January 13, 2006, 3:30 PM PST
Apple and the iCell?
Posted by: Kent German

Macworld came and went, and Steve Jobs made no announcements at the show regarding a fabled Apple cell phone. The technology rumor mill has speculated for more than a year now that something to that effect will happen, but we're still in the dark regarding specifics. Of course, Apple dipped its toe into the wireless water last September when it joined with Motorola and Cingular to unveil the disappointing Rokr E1 iTunes phone. And now that Moto more or less divorced Apple with its new Rokr E2 music phone, Apple can approach the market anyway it likes.

After all, not only are cell phones extremely widely used, they're also one of the few gadgets that Apple hasn't addressed. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to guess that such a move is likely. Speculation varies from a simple "iCell" (that would most likely trounce the Rokr) to a complete Apple-branded network and a broad selection of handsets. Like Virgin Mobile, Apple could go the MVNO route and lease infrastructure from a major carrier. But more interestingly, Arstechnica.com has reported that Apple recently filed for four trademark applications for the term MobileMe. It appears the filings reference a number of goods and services, including "telecommunication services for the dissemination of information by mobile telephone, namely the transmission of data to mobile telephones." Now, c'mon Steve, just what are you up to? Well, whatever it is, you can bet that Apple's lips will be tightly sealed until a showy "one more thing" event reveals all.

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January 13, 2006, 2:34 PM PST
Creative Zen Vision:M--a second look
Posted by: James Kim

Before the upcoming full review, of course (here's our First Look). Our black one scratches a bit, though nowhere as much as the iPod--we recommend a nonblack model for scratch haters. The screen is outstandingly bright and colorful, as well as lovely from all viewing angles. Photos pop off the screen, and video is plentiful on our Media Center box; plus, Starz Vongo and others are coming. We're fond of the snappy performance and the excellent new touch pad, but we're sour when it comes to the USB/power/line-out adapter. Additional observations:

Headphones are OK (standard Creative)--you should definitely substitute these.

Screen completely darkens only when the device is in hold mode. If not in hold (and we think this is cool), the LCD dims when not in use.

Controller buttons can be a tad stiff for some; we think they will wear in nicely.

The thin buttons encrusted on the sides of the touch pad are brilliant, providing tactile control with little space.

Using in a sea of iPodders on the San Francisco Muni: refreshing and original.

Works near flawlessly with subscription services and Windows Media Player; will be a nice fit for upcoming Windows Media Player 11.

Solid-feeling in the hand, but it's nothing like the silver-backed 30GB iPod; it also transports well.

Would love Audible support--and why not OGG?

Recorder is good and useful.

Replaceable battery would have closed the deal for many.

Sound is nice. We've heard reports otherwise, but we're pretty impressed.

Custom key is great. We use it for volume, but we wish it could take us to EQ.

Software available for warping photographs and having them pulsate to the beat of a song.

Carrying case is kind of a joke (so is Apple's, but this one gets more style points).

Come back for more. In the meantime, discuss your experiences with the Zen Vision:M, which we think (obviously) is a significant entry into the market.

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January 13, 2006, 2:26 PM PST
Vive la PowerBook!
Posted by: Molly Wood

It's no secret: I don't like the name MacBook Pro. Actually, I am not even remotely alone in this sentiment, although I hope you'll all join me in calling it the McBook. (Seventeen-inch Mactel laptop? Super-sized McBook?) And I want to take this chance to clear up a popular little myth about the PowerBook name. It didn't "have to go" just because Apple's switching from PowerPC chips to Intel. The PowerBook wasn't named after the chip. In fact, the PowerBook 100 was totally tricked out with a Motorola 68HC000 running at 16MHz. That kind of power, obviously, warranted a cool-sounding name like PowerBook. So, you see? There's absolutely no reason Apple can't bring it back. You hear me, Steve? You hear me?

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January 13, 2006, 2:26 PM PST
The Geek in Review: 1/9 to 1/13
Posted by: Tim Moynihan

For one week each year, the stars align and there is harmony between Microsofties, Mac heads, Mandrake users, motorists, mall rats, men of the cloth, monorail drivers, mimes, Max Headroom impersonators, and even some items that do not begin with the letter M.

