Posts Tagged ‘Apple’

Remembering Steve Jobs

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dies At 56

Innovative Leader Built World’s Most Valuable Tech Company, Touched Countless Lives

This photo, which was scanned to digital by Apple Inc., shows founder Steve Jobs at the 1977 introduction of the Apple II computer – the first popular home computer, and the first to come with a keyboard and color monitor. The Apple II was also the first of many revolutionary technology products that Steve would bring to the market, forever changing the way we work, create, communicate, learn, and interact with the world. On October 5th, Jobs died after a long battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer.

Last Tuesday’s somewhat lackluster iPhone 4S announcement was soon put into perspective when it was announced that Apple’s ingenious, charismatic, and much-loved leader had passed away. The company released a statement saying:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Jobs, who was only 56 years old, transformed not only the computer industry but also the music industry, the cell phone industry, the portable gaming industry, and more. He left a legacy of blockbuster products such as the original Macintosh computer, the iMac, the iPod, the MacBook – the world’s number-one notebook computer – and of course the ubiquitous iPhone and iPad. Jobs also revolutionized computer animation with Pixar, a company he formed in 1986 after purchasing a small animation firm from Lucasfilm’s effects division, Industrial Light & Magic.

After struggling with health problems for nearly a decade, Jobs resigned his post as Apple’s CEO in August, 35 years after co-founding the company in the garage of his parents’ home in Cupertino, California. Jobs’ story is one of incredible persistence and constant innovation. Forced out of his own company in the mid 1980s, Steve immediately poured himself – and his personal fortune – into two new projects, one of which became Pixar. As his second computer company, NeXT, struggled to get off the ground, Jobs refused to let financial woes and a hesitant Hollywood prevent Pixar from taking off. After the studio’s first feature film “Toy Story” became a monumental success, Pixar went public and Jobs’s money troubles were over; he became a billionaire overnight. Pixar was later bought by Disney for $7.5 billion, making Jobs the biggest shareholder in the entertainment giant.

After years apart from Apple, Steve was brought back in to a struggling Apple in 1996, when he made major changes to the company and eventually was reinstated as CEO. The next year, a near-bankrupt Apple introduced the iMac desktop computer, and the company’s amazing comeback had begun. Apple Inc. is now the most valuable technology company in the world. Jobs truly believed that technology was a tool that should be used not only to crunch numbers, but to unleash creativity and to enrich the lives of people everywhere.

Jobs is survived by his wife, their son Reed Paul, their daughters Erin Sienna and Eve, and his daughter Lisa. To see more Steve Jobs photos that have been scanned to digital by the Los Angeles Times, visit Los Angeles Times.

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Steve Jobs Resigns His Apple CEO Post

Monday, September 5th, 2011

Apple CEO And Co-Founder Steve Jobs Steps Down

Presumed In Poor Health, Jobs Says He Is No Longer Up To The Task

Apple co-founder and long-time CEO Steve Jobs is certainly one of the most recognized figures in corporate America, and for good reason. Perhaps more than any other big name executive, Jobs is synonymous with his company, personally introducing new products to the world in his famous keynote speeches, and actively driving Apple’s visionary take on computing and mobile entertainment/connectivity. These days if you’re listening to music, watching a digital video transfer, or surfing the web on the go, you’re more likely doing it on a device from Apple than from any other brand.

Last week in an email to Apple’s board of directors, Jobs suddenly resigned his CEO post, and passed the torch to then chief operating officer, Tim Cook. This announcement was not expected at this time, though Jobs’s string of health issues in recent years has led to much speculation about the future of Apple’s leadership. These health issues have included a successful surgery to treat a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and a liver transplant in 2009 to address what Jobs described as a “hormone imbalance” that made it difficult for his body to absorb certain proteins. During Jobs’s leaves of absence, COO Tim Cook effectively ran Apple, handling day-to-day business while Jobs participated in an advisory capacity. The most recent of these leaves of absence began in January of this year, when Jobs announced that he would once again take an indefinite medical leave from his helm. In January, Jobs said in a letter to Apple employees, “I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can.”

But it seems that day will not come. In his resignation email, Jobs said, “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.” Jobs did not go into detail regarding his condition, but it has been widely reported that he is in very poor health. He did say that he believes that the company’s “brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it,” and that he would like to take on the role of chairman of the board.

In recognition of Jobs’s contribution as Apple’s leader, the popular tech site CNET put together a thoughtful mini-documentary. A digital video transfer of the piece is embedded below.

