iTouch competitor to be released on September 15th!

Many of us are anticipating the arrival of Zune HD to be mind blowing and extraordinary. Why wouldn’t we be with its outstanding features including:

• Crystal clear HD Radio with wireless syncing
• 10 hours of High-Def playback on your Zune.
• Multi-touch navigation with 16:9 OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display
• 720p support for when you would like to watch movies, music videos and tv shows through your Zune to your HDTV.
• Surf your browser anywhere, anytime with Wireless Wi-Fi

Microsoft have made the next step in the upcoming appearance of the Zune HD in September by revealing the above features, pricing and that it is available to reserve right now! You can pre-order your Zune HD from US retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart if you are that anxious ! For more information about the product features and pre-ordering, feel free to visit Zune’s website.

Pricing

Speculations of Amazon and Best Buy were completely true and accurate, not surprisingly. The 16GB Zune media player will cost $220 (£132.50) and the 32GB Zune platinum model will cost $290 ( £174.80.) In addition to the pricing, Microsoft have revealed there will be five contrasting colours the portable device will be available in and the opportunity of having your name engraved in it with a choice of ten expert designs!

The big clash: Apple iTouch Vs Zune HD

There seems to be not really much in it in terms of differences in features between these two portable super heavyweights! For sake of argument, below are some of the features that the current iTouch contains:

• Touchscreen navigation
• Anytime Wireless Wi-Fi
• 576P HD video output

However, in these early days, the Zune HD has the upperhand with numerous advanced features in comparison to the iTouch including better gaming experience and OLED display, which can make all the difference at the end of the day! But then again, remember Apple are going to release their new iTouch in early September with rumours of awesome fresh feature like GPS navigation and a camera!

It’s a very hard decision to make! Both devices are just fantastic in their own ways, and consumers making decisions now are definitely narrow minded!

Want to pre-order now? Visit Amazon now!

Who do you think will come out on top? The new iTouch that Apple have up their sleeves or the staggering Zune HD which is sure to be a big hit straight away! Please feel free to tell us your opinion below.

Songbird is a free and open source software audio player and web browser, with a stated mission “to incubate Songbird, the first Web player, to catalyze and champion a diverse, open Media Web.” Songbird employs Mozilla’s XULRunner platform, and is thus capable of running on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Solaris and Linux.  Thus, utilizes the GStreamer media framework.

The following are what Songbird makes an excellent option over other players.
•    Cross-platform compatibility with Windows XP, Vista, Mac OS X v10.5 and Linux.
•    Ability to play multiple audio formats, such as MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, Apple Lossless and WMA
•    Ability to play Apple FairPlay-encoded audio on Windows and Mac platforms via hooks into QuickTime (authorization takes place in iTunes)[4]
•    Ability to play Windows Media DRM audio on Windows platforms[4]
•    A skinnable interface, via feathers – which give users and artists the ability to change the look of Songbird via an extension which generates a default skin. Using CSS (and optionally XUL), and an image manipulation program such as Photoshop or GIMP, users are then able to make Songbird look however they want.
•    Media files stored on pages viewed in the browser show up as playable files in Songbird
•    MP3 file download
•    Ability to subscribe to MP3 blogs as playlists
•    User-created bookmarks
•    Ability to build custom mixes
•    Ability to scan the user’s computer for all audio files and add them to a local library
•    A configurable and collapsible graphical user interface similar to iTunes, and mini-player mode
•    Keyboard shortcuts and media keyboard support
•    Automatic updates
•    Last.fm integration via a plugin, complete with love/hate buttons
•    Microsoft MTP compatible device support
•    Ability to edit and save metadata tags
•    Media Importing / Exportings (from and to iTunes)
•    Automatic Library Files Organization

As a user, you would  love more the added features and ability to change functionality in Songbird by installing extensions. Community designed extensions are: Qloud Tagging & Search, eMusic Integration, iTunes Importer, iPod Device, Artist Tracker, Library File Organizer, Audioscrobbler Notifier, Wikipedia Artist Display, SHOUTcast Radio Directory, UnPlug, Adblock Plus, Taglib metadata handler and Minimize-to-Systemtray, and ChatZilla.

Songbird is really an excellent for playing and downloading music from the web.  Organize your music files and playlist with Songbird with its big library window in the middle, search tools, digital file conversion features, and playlists.

Further, many are looking forward on the added development of this open-source player which can leave  iTunes far apart.

Jailbreaking is straightforward when you know which software is best to use...

