iTunes 11: Finally!

iTunes 11 finally came out. I hope to get a full review out as I have not tried it yet but first, I want to go over what we've been waiting for.

First up is Up Next. It's a feature that should've been added a long time ago. However, it's my favorite because its such a simple thing. Right-click on any media, click "Add to Up Next", and you're done! It's so simple. I just wish that it was for iOS. I tend to play music more on my iOS devices rather than my Mac. Granted, there is the remodeled Remote app that allows you to use Up Next for your Mac from your iOS device. Why not for iOS? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am sure that Up Next isn't for iOS.

Now that I'm done with that, let's get on to the Mini Player. Mini Player has been in iTunes for such a long time and it keeps getting better. It gives you the standard play/pause and fast-forward/rewind controls. It also has an AirPlay button that lets you stream your media to speakers and the Apple TV. Up Next is also included and a search box is packed in to allow you to find any media quickly.

The new album layout is stunning. It acts as if you have an entire album even if you only own one song. The new iCloud integration works within your library. Meaning you don't have to go to the store to re-download something.

Those are the key and my favorite features of iTunes 11. I hope to review it soon! To learn more about iTunes 11, go to apple.com/iTunes .

Laser Pointer in Keynote for iOS

To use the laser-pointer feature in a presentation on Keynote for iOS, open the Keynote app. From here, you must select the presentation that you would like to use. Press the play button at the top-right corner. Finally, tap and hold at any point on the screen and there's your laser pointer.

Keynote is available for iOS for $9.99. The app is made by Apple.

Evolution of the iPod Connector

The iPod Connector has much more history than you might think. When the iPod was introduced, it used FireWire instead of USB. FireWire is a port that is mainly on Macs. These connectors are much bigger than your new Lightning or even 30-pin connector for an iPad. PCs couldn't use them. Soon, it used USB. And syncing data across FireWire was removed from history. Just so you know, during this entire time, the iPod Shuffle uses the headphone jack as a data port. With modern products like the iPad, Apple made a 30-pin connector that snaps and stays in place. And then came the Lightning cable. The fast and reversible connector that we use today. With eight pins parallel on each side, this is the smallest cable yet. And that's the evolution of the iPod connector in a nutshell.

Evolution in Pictures:

With FireWire.

Larger with USB.

Snaps into place.

Reversible with eight pins.

New iMac May Go On Sale Today!

Apple's ultra-slim iMac may be released today! It has no official release date nor has this rumor been confirmed. Plus, it is only the 21" display. The 27" comes in December. At least that's what Apple says. My speculation says that the new iTunes will come out the same day as the iMac (21") as Apple makes a habit of releasing products on the same day as each other. Even with the unexpected delay of the iTunes 11 release, this may just work out. We will see.

Text to Speech

To hear this article or any text in words that you can select, highlight all the words you would like to hear on your Mac, right-click (if right-clicking doesn't work, try holding the control button and click), and select Speech > Start Speaking. Your Mac should start speaking. If it doesn't, your volume probably isn't turned on. To stop it, repeat the process, but instead of selecting "Start Speaking", go down the menu and select "Stop Speaking".

iPad had the majority of web traffic on Black Friday

On Black Friday, the iPad had the majority of web traffic for mobile devices and tablets. Strangely enough, the Kindle beat Galaxy tablets as Kindles, in my opinion, are not as great web browsers but, I guess if you're going to buy from Amazon, you might want to do it from an Amazon Kindle.

Source: IBM Analytics

Picture Source: IBM

Iris: Android's new voice-assistant

Iris is a free app on the Android App Store developed by a Android developer. And yes, it is Siri spelled backwards. Unfortunately for Android users, it's a bad copy of Siri. Simple questions are not answered. Math is incorrect and many answers make no sense. What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy 100th!

Yes! It's come! This is the 100th post I've published so far. I can't believe that we've come so far in the past few months. I thank you all in helping me come to this point! You guys inspire me to get up early in the morning every morning to publish a new post. I'm glad to say that there is somebody out there reading my posts. So thank you so much! I hope to bring you more tech related posts later today but for now, thank you!