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New Version Of iTunes Coming In September

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Apple Expected To Focus On Software At September Music Event

iTunes 11 To Feature New Look, Cloud Interoperability

Every autumn, Apple holds an annual music event during which new versions of the world-dominating iPod mp3 players are unveiled. Traditionally, this event has also been used to introduce new versions of Apple’s free iTunes software. Last September, the company announced the current generation of iTunes, version 10, offering new features such as HDTV show rentals and support for a feature called AirPlay. The AirPlay feature, which allows iOS devices (the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) to stream music files and digital video transfers over WiFi to other devices such as the Apple TV, has been widely embraced by the home entertainment electronics community. Pioneer, Denon, Sony, and other makers of the A/V receivers used for surround sound home theater have licensed the technology, allowing users to stream content directly to their living room TVs and sound systems. Other notable features of iTunes 10 included the soon-forgotten integrated social-networking service called Ping, and a new logo.

This September, version 11 of iTunes is expected to steal the show at Apple’s music event. Some analysts suggest that Apple will not announce any new or updated iPod models, for the first year in a decade of annual releases. Although the iPod (together with the all-in-one iMac computer) helped launch Apple from its financial problems in the 1990s to the one of the most profitable companies in the world in 2011, Apple is once again showing a shift in focus, this time toward iPhone and iPad products. The iPhone and iPad are now Apple’s most popular products, and the company feels more pressure to stay ahead of the quickly growing competition in the smartphone and tablet computer markets than to advance in the multimedia player market, where it reigns supreme with less serious threats from competing manufacturers.

According to rumors, the release of iTunes 11 will coincide with the launch of Apple’s new cloud-based media service called iCoud. This service will allow for cloud-based backups, syncing, and file-moving among multiple iOS devices and computers. Users of iCloud will enjoy seamless syncing of everything from music and digital video transfers to applications, documents, calendars, and even videogame progress. The new version of iTunes is believed to be tailored around the iCloud service, sporting a new interface, better integration with the iTunes music store, and automatic data syncing inside apps. For example, if you change a setting in an app, or advance to a new level in a videogame, that information will be automatically communicated to and stored in your iTunes library. The new version of iTunes is also expected to add support for books purchased from Apple’s iBookstore.

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Apple TV Now Lets Users Purchase TV Episodes Right From The Box

Monday, August 15th, 2011

New Apple TV Software Update Makes Up For Console’s Lack Of Storage Space

Purchased Content Streams Directly From Apple’s Servers

Apple recently released a software update to its Apple TV streaming box, adding an important feature: the ability to purchase digital video transfers of TV episodes directly from the mini console. This is a feature that was present on the original Apple TV, which included built-in hard-drive storage to store downloaded content. When Apple released its new console last year, the internal hard-drives were scrapped as cloud-based media-streaming became the new norm. But that meant that all TV episodes had to be “rented,” meaning paying customers would only have access to them for a short period of time, after which they would vanish.

The new software update makes up for the lack of built-in storage on the current generation Apple TV by making purchased video content available to viewers whenever they want to watch it. Instead of downloading and storing the digital video transfers on the Apple TV, the new system simply allows users to “purchase” episodes and stream them from the cloud whenever they want to watch. This system allows Apple TV users to once again buy content directly from the box.

Before this software update, the only solution for customers who wanted to purchase TV episodes (for any-time viewing on a permanent basis) was to download the digital video transfers to another device (such as a computer or iPad), and then have the Apple TV use a home WiFi network to retrieve the video from that device. Now, purchased content streams directly from Apple’s servers, and the experience is much more streamlined. This move is also significant because the iTunes store has a much wider selection of content available for purchase than it does for rental, since many TV networks do not support the renting model. The only possible down side of streaming all content from Apple’s servers is buffer lag. John Falcone, an editor of the popular tech website CNET, tested the service and found that streaming a TV episode required a 6-minute buffering period before the video would play, though he was able to watch locally-stored content during that waiting period.

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Apple Updates MacBook Air, Mac Mini

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Apple Ditches DVD Drives In New Designs

Is The Diskless, Download-Only Future Starting Now?

Last week, Apple updated several products in its ever-evolving lineup of computer products, most notably its Macintosh OS X operating system and its thin-and-light laptop, the MacBook Air. On the first day that the new OS X “Lion” was available for download on Apple’s Mac App store, over one million people purchased the new operating software. The update for the MacBook Air brought the addition of speedier Intel Core i5/i7 processors, a 2-generation leap forward in CPU technology. The MacBook Air also gained a backlit keyboard and the new Thunderbolt port (added to MacBook Pros and iMacs earlier this year) which provides super-fast data transfer to peripherals, as well as support for multiple displays. Despite the changes, the price range for the MacBook Air is staying the same ($999 – $1,699, depending on screen size and options).

