Opening Music

Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles

Mandaandthemarbles.com

www.mandaandthemarbles.com

Not so fast, Intel Macs are still not expected 'til June

Hey that's what Steve told us right?

Taiwanese distributors are spreading rumors that the whole Mac consumer line will be updated with Intels in June.

NBC dives in big with iTunes Promotion

Anyone watching NBCs, The Office, on Tuesday could not help the "obvious" product placement/tie-in. The show featured the 5th Gen iPod as a holiday Christmas party gift.

A huge pop up ad or the episode being available for download on iTunes also appeared

Apple also has a new NBC/Universal iTunes ad on their site. The ads elude to the addition of Bravo shows and Best of SNL video segments.

NBC/Universal iTunes TV Spot

iTunes video sales better than expected

After selling over 3 million video downloads in just a few months Steve Jobs says that number, “far exceeds our initial expectations.”

Do Intel Macs signal death of FireWire?

O'Grady's PowerPage.org claims that FireWire (IEEE 1394) will dropped from the Intel iBooks.

PowerPage.org

Also claims that Firewire 400 will be removed from PowerBooks leaving just one Firewire 800 port.

That would be the stupidest move Apple could make, where is the logic in that? I love iMovie and every DV camera I know of has FireWire, not USB 2.

Creative Zen Vision:M targets iPod on multiple levels

It's very similar to the iPod with video in shape, size and especially interface.

FM Radio, Audio recording and support for lots of video formats (AVI, DivX, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Motion-JPEG, WMV, XviD)

Then they have the nerve to threaten Apple with a lawsuit over the UI

Apple Store offer Express iPod Checkout

They have staff by the iPod displays with Point of Sale (POS) Easy pay checkout systems so you can grab and go that holiday iPod

Portal Player looks to acquire wireless knowledge

According to an analyst note Portal Player, who makes system-on-chip semiconductors for iPods, wants to aquire a small company with a wireless technology portfolio.

The are planning to build out their wireless capabilities in 2006

Does this mean wireless features in future iPods?

Google Earth coming to Mac

Google is currently developing a BETA version for Mac

Lets you 'fly-through' Google satellite maps, driving directions, points of interest. Advanced Windows version has GPS capabilities.

Open APIs so there are great adds ons like Flickr integration.

I have heard the BETA has been leaked

Sending Web Pages via Mail

Play tip from Amen blue

Free iPod Movies in the Public Domain

Found this on WIRED Cult of Mac

WIRED Cult of Mac

PublicDomain Torrents has more than 500 movies (many in iPod format) that are legal downloads via Bittorrent

Public Domain Movies

Includes classics like Night of the Living Dead

Azureus BitTorrent Downloader

azureus.sourceforge.net

Questions about Mac Mini as a DVR

Questions from listener Scott

Sound. How would I get the sound output? Is the analog sound output from a powerbook good enough, if amplified? Is there a digital sound output?

Correct, via the sound out. I would think Apple would need to step up and add a digital out just like on the PowerBooks and PowerMacs

Video. How would the powerbook interface with, for example, a 30" plasma tv screen?

Mini has DVI video output for digital resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels. Supports coherent digital displays up to 154MHz; supports non-coherent digital displays up to 135MHz

Insurance for your Mac (Con't)

Play comment from Katie

Fixing dead pixels

From the forum. The Read Herring has one red dead pixel on his iMac G5 and one blank one on his 5G iPod

foum.maccast.com

Apple tech info article on dead pixels.

docs.info.apple.com—article.html

Apple's policy on dead pixels, "If you suspect your display contains a high number of pixel anomalies, take your Apple product to an Apple Authorized Service Provider for closer examination. There may be a charge for the evaluation."

What is high, I think you could try at greater than 4, but less than that you won't have much luck.

Besides having Apple repair/replace it there is not much you can do. There are "tricks", flashing colored screens, "massaging" the area in a circular motion with a soft cloth (mood music optional). I don't think they have much technical merit.