Apple Inc. never stops to surprise us. With Apple TV you can connect your TV to your Mac or even PC, if you run iTunes program, and you get access to a whole different world. A world where you can rent or buy movies, listen to music or radio, and watch a slideshow with your favorite pictures. With a simple HDMI cable, your TV becomes much more than that.

There are a lot of things that can be done with Apple TV. If you wonder what kinds of movies or music you can play on your Apple TV, the answer is any. Besides movies and music available on iTunes Store, you can also play what you own in your personal collection, but don't forget to import the files into iTunes.


However, if your collection is not that big and you think about buying some stuff from the iTunes Store, here are some things you should do. First, you must sign it. For that, look for the iTunes Store in the Apple TV menu, and then select your location from the list. Go back to the previous screen, using your remote control and choose Sign in. Type your Apple ID and your pass code and that's about it. For the actual purchase, in the Apple TV menu, choose TV Shows, for example, and after, one of the listed categories. Select Buy and a confirmation message window will pop up. Click Ok and the download will begin shortly.

When renting movies, things are about the same when buying. In the Apple TV menu, choose Movies, then one of the options listed. Search for a movie you like, select Rent and a confirmation message window will appear. Click OK and wait for your movie to download.

If you start having trouble with your Apple TV, a reset should do the trick. To do that with your remote control, press the Menu button and the Menu down/scroll button for about 10 seconds. If that doesn't work, you can also try and find your answer on Apple's homepage at their forum. If nothing you find there helps, you can dial an Apple expert to help you solve the problems.

If you are a new user and installing and configuring your Apple TV got complicated, on the same webpage you can find a lot of information on how to set the Apple TV. In addition, you can download a guide manual with instructions that will help you.

With Apple TV, you can also stream your photos, mix your songs and you can even set it to wake on demand. From time to time, don't forget to download software updates so that your Apple TV will have always all the software needed to provide you the latest features.

It is always easier and more comfortable watching a movie on a large screen or to listen your favorite songs to bigger audio speakers. However, these are just two things that can be done with Apple TV. There's a lot more going on, waiting for you to discover.

What are the differences between an iPod and a MP3 Player? Practically, both of them do the same thing, meaning they play songs. Both of them are PMP devices (PMP stands for Portable Music Player). So, where is the catch?

The only catch is that the iPod is a brand of MP3 Player manufactured by Apple Inc., like Microsoft's MP3 Player is called Zune. iPods have a specific set of features and design, such as the touch wheel which is a special navigation feature that other MP3 Players cannot have. Meanwhile other MP3 Players have features such as FM Radio or SD card slots, which an iPod does not have. Moreover, iPods cannot play .wma or .wmv formats, but it can do a whole bunch of other things like watching video, playing games or surfing the web.

Since 2001 when the first Apple iPod was released, many other models in the series were launched on the market: iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, iPod Mini and iPod Nano. Unlike other MP3 Players, Apple iPod uses its own music software called iTunes for transferring music from and into a computer. Using the same software, you can benefit of a number of features, such as storing your music in a media library, CD burning and you can transfer into your iPod video, photos, games, or mini applications. There are more than 100 million iPods used today so that makes it the most popular MP3 Player. The reason why iPods are so popular is their simplicity this making it a product that people of all ages can understand and use. Plus, it offers a range of very cool and cheap accessories available anywhere on the market.

A MP3 Player (also called DAP - Digital Audio Player) is, basically, a small device with a flash memory that stores music. If supported by the player, it can support various file types: .wma, .wav and other formats. A MP3 Player has its own software, which allows you to transfer music files from your computer to the player.

Most MP3 Players have features like creating playlists or FM Radio and some other options allowing you to change your background color or equalization options. They use batteries and can be charged with an AC Adapter. For transferring files, it is used an USB cord to connect a MP3 Player to a computer.

The confusion that rise the question "What's the difference between an iPod and a MP3 Player" comes from the fact that by "iPod" people understand the same thing as the word "MP3" means, which is wrong. Truth being told, Apple iPod holds the supremacy when it comes to MP3 Players.

