Lately I’ve seen a few articles aimed at women regarding SDCC. Let me just say that the word condescending does not even begin to cover them. It’s more than a little sad that in the year 2010 many people still swing that wide brush which paints any girls at a comic/sci-fi convention as just tagging along with a guy. It reminds me of when I showed up to an employee’s desk to fix a computer issue one time. He said ‘Oh, er, um…Are you like the ‘unofficial’ IT person? All the guys are busy right now?’ I was so taken aback all I could say at first was ‘Are you serious?’ (which was 100% more profanity-free and less violent than what ran through my head) Oh yes, he was completely serious. People really are amazed when they discover I read comic books, wanted a Death Star cake at my wedding, and that I prefer technology to people. So when I was asked to do a write-up on my time at Comic Con, I thought that maybe, just maybe I can convince at least one person that the mythical geek girl does exist. And doesn’t always dwell in her parent’s basement.

This was my second year at SDCC. Due to traumatic events post-SDCC 2009 and other assorted factors, I only purchased a Friday pass this year. Which let me tell you, one day will exhaust you. I guarantee it! One thing I stress to anyone going to a con, regardless if it’s Comic Con in San Diego, Dragon*Con in Atlanta, or Starfest in Denver, is do some planning! Plan, plan, plan! I had poured over the schedule as soon as it was released, deciding which panels I absolutely had to see. I entered all of the pertinent information into my trusty Google Calendar and ensured it was sync’d with my trusty Blackberry so I would know where I was every step of the way. I also toyed with the idea of dressing up because my husband had helped me build a truly shiny Dark Helmet costume for Halloween last year (Slave Leia’s EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!). Then I remembered how hot the costume was, how hot Comic Con was, and how hard it was to see in that helmet. So civvies it was.

Luckily enough for me, all of my ‘must see’ panels were being held in Ballroom 20, one of the largest rooms at the San Diego Convention Center. I knew from my experience in 2009 what to expect line-wise. Therefore I was not surprised after registration when I rushed to join a mob that was behind the mob that was waiting behind the line to get in line for Ballroom 20. Basically, there’s a large terrace/balcony where they set up snaky chains to maximize the line. (I have the worst skills in judging distance, but I’m pretty sure if you straightened out the snakies in that line it would be about 232 miles long.) So my mob and I are all waiting to get outside and get in Snakyline 2010, when rumors start flying about the fire marshal being on his way and how they were going to kick us all out of that area! At one point a dude who looked reasonably in charge said he was going to take our mob around to another line location where we’d be in a real line to get into snakyline. About half the mob and I followed the reasonably-in-charge-looking-man until he took us down the escalator. I asked myself, “The line to get in line is downstairs?” Since I was pretty sure he was full of Sith-spit, I bailed on the half-mob, taking a quick tour through the vendor floor and making my way back up to Ballroom 20, where….

…there is a new mob! And now the Fire Marshal really is there, and they’re all trying to figure out what to do. So I think someone had some sort of epiphany and just opened the doors to let us all go get into snakyline 2010. Weird! The moral of that story is….that you should probably just stay put, wait it out, and hope good things happen.

Many rows back, BOO!

The first panel that morning was for Stargate Universe. I’ve always loved the Stargate movie, but I must confess that I never really got into the shows. I knew a lot of Stargate SG-1 groups that made the con circuit in Denver. They’re nice people. Surprisingly, the panel did pique my interest, and SGU is now on my ‘to watch’ list. Ming Na, in particular, was very personable.

Moved up a few rows, WHOO!

Next up was Caprica. I loved-loved-loved-loved Battlestar Galactica in a completely unhealthy fashion, so I was a bit apprehensive when I heard plans for a prequel named Caprica. Luckily, Caprica delivers. It’s dramatic and gritty and intense and oh-so-different from BSG, being set 58 years in the past. The Caprica panel featured Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone), Sasha Roiz (Sam Adama), Ronald D. Moore (co-creator/executive producer), David Eick (executive producer), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy Rand) and was moderated by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times. The cast had a fairly good rapport with one another which is always nice to see. My favorite parts of this panel had to be listening to Ron Moore speak. He’s an infinitely fascinating man and he and David Eick seem to have a very comfortable relationship, which I think translates into a great show.

Moved up about 15 rows, WHOO!

