i-rant

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.  

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?