Appletell

Most of us know that Apple has a fantastic core of animation. Most of us know that Apple uses top of the line hardware in all of their devices. Most of us know that the current generation of gaming consoles are 90% computer. It only makes sense that major manufacturers of both marry the two into a gaming console. Microsoft has done it. Sony has done it. Why not Apple?

The current generation of gaming consoles are basically computer hardware and proprietary operating systems, with the graphics accelerator being the most important piece of the puzzle. ATI Technologies makes the graphics chips for the Xbox 360. NVIDIA makes the graphics chips for the Playstation 3. Apple uses graphics chips from both manufacturers in both the iMac and Macbook lines of computers, so we know Apple already has contracts with both and could easily choose one to put into a gaming console.

Many of us would agree that OS X is the best operating system on the planet. Apple has modified it for other platforms with great results; the iPhone demonstrates that. I think a stripped down, barebones version for a gaming console would be more stable and have more features than anything that is available on the market today. Where the problem might come is trying to find developers for games that would have to either write new code or port existing code for a new platform. Still, it has been done before…

I know I am wishing here, but I would snatch one up in heart beat if they made one. iPlay anyone?

• Bring the net to your TV: Sony Bravia leads the way
• Important Importables: 2008 Import PSP game holiday wishlist
• Who’s On Crack in tech: 11.21.08 edition

As if all of the holiday season goodness hasn’t already been enough for you, Microsoft wants to make it better by offering a kind 50% off on the Special Media Edition of Mac Office 2008. Although this isn’t across the entire line of software that Microsoft offers for the Mac, it will help you save around $250 off of this certain product at various retailers. With the economy the way it is, that is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Whether you are upgrading or were simply waiting for the price of the software to come down, this is your chance to capitalize on this software.

If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering what is so special about this “Special” Media Edition. Well, like the normal Mac Office 2008, it has Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage, and Automation actions and workflows. However, this version also includes Microsoft Expression Media, a digital media assets manager. And although you may not use this software ever, this sale does drop the price of the Special Edition below that of the normal Mac Office, so why wouldn’t you buy it? Oh, I know; it’s because there is always iWork for a slim $79.

Product [Special Media Edition Mac Office 2008]

• Sony Pictures Entertainment titles “not available on Xbox 360”
• New Xbox Experience features Street Fighter II Turbo “branded destination”
• Microsoft Office Home and Student only $79.95 (with free shipping!)

I am not going to bad mouth Microsoft or Bill Gates; there are enough people out there who choose to do that. Bill Gates donates millions of dollars every year to charity, and even has his own charitable foundation. That being said, let me describe a situation for you and explain why switching is better than dealing with the huge downsides of remaining a Windows user.

My father lives in a small town in Illinois, population of about 3,000. He was a lifetime Windows user. He has had PCs with everything from Windows 3.1 all the way to Windows XP. Being that he is in his 60s, both change and technology are things he does not take kindly to. Recently, he was in the market for a new computer…

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Could Steve Ballmer get any more confusing? He laments the lack of openness in the iPhone OS and Google’s Android, will swear up one side and down the other that proprietary walled gardens are better, but then publicly contemplates an open future for Microsoft’s flagship browser! At the Power to Developer’s conference in Sydney, Australia, Ballmer was conducting a Q & A session with the audience, when a student in the audience posed this rather interesting question:

“Why is IE still relevant and why is it worth spending money on rendering engines when there are open source ones available that can respond to changes in Web standards faster?“

Ballmer’s response, though rambling, began with typical corporate stall tactics: “That’s cheeky, but a good question, but cheeky.“ Ballmer continued…

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The Ballmer brigade up there in Redmond really are shameless. The irony is almost as hilarious as it is ridiculous.

For those who don’t know, Microsoft recently ended their short lived Jerry Seinfeld campaign, and started a new campaign featuring a John Hodgeman look-alike and various other people ranging from celebrities like Eva Longoria and Deepak Chopra, to ordinary joes, to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates himself.

