New Mac Ads

Apple posted a couple of new Mac ads overnight. One, Elimination, is taking a stab at the Microsoft Laptop Hunters campaign. The others, Customer Care and PC Choice Chat are fun....

Download An App, Win A Prize

Apple is about to hit 1 billion downloaded applications from the iTunes App Store. Download an application and automatically be entered into the contest. Win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, Time Capsule, MacBook Pro and an iPod Touch.

Might be a good time to purchase, oh, I don't know, maybe BeerSnap, Wine Journal, Driven or hmmm, WineSnap.

New Palm Pre Looks Intriguing

I must admit I'm intrigued by the new Palm Pre. See the video below. The one big advantage over the iPhone that I can see is the ability to run applications in the background. While I don't think it truly comes up often in real life, it would be handy on occasion. Apple claims running apps in the background significantly decreases battery life so it will be interesting to see how Palm fares. Maybe they've found a creative solution.

This is also the first multi-touch smartphone since the iPhone. Google Android and Blackberry Storm have so far stayed away from what is perceived to be an Apple patent. However, the patents Apple have don't cover multi-touch. It is said that Google did not include it at the request of Steve Jobs. Don't forget, Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt sits on Apple's board. Google also has a lot of incentive not to piss Apple off. Palm on the other hand, really has nothing to lose as it has seen it's market share tumble almost as fast as Motorola's.

This will be fun to watch.

Obama Gives Queen iPod

I may not like his politics, but I do love that he's a gadget freak. On Obama's recent visit to the UK, he presented Queen Elisabeth with an iPod. I'm not sure which model, but I would hope a Touch. Maybe the queen needs to keep track of her vast wine collection with Wine Journal. :-)

Happy Birthday Apple!

Apple is 33 years old today....

You Get What You Pay For

9 to 5 Mac shows you exactly what you get for the PC featured in Microsoft's new ads and it ain't pretty.

Thin is In

ZDNet has a great review of the thinnest, lightest laptop computers out there - Dell Adamo, Apple MacBook Air, Sony Vaio Z and Voodoo Envy. If you're in the market for the lightest, thinest and and most stylish laptop, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Apple's got a new iPod shuffle. The thing is insanely small and TALKS to you. So if you forget the name or the band of the song playing you can use the controls built into the earbuds to hear the iPod talk to you. Pretty slick. No controls on the ipod itself. Apple confirmed that the use of third party headsets won't work-for now. But it's working with third parties on solutions.

Pretty cool.

App Me Out To The Ball Game

One of the first and best iPhone apps has been updated for 2009. MLB At Bat lets you see real time scoring, pitch-by-pitch, and even watch clips of game highlights. Essential for people like me living in Atlanta trying to keep up with my beloved Chicago Cubs.

Get MLB At Bat on the iTunes App Store.

New iMacs a Better Deal than HP and Dell

Not even taking into account the better operating system, included software (iLife), and overall better fit, finish and experience, iMacs are still $100-$250 cheaper than the comparable HP & Dell all-in-one systems. The only thing those products have that the iMacs don't is a TV Tuner which you really need can pick up for the Mac (not built-in though) for $40-$60.

via Fortune Apple 2.0

Doesn't Get Anymore Blatant Than This

Happy Birthday Steve!

Steve is 54 today. Happy B-Day big guy. Get well soon.

Microsoft Retails Stores

Here they come...

Oh My

This is why Vista sucks so bad...

Sony's New Stupid Box Thing

OMG - Hilarious.


Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work

AT&T Sucks Less When You Pay More For Their Inadequacies

I can't really represent it any better than iPhone Savior has. In a nutshell, if you get sucky 3G reception at home (who doesn't), you can now pay even more for the sucky service if you want it to suck slightly less. Yep, no pricing details are available, but expect $5-$10 more a month if you want to boost your signal at home. Incredible. Man, I hate AT&T. The iPhone is the only thing that keeps me with them. The second the phone is available on another network, I'm jumping ship. Unless of course AT&T finally gets a clue and improves their service. Yeah, pigs will fly and hell will freeze over too.

My Latest Q&A At My First Mac

I love shameless self-promotion. Check out my latest round of Q&A over at My First Mac....

Review: FastMac TruePower MacBook Pro Battery

The battery on my MacBook Pro died a couple of months ago. Apple wants $129 for a new one, so I was happy to find a battery that was not only cheaper, but claims longer battery charge and life - The FastMac TruePower Battery. It even looks like the original Apple battery. A number of online reviews seem to like the battery, so I thought it was safe.