When the MacBook Air was first introduced in 2008, its sleekness made headlines, though its lack of an optical (DVD) drive was criticized by some. Nowadays, the thin-and-light laptop is a popular design among PC manufacturers as well, and it seems that many users are willing to sacrifice the ability to watch DVDs and burn CDs in exchange for enhanced portability. Apple would be quick to remind complainers that they can just download digital video transfers and music files from the iTunes store if they feel the need to be entertained, and that the MacBook Air can access the optical drives on other computers sharing the same network (if, for example, software needs to be installed from a CD-ROM).

Now, three years after the Air first ditched the optical drive, history seems to be repeating itself with the new version of Apple’s Mac Mini desktop computer. The Mini is Apple’s smallest and most affordable desktop, starting at $599. Like the MacBook Air, the new Mini has been updated with new, faster processors, and the Thunderbolt in/out interface. But unlike previous generation Minis, the new version does not have an optical drive. In the MacBook Air, it can be argued that it makes sense to ditch this drive for the sake of maximal portability. In the Mac Mini, the omission seems somewhat confusing. Many people use Mac Minis as living room computers, and will miss the ability to play DVDs. The Mac Mini is also a popular music server among computer audiophiles, who will certainly miss the ability to rip CDs to the computer’s hard-drive. But for Apple, the new configuration does make some sense.

The big A was able to add faster processors and the coveted Thunderbolt port to the Mini, while actually lowering its price by $100 compared to the previous generation. According to Apple’s website, “Mac mini is designed without an optical disc drive. Because these days, you don’t need one.” Clearly, Apple hopes that the lack of an optical drive will encourage Mac Mini users to download music and digital video transfers from the iTunes store. If you want a Mac and you’re interested in buying the Mac Mini (after all, it is the cheapest Mac ever) but you don’t want to go diskless, you can use an external DVD/CD drive that connects to the Mini via USB. You lose some of the sleekness of the Mini’s appeal, but you’re still getting a Mac.

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New iMac Not Just A Pretty Face

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

The New iMac Is The Fastest Kid On The Block

Apple’s All-In-One Offers Good Looks, High Speed, And 27 Inches Of Glory

You don’t have to be a computer person to know that Apple’s iMac all-in-one computers are some of the best-looking computers out there. Even if you generally prefer PCs to Macs, there is no denying that Apple’s design takes the cake for display real-estate and quality, and the slickness of the overall presentation. Last week, Apple introduced a new iMac that beefs up things internally, making it faster and more capable than ever before. This new iMac, featuring a gigantic 27” display, is now not only the best-looking all-in-one computer out there, it’s also the fastest.

There are a few big changes in the new iMac, chief among which is the inclusion of the new second-generation Core i5 or i7 processors. These new CPUs offer higher speed and efficiency, and significantly improved graphics performance over previous chips. This makes the new iMac a great choice for media professionals and enthusiasts who want to edit photos and digital video transfers, and perform other graphics-intensive operations. The average consumer might find the highest-end iMac to be overkill in both price and features, but people like gaming enthusiasts and serious media editors will rejoice at the computer’s high-end AMD Radeon HD 6000-series graphics card and exceptional peripheral device flexibility.

Speaking of peripherals, the second big addition to the new iMacs is the new Thunderbolt interface, which supports high-bandwidth bi-directional flow of data and display information. Whether you want to hook up a high-speed external hard drive or an additional monitor, the Thunderbolt interface offers unprecedented speed of information flow. Thanks to the flexibility of this interface, users can hook up two additional monitors for a simultaneous three-display workstation. That means you can have a video call on one screen, documents or emails on another, and still edit a full-screen digital video transfer at the same time. This kind of multi-display support is not unique to the iMac, but the current version is the first Apple all-in-one to offer this level of display flexibility.

If you are interested in taking advantage of that beautiful 27” display to watch HD movies on Blu-ray, you’re out of luck; Apple still hasn’t incorporated Blu-ray into any of its computers. This is the one major drawback of the iMac. Increasingly computers are becoming multimedia hubs, and some users (especially those who plan on using the iMac in dorm rooms or bedrooms) might miss the ability to watch Blu-rays (regular DVDs are no problem). Of course, Apple would prefer that you just download an HD digital video transfer of the movie from the iTunes store. This conflict of interest certainly explains why Apple has been hesitant to add Blu-ray support, but if the Blu-ray continues to become more commonplace, Apple may have to give in at some point.

Aside from the lack of Blu-ray support, the new iMac seems like a very appealing all-in-one computer for those who are willing to part with $2,000+ in the name of speed and elegant design.


