Yesterday Elgato updated their fantastic EyeTV software to version 3.0.2, and one of the new features (scroll down on the previous link to find more info) will preserve closed captions of EyeTV recordings (CC) in the QuickTime (QT) CC track that Apple released in QuickTime 7.1.6. Anything that can play QT movies can now playback recorded movies with CC’s, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.

I’ve been a fan of EyeTV for a long time ever since Elgato added CC support to it. Now they’ve made it even more worthwhile for me to get an Apple TV, and that’s what exactly I did last night! I ran out to the Apple Store and picked up an Apple TV and an EyeTV 250 Plus! I stayed up late getting everything working just right - by golly, it does work! :)

I’ve been antsy for the 3G iPhone, and now that I can put my CC’d EyeTV recordings on the iPhone, I’m even more antsier!! (is that a word??) I’m even seriously considering getting a iPod Touch to tide me over. LOL!! Note to self: must wait! Only a month or two to go!

I know and I appreciate the fact that Apple has added CC support in the iTunes Store, but the small selection of 67 movies with CC isn’t enough for me. I also already pay for cable tv, why can’t I make use of that resource - now I can!

Stay tuned for a review of EyeTV 3, the EyeTV 250 Plus, and Apple TV!

MacRumors reported that AT&T is offering free WiFi for your iPhone. This may be a rumor; however, MacReport confirmed that it worked at a Barnes and Noble location (see iPhone screenshot in the provided link) and if anybody can get this to work at Starbucks or any other hotspots, let us know!

AT&T AND APPLE INTRODUCE NEW IPHONE TEXT ACCESSIBILITY PLAN FOR CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES

New Rate Plan Includes Unlimited Internet and Messaging

SAN ANTONIO, April 29, 2008 — The iPhone is now even more accessible for Americans who are deaf or have a hearing or speech disability. Today, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced a new Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone, designed to give iPhone customers with disabilities the choice of unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and easy access to e-mail for $40 a month.

“Our Text Accessibility Plan allows customers who are deaf or have hearing or speech disabilities to literally tap out their communications on the go,” said Carlton Hill, vice president of Product Management, Voice Products and Affiliate Marketing for AT&T’s wireless unit. “Now with TAP for iPhone, users can tap, drag, swoop, pinch and push the innovative Multi-Touch touch screen for a completely new world of functionality.”

This new plan is available to new and current iPhone users with qualifying disabilities through AT&T’s National Center for Customers with Disabilities (NCCD). To qualify for the iPhone TAP, customers must complete an application for eligibility. The form is available for download at http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/text-accessibility-plan-for-iphone.jsp#tap.

During the iPhone activation process, customers sign up for a standard iPhone voice and data plan. After the iPhone is activated, customers can e-mail, fax or mail the eligibility form back to the NCCD to change their rate plan to the TAP for iPhone.

Current iPhone customers who qualify may also submit the NCCD application to request the TAP for iPhone. Customers can contact the AT&T NCCD with questions at 866-241-6568 for voice calls or 866-241-6567 for TTY calls.

AT&T offers TAP plans to qualifying customers for use with most handsets across AT&T’s portfolio. The NCCD also helps AT&T customers with disabilities with a variety of applications that aid in wireless communications. These include Mobile Magnifier, which enables individuals who have low vision or are blind to zoom in on the screen and Mobile Speak, which reads aloud menu options.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com. For more information about AT&T’s NCCD or other offerings for customers with disabilities, visit http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/disability-resources.jsp.

(Thanks to Barry Solomon and Neil McDevitt for sharing this info!)

iChat is my main means of daily communication and I’m always using my mouse to bring iChat to the front every time I get a new message. Some of you may already know this super shortcut key to bring iChat to the front, it’s worth mentioning here for iChat is also someone’s daily communication tool (note: it is a feature introduced in leopard):

SHIFT+COMMAND+F1

The command is the key with the Apple logo on it. You can change the shortcut key combinations by going into iChat’s preferences.

Fellow Mac user Barry Solomon brings us good news from Apple’s Mike Shebanek who announced in an email that the iTunes store has been “enhanced” so that we can search for movies that are closed captioned!

To quote Mr. Shebanek, to access this feature: “Select “Search…” from the Store menu in iTunes to access the Power Search, then choose “Movies” from the pop-up menu. You’ll notice a new checkbox “Search movies that are available with Closed Captioning” under the row of edit text fields. Click the checkbox then click the Search button to view a list of all movies with Closed Captioning. Currently, we’re up to 52 titles with more being added continually.”

Mr. Shebanek also adds that you can narrow down the search using the other search fields. Bring on the movies (and TV shows too)!

10.5

Oooh many times.. I open trash to make sure I dont empty trash of a very important file - then I see several files the same in there.

okay, open one to check, oh no cant!

hmm Quick look comes to rescue, highlight file, click spacebar to quickview it. - ahh nice, dont have to drag out of trash, then drag back into trash after finding its the file I wanted to trash in the first place

There are rumors that are circulating that the next generation of the iPhone will allow iChat video conferencing with two digital cameras on the front and back of the device. I truly hope this rumor is true and we’ll find out soon enough (July).

When Steve Jobs held a SDK (Software Development Kit; which allows anybody to develop applications for the iPhone) conference few weeks ago, it was announced that the iPhone will not allow any applications to run in the background. With that, it is even more suspicious because Apple is probably developing iChat video conferencing (which requires running in the background should one leave the chat room to check emails or surf the internet) and preventing others to step in the territory.

Check out the article that circulated the rumor.

Apple never cease to amaze us. I did a small experiment with Exposé and Spaces. I am a heavy Exposé user (F9 and F10 - huge productivity timesaver for my desktop clutter) and since Leopard, I am using Spaces as well.

Here’s my experiment — you can try this:

1) Hit F8 to view all your Spaces. (If F8 doesn’t work for you, go to System Preference and go to Spaces to enable “To activate Spaces” and select a shortcut key).

2) Now, this part is where you’ll be amazed. While you’re viewing your entire Spaces setup, press F9 and amaze yourself.

Here are the screenshots:

F8 pressed

F9 pressed in Spaces