BindApple

I know a lot of people who are looking for cheap Apple laptops, while others would (almost) kill to get a MacBook Air, and virtually all my friends would like to get one, disregarding the fact some of them weren't crazy at all about Apple's products in the past. Even if I speak for myself, I must say I am not one of those considering computing on the road something worth fighting for, so I still consider that a notebook is a useless tool for me, but if someone would knock at my door and tell me that I just won a MacBook Air, I would surely be extremely happy to hear that, and I don't have to say that notebook would probably soon become my primary computer, instead of being sold or exchanged for beer, as it would happen with a Windows laptop, with only a few exceptions that I won't mention now. These being said, let's get to the interesting part: cheap Apple laptops!

First, you should know that, according to Piper Jaffray, quoted by AppleInsider, Apple's next line of products to be released will aim at the budget conscious users, so if we skip the iPods, we get to the cheap Apple laptops expected by everyone, because we can't say Apple is currently selling any laptop for the entry-range market. The rumor says we should get ready for a 13-inch MacBook, a laptop expected to be priced lower than $1000, but I wouldn't be amazed to see it selling for $999, and with less features than its Windows-based counterparts. Anyway, we're talking about an Apple here, so I am sure they'll only go cheaper, but not too cheap!

Here's what Gene Munster has to say about the upcoming cheap Apple laptops: "We believe there is an 80% chance Apple will introduce redesigned MacBooks and possibly new MacBook Pros at lower price points. Specifically, Apple may re-enter the $999 price point (currently $1099) with the MacBook, or test the $1,799 price point with the MacBook Pro (currently $1999)." Considering the tendency of the notebook market to offer better prices with each month, I think a 10 percent price cut won't do that much, after all...

On the other hand, if you can't get a cheap Apple laptop, why not get an expensive one that's even better than the MacBook Air? Hold on, this is not blasphemy, it's just a rumor, according to which we should see the MacBook Touch arriving in October. We heard it before, it wasn't true, but maybe this time we'll get lucky, don't you agree?

When Apple decided to switch to Intel processors, I don't know if they imagined that, sooner or later, various companies will start manufacturing Mac clones. Obviously, with a little effort, you can build a desktop computer using a Intel Core Duo processor, and then install Mac OS X on it, but to have a company selling Mac clones...that's a bit too much, and the outcome of the Psystar story should be an example for those still thinking about selling Mac clones. Well, Open Tech didn't get it, and now they are following Psystar, as we're going to see right away...

First, let me tell you a few words about Psystar, the Florida-based electronics company usually selling surveillance and communication devices, but who also got into selling "Open Computers" with the option of pre-installing Mac OS X Leopard on them. As you were able to find out already, Apple has filed a lawsuit against them, and the last time I heard about this story, it was the fact that Psystar Corporation is selling one warehouse where its HQ was located. If this is a sign of giving up, or being forced to do it, that's what I leave for you to decide. Now, let's move to Open Tech, shall we?

If they'll have something to say about it, then I'm all years, but I have to tell you this - how serious could be a company without a .com domain? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't buy absolutely nothing from one having a .tk as homepage! Anyway, here's how the top-of-the-line Open Tech XT machines look like(for the actual machine, look to the picture above):

- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz Processor
- 4GB DDR2 800MHz Memory
- 640GB Hard drive- 7200 RPM
- Optical Drive ( Burn and read dvd's and cd's)
- CoolerMaster ATX Mid-Tower Case
- Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11g

According to its manufacturer, the Open Tech XT "is capable of running most popular operating systems." While you get no pre-installed OS, you can get detailed instructions on installing all of them, including...Mac OS X Leopard, of course!

For now, Apple has a lot of things to do, but I don't think Open Tech will get too far with this. After all, it's not just one little company's products they're cloning here, it's the almighty Apple! What do you think?

If we want to talk about Apple's financial performance, after leaving aside the impressive iPhone 3G sales, we should also consider the fact that Apple's business is going well on the remaining fronts, as the latest Apple sales figures are showing. To make a longer story short, it's enough to say that, less than a day ago, the Cupertino-based company announced its 3rd Quarter 2008 Financial Results, but there are plenty of things to say about this, apart from those sales figures, so let's get this show rolling, shall we?

