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New iPods and Apple TV

September 1 2010 by ddawg in apple |No Comments

Apple announced their updated line of iPods at today’s big Apple event. While not exactly earth shattering, Apple still managed to wow the audience with their products. Here’s a line up of what’s new:

1. iPod Shuffle: Taking a step back to the earlier design, the new Shuffle offers button and voice control as well as a myriad of colors. At 2GB, Apple promises 15 hours of battery life at $49. You can pre-order it now, with it available at stores next week.

Credit: Apple

2. iPod Nano: The Nano takes a drastic redesign, losing the clickwheel entirely. It’s now touchscreen, offering a 2×2 “app” resolution. Given the tiny size, it sports a clip now along with a built-in radio and 24 hours of music playback. According to Engadget, both camera and video playback functionality no longer exist. The 8GB model is $149 and 16GB is at $179. Like the Shuffle, pre-orders start today with availability set at next week.

Credit: Apple

3. iPod Touch: Pretty much the phone-less sister of the iPhone, the iPod Touch receives the full retina display, 3-axis gyroscope, A4 core, as well as a front and back-facing camera. In the newest iOS update, the iPod Touch (and iPhone) will feature HD quality pictures as well. You’ll also be able to use FaceTime, with both iPod Touch and iPhone users. They’re priced at $229 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for the 64GB. Like the other iPods, shipping is slated for next week.

Credit: Apple

4. Apple TV: As expected, Apple is revising their video streaming service. Everything is “on the cloud,” meaning it’s streaming from a server – nothing will be stored on the device itself. You’ll be able to rent shows at $0.99 and movies at $4.99. Partners include FOX, ABC, Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe, and Rotten Tomatoes. It’ll be streaming at 720p, despite having an HDMI output. Apple TV will ship out about a month from now at $99.

Credit: Apple

5. iTunes 10: The newest iTunes will include a new “Ping” functionality – pretty much it’s a social network on your iTunes that allows you and your contacts to share your music interests and purchases. It’s on the iTunes only so we won’t see any integration on the web or with other popular services (such as Facebook or MySpace).

Gigawhat Episode 9 – Live from Bryant Park!

August 30 2010 by ddawg in podcast |No Comments

Iyaz and I get together for a live taping of Gigawhat at NYC’s Bryant Park. Unfazed by the random tourists staring at our setup, we give our predictions to Apple’s big event on 9/1. Touches, Nanos, and Shuffles, oh my! We review the new Google Voice feature on Gmail as well as a few apps for the Android, Blackberry, and iPhone. Best part, no Skype lag!

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Iyaz at @iyaz, Derrick at @derrickc82). Leave a thought or comment as well on the blog post at dxstuff.com.

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Show Links

Google Voice Calls from Gmail: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/25/google-introduces-voice-in-gmail/

Apple Event September 1: http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/25/apple-event-september/

Apple Event Predictions: http://www.dxstuff.com/2010/08/27/apple-special-event-sept-1-what-to-expect/

Sony Blocks PS3 Mod: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20014940-1.html

Verizon Confirms Froyo for Incredible: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/verizon-confirms-android-2-2-update-for-droid-incredible-hits-to/

State Farm App: http://gizmodo.com/5623867/imagine-an-android-app-that-automatically-responds-to-texts-while-youre-driving

Netflix for the iPhone: http://blog.netflix.com/2010/08/netflix-now-available-on-your-iphone.html

Apple Special Event – Sept. 1: What to Expect

August 27 2010 by ddawg in apple, tech news |1 Comment

Credit: Apple

With invitations out for Apple’s special event next Wednesday, blogs are ablaze in guessing what Cupertino will be unveiling. Could it be new iPods or a mini iPad? Here’s a list of some top guesses and the odds of it happening (based purely on my gut instinct):

1. iPod Touch 4th-gen: The iPhone introduced several new features including a retina display, a gyroscope, and a front facing camera. Rather than fragment the iTunes app store (and games) between the Touch and the iPhone, Apple is more than sure to release a similar counterpart for the iPod Touch line. There’s been signs that Facetime will be moving to the iPod Touch as well, with new e-mail based accounts (rather than phone numbers). If you’re going to place your bet on anything, this would be as good as it gets.

