The Glen Kingston Blog

Rapporn.

2006-08-22T19:21:00.000+01:00

Writing about: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5273706.stm

Only in Sweden could a national broadcaster put out a news bulletin showing explicit Czech porn in the background and yet have no complaints from the public whatsoever.

Twelve Stops And Home.

2006-06-16T13:00:00.000+01:00

I bought this album last week and I love it more and more each time I listen to it. The Feeling are a great new band and Twelve Stops And Home is a fantastic debut album. My particular favourites include Love It When You Call and Fill My Little World. Go and buy it now! Check out their MySpace page - if you're lucky they might add you as a friend!

Billie Piper to leave Doctor Who.

2006-06-15T11:20:00.000+01:00

The BBC have confirmed today that Billie Piper, who plays the Doctor's assistant Rose, will be leaving Doctor Who at the end of this season. They have not said whether she will be killed off or not, however, in last week's episode - The Satan Pit - The Devil told Rose that she would die in battle... a subtle hint at what is to come if ever I heard one. I will miss Billie, she is a fantastic actress and has made the past two series of Doctor Who very watchable indeed. But as Dave Bradley is quoted as saying in the BBC article - no-one ever stays dead in science-fiction.

STORYFix.

2006-06-10T17:26:00.000+01:00

BBC News 24 have started producing a jolly little five-minute summary of the week's news seen from a witty slant. Called STORYFix, it's presented by Emily Maitlis and gives viewers a fly-by recap of the usual news in an unusual way and brings us the news that wouldn't normally make it into the BBC's definition of 'news'.

I've been trying to find out what the music is that plays in the background - I quite like it. A Google search has proved fruitless, which probably means it was produced in-house by the Beeb.

Apparently, STORYFix is just a trial - I hope it lasts.

Update: I've found it! On the off-chance of finding it, I Googled for the STORYFix music again today and discovered the Blog of the guy who made the music! His name is mrdiscopop (aka Mark Savage) and you can hear a clip of the music on his site. [11/06/2006]

Refreshment like no other.

2006-06-08T15:21:00.000+01:00

Tango have released an advert that parodies the excellent Sony BRAVIA advert but insted of using bouncy balls, it uses fruit. The ad uses the same José Gonzalez track as the Sony ad and mirrors it almost frame-for-frame. In place of the 'Colour like no other' tag line on the Sony ad, the Tango ad reads 'Refreshment like no other'. The ad is available in video from the website of a supposed residents' association of the Swansea village that was used for the filming. The site though is, of course, all part of the campaign and is created by Tango themselves. It has some quite amusing interviews with annoyed 'residents' and a petition which you can sign to show your support for their plight. I particularly like what is said on the download page:

We think as many people as possible should see what happened to our neighbourhood, so with the kind help of Huw's nephew David we have made the advert available in various "formats".

Even though we hate what was done to our street, we do like the nice, gentle music they used. None of that modern thumpy-thumpy loud noise nonsense. You can listen to more on the nice man's site.

All highly amusing! Below are some more stills from the ad.

Why you should never con people on eBay.

2006-05-27T12:46:00.000+01:00

Writing about: http://amirtofangsazan.blogspot.com/

When Amir Tofangsazan sold his broken laptop on eBay pretending it was working, he didn't count on the unsuspecting purchaser taking his revenge in the most exquisite fashion possible. When Amir refused to refund the purchase money, "laptopguy" removed the hard drive from the laptop and found that it contained all kinds of personal stuff. Not only did it contain bank details and scans of his and his family's passports but there was also a large collection of porn, camera phone pictures of women's legs on the Underground, various strange webcam pictures and, shockingly, pictures of the 9/11 attacks in America and the 7/7 attacks in London. And so, laptopguy created a website to host these amazing finds and has written it mostly from the point of view of Amir. Genius!

What I also love is that it appears Amir has left a series of comments written under various pseudonyms accusing laptopguy guy of being, among other things, a "peodofile" (yes, that's how he spelt it!) and "unemployable" - laughable!

laptopguy, you are my hero!

Update: Oh dear, things are getting serious now. [30/05/2006]

Boot Camp: Windows on a Mac.

2006-04-05T17:26:00.000+01:00

Apple today released a public beta of Boot Camp, a utility that allows owners of an Intel based Mac to easily partition their hard drive and install a retail boxed copy of Windows XP Home SP2 which will run natively - it's not an emulator.

This is a total surprise. For months now, since the release of the first Intel Mac, hackers have been trying to get Windows to boot on a Mac. Just three weeks ago, a pair of programmers won a $13,000 prize for being the first to achieve such a feat. And now, Apple have introduced their own, highly polished, version.

The beta will only be available for a limited time but it is expected that Boot Camp will become a permanent feature of the next major OS release - Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard when it is released later this year/early next year.

Hats off to Apple for this one; a big kick in the balls for Microsoft's dominance!

iPod video video.

2006-03-07T14:33:00.000Z

With the failure of Apple to announce an iPod video last Tuesday, speculation, rumour and the inevitable mock-ups have stepped up a gear. The site macshrine have some pretty convincing pictures of an 'iPod AV' shown with the ipod nano and the new iPod Hi-Fi. They're pretty good fakes - very convincing and extremely well done but nothing we haven't really seen before. Whereas YouTube has an amazing video of what appears to be the 'iPod AV' in action. The fact that it's pretty dark, only four seconds long and still hasn't been removed by Apple would suggest it's a fake - but what a fake! Someone has clearly spent a lot of time and effort on this. Whoever you are: I salute you!

Video iPod for real?

2006-02-23T17:57:00.000Z

This picture has emerged today and it looks like it could be a shot of the much-rumoured, much-hyped touch sensitive Video iPod. The picture is remarkably similar to descriptions of the product and the shot bears a resemblance to the photo that was leaked just prior to the announcement of the 5G iPod with video. Of course, it could also be a small tablet Mac. Only five days 'til we find out, unless Apple force the removal of the picture from Engadget, then it would be pretty much confirmed!

Update: Engadget have called fake on this one. Apparently the guy who made the fake has produced a video demonstrating how he did it - all through the magic of Photoshop, supposedly. Though some on Engadget are calling fake on the video of the fake - some discrepencies in the pictures. Who knows. We'll find out tomorrow. [27/02/2006]

Apple special event.

2006-02-21T19:49:00.000Z

Apple have sent invitations to selected guests to attend a special event where Jobs will announce "fun new produts" on 28th February 2006 at the company's Cupertino base in California. Due to begin at 10.00 (PST) (18.00 GMT), it's anyone's guess what Steve will announce. "Fun" suggests entertainment which may point to a touch-screen iPod or the rumoured iPod Boombox. Only seven days 'til we find out!

