Linux News: iPod

The Little MacBook Pro That Could, Batteries That Can't, a Touch That Might
July 10, 2009

The Apple-focused blogosphere is still chugging along, even as the summer sun starts pounding down. While Apple's new MacBooks have been getting good reviews for the long lives of their built-in batteries, the iPhone still isn't getting battery raves. More and more users seem to be using external battery packs to give their iPhones a new boost of juice.

Flanked by Rivals, Apple Revs Up for WWDC
June 03, 2009

Excitement is hitting a new high in the runup to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, to be held in San Francisco next week. New challengers are threatening the iPhone, while Microsoft has revived its Zune MP3 player in a bid to take on the iPod touch. Meanwhile, Apple's gaining strength in its run at the enterprise market.

Microsoft Sharpens the Picture for Zune HD
May 27, 2009

Dogged by rumors in the blogosphere about its Zune portable media player, Microsoft threw in the towel on Wednesday, divulging a few details about the upcoming Zune and confirming that the next generation of the device will be available in the U.S. this fall. The Zune HD will target the same market as the iPod touch, which has proved hugely successful for rival Apple.

Microsoft Disowns Zune Phone Teaser Tweets
May 12, 2009

Twitter messages hinting at the possible emergence of a Zune phone -- posted by a user who appeared to be a Microsoft insider -- drew a considerable amount of attention recently, especially considering their timing. They came to light at around the same time Microsoft launched a new ad touting the benefits of its Zune Pass music service over its rival, Apple's iTunes.

The Shuffle's Mad Margins, AT&T's Separation Anxiety, and Visions of an $899 iMac
April 17, 2009

Conversation in the Apple-focused blogosphere is all over the map this week, but with Apple in the tech world's driver seat these days, wide-ranging activity is only to be expected. Out of dozens of news nuggets, here are three that create some interesting glimmers.

iPhone's Going Places: Enterprises, Other Networks, China?
April 15, 2009

It looks as though Apple might finally be able to crack the Chinese market with its iPhone. The rumor mill at one time had the company in talks with China Mobile, the country's leading carrier, but those negotiations apparently fell through over questions of money. Also, Apple is rumored to be finally creating a new, CDMA version of its iPhone that could topple AT&T's exclusive carrier position in the U.S.

Signs of Hope for Skypers, Shufflers and App Pack Rats Alike
April 03, 2009

Skype for the iPhone appears to have captured the imaginations of Apple bloggers this week. Meanwhile, iPod shuffle sales surprisingly surged, and news of iPhone 3.0 OS software features continued to trickle in. Ever since the iPhone emerged, Skype fans have been wondering when they'd get a chance to use their favorite VoIP service for Internet-based Skype phone calls.

What Apple and Google Could Teach AMD and FLOSS
March 16, 2009

Last week, I got into an argument about whether Microsoft was using TomTom to go after Linux. I also attended several events where the massive costs of the AMD vs. Intel litigation were discussed. I got to thinking how both entities -- AMD and FLOSS -- are currently defined by the dominant company in their space.

YouTube vs. Royalties, Spy vs. Spy, Dell vs. a Firehose
March 14, 2009

MTV pretty much gave up on music years ago in order to concentrate on how many different variations of "The Real World" and "Road Rules" it could squeeze out. But YouTube has largely picked up MTV's slack -- type in just about any video you want to see, and Google's sharing site will play it for you.

Apple Chatter: A Rumor, a Release and a Rare Sneak Peak
March 13, 2009

Three items of note burned particularly brightly this week in the Apple blogosphere this week: a crescendo in rumors of an Apple netbook/tablet/something coming, and an upcoming sneak peak of iPhone 3.0 software, and the release of a brand-new iPod shuffle. The most recent iteration of the diminutive iPod shuffle was already almost too small for its buttons, so Apple got rid of them altogether.

iPod Shuffle Now Available in Pill Form
March 11, 2009

Apple has introduced a new, tinier version of its iPod shuffle -- the lowest-end product in its popular music player line. Previous versions have been bare bones in terms of features and capacity, but their form factors have always been unmistakable Apple designs.

Mac Bloggers Gobble Up Games, Mark Time on MacBooks, Send iPods to Souper-Upper
February 06, 2009

Hard news has been scarce in the Apple-focused blogosphere this week -- time to come up for air? -- but there's still plenty of interesting chatter. In some of the more interesting recent threads: Apple has apparently run into a supply chain issue that's delayed the delivery of its new aluminum unibody 17-inch MacBook Pros, and Rapid Repair is Frankenstein-izing iPods with 240 GB hard drives.

The Hefty TCO of a New Apple Gadget
January 21, 2009

Buying a new shiny new electronic device doesn't necessarily just mean shelling out for the device itself. It also might mean buying -- or perhaps even re-buying -- new accessories, software or added services. For example, customers who bought the first iPhone and upgraded to the iPhone 3G lost out in several ways.

A Dream Home for the True Blue Apple Fan
December 23, 2008

Way back in 1950, science fiction giant Ray Bradbury wrote a short story, "There Will Come Soft Rains," about a smart house that did just about everything for its resident family -- including cooking breakfast and keeping track of the bills. Unfortunately, all members of that family, along with all inhabitants of the town, were obliterated by a nuclear explosion. The house, though, kept right on going.

Zune or iPod? Picking the Right Player
December 15, 2008

With the holiday season suddenly upon us, consumers are searching for the right digital media devices to suit their loved ones. Apple has led and continues to lead the market with its iPod series, posting sales figures as high as 11 million units sold in Q3 of the current financial year.

iPods, iPhones and the Enterprise Data Clampdown
November 24, 2008

It's a safe bet that most enterprise employees don't haul their personal laptops into the workplace. However, with the ever-increasing capabilities of iPods and iPhones these days, are workers introducing new issues for IT security? The Apple iPod touch now comes with a whopping 32 GB of storage space and built-in WiFi capable of attaching to nearly ubiquitous corporate wireless networks.