I intended to write about Apple going green when they launched the new Macs earlier this year, but I felt the urge to wait, and so I did. Apple has truly done it this time with their entire line of MacBook Pros and the iPhone 3GS.

The MacBook Pros are the greenest Macs Apple has yet to deliver. All models of the machine (13, 15, and 17 inch) are EPEAT Gold rated and meet the Energy Star 5.0 requirements, which isn't even out yet. This makes the machines consume less electricity, and easier on the environment.

Speaking of the environment, both the MacBook Pros and the iPhone 3GS are made mostly out of earth-friendly materials, which are also easily recyclable.

• Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
• Mercury-free LED-backlit display
• Arsenic-free display glass
• BFR-free
• PVC-free internal cables

The iPhone 3GS shares a lot of these features as well. All of Apple's products ship inside of much smaller packaging which is great for several reasons: Easier to ship more units per airplane, easier to carry, easier to store, less garbage in the dumps. Everyone wins.

It would be amazing to see companies utilize more environmentally friendly materials. This is a great start, and I am glad that Apple is trying to pioneer being fully green, or as green as they can be. Which other companies, other than the ones that specialize in green tech, actually manufacture products of similar nature? Post in comments below, please. 🙂

I predict that some day, we will have a way to teleport technology we buy straight to our homes. No jetplane delivery, no fumes, no packaging garbage.

To many, this year's World Wide Developer's Conference will be the most exciting and future defining Apple event to date. When Apple unveiled the iPhone 3.0 software on March 17, I knew that the iPhone was going to go beyond the existing lead it already held over its competitors.

Before the unveiling of the iPhone 3.0 software, I was absolutely certain that the Palm Pre and the Android platforms were going to give Apple a run for their money. Boy was I wrong. I always preach the idea that if a company doesn't keep a heavy eye on its competitors, it will begin to fall short. When Apple set a goal to sell 10 million iPhones within the first year, they stuck to it and sold well over their desired mark. This is simply because they have an ingenious R&D department that knows exactly what needs to be done to stay ahead of the game.

Okay, enough about the software. The iPhone is close to hitting the 2-year mark and we have only seen 1 hardware update that wasn't too significant (addition of 3G, GPS, and a flush headphone jack). Rumors around the web are going nuts trying to predict what the next major hardware update is going to be like. The original iPhone set a new industry standard for the things that should be expected in a smartphone. There have been no major performance upgrades in the last 2 years, yet the iPhone still outperforms most phones of its kind to this day. If the next version of the hardware is unveiled come the 8th, I cannot imagine how ahead of its game it will be.

Now to talk a bit about what's to come for the Mac OS. More after the jump...

Everyone knows how important it is to constantly back up your data. For whatever reasons, people still fail to do so, and when their computers start blowing smoke through their holes, it's already too late.

Working in the design world, file backup is probably the single most important maintenence rule. You ALWAYS want to keep backups of your files, documents, photos, videos, music, and so forth. If you're running a Windows machine, you should be taking note with extra care as Windows machines are more prone to viruses (and other infections).

External Hard Drive are extremely cheap these days! There's no reason why you shouldn't invest in something that can save you hundreds of hours, depression, and tears. Do the right thing and get into the habit of backing up often. There are tons of solutions available out there that will automate this process for you on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis - your choice.

Side note: If you're one of those people that has a million different files and folders scattered on your desktop and around the computer, you need to learn a big lesson. Organizing your files will not only make your backup-process much easier, but you will feel less cluttered when everything is easily accessible.

Windows Backup sofware, Click here!
Mac Backup software, Click here!

If these solutions are not suitable for you, a simple Google search (or a Bing.com search) will help you out.

I wake up in a hotel room with my family, somewhere down south, or the west. Had breakfast, spent time with the family, and then I just took off wandering somewhere. Naturally, I find myself all alone. I don't know where I am, or where to go to ask someone for directions. Then, I was hit with a sudden urge to run. I don't know why, or where I was supposed to run, but I did, and so I did.

It felt good, as usual, but this time was something special. I wasn't getting tired, and I felt like I wasn't running fast enough. The adrenaline was just about ready to explode out of my body if I didn't do something cater it. I closed my eyes, let out a loud roar to exert the energy, and not a second later my eyes began to tear exuberantly. At first, it didn't hit me that I was running next to a train going full speed up north. I felt excited, but the fear that was rushing through me trumped it 10 times over.

What seemed like an hour but was really a minute or less, came to an abrubt end when I realized people were expecting me somewhere. A mix of emotions started to pour out of me at a rate that exceeded that of Niagara Falls. I walked back the apparent miles that I ran, slowly, sometimes taking a quick run to verify that what just happened was real. I wasn't sure. Confused of what was happening. I made it to that somewhere, said nothing of what happened and stayed silent for what was left of the day, trying my best to suppress that Niagara Falls. Continue reading for more....

If you are serious about design, you probably take other people's work pretty seriously - especially if they're good. A lot of designers always talk about the great things they encounter on the web and in magazines, and wonder when their skills are going to match those of others. I have one word for them: Copy.

