The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song...http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/count-the-beats-hey-dj-play-us-a-song/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/count-the-beats-hey-dj-play-us-a-song/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/count-the-beats-hey-dj-play-us-a-song/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Here in the UK, it's getting pretty chilly on the willy compared to a month ago, or so. The warm memories of the summer are slowly dwindling to the reality of earlier, darker evenings (the clocks have just gone forward) as well as tentative first visits from our old friend Jack Frost. Generally speaking, the cold grasp of winter is steadily fastening on us (or not).

But we are blessed with a few heart warming occasions over the winter season (Christmas, New Years Eve etc) that make the cold, well, a little less nippy on the bone. One of these such occasions is, of course, Guy Fawkes night (Remember remember the 5th of November...) And, to me, that means one thing, HOUSE PARTY! And what does a great house party need? An authentic DJ.

So when I heard my main man Dan the DJ couldn't make the party (or at the least lend me his decks) I turned to the next best thing, Sonorasaurus - the first complete deejay setup for the iPhone / iPod Touch.

At this point you may be wondering what a DJ app has to do with 'Count The Beats', or, in fact making music on an Apple platform, but it quite literally has everything to do with it. Come on, we all know that deejays are real musicians too, right?

Continue reading Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song...

Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audiocount the beatsCountTheBeatsdjfeaturesguy fawkesGuyFawkesiphonemixingmusicMatt TinsleyThu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 ESTQuick and easy podcasting with an iPhone 3GS, GarageBand, and Posteroushttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/guerilla-podcasting-with-an-iphone-3gs-garageband-and-posterou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/guerilla-podcasting-with-an-iphone-3gs-garageband-and-posterou/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/guerilla-podcasting-with-an-iphone-3gs-garageband-and-posterou/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I love podcasting.

My first podcasts weren't really podcasts, just recordings that I made and uploaded to a website in the late 90's so that other people could listen to them. Unlike the podcasts we know and love today, there was no way to subscribe to all of the episodes that I recorded. When podcasting as we know it hit the world in 2004, I started hosting podcasts through one of my companies.

Despite creating two long-running podcasts between 2004 and 2007, I finally gave up because of the time involved. Part of the problem was due to me being a stickler for perfection in my podcasts, while the rest was due to the fact that I was stuck with podcasting when I was near my iMac and could edit and update a feed file on a regular basis.

Earlier this month, I decided that I wanted to start up a personal podcast again. Yeah, I talk about tech, but for the most part I wanted this to be a free-form podcast that could talk about photography one day, music the next, and the joys of being a cat owner the third. Since my calendar is already pretty well jammed, the only way I was going to be able to commit to doing a podcast every day was to get the podcast workflow down to as little time as possible.

Continue reading Quick and easy podcasting with an iPhone 3GS, GarageBand, and Posterous

Quick and easy podcasting with an iPhone 3GS, GarageBand, and Posterous originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Quick and easy podcasting with an iPhone 3GS, GarageBand, and Posterous originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bloggingfeed validatorfeedburnerFeedValidatorgaragebanditunesiwebpodcastingposterousSteven SandeWed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 ESTPodcasting advice for the amateur or experthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/podcasting-advice-for-the-amateur-or-expert/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/podcasting-advice-for-the-amateur-or-expert/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/21/podcasting-advice-for-the-amateur-or-expert/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's no shortage of podcasting equipment out there for amateurs or professionals. These audio devices can range from a few bucks to a few thousand bucks, which sometimes makes it difficult to figure out exactly what equipment is best for you. Well, lucky for you Dan Benjamin at Hivelogic has written a very thorough article on the best equipment in every price range. It covers all bases, from the person who has never recorded before to the person making the leap into the "pro" category and ready to drop a grand to improve audio quality.

As an amateur podcaster myself I was a little surprised that my beloved Ubercaster and Blue Snowball were left out in the cold, but the article is still very helpful to people looking for the best hardware and software at different price points. If you've been considering buying or upgrading your gear, this is the article to read.