Well, real life doesn't match brief web site reviews. In the time I've had it, the aluminum cover (which doesn't really match the color of the laptop) on the battery has already peeled off a couple of times. The worst part is that the battery now only holds an 80% charge. I've attempted to contact FastMac on a couple of occasions but have been unable to get through. I'll keep trying and post an update. I hope they'll do the right thing and replace the battery or refund my money.

Update: I was finally able to get through to customer service. They are replacing my TruePower battery with an Apple OEM. No hassle, no mess, no fuss. According to the rep I talked to, they are moving manufacturing of the TruePower battery and they're temporarily unavailable. Have to wonder if I wasn't the only one having problems. Regardless, I'm happy.

Happy Birthday Mac!

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Apple Macintosh Computer. Below is its introduction in 1984 by Steve Jobs (dude, what's with the bow tie?).

It Was 25 Years Ago Today

The famous (infamous?) Apple Macintosh super bowl commercial is 25 years old today. In two days, the Macintosh itself will be 25. My how time flies...

State of Smartphones

Engadget has a great post comparing the iPhone, new Palm Pre, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Android feature sets and staking a claim as to whom is currently ahead.

Learn Objective C

Interested in learning how to program applications for the iPhone or Mac OS X? Stephen G. Kochan dives into the topic with a highly-rated book appropriately named "Programming in Objective-C". Written in a tutorial style, the book is excellent for beginners and experts alike.

Shameless Promotion Part Deux

I've got a total of 4 iPhone apps out there now:

BeerSnap - just like WineSnap, but for Beer.
Driven - Track mileage driven, ridden, hiked, etc. using the iPhone's built-in GPS
WineSnap - quickly note the details of a good wine.
Wine Journal 2.0 - Formerly Vinoriffic, Wine Journal 2.0 was just released and offers more fields, photos and more.

Shameless Promotion

Check out my latest iPhone/iPod Touch Application - WineSnap. WineSnap is a derivative of Wine Journal (formerly Vinoriffic), but is closer to our original vision - a simple application to quickly note the name of a great wine you've had while out. That's it. No cataloging, etc. Just a quick note. Check it out (opens iTunes).

Latest My First Mac Post

I'm doing Q&A over at My First Mac nowadays. Check it out.

New Matte Screen Option for MacBook Pro

Nope, I'm not talking about the new 17" MacBook and it's $50 matte option. Techrestore is now offering to matte your MacBook Pro screen for a mere $199. If you just can't stand the glossy screen, it's at least an option. Or wait until Apple starts offering it any week now.

(Via 9to5 Mac)

Farts Make $10K a Day

Man, what have I been wasting my time with Vinoriffic or Driven for? I could have been making potty joke apps and making ridiculous amounts of money!

Buy it now!

Update: I broke down and bought this for, uh, market research (yeah, that's it!). I must say, despite the topic, it's a very well done application. Plus it was a hit with my nephews at Christmas!

Not That I Needed Another Reason To Like Her

Mmmmm.....MacBook

New iPhone App - iAuto

Check out iAuto from Mobiletelligence, a subsidiary of my employer OneSpring. It's a free app that lets you search for cars and trucks to buy. Sort & filter based on your preference. It's a cool little app - check it out!

Desperate for XP?

Apparently businesses are buying used PC's just to get XP off of them. It's cheaper than buying a new PC and downgrading it. Is Microsoft even paying attention anymore?

via Gizmodo

The New MacBooks Are Green

SnapTell Is Awesome

This is just simply a cool iPhone app. Take a photo of any CD, DVD, Video Game or Book and SnapTell will give you links to learn more about the item or even buy it. Future versions will have price comparison across multiple online stores, ratings and more. Very nice. I tried several items in all sorts of quality and it worked 100% of the time. Sweet.

iPhone vs. Blackberry Storm

CNN Money's Apple 2.0 blog has a great comparison of the iPhone and Blackberry Storm. I'm definitely intrigued by the tactile feedback of the Blackberry's touchscreen. Both phones have their pros and cons. The article does a good job of being non-biased. Check it out.

Update I had a chance to briefly check out the Storm. Long story short, it's nice. While cool, I don't think the physical click of the screen adds anything to the experience and the build quality is a little lower than I had expected. But definitely a solid option.

Obama Mac

I guess this cancels out the fact that he's a White Sux fan.

Once You Go Dell, You Never Go Back

This guy had a really good experience with Dell and would recommend it to anyone. Not.

Please Fix The iPhone

Here's a great site where you can vote for the features you'd most like to see on your iPhone. You know I'm a fanboy, but there are some things that really annoy me about the iPhone. Like copy and paste. And the ability to hide applications I never like notes. And the ability to listen to the iPod via Bluetooth. And a lot more. Check it out and make your voice heard.

