Apple seems to be moving away from the optical drive, as shown by the USB key that comes with the MacBook Air instead of the old DVD option. If you’re one of those people that doesn’t use their optical drive very option but needs some extra hard drive space, you can install a data doubler like this one from OWC. Here’s the scoop:

Add up to an additional 750GB of internal storage. Add a Solid State Drive (SSD) for near instantaneous boot and app load. Even create a RAID array! Includes bracket screws, and detailed installation guide for complete all in one solution.

Configuration flexibility is yours when you replace your Mac mini or iMac’s* internal SuperDrive with the OWC Data Doubler. This custom engineered blue anodized aluminum bracket with adapter cable comes ready to mount any 9.5mm tall 2.5″ SATA hard disk drive and even Solid State Drives.

Then, just install the entire assembly into a Mac mini or iMac’s* 5.25″ optical drive bay. OWC Data Doubler makes it easy to custom design how you want your internal storage to
perform. Installed drives are recognized like any other high speed SATA storage device and can be setup and partitioned using the Apple Disk Utility Program.

Now this is a tough process to do in the models OWC recommends, but regardless, it’s a good way to add an extra 750GB of space to your computer. I may just do it myself.

So this one has been making the rounds recently. It’s called the BulletTrain, and it’s an aluminum dock that holds your Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad in one convenient location. The deets:

Beside being the best looking keyboard ever made, the anodized aluminum unibody BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform will blow your mind with how ergonomically comfortable it is. As you can see, it literally looks like it’s hovering in the air above whatever surface it sits upon!!!

The importance of the keyboard and pointing device you use everyday should not be underestimated–after all, it’s the only method you regularly use to interact with your computer. Many people today spend as much time in front of a computer as they do sleeping. Standard desktop mice and keyboards waste a great deal of precious desktop space and physical energy–not to mention they are a confusing eyesore that look and feel like a cheap plastic child’s toy.

OK, so that’s all cool and all that, but I like the angle of my keyboard, slight as it may be. I also don’t agree that a laptop is the most ergonomic form of  working. But apparently it’s in hot demand, even though it’s $99 plus $10 for shipping. Well if you have that kinda money to spend, go for it.

I hate travelling. I mean, I love it in concept, but I hate the process, particularly airport security. It used to be bad enough, but now with the TSA thinking that every bottle of water has dynamite inside, it can be an hour-plus long process to just get screened. Good news though for new MacBook Air owners, you now don’t have to pull out your laptop at the checkpoints. From CNN:

Frequent travelers may appreciate the convenience of the 11-inch MacBook Air, which can remain in a passenger’s bag when going through airport security, a Transportation Security Administration spokesman told CNN.

As gadget-toting flyers know, TSA officials require that laptops and larger electronics, such as Xbox or Wii game systems, be removed from luggage and passed through X-ray machines separately.

Security-checkpoint employees are trained to identify what basic electronic gadgets’ innards are supposed to look like in an X-ray image. For larger hardware, the TSA requires a clear shot to make inspecting the complex parts inside easier.

See? That’s awesome. Now I just need to spend a grand or so and my travel experience will be a bit easier.

[Image Via Engadget]

It would be pretty fair to say that I’m a video game guy, particularly consoles. I own every Nintendo console ever built, as well as a PS2, PS3, PSP, XBox, and XBox 360. Up until recently, they were all hooked up to a dedicated television in a dedicated game room. I think my commitment to video games is pretty clear.

So I’m the guy who would’ve bought a Sony PlayStation phone. I would’ve been one of the thousands of guys lining up to buy a PSP phone because the best gaming console you can have is the one that’s with you every day. Problem is, the iPhone came along and changed the game.

See, the PSP’s problem was that it required physical discs. Carrying your PSP around wasn’t as easy as having an iPod Touch because you had this physical media that had to go everywhere with you, which required a second pocket. I hated that about the thing, even though I loved playing it. But let’s say that Sony worked that out with a memory stick or some other kind of physical hard drive, but they came out with it in 2007. I would’ve still bought it, and then Sony would have a huge hit on its hands.

Instead, they hemmed and hawed about the concept for years until Apple proved they could make a successful gaming device in a phone, even without physical hardware buttons for controls. So they come out with an Android-powered smartphone with a slider for buttons – all good ideas – but do I really want to get rid of my iOS investment? All those apps installed on my iPhone that work for productivity, gaming, etc? Do I want to give up a perfectly good, reliable ecosystem for a Sony device which may or may not be supported in a year?