The Big Bang Theory was next, and it seemed that most people had sat through the first two panels just for this. (No one was stabbed for it, luckily) Con workers were making some adjustments on stage as they do, when we noticed there were instruments being tuned on stage. Instruments? I’m pretty sure Johnny Galecki really does play some large stringed instrument (Shockingly I was not a music major) but there was a…accordion? So my row-mates and I started to extrapolate on what that could possibly mean! An accordion? That’s crazy! A few moments later some paper came down the rows and we found ourselves looking at lyrics to TBBT’s theme song! Yay, a sing-along! A short time later, Wil Wheaton comes onstage and informs us that we will be having a sing-along…with THE BARENAKED LADIES!!! The crowd goes totally nuts. That was a really nice treat to give the fans, and they sounded fantastic!! This panel had Chuck Lorre (Creator/producer) and Bill Prady (Creator/producer), as well as series stars Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard), and Kunal Nayyar (Raj). The best parts of this panel had to be Chuck Lorre busting Wil Wheaton’s…chops. Chuck is a funny, funny man. Another funny one is Simon Helberg who cracked joke after joke, proving that he’s completely hysterical. It is always a bit disappointing when you realize that the actors are not even close to being geeks themselves, but such is life.

Moved up a couple more rows, YAY!

After Big Bang was the Bones panel. I actually sat through that panel in 2009 while waiting for Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse panel. I remember being really surprised that Bones had a panel at SDCC. I watch it occasionally and enjoy it, but don’t really keep up with it. Hart Hanson (creator/producer), David Boreanaz (Seeley Booth), and Emily Deschanel (Temperance Brennan) were all on hand for this panel which was moderated by some TV Guide Bones fan guy who moderated last year. I found him annoyingly smiley. Kathy Reichs, the author of the Bones books was a surprise guest, and everyone who attended got a copy of her new book, 206 Bones. (Haven’t read it yet.) This panel was alright. I got the distinct feeling that David and Emily do not particularly like each other. They were smiling and ‘joking’ but it was almost as if they were trying to annoy each other, a bit like the way I imagine newscasters who hate each other act.

Moved up to the FRONT ROW!!!!

(But no yay, because I was on the complete right-hand side. Bad move on my part. *Sadface*)

So now, the panel I was waiting for had finally begun…The Joss Whedon Experience!! I love Joss. I love anything that man has his hands in. Astonishing X-Men is my favorite comic series. I read the Buffy, Runaway Kids, Angel and Fray comics. I love all of his shows, and it really is awesome to hear him talk. Unfortunately, people tend to *always* ask him the same questions, it seems. “Why do you like strong female characters?” etc, but I try not to let that bother me. About halfway through, I noticed some people walk out from behind stage (remember, I’m on the faaaaaaaaaar right, by the wall and the stage entrance). And with regard to one of the guys, I thought to myself, “Nice disguise, dude.” The guy was wearing a white (golf?) hat, a big black mustache and sunglasses. Well I forgot about him until someone went up to the mic and asked, “Who’s your favorite actor?” Joss didn’t even hesitate and said, “Nathan Fillion.” The crowd went nuts, and Joss says, “No, you don’t understand (*points at the guy on the mic*), it’s Nathan Fillion.” It was, indeed, Nathan out there which was both awesome and a lot of fun.

Hitting the vendor floor for some shopping action

I really very much wanted to stay for the Entertainment Weekly: Girls Who Kick Ass: A New Generation of Heroines because it was so up my alley. There’s nothing I absolutely love quite as much as when women are not portrayed as stereotypical ‘women’. However I knew I had shopping to do, and the vendor floor is entirely unforgiving and HUGE. Also I had been sitting in that Ballroom for about 6 hours, and some people at SDCC have questionable hygiene. And someone was…excuse the details…passing gas. You know who you are, and I’m here to inform you there is a special place in Hades for you, right alongside the people who talk in the theatre and bring babies to Comic Con. (Yes, there are people who seriously brought babies.)

So I decided to make my way down to the vendor floor to check out all the goodies. Now, it seemed that many booths were in the exact same place as last year. I know a few of them moved, but for the most part a lot of the displays were the same which was mildly disappointing. Hasbro seemed to have a larger presence and brought a real-pony-sized My Little Pony (it was huge awesomeness), as well as a gynormous statue of He-Man! Which I totally squealed at because I loved He-Man and She-Ra. I think that’s where most of my kick-assedness comes from. She-Ra kicked tons!! My little-girl memories show me a woman who carried a blade and beat people up. My hero. One exciting point on the floor was was when I saw Misha Collins (Castiel from Supernatural) being interviewed on the second floor of the WB booth. We made eye contact and totally had a moment. (Not really.) He’s totally adorable and a very tiny man, in real life.