Update: Well, the special event came and went and nothing of note was released. There was an Intel Mac mini, leather iPod cases and an iPod Hi-Fi - a boombox with iPod dock. [07/03/2006]

A city of pure confection.

2006-02-20T20:21:00.000Z

Chinese artist Song Dong is creating in the basement of Selfridges on London's Oxford Street a city made entirely of biscuits. From bourbons to hobnobs, he is using an estimated 72,000 teatime treats to build a part traditional, part modern city to highlight his concern that Asian cities are recreating common building designs rather than coming up with their own, original designs. To emphasise this, Dong has asked his helpers to make a lot of the buildings up - creating whatever comes to mind.

The city will be on display until 16.00 (GMT) when shoppers will be invited to help themselves to the biscuits. One artist helping Dong, Kieron Stone, expressed concerns about them being stale by then and gave this piece of advice: "Go for the ones at the bottom".

Would the real iPod video please stand up.

2006-02-09T17:21:00.000Z

Think Secret are claiming that they have credible intelligence indicating that Apple will introduce the real iPod video around April time when Apple celebrate their 30th birthday. It will reportedly have a 3.5inch touch sensitive display covering the entire front surface of the device. The click wheel will have a software implementation that appears and disappears when the user touches the screen.

Bring it on!

Grandpa Munster dies.

2006-02-05T15:11:00.000Z

Al Lewis, the actor who played Grandpa in the cult 1960s TV show The Munsters, died at the age of 82 on friday. I had no idea that he was a former basketball player who became a respected talent scout, ran a restaurant in New York's Greenwich Village, wrote two children's books and campaigned as the Green Party candidate for governor of New York.

I used to love watching The Munsters when it was on BBC TWO. I loved the theme tune and loved their car even more. They don't make 'em like they used to. I'm sure Eddie now works in the photocopy shop oposite where I used to work!

Pavement drawings.

2006-02-05T14:54:00.000Z

This guy's pavement drawings are amazing. Some of the three-dimensional ones are fantastic. I can't imagine how he's able to visualise the distortion he needs to add to the two-dimensional drawings so they look 3D from a certain angle. Talented guy!

TOTM: Is there life after death? Part 1.

2006-02-01T18:46:00.000Z

My initial (scientifically minded) reaction to this question is an emphatic NO. As far as I have ever been concerned, once we die: that's it - we cease to be as the Monty Python crew would say. How can any part of us possibly survive and continue living once our heart has stopped beating and our brain stopped functioning?

And yet, virtually every major religion in the world carries with it a promise of life after death. Be that in Heaven (or Hell) or in another, reincarnated, life. So why does the concept exist at all if there is no proof of it?

Perhaps the truth lies in the human psyche. Many of us may live lives that seem relatively unfulfilled. We think: there must be more to life than this. And so, we create another world, a world full of promise and hope, giving meaning to our lives. If we are good in this life, we will be rewarded in the next. In an NBC10.com poll on life after death, an astonishing 86% of people who voted said they believed in life after death. Surely they can't all be wrong?

So, some people clearly don't need proof to believe in it, but I do. However, the more I read the arguments, the more I question my opinion. If something can't be proven or disproven then you can't say it definitely exists but, equally, you can't say it definitely doesn't exist.

Where does that leave us? Is there life after death? Possibly, but possibly not. It certainly is an attractive proposition but I can't help but sway towards my scientific upbringing. I read an article online by Prof. Peter Kreeft in which one of the arguments he puts forward for there not being life after death is as follows:

"The strongest positive argument against life after death is the observation of spirit at the mercy of matter. We see no more mental life when the brain dies. Even when it is alive, a blow to the head impairs thought. Consciousness seems related to matter as the light of a candle to the candle: once the fuel is used up, the light goes out. The body and its nervous system seem like the fuel, the cause; and immaterial activity, consciousness, seems like the effect. Remove the cause and you remove the effect. Consciousness, in other words, seems to be an epiphenomenon, an effect but not a cause, like the heat generated by the electricity running along a wire to an appliance, or the exhaust fumes from an engine's tailpipe."

I'll leave it at that for now.

Brokeback banned in China.

2006-01-28T12:39:00.000Z

It's happened again but this time, an entire country has banned screenings of Brokeback Mountain. It's quite worrying just how retrogressive large parts of the world are when it comes to topics like homosexuality. But then, homophobia isn't just the preserve of countries like China or Singapore, it's everywhere. It will be a long, long time before it's no longer an issue - if ever.

Stephen Fry.

2006-01-26T16:20:00.000Z

Last night I watched Who Do You Think You Are on BBC TWO and I have to say; I was bowled over. This was the third episode and followed the brilliant Stephen Fry in his search to discover more about his ancestry. It was, in parts, hillarious and, at times, harrowing. Much of his family on his mother's side were killed at Auschwitz and, although Fry all but knew this was fact beforehand, being in their home town of Surany, a small town in what is now Slovakia, brought forward a flurry of emotion. It all made for fascinating television and provided a great insight into the background of one of Britain's best-loved assets. Although, our common conception of him being the quintessential Englishman is somewhat misplaced.

On a lighter note, Stephen Fry is famed for buying his first Mac in 1984 which he claims was the third ever sold in Europe. Douglas Adams who wrote the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy bought the first two apparently. Fry is passionate about Apple computers and takes any oppourtunity to persuade others of their superiority - note the PowerBook G4 in the picture above! A man after my own heart!

Topic of the month.

2006-01-25T16:00:00.000Z

I have decided that from next month, on the first of every month, I will introduce a Topic Of The Month - a thought-provoking question around which I will post my thoughts and invite others to share their views. I hope this will liven my blog up a little and increase traffic, as I feel it's beginning to resemble a deposit for second-hand technology news. Although, I will still be posting about exciting Apple developments - of course!

Update: Crap idea, not doing it anymore. [01/03/2006]

Parrot lets cat out of the bag.

2006-01-17T16:37:00.000Z

The BBC have an article today about an African Grey parrot named Ziggy who alerted its owner, Chris, that his patner, Suzy, was having an affair after it began squawking: "I love you Gary."

Suzy Collins had been meeting ex-work colleague "Gary" for four months in the Leeds flat she shared with her partner Chris Taylor, according to reports.

Mr Taylor apparently became suspicious after Ziggy croaked "Hiya Gary" when Ms Collins answered her mobile phone.

The parrot also made smooching sounds whenever the name Gary was said on TV.

Poor Chris. Even after Suzy moved out, the parrot continued to taunt him about her infidelity to the extent that it became so unbearable, he had to give Ziggy up. You've got to laugh though!

The Intel revolution.

