[APPLE OS X] Updates Galore, and Panther Strikes Back!

Hiya folks! Just like to remind all of you users that Apple has not only recently released an update for Leopard (10.5.2), but apparently also released two security updates for the rest of us folks still using Tiger (10.4.11).

We here at YourMacStore, have come across a treasure trove of PANTHER (10.3) Discs that can be used to upgrade your older Cubes and systems to that and then on to Tiger! Check out our website to pick some of these up when they become available later this week!

Sincerely,

Mike Leader
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Listening to: The Darkest Of The Hillside Thickets - The Math Song
via FoxyTunes

[Product News] IS A BIGGER IPHONE A BETTER IPHONE?

Apple announced this week that has increased the size of the iPhone to a 16GB model. For all of those folks out there who have been dying for space, well there ya go, eh? Can't argue with just a bit more memory to cram some more music or applications into that tiny thing, right? I think I can.

It's not that they've added more memory, but it's that they waited 10+ days after Macworld to do so. So, no prior announcement, just 'BLAMMO' there it is. After spending years in the gaming industry that could never hit deadlines, and then coming to the computer industry which is just as famous (or infamous), I really dislike this kind of sales tactic. It thoroughly upsets your customers. A customer comes in on one day, buys an 8GB iPhone thinking it's top of the line...and then finds out the next day that his brand new phone was replaced with a better one for sale for just a little bit more money the next day. Granted, he can return it...but it's a little irritating to have to go through a return process, when to avoid things like that, all a company has to do is to properly announce release dates.

I was proud of the fact that when I announced a release date two months in advance for one of the games I worked on, they were hit 95% of the time. Those kinds of things give customers something to look forward to, to save for and plan around. Stealth releases like this iPhone upgrade really don't hit the mark, and always makes me wonder why companies don't think high enough of customers to do this to them now.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great thing to see this kind of upgrade, but a little thought into the marketing would have garnered more sales for this item...don't y'all think?

Just my 2 cents on marketing a product. Now remember folks, if you're in a primary state, get out and vote tonight! :)

[Op/Ed.] WHAT YOU TALKIN' 'BOUT WILLIS?

The way that people act on the internet these days in regards to things they like and dislike is pretty shameful. I'd like to believe that this place was once a great place to get objectivity and thoughtful commentary on new products. However after reading many different newsbytes, blogs and 'columns', I've found it extremely difficult to find an unbiased opinion on any real product out there. From Computers to kitty litter. Just weird.

Me, I like Apple's products. Are they the best ever? No. Nobody is perfect. Is this year like 2007, with one of the neatest products to come out in the past 10 years? Not really. The iPhone is a very cool phone, but it's not for everyone. There's a lot of negative talk about Apple's financial future, but that's how it always goes for a company that's done really well and can't continually top itself...you know, like every other company out there? Apple can't keep topping itself, but it's going to try until it hits...that's how it works.

(Wow...look at that...did i say anything mean or hateful in there? No, that's the job for people like these guys, who do this to just get hits, attention, and vent at the universe because their moms kicked them out of their basement apartments. See, that was mean. ;) )

I'm one of MANY people who "walk the line" with Apple and other electronics manufacturers. I work with Macs at the office, I own an iPod, but I own a PC laptop and a PC desktop at home. I think that a lot of the pundits really need to understand that not everyone HATES or LOVES what companies do...they'll buy what they want to buy based on what works for them. So if you're going to review a product or comment on a new release, think about how you look to other people online before you post it to your blog/news column.

Lastly, come on...get that iPod nano for your girlfriend for Valentines Day! It's PINK! (Look, I bought the old pink nano for my girlfriend on her birthday last year, and she's been giddy about it ever since...what are you waiting for?? Go do it!)

-Mike Leader
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Listening to: The Doors - The Changeling
via FoxyTunes

MACWORLD2008 - STEVE'S KEYNOTE BREAKDOWN (Pt. 4)

Wowsers...lots to write today...I'm really making up for the past 2 months, aren't I? ;)

Ok...the MacBook Air. Damn...just damn.

People have been chattering online for the past year about an ultra portable, tiny, thin, itty-bitty MacBook...and here it is. Weighing in at $1799, but only .76 inches tall, this little guy has everything you need to be on the go. A small 1.6GHz processor and an 80GB drive makes this little guy (that can fit in a large manila envelope!) make it a simple, on-the-go computer that will make sure you stay connected wherever you go.

What? The optical drive? Oh silly me...there isn't one. Yes, that's what I said, no optical drive. Woah...hold on with the questions...look, with the Air being so portable, and tiny, you have to leave out the optical drive. Those buggars take up a lot of space and it wouldn't be very thin if you had it in there, would it? Never fear, the folks at Apple have figured out a solution to no optical drive...and it surprised me, as I never would have thought of it. The Air comes with software that allows you to share another local computer's optical drive. If there's a Wi-Fi network available, you can ask that computer's permission to use it's optical drive and whammo...you're good to go. Pretty freakin' sweet. :)

A couple of other things (and you can see the full specs on the Apple website) to mention would be the 13.3" LED screen, and the built in iSight camera. Those are cool and all, but it's the optional 64GB Solid State Drive option that makes my head spin! Wow...we all knew they were coming, and they're here...just hideously expensive. Totally worth the outlay in cash, even if the prices will change by next year to make them more affordable.

Sorry about that, had to take a break to clean up my drool over the SSD. Ok...So as you can see there's so much to be seen right now. Run to the Apple website and check out all of the new goodies that they're offering...this year looks to be pretty good if you ask me. Like SJ said at the keynote...that's just 2 weeks of this year, we've got 50 more to go!

Forever WOOHOOing,

Mike Leader

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Listening to: Men at Work - Down Under
via FoxyTunes

MACWORLD2008 - STEVE'S KEYNOTE BREAKDOWN (Pt. 3)

We've all talked about it...we've felt it coming...and now it's here...

**drumroll**

That's right kiddies...iTunes Movie Rentals! Doing something that many other companies simply couldn't do, Apple is striking forward with several movie companies (Fox, Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount, and Sony...I don't say the "U" word. ;) )

So, we're being promised over 1000 movies by the end of February, and we'll be seeing new releases about 30 days after DVD sales. (Gosh, aren't we all shocked that the movie companies weedled that in there?) Each file will exist either for 30 days, and once you start viewing it, you have 24 hours until it expires. I'm sure we'll all be waiting for that kind of protection to be cracked wide open...but I'm sure Apple's got their best minds working on that potential issue. Each new release will be $3.99 and every catalog (old movie) will be $2.99...I'm not too keen on older movies being more than $2, but I guess you have to roll with the times.

Following on the heels of the iTunes Movie Rentals announcemnt is the update to the Apple TV. Dubbed Apple TV 2, this new version actually doesn't need a computer to function properly. That's right, I smell a car mod coming up with this one, don't you? So apparently this will allow you to download movies from the iTunes Rental service right to your TV. Can't argue with that too much...but when they start adding HD content...woohoo this will be lots of fun.

Ok...one last entry coming up...the latest in MacBook technology...The MacBook Air!

-Mike Leader


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Listening to: Cream - White Room
via FoxyTunes