The advertised battery life on most models is different from the real-world achievable life. For example, the fifth generation 30 GB iPod is advertised as having up to 14 hours of music playback. An MP3.com report stated that this was virtually unachievable under real-life usage conditions, with a writer for MP3.com getting on average less than 8 hours from his or her iPod.[30] In 2003, class action lawsuits were brought against Apple complaining that the battery charges lasted for shorter lengths of time than stated and that the battery degraded over time.[31] The lawsuits were settled by offering individuals either US$50 store credit or a free battery replacement.[32]
iPod batteries are not designed to be removed or replaced by the user, although some users have been able to open the case themselves, usually following instructions from third-party vendors of iPod replacement batteries. Compounding the problem, Apple initially would not replace worn-out batteries. The official policy was that the customer should buy a refurbished replacement iPod, at a cost almost equivalent to a brand new one. All lithium-ion batteries eventually lose capacity during their lifetime[33] (guidelines are available for prolonging life-span) and this situation led to a small market for third-party battery replacement kits.
Apple announced a battery replacement program on November 14, 2003, a week before[34] a high publicity stunt and website by the Neistat Brothers.[35] The initial cost was US$99,[36] and it was lowered to US$59 in 2005. One week later, Apple offered an extended iPod warranty for US$59.[37] For the iPod nano, soldering tools are needed because the battery is soldered onto the main board. Fifth generation iPods have their battery attached to the backplate with adhesive.[38][39]
Friday, January 11, 2008
Accessories
Many accessories have been made for the iPod. A large amount are made by third party companies, although many, such as iPod Hi-Fi, are made by Apple. This market is sometimes described as the iPod ecosystem.[17] Some accessories add extra features that other music players have, such as sound recorders, FM radio tuners, wired remote controls, and audio/visual cables for TV connections. Other accessories offer unique features like the Nike+iPod pedometer and the iPod Camera Connector. Other notable accessories include external speakers, wireless remote controls, protective cases/films and wireless earphones.[18] Among the first accessory manufacturers were Griffin Technology, Belkin, JBL, Bose, Monster Cable, and SendStation.
Two designs of iPod earbuds. The current version is shown on the right.
The white earphones (or "earbuds") that ship with all iPods have become symbolic of the brand. Advertisements feature them prominently, often contrasting the white earphones (and cords) with people shown as dark silhouettes. The original earphones came with the first generation iPod. They were revised to be smaller after Apple received complaints of the earbuds being too large. The revised earphones were shipped with second through early fifth generation iPods, the iPod mini, and the first generation nanos. The earbuds were revised again in 2006, featuring an even smaller and more streamlined design. This third type was shipped with late fifth generation iPods and the second generation nanos. All first generation iPod shuffles and the second generation up until January 30, 2007 (when color models were introduced) had the second kind; those that shipped after that date had the third kind.
In 2005, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority placed advertisements on the subways warning passengers that "Earphones are a giveaway. Protect your device",[19] after iPod thefts on the subway rose from zero in 2004 to 50 in the first three months of 2005.[20]
BMW released the first iPod automobile interface,[21] allowing drivers of newer BMW vehicles to control their iPod using either the built-in steering wheel controls or the radio head-unit buttons. Apple announced in 2005 that similar systems would be available for other vehicle brands, including Mercedes-Benz,[22] Volvo,[23] Nissan, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari,[24] Acura, Audi, Honda,[25] Renault and Volkswagen.[26] Scion offers standard iPod connectivity on all their cars.
Some independent stereo manufacturers including JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, and Harman Kardon also have iPod-specific integration solutions. Alternative connection methods include adaptor kits (that use the cassette deck or the CD changer port), audio input jacks, and FM transmitters such as the iTrip — although personal FM transmitters are illegal in some countries. Many car manufacturers have added audio input jacks as standard.[27]
Beginning in mid-2007, four major airlines, United, Continental, Delta, and Emirates reached agreements to install iPod seat connections. The free service will allow passengers to power and charge their iPod, and view their video and music libraries on individual seat-back displays.[28] Originally KLM and Air France were reported to be part of the deal with Apple, but they later released statements explaining that they were only contemplating the possibility of incorporating such systems.[29]
Two designs of iPod earbuds. The current version is shown on the right.
