As I sat down to watch the Apple Keynote address yesterday I pretty much already knew what to expect from weeks of leaks popping up across all the tech blogs. The focus was on music, and with that new iPod designs, an iTunes face lift, updated Apple TV, and more goodies were sure to surface.

While I sat there in front of my computer, listening to Mr. Jobs’ soothing voice, being blinded by the UV ray glare coming of his aging bald head, and wondering if he owns several black turtlenecks or just one he washes a lot, I couldn’t help but get a sour taste in my mouth. Apple press conferences are supposed to be exciting, filled with the latest and greatest gadgets with never-before-seen features. How could I be anything but enthralled after seeing a touch screen iPod Nano and a music social media iTunes feature named Ping?

Apple is an innovator. They are constantly pushing the bubble of what is possible, and it has put them in a powerful position in the computer technology industry. Often, those companies that are not able to adapt to changing trends and move forward get left behind in the dust (sorry AOL). So it is only reasonable for Apple to continue to develop ingenious products.

It is at times equally important to not lose track of your roots. The original iPod completely transformed and redefined the market for portable music players and also the music industry overall when it was introduced by Steve Jobs on October 23, 2001. It was the introduction of the iPod that rejuvenated Apple and propelled them from a computer company into a technology leader at large.

Yes, the iPod was a big deal, and it should have been. At the time, it completely blew any competition out of the water and trademarked features that we would come to know and love from iPod and Apple music (the clickwheel, iTunes). When the iPod was introduced I was using an RCA Lyra MP3 player that came standard with a 32mb CF card (that could hold a grand total of 20 songs), a 1″ monochrome screen, and converted all your MP3 files to WMAs in order to playback on the device. So vintage. What a huge leap in technology.

Right now, I am still using my fifth generation 30gb iPod classic, which I have held onto dearly since 2005. It does everything I could ever ask for in an portable music player. It holds my entire music library, it maintains a charge for days on end (At least it used to. Little guy is getting old), and it produces excellent sound quality. That is really all I want in an MP3 player. So while watching the Apple Keynote and seeing the next generations of iPods, decked out in their fancy touch screens and front facing cameras, I shed a slight tear. The one iPod that didn’t get an upgrade was the iPod classic, which if history is any indicator could mean that the classic may be phased out eventually. Likely, this won’t happen till the iPod touch can hold over 64gb, but I have that feeling. The same feeling you get when you see an M. Night Shyamalan film trailer and can predict the entire movie scene by scene without fail, yet you still get dragged into seeing it and then kick yourself afterwards for wasting $10.

The original iPod purchasers were music fans. People who loved music and wanted the ability to bring their favorite songs with them across the vast expanse of the universe. The focus was on the sound experience, and not touchscreens, games, WiFi, and FaceTime. I have all that on my smart phone. I don’t need multiple devices that can do exactly the same thing (although an iPad would be nice). It seems somewhere along the line Apple has lost sight of this. Sure, these new features appeal to a much broader audience (which will certainly boost sales), but what about us? What about the original fans?

My hope would be that Apple would introduce a classic retro model with 60gb of space that would just play songs, and play them well. On a logistical standpoint, I understand that this wouldn’t necessarily make sense for Apple financially. In order to sell a more basic model, they would have to drop the price point significantly (when in reality these people will eventually opt for the iPod touch instead, spending much more). Apple doesn’t need to do this for the money, but they need to for the people. Don’t forget about us Steve!

Apple has offered me anything I could ever desire in an iPod, and everything I ever wanted they left behind 5 years ago.

In this video, David Kirkpatrick (The Facebook Effect) interviews Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn) and Sean Parker (Napster, Plaxo, Facebook Causes). The discussion’s theme: Is social media the digital reality we will live in for the rest of our lives or is there a Next Big Thing?

Over the past few weeks we have seen Google roll out several new features. About a week ago you may have noticed something strange when typing in a search term to Google. Instead of the page remaining static, your search result would change based on each new letter you typed. I know I was caught off-guard by this feature while using Google and was glad to learn the test had quickly disappeared. The live “streaming” of search results per letter was a bit too much. I understand the importance of remaining current, but I felt that the feature was a distraction (granted I only ended up using it for a few minutes before it was gone). If you didn’t get a chance to play around with the Google “streaming” test, you can watch the video below to see what went down:

Days later, we learned of Google’s new Gmail integration allowing users to place phone calls to anywhere in the U.S. for free. Debate ensued as to whether or not this was an effort to take on Skype, Facebook, both, or the world. A spokesperson for Google later came out and claimed that Google runs anywhere between 50-200 tests “at any given time”. Yada yada yada, so it goes.Now let’s get to the bacon.  Last December, Google introduced real-time results into the sites standard searches. This approach proved favorable for many, especially during peak usage when topics such as the World Cup are trending on a ridiculous number of mentions-per-minute basis. Earlier today, the search engine giant released a separate real-time search option. Users have access to this attribute by going directly to www.google.com/realtime. Googlers (that’s a word, right?) can also get here by performing a standard search and clicking the ‘Updates’ link in the sidebar on the left.

