Via Engadget: Steve Jobs at D: 2007

Steve Jobs was interviewed by Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal yesterday at the D: All Things Digital Executive Conference. Amongst the topics were the upcoming iPhone release (Steve coyly confirming that it would ship in June, even if it was the last day in June), iPod/iTunes, and AppleTV.

Engadget.com has excellent coverage of the event, with a transcript, on their webpage. I also have here a link to the edited interview. Excellent reading and viewing.

Engadget: Steve Jobs Live from D 2007

Link to Steve Jobs interview

ARTICLE: A Day In The Life Of An Apple Genius

Hopefully, you've had a chance to visit an Apple Store, the real brick-and-mortar stores that sell and show-off Apple technology to its brilliant best. Once in the store, you might notice something called the "Genius Bar" towards the back. What is that, exactly? Do they serve really cool drinks with techie names back there?

Well, actually, the Genius Bar is where you can get expert Apple advice on software or hardware questions or problems. The folks trained to be such experts are called, naturally enough, Apple Geniuses. How did they reach that exalted position? Lots of hard work at the mother ship, my friend.

Read all about it in this behind-the-scenes exclusive interview with two Geniuses (Geniusesses, Genii?) in Mac|Life Magazine, here. And to answer a possible question: No, even considering myself an Apple power user for many years, I don't think I'd make it out of boot camp here. Yeah, they're that good.

Exclusive: A Day in the Life of an Apple Genius
[courtesy of Mac|Life.com]

GAMING NEWS: Blizzard Announces StarCraft II

As noted on macworld.com, Blizzard Entertainment today released news of its latest game in the pipeline. And it is the sequel to one of their best-selling games of all time, StarCraft. Enter StarCraft II. Besides the fact that I came to know Blizzard through playing StarCraft before the WarCraft series (and now the World of WarCraft MMORPG), I'm stoked that they are developing the Mac version and the Windows version at the same time. This epic game set in outer space pits three playable races against each other for domination of their corner of the universe. Many sleepless nights will soon ensue.

MacWorld article

StarCraft II Official Page on Blizzard.com

SuTree: Free Video "How To" Lessons

I like this one a lot...I've run across some websites that tell you, via text descriptions, how to do certain tasks, like tie a necktie, solder a wire, cook an omelet -- and they are fine for what they are. But, if you're a visual learner like me, you tend to do better when you can see someone showing you how to do something.

SuTree is that site. From the home page, it describes itself as:

SuTree is a knowledge community. We nurture the ultimate tree of knowledge: the world's largest index & library of free video lessons, video tutorials, video lectures & video how to guides. Our content is handpicked by our users and then examined by our team/community.

Very cool. Also, you can add comments and rate the training as well. Pretty sweet! Now I can learn to sketch that cartoon cat!

SuTree

[via getTRIO.com newsletter]

Extree! Extree! This just in! I was also reminded that another tutorial site in the same vein is ExpertVillage. Indeed! More great content...a 2-fer-1 post today!

Microsoft Office/Mac - 2007 Converter Delayed

Microsoft announced yesterday that the plug-in/converter to allow Office Mac 2004 to read the new Office/Windows 2007 file formats has been delayed yet again. The company indicated that a full set of converters will not be available under after the release of Office/Mac 2008 later this year.

Announcement on C|Net news.com here.

Calling a Photoshop Goddess or God

Hello. Mac power user I may be, but one thing I haven't got a handle on is Photoshop. In my job at the Help Desk, I just don't have a use for it on a daily basis. I take some training in it, play with it, then come back to my job and, because I don't have a personal copy, the skills just fly out the window. I will be purchasing Photoshop Elements, I've decided, but that will have to wait for a paycheck or two. In the meantime, one part of this new Blogger template I'm using is driving me nuts. Yep, that obviously un-Mac-like laptop up in the top right of the blog. As this was how it came out of the box, I figured it wouldn't be such a big deal. But it bugs me now. A lot.