MacBook for Sale

With the aforementioned MacBook Air purchase, we have a 2006 White MacBook for sale on eBay. Check it out.

Air

We have a new Mac in the family. We just upgraded my wife's computer to a MacBook Air. Best Buy is selling the previous generation of Airs for $1299, which is $50 less than what Apple is selling the refurbished models on the web site.

This thing is insanely light. I'm in process of setting it up and transferring files. Will give a full review soon.

The box it's in is tiny, but weighs 3 times as much as the computer!

Happy 7th iPod!

Wow, can you believe the iPod is 7 years old now? The Unofficial Apple Weblog has a great gallery of iPods over the years.

(Most) PC's Are Crap

My year-and-a-half old MacBook Pro recently went comatose. I certainly wasn't happy, but was damn glad I had AppleCare. It turned out being the logic board which Apple replaced within 3 days at no cost to me, other than the loss of the computer.

In the meantime, my company allowed me to pick up a backup computer. Now most of use (all but one actually) use Macs. But the lure of the low price tag compelled them to an HP.

Now many fault for Apple for the limit in choices of their computers. I for one welcome it. Shopping for a PC is a ridiculous exercise is frustration. Even though my search was already limited to HP's, there are an insane number of PCs to choose from, all within the same price point, all with different specs. It's truly insane. I researched online and went to two stores and I'm still not sure what my choices were or what they meant. I took the easy way out and chose a PC based on size and price.

It was a 14" HP laptop. God only knows what the model is and what the specifications are. But hey, I got a good deal - $650 and a free printer.

Oh joy. I get a plastic hunk of crap loaded with a crap OS (Vista). The seams don't quite fit together, the cooling fan sounds like a jet engine, the screen is sub par. Sure, it was only $650, but man, you get what you pay for.

Apples are definitely worth the premium. Sure, I know there are nicer and more expensive PCs out there. But what I saw was truly a pile of crap.

UpdateOkay, it's been pointed out that I may not be comparing Apples To Apples hear (pun intended, deal with it). Yes, it's not fair to compare a $650 PC with a $2400 Apple Mac. But I would gladly pay $1299 for a new MacBook over the $650 PC any day.

Finally, something I don't mind my tax dollars being spent on

Congress returning from their ridiculously long vacation may be receiving iPhones.

Latest Thoughts

Okay, now that some time has passed, I've absorbed information from the media event, Apple web sites, etc, and can now offer up some more thoughts.

Yawn.

Yep, that's it. Okay, don't get me wrong, the MacBooks are the nicest/hottest notebook computers on the market. And that's whether you run Mac OS X, Winblows or both. The new gorgeous screens, zippy graphics cards, mongo trackpad, faster system bus, lighter/stronger form factor, et al, are nice. If you're in the market for a new notebook, you'd be mistaken not to buy one of these.

BUT.

As an existing MBP user (and Apple Fanboy), I'm really disappointed. There's really nothing in this product refresh that's really all that compelling or innovative. I think Apple played it WAY too safe. They should have blown people out of the water with a touch screen or integrated back scratcher or both. C'mon Apple, you let HP come out with a touch screen desktop? HP? And you know they have a notebook in the works (Update: Yep).

Why a touch screen? I dare anyone that owns an iPhone to tell me they haven't tried to touch a button in a dialog box on their notebook to clear it. It's a natural progression from the current input methods. Yeah, the big glass trackpad is nice, and certainly has utility, but BORING. I'm sure Apple is working on it, and whatever they come up with blow away anything HP or Microsoft or anyone else can do. But they need to step on the gas. As they pointed out in their own media event, they have a window of opportunity here to capitalize and they're going to squander it by playing too safe.

And yes, the manufacturing process and benefits of the new MacBooks are interesting, but John Q. Public could really give a rat's ass. They want sexy looking computers which work at a nice price point. The geeks love that stuff, but the new Mac buyers don't care.

BTW - Engadget has posted a nice list of various resources to get information about the new MacBooks.

New MacBooks

The details are everywhere, but here's the summary:

MacBook Pro. Unibody construction (I feel like I'm talking about an SUV) makes it smaller, lighter and more rigid. Dual mode nVidia graphics cards let you choose between battery-saving basics (but still faster than Intel integrated graphics) or super-powered performance. Glass trackpad is larger and has multi-finger gestures. No button -the trackpad itself is the button. More on that later. Screen comes in 15.1" glossy with a nice black bezel. More on that later. Firewire 800 port is backwards compatible with Firewire 400(adapter needed) More memory, more hard drive space, yada yada yada. Starts at $1999

MacBook. Two new models. Basically a smaller MacBook Pro - same aluminum enclosure, ports, glass trackpad, etc. 13.1" glossy screen. Starts at $1299 unless you want the old "White MacBook" with none of the new features for $999. No Firewire port.

