September 08, 2008

Now an iPhone 3G owner...

... cause I can't be trusted with my original iPhone.

So, I hadn't intended on upgrading to the iPhone 3G. Mostly because it wasn't much of an upgrade. Apple has done a reasonable job at appeasing it's first generation of iPhone customer (quietly as it may be). Here are what I perceive to be the biggest improvements from the iPhone to the iPhone 3G:

3G
I was doing fine with EDGE internet when I wasn't near wifi because I spent most of my day in areas covered by WiFi, plus my area doesn't have the full 3G speeds that AT&T has in many larger markets so the speed bump wasn't as considerable as most people would receive has been my understanding. using it today it certainly isn't that "near WiFi speed" that the Jobsfather said it would be.

GPS
GPS has always been one of those technologies I thought was cool but didn't see a personal use for. I don't geocache, I don't really have much of a need for the mapping capabilities because I don't do much outdoors. I've also heard that iPhone 3G doesn't really have a true GPS capability though I'm not familiar enough with the technology to understand what makes it real or not. They certainly advertise it as true GPS on Apple's site. This just wasn't a huge draw to me. Although I must say that some of the 3rd parties are doing some really interesting things with this feature. At the end of the day, the original iPhone's Triangulation capabilities were fine for me.

New Design
This was probably the strongest draw for me, but not enough to get me to fork over $200-300. I'm happy about these things:

Not so happy about these things:

At any rate, I didn't plan on buying the new one but I have a tendency to not put my phone in a case because it adds so much bulk. I like to just put my phone in my pocket and go. I've dropped my original iPhone several times and never had any trouble but Saturday I dropped it several feet onto gravel and the abrasive edge of the gravel caused a crack in the screen. It didn't crack the surface but the screen underneath. The iPhone worked and displayed fine but then the crack spread a little. Surprisingly it was still responsive to touch and all the colors and everything were still fine, but I couldn't handle the crack so I had to get a new phone.

So now I have an iPhone 3G. Hopefully they don't announce brand new models at tomorrow's "Let's Rock" Apple media event, but for now it seems to be doing fine. It was pretty simple to get set up although somewhat time consuming as it had to sync all of my music, videos, and applications, but it did fine. All ready to go!

I'll let you know if I still like the new 3G or maybe if I like it more or not as much in a few weeks. For now, just as I expected, it's not much different than my original iPhone.

Posted by Decemberice at 04:24 PM | Comments (2)

September 01, 2008

Minor Cosmetic Changes

I made some minor updates to the content of my blog's homepage. It doesn't look quite as jam packed anymore and I put some photo slideshows of my trips to India and Jamaica up to replace the random photos that used to scroll through and endlessly caused problems with Internet Explorer.

Just a heads up for those of you who read this through RSS feeds and never see the site itself!

Posted by Decemberice at 04:55 AM | Comments (1)

June 13, 2008

Hey, how about that iPhone 3G...

... my thoughts.

Apple held their WWDC (World Wide Developer's Conference) on Monday. I was in Seattle for a different conference but I cut out sometime shortly after 10am to check out the big announcements.

I think the launch of 3G in the iPhone really overshadowed the fact that the iPhone 2.0 software, unveiled earlier this year, is still the highlight of the iPhone space.

I'm really digging what Apple did with Exchange Server support because that was one of the huge drawbacks to choosing the iPhone over a BlackBerry or Windows Mobile phone for me. It seems more and more everyday that I find myself living out of my Outlook inbox and calendar. I can't wait to stop lugging this work laptop around and just get what I need on my iPhone.

I really feel with the 2.0 software that Apple has made the iPhone a viable competitor in the business world. That is for those who can stand to give up a solid state keyboard. I had a conversation with one of my boss' bosses today and he was adamantly against the soft-keyboard, and I can certainly say that it took me some getting used to. I'm still not sure I'm a fan of it, but I can't say I'm a fan of the tiny little keyboard from RIM's BlackBerry mobiles either. I think haptic technology will make soft-keyboards a bit more acceptable an alternative, I guess that will have to wait for the next iPhone successor or software build though.

At any rate, with such strong Exchange support and the addition of Power Point viewing to the pre-existing Word and Excel visibility, it will make my work life quite a bit easier.

The App Store really impressed me. I wasn't expecting the caliber of applications that were demoed at WWDC. I guess I just wasn't expecting them to have the finesse of the native Apple applications on iPhone. That being said only the best of the best were probably demoed and the SDK pretty much enforces the design and interface themes. I'm not sure that's such a bad thing though.

The games are really what impressed me most! I guess I just didn't realize the iPhone had such promising graphics capabilities. It looks way better than the DS, and I don't quite think it's PSP quality with what was demoed at WWDC it's not far off. All things considered I doubt this build of the iPhone will lend itself well as a replacement for the available mobile gaming devices. The gyro sensors seem to do well with racing games and a couple other implementations but without some onscreen directional and input controls (which would cut into the screen space) I don't think I'd be playing any RPGs on it.

Apple has begun to position the iPhone as the third major format (Windows, Mac OS, iPhone). If the third party support is there, and Apple continues to respond to customer demand for feature sets like they did this go-round, I really think they might pull it off. They are Apple after-all, they've somehow managed to resurrect themselves from nearly bankrupt legacy brand for elementary schoolers to a chic competitor in the computer industry, not to mention the fact that they basically own the music industry at this point. The demand they've mustered for the iPhone at this point is basically unheard of for a mobile phone. It's pretty much a household name at this point.

I think I recognized the power of Apple's UI design when my mom was actually able to pick up the iPhone and figure out how to get around in it. She did things in seconds (on her own) on my iPhone that I've had to teach her 2 or 3 times how to do on her own cell phone.

Again though, Apple needs to play nice with 3rd parties and this is, historically, not one of the company's strengths.

Aside from the new tidbits about the 2.0 software, there are only 2 significant changes to the Device in the 3G model in my opinion, and that would be 3G (obviously) and GPS capabilities.

The design is pretty and the flush headphone jack should have been there to begin with so I don't think you can really call that a feature. I guess I really don't have a strong reason to upgrade my from iPhone to iPhone 3G considering I'll be getting the 2.0 software for free anyway, but you know I'm going to upgrade anyway just because I'm an Apple fanboy like that. Hey, at least I didn't upgrade to the 16GB first generation model when it first became available a few months back like I wanted to LOL.

This time I'm going to hop up to the 16GB model. Normally I opt for White iPods, but I really don't like the way they did the white iPhone 3G model since the face is still black (which makes sense for viewing video and photo but still doesn't really look like it belongs). So black it will be for me. I have to say the solid coloring on the back looks much nicer.

They also talked about the future of .Mac by releasing MobileMe which seems neat, but they kind of oversold it a bit. It's got a pretty interface but most of the functionality is already available elsewhere or already available in .Mac. Even so, it's good that they put something relevant into .Mac because it was getting very stale in the stable. I'm not sure I really need push personal mail, but hey why not! It's actually less expensive for more space than I'm currently paying for/getting from .Mac so I'm all for it. That is unless they change my email address to me.com Then I'm going to have to jump ship LOL.

Well, that's about it I guess. The biggest features are yet to be seen, and that will really be the software from third party developers. Guess we'll know soon if the iPhone will be the next major format.

Also, hope Steve is doing OK, he didn't look so well this year.

Posted by Decemberice at 09:50 PM | Comments (1)

May 23, 2008

Yay new Mac on the way...

... boring old Mac until then.

