Apple: "The Beat Goes On" Indeed....(Picture Heavy)

Well, it was a very interesting press conference. We learned about three new iPod's, as well as some new features for the iPhone.So, lets get started with the run down.

iPhone/iTunes

So, to start off the insanity, a new feature was announce for the iPhone through iTunes. People will now, as of tomorrow, have the ability to create ringtones for their iPhone without hacking. However, this is a catch. A) you have to use songs purchased through iTunes, B) you must pay a extra 99 cents, and C) it can only be 30 sec. long. The last part doesn't irk me to much, but a extra 99 cents! Plus they MUST be from the iTunes store? If you ask me that's complete B.S.

iPod Nano

The iPod Nano got the biggest change today. First off, Apple has decided that for the next generation of the iPod Nano, you can have videos, pictures, and the new cover flow feature, at the same resolution as the iPod Videos(320x240). And remember that "mock-up" we showed? That is actually what it looks like. The new Nano's will be available in 4GB and 8GB at $149 and $199 respectably. This sounds like a great refresh. Good for people who only need lit loads of music. So, here is some pictures.

^From the Apple Store^

iPod Classic

Steve made another interesting announcement. The former iPod Video's will now receive the brand "iPod Classic". Not much is being done here. One of the major things is that they will now have a 80GB and 160GB version at $249 and $349 respectably. They are thinner than the old ones. They feature the metal case like the Nano's and also feature the new cover flow feature. And here are pics of the refresh.

 

^From the Apple Store^

The Big Finale

Well, this is what we were all waiting for. A completely new iPod, unlike one seen before. The "iPod Touch"! The iPod Touch.....think of it as the iPhone, but with the just the iPod OS(Like I previously said). It does run a version of MAC OSX. You choose between videos, pictures, and music through the dock at the bottom. It has icons much like the iPhone. The apps it has are YouTube, Calendar, Safari, Contacts, Calculator, and Settings. You use this iPod the exact same way you use the iPod function of the iPhone.  This iPod also comes with built in wifi, a browser, and a new feature which will also come to the iPhone....wireless iTunes Store. Which means, I can go to any wifi hotspot and download a song on my iPod/iPhone. Also, Apple has teamed with Starbucks to give iPod Touch/iPhone users free access to the iTunes store in Starbucks. It will come in a 8GB and 16GB versions at $299 and $399. And with out further ado, the new iPod Touch!

^From the Apple Store^

So, I'll express my final reactions tomorrow. For now, you can see the press conference your self with Steve demoing these new products HERE.

mSeliga

Microsoft: OOXML Dead?

Microsoft came up with a alternative to XML, OOXML. The main idea of OOXML is to streamline compatibility in offices that use different file formats and OOXML's are more secure(says Microsoft). However, after sending it to a standards committee to announce it as a standard for XML use, it has seen many bumps. At the moment, it looks like it will fall on deaf ears until they can appease our friends overseas.

mSeliga

Microsoft: Vista Bug Leaves Swedes Internet-less

Last week in Sweden, if you were running Vista, your Internet would have shut down. Why? Apparently, the Swedish ISP's use Linux based servers which don't play to well with Vista. Not sure if at the moment the issue is fixed, but I'm sure Microsoft will be careful about updates to Vista that might bring down the net. 

mSeliga

Apple: 9/5/07? Yes.

I'm sure you already know about the Apple event that will happen on September 5th. Although I won't be there, I will post a follow up to highlight all the cool things that happened. As it will occur during school, I'll try and get a post out ASAP.

mSeliga

Movies: Halloween = teh sex. (Well, the last half)

So I went out and saw the remake of John Carpenter's Halloween by Rob Zombie. Right from the get go, you can tell this is a completely rehashed movie. It starts off with a young(12 yrs.?) Michael Myers. He has a freaky clown mask that he likes to wear. You can tell his family is messed up. His dad is a drunk, crippled, perverted dude(Thinks his own daughter is hot). He yells at everybody and calls Michael a pussy.

Then some stuff happens, and Michael goes and kills a bully from school with a branch. Then we go forward, his sister won't take him trick or treating. He gets duck tape, kills dad, kills sister's boyfriend, feels up sister, kills sister....now comes the boring part.

All up to this point, it was pretty cool, and I thought we would fast forward to his induction into the mental institution, then to his escape. Oh I was wrong. Get ready for about 40mins of talking.

So, after the 40mins of him slowly losing his mind, he escapes. Kills everybody in the hospital. Then he murders his way to his young sister...yadda yadda, you know the rest. And, there is no room for a sequel, he was shoot in the face with a magnum.

So, over all, the movie was great. Not as bloody as I would expect given the director(Zombie), but still a awesome flick. The only grip factor is that the 40min of the mental hospital could have been shortened for more thrills.

So, I give this a 4/5. Defiantly go se it.

mSeliga

Apple: Next-Gen iPod Nano Leak?

We recently found this picture which people seem to be saying is the Next-Gen iPod Nano. I'm sure I buy it, but it still does bring possibilities of what it could eventually be.

^From Digg^

mSeliga

Internet: Not so Free-Speech

If you are planning on taking a vacation anytime soon and want to take your laptop for some Wi-Fi/uber fast Internet time, think again. This map shows a good representation of where the Internet is restricted and regulated. No, the USA is not the worst.

mSeliga