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The Mobile King of Cool
Oh my God. This phone is awesome.
So for the past 2 years I’ve been on a family plan with AT&T Wireless with my mom and sister. Originally, this was so my mom could get in touch with me when she needed to; however, that sort of hasn’t worked very well recently, so that (among other things) is why I got my own wireless plan with Cingular. And since I couldn’t keep my old, tired Panasonic GU-87 (an excellent phone, I would highly recommend if it weren’t a discontinued product), I decided to get the ultimate cool phone:
The Motorola Razr V3.
Oh my God. This phone is awesome. It is incredibly thin, and has one of the largest screens on the market, with incredible resolution and detail. There are so many ways I can customize it, from the look to the function of the buttons on the main page. It is actually pretty easy to use the predictive text input method Motorola incorporated, and it remembers some of the things I’ve entered previously (I think… haven’t played with it a lot yet). It can also log into AIM, which is when the predictive text comes in handy.
The casing is made of the same anodized aluminum as the Powerbooks, though it stays a lot cooler. 
The phone also features Bluetooth, so I can (potentially) sync it wirelessly with my computer or use a wireless earpiece. And there’s a camera to play with, as well. 
Of course, no device is perfect, and this phone is no exception, of…
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20 | 3659 |
| Arden | comments | views |
Why I don’t like the iPod
In essence, I equate iPod + iTunes to the AOL of the mid-to-late 90s, and its users akin to the AOL users of the day, people who swore up and down that AOL was The Internet...
This article on Slate explains almost perfectly why I don’t like the iPod.
Key points:
* The iPod is an inherently limited player, designed to jack you into Apple’s world and not let you go. The video iPod is no exception.
* Most people don’t realize this, because Steve Jobs does such a masterful job of pulling the wool over people’s eyes, so they wind up taking what he gives them, liking it and asking for more.
* There are lots of portable players out there with better features, more compatibility, more flexibility and cheaper prices than iPod.
In essence, I equate iPod + iTunes to the AOL of the mid-to-late 90s, and its users akin to the AOL users of the day, people who swore up and down that AOL was The Internet, who had no clue how to do anything beyond what AOL provided for them, and who thanked AOL and paid good money for the privilege of living within its confines.
Much like AOL seduced its neophytes with colorful icons, “exclusive” content and a friendly voice that said “welcome!” when you logged on, so too has Apple seduced its neophytes with a Click Wheel, seductive industrial design, Auto-sync and a dapper Jobs parading on stage, making them feel like a part of some exclusive club.
And just as AOL rose to dominate the ISP space in its heyday, so too has Apple risen to dominate the online music space. But today people ‘get’ the Internet, and people realize…
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106 | 2718 |
| UnnDunn | comments | views |
New iPods, New apps, New iMacs
Apple has announced a bevvy of new goods:
- iMac G5: Now 1.9 and 2.1 GHz; slimmer, built-in iSight (rumors were true)
- Front Row and Photobooth: Front Row is Apple’s answer to Media Center PCs; lets you enjoy movies, pictures, and music from your couch--comes with new iMacs
- iPod-like remote for Front Row
- Photobooth: photo software for iMac
- iPod video: 2.5” screen, 30 GB and 60 GB models, same pricing as before. 4G iPod is no more.
- iTunes 6: iTunes now sells music videos, ABC programs!
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55 | 1981 |
| Nick | comments | views |
Why Computers Are Good For Schools
Does a calculator vastly improve your maths?
Computers, the tools to make our lives better. They’ll help us keep in touch, carry out business and learn more. So if that’s the case then how come some people aren’t so sure about computers benefits in education? Some people feel that programs putting computers into the hands of school children are just a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere. But I think that these people aren’t seeing computers the same way.
Sure, the best experience I’ve had with programs such as those giving laptops to all the children and teacher in an area has been in the news, my school is using computers in a positive way. We have can get data for coursework off the school’s website, there are interactive whiteboards which allow for teachers to use technology more in lessons. Our registration system for the 6th Form is now done completely on computer. We have have monitors round the school with Powerpoint presentations giving us important notices. It is this use of technology that’s benefiting people.
There are two big complaints with spending huge amounts of money on computers for education. One is that they will be abused by children, who will use them for entertainment purposes such as games and the other is that they don’t improve test scores. Well, let me put this to those people… if you were to give a class of children a pack of paper and a pen for use with school work, how many of those kids would…
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| comments | views |
Apple to Announce “One More Thing” at Media Event [UPDATED x2]
Members of the press are receiving invitations to a special media event October 12 at 10 AM PDT. The announcement includes the catchphrase “One more thing...” on a red theater curtain background. “One more thing...” is the phrase Steve Jobs uses prior to making a major announcement at the end of keynote addresses. The event will be held on the day following Apple’s Q4 financial results announcement.
