Apple has deployed a quick and easy update for iTunes 10, correcting a few minor bugs and tweaking a few features: while the terrible icon remains, iTunes version 10.0.1 enhances the functionality of Apple’s new “music-centric social network,” Ping. Now you have the ability to “Like” (a la FaceBook) or “Post” about your music directly within your local iTunes library. In addition, you can also see recent Ping activity within a newly introduced sidebar panel.
It’s interesting that Apple shipped iTunes 10 without the side panel, forcing users to enter “Ping” through the source panel in iTunes. Removing the user from their library seems a bit unintuitive, so it’s nice to see that Apple identified their mistake and have fixed it.
Mac users can get the update by running “Software Update” in their “apple menu” or by downloading directly from the web, here.
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image via The Mac Observer
Our friends at Apple have release a flurry of updates this week.
Starting with a little housekeeping, Apple updated iWeb. If you use iWeb to host your website or blog, the updates should help streamline your site further. At a meaty 177+MB, the 3.0.2 update is fixes “a variety of issues related to publishing sites to MobileMe.” It also, refines and cleans up the comment & search functions for blogs and podcasts.
Apple’s Safari web browser was also updated this week: it is available for Mac OS 10.6, 10.5, 10.4, Windows XP, Vista & 7.
Though minor, the update was deployed to fix three primary areas: “issues that could prevent users from submitting web forms…issues that could cause web content to display incorrectly when viewing a Google Image result with Flash 10.1 installed…And, [it also] establishes an encrypted, authenticated connection to the Safari Extensions Gallery.”
Finally, the granddaddy of updates (and one many of us have been waiting for) was the first major bump to iOS 4. Available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G & iPod Touch (iPad will still have to wait until November), iOS 4.1 is chuck full of goodies.
General housekeeping, in the update, will fix annoying bugs like the iPhone 4 promiximity sensor issue, the wonkiness of the Nike+ app and whatever sluggish performance iPhone 3G users reported.
But, the housekeeping issues aren’t really what really has this update shining — it’s got some cool new features:
To start, it now has the HDR (or High Dynamic Range) photo capability that Steve demonstrated in the September 1, 2010 Music Event. The update also includes Apple’s “Game Center,” and [finally] the ability to upload HD footage directly to YouTube. This update also adds support for AVRCP Accessories (like 3rd party ear buds that use built-in controls).
Game Center is the social-network-of-sorts that Apple announced back in April. Similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Live, Game Center allows users to send and receive requests between friends, so that they can invite others to multiplayer games (even over the net). Users can also be auto-matched to play games together (also over the net), discover new games to play and compare stats & achievements with their peers.
Game Center will only work with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (2nd generation or later).
Users can update iWeb & Safari, by selecting “Software Update” from their “Apple” menu in the top left-most corner of their screen.
To receive the iOS update, plug your iDevice into your Mac, and head to iTunes. If iTunes doesn’t ask you to update your device automatically, select the device (in the source menu on the left) and click the button that says, “Check for Update.”
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It was another big day for Apple aficionados. As announced, Apple held their [now] annual “Music Event.” There were predictions across the blogosphere about what would be announced (even some here), and what people doubted we’d see.
Well, after the live streaming of the event (a first in years), we can now rest happy with what we got and a little disappointed by what we didn’t.
I’ve taken my initial reactions and kicked them around so that I could provide you with some expert advice.
Apple has traditionally used this platform to announce new iPods & updates to existing models and this year’s event was no exception. Apple refined almost all of their existing iPod models: the shuffle, the nano, and the iPod Touch. The iPod Classic (the only non-flash based iPod) hasn’t been updated, but hasn’t disappeared either).
The iPod Shuffle:
In its last refinement, the iPod Shuffle lost ALL buttons. That iPod Shuffle introduced “VoiceOver,” but was essentially controlled by the few click controls on the ear buds.
With the newest release, Apple has brought back the shuffle’s buttons, but managed to keep the iPod small, and still maintain the VoiceOver controls. As expected, the shuffle comes in five colors: pink, blue, green, orange and silver. It is available in a 2GB for $49 US.
The iPod Nano:
Of all the new iPods, the new iPod Nano has seen the biggest physical adjustment this time around. Apple completely redesigned the Nano to more closely resemble the iPod Shuffle (built-in clip, size, etc), but added its incredible “touch” technology. While I haven’t had my hands on one of these new iPods [yet] I find the design and concept very appealing.