No. No I don’t, and I don’t think consumers do either. The PSP brand is outdated at this point, and it needs a hardware refresh. There’s no reason why people would drop their iPhones to get a PlayStation phone. I think they’ll sell a lot of them for sure, but it’s not going to beat the iPhone. Sorry, but Sony is too late for this one.

I spend most of my time working from home, and that means that I’m in front of my desk hammering away on my 15-inch MacBook Pro. I’ve often got 5-10 programs running simultaneously, which not only heats up my CPU, but causes the fans to run pretty heavy as well. It’s not a big deal because it’s mounted on a stand, but it is something that prevents me from going mobile with the thing. I don’t take it into the living room to work because after 20 minutes my lap is so hot that I wonder if I’ll ever be able to reproduce again.

I’m also always trying to be more productive, and one thing that constantly distracts me is television. We have stacks of shows on our DVR, and if I get sucked into watching one of them, I find myself losing a few hours of time to the tube. As a result, I’ve been debating getting a TV for my office (or moving one from another room) and then going from there. I originally was going to use a TV that I received from a friend, but that hasn’t worked out so well.

So after doing some math, I realized that putting a new TV in my office would cost at least a grand – cost of the TV, new DirecTV receiver, installation, etc – which isn’t very cool. So it looked like I needed to find another option.

Just like that, I was able to justify buying a new MacBook Air. The cost would be about the same, but I could use that in my living room without fear of burning my lap, and I could get most of my lighter work done while watching the television. I’d also have a lighter computer to take to the office, because I don’t need the full horsepower of my MBP every day, just access to my iDisk or Dropbox account and I’m good. No reason to run Adobe CS5 on the machine, just iWork and some e-mail.

As my wife likes to say, I can justify anything, particularly with an electronics purchase. But fact is, my iPad can’t do enough heavy lifting for me to really get things done, and my MacBook Pro gets so hot that it’s difficult to use unless it’s on a work surface. I’ve even debated ditching the MBP for a Mac Pro (probably an older model) and then having the Air for mobile use.

Now granted, most likely none of these things will happen, because they’re all expensive propositions. But it’s nice to dream sometimes, even if it’s in technicolor.

GigaOM has an interesting post up about how Apple is working with suppliers to create a universal SIM card. Of course, it’s got a scandalous title, but it really doesn’t seem like quite the horrific tale:

Sources inside European carriers have reported that Apple has been working with SIM-card manufacturer Gemalto to create a special SIM card that would allow consumers in Europe to buy a phone via the web or at the Apple Store and get the phones working using Apple’s App Store.

It’s rumored that Apple and Gemalto have created a SIM card, which is typically a chip that carries subscriber identification information for the carriers, that will be integrated into the iPhone itself. Then customers will then be able to choose their carrier at time of purchase at the Apple web site or retail store, or buy the phone and get their handset up and running through a download at the App Store as opposed to visiting a carrier store or calling the carrier. Either way, it reduces the role of the carrier in the iPhone purchase. Gemalto and Apple have not responded to requests for comment. I’m also waiting to hear back from other sources to get more details.

However, if Apple is doing an end run around the carrier by putting its own SIM inside the iPhone, it could do what Google with its NexusOne could not, which is create an easy way to sell a handset via the web without carrier involvement. Much like it helped cut operators out of the app store game, Apple could be taking them out of the device retail game. Yes, carriers will still have to allow the phone to operate on their networks, which appears to be why executives from various French carriers have been to Cupertino in recent weeks.

OK, so although that’s a neat idea and all, this doesn’t seem like a big deal. It makes sense that Apple would try to make some universal SIM card because there are so many carriers in Europe. It would be cheaper to just make one phone than make one with a SIM slot that needs cards from the carriers. That said, it is interesting that this could open up new revenue streams by selling direct without a carrier, but you can do that today anyways.

Now what would be big news is if they had a universal SIM and CDMA chip. That would be neat.

[Image via AppAdvice]

I’ve been playing video games since the Atari 2600, and I have a real addiction to all things Mario. Seriously, I’ve even considered a tattoo on the subject. But apparently, Nintendo is a bit afraid of Apple. From Forbes:

Content. Ask Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime what gives Nintendo an edge and he’ll talk about content. And Nintendo needs all the edge it can get. Competitors are everywhere.

“It’s all about time,” Fils-Aime said during a stop by Forbes’ San Francisco offices Thursday. “I compete with Zynga, I compete with surfing the net, I compete with the newspaper.”

