Now New York resident Robert Herskowitz wants to represent everyone in the country in the same boat. In a complaint filed in San Francisco, Herskowitz wants Apple to pay back everyone who was allegedly charged for double downloads. He also wants special damages and for Apple to change its refund policy.

The case appears to hinge on the terms of service for the iTunes store which requires all users to agree to its no refund policy.

The iTunes rules provide for a refund only if an item doesn’t download or if there are technical problems.

Herskowitz’s complaint stems from December of 2010 when he downloaded 22 songs from iTunes. He claims that he was billed twice for one of them, paying $2.58 rather than $1.29 for “Whataya Want from Me.” The song is by an American Idol runner-up.

Herskowitz claims he wrote to Apple to recover the $1.29 but simply received an automated reply that described the no refund policy.

The lawsuit is based on breach of contract and on California consumer protection laws.

Apple is also facing a separate iTunes related class action brought by parents over so-called “bait apps” — apps that are free but on which children can rack up bills through in-app purchases.

Apple did not immediately reply to an email request for comment.

You can view the complaint at Justia which was first to report it.

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Selecting Podcasts on your Mac

For quite some time now, the iTunes Store has been managing a directory of registered podcasts that you can subscribe to from the iTunes app on your Mac.  In the left column of iTunes under Store, click on iTunes Store. Then locate the navigation bar along the top of the iTunes Store homepage on the right, and select the Podcasts tab.  Browse for a podcast you like and subscribe. Subscribing to podcasts is a way to have your Mac automatically check for new episodes and download them to your Mac when they become available.

Once you have subscribed to a few podcasts, click on the Podcasts entry in the left column of iTunes under Library. At the bottom left of the screen, you will see a button labeled Settings; click it. Here you can establish the rules for how often iTunes should check for new episodes to download, and how long each downloaded episode should be kept in your iTunes Library.  This is the best feature of managing podcasts on the Mac, as it will keep your subscriptions up to date and delete the older episodes so that you don’t fill up your hard drive.  Apple has even put together some tips for podcast fans to help make the process of managing your podcasts on your Mac a little easier.

Syncing via iTunes on OS X

If you use an iPod Nano, Classic or Shuffle, or even if you still sync your music and videos to your iOS device via a tethered connection to your Mac, you can elect to sync your favorite podcasts to your device.  I still find this to be the best way to keep on top of my subscribed list of podcasts, as my InsomniMac is always on and checking for updates regularly.

Syncing podcasts to your iPod or other iOS device is the same as syncing any other media to your device.  Simply attach your device to your Mac via USB and select it on the left-hand column within iTunes.  Then look along the top of the iTunes screen where you will see a tab labeled Podcasts.  Here you can choose which podcasts to sync to your device.  The only downside to this technique is that all updates to your subscriptions will be downloaded first to your Mac.  In order to get these updates onto your device, you will need to tether it to your Mac and sync again.

Home Sharing from your Mac

When you are at home and connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can access any of your Mac’s podcasts through Home Sharing.  Home Sharing is a way to share your Mac’s iTunes Music Library with any other Mac, Apple TV or iOS Device on your home network.  This technique will allow you to access all of your subscribed podcasts on your Mac without having to tether via USB cable and sync.  To enable Home Sharing from iTunes on your Mac, select Turn On Home Sharing in the Advanced menu in iTunes.  Here you will be asked to enter your iTunes account information in order to start sharing your music library.

Once Home Sharing is turned on from your Mac, you will need to authorize your iOS devices to attach to your Home Sharing.  Using the iOS settings, select the Music setting (or iPod setting in iOS 4.3) and scroll to the bottom.  Here you will see a section labeled Home Sharing where you will need to enter the exact same iTunes account information you used to set up the Home Sharing instance on your Mac.  Once the link is established, launch the Music App on iOS and select the More tab, here you should see a Shared selectable item.  Switch to the Home Sharing instance you created on your Mac and your Music app on your iOS device will be able to access all of the shared music from your iTunes Library on your Mac.  This of course includes sharing of the podcasts you have subscribed to.

