Here are a few best features of iPhoto '09, including Faces and Places, which recognizes people in your albums and the locations you took those photos in.
Cool stuff: separating your photos by people, which you can then scrub (move your mouse) over and see all the images of them you have. iPhoto is smart enough to try and recognize which people are which with semi-decent accuracy, and you'll have to confirm each one as you go. Once you're done, you have a corkboard full of Polaroids of the people you know.
Geolocation is great for travelers, and if you go to a lot of different countries, your "Places" section will have a rich map made up of all the pins you've been to. You can fill in location data yourself, or if you have an iPhone or other GPS-enabled camera, it's automatically filled in for you.
Other cool stuff is Facebook and Flickr integration (includes tagging as well), plus themed slideshows. [iPhoto]
If Wired, TUAW and Macrumors are independently reporting a Mac Mini is on its way, we know it exists. Evidently, we're just not going to see it at Macworld. So what about other rumors?
From our original Macworld 2009 rumor roundup, here's the rundown on how all the rumors panned out.
Came True:
iLife and iWork '09 (with iWork in the cloud)
DRM-Free iTunes
17-inch Macbook Pro
Didn't Come True:
New Mac Mini
Updated 30-inch Cinema Displays
Didn't Come True Stretches:
iPod Touch Jumbo/XL/Pro/Netbook/Thing
iPhone nano
Home Server
Snow Leopard Availability
New iMacs
Seeing as many of the rumors were an admitted wild shot at best, we'd put the real rumor batting average around .400, even if it's closer to .266 on paper.
Battery life is limited, but Apple built a non-removable battery for the 17" MacBook Pro that lasts up to 8 hours. [Apple]
The new 17" MacBook Pro with a unibody construction and an integrated battery feels thinner than the previous version and really looks beautiful. Check out our gallery to see for yourself.
The 17" MacBook Pro is basically a supersized 15" with an Air no battery bottom, which is at the least aesthetically pleasing. But with no battery compartment there is now no way to easily change Ram or Hard drive. So have your #00 Phillips ready.
The unibody construction makes the machine feel much more compact when picking up and overall condenses the already thin casing. It does indeed feel heavier than any other MacBook model but that's to be expected from a 17" casing. The trackpad has also been updated to the same no physical button pad found in the other MacBook models and even though the 17" MacBook Pro is bigger the trackpad has not grown.
The 17" Glossy LCD looks crisp as it did on the previous version but the new black plastic border makes colors pop just as it does on the 15" Pro and 13" MacBook. For some reason apple is only showing the regular glossy LCD model today so we can't yet report on the new anti-glare model.
Overall the new 17" MacBook Pro with unibody construction is nothing we haven't seen from the other models in the MacBook line. With the 15" MacBook Pro look and the Air's no battery bottom the new 17" MacBook pro can now stand proudly inline with its smaller siblings.
Today iPhone users can download music from iTunes not just through their computers or Wi-Fi, but AT&T's 3G network. So how does it work? Testing it in Vegas, we can say rocky but functional.
I tried downloading Radiohead's Bodysnatchers in an area providing 3 bars of 3G reception. With no fanfare, I was able to enter the iTunes store without a Wi-Fi hotspot and purchase the song.
So far, so good. No firmware updates needed or anything!
Then the download stalled for a moment. Then the iPhone pulled that classic "you're on 3G, oops, you're really on EDGE" maneuver. I wondered what would happen. Would the download stall and wait for 3G? Or would it slowly trudge on?
It trudged on. I guess that's both a good an a bad thing. While I was able to download the song, it took me nearly 10 minutes to grab the 3.7MB file. Wilson Rothman ran the same test from nearby and was also booted to EDGE, though the download only took him about 5 minutes.
Overall, I'm glad that truly wireless iTunes downloads are here. Hopefully more and better 3G coverage will make them live up to the generally pleasant iTunes experience. [Gizmodo Macworld 2009 Coverage]
Obviously, there are people who have better and more exciting things to do than watching a two hour Philnote. Frostastically chilling. [DRB]
iTunes is going DRM free and breaking their single-price rule with three points: 69 cents, 99 cents, and $1.29. Not surprised, given the pressure from other music stores. The iPhone will allow 3G downloads too.
The new prices will come on April 1st. iTunes Plus will initially get 8 million songs at 256kbps, with two million more coming at the end of the quarter. When the process is done, the entire iTunes Store catalog will be available DRM free.
The iPhone will finally get songs purchasing over the 3G network, rather than being limited to Wi-Fi hotspots. The 3G downloads start today. Good news for compulsive Shazam users like me. [Macworld 2009 Coverage]
Changes Coming to the iTunes Store
- All Songs DRM-Free
- Users Can Download Songs Directly Onto iPhone 3G Over Their 3G Network for the Same Price
- In April 2009, Songs on iTunes Will be Available at Three Price Points
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today announced several changes to the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com). Beginning today, all four major music labels — Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple's DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world's largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone(TM) 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.
"We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points — 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29."
iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple's DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.
iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user's computer the next time they sync their iPhone.
The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod(R) and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
Finally providing a noticeable difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro, Apple has pushed the Pro's screen to 17 inches, its price to $2799, and thrown in a high-capacity (non-replaceable!) battery.
