Apple http://addingunderstanding.com/taxonomy/term/159/atom/feed 2008-04-04T21:27:15-06:00 iPhone software gets 2.2 update http://addingunderstanding.com/2008/11/iphone-software-gets-22-update 2008-11-21T15:08:29-07:00 2008-11-21T15:08:29-07:00 joshb Apple rolled out an upgrade to iPhone software today. Version 2.2 includes some great new features like the ability to access public transit maps on the phone.

]]> Apple rolled out an upgrade to iPhone software today. Version 2.2 includes some great new features like the ability to access public transit maps on the phone.

The update brings a welcome change, the ability to download podcasts directly to the phone. Unfortunately while this functionality is welcome it is also incomplete. The downloaded episodes are added to the iPod but there is no way to subscribe to a podcast from the phone.

Apple has previously denied applications for podcatcher applications based on this now-released functionality being forthcoming. At the time speculation centered on the likely restriction of Apple's app to WiFi only and not the cellular network. That, however, proved to not be a limitation with today's release.

However the disappointment about the podcatcher app is lost as soon as one launches the map application. The addition of public-transit maps alone is an awesome feature. However the feature where one is likely to loose much more time is Streetview. Find a location with streetview and the phone browsing experience is everything that browsing with a mouse can't be.

A few other interface changes are welcome. Safari now puts search and the address bar on a single line. This makes navigation much simpler.

]]> Black Friday shaping up to be a mixed bag http://addingunderstanding.com/2008/11/black-friday-shaping-be-mixed-bag 2008-11-17T17:38:32-07:00 2008-11-17T17:38:32-07:00 joshb The Idaho Statesman reports today that Boise Town Square mall won't open at crazy hours on Black Friday. Last year the largest shopping center in Bosie was among several shopping centers nationally which opened near midnight for sales that were billed as extraordinary. While there were some problems with last year's 1 AM opening it would not take much to imagine that the austere consumer spending reports figure into the decision as well.

]]> The Idaho Statesman reports today that Boise Town Square mall won't open at crazy hours on Black Friday. Last year the largest shopping center in Bosie was among several shopping centers nationally which opened near midnight for sales that were billed as extraordinary. While there were some problems with last year's 1 AM opening it would not take much to imagine that the austere consumer spending reports figure into the decision as well.
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Housing market crashOne effect of the market downturn and wary consumers is a plentiful sale season. Sears sale flyers and specials are filling customer's email boxes with sales starting well in advance of Halloween. Last year for example Apple did a number of sales on Black Friday and speculation is running high for some deep discounting while folks are on a turkey-induced buying spree.

]]> Boise needs an Apple store http://addingunderstanding.com/2008/07/boise-needs-apple-store 2008-07-31T21:11:58-06:00 2008-07-31T22:25:54-06:00 joshb An Apple store is so very desperately needed in Boise. Please Apple if you're listening don't leave us stuck between long drives and our unsatisfactory local choices. Sure we have Boise Mac Life which looks like a great store. When you look a little deeper, though, the advice has been suspect (should one really wait six months to start using Leopard?), the prices are inflated (the "cash discount" price is the list price and the list price shown is higher) and the service leaves us wanting.

Earlier this week we returned home and the MacBook hard drive promptly died. When it came back today it had the wrong OS on it -- a problem I've never encountered with Apple's service directly. Sure it had a nice embroidered Marware keyboard cover, but the time I'm left looking at that waiting to reinstall the operating system on a blank disk just so I can then do the file recovery is making me not like it so much. (Though I sense there are some Drupal keyboard covers in the offing).

]]> An Apple store is so very desperately needed in Boise. Please Apple if you're listening don't leave us stuck between long drives and our unsatisfactory local choices. Sure we have Boise Mac Life which looks like a great store. When you look a little deeper, though, the advice has been suspect (should one really wait six months to start using Leopard?), the prices are inflated (the "cash discount" price is the list price and the list price shown is higher) and the service leaves us wanting.

Earlier this week we returned home and the MacBook hard drive promptly died. When it came back today it had the wrong OS on it -- a problem I've never encountered with Apple's service directly. Sure it had a nice embroidered Marware keyboard cover, but the time I'm left looking at that waiting to reinstall the operating system on a blank disk just so I can then do the file recovery is making me not like it so much. (Though I sense there are some Drupal keyboard covers in the offing).

]]> Trip down memory lane http://addingunderstanding.com/2008/02/trip-down-memory-lane 2008-02-07T09:22:22-07:00 2008-04-04T21:27:15-06:00 joshb Reading through my RSS queue this morning this set of photos sent me back to days of yore. Instantly I was transported from the modern hotel lobby to the Laser 128 sitting in my childhood home and all of the amazing things we managed to do with AppleSoft.

]]> Reading through my RSS queue this morning this set of photos sent me back to days of yore. Instantly I was transported from the modern hotel lobby to the Laser 128 sitting in my childhood home and all of the amazing things we managed to do with AppleSoft.

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