This solution is not limited to iOS devices.  You can also access your shared iTunes Library from any other Mac attached to your home network.  This will allow you to download your subscribed podcast episodes just once, and share them with all of your OS X and iOS devices.  And yes, the AppleTV can be configured to access your shared iTunes Library via Home Sharing as well.  There are two downsides to this solution.  The first is that it only works when you have access to your home network.  And the second is that it only works when the Mac you are sharing your iTunes Library from is powered on.

Apple TV’s favorites

On its own, the Apple TV can also browse, view or listen to any podcasts in iTunes directory of podcasts, even when your Mac is powered off.  In fact, you can establish a list of favorite podcasts on your Apple TV so you do not have to keep finding a particular podcast you like over and over again.  This unfortunately is not the same thing as “subscribing” to a podcast, as the Apple TV has nowhere to store your subscribed podcasts.  To save a podcast on your Apple TV as a favorite you must first find the podcast.  Once the podcast has been located, you will notice a save as favorite button on the screen.  This will add the podcast to the list of favorites that is accessible via the main list on the podcast screen on the Apple TV.  It will even keep track of whether or not you have already reviewed a particular episode.

Manually via iTunes on iOS

This is where Apple’s support of podcasting is lacking.  For those of us that no longer sync our iOS devices to iTunes on a Mac, store all of our music in the cloud via iTunes Match, and listen to podcasts everywhere else in our lives except where we are within range of our home networks, there is no good solution.  But there is one trick that just may be manageable in such instances.  And that is to stream podcasts over the internet directly to our iOS devices when we want to listen to them.  The tricky part is to figure out a way to manage our list of favorite podcasts.  One way it to create a folder of bookmarks in Safari using links from the podcasts listing in the iTunes Store.

To do this, first create a new bookmarks folder in Safari on your Mac.  Open iTunes and navigate to your favorite podcast in the iTunes Store.  From here, you can drag the URL in iTunes into the bookmarks folder in Safari.  The next time Safari on the Mac syncs its bookmarks to iCloud, you will have your list of favorite podcasts accessible via bookmarks in mobile Safari on your iOS device.  Clicking on the bookmark in mobile Safari will launch the iTunes Store on the iOS device and navigate directly to the podcast listing in the store.  Here you can elect to listen to a streaming version of the podcast, or download the podcast directly to the iOS device.

No perfect solution

As you can see, there is more than one way to locate, subscribe, manage and listen to your favorite podcasts using Apple’s products.  Unfortunately each solution has its plusses and minuses.  There really is no one good way to manage all of your podcasts across all of your Apple products as each technique has its own quirks and inconsistencies.  The good news is that there are several different techniques to choose from, and any one or combination of a few can be utilized to suit the needs of most podcast fans.

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Even if iTunes says it’s backing up your iPhone or iPad to iCloud, all you have to do when your device is connected is right-click on it in iTunes and choose “Backup.” It’s that easy. Now the state of your iPhone is backed up locally via iTunes as well as continuing to back up via iCloud.

If disaster strikes and you need to restore your data when on the road or away from your computer, an iCloud restoration is your only option, but if you have access to iTunes, restoring locally is much faster. There’s another option too: The local backup allows you to extract individual items, such as a text message or phone log via third-party software such as iBackup viewer.

My suggestion is to dock your iOS device at least once a week and run a local backup. Additionally, I recommend not updating your apps via your device but rather do it via iTunes after a local backup. Although iTunes only keeps the latest version of your backup (similar to iCloud), when done locally on your computer via iTunes, a complete backup of your iPhone and apps is made.

Should you encounter a problem app, the .ipa app file might still be in the trash on your computer. To restore the app, drag the .ipa file out of the trash and double-click it. If that doesn’t work or you want to do a more complete restore, your iOS system can be restored to an earlier version by restoring the Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ folder located in the user’s library on your backup. Restoring an individual app or an earlier backup of your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is a critical feature lacking in iCloud backups.

Think globally and back up locally.

