Garmin n�vifone chases after GPS, iPhone features
Known best for its GPS mapping units, Garmin held a press event on Wednesday night for a product that signals its plunge into the world of cellphones.
Called the
n�vifone, the device at first blush is more than slightly familiar to iPhone users. A 3.5-inch wide touchscreen serves as the sole control for nearly every function; only power and volume have physical controls. The handset will also sport Wi-Fi, an advanced web browser, and playback of AAC/MP3 audio as well as MPEG-4 video.
Garmin pins its hopes, however, on one key element: a true GPS unit. Unlike the iPhone and iPod touch, which only
use triangulation to provide a rough estimate of the owner's whereabouts, the n�vifone has a true GPS receiver that pinpoint a near-exact location in North America or Europe. The tracking device supplies local Google searches for fuel prices, restaurants, and other nearby data. It will also automatically geotag (position-locate) any photos or videos captured with its camera and includes a cradle mount that switches the phone into GPS mode for use in a car.
More importantly, Garmin's first phone also appears to be an answer to common complaints about its Cupertino-born challenger. Besides being able to capture video, the n�vifone runs a faster 3G cellular Internet connection and supports MMS messaging -- a means of sending photos and video clips between cellphones which has been conspicuously absent from the iPhone.
While potentially the iPhone's most obvious competitor to date, questions remain about the n�vifone's availability. Garmin has only promised a general summer release date and hasn't named either a carrier or a price, either of which should affect its ability to compete with Apple's current and future offerings.
Fujitsu, Lenovo on tap for MacBook Air's processor?
Claiming to have sources aware of future plans, CNET says that the MacBook Air's unique Core 2 Duo processor
isn't exclusive and will find its way into notebooks from two major PC vendors.
Both Fujitsu and Lenovo will use the 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz chips in computers that will be launched "shortly," the site alleges. As demonstrated with Apple's own design, the Intel processor is prized for an
unusual chip package that reduces the size and power use of the Core 2 Duo without a severe hit to performance or having to wait for future Intel mobile platforms. Either PC maker could build a more energy-efficient notebook from the chip, the purported insiders say.
Apple has a recent history of serving as the testbed for new Intel chips, including the use of Intel's
first 3GHz eight-core Xeon in the Mac Pro and the 2.8GHz mobile Core 2 Extreme in the
mid-2007 24-inch iMac.
iPhone's semi-trailer truck encounter subject of Apple's interest
Many iPhone owners are cautious with their devices, but one user's mistake may ultimately help Apple sell the device for its durability, iPodNN
reports.
After accidentally leaving his iPhone on the trunk of his car at a gas station, owner Mike Beauchamp was surprised to learn that his iPhone not only survived a high-speed fall from the car but a run-in with a semi-trailer truck at more than 70 miles per hour on the road.
Aside from a partly damaged LCD, the device is said to be completely functional down to its touchscreen, calling functions, and its camera. Even the glass "doesn't have a mark on it," the owner says. The demonstrated toughness of the phone has reportedly been enough to warrant attention from Apple itself for marketing efforts.
"I've spoken with Apple's customer relations department - they're interested in using it in an iPhone commercial," Beauchamp writes. "This is the ultimate crash and durability test out there!"
Apple Inc. will see its share of the US personal computer market increase twofold over the next three years from 6.1 percent to over 12 percent, according Gartner.
The market research firm made the assumption as part of a report issued Thursday titled "Key Predictions for IT Organisations and Users in 2008 and Beyond." It similarly predicts that Apple will also double its share in Western Europe.
"Apple's gains in computer market share reflect as much on the failures of the rest of the industry as on Apple's success," Gartner said in the report. "Apple is challenging its competitors with software integration that provides ease of use and flexibility; continuous and more frequent innovation in hardware and software; and an ecosystem that focuses on interoperability across multiple devices (such as iPod and iMac cross-selling)."
Some of the other predictions outlined in the firm's report include:
* By 2012, 50 per cent of traveling workers will leave their notebooks at home in favour of other devices.
* By 2012, 80 per cent of all commercial software will include elements of open-source technology.
* By 2012, at least one-third of business application software spending will be as service subscription instead of as product license.
* By 2011, early technology adopters will forgo capital expenditures and instead purchase 40 per cent of their IT infrastructure as a service.
* By 2009, more than one third of IT organizations will have one or more environmental criteria in their top six buying criteria for IT-related goods.
* By 2010, 75 per cent of organisations will use full life cycle energy and CO2 footprint as mandatory PC hardware buying criteria.
* By 2011, suppliers to large global enterprises will need to prove their green credentials via an audited process to retain preferred supplier status.
* By 2010, end-user preferences will decide as much as half of all software, hardware and services acquisitions made by IT.
* Through 2011, the number of 3-D printers in homes and businesses will grow 100-fold over 2006 levels.
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The PC industry is wasting little time getting in line behind Apple to use Intel's spiffy new notebook chip.  Lenovo and Fujitsu plan to use the same Intel chip that helped the MacBook Air get so thin.(Credit: CNET Networks) CNET News.com has learned that Lenovo and Fujitsu are in the process of putting together systems based on the special Core 2 Duo chip that Apple is using in the MacBook Air. The new laptops should be out shortly, according to sources familiar with the companies' plans, and will give customers a chance to see what the rest of the PC industry can do with the power-thrifty chips. Representatives for Lenovo and Intel declined to comment, while a Fujitsu representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Apple asked Intel to design the special Core 2 Duo chip last year as it was putting together the design that would become the MacBook Air. The chip fits into a package that's significantly smaller than the garden-variety package Intel uses with its notebook chips, and it uses less power than the standard Core 2 Duo, allowing it to fit into the slim MacBook Air without melting the inside of the package or eating the battery. While Apple got the scoop on that new chip--which, since they asked Intel to build it, seems fair--Intel has other customers. After the MacBook Air was introduced at Macworld, Intel representatives said the chip would be offered to the rest of the PC industry if they were interested. And much of the technology used in the chip will become part of Intel's mainstream offerings when the Montevina platform is released later this year. This is a chip for ultraportable notebooks, loosely defined as notebooks weighing 3 pounds or less. Those kinds of notebooks aren't for everyone, but they tend to appeal to the frequent business travelers that might already be Lenovo ThinkPad customers. Fujitsu might not be a household name in this country when it comes to PCs, but its
 Actually, T-Mobile does a few things right. But yet again, America's fourth-largest carrier received accolades from J.D. Power and Associates for its customer service. For the fifth consecutive reporting period (I'm not exactly sure what constitutes a "reporting period"), T-Mobile had the highest rating for positive customer care experiences. It also had the highest retail sales satisfaction for the fifth consecutive period and the highest business customer service satisfaction for the second period. As for the other carriers Verizon Wireless came in second place, AT&T and Alltel tied for third and Sprint Nextel came in last. With T-Mobile constantly taking the title we admit that this contest is beginning to get a little boring. And though I commend T-Mobile for taking the prize, I'm interested if T-Mobile customers actually agree. So please leave your comments below and tell me what you think.
