AppleTalk Thursday #3

Hello all and welcome to the first AppleTalk Thursday of 2011! Got a lot to get into over the last 2 weeks so let’s dive into it!

McAfee warns Apple users of viruses in 2009...2010...2011

Yeah, we have heard this before, a company who makes money by selling antivirus software warns of how the Mac will be targeted for viruses, yet the threat never materializes as compared to a company in the Pacific Northwest that makes an inferior OS. I have never bought an antivirus program for my Mac and don’t intend to start now. Go scare someone else McAfee!

iPhone maintains lead over Android and BlackBerry in the US

Despite what Apple haters and Andorra fanboys say, the iPhone is still king in America over the Android and BlackBerry smart phones. Yeah all that talk about the iPhone 4 antenna issue was overrated too. A recent story said it was the biggest tech disaster of 2010, I disagree...that belongs to GoogleTV IMHO.

Mac and iOS alternatives to Delicious

Concerned about Yahoo’s long term prospects? Yeah, you are not alone. MacWorld recently wrote a great article about alternatives to Yahoo’s Delicious service. I really don’t use Delicious, but I know many of you might so it might be worth checking out.

Skype brings video chat to iOS devices on WiFi AND 3G

To quote VP Biden, this is a pretty big @#$% deal! Skype has a lot of users and now if you are out and about with your iPhone, you can now Skype video chat with friends on other iOS devices or desktop clients of Skype and you can do it on 3G as well. Which begs the question, when will FaceTime support 3G? Yahoo also supports video over 3G and WiFi as well with its Messenger app. But Skype is a bigger deal as it is based on audio and video communication. If you have an iPod touch and in a WiFi zone you can also join the party, The iPad can view video but until it has a camera (which is rumored in the iPad 2), then you can only watch one way on it.

Verizon iPhone by Valentine’s Day

Yes, another rumor regarding the iPhone for Verizon, but again it is coming from a reliable source. The timeline makes sense too and this will only help Apple maintain the iPhone lead over the Android and BB throughout 2011 in the US.

Well, that is going to do it for this edition of AppleTalk Thursday. The rumored Mac App Store may arrive in time for next week so I will have a review about it. See you next week!

Tuesday Tech Talk #58

Hello folks and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Thursday Tech Talk. I apologize for the late arrival this week but I was busy the early part of this week. Well lets see what is going on this week in technology.

Facebook says Places everyone

Last week Facebook introduced a new feature that allows you to check in at places on your mobile phone that has the Facebook app. The one feature of it I find questionable is the ability to tag others at that place. That being said it will alert that user if they have been tagged and gives them the option to remove the tag. The difference between it and Foursquare is you don’t get to be mayor of a place on Places like you do on Foursquare and Foursquare doesn’t have tagging.

Intel buys McAfee

News from out of the blue last week as the big chip maker purchased the anti virus software maker for $8 Billion! Wonder if AMD will now look for a dance partner?

Couple uses iPad to marry them

Ok as someone that loves both technology and marriage, this article caught my eye. A couple used the iPad to read their vows and the bride even used the iPad to compose her vows and then the wedding official (not a priest as the linked article states) read it as well to officiate it. All that being said, to each their own but no way would I have done that at my wedding in 2001 even if an iPad existed then. Full disclosure, I used Mac Office PowerPoint to propose to my wife back in 2000 on my beige G3 desktop that ran on a 266 MHz processor.

Verizon bringing FiOS TV to mobile devices, DISH goes online

The world of mobile TV viewing continues to evolve with Verizon announcing it will soon offer an app that will allow you to view FiOS programming on your iPad, Android, Blackberry Storm, and Windows Mobile 6.5 devices but ONLY from within the home. Which kind of makes no sense. I mean really the purpose of such an app would be if you are not at home. In other content provider news, DISH Network is bringing a handful of channels to its Dish Online service.

Western Digital introduces HomePlug device

Western Digital is making a plunge into home networking by allowing you to extend your WiFi connection to electrical outlets allowing you to connect your HDTV for example to the internet. The Livewire will sell for $140.

Apple negotiating $1 TV show rentals

Ahead of the expected AppleTV revamp next month, Apple is in negotiations with FOX, ABC, and CBS to allow consumers to rent TV shows for a 48 hour window for a dollar each episode.

Jail breaking your iPhone won’t send you to jail

I have never really felt the need to jail break my iPhone. Believe it or not I am a happy AT&T customer since 3G arrived in Tupelo. Don’t get me started with Comcast though. But if one wanted to, well #1 you are on your own if you want tech support from Apple but #2 it is legal.

This Week’s iPhone/iPod touch/iPad apps

Madden NFL 11 ($12.99 iPad, $7.99 iPhone/iPod touch - I have to admit I have never really used my iPad or iPhone as a gaming device beyond using Farmville or Solitaire. But I am really enjoying playing Madden on my iPad. There is a learning curve to it especially on defense, but once you play a couple of games it gets pretty easy (hint: rush the quarterback on defense to force incomplete passes or even interceptions and the possible sack). I don’t have the iPhone version but my friend Dave does and he tends to love it. So far my Chargers are undefeated and winning by 35 or more points, I even beat the Seahawks 76-21...in Seattle.

We Rule (FREE) - I have heard Fr. Roderick, Cliff Ravenscraft and Leo Laporte all mention this app so I finally downloaded it. The best way to describe it is English village meets Farmville. You have a castle that you can expand the more levels you go up and plant crops, collect taxes from the citizens, and continue to expand your landscape as you advance in levels. My username is tupelogeek if you want to add me as a neighbor.

Well that is going to do it for this edition of Triple T. See you all next week back on our regular schedule.