All Entries in the "News" Category
How to watch Apple’s Sept 1 Event on Windows/Linux
If you are stuck on Windows, or enjoying the true freedom Linux offers, you have an unfortunate quandary ahead: how do I watch Apple’s Sept 1 Event? It’s supposed to be OSX/iDevice only! Have no fear. Just download the free VLC player, open a network stream, and paste the following line of text in the open field: http://devimages.apple.com/iphone/samples/bipbop/gear1/prog_index.m3u8. If you want to check if everything is working alright, open this Apple HTTP Live Streaming dev link in iOS/OSX/Safari.
Currently, this workaround playlist file links to a projector calibration screen, but I assume (don’t assume) that as the show starts, you’ll be able to watch. MacRumors reckon that the action may be choppy, but what else can you expect? Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming is merely a proposed open standard. It has been adopted a very few companies at the moment.
This method isn’t foolproof, but it should help a lot of users through a jerky presentation. Remember, if you have Safari and OSX, head to www.apple.com to watch the event in real time.
TY: MacRumors
New Final Audio FA-BA-A1 and FA-BA-SB balanced armature earphones
Any headline from boutique audio house, Final Audio Design, is news at TouchMyApps. Recently, their first balanced armature series headphone, the Final Audio FA-BA-SS hit the market to some good reviews, but with a price around USD 1000$ and sold in very limited numbers, this flagship earphone didn’t have a chance to capture the market before selling out. The two new models, FA-BA-A1 and FA-BA-SB (ostensibly in aluminium and brass), however, are sold at the much more reasonable prices of 300$ and 400$. Final Audio look to be following Monster and Jays’ lead by introducing a flat tangle-free cable for the FA-BA-SB. A more traditional cable will adorn the FA-BA-A1 earphone.
Currently, both models are sold out across Japan, but FAD are accepting pre-orders for the next batch. If you are scared about ordering from Japan, don’t be. There are a couple of reliable options. One is Seyo Shop, an exporter of fine Japanese headphones and camera equipment. Their prices are usually excellent. Currently they don’t carry Final Audio.
Musica Acoustics, a feisty audio importer based in Tokyo, will be carrying FAD’s new earphones. Musica Acoustics‘ president, Mr. Dimitri Trush, is quick to answer email questions, so fire away!
For more pictures and product spec, jump the gap:
Apple’s Sept 1 event to be streamed via Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming technology
Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming technology isn’t the open standard Apple reckon it is, at least not yet. It is pretty cool though, allowing direct video streaming from HTTP that passes over and under firewalls to bring Quicktime X and iPhone video to you, the rumour-hungry end user. Apple’s Sept 1 event rides on sharp expectations this year. Rumours that the iPod nano will shrink, that the iPod touch will sport FaceTime cameras, and that the TV will be updated, are on the line.
Apple’s event will be held at 10:00AM PDT and available from www.apple.com. You can catch the entire Sept 1 Event press release here.
Android Marketplace strangled by porn and piracy
The Android Marketplace cracked
The Android Marketplace has real success stories such as Aaron La’s Advanced Task Manager; its open slant gives opportunity to many developers who can’t afford a Mac to join a huge market place. Every day, Android grows, and barring the all-out success of Windows Phone 7, it is destined to remain at the top, at least as market share leader. But, all is not well.
According to the Reg, Google’s hands-off approach allows its Marketplace to drown in oceans of porn just as the App Store was chocked by useless apps (fart and flashlight) in its early days. There is another negative effect: piracy. Despite the fact that the average selling price for Android apps is less than their iPhone, developers are strangled by app pilfering. The net result is that 49% of Android developers are making less than they expected and only 27% making more than they expected. Again, there is no question that Android is the market leader. For developers, it is an attractive platform. But it isn’t the heaven and spice that disgruntled iPhone developers may think it is. Google needs to adapt to keep its most important customer, the developer, happy. Happy, loaded developers make great apps. Currently iPhone Development, while a lot more controlled, has a friendlier, more lucrative face; it also tends to sport much more high quality apps.
Carriers: Samsung Galaxy – is this the Android phone you want?
