News Archive for 09/03/11

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iPhone apps: iAmHappy, Lex & Terry, Coffee Buzz

03/11, 6:40pm

iCount, Mystery House

iAmHappy ($1) provides access to hundreds of positive affirmations that have been organized into different categories. The software also includes nearly 100 relaxing and soothing images and backgrounds. iAmHappy includes three different modes for viewing the quotes, Serendipity, Category and View All. The Serendipity mode shows the quotes randomly, while Category organizes all the quotes by their category and View All displays the complete list.

Analyst: New Shuffle could be a "surprise hit"

03/11, 4:35pm

Analyst take on Shuffle

Despite the higher price of the third-generation iPod shuffle launched Wednesday, the new features, capacity and form factor could prove attractive to customers, according to Kaufmann Brothers analyst Shaw Wu. "We believe iPod shuffle could end up being a surprise hit," he said, noting that Apple tends to see a substantial increase in sales when it makes a form factor change to either iPods or Macs.

New Shuffle to need adapter for third-party output

03/11, 3:05pm

Shuffle 3G earbud support

People looking to use headphones of their own with the newest iPod shuffle will have to be patient, Apple is said to have confirmed. The problem arises from the control scheme for the updated player, which has shifted almost entirely to proprietary Apple earbuds. At the moment the player is rendered useless without them, Apple notes.

iTunes 8.1 adds iTunes Plus import, Genius for movies

03/11, 2:00pm

iTunes update

Along with the new iPod shuffle launched on Wednesday, Apple also quietly introduced iTunes 8.1. The company claims to have improved performance when loading large libraries, browsing the store or syncing devices. The Genius sidebar feature, previously only available for music, will now recommend TV shows and movies to the user. The items can be previewed and purchased directly from the sidebar.

Snow Leopard delay, larger iPod touches coming?

03/11, 12:30pm

Kaufman on AAPL trends

A number of new developments are in progress behind the scenes at Apple, claims Kaufman analyst Shaw Wu. Sources currently say, for instance, that Mac OS X Snow Leopard will only be released this summer at the earliest, and possibly as late as the fall. This stands in contrast to predictions from Apple's own director of Unix engineering, who in November said that the OS would ship before the end of March. It is thought however that Snow Leopard may be laying the groundwork for future iMacs, equipped with quad-core Intel processors.

Klipsch preps budget Image S2, S4 in-ears

03/11, 12:20pm

Klipsch Image S2 and S4

Klipsch on Wednesday updated its Image in-ear headphones with some of its first models outside of its normal high-end range. The Image S2 and S4 have the same oval ear tips as more expensive models but less complicated, moving coil drivers and a larger enclosure. Making the switch lets Klipsch lower the price while still providing roughly the same amount of comfort and ear isolation as more costly models. The S4 also adds a dual magnet motor that steps up the amount of damping and more closely replicates the attack rate of kick drums and similar bass without introducing distortion.

Apple releases third-generation 4GB iPod shuffle

03/11, 9:05am

Redesigned iPod shuffle

Apple on Wednesday released a surprise redesign of the iPod shuffle. The player now comes only in black and silver colors, and has switched to a tall and even smaller design, completely omitting any surface buttons except for a three-way switch that toggles song shuffling as well as power. Volume and track control are now handled exclusively through an in-line remote on the earbuds, in a manner similar to other earbuds for the iPhone, Nano and Touch.