Apple's Coming Attraction (with a brief side of "The Sopranos")

ariil/YouTube/HBO

Never play Monopoly when you're drunk.
A scene from the sixth season premiere of The Sopranos. The series finale aired last night, and from what I've heard and read thus far, not many liked the ending (Tony and his biological family eating at a diner, as bad guys waited outside...use your imagination on that one...).

I'll talk a bit more on The Sopranos series finale in The Trash Bash (the sister blog to this one) a bit later.

But rigfht now, let's talk things Apple.

As I write this, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, is giving the keynote address at the 2007 Worldwide Developers Conference, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. I'm writing this as Jobs speaks, so it may take a bit of time to get everything here. Thus far, Jobs has touted the features of the forthcoming Mac OS X Leopard (v.10.5). On Leopard, a new desktop replaces the default blue pattern. The new pattern will feature one that shows grass with dew. Plus a new menu bar adapts to what you put on the backdrop. The desktop on Leopard is translucent, and the dock, likewise.

Stacks is a new feature that lets you group icons within the dock. You click and a collection of icons pop up from a single folder.. This new feature mimics popular third party add-ons, but with more pizazz, with glass reflective surfaces and vertical arrangements.

Finder gets an extensive upgrade. Spotlight will be capable of being used to search other Macs and servers on the network. A new Sidebar has been cleaned up, with devices, shared items, places, and such in groups.

If you subscribe to .Mac, a new feature called Back to my Mac lets you share computers and files, even if they're not on the local network. Finder also features Cover Flow, adapted from iTunes, which enables you to view Viewer windows the same way you view iTunes cover art.

Quick Look lets you view instant preview files without opening applications.

According to Jobs, Leopard is 64-bit from the bottom up. This is the first time that 64-bit will be mainstream in the computer world.

Before I hit the 'Refresh' button, it must be noted that in August, Electronic Arts- the gaming folks that bring you the Tiger Woods and John Madden sports series, and other games such as Command; and Conquer 3 for gaming systems- the Nintendo Wii; Microsoft XBox 360, among others- and the Windows PCs, will bring Command; Conquer 3; Battlefield 2142;
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will come to the Mac. Furthermore, in August, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, and Madden 08, will be on the Mac as well.

Moving back to Leopard, Boot Camp, which will be standard on Leopard, lets you run Windows XP and Windows Vista applications at native speed. Users will no longer need to burn a CD of Windows drivers or install any Windows drivers separately.

Spaces, the virtual desktop technology introduced last year helps users organize their work life.

Dashboard gets upgrades as well. Since its' introduction in Tiger, more than 3000 widgets (mini-applications) have been created. A new feature in Dashboard called WebClips will enable users to "make a widget about almost anything on the Internet."

iChat gets an overhaul, with better audio quality, with the addition of AAC-LD, or AAC Low Delay Audio. Tabbed chats have been added, along with iChat Theater, which enables users who are videoconferenced to display slide shows and other rich media with each other. Backdrops add flair to your background while conferenced.

Time Machine, introduced last year, is Leopard's automated backup technology. Never again lose a file.

Leopard will be sold for $129- for the basic; business; Premium; and Ultimate versions. (Jobs had to throw in that jab at that Goliath based in a certain Seattle, Washington suburb). Come October, it'll be in these hands.

Safari, the Internet browser that has been Mac-only, will be used on Windows XP and Windows Vista. With Safari 3, and the inclusion of Windows, Apple hopes to "increase Safari's market share dramatically."

The Safari 3 beta will be released today for both Mac and Windows.

The iPhone will be released on June 29, as scheduled. You know all about that, so I won't go into any more explanation.

I was hoping that Apple would release some new hardware, but never came into fruition. That, of course, will not keep me from getting new Mac hardware and software. What with the just updated MacBook and MacBook Pro lines out on shelves now, they're more than sufficient.

Watch portions of the WWDC Keynote address by just clicking here at http://news.com.com/1606-2-6190030.html (Courtesy of CNet)

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved. Special thanks to Macworld.com for the live feed of the 2007 WWDC keynote address.