For a long time, the Nano was Apple’s best selling iPod (it has since been eclipsed by the iPod Touch…likely because of the available apps). This new design could help re-popularize the Nano. For $149 US (and starting at 8GB), it’s a far better value than the shuffle. The touch features seem a little strange (compared to the touch we’ve learned to love in the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad), but still seem intuitive enough to replace the shuffles limited feature set. Unfortunately, unlike the iPod Touch, the new nano doesn’t have access to Apple’s App store and (at present time), users cannot load additional applications onto their nano. I wouldn’t be surprised if that changed. Additionally, the video recording and camera capabilities that Apple introduced into their nano last year, are now gone. The iPod Nano still comes in six different colors.
The iPod Touch:
While this iPod received the smallest update, it has gained the most exciting changes. As the blogosphere predicted, both a front & rear camera have been added (nearly matching the iPhone 4′s specs, but aren’t quite as good/powerful). The rear camera now adds HD recording and it also takes advantage of Apple’s new “FaceTime” video conferencing. Prior to this updated Touch, only iPhone 4 users could video chat [with one-another]. Now, even non-iPhone 4 users can get in on the fun. I assume that integration with the desktop computer (mainly Apple’s iChat application) isn’t far off.
The iPod Touch is also a smidge thinner and steals from a few other iPhone 4 features: the Retina Display, an A4 processor and a 3-axis gyroscope. Aside form the brilliant image quality the Retina Display provides, most of these other updates will go unnoticed. They are under-the-hood adjustments that dramatically improve the overall user experience. The iPod Touch starts with 8GB at $229 US.
iTunes 10:
I admit that I’m surprised that Apple unleashed iTunes 10 in the manner and with the features that it did. Previously, I suspected that they might abandon the name “iTunes” in favor of something else, like “iHub,” since listening to “tunes” is hardly the main usage for the application these days. Further, I assumed that with a major number like “ten” Apple would have finally rewritten the application so that it was 64bit. They didn’t do either.
That aside, Apple did make some interesting adjustments/improvements: they’ve have changed the overall user interface to (as they call it) be “more streamlined, sleeker.” After using the new interface for a few days, I admit that I’m a fan. As a modernist, I like the way that iTunes 10 has toned down its color combinations, accents and buttons. Interestingly enough, there are many people tweeting, and blogging that they do not like the interface and have said, “if this is a sign of OX 10.7, [they] are switching back to windows.”
Not only is that a little dramatic, it’s probably not true. It’s not the type of interface that we’ve come to love & expect from Apple, but it is a nice update. And, no random visual-interface-adjustments are going to send us away from the features, stability, reliability and intuitiveness that we’ve come to love from our Macs.
Apple did decide to change the icon that has represented iTunes for nearly ten years. Jobs, in his keynote, said that they no longer felt it was appropriate to have the “CD” in the icon because far fewer people are actually using CDs and CD-Rs these days. The icon isn’t the only place Apple has killed the compact disc: in iTunes 9, if you were looking to burn a CD, you simply created a playlist, inserted a CD-R and clicked the “burn” button in the lower left corner of the application. That “burn” button no longer exists. If you decide to burn a playlist to your CD, in iTunes 10, you must go into the File menu and select the “burn playlist to disc” option.
Apple has also introduced a few other small enhancements including changes to “airtunes,” now “airplay,” a new list view option and “improved device syncing.” Airplay will certainly become more interesting in the future (it’s only been renamed for now…but the features are set to change with the next iOS software release).
Apple has also managed to re-negotiate with the television networks, now providing their shows, commercial free, for just $0.99 US. Movies are now available in HD for just $4.99 (rented).
The big news to come out of iTunes 10 is the addition of “Ping.” Ping is Apple’s take on social sharing and social networking. According to Apple, Ping is a way to “…discover new music by going social…learn even more about your favorite artists and friends starting with their bios. See what they’ve been up to — even listen to 30-second previews of music they like. Find out when and where artists and bands are on tour, and check out photos and videos they’ve posted. With Ping, a community of the world’s most passionate music fans is just a click away.”
At the moment, Ping’s features are a little confusing and not all that interesting. If Apple can find interesting ways to incorporate Ping into services like Facebook or Twitter, I think they may gain a larger market, and subsequently kill the beleaguered MySpace. While Apple has officially announced that over a million people have signed up to join Ping in just a few days, the social network still feels a little anemic. And, a lot of the content that people (celebrities) are posting already exist on Twitter and Facebook. Who wants ANOTHER network to check, if it can all be combined in one magical place?
