Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
OpenOffice.Org 2.0.0
Check it out. If you don't need all the extra MS Office fluff and don't want to spend $$$.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, October 17, 2005
The iWood nano: iPod case made from 100% nature....and Mrs.Gates has one!
The iWood nano looks differnt enough to make it. Not sure of how all the varieties of wood look. Nothing mentions price.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Apple does it again....5 weeks later
So today as 5 weeks ago Apple announces some “slight” changes in their product line. The last iMac G5 was so cool. Basically just a flat panel monitor with a G5 in it. Well now the new iMac is thinner than the one just introduced about a year ago. It has a built in iSight camera, a remote control (to play movies,videos and photos from across the room) and a bunch of other improvements. The best part is...the same price as the outgoing one ($1,299). Apple finally announced what we have waited (or at least heard rumors of) a Video iPod as well as a new version of iTunes to go with it. The “new” iTunes features are listed below.
Music Videos
Browse more than 2,000 music videos available for $1.99.
TV Shows
Download full seasons or the latest episodes of your favorite ABC and Disney shows.
Customer Reviews
Post your own customer reviews and ratings, and read what other fans have to say.
Just For You
Get personalized recommendations tailored to your musical preferences.
Give Music and More
Buy and send music and videos as gifts. Give iTunes Music Cards and gift certificates.
The Complete Stevie Wonder
Download over 500 songs, a full-color digital booklet and three bonus videos in a single click.
The new iPod has the same pricing structure as before but a 30GB version replaces the 20GB color iPod. I didn’t see any mention of the U2 version of the iPod but now the “big” iPods come in black just as the iPod nano does. Again making things smaller seems to be the theme Apple is using. The new 30GB iPod is 31% smaller than the 20GB iPod it replaces. Even the new 60GB iPod is 12% smaller than the gen4 20GB iPod. I think I will stick with my 3G 20Gb iPod, 1GB iPod Shuffle and 2GB iPod nano for a while. I mean I like Apple products but I can’t afford to replace them for the sake of replacing them. I’m going to keep those until they stop working (physically or some software upgrade that makes them obsolete) So unlike the nano I don’t think the iPod’s ability to play video is going to make people dump their 4G iPod. There where plenty of people who DID NOT get a shuffle because it didn’t have a display. Well the nano changed that idea...small flash based player with a display...gotta get one of those. I don’t think that will be the case for the new “big” iPod. Granted if you where in the market for an MP3 player and didn’t know what you wanted...then this makes the choice a bit easier. If you want to playback video(s) you only have one iPod to choose from. Apple has made a deal with ABC/Disney to allow people to pay/download for current hit shows the day after they broadcast. So this means you can get LOST and Desperate Housewives the next day. This is one area I think Apple sorta messed up on. I can understand buying a music video ($1.99 - would rather it be $1.49) but why would you want to pay that for a TV show that you could record yourself? (Tivo/Cable DVR etc.) It doesn’t take much effort to get a show from your DVR to a PC which in turn you could import into iTunes.
The major downside with the iTunes videos is that they can not be burned to CD or DVD. You can only watch them on the computer or iPod. They have the same Fair Use play as their songs do. You own the video and there is no subscription to pay. I’m sure there will be a way to get around the burning issue. I’m going to get my copy of iTunes 6 now...
Music Videos
Browse more than 2,000 music videos available for $1.99.
TV Shows
Download full seasons or the latest episodes of your favorite ABC and Disney shows.
Customer Reviews
Post your own customer reviews and ratings, and read what other fans have to say.
Just For You
Get personalized recommendations tailored to your musical preferences.
Give Music and More
Buy and send music and videos as gifts. Give iTunes Music Cards and gift certificates.
The Complete Stevie Wonder
Download over 500 songs, a full-color digital booklet and three bonus videos in a single click.
