techNtalk

New iPhone - Looks To Kick

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:45:56 +0000

Apple announced the new iPhone - 3G with GPS and much faster Internet connection. Here some info on the video specs:

Video formats supported: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

iPhone Software Roadmap

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:05:54 +0000

The iPhone is apparently opening up for 3rd party application developers to build software for the device. Unfortunately, being in Vermont I’m still limited to non-iPhone options since AT&T is not available. So, while I wait patiently and continue to use my Sprint phone that tends to drop calls and the signal fluctuates without even moving, I become more annoyed at how poor service really is.

I had Unicel, they stunk. Majorly. In every way. I would not recommend Unicel for a cell phone service — I did however hear they were being acquired.

Sprint Nextel Wireless has been better, but much more expensive and certainly not the quality one should get for the price they charge.

If anyone has an idea of the quality iPhone and AT&T offer, you might be fortunate or just like the rest of us. But going off from friends rave reviews of Cingular, I can only expect that the service is great.

Why Apple’s MacBook Air is Hot Air

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:21:02 +0000

I know Apple Inc. announced the MacBook Air at Macworld recently, and it has some really cool features — nice sleek design, small, cutely fits in a manilla envelope. But one of my first questions is: will the necessary peripheral attachments fit in the same manilla envelope? For example, the MacBook Air does not have a CDROM drive — therefore one needs an external one to burn CDs. The MacBook Air has few jacks, and I don’t recall a FireWire port being one that it had.

Unfortunately, the pricetag is seriously high as well. I think it’s a good start, but I’ll wait a few generations to see what the upgrades will be.

Apple’s OS X Leopard, soon to be installed

admin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:54:43 +0000

It’s been out for awhile, and my brother has already installed Apple’s new operating system (codename: Leopard), OS 10.5, on both his MacBook Pro and his desktop Macintosh. I, however, have not installed it yet. Here’s why:

My desktop is a G5, which is certainly compatible and can run the new OS easily. It has plenty of punch with more than enough memory and storage. However, the machine I want to test the install on first, is a bit dated. My 12″ G4 PowerBook 867mhz with 648MB of RAM will get the luxury of testing out the Leopard install first at my place. Fortunately, my PowerBook makes the grade and OS 10.5 can be installed on it.

Look for more reviews of all the great features the new operating system offers in coming posts. Here’s a sneak peak at what I’m excited to try:

Time Machine
Spaces
and some new features with iSync

Apple’s iPod Touch

admin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:51:35 +0000

To begin, I must state that I do not own the Apple iPod Touch. Haven’t even touched one or seen it in person. I have read many of the reviews, and a friend of mine bought one. Have not received his reviews on the new iPod either. But, I’m gonna offer my own little bit of advice: Stay away from it! And not just because Apple might slash the price hundreds of dollars in a couple months like they did with the iPhone. But because it’s a first edition, bound to have some issues.

The storage isn’t so large, maxing out at 16GB. Yes, it does have some really cool features. They will need to be tweaked. Unless you are always an early adopter, I’d say hold out for a little bit. Let Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer) re-work some of its magic.

Apple Sells A Million iPhones, Cuts Its Price and Stock Falls

admin — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:04:31 +0000

As Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer Inc.) would have it, or not, they announced that they sold over a million iPhones, and are cutting the prices on the two models. The top of the line iPhone is now $399. However, the phone still doesn’t work here in Vermont on the AT & T network because AT & T apparently wants nothing to do with rural Vermont and 1 other state that for some reason can’t get the iPhone either.

So, Jobs issued an apology and a $100 credit for early adopters of the iPhone and then the company’s stock took a fall from fear of underperforming sales.

Oh ya, check out the really cool new iPods!

New iMacs Just In Time

admin — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:05:50 +0000

If you’re headed back to school this fall, the announcement of Apple Inc.’s new iMacs should get you a little excited (I personally don’t want to think summer is ending anytime soon). Apple announced today a new slimmer version of the iMac. They also seemed to jazz up the new computer and matched to the Apple display silver.

You can get up to 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel processor, and a 20 or 24 inch display. But perhaps the biggest kicker, for all you music and photo hounds: you can order up to 1 terabyte of storage. That’s a lot of family pics and lifetimes of music.

Watch the announcement from Steve Jobs here.

New MacBooks - Summer Cell Phones & Wireless Date Networks

admin — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:24:13 +0000

As expected for some time, Apple Inc. updated its line of MacBooks. As often is the case, I’m tempted to purchase just behind the curve, and since I’ve had my 12 inch PowerBook since 2003, refurb MacBooks are looking extremely nice.

The new books specs are remarkable. Intel Core 2 Duo, a Gig of RAM, wireless Airport and upto a 200GB hard drive. Certainly a bit beefer than the line’s predeccessor. Of course, the new ones start at $1099.

With summer essentially here, many folks like to think about what’s the best cell phone for their work needs when the weather is nice. Because I live in Vermont, unfortunately I can’t get the iPhone because of the exclusive AT&T/Cingular network. There’s basically only a few carriers here in Vermont and I’ve yet to experience a quality one yet. So, AT&T/Cingular please come to Vermont so I can get the iPhone! With an iPhone, no need for a Microsoft Windows based Treo or Blackberry.

Apple TV Shipping

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:10:10 +0000

Microsoft has launched Vista. It’s selling. Not sure of the numbers or if more are still sticking with XP. I have read some good (decent) reviews about the operating system, however, I’m not sold.

Apple Computer, whoops… just Apple Inc. now, started shipping Apple TV. I noticed the other day while in NYC at the 5th avenue store that it seems like iTunes does not sell HDTV videos from its store. I was unable to view HD on their SONY LCDs at the store, all I could watch was pixelated video.

Major disappointment!

Calling Apple TV, But Not On My iPhone

admin — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:31:15 +0000

News has been out, everyone knows now that Apple TV and Apple’s iPhone were the two big announcements made at Macworld 2007. iPhone is set to be exclusive to Cingular (i.e. AT&T) for quite sometime. Cingular isn’t in Vermont yet Regardless, it won’t be out until June or so anyway.

The Apple TV looks interesting. More so is the quiet announcement of the next wireless network for Apple Extreme. Can someone say HD over 802.11??? Not sure when the next MacBook and MacPro announcements come out, but I’m sure they’ll be compatible with the new 802.11n wireless network. Wish the Apple TV came with a larger harddrive though — it’s a small box and I’m sure you can’t plunk a bigger HD into it. Oh ya, what’s with the limit on 720 HD? Hopefully the next upgrade will allow 1080.