So, Intel Is Building MacBook Pros Now

Let me make my triumphant return by explaining something about the above image that's sparked my interest.

It's not a Mac.... Well... Anymore. Here's why.

First off, see that glaring reflection on the screen, coming from the top right and going diagonal to bottom left? I challenge you to find an image of a Mac, of any sort, that DOESN'T have that exact same glare. It's identical to Apple's stock computer desktop images.

However, going across like that, they would have had to edit the entire image to depict the new screen. Would they go through all that trouble?

Second, the top left of that window with the car, you see that? On the very top left, are window controls functions. Where have we all seen those? They're the little traffic-light-looking-icons that represent the Close / Minimize / Expand functions of any single application on the Mac. Albeit small, you can certainly make them out. Even if you're one of the few that can't, there's no disputing that they're on the top left, and not top right, like any Windows computer would be.

However, the interface of that open window isn't exactly the spitting image of any Mac application that I've ever seen.

Third, on the main desktop of the computer, take a look at the bottom right. There's a little volume slider. You can tell it's a volume slider because of the icons on either side of it, and the color of the bar (and even the way the slider itself is) seems to resemble the iPhone volume sliders of the iOS.

However, that's one of the easier potential Photoshops on the page, if you really want to dispute it.

Fourth, is on that little window with the surfer off to the right. Nothing in particular I guess. It's just a little window of a program. That little surfer with the yellow board has been somewhere else, though.

However, does it not look similar to the new iMovie?

Fifth, I have to note the machine itself. As we can see, it's black. You're thinking, Apple hasn't offered a black computer since the black plastic MacBook. To take it a step further, if you want to compare screen sizes, it looks like more of a 16:10 ratio than 16:9. Let's just compare it to the available laptops... Looks a bit different. It's also shockingly thin if it's smaller than the MacBook Air since it has less of a tapered edge.

However, if you take a silver Apple laptop, and put it up against a white background, perhaps the easiest thing to do is to simply darken the image so much that it looks black. Something I do to my own pictures on occasion.

However, that can be construed completely wrong, and that's a story for another day.

Back to the Mac...

It's up to you to decide. Is Intel the culprit that should be locked up for leaking a new or redesigned Mac, or is it just the best mash-up of available laptops we've ever seen for a generic ad? Something to think about.

I always did say that Apple didn't change their own website for nothing. They darkened the color of their navigation bar, among adding some other effects. The color before was oddly close to their signature anodized aluminum unibodies. Someone didn't just go in and change that color without reason.

LiquidMetal has been rising in Apple's eyes, and maybe it's become the apple of their own eyes.

Back To The Mac Predictions

You know what I haven't done in a while? Told you what Apple plans on doing today.

I want to keep it short at 3 main points, so here goes.

A) Steve will come out and give financial stats. Best quarter Apple's ever seen. Stock way up; milestones broken. iPad selling like hotcakes, iPhone constraints are finally easing up. That "10's of millions of FaceTime devices" claim will be happening soon.

B) Steve is going to move on to software. Two software discussions today - the new iLife, more than likely skipping that 2010 or 2011 dating issue, and Max OS X Lion

iLife is going to see some minor updates to Garageband, iMovie, and iPhoto, but the new program is so tightly under wraps that the only thing I can say is that it's going to be software creating software. It'll be schweet.

OS 10.7 is going to integrate a lot of what people have become accustomed to in the iOS. There's a chance that the auto-correct typing feature just may make an appearance in the desktop OS. Rubber-band scrolling is a definite future feature.

C) The MacBook Air. Are we kidding? Of course we know there's going to be a new air. I can't definitely confirm the dual USB thing, but it seems very likely. It is closely going to resemble the MacBook Pro screens, with the black bordered screen, but to keep price and weight down, it may not be glass - or at least maybe not the same glass.

The cool little feature about the lack of an optical drive means that there's a key on their standard keyboard that the MacBook air doesn't need. To save just that extra bit of room, and make it look more minimal, the eject button that's on most keyboards will be the power button for the Air.

