Dec 11, 2009 Dec 13, 2009 Saturday December 12, 2009
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Google Phone / Nexus One makes first Twitter appearance?
Look familiar? For a story that broke on Twitter it's only fitting that the first reported picture of the mythical, magical "Google Phone" would appear there as well. The tweeted image above appears courtesy of one Cory O'Brien, an account manager at a San Francisco Bay Area marketing agency that does not list Google as a client. That note of caution aside, the image above is an exact match to that leaked HTC Passion / Bravo image from October, only this time lacking the HTC logo on the top-side bezel. Besides the pic, O'Brien tweets that the "Google Phone = iPhone + a little extra screen and a scroll wheel. Great touch screen, and Android." Granted, none of this is confirmed yet, but with Google releasing so many of the devices as part of its "mobile lab" concept, well, we expect to see plenty more sightings in the run up to the rumored January launch. [Thanks, Alberto]Google Phone / Nexus One makes first Twitter appearance? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Cory O'Brien (pic), Cory O'Brien (thoughs) | Email this | Comments
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TomTom Drops Price for US-only GPS App
Like the TomTom GPS application, but don't like the price? Well, there's a fix for that.TomTom has released a new version of their popular GPS application for the iPhone that drops Canadian maps and the price. The new version, which costs $49.99 hit the App Store [iTunes link] on Friday.Of course, we're still waiting for Google Maps Navigation that's currently only available on Android-powered devices, but if you're in the market for a GPS app and don't travel outside of the U.S., then this new TomTom app might be a choice for you. You can click here to load the iTunes store page. via Gizmodo
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KT may add iPhone 3GS to its Korea offerings
Posted by Dennis SellersKT, Korea's second-largest mobile carrier, plans to request more iPhones from Apple to cope with “unprecedented demand,” reports the Korea Time.
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Graphics issues delay shipments of 27-inch iMacs
Posted by Dennis Sellers Computerworld is reporting that Apple is delaying shipping new 27-inch iMacs until it can figure out the cause of flickering screens and other display problems, according to reports from authorized resellers.
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Apple not interested in an ebook/emagazine device? Most analysts say otherwise
Posted by Dennis SellersEven though Apple CEO Steve Jobs once said dismissed ebook readers like the Kindle because “people don't ready anymore,” an increasing number of analysts are predicting that Apple will take on such devices from Amazon, Sony and Barnes & Nobles with the much-anticipated, much-rumored, but not confirmed iPad/iTablet.
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Holiday apps that'll make your Grinchmas merry
Filed under: Gaming, HolidaysMy wife is probably one of the biggest Grinch fans out there. Yes, we have Grinch holiday decorations and end up watching the movies several times throughout the holiday season. We're sitting at 3 times already... I'm praying we don't pass 5. It's not that I don't like The Grinch -- the animated or Jim Carey version -- I'm usually not a multiple viewing kind of guy. To help fuel her love -- or obsession -- the folks over at Oceanhouse Media have partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to fill our holiday minds with the Grinch. The first app in the iTunes App Store is called "Grinchmas" [iTunes Link]. It's a simple game where you choose to be a mean or a merry Grinch. I, of course, chose to be mean the first time around... I found myself throwing snowballs at noisy houses with a goal of keeping the noise meter from reaching its max. Next, I tried the merry side: I was given presents and a timer and challenged to toss the most presents before the time ran out. It was a fun little game, good for true Grinch fans and a quick time waster but it's definitely not something that you're gonna play for hours on end. They also created a pretty cool camera application that has a lot of pre-made greeting cards that you can email to your friends and family (the pic on this post is an example). It's called "Dr. Seuss Camera - The Grinch Edition" [iTunes Link] and is pretty awesome for sending fun cards to your friends. Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to line up the picture with the backgrounds if you're doing them yourself. It would have been nice of them to allow zoom and give you the ability to move your face to the correct spot: without that, you're pretty much limited to taking pictures of other people and sending them to your friends. My wife and I still had fun going through the different pictures and getting her to pose for the cards. For those of you who have yet to be Grinch'd, Oceanhouse Media also has produced a visually stimulating e-book (it does the original justice) to go along with the Grinch-themed holidays. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" [iTunes Link] is an interactive e-book that not only reads to you but plays sounds depending on what you touch on the screen. This is a great way to share a holiday classic with your kids. Read them the book, then let them play with the other two apps for a Grinch-tastic holiday. Don't forget to snag the movies too. My wife made me say that.TUAWHoliday apps that'll make your Grinchmas merry originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Christmas - TUAW - App Store - Apple
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POLL: Which industry should Steve reinvent next?
