Apple announcement recap

[Larry Sica]

On Jan 15, 2008, at 2:59 PM, LuKreme wrote:

> On 15-Jan-2008, at 11:28, Todd Zaki Warfel wrote:
>> Well, this was one of the most substantial set of announcements I  
>> can recall in years:
>>
>> 1. Time capsule—AE with built in server grade HD that's compatible  
>> with Time Machine (finally)
>
> This is a pretty nice bit of kit, really.  A full 802.11n AE with a  
> 500GB or 1TB NAS integrated into it and three gigabit ethernet  
> ports.  I am sorely tempted by this, though my cable 'modem' is  
> already a router.

Ironically I was talking about this to my boss this morning before the  
keynote.

>
>
>> 2. iPhone updates—maps, webclips, customized home screens, SMS  
>> multiple people, chapters for movies, lyrics for music. Fascinating  
>> how they're handling location w/o GPS—though combination of Google  
>> maps (triangulating cell towers) and Skyhook for Wi-fi.
>
> I think the triangulating cell towers is very very cool.  In a way,  
> better than GPS as I often want to know what's in the area, not what  
> I can see from where I'm standing.
>
>> 3. iPod touch updates—mail, maps, stocks, notes, weather ($20  
>> existing, free for new)
>
> Slight bummer it's a $20 upgrade, but hey, mail makes the iTouch  
> something I can really use, and the update is included with new  
> purchases.

Is this a Sarbanes-Oxley thing I wonder?

>
>
>> 4. iTunes movie rentals—30 days to start, 24 hours to finish. Start  
>> anywhere, finish anywhere.
>
> Pretty decent model there.  I'd have preferred a 7-day/7-day period,  
> but since I am not their target audience (I never rent stuff as a  
> rule, and if I do, it's the $1 kiosks at McDonalds).


If I were Netflix I'd be very, very nervous right now.


>
>
>> 5. Apple TV updates—software updates for movie rentals, Flickr, and  
>> YouTube. Rent right from your Apple TV.
>
> This makes the Apple TV a lot more attractive to me, but still no  
> xvid/divx without hacking, which just seems stupid to me.
>
>> 6. MacBook Air—wicked thin, 13.3" widescreen LED backlit display,  
>> built-in iSight, full-sized backlit keyboard with multi-touch  
>> gesture support trackpad.
>
> Forgot the key 'feature'
>
> No ethernet :/
>
> Oh, and the optional SSD drive is $1000.  Bet it does wonders for  
> the speed and battery life though.
>

Well I've not plugged in my laptop to a wired port in ages.  So the  
usb dongle is fine I think.  The SSd doesn't surprise me, looking  
online most prices for the same are more.

--Larry