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Apple updated the Apple TV in September dropping the price to $99, and expects to sell over a million of them by the end of this week. The new Apple TV allows owners to seamlessly stream content from their computers, iPhones, or iPads, as well as rent content from iTunes, and view content from YouTube, Flickr, and Netflix. Apple also released a new Remote app for the iPhone allowing Apple TV owners to use their iPhone as a remote.

In other news, yesterday Google asked manufacturers not to release any new Google TV devices next month at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Google TV was expected to be a competitor to Apple TV, but so far has been blocked by all major networks and movie studios, and has received poor press reviews, and likely few sales.

 

Google has done their best to dethrone Apple as the leading innovator of the smartphone market, but despite all of their gains they are still at least five steps behind Apple.

My roommate, and AppleXnews contributor Tyler Cunningham, who also writes for TalkAndroid recently posted an article titled, “Five reasons why Android is better than the iPhone.” This coming from the same guy whose Droid Incredible randomly reboots itself while sitting untouched on our coffee table.

Despite being a notorious Apple fanboy, the geek in me has tried to give Android the benefit of the doubt on many occasions and I’ve used many Android devices regularly only to have Android fail on multiple fronts. In all fairness, I have been an iPhone user since day one, and I have owned every iteration of the iPhone. I’ve waited in line with my fellow iPhone and Mac enthusiasts four times now, eagerly running up my credit card for one simple reason: the iPhone and iOS are by far the most polished hardware and mobile software solution ever.

The following five reasons are why the iPhone is still better than Android, and likely always will be:

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In a surprise announcement, Apple is discontinuing their Xserve rack-mountable servers. Apple has released a transition guide which states those who want to use a Mac as a server can do so by using Mac OS Snow Leopard Server on Mac Pro or Mac mini.

Apple is transitioning away from Xserve. Xserve will be available for order through January 31, 2011. After that date, customers looking to upgrade, replace, or supplement existing Xserve systems with new Apple hardware have the following two server solutions to choose from.

Mac Pro with Snow Leopard Server
Mac Pro systems deliver performance and expandability equal to or surpassing Xserve, and offer an excellent server solution for customers looking for the highest levels of performance, storage, and expandability. Now preloaded with Mac OS X Server, the Mac Pro tower form factor can be deployed in an office environment on or under a desk, or in a data center environment on a shelf in a rack with two units per 12U.

Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server
Since its introduction in the fall of 2009, Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server has become Apple’s most popular server system. It brings great capability in a small, efficient form factor that is affordable and can be deployed anywhere. Perfect for small business and workgroups of up to 50 people, a single Mac mini can run the full suite of Mac OS X Server services. A single Mac mini can also be deployed as a single-task server for a larger number of users in a business or education environment. Depending on the workload and number of users, a single Xserve could be replaced with one or multiple Mac mini server systems.

It appears Apple is of the belief that a Mac mini, or Mac Pro is just as capable, and easy enough to store that the Xserve form factor is simply no longer necessary.

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Apple has been working closely with Intel on developing an optical interface for input / output replacing such technologies as USB, FireWire, PCI Express, SCSI, and SATA. The initial release of Light Peak in early 2011 will be capable of 10 Gbit/s and could reach 100 Gbit/s by the year 2020. Light Peak can even be used to replace interfaces to connect a computer to a display or HDTV.

Apple brought the idea of Light Peak to Intel in 2007 and has been working closely with Intel to develop what could essentially be the end-all optical interface. Not only can Apple deploy Light Peak in future computers and devices internally to connect various internal components, but Light Peak can also be used to replace pretty much every cable you’ve ever used to connect one device to another. In fact, Steve Jobs has publicly stated he does not see USB 3 taking off anytime soon as Light Peak is seen as a more capable alternative.

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Apple has initiated a worldwide battery exchange program for certain rechargeable batteries that were sold for use with 15-inch MacBook Pro computer systems from February 2006 through May 2006.

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Finally the Wireless Mighty Mouse arrives.

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Mag connector problem with cats?

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I don’t know about you but I have been wondering about real world benchmarks for the new Intel machines.

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Oh the irony.

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It looks like Apple’s saving a bunch of R&D by using stock Intel chips in the MacBook Pro.

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