Category: News

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Podcast for my Airline Friends

Podcast

By now most of my Macintosh friends and the even the few friends who still use Windows (yes… I still consider them friends) should have tried the new iTunes 4.9 with Podcast compatibility by now.

I have been listening to all kinds of Podcasts for the past 8 months. The podcast “Fly With Me” produced by Joe d’Eon, a First Officer from an US Airline – well as of July 4th he has been promoted to Captain – is very funny.

Below is a quote from his web site to give you some idea

Hear from flight attendants and pilots as they tell you what goes on behind the galley curtain (and behind the cockpit door). The author is an airline pilot who takes his recorder on trips with him — funny stories, insider info, and interesting insights.

There are content like this on various airline specific discussion forums, but because this one is in audio format therefore it is much funnier.

Even if you are not in the Airline industry you will find this an entertaining Podcast to listen to, and for those friends who are in the airline industry, they will definitely be able to relate.

Enjoy!

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Podcasting

Podcast

Podcasting is the publishing of files (ie. audio, video, photo, PDF, text, etc. or combination of) to the Internet. They are normally published in RSS format and are normally subscribable.

Since the invention of Podcasting in late 2004; the exact date is arguable, there have been thousands of new Podcasts published to the Internet. Many of these have been from non-profit individuals broadcasting from their bedrooms or den. Recently large corporates and commercial organizations have jumped onto the bandwagon (ie. Disney, BBC, CBS, ESPN and various local radio stations around the world). You can find many of these Podcasts in Podcast Directories, like PodcastAlley.

At the moment most content in Podcasts are free with some Podcasts introducing advertisements to cover their cost. In most cases these Podcasts contain royalty free and original content. Opening up a new medium for the independent musicians to introduce their music to the public. Many of these musicians create original soundtracks for Podcasters to use in their shows.

Although Podcasting came about partially from the popularity of the iPod; or more like the popularity of MP3 players created by Apple’s iPod, accessing a Podcast does not require an Apple iPod. A matter of fact, majority of them are in standard MP3 formats, therefore, any devices that can play MP3 are capable of being a Podcast client. Since it is published in the XML technology RSS, it is not limited to the audio format of MP3. Especially with Apple’s latest extension to the format, introducing the concept of “chapters” and associate files cued to these chapters. For example, imagine walking along a self paced museums tour with an iPod Photo that is synced to the work of art in front of you.

For the past 8 months or so there had been different Podcast clients for the Macintosh, Windows and PocketPC platforms (ie. iPodder and iPodderX). Now with the release of Apple’s new version of iTunes 4.9, Apple has again done its part in bringing something lesser known to the main stream with this new version of iTunes.

One may ask what is the big deal about Podcasting? Most of the time it is a MP3 file recording that someone made about a topic that s/he thinks that others would like to listen to. Well, one reason most radio stations are getting into Podcasting is because Podcasting is seen as the TiVo for commercial radio. Small local radio stations love it, because Podcasting opens up a brand new group of audiences to their contents, which they cannot achieve with their traditional terrestrial medium. Some sees Podcasting as a threat to commercial radio, but many understand it as something they need to embrace or they will be left out.

Check out this new technology. May be you can become one of thousands of Podcasters out there. If and when you do, please drop me a line and let me know.

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X-Plane 8.0

For my pilot friends out there, Austin Meyer had updated his award winning flight simulator application “X-Plane” to version 8.11. It is one of the few Flight Simulation programs that are certified by FAA.

You can read all about it at Ausin’s web site, and you can even get a demo of the application before you buy.

Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with Austin and have no financial gain in recommending his software.

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Macs with the Badge “Intel Inside”?

IntelInside

Speculations for the past few weeks have been running high in the media and through out rumor sites around the Internet.

For the regular Apple watchers, this sort of rumors are nothing new. Similar speculations of Apple’s desire to drop, the IBM/Motorola, CPU for the Intel developed CPU had came up before.

