CBS comes to the iPhone
February 27, 2009
CBS just released a free app for the iPhone, bringing everything from episodes of the new 90120 to McGyvver and CNET reviews to your device.
Many early reviews of the TV.com app are enthusiastic, commutes are much more entertaining when you can watch an episode of CSI: Miami, the season premier of Tudors then customize your own feed.
Some frustrated would-be viewers, however, complained about videos not loading,scarcity of full episodes and iffy quality.
If you try it, let me know how it works (or doesn’t) for you.
Via Network World
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About That Office
February 27, 2009
It turns out that Mitch Haile, whose astonishing multi-monitor office setup we covered here last year, published an FAQ all about it. Probably because he’s always getting pestered with questions by bloggers like me. Can’t blame him.
Anyway, what’s interesting in the FAQ is a lot of extra background that might be of use to someone wanting to create something similar for their own home office.
Yes, Mitch’s setup uses a lot of electricity and that has an effect on his electricity bill. Yes, there are lot of lamps in there but they’re designed to automatically switch off at the end of the day, and to provide just enough ambient light to counterbalance that which comes from the monitors.
Yes, it’s a custom keyboard. No, Mitch doesn’t use TextMate. And the Mac Pro that runs most of those monitors has 12GB of RAM; hey, almost as much as Scott McNulty’s got inside his new machine. Almost.
Mod Your iPhone for $2.5 Million. Really.
February 27, 2009
First there was the Diamond Shuffle, at a mere K.
Then there was Swiss manufacturer DEOS’s Diamond Earbud covers, which you could have for a paltry 00.
Comes now, however, the new champion of conspicuous consumption – iPhone division, the Kings Button iPhone mod, in which Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson will encrust your device in three kinds of 18-carat gold (white, yellow and rose) and 6.6 carats of diamonds, for the “What Financial Crisis?” sum of .5 million.
Kind of makes you wistful for I Am Rich, doesn’t it?
Via Gizmodo, via AllTechnoBlog
Apple Balks at Repairing MacBook Air Hinges Under Warranty
February 27, 2009
Apple is apparently refusing to cover the cost of repairs to some MacBook Air notebooks, even though the devices are under warranty, according to a report at Engadget.
Some MacBook Air owners who embraced the device in its original iteration (Rev.A) have found that over time, with normal use, the hinge fitting the screen to the body of the laptop becomes irreparably loose, sometimes even catching and cracking.
Discussion about the problem first hit the Apple Support fourm back in Feb. 2008 and appears to be well documented, though as an official matter Apple says it is not a “known” issue.
The Engadget report relates a case in which “Apple did the repair for free, but only after we escalated the issue to a manager, who let us know how very nice of them that was.” Apple classifies the damage as “accidental,” and thus not covered under the normal warranty. The hinge repair costs around 0.
Let us know in comments below how widespread this problem might be among Cult readers and whether you think you’d have what it takes to get an Apple Repair manager to cover repairs to your broken MacBook Air screen.
Top 5 Social Music Apps
February 27, 2009
pa href=”http://www.iphone-news.com”iphone news/a/p
pa href=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/top-5-social-music-apps/”Top 5 Social Music Apps/a/p
p1. Tap Tap Revengebr /
img src=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/wp-content/uploads/photo2.jpg” alt=”tap tap revenge” title=”tap tap revenge” width=”320″ height=”480″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-300″ //p
p2. OurStage Radiobr /
img src=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/wp-content/uploads/photo1.jpg” alt=”ourstage radio” title=”ourstage radio” width=”320″ height=”480″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-301″ //p
p3. Shazambr /
img src=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/wp-content/uploads/photo4.jpg” alt=”shazam” title=”shazam” width=”320″ height=”480″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-302″ //p
p4. Pandora Radiobr /
img src=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/wp-content/uploads/photo7.jpg” alt=”Pandora Radio” title=”Pandora Radio” width=”320″ height=”480″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-303″ //p
p5. FlyCast Mobilebr /
img src=”http://www.iphone-ipod.org/wp-content/uploads/photo5.jpg” alt=”FlyCast Mobile” title=”FlyCast Mobile” width=”320″ height=”480″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-304″ //p
div class=”feedflare”
a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:yIl2AUoC8zA”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?d=yIl2AUoC8zA” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:dnMXMwOfBR0″img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?d=dnMXMwOfBR0″ border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:wF9xT3WuBAs”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?i=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:wF9xT3WuBAs” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:F7zBnMyn0Lo”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?i=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:F7zBnMyn0Lo” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:7Q72WNTAKBA”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?d=7Q72WNTAKBA” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:V_sGLiPBpWU”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?i=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:V_sGLiPBpWU” border=”0″/img/a a href=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?a=dxXfHp0kZkQ:OmKbm-Ejpt4:qj6IDK7rITs”img src=”http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~ff/iphoneipod?d=qj6IDK7rITs” border=”0″/img/a
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Apple, Psystar Seek Pre-Trial Protection Order
February 27, 2009
In a bid to cloak trade secrets, both Apple and Mac clone-maker Psystar are asking a Calif. court for a protective order. The legal move is designed to prevent disclosures during an upcoming discovery period ahead of a Nov. 9 trial.
