Yet another disappointing WWDC ...
Monday, June 8th, 2009 1:52 PM
WWDC, Apple’s anticipated developer conference where updates to the iPhone were expected, kicked off today with a keynote and new product announcements. The conference started off on a high note demonstrating the new refinements to Leopard and a terrific new upgrade price, only $29. Then, things seemed like they were getting much better. The Macbook, which lost Firewire support late last year, gained it back! At a lower price. Huzzah! But, and with Apple recently there’s always a but, they also got rid of user replaceable batteries and the expresscard slot, adding a SD slot instead. WTF? How can I add a mobile broadband card now? Or Esata support? Or an additional firewire bus? Ugh. Unless its USB you can’t. Also, that 16 hour flight you have coming up, once your battery runs out, you’re toast. No substituting another battery or two like I did on a recent long flight. There’s still no support for matte screens which is perhaps expected. Okay, but what about the delicious new upgrade to the iPhone. A new ceramic, matte-finish, scratch proof case with a front facing video camera and perhaps a HD video camera built in? Nope. Just a minor update to the 3G with faster processor, more RAM, and a 1 megapixel increase in the camera. It has auto focus now, but just a 1 megapixel upgrade? Really? It also has a digital compass like the Google android G1 did last year. The new update, dubbed the 3Gs, is now on par which the hardware in the 2005 Nokia N95 … but it doesn’t have the front-facing video camera. Okay, disappointment all around but perhaps there’s one more thing … a new piece of hardware, Mac Pro price drops, a special appearance by Steve? Nope. Nada. Nothing. An what started off so promising ends again in disappointment for the Apple faithful, especially working professionals, which leaves us again with some head scratching decisions I simply do not understand.
Powerade Zero gets a new container
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 8:10 PM
We’ve been a fan of Powerade Zero for quite some time now. Recently, we noticed a subtle but noticable change in perhaps the best part of the drinking experience, the chunky 32 ounce bottle. The look of the brawny container seemed to imply that you were hydrating substantially and then delivered on those implications. The message around the label seemed to agree: “You are now in control of zero calorie sports drink + B vitamins. Be advised that you may be swarmed by fans who want to witness the power of electrolytes, hydration and zero calories. Good luck with that.” Around February of this year, the bottle changed … but thankfully not much. While the look is mostly retained, there are some differences. The PETE bottle is lighter and thinner and not as strong as the previous container. The mouth of the bottle is smaller. The powerade logo imprinted on the bottle has changed. The angular divots on the bottom of the old bottle are gone. The older bottle was marked D188 on the bottom, the newer is marked E10.
New Protective DVD Mailers
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 12:06 AM
We just got our copy of The Go-Getter from Deep Discount DVD here at headquarters and we noticed they’re shipping dvds in a new-style mailer. It very much resembles those trays chocolates come in. The new mailer is light but protective and ensures the disc doesn’t slide around. That means no more floaters! It obviously leads to less mailing costs but retains protection. We do miss the old double cardboard mailers though. Ahh, Nostalgia.
Noteboek
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 3:11 PM
This wonderful film by a dutch filmaker and artist Evelien Lohbeck. Absolutely terrific.
Noteboek from Evelien Lohbeck on Vimeo.
Disney Rips off itself
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 7:32 PM
From Today’s Big Thing via Boing Boing
The sad tale of SGI
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 10:04 PM
The San Jose Mercury News details the rise and fall of SGI, a company who’s wares I drooled over for many years. I guess technology does change everything.
The Axis of Awesome - 4 Chords
Monday, February 9th, 2009 12:09 PM
I can learn the chords, now all I need is a record contract … Visit their site here
Michael Crichton Dies
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 9:08 PM
Today I was rather shocked to learn that Michael Crichton, who’s book Next I happen to be reading, died at the age of 66 after battling with cancer. While I’m sure news of his death was overwhelmed by the historic election, I nonethless was taken aback when I learned of the news. Chrichton was one of my favorite authors, someone I had been introduced to at a young age. While I didn’t always agree with his opinions, I always admired his style. Yes, he wrote mainstream science fiction. Yes, far too many of his books were made into awful movies but I always enjoyed the books. Chricthton was I daresay it even somewhat of a role model. While I would never be 6’7 or make millions from my bestseling book while my watching my #1 movie all the while producing the most popular show on television all at the same time, I was inspired to move a little closer to being the renaisance man he was. One step closer. Perhaps a new skill today. Perhaps a degree tomorrow. This was the best thing about Chricton … how for me he made the future, nomatter how audacious, seem plausible.
Change has come!
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 9:06 PM
New Macbooks and Macbook Pros Released
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 5:05 PM
Apple today released some new Macbook Pros and Macbooks featuring a new unibody construction milled from a single piece of aluminum. This represents the first real visual change to the notebooks since 2003. Other than that, new NVIDIA graphics and a new buttonless trackpad debut on the line. Both the Pro and Macbook now feature similar deign to the new iMac with black glass and aluminum. As part of Apple’s continued paternalistic relationship with its customers, it has again made some rather questionable decisions.
- No option for a matte finish on the Macbook Pro – A decision sure to piss off its core audience of graphic and production professionals
- Dropping Firewire completely from the Macbook line of notebooks. An inexplicable decision I can’t fathom. I used to recommend Macbooks to friends based on the the ease of plugging a camcorder into it and begin editing their home movies. Now … not.
- A buttonless trackpad. Don’t like the sensation? Too Bad
- Dropping Firewire 400 from the Macbook Pro. Only includes a Firewire 800 port.
- Questionable design that frankly looks more like HP notebooks than the professional look it had before. If you’re not a fan of the new look, expect the next revision in another 5 years, which is how long the last design lasted.
- Anybody expecting some price relief should look elsewhere. While features have been upgraded prices have stayed more or less the same
Overall, a potentially exciting event that once again turns to disappointment. Has Apple lost its way?
Photo Courtesy Apple
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