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iMore.com reported Friday that Apple will likely get rid of the 30-pin connector in the next version of the iPhone in favor of something smaller that could help it accommodate 4G LTE radios, and it’s about time. Unfortunately, the site doesn’t think Apple will follow the lead of the rest of the smartphone market and embrace the micro USB standard for phone chargers, but it’s still a notable development.

The 30-pin dock connector has been the primary doorway into the iPod for years. It was the only way to install software updates on an iPhone or iPad until iOS 5 introduced over-the-air updates, and an easy target for those who believed Apple wasn’t living up to its “post-PC” words by requiring a physical connection to a computer for such an important task.

Eliminating the (relatively) bulky connector could make it easier for Apple to include 4G wireless connections in the next iPhone without having to make an iPhone as big as some of the Android models (like the Galaxy Nexus) that connect to 4G networks. It also means a legion of accessory makers will have to get on board with a new standard on which Apple will probably continue to charge royalties to use in their products. The success of an iPhone accessory maker like Square that bypassed the 30-pin connector altogether with its credit-card reader may have also prompted Apple to come up with a new connector that offers unique advantages.

But to take things a step further, is Apple also willing to embrace wireless charging with the next iPhone, along the lines of what Palm introduced for certain models of the Pre? That might force the company to make some tough decisions about the materials it uses in the iPhone, a notoriously sensitive subject. But wireless charging is a great idea for users, and it would also allow Apple to sell some sleek wireless charging stations at a tidy profit.

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Beat Hazard Ultra ($0.99, Universal, $9.99 Mac) is an asteroid-style, shoot-from-the-middle, space arcade game for iOS that can satisfy the most extreme, old-school Galaga addictions.  What makes Beat Hazard Ultra stand out is the fact that game play is set to your music library.  With each track in your iTunes music library, you have a new game to experience.  Trying to figure out just how each track influences gameplay really adds to the longevity of the game.

On iOS you can control your ship with one controller and let the device automatically aim your weapons, or use two controllers and navigate your ship as well as aim your weapons.  On the Mac it’s a little different.  Here you use both the keyboard and mouse to both navigate the ship and aim your weapons.  Of the three different size platforms and different control choices, I found using one control to navigate my ship on the larger iPad touch screen to be the best overall experience.

What ends up making a level hard to beat is not as strongly tied to the speed or tempo of the track  you select as to how the track inspires you and pulls you into the game play.  I found that Beat Hazard Ultra did have a problem accessing remote tracks in my iTunes Match library when connected to the Internet.  Only tracks on the device were playable.  You also have the option of selecting one of several different Internet radio stations if you find that your personal listening tastes are not what you are seeking for the type gaming experience you want.  What is interesting is that Beat Hazard Ultra will even keep track of your highest scores for each of the tracks in your iTunes library.  That way you can see which style of music brings out the best you have to offer.

There are four modes you can select to play.  In standard play mode, each track is an individual game. Your goal is to stay alive and score as many points as you can during the playback of a single track.  The length of the game is limited to the time duration of the track.  In survival mode, you attempt to play through as many tracks as possible without any time limits.  Then there is Boss Mode which will place you against a neverending attack of increasingly difficult boss ships.  And finally, for those among us with too much time on their hands, there is Chill Out Mode.  This mode has the opportunity of creating a real Zen-like moment between you, your music and the game.  If you are not careful, Chill Out Mode will devour your entire weekend.

As you strive to become an elite pilot, you learn about the point system, in-game pickups and perks.  The points you earn increase your rank, and the dollars you collect allow you to purchase perks like stronger weapons.  More important than the weapon, bomb, shield and missile pickups in the game are the score multipliers.  These multipliers affect how quickly your points rack up.  You can even earn more points by not firing your weapons.  This will earn you the titles of daredevil and survivor, depending on how long you can last.  One thing is for certain, if you enjoy your music, you will most definitely enjoy this game.