I made my purchases of a Darth Vader belt (a belt with him on it, not like his belt with all the buttons. I already have that belt), a Rebel Alliance (actually it’s the Alliance to Restore the Republic) symbol buckle, an angry grizzly shirt from artist Ben Walker (highly recommend his stuff if you share my sense of humor. There may not be much that’s more awesome than a bear with guns.), a super soft Star Wars T from Her Universe (amazing shirt!), my 4-day Comic Con pass for next year, and finally a skull and crossbones from my favorite Goth booth there. After that I was feeling pretty exhausted and crowd-weary, so I made my way to Jolt’n’Joes for the GeekGirls Tweet-up.

The GeekGirls Tweet-up

The Tweet-Up was a lot of fun. I actually met (in person) a lot of Twitter friends there which was very cool. Grant and Kari from Mythbusters showed up and were both super nice people, who were very gracious to everyone. However, it was incredibly hard to get an adult beverage, which was less than thrilling.

All good Comic Cons must come to an end

Finally, loaded down with my loot, I made my way to the Santa Fe Train Depot where I apparently missed the train back to Cardiff, despite having arrived 10 minutes before its scheduled departure time. I had to call my non-geeky husband to come pick me up before I had to trade my Star Wars shirt to a hobo for sidewalk space.

I already can’t wait for next year’s SDCC, and in case you’re still wondering what it’s all about…

Most of us are not surrounded at all times by people who share our geeky passions. My husband good-naturedly tolerates mine and finds my obsession with most of it endearing, rather than frightening. I generally tend to scare people when they find out I have a Lord of the Rings tattoo or that I know Hermione’s birthday and read Star Wars books. Comic Con may be noisy. It may be crowded. And some people may be smelly. It is, though, a place where we’re not weird. It’s a place you may catch snatches of a conversation being held in Klingon, and it’s not considered out of the ordinary. It’s a place where I could wear my ‘Hentai Inside’ shirt, and people laugh and say, “Nice shirt,” instead of “huh?” Why? It’s because, at Comic Con, you are hanging out with 125,000 people who “get it”. And, as surprising as it may seem, a lot of those who “get it,” like me, are girls.

Oh, because I’m sure you’re all wondering, I did not win the battle to have a Death Star cake at my wedding, although my husband and I did compromise. I made a custom cake-topper with R2-D2’s (they lit up and had sound-effects!), Padme and Anakin.

Social media and technology website Mashable recently discovered a potential new feature for Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service. In an article entitled Twitter to Show Photos and Videos in the Stream, Mashable writer Ben Parr described a new option that he had stumbled across in his Twitter settings, tentatively called Tweet Media. In a screenshot from the article, the new setting had the following description:

“By default, you’ll only see images and videos shared by people you’re following, and reveal those by people you’re not. Check this box to see media from everyone on Twitter.”

Parr speculated that this potential new feature could signify a fundamental change in the Twitter experience for users. He later updated his article twice: initially to report that the new setting had been removed and then to  include a statement from an anonymous source at Twitter, who stated:

“We’re constantly exploring features and settings. What you saw was a small test of a potential consumption setting for inline media. We show inline media on our own iPhone and Android apps.”

Is Tweet Media a good thing?

Similar articles from Fast Company (Twitter to Integrate Photos and Videos Into the Stream) and The Huffington Post (Tweet Media Could Put Photos, Video Into Your Twitter Stream) soon followed. Dan Nosowitz of Fast Company observed that:

“…adding embeddable media to the stream has the potential to complicate the traditionally simple, 140-characters-of-text aesthetic of the network. Of course, the contrary argument is that users already share photos and videos–they just have to waste precious characters on an external link to sites…”

Nosowitz prompted readers to state their opinions on this potential change to Twitter in his article’s comments section. Catharine Smith of The Huffington Post even went so far as to include a quick poll in her article, inviting readers to cast their vote for what they think the effect of inline media on Twitter feeds will be. As of 8:00 PM CST, on July 27, 2010, only one person had commented on the Fast Company article, and roughly 51% of respondents in the Huffington Post poll thought it would make the Twitter experience better, roughly 36% thought it would make it worse, and roughly 13% thought it would have no effect.

Is Twitter becoming more like Facebook?

While no one has seen the “inline media” feature in action, there is speculation that the photos and videos may be displayed in a Facebook-like fashion, such as shown in the image below:

Screenshot of an inline video (Facebook.com).

Another possibility is that the media may not be inline within a user’s Twitter stream:

Screenshot of a tweet from a user's Twitter stream (Twitter.com).

But in individual tweets:

Screenshot of a user's solo tweet (Twitter.com).

This behavior would be identical to how photos are already displayed inline within the Twitter mobile applications for iPhone and Android:

Screenshot of a user's solo tweet (Twitter for iPhone).

Chances are good that this latter behavior is the more likely course that Twitter will follow since they already display photos in this way, at least initially. Whether or not Twitter will eventually become more Facebook-like and display photos and videos within a user’s Twitter stream remains to be seen.