The new iPod has the same pricing structure as before but a 30GB version replaces the 20GB color iPod. I didn’t see any mention of the U2 version of the iPod but now the “big” iPods come in black just as the iPod nano does. Again making things smaller seems to be the theme Apple is using. The new 30GB iPod is 31% smaller than the 20GB iPod it replaces. Even the new 60GB iPod is 12% smaller than the gen4 20GB iPod. I think I will stick with my 3G 20Gb iPod, 1GB iPod Shuffle and 2GB iPod nano for a while. I mean I like Apple products but I can’t afford to replace them for the sake of replacing them. I’m going to keep those until they stop working (physically or some software upgrade that makes them obsolete) So unlike the nano I don’t think the iPod’s ability to play video is going to make people dump their 4G iPod. There where plenty of people who DID NOT get a shuffle because it didn’t have a display. Well the nano changed that idea...small flash based player with a display...gotta get one of those. I don’t think that will be the case for the new “big” iPod. Granted if you where in the market for an MP3 player and didn’t know what you wanted...then this makes the choice a bit easier. If you want to playback video(s) you only have one iPod to choose from. Apple has made a deal with ABC/Disney to allow people to pay/download for current hit shows the day after they broadcast. So this means you can get LOST and Desperate Housewives the next day. This is one area I think Apple sorta messed up on. I can understand buying a music video ($1.99 - would rather it be $1.49) but why would you want to pay that for a TV show that you could record yourself? (Tivo/Cable DVR etc.) It doesn’t take much effort to get a show from your DVR to a PC which in turn you could import into iTunes.
The major downside with the iTunes videos is that they can not be burned to CD or DVD. You can only watch them on the computer or iPod. They have the same Fair Use play as their songs do. You own the video and there is no subscription to pay. I’m sure there will be a way to get around the burning issue. I’m going to get my copy of iTunes 6 now...
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Life with my iPod nano (Almost a month now)
I’ve been using an iPod nano since the two days after it was available from the Apple store. No, I wasn’t one of those folks who ran down to the store to place an order. My wife “won” a 2GB iPod nano for a charity auction at work. She knew it was only a matter of time before I bought one and thought giving it to me through the auction was the only way to ensure that I wouldn’t be able to pick one up for myself beforehand. I have a tendency to buy things for myself just after she has purchased them as future gifts.
Anyway, back to the nano. If you haven’t seen one in person you can’t appreciate how small it is. Just as it was for the iPod shuffle. The thing with the nano is they where able to get a color screen and click-wheel in there as well. It is really amazing.
I have the 2GB black one. Now, if I were to buy one for myself I would have purchased the 4GB version (black as well...just to be different). Ironically 9 days before the nano was purchased I bought a 6GB iPod mini for my wife....hindsight is so 20/20.
The display is bright and clear. Audio quality is just as good as the other iPods. Click wheel seems a bit touchy compared to the other iPods we own but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. This device is so small/light.....I’m afraid I cold easily loose this. The black color does smudge easily. Design wise this should have been the shuffle. Granted lack of screen kept the price down but....if you are “looking” to listen to a particular podcast you’ll need to tweak the playlist of the shuffle to get those.
Overall, I LOVE the nano....faults and all. It looks good, sounds good.
Anyway, back to the nano. If you haven’t seen one in person you can’t appreciate how small it is. Just as it was for the iPod shuffle. The thing with the nano is they where able to get a color screen and click-wheel in there as well. It is really amazing.
I have the 2GB black one. Now, if I were to buy one for myself I would have purchased the 4GB version (black as well...just to be different). Ironically 9 days before the nano was purchased I bought a 6GB iPod mini for my wife....hindsight is so 20/20.
The display is bright and clear. Audio quality is just as good as the other iPods. Click wheel seems a bit touchy compared to the other iPods we own but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. This device is so small/light.....I’m afraid I cold easily loose this. The black color does smudge easily. Design wise this should have been the shuffle. Granted lack of screen kept the price down but....if you are “looking” to listen to a particular podcast you’ll need to tweak the playlist of the shuffle to get those.
Overall, I LOVE the nano....faults and all. It looks good, sounds good.
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