New Mac Laptop??

Have you heard the latest Mac rumor? A new laptop that is slimmer than the Macbook Pro and much faster, better, and all around cooler is supposedly in the works. I have been scanning the internet for blog posts and articles about this latest rumor because I am currently looking for a new computer. Apple has so many great products to choose from I just cant decide! But be on the lookout for a new and improved laptop from Apple.

iPhone makes cover of Times Magazine

Fellow Times Magazine readers probably noticed this month's front cover model: the Apple iPhone.

Yes, Times named the iPhone the #1 Invention of the Year. I was ecstatic to see this, as I am a Mac lover and desperately want the iPhone for myself. Times lists five main points about the pros of this phone:

1.) It is pretty
2.) It is touchy-feely
3.) It will make other phones better
4.) It's not a phone, it's a platform
5.) It is by the Ghost of iPhones to come

For those of you who may have an iPhone or know someone that does, please feel free to comment on whether you agree with Times or not. I am interested to see what the main consumer complaints are other than its too big, too slow, hard to type on, etc.

Second Life on The Office!

Hello fellow classmates,

As I am sure all of you know already, The Office is a huge prime time cable television show on NBC and this past week it decided to incorporate Second Life into their show. I am in the Second Life class with Dr. Shamp this year and was pretty excited to see that my New Media class work is featured on one of my favorite shows. Dwight has an avatar in Second Life that looks exactly like him and he basically plays it all day at the office. It's a pretty funny episode that I suggest you all watch. New Media on prime time!

Here is a link for a story about it on Digg
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/10/the_offices_dwi.html

PSSA Aids Project

This week I am going to talk about a project that I am a part of and very excited about! With the help of New Media, students from the University are going to fly to Philadelphia to help promote Aids awareness. Student teams will be equipped with mobile video and wireless technology and will roam the streets for video footage. We will each follow around fellow aids patients and see how they live their daily lives. Each team will have a remote producer who could be anywhere in the world, and the producer will have one day to complete the Public Service Announcement with the footage that each team member captures.

I think this is a great project that really highlights how New Media can help invent new ways of producing messages that encourage young people to get tested for HIV.

Apple Saves the Day

Today you can be the proud owner of Apple's newly released iTunes 7.4.2. Good news....Right? Well, this new iTunes version has eliminated the small problem where people "accidentally" installed custom ringtones on their iPhones and other systems.

And that is not all they fixed. No, we are in luck. For those who have purchased a new iTouch, Apple has solved the problem so that you cannot accidentally install custom software on your new device. Pheew. That was a close one Apple.

Has Apple entered the Looney Bin or have we? I feel the walls caving in....

Second Life in Australia- as Appropriate for Today

The virtual world, Second Life, has famously produced at least one millionaire, but it may take some time for Australian businesses that venture into the new digital universe to realise a return on their efforts.

The population of Second Life has grown to five million since its launch in 2003. The environment shot to prominence last year when it was announced that Second Life resident Anshe Chung had made the equivalent of $US1 million from virtual property development.

According to David Holloway, who operates a news service for Australian Second Life residents, nearly 5000 of the residents are from Australia. Many Australians undertake in-world commerce, such as operating bars and clubs and managing a surf beach.

Second Life has attracted the attention of large Australian corporations keen to learn from the virtual environment, including Telstra, the ABC and the web technology company Hyro.

Australian entrepreneur Luke Connell has taken a more immersive approach to his activity within Second Life, launching a virtual stock trading system for Second Life-based companies, called the World Stock Exchange. Connell only became a member of Second Life in December after hearing about Anshe Chung's success in property development.

"In the first 25 days the World Stock Exchange has had more than $US200,000 in volume on the market, which is huge," Connell says. "That means Hope Capital made 3 per cent on that -- more than enough money to cover my wages."

I remember when Second Life first came out, and I am already astounded at its impact and popularity. I found this article in an Australian News source, and the impact became even more evident. The World Wide Web really does allow people from all over the world to interact. I think it is even more amazing that Luke Connell established a Stock Market in Second Life! In an alternate life, we could all be millionaires!

Earthlink Takes Houston

"The Wi-Fi mesh network will provide affordable, high-speed Internet access for residents of and visitors to Houston. It will also enable municipal employees to work in the field without having to return to an office to use traditional landlines to complete their tasks.

Houston's 600-square-mile service area will make this Wi-Fi deployment the largest in North America."

I personally think Earthlink is heading in the right direction here. Wi-Fi citywide is an emerging trend that I feel every city should incorporate. New Media can really hit the ground running with new innovative ideas with the help of Wi-FI all over a city. This will open up new oppurtunities for us as New Media students, and I am excited to enter the "job" force with Wi-Fi as such a big growing trend that is actually catching on to the general public.

VISTA

Okay so if you all do not know, I am an avid MAC lover! I have had my MAC for 4 years now, and I have never had any regrets or desires to even go back to PCs. I really encourage all of you, if you are still a PC user, to convert to the MAC world. To support my claim, I have been looking into the new Windows VISTA. And frankly, I am not impressed.

"With transparent animated windows that swoosh into place, subtle and elegant colors, a new Start menu, and plenty of other changes, this is the most beautiful version of Windows you've seen. If you've ever had Mac envy, this is the Windows you want--it's the most Mac-like interface yet." - quote about VISTA from MSN.com

I think its sad that Windows has to emulate MACs to sell new products. If I was a PC user, I would rather Windows come out with something bigger and better than MACs. Why make a product that acts and looks just like a MAC? I would say, why not just switch to a MAC?

I am sure VISTA has many other benefits but if the selling point is that this is the Windows that is "most MAC-like," then well honestly, I am not impressed.

Virtual TRIBE

I picked up this month's issue of National Geographic and was shocked to actually find something relevant to new media as one of its feature stories. Two entrepreneurs decided to see what would happen if they started an online community yet called it a Tribe. Members of this "tribe" can create profiles, upload pictures, chat online, and all the usual stuff in an online community. However, this virtual tribe, would actually become a real tribe.
The two entrepreneurs traveled to a desert island and formed a partnership with an indigenous tribe. Their inspiration came in part from social-networking sites such as MySpace and Friendster. They decided to lease a South Pacific Fijian island named Vorovoro for three years. This online tribe steered the development of a real island by making decisions about infrastructure, recreational facilities, rules, and more through discussions and online voting.
Now if this is not new media at work, I don't know what is! This online community can be located at Tribewanted.com and already has 1,025 members since its launch this past spring. Each month one member of Tribewanted.com is elected co-chief of Vorovoro Island and serves alongside the ancestral head of the Fijian island tribe. Check it out if you are interested!

OverheardinAthens

Hey guys,

If you have never heard of Overheardinathens.com, you should really check it out. If you have then you know what I am talking about. This site is a student run site where anyone can post a funny conversation that they overheard somewhere in Athens. This site has gained a lot of interest and popularity. I check it most everyday for a good laugh. I encourage everyone to take a look, as it is a great example of new media in action!

- Leslie

Apple's New Name

I know there is a lot of talk about Apple right now with the unveiling of the iPhone, but the fact that Apple has changed its name to Apple Inc. proves that Apple as a brand has transformed and expanded into so much more than just a computer manufacturer. The technology market should beware the power that Apple's brand now holds. With the introduction of the iPhone consumers are left thinking what could possibly be next? I know that I am anxious to see Steve Jobs' next move and watch Apple grow to an even bigger force to be reckoned with.

Jobs' expects to see over 10 million iPhones sold in 2008. I really wonder if Apple will actually meet that goal. I know stockholders are definately jumping for joy over this one!