The new version is going to look even thinner, and be a combination of the curvy and shapely white MacBook and the aluminum back of the iPad. It will definitely be 11.6", because as a widescreen laptop, the smallest you can go without downscaling the keyboard... Is the half way mark between 11" and 12". Anything smaller, and the keyboard takes a hit.

There you have it. Now, let's wait and see.

My Feelings About Ricers

Have you ever gotten passed on the freeway by a Civic that looks like it could combust at any moment? Ever been challenged to a red-light showdown by some punk in a Subaru Impreza with a sail on the back that's 10 times more dangerous to you than the Cadillac rear fins from days long gone? Ever just want to shoot those people in the face with mace, or something else?

I have my reasons. You may not, or you may just not understand, but I'll clear it all up. Skippy's been gone for too long again, and the voice of wisdom hasn't helped you good folks for a long time. Every once in a while, I really need something to piss me off and push my buttons to get me going. Well. That happened recently. I'll explain my frustrations if you bare with me.

You know those kinds of people. The local college kids that all work at McDonald's and don't have a pot to piss in. You know exactly what I mean. Don't deny it, assface. Think about it. You hate them too, and you know all the reasons. Do I need to spell it out? Ok.

Consider the following:

A) The stereo with a sub in the trunk - because all good music belongs in your ass, enclosed in metal, and under the seats of your backseat drivers. See: Colon Cleansing.

B) The windows that are tinted so dark you don't know where they end and the paint / trim begins - because you're blocking UV rays from other suns in other galaxies? Who the fuck knows.

C) The spoiler that looks like it belongs on a boat in the Bahamas - because you really need REAR DOWNFORCE IN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE IMPORT CAR, for those times where you hit +200mph supercrazyfastGforcespeeds.

D) The exhaust tip that's the double the size of a Folger's coffee can - because when your supercrazyfastRicer overheats, the only method of cooling is a tube the size of a fucking dryer hose.

E) The amazingly huge wide-body fiberglass kits that weren't even made for that year and model car - because when you can't drive, the one thing that'll help is making your hatchback the width of a Dodge 3500 dually 2-ton pickup. How do you make it look better? Make sure it's not your car's color, and never, EVER paint it.

F) The relieving pressure of the bowls of the engine when your car farts a giant hiss - because your turbo is struggling to keep up and not explode, killing everyone in a quarter mile radius.

G) The need to accelerate at every single stop sign and green light at every corner of every city in America - because the one thing that's totally impressive to me is watching a car accelerate and smoke, reach 35mph, and need to hit their squeaking non-performance brakes so they don't fly into the living room of the house on the corner.

H) The urge to recline your seat as far as it can go, put one hand on the wheel, and the other, I don't even know, in your pants - because nothing says "hip" quite the same as looking like a woman in her hundreds who can't see over the steering wheel.

I) The dying pressure on themselves to cut me off while merging into traffic off of a ramp - because when I signal, that doesn't mean I'm getting in that lane or anything. OH, NO. That means that I want you to swerve as fast as possible, and cruise exactly where I'm going, at the same speed, so that I have to cut you back off, and flip you the finger. I have to. No questions.

J) The bumper stickers of companies, products, and brands that you like, or that you think are cool, that you put on the sides of your car - because it's really awesome to give your ride some Nascar sponsors, so that it looks like you're raking in money from all your awesome classic illegal street racing days.

K) The neon aftermarket DuPont colors you spray paint your car - because as we all know, just painting it yellow makes it faster. Just. Add. Yellow.

A close friend of dear Skippy had the following to say, and it rings so true, how could I not share and post it here? Read away!

"I just think it's ridiculous to take the smallest engine we can find and put it in a midsize economy car and pretend it's a sports car. Maybe these people can find a new job other than McDonald's that pays better and buy a real car. I don't have problems with nice Acuras or Infinitis (other than I would rather a Cadillac or Mercedes Benz) but these 1992 econo-boxes turned Ferrari looking sports cars are getting on my nerves. Other than that I'm fine.

