BulletTrain BulletBlog by JakeE

MacVoices Review from Macworld | iWorld 2012 What A Difference A Year Makes

2012-02-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

MacVoices Review from Macworld | iWorld 2012

What A Difference A Year Makes

MacVoices was at the BulletTrain Booth at Macworld | iWorld 2012 and Chuck Joiner filmed this interview with Jake Ehrlich and wrote this review:

"Last year, BulletTrain was on the show floor without a booth, doing guerrilla marketing. This year at Macworld | iWorld 2012, Jake Ehrlich and crew are back with a full booth presence to show off the new version of BulletTrain Express, a chassis that fits an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a Apple Magic Trackpad into an ergonomic, unified surface for controlling your Mac remotely, whether it is in front of you on your desktop or across the room in your home theater."

Wired.com Review All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-02-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

Wired.com Review

All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

Wired.com's GeekDad wrote a review of the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform they say previewed at CES 2012, and they said:

"This is a beautiful little device–it's a shell that allows an Apple keyboard and Magic Trackpad (sold separately) that creates a pseudo laptop/desktop pad. It then connects via Bluetooth to either an iPad, Apple Mini, or any other computer/device that is connected to you television. It basically turns your TV into a smart TV, allowing you to access the Internet and use apps and programs installed on the connecting device."

All-New Caribbean Blue BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform Pictured above.

"It comes in a variety of colors as well as some skins, and they told me you can also have your own graphics added to the completed platform. They also demonstrated keyboard overlays that relate to different apps–the image here shows the overlay for Apple's video editing software Final Cut Pro. The platform is very light weight, and the keyboard and trackpad felt solid and locked in."

Macworld Magazine Review BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform in Macworld Hot Stuff

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Macworld Magazine March 2012 Review

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform in Macworld Hot Stuff

Macworld Magazine published a review in the March 2012 edition and unfortunately they went to print just before we had a chance to show them the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform. In other words, they reviewed our now discontinued Aluminum BulletTrain eXpress. The great news is that the all-new silver BulletTrain eXpress is almost half the price of the version it replaces, and it works better!!!

GeekBeat.TV Macworld 2012 Coverage BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard and Track Pad Holder

2012-02-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

GeekBeat.TV #403 | Macworld 2012 Coverage

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard and Track Pad Holder

Cali Lewis from GeekBeat.TV just posted a review and video from Macworld 2012 and she said:

"BulletTrain eXpress is a holder tray for Apple wireless keyboards and Magic Track Pads. Just put the Apple Keyboard and Trackpad into position in the Express, and you’ve got a lap-ready, integrated keyboard/trackpad that makes leaning back while getting your work done much easier!"

BulletTrain Hotness

What's better looking than the BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform? Cali Lewis drooling over the BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform. Seriously, there is nothing more attractive than a beautiful woman speaking in fluent Geek. That's Geek–not Greek ;-P

My Apple Poland Interview at Macworld 2012 All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

My Apple Poland Interview at Macworld 2012

All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

The interviewer from My Apple Poland was really tripping on how similar the layout of the Apple Keyboard and Magic Trackpad are on the eXpress to the layout on a Macbook, Macbook Pro, or Macbook Air.

One of the reasons this is profound, is that when I set-out to create the first generation of the BulletTrain eXpress, I was not trying to mimic any Apple MacBooks, instead, I was trying to create the most ergonomic desktop keyboard for the Mac or PC.

PC World at Macworld 2012: BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Tray

2012-01-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

PC World at Macworld 2012

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Tray

PC World was at Macworld 2012 and they took this photo of the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform and said:

"The eXpress Keyboard tray from BulletTrain lets you use your wireless Apple keyboard and mouse in a laptop-like arrangement, and it's designed to make it easier to use your desktop Mac without having to be seated at your desk. I can see where this might be useful if, say, you have a TV tuner hooked up to your Mac, or if you use your Mac to watch DVD's, and you want to sit back on your sofa."

ZDNet Macworld 2012 Review: All-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-27T19:55:00.000-08:00

ZDNet Macworld 2012 Review

All-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

ZDNet was at Macworld and took this photo at the BulletTrain Booth and said:

"The BulletTrain eXpress is a wireless keyboard lap tray, perfect for your Mac-Mini-as-Home Theater PC. It is for the Mac (or South Park) fan who has everything."

9 to 5 Mac Video Review from Macworld 2012 BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

9 to 5 Mac Video Review from Macworld 2012

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

PC Magazine Macworld 2012 Coverage: BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

PC Magazine Macworld 2012 Coverage

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

PC Magazine was at Macworld 2012 and the took and published this photo of the all-new BulletTrain eXpress and said:

"OMG! They Killed QWERTY!

You can't beat personalized iPad keyboard docks from BulletTrain, like this South Park special–which unfortunately didn't have a special key to play this episode."

MacMixing at Macworld 2012 Reviewing the All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

MacMixing at Macworld 2012

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform: The Ultimate TV Tray!

MacMixing was at Macworld 2012 and they shot this video and published this review:

"BulletTrain designs some pretty unique and sleek looking magic trackpad and keyboard tray systems. This allows your to have both your keyboard and trackpad right on one TV Style tray that makes it easy and convenient to use for a home theater, or multiple situations."

