Category: apple

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Downloading movies

iTunes Movies in the UK - hmmmm

Back in June 2008 when Apple put movies into the UK iTunes Store I had a go and didn’t have a huge success.

So my first proper attempt to get films off the iTunes Store was not a great success, ah well maybe next time.

So now over a year later, what’s the situation?

Well I am downloading a fair few movies from the iTunes Store now, buying and renting.

I do like how quick and easy it is, and sometimes how much cheaper it is too (and annoyed by how expensive it can be too).

I usually watch the movies via an iPod through the TV, as I still haven’t got round to buying an Apple TV, but then I still don’t have that HD TV to watch them on (and I am pretty sure I can’t easily connect an Apple TV to my current TV).

I will probably get an Apple TV if I get an HD TV as I would prefer to watch HD movies on an HD screen.

I was impressed with HD on the TV Shows and downloaded Lost in HD and the newest Doctor Who special in HD too.

So is everything working?

Well not really.

My ADSL is still way too slow, which means it takes hours to download a movie. Also I have a monthly bandwidth limit which means I usually plan my iTunes downloads overnight as Plusnet my ISP gives me a “free” download time between midnight and eight in the morning.

Also now and again iTunes fails to download the movie “properly”, so it downloads it again! As a result I have two versions in my iTunes library.

However despite a few minor issues I am pleased with movies and TV on the iTunes store and use it on a regular basis.

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Apple admits iPhone supply issues

Report from BBC News

Apple has revealed as part of its quarterly earnings statement that it cannot produce the new iPhone 3GS fast enough.

Luckily for me I was able to order an iPhone 3GS, though only the 32GB model was available, which is the model I wanted, though I thought 16GB would be enough, 16GB can never be enough, so I went down my usual maxim which is work out what I need and double it…

So far all I have done it activated it, sync’d it and charged it. Nothing else yet…

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Mobile Apps

Noticed a couple of news items on BBC News which make for interesting reading if you are interested in mobile applications. The first item I saw was on the market for mobile apps.

The market for mobile applications, or apps, will become “as big as the internet”, peaking at 10 million apps in 2020, a leading online store says.

But it is not all good news…

However, GetJar say, the developer community will decline drastically as each developer makes less money.

This is certainly apparent in the iTunes App Store where expensive useful apps, are virtually immediately undercut by similar low cost or even free apps.

But it doesn’t seem to be putting people off with the following news:

Symbian, the operating system on nearly half the world’s smartphones, is to become involved in the development of mobile applications, or apps.

So who’s creating these mobile apps and what are they creating?

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MacBook Pro 13.3″

Saw the new 13” MacBook Pro complete with SD card slot in the Apple Store.

I was well impressed and am starting to really like this laptop, certainly bigger than a netbook, but more powerful as well (and a lot more expensive too).

Seriously thinking about getting one as a computer for travelling with. The lack of removable battery seems less of an issue these days, what with power sockets on trains and more conference organisers adding power sockets too.

It has Firewire which means moving files (large video files that is) will be easier.

Not too heavy, well heavier than a netbook, but lighter than a 15” MacBook Pro.

Big issue is the price, what with 4GB of RAM and a large HDD, we’re looking at over £1,100…

Thinking about it!

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iPhone Firmware 3.0

Apple have released details of the new firmware for the iPhone.

In-App Purchasing: Allows developers to sell additional content from within applications. Highlighted uses include magazine subscriptions, eBooks, additional levels and items for games.

Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: Find other devices running the app via Bonjour over Wi-Fi of Bluetooth. Good for gaming, but also other applications for sharing data.

Third-Party Accessory Apps: Allowing accessory manufacturers to create applications to interface with their hardware accessories.

Push Notification: Rather than using background processes that hamper battery life, utilize third-party server to push badge, text, and audio alerts from applications.

Turn by Turn: Apple will allow developers to use CoreLocation for turn-by-turn GPS directions.

Cut, Copy and Paste: Available across all apps. Shake to undo or redo.

Landscape keyboard: Available in all key applications, including Mail.

MMS: Picture messaging now available.

Voice Memos: Record notes, lectures, interviews, etc.

Spotlight Search: Available across all applications. Systemwide search available from main home screen by flicking to the left.

A2DP Bluetooth: Support for stereo bluetooth headsets.

In the Q&A Apple did say if the carriers supported it they would support tethering as a modem.

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What’s that then…

I do go into System Preferences now and again, but not often. I accidently started it this evening and saw this at the bottom.

Hmmm…

I am pretty sure I didn’t install it. Now I know I haven’t downloaded anything recently, but this seemed weird. The name didn’t seem to give any clues.

I opened the preference pane to have a look.

Preference Pane

MacFUSE allows you to extend Mac OS X’s native file handling capabilities via 3rd-party file systems. Visit the MacFUSE website for more information.

Well I was none the wiser!

Did you think I was going to click the link, no I think not!

Did a Google search and got this.

Whats that then…

Made me feel a little better, as it would appear that it wasn’t some kind of malicious code.

Looked further down and it said in one of the other searches something about NTFS…

Now it was all starting to make sense.

Parallels must have installed it when I installed Parallels the other day.

Must stay on top of these kind of things.

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iTunes Plus upgrades now à la carte

One of the big criticisms of the introduction of the widespread use of iTunes Plus on the iTunes Store (ie the removal of DRM) which was announced at MacWorld 2009 was the fact that you had to do an all or nothing upgrade.

That has now changed.

Upgrades now no longer have to be on a whole library basis they can be now done on an iTunes Plus upgrades now à la carte basis as seen in Apple’s FAQ (note opens in iTunes). You can now do single songs.

As a result I can upgrade my Prince songs, but not necessarily the Steps track I must have bought when I was not really with it!

iTunes Plus

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EyeHome Replacement

Since my EyeHome stopped working, I am guessing it was the transformer again, I have been thinking about a possible replacement.

Choices are limited, Elgato no longer make the EyeHome or any type of replacement.

You can buy uPnP devices, however my experiences with the PS3 make me wary of purchasing a uPnP media streamer.

I am supposing the obvious choice is the Apple TV, however I am not sure if I can connect it to my TV. I don’t have an HDTV, so the connectors won’t really work with a SCART television.

So do I upgrade my television so that I can use an Apple TV?

Decisions.

Going to try and see if I can find an EyeHome power replacement.

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12 Days of Christmas iTunes Giveaway

Apple’s iTunes Store is offering twelve days of giveaways from the 26th December to the 6th January.

For iTunes 12 Days Of Christmas, we’ve delved deep into our catalogue to pull out some real treats for the holiday season. Check back here every day for rare singles, exclusive live tracks and free music videos from some of the biggest artists in the world today. Plus classic TV programmes that you just won’t want to miss. Consider them little stocking fillers for your new iPod.

Find out more.