The nights are getting colder. Only 65 days left until Christmas. Then before we know it the new Leopard OS with all that new mac goodness will be upon us.
For me, this is the most exciting OS release to come from the Apple camp for many years, perhaps even more so than OS X itself. With lots of refinements and many new features, it should deliver something useful and productive for everyone.
The latest screenshots, reported to be legit, have popped up on TUAW and show the new look iCal, anti-phishing features in Safari 3 and a look a the new parental controls.
Personally, I am looking forward to playing with 'Spaces' and getting my hands on 'Time Machine'. It will be interesting, when using Apple's new realtime backup feature, to see just how effective it is. Will we all suddenly need to start buying terabytes of storage to give it enough room to work?
Seems like things are hotting up, let's hope the ride on Leopard is a smooth one.
Gadgets in time for Xmas from Gadgeter.com
We all love gadgets! Buy me a gadget for Christmas and I will be a happy boy (it is the gadget that keeps me young). Gadgeter who can be found over at www.Gadgeter.com has just launched a new improved site with 100's of essential electrics, including weird and wonderful USB gizmos and high-tec toys. It’s the place to go for anything gadget related, from remote controlled cars and digital watches to pocket camcorders and self stirring mugs. The products range in price from £1 to £160, and so on this new easy to navigate site, your online shopping basket will soon be stocked up with some fantastic gadgetry goodies.
I have picked my favourite already, if someone bought me a Honey Bee CP2 helicopter and popped it in my (large) stocking, it certainly would be a Christmas to remember. Imagine flying this around, landing it in the snow and causing winter havoc... much more fun than building a snowman.
Newsweek, Jobs & iPod Chit Chat
Fantastic article here as Newsweek interviewed Steve Jobs about the iPod, iTunes and his thoughts on the MS Zune. It is nice to hear Steve speaking so frankly about things like music download from iTunes only working on an iPod, with some very frank and honest answers.
USB On The Move with CyberPower
Whilst searching around the goodness of the internet, I stumbled across a product that offers something that will come in very handle for the laptop user. CyberPower Systems offer a small USB2 hub (Hub 420 MP) that on first glance is nothing new, but how many times have I wished for a USB hub whilst on the move, only to find out that the device I want to use needs a powered hub. Well this handy little unit uses four AAA rechargeable batteries (supplied) and delivers this power to any device you plug into it. Then when you plug the unit into a dekstop PC it recharges. UK pricing seems to be around £17. Check it out here.
New Red iPod Nano for Charity
In the latest line of items to be launched for 'Product Red', not even making its' way onto the Apple Store pages yet is the 'red' iPod Nano.
Apple is expected to join the group of companies involved in this charity on Friday. Check out the full story here.
Apple Support Getting Personal
I have been having a little problem with my dotmac access the past few days, probably (and I am only guessing) something to do with the new webmail that we are all expecting to see pretty soon. It was nice to receive an email from Apple Support though, with a personal touch in the signature (see picture top left). Is this a new thing, or some support technicians just allowed to add a little image to their signatures. Nice touch though Apple, something else for me to start collecting.
A Wii Bit of Fun with a Mii
Have you put down you deposit on a Wii yet? I for one have and think it will be THE console to get for Christmas, offering something a little different into the gaming arena. Now, part of the Wii experience is to create an online Mii, well, if you cannot wait that long why not try out this online Mii simulator courtesy of Joystiq. Check it out here.
Google Reader Delivers
I have been trying out Google Reader for the past couple of days and I must say that I am pretty impressed. For a long time now I have been trying several news readers, but never sticking with just one. My favourite to date was NetNewsWire Lite, which was great, a freebie and worked a treat. Where the new Google Reader wins out is that it is web based (although it is fast and behaves just like a desktop app), this has the advantage of being able to log in wherever you are and keep up-to-date with your subscribed news feeds. Check it out for yourself, you can find the reader here.
Lots of competition for Apple iTV
It seems that either Apple has impeccable timing or industry reaction to the forthcoming Apple iTV has had many other manufacturers launch or announce similar devices.
I reported a couple of weeks back about Netgear's Digital Entertainer (EVA700) which looks like a very promising piece of hardware. It will certainly be one to keep an eye on for both features and price. Now today I heard about the new RCA Akimbo Player, which seems to offer you a device only purchase for streaming your content wirelessly to your TV, plus a subscription based service offering content to download. The device itself offers composite, s-video and component video outputs, analogue stereo and coax/optical digital for sound, ethernet and a 80Gb internal hard drive (just what we are expecting in the iTV). What is surprising with the Akimbo is that the wireless is supplied by an optional USB adapter, hmmmmmmm... you would think this would be built in.
So things are hotting up, let us all hope that Apple really deliver the goods when they release the iTV (working name) early next year.
Zune Buzz - Zune News !!!
The www is buzzing with Zune news lately, lots of it, some good, some bad, some biased, but in true Geekanoids style here is the heads up on the important information.
The new Microsoft Zune will come in three choices: black, white or brown and should be in the hands of overseas users by November 14th 2006. It all starts with a 30GB digital media player and adds the twist of wireless connectivity to share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your home-grown tracks directly from your Zune to a friends Zune. You can then listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. The Zune Marketplace allows you to shop for new songs and content, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen. There is also a built in FM tuner.
The 30Gb Zune stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video. You can make playlists on the go and watch a slide show while you’re listening. Watching video is a different experience too, as you can turn the unit on its' side into landscape mode, for widescreen viewing.
A Zune Pass subscription gives you “all you can eat” access to discover and explore the Zune Marketplace, downloading tracks and other content. Plus, with the built-in FM tuner you can listen to local FM radio stations or tune in to programming while you’re at your local health club, for example. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song currently playing on selected frequencies. It is these little extras like the FM tuner built in that seem to add to the overall value of the Zune.
A full selection of accessory packs and individual add-ons will also be available, with some of the offerings looking pretty neat.
It also seems that updates to the Zune player will be available over its' wireless connection, which sounds great. What would be even more interesting is if music could be downloaded on your PC and then transferred to the Zune wirelessly too.
So here I am an avid iPod fan, looking forwards to seeing what the Zune has to offer. It has nothing to do with brand loyalty, if the Zune delivers, Microsoft will have another paying customer on its' books.
Funky iPod Cases from Griffin
Wow, now that is what I call 'funky'. Griffin Technology just sent me details of their new iPod case offerings.
Going by the name of Centerstage and Disko, the latter 'Disko' lights up your click wheel with groovy LED's...
Centerstage shows off your iPod in a clear hard shell case, for maximum protection while carrying. But when you get where you're going, Centerstage reveals its hidden talents. The colorful anodized aluminum cover flips open and under to create a sturdy easel stand, allowing your iPod to stand and deliver. Centerstage is perfect for hands-free video viewing.
Like Griffin's best-selling iClear case, Centerstage is fully compatible with 30, 60 and 80GB video iPods. Crystal-clear Centerstage is available in your choice of silver, blue, black, or hot pink aluminum flipstand."
Pricing & Availability
Centerstage and Disko are available for this holiday season, priced at only $24.99, and $29.99 USD, respectively, at www.griffintechnology.com, and wherever quality iPod accessories are sold.
Intempo iDS-02 iPod Speaker System
I just love the look of all these new and innovative speaker systems for the iPod, but none more so than the iDS-02 from Intempo Digital. Two 7.5 watt speakers and a 15 watt subwoofer in this spherical design, looks really cool and available in black or white. I hope to bring you a review real soon, but until then, check out the link.