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JimmyC
Mark you calenders for Sept 8 as Apple says "Let’s Rock." in a special event to probably announce new iPods that are cheaper, and re-designed. Per CNN/Money:
Apple executives in the past have said that the future of iPods lies in more powerful devices able to connect wirelessly to the Internet, rather than standalone entertainment gadgets. The company’s first step in that direction is the iPod touch, a version of the product that resembles the iPhone with its large touch-sensing screen and wi-fi wireless technology. The iPod touch also has the ability to run much of the software now being created by independent developers for the iPhone, including everything from games to a program for accessing the Facebook social network. Apple executives have hinted recently that a price cut for the iPod touch, which starts at
$299, was likely soon. more…
There are sorts of Mac Rumors out there from a new Nano that follows the old form factor long and thin but all screen to reduced prices for the iTouch. YouTube Video from Kevin Rose on the new Nano and a bit more on new iPods and the 2008 roadmap.
FORTUNE: Apple 2.0 iPhone vs. BlackBerry 9000: The keyboard wars, round 2 «
I have to say that the keyboard is the biggest reason I’m not sold yet on the iPhone. Okay for the weekend but I really type a lot on my Blackberry. I do it with my thumbs - not sure I could get the speed I need with the virtual keyboard and not "feeling it"
With 3G coming out - it will be hard to resist though. Maybe they should come out with a version based on the old iPod design with a keyboard instead of the spin wheel. I wonder what other models will come out next year?
Great summary from The Apple Blog:
Using Your Mac Wisely: Video Content | The Apple Blog
of the options you have to get video on iTunes and iPod. For the promise of the iTouch and AppleTV. Content is King and I only embraced the iPod when I could put all of the CD’s I purchased on it. This makes it worthwhile to start watching on the small screen. But I haven’t got one yet. DJ was the first in our house to get an iPod Nano FAT and watch videos. Most of them his own animations.
Macworld: Secrets: New AirPort, old network, Page 1This is a great article on how to setup a new Wireless N router/WiFi network with your old one. Â The big why? Â Because if you put an old Wireless G or B device on this new network it will slow everyone down. Â This approach lets you do both. Â
Daniel is computer animation.  Took a class this summer in camp. He also wants to use his Lego Bionicles to do it.  I told him about stop motion and his friend has done it with a small camera.  I found JoJo’s website and this might do the trick for him.   Photojojo » How to Make Stop-Motion Video Shorts with Your Digital CameraIt gets better - with my nikon and my new mac-pro this will be a breeze.  I have Final Cut Express and it has Blue and Green screen filters built in.  As described on Final Cut Pro QuickTips via Digital Media Online this is very possible to do. We can do the stop motion as JoJo suggests but on a green screen and have it on any background we like.  Here is a cool site from a DIY site that describes a low-budget way to make backdrops. And another Down and Dirty Greenscreen. Researching paint color to just paint a wall revealed you just want to get as close to true green or blue (like on the test pattern on the TV).Â
The Apple iPhone is here. I am not sure how they got the name from Cisco or why they are doing so much in a phone. I can’t see it replacing my blackberry - I just love the keyboard, tactile feel, ability to type without looking as I am typing this. But for weekend phoning, it will replace my sony (I use my Blackberry only for work) and I’ll use it for music and pictures. I hope they come out with a new video iPod that uses this same technology and is hard-drive based, then I’ll replace my ancient iPod still using my iPod Nano for working out.
The BIG DEAL is that this thing runs Mac OSX. That it provides a new user interface for the iPod, That its touch screen interface will allow for:
A Tablet Mac - why not? - the way you move through pictures, albums, email and web pages is amazing. Like flipping through cd or album covers, like turning pages in a photo album or magazine. A MacBook that is all screen would be amazing.
