Apple is one of the top brand names in the world. If you don't believe me, just check with
Interbrand, the company that lists the
Top 100 Global Brands each year. I'm not sure how long they've been doing this, but lists for the years 2001 - 2009 are posted on the company's
website. Apple appears on every one.
Because Apple Inc. is so highly-regarded, you expect their products to be innovative, stylish, and well-made. In many categories, Apple is the benchmark. New smart phones are always compared to the
iPhone, and a
Microsoft executive recently created an uproar by saying
Windows 7 was designed to provide a Mac look and feel.
Reports say Microsoft quickly dismissed the exec's comment as
inaccurate and uninformed, but who hasn't noticed that the redesigned taskbar in Windows 7 now works a lot like the dock in Mac OS X.
Apple sets the tone in many product categories, including music players. The Cupertino, Ca.-based company claims to have sold over 220 million iPods, so no high-tech holiday gift guide would be complete without a glimpse at the most popular line of personal music and video players in the world.
You might recall that the new
iPod nano was recently featured on the
Fox 8 Morning News. At the time, however, I ignored the all-new
iPod shuffle and the next generation
iPod Touch, which were released concurrently. The nano hogged the headlines with its ability to shoot video and built-in FM radio, but you might find the shuffle or the touch more in-tune with your holiday gift-giving needs.
IPOD SHUFFLEApple bills the
iPod shuffle as the world’s smallest music player and the first music player that "talks to you." The first claim isn't hard to believe, because the unit is smaller than a key. The latter distinction, however, requires an explanation.
The Shuffle's controls are located on the headphone cord. With the press of a button, you can play, pause, adjust volume and switch playlists. Furthermore, there is is no display to tell you what's playing. Instead, the unit's
VoiceOver feature announces song titles, artists and playlist names.
If you're wondering if having controls on the headphone cord will limit your options with regards to replacement earphones, Apple says that several third-party headset manufacturers have already introduced compatible products and/or adapters.
The battery is good for 10 hours of playback. iTunes9 (or later) is required to use the shuffle, so you'll need a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.11 (or later) or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista, Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later.
The shuffle starts at $59 for the 2GB model (500 songs) and $79 for the 4GB version (1,000 songs). Both models come in silver, black, pink, blue and green. There's also a special $99 polished stainless steel 4GB shuffle that is only sold at Apple retail stores or Apple's Online Store. For more information, visit Apple.com.
IPOD TOUCH
Like its predecessors, the latest iPod touch, which Steve Jobs reportedly dubbed "the funnest iPod ever," shares the iPhone's fabulous Multi-Touch, 3.5-inch widescreen glass display, and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a built-in accelerometer and a speaker.
The unit is ideal for enjoying music, television shows, movies and podcasts, providing cool features such as Cover Flow, Shake to Shuffle, and Genius Mixes. The latter automatically creates up to twelve endless mixes of songs from your iTunes library that go great together. Instant access to over 11 million songs, TV shows and Hollywood movies is also available from the iTunes Store. Selections can be purchased and downloaded directly to the device.
The touch is also a bona fide portable gaming platform, offering new, enhanced graphics performance and the over 20,000 game and entertainment titles, which can be downloaded directly from the App Store. Support for peer-to-peer connections allows you to play multi-player games with people nearby or around the world.
The device also allows you to surf the web, access email, manage calendars, organize contacts, and use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Furthermore, the newest touch runs the same operating system as the iPhone 3GS, so it now also supports Cut, Copy and Paste and Spotlight Search to search within mail, contacts, calendar and more.
The 8GB iPod touch holds up to 1,750 songs and up to ten hours of video. The 32GB model holds up to 7,000 songs and up to 40 hours of video, and the 64GB model doubles that capacity. The battery provides 30 hours of audio playback and 6 hours of video playback in all models.
Be aware, however, that the 8GB iPod touch runs the operating system used in previous touch models, not version 3.1, so the 8GB model lacks some of the aforementioned new features.
Prices start at $199 for the 8GB iPod touch. The 32GB model sells for $299, and the 64GB model sells for $399. For more information, visit Apple.com.
MAGIC MOUSE
Apple's Magic Mouse is the first mouse to use the company's revolutionary multi-touch technology. Instead of having mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or roller balls, its top surface is smooth. As such, you use gestures to scroll through long documents, pan across large images or swipe to move forward or backward through a collection of Web pages or photos.
The device easily adapts for left- or right-handed users, and its laser tracking engine provides a smooth, consistent experience across more surfaces than a traditional optical tracking system.
Bluetooth wireless capability helps eliminate desktop clutter and provides a secure wireless connection up to 10 meters away. To extend battery performance, the new mouse works with Mac OS X to automatically switch to low power modes during periods of inactivity. The device is powered by two AA batteries, which are included.
The Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac, see below, and is available as an accessory for $69. For more information, visit Apple.com.
APPLE'S 21.5- AND 27-INCH iMAC
Apple's newly-refreshed iMac line is off to a good start. Reports say the new 21.5-inch iMac was the best-selling desktop computer in October, based on data gathered by research firm NPD, and the 27-inch model came in third. Some might argue that the release of Windows 7 might have had something to do with this, but NPD's figures reportedly also put Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro at #1 among laptops.
The new iMac is striking. There's no denying it. The aluminum all-in-one PC features a brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays with a seamless, edge-to-edge glass design. Apple says the new iMacs are the fastest ever, featuring displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is ideal for watching high-definition movies and TV shows, and quad-core processors in the 27-inch model.
The 21.5-inch iMac provides a 1920-by-1080 desktop. The 27-inch iMac increases that to a stunning 2560-by-1440, offering 60 percent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model. Both models deliver consistent color across an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle.
Standard equipment now includes a wireless keyboard and the new Magic Mouse, which works seamlessly to provide a cable-free desktop via secure Bluetooth technology. Every iMac also features a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and integrated stereo speakers. Both new iMacs also include built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, gigabit Ethernet, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port and a new built-in SD card slot.
Apple also ships every Mac with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife. The latter consists of a powerful suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating (or learning to play) music. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand, which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.
The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz Apple iMac has a suggested retail price of $1,199, and the new 27-inch 2.66 GHz Core i5 model has a suggested retail price of $1,999. A 27-inch model with an Intel Core i7 is available built-to-order. For technical specs, click here, and for other information, visit Apple.com.
iPHOTO BOOKS, CARDS AND CALENDARS
Mac owners can now create books, cards, calendars and order prints in iPhoto, which is part of the iLife suite of applications that come on every Mac.
For under 20 dollars, you can create an iPhoto Wall Calendar, filled with special dates, personal photos and captions, or for under 50 dollars, you can opt for an Extra-Large Hardcover iPhoto Book (13 x 10 inches, 20 pages/10 sheets). The latter features a photo-wrapped book cover and is ideal as a keepsake for memorable life events, such as vacations, reunions, weddings or a child's first year. Apple also offers a smaller version for under $30. Both come in a protective sleeve bearing the Apple logo.
Softcover and wirebound iPhoto Books are also available, and additional pages can be added to any style book at a reasonable cost. You can even add customizable maps for vacations or other memorable journeys. For more information, visit Apple.com.