The short version of the story looks like this: almost 30 percent profit rise, taking the figure up to $1.07 billion, on revenues of no less than $7.46 billion. This means $1.19 per diluted share, if you are really crazy about numbers, but since nearly 2.5 million Macs and 11 million iPods have been sold during this period, Apple's impressive figures shouldn't look like something out of this world. After all, it's only the marketing behind some solid products, that's all. I think there are other companies on the market that could go pretty high, but they lack the marketing teams required to push them forward. Well, Apple has everything it needs!

Regarding Steve Jobs' health and the fact that he may leave Apple, we should have no concerns. While Oppenheimer didn't get into any details, he said "Steve loves Apple. He serves at the pleasure of Apple's board.He has no plans to leave Apple. Steve's health is a private matter," so this makes me think Jobs may have some health problems, but intends to stay with his company until the end. Well, let's just hope the end won't come anytime soon.

Now, let's get back to the Apple sales figures, shall we? Apple's estimations for the fourth quarter look like this - "Looking ahead to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we expect revenue of about $7.8 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $1.00," but you shouldn't worry - the hit expected to be taken by the diluted share is caused by the back-to-school promotion offering free iPods to Mac-buying students, one-time costs, and a "significant product transition"(new Macs or iPods, anyone?).

To draw the line, let me say only this: Apple sales figures are rock solid for the current quarter, and I have a feeling that in the next 2-3 months, something big will happen. How big? Well, I guess it's going to be something big enough to help pushing the Holiday season up and make it the most profitable Apple has seen so far, but I can't bet on anything just yet.

The iPhone is, as we all know already, Apple's smartphone, while Wordpress is usually about the notorious blogging service, or the publishing platform bearing the same name. If you ask me, I wouldn't ever write and publish blog posts on a mobile, especially because I find it much easier to use a decent keyboard, but I know a lot of people who don't have this problem, and today I have some good news for them - if they're looking for WordPress iPhone apps, they should stop doing that. Why? Obviously, because a blogging software for the iPhone coming right from WordPress is expected to drop by pretty soon.

If you're crazy about statistics, then let me tell you this is not the first blogging tool for the iPhone, since Six Apart's TypePad already has its tool, called Typepad Mobile, described by its creators as "a mobile application that lets you update your TypePad blog or photo albums from your Palm OS®, Windows Mobile 5, or Symbian Series 60 smartphone." OK, so we have that one checked, but let's get back to the WordPress iPhone apps now, shall we?

Now, I was just about to tell you something about that "upcoming WordPress for iPhone application," but it all got better! According to the official page, modified only a few minutes ago, "WordPress for iPhone just launched on the App Store!" If you are wondering about the compatibility and features, here's what you get - the ability to write posts, upload photos, and edit your WordPress blog using your iPhone or iPod Touch, while having support for both WordPress.com or self-hosted WordPress 2.5.1 or higher blogs!

For now, this is all the information I can give you, together with the download link. These being said, all I can wish is "happy blogging" and may your WordPress blog be overwhelmed by an endless stream of visitors! ;)

In this world, there are plenty of thing to get addicted to, and probably that gadgets creating armies of devoted followers easily exceed all known drugs, but what do you know about Kava? Is Kava addicting, or not? No, I am not talking about the plant also known as Piper methysticum, simply because that doesn't have anything to do with Apple, and not even about the Kava Kava rock band. Ever heard of Kava Tunes? If not, I got a very pleasant surprise for you...

KavaSoft is - obviously - a software company, and its flagship product is simply called KavaTunes. So...what about it? Well, KavaSoft just released KavaTunes 3.2, the latest version of a product that easily turns your iTunes into a web jukebox for you and your friends. Here's what KavaSoft has to say about it: "KavaTunes creates interactive websites that look and work just like iTunes. Browse, search and play all your music. KavaTunes websites can stream your favorite playlists using your computer’s built-in web server. KavaTunes can also add artwork to your music."

Doesn't sound bad at all, don't you think? You simply setup a webpage, go away, and you can access your iTunes library from anywhere, and there are plenty of options available, like sorting based on most played artists, recently added items, and top rated ones. If the visitors of your page like your tunes, they can click a link to buy it from the iTunes Store(no affiliation program? what a pity...), it's just as easy as that!

Basically, when talking about the new parts of KavaTunes' version 3.2, we have the redesigned music preference pane, giving you the option to allow what your visitors can download from your site, and especially if they can do this, or not, as well as setting the default playback volume. With a price of L35, KavaTunes could be a interesting choice for some people, although I'd rather take my music collection with me on a portable drive, or simply load it to a high storage capacity PMP... so deciding about the answer to the "Is Kava Addicting?" question is your part.