2008 was a huge year for Apple and Apple News. Here’s a look back at the releases, events, and news from 2008:

Apple Releases:
1.    Quad-Core Penryn Mac Pro
2.   Penryn XServe
3.   Time Capsule
4.   iTunes Movie Rentals
5.   Apple TV 2.0
6.   Macbook Air
7.   16GB iPhone/32GB iPod Touch
8.   Aperture 2
9.   XSAN 2
10.  Penryn + MultiTouch Macbook Pros
11.   iPhone SDK
12.   iFund
13.   Updated iMacs
14.   MobileMe
15.   iPhone 3G
16.   Final Cut Server
17.   AppStore
18.   iTunes 8
19.   iPod Touch (Second Gen)
20.  iPod Nano (Fourth Gen)
21.   In-Ear HeadPhones
22.   iPod Shuffle (new colors)
23.   iPod Classic (120gig)
24.   24” LED Display
25.   Macbook White
26.   Aluminum Unibody Macbook
27.   Unibody Macbook Pro
28.   Updated Macbook Air

Apple Events -

1.    Macworld 2008
2.    March 6 Special Event
3.    WWDC 2008
4.    Apple Special Event September 2008
5.    Apple Special Event October 2008

Big News:

• iTunes is Top Music Retailer in US
• Apple Announces & Previews Snow Leopard
• 100 Million Apps Downloaded from AppStore
• Apple Announces Last Year at Macworld
• Apple is #1 Laptop Supplier in Higher Education
• Mac Sales Reach All Time High, 6.9 Million iPhones sold in Q4 ‘08

With the growing phenomenon of e-book readers, many iPhone developers have developed their own apps to turn the iPhone, or iPod touch, into a mobile reading device. One of the flashiest of such apps is Classics, a $0.99 reading application from Andrew Kaz and Phill Ryu.

What makes Classics stand out from the other ebook readers is the interface. Upon opening the app, you’re greeted with a shelf filled with classic books. The shelf is beautifully designed, and the actual reading experience is flawless.  To start reading, you tap the cover of a book and read. It’s that simple. A simple swipe of the finger from right to left triggers a page turn. Page turns in Classics are also executed beautifully, for it simulates the physical turning of a page in a book.

Whenever you stop reading, whether to go back to your shelf or exit the application, a bookmark is placed on top of the virtual page. When you want to continue reading, you simply tap the book again and you are taken to your bookmark. Also available in Classics is the availability to rearrange books on the shelf and to skip to the beginning of chapters via the table of contents.

However, one of the most important features in an e-book reader is the content. In this arena, Classics is lacking. For starters the ability to download other books is not present. You are limited to the books that included with the application. The developers are promising that more books will be released in future updates. Yet, the books are all classics, not current releases, and are free on other e-book apps.

Overall, the experience of using Classics is flawless, yet limited in terms of available content. If you’re an avid reader – Classics is not for you. In fact, you’d be better off with a dedicated e-book reader, such as Amazon’s Kindle.

This has turned out to be a help post as well as a help me post. I’ll deal with the help part first since it’s the easiest.

Have you tried to update your OS X to the latest version (10.5.6) through system update and found yourself staring at a non-moving progress bar forever? Many have had the same issue, me being one of them. There’s an easy fix (for most). Just download the Combo Pack and run it locally. Works like a charm (again, like I said… for most).

This brings me to the second part of this post…

After performing the previously mentioned task (twice, in one attempt to fix the issue below), I find myself with a fully updated MBP that has convinced itself that I have seven (7) displays attached. Now, not only do I not have any connected nor did I have any at the time of upgrade, but I can’t even think of how I would attach 7 displays to this thing. As cool as this looks, it’s not the case and I want it to go away. My system is creepy slow now. There’s gotta be something I can do. Any help? Everyone I have connected with tonight says a resounding “wow, I’ve never even heard of that before” … Well, now you have. What do I do?

Thanks in advance,

Brent

With the holiday season almost here, it can be a major chore trying to get all your shopping done.  If you are also like me, you also like to check prices online before making a purchase in a retail store.  If you do, then the new Amazon app for the iPhone will help you right along.  I enjoy shopping at Amazon, and being able to do that with one-click on my iPhone is an even better experience.

The app is fairly simple and easy to use, with the most common features (search, cart, etc.) easily clickable wherever you are at.  Search results provide a clear and informative result of the item you are looking at.  The detailed item view gives you all the features you will find on the website such as ratings, reviewing, images, along with the ability to purchase and save to a wish list.

Speaking of wish lists, this has been the most handy feature of all, as I have placed the Christmas lists of several people on Amazon, so they are now nearly viewable in an instant.  A feature exclusive to the app is the ‘Amazon Remembers’ feature.  If you are out somewhere, and see something you want, just snap a pic with your phone, send it to Amazon via the app, and it will give you reminders along with products which might match what you are looking for.

Overall, this is a fantastic app, and the best part is it’s free!  Download the Amazon app from iTunes.

Link: Amazon app (will open iTunes)

Okay, so this isn’t Mac related in the slightest but I just had to post something. Here I am @ 2am working away and I have the TV on. On comes a commercial that catches my funny bone. Some commercial that starts off with an extreme close up of a guy that starts talking about some new disease or something. Now before you start grabbing your torches and pitchforks, this shot was fonted in the lower third with the words “Doctor Dramatization” … Um…

Since when does a disease (or anything for that matter) get away with a doctor dramatization? Aren’t diseases something serious? I mean it’s not like I can say…

“Oh sorry officer, I was participating in a speeding dramatization”

or

“Oops… I didn’t know I had to pay for that, I was doing a shoplifting dramatization”

or

“Those aren’t mine, it’s a drug trafficking dramatization”

COME ON!!!

Who buys this stuff? Like I’m going to let some actor tell me that some sort of experimental drug is safe and think it’s ok? I’m sorry, I have a problem with all these drug commercials. If they can get away with actors dramatizing as truthful, knowledgeable, doctors then I should be able to do my own dramatizations without fear of repercussions. Right?

Heck yeah it’s ridiculous! so knock it off advertising dudes! Where’s the truth today anyway?