Jamie Zawinski regarding his experience submitting an application to the Palm App Catalog:

In the months since this process began, other third-party developers seem to have managed to get their applications into the App Catalog. Apparently these people are better at jumping through ridiculous hoops than I am.

So at this point I think it’s safe to say that I won’t be developing any more software for the Palm Pre.

Ben Galbraith, director of developer relations at Palm, responds to Zawinski, writing:

We are sorry that Jamie feels the way he does, but we’ll fix what’s broken and are going to deliver a fantastic opportunity to developers as they in turn help create a fantastic experience to users.

Ben Galbraith gives hope that the submission process will improve also stating:

We’re trying to strike the right balance between locking down our device and making it a free-for-all. Like all great things, this will be an iterative process and we are eager and open to your participation and input to make it better for everyone.

As annoying as this must be to Jamie Zawinski it isn’t nearly as bad as the horror stories we’ve heard about the App Store submission process. But, time will tell if Palm can improve their developer relations and truly steal developers from the Apple camp.

Update 10/7/09: Palm may have found a better solution to dealing with questionable applications. MG Siegler reporting for TechCrunch:

The first is that they’re allowing developers to fully distribute their apps via the web. What this means is that developers can simply submit their apps to Palm, and Palm will return to them a URL that they can then blog, tweet, do whatever they want to share it. When a person then clicks on that URL they can easily install the app, bypassing any kind of store. And while Palm is providing the URL, it is not going to be reviewing the apps in any way — a clear dig at Apple’s approval process.

If Apple did this for every application that was rejected it would truly solve the App Store problem. Every application would be available for the iPhone but not every application would be found in the App Store. To find those “questionable” applications you would have to find them on the web.

Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider that Apple has issued an advisory to retail stores stating that all existing iMac and Mac mini SKUs will be discontinued.

There have been several rumors in the past few months indicating that the iMac would be refreshed but this latest report all but confirms it. A couple of AppleInsider reports that I had written about previously rumored “compelling new features,” price cuts, and an “industrial design overhaul” for the iMac.

Last week Kasper Jade also reported that the new iMac designs are already being manufactured, and have been so for a couple of weeks. In the AppleInsider report Jade also writes that the upcoming iMac will “take design cues from the Cupertino-based company’s relatively new LED-lit Cinema Display offerings.”

Meanwhile Mac4Ever (Google Translated) has received a number of tips that suggest the inclusion of an SD card slot, the use of quad-core processors, and the possibility of Xeon processors. Although the inclusion of an SD card slot seems logical, I would suggest taking Mac4Ever’s rumors with grain of salt, they don’t exactly have the most fantastic track record in terms of breaking news about new macs.

Because of the stock constraints, the new iMac and Mac mini models will likely be released sometime in October.

Previously:
8/8/09: Upcoming iMacs to Release with ‘Compelling New Features’
6/30/09: Cheaper iMacs May Be Coming This Fall

Update 9/30/09: Some further indications that the Mac mini and iMac will be seeing a refresh, possibly before October 9:

• The shipping window for the low-end Mac mini has changed from the usual “Within 24hrs” to “1-3 business days.”
• TUAW has received a tip from an Apple Store employee claiming that his store only has 4 iMacs in stock.
• Another TUAW tipster ordered a Mac mini on September 18 and today received an email saying that the machine wouldn’t ship until October 9.

Update 10/3/09: Kasper Jade, of AppleInsider, Believes that Apple will announce updated MacBooks alongside the new iMac and Mac mini.

Meanwhile Sam Oliver is reporting that shipping times for the MacBook, Mac mini, and iMac been changed on the online Apple Store for Resellers. The wait times for these macs are much longer than the “1-3 business days” that usually appears on the Apple Store for Resellers.

Update 10/3/09: AppleInsider | Apple ads hint at thinner iMacs, lighter MacBooks, cheaper Mac minis

Update 10/20/09: Mac mini with OS X Server and Multi-Touch Trackpad for Desktop Macs

Update 10/20/09: Apple Updates MacBook with LED-Backlight, Glass Trackpad, 7 Hour Battery

Update 10/20/09: Apple Unveils New iMac with 21.5 and 27-inch 16:9 Displays

Update 10/20/09: Apple Updates Mac mini, Offers Server Model

Griffin has released their new iTrip FM Transmitter for iPhone and iPod. The FM transmitter can be completely controlled with Griffin’s iTrip Controller app.

The application has a very simple interface that allows you to use Griffin’s SmartScan, which finds the best available frequency to broadcast on. Adjustments made on the application instantly occur on the iTrip.

Other iTrip features:

• Display track and artist information on RDS-compatible radios
• Three frequency presets
• Stereo and mono transmission
• Micro-USB port for charging any iPod or iPhone from a compatible charger.

The iTrip is available immediately from major retailers and Griffin’s online store for $49.99, the iTrip Controller app is also available in the App Store now.

I haven’t had an opportunity to use the device yet, I already have a cassette tape adapter in my car and I’m not much for FM transmitters. But, if I was going to purchase an FM transmitter, this is the one I would buy.

Griffin Press Release.

Update 9/29/09: iLounge is reporting that the Griffin iTrip supports a new iPhoneOS feature that I (until this point) hadn’t even heard of. Made For iPod- and Works With iPhone-certified developers are allowed to include automatic application download prompts when connecting accessories. When you connect the Griffin iTrip to an iPhone or iPod touch that does not have the iTrip Control application installed it asks you if you’d like to install it.

TomTom has finally confirmed pricing on the iPhone Car Kit. It will have a suggested retail price of $119.95 and will be available in October. TomTom has also confirmed that the Car Kit will be sold seperately from the TomTom app and will be compatible with the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS.