Finally…Apple’s big surprise (sort-of) announcement…
AppleTV:
While the AppleTV has been around for a while, Apple has always proclaimed that it was just a “hobby” project of theirs. In the few years that it’s been on the market, it has never seen a physical change, and only saw minor changes to its interface. That ALL changed with Apple’s newest announcement. On Wednesday, Apple announced the first major update to their AppleTV product and, that it is no longer considered a hobby for them. The physical design is simple and appropriate: the new AppleTV box is all black and is 80% smaller than its predecessor and it no longer requires a big, bulky, external power supply. NICE.
Jobs admitted that they’ve been using all the feedback they’ve received [from users] to modify, update and improve the AppleTV experience.
He even gave a checklist of the “most desired” user features:
- More movies and TV shows on demand
- HD
- No computer required
- Silent
- No local storage, storage management or syncing
- Smaller
- Cheaper
With the largest library of online content Apple is moving everything to full HD and adding more and more movies and TV shows. “Purchasing” movies on the AppleTV will no longer be an option (the device no longer has onboard storage). With the new AppleTV, you will only be able to rent or stream your content. That being said, if you want to buy and own your shows or movies, you can always purchase them on your Mac (via iTunes), your iPad, your iPod Touch or iPhone and stream them directly to the AppleTV. Smart.
Another excellent addition to the AppleTV is its ability to link to your Netflix account for instant movie streaming. Prior to this update, users that wanted to access Netflix through their AppleTV were forced to hack and modify all sorts of things. Even then, IF it worked, the experience wasn’t very pleasant (I can attest with personal experience). In addition to streaming from Netflix, the new AppleTV will stream content from YouTube, Flickr, MobileMe and from your home computer (and iDevices).
The best part? It’s no longer $229 US (to start), but instead is just $99 US. It is expected to ship in the next few weeks.
I am already and AppleTV owner, but admit that it’s feature set hasn’t been all that ideal, until now. While no mention has been made, I’m hoping that the software update will not be exclusive to new AppleTV owners and devices, but also to those of us with previous models.
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Apple announced today that some of it’s MobileMe service will be down for “scheduled maintenance” later today/tonight.
Email, syncing, Back To My Mac, and other local services shouldn’t be affected, but all web applications (at www.Me.com) will be down from 10p to 12:30a, PST.
Apple doesn’t really keep a viable log of the active services, but status and unexpected hiccups would be reported here.
Now, while Apple is saying that this downtime is being used only to doing typical, routine maintenance, the hopeful skeptic [in me] can’t help but wonder if they are installing something that may be connected to the September 1st Music Event. Perhaps we’ll finally see iTunes stream music with the LaLa service that Apple previously acquired? Hmmmmm…
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Well folks, it’s that time of year: Apple’s fall music event. While it’s not written in stone, Apple has held a music oriented event for the last few years and has used the platform to announce all sorts of things: AppleTV, new iPods, etc.
If you’ve been following some of the rumors circulating in the blogosphere, you’ve no doubt heard about the possibilities of a revamped AppleTV (tho we heard this earlier in the spring too). The rumors seem to continue and now are gaining more buzz because of the apparent negotiations Apple has been making with major television networks like Fox & ABC. The rumors seem plausible…and building a device to circumvent traditional cable TV is something that only Apple could pull off.
iPod revisions are almost always a “for sure” occurrence. Last year, Apple added some features to iTunes (album LPs, syncing improvements, etc) and beefed up specs on their iPod line. Most notably, they added a video camera to their popular iPod Nano.
There is little doubt that Apple will again update the iPod line, but the question remains: how?
I think it’s safe to bet that the iPod Touch will be getting a major upgrade. The overall design hasn’t changed [much] in years, and with Apple’s latest “FaceTime” creation, i think our little Touch is going to be sporting both a front & rear camera.
I’m also hoping to see a rewrite (64bit) of iTunes, possibly even a rename (i mean, iTunes does a lot MORE than play tunes); perhaps Apple might call it the iHub? Wishful thinking.
Other rumors are pointing to upgraded versions of iLife, but i doubt that. The event has traditionally been focused on music, so i think that iLife will wait until early next year.
Lastly, it’s possible that Apple will announce the release (or release date) of the much anticipated “white iPhone 4.”