Oh, and then there’s Apple.

Look just at the gaming business, however, and Nintendo is doing pretty good. In 2009 Nintendo sold more than 20 million gaming devices. That’s more than Microsoft and Sony put together. Same with the year before.

If you want to find someone doing that kind of volume you’ve got to look outside the game business. At, say, Apple, which is pushing games on the iPhone and iPod touch. Apple sold more 14.1 million iPhones alone during the quarter ending in September.  “Do I think that in the near term they can hurt us more than Microsoft?” Fils-Aime says. “Absolutely.”

Here’s where Nintendo has an edge, Fils-Aime says. The iPod and iPhone are great for casual games like “Angry Birds” that provide a welcome distraction. Games on the Nintendo DS, by contrast, can consume. Fils-Aime admits he’s spent 150 hours playing Nintendo’s Dragon Quest.

He’s right. I have a DS, but I don’t take it everywhere with me so it languishes on a shelf, unused. Instead, the iPhone gets the most usage because it’s with me 24/7. But I don’t really care how long I can play a game or how deep it goes if it’s inconvenient to carry everywhere. Until Nintendo either ports their games to other consoles or creates a phone of their own, they’re going to have an uphill battle.

Is anyone really still waiting for the white iPhone 4? If they are, they’ve got another few months. From Reuters:

Oct 26 (Reuters) – Apple Inc (AAPL.O) said on Tuesday that it would delay release of its eagerly anticipated white iPhone again, this time until next spring.

The latest version of the popular handset, the iPhone 4, was released in June, but the white model was delayed first to July, then to the end of the year and now to early next year.

“We’re sorry to disappoint customers waiting for the white iPhone again,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller. She declined to explain the delay.

Apple has never said exactly why the white iPhone has been so troublesome to produce. The company has only said the white model was “more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected.”

Rumors about the white iPhone have been on Apple-focused blogs for months, with explanations ranging from color-matching problems to an issue with the device’s backlight.

Whatever the issue, it’s still a problem. At this point though, I’d be pretty surprised if anyone was still waiting for this thing and had delayed their iPhone 4 purchase because of it. But if you’re that guy, then it looks like you’ve got more time to wait. Have fun with that.

Lots of talk going around the proverbial water cooler recently, mostly about who Apple is going to buy. After all, they do have $51 billion to spend, so who’s on the list? Reuters puts out some of them:

Shares of Sony Corp rose nearly 3 percent at one point on Tuesday, but later retreated as analysts dismissed speculation that the electronics maker could be an acquisition target of Apple Inc.

Helping to spark the speculation was a Saturday report in Barron’s that said cash-rich Apple could be contemplating a big acquisition and noted speculation about Adobe, Sony and Disney as potential targets.

But even the author of the report, Eric Savitz, on Tuesday sought to clear up misconceptions about any potential combination of Apple and Sony.

He wrote in a blog post on Barron’s website, “In the piece I noted that the company could do something aggressive, like bidding for Adobe, Sony or even Disney. But that was pure speculation. Yeesh.”

Rumor brought up, then quashed. But there’s more. Talk has also brought up Facebook, and more recently, Netflix. From The Mac Observer:

Brian Marshall of Gleacher & Co. thinks that a Netflix acquisition would make sense for Apple. Mr. Marshall made the comments during an interview on CNBC where he was asked about ways Apple might spend its $51 billion cash hoard. According to the analyst, Netflix’s appeal for Apple is its large movie library.

“I do think that [a Netflix] transaction could make sense,” Mr. Marshall said. “You know, Apple wants to be the first company (in my opinion) to seamlessly integrate the home office and the living room. And what’s limiting them in terms of doing that now now is basically content and better broadband into the home.”

He added, “If you look at content, they have over 10,000 movie titles on iTunes. Netflix obviously has over 100,000 movie titles. I think that would be a pretty interesting marriage right there.”

He said that the numbers make it an easy purchase for Apple. At $10 billion, a Netflix acquisition would represent less than 20% of Apple’s cash holdings — even assuming that such a deal would be all cash — an easy buy for a company that generates more than $5 billion per quarter in cash.

Since Apple and Netflix are already working together with the AppleTV, we know at least that there’s an open line of communication. I wouldn’t have a problem with the acquisition, and I think it could be a good thing for Apple. I just hope they keep the CD sending service, because all streaming isn’t for me.

Any other thoughts on who they should buy?

