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Archive for August, 2007

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AppleCare for iPhone

Friday, August 31st, 2007 by iPod Geek

Any Mac user knows the benefits of having warranties as it can get quite taxing when it comes to servicing their Apple products. It is not only very expensive to replace parts if needed but also difficult to obtain service.

Apple has addressed this concern regarding the iPhone by providing a one-year warranty for hardware repairs and two years for technical support with each purchase. However, since the iPhone is not expected to be one of those smart phone frenzies that will easily be replaced by consumers, Apple now provides an AppleCare Protection Plan designed especially for it.

AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone
Before the iPhone was released on June 29, Apple admitted that AppleCare Protection Plan has not extended its service for the product but promised that it will be made available as soon as possible. Soon after the launch of the iPhone, Apple’s online store featured its AppleCare Protection Plan extended warranty.

The transferable service extension costs the owner an extra US$69 which should not be so surprising as it extends the hardware warranty to two years, covering possible expenses for any defects apart from those caused by accidents. This covers even iPhone accessories that are sold separately such as the Bluetooth Headset. For the lifetime of this warranty, service for your iPhone will be one phone call away whether or not it is used with a Mac. Because technical support is already available up to two years from the iPhone’s purchase, the AppleCare Protection Plan does not provide for its extension.

Apple claims that this service extension applies to battery replacements as well. This is very good news to all iPhone users as the battery is said to be one of the iPhone’s major shortcomings and replacement without the protection plan can cost the user almost US$20 more than the price of the AppleCare package itself.

How To Get This iPhone Protection Plan
iPhone users can purchase this AppleCare Protection plan anytime within one year of the handset purchase provided that they are not within the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Nevada, and Wyoming wherein sales of this insurance product is considered illegal. Purchasing the AppleCare package is strongly recommended as it really is a good price for the service and genuine replacement parts it promises.

Should You Get One?
Furthermore, it should really prove to be a good move considering that the iPhone is still early in Apple’s venture into the mobile phone industry. Although it has gone through careful and extensive testing, no one knows for sure how developed the iPhone really is. Surely, shelling out another US$69 should not feel so taxing if you know it will relieve you of your iPhone worries.

Finding Ipod Help When You Need It Most

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 by iPod Geek

In our technology-driven society, everyone seems to be expected to know how to handle electronics and computer systems. Yet, there are many, many people today who cannot understand or who don’t want to take the time to learn how to perform such tasks. Because of this, some people feel that they don’t need or want to buy the latest technology to help them or enhance their daily lives.

For this reason, there is help available from professionals who can guide one through difficult processes that may seem entirely foreign to some…like turning their computer on! Finding iPod help is not a hard thing to do and is a much-needed service for many who want to enjoy the benefits that they iPod brings without the headache of trying to understand the mechanics of it.

Where Can I Get iPod Help & Who Can I Ask?
1. Owner’s Manual
When purchasing your iPod, help is first available with an included owner’s manual that is part of the package. Reading through this manual will be valuable to some, while others will think they are reading a foreign language. Pictures are often included, as well for those who learn better by visualizing the mechanism.

2. Store Service Reps
If the owner’s manual is not proving to be useful to the person, a clerk or customer service representative from the store where it was purchased may be able to help you, especially if this an office supply store or an electronics store. Asking the clerk for help may be just enough to set you on your way to learning how to use your iPod.

3. Family Member
Most people have a very handy or technology-oriented friend or family member that can show a person how to perform tasks such as downloading and saving or deleting songs from the iPod. Help in these areas is usually what people are looking for, as most are not interested in how the iPod works, just that it does work!

4. Call/Seek Help Online
If all of this iPod help fails, one can seek help online or by phone directly to the manufacturer of the iPod. An online website will certainly have a frequently asked questions page on their site to help a person, as well as an email address where questions can be sent. If you prefer to talk to a live individual, toll free numbers are provided directly their technical or customer service department.

Finding iPod help is not a difficult task and is certainly a necessary step to take in order to benefit the most from your new, enjoyable iPod purchase.