Click the image to access the gallery(Credit: Coskata)Many in the auto industry are touting ethanol as the solution to the challenge of post-petroleum transportation. Major carmakers advertise many new cars can run on E85--a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline--and they trumpet the fuels environmental benefits relative to gasoline. But the ethanol story is not as straightforward as it sounds. Aside from the lack of infrastructure--only around 1,400 out of 170,000 U.S. filling stations have ethanol available--the production of ethanol from corn has drawn criticism for its cost (in terms of food-stocks and land usage) and the relative inefficiency of the conversion process. An alternative alternative is cellulosic ethanol, which is made from nonfood sources, including a variety of organic, industrial, and domestic waste. At this year's Detroit auto show, General Motors announced that it had invested in Coskata, a producer of cellulosic ethanol based in Illinois. Check out our gallery to learn how Coskata's conversion microorganism-based conversion process works and why cellulosic ethanol promises to be a big deal in the automotive world.
 Go chowda! Er, I mean Patriots. There's more at stake than usual in the Super Bowl this Sunday. There's bragging rights for not only Giants and Patriots fans, but also between Manhattan and New England clam chowder lovers nationwide. In other words, it's "chowder vs. chowda." There's even a friendly wager between New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino where the loser will donate local foods (such as pizza, Dunkin' Donuts, and chowder) to charity in the other mayor's city. So, may the best team/soup win! To get in the spirit, here's a free playlist featuring songs about football and soup. Artists include Bloc Party, Kate Nash, The Doors and more. Listen to our free Super Bowl playlist: CHOWDER BOWL More free music on Download Music
 (Credit: Majesco Entertainment) Long ago, in the age of the Sony Playstation, a strange rhythm game appeared. It was called PaRappa the Rapper, and told the story about a flat, cartoon puppy who wanted badly to be a rap star. The game wasn't especially popular against titles like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7, but its charming humor and bizarrely infectious music garnered it a cult following and eventually saw a sequel on the Playstation 2 and, more recently, a remake on the Playstation Portable. To this day, a stuffed, singing PaRappa doll sits on a shelf in one of our editors' offices. For the first time in over half a decade, the team behind PaRappa is working on a new game. Majesco Entertainment just announced Major Minor's Majestic March, a rhythm game for the Nintendo Wii. Like its name implies, the game turns the Wiimote into a bandleader's baton, which players shake and wave through over two dozen marching band songs. It could very well be one of the first games that involves leading a marching band. Major Minor's Majestic March will feature the work of both developer/musician Masaya Matsuura, and graffiti artist Rodney Greenblat. Greenblat designed PaRappa's signature, quirky graphical style, while Matsuura designed PaRappa's gameplay and produced its soundtrack. This marks the first time since 2001's PaRappa the Rapper 2 that Greenblat and Matsuura have worked together, and could mean that MMMM will feature the same strange, entertaining style that made PaRappa so endearing. Major Minor's Majestic March is scheduled to release in late 2008 for the Nintendo Wii.
 The Orochi Zero special edition costs less than the standard Orochi.(Credit: Mitsuoka) When most car companies launch a special edition, it means custom colors, maybe some new interior components, and 10 percent to 20 percent price increase. But Japanese car maker Mitsuoka went the opposite direction, launching a special edition of its Orochi model called the Orochi Zero. It comes in about 10 percent cheaper than the standard model. We first saw the Mitsuoka Orochi at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. This different-looking handmade car, originally based on the Acura NSX platform, uses a 3.3-liter V-6 producing 230 horsepower. We don't know why Mitsuoka decided to build the Orochi Zero, but we know how it came in cheaper than the standard model. Mitsuoka reduced the amount of metal-plated accessory parts and used artificial leather for some of the interior upholstery. (Source: JCN Network)
 (Credit: Sanwa) No, this isn't a picture of a laptop busted in two, though we've certainly had occasion to take such photos in the past due to either clumsiness or blue-screen rage. This is actually a wireless keyboard from Japan's Sanwa that has a touchpad like the one on your laptop, seen on Akihabara News. Why? We have no idea, other than to cater to those folks who just hate using a mouse for some reason. (Samsung has apparently identified that niche as well.) Sanwa also makes a corded version, if you're really particular about keyboards. Personally, we'd rather see that space used for a touch screen or something else more useful. Besides, if we did away with the mouse, how would we get a massage?
In order to meet its thin, light design goals while still providing leading performance and graphics capabilities for its class at a competitive price, the Mac Book Air makes a number of engineering tradeoffs. On the plus side, as noted in Is the MacBook Air Another Cube?, the new notebooks get a full size backlit keyboard and full resolution screen.
Conspicuously missing from the new notebook are two hardware features most Mac users wouldn't try to live without: an optical disc and FireWire. To minimize the pain of stripping these features from the Air, Apple has designed some sophisticated software workarounds that leverage the network: Remote Disc, Remote Install, and a new Migration Assistant utility.
Remote Disc
The premise of Remote Disc is simple: rather than carry an external SuperDrive, a MacBook Air user can install software on any networked Mac or Windows PC to enable shared use of the optical drive over the network.
There's nothing new about that concept. Windows machines have long shipped with administrative "dollar sign" file shares turned on for every drive by default. If you know the administrative password and the archaic drive letter assigned to the optical drive on a PC, you can connect to it remotely as:
smb://PCAddress/D$
or using Microsoft's backward slash notation:
PCAddressD$
There are a few limitations. First, these "dollar sign" shares are invisible, so they don't show up when browsing network shares. That means you have to type in command line paths, something that isn't really up Apple's alley. It also relies upon the notoriously insecure SMB protocol used by Windows Networking, and isn't compatible with Mac formatted discs, which would be used by most of the software installer DVDs a MacBook Air user might want to use over the network.
Macs can also set up file sharing and designate the DVD drive to be available to network users, but this requires some setup, too. For the MacBook Air, Apple includes software that installs a Control Panel in Windows or an extra "DVD and CD Sharing" option in Mac OS X's Sharing panel in System Preferences.
Using Remote Disc is as simple on either platform as checking a box to enable disc sharing, and optionally checking another box to ask permission before allowing remote connections to the drive. On the Air, shared Remote Discs pop up in the Finder using Bonjour discovery, so no configuration is required apart from a functioning network.
Since Apple has been selling half of its retail stores' new Macs to users new to the platform, being able to effortlessly use the spare optical drive of most any networked computer available is an important step in trying to sell the MacBook Air without needing a built in optical drive. On Windows, the Remote Disk sharing software even supports reading HFS+ formatted Mac discs, which Windows can't do natively.
Apple warns that copy-protected discs, including some game installers, commercial DVD movies, and "burned or ripped CD media" won't work remotely over the network. That means some users might want to opt for the external SuperDrive designed to match the Air.
Apple Hardware Test and Remote Install
The MacBook Air has other tricks up its thin manilla sleeve. One is a built in copy of the Apple Hardware Test diagnostic software that ships with other Mac models as a CD. The MacBook Air has a special "D" boot key combination that starts up the machine from an internal disk image and loads the diagnostic tests without needing an optical drive.
To boot the machine for any reason from shared disc drive, Apple supplies a utility called Remote Install Mac OS X. Like Remote Disc, it sets up a networked computer to host the supplied Mac OS X installer DVD so the Air can boot from it directly. While other Macs can boot from the network using NetBoot, the firmware in machines apart from the Air currently do not support booting from a shared optical drive.
