Bob Sullivan's MSNBC article is trying to pin some privacy issues on Apple's iPod, and they're not sticking. It talks about the Gracenote CDDB, the database that lives behind the scenes and gets queried every time you put a CD into your computer to fetch the metadata associated with the disc: artist, album names, track names, genre, et al. The issue is being framed as one of privacy, because Gracenote stores the queries sent to it and uses them to compile aggregate music listening preference data. However, even if this data were to be tied to individual IP addresses (which get discarded after use in determining geolocation-based "top 10" data), it would be impossible to pinpoint individual persons to target them based on it. Furthermore, framing this as an issue somehow created by the advent of the iPod is disingenuous, because Gracenote really has nothing to do with Apple's famed portable audio device, nor any devices made by other makers - it comes into play any time you put a music CD into your desktop or laptop. Gracenote doesn't know whether you've ripped the CD or not, as erroneously stated in the article.

MSNBC also wrongly invokes the leering specter of the RIAA, who could not extract any information about illegal music downloading from Gracenote if they tried - Gracenote doesn't have any way of ascertaining the legality of an inserted disc. They even trot out the opinion of Washington Post reporter Robert O'Harrow to up the ante on the fear-mongering, despite the fact that he admits to not having studied the Gracenote CDDB. He says he "fears the chilling effect that could be produced if people know someone else knows their musical tastes." I bet he only listens to Britney Spears with the car windows rolled wayyyyy up.

TUAWGracenote knows what you listen to, but is anybody worried? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 05 Mar 2005 23:25:55 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dude, Podcasting is so two weeks ago. Shufflecasting is the latest and greatest in background soundtrack for your day: instead of downloading fully-produced podcasts, Rael Dornfest is taking a more eclectic approach by using AutoFill to dump a random assortment of shorter clips onto her his iPod shuffle. Audiobooks, soundtrack snippets, sound effects, IT Conversations all combine willy-nilly to produce a never-the-same-sequence-twice cocktail of "geek NPR meets Prairie Home Companion meets The Screensavers."

As a departure from the more linear and "produced" sound of quasi-radio podcasts or pre-sequenced playlists chosen by others, I think this is a cool trend. Seems like everybody is hot to be a DJ in some form, whether for others or just for themselves. I vote yes on this DIY soundtrack trend. Is anyone else tapping into the random with Shufflecasting?

TUAWToday's neologism: Shufflecasting originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Mar 2005 17:22:53 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Leo Bodnar, the same intrepid soul who overclocked his Mac mini, continued his sleuthwork and has uncovered an unused FireWire bus in the Ultra ATA-100 riser card that connects the mini's optical drive to the motherboard. What's up with this vestigial FireWire connector? Leo thinks the riser was designed to feed an iPod Dock connector built in to the top cover of the mini. Whether the feature was originally built in and then dropped, or whether this foretells the advent of an iPod Dock-enabled Mac mini (or whether this is all pure shinola, for that matter), is unknown. But considering that not a single iPod now ships with a Dock as a standard accessory, it sure would be mighty convenient if the next revision of the Mac mini arrives sporting an iPod Dock.

Next, imagine hooking your video iPod (since Steve keeps adamantly poo-pooing it, it's bound to happen) in to your Mac mini dock and sucking down the video content you've just downloaded from the iMovies store. How cool would that be?

TUAWWill the next Mac mini include an iPod Dock? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Mar 2005 13:33:38 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAWNew Kid on the Block originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Mar 2005 10:30:31 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Definitely a positive trend, but I'm far more interested in a little nugget buried within this Washington Post article: "[iPod DJ] Wildt bought her iPod ';a year and five months ago,' she says, and calls it ';Gayle.' ('I just thought it looked like a Gayle. My computer doesn't have a name, but for some reason this one has a name.' Holly Tegeler, 24, calls her iPod Karl, with a K. ';I knew he was a boy,' says Tegeler, a Web developer. ';I don't know why, I just know he is.')"

Clearly the real question here, folks, is what is your iPod's name?