2006-01-10T23:24:00.000Z

Tuesday 10th January 2006.

Remember this day. The day Apple went Intel. The day Intel was set free.

The meme of seven.

2006-01-10T20:56:00.000Z

In reply to Adorable Girlfriend's comment on one of my posts and an invitation on her site, Republic of Dogs, to participate in the meme of seven, here goes:

Seven things to do before I die:

1. Meet Steve Jobs.
2. Go to New York (doing that in April!).
3. Poke Geroge W. Bush in the eyes (he always looks so smug).
4. Fly in a helicopter.
5. Go diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
6. Never have children.
7. Find a cure for death.

Seven things I cannot do:

1. Look at Bill Gates without laughing.
2. Run a marathon.
3. Whistle with my fingers.
4. Speak a foreign language (fluently).
5. Perform auto-felatio.
6. Put my feet behind my head.
7. Go cross-eyed.

Seven things I say most often:

1. "Never"
2. "Yeah right"
3. "Are you kidding?"
4. "Shut up"
5. "Holy crap!"
6. "Like that's ever going to happen"
7. "Nice"

Seven books I love:

1. Nineteen Eighty-four
2. His Dark Materials trilogy
3. The Handmaid's Tale
4. Lord of the Flies
5. Frankenstein
6. The Da Vinci Code
7. Catch 22

Seven movies I watch over and over:

1. Donnie Darko
2. Se7en
3. Lord of the Rings trilogy
4. Fight Club
5. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock)
6. North By North-west
7. The Fifth Element

Seven songs I play over and over again:

1. "Ashes" by Embrace
2. "Somewhere Else" by Razorlight
3. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
4. "Ride A White Horse" by Goldfrapp
5. "Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics
6. "Mr Brightside" by The Killers
7. "American Idiot" by Greenday

Seven things that attract me to... blogging:

1. Freedom of speech.
2. A vent for my anger.
3. Catharsis.
4. Making a mark.
5. Ordering my thoughts.
6. It's better than writing law essays.
7. It's better than acting out with physical violence.

Seven people I want to join in too:

1. I don't know anybody else :-(

Wow, that took a long time to do!

Macworld roundup.

2006-01-10T19:52:00.000Z

Steve Jobs has given his speech and boy, what a speech! The first Intel Mac has been launched and contrary to speculation, it wasn't the Mac mini or the iBook, it's the iMac. It has the same basic specification but now comes with a 2x faster 1.83GHz or 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor. Shipping today, it costs from £929.

The award for biggest surprise though has to go to the PowerBook, well actually, the MacBook Pro. Yes, that's right, the PowerBook is no more (although Apple are actually still making the things). The MacBook Pro comes in only one screen flavour at the moment - 15.4", and has either a 1.67 or 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor - 4x faster than the previous 15" model! It's only 1 inch thin and comes with a built-in iSight camera like the iMac, has Front Row software and an ingenious power cord that fits in magnetically so if someone trips on the cable, it pops right out rather than dragging your MacBook Pro across the table. Shipping in February, this baby will set you back at least £1779.

Also announced was an FM radio remote control for the iPod (5G and nano only). No new iPod shuffle though as I had predicted.

Things were a little less shocking on the software side with only the expected updates to iLife '06 and iWork '06. As expected, iWeb was announced and it looks like a really slick application seamlessly integrating with new Podcasting software in Garageband and Photocasting software in iPhoto.

All in all, a very good Macworld. Roll on January 2007!

Utah cinema cancels Brokeback screening.

2006-01-09T16:53:00.000Z

Now, I know I don't live in America and I know this sort of thing isn't typical of all Americans, but it really pisses me off when things like this happen. These stroies are always accompanied by a quote from some far right religious group and this one is no exception:

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, was in favour of the film being cancelled. "I just think [pulling the show] tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.

Maybe there's something wrong with you Gayle - that you cannot accept the fact that homosexuality exists and that it's normal. Is it honestly better to let children, some of whom will be gay, grow up thinking that homosexuality is evil?

I am a firm believer that religion is the root of all evil and will be watching the Channel 4 documentary with close interest tonight.

Update: I watched that Channel 4 documentary yesterday and, although Prof. Dawkins is clearly an intelligent man, I felt the programme lacked a clear counter-argument to the single-minded dogma that the religious fundamentalists were spouting. It did, however, compound the argument that religion is the root of all evil. It was quite disturbing watching what looked like quite ordinary people come out with utterly preposterous statements about religion and some particularly laughable arguments against science. I won't get into the whole creationist argument again, I've said my piece on that but, it does scare me to think that there are pople who really believe this stuff. [10/01/2006]

HDTV media centre from Apple?

2006-01-07T18:50:00.000Z

There are rumours and more rumours of Apple launching a plasma/LCD/SED/FED high definition television with built-in tuner and Mac operating system for wirelessly streaming content from other devices within the home as well as utilising the .Mac service for streaming/downloading TV shows and movies from an online iTunes-style store.

I'll believe it when I see it and boy would I love to see it!

Steve Jobs movie poster competition.

2006-01-06T00:37:00.000Z

Take a look at this blog. Some of those posters are amazing.

What must it be like to be Steve Jobs and have dozens of crazy Mac fan-boys mock up movie posters featuring you? Pretty good I should imagine!

Apple iWeb slip up.

2006-01-05T20:23:00.000Z

It looks like someone at Apple may have dropped the ball for a couple of minutes earlier today. On the Garageband support website, the two links above appeared pointing to iLfe '06 - no surprise in that - but, more intriguingly, there was a link to a non-existent page for iWeb. Could this be a Front Page/RapidWeaver style web design application closely integrating with iPhoto, iMovies and Garageband for publishing photos, movies, blogs and podcasts direct to .Mac?

Only five days 'til we find out...

The Feeling.

2006-01-04T12:36:00.000Z

The BBC are counting down the top five Sound of 2006 artists at the moment and today, The Feeling have been announced at number three. I've never heard of them before but I think they sound great. On their website they quote their influences as being: Supertramp, Queen, ELO, 10cc, Beatles, Beach boys, Carpenters, Jelly Fish and ABBA. On their MySpace site they say that:

"We're pop ... but more in the '70s sense." Like The Raspberries or, more recently, Jellyfish, The Feeling are premier exponents of nouveau soft-rock.

I downloaded their first single - Fill My Little World - from iTunes and I love it. I will definitely be buying their album when it comes out and if they play at Northumbria Students' Union, I'll go and see them too!

Update: You can find the full list here.

Kodak V570.

2006-01-04T12:24:00.000Z

Kodak announced yesterday the EasyShare V570. It's had mixed reaction but I love the look of it - very Art Deco! I'll be in the market for a digital camera in march after my birthday, in preparation for my trip to New York. I was going to get the Sony DSC-P200 but I may just have to get the Kodak just for the look, even though it's not as good as the Sony.

