GadgetReview

It’s ‘happy, happy, joy, joy’ time for Palm PRE users.  In the waking hours of today they issued WebOS 1.2.1.  The 38MB update fixes syncing with iTunes as well as a bug that prevented some 2007 Exchange users from syncing with their server.

Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of Apple and Palm’s cat and mouse game.  Apple will issue yet another update to their iTunes application and once again break syncing with non-Apple devices.  Sure, WebOS users might get a month or two out of the latest update, but until Apple concedes, or Palm builds a better resolution you’re just gonna have to deal.

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Once again Apple has passed a significant landmark for their app store.  Today the company announced that over 2 billion apps have been downloaded from the 2 year old service.  According to Apple there are more than “85,000 apps available to the more than 50 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide and over 125,000 developers in Apple’s iPhone Developer Program.”

Apparently a half a billion apps were downloaded this past quarter alone, which means Apple should hit the 3 billion mark sometime early next year.  Now I’d like to see some app developer earnings info.

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Apple has confirmed a September 9th press event (same day as last year with the same theme) that will be held in a downtown San Francisco location.  Titled “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it”, the event will probably focus on the long rumored iPods with cameras, the announcement of their Cocktail project and perhaps even the launch of the Beatles catalog in the iTunes store.

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I’m surprised how many people still don’t know what HD Radio is.  The best way I can describe it is that every major radio station that you know has an HD version and is simultaneously broadcast with its analog version.  Simple right?  Admittedly I had gone years without ever hearing HD Radio so when I received the Polk Audio I-Sonic I was totally blown away by how awesome it sounded.

Having had a Sirius Satellite Radio (it was stolen), I thought that the programming was cool but the audio fidelity was horrible.  Not with HD Radio.  Sound is what HD Radio is all about and the Polk Audio I-Sonic excels at it.  Straight out of the box the I-Sonic delivers stellar audio reproduction values at no expense and I can easily say that I am now a huge fan of Polk Audio products and HD Radio.

In addition to being an HD Radio Receiver, the Polk Audio I-Sonic is also an iPod dock capable of iTunes tagging.  When you hear a song you like, just press the tag button on the I-Sonic and the information is stored and transferred to your connected iPod.  The next time you sync with your computer you can seamlessly buy all your tagged songs from iTunes.  For those of you who buy music this is a great way to check out some new tunes.

The I-Sonic has a myriad of other features as well.  There is a full alarm clock mode, station presets, HD station seek mode, plus the ability to plug it into a TV so you can watch videos or movies from your iPod thus making it a more suitable device to have stationed in your living room.

Aesthetically it kind of reminds me of that BOSE (Buy Other Sound Equipment) speaker system. You know, the one with the infomercial.  It actually has a very unique shape and doesn’t really have a level surface area so you can’t put beers on it.  Polk Audio uses a 4 speaker array with patented PowerPort technology that allows the I-Sonic to deliver room filling sound no matter where you are standing.  I totally agree.  The I-Sonic sounded great regardless of my position to the speakers and even when I was out of the room.

It has a display that is large and blue, and easy to read from across the room.  I also like the fact that HD Radio displays the artist and the track so even if you aren’t tagging music you know who you’re listening to with a glance of the display.

I dabbled through several genres of of music before finding my sweet spot at classic rock.  With no tweaking at all the I-Sonic sounded lavishly lush.  In fact, I had never heard classic rock sound so good.  Most memorable was how round and balanced the bass sounded.  It measured a perfect connection with treble and mid range frequencies to create a classic rock “symphony of emotion.”  In all honesty, words can be very descriptive, but they don’t come near to describing how immaculate this HD radio sounds.  Even using an iPod through it was up there with my current favorite dock the iPig, and though the iPig still jammed a little louder, the quality of the I-Sonic should not be taken lightly.

Tagging worked very smoothly and showed up just under the iTunes store bar in my computer’s iTunes.  Just one click will bring up the collection of songs you have tagged with the option to buy them.  Very easy.

The TV out capability worked flawlessly and really added versatility and depth to the I-Sonic.  All you have to do is make the proper cable arrangements and adjust the settings on your iPod and you are good to go.  The remote control works well with the TV out as well as all the other modes.  My only complaints about the controller are that it’s difficult to tell which end is which and that it could be bigger.

I’m really racking my brain for more to say about this HD Radio system.  It sounds killer, it’s easy to use, has a bunch of modes that are all well designed and implemented, and if you buy music the iTunes tagging feature will surely broaden your music horizons.  I had no issues with the firmware and all of my iPods and iPhones worked like a charm.  The price might be sticking point for some ($400), but I have rarely seen a dock that has so much quality to offer!  This is the type of system that a whole family or household can enjoy and I am just really flat out impressed with this product.

Pros:

• Sound so awesome you won’t believe it’s radio
• Versatile and easy to use
• Compact design

Cons:

• No matter what I say people will think it’s expensive
• Remote control could be shaped so you know which way is the front

Buy it here for $400!

Social features are all the rage these days, so it comes as no surprise to hear rumors of Apple integrating many of them into their iTunes music application.  While we reported on the rumors last week, today BGR received some screenshots detailing the social features in Facebook and images indicating that iTunes 9 will officially support 3rd party devices.

As you can see, a Facebook user’s thread shows a custom playlist created by the user.  Presumably clicking on it would create the same playlist on your machine and any music you don’t own iTunes would probably suggest you buy it.   The other screen shot depicts a Samung MP3 player officially supported by the application and shows its capacity and name.

Since there is no way to validate these screen shots I suggest you head to your spice rack and break out the seasoning salt.

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Continuing the cat and mouse saga, Palm released the webOS 1.1.0 update for the Palm PRE, simultaneously fixing the iTunes 8.2.1 syncing issue and restoring tranquility unto the troubled world of PRE. Other updates include:

• Emoticons
• Exchange support
• NFL Mobile Live (the newest, 31st app)
• New swipe gesture to move forward through web pages

So, Apple, just how quickly will you be releasing 8.2.2?

This post was syndicated from PhoneDig

I don’t know if I should feel sorry for Palm PRE users or just shove a ’serves you right’ sandwich in their face.  Why?  Apple issued an update to iTunes today, 8.2.1, that essentially disables syncing with non-Apple devices, such as the good old PRE.  I mean really, did you think Apple wouldn’t take action especially after the whole pinch to zoom and expand fiasco? Then again, is that function truly proprietary?

For those of you who are Palm PRE users and reading this post with your bottom lip firmly planted underneath your front teeth from frustration, the only solace I can offers is that you hold off on upgrading your version of iTunes until a more reasonable and rational resolve is had.

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Apple has issued an update to their iTunes application, iTunes 8.2.  Sure, it will fix some minor bugs found in the previous version, but it’s actually a necessity for supporting iPhone Software 3.0, which should launch sometime later this month.  Of note, it also fixes some minor bugs and includes many accessibility improvements.

At today’s Sirius XM meeting for shareholders, a presentation was made in regards to a new app on its way to the iPhone.  While the app will be free, an extra $3 a month will need to be added to an already existing subscription to Sirius XM to use it.  Whatever.  Unless you have an extreme hankering for specific programming on Sirius XM I can’t see anyone being into this given the amount of free radio on the iPhone.  The app will also feature a way to buy songs through iTunes.  Do we care?

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Easily the most hyped smartphone since the iPhone two years ago, Palm Pre info is always well received.  Today’s nugget is that the Palm Pre will sync directly to iTunes right out of the box without required software.  Will this be a huge selling point for people?  Will it run in the double background?  Just release the damn thing already!

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