The Apple speculation machine is in high-gear, as Apple watchers are predicting anything from a video iPod to new PowerMacs to an early release of Intel-based Macs.
Deep Thought reported on the possibility of video iPods in May.
Stay with Deep Thought for news regarding this media event.
UPDATE: http://www.apple.com/movies results in a 403 “Forbidden” error (as opposed to the standard “Looking for something at Apple?” message one normally gets when visiting a nonexistent page), which would seem to suggest that something is there that Apple doesn’t want us to see. Hmm…
UPDATE #2: AppleInsider is reporting that a video iPod is currently in production.
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10 | 899 |
| Nick | comments | views |
more stuff
- The Mobile King of Cool
- Why I don’t like the iPod
- New iPods, New apps, New iMacs
- Why Computers Are Good For Schools
- Apple to Announce “One More Thing” at Media Event [UPDATED x2]
- Rumor Roundup: iTunes for Windows Mobile; New Mac minis?
- iPod Nano design flaw
- Apple Intros iTunes 5, iPod nano, iTunes Phone
- Should I buy a 80 hr TiVo for $180 or a 320 hr Replay TV for $200 or better yet, Apple iBox?
- The World’s First 19” Laptop Is Here
- New York Sues AOL
- Google Launches IM Service
- Uneasy is the Head…
- iPods, Smart Phones, iLife and Word
- Intel Canning Lower-End Chipsets
- Microsft and Google Face Off at Golden Penguin Bowl
- Apple Launches iTMS Japan
- A Creation That Defies the Laws of Physics
- New Apple Mighty Mouse lacks wireless
- End of the HP iPod
- The Death of the iPod
- Mainboard Pattern Problems
- Is Apple really behind podcasting?
- DT interviews Artemy Lebedev
- Geek Toy of the week: Optimus Keyboard
- 500 Million Songs Downloaded off iTunes
- The Real iPod Killer
- Apple Counting UP to 500 Million Songs Sold
- iTunes 4.9: First Impressions
- Apple Releases iTunes 4.9, updates iPods
- Microsoft to revamp Digital Music strategy
- Podcasters form the Association of Music Podcasting
- Fun Stuff: How geeky are you?
- Digital music in the Real World
- Report: iTunes to lose dominance
- iPods, phones, and Gates
- Subscription services and music stores revisited
- Yahoo launches cut-rate subscription music service
- Podcasts make the airwaves
- Microsoft finishes Windows Mobile 2005
- Geek Toy of the Week: Backpack
- iTunes Music Store now selling videos
- iTunes Opens To New Countries
- iTunes 4.8. Plays Movies. God help us
- Apple Doing Well with MP3s
- Banner Ads Start To Appear In RSS
- PyMusique creators: Napster Cracked
- Google introduces Q&A service
- Lumines for the PSP
- Google Plans to Double Gmail capacity
- The Interesting Cell Phone Market
- Mark Cuban to bankroll Grokster in P2P fight
- Creative launching new, full size Zen
- iTunes Hack disabled by Apple
- Intel releases new socket… again
- iPodSoft release iPod Agent 0.8.0.1 beta
- Super Shuffle rips off iPod Shuffle
- Another One Bites The Dust
- 1 millionth Tablet PC sold!
- The Compaq R3000z
- XPlay for iPod Shuffle
- Get your iPod Shuffles!
- Good Times
- iPod Linux
- iTunes tops 300 million downloads
- Intel to release 64bit Celerons
- Creative Responds to updated iPod Minis by cutting prices on Zen Micro
- iPod Firewire cable petition surpasses 3000 signatures
- New iPods ship with USB2 cords; Mac faithful start whining like crybabies.
- A full iPod is a bad iPod?
- Firewire firestorm
- Hidden secrets of the iPod update
- Rumor: Apple may buy TiVo
- Life is random
- New iPod mini, cheaper iPod photo
- Review of the Mac mini
- New Powerbook G4s
- My new laptop has been ordered!
- iPod Plays Movies
- ATI Announces Mac Radeon X800 XT
- Apple Lowers The Price of its Displays
- Apple gets started on its releases
- TV To Go: TiVo Unveils Portable Service
- iPod vs. the World: Part 1
- Deep Thought PC now open
- iPod Ripoff Goodness…
- PC Mag give thumbs down to eMac
- iPhone?
- Homemade iPod Mini ad takes web by storm!
- iMac G5 is “Computer of the Year”
- A Brief History of iPod