If you never used an iPod or iTunes before, it is recommended to choose a "common" MP3 Players. Companies as Creative, Sony, Samsung, or SanDisk make great MP3 Players with new features and giving pretty much the same option as an iPod. While an iPod is easier to use, the iTunes software makes things more complicated and without the program, an iPod has no real use. With an MP3 Player, you don't need any other software to transfer your files, but its menu can be tricky enough.

As expected Apple decided to refresh this autumn its iMac computers, the MacBook, the Mac mini, and to release or refresh a few other products including the Time Capsule - TB, the Apple Remote and the Apple Magic Mouse. The new MacBook is certainly familiar in design and hardware with the old one. However, it still sports important differences, such as the unibody case, better processor, faster (because of the DDR3 memory), and with a built in 7 hour battery. At a first glance, it would be almost impossible to spot a difference between them.

Even so, when you take a closer look you will see how excellent the design of the new MacBook is. Basically you get the same shape (or form factor) like the MacBook Pro aluminum unibody 13 inches. There are no straight angles, no sharp edges. Certainly the new MacBook was redesigned to provide the best computer experience possible. The lid is made out of glossy white plastic. You can easily imagine how easy it is to get scratches on this laptop, or fingerprints. Between fingerprints and scratches, I believe scratches are more unpleasant, since the glossy white plastic will cover the fingerprints pretty good when not under direct sunlight. However the sides of this laptop are made out of a matte plastic, which feels very nice at touch, and looks like it is designed for the MacBook. Inside, you get a certain shock.


Instead of getting a patterned surface, Apple added the same glossy white plastic. This move implies so many disadvantages. Imagine you work intensively for at least one hour on your MacBook. When you will take your hands away from the keyboard or touch pad, you will have to unstick your hands from the glossy plastic. Rather disturbing, or maybe Apple is trying to send the message that MacBook is not for intense work. This being said, the practicability of the new MacBook design is yet to be determined in time.

For the time being, the new MacBook looks really good. Even more, the build quality is remarkable. The unibody (even in plastic) is a true work of art. You get no flex or weird noises when handling the MacBook. Even more, any users (no matter how moody) will get to the same conclusion regarding the design; it is flawless, at least. This new laptops has a height of 1.08 inches (or 2.74 cm not varying by any means), wide of 13 inches (or 33.03 cm), deep of 9.12 inches (or 23.17 cm), the new unibody MacBook weights about 4.7 pounds (or 2.13 Kg).

Therefore, Apple really made this laptop computer, almost too portable, biting out of MacBook Air. On the front and back side of the new MacBook Apple didn't include anything. The reason why the back side might be plain is because the display works like a hinge when opened. However, you can find on the right side the Super Drive slot (because this DVD drive doesn't open, it is built in - like many other features, such as the battery). The 8x slot loading Super Drive is compatible with several disc formats, including CD - RW, DVD + RW, DVD - RW, DVD + R double layer, DVD - R double layer, and many other more (it can read more disc format files than write on them).


On the left side you get several ports and slots (the basic elements) the MagSafe power, the audio in and out, the Kensington lock slot, the Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0, and the Mini Display Port. Basically, Apple only added the bare minimum in terms of ports, to connect a keyboard, a mouse, your iPhone and iPod, to connect the MacBook to an Apple branded LCD display. However, MacBook had never included more than the base connection package. Once you open the white new MacBook you will find a small keyboard. By far it can be considered a full keyboard, but it will have to do.

The keys are also made of white material, well sized and with a good space between them. You get no flex when using the keys and the feedback is more than enough. The only under sized keys are the navigational arrows, and the empowering keys. In time any non MacBook user will learn how to operate this laptop within full potential. Under the keyboard you can find the touch pad. However, this is a multi touch track pad. First of all it is located in the center below the keyboard. This means you mind find the whole writing process on the MacBook a little strange, since every laptop on the market has a touch pad deviation.

Basically this multi touch track pad will enable a whole new way for you to interact with your MacBook. There are at least six finger movement you should know before opening the MacBook, the one finger click works exactly how it sounds (just click wherever you want on the track pad - consider it to be a button), the right click works in two ways, you either click to finger anywhere on the track pad or click in the right corner of the track pad, the scroll feature (just slide two fingers up or down the track pad), pinch (used to zoom either photos or web pages), swipe (to move within a gallery, or between the tabs in the navigational browser - swipe three fingers to make it work), and the rotate feature (just make a semi-circle on the track pad, and it will rotate a photo or a PDF).