With the release of the new iPhone’s OS 3.0, some apple users have already taken the initiative and upgraded to the new device. For some, this is an easy process and for others it is one of those you have to follow step by step instructions to get a grasp of it. Here, we plan to equip you with essential guidance to successfully jailbreaking your iPhone.

Redsn0w, PwnageTool and Ultrasn0w

These tools may seem completely alien to you but don’t worry, if you just want to jailbreak your iPhone and get off your computer and straight onto your iPhone, Redsn0w is the tool for you! In this tutorial, I will go in easy numerical steps so it not hard to follow.

Step 1 : Back up your iPhone

To back up your iPhone follow these steps:

Step 2: Download Redsn0w

To download the file, you can see the places where you can get the file from the dev team’s blog. Here, you can decide which file suits your PC/laptop which could depend on whether its Windows or a Mac. After you have downloaded the file extract it to a folder, which you could make beforehand.

Step 3: Launch the Redsn0w.exe file

Now you can launch the .exe file as soon as iTunes has finished updating.

Step 4 : Browse for your “IPSW” file

As seen below on the first start up screen, select browse and find your IPSW file which is an Apple firmware file. *HINT* The correct one is always the one that has been saved recently.

If you’re using the conventional Windows XP, your IPSW file will be located here:

C:\Documents and Settings\<login name>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

OR

for Windows Vista/7 users it will be located,

C:\Users\<login name>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

Note: login name should be replaced by your actual login name so for example it could be “admin.”

When this screen pops up, find your IPSW which can simply be found by searching the contents of the folder you made previously.

Step 5: Select Next when Redsn0w is verified successfully

So, as soon as your IPSW is found, you can then select “next” continuing onto the closing stages of jailbreaking, as seen below.

Press "Next" once firmware is verified correctly

Step 6: Make sure you select “Install Cydia” option

This is probably the most important step as the “Cydia” app allows you to download apps that have been jailbroken. It will appear just as a small box at the bottom, so don’t ignore it!

Step 7: Plug iPhone into Computer only when device is off.

You may now plug in your iPhone but read the instructions telling you to hold the button down on top of the phone and wait til the “slide to power off” option appears, as it shows below.

Plugin your iPhone but wait until it is definitely turned off before selecting "next."

Step 8 : Follow the instructions on screen promptly

RedSn0w will now give you instructions to follow, but let me break them down more easily for you.

• Firstly, you have to hold down the power button, which is at the top of your iPhone, for an alloted time slot. Don’t worry because the software will tell how long left before you can let go!
• Next, while still holding the power button down, you’ll press the “Home” button (the round button at the bottom) for the alloted time.
• Now, while holding the “Home” button down still, release the power button for the allotted time.

Almost there…. your iPhone will have a few crashes through the process but don’t worry, it’s normal!

Step 9 : Automatic iPhone Restart and RAM disk upload

Wait for the iPhone to reboot and after, when it is loaded, the software will upload a new RAM disk. So just leave it alone!

Step 10: Finished! Wait for iPhone to restart and then it will be jailbroken, with the help of Cydia!

Now after the restart, you will now have a fresh new app on your springboard concerning Cydia, where you can discover millions of jailbroken apps you can use and play with!

There are also other jailbreaking software files which you can use such as PwnageTool and UltraSn0w. PwnageTool tends to only be used on Macs as it is the only platform which it works properly in. UltraSn0w can be used after you have jailbroken your iPod for effectively connecting to other networks.

Have you had any strange troubles with jailbreaking your iPhone? Or have you had great success in doing it? Feel free to comment below.

Update on Sept 12 2009: New iTouch teardown, what’s inside?

Don't be disheartened iTouch users as the next generation of ipod Touches will be better than ever!

Update on Sept 6 2009: Read the follow up post, live from Yerba Buena Center

Updates on Aug. 31, 2009:  Apple today confirmed there will be a special invitation-only event on September 9th, 2009 at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts Theater in San Francisco California.  This has been the place that Apple unveils its latest and greatest new products.

Apple send an email to invited press members. The email includes the image of a girl listening to an iPod and a caption “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.”  We expect Apple to unveil new versions of the iPod Touch and iPod Nano. [end of update]

The new iPod Touch is code-named “iPod3,1″ suggesting this is the third generation of revolutionary ipods.

What’s new in the iPod Touch

At this time, no one can be certain on what we will see in terms of features and functions the new iTouch will have. However, according to reports, we suspect there will be new features such as bigger screen, digital compass, GPS as well as other features. Though, integrating all these iPhone like features will make it too similar to its family member and perhaps stop the reason for purchasing an iTouch, its adaptability and uniqueness.