Filed under: Humor, Education, Steve Jobs, Apple He showed the music suits, the Hollywood players, the mobile crowd, and the hand-held gaming giants how it's done. Next up? The publishing industry. But what after that? Steve Jobs loves planes, hates license plates, and has some strong opinions on education. If it were up to you, what industry would you like to see Steve tackle next? What products would you love to see from the mind of Steve Jobs? The iCar? iUniversal Health Care? iToilet? Cast your vote in the poll, then tell us what specific products or industries you think would be revolutionized by the mind of Steve Jobs in the comments! View PollTUAWPOLL: Which industry should Steve reinvent next? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments Steve Job - Apple - TUAW - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Publishing
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Using Snow Leopard's Image Capture app, or how to clean up a room
Filed under: Software, Tips and tricks, Snow LeopardOne of the lesser-known changes in Snow Leopard is the update to the Image Capture application. This little gem of the Mac has always been available to grab photos from devices such as digital cameras and scanners, but with Mac OS X 10.6, Image Capture has turned into my personal hero. In 2007 and 2008, my in-laws both passed away and in the process of closing out their estate, we inherited many family photos. When I mean many, I'm talking about boxes and albums filled with them, enough to fill a spare bedroom in our house! Rather than just tossing the photos, we wanted to keep them because many of them were cherished family pictures, and others (taken by my father-in-law) were spectacularly good travel photographs. I've had an Epson Perfection 4490 Photo scanner for a few years, and the software that came with it was adequate. However, I just didn't feel like I wanted to spend the time and effort to scan a bunch of photo prints, and was considering sending them off to be digitized professionally. Then, in a fortuitous experiment, I tried Image Capture 6.0. This latest version has made it possible for me to slap down a bunch of photos on my scanner without regard for orientation, and have the scanner digitize them individually for placement in a folder. All it takes is making sure to check the Detect Separate Items checkbox, and Image Capture analyzes the overview scan to pick out the individual photos, straighten them out, and save them to a folder, auto-numbering them in the process. Once I've digitized a large batch, I drop them into a folder on my wife's MacBook Pro, where they're dragged into iPhoto, tagged, edited, and organized. The originals? They go into the trash. Image Capture is faster than the Epson software that came with the scanner, it allows me to scan a lot of photos very quickly while working on other things on my Mac (like writing TUAW posts), and it's making it possible for me to burn through digitizing thousands of prints without spending thousands of dollars using commercial scanning services. The best part of this entire project is that in the process of converting atoms to bits, we're going to recapture some space in our home. Your mileage may vary depending on the scanner model you're using, but if you haven't given the Snow Leopard edition of Image Capture a try, check it out.TUAWUsing Snow Leopard's Image Capture app, or how to clean up a room originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Mac OS X - Apple - TUAW - Snow Leopard - Mac OS X Snow Leopard
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Engadget Podcast 174 - 12.12.2009
INTERNET You are on the internet, seeking entertainment. There is a grue here. Josh Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel are discussing the week in technology news, including the new Dell Vostro V13, the Barnes and Noble Nook, the CrunchPad / Joojoo, and the myth of the Apple Tablet. > GET PODCAST You are listening to the Engadget Podcast. You are fufilled. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Ghostface Kilobyte - Jeopardy Hear the podcast 01:56 - Dell Vostro V13 hands-on impressions: 'yes' 10:16 - Barnes & Noble Nook review 16:25 - Major media giants to form joint venture for digital future, says WSJ 23:19 - Analyst noise: Apple tablet in March for $1k, publishers on-board, Verizon iPhone coming too 29:30 - Fusion Garage CrunchPad video conference liveblog 30:00 - Fusion Garage Joojoo tablet rises from the ashes of the CrunchPad 30:17 - Engadget talks Joojoo, Arrington, 3G, and more with Fusion Garage's Chandra Rathakrishnan 30:30 - Joojoo tablet hands-on (video) 43:23 - TechCrunch sues Fusion Garage over the Joojoo -- we break it down 52:47 - Apple countersues Nokia for infringing 13 patents Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadgetFiled under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 174 - 12.12.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
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The Google Phone, Unlocked (Confirmed And More Details)
Last night, we started seeing some Tweets from Google employees and others about a new Android-powered Google (GOOG) phone that was apparently handed out at an “all hands” meeting. Now Google is confirming that it is indeed “dogfood” testing a new Android device with employees around the world.
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The Engadget Show returns Sunday, December 20th!