Podcasting advice for the amateur or expert originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Podcasting advice for the amateur or expert originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audioblue snowballBlueSnowballhivelogicpodcastpodcastingubercasterTim WassonWed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTNew unibody MacBook loses two portshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/new-unibody-macbook-loses-two-ports/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The new polycarbonate MacBook released today has gained some tantalizing new features, but in the process of redesigning the case to accept the new integrated battery, it's also lost two ports.

Just like the unibody aluminum MacBooks released last year, the latest version of the plastic MacBook has no Firewire port. This also means that the last Firewire 400 port in the Mac lineup has vanished - all new Macs, save the Firewire-free new MacBook, now have Firewire 800 only. Farewell, Firewire 400, we hardly knew ye.

But that's not all that's been lost: in a more puzzling omission, the MacBook has also lost its dedicated audio out port. Now one port does the job of both audio output and input.

I don't imagine the loss of Firewire will go down well with many people (it certainly didn't the last time this happened), but the audio port seems like less of an issue. If you're going to do any serious audio work, you're generally going to want to use a USB peripheral anyway, and having one port do everything makes it impossible to plug your headphones into the wrong port and unintentionally blast your potentially embarrassing iTunes playlist to passersby. Not that that's ever happened to me...

New unibody MacBook loses two ports originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)New unibody MacBook loses two ports originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audioFirewireFirewire 400Firewire400MacBookChris RawsonTue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTRumor: Apple adding FM Radio to the iPhone and iPod touch?http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/rumor-apple-adding-fm-radio-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/rumor-apple-adding-fm-radio-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/rumor-apple-adding-fm-radio-to-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Just like the 5th generation iPod nano that was introduced last month, Apple may soon be adding the capability to tune in to FM radio stations on the iPhone and iPod touch, if this report from 9to5Mac is on the money. As some of you may remember, the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chipsets in the iPhone 3GS and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch models already have the capability to support FM radio tuning.

It's also reported that you'll be able to listen to the radio in the background, allowing you to use apps at the same time, just like you listen to music synced to your iPhone or iPod touch. It would also support Live Pause and iTunes Tagging, just like the 5th generation iPod nano does. Also, it would allow you to buy the song directly from your iPod touch. While technically possible, this has been a long-requested but missing feature on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Would you listen to FM radio stations on your iPhone or iPod touch, or do you prefer listening to podcasts or Music synced from iTunes or from a streaming radio service on your iPhone or iPod touch? Let us know in the comments below!

[via Engadget]

Rumor: Apple adding FM Radio to the iPhone and iPod touch? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor: Apple adding FM Radio to the iPhone and iPod touch? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>FMFM radioFmRadioiPhoneiPod touchIpodTouchradiorumorJoachim BeanTue, 13 Oct 2009 23:20:00 ESTCount The Beats: Interview with a film & TV composerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/count-the-beats-interview-with-a-composer/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/count-the-beats-interview-with-a-composer/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/count-the-beats-interview-with-a-composer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you've ever played Gears of War 2 (who hasn't), or watched Desperate Housewives (we know you secretly love Mrs Van De Kamp), then chances are you've heard music composed by Pieter A. Schlosser from PaaxMusic in Los Angeles.

Pieter's been in the music business for the last five years working on a whole lot of tunes for film, TV and gaming. From CSI New York to composing in "French" for The Sims 3, he's got a wealth of experience in this field and, must be mentioned, he's an avid reader of TUAW too.

When Pieter got in touch with us regarding our 'Count The Beats' series, and sent us the above picture of his studio, suffice to say that the TUAW offices descended into a flurry of excitement (papers flying in the air and everything). What can we say, we love a picture of an inspiring setup.

The logical next step was to sit down with Pieter and talk shop. Read on to find out how the complexities of this mighty setup come together, how the iPhone works as a part of the composing journey, a little bit on DAWs, the "dream upgrade" and how to get the job done when all else is failing.

