“This is a known iPhone bug…September”

Apple, Cellphone, Gadgets, Rants, iPhone No Comments »

Say whatever you want about Steve Jobs… but the man can be curt sometimes.

“This is a known iPhone bug that is being fixed in the next software update in September,” reads the one-line message from the Apple co-founder.

Anyway, it seems like a ton of users, myself included, are still having problems with their iPhone 3G reception as well as other anomalies regarding 3rd party applications starting up and then closing down.

The email provides an end date to problems that have become increasingly apparent in Apple’s support forums and elsewhere. Many report the iPhone 2.0 firmware suddenly failing to load non-default apps regardless of their nature, briefly loading them before abruptly jumping back to the home screen.

The bug occurs both with freshly downloaded software and with updates, but is reported as never having a definite fix; although some report successfully deleting and re-downloading apps to regain access, others find the solution either having no effect or gradually decaying over time to where the apps again fail to run. Restoring the iPhone also seldom works.

Head over to AppleInsider for more news about the e-mail heard ’round the world

Just fix my iPhone 3G… September is right around the corner

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Pandora Music Genome Project… soon to be put to rest?

Computer, Editorial, Music, Online, Rants No Comments »

Pandora Music Genome Project - Soon to meet it's end?

“We’re approaching a pull-the-plug kind of decision,” said Tim Westergren, who founded Pandora. “This is like a last stand for webcasting.”

I’m not one to normally editorialize much; however it seems like something that actually made sense, will probably be looking at closing it’s doors due to licensing fees. The idea… Pandora Music Genome® Project. Sign up, tell the site what music and musicians you happen to like, and it’ll find music and match from other offerings in it’s catalog that you just may like as well.

I’ve had an account for years. And won’t even lie… it’s shaped my taste in music in so many genres where I thought I’d like only one or two in a particular genre. Next thing I know, I have like twenty favorites. And armed with that information, I’d open up iTunes, buy the music that I found on Pandora and go about my day. Even share that knowledge with people around the water cooler, online, et al.

Enter the bad guy(s). Normally I’d just go straight at the fact that the RIAA had created SoundExchange merely to collect royalties from music that’s played on satellite and internet radio. Mind you, there’s no model for collecting royalties for music played over the normal radio at all. And if you were to think about it… it’s the most backwards way of thinking. Internet entities that are willing to work with the RIAA and each of it’s arms - I can’t even keep up, so I’ll just use the RIAA as common term from hereon - that the RIAA possess, it seems like people are getting penalized for having genuinely good ideas and all the RIAA wants to do is capitalize for as long as they can, then shut them down.

Yet… Pandora opened up the doors for new musicians that most people had never heard of. Which in most simple terms… would mean that more sales for those lesser known artists, the ones that the labels don’t exactly allocate advertising to and thus garner less sales might have yet another avenue to be seen and heard.

But no. The RIAA wants it’s money. The same money that the RIAA has collected and yet they “cannot find the artists” to give them the money they owe. Or this is the same RIAA that basically gives the artists about $2.00 out of $20.00 - and the RIAA didn’t create anything. And don’t forget… this is the same RIAA that had about 700mb of e-mails leaked out that detailed on how it would create fake torrents and trackers all to disrupt p2p traffic.

Simply put… RIAA is clearly a dirty organization that has yet to catch up with the fact that it’s poor sales are clearly attributed to the death of the CD single - face it, only one to two good songs are on each music CD released, to find more, it’s rare - and the fact that the distribution model shifted from in-store to online quicker than they were willing to change to… and no DRM will last forever. It’ll be overcome in mere minutes. And here is a pretty legitimate unique idea that for once broadened my personal music tastes instead of hampered it with playing music over and over from artists that a certain label thought should sell well.

Here’s to hoping that Pandora finds a way to continue to exist.

Read more about this situation in a more informational manner over at the Washington Post.

EA Announces that Spore has indeed gone GOLD!

Apple, Computer, Graphics, PC, Video Games No Comments »

EA's (Electronic Arts) Spore Goes Gold - Due September 7th, 2008

I don’t know about you, however I’ve been waiting for the day that Will Wright’s Spore to come out for AGES.