What Has Apple Released?- Chapter One

At yesterday's opening of the 2007 NAB Show convention, Apple's vice president of applications product marketing Robert Schoeben gave a speech and- as expected, released new products for the Mac.

Both of the products are in the Final Cut Studio family.

Final Cut Studio 2 is a complete update of the application that integrated Final Cut Pro; Soundtrack Pro; DVD Studio Pro; Compressor; and Motion into one package. This second generation version contains a new program called Color, which will be used for color gradation and correction.

Final Cut Server is targeted for news organization and media- video and film- production facilities. It will work with all of the FCS products- Final Cut Pro 6; Motion 3; Soundtrack Pro 2; Compressor 3; DVD Studio Pro 4; and Color- and will update revisions for live news broadcasts and other post production needs.

Final Cut Studio 2 will retail at the current price of $1299, and will be on shelves next month. Final Cut Server will be out this summer.

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

What Will Apple Release This Time?- Chapter Three

Sunday is the start of the 2007 National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And no doubt, it will be an exciting time.

So the question is: what will Apple release this time?

Well, I know what they won't- and I have a bone to pick with them about, so let's get the damn thing done and over with, 'kay?

Leopard. It was supposed to be released in late June, along with iPhone. iPhone is on schedule to be in Cingular customers' hands by then. But as for Leopard, apparently, Apple has pulled a Microsoft and pushed the release date for Leopard back to October- although the beta for Leopard will be released to developers at the World Wide developers Conference in June. Apple wants to make sure that Leopard is good and ready before it reaches the public- in other words, it doesn't want to have the same troubles that Windows Vista is having now with compatibility issues.

But, come on, Apple. The suspense is killing us Mac-heads here.

Now that I'm done bitching, there is speculation that Apple will release a new version of Final Cut Studio- due, in part, to the anticipation of competition in the form of Adobe's Production Studio for Mac (which is part of the Creative Suite family) that will be released in June or July.

I'll be back here in a few days to talk about the releases- if any- from Apple.

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

2007 Apple World Wide Developers Conference Dates Released

You can count on Apple to release new products- and likely updates, as well- at least two times a year: January and June. Of course, in January, Apple gave us the iPhone, which we'll see in our grubby little hands in June (we do have to sign up with AT&T's Cingular to get one...why can't they also go with MY service provider, Cricket? Oh, well...one thing we can count on, however, is the fact that Microsoft's Steve Ballmer's eyes will get get greener when he sees one. Of course, being a bald-headed knucklehead from Seattle, he'll hide his iPhone from one William Henry Gates III...poor Steve...).

Sorry, got off track for a sec. Anyway, Apple releases products at least two times a year- January and June. We've already been through the 2007 Macworld Expo and Conference. Now get mark June 11-15, 2007 on the calendars. Those are the dates for the 2007 Apple World Wide Developers Conference, and as always, it's at the Moscone Center- Apple's official convention center, it seems (well, it IS close to Cupertino).

I'll, of course, have the news of what Apple releases in June. But you can count on something (besides Steve Ballmer's impending aneurysm), it will most definitely be very exciting! I can't wait!

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

The World's First Tablet Mac- and What It May Mean For The Mac

For years, the Windows world has enjoyed carrying around these notebook-like PCs- called Tablet PCs. On these, a person can write, or draw out ideas for projects and even use them in presentations.

But on April 1, we Mac-heads- who have salivated over these tablet PCs for years- finally get our own tablet.

The ModBook, made by Axiotron, and distributed exclusively by Other World Computing, a vendor for Macintosh computers- will be released. It runs on the Mac OS X (Tiger, currently, though support for the upcoming Leopard is expected), and has the Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and GMA 950 graphics card inside. In the 1.83 GHz model, you get 60 GB hard drive; 512 MB memory; and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. That runs at $2279. For $300 more, you get a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 1 GB memory; WAAS-enabled GPS; and 80 GB hard drive. The top of the line has the same features as the $2579, but in addition, you get 2 GB of memory and 160 GB hard drive.