Can't wait for another Engadget Show to roll around? Well you're in luck, friend. We're going to be hitting the stage again come December 20th, and this one is set to be a killer. The last show of the decade will be dedicated to just that: the decade. We're going to be talking about the most important gadgets of the past 10 years -- both good and bad -- and we'll be joined by the perfect guest. Peter Rojas, the founder of both Gizmodo and Engadget (and now gdgt!) will take the stage with Josh, Paul, and Nilay to discuss what has been arguably the most important 10 years in gadgetry. We'll also have a few surprises, as well as some giveaways, so don't miss it -- you'll be sorry if you do! The show takes place at the Tishman Auditorium at Parsons The New School for Design. As you may already know, we film live in front of an audience once a month -- but if you can't make it, don't worry. We're bringing the video back home to Engadget (and as a free download here, in the iTunes Store, or the Zune Marketplace) for your viewing pleasure. The beautiful venue (which you can see in a photo after the break) is located at 66 W. 12th Street between 5th and 6th Aves. Seating is limited and tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis -- which means if you want to join us in the audience for the show, you'll have to arrive early and be prepared for a little wait. Here are the facts you need to know about the show: The show is graciously sponsored by Sprint, and hosted by Parsons The New School for Design The total show length will be around an hour Here is what you need to know if you want to be part of the audience: There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free The event is all ages The venue seats just over 450 people Parsons students are welcomed, and we encourage them to come! Tickets will be available for pickup at the Tishman Auditorium at 2PM on the 20th, and we're strongly encouraging people to get their tickets and not stand in line -- if you have a ticket, you'll have a seat! You'll need to hold onto your ticket stub to be eligible for the giveaways You cannot pick up tickets for other people -- if you want your friend to get a ticket, bring your friend! The show begins at 5PM, and doors will open at 4:30PM If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget.com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget.com.Continue reading The Engadget Show returns Sunday, December 20th!The Engadget Show returns Sunday, December 20th! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
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iPhone is first smartphone to visit alien mothership, gets reception
Filed under: Humor, iPhoneGood news folks. When the aliens arrive our iPhones will work on their ships, at least according to the new V television series [iTunes link]. The iPhone has been seen twice on the show so far, both times being toted by the human traitor Tyler Evans, the second time when Tyler flies on up to the mothership floating over NYC. Admittedly, he is using the iPhone to take pictures of the alien lizard hottie Lisa, so his treason might be forgivable under the circumstances. But come on Ty, you've got video recording on that 3GS. Next time she does this, how about a little filming?Continue reading iPhone is first smartphone to visit alien mothership, gets receptionTUAWiPhone is first smartphone to visit alien mothership, gets reception originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments iPhone - Smartphone - Apple - TUAW - iTunes
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Pearson announces three new e-books for Apple developers
Posted by Dennis SellersAddison-Wesley s releasing three new eBooks for Apple developers: “The iPhone Developer's Cookbook, Second Edition,” providing information on how to build applications using the iPhone 3.0 SDK; “Core Animation” and “Cocoa Programming Developer's Handbook.” Print versions of the titles will be published later this month.
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Google Hands Out Unlocked Android 2.1 âGoogle Phonesâ to Some Employees
No idea about the tech specs or what it looks like yet, but the Googlers tweeting about claim it’s beautiful. I’ve started getting hits to Daring Fireball with this user agent string, which I believe is this “Google Phone”: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1; en-us; Nexus One Build/ERD56C) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17 With a few other slightly different build numbers mixed in. “ERD71F” is apparently the latest. Also no idea when, how, or even if Google plans to sell this device to the public, and if so, whether the public model will be carrier unlocked. And credit where credit is due: my money says Arrington is going to be proven right on this one. I suppose this Google Phone can be squared with Andy Rubin’s comments at the end of October. Rubin shot down rumors of a Google-branded phone by saying, “We’re not making hardware. We’re enabling other people to build hardware.” You could parse that as being true, insofar as that the phone is apparently made by HTC. â
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Video: another Apple tablet fantasy
Filed under: Rumors French site Nowhereelse.fr has published some very cool video of what appears to be a multitouch tablet device. The user is browsing through an electronic version of an Ikea catalog. The device itself is very slim and seems to incorporate a multitude of Apple technologies: cover flow, shake to shuffle, Pure Coolness. Is this the Apple Tablet? Probably not. It's just a beautiful mockup that should give Apple some concern if their tablet isn't as cool as the device shown in the video. Check out the vid and let us know what you think of the device's authenticity in the comments. TUAWVideo: another Apple tablet fantasy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments Apple - TUAW - Unofficial Apple Weblog - CoverFlow - Video
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Google employees given HTC-made Google Phones, January launch imminent?
