Apple revolutionized personal music with the iPod. It’s been wildly successful for ten years. Models have include the classic iPod, as well as the 2G and 3G updates. In addition, Apple has enjoyed robust sales for the iPod Shuffle, the iPod Nano and the iPod Touch.

                             iPod                                                     iPhone

King of the Hill
Over the years, the iPod has consistently laid waste to a slew of competitions (including Sony’s Walkman, the Zune and iRiver). But now the iPod is facing a competitive challenge that even it can’t beat: the rest of Apple’s technology—especially the iPhone and iPad, which have effectively stolen iPod’s thunder after a decade of defining the marketplace.

Even though the iPod has traditionally claimed as much as 90 percent of the portable music player market, there’s no getting around the fact that recent sales are noticeably down, to the tune of a 20-percent decline in third-quarter iPod sales from the year before  - and only 8 percent of Apple’s fourth-quarter 2010 revenue came from its iPod line.

Big pimpin’. A gold-plated iPod Shuffle.

Apple is now more aggressively pushing the iPhone and iPad. Apple hopes to convert iPod users into iPhone owners. Using a smartphone to access their music, which will be stored on the iCloud. And the sales figures indicate that many if not most of those users are already moving from iPod to iPhone or iPad.

No News is Bad News?
Over the years, Apple has followed a set strategy of announcing and releasing new products. These announcements have typically followed a pattern wherein the latest iPad model is announced in spring, new iPhone models are unveiled in summer, and iPod updates are presented in the fall. Apple has issued its press invitations for Tuesday’s October 4^th press event, and none of Apple’s materials referenced the iPod, or any new iPod models. The device has also been overlooked by Apple for a few years now.

The Galaxy of Competition
As if the iPod didn’t have enough to worry about with fears of its impending extinction, now it’s facing yet another industry challenge, this time from the Samsung Galaxy. WHich is available in two versions, starting October 16th. Both the Galaxy Player 4.0 ($229) and Galaxy Player 5.0 ($269) will connect online through their Wi-Fi connections, are equipped with back-mounted 3.2-megapixel cameras as well as (front-mounted) VGA cameras to enable video chat functions, and take advantage of Google’s Android Gingerbread mobile OS.

The models differ primarily in screen size, offering either a 4-inch or 5-inch screen, both of which are larger than the iPod Touch’s 3.5-inch screen. Each model has 8 GB of memory, as well as an SD-card slot that can accommodate up to 32 GB of storage.

Samsung’s Galaxy Player 5.0                                                          4.0

Samsung is gunning for Apple’s lion share of the portable music player market, with new models like the Galaxy Player 5.0, which has a 5-inch screen…perfect for personal gaming. 

Samsung is clearly adopting a bigger-is-better strategy in its competition with Apple, with s whose screen size trumps that offered by market-leader Apple. Samsung is attacking Apple on another front, too. On October 2^nd, Samsung will introduce its Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablet computer. The 8.9 tablet is named for its 8.9-inch screen and updates its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Utilizing Google’s Android Honeycomb OS, Samsung will offer the 8.9 tablet with 16 GB of storage ($469) or really tricked-out with 32 GB (for $469).

Samsung is also aiming to capture the tablet computer market through its Galaxy Tab, which features an 8.9-inch screen and Google’s Android Honeycomb OS.

All the Google platforms are a boom for developers learning google android app development. For developers, the right training enables aspiring programmers and designers to get ramped up to speed quickly, with programming instruction that’s both hands-on and cutting-edge.

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Apple is the most recognized brand in the world; Apple’s products, specifically the iPhone, are in high demand. And yet, Android phones have started outselling iPhones in the U.S., according to comScore. Why? Google’s widely distributed Android OS rules the smartphone platform. Several different providers offer several different types of service, alongside Android phones that are offered at many different price points. While Apple selects its providers, and only Apple makes the iPhone.

Apple and Android face off in the Smartphone Wars.

That’s why analysts expect Apple to release more than one type of iPhone to address the problem of market share, making the iPhone even more accessible. In addition to the iPhone 5, Apple is expected to release a cheaper iPhone 4, too.

Possible iPhone 5 features:

• Memory. More memory, possibly 1GB of memory, which is twice the amount currently offered in the iPhone 4.
• Higher-resolution. 8-megapixel (the current phones have 5 megapixel’s worth).
• Near-Field Communication (NFC). Use your Google Wallet.
• Voice Control. Call home using voice navigation.
• Graphics. Improved and similar to the graphics silicon used in the iPad 2. Imagination’s PowerVR SGX543.
• Dual-core Apple A5 chip. A boost in processing performance.
• 3G. A Qualcomm chipset is expected that supports both CDMA and GSM networks.
• 4G. Via HSPA+.
• iCloud. Synching the phone might also be done through Apple’s cloud service.
• iOS 5. New iOS with iMessage, tabbed browsing and lots more.

 
In addition to the Apple App Store, iTunes and whole host of features, the iPhone has 200 of them powering iOS 5. Also expect the introduction of iCloud to play a part.

A computer-generated graphic of the iPhone 5. 

