Perfect Oatmeal + Tall Gingerbread Latte

I’m sitting here at Starbucks on Capitol Avenue, listening to ‘Take a Minute’ by K’naan through Etymotic ER6i headphones, eating Perfect Oatmeal, sipping on a Tall Gingerbread Latte while thinking about the rest of this year.  Days like these, grey skies and rain, make me feel like curling up on the couch with the snuggie I don’t have and read a good book while…wait for it…sipping a latte of course!  I am still currently trying to finish Three Cups of Tea which I am hoping to accomplish soon.  It’s 11:11, kees!  Anyways,  I absolutely enjoy sitting on the couch around the fire at the Starbucks on Broad Ripple Avenue. I just love that cozy feeling!  When I get to Colorado in December, I plan on doing that every night for one of my apres skis activity and just blog and catch up with friends on facebook and twitter. You know what sounds delicious right now? Pomme frites! mmmm.   Okay, I need to stop being so random and focus, gah!  I still can not get over the fact it is November.  A few things I need to check off before the end of month is: find yellow ski pants, wax my skis, and create several playlists. Blah, I need to get a few things done before Bullshit 101, so until then I’m getting off. Update later? possibly.

Apple announced iTunes 9 at today’s “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” keynote event, revealing new features such as iTunes LP, Home Sharing, a redesigned iTunes store, and improve syncing to name a few.  iPhone 3.1 was also released alongside with iTunes 9.  Key features include “Genius” for apps, wireless ringtone downloads, and the ability to organize your apps within iTunes.  Some of the minor improvement I appreciate are VoiceControl via Bluetooth and the ability to remotely lock iPhone via MobileMe.

As for iPods, Apple has bumped the 120gb Classic back to 160gb while leaving the price at the previous $249.  iPod Touch 8gb version drops to $199 (down from $229) while maintaing the previous hardware.  Major improvements to the $299 32gb and $399 64gb versions, including OpenGL|ES 2.0., bringing it close to iPhone 3G S performance level.

Not much change to the iPod shuffle except now comes in 5 different colors and 1 Apple Store exclusive polished aluminum.  Now comes in 2gb at $59 and 4gb will remain at $79, although the polished aluminum version will run you a cool $99 to have an exclusive.

Now for the main attraction, iPod Nano 5G with a video camera, speaker, and microphone. Key features:

-VGA quality (640 x 480) H.264, with up to 30fps and AAC audio. Also 15 real-time special effects including Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido and Motion Blur

-built-in FM tuner with Live Pause and iTunes Tagging

-a pedometer (enhanceNike+ integration)

-VoiceOver and support for voice memos

-larger 2.2-inch display (up from 2.0-inches) with a 376 x 240 resolution.

Will run 8GB for $149and 16GB for $179 available now!

]]> http://alextneil.com/2009/09/09/its-only-rock-and-roll-but-we-like-it/feed/ 0 http://alextneil.com/2009/09/09/090909-090909-itssoweirdwednesday/ http://alextneil.com/2009/09/09/090909-090909-itssoweirdwednesday/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:46:06 +0000 Alex http://alextneil.com/?p=293

First things first, it’s 09/09/09 – kinda freaky.

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast in North America.  Boy was that a lovely video game console that suffered an unfortunate 2 year life cycle.  I still have mine from when I picked it up for $49.99 during Black Friday years ago.

Palm just announced the Palm Pixi on Sprint to sell along side with the current Pre.  Now I have a decision to make whether or not to upgrade to Blackberry Tour or  Plam’s Pre or Pixi.  There is also HTC’s Android phone coming to Sprint. Ugh decisions, decisions.

Apple has also dropped the prices on iPods before today’s event. For the Touches, the 8gb model is now $189 (was $229), the 16gb model is $249 (was $299), and the 32gb model is just $279 (was $399). The Classic has been cut to $229 (was $249) while the Nano now starts at $129 (was $149) for the 8gb model or just $149 (down from $199) for the 16gb nano

I want to dedicate this post  purely to awkward people in certain social situations.  I’m not taking aim at anyone in particular, but would like to rant on a few things I have observed recently.

First of all, don’t be awkward. Just don’t.  I mean I know sometimes you can’t help it but , in the words of the great Ice Cube , “You better check yourself before you wreck yourself”.  Please refrain from any ass grabbing when you give people hugs.  It’s just weird, strange, creeper, and krockenburger-ish…too soon, too soon I take that baq.

In addition to “checking yourself before you wreck yourself” – Don’t get too excited. Some people really can’t control themselves and get way to excited and just fuq everything up for everyone. I’ll admit, I am guilty of this one, but not the following. If someone is play splashing water on you, don’t come around the corner shaking up two sodas because you are TRYING to play baq.

When you are in the car with your friends and everyone brings their iPod, you best know that they came to party. Having the volume at ’2′ is not jamming, raising the volume to ’3′ is still not jamming – JUST TURN IT UP AND PARTY ON

Oh yeah, lets not forget – TURN ON THE DAMN A/C when you are on the highway and especially when you drive like a granny.

Creeping… I don’t even know how to start this off or even want to get into this one. Update later? Maybe

/rant