TechCrunch was certain that rumors of a pending honest-to-goodness Google Phone were the real deal, and now according to the site, Google employees are already tweeting with the devices in hand. If you believe what you see on Twitter, Google drones were given the HTC-designed handsets at an all-hands staff event, and the phone is quite a looker. One tweet reads "ZOMG we had fireworks and we all got the new Google phone. It's beautiful." while another says the phone is "Like an iPhone on beautifying steroids." One other, non-Google user on Twitter who's seen the device says that the device is a bit thinner than the iPhone, has a trackball (a la Hero), and has no physical keyboard... which sounds like the Bravo / Passion we've seen a lot of lately (and we hear is coming to the US soon). Apparently the device is running Android 2.1, is unlocked and AT&T-ready (no word on 3G status, but this could line up with our speculation about this being the carrier's first Android phone), and will be due sometime in January. We're guessing if that list bit is true, it will coincide with a CES announcement, but anything could happen at this point. If the device is out in the wild in such a big way, an end of the year press release wouldn't shock us either. Check out one of the tweet-tears after the break, and stay tuned for more info!Continue reading Google employees given HTC-made Google Phones, January launch imminent?Google employees given HTC-made Google Phones, January launch imminent? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Leslie Hawthorn, Great White Snark, Jason Howell | Email this | Comments
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Research and Markets: smartphones to grow from 16% to 27% of total handset sales by 2014
Posted by Dennis SellersEmerging markets will become the leading growth engine for smartphone sales over the next five years. China will become the biggest smartphone market in 2010, and other key markets such as Brazil, India, Turkey and Nigeria will record compound annual growth rates above 30% through 2014, according to according to Research...
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AT&T Navigator for iPhone updated
Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhoneNot wanting to feel left out of the festival of updates for GPS apps, AT&T has given AT&T Navigator [iTunes link] some new features that are sure to please people who use the app. Here's what's new: Full landscape view integration Enhanced iPod controls with the ability to search through your songs, artists, etc. from within the app Inclusion of AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots in the POI listings Seamless blending of navigation prompts and music for easy listening The app itself is free, but you have to sign up for a U.S. $9.99/month subscription or get a $69.99 annual subscription. You can see some more details on the upgrade and watch a video of the Navigator in action here. One nice feature of the app is you can just sign up for a month to take you through holiday travel, and then drop your subscription. Unlike many of the GPS apps for the iPhone, this app requires a cellular signal, because all the maps and info are streamed in over the network.TUAWAT&T Navigator for iPhone updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments iPhone - TUAW - Apple - AppStore - iTunes link
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Did We Miss Something? Enter This Month's Contest!
Now that you've seen our picks for Gear of the Year, we're curious to find out what your essential gear is. Tell us what your three favorite pieces of Mac-related hardware were in 2009. And remember, they don't necessarily have to be Apple products. So if you've got a favorite mouse, iPhone case, or laptop bag that the world needs to hear about, let us know. Send the name of your three favorite hardware products, along with a brief description of what you do with them, and why they're so awesome. The most interesting and enthusiastic response will score an excellent prize.  WIN THIS! The winner will receive this HyperMac MBP-150 ($399.99, www.hypermac.com), an external battery that will keep any MacBook juiced for up to 25 hours. It also features a USB port for charging your iPhone, iPod, or other portable gear.  Include your full name, email and mailing addresses, and phone number with your entry. Send us a list of your three favorite Mac-related hardware items, and a description of what you do with them (75 words, max) in the body of an email to contest@maclife.com with the subject line "Gear of The Year Challenge". Deadline for entry: December 31, 2009. Contest results will appear in the Mar/10 issue.  Mac|Life "Did We Miss Something?" Contest rules: The judges will be Mac|Life editors and will base their decision on 33 percent originality, 33 percent creativity, and 33 percent execution. All entries must be received no later than December 31, 2009, with the winner announced around Mar/10 issue. By entering this contest, you agree that Future US, Inc. may use your name, likeness, and website for promotional purposes without further payment. Employees of Sponsor, its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, and agents, and foregoing employeesÂč household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest. All prizes will be awarded, and no minimum number of entries is required. If two or more people enter identical designs and that entry is selected as the winner, the entry received first will be awarded the contest prize. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians. Future US, Inc. is not responsible for damages or expenses the winners might incur as a result of this contest or the receipt of a prize, and winners are responsible for income taxes based on the value of the prize received. A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope toFuture US, Inc. c/o Mac|Life Contest, 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080. This contest is limited to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary; void in Arizona, Maryland, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and where prohibited by law.Â