We will keep an eye on this potential, new feature for you and let you know if there are any developments in this ongoing story.

Over the weekend, I let my curiosity get the better of me and I went to see the latest Leonardo DiCaprio epic: Inception. Normally, I’m not a big Leo fan. He’s just got one of those voices that’s hard to take seriously in a dramatic role. That and I will always see him as the snot-nosed Luke in “Growing Pains” or the mentally handicapped brother of Johnny Depp in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”. I just don’t see him as all that dramatic. I got so sick of see his awful New York accent in the trailers for “Shutter Island” that I decided against going to see a movie I would have probably enjoyed.

That said, I went into Inception with mixed hopes; I knew it had been well –received, and anyone I knew that had seen it had enjoyed it, but could I take Leo seriously in what was likely an action role? The players in action movies really require the right mix of comic book absurdity and real life believability. I mean would “Predator” have been as easy to swallow with Adrian Brody playing Dutch? OK, bad example. I suppose this topic related to a recent article in which Sylvester Stallone blamed Tim Burton’s “Batman” for the decline of the muscle-bound action hero of the 80’s. I’m not sure about all that (even if I am sure that casting Michael Keaton was the worst idea in the history of cinema… after, of course, anything to do with “Ishtar”), but he does have a point. The advent of the “muscle suit” meant that action stars could be more cerebral, while still giving the appearance of being muscular and sturdy, even if they weren’t. Toward the end of the 90’s and into the 00’s, we started seeing a pleasant combination of both, which allowed for Toby McGuire to pull of being Spider-Man AND Peter Parker, and for Ryan Reynolds to do… well… whatever he effin’ wants to do.

Back to the topic at hand. So I sit down with my $1 drink and my $1 popcorn (thank you AMC) to watch the first movie to focus on the dream world since 1984’s Dreamscape (one of my personal favorites), and I immediately realize that this isn’t a typical Sci-Fi Action movie. It has elements of a Thriller, too, since the movie started with the viewer asking, “OK, what the heck just happened?” In fact, the whole first 20 minutes of the movie had me asking one question after another. What made this a good movie, and really is a hallmark of any good story, is that all the questions I asked were SUPPOSED to be asked, and they all got answered… in good time. You see, they left just enough information out to make me start trying to guess what the answers were; which I like, by the way. The best part was that I couldn’t just guess how things were going to go. There was a real feeling that the heroes (or more accurately anti-heroes) were going to fail, and in fact, failure was an integral part of the plot. That’s good story telling.

As for the Sci-Fi aspect, they didn’t really delve much into what made the whole thing work. They dip your toes tantalizingly into the physics of the dream state (i.e. that time passes differently because the subconscious perceives events differently), but they never explain how the process works. Not even a little. All you see is the cast put a thing on their arm and “BAM!” they fall asleep. Another interesting aspect is the concept of the “Kick”, which is the action of forcing someone out of a dream by making them fall (which seems easy enough, but the movie uses this as a major plot device, so it’s not as easy as you might think). There is a lot of potential here, and I felt it wasn’t explored enough. Additionally, and I’m speaking only for myself here, but my dreams are utterly effing bizarre. I’m talking anthropomorphic animals and talking cars bizarre. There was none of that, though. I imagine that the subject matter was serious enough to warrant realistic dreams, but these dreams were more along the lines of what I expect James Bond or Jason Bourne dream about.

Without getting too deep into the plot of the movie, which I feel would spoil it for you, I did want to talk about the concept of being able to share dreams, or, as the movie suggests being able to trick someone into subconsciously giving away a secret. The next step further is the act of planting an idea in someone’s head, which is where the movie gets its name. I will say that most of the coolest imagery you see in the trailer is in the first half of the movie, but all in all, I enjoyed the picture immensely. There was an excellent story, decent acting, lots of questions, almost as many answers, and a feeling when I left the theater that I had things to talk about. Imagine a world where people actually paid “Extractors” to train them how to defend against dream theft; a world where sharing dreams became so desirable that people abandoned their own reality to live in their shared dreams. It sounds nice until the scene where you see what can only be described as a “Dream Den”, a place where people connect together to share dreams for significant portions (like 18 hours or more) of their days. That’s when you find out that one of the side effects is that you can no longer dream without using the device (which is why I’m perturbed about not being told how it really works). You also learn about the totems the main characters use to help identify when they are dreaming and when they aren’t, since the dreams become so real it becomes impossible to distinguish dream from reality.

