Archive for July, 2008
July 30, 2008
Readers of PC Magazine once again awarded top scores to Apple products. iPhone (8.9 out of 10), Mac desktops, (9.1/10), Mac laptops (9.2/10), iPod (8.4/10), and AirPort Base Stations (9.0/10) all achieved Readers’ Choice status and performed “Significantly better than average” in the annual reader survey. Respondents named iPhone the “ultimate smartphone,” and say PC Mag editors of Mac desktops: “No Windows vendor can touch the favorable scores Apple received across the board.”
July 30, 2008
Watch collectors, astronomers, and those who simply admire a beautiful feat of engineering have been waxing enthusiastic over the Emerald Chronometer. A $4.99 application, Emerald Chronometer models seven “high-end mechanical watches,” offering such “complications” as sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, longitude, latitude, and others.
July 30, 2008
If you’re a Stephen King fan — or a fan of graphic novels — you’ll really enjoy Stephen King’s N. You can download the first five episodes of the new animated graphic novel series from iTunes when you purchase a season pass for just $3.99. Then, each Monday over the next four weeks, iTunes will automatically download new episodes, five at a time, as they become available.
July 30, 2008
The unique wave-shaped closures on the sides define the design elegance of this protective case for the new iPhone 3G.
July 30, 2008
Filed under: Software
UK web development team Clearleft has released its web site usability testing application, Silverback.
In short, Silverback turns a Mac into a portable usability testing laboratory. What used to require a complicated and cumbersome set up involving several computers, a video camera, and lots of time, can now be done much faster and with less hassle. You only need a Mac with a built-in or attached camera, and a copy of Silverback.
The application records video footage of the user, and combines it with recorded footage of their activity on screen. Clicks, inputs, pointer movements and the user’s speech and facial expressions are all combined into a single video file that can be quickly exported. One nice touch allows the test facilitator to add “bookmarks” during a session by clicking a button on the Mac’s Apple Remote. Nothing distracting will show up in front of the user, but the bookmark is still recorded invisibly in the background.
The only thing that doesn’t appear to be included - at least in this initial release - is the ability to edit the output video file before exporting. Even so, it looks like it could be an invaluable tool for anyone who makes software or web sites for a living. If you want to find out more, watch the five-minute demo video, which is a useful summary of aims and features.
Silverback is Tiger and Leopard compatible, sells for $49.95 and can be used as a fully functional demo for 30 days. As an added bonus, 10% of all profits generated will be donated to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
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July 30, 2008
Filed under: Retail, Apple
The rumored Apple Store, Sainte Catherine in Montréal is opening today, in grand style. If you’re in the area of 1321 Ste-Catherine st west besides the Ogilvy Department Store at the corner De la Montagne st (which I totally just grabbed from the store’s website, I have no idea where any of that is) you should stop on by.
It looks like the store will also have a number of musical guests for the next few days to keep interest up. Amongst the musical folks stopping by the store are:
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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July 30, 2008
Rob Enderle, everyone’s “love to hate” analyst, has suggested that Apple’s iPhone “wasn’t finished” much like Microsoft’s Vista operating system. “Clearly, Apple is having manufacturing and software problems,” independent analyst Rob Enderle says. “A star product like the iPhone does a lot of great things for Apple, but when things go wrong, it can bring down the entire image of a company.”…
July 30, 2008
Truphone has announced a number of new features which should ensure that its users don’t run out of call credit while using the service out and about. Customers can top-up while on the go, either via a mobile-optimised Web page or automated telephone top-up service… 
July 30, 2008
Probably because it functions as a video and music iPod and now has access to a whole host of applications, it seems the most popular iPhone 3G is the 16GB model. At least, that’s the handset which seems to always be out of stock. Though both O2 and The Carphone Warehouse had new stock delivered last week, both are running short of the 16GB model (still only available in black, it has to be noted)… 
July 30, 2008
Though the MobileMe service, which has been plagued with problems since it semi-launched earlier in the month alongside the iPhone 3G, is already live in the UK, Apple has just sent out an email to those who signed up for more information inviting them to take part in a free trial…
