First of all: Hell, yeah! iTunes Cloud finally removed the pain and anger brought by Apple’s policy of having an iPod Touch/iPhone only linked with one iTunes Library. For me, it has always been a pain to synchronize my music in a smooth way all over my devices (iMac, MacBook, iPhone), especially when it came to MP3s. The fact that iTunes didn’t consider MP3s when using “transfer purchases” took any chance (except of using “Home Sharing”) to get MP3s synchronized all over. With iTunes content I permanently had to go that way: Buy them on my iPhone, connect the phone to my iMac when I was at home, “transfer purchases”, reconnect the iPhone to my MacBook when I was at work, “transfer purchases”, all done. But with MP3s this didn’t work.

Now thanks to iTunes Match and iTunes Cloud, MP3s are being matched to actual iTunes Store content and, if nothing could be found, the MP3s are being uploaded to the cloud, from where they can be streamed/downloaded to all registered devices. Sounds awesome, huh?

Well, actually, it really is awesome. There are some downsides, for example the *very* slow iTunes Match servers for uploading data. I’m not sure if that’s only because of the instant heavy load that recently hit the servers or if Apple just didn’t spend enough money for the server’s to be the dog’s balls. Anyhow, besides of that everything runs just fine so far. Streaming/downloading works with good speed (no endless seconds of buffering, nor interrupts while playing), artwork yet seems to be a little problem since here it doesn’t seem to get synchronized instantly all over my devices and the iTunes Match recognition works okay (only have/had to upload around 1k songs of nearly 5k).

The only thing that really bothers me is the fact that my iPhone actually gets flooded with music and the only way I found to remove recently “streamed” (or “streamed and automatically downloaded) music is by scrolling through my list with nearly 5k rows and swipe-to-remove each song I’d like not to have on my iPhone anymore, so I can use the 16GB for more than just audio.

It would be really nice if someone could point me a better solution to fix that issue or, if there is none, if Apple could please implement a feature that allows me to “clear the least played songs”.

Oh well.

Well, what else can we do then? Oh wait, haven’t we just set-up our Dropbox account recently? So why not use it for poor-man’s-sync?

First of all, move the subfolder of ~/Library/Application Support/Cultured Code/ named “Things” into your Dropbox folder and let it sync up to the cloud. After that, start Things for Mac while pressing the Option (Alt) key and select “Choose Library…” – and choose the Things directory from within your Dropbox-folder.

Then, install Dropbox on your other Mac and again navigate to the Cultured Code directory named above. Now, you just delete the Things subfolder and yet again you start Things while keeping the Option key pressed – and select “Choose Library…“. Then, you select the Things directory from within your Dropbox-folder and you’re done!

CAUTION: This solution allows you the synchronization of Things between two (or more) Macs, but not the simultaneous running! Your Things database might break if you try to run it on both Macs at the same time!

This is a pretty good solution until Cultured Code implements something better.

Of course, everyone expected a new iPhone, not only since the major part of the Keynote was about the new iPhone OS 3.0, but also because there hasn’t been a device-update for a very long time. Anyway, I’m not going to resume the presented products, since I guess that everybody has already noticed the new set of MacBooks, the 3.0-features that were presented and of course the “new” iPhone 3G S.

However, especially by the last product I got totally disappointed. Actually, I was hoping for a major re-design of the iPhone’s enclosure, what would make it look more solid, sleek and sexy and not (as it looks now) like a piece of very expensive plastic. I mean, what’s actually new on that 3G S? To sum it up, they’ve over-clocked the hardware a bit and included some other memory-chips. Oh great. THAT was, what I was hoping for. Irony end.

I was at the Cafe Del Sol together with Andi, watching the MacRumorsLive-Site and hoping for over one and a half hour for a brand new, fresh and cool iPhone. But nothing. It’s just the same old thing, sold again pricier than it’s actually worth and included some new features that are mostly available from the new 3.0 OS and not introduced by any hardware-upgrades.

Altogether, we both were totally disappointed and hoped that the “new” iPhone was just a joke, but as it seems Apple was really serious about it. Uff.