Everyone wants an iPhone, including T-Mobile customers. CEO Cole Brodman recently shared his disappointment in a letter that explained the company hadn’t been selected as an iPhone provider yet. The Chief Marketing Officer for T-Mobile explained his own frustration with Apple and knew the announcement would make customers unhappy.

Droid Does 
The Android OS and droid phones support 4G. A phone like the Samsung Galaxy S 2 has an incredibly vivid and larger display than the iPhone. Droid phones also have great features. The Motorola Droid Bionic has a dual-core Texas Instruments’ OMAP4 processor. It has proved to be a very popular phone in its own right. While both Apple and Android phones support streaming video and audio apps like Hulu, Netflix and Pandora, Droid phones have better audio output and larger displays than iPhone.

App and game development for Google Android devices has certainly become increasingly popular with more games and apps being released ever day. Still, Apple’s App Store and iTunes are well established, offer more apps, games and overall content and are loved by millions.

Some tech-savvy users might say they want the display and many phone options of the Android platform, while having the support and use of Apple’s App Store and iTunes. Unfortunately, you can’t have both. iPhones and their apps integrate with other Apple devices. For that reason and a few others (including iTunes), for the moment, we’ll hold onto our iPhones and remain in line for the iPhone 5.

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Amazon’s Kindle Fire is set to ship on November 15th. The Wi-Fi-enabled tablet device will offer a 7 1/2-inch full color screen, and be available at the extremely competitive price of $199. The tablet, which was publicly unveiled today in New York City by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, will use a version of Google’s Android operating system that was created specifically for the Kindle Fire. However, the Kindle Fire’s OS will sport a distinctive look with a special emphasis on media and apps – copying in a way what Apple has already done on the iPad.

The Kindle Fire will take extreme advantage of Amazon’s enormous libraries of content, which contain approximately 18 million movies, songs, TV shows, magazines and books.

The iPad Killer
Is Amazon’s Kindle Fire an iPad killer? The Kindle Fire runs on a dual-core processor and is equipped with eight gigabytes of data storage. Amazon offers free storage for all Amazon digital content on the Amazon Cloud. Books, movies, music and apps are available instantly to stream or download. These are great options for media savvy users, but the tablet lacks a camera and any 3G support. Furthermore, the touchscreen on the Kindle only accommodates two points of touch at a time. (The iPad, in comparison, can manage as many as ten.) So is it an iPad Killer? In a word, no, but that shouldn’t stop you from considering buying it.

Amazon now offers several versions of the Kindle, ranging in price from $199 for the new Kindle Fire, to the original Kindle model, which can now be picked up for $79.

The tech industry has been anxiously waiting to see what kind of tablet Amazon would create. The Kindle Fire signifies Amazon’s entry into the tablet computer business. It’s a full frontal assault on Apple, as a complete digital media content provider – from hardware to software. Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, and Amazon – like market-leader Apple, already has a rich supply of content.

Downloads & Web
Amazon is in the business of selling all types of media—not just apps, but music downloads, movies, TV programs, eBooks and more. And the Kindle Fire gives users a great way to do that. The Kindle Fire is designed to be smoothly integrated into Amazon’s content. Plus, Amazon’s Cloud gives users a free and easy way to store the content.

The Kindle Fire also serves up Amazon’s redesigned cloud web browser with Silk.

Amazon is currently taking pre-orders for the Kindle Fire, buyers will also receive a free one-month trial of Amazon Prime, the online retailer’s yearly service that gives users free streaming video as well as free shipping for Amazon.com purchases (for a $79 annual fee). Amazon Prime members also receive unlimited, instant streaming of over 10,000 popular movies and TV shows.

Movies and Books
Amazon just entered into an agreement with several movie studios for content, which includes 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books. Ahhhh yes, books. The foundation of Amazon’s business. The company started as an online bookseller and smartly turned the business into an internet retailing giant. Amazon is bringing a full court press with the Kindle Fire. Visitors to Amazon.com were greeted with a personal letter from Jeff Bezos about the Kindle Fire, on the company’s website.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos introduces the world to the new Kindle Fire. And another salvo is fired in the tablet-computer wars…

As the tablet-computer wars continue to escalate, the question still remains: Can anyone top Apple’s iPad? For the time being, no. For those that don’t own an iPad, Amazon’s Kindle Fire offers some great incentives and looks like a solid piece of hardware. But for now, the iPad remains the king of the tablet throne. The iPad has charted spectacular sales, both the original iPad and the iPad 2. Thanks to Apple, learning app development and being able to understand programming for Google Android devices are now a game developer’s career requirements.

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Apple has officially announced the launch date for its next iPhone (or iPhones). The big day? Next Tuesday, October 4th. The Cupertino, California-based company will reveal the eagerly anticipated iPhone 5 from the Town Hall auditorium on Apple’s campus.

Apple sent this simple invitation to the press to announce the event. 

