Many, if not most of my posts here, are infused with some Mac-ery goodness - no surprise to the rest of the blogging community, journalists, or social media freaks (whom many of which are Apple-heads.)

What about pretty much everyone else, though?  Doesn't it get old hearing everybody yap their traps about how awesome Apple is and constantly diss Windows like the family outcast?  Well, be annoyed no more, as Redmond's latest creation, Windows 7, is super-slick - and rights most of the wrongs perpetrated by the abomination typically known as Vista.

Windows 7 Is Stable

From my experience so far, I can declare that Windows 7 is pretty stable and doesn't crash (or otherwise get wonky) anywhere nearly as bad as Vista.  Even on my Dell Mini 9 (my test machine so far) multiple applications open, run, close, and open again with no issues.  I almost never require a reboot.

In yet another flurry of Apple updates, perhaps well-timed to synchronize quite nicely with the Windows 7 launch, numerous hardware improvements and additions abound.  Here's the synopsis and some opinions from a fellow Mac geek.

iMac

The iMac lines got one of the most extensive overhauls, with an new, slicker all-aluminum design, LED backlit displays, higher resolutions, and similar pricing.   These new models are a much better value than the older ones, due to beefier performance as well as the wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse being included.  You can pick from two models: a 21" version at $1199 and a huge 27" version for $1699.

More information at Apple.com

Mac Mini

The Mac Mini series is considered by many to be a "niche" product, but I'm not quite sure why.  It's a great, low-cost way to get into desktop computing with a Mac, and they're pretty powerful in their own right.

I had to laugh when I saw this.  Uncomfortably.  Reason being, I am (sort of) addicted to iPhone apps.  And I am definitely guilty of the activity dubbed "apping," which I'm guessing means the process of ignoring basically everything that's going on around you in favor of checking your RSS feeds and just... one... more... hand... of Texas Hold 'Em.  I promise. 

Anyway, before I get sidetracked by conquering the barbarian villages and reading Facebook status updates, I'd like to revisit the subject of iPhone games.  There's always been a debate as to whether the iPhone is a viable gaming console, and my answer is a resounding YES, but only for "bite-size" gaming... which is becoming a favorite pastime of mine.  Here's some of my recent picks.

Mr. AahH!

Great game, stupid (potentially dirty?) title.  Remember the ultra-addictive "WarioWare" for Game Boy Advance?  This particular title is basically one of those mini-games that never ends, and you really don't want it to.

Last year, I had written a loving, gushy tribute to my beloved Sierra Wireless Aircard 595U, an EVDO broadband card that operates on the Sprint network.  I used it, well, constantly - in the office, working remotely, and sometimes at home (if the power went out, for example.)

The signal strength and Internet speeds were consistently superior to the 3G data speeds on my iPhone and still are.  This is why I decided to renew my contract with Sprint and upgrade to the new Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot.

This nifty little device is about the size of a credit card and is slimmer than a Moto RAZR, so yeah, it's pretty small and would easily slip into a pocket.  It's pretty light as well.

The unboxing experience was somewhat unpleasant, as the box sucks.  There is literally no way whatsoever to open it without cutting the tab in the front.

In a moment greeted with much applause, Steve Jobs made his grand re-entry to the stage today, complete with glowing smile (and a brand new liver.)  What a great way to preface some fresh new announcements, eh?  Frankly, I'm not going to cover the minutiae of each and every announcement (you can follow a liveblog that covers EVERYTHING here) but rather, what I feel is most significant or that really stands out.

iTunes 9

Since it's the software I use for managing my music library, I'm always looking forward to iTunes updates.  I know I'm not the only one, as it's an incredibly popular software suite.  Notable in iTunes 9 are the new Genius playlists and Home Sharing, which allows you to "natively" share libraries across computers in your home network.  

iTunes Store

I personally consider this a "minor" update, since I don't ever use the iTunes Music Store... but it wouldn't be fair of me to not say anything about it, since it's so incredibly popular.

I love banking, don't get me wrong (I used to be in the industry,) but making that extra trip always seems so cumbersome, doesn't it?  I mean, you have to wait in line, you have to fill out a slip, you have to ask the teller your account number because you forgot it, etc.  It all feels so... analog.  Frankly, I love my bank because they can do so many things online and have continued to provide reliable digital services... I haven't written a check in years.  That being said, one bank is taking the digital revolution a step further with their Deposit@Mobile program... USAA.

Truth be told, it's no big secret that digital copies have been accepted as legal checks for quite some time due to the advent of Check 21... a federal program enabling just that.  In fact, some banks will even give your check back to you at the counter; all they need to do is scan it in, and send an electronic copy to the paying institution.

For a long time, I never thought the iPhone would really become viable as a gaming console.  I also thought that a touch screen would not (and could not) effectively replace the beloved gamepad as a preferred method of input for portable games, whether they be strategy, RPG, action, or otherwise. 

The massively exploding popularity of the App Store and the amount of games being sold boggles the mind.  I was skeptical for a while, continuing to lovingly caress my Nintendo DS (and recently, my PSP) until I discovered that some truly fantastic games were waiting for me to enjoy, right on my iPrecious.

