Shaggy Apples

Bill Gates vs. hurricanes?

2009-07-17T16:05:00.001-04:00

Bill Gates, in his continuing quest for global domination, is now ready to take on mother nature. Earlier this month, Gates (and co-inventors) filed patent applications for a proposed way of slowing hurricanes by pumping cold water directly into storms. As you may know, hurricanes draw strength as they move over warm surface waters in the ocean. Gates' applications propose a system of turbine-equipped barges strategically placed in a storm's path to cool surface waters by using cold water pumped from the ocean depths.

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I understand the general idea behind weakening a hurricane with cooler waters, but the logistics of placing these barges in the direct path of a storm in a timely manner seems a bit far-fetched to me.

Unreleased Michael Jackson track appears online

2009-07-16T16:00:00.002-04:00

It only took a few weeks for the first of Michael Jackson's unreleased tracks to show up online. Somehow, TMZ obtained an unreleased Jackson song entitled "A Place With No Name." Read more about the song at TMZ, and listen to the audio.

Korn frontman goes solo

2009-07-16T11:08:00.002-04:00

Korn frontman Jonathan Davis has signed a solo deal with the Warner Music Group. For months, Davis has been working on his debut album that is to be released late this year or early 2010. In a recent interview, Davis had this to say about his new solo work:

I want the record to be the most amazing record I could possibly put out. I want all songs to be amazing and different. I want it to be really a very artistic, crazy album that no one's ever heard before. 'Cause it's very world music-y and dark, heavy, PETER GABRIEL-esque type music and I want all the songs to be different, and nothing like KORN.

Korn has also been working on a new studio album expected to be released next year. The band is currently without a record deal.

No more iTunes for Pre

2009-07-15T17:00:00.002-04:00

One of the major selling points of the new Palm Pre has been the ability of the smartphone to sync seamlessly with iTunes like an iPod or an iPhone. I hope Pre users had fun while it lasted because Apple officially disabled the Palm's much-hyped feature today in the latest iTunes update.

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Black Wii coming soon

2009-07-15T16:16:00.003-04:00

Nintendo will be releasing a new black Wii console on August 1 in Japan. There's no official word yet on when we'll be seeing this new color in the United States, but maybe it will arrive in time for the holidays. I really wish this color option was available when I purchased my Wii because the white console sticks out like a sore thumb beside my other sleek, black electronics.

Free Microsoft Office

2009-07-13T16:39:00.002-04:00

There's big news coming out of Microsoft today. FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE! No, really. Microsoft will be giving away the Office suite online for free. How you ask? Think Google Docs. A version of Microsoft's upcoming Office 2010 will be made available online as a free service accessed through your browser. This sounds great, but if you're like me (and many others), you're probably assuming this free Office will be exclusive to Internet Explorer. Not so. Microsoft has really outdone themselves this time by announcing support for IE, Firefox, and Safari browsers. Both the free online version and the traditional desktop versions of Office 2010 are scheduled to be released in the first half of 2010.

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I am El Nino

2009-07-10T16:27:00.001-04:00

On Thursday, scientists announced the return of weather phenomenon known as El Nino. Upon reading the article, my mind drifted to the classic SNL bit of Chris Farley playing the part of El Nino. Never one to disappoint, YouTube came through with the video. Enjoy!

Michael Jackson memorial compilation on iTunes

2009-07-10T10:34:00.001-04:00

The original versions of the songs performed at Tuesday's Michael Jackson memorial service are now available as a compilation on iTunes. The individual track prices vary from $0.99 to $1.29 with the entire collection priced at $17.43.

The tracks included are:

Michael Jackson, "I'll Be There"
Mariah Carey, "I'll Be There"
The Commodores, "Jesus Is Love"
Stevie Wonder, "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"
Stevie Wonder, "They Won't Go When I Go"
Michael Jackson, "Will You Be There" (Single Version)
Michael Jackson, "Human Nature"
David Benoit, "Human Nature"
Tony Bennett, "Smile"
Chris Botti, "Smile"
Michael Jackson, "Gone Too Soon"
Babyface, "Gone Too Soon"
The Miracles, "Who's Lovin' You"
Jackson 5, "Who's Lovin' You"
U.S.A. for Africa, "We Are the World"
Michael Jackson, "We Are the World" (Demo)
Michael Jackson, "Heal the World"

I guess this is a quick way to cash in on the memorial until the actual live performances are made available.

Google Chrome OS

2009-07-08T12:00:00.001-04:00

In a blog Tuesday night, Google officially unveiled plans for a new operating system known as Google Chrome OS. The new open-source project will focus on speed, simplicity, and security, while furthering Google's efforts of using the web as a foundation for applications. Details on the new OS are sketchy at this point, but Chrome OS is set to debut on netbooks in the second half of 2010.