A word of warning, there is some serious music tech geekery ahead. If in doubt, just pretend that it all makes sense and slowly nod your head, then move onto the next paragraph. That's what most of us do anyway!

Continue reading Count The Beats: Interview with a film & TV composer

Count The Beats: Interview with a film & TV composer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Count The Beats: Interview with a film & TV composer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>composingcount the beatsCountTheBeatscubaseinspirationinterviewmidimusicprotoolssetupstudioMatt TinsleyTue, 13 Oct 2009 07:00:00 ESTLogic Pro 9.0.2 is out and ready for updatinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/logic-pro-9-0-2-is-out-and-ready-for-updating/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/logic-pro-9-0-2-is-out-and-ready-for-updating/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/12/logic-pro-9-0-2-is-out-and-ready-for-updating/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple has just released an update to Logic Pro, revving it to version 9.0.2. This update provides numerous fixes and enhancements, as well as addressing several issues.

These fixes include:
  • Flex Markers can align & snap to MIDI notes
  • Performing a punch-in recording with Replace Mode now behaves correctly
  • The I/O plug-in adds an option for latency measurement
  • TDM plug-ins now behave as expected. (Only affects users with Pro Tools HD audio hardware.)
It's 183MB, and is available through Software Update or the listing on the Apple Support Downloads page. This update is available for all users of Logic Studio 9.0 and later, which was released this July.

Logic Pro 9.0.2 is out and ready for updating originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Logic Pro 9.0.2 is out and ready for updating originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>LogicLogic ProLogic StudioLogicProLogicStudioSoftware UpdateSoftwareUpdateJoachim BeanMon, 12 Oct 2009 19:45:00 ESTFollowup: Transmit TV audio through your Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/followup-transmit-tv-audio-through-your-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/followup-transmit-tv-audio-through-your-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/followup-transmit-tv-audio-through-your-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After my post earlier this week about transmitting Mac audio, readers contacted me about extending this solution. Although they liked the idea of direct audio while working out on a treadmill or exercise bike, several stated that they also wanted to watch from the sofa once the spouse or the kid go to sleep. The idea was the same: audio transmission to an iPhone or iPod touch. The source was different. They wanted to watch live cable TV or their TiVo. And for the punchline, their media center Mac lacks a tuner. Was there a similar quiet Mac-based solution that would let them transmit the TV audio from these non-Mac sources?

If your Mac has a microphone jack, internal or even through an external USB solution, the answer is yes. You can easily connect your TV audio to your Mac just like you would connect it to a pair of speakers. Run a cable between a spare audio output (modern TVs usually offer more than one, if not, you can use a splitter) to the microphone jack on the Macintosh. On my low-end TV, this means an RCA stereo cable that feeds to a standard stereo minijack plug.

Setting up the Mac host is simple. Instead of feeding audio via Soundflower, as described in the earlier post, choose your microphone audio input in the Skype settings. Start a call to your iPhone or iPod touch, switch the TV source (usually via a "Source" button that picks which signal to watch, such as Composite 1, Component 2, etc.) to your normal cable or TiVo input. Set the external speaker volume to zero. The signal arrives at the Mac microphone independently of those speakers.

You may find that the audio out signal tends to be on the low side. Many TV speakers provide their own amplification. If this is a problem for you, you can hook in an inline amplifier. (I use an old Radio Shack 277-1008C.) Alternatively, you can boost the audio via a third party program like Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack Pro.

This solution takes a few more cables, components, and connections than the Mac Audio-to-iPhone through Skype set-up discussed in the earlier post. But if you have the cables on-hand already, it offers an inexpensive solution compared to many other wireless TV headsets on the market right now.

