Apple iPhone

Everybody probably heard of the Apple iPhone. The first generation iPhone was announced on January 9^th in 2007 and introduced in the US on June 29, 2007. For all who don’t know what the iPhone is: it is an internet enabled multimedia mobile phone from Apple. The iPhone has an innovative multi-touch screen and because of that you can control the whole phone by pressing virtual buttons on the screen. It was the first phone by Apple Inc. and one of the first phones which could be accessed completely over a touch screen. It also includes web browsing (on a nice 3.5 in OLED screen), e-mail, all iPod functions, text messaging, a camera function (2 megapixel camera) and more. The first generation iPhone was initially released with 4GB or 8GB storage and later on in September Apple took the 4GB of the market and released the 16GB version in February.

Now since a couple months the whole electronic world is waiting for the next generation iPhone. Immediately after the start of the iPhone in June 2007 people talked about an update of the just released iPhone. The wireless internet technology EDGE ( = Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution a.k.a. 2.75G) in the first generation iPhone had already been updated and was not the latest and fastest technology in the wireless internet section anymore. The new standard is UMTS – 3G and is widely spread in Europe since a couple years. So Apple missed the news a little and brought out the iPhone with a not up to date technology. The wireless internet mobile phone technology played and still plays a big part for many customers to in the decision to buy the iPhone, because on that way they can access the internet and their e-mails from where ever they want. The iPhone still became a hit and made a lot of hype in the mobile phone section, but the revenue for Apple wasn’t as high as expected.

Today now, Steve Jobs (one of the Apple founders) finally announced the iPhone 3G. The new iPhone is just slightly different in look, Hardware and Software. Of course now it has the 3G wireless internet technology, but also a maps function now with GPS, some updated and new software like a store for iPhone applications and a new back cover (in white or black). The storage capacity stayed the same: 8GB or 16 GB. It will be available on July 11^th in AT&T or all Apple Retail stores. Some Experts say it is going to be cheaper than the first gen. iPhone and the iPhone 3G slogan (“twice as fast, half the price”) also shows that. What do you think about the Apple iPhone and the whole hype around it???

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!!!
Thank you...
(I try to comment a post on your blog as fast as possibly, after you leave one ;-) )

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD

The battle between the two new high-definition video formats Blu-ray Disc or BD-ROM(Sony) and HD DVD (Toshiba) seems finally to be over.

The two formats are the successor of the DVD and are physically the same size of a DVD or CD. They are designed for the storage of data and high-definition video. The main difference between a DVD and these two new formats are the amount of data it can hold. Normal single layer DVDs hold up to 4.7 GB (double sided up to 8.5 GB), compared to that the Blu-ray Disc can hold up to 50 GB and the HD DVD up to 30 GB. This amount of storage is needed to hold high-definition movies, which are bigger (data wise) than a standard definition movie, because of its higher amount of pixels /picture quality.

The format war between those two new high density video formats began in 2006, when the first BD-ROM and HD DVD players and movies were released. First both formats had been head to head on player and movie sales. Both formats were evenly supported by the big movie studios like Paramount, Warner, Sony, Disney, Lionsgate, Universal, Fox or Dreamworks, but the sales of BD or HD DVD players and movies weren’t as high as the companies and studios wished. Consumers weren’t sure what to buy and the high prices also stopped them from buying any of the two formats. Some of the studios even brought out their movies on both formats. With the release of the Playstation 3 (which uses the Blu-ray format as its primary disc-drive) at the end of 2006, the BD-ROM started to outsell the HD DVD format. Throughout 2007 more and more Studios declared their “loyalties” surprisingly to Blu-ray and the little head start in sales through a earlier launch of the HD DVD format was completely gone. Even though the HD DVD format was first seen as less expansive and buggy, in February 2008 Toshiba (the electronic company that designed and produced HD DVD) announced that they are going to stop the production of HD DVD devices. This announcement came a month after the Warner Brother studios announced (last studio which released movies on both formats) to go with Blu-ray Disc.

After almost 2 years of format war we now finally know that the Blu-ray Disc is the successor of the good old DVD and the new high-definition video and data storage format. Let’s go Blu-ray!!!

The success of the Wii

The Wii is the fifth home video gaming console released by Nintendo. Everyone heard about it and almost everyone wants to have one. Since its launch in September, 2006 Nintendo sold about 25 million consoles worldwide and still has problems to meet the demand. Furthermore it is out selling its competitors Microsoft’s xBox 360 and Sony’s Playstation 3. Like Jeffrey M. O’Brien from CNN Money Fortune Magazine says: “Nintendo sold 360,000 boxes in the U.S. in April, 100,000 more than in March. That's two Wiis for every Xbox 360 and four for every PlayStation3.”

Power wise you cannot compare the Wii with the xBox 360 and PS3 with their powerful multi-core processors and high-end graphic chips for high definition games and video outputs. But Nintendo targets a broader demographic than Microsoft or Sony. The Wii is bringing people off all demographics together: for example in nursing homes, for Wii bowling leagues, on cruise ships and coed Wii-themed parties.

The Wii is a whole new concept of gaming with its motion steered Wii-Remote and Nunchuk controller. The Motion sensors/ accelerometers in both Wii-Remote and Nunchuk controller and the wireless connection to the console itself are bringing a completely new gaming experience to the people. The famous Wii-Sports game (which comes with the console) is the best example for that. The game requires you to actually move the Wii-remote like you would punch, swing it like a golf club or baseball bat in order to get points and succeed in the game. That made the Wii so popular and brought video games and new life to nursing homes and more and more families.

I think the Wii is a great video game console and suggests that everybody should buy one, even if its still really hard to get one. It is worth it!!! =)))

Soccer - a rising professional sport in the US

Soccer is one of the most popular sports over the world, just not in the US. In the past many different leagues (like the United Soccer Association or the National Professional Soccer League) have tried to push soccer as a professional sport. Different soccer player legends, like Franz Beckenbauer and Pelé, came to the US to end their careers here and were used to make the sport more popular. Currently soccer and endorsement superstar David Beckham from England plays for the Los Angles Galaxy in the MLS and is going to be one of those legends.

The MLS (Major League Soccer) is a professional soccer league in the US and Canada. It was founded in 1994 and is fortunately still running. The New Designated Player Rule made it possible for the teams in the MLS to buy players (like David Beckham) in Europe and make the league more attractive.

Until now David Beckham definitly brought some new attention to the MLS and soccer in the US. The whole goal of the Designated Player rule is to increase the game quality in the MLS and attract more people. The new and increasing attraction is also supposed to bring more kids to play soccer. Through that the soccer community hopes to find unspotted talent and bring those kids up into the professional teams. Maybe in a couple years the US Soccer is able to compete with nations like Brazil, England, France or Germany. Good luck!!!