"The device is super lightweight while being constructed out of heavy duty plastic! This makes me want to go buy a home theater setup…"

Rainforest Green eXpress

2012-01-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

Rainforest Green

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

Photographing the all-new eXpress is not easy because of the matte-metallic paint we use, but I thought I would put up this photo of the RainForest Green eXpress...Nice!!!

iLounge CES 2012 Review: BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

iLounge CES 2012 Review

BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

iLounge was at CES 2012 and they published this article about the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform. Here are some excerpts:

"Having featured the original aluminum version back in December, we were surprised to see a new version of the holder in Las Vegas at CES in January. This iteration starts with the same concept–hold Apple's keyboard and Magic Trackpad together–but BulletTrain started over with new materials, and came up with an even more appealing product."

"Instead of the aluminum of the first eXpress, this one is made of glass-reinforced polycarbonate, which offers several advantages. Chief among them is price: the base model is almost half the price of its metal-clad sibling. But it's not just a cheaper product, it's a better designed one as well: instead of relying on 3M Mounting Squares to hold the Wireless Keyboard in place, now both that and the Magic Trackpad snap in for a secure–and flush–fit."

Memories of CES 2012: The BulletTrain Booth

2012-01-22T02:29:00.000-08:00

Memories of CES 2012

The BulletTrain Booth & Beyond

We previewed the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform at CES last week in Las Vegas and it was a huge success. Here is a photo of the BulletTrain booth. This was the first time any of us attended CES and it was the most amazing, crazy, over-the-top experience!!!

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

CES Debut of MBrace2

The BulletTrain booth was located in the North Hall at CES, and the only thing I saw at CES that impressed me as much as the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform was the all-new Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster–and boy was it impressive. The sliver one in the photo below was interesting because it had matte silver paint, which looked super-cool. I wrote a super-detailed preview of the all new Mercedes SL Roadster and published it on Jake's Rolex World.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is pictured above at CES 2012

One of the cool things about being an exhibitor at CES is that you get to see all the other booths before and after the show is open to the public, which explains why there are no people in these photos. Of course, if I took them during the show, they would be filled with people.

If you saw the 2013 Mercedes SL that was previewed by Mercedes in photos or at the Detroit Auto Show, the one at CES differed as you can see below, because it has the etched aluminum-trim in place of wood-trim, which gives this model a great industrial-design look & vibe.

As I mentioned earlier, the only thing I saw at CES that was as cool as the all-new BulletTrain eXpress was the all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster, and fortunately I was able to get a photograph of them together. The color of the BulletTrain eXpress in the photo below is called BulletTrain Blue, which is a light cobalt blue.

MusicSkins.com CES Coverage Skinning The All-New BulletTrain eXpress

2012-01-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

MusicSkins.com CES Coverage

Skins for The All-New BulletTrain eXpress

Tecnofanatico Unboxing & Overview in Spanish

2012-01-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Tecnofanatico Unboxing & Overview in Spanish

of The All New BulletTrain eXpress at CES

Tecnofanatico was at CES last week and they stopped by the BulletTrain Booth to check out the preview of the all-new BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform. They snapped these photos and shot the video below. On a side note, I was extremely impressed with how many store from Mexico stopped by the booth to express their interest in selling the eXpress in Mexico.

First CES Video: All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

2012-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

First CES Video

All-New BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

South Park Skin For BulletTrain eXpress BulletTrain Develops Strategic Partnership with MusicSkins.com

2012-01-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

South Park Skin For BulletTrain eXpress

BulletTrain Develops Strategic Partnership with MusicSkins.com

Hi everybody!!! I am happy to announce that BulletTrain just announced at CES that we have put together a strategic partnership with MusicSkins.com which will be providing Music and Pop Culture skins for the BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform.

Here is a sample of a South Park skin which gives you an idea of what to expect. Over the next few months, we will be building out the BulletTrain Custom Shop which is pretty mind-blowing. And yes, the trackpad still works perfectly when it has a skin over it...

BulletTrain Launches All-New, Stylish, Innovative eXpress Keyboard Platform In 10 Fun Colors!

2012-01-11T00:37:00.001-08:00

Next Generation eXpress Debut @ CES

BulletTrain Launches All-New, Stylish, Innovative eXpress Keyboard Platform In 10 Fun Colors!

CES: Las Vegas, NV —January 2012—BulletTrain launches their all-new, more affordable BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform.

As with BulletTrain’s widely acclaimed aluminum model, the all-new eXpress combines the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic TrackPad into an ergonomic and truly portable laptop style configuration for your desk, lap or Media Center. That is where the similarities end and the fun begins.

“Since day one, we’ve never stopped improving the eXpress” said Jake Ehrlich-CEO & Designer at BulletTrain. “We created the all-new eXpress with our customers in mind. We’ve worked hard to perfect everything, the shape, the method of attachment, the angle, the materials, the price–everything!!!”

The all-new eXpress is constructed of high-quality, high-strength, glass-reinforced polycarbonate which provides a much lighter product, while offering the durability and style BulletTrain customers have come to expect.

Subtle changes to the shape of the new eXpress improve usability while increasing performance and tactile feedback. The Magic TrackPad sits lower in the platform and is no longer flush with the platform, reducing erroneous taps and clicks while providing a non-visual way to find the TrackPad.

A flat bottom with super low-profile feet makes the new eXpress even more lap friendly. The new flat bottom, coupled with a new wall-hanging design significantly improve wall-hanging ability by allowing the eXpress to hang on shorter fat or flat-head screws or nails.

The new eXpress features an innovative method of attaching the keyboard and TrackPad into place by gripping their battery compartments. BulletTrain designed a clip-in, “C-channel“ system which holds snug, yet allows the Apple Magic TrackPad and Keyboard to be easily removed for changing batteries. This new system completely eliminates the need to attach anything to your devices.

