iPod
Bye-bye, Palm
So PalmSource has decided to discontinue Mac support in upcoming versions of the Palm OS, despite the fact that they have a larger market share percentage-wise in the Macintosh side of the computing world than out. Mac users will be left to third-party solutions to sync future Palm devices with their Macintosh systems, costing us more money. Palm Desktop (which Palm bought from Apple as Claris Organizer) will no longer be updated. Last night, I migrated all of my Palm Desktop data to Address Book, iCal, and BBEdit-created text files. I then proceeded to use iSync to sync my contact and calendar info,first on my iPod, then to my .Mac account, the latter of which was a first for me. I then synced my new-to-me, work-provided 1.42 GHz dual-G4 to my .Mac account, so that my Address Book info and Safari bookmarks matched with those on my Cube. All syncs worked without any problems, just as they should. I have been debating over what kind of phone to move to. My wife's law firm makes extensive use of the Blackberry RIMs amongst the attorneys, and she will be getting one soon, with service through T-Mobile. I had been considering the Treo 600, but now I'm not so sure. I may go with the Sony-Ericsson T630 when U.S. providers begin carrying it over the next month or two. I don't think Address Book and iCal will fill all of my PIM needs; I already feel like I'm going to butt against the limits of the applications, and am looking at alternatives. For now, however, Palm no longer has a place on my systems' desktops.
iPod Battery FAQ
Dave Schroeder, an Apple Distinguished Educator, has posted the quite sensible and easy-to-follow iPod Battery FAQ. Hopefully this will go a long way toward disproving any falsehoods raised by those spreading "dirty secrets" about the iPod. (via MacInTouch)
Yeah, a standard port would have been nice
And now we have experienced the other druther of the 3G iPods: the non-standard dock connector. I get to work today, pull out the new iPod, and then realize I have no dock here and I left the FireWire-to-dock cable at home, connected, appropriately enough, to the iPod dock on my desk. So the old 5 GB iPod, which was still in my bag, is happily pumping out tunes now...
New iPod
So I had long ago outgrown my original 5 GB iPod, but I lived with moving music off and on to it from my Mac as my tastes dictated. An early Christmas present from my wonderful wife, however, has yielded a 40 GB third-generation iPod. Now I have to grow in to the new little white wonder on my hip--I only have about 15 GB of music ripped to MP3 format. Using iSync, my latest "phischpod" carries my contact and calendar info, and I've started playing around with the Notes function. I do miss the input ability I had with a Palm device, and I know I'm not alone. I lived in the Memo function of my Palm, so maybe the Belkin Voice Recorder would help alleviate the input druthers of the 'Pod. In other news, I am waffling over how to sheath my iPod. It will either be this or that. Thoughts and comments on this issue are welcome.
You want to jack in to my what?
Unlike Lee, I don't think I'd appreciate this new trend of non-verbal, can-I-listen-to-your-iPod-for-a-moment "communication" with perfect strangers. With someone I know, even on an acquaintance level, I'd feel much more generous. I've known my new boss less than two weeks, and we've already listened in to one another's iPods. But we're the only two people in our department, both total Mac heads, both love our iPods, he's a major music geek, etc., etc. We have a lot of stuff in common outside of our work relationship. But I would likely balk if someone just walked up to me on the street and wanted to plug in...
Paying for iPod color?
I have to wonder at the prospect of paying for a professional paint job for one's iPod or PowerBook. Granted, the iPod job only costs fifty bucks, but how many different colored skins could you buy for your iPod for fifty bucks? And the skins are removable, plus generally offer other features (non-skid, for example). I know it's not a full-blown paint job, but you can get cover panels for your PowerBook. Not to mention that having your iPod or 'Book painted will void your AppleCare warranty. (via MacMinute)
Xtremity
XtremeMac has released their Xtremity iPod Case System. I like the ease of transition from being carried on the belt to popping it in to a car mount, to just having it on the desk. Something else to look in to when I add a new iPod to my arsenal. (via MacMinute)
Change your iPod battery
Thinking that my iPod's battery may be dying--it is an original 5 GB model--I've been looking around for replacements from third parties. The fine folks at iPodbattery.com have even elected to show you how to disassemble your iPod to make the battery swap. Kudos!
iPod as big as the Mac?
It's certainly looking that way to Apple. The iPod is the highest-volume item the company moves right now, with 1.4 million sold.
''It's something that's as big a brand to Apple as the Mac,'' is how Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, puts it. ''And that's a pretty big deal.''