September 17, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

Our equal and opposite, Phil Nickinson over at WMExperts, has just provided the equal and opposite to our just-posted iPod touch G3 hardware review — a hands-on with the Microsoft Zune HD.

t’s my first foray into the Zune ecosystem, so I have a bit of a learning curve, and bear with me. But without giving away the farm, I’ll say this: If this is the direction in which Windows Mobile is moving, we all have much to look forward to.

Part 1 covers the desktop software, Quickplay (think genius), the apps, Zune marketplace, what’s in the box, the hardware, the screen, and teases Part 2 (of course).

Check out the battle HERE, then remember to join us for iPhone Live! tonight, as Phil will be our special guest, and we’ll take the Zune HD one on one with the great one — the iPod touch.

Via theiphoneblog.com

September 16, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

At Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” media event last week, the company introduced new iPod touch models with 32 GB and 64 GB capacities, advertising the devices as offering “up to 50 percent faster performance”. Macworld has performed speed tests comparing the new iPod touch to the previous-generation model, and found that on a number of tasks the new model does meet or exceed Apple’s performance claims.

The speed tests conducted were similar to ones run in June on the iPhone 3GS, and while the new iPhone running Apple’s just-released iPhone OS 3.1 was not included in the latest comparison, the new iPod touch appears to even be slightly faster at some tasks than the iPhone 3GS.

But it’s not just in benchmarks such as these where the new iPod wins out. Just as the iPhone 3GS was faster than the iPhone 3G at everything, the new iPod touch feels much faster at any task you throw at it: applications launch (and quit) faster, Web pages load more quickly, processor-intensive games and programs perform better — you name it.

We’ll be testing the latest iPod touch’s performance — compared to both the previous touch and the iPhone 3GS — for our official review, but it’s clear that Apple has beefed up its newest touchscreen device.

Via macrumors.com

September 15, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

Everyone, including Steve Jobs, has very reasonable sounding theories as to why the third gen iPod touch camera was removed. Rather than rehash it again, however, we thought we’d let our minds wonder into parody, and consider what might have happened in a world only slightly more cartoonish than ours…

Steve Jobs, fresh from his recent leave of absence, comes crashing back into Apple’s Cupertino campus, and after fixing the typography on the iPhone 3G S 3GS, tweaking some pixels on the Snow Leopard UI, and spending time meditating deep in the iTablet vault, he heads over to the scorched closet that used to be reserved for iPhone A2DP testing…

“64GB a go?” he demands. “Good”

“Is it thinner?” grumble. “Next year…”

“What about those ultra-tiny auto-focus 3 megapixel Read more…

September 13, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

A few days ago, Apple released the firmware update to version 3.1 to 3.1.1 for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch. Playing with the new version of software, some users have just noticed that the iPod Touch and the iPhone 3G (without jailbreak) integrate all the functions of video-editing, exactly like the iPhone 3GS!

Via ispazio.net

September 12, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

Another interesting possibility found in iFixit’s teardown of the third-generation iPod touch was an empty space on the circuit board that could house a camera. The location is consistent with the location of the rumored iPod touch camera and is distinct from the previous-generation iPod touch design.

Pictured above is the second-generation iPod touch on the left and the third-generation iPod touch on the right. The round metal piece seen in the middle of the second-generation iPod touch board is actually an antenna cable socket which has been moved on the third-generation model, which only has a black plastic spacer in that place. According to iFixit, an iPod-nano style camera would fit in that location.

The finding is also consistent with a report from AppleInsider which claimed that the iPod touch with camera was a real product but had been scrapped about a month ago. The rumor site also believes that Apple is still planning on adding camera capabilities to the iPod touch in the near future.

Via macrumors.com

September 10, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

In a new interview, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs discusses a number of issues, including the new lineup of iPods, the Amazon Kindle, and his own health and weight.

Jobs spoke with David Pogue of The New York Times, and explained that the iPod touch, unlike the iPod nano, was not given a camera because the company wanted to focus on portraying the device as a gaming machine. Jobs said that the company’s main goal was to lower the price of the iPod touch as much as possible, and he believes it achieved that with a 8GB model for $199.

“What customers told us was, they started to see it as a game machine,” Jobs said. “We started to market it that way, and it just took off. And now what we really see is it’s the lowest-cost way to the App Store, and that’s the big draw. So what we were focused on is just reducing the price to $199. We don’t need to add new stuff. We need to get the price down where everyone can afford it.”