Odds: 99.999999999%

Credit: AllThingsDigital

2. iPod Nano Touch: Recent rumours from a Kaufman Bros. analyst suggest that Apple may be looking to ditch the click wheel from the iPod Nano line, perhaps drastically altering its shape and size and possibly even using a touchscreen. It would be the smaller and cheaper alternative to the anticipated hi-res iPod Touch. A new Nano is likely, though a touch interface would be more wishful thinking. [AllThingsD]

Odds: Revised iPod Nano: 80%; Revised iPod Nano “Touch” 45%

3. Revised iPod Shuffle: A Chinese case producer released images of a square-ish case for the Shuffle. Is Apple making another drastic change to the shuffle? It’s happened several times before. However, the size of this new case would suggest a much larger shuffle than the pill sized one we see today. It’s more than likely that we’ll see a revised Shuffle regardless – it’s more a question of what form it will take. [Engadget]

Odds: 80%

4. iTV: With mounting pressure from Google (Google TV), Apple may look to re-establish itself with the home entertainment system. Recent guesses have it pegged at $99, running a form of iOS at 720p. With the popularity of the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices, Apple may try to link their devices under the same umbrella in both form (iOS) and function (perhaps utilizing a form of iTunes to deliver media and app support). The competition is coming down fast so Apple can’t afford to delay much longer. [Bloomberg]

Odds: 75%

5. iTunes TV: Speaking of streaming shows, Apple is also feeling the heat from services such as Hulu and Netflix. In response, Apple is expected to rent programming for 99 cents, which would be compatible with all iOS devices, including the expected iTV system. However, with so many set-top box devices already out on the market, will Apple look for another way to bring iTunes to the television set?

Odds: 75%

6. iTunes Lite: Over the years, iTunes has become increasingly bloated. Users have been clamoring for a “lite” version that would be easier to use and gentler on the computer. Apple is sure to introduce an update iTunes; whether or not it’ll include a “lite” version is another question.

Odds: 30%

7. iPad Mini/iPod Maxi: For months, rumors have circulated for a 7 inch iPad, making it more pocket friendly. With the iPod Touch and iPad, however, a middle product may lead to additional market confusion. Sales have been well for both products as well; Apple might not see the need for it… yet. iPad announcements would most likely be in early 2011, so unless Apple was planning to align it as an iPod extension, this one looks unlikely. [CNET]

Odds: 5%

Credit: iLounge

8. iPhone 4.1: With the whole “Antenna-gate” fiasco, will Apple possibly consider an updated iPhone 4 that reworks the phone layout to remove the antenna attenuation issue? Some suggest that the white iPhone has been delayed to include this fix. Of course such a fix would imply that Apple had a design flaw and we all know it wasn’t Apple that was in the wrong. Silly rabbit, you were just holding it wrong.

Odds: 2.5%

9. Verizon iPhone: No Apple rumor line up is complete without the default Verizon iPhone! With the mass purchase of CDMA chips, analysts have long predicted an iPhone for the Verizon network. Verizon itself has been vocal on their desire for the iPhone as well. Still with the 4G LTE network so close, will Apple choose to wait and align the move with a possible iPhone 4G? The phone most likely will come someday, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Odds: 1%

10. Steve Jobs Not in a Black Turtleneck: Are you kidding? You’d have a better shot finding the Beatles and Prince on iTunes before this happens.

Odds: -100000000000000000000000%

Gigawhat: Episode 8 – Facebook Checks You into Places

August 23 2010 by ddawg in podcast |1 Comment

Facebook promises to take you to new places, whether you want it or not!

Joshua Caleb joins us as we talk about what’s new on Facebook and consequently, what’s got privacy advocates once again up at arms and screaming. We also look at Apple’s new killswitch idea (Is it just me or is it not that hard to imagine a giant “kill all” button at Steve Job’s office at Apple HQ?). We also got a new hack for the PS3 (We’ll see how long THAT lasts!), some iPad news and what’s this…? Apparently Rupert Murdoch owns the sky?

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Iyaz at @iyaz, Derrick at @derrickc82). Leave a thought or comment as well on the blog post at dxstuff.com. You can find Joshua Caleb on Twitter at @JoshuaCaleb75 as well as his tech blog www.TheBloggitonPost.com and his novel blog site www.TheWryterChronicles.com.

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Show Links

Facebook Places: http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=418175202130

Facebook Places Privacy: http://www.dxstuff.com/2010/08/20/fb-stalking-just-got-that-much-easier/

iOS Update for iPhone 3G: http://www.macrumors.com/2010/08/20/jobs-software-update-to-address-ios-4-performance-issues-on-iphone-3g-coming-soon/

Apple Killswitch: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/apple-attempts-to-patent-kill-switch-that-roots-out-unauthorized/

PS3 Mod: http://kotaku.com/5616952/working-playstation-3-modchip-is-not-a-hoax-australian-retailer-says

New PS3 SKUs: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/111/1113047p1.html

HBO Go: http://gizmodo.com/5615197/hbo-is-going-to-stream-true-blood-to-your-ipad-without-netflix

PEOPLE on iPad: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/business/media/20time.html

Rupert Murdock Takes Skype to Court over “Sky”: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/7937549/Rupert-Murdoch-fights-to-take-the-sky-out-of-Skype.html

Are Social Networks a Ticking Time Bomb?

