iPod Touch 3.0 - First Impressions

Well, for once I am disappointed! Granted, I am using an old 1st Gen iPod Touch but for that reason I had to pay €7.99 to get the update, and what do I have to show for it...

• Shake to shuffle (like I will really use it)
• Cut & Paste (that is cool!)
• Spotlight search
• Landscape keyboard
• I can download movies directly, if there were movies available in iTunes in Ireland
• Sync notes. I thik this ability will come in handy.
  

And I think that's about it!

Here is the link with all t he details from apple http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/softwareupdate.html

Comments are welcomed.

iPod Touch 2.1 - First Impressions

After a lot of hassle I managed to install version 2.1 on my iPod Touch. I haven't had a lot of time to play with it, but I have founf two really good things.

• Lyrics are finally supported
• Additional information for podcasts is now visible
• Genius Playlists (I haven't found the button that generates them, but then again, I am not sure if I synched after I enabled them in iTunes)
• Faster backups
• Changes in UI
• Ability to turn off individual sound effects
• For the first time I noticed the parental controls, but not sure if they have been there for a while

Any more, let me know

Update
I found a couple more things... after synching aain, now genius is enabled on the iPod. It is a cool feature, it generates 25 song playlists based on whatever song you are playing

• When you have a partially heard podcast, you get a half full dot beside it, before you only had the dot wen it was new and nothing if you had started. Presumably this is the same for movies and prgrammes
• The shuffle and repeat buttons are now below the ong slider, which makes it easier to choose a particular part of the song.
• Album details are now also below the song when you are playing a track
  

iPod Touch 2.0 Software update - first impressions

The 3G iPhone was out yesterday. That meant that the software update for iPod Touch was out yesterday as well, unfortunately the apple servers were overloaded with requests for new iPhone activations and were acting up. Finally this morning I was able o download the update.

First you have to download iTunes 7.7, that worked first time yesterday through software updates!

Then, after you have downloaded the full 222MB (and paid €7.99 for it), the process backs up your iPod, completely replaces everything, restores your settings, and finally your music. It takes a long time to do this!

My initial views... not much has changed from the previous version with the exception of the new "App Store". The additional applications that came out earlier in the year, are now part of the OS. Couple of good things that I have found so far, you can now take screen shots (press and hold the home screen, and then press the power button for a couple of seconds. When you let it go, the screen will flash white, and you will have a new picture in your photo library) and the fact that you can now save picture attachments from mail to the iPod for external viewing.

I had a few problems trying to synch applications. It took a few attempts before applications downloaded on the iPod transferred to my Mac and vice versa.

The mac rumours website has an iPod touch forum that might be useful as some users are having problems with the update.

I need to pick a couple of applications. Any recommendations?

Macworld is coming!

I had always wanted a Mac.

Having worked for a few years with OS/2, and then having to move to a Windows world once OS/2 Warp was withdrawn from the market, I felt that I wanted more from my OS than what Windows offered. When the Mac Mini's were announced three years ago, I thought it was a great opportunity to finally own a Mac. I wasn't disappointed, and I haven't looked back.

Since then, I started following the crazy "Macverse", and was captivated by the sheer passion and enthusiasm of the Mac users. Shortly afterwards I even moved off my Sony mp3 walkman and bought my first ipod.

One of the things that has always fascinated me about the Apple world is the yearly Macworld event every January. This year, Macworld starts on Monday, January 14th. There is a good article in CNET that describes why is it so good. As always, there is a lot of excitement about Steve Jobs' keynote speech on Tuesday.

I am hoping for the announcement of some updates to the MacBooks. I been holding up on buying a new one, initially because I was waiting for Leopard, but now because it seems that there might be a complete overhaul to the line. Roll on Tuesday, and here is hoping that they will announce a new version of the legendary Apple Newton!