Third-party cases with camera holes and even photos and video of an alleged prototype of a third-generation iPod touch with camera existed well before Wednesday’s event, leading many to assume such a product would be announced. While Jobs said the reason was intentional, AppleInsider received word earlier this week that the camera was removed due to bad hardware.

The chief executive went on to explain that the iPod nano can record video, but cannot take still pictures, because the sensors required for pictures are too thick to fit into the .02-inch thick device. Read more…

September 09, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

Apple lowered the prices of many of its iPod offerings overnight, prior to today’s event, with the 32GB iPod touch seeing the largest price drop, from $399 to $279.

In addition, the 16GB iPod touch dropped from $299 to $249 and the 8GB model fell from $229 to $189. On the iPod nano side, the 16GB capacity decreased to $149 (from $189), and the 8GB offering slid to $129 (from $149). Finally, the iPod classic had its price cut to $229 (from $249).

That means that before Apple even announces any products today, as it is planned to do, the iPod maker has already undercut the price of Microsoft’s upcoming Zune HD, set to launch Sept. 15 with a 32GB model for $290. Prior to Wednesday’s price cuts, the comparable iPod touch model was more than $100 more expensive than the forthcoming Microsoft product — now, Apple has bested its rival to the north by $10.

However, when pitting the 16GB models against each other, Microsoft still comes out ahead by $30.

Apple today is widely expected to unveil a new iPod touch with a camera. Speculation suggests that one model will offer 64GB, and the morning price cuts have likely set the stage for that spot in the lineup.

While Apple normally takes down its store to implement changes and build hype, this time it did not.

Via AppleInsider

September 08, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

Networking to spin further speculation regarding Apple’s event tomorrow. There are various rumors from various sources that we quote in one article.

The first concerns a new version of the App Store that we should end up with the Firmware 3.1. The application, with a new division, would find content more easily, providing greater visibility to all developers. This improvement was also announced by Apple itself but it was never fixed a date.

The second title comes from Mark Armet, the developer of Instapaper and Tumblr. According to him the change of the entire iPod line will result in the disappearance of the iPod Classic for iPod Touch 4 new models with different capacities. There will be an 8GB model will cost only $ 149, up to the 64GB version at $ 349.

Others have focused on the possibility of having the iPhone TV rentals to lead and manage TV shows directly on the iPhone. Fluke firmly believes the arrival of a Beatles album fully remastered.

TechCruch finally argues that iTunes 9 will integrate a service based on a server “cloud” that will act as a bridge between the application of computers and our iPhone, perceptive to watch movies in streaming.

In short, the expectations are really so many, we hope to remain truly surprised!

Via ispzaio.net

September 08, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

According to one of our reliable source (however, it remains a rumor), Apple is facing problems with the production of the new iPod Touch. The issue would be linked to the new camera module. We did not get any further details, but the problem has been spotted in the first dozen of thousands units produced. Those units have been put aside.
We do not know if the problem has been solved in the meantime. In any case, the iPod Touch availability would be delayed and initial volumes reduced. If the problem has not been solved yet, then the updated iPod Touch might be significantly delayed.

via hardmac.com

September 07, 2009 :: Posted by - SoSly :: Category - News

While we anxiously await the arrival of the next event in which Apple verrranno presented the new iPod Touch 3G, let’s take a look at the competition by listing the features of Microsoft’s Zune HD planned for 15 September.

The device has an OLED screen and multi-touch 3.3-inch 480 × 272 pixels risuluzione to 16:9.

Integrates an FM radio receiver, and supports the ‘Out With 2 HD video and two graphics processors ARM core, or the video output in high definition (720p) for watching movies, TV shows and more. The device is also equipped with WiFi connectivity to listen to streaming audio from free hotspots. Further more, there are videos, images, social networks and the ability to use the Windows Market Place (the App Store to Microsoft).

Too many people believe that the Zune HD will be able to compete with the iPod Touch mainly because of the hardware. In fact the Zune HD will be based on the nVidia Tegra processor which ensures maximum performance with very little power consumption, just like the OLED screen.

In light of this, will the implementation of a camera in the next iPod Touch be sufficient to overcome the competition? What other features might Apple surprise us with?

Via isapzio.net