What do you think?
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It’s back-to-school time for many young adults and with that comes the inevitable: a new computer. Many folks are purchasing for the first time, and even more are considering the switch from Windows to Mac. Windows has typically had a much larger following of established users, but that’s changing. It started with the original iPod and has only snowballed since. It’s called the “halo effect:” “a cognitive bias whereby the perception of one trait is influenced by the perception of another (or several traits) of that person or object.”
In Apple’s case, the iPod & iPhone have shown loyal windows users that they [Apple] not only make impeccable hardware, but that they create beautiful, functional, simple and powerful software that outperforms even the best competitors —- including Microsoft.
As more and more people are using iPods and iPhones they are left thinking: “If this device is this good, this simple to use, i wonder what their computers might be like.” That’s when they consider switching.
For a long time, Apple had to put out a message that when comparing Apple to Windows, Apple was far superior…you remember the commercials, right? “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC.” Well, Apple has since stopped those commercials, but it looks like Microsoft has been forced to start. Nothing on television yet, but they did make recent news with this terribly designed page (right): an attempt to dismay potential switchers. Apple still maintains their page (also right), showing how easy it is to switch and how easy it is to use a mac.
In a smart article, Mac | Life has taken on each of Microsofts claims and I have been complelled to not only reprint there content here, but add my comments as well. Their original article can be found here.
Mac | Life in purple:
1. Microsoft says: Manage windows more easily with Windows 7
Hold on, what? Apple invented Windows when they created the Finder back in 1984, and things have only gone uphill for Mac OS users. Windows 7 touts the fun new feature of “snapping” windows together–arranging windows side by side neatly snaps them in place, and dragging borders instantly maximizes–but this is kids stuff compared to Expose and stacks–all features Windows 7 copied directly from OS X!
Managing windows within Windows has always been a chore. With Windows 7, Microsoft has finally introduced a few management techniques for their users, including those described above. But, i still think that they are missing the mark. Rather than incorporating features that are usable (as Apple has), they are throwing in whiz-bang gimmicks that they claim will improve usability. I disagree. Take the new “Shake” feature for example: Microsoft says “Need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Now with Windows 7, you can just click, hold down, and give your mouse a shake. Voila! Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again—and your windows are back.”
huh? how is that usable? or productive? disrupting the existing window to isolate others? and what if aren’t using a mouse? On a trackpad, you’d need to click the titlebar with one finger and use the other to “swipe back and forth, quickly” on the track pad itself. Silly.
Even if Apple had NO other window management features, Expose alone outshines everything, even the whiz-bang, on Windows. Getting in the habit of using Expose amplifies productivity like few other tools —- whether you are using Photoshop, Word, iMovie OR the Finder [desktop windows].
2. Microsoft says: Macs can take time to learn
We’re not really sure where this point comes from, unless you’re a hardcore Windows user switching over to a Mac–then certainly, a Mac will be less familiar than Windows. We can only assume Microsoft is targeting the most casual user, who hasn’t chosen sides yet. And with programs that sync your entire life out of the box, and a file structure with clear labels, you can’t get simpler than a Mac. Microsoft, tell us, have you started hiding the C:/ drive yet?
My argument doesn’t steam much from ML’s above. The statement is not only generic, but misleading. Switching anything in life will require some getting use to, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Imagine going from an automatic car, to a manual transmission…
Apple has the advantage in that at least their applications and operating system are notoriously intuitive —- hello drag & drop!
3. Microsoft says: Networking is easier.
Microsoft points out that you can access wireless networks in “as few as three clicks.” We’ll stop them right there. In OS X, it takes one! As we know, OS X conveniently displays a drop down of accessible networks in the status bar. Also, OS X automatically sees Windows PCs. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same about Windows 7.
Having spent many years networking college campus’ and offices (with both Macs & Windows PCs), i can attest that there is no easier platform to network with than a Mac. Not only do they automatically discover one another, they easily find and link with Windows computers.
4. Microsoft says: Manage devices more easily.
In this day and age, most of our external devices are iPods and iPhones. iTunes manages these devices and is much more stable on the Mac. What about printers, you say? Mac has been doing plug and play for ages.
ML makes a good point here, but i’d like to go a little further with Apple’s help:
“Almost any device that connects to a computer via USB, audio cable, or Bluetooth will work with a Mac. That includes digital cameras, external hard drives, printers, keyboards, speakers, and more.