The only difference is, this time Steve Jobs confirmed it at a keynote to a roomful of developers at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco this morning (June 6, 2005 PST).

Steve job announced plans to begin delivering Macintosh computers based on the Intel processor as soon as June 2006 and to transition all Macintosh computers to use Intel processors by the end of 2007. He also previewed a Mac OS X 10.4.x (“Tiger”) system running on an Intel-based Mac to the audience.

So the in the future, seeing the “Intel Inside” logo on Macintosh boxes will be a common place.

What does this really mean? Well, I will start by talking about what it DOES NOT mean…

1. It does NOT mean that you will be able to run Mac OS on a Dell or Compaq computer purchased today or in the near future. Unless Apple is willing to release its ever protective hardware production to these companies. We saw this back in the 90’s and we all know what happen to those companies and their efforts.

2. It does NOT mean that you can build you own Macintosh using hardware parts purchased at your local electronic malls (for those of you who live near one).

Before I get to the “What does this really mean?”, I also want to touch on what may this mean?

1. Microsoft MAY create a version of its Windows OS to run on the future Intel based Apple Macintosh. Which will be yet another attempt for Microsoft to take over 99% of the personal computing world. We cannot forget those Linux users out there.

2. Apple’s Intel based Macintosh MAY be able to run Windows 2007 (or whatever it will be called then) natively (without emulation).

[Editorial: 2005.06.17 – it has been confirmed that the above 2 points are no longer relevant. Steve Jobs (Apple’s CEO) has confirmed that he will alow users to wipe the Mac OS that will be preinstalled on the IntelMac and install another compatible OS. These other OS’s includes current versions of Windows OS]

Now for what does this announcement mean to you, the average computing user (I make a very daring assumption that readers of my Blog are “average computing users”)…

1. Apple’s market share may begin to creep up; how far? If I know that I will be rich. Assuming that Apple will continue to excel in the User Interface and Industrial Design areas.

2. Apple Macintosh OS may become more acceptable in more corporate environments.

3. Apple will have a much lower cost for building these future Intel based Macintosh. Due to the massive dominance of Intel in the computing world over its competitors (AMD, and new Israel and Chinese microprocessor manufactures). Whether Apple will pass on much of these savings in production cost to its consumers is yet to be seen. Although, given Jobs’ lesson learned, the chances are high that consumers will benefit from this savings.

4. Techies who refer to PC running Windows OS as “Wintel” to distinguish those PC running Macintosh OS, will no longer use this coined term. In the future it will be just Macs and Windows. I definitely do not wan to hear “Macintel”…. eek!!

For the long time (over 11 years) users of Macintosh computers (Macintosh OS), this imminent transition is nothing new. Most of us went through the transition (pain) to the PowerPC processor back in the early 90’s.

This will mean more work for Macintosh software companies who will again develop dual platforms versions of their applications. May be some of those Windows only software companies will now rethink their “Windows only” strategies.

All in all another major even in the computing timeline.

To be honest most of the above are my personal opinions, what actually will transpire?… Time will only tell.

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Battle of the Online Music Stores

Yesterday Apple launched 4 more “localized” version of its ever popular iTunes Music Store in the nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the neutral country Switzerland.

Today Yahoo officially “soft” launch; since it still have the “Beta” lable, its music subscription service, ” Yahoo Music Unlimited”.

Unlike Apple’s offering, Yahoo’s new sevice is subscription based like those from its competitors: Napster’s “NapsterToGo” service and RealNetworks’s “RealRhapsody” service. Also like its competitors, it requires Microsoft Windows’ proprietary technology to play these tracks from the service, and the Windows OS platform to use its client software.

Where as Apple’s offering is open (some what), at least its client application is available on both Windows OS and Macintosh OS platforms. Tracks purchased from iTunes Music Store are playable on the dominant portable music player, iPod. This is due to the embedded DRM (Digital Rights Management) system.