Balderdash and piffle.

2006-01-04T00:02:00.000Z

I watched the first in a series of programmes on BBC TWO yesterday called Balderdash and Piffle. It's about the origins of words we use today that are unclear or poorly sourced. The overall aim is to re-write the Oxford English Dictionary. For every word, the OED cites the earliest written example of that word in use. For some, the word was being used long before the first written example and the guests on the show try to hunt down earlier examples. Viewers are also invited to help in the word search on the web site. Could you help to re-write the OED?

The Macworld countdown starts here.

2006-01-03T23:32:00.000Z

It's only one week until Steve gives his keynote speech at the Macworld Conference & Expo. If the rumours are true, we will see new iBooks built around the first Intel chips to be used by Apple and possibly new Mac minis with the same. We could also expect an updated version of Front Row in the iMacs and now the Mac mini with an innovative content distribution system that would offer digital media to users through the .Mac service. Macworld could also see the launch of a smaller and more colourful iPod shuffle.

Also expect to see iLife '06 with possible enhancements to iPhoto and perhaps the inclusion of Front Row. iWork '06 may be announced, with general enhancements to Pages and Keynote and the long-awaited addition of a spreadsheed program, possibly called Tables.

I'll be back on the 10th to see if any of my predictions are right. Chances are they're complete balderdash and piffle, but we'll see!

Welcome to 2006.

2006-01-01T11:49:00.000Z

Well, another year's over and a new one's just begun. But, I just found out today that apparently 2005 was one second longer than usual. Scientists have added a leap second at the stroke of midnight to account for the friction of the sea that slows the Earth's rotation. Those crazy scientists! What will they think of next - adding an extra day every four years?

Jonathan Ive gets CBE.

2005-12-31T11:37:00.000Z

Jonathan Ive - Apple's Vice President of Industrial Design - has been awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List by HRH Queen Lizzy II. Famous (amongst Apple geeks like myself anyway) for resurrecting Apple's fortunes with the design for the original iMac, he has been at Steve Jobs' right hand ever since. Ive is notoriously shy and rarely gives interviews.

Perhaps a lesser known fact, but one made obvious by todays announcemet, is that Ive was born in England and studied industrial design at Newcastle Polytechnic - now known as Northumbria University, where I am currently studying law!

CBE stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire and, consequently, I'm unsure how I feel about the honour given that the British Empire no longer exists and serves only as a reminder of Britain's questionable colonial years. But, the British Empire honours are the only ones we have so we just have to make do.

I'd be interested to know who put his name forward to the Queen. But then, maybe the Queen thought of him herself, it's a well known fact that the Queen owns an iPod.

Some new headers.

2005-12-30T16:18:00.000Z

I've added a couple of new headers to my site, both branching out from the 'Mac/Technology' theme I currently have. I should say thank you to Mike Matas who took the photographs and posted desktop-sized copies on his blog for people to download. I haven't asked him, but I hope he doesn't mind, I just thought the pictures looked so beautiful.

New Macs on the horizon.

2005-12-21T20:20:00.000Z

With Macworld Expo 2006 just around the corner, the rumour mill is gearing up to provide us with a plethora of wild speculation. Just about everthing has been mooted, from new Intel based Mac minis to an Intel Powerbook that's 25% thinner to new iPod shuffles that are even thinner. But the most plausible suggestion has been the introduction of new Intel based iBooks. The line hasn't seen a significant update in a long time and the time seems ripe for something fresh.

But, as I say every year before Macworld, we'll just have to wait and see what Steve has up his sleeve.

I love you Mr Taxman.

2005-12-09T17:33:00.000Z

Who ever said we should all hate the tax man? I got a letter in the post today telling me that I was due a repayment of income tax. It had attached to it a cheque for £435.13!

Christmas has come early in my house!

Shame on you Creative.

2005-12-08T17:30:00.000Z

Take a look at what Creative - Apple's 'biggest' rival - has just announced. The Zen Vision M (I can't believe I'm linking to it!). Look familiar? Quite frankly, it's pathetic. Not only are they now blatantly copying Apple products, they're copying them badly. That thing looks UGLY!

The CEO of Creative - Sim Wong Hoo - has also declared war on Apple over it's patent for a 'hierarchical menu system' on portable media devices. How spiteful can you get?

Meet the next Prime Minister.

2005-12-06T18:09:00.000Z

Yeah right!

Like the Conservatives are ever going to get into power this millennium - even if they have just elected as their new leader a 'hip', 'young' (by Conservative standards) guy who may or may not have taken drugs.

Nepalese boy Buddha reincarnate?

2005-12-04T22:08:00.000Z

A fifteen year old boy, Ram Bahadur Bamjan, in Bara, south-cental Nepal, has supposedly been meditating under a tree for six months without food or water leading villagers and worshipers to dub him Buddha Reincarnate. Like Siddartha Gautam, who attained Nirvana and became the Buddha over 2,500 years ago, he plans never to stop until he has achieved spiritual enlightenment and escaped from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth - become a Buddha. He has so far undergone two 'tests' - both being bitten by poisonous snakes yet surviving without treatment - supposedly. However, a curtain was drawn across him for five days before he was seen again. And, every night, a curtain is drawn so no-one really knows if he isn't gorging on cake whilst hidden from view.

I have never considered myself a religious person, but I have always been fascinated by Buddhism. It seems a very serene, thoughtful and egalitarian faith.

Maybe it's the undying skeptic in me, but something tells me that this isn't all it appears to be. I would love to be proven wrong, but the one thing that keeps all religion together - faith - can also be its downfall. It leads people who are totally devout to completely innocently take at face value those things which should possibly be awarded further investigation. And that's just what's going to happen. Scientists from the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology are to study the boy - without disturbing him - to learn more about him.

The BBC article did mention a rather curious quote:

"He never touched alcohol," said his primary education teacher, Salden Lama.

I should think so too!

Boris Johnson is great.

2005-11-28T22:08:00.000Z

Just seen Boris Johnson guest-host Have I Got News For You. That man is a genius. Only he could admit on national television to having attempted to snort cocaine but sneezing instead. If he became the new leader of the Conservative party, I'd seriously consider voting Conservative at the next general election.

Update: Boris has just taken a step closer to becoming Tory leader. David Cameron has just appointed him shadow minister for higher education - a front-bench position. Although I fear this may signal an end to his appearances on Have I Got News For You. [09.12.05]

Best Chritmas lights EVER!

2005-11-21T21:30:00.000Z

You have to watch this video - it's a light and sound extravaganza! You'd never find anything like this in the UK. I love Christmas. And clearly so do they.