The Missing Link for FireWire
Other light thin notebooks include FireWire, but typically use the unpowered 4-pin variety that is only really useful as a video camera input. Mac users have long used FireWire to perform the Target Mode trick, which turns a Mac into a FireWire hard drive and makes coping files between systems easy and fast. The simpler firmware used by standard PCs is unable to do this, as noted in How Apple�s Firmware Leapfrogs BIOS PCs.
Because it lacks FireWire, the MacBook Air needs an alternative method for connection to another Mac to use Migration Assistant. That utility is commonly used to import all the user accounts and settings, files, applications, and network configuration from an existing system, but it has typically required a FireWire connection.
In Leopard, Migration Assistant gained the option to pull this data from a Time Machine backup archive in addition to an attached drive or another Mac in FireWire Target Mode. The Mac Book Air ships with an updated Migration Assistant that enables the utility to also copy information from a machine over the network.
Air Migration
Performing a network Migration Assistant session requires the new version of the utility to be installed on the existing networked computer acting as the source of the migrating files. This new version presents a new option to share the files on that computer over the network with a MacBook Air.
While it's possible to perform the migration wirelessly, Apple recommends using the optional USB Ethernet adapter to speed things up. It also warns users not to begin a migration running only on battery power, as a loss of power could result in a corrupted or incomplete migration. The Energy Saver panel in System Preferences should also be set to not go to sleep while the migration is in progress.
When performed wirelessly, the utility requires the network to be secured by modern WPA encryption protocol and not the older and less secure WAP. To further secure the network connection whether wired or not, the Migration Assistant presents a pin number on the MacBook Air that must be entered on the remote machine to begin the network migration. Once the migration starts, the remote computer shuts down any running applications and begins copying files to the Air. |
 Lousy move, Nintendo. The company's U.K. arm has released a promotional Girl Gamer magazine to pimp its products, which Geeksugar has posted about, and it makes me want to puke up that steak fajita I had for lunch. Let's see what's on the cover, underneath that ghastly pink masthead: Cooking Mama, Imagine Babies, and a pink DS Lite. Ick. It sure makes a gal want to go wild with the Manhunt 2 machete. Not to mention the fact that I haven't seen eyeliner that atrocious since Congresswoman Katherine Harris. Will it hurt Nintendo's business? Will there be mass protests? Of course not; there are a lot worse things a company could do than put out a Pepto Bismol-hued marketing blitz geared toward teenage girls who like "video games." But come on. I don't need to see this sort of thing when I've just eaten.
 With a Thursday announcement about a flagship SLR due later this year, Sony has become the third manufacturer to bet on the full-frame camera market.(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET Networks) LAS VEGAS--The heyday of 35mm film SLR cameras is long past, but one foundation of the technology is staging something of a comeback with new help from Sony. The vast majority of digital single-lens reflex cameras today use an image sensor that's smaller than a full frame of 35mm film, which means lenses behave somewhat differently than on a film camera. For years, only Canon sold SLRs with a full-frame sensor, but Nikon entered the market with its top-end D3 late in 2007. At the Photo Marketing Association trade show Thursday, Sony announced its forthcoming "flagship" Alpha-branded SLR will follow suit. "We will commercialize this model by the end of this year," said Toru Katsumoto, senior general manager of Sony's digital imaging business group. "This model uses a full-frame size, 24.6 megapixel, CMOS censor with Exmor technology"--specifically, Sony's 24.8-megapixel full-frame sensor, he said. Sony hopes the company's flagship SLR will appeal to professional photographers, but Katsumoto said in an interview that's not the main thrust for the camera. "It's not for the real professional," Katsumoto said of the flagship model. "We'd like to make this camera of course for professionals, but also for enthusiasts and high-end amateurs." Sony's move helps the full-frame remain relevant and perhaps spread it a bit more widely. But don't expect the full-frame format to dominate the way it did in the 35mm film era. FULL-FRAME ECONOMICS It's much more expensive to manufacture larger image sensors. Other SLR makers--Olympus, Pentax, Panasonic, Leica, and Samsung--use smaller sensors only, and Nikon and Canon say their small-sensor camera lines are here to stay. Camera makers also have been selling lenses that are geared specifically for small sensors and that sometimes don't work on full-frame models. Smaller-sensor SLRs are a much larger market. Of the 2007 SLR market, fully 23 percent cost $600 or less, according to data released Thursday by NPD Group. For comparison, the cheapest full-frame model today, Canon's 5D, costs about $2,100 with no lens. And chip-manufacturing improvements that could lower the cost of full-frame sensors help with smaller sensors. "Any advance...would apply to both large- and small-format sensors. If CMOS suddenly got less expensive, then small-format would have an even smaller cost per sensor," said Mike DeLuca, a market segment manager for Eastman Kodak's professional and applied imaging group, which designs both small and very large image sensors.
Lousy move, Nintendo. The company's U.K. arm has released a promotional Girl Gamer magazine to pimp its products, which Geeksugar has posted about, and it makes me want to puke up that steak fajita I had for lunch. Let's see what's on the cover, underneath that ghastly pink masthead: Cooking Mama, Imagine Babies, and a pink DS Lite. Ick. It sure makes a gal want to go wild with the Manhunt 2 machete. Not to mention the fact that I haven't seen eyeliner that atrocious since Congresswoman Katherine Harris. Will it hurt Nintendo's business? Will there be mass protests? Of course not; there are a lot worse things a company could do than put out a Pepto Bismol-hued marketing blitz geared toward teenage girls who like "video games." But come on. I don't need to see this sort of thing when I've just eaten.
 Click here for more innards(Credit: CNET Networks/Scott Wolf) This historic piece of equipment was a popular external storage solutions for years. Our sister site TechRepublic is rather fond of digging into the workings of electronics, and CNET News.com has a gallery of its effort. Have a look-see at the drive's insides here: Cracking open the Iomega zip drive
Apple Store customers who were amongst the first to pre-order the new MacBook Air following its debut earlier this month have informed AppleInsider that their notebooks are starting to arrive -- a full day early. Meanwhile, there is now confirmation that the first SSD-based models have also shipped.
HDD models ship
"Got mine this morning bright and early via FedEx from China!," one reader wrote in an e-mail.
It appears Apple is shipping orders priority out of Shanghai, which means a good percentage of customers stand to receive their notebooks today rather than Friday as shipment confirmations had initially suggested.
Meanwhile, AppleInsider on Thursday received the first confirmation from Apple retail store representatives that they too expect to have the new ultra-slim notebooks in stock momentarily.
Though retail representatives on Wednesday were uniformly clueless as to when they'd have stock of the Air (some times saying "2 to 3 weeks," sometimes saying "we have no idea"), calls placed to the company stores on Thursday morning revealed that some locations have now been told to expect the notebooks "within the next two days" and by "Saturday at the latest."
HDD and SSD at Fifth Ave store
In New York City, Apple's Midtown Manhattan flagship shop has already received delivery and set units up for display, including an SSD model. A video from the store (above) shows patrons getting their first feel of the machines.
Update
According to numerous submissions, Apple corporate reprimanded staffers at the Midtown Manhattan store for displaying the MacBook Airs ahead of an official retail roll-out, presumably planned for Friday (tomorrow). The models have since been removed from the floor.
"I just went to the store and they said that they had them on display, but they got a call from the corporate office telling them to take them away," wrote one tipster. "The associate said to call sometime tonight to find out exactly what time they would be available again."