24" Cinema Display. Looks like an iMac. Built-in iSight, glossy screen, easy hook-up cables to MacBook, stereo speakers, built-in microphone. Even has a MagSafe power cord.

MacBook Air. Marginal refresh. Same sky high price of $1799.

Thoughts - definitely a nice upgrade. I'm skeptical of the buttonless trackpad - Apple does not have a good track record with mice/mouse functions. Glass trackpad I guess is nice, but seems gimmicky. I'm sure when I see/feel it I'll have a different opinion. Glossy screens look great, until you get them into a brightly lit room or outdoors. Would like to see a matte finish option. Graphics card is nice. Easy hard drive upgrade/replacement (under battery) is a welcome change (as I contemplate upgrading the hard drive on my MBP) Overall, these will be popular. It doesn't have enough "holy wow!" for me to trade in my early 2007 MacBook Pro though. Would love a 24" Cinema Display, but at $900, I can find other 24" displays much cheaper. I'm headed to the Apple Store tomorrow to see if they have the new items and will update with any impressions, etc.

Ummmm....

Words cannot do this justice.


(and you thought this would be about the new MacBooks...)

New MacBooks Are A Comin'

Not that this hasn't been reported in a bazillion other places, but Apple is holding a media event next Tuesday October 14 to unveil new MacBooks. What secrets will they hold? What magical powers will they possess? What worldly ails will they cure? Only time will tell!

The Woz is Nuts

In a recent interview with The Telegraph Steve Wozniak says the iPod has lived a long life at number one and will die off as did the transistor radio and walkman. Um, yes, it will eventually die off as does all technology. But he's not really comparing Apples to Apples (pun intended, deal with it). Not only has the iPod has evolved over the years, it has something the transistor radio and walkman never did - an ecosystem. iTunes, accessories, plug-ins, the works. I appreciate his contribution to the computer industry, but what is his relevance now? What has he done lately? Segway Polo champion?

Apple Doesn't Need Jobs

Steve that is. At least according to Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research (who/what?).

Ezra says there is a stable leadership in place and the company will run fine. While I certainly believe that, I don't want to be caught holding a bunch of stock when Steve finally decides to call it quits.

While Jonathan Ive and Phil Schiller are great guys, I'm just not sure they could generate the same amount of "boom" that Steve does at keynote speeches.

:-)

Via MacsimumNews

Apple Finally Gets Smart

Apple has finally dropped the NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) that has stifled developers from talking to each other, helpful books being published and more. About damn time dumbasses.

We have decided to drop the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for released iPhone software.

We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.

However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software. Developers will receive a new agreement without an NDA covering released software within a week or so. Please note that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released.

Thanks to everyone who provided us constructive feedback on this matter.

Via MacRumors

Put Congress In Your Pocket

For my overly enthusiastic politico friends - here's a must-have app for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Get easy access to all the information you need about any person in Congress.

This is fairly timely given the current situation our government has put us in. Tell them how much they suck and drive down their approval ratings even lower in the toilet than they already are.

:-)

Apple Changes App Store Review Policy

Apple now requires users to actually own an iPhone/iPod Touch application in order to review it. Novel concept. As an iTunes App Store developer, I certainly welcome the change.

Via TUAW

Apple Has An Official YouTube Page

I guess this is going to be a slow Apple news week as we all wait for new MacBooks in a couple weeks. Apple launched a new official YouTube page.

With the exception of an iTunes tutorial, it's all ads. Maybe they'll put some classic ads and things that are more interesting than ads.

(Via Macenstein)

Vinoriffic is Live

My first iPhone/iPod Touch application, Vinoriffic, is live on the iTunes Apps store. Vinoriffic lets you quickly capture information about a wine that you've enjoyed and even purchase it right then and there.

I'm excited to see the feedback to know what to put in the next version. If you like it, or think it has a lot of potential, give it a good review on the store. If you don't like it or don't think it has potential, don't review it. :-)

I'm committed to enhancing the application based on what features people request most. The app went live last night some time and I've already had some feedback which is great!

Update Version 1.1 has been submitted to Apple for approval. 1.1 addresses an bug that prevents the proper wine from being returned in some searches. 1.5 is also coming soon with a vastly improved buy interface. 2.0 is starting to take shape with the addition of fields requested by some users.