Summer Ball 2003.

2005-11-21T19:28:00.000Z

I took a camera to the Sixth-form Summer Ball in 2003 and only today have I finally got the film developed! I've put all seven pictures online. It seems like only yesterday. God I'm getting old.

P.S. I'm the dapper one on the far left.

Guess the google.

2005-11-19T12:52:00.000Z

Writing about: http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google

I discovered this little game/project thanks to BBC Click Online and it's really addictive. The idea is to guess the Google search term in the time limit by looking at twenty pictures that search term returned. They're all one-word searches and some are really easy - like when every single picture contains the colour yellow, it's a pretty good bet that the search term is yellow - others are really hard. Give it a go!

BBC newsreaders are the best.

2005-11-18T23:19:00.000Z

The BBC newsreaders have excelled themselves again - giving us their unique rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody for Children In Need. Fiona Bruce was looking ~~pretty damn sexy~~ nice and Nick Robinson (recently returned from his scandalous and shameful affair with ITV) showcased his frighteningly high-pitched voice. That's why, when I want to know what the news is, I only watch the BBC.

Bravo Sony BRAVIA.

2005-11-13T01:42:00.000Z

Very rarely does an advert make me stop what I'm doing and stare in amazement. I think the last time that happened was with the Honda Cog advert, but lately it's been the Sony BRAVIA advert - you know, the one with the bouncy balls cascading down the streets of San Francisco. The beauty of those images is only intensified by the brilliant sound track - Heartbeats by José González. The Sony site linked to above has loads of information on the making of the ad. Did you know they used 250,000 balls in the making and that not one single frame of CGI was used. There are also links to Flickr galleries showing some of the damage done by the balls.

Simple, yet stunningly effective. Inspired.

November already.

2005-11-05T22:35:00.000Z

Can you believe it... November 5th already! I went to the local fireworks display this evening and it was really good. I love fireworks. Before we know it, it'll be Christmas. Ho ho ho!

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T19:40:00.000Z

Ooooh! Scary! Here's a picture of the pumpkin I carved yesterday. I wouldn't normally have a pumpkin - you know, being 20 years old and all - but I won it along with loads of other Halloween goodies in a Halloween Hamper competition at uni. There was a big rubber rat, a witch's nose, toffee popcorn in a witch's hat, balloons, a string of pumpkin shaped lights, party plates and banners and, just to make it slightly more adult (notice the stress on the word slightly) four bottles of Irn Bru flavoured WKD - basically a Vodka and Irn Bru alcopop. Nice. Anyway, Happy Halloween!

The saddest man in Britain?

2005-10-24T18:21:00.000+01:00

The BBC are reporting about the MD of a firm who threatened to subject his staff to DNA tests to find the employee responsible for breaking his chewing gum ban and getting gum stuck on one of his director's trousers! When one employee leaked the story to the press he insisted it was only a joke but then said he would force his 80 staff members to take a lie detector test to determine who leaked the story!

He admitted that he enjoyed watching detective shows like Waking The Dead. Sad bastard - get a life!

A quarter of.

2005-10-23T19:44:00.000+01:00

I've been like a kid in a candy store this weekend. After buying a Mathmos light from Firebox.com, when I was given a leaflet about a website devoted to selling all those sugary treats you loved as a child. Aquarterof.co.uk sells hundreds of chewy delights by the quarter. Trouble is, there's so much choice - I don't know what to get first!

We're all going to die.

2005-10-23T19:19:00.001+01:00

OK, I know everyone dies eventually, but it's now official - we're all going to die sooner than we might think - from bird flu. The news channels are just reporting that DEFRA have confirmed the South American parrot that died in quarantine here in the UK had the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

I know I'm just being pedantic - there's nothing these news cahnnels like more than scare mongering, especially that damn Sky News (I hate Sky News). But this is just the sort of thing that disaster movies revel in - a quirky little virus that kills a couple of people in Asia then spreads (usually to America) on some cargo ship and then kills loads of people before some hunk in a HAZMAT suit comes along to save the day.

Have a happy Christmas - it may be your last!

Update: It should be noted that because the parrot was in quarantine when it died, the UK's disease-free status remains unchanged.

Apple in court. Again.

2005-10-21T23:47:00.000+01:00

AppleInsider is reporting that a class action suit has been filed against Apple in America by disgruntled owners of the recently released iPod nano. They want their money back plus a share of Apple's 'illegal' profits from selling a product not fit for its purpose.

Good luck guys but, honestly, I can see the judge just telling you that you shouldn't have shoved it in your pocket with your house keys. Although, having said that, one claimant says he managed to scratch his nano simply by wiping it with a paper towel. We'll see.

What an event!

2005-10-12T19:39:00.000+01:00

iPod: It's official. We now have a new iPod from Apple. It's not an iPod video it's an iPod that can play video. It comes in black and white and has a 30GB and a 60GB version - the 30GB version is thinner than the 20GB iPod at only 1.1cm thick! But, just like the nano, there's no support for fire wire - it's USB 2.0 or nothing and since my iMac only has USB 1.1, I'm screwed!

iMac: Secondly, Apple have updated the iMac by integrating an iSight video camera into it. They also have two new applications that will get budled with all new Macs. Front Row is a media centre type application that comes with a nifty little remote so you can view and listen to all your media without having to get up off the sofa. Secondly, there's Photobooth an application that integrates with the camera so you can take pictures and mess around with them using Photoshop style effects.

iTunes: Lastly, and only weeks after the release of iTunes 5 comes iTunes 6. This time it has a video store where you can buy music videos and even episodes from shows like Desperate Housewives and Lost, though I'm not sure if you can do so in England.

Phew, I need a lie down after all that excitement, then I'm off to buy myself a new iPod!

New iMac?

2005-10-12T18:12:00.000+01:00

Well this is unexpected. Stuff Magazine Are the only people able to report from the event, since they're in London at BBC Television Centre and the theatre in California hasn't got mobile or wireless reception. They say that Steve Jobs has announced a new iMac which is thinner and includes a built-in iSight. Sounds good. I think I'll just wait until it's all official before posting anything else - I've waited this long, thirty minutes can't hurt.

This has to be it!

2005-10-12T17:40:00.000+01:00

This must be it. The picture has appeared on a rumor site.

Is this it?

2005-10-12T17:15:00.000+01:00

These pictures were taken outside the theatre in California that Apple will be making their announcement in a little under forty-five minutes time. Do they show a simplified version of the iPod video? The screen appears to be wider and the headphone socket has moved to the side. We'll soon find out.

BBC confirm iPod video?