However, enough bitched for today.

First of all, I really like the report. Really. I think it’s great that companies take the different pricing models serious and concentrate on judge them. Even if the whole report is sponsored by Microsoft, I still think it’s good. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that any Apple-Fanboy might convert back to PCs after reading this white-paper. Still, I think (and hope) that some low-brow end users which might be pondering switching form their PC infrastructure to Macs might think twice.

I’m not saying this because I dislike Macs or because I’m getting paid by Microsoft for writing such lines. I’m just one of those Apple users, who use Macs because he loves the way everything is integrated and works out and because it gives him full-blown power over the whole system, since it’s “just a BSD” what runs under its hood – but I also think, that the iStuff is pretty over-priced for no other reason than maybe coolness, as already mentioned in the report.

The point which disappoints me is, that the report did not mention the stuff that matters – really matters. Instead, to me the whole document looks more like a Blog-entry, packed into a PDF and containing some cool spreadsheets and graphs. The comparisons within the report are just silly for an more experienced user. I don’t want to disassemble the whole document now, but I would like to take a specific part (page 9) as example for the reason I think this document is amateurish.

On page 9, the authors visualized the scenario they’ve described within two comparison-tables, one containing the costs for a PC and the other the costs a Mac would bring with it. The first thing I thought was: How come they include the costs for iLife Upgrade, Mac Office, Quicken and other software on the Mac table, while the PC table totally lacks of these packages? Does either the Dell or the HP, which were used as example devices bring such packages with them? I don’t believe so. Besides, what’s with the MobileMe entry? I mean, what for did they include this entry? They haven’t mentioned that any of the family-members would buy an iPhone or iPod Touch which would need to be synchronized over-the-air. And for Mac-2-Mac synchronizations there are very nice alternatives, starting from a low-level rsync up to Fruux, which by the way doesn’t exist that way for Windows.

Another point I don’t get regards the desktop-devices (HP/MacPro). Why did they choose a MacPro (a device for professional use, e.g. by music-, video- or graphic-artists) over an iMac – which would be way less expensive and also already include a 24″ TFT display, so the available panel could be used as secondary head on the iMac or on the MacBook. And why would they want to upgrade their MacPro/iMac with a ATI Radeon HD 4870 in the third year? For the kid to be able to play his ego-shooters? Oh well, guess what, these games probably won’t be available on the Mac, what kinda makes the whole upgrading thing useless. But how about spending the $260/$350 on an Xbox360 or a Playstation 3, what would be best for gaming and stuff anyway?

In the end, looked from a more experienced view, this report is nice for stopping unexperienced user to throw the rest of their money into Apple’s throat and maybe make Apple lower their prices someday, but actually the arguments mentioned within the report are ridiculous. I’m just waiting for the next “Hi, I’m a PC – and I’m a Mac“-commercial.

Is it possible, that Apple’s production quality on the newer iMacs really decreased and got pretty frowzy? As I’ve posted some time ago, he had also ordered two new 2GHz MacBooks then ago. On the first MacBook he got the Superdrive was broken and on the second one the case’s quality was pretty meh - every time you put your hands on the right hand rest you could hear a small “click” noise. It seemed like the material was so thin at that part that it curved down the to interior hardware and by that produced a “click”-sound.

Tomorrow I’m going to take a closer look at his new iMac until he has to (again) return it to his dealer and get a new one – which probably has the same problems..? Did anyone experience this sort or similar problems with his newly brought Apple hardware? Please feel free to comment and post problems, I would really like to know whether it’s bad luck or a general problem.

I...

... hate...

... you...

… @andi.
One day, I will send you such pictures.