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Gear of the Year 2009
Apple and its partners released hundreds upon hundreds of compelling products this year. We scoured the hardware universe, tested the heck out of the most intriguing gear we found, and now share our exclusive list of the 15 very best.Apple doesnât make product design easy for its third-party partners and the rest of the hardware-manufacturing universe. Jonathan Ive and his design team craft the most emotionally inspiring gear in all of computing and gadgetdom, which only sets the bar higher for those companies aspiring to make products that work with Apple gear. Add in the fact that Steve Jobs keeps many of Appleâs development plans private, and you have third-party vendors essentially âdesigning blind,â as they anticipate products that complement the Apple oeuvre.But, oh well, such is the price we pay for gear that moves the soul. Appleâs design process creates the coolest family of products on the market, and the best third-party manufacturers always find a way to create gear and accessories that match Appleâs hallmarks of slick design, simple operation, and clever, cutting-edge features. On the following pages, we present the very best of the hardware we tested this year, as well as the iPhone and iPod touch apps that made profound impacts on the screens of our handhelds. Notebook: 13" MacBook Pro Pretend itâs January 1, 2009, and youâre in the market for a 13-inch Mac laptop. Your choices are few: Either a plastic MacBook starting at $999 (for which youâd get 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, and a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo âPenrynâ chip), or the svelte aluminum MacBook Air starting at $1,799 (2GB of non-upgradeable RAM, the same 120GB hard drive, and a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo âPenrynâ chip).The gulf between their prices: significant. The difference in their specs: yawn-inducing.The 13-inch MacBook Pro does a happy dance every time we sing its deserved praises.Thankfully, Apple introduced the 13-inch MacBook Pro in June, giving mobilistas the same features as the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros in a smaller, more portable package. Compared to the Air, itâs got more ports, a faster chip, upgradeable RAM, and a bigger and faster hard drive--and starting at $1,199, the 13-inch MBP is a few ducats cheaper too (the Air now starts at $1,499). From its all-day battery life to its oh-so-convenient SD card slot, the 13-inch Pro quickly became the favorite new Mac in our offices and a hands-down shoo-in for Gear of the Year honors.COMPANY: AppleCONTACT: www.apple.comPRICE: $1,199 and up Display: LED Cinema Display Appleâs LED Cinema Display isnât necessarily perfect. Itâs kinda expensive and only works with Mini DisplayPortâequipped Mac models (unibody MacBook Pros, the now-defunct unibody MacBook, the MacBook Air, and the latest Mac Pro and iMac). If your machine sports a DVI or mini-DVI port instead of a Mini DisplayPort, you canât use this display, even with Appleâs adapters. Yes, at press time, Atlona was releasing an adapter that purports to connect any DVI Mac to this display, but we havenât yet been able to test it yet.Behold: 24 inches of wow.So, yes, it may present problems for the budget- and DisplayPort-challenged, but none are serious enough to rob this incredible display of GOTY recognition. The 24-inch LED-backlit screen is sublime, even without a matte option, and the $899 price tag doesnât seem so steep considering that the monitor can also power your laptop with its built-in MagSafe power cord. Itâs like having a second power adapter, which typically would cost you $129. The LED Cinema Display also reflects the environmental strides Apple made in 2009: The glass is arsenic free, the cables are PVC free, it meets Energy Star requirements, itâs free of BFR and mercury, and the glass and aluminum enclosure are highly recyclable. OK, OK, and itâs great looking too. Weâre just shallow like that.COMPANY: AppleCONTACT: www.apple.comPRICE: $899 Camcorder: Zi8 Pocket Video Camera Kodakâs pocket-size Zi8 edges out the Flip MinoHD (4 out of 5 stars, Mar/09), thanks to its uncanny versatility. Nearly the same size as the Flip, the Zi8 can shoot in full 1080p at 30 frames per second, 720p at both 30 and 60 frames per second, widescreen VGA (848x480), and also take 5-megapixel stills. Removable SDHC cards let you swap in new memory, and the rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery is also removable, so you can pack extra cards and batteries and keep shooting all day, weekend, vacation, or bender long. A tripod mount, macro mode, 2.5-inch display, and stereo microphone input round out the package.Removable memory and batteries keep you shooting all day.Oh, and itâs $20 cheaper than the Flip MinoHD too (though you will need to shell out for an SDHC card; an 8GB one goes for about $25). Even the PC-only software doesnât rain on the Zi8âs parade too much--the MOV files play in QuickTime and can be imported into iMovie for further editing. We hear ArcSoft Media Impressions, the included software, is no picnic anyhow, although we really wouldnât know, as weâre all Mac Lifers. (Mac Lifers who are now videotaping each othersâ every move.)COMPANY: KodakCONTACT: www.kodak.comPRICE: $179.95 Printer: Epson