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Inside the iPod, Past and Present
We mentioned the iPod Shuffle dissection a couple of days ago. Reader UtahSaint writes "Electronic Design have got a neat little article giving non-Apple employees
an insight into the makings of the original iPod and the revisions made (on a technical level) with the 2nd and 3rd generation iPods. The third-generation iPod contains two power-management chips from Royal Philips Electronics, a TEA1211 and a PCF50605. The TEA1211 is a dc-dc converter that can switch automatically between step-down and step-up operation in response to changing input voltage. The PCF50605, a single-chip power-management unit (PMU), can adjust power-supply voltages to the lowest thresholds needed for functions in a particular power domain." And finally, sammykrupa writes "PC Mag has a great review of Apple's iPod Shuffle. It covers the quality of the audio output saying that it is has dead-flat frequency response, less harmonic distortion, and most notably, better bass response than its bigger siblings. The older iPods, especially the Mini, have been rightfully criticized for being somewhat deficient in bass, and although the bigger players have flat frequency response, they have trouble sustaining big bass notes."
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When Apple announced their Mac mini, it caught my eye. Wanting to buy/build a small PC for my already cramped breakfast bar, I started pricing out similar PC hardware. The results startled me. Most of the configurations I found were more than the humble US$499 of the Mac, often much more. To match price I often had to configure with a much bigger shuttle-style case. What computers are currently on the market to compete with this? When my wife asks for the 'cute little Mac', what PC can I buy instead that will take up as little space and do as much for the same price (or less)?
My iPod is defective.
I can listen to it until it dies. PLug it into the charger, let it go till it says charged, listen to it for 20 minutes, turn it off. Wait 20 minutes, turn it on and it will die about 9 seconds into the song.
It will play about 8 hours straight, if I don't shut it off, which to me says the battery is fine. Once it's been charged, turned on and shut off. It will die the next time I turn it on.
It's done this since I bought it, and I don't think a battery change will fix it. I think the battery is fine, and the software monitoring the charge is defective.
When MAC announced their "Mini", it caught my eye. Wanting to buy/build a small computer for my already cramped breakfast bar, I started pricing out similar hardware. The results startled me. Most of the configurations I found were more than the humble US$499 of the "Mini", often much more. To match price I often had to configure with a much bigger shuttle-style case. What real computers are currently on the market to compete with this? When my wife asks for the "cute little MAC", what PC can I buy instead?
I'm ... I'm not sure whether to masturbate or applaud.
Register for a Free Mini Mac
Step 1: Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac
Register using your email address - this will take only a few minutes.
Answer "NO" to all survey questions so you don't have to deal with junk
mail. They will email you a confirmation email, which you must confirm.
Step 2: Sign up for one of the offers - most of the offers are free trials
you can cancel AFTER you get the credit for it. I think the best right now
is the Video Professor trial, since you get immediate credit for them. Just
return the CD and you will even get your Shipping fee ($6) returned. There
are also easy offers from Blockbuster, and others.
Step 3: Refer ten of your friends to the URL they give you.
Step 4: Check your mailbox and your free Mac Mini is on its way!
Click Here to Register for a Free Mini Mac
http://FreeMiniMacs.slashdot.us/