Mac OS 10.5.5 is Out

Download y'all! Just run software update.

iPhone 2.1 Firmware Update Is Out

Get it now. It's worth the wait! Better signals, battery life, faster interface, Genius, and more.

Genius, Initial Perspective

Finally got a chance to try the iTunes Genius feature on my MacBook Pro. Even though it has 1/1000 of my music collection, the Genius feature put together a great playlist. All songs flowed nicely into each other and were of the same tone. Kudos Apple!

Way2Poppy's Take

Watching the keynote now (yes, I know, a couple days later - I've been in Jury Duty).



Highlights:

iTunes
- 65 million iTunes accounts
- 8.5 songs
- 125,000 podcasts
- HDTV Shows - $2.99
- NBC is back (aww, that Hulu thing didn't work out? Shocking.)
- iTunes 8
--- Grid view (I've used it a little, don't like it so far)
--- Genius (Signed up for it, haven't used it yet, be ready for a future post)

iPod
- iPod has a 73.4% market share of all audio players
- Over 5000 iPod accessories
- 90% of all US cars offer iPod integration
- Apple has sold over 160 million iPods since 2004.
- New 120 GB iPod classic (no 80GB or 160GB)
- New iPod Nano
-- Thinnest iPod ever made
-- Oval shape
-- Aluminum
-- Glass
-- Enhanced user interface (hold center button down for contextual menu)
-- Accelerometer (shake to shuffle - very cool)
-- Genius list creation
-- Voice recorder built-in
-- 24 hour music/4 hour video battery life
-- "Green" iPod (Mercury, PVC, Arsenic, BFR free)
-- nano-chromatic colors (silver, black, purple, green, pink, blue, yellow, orange, red)
-- 4GB - $149; 16GB $199

New Accessories
- Arm band
- Headphones
-- Volume Controls
-- Next/Previous/Pause/Play
-- Microphone
-- $29
- In-ear Headphones
-- 2 drives - woofer/tweeter (very nice)
-- Same controls
-- $79

iPod Touch
- Thinner
- Stainless Steel Back
- Integrated Volume Controls
- Built-in speaker
- Genius playlist creation
- Built-in Nike+iPod
- 36 hours music/6 hours video
- "Green" iPod (Mercury, PVC, Arsenic, BFR free)
- "Funnest iPod Ever"
- 8 GB $229/16 GB $299/32 GB $399
- 2.1 software (free to 2.0 users; $9.95 for 1.0 users)

iTunes Applications Store
- 3,000 Applications (but no Vinoriffic yet)
- Users have downloaded over 100 million applications
- Only 60 days old

iPhone
- 2.1 update - fixes lots of bugs (fewer call drops, better battery life, faster iTunes sync - about f'ing time)
- Free to all iPhone owners
- Available 12 September 2008.

Special Guest
- Sold 16 Million albums
- #1 male artist in iTunes history
- Jack Johnson

Too Poppy: The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me

I have no doubt Way2Poppy will weigh in with more introspective reactions to Apple's announcement today, but - as a music fan - here's my take:

Too Poppy: The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me
The quintessential digital music player got a refresh today - Apple announced the new iPod classic, the new and rainbowy iPod nano, new iPod shuffle flavors, and the new iPod touch. A new version of iTunes is also available for download. You'll hear about the details elsewhere, but my initial reactions:

• Can't wait to try Genius.
• I like the iPod nano more than I thought I would.
• But I still favor size over style.
• Talk to me in another generation about iPod touch.
  

WTF???!!!!????

Someone please explain this to me. Seriously. This is the softer side of Microsoft? What, retardation?

Why I Don't Go To DragonCon

'nuff said.

September 9, 2008

From sista blog Too Poppy:

It's been a looooong time since Apple has significantly upgraded the iPod and after dropping mine down the garage stairs for the first time in its two-and-a-half years of existence, it's good to know that change may be a-coming. Although, if the new iPod looks at all like this, I'll keep my trusty ol' classic working as long as possible (BTW, the drop resulted in not even a scratch - at least Brandon Wilde is playing fine today.)

Apple confirms September 9 Special Event: "Let's Rock"

Upgrade Your Damn Phone

You're ruining it for the rest of us.

Steve Jobs' Obituary

Yep, you read that right. The geniuses at Bloomberg accidentally published a draft of Steve Jobs' obituary.

Read what Bloomberg plans to say when Steve eventually passes away, which I hope is a long ass time from now.

It's important to note that it is typical for a news outlet to prepare obituaries for prominent figures so that they can react quickly when the eventuality happens.