That day finally has a date… September 7th, 2008:

The wait is almost over! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Maxis today announced that Spore(TM), the most anticipated video game of the year from the creator of The Sims(TM), has gone gold and will be available for the Mac and PC at retailers September 5 in Europe and September 7 in North America and Asia Pacific. Spore(TM) Creatures for Nintendo DS(TM) and Spore(TM) Origins for mobile phones will also be available globally September 7…

“We are so excited to finally get Spore into the hands of fans and players,” said Lucy Bradshaw, executive producer of Spore at Maxis. “The Maxis studio has had an absolute blast creating Spore, but the fun is just beginning. The most engaging stories are truly the ones people create themselves, and we can’t wait to see how players not only craft and explore the Spore universe, but hear what stories they have to tell as a result.”

Spore gives players their own personal universe in a box, allowing fans to create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds and explore a universe created by other gamers. Spore gives players a wealth of creative tools to customize nearly every aspect of their universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even spaceships. Players can then seamlessly share their creations with the world via the Sporepedia(TM) and explore infinite new galaxies created by other gamers*.

For all the latest Spore news, screens, videos community content, and to try out the trial version of the hugely popular Spore Creature Creator, visit www.spore.com.

Oh heck yes.

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VIA quits motherboard chipset business

Computer, PC, VIA 1 Comment »

After seeing the VIA Nano versus Intel Atom video, where the VIA Nano basically destroys an Intel Atom, albeit at a slightly higher wattage rating… you’d think that things at VIA were going better than great.

They even have the VIA Nano, which looks to be a killer low-watt CPU, they have the Pico-ITX platform which can essentially put an x86 based in the palm of your hand.

However, it seems like VIA is exiting the motherboard business to concentrate on building better processors:

Previously one of the best chipset makers for enthusiasts looking for high performance on a budget, VIA has told Custom PC that it now sees no future in making chipsets for third parties such as Intel and AMD.

Speaking to Custom PC, VIA’s vice president of corporate marketing in Taiwan, Richard Brown, explained that: ‘One of the main reasons we originally moved into the x86 processor business was because we believed that ultimately the third party chipset market would disappear, and we would need to have the capability to provide a complete platform.’

‘That has indeed come to pass,’ said Brown. He also added that ‘Intel provides the vast majority of chipsets for its processors and, following its purchase of ATI, AMD is also moving very quickly in the same direction.’

I know that right now, in my Chaintech motherboard, I have a VIA 4-n-1 chipset for audio, video, memory and USB2 controllers. And I know that VIA has supplied drivers and hardware for pretty much the last three or so builds of machines that I’ve had around here in the last few years.

Regardless… guess it’s a tough business to be in. Can’t wait to see what else VIA pulls out next.

Link to the original article…

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W(Eee) Like To Copy!

Computer, Gadgets, Hardware, PC, Site Feeds, Software No Comments »

By Jonathan Kimak

Asus has announced a new controller. The Eee Stick is a wireless controller that senses motion. But don’t let the similar sounding name, design and function of the Eee Stick fool you, it’s made for PC gaming.

The controller will be bundled with a variety of Asus brand computers and some games designed specifically for use with the Eee Stick.

So are the controllers a good alternative to Wii-less people who have a PC but not a Wii? Or is it a cheaply made knock-off intended to sell mini computers? Only time, and comments from consumers will tell.

[ Asus ] VIA [ Electronista ]

Link to the original article…

Apple iPhone 2.01 update is out right now

Apple, Cellphone, Communication, Gadgets, Software, iPhone 1 Comment »

Apple iPhone 2.01 Software, Firmware upgrade

Fire up your iTunes ya’ll. Seems like 2.01 is finally out after a rather rapid beta seeding of the 2.01 beta that was heard about just as recently as the end of last week.

So that means that you can now install everything from Skype to Photoshop, it allows for you to copy and paste, and it has iChat!*

*Ok, ok. I admit, I’m lying.

Seriously, it’s just some bugfixes. Huge download (about 260mb), took forever to install (near 10 minutes), my iPhone 3G does actually seem to be a bit faster though (yay!).