Why is the iPhone viable as a mobile gaming platform?

There are lots of reasons, really.  Back in 2008, Apple claimed the iPhone would post a great threat to their competitors in the gaming sphere, but it wasn't taken all that seriously at the time.

A little bit under the radar, a new app has hit the App Store that's an exclusive to MobileMe subscribers.  If you've decided to line Apple's coffers with an additional $100 per year for that fancy me.com email address and online storage, this might make you feel a little better about the money you spent.  Not a lot better, but a little bit better.

What is the iDisk App and Why Do I Want It?

To date, there have been lots of offerings on the App Store to store and access files on your iPhone - some of which hook up to an external service (like SugarSync) and others that do not (like Air Sharing.)  Most if not all of these nifty little apps will allow you to send, share, and view files of multiple types right through the interface.  The iDisk app does this also, but it's free for MobileMe subscribers, and takes advantage of that 20GB of space Apple gives you.

I have a bone to pick with Tecmo.  I stand here wondering why games like Bionic Commando, Super Mario Bros., Punch Out!!, and so many others are getting remakes but the original Ninja Gaiden is not.  Well, there are new members in the Ninja Gaiden series, including the upcoming Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for PS3... but they're all fancy, 3D slash-n-adventure types. Booorrriiing.

What I'd love to see is an action platformer remake of the original, similar in style to Castlevania: Synphony of the Night (one of the best neo-retro games ever made, period) that would feature action mixed with some RPG elements, and a gripping story just like the original.  Dreams.  For now, all I can do is back in the glory that was the original.

Plot

You play Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja who travels to America in search of an archaeologist named Dr. Smith - after finding a letter from his late father.

If you're a rabid follower of Caffeinated Pixels (please tell me you are? *hopeful eyes*) then you already know that I currently own and love a Dell Inspiron Mini 9.  Ever since I first unwrapped it from its sparse packaging (fitting for a refurb) I've wanted to get something else other than Windows on it.  Now, don't get me wrong, XP actually runs great and I've used it A LOT.  It's just... so... sluggish... and takes forever and a day to boot.  I can actually crack a beer, make a snack, use the washroom, and change clothes before it's even ready to use.

I tried Xandros Presto and was a bit disappointed at the lack of functionality, bright white non-customizable wallpaper, and wireless connectivity issues.  Of course, it also costs money.  I tried Ubuntu Netbook Remix (or UNR for those in-the-know) and while I'm sure it works OK for some, it was just a pain to get working correctly, so I ditched it.

Back in the day, a mobile device that could browse the Internet was incredible, expensive, hard to find, and often cumbersome.  I remember how absolutely cool it was to browse the mobile web from my Sprint PCS Vision phone, although it was only black-and-white text, of course.

Before the advent of the iPhone, the Palm Pre, the BlackBerry Storm, HTC Mogul, T-Mobile G1, and other phones fully capable of browsing the Internet gracefully - the Internet tablet attempted to bridge the gap. 

I always wanted an Internet tablet, but they were far too expensive and limited to make it worth it, and besides, only a few years later I was able to browse the web reasonably well on my PocketPC with a tethered Bluetooth connection.  My phone didn't have a decent browser or PDA capabilities, but my PDA did.

Now, though, I've caught wind of a brand new device that is now available in Korea - the Mintpass Mintpad, and I really want one.

In case you didn't notice, on June 5th, one of the most famous puzzle games of all time celebrated it's 25th anniversary... Tetris.  Even Google honored the puzzle-shifting masterpiece with its own custom search page logo.  Game Informer featured a wonderful interview with Alexey Pajitnov - the original creator, who to this day is delighted that his brainchild has inspired generations of gamers to exercise their neurons.

In fact, Tetris is thought to be the raw material from which all other puzzle games have been wrought.  Reading the GI article and a recent game of multiplayer Tetris DS showed me how truly addictive puzzle games can be... and how I've been playing puzzle games for a very long time.

So, for those who haven't branched out from the world of colored falling blocks and catchy chiptunes, here's some of my other favorite puzzle titles of all time:

The Lemmings

I hate it when new cellphones come out.  Even if I'm happy with the one I already own, I inevitably lust after whatever's new, eagerly rationalizing the extra costs involved, and at some points in the past, even considered owning two phones (and on two occasions, actually did.)  Which is, like poodles and most vacations to Vegas, wasteful yet entertaining.

As such, here begins a new chapter in my endless gadgetry novel... the Palm Pre.  I'm seriously wondering whether Apple/AT&T is going to lose some customers over this little beauty... there's a lot that it does that's really tempting.  Here's some of the reasons why I (and probably others) would consider defecting to the Palm-side...

Multitasking

Duh!  I could multitask on an old Windows 95 computer, why can't I do it on my iPhone?  The Pre allows you to have multiple apps open, drag stuff between each, have more than one browser window open, etc.

An iPhone App user, to be exact.  I'm starting to feel like I've become some kind of social pariah simply for owning and using my iPhone.  Since when do I have to explain myself?  I guess it's because a lot of iPhone users are jerks.

