This will not be AJAX- you will have to refresh this page to see the latest.

6:09PM: We saw the MacBook Air commercial (#1).
7:00PM: Saw a Doritos commercial touting “Available on iTunes”.
7:53PM: Halftime Report: 1 Apple Ad, 1 iTunes Reference.
8:45PM: Pixar commercial for Wall•E!
10:07PM: The game is over, 1 Apple Ad total!

2007 was the year of the iPhone. 2008 might turn out to be the year of multi-touch.

Multi-touch is the core of the iPhone- without it, the iPhone is just a piece of hardware running OS X. With the introduction of the MacBook Air and the multi-touch trackpad, Apple has ushered in a new way of interfacing with our computers and may change the era of computing yet again.

No stranger to the GUI and innovative input devices, Apple has re-defined our ways of interacting with technology. In 1983, Apple pioneered the mouse and the Graphical User Interface (GUI) with the Lisa, and later the Macintosh. A culmination of technology from Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Labs), the way we interacted with computers was changed forever.

Ever since then, we are still interacting with computers in relatively the same way. Trackballs were introduced shortly after the mouse, for specialty or mobile use. In 1994, Apple began to ship trackpads in replacement of trackballs on PowerBook models- the first company to do so. To this day almost every laptop now has a trackpad. Besides these small refinements, there has been no technology truely breaking away from the mouse.

Multi-touch, however isn’t going to replace the mouse either. It is simply enhancing the interaction with the user to make things easier and more intuitive. For example, zooming into a picture would require going to a menu and zooming in, clicking a button or hitting a key command multiple times. On a multi-touch trackpad, that translates to pinching your fingers together in the desired direction. Reading a webpage, and want to go back? Simply swipe your fingers back.

The potential of multi-touch is almost endless, and it is only natural that Apple is now integrating it into their laptops. For those familiar with two finger scrolling found on current Apple laptops- it is hard to go back. Over the coarse of this next year, we will definitely see multi-touch make its way into more of Apple’s products. We should also begin to see other manufactures follow the lead and integrate multi-touch into their products, be it laptops, cameras, cell phones or GPS devices. This has potential to change the way we interact with technology- just try comparing the experience of the iPhone to some Windows Mobile devices!

Technology is continuing to integrate itself into our lives deeper and deeper- and continues to become less and less obtrusive. For example, the Nintendo Wii shattered the gaming industry by creating a remote like controller that can become a baseball bat, crossbow or steering wheel depending on the game. Surprise- the Wii is the currently the best selling ‘next-gen’ console, shipping over 20 million units in one year. Apple changed the cell phone industry forever with the iPhone and has since sold 4 million in almost 7 months.

Multi-touch is here to stay, and so is a new standard for technology. People are fed up with clunky interfaces and complicated devices. Apple has been a large part of this movement, first with the iPod (and iTunes), now with the iPhone and multi-touch. Even Microsoft has developed a multi-touch interface, named “Surface” that will come out later this year. 2008 will most certainly bring large growth of multi-touch devices and with that: a new way of using technology.

Hi, I’m Matt Hamilton, and I have joined theiLife.com as a contributing writer. I am a first-year at Columbia University’s Fu Foundation College of Engineering, and I have been paying much attention for many years to first the Apple Corporation and later the new web start-up boom we currently find ourselves in. Mainly, I’ll focus on how new developments in both the Apple and overall technology sphere affect me and my colleagues here in New York City, but also general advancements and controversies in the technology and web industries. The first topic for me is how Apple and other technology products help out college students. To me, one of the best tests to determine whether a product is actually useful or necessary and fashionable is if college students use it, or really want it. Full article after the jump!
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This is a continuation of Macworld Registration Part I.

So if you have read Part I, I discussed experiences from my first day at Macworld fairly briefly. However, this is a side story about my registration- or lack there of.

Basically, I won a Super Pass to Macworld through an online contest held by The Mac Observer. This is what allowed me to get to Macworld- I would otherwise never had the opportunity! I spoke with Dave Hamilton, President of The Mac Observer after winning the contest; he took some information and then passed me on to IDG to finish the registration. At this point, I was a bit skeptical- almost two weeks had passed with no contact.

Right around Christmas, almost one month since I won the contest, I received an email from Sarah Hindmarsh, Marketing Manager of IDG. She was quite helpful and responsive to my emails, and understood my concerns. I emailed her a PDF of my registration and that was the last I heard from her. I didn’t do anything after that, in fear of being annoying. I figured I had established myself with those two people and I should be fine, whatever the outcome.