So, what to do? Well, I thought about it, and I happen to know (virtually, that is) some folks that might be able to help -- that's you! Certainly someone out there is a Photoshop guru that can scrape out that Windows-running tin can up there and replace it instead with a similarly-oriented shot of a MacBook Pro instead. Up for the challenge? Here's what my xml template tells me is the URL of the pic. Can someone out there help me out and pick it apart, eliminate that laptop, and drop in a nice image of the MacBook Pro instead, while keeping all the rest the same (colors, border, etc.)? Please e-mail your results to my blog address, on the sidebar at the left. If there are (hopefully) multiple results, I'll either pick my favorite, or rotate them every month or so. I don't have anything to offer as payment, but the thanks of a grateful blogger.

Is anyone willing to take up the challenge? Let me know...and thanks in advance!

~Kachup

Videogames: Fabulous at 40

Before all the computer and console games of today, there was a humble beginning, where a videogame called "Pong" ruled. Someone had to come up with the original idea, of course. Someone had to take a look at a relatively new technology (television), now in homes all over the country, and wonder if it would be possible to bring games into those houses, over the TV.

The year was 1967. Ralph Baer was ready to make history.

Read more about the rise of the videogame on 1up.com, here.

Video Games Turn 40

ARTICLE - Apple updates MacBook with faster processors

Full article on Macworld.com, here:

Apple on Tuesday updated its consumer MacBook computers adding faster processors, 1GB RAM and larger hard drives in all models.

The new MacBooks come in three models — a white 2.0GHz and 2.16GHz, and a black 2.16 GHz model. All of the MacBooks include a built-in iSight video camera and the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking. The notebooks also come with iLife ‘06 and Mac OS X 10.4.9 Tiger.

Woohoo...now we're cooking. As for those of you who just bought a new 'book in the last week or so, I feel your pain. The one drawback to Apple being so tight-lipped about what's in the pipeline.

Mac on!

ARTICLE - Malware alert: Google warns of 'dirty' websites

Article text found on silicon.com, here.

Google has warned web users of the increasing threat posed by malware that can be dropped onto a computer as a web surfer visits a particular site.

The search giant carried out in-depth research on 4.5 million websites and found one in 10 web pages could successfully launch a 'drive-by-download' - such as a Trojan - onto a user's computer.

Full Google "Ghost in the Browser" report (PDF file) available here.

Verizon's Fast Action Hero

(Tip courtesy of SheWhoShallNotBeNamed. OK, we'll call her Nancy) ;)

"Verizon's Fast Action Hero

R/GA's bringing a new kind of heat with
Action Hero, an initiative for Verizon touting the power of the provider's
broadband network. After picking one of three basic action plots (killer bugs,
mad scientist or robots on the loose) you get the opportunity to upload a photo
of your own face, pinpoint the dimensions, and have it made into 3D. After the
upload you direct the action, off the completed project goes—to a group of
servers, where it runs through the modeling program Maya and, in under 24 hours,
returns to you as a completed film. While in the past similar technologies have
been used in video games, this appears to be the first time a dedicated,
customizable 3D effort has appeared on the web in a promotional campaign, and
Verizon doesn't seem reticent to flaunt it—the site took over MySpace for a day
in its launch phase. http://actionhero.verizon.com/ "

Thanks again, Nancy. And yes, you too can be featured on this very blog! Send your finds to the email address on the sidebar to the left.

Microsoft Issues Final Vista iPod Update

Article excerpt courtesy of ipodnn.com. Read the full article here.

Microsoft issues final Vista iPod Update

Microsoft has finally released an update for Windows Vista that fixes the lingering compatibility issues with Apple's iPod. Available first in late March, the final version of the free update is for users worldwide and works with the latest version of Apple iTunes to correct an issue that caused some iPods to become corrupted when ejecting them using Windows Explorer or the "Safely Remove Hardware" function in the System Tray, the company said.