I saw this article today, about those who have become "app-noxious."  Some of the behavior is deplorable, but I'd like to make my case for iPhone apps... when used with some sense.

Some People Need To Be Corrected

Yes, it's true.  We've all known this person, the know-it-all who's really a moron.  Opinions are opinions and facts are facts.  Intelligent individuals know where to clarify and draw the line.  That guy who absolutely (and rudely) insists that his knowledge is superior to yours, even though you can prove he is incorrect, needs to be put in his place.  Your iPhone can help with that, app or no app.

I'm absolutely in love with Atlus, a game company after my heart.  They typically either create or publish games that are unique, unusual, very "Japanese," extremely difficult, or a mix of some or all of the above. 

One of their freshest titles exemplifies at least three of these qualities, if not all of them - the Dark Spire.  This game is definitely NOT for everyone, and is reserved for only the most hardcore, self-deprecating pale-skinned dungeon dwellers out there.  Not that I'm like that or anything ;)

Premise of The Dark Spire

OK, so how about this - you have to delve into the evil wizard's Dark Spire and um, kill him.  That's about it for the plotline, and frankly - that's all I need.  In my famous quote to my sister (in response to her general preference for RPG's with deep plots):

"It doesn't have any of that stupid storyline crap.

It's really no big secret at all that I love to stay organized... I've blogged about it in the past, and use multiple tools to keep all my ducks in a row.  Yes, my day isn't complete without a Sheldon-esque, meticulously organized and purposed list of to-dos... not to the point of insanity (like our favorite nuclear physicist) but to help me stay organized and productive.  At least that's what I tell myself.

Regardless, I've been using Evernote to manage my lists up until this point, due to it's free-ness, browser based interface that can be accessed from any machine, and its ease of use.  However, it's being usurped by another comely, aggressively simple and functional app after my heart... The Hit List.

This little beauty by the Potion Factory was available as part of the (controversial) MacHeist bundle, and it's still in beta.  Let me tell you why, for now, this is the perfect

Huzzah... now I won't have to buy an extra handset!

I've been using Skype for quite a while now, for both business and personal calls.  It's a beautiful service, really, allowing me to make crystal-clear calls around the U.S. & Canada for virtually nothing (about $3 USD per month total for the service plus $20 USD per year for my own local number.)  If you hadn't read my previous entry, see my other reasons why Skype is teh awesome.

Anyway, iPhone users who are also Skype-aholics can now rejoice, as your cell just became a mobile Skype handset.  Currently, I'm using a USB headset with a mic to conduct my calls, which is nice when I'm working, but what if I'm doing things around the home or just want to pace while I'm on a call?  There's some great solutions out there by NETGEAR and others to get a mobile handset via Wi-Fi, but the iPhone app has a distinct advantage... it's free!

It seems that the love being given to retro games is neverending these days, with old 8-bit classics being remade left and right.  Games like the revamped Metal Gear & Alone in the Dark series, as well as the upcoming Bionic Commando redux, are only a few tiny fish in a growing sea of upgraded, flashier remakes.

Another fine example is the Prince of Persia franchise.  More recently, they've become glamorous 3-D adventures in the spirit of games like Assassin's Creed, branching out to the PC, PlayStation 3, and XBOX 360 with Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and other titles.  There's also smaller installments on the DS (Prince of Persia: The Fallen King) and PSP (Prince of Persia: Rival Swords.)

Truthfully, I haven't played any of these titles... not even once.  And frankly, I don't care to.  Not because I'm assuming they aren't good games, in fact, I think quite the opposite based on reviews and player feedback.

The iPhone just keeps getting better and better.  Each and every "major" upgrade since the inception of the beloved candybar has brought much needed features, and admittedly, some that should have always been there in the first place.

No matter what side of the issue you're on, iPhone 3.0 promises to be a significantly useful upgrade.  There's a TON of new features and I won't cover them all, but I figured I'd weigh in on some of the most-desired additions.

Copy and Paste... Finally

There's not really much to explain here.  We get copy and paste.  'Nuff said.  From what I've seen so far, it appears to be slickly integrated into the phone across all applications - simply double tap on the text or object you want to copy (dragging the highlight bar to select text areas) and a "Cut/Copy/Paste" dialog will appear.  This will also allow you to attach multiple photos to an email in Mail.

Well, I can't say I Twitter my life away.  More accurately, Twitter has become a part of my life, both personally and professionally.  I've found great enjoyment in following tweets of those I know personally, and some that I know only by a pseudonym or an avatar.  I'm always looking for that great link, amusing experience, or quirky photo to post.  I've read news and learned about great new apps through Twitter.  It's also become an indispensable tool for networking with and growing online communities.

I'd like to share my 2 cents on the best Twitter clients out there - which ones are your favorites?

Windows/Mac:  Tweetr

I'm really loving Tweetr, an Adobe Air based Twitter app for the Mac and PC.  It's a simple, what I would call "no frills" client for interacting with Twitter.  When one of your friends sends a tweet, you'll see a notification pop up in the corner of your screen automatically.