Chris

This guy has me beat too:

Although, I might have done this when I was younger. I like to think I would have.

And, Apple updated the iPods today, as expected. With mostly capacity and pricing tweaks and no major upgrades, this refresh was kind of well, boring. The new iPod mini is available in four colors (they dropped gold) and comes in 4GB and new 6GB sizes. And, the new iPod photo now comes in 30GB and 60GB models and had a price drop. Plus, usb 2.0 connectivity for Mac or Windows.

The expected minis with color screen didn’t happen and no bluetooth either (yet). The new minis also have a greatly improved battery life, up to 18 hours, from 8. And, coming in March, new iPod software lets you choose new slideshow transitions on the go and new hardware lets you upload photos directly from your camera using the optional iPod Camera Connector accessory.

Hold me back. I would still like to get an iPod Shuffle. Maybe after tax time.

I can’t resist. Paris Hilton’s T-Mobile sidekick was hacked before and now it has been hacked again. This time, all of her personal info (email, address book, photos) are all over the net.

I actually feel bad for her if this isn’t a giant publicity stunt. With all the celeb phone numbers (or at least purported celeb phone numbers) that got leaked, she might not be getting any more numbers after this. Paris Hilton with no friends? Can this really happen? Is it the sign of the apocalypse? Also, T-Mobile released a statement regarding the incident and here it is:

“T-Mobile is investigating the reported disclosure of Paris Hilton’s information. T-Mobile’s computer forensics and security team is actively investigating to determine how Ms. Hilton’s information was obtained. This includes the possibility that someone had access to one of Ms. Hilton’s devices and/or knew her account password. Given the sensitivity of the situation, and to protect our customers’ information, we are not able to provide specific details of the investigation at this point.”

Wow, I’m really glad I use a Treo 650 and not a Sidekick. Not that I have any nude pix of myself on my Treo (nor would you want any, believe me).

I can’t resist. Paris Hilton’s T-Mobile sidekick was hacked before and now it has been hacked again. This time, all of her personal info (email, address book, photos) are all over the net.

I actually feel bad for her if this isn’t a giant publicity stunt. With all the celeb phone numbers (or at least purported celeb phone numbers) that got leaked, she might not be getting any more numbers after this. Paris Hilton with no friends? Can this really happen? Is it the sign of the apocalypse? Also, T-Mobile released a statement regarding the incident and here it is:

“T-Mobile is investigating the reported disclosure of Paris Hilton’s information. T-Mobile’s computer forensics and security team is actively investigating to determine how Ms. Hilton’s information was obtained. This includes the possibility that someone had access to one of Ms. Hilton’s devices and/or knew her account password. Given the sensitivity of the situation, and to protect our customers’ information, we are not able to provide specific details of the investigation at this point.”

Wow, I’m really glad I use a Treo 650 and not a Sidekick. Not that I have any nude pix of myself on my Treo (nor would you want any, believe me).

Apple is asking dealers to return their current stock of Photo iPods and U2 iPods and is not filling orders for any new ones at the moment. Could this be the prelude to the bluetooth iPod that was leaked a short time ago?

Or, could this mean the release of the much anticipated (and wanted) home integration device like an Apple-style TiVo which integrates audio, photos and video to become your digital hub? Maybe not that far but something is definitely up. We should know soon.

Hunter S. Thompson (1937 – 2005) More info here and here.

One of the cool things about the Treo 650 is the ability to blog while mobile. I am currently sitting in the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas while writing this.

We are a few minutes away from heading back to the airport for the trip back to LA. Lets hope we wont be spending several hours waiting for the plane this time.

Its sunny so that shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll write more about the trip when I get to a full size keyboard. Even though the Treo is cool, typing on it for too long gets old.

So, see ya later.

I am currently sitting on the floor at the Burbank Airport (i.e. Bob Hope Airport) waiting for a flight to Las Vegas. That might not seem that unusual but I have been waiting for this particular flight for the last three hours. I have lived in Southern California my entire life and this is the first time I have ever been delayed at the airport due to weather. Yes, it is raining hard today. It’s also raining really hard in Vegas too. So, we are waiting. We may be waiting for a long time.

It’s too bad because this is supposed to be a fun trip that the wife and I are taking together for out five year anniversary. Five years already? Wow. Seems like yesterday. Although it is ironic in one way. It was raining like this on our wedding day too. Irony is a bitch. Well, this has to end sometime and we will eventually get this show on the road.

The other thing about flying to Vegas on a Friday is that there are usually quite a few strippers. Now, they don’t look like strippers at this point but they are. I can tell. Hot women traveling alone with minimal baggage. Really, how much room do you need for a couple of g-strings?

You see, strippers live in Los Angeles during the week and then fly to Vegas on the weekends to work. I spoke to one such young lady on a previous trip and was told that she could make two to three thousand dollars in a weekend in Vegas and then come back and live in LA during the week. She even has a condo in Vegas and one in LA.

What does she do in LA during the week? She goes to acting auditions and takes acting classes and lives a “regular” life. Is this a great country or what?

Sitting on the floor isn’t so bad, you know.

Here are a couple of good articles about what could be the beginning of the end for Microsoft. Check out Michael Malone’s piece for ABC News and Hakon Lie’s piece here. They make some interesting points. It’s nice when people predict the death of a company besides Apple for a change.

And, in Apple news, Apple announced a 2-for-1 stock split. That’s good. Also, Apple shares climbed higher after a report from market analysts at UBS who rate Apple stock as a “buy”. So, get out your checkbooks or fire up those e-trade accounts.

And, our good friends in the movie business announced a new form of copy protection for DVDs. The existing technology, CSS, was cracked in 1999. The new Macrovision RipGuard (I like that name) will prevent copying by most existing DVD ripping tools – so far it hasn’t been employed on any DVDs. But, its just a matter of time. I wonder what will happen first? The new copy scheme will be rolled out or some resourceful kid in South Dakota or India will figure out how to crack it?

Finally, its fun to be insulted (at least its fun to be part of a group that is being insulted). Mainstream media is taking on bloggers. Conservative blogs were key in helping Dan Rather to resign over the memogate scandal earlier this year and CNN News Executive, Eason Jordan, is their latest target.

Jordan resigned recently in the face intense criticism from bloggers who jumped on his off-the-record and unpublished remarks made at the World Economic Forum. Both the Wall Street Journal and the Columbia Journalism Review have decried this trend, calling the bloggers “salivating morons” and a “lynch mob.” And the New York Times has weighed in as well.

Cool! It’s only bad when they stop talking about you.

What a great idea. This could be one of the greatest discoveries ever. And, they already have it working in mice. Wow. Kinda makes me wish I had paid more attention in school.