So, I finally completed the last part of my stock sale and managed to score a very good price despite the average decline of the stock market lately. With this new found wealth, I shall purchase a brand new iMac. Seriously, who couldn't love this mug:

gallery-big-05.jpg

It's going to be a 24" iMac and I'm splurging on it so it will have all the goodies. The last time I purchased a brand new Mac for myself was in or around 2001. That's when I bought my beloved iBook (Apple no longer makes iBooks they have been replaced by the Macbook). Me and my iBook had some great times and I had an option to buy an iMac at that time. They had the lamp post iMac's back then which looked like this:

02imac_hero_f2.jpg

I almost bought one but at the time I planned on doing a great deal of traveling so I wanted a go anywhere, do anything Mac. Thus I bought my iBook laptop instead of the iMac which is a desktop. Oddly enough, now I am doing a lot of traveling but I want a stay at home Mac LOL.

Actually, my obsession with the iMac is that it is powerful enough to stably run the audio recording application I plan to get for it: Logic Studio. I'm buying Logic Express pre-installed on it though so I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that it alone will be enough for what I need.

I'm also opting for a Time Capsule. I needed a new router anyway and I might as well have one with a built-in hard drive. It seems logical enough to want an automated backup process. Maybe not for the price Apple is charging, but hey, as long as I'm blowing money I might as well go big right?

At any rate, I thought I would leave you with this wonderful advertisement of the dancing iMac that I didn't buy way back in the day:

Posted by Decemberice at 12:21 AM | Comments (1)

September 07, 2007

Apple Announces New Goodies...

... and Ice gets busy creating a wish list for them.

Apple had one of it's infamous "media events" on Wednesday. This event focussed on the evolution of the iPod & iTunes. I was really excited by some of the announcements. First off the iPod brached a new direction in it's product offering. We now have the iPod touch. It's got all of the same stuff on it as the iPhone except the phone functionality. It's sizes are a bit limited at 8gb and 16gb, but it shares a really great new feature with the iPhone in that it will be able to purchase songs from the iTunes store over wi-fi. This is the first time people will be able to purchase iTunes content on the go! Apple is calling this awesome new feature the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.

The iPod touch not only features this new version of iTunes, but also gets you some of the coolest aspects of the iPhone as well. For instance: the Safari Web Browser (over wi-fi, no edge), YouTube, and the multi-touch features of the iPhone's display.

Amongst the less important, but still neat feature list of the iPod Touch, there is also a Starbucks Music feature. When you are in a Starbucks, this feature allows you to see information regarding what song is currently playing. This feature will also be pushed to the iPhone. The more prominent part of this feature is that Starbucks will be offering free wi-fi music store access at Starbucks locations to iPhone and iPod Touch users.

In addition to the iPod touch, Apple rebranded the standard iPod model as the iPod Classic. It's very much similar to it's predecessor in design and functionality, but it has an even larger capacity. It comes in either 80GB or 160GB models. I'm eyeing the 160GB version in silver myself. In fact, I just added it to my Wish List on Amazon.com!

Along with the increased storage capacity, it shares a revised user interface with the updated iPod Nano. The new UI features a variation of cover flow, and keeps album info and art on the same screen as your playlist to minimize the number of clicks to get where you want to go.

Aside from the software visuals, it has also been graced with a very sleek, sloped-edge design that's not too far a departure from the original design.

There was also a new iPod Nano! This thing is so tremendously cute! It's very short and chubby and I want one but I can't really justify it with the iPhone, an 80GB 5G iPod, and soon to be 180GB iPod Classic. Alas, whoever can justify it will get spiffy new features. Video for the first time on a Nano, The same revised UI as the iPod classic (complete with coverflow), and an extremely high res screen. If you buy it in 8GB it has some cool "pastelish" colors along with a silver and a black. The other option is a 4GB model (good luck fitting video and music on that) but it only comes in Silver.

Last- but not least, we have the iPod Shuffle, who's only relevant update were different colors and the addition of a Product {RED} model which isn't exactly red but it's for a good cause so I won't gripe too much.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)

August 13, 2007

My impressions on my iPhone...

... in all it's technological splendor.

So, in case the title doesn't say it, I'm clearly impressed with my iPhone. You'll never catch me without it at my side. Thats not to say it's all roses. It's a first generation product from a company that's never been in a business remotely close to this before. It has a glitch or three. It's simply a better phone than I've ever used before, and that is to be expected given the price tag.

Here are the shots as I call them:

Likes

Dislikes

My final opinion. Clearly it's a phone for the young and modern,but not necessarily advanced technology enthusiast. It lacks some of the basic cell phone traits like downloadable ring tones, customization, bluetooth functionalities, and video/audio recording. It had some stability problems when I first got it but I ran the initial update and that seemed to squash most of the bugs.

It's certainly not a business device at this juncture, though it certainly has the capability to be one with a few software additions.

I'm pretty sure this phone is just a starting point. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple began selling additional applications for the iPhone through iTunes. It's going to be interesting to see how it evolves. I really love mine, and I would recommend it fully just based on the luxurious user interface, let alone the ability to finally bring your entire audio library along on a phone that actually has a decent audio player built in!

Posted by Decemberice at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)

August 05, 2007

My thoughts on the V-chip...

...and censorship in general.

If there is one thing I've learned from following this argument on the news, in blogs, and so forth, it is that everybody has a different definition of what is acceptable. It might be influenced by religious beliefs, personal predjudices, great or poor parental skill... but it all comes down to matters of opinion.

It's rather surprising that the focus is still on censorship for the masses given how much a personal decision censorship is in the home. It's almost like saying we want parents to be involved in their kids lives and make decisions based on family value, but at the same time we don't trust them to make apropriate decisions so we'll just let our old friend the government decide what is acceptable. Of course that government is going to base it's decision on pressures from moral watchdogs with an agenda to push.

DirecTV boxes actually let parents decide what is and isn't apropriate in a variety of ways. For instance, you don't have to block an entire channel, you can just block time blocks within a channel. If you don't mind your child watching cartoon network, but don't want them watching the adult swim time-frame of that channel you can just block those hours.

I think that answer is superior to the V-Chip.

I know it's not just DirecTV that does this, but it's the service I'm most familiar with. I think it should also be noted that the V-Chip has to be enabled so it's not like the TV will simply bleep out anything and everything at it's discretion.

I really do believe it should be the decision of the household. For instance, I don't believe that nudity should be censored. It's a clear throwback to America's puritanical background that we consider nudity indecent or shameful. That's not to say that I think kids should be able to turn on the TV and see people having sex, because that is sex not nudity. I just think that American's do more damage than good casting the human body as something to be hidden and ashamed of.

I also take offense at any sort of censorship of the homosexual lifestyle, whereas some (most even) households don't.

It's a bit comical that all these years later we are still trying to pretend that gay people don't exist and that, when they do, we cast it in an unfortunte light like having cancer. That's why shows like Will & Grace are important for giving people a perspective of everyday life as a homosexual so that the myths about it are somewhat dispelled. Since TV seems to be the only medium to break through to the masses these days unless you are writing a Harry Potter novel, it's important that those who would have their children understand this have the option to unchain shows like W & G.

On the flip side, those who do not want their children exposed to such lifestyles should have the ability to make that decision to censor.

Again, I feel it should be based on the values of the household, and I firmly believe that the government should have little or no jurisdiction on those values. A standardized acceptance of what is right and what is wrong just doesn't fit the diversity of the American people and the diverse moral and belief systems that exist within that diverse group.

Posted by Decemberice at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)

July 25, 2007

Air Conditioning/ iPhone ETA Tomorrow...

... thank god on both.