You can even use a right-click mouse with a Mac. And with thousands of device drivers included with Mac OS X, you can start using these devices as soon as you plug them in — no need to manually download additional software.”
It’s also worth pointing out that all new Macs come with iPhoto: Apple’s award winning, free, photo management application. Plug your digital camera into your Mac and iPhoto magically knows to open it. It guides you through downloading pictures, retouching them, organizing them and sharing them. Windows users have no viable counterpart & are often left to install the manufacturer’s sub-par applications JUST to download and manage their photos. That may not have been such a big deal when digital cameras were first emerging in our lives, but just think about how many photos you have, digitally, now. Furthermore, Apple rethought the nature of the personal computer back in 2001, calling it our “Digital Hub.” They were the first computer company to identify that it is no longer the primary device in our lives, but instead, a device that brings all our other devices and information together.
5. Microsoft says: More options and color choices.
If by color choices they mean black and beige, we’ll take white and silver any day. It’s no secret that people like Macs because they look good. And you pay for the PCs that do–just Google the price of a nice Sony Vaio. Microsoft also seems to forget that you can build a Mac to spec–and damn, does it look good!
I differ from ML’s opinion a little here because there are many more color/shape options for Windows users, but not without a compromise. While you can get a pink laptop, or a translucent tower, you are often forced to get them from one of the thousands of computer builders that Microsoft licenses to. Anyone could be building your computer in their basement and selling it. Is that a compromise you are willing to make? just for a colored computer? What happens when the computer or hardware fails? Will that company be able to provide the service necessary to repair or replace it?
Still, ML is right; people have long been drawn to the beauty and simplicity of the Mac and they way that they look. If you insist on having more color options for your Mac, there are plenty of 3rd party options to help.
6. Microsoft says: Compatibility.
Maybe 20 years ago, but these days all files are cross compatible between Macs and PCs, including Microsoft’s own proprietary formats, like .docx, and plug-ins like Silverlight. You have to buy Word for a PC just the same as you do for a Mac!
I’m actually surprised that Microsoft has been foolish enough to try and use the idea of cross-compatibility as a selling point for Windows. Not only does the Mac have versions of Microsoft’s Office Suite, but they have a host of alternatives. Google docs are free and read and write office documents with ease. As we’ve forged further ahead in technology (and as the web has continued to redefine accessibility), formats are no longer just proprietary. Many of them are becoming standardized. Think about it: .mp3, .mpeg, .rtf, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .zip, .txt, etc.
Even more impressive is the Macs ability to actually RUN WINDOWS. That’s right, you can actually buy a copy of windows and run it on your Mac if you want. Everything you need is built right in. For those that only require a few “windows-only” applications (perhasp Microsoft Access), there are many elegant solutions (like Parallels) available for running windows on your Mac with ease.
If you have a PC, it is impossible to run Mac-only software. Want iPhoto? iMovie? iDVD? You’re out of luck.
7. Microsoft says: Easily create movies.
We’re not sure what they mean by easy, but nothing is more direct than making a movie with iMovie, which is free with every new Mac and integrates beautifully with the entire iLife suite. On a PC, we could stick with something like Adobe Premiere, but we have to pay for it!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. The fact that Microsoft even believes they have a leg to stand on (in this particular area) is laughable. A family friend recently made the mistake of trying to create a video for her daughter’s 4th birthday using her “top-of-the-line” Windows PC. After weeks of frustration, she finally gave up and bought a Mac. Her video was done & on DVD in less than 24hrs. She told me, “it was easy, I had fun doing it, and I’m surprised at how professional it looks…for a novice.” Nuff said.
8. Microsoft says: Quickly find what you’re looking for.
Spotlight has been doing this for ages now. Microsoft, you seem to love taking OS X features and saying they’re a reason to use a PC! We’ll give you props for implementing them at least, even if you’re a little late to the game.
Not only is MSFT late in the game, their implementation is not nearly as sophisticated as Apple’s. Spotlight has become a revolution and continues to change the way people use their computers and find their information. In it’s simplest form, it finds documents, pictures, contacts, and visted websites instantly. Go a little further and you’ll be using it to launch applications, scanning networks, etc. Having Spotlight built-into Apple’s Mail application is a dream. Finding an email from three years ago is as easy as typing a word that would have been in it. Microsoft’s Outlook has nothing that even compares. Searching still requires hunting, pecking & re-reading.
