« December 2004 | Main | February 2005 »
Napoleon Dynamite was a great MTV film released a while ago. It is one of those movies that gets better each time you watch it. Now you can listen to some soundbytes any time you want because Fredryk Phox has put together a cool flash app with a bunch of excerpts from the movie. Go check it out and annoy your co-workers!
I just got an email from the Ninjai Gang (ok...i got the email yesterday...I'm a slacker...) announcing that Chapter 11 of the Ninjai story has been posted! I watched it last night and it was pretty gorey (much more than the last 10 I thought...but it looks like they are working on an "Under Age 13" version...hehe), so viewers beware. But again, beautiful artwork, great animation, and the Little Bird...;) So go check it out!
Oh, and stay tuned because chapter 12 is to be released on March 15th! But then the saga will be all over...:( If you need something to hold you over till then, go play some games! Enjoy!
Ok, I know it has been a while since the Mac Mini was announced/released (yeah...like a week or so...), but I still wanted to post something about this marvel of a machine. The amount of articles being written about this machine is amazing. Along with that, the amount of ideas for uses of the mini are also amazing. So I wanted to try and summarize the articles, ideas, etc that I have had and have seen out there already. Click below to read the whole story.
Update: Robert Cringley of PBS has offered a very interesting view on what Apple has in store for the Mac Mini. I hope he is right because that would rock!
Lets start off with the basics. What is the Mac Mini? Where did it come from? From the beginning of Apples existence, people have complained that Apple's hardware is "too expensive." I have many friends who have said: "I'd love an Apple for all the software they give you, but I don't want to invest $2500 in a new computer." There were even talks by Steve himself (I believe) saying that people walk into an Apple store, are amazed by the products, see the price tag, and walk across the street and buy a Dell.
Enter the Mac Mini. A Sub-$500 Apple computer that is a formidable competitor to all those cheap PCs out there. So what do you get for $500??
Not to shabby for $500 eh? Oh yeah, it is completely silent too. Now if you are thinking "Psh...that is nothing compared to my $400 Dell!" Then maybe you might want give this Macworld article a read.
The first things that popped into my mind when Steve announced the Mac Mini and showed it to us was: "Holy cow that is small! That would go great next to my TV, or even in my car!" You may ask, what the heck would I do with it in either of those to places. Well, here are my ideas which others have also conveyed as well.
Next to my TV:
Hmmm...remember the article I posted a little while ago about Recording HDTV with your mac? Wouldn't this be perfect for that task? It would also be great to be able to launch your web browser and browse the web on your TV in between commercials. Or how about bring up iPhoto and have a little slideshow? Maybe watch a movie...listen to some music?? The possibilities are endless.
In My Car:
Again, possibilities are endless. Since the advent of MP3s, there have been car MP3 projects. A lot of people want to put a full computer in their car and connect it to a screen to they can listen to MP3s, watch movies, wirelessly sync their MP3s with their house when they drive into the garage, etc. However, most people doing this have to try and find a small case for their PC. Well...the Mac Mini is TINY! It wouldn't take up any room in your trunk. Heck, there are some people saying that it may be small enough to fit in your dash in most factory cars! Check out these guys.
If you ask me, this is quite a huge announcement from Apple. They have breached the barrier that so many people complained about with Apple hardware. I'm sure we will be seeing many projects based on a Mac Mini in the future because it is perfect for so many applications. So if you have been one of those who said you would buy a mac if they were only as cheap as PCs, nows your chance!
Links to other articles:
http://www.macworld.com/hot_topics/macmini/index.php
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2005/01/miniapplesandoranges/index.php
http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/01/14/macminiauto/index.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops-pcs/apple/mac-mini-indash-029657.php
http://www.smashsworld.com/2005/01/taking-apart-mac-mini-how-to.php
Check out this video of some sea kayakers! I can't believe he popped back up!! Incredible! Enjoy and pass it around!
With Macworld just around the corner, I thought I would join the crowd and begin with the rumor mongerings. For those of you who don't keep up with the rumor mill, this is a summary of what is excepted to come at MWSF:
Those are the rumored things for this years first Macworld. Personally, the only one I think is any good is the Headless iMac. Can't wait to see the commercials..."Run!! It's the Headless iMac!"
In related news, it is rumored that Apple will not have any live feeds for the Keynote speech. This makes no sense to me. Every year, the first thing Steve Jobs says is "We have 150 bizillon people watching on the internet and via sat." Why would they want to stop that free advertising?? Oh well...keep your eye out here for updates as I get them.
Many people know I've been trying to save my pennies for a Mazda RX8 lately and I'm finally getting close! I've been very involved with the RX8 community since it started (Heck, I'm even in the Presidency of the Rocky Mountain RX8 Club (I made that web site too...:) ))
Well, about 3 weeks ago, there was a fire at the main Mazda production plant in Japan. This is where they make all the RX8s. They have stopped production of RX8s along with many other Mazda's. Well, recent news is now pointing to Mazda not starting production back up until the March time frame. This will create a large shortage of Mazda's especially in the states. This is right when I was going to get mine. Now I either have to hurry up and buy, or risk waiting for many more months to get one. I feel for Mazda though. They were having great success with their Mazda 6, Mazda 3 and the RX8 and then this happens. What a horrible time for this to happen. Arrggg....So if anyone wants to contribute to the "Andrew needs an RX8 Fund" Please contact me! :)