My iPhone, has taken a rather scenic voyage through the country. Ironically; however, it started in Canada. This is ironic because I just ran into some people in an ATT store yesterday (one of them was extremely hot but that's neither here nor there) who came all the way from Canada to see the iPhone. Apparently they scheduled a flight to my area (where they had relatives) because they've been following the iPhone in the media and wanted to experience and possibly purchase it.

God bless Canada, they are really starting to come around.

Again, still not ironic, except for that they couldn't buy it. The lady in the store said they have to have a current US residence. So, as opposed to my iPhone which came to me from Canada from a US-based business... their iPhone could not come to them from the US despite the fact that they are apparently stockpiled in Canada.

This is almost as good as the time the mouse (animal) got strangled by the cord from my mouse (computer peripheral).

Life has a funny way of playing games with people's heads.

Also, air conditioning should be arriving tomorrow. Hopefully that means we can heal my blog which turned cripsy in appearance when it sponteneously combusted last week. As soon as my doctor get's back in town to refill my medication so I can walk again... this will turn out to be a rather great week.

I'll take pictures of the iPhone unboxing and let you know how it all goes.

Being the Apple dope I am, I also bought the Apple bluetooth headset. It is significantly overpriced, but hey, if you are buying a $600 cell phone... why not go all the way?

Posted by Decemberice at 10:31 AM | Comments (1)

July 16, 2007

Angry Cell Phone Customer Who Can't Get Reception Destroys Cell Towers With A Tank...

... Serious folks, headlines like this don't come around everyday. The man got angry when he couldn't get good reception, hops in his FRICKIN' TANK! and decides to show the cell phone company where they can stick their crappy service by way of playing a grand scale game of dominoes with their cell towers.

Here's the article.

Let's explore this a little more shall we...

I can't call my psychic hotline because the phone connection is crappy. Obviously, my cell service is once again standing in the way of my mental health via clairvoyant intervention... Clearly... something must be done about this.

So, I put on my dancing shoes, get in the tank I keep in the shed for just such ocassions, and 5 minutes later it's on like Donkey Kong.

Now that's the shit right there. I've always liked the Australian's they are a wiley bunch. Seriously, you could tell your kid you were once the president of the United States and it might make them a little bit proud and inspired... but you tell him that you once righted things when a company wronged you by running their properties down in a frickin' tank, and that's a kid who's going to grow up taking no shit from anybody.

Now, you may think this story can't get any better, but you'd be wrong... you see... the tank has a star on the back. As if to say fuck you I'm a superstar. Kiss my star while I gleefully demolish your towers... It's like the man is doing it with a sense of style.

I just cannot say enough good things about the genius who did this, I think I may write to him and request his autograph. I wonder if they will impound his tank or if it will be bronzed and put in the lobby of the cell company's headquarters.

UPDATE!!! It appears that MSNBC has video footage of the pursuit and the man demolished cell phone towers in the tank:

Posted by Decemberice at 07:47 PM | Comments (1)

June 26, 2007

iPhone mania strikes America...

... at an alarming rate. the iPhone had it's first campers as of Monday. They took up camp in front of Apple's flagship store in NY. But that's not even the tip of the iceberg.

I just thought I would use this opportunity to also include an UnSpun list I created some time ago polling Spunners for what software they would like most to see on the iPhone:

... oh, and btw, Dell and Microsoft announced some stuff this week. LOL, why even bother trying to compete with the iPhone. Just let the week go, and start fresh next month.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2007

My thoughts on why the iPod...

... sales so much better than it's competitors.

At this point the iPod will outsell simply because it has the broadest installed user base jukebox-wise with iTunes.

I think it's success was largely due to styling in the early days though. The iPods mini, Nano, and Shuffle have all certainly been all about style. The iPhone is no exception. These are very slick devices and very few have come close to matching the physical styling.

That's what drew customers in.

Past that, a core set of features that are easy and approachable sold it further. My mom uses an iPod. She can figure it out. I still have trouble understanding all of the capabilities of my MiniDisc player all these years later. I love it to death, but when it comes to ease of use, the iPod has it beat hands down.

Finally, when iTunes drove iPod sales, and the iPod was well embraced, the accessories started to flow like a creative river. We now have designer cases for the iPod, Bose speaker systems, factory installed charging systems in several vehicles... the 3rd-party support is certainly not lacking when it comes to the iPod.

Next, Apple backed the phenomenon that is the iPod with constant innovation. They realized that one model wasn't right for everybody, but they were still very select about how they appraoched new model lines, and what features they did and didn't add. Making a very carefully developed device with a strong feature set that people actually use.

So let's take a look at what else is out there. There are really only 2 strong alternatives. Microsoft's Zune, and Creative's Zen Vision M. Zune got styling down. It's safe to say that the Zune is even sleeker looking than the iPod. It's a little less compact but it utilizes the space better. This might have stolen the market if it were a little quicker out the gates. Microsoft stumbles with Zune in several key areas though. First off, the software had a rocky launch. Nobody is quite sure why Microsoft didn't just utilzie it's existing Windows Media Player platform for Zune. They have recently, but at first they insisted on giving the Zune it's own "Zune Music Store." The software bricked devices, crashed computers... so on... It quickly earned a bad reputuation. Microsoft also missed an opportunity to support a diverse set of file types which could have helped it compete against the iPod considering the iPod has a very limited set of compatable file types.

Last but not least, the Zune fails to account for the high-end user who ONLY purchases TV shows, movies, and music online. They put out a single device in a single size. 30gb. 30gb goes quick folks.

So Microsoft got style down with the Zune, but lacked the software, mult-format support, and size options to make it a success, we have the exact opposite story with Creative's Zen. They bombed style. This thing is chubby, with a cheap plasticy white back and a uni-touch surface that moreso tilts in the direction you push it than actually depresses. It's a poorly designed brick to be dumping that much money on. On the other hand, it's fomat support is there. It's available in 30 and 60gb sizes (the iPod is still wining the size war at 80gb, but at least the Zen makes an effort), and the Zen works with or without a multitude of softwares because you can simply drag and drop things to it.

When are we going to see the complete package from a company other than Apple? The market belongs to the iPod because no one has actually created competition yet. Whereas Apple took this potential market and ran with it, other manufacturers seem to just want a chunk of it and really don't care to put effort into product design and software to back it up.

As of Febraury of this year Apple had a 73+ marketshare. Zune was just under 3%. It's a sad sad world out there for Apple's competitors.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

April 30, 2007

What business really needs...

...is Mac OSX. So I got my promotion to Digital Technologies Trainer at work, and I am salaried. This comes with all sorts of fancy quirks. For example, I can work on my time off. LOL I'm not complaining, I knew it entailed a lot of additional hours when I took it on, but here's the thing: With this new role I use more computing. I use Windows XP all the time. Windows Vista some of the time, and MS Office and SharePoint endlessly.

They all suck. Not just because I like Apple, but because I'm not the only one who says so. I'm still waiting for somebody to explain to me why my Outlook inbox is so difficult and lethargic to search, when my OSX Mail inbox opens in a snap.

I don't understand why it takes Windows XP a good 5 minutes to get up and running. I don't buy the excuses as to why sharepoint won't display properly in Firefox or Opera.

Bottom line... The business world needs Mac OSX desperately. I investigated the it, and MS Access is about the only thing we use that won't run in OSX, and there is Filemaker Pro for that.

I hope my company is getting one hell of a kick back from Dell for all this lost time their systems generate. What I would give to just hook up my Mac at work. I'll even buy my own... just let me use a computer that can handle the things I need to get done!