On all models, an iSight camera is on top; a Wacom(R) Penabled (TM) Digitizer pen is included. The 13.3" display is made of Chemically Strengthened glass, and the ModBook allows you to write on it. It's Bluetooth-equipped. The only thing the ModBook doesn't have is an external keyboard (though, it has an internal one. Just turn it on. Got that, Ballmer? It does allow you to use an external keyboard, if you like).

And yes, after you finish your work, you can pop in a DVD and watch that porn flick you've been itchin' to watch all day.

The ModBook is targeted for professionals who edit photos on programs such as Apple's Apeture and Adobe's forthcoming Lightroom.

The ModBook arrives on April 1.

With Axiotron building the first non-Apple Mac computer in ten years, this could mean that Apple will once again open up licenses for computer manufacturers to run the Mac OS X on their computers. If the ModBook is a success- and with many Mac-heads wanting a Table Mac for quite some time, it'll likely be that- look for other manufacturers to put the Mac OS into their computers. I'm guessing- and I'm no computer expert, so don't quote me on this (not yet, anyway...)- that Sony and HP will likely jump on board (HP could turn its' Compaq brand into a Mac division. Who knows? I'm just guessing here. Or it could be a dual-OS or even multi-OS division,with computers running on Mac, Windows, and Linux...).

But right now, the ModBook opens up possibilities that the Mac OS may soon no longer be confined to just Apple. Sure, Apple will continue to create the OS, and control the rights for some time (I doubt very seriously that Steve Jobs will give up his baby). But I'm guessing in about a year- at least- and no more than three to five years, the Mac may be on HP, Sony, and even Toshiba computers. That'll give those knuckleheads up in Redmond a combination of a grand mal seizure and an Excedrin headache.

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

What Will Apple Release This Time?- Chapter Two

April 15, at the NAB convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, Apple will hold a special event. In the past, the all-in-one house of Steve (all-in-one meaning they build both the computer and the operating system- something Microsoft will never do in another million years, considering that they've already screwed up Vista...) has released products for us Mac lovers. I'm talking updated versions of our favorite Mac computers and software, and probably an update of iTunes as well.

So, what will Steve Jobs and company give us Mac-heads this time?

I'm guessing Leopard will be released around this time. Or at least, Steve-O will give us the date of release.

Perhaps, Apple will come to its' senses finally and lower the price of Macs across the freakin' board. Which means I won't have to spend $1500 on the 13" black MacBook I've been salivating over forever.

Perhaps Apple will release a 42" plasma HD Cinema Display monitor for the professionals among us. Just picture looking at our files from across the room would be great- particularly for those of us who use Final Cut Studio (or even Final cut express and iMovie...speaking of which, Apple could release FCS 5.2, or even 6.0, ahead of Adobe's return to the Mac platform with the Production Studio suite that will run exclusively on Intel-based Macs. Production Studio comes out in June).

As usual, the gang in Cupertino keeps everyone in the dark- probably so those fuck-ups in Redmond don't try to spy on the Apple lab, and try to sneak in something ahead of the release of the next Mac product...I don't trust those nimrods from Microsoft.

Also go to http://www.nab.org for the National Association of Broadcasters website. Click on the title above for the Macworld article.

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

Mac Vs. Windows Vista- The Fight inside of Me

I took a look at Windows Vista hands on Sunday- a couple days before the official release.

It's a pretty nice little system there- though many (and yes, I'm guilty as charged as well in that group of many) call it a knockoff of the Mac OS X.

I'm very tempted to jump to the Windows side- though I'll still use my Mac- but thus far, several software programs are kind of buggy with Vista.

I feel like I'm Michael Corlone in The Godfather III, when he says, "Everytime I try to get out, they pull me back in!"

Windows and Macintosh. Two very beautiful women. Very seductive. Very functional. I guess you can look at this in terms of things being erotic (albeit in a geeky way, I suppose).