It looks like Micrsoft may be doing it again. Getting content providers: Napster, RealNetworks, AOL and now Yahoo, plus the numerous hardware manufactures: Creative Labs, Dell, iRiver, to use its Windows DRM system.

Not that Apple is giving away its DRM software but Microsoft’s approach is try to force its technology onto everyone else. Instead of Apple’s approach of adopting or convicing the Standards bodies to adopt its technology as the official standard.

There’s really no need to say which way I think is the right way. Although, Apple had done this before with Macintosh OS and now it owns only 3% of the personal computer market.

Therefore, it is worrysome to me; and should be to all consumers, that manufactures and software developers are continuing to focus on revenue and profit rather than devloping Standards to move technologies forward. The ones that will lose in the end are us, consumers of technology and the services they deliver.

Someone please do the right thing.

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Apple Store Japan (Mobile)

Image courtesy of IT Media

Apple launched a new Apple Store Japan for mobile phones users in Japan from their AU and NTT handsets. To be able to use this new Apple Store, you will need to be within service coverage of the NTT and AU handsets, since Apple had programatically blocked access to this new store from users other then the ones with the correct browser.

According to reports (IT Media), Apple had made the full line of iPod devices and the Mac Mini available for purchase on this new site. Whether there is a discount or special offer compares to the regular Apple Store Japan I do not know. May be some of the Japanese readers can comment on this article and share this with my readers.

So, if you are one of the lucky users of the following handsets you can go check it out:

  • AU:
    • Wｼﾘｰｽﾞ(W01K除く)
    • INFOBARｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • A5000ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • C5000ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • A3000ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • C3000ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • A1400ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • A1300ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
    • A1100ｼﾘｰｽﾞ
  • NTT:
    • 210i以降
    • 503is以降
    • FOMA


I realized that Japan has one of the largest, if not “the largest”, mobile content consumers in the world, but the rest of Asia also have a very big intake of mobile technology. For example:

  • Hong Kong citizens changes their mobile phone the most frequent in the world.
  • South Korean citizens is the most wired [to the Internet] in the world.
  • Philipine citizens sends the most SMS in the world.
  • China citizens now make up the largest population within a country of installed cellular phone.
  • India citizens has the highest density (based on spending power) of potential cellular phone user base.


Are we (the rest of Asia, Hong Kong in particular) always going to be playing “second fiddle” to the Japanese consumers? Are we really that phobic towards mobile content? I am sure Apple’s Marketing and Product Development teams had done their homework before launching the site in Japan, but please don’t leave the rest of Asia out.

SImilarly, the news of iTunes Music Store for Japan had been in the air for over a year now; ever since the rumors of a EU specific Store 2 years ago. Recent news place the launch date of the iTunes Music Store – Japan for end of 2005.

Throughout these rumors and announcements, no one seem to want to comment about the rest of Asia. Yes, during the recent rumors there is also news of a iTunes Music Store for Australia by end of April 2005, but what about the other large non-English speaking music consumers: Cantonese/Mandarin (Chinese), Hindu (Indian), Korean, Barhasa and Thai.

Apple’s iTunes Music Store for US already have some foreign languages music listed, but speaking to local [Hong Kong] record companies (Avex, EMI, etc.) individuals, it seems that over the past 2.5 years they have grown to accept the inevitable of music download and online distribution for Hong Kong and rest of Asia. Of course like many other things that Apple does they do not comment on unannounced products or service offerings, but I hope they are already well on its way discussing with these regional record companies (Apple, if you’re reading, please send me a personal note and I will forward some of these “record companies individuals” to you… :P).

WE WANT OUR iTUNES MUSIC STORE – HONG KONG!!!

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Apple Brand New OS

Tiger

Just 2 hours ago Apple announced that their latest version of the Macintosh OS X v1.4 (aka “Tiger”) will be available April 29, 18:00 PST at a retail price of USD129.00.

Apple is planing events at most of its Apple Stores around the world for the launch.

