MacBreak Weekly 261

MacBreak Weekly Episode 261

MacBreak Weekly 261: Fustercluck

HP gives up, cloud music, earthquake alarm, Facebook breaking news, a gazelle on a barbie, and much more...

Hosts

• Leo Laporte (@leolaporte/Google+)
  • twit.com
• Alex Lindsay (@alexlindsay/Google+)
  • PixelCorps.com
• Andy Ihnatko (@ihnatko/Google+)
  • cwob.com

Topics

• H-P’s TouchPad, WebOS killed — and Apple is the main suspect
  • Article written by Andy Ihnatko
  • LL: Andy, you seem to blame Apple
  • AI: Not so much blaming but rather giving credit
    • HP was number 1 or 2 PC in the world but didn't make much profit
    • They are now almost completely out of PC hardware business
    • Apple has better margins and is thriving with their hardware business
  • LL: You get the TouchPad now for $99. Breakdown costs are about $300
  • AL: TouchPad was price at the level of Apple but didn't perform
  • LL: For every iPad HP had to sell 7 TouchPads
  • LL: Did anyone buy a TouchPad?
  • AI: I almost bought 2 at staples for $49/each just to give away.
    • HP made a lot of mistakes when they designed the OS for it.
    • But for $99 you get an excellent web browser, kindle up, video, photo, music player.
    • Plus, it's a color kindle with a lot more to do.
  • AL: I bought a Sony Dash for $69 for that purpose

• Apple to use three major suppliers for iPad 3's Retina display
  • AL: That resolution is going to be absolute great for reading too.

• Apple Building Cheaper 8GB iPhone 4, End of September Launch Alongside iPhone 5
  • AL: I actually want the plastic components to come back. I prefer it to that glas.
    • 10-15% of the people I know have a smashed glass back.
  • LL: All Things D are certain that it will be October
    • If a smaller version comes out, it might have an A4 and 8 GB RAM
    • Rumors are that they are going to have 25 Million iPhone 5

• Apple Testing LTE in iOS 5 and Hiring More LTE Engineers
  • AI: Apple is not afraid to be last
    • Battery usage is enormous
    • While travelling 4G is not always availble, even in bigger cities.
    • Samsung, HTC can produce two different versions of the same phone. Apple will only have one phone.
    • They might wait until they commit their brand to any of the available 4G version.

• Early Earthquake Warning System in iOS 5 for Japanese Users
  • AL: Probably Tsunami alert is more important.

• Facebook’s Massive Kitchen Sink Update: Photo Tag Approvals And So Much More
  • Tom Merrit: You'll get inline profile support, photo tag review (tagging photos before you publish)
    • You can see your profile how everyone sees it.
    • 1% users starting on Thursday
  • LL: Seems like a response to Google+
    • TM: They claim to have worked on it for months but just couldn't get it done faster.

• Amazon, Dropbox, Google and You Win in Cloud-Music Copyright Decision
  • LL: Google be the company who funded this fight (creator of mp3tunes works now at Google)
    • Does it mean that you still have to upload the song or not?
  • AI: You can't replace 16k that I own with a 256k that I don't
    • Key is to know that companies are not responsible for what is uploaded as long as they respond to copyright violation claims.
  • AL: It is not going to lead to new features at iTunes, Amazon.
  • AI: iTunes music matching is a form of amnesty since it doesn't check your ownership with songs you have that you may have downloaded illegally.

• Apple Cracks Down on Alleged Knockoff Sales in New York City
  • LL: If you are in Queens you might want to get your Apple Knock-Off at Apple Story
  • Chatroom: It's an original fake Apple product

• [MacBook Air 13" In Short Supply]
  • May be because of Apple's assumption that the 11" would be more popular

• New MacBreak Weekly Email Address
  • the new email address is: macbreak@twit.tv

Tips, Picks and more

iOS Tip of the Week

• AL: Apple Mail on iOS.
  • You can change the number of lines that are displayed in your mail settings (up to 5 lines)
  • LL: There are also other great features to be turned on or off
  • You can delete change the "Sent by my iPhone" as well
  • LL: //- (???)

Lion Tip of the Week

• Dropbox and Carbonite are now compatible with Lion. Go and upgrade.
• AI: CTRL+SHIFT+Eject turns off your screen immediately
  • You can also combine it with the requirement to enter a password in your security settings

Picks of the Week

• AI: Kane AirBlue, portable bluetooth music receiver, $49
  • Turns any speaker into a bluetooth speaker.
  • It's small and handy and ideal for travelling
  • Can also be plugged into an AUX input of a car stereo
• AL: Fostex AR-4i, audio interface for iPhone 4, $150
  • Directional microphones
  • Audio coming in is managed internally, not going directly to headphone jack
• LL: Deeper by Titanium Software, personalization utility, free
  • lot of features which you only get to via plist or terminal commands have now a GUI
• LL: iClock Pro menu bar replacement for Apple's default clock

Mentioned Products

• SpiderOak Alternative to Dropbox

Notable Quotes

• LL: "Put the gazelle on the barbie" (in a Australian accent) after watching a short clip about gazelles being hunted by Lions.

Sponsors

• Smile Software (try it for free for 30 days): PDFpen, PDFpro, Text Expander, etc.
• Hover (offer code: macbreak) Domain name registration without any fuzz.
• GoToMeeting (offer code: macbreak): Safe money by meeting from the comfort of your home/office.

Production Information

• Edited by:
• Shotes notes: Jean-Marie Schweizer (Bushgeek)

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