Apple Context Machine

In this podcast: Apple topped BusinessWeek's most innovative companies list again, Apple is giving away a $10,000 iTunes credit and a laptop to celebrate the billionth App Store download, iTunes Store music is now DRM-free, the Nehalem-based Xserve was unveiled, .Mac Homepages are going away, and Microsoft's latest ad shows off the Mac and fails to mention Windows.

In this week's Apple Weekly Report podcast, Jeff and Bryan discuss Apple Software 3.0, the Pwn2Own contest, Psystar's new Mac clone, the iPod repair man who allegedly stole some 9,000 iPods, and Steve Ballmer saying that the tides have turned against Apple and the Mac.

Apple was busy this week with announcements: The company is hosting a special media event next week to show off iPhone Software 3.0, released a new iPod shuffle model, updated iTunes 8, and it was revealed that Apple filed for a new Apple TV remove control patent. Some substance was added to the Apple Netbook rumors, and the iPhone 3G is coming to Malaysia.

Apple gave us what everyone was hoping for at January's Macworld Expo this week when it updated its complete desktop computer lineup, gave the MacBook Pro a little speed bump, and updated its AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule. TBR says the PC market has finally hit bottom at least in terms of pricing, and Bill Gate's wife has a little iPhone envy.

Apple's first quarter earnings came in above analyst estimates, COO Tim Cook offered up his vision for Apple's future, the SEC is taking a look at how the company revealed Steve Jobs's health issues, and Apple agreed to at $22 million settlement over scratched iPods. Google's Android Marketplace topped 800 apps, Apple quietly bumped the specs for the white MacBook, and the Mac turned 25.

This week, Jeff and Bryan take a look back at 2008 and how the year played out for Apple. 2008 was the year of the iPhone, the Mac's market share was on the rise even as the company's stock value dropped, public focus shifted away from the iPod, Steve Jobs's health became a hot topic, and it also turned out to be the year of the App Store.

Despite Bryan's insistence, you really can buy an iPhone at Walmart, the lawsuit express stopped to pick up Apple, Microsoft and Google, juvenile humor sells at the App Store, Psystar claimed Apple didn't copyright Mac OS X, and it's Macworld Expo time again.

In this week's Apple Weekly Report podcast, Jeff Gamet and Bryan Chaffin talk about Apple's curious defense in a legal challenge to their ad claims, the on and off again antivirus Knowledge Base article, the growing ranks of unauthorized Mac cloners, and more. Jeff's QuickTip of the week concerns how to use Google to search for people on Twitter.

In this episode of the Apple Weekly Report, Jeff and Bryan offer their Mac & iPod Gift Guide. Bryan presents three sort of expensive products he likes so much that he'd want to receive them as gifts (if he didn't already have them). Jeff, on the other hand, offers three really cool, but much less expensive, products he'd be happy for Bryan to buy for him.

The Apple Lawsuit Express picked up another passenger, the UK axed an Apple iPhone ad, Facebook scored a judgement against a spammer, MYOB has a new owner, Apple's laptop ads went green, and we announce out Macworld Expo contest winners.

Apple gave iPhone owners an early holiday present this week with iPhone Software 2.2, and the courts gave Apple its own holiday gift when it kicked Psystar in the pants and made the obvious ruling that Apple isn't a monopoly. Apple's new laptops include built-in copy protection, Intel plans to release new quad-core chips for the iMac, and one man learns the hard way to cover his iPhone tracks.

Apple's stock followed the overall market down on Monday and back up again on Tuesday. Norway gave Apple a deadline to respond to DRM violation allegations, App Store reviews are finally under control, Apple is getting more of the laptop market, iTunes U will be accessible to the blind, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave all of us an early Christmas present by saying he is pretty sure Apple's business model won't work.

Apple revamped its iPod line up on September 9 during a special media event called "Let's Rock." CEO Steve Jobs showed off redesigned iPod nanos, an updated iPod classic and iPod touch, and welcomed NBC back to the iTunes Store. The lawsuit express is still chugging along, Apple notebook sales are on the rise, Microsoft tries its hand at hip ads, and Apple just dropped Mac OS X 10.5.5. in our laps.

Sales at Apple's App Store have topped $30 million, Microsoft managed to get Open XML approved as an ISO standard, Wall Street says Apple is worth more than Google, and Nancy Heinen kissed and made up with the SEC. There really is a kill switch in the iPhone, chips may be behind iPhone 3G connection issues, T-Mobile wants its own App Store, and Best Buy is joining the iPhone band wagon. This week's Ask Jeff: Resetting iPhone warnings in iTunes.

Apple reported is second best quarter in the company's history, App Store downloads topped 25 million, and there's a mystery product transition coming in the next couple of months. The second iPhone 3G launch is coming in August, and MobileMe is giving people headaches. This week's Quick Tip: Deleting iPhone and iPod touch applications.