Apple adds NBC Universal shows to iTunes line up

Apple added several new shows from NBC, Sci Fi, and USA Networks to the TV section of iTunes

Shows include

NBC - Law & Order, The Office, Surface, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien. As well as classics, Alfred Hitchock Presents (1950s), Dragnet (1960s), Adam-12 (1970s), and Knight Rider (1980s).

The Sci Fi channel - Battlestar Galactica and Battlestar Galactica Miniseries

USA Networks - Monk

Tonight Show and Conan content appear o be mostly segments, with some hour long "specials" costing $9.99

Of course the new additions are US only for now.

Although no talks have happened yet, ESPN has also recently expressed an interest in talking with Apple about a content deal.

Apple will use iTunes Video to drive Hardware Sales

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu said the company made it clear that paid video offerings on iTunes are being sold in order to help drive hardware sales.

Apple views content as strategic, choosing to break-even while leaving the majority of the profit to the content owners.”

VP of iTunes Eddy Cue and CFO Peter Oppenheimer made it no secret that the company’s is to expand their library of video offerings.

Synaptics will again supply iPod Click Wheels

Earlier this year, Apple abandoned Synaptics and its proprietary click-wheel technology and circuitry for the nano in favor of its own proprietary application based on a part manufactured by Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

Cypress has been unable to keep up with increased holiday demand.

It's also not known chips from Synaptics are using Apples own proprietary application or if the chip is using Synaptics software solution.

Apple launches iPod 101 site

To help new iPod owners become familiar with their iPods

The site has guides for using hardware and software including video and photo management, iTunes Music Store and using calendars and notes.

The web site

iPod 101

Look and feel similar to Apples Mac 101 site

Mac 101

Sonys "rootkit" CD appear to have hidden iPod code

Princeton researchers doing work deconstructing SonyDMGs DRM CDs discovered the code

The software had a hidden component that could convert songs from the CD, or other ordinary MP3s, into a file compatible with Apple's copy protected FairPlay format.

What's worse, it appears to be using open-source, yet copyrighted code.

EMI has recently claimed to have similar technology from Macrovision in the works. Apple denies EMIs claims.

Apple store coming to Sheffield, UK

The Apple Store Meadowhall will open Saturday December 10th at 9:00 AM in Sheffield, England.

Meadowhall is Apple’s fifth store in the U.K. Other locations are Manchester, Kent, Birmingham and London

Apple stock on the rise

Up almost 2.25 today closing at 74.05

The stock has more than doubled so far this year from about $32 in January.

Some analysts are predicting the rise to continue up over $86 in the next 12 months

How To Save iTunes TV Show Previews

From Andrew Escobar.com

www.andrewescobar.com

1) In iTunes right click on a song, video, or album art on the page your interested in, and select “Copy iTunes Music Store URL.”

2) Visit Debug iTunes Music Store.

Debug iTunes Music Store

3)Past the URL in the field provided and submit.

4) In return the XML markup of the page is sent back. (right+click and view source on the frame, search for the "previewURL" key). Your looking for a url that end in .m4v as these are the video preview files. Copy a url.

5) Past the url in your browser. In Safari, open the Downloads window and past the url.

If you paste the URL in Safari you will get a grey image, but if you save out the file (Quicktime Pro) it will play fine.

6) Move/Copy the file into iTunes.

Audio Recording on a 5G iPod

Play question from Jason

Does offer high quality recording

Low (22.050 KHz, mono)
High (44.1 KHz, stereo)

Needs to connect via the dock connector and there are no devices yet. No iTalk yet.

www.griffintechnology.com

Additional Intel Mac Switch Concerns

Listener Brian is wondering about Classic apps and peripherals like printers and scanners

First know what you are in for!

It is my understanding Classic is not supported. Good reason to keep and older Mac around, especially if you have older Mac software (kids games)

I would think printer and scanner drives would be made available for new devices (1-2 years old), but like other OS X upgrades may not be available for older devices

Review of CastEasy

Play review from Blair

CastEasy

www.casteasy.com

I still prefer Feeder, but this my be good if you require less control and are overwhelmed by all the Feeder options

www.reinventedsoftware.com

Give your MP3s a memory

From listener Tod

In iTunes 6, Select a track and hit Apple-I for Info, select Options tab, look toward the bottom and there is "Remember Playback Position".

You can also prevent a track from being included in Shuffle playback. 'Skip when shuffling'.

More Drag and Drop Tips

Play tips from Quentin