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Are the new iMacs sending a signal?

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Today, Apple unveiled its new 24 inch iMac. It’s a great sized display with some power behind it. After seeing the new machine online, I thought that this may signal a start of Apple’s entry into something bigger than just computers.

Apple is a hardware company regardless of what anyone else wants. They’ve been slowly creeping into the living room with the mac mini. The iMac can act as an entertainment hub; I believe that it was the first Mac with Front Row. However, people have complained that it lacks television inputs. Now that Apple has made a 24 inch iMac, what is stopping them from going bigger?

I’d imagine that with the larger displays, the iMac may have some extra hardware space inside the case. Maybe a television tuner isn’t that far off. Additionally, Apple could always be working on new deals with the iTunes Store. iTunes could become a television distribution system. Many televison shows are available on iTunes, so why couldn’t Apple become a distributor of media? They’ve already tinkered with the multi-pass for things like the Daily Show – why not go ahead and have a monthly pass for certain channels? iTunes could offer true a la carte television. Apple could dabble in the subscription system – people are already used to the idea of subscribing to cable or satellite.

Maybe Apple could build a larger display with a computer behind it. A 30 inch iMac would probably have room for an inbuilt TV Tuner or maybe an Apple built break out box where you can hook up a multitude of inputs. Apple could bring a Media Center type experience into the home by sneaking it into the slick iMac packaging. When people see the iMac, they aren’t intimidated by hooking up anything up to anything else. It is similar to people’s television experiences. Simply sneak a computer into the living room by putting it behind the display.

I’m aware that there are PCs built into larger displays. I just think that Apple’s move to a larger iMac signals the beginning of larger, Apple-built living room computers with true Media Center capabilities.

Killing Time Episode 008: Dick DeBartolo Interview!

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Guest Starring Dick DeBartolo and his Air Conditioner.

Direct Download: Killing Time Episode 008

Having trouble getting the episode? Go to KillingTime.TV

Show Notes
Lots of Gadgets discussed in this episode:

* Mini Water Dispenser
* Infomercials and Commercial Spoofs – Ionic Breeze / Ironic Breeze
* Magic Bullet Blender
* Showtime BBQ Grill
* Show-Off T-shirt – shirt with built in equalizer
* Billboard Hat
* Wavy Wand
* Tempo Tags
* The Cruizin’ Cooler

Daily Giz Wiz

The origin of Killing Time (Dick DeBartolo Interviews I.A?)

MAD Talk:

* The new issue of MAD Magazine
* Dick gets paid to watch TV
* Yell’s Kitchen and Deal or No Deal
* Snakes on a Plane
* The MAD magazine process
* 24 – Dick DeBartolo liked it – but he’s tired of Keifer Sutherland running and screaming.

Randomness:

* I.A. teaches Dick some things
* BitTorrenting
* Call For Help
* Cracked Magazine
* Cargo Magazine
* iTunes
* D**k and S**k and Censorship.
* Changes to the Daily Giz Wiz
* WBAL Baltimore

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Whining MacBook Pro Repaired

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Over 150 days ago I bought my MacBook Pro. I know this because I looked up my serial number with Apple. I had gotten one of those MacBook Pros with the whining noise. I had gotten used to it, so I accepted the fact that I paid a high price for a computer with an annoying defect. Then I read on digg that Apple had acknowledged this noise and instructed owners to contact AppleCare.

I called up AppleCare and told them of the problem. They asked me if the whining was present at start up. I said I didn’t know because I rarely start up my laptop. I usually only restart my MacBook Pro after Software Update requires a restart. (That’s one of the reasons I switched from PCs to Macs). Then they asked me if it was making the noise now. I told them I didn’t know. The guy at AppleCare tried to understand the situation “You don’t know if you hear the noise your complaining about?” I told him the room was noisy and the noise is much more noticable when the notebook is plugged in. After a couple of minutes, I was given a couple of numbers and was told that a box was on its way. I asked if I needed to backup my hard drive. The AppleCare guy told me to do so since there were no guarantees.

I received my box from Apple the next day and packaged up my notebook (it’s not a laptop) after backing up my hard drive twice. After about two or three business day, I received my repaired MacBook Pro. It had two stickers on it that I assume were for identification while it was at the repair place.

They replaced the Main Logic Board (MLB) at no cost to me. I haven’t heard the noise again (but then again, I haven’t used my MBP that much in the past two days). So, if your MacBook Pro buzzes or emits a high pitched noise, contact Apple and get that logic board replaced. It actually worked out pretty well. My MBP’s speakers sound louder – that might be my own perception – as well.

Overall, a good experience with AppleCare.

AppleTalk Conspiracy

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I am under the belief that there is a conspiracy by Apple. They have a technology they call “AppleTalk” which helps the Macs find each other and network. I have two Macs in my living room. The day I got my new snazzy Intel iMac, my old venerable mac mini (about 7 months old at the time) started to crash more. It became sluggish.

I wondered why this was happening. My theory – AppleTalk is telling my older Mac to slow down. By slowing down the mac mini I would want a new Intel mac mini. This is my AppleTalk Conspiracy theory.

Do I have any real proof? Nah.

I then bought a MacBook Pro and my wife’s iBook was becoming glitchy some time after the MacBooks were released. Coincidence? Maybe.

Maybe Apple’s got a plan that’s a bit sinister. Then again, I like to speculate wildly sometimes.

** Update **
After reading the comments, I thought I should clear something up: I was only half-serious when I wrote this post.

Killing Time Episode 007

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Upcoming Interviews, Snakes on a Plane, New Segment, Spider-Man 3 and more!

  • Taimak and Dick DeBartolo are coming to Killing Time
  • Jack Bauer Stole My Week: I.A. Watches 24: Seasons 3, 4, and 5 in six days.
    • Is Jack Bauer better than Batman?
    • Contains Spoilers (So if you don’t want to hear about the show, don’t listen.)
    • Jack Bauer = Captain America?
  • Snakes on a Plane: Prank Calls available – snakesonaplane.varitalk.com – excellent marketing
  • New Segment: Stump the Sultan of Some Cinema
  • Spider-Man 3: Too Many Villains?
  • More stuff – just listen to the show, it’s free!

Direct Download: Episode 007
Having trouble getting the file? Visit KillingTime.TV.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download