Apple Updates Pages To Add ePub Export Feature

In a surprise move, Apple updated the current version of Pages, Apple's word processing program, to include ePub export. ePub is the format Apple uses for its iBooks application, on iOS devices such as the iPad. Pages has supported PDF document export, so with the addition of ePub, Pages becomes an increasingly important document creation tool.

Many tech sites are speculating that Apple will release the next version of its iLife and iWork software packages and this update takes some of steam out of those rumors.

MPEG LA Makes H.264 Royalty Free For End Users

In a move that should help HTML 5 adaption, MPEG LA has decided to allow H.264 video playback to be royalty free.  H.264 is one of the proposed specs for HTML 5 video for streaming online content.  Unfortunately, for-profit content providers will still need to pay licensing fees to use this technology. 

 

Press Release: 

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:

Tom O’Reilly MPEG LA, LLC Tel: 303.200.1710 Fax: 301.986.8575 toreilly@mpegla.com

MPEG LA’s AVC License Will Not Charge Royalties for Internet Video that is Free to End Users through Life of License

(DENVER, CO, US – 26 August 2010) – MPEG LA announced today that its AVC Patent Portfolio License will continue not to charge royalties for Internet Video that is free to end users (known as “Internet Broadcast AVC Video”) during the entire life of this License. MPEG LA previously announced it would not charge royalties for such video through December 31, 2015 (seehttp://www.mpegla.com/Lists/MPEG%20LA%20News%20List/Attachments/226/n-10-02-02.pdf), and today’s announcement makes clear that royalties will continue not to be charged for such video beyond that time. Products and services other than Internet Broadcast AVC Video continue to be royalty-bearing.

MPEG LA's AVC Patent Portfolio License provides access to essential patent rights for theAVC/H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) digital video coding standard. In addition to Internet Broadcast AVCVideo, MPEG LA’s AVC Patent Portfolio License provides coverage for devices that decode and encode AVC video, AVC video sold to end users for a fee on a title or subscription basis and free television video services. AVC video is used in set-top boxes, media player and other personal computer software, mobile devices including telephones and mobile television receivers, Blu-rayDiscTM players and recorders, Blu-ray video optical discs, game machines, personal media player devices and still and video cameras.

For more information about MPEG LA’s AVC License or to request a copy of the License, please visit http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/AVC/Pages/Intro.aspx .

Apple Media Event Scheduled For September 1st

Image via Engadget

Engadget reports Apple has started sending out invitations for a media event being held September 1st at 10am PT / 1pm ET.  This should be Apple's annual iPod refresh.  Will Apple give us "one more thing" by unveiling the rumored iTV or the iPad Nano?  We'll have to wait and see.  Digital Copy Room will provide a full run down and analysis of the day's announcements.

Apple May Start To Detect Unauthorized iOS Devices

MacRumors reports Apple has been granted a new patent (application # 20100207721) for detecting unauthorized users of electronic devices.  The patent is generating controversy about how Apple plans to use the technology, if they decide to do so. I believe Apple may already be using this idea with the find my iPhone feature.  Through Apple's MobileMe service, users can locate lost iPhones via GPS & WiFi data.  Additionally, users can permanently lock their phones, so their data cannot be stolen.

There is some fear that Apple may use the technology to disable jailbroken devices.  It may not be in Apple's best interest to do this.  How else will Apple continue to add features users want without being able to "borrow" them from the jailbreak community.

One of the more scary ideas about this patent is the spy camera function.  If the device's location is trying to be determined and all available data is being gathered, there are some privacy concerns about the photos that may be taken with the built in camera.  Hopefully, malware authors do not find a way to activate this system and start taking photos of users in all kinds of situations.

At this time, there is no need to panic.  There should be discussions held about how Apple and other vendors intend to implement this type of technology.  There should be limits set to ensure consumer's privacy is not compromised in an effort to "protect them".

Seagate's 3TB Hard Drive

Seagate has released the world's first 3TB hard drive.  Currently, the drive only comes in an external version; an internal model is expected to be released later this year.  Seagate is able to get 3TB in a single drive by using 5 600GB platters inside the drive.

Specs:

• Model: Seagate Freeagent Goflex Desk 3 TB External Drive STAC3000100


• External enclosure


• USB 3.0 & 2.0, Firewire 800, Ethernet connectivity


• 7200RPM


• 32MB Cache


• 5 - 600GB Platters 

Anandtech has a full review of this drive.  If you are thinking about buying this drive and cracking it open to use it internally, definitely check out the review.

Securely Delete Data From Old Hard Drives

If you are thinking about selling or disposing your old hard drives and computers, you need to make sure data cannot be retrieved from the drives.  Darik's Boot and Nuke is a great free resource for this.  Download the file and create a bootable CD and nuke those drives. Just be careful to select the correct drive!

Convert Your Movies To Play On iPad & iPhone

Converting your favorite movie to play on your iOS device is easy.  The biggest hurdle in the process is the time it takes to convert the video to the correct format.  iOS plays H.264 mp4 videos using the m4v extention.  

There are 2 free software programs required to convert your videos and both programs are available for OS X, Windows, and Linux!  Although you need to install 2 programs, the only program you need to launch is Handbrake.  Handbrake handles all the video encoding, but it can also decrypt your videos using VLC.

 

 

Encoding your videos: 

• Install VLC and Handbrake


• Launch Handbrake


• Select video source (dvd or already ripped video files)


• Select your preset- In Handbrake 0.94, I found AppleTV Legacy works on my iPod Touch, iPad, computer, and WDTV)


• Sit back and relax, it may take a while.  Encoding a 2hr movie on my Core Duo iMac takes about 2hrs.  Newer computer are much faster but there is still plenty of room for speed improvements.

 

 One nice feature of Handbrake is its ability to queue video encodings.  To do this, you will need to have your video source files ripped ahead of time.  You can use any program you like.  For Mac OS X, my favorite program is RipIt. 

 

Now just import your encoded video into iTunes.  If you want, you can right click on the file in iTunes and select properties or Get Info (depending on your operating system) and click on the Artwork tab.  In this tab, you can paste your favorite movie poster or DVD cover into the file.

Sync your device and your all done.  Enjoy your movie anywhere you want!