Posted by Decemberice at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2007

J's iTunes library breaks 100GB...

...with the latest episode of Andy Barker P.I.

I believe this is a certified addiction and it's possible I might need an intervention. One thing I definitely need is another iPod since my current one can't hold all of this stuff. And yes my monthly bill at the iTunes store is still in the neighborhood of $150. I'm going to be so pissed at myself when I'm old and have no money cause I spent it on TV that I could be watching for free if I just got up the ambition to set my TiVo properly.

Will J never learn?

Posted by Decemberice at 06:18 PM | Comments (1)

April 14, 2007

Are you a Macsexual...

...or Macurious? These are the insane new phrases coined by Engadget to describe those who adamantly love Apple computer, or are curious about becoming somebody who adamantly loves their Mac.

I'm not making this stuff up, here's the link

Posted by Decemberice at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)

April 09, 2007

J challenges Microsoft...

...to prove the Zune really exists.

Yeah, I've seen fake ones on display at Office Depot and Best Buy, but I've never actually seen somebody carrying one. Furthermore, I've never actually witnessed anybody request one at a store. Nobody I know or work with owns one, nobody I know on the web owns one. Some people I know haven't even heard of it. They've all heard of the ipod though.

I think it's all a ploy. MS wants people to believe they are actually in the MP3 player market because it's considered hip to be these days. Shame on you Microsoft. You may be able to fool the masses, but not me.

In the words of the Talented Mr. Ripley... "It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody." I think that's what MS is pulling here.

Posted by Decemberice at 07:07 PM | Comments (1)

April 07, 2007

Congrats...

...to Shalaney on the new iMac. I totally want one of those things!

Everything went smoothly. I wasn't really concerned that it wouldn't but I'd never used Bootcamp or an Intel Mac before for that matter so I was curious if it all lived up to the hype. It did.

First off, her iMac is lightning fast.

Next, Windows, for better or worse, is actually Windows. It's not emulated, it's not slower than normal or inhibited. Everything on the mac works in Windows, from the built-in webcam to the built-in wi-fi and bluetooth modules. Bootcamp also let us choose how much of the computer's hard drive we wanted dedicated to Windows.

Zoso was originally concerned about leaving Windows behind and Bootcamp was a selling point. I found it a little funny that once she had used Mac OSX for just 2 hours she was ready to toss Windows out for good. She was very reluctant to alot any hard drive space to Windows since everything had worked so well on the Mac OS.

I was rather proud of Windows in that it didn't crash or freeze immediately after installation like XP had a reputation for doing.

Zoso and I learned that writing in Japanese is definitely easier to set up on a Mac than a PC, and it appears that there is a lot of support for it already built into the OS. Go figure!

At any rate, I'm out. I haven't had much sleep! Later! Congrats again on the new Apple Zoso!

Posted by Decemberice at 10:01 AM | Comments (1)

April 02, 2007

Punching my...

...MacGeek card:

Posted by Decemberice at 08:41 PM | Comments (2)

February 12, 2007

Microsoft determines biggest threat on the net is their own software:

I'm not making this crap up people, it's featured on Digg.com even. An MSN article has, in essence, determined that using Internet Explorer is not a bright move on the net. Seriously... demoing Windows Vista on a Mac, trashing their own software... these guys need to learn PR basics. At least they are honest.

Read it for yourself

Posted by Decemberice at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2007

My baby is going to the plastic surgeon

As you may know, my 6 year old iBook (yes I checked, it is that old now) is very dear to me. For a long time the screen has not worked following it's 3rd horrific 4 ft fall to the lenoleum floor in my old apartment. Well, after all these years, I have decided to have my baby's vision fixed. I am sending it off for an overnight LCD repair. While it is at the Dr.'s I'm also getting it a hard drive upgrade. This will be the most excitement my poor laptop has seen since the great fall that blinded it.

I've also purchased a new license to Tiger so that I can upgrade it's OS. It had been running on Panther going on several years now, but it's time to take it up a notch. This will be a great experience for the laptop. Despite being 3 processors and 1 OS behind the times, it is still every bit as fast as my new PC laptop, So I look forward to being able to take it place with me again! I'm excited that I will be able to load some cool new aps onto it that I was previously unable to, due to limited space and the lack of a monitor!

Posted by Decemberice at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2007

Music never dies

So, my music is now back from the dead. My Apple Computer suffered total failure after I loaded a new program called Toast 8, got impatient while it was rebooting and decided I would do it later, held down the power button till it turned off.

My Mac was easily restored in all of an hour, but I lost EVERYTHING on my hard drive. I backup, but not as often as I should. Thus, I was left in a sticky situation. My Mac had my entire life on it, luckily my iPod did too. I was very leary of syncing my iPod to the Mac after it died for fear that the hateful DRM would leap into action and steal all of my songs and tv shows that I bought.

That actually wasn't the case. It restored all of the songs, tv shows, everything to my refreshed Mac.

Unfortunately, it didn't restore the songs that I didn't buy. Which... totally sucked. SO, luckily I keep all of my MP3s on my other mac... all of them, except for my own songs. I didn't want to take the postmarked version of my CD out of my safe deposit box because it is my insurance against anybody stealing my music.

I thought I was just plain screwed until this morning when a co-worker mentioned that she had finally listened to my music, and I realized that I had lent it out to somebody. She had all of my songs except for my most recent, which I had posted to my personal hard drive.

Success!

I now have my Mac back in working order, All my iTunes purchases, and all of the music I created. It's a good day in my world.

Posted by Decemberice at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)

Gates on Apple; They are liars

Bill Gates, whom I actually respect quite a bit, decided to voice an opinion on the new "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" ads. He claimed that he wasn't sure why they were acting the way they were, and that there is no truth to it.

Though I tend to agree that the personification of a PC as a stodgy business man is inconsistent with the all encompassing user-base that Windows has... he's not really getting the point. The stodgy vs cool advertisement that's going on is the subtext. What's being brought to the surface, that perhaps Gates is uncomfortable with because it hits home, is that PCs crash more often, they don't ship with a decent suite of apps that the home-user can be excited about, they don't do style well, or all-in-one well, viruses and spyware are rampant on PCs...

These things are undeniable. Gates chose not to comment on those areas though... just on the persona chosen to represent a PC. It's interesting to note that he does so being infamous for his stodgy suites while Steve Jobs is equally known for his laidback sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers image. Perhaps Apple is commenting more so on this than the average PC user.

Read the article

Posted by Decemberice at 11:56 AM | Comments (4)

February 01, 2007

Sony Slides Yet Another Notch

So it now appears that Sony is so frustrated with the success Nintendo's Wii is experiencing in the face of the less than anticipated sales of the PS3, that they have begun trash talking Nintendo.

Sony claims that the Wii is an impulse buy, and that the PS3 is so almighty that it shouldn't be compared to the Wii at all. Sounds pretty cocky from a company who's console is getting dusty on store shelves. Perhaps they are feeling the sting of charging $600 for a console.

In the meantime, the Xbox 360 has stolen the crown from Sony in the Next Gen console market, and the Wii has moved up a rank as well. Sony better start moving some consoles... I'm sorry, some "Computer Entertainment Centers" as they are calling the PS3.

Check out the article on Engadget

Posted by Decemberice at 10:46 PM | Comments (3)

January 30, 2007

Mac OSX outstars Windows Vista on Amazon.com

Well well, the people have spoken. Windows Vista Ultimate falls one star short of Mac OSX Tiger by user reviews on Amazon.com. Hmm... The future of computing doesn't seem to have the same appeal as what's already out there I guess Microsoft.

