Just When You Think Apple May Be Slipping...

Just when I thought Apple could not blow my socks off along comes the MacBook Air. Like I said in Twitter,

"I know I am a man but Steve Jobs, I think I love you."

I mean, I just watched the video demonstration of this machine and I'm afraid to get my hands on it because I know I will want one or two.

(okay darrenkeith, get a grip...where was I)

I do not know what Steve[Jobs] pays the men and women there but man oh man if I had the money I think just about every piece of gadget in our home would be Apple. I know it's early but I have to admit, even before getting my hands on this gem, that machine is so beautiful. Apple must really reward their employees really well because this company just keeps out doing themselves. And I know there are "Mac Bashers" out there but even they have to admit, Apple is on point with this machine. 13.3 screen, full size keyboard, LED screen and keyboard pad, it has the "pinch" features like the iPhone. I know it will come a time when Apple is not number #1 when it comes to innovation but for now, keep this up and pretty soon people will be using your OS more than windows.

Admit it, if you could have a machine where the operating systems is stable, the hardware is cool, the support is A+, why would you need Windows. I know, I know Windows still holds 95% of the market but with the fiasco of Vista (and why is there 4-5 versions of Vista Bill[Gates]?) anything is possible. Keep it up Steve and my just mortgage everything for your products...well, not everything but darn near everything.

{to watch the video, click here}

The next iPod...flash memory...well, maybe.

Will our next iPods be flash memory? According to a piece from the AppleInsider we may be close. Nothing has been confirmed but maybe the next generation iPod will have NAND flash memory instead of the HDD(Hard Disk Drive) beginning late 2007. Right now the iPod uses a 1.8-inch hard drive and giving the fact that it's has the capacity to have 80gigs is pretty amazing. But imagine having a lighter ipod(which weights what, 1pound or so) and the battery life longer what be a big plus.

From what I have read right now the largest in flash memory is 32GB (if I'm wrong please correct me) and the price tag would be>>>more

Wednesday Devotions...We're At The Half Way Mark

Empire Building>>>more
from RBC Ministries

This devotion is really good, it speaks of how churches and we as Christians need to remember the most important reason why we were put on this earth...to invest in other people. This also implies to our homes as well. In this day and age we get so busy with work, trying to make sure our bills get paid, pleasing our spouse, making sure that there needs are met for our children (I didn't say 'wants'...some of those are good for children but in this day and age we have went overboard. I will save that for another topic) which are things that we need to do day in and day out but do we sometime just sometime pull our wife or husband aside and spend that 'quiet' time with them. Do you spend time in the Bible with them, pray together. I have been guilty of this and I have to do better.

Sometimes it is good just have that one-on-one time with a person, mentor them, really find out what is going on in their lives. You never know how much of a impact that might have on he or she. Our God is so awesome that He can deal with the entire world and also give us that individual quality time, it's incredible. Jesus Christ gave us a blueprint on how to master this task by spending time with the multitudes, His disciples, and alone time with God.

We have a lot on our plate at this day and age I know, but let's not forget that sometimes building up that one person in your life is just as important as 'feeding the multitudes' as well.

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a great Wednesday.

Praying For Our Children
by Christian Embassy Church

Faithfulness

"Let faithfulness never leave my children, but bind this virtue around their necks."

Proverbs 3:3

other Christian readings for today: Parenting in a Godless Age, Good for Evil, Head vs. Heart

tech news for this morning: Microsoft releases 6 patches for flaws, Copy never: DRM 'glitch',Vista Mythbusters #7: How much DRM is too much?, Cruising along the EVDO superhighway

netcast for your heart and soul: Living With Regret, MacBreak Weekly 10, 60 Minutes Podcast: Bob Woodward, The Alternative

photo: google image

The Question Still Remains...Why Should We Upgrade To Vista?

Vista to take hard
stand against piracy>>>more
from msnbc.com

A couple of days ago I wrote about how I think Microsoft maybe trying to push Windows & XP users to Vista. Now Microsoft will admit tougher ways from pirating Windows when it begins shipping next January. In the article it mentions how they sort of have this in effect with Windows XP and I have to agree...it is more a nuisance.

I'm running legitimate copies of XP and 2000 and I find myself using 2000 more so than XP and to be honest I won't be using Vista unless it is on a pre-installed machine. I have another question...why should we upgrade to Vista?

I mean Microsoft Office has not really changed, I have Microsoft Office XP Pro and I bumped back to Office 2000 Pro on both of my machines. I use Microsoft Office 2006 (or is it 2007) and I find that more of pain to use than anything (and why does the stupid Clip Board keeps popping up?) I ranted about this in an earlier blog entry talking about OpenOffice VS. Microsoft Office so I won't repeat myself but one thing is clear....Microsoft needs to hit this one out of the ball park.

I'm still holding to the possibility that they may try to bully people into upgrading to Vista and to be honest it would make sense. Apple only has to worry about one OS to make updates, Microsoft has to deal with 3 OS. They are in a pickle, which way do they go? One geek brother explained Windows XP to me this way, "It's Windows 2000 with a WHOLE lot of sugar" and I have heard XP referred to as "Fisher Price Windows 2000".