And an iPod Video with a big hard drive that can store a lot of movies even better. Sure, this thing connects via WiFi so I imagine it will work with the AppleTV and a Mac but the point is taking it on an airplane. I don’t know what is next, Apple will not introduce a new iPod until June so the millions of new iPod users won’t feel like crap for buying them for the holidays. This will be a great year. Glad I held most of my Apple Stock, its up 8+% so far today.
Oh, and Apple Computer, Inc. is now Apple, Inc.
Engadget got info out there during Steve Job’s keynote at Macworld 2007. Engadget has pictures and info already on their website. I’m not copying and pasting - go see it yourself:
Steve Jobs Keynote at Engadget
He is such a master at this.
AppleTV at Engadget
Its a PC - why not just replace the mac Mini.
The Apple iPhone - Engadget
Walt Mossberg Article on cordless/noise cancellation headphones Two good options here but my POV is that they are still too expensive and cumbersome. Fact is, they are still tied to adding a base unit and quite frankly, my approach is to buy a Nano or Shuffle and strap it to my arm or clip it on my collar. Think about how small the Shuffle is - a short wire and its about the same size as these fancy headphones. Get some earbuds and you are good to go! $79 vs $300!
As for the headsets for your ears that use bluetooth - I have tried several models since them came out and still am not comfortable. They annoy my ear and I still am embarassed to wear them. I did find a Motorola model (the older one) that’s flip out mic is best for wind noise - thank you Walt - but in the end went back to the simple ear-bud wired version for my BlackBerry. I may try The Boom when my calls increase again. My friend Tony says it is fantastic. Quite frankly, I’m not travelling that much and I don’t WANT to talk on the phone that much.
Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes
Apple iTunes store now has movies. Inexpensive relative to the copy in the store but buit for the iPod. I wonder a few things.
Help says you cannot burn iTunes movies to DVD: “Movies purchased from the iTunes Store can’t be burned to a DVD or VCD that will play in a DVD player or Video CD.” So what good is downloading Dumbo if I can’t burn it to a DVD to play in the car for the kids? Hmmmmmm.  Will they have a tool to not only stream to the TV (as Steve said) but also to my minivan?
Also, like CD’s can you rip DVD movies into iTunes to watch on your iPod or TV?
Nike Plus - An iPod Shoe? - PaulStamatiou.com
It doesn’t matter how much is written this new technolgy is misunderstood, mystified, magical.
I think its the broad market for the small market that was the Triax Elite HRM/SDM I have been using for a while now. Its cool - those that run with music and compete with the masses, enjoy the fashon and fun - welcome to the pack and run!
guyotdesigns | Products: Firefly
Well - I came downstairs to my computer with Amex in hand fully intending to purchase this little item as it doesn’t appear to be on the list for father’s day 
but now I’m hesitating. I went to the site and its not $15 as widely anticipated but $21.95 and the cheapest shipping is $10 for Fedex ground. So now its $31.95 and that’s a bit too much for a gadget as I wrote on Joe’s site.
Treehugger has found another product: LightCap by Simply Brilliant or I guess Sol Light - some subsidiary or distributor. Some of the folks pointed out that the Nalgene bottles have been linked to health problems. Specifically: Grist.org and another site - Ascribe lays out some facts about plastics that release bad stuff and can be recycled; seem to say Nalgene Lexan is ok to some extent.
Bottom line - it appears the biggest risk is unsubstanitated problems for pregnant moms - none in this house. I did get a little nervous when my daughter wanted to take a pink Nalgene Lexan to camp but I don’t think it will be a problem. Bisphenol A is the wicked ingredient; caused problems in mice - not proven in humans and not proven in Lexan bottles. The thing to do, I think, is to toss old bottles after they get used a lot - get cloudy or worn; then the leaching is more likely. If you are into fear go here, to Our Stolen Furniture website. Its like my Liver doctor said when I discovered I might have NASH; I asked him if I was going to die and he said “yes - but not from this.” Nalgene has a page for it too. I just tossed my old Nalgene bottles and will make it a point to “invest” in a new one every year if necessary.
Now about that light.
Jim
