All your base are belong to us!

I am absolutely in love with all the new things Apple released yesterday, especially the games you can now buy for your 5G video iPod for $5 a pop (the equivalent of two coffees at Starbucks). But it seems that the really neat game Zuma (US iTunes store link) has some translation issues:

iTunes 4.9 to feature podcasting, iPod to feature recording

Here’s a thing that really made my day: Speaking at a conference in San Diego, Steve Jobs showed off iTunes 4.9 which will feature built in podcasting support.

On top of that Adam Curry had a meeting with Steve (I love how Adam casually mentions he met with Steve for one and a half hours in this podcast at min 10:00). One thing Adam is guaranteeing is that the iPod will be able to record in the very immediate future.

political iPod

Just for giggles:

The Bushes are aware of this, said Laura Bush’s press secretary, Gordon Johndroe. “There is a certain expectation that the president and first lady be consumers of American culture. They know people are interested in what movies they see and what music they listen to.”

The president has owned the personal accessory of the moment for some time, said Johndroe. He’s loaded his iPod with his favorite country singers: George Jones, Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson. He also listens to Aaron Neville, Creedence and Van Morrison. AP

Kerry’s kids as well as Edward’s all have iPods as well. I asked.

I just hope they don’t have such crap on it. Maybe John Kerry would like the new iPod Shuffle’s watertight case? You know, he could take it windsurfing and stuff. Not to mention the snowboarding jacket with built in remote… Now there’s a commercial waiting to happen.

If Microsoft doesn?t improve customers will go elsewhere

America?s economy puts an emphasis on free markets. The idea is that the better product will win and consumer needs will be taken care of by those that see the potential for a product. Microsoft and its dominating product line of software and operating systems will soon experience this concept first-hand if their product line isn?t improved.

When the Internet bubble was at its peak in the ?90s, several companies competed to offer Web users the best browser. Netscape was largely established as the browser of choice when Microsoft decided to take them on. With the entire financial might of Microsoft at its disposal, Internet Explorer soon became the most widely used browser.

But once Microsoft stopped upgrading the software?s technology, it became incompatible with many new standards and has such gaping security holes that even brand new PCs with all pertinent security patches installed are swarming with viruses and spyware within minutes if the Internet Explorer is used.

While the browser is only one of the many products Microsoft makes, it is a good example of a decent product becoming stale because the company focused its attention elsewhere.
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F.B.I. Close to Scrapping Parts of Troubled Computer System

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is on the verge of scrapping major parts of a $170 million computer overhaul that is considered critical to the campaign against terrorism but has been riddled with problems, officials acknowledged today. NY Times

The ironic part about this is that I just had to listen to a coworker tell me how great windows is. Now Microsoft is jeopardizing the war on terror. I always suspected capitalism would do us in, but does it have to be this way?

wasting iPods

Oh the humanity of this.

Apple one example of retailers getting ready for Black Friday

I am huge fan of everything Apple. Heck, I even own some Apple stock. But even I would have to agree that this is “obscene:”

Apple is gearing up for tremendous turn-out at its retail stores this black Friday, clearing out Genius Bars for extra checkout space, tripling staffing in most stores, and stocking up on product, sources say.

Retail stores have been getting so much stock (for the day after Thanksgiving sale) lately one source describe the amount simply as “obscene.” At least sixty iPods can be found on the floor alone of most stores at all times, with another one or two hundred in the back. iPod accessories are also being hoarded, with stock of Bose SoundDocks topping 100 in most stores. Stock of Apple desktops and laptops are also at about 150 percent of normal levels, sources say. Think Secret

Artists still lose out in record deals

It took several years for the recording industry to even acknowledge that changes in technology might very well spell its doom if it did not adapt. Then it took others, such as Apple Computers, to show them how technology can help sell music rather than limit profits. But even now, artists are often still the ones who are being shortchanged.

Digital music players, such as the iPod, are widespread on campus. The iPod itself is selling so fast – at least 4 million units are projected to be sold during this quarter alone. Combined with the Apple’s iTunes music store, it single-handedly put the Apple brand name on the map again. Monday, the stock price of Apple rose to a four-year high, while analysts corrected the stock price projections upward to heights it had not reached in years.

The five big music labels, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group, Warner Brothers Music, BMG Entertainment and Universal Music Group had grudgingly agreed to let Apple sell their music in the iTunes music store. Only when sales of tracks reached millions per week did they realize there was money to be made.
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Get well, Steve

Just thought I’d post this here too, even though It’s already up on my other site:

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, apparently underwent cancer surgery over the weekend. In an email to company members, of which we received a copy, he says the surgery was successful and he will not need chemotherapy.
(full text of email here)

Steve Jobs could be member of Kerry cabinet

The Hill is speculating about who could be a cabinet member in a Kerry/Edwards administration, focusing on IT. They have this nugget: “Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs is an adviser to Kerry and could well hold a Cabinet post in a Kerry administration.” link

iPodhead.com

Yup, I have a second Web site: iPodhead.com.

The site is intended to offer tips, tricks and reviews around the iPod.

