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November 28, 2006

ViewSonic, Apple readying 17-inch widescreen monitors?

Filed under: 17-inch, Apple, Displays, Monitors, viewsonic — Cyrus Farivar @ 11:58 am

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It looks like there’s a good chance that you’ll soon be able to put some new monitors on your holiday wish list. DigiTimes is reporting that ViewSonic and Apple will be releasing 17-inch widescreens later this year or possibly in early 2007, leading to expectations that they’ll replace the existing entry-level and mid-level displays currently on the market. As far as ViewSonic is concerned, this intel from “industry sources” seems pretty reasonable given that the company’s just updated the rest of the line recently. What about on Apple’s side? Yep, it’s been awhile since the company has even had a 17-inch display — so let’s just say that we can’t wait for CES and Macworld Expo 2007.

[Via TG Daily]

 

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November 27, 2006

Nike unveils iPod-controlling C.O.R.E. Backpack iD

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We’re sure you’re well aware of Nike and Apple’s mutual partnership (or two) by now, and this time Nike’s C.O.R.E. Backpack iD is getting some familiar iPod lovin’ with a built-in remote keypad system and dock connector interface. While we’re fairly certain you already own at least one piece of apparel with electrostatic iPod controls on them, they’ll eventually end up in the wash (we hope), leaving you liaison-less for the day. With Nike’s new pack, your books, laptop, Cheetos stash, and little white (or colorful) Apple are all taken care of on a daily basis. Nike allows you to fully customize the backpack, and aside from choosing your alma mater’s colors, the “Nike Flow” backpanel, or the sweet “security zippers,” you can opt to have the iPod controls built straight into the strap. Per usual, you can dictate the volume, track, and play / pause / stop functions while on the go, and it even boasts a handy headphone port as well as a storage compartment for when you ditch the cans and actually pay attention in class. The C.O.R.E. Backpack iD starts at just $55, but the oh-so-tempting iPod interface bumps the price up to $105, but it’s still a bit cheaper than your alternatives.

[Via iLounge]

 

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Apple and Apple bury the hatchet, planning iTunes push?

Filed under: Apple, AppleCorps, TheBeatles, apple corps, iPod, iTunes, the beatles — Paul Miller @ 10:50 am

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There really hasn’t been a whole lot of love lost between Apple Computer and Apple Corps over the years — especially since that whole “we won’t sell music” debacle — but it seems that Stevie J and co. might finally be getting through to the guardians of all things Beatles, and could be on the verge of an exclusive iTunes launch of the elusive catalog, reports Fortune. From the sound of things, plenty of millions are set to change hands if the deal goes through, with Apple Computer potentially providing a good bit of advance cash for the marketing push and prospective sales. The Beatles haven’t been incredibly receptive to the use of their music in marketing so far, though there was word recently of a downloadable offering somewhere, but it sounds like Steve is hoping they’ll make an exception to be featured in one of those snazzy iPod ads — it was good enough for Dylan and Bono afterall. Purportedly EMI Group, the band’s label, is the catalyst behind these talks, and while nothing is quite legit yet — in fact, it’s all still hearsay as far as we’re concerned — hopes are high for Strawberry Fields, Revolution, LSD and all that jazz down in Cupertino any day now.

[Thanks, Mack S]

 

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November 20, 2006

How to build a USB-powered vibrating apple (say wha?)

Filed under: Apple, ApplePie, USB-powered, apple pie, hack, instructables, mod, sensor, thanksgiving — Cyrus Farivar @ 7:31 pm

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If you’re looking for a minor practical joke to play on your family over the Thanksgiving holiday or are searching for something fun do do when you’re off work on Friday but are strung out on turkey and stuffing, look no further than this rockin’ apple mod. Our pals at Instructables have put together a series of steps on how to build a USB-powered apple (Apple Computer optional) that will vibrate when someone tries to reach for it, and will stop when the person backs away. This mod doesn’t appear all that difficult, but you’ll need to get a “capacitance sensor chip,” some copper foil, a vibrating motor and a few other things. Still, if you know your way around a circuit board and a soldering iron, you could probably put this together in an hour or two with no problem — that is, assuming all the apples in the house haven’t already been turned into apple pie.