Back around mother’s day, I bought my mom an iPad and since then, it’s changed her life. No seriously, she loves the thing, and my father has been discussing buying her an iMac or even the new MacBook Air. But today, Apple snuck in a little tidbit to the iPad: Free laser engraving.

Kind of a bummer, frankly. I would’ve gotten that for my mom if it was available back then. That said, my dad has been pitching for an iPad recently …

Seems like there’s always a different type of iPad bag coming out on the market, and now we’ve got a cool one from incase. It’s called the Field Bag, and it’s a neat little thing. Here’s the official scoop:

Our Coated Canvas Field Bag is a low-profile sling-style bag that lets you access your iPad quickly and easily.

The Coated Canvas Field Bag features durable canvas construction with a weather-resistant coating and a quilted cotton-lined sleeve to protect your iPad. It also features a unique play-through design that allows you to access your iPad without removing it from the bag.

It also features a protective screen cover, a detachable modular pouch, an adjustable removable shoulder strap and an exterior zippered pocket.

When laid flat, the bag opens up to reveal a quilted inside that looks neat, and it looks like it has a hard edge for protection. Now the sling thing is a matter of personal preference, being that not everyone feels comfortable wearing a bag like this, but I think it’s pretty neat. It’s also $69.95, so there’s that as either motivation or not. Me, I like it. But I’m just not sure if I’d actually wear it.

I love army bags, and I love things that are recycled from old goods. This particular goody falls right into both of those categories.

It’s called the iSockit, and here’s the deets:

The iSockitâ„¢ 11-inch MacBook Air case features eccentric sling-flap closure and oversized front pocket (measures about 6.5″x7″, 16.5×17.8cm).

I designed the iSockitâ„¢ padded laptop cover to fit the new 11″ MacBook Air. Handmade from an old government issue wool field blanket and vintage button.

Fits up to the following measurements: 12″x8″x.7″, 30.5cmx20.3cmx1.8cm.

Aside from the padding, no new materials are used in the making of my products.

I designed these to protect portable electronics from getting scratched and scuffed. I sew each one myself, using a variety of vintage fabrics that I have collected over the years.

iSockitsâ„¢ also work great as comfortable lap rests that absorb some of the heat from the bottom of your computer.

So is it cheap? Nope, it’s $95, plus $6 shipping in the US. But then again, it is made of vintage materials, and that can’t be cheap to find. I guarantee it’ll stand out in a sea of messenger bags, though.

People are doing some pretty amazing things with their iPhones, particularly the iPhone 4. We’ve seen movies before, but this one is particularly cool. Here’s the info on Aaron Rose’s film Kruezberg, showcased on incase’s website:

Kreuzberg is a short film by Aaron Rose shot on location in Berlin using his iPhone 4. Since the 1980s, the historically Turkish neighborhood of Kreuzberg has also been home to a population of artists, musicians and anarchists. According to Rose, the film is a tribute to Brian Eno and David Bowie, both of whom recorded in Kreuzberg in the 1970s.

The film’s main characters are Fiona Geuss, an art historian who reads excerpts from Boris Groys’ essay on “light luggage,” and Nathan Harrington, a musician who created the film’s original score. In the film, Harrington recites a poem written by Rose.

I love seeing cool new things being done with iPhones. It seems like the line between professional equipment and consumer quality is starting to blur, and soon we’ll have full on high-end equipment in our pockets at all times.

A few years back, I went to the Apple store at my nearby mall and bought a 13-inch white MacBook, and a copy of Microsoft Office 2004. It was my security blanket, helping me make the transition away from the world of Windows, and it cost me a few hundred dollars. When Office 2008 came out, my office at the time converted to the program, and it was horrible. Not only did it crash all the time, but I always had problems. Entourage would crash frequently, Word was almost unusable, and the only positive point of it for me was Excel.

I approached Microsoft about this a few weeks back, and was sent a reviewer copy of Microsoft Office 2011 for the Mac for review. I’ve spent some time with it now, and it’s time to make the call: Is Office 2011 an improvement over Office 2008 or just another program that falls short?  Find out after the break.

Let’s take a moment and discuss how I use the Office suite, and what works for me. First, I don’t use PowerPoint. I have no need to do a presentation for anybody, so I wouldn’t even know how to test the program even if I wanted to. So let’s just accept the fact that PowerPoint isn’t going to be a part of this review, and move forward from there.

Second, I’m a writer who loves to make spreadsheets. I know, that doesn’t make sense, but it’s how I live. E-mail is also a part of my daily routine, and I’m not a fan of Apple Mail. It works, but it’s not the best thing I think for the way I operate. The combination of these two things makes me a pretty big candidate for Office 2011.