Happy Black Friday!

It's the day after Thanksgiving! It's time for those late night shopping sprees for the parents. Be sure to check out my Holiday Gift List 4 Geeks for help finding a good tech gift. The web address is http://www.techtalk4geeks.blogspot.com/p/holiday.html . Happy Holidays everyone!

Apple Recipe

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am going to share a baked Apple recipe. Try doing that with an Android. Here are the ingredients:

4 large baking apples
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 cup of chopped pecans (optional)
1/4 cup of raisins
1 Tbsp of butter
3/4 cup of boiling water

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Wash apples. Remove cores to 1/2 inch of the bottom of the apples. It helps if you have an apple corer, but if not, you can use a paring knife to cut out first the stem area, and then the core. Use a spoon to dig out the seeds. Make the holes about 3/4-inch to an inch wide.

2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, currants/raisins, and pecans. Place apples in a 8-inch-by-8-inch square baking pan. Stuff each apple with this mixture. Top with a dot of butter (1/4 of the Tbps).

3. Add boiling water to the baking pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until tender, but not mushy. Remove from the oven and baste the apples several times with the pan juices.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on the side.

Recipe Credit: Elise from Simply Recipes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

New iPhone 5 Ads

Apple recently uploaded some new ads named "Orchestra" and "Turkey". They're pretty funny. Check them out!

Orchestra

Turkey

Oprah tweets about how she loves her Surface… from an iPad!

So the other day, Oprah tweeted about her Surface using the hash tag, #favoritethings. The thing is, she tweeted from an iPad! I guess after 5,000 tweets, she didn't notice that all tweets show the device of origin. Perhaps it's a partnership with Microsoft. Or she made a joke on purpose. This is flooding the airways. You can search "Oprah iPad" and it will come up for the time being. What do you think?

Picture Source: MacRumors

Mac OS X 10.9

Today, found out that Apple is working on Mac OS X 10.9. It's said to come with Apple Maps and Siri. OS X already had dictation, so Siri would be a nice addition. Apple Maps wouldn't do as much as we already have it in iOS form. There isn't any form of maps on the Mac except for online Google Maps. That's it for today! Leave your thoughts in the comments below! Thanks!

Wii U: Released

Yes, that counts as technology. For those who don't know, the Wii U is like the Xbox 720 or the next generation of gaming. Since E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo), Nintendo has been quiet about the game system that is highly anticipated. Recently, Nintendo has announced some new features that could shed some light on the Wii U. In the last Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced the rest of the mini games in Nintendo Land, including Mario Chase and Balloon Trip: Breeze. In addition, we now know the price of the Wii U and from my opinion, it's pretty expensive. There are two sets, the Basic Set at $299 and the Deluxe Set at $349. Unfortunately, if you want a white Wii U with the extras of the Deluxe Set, you can't. You can only get a black Wii U with the Deluxe Set or a white Wii U with the basic set. Which means if you like your Wii U to blend in with your HD TV (assuming that the TV is black as most of the HD TVs are), you're going to have to pay another $50 for the black color. You do get great bonuses with the Deluxe Set like the Deluxe Digital Promotion which lets you get extra credits for downloadable games in the future. Now that the Wii U is out (it came out today), I may be able to get a review in soon as I admit, I am a sucker for casual gaming (Mario, Wii Sports, etc.).

To learn more about the Wii U, go to http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/ .

iPad Mini 4G LTE: Released

So. The iPad Mini with LTE is out. The last time an iPad was released at a different time because of cellular capabilities was when the original iPad came out. And I know that because I waited the extra two weeks and in the line. The line wasn't bad, it was just the two weeks bothered me. This cuts the line pretty close to Black Friday. Is cellular data right for you? If you are mobile and don't have a smartphone, including an iPhone, you probably want a cellular.

To learn more about iPad Mini's cellular capabilities, go to http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/ultrafast-wireless/ .

