be a hot button topic with some users. We don't mind as long as the battery lives up to the hype. We're still skeptical on the 8 hour battery life. We bet it's something closer to 5 hours is the real world.

4)The annual updates to iLife and iWork are groovy. Facial recognition could be a god send if it truly works well. Facebook and Flicker integration is finally here. Another nail in the dot Mac....err Mobile Me coffin. We're still unsure why anyone will pay for iWork online when Google apps are free.

Overall we give this last and final Macworld a C- letter grade. Phil did a nice job. He just didn't have much to work with.

Missing at Apple: Where's the Vision?

2009-01-07T10:47:00.000-05:00

A lot has been made, and will continue to be made about the lack of new products and jaw-dropping moments at this year's Macworld Keynote. It's the not the lack of a new Mac Mini, or new iMac that worries me. It's not that the iPhone nano still hasn't materialized. It's that the over-arching vision for the company doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Probably the most distinct, singular vision from Apple came when Steve Jobs proclaimed the Mac would serve as a digital hub. With this vision, everything from iTunes to iPhoto and even drivers were designed. The digital hub vision guided each part of the company. Jobs' proclamation of the digital hub though was nearly eight years ago now. Two years ago we were first introduced to the iPhone, Apple's most innovative product in quite some time. When you make a product that's cool, intuitive, and groundbreaking, you can get a great response. The problem is, at some point if you're a maker of more than one device, each item needs to work together, and form the core of what the company's overall strategy will be over the next several years.

What is Apple's strategy now? All indications are to take the products they're already making, and make them incrementally better. Other electronics companies have been doing this for years, but this isn't what we expect from Apple. There should be a clear vision of where we go from here. With the capabilities of the iPhone and iPod, the Mac as a digital hub is dated. What's the new vision? Is it everything in "the cloud?" Is it everything you need in life, to go? While Apple has slowly, dipped a toe into both of these visions, you can't push a cloud strategy while overcharging for MobileMe and soon charging for iWork.com , You can't push a take-your-life-with-you strategy when people can't even copy and paste.

Tell us where you're going Apple. What's it all about?

iChat Text Communicators Shipping

2009-01-07T06:32:00.000-05:00

(Click on the pic, to see it larger.)
No, you didn't miss a Macworld product announcement. Rather, another company is laying claim to the iChat trademark, and producing the text communicators you see above for children. They were part of the holiday print catalog for YoungExplorers.com By the way, it looks like a fine catalog for unusual toys. The devices feature SMS instant messages, that can be sent "up to 35 feet away!" Yes, why talk to one another when you can send a text? Teach them young, I suppose. Oh, we've just intercepted the first message sent by Apple Legal to manufacturer: u r sued.

Share your Macworld Memories

2009-01-06T11:35:00.001-05:00

As we enjoy the last Macworld with Apple in attendance, we want to know about your favorite moments from Keynotes past. There was the Schiller jump in 1997, the G4 cube launch, Powerbook G4 (power to go!) Or Steve's first MWSF keynote after returning to Apple. Let us know in the comments below...

Last-Minute Pre-Macworld TDL Live

2009-01-05T23:37:00.001-05:00

Our last-minute look at all the pre-Macworld news. And, one more time, join us for live video starting at 11:30 AM ET Tuesday!

Hilarious Apple Parody: Thanks Onion!

2009-01-05T23:23:00.001-05:00

No words needed...

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Final Predictions from The Digital Lifestyle Staff

2009-01-05T18:51:00.002-05:00

Well, there's not much time left before we know what shiny new things Apple will unveil at this year's MWSF Keynote. This is probably also a good time to remind you we will live video coverage during the keynote, starting at 11:30 AM ET.

Now then, here's a look at what Adam, Jamie, and myself think will happen tomorrow:

Ryan:
New iMac:
I say it's a done deal, but not anything exciting. Speedbumps and larger drives. The one surprise would be touchscreen functionality.

Netbook:
If Apple Doesn't have something tomorrow to compete with the low-price netbook craze (yes, I'm calling it a craze), it could bode very poorly for the stock over the next year or so. People will buy $499 machines that do 90% of the stuff they want. The MacBook Air is the perfect product, but it's about $1,200 too expensive.

Home media server:
Let's hope not. How about getting AppleTV right first.

iPhone Nano:
I said we would see this a year ago, and I stick by it. I don't know what it does, or what you take away from it to keep the "regular" iPhone relevant, but I think we get one tomorrow.

Mac mini:
Let's hope so. This computer could be put into use in many, many clever ways with just a few tweaks.

Wildcard/one more thing:
Steve will make an appearance, but perhaps only via iChat, or some other way that shows off a cool new feature. Perhaps a new twist on Remote desktop. See, Steve can do all his work from home!

Jamie:
New imac:
Looks like new iMacs are a done deal, but I don't think we'll see anything other than a speed bump. No case design or new features. I don't expect Phil to even mention them.

Netbook:
This seems like too big of an announcement not to have Steve there, but I am gonna say we get a Netbook or what I'm calling the "New Mac Mini." Oh and expect it to be over priced at $799.

Home media server:
Not a chance. This is a niche market.

iPhone Nano:
The beans have been all put spilled by the case manufacturers. This thing is real, but don't expect to see it Tuesday. This is too big a deal for the now dying Mac World. I'd guess we'll see an iPhone event in the coming months.

Wildcards/one more thing:
Looks like a revamp to the 17 inch MBP is on the way. This would fit in nicely with a netbook appearance. Remember when the 17 inch and 12 inch Powerbooks made their debut? Could we see a return of the Mini Me / Yao Ming commercial?

Adam
New iMac:
It's not time for a new imac. The latest imac was released early 2008 making it just about a year old. I think we get a new iMac first half of 2009 but not during Macworld.

Netbook:
Did someone say Macbook Air? They're playing in the high end of this market. Granted it's no 10" display and doesn't have the attractive price point, but since when has apple concerned itself with the low end?? The last I recall is the eMac and that went the way of all things. I say no netbook at Macworld.

Home media server:
They already have that little hobby called the Apple TV. If anything we might get a refresh of this product but we absolutely won't be getting a media server. It was this time last year the AppleTV got a shot of seroids . . . look for Macworld to do the same both boosting storage capacity as well as the AppleTV software.

iPhone Nano:
I don't think so.

Wildcards/one more thing:
Did someone say MacMini? It hasn't seen an update since Mid 2007 and is LONG overdue. I think we get a new MacMini to support the mini display connection on the new displays. I think new MacMini is a feature of the keynote not a "one more thing". It's going to get a speed bump and lets lose the integrated graphics . . . no one wants integrated, we all want MORE. With the speed bump lets support 2x the memory. 2GB simply isn't a LOT and the new MacBooks support 4GB so lets get with the program folks. Don't forget cosmetic changes. After all they need something else to manufacture with the super cool, show stopping water jet a block of al-u-min-e-um process they've come up with.

So there you have it, our final predictions. Be sure to join us for video, and live chat. Oh and don't forget twitter: tdllive

Jobs Puts The Pundits To Rest. For Awhile, At Least

2009-01-05T11:04:00.002-05:00

In a surprisingly candid moment, Steve Jobs today shared details of his health issues on the eve of Apple's last appearance at Macworld. Jobs says in his letter on the Apple website that a hormone imbalance is responsible for his noticeable weight loss over the last year.

I'm torn as to whether it should have ever come to this. Were we (and I mean the Mac community) wrong in being concerned not only about Jobs personally, but about the fate of the company? Was Jobs wrong in not being adamant enough that he was not on his deathbed? Reading the last line of his post, "So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this," I can't help but feel a little guilty that this person, a human being, had to be so public in disclosing personal health information. Hopefully, both the rumor mill and wall street can let this rest for awhile now.

January Fantasy Apple Merger: Blockbuster

2009-01-05T05:16:00.000-05:00

(Fantasy Merger is a monthly feature looking at what could happen if Apple decided to merge with other companies. We have no inside knowledge that any mergers are imminent. And as you'll see, most are quite far-fetched anyhow...)

Back in the November edition of Fantasy Merger, I told you all about the pros and cons of Apple merging with Netflix. So this month, let's consider Netflix's bitter rival, Blockbuster.

First, all of the pros (and cons) of the Netflix post are true for Blockbuster as well:

PROS
Established monthly subscription base
Elimination of disc rentals, Accelerated growth of digital downloads

CONS:
Apple doesn't want to send anyone a disc. Ever.
Do the models really fit?

Of course the added question mark with Blockbuster is its brick and mortar stores. Thousands of locations around the country. Could Apple transform the stores into a sort of Apple outlet, maybe focusing more on iPods and iPhones than computers. And ponder this for a moment: All of those storefronts could make a great infrastructure for a competing cell phone provider. With Sprint possibly on the ropes, there could be a great opportunity for Apple to enter the game the second their contract is up with AT&T. (Maybe Sprint will be back for the Feb. Fantasy Merger...)

Still, as with most Fantasy Merger entries, This one is really unlikely.

Join us for Live Keynote Coverage Tuesday

2009-01-03T11:22:00.005-05:00

Just a quick reminder we will once again have live video analysis / coverage of the Macworld keynote beginning at 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT on Tuesday. No, we won't have the keynote itself, although we will continue to urge Apple to make a feed of the keynote available.

Adam Ford and I will offer our insights on the announcements in real time, and you'll be able to chat with us via iChat (tdllive) or Twitter (tdllive). Additionally, all viewers can chat via the on-screen chatroom during the event.

Frankly, we're going to miss these keynote webcasts. Last year's was our first big live event and brought our second highest live audience to date (WWDC was #1).

So be sure to join us. Open a tab for our webcast, and check out the rumor sites at the same time. Oh, and be sure to say Hi. Again, put it on those iCals: Live coverage begins 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT on January 6th.

(Image: ZDNet)

Wal Mart Visit: iPhone? What iPhone?

2009-01-02T13:50:00.005-05:00

I'll tell you up front, what you already know: Walking into Wal Mart to buy an iPhone 3G is completely different from heading to your neighborhood Apple Store. Upscale pretentiousness is replaced by a third-world market feel. I made my way past the hoards of holiday returns, and heightened tensions near a $3 shirt sale, to get to the "Communications Center." Or, "this is where we sell phones" section. The first thing I noticed, I made it all the way back to electronics without any indication the iPhone was sold there. Only once I walked around to the back side of the communication island did I find the display you see above. You may notice something missing. Either it's already been stolen, or they haven't bothered to put the iPhone on display yet at this location.

I wanted to ask about it, but the only Communications Center employee was dealing with a line of DVD buyers at the time. Available accessories consisted of plastic screen covers, and the Apple earbuds you see on the right.

Funny how Apple spent all those years getting the Best Buy store-within-a-store concept just right, and now this is how they peddle arguably their most revolutionary product to date.

Our Pre-Macworld Root Access Special

2009-01-01T03:12:00.001-05:00

Okay, so maybe Macworld fever isn't quite as high as it's been in previous years. Still, this IS the event of the year for the Mac faithful. And also, it's a good time for a reminder that we'll have live video coverage of the Macworld 2009 keynote beginning at 11:30AM ET on Tuesday, January 6th.

At any rate, our in-house genius recently stopped by for a special pre-Macworld edition of Root Access. In part one, we tackle the controversy surrounding Apple's decision to leave Macworld. Part Two is a look at what's fair, and what isn't when it comes to Steve Jobs' health. And in part three, we get down to the nuts and bolts of looking at this year's rumors before the big event.

Part One.

Part Two

Part Three

Happy New Year, To All.. Even Zune Owners

2008-12-31T16:32:00.002-05:00

Farewell, 2008. Hello, 2009. The first thing that comes to mind as we ring in the new year, (Besides the hilarious-unless-its-happening-to-you freeze up of 30GB Zunes) is that we're one year closer to 2011. I don't need to tell you why that's Armageddon. Oh, I do? Because that's the next year without to zeroes with which those wacky New Year's glasses can be made. Those could be bleak times, indeed.