Posted by Decemberice at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)

Wall Street Journal: Windows Vista is no Mac OSX

Check out this article from Wall Street Journal's Technology columnist Walt Mossberg. Poor Microsoft. Sucks to be second rate doesn't it.

Walt's Article

I have spent all morning using vista and I have to concur with Walt. If I hadn't gotten the software for free, I never would have dumped money on it. I've already got all of it's features and more (and they costed significantly less I might add) I have Mac OSX Tiger, and according to the reviews in the media, it is the superior product.

This is quite the turnaround for Apple. Mac OS used to be scoffed at in the face of Windows. Every dog has it's day I suppose.


Posted by Decemberice at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)

Field Day!

Windows Vista strong-arms Creative Labs and other high end audio card developers.

Boy Microsoft likes to make news in all the wrong ways. Basically, when folks excitedly fired up World of Warcraft say on their newly purchased Vista Ultimate OS... they get basic stereo performance and no dimensional sound effects or special sound support.

Why? Because Microsoft decided to strip hardware sound from Vista, relying instead on a software based processing (That's right musicians this affects you too, not just gamers).

This is because the geniuses who developed the functionality of this in Windows built it into the Kernal mode. Were you aware that PC crashes are far and away dominated by problems with sound processing? How curious.

It puts a smile on my face to see Microsoft make so many people angry, because those are all potential Mac users now. BTW, the mac version of World of Warcraft is still pumping out great audio.

= )

Read More about it at IGN

Posted by Decemberice at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)

This pretty much says it all:

Umm... so, I know I said I wasn't going to post anything for a while, but this article pretty much says everything that needs to be said about Microsoft:

Microsoft demos Windows Vista on an iMac

UPDATE:

I thought you should all know that this makes me giddy inside. Not that it adds anything to the article, but seriously... Microsoft demoes their shiny new OS while at the same time inadvertantly advertising for the competitor. Only Microsoft could manage to boggle the mind like this.

Posted by Decemberice at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)

January 14, 2007

Tivo + Mac = Bliss

My TiVo is playing suspiciously nice with my mac. It took all of 5 minutes and 4 clicks to set them up. Now I can view all my photos and listen to my iTunes library right there on my TiVo. Somebody had told me that TiVo doesn't play well with Mac so I was a little bit concerned. I find it to be to the contrary though. The interface is intuitive, it was very simple to set up, and it only draws bandwith when I invoke it from the TiVo end. Very sleek. I'm telling you. You need to get a Mac... they rock!

Posted by Decemberice at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)

January 11, 2007

While My iPod Gently Sleeps

Wow! What a week it has been for the tech industry. It's not quite over yet, but we've seen the big announcements at this point. The iPhone (the Apple iPhone, not the Cisco iPhone) seems to be reigning over them all at this point. I saw something entirely new on Amazon.com regarding it. If you search for iPhone, the top search result will be a blog entry (Amazon now publishes blogs or "plogs" from editors of various departments) talking about the iPhone.

I guess the general feeling in the retail world post iPhone announcement is that if you don't have it to offer, you'd better at least talk about it, put a picture up of it, something.

It was quite heralded the day of it's announcement, but criticism quickly swooped in to attempt to steal the glory. It was actually very warranted criticism; however. There are quite a few drawbacks to the new device:

- No 3G
- Non-removable/non-replacable battery
- Only first-party software at this point
- Big on consumer features, small on productivity/office apps.

I think it's valid to point out that Steve claimed it was the first of a new product line. Even Cingular's big cheese mentioned that it was the first of several devices Cingular and Apple hoped to collaborate on.

For a Gen 1 device from a compnay that's never really produced a phone before... I think it's rather stellar. It certainly has the home user market in the bag. Despite what critics are calling "reviews" on the net, it's important to remember that this product won't even launch for several months. There's still time for things to wrong, corrections to be made, features to be added or dropped... basically it's still a preview at this point. Though, given the way in which it was announced I'd be surprised to see many changes. I don't think Steve would have stood up there and sold it's features if he weren't entirely sure that it was a done deal.

The folks over at Palm; on the other hand, are refering to the Apple iPhone as "vaporware." That term is usually reserved for products that are 100% smoke in the mirrors and never actually come to be. The recently cancelled Phantom game console, for instance, is a glaring example of vaporware.

Apple's iPhone, in contrast, was demoed in working form and even offered up for important Macworld guests to play with.

Perhaps the folks at Palm are frustrated that their own OS and bread and butter devices are on the verge of extinction, only survived by a sellout treo device running Windows Mobile. Palm needs a re-invented identity and quick.

Then again, it remains to be seen if Apple's iPhone will make the bang that Apple proclaims. It's a pretty hefty claim when you say you've reinvented the phone. If anybody could make it sell though, it's Steve Jobs.

Aside from iPhone (and all of it's controversy), There were other announcements at MacWorld of note. Jeff doesn't seem to like the iTV... sorry, Apple TV (seriously, if you were going to rename one of the two, why rename the one that's not under threat of lawsuit?). I have pre-ordered my AppleTV! I'm rather excited for it. That's because 99% of my TV viewing is now done on iTunes. So for me, it's a no-brainer. If you do TiVo or a DVR, it's probably not that big of a deal to you. It's certainly not a breakthrough device as it's been around in various forms (Media Center Extender, iLounge, Xbox 360) for quite some time. You've got to admit though, Apple does it with a sleekness that's totally Apple.

I seriously need to get that widescreen TV to go with it now!

Nobody seems to be talking about Apple's new Wi-Fi gear though. In fact, the only reason I noticed it was because I'm in the market for a new router. The new Airport Base Station (the first refresh in about 5 years) is looking very sleek. It shares a form factore with the AppleTV and the Mac Mini. All-in-all, this MacWorld will prove to be a very expensive one for me!

By the way, the name of this blog came to be because I am writing it as my iPod charges. It simply reminded me that I really haven't chimed in on the iPhone other than to say I want one.

Posted by Decemberice at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)

January 09, 2007

Pop the Champagne!

Apple has finally announced the Apple TV, and the iPhone! Screw Vista, it's all about Apple today! I'm lovin' it... the only question now is which credit cards have enough limit for all this new stuff LOL. = )

Posted by Decemberice at 11:09 AM | Comments (1)

January 07, 2007

MacWorld Rumor Round-Up with UnSpun!

Haha! You know how much I love Apple. You know how much I love Amazon... Thus I have created a rumor round-up list that you can vote on at UnSpun.com! Yes, that's right, I said vote. It allows you to list your top 3 faves, or bump the ones already on there up a scosh. Check it out:

Most Desired Mac Rumors

PS: And no, Ocelot isn't a slated product that I'm aware of. So, before you go blogging about it, It's just something I threw out there as a clever way of saying OSX Version 10.6

Posted by Decemberice at 12:45 AM | Comments (0)

December 30, 2006

Zune... you lose.

Well, the first generation of the Zune media device from Microsoft has fallen short of sales expectations as witnessed on MSNBC (you'd think they would police the spin a little).

That's not entirely surprising. It is a little late into a market controlled with an iron fist by Apple's iPod. I happen to have an iPod and lusted over a few of the features the Zune has (larger, clearer screen and built-in radio tuner for example) but not nearly enough to forsake my beloved iPod for it. Apparently that's what most consumers believed. According to that new clip from MSNBC above shoppers are "ignoring the Zune."

That's tough to do. It's everywhere. In EB Games and Gamestop they have their own ginormous displays chucked full of accessories.

