Hey everybody and welcome to another edition of AppleTalk Thursday. We have a bit of Apple news to discuss this week so let’s get right into things.
Mac App Store is Here
Of course hours after last week’s AppleTalk Thursday went out, Apple rolled out the Mac App Store as part of the 10.6.6 update. Among the notable apps is Angry Birds and Flight Control HD which are popular games on the iOS devices and the Twitter app (formerly Tweetie). They also are selling the iLife (3 of them anyway) and iWork apps, although the iWork apps are still the ’09 variety and not the updated iWork ’11. iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand each sell for $14.99 which if you add them up, come up to $45, a single license copy of iLife ’11 sells for $49 in optical media format but you can actually install the apps on the Mac App Store on multiple computers so if you add in the Family Pack cost of $79 you are getting quite a deal. Pages, Keynote, and Numbers sell for $19.99 each compared to $79 for optical media single copy and $99 for Family Pack. Of course not all the developers have jumped on board yet, they maybe taking a wait and see approach. But I love it, it is like having one big software virtual mall. It also scans your other apps that you have pre-installed and will alert you to an update for it if that application is part of the store. Apple has reported it had 1 million downloads of apps in the first 24 hours of its launch.
Verizon gets the iPhone 4
I discussed this on Tuesday Tech Talk as it broke that day. I had quite a bit of information on it and you can find that post here. What has not been determined yet is the cost of the data plans from Verizon for the iPhone. One would think they would be the same as the data plans for their other smart-phones. But the fact they are throwing in a mobile hot spot device (MiFi) to connect up to 5 devices to it, is pretty sweet and reinforces Verizon’s confidence in their network where AT&T had to be dragged kicking and screaming to a still pricey tethering plan for the iPhone. Now comes word that the iOS 4.3 update will include mobile hot spot feature as part of the OS so clearly, Apple by teaming with Verizon can negotiate with AT&T from a position of strength for a more competitive tethering plan. The Verizon iPhone will go on sale on February 10th at Apple and Verizon store locations as well as their online stores. Also of note Verizon and Apple will sell a CDMA based iPad as well.
Microsoft fights Apple on “App Store” trademark
Microsoft being the crybabies they are (see Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer), have filed an objection with the US Patent & Trademark Office over Apple’s plan to trademark the term “App Store”. Hey Microsoft, it sucks to be dominated doesn’t it? In my opinion, Apple was the first to launch such a store way before Android and Windows Phone 7, and BlackBerry so they should get the right. Be creative enough to come up with your own name losers..oh wait this is Microsoft we are talking about...they have no imagination!
Jobs and Murdoch to launch The Daily on January 19th?
The much rumored iPad only digital magazine The Daily is expected to be announced on January 19th in San Francisco. If it is anything like NewsCorp’s Wall Street Journal app for the iPad, then it would be well worth subscribing to at the 99 cents per week expected cost.
Apple eliminated restocking fees
Wow, first Best Buy and now Apple will be eliminating restocking fees according to an article from 9 to 5 Mac starting this past Tuesday. Not heard anything confirming this so take the article for what its worth.
AT&T and Apple lower price of 3GS iPhone to $49
If you just want to get an iPhone but don’t need the latest and greatest there is good news, both Apple and AT&T have dropped the price from $99 to $49 on the 8GB 3GS iPhone. So if you missed out on the Radio Shack and Best Buy offers, the deal is here to stay. iPhone 4 pricing remains the same though.
iOS App Reviews
Apple Remote (FREE) - If you have an AppleTV did you know that with the Apple Remote app you can control it from your iPhone or iPad? I have used both for controlling mine and I actually prefer it over the line of sight based remote that comes with the AppleTV. Course it can also play iTunes content from your Mac(s) while you are sitting in the recliner or pulling into the garage and pulling a nice prank on your unsuspecting significant other who thinks your Mac is possessed all of the sudden (Yes, I did this once.)
Goodreads (FREE) - If you are a user of Goodreads and have an iPhone, then this app is a must have! For those that don’t know, Goodreads allows you to share what books you are reading, have read or want to read with other friends that are book readers. Think of it as Facebook for book worms. So sign up for the service which is free and download the app. You can find me here to see what I’ve been or will be reading.
Green Bay Packers (FREE) - Ok so I am a bit bias here as Green Bay is my team in the playoffs right now being that my Chargers and Titans failed to make it this year. But this is a good model for how any sports team thinking about making an app should follow. Videos, schedule, injury updates, etc. it is all there.
Well, that is going to do it for this edition of AppleTalk Thursday. Look forward to sharing more Apple related news with you here same time next week!
Showing posts with label Mac App Store. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mac App Store. Show all posts
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday Tech Talk #68
Hello folks and apologies for the late edition of this weeks Triple T. Last week I blogged about our new AppleTV so lets return back to the normal format this week.
iWork ’11 to be released in Mac App Store?
