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Podcast #115: 10.6.2 Fixes Bugs and Kills Hackintoshes and Caricatures Rejected by Apple

Mac|Life Staff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:12:06 -0600

The latest OS X update has dropped and it fixes the dreaded guest account bug. It also kills hackintosh netbooks with it's lack of Intel Atom processor support.

The super-speedy quad-core 27-inch iMacs begin shipping this week and the staff find at least two uses for it not advertised by Apple.

Got a question, but you're afraid to leave a voice message because of Witness Relocation Dept. rules? Drop us a question via Twitter twitter.com/maclife.

This week's Battlestar Applactica picks:

B.iCycle - $9.99

Catan: The First Island - $4.99

Touch Pets Dogs - $1.99

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

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Shure SRH240 & SRH440

Ray Aguilera — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:27:23 -0600

Shure’s been building pro audio equipment for forever. Chances are, if you’ve seen a band perform in the last 75 years, you’ve seen some Shure gear at work. While the company is well known for its microphones, it has recently begun expanding into the headphone market. Shure has brought its considerable audio know-how to bear on the SRH240 (not shown) and the SRH440 (pictured) headphones, both of which offer studio-level sound at prices that make them attractive for home use as well.

Both the 240s and 440s are over-the-ear headphones, meaning that the ear cups surround your entire ear. This offers increased noise isolation, both for the listener who wants to mute outside noise and for everyone around you who isn’t interested in your Ace of Base dance remixes. The headphones feature stereo miniplugs, which will work with your iPod, as well as screw-on adapters for full-size headphone jacks like those on home stereos.

Shure's new headphones deliver for a wide range of listeners.

The sound quality on both models is excellent. The lower-priced 240s have a slightly narrower frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) than the 440’s (10Hz to 22kHz), but both feature a fairly flat audio profile--meaning you hear the music as it was recorded, with natural reproduction across the audio spectrum. Bass response is good, and highs are crisp without being fatiguing. Both headphones are comfortable for extended wear.

The 440s feature a fuller sound, largely due to increased padding around the earcup and better outside noise isolation overall. Unlike the 240s, they also fold up for travel and can be stashed in the included drawstring bag. The 440s are also 5.7 ounces heavier than the 9-ounce 240s, making the latter better for use on the go. The earcups on the 440 have a wider swivel range, making them more comfortable, and we appreciate the heavier replaceable coiled cable, which ultimately makes the 440s more durable in the long run.

Apple Soundtrack Pro 3

David Biedny — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:37:56 -0600

Soundtrack Pro is a multitrack audio editor intended to be used as part of a video workflow, though it’s equally adept at standalone audio projects. It was once sold separately, but for the last few years, it’s been available exclusively as part of the Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio bundles. The latest incarnation, version 3, offers a wide range of fine-tuned interface tweaks and a few new tricks that will make anyone who produces pro audio take notice.

The most significant new feature is audio-level matching, which allows you to raise the overall volume levels of one track and match them to another, a boon for podcasters and anyone who works with multisource audio. The big caveat with this new feature is that it only works with isolated voices on separate tracks. Anyone recording an interview with a single recording device, or via Skype, won’t be able to use the feature.

Audio-level matching equalizes the sound of two different tracks.

Field recording enthusiasts are often stymied by ambient noise in anything but the most isolated environments. Soundtrack Pro 2 had some noise-removal filtering and version 3 significantly improves upon it. The software allows you to select multiple harmonics of the base frequency--audio-geek speak for “it catches all the hum.” Previously, users often turned to third-party noise reduction plug-ins to handle these problems, but the new built-in stuff does a great job. And if you still need specialized third-party add-ons, advanced users will be pleased to see that their plug-ins show up in the same pane as Apple’s built-in tools--a great practical touch.

Time-stretching is a key aspect of creative audio editing, and you’ll be thrilled to find some new time-remapping mojo in Soundtrack Pro 3. There are three different remapping options, making us think it’s based on the tools in the new Logic 9 software, which we totally dig, because it produces some very nice, transparent results. Another feature ostensibly lifted from Logic is the ability to edit audio directly in the Multitake editor, a seemingly minor improvement that will make folks using this feature very, very happy.

iTunes Extras/LPs Now Available for Apple TV-Friendly Re-download

Cory Bohon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:05:10 -0600

Apple TV 3.0 update ushered in iTunes Extras and LPs on our favorite little television accessory, but users were told that currently owned iTunes Extras and LPs wouldn't work with the ATV just yet. However, ATV owners can now re-download their Extras/LPs in the new compatible format.

MacRumors reports that users were notified via e-mail that their content could be re-downloaded starting on Friday.

The e-mail said, "With the latest versions of iTunes (9.0.2) and Apple TV software (3.0), you can now use iTunes LP on your Apple TV. We have updated the iTunes LP that was included with (your purchase) so that it can now be viewed on Apple TV in addition to your Mac or PC. It is available for you to download now, free of charge."

MacRumors via 9to5 Mac

Music Movies on iTunes

Liam Widman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:50:24 -0600

In a bid to increase movie sales, Apple is featuring more alternative content in the iTunes store. Today, they've introduced the "Music Movies" library and added a landing page to promote releases. Music movies are music themed movies, concerts, and documentaries showing a lot of behind-the-scenes footage.

While at the moment the collection is limited, Apple does offer a few movies that are only available on the iTunes store, like the Kings of Leon concert DVD and U2's 'Rattle and Hum' and 'John Lennon Imagine'.

Apple also plans to negotiate early release of some music-themed movies for the iTunes store so people can buy them there long before they come out in stores.

Apple Corps Releases A Beatles Apple

Liam Widman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:29:53 -0600

The Beatles' songs may have not come to the Apple iTunes store, but they will arrive in a small green apple USB device.

The new Beatles apple is selling for $279.99, and will be released on December 8, almost 3 months after the September 9 (9/9/09 because of the song "Revolution 9") release of the remastered set of Beatles albums, along with the, oh so amazing, Beatles Rock Band video game. The apple shape is a reference to Apple Corps, which was the Beatles' music publisher, who also sued Apple Computers for because of a trademark dispute in the past.

In addition to all the Beatles songs in MP3 and FLAC format, the 16 gigabyte USB drive will have "all of the remastered CDs' visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes."

Patent: New Wireless iPod/Headset Combo?

Cory Bohon — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:14:32 -0500

A new iPod patent filing has been unearthed today that shows us an iPod built into a small Bluetooth-style headset. Could it be a replacement for the iPod shuffle?

According to the US patent application, the device is a "wireless headset with integrated media player." Apple has included the following abstract about the patent filing:

"Additional functionality in a wireless headset allows it to be used during times that the external device with which it is wirelessly coupled is not being used, but when the headset is nevertheless being worn. This is accomplished by integrating a media player into the wireless headset. The media player may be an audio player, capable, e.g., of playing audio files such as MPEG-3 ("MP3") files. Optionally, the media player may include a recording function as well, so that a user can record voice notes. In addition, if the external device is a telephone (mobile or landline), the availability of a recording function could make it possible for the user to record all or part of a conversation. Similarly, voicemail messages received on the user's telephone could be uploaded into the headset for later off-line playback. Media files recorded by the headset also could be downloaded to the external device."

Of course, just because it's a patent doesn't mean that Apple will create a product. We think this could be a neat addition to the Apple lineup though and wonder if it could possibly replace the iPod shuffle.

You can read the full details on the U.S. Patent Office website.

via 9to5 Mac

Podcast #113: Apple's Holiday Proclamation and Another Round of Tablet News

Mac|Life Staff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:01:16 -0500

Phil Schiller told Gizmodo that there wouldn't be anymore Apple products released this year. That wasn't good enough for Apple, they called and clarified, "The holiday lineup is set." Uh okay.

Another set of Apple tablet news items appear. Now it's the Slate according to the executive editor of the New York Times, Bill Keller.

We also announce the latest DonorsChoose prize pack for the week. This week we're getting you ready for traveling while you help the kids.

Got a question, but you're afraid to leave a voice message because of Witness Relocation Dept. rules? Drop us a question via Twitter twitter.com/maclife.

This week's Battlestar Applactica picks:

OneArm Battle - $1.99

Simplenote - $1.99

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.