As I mentioned in a previous blog; however, the Zune is generation 1. Microsoft is used to losing money at first, only to work its way to the top later in product's lifespan.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)

December 23, 2006

Yes, I'm going to hark on Sony again

What the heck is all I can say. I want to love Sony. There are so many great ideas in their product lineup, but such poor delivery or follow through. The worst trend I've noticed in Sony is the way they simply give up in the North American market if something isn't an instant and groundbreaking success. Fair enough, that's probably fallout from the Mini Disc debacle. Honestly though, you've got to stick to your guns sometimes, and just keep improving upon what you've put out there. The Xbox is a perfect example. The first Xbox was somewhat of a joke amongst serious gamers. Japan still hasn't embraced it, but it's got a fairly strong footing in this generation of consoles with the Xbox 360. Mostly because Microsoft took what was a laughably flawed product the first go round, and improved it the second, but stuck with it.

The PS3 will do fine in it's own time. I'm not worried about the PS3, but I would like to see Sony do more with the niche technologies they have lying around. Location Free is brilliant. It's wasted, however on 3 devices. In fact, Sony is ramping up to support it on Windows Mobile phones before they are even going to support it on their own co-branded lineup of phones. Furthermore, they don't support it on the Mylo. What's that all about.

Apple succeeds by taking a strategy and tying it in across their entire product lineup. Not Sony. They seem to enjoy distinct demographic marketing. Never may two demographics utilize the same device.

The Mylo will fail miserably. It already has. Expect Sony to quietly yank it off their site in a few days. The problem? They've failed to market it, and they've failed to utilize it's strongpoints and build on them with software.

I'm excited to see that Sony is embracing some new technologies. Then again, we have their desktop computer lineup which is still toting an outdated series of Pentium D processors from the stoneage. We all know that sony's strength is in laptop comuters, but perhaps that's because it's the only thing they put any effort in with their PC R and D. Well, that's not true, there was the Digital Living System which was cost inhibitive for most, and a gigantic intrusion to many a living room. In fact it still exists. They probably even sell one every once in a while.

The thing that is most frustrating about Sony is that anybody with half a brain can see 10 ways they could slightly change or re-evaluate the leverage between their product lines, and become admired again. I could name them all day long, but Sony doesn't really care.

Ah well. You win some you lose some. And if you are Sony, you lose a lot.

Posted by Decemberice at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)

December 12, 2006

Ode to My Mac

Another, small, white, piece of electronics is dear to me. No, this isn't about my Wii again... this is about my Mac. My beloved Damien the iBook. The thing about my Mac is that it's still alive. I've had this thing for nearly 6 years and it's never died. There was one close call, but that's because I was an idiot and though I was far moreso savy than an enthusiast which was not at all the reality.

This is an ode to my Apple:

You are always there, when I need you most
You needn't tie me down with wires, you are wi-fi, bluetooth, mi-fi, for my sweet tooth.
You run everything I need, even Windows, which proves you aren't above dirty deeds.

How I love your iLife apps, that make me pictures and websites, whenever I ask.
It doesn't matter to you that I know nothing at all,
You make it all easy, so I don't feel dumb whatever the task.

Though I've dropped you on the floor... well a time or two, possibly more,
Resilliant you are to this very day. Though, as technology goes, you're from the dinosaur days

I can only hope, my next Apple is as sweet as you,
That it loves me as you do.
Or at least can handle a tumble or two too.

The end.

Posted by Decemberice at 03:53 AM | Comments (1)

December 09, 2006

Dell comes through!

You probably remember me ranting on about how my new Dell laptop died a horrible death when I tried to restore it with the disks Dell gave me. I had quite the time wrestling with customer service reps who sent me to Microsoft, who then sent me back to Dell... it was a mess.

But... This cool guy from Dell named Todd read my blog and contacted me through the comments. He actually listened to the problem I was having, and took action. They sent me out a re-imaged harddrive and the proper restore CDs, and all is well and good with my laptop now.

I hate to admit it, but I'm pretty impressed. I think Dell really came through. The laptop works like a charm with the new hard drive! Thanks Todd, you rock!

Posted by Decemberice at 12:32 AM | Comments (1)

December 02, 2006

To PS3 or not to PS3

So, I had the opportunity to purchase the PS3 today. I stumbled upon a game store that had both the 20 and 60 GB versions in stock. For a split second I was actually considering it. I finally decided that $600 is just too much for a video game system for me at the moment. The PS3 just doesn't have many games that I'm interested in. Plus, I love my Nintendo Wii, and it does have about 4 that I'd like to have.

As I walked out of the store I started to kick myself for not buying it, but I guess two realities just kept preventing me from walking back in and buying the thing.

1) I still don't have a hi-definition TV. So, though I'm sure I'd still reap a slight reward in graphics, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to buy something with such amazing graphical capability and hook it up to my 15 year old TV.

2) I don't want to bother with the 20 GB model since, for $100 more you get 3x the capacity, bluetooth, wi-fi, and multi-card reader ports. Yet, $600 still seems outlandish for a video game system. For that $600 you still only have 1 controller and no games.

I finally decided that I did the right thing by walking away without buying it. Even though I probably could have eBayed it for a small fortune.

I will wait until Sony works out the glitches, the game lineup gets more imrpessive, and I get a better TV to play it on I think. I'm still interested. It's like the holy grail of consumer electronics, but it's a bit much for me at the moment. Especially since I'm having a lot of fun with my new Wii. But that's because I'm totally a Nintendork. I always jump on Nintendo's systems before any other. I guess it's the kid in me that still loves Mario and Animal Crossing, and those kind of games more than the realistic RPGs.

While I was there, I picked up Zelda and Marvel Ultimate Alliance for my Wii! So far, I've also downloaded F-Zero, and Mario Bros. for it. I'm thinking about downloading Mario 64, but find it hard to justify since I still own it for the N64, and have it on DS as well.

Anyhow, I will post more later. I'm getting pretty sleepy.

Posted by Decemberice at 12:11 AM | Comments (1)

November 27, 2006

Playing with my Wii

That's right, I scored one. Actually, a manager from work stood out in the snow and waited in line from 4am on to get me one... and no, I'm not sleeping with him. He's just cool like that.

So, I was up till the... wii... hours of the morning last night playing with my Wii (LOL The wordplay is effortless), and I've pretty much been playing all night tonight. This thing is absolutely addictive!

I would probably be content to have spent the $250 for the console just to have the game that comes with it for free. It's this game called Wii sports that has various sports games like tennis and baseball. You get to use the controlled as your raquet or bat. It's fun. Actually, the tennis part of it is the best.

Oddly enough, the fact that you can pick it up and play a match from beginning to end in 5 minutes makes me want to play longer. I'm not sure what the psychology is there.

Anyhow, the first games I plan on getting for it are Zelda... obviously, but Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Need For Speed Carbon, and then I'll see what other cooky games are out there.

So, I played the PS3 at Target, I once owned an Xbox 360, but I think Nintendo has a hit with the Wii.

I will say that the selection of titles in the virtual console library is lacking at the moment. Only the original Mario Bros is up for the NES, and Super Mario World isn't up yet. Mario 64 though. Aside from the bare bones games you would expect, there really aren't any games up there that I'm surprised with.

I have to go pick up a few Wiicessories tomorrow. A classic controller, a few extra wiimotes, an SD card (though not the branded ones because they are outlandish), and a Wii points card. In fact... perhaps I'll put them up on my wishlist and then wait and see...

My Amazon.com Wish List

There we are!

*Zoso... I'm totally bringing this bad boy over to hook up to your ginormous hi-def TV!