Generally, two broad statements can be made about the Office 2011 suite. First, they all look better. They’re brighter, shinier, and just genuinely prettier, which is a cool visual impact considering the drabness of Office 2011. The other thing is that they all look cluttered.

See, each program uses this thing Microsoft calls the Ribbon, which is a way to unify the Mac and Windows lines. It’s a toolbar that has every feature packed into one area, making it easier to use the program. Problem is, it also clutters up the workspace, and gives the users multiple ways to do things. It’s confusing. That said, it’s not that bad with every app. It’s there in Word, which is handy for making quick formatting changes, something I use quite frequently. But in Outlook, it’s full of unneeded items that I just don’t use. Sure, reply and forward are there, but So is Rules, Categories, and the Send/Receive function, which is also located in the toolbar right above. It’s redundant, and weird. Fortunately, the display is somewhat customizable. You can remove the ribbon, the toolbar, or both, giving the programs a minimalist look. That’s a good thing, although it causes some issues with usability, leading me to a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.

That’s really my big issue with the suite in general. Otherwise, I’m pretty happy with what Microsoft has done to improve the product line. Excel uses Macros from what I understand (I don’t use them myself), and Word rarely crashes. In fact, in my few weeks of using the suite, I haven’t had any programs crash at all, which is pretty impressive when compared to Office ’08 which failed more than a high school stoner.

But there’s an intangible aspect to this whole thing as well, which is the usability factor. I just enjoy using Word and Excel, much more than I expected to. I do still prefer Pages and Numbers over the two, but I no longer dread having to open a Word doc in Word because of fear it crashes, and I like using the programs. I gave Outlook a shot, and it just wasn’t for me. Since Outlook is the real deciding factor in choosing between the Home/Student edition and the Business edition, you can save yourself $80 by not getting the bundled e-mail. Maybe you’ll like it, but for me, I found it slow and just awkward. I can’t tell you how many times I saw a little “1″ badge in my dock indicating a new e-mail, just to swing over and discover that Outlook still hadn’t loaded up the file. That’s frustrating, and why Outlook is my least favorite part.

The price is pretty shocking as well. It used to be $399 for Office 2008, and now we’re looking at $199 for the Business edition which is as fully loaded as it gets. That’s pretty good considering, and quite a turnaround for Microsoft. Frankly, it’s a welcome addition.

So what does this all mean? If you’re an Office user, and you really need it for your work – be it as a security blanket or whatever – then it’s officially safe to buy. Not only does it look good, but it performs pretty well too and looks just like its Windows brethren. But if you do buy it, go with the Home/Student edition. It’s cheaper at $119, and it doesn’t have Outlook which might drive you up a wall. For me, the writer and spreadsheet guy, this would be a great tool for me to use everyday without any problems. The real issue for me is that when my only other option was Office 2008, I turned to iWork where I found programs that were easy to use and functional. Now it’s just tough to turn back.

I’m a car guy, and a big fan of all things made of aluminum. Someday, I’ll have the equipment at hand to fabricate my old aluminum products, but until then, I just have to admire those who can do it themselves. That’s why this case appeals to me. This is the Gasket, and it’s made by ID America.

So what makes this one exciting? Well it’s styled like the head gasket of a typical engine, with holes for the pistons and bolts as well. It’s also got a brushed aluminum look, and it comes in chrome, titanium, gold, and bronze. It’s also priced fairly well, at $29.99.

But even though it has all of the components of things that I enjoy, it’s not really my bag. I think it’s the asymmetry of the whole thing, like how the Apple symbol isn’t centered in the top hole and how one side of the case is different than the other. But those same holes make it stand out in a crowd, unlike every other case on the market. As usual with these types of things, it comes down to personal preference, and for me, I think I’d pass.

I received a free care package from iFrogz a while back, and in it was this fancy pair of headphones, the iFrogz CS40s. I’m always on the hunt for good headphones, so I gave these a run for a few weeks to see how they worked.

The look is pretty cool, and they fit my mammoth head pretty well. The top is plastic and adjustable, and the headphone pads can rotate and fold for easy packing. But better yet, they’re comfortable, which is pretty important in a set of headphones. Although they’re not referred to as noise canceling, they were pretty good at dulling down the noise from my 8-month-old son (who was being watched by my wife at the time), and get pretty loud. So loud that I actually found myself popping my ears at times.