It is near enough time when Apple needs to upgrade the iTouch as it has been just under a year since its last revamp last September. Especially as Apple are probably the leading portable device organisation around and so have to set the standards for other competitors such as Zen.

What features do you want to see in the new iTouch? Ones that are similar to the iPhone or completely unique? Please feel free to comment below.

New York resident, Luis Palacios quoted, "I got on line at 2 a.m. It was really early, but it was worth it for the video!"

It’s here at last! The third consecutive summer that an iPhone platorm has been released, exciting the public and especially US residents!

Apple are hoping that the iPhone 3G S will boost their profits and put them ahead in the technically advanced smartphone market.

Figures already show that the release of the iPhone 3G last year, shares went from 7% to just over 30%!

The highly anticipated smartphone has been so far released in eight countries, most notably the US.

Analysts have predicted that Apple will sell around 500,000 iPhones even though the queues have been shorter than those of the release of the Palm pre which only sold 50,000 in two days. However, the queues were still long enough for the services of metal barriers to be introduced at Apple and AT&T stores throughout the selected countries.

An Apple employee said that it would take over three hours just to sell iPhones to customers who had pre-ordered, before the shop officially was open.

San Francisco- Though the Apple store looks quiet from here, but this morning people, the place so swarming that some people couldn't even see the start of the queue!

iPhone 3G S – what’s so good?

Well, here are many of the features that makes the iPhone 3G S so much better than other phones and series:

• 3MP camera which was a huge problem before as well as video capturing and editing abilities.
• Built-in digital compass.
• Better battery life with 12 hrs talktime and 30 hours audio. A huge issue for previous iPhone platforms was the poor battery life.
• “Fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating” allowing the screen as glossy as it was when you took it out the pack!
• Gentler, lighter display.
• 7.2Mbps data speeds for uploading pics + videos and downloading apps.
• Functioning voice control option.

So, as you can see the new iPhone has a lot of new features to look forward to! As Chad Evans, an app designer for mlb.com stated,

“The new iPhone is redefining what people can do on a phone. We’re now able to live stream complete games on a handheld device.”

Pricing

Pricing will vary as usual depending on how much memory you are looking to have on your new iPhone but the general guidelines are:

1. 32GB iPhone 3G S – $299 (£181)
2. 16GB iPhone 3G S - $199 (£120)
3. (8GB iPhone 3GS – $99 (£60)) << Possibly.

For more info on the new iPhone 3.0 OS take a look at our review.

iPhone addicts feelings and thoughts

The Sherry brothers were at the unveiling and publically revealed that this was her first iPhone and that she was looking forward “pretty much everything about it. It’s also going to be better than my brother’s, so I’m happy about that,”

Scott Struber had different ideas about the iPhone, as his reservation was rejected when he got to the queue after a long wait,

“It’s a little glitch. I went online yesterday afternoon, made a reservation for the phone, it went through and completed it and sent me the e-mail saying that I was confirmed, but oddly never had me pick a store and showed Clarendon as the store I’d be working with. Apparently, their tool went down that let you pick a store, but that wasn’t apparent to the users. I was probably sixth in line but I’ll probably be 50th or 60th. But I’ll still get it.”

All in all, I feel it will be a success purely because of the amount of new and improved features Apple have introduced sensibly. What do you think of the iPhone 3GS? Will it become bigger than any previous handheld device? Please feel free to comment below!

Apple are reportedly in talks with Twitter for a potential sale the social networking site for $700 million. Valleywag, the digital media blog, claims to have contact with an inside source at Apple, who is reporting that a deal is close, and that the acquisition could be completed by 8th June.

Apple is going to bid $700 million in a full cash bid. This is in contrast to Facebook’s $500 million offer last November, which was a hybrid cash and stocks bid. Twitter turned down Facebook, partly because, Twitter’s investors could not agree on whether Facebook’s stocks were worth as much Facebook claimed them to be. When Twitter turned down that deal, co-founder Biz Stone said that the company wanted to be independent and wanted to expand “its messaging service and there would be no disagreement about the value of its stock”.

Apple’s interest in Twitter seems to be stemming from its tie-in with the iPhone. Many Twitter applications such as ‘Tweetie’ have been big sellers for Apple. However, the big question is- if this acquisition is successful, then how would Apple make any money? Twitter, with 6 million users and a 1,300% growth yet, has yet to turn a profit.