Posted by Decemberice at 11:57 PM | Comments (4)

November 25, 2006

Dear Microsoft, Pt. 2 (My OS has an identitiy crisis)

Dear Microsoft,

Why must you make things so difficult. So I was totally down with Windows XP Media Center once I started using it on a regular basis. I like the remote control for my computer, I loved the DVR functionality (I've seen it done better, but hey...) Then it happened. I had to restore my computer and BAM! Gone! The restore disks I was given by dell restored it to Windows XP Pro... which identified itself as XP Media Center Edition, but was not.

I know that MCE is a variation of Pro. The trouble is, when the computer did this, the system profiler tool (I'm such a Mac dork) essentially said Windows MCE was the OS, but microsoft refused to let me download updates for MCE, because it claimed that my OS was XP Pro.

So now I'm stuck. I have a computer that runs fun for an XP Pro machine... but the things I loved most about it are gone.

So... I called in the geek squad once I lost my marbles trying to explain to my OS that it was having an identity crisis.

The Geek Squad people at Best Buy SUCK. First off, they treated me like average joe who got a virus on his computer from surfing porn sites. I never had a virus on the computer, the problem is the OS... which has so many layers of meaning, but in this instance, it was actually that the OS didn't know what OS it truly was.

I gave the guy the computer, dealt with his snobiness even though I've lead a team of Technology Specialists for my company in the past, just because I was tired of dealing with it.

The idiot tells me I need to update the drivers. I should have know right then what was up and just asked for him to put his USB drive down and back away from my computer slowly. Instead I figured, what the hell, maybe he'll accidently stumble on some unintelligible glitch in my OS.

I should have gone with option A.

$50 later, my computer still is not fixed, and Best Buy refuses to refund me because he managed to regain bluetooth functionality. I didn't even realize bluetooth was impaired. I certainly didn't ask him to repair that. I'm glad he did... but not $50 glad he did. I had the drivers for it on a disk. I could have done that myself.

So here I set, with my limited laptop. = (

Oh yeah... Dell's datasafe harddrives... let's not even go there. When I called Dell about the issue they told me I had one and how to use it. It turns out that, though it is supposed to automatically keep a running image of the PC backed up... The software for this is not factory installed and comes on a separate disk, which I never installed because the disk says right on it that it is supposed to be installed already. When I told this to the lady at dell, she was like, but we sent a mailer out to customer's to explain that it wasn't. I received that mail 4 days after talking to her. phoenominal.

Now, Dell wants me to call Microsoft. I don't want to call those bastards. I'd rather drive up there. They probably woldn't let me through the doors though because I am carrying a Dell laptop, which is essentially a bomb, with it's beautiful battery drama.

Long story short, I called anyway, MS told me to call Dell because they provided me with the wrong drivers on the restore disk, the Dell rep told me that I needed to call MS again. I called Apple. It appears that I can get a $130 discount on a new macbook through my employer. I'm thinking that may be the way to go.

Posted by Decemberice at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2006

iPhone time

So... this is just a spectator level view... but it's totally time to launch the iPhone. Not sure what Apple has up their sleeves, or why they have decided to sleep through the holiday season, but they are kinda vunerable at the moment. Even though the Zune has been burried in the media, it's still doing OK for itself. Though nowhere near threatening the iPod, Apple still needs to push ahead of the Zune in a critical way.

I know Apple isn't going to launch their next iPod with a built in phone (that would be nice), but I still think they need to move forward with their PDA/Phone in the very near future if they don't want Windows Mobile to completely dominate the market. OSX could make a pretty swank mobile format for the average consumer. Not so much for the business user, but hey.

Plus, if Apple couls somehow finagle a way to make widgets work on a mobile phone... they'd blow the market away. At any rate, I suppose I'm rambling. Steve Jobs is not a stupid man, I'm sure he has plenty of aces up his sleeve. That will be gaurded like no other treasure on earth.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)

November 12, 2006

The eve of the end for iPod? Hmm....

Microsoft has sat back, not by choice, and watched Apple dominate the digital media market. Microsoft has made feeble attempts here and there to compete, but primarly as a platform, attempting to put an equally big name behind what hardware manufacturers are doing to make consumers feel more confident in purchasing something other than the proven iPod.

As a business that develops platforms, more or less, Microsoft didn't have much of an interest in what Apple was doing... until Apple raked in 7.5 billion in iPod sales, revitalized, then rebirthed it's company, and assumed a hip image all off of one product. Microsoft, who's attempted a similiar feet with the Xbox took note. Microsoft had been taking a loss on every single Xbox sold to get their name out as a solid player in the gaming world. That segwayed into the Xbox 360 which, if not devastated by the PS3 and Wii, will stand a possibility of profit for the software giant.

Apple on the other hand, lost nothing on the iPod, or it's accompanying music store, and has successfully garnered over 80% of the legal digital music market and a slick 70+% of the MP3 player market. All while maintaining a profit margin on both the player, and content sales.

Microsoft is tired of sitting back watching a one time drop in the bucket compete again.

Thus, the Microsoft Zune, and Zune Music store will launch in less than 48 hours. Some stores have already begun selling the Zune. The iPod faces it's first true competitor. The Zune is a recipe of all the things that made the iPod successful that other device manufacturers failed to implement. Style, Simplicity, and all with a Flexible Platform, and the sole unique feature of Wi-Fi.

Where the Zune fails is timining. Microsoft may have been a more solid competitor 2 years ago, but they are going to have to rape and pillage to get marketshare away from Apple at this point. Is the Zune superior? Yes. Is it the better player? Perhaps, Does it stand a chance? Not yet.

There are a few elements to Apple's success that Microsoft fails to have in place. 1) Apple had an established and proprietary niche on a media store with iTunes. iTunes is also leveraged in every possible way across everything that Apple does with it's OS, with it's Accessories, and with it's Hardware. The iPod was also the first of it's kind. Though MP3 players existed before, the combination of a download store and hardware designed side by side with an operating system... had never occured, and still haven't. The interface was unique. The spacious hard drive was unique... The iPod was successful from inception.

The Zune's first battle will be amongst it's siblings. If you are a nerd like me, you probably recall that Microsoft already has a platform to do exactly what the Zune is doing that is leveraged by other players... all of which have failed. In fact, one of those players is also manufactured by Toshiba who is building the Zune. Microsoft's Portable Media Centers are competitors to it's own device. Then we have the Video store they are launching for the Xbox 360 which does not allow for direct transfer to the Zune... Uhm... that was a brilliant marketing plan. I wonder if the two were even aware of one another. Then we have the existing Windows Media Player platform and music store which allow for purchase from the anticipated flop known as Urge from MTV. Urge of course freshly launched and promoted by Microsoft just 2 months ago, has dropped off the face of the planet for Microsoft's competitor the Zune download store.

Talk about a lack of focus. Furthermore, it makes me wonder why Microsoft wasn't confident enough in the Zune to extend it's Xbox branding to it. The two are obviously targeting similiar audiences... what gives? Did they not want the Zune to muddy the 360's success if it failed?

Microsoft typically has the bugs ironed out by their 3rd attempt. That's when they typically start to dominate markets. I'll hold off for the time being. Especially because I know that Apple won't give up it's successful new market and image without one hell of a fight. Steve Jobs is obviously not afraid of the Zune as he is not rushing out the door with a suped up iPod (or as the iPod community calls it, a true video iPod) on Tuesday.

Of course, the Zune has no established market, and iTunes has established THE market.