The white earphones (or "earbuds") that ship with all iPods have become symbolic of the brand. Advertisements feature them prominently, often contrasting the white earphones (and cords) with people shown as dark silhouettes. The original earphones came with the first generation iPod. They were revised to be smaller after Apple received complaints of the earbuds being too large. The revised earphones were shipped with second through early fifth generation iPods, the iPod mini, and the first generation nanos. The earbuds were revised again in 2006, featuring an even smaller and more streamlined design. This third type was shipped with late fifth generation iPods and the second generation nanos. All first generation iPod shuffles and the second generation up until January 30, 2007 (when color models were introduced) had the second kind; those that shipped after that date had the third kind.
In 2005, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority placed advertisements on the subways warning passengers that "Earphones are a giveaway. Protect your device",[19] after iPod thefts on the subway rose from zero in 2004 to 50 in the first three months of 2005.[20]
BMW released the first iPod automobile interface,[21] allowing drivers of newer BMW vehicles to control their iPod using either the built-in steering wheel controls or the radio head-unit buttons. Apple announced in 2005 that similar systems would be available for other vehicle brands, including Mercedes-Benz,[22] Volvo,[23] Nissan, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari,[24] Acura, Audi, Honda,[25] Renault and Volkswagen.[26] Scion offers standard iPod connectivity on all their cars.
Some independent stereo manufacturers including JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, and Harman Kardon also have iPod-specific integration solutions. Alternative connection methods include adaptor kits (that use the cassette deck or the CD changer port), audio input jacks, and FM transmitters such as the iTrip — although personal FM transmitters are illegal in some countries. Many car manufacturers have added audio input jacks as standard.[27]
Beginning in mid-2007, four major airlines, United, Continental, Delta, and Emirates reached agreements to install iPod seat connections. The free service will allow passengers to power and charge their iPod, and view their video and music libraries on individual seat-back displays.[28] Originally KLM and Air France were reported to be part of the deal with Apple, but they later released statements explaining that they were only contemplating the possibility of incorporating such systems.[29]
Equalizer
If the sound is enhanced with the iPod's software equalizer (EQ), some EQ settings — like R&B, Rock, Acoustic,indie, and Bass Booster — can cause bass distortion too easily.[11][12] The equalizer amplifies the digital audio level beyond the software's limit, causing distortion (clipping) on songs that have a bass drum or use a bassy instrument, even when the amplifier level is low. One possible workaround is to reduce the volume level of the songs by modifying the audio files
File storage and transfer
All iPods except for the touch can function in "disk mode" as mass storage devices to store data files[9]. If the iPod is formatted on a Mac OS X computer it uses the HFS+ file system format, which allows it to serve as a boot disk for a Mac computer.[10] If it is formatted on Windows, the FAT32 format is used. With the advent of the Windows-compatible iPod, iPod's default file system switched from HFS+ to FAT32, although it can be reformatted to either filesystem (excluding the iPod shuffle which is strictly FAT32). Generally, if a new iPod (excluding the iPod shuffle) is initially plugged into a computer running Windows, it will be formatted with FAT32, and if initially plugged into a Mac running Mac OS X it will be formatted with HFS+.
Unlike many other MP3 players, simply copying audio or video files to the drive with a typical file management application will not allow iPod to properly access them. The user must use software that has been specifically designed to transfer media files to iPods, so that the files are playable and viewable. Aside from iTunes, several alternative third-party applications are available on a number of different platforms.
iTunes 7 and above can transfer purchased media of the iTunes Store from an iPod to a computer, provided that the DRM media is transferred to any of the five computers allowed for authorization with DRM media.