[Via MAKE: Blog]

 

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November 19, 2006

iPod: media player, cultural icon, and rescue beacon?

Filed under: Apple, backlight, danger, flashlight, found, iPod, lcd, police, rescue, saved, screen, search, washington — Darren Murph @ 2:45 pm

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Sure, we’ve heard the heartwarming stories of SMS savings a boy’s life and TiVo preventing a man from heading to prison, but this round of “Gadgets Saving Lives” features none other than the token iPod as the center of attention. While Griffin has long since had the idea of using the iPod to power a flashlight-type device, a mushroom hunter (yes, they do exactly as the title describes) resorted to the backlit LCD in his Apple in order to lead rescuers to his location. While enjoying a presumably thrilling evening of picking ’shrooms from the wild brush in Vancouver, Washington with his mother, Pini Nou somehow found himself off the beaten path and lost under a cover of darkness (and wild grass, too). By phoning in authorities and faintly describing his surroundings, troops were able to get close enough to view the white glow emitted from his PMP, and 20 minutes later he was safe and sound, albeit “cold, tired, and aching.” So, there you have it kids, the ultimate excuse to get an iPod for the holidays — safety.

[Thanks, Napo M.]

 

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November 14, 2006

Apple teams up with airlines for iPod integration

Filed under: AirplaneIntegration, Apple, airline, airplane integration, iPod — Paul Miller @ 10:56 am

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After selling your car, television, computer, house and children, you thought you were finally safe from this nasty epidemic of “iPod integration” — think again. Now the nasty little buggers are going to start showing up in airplanes, since Apple is teaming up Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to add charging, audio and video integration for airline passengers. Is nothing sacred? Such seat-based connectivity should be available by mid-2007, and Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics to spread such integration to even more airlines. Five bucks to the first guy who figures out how to get such ubiquitous charging jacks to juice up our laptops.

[Thanks, Zep]

 

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November 11, 2006

P.Pod DAP brings da noise at 256MB for $27

Filed under: Apple, MediaPlayer, dap, media player, p.pod — Cyrus Farivar @ 11:43 am

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We’re not sure if the P.Pod has secured the endorsement of P.Diddy or the Pea Growers Association of America, but nevertheless, this DAP is likely to draw the ire of Apple for the use of the word “pod.” The P.Pod holds 256MB worth of tunes (c’mon guys, that’s so 1998), supports MP3 and WMA playback, and runs on a single AAA battery. Still, at $27 a pop, it’s probably too small fish for Apple to even bother with. Then again, there was that whole podcasting bruhaha, showing that Apple’s lawyers clearly have too much time on their hands.

[Via Crave]

 

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November 8, 2006

Apple’s MacBook goes Core 2 Duo, too

Filed under: Apple, BreakingNews, Core2Duo, breaking news, core 2 duo, macbook — Thomas Ricker @ 9:01 am

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So, right you are again AppleInsider. Hot on the silvery heels of the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, comes this fancy fresh Core 2 Duo bump for the MacBook sibs. Previously maxing out with a 2GHz Core Duo proc, the 13.3-inch MacBook can now boast of a 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor under the hood. $1099 remains the entry fee, only now that buys a 1.83GHz C2D and same 512MB DDR2 SDRAM, 60GB 5400RPM SATA disk, combo optical drive, GMA950 graphics, and 802.11g WiFi — though we wonder if they snuck in some 802.11n support as well. Optionally, a new 200GB 4200RPM SATA disk is available. Size and weight all remain the same as does the battery, apparently. The 2.33GHz C2D proc is still only available on the 17-inch MacBook Pro. So really, besides the new processor, nothing else has really changed. Now hurry on over to the Apple Store kids for a 25 10ish percent performance bump (likely) of your very own.

