Upcoming - Traps Drums Review

We love bringing you alternative reviews here on Geekanoids. When we last reviewed the Roland HPD-10 the feedback we got was phenomenal, with literally hundreds of emails coming in. It is always nice to step away from the screen, do something a little energetic, whilst still keeping that creative edge.
I am very excited to let you all know about the forthcoming review of Traps Drums A400 Drum Kit. This leading edge technology allows the A400 kit to deliver big drum sound in a flat compact package. Never having tried this type of drum before I really cannot wait to bring you the lowdown. Expect to see a review here around mid-June, in the meantime check out the Traps Drums website.

Commodore to return with Gaming PC's

I grew up with Commodore computers, some 25 years ago I had a Commodore 64, simply awesome in its day. Yes, I admit I was torn between Atari and Commodore, but the Amiga then led the way to my Desktop Publishing exposure, owning both an A1200 and A1500, before switching over to the Mac…
Well, Commodore are back, launching with an interesting array of custom painted gaming PC's with a pretty good spec. Quad core processors, 4GB RAM, dual NVidia GeForce 8800 graphic cards, and a custom C-kin paint job, things look really promising. Check out the website here.

USB Mini Fridge keeps the dorks cool

We know you've been waiting for it. Now finally, Brando brings you the $33 USB Mini Fridge. Sure, it takes 5 minutes to bring the fridge down to 8.5 degrees centigrade (47 degrees fahrenheit) and it holds just one can. But hey, it's a 5V USB-powered refrigerator dambit and that's worth it at any price. via engadget



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The Mac Matrix - Space for one more?

The Mac Matrix comprises of 4 product groups: a desktop for the home user (iMac), a desktop for the professional (Mac Pro), a notebook for the consumer (MacBook) and a notebook for the professional (MacBook Pro). However, in recent times, the matrix has blurred at some points, and left a gaping hole in others. I want a headless Mac. via mactalk.com.au



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iPod Dock Clock Radio from Philips

Philips have released a nice looking iPod dock with integrated clock radio. The AJ300D/37 may not have the most appealing name, but it certainly looks the part. It sports a dual tuner, gentle wake, sleep timer, and delivers 12 watts of power. It is not yet showing on the UK website, but will retail for $80 in the US.

iPhone is GO - FCC approved !

You lucky guys in the USA should be seeing the iPhone real soon, as it gets FCC approval, so can now legally be sold. No surpises, but some nice docs for you to peruse here.

Apple MacBook Update

Apple has updated its MacBook® consumer notebooks with faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 1GB of memory and larger hard drives in every model. The MacBook is just one-inch thin and features built-in 802.11n wireless networking for up to two and a half times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.* Every MacBook also includes a built-in iSight® video camera for on-the-go video conferencing, Apple’s MagSafe® Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and iLife® ‘06, Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.

"The MacBook is a huge hit with customers, and is one of the reasons that Mac sales are growing three times faster than PC sales," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The new MacBook is faster, has even more memory and storage, and is an ideal notebook for customers’ growing library of digital music, photos and movies."

Featuring a gorgeous 13-inch glossy widescreen display, the one-inch thin MacBook comes in three models: sleek white 2.0 GHz and 2.16 GHz MacBook models, and a stunning black 2.16 GHz MacBook model. The MacBook includes a built-in iSight video camera for video chatting on-the-go with friends or family using iChat AV,** recording a video podcast or iMovie® using iLife ‘06, or taking fun snapshots with Photo Booth. Designed for the mobile lifestyle, the MacBook includes Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook and safely disconnects when under strain, and the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking for up to two and a half times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.

The MacBook comes with iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto®, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand™ and iWeb™. The MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS® X version 10.4.9 Tiger, including Safari™, Mail, iCal®, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth.

Pricing & Availability
The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store (www.apple.com/uk), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers.

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £699 (inc. VAT), includes:

• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 667 MHz front-side bus;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
• 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire® 400 port;
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analogue;
• Scrolling TrackPad;
• the infrared Apple Remote; and
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.16 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £829 (inc. VAT), includes:

13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
667 MHz front-side bus;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
• 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analogue;
• Scrolling TrackPad;
• the infrared Apple Remote; and
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.16 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £949 (inc. VAT), includes:

• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
• 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 667 MHz front-side bus;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
• one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analogue;
• Scrolling TrackPad;
• the infrared Apple Remote; and
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 120GB or 160GB (5400 rpm) or a 200GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork ‘06, Logic Express 7, Final Cut Express HD 3.5 and Aperture 1.5.

Apple Mac Mini Rant

It has been a long time since I have written an opinion piece on Geekanoids… well this is more of a rant, through pure frustration of wanting to buy a new item from Apple's portfolio.
With the WWDC coming up soon, I was really hoping that Apple would not save ALL of its announcements until then. They will be concentrating on the iPhone, which I want, but will have to wait for (being UK based), then I anticipate that the rest of the keynote will cover Leopard, which again I will purchase and install when available.
The recent announcements regarding the inclusion of LED displays in 2007, may well see the announcement of a refreshed MacBook and MacBook Pro, which again will be great, but on a personal note, my MacBook has to do at least another year before being replaced.
What I have really been waiting for is a new Mac Mini, with a Core2Duo chipset, or perhaps a Mini Tower, somewhere in between a Mini and a Pro. It seems a little suspicious to me that Apple have left the Mac Mini dragging its heals. Perhaps you could read into the lack of revision, that we may well see something special happening to the Mini at the WWDC. Then again, we have been here before, expecting big announcements and then in the aftermath of getting nowt, waiting as each week passes, hoping for a Tuesday announcement… so come on Apple, deliver us some small revisions before WWDC, or at least make it a two hour keynote and revise the complete Mac range in one go.

iPod update Tuesday? Touchscreen?

An unconfirmed tip points to the possibility of an iPod update as early as tomorrow, with a touch-screen iPod taking center stage. The timetable contradicts tips passed on from more reliable sources, which have said not to expect a 6G iPod until later this year at the earliest, but... via thinksecret



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