In response to customer feedback, the power buttons of both the TrackPad and Keyboard have been made easily accessible without having to remove them from the eXpress.

Jake Ehrlich speaks of designing BulletTrain’s new creation with an almost intoxicating passion:

“All the changes and improvements we made on the all-new eXpress exemplify our absolute commitment to excellence as well as clearly showcasing our desire to completely reinvent the keyboard for the 21st Century.

We’ve taken the all-new BulletTrain eXpress to a new level, while significantly lowering the price to make it way more affordable than our previuos generation Aluminum eXpress. I wanted to take my time to make certain we left no stone unturned. Over the past year, I’ve gotten to know many of our customers on a personal level. I listened very carefully to what features they enjoyed, and more importantly to what they wanted.”

As a result, BulletTrain is launching the new eXpress in 10 fashion colors, one of which is a metallic silver that closely matches the aluminum finish BulletTrain customers are used to. All of the colors offered come in an ultra-durable three-stage-process designed to mimic the metallic sheen and texture of anodized aluminum.

The 10 gorgeous colors offered and are as follows:

• Piano Black

• Arctic White

• Ruby Red

• Caribbean Blue

• Passion Pink

• Rainforest Green

• Royal Purple

• BulletTrain Blue

• Sunset Orange

• Silver

These colors will allow customers to truly eXpress themselves making their desktop space more personal, fashionable and fun.

If customers wish to customize their all-new eXpress even further, BulletTrain has developed partnerships to bring you the BuletTrain Custom Shop which offers an enormous selection of skins for the eXpress and Magic TrackPad. From The Beatles to Sponge Bob there’s sure to be something for everyone. With 10 colors and a huge selection of custom skins, BulletTrain has given “Freedom of eXpression” a whole new meaning.

While revisions to the shape, materials, and attachment method as well as the addition of exclusive skins and an exciting color palette might have been enough, BulletTrain didn’t stop there.

Without question, the most exciting feature of this new eXpress is the price. BulletTrain is offering the all-new eXpress for only $79!

When BulletTrain first launched the eXpress, they set out to reinvent the desktop keyboard and create an everything-top keyboard, giving you the most comfortable, friction free experience with your computer, Mac Media Center, or HTPC. It has now been refined even further to deliver you that same experience in a lighter, sleeker, more stylish, and more affordable package.

Pricing and Availability

The BulletTrain eXpress will be available in March at the BulletTrain website (www.bullettrain.com) from $79. (US)

Tesla S. Prototype with Iron Man

2011-12-31T10:08:00.000-08:00

What Are You Looking At!?!

Tesla S. Prototype with Iron Man

2012 Is Going To Be Amazing at BulletTrain

The San Francisco Bay Area is renowned for technological innovation, but the real question is what is this BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform prototype doing in a prototype Tesla S, and why does it have Iron Man on it? I know Elon Musk, the innovative founder of Tesla is regarded as being the model for the movie version of Iron Man's Tony Stark.

Notice the in-dash web browser in the Tesla S. Prototype is on the BulletBlog which you are looking at right now! Want to find out more? Visit BulletTrain at CES at booth 6621 and learn more about how exiting 2012 will be at BulletTrain.

BulletTrain eXpress in the Rice Fields of Bali...

2011-12-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

BulletTrain eXpress in the Rice Fields of Bali

Matthew Taylor purchased his BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform back in June of 2011 and took it with him to Bali. With the BulletTrain eXpress we typically refer to it as the Ultimate Desktop, Laptop and Home Theater Keyboard and in this instance you see a real customer using it as the Ultimate Laptop keyboard, since he has elevated his laptop up to his eye height, and he just sent in this photo with the following email:

Hey Jake-

Thanks for designing a truly magnificent travel companion, the BulletTrain Express. Though it added a little heft to my backpack, it was well worth it to bring this invaluable ergonomic helper with me to Bali where I wrote the concluding chapter for my forthcoming book.

As you can see from the photos, I set it up so that the Express would be at an appropriate wrist/arm length, and I elevated my MacBook Pro on a box so that it would be at eye level. The view is from my balcony -- I lived in an amazing two-story villa near Ubud just across from the botanic gardens, overlooking rice paddies.

BTW, I learned about Steve's passing while in Bali, and it was a simultaneously sad and inspirational moment. Say what you want about his many personality flaws, the man truly changed the world and died complete having given his gifts. Watching the Think Different video and his Stanford commencement speech, I realize that he entered the pantheon of the Crazy Ones.

Yours,

Matthew Taylor
Wordsmith. Mediator.

Jonathan Ive On Apple Design...

2011-11-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Ive On Apple Design

Jonathan Ive is the lead designer at Apple and as a fellow designer, I have always been fascinating with listening to him talk about design. In this video segment from the movie, Objectified Jonathan Ive talks about making the unibody structure for the MacBooks.

Four Keys To Apple's Success from the Wall Street Journal

2011-11-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

Four Keys To Apple's Success

from the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal published a story today about Creg Joswiak, who is part of the Apple product marketing team and has been with Apple for 20 years. Greg Joswiak is pictured below, and he is the Vice President of iPod, iPhone and iOS Product Marketing.

In a recent speech Creg Joswiak told the audience at the Silicon Valley Comes to Cambridge what he thought the top four secrets were behind Apple's amazing success:

Focus: It means saying no, not saying yes. We do very few things at Apple. We do $100 Billion in revenue per year with very few products. There are only so many grade A players. If you spread yourself out over too many things, none of them will be great.