There has been rumors that the application would come bundled with the Car Kit but it appears that they was incorrect. TomTom’s Yann Lafargue had previously told Mac4Ever that the Car Kit would be compatible with the iPod touch. This press release implies that the app and Car Kit aren’t compatible with the iPod touch, we might have to wait until the Car Kit launches to know for sure.

TomTom NV – TomTom unveils the price of the TomTom car kit for the iPhone.

Previously:
9/4/09: TomTom Car Kit Coming in October
8/17/09: TomTom Says the Car Kit is Compatible with the iPod touch
8/16/09: TomTom Apps Show Up in the App Store

Gizmodo has published details on Microsoft’s “Courier.” Gizmodo is calling it a “booklet,” but it is basically a tablet with two 7-inch (or so) displays that folds open and closed, like a book.

The device uses finger gestures and a stylus (who wants a stylus?), with a focus on writing. The back of the device has a camera while the side has wireless signal and battery indicators.

The design of the device, both hardware and software, reminds me a lot of the Zune. Which is a good thing. The user interface is beautifully designed and although I’m not a fan of the hinge the hardware looks attractive as well.

The video leads me to believe that Courier will be marketed as a journal-esque device, where you would take notes and jot down ideas. You can place photos, parts of web pages, and your own notes in a “journal” to save for later reference.

It’s worth noting that all of the images are clearly design mockups and other than Gizmodo’s assertion that the device is in “the ‘late prototype’ stage of development” there isn’t any way of knowing when this product is going to come out, how much it will cost, or how close it is to an official announcement. “Late prototype stage” could mean a lot.

I wish that I loved this device more. But, after watching the video a few times the amazement I had about the design and the interface subsided and I realized that I don’t really want a journal. What I want is a tablet that focuses on web browsing and media consumption. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this sold to students as a way of taking notes and managing assignments, but I don’t know if this electronic journal will capture the hearts of the general public, I just don’t see the use case for the Average Joe.

Courier: First Details of Microsoft’s Secret Tablet – Microsoft courier tablet – Gizmodo.

Update 9/30/09: Gizmodo has published another video along with additional details regarding the Microsoft Courier.

The heart of Courier appears to what’s called the ‘infinite journal,’ which is what it sounds like: A journal/scrapbook that is endless, bound only by storage constraints (presumably). […] The journal can actually be published online, and it’s shown here as able to be downloaded in three formats: a Courier file, Powerpoint or PDF.

There has been some question as to what exactly Courier runs for its operating system, Mary Jo Foley, writing for ZDNet, claims that it is running Windows 7, at least in its current form.

Update 11/8/09: Gizmodo has published images detailing Courier’s interface, gestures, and features.

Update 1/6/10: Ballmer to Unveil ‘Slate-Type Computer’ Today

One of the first questions an iPhone owner asks another iPhone owner is “what apps do you have installed?” The App Store has become an integral part of the iPhone experience, so it’s only natural to be curious what apps other iPhone owners use.

In comes First & 20, a website that displays the iPhone home screens of several designers, developers and tech writers. Inspired by First & 20, I decided to share my home screen as well.

Maybe I just got spoiled by iPhone 1.0 but cluttered home screens always bug me, that’s why I try to leave one row empty on every screen.

I use every application on my home screen every single day. And, the majority of them are default apps. But, of the third-party applications, Birdfeed gets the most use. I love Twitter and Birdfeed is the best client I’ve found. It has just the right number of features while still maintaining a clean user interface. I’m still not happy about the chat bubbles but I’m willing to deal with it for it’s overall simplicity.

Birdhouse is my Twitter notepad. I’ve found that my most interesting ideas for tweets come all at once, being the good Twitter user that I am I prefer not to bombard my followers with a flurry of tweets all at once, so the ones that aren’t time sensitive all hit Birdfeed and are posted during downtime.

The next two apps are web apps. Fever is Shaun Inman’s fantastic RSS feed reader. Whenever I get a few minutes, whether I’m in a line or otherwise, I probably have Fever open. It’s the best feed reader I’ve ever used and has a much better mobile interface than Google Reader does. Mint is another one of Shaun Inman’s apps. It is a self-hosted web stats package.

Simplenote is a drop dead simple notes application that syncs with the cloud. When I’m at my desktop I can view my notes with Simplenote’s web app.

To users and developers there is no difference between an application that has been rejected and one that has not been approved, either way the app still isn’t available. But, to Apple, there is a difference.

Imagine a file named “todo.txt” sitting on your desktop. Inside the file is a list of things that you want to get done. Deleting that file means that you aren’t going to accomplish the items on the list. We all know how people are with to do lists, they get put off and often times never get done. But, rather than admit that you’re (most likely) never going to get the items done, you leave todo.txt on your desktop and, if asked about it, you would say that you are “working on it.” You still haven’t done any of the items on the list but you also haven’t decided that you aren’t going to do them.

Google Voice is todo.txt and right now it is sitting on Apple’s desktop. They haven’t placed it in the Trash yet (rejected it). But, they likely aren’t actively doing anything with it either. Apple is “working on it” just like you are.

Previously:
9/19/09: Google Un-Redacts Its FCC Filing
8/22/09: Apple, AT&T, and Google Respond to the FCC
8/4/09: Apple, AT&T, and Google Voice

Update 10/4/09: Apple and Google Slowly Parting Ways

When Google initially sent their response to the FCC the section detailing why Apple rejected the Google Voice application was redacted. Google has since retracted that request and the full filing is now publicly available.

On July 7, Mr. Eustace [Google Senior Vice President of Engineering & Research] and Mr. Schiller spoke over the phone. It was during this call that Mr. Schiller informed Mr. Eustace that Apple was rejecting the Google Voice application for the reasons described above in 2(a).

