I don't think think this Droid will hit iPhone numbers. All these phones keep missing the iPhone's core message. Simplicity. Look at those original Apple commercials and see how they show the iPhone making certain actions very simple. That was the first message to the general public... SIMPLICITY. All the geeky stuff about it's OS/X foundation, processor, app store... that all came later. The info for the geeky stuff was made available right where geeks tend to look for such info, on the pages of Engadget.com, etc. I laugh when I see a commercial for the T-Moble Touch, showing the non-phone things it's capable of. Or the weird Palm Pre commercials. And now the super geeky Droid commercials with satellite delivery systems crashing to Earth, or a laundry list of geeky things that the average person doesn't care about.

That's why most IT or tech people are relegated to a subculture by the general masses. Many don't know how to relate to the average user who doesn't understand all this stuff. All the technical details are only relevant for perhaps 2% of the population! Hate Apple and iPhone all you want. Bitch about its perceived shortcomings. And watch its sales numbers just keep climbing, because at the end of the day, Apple knows how to build a device that appeals to it's targeted audience. Aiming for everyday people instead of focusing on geeks will get you more sales every time! ;)

I was a salesman in NYC for an authorized Apple dealer, when these came out. If I remember correctly, the Mac Portable was significant because it was the first application of Active Matrix LCD technology. Screen refreshes were much faster and sharper than the old dual scan LCD screens that were used in the Compaqs, HPs and Toshibas of the time. No ghosting as objects moved, which was important for a graphics based OS. It was also the first 68000 based Mac to break the 8 mhz processor clock ceiling. This puppy ran at 16 mhz. Finally, I believe it was the first portable to include a Trackball built in. Toshibas relied on old Microsoft BallPoint trackballs that affixed to the side of the laptop. You had to detach them before packing the laptop in your carrying case.

So, you can laugh if you want, but this Macintosh Portable introduced several technologies to the world of portable computing, and Intel based laptop manufacturers eventually followed Apple's lead.

Would like to know precisely how the slower BluRay affects the playback of movies on the Slim. Are the movies jittery? Does sound drop out? Do movies play slower than 30 FPS?

Bed Stuy, Do Or Die! Brooklyn, Baby!

VoiceOver allows you to use the new Shuffle in a car that only has AUX input jacks. The combination of Tapstick and VoiceOver gives you a way to change the song/playlist you're listening to, without taking your eyes off the road to look at the screen and/or menus of other types of MP3 players. This allows drivers to stop buying old fashioned auto CD changers, and it is a less expensive option than purchasing an iPod integration kit for your car's audio controls (when available). The Shuffle/Tapstick combo is also less expensive than a 6 disc CD changer.

Here's an e-mail I sent to a tech editor about the new shuffle:

Many cars now come with at least a Mini-8 Aux input jack, so you can plug in your iPod (or any other player) into the car's stereo amplifier. Some cars offer more elaborate iPod connection kits, enabling you to control your iPod with the car's stereo controls. This is really nice if you have steering wheel controls.

Now, with the VoiceOver technology, iPod connection kits (which range in cost from $300 - $2,000, depending on the auto manufacturer) may be unnecessary. Aux input devices can still have their volume and muting controlled by the car. All that's needed is a way to select the song you want. What's needed is a Mini-8 to Mini-8 AUX cable that has the same VoiceOver controls built into it as the new iPod shuffle headphones do. With this cable, we'd be able to hear the VoiceOver Song/Playlist selections over the car's stereo, and we could make our selections without taking our eyes off of the road. I am ashamed to say that with my iPhone plugged into my Aux input, I have taken my eyes off of the road to advance or change my song selection/playlist. But with that indented adapter, you can make changes by feeling the indentation on the cable.

Can you use your influence to pass this recommendation/wishlist to those best enabled to turn it into a product quickly? If so, I can order the new iPod and cable for my car, and retire the CD changer. Thanks!

Anyone else experiencing slow e-mail delivery on their Blackberries? Seems like everytime RIM upgrades something, e-mail delivery is disrupted. Many of my users had e-mail delays of an hour, that are starting to trickle through right now.

Nice to see Apple inching towards the top spot, just as iTunes did as the top music seller. Must be even sweeter for Apple to witness after the ridicule heaped upon the original Newton MessagePad. Naysayers love being proved wrong, first with iTunes/iPod dominance and now in the smartphone market. Then again, naysayers said Barack Obama didn't have a chance of winning the top spot either. Lesson here is to ignore the naysayers!

I hope that thing also plays MP3 music files designed to relax the cow and make more tender steak. :)

This is interesting, but think about it. If you want to wall mount your flat screen, you still may not have a power outlet hidden behind the TV, so you either have a visible power cable, or you still have to rip the wall open for a totally clean look. The only advantage I see to this device would be for homes that did provide a wall outlet and coax cable for a flat screen, yet never included an HDMI cable in the original install. And I'm skeptical as to whether the video is an interference free as they claim.