Sell your Apple Stock

Run for the hills, Microsoft has anounced that it may develop its own personal music player to compete head to head with Apple's iPod. Microsoft has been unhappy with its other partners who build PMP's with not being able to penitrate Apple's market share. Bill Gates was quoted as saying, "people would prefer a choice over Apple's iPod".

A choice! Ha. Microsoft can say that with a straight face. They all believe in choices, as long as everyone picks their offering. I believe the motto is more: "crush all possible choices for the consumer so they have to choose Microsoft."

Next up, favorite podcast.

This is an "everyone play". No Tiger needed. Podcast's are in their infancy, there are many silly ones with people giggling. Not many do I return to for information or for entertainment value. Yes, I know that I'm a photoshop geek but can't resist learn more about probably the most important and productive software used. Even on the PC side. (sorry MS Word) I'm sure these guys will share with us just how Stitch managed to get his mug on that mug. Share your podcast with us. As an FYI, I have found it helpful not to limit your podcast exploration to iTunes. There are many podcast directories that can point you to your area of interest. Cheers.

http://www.photoshopguys.com/

Jobs first action as head of Disney

As you know Disney has bought Pixar and now Steve Jobs is the largest single stock holder of Disney stock. Steve is now on the board of Disney and will great influence. When asked what will be his first decision as head of Disney. "I will take a wrecking ball to the 'Its a small World' ride at Disneyland." Yes the song we all just plain can't stand will stand no more. Many have commented that the ride was pure torture. The endless singing of "its a small small world after all". Uggh it is making me ill just thinking of it.

History of MacNight

A long time ago, even before there was such a thing as the Macintosh computer. Even computers at all, there was a group of men who sought the best in everything they did. Everything they purchased had to demonstrate innovation and style. These elite men regularly congregated to discuss the great products of the day. They called this meeting day, MacNight. Over the years MacNight evolved but the core principals remained the same. Quality and style.

Imagine the great delite the MacNight following had when a product was developed which exemplified these qualities and surprisingly had a similar name as their group. It was the Macintosh computer. A revolution which keeps on going. Form and function. And from that day forward, the Mac has been the center of MacNight ever since.

I may have a few details mixed up but you get the jist of it.

The current members were formed after the person who we currently call Macintosh Fanatica, was deciding to replace his PC with a new PC. And the person we call Stitch, commented: "Go ahead and buy the PC. You can drive the Chevy while I drive the Honda." This comment struck a nerve with MF, especially since he owned a Honda and could relate to the quality statement. This was a turning point, of which Le dreads even today. A Macintosh monster was created, after such fine quality in Apple products he could not satisfy his hunger for more. He became an evangalist for the Mac. A Johnny Appleseed, if you will, ready to spread the news of quality and style. MacNight was formed to celebrate the quality and style of the Mac, (and a reason to drink beer) and the rest is history.

Luckily MF had a brother, Le, who is a necessary counterweight to keep MF grounded. Otherwise by now MF would be living in a house shaped like an Apple and have Apple wallpaper in all rooms of this house. Yet even though Le still uses a standard issue PC, he is an audiophile. The sweet necter of the iPod was too strong for even he to resist. And so it goes.

My Favorite Widgets

Hey MacMinni!! I am actually the only other person qualified to respond to your query, as I have been using Tiger for quite a while. I would have to say I really like the "Asteroids" widget because of its relative authenticity. I am stunned it is so true to the original, at least in the early levels. I also love some of the "cam" widgets. The one I show here is in the shape of an apple cinema display, and it's currently showing the Golden Gate Bridge, but you can tune it to other cams. Good stuff!!

Fav Widget

So what are some of the favorite dashboard widgets in MacNight? I couldn't help but join the "worldwide craze" Sudoku. Started playing it in the newspaper but now find this widget very helpful because it will show incorrect answer (yea, kinda cheating) and also give all possibilities and updates as you fill in the boxes. You can turn these features off as well. Sometimes I'll start without and add later for assistance. Other than the basic one's from Apple. What else do you like? Cheers!

Windows has molasses in its code

After using MS Windows here at work and at home I have noticed a bizare "feature" of Windows. Windows takes a long time to do some very basic things. As an example, I wanted to delete a small JPEG file from the desktop. The file was only about 40K in size. So to do this on Windows, you select the file and press the delete key. Of course Windows asks you "Are you really sure you want to delete this file?". Why this matters is beyond me because all it does it put it in the recycling bin. It does not get anialated. But to do this a window pops up showing a picture of a file flying through the air until it vanishes. And does this repeatedly until the file is deleted. Which actually takes about 5 seconds! Not 1/2sec like you would expect for it to update the directory and say the file is now in the recycle bin. On the Mac there is no question of your competence to delete files which go to the Trash. And there is a quick instant feedback of something like "KerPlunk" and the file is gone. About 1/4sec tops. I know this is minor but just another Window's quirk. I have noticed the same long delay for setting a preference on the Taskbar (Window's Dock). I check off the "hide Taskbar" option and it again churns for a while before completing. What gives?

Disney to Animate Steve Jobs

Disney is in serious negotiations with Pixar to buy Pixar and make Steve Jobs the largest single shareholder of Disney. Along with all of the TV content which Disney has with ABC TV and cable programming. Will it go through?

Stitch's Mug

Be careful what you wish for!

Back of mug

OK, so I have no hair, except, well... in the back. Take alot of grief from hardcore PCers.

MacMinni ?