But that's for another day. For now, Happy New Year, and thank you for being part of our first full year of The Digital Lifestyle. We're looking forward to a year of fun new stories, shows, and re-designs to make TDL better.

TDL Live This Week: 12/29

2008-12-29T23:39:00.003-05:00

It's the final look at Apple news and rumors in 2008. iPhones at Wal Mart, Apple Media servers? iPhone Nanos? We cover it all this week. Show notes/credits are below. Enjoy!

Apple Rejects iPhone Application That Lets Users Jiggle Breasts
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,471564,00.html

Apple's online App Store has decided it'd rather not be stacked with an iPhone application that lets users jiggle a pair of breasts.
The "iBoobs" application was rejected because Apple deemed it "objectionable content," the U.K.'s Register tech blog reported.
"If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that iBoobs does not violate the iPhone SDK Agreement we encourage you to do so," Apple reportedly told the creator, Mystic Game Development of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The iBoobs application is a computer animation of a large pair of breasts in a bikini top. Shaking the iPhone makes them wobble from side to side, or up and down, depending on the movement.
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Amazon Touts Best Holiday Sales Ever; Acer, Apple Win
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2008/12/26/amazon-touts-best-holiday-sales-ever-acer-apple-win/

Amazon.com (AMZN) this morning announced the holiday season was its best ever, with 72.9 items going out the door per second on the peak day, December 15, for a haul that day of 6.3 million items. The company lists in its press release a number of humorous stats regarding holiday purchases — enough coffee sold to give every citizen of Seattle a cup a day for two months — and lists best sellers, which include, in electronics, the Samsung (SSNLF.PK) 52-inch hi-def TV, the Apple (AAPL) iPod touch 8-gigabyte, and the Acer (2353.TW) Aspire One 8.9-inch Netbook.
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$99 iPhone Arrives, But Not at Walmart
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/99-iphone-arriv.html
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Apple’s App Store sees big iPod Touch downloads this Christmas
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/29/apples-app-store-sees-big-ipod-touch-downloads-this-christmas/
by Doug Aamoth on December 29, 2008

Looks like the iPod Touch had a good Christmas, as App Store downloads on December 25th increased three-fold or more for most titles.
The boost in sales "appears to be from a large influx of iPod Touch users," according to MacRumors.com, who noted that it would have been much easier to give an iPod Touch as a Christmas gift versus an iPhone, which would have to be activated and whatnot.
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Google, Microsoft, Apple sued over preview icons
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10129022-92.html

A Michigan-based networking company on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Google, Microsoft, and Apple, alleging that all three tech giants violated a patent it owns on the use of document-preview icons--or thumbnails--in operating systems.

In the suit (PDF), Cygnus Systems targets Google's Chrome, Microsoft's Vista and Internet Explorer 8, and Apple's iPhone, Safari, and Mac OS X as patent infringers. Apple uses the patent-protected technology in its Finder and Cover Flow Mac OS X features, the lawsuit claims.
Cygnus describes the technology covered by the patent as "methods and systems for accessing one or more computer files via a graphical icon, wherein the graphical icon includes an image of a selected portion or portions of one or more computer files."
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Wal-Mart Has Started Selling the iPhone
http://www.mercurynews.com/businessheadlines/ci_11313954

Wal-Mart on Friday confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in technology: It will begin selling Apple's iPhone on Sunday.
But the retail giant officially knocked down one other rumor that had been making the rounds: It won't be selling a special 4-gigabyte version of the iconic phone for $99.
Instead, the retail giant will offer the same two standard iPhone models that are already sold at Apple, AT&T and Best Buy stores. Wal-Mart customers will be able to buy the phones at a discount, but not much of one.
The retailer's stores will sell the 8-gigabyte model for $197 and the 16-gigabyte for $297. Both of those prices are $2 less than they can be found at other outlets.
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The Dream iPhone Pro
http://gizmodo.com/5119445/the-dream-iphone-pro

--The photo is the story--

That's good, but we thought it could be a bit better. We fixed the keyboard to make it more rational and compact, losing some unneeded keys. With the space, we added what it's really needed to make the iPhone a true Nintendo DS competitor: A direction pad and two buttons. For the D-Pad, we didn't want to reinvent the wheel and just copied Nintendo's tried-and-proved design.
----------------

Apple wants to swipe your iPhone
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/29/swipe_patent/

Apple has applied for a patent to replace some tap-based gestures on the multi-touch displays of a variety of computing devices, phones, and media players with "swipe gestures" - that is, making a device's display responsive to a finger being drawn across it rather than simply tapping it.
Swipe gestures, of course, currently exist on the iPhone and iPod touch for rudimentary tasks such as moving from one home screen to another or pinching images, but this new patent would extend that capability to enhancing what's now keyboard-based input.

------------------

Rumors abound, Apple working on media server?
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/rumors-abound-apple-working-on-media-server/
According to 9to5, the new product will include a Dynamic DNS system to tie in with MobileMe; this will provide username.me.com domains for easier access across the Internet. In addition, the device will include AFP filesharing and Time Machine backup stores. The device will not run off of Mac OS X Server, as you might suspect; rather, it would run the same system and processor that the Time Capsule does.

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Griffin Technology TuneFlex Aux Review

2008-12-25T09:32:00.006-05:00

I recently purchased the TuneFlex Aux from Amazon using the Remembers feature of the Amazon App [see my Amazon App review]. Griffin Technology has been a long time creator of unique and quality products for Apple products, and the TuneFlex Aux is another of their great creations. The product is intended to be used in cars with an Aux in for the stereo. The TuneFlex plugs into your car's 12v power adapter to power your iPod of choice (the TuneFlex comes with 7 iPod adapters - see below - to securely connect your iPod). The adapters lock into the neck with two ball bearing like mechanisms . . . your iPod isn't going anywhere. It has a gooseneck-like arm to adjust the positioning of your iPod. The neck is quite thick and firmly stays in whatever position you adjust it to.

The Aux location is built into the base where the TuneFlex Aux plugs into your power adapter and also has a volume control there as well.

I would have been very pleased with the TuneFlex Aux if it correctly fit in my car. In the picture above you see the 12v power location is unobstructed so the TuneFlex can easily fit in place. In my car, the power adapter is recessed which leaves limited clearance from left to right. The Aux location on the base of the power adapter is too thick preventing the TuneFlex from properly sitting in the power socket . . . this renders the unit useless . . . no power and all is a deal breaker. I can't really fault Griffin for this design, and they can't really cater to all makes and models of cars (mine is a Subaru Legacy) but should serve as a warning to anyone with limited clearance where your 12v source is located . . . this item very well might not fit.

Overall Rating: B+ (despite returning the product)
Pros: Adapters for multiple iPods, robust neck
Cons: Thick base at the power adapter makes fitment challenging for some makes and models of cars

You got an iPhone or iPod For Christmas, Now What?

2008-12-24T12:50:00.009-05:00

Santa brought his bag of goodies to your house and look what he left: A brand new iPhone, or iPod! For those of you who are new to the Apple family, welcome! For those who received a long awaited upgrade, well welcome to you as well!

Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

iPod Clickwheel Owners: Congratulations on getting the tried and true clickwheel version of the iPod. The good news: You probably have far longer battery life, and far more storage than those iPhone and iPod Touch friends of yours. Who needs a touchscreen anyhow. The bad news: The clickwheel iPods do not play the games and apps found in the iTunes app store, but that doesn't mean you can't find games for your iPod. There's a section called iPod Games that's just for you. Nearly all the games are $4.99. Are they worth it? Well, we've compiled video reviews of all the games, so you can find out before you buy. Just click here. And another quick tip: it can be tricky to find a case for your iPod (especially the classic) since there have been so many slightly different variations on it. Either head to your local Apple Store / Best Buy, or we suggest one of these cases: If you want to run with your iPod clickwheel, check out the Belkin Neoprene Armbands. If you'd prefer a soft gel-type skin for your iPod Nano, then check these out.

iPhone Owners: Depending on your activation method, you may have had to know this one was going to be under the tree. Welcome to the iPhone club. You now own the device that changed the cell phone industry forever. If this is your first device to use the iTunes App Store, a word of warning. The reviews of apps on the site are notoriously unreliable. Pay more attention to the overall rating of the app, rather than individual comments. Most of the prominent comments just complain about price. Or better yet, check out our independent iPhone and iPod Touch App Reviews. If you need a case (my personal preference is to go case-less. I'm a rebel, what can I say...) I'd suggest a hard case like the Inspiretech Full Protect Case.

iPod Touch Owners: Look at you! You own the Cadillac of iPods! You tell the world, I don't need copious amounts of storage. I simply want the most functionality, and what Steve Jobs referred to as the "funnest iPod yet." First, promise you won't be upset if the storage increases, or the price decreases by late January. Promise? Ok, on we go. Again, the app store is a big part of what makes this baby purr, so be sure to check out our iPhone and iPod App Reviews. Just remember, not all of the apps work with the Touch, so be careful when buying. Again, a hard case is probably the best choice to protect your investment. Here's a great and tough option from Otterbox.

Apps worth checking out (check for compatibility with your device: some are iPhone only)

Pano - Turns your iPhone into a panoramic picture taking machine.

The Price is Right Game - If you enjoy the TV game, you'll love this version. It's a little pricey, but worth it for the fans.

Pandora Radio - It's free, and gives you a great way to discover new music.

Chopper - When we first reviewed this game, I wasn't thrilled. But since then, it's really grown on me. And it's a lot cheaper than it used to be.

AIM AOL Instant Messenger - It's not perfect, but if you want to bring AOL instant messenger on the road, this is your best option.

These are just a few starting points. There are thousands and thousands of apps out there, so subscribe to our video reviews (that you can then watch on your iPhone or iPod).

Enjoy your new toys!

Four Potential Positives of a Jobs-less Apple

2008-12-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

First a few disclaimers. 1. We do not wish any ill will to Steve Jobs. 2. We have no reason to think his departure is imminent. 3. We're not calling for him to leave Apple, not in the least.

However, when Jobs is no longer with the company, be it next week, month, or decade, there are some potentially positives that could come along with the change:

1. Lower Cost Market Entry
It's been said time and time again, that the average price paid for a PC is falling. Other than the foray with the Mac Mini (let's hope for an update there, soon) Apple has all but ignored this market. Years ago Jobs made the point that luxury automakers are doing just fine with a sliver of the auto industry. His point at the time was to show that Apple wasn't in peril if it didn't have 15 percent of the market. While true, times have changed. No one is sitting around wondering whether Apple will survive these days. Instead the question becomes where can Apple find more growth. Like it or not, the low-end of the market is the answer. Plus there's a practical reason: Apple has created a largely successful ecosystem of iPod/iPhone/Mac. While many wannabe iPods have come and gone, if another company is successful at dominating the growing low-end market, they could potentially launch a legitimate competitor to the whole Apple environment. Without Jobs, Apple would have even more pressure from outside, and from what we hear, more support internally for aggressively pursuing this market.

2. Partnerships
One of the great premises of web 2.0 is the community sharing, and community experience. Companies also realize they can be leaner and more competitive when they work together. Sure, Apple could bury Netflix if they wanted to, but why re-invent the wheel? Partner with them instead. Apple is always set to "go it alone." If Apple does lose it dominance in music, for example, i would expect it to come at the hands of some sort of partnership among many companies, rather than a single competitor. Fortunately for Apple, so far these companies have shown themselves as inept at working together. (See "Plays For Sure")

3. Employee Blogs / Openness
The end of Apple's participation in Macworld will leave a giant void for the Mac faithful, who want to be in on what's going on. One way to satisfy that curiosity, and control the flow of information at the same time would be employee blogs. I think most Mac fans would find it fascinating to read a post from Johnny Ive for example, talking about the trial and error of creating the aluminum unibody. Let's see some videos of testing. Let's see some prototypes. We're talking about revealing this info after the fact, in a manner that would keep the faithful tuned in, and wouldn't reveal anything to put the company at a disadvantage. No one's asking for a three-year product roadmap, just some glimpse into the process of creating the products.