 

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November 7, 2006

Elgato unveils dual-tuner EyeTV Diversity USB stick in the UK

Filed under: Apple, ElGato, TvTuner, coreduo, dtt, dvb-t, eyeTV, freeview, g5, intel, mac, powerpc, tv tuner, uk, usb — Darren Murph @ 4:19 pm

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If you didn’t bite when Elgato released its pocket-friendly EyeTV Hybrid, you may be interested in its supercharged successor, the EyeTV Diversity. The USB 2.0 stick makes for easy travel, and this rendition sports dual attachable antennas and a DSP, “which uses information from both tuners to generate the best signal possible.” Designed to work with DTT / DVB-T signals, the device supports dual tuner functionality, PIP, scheduled recordings via the included EveTV 2 software, and a one-year subscription to the “tvtv” program guide. It touts seamless integration with Toast 7, and even provides easy converting for use on video-playing iPods. The company also notes that 1080i and 720p viewing / recording is possible on Macs housing “dual PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo” processors, and the dual-tuner USB stick can be picked up now on the other side of the pond for €149.95 ($191).

[Via digg]

 

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November 5, 2006

Zune stacks up in size: iPods, Zen, Sansa

Filed under: Apple, IpodNano, creative, iPod, ipod nano, microsoft, sandisk, sansa, zen, zen:m, zune — Ryan Block @ 10:41 pm

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And here we have the brown Zune stacked agains the Zen Vision:M, iPods 5G and nano, and the Sansa E200 series. Just because it’s taller than the rest doesn’t mean it’s larger than the rest though; we actually found the Zune to be deceptively small, and still quite pocketable. But hey, that’s just us, we’re the peeps prepped and ready to rock a Universal in tight jeans.

P.S. -In case you’re wondering, the screens only “lit” on the Zune because it’s a non-functional retail display unit.

[Thanks, Steven]

 

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November 3, 2006

How to turn your Mac mini into a Mac Cube

Filed under: Apple, G4Cube, MacMini, cube, diy, g4 cube, homebrew, mac, mac mini — Donald Melanson @ 11:30 pm

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DIY Mac projects are always a iffy proposition. Not only does Apple make its products more difficult to rip apart than most, the sight of a dissected MacBook or iPod is often enough to make some of the more faint of heart readers break out the smelling salts. Not so for 123Macmini member Anthony, who looked at a mini and a G4 Cube and decided that they must be made one. The goal being, apart from the deserved bragging rights, to add a TV tuner and an expansive 3.5-inch 500GB SATA hard drive more suitable for a media PC than the mini’s comparatively puny 2.5-inch drive. The TV tuner turned out to be the easiest part, with Anthony simply opting for Elgato’s external EyeTV Hybrid unit, but the rest of the project is definitely a don’t-try-this-at-home deal, with modifications aplenty right down to the power supply cables. Still, for specs like these in a genuine Apple box, it’s about your only option at the moment — at least until Apple maybe, possibly fills in the gap itself. Check out a couple more pics of the action after the break, then click through to the source for the complete blow-by-blow account.

[Via Digg]


 

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November 1, 2006

Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro gets dissected

Filed under: Apple, Core2Duo, MacbookPro, core 2 duo, macbook pro, merom — Donald Melanson @ 1:17 am

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Well, that didn’t take long. Shortly after a shiny new Core 2 Duo-equipped MacBook Pro arrived on their doorstep, the folks at iFixit lovingly cracked it open so you don’t have to. There aren’t a whole lot of surprises under the hood — unless you haven’t already heard about a certain undisclosed bonus — but if you want to see where all your hard-earned money went up close, they’ve got the pics to satisfy you.