Google clearly states that Apple was “rejecting” the application. It seems that Google doesn’t see the difference between “not accepted” and “rejected.” The distinction doesn’t really exist for users and developers, but from Apple’s perspective there is a distinct difference.

From 2(a):

Apple’s representatives informed Google that the Google Voice Application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialer functionality of the iPhone. The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want applications that could potentially replace such functionality.

There isn’t anything new here. And quite honestly, I don’t understand why Google wanted this redacted to begin with.

Google’s FCC Filing (PDF).

Previously:
8/22/09: Apple, AT&T, and Google Respond to the FCC
8/4/09: Apple, AT&T, and Google Voice

Update 9/19/09: An Apple representative writes to Silicon Alley Insider saying:

We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google.

The “continued discussion” is what keeps the application from being considered “rejected.”

Update 9/21/09: There is a Difference Between ‘Not Approved’ and ‘Rejected’

Update 10/4/09: Apple and Google Slowly Parting Ways

Update 10/7/09: AT&T Lifts Restrictions on VoIP Over 3G

Update 8/14/09: FCC May Investigate Google Voice

Update 1/2/10: VoiceCentral Returning to the iPhone

Steve Chuang, reporting for The Taiwan Economic News, says that Apple will launch their tablet in February with Taiwanese suppliers beginning to deliver parts in December.

The tablet PC features a 9.6-inch screen, finger-touch function and built-in HSPDA (high speed download packet access) module, and adopts a P.A. SEMI processor chip and long lasting battery pack, selling for between US$799 and US$999.

Steve Chuang goes on to say that DynaPack will supply up to 300,000 batteries a month for the tablet while Wintek will supply touchscreens for the device.

There isn’t a lot of new information with this report, other than the inclusion of what suppliers will be making parts for the device.

Taiwanese Suppliers Tap Apple`s Supply Chain of Tablet PCs | CENS.com – The Taiwan Economic News.

Previously:
8/24/09: Steve Jobs Has Been Focusing on the Tablet
8/13/09: Brian Lam Talks to Insider About Apple Tablet
7/25/09: Apple Tablet May Come in Early 2010

Update 10/4/09: Jeremy Horwitz of iLounge reveals “Ten New Details on the Apple Tablet.” The most interesting of which are:

• The latest prototype has a 10.7-inch screen.
• The tablet runs iPhoneOS.
• There will be two versions, one with 3G and one without.
• Apple is currently planning to announce it on or before January 19, 2010 with a release date in May or June.

Brian Lam, of Gizmodo also reveals some details about the tablets potential as an e-book reader.

Update 10/7/09: Brad Stone, of the New York Times, reports that, not only has Apple been working on the tablet since 2003, but Steve Jobs has questioned “what [tablets] were good for besides surfing the Web in the bathroom.”

Update 10/7/09: Apple Tablet Coming in Q1 2010

Update 12/8/09: ‘TabletMac’ Trademark and Apple Tablet Pricing

Update 12/28/09: Apple Tablet May be Announced in January

Update 1/6/10: Apple May Ship Tablet in March

The Zune HD launched on Tuesday and there has been a lot of good reporting on the launch. I haven’t had a chance to play with either the Zune HD or the Zune desktop software (because I don’t own a PC) but hope to get my hands on them soon.

Nate Anderson reviews the Zune HD for Ars Technica.

Matt Rosoff of CNET takes a look at the Zune HD’s browser:

Regardless of how you’re trying to navigate, the on-screen keyboard seems to require more finger accuracy than the fault-tolerant keyboard on the iPhone (probably because of the smaller screen). The back button is hard to hit–I kept selecting the favorites menu by mistake. Sites are also considerably slower to load, and the resolution doesn’t seem to be nearly as good as the iPhone or iPod Touch, with a noticeable flicker on pages with white backgrounds.

Zune Originals artwork are now available for the Zune HD from the Zune Store.

Electronista reports that Zune 4.0 is available for download and adds 720p HD rentals and applications.

Engadget has found that there are “other touch-screen Zune players” referenced in Zune HD manuals.

Microsoft’s press release sheds some light on the applications we’ll see for the Zune HD:

Zune HD also features new casual games and non-gaming functionality such as a calculator and an MSN Weather application. Later this year, Zune plans to release free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune, in addition to fun 3-D games such as “Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition,” “Vans Sk8: Pool Service” and “Audiosurf(TM) Tilt.” Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software.

JuniorTekLive has posted the first Zune HD commercial to YouTube.

Nate Anderson reports for Ars Technica that some Zune HD apps play pre-roll ads during launch:

The ads show up during app launch, which takes an astonishingly long time. Booting Chess took 30 seconds, […] Launching the weather app takes about 8 seconds, the calculator about 9. Goo Splat, which has been showing a static ad this morning for the Soul, launches in about 17 seconds.

Previously:
8/14/09: Zune HD Apps
8/12/09: Zune HD Coming September 15
7/12/09: Zune HD Marketplace Pictured
5/27/09: Zune HD Coming This Fall

Update 11/12/09: Korneel De Feyter reports that  there have been some additions to the Zune apps Marketplace. PGR: Ferrari Edition, Lucky Lane Bowling, Vans Sk8, Audio Surf: Tilt, and Checkers have all been added. These are the first 3D games to be added to the Zune HD.

Update 12/20/09: Zune HD Twitter Application Originally Censored Tweets

Eric Savitz of Barron’s reports on a note from Wedge Parters predicting new iMacs and MacBooks “in the next several weeks.”

They say that the iMac will get a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges.”

Wedge also expects “new, lower price points.”