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Apple Lifts Ban On Flash-Based iPhone/iPad Apps

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Apple Lifts Ban On Flash-Based iPhone/iPad Apps

Newly Relaxed Policy Opens Doors For Developers

Apple is back in the news this week, as the battle between Apple and Adobe takes an unexpected turn. As any iPhone user will tell you, you can’t run Adobe Flash apps on devices that operate on Apple’s “iOS” mobile operating system; the current lineup includes the ever-popular iPhone, the iPod touch, and most notably, the supposed computer substitute, the iPad. Back in April, Apple CEO Steve Jobs explained why his company would rather restrict its customer’s use of the web than embrace Flash – a popular but, according to Jobs, outdated tool used for web-design and web-based animation, digital video transfers, and interactive applications such as games. “We know from painful experience,” said Jobs, “that letting a third-party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in substandard apps, and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform.” Adobe’s Flash-to-iPhone Compiler software was designed to allow app developers to use Flash tools to create applications that could then be converted into the iPhone format, but Apple’s ban on applications built on the Flash platform pulled the plug.

Of course, there was much speculation that Apple had more in mind than the quality of future iPhone apps when it banned the use of the Flash-to-iPhone Compiler. Jean-Louis Gassee, a former head of Macintosh development at Apple, said that Jobs “doesn’t want to be at the mercy of cross-platform tools that could erase Apple’s competitive advantage.” Whatever the reasoning behind it, Apple’s ban stayed firmly in place. Until September 9th, that is, when the company unexpectedly loosened its white-knuckled grip and announced that the restrictions put in place back in April would now be dropped. This news came as both a shock and a relief to the developers who have created over 250,000 applications based on interactivity, digital video transfer playback, and more.

 A statement from Apple reads, “We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need.”

Adobe was also pleased to hear that its Flash platform could once again be used to build applications for Apple’s now iconic mobile devices. “We are encouraged to see Apple lifting its restrictions on its licensing terms,” said Adobe in a written statement. “(Lifting the ban) gives developers the freedom to choose what tools they use to develop applications for Apple devices.”

Apple’s relax in policy also affects Google, whose in-app advertising was also banned in April and then reinstated last week. The company chimed in via a blog post, saying, “This is great news for everyone in the mobile community, as we believe that a competitive environment is the best way to drive innovation and growth in mobile advertising.”

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Show Off Your Digital Photos With Apple’s New iPad

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Show Off Your Digital Photos With Apple’s New iPad

Touch-Screen Tablet Lets Digital Photos Shine

apple-ipad-1With digital cameras and photo scanning becoming more and more common, many of us have large collections of digital photos. And though this trend of moving photos to digital has made life easier in many ways, it brings with it new complications. Sure, emailing photos is a piece of cake, but what’s the best way to display your digital photos in the kitchen? Or in the living room? And how should you show grandma the photos of your latest trip to Disneyland when you visit her this weekend?

What’s the best way to share and show off your digital photos? According to Steve Jobs and the rest of the crew at Apple Inc., that’s an easy question. The much anticipated Apple iPad, a tablet-like touch-screen computing device that will hit shelves at the end of March, has seen more hype in the tech news than any device since Apple launched its game-changing iPhone back in 2007. Apple calls its newest creation a “magical and revolutionary product,” and confidently declares it to be “the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down.”

The device, which measures 7.47 inches wide by 9.56 inches tall by 0.5 inch thick, is dominated by the 9.7-inch glass-covered capacitive touch screen. With a screen resolution of 1,024×768 pixels and a technology called in-plane switching (IPS) to boost viewing angles far beyond those of a traditional laptop screen, the iPad’s display does seem like a great way to show off your photos, both around the house and on the go.

On the software side of things, the iPad runs a version of the same intuitive operating system that runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch. This can be seen as a good thing or a terrible thing. On the plus side, millions of iPhone and iPod Touch users already know exactly how to operate the yet-to-be-released iPad, and the interface is so intuitive that a baby could use it. On the downside, the operating system’s simplicity brings with it several limitations, the most significant being that the device can only run one application at a time, and that the only way to get new applications is through Apple’s own App Store.   

Fortunately, Apple redesigned the iPhone’s photo app specifically for the iPad, and it really lets your digital photos shine in ways that just aren’t possible with other devices. Want to show off your old family photo albums? You can scan your old photos to digital and import them onto the iPad in seconds. Got a digital camera? Import directly from your SD card. The iPad displays photos as tiny “stacks” of thumbnails, which you can easily expand, browse through, and move around. When the iPad is docked in its charging station, it becomes a digital photo frame, displaying a montage of photos using a wide variety of beautifully fluid slideshow settings.

All said, the iPad isn’t for everyone, but it can be used by anyone. Some say it can’t do enough, but it does do certain things, like photos, really really well. Look for it starting in late March, or check it out at www.apple.com.

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