Stylus Photo R2880 With multifunction printers like the Epson Artisan 810 running about $300 for quite impressive photo reproduction, some might think us decadent for choosing a photo-only printer that costs twice as much. Well, price isnât a major consideration in Gear of the Year voting, and when we consider the Stylus Photo R2880âs special talents for black-and-white printing and fine-art reproduction in general, we canât help but turn to Epsonâs most prosumer-oriented wide-format printer.An eight-cartridge ink system includes special magenta pigments for breathtaking tonal range in color prints. But where the R2880 really excels is in the grayscale reproduction of black-and-white prints. Three levels of black pigments and a special Black-and-White Photo Mode eliminate all of the unfortunate colorcasting that occurs in black-and-white prints from lesser photo printers.Only the fancy blue lighting in our photo studio casts impure color on the R2880's neutral B&W reproduction.The R2880 also supports a huge array of paper sizes and types. Formats range from 4x6 inches to 13x19 inches and 13-inch panoramic rolls. Supported paper types include Epsonâs own velvet, watercolor, and canvas mattes, each of which feature its own unique fine-art texture. You can even feed in 1.3mm-thick art boards! The R2880 is the artistâs choice. We love it.COMPANY: EpsonCONTACT: www.epson.comPRICE: $599.99 Camera: EOS 5D Mark II Pro photographers would likely give the stink eye to anyone who even suggested using one of those toy digi-cams that shoots both still images and video. But the Canon 5DMII isnât a toy--itâs a game-changing digital SLR that adds the ability to shoot 1080p video to an already unbelievable package. Thatâs right, kids: This thing shoots HD video out of the box.The 5DMII takes insanely detailed still images with its 21.1 megapixel, 35mm CMOS sensor, which is 60 percent larger than the sensor in most other DSLRs. This translates into crisper images all around and low-light photos with zero to little grain or noise. And thanks to an enormous 3-inch LCD screen, youâll be able to preview your shots with amazing detail, all in real time.Doesn't look like a video camera--but it is.When you get tired of still photos, you can shoot up to 12 minutes of HD 1080p video per each 4GB of flash memory. Video quality is good, and if you eschew the stock lens for a manually operated Canon lens, you can achieve superb video quality that rivals that of pro-level HD video cameras. Will the 5DMII replace those expensive HD video cameras? No. But it does take one step closer to leveling the playing field.COMPANY: CanonCONTACT: www.usa.canon.comPRICE: $2,699 (Body Only) Desktop: 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac There was a time not so long ago that when a pro content-creator needed a new Mac, we would emphatically point him or her to the fastest Mac Pro. You need to edit video? Get a Mac Pro. You got some huge photo files that need retouching? Get a Mac Pro. Mixing your latest album? Well, you get the point.The granddaddy of all iMacs is a winning mix of everything we care about in Apple computers.But now weâre not so sure, considering the sheer raw power and screen size of the 24-inch, 3.06GHz iMac. The biggest iMac in the Apple corral, this machine screams, thanks to its Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Nvidia GeForce GT 130 videocard, and cutting-edge DDR3 RAM. Throw in a 1TB of drive space and that huge beautiful display, and you have a desktop rig thatâs gloriously well appointed for consumer enthusiasts and pretty damn zippy for professionals. The 24-inch iMac doesnât beat the Mac Pro in terms of sheer processor power and expandability, but itâs perfection in terms of its price-to-performance-to-convenience ratios.COMPANY: AppleCONTACT: www.apple.comPRICE: $2,199 iPhone Case: Feather The Feather case is less than a millimeter thick. Thatâs thin, yâall. Made of a light but strong polymer, it snaps around your iPhone with a satisfying click, providing a layer of scratch-n-bump protection and a splash of color without adding any bulk whatsoever. The Feather comes in more than a dozen colors, including eye-catching, limited-edition fluorescents. Incipio even includes two surface protectors (removable film for your iPhoneâs touchscreen) and a soft cleaning cloth.The NBC peacock would be so proud.The bottom is open so you can dock your device in nearly any accessory without having to pull the case off first. Not every case can do that, which is why the Feather quickly became the iPhone case of choice in the Mac|Life offices. Our iPhones are nearly as busy as we are, in and out of docks, speakers, and other accessories all day long. Stylish, rugged, and thin. Thatâs the hat trick for an iPhone case, and the Feather scores big on all three points.COMPANY: IncipioCONTACT: www.myincipio.comPRICE: $19.99 Networking Device: Verizon MiFi 2200 At first glance, the MiFi doesnât look impressive--itâs just a shard of shiny black plastic and a few LEDs. But once you charge it up and slip it in your pocket, it becomes a tool of furious networking utility.The MiFi achieves the seemingly impossible: making networking hardware sexy.MiFi uses Wi-Fi to form a bridge between your computer and Verizonâs 3G data network, allowing you to access the Internet from anywhere Verizon has 3G coverage. That means you can take your MacBook to the beach and iChat with your pals with your toes in the sand--or grab online copies of the dreaded quarterly TPS report. You can also work from your favorite cafĂ©, park bench, or even a moving vehicle (as a passenger), all without having to worry about finding an open Wi-Fi network. Better still, unlike USB or ExpressCard devices that only work with a single