AppleInsider had published rumors in early August regarding iMacs with “compelling new features,” in late August saying that a MacBook redesign was in the works, and in late June claiming that we would see lower cost iMacs this fall.

It’s hard to say whether or not Wedge Partners has any information that we don’t already know. I believe AppleInsider has a credible sources but it is entirely possible that Wedge Partners is basing their assertion on AppleInsider’s reports.

Apple: New Macs Coming Soon? – Tech Trader Daily – Barrons.com.

Previously:
8/29/09: MacBook Redesign in the Works
8/8/09: Upcoming iMacs to Release with ‘Compelling New Features’
6/30/09: Cheaper iMacs May Be Coming This Fall

Update 9/30/09: Updated iMac and Mac mini Coming in October

Update 10/20/09: Mac mini with OS X Server and Multi-Touch Trackpad for Desktop Macs

Update 10/20/09: Apple Updates MacBook with LED-Backlight, Glass Trackpad, 7 Hour Battery

Update 10/20/09: Apple Unveils New iMac with 21.5 and 27-inch 16:9 Displays

It’s been several days since Apple announced iTunes LP and iTunes Extras and those who were curious enough to do so have had some time to pick through the new files associated with them.

Both iTunes LP and iTunes Extras are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and are rendered using WebKit. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, they are easy to build with and everyone and their mother knows how to. What’s interesting is that when you dig a little deeper into the files you’ll find references to “TuneKit.” TuneKit is Apple’s internal name for a JavaScript framework used to bridge WebKit and iTunes to deliver these two new interactive media types.

TuneKit provides a media authoring platform that is easier to use and more familiar to developers than DVD or Blu-ray authoring. iTunes LP and iTunes Extras still haven’t made their way to the Apple TV but it is clear that support is coming. There are HTML meta tags with references to “hdtv-fullscreen” and “hdtv-cursor-off” found inside iTunes Extras index.html file.

Now all we are waiting for is Apple to flip the switch on a software update that will give iTunes LP and Extras support to the Apple TV. This move will push Apple into an even more competitive position against physical media.

New iTunes LP and Extras built using TuneKit Framework, aimed at Apple TV — RoughlyDrafted Magazine.
Image credit to AppleInsider.

Previously:
9/10/09: iTunes 9
9/2/09: Apple TV Shipping Window Slips to 1-2 Weeks

Update 9/14/09: Apple has discontinued the 40GB Apple TV and dropped the price of the 160GB model to $229. It isn’t exactly a hardware refresh but it’s a step in the right direction.

Update 9/15/09: The Loop has found indications that the Apple TV will soon be capable of iTunes U synchronization. Just one more sign that a software update is coming soon.

Update 9/29/09: The Boy Genius Report is claiming that Apple is developing a touchscreen remote for the Apple TV.

Update 10/14/09: Build Your Own iTunes LPs

Update 10/30/09: Apple TV 3.0 Software Update

Update 11/27/09: Apple Releases iTunes LP and Extras Developer Documentation

It turns out that the “Fake Images of the Upcoming iPod touch” that Covino & Rich published were actually real. A MacRumors reader pointed out that the Covino & Rich iPod touch lines up with the internals of the third-generation iPod touch (published by iFixit), both of which are distinct from the second-generation iPod touch.

This can’t just be a coincidence, the leaked iPod touch was a real Apple prototype.

What’s strange about this find is that Apple still hasn’t sent a takedown notice to Covino & Rich, or Apple has and Covino & Rich haven’t complied. But, I suspect we would have heard about it if a takedown notice was sent.

There has been evidence that Apple is still planning on releasing an iPod touch with a camer. The most likely reason for the lack of a camera in the current iPod touch is that (as HardMac said) Apple simply had manufacturing issues with it.

Leaked iPod Touch with Camera Photos Were Real – Mac Rumors.

Previously:
9/10/09: The New iPod Lineup
8/14/09: Fake Images of the Upcoming iPod touch

Update 10/14/09: 9 to 5 Mac is pointing out an Apple knowledge base article entitled: “iPhone and iPod touch: Disabling digital camera notification in Mac OS X.” An interesting find but do we all need to be reminded that the iPod touch can save photos into a “Saved Photos” section within the Photos application?

Update 11/24/09: iPod touch Camera Rumors Resurface

Motorola has announced their first Android-based handset, the CLIQ. Gizmodo has published their impressions of the device.

In short, they’re impressed with it, saying:

• It feels comfortable in the hand.
• The screen is capacitive, bright, and responsive.
• Social networking is “deeply integrated into the phone.”

Dan Nosowitz also goes on to write:

It’s not faster, and it’s not as smooth as say, the iPhone or the Pre, but the transitions are nice and it’s not sluggish by any means.

My definition of sluggish is any device that is slower than the iPhone 3GS. It is the new standard for device speediness.

I just don’t understand why Android handset makers all use a 528MHz processor, didn’t they learn anything from the 3GS? Increase the processor speed and the device will be more pleasant to use.

Gizmodo may be impressed, but I’m not.

Motorola Media Center – Press Releases – T-Mobile USA Unveils the Motorola CLIQ With MOTOBLUR.

Update 9/12/09: Bonnie Cha of CNET on the Motorola CLIQ:

We finally got some hands-on time with the device, and while we’re impressed with the hardware and the features are on par, it’s the Motoblur software that makes us weary. The integration of data from different sources is great, but having all information like Facebook updates, tweets, e-mails constantly streamed to your home screen is completely overwhelming, in our opinion. And is it really necessary?

