Archive for Macrumors
March 7, 2012
Apple accepts Netflix
A few weeks ago I posted a blog item that said that Apple was trying to muscle out Netflix with a product that didn’t seem to be all that practical. Well, it seems that I might have been wrong. Either that or Apple realized that their own version of Netflix wasn’t ready to be released to the public.
Apple has now begun to offer Netflix streaming on several Apple products. The AppleTV, the iPad, and the iPhone are now able to stream Netflix in 1080p via the use of an application. The costumers are able to pay for their Netflix account through their iTunes account.
I personally don’t know how I feel about it. It’s good for Netflix because Apple is a huge client to secure and if Apple signs off on something, others will sign on as well. So, business wise it was a smart decision. However, Apple does have a tendency to try and monopolize or change markets. But you know, as long as they don’t take away my Legend of the Seeker then I’ll be fine.
March 1, 2012
It’s an iPad world
Apple is at it again. The cogs are forever turning in the Apple company. They’re finding ways to create and repackage products that already exist. They’ve already done this once, years back with the original iPod. If you remember correctly they original iPod was taken off shelves after the production of the Nano and iPod Touch. Then a few months later the original iPod was back with a fancy new name… No longer was the iPod. It was not the iPod Classic.
Same product, slightly different name.
Now, they’re at it again. The new potential victim? The iPad. There is now a new mini iPad in the works to accompany the release of the iPad 3. This isn’t a shock, but it does seem… Unnecessary. It’s like Apple married the iPod Touch and the iPad to make this awkwardly sized iPad Touch hybrid.
But it’s cheaper! Apparently weighing in at $249 – $299, this seems to be quite a steal for an iPad. It’s not bad. I hold onto my stance that it is a bit unnecessary. But who am I to complain? I’ll sit here in my dorm, crying because I still can’t afford one.
February 22, 2012
iPad 3 with retina display
Let me start out by saying that I grossly overestimated what retina display was. My mind instantly moved into some kind of futuristic Jetson type world where the iPad screen matched your eye sight for the perfect viewing experience… Well I hate to say it, but I was wrong. I was way off base.
What “retina display” actually means is resolution so sophistocated that your eye cannot pick up the pixels. Exciting, but way less exciting that iPads that read eye patterns. This new iPad is set to be revealed at an Apple media event on March 7th, so all of the more detailed questions will be answered then.
Until that time, I can only tell you that this new iPad will have a resolution up to 2048×1536 which is twice the amount of the current iPad 2. Now that’s exciting. But what isn’t exciting is that I still don’t have enough money for an iPad 1 let alone an iPad 3. The woes of being a college blogger.
February 16, 2012
New roadblocks for solicitors
I always thought the obnoxious calls at all hours of the day from telemarketers was a human rite of passage. What stage in life you’re actually ascending to…. I’m still not entirely sure, but it’s not the point. While being constantly harassed about going back to school while I sit in my dorm room is annoying, on some level it is still very entertaining. Just look at the situation.
Scrambling to answer that unknown California number, you put the phone up to your ear hoping it’s your big break. No. It’s Robert from EasyCollege.org! He wants to know if you are interested in going back to school! Then when you tell him that you’re currently sitting on your extra long twin bed, he proceeds to tell you things you’re uninterested in until you hang up.
That might all be about to change. Apparently Apple has made it so it is explicitly necessary to have permission before retrieving a person’s contact information through apps. It is a violation to their guidelines. Which means that your number will be floating around less and less… So, you’ll only be getting phone calls, e-mails, and texts from people you actually know. There goes the e-mails I get from myself about confirming my Swiss bank account with millions of dollars waiting for me to spend.
Future generations will miss out on a valuable learning tool. How to assert yourself and remove yourself from an unproductive situation by hanging up the phone. How will the world cope with this?
February 8, 2012
R.I.P. White Macbook
People have been privy to the on going conflict of PC Vs Mac. What is less documented was the insider battle between the Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, and the Macbook. One of these things is not like the other… And unfortunately that thing, being the white Macbook, has finally come to its untimely end.
The white Macbook was essentially blacklisted by the Apple consumer when the Macbook Pro was released. Funny thing is, the two machines were practically the same thing. The operating systems were even. The Pro boasted a slightly faster system, but if you weren’t doing advanced work on your computer then it didn’t matter. Cosmetic issues seemed to be the death of the white Macbook.
It was plastic and didn’t have a backlit keyboard like the Pro.
When I was in the market for a Macbook, I saw the white one and saw great machine at a slightly cheaper price. Naturally that was the one I was going for until I heard that they were being discontinued… Enter the Macbook Air. A thin Macbook that you can carry around in a manilla folder. Sounds great! Except when you really think about it, are you actually getting something worth the money?
We got rid of a full functioning computer for one that really only functions optimally if you have a million and a half other accessories. Maybe I’m apprehensive about paying nearly $1000 for a machine that doesn’t even have a CD drive.
February 6, 2012
Textbooks Going Digital
In this day and age everything is going digital. It reminds me of a song from my childhood that was aptly named, “Going Digital”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhUSvMKkidYThe latest item to begin its transition into the digital platform is the textbook. That might seem like a blessing on the back. Some would think that chiropractors had stock in the textbook publishing companies. Now, there are e-books and on paper that sounds like an amazing advancement!
But alas, this movement has had a rocky start. First of all, not all companies have gotten on board with this new trend. They are choosing to make only a select few of their textbooks available online, and then they can’t seem to find a platform reliable enough to support it. My question is, how can regular books be seamlessly made into e-book files but textbooks are so difficult?
Even Apple iBooks is having issues with compatibility for textbooks. If we’re truly going digital then I would suggest perfecting the capability before mass marketing it for $15 a download.
AppleTV to out Genius, Netflix?
I just happened to be scrolling through the MacRumors blog when I came across an article that caught my attention. I remember Professor Klein mentioning in class on Thursday that Netflix was set to lose a majority of its streaming titles because other mediums are producing platforms of their own.
Apple has released it’s Genius for AppleTV menu option. It’s not the same as Netflix, obviously. You will still have to purchase every time you want to see a title rather than paying one monthly fee to get near unlimited titles. Genius seems to operate much like it’s iTunes’ counterpart works where it screens your interests and produces a list of titles that appeal to you.
It seems to be an interactive way of watching your favorite TV shows and movies. Is it on the same level as Netflix? In my opinion, no. While Netflix has had many hang ups in the past year, they still prove to be a leading source for producing streaming media. I’m not just saying that because I am a loyal user of the product…
Or maybe I am. Regardless, Netflix has a good thing going. Because $8 a month sounds a heck of a lot better than $4.99 per title.
Hey, that’s just me. You’re free to make your own judgments.
