Sony finally wins one with Blu-Ray: Who really cares?!?

The Blu-Ray HD-DVD war has been in the news alot the last few years. I read about the demise of HD-DVD this morning in the Wall Street Journal. They compare it to the format war of VHS and BetaMax in the 80s.
But, folks, my point here is that that was the 80s. A time before the digital age when formats mattered. They called this a format war, but I want to know when the war against media formats will wage and end this crap. We do not need formats anymore.

I dont need disks anymore!!!

We should be looking for distributions over the internet. AppleTV has the right idea. We should be able to buy content in super high quality and store it where ever we want.I don't need a disc and don't want it. My iPhone and notebook can store all my media on the road. I have recently even switched to a notebook with no optical drive and I do not miss it a bit. I also don't need a silly shelf with the movie boxes next to my TV. I just need a device that hooks into the screen and sound system and that can play the high quality file with all the right inputs and outputs.

The only real news here is that Sony has finally won a format war. They failed in so many proprietary formats like Betamax, MiniDisc, memory sticks, ATRAC, etc.

ITS MACWORLD TODAY!!

What treats will old Steve bring us today?

Last year we of course saw the birth of the greatest phone ever. How can Steve top that? We can only hope. All I know is that I am gonna buy something Apple today.


The biggest question of the day is "What is in the Air?"
A Michael Jordon branded MacBook Air?



Good live coverage of the event:
http://www.macrumors.com/mwsf/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/live-from-macworld-2008-steve-jobs-keynote/

Looks like the G-Phone is real and coming soon

Reports are all over the place of a google officially announcing a linux-based open platform phone.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-11-04-google-phone_N.htm
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/flame-fanning/the-wsj-ponders-how-google-will-change-phones-verdict-feature-explosion-318728.php

Apple's MArket Cap Now Worth more than IBM

After the good news today Apple's stock price is going up, up, up into the $186 range - putting its market cap($161 Billion) above IBM ($156.45 Billion) for the first time in history.
Not bad Apple. Not bad. -From 9to5Mac

Folks, this is a pretty big moment. It seems that the 30 year war is turning.

Third Party Applications on the iPhone!!! Finally!!!

Under "Hot News" on Apple's wesite today:

Third Party Applications on the iPhone

Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once—provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.

We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.

Steve

P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]

Well, it looks like they are finally gonna support native third-party apps! Many f us have enjoyed the work of developers out there you have jumped through hoops to bring us cool apps so far. Well, unless you got bricked by 1.1.1. I bet Apple was fighting these apps so hard because they plan on selling software through iTunes and will get a piece of every trans after feb. Steve is getting good at setting up deals like that. Ha Ha to AT&T.

A New Newton on the Horizon?

According to this AppleInsider article reliable sources say that there has been a multi-touch OSX based PDA in the works from Apple for some time.

I think he should call it the iNewton!

The Newton was really one of the most innovative products of the '90s. However, it was one of Apple's biggest flops ever. It was just a bit to big and a bit to ahead of its time for the average person to get down with. Most of the good features ended up in the Plam OS later on in that decade.

This would be awsome. I think the iPhone is the first handheld I have ever used that gets close to not needed a laptop at all. Just imagine a device with a bit bigger screen. They could do what the UMPCs couldn't very easily. I just hope that Steve allows third party apps right away.

Maybe this will be the big announcement at MacWorld in January. Steve need something big after they announced that phone thing last year.

Microsoft plans to invest Facebook

Microsoft plans to invest Facebook: Caroline McCarthy over at "the social" is reporting that Microsoft plans to invest in, not aqcuire, Facebook.

Interesting stuff here folks, it says that Bill's big M is trying to buy a 5% stake for $500 million. According to analyst Scott Barnard, that means they think Facebook is worth $10Bn! Good call by Zuckerberg not to sell

9to5Mac: Slim Aluminum MacBooks Coming Soon from Apple

9to5Mac is reporting that slim new aluminum MacBooks are in the works.

These guys accurately predicted the iPod Nano Fatty.

Steve Jobs subpoenaed by SEC for deposition

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to give a deposition in a backdating lawsuit against the company's former general counsel, Bloomberg is reporting.

