9 posts tagged “apple”
So the Beatles iPod didn't happen. Yet.
The only thing that cheered me up today was finding out that Apple Corps. and Apple inc. have at last settled their differences. It's out in the open and all official. Click here to get the skinny.
I still think it will happen and I think it will be soon.
They're lovely aren't they? I already have the silver original, which I love. It has a pink silicon cover now too. I really like these new colours, but I'd have to buy one of each as I can't decide which I like best. Maybe one for each genre of music I like...hmmm... now there's an idea....
Merlin Mann on MacBreak Weekly suggested (on a bit of a whim) that Apple Inc. would announce a Special Edition iPod featuring The Beatles, much like the U2 version. Leo Laporte immediately came on board with that suggestion, being more enthusiastic about the idea than Merlin was himself when he suggested it and I have to say I wholeheartedly back that prediction.
I would be hard pressed to buy that iPod, (I already have two) but I think it would bring the idea of digital music to a whole new set of folk who haven't really explored that avenue. It's hard to believe sometimes that there are people out there who don't own an mp3 player. There are obviously loads, especially the over 40 's. But plenty of them will be Beatles fans from their childhood. This could just be the push they need to introduce them to the iPod that already contains their favourite music.
I think it's a FAB idea and I'm running with it!
I've waited for this time forever. Well ok, not forever, since about 1991.
Ok, ok. I have to take it all back now.
Despite Apple saying they couldn't supply me with a new power adapter for my PowerBook G4 until they had their stock in which was due on 6th January 2007, I got it today. It just goes to show that it pays to be a miserable moaning old whingebag. I think I'll try it more often.
I have to say that I'm mightily relieved. I'm always 'bigging up' Apple, telling people what a great service they provide and everyone who knows me knows I love using Apple products. They haven't always been good though, service-wise. I remember years ago (just at the time when Steve Jobs had left and not yet returned) I used to think their products were fantastic, but their service was rubbish. Since Steve came back the company has vastly improved. Great products and great service. It was uncomfortable for me to admit that one of my favourite companies had let me down after singing their praises for the last 15 years.
Apple, you have redeemed yourself. Don't let it happen again.
After months of the power adapter on my PowerBook G4 fraying and
showing bare wires, on Tuesday it finally sparked as I was plugging it
in to the mains. Damn! I'd been meaning to replace it for ages and now
I couldn't use it at all. Ok, the battery had a full charge, but that
would only last for 3 or so hours.
Tuesday morning: Phoned AppleCare and asked for a replacement
cable. They said they'd get it despatched that day and I could expect
it before the week was out. A WEEK? A week before I could charge up my
laptop? Hell it's my workhorse machine. I take it everywhere! Ok a
week. I'll see what I can do. What choice do I have?
Tuesday afternoon: I received the iPod Nano that I've ordered as a gift for a special someone who has a significant birthday coming up next month. I was amazed. I had ordered it on Sunday afternoon AND I wanted it engraved with a special message and here it was. All perfect and everything.
Wednesday: I receive my new Shuffle. It's been on order since the 1st November. I was told it would be with me on the 21st. I wanted engraving, I wasn't surprised at the wait, but very happy to receive it earlier than expected.
Thursday: Nothing from Apple.
Friday: I 'phoned Apple to see if I could get a tracking number for my power adapter as I was getting concerned that it was taking too long to arrive. I was told that, not only were there none in stock, but they wouldn't be getting any until 6th January 2007! W-H-A-T?
I was told I would have to contact a third party company and take my broken cable to have it replaced by them. I told Apple that because I had taken out an expensive insurance against the machine being usuable I expected them to get the part delivered to me from wherever they could find one. They told me that if my nearest reseller didn't have the part in stock I had to make a 60 mile round trip to go to the next nearest reseller.
Needless to say, my nearest reseller didn't have a cable. "We get them from Apple, so if they don't have them, neither do we". <sarc>Great. Thanks a bunch.</sarc)
I am SO lucky that I happen to have an iBook whose power adapter is also suitable for my PowerBook. And it's a close call I can tell you. It's just about the first model that it applies to. A 500Mhz dual USB iBook G3. Phew. Otherwise I wouldn't just be venting my anger here. I'd probably be on the 10 o'clock news.
Yeah I know. I went on about how I was looking forward to going, but actually it was one of the most disappointing MacExpo's I've attended. And I've been to LOADS, by the way.
I don't know why, it may be because of podcasts and the internet and such, but there wasn't really anything new there. I just felt that I knew it all already. No big surprises to be had.
The best I had hoped for was the new iPod Shuffles to be available to buy. I've wanted one of those babies ever since they were introduced in September. The Apple Store have been saying OCTOBER availability forever. We did see them, they had demo models. They are damn cute too. Tiny, tiny, shiny, shiny.
I did however buy a bluetooth mouse for my PowerBook G4. I have a small wired mouse, but it's been misbehaving for months now and I'd decided I needed a scroll wheel. It took me a week to get it to work properly and even now it seems to disconnect without warning and I can't start it up again for another day. So, not a total success, but I'm working on it!
Don't worry, I haven't been put off MacExpo. I'll be there again next
year. How can I resist a trade show where the Ladies loos are
completely empty whatever time you visit them? It's BLISS I tell you!
Something I am really looking forward to in the next few weeks is the new animated movie from Warner Bros. Happy Feet. It looks like cute overload! We've downloaded the Quicktime movie trailers from the Apple website. We've shown them to all our friends and we're creating a Happy Feet frenzy!
It's a great time to be a Mac user. Apple are a really innovative
company. Whatever anyone else says (and by 'anyone else', I mean
Windows users) they're lucky to have Apple as a company. Like it or
not, it's Apple that keeps Micro$oft on it's toes. The only reason
they're working so hard is because Apple is designing all this great
stuff day in day out. Don't get me wrong, I know Apple aren't whiter
than white and some of their decisions are a bit iffy, but they're
'pushing the envelope' and we have to applaud them for that. It's easy
for me to say, I've been a fan for about 15 years. Actually that's not
quite true. Back in the early days I was a 'love the product, hate the
company' kind of customer. My colour 4/40 LC was beautiful, but my
local Apple dealer took about a month to mend my keyboard without
giving me a temporary replacement. Steve has changed all that, thank
goodness.
Back then I didn't have the impending new 'micro' gen 2 iPod Shuffle at a pocket money price, to look forward to.
Suffice to say, if it wasn't for Apple, Micro$oft wouldn't have got any further than Windows 2000.
Note to Steve: Where's the replacement battery for my G4 PowerBook?