"I just spoke with the NYC store, they have not sold 1 Macbook Air yet," wrote another tipster. "They had them out 'a couple days ago on display' and then pulled them, they have a large banner also, the employee said the best guess is they will be for sale on Friday -- when more of the country gets their shipments or Saturday if they need to wait for the OK from headquarters."
Box comparison shots
Meanwhile, Ars posts some photos showing the approximate 40 percent size reduction of the MacBook Air's retail packaging compared to that of Apple's other notebooks -- the MacBook and MacBook Pro. And UneasySilence submits some small, but good quality unboxing photos.
Some SSD-based models ship
It appears that Apple has now also begun shipping the first batch of SSD-based MacBook Air orders to customers who placed their order immediately following Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote on January 15th.
Apple retail re-adjustment tonight
Apple's Midtown Manhattan store is already was showcasing the new MacBook Airs, but the notebooks are nowhere to be found at Apple retail stores on the West Coast. That said, however, some tipsters claim that several Apple retail stores will be adjusting their planogram layouts overnight, with the intention of opening shop tomorrow with Airs on display.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available. If you've received your MacBook Air and have any comments or photos you'd like to share, don't hesitate to submit them via email to: news (at) appleinsider (dot) com. |
It's going to be a few more days before the world gets a crack at the new and improved Apple TV. Looking to kill some time during that interminable delay? It's a perfect opportunity to check out the major competing hardware options that already offer the same on-demand Internet movie rental functionality. XBOX 360: The 360 offers standard-definition and HD movies (rentals) and TV episodes (sales) from Paramount, Disney, Warner, and MGM. Additionally, of course, it's also a top-notch game machine. The Xbox 360 plays DVDs, streams video, audio, and photos from networked PCs, and it works as a full-on Windows Media Center Extender (when on the same home network as compatible Windows XP and Vista machines). Alas, it can also be as noisy as a jet engine, and it still suffers from an all-too-frequent hardware failure rate. TIVO HD: Our initial experience with Amazon Unbox on TiVo didn't blow us away, but subsequent software upgrades added two big improvements. TiVo added on-screen access to Unbox content on the TiVo (you no longer have to make your viewing choices on the PC) and "progressive downloading" (you can begin watching films before the download is complete, without interruption). Unbox delivers a good amount of content, including movies (for sale or rental) and TV episodes (for sale) from Paramount, Fox, Warner, MGM, Lionsgate, and Universal. Nothing's in high-definition--and some of the video is not even wide-screen. But the TiVo is also a full-on HD DVR, so you can record hours upon hours of live cable or over-the-air TV programming--something you won't be doing on the Apple TV soon, if ever. But it's also the only one of these four products that requires a monthly subscription fee (which pays for the electronic programming guide--not any of the movies). VUDU: When Vudu first hit in the fall of 2007, we called it "the closest thing to Netflix in a box." It delivers thousands of movies from all the major Hollywood studios for sale or rental, and the movies start streaming within seconds (on normal broadband connections). But unlike the Apple TV, Xbox 360, or TiVo, the Vudu is a one-trick pony. It can't stream media from your PC, it can't play games, and it's not a DVR. To make things worse, the new Apple TV/iTunes Store features (see below) co-opt nearly all of Vudu's once-unique features. That said, Vudu has already added TV shows and HD movies in the months since its debut, proving that potential additional functionality is just a firmware update away. And the recent price drop doesn't hurt. APPLE TV: Apple TV is only about a year old, but it's getting a complete makeover on the eve of its first birthday. In addition to the existing features--the ability to stream digital photos and all the iTunes music and video from your computer to your living room TV--Apple TV will soon be getting nearly all of the once-distinct features of the Vudu. It will be getting HD video, instant streaming of standard-definition video, movie rentals (from all the major studios), and on-screen access to the iTunes Store (no more running back to the computer to make your movie or TV show choices). Unlike all of the video services listed, the iTunes/Apple TV combo is the only one that will also let you also enjoy your rented or purchased video on your iPhone or iPod. (As always, caveats apply: HD rentals aren't transferable, and only the latest model iPods and iPhones are rental-compatible.)  Internet movie rental options compared(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak (CNET)) Which is the best option? As always, that answer will come down to personal preferences and needs. Just remember that all of these options are pay-per-view--with prices ranging from $2 to $6 a pop--and all of them impose some strict limits on viewing. Rentals must be watched within 30 days of download (14 days for Xbox), with only a 24-hour viewing window once you start watching--after that, the file evaporates, regardless of whether you've finished watching the movie. (Direct your complaints to the Hollywood studios, not these hardware manufacturers--they're the ones imposing these limitations.) For me, the answer remains "none of the above." I'm sticking with Netflix for the time being. Yes, DVD by mail is so twentieth century--but it still gives me access to the largest rental library (tens of thousands of movies and TV shows, rather than the relative handful available on each service above) at a flat monthly fee. And the occasional scratched disc notwithstanding, DVD remains the closest thing to a universally compatible "file format" there is. I can play the discs anywhere, without fear of incompatibility. There isn't a countdown clock, so I can watch a movie in 30 minute chunks over the course of a week--if that's most conducive to my schedule. With any luck, the studios and hardware manufacturers will work on bringing that same Netflix-style convenience, flat pricing, and expansive library to the download arena. Who knows, maybe it'll even be Netflix itself. What do you think? Are any of these products your choice for next-generation movie rentals, or are you sticking with the tried and true video-on-demand offerings on cable or satellite?
 (Credit: Eazo) This is really just amateur hour compared with the platinum, gold, and diamonds of Zeus Computer, but these desktops aren't exactly something you'll find at Office Depot either. And frankly, we think they look a lot better than their bejeweled counterparts.
Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon.com will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Audible.com for $11.50 per share, or a 23 percent premium from their closing price of $9.33 on Wednesday.
The online retailer will also assume Audible.com's outstanding stock-based awards, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $300 million which includes Audible.com's cash and short-term investments at closing.
Through its web sites in the US and UK and alliances in Germany and France, Audible.com offers over 80,000 programs, including audiobooks from well-known authors such as Stephen King, Thomas Friedman, and Jane Austen, and spoken word audio content from sources including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Fresh Air and Charlie Rose.
In addition, Audible has maintained an exclusive relationship with Apple since 2003, whereby it offers over 20,000 audiobooks for sale and download to iPod digital music players and the iPhone via the iTunes Store.
Amazon's acquisition of Audible is just its latest move in a broader bid to garner more share of the digital media download market from rivals such as Apple, joining its recently launched digital download services for music and movies.
"Audible.com offers the best customer experience, the widest content selection and the broadest device compatibility in the industry," said Steve Kessel, Amazon.com's senior vice president for worldwide digital media. "Working together, we can introduce more innovations and bring this format to an even wider audience."
This past holiday shopping season, Amazon also embarked on its first foray into the hardware business by introducing Kindle, a $399 digital eBook reader billed as the 'iPod of reading." Though met with mixed reviews, the devices appears to be selling well, as its been on backlog through Amazon.com for the past two and a half months.
Like Apple's iPods, Kindle allows users to download audio books from Audible.com for playback through the device, either via its built in speaker or headphone jack.