9. Microsoft says: Get quicker access to all of your stuff
Windows 7 has jump lists. Mac OS X has stacks. We’ve been dragging stuff to our dock to access it on the fly for ages, and it works great. Windows 7′s new taskbar just emulates our dock a little more. Did we mention we can drag and drop stuff there?
There isn’t much more to say here, except that Microsoft was forced to copy Apple’s dock & stacks after it quickly surpassed the usability of the Windows taskbar. While copied, it’s still not the same.
10. Microsoft says: Share files among multiple PCs
Hey now Microsoft, we have networks, too. And, even better, we have things like iTunes home sharing. It let’s us not only listen to music from other computers over the network, but allows us to consolidate our music libraries too, out of the box. Can you do that?
First, see number 3 above.
After re-reading all that, consider that Apple has long been the leader in sharing your data & media among multiple Macs. In addition to music sharing (as described by ML, above), we have photo sharing. Need to get a file from one computer to the next, just drag and drop. Want to mount a hard drive (connected to another Mac) to the one you are using (wirelessly) on the couch? It’s a click or two.
Apple has even one-uped Microsoft by building VNC directly into the Finder. You can log into ANY Mac of yours, ANYWHERE in the world, easily. Not sure how to set it up? You can follow a tutorial, or just sign your Mac into MobileMe & it will all happen automatically. Windows has nothing even close.
As you can see, there are many, many arguments here and even more that I could make to nearly every point Microsoft might argue, but I think i’ve said enough. The race is no longer as tight as it was, years ago, because Apple has done a superb job of innovating and refining their operating system and computers.
If your considering a new computer, consider a new Mac. If you are a student & are still unsure, consider this: more college students (new and graduating) are buying Macs than any other computer.
Oh, and Apple’s currently offering a free iPod Touch and printer to all students buying a new mac.
Steve Jobs image courtesy of Six Revisions.
Student Statistic chart courtesy of MacRumors.
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I’ve just updated my iPhone 3GS and am already pleased with the new software options. Folders and improved mail already have me giggling like a school girl. Updating is easy…follow apple’s instructions (below) and grab it for yourself. It’s free and only took me about 25min to download and install.
Almost every major mobile phone on the market supports custom ringtones, including the iPhone. Apple has done a great job of helping those of us to like to constantly change our ringtone by building a “ringtone maker” into iTunes & the iTunes Store. But, there are a few catches: number one, you can only make a custom ringtone using this feature if the artist and iTunes allows it. Eligible songs show up in your library with a small “bell” icon next to them.
Clicking the bell activates the ringtone maker. There, you can choose the part of the song you’d like to use, etc. This is also where the next catch lies: it’s not free.
After you’ve previewed and are happy with your custom ringtone, you must pay another $0.99 US to transform the section of your song into a working iPhone ringtone. Hmmmmm…that kinda stinks.
In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a custom ringtone with ANY song you have in your personal iTunes library —- for FREE. You won’t need any special software either, as everything you need comes with your Mac.
Let’s get started:
First things, first: you need a song that you’d like to change into a ringtone. If you don’t already have one, find one in your music library or buy a new one off of iTunes, Amazon MP3, or import it from a CD. For this demonstration, I’ll be using the song “The Spell” by Alphabeat. And, it’s already in my iTunes Library.
Now, open GarageBand (in your applications folder). If you’ve never used GarageBand before, don’t panic. It may look intimidating, but it’s very easy to use. Especially when making a custom iPhone ringtone.
After launching GarageBand, you’ll be prompted to choose from the start menu. Select the “Podcast” option and the press the “Choose” button. Now, I know you are thinking, “a podcast?! That can’t be right.” But, it is.
Next, the save dialog box will appear. Give your file a name and save it wherever you’d like. I’ll put mine on the desktop since I’ll be deleting it once I’m done. You can leave all the other settings as is, and click “create.”
At this point, GarageBand will set you up with the essentials for making a podcast. Incidentally, they are similar to what you’d need to create a custom ringtone.
We’ll start by getting rid of the “tracks” as we aren’t going to need any of them. Clicking them, one at a time (starting with “podcast track”) press command + delete. Do the same for “male voice,” “female voice,” and “jingles.” You now have a clean slate.
In the media browser (on the far right), locate the song you’d like to use. If you don’t see your iTunes library, make sure you have “audio” selected at the top. You can also use the search field toward the bottom of the window to help you find your track quickly. Your playlists are available too.
