Storm iPhone/iPod Touch Backup Battery

Looking for a backup power solution for your iPhone or iPod or another stocking stuffer idea for your iPhone/iPod using loved one? If so then check out our Storm Backup Battery review over in the review section. We think it's a winner and sure to please just about anyone. Continue reading after the jump...

Black Friday Sales

Are you looking for a new Mac this holiday season? Perhaps a really nice gift for that special someone? Check out MacRumors Black Friday sales page. They've broken down the best deals on new iMac's, MacBooks, MacBook Pro's and iPods so you don't have to run around checking ads, visiting various websites, etc. Oh and if you're like my brother, who just bought a new MacBook Pro three days ago, sorry about your luck. You could've waited until today and saved an extra hunsky.

The Apple Store even has a few things on sale as well, so if you prefer to buy directly from our favorite fruit company, here you go.

Joseph Henry

Apple Releases iPhone And iPod Touch Firmware Version 2.2

Unless you're living under a rock you know Apple released iPhone/iPod Touch Firmware version 2.2 on Friday. The update brings enhancements to:

Google Maps

• Google Street View.
• Public Transit and Walking Directions.
• Share Location Via Email.

Mail

• Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email.
• Improved formatting of wide HTML email.

Safari

• Improved stability and performance.
• Rearranged menu bar to included both the Google Search box and the URL address.

Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages.
Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen.
Preferences to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard settings.
Direct downloading of Podcasts from the iTunes Music Store.

For all the details and a list of undocumented 2.2 features and enhancements read the MacRumors article.

Our favorite feature is the enhancement to the Home button. When you have app spread like we do this is a welcomed addition indeed. Below you find a few screen shots of the various enhancements, and if you haven't already done so, get to downloading version 2.2. We've experienced no downside to the update.

The Onion Now Offering ONN Video On iTunes

The Onion is now offering it's ONN video content on iTunes. You can subscribe here (iTunes store link). According to the Onion News Network (Video) podcast page "The Onion News Network is the 24-hour cable TV news choice for billions of viewers in 811 countries. Now the hard-hitting, award-winning news you need is available anytime and anywhere you want."

In case you haven't had the pleasure of reading the Onion or watching Onion video, it is without a doubt the funniest fake news outfits there is. The Onion's satire and parodies will make you laugh out loud and possibly even double over in pain from laugh cramps. It's seriously funny stuff. Seriously.

We here at AYAAW are regular readers of the Onion's online version including ONN videos. Now we can even enjoy ONN content on our iPhone! What could be better then that?

Our favorite clip of all time has to be "Breaking News: Series Of Concentric Circles Emanating From Glowing Red Dot". It's truly hilarious! So Onion readers what's your favorite? Post it in the comments. You mom always told you it's good to share.

Apple Announces New Nanos, iTunes 8, Earbuds and More

Kevin Rose was spot on with his predictions as Apple announced immediate availability of new Nanos and iTunes 8.

The new Nano is as Rose described and actually looks like a pretty decent upgrade. The screen is larger and they come in a lot more colors. The new iPod is also sporting an enhanced user interface and includes an accelerometer (like the iPhone and iPod Touch) that detects tilt. Shake the new Nano and your music gets shuffled. The 8GB model will set you back $149 and is available today at the Apple store. The 16GB model will list at $199 and should be available next week.

The iPod Touch also saw a refresh today and according to Jobs and Apple is "the funnest iPod ever". It sports external volume controls, Nike support, a built in speaker and the same curved back as the

iPhone 3G. Battery life for the new touch is said to be 36 hours for music, 6 hours for video. The new Touch will set you back $229 for the 8GB model, $299 for the 16GB and $399 for the 32GB model.

iTunes (press release, download) is also pretty much as Rose described and includes the new grid view for browsing your music collection. You can view the grid by album, artist, genres or composer. iTunes 8 also includes the rumored "Genius" playlist. If you want to watch your TV shows in HD iTunes 8 has you covered there as well. HD TV shows will cost $2.99. The download weighs in at 55.9 MB's and requires Quicktime 7.5.5 which is available via Software Update.

Jobs also announced iPhone Firmware 2.1 but alas it won't be available until Friday sometime. Apple says the new firmware will significantly increase battery life, address dropped calls, make backups faster (Yeah!) and supposedly fix app crashes. Other bug fixes are included as well.

Lastly, Apple announced new in-ear headphones that sport a remote in the cord as well as a mic. The new earbuds list for $79 and are supposed to offer superior sound.

So there you have it kiddies. iTunes has uploaded my music info to Apple and I now have a Genius pane opened on the right side of iTunes. I'll post back with thoughts on this latter.

Joe Henry

Ars Technica Isn't Betting On iTunes 8

Ars Technica isn't betting on iTunes 8 being introduced at Tuesday's "Let's Rock" event. David Chartier, writing for Ars Technica doesn't give any reasons for the lack of faith of version 8's intro.

The one thing we aren't betting on is seeing iTunes 8 introduced on September 9. Call it a hunch, or call it something else, but we don't plan on waking up Software Update just yet.

We're still predicting an iTunes 8 intro here at And Yet Another Apple Weblog. Not that that means anything as we have no insider info, no insiders, no anything. Call it a hunch or something else. Personally, I do plan on waking up Software Update Tuesday afternoon.

The thing is, Ars Technica has a pretty good track record for predicting what's going on and what will go on with Apple.

Here's our final prediction for Tuesday: Apple will or won't announce new products and or services and they will or will not get a bunch of free publicity and media coverage. Actually no matter what happens on Tuesday they'll get a bunch of free media coverage. That's just how it works.

Joe Henry

Apple "Let's Rock" Special Event

Apple sent out invitations to media outlets for a special event to be held on September 9th. at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. The event, titled “Let’s Rock” is being held at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

I’m willing to bet that a new iPod and iTunes 8 will be revealed. Yeah I know, neither one are a big stretch but I’m not much of a gambler.

Alas, AYAAW wasn’t invited so we’ll just have to watch the other Apple media outlets on the day of the event. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

Joe Henry
AYAAW

New Nano and iTunes 8.0 Coming Soon

Kevin Rose of Digg is claiming to have information on significant, soon to be released Apple products including the iPod Nano and iTunes 8.0. Rose claims the Nano will undergo a fairly radical form factor change and included a larger elongated screen. See a picture of the new Nano over at MacRumors.

As for iTunes 8.0, Rose says its a major update and includes new features. Could one of those new features be the rumored iTunes Unlimited subscription service? Although he doesn't go into detail Rose says the update is worthy of a full point. Sounds good to me but I have to say I have no interest in s subscription service.

Joe Henry

Retail Channels Getting Ready For September iPod Refresh

If you're considering the purchase of a swanky new iPod Touch or Nano you might want to wait a month. AppleInsider has information from some of its retail sources that current iPod Touch and Nano's are going from an in-stock inventory status to discontinued. AI's sources also claim to be in possession of iPod point-of-sale merchandising materials hinting at price cuts and possibly a redesign of the Nano.

Check out the original AppleInsider story for more details.

Hey, you can wait a month can't you?

Joe Henry