Apple, Amy, and Denise or What I've been up to

It's been awhile since I blogged. I know. The wiki has kept me busy. I also have discovered a site called Rate Your Music. Until I tagged and claimed the CD's I have, I never realized how many I had.

A few things have happened, so let's dive in:

On Monday Apple announced the new iPhone. From everything I read, the thing seems to be faster and come with GPS. Compared to current models, it's cheaper than before, and that's good. However for me to switch, they need to let other carriers have it and lose the attitude about it. Apple have also introduced a new service called MobileMe. From what I read, this is supposed to go beyond sync for your iPhone, iPod touch, and computer. Looks nice on paper, but will it work in practice?

Last weekend Amy Winehouse got in trouble last week with a video full of racist words and drug stuff. This is unacceptable, but on the other hand this shows she needs help - now.

TV has also kept me from blogging. One show I have been watching Denise Richards: It's Complicated. This is fun TV so far. The first episode focused on Richards' angst towards dating and trying to find a date for her pig. The best sense were of Richards' asking for pig sperm over the phone and her date asking unconforable questions during their date. Overall, very fun TV!

I hope to do better blogging!

Freedom!

Over the last week something great has happened. Until last Sunday, Kosovo was a autonomous province of Serbia under temporary UN administration. This week Kosovo has began a new life as a free country! As we speak, the US and a few other countries have recognized Kosovo as a country. Serbia and Russia is upset, with Serbia telling their ambassador to come home as a protest. There was also an attack on the US embassy in Serbia. Serbia and Russia are against Kosovo's independence on two grounds. Serbia claims that independence is illegal since the act interferes with their territorial integrity. Russia is against, fearing that independence will set off a chain reaction of areas becoming independent. In my mind, these agreements are weak at best.

In the statement Serbia issued "annulling" Kosovo's independence, they refer to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999. This Resolution ended the war in Kosovo and created the temporary UN administration. The document contains a passage that states support for the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia". While this is all well and good, it appears that any sovereignty Serbia has had over the last nine years has been zero and virtually symbolic in nature. As for their territorial integrity, Serbia lost the right to govern Kosovo due to the conduct of the Milošević government in revoking Kosovo's autonomy in 1989 and the nasty decade of direct rule Serbia brought on until the 1999 war.

Russia claims that Kosovo independence will give every other area a reason to secede. However, this falls flat in my mind. As stated above, its obvious Kosovo is a different case for the reasons set above. There is also another reason this is special. Kosovo's independence is another chapter in the breakup of Yugoslavia that started with Slovenia, then Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and now Kosovo. If Yugoslavia was still one nation and Kosovo declared independence, I would understand Russia's position here. In this case, I can't.

As for me personally, I'm happy Kosovo is free. The people wanted it and for me this is the number one reason to support their recent action. However my happiness is muted by the lack of agreement on ether side. In any case, that's ancient history now. Let's help Kosovo in going the right way.

It will be hard, but we can do it.

Grammy night!

Last night was the Grammys! To my pleasure Amy Winehouse racked the the awards winning Best New Artist, Best Song, Best Record, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album for Back to Black. Her problems aside, Winehouse deserves to do well! With the crap coming out now, she has the talent to back up her efforts. After first hearing Rehab, I was a bit skeptical. I then brought the album. After hearing You Know I'm No Good, I was hooked! Winehouse's lyrics are real, gritty, and as I said, backed up by her incense talent.

As for the other big award of Best Album, that was a big shock with Herbie Hancock getting the nod for River: The Joni Letters, a Joni Mitchell tribute album. I was also amazed to see Kanye West not doing so well as predicted, being confined to the Rap category. Personally, I was glad the various American Idol folks do not win that many awards. It's a cheaping of music these days (not that it hasn't been that way already).

Overall, amongst an interesting (but dull) show, with an interesting outcome.

Now where's *my* Grammy?

:-)

Goodness from the (Apple) tree, Part 2

Besides the iPod, iTunes, Apple TV, and iPhone updates, there has been two new things falling from the tree.

First the fruit company introduced the Time Capsule. This device is intended to be used for wireless backups. While this is good, I have questions on how secure the device is. In saying that, this could get folks to backup more.

The best thing to come out of MacWorld is the new MacBook Air. From the pics I have seen, The MacBook Air is thin, way thinner than my iBook is. The best new feature is the multi-touch on the trackpad and the Remote Disc feature. This seems to be a feature where one connects the MacBook Air to another Mac with a optical drive to install software. This seems like a pretty neat feature. The only thing that bugs me is the lack of an optical drive. The spin from Steve on this seems to be that he doesn't buy that "most users will miss the optical drive or need the optical drive". Sorry to rain on your parade, Steve, but I have plenty of CD's made before iTunes was even around and/or burnt CD's with data on them; or in another way, Steve could be like Noah in regards to the drive and we're all of those who don't believe the flood is coming until its too late. I believe others on in the same place as well. For cases like this, an optical drive would nice as a built-in option. There is also no battery replacement ether.