Hey, that reminds me...can't wait for Leopard. ;)

Your Response to Joost Invites, and Feedback in General

I just want to take a moment and say "hello" to all the new contacts I've made through e-mail the last day or so, since I began offering the Joost invites; the response has been overwhelming! I'd love to think that all of you read this blog religiously, and were just waiting for word from me when they would become available, but I'm not quite that naive. I know many of you may have just typed "Joost" into your favorite search engine, and wound up here. That's fine too -- I hope you'll at least hang around for a few minutes, and browse a few pages while you're here. There's plenty to interest a Mac fan, but the websites I comment on here are, of course, usually platform-agnostic.

Secondly, I wanted to say that I really encourage you to drop me a line at the e-mail address on the sidebar to the right. I didn't really think an e-mail account for the blog would be necessary, as I figured that I would respond to any questions or comments in the Comment section for each post. However, I got to thinking about it, and there are times when you may not necessarily want to post your question out there for all to see, and so I created the Gmail account to handle both the requests for Joost invites, but also to open up the floor to you to get in touch with me. What I'd particularly like to see are your suggestions for content on the page, especially any cool web pages you've been browsing lately. It would be great if it had a Mac theme to it, but any website is game -- fun, quirky, and interesting content tops anyone's list. I will reply to your e-mail asking for your permission to blog your find if it looks good, and then credit you in the post. Just in the last few days, I've received e-mails from the far corners of the globe, to right in my backyard -- Canada, Australia, New York, and Ohio, to name a few -- and I'm always looking forward to meeting new friends.

Finally, I never want to be one of those bloggers who need to be away from their blogs for a while, and get on to post "sorry I haven't blogged in a while; this happened, then this, then blah, blah, blah..." I'll say this once, and be done with it. I'd blog all day long if I could, but my job as a Help Desk Analyst is cyclical in nature, as I work for a state university here in Ohio. As a result, as the school year goes along, there will be times when I am swamped and simply don't have the time to post much at all, then there are other times when you'll see multiple posts from me on the same day. That's just the nature of the job. Believe me, my motto could be "I'd rather be posting" Those of you that have followed this blog for any length of time know that. I just wanted it on the record. I'm always around somewhere, just waiting to get some time to post.

Enjoy the site, and I look forward to meeting more of you via e-mail. Send me your thoughts, constructive criticism, web finds, and anything else that's on your mind (and yes, I'm already petting Sulley per one request).

~Kachup

Taquitos.net: The Zen of Snacking

We all have that favorite snack. You know, maybe the one that's not all that healthy for you (ha, as if), but yet it's still a guilty pleasure? Chips, chocolate, peanuts, donuts? Salty, crunchy, sweet? Well, everyone has their own vice when it comes to the munchies. Now someone is blogging about it.

Taquitos.net to the rescue. From their FAQ:

Q: What is Taquitos.net?

A: Taquitos.net is the most comprehensive snack food site on the Interweb, featuring independent reviews of more than 3000 snacks. In addition to snack reviews, Taquitos.net has information on Krispy Kreme doughnuts, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate milk, snack mascots and more.

Q: What kinds of snacks does Taquitos.net consider for review?

A: Primarily, we consider the six major food groups: Potato Chips, Popcorn, Pretzels, Cheese Puffs, Tortilla Chips and Corn Chips. We'll generally try any other kind of salty snack as well. We'll often consider any snack that comes in a bag that roughly resembles a bag of chips. Any item that has the word "snack" somewhere in its name will usually receive consideration. We normally won't consider snacks that require refrigeration to store or need to be cooked before being eaten. Beyond those criteria, we decide on a case-by-case basis whether each item merits a review.

And they aren't kidding. Find all sorts of reviews on just about any snack you can imagine. There's even news stories on the front end. Currently, they are featuring articles on Taco Bell implementing the FastPass system so you can wave your card and get your food faster; and a story on what is stocked in the vending machine at Dunder-Mifflin on NBC's hit show The Office. A fun site...so get munching, and go easy on those Pringles, will ya?

Taquitos.net

Joost Invites Available

Hello. You may have seen the small banner near the bottom-left of this blog mentioning a service called Joost. I have been a beta tester for it almost since its inception, and it's coming along pretty well.

