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Baratunde exists at the intersection of comedy, politics and technology. His official duties include Web & Politics editor at The Onion, co-founder of Jack & Jill Politics and host of PopSci's Future Of on Science Channel. Basically, he's a smart, funny, extremely handsome dude.

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Wednesday
16Jan2008

My roughly organized thoughts on Apple's new goodies

ok. I just finished watching all the keynote video and the product walkthroughs. pretty stream of consciousness thoughts on stuff

I'm impressed, yes I am.

extended assessment

AppleTV2 is looking hot.

Movie Rentals
ok, this is better than Amazon Unbox.
i didn't realize you could transfer movies to your iDevices or watch on computer OR watch on TV. That's pretty big

plus

  • the interface is a massive improvement. flickr integration is hot. search looks very good. YouTube on TV during the writer's strike. plus i can find youtube and podcast video of election-themed content. bye bye C-Span. oh yeah, and I haven't had cable VOD in years, but the ability to order movies from the couch is hotness.

  • My DVD ripping activities must now be intensified. Will go head and put the goodies in my iTunes library. just wish i could preserve chapters

  • What keeps me from ATV is all my "non-standard" video, but I might just have to go on a mass re-encoding spree with Visual Hub

  • I'm sure I'll have more money in my pocket if I sell the powerbook i'm using with Remote Buddy + Wiimote as a media center and purchase the $229 apple tv

  • yep, just checked ebay. Should be able to get at LEAST $500 for the pbook


conclusion: AppleTV2 check. awaiting sale of 15" Powerbook with minor bruise from a drop

MacBook Air

  • love the green aspects of the computer

  • love the remote optical drive concept

  • LOVE the multi-touch trackpad gestures.

  • still hate the small HD


conclusion: not acquiring. i'm happy with my MBP. may consider as replacement for friend's 12" PB once HD specs improve

Time Capsule

  • i like it whenever companies make backup easy

  • don't like the fixed nature of the storage. need expandability

  • i'm wary of wireless solutions. SOMETHING in my home is causing wifi to drop semi-regularly. thought it was my old aiport base station (now owned by a friend) but it's happening with the linksys too. possible culprits include TiVo and Wii

  • drobo is more robust and expandable


conclusion: not acquiring. will look at Drobo NAS and other possibilities. may start using Time Machine as my MBP is not being backed up effectively

iPod/Phone software updates

  • didn't realize it used wifi for fake gps location

  • multiparty SMS is great. finally.

  • they still need to fix: multiple icalendar support, MMS, contact search, bigger HD, 3G wireless

  • but overall gives me confidence that jailbreaking these devices is not necessary as apple will solve 95 percent of problems (you'll never be able to download torrents with them :))


iphone conclusion: no. am in contract w t-mobile. still want to avoid relationships involving NSA Telecom (aka AT&T)

ipod touch conclusion: looking for excuse to buy. if anyone wants to kidnap my 5G ipod video, i'm just saying...

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Reader Comments (1)

eht iPod Touch was about the only thing i would consider as well... beyond the standard dream of owning a 17" MBP tricked out & topped out, this mackworld keynote was lukewarm at best. Plus being in Canada... all the innovations related to movie rentals may or may not happen this side of the intellectual property boarder.

Blame the apple store for my dislike of region locked media which soured prob. the best item of the keynote.

January 16, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterVergel Evans

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