Microsoft is hoping that their new, more direct response to Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign will help revitalize the Windows brand’s tarnished image.

Strange, because Microsoft doesn’t seem to think their products are all that great for video and image editing themselves, as they’ve admitted to creating their latest ad on a Mac…

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A number of Windows Vista users are having problems with iTunes 8, causing the operating system to display a “Blue Screen of Death” when an iPod/iPhone is connected for syncing. Apple yesterday released a technical note suggesting that Windows Vista users should uninstall Apple Mobile Device Support, then restart their computer, and finally re-install iTunes 8. At the time of writing, it’s unknown what the exact error within Apple Mobile Device Support was causing the BSOD.

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The Microsoft marketing staff must be getting paid per idea these days! How else can we explain the Seinfeld+Gates response to the “I’m a Mac” campaign?

Or the release of details about the new Zune media players, which comes suspiciously one day before Apple’s Let’s Rock event. Analyst predictions for the September 9th event include updated iPod nanos, refreshes to the iPod Touch, iTunes 8 with fancy new features, or even a Macintosh netbook computer. Oh, and let’s not forget Steve Jobs’ famous, “One more thing…“.  Obviously, nobody knows for certain what Apple will present to the world, but Microsoft sure knows how to try and steal the spotlight.

Find out how after the break.

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Seems like Microsoft is trying to duplicate a few of Apple’s defining strategies. First the funny(?) Seinfeld ads, and now, as part of a $300 million dollar marketing effort, Microsoft confirmed that they will be employing in-store representatives to act as Genius-like Microsoft know-it-alls, called Gurus. The company also plans to employ a good number of floor specialists (equivalent to Apple’s Personal Shoppers or Concierge) in a trial run at Circuit City and Best Buy.

Details after the break.

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Microsoft, maker of

Windows, Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, has not made an iPhone application of any sort, but faithful fans and users have taken the task into their own hands and created a few apps of their own. Microsoft is apparently not offended by the apps’ presence in the iTunes store, but they will not stand idly by while 3rd party developers reap the benefits of their service. The Redmond Giant has demanded iPhone Xbox Live apps be available at no cost. It is becoming clear that the Xbox division is one of Microsoft’s strongest, and is certainly showing its prowess by looking out for end-users, and subsequently saving them a buck or two.

iPhone and iPod touch owners can check out a few Xbox Live apps: XBOX Live Friends, Xbox Live Friends, iLive ($1.99).

Via [1337Pwn Blog]

• Sony Pictures Entertainment titles “not available on Xbox 360”
• New Xbox Experience features Street Fighter II Turbo “branded destination”
• Microsoft Office Home and Student only $79.95 (with free shipping!)

Microsoft’s new ads dubbed “The Mojave Experiment“ are a breed of their own. They reek of damage control, selective editing, and good old manipulation. Advertising annoys me in general, but these type of ads are especially maddening. Why? Because it is 100% certain that there will be tons of computer-illiterate folks who see these ads and don’t consider all the reasons why they show absolutely nothing at all.

Let’s begin at the beginning. Many troubles with Vista revolve around incompatibility. With computers, printers, scanners…everything under the sun. In the “Mojave Experiment,“ Microsoft has pre-selected software, computers and peripherals that have all been tested and work fine with Vista. There was no opportunity for the surveyed users to take “Mojave” home and try to set it up with all their existing gadgets. Most “real users” liked Vista fine, at first, too, but then ended up scrapping it due to problems starting with troublesome installations. When those surveyed were testing “Mojave,“ it had already been installed, as had all the programs. No hassle. This is enough of a problem already, as many stopped using Vista altogether based simply upon these two factors, neither of which were even addressed here.

The problems I pointed out above are further compounded by the fact that the people surveyed never even got to use “Mojave.“ I repeat: Never. Used It. Find out how the “Mojave Experiment” was conducted, and learn more reasons why it illustrates nothing, after the break.

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