I like the nickname MacMinni for my brother Craig in Minnesota. Not that he is small in any way but working Minn. into the name is cool. Thanks for the suggestion Lo. All in favor say I.

Hip Hop from a Mac iBook

iLife or no iLife, look see what you can do on an iBook with a little imagination. Their CD will be available soon but here is a cut called Knock Knock. Yes, this is from 2 white guys in vanilla Minnesota. Enjoy!

Minnesota Rappers

MacWorld Commentary

I appologize for the delay of me posting my mugshot. My son Phillip was visiting so I have been busy with him. I will try posting one this weekend. Also I will contact MacMinni to see what happened to his postings too.

I'm sure you all have seen the MacWorld speech by Jobs. I would have to say, the iLife suite of programs is pretty amazing. How it is so well integrated between applications and everything seems to work as intuitively as possible. I like the new Blog support features. I don't know if you can use these features with our Blog since it seems to be for only one publisher. The use of GarageBand for creating and posting your own Podcasts is cool too.

I don't know how much universal appeal iLife will have in general but I think the younger crowd will like it. One of the top three most visited web sites on the internet is MySpace.com which is just a blog site which connects people up as friends to each other sites. Even AOL has some new game or statistical tool which scores how connected you are to others on the internet by scoring 3 degrees of seperation of buddy lists. MySpace.com is popular even though the aestetics of the web pages is poor unless you are an HTML guru. I think this is the market Apple is shooting for.

I hope the new iLife features don't require .MAC to use. I don't see why Apple spends so much of its resources on developing software which only works with .MAC which you have to pay extra for. I think it would be better if they included a free 2 years of .MAC when you buy a new Mac. This will get people to buy more macs. They only have 1 million .MAC users even after all the years it has been up and running.

Back to MacWorld, Paul did you pick up on the Jobs speech about iPhoto. Where you can store 250,000 photos and it still scrolls really quickly. Jobs commented, "It scrolls like butter". I believe it scrolls like a Mazda MX6! Same thing.

The new powerbook is now 5X faster than December's G4 models. I must say WOW. These new intel dual core chips are amazing. This must be the main reason for the processor switch. I love the magnetic power cord which will unplug if yanked. And the iMac is not too shabby. I think with the option to run both the MacOS and Window on the same machine many more people will buy these machines. And then with the two OS's back to back they will be able to see the benefits of the Mac. The new commercial that says "the Intel chip was stuck in a drab PC doing drab calculations, it is now being freed and put into a Mac. Imagine the possibilities." is just golden. And it is a real commercial that will air on TV. Sweet.

** Correction: It is MySpace.com not MyPlace.com **

Le

I do not possess a picture of me opening my iPod or otherwise becoming infatuated with it. Nevertheless, here's a pic.

-Le

Macintosha Fanatica

This photograph records the transitional moment from "Pre Nano" to "Post Nano". Dare I say, I have become a new and improved person, and my life has indeed changed. The flowers smell sweeter, the grass is indeed greener, etc.

New member nickname

Now that we have a new member Craig I thought we should try to comeup with a nickname for him so he can feel right at home. mnblogger is not a nickname! Any suggestions. Please free associate either in reference to Apple or Minn. or in relation to our current set of names. I know it may be difficult since you don't know him but please give it a shot. Craig feel free to suggest names or if you prefer to stay mnblogger.

Post your mugs!!

Since we have a new member who has not been able to partake in the in person MacNight forums. I was thinking we need to introduce ourselves formally, including a mugshot of the MacNight following. I am sure you have digital pics somewhere which can be uploaded. Please use a portrait so your face is visible. Craig this includes you too. I will be posting mine soon. Feel free to embelish it with references to anything Apple. Use anything in the picture which reflects your personality. That way even though Craig is in MN he can connect to the MacNight family properly.

If you do not feel the need to provide your own mugshot. I believe I could post one for you. It may not be as flattering though.

Three Apple Stores in Minneapolis - Apple Mecca in the making

Can you believe that there will be 3 Apple stores in Minneapolis? I guess the people of Minn. really love their Macs. Here in Tucson we have 1/2 of an Apple Store. Its one of those mini stores which is basically a wide hallway. They still carry about the same stuff as a full Apple store but its a bit more crammed in. Do one of those stores include an Apple Theater. I have seen pics of the Tokyo and I believ NY stores which have large theatres in them. Probably only in the biggest of the bunch. I am envious but at least we have at least 1/2 of a store.

Disney adds video content to iTunes

Did you hear that Disney/ABC/Other TV is expanding its video content on iTunes? They stated that the video iPods have sold well and downloads have been good. Some of the content will be ESPN and the ever famous Kim Possible.

They are sticking with the $1.99 / episode deal which I think is a bit high for something your only going to watch once. Maybe Apple could do a video subscription service like cable/dish, but you don't get to keep the video. This makes more sense for non Classic shows. Disney did comment that they will not include commercials on iTunes at Apples request but may on other services. What do you think?

Motorola Disin' iTunes

News has it that Motorola's next ROKR phone will drop iTunes, in favor of its own subscription service!

-Le

A New iPod user!

Gentlemen, here you see with your own eyes a brand new iPod/iTunes user, my nephew Jake! Indeed, let it be known that our numbers are in fact increasing as more and more people see the inevitable light of superior design and functionality. There can be no doubt about the glory of the iPod Nano. This model happens to be the 2 Gb version. I was there when his eyes lit up with delight at findiing this little jewel under the tree on Christmas morning. Glory to the iPod!