TUAWiPod DJing hits the States; what's in an iPod name? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Feb 2005 15:37:12 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I only started putting Markdown into practical usage this past month (this entry composed in it!), and I can safely say it's drastically improved my workflow. As a programmer, I truly appreciate the underlying philosophy of using one simpler, more legible method of markup to specify another, machine-presentable version. The software is freely available under a BSD-style open source license, but if you use it and enjoy its numerous benefits, please consider chipping in to support further development of an already life-saving utility.

TUAWFreeware February: Markdown originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Feb 2005 14:15:09 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

[Via Power Page]

TUAWHOW-TO: Install a Bluetooth Module in a PowerMac G5 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Feb 2005 13:35:49 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

File this in the "is anyone surprised" category: music labels are chatting with online retailers about raising wholesale prices for digital music downloads, looking to capitalise on growing demand. The RIAA wants a bigger piece of the pie, which we're sure they're going to, uh, give right back to the artists. Yeah.

Steve Jobs apparently expressed anger at the news, and with good reason: Apple reportedly has multiyear agreements with the record labels to preserve digital downloads at 99 cents per track. So what's the game, here - are the labels planning to strong-arm the iTMS? What's your take on this?

TUAWJobs fuming over RIAA attempts at music download price hike originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Feb 2005 12:39:16 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's more than one way to extract a bootloader, and Nils Schneider has come up with a rather inspired one. He wanted to study the iPod firmware in order to write new software for the device, but couldn't examine the code without first somehow extracting it. He ended up using a piezo element to output the firmware as a series of sounds, which he recorded and analyzed on his PC to convert the squeaks and squawks into a digital representation of the code. He essentially turned iPod and microphone into an acoustic modem, and wrote his own application to decode the signal. Then, he wrote it all up for posterity and posted it online in contribution to hacker lore. Hats off to you, Nils!

[Thanks Brian for the tip!]

TUAWiPod firmware reverse engineered originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Feb 2005 08:58:22 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Big thanks to AK for sending along this item that clearly begs filing under "news of the weird" - conservative German newspaper Die Welt came up with the following analysis following George Bush's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Bush wants to be a great reformer, both in terms of domestic and foreign politics. Domestically, he wants to revamp America to the same degree FDR did with his New Deal… The new plan involves marketing, surprises, big design overhauls." Marketing, surprises and big design overhauls apparently, according to the paper, equates Bush with the "endlessly creative (and fabulously wealthy) founder of Apple Computer, Steve Jobs."

Huh. I've seen some creative political analysis in my time, but this… this is really, er, something. Clearly the result of some German Mac-using journalists in the throes of a slow news day. Or maybe W.'s iPod is exerting some influence. All I will say is that I am a huge fan of one of the two men, and have very little to approve of regarding the other - I'll leave it to you, dear readers, to do the matching up. ;)

[Thanks, AK!]

TUAWGeorge Bush: the Steve Jobs of world politics?! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 Feb 2005 23:34:56 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yeah. So I was just lamenting the other day about how we had nary a bird's-eye view of said iPod photo connector, when reader Merv tossed one right into my inbox. I think the source website really sums it up best here: "Das Bild zum iPod Camera Connector." Yes. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Thanks, Merv!]

TUAWPhoto of iPod photo photo connector originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 Feb 2005 23:00:58 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It includes ultra-cool hardware such as a custom made glove compartment box to hold the mini and an attached USB/Firewire hub, a Pioneer pull-out widescreen display mounted on the center console, and an on-board GPS system. 123Macmini.com scored a nice interview with Mario, as well. Definitely worth a check out.

[Via Gadget Lounge]

TUAWLap of luxury: the Mac mini Lexus originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 Feb 2005 22:36:53 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back at the beginning of January we covered the release of iFlicks 1.0, an application to help organize and view your movie library. Shortly thereafter, the app went into hibernation. Helixent Technologies informs us that iFlicks 1.1 is now safely out of hibernation and ready to tackle your movie collection once again.