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Nguyen goes into a lot of detail, and it’s a must-read for anyone thinking about commissioning an iOS (or really any mobile OS) application. Here’s one passage in particular that I know will resonate with a lot of freelance devs:

Converting an iPhone app to iPhone/iPad universal app: This is the worst ‘additional feature’ found in iPhone development contracts. Because an iPad app is not a frikin’ additional feature. The iPad app is always more complex than iPhone app, and most of the time requires entirely different interface and interaction mechanism. It’s like making an electric bicycle and then convert[ing] it to a fuel-powered motorcycle! They are very similar at what they do, but under the hood, the difference is immense. [Emphasis in the original]

A lot of companies may be interested in what an app can do for their business, but without a good sense of what kind of resources need to be invested in order to create the app in the first place, there is bound to be ample frustration on all sides. Nguyen’s no-nonsense primer is a good way to help avoid some of that frustration.

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Munster claims discussions with a “major TV component supplier” which had been contacted by Apple about its TV display parts lead him to believe Apple is still on track to introduce a dedicated television device in late 2012. However, there’s a caveat: Munster thinks if Apple can’t get a revolutionary new content model in place, then it won’t move on the market this year.

The analyst then goes on to suggest three possible scenarios that might constitute a unique Apple approach to the television market. Those potential solutions break down roughly as follows:

1. Changing the experience, not the service

In Munster’s first scenario, Apple would basically leave TV programming to existing operators and simply layer its own interface software on top, including menus, guides, DVRs and content discovery. Munster notes that Apple was expected by some to manage its own wireless network in the U.S. ahead of the iPhone launch, but instead partnered with AT&T and focused on UI and UX instead of content. Remember that apps came after the iPhone’s original introduction.

2. A hybrid content model

Apple could also partner with existing networks to offer live TV, and at the same time, deliver on-demand content from providers like Netflix, Hulu Plus or any other content partner willing to play via an App Store-style distribution channel, Munster suggests. It’s a “best of both worlds” type solution, and would probably still come complete with an overhauled UX, but might be trickier to negotiate than option number one, since it involves negotiating with two different types of content providers.

3. A la carte

Munster’s last option is a completely customizable, a la carte option that would see users subscribe to live TV packages from content providers. This would be the most revolutionary of the options in terms of the existing TV experience, but it would also involve a dazzling shift in the way providers make their content available, and the negotiations involved in doing so would be challenging, at best. In the end, there’s also no real guarantee that selective programming is what viewers are after, especially if existing, less flexible bundles from other sources cost less.

GigaOM’s Ryan Lawler wrote last year that Apple’s television effort was more about experience than about content, and described a likely outcome of Apple’s TV endeavors that pretty much mirrors Munster’s second scenario listed above.

Given the challenges involved in negotiating the third solution, I have to agree that a system that works with existing content sources, but also opens up the possibility of apps for different kinds of content makes the most sense as a solution that could still make big waves in the TV industry while also remaining realistically possible in the near-term. Which of Munster’s Apple TV predictions, if any, make the most sense to you?

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The two big new features in the 10.0.3 update, which is free through the Mac App Store, are multicam editing, allowing users to automatically sync a maximum of 64 angles of video and photos, and a beta version of a broadcast monitoring feature that works with both Thunderbolt and PCIe cards. The removal of multi-camera editing was a major complaint among FCP 7 video editors, since it made combining photo and video from multiple camera sources a much more complicated process.

In addition to those new features, the update also brings improved image and color controls, including the introduction of color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap editing abilities, which means you’ll be able to depend more on FCP X directly, and less on external programs like Motion when working with complex keying challenges, Apple said in its press release.

Apple also took the opportunity of the release to point out that the third-party application ecosystem for FCPX has grown considerably in recent months, and now includes tools like 7toX, which allows FCP7 projects to be imported to the newer software. The inability to import old projects in FCPX was another of the major complaints users had with the latest version.

Apple promised updates to answer a lot of user concerns with the software back when version 10.0.1 delivered XML support, and judging by a recent Ars Technica report on the continued reticence of video pros to use the software, the sooner it can deliver more updates like this one that address major pain points cited by users, the better.