Read the Google blog entry

ABC invades Hulu

2009-07-06T13:08:00.002-04:00

Beginning today, the first ABC shows are appearing on popular video-streaming site Hulu.com. Much to the joy of Spaghetti Nugget, there are now 5 complete episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" available for viewing. With Hulu adding new content each weekday throughout the summer, more and more ABC shows should be online soon.

Hulu.com was launched last year as a joint venture between NBC and Fox to stream free, ad-supported content from the two networks. In April, Disney, ABC's parent company, reached a deal with Hulu to also include ABC content on the website.

Download new Alice in Chains song for free

2009-07-01T16:36:00.002-04:00

Alice in Chains is offering a new song for free via the band's official website. "A Looking in View" is the first preview of the band's forthcoming album Black Gives Way To Blue due out September 29th. Black Gives Way To Blue is Alice in Chains' first new studio album in over a decade, and the first album to feature new vocalist/guitarist William DuVall.

Download "A Looking in View"

The Pirate Bay sells for nearly $8 million

2009-06-30T16:54:00.002-04:00

A gaming company in Sweden has agreed to purchase "The Pirate Bay" for nearly $8 million. If you don't know, "The Pirate Bay" is a Swedish file-sharing site that has been embroiled in legal battles over the piracy of music, movies, etc. In April, the founders of the website were sentenced to 1 year in prison and fined $4 million. Once the sale is complete, Global Gaming Factory X aims to transform "The Pirate Bay" into a legal download site which pays copyright holders for their material.

Didn't people learn anything from Napster? These sites and services are insanely popular only because they are FREE. The website name alone is not going to be enough to create a new boom in legal downloads. Instead of paying such a ridiculous price for a doomed website, I believe I'd invest my money in a fresh concept and a new site.

A MacBook for every student?

2009-06-30T16:18:00.002-04:00

The state of Maine is purchasing MacBooks for every public school student and faculty member from 7th-12th grade. Since 2002, Apple and the state have been working together to provide computers to all middle school students. Based on the middle school success, the state decided to extend the program to their high schools. Students will be able to use the laptops at school and home, but the computers are to be turned in at the end of the school year. Also in the agreement, Apple will supply the state with educational software, professional development, repair and replacement, and technical support.

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Firefox 3.5 now available

2009-06-30T12:09:00.001-04:00

Mozilla's Firefox 3.5 upgrade is now available. Firefox 3.5 boasts an improved engine that allows performance twice as fast as Firefox 3 and ten times faster than Firefox 2. Security measures were also upgraded, and new private browsing options have been added.

Download Firefox 3.5

Apple removed porn app

2009-06-26T15:12:00.001-04:00

It turns out Apple did remove yesterday's much-hyped porn application from the App Store. Here's the official word from Apple:

Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content...The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed, and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store.

King of Pop iTunes

2009-06-26T11:12:00.003-04:00

In the wake of Michael Jackson's untimely death, there's been a rush on iTunes for the King of Pop's music. This morning, in the iTunes Store, Jackson claims 4 of the top 10 downloaded songs. More impressive to me, however, is that the top 7 albums purchased all belong to Jackson.

"Hottest Girls" removed

2009-06-25T16:38:00.006-04:00

Apple's App Store has already removed "Hottest Girls," the first approved app to feature nudity. The developer is claiming the app is "temporarily sold out" because of the high volume of downloads. Supposedly, they feared a server crash due to the popularity of "Hottest Girls." Somehow, I'm just not buying into that. I'm of the idea that Apple mistakenly let the app slip through and is now trying to back-pedal. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Porn in the App Store?

2009-06-25T14:29:00.001-04:00

Today, there's a new first for Apple's App Store. Topless girls. "Hottest Girls" is the first application to be approved by Apple containing nudity. Will this move open the floodgates to other adult-themed applications? Is Apple looking to cash in on the lucrative porn industry? It remains to be seen, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see "Hottest Girls" removed by the end of the week. Either way, it definitely sets a new precedent for the App Store.

Pre-order Windows 7 and save

2009-06-25T10:47:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled a special upgrade offer for the upcoming Windows 7 operating system. On July 11, major retailers will begin taking discounted pre-orders for Windows 7 Home Premium for $49 or Windows 7 Professional for $99. The upgrade offer will apply to Windows XP and Vista customers. The duration of the offer and the number of copies available for pre-order will be limited by Microsoft, but no specifics were given for either. On the official release date (October 22), the "boxed" upgrades will be priced at $119 for Home Premium, $199 for Professional, and $219 for Ultimate. The full versions of Windows 7 will cost $199 for Home Premium, $299 for Professional, and $319 for Ultimate. Microsoft also announced that beginning Friday (June 26), those who purchase a Vista PC will be eligible for a free copy of Windows 7.

