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Thu, 16 Oct 2003

First Animated Keynote Theme Released

Global, an update from Keynote Theme Park , is the first theme to incorporate an animation in the background.

If the rotating continents are too strong or too subtle, just edit the opacity in the Master Slides to your liking. All charts and tables have been sized for each photo cutout and have a dark translucent fill that lets the background show through. In addition, charts have been customized for the blue-gray complimentary background. Extras include a stand alone animated globe, 6 views of still globes, a Robinson projection map, design element, one complimentary background and 12 photo cutouts. Global includes three themes, Global, Global Asia and Global Animated. Masters can be combined from any theme into one presentation.


Past owners should ask for the free upgrade or it can be purchased and downloaded for $12.95

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The Sub-$1000 PowerBook G4 Special Returns!

MacResQ has PowerBook G4/400 systems with 256M RAM, 10G drive, and DVD for only $999.99! Expires 10/22.


Apple AirPort Extreme Wireless Networking Card
Retail price: $99.99, MacResQ Price: $84.99, this week, take an
additional $5 off with Q-Pon code "EXT"


AirPort Wireless Networking Card
Normally $79.99, take $10 off with Q-Pon code "AIR"

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First look at iTunes for Windows

Since I have access to a Dell Laptop, I decided to try out iTunes for Windows. Here are my impressions as a Mac user.

The first thing I notice is that iTunes for Windows looks and works exactly like iTunes for the Mac, yet it doesn't feel out of place on the PC. The window & menu arrangement is almost identical to the Mac, although the menus are located in the window, in standard Windows fashion.






iTunes for Windows also includes an icon in the system tray, which lets you play, pause, rate songs, and change some options. Windows & Mac versions of iTunes can share their playlists - the PC had no trouble seeing my Mac servers, and my Macs are able to see and play music from the PC.


When I insert a CD on the PC, a popup window gives me the option to play it in Windows Media Player or iTunes. When I open it in iTunes, I'm able to import it quickly & easily with speeds up to 9x on the Dell Inspiron 4100.


iTunes for Windows feels very fast & snappy. It's one of the best Windows applications I've seen and one of the first that truly combines the best of both worlds.


The iTunes download also installs QuickTime for Windows and places both iTunes and QuickTime Player shortcuts on the desktop.



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iTunes 4.1 & iPod Software 2.1

Apple's music event today announced the release of iTunes for Windows, as well as new features for the iTunes Music store, new iPod peripherals, and software updates for iTunes and the iPod.

iTunes 4.1 lets you share music between Mac and Windows computers, buy Audible spoken word content from the iTunes Music Store using your Apple Account, synchronize On-The-Go playlists and voice notes created on your iPod, burn large playlists on multiple discs without interruption, and drag URLs from the Music Store to an email or other program.


iPod Software 2.1 supports only iPods with a dock connector and adds the following new features:


  • Better default contrast setting
  • Added Voice Memos application (requires optional iPod-compatible microphone, available at www.apple.com/store)
  • Added digital photo storage functionality (requires optional iPod-compatible photo card reader, available at www.apple.com/store)
  • Enhanced On-The-Go playlist functionality
  • Improved playback performance
  • Added Music Quiz game
  • Improved backlight functionality
  • Improved battery meter

Both updates, as well as QuickTime 6.4, which includes a number of audio and performance enhancements, are now available via the Software Update panel.


Among the hilights of today's event:


  • iPod unit marketshare is 31%. Revenue marketshare is 56%. No 1 in both unit and revenues.
  • New iPod peripherals from Belkin: flash card reader for iPod, supports all flash memory; $49 device adds voice recording.
  • Lots of exclusive content. REM, Black Eye Peas, Eagles Album ("The very best."), Grateful Dead, Coldplay (new exclusive), Rolling Stones EP, Sara McLachlan EP.
  • iTunes for Windows, with exactly the same features as the Mac version.
  • New iTunes Music Store features include gift certificates, allowances, and celebrity playlists offering music recommendations.
  • iTunes 4.1 will feature audio books in conjunction with Audible. Over 5000 books available in multi-year exclusive deal. Free previews of each content. Pricing ranges from $11-$16. Users can also browse for books based on category.

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iTunes Music Store currently unavailable

As of 11 AM EDT, the iTunes Music Store is down for maintenance, in preparation for today's big changes.

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