This week we talk about Apple's financial results (spoiler: they make money). Also a look back at the old days of less successful and evil Apple. This week also saw the first map pack for MW3.
1:05 - TV shows, political debates, X-Files
8:18 - Product reviews
9:15 - Macworld expo
17:40 - Apple financial results
21:45 - Running the numbers on Apple stock price
23:49 - Remember when Apple wasn't "evil"
36:34 - Call of Duty/MW3 Map Packs
49:30 - App of the week: Squrl
Laptops are pretty powerful these days and make for a worthy desktop solution. Whether transcoding video, rendering 3D, or just playing some impressive games, a MacBook can put off some desktop-level heat. The built-in cooling system should be sufficient to handle any heat issues, however, cooling stands allow users to be a little more proactive.
And that brings us to the Zefyr 2 from Moshi. In addition to providing two fans of cooling power, the Zefyr 2 also functions as a stand to improve typing angles. The stand is made of aircraft aluminum and contains dual fans that are powered by a pass-through USB connector. The fans work on three different speeds, providing different cooling options. The Zefyr also folds for mobile transport and comes in a carrying pouch.
The Zefyr 2 is compatible with all sizes of Apple laptops, including the 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch MacBook Pro and also MacBook Air. The Zefyr 2 has a MSRP of $80.
IK Multimedia make a number of products geared towards voice and instrument performance, just as their iRig line. This week the company formally announced the iKlip Studio stand for iPad. The stand is created with performance in mind, allowing the iPad to rotate in portrait or landscape modes. Also the stand has multiple viewing angles, depending on your setup. IK Multimedia notes that all ports and controls are also accessible. The device can also fold flat for easy storage and transport. The iKlip Studio has a unique detachable bracket to hold the company's iRig adapter in place.
The iKlip Studio is expected to ship later this quarter for $29.99. It is compatible with both the iPad and iPad 2.
DryCase stands out in the crowd of iPhone-in-a-bag protection. The company's DryCase has a vacuum sealing feature, but also an integrated audio jack. The idea is you could take your iPhone, iPod, or iPad to the beach/pool, out in the rain, or whatever and still use your device without worrying about it getting wet. All the while still listening to tunes. Below is a video of the product at CES.
DryCase this week announced DryBuds to compliment its DryCase. The device is a sports-style around the ear headphone that can be submerged in water. The headphone offers 100-percent water proof. Additionally, it has a built-in microphone to use for calls and Siri, for example. Presumably the microphone won't perform all well while under water, but should be good when you come up for air.
PluralEye is a cool extension of Final Cut Pro that allows you to match up multiple audio track to a video track. For example, if you're shooting video with a DSLR camera, but using an external audio recorder, you can easily match up the media. The utility takes multiple tracks from the external recorder and matches them to the imported video tracks. The system can also deal with matching up multiple camera angles/shots with a master audio track. In the old days people would use clapboard or more complicated time coded workflow.
Final Cut Pro X actually has this feature built-in, however, PluralEyes has a more streamlined approach for dealing with lots of tracks in a single batch alignment.
Version 2.1 has been available for Final Cut Pro, and this update brings compatibility with the latest version of Final Cut Pro X. The update is available for $149 and free for existing users. A 30-day trial is also available.
The CarGo is a backseat car mount for the iPad. The stand attaches to the headrest area of a car seat and offers viewing for backseat passengers. The mount has a 360-degree pivot, so the iPad can be angled for best viewing. The mount attaches to the iPad by locking feet, and the attachment then connects to the seat mount.
The system appears to be pretty stable and doesn't droop over bumps. Also the CarGo sits low enough to not obstruct driving while the pivot allows the display to tilt/pan for comfortable viewing and reduction of glare.
The CarGo stand is compatible with both the iPad and iPad 2. It has a list MSRP of $49.99.
Elemental Technologies announced Tuesday that Stanford Athletics will be the first to use their video replay system for college sporting events. The system will allow fans to view clips on mobile devices via WiFi. The technology appears to use Apple's HTTP Live system, which will serves up multiple bit rate streams for users to view. The streaming is adaptive depending on the user's available bandwidth.