The new Pro has the unibody aluminum build—and virtually everything else—in common with its smaller 15" brother. But now you won't have to put your fancy new notebook next to the cheaper 13" variant to see what you've paid for. There are precious few under-the-hood upgrades:
Available late this month, it's just under an inch thick, weighs in at 6.6 pounds, and is claimed to be the "thinnest and lightest" 17" notebook on the market.
The 1920x1200 screen has LED backlighting standard, with a 140x120 viewing angle, an impressive 700:1 contrast ratio and 60% greater color gamut than the last 17-inch display. There's also an optional anti-glare coating option for the screen that'll run you $50.
Overall, the specs are mostly identical to the last MBP iteration, with the notable exception of the battery.
Apple says it's the longest lasting MacBook battery ever—it's a non-removable lithium polymer battery with "three times" the industry standard lifecycle, courtesy of "adaptive charging." How long does it last? 7 hours with discrete graphics, 8 hours with integrated graphics. That's 3 more hours than the previous-gen 17" MBP. And it'll cycle through that at least 1000 times with minimal wear.
The new MBP comes in just one base configuration: At $2799, you get the 2.66 ghz processor, 4gb ram, the dual-video card solution, a 320GB HDD and the Superdrive. It's available for pre-order now.
This is roughly in keeping with the same pattern Apple set in 2006 with the original MacBook Pro, which debuted with a 15-inch screen and saw the two-inch upgrade just a few months later. [Macworld 2009 Coverage]
Apple Introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro With Revolutionary New Built-in Battery That Delivers Eight Hours of Use & 1,000 RechargesSAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today unveiled the new 17-inch MacBook(R) Pro featuring a durable and beautiful precision aluminum unibody enclosure, and a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro has a high resolution LED-backlit display and the same large glass Multi-Touch(TM) trackpad introduced with the new MacBook family in October. In addition, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics and the latest generation Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors. As part of the industry's greenest notebook family, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is made of highly recyclable materials, meets stringent energy efficiency standards and is made without many of the harmful toxins found in other computers.
"We've developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Apple's advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges."Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro's incredible design.* The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes an ultra-thin, widescreen glossy 1920 x 1200 display with 78 percent more pixels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a 60 percent greater color gamut that delivers desktop-quality color in a notebook. The LED-backlit display has brilliant instant-on performance, uses up to 30 percent less energy and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights.
Measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the world's thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful Mac(R) notebook yet with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available up to 2.93 GHz, up to 8GB DDR3 main memory and a graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive standard with a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive and 128GB and 256GB solid state drives as options. As with the rest of the new MacBook family, the 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight(R) video camera, mic and speakers.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status.** Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.
Pricing & Availability
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will be shipping at the end of January and will be available through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), and includes:— 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
— 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
— 1066 MHz front-side bus;
— 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
— NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
— NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video
memory;
— 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion
Sensor;
— a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R
DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
— Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
— built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth
2.1+EDR;
— Gigabit Ethernet port;
— built-in iSight video camera;
— three USB 2.0 ports;
— one FireWire(R) 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
— ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
— one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both
optical digital and analog;
— glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
— built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
— 85 Watt MagSafe(R) Power Adapter.Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50 (US), Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
*A properly maintained Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/17inch-battery.**EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit http://www.epeat.net.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
(C) 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, MacBook, Multi-Touch, iSight, Apple Store, AirPort Extreme, FireWire and MagSafe are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Just as rumored last week, Apple is taking iWork '09 online with file hosting and group editing services. Think of it as MobileMe, but for your documents. And that's not all.
The suite is getting a pretty strong set of new features— some fluffy, but many meaty and delicious. See the full list, updated as we get new info, below. But first, the cloud.
Pretty much the whole suite gets towed online here— Pages, Numbers and Keynote all now feature the same online storage and collaboration capabilities, including editing, notation and conversion services. There are two modes of access, too: An online interface, at iWork.com, and transparent integration into the actual apps.
The suite is clearly intended to take on Microsoft SharePoint and Google Docs, but approaches online document management somewhat differently. Rather than editing and organizing documents only through a web interface, Apple has integrated the online aspect into the familiar native iLife apps as well.
New Features:
Keynote:
Motion Move: This Keynote effect will create object transitions between slides, like when teenagers morph into werewolves on low-budget TV shows.
Interstitial slideshows: This interrupts your presentations to display standalone slideshows. Thanks?
Text transitions: There are some news ones! You can slide, twirl, shimmer, etc. All the things that made you hate PowerPoint can now help you hate Keynote, too.
Keynote iPhone Remote: This $0.99 app lets cue your Keynote presentation over Wi-Fi, from your iPhone. It's pretty basic, but also has the capability to display presenter's notes.
Integrated online file storage: Simultaneous group editing with revision control, a la Google Docs.
Pages:
Fullscreen: Pages should have always had a fullscreen-ish option. Now it does!
Advanced outlining, listing: A sensible alternative to a standalone outlining/planning application, it's meant help you plan out longer projects. It's also dynamic, so any embedded document links will automatically update on changes.
Mail merge: Mail merging with Numbers! Again, long overdue, but at least now you can easily do your Xmas cards on your Mac.
MathType: Are you a scientist, mathematician or student? No? Then this doesn't matter for you. The whole suite now has many more functions and full MathType capabilities, for writing formulas into your documents.