Windows. The girl in the red dress. She has plenty of offers, and is all willing to share all she has. She's a hot kisser, the sex is...well, pretty much extravagant much of the time. But with the extravagant sex and dancing comes those STIs- sexually transmitted diseases/infections in the form of spyware; spam; adware; and those ubiquitous viruses and worms you must beware of.

Macintosh. I guess many would call the ugly girl at the dance. Not many want her, but the few who do find that she's a very careful young lady, pretty much virtuous.
Like Windows, she's very functional, and very easy to use. However, she doesn't suffer many of the maladies that Windows does- in fact, you could probably count the number of viruses, etc. that targeted Mac on one hand. Of course, those viruses were rapidly took out. She always keeps herself up in the form of almost monthly updates, and new versions come out almost every 12-18 months. (Look how long it took Windows Vista to finally get released. Five years?)

Sounds almost like I'm quoting the Bible book of Proverbs, doesn't it?

Well, everytime I look for reasons to get a Windows Vista PC, those same reasons having me running back to the Mac.

So I have to accept the foregone conclusion that I'm forever a Mac person.

So Far, So What!

This Tuesday, January 30, Microsoft releases the latest version of their widely popular Windows operating system, Vista. It is reputed to be one of the most secure iterations of the 22-year-old operating system ever released.

One of the features of Vista is an interface called Aero, which is more visually dynamic- according to Microsoft. Plus Windows Flip 3D, which is stacking open windows on the desktop three-dimensionally.

So why am I NOT convinced? Yes, I'm tempted to give Vista a try, but from what I've seen so far, it looks like a knockoff of the Macintosh OS X. I know that Microsoft has to steal from the best sometimes, but does it have to look like...say, another version of the Mac? If so, why don't Microsoft just sell the Windows OS, all its codes and thing-a-ma-jigs to Apple and just get out of the operating system business. What I'm saying is that Microsoft should be thinking about originality, as they greatly stress innovation. Only they should start by not copying the other guys. They need to prove to someone like me- who sometimes uses Windows (though those days are gravely numbered, since I'm on the eve of buying a couple Macs this year)- that they are indeed the better of the numerous (operating) systems out there.
That they are the most secure, the most dependable, the most sturdy of all OSes.

All I see instead is another reason why Windows will continue to see its' 90-plus percent (of computer users) standing take a nosedive.

(Before long, I'll likely see the first report of Vista being hacked...fine by me. I'll just stand by that 23-year-old Macintosh OS).

Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.

What Does Steve Jobs Have Up His Sleeve?

In the thirty years that Apple Computer has been in existence, there has been one constant: Steve Jobs, the co-founder and CEO. From the formation of Apple in 1976, to the creation of Macintosh in 1984, to the iMac in 1998; to the iPod in 2001, Jobs had a hand in every single creation. Hands-on. At times, tempermental, but nonetheless, Steven Paul Jobs (who turns 51 next month).

Another constant: the mystery of Steve Jobs. Everytime a new product from Apple comes out, Jobs keeps the release details under tight wraps (some may say, too damn tight..."Uh, Steve-O, can we get a little breathing room, please?").

Today is the first day of the Macworld Conference and Expo- San Francisco (at the Moscone Center). Tuesday, Jobs will give the Keynote address (9:00AM Pacific; 12 Noon Eastern), and with this comes major anticipation. What new products will Apple release? Will Apple release anything at all? (Likely, the former question will be answered, negating the latter).

Already, there is speculation- and it's just that!- that Apple will release updated versions of the PowerBook G4 and iBook G4 lines. Some are saying that the first Macs with Intel will be released (okay, so Intel's no longer using the "Intel Inside" slogan, instead using the new "Leap Ahead"). Others are saying that Apple may release a sub-notebook (again, with 'intel inside'...sorry, can't help that...).

Myself, I'm crossing my fingers, holding my breath- albeit with breaks to inhale and exhale. Just wondering what Apple comes up with. This is important to me, because right now, I'm in the market for a Mac (which means that I won't be typing this on the yucky Windows OS too much longer...).

I'll have the details Tuesday afternoon, here at this blog, alexthegrinch.blogspot.com

Copyright 2006, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.