The first podcast I’ve watched was the one about Apple’s “Time Capsule”, released on the 13th of March 2008. The first impression I had was “Okay, they explain it a way so that every Mac user understands it“. I mean, that’s nothing bad. Of course, for an advanced viewer it gets partially pretty bored, because of the length and simplicity of technique explanations, but eh. I don’t know Time Capsule myself, so I’ve been curious about the stuff they tried to show within their podcast – while emphasizing “tried“. The presentation itself was pretty lousy, the moderators seemed to my like they were doing their job for the first time. Not that they just skipped things which were interesting to know, they didn’t even try to answer the right questions regarding the product. Not even simple stuff like the product’s energy consumption (talking about Apple’s Green Checklist) or how to turn that thing off, if I don’t want to keep it running 24/7 while being in holidays. However, when it got to the price comparison and the calculations, I just couldn’t listen to these two guys any longer. Again, boys, what does €170 + €250 result? No, not €320. It’s €420. Too bad, they didn’t ask me if I’d like to buy their AirPort Extreme (€170) and an extra hard-drive (€250) for €320.

However, the next podcast I’ve tried to watch, was the one from the 24th of May 2008 named “Anonym surfen mit Tor und Vidalia” (Surfing anonymously with Tor and Vidalia). Again, tried. I couldn’t listen to it after (not even) ten minutes anymore, because the presentation was that bad that my ears, eyes and balls hurt. They tried to show some green lines and red dots within a world-map, while using a zoom that pretty much made a pixel-mosaic out of it and its content. Besides, the constant zooming (in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, in, and so on) made me scream after a while. So, last chance, moving right along…

The third and I think last podcast I watched from these Mac-TV.de guys was the one from the 28th of October 2008, in which they tested out the brand new MacBook and MacBook Pro Unibody models. Again, a lousy, amateur-like presentation. Why do they prepare Keynote foils and show them on the huge flat-screen in the background, when they constantly forget switching to the topic they are talking about? Besides, come on guys, what clientele do you try to reach with your tests? Grandma and Grandpa? The moderation guys had two brand new, amazingly sexy MacBooks (the regular one and the Pro) on their table, and all they were talking about was which of the two keyboards gives their fingertips a better feeling, how nice it is, that the cooler does not do like “brrrrr” but more sound like “whooosh” and that the new glossy displays are so likable, that I could even shave whatever part of my body by using my MacBook. Oh come on. I think that some people still did not understand that glossy displays aren’t that crappy when they turn on their LED-backlight to a level which actually makes you recognize more than just the shapes of the windows lying on your desk. For sure a glossy display is a crap when I’m setting the backlight to the lowest level possible and have a three-hundred-watt spotlight at my back, shining directly into my notebook’s display. I mean, dude, what scenarios are you testing these MacBooks for? Sitting on the beach of Bora Bora without having enough battery-life left for more then 50% luminosity?

I’m not sure, if these guys believe 99% of the Apple users to be plain stupid, or if they just don’t think about what and how they’re actually presenting products on a podcast, but one’s for sure: Mac-TV is really the wrong name, for a podcast that would make me hate each product they presented, if I wouldn’t know better. I guess, I’m not wrong by calling this podcast the Mac-based pendant of the german “Computerbild“.

Or, to use the modern internet language: Fail. *deleting the podcast*

Andi had a brand-new BMW 3-Series over the weekend and yesterday I asked him if he’d like to take me to the local supermarket, since I needed to buy some things for preparing the St. Nicholas present for my girl, which by the way comes back today from Hanover. And since my car still smells extremely of gasoline, we just went there with his Beemer. Anyway, when we arrived in front of my apartment we were thinking about what to do on yesterday’s evening and while we were talking I mentioned that Apple opened their fist Store here in Germany, in Munich. So… we just decided to spontaneously visit it.

The way to MUC was pretty crappy, in between Ulm and Augsburg there were showers of rain and even snow. But at around quarter past seven we arrived near the Rosenstraße, where the Apple Store is located. The store itself looks very cool – just like Apple Stores always do, heh. Unfortunately, it was extremely crowded, what made it impossible to freely walk through the “halls of glory” and enjoy the new Apple products. I then saw the new MacBooks for the first time in “real life” – they are even sexier than I thought, heh. I really adore the new aluminium-with-black-gloss-design.