Media files are stored on the iPod in a hidden folder, together with a proprietary database file. The hidden content can be accessed on the host operating system by enabling hidden files to be shown. The audio can then be recovered manually by dragging the files or folders onto the iTunes Library or by using third-party software.
Unlike many other MP3 players, simply copying audio or video files to the drive with a typical file management application will not allow iPod to properly access them. The user must use software that has been specifically designed to transfer media files to iPods, so that the files are playable and viewable. Aside from iTunes, several alternative third-party applications are available on a number of different platforms.
iTunes 7 and above can transfer purchased media of the iTunes Store from an iPod to a computer, provided that the DRM media is transferred to any of the five computers allowed for authorization with DRM media.
Media files are stored on the iPod in a hidden folder, together with a proprietary database file. The hidden content can be accessed on the host operating system by enabling hidden files to be shown. The audio can then be recovered manually by dragging the files or folders onto the iTunes Library or by using third-party software.
Software
iPod can play MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audible audiobook, and Apple Lossless audio file formats. The iPod photo introduced the ability to display JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG image file formats. Fifth and sixth generation iPod classics, as well as third generation iPod nanos, can additionally play MPEG-4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) and QuickTime video formats, with restrictions on video dimensions, encoding techniques and data-rates. Originally, iPod software only worked with Macs; however, starting with the second generation model, iPod software worked with Windows and Macs. Unlike most other media players, Apple does not support Microsoft's WMA audio format — but a converter for WMA files without Digital Rights Management (DRM) is provided with the Windows version of iTunes. MIDI files also cannot be played, but can be converted to audio files using the "Advanced" menu in iTunes. Alternative open-source audio formats such as Ogg Vorbis and FLAC are not supported without installing custom firmware onto the iPod.
The iPod is associated with one host computer. Each time an iPod connects to its host computer, iTunes can synchronize entire music libraries or music playlists either automatically or manually. Song ratings can be set on the iPod and synchronized later to the iTunes library, and vice versa. A user can access, play, and add music on a second computer if the iPod is set to manual and not automatic sync, but anything added or edited will be reversed upon connecting and syncing with the main computer and its library. If a user wishes to automatically sync music with a another computer, the iPod's library will be entirely wiped and replaced with the other computer's library.
The iPod is associated with one host computer. Each time an iPod connects to its host computer, iTunes can synchronize entire music libraries or music playlists either automatically or manually. Song ratings can be set on the iPod and synchronized later to the iTunes library, and vice versa. A user can access, play, and add music on a second computer if the iPod is set to manual and not automatic sync, but anything added or edited will be reversed upon connecting and syncing with the main computer and its library. If a user wishes to automatically sync music with a another computer, the iPod's library will be entirely wiped and replaced with the other computer's library.
ipods
iPod came from Apple's digital hub strategy,[1] when the company began creating software for the growing market of digital devices being purchased by consumers. Digital cameras, camcorders and organizers had well-established mainstream markets, but the company found existing digital music players "big and clunky or small and useless" with user interfaces that were "unbelievably awful,"[1] so Apple decided to develop its own. Apple's hardware engineering chief, Jon Rubinstein, ordered by Steve Jobs, assembled a team of engineers to design it, including hardware engineers Tony Fadell and Michael Dhuey,[2] and design engineer Jonathan Ive.[1] The product was developed in less than a year and unveiled on October 23, 2001. CEO Steve Jobs announced it as a Mac-compatible product with a 5 GB hard drive that put "1,000 songs in your pocket."