Simplicity: Make complex things simple. A lot of people think it means take something simple and leave it at its core essence. But it isn’t that. When you start to build something, it quickly becomes really complex. But that is when a lot of people stop. If you really know your product and the problems, then you can take something that is complex and then make it simple.

Courage: Courage drives a lot of decisions in business. Don’t hang on to ideas from the past even if they have been successful for you. You don’t build a product just because everyone else has one.

Best: If you can’t enter the market and try and be the best in it, don’t enter it. You need that differentiation. At Apple if we can’t be the best then we are not interested in it.

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 in Matte Black

2011-11-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

2012 Lamborghini Aventador

LP700-4 in Matte Black

My pal Kaveh is pictured below in the all-new Matte Black Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, which looks like the next Batmobile. The Lamborghini Aventador is the successor to the Lamborghini Murcielago, and the Aventador has a 6.5 Liter V-12 that cranks out 700 Horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque. The magnificent monster accelerates from 0-62 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds, so it is like a rocket-ship.

iClip Clipboard Manager for Mac

2011-11-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

iClip

Clipboard Manager for Mac

I am so excited to share this great news with you. iClip was an amazing clipboard manager that was very successful for years, then the developer unfortunately abandoned it. This frustrated many users.

The great news, is that my pal Steve, who owns and runs Irradiated Software, purchased the code, and completely rebuilt the code and optimized it for Lion. Irradiated Software re-introduced iClip earlier this week. I have had a chance to evaluate it, and I am happy to report it is amazing!!!

Steve managed to keep all the original features and in the screenshot below, we see how it works. Essentially anything you copy to your clipboard, with a keyboard shortcut or from a drop down menu, will be recorded and save into iClip. This includes all images, text, URL's, etc. You notice in the photo below that there are multiple copied content modules on the right side of the screen. As you copy items and content to your clipboard, iClip places the latest at the top. and keeps them in reverse chronological order.

The end-user can go back in time and paste any content into the active application, which is amazingly useful. Also, if you have content you regularly like to paste, you can create a special clipboards that will paste them. For instance, if you have travel instructions for how to get to your home or office, you can add them to iClip, and past them whenever you want.

You can learn much more by visiting www.IrradiatedSoftware.com.

Why You Need Clipboard Management

Do you copy & paste much?

Have you often copied something but when you tried to paste it you realized that you copied over it?

Do you ever want to copy multiple items before pasting them somewhere?

If you’re like most Mac users then the answer to these questions is a loud “yes!”

What you need is a supercharged clipboard that enables you to copy several times before you ever have to paste anything and that’s where iClip comes in.

Where the built-in Mac clipboard can only copy one thing at a time, iClip automatically stores a history of up to 99 things you’ve copied.

You can copy…copy…copy then paste…paste…paste at your convenience. Can you see how useful iClip will be in your workflow?

If you value your time, you owe it to yourself to be the next Mac user to start saving time and become more productive with iClip.

Lexus Dealership Using iPad's In Service Department...

2011-11-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

Lexus Dealership

Using iPad's In Service Department

I was recently at a Lexus Dealership, in the service department, and I noticed the service advisors are all now using iPad in special cases.

Basically this Lexus dealership switched over from paper forms to iPad for all the Lexus service advisors in the service department. So when a Lexus owner arrives and they are greeted by the Lexus service advisor who inputs the license plate number and all the info on the car populates on the iPad screen. The service advisor then inputs all the information for what needs to be done.

The most interesting thing is how the Lexus service advisors hold the iPad. The iPads are in special neoprene cases that not only protect the iPad, but also allow the iPad case to fit on the users hand like a glove. Basically, the end user sticks their hand in the square hold as seen below. I asked a Lexus service advisor what he thought about the system and he said he loved it. He said it makes things work so much better.

iPads abound in the Lexus service center. I just happened to notice that even customers who were waiting in the customer lounge had iPads at the Lexus dealership. This really goes to show how popular the iPad has become.

Rare Photos of Steve Jobs with Bill Gates

2011-11-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

Rare Photos of Steve Jobs with Bill Gates

This first photo of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as taken more than a quarter-centery ago in 1985, which was only one year after the original Apple Mac was released for sale.

In 1995 Steve Jobs was interview by Robert Cringely, and Steve Jobs famously said "The problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. I have a problem with the fact that they just make really third rate products."

In Walter Isaacson's book which was published recently Steve Jobs said "Bill Gates is basically unimaginative." Steve Jobs reportedly said "Bill Gates never invented anything. He just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas."

Steve Jobs: One Last Thing PBS Documentary

2011-11-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs PBS Documentary

One Last Thing

Microsoft's Vision Of The Future

2011-10-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's Vision Of The FutureAs Of 2011
I am always fascinated with people's ideas of the future. Years ago I was the lead imagineer for SAP. The challenge I has with SAP is they wanted me to do stuff like what you are seeing in this video. Basically SAP wanted me to make mach-ups of what the future might look like.
The challenge I had as a designer, is I felt like it was a waste of time, if I didn't actually develop the product from the design reference. In other words, if I invested the time to figure out where things should go, I wanted to follow-up by actually engineering the real products, which is why I decided to leave SAP and go full speed ahead with BulletTrain.
As you will see in the months and years to come, my team at BulletTrain and I are working on not only imagineering the future, but bringing these amazing products to life. I think there is merit to some of Microsoft's ideas in this video, but I think it will actually look much different, and methinks BulletTrain will help bring it to you. I think Corning's idea of the future is more realistic.