After playing around with this feature set a bit, I hope that Google Realtime is not just a short lived test but rather a lasting feature. I enjoy the option of being able to see real-time results, but not having to always. Real-time results serve a different purpose than does a traditional search, and I believe these two facets should be kept separate. Sometimes you do not necessarily want real-time results. For instance, if you are conducting a research project on the role of advertising in the 1960s, you wouldn’t exactly want to sift through thousands of Mad Men tweets that surface in order to get to actual information, figures, and reports.On the contrary, there are also times when real-time information is appropriate. Right now, Tiger Woods is atop the leader board of The Barclays (which I’m certainly not streaming on the other monitor while I write this, no way). A real-time search for “the barclays” will reveal up-to-the-second information, opinions, articles, thoughts, and videos of the PGA Tour event (as seen below). This probably would be useful in order to stay current with the tournament, the leaders, etc.

Two features. Two specific purposes. Life is good.Some things are better in pairs. Where would Laverne be without Shirley? However, certain things in life are meant for specific purposes, and shouldn’t be mixed-up. Just as I wouldn’t wear a Speedo to a cocktail party (there was that one time), I would also not use Google Realtime for specific academic research, to find an address, and on numerous other occasions. Separately, a traditional Google search and Google Realtime can be fabulous pieces of tecnology, so I hope they remain that way. Thank you in advance Google.

P.S. I think I just broke the world record for most parenthesis used in one blog post.

If you’re not already familiar with Digg, think of this video like the Previously on… recap episodes major television networks often run prior to the season premieres of their biggest shows—a way to shorten the learning curve for potential new viewers and a way for devotees to relive their favorite moments.

This one goes out to all the iPhone cinematographers. It’s a product called Zgrip that turns your iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 into a handy cam.

There are two Zgrip kits: iPhone Pro and iPhone Jr. The Pro model will set you back a steep $295 and enables multiple adjustments for shooting at unconventional angles, as well as the ability to mount to a tripod. The Jr. model is not adjustable but will save you some cash for only $69.

Images courtesy of Cool Hunting and Zacuto.

Set aside notions of boring museums and endless guided tours. Museums are going beyond all that and creating experiences that can get even a jaded Millennial excited. During a recent trip to Warsaw, Poland, I experienced one such museum that’s getting it right in a tech-driven world.

Welcome to the Chopin Museum 2.0.

Before heading inside the museum’s impressive 17th century facade, I spent some time walking in the courtyard, where I discovered the first of many interactive components of the museum: an interactive bench. The bench played various Chopin tunes while a QR code enticed me to dig for deeper content.

Upon entering, visitors are handed an RFID enabled card that can be swiped throughout the museum to interact with special content and music. In the midst of personal letters, furniture, pianos and other objects, a slew of touchscreens reveal personalized audio and video content that help bring Chopin and his music to life.

One of the architects of the space, Mara Servetto, told Wallpaper about the design.

“We wanted to incorporate the best technology could offer with an experience that is very human,” explains Servetto. “To this end, all the sounds, smells and interactive technologies have been integrated together.”

It makes for a full sensory experience that eventually leads to a dark, silent chamber dedicated to the end of Chopin’s life. It includes paintings of Chopin on his death bed, his death mask and also a lock of hair. It’s that’s too macabre for you, not to worry, there’s much music to be distracted with once you’re finished with the tour. Be sure to spend some time downstairs in the cavernous listening room. Check out the blank pages that when turned reveal projected images from above.

What was once thought to be merely rumor was confirmed yesterday as Apple introduced its Magic Trackpad to the world. If you are hearing this for the first time you likely did not access the internet yesterday, as it was plastered over every tech news source imaginable (slow day in tech). This is all fine and dandy, so I won’t bore you with the details. Simply put, the Magic Trackpad connects to your Mac desktop via Bluetooth allowing you to experience the goodness of the three finger click, the swipe, and the two finger scroll, all while viewing your beautiful iMac display.

What struck a wrong chord with me was Apple’s description of its product. On the Apple website, the company claims that the Magic Trackpad is “the first Multi-Touch trackpad designed to work with your Mac desktop computer”. Let’s ponder this for a second…ok, enough pondering. If Apple made such a claim it must be true right, I mean come on, they are Apple. Well not so fast Hasty McHasterson. It would appear that a bit of back knowledge tells a different story.

Wacom, a global company well known amongst creative professionals, has for years been in the business of producing external “tablets” for PCs and Macs. These tablets connect to your computer via a USB port and act in place of a mouse, mirroring your movements from the tablet to the screen. Wacom is most famous for their tablets which utilize a stylus, allowing for a much more natural experience when drawing or painting on the computer. Certain high-end tablets will even duplicate the desktop images on the LCD screen of the tablet, contributing to an even more intuitive design experience.

