Jeeze! It's been a little over a year since I've updated this thing. Well, I've gone through a job change, getting engaged, planning a wedding, and working my arse off at two jobs (I'm a web designer and guitar/bass/saxophone teacher).
I hope everyone has been well. It's been a crazy year and one full of both breakthroughs and troubles. Apple's on top and Microsoft is...well, I don't think Microsoft even knows where it is anymore. The economy is down, but new technology is up, there's an election going on and everything is changing. I'm scared...(hold me...).
So, let's see if I can recap the highlights from around the industry - I'm sure I'll miss some things, but hey - it's been awhile. Cut me some slack. Now that my life has calmed down a bit, I'll try to update this thing a little more regularly.
Cell Phones:
1. Apple iPhone 3G - it's faster, has GPS, and costs more to own than the original iPhone. Two steps forward, one step back, Apple. I'll stick with my original 4gig iPhone for now. http://www.apple.com/iphone
2. Google's Android phone - the T-Mobile G1 is out and while the software is kinda spiffy, the hardware leaves something to be desired. Touchscreen software is getting really great, but if your phone looks like a matte-black brick, it's going to be that much more of an uphill battle. Especially when you have phones like the iPhone and Instinct setting the bar for both design and implementation. I hope HTC and Google keep at it - this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. http://www.t-mobile.com
3. Blackberry - RIM has released both a clamshell BlackBerry (the Kickstart) and a highly anticipated touchscreen BlackBerry (the Bold). They already own the enterprise market and now those with iPhone envy at work can enjoy most of the benefits iPhone users have with their work phones. For those who want the comfort of a flip-phone with the functionality of a small computer, the Kickstart is the phone-puter for them. http://www.blackberry.com
4. App Store - Apple's Application Store is a huge success and has already sold more applications in its short existence than its music store has sold songs since its inception. My issues with the app store are slight - don't let people review apps they haven't downloaded (to be fixed in the next software update), allow demos of paid apps, and be a little more restrictive about how many "flashlight" applications make it to the front page of the store.
Computers:
1. New MacBooks/MacBook Pros/Airs - Apple unveiled it's updated line of laptops earlier this month. All I can say is - great performance, lousy glossy screens - and where's the FireWire love!?
2. Netbooks - tiny 10"-12" computers for the mobile masses. I can see their appeal - great for surfing the web, taking notes in class, reading an e-book, and the prices can't be beat (usually between $300 and $500). But there are plenty of laptops just an inch or two larger that offer a lot more features.
3. Microsoft Ads - Microsoft dumped $300 million into advertising itself as a "hip" computer company. I know there were people who didn't get or even like the Seinfeld/Gates ads, but wouldn't we rather see how that story panned out rather than listening to Deepak Chopra wax philosophical about Vista? Me too.
Everything Else:
Amazon has a new Kindle coming out soon. It's got about 2GB of memory (no SD card expansion though), a better keyboard, and easier navigation controls. WANT.
Apple is supposedly working on a new portable device whose size is between that of an iPhone and a MacBook - possbile netbook on the way? Check out: http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/10/23/iphone.macbook.hybrid/ for more information.
MP3 Players: both Microsoft and Apple have updated their respective audio lines. Microsoft bumped up the new Zunes with more space and free wi-fi at select McDonald's restaurants. Apple released new versions of the Nano and iPod Touch. More space, even thinner, easier to drop. Check out the zune here: http://www.zune.net/en-US/ and the new iPods here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/.
Video Games:
There's a lot of new info pertaining to gaming right now and it's just too much to write about. You've got the new PSPs out, an XBOX 360 that's cheaper than a Wii, a new DS coming soon with two cameras in it, Wii Fit, Rockband 2, Guitar Hero World Tour, Little Big Planet, and that's just a 100th of what's going on in gaming. I'll do my best to keep up, but I make no promises. I'm not a machine!
Thanks for reading, everybody - talk to you soon!
-H
