New Announcements from Apple September 2010

As expected, Apple made some exciting announcements today: iOS 4.1 (with 4.2 coming later this year featuring HDR photos and GameCenter), new updates to the entire iPod line, iTunes 10 (with a new logo and social music network, Ping), and an updated Apple TV. The event was finished off by a performance by Chris Martin from Coldplay.

The entire iPod line has been updated including a new iPod Shuffle (featuring buttons and voice controls), iPod Nano (with touch screen), and a new iPod Touch (thinner, 326 ppi LED Retina display, front camera with FaceTime, HD video recording).

One of the surprising announcements was Ping, a social music network integrated with iTunes 10. There was still no mention of online streaming or an online music library (still missing Lala!).

The most anticipated announcement was the announcement of the new, much smaller and less expensive Apple TV (which Steve Jobs had previously called just a "hobby") will retail for $99 later in September. The new Apple TV unfortunately will not store purchased content, but will only allow users to rent content ($4.99 for first-run HD movies, $0.99 HD TV shows). However, with apple's new AirPlay feature, you can stream any content from your iOS device to Apple TV. The Apple TV will also feature a Netflix app that will allow Netflix subscribers to stream movies. The HD on the Apple TV is unfortunately limited to 720p.

Microsoft, please make up your mind

Microsoft announced this June that it would be merging its Windows Live Mesh service with Windows Live Sync and ditching Windows Live Mesh. Now, Microsoft has reversed that announcement and said that they will be rolling Windows Live Sync into Windows Live Mesh and ditching Windows Live Sync. Seriously, Microsoft, decide on a cloud storage and synchronization strategy, and stick with it. As of today (8/27), The Live Mesh web site still states, "Live Mesh will soon be replaced by the new Windows Live Sync."

Super Mario Bros. 2 Gypsy Jazz Style

This made me so happy:

Intel to Acquire Security Firm McAfee

Intel will acquire security firm McAfee for $48 per share, or approximately $7.68 billion. McAfee will continue to run as a separate entity, but will roll up to Intel. It is intriguing to see what Intel, traditionally a hardware company, will do with McAfee, which is known for its antivirus and security software. (Source: Business Wire)

The Constant Flow of Information and its Affects on the Brain

Has the constant flow of information in today's world created a false sense of urgency in our lives and reduced our ability to focus? An article in the New York Times tells about some research being done to explore the impact of heavy technology use and multitasking on brain activity. Some scientists theorize that in our hyper connected world, we expend a good portion of our working memory in anticipation of new information (such as e-mail, texts, etc.). Multitasking was also shown to adversely affect the brain's ability to learn. According to some evidence by researchers at the University of Michigan, the brain is better able to learn after walking through the woods than navigating a busy street.

This interesting article tells about a retreat in which top neuroscientists (without their phones or laptops) start to explore how the constant flow of information and digital connectedness affects the way we think and act.

UPDATE (8/24/10): A related article from the New York Times references the fact that our brains aren't able to learn and remember things when bombarded with a constant flow of digital input. Very interesting reading! Time to unplug?

My friend Nick after anesthesia

My friend Nick got his wisdom teeth out about a month ago, and his wife decided to film his incoherent, post-op ramblings. Check it out if you want a good laugh!

Old-School Computers at Hill AFB

This summer, we visited the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base, UT. Here are some pics of some old-school computers in the museum. As I looked at these old, dusty, gigantic machines, I wondered what it must have been like years ago when people used them in tense, top-secret missions.

Streaming Music Service Rdio Free for 3 Days

Streaming music service Rdio is now available to the public and is offering an unlimited free trial for 3 days when you create an account (no credit card required). It reminds me a lot of LaLa, which was recently acquired by Apple and shutdown (Oh how I miss you, Lala!). Rdio seems to have a decent catalog of music, and the streaming seems to perform wonderfully.  So go crazy and listen to all the music you want free for 3 days!

After the free Rdio 3 day trial, you will have to upgrade to a paid plan. Rdio Web costs $5/month for unlimited web access and $9/month for the Rdio Unlimited plan which allows you to save your favorite music to your mobile device and listen offline. I don't think I'll be upgrading to a paid Rdio subscription any time soon, though. (Source: Lifehacker)

Fix Windows Live Sync Beta for Mac "There is a Problem..." Error

Microsoft recently announced that it will be rolling up it's online synchronization service Live Mesh into Windows Live Sync. I've been using the Windows Live Sync beta for Mac for the last week or so and it seems to be pretty solid, although I still prefer the 5GB free that Live Mesh offered. I also loved how Live Mesh would synchronize files between computers without each computer having to be on and logged in.

The other day, I was getting the error message whenever I started Windows Live Sync beta for Mac:

"Sorry, there is a problem with Windows Live Sync. Please quit Sync, make sure your computer is connected to the Internet, and then start Sync again."

I found out that this is a common problem affecting a handful of users. Since the software is still in beta, it's understandable that there will be some hiccups. None of the suggestions on the support forums seemed to solve the issue that I was having until I tried the following and it worked.

• Quit Windows Live Sync
• Delete the folder Macintosh HD: Users/Username/Library/Application Support/WLSync

Username will be your actual username, obviously. Fire up Windows Live Sync beta, and it will ask you to login, after which things should be working properly again. Please post in the comments if this works for you, or if you found a different solution.

Consumer Reports on the iPhone 4

My favorite part: fix it with duct tape.

Uniden Brings Radio Scanning to the Masses with HomePatrol

Uniden held an event at their headquarters in Fort Worth, TX this weekend where they unveiled a revolutionary new easy-to-use radio scanner called HomePatrol. For new scanner users, programming the correct police, fire, medical, and other interesting frequencies can be daunting. The HomePatrol scanner only requires that you enter your city or zip code, and the scanner automatically programs all of the frequencies from the RadioReference database. Connect your GPS to the HomePatrol scanner, and it can automatically pickup nearby radio frequencies in the area (including digital signals).

Last year I purchased the Uniden BCD396XT, and have really enjoyed it. Whenever I travel to a new location and I want to monitor, I have to spend at least an hour or so programming my scanner. This task is made much easier using a program such as FreeSCAN for Windows. However, with the HomePatrol scanner, listening in unfamiliar locations will make radio monitoring a more enjoyable and accessible hobby for more people. As long as the price point is right, this could really change the scanner radio market. Exact price and release date have yet to be announced.

Strange Phone Calls from 524-228-1301

Anyone else getting phone calls from 524-228-1301? The phone rings and caller ID shows this number, but no one responds when I answer. I Googled this number and found that many other folks have also received suspicious phone calls from this number, some even claiming that there were Spanish speakers on the other end of the line, and others claiming that the caller asked for personal financial data. Shady!