I’m finally catching up from PodCamp AZ and the first thing on my list is to kick iBAM up a notch or two. I plan on doing this by adding a semi-frequent video podcast to the list. Today, my goal is to begin the process by picking up some cheap lights and some sort of backdrop. Then I will build some foam boards for sound control (I already have the foam, I just need the boards). I have mics and most the equipment I need to make the show and I’ll log it all to the site here so you can see what I’m doing to build the set, etc…

Here’s where you come in… I need ideas like mad. I think I’m gonna open up the iBAM discussion board bbPress module so you can submit ideas and we can all discuss ideas for the show. I’m willing to take this as far as you are willing to participate so let’s start here with some comments for your thoughts and ideas and we’ll grow from there. iBAM has always been about the community, so I need your 2 cents!

I’m pretty stoked about the show idea, I’ll keep you posted on my progress. We’ll see what comes out.

Recently, Google quietly launched Shared Stuff, a service that allows you to share interesting web pages with your friends through your “Shared Stuff” page, other bookmarking services or by email. Although it’s in it’s early stages, it seems to have some really promising features and they seem to have some really great ideas for the future. Once again, yet another useful app added to the Google family of friendly apps.

This letter was posted today here: Link

Cudos to you Mr. Jobs - Thank you!

To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to ‘go for it’ this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone ‘tent’. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that thetechnology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you’ll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.

Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO

I gotta hand it to him here. This is just about the coolest letter I have ever seen from a CEO. Big props to Mr. Jobs for this! I don’t even own an iPhone and I’m impressed.

Most of you know that there’s a “New Media Event” in less than two hours over at Apple where a lot of speculating (and somewhat informed) individuals expect a new iPod to be announced. These new iPods are rumored to be the fabled “full touch-screen” versions that we have all been waiting for since the announcements surrounding the release of the iPhone. I have heard a lot of ideas presented about what’s going to be announced today, but if you are interested in the play-by-play as it happens, MacRumors will be twittering all through the presentation so swing by their Twitter Page and turn on your notifications. We’ll see what happens.

Watching Twitter today was very depressing as most of my friends were standing in line all day waiting for their iPhones. I, myself, am pulled in two directions. The geek side of me wants the latest and greatest of everything right NOW and thus is screaming for me to run down to the nearest Apple store and just charge the thing and pay for it in monthly installments over the next thousand years plus interest and whatever else adds along the way. This is a pretty tempting scenario since I would “have a new iPhone” and that’s what’s most important, right? However, the sensible side of me says that the next version is going to be better, cooler and all that plus with the thousand year payment plan still in effect when that version comes out (I’m guessing 6 months, maybe not though), it would just compound and make things all that much worse. Nevertheless, my inner battle ensues… I have 3 hours till my timezone releases it and I have to decide what I want to do. In the meantime… what do YOU think? Maybe you can help me make up my mind (or confuse me all the more - ha!)