Using Elemental Live, input from four different camera sources is continuously encoded in real time to create multiple adaptive bit rate Apple HTTP files, which are immediately stored on a local web server. Replay clips created by operators for the main video streams in the stadium are pushed to mobile devices through the simple use of a function key that passes clip metadata to the Stanford GameDay Live website.
The system should allow fans to view a play within 15 second of it happening. The replay feature is to be available for sporting events at Stanford Stadium and Maples Pavilion, which should cover Cardinal football and basketball. The presentation will use FanConneX to deliver service to fans.
Last Week Ten One Design formally announced the Magnus. The Magnus utilizes the iPad 2's magnetic hinge for the Smart Cover. The stand attaches to the iPad 2 magnetically and is held in place for a pretty minimalistic approach. Once docked, the iPad 2 can be used for viewing movies, video chat, or just stored.
The Magnus is as you would expect designed to be used without a case and will hold the iPad 2 in landscape mode. Ten One says it is available this week and has a list price of $49.95. Below is a first look at CES.
This week we review last week's gluttony of tech that is CES. Also this week Apple announced some new initiatives for the education market with iBooks and iTunes U.
02:43 - CES Travel
06:17 - CES/Las Vegas Impressions
08:55 - Comcast
11:32 - CES Content
12:48 - Apple Store Shopping
17:00 - Brian's First CES
23:57 - Working CES
29:36 - YouTuber Party
37:04 - CES Product Highlights
53:01 - CES Tips
58:52- Apple's iBooks 2, iTunes 2, iBooks Author
01:01:50 - Creating iBooks
01:03:35 - iTunes U
01:07:07 - SOPA/PIPA
01:10:58 - MegaUpload
Apple Thursday announced a new app designed to interact with and expand its iTunes U content collection. The app bring together the course materials in podcast form on an iOS device. With the app, users will be able to essentially have a virtual classroom where users will be able to subscribe to courses, see notes from the instructor, gather materials, and get notifications on updates. Also, if students take notes within iBooks, those notes will be available within he iTunes U app. It seems Apple is trying to incorporate features similar to the Blackboard service. iTunes U App also brings together content from other areas of the iTunes Store including iBooks and App Store.
Educators can manage their classes using a Web-based tool. They can share their courses, quizzes, and offer handouts. They can also post links to other iTunes content and the Internet to reference or compliment the coursework. The Webtool also allows them to upload documents and iBooks.
IK Multimedia make a number of products geared towards voice and instrument performance, just as their iRig line. This week the company formally announced the iKlip Studio stand for iPad. The stand is created with performance in mind, allowing the iPad to rotate in portrait or landscape modes. Also the stand has multiple viewing angles, depending on your setup. IK Multimedia notes that all ports and controls are also accessible. The device can also fold flat for easy storage and transport. The iKlip Studio has a unique detachable bracket to hold the company's iRig adapter in place.
DryCase stands out in the crowd of iPhone-in-a-bag protection. The company's DryCase has a vacuum sealing feature, but also an integrated audio jack. The idea is you could take your iPhone, iPod, or iPad to the beach/pool, out in the rain, or whatever and still use your device without worrying about it getting wet. All the while still listening to tunes. Below is a video of the product at CES.
PluralEye is a cool extension of Final Cut Pro that allows you to match up multiple audio track to a video track. For example, if you're shooting video with a DSLR camera, but using an external audio recorder, you can easily match up the media. The utility takes multiple tracks from the external recorder and matches them to the imported video tracks. The system can also deal with matching up multiple camera angles/shots with a master audio track. In the old days people would use clapboard or more complicated time coded workflow.
Elemental Technologies announced Tuesday that Stanford Athletics will be the first to use their video replay system for college sporting events. The system will allow fans to view clips on mobile devices via WiFi. The technology appears to use Apple's HTTP Live system, which will serves up multiple bit rate streams for users to view. The streaming is adaptive depending on the user's available bandwidth.