Apple Store is down as of 10am Central…

In a not so surprising move, Apple’s online store is down in advance of today’s press release. Aside from a revamped (and perhaps free..?) MobileMe, everyone is anticipating a refreshed iPad 2 announcement, availability..?  Today?  Tomorrow?  June..?  Who knows.  We’ll have to wait and see what Santa Jobs brings us.

Keep your eyes open, as I’m certain JAMM and iTechGear as well as other sites, will have news, analysis, as well as other articles pour over everything shortly after the Event concludes.

Introducing the Best Buy Buy Back Program

One of the biggest problems most people have with getting a new computer is figuring out what to do with their old one.  In some cases, its easy to pass the legacy machine down to your kids or to repurpose it.  Sometimes that isn’t always possible, or practical; and you’re stuck with an outdated machine.  What do you do?  Simple, if you bought the machine from Best Buy…

Yesterday during the third quarter of the Super Bowl, BestBuy introduced The Buy Back program.  In a nut shell, the

Best Buy® Buy Back Program available in U.S. stores and online. Not available in Puerto Rico. Prices vary on Buy Back plans. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the terms and conditions for a complete description of the Program. Get up to 50% of the original purchase price on a Best Buy Gift Card when you return your TV, laptop, netbook, tablet or post-paid mobile phone in good condition with all accessories within 6 months of the effective date. Effective date starts 31 days after purchase. Excludes Desktop computers and TVs $5000 and up.

This week, the Buy Back program is free.  Later on, its an add-on that you can purchase with your new toys.  If during the first seven months of owning your new toy, you decide to upgrade, Best Buy will buy it back, for up to 50% of the purchase price.  If you’re a chronic early adopter, this actually might work for you.  Being able to get up to 50% of the purchase price back within 7 months (again, the program kicks in 31 days after purchase), as long as you have all the stuff (box, manuals, discs, cables, etc.) and as long as its in good condition could be a huge value add.

If you’ve got a Mac with a built in iSight camera (and most Macs come with those, now-a-days, except for a Mac Mini or Mac Pro), then you’ve more than likely got Skype installed.  It is probably one of (if not THE) most popular way to communicate with friends and family over the internet. Skype to Skype web and video calls are free.  Its an awesome way to stay in touch, especially if you have relatives that live quite a distance away from you.

Upgrade now or later to Skype 5 for Mac?

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I saw an interesting article over at Apple Insider that said that some of the movie studios were considering an iTunes release for all of the Oscar Best Picture nominated movies this year. Honestly, I really like this idea.  It’s the best I’ve heard in a while.  Here’s why.

I love things like Netflix.  Being able to get the movies I like anywhere I want is really cool. I can sit in the family room with my family and they can watch whatever they want on the big screen TV (except when my Steelers play football!!).  I can grab my iPad, my MacBook (or any other Netflix compatible computing device), plug in a set of headphones and watch MY stuff whenever I want.  I’m still "with" the fam, even though we’re watching different programming. 

Is iTunes the digital media answer?

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I saw this cool article over at Computerworld by Sharon Gaudin on Google’s parting gift to Eric Schmidt – $100M in stock and options, vested over four years.

Wow!  That’s one heck of a thank you card. I’d definitely say, "you’re welcome!"

The article goes on to state that the management change is likely due to an agreement that Larry Page and Sergey Brin had with Schmidt – You run the company while we gain business experience, then one of us will take over. Larry Page obviously thinks that now is the time.

What to the changes at Google mean..?

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