Apple goes green

We all know that we're supposed to recycle cell phones, batteries, and other electronic devices because they contain harmful chemicals that are bad for the environment. Often times however, we do not stop to think if there is a way for companies to eliminate these dangerous elements altogether. Apple is attempting to do just that by going green. In 2006, Apple completely eliminated the use of CRT's, or cathode ray tubes. By comparison, Dell, HP, and Gateway all still ship these toxic CRT's in their products to their customers today. Their products are recycled at a rate of 20% in 2008 and by 2009 predictions are estimated around 30%. By comparison, only 10% of other companies electronic devices are recycled. Apple collects and processes all of their recycles here in the U.S., assuring that the few harmful elements remaining in their products are not lost shipping them overseas. The company even collects old or unwanted iPods in their store so that the devices can be disposed of properly. As an incentive, they offer a 10% discount on the purchase of a new iPod with their recycle, which can add up if you want the latest model, costing around $200. Apple again is outdoing the competition and assuring that their products are disposed of correctly when a user upgrades. So next time you're thinking about throwing out unwanted technology, ask yourself, what would Apple do?

Magic Mouse

Apple recently released a new mouse. So what, right? Just another mouse among many mice. Wrong. It's sleek, futuristic design may seem only aesthetic at first, but look closer and you'll realize that this mouse has no buttons to click. It's a cutting edge idea and could possibly make interacting with a desktop computer much easier and more functional. While those who use Apple products are aware of the double finger swipe ideas on the MacBook, some may not be. One can use two fingers simultaneously swiping down to scroll through any page. This feature transfers over onto the mouse as well. Another feature some users are familiar with is the 'pinching feature' on the iTouch and iPhone. While moving two fingers in opposite directions allows you to zoom in on a page, moving them together in a pinching motion allows you to zoom out to get a better grasp of what the text on a smaller screen is saying. Unfortunately, this pinch feature is only transferable when one holds the command button on their Mac. Holding command and clicking the mouse bar on a laptop is the equivalent of a right click on a P.C. This is a slight drawback and requires more motion and effort than other models on the market. Another drawback is the fact that the Magic Mouse is so sleek, that many users might find it difficult at first. This is really not that big of a deal, considering we all had 'fat fingers' when touch technology first came out. A little getting used to and a few tweaks, and I believe this could be the new design for future models. Sure P.C. users might argue the fact that there is no technical right click, but given a try at it, and I'd bet they'll get over it. At a retail price of only $69, it wont break your bank, but you'll probably want to give it a look before you buy it.

GarageBand replacing the studio

In January, Apple revamped their program GarageBand. This is a program that comes pre-installed in newer versions of Mac. The program allows musicians to directly plug their instrument into their computer via a USB cable to record and edit music. Today, even professional musicians have adopted this software. They enjoy the speed at which you can record music and the spontaneity that comes along with being able to record virtually anytime and anywhere. This type of technology could very well mean that the traditional studio might be a thing of the past. In addition, unheard talents now have the ability to record music in the same way that many professionals are. This may lead to a more level playing field in which the music you record counts for more than the people you know in the industry to get you that first break. This is just another example of how technologies that are coming out affect not only individuals, but entire industries.

Competition for the iPhone

Recently, Google and Verizon Wireless have partnered together to launch a series of new phones. The new products will tout Google's coveted Android software platform. This could mean trouble for Apple in the near future. Although Apple currently has the 3G market cornered with their software partnered with AT&T's service, there are no real competitors out there with the software and capabilities of the iPhone. Android technology has already been released in T-Mobile's myTouch, but this service provider pales in comparison to that of Verizon. Verizon has a far larger network and this could mean far more people investing in Android technology. The new device, called Droid, will be able to download applications, similarly to the iPhone, and will come with several pre-programmed in. It is hard to predict whether or not it will have an impact on Apple sales. I do not think devout users of Apple products will necessarily drop the iPhone, but it may become harder for the company to attract new users with more choices out there. As it stands now, Apple and AT&T basically have the entire market cornered, but it will be interesting to see if the company can maintain this monopoly in the years to come with new technologies being released.