I was actually thinking of buying maybe my first game for the Mac or at least a pocket for the iPod Touch I’ll hopefully receive by tomorrow – but the prices kept me from doing that. I know, it’s Apple, but meh? I mean, €55 for a game (Rollercoaster Tycoon 3) that’s over four years old?!? Or nearly fourty bucks for an iPod Touch case? I guess Apple knew, why they opened up their first Shop in Munich, heh.

However, I also took some snapshot of the trip and the shop itself, just take a view at my Picasa WebAlbum. It was pretty and Munich is a very beautiful and nice city – compared to Stuttgart. I think I would really enjoy living there…

My future Livingroom

Last evening I was playing round with Google’s great 3D-modelling software called Google SketchUp and tried to do something, what’s actually not SketchUp’s purpose: I was trying to design a room. I was searching for quite a long time some home designing software that includes real furniture and the only one I’ve found till now was “The Sims 2″, though it’s pretty pricy since there’s also a need to buy the Ikea-Addon.

However, as I was saying, I tried out Google’s SektchUp and I have to say that I’m positively surprised by its features and the possibilities it provides – especially because it’s freeware! I did some scratches for practise and half an hour later I began to create my interior design. I spent around thee and a half hours for designing, but in the end I am very pleased with the result, especially regarding the fact of me being a SketchUp-rookie.

The Media Center

So, how does my future livingroom I’ve designed look like? Let’s start with the basic information: The room has approximatively 8.3 x 6.3 meters of floor space and a regular height. On the mocha-carpeted floor I have two smaller carpets (unknown brand, designed by hela19). On the lighter carpet a Sofa by Mark Goetz, a Noguchi glas table and the Nelson Coconut Chair is placed. In front of the Sofa, the Chicago Media Center by Blu Dot holds a Samsung Flatscreen-TV, an Apple TV and a DVD-collection. Since the DVD’s would be available on the Apple TV itself, the DVD boxes in the Media Center’s cubicles would be more prestige than use. On the glas table, a MacBook Air would be available as carryable media device.

Wall unit, Media Center, Storage Benches and Turntables.

On the left side of the room, a Smart Furniture Wall Unit would keep all books, magazines and other things in it. On the right side of the Media Center area a nice plant lightens up the room’s ambient and another seating accomodation with integrated shelves called “Cognita Storage Bench” by Herman Miller provides additional storage space.

Right after the benches, three (modificated) Linc L18 tables by Bernhardt Design provide the space for my DJ equipment. Into these tables, a part of my Vinyl collection could be placed.

The room’s entrance would be at the corner in which the SketchUp figure stands. Besides the entrance, a nice, black George Nelson Marshmallow Sofa would provide another additional seating accomodation, in a stylish way. Right next to the Sofa, another nice plant and a Herman Miller Airia Home

The "Office" Corner

Office fill out the other corner of the room. I replaced the original chair coming with that Home Office set by a Herman Miller Eames Softpad Executive chair. On the (modified – I stretched it to be longer and deeper) desk, an Apple iMac with wireless keyboard and Mighty Mouse is available for work, placed in a way to not get derranged or even distracted by the images showed by the TV, though it’s still possible to turn around and take a quick look at the show, even if someone sits on the sofa.

So, however, this would be my idea of how a perfect livingroom for myself could look like. The main problem would be to find an appartment which provides a 52.29 square-meters (living-)room, heh.

Some more pictures are available on my Picasa WebAlbum. Enjoy!

The first Snow, this morning.

When I got this morning, I’ve been pretty shocked when my precious girl happily screamed “SNOW!!!” through the apartment. First I actually did not believe her and though she would just want to fool me, but after taking a look out of the window (yepp, I don’t do that right after I wake up, …) I saw it myself: This morning the first snow for this year just fell and accordingly to that the traffic was chaotic and dangerous. I’ve seen three accidents on the highway while driving slowly to work and really had to pay attention to not involve myself into a fourth one. I guess I really need to buy snow-tires this year.

I was really surprised of the snow, especially with the past few years in mind. In this region of Germany we didn’t had snow until the middle of Januar in the last two years, so I assumed that it’ll be the same this year – which is why I didn’t organize myself some snow-tires till yet. I’m really afraid of tomorrow being even snowier than today.

