New Apple computers for 2011- Is this the best yet?

Most of the world uses computers based on Windows but you wouldn't know it if you ever spoke to an Apple fan. This species of computer user is known to be both loyal and rabidly interested in all things Apple. Normally, they own an iPhone, an iPod, a Mac computer, Mac TV, etc. This person is known as an "Apple Fanboy".

Faster, smarter but definitely not cheaper.
(source: Apple)

Well, the fan base just got some new candy for them to digest and drool over until the new iPhone and iPads are introduced in the next few weeks. It's been about a year since Apple updated their computer line and today they announced a host of improvements, changes and new products to the lineup for 2011.

Macworld.com has the facts on today's announcement and what it means for the Apple faithful who look forward to paying much more than anyone else for their computers because they are convinced that there is nothing better in the world for them.

Go to Macworld.com now to see what all the fuss is about and maybe you'll catch the Apple bug too.

Google secrets- finding there's more than search

(source: Google)

Google is the #1 search engine on the planet, bar none.

But, there is so much more to Google than search. Google owns YouTube and Picasa and many other webistes and services that are all intergrated into the family in one way or another. Examples include:

- Google Docs. Create and store your documents in the web. With all of the tools and abilities of Word. You can also access your documents from any computer in the world (via the internet) or share them with friends and co-workers too.

- Google Earth. See satellite images of virtually any place on Earth in very high definition and up close too.

- Calendar- stay on track with this easy to use organizer.

- Patent search. It is what it sounds like- search US patents going waaaay back..

- Google Body- see a 3D representation of the human body and explore it in fantastic detail... ick.

Didn't know Google offered so much variety did you? Well, there's more- 30+ more services by my count. Free websites, free e-mail, free free free!

It's easy enough to find. Just click here and go.

Or you could search for it on Google, I guess.

Lifehacker.com- Tips for making your life easier.

A hacker is someone who changes and adapts technology for their use and convenience. A lifehacker is someone who changes and adapts anything for their use and convenience.

Need to make a computer stand out of chopsticks? No problem.

Want to make a lamp out of a can of Tuna? Sure.

How about the secret tricks that makes iPad work better? Yup. A lifehacker can do all that and more.



(source: Lifehacker.com)



Want to be a lifehacker too? Simply go to the Lifehacker.com website for thousands of tips, tricks and hints to make different facets of your life easier and more interesting. Topics tend to lean somewhat on the tech side, but there are still thousands of entries for such non-tech topics like cooking, decorating, relationships, car repair, hair care and on and on.

Most articles are short, but detailed enough to achieve the article's stated goal. If needed, videos are embedded in the site and several topics are added each day.

If you have a tips you would like to submit, Lifehacker makes it easy with a large, blank window at the top of the page. Who knows? You might be the one explaining how to paint a bathroom with 3 band-aids, a paper towel and some dryer lint.

Go here to see Lifehacker.

The Roku Box- Cable programming without the cable cost?

The mysterious "Little black box" is legendary. Investigators look for it when a plane crashes and it seems to be the brains for all of the new cars made today. It sits there and we don't know really what it does, but it always seems to work for us and make our lives somehow easier.

Well, to add to that legend here is another black box called the Roku.

The Roku little black box.
(source: Amazon)

The Roku is an electronic appliance- a black box, no less-  that uses the wireless internet in your home to connect to thousands of sources of video content across the globe. It sits quietly near your TV and delivers full 108op High Definition quality video to any television (now, whether or not your TV is 1080p capable is up to you).

Set up could not be simpler: plug in the box to your TV's video and audio inputs, connect to your wireless internet and that's it! You now have access to Netflix, Hulu Plus, MLB, NHL, listen to your music on iTunes and thousands of other sources provided to you instantly. Some, like Netflix and Hulu Plus charge a small monthly fee, others provide their content for free and more providers are added all the time.

Lastly, the cost of the Roku is the greatest, best shock- Full 1080 HD television for under $100. Plus, a basic Roku with standard definition and fewer of the bells and whistles can be had for $69.99. If I were you, I'd pop for the extra $30 and get the best box with the most stuff. Amazon has all of the flavors of Roku for sale and you can find it here.

Ironically, the only reason you'll continue to need cable is for the internet connection to keep you Roku well fed.