Archives by Topic: Apple
HBO, NBC, and Flexible Pricing on iTunes
HBO television programs were added to the iTunes store today, including Sex and the City, Deadwood, and The Sopranos. But, you see, that’s not even the really big news. The really big news, as TUAW alludes to, is that some of the HBO programs are priced at $2.99 per episode, a dollar higher than the price of nearly every other television show that iTunes sells.
This sort of flexible pricing model is exactly what NBC was looking for when it took its shows off of iTunes last year. And me, while I’m not excited about the prospect of flexible pricing—I like knowing that any TV episode I buy, regardless of what show its from, is going to cost me the same two bucks—I do like the idea that maybe this opens up the possibility of Apple and NBC kissing and making up. I’ve missed out on an entire season of Heroes that I would have otherwise watched if I had been able to download it (legally) and catch up on it whenever I liked.
I really love the idea of a la carte TV. Like Dan Rubin, who twittered about ditching cable for an Apple TV and thereby saving a boatload of cash, I would absolutely jump at the chance to cancel my cable subscription and pay only for the two or three shows that I dig, if only all of those shows were easily accessible and purchasable from my Apple TV.
Music Video Set On/Inside A Mac Desktop
When you have a second, check out the amazing YouTube video that I’ve embedded above. Not only is the song ("Again & Again,” by The Bird and the Bee) great, but the video is set entirely on/inside/within the confines of a Mac desktop. As TUAW puts it, “You sort of have to see it for yourself to understand.”
Even if you’re vehemently anti-Mac, this is worth your trouble. Just imagine Clippy making a special guest appearance, or something.
Apple’s Photo Booth App Helps Recover Stolen Laptop
The Unofficial Apple Weblog broke this story on Friday, the New York Times followed up on Saturday, and I’ve been laughing about it all weekend long.
Apparently, Kait Duplaga, an employee of the Westchester, NY Apple Store, used Apple’s “Back to My Mac” service, in combination with the popular Photo Booth application, to snap a picture of the morons who stole her laptop but didn’t think to reformat the thing.
“Back to My Mac,” in case you’re not familiar, is part of the Apple’s .Mac servce which allows a user to control their computer remotely from any other .Mac enabled machine. Photo Booth, for the uninitiated, is an application which uses the Mac’s built-in camera to snap pictures of the people standing or sitting in front of it. If you see lots of teenaged mallrats hanging out at your local Apple retail outlet, Photo Booth is probably what they’re there for.
Ms. Duplaga used these two applications to snap photos of the culprits, which she then delivered to the police. The culprits, who, according to the deputy commissioner of public safety in White Plains, “were arrested last year on a felony marijuana possession charge” are not “career criminals.” And I think that’s probably a pretty darned good thing. Seriously, dudes, if you’re going to steal laptops for a living, you better be up-to-date on what they can do. Otherwise, just roll yourself a couple joints, listen to some Afroman, and fix yourself a plate of brownies.
.Mac and iPhone 2.0
A little birdy has apparently dropped by the offices of The Unofficial Apple Weblog to spread the rumor that a .Mac relaunch is coming just in time for the release of iPhone 2.0. TUAW’s informant says that the revamp could include .Mac syncing on Windows, among other things. As I’m sure you’ll recall, I’ve been thinking a lot about synchronizing data lately, and particularly about syncing data between my iMac and my Dell laptop. If this rumor becomes reality, I might actually have to give .Mac a try.
Boston Apple Store Opening May 16
ifoAppleStore.com is reporting that Boston’s first Apple Store will open on Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m. I just walked by there on my way into the office and it definitely looks like things are getting close.
I’m sure I’ll be at the back of a very, very long line, but I know where I’m going after work that night.