Numbers:
Boring! MathType is the biggest addition here, but users also get drag and drop formulas, new chart types, multiple axes, trend lines, and error bars, along with dynamic linked charts. And lest we forget, lots of templates.
iWork 2009 is available now from the Apple Store for $79, a $99 "family pack" for five licenses, or $49 with the purchase of any Mac. The subscription fee for iWork.com will be announced at a later date. Press release below.
Apple Unveils iWork '09
Introduces iWork.com Public Beta for Online Document Sharing
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today introduced iWork(R) '09, the latest version of Apple's popular office productivity suite, which adds powerful new features without sacrificing Apple's legendary ease of use. Keynote(R) '09 introduces advanced object transitions, which automatically animate objects with a choice of effects and Magic Move, an innovative way to create sophisticated animations just by applying a simple transition. Pages(R) '09 features a new Full Screen view that helps you focus on your writing and an outline mode to organize your thoughts. Numbers(R) '09 introduces a quick way to group and summarize data and a dramatically simplified way to create complex formulas. Apple also announced iWork.com public beta, a new service Apple is developing to share iWork '09 documents online.
"Millions of Mac users have fallen in love with iWork," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "With iWork '09, Apple continues to demonstrate that innovation is possible in office productivity software, and that creating impressive presentations, documents and spreadsheets doesn't need to be complicated."
Keynote '09 introduces Magic Move, which allows you to apply a simple transition to automatically animate the position, scale, rotation and opacity of any image, graphic or text that is repeated on consecutive slides. New text transitions morph text from one slide to the next. New advanced object transitions animate objects off one slide while simultaneously animating objects onto the next slide with a choice of effects. 3D charts now include cylinder shapes, beveled-edge pie charts, new textures and four new 3D build effects. The Keynote Remote application, sold separately in the App Store, lets you view slides and presenter notes and control your presentation with your iPhone(TM) or iPod(R) touch.
Pages '09 Full Screen view lets you focus on your document without any distractions and reveals the menus, format bar and page navigator only when needed. Outline mode includes templates that help to quickly build the framework for your document and allow you to collapse, expand and rearrange elements, even inline graphics, with ease. MathType 6 support lets engineers, mathematicians and students easily add sophisticated equations to their documents and EndNote X2 integration lets users add and edit comprehensive bibliographic references. Pages '09 also includes 40 new Apple-designed templates, including newsletters, posters, certificates and coordinated stationery.
Numbers '09 provides a great way to quickly categorize data by column, which you can then collapse, expand and summarize to easily make sense of large sets of data. Numbers '09 makes formula writing dramatically easier with an enhanced function browser which includes built-in help for over 250 functions, and visual placeholders with tool tips that explain each variable in a formula. Use the new Formula List to view all formulas in your entire spreadsheet and jump directly to any formula cell with a single click. Expanded chart options include mixed chart types, two-axis charts, and the ability to apply trend lines and error bars. Numbers charts pasted into Pages or Keynote are linked, and can be updated with a single click.
Apple also introduced iWork.com public beta, a new service Apple is developing to share iWork '09 documents online. Using your Apple ID, just click the iWork.com icon in the Keynote, Pages or Numbers toolbar to upload your document and invite others to view it online. Viewers can provide comments and notes, and download a copy of your document in iWork, Microsoft Office or PDF formats. A consolidated online list of all your shared documents indicates when your viewers have posted comments.
Pricing & Availability
iWork '09 is now available through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $79 (US). iWork '09 is available for $49 (US) with the purchase of any Mac(R) through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
iWork '09 requires Mac OS(R) X version 10.4.11 or Mac OS X version 10.5.6 or later, a Macintosh(R) computer with an Intel processor, PowerPC G5, or 500 MHz or faster PowerPC G4, 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended), 32MB of video RAM, QuickTime(R) 7.5.5 or later, a DVD drive for installation and 1.2GB of available disk space. iWork.com Public Beta is not included with the purchase of iWork '09. Account setup and activation are required. Fees may apply. Internet access and iWork '09 are required. Terms of service apply and are available at http://www.apple.com/legal/iworkcom/en/terms.html.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
(C) 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iWork, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, iPhone, iPod, Apple Store and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090106/AQTU044)
SOURCE Apple
The new Keynote Remote will allow you to control the new Keynote 09 straight from your iPhone. Unlike the free Apple Remote for iPhone—which control iTunes in your computer—this one costs .99 cents.
From the iTunes App Store:
• With Keynote Remote, you can control your Keynote slide presentation on your computer from your iPod touch or iPhone.
• Swipe to advance or return to the previous slide.
• In portrait mode, see your presenter notes on your iPod touch or iPhone. In landscape mode, preview your next slide.
• Keynote Remote works with your Wi-Fi network, so you can control slide playback from anywhere in the room.
In one of the odder announcements during the Macworld keynote, Sting, along with others like Norah Jones, will teach you to play guitar and piano in Garageband '09.
Today at Macworld 2009, Apple showed off a new iPhoto with true facial recognition, a better iMovie and other iLife updates—$79 solo, $99 for family, requires Leopard, available late January.
It's a good solid upgrade full of very nice features. One big catch, though: You need Leopard for it to run. Here's the rundown, app by app:
iPhoto stuff:
Faces: Goes through and identifies distinct faces, automatically tagging them so you don't have to slog through all your photos yourself.
Places: Geotagging, basically. iPhoto gives you a map with pins of where photos are taken. If your camera or iPhone encodes GPS info, iPhoto can figure out if the shot was taken at a particular landmark.
