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Walt Mossberg travels to Paris with iPad instead of laptop
Walt Mossberg, personal technology journalist for the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, posted a column yesterday about using an iPad on a "working vacation" to Paris. Mossberg decided to forgo his usual laptop on a 10-day trip to Paris, relying instead on his iPad, a smartphone, and a small digital camera. He found the experiment to be a "pleasant success," noting that he had to carry much less weight, got better battery life, and had an instant-on computer. In the meantime, Mossberg stated that he was able to pretty much do everything he'd be able to do with a laptop -- with a few exceptions. While he admits that he would be able to write long documents on the iPad without an accessory keyboard, Mossberg is waiting for the multi-tasking capabilities of iOS 4.2 on the iPad, which he believes will better fit his need to switch quickly between notes and other documents while writing. Mossberg noted that he advised a CFO he met at an airport a few days after returning from Paris to keep her existing computer, as editing huge spreadsheets would be much easier on a powerful laptop than an iPad or other tablet. How about you? Have you used your iPad to partially or totally replace your laptop on a business or pleasure trip? Leave us a comment below.
Mac OS X beta was released ten years ago yesterday
Happy (belated) birthday today to Mac OS X. Yes, the OS itself actually released to the public on March 24, 2001 (which means its actual "birthday," in my mind, isn't until next March), but Macworld points out that, on September 13, 2000, Steve gave us the very first peek at the foundation of modern Apple computing at the Apple Expo in Paris. That's ten years ago yesterday -- we never were all that good with remembering birthdays. Macworld lists out the ten most significant contributions of the OS to the Mac experience, but things like the Time Machine and Spotlight are on there, and of course, those weren't introduced until much later. The OS itself was actually announced six days after the year 2000 started, and the Apple Expo announcement was the beta reveal. Steve Jobs had just come back to the company, bringing his NeXT experience with him, and OS X made waves early on for being a Unix-based operating system. The Aqua user interface was the other big feature of the OS right away -- as Jobs said at that first Macworld Expo, "when you saw it you wanted to lick it." Customers found that out immediately: the beta product itself was released in stores for US$29.95. I'm sure we'll have more coverage of the past ten years of OS X as we move forward into next March, but it's pretty amazing to think how far both we and Apple have come over the last ten years already, all the way from OS X to iOS and everywhere in-between.
Wasted heat from Metro stations to heat apartment building in Paris
Close to the Centre Georges Pompidou on the Rue Beauborg, Paris Habitats renovating a residential building in an environmentally friendly manner, and it's including some pretty out of the ordinary heating methods in it. The old building has a staircase which connects to the Metro station beneath it, thus making it cost effective to build the system, which will produce heat from the bodies of the people and trains moving below, and will be used in conjunction with a traditional heating system. It is thought that it will be able to cut carbon dioxide emissions by one third when the building is completed. The project is set to get underway next year.
UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system
Off the shelf 3D HDTVs may still be a bit expensive from a consumer's point of view, but they're a downright bargain compared to the usual high-end virtual reality gear. This gave some researchers at UC San Diego a bright idea: they've paired a $2,300 Samsung 3D TV with a half-silvered mirror and a touch-feedback controller for a haptic-enabled heads-up virtual reality system (or HUVR) that costs just $7,000 (without head tracking). What's more, they say their system actually outperforms the PARIS HUVR system developed twelve years ago (and still in use), which cost a full $100,000. Head on past the break for a quick video of the rig in action. [Thanks, Chase]
First full-face transplant completed in France: tear ducts, eyelids, and all
While the idea of transplanting an entire face from a corpse -- including the eyelids, tear ducts, and mouth -- might seem, well, gross, you probably don't suffer from a face deforming genetic disorder. For the 35-year-old patient "Jerome," it's a technical miracle. The successful operation, carried out by Laurent Lantieri, is a claimed world's first and was completed just a few weeks ago at the Creteil Henri-Mondor hospital outside of Paris. According to local newspaper reports, the patient, who had been waiting two years for the surgery, gave an enthusiastic "thumbs up" when he first saw his new face in the mirror. Naturally, the operation also reconnects nerves and blood vessels using a microscope -- in fact, the patient's beard has even started to grow in. God complex, deserved, Dr. Lantieri. P.S. That image above is not from the surgery. We said it was performed France, not Brazil.
