Apple Music Event: Day After, Apple TV And Ping Should Be Headliners

I don't know what to make of what we saw yesterday. Fantastic update to the old work horse lineup? Definitely. A hobby inches towards being another pillar of the Apple digital strategy. You bet. My order of the iPod Touch? Yup. Well, no. Yes, sorta. We'll see.

That's where I am right now. After work, I called the Pasadena Apple store to find out when the new gears will be in store. Next week I'm told. Fine, I think I will go in and check things out before I jump headlong into this.

I had ordered a 32GB iPod Touch almost right after Steve Jobs finished up yesterday music event. Then later in the afternoon, I cancelled it. Not because I had a change of heart but I really do want to go into the store to see for myself the quality of the video capture and use of the Facetime feature. Yeah, I have used the Facetime feature in the iPhone but this is the iPod Touch. And as with any new Apple product, you'll want to make sure Apple has gotten the kinks out first.

I think it was a prudent move on my part. Apple TV was fine except I think I didn't get everything I wanted. Steve wanted a subscription plan but the studios wouldn't go with it. I wanted to be able to use my apps on the Apple TV and control it with my iPhone. I didn't get that. I'm sure that'll happen eventually. And I'm sure Apple will get its subscription plan in due time (years from now).

One thing I'm a bit disappointed in is that we lost the ability to play video on the iPod nano. It's not perfect as many people have said in the past but it was an option there and I like having it. I think I might go and pick up an older model just because.

Anyway, the big thing is going to be Apple TV. It might seem like it now but we will in time. Just wait and see.

And now iTunes. Ping. Yeah, it's not much now but like Apple TV, just wait and see. It'll be huge.

Apple Event: Transformative or Just Really About Music

I know there are those who think tomorrow's Apple event will be a game changer in mobile tech and transform how we consume media, specifically, video. While I hope for that to happen, I am no in that camp. As a matter of fact, I think tomorrow's event will be routine.

Well, for Apple, it's routine. For other companies, it might be extraordinary. But that's a post for another time.

For now, we can expect Apple to push consumer technology further by bring some iPhone 4 features over the iPod Touch. That much we are certain. Anything else would just be icing on the cake.

Anyway, tomorrow's event will be streamed live over the Internet. I think that alone should make this a memorable Apple media event.

Little Rumors On Apple Music Event

There was very little Apple related rumors that tell us about what we'll see 10am on September 1st. Frankly I am quite surprised.

Sure, there was a lot of talk and rehashing of what we already knew as far as rumors go from last week. Rather, confirmations of rumors.

So while I had hoped to get through Monday on what I thought would be waves after waves of blogs trying to outdo one another, there was nothing. But there are two developments worth noting.

First, Roku dropped the prices of their players by up to $30. This is significant because it's high time that Apple do something about their Apple TV hobby, which even as hobbies go, it isn't one worth keeping.

Second, Nintendo, who thinks it has something with 3DS but no until 2011, dropped the prices of its DS lineup. I have always maintained that the iPod touch isn't a true portable gaming device but a mobile computing device that happens to play games well, it appears that Nintendo and Sony now believes the iOS devices has encroached into their gaming space.

Does the timing of both of these two price cuts mean anything? By themselves, probably not but taken together, we might be on to something. So the question is does Roku and Nintendo know something we don't?

Sure, price cuts might have been anticipated if not expected but the week when Apple is set to update it's iPod lineup and maybe even do something about Apple TV can mean that something bigger is afoot.

This is purely conjecture on my part. As a trained scientist, the lack of evidence and inability to test what I said means I have to go with what I know based on the past. We will see something from Apple that is evolutionary, but we will continue to help for that "one more thing" that is revolutionary.

With 1.5 days left (as of this writing), I hope Tuesday will be more eventful as far as rumors go. I am dying here!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spiderman Coming To the iOS Devices

Gameloft has graced the iOS community, the gaming part of it, with "Ultimate Spider-Man Total Mayhem" due September 1st. Want to bet that we might see this game featured as part of Steve Jobs and Apple's music event also on September 1st?

Here's a short trailer and a could of seconds of gameplay at the end.



More about the same at the official hompage. Anyway, I don't talk about games enough but I think I will now. After all, mobile gaming is a big part of the iOS success as a platform.

September 1st Event Might Be A Disappointment for Video Fans

The event that Apple announced today to be help on September 1st is going to all about the iPod Touches and, likely, any new features that the iPad is going to gain from iOS 4. Yeah, I know, just about everyone has forgotten about iOS 4. But that's a post for another day.

For now, we're going to see the next generation iPod Touch get some iPhone 4 goodies. Anything else?

App Piracy: Apps are like $1 or $2, Maybe $5, Not Worth Pirating, Please Stop

Some app piracy rates for iOS apps are as high as 50% if not higher in some instances (try 95%).

So, I'm making a general plea on behalf of all the hard-working, innovative, and imaginative developers. Pay for fraking $2 app! It isn't like we're being asked to pay for $25 or $40 that DS and PSP owners are paying even for the lamest games. Nor are these $50-$60 console or PC games. They're mostly $1 or $2 apps in the App Store.

Seriously, when the number of illegal downloads are reporting scores in OpenFeint double those of legitimate buyers, something is majorly wrong.

Plus, Apple needs to protect the legions of developers more. Instead of paying out $1 billion to developers, Apple can easily be paying $1.5 billion or more if it makes it harder for pirates to use apps. Furthermore, using pirated apps is only possible through jail-broken iOS devices. And while I supported jail-breaking 100%, using pirated apps does open up users to malicious attacks.

More at TUAW.

How Microsoft, Nintendo, And Sony Will Bring Portable Gaming to Mobile Computing Market

Some quick thoughts about mobile gaming in the age of app stores, casual gaming, and diminished support for portable gaming consoles, is it time to give thought to how Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will go on. I see a merger of platforms, birth of new ones, and a salad of old tech mixed with the new.

Which is better?

More at Onxo.