Apple, however, have reported to having $30 billion in cash, so this is nothing but small change for them. Additionally, internet experts have suggested that this will be more of a statement purchase, than a massive money spinner.We just now have to wait and see how this story develops.

ValleyWag

New video integration will support Wi-Fi and 3G giving more reason to become an iPhone or iTouch user.

Online streaming video service which offers a wide range of shows and movies, Hulu, are in the course of producing a new exciting app for the iPhone,  and will be with us in just a couple of months.

This is possibly the best time to release the app as it is near when the iPhone will update its software to 3.0 meaning a lot of changes, including this one, will be on its way. The one problem Hulu face is sloting in some advertising, which frankly, is a chance they must take in order to advance in the technologic world.

Why on earth would Apple abide by this?

What many people will be thinking when reading this is, why would Itunes ever approve of it? From where I stand, there are two views that can be undertaken, one of which is this is extremely bad for Apple Itunes where users purchase lots of videos + music for anytime use, if this goes forward Itunes video store could go bust, potentially as well as all the advertising Hulu can put in giving them even more benefit, using a lot of Itunes bandwidth.

The other way to look at it, on Itunes side, is that if this news is spreading fast, it will mean people will be increasingly obliged to go out to the shops or online, and go on buy an iTouch or iPhone purely because the Hulu video app is simply a too good of a chance to let by.

To be really honest, watching videos on the iPhone through an app has not taken a big hollywood hit just yet. However, there are a couple of services out there like CBS’s TV.com though a lot of people have said this buffers most of the time, making the experience miserable. When Hulu comes along in a few months, it will be a fresh new exciting app that everyone will like straight, similar to what Facebook was. This is partly because Hulu are one of the best streaming services out there now giving free services and a great online quality. Others are trying to copy what they have done, but we all know, there is nothing better than the original!

According to ComScore, only 3% watch video on their phones showing everyone there is space on the market for this particular idea, that will take off with a boom.

Personally, I cannot wait til this app is among us, it is just what the tech market needs, a fresh new idea which it has been lacking for some time now but hopefully with the best streaming service in my eyes coming to the iPhone, the Iphone will be the best phone and the phone to have!

Apple giving all sorts of amazing prizes away such as New Macbook

Apple are now within 60 million Aps away from making history by 1 Billion Applications being downloaded by Apple users in the App Store. The current figures can be found at the Apple Countdown Page.

To make it even more interesting for users, Apple are entering every App Download user the chance to win big prizes!

“As of today, nearly one billion apps have been downloaded around the globe. So we just want to say thanks — a billion. Download an app and you’ll automatically get the chance to win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro. Just go to the iTunes Store, browse the App Store, and download your best app yet.”

To make Itunes celebration more apparent, they featured the top 20 Free and Paid Aps perhaps to attract more downloads.

Current All Time Top Paid Apps

1. Crash Bandicoot.

2. Moto Chaser.

3. Virtual Pool.

4. Cro-Mag Rally.

5. Flick Fishing.

6. Koi Pond.

7. Monopoly.

8. Super Monkey Ball.

9. PocketGuitar.

10. iCopter.

11. Pocket God.

12. London Tube.

13. Bejeweled 2

14. Texas Hold’em.

15. Real Football 2009.

16. Blocked

17. Field Runners.

18. Tetris.

19. iShoot.

20. iFart.

Current All-Time Top Free Apps

1. Facebook.

2. iPint.

3. Google Earth.

4. Pac-Man Lite.

5. Touch Hockey.

6. Labryinth Lite Edition.

7. Lightsaber Unleashed.

8. Tap Tap Revenge.

9. Flashlight.

10. Shazam

11. Backgrounds.

12. iBowl.

13. Crazy Penguin Catapult.

14. Remote.

15. Bubblewrap.

16. Audi A4 Driving Challenge.

17. Darts.

18. Ebay Mobile.

19. Last.fm

20. Movies

As you can see from above, the top 20 Apps, both free and paid are constantly changing. Apple are doing this delibrately as all featured apps will become popular and the average popular apps will be not so popular anymore, making more downloads occur every minute.

As Apple are doing the competition for downloading a “unique” app and winning a whole bunch of cool gizmos. Techcrunch are just one of the other companies offering goods but this time for guessing the correct time at which the counter will reach 1 Billion, giving the winner a free TechCrunch T-Shirt.

Well, When do you think it will reach the 1 Billion landmark? Post your opinions below and see how close you come!