computer, you can share your MiFi connection with up to four additional computers.Oh, sure, there are probably a bunch of Wi-Fi home network routers that did a bang-up job in 2009. Yay for them. Give them all cake and ice cream. Weâll still take the MiFi, a networking product that actually does something new.COMPANY: VerizonCONTACT: www.verizonwireless.comPRICE: $149.99 with two-year service contract Set-Top Media Player: Western Digital WD TV Sorry Apple TV, but the WD TV gets the nod for being the best device to deliver content from your Macâs multimedia collection directly to your TV. In April, we gave the WD TV a tepid 3-star rating for some awkward interface issues, but since then WD has issued firmware updates addressing some of the nits and adding support for more video formats. Yes, weâre still waiting for network connectivity directly from Western Digital, but an active hacking community has been expanding the WD TVâs feature set, including getting it to play nice on Wi-Fi networks.Firmware updates and community hacks elevated the WD TV to greatness. Nine months and several different set-top boxes later, we still find ourselves skipping more complicated competitors and using the WD TV to play media files on our HDTVs. This box seems to support every file format one can throw at it. And unlike Apple and other set-top box competitors, Western Digital takes a very hacker-friendly stance with the WD TV, which we applaud, as great developments often flow from a passionate hacker community. It may not be the highest-tech device in our entertainment center, but for ease-of-use and rock-steady reliability, itâs the media box we love most.COMPANY: Western DigitalCONTACT: www.wdc.comPRICE: $99.99 Gadget: Pulse Smartpen This ĂŒberhandy pen records audio, all while a teeny infrared camera in the tip links the sound to whatever youâre writing at the time. This lets you sit back and really listen to a lecture, meeting, or presentation without frantically scribbling notes. Instead, you can just jot the quickest of notes (even a single number or letter--whatever you like) on Livescribeâs special dot paper and then easily find the associated audio clip later. To do this, just tap a note with your pen as youâre playing back the audio, and the recording instantly jumps to the portion that was recorded when you wrote that note. Docking the pen uploads your recordings and a digitized version of your notes to the Livescribe Desktop app, which lets you archive, search, organize, and share your notes and audio.The notebook in this photo isn't a random prop. It's a volume of Livescribe's special dot paper.Itâs difficult to explain how useful the Pulse and Livescribe Desktop are (and they do more than weâve outlined here), but the genius behind the idea, the penâs classy design, and the âit just worksâ simplicity dropped the jaws of every single Mac|Life staffer when we got our paws on it earlier this year. Itâs our Gadget of the Year--take a note.COMPANY: LivescribeCONTACT: www.livescribe.comPRICE: $169.99 and up iPods: Fifth-Gen iPod nano The fifth-gen iPod nano is the first iteration of the nano since the original to not receive a perfect 5-star score from Mac|Life, but itâs still undoubtedly the iPod of the Year. Its 2.2-inch screen is the biggest for a nano ever, it plays FM radio--something weâve requested for years--and, oh yeah, did you notice that it shoots video? (Apple might have mentioned something about that in the commercials, but we just wanted to make sure.)The video camera interface includes a generous collection of 15 special visual effects, including ones that mimic thermal heat maps, creepy X-rays, old-timey sepia tones, and trippy motion blurs--just like when the vampires speed up in True Blood! This latest nano also includes a pedometer function that shows you how many steps youâve taken on your latest hike. All in all, the fifth-gen nano has a cunning array of talents and is our iPod of choice, especially if price is a consideration.An honorable mention should go to the third-gen iPod touch, now at a lower price to bring App Store goodness to more people (cue the zombies: âOne of us! One of us!â) without subjecting them to the slings and arrows of an AT&T contract.COMPANY: AppleCONTACT: www.apple.comPRICE: $149 (8GB), $179 (16GB) Earbuds: Future Sonics Atrio Two bills for a set of earbuds isnât exactly an impulse buy, but certain things in life warrant dropping a bit of extra coin. World-class computers, fine bourbon, and audiophile-caliber earbuds all make our short list of entirely justifiable splurges. Future Sonics manufactures âin-ear monitorsâ for professional musicians, and the Atrio earbuds reflect that professional pedigree. Theyâve outlasted several other pairs of comparably priced âbuds, which is no small feat, considering the daily abuse we put them through. But itâs really their impressive bass response--even at low volumes--that kept us coming back to them during Gear of the Year deliberations.Comfort and excellent bass response are worth $200.True to their roots in performance gear, the Atrios are comfortable for extended wear, and their treble is crisp and clean, without becoming fatiguing after listening for long periods. Weâve used the Atrios in a wide range of playback scenarios, from listening to the latest Kid Cudi record on the train, to the new Beatles box set at home, all with stellar results. In fact, we like them so much, weâve been tempted to spring for optional custom-fit sleeves--but that would require a trip to an audiologist to take molds of our ear canals. Oh well, the included tips still sound mighty sweet.COMPANY: Future SonicsCONTACT: www.futuresonics.comPRICE: $199 Speaker Dock: SYD 5 After testing a lab full of iPod speaker docks this