Information about Computers And Internet, Consumer Electronics And More

If you trust the chatter from the techies’ sewing circle, Apple is poised to make several new product announcements next month. According to industry insiders and analysts, Mac fans can expect a redesigned MacBook and MacBook Pro, along with revamped iPods

The Mac laptop line has not had many significant changes in roughly six years, and there is also a good chance that the price point may finally drop to around $999, keeping Mac competitive with PCs. iPod nanos and shuffles may see increased storage and perhaps a reshaping of the iPod touch, and also another price drop.

Early adopters, however, will have to wait a little longer before queuing up for a MacBook touch. The technology is still a bit out of reach, but could arrive in less than two years.

Analyst Expects Changes

Apple fans know that company announcements, such as new product launches and revamps, have been made in September for the last three years. And according to reports, Apple’s sales and marketing teams released a statement to retailers advising them to replenish MacBook and MacBook Pro stocks, which usually signifies that Apple is preparing for changes. Stir this is in with the spicy earnings call last month by Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer hinting at a future “product transition,” and you’ve got the ingredients of a tasty product launch.

Gene Munster, an analyst at investment firm Piper Jaffray, has confirmed the speculation, writing, “We expect redesigned MacBooks and MacBook Pros, and a new iPod touch.” He noted that an event has yet to be announced, but he fully expects Apple to re-enter the under-$1,000 market where Mac iBooks once started. He also speculated about redesigned MacBook Pros and pointed out that there hasn’t been a major design change since the first PowerBook G4 was released 5.5 years ago.

Regarding the iPod, “[Piper Jaffray] believes Apple will increase the capacity of the iPod shuffles as well as the iPod nanos (but maintain current price points); redesigned form factors for the shuffles and nanos are unlikely. We believe the iPod touch may be redesigned and may enter the $199 price point, in line with the iPhone,” Munster wrote.

The Mac Touch

He added, “While there has been some speculation that Apple will introduce a portable Mac based on the multitouch technology in the iPhone and iPod touch, we do not believe Apple will release such a device in September.”

“While we do believe Apple is currently testing some form of ‘MacBook touch’ using a touchscreen as the primary input, we currently believe this is more likely a 2010 event,” he wrote. “Rather, we believe a smaller version of the 13-inch MacBook Air is likely in the 2009 time frame.”

Federal prosecutors have decided not to pursue a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained the powerful painkillers that contributed to his overdose death this year, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.

Prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan had been overseeing a Drug Enforcement Administration probe into whether the painkillers found in Ledger’s system were obtained illegally. But the prosecutors have bowed out “because they don’t believe there’s a viable target,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because no charges have been filed.

The decision comes after recent reports that actress Mary-Kate Olsen was demanding immunity before answering questions about the startling death of her close friend and his drug use. Authorities say she was the first person called by a masseuse who found the 28-year-old “Dark Knight” actor’s lifeless body in his Manhattan apartment.

The DEA had obtained a subpoena that could have forced Olsen if she continued to hold out. But the subpoena, issued in April, is no longer valid because it was contingent upon prosecutors pursuing the case, the official said Wednesday. The official added that the case could still be revived if evidence of a crime emerges.

Rebekah Carmichael, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said it’s the office’s policy to “neither confirm nor deny the existance of an investigation.” There was no immediate response to a message left for Olsen’s attorney, Michael C. Miller.

DEA investigators suspect the painkillers found in Ledger’s system, oxycodone and hydrocodone, were obtained with phony prescriptions or other illegal means. Oxycodone is sold as OxyContin and hydrocodone as Vicodin.

Miller insisted this week that Olsen, a former child star on the sitcom “Full House,” had already told the government she “does not know the source of the drugs Mr. Ledger consumed.”

Other potential witnesses apparently answered questions voluntarily, including doctors, Ledger’s ex-girlfriend Michelle Williams and people in his apartment around the time of his death.

Other drugs taken by Ledger, including anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills, were prescribed legally by doctors in California and Texas.

The medical examiner’s office wouldn’t say what concentrations of each drug were found but made clear he was killed by the combination — not an excess of any one drug in particular. It’s common for the DEA to investigate an overdose death with so many different drugs involved, a DEA spokesman said last month.

The masseuse discovered Ledger’s body on Jan. 22. Police say she spent nine minutes making three calls to Olsen before dialing 911 for help, then called the actress a fourth time after paramedics arrived. At some point during the flurry of frantic calls, Olsen, who was in California, summoned her personal security guards to the apartment to help, police said.

Ledger died after filming “The Dark Night,” the latest movie in the “Batman” series, in which he has earned rave reviews for playing a maniacal Joker. The film had taken in more than $400 million domestically as of Monday.

Most of the fishing enthusiasts dearly love to make an exclusive fishing on giving their attempts in catching the Bluefin Tuna. The Bluefin Tuna are well-renowned for their massive size, improved speed and elusive beauty. Their quick and rapid speed has made them to acquire a familiar name amidst the proficient anglers. The massive and huge sized Bluefin Tuna weighs around 1000 pounds and they are found commonly in Ireland. Besides the huge size Tuna, anglers also show their interest in capturing the little ones. When it comes to tuna fishing, it requires absolute patience, planning and research. The West cost of Ireland and the Northeast of US are considered to be the most familiar areas for Bluefin tuna fishing charter

When considering about Bluefin Tuna fishing, most of the North east US anglers plan their hunt during the month of June to November, whereas the Irish anglers plan their hunt during the month of August to November. You can find good Bluefin Tuna fishing mass, if you plan your travel during these months. Generally, Bluefin Tuna could be tightly caught underneath deep waters and they never turn towards the shallow costal areas. The best and the right chance to make a successful tuna fishing will certainly be achieved by availing the support of the best charter boats along with reputable skipper.