1980s Apple Vision of the future and Videos

2011-10-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Apple's Vision Of The FutureFrom 1997?
This video is interesting, in particular, we see a stylus-driven Apple tablet prototype, which would be a precursor for the iPad, and as you notice, it even includes a built-in video camera. We also see the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, which is what leads me to believe the video was mislabeled as being from the 1980s, and I believe it was made in 1997, and not the eighties.

1980s Apple Videos
It's amazing looking back–at how bad these 1980s Apple Videos were. The almost seem like IBM commercials from the 1980s. This first next Computer Chronicles video interview/presentation of the first Macintosh portable, from 1989, with Stuart Cheifet almost seems like a Saturday Night Live skit.

In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh, and the year before, Apple introduced the Apple Lisa Desktop which was the first computer to use a mouse. Here is a video overview. It is ironic that this computer was referred to at one time as being "User-Friendly." This is fascinatingly boring ;-) It really is amazing how far computers have come in the last quarter-century!!!

The dude who gives this presentation has the funniest, most pretentious fake accent. He kind of sounds like Johnathan Higgins III (John Hillerman) from Magnum P.I. Kind of like a fake British accent :-(
I actually remember going to see the Apple Lisa when it first came out in 1983, and thinking it was terrible.

Jonathan Ive On Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field...

2011-10-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Ive On Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field

Quote from Walter Isaacson Authorized Biography of Steve Jobs

Jonathan Ive is the lead designer at Apple and he is responsible for creating many of the game changing Apple products. Jonathan Ive began his career at Apple in 1992. He became the head of Design for Apple in 1997. Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs was just released and it has some very interesting quotes in it.

In Walter Isaacson's new authorized autobiography of Steve Jobs, Apple's lead designer, Jonathan Ive spoke about Steve Jobs taking credit for other peoples ideas and Ive said:

"He (Steve Jobs) will go through a process of looking at my ideas and say, 'That's no good. That's not very good. I like that one.' And later I will be sitting in the audience and he will be talking about it as if it was his idea. I pay maniacal attention to where an idea comes from, and I even keep notebooks filled with my ideas. So it hurts when he (Steve Jobs) takes credit for one of my designs.

In this first video Steve Jobs cites Pablo Picasso as saying: "Good artist copy. Great artists steal" to which I would like to respond with an IF-THEN Statement by pointing out:

"If good artists copy, and great artists steal, then real artists create." –Jake Ehrlich

Original MultiColor iMac....

2011-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

Original Multi-Color iMac

She Comes In Colors Everywhere

She's Like A Rainbow

Apple designer, Jonathan Ive is picture below in 1998 posing in front of his original all-in-one iMac which was clearly inspired by the first generation Mac from 1984.

Steve Jobs Shows Off The First iMac

Paris Apple Expo: September 17, 1998

Bill Gates Jumps Over Chair

2011-10-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

Bill Gates Jumps Over Chair

The BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform In Use at BulletTrain

2011-10-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

The BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform

The Wireless Office In Use at BulletTrain

The BulletTrain team was having a meeting and we were using the BulletTrain eXpress to control our 27inch iMac on the conference table. During a break between conference calls I snapped this cool pic...

Thoughts On Steve Jobs' Passing

2011-10-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

My Memories of Steve Jobs

It is hard to believe Steve Jobs now belongs to the ages!?! Abraham Lincoln profoundly summed it up best when he said "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Steve Jobs was a fascinating man. Like many people, I owe him and the other original founders of Apple a debt of gratitude. When I was 16 years old, in 1984, I purchased the original Mac the first day it was available on January 24, 1984. At the time there was nothing like it. Kind of like the first iPhone or iPad.

I began working with computers when I was 12 years old. For decades I was frustrated with computers in general, and thought their progress was moving way too slowly. It was clear to me that the people who were at the helm of computing were engineers and greedy businessmen.

I realized long ago, that what was missing from computing was design process. I decided in 2000 to commit myself to trying to help computing live up to its full potential, and thus I started BulletTrain.

I had the chance to spend some time with Steve Jobs, at Apple, speaking about the future of computers. In 2005 Steve and I spoke in detail about forming a strategic partnership between BulletTrain and Apple. I showed Steve some advanced prototypes I had designed for an Apple phone that was also a full-screen computer. My design had a camera on the front and on the back and in many ways resembled the iPhone of today.

I also showed Steve Jobs a concept I had for an Apple tablet that was remarkably similar to the iPad. My design has a leg on the back of it, very similar to the BulletTrain MagicStand, because I realized that in order for a tablet form-factor to be the best it could be, it would need to be able to compete with a Laptop, which did the require the end user to hold it up in their hands.

I also showed Steve a precursor to our current BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform. I argued the ultimate desktop keyboard form-factor was a laptop keyboard form-factor, because it had built-in wrist wrests and thus represented the most ergonomic keyboard. I also argued that having a redundant set of numeric keys on a desktop keyboard was unnecessary, and that most people who used laptops never missed them. We argued back and forth and I told him I thought the mouse was stupid because it represented a false economy of motion.

I also showed Steve my BulletTrain WebTop concept which was and is remarkably similar to iCloud.

Steve Jobs had some fascinating ideas about the future and an equally interesting sense of design. He was a superb showman, and very deeply inspired people with his passion, while he also entertained them with his sense of humor.

