Macenstein

HandBrake 0.9.2: Released

In their eternal quest to avoid a version 1.0 release, the folks over at HandBrake have just announced the release of HandBrake 0.9.2. There are a slew of enhancements, most notably Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3) sound in MP4 files, and the addition of native iPhone sizes. Please note this update is LEOPARD ONLY, folks, so you manually have found your excuse to upgrade. Download version 0.9.2 here.  Read More

Is the shuffle really an iPod?

I caught a little flack yesterday when I mentioned I don’t consider the iPod shuffle to be a “real” iPod. Many people correctly pointed out the term “iPod” is Apple’s to do with as they please, and they alone should be able to decide what does and does not qualify as an iPod. If they want to call an Xserve an “iPod”, then it’s an iPod. I’ll not argue that. What I am reacting to is Apple referring to the shuffle as an... Read More

If only the Zune were bigger…

iPod theft may be a fairly serious problem, but 1980’s era Walkmen theft… eh, not so much. This somewhat lopsided lack of interest in Sony’s once “iPod-popular” device is the rationale behind Flickr user sirljohns‘ latest project. Hollowing out an old Walkman from the 80’s, sirljohns made the perfect disguise for his 60 GB iPod. He even put a fake cassette in the window to complete the illusion. Of course, now sirljohns need only... Read More

My iPhone loves STP and Toad the Wet Sprocket

For about the past 4 months or so, I have noticed some somewhat bizarre syncing behavior with my iPhone. No matter what files I am syncing, adding, subtracting, the iPhone will always recopy 2 songs that (in theory) are already on there. The song “Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots, and “Hold Her Down” by Toad the Wet Sprocket will always be “updated”, even if nothing has changed (play count, artwork, rating, etc.). For example, both these songs... Read More

Poll: How much “Apple” music do you own?

[Hey, it’s our first poll, so please take it!] Apple users are often categorized by the press as mindless followers, a cult that obeys the commands of the Almighty Steve, and will more often than not buy anything Apple decides to put out (or at least WANT to buy it). For the most part I consider myself to be a card carrying member of that cult. There haven’t been too many Apple product announcements recently that I would not have bought if money were not an issue.... Read More

All hail the nanotech battery! 22 hours of MacBook battery life; 400 hours of iPod use, 2500 hours of iPhone standby time!

Imagine… what if you could watch 70 hours of iPod video on a single charge. (OK, wait, that actually, might be a bad thing). Instead, imagine something more useful, like getting 22+ hours of MacBook use. Or 2500 hours of iPhone standby time. Such is the promise of Stanford University researchers who claim to have found a way to use silicon nanowires to improve the way lithium-ion batteries store energy, delivering a reported 10x boost in capacity. Above: Silicon nano... Read More

Review: JBL Reference 610 Wireless iPod Headphones

Since the beginning of time, man has sought to cut the cable that attaches his iPod to his headphones. Primitive man used stone axes and crude cutting tools to smash the cables, but this often had undesirable side effects. Luckily, today we have Bluetooth, the “stone ax” of the modern age. JBL has incorporated this modern marvel into their latest set of reference headphones (the 610), in an attempt to finally free man from the tangles of wires that killed off so... Read More

Sonic the Hedgehog, Peggle added to iTunes Games Section

Apple has released 2 new games for (certain) iPods (although for some reason neither is currently showing up in th games section. Click the links below to jump directly there). Read More  Read More

Review: TightJacket for MacBook/iPod/iPhone

In the overcrowded gadget-protector market, sometimes the simplest solution is the hardest to see. While most case manufacturers seek to protect your expensive device by hiding it under layers of rubber and reinforced plastic, designer Terry Wilson decided to take a softer approach. Terry’s TightJacket sleeves are simple “pull-over” style covers that can fit pretty much any laptop, or any rectangular object, for that matter. Made from unused bolts of spandex... Read More

Free on iTunes: Comedy Central Stand-Up Hot Picks

If you’re a fan of Comedy Central’s Comedy Central Stand-Up, as am I, odds are you’ve seen most of the clips assembled here in this free Stand-Up Hot Picks special, but there is some funny shiznit here to be sure. Comedians such as Lewis Black, Wanda Sykes, Jeff Dunham, Dave Attell, Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan and many others are showcased in this free 24-minute, TV-14 (read, “bleeped”) laugh-fest. I actually find stand-up works extremely well on... Read More