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February 2006
apple pricing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At Apple’s press conference, Jobs just announced the pricing for its “cool new toys.”
-iPod Hi-Fi, $349 -Mac Minis: $599 and $799 -Oh, and new leather iPod cases: $99 (yikes) each.
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apple
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apple just threw down the gauntlet for digital home entertainment. Here at the company’s HQ here in Cupertino, Calif. Steve Jobs just showed off a new Mac Mini computer that’s designed as a digital media hub - something other PC makers have been pushing for years with limited success. Apple’s new machine lets you wirelessly access movies, music, photos, etc. stored on computers throughout your house - in the home office, the kid’s bedroom, etc. - and play it on your home stereo, home TV or iPod. Oh, and of course the new Intel-powered machines also will play DVDs, Cds.
Jobs also just showed off the new iPod Hi-Fi, a home stereo systems designed specifically for iPods. “It’s really home stereo reinvented,” he said.
Steve’s still on stage. More to come.
Secret Apple press conference will unveil new products
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bob Keefe of Cox news is on hand at Apple’s shrouded-in-secrecy event outside of San Francisco.
And, of course, fate is playing havoc with his e-mail. But here’s the first observations from Bob at what looks to be a frenzied event:
“How crazy is the media’s love affair with Apple Computer Inc.’s gadgets? Reporters lined up at its headquarters in Cupertino more than an hour before its scheduled announcement of some “cool new toysâ€? Tuesday morning. With satellite trucks, local TV news vans and a lime-green Scooby-Doo-like Cnet.com Internet news van in the parking lot, you’d think the president was in town. Or maybe Steve Jobs. More than 250 reporters from around the country descended on Apple’s HQ, filling the company’s “Town Hall” auditorium.”
“Steve Jobs just said new Mac mini will also include Front Row, its six-button remote and can be connected to a tv. It’s a media hub, as expected. Also showing off now “shared music” that will let Mac Mini get music from other pc in the house - like the one in your office, etc.”
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Have a favorite Easter egg? Post it here
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hidden screen tests on DVDs? Cloaked tracks on CDs? Secret levels in video games?
Easter eggs are emerging throughout entertainment software and even on HDTV programming.
Have a favorite Easter egg? Post it here and share it with others.
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Has the “Mac virus” struck your computer?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Attention Mac elitists: your era of virus-free superiority could be ending.
Late last week, a supposed “Mac virus” was discovered by anti-virus company Sophos that spread through the iChat program. Earlier today, another virus targeted toward Macs was discovered that could potentially spread through Bluetooth file exchange.
What gives here? Mac OS X was supposed to be all but impervious to such nonsense. Could the bullseye long focused on Windows users have finally found fresh meat?
Or is it all just propaganda from Mac haters?
Some experts predict that the situation is going to get worse for Macintosh users. Not coincidentally, these warnings are emerging just as Apple begins to ship its lustworthy new Macbook Pro with the new Intel Core Duo processor.
So Mac fans, is this slate of virus hoopla causing concern? And Windows users, is it time to gloat?
Post your comments here and try to keep it civil.
I’ll take an HGTV and an ESPN, please
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The FCC is apparently concerned that you’re wasting money on the Style network.
Chairman Kevin J. Martin has issued a statement meant to encourage pay television providers to offer channels a la carte. The result could be a savings of 13 percent on cable bills.
The FCC has also concluded that people only watch about 17 channels out of the hundreds offered.
Obviously, big media companies such as Viacom and Disney would be less than pleased with such a situation.
Now, the questions: would you prefer to pick your TV offerings? If you could, which of the ones you currently subscribe to would you keep or dump?
Personally? I’d trade all my Nickelodeons for a few more HD channels.
Universal HD on Comcast…just don’t tell anyone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, that was quick.
Universal HD is now appearing locally on Comcast. HDTV customers should tune to channel 805 to check out the channel, the first new HD network on Comcast since TNT-HD was added in May 2005.
Comcast, Atlanta’s largest cable TV provider, added Universal HD late last night.
Oddly enough, Comcast hasn’t officially announced the addition and may not until tomorrow (apparently this is more of a Universal issue than a Comcast one).
The big news for Olympics fans is that this year’s winter games will be broadcast in HD on the channel. Several NBC dramas and sitcoms are also showcased in HD.
Will Comcast soon welcome Universal HD in time for Olympics?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buzz began on the avsforum.com Web site last weekend that Comcast would soon be adding Universal HD to its line-up of HDTV channels.
That’s big news to Atlanta customers, as Comcast is the most dominant pay TV provider in the area. Nothing official from Comcast officials as of Wednesday afternoon, but word is this could be confirmed by tomorrow morning.
Among the programming offerings on Universal HD: “Law & Order: SVU,” “Knight Rider,” “Monk,” “Battlestar Galactica” along with movies and sports programming.
But the big draw — and likely the reason behind the rumblings — universal HD will present coverage of the 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games in glorious HD.
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Looking for readers having trouble getting HDTV installed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Was viewing the Super Bowl in HDTV a crystalline dream? Or were you even able to get the thing hooked up?
Reporter Scott Leith is looking to speak with new HDTV owners who are having a challenge getting their cable/satellite provider to come to their home and install the HDTV set-top box.
This is one of the busiest times of the year for new HDTV purchases — Super Bowl, Daytona 500, Olympics — and some owners are apparently frustrated waiting to receive those digital signals.
If you’re an HDTV owner with this dilemma, contact sleith@ajc.com. Please include your name, city of residence and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.
Comcast to air Super Bowl ads On Demand
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What, there’s a game?
Even those who could care less about football will tune in to the Super Bowl for no other reason than to watch the slick spots that have the water cooler buzzing on Monday morning.
No need to spend four hours waiting out those annoying plays and that snooze-worthy half-time show anymore.
Comcast will be broadcasting uninterrupted Super Bowl commercials through its On Demand service almost immediately following Sunday’s game.
Here’s the Comcast schedule for Super Bowl XL Commercials:
NFL Network on Demand Monday, Feb. 6 (Midnight Sunday) through Sunday, Feb. 12
NFL Network (On Comcast Digital Cable) Monday, Feb. 6 - 12:00 PM ET; 6:00 PM ET; 9:00 PM ET and 12:00 midnight Tuesday, Feb. 7 - 1:00 PM ET; 5:00 PM ET
Don’t have Comcast? Log on to NFL.com to view Super Bowl XL Commercials from Feb. 6 through 12. Download sites such as video.google.com and video.yahoo.com are also expected to carry the spots. Sprint is also expected to make spots available for cell phone viewing and of course the requisite video iPod downloads.
Does this change your viewing plans? Are you even the slightest bit stunned that commercials are now a desirable form of programming?
Let us know what your plans are for Sunday night.
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