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Disc Eraser Improves On A Metal Key With A $16 Price Tag

Computer, Gadgets, Hardware, Site Feeds, Software No Comments »

Compact Disc Eraser (Images courtesy SunZag LLC.)
By Andrew Liszewski

Depending what’s on a CD or DVD I’m discarding (work backups etc.) I’ll occasionally have at it with a metal key or blade before I stick it in the trash. There are of course other ways to destroy a disc, like breaking it (which usually results in plastic splinters going all over the place) or even using a microwave which can also give you a few minutes of fame on YouTube if you video the disc’s demise.

But if you’re the type who likes to use a specific tool for every single job (a uni-tasker as Alton Brown calls them) I’m sure the Disc Eraser will appeal to you. It’s a simple plastic device that features a sliding blade mechanism that creates a deep scratch through all of the strategic data regions on a disc. According to the website, a CD or DVD that’s been ‘treated’ with the Disc Eraser is completely unreadable, even by professional data recovery experts. At .99 it’s a bit steep if you’re like me and only destroy a handful of discs every year, but if you’ve got a government job that has you destroying media on a daily basis, it might be worth it.

[ Compact Disc Eraser ] VIA [ Lifehacker ]

Link to the original article…

New FireWire Standard To Run At 3.2Gbit/s

Apple, Computer, Gadgets, Hardware, PC, Site Feeds, Software No Comments »

By Luke Anderson

I remember back when FireWire was first introduced (yes, it’s actually called IEEE 1394, but I’m an old-school Mac guy, so it’s FireWire) and it had some incredible speed to it. Of course USB 2.0 eventually came along and became the more widely used standard. FireWire 800 came out a little while later, but despite its faster speed, never really caught on. Don’t count the standard out though, as a newer, faster version is coming this fall.

The newer FireWire spec is rated at transfer speeds of up to 3.2Gbit/s, which is a considerable jump. It is expected to be compatible with previous standards, something that likely contributed to the lack of interest in FireWire 800. Unfortunately with USB 3.0 on the way with 4.8Gbit/s, it faces some serious competition.

VIA [ Gearlog ]

Link to the original article…

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Dymo DiscPainter CD Printer Review

Computer, Gadgets, Graphics, Home, Printer, Reviews 1 Comment »

Dymo DiscPainter CD-ROM and DVD Full-Color Printer

Thanks to the kind folks at Dymo, they sent along a Dymo DiscPainter for review. I decided to take my time, get to know the printer, compare it to my other disc labeling hardware like my internal LightScribe drive in PC, Avery Ink Jet disc labels, and of course my all-time favorite disc labeling “tool”… my trusty Sharpie permanent marker that I’ve been using for years.

After over a week of rigorously using the Dymo DiscPainter… I have a new favorite.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Photos From Inside the iPhone Factory

Apple, Cellphone, Unusual, iPhone 87 Comments »

My mother bought an iPhone this morning. Got it home, ripped off all the factory sealed packing, registered it and while changing the wallpaper, found three photos in the camera roll. Two are blurry, but this one is something else…

A photo left on an iPhone from Inside the Apple iPhone Factory

Now that’s a lot of iPhones. A sight most people would kill for wish they could see at their local stores due to continuing shortages globally. All isn’t in vain though; you can always check availability via the Apple Store iPhone availability checker.

Update: Here’s the fullsized images - here, here and here.

Thanks to Thomas for letting me republish the photos.

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Mint 220 Wireless Speakers with iPod Dock

Apple, Audio, Gadgets, MP3, Music, PC, Wireless 1 Comment »

Digital Signature Launches Mint 220 Wireless PC/MAC Speakers with iPod Dock

My hate for wires still continues - feel free to read my other rant about wires right here. Enter the Digital Signature Mint 220.

Coming in under $180.00 USD, it offers:

• The Mint 220 Digital Music Station offers the highest fidelity digital audio, using Texas Instruments’ PurePath Digital audio amplification for optimal performance.
• Wireless 2.4GHz lossless audio streaming from your Mac or PC with the included Mint USB Wireless Transmitter
• Mint’s Di-Fi™ digital-sound is delivered from your PC or Mac wirelessly, with no loss of fidelity, up to 45 feet or 15 meters
• Careful craftsmanship, acoustic engineering and sealed enclosure design offer precise audio usually found only in much pricier systems
• Two 3.5” full-range Peerless® transducers for big speaker sound and compact, mini-speaker versatility.

