Life, Crap, Etc.

“From heaven to hell and back again, life is a funny thing. beauty can come from the most strangest of places even the most disgusting places.”

- Alexander McQueen

German architect, Jakob Tigges, is setting out to build an amazing visionary landmark in Berlin. “The Berg” (pictured above) is going to be a 1000 meter high man-made mountain!  The Berg will not only serve as a recreational space and a huge tourist attraction but also a natural habitat for wildlife.  While still a dream, the project seems to be getting a lot of support in terms of approval and finances.

Wanting to put Berlin on the map, Jakob Tigges’ idea and vision sets to challenge the limits of possibility AND creativity.  This would truly be a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction, giving Las Vegas’s grandeur, New York’s sky-scrapers and Dubai’s man-made islands a run for their money.

Check out The Berg’s web-site!

Moments ago, at the Mac Word Expo, Apple launched a uni-body version of its 17-inch MacBook Pro model.  Said to be the world’s THINNEST and LIGHTEST 17-inch notebook, this 17-incher packs a whopping 8 hours of battery life!  Here is what Apple says about its new battery technology:

The longest-lasting Mac notebook battery ever.

The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro lasts up to 8 hours on a single charge¹ and can be recharged up to 1000 times² — compared with only 200 to 300 times for typical notebooks. To do this, Apple engineers custom-designed lithium-polymer cells to create the largest possible battery, then they went even further: They built the battery right into the computer, eliminating the space-consuming mechanisms and housings that standard removable batteries require. The result is a battery that’s 40 percent bigger than the previous generation and offers up to 8 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge — all in a notebook that’s less than an inch thin, weighs just 6.6 pounds,³ and remains the same price as the previous-generation model.

But building a battery that lasts up to 8 hours is only part of the story. Giving it a lifespan of up to 1000 recharges required breakthroughs in battery technology. Apple electro-chemists developed advanced chemistry that maintains the battery’s charging capabilities longer than ever. And while most notebooks wear down their batteries by charging them at a constant rate, the 17-inch MacBook Pro takes a different approach. Using an Apple-developed technology called Adaptive Charging, a microchip on the battery constantly communicates with the computer to determine the optimal way to charge its cells, adjusting the current up and down depending on a variety of conditions. Combined, these advancements offer a dramatic improvement in battery lifespan: more than three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries — up to five years.

Talk about pure computing bliss!  The 1900 X 1200 widescreen comes in both the glossy and matte finish.  The 17-inch MBP can be configured up-to a 2.93 Core 2 Duo processor, supporting up-to (drool! drool!) 8 GB of 1066 MhZ DDR3 RAM!!!  The rest of the features are pretty much the same as the 15-inch uni-body model, including the multi-touch glass trackpad (heaven!), the new chicklet keyboard (typer’s paradise!) and of course LED back-lit screens.  The spruced-up 17-incher will set you back about $2800 USD .. but, trust me, it’s worth every single penny!  The model is said to start shipping late January (just in time for my birthday, ehm! ehm!).

After Apple announced, late last year, that Steve Jobs would not be making the keynote address at the San Franciso Mac World Expo ’09, there was much speculation about Steve Job’s health.  A flurry of rumors started spreading about Mr. Jobs resigning because of health issues.  Steve Jobs is a cancer survivor and many were speculating that perhaps his cancer had relapsed.  All this while Steve Jobs was seen lesser and lesser out and about and seemed to be loosing a lot of weight.  The news of Steve Jobs’ health was sending shockwaves through the Apple community, with people wondering who would be appointed the next CEO of Apple Computers.  More importantly, people were concerned at the vision and direction Apple would take, should Steve Jobs step down as the CEO of Apple.

To dispell all these rumors, Steve Jobs issued a letter stating that he was merely suffering from a hormone imbalance and has been asked to rest for a few months.  Doctors expect a quick and speedy recovery, in a matter of two to three months.  In his letter, he writes

“The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.  I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.”

Apple’s board of directors were quick to issue a note of their own (probably worrying at the thought of Apple’s stock price plummeting):

“It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world.
As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple’s CEO, you will know it.
Apple is very lucky to have Steve as its leader and CEO, and he deserves our complete and unwavering support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its Board.”

So, with all the politics and rumors aside .. the Apple community is eagerly awaiting the start of Mac World Expo!  Apple is rumored to be launching a new version of the mac-mini, along-with a uni-body version of the 17″ MacBook Pro.  Phil Shiller is said to preview Mac Snow Leopard, the latest Apple Operating System.  iTunes is rumored to have struck a deal with major record labels, to offer DRM-free downloads.  And, trusted sources in China have confirmed the release of the iPhone Nano!  The show starts TODAY!