I had every intention of giving this a whirl and having some sort of analysis to report but I tell you, it's been a buuuuuusy weekend. If anyone else has a chance to take iFlicks for a test drive, can you please let us know your thoughts? I imagine the improvements over v1.0 combined with my newfound fascination with vlogging could make this a very useful addition to my Mac mini media center.

TUAWiFlicks 1.1, take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 Feb 2005 21:02:24 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I was going to try and resist making a crack about the iPod rescuing some other OS sufferers from the Dark Side, but whoops - it just slipped out! Skittles, makers of those lovable bite size candies that taste of my childhood, is sponsoring a contest in which winners of an online "Hunt for Grievous" game can compete to win one of a hundred Star Wars-themed iPods. The contest begins April 2, so Star Wars and iPod fans, get ready to taste the rainbow of fruit flavahs.

We've got a tip on what could be the back of the Star Wars iPod - either that or a very cool rendering in Photoshop. Either way, we still want a look at the front of the unit! Thanks to IZ Reloaded for the tip - can you send us the next pic? ;)

TUAWStar Wars iPod originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 27 Feb 2005 17:28:40 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

John Gruber

He also brings up an interesting point about the iPod shuffle, which is that the only available disk format for the device is FAT32, with no option to reformat as HFS+. This means that a slew of "special characters" that are not terribly special (. " / \ [ ] : ; | = ,) are now off-limits in filenames to be transferred to the iPod shuffle. Considering that most Mac users aren't aware of this restriction, it could lead to a lot of head-scratching when transferring tracks to their new devices. Has anyone been bitten by the "one or more files could not be copied" error?

TUAWGruber: Firewire foo, shuffle FAT originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Feb 2005 23:44:30 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

OS X 0.4 Tiger will include a major update to QuickTime 7.0, but it's gonna cost ya. Current users of version QuickTime Pro 6.0 will have to shell out $30 for the new version, as all license keys will be disabled in the new software. What's more, Quicktime 7 will disable a few features that were previously free, such as opening a new player window. To re-enable the features, you'll have to purchase a Quicktime Pro license.

What do you all think of this? I am of two minds: on the one hand, a major version upgrade routinely requires some sort of upgrade cost. On the other hand, with iMovie bundled into the iLife suite that comes on all new Macs (except the iMacs G5, as noted by reader Tim, who goes on to wonder if this means we're due for an iMac rev in the near near future), it's not like we really need any of the editing capabilities a QuickTime Pro license enables. And if that's the case, disabling some previously free features - and opening a new window seems pretty darn basic - in order to squeeze $30 for an upgrade to the Pro version seems a bit disingenuous. What say you?

TUAWQuicktime 7 Pro requires paid upgrade; disables free features originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Feb 2005 21:53:01 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

(Thanks, Tim!)

TUAWFirst Toronto Apple store to open in May originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:36:16 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Precise street location remains unconfirmed, but internal documents refer to the store as "NYC-Flatiron," suggesting a location near the 23rd and Broadway Flatiron building, about halfway between the GM and SoHo stores. Could this explain a certain recent visit by a certain CEO?

TUAWApple to open third retail store in Manhattan originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Feb 2005 15:22:30 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Billed as not just "another feedreader which can download enclosures," iPodder was built from the ground up to deliver media content to your desktop. It supports most RSS protocols, as well as handling enclosures in BitTorrent form. Plus, it's Free Software licensed under the GPL, so you've got no excuse not to go download it and feed your head!

TUAWFreeware February: iPodder originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Feb 2005 12:25:04 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Aaron, who sent us the tip, brings up a good point: without an extra power brick, the portability factor this provides will be somewhat limited…

Thanks, Aaron!

TUAWWorking prototype: Mac mini car dock originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Feb 2005 10:13:25 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We didn't get a photo of the new iPod Camera connector, but Apple VP Greg Joswiak was kind enough to at least throw us a description of the $29 accessory: "a small white plastic device, similar in appearance to a small docking station, that has a cable for connecting to the iPod and a USB port for connecting to a camera."