I'll never forget during his 2007 Keynote presentation, when he first showed off the iPhone, calling Starbuck's on the iPhone and saying "Yes. I'd like to order 4000 lattes to go please." Whenever I think about that, it makes me laugh ;-)

In the final analysis, Steve Jobs left behind an amazing legacy and company. Steve Jobs inspired many people with his passion and woke-up the world to the power of simplicity and quality. Steve Jobs helped pave the way to a brighter digital future for all of humanity. I remain confident in Apple's future and more importantly, I am extremely excited to follow in Steve Jobs footsteps.

I believe the digital revolution is really just getting under way, and not only is the best yet to come, but speaking for the BulletTrain team, we plan and are excited to participate significantly in delivering the true and full potential of the digital promise. I believe the BulletTrain slogan of Friction-Free Computing, perfectly sums up our goal.

Here's To The Crazy Ones

With Steve Jobs Narrating

Here is a rare video of The Original 1997 Apple Think Different Video, but with Steve Jobs narrating.

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them. But the one thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." –Apple

The Challenging Road To Convergence: The Future Has Finally Arrived

2011-10-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Challenging Road To Convergence

The Missing Piece of the Convergence Puzzle Has Finally Been Delivered

by Jake Ehrlich

We live in a fascinating time in history, where many traditional ways of doing things are quickly becoming obsolete. Worlds are colliding and converging very quickly. We see this with smart phones you can watch TV and movies on, read a book, play games, search the web or keep up with friends on Facebook and Twitter.

When one technology overcomes and supplants another, it is referred to as an inflection point. Trains replaced a horse and buggy or stagecoach, and airplanes replaced trains.

First we replaced paper encyclopedias and dictionaries with CD and DVD-Roms, and now we have replaced them with crowd-sourced versions like Wikipedia and the Urban Dictionary. iPads are quickly replacing and supplanting newspapers and magazines.

Convergence Defined

A quarter-century ago, the high-tech world began contemplating the notion of convergence. A decade and a half-ago, in the mid 1990s, one of the hottest topics in tech was “Convergence” also known as "Interactive Television" or, "Interactive TV."

Actually, the very first truly Interactive TV was invented in 1968 by Ralph Bear, when he invented the game Pong, which was played on a TV. Here is a video from 1969 of Ralph Bear and Bill Harrison playing Ping-Pong on TV, which was the very first Video Game in history:

Everybody was taking about convergence, and the great question, was whether or not we would end-up watching TV on our computers, or Computing on our TVs? That question was answered, and today we watch TV, movies and experience all sorts of “Multimedia” on our computers.

The best example of this would be things like watching You Tube, Hulu or Netflix, and mainstream TV programming on your computer screen. The challenge is that TVs and Computers converged into Computers, but the way we control this experience has not.

Ironically, it was Bill Gates that was one of the early proponents of convergence, and he perhaps better articulated the idea of convergence in a 1999 Forbes magazine story when he said:

"Amazingly, it's been more than 20 years since the concept of 'convergence' entered the high-tech lexicon. For most of that time, convergence has meant two things: the coming together of the computer, consumer electronics, and telecommunications industries and the merging of gadgets such as the PC, TV and telephone.

But as the 21st century approaches, sophisticated digital technologies and the promise of exploding bandwidth are combining to create a third kind of convergence that will change our lives more dramatically than anything we've seen so far. It will deliver the power of the information age into the hands of everyone, anytime, anywhere.

...A lot still needs to be done to make this a reality. First, in the same way that people must speak the same language if they are to understand each other and collaborate, smart devices also need to speak a common language to communicate effectively."

Six years later, in 2004, Bill Gates said:

"Convergence doesn't happen until you have everything in a digital form the consumer can easily use on all the different devices...There's one thing missing: You have to sit down at the keyboard to work with it. You need a remote control interface at a distance, and you need to be able to project on to different screens."

The Promise Of Convergence

The promise of convergence is immense, and science-fiction movies like The Minority Report have given us a glimpse of what it might look like. The great question is how realistic are user-interfaces like the one Tom Cruise uses in Minority Report?

I argue that it is not realistic in the same way and that reality is and will continue to be even better and more realistic than science fiction. If there is any question in your mind, compare the devices on the original Star Trek with a modern iPhone. Reality it turns out is more innovative than fiction. So let's separate the fact from the fiction by looking at the real world options.

Option 1: Set Top Box

Many set-top boxes like a Tivo, DVR, Google TV and Apple TV, have tried and failed to deliver on the promise of convergence. The world has gotten 80% of the way across the river with convergence, but nobody has ever figured out the last 20%. Using an infrared remote control to type text, which uses a 5-way rocker-switch to type has to be one of the most archaic, inaccurate and frustrating experiences.

You know what I am talking about! Remember misspelling something, then having to toggle up to the delete key to erase characters, then you over shoot the mark!?! Trying to type or search on a set top box with a hand-held remote control is like trying to nail jello to the wall. Tivo came up with an even better remote with a built-in sliding keyboard, but who wants to type an email with a tiny/awkward keyboard.

Even Google and Logitech failed by partnering on the Logitech Revue set-top-box (as seen above) that ran Google TV. As a matter of fact, Logitech lost more than $100 Million and the CEO had to step-down because Logitech had more returns that actual sales. It doesn't take much to realize how bizarro unergonomic the Logitech Revue Google TV is with the trackpad located in the upper right hand corner.

Option 2: Mac Mini or HTPC

Computer On A TV

Mac Mini Media Centers and PC Home Theaters (HTPCs) are beginning to become very popular. Essentially, a Home Theater PC or Mac Mini Media Center is a very small computer that bypasses a set-top boxes and hooks up a very small dedicated media computer to a large flat screen LCD TV.