There's nothing like seeing an inline four Honda Civic (or whatever is fashionable this week) decked out with a body kit and a huge sail on the back with a turbo rolling down the street with loud ignorant rap music pouring out of it. These people say it's cheaper and more fuel efficient. I say it is cheaper. It's shit. You could rub my balls with how cheap it looks, feels, and just is.

With today's V6 / V8 advancements i4s are no longer the only efficient route for engines. Ford's 30+ mpg 305 hp V6 is an example. So basically their lack of education is blatantly apparent in not only what they buy but how they show it off.

I have a Stratus and I know it's a piece of shit, and it looks like one too. It's okay to have a shit car if you at least understand it's a basic automobile. But these people are proud to have the bottom of the line, not because they worked for it, but because they (naturally) think it's the best.

So there you have it."

Yes. Yes you do. Suck it, youth.

Anti-Civic 4eva... or something like that.

(Vtec... lol...)

I Thought This Needed To Be Shared

"One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed.

Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like
it, I just want you to hold me."

I said, "WHAT??!! What was that?!"

So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear...

"You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man."

She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, "Lets get a pair for each outfit."

We went on to the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you... she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."

I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, "WHAT?"

I then said, "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman."

And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either....but at least that bitch knows I'm smarter than her."

The Government Legalizes iPhone Jailbreaking?

Wow, what a great idea! This is entirely useful, I must say. Sounds too good to be true, right? We can all do whatever the hell we want, thanks to the Gov., regardless of what rules any number of companies put in place.

"Owners of the iPhone will be able to break electronic locks on their devices in order to download applications that have not been approved by Apple. The government is making that legal under new rules announced Monday.

The decision to allow the practice commonly known as "jailbreaking" is one of a handful of new exemptions from a federal law that prohibits the circumvention of technical measures that control access to copyrighted works."
- The Associated Press

No. No no no. This is not useful. This is the exact opposite. This is interference. This is the Gov. attempting to remdy something that NEEDS NO CHANGING. If people want to Jailbreak their devices, they assume 100% responsibility for what happens to it when they think they know what they're doing.

Has anyone really gotten to use a Jailbroken device? Those that answered yes, how many can say that the experience was optimal? Are we kidding ourselves here? Anyone can Jailbreak the iPhone if they want. Why should the Gov. come in and say that now Apple has to provide service to the suckers that do, when something gets screwed up, because THEY did it?

What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?

This is bull. I'm sick of the Gov. sticking their noses and other appendages where they don't belong. It's about f'n time that SOMEONE with real power steps up in regards to this. What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? NONE. 0. Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / Al Gore better do something, before the Gov. regulates what can and can't be on my iPod -- OH WAIT...

I'm sick of the Gov. having everyone by the cajones, while whatever they say goes, whether the vast majority of the American people agree or oppose. King Obama, ball's in your court, and naturally it's your best sport.

I didn't vote for these people. I voted for one president who was the lesser of two evils. I never said that person could do what is being done, the way it's being done.

Let me break it down even further...

In the current situation, Apple is against jailbreaking, and if they find you have jailbroken your device, they can deny service in regards to voiding their terms. In the new proposed situation, Apple can now not deny service to those who have jailbroken their devices. The user owns the phone, and can do what they want, and Apple can not say no to the user.

The problem with this is, Apple has set up a environment where they can control the quality of the product after it has left the hands of any Apple employee, and entered the hands of the user. If the user takes that product home, and jailbreaking - some third party's work - screws up that user's product, why should Apple help the user, when the third party is to blame, and neither Apple or the third party can affect one another? The only contact the user and the third party has, is through the product, when one or the other directly affect it in any way. A vs C via B / C vs A via B.

In the words of my main man Charile Brown:
I just can't stand it.