Apple included within this new MacBook model a 13 inches LED backlight glossy display, capable of rendering up to 16 million colors. The good part of this display is that it support more resolutions than you might actually think, 720 x 480 pixels within 3 to 2 aspect ratio, 800 x 600 pixels and 640 x 480 pixels within the 4 to 3 aspect ratio, 1024 x 768 with the 4:3 aspect ratio, while in the 16 to 10 aspect ratio you get 640 x 480 pixels, 720 x 480 pixels, 800 x 500 pixels, 800 x 600 pixels, 1024 x 640 pixels, 1024 x 768 pixels, 1152 x 720 pixels, and the native resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.

The bad part of this display is that it features a glossy look. Therefore, the display will offer almost no brightness under direct sunlight. The connectivity department is medium assured, by the built in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi with 802.11n profile, compatible with 802.11 a/b/g, the built in Bluetooth 2.1 with the enhanced data rate, and the RJ 45 - 10 Base T / 100 Base T / 1000 Base T Gigabit Ethernet. The audio department is only featured by built in stereo speakers with no special surround sound, or bass. Apple added in the new version of MacBook a starting processor of 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3 MB, L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB, only 2 GB SDRAM, but sporting the latest 1066 MHz DDR3 technology (expandable to 4 GB), the 250 GB hard drive with 5400 rotations per minute, and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic chipset with 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM. The built in battery (Lithium Ion battery) should provide up to 7 hours wireless productivity, with almost 1000 recharges.

Even if Apple insists, that this battery will last you for five years, I don't really agree with the built in batteries. It is not only unusual, but also frustrating to ship your laptop in service only to change a battery. The new MacBook is shipped with the latest Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard including some important applications and the iLife 2009. The base model, presented above has an asking price of $999, and includes in the retail package 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, the charger, the power cord, the DVD software, and documentations. As expected the new MacBook sports a few new features within a better design.

However, the starting price of $999 is still too much, since you can find better products on the market with the highest version reaching the $999 price tag. Therefore, once again Apple is trying to convince its customers that its products worth more than the rest of the devices on the market. At the end of the day, it is every customer's choice whether the new MacBook is worthy or not.

It is late September, with only eight weeks tops to go, before the Mac computers focused media event, Apple is still keeping the price tags at normal level. Don't worry; when you will see price drops, the refreshes are imminent. In the last article I presented the current MacBook line and how it might look like in less than two months. However, the high light of this autumn media event is not Mac laptop related, but more part of the desktop line. If you said iMac then you were correct. The iMac is going to be what iPod nano was for the "it's Only Rock and Roll" media event. Let's take a look to the current Mac desktop computers on sale, and analyze what we can receive from Apple in the following weeks.

The Mac mini is the only desktop Mac computer to not receive a consistent refresh. However, in its current configurations it's really attractive. For both configurations you get a height of 2 inches (5.09 cm), wide of 6.5 inches (1.51), deep of 6.5 inches (16.51 cm), Mac mini weights only 2.9 pounds (1.31 kg). The entry level Mac mini has an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz, with 1 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 120 GB hard drives, and 8 x double layer Super Drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic chipset. However, this particularly configuration might offer (now or in spring of 2010) for the same asking price ($599) 2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, and a 250 GB serial ATA drive. The next configuration offers for $799, the same processor, 2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 1 GB), a 320 GB hard drive, the same Super Drive and graphic chipset. This model could get the 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and NDIVIA GeForce 9600M GT graphic chipset for the same price.