Facebook and Flickr support: Automatically upload your pics straight to your service of choice. (So glad to hear that one!) iPhoto will even grab Facebook image tags and use them in Faces. Flickr geo tags can be used in Places.
Themes: Page layouts for slideshows, with different fonts, caption boxes, etc., with crazy transitions. You can save slideshows to iPhone and iPod touch. It can detect faces in shots, so that they are centered during the slideshow. There's a geo-tag slideshow called Travel Books that looks and acts like a scrapbook.
iMovie stuff: Sounds like they're finally putting back some power functionality—let's hope so...
Precision editor: It's an expanded timeline for audio and video, for tighter cutting.
Advanced drag and drop: You can drag one video on top of another and get advanced context menus.
Themes: Select a theme and it automatically sets style for titles, transitions and credits.
Advanced travel maps: Put in starting and ending points, and it renders a 3D globe of where you traveled.
Video stabilization: Helps you fix shaky shooting when you're editing. Takes some processing time, but the results are amazing.
Other editing features: Skimming, seeing edits (before and after cuts), overlaying audio.
New project library: Organize videos in a more logical way with helpful thumbs.
Garageband stuff:
Yes, Garageband is still getting developed, even though I think it's been a while since even Walt Mossberg recorded a solo project. (Knowing Pogue's talents, he probably has a nice ProTools rig, or at least Logic.) Good thing this version is apparently looking for new musical recruits...
Learn to play: It has an instructional feature that helps teach you how to play instruments like guitar and piano.
Artist Lessons: Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, John Fogerty, Sting and other FOJ jam for your edification. Only $5 a lesson. Hmmm. (More on this.)
There are also updates to iWeb and iDVD, but Apple didn't feel the need to show them off, so they must not be terribly exciting. Here's the press release:
Apple Introduces iLife '09
Major Upgrades to iPhoto, iMovie & GarageBand
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today introduced iLife(R) '09, which features major upgrades to iPhoto(R), iMovie(R) and GarageBand(R), and includes iDVD(R) and an updated version of iWeb(TM). iPhoto '09 builds on the ability to automatically organize photos into Events by adding Faces and Places as breakthrough new ways to easily organize and manage your photos. iMovie '09 expands on the revolutionary super fast movie creation introduced in iMovie '08 by adding the depth users want through powerful easy-to-use new features such as the incredible new Precision Editor, video stabilization, advanced drag and drop, and animated travel maps. GarageBand '09 introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar with 18 basic lessons and optional lessons from top artists such as Sara Bareilles, John Fogerty, Norah Jones and Sting. iLife '09 is included with every new Mac(R) purchase and available as a $79 upgrade for existing users.
"iLife continues to be one of the biggest reasons our customers choose to get a Mac," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "With iLife '09, we've made working with photos, making movies and learning to play music a lot more fun, and iMovie users are especially going to love the advanced but easy-to-use new features."
iPhoto '09 makes it even easier to browse and search photos, not only by when they were shot (Events), but by who appears in them (Faces) and where they were taken (Places). iPhoto automatically scans photos to detect people's faces and when you assign a name to any face iPhoto will automatically find more pictures of that person. The library can be searched by name or browsed using the new Faces View. Places automatically imports photo location data from a GPS-enabled camera or any iPhone(TM) or you can manually assign a location to any photo, group of photos or event. Once iPhoto knows where photos were taken, you can easily explore them with a simple search or an interactive map. iPhoto '09 lets you easily publish photos to Facebook or Flickr. Photos published to Facebook include assigned names, and name tags added on Facebook sync back to iPhoto. You can also share photos by creating a themed slideshow to play on your Mac, iPhone or iPod(R), or create a beautiful travel book, complete with customized maps of your journey.
iMovie '09 adds powerful, yet easy-to-use new features to let you create a movie quickly, or add refinements and special effects to your project if you have more time. Drag and drop one clip on top of another to reveal new advanced editing options, including replace, insert, audio only, and even picture-in-picture or green screen. With the revolutionary Precision Editor, you can skim and click on a magnified filmstrip to view clips up close and fine tune any edit, like identifying precisely how much to keep, where to cut, use sound from one clip with video from another and more. iMovie '09 analyzes video and reduces camera shake in clips when added to your project. New titles, transitions, cinematic effects, speed changes and animated travel maps add professional polish to your movie.
GarageBand '09, the updated version of Apple's popular software used by millions to play and record music, now gives budding musicians a fun new way to learn to play piano and guitar. Basic Lessons let you learn the fundamentals at your own pace with Apple instructors in beautiful HD video synchronized to animated instruments and notation. Artist Lessons feature original artists showing how to play their hit songs with everything from finger positions and techniques to the story behind the song. Choose from lessons by popular artists including: Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, John Fogerty, Ben Folds, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and Sting. Artist Lessons are sold separately at the new GarageBand Lesson Store, available inside the GarageBand '09 application. GarageBand '09 also includes exciting new guitar amp and stomp-box effects, and Magic GarageBand Jam that lets you play along with a virtual band that you create.
iLife '09 includes iWeb '09 for authoring custom websites and iDVD '09 for creating DVDs. iWeb '09 adds new iWeb Widgets, such as iSight(R) video and photos, a countdown timer, YouTube video and RSS feeds. New integrated FTP publishing allows you to publish your website to virtually any hosting service and updates to your site can now be automatically added to your Facebook profile.