The purchase of Audible by Amazon is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the second quarter of 2008. |
 (Credit: Yanko Design) Now why didn't we think of this? While the lonely at heart have their inflatable dolls, here's a blow-up mouse for the dateless geek. You can not only snuggle up to it, but you can actually put it to use. Not that kind of use. Designers Bongkun Shin, Heungkyo Seo, Jiwoong Hwang & Wooteik Lim did intend for this to be a working mouse and packed electronic circuity on a small flexible board within the Jelly Click. So all you need to do to use this is blow it up, attach the USB cable, and click. It's only a concept now, though, so until there's a commercial unit it's all just hot air. (Source: Crave Asia)
 Red Pantech Duo(Credit: AT&T) It almost seems like every other handset is getting the red or pink treatment in time for Valentine's Day, and the Pantech Duo smartphone is no exception. If you'll recall, this dual-slider smartphone runs Windows Mobile 6, and has features such as a 1.3-megapixel camera, quad-band support, as well as HSDPA/3G speeds. We were not terribly impressed with the Duo's slider mechanism and user interface, but it is one of the cheapest smartphones. It will set you back $99, with an AT&T contract. You can see the red Duo in shelves and online retail starting next week.
 What is happening at Apple?(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET Networks) Amazingly, almost every product Apple has released over the past decade has performed extremely well and there's no debating the fact that the iPhone is one of them. But unlike the computer industry or the PMP business, the cell phone industry judges success by how well a device can perform over the long-term and keep a steady revenue stream flowing for both the carrier and the manufacturer. And while the computing industry has become quite competitive over the past few years, driving prices down and forcing companies to make more compelling products, there's no debating the fact that the cell phone industry is the most competitive and strangely unprofitable of them all. After all, who would have thought that Motorola -- one of the proven leaders in the industry -- may be getting out of the handset business for good? Knowing this, has Apple gotten in over its head trying to play the same game it always has with its other devices without realizing that the cell phone industry is an entirely different beast altogether? Sadly, I think it has. There's more to a cell phone than its good looks and hype If Apple has learned nothing else, the company now knows that in the cell phone industry, relying on good looks and hype won't get the job done. Let's face it -- Apple's Macs perform well because they're sleek, powerful and run an operating system that most people like. The company's iPods sell extremely well because they're easy to use and have always provided an end-to-end solution with iTunes that has yet to be matched. But what about the iPhone? Sure, Apple may have already sold 4 million iPhones since June and that's a success story by itself, but in this business, longevity is difficult to maintain and competitors are always ready to release something better. Unlike any other business Apple is in, cell phones become obsolete within a week. Think about it -- how many times have you gone into your local cell phone shop and seen a cell phone retailing for $149.99, only to find the same product going for $49.99 the next week? Competition in the industry is fierce and the chances of one product leading the way for too long are poor, at best. More than anything else though, Apple misjudged the loyalty of cell phone owners. By forming a deal with AT&T, Steve Jobs and company obviously believed people would jump ship at the first chance they had just to get their hands on the iPhone. And while some did, Verizon Wireless just reported that it added 2 million subscribers to its service and handily beat AT&T in post-paid subscriber gains and revenue. Along those lines, why was Apple caught off guard by the immense unlocking community that has done all it can to make sure the iPhone would work on any GSM network? Didn't the company know that unlocking is commonplace in the business? If it did, why did it fail to realize that by locking the iPhone down, an enormous group of individuals would blaze the path that ultimately led to about a 30 percent unlocking rate? And despite Apple's attempt at stopping unlockers dead in their tracks by changing the way the iPhone loads software from flash memory, permitting only certain kinds of software from loading into the main memory, the hacking community is still strong and ostensibly growing in numbers. To make matters worse for the company, all of these anti-unlocking measures didn't work. According to estimates, iPhone unlocks were about the same during the third and fourth quarter. Dealing with AT&T Perhaps most vexing is the sweetheart deal Apple was able to coax AT&T into. Sure, the company may have won out through the revenue sharing, but now that it hasn't been able to stop unlockers and the chances of hitting its goal of 10 million iPhones sold this year would require a faster sales rate than it witnessed during the busy holiday season, what makes anyone think that AT&T or any future exclusive carrier of the iPhone would fall into the same iPhone trap? And considering Verizon Wireless isn't feeling the effects of the iPhone anymore, who can honestly say that Apple's device is as groundbreaking or Earth-shattering as we once thought? The iPhone was easily the most advanced cell phone released in 2007. But in an environment where competition is fierce and hype dies quickly, Apple looks a bit lost at this point. Is the iPhone still a leader in the business? Sure. But if it can't coax people to switch carriers and the company can't stop 30 percent of its consumers from unlocking it, what can Apple really do to make this the first real groundbreaking device that changes the entire cell phone business forever? My advice -- get out of the contract with AT&T and unlock the iPhone, allowing it to run on any carrier all over the world. Of course, the chances of that happening in the near-term are just about zero.
 StopBadware.org said Tuesday it has labeled two versions of the RealPlayer media player as "badware," or spyware. RealPlayer 10.5, it claims, "fails to accurately and completely disclose the fact that it installs advertising software on the user's computer." And RealPlayer 11, it claims, "does not disclose the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software, and fails to remove this software when RealPlayer is uninstalled." Ryan Lukin, PR manager for RealNetworks, disputed some of the claims. Lukin said the Message Center in 10.5 feeds only news and information, product updates, movies, video clips, and is clearly identified during installation. He said the change from was that the check boxes in 10.5 were pre-filled in (requiring you to opt-out), whereas in version 11 they were blank (requiring you to opt in). Lukin disagrees that the content served through the Message Center qualified as advertising. As for version 11, Lukin said that as part of full-service media player, RealPlayer needs the Rhapsody ActiveX component because people may want to hear Rhapsody-encoded music clips. He agrees that once RealPlayer is uninstalled the Rhapsody software should also be uninstalled. Lukin said RealNetworks was looking into making this change in a future release. In the meantime, StopBadware recommends that users do not install either versions of RealPlayer, "unless the user is comfortable with the software behaviors we identify or until the application is updated to be consistent with the recommendations in this report." Full details of the StopBadware.org alert can be found here.
 (Credit: S.T. Dupont) With the MacBook Air about to descend upon the masses, it's time to think about a valise that's appropriate for this piece of techno-royalty. But what to do if you weren't amused by the " AirMail" envelope and aren't thrilled with more conventional alternatives? Dupont has the answer. The luxury goods concern is releasing the " S.T. Dupont Diamond," a limited-edition handmade travel case to mark its 135th anniversary. Although it's not a computer case per se, it can still do the job while also serving as a laptop stand--one that's finished in black crocodile skin with a black diamond in each clasp, that is. It also comes with a " Black Diamond" 2GB USB drive (the latest of many), according to Sybarites, as well as more traditional Dupont accessories such as a palladium lighter and writing set. But if you're planning on an extended stay, you might need something a little larger. Such as the " i-Trunk."
 (Credit: Connect-A-Desk) And here we thought the " Hip Office" concept was a joke. Now we have the " Connect-A-Desk," a real product that's also ripe for an SNL parody. Like the Hip Office, it straps to a computer to your body, but around the neck instead of the waist. It's kind of a laptop version of the keytar, with a dork factor that rivals the " Light Head Magnifier." The site claims that it's "ergonomically designed" but, depending on the weight of the computer, we can't imagine using this for any length of time before needing a trip to the chiropractor. Our take? It's yet another devious tactic by management to chain us to our work.