You can pre-order it from Apple’s Online Stores worldwide.

The most significant enhancement in this version of the Mac OS X is “Spotlight”, which I believe every Mac and non-Mac users will find it useful. Simply put it, Spotlight allows you to find anything on your Mac without worry about where or in what format the information are stored.

To get people started with using Spotlight, Apple had included the Spotlight functionalities into the new Mail, Address Book, System Preferences and Finder. The best part is that the “Spotlight” technology is built into the heart of the new Mac OS X and not a “bolted” on functionality. This means that whenever a file is created, saved, moved, copied or deleted Spotlight is there to update its index and catalog so that it is ready for the next user query.

There are many more features, you should really check out Apple’s web site for details.

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More on Convergence

In an blog entry back in January, “Digital Convergence I pointed out some of the trends of converging the functionalities of different technologies into the same digital device.

Well today Samsung has done it also. The maker of various digital devices from LCD TV to mobile phone, cameras to rice cookers, has launched their “SCH-V770” CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile phone with technical specs jealous by most digital camera manufactures at this physical size and (expected) price point.

When I start listing the features you will wonder whether I am describing a digital still camera or a mobile phone, but in this case the answer is both.

The new “SCH-V770” comes with:

  • 1/1.8 inch CCD image sensor
  • digital still camera resolution of 7 megapixels
  • 3x optical / 5x digital zoom
  • auto focus
  • flash
  • focal length off 7.8 to 23.4 mm
  • manual focus
  • shutter speed from 15 seconds to 1/2000th of a second
  • record video at 15 – 30 frames a second
  • 2″ QVGA TFD LCD display that is capable of 16 millions of colours
  • internal memory of 32MB
  • MMC micro media card slot
  • direct connection to a TV for playback of digital images and videos

My readers may notice some obvious omissions for a mobile phone specifications above, these are the number of bands and the typical CDMA functions. All the articles about this phones had been focused on the digital camera features and not the mobile phone part of this device. The only information I have is that it does not support any of the GMS bands in the world.

As most people find that 4 – 5 megapixels is enough for a digital phone, one begs the question if Samsung, LG and the alike have their focus on the appropriate features of their mobile phones.

I guess the consumer will be the final judge when this and other phones become available later this year.

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Tsunami of South West Asia

Yesterday the worst tragedy happened in Sumatra, Indonesia with an eathquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale. This caused a tsunami that hit the coast of Sir Lanka, India, Maldives, Africa.

The devastation is only just being realized due to the poor communication to some of the remote area affected. Now the survivors are in danger of disease from decomposing bodies and contaminated water supply.

One way to help is to look at some of the pictures of the missing persons from the Tsunami disaster and see if you know the whereabouts of these individuals.

The other is to make donations to International Red Cross, Oxfam or UNICEF. Some of the other Aid Agencies may be found on CNN’s web page.

Red Cross Oxfam

If you have love ones or friends you’re trying to locate, you can use CNN’s web page for posting “Tsunami Tragedy Appeals”.

Update: Jan. 23, 2005
Current official death toll = 174,000

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Skype Finally Available for Mac Users

Skype

Two days ago, the growing popular software “Skype“; by the company of the same name, finally released a Beta version for the Macintosh (OS 10.3.5 and later). This is after only 9 months where our friends on the Windows, Linux and Pocket PC platforms have been enjoying the features and functionalities of VoIP with Skype.

The creators of Skype are the same ones who created one of the most popular Internet software “KaZaA“; a P2P software that people used to exchange documents, MP3, movies and images.

The Skype team further enhanced what they learned from KaZaA and introduced a bunch of other technologies to produce a VoIP client that automatically locate the shortest path between Skype users.

They also have a service called SkypeOut where you can call any telephone, either fixed line or mobile, at a very low cost.

So if you have time and a microphone attached to your computer do give this software a try, while you’re at it you can drop me a line (Skype ID: “vinko66”).