Apple Grrl

I was underwhelmed by the MacBook Air. I think it is geared to the business traveler who doesn’t need an actual optical hard drive or any serious storage space because they will only us it to write letters and such. I don’t want a laptop I have to buy a separate hard drive for to store photos, movies, files, etc on. I think they should have kept this in development until someone made a ultra slim hard drive to put in it. Because the MacBook Air with a massive slim hard drive of 160GB or more PLUS the Ram and Flash is has already would have truly been stunning. I’m guessing some gadget heads will buy the air out of a need to have the latest thing right out of the starting gate. I keep seeing comments around the net from people who don’t get that it only has a flash drive and RAM who think the 500GB is plenty of space for a computer, but trust me, it isn’t that kind of memory, folks.

As for the rest of it? The iTunes movie subscriptions and the improvements on the AppleTV and such? That was better than the MacBook Air, frankly. I still wish the AppleTV was also a true DVR, but this is a step in the right direction. Too bad Time Warner countered the innovation with an announcement of a crippling price hike based on bandwidth. Sometimes the entertainment and technology sector can’t win for shooting itself in the foot all the time.

I was also concerned with Apple’s recent Bad Apple legal tactics against bloggers and other fans, and had high hopes they would do something to rectify the situation a bit, but this reaction to a fan tells me I shouldn’t hold my breathe. I had a press pass to this even this year, and no way to go. Now I’m a bit glad I didn’t try harder to find the money for airfare. I would have enjoyed seeing my friends in California, but I would have been disappointed with the overall Keynote. I probably would have had fun wandering around after though – maybe next year.

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Apple released the Apple Gift Guide this week. I can’t believe it is almost Christmas! The link below will get you free shipping on items ordered from the Gift Guide. Enjoy!

Apple Store Gift Guide – Free Shipping on all Gift Guide items.

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SanDisk, of all people. I know! I think of them as the little camera/phone memory card people too! It seems they are tossing their hat in the ring to compete with AppleTV by introducing their version: Sansa TakeTV

I actually think it might sell, if only because it can tap the “anti Apple” movement – people who desperately want the AppleTV but can’t stomach the thought of buying Apple product. What do you all think?

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AppleGazette echoed exactly what I was thinking when I read about the NBC brouhaha the other day. I thought Apple handled it just right – letting NBC shoot themselves in the foot. Sure enough, NBC compounded the problem they’d created by then signing with Amazon’s Unboxed service to distribute their content. Too bad for the short sighted NBC, Unboxed is not compatible with any OS other than Windoze.

I think AppleGazette is right in saying that now would be the time to add DVR capability to the AppleTV unit and increase the hard drive size. They’d have to be careful though – loyal to Apple as I am, I wouldn’t want to switch from my current DVR (dual channel) to a single channel version. I flat out watch too much TV to not be able to watch one show while recording another, or record two at once if I’m out of the house. I hope Apple seizes the moment, and the customers, with a strong DVR move.

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in 1988, Apple released this video, simulating what they thought the computing world would be like in 2010. With 2010 fast approaching, how accurate do you think they were?

[tags]apple, future computer, future of computing, nostradamus, mac, steve jobs, commercial, apple 1988, apple 2010, knowledge navigator[/tags]

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If you don’t know what Slingbox is, you’ve been missing out. Think television that works with your computer, DVR, internet connection and more and travels with you wherever you go that has a computer connection. It’s a pretty slick set up, especially for the determined office slacker with high speed internet.

Get your Slingbox connection here.

This means that, after buying and installing the Slingbox, Mac users can ’sling’ their home cable and satellite signals to themselves at the airport, or in a café hotspot, or over their office computers.

[tags]Slingbox, TV On The Go, Stream TV, TV On Computer, Slacker, Office, Apple[/tags]

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Online data backup services for Macs have been scarce these last few years (ok, ever), but Mozy heard the call and came to the rescue (I realize .Mac and iDisk do this. for those of us with boucoups information for clients, an advanced internet use capability and a serious iTunes addiction, .Mac and iDisk don’t offer enough security or space). (more…)

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Apple is reaching out to the masses by tapping the discount box store with the slightly “edgier” reputation (Target) to sell it’s hip new Apple TV. Each Target will have a fully functional Apple TV display using a High Definition Television, which will give users a chance to disprove the rumors that Apple TV doesn’t have the chops to play well with High Definition screens.