Apple Store openings
Several new Apple Stores either opened or are set to open this weekend. Here's a look at what's going on. In Shanghai, China, the curtains have been removed from the huge glass structure that sits atop the city's new flagship store. Flickr user Lesh51 has posted some great shots of the removal process. You can plainly see the cylinder itself, the familiar Apple logo, and the interior spiral staircase that leads to the underground retail space. His aerial shots offer an overview of this store's dramatic location. This store will open this Saturday at 10:00 AM local time. Meanwhile, the Opéra Store in Paris is finally open, and it's a stunner. The layout, both inside and out, differs dramatically from what we typically see. Here's a gallery of photos that show off this beautiful space. Even Steve showed up to check it out. Enjoy Paris, Steve! Here in the States, Apple Store, Haywood Mall is set to open in Greenville, SC this Saturday. It will be South Carolina's second Apple Store and the 295th store opened overall. It's located in the Haywood Mall, at 700 Haywood Road, in Greenville. You'll find it on the lower level of the Sears wing, next to Abercrombie & Fitch. Doors open at 10:00 AM local time.
Steve Jobs stops by Paris Opera store
I have my doubts about what's going on here, but I'll let you judge the veracity of this one for yourself. The above video is supposedly a short clip of none other than Steve Jobs walking through the newly opened Paris Opera Apple Store during this past weekend on July 3rd. A commenter on 9to5Mac says that the guy in black walking in front of Steve is Steve Cano, the senior director of Apple International Retail, so supposedly Steve and entourage were there to check out the new store and see how things were going. Of course, not everything you read and see about Steve is true -- while it certainly makes sense that he'd be there (and that he's probably also dropping by the new store in Shanghai), there's no verification on this one, so we don't know for sure if this is him or just a well-dressed French impostor. But either way, enjoy the fleeting glance of what seems to be the man himself out in public. Oh, and Steve? You were too busy to spend the July 4th weekend at home, cooking on the grill and watching fireworks with the rest of us? Sure, it was probably just a bit of bad timing, but next time the Independence Day holiday rolls around, take a break and enjoy it a little, won't you?
New Apple Stores for Paris, Shanghai
Two new Apple Stores are nearing completion, and they both look fantastic. The first one is in Shanghai, China. Much like the famed 5th Avenue Store in New York City, this location is underground and topped by a mass of glass. It sits at the base of two skyscrapers, both 1,000 feet tall, and is topped by a huge cylinder of glass. You can see the structure in the video above, draped in grey cloth. Watch as the camera operator moves in close; a floating Apple logo is clearly visible. Unfortunately, there's no solid opening date for this location. Meanwhile, curtains have also been employed in Paris, France, where the grand opening of the Opéra (Paris) retail store is just weeks away. Why the name" Opéra" and theatrical curtains? Because this store is just across the street (almost) from the city's iconic Opera House. This isn't the first time Apple has gone with a theme to obscure the facade of a store in progress. Before Boston's Boylston Street location opened, its storefront was decorated to resemble Fenway Park's Green Monster. Good luck to the crews working on these projects! If you're in the area and you snap a picture, please let us know. [VIa ifoAppleStore]
Travel to Europe in Wonderland Online's new expansion
Would you love to plan a trip to Paris or London this summer but your budget is too tight and you're on the no-fly list? Wonderland Online has the next best thing: a new expansion featuring scenic European locales and historic characters. The upcoming Clash of Champions expansion-slash-content update is unveiling new maps for Paris and London, where players can team up with Joan of Arc, King Arthur and Lancelot for mind-bending new adventures. If that doesn't have you humming "Knights of the Round Table" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I don't know what will. Clash of Champions' namesake comes from the expansion's PvP focus across all the servers. They're even launching a new PvP-specific server for those who want to focus on player killing above all else. The update will also introduce two new characters to play for those bored of the current options. The isometric free-to-play title recently celebrated its second anniversary, and is home to a surprisingly large population. If you want to get in on the action in preparation for Wonderland Online's next expansion, head over to the official site and try out the game for free!
