Kibbles & Bytes Blog

Hot on the heels of their Snow Leopard release, Apple has made the 10.6.1 update available. Here’s what it features:

* Addresses printer compatibility for printers that do not properly appear in the Add Printer browser. I had this problem last week!
* Fixes an issue that might cause DVD playback to stop unexpectedly
* Fixes a Dock bug that prevented removal of icons from the Dock
* Includes bug fix for account set up and sending mail via SMTP servers in Mail
* Includes bug fix for Sierra Wireless 3G modems
* Addresses an issue in which Motion 4 could become unresponsive
* Adobe Flash Player update (new plug-in version 10.0.32.18) This is especially important, as “Ed referenced last week.”:http://blog.smalldog.com/kibbles/?c=kb636

To download, go to *Software Update…* under the Apple or “click here.”:http://support.apple.com/kb/DL930

On Wednesday, Apple released the new iPhone 3.1 software for the iPhone and iPod touch. This offers a number of updates along with a handful of new features. Notable new features include:

Genius Recommendations for Apps – Get recommendations for apps you might like based on apps you’ve already downloaded.

Genius Mixes – Have iTunes automatically create mixes based on what’s already in your library. You don’t even have to choose a sample song.

Download Ringtones Wirelessly – Choose from thousands of iPhone ringtones on the iTunes Store and buy them with a tap.

Organize Apps in iTunes – Use iTunes on your computer to drag apps onto virtual Home screens, then sync them to your iPhone.

Meanwhile, there is a substantial list of software enhancements:

• Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe – this feature is very cool!
• Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos
• iTunes U content organization
• Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
• Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
• Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
• Option to “Save as new clip” when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
• Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
• Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
• Paste phone numbers into the keypad
• Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
• Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
• Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
• Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly

You can read more and download the new software by connecting your iPhone to iTunes and browsing to the iTunes Store, and clicking “Check for Update” in the iPhone Summary pane. If you have an iPod touch, the 3.1 software will cost $4.95. Click here to download this.

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled iTunes 9, an update of the extremely popular multipurpose media player, iPod and iPhone management program, and music, video and app store. iTunes is the #1 music retailer in the world, available in 23 countries. Over 85 billion songs have been downloaded from the iTunes store, and there are over 100 million active iTunes accounts.

The new version of iTunes has several compelling new features. Some of these are specifically related to the iTunes Store, but many also improve the day-to-day iTunes experience. New features and enhancements include:

• iPod touch and iPhone app management is finally available in iTunes 9. Steve Jobs said “The biggest thing we’re doing is allowing you to manage your apps in iTunes.” Under the applications tab, you can now arrange your iPhone/iPod touch home screen and move apps around directly via iTunes. So long coming, so great to see. This is a boon to people with pages of installed apps, as well as people with a touch of OCD who group their apps alphabetically (Kali…)
• Home Sharing. Turn on this feature and you can finally copy songs, TV shows, apps and other media purchased from the iTunes Store with up to 5 computers in your home or business (assuming they’re on the same network and are all authorized to play media from the same iTunes account). You’ll be able to see all the computers you can share with, and you’ll be able to copy their contents. Transferring music or other media between computers happens via simple drag and drop.

Even with the limitations listed above, Home Sharing is a very welcome addition to iTunes. For most people, it is a much better solution than manually copying music files to different computers with a flash drive, or setting up a complicated networked hard drive/Apple Script solution.

• iTunes LP. These are interactive, high quality enhanced digital liner notes. iTunes LP features full screen images, with lyrics, photos of the band, liner notes, and videos (kind of like DVD extras, but for albums).
• While iTunes 9 retains much of the classic iTunes look, the design of the iTunes Store has been improved. Steve Jobs says it is “Cleaner. New artist pages, new movie pages. It’s a much cleaner layout.”
• iTunes 9 finally allows users to keep a wishlist of future purchases and gifts.
• You can now share information about music from iTunes directly to Facebook or Twitter.
• iTunes 9 now supports Genius Mixes. Steven Jobs said that people have submitted over 27 million libraries, which is over 54 billion songs. Steve Jobs said “They’ve enabled us to make Genius playlists. Well, we’re applying that same tech to something new called Genius Mixes.” This creates a sort of digital genius DJ that plays endless mixes of songs from your library that should go great together. You click on a Genius Mix, and it will go on and on and on. “It’s like a great radio station.”
• Improved Syncing. Apple says “iTunes brings new, more flexible ways to sync your media from your computer to your iPhone or iPod. And it’s easier to organize all the apps on your iPhone or iPod touch, because now you can do it right in iTunes, right from your computer.”

iTunes 9 is free for Mac and PC. Note that on a Mac, you’ll need OS X version 10.4.11 or later; Mac OS X version 10.5.7 or later is required to play an iTunes LP or iTunes Extras. You’ll also need Safari 4.0.3 to access the iTunes Store. Support for HE-AAC requires QuickTime 7.6.4, Mac OS X version 10.5 or later and Safari 4.

Click here to download iTunes 9.

