Category: Technology

Apple turns 30 on April 1st. When Apple turned 20 they released the Twentieth Anniversary Mac. It cost $10,000 and was delivered to your home in a limo. The system looked like nothing else at that time. It had a very small foot print kinda like the current iMacs and the sound system was designed by Bose. The Mac came with a remote control so you could turn it on and off plus control the volume. You could even watch TV on the Mac and change channels using the remote. Due to the price though they only sold 12,000 world wide. I was able to purchase a brand new TAM three years ago from a local dealer for KD150. I gave it as a gift to my parents who proudly display it and use it today. Even though the TAM was released in 1997, it still grabs the attention and curiosity of visiting guests.

If Apple would release a Thirtieth Anniversary Macintosh this time around, it has to follow the footsteps of the previous one. It has to look like nothing else available which shouldn’t be too hard for Apple to accomplish. It should cost $10,000 and this time they probably would team up with Bang & Olufsen. Finally every hardcore Mac user would want one but none of us would be able to afford it. [Link]

The rumors were mostly right, here are some highlights from todays Apple event:

PowerBooks Updated
– Upgrades to the 15″ and 17″ PowerBooks.
– 15″ gets a new display with 1440 x960 resolution, while the 17″ will get 1680 x1050. Both will be brighter than previous models and have better battery life.
– SuperDrives will be standard
– Prices start at $1,499 for 12″, $1,999 for 15″ and $2,499 for 17″.
– Powerbooks ship today

PowerMac G5s Updated
– Dual core processors, up to 16GB of DDR2 RAM, 1TB of internal storage
– Four new nVidia cards, including the Quadro FX 4500
– PowerMac G5 Quad, with dual dual-core processors
– Single dual-core 2.0 GHz CPU version is $1,999; single dual core 2.3Ghz is $2,499; dual CPU dual-core is $3,299

[Link]

I love the way how Wired always give credit to Tony Fadell for the creation of the iPod. Majority of other media outlets usually make Steve Jobs the star. [Link]

New iPods, they look exactly like the older ones… yawn. [Link]

I got my CueCat today from Aramex. So far I have been having problems with it. The CueCat works like a keyboard, when I scan a barcode with the CueCat, it types out the barcode number on my mac. The problem I have is that when I scan the number in the organizing software Delicious Library and when I scan a number into TextEdit (like Notepad on Windows) I get 2 completely different numbers where the one in TextEdit is the right one. For example I picked up a random book lying around here, when I scan it into Delicious Library I get the barcode “978908090103408” but when I scan it into TextEdit I get “9780891348382 90000”.

I don’t know whats wrong with Delicious Library, I am going to try and google it now and figure out the issue. Other then that the CueCat is pretty cool, works like a charm. Unlike regular barcode scanners you don’t hold the CueCat from a distance and highlight the barcode, you have to take the CueCat and touch the barcode and then swipe it across. It doesn’t matter if you hold the barcode upside down or vertically it will still scan it right.

Anyway if you are interested in the CueCat it sells for only $9.99 on Amazon. The cheapest barcode scanner you can get.

Update: Ok figured out the problem, or atleast figured out how to get the barcode scanned right. Instead of clicking on “Add a new item” and then scanning, I should just scan right away and it will add it for me. Cool.

Where did this come from?? I was just at the SonyStyle website when I found the Walkman Bean. The MP3 player looks really cool but the coolest thing about it is the built-in USB connector! So you can use the Walkman as a flash memory drive and a MP3 player. A full charge also lasts 50 hours! A 3 minute charge will give you a 3 hour charge! They come in funky colors and the most expensive one, the 1GB is only $149! The only downside, the ONLY downside is the fact that it doesn’t play AAC files.. but I guess I could get over that… [Link]

Just checked out the new Roku SoundBridge Radio and it looks really sweet. It has built in wifi to connect to the web and gives me access to over 10,000 radio stations and even allows me to connect to my itunes. The only thing putting me off is the price tag of $350. The only way I would be willing to pay this much is if the sound turn out to be pretty good. If it turns out to be built using some cheap ass speakers it might be better off for me to get a media streamer and connect it to my Nakamichi alarm clock. [Link]