Update 9/12/09: Lance Ulanoff reports on the launch of the CLIQ for PC Magazine:

Motorola Co-CEO Dr. Sanjay K. Jha commanded the stage well. He was reading, obviously, but it came off fairly naturally. So it’s hard to account for the disconnect that followed. Jha began the announcement part of his speech by talking about MotoBlur. To be precise, he talked about what MotoBlur could do, but never specifically said exactly what it was. He called it a “solution” but that could still easily be a phone. In fact, he showed an image of a phone no one had seen before on a big screen behind him and explained how MotoBlur manages all your contacts and even aggregates them all into a master contact database. He said MotoBlur can also handle your social interactions and give you a customizable, widget-based interface so you could have instant access to the things most important to you.

For a full 5 minutes, I thought the name of the new phone was the MotoBlur. Wrong.

Update 9/14/09: Tony Bradly of PC World writing about the Motorola CLIQ:

the Cliq is a juvenile device. Motorola seems to have focused its attention on software feature innovation while completely ignoring the aesthetics and style of the hardware it is putting the features in. There are less functional hardware designs out there to be sure, but the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, rectangular micro-laptop with a 3-inch screen is uncompelling at best.

Update 9/29/09: The Motorola CLIQ is coming to T-Mobile for $200 on November 2. Pre-orders will start on October 19.

Update 10/14/09: Engadget has published Chris Ziegler’s review of the Motorola CLIQ. From the review:

Let’s be very clear: though it fares pretty competitively against the aging crop of Google-powered devices on the market today, the CLIQ isn’t the Android phone to end all Android phones. Then again, it’s not supposed to be — at least, we hope it isn’t — because a smallish HVGA display and an overworked, outmatched MSM7201A core aren’t going to win any believers that haven’t already been won over by HTC’s stable. What the CLIQ does do, though, is lay the groundwork for something better — a Motorola that doesn’t cause eyes to roll, a Motorola that makes aspirational phones that people can want to own again.

In other words, the Motorola CLIQ isn’t a handset that will knock your socks off. Instead, it is nothing more than a step in the right direction. But honestly, I don’t know if that step is big enough to show any promise in a company that has sat on its butt the past few years.

Update 10/19/09: The Motorola CLIQ is now available to current T-Mobile customers for $199. New subscribers will have to wait until November 2 to purchase one.

At yesterday’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event Apple announced a completely refreshed lineup of iPods.

iPod shuffle

The form factor of the iPod shuffle has remained unchanged but it now comes in 2GB and 4GB varieties and is priced at $59 for the low end model. Apple is also offering the iPod shuffle in colors, alongside the standard silver and black there is pink, green, and blue.

A “special edition” iPod shuffle that is made out of polished stainless steel and comes with 4GB of storage is available for $99 exclusively from Apple.

iPod classic

Same form factor as before, but now with 160GB of storage for $249. Although there were rumors that the iPod classic would be discontinued I have a feeling that Apple will keep it around for at least one more hardware refresh (as long as the price of flash memory doesn’t plummet).

iPod touch

Apple is now positioning the iPod touch as a competitor to the Nintendo DS and the PSP. They started marketing it as such last year but Apple has started really kicking it into high gear. Except for the low end 8GB model the iPod touch is gaining OpenGL ES 2.0 support and the faster processor that the iPhone 3GS has.

The new pricing is $199 for 8GB, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB.

A camera is surprisingly missing from the iPod touch. It seems that HardMac‘s technical difficulties rumor may be true, especially since both iPodNN and AppleInsider claim that a camera is still coming to the iPod touch. Unless you need an iPod touch right now, I’d suggest waiting a little while.

iPod nano

The iPod nano was the biggest hardware announcement of the event. Apple managed to pack a video camera (no still images)  into the iPod nano while maintaining its previous generation’s form factor, but now it is made out of polished anodized aluminum. To complement the video camera the iPod nano has an integrated microphone, a speaker, and  a larger 2.2-inch display.

For the first time ever the iPod nano has a built in FM tuner. The radio has a TiVo-like live pause function that saves up to 15 minutes of music. Song names are displayed on the screen (as long as your radio station broadcasts that data) and you can tag songs you hear for identification purposes in iTunes when you’re back at your computer.

Other notable features:

• VoiceOver
• Genius Mixes
• Voice Recorder
• Built in pedometer to sync with Nike+

The new iPod nano is priced at $149 for 8GB and $179 for 16GB.

Apple – iPod – Compare iPod models and find the right one for you..

Previously:
8/31/09: Apple Makes September 9 Event Official
8/27/09: iPod classic May Also Receive Camera
7/23/09: Wired Touting iPod touch Camera Rumor
4/7/09: iPod touch May Gain Camera in Future Hardware Revision

Update 9/12/09: Third-Generation iPod Touch Teardown Reveals 802.11n-Capable Wi-Fi Chip, Empty Space for Camera – Mac Rumors

Update 9/13/09: Chris Albrecht of NewTeeVee put the new iPod nano through its paces against a Flip Ultra SD. The Flip took better video but does that really matter? Who would buy a Flip camera instead of an iPod nano? Although the Flip takes slightly better video, the extra features you get with the iPod nano is well worth the lower video quality.

Update 9/13/09: Covino & Rich iPod touch was Real

Update 11/24/09: iPod touch Camera Rumors Resurface

At the “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event, Apple released iTunes 9. The new version doesn’t exactly have the Twitter and Facebook integration on the level that The Boy Genius Report rumored last month but it did gain some great new features.