Top 10 Web Site Redesign Mistakes

Embarking on a web site redesign can be a daunting task. If you don’t get it right, the damage can be immeasurable. Avoid these (too) common mistakes on your next web site project:

read more | digg story

Get Ready for the Microsoft Onslaught

Microsoft is gearing up to roll out their new marketing campaign to answer Apple's very successful "Get A Mac" ads.

Because if there's one way to show people how "with it" you are, it's to contract with a 90's icon whom hasn't done anything "with it" in over a decade.

BTW - there is a handful of new Get A Mac ads out.

The Second Coming

Yep, I waited in line today. And yep, I totally underestimated the line and length of time it would take. I naively thought the lines wouldn't be as bad as last year since it wasn't new here, people would be more casual about it, etc. Duh. Finally got my phone after 5.5 hours in line and didn't have a working phone for another hour.

The time was mostly due to Apple and AT&T insistence that you can't leave the store without an activated phone. So you have a million people trying to all activate phones at the same time and Apple nor AT&T couldn't handle the traffic. It was taking anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes or more to purchase and go through the two-step activation process.

I'm a bit disappointed with Apple. One of the great things last year was that you could buy the phone quickly and easily and activate it at home. Sure there were activation issues last year, but I didn't have any and even if I did, I'd at least be in the comfort of my own home. That said, I waited in line with fun people and the Apple Store employees were there amazingly helpful selves.

On to the phone. I have not had much time to play with it, but I love the feel of it in my hand. It's a tad lighter than the previous iPhone, thicker in the middle, but with tapered edges which make it look & feel thinner. The interface is zippy and the 3G network is definitely light years better than the pokey EDGE network.

I have yet to download any Apps, but I'll definitely be trying a game or two and the MLB app. Cool stuff. This is going to be huge for Apple. The analysts have already doubled their estimate for iPhone sales next year to over 40 million.

iPhone 3G Details

Apple has posted a guided tour of the new 3G phone

AT&T has posted pricing, purchase and upgrade details.

AT&T has also posted videos on how to prepare for purchasing the 3G phone:
Existing AT&T Customers; New AT&T Customers.

AppleInsider details how to “hand down” your 1st Gen iPhone.


Some further details:

• Data plans are $10 more a month for 3G.


• There is still some confusion as to how MS Exchange mail will work. According to AT&T, if you want Exchange mail and ActiveSync you need to be on the “Enterprise Data Plan” which costs $15 more a month. But they’re not saying they will disable the feature for non-enterprise plans. There is no detail on this for 1st Gen iPhones.


• Text messages are no longer included as part of the data plan. They’re either 20 cents a message or $5/month for 200 messages, $15/month for 1500 and $20/month for unlimited. So don’t send me any text messages anymore. :-)


• Existing iPhone users will pay an $18 activation fee; new iPhone users will pay $36


• It is true that you have to activate the iPhone 3G before you leave the store, so I’m betting that July 11th will be nothing short of nightmarish. Certainly not the pickup an go of last year. Apple hasn’t announced when they will start selling the iPhone, but I’d be surprised if it was different than AT&T.

Happy Birthday iPhone!

Believe it or not, it was 1 year ago today that the iPhone went on sale. Ah, I remember it vividly. Waiting in line for 6 hours with a couple friends, lawn chairs, and a couple beers smuggled in via travel mugs. Memories. And with the 2nd generation iPhone going on sale in 10 days, 16 hours, 2 minutes and 11 seconds (but who's counting?), I'll be repeating history.

Good Luck Bill!

Today is Bill Gates' last day at Microsoft. If you've been living under a rock for the past 2 years, he is retiring to start spending his 58 billion dollar fortune. He's got some charity or something. Frankly, I'd be more than happy to help him spend the money. He could even give some of it to my favorite charity - Give Chuck The World Foundation.

Engadget has declared today Bill Gates Day. Mr. Gates will be speaking to all Microsoft employees later today.

Regardless of what you think of Microsoft, Bill Gates has achieved amazing feats in his 33 years at the helm. I could list some/all here, but it's too much work and a simple Google search will take care of it for you.

My Latest My First Mac Article

What Are My Choices In Using a Mouse With My New Mac?

Why You Don't F*ck With Nature

Ants! And these aren't the kind that invade your grandma's living room. These suckers get into electrical equipment and cause all sorts of trouble. With multiple queens and resistance to current pesticides, these things are around to stay. And just like fire ants, killer bees and kudzu, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they're found all over the southeast and attacking the iPod, iPhone & Mac Mania Blog global headquarters.