Once you find the song you’d like to use, click and drag it to the upper-middle area of GarageBand that says “Drag Apple Loops here.” Your song will copy into the applications dashboard.
Garageband will create a track and load the waveforms for the song. You’ll notice that since I just dropped it in the window, it isn’t at the start of the play window. Working in the top-center-most window, click and drag the song to the far left so that it’s at the 0:00 playcount.
Now, using the tools at the bottom of the window, play your song until it’s just about where you’d like your ringtone to start (I usually go to just before the chorus). Make sure the play count meter is where you’d like your ringtone to start. Now, press COMMAND + T. This will split the track into two.
Click anywhere in the grey area below the audio track to deselect it. You can now click and select the first half of the song and press the delete key. Just like before, grab the track and drag it back to the 0:00 starting point.
At this point, we have the start of our ringtone, we need to find where it will end. Typically, you only have about 30 seconds before voicemail will pickup. Keep that in mind. Start the track and stop it on our near the ending you’d like. We will fade it out. Once you find your ending, press COMMAND + T again.
Click in the grey area below the track to deselect the song, then once on the latter part of the track. You can now press delete to remove it. You now have the bones of your ringtone & are almost done!
To fade out the ending of the song, before it starts again, click the down arrow in the tracks properties box.
This will reveal the audio levels for the track. Notice the lightly highlighted blue area below the song? That’s the level. What we want to do is to set where we’d like the fade out to start & end. You can do this by clicking on the thin blue line one time where you’d like it to start fading.
An anchor will appear. Click for another anchor anywhere after the end of the track above it. Now, click and drag the second anchor down until the blue line collapses. This will show the fade. For a faster fade, have the second anchor closer to the first. For a slower fade, put it further away…
You can preview your song to make sure the fade out is to your liking and adjust accordingly.
When you are happy, you can move on to looping the song so that it works like a ringtone should. Click the loop button, located next to the play button at the bottom of the GarageBand window.
This will reveal the looping section of the song (in yellow) above your track. Grab the end of the yellow section, click and drag it until it is the length of your song/ringtone.
We’re almost done!
Finally, under the “Share” menu in the menu bar at the top of your screen, choose “Send ringtone to iTunes…”
GarageBand will do all the necessary mixdowns and then export your tone directly to iTunes where it will begin playing once done. Click on the “Ringtones” section of iTunes if you don’t see your track. To finish, you just need to sync your iPhone with your computer. Ensure that all ringtones are set to sync when you plug the phone in (it’s the default, so it will, unless you’ve changed something.
Finally, on your iPhone…
Open your settings app and navigate to Sounds >> Ringtone >> then select your new ringtone!
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Apple has already released it’s update to iTunes. iTunes 9.2 now adds compatiblity for the new iOS 4 as well as a host of other whiz-bang features:
- Sync with iPhone 4 to enjoy your favorite music, movies, TV shows, books and more on-the-go
- Sync and read books with iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 4 and iBooks 1.1
- Organize and sync PDF documents as books. Read PDFs with iBooks 1.1 on iPad and any iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 4
- Organize your apps on your iOS 4 home screens into folders using iTunes
- Faster back-ups while syncing an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 4
- Album artwork improvements make artwork appear more quickly when exploring your library
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
You can download the update here, or through the Apple Menu >> Software Update option on your mac…
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Well, after months of speculation, Apple announced their next generation iPhone yesterday: the iPhone 4. I took some time to review the technical specs and to think about how the news will impact you.
Right away, I have to admit that Steve’s keynote left me conflicted — much of what was announced was expected, rumored, even leaked, so there were little surprises. However, the biggest surprise [to me] was that some of these rumors actually came true; “video chat” on the iPhone has been whispered about for years, so I wasn’t surprised to see it added to the new iPhone, but instead, was more impressed that Apple managed to make it work. Effortlessly.
Also, surprising was the lack of other announcements. I mentioned in an earlier post that we might see a bump with AppleTV, MacBook Air, iLife, MacPro, iTunes or at least some glimpse in the future of OS X, but no. Steve’s keynote was dedicated nearly 100% to iPhone and its operating system, iOS 4 (formerly iPhone OS).
Let’s break down the announcements:
Name:
Gone are the days where the iPhone’s name is associated with the network it runs. Finally, Apple has decided to name the phone for its own generational evolution — the iPhone 4.