The invitation Apple sent to the media doesn’t reveal much else beside the date and location of the event. A Google maps icon pinpoints Apple’s campus location at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino. The date and time are also communicated. What is intriguing is the the red notification “1,” which on the iPhone indicates a message or call. Many industry insiders have speculated that Apple will introduce not only one iPhone but two new iPhones – including a smaller, cheaper and faster iPhone 4.

iPhones for Everyone
It’s also been rumored that Sprint will also carry the iPhone. That partnership, if a reality, will most likely be announced at the event, too. The various iPhone options (including a new iPhone 5) has been the source of many industry rumors. Most believe Apple is offering different types and price points for the iPhone in order to be more competitive with Google’s Android phones. If you’re considering a new cell phone, we recommend waiting until after the release of the iPhone 5, as the release of the iPhone 5 and different types of iPhones will most likely dramatically affect the plans offered by smartphone providers like AT&T & Verizon.

iPhone 5 Apps & Features
In addition to the new iOS 5, a number of other features and updates are expected along with the iPhone 5 announcement. Among them, Facebook and Twitter may be more closely intergrated into the phone. According to Ben Parr of Mashable, an unnamed source informed him that a new Facebook iPhone app, a new Facebook iPad app and, possibly (if that isn’t enough to have you updating your status by now), an HTML5-based mobile app store.

Neither Apple or Facebook have made any comment confirming the above rumor. Instead, Apple just quietly sent an invite for the October 4th event to press and select app developers. DMAC has been tracking the status of the iPhone 5‘s release for some time. Join us next Tuesday for a full report on the iPhone’s launch, including price and availability.

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While Hollywood is still abuzz with rumors about the upcoming Ghostbusters 3 (and who’s likely to star in it), Sony announced last week that the original Ghostbusters will be re-released in theaters. Ghostbusters will be shown in approximately 500 theaters across the U.S. starting October 13th, 20th and 27th. In locations where the 1984 comedy classic will be shown, it will be presented in 2K digital with 5.1 surround sound, and will only be shown one time each day.

Dan Aykroyd once revealed in an interview that Slimer the ghost was modeled after his late friend John Belushi.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Ghostbusters back to the big screen. This is a special celebration of the movie, giving the fans a chance to see it on the big screen in perfect digital presentation,” said Rory Bruer,  the President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures.

Who Ya Gonna Call?
The original release of Ghostbusters did extremely well for filmmakers, so a re-release definitely makes sense. For a period, Ghostbusters was the highest grossing comedy of all time. Starrring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, the film follows the adventures of three paranormal scientists in search of proof of ghosts, while simultaneously trying to rid the New York City of specters and spooks. The film and franchise still have an incredible connection and ongoing love affair with fans. This includes a best-selling video game, a Ghostbusters Twitter feed and action-figure line (not to mention a reproduction of the EctoMobile by Hot Wheels).

Licensing Ghostbusters is still a multi-million dollar business. Example A: The Ghostbusters EctoMobile Hot Wheels. 

Spurred in part by the recent success of The Lion King: Diamond Edition in 3D, which grossed almost $30 million its opening week, the Ghostbusters re-release embraces an ongoing trend in which young parents (who made the film a box-office champion when it was originally released) are now eager to share classic original 80s and 90s films with their own children. Giving blockbuster classics like The Lion King, Star Wars and Top Gun the theatrical re-release treatment, in particular through a 3D re-release, is all the rage these days.

3D has reinvigorated the businesses of movie studios and theater owners. George Lucas is converting Star Wars to 3D. It’s not cheap to convert a film though; the planned 3D re-release of the Star Wars films (all six) will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000 per minute. 2012 will see the theatrical release of James Cameron’s romantic disaster epic, Titanic, which held the all-time box office record as the biggest moneymaker in film history, until Cameron himself shattered the previous mark with his sci-fi epic, Avatar. Titanic 3D will capitalize on that film’s sweeping vistas and thrilling visuals.

James Cameron’s Titanic will re-release on the 100th anniversary of the ships sinking. 

Ghostbusters 3 in 3D
Rumors about the upcoming Ghostbusters 3 are true; the film is in production. And when the film releases next Christmas 2012, it looks like it will also be in 3D. That means when ghosts fly out of the screen toward the audience, they’ll really fly out of the screen.

3D technology gives filmmakers another weapon in their fantasy-making arsenal. For both new feature films and established Hollywood favorites, technology is always changing the ways that films are made and marketed. It’s now changing how people learn filmmaking at a digital media academy. Interested in creating cutting-edge 3D animation or designing special effects for live-action movies? Just remember that the filmmakers of tomorrow are getting started today.

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Ten years after the tragedy known collectively as “9/11,” people are still unraveling the theories and conspiracies of how a beautiful fall morning was transformed into a modern “day of infamy.”

It was a watershed moment in American history. And although there’s a tendency to lay the blame exclusively with Osama bin Laden (who was indeed the leader of terrorist alliance Al Qaeda), there were many different actors involved in the tragedy. There’s no single documentary that could hold the title of “Best 9/11 Documentary.” On the contrary, there are a number of documentaries and films that help sort out the various criminals and explain the series of events that led up to September 11, 2001:

Inside 9/11 (2006)

The story of 9/11 is long and complicated. So much so that the U.S. governments official explanation, The 9/11 Commission Report (2004), required a 567-page document. This National Geographic presentation provides a complete overview of the themes and events involved. See how the seeds of the 9/11 attacks were sown over the last few decades and how the plan (which contained many moving parts) finally came together. National Geographic’s 280-minute presentation is very comprehensive; it not only touches on all the issues but also raises many questions about subsequent U.S. foreign policy (including our ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan).