A home office can be a great addition to your house. It can create an area for your kids to do their homework or your husband to do some after-office work. Turn an unused space like a walk-in closet or an area in your den to a functional home office. Desks are the most important part of a good home office. You would need a sturdy and reliable desk to make the whole area a good place to work.

If you and your husband work mostly online, home computer desks can be installed in the home office area or even in your kids’ bedroom for easy access. When choosing a home computer desks, understand that space is a priority. There are computer desks that can fit in virtually any space and is maximized with storage bins as well as space for your printers, speakers and other accessories.

If you have a laptop, you can choose more versatile contemporary desks that combine work space and storage space. There are now desks designed to fit your mobile laptop and a space to do your reading and writing. Contemporary desks are designed from steel-reinforced plastic or from classic wood and glass. If you have a home office in mind, make sure that you pick a desk that can work for you in terms of function and space.

Pilot gifts need not be stuffy. If you are giving a present for friend or loved one who is a pilot or a flying enthusiast, make it fun and functional at the same time. There are actually many great gift ideas that you can get online from many websites dedicated to pilot gifts.

Toy planes can be the best gift idea. They can bring out the kid in every pilot. You can even share the passion for flying with other people. The most common toy planes are radio controlled ones. They come with a small engine and a remote control that can manage the direction of the plane.

Flying radio controlled toy planes is relatively easy if you have at least a basic knowledge about toy planes and flight in general. First, consider the weather. Sunny skies are the perfect time to bring out your toy plane and head to the park. It is also recommended that little or no wind is present when you take out your toy plane.

Read the manual carefully before trying it out. It would also be best that you understand how to operate the remote control. Usually, radio controlled or RC planes operate the same way as real planes and they can be great simulators for aspiring pilots. If you have someone who likes to fly, then this would be one of the best gifts for pilots you can get for them.

Tritton Technologies has announced the launch of its SEE2 Extreme, a new peripheral that enables you to connect external displays through USB 2.0. It costs $119.99.

The SEE2 Extreme attaches to an available USB 2.0 port and lets you hook up another monitor.

The SEE2 Extreme works at resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels and supports Digital Visual Interface (DVI) and VGA-equipped displays. It supports widescreen and rotated screen displays, supports video playback, and also supports mirrored, primary and extended viewing modes. A DVI to VGA adapter is included. Tritton says that the SEE2 Extreme works with any Mac running Mac OS X 10.4 or later with an available USB 2.0 port. Up to four SEE2 Xtreme units can be added to a single Mac.

Coach Pat Summitt will donate $600,000 to the University of Tennessee to be shared by the Knoxville and Martin campuses.

The donation will be given over several years to support the women’s basketball programs at both campuses and includes a $100,000 endowed scholarship for a Lady Vols basketball graduate assistant in honor of Summitt’s parents, Richard and Hazel Head.

The 56-year-old Summitt has spent 34 seasons as the Lady Vols coach and led the program to an unprecedented eight national championships, including titles in each of the last two years. She is 983-182 overall.

Summitt played basketball and volleyball at Tennessee-Martin.

“I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to play basketball as a student-athlete at UT-Martin and spend 35 years as a coach at UT-Knoxville,” Summitt said. “I appreciate every opportunity both schools have given me and hope this gift will afford other young women the same opportunities.”

Two other coaches have made similar contributions. Men’s coach Bruce Pearl endowed the Dane Bradshaw Scholarship Endowment in March 2007 and football coach Phillip Fulmer announced in August 2007 a $1 million gift for academics and athletics.

“Pat is an amazing asset for the University of Tennessee,” UT President John Petersen said in a statement. “Far beyond her obvious achievements as a coach, she is a role model, a leader, a champion for academics and graduation, and I cannot imagine a single individual who has done more to contribute to the success and the respect of women’s athletics in this country.”

As a student at Tennessee-Martin, Summitt played basketball and volleyball from 1970-1974 there and was courted to coach at the Knoxville campus as a 21-year-old senior.

“We are excited to have this generous support from coach Summitt. Her commitment will provide a major boost to our women’s athletics program,” UT-Martin Chancellor Thomas Rakes said.

If you recognize this name and saw my previous questions, you’ll know that I’m childfree for many reasons.

1) Do you want grandchildren to pass on the name and the genes? How would you fee if any of your kids never wanted children?

2) When you had children, did you have them so they could take care of your when you’re older?

3) How would you feel if your son decided to change his surname?

I have two daughters and NO, I do not expect them to take care of me when I get on in years. What kind of life is that for them to look forward to? I think it would be very selfish of me to give them that burden in the prime of their lives.

Sure, I would like grandchildren. Not for the namesake, not to show other Grandma’s the annoying photos, but to just enjoy them. If my daughters decide not to have children, I would be fine with that. I support them.

The wood has been arsenic treated, so should I put duck tape on it?

Ductape won’t work, the chickens would peel it off and don’t use arsenic treated wood or any sort of treated wood. Arsenic is a deadly poison and other treated woods might also have negative effects. Use some sticks or branches that you can find in a local park or your backyard. (Make sure that they haven’t been sprayed or contain stuff that is bad for chickens)

i need 1 for cleaning and my tank is a mess

Well, they are cold water fish, so if you have a cold water tank then yes. If your tank is tropical, you could get a bristlenose pleco or a few otocincluses!

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depending on how many fishes you already have in your tank you might be able to have one. 29 and 30 gallon is almost the same size, if you only have a few small fishes you should be able to have one without any problem.