Apple Store customers who were amongst the first to pre-order the new MacBook Air following its debut earlier this month have informed AppleInsider that their notebooks are starting to arrive -- a full day early. Meanwhile, there is now confirmation that the first SSD-based models have also shipped.
HDD models ship
"Got mine this morning bright and early via FedEx from China!," one reader wrote in an e-mail.
It appears Apple is shipping orders priority out of Shanghai, which means a good percentage of customers stand to receive their notebooks today rather than Friday as shipment confirmations had initially suggested.
Meanwhile, AppleInsider on Thursday received the first confirmation from Apple retail store representatives that they too expect to have the new ultra-slim notebooks in stock momentarily.
Though retail representatives on Wednesday were uniformly clueless as to when they'd have stock of the Air (some times saying "2 to 3 weeks," sometimes saying "we have no idea"), calls placed to the company stores on Thursday morning revealed that some locations have now been told to expect the notebooks "within the next two days" and by "Saturday at the latest."
HDD and SSD at Fifth Ave store
In New York City, Apple's Midtown Manhattan flagship shop has already received delivery and set units up for display, including an SSD model. A video from the store (above) shows patrons getting their first feel of the machines.
Update: MacBooks pulled from Midtown store
According to numerous submissions, Apple corporate reprimanded staffers at the Midtown Manhattan store for displaying the MacBook Airs ahead of an official retail roll-out, presumably planned for Friday (tomorrow). The models have since been removed from the floor.
"I just went to the store and they said that they had them on display, but they got a call from the corporate office telling them to take them away," wrote one tipster. "The associate said to call sometime tonight to find out exactly what time they would be available again."
"I just spoke with the NYC store, they have not sold 1 Macbook Air yet," wrote another tipster. "They had them out 'a couple days ago on display' and then pulled them, they have a large banner also, the employee said the best guess is they will be for sale on Friday -- when more of the country gets their shipments or Saturday if they need to wait for the OK from headquarters."
Box comparison shots
Meanwhile, Ars posts some photos showing the approximate 40 percent size reduction of the MacBook Air's retail packaging compared to that of Apple's other notebooks -- the MacBook and MacBook Pro. And UneasySilence submits some small, but good quality unboxing photos.
Some SSD-based models ship
It appears that Apple has now also begun shipping the first batch of SSD-based MacBook Air orders to customers who placed their order immediately following Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote on January 15th.
Apple retail re-adjustment tonight
Apple's Midtown Manhattan store is already was showcasing the new MacBook Airs, but the notebooks are nowhere to be found at Apple retail stores on the West Coast. That said, however, some tipsters claim that several Apple retail stores will be adjusting their planogram layouts overnight, with the intention of opening shop tomorrow with Airs on display.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available. If you've received your MacBook Air and have any comments or photos you'd like to share, don't hesitate to submit them via email to: news (at) appleinsider (dot) com. |
When you think of the words "hydrogen highway," your mind tends to conjure up images of silent cars whizzing down the road in an environmentally friendly manner. You don't think about trying to squeeze into a seat between a 300-pound man and a woman with 18 grocery bags. But this scenario might be more realistic.  A GM hydrogen car. Good luck filling up.(Credit: Mike Kanellos) CalStart, an alternative-transportation advocacy group, has signed five contracts with bus companies to develop and study fuel cells, as well as other components for making hydrogen buses. The $24 million project is partly underwritten by federal grants. The SunLine Transit Agency in Coachella, Calif., for instance, plans to street-test a hydrogen bus being built by American Fuel Cell. The fuel cell in the car comes from UTC Power and lithium ion batteries. AC Transit in the Bay Area, meanwhile, will stress-test hydrogen buses with UTC to identify the weakest points in hydrogen drive trains. BAE Systems will develop a hydrogen-diesel hybrid. Car manufacturers such as Toyota Motor, General Motors, and BMW have proven that hydrogen cars work. (Toyota and GM have fuel cell hydrogen cars. The fuel cells strip electrons from hydrogen molecules to power batteries. BMW, meanwhile, has a hydrogen combustion engine in which hydrogen is ignited in cylinders sort of like how gas is ignited today.) Check out our test drive of a hydrogen Mercedes here. The tough part is the infrastructure. Hydrogen is expensive to make and difficult to transport, and few hydrogen stations exist. Some processes for producing hydrogen can also emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. Buses can get around some of these problems. City buses drive a limited number of miles a day, and they typically don't drive very far from a maintenance station. Put a hydrogen-manufacturing station and pumps in a central location, and you could serve a city. Las Vegas is already trying this. (The University of California at Berkeley has a hydrogen station too.)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) FOR PURCHASED MOVIES * Last Modified on: January 31, 2008 * Article: 304277 For information about iTunes Store movie rentals, read the iTunes Store Movie Rental FAQ. * What regions are movies available for purchase? * What are the minimum hardware and software requirements to purchase and play a movie? * What iPod models will play movies? * How much does a movie cost? * How large is the average movie? * How long will it take to download? * Are previews available? * What are the usage rights with movies? * How does that backup experience work with movies? * What is the scope of MPAA rating offerings? * Will iTunes parental controls filter for this? * What is the aspect ratio? Is there widescreen vs fullscreen? Can you choose? * Will I notice a difference when I play a higher-resolution video on an iPod? * Is there a limit to the number of movies I can store to an iPod or Apple TV? * Are there chapter markers in the movies? Are they supported on iPod and/or iTunes? * Can I watch downloaded movies on TV? How? * Is the movie file size listed on the iTunes Store? * Can you begin playback while the movie is downloading? * Can I watch the movie in QuickTime Player? * Do movies support surround sound? * Can I listen to the audio of a movie through AirTunes technology with an AirPort Express? * Can I use my iTunes Gift Card for purchasing a movie? * If I buy a new iPod with video capability or an Apple TV, will I have to purchase the movie again? What regions are movies available for purchase? U.S. only. What are the minimum hardware and software requirements to purchase and play a movie? MAC * iTunes 7.6 or later * QuickTime 7.4 or later * Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later * Macintosh with a 1GHz PowerPC G4 processor or better * At least 256MB of RAM * At least 16MB of Video RAM * Broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable/LAN) PC * iTunes 7.6 or later * QuickTime 7.4 or later (included with iTunes 7.6 for Windows) * 32-bit editions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Vista * 64-bit editions of Windows Vista * 2GHz Pentium class Windows-compatible PC * At least 512MB of RAM * At least 32MB of video RAM * Broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable/LAN) What iPod models will play movies? Movies can be played on iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano (3rd generation), or iPod (5th generation). Note: Rented movies are not supported on iPod (5th generation). How much does a movie cost? Movies typically range from $14.99 for new releases to $9.99 for most other movies. How large is the average movie? A 2-hour movie is about 1.5 GB. How long will it take to download? Depending on connection speeds, a standard movie could take anywhere between 20 minutes and 3 hours to download. Are previews available? The iTunes Store offers the ability to view a trailer for each movie. What are the usage rights with movies? You can transfer to five computers, sync with all the iPods you own, and burn to DVD for data archiving purposes only (not for DVD playback). You can also sync to up to five Apple TVs which don't count as one of your five computers. How does that backup experience work with movies? You can back up a movie with a DVD or hard drive. If you back up to a DVD, you can use the iTunes Backup feature, that will lead you through the backup process (choose FILE > BACKUP to Disc). To back up to an external hard drive, you simply drag the source movie files to the hard drive icon on your desktop or in My Computer. What is the scope of MPAA rating offerings? The iTunes Store uses the MPAA