Apple launches Intel Macs (and new iPod accessories)

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 18 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

So, Apple finally launched the new Intel-based iMacs yesterday. These use Intel Core Duo processors (formerly codenamed Yonah), which I think means they are still 32-bit, at a time when the rest of the PC world is finally starting to wake up to 64-bit technologies. Still, at least it’s a step in the right direction (and dual core should whip up performance nicely, although I do doubt Apple’s claims of a doubling in performance simply by going dual core, unless each core is also much faster than the old PowerPC processor).

Of more interest to me are new iPod accessories – like the iPod Radio Remote. Shame it needs an iPod Nano or Video and I’ve only got a Mini.

My iPod has died

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 18 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

Just over six months ago, I bought an iPod Mini (then a few months later I started lusting for the new iPod Nano). Well, today my iPod Mini died. I was driving home when I got a call on my mobile phone. I pressed the iPod’s pause button, took the call on my phone, and when I went back to the iPod the screen was blank and I couldn’t turn it back on. I thought maybe the battery was dead (it shouldn’t have been as I charged it last night and had only used it for about 2 and a half hours) but when I got home I found that it doesn’t respond to power either. I’ve tried resetting (turn hold on, turn hold off, then hold the play and menu buttons together), but all to no avail.

At least it’s still under warranty but for any consumer electronic item to die after six months of use is not good. Grrrr…

Music on the road – plug your iPod into your veedub via USB

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 19 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

Readers of this blog will be aware that I am a great fan of my iPod Mini (even if I do think Apple is a touch monopolistic in the digital media market). I also like Volkswagen cars. Last year my wife and I bought a Polo; I’ve had a few Golfs (one Mk II and a couple of Mk IVs); until recently I drove a 2004 Passat Estate 1.9TDI 130PS Highline (which I really liked); and I would love to own a 1960s Microbus (or even the 21st Century Microbus if it ever makes it to market).

My new employer’s car scheme doesn’t include Volkswagen so I have a Saab 9-3 SportWagon on order and as I mentioned in my recent post about the iPod Nano, it has a 3.5mm jack for connecting an MP3 player to the audio system which should come in very handy.

Now Volkswagen have gone one better and soon all of their new cars will offer a stereo system with iPod connectivity. Paul Thurrott reports that this will let “users manage the music on an iPod or other portable audio player through the stereo’s controls and display. The devices will plug into the car through a standard USB [connection], which virtually all MP3 players and portable storage devices use these days. Apple’s iPod is specifically supported with a special menu, but any USB-based device will work”.

Could this signal the death of the in-car CD-player?

iPod Nano – I want one!!!

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 19 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

A few months back I bought an iPod Mini and became an iTunes convert! Now Apple have replaced the iPod Mini with a similar (but pencil-thin), flash-based device (presumably because the miniature hard drives were sometimes hard to get hold of in sufficient numbers) called the iPod Nano. Like recent full-size iPods, the Nano has a colour screen for viewing album artwork and as my new company car has a 3.5mm jack for MP3 player input to the audio system I won’t need my iTrip any more…

The trouble is, it’s really hard to justify replacing one excellent (nearly new) device with another one that’s functionally similar but smaller and with a colour display (oh yes, and just as expensive). Maybe one day they’ll be able to bring a 60Gb flash-based iPod to market (that I could fit all of my music on) for about £100. Now that would be cool.

What you might find if you were to buy an iTrip

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 19 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

Made for iPodI’ve been reading on the web about quite a number of people who are having problems getting their iTrip FM transmitters for the iPod to work.

In the UK, the use of such a product is illegal and, according to the Telegraph:

“While it only operates in a very small area, the device still contravenes the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949. All FM frequencies have already been licensed to radio stations, and the regulator Ofcom says that by tuning your iTrip into the radio, you are effectively creating a pirate station.”

The Wireless and Telegraphy Act was designed to prevent broadcasting of pirate radio stations and people interfering with government frequencies but judging by the number of pirate radio stations I pick up driving around metropolitan areas, no-one seems to be that bothered about it any more, certainly not for a device with a range of just a few metres… if one were to use such a device, say for example, on a trip to the USA, or on a boat sailing outside UK waters (very Radio Caroline), then they might find that it would a while to get it working. The points to note are:

  • Follow Griffin Technology’s tuning instructions to the letter, making sure that the tuning track is paused mid-way through and that the light on the iTrip flashes three times before remaining on continuously.
  • It may take one or more resets of the iPod before the iTrip works as intended.
  • The iTrip may take several (up to 15) seconds before the transmission begins (after which an impatient new user may give up and say it’s not working).
  • The iTrip will not begin to transmit until a track is played (at between 50 and 70% volume level).
  • As should be expected, battery life is affected by the use of an iTrip.

The iTrip Mini is particularly neat as it sits on top of the iPod Mini, but potential purchasers should be made aware that the positioning of the headphone socket on the right hand side of the iPod means that there is a tiny gap on the left hand side and the connection is a bit flimsy as it is only really connected one side. It would be great if it could clip on somehow (but I have no idea how that would work without spoiling the effect of the iTrip Mini sitting flush on top of the iPod Mini). Traditional iPod users should have no such worries (but need to be aware of the various versions for different generations of iPod).

(Finally) joining the iPod generation

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 19 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

There. Done it. Bought an iPod Mini on the way out of Heathrow this morning…

(and my iTrip Mini should be in the post later today…)

So I finally joined the iPod generation (and I’m well impressed). Okay, so the software setup had a few hiccups on Windows Server 2003 – but that is an unsupported platform after all. I still got up and running pretty quickly. I know I’ve previously expressed concerns about Apple’s use of its proprietary AAC format, but Stuart pointed out to me that iPods can also play MP3 at up to 192kbps and let’s face it, Apple products are very stylish.

Right… off to find some good podcasts for the flight back home tomorrow…

Make your own iPod advert

Posted on By Mark Wilson
This content is 19 years old. I don't routinely update old blog posts as they are only intended to represent a view at a particular point in time. Please be warned that the information here may be out of date.

I confess.

I don’t own an iPod.

I think they look great, but I just don’t need one (and I have concerns about the use of Apple’s proprietary AAC media format).

I like technology.

I am also a photographer, which makes me passionate about some of the fantastic images I see around me every day – like some of those featured in advertisements – and I think the silhouetted Apple iPod ads are cool.

Now there is iPod My Photo, which lets you turn any image into a mock iPod advert. You can choose one of 5 background colours, add a caption, and optionally add an iPod into the photo. Look closely and they’re not just 2-tone – check out the samples to see the shadow details etc.

All I need to do is select the right photo…