iPhone 5 Release Date Pushed Back

We're still waiting to get word when the iPhone 5, or more likely to be named iPhone 4S, will be revealed. Insiders are claiming they've heard production on components will not begin until as late as September 2011. No statement has been made as to whether the Japan earthquake is a factor in this, but many speculate this is the case.

What new features will the iPhone 5/4S have? Probably not anything revolutionary. Apple will obviously upgrade performance components. I'd expect to see a dual core processor, more RAM, graphics acceleration, and higher quality front and back cameras. Rumors are that Apple will do away with the blocky, square style of the iPhone 4 and go back to a rounder, smoother style like the former generations that were favored by most users. By the time it comes out it should be true 4G capable to keep up with competition. 

Really the biggest difference I assume we'll see is a larger screen. Not that the phone will be much larger, but the actual touch screen real estate will cover more surface area leaving a smaller border around the screen. There are some rumors that the 'home' button will be left off. Not sure how that would function or if it's worth the trouble.

The best reason to turn in the iPhone 4 to get the iPhone 5 in the upcoming months? 'Grip of death' should be fixed. I can't be personally too excited for the iPhone 5, seeing as I haven't even 'upgraded' to the iPhone 4. I just don't see any problems with my 3GS compared to what's to come. That being said, I'm sure I'll get an iPhone 5, but much after the lines have cleared.

   

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Adam Carolla: Guinness World Record

Yesterday Adam Carolla announced on his podcast, The Adam Carolla Show, and on Jimmy Kimmel Live that his show had broken the Guinness world record for most downloaded podcast. The achievement had been previously held by Ricky Gervais.

Carolla was let go from his morning show on KLSX based in Los Angeles after the station was reformatted. Carolla quickly turned around and started recording podcasts from his home. In the first year Carolla's podcast had more than 50 million downloads. Since then the show has evolved into a full fledged internet radio station. In 2009 iTunes selected The Adam Carolla Show as the best Audio Podcast.

Carolla's Appearance on JKL (ABC)




The RSS for TACS can be found here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheAdamCarollaPodcast

   

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Use Your iPhone in Your Car For Everything

Why are you still listening to the same boring, tired, censored, over-sponsored talk shows and the same looped 40 pop songs when your smart phone can replace everything? Your favorite DJ has been fired. Your favorite music station has switched to another top 40 station. It's time to turn your back on an industry that turned it's back on you. You workout, clean, and hang out with ear buds in while you stream Pandora internet radio. So why haven't you switched your driving routine?

It's actually very simple to connect your smart phone to your car stereo, as long as you have a data signal from your carrier. Most new stereos have a USB connection, which is what smart phones use to charge or transfer data. By connecting your phone you can not only listen to files downloaded on your phone but stream media from apps that taking are over radio.

• Pandora: A free app that streams music related to any artist you select.
• LastFM: Much like Pandora but has a monthly fee.
• Slacker Radio: Like Pandora but has more ads in between.
• Stitcher: Streams podcast, you can search and favorite many podcasts.

When I purchased my iPhone I actually had an older stereo that did not have a USB port built in. So now what? There are a couple options to work around this. The cheapest and easiest way is to buy an FM transmitter. These will connect via USB and then send a signal over an FM radio signal. You can then tune into the signal you've selected and listen to your phone. The drawback of this method is a lower quality sound, and you always charge your phone through these devices.

Many older stereos that don't have USB do have a manufacturer specific port in the back of the stereo for AUX input for different devices such as multiple disc changers. Remember those? I found with Kenwoods that they made a cable that plugged into the port and into an iPhone/iPod. I found the model and searched for it on eBay. The cable only cost a few dollars and works great! It charges the phone while streaming media.

I didn't want my phone just rolling around on the floor so the next accessory I purchased for it was a windshield mount. Again, this item was found on eBay for just over $10 and has been stably secured to my window for over a year. 

The end result was a fully functional and very cool looking set up.

   

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Review: Media Monkey vs iTunes Software

I don't transfer many files to my iPhone anymore, I haven't in months. With great apps like Stitcher, which streams user selected podcasts, or Pandora, which streams user created 'radio' stations. For some reason I downloaded the newest Rick Ross album 'Teflon Don." I get it downloaded, double click the iTunes icon on my desktop, and watch that resource hog software bogging my system down instantly. After a minute of watching the software loading slower than anything else I have I find that I cannot transfer the tracks I've selected to my iPhone. A Google search could have found an answer but I decided iTunes didn't deserve to be brought back to a full life on my desktop. 

Media Monkey had been my main media library before acquiring an iPhone last year. The only reason I ever downloaded iTunes was because I assumed it would 'play nice' with the iPhone. Without looking up if the iPhone is compatible with Media Monkey I downloaded the lightly sized file and had it installed within a couple minutes. It recognized my iPhone instantly and let me transfer any file I wanted to right away. The phone read all the files I transfered to it's library and I was set.

Media Monkey offers all of the features that iTunes does plus some. The best thing about the software is that it is a small file (less than 8 megabytes) in comparison to the monstrous 80 megabyte iTunes package. Media Monkey fires up on my dual core system in a couple seconds and uses very little system resources to stay running. It organizes all media the same way you'd be used to on iTunes or Windows Media Player. It has community plugins, skins, themes, and more. It's a fully functional, fully customizable, quick and organized piece of FREE software. There is a 'gold' $20 version, personally I don't see what I'm missing in the freeware version.

Features:

• Manage Your Music
• Sync
• Record & Convert
• Identify Tracks
• Tag
• Organize & Rename
• Playlists
• Burn
• Podcast Catcher
• Play
• Party
• Visualize
• Reports and Statistics
•    Customize

Media Monkey beats Windows Media Player and iTunes in functionality, I'd suggest replacing you're library software with this on any system. There is Linux version as well. 

Check the website: Media Monkey

Download it directly: Cnet Download

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Is NBC Scared of the Internet

I can only name a handful of shows now-a-days just because there are so many that are just not good. There are a few that are unique, interesting, and actually very well done. Those few I try to follow quite closely, I don't spend much time watching TV so I crave the select few good shows. The other day I signed up for a free trial of Hulu Plus on the Xbox 360. Sorry PlayStation users, who knows when your network will be back up. I signed up for that trial of Hulu specifically to watch Community on NBC. 

To my surprise while the NBC channel on Hulu had quite a few shows available it seems they don't have the big current hits streaming on demand. I can somewhat understand this, they are holding on to what they can of the terrestrial market and want to drive people to watch live programming versus lesser paying online streaming media. Then I noticed a green "Web Only" button above the Community header. I was quickly annoyed. Web only? I am on the web! What do they think this Xbox is connected through? 

I switched over to my home theater PC which is connected to the exact same TV and fired up Community. Half way through the show I realized I didn't sign into Hulu. I was watching the same free content available to everyone. So I can watch Community on the free web version but it's not offered via a paid premium service? Of course Hulu isn't making the decision, the networks are contractually limiting the licensing of these shows, but what is the decision making process here?

Hulu Plus is available on gaming systems, smartphones, and tablets. I imagine the networks believe by limiting shows licensing  to an extent they can hold onto some of the live television viewers where most of the money is made. I wonder if they realize more and more people are connecting computers via HDMI directly to their HDTV's?

Almost all networks, even deep cable, stream most if not all of their shows on their websites now. The networks seem to be trying to use the internet but it feels like they're falling short. I don't see how broadcast and cable television will exist in 10-20 years. The old, out of touch, men running these companies need to realize the company that fully utilizes the internet first will transition easiest.
     

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