Steve Jobs, Co-Founder and CEO of Apple INC. 1955-2011

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," read a statement by Apple's board of directors. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

The homepage of Apple's website this evening switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, "Steve Jobs 1955-2011."

Clicking on the image revealed the additional text: "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 and, with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak, marketed what was considered the world's first personal computer, the Apple II.

Shortly after learning of Jobs' death, Wozniak told ABC News, "I'm shocked and disturbed."
Industry watchers called him a master innovator -- perhaps on a par with Thomas Edison -- changing the worlds of computing, recorded music and communications.

In 2004, he beat back an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to get a liver transplant. After several years of failing health, Jobs announced on Aug. 24, 2011 that he was stepping down as Apple's chief executive

A sad day for all of us who are Apple product owners. May he rest in Peace.

After getting their iPhone prototype, Apple send its attack dogs with Gestapo type police actions!

It looks like no good deed goes unpunished!

SEATTLE – Authorities seized computers, digital cameras, a cell phone and other items from a technology blog editor who posted pictures and details of a lost iPhone prototype.

A computer-crime task force made up of multiple law enforcement agencies searched Gizmodo editor and blogger Jason Chen's house and car in Fremont, Calif., on Friday, according to a statement and search warrant documents provided by Gizmodo.

The warrant, issued by a Superior Court judge in San Mateo County, said the computers and other devices may have been used to commit a felony. Steve Wagstaffe, spokesman for the San Mateo County District Attorney's office, confirmed the warrant's authenticity.

Members of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team took several computers, hard drives, digital cameras, cell phones and other gadgets, plus Chen's American Express bill and copies of his checks.

Last week Gizmodo had one of the Web's hottest scoops when it posted photos of an Apple device that appeared to be a next-generation iPhone. It had been found in a bar in Redwood City, which is in San Mateo County, and sold for $5,000 by an unknown person to Gizmodo, a gadget blog owned by Gawker Media Inc.

After Chen, 29, posted photos and details about the phone, Apple acknowledged the device belonged to the company, and Gizmodo returned it.

Gawker Media said California law, which protects journalists from having to turn over anonymous sources or unpublished material to law enforcement during a search, should apply to Chen's property.

"Are bloggers journalists? I guess we'll find out," Nick Denton, who runs Gawker Media, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Wagstaffe said the district attorney's office is examining that issue.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling declined to comment.

New iPhone 4G "found" in a California bar, photos "leaked" by Gizmodo.

"Leaked"...right!!!!

According to Gizmodo, a prototype of the new 4G iPhone, that was going to be unveiled soon, was the property of one Gray Powell, an Apple systems engineer, who was enjoying a beer at Haus Staudt, a bar in Redwood City, California, where he was celebrating his birthday, last month. Gray forgot the prototype, encased in a 3G wrap. A very drunk patron noticed the phone and began to ask for the owner. It ended up in the arms of some guys, sitting at a computer terminal.

After discovering that it was a prototype and not an innocent looking 3G phone, they tried to contact Apple, to return it, only to be ignored! Feeling snubbed, the persons contacted and sold the prototype to Gizmodo for $5,000. Gizmodo was proven right when Apple confirmed that was the new phone and demanded that Gizmodo give it back. The guys at the tech blog will give back the phone.

According to the guys, the new phone has 4G capabilities, which makes it faster than other models. This means it can run, not only on ATT but on other networks as well (Verizon, Sprint, Claro, T-Mobile, to name a few). This one comes with 80GB memory capacity, two cameras, one on front and in the back, and two microphones, one for noise canceling capabilities.

Some people, me included, thinks this is no accident. This was an intentional leak by Apple to generate buzz for their new product. Apparently, they have succeeded.

Will you buy the new iPhone, when it comes out?

Don't want the iPad? Don't fret! The Germans have a solution...the WePad!

Immediately after Apple launched the iPad, to great success, two companies, one in India and the other in Germany have come out with their own versions of the iPad. We are gonna focus our attention on the German one; the WePad.

BERLIN, Germany (AP) --

The German maker of a new tablet PC is setting out to rival Apple's iPad with the promise of even more technology such as a bigger screen, a webcam and USB ports.

It is not, however, an "iPad killer" as it has been dubbed by some blogs but an alternative to its bigger rival, Neofonie GmbH's founder and managing director Helmut Hoffer von Ankershoffen told reporters on Monday in Berlin.

Ankershoffen stressed the system's openness: Two USB ports allow users to connect all kinds of devices with the WePad, from external keyboards to data sticks.

People who want to put music on their WePad do not have to have any particular software, Ankershoffen said — a blow at Apple's devices that require particular Apple software like iTunes.

The WePad's basic version, which comes with Wi-Fi and 16-gigabyte storage, is set to cost euro449 ($600), the larger 32-gigabyte version with a fast 3G modem is euro569 ($750.).

Ankershoffen claimed that given its technological superiority and greater openness, "that's a bargain compared with the iPad."

The iPad — which hit stores in the U.S. less than a month ago — is on sale there starting at $499 for the smallest version, coming with Wi-Fi and a 16 GB storage.

The WePad, with its 11.6-inch screen, is powered by an Intel chip and relies on a Linux software basis which is compatible with Google's Android and all Flash applications, Ankershoffen said. It also has a web cam, SD card reader and a SIM card slot.

When it hits stores starting late July, it will also boast a complete open source office package, he said.

The machine will hit stores in September in the US, probably November in Puerto Rico.

Will you buy a WePad, an iPad or the Norton Ink Adam?

Apple presents it's new product; The iPad!

At last the rumors can stop and the gripping can begin. Steve Jobs announced today the new member of the Apple family of computers and devices; The Apple iPad!

