Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, Road Tested
USB flash drives are a dime a dozen. They've gone from being a "wow" item a few years ago to a throwaway handout item. Many are cheap plastic devices that either come with a neck lanyard attached or with a small loop for attaching to a key ring. More often than not, they end up falling to pieces or getting lost.
iamaKey came with a tiny plastic cap that covered the connector. Of course, after about 15 minutes the cap disappeared. I was concerned about that until finding out that iamaKey uses a gold SIP connector that resists scratches and water. You don't need the cap at all.
So, does it still work after almost two months of riding around in a pocket with a bunch of other keys and change? Absolutely! It's been dropped multiple times, it's gotten soaked in the pocket of a pair of jeans I was wearing during a sudden downpour, and it's put up with winter cold while I've been out walking. iamaKey is rugged and fast, with up to 30 MB/s read rates and 10 MB/s write speeds.
iamaKey comes in 4 GB (US$19.99) and 8 GB (US$29.99) flavors. LaCie also sells the less rugged and larger itsaKey, which retails for US$3 less than iamaKey.
TUAWRoad Tested: LaCie iamaKey, the USB flash drive you'll actually use originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple continues to tighten up the rules concerning battery replacement
Since the release of Mac Intel (but already during the time of the iBook), Apple had to face many problems with the batteries on its portables. Between those that started to inflate, those that did not hold the charge, and those which broke down and displayed an X. These vexations were very expensive and created precedents that made it was relatively easy to exchange a used battery under guarantee.
Since March, they have started to tighten up. This started with the arrival of test software only available for the CMAA. This is now used to test the battery and decides if it must be exchanged or not. The after sales service department is forced to follow this guidance, since the software delivers a code for the return. In the absence of this code, the CMAA have to cover cost of the battery.
Also Apple has since then defined especially strict rules and even a very long-winded speech that the technicians must give you.
- To start, in the event of loss of battery life, if your battery has done its time, (more than 300 cycles of charge/discharge), the software will not deliver a code of guarantee. Apple considers indeed; beyond this number of cycles the wear is normal and advises to use the analogy of batteries of remote control that need replacing too.
- Previously any battery which inflated being exchanged immediately. Now, it will be the case only under guarantee or extended guarantee in certain cases.
We will finish by an important reminder. If you have several batteries, take care well to store them charged and especially not to let them discharge completely by using them regularly. If they go below a minimum threshold of charge, it will definitively be impossible for you to recharge them again.
The Billionth
In order to note the startling success of the AppStore, Apple has organized a contest to celebrate the billionth downloaded application.
The contest is open to all residents of country where the AppStore is available and offers the following prizes:
- A MacBook Pro 17"
- A iPod Touch 32 GB
- A iTunes Store gift voucher of $10000
- Time Capsules
To win It will be necessary to be one of very first to reach the billion, which can be done either by downloading an application to a computer or iPod, or by filling an online form. Note that it is possible for you to try your chance to the maximum 25 times in one day.
Microsoft adds to the Apple surtax
After the diatribe from Steve Ballmer about the Apple overcost and the advertising campaign aiming at showing that Mac is much more expensive, MS places more on the Windowsstreamblog.com site. They financed a study that concludes, of course, that the "Mac surtax" is very high.
The whole is even detailed in a PDF.
The example is disressing. A family that would equip itself with a PC running Windows could save $3367. Even though we will not detail certain points, there are many that are obviously made in bad faith, like including in the difference, an iLife update at $99 or to take a Linksys router instead of an airport base station (one can, of course, do this with Mac too). Other points are less contestable like the price difference of a Radeon HD 4870 and the high cost of Apple Care.
But all this is secondary. The most important thing is that Microsoft shows for the first time in its history a real fear concerning a competitor that, in spite of the remarks of Ballmer, becomes sufficiently strong to worry them.
VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1
Apple released an update, VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1, dedicated to the last iPod Shuffle (17MB).
• Fix problems with pronunciation of some artist's names de la prononciation dans VoiceOver de certains noms d'artistes
• Fix several minor bugs
More details about your iPod can be found hereafter: http://support.apple.com/manuals/#ipod
More information about the iPod Shuffle: http://www.apple.com/support/ipodshuffle/
If you experience some problems with your iPod shuffle, visit the following troubleshooting page: http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
Apple to build second Chicago flagship retail store
Following 18 months of indecision, Apple has finalized plans to build another high-profile retail store in Chicago, agreeing on the site of an old gas station in the city's Clybourn Corridor shopping district.