As you already know the Mac Pro is a true power house. Basically you can't ask for more. The entry level Mac Pro comes with one 2.66 GHz Quad Core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processor, 3 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM (3 x 1 GB), 640 GB hard drive, 18 x double layer Super Drive and the excellent NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB dedicated. If this model will be refreshed, it will probably change not the specs so much, but more the design, offering a more "unibody" experience. However we might see an improved RAM capacity from three to four GB, and maybe a shift in processor (but the equivalent in power). The price will probably stay the same, $2.499. The eight core model with two 2.26 GHz Quad Core Intel Xeon "Nehalem" processors also includes 6 GB RAM memory (6 x 1 GB), 640 hard drive, 18 x double layer Super Drive and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB. An improved processor is mandatory if Apple plans to keep the $3.299 price tag. The RAM memory will not be improved, but it will be changed from 6 x 1 GB, to 3 x 2 GB RAM.

The iMacs will receive a new design to align to the new unibody MacBook Pro aluminum looks. The iMac is currently offered in four standard configurations. These configurations will probably be kept with most of their specification list. The entry level iMac brings a 20 inches display with an Intel 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo. This unit also includes 2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 1 GB), a 320 GB hard drive, 8 x double layer Super Drive (the same from the Mac mini), and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphic chipset. Apple will probably keep this configuration in place but will offer a new design with a lower price (the current asking price is $1.199, while it is expected to be diminished at $1.099). The next configuration brings the same processor, but a larger display (24 inches), 4 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 640 GB hard drive, the same Super Drive and the same graphic chipset.

It is likely that Apple will keep these specs and lower the price for the new designed model $1.399. The next current configuration brings beside the 24 inches display, a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, with 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 2 GB), 640 hard drives, the same Super Drive, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 256 MB memory. The next model will probably bring the 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, and 18 x double layers Super Drive, all for $1.699. The last current configuration for the iMac (considered the high level), brings a 24 inches display, 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB memory, 1 Terabyte hard drive, 8 x double layer Super Drive and NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 with 512 MB memory (all for $2.199). The improved model will keep the same price tag, but will offer a Quad Core processor, 6 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, and 18 x double layer Super Drive, keeping the same graphic chipset.

In six to eight weeks we shall see, what products will be refreshed, upgraded or just skipped. For Apple to be successful next year in the computer market, a price cut to its models is mandatory.

On May 14, 2009 Big Fish Games released "Titanic: Hidden Expedition", a casual yet captivating game for the iPod touch and iPhone running the third operating system for the iPhone platform. Big Fish Games is a provider of internet media delivery software applications and games. The company was created in 2002 by Paul Thelen. Its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington. Although Big Fish Games provides software solutions for many categories, the most important line is the games line. Most of the games delivered by Big Fish Games can be found in free trial and not just in full versions.

"Titanic: Hidden Expedition" is a part of the casual games, very successful fame category for about 10 years. This casual console games where created in order to replace the old digitally distributed casual games. This category felt three major changes. The first wave started with "Bejeweled" and "Zuma". Excellent games played by anyone by now. A few years later "Betty's Beer Bar" was launched, followed by "Diner Dash". Both games are about management and represent the second wave in the casual game category. In November, 2005, Big Fish Games released "Mystery Case Files: Huntsville". This game is the third wave for the casual game market. "Mystery Case Files" was an instant success that inspired the new series "Hidden Expedition" and "Hidden Mystery".

You can find "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" with the version 1.0 on the App Store at a listing price of $0.99. The story line is very realistic. On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The game puts you in the shoes of an employee of the Titanic Museum. You are in charge with the recovery of artifacts from the wreckage. You will go on a great expedition in order to find all the hidden objects through the remains of the most known shipwreck in history. "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" provides 17 unique locations on board of the RMS Titanic. Your mission objective is to retrieve as many artifacts from the Titanic.

A nice feature is that every time you will play this game, the artificial intelligence that controls the game play will randomize all hundreds of items in different places. This is game is comfortable to play even in the subways or on bus, because not only you can play in both landscape and portrait mode, but also you can listen to your very own music library. Also you can use the fully integrated music controls if your device is updated with the latest iPhone operating system, and if you have the special headset available as an accessory. This game is very educational. Therefore if you or your kids want to learn more facts and figures about the Titanic, you just have to play the game. "

Titanic: Hidden Expedition" is an entry level game. It is easy, casual and fun. It will not crash your iPod touch or iPhone. It will probably just run smoothly. Therefore if you are interested in purchasing a great casual game you should probably give "Titanic: Hidden Expedition" a try.