Design:
The iPhone 4 sports a super-sexy new housing comprised of glass and stainless steel. The prototypes that leaked (and were sold around the internet), proved to be real. Still, the design is truly something to behold.
Not only is the new phone 24% slimmer than the previous model (iPhone 3GS), the new iPhone 4 is packed with a variety of nice new physical upgrades. Among those that really stand out are the new larger battery (up to 40% more life, per charge) and the new top mounted microphone. The average consumer will likely overlook this mic, but shouldn’t; the top-mounted mic will not only help when video chatting on the phone (more on that later) and recording video, but it will also use “sophisticated audio technology to suppress unwanted background noise.” This should improve call quality tremendously and really help a caller hear your voice, even if you are in a noisy crowd, restaurant or bar. Awesome.
Additionally, the iPhone 4 now includes a built-in gyroscope to help monitor more user movement. This doesn’t sound like much, but really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Once developers (I suspect lots of gaming developers) start to take advantage of this sensor, we are going to have a whole new category of *cool* applications. Steve played “Jenga” in his demo and, while he looked crazy spinning around on stage, the simple app was awe-inspiring.
The iPhone 4 also supports a tremendously sharp IPS “Retina” screen. For non-tech people, this won’t mean much until you see it in person. It should be absolutely unreal.
The iOS:
Announced a few months ago (when it was released in beta for developers), the operating system that powers the iPhone, the iPod Touch and the iPad has come close to completing its fourth version. It will ship with the new iPhone on June 21st, and will also be available to most, previous iPhone and iPod Touch users. While iPod Touch users had to pay (typically $10) for upgrades in the past, users with modern enough devices can upgrade for free. iPad users will see an upgrade later this Fall.
While I won’t spend too much time talking about all the bells and whistles included in the new software upgrade, the standouts are all welcome additions: multitasking, folders, orientation lock, spell checker, iBooks, improved Mail app, etc.
Improved Camera:
Apple has made some excellent choices with the new iPhone 4’s camera. While most manufacturers are just beefing up the megapixel receivers in their mobile-phone cameras, Apple has gone one step further: the iPhone 4 has been bumped up to 5 megapixels (previously 3), but also includes “a backside illumination sensor,” a 5x digital zoom and an LED flash to help improve the overall quality of photos captured. The camera is also capable of recording full 720p HD video (making a solid competitor to the FlipHD).
The new front-mounted, second camera, will also help narcissists frame and capture personal pics with ease. It’s worth noting that while there is a second camera, mounted on the front of the phone, it is not as sophisticated or advanced as the rear-mounted camera. It will provide adequate results for personal shots and video conferencing, but is not designed to go the distance that the rear-mounted camera can.
Apple has also created a mobile version of their legendary iLife application, iMovie. While it’s amazing to see how well you can shoot, edit and share a full HD movie on the new iPhone 4, I can’t imagine wanting to edit a film on a screen that small. I think if the application is ported over for the iPad (which I imagine it will), it will have more success. Editing a movie on an iPad seems to have more appeal, more ease and more practicality.
The last major announcement, that I think deserves mentioning, was a doozy: FaceTime.
FaceTime is Apple’s name for phone-to-phone video conferencing.
What has been dreamed about for years, and rumored about for even longer, is finally a reality. Many other smartphone manufacturers have put a front-facing camera on their devices, but NONE have ever written the software required to instigate a video chat. Once again, Apple has not only made the future a reality, they’ve done it in such a way that even a complete novice will understand.
There is no setup, no configuration. If your call meets the requirements for a FaceTime chat, the option is one touch away. The requirements are fairly strict, but I don’t think alarmingly so. When you think and consider what is required to achieve a video chat (computer to computer), there are clear limitations that Apple has to work around. Among those limitations are the low-bandwidth, slow mobile networks, intense processor requirements and battery-sucking resources. That being said, it’s no surprise that FaceTime is available only between two iPhone 4 users, on a WiFi network.
What will be interesting (and something I hope for) is whether or not Apple will devise a way for Mac users to video-conference (assuming with iChat) iPhone 4 users via FaceTime. Imagine being able to video chat with a room full of colleagues, on a Mac, while you are mobile? That. Would. Rule.
Finally, Apple has also yet to clear up how FaceTime will account for the duration of your chat. Since it requires WiFi, and doesn’t utilize the mobile network, your provided carrier minutes shouldn’t be effected —- meaning, video chats would be free. Let’s hope that’s the case.
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