Google just launched Docs & Spreadsheets, free – that I am calling Google Office 1.0. Google has integrated an online word processor, previously the separate Writely and their online Spreadsheet product into a uniform user interface and a unified document repository. Google says creating a common platform, will make it easier for users to switch between Writely and Google Spreadsheets.
Continue reading Google Office 1.0 Launches…

Microsoft Office 2007 for the Mac will feature an all-new look and feel to match Mac OS X’s interface evolution, and enhanced features, while running natively on the new Intel Macs, according to Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit group product manager Mary Starman.
Continue reading Microsoft to Delay Mac Office 2007…

PBS added to the iTunes Store today. Available for purchase are episodes of Arthur, Antiques Roadshow, Cyberchase, FETCH!, Nova, Now, and Scientific American Frontiers all at the standard iTunes Store pricing of $1.99 per episodes applies to all the PBS programming. Although, the Nova episodes cost $7.99, a bit pricey I thought for a TV Show.
Continue reading PBS Now Available at iTunes Store…

Tower, as New Yorkers always called it, was once a meeting place, hang-out and one of the best places to hear and buy the newest music, videos and imports. The Tower Record store in the “Village” that opened in 1983 was once considered a mega-store that was open until the late hours in the evening and was surprisingly full. Well those were the days before the record labels went bust, before Amazon and online buying, and before iTunes and music downloading put the ease and convenience into acquiring music. The Internet has changed the way people buy music.

Tower Records selling CD and DVDs at “list” price has long since run out of favor of the average music buyer. Tower Records filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 20, 2006 for the second time. Tower Records, which was owned by MTS Inc. in West Sacramento, Calif., has 89 stores in the U.S. and 144 stores run by licensees in nine foreign countries.
Continue reading Tower Records Broken!…

As a Mac user I was very happy to see that today Google officially launched a blog for Mac users. Google has had a decent track record of supporting the Mac platform and many Google employees ARE Mac users themselves. I have covered many Mac compatible Google applications and services at ReelSmart. Google is listing all the Mac related Google products that are available here.

Glad to see that Google has now launched a blog for just us Mac users. Maybe Eric Schmidt, Google CEO being on the Apple board has a little to do with this.
Continue reading Google Launches Mac Blog…

UPDATE: The Google-YouTube deal has now been confirmed. Google has acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in an all stock transaction, the companies announced Monday after the close of the stock market. Both companies have approved the transaction. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006. Details are also emerging that Yahoo was in the bidding war until very close to the end.

Earlier: According to Andrew Ross Sorkin of the NY Times, the boards of both Google and YouTube are scheduled to hold separate board meetings on Monday to approve a deal, with an announcement possible after the close of regular trading today. The cost of this deal could be as high or higher as 1.6 billion dollars.

Barring a last-minute snag in the talks, discussions could still break down, however, or another party could present a more-attractive offer. Negotiations between Google and YouTube began in earnest late last week after a lower bid from Google was initially rebuffed, these people said.
Continue reading Google-YouTube Deal CLOSED – UPDATED…

I seem to be on a widget and gadget roll this week. I came across this free Dashboard Widget I really liked and wanted to share this with you. The OnTour (Mac OS X only) Dashboard widget scans your iTunes music library, letting you know when music artists that are in your iTunes library are performing near your town.
Continue reading OnTour Dashboard Widget…

Stop getting lost! Throw away those dirty maps. If you are a man and read this, you STILL will not have to ask directions! My favorite “gadget” next to my iPod is definitely my Garmin nuvi 360 Portable GPS unit. This is one of the handiest devices I ever bought. I paid about $650 from Amazon.

Continue reading Garmin nuvi 360 Portable GPS Receiver…

I posted the other day about adding Google Gadgets For Your Website. Google has made over 1,200 of these small applications for your website. Here is a simple way to easily make these Google Gadgets into Dashboard Widgets for Mac users.

Mesa Dynamics’ Amnesty Generator is a free utility that converts any Google webpage gadget into a Dashboard widget. Go to Google’s new Add to your webpage feature, select a webpage gadget, copy and paste its HTML code directly into the Amnesty Generator window, tweak some settings (if you wish) and generate a new Dashboard widget with the click of a button. From there, you can install your new widgets into Apple’s Dashboard. The Google Gadget turned Dashboard Widget will of course still be dependent on the Internet to work. Mesa Dynamics helps you double the size of your Dashboard widget universe.
Continue reading Make Google Gadgets into Dashboard Widgets…

Hitachi is recalling about 16,000 Sony-Made Batteries for their laptop computers, joining long list of PC makers recalling Sony batteries.

Hitachi said they are in talks with Sony about who will pay to replace the lithium-ion batteries, but the number is too small to have any impact on Hitachi earnings, Hitachi spokesman Masayuki Takeuchi said. The batteries apparantly were mostly used in laptops shipped to businesses, mostly in Japan.
Continue reading Hitachi’s Turn to Recall Sony Batteries…

Starbucks has announced today that its “Hear Music” catalog is now available on Apple’s iTunes Store. Hear Music produces a wide range of albums featuring new and classic artists including the Artist’s Choice series, Opus Collections, Debut Series releases by emerging artists, as well as new works from major artists.
Continue reading Starbucks and iTunes Now Sharing Lattes…

Google has made it easy to add Google Desktop widgets to any website with a Javascript embed. Simply go to Google Gadgets For Your Webpage, pick a gadget you want to add, pick a color scheme, get the code, and embed it in your webpage.

Google Gadgets, a tool previously available to users for adding to their personalized Google homepages and Google Desktops, is now available for any web page you want to add them to. Google Gadgets are actually miniature-sized objects that offer cool and dynamic content that can be placed on any page on the Web. Think of them as Dashboard Widgets for your website.
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IDG World Expo has announced that Steve Jobs will be delivering the opening keynote address for 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo. The conference will be held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco on January 8-12, 2007. Jobs’ keynote address will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 9 AM (PST) at the Moscone Center West.

Steve’s keynote is always a great way to kick off the biggest Mac event of the year,” said David Korse, CEO of IDG World Expo. “We’ve added several new features to this year’s event, and we’re working hard to make this the most entertaining and informative Macworld ever.”
Continue reading Steve Jobs to Deliver Keynote at Macworld 2007…

More Sony batteries “woes!” Certain Futjitsu Siemens notebook batteries made by Sony are getting recalled, about 287,000 of them. To add to so many other portable computer makers similar recalls. If you own one of these you are asked to check your batteries here.

The company recommends that on specific models, customers should stop using the batteries immediately, and operate their notebook on AC power only. This exchange program will provide a replacement battery free of charge. Fujitsu Siemens Computers announced a proactive exchange program on batteries in specific AMILO notebook products.
Continue reading Futjitsu Announces Battery Exchange Program…