iChocolates: Edible apps for you
If you like chocolate, have US$46, and always wanted to eat those app icons on your iPhone, iChocolates are for you. iChocolates consist of twenty pieces of gourmet chocolate, crafted after the icons of iPhone apps and arranged in an iPhone-like package. Each individual chocolate app is made of organic, extra-dark, 100% cocoa butter chocolate and is hand cut and set by a French chocolate designer. As of this writing, iChocolates are sold out, but they do have eight of their iChocolates Mothers Edition available (also $46). Perfect for mom? Perhaps, but then again, once you figure in the $17 shipping fee from Paris, you could just give her a 2GB iPod shuffle for less. [via DailyWh.at]
Lonely Planet giving away free iPhone guides in honor of Eyjafjallajökull messing with Europe
Did Eyjafjallajökull mess your week up? The answer is probably "no" if you're asking who Eyjafjallajökull is. For those of us who did have our week interrupted by that big exploding volcano in Iceland, Lonely Planet is offering thirteen of its City Guides for free in the App Store (and okay, they're free to all, no proof of volcano-interruption required). The aptly-named "Volcano Relief Sale" is being held in hopes of helping travelers stuck in unfamiliar places find "access to practical information as well as suggestions on what to do whilst stranded," according to Tom Hall, Lonely Planet Travel Editor. "That's why we're giving away iPhone city guides to major affected destinations." Those destinations include: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Istanbul, London, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, and Vienna. I've been to all but two of those destinations, and if you're stuck in any of them, you really should be thanking Eyjafjallajökull (and now, Lonely Planet). The thirteen City Guides are normally priced between $10 and $15, so this is quite a bargain. But act fast, the City Guides will only be available for free until April 22 -- hopefully a date which will also see many more planes back in the air. [via Macworld] [Image by NASA Goddard Photo and Video]
The Engadget Show: Inside chiptunes and 8-bit visuals
Greetings humans! If you've seen The Engadget Show, then you've been privy to some pretty incredible performances by a group of musicians and artists who eschew familiar instruments in exchange for hacked and modded handheld gaming devices. We grabbed our cameras and got a brief look at the history of the chiptunes movement, the difference between Game Boy music and music from Game Boys, and most importantly, how these artists and visualists make it all happen. Kick back and take a look at the segment (featuring the likes of Glomag, Paris, and Outpt) -- you'll be glad you did! Special guests: Glomag, Paris, and Outpt Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Michael Slavens Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec Download the Show: The Engadget Show Segment - 005 (HD) / The Engadget Show Segment - 005 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.
Found Footage: Google's ad, Mac style
Happy weekend! Google may have won some hearts with its Super Bowl ad a little while back, but we all know that Apple is the king of advertising when it comes to technology, so YouTuber allenmonroeiii decided to make a little parody of the Google ad and promote the Mac instead. Strangely, it actually works -- while the audio is straight from the Google ad (which tells the story of a guy who finds love in Paris by searching on Google), the music serves just as well to tell the story of someone frustrated by a Windows PC purchase. No, this probably won't sell any computers (it's for us Mac heads to laugh at, considering that it was made in about an hour), but go ahead and enjoy it for what it is, and enjoy your weekend.
Win an Alienware laptop in the Cities XL photography competition
Photography enthusiasts who'd like to get their hands on an Alienware M15x laptop will want to take note of the latest Cities XL contest -- "Aim, Shoot... Win!". Cities XL developer Monte Cristo writes: "Since the city is at the very heart of CitiesXL, this competition will allow you to immortalize yours by submitting photos to our jury in one of the following categories: Most beautiful photo Best Christmas photo" Those competition submissions should be photos of actual cities, not screenshots captured in Cities XL. If you've got a nice shot that would fit into either of those categories, check out the contest rules and head on over to the "Aim, Shoot... Win!" announcement and submission form for your shot at winning the laptop, plus other prizes Monte Cristo has on offer. (Those prizes include Kodak cameras, Nvidia GTX 260 video cards, Novotel gift vouchers, and copies of Cities XL Limited Edition.) The submission deadline is 23:59 (Paris time) on January 17, 2010.