Pricing & Availability
iLife '09 will be available this month for a suggested retail price of $79 (US) through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The iLife Up-To-Date upgrade package is available to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after January 6, 2009 for a shipping and handling fee of $9.95 (US). Artist Lessons are available through the GarageBand Lesson Store for $4.99 (US) each.
iLife '09 requires Mac OS(R) X version 10.5.6 or later, a Macintosh(R) computer with an Intel processor, a PowerPC G5 or 867 MHz or faster PowerPC G4, 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended), QuickTime(R) 7.5.5 or later (included), a DVD drive for installation and 4GB of available disk space. iPhoto print services and GarageBand Artist Lessons are available in select countries. Full system requirements and more information on iLife '09 can be found at http://www.apple.com/ilife.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
(C) 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iLife, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iDVD, iWeb, iPhone, iPod, iSight, Apple Store and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Shure's affordable SE110 headphones may be celebrated, but they decided to improve the design anyway. The SE115 adds bass without crowding out mids and highs, and—apparently by popular demand—comes in four colors.
The SE110 uses something called a balanced armiture driver, easy to shrink down so customers don't stretch your ear canal just because they like their damn music. Trouble was, some people didn't think there was enough bass there. When the guys went to build the SE115, the technology was finally available to shrink down the more traditional—and bass happy—dynamic driver. This is what the old E2 model had, but those were big and for some reason couldn't use the same foam ear padding; the new dynamic driver, using neodymium magnets, a fancy new voice-coil winding system and a new diaphragm material, could be fit inside earbuds that look just like the SE110, and be given the same comfortable padding.
Audiophiles will still want to go up the ladder. Shure says that the armiture-equipped SE210 will still have a more balanced "flat" frequency response, while the SE115 will be admittedly more "fun." Perhaps to emphasize this, in addition to austere black, the buds will come in red, blue and pink. (You know, nothing says "I like to party" like hot pink sound-isolating earphones.)
As a fan of the SE110, I'm surprised to hear that something I thought was nearly perfect is only getting better. I have yet to try them, of course, but I look forward to it, and so should many of you. Shure says the SE115 will go for around $100 on the nose, without a lot of discounting at first. But for people who don't care a whole lot about the extra low-end boost, the SE110 sells for $90 or so now, but will stay on the market for the time being, and could very well start selling for even less. [Shure]
Shure Blends Brilliant Sound and Color with New SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones
LAS VEGAS, NV; SAN FRANCISCO, CA; and NILES, IL, January 6, 2009 – At the Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld Conference and Expo, Shure Incorporated today unveiled the SE115, the newest, most affordable, and most colorful member of the Company’s acclaimed family of Sound Isolating™ Earphones. The SE115 arrives in four vivid hues – Blue, Pink, Black, and Red – and at a $99 price point. Already a likely icon for its aesthetics and affordability, this newest earphone, like the Company’s other SE models (SE210, SE310, SE420, and SE530), is most remarkable for how it reproduces sound.
During the past five years, Shure has delivered a personal listening experience unlike any other, making the brand synonymous with exceptional sound quality. While many have tried, none have been able to achieve the same combination of reliability, comfort, portability, style, and audio performance without compromising one requisite for another. Now, with the SE115, creative Shure engineers have achieved a new breakthrough and fit a dynamic driver capable of delivering incredibly rich bass into the sleek, compact form factor once only attainable with a smaller driver.
“There’s no doubt about it – for decades, Shure has set the standard for superior audio and unparalleled design,†said Mark Karnes, Executive Director, Global Marketing, Shure. “Now, as MP3 players, smartphones, portable gaming systems, and laptops break new ground in functionality and style, our engineers have blasted even bigger sound into a smaller and more beautiful package than ever before.â€
Additional SE115 features include:
• Superior Sound Quality: The Second Generation Dynamic MicroSpeaker delivers detailed, warm sound with enhanced bass.
• Color and Style: Blue, Pink, Black, and Red create a personal fashion statement for any user.
• Isolation from Background Noise: Unique Sound Isolating technology prevents outside noise from interfering with the user’s listening experience.
• Superior Comfort and Flexibility: The included Shure fit kit provides interchangeable earphone fit and cable options that deliver unmatched personal customization.Pricing and Availability
At a $99.99 retail [$119.99 MSRP], the SE115 Sound Isolating Earphones will be available to consumers in spring 2009 and will carry a two-year limited warranty. The SE115 and all Shure Sound Isolating Earphones and inline accessories can be purchased online at www.shure.com, as well as at select retail partners. Check www.shure.com for a complete list of Authorized Dealers.
Anybody who has ever recorded in studio or garage knows that "Shure" spells "microphone." This year, they finally get into the USB mic action with PG27USB and PG42USB, plus the X2u USB mic adapter.
So many people already own the Shure SM57 and SM58 condenser dynamic mics that it made sense for Shure to create the X2u, a $130 adapter that would let people easily use them with their amateur home recording rigs. This isn't about ProTools, which requires its own proprietary I/O. It's for people using GarageBand and other cheapie programs, who just want some way to ease in their vocals and acoustic instruments. It's plug-and-play compatible as an audio input, so it just works. It is bus-powered for easy one-cable connectivity, yet it's got an integrated pre-amp with phantom power, so you won't have to worry about not having enough juice going in. There's a headphone jack on the box, along with a monitor-mix playback dial, for easy latency-free tracking and monitoring.