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Flygrip $29.95

I was amazed as to how quickly I fell in love with the Flygrip’s simplicity of design and elegance It’s a clip that sticks on the back of an existing iPhone case, or Flygrip’s custom case. While it adds some bulk to the back of the case, it actually isn’t annoying. Quite the opposite. Fully retracted, it allows you too hold your iPhone securely with your ring and forefinger, leaving the rest of your hand able to type. Being able to text and tweet easily on the go made me a believer out of me.

Not only does it make the iPhone easier to hold, but the Flygrip can also act as a kickstand for both portrait and landscape mode, which made catching up on email during lunch an absolute breeze. At $29.95, it’s affordable, and you don’t have to give up your existing case.

xPrintServer $149.95

Although Apple’s AirPrint only supports a limited set of printers, iOS products like Readdle’s Printer Pro and desktop products such as Ecamm’s Printopia have extended the iPad’s print capabilities. Lantronix has a desktop-and device-independent solution to make existing network printers available to any iOS device also on the network. The device supports up to 10 printers, and retails for $149.95. It’s a great option for small businesses that want to quickly and easily make their existing printers available to employee devices.

Prizm Stand $24.95

The Prizm series of iPhone and iPad stands from Hub Innovations is another simple, elegant product. The stand is made up of two metal pieces that come together to hold your iOS device in place while charging or just on display. Starting at $24.95, they come in a variety of colors and can be custom engraved.

I liked that these stands didn’t suffer from the feature bloat or bling overload of most other accessories at the show. This is the type of holder you’d use at home or at your business to frame your iPad with style and without stealing the focus of what’s on the iPad screen. In fact, the metal can be engraved with company information to help provide a custom branding solution. They were at hit with show-goers, so it stands to reason they’d succeed with customers and clients, too.

Wormhole Switch $39.95

One of the few non-iOS focused innovations at the show was the Wormhole Switch by j5create. This product uses an attached of USB connectors to not only control another computer’s keyboard and mouse, but also transport data between computers while avoiding the network entirely.

Even the fastest broadband networks can’t match raw USB speeds, and anyone who’s transferred a large file over a home network knows how much it slows things down. While other USB-direct connect options exist, this product makes it easy for even novices to set up, with software that loads directly from the device.

At a reasonable price of $39.95, the time you’ll save waiting for files to transfer is well worth the cost.

iKeep Charger $49.99

The iKeep Charger is a combination iPhone and micro USB charger conveniently connected to a retractable cord with a carabiner hook for clipping onto a bag, belt loop, etc. The AC plug folds invisibly into the unit, making it easy to quickly charge your iPhone or other devices while on the go without adding bulk. Unlike the iPhone’s stark black and white options, the iKeep Charger comes in eight different colors to match your outfits, or simply your personal taste.

There are my top picks from the show. What stood ou to you? Let us know in the comments.

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Like the iPhone SJ concept before it, De Rosa’s iWatch 2 (which is itself a refresh of an older iWatch design) looks like something that you could easily imagine gracing the desk of Apple design guru Jony Ive at this very moment: It has the aluminum and glass appeal of the iPhone 4 and 4S, along with an on-screen UI that looks convincingly iOS inspired.

De Rosa says the watch’s imaginary specs include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the latter to provide a steady feed of data from a connected iPhone or iPad, along with a standalone RSS reader and front-facing camera. He also adds an LCD projector to the list, because why not?

While I don’t expect to see anything quite so feature-rich come out of Cupertino, I do think De Rosa is on the right track; an Apple-created connected watch would no doubt have similar good looks, a minimum of buttons and the ability to connect to iOS devices to grab and display information feeds. But Apple also is notorious for keeping its product lines tight, so such a device, which would admittedly probably have limited appeal initially (will iPhone buyers really want to spend an additional $200+ for what’s essentially a secondary display?) likely isn’t a top priority.

Regardless of what Apple actually has planned in the way of wearable wrist-top computing, I still want this concept to fly out of my dreams and on to my wrist. What about you?

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