Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Apple Blog (3 сообщения)

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The Apple Blog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products.
http://theappleblog.com
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  • A 'Shure' Fit For Your iPhone

    One of the issues I’ve had with with Apple’s iPods is the inclusion of those annoying ear-bud headphones. From sound quality to comfort, they are without a doubt the worst part of the package. When Apple released the iPhone they did manage to enhance the wretched, white audible tether with a decent microphone and control mechanism that wound up being useless to folks like me who cannot use the earbuds. It drove some to hardware hacks (YouTube link warning) and others, like Shure to the design room and manufacturing line.

    Shure announced their MPA-3C Music Phone adapter back in the fall and finally started shipping the cables in late November. I snagged one almost as soon as it was available and have been using it for a couple of weeks. I can’t say I’d go as far as Shure did by calling it a “sleek modular accessory,” but I can definitely give the product a nod in terms of construction and quality. The cable is a little over two-feet long and is definitely more substantial than what Apple’s builds into their stock headset. The iPhone connector is small and angled so it doesn’t protrude too much from the unit and is less likely to be accidentially disconnected. The VoicePort™ Microphone delivers great sound - friends could hear me clearly even on the bus - and is easy to keep in close proximity with the attached clip. It’s worked well with the three sets of Sony headphones I use (one for working out, one for travel and a higher quality pair for working with audio for videos or podcasts) with the only real complaint being cable management (you’ll need to use some type of cord tie to keep your cable at a manageable length).

    The best part of the MPA-3C, however, is the ability to use the integrated control button to play/pause music and answer/disconnect calls. It works about as well as the “squeeze” control on Apple’s headset with my only complaint being that it is just a bit too sensitive to pressure (I’ve accidentially pressed it more than a few times).

    At a list price of $49.99USD, it’s a fairly expensive add-on to an already expensive phone. However, if you are unable or unwilling to use the Apple inlcuded ear-bud headset, dislike the available third-party compatible headsets that have a call-control button or just want to use your favorite headphones with your iPhone (with call control), Shure’s MPA-3C is one of the best alternatives on the market. You should be able to find them in your local Apple store and they are available online via Amazon, Apple or directly from Shure.





  • Smarts in Mail?

    The upgrade to Leopard has improved more than just the OS - it made Mail, in my opinion, much more usable.
    date.png

    One of the best features is the data detection in the mouse pointer. Running your mouse over a date produces a small drop-down arrow that gives you the option to add it to iCal. The menu for addresses offers to find them in GoogleMaps, and names offer to add to Address Book, or show the Address Book entry, if one already exists.

    The date feature can even recognize fuzzy dates, like ‘Wednesday after next’ and add them to iCal, complete with time, if that was included in the email. This effectively brings the link between Mail and iCal full circle, with the other half being reminder emails from iCal.

    It’s got its flaws, sadly. For starters, it’s convinced that there is someone named “Rhode Island” who keeps emailing me and who desperately needs to be added to my address book. And, of course, it doesn’t do this in all parts of the OS. But the rest - it’s the little things that keep many Mac users using it, as opposed to the various other flavors of *nixy systems or even, gasp, Windows. This is a very elegant little thing.


    Комментарии к сообщению:
    http://theappleblog.com/2007/12/28/smarts-in-mail/#comments



  • Apple, Fox to Strike Movie Rental Deal?

    After months and months of Apple TV owners, including myself, decrying Apple’s lack of an iTunes movie rental strategy, which would add great value to the device, it appears the company is going to get the users what we want. According to the Financial Times, Apple has struck a deal with 20th Century Fox that not only brings the company’s movies to iTunes, but offers the ability to rent films for a short time, and in an industry first, enable the company’s DVDs to be ripped to iPods.

    While Apple has comparatively set the music world ablaze with iTunes, its venture into TV and film has been less successful. Meanwhile, adoption of the Apple TV has been lukewarm at best, highlighted mostly by Apple’s not releasing sales figures, and CEO Steve Jobs dismissively calling the device a hobby. Most of the discourse, from traditional media, and from the blogosphere, has called for Apple to better tie iTunes with the Apple TV, by adding the ability to rent films. And today, we finally get the first solid confirmation that this is happening.

    (See previous coverage: Apple to Enter Video Rental Market, How Apple Could Crush Netflix Now and Eight Reasons the Apple TV is Failing, and How It Can be Saved)

    While 20th Century Fox is the first studio to be named as having signed with Apple, it is by no means the only studio being courted. The Financial Times also reports Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Brothers are in talks with Apple to offer their movies for purchase and rental.

    Details of the anticipated MacWorld 2008 announcement are slim thus far. It is anticipated the rentals will be available to customers for viewing in a 1-3 day period, for a few dollars apiece.







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