Supposing you don't have a Shure mic just lying around—Shure built two new microphones—the company's first foray into USB mics—integrating essentially the same circuitry as the X2u. The $200 PG27USB is the multi-purpose mic, with a 20 dB pad for dropping the input level for stuff like drum recording. You can record whatever you want with it, but if you want to focus on voice, the better bet is the $250 PG42USB. It is tuned for singing and voice work, and it has a low-cut switch that drops anything south of 120Hz, meaning any environmental sounds that couldn't possibly come from human vocal chords.
There are a lot of home recording products out there, and a number of USB mics, but to see Shure getting involved, especially aiming product at a lower-price-range amateur-level audience, well, that's pretty damn sweet. Almost makes me want to get the band back together. [Shure]
Shure Unveils New USB Microphones and USB Signal Adapter for Seamless Computer Recording
New Products Connect Personal Recording Enthusiasts With Professional Quality AudioLAS VEGAS, NV; SAN FRANCISCO, CA; and NILES, IL, January 6, 2009 – At the Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld Conference and Expo, Shure Incorporated extended the Company’s legacy of world class microphones to the digital recording market, unveiling three new products – the PG27USB and PG42USB Side Address Condenser Microphones and the X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter (XLR is the standard electrical connector for microphones). In recent years, consumers have taken recording into their own hands, creating an explosion of user-generated content. Now, the overwhelming number of low cost options for digital media production means that anyone with a computer and a microphone is a potential recording star, and the demand for tools that enable and encourage personal creativity is surging.
“Shure has catered to the high-fidelity audio cravings of consumers since the introduction of its first stereo phonograph cartridge 50 years ago,†said Mark Karnes, Shure’s Executive Director of Global Marketing. “Back then, we were just listening to music. Today, most of us are not only taking our music with us, we’re also actively involved in creating and recording sound.â€
“Given the broad appeal of our new digital recording products, we chose the biggest consumer electronics stages in the country – the Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld – to introduce our highly anticipated answer to the question ‘How can I replicate professional quality audio recording with my computer?’ Our new digital recording microphones and adapter connect seamlessly for personal recording and produce rock star-caliber sound worthy of bearing the Shure name,†continued Karnes.
Shure’s iconic microphones have been used by everyone from Elvis Presley to FDR, and they are still the equipment of choice when high quality sound can’t be sacrificed – such as in Grammy-winning performances and professional broadcasting arenas. Today, Shure is for the first time bringing its legendary microphones to every level of performer and recording enthusiast, including the new breed of aspiring audio enthusiasts that’s proliferating as digital recording takes hold. These content creators need three key factors to produce accurate and high-quality recordings: superior equipment to translate sound; the ability to hear themselves (monitoring); and the ability to accurately adjust monitoring mix. Shure delivers all three capabilities with the new PG27USB and PG42USB microphones and X2u Adapter.
PG27USB and PG42USB Side Address Condenser Microphones
The PG27USB and PG42USB microphones connect professional-caliber Shure microphones to any USB computer port with “Plug and Play†performance. Excellent tools for multi-track recording, the cardioid condenser microphones feature built-in headphone monitoring with zero latency and monitor mix control, enabling users to instantly hear what they’re recording through headphones and make adjustments on-the-go. Both microphones are durable enough for everyday use and practice, but sophisticated enough for advanced recording by the most discerning artists.
The key difference between the PG27USB and PG42USB microphones is the application for which they were designed:
• The PG27USB features a flat, neutral frequency response for natural reproduction of a wide variety of instrument and vocal sound sources.
• The PG42USB was specifically engineered to reproduce the subtle nuances of lead vocals. The large diaphragm allows for higher sensitivity to clearly reproduce refined performances. The low-cut filter and external shock-mount further optimize performance for vocals.Other unique features of the PG27USB and PG42USB include:
• Large diaphragm capsule: Provides wider dynamic range, clear highs, and strong lows.
• USB “Plug and Play†Connectivity: Allows the convenience of digital recording, anywhere your computer goes.
• Integrated pre-amp with Microphone Gain Control: Allows control of input signal strength.
• Zero Latency Monitoring: For real-time playback and multi-tracking without disorientation.
• Headphone Jack: For monitoring with 1/8†connectivity.
• Monitor Mix Control: For blending microphone and playback audio.X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter
The Shure X2u Adapter is a modular accessory that connects any XLR microphone to a computer to create better-than-CD quality recordings. As home recording flourishes, the X2u redefines what amateur musicians and podcasters can do in their homes and on the go. The X2u mimics the sleek, beautiful design of Shure’s iconic SM57 and SM58 microphones and can be used unobtrusively for live and in-studio recording. The X2u’s unique features include:
• USB “Plug and Play†Connectivity: Allows the convenience of digital recording, anywhere your computer can go (compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and Mac OS X 10.1 or later).
• Integrated pre-amp with Microphone Gain Control: Allows control of input signal strength.
• Zero Latency Monitoring: Enables real-time playback and facilitates multi-tracking without disorientation.
• Headphone Jack: For monitoring with standard 1/8†connectivity.
• Monitor Mix Control: For blending microphone and playback audio.