film rating system instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America. Movies from Rated G to Rated R are offered. There is also unrated content. No NC-17 rated movies are offered on the iTunes Store. Will iTunes parental controls filter for this? Parental controls set with the iTunes Store can be used to limit the purchase and preview of store content to a specified MPAA rating (example PG-13 and below). What is the aspect ratio? Is there widescreen vs fullscreen? Can you choose? The aspect ratio will vary. Will I notice a difference when I play a higher-resolution video on an iPod? Because iPod screens are smaller, you may not see a difference when viewing a higher resolution video on an iPod. However, you generally will notice a difference when viewing in iTunes on a larger monitor or when displaying video on TV. Is there a limit to the number of movies I can store to an iPod or Apple TV? The number of movies is limited by the available space on the iPod or Apple TV, and will vary by use. Are there chapter markers in the movies? Are they supported on iPod and/or iTunes? Chapters are supported on both the iPod and on iTunes, given that the file has chapter markers. The iTunes client has a new Chapters menu when the currently selected movie has chapters. On the iPod, the Next/Fast-forward and Previous/Rewind buttons will move you between chapters. Can I watch downloaded movies on TV? How? Yes, if you have a widescreen enhanced definition or high definition TV and a network with broadband Internet access, you can use Apple TV to easily view movies from your Mac or PC's iTunes library. You can also connect your computer to your TV via audio and video cables. To connect audio, you simply get a Miniplug-to-RCA stereo audio cable and connect your headphone jack on your computer to the audio input on your TV or stereo (red for left and white for right audio channels). For video, if you have an S-video connection on your computer, you use an S-video cable to connect to the RCA jacks on your TV. If you have a VGA or DVI connection on your TV and your computer, you may be able to connect the display like a monitor. Check the TV and computer documentation for more information. You can also display the movie on TV using the iPod and either the Apple iPod AV cable or the Universal Dock with an S-video and audio cable (see iPod: TV Out support for more information). Is the movie file size listed on the iTunes Store? Yes Can you begin playback while the movie is downloading? Yes. How quickly playback begins depends on the on the speed of your Internet connection. Can I watch the movie in QuickTime Player? Yes. Do movies support surround sound? Yes. Movies include audio which is encoded using Dolby Surround which delivers multichannel audio when played using Dolby Pro Logic systems. Can I listen to the audio of a movie through AirTunes technology with an AirPort Express? No. Can I use my iTunes Gift Card for purchasing a movie? Yes. If I buy a new iPod with video capability or an Apple TV, will I have to purchase the movie again? No. KEYWORDS: ktech kitunes kituneswin kipod5 kipod6 kipodnano3 kitms kfaq katv Did this article help you? It solved my issue... Tell us what works for you. It's good, but... Report typos, inaccuracies, etc. It wasn't helpful... Tell us what would have helped. Home > Support Visit the Apple Store online (1-800-MY-APPLE), visit a retail location, or find a reseller. Site Map | Hot News | RSS Feeds | Contact Us Copyright © 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
 Sonys new full-frame sensor(Credit: Phil Ryan) As expected, Sony quickly followed its 24-megapixel full-frame sensor announcement by revealing that its previously alluded-to pro model will use the new chip. Since there's a Super SteadyShot housing for the new chip, we can also expect the camera to have in-body image stabilization. The camera is scheduled to "launch" by the end of this year. Sony also said it will address "the full spectrum" of Alpha products this year, which to me foreshadows a few more product announcements. That's all Sony shared today, but we can expect more details around Photokina this fall.
It's going to be a few more days before the world at large gets a crack at the new and improved Apple TV. Looking to kill some time during that interminable delay? It's a perfect opportunity to check out the major competing hardware options that already offer the same on-demand Internet movie rental functionality. XBOX 360: The 360 offers standard-def and HD movies (rentals) and TV episodes (sales) from Paramount, Disney, Warner, and MGM. Additionally, of course, it's also a top-notch game machine, plays DVDs, streams video, audio, and photos from networked PCs, and works as a full-on Windows Media Center Extender (when on the same home network as compatible XP and Vista machines). Alas, it can also be as noisy as a jet engine, and it still suffers from an all-too-frequent hardware failure rate. TIVO HD: Our initial experience with Amazon Unbox on TiVo didn't blow us away, but subsequent software upgrades added two big improvements: on-screen access to Unbox content on the TiVo (you no longer have to make your viewing choices on the PC) and "progressive downloading" (you can begin watching films before the download is complete, without interruption). Unbox delivers a good amount of content, including movies (for sale or rental) and TV episodes (for sale) from Paramount, Fox, Warner, MGM, Lionsgate, and Universal. Nothing's in high-def--and some of it's not even widescreen. But the TiVo is also a full-on HD DVR, so you can record hours upon hours of live cable or over-the-air TV programming--something you won't be doing on the Apple TV soon, if ever. But it's also the only one of these four products that requires a monthly subscription fee (which pays for the electronic programming guide--not any of the movies). VUDU: When Vudu first hit in the fall of 2007, we called it "the closest thing to Netflix in a box." It delivers thousands of movies from all the major Hollywood studios for sale or rental, and the movies start streaming within seconds (on normal broadband connections). But unlike the Apple TV, Xbox 360, or TiVo, the Vudu is a one-trick pony--it can't stream media from your PC, it can't play games, and it's not a DVR. To make things worse, the new Apple TV/iTunes Store features (see below) co-opt nearly all of Vudu's previously unique features. That said, Vudu's already added TV shows and HD movies in the months since its debut, proving that potential additional functionality is just a firmware update away. And the recent price drop doesn't hurt, either. APPLE TV: Apple TV is almost a year old, but it's getting a complete makeover on the eve of its first birthday. In addition to the existing features--the ability to stream digital photos and all the iTunes music and video from your computer to your living room TV--Apple TV will soon be getting nearly all of the once-distinct features of the Vudu: HD video, instant streaming of standard-def video, movie rentals (from all the major studios), and on-screen access to the iTunes Store (no more running back to the computer to make your movie or TV show choices). And unlike all of the video services above, the iTunes/Apple TV combo is the only one that will also let you also enjoy your rented or purchased video on your iPhone or iPod. (As always, caveats apply: HD rentals aren't transferable, and only the latest model iPods and iPhones are rental-compatible.) Internet movie rental options, compared(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak (CNET)) Which is the best option? As always, that answer will come down to personal preferences and needs. Just remember that all of these options are pay-per-view--with prices ranging from $2 to $6 a pop--and all of them impose some strict limits on viewing. Rentals must be watched within 30 days of download (14 for Xbox), with only a 24-hour viewing window once you start watching--after that, the file evaporates, whether you've finished watching or not. (Direct your complaints to the Hollywood studios, not these hardware manufacturers--they're the ones imposing these limitations.) For me, the answer remains "none of the above." I'm sticking with Netflix for the time being. Yes, DVD by mail is so twentieth century--but it still gives me access to the largest rental library (tens of thousands of movies and TV shows, rather than the relative handful available on each service above) at a flat monthly fee. And the occasional scratched disc notwithstanding, DVD remains the closest thing to a universally compatible "file format" there is--I can play them anywhere, without fear of incompatibility--and there's no countdown clock, so I can watch a movie in 30 minute chunks over the course of a week, if that's most conducive to my schedule. With any luck, the studios and hardware manufacturers will work on bringing that same Netflix-style convenience, flat pricing, and expansive library to the download arena. Who knows--maybe it'll even be Netflix itself. What do you think? Are any of these products your choice for next-gen movie rentals, or are you sticking with the tried and true VOD offerings on cable or satellite?
