Parallels comes out of beta

Recently Parallels, the program that allows you to run Windows on your Intel Mac, has been releasing betas of it’s latest product. For those who aren’t into beta releases, the final release with some MAJOR upgrades has been released.

Parallels runs $79 but comes with a 14 day free trial. You need to have a valid Windows Product Key in order to install  the software, but if it’s Vista, make sure it is Ultimate, Enterprise, or Business. Those are the only versions which the EULA allow virtualization on, although any other version will still install, it just isn’t terribly ethical legal.

The Parallels server is getting slammed right now, so download it from this mirror.

Coverflow on iPod?

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Fake or real? The reflection of the light on the iPod makes it a bit more difficult to of faked this. What do you think? It isn’t exactly how Coverflow looks on the iPhone, but for the iPod it seems to work pretty well this way.

Apple TV delayed

Well it’s true, the Apple TV has officially been delayed by Apple over in Cupertino. They are putting some finishing touches on it from what they’ve said, and it should ship by the mid-end of March. I haven’t ordered one of these, as that personally I find Media Center a better option for my needs, and that I don’t buy tv shows off of iTunes ::cough:: I get them other ways ::cough::

Vista/Office Week

Over at Microsoft they are still celebrating the release of Windows Vista and Office 2007. I’ve installed both of these products on computers that I use daily, and honestly I can’t see how I could go back to using XP. The interface is so intuitive and beautiful. Aero Glass really makes the OS stand out in a way that I would of never expected.

Over at Channel 10 & 9 at Microsoft this week, watch for some great videos in their Vista/Office week of items like installing Vista, Media Center (my favorite Vista application), the snipping tool, voices on Vista, running your Vista Gadgets on your Windows Mobile phone, and more as the week rolls on.

First iPhone ad – Hello

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During the 79th Oscars last night, the first iPhone ad was aired to a nationwide audience. It in my opinion wasn’t the best ad Apple has ever produced, but it was appropriate for the time/place it was aired.

It features movie characters over the ages answering the phone with the word “Hello.” It’s remisiant of the launch of the Macintosh in 1984.

Apple has posted the ad in HD on it’s site.

Tampa Bloggers Unite

This has to be the worst timing ever. I just got an offer for a 2nd job in the evenings, which will keep me busy Monday thru Friday, that I am scheduled to start this coming Monday. I doubt I will be able to make all of these events, but it would be nice to hit up the Saturday one.

Here is a list of upcoming Tampa Blogger events:

• Tuesday, February 27th, 6:00pm – Blogger Meetup – Hawks Neighborhood Grill, South Tampa
• Saturday, March 3rd, 10:45am – Blog & Multimedia Seminar – Tampa Tribune Offices, Downtown Tampa
• Monday, March 5th, 6:30pm – Blogger Meetup – Panera Bread, Oldsmar

There seems to be a Tampa Bloggers group on Meetup.com. I just signed up to the group. I hope I am able to make it to the Monday event as well.

The coolest iPod case

This has to be one of the coolest ideas for an iPod case I’ve ever seen. Sam Levin why didn’t you tell me about this thing? It’s the latest case from Griffin Technology, and boy is it sweet. It’s the Griffin Relect.
It is made of a hardened plastic with a mirrored chrome finish, not the same scratchy chrome that the iPod is made out of. The back features matte black rubberized case back which compliments the front and adds grip to the case.

Here’s the sweet part. When the iPod isn’t on it looks like the chrome, but turn the iPod on and you can see right through the chrome to the display.

It works on all 5th Gen iPods, 2nd Gen iPod nanos, and SanDisk Sansa. It’s only $24.99 (a great price for an iPod case), and can be purchased now.

Pay for more Gmail space

In addition to all of the hoopla for Google Apps Premier, a way to now pay for more storage in your Gmail account is finally here.

It’s only $50/year for 10 gigs of space, an increase of  7.2 gigs based on the current hosting amount. There is a slight problem if you are trying to use an @gmail.com account. There is no way to upgrade that email account yet, but if you own a domain, you can simply run your email through the new Google Apps Premier and get 10 gigs of space.

If you are currently using Gmail and at your limit (read Adam Curry, Drew Domkus, or Jason Calacanis), you can simply have your messages forward to your new domain based Gmail account. I know these 3 guys have MANY domin names, and I’m sure they can figure out how to manage getting this new Google service to work for their needs.

So if you have run out of room on your Gmail account, it’s only $50/year for your own 10 gigs ad free email box.

Google Apps Premier Edition

Google is targeting Microsoft directly in this one offering their Google Apps Premier at $50 per user. This includes 10 gigs of space, no ads in Gmail, 99.9% uptime guarntee, 24/7 phone assistance, 3rd party applications and services (yet to be determined what these might be), and all of the following applications: Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Docs & Spreadsheets, Page Creator and Start Page.

It is yet to be determined when/if Google will offer a PowerPoint type program online, but that would certainly lead the way towards switching users from Microsoft’s Office Suite.

Last I checked ONE copy of Office Standard Edition was $299 with the Ultimate Edition at $599. Including the cost of email hosting, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a deal. Companies can save hundreds or thousands of dollars if they are planning on upgrading to the new Office Vista packages.

I have been using Google Apps for Domain for NickStarr.com and running all of my email through it. It works great, and I’ve had no problems at all. It is a great suite of products, and Google is going to make a ton of money on this one. Watch out Microsoft, Google’s got their sites set on you.

Oh btw, this is also free until April 30th as well.

So beautiful, so disturbing

This is a great little read. I don’t want to spoil it, but you will need to follow the jump to finish the story. Here’s the beginning:

 I wake. For a moment, I stare at the ceiling trying to remember something. Something important. Something important happened last night, but the details escape me. Something fascinating yet sinister, like touring the CIA offices. Something exotic yet somehow familiar, like putting hot sauce on meatloaf. I wonder if I have a hangover. I wonder why I am thinking about the CIA and meatloaf. I roll onto my side.

There is a strange woman in bed with me.

A lot of things happen at once. First, I realize that this is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I am a lucky, lucky man. Second, I realize that this is not my wife, and I panic. Third, I realize that she’s awake, has been watching me sleep. Fourth, before I can really react to thoughts 1 and 2, she smiles at me and speaks with a lovely accent I can’t quite place: “So. You like new wife, yes? Yes. Up now, I make breakfast.”

She gets out of bed and stretches, perfect curves sliding under silky lingerie and momentarily making me forget about breakfast, meatloaf, and whoever it was I was married to before last night. She seems to know this, and smiles at me again, but apparently she’s serious about making breakfast. She turns and strides confidently from the room. As she does, I see for the first time the large Microsoft logo splayed across her back. My stomach lurches as I suddenly remember everything.

Read on