4. iPhone as a (more) open platform
I've seen the future. In five years we may be living in a world in which all phones with the exception of the iPhone run some variant of Android. These are the two mobile platforms of the future. Android will presumably be comprised of many of the concepts described in the other suggestions: several handset manufacturers agreeing/partnering on a single OS, an OS created in an open-source manner, and meticulously chronicled in blogs across the web. Over at Apple, we'll have updates pushed out when Apple says they're ready, and app developers in the dark, with their hands tied in what their apps can do. The iPhone has an impressive processor, and one can assume it will only get better. Consumers will wonder why can this $79 phone have touch capabilities, AND flash, AND copy and paste, and yet the (then) $149 iPhone doesn't?

So there you have it. The best news is, none of these changes would require Jobs to be gone from the company. He could decide at any minute to implement these changes. Given Apple's history though, don't hold your breath.

What do you think? Are there other potential positives of a Jobs-less Apple? Are we off our rockers this time?

Dr. Awesome for the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't want to be awesome? And who doesn't want to be a doctor? (well, minus the gory parts, and the tough med school exams) Here's your chance to be both with Dr. Awesome for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The gameplay, which is fun (briefly) involves slicing away cells so that viruses cannot survive. Along with fun cut scenes, Dr. Awesome cleverly populates the patient's names using your iPhone contacts list. While a nice feature, it would also be one that would be nice to disable. Here's a full look:

iSports for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-22T08:31:00.004-05:00

It's a busy time in the sports world, as the NFL heads into the playoffs, the college bowl games are just off in the distance, and the NHL and NBA are in full swing. How's a sports fan supposed to stay connected to everything that's happening? And, can you do it for free? iSports for the iPhone and iPod Touch provides the latest scores for several sports (NHL coming soon) along with news, and "superfan" services.

The interface is straightforward, and provides at-a-glance look at scores. It can be a little sluggish to load, but the info is well worth it. Take a look:

The Dark Knight: Batmobile Game for iPhone and iPod Touch

2008-12-18T07:21:00.001-05:00

Great news. The Digital Lifestyle just saved you 99 cents. Oh sure, it seems tempting enough... a licensed Batman app for less than a dollar! How could this possibly go wrong? Well, it does, and in fine fashion. Rather than tell you about the game, below is the video review. And not only is it a review, but it's a look at the full, yes full gameplay of the Batmobile Game for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The ultimate blogging notebook

2008-12-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Gasp . . . it's not a Mac. The Acer 8.9" notebook being sold exclusively at RadioShack might be the ultimate blogging notebook and at $99 who can argue?! You get a laundry list of features including Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G access, built in webcam, 160GB HD, and a multi card reader for the photos. For the mobile blogger there really isn't much more you could want. With the cell connectivity you can blog from grandma's house, or from the park, or . . . well you get the idea. So what's the catch?!? The $99 price tag is really $1,539 before tax [GASP!!!]. See when you get the Acer at $99 you are also signing up for a 2 year AirCard contract with AT&T. 2.5hrs of power really isn't all that much, and the RadioShack website seems to neglect the conditions needed to yield 2.5hrs . . . chances are good it's not with the 3G turned on.

If you're in the market for a subnotebook and don't need the 3G access, I say save the $300 and get a new Macbook instead.

Checkout Ryan's post from November. He also had a runin with an Acer.

Raging Thunder for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-17T07:26:00.000-05:00

At launch of the App Store, the choice of racing games was slim. Now there's more to choose from, but that doesn't mean they've necessarily gotten any better. Today we're looking at Raging Thunder. A racing game that would probably be acceptable if no other racing games existed, and if we didn't know the capabilities of the phone. Raging Thunder feels like a cell phone port with some accelerometer control of steering. The most jarring cell phone gaming-like experience has to be the annoying sound when two cars collide. I had to check to make sure I didn't pick up my old SonyEricsson T68i. Here's a full look at Raging Thunder:

An Optimistic Possibility From Apple's Macworld Decision

2008-12-16T19:22:00.005-05:00

Earlier today, it was announced that Steve Jobs would not be giving the Keynote address at Macworld, and that this would mark Apple's last year at the event.

Within minutes, Apple-follower's heads (including mine) were spent spinning. But let me try to offer one optimistic explanation. Apple is, after all, Apple, Inc. and no longer Apple Computer Inc. Lest we forget there's another big electronics event in January: CES.

Maybe Jobs is positioning himself as keynote speaker for CES in 2010. It would be a terrible move to show up at CES this year, while the Mac faithful are gathered elsewhere. It would make sense though, that Jobs would want to go from Keynote speaker of his company's event, to Keynote speaker for the entire industry.

I don't believe Apple can be abandoning big events. They have served so well for launches of products like the iPhone. Sure the HiFi speaker could be introduced at a small press event, but grand, revolutionary products are a different story.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons this could simply be wishful thinking. Let us know your thoughts below.

Apple Drops a Bomb: No Jobs at MacWorld. Apple Leaving Next Year

2008-12-16T19:07:00.003-05:00

Apple just dropped a bomb. Steve Jobs will not be giving the Macworld keynote, AND this will be the last year for Apple to attend the event.

More detailed thoughts once we pick our collective jaws off the floor...

My Amazon App Review - Buy Now

2008-12-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Just made my first purchase using the Amazon app from the app store and it was flawless. Amazon got this app right and is now bridging the mobil device to e-commerce bridge. This app is revolutionary for both e-commerce as well as the iPhone / iPod Touch.

The Amazon app is free on the app store. The interface is simple. The home screen shows suggestions, allows you to start a new search or you can log in to your account. The next option is to start a search, followed by a cart button to view and modify items to be purchased.

Now, the next button called Remembers is really cool. The idea goes something like this . . .

1. snap a picture of an item
2. send it to Amazon
3. Amazon matches the item and presents you with results
4. you buy the item

Easily at hand was my BlackBerry Curve generously supplied by my day job. I have no interest in buying one or having one to begin with, but it was easily accessible. My first attempt to use this feature resulted in my 2G iPhone locking up. After a restart and a 2nd attempt, the photo was successfully uploaded and within seconds I received an email from Amazon stating I had results. Amazon thought my BlackBerry Curve was a BlackBerry Bold . . . not exactly correct but impressive none the less. This technology is similar to like.com where you can upload a photo and it will deliver search results based on the photo [like has an app on the store as well . . . review to follow].

The next option is called More. This screen contains Wish List, Account access (this is where you can find recent transactions, track packages, etc.), provide feedback, and see different terms of use (you know . . . the legal stuff).

I ordered a Griffin Technology TuneFlex Aux (review to follow once received). The app walked me through the entire process prompting me to enter different account information along the way. That's the beauty of the App. It's blatantly clear what you're supposed to do and it works.

Google Drops From Most Trusted Company List, Apple Joins

2008-12-16T11:50:00.004-05:00

Google, the "do no evil" behemoth has dropped off the Ponemon Institute/ TRUSTe privacy trust survey. New to the survey this year? Why it's our friends in Cupertino. Apple made its debut all the way at #8. Also new to the list? Facebook. American Express comes in at #1. Facebook was lucky to make it in before this month's virus started to make it's way through the site.

I can't think of anything Apple has done differently in the last year to warrant the sudden jump. Brand recognition? Is there something else I'm missing?

Lemonade Stand for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-16T07:15:00.000-05:00

A classic that many lifelong Apple users will probably remember: Lemonade Stand has made its way to the iPhone and iPod Touch. It's simple, straightforward game, teaching the basics of running a business: advertising, inventory, and pricing. Here's a look:

It's a Beta

2008-12-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

Before Web 2.0, beta tags were reserved for software apps that were under development and served as a use-at-your-own-risk notification to would be users.

Seems like the IN thing these days in web software. It's a free pass for things not to work . . . can't be mad because it's a beta. Some really popular and well used apps are classified as a beta, Gmail is one of them. Google this past week removed the coveted beta tag from its new browser just 100-ish days after it's public release.

So here's my question . . . why isn't the browser available for the Mac?!? If it's far enough along to shed the beta classification surely it's far enough along to have a Mac counterpart. I thought perhaps I just missed the Chrome debut for the Mac so I went back to the Chrome download site and sure enough the email me button is still there for Mac users. Does this mean Chrome will get it's beta tag back when [if] the Mac version comes out? We'll all have to wait and see.....

Turkey Hunt for the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-15T07:44:00.000-05:00

Gobble, Gobble... Thanksgiving might be long gone, but it looks like some turkeys may have made it through. It's time for you to change that in Turkey Hunt. The gameplay is simplistic to say the least (just keep tapping), but there's something oddly addicitve about Turkey Hunt:

Rearden Personal Assistant Digital secretary does it all - 2009 Knowledge Navigator

2008-12-14T19:28:00.007-05:00

I don't know about you, but I don't have a secretary. No one to make me copies, book my appointments, schedule my travel, book my hotel, or make my dinner reservations. But soon my woes may come to an end thanks to a kick ass company in San Jose (just down the road from Apple BTW). Rearden Commerce is developing a software package, the Rearden Personal Assistant, that will intelligently take your plans and make modifications on the fly. For example: If your flight is delayed, the software will notify you of the delay, modify your dinner reservations (notify your guests . . . it would be tragic if they didn't get the memo) and then let you know once all attendees have responded.

This software is based on a military application developed by SRI International (up the road from Apple in Menlo Park). Now I know you're thinking . . . how can I get my copy and what will it cost me. Good question. Rearden Commerce hasn't made their product openly available. It's currently only released to a few partner companies, but will be rolling out to Chase card members as a service (likely paid, but we'll have to keep an eye out to confirm) in the not too distant future. Chase has an equity stake in the company and as part of the deal their card-members will benefit.

Personally I think the concept is great, but all it's going to take is one miss and someone doesn't make their flight or stands up a client because they didn't get the meeting change notification and it's a deal breaker. I'm a Chase card-member so I'll be looking to get my hands on Slipstream and will write a full review. Until then checkout the Knowledge Navigator from 1987.

Perhaps John Sculley was onto something...

Sweet Apple Ad on Yahoo! Games

2008-12-13T14:13:00.004-05:00

Check out the sweet Apple advertising on http://games.yahoo.com/ It would seem at the time of this post the ad (previously appearing at the top of the page) is not currently running. Hopefully it will be posted again so you can see the page elements shift along with the iPod Touch in the ad below.

The advertising is based on the original iPhone / iPod Touch gaming commercial seen here:

Five Hidden iTunes Holiday Gems

2008-12-12T12:46:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season for holiday music. And while you might be quite familiar/tired of some of the overplayed traditional songs we scoured the iTunes store to bring you some refreshing sounds of the season.

Fiona Apple's Rendition of Frosty The Snowman:
Fiona Apple may not be the first singer to come to mind when you think of spreading holiday cheer, which makes this track, irony free, quite compelling. Fiona Apple: Frosty The Snowman

The Brian Setzer Orchestra Does Sleigh Ride
Ah the 90's... After the flannel shirts and grunge started to fade, Ska and Swing ever so briefly made a return to fill the void. (Ok, Swing is still enjoying a higher level of popularity than in the 80's. No need for nasty letters/emails.) Setzer and his band souped up this holiday classic all their own. It's a bright, fresh take on the classic.Check out Sleigh Ride from The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Can I Interest You In Hannukah?
Here at TDL HQ, we eagerly anticipated the Stephen Colbert Christmas Special. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. The highlight though, was the music, and specifically the Stewart/Colbert duet "Can I Interest You In Hannukah?" Let's face it, other than Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song, this is one holiday that gets overlooked in the sounds of the season. Stewart tries to explain Hannukah to Colbert with catchy and humorous results.

The Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
This might qualify as a classic, but I'm going to let it slide because A: It's a fine selection, and B: It's at a heck of a sale price right now. Charlie may not win at baseball, but his Christmas album is a home run (come on, allow me some schmaltz here!).