What is Joost, you say? Well, in a nutshell, it's a website where you can view TV programs in much the same way that you might flip channels on your TV at home. There is content by some of the big cable companies, like MTV, National Geographic, and Cartoon Network, amongst others. What it isn't is live TV -- you aren't going to be able to view live network shows. But the limited content they have right now is fun, and more is being added all the time.

Check out the Joost promo video.

Per Joost themselves:

Joost is a new way of watching TV on the internet. With Joost, you get all the things you love about TV, including a high-quality full-screen picture, hundreds of full-length shows and easy channel-flipping.

You get great internet features too, such as search, chat and instant messaging, built right into the program - so you find shows quickly and talk to your friends while you watch. And with no schedules to worry about, you can watch whatever you want, whenever you like - as often as you want. Joost is completely free, and works with most modern PCs and Intel Mac-based computers with a broadband connection. Get Joost today!

Also, from the latest e-mail I received from them:

Last but not least, we invite you to enjoy the variety of new shows we're introducing each week. This week will bring you a host of over 40 new channels in the US including Adult Swim, five new channels from National Geographic, new channels like Spike TV from Viacom, great comedy from Heavy, and classic series from Hasbro such as The Transformers. And that's just the beginning.

And, as a beta tester, I've been given some invitations to hand out to folks that are interested in checking it out as they work through the beta phase of development. If you would like an invite, feel free to drop me a line via e-mail (please put "Joost Invite" in your subject line).

Finally, I don't know of anyone anymore that *doesn't* have a Google Gmail account. But if you're one of the few, and would like an invitation to open your own Gmail account, drop me a line about that as well.

Picnik: Online Photo Editor

A picture-editing website for the rest of us. While I love my Mac, and iPhoto for doing just about anything to my photos after I bring them in from my digital camera, sometimes I'm away from the Mac, and want to manipulate a photo somehow. Picnik (currently in beta) allows you to do some nice editing -- cropping, re-sizing, rotating -- and for now, you can also apply some filtering. I understand that some filters may be available to premium subscribers later, but for now that part is free; the basic editing features will remain free. Finally, once you get the picture the way you like, you can save it back to your computer. Neato! Create a free account, and they'll update you as the site progresses.

Picnik

International No Diet Day Today

Are you putting your life on hold until you lose weight? On May 6, 2007, in celebration of International No Diet Day, people in cities and towns around the globe will join a one-day moratorium on weight-loss dieting sponsored by an international coalition of health professionals, activists and community groups.

Originated in 1992 by Mary Evans Young, the director of a British activist group called Diet breakers, International No Diet Day was established to challenge the cultural attitudes and values that contribute to chronic dieting, weight preoccupation, eating disorders, and size discrimination. Participants will wear light blue ribbons symbolizing the day's goals. These include:

1. increasing public awareness of the dangers and futility of dieting, weight loss surgery, and obsession with thinness;

2. affirming that beauty, health and fitness come in ALL sizes, and everybody's right to eat normally, enjoy physical activity and emotional well-being;

3. helping change the way people of size are perceived and treated by society.

INDD is celebrated worldwide. In past years, events have been held in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Norway, South Africa and Russia. These events have included scale smashing and recycling, a diet relics museum, picnics and eat-ins, street theater, protests at weight-loss surgery and diet centers, official government proclamations naming May 6 No Diet Day in cities and states, educational forums, petitions and demonstrations in support of size rights legislation, exhibits of size-positive art and photography, size-friendly fashion shows and diet-free dances.

For more information, contact:

Official INDD web site: http://www.largesse.net/INDD/

People Are Strange

Look around you...your family, friends, people y0u work with. Don't you get the feeling sometimes that surely some of them might have a mental disorder that was just never diagnosed? Well, psychiatrists come across all sorts of mental disorders in their daily routine. This website contends that it has the ten most interesting. Makes for an interesting read, at least.

10 Most Interesting, Strangest Mental Disorders

[via sciencenewsden.com]