Techno gadget » Apple

Apple’s Aperture 3.0.3

krish — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:57:15 +0000

Apple has released a third update to its Aperture software for editing and cataloging photos, with improvements to stability and the chromatic aberration correction tool among dozens of changes. Aperture 3 added the ability to correct chromatic aberration–a color problem caused by camera lenses–and Apple believes version 3.0.3 should give better results with less effort. Indeed, my quick test, editing a dozen photos shot with various lenses, showed a vast improvement over the relatively weak performance in Aperture 3.0.2. It was faster and did a better job removing the color fringes. Another change concerns geotagging. Aperture lets you assign photo locations to photos by positioning them along a GPS track log it displays on a map. A hovering text box shows the time difference between when the photo was taken and the position of the GPS track on which you’re holding it. With Aperture 3.0.3, the text box shows that difference in hours, minutes, and seconds, rather than just hours and minutes.

Apple’s Multitouch Virtual Keyboard

krish — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:05:33 +0000

Trust Apple to come up with interesting solutions to age-old problems. One of the reasons why virtual keyboards never really took off was the lack of tactile feedback. While pointing and multitouch gestures work best with smooth surfaces, physical keyboards still rule for data input as human hands need to feel the keys for typing accuracy. A recent solution was haptic feedback where the device vibrates when a key is pressed. However, this does not address touch typists’ needs of knowing the position of their digits in relation to the keys. Apple’s answer is to create a surface with raised bumps that correspond to the keys when the virtual keyboard is activated. These bumps will retract back to form a smooth glass surface when data input is not required.

iHome’s New Computer Accessories

krish — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:07:05 +0000

A few iHome computer speakers in the past, but the company is now making a bigger move into the computer accessories market after signing a licensing agreement with LifeWorks Technology Group. The new line is expected to launch “this summer,” and we’ve highlighted a couple interesting looking products, the iStand Notebook Media Bundle with an integrated iPod/iPhone dock (US$299.99) and the iConnect Media Keyboard (US$149.99). The Mac version of each is colored silver and white, while the Windows version is black. iHome-branded mice, headsets, and Webcams are also in the works.

Chinon’s iPod Speaker With TV Now

krish — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:28:09 +0000

A portable DVD player with a built-in digital TV (DTV) tuner and Sony’s LBT-LCD7Di Muteki Shelf System with integrated DVD player and LCD. But Chinon’s US$200 AVi iPod dock is the first portable iPod speaker system we’ve seen that has both an integrated 7-inch LCD for showing iPod videos and a DTV tuner. Chinon says the AVi is “designed for use at home or on the road” and it also is equipped with an FM radio and alarm clock, though no GSM-shielding for iPhones. Unfortunately, to really be able to pull in DTV signals, you’re going to have to attach the included external TV antenna. It’s also worth noting that while the AVi is portable, if you want to cut the AC cord and go totally mobile, you’ll need to pick up eight “C” batteries and they only power the unit for about 3 hours, according to Chinon. That’s not too appealing.

Apple Bluetooth Magic Mouse

krish — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:19:16 +0000

Apple today announced the new Bluetooth Magic Mouse that allows users to navigate using intuitive finger gestures instead of mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls. The entire top surface of the Magic Mouse is a multi-touch surface that can track independent fingers. It is perfect for both left and right handed users. The Bluetooth Magic Mouse will be available at the end of October 2009 for $69 each.

Apple Launches New Mac Mini

krish — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:17:04 +0000

Apple has recently updated its Mac Mini by releasing a new model with a faster processor and graphics card. Priced at $599, the entry-level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, an nVidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive. Meanwhile, the $799 Mac mini provides a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive. And finally, the Mac Mini Server that comes with two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of server storage in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure. The Mac Mini Server retails for $999.