Steve Jobs described the iTV as Apple’s entry into the living room, as if it were a strategic move in a larger game plan. But with several wireless TV extenders already on the market, why will Apple’s be any different?
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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The Case of the Missing DVR looked at why Apple isn’t positioning the iTV as another Tivo. Here’s a second look at the more entertaining bits of rampant iTV speculation, this time looking at USB and what lurks inside.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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B&H proudly joins Apple and Lowel Lighting to present an HDV-focused seminar that will teach you the tools and techniques you need to create live performance footage, music videos, and behind-the-scenes content. This seminar focuses on workflow, hands-on experience, and camera set-ups. Shooting will be demonstrated.
In today’s music industry it is as important be seen as it is to be heard. Podcasting, YouTube, and a world of new portable video devices have opened powerful avenues for reaching your fans. The amazing quality of High Definition Video (HDV) is the hottest trend in video. Apple’s Final Cut Studio combined with affordable HDV camera technology enables you to reach through the screen and pull your audience onstage.
Date: Thursday, September 28th
Location: The New Yorker Hotel
481 8th Ave., (between 34th & 35th Streets)
New York, NY 10001
Times: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Register here
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Register here
Contributed by: PowerPage Reader

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A wave of analysts were confused by Apple’s iTV announcement: “Where’s the DVR?” Here’s a look at why the iTV isn’t trying to be a Tivo or a Windows Media Center PC knockoff.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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The iTunes Monoploy/Failure Myth debunked the idea that Apple has a stranglehold on the digital media market by demonstrating how Apple contends in a competitive market for both music players and digital downloads. The other half of the myth–that the iTunes Store is being “shunned” by users–is taken apart by showing that not only is Apple’s online strategy a success, but that there are clear reasons why Apple has maintained its lead while rivals have failed miserably: Why iTunes Works
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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Fresh from the ‘What-A-Good-Idea’ department comes the USBCELL. This 1300mAH rechargeable battery has a hinged cap that folds back to reveal a USB connector. This can then be plugged-in to any full-size, powered USB port, avoiding the need for separate recharging devices, cradles or cables.
At 1300mAH, the USBCELL is half the capacity of many conventional rechargeable batteries. However the conveniencce of being able to recharge or top-up by simply plugging into a USB port is a definite plus.
AAA and 9 volt batteries are being planned, along with power-supplies for a wide range of portable devices including mobile phones and game consoles.
Contributed by Brett Jordan.

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According to proponents of
The iTunes Monopoly/Failure Myth, Apple’s iTunes Store has a monopolistic lock on digital music, and at the same time is also a marginal failure that nobody is using. Judging from headlines that appear next to each other, it’s hard to keep the FUD straight. In both cases, they’re wrong, here’s why.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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This just hit me. Allowing customers to download album artwork for their whole library, regardless of where the music came from, is brilliant, instant market research by Apple.
Apple’s been careful this time to tell the user that iTunes will have to send data to get the album art back, and to say that no personal data is sent, and that’s good. But nobody ever said they’re not keeping the statistical info, and it’s an insanely smart move.
How should the iTMS team know what they’re missing in their catalog, what their customers want but aren’t getting from iTMS? That’s hard to know, because customers are reluctant to take the time to share that sort of thing. But when iTunes goes to iTMS to get album art, it has to send info (artist, album, track…) and I’ll bet that they know whether or not the track was purchased from iTMS.
Apple, in turn, gets a massive database of missed hits. And good hits, too. They can instantly find what tracks and artists people want and aren’t able to get via iTMS. They can learn what percentage of tracks they do have didn’t come from iTMS. If they’re smart they’re analyzing much more from what they are getting, and all of it for free, instantly, without causing any customer to do anything (actually while giving them a gift), and all without running afoul of anyone’s privacy concerns.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens. If I’m right, those holes that iTMS left in your album art because it didn’t have the art will miraculously start filling in across the coming months.
And frankly, everyone wins. Insanely brilliant.
(Contributed by: Steve Abrahamson)

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I’ve seen several rants about iTunes 7 floating around the web, but no one ever seems to ever talk about what I consider to be an essential feature that’s continually been missing from the iTunes application. And one, I might add, that’s trivial to add.
What is it? Simple. There’s no way to make the movie/TV/video playback window “float” on top of all of the other windows.
This, in my mind, dramatically reduces the usefulness of those types of media, as it’s extremely difficult to watch a TV show or movie AND engage in other work at the same time. This is especially true if you’re on a smaller screen system like a MacBook, or when working with full-screen applications like Excel or Dreamweaver.
C’mon Apple it’s not that hard. Provide an option to float the window.
For an example of how to do it right, check out Trans Lucy, a DVD player that allows you to float the window, and that even gives you the ability to make it translucent so you can “see though” to your other applications.
Make it a right-click or preference option if you don’t want to clutter up the interface, but let us watch our movies and get something useful done at the same time.
Please?
Contributed by: Michael Long
(You can open iTunes videos in their own window, just double-click on the video window in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window. However, there’s no way to change the opacity of the player window – Ed.)

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This week, Apple unveiled a new dual processor, handheld gaming platform with stereo surround sound and a bright, 30 frames per second color display. The company also announced that it created an instant installed base of players by secretly distributing millions of the new devices over the last year.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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