Steve Jobs is never very far away
According to the Wall Street Journal which quotes sources in Cupertino, Steve Jobs keeps a close eye on his company in spite of the fact that he announced to have taken a break. Even though he leaves the current management of the business with Tim Cook, he is never very far away and continuous to supervise the important projects and the testing of the future products. He would thus devote time to check that the iPhone OS 3.0 interface matches his expectations.
In addition to the fact that this advertisement comes at good time to please the markets, it reassures us on his health condition, something that we have no information on since he announced his temporary withdrawal.
iFixit does the Dell Adamo
Being a bit unfaithful to the Apple portables, iFixit has dismounted the Dell Adamo portable.
The integration is very complete, and all is properly done. It is noted however that the mother board is perfectly rectangular where Apple does not hesitate to give convoluted forms, which allows an even more thorough integration, but increases the manufacturing costs. It remains to be seen whether Dell which built its empire on products at very low cost manages to produce a product that fits in the category where only Apple and Sony have had success.
Microsoft fined in Germany for illegal price fixing
The German authorities have fined Microsoft 9 million euros since they have forced the retailers to sell the office Office suite 2007 at a fixed price, thus preventing any competition. Microsoft did not deny these charges and indicated they would henceforth follow the German laws.
In the past, Apple had to undergo the same judgments, by preventing the retailers from making rebates on its products. In order to circumvent the law, they now use a system of very weak front-end margins, around 3%, that blocks any promotion, and give higher margins at the end of the year to ensure the retailers receive an acceptable benefit. Thus they cannot make promotions beyond these small percent without being illegal by selling at a loss.
Apple Ordered 4 Million New iPhones for Q2 2009?
Slashphone recaps a ChinaTimes / Commercial Times report which claims that Apple has placed an order for 4 million units of the next generation iPhone. Per Slashphone's summary:
According to its insider news, Apple has already ordered...
Road Tested: LaCie iamaKey, the USB flash drive you'll actually use
Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Peripherals, Road Tested
USB flash drives are a dime a dozen. They've gone from being a "wow" item a few years ago to a throwaway handout item. Many are cheap plastic devices that either come with a neck lanyard attached or with a small loop for attaching to a key ring. More often than not, they end up falling to pieces or getting lost.iamaKey came with a tiny plastic cap that covered the connector. Of course, after about 15 minutes the cap disappeared. I was concerned about that until finding out that iamaKey uses a gold SIP connector that resists scratches and water. You don't need the cap at all.
So, does it still work after almost two months of riding around in a pocket with a bunch of other keys and change? Absolutely! It's been dropped multiple times, it's gotten soaked in the pocket of a pair of jeans I was wearing during a sudden downpour, and it's put up with winter cold while I've been out walking. iamaKey is rugged and fast, with up to 30 MB/s read rates and 10 MB/s write speeds.
iamaKey comes in 4 GB (US$19.99) and 8 GB (US$29.99) flavors. LaCie also sells the less rugged and larger itsaKey, which retails for US$3 less than iamaKey.
TUAWRoad Tested: LaCie iamaKey, the USB flash drive you'll actually use originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple continues to tighten up the rules concerning battery replacement
Since the release of Mac Intel (but already during the time of the iBook), Apple had to face many problems with the batteries on its portables. Between those that started to inflate, those that did not hold the charge, and those which broke down and displayed an X. These vexations were very expensive and created precedents that made it was relatively easy to exchange a used battery under guarantee.
Since March, they have started to tighten up. This started with the arrival of test software only available for the CMAA. This is now used to test the battery and decides if it must be exchanged or not. The after sales service department is forced to follow this guidance, since the software delivers a code for the return. In the absence of this code, the CMAA have to cover cost of the battery.
Also Apple has since then defined especially strict rules and even a very long-winded speech that the technicians must give you.
- To start, in the event of loss of battery life, if your battery has done its time, (more than 300 cycles of charge/discharge), the software will not deliver a code of guarantee. Apple considers indeed; beyond this number of cycles the wear is normal and advises to use the analogy of batteries of remote control that need replacing too.