AT&T Offers Refurbed iPhones

AT&T has refurbished iPhones on sale. Buy the 8GB for $249 and the 16GB for $349 with free shipping. I believe I've ranted in the past about the advantages of buying refurbed, so I'll spare you this time.

Of course, keep in mind that the 3G iPhone is right around the corner, sometime between any second now and June 24th, depending on who you believe.

Via SlickDeals

HBO Shows Added to iTunes

As rumored, HBO shows are now available on iTunes. The cost per episode is $2.99 which is $1 more than what other shows cost. Since HBO is a premium network, this does actually make sense to me and is not necessarily a break in Apple's stringent pricing.

Need Another Reason To Buy A Mac?

Built-in theft detection.

iPhone To Launch in Late June/July?

AT&T is telling employees that vacation requests for late June through late July will be limited. They did the same thing last year for the iPhone launch. Considering the deafening rumors mill for this time frame, it's pretty much a guarantee.

iPhone Simulation Developer's Kit for iRise

I've been working on the OneSpring iPhone Simulation Developer's Kit (SimDK™) for iRise. The press release we did with iRise got picked up today by MacWorld and PC World (where they butchered my name)! Cool stuff!!

Update: My name has been corrected! :-)

IBM is looking to switch to Macs

What the title said.

Put It On Your Calendar -

14 April 2008 - The beginning of the end of Blockbuster & Circuit City.

New Mac Clone

It's been a while since the last authorized Mac clone was run out of business by Mr. Jobs. Here for your litigation pleasure is an announcement from a small company out of Miami selling an unauthorized Mac clone, the OpenMac.

It certainly does fill a gap in Apple's lineup. If you don't want the built-in monitor of the iMac or notebooks, your choice is either the Mac Pro or the Mac Mini. The Mac Pro is great if you're just that - a pro. It's got the horsepower and expandability to rule the world. However, if you're not a pro, it's the Mac Mini for you. The underpowered, integrated graphics, low memory mini. Want to upgrade the processor? Can't. Want to upgrade the graphics card? Can't. Want more the 2GB or ram? Can't.

Macenstein has a great writeup about it.

This one will be interesting to watch as I'm sure the Apple legal team is sharpening their pencils.

Update: It looks to be a hoax.

This is why I'm an Apple Customer

Well, one of the reasons. I recently had two issues with iTunes. I purchased a season of Scooby Doo (for the kids of course) on my AppleTV, but only 3 of the 8 episodes downloaded for some reason. I reported a problem with my purchase, and within 4 hours or so, I had a response with some troubleshooting ideas. They didn't work. Without a hassle, they reinstated the 5 missing episodes and I was able to download. Great customer service.

I have been listening to 3 purchased albums from a very cool band, Ike, recently. Unfortunately, on one of the two albums, three of the songs have a blip in the middle of the track. Very annoying. I again contacted iTunes and without question or hassle issued 3 download credits and asked that I wait three weeks so they could investigate. Awesome customer service.

iTunes Number One

Apple announced today that iTunes is the number 1 music retailer, surpassing Wal*Mart. Pretty impressive.

A Drunk Jeff Goldblum Sells the iMac

This is hilarious:



It is the original iMac commercial with Jeff Goldblum, but slowed down 30%. So basically he's just a drunk fast-talker.

Apple Number 1

Apple was recently named the number 1 brand with world impact. Microsoft was named number 1 brand in need of a makeover.

You've Been Steved

Awesome exchange between Steve Jobs and a customer:

Dear Steve Jobs,

I wanted to write and express my concern about some recent problems that I have had with Apple Care. This week, my MacBook Pro unfortunately sustained water damage. I understand this is entirely my fault but it is still something I would like to get fixed. After three or four calls I was finally able to get a straight answer. While I was happy to get a straight answer, I was not at all happy with the answer. It is very worrisome to me that the only way to get my computer fixed is to pay almost $300.00 up front with no guarantee that this will fix the problem. I was horrified to learn that their is no system to assess the problem and bill once all damage is known. I am reluctant to put money into a problem that could easily grow. I have had three Apple computers in a row. I love using them but I am not sure if my replacement will be one. I feel powerless in the situation and the whole experience has turned me off of the Apple company.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxx Xxxx

And Steve's response:

Xxxxxxx,

This is what happens when your MacBook Pro sustains water damage.They are pro machines and they don’t like water. It sounds like you’re just looking for someone to get mad at other than yourself.

Steve

I love Steve even more now.

A Sad Day

Okay, this has nothing to do with Apple, but when the inventor of your favorite (and the greatest) McDonald's breakfast item dies, you do the right thing and honor him.

Rest in peace, Herb Peterson.

WTF?

