iPad: Coming April 3rd

iPad - coming April 3rd

I have received a couple promo emails from Apple today, and thought perhaps I’d pass it along here.

The iPad will be shipping April 3rd.

Some of you can’t wait. I am going to wait. I am excited to play with it, but I really think that this will be a bit like the iPhone, and version two will be much improved. Early adopters and tech lovers should definitely pick up the first gen edition (the one coming April 3rd…) but it’s not a bad idea to wait, either.

That said, I definitely know where I’ll be on Saturday, April 3rd. ๐Ÿ™‚

Fan Boy?

Get a Mac Ads

On the half-hour drive home from celebrating our daughter’s 6th birthday, we somehow remembered the famous Get A Mac ads that Apple has so brilliantly done for the past several years. I think it started with our oldest son and I quoting from one of them. Well, from there we remembered that the complete library of those ads is in fact stored on our iPod, so when the kids were asked if they’d like to watch them there was a resounding, “YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

So they did. All the way home!

Does that make us the ultimate “Fan boys?” I think it might.

iPad: Apple’s Most “Magical” Device?

the iPad - Apple's most magical device?
Well it is finally here. The long-awaited, oft-rumored Apple tablet. It’s called the iPad. (iPad? Is that really the best name for it?)

Though Apple calls this new gizmo “magical,” I must admit, I’m still not impressed.

I’ve never been one calling for the tablet. I just don’t get it. I don’t need such a device. Granted, it looks amazing, and seems like it’s a lot of fun… but I don’t need it. Why was/is there such a demand for this?

Some basics:

  1. 9.7″ display, Multi-touch interface
  2. 10-hour battery life
  3. Mac OS and iPhone OS combined, runs iWork suite, iPhoto, Mail, iCal, iTunes, etc
  4. Runs all applications from the App Store (for iPhone/iPod Touch)
  5. iBook app (and store) for reading ebooks (akin to Amazon Kindle)
  6. Wi-Fi and 3G models, from $499 to $829.
  7. Unlimited data from AT&T for $29.99/mo. (Or other plans, incl. free Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots.)
  8. DOES NOT have phone, camera, multi-tasking (using multiple apps at once)

So, one thing I will give them is the price. I think that’s lower than most people expected, and a tad lower than I did. A ton of functionality (including some accessories) and the great multi-touch interface, only better.

But I still don’t get it.

Check out the video demo at Apple’s site. (Maybe that will help me understand?)

The device will be available in 60 days (and 90 days for the 3G models).

I will at least be planning to test drive one at our local Apple store… ๐Ÿ™‚

Is The Apple Tablet Rumor About To Become Reality?

The Apple Tablet?
If you’ve followed this blog for very long, you know that I am a huge fan of all things Apple. In previous years (with fewer kids? fewer jobs?) I would follow the Apple rumor sites (like this one) and report diligently on the speculation of others, and even my own. (That was a pretty good one, actually… that I still think they will do… you just wait!)

Well, over all those years… a few rumors have persisted even though the rumored product or service never actually appeared. For example, the Apple phone was a long-rumored device before we were introduced to the iPhone in 2007. There are still a few unanswered rumors out there… the Beatles on iTunes… iTunes subscription service… my Apple TV… (OK, maybe that’s just my rumor.) ๐Ÿ™‚

One that will apparently come true tomorrow is the verrrry long-awaited “Apple tablet” computer. It seems to be a perfect blend of laptop and iPhone, with the touch-screen interface and a super-portable design. Seems like it could be pretty amazing. (See leaked photo above…)

Tomorrow at 1PM ET (10AM PT, local time) Steve Jobs will be announcing the next great thing from Apple. I believe the Apple invite says, “Come see our latest creation.” Neat. I believe I will!

Follow along tomorrow at:
macrumorslive.com
live.gizmodo.com
engadget.com (probably… though can’t find direct link)

For a good “roundup” of the rumors, check out this article.

Oh Nine, Oh Nine, Oh Nine

For some reason, I’m one of those people who like it when the calendar says something more. Earlier this year we had 07/08/09. Seven, Eight, Nine. That’s fun! Every year there’s one day where the day, month, and year all match…

And today is that day! ๐Ÿ™‚

Hope you have a great 09/09/09!