The Bird and The Bee: Carol of The Bells
Some friends of mine, will be less than thrilled to see this one on the list. Where others hear an annoying rendition of a classic that's trying too hard, I hear a light, fresh, but not-too far in left field cover. The iTunes Preview will give you a good sense of whether you'll love it or hate it. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Disney's Fairies Fly for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-12T09:43:00.004-05:00

Disney has made its foray into the world of iPhone and iPod Touch gaming with Fairies Fly. We'll give them kudos for bringing a girl-centric game to the App Store. The graphics are great, and the gameplay is fine, but simplistic. Here's a full look:

Topple for the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-11T08:08:00.003-05:00

Take one part Jenga, add a reverse Tetris, in which you want to stack the blocks high, and you've got Topple for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Each block has its own personality, adding an extra level of whimsy to the game. Here's a look:

The Price is Right iPhone Game Review

2008-12-10T06:43:00.000-05:00

The Price is Right is one of those shows I feel like I watched a ton of episodes as a kid, but when I think back, I didn't miss that much school, so I don't know how it go so ingrained in my mind. From the Showcase Showdown, to the Shell Game, to Cliffhangers, it's all taking up a lot of brain cells, but I digress...

So if you're a fan of the show, either the Barker years or Drew Carey's take, you'll want to check out The Price is Right for iPhone and iPod Touch. It's a solid re-creation of the home viewing experience, and for those of us who will never make it to the studio, this may be as close to the real thing as we will get.

TDL Live This Week: 12/8-12/15

2008-12-09T08:57:00.003-05:00

In case you missed it live, here's a look at our weekly roundup of Apple news, presented, as always, in a serious fashion:

Apple deletes Mac antivirus suggestion

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10111958-83.html?tag=mncol;txt

Apple removed an old item from its support site late Tuesday that urged Mac customers to use multiple antivirus utilities and now says the Mac is safe "out of the box."
"We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate," Apple spokesperson Bill Evans said.
"The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box," he said. "However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running antivirus software may offer additional protection."
Apple's previous security message in its KnowledgeBase, which serves as a tutorial for Mac users, was: "Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult."
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Confirmed: iPhone Coming to Walmart By the End of December, Regularly Priced
http://gizmodo.com/5103986/confirmed-iphone-coming-to-walmart-by-the-end-of-december-regularly-priced
Store representatives at multiple locations confirmed to the publication that employees are training to sell the handset, which will hit shelves by the end of the month. This will make Walmart the second non-mothership retail chain to sell the iPhone, and by far the largest. But what about all the $99 4GB model nonsense? It hasn't been confirmed, and still doesn't sound that likely.

Some analysts still say that the $99 iPhone will probably happen eventually, but others are specific enough to claim that a Bentonville, Arkansas location will sell the discontinued 4GB model in addition to the 8GB and 16GB versions, which have been confirmed at their normal $199 and $299 prices.

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Google Earth Browser Plugin for Mac OS X

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9918?rss

Mac users now have access to the Google Earth Browser Plugin. Some Mac users have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the plug-in since it was introduced for Windows in May 2008 and for the iPhone in October 2008. The plug-in is compatible with both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs, and works in both Safari 3.1 and later and Firefox 3.0 and later.

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Microsoft to release 'Softwear' retro clothing line

http://www.macworld.com/article/137391/2008/12/microsoft_softwear.html?lsrc=rss_main

Microsoft says it’s a “clothing line that taps the nostalgia of when PCs were just starting to change our lives,” and that it aims to “showcase the DOS days of the software company that now connects over a billion people.”

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Argentina-based OpeniMac now selling Mac clones

http://www.macworld.com/article/137388/2008/12/openimac.html?lsrc=rss_weblogs_macuser

Mmeet Argentina-based OpeniMacwho, besides clearly angling for a trademark lawsuit, is also going ahead and selling Mac OS X-based computers at prices that undercut Apple's own offerings.
Well, in Argentina, anyway, as the country doesn't have its own Apple Store, online or brick-and-mortar. But if you live in the U.S., the prices aren't really cheaper than buying a comparable Mac.
The company bills its product line with the tag “Benefits of a Mac. Price of a PC.” Two models are available: the "OpeniMac" is a $990 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo machine that also sports 2GB of memory, a 320GB SATA drive, SuperDrive, ATI Radeon HD PRO, and even a 6-in-1 memory card reader.
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Apple was 5th busiest retail site on Cyber Monday

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/12/07/apple-was-5th-busiest-retail-site-on-cyber-monday/

While its competitors were offering deep discounts to pull in recession-battered customers, Apple (AAPL) had already ended its Black Friday sale and by Monday was back to charging its usual premium prices for laptops, desktops and MP3 players.
Yet its online store still managed to grab the No. 5 spot in comScore’s ranking of the top 20 most visited retail sites on Monday Dec. 1, handily beating not only Dell (DELL) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ), but such full-fledged retail outlets as Best Buy (BBY), Toys “R” Us and Circuit City .

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LEARN SPANISH IN ITUNES U

From Portales: beginner’s Spanish to the advanced A Buen Puerto: Fast Forward in Spanish, you’ll find a variety of Spanish course material from the Open University on iTunes U. And once you’re conversant in Spanish, you could sample the German and French language courses, as well.

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Grey Lines Mar MacBook Air Displays

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9910?rss

Some MacBook Air users have been reporting the appearance of grey horizontal lines across the screens of their late 2008 models. Discussion threads on the issue began in early November 2008 on both Apple's discussion forums and the MacRumors forums. There have been slight variations in the description of the issue, but most accounts agree the lines are grey or white, horizontal or slightly angled, granulated or pixelated in appearance, and are very subtle. Overall the lines are said to give the screen the appearance of a piece of parchment or recycled paper. Also, the lines are said to appear at the initial boot; they do not develop over time.

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Rosetta Becomes Optional in Snow Leopard?

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/08/latest-mac-os-x-10-5-6-seed;-rosetta-becomes-optional-in-snow-leopard/

Separately, we've heard that the newest version of Snow Leopard makes Rosetta an optional installation. Rosetta is Apple's PowerPC emulator for their Intel Macs, allowing Intel Mac owners to run legacy software that has not been upgraded for the Intel platform. This news comes shortly after an announcement that IBM had purchased Transitive, the company behind Rosetta's technology. The final release of Snow Leopard is also rumored to require an Intel Mac, thereby being the first version of Mac OS X to drop PowerPC support.

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Three Apps Define Apple's Mobile Platform
http://blogs.eweek.com/applewatch/content/app_store/three_apps_define_apples_mobile_platform.html

News Commentary. Last week, Apple announced that the App Store had 300 million downloads and 10,000 applications. Three apps matter more.
It's not so much what they do but what they mean. These three applications define App Store, supported by _oc="null">iPhone and iPod Touch, as an emerging mobile platform. Right now, Apple has created the leading contender to replace the PC as the platform people use most.

The apps:
Amazon Mobile

Google Mobile App

Obama `08

Number of applications does not a successful platform make. Volume is important, but the sticky quality of applications/services and the ability to make real money matter more.
All successful platforms share a few common traits:
They have at least one killer application people really want

They make available a breadth of useful applications

Development tools and APIs make it easy to create good applications

Third parties make lots of money
There is a fifth attribute not common to all successful platforms, but unique to some: They make customer engagement easier, a quality that some connected gaming devices/software and some Web 2.0 platforms imbue.

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Steve Jobs participating in ad song selection
http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/12/08/jobs.picking.ad.songs/
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is himself involved in picking the songs used incompanyadvertising, a musician claims. Lars Iversen, a member of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, notes that when "Around the Bend" was chosen for an iPod touch TV ad, a company representing the band -- Synch -- first got in touch with Apple, and then participated in a direct meeting with Jobs. The executive is said to have picked the song to use at this meeting, expressing particular enthusiasm for the music.

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HERE WE GO AGAIN... APPLE TABLET IN 2009?
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10118470-37.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple
Earlier this year CEO Steve Jobs implied Apple was watching small-device categories like tablets and Netbooks to see if they actually take off as a mega-trend, but in the meantime the company had other priorities. Mac tablet rumors stretch back for years, and in the past Jobs has quickly shot down talk of an Apple-produced competitor to Amazon's Kindle, which has been interpreted as a sign Apple was doing just that.

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Adobe and Belkin back out of Macworld, IDG not concerned
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/12/08/adobe-and-belkin-back-out-macworld-idg-not-concerned
IDG World Expo isn't too concerned, or so it claims. A spokesperson issued this statement:

While Adobe has decided to shift its focus at for Macworld this year, the company will still be actively participating in the event -- several members of the company's product team will be involved in Macworld tracks, including a full day of CS4 demo sessions with Adobe evangelists on Wednesday, January 7.

Every year we see a certain percentage of exhibitors pull out of the event for their own business reasons. In this economic climate, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see this. The important thing to understand is that Macworld Conference & Expo 2009 will be similar in size to last year’s event and attendees will continue to visit nearly 500 great Mac product vendors on our exhibit floors.

Everest: Hidden Expedition for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-12-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

I was always a big fan of the Mini Page as a kid. Yes, in a time before iPhones and iPods, Saturday morning entertainment consisted of cartoons and the Mini Page in the local paper. By far my favorite feature was Seek n Find, in which you would try to find hidden objects in a picture. Everest: Hidden Expedition takes this concept to the next level with highly detailed scenes in which you're challenged to find specific items.

The catch? Unlike the old Seek N Find, there's a huge number of items hidden in each picture, and you're tasked with finding a list of specific items before the other three "teams" catch you.

The game play is fun, but it's relatively easy to stay ahead of the other teams. It's worth noting that this is a huge game in terms of filesize. The app weighs in at 117MB, or more than ten times the size of most iPhone apps:

Business on a Mac: Fodeo

2008-12-05T11:27:00.000-05:00

This is our first in a series of weekly posts looking at how Macs are being used in different types of businesses. It's not always easy, and sometimes it's downright challenging to use Macs for business. Other times, The Mac gives a distinct business advantage.

Countryside, Illinois - based Fodeo provides in-store and online dvd photo montage services. While we'll see in some of our future profiles that Mac integration isn't always headache-free, Fodeo is doing just fine. Here's a Q & A with Fodeo's Valarie Moody:

Give us an overview of your business:
Our business solves the question of what to do with digital photos when you have very little time or technical knowledge.

How do Macs fit in your workflow?
We use Macs for everything! (Well, except for our POS right now, but that will change). Our video editors use Final Cut Pro, our project coordinators use Photoshop on a Mac for retouching photos before editing or printing, our accounting person uses Quickbooks for Mac, and we will also be tracking our shipped items via a Mac when we switch our POS system to Lightspeed.

What percentage of your business uses Macs?
98%

Why do you use Macs?
Their friendly and reliable!

Would you recommend Apple to other retailers?
Definitely. We've had no issues with viruses or crashes in 4 years of business. Because of our retail set up, many of our customers are surprised to see so many macs. All of the macs are networked with the rest of our equipment, and we've never had a problem with any of the computers, which we can't say the same about the one PC we have.

What specific software do you use on your Macs?
We use Quickbooks software. I use my MacBook Pro as my lifeline. I use all of the Office products for planning and budgeting.

What's the biggest advantage to using Macs for you?
Speed and simplicity, which means less labor costs. Not to mention the more creative things you can do with Macs vs. unreliable PCs.

What's the biggest drawback/issue to using Macs for you?
It used to be the lack of good POS software, but now that's not an issue. The only other drawback is the unfriendliness of some websites dealing with Safari. But even that is barely an issue these days.