Lower Manhattan was rocked by the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Inside 9/11 shows in detail why the events that transpired on Sept. 11, 2001, were actually set into motion decades earlier. 

A two-disc set, the first DVD sets the stage for 9/11 by going into necessary detail about the various global events that led to al Qaeda’s decision to attack the U.S. mainland. The second disc focuses on the day of September 11, 2001, providing a minute-by-minute cataloging of everything that happened on 9/11 itself. Taken together, this is as complete a video record of what happened as is likely to ever be produced.

Lasting Impression: The 9/11 attacks were both brutally cruel and brilliantly organized. Al Qaeda and the 9/11 terrorists who perpetrated the attacks were the very models of efficiency. They correctly identified vulnerabilities in America’s transportation system and then exploited them to inflict the maximum amount of damage possible.

9/11 (2002)

Two French brothers were staying with the New York firefighters of Engine 7, Ladder 1 and in the process of making a documentary about what a new firefighter experiences during his first year on the job. Suddenly, as one brother was filming a team of firefighters examining a potential gas leak, the hijacked plane from American Airlines Flight 11 flew directly overhead and crashed into the North Tower. From that point on, the brothers (Jules and Gedeon Naudet) found themselves shooting the most significant moment in recent American history. 9/11 gives you a ground-eye view of the mayhem taking place in Lower Manhattan, including the horrible moments when firefighters in the lobby become trapped by falling debris as the South Towers implodes and collapses.

Jules and Gedeon Naudet (holding cameras) were actually in New York to make a documentary film about a rookie firefighter. They got much more than that, including one of the only filmed sequences of the first hijacked plane crashing into the WTC.

The documentary (simply titled “9/11”) earned the Naudet Brothers an Emmy and a Peabody Award for broadcasting excellence. Approximately six months after 9/11, CBS aired the documentary in its entirety (including the uncensored profanity of the firefighters, struggling to deal with a situation that was unlike any ever previously faced). CBS has aired the documentary three times, each time prefacing the film with a brief introduction by actor and native New Yorker, Robert DeNiro.

Lasting Impression: Tough, seasoned NYFD firefighters looking about the WTC lobby nervously as they continue to hear loud explosions all around them—the terrible sounds of people jumping or falling from the Tower’s upper reaches, and crashing through glass ceilings far below.

United 93 (2006)

Named after the 9/11 flight that began with hijacking but ended with heroism, United 93 tells the story of the passengers on the fourth plane. It was being flown to Washington, D.C., but was brought down by the Americans on-board, who understood (from cell phone and air phone calls to the outside world) that their plane was going to be used for a kamikaze mission. Instead of resigning themselves to their sorry fate, the passengers acted with passion and energy and fought to overtake their captors. And while it’s true that the passengers of United 93 were all killed instantly when a cockpit struggle to retake control of the plane resulted in the massive 757 barreling nose-first into an empty field in Shanksville, Penn., the rebellion of passengers on United 93 foiled al Qaeda’s attempt at destroying the U.S. Capitol. It was the only point of pride in a long and terrible morning that witnessed the killing of thousands of Americans.

The cast of United 93 was made up of mostly unknown actors…for a reason.

Paul Greengrass’ United 93 is a powerful and disturbing film, shot like a hybrid of feature film and documentary, where some of the original players involved portray themselves and recreate their actions, while mostly unknown actors play the passengers. (The reason for choosing unknown actors: So the audience wouldn’t be identifying a passenger by previous roles they’ve played, and that the people on the plane would simply look like normal Americans.) The strength of the film is that it sticks to its story and simply lays out the events as they happened.

It is like a documentary in that the film doesn’t provide back-story details about anyone on the plane, such as a standard Hollywood drama might. The film also does an admirable job of showing how many different players were involved in America’s response to the terror that unfolded that beautiful fall morning. Pluckiest of all: FAA National Operations Manager Ben Sliney (here portraying himself), evaluating the information he has and making the fateful call to lock-down America’s entire air space and ground more than 4,000 domestic air flights. It was a decision which cost the airline industry many millions of dollars in lost revenue, and marked the only time in U.S. history when the nation’s entire air space was completely shut down. It was Sliney’s very first day on the job.

Lasting Impression: Even though we know how this story ends, United 93 is gripping and suspenseful. And while the passengers of the first two hijacked planes had reason to hope they were part of a traditional hijacking crime, the informed passengers of United 93 knew better. That these American heroes were able to fight through their fear and band together to resist the terrorist plot is nothing short of inspirational. The film is often uncomfortably tense to watch, but the material is handled expertly and with great sensitivity. It’s difficult to imagine this part of the 9/11 story being told any better. The DVD also contains a behind-the-scenes documentary that shows the surviving relatives of United 93’s passengers meeting the actors and actresses who were portraying their loved ones.

Man on Wire (2008)

It’s been 10 full years since 9/11. Life in America hasn’t been quite the same since 9/11, but it has gone on. Even after enormous tragedies, life must go on. That spirit infuses a recent documentary that immortalizes the Twin Towers without a single mention of what occurred in 2001. Man on Wire takes us back to a slightly happier moment (in August of 1974) when the Towers were still new and recently crowned the tallest buildings on earth.

