Software Blog » iPod

CarTunes Helps You Master the Art of No-Look iPhone Music Control

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

I’ve never particularly cared for the iPhone’s built-in iPod app. It’s great at playing music, sorting it, letting you make on-the-fly playlists and doing that cool Cover Flow thing. It’s a whole lot more interesting to look at than the iPod I had in 2005, that’s for sure. But the one thing that hangs me up about the iPhone’s music player is its control layout. It has small touchscreen buttons, and the volume control is the only thing that gives you any kind of tactile feedback. It’s the only control you can feel out with your fingertips and use without having to look at the screen.

Will the Tablet Follow the PC Path or the iPod Way?

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

There is this debate going on in the analyst community with most arguing that the tablet market is like the PC market was, and Apple will once again be overwhelmed — in this case largely by Google and Android. But a few of us, mostly me, are arguing that it is behaving much more like the iPod market, and Apple will emerge preeminent unless something big changes. Let’s see who is right. I’ll close with my product of the week: a tool created by PC vendor Lenovo, which could be used to integrate any browser-based device — like, say, an iPad — into any company as a full-fledged and secure client.

Secrets, You Say? Tips’n'Tricks, Perhaps, but No iPhone Secrets

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000

As I peruse the iPhone app store, I’ve run across the Tips & Tricks — iPhone Secrets app a number of times. Each time, I glanced at it, because hey, secrets are always tantalizing, right? But each time the app’s screenshots with the cheesy and hyperbolic marketing verbiage slathered across the iPhone screen turned me off. Besides, I’ve been using iPhones since day one, so did I really want to shell out a buck to learn that the built-in iPhone calculator app turns into a more powerful scientific calculator when I tip it to landscape mode?

What Tablet Wars? The iPad’s Competition Is a No-Show

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The iPad 2 is tough to find these days for some folks. If you have the money, it will eventually end up in your hands, but at a hefty price. What makes this a more glaring issue, though, is the lack of competition. There’s a competition shortage, which reminds me of the evolution of the iPod. Apple had the foresight and demand to effectively buy out the inventory of existing and planned hardware, making the competition wait to even begin to compete. Is this happening with the iPad 2?

Samsung Adds New Stars to Android Galaxy

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Last year, Samsung put its production of Android devices into full gear and delivered its newly minted Galaxy line. Originally just used for its highest-end Android phones, the Galaxy name has branched off to a new tablet product, and now to lower-end smartphones as well as a rival to the iPod touch. Samsung’s products on display at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona have one thing in common: Android. Lots of mobile manufacturers are finding a comfortable home with Google’s open source mobile platform, but Samsung’s devotion is especially noteworthy.

Is Apple Drifting to the Wrong Path?

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000

History is filled with stories of companies that dominated their segment and then either fell from that high spot or fell off the map. RCA is probably the best example of a firm that went from dominance to obsolescence because, in its case, it played chicken with the U.S. government and lost. A lot of us think the iPad is unstoppable, but many of the same people thought netbooks were going to take over, that Windows tablets would eclipse laptops, and that Apple was going to fail in the 90s. Just because you believe in a thing doesn’t mean that thing is true.

Anticipating the Apple Saboteur in Motorola

admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Last week, I was on CES withdrawal and lusting after the latest Apple killer product, the Motorola XOOM, which like the Palm Pre years before was best of show. However, the Palm Pre failed in market and never became the iPhone killer it could have been.
Given that Palm was full of ex-Apple employees, you would have thought they would have had some insight on how to beat Apple, but instead it seemed that they intentionally did everything wrong, almost as if there were someone inside the company intentionally sabotaging Palm’s efforts. I now wonder if I’ll see the same thing with Motorola.

What iPods May Come

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Apple first introduced its iconic white iPod in the fall of 2001, then gave it the technology buddy it needed — the iTunes store — in the spring of 2003, which was when I bought my first iPod. It was heavy, a third-generation unit with a built-in spinning hard drive and four buttons across the middle, and it irrevocably changed the way I consumed and listened to music. Instead of buying just a handful of choice CDs each year, I bought more songs from more artists, and I was a far happier consumer.

September Touch-Up May Give iPods More iPhone Juice

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:30:54 +0000

Leaks of specs for Apple products are becoming par for the course this year. The much-hyped iPhone 4 scandal — complete with late-night drinking, blog scoops, and police raids — is winding down. Now, though, UK-based tech blog ElectricPig is claiming to have pre-release details on the next iteration of the iPod touch. According to information ElectricPig says it obtained from retailer John Lewis, the touch will sport both a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

The iPad Launched and the World Didn’t End

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Last week was one hell of a week. We had the formal launch of the Core Wars between Intel and AMD, and a little product called the “iPad” entered the market. My biggest concern, thanks to the Lifeboat Foundation, was the Hadron Collider and whether I’d even wake up today. (Since you are reading this, I’m assuming we woke up today.) Thank goodness much of the related news had to do with April 1st pranks. Well, the iPad is here. Apple’s handpicked early reviewers have been gushing about it since it launched, and OMG the world looks pretty much the same this week as it did last.