2005-10-12T13:49:00.000+01:00

A report from BBC News online seems to hint that the rumours of an iPod video may be coming our way today. Interestingly, they confirm that BBC Television Centre will be used to host part of the event. This may be because the BBC will be providing content for the iPod video, or it could be as a base for Madonna to announce her pink special edition nano - she could even be giving an exclusive performance of the first single from her up-coming new album which will be recorded and become one of the first videos avaiable on the iTunes Video Store for everyone to download to their iPod video.

All I know is that Apple had better be planning something big because otherwise, there will be a lot of bitterly disappointed Mac fan-boys (me included) if they merely announce Power Mac updates!

Video iPod back on the table?

2005-10-12T07:24:00.000+01:00

Think Secret have again changed their mind about what will be announced by Apple today at the special event. It seems they now think an iPod video will be released after all. Only nine and a half hours to go until we find out!

No new iPod video.

2005-10-10T19:44:00.000+01:00

Think Secret seem pretty certain that we won't be seeing an iPod video at wednesday's mysterious event. They have said we'll see two new iPod models with an updated form factor and larger capacities - but no video support. They have also acknowledged but not confirmed the possibility of a special edition iPod nano that will come in pink and pre-loaded with Madonna's entire back catalogue. We should also expect updates to the Power Mac and PowerBook lines.

What a swiz!

Pink Madonna iPod.

2005-10-08T12:37:00.000+01:00

Presenting the special edition pink Madonna iPod nano.

I can't get enough of Photoshop. Give me an unannounced Apple product and I'll mock it up!

Madonna iPod nano?

2005-10-08T11:33:00.000+01:00

Engadget reckon Apple may be about to announce a special edition pink iPod nano endorsed by Madonna - along the same lines of the black and red U2 iPod. Now, while I can imagine Apple are chuffed to have scooped Madonna's entire back catalogue for download on iTunes, is it really a good idea to have a Madonna branded iPod? The only good thing I can see coming from this is a pink iPod nano. Since the nano replaced the mini, there have been only two colour options for iPods - white or black. I have a lot of girl friends who bought the mini simply because they could get it in pink. Apple would be foolish not to reintroduce the colours to what will no doubt become their most popular iPod.

I can see this artist tie-in technique becoming quite a trend in Apple's iPod line-up. We could expect to see a green Greenday edition, a blue Kanye West edition, an orange... well, you get the idea.

If only.

2005-10-06T18:34:00.000+01:00

Here's my third attempt at a mock-up. This one has a 4-inch, touch sensitive widescreen display - foregoing the click wheel for simple on-screen commands. There are volume and hold buttons on the side. To pause a video, simply touch the screen to bring up a control pannel a-la Quicktime 7 with play/pause, skip and scrub bar buttons - all touch-controlled.

Lost.

2005-10-05T23:57:00.000+01:00

I have neglected to post anything about Lost since it started here in the UK. What a great series. Tonight's episode - All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues - was fantastic. Every week I ~~want to~~ need to watch the next episode. Outstanding.

The plot thickens.

2005-10-05T19:38:00.000+01:00

Someone over at MacRumors has posted this tidbit about what he supposedly heard on a BBC radio station earlier today. Unfortunately, he doesn't say which station it was, so I can't corroborate it.

Update: Someone else on the same forum has just posted a link to a Times Online article which is reporting that Apple are merely hiring broadcast facilities from the BBC so they can relay the keynote address.

This is going to be my last post on the matter until we hear something concrete. Famous last words...

Update: Engadget have revealed that it was BBC 6 Music who revealed in a news bulletin that the iPod would launch at BBC Television Centre in London.

What's going on?

2005-10-05T17:13:00.000+01:00

Hmm, Think Secret think that we're going to see updated Power Macs and PowerBooks next wednesday, not the highly anticipated iPod video. No offence, but updating the Power range just doesn't seem worthy of it's own event, never mind such a suggestive invitation. If this turns out to be true, I will be seriously disappointed.

iPod video in the wild.

2005-10-05T15:29:00.000+01:00

I could spend all day making fake pictures of products that don't exist!

iPod video exclusive.

2005-10-05T14:46:00.000+01:00

Look what I found whilst browsing the Apple website - the iPod video! It appeared whilst accessing the UK Apple store, but it's gone now. I guess Apple were testing the site and someone accidently put up a picture of it.

Actually, that's all lies. I created it myself using a picture of the iPod nano and Photoshop - good, isn't it. It's the first time I've ever used Photoshop to create a mock-up and I must say, I'm quite impressed with myself. There's just over 170 hours left untll we find out if I'm anywhere close!

It's started already.

2005-10-05T11:11:00.000+01:00

The above picture has been obtained by Engadget and shows what appears to be an Apple-like device with a click wheel to the side of a large LCD display. Unfortunately, the picture was taken with a camera-phone so the quality isn't great - yeah right! It happened with the iMac and it's happening now - existing products are being modified and badly photographed so they can be passed off as the next big thing from Apple. Take a look at this website. Remind you of anything? Get a white version, photograph it badly and bang! you've got yourself an iPod video.

Oh. My. Steve Jobs!

2005-10-04T21:47:00.000+01:00

AppleInsider have also confirmed the release of the iPod video. This had better be true, because otherwise, someone is in for a world of pain!

One more thing...

2005-10-04T21:30:00.000+01:00

It's confirmed! There will be another Apple announcement this month - the 12th. What will it be? No one can say for sure, but I pray to ~~God~~ Steve Jobs that it's a video iPod. The design of the invitation suggests to me that it's going to be big. Those words - one more thing - are famously used by Steve at the end of a keynote, after the boring product updates and the usual spiel about the iTunes music store getting bigger and better, when the next big thing rises from the floor or gets whipped out of his jeans (stop sniggering!) to be unleashed on the unsuspecting audience to a rapturous welcome. So for this event to begin with those famous words suggests the whole thing will be devoted to the next, next big thing!

I'm quivering with excitement!

The joke's on me.

2005-10-03T22:52:00.000+01:00

When I said yesterday that Christmas is coming, I was only joking. Yet today, whilst watching Without A Trace, I saw the first Christmas orientated advert. Glade were pushing their festive fragranced air fresheners - the first monday in October and we're supposed to be making our houses smell of mulled wine and seasonal berries?

Christmas is coming...

2005-10-02T19:17:00.000+01:00

...and the rumour mill is working overtime. Hot on the heels of the newly released replacement to the iPod mini - the iPod nano - comes the news that Apple could be planning another iPod related announcement as early as this month! Apple Insider is reporting that October could be the month for the long long awaited video iPod. It would be great if they did. I can just imagine Steve Jobs now: if you thought the iPod nano was amazing then get a load of this..!