The majestic and dazzling Twin Towers—which loomed more than a quarter-mile over New York City—drew tourists from all over the world, including one adventurous Frenchman named Philippe Petit. Petit, a trained wire-walker (and juggler and magician) who had pulled off grand stunts at Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral and the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia, became fascinated with the idea of stretching a tight wire between the Twin Towers and walking at cloud-level across the 200-foot chasm that existed between the buildings.

Petit realized that he would never receive permission to attempt such a fool-hardy stunt, so he assembled a team of like-minded helpers. Together, through a plot that plays like a caper film, Petit and his accomplices smuggled a half-ton of wire equipment to the building’s top floor, then (during the middle of the night, when the WTC was deserted) assembled the different parts to create the wire.

That first step is a doozy: The tight-wire walker’s long look downward through the clouds, as he began his famous journey across.

The next morning, Petit carefully but confidently stepped on that wire (which was only ¾-inch thick) and started walking. After a few scary moments (“Death was very near,” he recalls), Petit mastered the wire and suddenly was filled with an inner peace. Not only did he make the full pass between the Towers, he repeated the trip seven more times. He walked on the wire, and at times he kind of danced on it, too. He also dropped to one knee at one point; saluted the crowd of onlookers far, far below; laid down on his back on the wire; and even sat down on the wire and stared straight down at the amazed watchers 1,300 feet beneath him.

He only agreed to come in from the wire after 45 minutes because NYPD helicopter cops were threatening to pluck him off the wire (a rescue move that would probably have blown Petit off the wire and to his certain death). Why did he do it? Petit laughs about the question he was asked repeatedly by cops and reporters. “Such an American question,” he chuckles. Nor does he explain why, immediately after being arrested for his high-wire act, he decided to (successfully) pick-pocket the watch of the arresting officer. Call it an encore.

Lasting Impression: A movie that radiates a certain joy, Man on Wire is about one man’s attempt to use his skill to conquer the Towers, not destroy them with explosives. With its simple but beautiful piano score, set against the images of the Twin Towers in all their sky-scraping glory, Man on Wire has a healing effect.

Telling Your Story: Learning Documentary Filmmaking 
The documentary film medium is enormously powerful. When it comes to telling an emotionally wrenching story, such as 9/11, only a narrative film rivals the ability. Some would agree that reality is never beaten by fiction. Now, thanks to digital cameras and desktop video-editing solutions like Final Cut Pro X, the world of film is now open to any aspiring filmmaker with vision and imagination. If you’re considering becoming a filmmaker or even changing your career, get film instruction from industry professionals and you’ll be introduced to the mechanics involved in making movies and get up to speed on state-of-the-art editing software. Whether you’re interested in reflecting modern history or shaping film history, there’s never been a better time to unlock the filmmaker within you.

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Heading back to school is easy and more enjoyable when you have the right tools for the job. Gone are the days when we shopped for a Trapper Keeper at the K-Mart…but we’re still taking notebooks and tablets to school!

Today we’re learning with the Apple iPad, thanks to app development for iDevices. Apps that teach astronomy, biology, science and math are great for students. Why? Many of these apps feature interactive, animated 3D graphics – making learning even more entertaining and fun.

On an Evening in Roma
Take, for example, the Rome Virtual History app. Students can take a fantastic voyage to ancient Rome and tour the Colosseum and other famous landmarks in Italy – all without leaving a classroom. Or, if you do decide to take a field trip to Roma, the app also provides a virtual guide. The app is highly recommended by educators.

The Colosseum was originally built on marshy ground. Explore it, Circus Maximus and other famous locations in ROMA, Virtual History. 

A Star is Born
Want to explore the deep reaches of space? Check out Solar Walk ($9.99 Apple App Store), the first app in the AppStore with real 3D TV support. Solar Walk, like it’s cousin, Star Walk ($4.99, Apple App Store) – the interactive astrology guide – was the winner of the Apple Design Award 2010! And it’s been featured by Apple as a “Best App ” in 2009 and 2010 and even appears in the iPad TV commercials.

A view of Earth, the third rock from the Sun, from outer space. 

Take A Note
If you need to take notes in class, you can use Penultimate (.99 cents, Apple App Store). You can quickly take and manage separate notes and notebooks (as many as you can create), all with infinite pages. View your list by scrolling through your notebooks in grid view. Browse your pages, plus insert, delete, duplicate, and reorder pages however you want. Check out Apple’s best apps for learning.

We tested Penultimate using a Wacom stylus with  - both the app and accessory worked great for note taking! 

If you prefer a more traditional (i.e., old school) method of taking and keeping notes, try the Trapper Keeper…

What is a Trapper Keeper?
Before notebook computers, believe it or not, people actually used notebooks. I know paper may be a foreign concept to younger readers, but before iPads, packs of three-ring binder paper were what you stuffed into your book bag. The Trapper Keeper is a loose-leaf notebook binder system made by Mead, and it became famous for its various storage pockets (hence the title). It was popular with students during the mid-1970s and well into the 1990s. In fact, the Trapper Keeper is still selling. And there’s a whole store-load of accessories for it, too.

