Tag: Apple

Microsoft's Zune Project

Nick Momrik2 Comments

The big news from Microsoft today was the confirmation of the Zune project. Just do a few searches and you’ll find plenty of information. I’m not writing about it to give any information or what it’s about. All I want to say is, don’t count them out.

Can Microsoft create a real competitor for Apple’s iPod? Only time will tell. If there’s one company in the world that can do it, that company is Microsoft.

Think back a few years to the video game console market. Sony’s PlayStation was the system to own. Microsoft launched the Xbox and then followed it up this past year with the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 with Xbox Live has been an amazing success. Apple’s iPod line currently holds 75% of the market share, but Sony’s PlayStation had to be pretty close or even higher in the video game console area. Microsoft is now a force to be reckoned with when it comes to console gaming. The iPod is an extremely strong product line, but I wouldn’t bet against Microsoft just yet. I can’t wait to see what they come out with.

24/365

Nick Momrik5 Comments

Apple StoreThe image you see posted on the left is currently at Apple’s homepage and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen the phrase “24/365” used. Thank you Apple! Maybe the whole world will finally realize that 24/7/365 doesn’t make sense. If you want to say 24/7/52 that’s fine, but 24/7/365 just doesn’t fly. There are 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. There are not 365 weeks in a year or 365 weeks in anything for that matter. Just use 24/365 and the world will be a happier place. Pass the word.

Watch Your Cart

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I just went to purchase ER – The Complete Fourth Season from Amazon and made it all the way to the final step of checkout before realizing my total was over $1,500! My first thought was “That’s an expensive DVD.” Then I realized I still had an Apple iMac G5 in the shopping cart from a week ago. Kind of a neat little trick on Amazon’s part, but not very customer friendly if you ask me. A few clicks later the item was removed and my total price was normal again, but I would not have been a happy camper to find a new computer delivered to my doorstep (unless it was free).

San Francisco Treat

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I’ll be attending Macworld the 2nd week of January with Dave. I’ve been helping out with Mac support at work and this will be my training for the year. I’ve wanted to check out San Fran for quite some time, so I’m excited to go. Hopefully I don’t come home as a switcher, because I hate to say it, but I love Windows.

I can’t wait to see what SF has to offer. I’m a big fan of seafood, so I want to eat around Fisherman’s Wharf a couple of times. It should be a good time all around.

On the flight home we have a 7 hour stay in Las Vegas which should give us 4-5 hours to play some poker on the strip. It’ll be my first time in Sin City, so I’m pretty excited.

Video on the iPod Will Flop

Nick Momrik16 Comments

I just don’t get Apple’s newest iPod release. Do they really think that many people are going to want to watch video on a 2.5 inch screen? The other aspects of the new iPod are great, but I don’t understand the ability to watch video.

How many times can you watch the same music videos? Do you really want to watch music videos on that tiny screen? I know I don’t. $1.99 for music videos you can watch online for free?

Apple’s other addition is the ability to download TV shows. But again, you get to watch them on a 2.5 inch screen. Better yet, you pay $1.99 per episode when you can watch them on your home TV for free. Right now they have a few ABC shows available for download. Guess what, I get these included with my cable bill and I can watch them on my 50 inch TV in HD quality. I can even record the shows with my DVR and watch them again and again. No need to pay $1.99 or watch it on a screen I hold in my hand.

Is anyone excited about the video feature of the new iPod? Raise your hand if you are (actually leave a comment).

I think one of the main reasons portable mp3 players have been such a big thing is because you can do other things while listening to your music. Simply put the mp3 player in your pocket or on an arm band and you can go for a run, mow the lawn, or clean your house. You can connect an mp3 player to your car stereo and listen to anything you want while driving down to work or on a trip. What can you do while watching video on a 2.5 inch screen besides squint to see it? Which company will be the first to release a GameBoy type magnifier for the video iPod?

The iPod nano release was brilliant, but you really have to wonder who thought this latest iPod was a good idea.

iPod nano Lockup Reset When Frozen

Nick Momrik765 Comments

My iPod nano locked up and I had no idea what to do. Holding down buttons wouldn’t turn it off. Toggling the hold switch didn’t do anything either. It was in a stuck state where hold was turned on and none of the buttons would respond.

If you own an iPod with the Click Wheel (iPod with video, nano, iPod photo, iPod, or mini) follow these steps to reset the iPod:

  1. Toggle hold switch on.
  2. Toggle hold switch off.
  3. Hold down the menu and middle button for a few seconds.
  4. You might need to repeat.

Both times my iPod nano has frozen up I was plugging the ipod into the USB cable while the the hold switch was toggled on. Make sure to hold switch is togged off when connecting your iPod with the USB cable.

To reset some of the earlier iPods including like the iPod, iPod (scroll wheel), iPod (touch wheel), and iPod (dock connector), follow these steps:

  1. Toggle hold on.
  2. Toggle hold off.
  3. Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds.
  4. You might need to repeat.

To reset an iPod shuffle:

  1. Move the switch on the back of iPod shuffle to the off position (green stripe not visible).
  2. Wait 5 seconds.
  3. Move the switch on the back to the play in order or the shuffle position (green stripe visible).

Still having problems?

  1. Connect to a different USB or FireWire port on the computer.
  2. Install the latest Operating System upgrades.
  3. Restart the computer.
  4. Reinstall the iPod with iPod Updater
  5. Reinstall iTunes
  6. Restore your iPod using the latest iPod Updater.

    *Restoring an iPod will erase all songs and files from the iPod, restoring it to the original state. Backup all files from the iPod before restoring it. Once restoration is complete, you can transfer your music and files from the computer back to your iPod again.

iPod displays sad iPod icon

In most cases, the sad iPod icon indicates a hardware issue. If you are able to force iPod into Disk Mode, then it may not be a hardware issue, and you should try to restore your iPod with the latest software.

Review: iPod nano

Nick Momrik12 Comments

Most of my friends had iPods. I didn’t. I didn’t want to haul around the mp3 playing brick. I was holding out for something smaller. I was excited when the iPod Mini came out, but still wasn’t too impressed. Around the 1st of September I read a press release explaining that Apple would be making a big announcement on the 7th. It would definitely have something to do with the iPod family. I was excited because I knew it might be what I was waiting for.

After I arrived at work on the 7th I checked various sites around the Internet. Many seemed to think Apple would be announcing an iPod phone and a smaller iPod. Finally the word got out and Apple had the iPod nano on their site. Immediately after I saw the specs and photos I knew I was ordering one. Less than 2 hours later I did. Using the Education discount (By the way, anyone can get the Education discount because they don’t do any checking on you.) through the Apple store I put in my order for a 4 GB black iPod nano with free engraving. Line one would get Nick Momrik and line two ‘MtDewVirus’. After tax the total came to just over $242 (with free shipping). Not bad for an item listed at $249.

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