This is funny, but kind of close to reality…
When I grow up I want to be in Advertising…
August 28th, 2008
iPhone Application: Shazam
July 21st, 2008
Shazam for the iPhone is a great new application that allows you to tag music you hear so that you can buy it through iTunes or similar service. Shazam is free through iTunes.
Key features include:
- Tag music: identify music anywhere – whether it’s on the radio, TV, in a movie or in a store.
- Build your own soundtrack: see the list grow every time music is tagged.
- Get the music: go straight to iTunes to preview and buy.
- Music Videos: see related videos of the track on YouTube.
- Capture the moment: personalise the tag by taking a photo and adding it to ‘My Tags’.
- Share the moment: send track details to friends via email.
I tried it out on my phone on a road trip this past weekend. My wife was the one who discovered it so I give her the credit for finding this gem.
iPhone / iPod Touch Application: iSofa
July 16th, 2008Use your iPhone (must have firmware version 2.0 +) or iPod Touch (must have firmware version 2.0 +) to control your Mac. This free application, iSofa, is great for controlling media remotely. I briefly had an opportunity to download it and try it out before my iPhone 3G’s screen cracked for no reason. The installation was fairly easy. I could not find it through iTunes so I had to manually install it on my Mac and then enter a private address in Safari on my iPhone. Once the installation was complete, the rest was a piece of cake. The remote worked beautifully. I will have more feedback tomorrow when I have a new phone to test it on. In the meantime, here is wha the creators of iSofa have to say:
iSofa is a web application, it uses the Apache web server of your Mac (already installed in your Mac).
You will access iSofa using Safari from your iPhone / iPod Touch by WiFi, EDGE with iPhone and 3G with iPhone 3G.
Requirements:
- Mac OS X Tiger / Leopard
- iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPod Touch
iPhone 3G – Case – Contour Flick
July 13th, 2008I’ve always found it important to buy a good case for the iPhone. After trying several different cases out on the original iPhone, I eventually found a slim case that was ideal-the In Case Slider (read). With the new 3G iPhone I was hoping a slider case was available, but was disappointed. I did discover the Contour Flick case, which actually is just as good, if not a little nicer. Combined with an anit-glare screen protector film, I can’t even tell the Flick case is on the phone. It’s lightweight and slim. You can buy them through Apple for $34.95. They come in black or white.
Original iPhone Case – In Case Slider
July 13th, 2008
The In Case Slider is the best case I could find for the original iPhone. I tested over a dozen different cases. The slider is very slim and the bottom easily slides off so you dock the iPhone. It comes in Glossy Black, Glossy White, or Flat Black. Apple sells them for $34.95. Invest in one if you have an original iPhone.
iPhone 3G – Fast!
July 12th, 2008
Yesterday Apple released the new iPhone 3G to the public. Within minutes AT&T stores around the nation were sold out leaving the rest of the supply in the Apple Stores. I witnessed lines as short at 300 people. With 15 minutes per phone, the lines kept getting larger and larger. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on 2 16GB ones without much trouble.
After spending most of today glued to the new gadget (sorry hunny), I was impressed with the speed increase and MobileMe (which is also now available on the original iPhone). I was able to sell my original iPhones for almost the same price that I originally paid for them. A lot of interest came from foreign countries who wanted to hack the phone and make it work on their own carriers.
The new phones are lighter and slimmer for sure. They do appear to run faster than the original as well. I did notice speed increases in the internet using 3G. I would say it is probably 2-3 times faster than before. I have not tried out he GPS feature yet nor have I tried the improved sound quality. I mainly got these for the speed. MobileMe needs the speed if you’re going to sync a lot.
There isn’t that much to boast about in comparison to the original iPhone. They are cheaper though so if you were thinking about getting one of the originals, now is your chance to get a faster one even cheaper. I am still amazed at how high the demand is for the original iPhones.
OWC Mercury On-The-Go External Hard Drives
July 12th, 2008To make my work & blog life more mobile, I’ve been using my Macbook Pros more frequently than the stationary Mac workstations. In order for me to do this, I had to upgrade my internal hard drives on the laptops to 500GB drives. This was very easy thanks to Other World Computing. Even with the upgraded internal drives I still needed more space as well as a mobile backup system.
I ended up buying the 500GB OWC Mercury On-The-Go external Hard Drives. These things rock! They are fast, bus-powered (don’t require you to plug them into a wall socket) and they are compact. If you want a hard drive that will meet all your needs, check out OWC’s Firewire/USB External Hard Drives.
Toyota Prius: iPod Integration by DICE Electronics
June 28th, 2008In my wife and my attempt to save the planet, we bought a Toyota Prius last summer. So far we’ve saved a college tuitions worth on gas and can breathe a little better too. One thing I don’t like about the Prius is it’s iPod jack location. It’s inside the center console. In order to change a song we have to open the console and change the track. Where are our eyes focused on at this point? Inside the console and not on the road. I found a solution to our problem. The DICE Electronics iPod Intergration Unit.
Here is a direct quote on the product from PriusChat.com.
Here is some info from the manufacturer about the system: Factory iPod integration from DICE! Connect your iPod to your vehicle’s factory entertainment system and hear what your iPod should sound like in your car. CD-quality sound and controls from your radio, steering wheel or the iPod. Always keeps your iPod charged and ready to go. Radios supporting CD-text will also display text from your iPod allowing you to view song title and artist name right on your radio’s display. A clean factory looking installation is possible with our sleek iPod cradle and hidden installations can be done with our docking cable.
I installed the unit last weekend (after having it for over 5 months now) and so far it works great. We can control the iPod from the steering wheel controls and/or the display on the dashboard. And…it works with our iPhones too!!! When someone calls, text messages, or sends an email, the sound of the music mutes briefly to let notify us. Check out http://www.diceelectronics.com to see if they make a model for your vehicle. If you own a Prius, check out PriusChat.com for a discounted rate.
**iPhone 3G Update** 07/30/2008 @ 9AM EST
I have found, after upgrading to the iPhone 3G that the DICE Electronic currently does not charge the iPhone, but will play music still. I hope Apple is going to correct this problem soon.
**IPhone 3G Update 2** 07/30/2008 @ 2PM EST
I just got off the phone with DICE Electronics and they will be releasing a new cable for exisiting customers in about a month. The new cable will charge the new 3G as well as iPods, Classic iPhone, and the iPod Touch.
Other World Computing – Great Website
June 28th, 2008
I am a frequent shopper at Other World Computing – http://www.macsales.com. They have a huge an excellent online store full of Mac accessories, hardware, and upgrades. They also have tutorials on installing hardware. Their prices are reasonable and their shipping is fast. If you have an old mac that you want to upgrade, OWC has guides that help you select the right upgrade hardware for your model.
SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock with One Touch Backup
June 27th, 2008
For all you gadget lovers out there, I introduce the Unitek SATA HDD Docking Station. I have an extra hard drive, but missing the case, want to grab information off of an old drive without having to install it in your machine. Take photos on a digital camera and/or have a flash drive? If you answer yes to any of these questions then this new piece of equipment might be just what you need. It’s $53. Check it out or buy it here.
USB + 2-PORT HUB + CARD READER + One Touch Backup
This SATA HDD Dock allows you to plug any 2.5″ or 3.5″ SATA Harddisk to your computer via USB port. The One Touch Backup function is the best solution as users can easily backup files and data from PC to external hard disk. It functions as a 2-port USB hub and card reader as well. The device is compatible with both PCs and Mac.
*OTB function supports Windows only