Home media centers typically benefit from having a full-size wireless keyboard and mouse. The idea is you can sit on a couch or in your favorite chair, by yourself, or with friends and family, and not only watch TV, but surf the web and do most of the things you do on a laptop computer. This includes enjoying video content on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix or iTunes.

You have probably noticed over the past several years, you are watching more and more TV programming on ABC.com, NBC.com, and CBS.com as well as Fox.com and even on HBO.com. If you are reading this article, you probably are watching more and more YouTube videos and snippets. In an increasingly "on-demand-world" this trend will not only continue, but at some point probably replace cable TV as we know it.

The tremendous challenge today, is with a wireless keyboard and mouse, you are 80% of the way to achieving convergence nirvana. The bottleneck is the keyboard and mouse are extremely difficult to use from a coffee table, and even more difficult to use on your lap or on a couch, recliner of big-comfy chair.

Even if you have a wireless Apple keyboard and Magic Trackpad, it’s still very difficult to use on your coffee table or lap. If you try to use it on a coffee table it places you in a very uncomfortable position where you have to lean forward every time you want to use it. On your lap, the trackpad often ends up falling off your lap or between the cushions, or even worse, on the floor.

If two or more people are are sitting in a family room, living room or den, and they want to take turns controlling the Mac Mini Media Center or HTPC, forget about it. You can't comfortably pass a keyboard and mouse or trackpad to somebody.

Option 3: Stay On The Desktop

The BulletTrain eXpress is extremely popular as a desktop keyboard and mouse replacement. Many eXpress users are used to using a MacBook or PC Laptop with a trackpad, and when they move to the desktop they get really frustrated with a conventional keyboard and mouse.

With the advent of OS X Lion, MacBook users are becoming accustomed to the extreme efficiency of using gestures, which makes moving back and forth between a MacBook and a standard desktop frustrating. Many people who even use an Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad report that it feels awkward. They say moving their hand back and forth between a mouse or trackpad is uncomfortable and stressful.

Putting the Cart Behind The Horse &

Putting the Trackpad Behind the Keyboard

BulletTrain provides the PERFECT solution to ALL the challenges described above. The BulletTrain Express not only completely overcomes all three challenges, but on the desktop, it also delivers a better than perfect experience.

This is because the surface area on Apples Magic Trackpad is 88% larger than on any other MacBook, and compared to PC Trackpads, the Magic Trackpad is up to 350% larger. This translates into much more effortless and friction-free gestures, swipes and scrolling.

The BulletTrain eXpress is as at-home on your lap as it is on your desktop. The typically disjointed experience of using a computer on a desktop or laptop has now been truly unified in one simple, easy to use, friction-free ergonomic platform.

Switching between a MacBook keyboard and any other keyboard and mouse or trackpad on the desktop, is like going from driving a Mercedes, to a driving a horse and buggy. Going from an Apple MacBook to a BulletTrain eXpress is like going from a 10 years old Mercedes to a top-of-the-line, fully-loaded, electric 2014 Mercedes. In doing so, you achieve better than perfect laptop/desktop convergence.

Convergence Delivered

What about the set top boxes and Mac Mini Media Centers or HTPCs? As mentioned, trying to juggle a keyboard and mouse on a coffee table or on a couch or chair is a nightmare. Enter, the BulletTrain eXpress.

The BulletTrain eXpress essentially turns your Mac Mini Media Center or HTPC into a wireless giant-screen laptop. All of a sudden, you can do EVERYTHING well on your large screen LCD TV that you can do well on your laptop or desktop computer .

You can not only watch standard TV, DVR or On-demand content, but you can surf the web in your favorite browser, identically to the way you do on your desktop or laptop, or you can use your favorite Twitter client or Facebook or IM.

If you are in your family room or living room or den, family and friends can easily pass the BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform back and forth to each other with just one hand. This takes sharing and collaborating to a whole new level. Even a couple, can hang out in bed, in a bedroom with an HTPC and pass the BulletTrain eXpress back and forth to each other, just like a remote control.

You can also enjoy all video content, including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Video, iTunes, You Tube and Vimeo. You can also enjoy your photo collection directly from iPhoto, Aperture or Adobe Lightroom. You can use Final Cut Pro or iMovie to edit video directly on your large Flat screen TV.

You can even use Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, or any CAD software. You can look-up or add a contact to your address book. If a Friend calls on the phone you can look at your calendar and add a date.

You can even book a trip to Tahiti if you want. Let’s say you are watching The Godfather II, and a character uses a word you are not familiar with, you can look it up in the dictionary app or on Wikipedia. You can look-up information about your favorite new character in a great TV show that just came out. You can play video games including Angry Birds...You get the idea!!!

The BulletTrain eXpress not only gives you unlimited options, but it truly sets you free to explore your world, wherever and whenever you want. The worlds first truly convergent on-demand experience just arrived. Welcome On-Board the BulletTrain eXpress. And remember, always stay on the fast-track!!!

The Future Of BulletTrain

At BulletTrain our mission is simple. We believe there are still many uncompleted and half-baked parts of the computing puzzle, and thus, a tremendous amount of room for improvement. In the day, months, and years to come, we plan to role out many, many more highly innovative tools and products that will allow mankind to completely unlock all the potential that exists in the ever increasing world of convergence.

Steve Jobs' Integrated TV

I originally published the above story on October 3, 2011. Steve Jobs died two days later on October 5, 2011. A few weeks later, it came out that Steve Jobs biographer, Walter Isaacson, quote Steve Jobs in his new book as saying:

"I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."