• Phantom Power: For use with condenser microphones.Pricing and Availability
• X2u Adapter: $129.00 retail [$154.00 MSRP]
• PG27USB: $199.00 retail [$238.00 MSRP]
• PG42USB: $249.00 retail [$298.00 MSRP]Shure’s PG27USB and PG42USB Side Address Condenser Microphones and X2u Signal Adapter will be available to consumers in spring 2009 and will carry a two-year limited warranty. The products can be purchased at select retail partners and the X2u will also be available at www.shure.com. Check www.shure.com for a complete list of Authorized Dealers.
The computer generated yellow line that indicates the first down has changed the way we watch football forever. But its implementation is a multi-stepped process involving dozens of technologies working in precise tandem.
From optical sensors to audio transmissions, the heaviest lifting is probably done by the color filters that, year after year, become better and better at differentiation the line from the linebacker. This brief video will do a lot to make you appreciate the resourceful crews behind the broadcasts.
The Universal Display Corporation (UDC) have themselves a wrist-worn, flexible OLED prototype that they built with support from the US Department of Defense.
As you can see, the 4-inch screen looks a bit too unwieldy for practical use in the field, but the UDC believes that this technology will find a home with our military forces some time in the not to distant future (and in our cellphones and other devices beyond that). In the meantime, they plan to bring a working model to CES, so at least a few lucky attendees will get a taste of our OLED future. [OLED Display]
This is it. We're liveblogging the last Apple Macworld keynote. Access the liveblog here now and win free pizza here with our pizza bingo.
[Macworld 2009 coverage and Gizmodo Liveblogs]
Maybe it's because I just re-read Watchmen, but the idea of getting D-Link's SideStage, a bonus 7" USB-powered display for extra video monitoring, sounds like a really good one.
The thing isn't exactly lightweight at 1.3 lbs, but it's nice and small, and displays 800x480 resolution. Since it's both driven and powered by USB 2.0, I can't imagine it's super fast on the refresh, either, but then again, it probably depends more on what else you have going on. My sense from reading the press release below is that it's PC only, but so are most of the cool USB-video products out there. No pricing yet, but stay tuned.
Original Watchmen image: 
D-LINK INTRODUCES 'SIDESTAGEâ„¢', A USB-POWERED MONITOR FOR MULTI-TASKING PC USERS
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2009 - You've embraced interactive computing and your desktop proves it. All sorts of cool widgets, gadgets and programs keep you informed in real time.
The problem is, you also need to get some work done. D-Link, the end-to-end network solutions provider for consumers and business, has made it easy to move your desktop to a side monitor, freeing your main monitor for productivity with the introduction of the D-Link® SideStage™.
The Fountain Valley, Calif.-based company is introducing the SideStage, a 7-inch monitor designed for multi-tasking computer users who prefer to have their main screen for viewing Windows applications, and another smaller screen for extending their desktop to display instant messaging, watch videos, conduct video conferencing via webcams, display Yahoo® Widgets™ and Microsoft® Gadgets™, or house common tools from programs such as Adobe® PhotoShop®.
The SideStage is a stylish and compact USB 2.0-powered monitor with a 7-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen featuring 800 by 480 resolution with both landscape and portrait modes. Weighing only 1.34 pounds and housed in a sleek black frame, it is 7 inches wide, 4.6 inches tall and only ¾-inch thick.
It will be on display this week at CES 09 in the South Hall Meeting Room S218 of the Las Vegas Convention Center and by appointment at off-site demo hotel suites.
"This latest addition to our family of digital home solutions is designed to add productivity to PC users while providing a convenient and friendly way to view smaller applications," according to Steven Joe, president and CEO, D-Link Systems, Inc. "The SideStage solves the problem of needing a bit more screen space, providing quick access to commonly accessed applications hidden behind larger Windows on the desktop."
The SideStage is compatible with virtually all CRT and flat panel monitors, has standard and wide screen aspect ratios, 32-bit True Color depth for high-quality images and ultra low power consumption, consistent with the D-Link Greenâ„¢ initiative.
Price and Availability
Pricing for the SideStage will be announced when the product ships later this year to D-Link's vast network of retail outlets.
Logitech's 1100 goes above and beyond its predecessor with a black anodized aluminum finish and the ability to customize the controls on the 3.5-inch touchscreen.
Beyond that, things have remained fairly unchanged. It still handles as many as 15 devices from a database of 175,000 and has wireless RF capability when paired with the Logitech Harmony RF Extender. The remote is expected to ship in February for $500, but since the upgrade isn't groundbreaking, you may want to stick with the 1000. It can be had for under $300 online. [Logitech via Electronista]
Putting a ball through a hoop is no big deal, unless you're using your brain to do it.
Mind Flex is a game in which the participant wears a headset that scans brainwaves with the hopes of controlling a mousetrap-like board. If the user can concentrate hard enough, they can activate a fan that will push a ball through a series of hoops. So the end product, on sale later this year for $80, is really taking a simple technological concept (brain activity) and skinning it with a complicated-looking function (fans, balls, hoops, circles of fire, etc). But much like a similar game called Brainball, it's still probably a parlor trick that excites a crowd. [Telegraph via gadgetreview]
The Giz Liveblog Pizza Bingo lives! Follow the Macworld 2009 keynote liveblog and win a free pizza like Maximillian Hill. Here are the instructions:
• Print out the bingo card (click on image for a larger version).
• Follow our MacBook 2008 liveblog event and take note of the timestamp as the event in the bingo card happens.