All in all, I enjoyed Inception a great deal, and I am recommending it to anyone who enjoys Action movies or Thrillers. For us Sci-Fi geeks, there’s just enough to draw us in, but in real Science Fiction, those aspects of the plot that MAKE it Sci-Fi are just as important as the characters and the plot. In this movie, the whole concept of the dream state, and the device that they use, is secondary to what actually happens in the dreams themselves. I felt like they could have used any number of different plot devices to get where they were going in the story, and that the “dream machine” just happened to be the one they chose. That’s not to say that some of the more intricate sub-plots weren’t dependent on the technology, but the overall story wasn’t. At least not from where I sat.

Go see the movie and let me know what you think. Or maybe you can just dream about it. Maybe you already have. Maybe this is a dream…

As true geeks, we here at Geek Shui Living constantly keep our eyes open for anything that looks, smells, or tastes like geekiness. Back in June, I had the privilege to come across a geeky startup, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The brainchild of Natali, a person whom I have the unique pleasure of following on Twitter. A self-confessed (and monikered) dork, Natali is one of those people that others tend to flock toward, based on her positive attitude, keen wit, and demonstrated intelligence. In this case, I came across a Kickstarter project started by Natali.

What is her goal? Well, she has a dream. That dream is to start a business, called the UberDork Cafe. Of course, to start a business one needs either their own capital or funds from investors. Living in the real world, we know that now isn’t necessarily the best time to run to the bank and ask for a business loan. In Natali’s case, she is appealing to the geek masses. What is her humble request? She is asking for geeks to unite and donate anywhere from $1 to $1,000 to help her get things started. At this point, you might be asking what this really has to do with technology and geekery in general. That’s where it gets really interesting. Trust me. You want to be a part of this.

A culinary, tech startup where the needs of the many truly outweigh the needs of the few.

The fact is that Natali’s dream isn’t just to start a business from which she can derive a steady income with which to support her family. The business plan is to operate a cafe with a delicious menu, but, ultimately, the dream is bigger than that. Yes, it will be her business, but one of her core concepts is to spread the geek love to others in her community. According to Natali, the cafe will provide a safe, family-oriented environment that serves not only good food, but knowledge as well. As Natali puts it on the project’s homepage:

“The goal is to use as many local vendors as possible. To showcase local artists and talent as well. Whether it’s someone guest-teaching a class, hosting a local knitting group, a comic artist lecture or meet and greet or allowing local artists to exhibit and sell their works, there will be much opportunity to support the great vendors and artists that my community (both in location and in spirit) has to offer.“

To this end, the idea is to have both adult and child seating areas. Additionally, there will be a game room, complete with video gaming consoles and educational games. There will also be a classroom area where local artists, teachers and other community-minded individuals can give back something to members of the community, in the form of classes, expositions, and other educational forums.

In a recent profile of the project on Game Couch, Natali was asked why people outside of the greater Milwaukee area and around the country should want to donate to this worthy startup. Natali explained:

“What if there was some place to go do all of that while surrounded by people that got you? What if there was a place where geeky kids could go hang and meet other kids instead of avatars? Where people that believed in them so much that they might have a chance at a scholarship to go build the best video game ever or gadget that would save lives? ….that all needs to start somewhere. Why not here?“

Her remark on scholarships touches on another unique and admirable aspect of the project. Natali’s goal is to be able to eventually provide annual scholarships to budding art and science geeks, in the local area. For her, it’s just as important to help other children, as it is to help others. Does all of this capture the complete idea and essence of the UberDork Cafe. A visit to the project’s homepage educates visitors on the complete dream, her concept of operations, and the many details associated with achieving it. Of course, the reality is that dreams like this generally aren’t cheap. Natali’s initial goal was to raise $5,000 to allow her to secure, furnish, and stock the locale. There are also significant costs relating to licensing and permits. The date for her to secure the minimum pledges necessary to get things moving is August 13, 2010. Fortunately, she was able to reach her minimum goal well ahead of schedule. The important thing to remember, though, is that $5,000 is the minimum. In order to maximize the chances of success, the UberDork Cafe will need a significantly higher pledge total. This is where you, the reader, come in. The minimum pledge amount is $1.00. Let’s assume that you donate $10.00 and put things into their proper perspective. In today’s world, $10.00 will buy you:

• Two lattes from Starbucks (before tax).
• One iTunes album
• Two Happy Meals from McDonalds
• One movie ticket (depending upon geographic location)

What if you could trade one or more of these things, for just one day of your life, to help someone make their dreams and the dreams of others come true? In perspective, it seems like a worthy cause to me. If Natali is able to achieve the success to which she aspires, you will be able to count yourself among the benevolent people who helped. Of course, you may not be able to pledge $100 or even $1,000, and no one is asking you to go hungry. To a degree, you’ll be grouped in the same category of “tech angel investors,” that includes names like Kevin Rose, Jason Calcanis, Mike Arrington, and Matt Coffin. In the end, will it be the dollar amount that you pledged that really matters or the fact that you did it at all? I think we all know the answer to that one.