• The iTunes Store has seen a complete redesign making it easier to navigate and discover new content.
• The iTunes Store has also added a “Top Grossing Apps” section displaying applications that have made the most money.
• Genius Mixes automatically generates an endless mix of songs from your iTunes library, it’s like Genius playlists except you don’t have to pick a song first.
• Better iPhone application management. Drag and drop applications onto your home screens and reorder them on your computer. Just sync your device and the changes you’ve made on your computer are made on your device.
• Home Sharing let’s you copy music, movies, TV shows, and applications to up to 5 authorized computers in your home. You can even configure Home Sharing to copy new content to your other computers automatically.
• Apple has added DVD-like extras to their movie downloads calling them “iTunes Extras.”
• The rumored “Project Cocktail” is now officially called “iTunes LP.” Select albums will be available as iTunes LPs which come with bonus content such as liner notes, lyrics, videos, and artist photos.

For most users iTunes 9 is going to be the biggest announcement from this event. I love all the new features but I have to admit that the new whitish background and the shiny window chrome doesn’t sit well with me.

Apple – Download music and more with iTunes. Play it all on iPod..

Previously:
8/31/09: Apple Makes September 9 Event Official
8/20/09: Possible iTunes 9 Features
8/8/09: iTunes May Gain Blu-ray Support and Application Organization
7/27/09: Apple’s Project ‘Cocktail’ Coming in September

Update 9/10/09: Adam Pash of Lifehacker reports that Apple has added an “Automatically Add to iTunes” folder. Whenever an iTunes compatible media file is place in the folder, iTunes automatically adds it to your library

Meanwhile, Zach Holman has found that iTunes has a new media organization feature.

Update 9/12/09: Apple TV Junkie points out that the Apple TV does not support Apple’s newly announced iTunes Extras. It seems that the folks at Apple have been spending less and less time with their hobby.

Update 9/15/09: iTunes LP and Extras Destined for the Apple TV

Update 9/17/09: Damien Erambert has written an iTunes 9 mod to bring back the iTunes-8-like black background.

Update 10/8/09: Gizmodo is reporting that Apple is keeping iTunes LPs out of reach from indie labels. Not only are iTunes LPs not being offered to indie labels but Apple charges a $10,000 production fee for them.

Update 10/14/09: Build Your Own iTunes LPs

Apple announced at their “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event that iPhone OS 3.1 is available immediately. It is free for all iPhone owners and for iPod touch owners who have already upgraded to 3.0. The update will cost $4.95 for all iPod touch owners who have not updated to 3.0.

• The App Store now has a Genius tab that gives you application suggestions based on apps you already own.
• Ringtones can now be purchased in iTunes for $1.29 each.
• iTunes U content is now separated from the rest of your library.
• Support for Genius Mixes.
• “Save as New Clip” option added when trimming video.
• You are now able to remotely lock your iPhone with a passcode using MobileMe.
• VoiceControl now works with Bluetooth headsets.
• Anti-phishing features have been added to Safari.

I’ve already downloaded and have spent a few hours with 3.1. It works very well and is worth the upgrade.

It’s interesting to note that the tethering hack didn’t work with the 3.1 betas but a quick search on Twitter shows that if you enabled tethering before upgrading to 3.1 the hack should still work. If you didn’t enable tethering and want to do so after upgrading to 3.1, you’re out of luck.

Previously:
8/31/09: Apple Makes September 9 Event Official
8/7/09: Latest iPhone OS 3.1 Beta Contains Reference to ‘iProd1,1’
6/25/09: Enable Tethering and MMS Using MobileSafari

Update 9/12/09: Apparently some users have been questioning whether or not Safari’s new anti-phishing feature was actually working. But, The Loop talked to Apple and found out that the anti-phishing database is only downloaded while your device is charging. Apple spokesman, Bill Evans, told the Loop:

After updating to iPhone OS 3.1 the user should launch Safari, connect to a Wi-Fi network and charge their iPhone with the screen off. For most users this process should happen automatically when they charge their phone.

Update 9/12/09: iPhone OS 3.1 now enforces Exchange encryption policy, may block pre-3GS iPhones

Update 10/16/09: iPhone Tethering May be a 2010 Thing

Prior to Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event Apple’s online store went down and when it returned there were lower prices on all existing iPods, except for the shuffle.

• The iPod touch: 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB are now $189, $249, and $279 respectively.
• The iPod nano: 8GB and 16GB are now $129 and $149 respectively.
• The iPod classic is now $229.

This lends some credibility to reports from HardMac earlier this week saying that the iPod touch may be delayed.

Whether the new iPods are delayed or not, I’d wait to see what Apple announces at the event.

Apple slashes iPod prices up to $120 – Apple 2.0 – Fortune Brainstorm Tech.

Update 9/9/09: The store is back down and it’s interesting to note that the old iPod prices are still being displayed on their product pages (touch, nano, classic). I find it unlikely that this price change was accidental but we’ll know for sure in just a couple of hours.

Update 9/12/09: The dust has settled after the event and the iPod pricing that briefly appeared that morning is nowhere to be found. I find it hard to believe that it was just a mistake but I can’t come up with a better explanation for it.

The rumored Palm Pixie/Eos device has officially been announced. Now named the Palm Pixi, the new WebOS based device will be coming to Sprint this holiday season.

The device does not include Wi-Fi but does have 8GB of storage, a 2 megapixel camera with flash, and a 2.63-inch 320×400 display.

Just like it’s older brother, the Palm Pre, the Pixi has a full QWERTY keyboard (although not of the slide-out variety) a hardware ringer on/off switch, a removable battery, and support for the Touchstone (with an optional back cover).

There hasn’t been any price announcements as of yet but the Palm Pre’s price just dropped to $149.99, so $99 sounds like a likely price point.

It’s unfortunate that the device is headed for Sprint and not AT&T, as previous rumors stated, but Palm will finally have a device that is capable of competing with the $99 iPhone 3G.

Palm Pixi Phone – Features and Details | Palm USA.