If you have a business running on Macs, let us know: feedback@thedigitallifestyle.tv

Spore for the iPod Clickwheel Review

2008-12-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

There was a lot of buzz over Spore. Heck it took years to finally ship to consoles, and when it headed to the iphone, the buzz started once again. Off the radar of many though, was a quieter release: Spore: Origins for the clickwheel iPod. Despite being the cheapest version of Spore (not counting the free trial for iPhone) the clickwheel version gives the same gameplay as it's more expensive iPhone counterpart. The clickwheel works relatively well to control your creation, athough customization is a little tricky:

Apple Store Visit Series: 5th Avenue NYC

2008-12-04T10:34:00.000-05:00

This is the first in our series chronicling visits to Apple Stores around the country. Want to help? Send us your store experiences at feedback@thedigitallifestyle.tv

As promised during the last installment of tDL Live, here's my take on the Apple Store 5th Ave. My recent visit (Pre-Thanksgiving) to the store was also my first and I need not take 300 words to talk about the cube . . . it's cool.

Store traffic was high for a rainy Saturday in a down economy. Not only were there many people, but many bags . . . consumers are buying. The store seemed well staffed, I didn't really notice many people standing around looking confused or helpless and I was happy to see the store had a real POS, instead of a small army of specialists swarming with easy pay machines. This is in stark contrast to my local store where it's easy pay, or nothing (I don't know about you, but this easy pay really isn't).

As expected the genius bar and iPod bar were busy and creatives were conducting their one to one sessions.

Overall I enjoyed my first trip to the iconic 5th Ave. store. I'm wondering how they sell desktops though. How would you get it out of the store and what would you do with it once you did? If anyone has purchased a Mac Pro from the 5th Ave. store I'd love to know how they handled that.

Puzzloop for the iPhone and iPod Review

2008-12-04T07:01:00.000-05:00

I've always been a fan of Zuma on the iPod clickwheel, and I had no idea that game is actually derivative of Puzzloop, which was originally available on the Playstation, and has now made its way to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Here's a look at the marble shooting puzzler Puzzloop for iPhone and iPod Touch:

Poladroid for Mac Review

2008-12-03T09:04:00.003-05:00

Not every product review we do has to be for a stellar piece of productivity software, or the latest must-have hardware. No, sometimes the software is just plain fun. That's the case with Poladroid. In a nutshell, Poladroid allows you to Polaroid-ize your digital photos. Yes, from the tinting, to the wait time, to the look of the texture of the white photo border, Poladroid has it all. Now if only it had a few extra settings, like the ability to choose the amount of aging, and some cropping options. Still it's definitely worth a try:

We're All A-Twitter

2008-12-02T17:29:00.003-05:00

Yes, it wasn't so long ago, that we were dissing Twitter. We didn't quite get it, and couldn't see what all the fuss was about. Much like grandpa trying to program the VCR, it was just too newfangled for us.

Well, at long last. The Digital Lifestyle has entered the Twitter age. You can follow us @TdlLive . Yes, that "follow" is probably supposed to be a link somewhere. No, we don't know where it's supposed to link.

Also, that's the official twitter account for the site, meaning multiple people will "tweet." We'll use initials to differentiate. Since I'm the main tweeter, no initials for me (Ryan) I know, it's elitist...

Today twitter, tomorrow... Loopt? Don't hold your breath

TDL Live This week: (12/1-12/8)

2008-12-01T23:21:00.003-05:00

It's the Cyber Monday edition of TDL Live! After dealing with some site load issues (thanks Cyber Monday...) TDL Live was a hoot. No aluminum foil was harmed in making this episode:

Show Notes:
A coming of age for YouTube
http://news.cnet.com/a-coming-of-age-for-youtube/
YouTube has announced it will auction off search terms as part of an ad program, called Sponsored Videos, designed to enable anyone to expand the viewership of their videos. YouTube also said last week it obtained rights to post full-length movies produced by a large film studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. What this means is that YouTube has given up on the idea that user-generated content can be a successful standalone business.

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Psystar case reveals Apple's shaky e-mail retention policy
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/11/19/filing-apple-employees-responsible-own-lawsuit-record-keeping

According to a recent legal filing (see page 7) in the Psystar vs Apple antitrust case, Apple employees are responsible for maintaining their own documents such as emails, memos, and voicemails. In other words, there is no company-wide policy for archiving, saving, or deleting these documents.

This could pose a problem in the event of a lawsuit. In recent years, companies have been fined millions after failing to retrieve old emails and other files required as evidence.

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Microsoft modifies Zune subscription model

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE4AJ21420081120

the software company's modified subscription plan would allow owners of Zune to keep 10 tracks per month, which has an estimated value of $10. The users can also add those tracks to their permanent collection.

The company said agreements have been signed with the big four music labels -- EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group -- and also with a few independent distributors.

A Zune Pass would allow the user to download music and the downloaded content can be shared among up to three PCs and three Zune devices, the company said.($14.99/mo)

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MacBooks slow down with battery removed

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/11/21/macbook.slow.wo.battery/

Apple's newer MacBook range continues to exhibit an unusual design behavior that slows the system down when the battery isn't attached, testing by Gearlog confirms. Although only publicized in a support article from August that predates the late 2008 refresh, the unibody systems deliberately throttle back the processorwhen relying only on AC power.

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THE Black Friday Deals at Apple That Weren't

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Simpsons Rag On Apple

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Linux successfully ported to the iPhone, iPod touch

http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/12/01/linux.on.iphone/

Devteam member planetbeing has successfully reverse-engineered the iPhone and iPod touch platforms torun the open-source Linux 2.6 kernel. The port is still in the beginning stages of development, with limited functionality that lacks support for the touchscreen, sound, accelerometer, baseband and wireless networking. When the device is powered-on, OpeniBoot gives the choice of booting the iPhone operating system or a separate mode for the Linux kernel.

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Mac web share hits 8.9% while Firefox tops 20%

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/12/01/net.apps.share.nov.2008/

Net Applications has revealed both Apple and Mozilla bringing Microsoft's share of the web to historic lows for November. The Mac's usage share of the more than 40,000 websites tracked by the Internet firm has now reached 8.87 percent for the past month; the increase is a major jump from the previous record of 8.23 percent in September and is enough to have pushed Microsoft's Windows below 90 percent usage online for the first time in years.

Microsoft has also taken hits from rival web browsers. Usage of Mozilla's Firefox has topped 20 percent for the first time (up from 19.97 percent to 20.78 percent) and has been the largest single contributor to a decline in Internet Explorer share, which has again reached a years-long record low at just 69.77 percent of Net Applications' view of the web. The researchers attribute the spike partly due to the timing of special events like the US presidential election and to an extra number of days off helped by Thanksgiving, all of whom contributed to heavier web use.

Apple's Safari and Google's new Chrome browser have also supported the downfall of the Microsoft browser. Safari jumped from 6.57 percent in October to 7.13 percent in November while Chrome moved up slightly from 0.74 percent to 0.83 percent.

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BlackBerry Storm Doesn't Blow Away Reviewers

http://www.internetnews.com/mobility/article.php/3788061

New York Times technology columnist David Pogue tags the Storm as the "BlackBerry Dud", and is a bit miffed over the missing traditional QWERTY keyboard.
"It's like an iPod without a scroll wheel. A Prius with terrible mileage. Cracker Jack without a prize inside," Pogue seethed in his review last week.

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Blockbuster (BBI) Looking For Streaming Partners To Go After Netflix, Apple
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/blockbuster-looking-for-streaming-partners
Like rival Netflix, Blockbuster (BBI) is hoping to build itsnew streaming service into as many living room gadgets as possible. Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes,

Smart (if obvious) strategy, but Blockbuster is about a year behind Netflix (NFLX), which already has deals to build its streaming service into Samsung and LG Blu-ray players, Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox 360s, Roku Web video set-top boxes, and TiVo (TIVO) DVRs.
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More iPhones sold to females in Australia
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,24732123-5014239,00.html
APPLE'S iPhone has surprised the tech set by finding more homes in handbags than suit pockets.
Australian mobile phone companies confirmed more women than men were buying Apple's fancy iPhone, with one source saying up to 70 per cent of iPhone sales were to females.

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Apple offers free licensing for Mini DisplayPort spec

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/12/01/apple-offers-free-licensing-for-mini-displayport-spec

It turns out that the company is offering no-fee licenses to anyone interested in developing products that use the Mini DisplayPort specification.

Mini DisplayPort is an Apple-designed miniature version of the VESA-approved DisplayPort, which fully supports the protocol while offering a more compact connector.

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Macworld Expo early bird registration extended

http://www.macworld.com/article/137228/2008/12/expo.html?lsrc=rss_main

Registration for the upcoming Macworld Conference & Expo has been extended by one week, now ending on December 8, 2008.

The early bird registration gives attendees the opportunity to purchase their tickets early and save some money in the process. Prices vary from $25 for an Expo Only badge that gets you onto the show floor, to $1,695 for a Platinum Pass that grants you access to two Power Tools sessions, one Market Symposium, sessions in the Users Conference and MacIT Conference, access to feature presentations, keynote viewing, lunch, a party ticket and exhibit hall access, for $1,695.
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Apple's Black Friday Sale Items Revealed

2008-11-26T12:09:00.007-05:00

OK, I'll admit upfront, we don't know how much you could save on Apple products Friday, but we do have a good idea of what will be on sale. Go ahead and take a closer look at that Apple promo graphic ahead. Having worked at Apple, and also having observed these sales pics before, the answers are right there:

Items Expected To Be Discounted:
iMac
all iPods (except perhaps the shuffle)
iPhone Bluetooth Headset
MacBook
Apple iPod Accessories
MobileMe (while not pictured, it's perpetually $30 off)

What You Should You Not Expect To Get a Deal On?
MacPro towers
MacBook Pro (chance of a discount)
iPhone
Third-party products, with a few exceptions
The new Apple monitor

So while not written in stone, there's your quick guide to whether you need to brave the Apple store Friday morning. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and don't forget we're back Monday with TDL Live at 9PM ET.

Also, if you plan on shopping Apple's sale from home, please consider using this link to help support TDL!

Apple Price Matching Not News

2008-11-25T16:26:00.002-05:00

Considering we're the only major Apple blog created by former Apple retail employees, I figured we should set the record straight on reports of price matching at the Apple Retail stores.

1. Price Matching is Not New
Managers have always had some flexibility with judgement calls on price matches. Truth be told, you were far more likely to get a price match four or five years ago, when there was a slower pace to the stores, and CPUs made up a larger portion of the business. That said, generally price matching only applied to the system/Apple products. I remember a gentleman wanted to purchase $700 in iPod accessories once upon a time, and was shocked he couldn't get a discount. Let's face it, even though he had a high item count, $700 is small potatoes in Apple retail. Which brings me to:

2. Price Matching is Not The Same as Cutting a Deal
You should not expect now to get any more of a deal for being a frequent customer than ever before. Don't confuse someone else selling an item for less, with wishing Apple would sell you something for less.

3. Price Matching isn't the Same As Rebate Matching
Macmall, and other online businesses do a good job of offering Apple bundles: Perhaps a free printer, mouse, software, and case, all AFTER rebates. Don't expect Apple to match the after-rebate price.

4. Apple Can't Break The Law
I wouldn't expect Apple to do anything to the price to get it to equal a sales tax-free purchase. It might seem trivial, but I recall many times when people threatened to go to a tax-free store (in tax free Delaware) rather than buy from us due to tax. Apple is not the tax man, and they won't be cutting into their profits to even out the tax burden of buying in-store.

So while it's great to get a better deal, don't read too much into this retail "change." It's a bit of a non-story as price matching as always existed to some extent.

Hey Apple, The Netbook Train is Leaving the Station

2008-11-25T12:52:00.004-05:00

On a trip to the local Costco earlier today, I saw quite a clamor. No, it wasn't just the checkout lines stretching back half the store (didn't anyone get the recession memo?) It was people of all ages checking out the HP 1000 Netbook. After waiting a bit to play with it, I've got to say, it's a solid computer - for what it is. I think 75% of the people playing with it may have thought they were using a full-blown laptop miniaturized, and for many of them, it may have been just that. If you intend to simply surf the internet, check email, and write some word documents, (which is still all many people need to do) then you may never notice the underpowered Atom processor.