It is a week of peace, enchantment, magic, and credit-card usage. That is because for one week each year, all interested parties are too busy keeping track of product announcements from CES, Macworld, and the Detroit Auto Show to argue about why their operating system and automobile manufacturer of choice is the awesomest.

Said week was this past week, a week dubbed (if only by me) Ye Olde Fantastick Weeke of Electronicks Showes. So many items are announced, demoed, and hyped during this stretch that it is enough to make a gadget aficionado's head a'splode.

For example:

• The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) wrapped up this past weekend in Las Vegas, and there was plenty to be excited about. Cell phones are becoming more like portable media centers. There are some mighty contenders to iPod's MP3 throne, including our Best in Show pick, Creative's amazing Zen Vision:M. HDTVs continue to get bigger and cheaper. The difference between HD-DVD and Blu-ray was adequately showcased. Nifty emerging tech ideas abounded, including a top-shelf robotic chimp head. But there were also things to not get excited about, such as the fact that the PlayStation 3 will probably cost 8 bajillion dollars and a bag of chips.

• Ever the thunder stealer, Steve Jobs saw all tech bids from Las Vegas and raised them with Apple's new offerings at Macworld 2006. Apple unveiled the Intel-based, dual-core MacBook Pro and iMac Core Duo, signaling the end of the PowerBook laptop line and the molasses-filled G4 processor. Apple's iLife and iWork suites also got key upgrades for 2006. Perhaps the most surprising announcement from Macworld was the lack of an announcement: no new iPods just yet. Instead, the $50 iPod Radio Remote add-on lets you listen to FM stations on your iPod. Speaking of iPods, James Kim has discovered a really easy way to put DVD video on them.

• Meanwhile, in Detroit, some downright fancy automobiles revved their engines at the Detroit Auto Show. Retro-futuristic was the style of choice this year, with Lamborghini, Dodge, and Chevy all showing off concept cars that hearkened back to classic designs from the 1960s and 1970s. But it was the Nissan Urge that took the checkered flag in terms of innovation, thanks to a dashboard and steering wheel that turn into controls for an Xbox racing game when the vehicle is parked. Alas, none of these dreamy rides are on the market yet, but you can always run out and buy our Tech Car of the Year, the 2005 Acura RL.

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January 13, 2006, 2:17 PM PST
Pay for satellite radio, but don't tape it
Posted by: Molly Wood

Remember when you used to put a microphone up to your boombox and tape the radio? Well, when it comes to digital and satellite radio, the RIAA wants you to knock it off. It was fair use when your song recording sounded totally crappy, but now that it might sound good enough to keep you from plunking down for the song on CD, it's soon to be verboten. That--even though, if it's satellite or digital radio, you actually pay a monthly subscription fee--one would think, just might satisfy the eternally ravenous baby-bird mouth that is the music licensing and royalty scheme. But apparently it doesn't. Man. Do you think the RIAA ever gets tired of coming off like the biggest buzz-killing, money-grubbing, Scrooge-like villain of all time?

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January 13, 2006, 2:12 PM PST
Cage match: CES vs. Macworld Expo 2007
Posted by: Molly Wood

For the first time since 2002, next year's CES and Macworld conventions will happen during the exact same week. Macworld organizers say they had the dates first, while CES organizers say they're not expecting a single tech-minded human being to skip CES for Macworld. Except, I guess, Steve Jobs. Uh, maybe.

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January 13, 2006, 11:56 AM PST
How green was CES?
Posted by: Elsa Wenzel

Remember CES 2006, the biggest high-tech showcase on the continent? It was only last week, after all, but this week has been all about Macworld. Anyhow, I feel ultratardy for bringing up some positive changes at CES--namely, the growing awareness of the long-term ecological effects of disposable electronics. There were electric cars and fuel cell-powered gadgets, for example. Plus, a Green Saturday event awarded electronics companies for efforts to recycle waste and to design less-polluting, more energy-efficient products. Some noteworthy examples:

The body of the HP Photosmart R817 digital camera is made of recyclable metal, and it ships with less packaging than usual. The aluminum case of the HP Deskjet 6940 printer is also recyclable, unlike most plastic printer shells. The HP Scanjet 5590 scanner is made partly from recycled inkjet cartridges and plastic bottles, it complies with Europe's strict RoHS laws to reduce heavy metals and, like the other HP products, it's Energy Star compliant.