Uncharacteristically, Apple did not develop iPod's software entirely in-house. Apple instead used PortalPlayer's reference platform which was based on 2 ARM cores. The platform had rudimentary software running on a commercial microkernel embedded operating system. PortalPlayer had previously been working on an IBM-branded MP3 player with Bluetooth headphones.[1] Apple contracted another company, Pixo, to help design and implement the user interface, under the direct supervision of Steve Jobs.[1] Once established, Apple continued to refine the software's look and feel. Starting with iPod mini, the Chicago font was replaced with Espy Sans. Later iPods switched fonts again to Podium Sans — a font similar to Apple's corporate font Myriad. iPods with color displays then adopted some Mac OS X themes like Aqua progress bars, and brushed metal in the lock interface. In 2007, Apple modified the iPod interface again with the introduction of the sixth-generation iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano by changing the font to Helvetica, and in most cases, splitting the screen in half by displaying the menus on the left and album artwork, photos, or videos on the right (whichever was appropriate for the selected item).
Uncharacteristically, Apple did not develop iPod's software entirely in-house. Apple instead used PortalPlayer's reference platform which was based on 2 ARM cores. The platform had rudimentary software running on a commercial microkernel embedded operating system. PortalPlayer had previously been working on an IBM-branded MP3 player with Bluetooth headphones.[1] Apple contracted another company, Pixo, to help design and implement the user interface, under the direct supervision of Steve Jobs.[1] Once established, Apple continued to refine the software's look and feel. Starting with iPod mini, the Chicago font was replaced with Espy Sans. Later iPods switched fonts again to Podium Sans — a font similar to Apple's corporate font Myriad. iPods with color displays then adopted some Mac OS X themes like Aqua progress bars, and brushed metal in the lock interface. In 2007, Apple modified the iPod interface again with the introduction of the sixth-generation iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano by changing the font to Helvetica, and in most cases, splitting the screen in half by displaying the menus on the left and album artwork, photos, or videos on the right (whichever was appropriate for the selected item).
Saturday, January 5, 2008
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CD-ROM/CD-R/DVD/Data Storage
While the humble CD-ROM drive continues to perform its duties well, a number of other devices have arrived over the last few years that build on its strengths. CD-R/CD-RW drives can read CD-ROMs as well as write data to discs, providing the user with a huge amount of personal and portable storage space.
DVD drives are faster while storing many times more data than CD-ROMs and are not much more expensive. DVD drives can also play CD-ROM discs. The most popular media available in DVD are movies. Some software is available on DVD but the vast majority is still published on CD-ROM.
DVD drives are faster while storing many times more data than CD-ROMs and are not much more expensive. DVD drives can also play CD-ROM discs. The most popular media available in DVD are movies. Some software is available on DVD but the vast majority is still published on CD-ROM.
Sound, Graphics & Storage
Sound & Graphics At one time quality sound and video components added hundreds of dollars to the price of a PC. Now, people can expect to find satisfactory performance from the components that come standard with most models. Here's an outline of the minimum quality you should accept and what to look for if you want greater performance.
Video Cards Also known as graphics cards, these components are responsible for displaying 2D and 3D images on your monitor. 2D graphics are the regular pictures and images that appear on your screen while 3D graphics are mostly used in games and imaging. Most computer systems come with video cards that produce acceptable 2D results but there are reasons to upgrade.
Unless you have at least 8 MB of video RAM you can experience some image stuttering on your monitor when performing tasks like moving windows around and scrolling through text. This can become even more of an issue if you have a 19" or larger monitor. Most people with these monitors use a resolution greater than the 800x600 and maximum possible resolution is a function of the amount of memory a graphics card has. Therefore if you are getting a 19" or larger monitor you should have 16 MB of RAM.
Sound Cards The sound card is either attached or built in to your PC's motherboard. Its job is to control the quality of audio in and out of the computer. There should be input jacks for speakers, headphones, microphone and line-in for audio components like a tape deck. Beyond that, most sound cards that come with a new computer system will offer a suitable level of performance for average use.
If your audio requirements are more advanced or you play a lot of games, you should consider a PCI sound card with a wider range of features. At the top-end there are cards with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and S/PDIF digital output, the audio format that is used in many home theatres.
Positional or 3D audio is offered by higher-end sound cards and can make games and music come alive. For example, when an enemy is about to attack, you can detect which direction he's coming from by the sound of his footsteps. Advanced sound cards also support midi devices and come bundled with better audio software (encoders, editors, mixers, etc.).