What catches my eye is Di-Fi™. I’ve heard of wi-fi, just like everybody else… but Di-Fi is a promise that your already compressed mp3 music - or the uncompressed FLAC type(s) of music filetypes - will sound just as good over the air as it does in your headphones.

Hop down to your local Best Buy or hit up the MintDS (Mint Digital Signature) website for more information.

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Mint 300 - Wireless Digital Music Station

Apple, Audio, MP3, Music, Wireless No Comments »

Mint Audio 300 Wireless Digital Music Station - for iPods and USB wireless audio

I hate wires. I really do. They just get in the way, trip you up, might be used to strangle you if you have enemies… ok. I just don’t like wires too well. Enter the Mint 300…

Digital Signature has accomplished these goals by creating advanced digital acoustic designs built using top grade components sourced all over the world. Powered by digital amplification control and wireless transmission techniques created by Digital Signature, the Mint Digital Music Stations offer audiophile sound at an unheard of price. Digital Signature has branded this new approach to audio quality, Di-Fi™.

Digital Signature’s newest system, The Mint 300 Digital Music Station delivers top performance – with >100 dB signal/noise ratio and <0.1% total harmonic distortion – in a package that includes speakers, amplifier with an iPod dock/charger, USB 2.4 GHz transmitter and remote for less than $350 MSRP.

At this price the Mint 300 is the only system that not only promises audiophile performance with iPod docking and charging, but also lossless, plug and play wireless streaming connectivity to Mac or PC for all of your digital sound. A remote control offers the final component of wireless freedom, making the Mint 300 as easy to use as it is to set up.

Not bad at all. I wonder how this competes against the Logitech Squeezebox Duet and other solid iPod audio offerings.

Click here to read more

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EFi-X™ USB V1 / V2 - make your PC into a Mac?

Apple, Computer, Gadgets, PC No Comments »

EFi-X USB Dongle that allows PCs to run and install Apple Mac OS X easily

What seemed to be a fanciful idea or pipe dream from the last week or so (at least to my knowledge) has actually become reality… if you just happen to live in Bulgaria or Taiwan that is.

We proudly introduce to the world what probably is the most senseful hardware solution for a Mac™ on a PC experience. It allows the user to install Mac OS X™ straight from the original DVD without having to worry about patches, replacing files and anything like that.

That means you can buy a regular compatible PC, Mac OS X™ and EFiX™ and enjoy what the Mac users have always enjoyed:

• Ability to install Mac OS X Leopard™ and Leopard Server™ from original retail DVD.
• Average users can easily install Mac OSX™ without fear of needing professional knowledge.
• Update your system with official Apple® Updates.

Read more here.

Yep. They’ve probably found the fastest way to get Apple’s lawyers attention.

However, if this does come out in the US, you better believe I will be in line like the iPhone lines that are starting to form for a phone that comes out in another week.

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Crysis Custom Configuration Utility

Computer, Crysis, PC, Video Games 1 Comment »

Crysis PC Custom Config Utility Screenshot

Even if the only gaming you’ve done in the last few years was Tetris on your Motorola RAZR, you’d know that Crysis is one system resource demanding game… even if you have close enough to a “God Box“, Crysis might need a few tweaks to run more than 30 frames per second reliably.

Enter the Cuban Ultima Doom Sword’s CustomCrysisConfig. Yes… that’s the real name of the utility.

The Cuban Ultima Doom Sword’s CustomCrysisConfig allows you to automatically configure Crysis tailored to the performance of your system. What this means is that it goes further than the standard “low-medium-high-very high” settings found inside the Crysis in-game menu.

Head over to Madshrimps to read more about what this utility does and how it’s possibly the one thing you should be downloading at the end of the day. Screenshots are available too.

ZzangOnline, a Casual MMORPG

Computer, Internet, Online, PC, Video Games, aving.net No Comments »

I normally don’t tend to cover video games too often, I’m just too busy playing them with my work and all… yeah… work. Well, along comes the oddly named, ZzangOnline by Korean gaming company, MuhanGame.

ZzangOnline MMORPG Characters

By their own accord, it’s a “casual MMORPG” easy enough for most anybody to pick up, get into, play, kick butt, and have fun… ok, I’m interested. And for once, a cool looking game that didn’t originate from either Europe, the USA or Japan will finally be made available to the gaming populace worldwide.

In an interview with MuhanGames…

Read the rest of this entry »

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