Apple have released an update for the iPad, taking the firmware to 3.2.1
Quite big at 456MB.
The update is hoping to solve various iPad wifi problems.
How many wireless networks do you need?
Both the iPhone 4 and the iPad can connect to the faster 802.11n networks, but it is not as clear cut as that.
Whilst the iPad can connect to a 5GHz 802.11n wireless network the iPhone 4 can only connect to an 802.11n wireless networking using 2.4GHz.
Whilst that is much faster than connecting to an 802.11g network one reason for having a 5GHz is to avoid the often crowded 2.4GHz spectrum as the rest of the world has discovered the advantages of wireless networking.
So if you if you only have a single 802.11n wireless network you will need to ensure it is either running at 2.4GHz or add a new network just for the iPhone, which is a little bit over the top.
I can see myself adding a 2.4GHz 802.11n network for my new iPhone 4 in the main so I can stream video over my network using the AirVideo App.
Why, Apple, why?
There are times that I wonder if those that design software actually ever use it? I usually lay this charge against Microsoft, but last night Apple in their wisdom really annoyed me.
I have a very poor internet connection and as a result if I download any big files I generally try and do it overnight, partly as these downloads take so long and mainly that if I am downloading files, it sucks up my bandwidth making the internet unusable for anything else.
So last night I set iTunes on my iMac to download a HD episode of Doctor Who and a couple of very large iPad Apps. About 2-3GB of data.
I went to bed, came down this morning to find a message from iTunes asking me if I wanted to download the latest version. Well I do have this setup in preferences, so that iTunes checks for updates.
So what’s the problem?
Well due to this unanswered dialogue (I was asleep in bed) iTunes had stopped downloading my downloads. It was waiting for me to say yes or no to downloading the new version of iTunes!
As a result I had only downloaded one of my downloads, all the rest were waiting…
Why can’t iTunes continue to download the files in the background, why does it have to wait until I answer the dialogue box?
In my mind this is poor design. If I decide that I do want to update iTunes, I can always stop the downloads, in fact I would probably want to finish them first before updating. So iTunes should really keep downloading even if it is asking me if I want to update.
So the end result is that I have to turn off “checking for updates” so this doesn’t happen again.
Still thinking…
Still thinking if I should get the new Mac mini. Yes it meets my needs for a media centre (well apart from the lack of Blu Ray) however it is not cheap!
My hesitancy is based on how much I think I would use it.
Yes I could use it to play video content, iTunes content, recordings from EyeTV, DVDs.
Yes I could use it to play audio files, music and podcasts.
Yes I could use it to access web content, especially Flash based video web content.
However I currently do most of that via the iMac and the newly acquired iPad.
So would I use it?
Don’t know for sure.
How depressing…
So today the number one (paid for) iPad App is….
How depressing…
Oh, new Mac mini
Oh well pleased to see Apple have released a new Mac mini. Not only is there a new form factor there is also faster graphics and key feature for me is the HDMI port.
I will now be able to connect the Mac mini to my HDTV. I should then be able to play HD content from iTunes. Of course at the moment in the UK this only means HD TV Shows. HD Films are only available to rent at the moment on the Apple TV or the iPad. I do wonder if that will change now with this new Mac mini?
It is now a lot more expensive than it was before so that is one downside.
Key question I need to ask is, does the superior functionality of the Mac mini justify the increased cost over an Apple TV?
Should I wait for the rumoured new Apple TV which is rumoured to cost less than a $100?
So going to wait at this time.
Some days I hate DRM!
Sometimes I really hate DRM.
I have the new iPad and I bought the VGA connector, connected it to a monitor and I thought (after trying out Keynote) I would try a video, an episode from the new Doctor Who purchased through iTunes…
Well this was the result!
But…
I paid for this episode….
I did not copy it, download it, or pirate it, I PAID for it.
I can play other videos through the connector (ones converted from EyeTV recordings for example) why can’t I play the nice videos I PAID for?
Some days I hate DRM!
This annoys me.
WWDC Keynote
Today is Steve Jobs’ Keynote at WWDC.
Traditionally we get to hear about new products and new software.
As might be expected the web is rife with rumours about what we will hear about. I’ll let you Google them to find what they are.
Will probably follow the keynote via Macrumors.
The end of free wifi
So it’s looking like that we may see the end of free wifi with no strings attached.
Ofcom is warning providers of free wifi that they will be held liable for the actions of anyone connecting to their network.
I don’t think this will mean the end if free wifi as such, but certainly the free wifi with no strings will go. Free wifi providers will need to ensure that not only do users of their network know what the consequences of what they do on the free wifi, but they will need to provide personal details or even credit card information.
It’s a pity that the majority have to suffer the consequences of the actions of a very small minority.
New Apple TV ?
According to various rumours Apple may be releasing a new Apple TV but in a different format compared to the current model. If the rumours are to be believed then the new Apple TV will be a screen-less iPod. It will only have 16GB of on board storage. It will in the main be streaming content from a Mac or the cloud.
I already use my iPhone to do this, however this new Apple TV has the advantage that it will she able to play 1080p HD content.
The price?
$99
Probably will get one.