Info

Reassuringly Expensive

Posts tagged ipod

Choose another tag?


I was up rather late last night, and thought I’d check Twitter on my iPad one last time before heading to bed. I did so just as the news of Steve Jobs passing away hit Twitter; somehow it felt fitting to be watching people express their sadness and thanks on one of the amazing devices he created. As President Obama said in his tribute:

there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented

I am an unabashed fan of Apple, and therefore Steve Jobs as they were for many of us inseperable, but I was surprised how I felt on hearing the news; the best way I can describe it is as a feeling of hollowness.

I didn’t know him, I never met him or even saw him present, but I feel I understand him. Every time I use a piece of Apple hardware or software I can see, and understand, his values and passion.

Two of my favourite Steve Jobs philosophies are that Apple products should be “insanely great” and “it just works”.

I’m reminded of these philosophies when I watch my six year old son creating music in Garage Band, export that music to iTunes and then sync it to his iPod. I like to think that Steve Jobs would be as proud and delighted as I am to see him beaming away as he listen to “his music”.

This is Steve Jobs legacy: insanely great products that are a joy to use and bring delight their users.

I followed Steve Jobs’ Keynote from MacWorld today on my iPhone via MacRumors excellent page and have just watched the Keynote video from the Apple site and whilst it wasn’t an iPhone year but it was still a good year.

However, before we get into what was announced I just have to ask – can you name any other corporation that you would watch a keynote from it’s CEO? Amazing… and I have to say Steve Jobs is the best corporate public speaker I’ve ever seen. The demand for the keynote coverage was so high in fact that Twitter disappeared before it even started and TUAW took out an AOL data centre.

Anyway, to MacWorld 2008 – my guess you will remember was

HOME “MEDIA” NETWORKING

and we got that in full effect with the new Apple TV. The original Apple TV didn’t appeal to me much but this new “Take 2″ looks a much more complete and well thought out product.

Apple’s next target is most definitely your living room.

What other goodies did Steve reveal?

  • The Time Capsule – a wireless NAS backup hard drive and wifi router. Great idea; I’m in the market for a new backup drive so this looks very interesting.
  • iPhone 1.1.3 software update. I’ve updated mine and in addition to all the new features it feels a little quicker to. I like that they call this the January update implying that there are more to come in future months.
  • iPod Touch update – 5 new apps for $20. Not sure how I feel about the charge but it is a very significant update.
  • Apple TV “Take 2″ – looks like a nice product. Marks Apple’s new direction in addition to more traditional Apple products; who’d of thought we’d call the iPod traditional a few years ago?
  • MacBook Air – yes the rumours were true but they didn’t guess just how thin and downright slinky the new MacBook Air is. It is stunning. I’m planning on getting a new MacBook this year and that will most definitely be it, but not the SSD version… HOW MUCH?

And that was MacWorld 2008, no “one last thing” but plenty of “booms” and an accurate prediction for yours truly.

Now to bed perchance to dream…of the MacBook Air…

Business trips are like buses… you don’t go on any for ages and then two turn up together.

In about 12 hours I leave Heathrow for almost a week in sunny Phoenix. There has been all sort of malarkey with booking flights and hotels as Phoenix seems to be full this week. It’s worked out well as I’m flying direct with BA in Club World and staying in what looks like quite a nice ‘resort hotel’ which is handy for the office.

I’ve been to Phoenix once before and so don’t expect many photos or interesting stories as I don’t think there is anything of interest there as far as I can see… well except Frank Lloyd Wright’s house.

I think I’ll be taking advantage of the lower US prices and buying a nice new iPod whilst I am there (after the Tuesday announcements) as mine is full.

See you in a week…

Jonathan Ive, Apple’s design overlord, has been awarded a CBE in the New Years Honours list.

It’s fantastic to see the importance of design being recognised.

Jonathan Ive is responsible (with a little input from Steve Jobs I’m sure) for the iMac, Cube, iBook, Powerbook, Mini and of course the iPod range.

Apple are renown for their industrial design – design which is led by Jonathan Ive.

Because of the bloody French, European iPods have a very low and very annoying volume limit.

Back off Brussels – I’m a grown up and can operate a volume control.

Sorry… thankfully it’s possible to hack the firmware on the iPod and remove this Nanny State nastiness. To do so is pretty tricky but some very clever people have made a lovely little application that does it all for you called goPod.

Sadly with the last iPod firmware upgrade it no longer worked… the horror… the horror…

Now it’s back and its supports iPod 3G, 4G, photo, mini, colour and even the lovely new nano.

Still here? Why? Go get goPod now.