It’s 2011 and a new year means new segments on the iPod Repair Blog. This new segment is called “Gotta Have It” and it will introduce accessories that I just gotta have.
The first accessory on the list is the Ticker from Switcheasy. I have been a big fan of Switcheasy from the day I opened my first Rebel case for my iPhone and I haven’t look back since. The Ticker is designed to be used with the iPod Nano and gives you a completely new experience. I found that it is great for runners and is less cumbersome than an armband. The wristband is shock resistant and fits securely to your wrist and uses of polycarbonate push through buttons to control your musical journey. Also, with the Nano clock feature, the Ticker serves double duty as a wrist watch.

iTunes Ping is a social network for music that allows you to follow your favorite artists and friends to find out what they are listening to and discover new artists. Ping allows you to find out what your friends are listening to and downloading on iTunes

Naturally, when you think about social media and sharing, Facebook is the first medium that comes to mind. Apple AND Facebook teaming up? Everyone uses iTunes and everyone uses Facebook, it’s match made in heaven, right? Wrong. According to reports on Business Insider, Facebook and Apple continue to have trouble working out the details. Although Facebook CTO Bret Taylor is “Very confident” that Facebook and Apple will work out the kinks and figure out how to integrate Apple’s Ping into the Social Network.

Ping is a service that allows you to follow your favorite artists and become part of their inner circle. Apple’s social music network also keeps you up to date with your favorite artists with status updates and photos that you can add comments to. The integration of Ping into the latest update of iTunes is seamless, Ping is already built into the iTunes app on your iPhone and iPod Touch. This allows you to access artist updates from anywhere. Also, Ping gives lets you know what your favorite artists are listing to on their iPod.

I like the idea but it still looks like some kinks need to be worked out.

Steve Jobs will give a free case to everyone with an iPhone 4

If you keep up with Apple news, and since you are reading this blog I assume you do, you have no doubt heard of the “death grip” that causes major antenna and reception problems with the iPhone 4. I am feeling a little snarky with this post because I purchased the iPhone 3Gs with the option to upgrade to the iPhone 4. I debated whether I should just make the switch and get the latest iPhone but looking back I am glad I stayed with the 3Gs.

In a press conference at Apple’s Cuppertino campus, Jobs announced that to combat the antenna problems, Apple would provide customers with free cases. This is a great PR move for Apple. Instead of deflecting the problem and blaming AT&T, (not like they didn’t try) Jobs solved the problem by giving away free cases. Now there is a new problem, not enough bumper cases. The highly sought after bumper case is already is shortage and now that Apple is giving them away, they are going to need millions more. Jobs solved this problem by giving customers a choice of cases.

Bottom line, I like the message that the guy in the video is delivering, if you don’t want an iPhone 4 don’t buy one, if you bought one and you don’t like it…bring it back.

iPad Launch

With the U.S. release date just around the corner, I thought I would take some time to talk about the, soon to be ubiquitous, iPad. I read the four page spread that Time Magazine gave the iPad and thought the interview with Steve Jobs was very well done by Stephen Fry. I have also gone back to check out the iPad Keynote Speech from January (broken up in several parts). I think this is really a technology for people to get excited about. The possibilites on this device are incredible; from an educational standpoint to a gaming stand point, there are so many useful applications to the iPad.

With that being said, would I purchase the first generation of iPad…not likely. But I will say, give this product nine months and I think we will see a substantial A.) price decrease and B.) increase in user interface and application capability. Is it possible that the general public will not take to the iPad immediately? Maybe…but I can remember a time when not everyone was walking around with an iPod in their pocket.

Either way, I see this as a win-win-win scenario. Win-Apple get’s a new product release that is generating a great deal of buzz with the potential to do unlimited commerce from the device. Win-Apple fanatics get a new toy to play with and the satisfaction of telling people that they, do in fact, own an iPad. Win-The less fanatical Apple fans will get an even better version of this device in nine months to a year.

In the end, I really do this that the capability of the iPad will turn the people who think, “What’s the big deal? It looks like a big iPhone…” into loyal users because the technology really is that good.

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iPod Technology: Accelerometer

Have you wondered how your iPod knows when you turn it on it’s side or how it can be used to play games with realistic movements?

Using a small piece of technology know as an accelerometer, the iPod touch can recognize the orientation at which it is being held at. The accelerometer uses three elements; An electrical current, silicon mass, silicon springs. The silicon springs measure the position of the silicon mass and cause a fluctuation in the electrical current. The springs do this by gauging where the electrical current is moving through the silicon mass. When the silicon moves, the current changes and the LCD screen receives a different signal. This variation then sends the electrical signal to the iPod telling it to adjust the game or whatever is on the screen. By simply flipping the device from a portrait to a landscape view, you can immediately see an entire web page, control a game using only your movements or view a photo in the proper aspect ratio.

iPod Touch Timeline:

iPod Touch

Launched: September 5, 2007

iPod touch features a 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display and 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB flash drive. You can browse the web with Safari and watch YouTube videos on the first-ever Wi-Fi iPod.

iPod Touch 2G

Launched: September 9, 2008

iPod touch (2nd generation) features a 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display and 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB flash drive. You can browse the web with Safari and watch YouTube videos with Wi-Fi.

iPod Touch 3G

Launched: September 9, 2009

iPod touch (3rd generation) features a 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen multi-touch display and 32 GB or 64 GB flash drive. You can browse the web with Safari and watch YouTube videos with Wi-Fi.

iPod touch 3G Features:

Improved Performance

The third generation iPod touch — available in 32GB and 64GB models — is up to 50 percent faster than the previous-generation iPod touch. So apps launch faster and web pages load in a fraction of the time.