Apple Store Carrousel du Louvre opens today
Apple typically opens retail stores in high-end shopping areas, and this one is as high-end as it gets. Beneath the great glass pyramid that marks the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris is Carrousel du Louvre, home to shops, a gourmet food court, exhibition space and, as of this Saturday, an Apple Store. This will be the first Apple Store in Paris and in France. Another Apple Store is poised to open in the seaside town of Montpellier next Saturday. This location has the now iconic glass spiral staircase that's featured in other flagship stores and two levels total. If you can't visit Apple Store Carrousel du Louvre this weekend, check out the photos and coverage from ifoAppleStore as well as these photos on Flickr. C'est Magnifique! Also notable this week is the new Musee du Louvre app that's available for free from the App Store [iTunes link]. Coincidentally, of course.
Emergency European maintenance this evening
A little while ago, 2 am Paris time, servers went down in the EU for emergency maintenance. More specifically, "emergency database maintenance." They're estimated to be down until 4 am Paris time, which by my estimate is another hour or so. Should that maintenance be extended any further, we'll be sure to let you know right here on WoW.com. Many thanks to our followers on Twitter for alerting us of this downtime, because our European staff members are apparently off doing silly things like sleeping. Thanks a lot, guys. Because of that, I'm now inflicting cultural stereotypes on you all in the form of the picture at the top of this post. Don't take your rage out on me, take it out on the warlock.
Microsoft's Windows Cafe opens its doors in Paris
Japan may be home to the Windows 7 Whopper, and the US has the less edible contents of the very first Microsoft Store, but it looks like Paris may be the real place to be for out and about Windows fans, as it can now claim the only Windows Cafe in the world as its own alongside all those other little tourist attractions you might be interested in. Better still, it looks like the cafe serves up at least as many types of drinks as Windows editions, and there's some WiFi available for those looking for a place to loiter around. Hit up the link below for a peek inside courtesy of Le Journal du Geek. [Thanks, Anh]
Ubisoft acquires TrackMania dev to build online cred
Ubisoft must have found TrackMania creator Nadeo to really be speaking its language, as the French publisher has acquired the, uh, French developer in a bid to drift into the online gaming sector. "Through Nadeo, Ubisoft will gain an expert team, one of the best online technologies around as well as a flagship multiplayer game that enjoys an unrivaled reputation among a loyal and committed community," Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot observed. The acquisition of Nadeo comes just weeks after the developer announced a true TrackMania sequel, TrackMania 2, at the Paris Games Festival.
Burn Zombies, win trip to Europe in 'Zombie World Tour 2009'
One Burn Zombie Burn! player will be able to go off on a rather romantic trip with a friend to see the sights of Europe. Doublesix is going to take the top scorer of the "Secret Lab" level of the PSN game to Paris, where they'll spend three nights at the Aida Opera Hotel and visit the Catacombs of Paris and Pere Lachaise Cemetery. After the French expedition, the winner will be sent to the Mercure Hotel in Luxor, Egypt, to spend five days touring the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple (pictured). It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip made up exclusively with the sights of the undead.The contest begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and will last through Monday, Nov. 2. Good luck, if you decide to enter.
Microsoft opening café in Paris to build excitement for Windows 7
You know what the French love? Cafés. They love them so much, apparently, that Microsoft has decided to open one in the heart of Paris to drum up excitement about Windows 7. The Windows café will serve coffee and pastries (it is a café, after all), and will also have Microsoft products -- such as the Xbox -- on hand for customers to play with, but it won't actually sell any Microsoft wares. The shop, which is currently being built at 47 Boulevard Sebastopol, will be open from October 22nd onward, so if you're in the area you should check it out before it's gone for good -- we hear it'll only be there for a few short weeks. Finally, a reason to go to Paris!