Personally, it struck me as the ultimate blogging tool. The ability to throw something under 3 pounds into a bag and go, is impressive. If it had 3G wireless connectivity built-in, I may have even pulled the trigger. Are you listening, Apple? This is a product, actually a whole category of products, that are starting to gain mainstream traction, and there isn't an Apple-branded option to be found. The HP Netbook had a solid, but not MacBook Pro solid, feel. The fit and finish, again, not up to what you would expect from Apple, was still significant.

The days of selling an $1100 laptop as an entry level computer are over. Having 80% of the functionality in something at 40% of the cost, and 50% of the weight will appeal to many.

Apple's reluctance/delay in making a splash in this market category could be the biggest under-reported story to the company's future.

Attention Lost Fans: iTunes is Offering You a Time Machine

2008-11-24T10:44:00.000-05:00

These are crazy times we're living in. You can now get someone a gift that doesn't even exist yet for the holidays. No doubt hoping to capitalize on the holiday season, iTunes is offering a Season Pass to Season Five of Lost, now, a full two months before the show begins to air. No, you won't get to see the episodes before everyone else. But you do get a free song ("You Found Me" by The Fray. Clever!). Who knows, by January, maybe you can purchase the inevitable spin-off!

Decibel for iPhone App Review

2008-11-24T07:24:00.005-05:00

Sure games are great, but it's the other apps for the iPhone that show the range of the device. Decibel makes clever use of the iPhone microphone to transform it into a portable sound meter, with a cool retro look to boot. The major limitation isn't in the software, but rather the peak level (about 100dB) of the microphone. That cap limits the usefulness of Decibel, but for casually monitoring sounds in everyday situations, it works great:

Root Access Visits The Video Game Expo (VGExpo)

2008-11-23T00:49:00.005-05:00

Saturday Jamie and I checked out the VGExpo, or Video Game Expo in Philadelphia. Try as we might, we just couldn't find the Mac gaming section. We did get to see people dressed in some cool (and some not so cool) costumes, and we met some super-young Call of Duty players. Here's our take on the event, the state of gaming, etc.:

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

A Quick Shout-Out

2008-11-23T00:45:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute to thank the Marketing Club at Susquehanna Universityfor inviting me to speak at their meeting last Thursday night. It's always nice to visit my alma mater, and to share (and learn) the secrets of being successful with an online venture. I'm always happy to talk about TDL.

iPhone Software Update 2.2 Is Out

2008-11-21T09:20:00.002-05:00

In case we're the first Apple blog stop for you today (and why not?), just a quick note that Apple has released iPhone software update 2.2. Most of the notable features involve improvements to the Maps application, including walking and pubic transit directions. Other changes include the ability to turn auto-correction on or off, and improved voicemail quality, although I don't notice any difference , although this portion of the update would probably apply to new voicemails only. Duh!

Apple has set up a page here with all the new info.

WooHoo for the iPhone and iPod Touch

2008-11-21T07:15:00.001-05:00

It's Friday, so let's wrap up the week with a quick review of Woohoo. Love hearing something that kinda sorta sounds like the Pillbury Doughboy, along with a graphic that's clearly the Pillsbury Doughboy with the trademarks covered up? Well then, Woohoo is for you:

Flick Sports Fishing iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-11-20T07:51:00.002-05:00

It was only a matter of time before fishing made its way to the iPhone/iPod Touch. After all, the accelerometer and vibration/feedback from the phone lend themselves to simulating the casting and hooking of traditional fishing. Flick Sports Fishing uses both well, but it still feels like something's missing.

Players of Flick Fishing are limited by the game as to the direction and distance of their casts. However, the environments presented are each realistic, and sound great. Beyond the restrictions in casting, the game also tends to make hooking a fish too easy, as far more emphasis is placed on your ability to reel the fish in without breaking the line. Most of these issues could be addressed in a future update, so stay tuned:

NXE Kills ATV

2008-11-19T14:11:00.002-05:00

Today Microsoft officially launched their New XBox Experience or NXE for short. This FREE update (are you paying attention Apple?) includes not only a reinvented GUI and a host of new community and game features, but also the much hyped addition of Netflix streaming. We have yet to try it out on our box, but from what we've seen so far it looks to be full of WIN. So for $300 you can now have a multimedia appliance that will play all the music, photos and videos stored on your PC or Mac as well as stream thousands of Netflix titles instantly, oh and it plays a few games too. We can't help but wonder if Apple TV will survive another year.

iTunes Offers $10 TV Seasons

2008-11-19T11:03:00.003-05:00

Through iTunes, you can now get select (very select) TV seasons for less than $10. And you could even question how many full seasons are offered. Highlights include Tina Fey's Favorite Five 30 Rock Episodes, Fawlty Towers, Seasons 1 and 2 You can also get Matt & Trey's Top 10 South Park Episodes. Unfortunately, the pickings are slim, but hopefully we'll start to see more TV at this more reasonable price point soon. Click here for the rest of the $10 and under offerings.

Trace for iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-11-19T07:37:00.005-05:00

The App Store games have started an arms war of sorts between developers looking to get the best graphics out of the new platform. Trace takes a different route. Similar in concept to Linerider online, Trace uses sparse graphics to add to the game, along with some fun sound, and addicting, but frustrating challenges. The object of the game is to move your player from a platform on one part of the screen to a goal in another part, avoiding obstacles along the way. You do this, by drawing lines on the screen with your finger. Some levels are quite easy, while others, I am completely convinced, are impossible:

iTunes Content Viewers Hit By DRM on VGA Displays

2008-11-18T12:19:00.002-05:00

A report at Ars Technica details the story of a man trying to watch purchased content on a projector connected to a new MacBook via a DisplayPort to VGA adapter. Rather than seeing the movie, he was greeted by an error message stating the content could not be played back because the display was not authorized to play protected content.

This is simply inexcusable. It doesn't matter if it's Apple's doing, or the studio's. Back when Apple announced the DisplayPort connector, you may recall, we pointed out on TDL Live that the DisplayPort standard included HDCP (copyright protection) support.

At the time, no one knew how/if this would be implemented with iTunes content. Now it looks like we know.

I squarely blame Apple for this. Why? Because Apple is the only company big enough to stand up to the studios. There are plenty of ways, legal and illegal, to watch/acquire this content online without this hassle. Putting these types of restrictions on legally obtained content is beyond stupid, and can only serve to send people further into the dark torrent corners to look for content. The iTunes store was built on the belief that if you made paid content adequately easy to obtain, it would be a more attractive option than stealing. The worst part is, DVDs still represent the quickest, easiest way for people to rip movies and share them with others. People are not sitting around, grabbing the feed from their computer on its way to the TV to make illegal copies.

It is an unfair burden on the consumer, and a disappointment that Apple has not only played along, but aided this burden by incoporating and activating the DisplayPort HDCP. Ridiculous.

Math Tricks for iPhone and iPod Touch

2008-11-18T07:25:00.005-05:00

There are a few things that are always handy to break the ice with new people. The value of a few magic tricks can't be overstated. It doesn't hurt to have a few tricks that make you look smart too. Enter Math Tricks. Math Tricks gives you the ability to amaze and astound others with some easy to remember math quirks. Presented in a fun, straightforward chalkboard theme Math Tricks is worth checking out:

TDL Live This week: (11/17-11/24)

2008-11-18T01:23:00.002-05:00

We understand not everyone can watch TDL Live Monday nights at 9PM ET. So from time to time, we like to get you caught up on what you missed:

Also, straight from our secret vault, here are the show notes and links that made the show possible:

Apple to launch ‘aggressive’ Black Friday sale?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=495
As Black Friday sales begin to leak on the Web, experts at Barclays Capital say they expect Apple to counter rival PC vendors’ promotions with a one-day sale more aggressive than usual, offering deep discounts on a number of Mac models.

Low cost notebooks top the list of the most heavily-discounted electronics items poised to dominate this year’s sales, with Dell planning to offer a $299 Linux model via its website

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USB 3.0 full specs promise 10X speed boost
http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/11/17/usb.3.final.spec/

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group today revealed the full specifications for its namesake interface standard and so greenlit development of computer platforms and devices using the technology. The new peripheral format will now officially peak at 5Gbps, or about ten times faster than the 2.0 protocol. In actual tests, 25GB of data transfers in nearly 14 minutes over USB 2.0 but just 70 seconds over USB 3.0, significantly outpacing FireWire 800 as well as many hard drives.

FireWire isn't remaining static and should be upgraded to the S3200 standard ahead of USB 3.0 to provide about 3.2Gbps of bandwidth and similar power managementfeatures.

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LEGO Indiana Jones for Mac slated for November 28th
http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/11/17/lego.indy.jones.on.nov.28/
The Mac edition ofLEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures should be released on November 28th, conversion companyFeral Interactive has announced. The game is a port of a title already available for Windows and console systems,

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Eric Wilfrid is the new MacBU GM at Microsoft
http://www.officeformac.com/blog/New-MacBU-GM

Eric is a 14-year veteran of Microsoft's Mac team, having most recently worked as Product Unit Manager of the MacBU Silicon Valley team, based in Mountain View, CA. In that role I managed a team of engineers in developing Office for Mac and other MacBU products.

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Apple quietly discontinues the 23" Cinema Display
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/11/17/apple-quietly-discontinues-the-23-cinema-display
The discontinued status means that Apple is out of stock of the remaining new 23" Cinema Displays, and those waiting patiently to get their hands on the 24" LED Cinema Display have good reason to believe it should be coming any day now.

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Apple set to release Mac OS X 10.5.6 soon
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/apple_set_to_release_mac_os_x_1056_soon/
The release of Mac OS X 10.5.6 could be just around the corner. The update is slated to deliver wide-ranging fixes to Apple's operating system," Stephen Withers reports for iTWire.

"Developer notes accompanying various seed versions of Mac OS X 10.5.6 have been leaked by Portuguese-language web site hmbt.org. Those purportedly accompanying build 9G38 say there are no known issues with the update," Withers reports. "While that does not guarantee that 10.5.6 will arrive in the next few days, it is a sign that the project is not far from completion unless some significant problems are found in the latest changes."
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iPhone: Has Google lost its voice?
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/11/15/iphone-has-google-lost-its-voice-search/
John Markoff’s story in the New York Timesabout Google (GOOG) bringing voice activation to the iPhone, letting you search for everything from pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge to the length of a giant squid just by talking into your phone.
Google was under the impression that the application would be live on the App Store on Friday (obviously, since they pushed all significant press attention to it). Sometime Friday they found out Apple wouldn’t be pushing it, despite the fact that Google submitted it for review earlier in the week and got a thumbs up for Friday. One source says they’ve had little direct contact with Apple during the review, instead getting their updates via the standard iPhone developer tool, which has said “in review” for the last few days.

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Obama faces BlackBerry and Apple laptop ban

http://apcmag.com/obama_faces_blackberry_and_apple_laptop_ban.htm

His campaign embraced Web 2.0 technologies. He’s promised to appoint a ‘chief technical officer’ for the USA and will broadcast his weekly Address to the Nation via YouTube.

But from the date of his inauguration on January 20th 2008, if not beforehand, President-elect Barrack Obama will have to part with his beloved BlackBerry smartphone and maybe Apple laptop.

Concerns over email security and the need for all presidential correspondence to be entered into an official record, and eventually be open to public perusal, are expected to trump Obama’s own enthusiasm for technology.

It’s a tough break for the Geek-in-Chief, who according to The Telegraph’s list of ‘50 things you might not know about Barack Obama’ admits his ‘worst habit is constantly checking his BlackBerry’. ).

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Apple flirting with another record quarter for Mac sales

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/11/17/apple_flirting_with_another_record_quarter_for_mac_sales.html

fter spending 25 hours counting sales of iPhones and Macs at Apple's US-based retail chain, investment bank Piper Jaffray said it believes the company this quarter could meet or beat last quarter's record 2.6 million Mac sales total while again selling more than 6 million iPhones.