White plastic? We're shocked!

The device is going to work with earlier iPod photo models as well as with members of the new product line. After loading in photos to the iPod via the connector, the images will be viewable immediately on the device itself; however, oddly, you won't be able to view them on a TV until after you've synced it first with a Mac or PC. Does that strike anyone else as strange?

TUAWNo photos of photo connector for iPod originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Feb 2005 23:58:32 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Mac Observer

Brokerage firm Smith Barney said today they believe it "highly unlikely" that Apple will buy out TiVo. They said Apple has indicated the DVR market is a commodity in which success will boil down to the marketing and branding of siimilar hardware and software. Notably, Smith Barney indicated they felt "If Apple were to get into the DVR market, we believe they would build a proprietary product."

TUAWDeny Apple considering TiVo buyout originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Feb 2005 22:55:45 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Either great minds think alike, or great minds are reading TUAW! ;) Maybe Podbrix should donate a few Lego Steves to us for a giveaway!

TUAWPodbrix strikes again with Lego Steve Jobs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Feb 2005 17:10:40 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some hopping mad Mac users have started a petition to Save FireWire. As of this writing, the online document had reached 1640 signatures. Finally, something that makes me glad I bought an iPod mini last week. ;) Is anyone else bummed about Apple cutting the cord on FireWire? Is anyone else shaking their head at Microsoft's uncanny ability to dominate markets with inferior standards?

TUAWApple moving away from FireWire? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:52:01 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPod shuffle software 1.1 (for iPod shuffle)

• Support for iPod shuffle Battery Pack
• Increased software stability

iPod mini software 1.3 (for iPod mini)

• Support for second-generation iPod mini
• Support for charging and syncing over USB with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later

iPod software 2.3 (for 3rd Generation iPod with dock connector)

• Shuffle Songs selection in Main Menu
• Music menu item in Main Menu
• Support for iTunes 4.7 and later

iPod software 1.5 (for Touch Wheel and Scroll Wheel iPod)

• Shuffle Songs selection in Main Menu
• Music menu item in Main Menu
• Support for iTunes 4.7 and later

This update essentially contains all the same goodies the other iPods got in the 2005-01-11 update, so now the rest of us can be as cool as they are.

TUAWiPod software update 2005-02-22 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 23:17:20 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The number one complaint is from consumers who call in or follow a link to an ad for a low-price unit and are unable to find that unit available - only a similar version at a higher price point. Mac Observer reader Biff follows up with a great point: "It's not the lawsuit or the unscrupulous practices that I find amusing. Apple has their share of both. What I find amusing is that these mysteriously nonexistent super cheap systems are the ones certain people always bring up as examples of why Mac's are so expensive."

Snap!

TUAWNext up in the lawsuit line of fire: Dell originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:32:41 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apologies if I come across as too hoity-toity here but, like, duh!

TUAWConfirm Apple considering TiVo buyout originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 17:06:55 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Also notable is the kvetching from the Apple Store employee who felt personally slighted at not receiving a memo in advance of Steve's appearance. Yeah, I know Apple takes a lot of flak for its cult of secrecy, but can't a guy just drop in on his own company once in a while without bringing in the Secret Service?

TUAWSteve Jobs drops in at the SoHo Apple store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Feb 2005 13:36:40 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget

It's an intriguing idea. Let's speculate one step further and hope we see an announcement tomorrow of a color iPod that will print wirelessly to your Bluetooth printer. W00t!

TUAWPrint wirelessly from your iPod? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:51:21 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jason

The news source went on to describe an idea for starting a similar program in high school libraries, to generate interest in those students who aren't so interested in sitting down with a book and reading the classics - why not listen to the classics instead? I think this is a fantastic idea, considering some people prefer aural learning to the more traditional academic text-based approach. What do you think - would this be a positive addition to the learning environment?