Apple Store customers who were amongst the first to pre-order the new MacBook Air following its debut earlier this month have informed AppleInsider that their notebooks are starting arrive -- a full day early.
"Got mine this morning bright and early via FedEx from China!," one reader wrote in an e-mail.
It appears Apple is shipping orders priority out of Shanghai, which means a good percentage of customers stand to receive their notebooks today rather than Friday as shipment confirmations had initially suggested.
Meanwhile, AppleInsider on Thursday received the first confirmation from Apple retail store representatives that they too expect to have the new ultra-slim notebooks in stock momentarily.
Though retail representatives on Wednesday were uniformly clueless as to when they'd have stock of the air (some times saying "2 to 3 weeks," sometimes saying "we have no idea"), calls placed to the company stores on Thursday morning revealed that some locations have now been told to expect the notebooks "within the next two days" and by "Saturday at the latest."
Meanwhile, Ars posts some photos showing the approximate 40 percent size reduction of the MacBook Air's retail packaging compared to that of Apple's other notebooks -- the MacBook and MacBook Pro. And UneasySilence submits some small, but good quality unboxing photos.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available. If you've received your MacBook Air and have any comments or photos you'd like to share, don't hesitate to submit them via email to: news (at) appleinsider (dot) com.
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 Samsungs state of the art home theater in a box. (Credit: Samsung) Samsung's brand spanking new HT-BD2 home theater in a box put me through some changes. It's the world's first Blu-ray HTIB, so sure, it's got picture quality to die for, and even boasts state of the art Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio surround 7.1 channel processing. The HT-BD2 also looks pretty hot, the Blu-ray player/A/V receiver's curvaceous, high gloss style is drop-dead gorgeous, and the super-model thin tower speakers and chunky subwoofer are likewise designed for eye appeal. But just that, the HT-BD2's sonic splendors are in short supply, or to put it another way, it's all show and no go. I'll get into more detail about the sound in my CNET review that will appear early next month. But the HT-BD2's hefty price tag, $1,500, put me off. The Samsung sounds merely OK, not bad, just painfully average for a HTIB--clearly the product designers know that features and looks sell, and sound is a low priority. I'm sure Samsung will sell a ton of these things, but if you care about sound you can do a lot better for your $1,500. How good, let's see. I didn't want to forfeit Blu-ray for this $1,500 dream system, so I selected Samsung's BD-P1400 Blu-ray Player (street price, $350). It duplicates the HT-BD2's video capabilities. Pioneer's VSX-817 receiver typically goes for around $200-250, and would be a good match for our $900 speaker/subwoofer package. Speakers? I have two favorites in this price range, Atlantic Technology's sweet sounding System 920; you can read my CNET review here. PSB Speakers' Alpha Series is a little pricier, but truly excellent. Four B1 bookshelf monitors, the Alpha C1 center speaker, and SubSeries 1 subwoofer would bring us in on budget. OK, maybe a little over, depending on the deals you score. The shootout between this separates based system and the Samsung HT-BD2 wouldn't take very long. The Samsung sounds like a home theater in a box--dynamically undernourished, with boomy, poorly defined bass, and no actual treble detail. Yes, the Samsung can play pretty loud, but sound quality isn't a happening concept. It sounds like a very large table radio. The Samsung Blu-ray, Pioneer receiver, and Atlantic Technology or PSB Speakers based system will sound awfully nice on music and movies. Bass will be deeper and tighter, with freewheeling dynamics, an open sounding midrange and yes, actual treble extension. We're talking big differences here, but it's your money and you get to choose--slick style or good sound. Don't say I didn't warn you.
 (Credit: BornRich) The " Starry Night Bed" has more technologies than you can shake a remote at, but let's face it: It looks pretty homely, especially considering the cost of the $50,000 model.
Apple Store customers who were amongst the first to pre-order the new MacBook Air following its debut earlier this month have informed AppleInsider that their notebooks are starting arrive -- a full day early.
"Got mine this morning bright and early via FedEx from China!," one reader wrote in an e-mail.
It appears Apple is shipping orders priority out of Shanghai, which means a good percentage of customers stand to receive their notebooks today rather than Friday as shipment confirmations had initially suggested.
Meanwhile, AppleInsider on Thursday received the first confirmation from Apple retail store representatives that they too expect to have the new ultra-slim notebooks in stock momentarily.
Though retail representatives on Wednesday were uniformly clueless as to when they'd have stock of the air (some times saying "2 to 3 weeks," sometimes saying "we have no idea"), calls placed to the company stores on Thursday morning revealed that some locations have now been told to expect the notebooks "within the next two days" and by "Saturday at the latest."
Meanwhile, Ars posts some photos showing the approximate 40 percent size reduction of the MacBook Air's retail packaging compared to that of Apple's other notebooks -- the MacBook and MacBook Pro. And UneasySilence submits some small, but good quality unboxing photos.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available. If you've received your MacBook Air and have any comments or photos you'd like to share, don't hesitate to submit them via email to: news (at) appleinsider (dot) com.
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 Coming in September: the Asus E-TV.(Credit: DigiTimes Inc.) Looking to capitalize on the popularity of its $400 Linux laptop, the Eee PC, Asus announced it will release three new products under the Eee banner later this year: a desktop, an all-in-one PC, and an LCD TV. I can't see any of these forthcoming Eee products matching the Eee PC's early success--a compelling form factor and significant cost savings over similarly sized laptops helped it out of the gate--although the all-in-one PC may have a shot. Let us run through newly announced products. Confirming earlier rumors, Asus will release a desktop version of the Eee PC, which it will call the E-DT. Scheduled for an April or a May release, the E-DT will cost between $200 and $300 and will use an Intel Celeron processors. Later versions of the product will be based on Intel's Shelton platform with single-core Diamondville CPUs on the 945GC chipset. Despite its dull name, the E-Monitor looks like it has the best chance to succeed among the newly announced products. At $499, this all-in-one PC will be priced much lower than Apple's iMac, Dell's XPS One, or Gateway's One. It's scheduled for a September release and will use Intel's Shelton platform and include a TV tuner. It'll feature a smallish display in the 19- to 21-inch range. Design plays a huge role in an all-in-one's appeal--much more than a tower you tuck under your desk--so hopefully Asus is given its product designers the resources they need for the E-Monitor. The E-TV will also be released in September and is somewhat of a departure from the Eee strategy of undercutting competing (Windows-based) products on price. This 42-inch LCD TV will cost $200 more than similarly sized units but will include Linux, lending it PC functionality should you want that. I'd say let me keep my $200, give me a just the LCD TV, and I'll put that chunk of change toward an Eee PC. That way I can watch TV on my TV and watch my Internet on my lap. At the same time. I'm a bit of a multitasker that way. While announcing the new products, Asus did mention one Eee PC-related tidbit: plans are on hold for bringing a touch screen to the laptop. Source
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