Speakers If you plan to take advantage of any of your PC's multimedia features, you'll want to invest in a decent set of speakers. At the very least you should make sure that they are powered by an external source. Speakers powered by the sound card are incapable of producing rich and dynamic audio. Gamers and serious audiophiles will want at least 30 Watts of power with a separate subwoofer for ample bass reproduction.
The more money you spend on your speakers the closer you can come to approximating the dynamic audio of a home theatre.
Video Cards Also known as graphics cards, these components are responsible for displaying 2D and 3D images on your monitor. 2D graphics are the regular pictures and images that appear on your screen while 3D graphics are mostly used in games and imaging. Most computer systems come with video cards that produce acceptable 2D results but there are reasons to upgrade.
Unless you have at least 8 MB of video RAM you can experience some image stuttering on your monitor when performing tasks like moving windows around and scrolling through text. This can become even more of an issue if you have a 19" or larger monitor. Most people with these monitors use a resolution greater than the 800x600 and maximum possible resolution is a function of the amount of memory a graphics card has. Therefore if you are getting a 19" or larger monitor you should have 16 MB of RAM.
Sound Cards The sound card is either attached or built in to your PC's motherboard. Its job is to control the quality of audio in and out of the computer. There should be input jacks for speakers, headphones, microphone and line-in for audio components like a tape deck. Beyond that, most sound cards that come with a new computer system will offer a suitable level of performance for average use.
If your audio requirements are more advanced or you play a lot of games, you should consider a PCI sound card with a wider range of features. At the top-end there are cards with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and S/PDIF digital output, the audio format that is used in many home theatres.
Positional or 3D audio is offered by higher-end sound cards and can make games and music come alive. For example, when an enemy is about to attack, you can detect which direction he's coming from by the sound of his footsteps. Advanced sound cards also support midi devices and come bundled with better audio software (encoders, editors, mixers, etc.).
Speakers If you plan to take advantage of any of your PC's multimedia features, you'll want to invest in a decent set of speakers. At the very least you should make sure that they are powered by an external source. Speakers powered by the sound card are incapable of producing rich and dynamic audio. Gamers and serious audiophiles will want at least 30 Watts of power with a separate subwoofer for ample bass reproduction.
The more money you spend on your speakers the closer you can come to approximating the dynamic audio of a home theatre.
Hard Drive
While RAM stores information for a limited period of time for instant access to the processor, the hard drive is the place where data is stored on a more permanent basis. All software, from operating systems to word processors, has grown tremendously in size over the last few years. Media files such as MP3 and digital photos are big and require a lot of disk space. This has led to a corresponding need for high capacity hard drives where all this data can be kept. Hard drives in new systems range from 20GB to 60GB in size.
If you are buying a computer for the whole family, you're going to want to go for the biggest hard drive you can afford. All those MP3 and video files that people like to download can quickly fill a smaller hard drive. The less need you have to accommodate large media files and games, the safer you can feel going with a smaller hard drive. For typical office use, 10 to 20GB is plenty of storage.
If you are buying a computer for the whole family, you're going to want to go for the biggest hard drive you can afford. All those MP3 and video files that people like to download can quickly fill a smaller hard drive. The less need you have to accommodate large media files and games, the safer you can feel going with a smaller hard drive. For typical office use, 10 to 20GB is plenty of storage.
Ram
If the CPU is the brains of the computer, RAM (random access memory) is the muscle. It is the place where the operating system, programs and data in current use are kept, ready to be accessed by the processor. The more RAM you have, the quicker and more powerful your computer is.
If you're faced with a choice between buying a faster processor without much memory, or buying a slightly slower processor with more memory you should take the memory. Having extra RAM will provide a much bigger boost to system performance than a few extra MHz of CPU speed.