In an 18-page proposal before Northern District of California Judge William Alsup, the two companies lay out restrictions on expert testimony, as well as access to software. The data would be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL – ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY.”
Among the steps both companies propose to prevent either gaining a market upper hand, both Apple and Psystar can object to technical experts who must sign a one-year ban on working for competitors.
In another proposal, both companies agreed they will allow their software to be inspected using an isolated computer without Internet access. Software code instructions can only be printed-out when “reasonably necessary” for trial preparations. Those print-outs must be returned after the trial concludes.
Earlier this month, Psystar amended its counter-claim against Apple, charging the Cupertino, Calif.-based company misused its software copyright to prevent OS X from working on computers not sold by Apple.
Eminem Sues Record Label Over iTunes Royalties
February 27, 2009
Should recording artists receive larger royalties from songs sold in digital format, such as by Apple’s iTunes? That’s the question before a California court as rapper Eminem sues recording companies for a larger portion of the revenue pie.
The lawsuit has taken two years to make it to trial, but already lawyers for the rapper have elicited that recording labels are paying less to sell digital songs.
With digital sales, recording companies, such as Universal, no longer have distribution costs, according to a plaintiff’s witness, a former executive at the recording firm.
“Manufacturing costs are for physical costs, and that has gone away,” Apple Insider quoted the former executive in answer to a question by Eminem lawyer Richard Busch about whether digital downloads forgo traditional distribution, such as CD cases, sales and store displays.
During further questioning, the former Universal executive said the company had asked Apple to pay a fee for the digital music files sold through iTunes, but said “we didn’t always manage to collect it..”
If the rapper is successful, the case could mean recording artists gain more money from each song digitally sold. A court victory could increase artists’ share of each 99-cent sold on iTunes to 35-cents, up from the current 20-cents, according to the report.
This isn’t the first court encounter Eminem has had with Apple. In 2004, the rapper claimed the Cupertino, Calif.-based company used his song “Lose Yourself” in TV commercials promoting its iTunes store. The lawsuit was later settled out of court for an unknown amount.
Scammers Take Another Stab At MobileMe Users
February 27, 2009
You have to wonder if users of Apple’s MobileMe online service have a ‘kick me’ sign. For the second time this year, phishers posing as Apple sent e-mails asking for credit card information of MobileMe subscribers.
The e-mail warns MobileMe users their subscription is about to expire, but their credit card information needs to be updated. The message, which appears to come from Apple, asks e-mail recipients to click on a link.
However, the e-mail from “noreply@me” comes not from Cupertino, Calif. but a computer in the UK, according to Apple Insider. What’s more, the e-mail was composed on Microsoft Outlook Express and sends people to http.apple-billing.me.uk, which the news site described as a “sketchy URL.”
Actual Apple billing e-mails include the full name of MobileMe subscribers, as well as the last four credit card digits and asks recipients to manually go to an encrypted site.
Earlier this month, phishers sent MobileMe subscribers e-mail warning “attempts to charge your credit card have failed.” Like Wednesday’s ruse, the one in early February offered a convenient link.
Apple Is ‘Confident in the Future’
February 27, 2009
Despite grumbling by some shareholders about how Apple handled health news of CEO Steve Jobs, the acting head of the media company expressed confidence the firm will continue to succeed.
“I’m confident in the future,” operations chief Tim Cook told shareholders during an hour-long meeting at Apple headquarters.
In terms of market success, Cook’s comment appeared to be on mark. Sales of 9.7 million Macs in 2008 were triple that of anemic PC demand. The iPod, a maturing product many thought was nearing the end of its lifespan, sold 55 million units. The iPhone, a key product for Apple, exceeded expectations, selling 13.7 cell phones, trouncing Apple’s goal of 10 million handsets in 2008.
On other issues, however, Apple retained tight control of the information flow. Although Apple’s stock had taken a roller-coaster ride and an SEC investigation launched, the company said it had done enough to inform shareholders about Jobs’ health status.
“We believe we have met all disclosure obligations,” Apple board member and Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson said. “If there is new information we deem of import to disclose, that will happen,” the New York Times quoted Levinson.
The response did not please some investors who had attended in hope of gaining more details about why Jobs took a medical leave of absence expected to end by the end of July.
“I’m disappointed the board was not more forthcoming,” Dow Jones news service quoted an AFL-CIO representative, Brandon Rees. The AFL-CIO a major Apple shareholder, also saw its initiative asking the company to reform its health care policy defeated.
While no further details of Jobs’ health status were released, all eight re-elected Apple board members joined with the audience to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to their iconic leader.
Tips for Nikon DSLR and Adobe Creative Suite 4 Users
February 27, 2009
Nikon D-Town
There are two hot new resources I wanted to make you aware of. First off, my buddy Scott Kelby has just released a new weekly video podcast show called “Nikon D-Town.” This show is aimed at Nikon DSLR camera users. It’s co-hosted by Matt Kloskowski and airs each Thursday starting today! Each episode will [...]