The One-stop iPod Music Store - ITunes

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 by iPod Geek

The store for your iPod music needs is, of course, iTunes. Apple has done a lot of things right, including having come up with brilliantly designed, innovative electronics. The company has also made the purchasing process simple and streamlined with iTunes, the online store for your iPod music needs. Using iTunes as your iPod music store is both cheap and convenient, and it allows you to create totally customized albums. If you want to mix rap, rock, classical, country, or world music, you can do so easily. By purchasing individual tracks, you can take your favorite songs from albums that may not be completely stellar and essentially create your own electronic mix tape. Because each song costs only $0.99 (which may or may not change at some point), it is quite competitive with the price of CDs. Given the fact that most CDs have 11 or 12 songs, it would only cost you approximately 11 or 12 dollars to download all the tracks from the average album. Occasionally, there are even exclusive songs, albums, or box sets available like a special downloadable U2 set in the past.

The Store with More
If there is one minor negative, it is that the songs are all in Apples proprietary AAC format. That means you can only play the songs on your iPod or on your computer. If you ever switch to another MP3 player from a different company, they become useless. However, the odds are good that once you have an iPod you probably won’t be interested in switching to anything else. Even though iTunes was initially created as an online store to service iPod customers’ music needs, the video iPod has created an additional market for downloadable content. The iTunes store now provides iPod users with easy access to many of the latest television programs and movies. Individual episodes are available for a few dollars each. However, the costs may vary depending on the show.

If you want to catch up on the latest episode of Desperate Housewives or Lost, you can. Season passes to some shows are also available as well. It is a good option for anyone who might be out of the country for a while if they have computer access and their iPod because it is much easier for someone to download a show than deal with shipping DVDs overseas. A season pass might even be a nice present.

Sharing A World Of Music With Ipod Itunes

Monday, August 27th, 2007 by iPod Geek

The iPod is a small, compact piece of stereo equipment that has become extremely popular in today’s society because of its convenience and massive capability to store music and other information. Owning an iPod is become a fad as well, as many people, both young and old, feel that they just can’t live without these convenient gadgets. Ipods do come in handy in many situations and are offered in a wide variety of designs as well. The company Apple designs these ipods and is very famous for their computer knowledge and reliability. iPod itunes are also a vital part of this craze, as there are thousands of songs to choose from available for download onto the iPod. This is a very popular way of getting music that you enjoy downloaded onto your system.

The Spread of iPod Itunes And Its Popularity
The uses for iPod technology are endless in our society, but the main focus or popularity comes from the music downloading and storing capability of these small machines. Many ipods are small enough to fit into a pocket, yet they can carry thousands of songs inside. To many, this is mind-blowing, yet it makes listening to music while on the run very easy and convenient. Not having to carry around a CD case with you or having to listen to radio station commercials and static is a plus in most people’s books. Even an MP3 player, which is much less expensive, does not have the saving or downloading capacity of an iPod. iPod itunes are available through the Apple website to download for those owning an iPod. This site stores thousands upon thousands of types of music and songs for people to put onto their individual players.

As well as those who legitimately download music from the site, there are those called “hackers” who have found ways to copy the music without purchasing the ipods. This is illegal and carries a penalty associated with it, but it is hard to prosecute people who do this because of the sheer amount of people on the internet today. There are even books written on how to hack the iPod itunes site in order to retrieve the music. In this way, it makes the iPod not as much of a necessity or demand as it would otherwise have been. From young to old, everyone can enjoy iPod itunes and find the perfect music that they will enjoy no matter what routine they are following, at work, home or play.

Tips For Downloading iPod Music

Monday, August 27th, 2007 by iPod Geek

With iPod popularity, there are a lot of sites on the Internet that offer music downloads for iPods and MP3 players. The popularity of these devices has made it easy to download your new favorite songs online. You can get instantly and hassle-free.

But which one provides the best service?
There are three kinds of music sites from which you can download songs. Each one has a different business model.

1. Charged As You Use
The first type of site will charge you based on a certain number of downloads. You may be charged per music download, or you may pay monthly subscription for a specific number of downloads each month.

2. Charged Within A Period
The second type of music site charges a flat fee for an unlimited number of downloads. This one offers full access to music within the set period. If you love downloading music and want a large collection, this type may suit you best.

3. Free Download
The final type provides MP3 music files that you can actually download free of charge. These types may seem inviting, but it is important to take all aspects into consideration. These sites often have much slower downloading speeds, but the legality of the site is more important. Copyright laws prohibit the distribution of music without permission, and you can face legal procedures as well as viruses from unprotected downloads.