Anyway, what else happened in the last few days/weeks(/months?). I haven’t been blogging anymore, since I’ve ordered an upgrade of my webspace at Strato (on the 10th of October) and they told me to backup everything I have uploaded on my account. This request made me think “Hm, let’s not write anything anymore, let’s not change content, in a few they the upgrade will be done and I’ll be able to blog again.“… WRONG!* They didn’t seem to be doing anything till now. And besides, they didn’t even answered the mails I wrote, in which I asked for some status info about the upgrade. I’m kinda disappointed of the Strato support on this, because actually I had the support center as a pretty good and reliable contact point in mind. Eh, I’ll just wait and see what happens. At least they didn’t charge me for anything – yet.

What else is new… well. Today my salary arrived, so I ordered a new iPod Touch. But I think this is not worth mentioning, since everyone has an iPod Touch today. Lately I’ve seen the Apple Keynote for October and I really fell in love with these new aluminum (A-LU-MI-NI-UM, dear AE-speakers, not “aluminum” ) MacBooks Apple presented. I think it would be a great gadget for the Norway trip mpain and I’m planning for next year.

However, so far. I think I’ll start up blogging again, until I’ll receive at least some info from Strato.

* Thanks again to Michael for this link! It’s amazing funny.

However, I’m also still searching for a way to centralize my calendars and contacts, but still I couldn’t find an OpenSource solution that would fit my needs. Everything I tried out was crappy in a way and nothing more than wasted time. I slowly start being a rooter of the philosophy to just enjoy high-tech without having to do anything for it but pay the reasonable price. For example, imagine this scenario: You come home from work-out, you enter your flat and automatically your iPod/iPhone receives the latest songs and videos you downloaded onto your Apple TV. You sit down to watch some TV via your T-Home Entertain, suddenly your iPhone rings and John wants to know where that cuban restaurant was in which you’ve been lately with your girl. You tell him to check his e-mails and without moving to your desk you search for the picture you took in there and send him an e-mail with the adress you saved in your maps – right from your iPhone that just connected to your AirPort. While transmitting the mail you remember yourself wanting to call that guy from work that sent you his phone-number by mail. You open the mail and just take over the phone number to the newly-created contact on your mobile. After calling him you turn of the TV and walk to your MacPro waiting for work under your desk. You log in and remember having some more info about that guy you just called somewhere on a dashboard-note. You then just open your contacts on your MacPro, open the contact you created five minutes ago with your iPhone and add the additional info – thanks to MobileMe! Oh, it’s already 8:30 PM and you wanted to meet some friends at the internet-cafe in the city, but you’re just in the middle of a document and wanted to send it to your colleague this evening… no problem, MobileMe also centralizes stored data! You just grab your black MacBook and take off for a chilled evening at the cafe.

I’m really not a fan of Apple and their work, but the point is that in the next ten years you still won’t be able to do this with OpenSource software in any way. So actually now I’m really thinking of saving some money and investing it into all the stuff I just mentioned. Regardless of whether Apple, the NSA or even Mossad might be the carrier of MobileMe or the fact that Apple might steal OpenSource innovations and sell them overpriced. The thing is: It just works. Besides, I’m personally getting pretty pissed of trying to establish things/services I find useful in home-use based on OpenSource software. I’m still searching for an OpenSource Media Center that fits all my needs, but there is none. XBMC would be the only one which I would call “sexy!”, unfortunatelly I don’t own an XBOX and I’m not a fan of doing modifications to the hardware or using weird hacks to get that software running on it. And from what I’ve heard, XBMC doesn’t behave yet pretty stable when trying to use it on a Linux. Besides, this would again imply quite some work. And that is why I mean by getting pissed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not turning my back to OpenSource – I just understood that it’s pretty senseless to try to realize extraordinary things with an minimal amount of work using OpenSource software. I want someone else to do the work for me (e.g. Jobs) and just enjoy the benefits of modern technology and software.