The lineup stayed pretty much the same, with a few exceptions: the iPod touch, classic, nano and shuffle are all still around. However, there are some new features worthy of note… here’s a rundown:

*iPod touch*

* *Price changes:* $199 now gets you an 8GB model, and the 16GB has been ditched to make way for the 32GB at the $299 price point. A brand-new 64GB has been added at $399.
* *Games, games, games:* there are over 21K Entertainment titles in the App Store. (That’s a serious amount of games.) Apple is really stepping up the iPod touch (and iPhone) as a gaming device, hoping to compete with Nintendo and Sony. Cool features include gaming with your iPod music in the background and multiplayer options over Bluetooth and WiFi. Gameloft, a presenter, now “ships 35 titles as of today.”:http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=software&media=all&restrict=true&submit=seeAllLockups&term=gameloft Another game highlight from EA Sports: Madden NFL 10. (As of this posting, it was not yet on the App Store.)
* *Speed increases:* iPod touch will run “Open GL,”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenGL a graphics programming interface, which will make the iPod work and render faster.

“View/purchase iPod touch.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iPod_touch

*iPod classic*

* *More storage:* the hard drive is still around, and Apple has gone back to the 160GB model. With a capacity of 40,000 songs, Apple definitely can’t get rid of the iPod with the biggest storage option just yet–flash memory hasn’t gotten cheap enough.
* *Thinner form factor:* the width measures just 2.4 inches.
* *Same price:* 160GB for $249.

“View/purchase iPod classic.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iPod_classic

*iPod shuffle*

* *New colors:* Pink, Green, Blue (along with Silver and Black). Plus, there’s a polished stainless steel special edition. (Update: Apple Exclusive only, $99)
* *Added capacity:* 2GB and 4GB models at $59.99 and $79.99, respectively.
* *More headphone options:* From Apple: “New headphones will come out and all have the controller for the shuffle.”
* *VoiceOver:* it now tells you when your battery is full, and when it will close the airlock.

“View/purchase iPod shuffle.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iPod_shuffle

And, perhaps the biggest changes of all…

*iPod nano*

* *Built-in video camera:* this is huge!
* *Larger display:* 2.2-inch display is slightly larger than the previous version.
* *Brighter colors:* the glossy colors have been updated, with the Yellow and Red models being held as Apple Exclusives. There are nine total: Silver, Black, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red and Pink.
* *Built-in pedometer:* will work with the Nike+ and is a great addition to runners and hikers everywhere.
* *FM radio*
* *VoiceOver:* it will tell you who’s singing without interrupting your music, plus additional voice features.
* *Price points:* 8GB for $149, 16GB for $179.

“View/purchase iPod nano.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iPod_nano

_Dear Friends,_

Now that Labor Day is over, we can start looking for signs of autumn. I have spotted Canada geese heading south, the maple tree by my garage has some red leaves and the arctic kiwis are ready for eating. Of course, I notice the days are getting shorter, the mornings are chilly and there is usually a blanket of fog as I head into the valley to come to work. Nevertheless, Tony, Matt and I are going to brave the weather and ride our motorcycles over to Geoff’s “Forest Lake Camp”:http://www.forestlakecamp.com for our management retreat today and tomorrow.

Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event was on Wednesday and we were all reading live coverage at various web sites, shouting out the latest announcement as we worked. I wish Apple would go back to a webcast of these events so we could all enjoy the live feed. What other company has this type of following, where announcements of new products are watched with excitement by Apple fans, the press and seemingly, just about everyone? It was great to see Steve Jobs come back on stage with some new products and software but even better to see him well enough to take that leadership role and to talk about his personal gratitude to the donor of his transplanted liver. He says he’s eating like crazy and eating a lot of ice cream. Hopefully, he is filling up on Vermont’s finest Ben & Jerry’s!

I know that Kali and Ed will talk more about the announcements later in Kibbles & Bytes but I want to highlight what I see as the three biggest announcements. One new feature, Home Sharing, is something I have been waiting for and is now in iTunes 9. My wife and I have separate music libraries (and a lot of different musical tastes), but also a wide selection that overlaps. It has been cumbersome to trade songs, even though we authorize each other’s Macs for iTunes. With Home Sharing it is wicked easy to share and update our libraries. Home Sharing displays Grace’s library when we are at home on the same network and the songs that I do not have are highlighted so I can easily copy them. Finally, we do not have to buy the same songs all the time.

I’ll give Apple’s 100 million credit cards on account at the iTunes store the number two position in important announcements. What an amazing asset! I am sure we will see a lot more ways to spend our money at the iTunes store going forward. Number three is the iPod nano. Apple made the nano more compelling, more versatile and more colorful. They hit the sweet spot with the new nano. Now I am going to have to sell my Flip camera–who needs a Flip when you have a device that takes and plays movies, holds thousands of songs and has a built-in FM radio, voice recorder and pedometer?! This is going to be a huge year for the iPod nano!

Just so you don’t think I am a complete Apple fan-boy, I have to give them the thumbs-down for the petty move of making the yellow and Product (red) iPod nano and the special edition stainless steel iPod shuffle exclusive to the Apple Store. It is an unnecessary affront to their loyal independent resellers along the same lines as prohibiting the sale of the iPhone via these same Apple experts.