iPod and iTunes updates

iTunes 4.9 with podcast support has been released.

Also, the iPod and iPod photo have been merged into one line. All white iPods now have colour displays and have a specific Podcast menu item.

The new line up is:

- 20Gb £209
- 20Gb U2 Special Edition - £229
- 60Gb £299

The iPod shuffle 1Gb has been reduced to £89. These announcements cover some of the things I'd predicted for the 7th July press event (namely items 3, 4 and a bit of 1). So the event must be mainly about the iTunes phone.

Using the iPod in your car PROPERLY

Check out this website for the best way to use your iPod in a car. It interfaces directly with your factory-fitted in-car entertainment system, so you can use the existing forward/rewind controls, and have song titles displayed correctly. It'll cost you between £100-150.

I'd buy that for a dollar...

After scouring eBay constantly for old Matchbox track (remember when you could build your own tracks for your little Matchbox cars using little plastic things to link pieces of track together?), I came across this unique idea for a 21st century version of this old skool toy! The cars will follow any lines drawn on the floor - great news for the kitchen lino! Hope they commercialise it soon...

Apple press event 7th July

Apple have announced a 'special media event' on 7th July. Marvbloke predicts that it could be about one/some/all of these things (most likely at the top):

1. 2nd generation of iPod shuffle
2. Colour iPod minis
3. 5th generation iPods (which will make the 'photo' appendage unnecessary)
4. iTunes 4.9 with Podcast support
5. iTunes-capable mobile phone from Motorola - white in colour, with 512Mb memory?
6. Widescreen iBook
7. GarageBand controller
8. Over-the-air iTunes Music Store available for the above iTunes phone

Let's see if I can keep up my 0% record at predicting these things correctly!

If you're ever bored...

...try the Ze Frank website. Loads of distractions from everyday life here - games, videos, stories.

Griffin iFill puts loads of free music on your iPod

You want more music on your iPod/iPod shuffle and can't wait till iTunes 4.9 brings you podcast support? Well here's an interesting idea in the meantime - Griffin iFill. It takes multiple streaming MP3 radio stations and sticks em on your iPod. And it doesn't clog up your music library with temporary files as it works independently of iTunes. Worth a look.

Still using Windows XP?

Haven't you switched to Mac OS X yet? If not, try this free way of converting the look of Windows XP into Mac OS X. If you don't like the results, it is completely reversible.
Even the website itself looks like Mac OS X!!!

Grand Theft Auto for the PSP

Loads of info at this fan site.

New Nokia Phones

Nokia yesterday announced seven new Series 40 phones. I've picked out three of interest. The 6111 bears more than a canny resemblance to the popular Samsung D500. It's a great shape and size, but the screen is only 128x160 and there's no expandable memory. The 6270 is a bigger slider phone, but has a hot-swappable miniSD card slot and a 240x320 QVGA screen. Very nice. Sports the new Series 40 version 3 UI too. The 6280 is similar, but with 3G and an extra camera for video calling. Compare these three models here.

Ceefax on the internet

Who needs the vast information resources of the internet, when you can use this link to get a pop-up version of the BBC's Ceefax teletext service?!

Apple confirms two new UK retail stores

MANCHESTER GETS AN APPLE STORE LATER THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trafford Centre.

Make up your own mind - watch the keynote

Here's the link to the Steve Jobs WWDC 2005 keynote (1 hour). If you revisit my post below from Friday, you'll notice that every single one of my predictions were wrong. 0% success rate. Instead, the keynote mentioned iTunes 4.9 podcast support briefly then focused on the Intel transition. There were no major product announcements (which is how it should be at a developer conference).

Level-headed Walt Mossberg

Here's what Walt says about the Apple Intel switch. After reading a lot of early opinions on the move, it is interesting to hear Walt's calm, considered consumer-focused view. If you only read one article on Apple's move to Intel chips, read this one. Thumbs up to the big man!

Ms Pacman now only £10

This is definitely my favourite of the TV Game range. Also features Galaga (the best Space-Invaders-type game) and Pole Position (you twist the joystick to steer - clever!). Only slightly-annoying thing is not being able to save your high scores but you can always stick a Post-It to the bottom of the joystick!

WWDC Keynote on Monday

On Monday at 10am PST (6pm UK time), Steve Jobs will deliver another of his famous keynote speeches (a 'SteveNote' if you will) to developers at the WWDC in San Francisco. Because of recent legal troubles experienced by Think Secret and others, there seems to be very little speculation around as to what will be announced. I think this is a good thing - anything that Steve does announce will be a genuine surprise.

Generally WWDC is used to announce software developments. But in the past, hardware has been launched, e.g. Apple Cinema Displays. There are a few rumours doing the rounds:

iPod shuffle 2Gb/4Gb - Same size as current shuffle, but with 480 song capacity and a small LCD screen displaying track name and artist.
Desirability: high, Plausibility: medium

iPod photo software update - providing Tetris and new slide show transitions. Free to existing owners.
Desirability: medium, Plausibility: medium

Mac mini refresh - 512Mb RAM and 80Gb HD as standard. Airport Extreme as standard? Possibly start including keyboard/mouse for same price.
Desirability: medium, Plausibility: medium

iBook G4 refresh - 512Mb and bluetooth as standard, making the price difference to Powerbook even more tenuous. Same prices. Same screen sizes, or possibly a smaller 12" widescreen model?
Desirability: medium, Plausibility: high

AirPort Express 2 - support for photos and video, remote control
Desirability: very high, Plausibility: low

'Cells' - addition to the iWork bundle providing spreadsheet capabilities. Not sure if Apple will bother though - they tend to only produce something if they can add value to the proposition, and it's hard to imagine how they could 'sex up' spreadsheets!
Desirability: low, Plausibility: low

Apple probably won't provide live coverage, but the stream will appear soon afterwards. For live coverage, you can't beat MacRumors.

Leave a comment and tell me what you hope/think they will announce at WWDC?

Digital...or not?

A digital clock made out of specially-shaped candleholders. I really like the pointlessness of this design - you would spend most of your time lighting and putting out the candles to keep the time updated! But hats off for the concept...

iPod Spoof Commercial

All those white wires flying about - here's a great solution in the world of Ipod/clothes integration. Plus it's a funny ad.

Dark Side Switch Campaign

A great spoof of Apple's Switch campaign! Hilarious!

"I wanted wireless broadband - all I got was a lousy USB modem"

You know the scenario: you order ADSL broadband and they send you a FREE ADSL modem. They neglect to tell you that it will only work when you're wired up to it with a USB cable. What about people with laptops who like to move around or computers in far away rooms requiring really long cables?
Here's the ideal solution: a wireless ADSL modem/router. It replaces the USB modem they sent you for 'free' and allows multiple computers to connect wirelessly at high speeds. Its £70, free delivery and if you're quick, they'll throw in a free USB wireless adaptor so that old non-wireless computer can connect too!

US Version of The Office comes to BBC3

14th June. 9.30pm. Stars Steve Carell as Michael Scott (the 'David Brent' character). Be prepared for something a bit different, as the show has to cater for the American 'sense of humor'.