Symantic released Norton Antivirus for Mac OS X this week. WTF? Norton Antivirus? For Mac? Well there's a pointless piece of bloatware. I mean Norton runs like shit on a PC (yes, I said shit - screw you, it's my blog). Now it's available for a Mac? A Mac that has no viruses? Um, whatever.

Sure, having an antivirus program on the Mac will cleanse any viruses for your PC-loving friends, but there are several problems with this. First, if you associate with people that use PC's, you obviously have a problem choosing friends. Second, if your friends are stupid enough to still be using PC's, they deserve the viruses.

Damnit.

Happy Birthday Mac OS X

Happy 7th Birthday OS X!!

It's About Fudging Time

Although I didn't say Fudging. I said the queen mother of all swear words, the F dash dash dash [ing] word.

The latest Airport Extreme update enables Time Machine updates over AirDisks.

It's about fucking fudging time.

Dude, You're Getting a Mac!

Somebody important (I forget now who) did a comparison between the MacBook and Dell XPS and the Mac comes out on top in price by $20. Add in the fact that you get iLife and other software bundled in with the Mac and it comes in way out on top. Take that, dude.

Oh yeah, it was some Bear Stearns analysts.

AT&T Adds Unlimited Plan to iPhone

For a mere $120 a month, you can talk unlimited to anyone in the US. No minutes to worry about. You still only get a paltry 200 text messages tho.

Cool Pic

Nothing particular to say here other than it's a cool pic. It's made up of all Apple Products.

Apple Announces iPhone SDK

Apple released details on the Apple SDK yesterday. Highlights:

• SDK is free for basic access.


• For $99 you get enhanced development tools including the ability to download your app to an iPhone for testing & debugging.


• For Enterprises wanting to develop custom applications, the cost is $299. You don't get anything additional (that I can tell).


• Applications will be distributed via a new Application Store in iTunes. Developers will pay Apple 30% of the cost of their application to cover hosting and maintaining the store. There is no cost for free applications.


• Entrepreneurs who want to start a new business based around the iPhone can apply for a portion of 100 million dollars in venture capitalist funding.

See the full presentation on Apple's site. Very cool stuff.

I've been trying to download the SDK all day, but Apple's developer site is not serving up pages. They must be getting slammed with requests.

UPDATE: Was finally able to download the SDK. A lot of people are having issues and it has to do with the login. You have to login to ADC first, then into iPhone SDK. Real intuitive Apple. I expect better.

Anti MagSafe?

Okay, with two small children (and being a clumsy oaf) I can't tell you how many times the MagSafe Connector has saved my precious MacBook Pro from disaster.

Well, if you'd rather have your non-MagSafe power connector, the MagStay Pro will help you make sure that when you trip over the cord the next time, the Mac will come crashing to the floor.

Um, okay. Whatever.

I'm A Mac....with some hot RAM (booyah!)

Okay, that was terrible. But Justin Long (AKA "Mac") hung out with Drew Barrymore recently on the beach.

Hey, anything for a bikini picture.

No Flash For You!

Apple says "maybe" to Adobe's flash on the iPhone.

iPods Cause Crime, Cancer and Global Warming.

Well, maybe just crime. That's according to some dumbass (2nd time today!) "think tank" that links iPods to violent crime. What a bunch of crap. If I walk up to some punk and hit him with a two-by-four and then take his iPod, that's not crime. That's creative acquisition.

iPhone SDK Announcment Tomorry

Apple's iPhone SDK announcement is tomorrow at 1pm Eastern. I could list all the other time zones, but frankly if you don't live in my time zone then forget you. Plus, Engadget has already done the work. Macrumors, Engadget, and others will have the results of the announcement. I could link to them all, but that would require some effort and frankly, you're just not worth it. I may or may not post an update regarding the announcement. It just depends on how much you piss me off.

Steve Jobs Is A Dumbass

Okay, I have a lot of respect for Steve Jobs. He is behind my favorite consumer products of all time, he turned around the mess that was Apple, he delivers the most entertaining keynote, etc., etc., etc.

But get this. He got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and waited nine months to have life-saving surgery. Jeebus.

Now during those nine months he tried a special diet and other holistic treatments. Now I respect that some of these treatments my help things like indigestion. But freakin' pancreatic cancer?

Fortune Magazine has the scoop.

Scrabble Comes to iPod

If you're a fan of word games, then head over to iTunes and pick up Scrabble for iPod. For just $4.99, you too can be getting triple word scores with "QI", "QUOD" and "XI".

Too Poppy and I have been additively playing Scrabulous, another version of Scrabble for Facebook. Haven't put it down for over 2 months now.

Have fun!