While Microsoft's consumer operating system, Windows ME, has a stated requirement of 32MB of RAM you will find the user experience slow and prone to crashes. Any new computer you're considering should have a minimum of 64MB but preferably more. Most retailers offer an upgrade to 128MB for under $100 which is money well spent. If you like to run multiple large applications then 256MB is worth having.
If you're faced with a choice between buying a faster processor without much memory, or buying a slightly slower processor with more memory you should take the memory. Having extra RAM will provide a much bigger boost to system performance than a few extra MHz of CPU speed.
While Microsoft's consumer operating system, Windows ME, has a stated requirement of 32MB of RAM you will find the user experience slow and prone to crashes. Any new computer you're considering should have a minimum of 64MB but preferably more. Most retailers offer an upgrade to 128MB for under $100 which is money well spent. If you like to run multiple large applications then 256MB is worth having.
Monitors
There are two types of monitors available for PC's: the traditional CRT and the newer LCD. The CRT (cathode ray tube) is used for both televisions and computers The most common monitor sizes are 15", 17" and 19". For people buying a CRT display for normal use, a 17" is the ideal balance of price and performance. If you are doing a lot of desktop publishing or image editing then a 19" or larger monitor is better suited. The advantages of flat panel displays come at a price, costing two or three times more than CRT's. For an LCD, 15" or 17" is the optimal size for most applications.
Processor
The CPU (central processing unit) is the brains of the computer. The performance of the processor, which is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz), determines how quickly the computer responds to the requirements placed on it and the higher the number, the faster the processor.
The two major players in the CPU market are Intel and AMD. While each have individual strengths and weaknesses, both companies offer processors with comparable levels of performance. Here's a breakdown of their offerings:
While it might be tempting to buy a PC with a 1.7 GHz Pentium 4 instead of a 1.4 GHz, it's not necessarily the most economical decision. The newest processor to hit the market usually does not have enough of a performance improvement over its predecessor to justify its high price. You can find a better deal by buying a couple of speeds below the leading edge.
The two major players in the CPU market are Intel and AMD. While each have individual strengths and weaknesses, both companies offer processors with comparable levels of performance. Here's a breakdown of their offerings:
While it might be tempting to buy a PC with a 1.7 GHz Pentium 4 instead of a 1.4 GHz, it's not necessarily the most economical decision. The newest processor to hit the market usually does not have enough of a performance improvement over its predecessor to justify its high price. You can find a better deal by buying a couple of speeds below the leading edge.
Desktop PC
For many, the computer industry seems like an impenetrable, jargon filled jungle. This guide will help demystify the personal computer and provide the information you need to make a good shopping decision on a new PC.
A few years ago, if you were looking for a computer with enough power to edit video you needed to spend several thousand dollars on upgrades. Now video editing is standard fare for the latest generation of personal computers PC's are less expensive with more capabilities than ever before.
So what will your new computer be used for? Work, surfing the internet or playing that hot new game you heard so much about? Who will be using the computer and what are their interests? Likely, you'll need to accommodate a combination of these requirements, if not all of them.
Since most personal computers sold today offer similar capabilities, the decision about which one has to do with specialty. If you're looking for the best gaming experience you'll spend more on a 3D graphics card. If you want to mix your own music you'll buy a better sound card. If you will be using it for work all day, you'll invest in a better monitor. To get the best value, spend your money on the components that best suit your needs.
A few years ago, if you were looking for a computer with enough power to edit video you needed to spend several thousand dollars on upgrades. Now video editing is standard fare for the latest generation of personal computers PC's are less expensive with more capabilities than ever before.
So what will your new computer be used for? Work, surfing the internet or playing that hot new game you heard so much about? Who will be using the computer and what are their interests? Likely, you'll need to accommodate a combination of these requirements, if not all of them.
Since most personal computers sold today offer similar capabilities, the decision about which one has to do with specialty. If you're looking for the best gaming experience you'll spend more on a 3D graphics card. If you want to mix your own music you'll buy a better sound card. If you will be using it for work all day, you'll invest in a better monitor. To get the best value, spend your money on the components that best suit your needs.
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