The office of Steve Jobs called me today…

No, I’m not kidding. A personal representative from the office of Steve Jobs called me today on my cell phone (I put my cell phone number as contact information in the email I sent Steve two days ago).

The fellow said that he was going to be my personal contact at Apple until I received an iMac that met my expectations. He told me that he was now actively tracking my iMac (as was I) and extended sincere apologies from Apple, emphasizing that this kind of experience was well below their standard.

He and I chatted a little, he was very pleasant, I wasn’t irate or mean or anything. I just told him how this machine was meant for work and it was my first Apple product other than an iPod Nano which got put through the wash earlier this year. Honestly, this experience had slanted my view of Apple in a negative way, I told him.

He was very understanding and told me that he had the authorization to offer me compensation for my bad experience in an effort to show just how much Apple cares about its customers. Online credit, or perhaps free product would be offered to me. I was dumbfounded as to how to respond.

In an act of what I can only explain as sheer geekiness I stumbled out the sentence, “Well, I’ve always wanted an iPhone :)” I chuckled. He said, “I have an iPhone and I can assure you it’s a great product. Unfortunately I do have some restrictions on what I can offer you.” I told him that I’ve really been missing having an iPod. He indicated that would be doable.

The conversation concluded with him assuring me that Apple was very concerned about the experience I’ve had so far and extended their apologies. He said that I should look through the different colors available for the Nano and the Shuffle and he would call me back on Monday after the iMac arrived and I had time to make sure everything was in order with it. He also left me his direct contact phone number if I needed it. It was a phone number without any extensions available; that’s direct.

So, things seem to be looking up in this Apple saga of mine. Seems Apple really does care about its customers a great deal. I think I’ve just fallen in love with a fruit ;).

I was watching Eastern Promises last night and right when things were getting exciting — Viggo Mortensen was about to kick some butt — the cell phone of some idiot in the theatre went off, completely ruining the experience. And it was that bloody Crazy Frog ringtone too. Turn your phones off while at the movies people!If I had the Brando Portable Palm Phone Jammer with me last night, I wouldn’t have had to sit through that insufferable ringtone from the moviegoer. The handheld device looks like a nondescript black box, but it can block all four bands of GSM reception. If the person was on Telus or

Called the DAP CE3000B, the device uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to a nearby computer for running background checks using entered data, such as smart cards or barcodes (which it reads) or fingerprints (which it scans). It also meets military specs for shock, vibration and extreme temperatures.

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The programmers who wrote free software that unlocks Apple’s iPhone have disputed the company’s claim that their hacks can damage the device, and they promised to battle any attempt by Apple to “brick” modified phones.

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Here come the Tivo HD to iPhone/iPod transfers, dudes.

The rumors we posted are true: TiVo is finally getting its balls back. TiVo has confirmed with Gizmodo that TiVoToGo and multi-room viewing have returned to the new Series3 boxes—including the TiVo HD—and will be available in November. We are told that the hold up was DRM—getting the rights stuff figured out with CableCard was a hassle. But once that was solved, insiders say it took a “LONG time” to get the software to work right on the Series3 platform.

Here’s what TiVo platform product manager Andrew Morrison told us about the funky timing:

This was a stategic release for TiVo. We have been focused on shipping our HD platforms giving our customers what they have been demanding, while continuing to work on the advanced features our early-adopter customers value. By delivering MRV and TiVoToGo in November, we will be able to offer this advanced functionality not only to those purchasing a new HD TiVo for the holidays, but also to our valued long-time customers who have grown attached to the benefits of multi-room viewing and TiVoToGo.

This is what TiVo’s Bob Pony recently posted to the TiVo Community Forum:

I know you’ve been anxiously awaiting TiVoToGo and Multi-Room Viewing on your Series3 and TiVoHD boxes.I wanted to let you know that development has been progressing smoothly, and all is well. You can expect TTG & MRV to be available for Series3 and TiVoHD this November.

These features will provide support for video transfers between Series3 & Series2 systems and between a Series3/Series2 system and a PC. High Definition content will not be supported for transfer or playback on a Series2 system (Series2’s just can’t play HD), and copy-protected High Def or Standard Def content cannot be transferred (same as our current Series2 products).

Legendary UK actor, writer, director and Mac enthusiast Stephen Fry has published an in-depth report contrasting some of the UK’s leading smartphones, including the iPhone.

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As owners of the Apple iPhone recently learned, it rarely pays to be the first to buy into a hot new technology. But how long should you wait?

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Given that we’re already pretty sure that Google has developed their own mobile OS based on Linux. DigiTimes’ sources also note that Google is contemplating going with a 3G handset instead of EDGE for its initial foray into the cellphone market.

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Now that we have email, internet, TV, GPS, cameras, and satellite radio on our cellphones, our next wish is for bigger, higher resolution screens — which seems paradoxical, because larger displays almost always mean bulkier devices.

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Hurry Up and Get Your Number Back on The Do Not Call List! 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2003 set up a registry of phone numbers that did not wish to receive telemarketing calls. Consumers entered their home, mobile or work phones numbers on the FTC Web site or called the agency to sign up for the list. Exceptions are made for certain charity or political calls or for companies that have a prior relationship with the customer.

Submitted numbers, however, expire after five years, so numbers currently in the registry are set to be deleted beginning next year.

Legislation introduced Monday by Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., would ensure that entries are never deleted. “It makes no sense to force people to sign up again every couple of years,” he said in a statement.

Doyle serves as vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, which has jurisdiction over the do-not-call program.

“I suspect very few people are saying, ‘Gee, I really miss getting those telemarketing calls at dinner time – I wish the government would take me off the do not call list,” Doyle said.

As the law stands now, over 50 million numbers could be purged from the do-not-call list in the next year, according to Doyle. “The hassle will be tremendous – with no real pay-off,” he said. “The best way to deal with this nightmare is to end it before it starts.”

Consumers who have entered their number into the do-not-call registry can get a status update online as to when their phone number will be deleted from the database. Users will need their phone number and the e-mail they entered when they initially signed up.

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 Follow this link to get your number(s) on the Do Not Call list. Click Here: do-not-call registry