The most popular download provider is iTunes. This site provides downloading speeds of 128 to 192 kpbs (kilobytes per second). You can also choose from monthly subscription fees or per-download prices. The rates are $0.99 per track and $9.90 to $13.99 per album.

Other music download sites include eMusic, Wal-mart, Music Match, and many others. These sites usually charge less than $1 per download. The per-album rate ranges from $7 to $15, and the monthly subscription fee is $15.

These music download sites include catalogs of various songs. These libraries range from 500 thousand to 1.5 million songs. When downloading with these sites, you can be sure that your information is secure. You have the assurance that you won’t be exposed to unwanted viruses or ad-ware attacks. You can conveniently download any music you want without compromising the security and protection that you need.

Enjoying Your Favorite Tunes With A Car Ipod

Friday, August 24th, 2007 by iPod Geek

Driving can be a great time to enjoy listening to your favorite music. Yet, sometimes, there is just nothing good to listen to on the radio, and you are tired of the CD’s that you have as well. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to listen to your iPod in the car?

Well, as a matter of fact, you can. With the Griffin RoadTrip/FM Transmitter, you will be able to do just that when driving. It gives you just one more valuable and convenient option from which to choose.

Getting Started Using Your Car iPod
There are many ways to install your car iPod music into your existing stereo. Some cars even come with an iPod transmitter built into the radio itself, such as the BMW. Yet, most cars do not and so require extra work in order to install the car iPod.

With a simple transmitter that can cost between $20-$50, you will be able to get your iPod to play in your car.

Several items are necessary in order to install your own car iPod.

• A Philips screwdriver and a flat head screwdriver
• An iPod player with a dock connector
• A mini stereo headphone jack
• A car stereo harness if you are installing a brand new head unit as well.

With all of the right equipment, one can easily install their own car iPod into their car and enjoy thousands of songs as the cruise down the road.With the technology that is widely available in the market today, doing these installations yourself can be fairly easy, yet if help is needed, there are technicians that can do these types of procedures professionally as well. The cost should not be high for work to be done such as this, if one just doesn’t have the time or desire to do it themselves.

An iPod mounted in your car can bring about a whole new dimension of music and sound to your daily driving routine.

The iPod Shuffle

Friday, August 24th, 2007 by iPod Geek

iPod is synonymous with portable music. This digital music device seems to be almost as prevalent as the Sony Walkman was in its heyday, and seems to have attracted people from social teens to middle-aged computer geeks. And though the popularity and recognition of the iPod name seem to be at an all-time high, some people have held back from purchasing the iPod.

Of course, there’s little one can do to attract people that don’t like iPods for whatever reason, but if there are people that feel that the price-over $200 for Apple’s latest iPods, then there’s an iPod for them as well! For those who want a quality music player at a low price, the iPod shuffle provides it for much less cost than the traditional iPod.

Truly Tiny Wonder
Those who see the iPod Shuffle may wonder if its small size can really hold an adequate amount of music, but that’s certainly the case. The iPod shuffle can easily hold enough music to keep your toes tapping through a day trip or a day at work.

The iPod Shuffle does this all in a machine about the size of a matchbook. The built in belt clip makes it ideal for those looking to exercise with music, since they can just hook the iPod shuffle on their belt or shirt collar and go for a run, and all without ever having to worry about the music skipping. The secret to both the skip-proof operation and the small size is the use of flash memory, which is more compact and durable than including a miniature hard drive in the machine.

Music and More
The iPod Shuffle handles more than music, but can also carry other computer files wherever you go. Because Apple recognizes how convenient having portable data storage is, they’ve included software for you to transfer files to the iPod shuffle, and even determine just how much storage on the device is devoted to music and how much to other files.

The older version of the iPod Shuffle even resembled the USB storage drives that are as common today, about the same size and shape as a pack of gum. Be aware, though, that the current iPod shuffle can’t simply plug into a USB connector as the original can. You’ll have to use the dock that comes with it in order to transfer data.

However, despite this limitation, it’s hard to beat the iPod Shuffle for portability and convenience. Though it can’t play the latest television shows like the newest iPods, it’s a powerful little music player in a small package, compactness and convenience in one little package.

iPhone’s Closest Competitior

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 by iPod Geek

Even before the release of iPhone by Apple last June 30, the mobile industry is already blessed with the introduction of Samsung M620, available through Sprint Nextel.