- Previously any battery which inflated being exchanged immediately. Now, it will be the case only under guarantee or extended guarantee in certain cases.
We will finish by an important reminder. If you have several batteries, take care well to store them charged and especially not to let them discharge completely by using them regularly. If they go below a minimum threshold of charge, it will definitively be impossible for you to recharge them again.
The Billionth
In order to note the startling success of the AppStore, Apple has organized a contest to celebrate the billionth downloaded application.
The contest is open to all residents of country where the AppStore is available and offers the following prizes:
- A MacBook Pro 17"
- A iPod Touch 32 GB
- A iTunes Store gift voucher of $10000
- Time Capsules
To win It will be necessary to be one of very first to reach the billion, which can be done either by downloading an application to a computer or iPod, or by filling an online form. Note that it is possible for you to try your chance to the maximum 25 times in one day.
Microsoft adds to the Apple surtax
After the diatribe from Steve Ballmer about the Apple overcost and the advertising campaign aiming at showing that Mac is much more expensive, MS places more on the Windowsstreamblog.com site. They financed a study that concludes, of course, that the "Mac surtax" is very high.
The whole is even detailed in a PDF.
The example is disressing. A family that would equip itself with a PC running Windows could save $3367. Even though we will not detail certain points, there are many that are obviously made in bad faith, like including in the difference, an iLife update at $99 or to take a Linksys router instead of an airport base station (one can, of course, do this with Mac too). Other points are less contestable like the price difference of a Radeon HD 4870 and the high cost of Apple Care.
But all this is secondary. The most important thing is that Microsoft shows for the first time in its history a real fear concerning a competitor that, in spite of the remarks of Ballmer, becomes sufficiently strong to worry them.
VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1
Apple released an update, VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1, dedicated to the last iPod Shuffle (17MB).
• Fix problems with pronunciation of some artist's names de la prononciation dans VoiceOver de certains noms d'artistes
• Fix several minor bugs
More details about your iPod can be found hereafter: http://support.apple.com/manuals/#ipod
More information about the iPod Shuffle: http://www.apple.com/support/ipodshuffle/
If you experience some problems with your iPod shuffle, visit the following troubleshooting page: http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
Apple to build second Chicago flagship retail store
Following 18 months of indecision, Apple has finalized plans to build another high-profile retail store in Chicago, agreeing on the site of an old gas station in the city's Clybourn Corridor shopping district.
Steve Jobs is never very far away
According to the Wall Street Journal which quotes sources in Cupertino, Steve Jobs keeps a close eye on his company in spite of the fact that he announced to have taken a break. Even though he leaves the current management of the business with Tim Cook, he is never very far away and continuous to supervise the important projects and the testing of the future products. He would thus devote time to check that the iPhone OS 3.0 interface matches his expectations.
In addition to the fact that this advertisement comes at good time to please the markets, it reassures us on his health condition, something that we have no information on since he announced his temporary withdrawal.
iFixit does the Dell Adamo
Being a bit unfaithful to the Apple portables, iFixit has dismounted the Dell Adamo portable.
The integration is very complete, and all is properly done. It is noted however that the mother board is perfectly rectangular where Apple does not hesitate to give convoluted forms, which allows an even more thorough integration, but increases the manufacturing costs. It remains to be seen whether Dell which built its empire on products at very low cost manages to produce a product that fits in the category where only Apple and Sony have had success.
Microsoft fined in Germany for illegal price fixing
The German authorities have fined Microsoft 9 million euros since they have forced the retailers to sell the office Office suite 2007 at a fixed price, thus preventing any competition. Microsoft did not deny these charges and indicated they would henceforth follow the German laws.
In the past, Apple had to undergo the same judgments, by preventing the retailers from making rebates on its products. In order to circumvent the law, they now use a system of very weak front-end margins, around 3%, that blocks any promotion, and give higher margins at the end of the year to ensure the retailers receive an acceptable benefit. Thus they cannot make promotions beyond these small percent without being illegal by selling at a loss.
Apple Ordered 4 Million New iPhones for Q2 2009?
Slashphone recaps a ChinaTimes / Commercial Times report which claims that Apple has placed an order for 4 million units of the next generation iPhone. Per Slashphone's summary:
According to its insider news, Apple has already ordered...
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