That brings us to the sound, arguably the most important part of a pair of headphones. The bass is pretty amazing, able to rock so hard that the pads start to vibrate with the beat. The problem here though is with the treble, which has a hard time keeping up. This caused me to jack up the volume to hear the lyrics, which just made my ears hurt in the end. It’s great for hip-hop – one of my chosen selections – but put it on talk or pop and the results are a bit disappointing.

They’re pretty cheap at  $39.99, but I find myself having a hard time recommending these for everybody. Like I said, if you like hard bass, these kick butt. Otherwise, you may want to pass.

I’m a car guy, and I love putting things together and taking them apart. That’s why I love the crew at iFixit. Every time a new Mac model comes out, they splay it out on the table and do an autopsy so that we all can see the goodies inside. In the case of the new 11-inch MacBook Air, there’s not a ton of surprises – mostly because it was all displayed during Steve’s keynote.

Well, maybe a few things. For one, the MBA comes with a USB key instead of a CD for the software reinstallation disk. That’s pretty cool, and probably the wave of the future. Then there’s the power button, which is now a part of the keyboard instead of an individual button (it replaces the eject key). The power adapter is also smaller than the older model as well. Oh, and the lower case is held in place by 5-point Security Torx, meaning that taking it apart isn’t an easy task.

I was at the Apple store yesterday to pick up iLife ’11 for the wife, and they didn’t yet have the Air on display. I’m anxious to see it in person, and so is one of my bosses. Turns out he’s pretty sold on the 13-inch model, and may be picking one up soon.

I like my MacBook Pro bag – well, I do today, anyways – but I’m always looking for new things. I stumbled across this one the other day and I have to say, it’s sexy. I like it a lot.

The name of the object in question is the Shoulder MacBook Sleeve, and it’s made from leather and wool. The first compartment holds your lappie solid, and then the second is room for your power brick, iPhone, headphones, or that roll of cash you like to keep handy. Then the whole thing goes over your shoulder with a sling, making it very hip and cool looking.

As of right now, it’s going for 139 Euros, which is $191 USD. That seems like a lot of money for a laptop bag, but it sure is neat looking. I don’t know if it has enough versatility for me, but holy crap is that thing sexy. If anyone has any extra cash burning a hole in their pocket and a writer they want to thank, just send it my way.

I wasn’t particularly surprised when I heard about the Mac App Store, but my first reaction wasn’t one of glee. Instead, it was more concern.

My father is a software developer for PCs. He’s been doing that for 30+ years now – long enough that he can remember when Apple charged money to develop for their platform. Anyways, he’s just a small guy business, so when I saw that Apple takes a 70/30 cut on all Mac App Store purchases, I thought about the profit margin that would be eaten up in the process.

Then there’s the licensing issue. Whenever my dad sells a piece of software, he licenses it to one computer. He makes money by selling additional licenses to customers, the same way many other companies do. With the Mac App Store, any software purchased is automatically good to use on any other computer with the same Mac App Store ID. That’s great for me, but what about my Dad? If he were coding for Mac, he could potentially lose thousands of licenses just because of the system.

But on the other side of things, there’s the exposure. Being a small business, my dad doesn’t spend a ton of money on marketing and advertising. By entering into the Mac App Store, he could get more exposure for his work, and potentially gain more clients. That would help make up for the other shortcomings, and with a few positive reviews, could boost profits as well.

Ultimately, this is just another user experience that Apple wants to bring to the table. Installing apps through the store become stupid easy, requiring nothing more than a few clicks. You don’t have to download DMGs anymore, because everything is done for you. Plus you can see user reviews right away, making life easier for new consumers. But more importantly, I imagine this will sell more software than before, just because it makes it easy for people who aren’t tech savvy.

In the next 90 days, we’ll see just how well the system works. I’m willing to bet that everyone is going to hop onboard the train for fear of getting left off. I just wonder if Apple is going to be as strict with the Mac App Store and its pricing structure as it is with the other store.

It’s funny how two people can have completely different reactions to the same thing.

I watched the big press event yesterday live, with my wife popping into my home office here and there to check things out. I caught myself dozing off a bit while iLife ’11 was being introduced, mostly because I rarely use the suite. Yes, it’s got some cool features, but nothing that really gets me going. “Just get to the new MacBook Air!” I kept thinking.

A few hours later, my wife walks back into the office. “I want iLife 11. Now. Seriously, can we go to the mall and pick it up?” I couldn’t believe it, but she really wanted the software pretty bad. We didn’t buy it – I’m picking it up today after work – but it was pretty crazy.