Apple’s choice of Target over other discount box stores like WalMart or KMart reflects their desire to market to a certain “hip” demographic, as reflected in their current “I’m a Mac. And I’m a PC.” ad campaign. Target has been known over that last few years for going out of its way to tap into the market for people seeking hip, edgy trends at an affordable price. They have been using top designers to design their clothing, furniture and household products, so introducing Apple is a perfect fit for their target (sic) market.

Apple TV is currently being offered at Target online for $299 USD, and is scheduled to hit Target stores by the end of the month.

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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Apple aired its first Apple TV ad today. It isn’t up on their site for linking yet, but one enterprising watcher recorded it using a camcorder and posted it to Google video. Enjoy!

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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Hello loyal Apple Reporter readers!

Due to a freak april snowstorm, I was unable to update this weekend. Never fear, there has been a lot happening on the Apple front, so I’ll be double posting over the next few days to make sure you are kept in the Apple loop! After all, an Apple a day keeps the Windoze away!

To start us off, we have a review of the Apple TV as used with HDTV – and it is not looking good. Apparently, Apple has some inherent issues with graphics delivery on an HD system. That’s a huge blow in this first round of Apple TV use, though it does validate my personal decision to wait out the first generation release and see if there are bugs to fix and features to add in the next release.

You can read the full article here.

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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Apple started a test program in recent months that made their systems available at Best Buy brick and mortar stores. It worked so well in the handful of Best Buys that carried their products that they have reached an agreement to expand. Now you can get your daily recommended dose of fruit at 200 more Best Buy stores.

The program has been tried a few other times with limited success, notably in 1998 and in 2004. Recent successes have been credited to an increase in store employees trained in Apple product usage and sales (it isn’t just their operating system and look that is different than the Microsoft world). The first stores to add Apple to their product lineup are the stores that have experienced a slow down in sales of Windows products.

In addition to adding Apple computers to the line up at hundreds of select Best Buy stores, other products will make an appearance as well. iPods and Apple TVs will be sold in every Best Buy store when the program starts. The iPhone is rumored to be making an appearance as well, if Best Buy offers Cingular/AT&T sign up along with it, as it is still under contract as a Cingular exclusive.

I think apple making their products more available to more consumers is a smart move. They have been in limited Circuit City stores and nearly all CompUSA stores for some time now, and show significant improvement in sales from it.

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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I hope so, because they are officially shipping tomorrow! For all of you who have pre-ordered Apple TVs, you got a shipping notice today that announced a ship date of March 20. Are you excited? How many of you ordered one of the first generation Apple TVs? How many of you are, like me, waiting it out a few months in case Apple adds features? What do you plan to use yours for? Talk to me! Tell me about it in the comments.

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

apple tv

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The D: All Things Digital conference is showing us just how progressive it can be. Long time geek rivals Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have agreed to be co-presenters at this prestigious event, scheduled for the end of May 2007. The aspect of this conference that makes it unique is the unscripted, unfettered, spontaneous hosting format the two heavy hitters are expected to use. They will sit down with the conference hosts and have a completely unplanned conversation during their joint appearance – huge news in the computing world.

Apple’s Steve Jobs also has an individual presentation at the D5 conference. He is expected to talk about Apple’s cutting edge developments this year, including the iPhone and Apple TV. Steve Ballmer, Bill Gate’s successor at Microsoft, is slated to give a presentation on their new products, such as the yawner Zune and the more popular Xbox series.

The D conferences are famous for their breaking news, such as last year’s introduction of low-cost laptops for children in developing countries, introduced by Nicholas Negroponte. They are also famous for their format: all interviews, no speeches. This format makes the giants of the computer industry seem more candid and accessible than they do at other conferences and events.

The conference, which is sold out, will take place May 29-31 near San Diego, California. Are you going? Let us know.

Tags: WWDC, Jobs, Gates, speakers, D5, All Things D

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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Breaking news: Apple has signed an exclusive deal with EA Games to develop a series of platform-specific games for the iPhone and Apple TV. This is a huge added feature that will only add to the sales of these Apple products, already in high demand.

EA already makes a series of games for the iPod family that has been quite successful. This success is expected to bridge over into the new platform ready games as well.

The new games will be available through iTunes for a low price (around $4.99 for iPods) that should appeal to customers from all financial levels. Having the games downloadable through iTunes will make them doubly appealing for Apple TV users who want to play them as a multiple player game on any TV.

Stay tuned to Apple Reporter for more once an official deal between Apple, EA Games and Namco is signed.

Read more about the deal here, here, and here.

Tags: Apple, EA Games

Author: Leslie Poston, © 2007, All Rights Reserved

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