Upstage, as it is commonly called, was released into the market last April. It has a handset that looks like a candy bar and is less than 0.5 inches in thickness. It is neither tall nor wide as your iPod Nano.

Unlike other cell phones that are struggling to strike perfect balance between the requirements of an average handset and multimedia, UpStage tries to solve the problem by being a two-faced phone. Multimedia functions are found on one side, while the other face contains the phone functions.

Its Face
If the iPhone is popular for its multi-touch technology, UpStage is known for its dual face. The phone face, for one, contains a 1.4-inch color screen, a keypad full of flat soft keys, and a directional toggle. The media side has a 2.1-inch with 176×220 pixel display.

Moreover, it also features a navigation pad that is touch sensitive and a central button. There’s a small Flip button found at the edge of the phone which allows you to toggle both sides.

The Upstage may feel small in your hand but it’s highly durable. The sound quality doesn’t diminish whether you’re listening to music or a call. Keypads are also very usable. The one great challenge, however, is its four-way touchpad.

Can both sides work simultaneously? No, but they complement each other in some way. For example, if you receive a call and you’re playing some music, the media player will stop and the phone side starts to activate. One you stop the call, the music goes back to life.

Switching Sides?
Even if the multimedia or music is activated, you still need the phone side when you want to put in some text, such as when you’re creating a playlist, searching for some music in Sprint Store, or to specify a website URL that you like to browse using the optimized browser.

Like the iPhone, Upstage is also smart. If the former is sensitive to motion, the latter knows when you have to use the keyboard only found in the phone side. It will automatically reveal a Flip command on its screen.

The Innovative battery Wallet
This is something iPhone lacks. You still need to buy the accessories separately. But the Samsung M620 battery is free. Embedded in this stylish case is the battery. Its purpose it to protect both screens from scratches and to extend the life of the phone while charging.
Definitely a worthy competitor to iPhone.

iPhone Less Known Feature

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 by iPod Geek

With cutting edge designs, Apple has clearly earned its reputation for coming up with sleek designs for innovative gadgets. With the launch of the iPhone, Apple’s reputation scaled greater heights.

With the hype and all the media mileage that this new gadget has been receiving, it makes many wonder if the attention that iPhone is getting is well deserved. Truly, the presence of the new multi-touch technology is enough to get people talking and start dreaming of owning one. Not to mention the iPhone’s ability to provide the user with unrestricted internet access through its Mac OS X operating system and Safari web browser.

Less Appreciated iPhone Feature
However, all these features pale in comparision to another key feature of the iPhone that is equally important yet seems to be less appreciated. This has to do with the sensors that have the ability to detect changes with regard to the iPhone’s position and its environment. These sensors are very tiny yet are very powerful.

iPhone Sensors
The three major sensors featured by the iPhone include:

• an accelerometer,
• a proximity sensor and
• an ambient light sensor.

The iPhone’s accelerometer gives it the ability to detect changes in the phone’s position. Depending on how it is held, the iPhone’s display will rotate either to portrait or landscape, fitting all its contents in a 3.5-inch screen. Because it changes the display according to original ratio, it does not distort images that will commonly be encountered when viewing web pages, videos, or photos.

Another one of the iPhone’s unique sensors include the proximity sensors. These detect the location of he iPhone with regard to the user’s skin. This means that when the user makes a call and hold the phone against his ear, the display will automatically be placed on standby mode. This is an important feature because it serves two functions. For one, shutting off the display when it is not needed saves battery power. Also, it avoids involuntary touches on the multi-touch screen which would be sensitive to even the skin on the user’s face. The display will automatically appear once more as soon as the iPhone is moved away from the user’s face.

Here is a unique way of using the iPhone’s sensors:

Lastly, the iPhone’s ambient light sensor gives this gadget another feature to boast about. Through this sensor, changes in the phone’s environment are automatically detected and will adjust the display’s brightness to the appropriate level. Because of this, the iPhone’s display will never be too bright or too dim.

Although these sensors are not entirely new innovations, it is the first time in the mobile phone industry that they have been used to serve such functions. This definitely gives iPhone users so much more to brag about.

Extend iPhone Battery with iZap

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 by iPod Geek

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