See, she’s all about the new features in iPhoto, particularly the stamped cards and new books. She made a book for her mom on mother’s day, and we were both very pleased with the results. Now we can send out Christmas cards with our kiddo on them, and all at home with minimal work. It gives her a fun project to work on, and it makes life easier.

The only real thrill for me is with iMovie. I’m excited to see the new audio features, because that was a problem I had with editing in the past. Hopefully this helps a lot.

More hands on reviews coming.

I’ve talked before about my lust for small computers, particularly the 12-inch PowerBook. That’s why yesterday’s news about the new MacBook Air models was a welcome relief for me. But at the same time, a bit disappointing as well.

The specs were just as the rumors pointed out, and that’s a good thing. The SSD swap is a pretty interesting concept, and it’s where Apple sees the entire lineup going. Just imagine buying a MacBook Pro that has the processor power to get the job done, but has mammoth battery life. Or maybe it’s extra thing to compensate. There are all sorts of possibilities in those scenarios, but one thing remains constant: Upgrading hard drives on a MacBook will soon be a thing of the past.

Another interesting note about the MBA is the super low processor speed, which is just 1.4GHz for the base model 11-inch (a 1.6 is available for an extra $100). My theory is that the SSD is helping to make up the speed in both of those areas, and probably makes it about as quick as a regular MacBook. I haven’t played with one yet though, that’s just my theory.

Problem is, as much as I want the 11.6-inch MBA, I just have no need for it in my life. If I only wrote for Apple Gazette and didn’t need to use programs in the Adobe Creative Suite, then the MBA would be great. I could be super mobile, and never worry about a thing. All I’d need is my web access, word processing programs, and maybe a second hard drive to hold onto my iTunes library.

But as it is, I need to do more with my computer. I need the processor speed and the large hard drive. I need that extra oomph for my job, and that’s where the MBA just doesn’t cut the mustard – at least in my scenario.

Since it starts at a much more reasonable $999 now, I can see many people hopping on the MBA train. I’ve already suggested one to my boss, and even my Dad thinks it would be a great toy to have. But until my disposable income grows, I just don’t see this being a logical choice in my situation. Of course, I’m still going to lust for it.

So what happened at today’s Back to the Mac event? Here are the deets, provided in a convenient list form. Looking for commentary? It’s coming soon.

iLife ’11 Introduced – Free with every new Mac, $49 retail. Available Now.

• iPhoto ’11
• Full screen display for all features
• New Slideshow themes
• Album view very similar to the iPad
• Facebook and Flickr can automatically download into iPhone ’11, even if you didn’t have them in the software to begin with
• Share feature allows you to e-mail directly from iPhoto ’11
• Sharing menu shows where your images go, including Facebook responses
• Book Carousel gives you a preview of making a physical book for each theme
• Project view shows all projects on a wooden bookshelf, similar to iBook
• Printed and pressed cards as a project option
• iMovie ’11
• Better audio editing – color coded waveforms
• Audio levels adjustable
• Audio effects available
• Instant Replay feature – allows for cool effects in sports
• Movie Trailer feature for films you make
• Face detection technology in iMovie ’11
• Trailers can share to Facebook and Vimeo as well as the usual options
• Garageband ’11
• Groove Matching feature allows matching separate tracks to one beat or groove
• Flex Time allows for adjusting waveforms
• Music lessons built in, shown in full screen
• How did I play feature compares the notes you play to the lesson – It’s Guitar Hero for the Mac, essentially

FaceTime - Available for Mac in Beta today

• Full screen
• Uses Address Book for contacts
• Separate app from iChat
• Display turns with iPhone display

OS 10.7 Lion – Coming Summer 2011

• Bringing iOS features “Back to the Mac”
• Multi-Touch Gestures
• App Store
• App home screens
• Full screen apps
• Auto save (Man, do I wish I had that 6 months ago)
• Auto resume on Apps when launched
• App Store
• One click downloads
• Free and paid apps (70/30 split)
• Automatic install and updates
• All apps licensed for all registered Macs
• Launchpad
• App home screen
• Can sort apps based on category
• Can create folders, just like in iOS
• Mission Control
• View everything on your Mac, at one time
• Expose view of all windows, including full-screen apps