My credit card is quivering at the thought but only time will tell.

Back to the grind.

2005-10-02T19:13:00.000+01:00

Well, with induction week over and lectures starting propper I've just about got back into the swing of things. It can already tell that this year is going to be very different to last year. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen!

I'm the bad-ass theme.

2005-09-30T16:46:00.000+01:00

I was directed to this blog post in this fortnights' issue of MacUser and it is the funniest thing I have read in ages! You won't really understand it if you don't use Macs and even then, it's a geeky thing that not everyone can appreciate.

Year two.

2005-09-25T14:55:00.000+01:00

I start my second year at university tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't seen a lot of my friends in over three months so it'll be great to catch up. I did actually see one friend in august - he came to the solicitors I work at for some work experience. I met up with another friend last tuesday - we went to uni to check when registration was and then we went to Tiger Tiger for something to eat. I don't know if we'll be in all day or whether it'll be quick - I don't even know if we have lectures this week. If we get our timetable tomorrow we might have lectures this week or they might wait and see how many people turn up before they finalise the timetable.

The first year seems to have gone by realy fast - I only hope the next three do the same!

I thiNK America NEEDS A new PRESident?

2005-09-16T13:53:00.000+01:00

When Reuters photographer Rick Wilkins inadvertantly snapped George W. Bush scribbling a desperate note to Condoleezza Rice, the world finally got proof of what an idiot that man is. It simply read:

I thiNK I MAY NEED A BATHroom break? Is this possible?"

There are so many things wrong with that note that I don't know where to begin - so I won't. I'll just let it speak for itself.

Lock me up quick!

2005-09-15T17:19:00.000+01:00

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid Personality Disorder:	Low
Schizoid Personality Disorder:	Moderate
Schizotypal Personality Disorder:	Moderate
Antisocial Personality Disorder:	Low
Borderline Personality Disorder:	Low
Histrionic Personality Disorder:	Low
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:	Moderate
Avoidant Personality Disorder:	Low
Dependent Personality Disorder:	Low
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:	High
-- Take the Personality Disorder Test -- -- Personality Disorder Info --

I found the link to this test on a friend's blog. I didn't realise I was so fucked-up! Although the obsessive compulsive disorder wasn't much of a surprise - I kind of knew that already.

Spooks

2005-09-12T22:27:00.000+01:00

New series: new Macs.

The new series of Spooks started tonight and with it came a slew of new Macs. Harry got a new iMac and the grid had all new PowerMacs and Cinema Displays. God I love this programme and not just because they use Macs! I have all three of the previous series on DVD and watched series three over the weekend. Eventhough Harry is the only member of the original cast to remain (I miss Zoe), it's still a great show! They did the interactive thing again after the show, but it's the same as last series - never mind. The online games are good though.

The future is now.

2005-09-11T11:11:00.000+01:00

Click the picture above to find out what you wil be when the human race dies out and we're all replaced by cyborgs.

That loving feeling.

2005-09-07T19:27:00.000+01:00

I now know what it feels like to be in love. Apple have just announced the replacement to the iPod mini - the iPod nano. It's small, very small and I want one! It's just a shame it only comes in 2 and 4GB capacities. Apple also released iTunes 5 with a redesigned interface. They also unveiled the long awaited Motorola "ROKR" iTunes phone - major dissappointment, I won't be getting one of those.

P.S. I LOVE APPLE!

Me want!

2005-09-03T16:30:00.000+01:00

I think it's about time I got a propper watch and by propper, I mean expensive. If there are any kind-hearted philanthropists out there: I would like this one. Worn by Steve McQueen, the Tag Heuer Monaco is one classy watch. It's my 21st coming up soon... Yeah right, like my parents will ever buy me a two-grand watch. I can but dream!

Apple announcements.

2005-09-02T19:16:00.000+01:00

According to Think Secret, Apple are set to announce a slew of new products and updates in the next month. First up will be the Motorola/iTunes mobile phone on wednesday, followed shortly after by a move to solid-state memory for the entire iPod mini line at the Paris Expo on the 20th. The new Minis will be smaller and sport a colour screen which, although being smaller than they are now, will have a larger resolution. We may also expect a new 2GB iPod shuffle.

Think Secret also specualate about the much-rumoured video iPod. Some say it exists and that it's coming on the 20th. Others say it doesn't and will never come. I for one hope it does. I have growing urge to spend a ridiculous ammount of money on a white, slim-line gadget that plays video!

Unlucky.

2005-08-25T18:37:00.000+01:00

Would you believe this? Serves him right really - doesn't he know that's what eBay's for!

The game of Kings.

2005-08-19T23:13:00.000+01:00

I have become addicted to Backgammon. It started on monday when I was trying to get my mind off a really heavy conversation I'd had with a friend at work*. I thought I would try my hand at Backgammon. After reading the rules online, I downloaded CocoaFIBS for Mac and got playing. And now I cant stop! I also play on MSN Games when I'm not on my laptop. So far I've played with people in Brooklyn, North Carolina, Ottawa and Malta. I haven't won many matches with real people, but I'm getting better.

*For some unknown reason I got to talking about the universe, the meaning of life and the existence of god. It's really bad when I start thinking about whether the universe is finite or infinite - it can't just go on forever, but then, it can't just stop because then, what contains it? And that conversation always leads onto the existence of god. Is there a higher power, guiding us through life? Are our futures pre-destined by an over-arching force? Why are we here at all? What is the meaning of life? Are merely parasites on this dirty little rock or is the human race being cultured; refined and prepared for what, at the moment, our brains cannot handle? Is there something out there in the vast universe that someone or something isn't letting us see until we're ready? And is that why the universe appears infinite? I've started myself off again... now I'll never get to sleep!

The seedier side of Gotham City.

2005-08-19T22:41:00.000+01:00

The Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts gallery in New York has been ordered by Batman creators, DC Comics, to remove from display a series of water colour paintings by Mark Chamberlain depicting Batman and his side-kick Robin in several homo-erotic poses. DC Comics have threatened legal action if all unsold works are not removed from the gallery.

I always knew there was something going on between those two!

The iBook stampede.

2005-08-16T20:40:00.000+01:00

A while ago, a school district in Virginia, USA announced that it was selling off it's suite of four-year-old iBooks for $50 (£28) each. Not surprisingly, on the morning of the sale over 12,000 people turned up. When it became clear that demand seriously outstripped supply, a stampede ensued.

You gotta love those Mac addicts!

Vista virus.

2005-08-08T18:50:00.000+01:00

I love this! Windows Vista hasn't even been released yet and people are already writing viruses for it. It's at times like this that I'm glad I'm a Mac user.