Ready to help make the UberDork Cafe dream a reality? Visit the project homepage to learn more and make your pledge. Would you like to help but can’t afford it? You can help by simply taking the time to share this post via Facebook, Twitter, or email, so that others can pledge their support.

As the Apple Store online went down this morning with the familiar “We’ll be back soon” message, technophiles across the web prepared for the latest refresh of the Apple product lines. When it arose from the virtual ashes, we were met with an entirely new line of Macs, a cinematic display, and an overgrown trackpad. Let’s hit the trackpad first, since it is the only one of the three most people can afford to run out and purchase.

Called the Magic Trackpad, Apple’s latest gadget is a peripheral device that connects to a Macbook or iMac and provides users with a touch-swipe interface, from which they can manipulate their Mac’s actions. Liberally-sized and connectable via Bluetooth, the device will appeal to many who appreciate the touch-swipe functionality on their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Macbook and have longed for the same functionality in the desktop computing environment.

So why does Apple say Mac users should love the Magic Trackpad? Well, here’s the official Apple word:

“Magic Trackpad gives you a whole new way to control what’s on your Mac desktop computer. When you perform gestures, you actually interact with what’s on your screen. You feel closer to your content, and moving around feels completely natural. Swiping through pages on screen is just like flipping through pages in a magazine, and inertial scrolling senses the momentum in your fingers as you move up and down a page.”

Priced at a reasonable $69.00 (at least when compared to most Apple products), the device is compatible with Mac OS X v10.6.4 (Snow Leopard) or later and requires a software update for the Magic Trackpad, itself. Of course, this is just a peripheral device. What will it really compliment? The new 12 Core Mac Pro, of course!

That’s right. Apple also announced several big ticket items. The first is an entire new line called the Mac Pro. These aren’t for the faint of heart. Featuring up to a quad-core and 6-core Intel processors (both 3.33 GHz), these Macs also include the capacity for (4) 512 GB solid state drives (SSD). Add to that a 1 GB ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor and an option to Turbo Boost the machine’s processing power, and you have an industrial sized Mac. The line will begin selling in August 2010, and, according to Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, “…the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50 percent, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want.”

So how much will these set you back? Again, they’re not for the faint of heart…or light in wallet. Beginning at $2,499 for the Quad-core, the price increases to $3,499 for the 8-core and $4,999 for the 12-core. Yes, these are truly industrial sized prices, too.

But wait! That’s not all you can get. (We’re starting to sound like Bob Barker.) Apple also unveiled the perfect display to use with your new Mac Pro and Magic Trackpad? It’s the all-new LED Cinema Display from Apple.

This 27-inch display comes with the standard, integrated iSight camera, microphone, and 2.1 speaker system. It provides resolution up to 2560 x 1440 pixels and supports a whopping 16.7 million colors. It too will be available beginning in August 2010 and requires a Mac with OS X v10.6.4 (Snow Leopard) or later. What about the most important question, though? How much is it? The LED Cinema Display will set you back $999.

Apple has obviously dished out a lot of technological goodness today. The entire, maxed-out package is valued at $6,067.00. Yes, it can all be yours…if the price… err…if your bank account can handle it.

Official Product Information:

Apple.com – Apple Magic Trackpad

Apple.com – Apple Mac Pro Line

Apple.com – LED Cinema Display

Official Apple Press Releases:

Apple Unveils New Mac Pro With Up to 12 Processing Cores

Apple Unveils New 27-inch LED Cinema Display

Earlier this morning, the word began circulating that jailbreaking of the Apple iPhone will soon be a legal practice. Yes, you read that correctly…legal. According to an Associated Press story published earlier this morning, the U.S. Government, specifically the Library of Congress, triennially reviews approved exemptions and restrictions relating to copyright-protected material.

What this means is that the Library of Congress didn’t specifically say, “You may unlock and jailbreak your iPhone.” What they did do, though, is add some exemptions to DMCA Section 1201. This is the set of rules that governs approved exemptions for access-control technologies. Before your head starts to hurt from Government jargon, we’ll put it into plain English for you.

Previously, the law (circa 1998) said that people aren’t allowed to go around technical safeguards that manufacturers place on a device. This is basically what the various jailbreaking methods (i.e. Cydia, Spirit, and Blackra1n) do when they figure out how to get around Apple’s restrictions. They then organize the process up into a neat, user-friendly package and publish the information. In addition to  simply unlocking the device, they also allow for the installation of third-party software, which hasn’t been approved by Apple.