Mac App Store

• Open within 90 days
• App submissions for developers start in November

MacBook Air - Available Today

• Wedge design, so no more drop down ports
• Preview images seem to be correct
• .68 inches at thickest. Tapers to .11 inches
• 2.9 lbs
• All unibody construction
• Full-size keyboard and glass trackpad
• 13.3-inch LED backlit display
• 1440X900 pixels – more than on 15-inch MacBook Pro
• Core 2 Duo processor
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
• FaceTime camera
• No optical drive
• No hard drive
• Full flash storage – SSD
• Instant on, up to 2X faster
• More reliable in mobile environment
• 90% smaller and lighter
• Silent operation
• 7 hours wireless web tests
• 30 day standby time
• Inside shown, looks just like leaked images for the most part
• Almost all batteries
• Appears to be the matte finish display
• Two models: 13.3 inch, and 11.6 inch
• 11.6 inch
• 1366X768 display
• 2.3 lbs
• 5 hours wireless web
• 30 days standby
• Pricing
• $999 for 11.6 with 64GB
• $1199 for 11.6 with 128GB
• $1299 for 13.3 with 128GB
• 1599 for 13.3 with 256GB
• All come with 2GB of RAM

It seems like very few things in life will make me happy, particularly when it comes to iPad cases. A while back, iFrogz sent me over one of their iPad cases for review (full disclosure: it was free), and now that I’ve spent some time with it, I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised. Maybe it will make me happy after all.

The iFrogz Envoy is a sleeve style case for the iPad. The outside surface is made of a leathery surface with an iFrogz logo stamped into the lower corner, and the iPad is kept secure by a velcro strap that runs across the top. It holds the iPad tight too, so tight that it should be difficult to remove from the case. That’s what’s really cool about this case: The velcro strap is also a pull tab. Tug on the strap and the iPad will levitate out of the case like a kiddie pop-up book.

I found myself using the case pretty frequently as a quick way to hold my iPad without pulling out my incase travel kit pro with the keyboard and stand provisions. This makes the iPad easier to carry, and keeps it a bit stealthy as well.

The only real issue here is nothing to do with the case, just the design of these cases in general. The top of the iPad is exposed to the elements, so if you drop it accidentally you might get a ding in the case. Also, the outside texture feels weird. I’m not quite sure what it is, but it’s not leather and it doesn’t feel like leather either. I got used to it after a few days, but at first it seemed odd in my hands. Not a huge fan of the giant frog in the corner either, but that’s a personal taste thing.

Overall though, we’re talking about $29.99 for a nice sleeve that works well. It’s not the most expensive sleeve out there, but it gets the job done, and that pull tab really makes it for me.

Well, it’s still early but at 10 am PST, Apple has an event called Back to the Mac, which is presumably about OS 10.7. But what else will be announced? As is tradition, I’m going to go out and make a few predictions here, and wildly speculate about what’s going to happen in a few hours. Ready? Here goes.

1. iWork and iLife ’12 announced. I think this one is a gimme. Both suites are still in ’09 flavors, and it would be great to see new versions of Pages and Numbers come out around the same time as Office ’11 is released. Plus, it fits the theme.
2. 10.7 Announced. The water cooler talk is that this one will be called Lion, but man does that rub me the wrong way. I’m hoping for Big Cat instead. Expect integration with iOS 4.2 in some manner, be it interface or imagery.
3. New MacBook Air. Thinner, lighter, and packing no replaceable hard drive, I’m hoping this one not only happens, but is cheaper than the current $1499 price tag.
4. Verizon iPhone. Yeah, a pretty big longshot on this one, particularly with the whole theme being Macs. But, it could happen, and this might be the time.
5. Intel i3 Bump for 13-inch MacBook Pro. It seems kind of silly that the 13-inch MBP isn’t running an i3, but I think that’s one potential upgrade. Might happen for the MacBook too, or even the whole lineup so that the Core 2 Duo is out for good.

There you have it, some random predictions. So will it happen? Guess we’ll find out soon.

Sure, the white iPhone 4 is a bit of a sore subject on the Apple front. After all, it’s October now, and we still don’t have the pale version of everyone’s favorite mobile phone, but there are still a few options to make your black model look a bit lighter.

Like this iPhone 4 case by incase. It’s called the Snap Case, and it’s a pretty simple setup. It’s plastic, and it clips right over the backside of the iPhone 4 with no fancy sliding or clicking motions. As an added bonus, it also comes with a little stand that’s great for holding the iPhone still while watching a movie or whatever.

The only real downside here is the price, which is firm at $34.95. There are lots of other cases out there that do the job for cheaper, but incase’s quality is pretty legendary. Guess it’s up to you if you want to pay the Apple Tax on this one or not.