Saturday InBox: Blasts And Gasps!

By Tera Patricks • Saturday, July 31, 2004 • Home » Email In Box »

Reader Jonathan joined a noisy chorus on the Audio Hijack review:

“I want to chime in and agree that burning & ripping is the easiest way to obtain unencrypted copies of iTunes songs, and requires no program but iTunes itself to do it. For what it’s worth, I have never found a need to have an unencrypted copy of an iTunes song and even though I know of at least 3 ways to make one, I never have done so, because the rights provided have proven sufficient.”

Amazingly, many Audio Hijack users don’t use the application to “hijack” anything. It’s only used to “record” audio from various applications. “Hijacking” is usually illegal. Another reader took a different tone:

“to hijack songs from itunes is preposterous. you lose quality going from a lossy format (protected aac) to another lossy format (unprotected aac). sure, you could use wav/aiff/alac, but why would anyone do that in real time, when burning to cd, and copying the files back to the hdd is like 8 or 16 or 24 times faster? (or however fast your burner is)”

Regarding Jack Miller’s First Look at Apple’s new HD displays, LJ Gould wrote:

“HD Stands for High-Definition.

The 23-inch has a high enough resolution to display all HDTV signals at full quality, the 20 inch does not. From Apple’s website:

Use the 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display to view high-definition serial digital interface (HD SDI) signals used in broadcast television environments at their true intended resolution. All you need is an interface from eCinema Systems to enable features that aren’t even possible with an expensive, broadcast-grade CRT-based monitor

Apple announced more delays in shipping the new dual 2.5 ghz PowerMacs. Jack was one of the losers. Twice. Once in getting a notice of delay, and twice in not receiving a notice saying the earlier notice was in error. Reader D Duck sympathized:

“I know it sucks waiting for a new system to arrive… We’ve all been
there. But come on, it’s not even a whole month late.

It’s not a blame game though. When coming up with hot new tech there are
delays that come up inevitably. Apple relied on IBM’s word that the chips
would be ready. IBM hit a SNAFU. In the end, really, it’s your fault for
wanting the latest-and-greatest knowing how these things go with tech.

You’ll get it. Hang in there. They might surprise you and ship it early,
which also happens. ”

The most read piece we’ve ever done was the Shootout between the new iPod and the newer (not out yet) Sony Walkman. However, the comparison between the iPod and the Dell DJ elicited plenty of response. Tom writes:

“While I’m sure your comparison is tounge in cheek, giving Dell points for holding ‘more songs’ was just wrong. They should be awarded negative points for marketing speak it down to 64K WMA.”

Has anyone ever met a Dell DJ user?

As always, comments are encouraged, feedback is welcome, and tomorrow is another day.

Post your own Comment.

Classy Mac360 Photo By Tera Patricks | Tera Patricks co-founded Mac360 in early 2004 with Bambi Brannan, Alexis Kayhill, and Ron McElfresh. Tera died in the summer of 2006 following a long bout with cancer. Her legacy site is Tera Talks.

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