Followup: Transmit TV audio through your Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Followup: Transmit TV audio through your Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AmplifiersAudioAudio Hijack ProAudioHijackProHacksRogue AmoebaRogueAmoebaSkypeSpeakersTelevisionTiVoTVErica SadunFri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST5 apps for the radio loverhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/5-apps-for-the-radio-lover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/5-apps-for-the-radio-lover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/25/5-apps-for-the-radio-lover/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Radio just isn't the way it used to be. It's not that "this ain't your father's radio." This isn't even the radio you knew five years ago. A loosening of media ownership rules (via the 1996 Telecommunications Act) has transformed what was once a local medium into more of a national one, one that put playing more "safe" mainstream material repeatedly in place of diverse content. And while Internet streaming has opened our ears to specific tastes that align with our listening palettes, it didn't align with our increasingly mobile lifestyles. The advent of the App store, however, has created an ecosystem of apps that stream audio content while also aligning with our mobile lifestyles, and I'll highlight a few of my essentials.

Continue reading 5 apps for the radio lover

5 apps for the radio lover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)5 apps for the radio lover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStoreaudioespnfalseiheart radioIheartRadioiphonelast.fmpandoraradioslackerstreamingwunderradioSang TangFri, 25 Sep 2009 09:30:00 ESTNPR News app updated, improvedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/npr-news-app-updated-improved/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/npr-news-app-updated-improved/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/npr-news-app-updated-improved/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The NPR News app [iTunes link] is quickly becoming a jack of all trades for news junkies and those wanting a quick fix of their favorite NPR program.

The latest version, 1.1, adds sharing of stories via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. You can now pause radio programs, as well as fast forward and rewind them.

Finding local stations is easy by using the iPhone's location services, or you can choose to listen to just about every NPR station in the country.

The news part of the app works pretty quickly on a 3G network, but I find the pop-up ads at the bottom irritating. I don't think there are enough news stories on screen at once, an issue it shares with the AP News app. The NPR app has been popular since the moment it was released, and the developers have continued to be responsive and add features on a regular basis.

Getting access to NPR programs like Car Talk and All Things Considered is very nice, plus you can listen to any individual news story on demand.

There is no search function, which would be most welcome, but overall the app is really useful and continues to improve.

If you don't have it, grab it for free. If you already have it and use it, be sure to update to this latest version.

NPR News app updated, improved originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)NPR News app updated, improved originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeaudioiPhoneiPod touchNPRpublic radioPublicRadioradioMel MartinThu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 ESTiTunes 9 Genius Mixes: You don't need to be a genius to create 'emhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/itunes-9-genius-mixes-you-dont-need-to-be-a-genius-to-create/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/itunes-9-genius-mixes-you-dont-need-to-be-a-genius-to-create/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/itunes-9-genius-mixes-you-dont-need-to-be-a-genius-to-create/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I have to admit to an embarrassing situation Wednesday afternoon. While writing the iPhone OS 3.1 overview post, I got to the section about "Genius Mixes" and was totally boggled. I couldn't see any way to create them on the iPhone itself, and there was nothing I could see in iTunes 9 that would do the job.

Fortunately, there are some fairly bright people here at TUAW, and after a couple of quick exchanges in iChat, I had Genius Mixes working. If you don't have access to a Mac and iPhone brain trust like I do, you might also have problems setting up Genius Mixes, so I'm here to give you the rundown on how to do this. Read on for the rest of the details.

Continue reading iTunes 9 Genius Mixes: You don't need to be a genius to create 'em

iTunes 9 Genius Mixes: You don't need to be a genius to create 'em originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iTunes 9 Genius Mixes: You don't need to be a genius to create 'em originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>genius mixGeniusMixiphoneitunes 9Itunes9Steven SandeFri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 ESTApple approves Spotify apphttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/apple-approves-spotify/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/apple-approves-spotify/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/27/apple-approves-spotify/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Telegraph from the UK reports (via Paid Content) that after more than a month in limbo, the music-streaming app Spotify for the iPhone has been approved. Spotify is to Europe what Rhapsody is to the U.S. -- and we even took a look at Rhapsody's iPhone offering just a couple days ago. Spotify will allow access to the service's full catalog from the iPhone, create playlists from it -- and allow offline use of those playlists. The YouTube video above gives insight into exactly how the app works. It is available for paid subscribers only. A subscription costs £9.99 per month or £119.88 per year.
The approval of Spotify certainly opens the door for Rhapsody's app and other potential software that allows duplication of iPhone functions -- or it could be yanked ala Google.