I know I want the black one. [Link]

I think this is such a good deal. Something so slick and sexy for only $199. I never liked the large iPods thats why I sold my second generation 20GB iPod and got a 4GB iPod mini instead.. even though I have over 60GB worth of MP3s. I like the iPod shuffle because its a memory stick and an mp3 player. Its practical for moving work from my office to my house and Nat loves taking it to the gym because its so light and unbreakable. I love the iPod mini because its small, gorgeos and blue. The large iPod to me serves no purpose. Its ugly, big and doesn’t hold all my MP3s. Maybe once they come out with an 80GB iPod then it might attract me but for now I believe the Shuffle and mini (ok now Nano) are both all I need.

Even recent survey says that on average a person carries 375 MP3s while on average an iPod user carries 504. That fits the Shuffle and Nano perfectly. Now I just need to find someone who will buy my mini so I can go order a Nano.

Update: Cool you can preorder it already from Amazon.com. [Link]

Saw the N90 today, its A LOT bigger then I imagined and extremely over priced. The shop I was in was selling it for KD350. I played with it for like 2 minutes and I personally think it looks cool when closed but cheap when opened. The keypads design is the biggest culprit, I think thats what hurts its looks the most.

I think I finally found a remote to replace my Sony universal remote. The new Harmony 880 still has the form of the older Harmony remotes except it now also includes a beautiful colored screen. This is the dream remote, size and form similar to the simple Tivo controller but yet with features and functions that match the bulky Philips Pronto remotes. [Link]

I finally found a reason to get a Nintendo DS, Nintendogs. When I first heard about the game I thought it was stupid, when I saw pictures of the game I thought it was stupider, but then I watched a video of the game in action and I fell in love. Nintendogs is basically like an advanced version of the Tagamotchi pet. You get to choose your dog from the kennel and they you help it grow. A while back our family pet dog died, he was a daschund. The video I watched of the game involved a daschund playing with bubbles. Basically the kid playing with the game was using a bubble blower to play with the dog in the game and the dogs reactions to the bubbles were exactly like my real life dog. The on screen dog jumped around trying to bite the bubbles and then when the bubbles hit him he started to rub his paw on his face! Seeing that brought nice memories and I knew I had to get the game, I am going to resurrect my dead dog back to life inside the game!

I just found a good deal for a DS bundle on Amazon. A silver Nintendo DS bundled with a Spiderman 2 game and a Pro Gamers Kit (includes a Aluminum Case Games Cases, Earphones, Car adaptor Screen Lenses and Neck Strap) for only $129. The Nintendogs (Dachshund version) for $29 also. Now I can’t wait for the game to come. [Link]

Videos of the game available on IGN

This is fucking smart, this device makes images using falling drops of water. Its like a waterfall printer. I just downloaded a demo video and it looks very unreal. Its such a great simple idea. [Link]

Shopping.com has product pages for the 2GB and 4GB iPod Shuffle. Do they know something we don’t? [2GB] [4GB]

This is interesting, makes the N91 more likable but I would still not buy one. [Link]

Update: According to Nokia, this information is inaccurate. [Link]

If you are in the process of buying a Mac now put your purchase on hold. Why? Apple has a habit of introducing new products or upgrades during one it large events which are held throughout the year. Steve Jobs usually starts these events with his famous keynotes and then introduces the new products. Next month is the Apple Expo in Paris in which the new iMac G5 was introduced last year. During these expos it is expected that Apple would introduce new hardware and software products, or at least some hardware and software updates. Below is a list of the Apple products divided into two sections, “Likely to be Updated” and “Not LIkely to be Updated”.

Likely to be Updated
Powerbooks (Last updated in January)
iPod Shuffle (Last updated in January)

Not Likely to be Updated
iBooks (Last updated in July)
Mac Mini (Last updated in July)
iPod (Last updated in June)
PowerMacs (Last updated in April)
iMacs (Last updated in May)

To keep up to date with Mac rumors and news I would recommend checking the following sites before making a Mac purchase:

MacRumors Buyers Gude Excellent Source
MacRumors
Think Secret
AppleInsider
Apple Nova Forum