For today’s educators and students, tablet computers offer an amazing platform for delivering education and content. On a classroom desk or in a lecture hall, devices like the iPad are compact and easy to use. Videos and other visual media work better than traditional textbooks because they can demonstrate firsthand an experience or even an experiment.

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“When there’s something strange in your neighborhood…Who ya gonna call?”

Ghostbusters was a groundbreaking comedic film and a huge money-maker. The film made more than $538 million (in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation), making it the 32nd biggest-grossing movie ever. For a time, it set a record as the highest grossing box office comedy. Ex-Saturday Night Live writer/performer Dan Aykroyd was already making hit movies in the early 1980s (he played Elwood, the tall and mostly silent brother, in The Blues Brothers) when he started writing Ghostbusters.

This could have been the original cast: Eddie Murphy playing the role of Winston Zeddemore and John Belushi playing Dr. Peter Venkman, the role Bill Murray would ultimately make famous. Murphy ended up turning down the role to do Beverly Hills Cop and Belushi died before the script was finished. Imagine if this was the cast for Ghostbusters 3?

The Origins of Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd was always fascinated with the paranormal. Aykroyd was best friends with John Belushi; he and Belushi went back several years, even prior to their groundbreaking work as members of the original cast of Saturday Night Live. The two had just finished the John-Landis-directed, soon-to-be-classic Blues Brothers when Aykroyd started developing a concept for he and Belushi. Belushi, the hottest comedy actor of the day, was being offered scripts left and right, so he started shooting the romantic comedy Continental Divide and working on the upcoming bizarro comedy Neighbors (which co-starred Aykroyd), while Aykroyd continued hammering out the script for Ghostbusters, which was then known as Ghostsmashers.

In the draft Aykroyd was developing, the Ghostsmashers traveled through space, time and other dimensions fighting ghosts. They wore S.W.A.T.-like outfits and busted ghosts Harry Potter-style, with wands instead of proton packs. In early storyboards, the Ghostsmashers wore riot gear, such as helmets with visors.

An artist’s concept for an updated Ghostbusters.

Aykroyd pitched the project to director/producer Ivan Reitman, who had directed Bill Murray in Stripes. Reitman liked the basic idea but had serious concerns about the budget. The story was set in the future, and featured flying cars. Reitman suggested a re-write, so Aykroyd enlisted the help of pal Harold Ramis, who had already helped make three of the biggest and most enduring comedies of the era (co-writing National Lampoon’s Animal House, co-writing and directing Caddyshack, and co-writing and co-starring with Murray in Stripes).

Initially, the character of Dr. Peter Venkman was written for John Belushi. The role of Winston Zeddemore was intended for Eddie Murphy. But in March 1982 (just before the script was finished), John Belushi died of a drug overdose. Aykroyd was devastated but was determined to finish the script as a tribute to his friend. As Ramis described it in the DVD commentary, he and Aykroyd retreated to “a bomb shelter in Martha’s Vineyard” and in three weeks (in May and June 1982) finished the draft for Ghostbusters.

They had come up with an idea for a group of (cough, cough) scientists that was based in Manhattan and which canvassed the greater New York area to investigate paranormal activity, such as hauntings. (Remember, this was before Ghost Hunters or T.A.P.S. would rule cable television with essentially the same concept years later.) The mix of Roto-Rooter Man meets “ghost whisperer” was an overwhelming hit. The rest was box-office history.

How the Ghostbusters Theme was Created
Ray Parker Jr., who was a successful R&B recording artist of the day, struggled for weeks trying to come up with a theme song for Ghostbusters. With just days away from his deadline, he finished another long but unsuccessful day of music production. Then, while watching TV at 4:30 in the morning, Parker saw a commercial for a drain company. The commercial reminded him of a scene from Ghostbusters and ultimately inspired the classic catch-phrase “Who you gonna call?” The chorus of people in the song shouting “Ghostbusters!” included Parker Jr.’s girlfriend and her pals.

Billy Murray break dancing in Times Square, see it here.

As it turned out, Ray Parker Jr. was sued in late 1984 by another recording artist (Huey Lewis) for plagiarizing Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug” for “Ghostbusters.” Specifically, Lewis alleged that Parker’s horn arrangements were lifted from his earlier song, which had also been a radio hit. The two artists ultimately settled out of court.

Fans of the Ghostbusters just can’t enough. A recent Atari video game with a story and dialogue by Aykroyd and Ramis was a blockbuster hit. The game had the Ghostbusters returning to old haunts like the Hotel Sedgewick and other parts of New York. The upcoming follow-up, Ghostbusters 3, is probably already one of the most anticipated movie sequels of all time. But if you want more of the classic Ghostbuster team of Venkman, Stantz, Spengler and Zeddemore, you should head over to YouTube:

Lost Scenes from the Original Ghostbusters
Ramis and Aykroyd were prepared to create a universe for their characters if they needed it to tell their original story. For Ghostbusters, like many comedy films, additional scenes were shot. However, due to running time and story, it was decided they be edited from the final cut. Some of the scenes just add to the depth of the characters, but some (like this one with Murray and Aykroyd playing bums) are a rare treat for Ghostbuster fans:

Bill Murray as Carl the Groundskeeper (from Caddyshack) in Ghostbusters.