Best Things From the Dismal Aught Decade

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

From a technology perspective, this decade — with Apple and Google being exceptions — sucked. There were some interesting things that happened that set us up for the teen decade, though, and that fuel anticipation for the 20s, which a hundred years ago, was actually a decade of wonder and excitement — and had a better name. Rather than focusing on the negatives, this week I’ll look back on the Aught Decade and some of its memorable products and initiatives.

I’ll close with my product of the week, the first smart-tablet that may define a product class that could dominate the next decade.

Do You Really Want a Smart-Tablet?

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

This is the question that is floating around this year. What is strange is that people act like the anticipated Apple device is made of fairy gold and powered by gnome breath. It will do everything and anything you want because we all know it is surrounded and protected by Steve Jobs’ now-famous reality distortion field. Personally, I think the class is interesting — but before Apple tosses stars in everyone’s eyes, I thought it might be interesting to consider what the tablet initially will be and what it eventually could be.

Song Sift Solves a Problem for Picky Podsters

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

It’s been about a decade since the first practical MP3 players started popping up, and 10 years is plenty of time to collect a positively bloated library of digital music. Perhaps you got in at the ground floor with Napster in ’99 and loaded up on free tunes before the music industry decided to do something about it. Maybe you remain a proud pirate, Bay or no Bay. Or perhaps one lonely weekend in 2006 you went to a quiet, dark place and set about ripping every single CD, cassette, record album and 8-track tape you’ve ever owned.

Apple May Be Tuning In on a Big Opportunity

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Ever since Apple announced its latest iPod nano with a built-in FM radio with live pause and iTunes tagging in September, I’ve been wondering how long it would take to bring the same feature to the iPhone and iPod touch. In fact, I was kind of surprised it wasn’t in the new iPod touch, but as the latest rumor suggests, that’s not so surprising after all. The rumor: Apple is busy developing a radio application for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as for the second- and third-generation iPod touch.

Apple’s Flimsy Excuse for Its Camera-Shy iPod Touch

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

At Apple’s September media event this year, the company introduced iPhone OS 3.1, 30,000 ringtones from major music labels, enhanced Genius technology that does its database magic on apps, and new Genius Mixes for songs. Apple also unveiled iTunes 9, which includes the iTunes LP that adds videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews and more to to your digital albums. Then there’s Home Sharing for easy media transfers within a home, along with a redesigned iTunes Store. These are all fantastic new additions to the iPhone and iPod experience.

iFrogz Timbre Earbuds a Deft Mix of Sound, Looks and Price

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

There are hundreds of decent sets of headphones and earbuds available for iPods, and there are dozens made specifically for the iPhone, including the now ubiquitous white earbuds that ship with the devices. But what if you’d like something a little different, yet aren’t willing to shell out audiophile-level cash? Enter the iFrogz’s EarPollution Timbre With Mic The sound-isolating earbuds boast a natural wood body that caught my eye when they were released this summer, but it took a while to get a pair sent over for review — apparently there were some good deals online.

Cupertino Shuffles Apple TV Lineup

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:04:21 +0000

After variously describing it as a hobby and pointing out that sales have been strong, Apple appears to have begun restructuring its Apple TV line. On Sunday, it dropped the 40 GB model from its lineup and cut the price of the 160 GB model by $100, to $229. Could Cupertino be giving up on the device, or is it laying the groundwork to take it to the next level? A check of Apple’s site shows that only the 160 GB model of the Apple TV is listed. However, the site also points to a free software update for owners.

Without Buttons, iPod Touch Can’t Touch DS or PSP

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Apple may be the best technology marketing company on the planet, if not the best personal technology manufacturer to date. However, when the company tries to say that the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP aren’t cool, I’m just left scratching my head. Let’s back up. What’s the context here? At Wednesday’s Apple media event — where the company announced a new version of iTunes and new iPods, including an iPod nano with a built-in video camera — the company went to great pains to position the iPod touch as a portable gaming device.

Steve Jobs Eclipses New iPods at Apple Show

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:13:10 +0000

Apple CEO Steve Jobs returned to center stage to kick off the company’s media event in San Francisco on Wednesday. Apple made a slew of announcements, mostly focused on its iPod line and iTunes software, that included price cuts, new features and capabilities, and new products. It unveiled a new version of the iPhone/iPod touch operating system as well as new iPods and a ninth version of iTunes with new features. The run-up to the media event was rife with speculation about whether or not Jobs would appear.

iPod->Folder 1.2

admin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:45:38 +0000

iPod to Folder lets you back up iPod music files to a folder on your PC.

Detects the iPod music structure
Calculate the iPod music file size
Counts folders and displays folder size
Copy all songs into a folder (on any volume)

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