My Humble Opinions: iPods

Welcome to My Humble Opinions. My idea of technology in a nutshell. Let's start with iPods. I personally find that music is nothing until you've listened to it on an iPod. Not an iPhone. An iPod. It's a new definition of music. It's something that feels nice. A personal drive that can play any song for 99¢. The next time you listen to music on an iPod, really think about what I said. Thanks.

Holiday Gift Guide is a go on the Apple Online Store

Yep. It's time. The new holiday gift guide up at the Apple Online Store. You can find it at http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/holiday/giftguide . It showcases the main flagship products and third-party products. It's helpful. While we are on the topic, please check out my gift list at http://techtalk4geeks.blogspot.com/p/holiday.html .

Remote Shutter

Whether it's "Geek's Night Out" or just a casual picture, you can use the remote on your headphones to take a pictures. Not all earbuds have a remote. Most Apple made earphones, including EarPods, have a remote. Some third-party earbuds also have a remote. The remote looks like the small buttons in the picture below. The remote tends to be located on the cord. To take a picture, go to the camera app and use the volume up or down button (the top or bottom portion of the buttons) to take the picture. It's the perfect shutter!

The remote on a pair of EarPods.

Tech 4 Cats

So people like technology. What about the rest of the animal kingdom? How about we start with cats? How about the Game for Cats app for iPad? It's a free app. On the iPad is a picture of an animated mouse that runs around. Check out this video I made of a cat playing the game!

To learn more about Game for Cats, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/game-for-cats/id406740405?mt=8 .

My Thoughts of the Microsoft Surface Commercial

The new Microsoft Surface Commercial is mainly focused on the stand feature. It doesn't say a thing about how it works or what it does. Just a stand. There's about a million other tablets with stands. That includes iPad. I just want to know what a Surface does. The website is no better. It's all about buying one. Hopefully, I can get a review in soon.

The Microsoft Store. Is it even worthy of being called a store?

I recently went to the Microsoft Store with a friend and it was a cheesy remake of an Apple Store. There were a few differences. One being that the employees weren't helpful at all. They didn't greet me at the door and were hogging up the line for the Xbox demos. Also, most of the computers wouldn't work. The trackpads couldn't move the cursor. Games on the PC wouldn't load at all. The webpages always redirect to the Microsoft Store. And don't make me start about the Blue Screen of Death (To get this joke, go to this link: http://techtalk4geeks.blogspot.com/2012/10/otay-ranch-apple-store.html).  Then, I went over to the Apple Store and was welcomed by a genius saying, "What brings you to the Apple Store today?" Gotta love the customer service at an Apple Store!

Shirt Comparison

Back of Microsoft Shirt

Back of Apple Shirt

Front of Microsoft Shirt

Bookmarklets

What are bookmarklets? They are little widgets made by developers to bring creative ways to add functionality to browsers. They use some sort of JavaScript to do this. Because iOS doesn't allow widgets in Safari, we use the bookmark menu! Many services use bookmarklets including Amazon, Pocket (Formerly known as Read It Later), and Readability. You can also find more at other websites by Googling "Bookmarklets". Some bookmarklets add articles to reading lists, others give statistics.

The Greatest Time-Saving Tips in iOS 6 That No One Notices

In iOS 6, there are two features you will not notice but help you a lot! The first one is the fact that there is no password required for updating apps. This is very helpful because before we would need to type in our Apple ID password before updating apps (Just so you know: updating is free). Next, is that when you set up an Apple ID, you no longer need a credit card. Some people want to buy only free apps. We used to need a credit card for that but now we don't! This is very helpful to new Apple users!

Microsoft Surface: Half the Tablet It Says It Is

Microsoft's flagship tablet, the Surface, isn't living up to what people are paying for. A 32 GB Surface without the Touch Cover (Hmmm. Sound familiar anyone?) is $499. However, this tablet only comes with 16 GB of storage. Half of this is devoted to the included features. A 64 GB Surface has only 46 GB of free space.