Several scenes between Ghostbusters secretary Janine (Annie Potts) and Egon were cut, including this one where the two share a meaningful moment before Egon takes on the Stay-Puft Marshmallow man:

Egon gets ready to make the world’s largest roasted marshmallow.

Other deleted scenes include one featuring the green “slimer” ghost being discovered by two newlyweds at the Hotel Sedgewick. Also cut from the final film was a Ghostbuster inspection of the room. In another lost scene, there are additional shots related to the early plot of Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler losing their academic sponsorship and getting thrown off campus:

Who gets the Noble prize for science? Venkman, of course!

Here’s a list of other scenes that were shot, but cut from the final film. Some of these scenes appeared as extras on the Criterion Collection CAV laser-disc release:

- A policeman tries to place a parking ticket on the Ectomobile, but the car won’t let him.

- Venkman leaves Dana’s (Sigourney Weaver) apartment for the first time and on the way out has an exchange with Louis (Rick Moranis).

- Ray dresses in an old general’s coat as he and Winston inspect Fort Detmerring.

- Finally, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man sequence, which ends with his large marshmallow hat falling to the ground.

Celebrity Connection
The music video for the song, “Ghostbusters” became one of the most popular for the 80s. The video was also directed by Ivan Reitman. As was the trend at the time, it included celebrity appearances by numerous stars of the period, including Chevy Chase, John Candy, Danny DeVito, Peter Falk, Melissa Gilbert, Carly Simon, Teri Garr, Irene Cara and George Wendt. And the Ghostbusters themselves, including a break-dancing Bill Murray.

Both Chase and Candy had been offered roles in the film. Chevy Chase turned down the role of Dr. Peter Venkman, and later claimed in an interview that the script used in the movie wasn’t the script he read and was asked to consider. He said that earlier script was even darker and scarier. John Candy, another 80s comedy star, quit the role of Ghostbusters accountant Louis Tully because of his rejected ideas to make his character a German and own a pair of schnauzer dogs. Rick Moranis was a last-minute replacement. Candy, Moranis and Ramis all knew each other before production, as they were all veterans of SCTV, (Second City TV) a Canadian sketch-comedy show, where many Saturday Night Live players started out.

Thoughts on a Sequel
Dan Aykroyd has confirmed Ghostbusters 3 is currently in production. Casting rumors are all over the board but most industry insiders confirm Sigourney Weaver returning as Dana Barrett, the Ghostbusters’ main client and Peter Venkman’s love interest in the first two movies. Although, recently Weaver stated that if Bill Murray were not in film, she would not be either, which may cause a slight snag – the story is rumored to involve the old Ghostbusters handing over the reigns to a younger crew – Oscar Barrett, Dana’s son from the previous film, is supposed to start his own Ghostbuster franchise, according to industry speculation.

There are several remaining questions that fans want answered, though:

Q: Will Bill Murray make an appearance?

A: Recently in an interview on Dennis Miller Radio, Dan Aykroyd said, “We will be doing the movie and hopefully with Mr. Murray.” Murray has been vocal about any part he’d play. “I told them if they killed me off in the first reel, I’d do it.” Otherwise, he’s been firmly against a sequel, blaming Ghostbusters 2 for weakening the franchise.

Q: What’s the story?

A: In Ghostbusters 3, Aykroyd’s Ray Stantz character has lost an eye, so he can no longer drive the trusty Ectomobile. For his part, Egon is now more interested in lab work than field trips. The ghost-busting business has definitely taken a toll on the original team. One day, young blood (Ashton Kuchter and Jesse Eisenberg have been attached to the role) walks in the front door and turns the business around. In another version, the Ghostbusters find themselves in Hell. Nothing has been officially announced.

Q: Who’s in the cast? Is it being cast? How can I be in it?

A: This was the description Sony sent in a call to actors, in a recent industry breakdown:

“A ragtag group of paranormal researchers reopen their notorious ghost-removal service, and a new generation of Ghostbusters is brought on board to be green-slimed and trained to contain the mischievous spirits.” 

So yes, they’re casting Ghostbusters 3. Ramis and Aykroyd are set to return, and will also serve as executive producers and writers. Sigourney Weaver would probably also be returning as Dana Barrett, but still no word on Bill Murray. Anna Faris (of Scary Movie fame) and maybe even Ben Stiller are also rumored to have roles. You could be in the film, too. Casting directors are currently looking for both actors and extras to work on the film, which will shoot in Los Angeles and Chicago. If you are interested in auditioning for a principal role in Ghostbusters 3, you may send your headshot and resume to: Richard Mento c/o Joanna Colbert Casting, 9720 Wilshire Blvd. 4th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 9021. Extras should contact: Central Casting, 220 South Flower Street, Burbank, CA 91502. Those seeking to be extras should not send photos. You must also register your interest in person by calling 818-562-2755.

Q: When would Ghostbusters 3 hit theaters?  

A: The release date has been tentatively set for Christmas 2012.