[Via Digg]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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October 27, 2006

Apple updates patent for touchscreen device

Filed under: Apple, GPS, PatentFilings, cellphone, iPod, patent, patent filings, patents, uspto — Cyrus Farivar @ 12:28 am

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Remember that Apple patent that we eyed back in early September? You know, the one that patented the merging of various electronic devices into a single gadget? Well, it’s back and better than ever before — it’s an update to U.S. patent application Serial No. 11/367,749, and is entitled “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device.” So how’s this patent different from the last time? It’s not, really, but it provides a fair bit more detail written in that cryptic legalistic prose that we’ve come to know and love; it describes and displays the new interface, which may include various triggers along the edge of the bezel: “By way of example, the visual guides 180 in FIG. 4 include ‘Menu,’ ‘Power,’ ‘Left,’ ‘Select,’ ‘Right,’ etc. It will be appreciated that the visual guides 180 and their arrangement depicted in FIG. 4 are only exemplary. More or fewer visual guides 180 may be provided, and the size of the visual guides 180 can be larger or smaller than the scale depicted in FIG. 4.” Further, there’s a new portrait and landscape option described, handy for viewing photos or watching episodes of “Lost” while on the bus. But even the music-playing core of the iPod will get a makeover, coming in with an on-screen time slider, volume control, and other options that seem to be user-defined and customizable. We’ve still got questions as we did last time concerning prior art, but perhaps these newer details fill in the gaps. All in all, it would appear that the true video iPod (with possible cell phone or GPS add-ons) is still on the drawing board at this point, and it remains to be seen how these illustrations translate into reality. We’ve got some more patent diagrams of that portrait/landscape view and of the new “now playing” interface on the flip side, hot off the patent filing presses.

[Via MacNN]

 

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October 24, 2006

MacBook Pros go Core 2 Duo, at last

Filed under: Apple, MacbookPro, macbook pro — Thomas Ricker @ 10:00 am

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Well, that took long enough but they’re finally here. Without fanfare, Apple finally got around to updating their MacBook Pro lineup with a taste of Merom just in time for the big holiday shopping season. While we were only expecting a ho-hum bump in performance especially after the Core 2 Duo iMac sibs only saw a 10% increase, Apple touts these new Merom-based MBPs as being a full 39% faster. The 15-incher ships with your choice of a 2.16GHz or 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo processor while the 17-incher ships only with the 2.33GHz proc. It also looks like the 15-incher now comes with FW800 like its big bro while upping the base disk capacity to 120GB and a faster 6x SuperDrive to boot. The 17-incher now starts with a 160GB disk and 8x SuperDrive to keep the cost premium viable. Both models max-out with up to 3GB DDR2 memory and 200GB, 4200RPM disks. Pricing still starts at that same $1999 though, so get out there kid, enjoy it, the long hard wait is over.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

iSoundCap intros exercise-centric Running Cap

Filed under: Apple, BallCap, IpodHolder, ball cap, cap, exercise, iPod, ipod holder, isoundcap, nano, nike ipod, runner — Darren Murph @ 6:59 am

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Some products are simply doomed to fail before they even hit the market, and the iSoundCap was surely one of those items. Unfortunately Amazingly, the start-up centered around a less-than-fashionable ballcap with an apparently appealing ability to tote your iPod is still alive and well, and is now kicking out yet another flavor with trainers (and higher revenue) in mind. The aptly-named Running Cap is “made with a breathable, lightweight mesh fabric, and places the iPod in protective neoprene” to keep any stray wires from flailing around your face. The new exercise-friendly version will supposedly be offered in pink, silver, green, black, red, and blue, which coincidentally matches the colors of the new rainbow nanos. Marketed as the “ultimate way” to carry your iPod while utilizing the Nike+iPod kit, the sweat-proof cap could indeed siphon a few extra dollars from the running crowd, but as of press time we aren’t exactly certain how much coinage these outlandish dome adornments will demand.

 

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