Leo Laporte has a new podcast aimed only for Vista. I will begin listening to them. Who knows, I may just change my mind and dive right into Vista....Nah.

other tech articles: Microsoft spin-off to take on MySpace, Jobs Knew About Backdating Of Stock Options, A Whole New Meaning for ‘Ego Googling’a>

Christian articles: Business or ministry?, Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall, Bible class draws student support

Christian & Tech Podcast: The Alternative, FLOSS Weekly 13

photo: google image

Am I Being Paranoid Or Is Microsoft Trying To Kill 2000 & XP?

Second third-party
fix out for Windows bug>>>more
from ZDNet News

Is it just me or is it that Microsoft just don't care about these serious security flaws that are popping up like wildfire in their OS? This may be a stretch but do you think that since Vista is coming out that they're trying to make people move to their new OS sooner? This is the second time in less than two weeks that Zero Day has come up with a patch for flaw in Windows 2000 & XP and they are not going to release the patch until next Tuesday, October 10th. These guys are acting like FEMA responding to an emergency.

This is why I'm am studying up on Linux at this moment and my next PC and laptop will be Apple. I'm not a tech expert, not by a long shot but Microsoft lag time for getting security patches sounds shady to me at the least. If I had a flat tire today do you think I should wait until next Monday to get it fixed?

And why are people using Microsoft IE..why? I'm not saying Mozilla Firefox is the, "end all of be all" browsers but everyday it's something horrific with this browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer). I don't use it and I'm trying like crazy to get my wife to get in the habit of using the Mozilla browser.

One more thing....why will it take a minimum of 15 Gigabytes to run Vista? I may be just a dumb ol' southern boy from Illinois but Mr. (Chris) Pirillo please explain this to me? I have the utmost respect for you and I have followed you for years (this is not a cheap shot by no means...you're really good with Windows, I would just like to know) I know today's computer hard drive have a minimum of 40, 60, 80 and even 100 GB hard drive but give me a break.

Most people are not going to be splitting atoms or trying to discover the next way to bend time and space, we just want to surf the web, play a few games, some programming, save our mp3s and photos.

I will not be moving to Vista probably until 2008 because to me the first year is really the test run for an OS system and dealing with Microsoft I really don't know.

I may be paranoid but to me I think Microsoft want to shelve Windows 2000 &
XP much sooner so they will only have to concentrate on just one OS system like Apple.

But hey call me crazy.

other tech news: Google buys founders' garage, Netflix Offers $1 Million Prize, Stolen cell phones give thieves ear bashing

christian articles: Supreme Court's new term, Why Darwinism is doomed,The Privilege of Knowing God

Apple Is Getting Me Angry

Pod People Ponder Litigation>>>more
from Wired.com/news

Leo Laporte once said that he's happy that Apple does not have the market shares as Microsoft because if they did, Steve Jobs would be twice as ruthless...I tend to agree;

this letter sent out by Apple this Wednesday to some companies not to use the word 'Pod' or 'Podcast' just proves sometimes how small and petty Jobs can be at times. I like Apple products, I still have my blue and white G3 tower, I have a couple of iPods, I like there hardware, how I have told many of people that Apple for me has made learning 'computing' fun again. But there are somethings I do not like.

I recently had a hard drive die on me, the Maxtor OneTouchII was not a year old when it went and died on me. I had many mp3s...no AAC downloads (this is Apple format for their downloads) and me being foolish did not back them all up.

Now I share part of the blame for my laziness but what gets under my skin is that Apple has a database showing that I purchased these songs yet if I lose them...too bad, and when I go and purchase the songs again (and I feel I shouldn't) a warning box will pop up stating, "Are you sure you wish to purchase this song, you have already downloaded before" or something to that effect. So you know my next question; if you have my information why should I have to buy them from you again?

This past Sunday Leo and the gang on TWiT mentioned that on Will Wheaton's blog that he lost his songs and contacted Apple and they let him retrieve them again. I will try and find out how Wil went about that miracle and when I find out, I will pass it on to you because it's a shame that first Apple put their stupid DRM codec on their downloads and second if you lose your downloads, you have to pay again for the songs "YOU" purchased.

I wrote about this I think earlier this month or last month about eMusic. I really hope they pass iTunes because it's cool how they have their system set up. I am going back to buying CDs because I will always have the hard copy.

Sorry about that...I was really suppose to comment on this stupid letter from Apple about trying to stop other companies from using the word 'Pod' or 'Podcast' and I go on about not being able to retrieve lost downloaded songs from Apple.

Just makes me mad.

other tech news for ya: Console war, Apple Fixes 15 Flaws, Fast start for Vista

christian news for your soul: A Capital "T", How Long is God's Arm?, Say It with Grace

christian & tech podcasts: a new beginning, dl.tv: episode 98

photo: google image