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It's hard to get too excited about the official launch of Windows Vista tomorrow after spending all of that energy for the launch of PS3 (and to a lesser extent, Wii).
But still, Microsoft's launch of a new operating sytem is a big deal -- and we've been waiting five years (two years longer than we thought we'd have to wait).
For a good read on what all of the fuss is about, click here.
And if you're in the market for a new PC this holiday season (and that would be prior to the general availability of Windows Vista -- on January 30, 2007), Microsoft itself has some tips on how to make sure you will be "Windows Vista Capable."
Not to be too outdone by yesterday's news about the planned Wal-Mart digital movie download service, Time Warner is now planning to launch its own direct-to-DVD movie download service.
According to reports, this is in the "wait until next year" time frame. TW also said it's pondering movie kiosks at Wal-Mart.
Seems to be it's about time the major motion picture studios woke up and smelled the coffee over the potential profits of direct-to-consumer downloads.
Well, movie rentals didn't work out too good for them, but now Wal-Mart keeps forging ahead by joining the ranks of digital movie download retailers.
According to a published report, the biggest of the big box retailers is launching the new download service with an exclusive Superman Returns DVD bundle that will contain a video download option with the purchase of the actual DVD.
If that doesn't make sense to you (buy the DVD, then buy the download?), then you may not be the only one scratching your head.
It may seem like a while ago that I blogged about the groovy new U3 technology -- the evolution of the USB drive -- but it was only last week!
This time, let's taka a look at an actual product -- Verbatim's 1GB Store ‘n’ Go U3 Smart Drive, the newest member of its award-winning family of Store ‘n’ Go USB drives.
Just the size of a pack of gum, the U3 smart drive offers a new mobile computing platform that allows you to carry smart software applications, PC settings, files and personal preferences wherever you go and to access them on any Windows XP or 2000 PC via any open USB port.
Verbatim’s Smart Drive adds a nice personal twist by including an app called U3 Launchpad, an intuitive interface that makes accessing U3 smart software and device features fast and easy.
Remember when computers had floppy drives?
Well, yes, some still do, but the generation of CDs and then USB storage devices has made them largely obsolete.
Now, the ubiquitous USB flash drive has undergone the latest step in its evolution -- transforming into the U3 smart drive.
When Sony bought CBS way back when, they also bought the famous CBS "Eye," which sought of looked like a black eye.
I bet they didn't think they'd be using that symbol outside of the music or television business, but this year has been one big black eye for Sony -- notebook battery problems, PS3 production problems and now violence and mayhem over the PS3 launch.
Looks like the good folks of Boston aren't taking Sony's launch problems as a "normal course of doing business." Instead, the city plans to bill Sony for the police needed to quell a ruckus at the Sony Style store in Beantown.
Maybe Sony could have "gifted" every mayor of every major U.S.
Now we have former Senator John Edwards (no, not the "otherworldly" guy we see on TV) reportedly asking one of his staff members to see if he could get a hot, new PS3 from Wal-mart for his family.
Sound bad?
How about making it even worse that Edwards was criticizing the big W for unfairly treating its employees at the same time?
Seems to me that Sony could have handed out PS3s to every member of Congress (that's 500 or so) and theoretically reduced its lobby/legal presence in DC to $0 for at least a couple of months.
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Not to be outdone by all of the Zune noise we've been hearing on the ground today, Apple is taking to the air!
Apple has announced that it's teaming up with some major airlines -- Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United -- to deliver the first seamless integration between the iPod and in-flight entertainment systems!
(Now if I can just get that iPod past security ...)
These six airlines will offerr passengers "iPod seat connections" that power and charge iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the their seat back displays.
One final interesting thing we talked about at ITEXPO is that TalkPlus has built their own Skype gateway. In fact, when pressed further, Jeff mentioned they actually reverse engineered Skype's protocol. Although the Skype gateway isn't part of TalkPlus's launch today, Jeff explained that they have tested it in their labs and it's working very well.
The dream of home automation has been around for a long time -- push button (er, make that "wireless" today) simplicity to take care of your every whim at home.
And it's a dream that's still slowly evolving toward a bright future, as the Z-Wave Alliance made its way to the recent DigitalLife show in New York to show us how much closer we're getting.
The "host" company at DigitalLife, Zensys, is the developer of Z-Wave, an interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that is trying to become the de facto standard in wireless home control.
Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life, including real-time home monitoring and energy conservation by controlling a wide array of home devices such as lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment, healthcare, access and security systems.
And now for something completely different!
Mimoco is a designer toy studio meets consumer electronics company based in Boston. Their mission: "To bring style and soul to personal tech devices and to inject interactivity into the burgeoning designer toy movement."
The fruits of their vision are the delicious and fresh mimobot designer toy USB flash drives that were launched late last year.
(Although retailers like Wal-mart are already pushing the envelope with sale prices that used to be reserved for that special time only ...)
Black Friday is also the day that retailers love to fill their stores early -- why else would there be 5:00 AM specials on that day for early birds (and those that haven't gone to sleep yet)?
For those of us who can't wait for the nice four-color printed flyers ("circulars") to show up in our mail box or paper and instead want a sneak peek at those ads, a number of web sites, like Black Friday 2006, have sprung up.
Flexity has put a whole new spin (and look!) on one of the essential "back office" elements of personal computing -- the lowly surge protector.
(Is there anything more utilitarian than that?)
Yes, believe it or not, that dull black or white (or even gray) strip of metal, some outlets and an electrical cable with plug has undergone a dramatic transformation.
(Dare I say almost of Cinderella proportions?)
We blogged about it last week and now it's true.
Users of Microsoft's Xbox 360 Live video game service soon will be able to download TV shows like South Park and CSI as well as movies like V for Vendetta via deals inked with half a dozen Hollywood studios.
For anyone going mobile, the less gadgets the better. (Rather than the more the merrier.)
Why carry a separate cell phone and MP3 player when you can carry a single gadget that does both?
For that matter, why carry a cell phone and a notebook computer when you can carry a single gadget that does both?
(Good questions, aren't they?)
With the New York City Marathon this weekend -- Sunday to be exact -- got to wondering how many runners will be equipped with MP3 players to pass the time (does add a bit of weight, though).
That thought then moved on to how many runners will be get up with Nike+ shoes, the Nike+iPod Sport Kit and an iPod Nano? This is the setup that puts the iPod in the shoe (could cause a bit of a balance problem, eh?).
Bet the top runners won't be passing the time this way, but would make mucho sense to go the mobile music route for the marathoners out for the fun of it.
The camera business -- and the classic industry names like Kodak, Fujifilm, etc. -- has never been the same since digital reared its head a decade ago and "digital imaging" replaced "photography" in everyday speech.
Now, in the latest development, HD set manufacturer Syntax-Brillian has announced that it will purchase film and digital camera maker Vivitar Corp. for $26 million in stock. Syntax-Brillian is counting on its acquisition to give it a bona fide entry into the digital photo business.