Apple approves Spotify app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple approves Spotify app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStoreiphonerhapsodyspotifystreaming musicStreamingMusicMegan LaveyThu, 27 Aug 2009 17:50:00 ESTReal Networks submitting Rhapsody music service for iPhone. Duck!http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/24/real-networks-submitting-rhapsody-music-service-for-iphone-duck/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/24/real-networks-submitting-rhapsody-music-service-for-iphone-duck/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/24/real-networks-submitting-rhapsody-music-service-for-iphone-duck/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now this will be interesting to watch. RealNetworks, not always best of friends with Apple, is submitting an iPhone app so subscribers can access the Rhapsody music service.

The app is designed to be full-featured, and will let Rhapsody subscribers get easy control of the on-demand music service. Real Networks has described the app's operation on its Rhapsody blog:
You'll see a menu bar across the bottom of the screen, as is found in many apps. You'll have the option to check out the queue, your library, browse the Rhapsody library (ahem, all 8 million + songs of it), search, and settings. The app has all the functionality of the client, or Rhapsody.com, only super portable.
The Rhapsody app is designed to stream music over 3G, EDGE or Wi-Fi networks. If approved, it will require a Rhapsody To Go account, which is US$15.00 per month. Spotify, a similar European music service, also has an app awaiting approval for the iPhone.

Apple already allows the Sirius/XM app, which is a different, but still a paid subscription service, and of course Pandora, Last.fm and other streaming music services.

All these apps are competition to iTunes, so the world will be watching to see if Apple draws the line with RealNetworks, or keeping a careful eye on the FCC, approves it.

Real Networks submitting Rhapsody music service for iPhone. Duck! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Real Networks submitting Rhapsody music service for iPhone. Duck! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeFCCiPhoneiPod touchRealNetworksRhapsodystreaming musicMel MartinMon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST(Re)locating your Mac mini's or iMac's headphone jack for easy accesshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/re-locating-your-mac-minis-or-imacs-headphone-jack-for-easy-a/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/re-locating-your-mac-minis-or-imacs-headphone-jack-for-easy-a/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/re-locating-your-mac-minis-or-imacs-headphone-jack-for-easy-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Are you wishing for an easier way to plug in and unplug headphones from your Mac mini or iMac? There are a few ways to make it easier. You should be able to reroute the jack, allowing you to speed up your plug-in process.

The first solution, which only works on Mac minis, is to use two right-angle audio adapters. This will relocate access to the headphone jack to the front or side of your mini, allowing for much easier access. You can buy these for less than $4 each (you'll need two) at Radio Shack (or whatever it's called these days). You'll need to plug one into the back of your mini, while you'll want to plug the other one in to the other right-angle adapter. Once you've done this, you should be able to have an easy way to access your headphone jack.

The next solution, which works with both minis and iMacs, is to use a headphone extension cable to provide easier access to plug in your headphones. This offers a more flexible solution to this issue, allowing you to route access where you want it. These cables can be purchased for about $10, and can be found in many places. You can choose a shorter cable or longer one, depending on how you want to manage your cords and where you want access to the headphone jack.

Please note if you use one of these solutions, it will override the internal speaker in your Mac, so you might want to unplug the extension if you're not frequently using headphones. These solutions will also work for microphones, so if you frequently use microphones with your iMac or Mac mini, you can also access the port more quickly.