(via WWWAC)

TUAWiPod shuffle: not your average library fixture originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:54:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Azureus does the same thing, but the setup is more complex and the interface nowhere near as intuitive. With ANT I simply clicked one button, collected the new items from all the default feeds and had enough content to keep me entertained for several hours. What surprised me most was the high quality of the media - I was completely fascinated by almost every feed. This app is a most refreshing dive into the growing sea of videobloggers and citizen journalists; entertaining, informative, and extremely fun.

TUAWFreeware February: ANT originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 18:17:32 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• current iPod minis to drop to $199
• new 6GB iPod weighing in at $249
• two new iPods at $349 and $449 price points; possibly iPod photo models

Methinks that pushing the current iPod mini line down to $199 is going to turn some of the heads currently thinking about a $149 shuffle…

TUAWLook for iPod updates to happen Wednesday originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:20:53 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

He says, of the iPod: it's "a one-product event. You can't just have one product and then say you're the innovative leader of the world. I'm a big admirer of everything [Apple's] done. It's phenomenal. But then to say it's the world-beating wonder of forever? No, it's not." Yeesh, can you see the sweat beading up on this guy's brow or what?!

Of course the iPod is not the be-all end-all device of all time (though it is right now! :)). But it's not merely a "one-product event" either. Besides the fact that it has sparked a boatload of third-party cottage industries piggy-backing off of its success, the iPod ushered in the era of portable digital music. Regardless of whether you happen to prefer an MP3 player from iRiver or Creative, there is no disputing that the iPod delivered this particular innovation to the general public in a way that finally made sense. As such, the iPod stands squarely as a key device in the middle of a technological transition to a new way of thinking about media. Phenomenal, indeed. Need a hanky, Kevin?

TUAWDell CEO still doesn't get it originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:14:05 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Said Masashi Muromachi, Toshiba corporate VP: "demand created by this new machine is so vast that our current capacity can in no way meet their [Apple's] needs."

TUAWTiny player creates gigantic demand for flash memory originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 12:54:36 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In addition, Apple Insider reports that iPod photos are conspicuously absent from the planograms in Apple retail stores, though previously they were in good supply. They also report a Motorola executive had some loose lips about an upcoming Bluetooth iPod - but you already knew that...

All we need now is for someone to put all the pieces together. I'm going to wager that we'll see a "total home audio" solution that integrates music from your home server, your car, and your (color) iPod - perhaps a multi-component setup at a package price. What's your prediction?

TUAWApple puts iPod photos into full retreat mode originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Feb 2005 11:47:55 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAWIt's in the cards originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 16:18:50 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are the new PowerBooks a bit too sensitive to static electricity? Has anyone else had a shocking experience with their new laptop?

TUAW2005 PowerBook trackpad quality issues? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 15:05:13 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Anywho, Virtue is just slick, slick, slick. The semi-transparent desktop pager window is all aglow with Aqua gooey goodness. Sometimes I call it up when I don't even need to switch to anything, just to look at it. Virtue also solves one of the main beefs I had with Desktop Manager, which is that, when using apple-tab to switch between applications, Virtue will automagically switch to the proper desktop to bring that application into focus, whereas Desktop Manager would not. This alone is a life-saver.

Run, don't walk. This is a killer app. And - we know you get it by now but it just bears repeating - it's FREE! :)

TUAWFreeware February: Virtue desktop manager originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 14:00:10 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is it just me or does this remind anybody else of those little remora fish that hitch rides on the backs of sharks and whales? Okay, just me, then... :) Regardless, this is surely a fine symbiosis between Mac mini and plasma TV.

(Thanks, Pedro!)

TUAWHanging TV, hidden computer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:12:50 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I confess that I am one of those geeks who gets tickled that I can play solitaire on my iPod mini. Hey, it's no Final Fantasy, but as one who remembers Pong, it's kinda cool to have a fully-functional game of solitaire on a screen that tiny. It will be pretty awesome to see what they're going to come up with after investing some time in improving the iPod game options. Perhaps some of Apple's relationship with Sony will help them riff some ideas from the PS2?

TUAWBetter iPod games on the way? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:03:34 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.