By trying to replicate the techniques other designers use in their work, you can learn how to approach things differently. For example, when I was new at Photoshop, I would always try to achieve various results by experimenting with all the tools, layers, masking, and so forth. If you think you lack the technical knowledge to do this, a simple Google search will perform wonders.

Things to do for Web Designers:

1. Put together a list of websites that you love.
2. Open your application of choice for web design and start laying out one of the websites.
3. Try to replicate color, gradients, shapes, and placement of content elements as best as you can.
4. If there is something you cannot do, you can find a tutorial, or do something you are familiar with that will look just as good.

More after the jump...

In a little under 20 hours from the time this post was published, your chance to get your hands on this amazing app bundle will be up. First thing's first, click the link below to view the MacHeist page with ALL the information.

View the MacHeist Bundle information, and buy it!

Yes, I have purchased this myself and strongly believe that it's steal, not the mention that 25% of every sale's proceeds goes to a charity of your choice. Whether you're a designer, blogger, an online show host, or an advocate of all things cool, in this package you will find something that greatly impresses you.

For $39, it's probably the best investment I have ever made! Well, what are you waiting for? Check it out already!

Just before the iPhone 3.0 software was announced, I was ready to publish an article saying how the Palm Pre was going to give Apple a lot of trouble. Then, I realized how wrong it would have been if I had done so. Now I will tell you why I think the iPhone is here to stay, and push the competition out of the way.

The Palm Pre, for the longest time, had the biggest chance to put a little fear in Apple. And so it did. Just a couple of weeks ago, the iPhone 3.0 software was revealed and most of the iPhone's nuances have been eliminated. I actually believed that if the Pre kept up its game, it would force me to switch, but thankfully, that is no longer the case.

Palm has claimed that OS X on the iPhone is not a true mobile platform, thus it will never be as speedy and sleek as what they are cooking up. I respectfully disagree! Let's just put it this way; Smooth scrolling and seamless portrait/landscape transitions is not what makes a great device. Yes, the Pre certainly competes in the visuals department, but that will only take the device so far.

More after the jump...

A little over a week ago, I got my hands on one of those Iron Gyms. This thing has literally been all over TV media for the longest time, and a couple of my friends have already tried it - and love it! I figured it was about time I tried a cheap solution to get back in shape since getting a gym membership is not an option. So far so good.

The Iron Gym can help you with pullups (duh), pushups, dips, situps, and however else you can get creative (I claim no responsibility for giving you any ideas!). Every time I walk in and out of my room, or just walk by, I do a few pullups and maybe some leg raises to help out the extra belly junk. It's a pretty good visual queue that gets increases your overall activity around the house.

Right now, it's too early to see results, but I definitely feel the progress. I've been eating a lot healthier, paying attention to what and when I eat. Also, drinking a lot more water and avoiding random meals and midnight snacks has been a top priority.

Eat out has been something I've been doing way too much. At times, it's inevitable because of my day-to-day schedule, but I've been learning to manage pretty well. I can see a little smile coming from the corner of my wallet, and it's getting bigger. Now I just have to keep this up for a good month, and it's all smooth sailing from there. Wish me luck!

Throughout the past few months, Netbooks have been on the rise. There are more companies manufacturing Netbooks than one could have imagined a year ago from today. Acer, Asus, HP, MSI and Dell are all contributing to the game, each releasing various configurations of their machines. I own a 15.4" MacBook Pro that can outperform these machines combined, yet I still find myself craving for one.

What is it that makes Netbooks so attractive?

1. Price. With the current economic state, people are afraid to spend money. They are not as lenient with their wallets as they may have been before the "crisis," so, machines that easily run below $300 are quickly considered.
2. Portability. It's a great feeling to be able to carry stuff with you wherever you go, especially when it's something as useful as a computer. It's light, looks good, and does the job. Screen real-estate may not be there, but people don't seem to mind giving it up for on-the-go productivity (which is another issue on its own). Most of the time, we only need our computers to perform basic (but important) functions, and Netbooks often do a great job at it.

Read the rest after the jump...

Times are tough. Just last month alone, over 650,000 jobs vanished into nothingness. Right now, more people are thinking about going back to college than ever before. Granted, not everyone can afford doing so, but gaining a competitive edge in one form or another is important. Several months ago, I wrote an article called "Top 5 Reasons to Finish College" and it has recently been getting a lot of attention. Here are some of the things you should be keeping in mind:

1. Competitive Edge: If you lost your job and you can afford another degree, do it. Gaining the extra qualifications will give you the edge over most people with single/standard degrees. If a degree program is not an option, consider going for certifications in your field. Being a versatile job candidate will help you stand out from the bunch. Why hire multiple talents if one can do it all?
2. Career path change: It's a known fact that most college graduates are not happy with their jobs. This could serve as a great opportunity to go back to college if you're looking for a change. It is probably a good idea to figure out what you want to go for as soon as possible. There's no way to say when the world's situation will be on the rise again, but stay prepared. Continue for the rest...