As Apple mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the App Store for Mac will be launching early next year with a full rollout with OS X 10.7 Lion. Now there are reports that Apple’s iWork application will be sold through the store. This makes a lot of sense, for one thing unlike iLife, the file size is not as huge. In addition, it will give the options to only buy what you want for example you may just want Pages instead of the whole package, which according to Steve Jobs presentation showed each one priced at $20. I love iWork, but I don’t use Keynote as of yet, so having the option to just buy Pages and Numbers would be beneficial to me.
iOS 4.2 coming Friday possibly
According to various sources besides Apple themselves, iOS 4.2 should rollout Friday around 1pm ET/10am PT. There is much speculation as to if AirPrint will be withheld from the update due to technical issues. According to Steve Jobs though, this appears to not be the case. It would be nice to have this feature, but it is not the primary reason I’m excited about 4.2, I’m excited about AirPlay, multitasking, and folders for my iPad. I just have too many screens on my iPad right now and folders will help to organize that. I have an AppleTV now so AirPlay is going to be awesome! But more about 4.2 next week once it is out.
Most homes have HD television, fewer watch in HD
Interesting study here, although 56% of US homes have an HD television, only 20% if programming is being broadcast in true HD. There are many issues for this, if you subscribe to a satellite or cable service, you will need an HD capable box from them to watch HD programming and that is if the actual channel is in HD. Example, where I live the local channels are broadcast in HD but DirecTV is not carrying the HD feed of those channels yet even though Dish and Comcast do. Not sure why DIrecTV is dragging their feet on this but in a year, it won’t be my worry when I switch to Dish (I would say Comcast, but their internet service is spotty so not sure I trust them on the TV side.) Of course there are many channels besides locals that don’t even broadcast in HD yet which adds to that 80% figure. Have I mentioned how much I love our AppleTV?
Amazon Kindle to offer higher percentage of revenue to periodicals and newspapers
Amazon announced this week it will increase the percentage of revenue it gives to magazine and newspaper publishers to 70% from 30% or basically turning the tables on themselves. I think this will be key in getting more magazine and newspaper publishers to stick their toe into the digital pool and offer their content. I buy all my books in digital form now and so I expect the same in periodicals. Call this my effort in reducing my carbon footprint, even though I don’t believe in that environmental junk.
Conan’s Pale Whale
Finally, I was happy this week as Conan launched his new show on TBS. I truly believe NBC screwed him over and he should have had more time with the Tonight Show. But that is a rant for another day, an artist created an image of the famous (or infamous) Twitter Fail Whale for Conan but this one is known as Pale Whale and as you can see Coco is riding him. Welcome back to late night Coco!
Well, that is going to do it for this weeks Tuesday Tech Talk, I’ll have some app reviews next week. Have a great week!
iWork ’11 to be released in Mac App Store?
As Apple mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the App Store for Mac will be launching early next year with a full rollout with OS X 10.7 Lion. Now there are reports that Apple’s iWork application will be sold through the store. This makes a lot of sense, for one thing unlike iLife, the file size is not as huge. In addition, it will give the options to only buy what you want for example you may just want Pages instead of the whole package, which according to Steve Jobs presentation showed each one priced at $20. I love iWork, but I don’t use Keynote as of yet, so having the option to just buy Pages and Numbers would be beneficial to me.
iOS 4.2 coming Friday possibly
According to various sources besides Apple themselves, iOS 4.2 should rollout Friday around 1pm ET/10am PT. There is much speculation as to if AirPrint will be withheld from the update due to technical issues. According to Steve Jobs though, this appears to not be the case. It would be nice to have this feature, but it is not the primary reason I’m excited about 4.2, I’m excited about AirPlay, multitasking, and folders for my iPad. I just have too many screens on my iPad right now and folders will help to organize that. I have an AppleTV now so AirPlay is going to be awesome! But more about 4.2 next week once it is out.
Most homes have HD television, fewer watch in HD
Interesting study here, although 56% of US homes have an HD television, only 20% if programming is being broadcast in true HD. There are many issues for this, if you subscribe to a satellite or cable service, you will need an HD capable box from them to watch HD programming and that is if the actual channel is in HD. Example, where I live the local channels are broadcast in HD but DirecTV is not carrying the HD feed of those channels yet even though Dish and Comcast do. Not sure why DIrecTV is dragging their feet on this but in a year, it won’t be my worry when I switch to Dish (I would say Comcast, but their internet service is spotty so not sure I trust them on the TV side.) Of course there are many channels besides locals that don’t even broadcast in HD yet which adds to that 80% figure. Have I mentioned how much I love our AppleTV?
Amazon Kindle to offer higher percentage of revenue to periodicals and newspapers
Amazon announced this week it will increase the percentage of revenue it gives to magazine and newspaper publishers to 70% from 30% or basically turning the tables on themselves. I think this will be key in getting more magazine and newspaper publishers to stick their toe into the digital pool and offer their content. I buy all my books in digital form now and so I expect the same in periodicals. Call this my effort in reducing my carbon footprint, even though I don’t believe in that environmental junk.
Conan’s Pale Whale
Finally, I was happy this week as Conan launched his new show on TBS. I truly believe NBC screwed him over and he should have had more time with the Tonight Show. But that is a rant for another day, an artist created an image of the famous (or infamous) Twitter Fail Whale for Conan but this one is known as Pale Whale and as you can see Coco is riding him. Welcome back to late night Coco!
Well, that is going to do it for this weeks Tuesday Tech Talk, I’ll have some app reviews next week. Have a great week!
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