For several years now Wacom has offered its Bamboo line of tablets including the Bamboo Touch model. The Bamboo Touch is a multi-touch trackpad that essentially does everything the Magic Trackpad can do. The usability of the Bamboo Touch does slightly differ from the Magic Trackpad in the number of fingers used, click method, etc. but the general concept is the same.

I have never used the Bamboo Touch, but I have used several other Wacom stylus models and have been nothing short of pleased with the usability that the products offer. Even though Apple has made false claims here, the increased hype for trackpads could also benefit Wacom in the long run. The Bamboo Touch goes for $49.99 on the Wacom website, as opposed to the $69.99 price tag for the Magic Trackpad. Mac users drooling over the thought of a desktop trackpad but looking to save a few bucks could potentially go for the Wacom version instead. Wacom could also possibly see sales increase from PC users, who have heard all the hoopla from the Magic Trackpad and wish for an option to comfort their Windows filled hearts.

All in all interest in trackpads is surely much greater today than it was a week ago, and I hope that amidst Apple’s false claims that Wacom can pick up some sales as well. Apple’s statement really is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it is just a minor example of a company thinking they can do whatever they please. If you will excuse me, I am going to go email Steve Jobs in hope for a sarcastic response back.

Sharing is caring. Barney taught us that. If there is anything I have learned in my few short years on this earth it is to always trust purple dinosaurs. The concept of sharing has been instilled in us all from a young age, and is the premise behind new venture SnapGoods.

SnapGoods is a site allowing for users to collaborate and share a number of items. Say you want to test run an iPad for a couple of days before buying. Once signed up on the sight, you can search to see anyone in your network who is willing to share their iPad with you. SnapGoods will only share your information with people you are Facebook friends with or are connected to through Meetup, which the company hopes will help deter random creepers for calling you up to borrow your stuff. After finding a person with the item you desire to use, you can then contact that individual to discuss a price and exchange location.

After returning your item, you and the lender should then review the transaction deal, in a manner similar to eBay’s feedback system. Payments are made through Paypal and a deposit is necessary up front, so in the case that John decides he rather not return your bike, you get some compensation (hardly making up for the fact that you now have to walk to work).

Whether or not SnapGoods will catch on remains up for question. I am all about sharing, but lending out my cherished equipment to people I hardly know doesn’t sound too enticing, even if I can make some quick cash. To conclude, I will leave you with a list of some strange items currently available for rent on SnapGoods:

KitchenAid Food Processor

Shoei Motorcycle Helmet

Waffle Maker

Calvin Klein recently unveiled this giant QR code on Houston St. in NYC. The ad prompts passersby to scan the QR code from a mobile phone in order to unlock “uncensored” content.

While this could’ve been an excellent way to deliver rich multi-media content to its audience, Calvin Klein fails to deliver anything of real value. The QR code links to a predictable, black and white video (see below) of disaffected, nubile twenty-somethings making out half-clothed in urban landscapes. Not exactly groundbreaking or memorable for this genre, nor is there anything about unlocking the video that engages people or makes them feel special or valued.

This is classic tactics in search of a strategy, where someone thought it would be “really innovative” to use a QR code. Sadly, it seems there was very little thought given to what type of content would be right for this environment. The QR code was the big idea rather than the appropriate delivery mechanism for a bigger idea.

Sorry Calvin, it’s not enough just to use new technology; if you want to score points you must also use new technology well.

Let’s be honest: Nick Cage even without that horrendous haircut and Stevie Nick’s wardrobe is enough to keep most people from the box office. So Disney has spared no expense promoting Sorcerer’s Apprentice in new and interesting ways.

We wrote about Disney purchasing the first ever promoted tweet for Toy Story 3 a few weeks back. Apparently, it went so well, they’ve also bought another promoted tweet for Sorcerer’s Apprentice. And they’ve also become the first to try Twitter’s new @EarlyBird service, a “deal of the day” promotion announced just last week, again for Sorcerer’s Apprentice. @EarlyBird will retweet promotions to its audience of around 45,000 for some undetermined fee. However, Disney’s own account has 54,000, so right now it seems the PR behind Disney being the first is more important than the benefits from @EarlyBird.

They’ve also rolled out an impressive interactive display window at the 34^th Street Macy’s where, using technology similar to Microsoft’s new Xbox Kinect, you can play a game based on the movie. The game lets you wave your arms to throw plasma balls, levitate mops, ect, and once you’re done, it takes your photo, shoves your head onto Nick Cage’s body and (of course) lets you upload the appalling result to Facebook.

If you’re nowhere near New York, you can also “train” to be a sorcerer’s apprentice online with an interactive series of YouTube videos with choose your own adventure links. Hint, you need a clear mind to throw plasma balls, it doesn’t help to squint.

Hopefully, it will all pay off. Though for the amount they’re spending, they could have spent a little more on Cage’s wig.