Its interesting to see these two competitors go at it. I think Microsoft would have won this without a fight had Apple not opened their eyes and offered iTunes unchained on Windows. Or if Apple wasn't the current must have Windows PC. It's possible that Microsoft is starting to sweat a little. It starts when Apple steals the home user market by gently easing them into a new Apple since they now run windows and the Intel chips that people are familiar with. It got bloodier when Apple was the only PC manufacturer to make a clear marginal gain in sales over the past year. It should come to a boil if Apple manages to topple Microsoft on the digital media front, and finally the deal will be closed when Apple manages to swoon the business user. I guess I'd be sweating if I were Microsoft as well. But it's difficult to fear a man in turtlenecks, so they've still got ground to stand on.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:25 PM | Comments (4)

October 24, 2006

What Sony must do to get back on track

Now, I'm not exactly an expert in this field, then again Sony doesn't appear to be either. Here's my take on the situation: Sony has grown too big for it's britches and it's come up against the consumer electronics manufacturing equivelant to writer's block.

Nevertheless, they aren't without hope. Here's what I feel Sony should be focussing on:

1. Let people watch/listen to their own damn content! It must be difficult for Sony's consumer electronics heads to agree with the movie studios and record labels they run in a way that can actually sell content. The unfortuante truth Sony faces; however, is despite Blu-Ray or HDDVD taking off, it's digital downloads that will leapfrog both of those formats for everything but storage. So, unless Sony wants to be stuck with a multi-million dollar investment into a floopy disk replacement, they should start working on integrating video downloads into Connect. Or, if they are tired of beating a dead horse with the connect music store, they should partner with a more successful download service and start promoting Quit focussing so much on DRM and DRM driven formats that you lose sight of the fact that people have a right to enjoy the media they purchase.

2. Make it all work together! Can somebody explain to me why Sony Ericsson Walkman phones are not being leveraged to advertise the Connect music store? Furthermore, why is Sony developing Location Free TV technology for Windows Mobile phones before it offers it on it's own Sony Ericsson smart phones? Then of course there is the mystery of why they are marketing a new device, the Mylo to do things that they could easily integrate into the PSP to drive it's sells. Oh yeah, then there is their Digital Living System which is a computer designed to take residence in your entertainment center instead of on your desk and does it get the Blu-Ray disc player? No, the awkward looking desktop does. It's like Sony is a huge family whose members aren't aware of what the others are doing. Here's an idea, when you come up with a new technology, make sure that you enable all your devices to utilize it then leverage the marketing synergy! Apple has a mastery of this. Every product they create in someway revolves around iLife, and iLife and .Mac interact with one another.

3. Get the creative juices flowing! Hey, those wizkids who design your PSP and your laptops... they should also design your Blu-Ray disc player! That thing looks like a cross between a brick and a VCR from the early 90's. Then there are the MP3 players which honestly would have been great designwise in 2002, but everybody expects a color screen these days, not a monochrome reflection screen.

4. Do something with Connect or ditch it! If you are going to integrate PSP functionality into it, then by all means do, but don't make a seperate Connect store front for it! You don't see Apple creating a separate iTunes interface for the iPod! Plus, the content you have available for download on the PSP Connect storefront... nobody wants it! At the very least, put a few more trailers up there.

5. Quit favoring Japan with the exclusive PS2 and PSP colors and marketing. You have a larger audience in the US. Play both fields.

6. Control your execs. Enough with the crazy statements.

7. If you are going to compete with Apple, don't just create a competitor, create the superior device, and give consumers a reason to choose it instead. My recommendations, take your PSP line, add a new model that can make and recieve calls on the Cingular network, plus a 2 mp camera and all the features it currently has. Give it a 10 gb harddrive, and Skye capability, offer WMA and WMV plays for sure compatability, and you are set. Give it the ability to view MS Office documents and sync with Outlook or Gmail and you have a device that will overthrow the iPod. Especially if you offer a port to hook up interchangable harddrives which you can manufacture as an accessory for extra profit. Oh yeah, and a touch of bluetooth 2.0 so you can listen to music/movies/games on your PSP without wires. Wires are uncool these days.

8. Networked stereos are an excellent concept, give them more compatibility, give them the ability to sync with the PSP through wi-Fi and bluetooth and you have yet another accessory leveraged with some clever marketing you could really start expanding on your core market.

9. Embrace homebrew on the PSP, just don't support it, just as apple allows you to Windows in a partition but doesn't support it.

10. Use your artists! You have a bevy of rock stars from Aerosmith to Tori Amos, you'd think you could use a few to advertise like you used to!

11. Adopt Windows Mobile for your cell phone platform. Face it, Symbian is not competing, opt for the prominent technology and adapt it, like palm. Sony's strength is in engineering devices, People would flip over the w600i and the 950i if they ran Win Mobile.

Those are just a few suggestions. Not that Sony will listen, but hey!

Posted by Decemberice at 07:39 PM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2006

Unwired Update

Remember one of my previous entries where I claimed I was trying to free myself of wired computer components because I tripped over the cord to my headphones and took nearly every wired device with them because it had all become a tangled mess?

Well, to update you all, because I'm sure you are all on the edge of your seat over it... I have reduced the wires at our computer desk sucessfully by 4! You would not believe how just 4 fewer wires can clear things up and add space.

I opted for Apple stuff because I'm a fanboy like that, so I have the new bluetooth mighty mouse for both my mother's mac, and mine. I have, for both computers, the Apple Pro Wireless keyboard (which is ultra quiet by the way). That allowed me to axe 2 wires. Then I opted for Logitech wireless headset and promptly returned it because, though the Mac's bluetooth adapter could see it, it couldn't stream audio to it for some reason, and the PC Laptop I have didn't even see the headset. So, I replaced it with a bluetooth headset from motorola for cell phones and it is doing just fine. That scored me one more wire down, which allowed me to get rid of my usb hub which resulted in yet another wire down.

Next, I plan on getting rid of the printer cable by purchasing an Airport Express station, which will let me sit the printer elsewhere and print without a wire connecting the printer and the mac. Then, I'll move on to getting a new speaker setup for the mac to hook up to the airport express station which will also let me put the speakers somewhere else in the house without a wire.

That'll down 2 more cables and the only thing I will need a cable for, is to hook the monitor to the PC. Now how pimp is that?! An entire computer setup, with one wire and 2 power cords. If I weren't such a boyscout I could even hook the power cords directly into the wall instead of into my UPS battery backup device.

At any rate, I thought I would bring you this important update to inspire those of you who may not have made the jump to a world without wires yet. It's very fun not having to trip over the bazillions of wires you can easily accumulate through a modern computer setup.

Below you can see some of the items I'm using on Amazon:

My Mouse

My Keyboard

My Headset

The Airport Express Adapter with Airtunes

Bluetooth Adapter for my G3 iBook without Bluetooth built-in

The mouse and keyboard aren't compatible with PC, but everything else should work on both platforms. Here's a pretty pimp alternative for you PC folks out there for the mouse and keyboard

Posted by Decemberice at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2006

Going Wireless

So I tripped over a cord two days ago, and have, since, spent every moment I had to myself shopping online to replace every wired product I own with a wireless one. So far, I've replaced my mouse, my keyboard, and my headphones. Since all of our computers have built-in wi-fi, I haven't needed to do that, but I have purchased an airport express adapter, which makes my printer and my computer's speakers wireless. All this pro-active wirelessness has also allowed me to get rid of my USB hub,

Actually, the only thing I will need connected to my computer once all this crap arrives, is my scanner... until I spring for the all-in-one printer next month.

Now all I need is a way to wi-fi my home theater set up. I wish there was a way to get rid of power cords too.

Posted by Decemberice at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)