Ongoing’s Tim Bray wonders how Samsung did it. They managed to launch the Galaxy line of Android smart phones around the world on almost every carrier of note. That IS a significant feat, especially considering Apple’s comparatively meagre iPhone 4 rollout, but it is insignificant if you put it into perspective. Firstly, adapting Android to any piece of hardware is easy. And if you own pretty much every piece of mobile hardware as Samsung does, it is even easier. Secondly, Samsung’s revenues put it in the top ~30 of the world’s largest GDP’s. Samsung are richer than most countries in the world. They are by far, the largest conglomerate in the world. How hard is it for them to get their grungy phones to carriers across the world? For a company that dips its enormous fingers into almost every country (legal or not) and still has the resources to personally attack ordinary citizens, not hard at all (TWSS).
They’re building the tallest building in the world; getting a measly piece of plastic and glass into the hands millions of customers is easy. Of course, Samsung also have a knack for screwing up design, mucking up UI, and forgetting to slip chargers or cables with their phones. So, while Samsung’s Galaxy may by numbers become the biggest Android name out, it will more likely than not, line the bargain bins as another piece of shoddy work. Don’t look to Samsung to show the world how to make a good Android phone, only look to them to show how to make the most circulated, cheap piece of plastic with an ‘Android’ label.
Dual-SIM iPhone 4? No, I’m not smoking crack!
While Apple’s competitors try their best to draw some attention from the Jesus phone by boasting features like replaceable batteries, microSD cards and support for dual-SIM cards, a small manufacturer decided to take things into their own hands. And no, I’m not talking about AirPhone NO. 4-esque knockoffs. usbfever has just released an iPhone 4 Dual Sim Adapter Case, which augments the already awesome capabilities of the iPhone 4 by adding support for 2 SIM cards! And even without the necessity to cut them down to microSIM size!
iApps for Students – Best bang-for-the-buck back to School Apps
As summer draws to a close, there’s a bigger and better reason for going back to school this September – shiny new apps for your shiny new iPad and iPhone 4.
Check out the ongoing sale at iApps for Students and take a pick from a wide selection of useful apps for school for your Mac, iPhone and iPad – massive discounts ranging from 20 to 99% off will certainly make app shopping easier on the wallet. These apps make student life a little easier with its selection of educational, personal finance management and notetaking tools, with games, entertainment, photography apps thrown in.
You might want to revisit last year’s cream of the crop back to school app roundup by TMA and check if you have these recommended apps in your collection already. So it’s time to shine that gorgeous new baby of yours and go back to school with a bang!
iPods, iPad and iPhone Due For an Early Revamp?
Apple's image
It’s clear that 2010 is a busy, busy year for Apple. A heady combination of new and old, Apple unveiled the highly-anticipated iPad, released the sexy (and controversial) iPhone 4, and a bigger, meaner iMac together with the Apple Magic Trackpad.
Rumors abound from a number of reliable sources that the iPod line will see a major product refresh – a tiny touchscreen shuffle, the iPod Touch will finally get a camera and the fabled retina display on the iPhone 4, and – gasp! – a tinier, 7-inch iPad in the works? Another rumor that might ignite a fresh wave of controversy is the rumored iPhone refresh amidst the antenna issues hounding iPhone 4.
A more recent rumor is the introduction of a cheaper TV device renamed the Apple iTv said to cost only $99 with a 99 cent tv show rental deal in the works.
With the scheduled September 1 event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, these speculations will soon be put to rest. Major announcements for the iPad and iPhone however, might come a bit later in the year or early 2011.
Patent proves Apple to go Empire on Jailbreaker’s assets?
It has onlybeen a few weeks since The Apple Empire lost the battle against the jailbreaking rebellion. The exhaust vent? The now-famous JailbreakMe.com and a load of crank-jailbreaked iDevices at Apple Stores. In clawing backs its losses, Apple has applied for a new patent that may become the Jailbreak community’s Battle of Hoth.
Pulse News Reader Review: News for the Laid-Back
I can’t live without my news. But you know what? Not everyone is like me. In fact, some very well-adjusted people can be quite happy with a casual approach to newsfeeds and just subscribe to a handful of sources that interest them. Pulse News Reader and its iPhone cousin, Pulse News Mini were designed for such people. I didn’t think I’d find much value in it, but I was wrong, Pulse is surprisingly fun!
I think the words of the developer captures the Pulse experience perfectly, ”While a traditional RSS reader is usually about consuming as much content as possible, Pulse is all about leisurely enjoying your daily news with a cup of coffee.”