No matter when it comes out, Ghostbusters 3 will hopefully start the franchise in a whole new direction and series of films. With today’s special visual effects technology, the spooky atmospherics will certainly be better , but it still all comes down to the story and the characters. And we’re all still waiting for the final details on that.

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A new Google app seeks to change the way you keep up with your personal data. A recent Google commercial is promoting the app with an homage to a 1998 episode of Seinfeld.

Seinfeld’s George Costanza, with a wallet thick enough to induce spasms of lower-back pain.

In the new commercial, we see Jerry Seinfeld’s friend, George Costanza, approaching a street-corner utility pole on which an ad is posted. George takes a phone message and number from the notice, it reads, “Make your phone your wallet.” George struggles to place the take-along tag from this ad inside his monstrously overstuffed wallet. He stresses and strains until the wallet finally just explodes in the street, with shrapnel-like pieces of paper flying off in a thousand directions. The ad ends by stating, “Goodbye, wallet. The phone will take it from here.”

A New Way to Do Business?
Google Wallet intends to replicate your traditional wallet, electronically.  All of a person’s credit card info would be displayed within the Google Wallet app. In addition, it might carry coupons too.

It would work like this: Say you walk into a store and find something you want to buy, like soup. At the check-out counter you pass by a scanner-like device that utilizes what Google calls “near field communication.” You would take your phone and lightly bump it against the NFC scanner. Your transaction would be instantly processed and your purchase is complete.

Eliminating the need for a wallet? The reality is not that far away but will require some retail renovation. 

NFC-enabled credit card terminals are still rare by retail standards — they are available at hundreds of thousands of locations, but regular credit cards are usable at tens of millions of locations worldwide. It works with MasterCard account holders (who may have a Citi or PayPass card) Visa too has just got onboard, but if you happen to be one of the millions who use Visa, you’ll have to buy a Google Prepaid Card to take advantage of the app.

The technology requires some retailers to update their current barcode-scanning equipment. The Wallet app also requires that your phone remain switched on. If your phone should lose power, no soup for you!

While Google’s Wallet app can enable cash-free shopping, retailers must also adopt the payment terminals and process. And Google Wallet won’t immediately replace your leather one since people still use wallets and purses to carry other important cards (like car and health insurance) and cash, and that’s not really likely to change any time soon.

Using the Mastercard Pay Pass and Google Wallet. 

Comedy, Thy Name is Costanza
TV has given us some great conniving characters over the years. But none was ever more scheming or bizarre than George Costanza. He enriched nine seasons of Seinfeld with a treasure trove of personality quirks and enough anxieties to keep a team of psychiatrists busy.

Where Jerry was controlled and deadpan, George was anything but either of those things. He got mad (often), he shrieked and raged, and he screwed up his face in anger until a large vein would become visible in his forehead. He was really, really good at getting mad. One of the many kinks in George’s personality was illustrated in Season 9, Episode 12, “The Reverse Peephole” (which originally aired on January 15, 1998).

Portrayed with absolute manic intensity by Jason Alexander, George essentially played Daffy Duck to Jerry Seinfeld’s Bugs Bunny.

In the episode, George developed back pain because he is carrying around an overstuffed wallet— a regular men’s cowhide wallet that has been filled way beyond capacity. It’s crammed with so much junk that the wallet can’t even be folded.

Despite the pain the wallet inflicts upon him every time he sits down, George remains steadfastly loyal to his wallet. Jerry compares the wallet and George’s burger. “You know, you’ve got more cow here than here.” George defends his use of the wallet, calling it an organizer and a friend. Seinfeld flatly replies, “Well, your ‘friend’ is morbidly obese.” What was so important in George’s wallet? Mostly old coupons, some Irish money and some hard candy.

Face it, George, your ‘friend’ is morbidly obese. Maybe it’s time for a Google Wallet.

In spite of being off the air for 13 years now, Seinfeld has remained relatively fresh and still exerts an influence on the popular culture. Many of the show’s sayings have entered the American language and are now recognized parts of speech. Reruns of the series still air in syndication throughout the world.

If you’re interested in learning story development and filmmaking, Seinfeld is a great to way to see master storytellers in action. Often called a show “about nothing,” it was almost exactly opposite of that. Seinfeld is about everything, and how the stray details of our lives can become the topics of conversation, and how those details overlap with the details of other people’s lives.

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On September 26th, President Barack Obama will return to Silicon Valley. The visit is part of a three-day West Coast tour. The President will also stop in Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle. The President will travel to Mountain View, California, on Monday for a LinkedIn Town Hall – and you’re invited to participate through LinkedIn.

The 44th and current president of the United States. 

You can ask President Obama questions, comment on the discussion, share your own content, and watch the event live. White House Administration officials will continue to engage in the conversation after the event with LinkedIn members.

Linked Into Change 
President Obama will answer questions about the economy from LinkedIn members across the country and hear directly from LinkedIn’s variety of users – from small business owners to community college students and veterans. The White House web site has more information.

This isn’t the first time Obama has fielded questions on LinkedIn. The president used LinkedIn during his 2008 presidential campaign. President Obama was the first presidential candidate to learn how to use social media as a means of reaching voters.

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