When Sidney and I snuck into Moscone South on Sunday afternoon, I used one of the MacBooks to register myself. I entered my first and last name, along with my zip code (which was optional) and saw a list of three people pop up, one of them: Matthew Dodd. Delighted, I printed the badge- only to find I it was only a User Conference attendee, and my company was Axiotron. Strange, I am not an Engineer for Axiotron- although I’ll take a free Modbook!

Constantly assuring myself there wouldn’t be an issue, I let it go and waited until Monday to register with everyone else. Of course, when we got there, everyone already had confirmation bar codes printed- but I still continued waiting in line. When I got to the desk, they quickly took my name and printed my badge, again with Axiotron. While I was happy to have a registration, I was annoyed that it still said Axiotron. Either way, I went to my AppleScript workshop until I became hungry- I wanted my free lunch, which came with my SuperPass!

I went downstairs and spoke to someone from IDG, who was helpful and promptly got my registration changed to a SuperPass. However, they kept ignoring me, explaining that I didn’t work for Axiotron- in fact they didn’t change the company or any of my contact information. So, hungry, I proceeded to get my free lunch and forgot about it. I visited Axiotron on Tuesday, and was laughed at- apparently Matthew Dodd does work for them and was registered for Macworld.

On Wednesday I went back to IDG and asked them to change my information, after explaining my story again. After going through a few people, they got me to someone who angrily asked me for my contact information and printed my correct badge! What amazes me, however is the lack of security at Macworld! I accomplished this without any photo or text identification! I was also not happy about having to do all of this after being afraid of this happening a month earlier. I also apologize for Matthew Dodd at Axiotron for spamming him when I scanned my badge- I assumed it was me.

Either way, I got into the keynote first- which I will detail in tomorrows segment.

Early Monday morning, Sidney and I awoke with only a few hours of sleep from coding late into the night. We had to be reminded what was happening in this confused state- “today is Macworld!” We quickly got dressed, packed our bags and headed out the door.

We knew that we weren’t coming back that night- Tuesday morning was the keynote and we had every intention to be first on line. Once we got to Moscone West, we were met with a different line wrapping up and around both 4th street and Howard. We quickly found our place and began to wait- which was quick and relatively painless.

Once inside and with registration finally sorted out, Sidney and I split up- he went outside and started the line, while I went to my AppleScript workshop (PJ). I would leave every hour or two to go and check up on him, to let him take a break (and return his electronics that were charging).

Up until about 6 o’clock, with my workshop long over, I stayed inside and charged all our gadgets one last time. By about 6:30, I was getting kicked out so I left and began to wait with Sidney (and the slowly growing group).

Look out for Part II later today, I have to catch up on some sleep now!

We’ve just finished our 22-hour stint on the keynote line, and I’m joining you live from… Moscone South. No opportunities presented themselves for me to be admitted, so I was forced to part ways with Matt as he entered the building just minutes ago. I’ll be here throughout the keynote, monitoring and maintaining the liveblog. If anything at all’s awry, drop me an email at [email protected] or a message on GTalk (SidneySM).

Unfortunately, our growing line for the Stevenote has been split up. IDG has decided to split the line this year between Platinum and Super Pass owners and “general users”. The Platinum and Super Pass holders line up down 4th Street, where last years line was while the “general users” line up down Howard Street. This should prove interesting. Pictures are coming soon, I promise!

Guess what? Sidney and I are first in line for the Keynote. We have been in line since approximately 10 AM. We were recently joined by a third person, who is unsure if he will stay the entirety of the night (depending on if we can get power). We were just talking with Justine from iJustine.tv and a few other people amazed that we were lining up almost 24 hours in advance. We are going to be doing a live show for theDigitallifestyle.tv from the line at 9PM EST (6PM PST). We are working on video and some more pictures, so watch for them coming your way.

It is January 14th, and I am in inside Moscone West. Sindey is currently outside waiting for the keynote, first in line and I will shortly join him after my conference. Keep checking the AJAX app for the latest. Photos after the jump.
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With Macworld slowly dawning upon us, everyone is eager to know what Steve Jobs has up his sleeve. In fact, we are so eager that we traveled 2,904 miles to see it. Thats right- something is in the air. We will be providing live coverage from Macworld, starting tomorrow at about 8AM PST- but remind your fingers that the server will do all the refreshing for you- thats right, AJAX! For now, however, you can check out these pictures we obtained today, which involved getting kicked out of both Moscone Centers. Feel free to visit the AJAX app here. Photos after the jump.
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