Yet a third approach is to use a USB audio adapter, which will give you a separate set of headphone and/or mic jacks plugging into your keyboard or USB hub, or at the end of a USB extension cable. These adapters are available from lots of manufacturers and range in price from $8 on up; Plantronics also ships one with many of its audio headsets.

Check out the gallery below to see an example of an extension cable in use:

Gallery: Headphone extensions

Looking towards front of miniTop corner of miniBack of mini


How do you handle this inconvenience? Leave a comment and let us know!

(Re)locating your Mac mini's or iMac's headphone jack for easy access originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)(Re)locating your Mac mini's or iMac's headphone jack for easy access originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Joachim BeanSat, 22 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTSoundboard is a simple but useful sound boardhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/soundboard-is-a-simple-but-useful-sound-board/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/soundboard-is-a-simple-but-useful-sound-board/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/soundboard-is-a-simple-but-useful-sound-board/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In the video below I quickly run through the basics of Soundboard, from Ambrosia Software (makers of WireTap Studio and Snapz Pro, but they've made Mac apps and games for years). It's just what you'd think: a series of buttons tied to sounds, just like you'd see at a radio station for live broadcasting.

But Soundboard brings the drag-and-drop ease of desktop computing to the table, and adds several small features that add up. Namely: quick editing and loop controls. Plus, you can route your audio using Soundflower, or just play what you want through speakers. Given the number of crank calls I made as a kid, I'm glad this wasn't around.

Soundboard normally sells for $29, but there's a free trial and you get 25% off if you're a WireTap owner. Also, Ambrosia is encouraging Sound Byte users to switch over with a $19 deal for registered owners of that application. If you've ever wanted a live radio show like Dingo and the Baby, then Soundboard may be just what you need.


Incidentally, the screencast above was made using the excellent site, Screenr.com. If the video won't play on an iPhone, just click here for the Screenr page.

Soundboard is a simple but useful sound board originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Soundboard is a simple but useful sound board originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ambrosiaaudiomacos xOsXpodcastingradiosoftwaresoundboardVictor Agreda, Jr.Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 ESTSonos remote for iPhone and iPod touch does it allhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/11/sonos-remote-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-does-it-all/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/11/sonos-remote-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-does-it-all/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/11/sonos-remote-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-does-it-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you're lucky enough to have a Sonos music system in the house, you've got lots of music everywhere. The Sonos is a deluxe, wireless distribution system that integrates beautifully with iTunes, and can get your music, Sirius Radio and Pandora, Last.fm, Napster, Rhapsody and Deezer to any room where you have a Sonos Zone player. It can also access more than 15,000 internet radio stations. Subscriptions are required for some of these services.

It's an elegant, easy to set up (yet pricey) system. It is also very reliable and supports wake up and sleep alarms, sending music to every room at once, or letting each room have a choice of what to listen to.

Sonos has a very strong iPhone app, [App Store] which is free. It's been recently updated to version 3, and gives you complete and easy control of your system. You can see album art, change the configuration of the system, adjust the volume, and even access artist information on Rhapsody and Last.fm. If you are running Pandora, as I am, you can create new stations, advance to another tune, or even rate what you are listening to so you can tailor your custom station to your taste.

Sonos has recently offered a wireless handheld controller for US$349.00, but frankly, the iPhone is free [assuming you already have one -Ed.] and has the same capabilities.

Even if you bought the cheapest iPod touch for $229.00, and ran the free Sonos app, you'd have the same features, plus you'd have an iPod touch.

The Sonos system also comes with desktop controller software that lets you play and manage the system from a Mac or PC.

I've had the system for years, and it really is great. I have also used and enjoyed the Squeezebox solution, and Apple can get your music moving around with Airport Express running Airtunes.

If you have a Sonos system and an iPhone or iPod touch, the free app is a no-brainer. If you're looking for a whole house, state of the art music system, the Sonos should be on your list.