The firm's checks reveal the Cupertino-based company is selling an average of 28 iPhone 3Gs per day through each of its retail stores, down from 95 units per day in July, immediately following the handset's launch.

While those results would suggest a stark decline in quarterly sales, analyst Gene Munster said expanded international availability, the upcoming holiday shopping season, and the addition of Best Buy as an authorized iPhone reseller in US should combined to offset any slowdown in sales at the company's stores.

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Flash and AIR coming to ARM, but not necessarily iPhone

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/11/17/flash-and-air-coming-to-arm-but-not-necessarily-iphone

At the Adobe 2008 MAX conference today, Adobe announced a partnership to bring Flash 10 and AIR to ARM processors that power, among many other devices, Apple's iPhones. While this marks some progress on answering complaints about poor Flash performance on the device, we don't think it's a good idea to start holding your breath for Flash (or especially AIR) on the iPhone. Yet, anyway.

As you probably remember, Flash hasn't had much luck in its quest for the iTunes App Store. While Adobe has practically begged Apple to allow one of its most profitable products onto the best-selling phone in the US, Steve Jobs ain't havin' it, publicly stating that Flash is too slow on the iPhone and Flash Lite is "not capable of being used with the web.

If you look at Adobe's news, it's really just an announcement of a forthcoming announcement, as Flash 10 and AIR won't arrive until the second half of 2009.

Apple and Google On A Collision Course

2008-11-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

It wasn't that long ago that Google and Apple looked like a dream team. We even considered a fantasy merger of the two back in July. How quickly times have changed.

Now it's iPhone vs. Android, Chrome vs. Safari, and perhaps, Apple mobile search vs. Google search. There are some interesting parallels between this situation and the early days of the Microsoft/Apple rivalry. Microsoft was a key software provider for Apple, while also ramping up its own competing OS for IBM PCs and compatibles.

So where will this end? Can Google and Apple work together against Microsoft as a common enemy, or are we seeing the rivalry of the next decade? Will the next generation of Apple users look back on Google vs. Apple in the same way many of us remember Microsoft vs. Apple? It's not entirely unbelievable to see a path in which Microsoft's influence (continues to) declines to a point of an also-ran. Look at the market gains of Firefox, and to a lesser extent, Safari. Look at the move to online applications, and the increasing marginalization of the desktop OS. Yes, these trends could affect Apple as well, but Apple has a booming hardware business Microsoft can't rely on.

With the recent delay/rejection of Apple's voice search app for the iPhone, we might be seeing this new clash of titans coming far sooner than we thought.

What do you think? Is the ultimate showdown of "Do No Evil," and "Think Different" right around the corner?

Wings For the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-11-17T07:08:00.001-05:00

Imagine soaring over acres and acres of pristine mountains all on your iPhone or iPod Touch. That's the concept behind Wings for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Unfortunately, it doesn't necessarily live up to the promise. The soaring motion is fine, the graphics, while nice for a mobile device, don't live up to the stills that precede each flight. Wings works better as a proof of concept than a pleasing visual experience:

L.E.D. Football for the iPhone and iPod Touch Review

2008-11-14T06:00:00.004-05:00

You have to be from a certain era in video games to really appreciate this one. LED Football is a faithful reproduction of the original mid-70's handheld Mattel Classic Football game. I didn't get to enjoy that game when it was released, but I did get to play it for many years after my older brother's toys were handed down to me.

The creators have done an incredible job of recreating the look, sound, and feel of the game. However, there's one weakness that was out of their hands... The iPhone/iPod itself is just a little too small to comfortably play the game for a long period of time. Maybe that crazy Marware Game Grip isn't so crazy anymore.

What's Wrong With This Picture

2008-11-13T12:19:00.002-05:00

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I figured I would get up to date on the non-tech world with some CNN video. But before I could see the dramatic footage of a child who almost tumbled down the cliff, I had to watch a Brink's Security pre-roll. I managed to get a screen capture before it was over. Do you see what's wrong with the picture?

It looks like Brinks ad agency, or the person at CNN responsible for encoding, decided to give Flip4Mac a try. Literally. Using the trial version of software for the most popular cable news website might be dicey, but when the software adds a watermark... Oops...

Star Trigon for iPod Game Review

2008-11-12T06:49:00.003-05:00

While it may seem that the kids with the shiny new iPhones and iPod Touch(es) are having all the fun, let's not forget about the good old click wheel iPod. Macgirl has a quick video review of Star Trigon for the iPod. The short summary of the already short review: Fun, but repetitive:

November Apple Fantasy Merger of the Month: Netflix

2008-11-11T07:15:00.000-05:00

(Each month we weigh the pros and cons of a particular potential merger for Apple. Please note the "fantasy" part of this speculation: Many times the mergers mentioned couldn't or wouldn't be realistically possible. But put all that aside and enjoy this month's edition of Fantasy Merger.)

Earlier this month Netflix brought its movie streaming service to the Mac, with the help of Microsoft's Silverlight Technology. This service allows mac(and pc)users to instantly stream thousands of movies, making Netflix more of a direct competitor to Apple's iTunes than in the past. But that alone doesn't make Netflix the subject of this month's fantasy merger. With Netflix, Apple would gain an instant subscriber base. Rather than trying to build a base on top of their current rental and purchase options, Apple would have a sandbox in which to experiment with the subscriber model.

Apple could also vastly increase it's movie library overnight. Movie studios have made thousands of movies available via Netflix's streaming service that are not available on iTunes (at least not for rental).

Of course, it would also mean the quick demise of the physical dvd portion of the Netflix business. Apple would move quickly to get Netflix users to switch to digital distribution, while selling off the customer base who couldn't or didn't want to switch, to someone like Blockbuster.

What do you think? Should Apple pickup Netflix, for what amounts to a few coins in their cash-laden sofa?

Zen Pinball Inferno For The iPhone Review

2008-11-07T06:38:00.001-05:00

Are you a pinball wizard? (sorry) Well if you are, and you happen to own an iPhone, you can now enjoy pinball on the go. Zen Pinball brings pinball (minus "tilt" hijinks, somewhat surprisingly) to the iPhone with a realistic playing field, and few nitpicky issues:

Knots for the iPhone Review

2008-11-06T04:51:00.001-05:00

Imagine taking all the fun of Twister, shrink it to the size of the iPhone screen, remove the awkward physical proximity to others, and add some on-screen ads, and you have Knots.

Knots consists of twisting your fingers to place each finger on a colored circle on the screen, then Knots adds another circle, or removes one of the existing circles, forcing you to lift a finger (it makes more sense when you see it in the video below). In theory it should be addictive and give you a lot of gameplay. However, it's tough, even in the early stages to react quickly enough. If you like a challenge, this could be the game for you. One person's challenge is someone else's frustration however:

ESPN Arcade: Cameraman for the iPhone review

2008-11-05T09:17:00.005-05:00

If you've ever played the MegaTouch game at the local watering hole, trying to find the differences between two pictures, you'll be right at home with ESPN Arcade: Cameraman.

Cameraman includes over 70 images, and you must race against a timer to find the five differences between two different versions of the same photo. You can then compare your score to top scores online. The game play is straightforward, and surprisingly addictive, given the small size of each image. The short constantly looping music will drive you batty though. Turn it off, and enjoy:

Will Election Day Ever Be Online?

2008-11-04T01:43:00.001-05:00

As we lineup across the U.S. to cast our votes (you are voting, aren't you?) the archaic nature of it all starts to sink in. In an age in which we can order pizza online, or pay taxes, we have to (for the most part) stand in line to wait to cast our ballots through a variety of methods. Why not cut out the middle man? Could we see voting from home anytime soon? There's several issues to consider: there would be no way to know whether the person was casting their vote under pressure, or with a watchful eye in the room. But given the perceived or real fraud/hack possibilities with today's methods, would internet voting really be any worse?
There are a few hundred people who will actually be voting via the internet this year. But this method utilizes "hardened" PCs on military bases, and isn't a practical way for millions to cast their votes. (As an aside, here's an interesting article on how astronauts in orbit will vote this year.)

Maybe this isn't a problem that requires technology. We could simply go to a mail-in ballot as Oregon has done. In theory, the same issues of intimidation are possible, but overall, Oregonians seem happy with the painless, line-free voting method. Technology, as much as we love it here at TDL, isn't always the answer.

Brenthaven Fusion MB III MacBook Pro Bag Review

2008-11-03T07:57:00.004-05:00

The old saying "too much of a good thing" can often be applied to the world of laptop bags. There's an all-out war (okay, overly dramatic there) to create a bag with the most pockets and zippers and sleeves in which to forget where you placed things. Less really can be more in a laptop bag. So it's refreshing to see the Brenthaven Fusion MB III for the MacBook Pro has kept pocket inflation in check.

Granted the Brenthaven site says this bag has "pockets galore" most of those pockets are on a single organizational flap for items like an iPod/iPhone, pens, business cards, etc. In addition to a sensible and useful amount of pockets, the Fusion features an extra-padded bottom to protect the laptop, and the bag allows for fast access to your computer. Check present costs here:
Brenthaven Fusion MB III

At $79.95, it's a solid, no-nonsense bag for everyday use:

TDL Live Halloween Special

2008-10-28T00:04:00.002-04:00

Yes, it's time for our weekly look at Apple news and rumors from around the Apple world. And, it's also time to get a little spooky with our Halloween Special. What makes it special? Pumpkins. And smoke. Lots of smoke. Enjoy:

Thank You Microsoft: Netflix Comes To The Mac

2008-10-27T08:32:00.004-04:00

I was just about to cancel my Netflix account. After all, why should I pay the same price as those using Windows computers, who are able to watch movies streaming instantly?

In another sign of the crazy times we're living in, Apple users have Microsoft to thank for making Netflix streaming on the Mac possible. Netflix will be using Microsoft's Silverlight to bring their streaming titles to the Mac. Why Silverlight? Well, one of the reasons the launch of these titles on the Mac has been delayed has been the requirements from studios to ensure copy protection of the content. On Windows computers, Windows Media Player provides an adequate level of DRM to satisfy content producers. Since Windows Media Player hasn't been updated for the Mac in years, Silverlight became the next best option. Since Silverlight is cross-platform, it will be interesting to see if all Netflix streaming is deployed via Silverlight in the future.

If it isn't already obvious, Apple's own QuickTime has stellar video quality, but lacks DRM options for third parties like Netflix. If nothing else, this may make Apple consider a subscription plan more in line with Netflix price offerings. A small portion of the Netflix catalog is currently available on any platform, but within 8-12 months, we could see some interesting competition between Netflix and Apple's own rental options.

The Retail Number Not Revealed in The Quarterly Call

2008-10-22T11:35:00.004-04:00

One big question remains regarding Apple's plans to weather the financial downturn: Will retail stores continue to open at the same pace?

Apple has plenty of cash on hand, and could easily move full speed ahead with store rollouts, and probably get some deals on rent as well. The downside though, could be for short-term investors. If the economy takes a few years to recover (however you define that), then Apple's strategy of continued store openings would pay off big a few years down the road. However, in the next 12-18 months, the stock price could be in for an even rougher ride. Analysts would be concerned about increasing operating expenses with, at least temporarily, lowered returns. And of course there's always the thought of Steve Jobs leaving Apple. Whether his health is fine or not, at some point, he'll be ready to take a reduced role in the company. He could keep going for another 40 years, or he could decide tomorrow he's had enough. Jobs seems to have been mentioning all the great people at Apple - an implication to remember the iPhones and Macs come out thanks to far more people than just him.

The situation isn't completely unlike Apple's initial retail rollout. After the U.S. financial decline following 9/11, Apple boldly moved forward with retail expansion. Doing the same now could put Apple in a position to reach a whole new market plateau in three to five years. That potential future payoff could come at the price of investor hand-wringing in the short-term.

Could Education Sales Sputter?