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Mobile Flash Player coming soon

2009-06-23T13:11:00.001-04:00

Adobe has announced a beta version of Flash Player 10 for a variety of smartphones to be released in October. Flash Player 10 beta will be available for for many mobile browsers, including for Windows Mobile, Google Android, Palm WebOS, and Symbian. Currently, ARM, Nvidia, Broadcom, Intel, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm are readying their products for the new Flash Player.

Most noticeably missing from the announcement is Apple's iPhone OS.

It's hard to believe that Apple didn't get in on this Flash bandwagon considering how long iPhone customers have been clamoring for Flash support. I guess Apple and Adobe aren't seeing eye-to-eye in the mobile department. Perhaps Apple wants a more unique experience in regards to Flash. Nonetheless, this is a sweet development for many other smartphone users.

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Serial killers...and Shark Week

2009-06-22T13:23:00.000-04:00

After seeing a story this morning comparing great white sharks to serial killers, my mind immediately drifted to thoughts of Shark Week. I headed over to discovery.com to see if this year's event had been announced. Upon entering the site, I was greeted with a homepage feature on the same "serial killer" topic. Moving on, I found the information I was looking for -- Shark Week returns August 2!

Here's hoping we don't get stuck with multiple nights of "Mythbusters" and "Dirty Jobs" again this year! I also hope Discovery Channel goes back to the 24-hours-a-day approach instead of giving us only a couple of hours of sharks each night. Of all the years I've been watching Shark Week, last year was definitely the most disappointing.

Megadeth's ENDGAME coming in September

2009-06-19T14:13:00.001-04:00

Megadeth has announced a September release for their new album ENDGAME. Track titles will include "Headcrusher," "1,320,'" "How the Story Ends" and "This Day We Fight!". Frontman Dave Mustaine is calling the album his best work in over a decade and his proudest moment since 1990's Rust in Peace. ENDGAME will be the band's 12th studio album.

The Hulk trains the King of Pop

2009-06-19T12:40:00.001-04:00

In the midst of HLN's never-ending coverage of Jon and Kate, Christi Paul found an opportunity to present an awesome tidbit of information. Lou Ferrigno, TV's "Incredible Hulk," has been training Michael Jackson in preparation for Jackson's upcoming London shows. Just let that sink in for a moment. Lou Ferrigno. Michael Jackson. Training. I only wish there was a Rocky-style video montage of these training sessions floating around. No greater comedy could ever be produced. Take a moment to visualize Jackson lifting weights with the Incredible Hulk. Or better yet, picture Jackson teaching the Hulk how to moonwalk. It's comedy gold I tell you!

iPod Touch 3.0 uprgade problems

2009-06-19T11:53:00.001-04:00

Even though my new iPhone 3G S is en route, I decided I'd install the new OS 3.0 on my first generation iPod Touch. Having smoothly upgraded last year to version 2, I felt no apprehension about the transition. I was wrong. I should have seen the writing on the wall when I couldn't even download the new software on Wednesday (launch day). My "session" continually "timed out" for over an hour. I simply chalked that up to a huge volume of people trying to download at the same time. I decided to wait them out until Thursday evening. The download process seemed to go smoothly, but things got a little hairy when the actual installation began. First, I received an error message from iTunes with a code I didn't pay much attention to (stupid me). Upon clicking OK, my device disappeared from iTunes, and my iPod prompted me to connect the USB cable back to the computer. The problem there is that I never unplugged it. I waited a good 15 minutes (with no change) before I attempted to do anything else. After 30-45 minutes of restarting iTunes, restarting the computer, plugging and unplugging the iPod (and swearing), my device was finally recognized once again. At that point, iTunes alerted me to a problem with installation (as if I hadn't noticed) and that my iPod would be restored to factory settings with the latest OS version. After several minutes, the restoration process was successful and even installed the OS 3.0. However, every bit of information I had on my iPod had been wiped clean. All of the information is recoverable, but the whole process was just overly frustrating. Evidently, I'm not the only one having issues.

Snow Leopard Up-to-Date program

2009-06-16T13:29:00.003-04:00

If you're waiting around to buy a new Mac because you want the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard, wait no longer. If you buy a new qualifiying Mac (that doesn't include Snow Leopard) on or after June 8, you'll be eligible to upgrade to Snow Leopard for only $9.95. The program ends December 26, 2009. Click here for the details.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard is expected to be available in September.

I'm not in the market for a new Mac at this point, but Apple has already sold me on Snow Leopard by announcing the upgrade will only cost $29. Considering the disaster that is Vista, Microsoft should really follow suit in October with Windows 7.