In Jobs we, um, well trust?

iCache: A One-Card Wallet

Have ya'll seen this?: A company called iCache has invented a credit card system that emulates every other credit card you own, so you need only one. You have to scan them all in initially. The gadget, also called iCache, can be used with new "contactless" systems, or you can use it to "swipe" your credit card. It also can handle barcodes like your gym membership or that discount card at every superstore. Authentication is handled with a fingerprint scanner and there is a little menu to pick which card to use. I worry a little bit about the fingerprint reader, I have never had mcuh success with the one on my thinkpad. Looks similar. The whole device is kinda like the size of an iphone. I really like the idea, but the implementation is still early. I would love to see the whole device be the size of a credit card with a small multi-youch OLED screen maybe. Or, Steve J, take notice and integrate this into that next iphone. They should also throw a leather casing with a money clip on the side. Make it feel like a wallet. But, I love the idea here. I have been saying for a long time that it is completely ridiculous that we are stuck in 1975 with our payment systems. Cash and modem dialing credit card machines are still very prevalent. I should only need one, single ID card and authentication device for verifying everything. But, thank you iCache("iCash") for trying in a mid term solution. Its kinda like the hybrid car of credit cards.

See the CNBC article here.
Funny enough, the first place I saw this was on TV, not the WWW.


UPDATE: It looks like they have a newer version in the work with a color screen:
Still no leather or money clip.

iPhone Price Cut Aftermath

So, after all that out-cry over the iPhone price cut it looks like Steve was right:

iPhone Price Cut Has Driven 300-Percent Sales Hike

This report from Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster who seems to think he can control Apple stock price single handedly. His reports have caused alot of hpe and spec over the last few months.

Well, at least Steve is kinda taking care of it's first 10-week early adopters.

Now, what should I use my $100 Apple store credit for? Ideas?

'The Beat Goes On'

..and on, and on till the break of dawn. Well, at least for Apple this year. A lot of of big announcements this year. We hope today will live up to the hype.

Live Coverage

- Gizmodo
- Engadget
- Macworld
- MacDailyNews
- MacObserver
- ArsTechnica
- SlashGear.com
- Utility Belt
- Cunning.tv


Folks,
This could be big! Everyone is feeling the iTouch iPod, others say we will see the iPhone nano today. The 9to5 guys are saying iTunes/iHub/iEntertainment 8 .

What I really want is just my ringtones for my iPhone!
It is a little weird that my iPod phone only rings like a rotary phone and not blasts "Party like a Rockstar when people call.

• Here is the MacRumors Roundup of rumors for Today's Event.

_______________________________________________________
UPDATES:

• APPLE STORE IS DOWN
• The Beatles' Paul McCartney to make "special announcement"
• Gizmodo seems to have the best early coverage.
• As new iPods loom, Zune gets price cut
• See AAPL moves from the event here.
  

WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT, Steve delivered a lot of iPods:

• Fatty Nano
• iPod (big storage) Classic
• New color shuffles
  
• iPod touch
• Killed the 4GB iPhona and Dropped the price of my 8GB (Usually being an early adopter means higher prices, but 2 C-notes cheaper after only 2 months. I guess the world moves pretty fast these days. )
• iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store --- This was pretty cool
  
• Ringtones
  
  
  
  

_______________________________________________________

Palm seems to be finally realizing that they lost their way

They killed the Foleo!

I have been saying that the thing was crap for a while now, so I am pretty glad Palm is getting serious about, well, I am not sure.

But, the important thing is that they are now acknowledging their utter lameness for the past, well, 5 years or so.

Rock Bottom: http://news.com.com/8301-13579_3-9770907-37.html

Economist.com : Facebook, dating, and sexual income inequality

Facebook, dating, and sexual income inequality from the econmosit point ov iew.
Heard of the “crush application” application on facebook yet?
I do agree that facebook can be an interesting vehicle for dating. These days, you just ask for a name from a girl, no need for a number., just look here up on facebook later. Send her that "poke" a fews days later, followed by a message giving her your number. Then, asking her to text you to meet up. No need for any live voice communication. Its great, because you get a chance to think about what you say and communicate in an unintrusive way.
So, either that works, or you are considered a facebook stalker, all just evidence the world is getting textier.

This all goes with what I have been saying forever, dating sites make people feel awkward, (although this is changing) yet social networking sites are inviting. When facebook opend things up as an application platform they opened things up for that mix of the two that could prove really awesome.

ALSO:

• Mini-Review: FaceBook Dating Applications
• eTwine Launches Second Online Dating Application on Facebook(R) Platform
• 30 other awesome apps
• Youtube FB Parody