Obviously, there are some significant ramifications to these changes that affect not just Apple, but other mobile device manufacturers, as well. The changes essentially allow users to legally unlock what may be an AT&T branded device for use on another GSM-enabled carrier, like T-Mobile. It also gives rise to the possibility that certain device security safeguards could be bypassed that could ultimately allow would-be criminals unhindered access to at least look for something to exploit. Simply looking for a way around wouldn’t be a criminal act. Based on both contestable aspects, it is highly likely that Apple and other interested companies will likely file some sort of legal challenge regarding the changes.

The complete statement, Librarian of Congress Announces DMCA Section 1201 Rules for Exemptions Regarding Circumvention of Access-Control Technologies, is posted on the Library of Congress website.

It is now official. In the spirit of famous U.S. led rescue operations, like Operations Vittles, Baby Lift, and Unified Response, Apple is honoring their promise to rescue iPhone 4 owners with antenna issues. Current iPhone 4 owners can now visit Apple’s website for detailed information on how they can request their case. So, how is Apple ensuring that only people who actually own the device request them? As usual, there’s an app for that.

Yes, iPhone 4 owners who didn’t previously purchase a case can now download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from the iTunes App Store, to request that a free one be shipped to them. Those who previously purchased one from Apple or AT&T can also request a refund for the purchase price, plus any applicable taxes and shipping. Overall, it is a pretty straight-forward process. Apple is obviously not going to make things any more difficult than they have so far. Even so, there are some rules to which owners will want to pay attention, in order to make sure they get their free case or their refund.

What are the basic rules for requesting a free case?

There are two general categories into which a person must fall.

• Purchased iPhone 4 before July 23, 2010 – Must request a case by August 22, 2010

• Purchased iPhone 4 after July 23, 2010 – Must request a case within 30 days of purchase

Additionally, the iPhone 4 Case Program will close on September 30, 2010. Consumers must purchase their iPhone 4 on or before this date, in order to qualify for a free case. People in this category must also request their case within 30 days of purchase.

How do I request a refund for a previously purchased iPhone 4 case?

For those who already purchased a case directly from Apple or through AT&T, the method of refund is dependent upon the method of purchase.

• Purchased from Apple via credit card – The purchase price (plus taxes and shipping) will be automatically refunded to your credit card

• Purchased from Apple Retail Store via cash, check, or gift card – The purchase price will be refunded once the purchaser returns to an Apple Store and presents their receipt.

• Purchased with Gift Card from Apple.com – The purchase price will be refunded via a Gift Card to be automatically mailed to the purchaser of record.

• Purchased from an AT&T Store – Purchaser must complete a rebate coupon and submit it, via mail, to Apple.

As mentioned earlier, the program will end on September 30, 2010. Any online, in-store or AT&T refunds must be completed by this date. The complete details, as well as the full list of terms and conditions, can be found on Apple’s official iPhone 4 Case Program page.

Useful Links:

Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app – For refund requests for cases purchased from Apple

Download the iPhone 4 Bumper Rebate request – For refund requests for cases purchased from AT&T

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As you may know, if you follow me on Twitter (@GizmoAlex), I have a mini-dragon I like to call Erin. She is my beautiful 3 year old daughter, who has basically repossessed my iPod Touch. It is no longer loaded with my music. It has Disney Songs, Yo Gabba Gabba, and, most importantly for her, games. There are SO MANY games for the platform that it gets really hard to wade through the options. So I want to recommend some of her favorites (for tiny minds). Each of these have definitely helped us survive mini roadtrips without too many meltdowns.

Angry Birds for iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad

By far I think her favorite game is Monkey Preschool Lunchbox. With Monkey Preschool Lunchbox you do several  different activities. There are very simple puzzles where you take the pieces of a fruit and drag and drop them to the silhouette of the fruit. There are also very easy letter games that ask you to identify the starting letter of fruits. There are several other mini-games that any young child will love, too. The best part of the game for her is the rewards. After you successfully complete each section, you are give a choice of stickers to post on your virtual chalkboard. There are monkeys, unicorns, and even the ever elusive hippo. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox is a bargain at $0.99 and is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (Requires iOS 3.0 or later).

Elmo’s Monster Maker is another one of her favorite apps . Of course for us older folks we do not understand why anybody would like Elmo over say Oscar the Grouch or Cookie Monster, but kids love him, nonetheless. The premise of the game is simply selecting from a group of different eyes, noses, mouths, and hats, which are then placed on the different monsters. You can choose between several different body types and hair colors. What she likes the most is the ability to make them dance once they are fully created. It is a fun game, but it is a little expensive for what you get, at $3.99. It’s available for both iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad (Requires iOS 3.0 or later).