Voice control:  Say and Play

Voice Control knows the music in your iPod touch. Want to hear something specific? All you have to do is ask. For instance, say “Play artist Bob Dylan,” and iPod touch does just that. Ask what song is playing and hear iPod touch answer. Tell it to play your favorite album, artist, or playlist. Speak simple commands such as “shuffle”, “next song”, and “pause.”

Speak into the Mic

The new 32GB and 64GB iPod touch signature white Apple Earphones come equipped with a Remote and Mic. So you can reap the benefits (and the fun) of Voice Control even when your iPod touch is tucked in your pocket or bag. To activate Voice Control using the headphones, just press and hold the center area of the remote.

Performance and Graphics

The new 32GB and 64GB iPod touch models feature improved performance and support for OpenGL ES Version 2.0, which lets developers create games with superior graphics. So games launch noticeably faster, and you experience richer, more lifelike textures and detail.

Music

The improved Genius feature allows you to have iPod touch play more songs like the one you’re listening to. Simply sync your iPod touch to your iTunes and Genius searches your iTunes library for songs that sound great together for your own personal Genius Mixes.

• 1,750 songs
• 10 hours of video
• 10,000 photos
• Up to 30 hours of music playback
• Up to 6 hours of video playback
• iPod touch 3.1 software
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Nike + iPod support built in
• Built-in speaker
• Earphones

• 7,000 songs
• 40 hours of video
• 40,000 photos
• Voice Control
• Up to 30 hours of music playback
• Up to 6 hours of video playback
• iPod touch 3.1 software
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Nike + iPod support built in
• Built-in speaker
• Earphones with Remote and Mic

• 14,000 songs
• 80 hours of video
• 90,000 photos
• Voice Control
• Up to 30 hours of music playback
• Up to 6 hours of video playback
• iPod touch 3.1 software
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Nike + iPod support built in
• Built-in speaker
• Earphones with Remote and Mic

Most of what you do online with a computer can easily be done on iPod touch. Built-in Wi-Fi means you can check your favorite blogs, write an email with a photo attached, or find out how to get to that new restaurant. When you think about it, iPod touch is a computer in your pocket. How handy is that?

Mail

Email on iPod touch looks and works just like email on your computer. And it works with the email accounts you already have.

View Messages and Attachments

iPod touch supports rich HTML email, so images and photos appear alongside text. And you see email attachments in their original formats, not stripped-down versions. Rotate, zoom, and pan in more than a dozen standard file and image formats, including PDF; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and iWork.

Access All Your Accounts

Access your email from popular providers — including MobileMe, Google Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo! Mail, and AOL — and most industry-standard IMAP and POP mail systems.

Compose Instantly

iPod touch recognizes email addresses in different applications. If you run across an email address on a web page or a map listing, for example, just tap it and iPod touch opens a new message and addresses it for you.

TypeSmart

With its built-in dictionary,* the intelligent iPod touch keyboard predicts and corrects words as you type, making it fast and easy to write email. And when you rotate iPod touch on its side, the keyboard instantly switches from portrait to landscape for larger keys and more room to type.

Search Your Inbox

No need to scroll through message after message in your inbox looking for the right one. A quick downward flick brings up a search field that lets you find email by sender, recipient, subject, or all headers.

Games for iPod touch are made to take advantage of its built-in technologies such as the accelerometer, Multi-Touch, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth wireless technology. The result is truly immersive game-play — whether you’re playing alone or with others in multiplayer mode. And with an App Store that offers thousands of games ready to download and play, the fun of iPod touch never ends.

Accelerometer

The accelerometer inside iPod touch detects when you rotate iPod touch from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes what you see onscreen. But the beauty of the accelerometer comes into play when you’re actually in play. For instance, in racing games where your entire iPod touch becomes the steering wheel. Or balance games, such as Topple.

Multi-Touch

What sets iPod touch apart from traditional handheld gaming devices is its revolutionary Multi-Touch interface. It means you’re not just playing a game; you’re interacting with the game. Turn your fingers into an expert skateboarder. Test your reflexes as you’re challenged to tap through the beats of a song. You can even transform iPod touch into a musical instrument such as a drum set or a guitar. It’s all thanks to the brilliance of Multi-Touch technology.Apple iPod touch 3G