• You can shout bingo if you fill out one line or, alternatively, one of the 2 x 2 brick groups.
• When you get a bingo, quickly send us an email including the events and their timestamps from our liveblog to tips@gizmodo.com. Include "MW2009 Giz Liveblog Pizza Bingo" in the subject, so we can spot your entry easily.
The last time we did this, lots of people forgot to put the timestamps from our liveblog. You must put these to participate.
The first person who sends us a bingo wins the prize: One free pizza (if there's pizza internet ordering where you are located, that is). Nothing like an edible prize to warm up my heart and my stomach. [Macworld 2009 coverage]
I just updated the bingo card because there was a mistake. Instead of "New iMac" it has to say "New iMac 28".
According to CNET sources, Apple has signed deals with Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner to bring flexibly-priced DRM-free music to iTunes while simultaneously introducing music downloads to the iPhone's 3G service.
While EMI is already offering DRM-free music on iTunes, they represent only 10% of the music market. With "the big three" on board, a majority of iTunes' music could be DRM-free. But the new pricing options may be the real cost of it all to consumers. While catalog titles will now start at 79 cents, the studios will be able to price music above 99 cents (to undisclosed amounts)—though CNET's source says that all music will eventually return to 79 cents.
So while it sounds like Apple finally caved to the music industry, at least consumers may get something decent out of it. Hopefully we'll hear about it all today at the keynote. [CNET]
You could have a normal wireless network, or you could be tempted into the D-Link Xtreme N DIR-685, an 802.11n Wi-Fi router that leaves room for networked attached storage and other goodies.
The unit sits upright, showing off digital photos, streaming video and weather on its 3.2-inch LCD while users can share a printer and any other USB devices of choice through its open ports in the back. Those interested in networked storage can squeeze in a 2.5" hard drive for sharing files over the network or just downloading BitTorrent fun.
We're not seeing a price or release date yet, but if it only had a screen the size of its case, we'd be sitting in a cold puddle of drool.
We are receiving numerous reports saying that AT&T data network is down in New York. If you are a local, drop a line in the comments.
According to this amazing ad, the evolution of the technology species will end in gorgeous, half-naked fembots. YES!
The video was done by Scholz&Friends, a Berlin-based ad agency, for European electronics chain Saturn. [Dark Roasted Blend]
Today is the Macworld keynote, which means you will be buried in Apple news for a large chunk of the day. Unless! You turn off Apple coverage. It's easy.
All you've gotta do is click here. You can even subscribe to it as an RSS feed, so you can read 100 percent Apple-free Giz 99.9 percent of the time. The trick works for any other tag too: Replace "Apple" in that URL with Microsoft, boobs or unicorns and you can avoid them too, though we can't guarantee it'll work when you walk away from your computer and march into the real world. Which is unfortunate, because the unicorns are pretty bloodthirsty this time of year, at least in the North. [Apple-free Giz]
The gradual, relentless digitization of everything takes a little longer to seep into the more obscure technological quarters. The latest outmoded gadget to fall? The analog player piano.
Old-style player pianos, which rely on rolls of dimpled paper tablature to cue a piano to play music, have been helping their owners cheat for the better part of two centuries. For 108 years or that, QRS Technologies was a leading manufacturer of the song rolls, the production of which has ceased as of this week.
Analog player pianos had a certain charm. You could watch them deliberately plunk out just about any tune like some kind of outsize music box, and the bare mechanics of the whole affair were as honest as they were tacky. QRS has apparently moved, with some success, to digital player pianos, which rely on servos and disks over braille and gears. The most profound difference, though, is one of identity: Where analog player pianos were a fascinating predecessor to MIDI synthesizers, digital pianos are MIDI synthesizers, something which Bob Berkman, the company's music director, seems to grasps, sadly:
“We’re still doing what we always did, which is to provide software for pianos that play themselves. It’s just the technology that has changed. But I would be lying to say [the halting of production] doesn’t sadden me.â€
If you ever wondered how they get up there to fix those giant wind turbines, here's the answer: Helicopters. And absofreakingnuttely crazylala mechanics. Updated with crazy video.
That's an Eurocopter EC135, which is being used by Bond Air Services to do windmill farm maintenance in the United Kingdom. I'm sure they stop the windmill before going up—unless the stop mechanism is the thing that is broken—but looking a the scale of that little man going down, it's quite scary anyway.
That's an Eurocopter EC135, which is being used by Bond Air Services to do windmill farm maintenance in the United Kingdom. I'm sure they stop the windmill before going up—unless the stop mechanism is the thing that is broken—but looking a the scale of that little man going down, it's quite scary anyway.And here I was, thinking they had elevators or really long stairs inside.
Update: As you can see in the crazy video, the reason is that these wind turbines are in the middle of the sea. [Flight Global—video thanks to Gitemsteve]
iPhoto hasn't had a great free competitor and in my opinion, Google's photo management is just, well, better. That's why Picasa for Mac is awesome news.
Feature for feature, Picasa for Mac is almost exactly the same as its Windows and Linux counterparts. The organization paradigm is exactly the same, as is the interface (which, it bears mentioning, somehow still looks natural in OS X). Even the automatic system-wide photo indexing worked fine, as did a few different camera imports.
The program still carries Google's increasingly meaningless "Beta" tag, but judging by my brief testing, it's ready to go. [Google—Thanks, Ryan]