Previously:
6/12/09: Palm Eos/Pixie Confirmed in Pre Code
5/27/09: AT&T to get WebOS and Android Based Devices This Year

Update 9/19/09: According to John Paczkowski of All Things Digital, Palm’s App Catalog will begin selling applications on September 24.

The Commodore 64 emulator application that was initially rejected from the App Store was briefly available this week. The major change that allowed it to be approved was the “removal” of its BASIC interpretor. The iPhone SDK agreement prohibits programs from running their own code interpreter.

But, it turns out that the BASIC interpretor wasn’t actually removed from the app, just hidden. Rene Ritchie of The iPhone Blog explains how to enable the interpretor and although I haven’t used the application, it seems pretty easy to access.

Apple has obviously caught wind of the hidden BASIC interpretor because the application has been removed from the App Store.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone and as dumb as it is, we all know that code interpretors aren’t allowed in the App Store.

Commodore 64 iPhone app approved, then pulled | Software | iPhone Central | Macworld.

AppleInsider is citing “those claiming knowledge of the matter” who say that a future iPhone software update will enable new AT&T specific features.

These two rumored features are said to be a “collaborative effort between AT&T and Apple based off customer feedback.”

• Overage Alerts would send a push notification to your iPhone when you are in danger of exceeding their monthly anytime minutes.
• New voicemail options would allow a user to  disable the custom voicemail greeting. The same feature would also allow iPhone users to bypass voicemail greetings and other automated instructions when placing calls to AT&T users.

To reiterate, AppleInsider cites sources “claiming knowledge of the matter,” this indicates that AppleInsider is unable to verify whether or not the source would actually have knowledge of the matter, only that they claim to.

AppleInsider | New AT&T specific features rumored for future iPhone update.

Over the past few days there have been reports of several high profile WordPress weblogs being attacked by hackers, including Robert Scoble’s Scobleizer and Andy Ihnatko’s Celestial Waste of Bandwidth.

The common thread with all of the attacked weblogs was that they weren’t using the most recent version of WordPress (2.8.4). If you want to keep your website safe from attack, upgrade to 2.8.4.

If you maintain your own installation of WordPress you should always quickly upgrade your install when new versions are released. WordPress is frequently updated to fix security vulnerabilities, but those releases can’t help you unless you are always up-to-date.

I’m not going to blame the victim as others have, instead I’m simply giving everyone a reminder that you must keep your WordPress installation up-to-date. The good news is that with recent versions of WordPress an upgrade is just a couple of clicks away from the Dashboard.

Old WordPress Versions Under Attack « Lorelle on WordPress.

Loopt has made a deal with AT&T to track and update the location of your iPhone even when the Loopt application isn’t running. This does not mean that the application is running in the background, instead AT&T’s servers will communicate with Loopt to update your location.

The service is not free, there is an additional $3.99 per month charge to your AT&T bill. But, the first 14 days of the service is free.

This deal is the first of its kind and opens the doors to other services to make similar deals with AT&T and other carriers. Whether or not the service will be successful remains to be seen.

Always-On Location Trial Signup | Loopt.

Wednesday night I installed Snow Leopard on my production machine. It is a 2.4GHz 20-inch iMac that is used for the bulk of my computing. I have been using Snow Leopard for a few months on my MacBook but I try to keep that machine relatively clean, it is mostly used for browsing the web. So, up until Wednesday night I hadn’t really been able to spend a lot of time with Snow Leopard.

I’ve heard a lot of users complaining that Snow Leopard just isn’t worth the hassle to upgrade, they often compare it to a Windows service pack and wish that Apple had just been giving us these updates all along rather than waiting to release them in one fell swoop. But, here is the problem with this thought, Apple completely rewrote (at least) two major components of the operating system. Finder and QuickTime are brand new, pushing these updates out through Software Update would give people the false impression that there wouldn’t be any hiccups with their software. As most computer users know an OS upgrade is serious business, especially if you have to use your DVD drive to install it. There is a different perception that people have of a new operating system compared to a .x update. Apple needed that upgrade perception because they knew there would be incompatibilities.

I’m not just saying that Apple charged for this to cover their butts, because they didn’t. The move from Leopard to Snow Leopard might have been the biggest code change that Apple has done since the move from Classic to OS X. We’re talking about adding some pretty major new technologies (Grand Central Dispatch, OpenCL, etc.) alongside complete rewrites of major applications. For the work that Apple put into this and the changes that have actually been made I believe the hassle and the $29 fee is incredibly reasonable.

Granted I upgraded to Snow Leopard 5 days after it was released, but I only had a couple of headaches to deal with after upgrading. Not quite the awful hassle that some users have complained about. One of my 3rd party screensavers (that I wasn’t actually using) was incompatible with Snow Leopard, it was highlighted in grey when I visited System Preferences and when I tried to enable it I was simply told that it was incompatible with Snow Leopard and was asked if I wanted to move it to the trash. The second and final incompatibility was with a couple of AppleScripts that I had built to hide my Time Machine disk from my desktop. When I attempted to run them Snow Leopard told me that I needed Rosetta installed. The fix was simple, I opened them up in AppleScript Editor and re-saved them as an application.

At first I thought I might have just been one of the lucky ones, but Jim Dalrymple believes that Snow Leopard is the most compatible release ever. But, now we have the question as to whether or not Snow Leopard was a big enough upgrade to be worth popping in a DVD for it. Although Snow Leopard doesn’t have a lot of user-facing features with all of the new code behind the scenes I’m guessing that you will be glad to have upgraded in a month or so when you start seeing “Snow Leopard only” underneath some newly popular application’s download link.