In other news, my Mighty Mouse arrived today and it has to be the best gadget ever - ingenious!

Mighty Mouse.

2005-08-02T21:05:00.000+01:00

Well, It's finally here, the multi-button mouse from Apple, and what a mouse: It's a Mighty Mouse! Apple, in typical Apple style, forego a bog standard scroll wheel and instead give us a scroll ball - it little grey ball which can scroll in any direction. But where are the buttons? The top of the mouse is touch sensitive - it knows which side you clicked on and interprets it accordingly. Genius! The side finger grips also press in to invoke Dashboard or Expose, or anything else for that matter, it's totally user programmable. To top it all off, the mouse can also give audio feedback for clicks and scrolls. What a mouse: and all for only £35!

Ever felt like..?

2005-07-25T19:52:00.000+01:00

This gif was doing the rounds at work today. It puts into pictures the feeling I sometimes get, whilst siting at my desk, waiting for the day to end.

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

2005-07-22T11:48:00.000+01:00

I am so jealous of this guy (Mike Matas, above). Nineteen years old, good looking and just been employed by Apple. I know I have no skills that Apple would want but still, so jealous! I wish him all the luck in the world though, he clearly deserves it. Looking at his interface designs reveals exactly why Apple have employed him - he's a very talented man, and still a year younger than me! I've wasted my life.

The results are in... officially.

2005-07-11T18:35:00.000+01:00

I got home today to find a large brown envelope on my bed - from university! I got a 2.1, which isn't bad I suppose. I would have liked a first though. I supose we can't have everything! At least it gives me room to improve.

The results are in... sort of.

2005-07-10T18:14:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday I found out that I passed my first year exams. On the notice board a list of all the people who passed was posted and, thank god, I was on it - as were my friends. It was such a relief to find out that I had passed and wouldn't have to resit any of the modules. However, that was all it said - I passed. It didn't give any grade, percentage or mark. For that I have to wait for the results break-down in the post, which still hasn't arrived. It's so frustrating knowing that I have passed, but not knowing how well/poorly I did. It shouldn't matter since the first year grades don't count towards my degree. The marks do matter, however, when it comes to applying to law firms for training contracts in year two - they'll want to know how I did.

So, the waiting continues. Hopefully I'll get them next week sometime. Hopefully...

London, July 2005.

2005-07-09T11:12:00.000+01:00

What a surreal week it has been. On Wednesday 6th July, London and indeed the entire country was celebrating the city's victory in the race to host the 2012 Olympic games. Ecstatic crowds were seen in Trafalgar Square cheering, hugging each other and crying with joy.

Then, less than twenty-four hours later, at 8.50 on 7th July, the city was rocked by the first of what was to be four terrorist bomb attacks on the London public transport system. The death toll currently stands at forty-nine but that is expected to rise with twenty-five people still missing. There could be no harsher contrast with the mood felt by London yesterday. The event that many believed was always a question of when, not if finally came.

What amazed me about that day was not the fact that it happened at all but the way in which the emergency services responded to it. The reaction was quick, controlled and effective. London's police, firemen, paramedics, doctors and nurses had prepared and planned for this day and their response to the real thing was exemplary.

This cowardly attack on innocent British civilians will not change, in any way, how we live our lives. We will not stop using public transport, we will not run scared. We will stand and fight with defiance.

iTunes 4.9 + new iPods.

2005-06-28T19:54:00.000+01:00

Apple Computer today released version 4.9 of iTunes (above) which includes integrated support for subscribing to Podcasts via the Music Store - nifty. Apple also updated the iPod line slightly. There is now no "iPod photo" and insted there two iPods (20GB and 60GB) with colour screens. Still no built in bluetooth/wireless feature though.

It has been noted that iTunes 4.9 contains numerous references to an "iTunes Mobile" in its coding; fuelling speculation that Apple and Motorola will announce their iTunes Mobile shortly.

New iPods at Apple event?

2005-06-25T20:21:00.000+01:00

Speculation is rife about the possibility of a forth coming Apple event on 7th July. What will we see? New iPod shuffles? New 5th generation iPods? Could it even be the long awaited Apple/Motorola phone? Who knows? Steve Jobs; that's who. Oh, to be a fly on his wall...

What we do know is that Apple is planning the release of iTunes 4.9, which will include integrated support for Podcasting.

Storm in a ketchup bottle.

2005-06-18T09:58:00.000+01:00

This is typical of Lawyers. I wouldn't put it past some of the solicitors in the office I work at to do the same. It's amazing: they earn all that money, drive around in their swanky cars, jet off on holiday twice a year and yet they still insist on being reimbursed for every expense, no matter how trivial. Of course, I will be nothing like that when I qualify...

My government and iPod.

2005-06-17T18:35:00.000+01:00

Of all people, it has been revealed by that bastion of British journalism, The Sun, that the Queen owns an iPod - a 6GB silver iPod mini to be precise. I always knew the monarchy wasn't out of touch with modern society.

Gawd bless 'er majesty!

I had to mention it.

2005-06-13T22:35:00.000+01:00

Well, I could hardly let this one go by without mentioning it - Michael Jackson has been found not guilty. That's all I'm going to say on the subject.

Give me back my virtual sword!

2005-06-08T19:53:00.000+01:00

This story amused me somewhat. I can't understand why people would pay cold hard cash for something which doesn't exist! I can only assume that these sort of people don't get out much. Having said that, billions of people across the world believe in God, many even dedicate their lives to ~~Him~~ ~~Her~~ It - that is God, not the hairy guy from The Adams Family.

Apple move to Intel.

2005-06-06T18:58:00.000+01:00

Steve Jobs has just made it official - Apple will be abandoning IBM and the PowerPC chips it uses in it's computers in favour of *choke* Intel *choke*. This doesn't mean, however, that Mac OS X will be able to run on any PC, it will still be limited to Macs - although, I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

Interestingly, Steve made it know that for the past five years Mac OS X has been leading a double life. In some secret lab somewhere in America, Apple developers have been running an Intel based version of the operating system - apparently as a "just in case" fail safe. Expect to see all Macs using Intel chips by early 2007.

Summer of love.

2005-06-03T17:24:00.000+01:00

It looks as though this summer is going to be a scorcher. The weather ~~men/women~~ people seem to be predicting a hot couple of months ahead which is just what this country needs. It's just a shame I'll be a work in an office for most of it.

This month I'm loving: James Blunt and Jack Johnson.
This month I'm not loving: work and Crazy Frog.

Over and out.

2005-05-26T15:29:00.000+01:00

Finally it's all over, my exams finished yesterday and I'm now a free man! That is untill I start working on 6th June.

E4 launches on Freeview tomorrow, just in time for Big Brother 6 - which is nice!