August 18 2010 by ddawg in social networking |No Comments

While most of us know to avoid e-mails from unknown senders asking for international wire transfers and decline friend requests from model-like strangers, the biggest threat to our online security may be from our friends and families. As old tricks no longer work, scammers have stepped up their efforts, turning our curiosity, trust in friends, and human laziness against us.

The internet continues to serve as a limitless feeding ground for our curiosity. From random YouTube videos to the latest gossip to Wikipedia articles to polls and quizzes, most (if not all) of us indulge in the exploration of curious and curiouser. The Ikatako virus has infected 20,000 to 50,000 computers on a Japanese P2P program disguised as an anime mp3. Meanwhile, several users found themselves scammed by the offer of a Facebook “dislike” function that forced users to complete a survey for this add-on. As we continue to put more of our lives on the web, we find ourselves only with more questions, more links, more requests, and more opportunities to expose ourselves in danger.

We’re taught at a young age to avoid talking to strangers – for the most part that still carries along on the web. Random emails, tweets, and messages- most are sure to avoid. However, as marketers have learned, there is great power in the word of mouth from our friends and families. Companies such as Facebook and Amazon have built their empires on our trust in one another, nudging actions from us by informing us that “Jake is a fan of the Simpsons (would you like to be one too?)” and “Cindy has given a glowing review of that Disney DVD (perhaps you should buy it!).” It’s this viral nature of the internet that scammers are using now to spread themselves.

Twitter yesterday experienced an explosion of posts about one’s “Twifficiency” score. In the tweet, there is an offer for one to find out their own score. Since tweets normally come from friends (or trusted sources one actively chooses to follow), it’s much easier to click through without reservation.

This is also a potential issue with link shorteners. Whereas full URLs should provide clues to a link’s validity, it’s incredibly difficult to verify a shortened link, aside from clicking through. While we shouldn’t suddenly drop all our online friend connections, it is important to think twice before we accept links and files, even when they appear to come from a trusted source.

Most of these scams, however, can simply be avoided if it wasn’t for the sheer laziness in us. While the truly malicious will do all it can do disguise itself, much of the “scams” we see today do provide clues and warnings – it’s just a matter of us stopping to look twice. The Twifficiency link does warn users that upon completion, the program will automatically send a tweet to one’s contacts. In the case of a wallpaper-app developer that was accused of scamming Android users, the now-vindicated developer was retorted that a warning screen is always shown before any download on the Android Marketplace (to inform users of the extent in access an app may have to one’s phone).

Yet, these warnings are often avoided and skipped. Perhaps it’s the seemingly endless terms and conditions that we’ve trained ourselves to tune out the makes us jump straight to the “Accept” button. Despite being taught since we were young to read all directions, fine print, and terms before starting, our laziness and need for immediate gratification may be our own undoing.

Think twice before you grant access to an app!

The web, at the end, is an open world, subject to the same perils and dangers we face outside our computers. Currently, most of the “dangers” out there are relatively harmless – usually a hassle or a giant word of apology to one’s contacts; however, the components are all there for a much larger and damaging attack. The question is not as much if as it is when. It’s important to remain vigilant and wise when surfing the web. While it may cause us to fight against our gut reaction to just click away, a few moments of thought may prevent a world of headache.

Gigawhat: Episode 7 – The World According to Google

August 16 2010 by ddawg in podcast |No Comments

It’s a Googolplex of Google stories (okay, maybe not THAT many). Still Google makes several of the headlines for the week with a Gmail update, Android apps, smartphones, mini-tablets, and of course, the net neutrality argument.

What is net neutrality? Iyaz and I break it down and talk about why Google has suddenly become considered (by some) as “evil.”

Speaking of evil, we also provide details to protecting against evil exploit attacks and phone hackings. What do you need to do? Find out in this week’s episode!

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Iyaz at @iyaz, Derrick at @derrickc82). Leave a thought or comment as well on the blog post at dxstuff.com.