Screen shots of the iPhone app in use are below:

Gallery: Sonos iPhone remote

Zone menuMusic LibraryPandora settingsPandora music playing Album Art display

Sonos remote for iPhone and iPod touch does it all originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Sonos remote for iPhone and iPod touch does it all originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app reviewapp storeAppReviewiPhoneiPod touchmusicSonosMel MartinTue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 ESTCapture Skype video calls with SkypeCap for Mac 3.0http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/22/capture-skype-video-calls-with-skypecap-for-mac-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/22/capture-skype-video-calls-with-skypecap-for-mac-3-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/22/capture-skype-video-calls-with-skypecap-for-mac-3-0/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Earlier in the week TUAW reported on the release of Skype 2.8, which allows screen sharing and now provides better video calls as well. There are many different ways of capturing Skype audio & video -- we use eCamm's CallRecorder to record the TUAW Talkcast every week, for example -- but there are other ways to tackle video recording. I use my favorite screen capture application, Snapz Pro X from Ambrosia Software, to nab Skype videos now, but I find that if I bring up other screens while I'm capturing, I end up ruining the video.

The recently released SkypeCap for Mac 3.0 is able to capture both audio and video chats from Skype, and since it taps into the Skype video stream you can open other windows on your Mac without capturing them as well. The application also converts the captured video into a number of formats, including MP4, .swf, and .flv.

If you're in the market for a Skype audio/video recorder, you may want to look at SkypeCap. However, the price tag (US$49.95) of the application is a bit out of line for what it does. CallRecorder also captures Skype video at a third of the price (US$14.95), and has a good reputation as a solid program.

Do you capture Skype video calls? If so, what's your favorite Mac application for grabbing them? Leave a comment below.

Update: Looks like we jumped the gun on this one. Version 2.1 is the only version available for purchase and download at this time.

[via MacTech News]

Capture Skype video calls with SkypeCap for Mac 3.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Capture Skype video calls with SkypeCap for Mac 3.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audiocaptureskypesoftwarevideoSteven SandeWed, 22 Jul 2009 13:30:00 ESTDriving along in my automobile, with an iPhone or iPodhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/06/driving-along-in-my-automobile-with-an-iphone-or-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/06/driving-along-in-my-automobile-with-an-iphone-or-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/06/driving-along-in-my-automobile-with-an-iphone-or-ipod/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Taking a holiday drive with the music blaring is a very American thing to do, but getting your iPod or iPhone to take part has often caused a world of confusion and crude jury-rigged solutions.

Apple has reported that 90% of all current cars are iPod/iPhone enabled, but I have never met anyone who bought one of those cars, so this short article will give you an overview of what's left for the rest of us.

There have been many ideas slung around on how to best integrate your car stereo with an iPod or iPhone. Some time ago we covered a 'complete solution to iPhone car integration. The solutions provided in the referenced iLounge article tells of many combinations of power adapters, FM transmitters, Bluetooth earpieces etc. But that's not the best way.

There is a much more elegant (if expensive) way of doing it, and I would like to scratch the surface on that topic.

Continue reading Driving along in my automobile, with an iPhone or iPod

Driving along in my automobile, with an iPhone or iPod originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Driving along in my automobile, with an iPhone or iPod originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audioautoautomotiveiphoneiphone 3gIphone3giphone3gsipodradiostereoDavid WinogradMon, 06 Jul 2009 07:00:00 ESTAudioBoo lets you broadcast audio directly from the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/26/audioboo-lets-you-broadcast-audio-directly-from-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/26/audioboo-lets-you-broadcast-audio-directly-from-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/26/audioboo-lets-you-broadcast-audio-directly-from-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Back when we looked at Radar, a photosharing site with an accompanying iPhone app, I mentioned that while Twitter had monopolized the "text exporting" function from your iPhone, there would be a slew of companies to try and grab the rest of the media you want to broadcast. Radar, I said, wanted to be the photo app. And AudioBoo, it appears, wants to be the audio app (we've yet to see a strong video contender pop up with the 3GS, though YouTube is certainly serving for now).

