Category: General Tech

Apple’s Time Capsule is a pretty slick device — it’s a router, a wireless access point and a backup drive. However, a growing number of reports show that the devices may be failing early.

The Apple Time Capsule Memorial Register is a site dedicated to tracking the issue by capturing info on failed devices.

By having users record their Time Capsule’s serial number, capacity, purchase and death date, the site has built a database of almost 400 dead devices, with an average lifespan of 17 month, 6 days.

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Verizon’s now teasing their upcoming Android phone:

While this device is a collaboration between Google, Verizon and Motorola, the ad sure seems to pit Verizon against Apple — not AT&T. This is unique, and seems to further prove Verizon won’t be carrying the iPhone any time soon.

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PC World’s David Coursey:

There are good technical reasons why Microsoft chose this path. However, for average XP users and many businesses, such a difficult upgrade makes Windows 7 a non-starter. Users that are more proficient will make the upgrade at their own peril, just make sure you have application install disks handy.

Yes, you can upgrade from XP to Windows 7, but is it really worth it?

No!

Just buy an inexpensive new Win7 machine instead. Hardware has improved a great deal since many of our XP machines were purchased. Money for a Windows 7 upgrade is better spent on a new computer that comes with it preinstalled. In terms of time, trouble, and a happy user experience, this is the best way to get Windows 7.

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This month, it goes to Dong Ngo of CNET. He benchmarked Snow Leopard against Windows 7. While the results were a mixed bag for OS X, he closed his article with this:

Third, if you can get by with just software designed by Apple and if money is not a big issue, you will be happy with a Mac. Examples of these software choices are iTunes, iLife, QuickTime, Safari, iChat, and so on (and you probably won’t need much more than those for daily entertainment and communication needs). Finally, if money is not an issue–and it definitely is for most of us–you should get a Mac anyway. It’s the only platform, for now, that can run both Windows and OS X.

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iSpazz is:

…a plugin for iTunes on OS X, controlling the MacBook Pro/PowerBook backlight keyboard and optionally the display backlight.

Here’s a video of it in action.

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Ever want to know the chance of a white male between 18 and 24 getting killed by a bus crach? You can go look it up here, on the Book of Odds website. Be warned — I spent a long time playing on it last night.

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BusinessWeek:

Schiller says the success of Apple’s operating system is indicative of the changing fortunes in the tech industry. While less than 20% of Windows users have moved to the three-year-old Vista, more than 70% of Mac users have upgraded to the Apple operating system introduced at about the same time. He has similar hopes for Apple’s four-month-old Snow Leopard OS. Says Schiller: “I expect Snow Leopard will have an amazing upgrade rate, and Windows 7 won’t.”

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Indeed.

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Ever since Apple unveiled the App Store, I’ve heard this sentence more than I can tell you:

I’m not going to pay for an iPhone app.

First, Some Background

When Apple announced the App Store, they offered developers two pricing options: free apps, or paid apps (set at any price above $0.99, with Apple taking 30% to cover infrastructure costs). At first glance, 30% seemed high, but the App Store not only puts every single app in front of every single iPhone and iPod touch user, but Apple takes care of all of the backend to make it possible — hosting, billing, reviews, everything.

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Enjoy.

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T-Mobile:

Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device - such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos - that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger. That said, our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low.

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This report from the NPD group is a few days old, but somehow I missed it. OS X Daily breaks the numbers down:

\* 85% of Mac owners also own a PC

• 72% of Mac owners use a notebook / laptop

• 66% of Mac owners own three or more computers

• 63% of Mac owners own an iPod

• 49% of Mac owners own a navigation device (GPS, but is iPhone included?)

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