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Show Links

Gmail Update: http://gizmodo.com/5609961/gmail-contacts-receives-minor-improvements

Google Voice Search App: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-speak-it-introducing-voice-actions.html

Tweetdeck for Android Beta: http://www.tweetdeck.com/api/android_whitelist/

Motorola Droid 2: http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/Motorola-DROID-2-US-EN

Special Edition R2-D2 Droid 2: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/08/13/motorolas-droid-r2-d2-special-edition-to-be-released-september-30th/

Dell Streak: http://www.Dell.com/Streak

Smudge Attacks on Touchscreens: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/08/11/128244/Touchscreens-Open-To-Smudge-Attacks

Patch Tuesday (for Windows): http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20013210-245.html

Frash – Flash for iOS: http://www.macworld.com/article/153239/2010/08/frash.html

Google-Verizon Talk Net Neutrality: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/google-and-verizons-net-neutrality-proposal-explained/

Five Commonly Misused Tech Terms

August 12 2010 by ddawg in offbeat |1 Comment

As tech-based terminology trickles into mainstream use, certain terms have been misunderstood or misused. Known also as my list of pet peeves, here’s a list of some commonly misused words/terms in tech.

1. Droid: While often incorrectly used to signify the Android operating system that these phones run on, “Droid” technically refers to a series of Verizon smartphones, most often the Motorola Droid series (Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid 2, Motorola Droid X). Other phones, such as the HTC (Droid) Incredible and the HTC (Droid) Eris may use the Droid name as well. However, these only make up a part of the larger library of “Android” phones. One interesting fact, “Droid” is actually trademarked under LucasFilm, licensed under Verizon Wireless.

2. iTouch: While Apple commonly uses “i-” to name several of their portable devices, the iPod Touch has never officially branded as the “iTouch.” Though most will understand that you’re referring to the phone-functionless-sister of the iPhone when saying “iTouch,” you never know if someone might be expecting just a little bit more.

3. Hacker: While not technically misused, mainstream media commonly uses the term to refer to those who engage in illegal or criminal activity through the use of computers (also known as “crackers”). However, “hacker” can also be used (positively) to refer to computer programmers and designers. It can used to designate those who enjoy modifying or creating software and/or hardware. In fact, there is an annual convention held in Las Vegas for hackers of all types. So the next time someone introduces himself (or herself) as a hacker, you may want to hold off calling the F.B.I.

4. Screensaver: Screensavers are programs that are run to avoid burn-in on computer monitors. From flying toasters to bouncing shapes to a maze of pipes, screensavers another item for users to customize. Nowadays, screensavers are somewhat obsolete, at least in its original purpose, as modern day monitors and LCD screen do not suffer from burn-in. The term is often confused with “wallpaper,” which is merely the background image set for the desktop interface. Though you can just as easily set flying toasters as a wallpaper, these two items are different.

5. PC: The term “PC” is often incorrectly used to differentiate between an Apple computer and a Windows (or Linux)-based computer. At times it’s used to refer to desktop computers specifically. PC, however, stands for “personal computer” which encompasses several devices, including desktops, laptops, and tablets. With Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign, John Hodgman has become the face of PCs.

Gigawhat: Episode 6 – RIM Lights It Up with Torch

August 9 2010 by ddawg in podcast |No Comments

Check us out as we take a look at the newest Blackberry slated to hit the market. Does the Blackberry have what it takes to make it among the big (smartphone) players or is it “so 2008?” We also look into this whole jailbreaking hooplah. What is jailbreaking? Should I jailbreak my phone? For you Android owners, we follow up on the Froyo update to see what’s working (and what’s not). Find out too why you might have to rethink those plans for an outdoor pool and why those (secret) sites you visit may not be all that secret!

Don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes with the link below and follow us on Twitter (Iyaz at @iyaz, Derrick at @derrickc82). Leave a thought or comment as well on the blog post at dxstuff.com.

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Show Links

Engadget Blackberry Torch Review: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/04/blackberry-torch-review/

Apple Rumors for iPods and iPads: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20012977-248.html

Jailbreak.me for the iPhone/iPod Touch: http://gizmodo.com/5601874/jailbreakme-20-jailbreaks-all-apple-ios-40-401-and-321-devices

Gizmodo’s 16 Reasons to Jailbreak: http://gizmodo.com/5605827/16-reasons-to-jailbreak-your-iphone-or-ipod-touch-now/gallery/

Froyo for Droid X: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/05/droid-x-update-to-android-2-2-coming-by-early-september/

Riverhead Uses Google Earth to Fine Illegal Pools: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/long_island/Google-Earth-Used-To-Find-Unlicensed-Pools-20100801-apx

Private Browsing Not So Private: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/06/study-your-browsers-private-browsing-mode-may-not-always-be-so-private-after-all/