Another great choice for both kids and adults, alike is Angry Birds. It is a simple and fun game that can definitely be challenging the further you progress. The premise is very simple: Kill the Ugly Green Pig guys with your Angry Bird. (Yes, the word kill is used in this article, but it definitely isn’t represented that way in the game.) The different birds have their own unique properties. Red birds are simple projectiles. Small blue birds turn into three tiny birds (like a Spreader Gun from Contra), and black birds are mini-bombs. There are several other types, which you’ll acquire as you progress. It is a fun game for little ones because they can simply stay on easy stages and still make small accomplishments about which they’ll get excited. At only $0.99, it really is a great buy. It’s available for iPhone and iPod Touch (Requires iOS 3.0 or later). There is also an iPad version, Angry Birds HD, available for $4.99 .

Erin really loves to color as so many kids her age do. She may not be exactly great at it, but enjoys it. Doodle Buddy is a great simple drawing app. You can choose different brush styles and sizes, colors, and there are stickers you can put on the screen. You can also draw with a buddy. As any good parent knows, there is nothing better than the look on your kid’s face when they create their very own masterpiece. Lite and Premium versions of Doodle Buddy are available (Requires iOS 2.2 or later).

Again, these are some of her favorites, but, of course, there are thousands more out there that may catch your little one’s attention. The ones we’ve covered definitely provide some good entertainment options for her. What are some of the apps/games for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad that you and your kids love? Let us know. We’re always ready to try something new!

It seems that even the newest platforms aren’t immune to old annoyances. The sad news that began making the rounds yesterday is that the Android platform is latest victim of smartphone bloatware. What exactly is bloatware? Since the first cell phones with more than just voice functionality began to hit the market more than a decade ago, manufacturers and wireless companies preloaded them with trial-based games and other apps that users couldn’t delete. As the smartphone, with its wonderful data functionality, began to proliferate, the annoying practice has only grown. Today, devices come preloaded with apps for everything from mobile-based television viewing to location-based mapping.

To put is plainly, bloatware is nothing more than extra applications that aren’t free but consume precious space and processing power from a devices onboard storage quota. The practice goes back farther than smartphones, though. Many users will remember buying Windows 98 PCs, which came preloaded with trial versions of Microsoft, Quicken, and other office productivity software. That practice has continued unabated, and the same types of try-before-you-buy software can be found even on the latest Windows  7 PCs. What is the difference between the bloatware found on PCs and that found on smartphones? Very often, it can’t be uninstalled from a smartphone in the same way that it can be on a PC. Now, we’ve begun to hear complaints from users that Android devices are the latest casualty in the gadget-based disease that is bloatware.

It seems the latest victim is the recently released Samsung Vibrant. Flying under the T-Mobile flag, the device includes familiar preloads like Mobi TV and The Sims 3, among others. Other 2010 Android devices such as the Motorola Backflip and HTC Evo are just several other examples of gadgets that include what many feel should be optional after-market downloads.

Looking at it from this point of view, one could reasonably argue that the proliferance of smartphone app stores like the Android Market and BlackBerry App World make preloaded software an unnecessary evil. Since the majority of users who would be potentially interested in third-party apps are also likely to be adept in using smartphones and app stores, the choice should be left to the consumer to find, purchase, and download it of their own free will. Of course, the preferred route for many gadget gurus is to root their Android device. Similar to the infamous iPhone Jailbreak, rooting provides access to generally restricted areas and functions of the Android platform. Through this process, users can permanently delete the unwanted software.

If this is the case, why is bloatware still an issue? Generally, a manufacturer such as HTC will only include the baseline software for the platform, but once they pass it off to the wireless operator, all bets are off. Wireless carriers often enter into agreements with third-party companies to add the trial-based apps, in order to generate additional pre-market revenue. While it may make sense, that doesn’t mean it is necessarily acceptable to consumers. As of late, an increasing number of complaints from users has begun to pop up on forums, post comments, and other websites.

What is unclear, though, is whether or not these financial agreements between the wireless operators and the software manufacturers are bringing down the retail price of the smartphone, itself. No verifiable data seems to be readily available to either confirm or deny the possibility. If such was the case, would consumers accept the annoyance of bloatware, in exchange for a lighter touch on their wallets? Alternatively, would some consumers prefer to pay more just to avoid the labor involved to root their device?

Either way, the debate is likely to escalate, as more Android devices and the latest platform version, Froyo, begin to hit the market. Perhaps then, wireless operators will begin to respond to customer complaints.