Panasonic's DMC-FX9 Lumix camera and CF-W4 ToughBook laptop don't use toxic metals such as lead or mercury. The camera uses 21 percent less energy than the older DMC-FX7, and its lithium-ion battery is recyclable. The fanless ToughBook is Energy Star compliant.

The Philips EcoDesign program tries to produce TVs and monitors with fewer hazardous chemicals and energy demands, such as its 37PF7320A flat-panel TV and 190S6 19-inch LCD.

Intel's products are 95 percent lead-free, and its technology powered the first Energy Star-compliant computers 12 years ago.

The base of the Sony AIBO robot is made partly of plastics derived from plants, not petroleum.

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January 13, 2006, 11:40 AM PST
Problems with Apple iPod software 1.1?
Posted by: James Kim

Version 1.1 of the 5G iPod software was released during Steve Jobs's keynote last Tuesday. Among other "improvements" such as bug fixes, the update gives the video iPod and the Nano compatibility with the new iPod Radio Remote. But according to many users on forums such as iLounge and digg.com, the new software has created at least one more significant bug. Here are some symptoms:

Some videos play for 20 to 30 seconds, then freeze, then continue on without sound

More likely to happen on 60GB iPods

More likely to occur with larger 200MB-plus files

Doesn't seem to affect video downloaded from iTunes Music Store

Many users who have updated have reported no problems whatsoever

A soft reset (Menu + Select) will temporarily fix the problem

Some users have reported "less lag" between playback of files

iSquint.org is plain coming out and saying, "60GB 5G iPod owners...don't upgrade!"

Those affected should revert back to iPod software 1 (a file comes on the factory CD), but it seems Apple users will lose all their data. Windows users can use a utility such as iPod Wizard.

It seems as though only video that has been converted using third-party software is affected. We've read reports that videos converted using QuickTime Pro work fine.

I've sent an e-mail to Apple inquiring about the situation and will report on the results. Affected iPod owners, please discuss your own experience with us.

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January 13, 2006, 11:12 AM PST
Easiest way to get your DVD on to your video iPod
Posted by: James Kim

For those of you who haven't figured out how to rip and encode your personal DVDs so that they'll play nice with your iPod, check out HandBrake Lite, possibly the most fuss-free method of making yourself a fair-use copy of your favorite DVD. A "holiday gift" from the creator of iPod video conversion software, iSquint, HandBrake Lite basically rips your DVD and formats it for the iPod in one fell swoop. I tested it with the first Lord of the Rings, and the speed and quality were more than satisfactory. In fact, the movie (1.37GB after transcoding) looks brilliant on the little iPod screen. Basically, the simple application locates the movie file on the DVD, then begins converting it to the iPod-compatible 320x240 MP4 format. The rest is pretty simple. The only problem I had was the fact that the iPod died on me just as Gandalf fell into the fiery chasm (2 hours, 9 minutes). Sure, software of this ilk brings up lots of DMCA-related legal issues, but conversion software is only a Google search away.

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January 13, 2006, 10:56 AM PST
iPod Video misbehaving part 1
Posted by: James Kim

So, an esteemed CNET colleague and iRiver H320 owner just purchased a 60GB black iPod, and so far he loves it, but...

...within a week of ownership, he's already noticed a bug that most active iPodders will eventually notice: After watching a video podcast that he downloaded via iTunes, he backed out to the main menu and selected one of the Audible audiobooks that he's so fond of--then things started going awry. Apparently, and I've tested this myself, the soundtrack of the aforementioned video podcast will continue to play while the Audible book plays over it but in a garbled, static-filled robotic vociferation. A soft reset is one of his only options at this point. He has version 1.0 of the iPod software loaded, so I recommended updating to the recently available 1.1 and to report back to me. I haven't seen this bug documented, but I will appreciate hearing about similar stories and any possible fixes.

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