"We believe in the value of our entire Microsoft ecosystem, so we have pre-installed certain core apps to ensure you get the most out of your Surface"

- Microsoft

In all honesty, not everyone has an Xbox. We should be able to download the app included separately. But, the Surface does have a microSDXC memory card slot that can expand the free storage space of Microsoft's Surface. But come on. How often do you hear, "I'm going to Best Buy to buy a microSDXC for my camera." I think this is my first time hearing of this card. What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

To learn more about the Surface, go to http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-US?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_EN_US_HP_FEATURE_132F1ENUS32267 .

Apple sells Lighting to Micro-USB adapter

If you've ever owned a phone not made by Apple, this may be useful for you. Apple now sells an adapter for Micro-USB to Lightning. It's very small and had many uses. It just connects an iOS device with Lightning to any Micro-USB cable. It's main purpose is to charge or sync a device.

To learn more about the Lightning to Micro-USB cable, go to http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD820ZM/A/lightning-to-micro-usb-adapter?fnode=3a .

Understanding How to Answer Your Calls

For those who don't know, answering a call on an iPhone may be more difficult than you think. First, you get a call. If your iPhone's screen is off, a slide to answer slider is shown. If you are using your phone, two buttons appear. One to answer and one to decline. To decline a call with the slider, press the lock button (top button). To be reminded to call back or to send a message (while declining the call), slide up the bottom right phone and two options will appear (iOS 6 required). I think you can take it from here. Congrats! You've uncovered the secrets of answering a call!

Apple Bites Back

Recently, Apple lost a lawsuit with Samsung in the UK and Apple had to post an apology. Apple posted the apology with note that they won the lawsuit in the US. The judges disapproved and required a rewritten apology. Apple said it would take two weeks to rewrite it. After two weeks, the apology was on Apple UK's website. However, Apple added some JavaScript to require users to scroll down to see the apology no matter the dimensions of the user's screen. Nice going Apple!

To see Apple UK's apology, go to  apple.com/uk.

Holiday Gift List 4 Geeks: 2012

It's the start of the 2012 holiday shopping season! That means frantic shopping for the perfect gift, right? Well, the Tech Geek is here to help with a gift list for the geek in your life! One less person to freak out about! This page is easily accessible from the top tab bar that says, "Holiday Gift List 4 Geeks". Check it out and let me know if you have any great ideas.

If you need help accessing the page, here's the link:

http://techtalk4geeks.blogspot.com/p/holiday.html

iPod Shuffle doesn't have EarPods

Well, that title was pretty much self-explanatory. Yes. The new iPod Shuffle doesn't have the new EarPods. Instead, it has the older Apple Earphones. It may be because of the small packaging. There are many variables. Short-story-that's-trying-to-be-longer short, there are no EarPods.

The iPod Shuffle is currently $49.

To learn more about the iPod Shuffle, go to http://www.apple.com/ipod-shuffle/.

iPad Mini: Review

Yesterday, I went to the Apple Store to test out an iPad Mini. It's great! I just wish that there was a Retina Display. The feel is just right. The texture is very similar to the iPhone 5. The white is like gem! Not to mention, the Smart Cover is cute. It's so tiny. In addition, the figure of the iPad Mini makes it easier to press the volume up button to take a picture. The pictures are great for such a small thing! Everything else is pretty much the same as the regular iPad. However, I didn't get a chance to see how well it fits in a pocket. I presume it fits well. I give the iPad Mini four-and-a-half out of five geek glasses.

iPad Mini: Released

Okay. Apparently, I've been living in a cave and totally forgot about the release of the iPad Mini: Wifi. Yes. It is out and I hope to do review today at an Apple Store. I also hope to compare it to a competing tablet. Hopefully, I'll have a review within the next two days.

To learn more about the iPad Mini, go to http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/.

Wireless Keyboard

If you find typing on your iOS device is too hard, you may fancy a wireless keyboard. Apple makes one for Mac and iPad. It's called the Wireless Keyboard. Just go to Settings > BlueTooth and connect to your keyboard. The setup process is different depending of the brand and model of your keyboard. You may already have one for your computer. Try one today!