Venturing into the unknown...

As I mentioned in my recent appearance on The Bro Show Podcast, I’ve never really had chance to play with an Android device. In fact, the only Android phone I’ve ever laid hands on was Leo Laportes G1 phone when I visited the Twit cottage, many moons ago!

I had a quick play with the Samsung Galaxy Tab in a local store recently, but the experience was hampered by the lack of internet plus, it was bolted to the desk.

Not really a fair way to appreciate it or to review it!

I have to admit to feeling a little embarrased about the situation, especially when asked onto various podcasts and the subject of Android and more frequently, tablets comes up.

The issue has always been that I really didn't want to buy an Android device with a contract, heck, I'm already paying for my iPhone data plus a 3G SIM for mobile broadband. Another contract was never on the cards.

However, a little birdie (OK @theiBlog on Twitter) retweeted a link to a new Android device available in the UK - The Commtiva N700 - for just £299 no contract!

Sold!

I've ordered one to educate myself on the differences between the Android device (this one runs Froyo) and the iPad. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the functionality, performance and form factor (the N700 is a 7" device).

It should arrive on Monday, so I'll keep you informed!

The Bro Show

Had a great chat with Myke and Terry on The Bro Show podcast last night, where I got a chance to pontificate about Apple's handling of the Beatle launch on iTunes, as well as chewing the fat on other issues and news.

Thanks for the invite guys, it was a pleasure chatting to you.

You can find the episode here.

How not to launch in iTunes...

Now look, I'm a Liverpudlian born and bred and still live in the fair City of Liverpool (home of the Beatles to the un-initiated), but even I struggle with Apples latest announcement.

Not so much with what was announced, but the way it was announced.

Don't get me wrong, it's a huge deal and probably something that Steve Jobs and the rest of Apple (especially the lawyers) must be very proud of. Apple have been struggling for years to get the Beatles on iTunes and now they are there.

My beef is with the manner the announcement was made.

For 24 hours before the announcement was made, Apple took the unprecedented step of putting a simple splash screen on the main home page of Apple.com stating...

This caused rampant speculation in the blogosphere as to what the announcement was, but the rumour of it simply being the Beatles on iTunes was discounted by pretty much everyone.

The main reasons for this:

• Would such an event warrant 24 hours of promotion on the main Apple site?
• The statement "That you'll never forget" -

Really Apple?

What magnitude of event would be required to make loyal Apple fans never forget November 16th 2010.

No way could it possibly be the inclusion of the Beatles on the iTunes store?

Seriously?

However, the more I thought about it, the more convinced it would be just that, and realised that there would be great disappointment following the announcement.

The main reason for not thinking it was a major announcement (well not major to the majority of Apple fans), was mainly the lack of a press event. Apple would never launch a major product or make sweeping changes to the iTunes infrastructure without Steve being able to tell the story to the Press and even demo it.

So as expected, Twitter is awash with fail, and disappointed Apple fans left right and centre.

How did Apple get it so wrong?

My belief is that they nearly got it right except for one thing....

The phrase "...another day. That you'll never forget."

That was totally misleading and completely inappropriate for the majority of Apple fans.

Apple should have known better and not set unrealistic expectations by wording the splash screen in this way and by doing so, have completely screwed up what should have been a prestigious launch and alienated quite a large swathe of Apple fans.

Ah well, they'll get forgiven eventually I suppose.

So where is this iOS 4.2 release?

EyeTV Netstream Sat

Some exciting news from Elgato on changes to their EyeTV range. I've previously blogged about the Elgato EyeTV Netstream DTT device - link This is a pretty neat little device that connects to a terrestrial TV Aerial and transmits FreeView TV programs around your home network, allowing you to watch two channels of Freeview TV (or watch one and record a second) on any Mac in the house.

With the previous version of EyeTV software, your could also use your iPhone or iPad to watch live TV but you had to do it via one of the Macs, so a Mac had to be switched on and the iPhone or iPad would pivk up the TV from that. It worked amazingly well, but it was a bit of a niggle that you had to have a Mac switched on and loaded with EyeTV. You could get the Mac to load EyeTV remotely but still...

However, Elgato have just released v1.2 or the EyeTV app for the iPhone and iPad.

The great news is that if you have iOS 4.2 on your iPhone or iPad, the iOS device will communicate directly with the EyeTV Netstream for DTT directly - no intermediate Mac required!

As an early adopter of iOS 4.2 (thanks to my Apple Developer Account), and the fact that I have an EyeTV Netsream DTT setup as part of my home network, I gave it a try.

It works!

The EyeTV Netstream for DTT appears in my list of available EyeTV devices automatically (via Bonjour) on my iOS 4.2 iPad - no configuration required.

Even better, they have just announced a new device for launch on the 22nd November - EyeTV Netstream Sat

This is a similar device to the Elgato EyeTV netstream DTT, but has a built in satellite tuner so you can watch free-to-view satellite TV on any Mac, PC, iPhone or iPad in the house!  There's an add on that allows you to convert the the EyeTV Netstream Sat into a dual tuner device by plugging in the optional module into the USB port on the device.

The new device also supports direct streaming from the device to your iPhone or iPad over WiFi, even with no Macs or PCs running EyeTV.

I'll see if I can get a unit for review.

Watch this space!

Update on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 10:03AM by Don McAllister

Oh and by the way, the Elgato EyeTV app for the iPad and iPhone - it has an Airplay icon. 

So theoretically, you should be able to stream to any TV in the house that has an Apple TV connected. Use your iPhone or iPad to connect to the Elgato Netstream device, start watching it on your mobile device, walk into another room, swicth on the TV and start watching it on the TV.

That will do me until the Elgato Apple TV app is available ;-)

Macworld 2011

Just added a new badge to the side bar signifying that I've asked to speak again at next years Macworld 2011 in San Francisco.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have been accepted onto the Macworld faculty again and looking forward to being part of the premier Mac event of the year.

Provisionally, I'll be doing two sessions this year, both on the same day - Friday, January 28th 2011.

The sessions are both in the User Conference stream and are:

US931: ScreenFlow Master Class - Session Information

US941: Become a Finder Ninja - Session Information

I'm looking forward to meeting friends old and new at the Expo, and if you're considering coming and want to attend the Conference sessions, you can get a 15% discount by using this special link - (not to be combined with other offers, excludes One-day Users Conference Pass and Supersession)