If you’re looking for something to do today, I’ll bet Apple can help with that… (We’ll be watching here!)

Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) : Available August 28th!

Apple announced yesterday that their latest version of Mac OS X will be available for purchase this Friday, August 28th! The OS dubbed “Snow Leopard” will mostly streamline the current OS, Leopard, even down to the start up and shutdown time. Also, it takes up much less space on your hard drive. The software will only work on Macs that have Intel processors (so, sadly, not on the computer that is posting this information…). Up until Mac OS 10.6, every release of Mac OS X has had the architecture for both PowerPC and Intel processors. Snow Leopard will be the first release exclusively for Intel-based Macs.

The coolest and craziest part of this release is that along with the standard, stand-alone $129 price, Apple is also allowing current Leopard users to upgrade for only $29! A great deal that should greatly improve the performance of our Intel Macs.

So, visit your local Apple store on Friday and get your own copy! (Or, you can order via the Apple store online!)

GregsApples.com … is back? (Sort of.)

Gregs Apple (and more!) Store
Hey folks! Just wanted to give you a quick heads up. I was reminded today that I used to be an Authorized Apple Business Agent, for which Apple paid me a commission on any sales I generated for them. That was neat. Then I was an Apple Business Store Affiliate, similar deal, just not working directly for Apple. THEN, I actually worked for Apple as a trainer at the local Apple Retail Store… which was awesome! But… I didn’t have enough time to give them. Too bad.

So now… I decided to use my Amazon Associates account to make a new little “GregsApples” store (though I have let that domain expire…)

If you are into that sort of thing (Apple, iPod, iPhone, Mac, etc) and you’d like to support GregsHead.net and the Campbell family (well, at least, a little…) I’d invite you to check it out! It’s pretty cool actually. Like my own little mini-Amazon … and only Apple stuff!

Click the banner above to visit, or it will be in the sidebar even after this particular post gets pushed off the front page of my blog … or, here’s the direct link:

http://astore.amazon.com/bwdapple-20

Check it out and let me know what you think. If you have any Apple/Mac questions, I’m pretty good at answering those, too ๐Ÿ™‚

WWDC Kicks Off: No Jobs, But Plenty of Fun

As expected, Steve Jobs did not make an appearance at the latest Apple keynote. However, many product updates did take center stage!

No time to detail it, but here are some highlights:

  • New iPhone: 3G(s) (“s” stands for “speed”, says Apple)
  • Same prices, but current iPhone (3G, 8GB model) will sell for $99!
  • Tons of cool new iPhone apps for the app store, involving the new features of iPhone OS 3.0 (several with GPS locating/mapping stuff)
  • Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) was covered, will be released in Sep. $129 as usual, but will be $29 for current Leopard users! Crazy.
  • Other interesting tidbits: Will take up 6GB less space on your computer, uses 64-bit processing much better, everything is just faster.
  • Speaking of faster, new MacBook lineup announced: Featuring, new 13″ MacBook Pro, 500GB 7200rpm hard drives, unibody design allowing for 1,000 battery charges (normally about 300). Processors up to 3.06GHz. 8GB RAM. Oh, and starting at $1699.

There’s more, and in previous years, I would elaborate a bit more, but for now, check out Macworld’s coverage. They do a good job. ๐Ÿ™‚

And, go visit your local Apple store.

Scary Dream!

IE 8 for Mac?This morning, just before I woke up… I was still in a bit of a dream state. Everything seemed normal. I was talking with someone, and they wanted to show me something on their computer. It was a Mac, of course. (Just like in the movies, my dreams have a disproportionate amount of Macs to computers running Windows…)

But then…

The owner of the nice Mac clicked on a strange menu near the top right of the screen that just said “Internet” – and when they did… they selected “Browse Internet” (or something like that) from the menu and…

(Insert scary music…)

INTERNET EXPLORER 8 … FOR THE MAC CAME UP!!!

I think I actually woke up startled. Then was very happy this was just a dream. IE 8, not only running natively on a Mac, not only designed for a Mac, but… integrated into the OS?!?!? Yikes.

Must have eaten something pretty bad before bed last night…