I originally intended to do this as a category or something on this site, but then decided to go all out and make it a full fledged site. There should even be a forum pretty soon. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks again to Jaime. The girl can code, I tell ya!
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5,500 japanese

I always wanted to go to Japan some day. Now I have another reason.

President AWOL with iPod

DrudgeRedport.com had the personal notes that Washinton Post reporter Mike Allen took on the top secret trip President Bush took to Baghdad today. The notes include this rather amusing iPod reference:

9:21 p.m. Richard Keil of Bloomberg News leaned across the aisle, shoved aside his I-Pod headset and grinned as he said: “The President of the United States is AWOL, and we’re with him. The ultimate road trip.”

Note to Washington Post reporter: It’s spelled iPod.

60 Minutes on Windows

CBS News Correspondent Andy Rooney had this to say about Windows on the news show 60 Minutes:

Bill Gates got off on the wrong foot the first time he decided to turn off his computer. Do you simply press a button that says OFF when you want to turn it off? You do not. The first thing he has us do to stop is to press START.
Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Next, it asks SHUT DOWN?

Then it says WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO DO? Well, didn’t I just tell you what I want it to do? It isn’t finished either. It asks SHUT DOWN THE COMPUTER? What the hell else do you think I want to shut down? The bedroom window? link

Belkin’s Media Reader for iPods: Don’t Buy It

When I heard that Belkin released a flash card reader for iPods I got pretty excited, now I am just glad I didn’t actually buy one.

I often take tons of photos in one session (1,000 a day easily) and since my iPod is a constant companion it would be a logical choice to store photos on.

Apparently Belkin seems to think carrying an item around that is bigger than the iPod itself, needs batteries and gives transfer speeds of 300KBps for $100 is cutting it.

Well, it doesn’t.
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Panther attack!?

My entry on the release of Panther was featured on some Web sites, including MacNN, MacBytes.com, MacGuardians.de, MacLinkage, MacPlus, and many others.

This did not only get me 10,000 hits (!!) in one day, it also showed me again how democratic the Web can be. I hardly imagined getting this many hits when I took some photos of the lines outside the store, next thing I know my site gets more hits in one day than it usually gets in an entire month from all over the world.

When Panthers attack

Just got back from the Panther release party at the International Plaza Mall Apple Store here in Tampa. The lines were long…
(Photos inside)
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Creepy

Am I the only person deeply disturbed by this? (That’s Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, Mom.)

Holy shit, Apple!

Apple released a whole slew of products today. The biggest deal is probably the iTunes music store for Windows, including a free copy of iTunes for Windows, completely based on open standards. (wrap your head around that one, Microsoft)

Some other really cool additions are the new plug in accessories for the iPod: A microphone to record directly to the iPod (a journalist’s dream, let me tell you) and a card reader that allows storage of photos on the iPod that will later sync to iPhoto flawlessly.

Apple also integrated Audible.com audio book purchases into the iTunes music store and included a new game on the iPod that quizzes you on your own songs.

I can’t wait to get my hands on the microphone adapter and as soon as I do, I’ll let you know how it works. But for now I can only say, man, how do they keep doing this? These are exactly the things I wanted. Does the iPod read my thoughts and phones them home to Cupertino every day? Apple just seems to know exactly when and how I want things.

Also check out the really cool new iPod commercial. You know you want one! And in this case the typical Apple commercial method of not really telling you anything about the product in the ad actually works. Those who know care, the rest is not that much of a target group anyway.

In the interest of full disclosure: yes, I do have some Apple stock, but that is not the reason why I love their products so much. (rather the reverse effect) They are just simply that good. The main difference to Windows based computers is still that I say now “cool, I can do this and that with it” when Apple releases something new as it spurs my creative side. Back in the dark days of my Windows usage the first thing I thought when I was a new product was “I wonder if that will crash my computer.” And it seems as if Microsoft still operates by the motto “lets ship it and then worry updates later.” Who cares if it’s not secure, right?

Wireless?

I will be on a road trip starting Sunday (Radiohead concert! Wheeeee!) so I tried something new.

I am posting this from my PowerBook, connected through my Sony Ericcsson t68i cell phone. This means that my Ti connects to the cell phone through Bluetooth (no wires), which then connects to the Web (no wires).

I knew this was possible and it figured in heavily when I originally decided which phone and service to get. But now that I finally have it working I can only say: This is so cool!

PowerBook Review

I wrote a review of the updated PowerBook line Apple released last Tuesday for today’s Oracle.
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Apple Porn

I am looking at an Aluminum 15 inch PowerBook as I am typing this. This machine is perfect from what I can tell. All the little kinks that used to be problems on the Ti are gone (and there weren’t that many really) so this thing should be one of the most perfect computers ever designed.

(posted at the Apple Store, Tampa.)

New Apple toys

Just in case you haven’t heard: New PowerBooks.

That’s probably what was in the boxes.

Apple Mystery Boxes

After finishing the paper for the night this is the sole thing on my mind right now. Some guy snapped these shots behind the stage of the Porte de Versailles in Paris. Steve Jobs will unvail something tonight, thats for sure. The question remains: what?

More photos here.