Previously:
8/27/09: Preparing for Snow Leopard
8/24/09: Snow Leopard Officially Coming August 28

AT&T has confirmed that MMS will be coming to the iPhone 3G and 3GS on September 25.

We’ve been working for the past several months to prepare our systems and network to ensure the best possible experience with MMS when it launches – and that launch date is: September 25 for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers. MMS will be enabled through a software update on that day.

There’s still no word on tethering but the announcement goes on to talk about the massive increase in data usage on AT&T’s network since the launch of the iPhone (350% year-over-year). With how long it took AT&T to “prepare” for MMS, they don’t make me feel like tethering is coming any time soon.

AT&T Media Kit | iPhone 3GS.

Previously:
7/11/09: Appmodo Still Claims $55 as Tethering Price
6/25/09: Enable Tethering and MMS Using MobileSafari
6/18/09: MMS Coming to iPhone in July, Tethering Will Cost $55

Update 9/6/09: YouTube – AT&T Network 101 & MMS Availability Update

Update 9/9/09: In another attempt to improve their network, AT&T has announced their rollout plans for 7.2Mbps 3G service.

Update 9/13/09: There have been several reports (MobileCrunch, HowardForums, and Mediaite) that AT&T has already began rolling out MMS to some iPhone users. For what it’s worth, I don’t have it yet and haven’t spoken with anyone who has.

Update 9/23/09: From AT&T’s Facebook page:

MMS Update: We know you’ve been eager for this service so we wanted to offer a quick update on the launch plans for MMS on Friday, Sept. 25. Late morning, Pacific Time, on Friday, the new carrier settings update enabling MMS should be live and ready to download through iTunes. We’ll provide the steps and all of the details you need right here at that time.

Update 10/16/09: iPhone Tethering May be a 2010 Thing

Update 11/14/09: AT&T on iPhone Tethering and Verizon Ads

TomTom has published some answers to frequently asked questions, including the answer to obviously the most asked question regarding the Car Kit.

When will the car kit be available?

The TomTom car kit availability was originally planned for this summer. But we have decided to take some extra weeks in order to deliver the highest quality on this innovative product. So, the car kit will become available this October on www.tomtom.com.

The FAQ also reveals that the TomTom app will not come bundled with the Car Kit, it is only available on the App Store.

I’m starting to get a little worried that this is going to cost $300 between the Car Kit and the application.

TomTom — Iphone.

Previously:
8/17/09: TomTom Says the Car Kit is Compatible with the iPod touch
8/16/09: TomTom Apps Show Up in the App Store
8/12/09: TomTom for iPhone May Have September 22 Release Date
6/9/09: WWDC Keynote 2009
5/9/09: TomTom Rumored to be Hiring an iPhone Developer for Navigation App

Update 9/26/09: TomTom Car Kit Will Not Include App

I’ve been making an attempt to simplify my desktop over the past few weeks and DateLine is an application developed by MachineCodex that I stumbled across that does one thing and does it really well.

From MachineCodex’s website:

DateLine is a small, simple app which displays a linear calendar on your desktop in a transparent window. It provides easy access to iCal by double clicking on a day. The background and text colors are customizable with support for transparency.

It has given me a simple way to, at a glance, know what the day and date is without having to add a lot of clutter to the menu bar.

MachineCodex :: Software : DateLine.

The estimated shipping time for the 40GB Apple TV has changed from “Within 24hrs” to “1-2 weeks.” This has lead Gene Munster to speculate that Apple will be making a change to the Apple TV lineup next week.

I have already predicted that Apple would be announcing updates to the Apple TV at next weeks event. I’m expecting the storage sizes to shake up a bit and I’m also expecting a software update for current models.

Apple TV – Apple Store U.S..

Previously:
8/31/09: Apple Makes September 9 Event Official
8/30/09: September Apple Event Predictions

Update 9/2/09: Jim Dalrymple writing for The Loop:

The Loop has learned through very reliable sources that an updated Apple TV will definitely not be introduced at next week’s event in San Francisco.

So much for Apple TV updates.

Update 9/8/09: AppleInsider quoting a report by Robert Cihra, Oppenheimer:

While some have wondered whether Apple might ultimately try to integrate traditional cable set-top box (decoding) functionality into its Apple TV product, Mr. Oppenheimer pretty much killed that concept and said that it just doesn’t fit Apple’s business

Update 9/14/09: Apple has discontinued the 40GB Apple TV and dropped the price of the 160GB model to $229. It isn’t exactly a hardware refresh but it’s a step in the right direction.

Update 9/15/09: iTunes LP and Extras Destined for the Apple TV

Apple announced this years back to school promo back in May and when I first wrote about it I was under the impression that it would run until October 8. Apple recently sent out an email confirming that the deal would end on September 8 (the day before Apple’s iPod event).

The deal is just like in years past, college students and college/k-12 faculty who buy a qualifying Mac (any Mac that isn’t refurbished or a Mac mini) can also get a free iPod.

From my article back in May:

You won’t be able to get any iPod for free, and the rebates are different depending on what iPod you purchase, here’s the details:

• $229 rebate on an iPod touch
• $229 rebate on iPod classic
• $199 rebate on a 16GB iPod nano
• $149 rebate on an 8GB iPod nano
• $79 rebate on an iPod shuffle

Because of my impressions on when this deal was going to end I also believed that the promo would overlap with the release of Apple’s new iPod lineup. This would have meant that you could get one of the new iPods for free, unfortunately this isn’t the case. But, if you are looking to buy a Mac and wouldn’t mind having one of the old iPods this is a great deal.

Back to School: Buy a Mac, get free iPod touch – Apple Store (U.S.).

Previously:
5/27/09: Apple Announces Back to School Promo, Silently Updates $999 MacBook