Podcasting is a norm nowadays for iPod owners. But it was once an underground movement that has now blossomed into a mainstream phenomenon. It is a method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos over the internet using either RSS or Atom syndication formats.

And podcasting with iTunes has now turned one year old. And what better way to celebrate, but to go down memory lane with a special set of pioneering shows. Have a consultation with Doctor Tiki on the Tiki Bar, or go all tech with TWiT and put your headphones on for IndieFeed. Just click on the link at the bottom of the article to see more of these great podcasts.

One thing I've noticed about Apple Computer is that the minute you shell out for the "latest and greatest" model, the next one is suddenly on the store shelves - and its "later and greater" still. Or- look at it this way. That Quad 2.5 GHz Power PC G5 you drooled over last year, but despaired of ever owning because of the $4,000 price tag? Guess what? With the introduction of the "latest, greatest" Intel-powered Macs, the price on that top-of-the-line PPC has dropped $800! And if you're patient, chances are, in a year or so, it'll be on E-bay for a fraction of that.

My point - if you like the Apple platform, and you're not doing high-end digital effects and editing for Hollywood's latest period or sci-fi/action blockbuster, you really don't need the brand-new cutting edge model in order benefit from what Apple has to offer. I purchased a second-hand 1998 G3 "Wallstreet" Laptop in 2001. Five years and a few upgrades later, the machine still does that for which I purchased it. The same with my G4 Graphite model, now six years old. With an inexpensive third-party upgrade, this does at least as well with 3-D applications as the first low-end dual-processor G5 - for a fraction of the cost.

Which brings up another issue. There are no shortage of companies manufacturing processor upgrades for your Mac, so if you think its running a bit slow, these are well worth looking into - because their cost is 10% that of a new machine.

Apple's own website now has a page where you can purchase some of last year's models at a substantial discount, and your own community's Apple Store very likely has lease returns that can be had for a song. If the prices of Apple hardware has kept you from switching or upgrading, consider going with last year's model.

Besides saving money, you'll be Reducing, Reusing and Recycling as well - and the planet will appreciate it.

You may not know it yet, but Apple is running the show for the 2006 World Cup. The reason you can see if your favorite team is winning is through multiple Apple products.

Apple's Host broadcast system (HBS), which is a collection of production groups brought together specifically for the World Cup, controls dozens of cameras at each match to deliver highlights to mobile phones within minutes after the action happened.

In order for HBS to deliver clips to over 50 networks around the world, they have this fabulous set up - four Power Mac G5s, PictureReady software and AJA Kona cards to DVCPRO HD 1080i50, and the games are recorded into a 20TB Apple Xsan.

The Japanese television NHK and Mexico's second largest network, TV Azteca has made use of a variation of the above setup. The Japanese prefers using five Power Mac G5s and PictureReady. The five feeds are recorded at at DVCProHD 1080i50 directly to a 36TB Xsan system. On the other hand, the Mexicans preferred to edit their content in Final Cut Pro and then connect the Matrox MXO to an SDI or HDSDI satellite link that will send their final edit from the field to the TV Azteca operations center.

Ah, memories... that first kiss... your first car... your first Mac.

I was barely out of high school when the first Apple II was introduced to the world, and it wasn't until ten years later that I first experienced the Joy of Personal Computing on the Mac Plus. Today, looking at the screen of my G4 running OS X "Tiger," I am amazed at how far this unlikely little machine has come in a quarter of a century.

Those of you who weren't around during the days of Apple's infancy (or are too young to remember) may find this gallery of interest. These screenshots document the first primitive GUIs, the initial appearance of a desktop that resembles the one we've come to know and love , the revolutionary OS 7, and the introduction of the Unix-based OS X that has again changed the way we interact with this amazing machines. (Another nice change over the years is the price tag - an early  Apple II could set one back $10,000, yet a new iMac - with  millions of times the processing power - can be had for under $1,000.)

Indulge in a bit of nostalgia - or simply enjoy a history lesson:

  

Prompted by David Blaine's [silly] fishbowl 'trick' in New York City recently, the Suicide Girls have decided to try their hand at a similar stunt.  One of their many ranks, has volunteered to spend an entire week inside the 5th Avenue (glass cube) Apple Store.  No leaving the Apple store for 7 days.  Sounds like heaven for some of us I suppose.

I read some random posts as the Suicide Girl has blogged her experience every step of the way - what else is there to do to pass the time?  Mostly it seems to be rambling to pass the time (expected), but I did notice a couple interesting things, such as:
- When the busy and slow times seem to be
- Cleaning procedures at a 24 hour a day store

So if you're bored, and want something to read that's Apple related, click the link.  And no - in case you're wondering - I'm not a Suicide Girls follower, saw a link in an Apple Discussion Forum...

iTunes U is slowly catching on, with more and more universities seeing the advantage of having lectures readily available and have students listen to them on the go. Three more schools have tapped Apple's service.

North Carolina Central University (NCCU), the first North Carolina system to join iTunes U, has elected last June to utilize the iPod technology in their teaching methods. Fuqua's speeches, interviews, and conference presentations can now be downloaded straight to the iPod by students of Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in North Carolina. September will see Ohlone College joining in the increasing number of educational institutions embracing iTunes U.

You know I watched that movie a long time ago with Natalie Portman, pregnant, and how she decides she's going to spend a night at the Wal-Mart after her boyfriend ditches her. Yeah, that was a good movie.

But anyway, somebody out there has made up her mind that she's going to spend a full week at Apple's new store in NYC (that's New York City for those of you outside the know) and, here comes the good part, blog about it!

Disregarding the sense behind it all, it still makes for some interesting reading, I'm sure.

According to MacNN: "The Suicide Girls have recruited member named "fakecake" to document this event as "she attempts to channel her inner David Blaine and survive in midtown Manhattan's new Apple Store, trapped underground with little more than moxie, MacBooks, and the desire to blog about her sure-to-be-thrilling experience in ultra-nonstop realtime..."

One thing everyone can agree on is that Apple sure knows how to make some compelling advertisements. This may be another case in point.

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen's official site says that Gisele has recently been photographed for an upcoming US ad campaign for Apple.

At least that's what the translators tell us.

The question is what will Apple be advertising? And will people be paying attention to the product... or the supermodel? I'll plead the fifth on that one.

Nothing says I love you more than a proposal in front of $9 million dollar cube, right smack in the center of Fifth Avenue. This thirty-second time lapse video shows us an unforgettable proposal in front of the newly unveiled Apple Store. May your love burn as hot as the MacBook.

There have been a lot of news about Apple being vulnerable to security breaches.

Just last week, hackers have made a killing out of a security flaw found at an Apple online store. It allowed them to gain information stored by customers, including names, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, order histories and credit card information.

"We take all reports of security vulnerabilities seriously, and we create a fix as soon as possible. We've had a track record of being able to respond quickly," said Spokesman Bill Evans.

So when the new MacBook was released, a "hacker" saw this as a security flaw, went down to a San Francisco Apple store and stuff his coat with a few boxes of vulnerable iPods, and store security "responded quickly."