Non stop flights

When I first heard about podcasting, I didn't get it. Why would I want to download MP3 files of people talking? But then former Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated the usefulness of podcasts when he introduced podcast support for iTunes and the iPod at WWDC 2005, and I was sold. (Watch the video if you're unfamiliar with podcasting.) I now listen to podcasts when walking to and from work, cooking, doing the dishes, etc. This lets me keep up with developments in philosophy , economics , science , and technology , not to mention entertainment with things like the stories from flight attendant Betty and relationship advice from Dan Savage . Podcasting combines two somewhat revolutionary elements: podcasts can be produced by anyone, and you can listen to them on the go without taking away time from other activities. Within the Apple universe, the original model for listening to podcasts (or watching them) was to download them with iTunes on the computer, sync them to an … [Read more...] about Hands on: five podcast apps that improve on iOS functionality

Apple found its smile again. After a year without breaching a single new product category, a year when product rollout events began to feel like dour requirements instead of tech entertainment, Apple turned it around in 2014. Like the Apple of old, its product and service introductions surprised us and put the competition on notice. Its iPhone 6 rollout event was vintage Apple, full of excitement, entertainment and even controversy . I will never forget the beaming faces of every Apple employee I ran into. Their smiles said, “ We’re back, baby .” See also: Apple iPhone 6: The Review Months and tens of millions of iPhone 6 and 6 Pluses sold later, the giddiness has worn off. Apple confronts 2015 with lots of positive momentum, but also a bushel of big questions. In 2015, business will move to the center of Apple’s market focus. Five months ago, Apple stunned the tech community by announcing a long-term enterprise partnership with IBM . The idea is to bring … [Read more...] about What to expect from Apple in 2015

Apple will reportedly include Spotify rival Beats Music as a pre-installed app in an iOS update next year, similar to how Apple launched iTunes Radio with iOS 7 in 2013. This means the paid streaming-music app would be included as part of Apple devices alongside other pre-installed apps, such as iTunes, GarageBand and iTunes Radio. See also: Apple Is Considering Renaming Beats Music, Not Shutting It Down Apple declined to comment to Mashable about the rumored plan, which was first reported by Financial Times on Wednesday. Apple also refused to confirm the move to FT . The strategy wouldn't be a surprise because Apple naturally wants its apps on as many of its devices as possible to bolster user numbers. The plan could boost Beats Music's paid subscribers base, though most users would likely be given a free two-week trial to test the app before deciding to pay $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for a subscription. Unlike Spotify, Beats Music doesn't offer a … [Read more...] about Apple may forcibly put Beats Music into your iOS update next year

Oct. 23, 2001: The iPod The very first iPod launched with "1,000 songs in your pocket." It had 5GB of storage space, weighed 6.5 ounces, featured a 160 x 128 pixel display and FireWire connectivity and cost $399. July 2002: Second Generation iPod As well as an increased capacity topping out at 20GB, the second generation iPod got an important new feature -- Windows compatibility. This came not via iTunes, but through MUSICMATCH Jukebox, with software called "iPod for Windows." April 2003: Third Generation iPod 2003 was a big year for the Apple iPod. In April, the third generation model was introduced. Thinner and lighter, this complete redesign now boasted a touch-sensitive interface, dock connector and 30GB capacity. USB syncing and the launch of the iTunes Music Store solidified the early iPod ecosystem. These elements helped Apple hit some milestones in 2003 -- one million iPods sold (which rose to two million by the end of the year) and 25 … [Read more...] about Rest in Peace, iPod

Cars in a parking lot could soon keep track of each other and, like sheep, complain if one of their numbers is stolen or meets a bad end. At least, that's the intention of the Sensor Vehicle Anti-Theft System (SVATS) proposed by Sencun Zhu, an assistant professor at Penn State University. As he explained to LiveScience.com , each car would be given a sensor — smaller than a coin — that would wirelessly call roll with other, similarly equipped cars in the parking lot within range, and pass on the results. If any car stopped responding to the roll call without issuing a goodbye signal when it was unlocked, the car herd would decide that the non-responsive car had been stolen and alert the lot's base station. Parking lot monitoring could be accomplished without inter-car networking, but the use of networking allows for short-range, low-power transmitters, with longer battery life , Zhu said. The range of the sensor signal between cars will be about TK to TK feet (2 to 10 meters. … [Read more...] about Theft Prevention Invention: Cars Band Together