The unit is 10 inches in diameter, very thin, uses WiFi and 3G unlimited data plan from ATT from 29.99 monthly without a contract. And you can use ATT's Wi Fi hot spots to boot!
Will run apps like the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Some of the apps are; Brushes, a paint program with multi-touch, iWorks 2010, iBooks a mix between iTunes store and Barnes & Noble. This app offers more page control and capabilities than the Kindle. You can also read newspapers and magazines, which is a godsend for publishers, now they can go online or publish in an electronic way. It runs on the first use of the Apple A4 1ghz chip.

The Pad will come in a 16 GB ($499.), 32 GB ($599.) and 64 GB ($699.) versions. With additional Wi-Fi, 16 GB ($629.), 32 GB ( $729.) and 64 GB ($829.).

Accessories include a dock with a keyboard for easy typing, if you don't like the virtual keyboard included, and a kickstand, made from leather, that works as a case and a stand.
It goes on sale in 60 days.

It looks impressive, but it's not. My Asus, running linux, is far better, and cheaper too! The price is not that bad for the basic model, little expensive for the rest.. The name...NO! It sounds like a feminine hygiene product!!! They could have called it the iSlate or the iTablet. iPad sounds like iTampon!!! And no camera for photos or video to upload or to use Skype. Damn! It sucks!!!

It's a great entry. But I wouldn't buy one right now. I'll wait until later in the year, when they announce the new models and new lower prices for this device.

Hey! I waited 2 years to get an iPhone!

Images Apple / Gizmodo

"El Agua Milagrosa"

Coming to a hotel, house and infomercial near you! It's electrolized water, and it's changing the way we use household cleaners and degreasers.

It's a kitchen degreaser. It's a window cleaner. It kills athlete's foot. Oh, and you can drink it.

Sounds like the old "Saturday Night Live" gag for Shimmer, the faux floor polish plugged by Gilda Radner. But the elixir is real. It has been approved by U.S. regulators. And it's starting to replace the toxic chemicals Americans use at home and on the job.

The stuff is a simple mixture of table salt and tap water whose ions have been scrambled with an electric current. Researchers have dubbed it electrolyzed water -- hardly as catchy as Mr. Clean. But at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, some hotel workers are calling it el liquido milagroso -- the miracle liquid.

That's as good a name as any for a substance that scientists say is powerful enough to kill anthrax spores without harming people or the environment.

More on this breakthru here!

I hope it comes here soon!

Microsoft goes after Apple. Will open their own Tech stores soon!

Read on and ponder on this...

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp announced plans Thursday to open its own chain of branded stores as it looks to catch up with rival Apple Inc's successful move into retailing.

The world's largest software company, which also makes the Xbox video game console and the Zune digital music player, did not say how many stores it was looking to open, or when, or which of its products would be on sale.

That is to be decided by David Porter, a former DreamWorks Animation executive, which Microsoft named as its new vice president of retail stores.

Turner, a former Wal-Mart Stores Inc manager, will report to Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner.

The long-rumored move to open stores comes as consumer spending is under severe pressure due to the recession, which has already pushed electronics chain Circuit City into bankruptcy. A similar attempt by computer maker Gateway to open its own stores some years ago was not successful.

Microsoft, bruised by the poor reception of its latest Vista operating system, is facing increased competition from Apple, which is eating into the personal computer market and dominates the personal digital music player market with its iPod line.

Apple's stylish stores, now numbering more than 200 worldwide, have been crucial in attracting customers in recent years.

This sounds as a desperation move by Steve Balmer, the CEO of Microsoft, after Bill Gates. It's logical that Apple has stores because it's a hardware company. They sell computers, phones and iPods. Very sexy computers, phones and iPods. And they are not available everywhere. Microsoft, apart from the Zune and the XBox 360, are a software company! And their products are available everywhere!

This is a bonehead move! Balmer is watching too much "Simpsons"

The disintegration of Microsoft continues!

Cn u rd ths? Gd! Thn u r a jrk! LOL!

Another study from Nazi Germany...oops...Australia, says that short text messages are more difficult to decipher than regular English...

A short snippet of this story...

University of Tasmania lecturer Nenagh Kemp asked 55 undergraduate students to compose, and then to read aloud, text messages in English and in "textese."

While students were significantly faster using textese, it took almost half the number of students twice as long to read these messages aloud than messages written in proper English.

The students also made more errors reading the textese messages compared to the ones written in English.

More on this absorbing story here!

So thr! Dat ws 2 kewl 4 wds...Wat? Wat?

Wanna look better? Take a photo!!!

The march of technology continues!

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Want to optimize your looks without radically altering them? An Israeli team of computer scientists may have the answer.

They have developed a computer software model based on the innate preferences that studies show we have for human faces.

"This technology could become a product where for example there's a web service where people upload their photographs and have them enhanced or beautified by our software," said Professor Dani Lischinksi of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Studies show that eyes a certain shape and distance apart, nose a certain length, lips a certain curve, increase the probability that we will find one face more attractive than another.

For more on this, CLICK HERE!

Here at Les'Shyerar Labs and Fried Chicken Shack, we applied this new software to different photos. See the results. Please pay close attention to the Croc.

And while we were watching Omar...

The new Mac Books were unveiled by Apple.

The 13 inch Mac Book has a new NVIDIA graphics card, sleek metal casing and LED-backlit monitor and prices start at $1299.

The 15 inch Mac Book Pro, more power with all the goodies of the Mac Book, starts at $1999.

The old Mac books are now called Mac Book White, and will retail for $999.

The 17 inch Mac Book Pro will start at $2700.

Still pricey, but I think they are worth it!