Apple announced today an upgraded Mac mini. If it wasn't for a couple issues, this would be a decent upgrade: Front Row, SATA drives, gigabit ethernet, more USB ports, SPDIF, plus Intel Core Solo and Duo CPUs.

Integrated graphics. A low-performing GPU that takes up 64MB of system RAM. I wouldn't run one of those without upgrading the RAM...512 is barely enough to run Tiger acceptably, let alone Tiger and a graphics subsystem.

The base model has a 1.5GHz Core Solo. Intel doesn't make a 1.5, meaning Apple is underclocking a 1.67GHz chip. It annoys me that they'd underclock the CPU to further differentiate from the dual-core model.

Minor disappointments:
• No more sub-$500 model
• No DVR/PVR capability
• Still using 2.5" HDs

I was really hoping Apple would take this chance to release an 'entertainment Mac'...a machine solely intended for living-room use. 17" wide case (conforms with AV equipment), 3.5" SATA HD, DVR/PVR capability through Front Row, standard Bluetooth keyboard/mouse, enhanced remote control like some Windoze Media Center PCs have.

Also announced: iPod Hi-Fi. A $350 speaker dock that, IMO, doesn't live up to Apple's usual high industrial design standards and is pretty pricey; iPod leather cases at $100 which will probably be selling for $40 in the not-so-distant future.

Apple's 30th anniversary is coming up fast (April 1); I wonder what Steve has up his sleeve for that. Speculation: I'm expecting the iBook to give way to the Intel-based MacBook, maybe along with expanded MBP offerings. It would make sense to get the base laptops ready by then so they're out for the education buying season.

So I was feeling kinda stinky after work to begin with...it was a not-so-enjoyable day on the job. I got home and started to work on a new song. This one looks promising. I took a break when my girlfriend of 12 days signed on, and I IMed her, at which point she promptly dumped me. I sulked for a little while and then went downstairs to do some menial tasks to take my mind off of things. I took the garbage out, then came in and proceeded to take a nasty spill down the basement stairs. Skinned my arm up pretty good and will probably have one mother of a bruise on my leg. I really shouldn't be laying here feeling sorry for myself but I have nothing better to do. :(

So I went out today and got myself a keyboard! It's an E-mu Xboard 49 USB controller. I couldn't find the instructional software I wanted so I ordered it next-day from amazon.com...should have it tomorrow. In the meantime I've been messing around with the instruments in GarageBand. Some pretty interesting synth sounds in there that I may have to do something with. I didn't practice my main instrument today, but I'm excusing myself.

I put my crummy photo 'skills' to use...here's my audio rig: iBook G4 1.42 GHz, Tascam US-122 audio box, E-mu Xboard 49.

The Sabres game tonight was excellent...a 4-2 victory. I stopped at the team store and got a license plate frame for the car. woohoo. Ottawa comes into town on Saturday; that should be a tough one.

Max - Macintosh Audio for OS X from sbooth.org This looks like a very nice audio conversion and ripping app for OS X. Certainly appears to be the best one I've seen that uses LAME for mp3 encoding. The app I'm using right now is pretty handy but isn't pretty and its features that I use are somewhat of an afterthought as it was originally designed to handle audio from DVD-Video. Here's hoping Max turns out to be as good as it seems. :)

I've been doing some new stuff lately...mainly trying to get a new practice regimen going. I've been working with this one for several days now and it seems promising. I've tabbed out my exercises and organized them in a binder, and I log all of my practice time. I'm aiming slow...increasing target tempo by only 3 bpm per week. I may well be able to push it harder but I'd rather progress more slowly than go too fast and get discouraged. I've picked up some new ideas from a couple guys on Cyberjammin...I've been keeping things fresh by adding more exercises and mixing up the daily routine.

I've been discovering GarageBand as of late. It's quite cool. I've found several free loops packages and I've been playing with those. I never thought much of using its guitar abilities, however, until today. I was going to record a cyberjam submission. I had set up my normal recording rig (mic'ed amp, Cubase, etc.) but I discovered that my mic cable had taken a dump. I had the thought to try GarageBand's guitar features and I was pleasantly surprised. The amp simulations sound very good. I'd say their quality is up there with the Line 6 stuff in some cases, although they aren't specific amp models, only generalizations (British Overdrive, etc.).

I'll likely be picking up a keyboard within the next several days...probably an E-Mu Xboard 49. I'll get some instructional software with it; hopefully I'll pick it up pretty quickly.