On the whole, I believe the MacBook Air is pretty good - on paper. Because of the flaws I see and the 'if we don't say it you need it, you don't need it' attitude, I'll pass on the MacBook Air. Let the early adopters get burned.

I wish Apple well with all of this. Its a lot of food on their plate, but I feel they can handle it.

Goodness from the (Apple) tree, Part 1

This time of the year is the time when the fruit company bestows upon us new things from above.

First off, iTunes now has video rentals. They should go from US$ 2.99 for old releases to US$ 3.99 for new ones in the standard DVD quality. HD quality will be a dollar more. However it seems there are two catches. The rentals will be available a month after the actual DVD itself is released and the rentals will last a day. For those who like to take their time to watch movies, I could see this as a problem. Since I have Movies On Demand, I'm used to watching movies a day after I buy them.

Apple and Fox have also entered into a deal where one could could buy a DVD, enter a code on the packaging, and get the movie into iTunes. While this seems good on paper, its more of the DRM I've been trying to get away from.

While these new things may be good and all, I still not convinced about digital video. While I enjoy a YouTube clip on my Palm, I couldn't see myself watching a movie on it.

Now on to the hardware.

Apple has released an update for the iPhone that deals with the mapping feature, SMS, and customization. The iPod touch got the same love as well - with a twist. The mail, mapping, stock quotes, weather forcasts and notes are coming to the touch. There is a catch though: they will cost US$ 20. To be honest, I don't quite get what Apple's doing here. From all appearances it seems the folks who brought the touch before yesterday while those will buy after yesterday will not. I'm sure we will hear about this for the next few days.

All things said, I'm pleased with the new programs on the touch. Now if they would resolve the screen problems on the touch, I might get one.

There was also an Apple TV update that allows folks to buy or use the new rental service and access photos; the price has dropped as well. Speaking as a non-Apple TV person, I guess this is good for them. It must be better than watching that dog.

More soon!

Corruption of Blood, Part 2 (or, how obsession breeds despair)

Over the last few months it seems Hannah Montana (for those not in know, Hannah Montana revolves around a teen girl who has a double life as a pop star; for details, see the the wiki) has been popular. From all of this popularity, things have happened. First, it was the furor over ticket sales in October. Now there is a new one: yesterday it was reveled that a six year old claimed her father died in Iraq. This was done in an essay to win Hannah Montana tickets and other goodies from a local store.

To state the obvious, this is not good. In my view, this sorry episode is a side effect of this celebrity culture we are in. Folks get so wrapped up in Hannah Montana (or what the case may be) and they lose all sense of reason. The fact that a six year old got wrapped up is even sadder. Where are the priorities at?

Wish I knew.

iStuff=iProblems, Part 2

My iPod mini is two years old!

Since that time, I've been keeping an eye on what Apple does next. Along these lines, Apple made some good updates over the last few months.

The first two updates are to the video iPod and nano; it's known as the iPod classic. Compared to last time, the classic tops out at 160GB, which is totally amazing. Also the interface has been redesigned and cover flow has been included. The nano has been updated as well. Compared to the past generations of nanos, the body on the device is wider and the colors are more sober and less flashy, that's good. The nano also has video and the same interface redesign.

The second update relates to the new iPod touch. The touch is, simply put, an iPhone without the phone! It has the same interface as the iPhone itself and some of the same looks. Also there seems to be an iTunes store on the touch. With all of this put together, the device seems nifty.

However, it wouldn't be an iPod launch without problems. On the new classics, folks have been seeing a lot of problems. iPod touch users have been battling with faulty screens (it seems the nano has been problem free so far - in saying that, I wish the new nanos had 10GB).

Even with all of these problems, there are three things that bother me. After the release of the new models, it was revealed that video out has been locked on the new iPods unless the device you want to see video on has an Apple authorization chip. Another surprise was the decision by Apple to have those folks who brought games for the 5G iPod to buy them again. With these two things, I can see where the hurt is coming in. Like the Government, I can understand what Apple does and why. Not so with these two decisions.

The third problem seems to be with the iPod touch. If this review is correct, it appears Apple has taken the ROKR route by limiting the iPod touch so as not to effect the iPhone sales. To fix this, I would like to see the touch be a halfway between the iPod proper and the iPhone. Add a mail client, games, a notepad, and the ability to install your own programs. If this were to happen, traditional PDA's will be history.

Then again, if Apple decides to stay on their present course, I have a clear solution. I'll take my music and videos and go home.