year, weâve determined an incontestable truth: Either go big or go home. Indeed, after being bombarded with flimsy, tiny, tinny docks festooned with clocks, radios, cute graphics, and other distracting âfeatures,â we found audio excellence in the Kanto SYD 5. Itâs large, it bumps deep, deep base, and its only âfeatureâ is the color you choose for its smooth, shiny shell. At 22 lbs, the SYD 5 feels like speakers of days gone by--and when a speaker has heft, it usually also has the audio to back up the extra weight.The SYD 5 system comes in black, green, and blue--and a curious note on the Kanto website reads, "other Pantone colors possible." Someone out there please order Flame Orange, 15-1157 TPX!The SYD 5 accomplishes its feats of strength with four speakers hidden behind a removable front cover. Two 5.25-inch drivers and a bunch of reflex ports push deep, rich bass for your hip-hop mixes, while two 3-inch drivers deliver the high end for all the wailing guitars you can handle. Weeeee!The SYD 5 includes an audio auxiliary input and AC power outlet for Hessian-caliber iTunes rocking with an AirPort Extreme. RCA and S Video outputs allow you to watch videos from your iPod on your TV. The weight lifterâs belt for your lower back? That oneâs on you.COMPANY: KantoCONTACT: www.kantospeakers.comPRICE: $359 iPhone Headset: Griffin TuneBuds Mobile Apple has a headset problem. The one it bundles with the iPhone is, wellâŠthe dictionary definition is âcraptacular.â And weâre pretty sure that cramming hard plastic into oneâs ears doesnât meet anyoneâs definition of comfortable. And donât even get us started on the sound quality. Bottom line: Weâre now on the third iteration of the iPhone, and Apple still hasnât managed to include a set of âbuds that is comfy, stays in place, sounds good, and includes a good mic.Griffin Technologyâs TuneBuds Mobile succeeds on all four points, and we dig its reasonable price. We donât have anything against expensive, audiophile-level gear, but we absolutely love affordable accessories that do a really good job, and that describes the TuneBuds quite succinctly.No more tangles! Thank you, Griffin.The TuneBuds will work with your iPhone or any recent iPod that sports VoiceOver or Voice Control. The cable is covered in braided nylon and feels sturdier than most headset or earbud cables. And when you wind up the TuneBuds and stuff them in your pocket, the cables donât tangle quite as much as other headsets. A small detail for sure, but thatâs the kind of quality that helps a product transcend from great to awesome.COMPANY: GriffinCONTACT: www.griffintechnology.comPRICE: $39.99 Smartphone: iPhone 3GS Internet fanboys will hurl slander that weâre secretly on Appleâs payroll. Mac computer enthusiasts will say weâve drunk the Kool-Aid for a silly little pocket toy. And iPod touch owners will cry that we just donât get it--that the iPhone is considerably more expensive than the similarly featured touch and isnât even a very good device for voice calls, which is a bit of a problem for any gadget with the word âphoneâ in its name.To our critics, we say bah! Weâll see your cynicism and raise you 100 chips of we donât care. Ever since June 2007 when we all bought our first-gen models, we have been using, loving, and hourly depending on some version of the iPhone, and the improvements in this yearâs 3GS only reaffirm what most of our readers already know: Appleâs smartphone is the coolest, most useful piece of technology to hit the market since the personal computer itself.Let us reiterate the key improvements introduced in the 3GS:» Significantly faster app load times and better graphics performance in games.» Higher-res, better-looking photos thanks to a new 3-megapixel camera, now with automatic focus, exposure, and white-balance control.» Video support care of the fancy new camera.» Voice Control, which lets you find contacts, call phone numbers, and play music simply by talking into the iPhone's microphone.» A compass function that orients maps correctly, among other sweet benefits.Six Mac|Life editors, but only five new iPhones. Who's the 3GS holdout!?Did you really think any other mobile phone could knock the iPhone from our top spot? Of course not. But because the iPhone 3GS is so incredibly handy and has become so thoroughly integrated into the flow of our daily lifestyles, we are also compelled to name it Mac|Life Product of the Year. The apps we use entertain us, inform us, and have disruptively replaced a slew of other products and tools that we used by rote only a few years ago. And the new wave of augmented reality apps bring a certain Minority Report fantasy function to a device that is already firmly sci-fi.So donât come crying to us with protests of âAT&T sucks!â and âthereâs no physical keyboard!â We acknowledge those shortcomings, but remain resolute in our conviction that the iPhone 3GS is quite simply the finest, most innovative piece of personal technology by a wide, wide margin.COMPANY: AppleCONTACT: www.apple.comPRICE: $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB) (Pricing for both capacities is for new AT&T customers and eligible current customers)Â
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Native Instruments, Abbey Road announce partnership
Posted by Dennis SellersNative Instruments has announced a partnership with Abbey Road, the iconic British recording studio. The two companies will create advanced software instruments, with the first product scheduled for release in early 2010.
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No Thirst Software Offers 15 Percent Discount until MoneyWell 1.5 Ships
Posted by Dennis Sellers No Thirst Software has announced a limited-time 15% discount on MoneyWell, the personal finance application.