2008-10-22T11:27:00.004-04:00

In Tuesday's results call, it was nearly nothing but good news as Apple had arguably their best quarter ever when looking at revenue generated across the product lines. Steve Jobs joined the call, and briefly discussed some ways in which the economic downturn could affect Apple.

He said, and rightfully so, that Apple has some of the best customers in the world, and if times get tough, they are more likely to put off a new Mac purchase until the economic environment changes, rather than buy a competing product. For retail customers, that could be very true. But there's one major market for Apple in which the almighty dollar trumps brand loyalty: education.

Tim Cook reported in the call institutional education sales in the US were down 7%. They were also down 28% in California. In an otherwise stellar financial quarter, these numbers could point to future problems. If the economy sputters through several quarters of educational purchasing, districts will feel the pressure to either purchase lower-priced PCs, or hold off altogether. This makes it all the more frustrating that sources point to an impending discontinuation (but hopefully a revamp instead) of the Mac mini.

Apple can make as many computers out of a single piece of aluminum as they want, but it doesn't mean anything to the institutional education market. Districts don't want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on adapters to attach Apple's latest and greatest to existing monitors for example.

With the educational discounts gone from the iPod, and reduced on laptops, maybe this market isn't as important to Apple as it once was.

A Huge, Huge Quarter For Apple

2008-10-21T17:03:00.003-04:00

Apple has announced it's quarterly earnings. Key takeaways: 6.9 million phones sold, and an all-time high for Mac sales at 2.6 million. Full details can be found here. Don't forget, we'll have our live video analysis show at 6PM ET / 3PM PT. I hope you'll join us, and let us know what you think via iChat or AIM to "tdllive".

TDL Live This week: (10/20-10/27)

2008-10-21T08:22:00.003-04:00

Get your Tuesday started right with this recap of Apple news and rumors:

Interview with Grocery iQ iPhone App Creator

2008-10-16T21:26:00.010-04:00

You may be surprised to learn that many iPhone developers are not Mac developers. Perhaps there's a new halo effect underway, bringing fresh developers to the iPhone, and then eventually, the Mac. Jason, (last name withheld to protect the day job) one of the creators of Grocery iQ, currently a top ten application in the app store, gave us a quick look at his experience with coding for the iPhone. And he's agreed to answer your questions in the comments. So feel free to post a comment if you have a question as well.

Q: Tell us about your programming background.

I've been developing software professionally for 11 years. I started out doing Windows/MFC/C++ shrink wrapped software. From there I went to work for an e-commerce startup during the Internet boom. Since I moved on from that company I've been doing component and enterprise Java development for the last 7 years.

Before starting on Grocery iQ, I'd never developed any software on a Mac or for a Mac, and I'd never used Objective-C.

Q: If someone has never programmed before, how can they learn to program for the iPhone? Would you consider this a good platform for beginners?

I don't think the iPhone is a great platform for beginners. Objective-C is somewhat obtuse. I would direct beginners to Java or C to start with.

Q: Since your background is Windows programming, now that you've written an app for the iPhone, any interest in creating Mac software? Is the work for both as similar as Apple has implied?

I am interested in creating Mac software, but at this point we have so much invested into the Grocery iQ platform, I think I will probably be working on other platforms and our sync service, so it may be a while before I get around to it. :)

Coming from Windows, it takes a while to get used to Xcode and Objective-C. I would say I wasn't truly productive in the new environment until working in it for a few weeks.

Q: What was the most challenging part of the development process?

Getting used to the Mac keyboard differences! Having never used a Mac before, I'm still trying to get used to the dang Command key!

Q: Where does the iPhone fit in as a platform from a developer standpoint: Do you approach it as a mobile phone or as a portable computer?

The iPhone is definitely the most "portable computer"-like of any of the mobile devices currently available on the market. However, it still has a lot of the restrictions common to mobile devices. The number one restriction is screen real estate. We spent a LOT of time on the UI and overall usability of Grocery iQ, and I think that really helped our product stand out as a quality, easy-to-use app.

Q: Now that the NDA restrictions have been relaxed, do you think we'll see a more open developer community?

Definitely. When the NDA was in place, many developers were averse to posting questions and code online. I think we will see an explosion of iPhone SDK discussion forums and samples on the Internet.

Q: Since developer-to-developer feedback was curtailed by the NDA, what role did Apple play in development? Did they offer feedback about your app, or did you autonomously write the program, then submit it?

We filed a couple of SDK bugs with Apple, but overall, we developed Grocery iQ autonomously and submitted it to Apple with no big problems. We didn't hear anything from Apple after the app was submitted until we received the email that said Grocery iQ was "Ready for Sale".

Q: For someone who hasn't purchased it, give us an overview of your app.

Grocery iQ helps you build your grocery list fast with the built-in 130,000+ item database. It's easy to put *exactly* what you want on your list - stop getting the wrong thing at the grocery store! Picking from your Favorites and History lets you build a grocery list in seconds. Your list is automatically ordered by aisle to help you get through the store without backtracking. Email your list to your husband so he can do the shopping!

Q: How did you arrive at the price ($4.99) for your app? Do you think developers have a grasp on what people are willing to pay for apps?

Before the app store launched, app pricing was anyone's guess. Since we didn't upload our app to the store until Sept. 7th, we had the advantage of seeing what prices our competitors launched at. We chose the $4.99 price point because we felt it was the right price for the value we were delivering with our app. I think we have a pretty good grasp on what people are willing to pay for a shopping/grocery list app. I can't speak for other app store developers.

Q: How long did it take to develop your app?

5 months of burning the midnight oil. We poured our heart and soul into it, and we hope our customers love the final product!

Q: Why would someone want to use Grocery iQ instead of a paper list?

Your iPhone or iPod touch is always with you. Whenever you think of something to add to your grocery list, pull it out of your pocket and enter it right away. Grocery iQ orders your list automatically to match your store - this keeps you from backtracking in the store, trying to make sure you got everything on a paper list. We have multiple reports and reviews from users saying that using Grocery iQ has cut 30 minutes out of their shopping trip - it helps keep them more organized and makes them more efficient in the grocery store.

Q: Explain the aisle feature.

The Aisle feature in Grocery iQ lets you add, delete, rename, and reorder the aisles. The reordering is the most important aspect, as it allows you to order your Grocery iQ list to match the layout of your store. With multiple store/list support in 1.1, you will be able to store an aisle layout per store/list.

Q: It feels like the level of specific product detail is really intended for the super organized, yes?

Not at all! It may seem that way in the 1.0 release, but our original vision will be fully realized in the 2.0 release with the addition of the Grocery iQ Sync service. One common example is your wife sending you to the store on your way home from work. She will be able to add *exactly* what she wants you to get to the list (down to the brand and exact product size). When you open Grocery iQ at the store, the list will sync, and you can be sure you are getting the right things. This scenario applies not only to married couples, but anyone who needs to collaborate on a shared shopping list: college roommates, restaurant managers, etc.

Q: Can you talk about any future features?

Version 1.1 is nearing completion. It will have support for multiple stores/lists. This is the #1 most requested feature from current customers. Version 1.1 should ship before the end of October.

Version 2.0 is well underway as well. Version 2.0 will be the launch of the Grocery iQ Sync Service. This will be a free upgrade to existing customers. It's a free hosted service, powered by Grocery iQ servers, that allows multiple iPhones or iPod touches to share the same lists and aisle layouts. Pricing support may also make it into this release. We are targeting a late November release for 2.0.

Beyond version 2.0, we plan on expanding to other mobile platforms and the web, among other top-secret world domination plans.

Q: Without giving away your secrets of the app, can you explain where/how you get your shopping item info?

We contracted with several zoos throughout the USA to have several hundred monkeys bang on typewriters for the last few months.

Q: Do you plan on creating other iPhone titles?

Not at this time. We are focused solely on making Grocery iQ better.

Q: Your app was featured by Apple. How did that affect acceptance of Grocery iQ?

Being Apple's App Store Pick of the Week was huge for us. It increased our sales by an order of magnitude. It gave us the foundation we needed to move into the Top 10 Paid Apps. We're currently #8!

Green Apple: Credit Where It's Due

2008-10-16T11:09:00.003-04:00

We are quick to point out shortcomings with Apple's latest products. However, I wanted to take a minute to give them kudos on a solid decision. After many years in the middle of the pack, it looks like Apple is poised to be a leader in environmentally sound production. Granted, there are no announced plans to add solar panels to factories, or wind turbines in Cupertino, but Apple is making steady progress on the toxicity and impact of their computers.

We won't go point by point here, especially since Apple has done the job for us with this information page.

Suffice to say, the steps to remove arsenic from glass for example, may not sell you many extra computers, and while there's a PR value to making your product for environmentally sound (just ask us) the actual expense involved probably far outweighs any marketing advantage. So kudos Apple, for doing the right thing, maybe even when it wasn't the best thing to do financially.

Top 5 things disappearing from the Mac

2008-10-15T10:30:00.017-04:00

With the new MacBooks revealed, and a few people here at TDL being riled by the loss of firewire on the MacBook, we figured it was a good time to look at our top five features/concepts that have disappeared, or are beginning to disappear from Apple products. Here they are, in no particular order.

5. Simplicity. The once so-easy-grandma-can-do-it iPhoto has become a patchwork of menus and heads-up displays. We're not saying these aren't improvements, but if you want to make an Adobe Elements competitor, do it. Don't eliminate the simplicity that's brought so many people to Apple products. And don't even get us started on what's become of iMovie.

4. Firewire. Sure firewire's still hanging on, but it's nowhere to be found on the new MacBook, and firewire 400 ports have disappeared from the Pro models as well. Millions of DV and HDV cameras use firewire exclusively for connectivity. Many of those cameras were sold to people buying into Apple's digital lifestyle pitch. Sure people now use a lot more cell video, flip cameras, and still cam video capabilities, but there's still millions of people with Firewire devices. Manufactured by companies who would've probably opted for USB to begin with, if not for Apple (and to lesser extent Sony) championing the connection. Any way you slice it, it's sad that a five year-old iBook, or even older Powerbook is better equipped to edit DV video than the newest MacBook. Why even put iMovie and iDVD on these machines?

3. The Apple Key.Perhaps the least important change on the list from a functionality standpoint, but from a lineage and marketing standpoint, we hate to see it go. Having people use the name of your company every time they give a shortcut: brilliant. Despite the "start" button, no one will ever say press Microsoft-N to open a new window.

2. Cutting-Edge Disc Support. There was a time, not so long ago, that creating DVDs was only the work of the big studios. Then a little computer company came along, and decided to change things. Apple was on the cutting edge when it introduced the superdrive, and iDVD/DVD Studio Pro. Suddenly any average Joe who could pony up for a Mac tower could author and burn their own DVDs. Now, Blu-Ray is the talk of the town. Rather than sit on the cutting edge, allowing Mac media creators to unleash the power and flexibility of this format, Apple has decided the "complex" nature of licensing the technology means it isn't worth it. While far less innovative computer companies have been able to figure it out, and despite the fact Apple can create a laptop out of a block of aluminum, licensing is just too difficult for them. Then again, when Apple introduced the Superdrive, there was no iTunes music store, let alone HD video downloads. As Apple expects you to get all media from the iTunes store, perhaps that makes them a little more hesitant to support a competing HD format like Blu-Ray.

1. Common Standards Support. To call Apple a supporter of standards can be a stretch, or an understatement depending on the subject at hand. When it comes to things like wifi and h.264, Apple has been a champion of common standards. When it comes to ports, especially for displays, it's a mixed bag. Apple Display Bus: non-standard. VGA: standard. Apple display connector: non-standard. Full DVI: standard. The latest announcements brought a new connector to the world: the mini DisplayPort. While the display port may indeed catch on in the years to come, it seems silly to switch ports simply because it's smaller. Technically, there's nothing this port does that can't be done by HDMI. And let's not forget there are millions of VGA/DVI monitors out there. Monitors that will now require an expensive adapter to be used with Apple's newest products. If you don't like the connector though, wait a few years: it's bound to change again.