I've been using AudioBoo (iTunes link) for a few weeks now, and I have to say, it definitely does what it says on the box: after a short signup session and the installation of the app to your iPhone, you can record and upload (and almost more interesting, listen back to others') audio quickly and easily.

You hit record, can talk for a while (i haven't hit a limit yet, though three minutes is what I originally heard, and that tends to be about right for these little mini-podcasts), then hit stop and upload, add a picture, title, and tags, and a few minutes later, your audio is right there on the web for everyone to hear. I've used it on my EDGE phone and my friend's 3G, and I have to say the experience is better on the 3G -- the upload speeds are much better (I generally have to wait on my iPhone until I get on Wi-Fi to upload the audio), and to my ears, the audio sounds better. Here's a recording I made at a Cubs game on my 1G with a few friends, and a recording my friend made on his 3G at a restaurant. Edge works, obviously, but the 3G seems to work better.

Continue reading AudioBoo lets you broadcast audio directly from the iPhone

AudioBoo lets you broadcast audio directly from the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)AudioBoo lets you broadcast audio directly from the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3gapp-storeaudioaudioboobroadcastingedgefacebookiphonelisteningmultimediarecordingsitesparsetwitteruploadvideoMike SchrammFri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 ESTThe iPhone: most dangerous cell phone ever? (No.)http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/14/the-iphone-most-dangerous-cell-phone-ever/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/14/the-iphone-most-dangerous-cell-phone-ever/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/06/14/the-iphone-most-dangerous-cell-phone-ever/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is the iPhone the most dangerous cell phone ever?

Dr. Joseph Mercola thinks so. He's concerned about that great modern boogeyman, cell phone radiation. But lucky for you, he's got a solution he can sell you: the Blue Tube headset.

The Blue Tube headset looks to be a 2.5 mm plug hooked into a tiny speakerbox at the other end. That speaker box then emits sound up a long, hollow tube (similar to how a stethoscope works) and into an earpiece similar to those found on higher-end headphones from Shure and Etymotic.

What exactly makes an iPhone more "dangerous" than other cell phones? Well, Dr. Mercola helpfully points out that the iPhone emits radiation way more often than other cell phones, mostly because of what he calls "data waves."

Hookay. Let's be real for a second: cellular phones do emit low-level electromagnetic (EM) radiation. I used to work as a radiological health physics technician, so I know a fair bit about radiation (which is why I used to be in that field. Not anymore). Without getting too science-lecturey about it, let's just say there's two basic types of radiation:

1. The scary kind that can turn you into a sewer mutant and/or kill you. This is called ionizing radiation. It comes from nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, nuclear waste, nuclear medicine (I'm sensing a pattern here), x-rays, and Cleveland.

2. The not-so scary kind that doesn't do much of anything to you at all. This is called non-ionizing radiation. Sources include power lines, your computer's display, cell phones, and the North Korean government's secret mind control rays.

It seems like every other week we get to hear about how the microwave radiation from cell phones is going to cook all of our brains like popcorn, and yet over decades of cell phone use by hundreds of millions of people, it hasn't happened yet. In fact, the U.S. National Cancer Institute has said, "Studies have not shown any consistent link between cellular telephone use and cancer." If anybody should know, I think it'd be those guys.

At any rate, it's kind of unnecessary to shell out close to $30 for the Blue Tube anyway, since the iPhone comes with a perfectly decent set of headphones already; and unlike the Blue Tube, they have a built-in microphone as well. If you're really as scared of iPhone-induced brain cancer as Dr. Mercola seems to think you should be, just use the free pack-in headphones instead.

Thanks to reader Chuck Cooper for sending this in!

The iPhone: most dangerous cell phone ever? (No.) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The iPhone: most dangerous cell phone ever? (No.) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesheadsetsiphoneChris RawsonSun, 14 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST