Apr 7 2011
iTunes
iTunes is an application used for playing and managing digital media. Launched in 2001, it came popular after the launch of the iPod. It is used to manage media files in the iPod, iPhone and in the more recently launched iPad as well. With iTunes, the user can create playlists of music files, sort their music into different libraries, edit file information, rate the music files and burn CD’s. Also, from the online iTunes Store, the user can purchase audio and video content using iTunes.
Latest iTunes
The latest version of iTunes, iTunes 10, can read, write and convert between the following formats: MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC (.m4a) and Apple Lossless. It can be downloaded for free from Apple’s website and can be used on the Windows platform too, to organize audio content on the PC. The interface is easy to use and the constant addition of new features makes it one of the most popular applications for managing digital media. Another wonderful feature of iTunes is the ability to access podcasts(many of them free) available on the iTunes Store.
Apr 7 2011
iPod
The iPod is a portable media player produced by the Apple, makers of Mac PCs. First launched in 2001, it revolutionized the portable music player industry and it was probably the biggest game changer after Sony’s Walkman. Since its launch, the iPod has had stupendous success and it’s largely attributed to the high quality audio rendered by the device. A variety of models are available ranging from iPod Classic to the more recent iPod Nano and iPod Touch. The models come with different storage options and the prices vary accordingly. The iPod is capable of playing many formats- MP3, AAC/M4A, protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, audible audio book, and Apple Lossless. The newer models of the iPod also have cameras which enable clicking photos, playing and recording videos. Apple’s iTunes software is used to transfer media from computers to iPods.
iPod features
The USP of the iPod is its extremely user-friendly and hassle free interface consisting of only a click wheel and a minimal of 4-5 buttons. The buttons perform basic functions which consist of menu, play/pause, next track and previous track. The later versions like iPod touch lack the click wheel; instead they have a touch interface. The iPod also features games. Earlier, a couple of games came built into the iPod. Later, the iTunes Store started offering games for purchase. In addition to playing games, iPods can also be used as storage devices. The early models like iPod Classic have internal hard disk storage while the later models have flash storage.
Apple has enjoyed amazing success with the iPod as it continues to be popular among the masses, which is evident from the vast queues that can be seen outside Apple Stores after a new model of the iPod is launched.
Apr 7 2011
iPhone
The iPhone is a smartphone developed by Apple. It was launched in the year 2007. The list of features of the iPhone is exhausting. Apart from the standard features, it has visual voice mail, video camera, can function as a portable media player, and has Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity (in iPhone 3G). It has a multi touch input screen and like other Apple products, a really user-friendly interface. Apart from the touch screen, which is really smooth, there is only one central button (there are 3-4 buttons on the sides) on the iPhone. The iPhone brought in a wave of design reforms in the tech industry. The large screen size, the minimalist design and the multi touch input are some of them. The iPhone has also played a huge part in the development of the Apps industry. Third-party applications are developed by programmers all around the world and are released for free are put up for purchase online at the Apple Apps Store.
iPhone extras
The iPhone’s battery is probably its only downside. Experts have suggested that it doesn’t live up to Apple’s claims. The iPhone can be charged by connecting to a computer via a USB cable or directly through a wall-charger. Other features of the iPhone include a camera and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The first iPhone had a fixed focus 2 megapixel camera and in the subsequent releases of the iPhone, the camera has continued to improve. Like the iPod, the iPhone too uses iTunes to manage its files.
The first iPhone came in two size variants- 4GB & 8GB. The 4GB model was later discontinued and a 16GB model was introduced. Now, iPhones with size up to 32GB are available. Flash storage is used in all versions of the iPhone and the memory is not expandable.
Apr 7 2011
iPad
The iPad, Apple’s line of tablet computers, has kick-started the tablet computers industry and its launch has begun a mad frenzy where every tech company worth its salt has already launched or is planning to launch its own tablet computer. Apple sold a record of 300,000 iPads on the first day of its release. The iPad can be used to watch movies, play games, browse the web, read books and everything that a laptop can do and more. It can run its own as well as iPhone’s applications. The iPad is controlled by a multi-touch display. It uses a Wi-Fi connection to browse the internet and like the iPod and iPad, iTunes is used to load media onto the iPad. Apple clearly has a head-start in the tablet computers industry and it has already launched its second generation of tablet computers – the iPad 2.
Next generation reading
A rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery powers the iPad. The iPad can play 10 hours of video at a stretch, or 140 hours of audio, or remain 1 month on standby. The iPad uses internal flash memory and currently, there are three options – 16, 32 or 64 GB and there is no provision to expand the memory. Bluetooth is present while some models support 3G too. The LCD touch screen of the iPad is 9.7 inches in size and is even scratch resistant. The size of the screen provides comfortable viewing of movies as well as pleasant reading of books. Several applications come built into the iPad such as Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, App Store, iBooks, Maps.
The iPad has received accolades from all quarters and is surely here to stay.
Apr 7 2011
iMac
iMac is a range of Apple’s all-in-one desktop computers. The term ‘all-in-one’ refers to the design in which all the components are housed within the LCD case. It was announced in the year 1998 along with radical changes to the usual Macintosh hardware. All doubts about the product were put to rest, as Apple churned out model after model, all of which highly precedents in the desktop computers industry and went on to become successful products.
It also holds the distinction of being the first PC to eliminate floppy disk slots. The ‘i’ in iMac refers to internet and the iMac was initially launched as a low end PC ready for internet use. The first iMac consisted of a CRT display, and housed a 32MB RAM, a 4GB hard disk, a CD-ROM drive and a dial-up modem.
Current iMac
The latest iMac is a sight to behold. The display is a whopping 27-inch widescreen and it is LED-backlit with a brilliant resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. It provides umpteen storage capabilities with a 1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, and with an optional 2TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive choice. Add to it the ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory, and you have a powerful beast at hand. It has won rave reviews all over the world and lives up to Apple’s reputation of coming up with mind-boggling products.
Another aspect of the iMac is its energy-efficient hardware components that work together with the operating system to conserve power. iMac is designed to be thoroughly environment friendly and it is known to be 95% recyclable. The latest iMac has just set another benchmark for the others.