ipod

Customer Care: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly II

Tibor Shanto — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:49 -0500

Part II: The Ugly

Tuesday, in Part I we discussed The Good side of Customer Care, using Godaddy as an example of the Good, and a couple of Canadian wireless carriers exemplifying the Bad. Today we talk UGLY.

New "iPhone Nano" Might Not Be an iPhone at All

Chris Dannen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:52:24 -0500

Apple may be building a miniature iPhone, with a waterproof, ultra-durable capacitive touchscreen, iLounge is reporting. Or is it a giant iPod Nano?

Apple App Store: Upskirts Yes, Satire No

Chris Dannen — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:37:34 -0400

It's fatuous to attempt to understand the App Store approval process, but in the past, there have been a few rules: weirdly obscene or prurient-minded things aren't so well-received (think "baby shaker" app), and apparently, neither are satirical postcards that mock Bernie Madoff.

16 Inventions That Boost Habitats, Humanity, Health and Happiness

Fast Company staff — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:15:04 -0400

Designer, architect, and author Emily Pilloton is founder of the non-profit Project H Design, where chapters of designers around the world collaborate on products that improve the four H's: habitats, humanity, health and happiness. While working to develop products like the Hippo Roller, a water transportation device, or the Learning Landscape, a low-budget playground for teaching math, Pilloton began collecting examples of similar products that solved social problems.

FM Radio for some iPods?

Roger Andout — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:02:04 -0400

Interesting question noted on redorbit blog about Apple's decision to build ipods with FM radio.

The question asked if Apple were going back in time - FM radio is being replaced with DAB in the UK but not it seems in the US

The Secrets Behind Great Design: IDSA Announces Catalyst Case Study Winners

Linda Tischler — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:11:18 -0400

The greatest design innovations invariably have a story behind them: the insight that led to a radical new way to solve a problem, the failure that led to a breakthrough, the serendipity where colliding forces led to a profound creative leap.

Palm, Microsoft Claw Desperately for App Developers as Apple Sails Ahead

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:51:37 -0400

The App Stores War is getting a lot more interesting: Palm, it seems, is paying serious cash to app developers, while Microsoft has resorted to placing ads for developers in iPhone Apps. All to beat Apple.

Microsoft Positions Zune as a Cloud-Based Media System

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:29:01 -0400

Microsoft's Zune HD rolls out today, but as part of its launch Microsoft's spinning it with an interesting angle--the Zune 4.0 software makes it into a cloud-based, central component of your home-media system.

Should You Buy Or Wait on the Apple TV?

Kit Eaton — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:32:47 -0400

Rendering one rumor-monger's suspicion true, Apple's just dropped the 40GB Apple TV from its inventory. Tied with some news about some code snippets in iTunes LP, it's got us wondering--if you were tempted to buy one, should you wait?

Are Slipping iPod Sales Bad News for the Recording Industry?

Kit Eaton — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:09:35 -0400

Over at PaidContent they're making a bit of noise about some thinking by analyst Mark Mulligan that says a slip in rising iPod sales is bad news for the record industry. It's an interesting idea, but basically misses the point.

Apple Fast Becoming iPod, Inc.

Chris Dannen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:32:06 -0400

In 2007, Apple decided it would drop the "Computer" from its corporate title and become simply Apple, Inc. At the time the change seemed semantic or aesthetic, depending on your outlook. But the move proved more prescient this morning as Apple officially brought the number of mobile devices it makes to a grand total of eight. That's one more iPod than Macintosh that exists in their lineup. Apple, it seems, has become a mobile device maker.

Nine Killer Features in iTunes 9

Chris Dannen — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:31:06 -0400

Today Steve Jobs made a grand reappearance on the Apple stage to introduce iTunes 9 at Apple's Rock 'n Roll event in San Francisco. So what's new?

1) iTunes LP is a new incentive for full-album purchases: you get images, interviews, liner notes and all the original album material that don't usually come with digital downloads.

Apple Gives iPod Nano Video Eyes, iPod Touch Stays Blind

Kit Eaton — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:57:11 -0400

Apple just announced its refreshed iPod line-up, and among the products came the long-rumored news that the iPod Nano would be getting a built-in video cam...but not the iPod Touch. It's a tad surprising, but still a clever move.

Apple Approves Novothink Solar Surge Charger

Ariel Schwartz — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:43:29 -0400

Four Ways to Make Your iPhone Invincible

Chris Dannen — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:05:19 -0400

We've been hearing a lot about the fragility of our iPhones: The French say that they're spontaneously exploding, and some very un-scientific BlackBerry comparisons tell us they can't take the abuse a RIM phone can (see video below).

Leica's New Camera Unveiling on Collision Course With iPods

Kit Eaton — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:20:00 -0400

Leica's just announced via a YouTube video that it will introduce new Leica cameras on September 9. As if that PR maneuver wasn't confusing enough, get this: Leica's event is scheduled for the same day as Apple's iPod launch gig. Oops.

Apple Keynote in Early September: What the Heck Is It For?

Kit Eaton — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:54:24 -0400

The Internets are a-swirling this morning with speculation and rumor, all thanks to news that Apple called a keynote presentation for the week of September 7. "What's it for?" everyone's wondering. Here's what we think.

New iPods With Cameras (Likelihood: 99%)

Zune HD Pre-Sales Start Today as More Device Details Emerge

Clay Dillow — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:39:44 -0400

Been waiting to get your hands on the much-hyped Zune HD? Online pre-orders for Microsoft's iPod challenger began today at Amazon, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and the Microsoft store as the September 15 release date nears. For Zune lovers who incongruously don't like ordering via the Web, in-person Zune reservations begin at Best Buy stores August 16 (select stores will hold a Zune HD preview August 22 and 23).

What We Want From an Apple Tablet

Chris Dannen — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:05:54 -0400

In a word: Apps. Apple is said to be planning a tablet, and it'll live and die by its app store even more than the iPhone. Here's what we'd need to be convinced to fork over our hard-earned dollars for the chance to cruise the Tablet App Store. (Below, a Mac Tablet mockup, courtesy of ZDnet.)

Hardware Done Right

Downturn, Schmownturn: Apple Just Made a Huge Pile O' Cash

Kit Eaton — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:39:47 -0400

At the end of the day in Seattle yesterday Apple dropped its third quarter financial results. It's a regular act, nothing to be excited about. Except Apple's figures are, in the light of the current economic slowdown, astonishing.

Metallica's iPod-Friendly Jacket Is Darkly Ironic

Kit Eaton — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:26:53 -0400

There's a delightful irony in this: Metallica, long-term DRM advocates, iTunes hold-outs, and MP3 haters, are releasing a branded jacket that includes Skullcandy speakers and--horror of horrors--an iPod dock connector.

Apple's Latest Figures Prove There's Just One App Store to Rule Them All

Kit Eaton — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:36:36 -0400

Apple just dropped the official statistics on the iTunes App Store's first year in business, and they're astonishing, on all sorts of scales. Turns out over 1.5 billion apps have been downloaded by iPhone users across the world.

Will "Active Packaging" Undermine Apple's Quest for Sustainability?

Ariel Schwartz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:23:08 -0400

Now That He's in Control, Can Jon Rubenstein Turn Palm Around Too?

Kit Eaton — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:56:17 -0400

Jon Rubenstein just consolidated his management position at Palm--as of yesterday he's now the company's chairman and CEO. While this sounds like some dry business news, it may be revolutionary for Palm. Can Rubenstein turn Palm around, like he did Apple?

Even SanDisk Is Surprised by MacBook Pro Add-On

David Lidsky — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:42:59 -0400