I am obviously fascinated to see and explore Steve Jobs' vision for the Integrated TV. My best guess is that Apple will update the $99 Apple TV with the A5 chip found in the 4S iPhone, and iPad 2. This would allow you to speak to your Apple TV through your iPhone or iPod Touch using Siri voice commands. Apple may also introduce and actual TV set like a 50, 60 or 70 inch TV, with Apple TV functionality built into it, which would be cool.

It also crosses my mind Steve Jobs may have been referring to iOS 5's Airplay Mirroring on the iPhone or iPad?

In my opinion, no matter how great the above mentioned Steve Jobs potential solutions may or may not be, it will not be nearly as good as having a Mac Mini hooked up to a 60LCD TV, with a BulletTrain eXpress Keyboard Platform to control it.

I say this because this solution gives the user a completely integrated TV experience that is identical to that of a MacBook. With my idea of the ultimate interactive TV it provides the user with ZERO additional learning curve, by offering a complete consistent experience.

Time as they say will tell, and it will be very interesting to see what happens.

BTW, in this next video, you get to see and hear Steve Jobs opinion on convergence from 1998. The video quality is not great, but the audio is:

1993 ATT "You Will" Video Ads

2011-10-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

1993 ATT "You Will" Video Ads

It is remarkable how accurate these 1993 ATT ads–from 18 years ago–were about predicting the future. Of course this is particularly interesting since that is basically the BulletTrain Design Department does. If you are old enough to remember these ads, that will totally deja vu you out, especially with the Tom Selleck narration.

Worlds Greatest YoYo Champion...

2011-10-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

This Is Just Crazy-Amazing

Worlds Greatest YoYo Champion

When I was a kid, I used to have a Duncan YoYo. It had batteries in it and glowed like a black light. I used to do some tricks with it, but in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would see anything like this...

13 inch MacBook Air v. 15 inch MacBook Pro Less Is Definitely More

2011-09-29T11:34:00.001-07:00

13 inch MacBook Air v. 15 inch MacBook Pro

Less Is Definitely More

I took these two following comparison images of the all-new 13 inch MacBook Air, back-to-back with the 15 inch MacBook Pro. I replaced the 15 inch MacBook Pro with Apple's all-new 13 inch Air, and I want to share my observations with you, after having used the 13 inch Air for a few months.

Back To Back comparison of the 15 inch MacBook Pro and 13 inch MacBook Air

I will start at the end, with my conclusion. I think the 13 Air blows away the 15 inch MacBook Pro. The 13 inch MacBook Air is a perfect example of less being more. Not only is the 13 inch Air much less expensive, but it is faster and weighs significantly less. The 15 inch MacBook Pro weighs 5.6 pounds and the 13 inch Air only weighs 2.96 pounds, thus the Air weighs almost half as much and this is ALWAYS noticeable.

15 inch MacBook Pro and 13 inch MacBook Air pictured above

As you can see in the images above, the 13inch Air is also significantly smaller, but has the exact same size keyboard and trackpad. I am also surprised at how great and loud the speakers are on the Air. Also, the Air has the exact same number of pixels on the screen (1440x900). The pixel density is higher, so you have the same number of pixels in a smaller space which translates into a sharper image.

Also the front of the Air tapers down to only 0.11 inches which makes it WAY, WAY skinnier in the front, and way, way more ergonomic.

Since the Air only comes with a Solid State hard drive, it is really, really fast, and certainly faster than the 15 inch. I also really like the backlit keyboard.

If I was in-charge of Apple, I would literally discontinue every other laptop model and just make the 13 inch Air. So what don't I like about the 13 inch Air? Here is a list of changes I would make:

• Should be able to upgrade RAM to 8GB of RAM, and ideally 16GB of RAM.

• The dynamic range of the screen can and should be much higher. The screen looks washed-out compared to the MacBook Pro-model screens.

• Bring back the black bezel, like the MacBook has.

• I would really like to see a 13 inch BlackBook. In other words, I would like to see an all-black version of the Air.

• Bullnose the front edges of the keyboard. the right-angle is too sharp.

BTW: I seriously contemplated getting the 11inch MacBook Air, and I completed a Pro-Con list and the 13 inch completely blew the 11 inch out of the water. I think the 11 inch is a fascinating design, but too small and claustrophobic–in the final analysis.

The History Of IBM

2011-09-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

The History Of IBM

The history of computing is absolutely fascinating, and understanding IBM's role in the development of the computer and personal computer is important. One of the best books I ever read, and I read it decades ago was written by Tom Watson Jr., and it was called "Father, Son & Co: My Life at IBM and Beyond." Tom Watson Sr., the founder of IBM was a really fascinating man.

Here is a recent video IBM put together which is interesting:

Sharp Shows Off 85 inch LCD with 8k x 4k Resolution...

2011-09-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Sharp Shows Off 85 inch LCD

with 8k x 4k Resolution

This 85 inch Sharp screen is stupefying!!! It has 16 times the number of pixels of 1080P and even though it does not have as high a pixel density as an iPhone Retina display, it is pretty impressive. Actually the 85 inch Sharp has a pixel density of 103.67 PPI, and the iPhone Retina display has more than three times as many at 326 PPI. Wow!!!

Corning's Idea Of The Future of Glass Technology...

2011-09-01T01:10:00.000-07:00

Corning's Idea Of The Future of Glass Technology

2012 Vision

Corning Just came out with their 2012 vision of the future of glass in technology, and you can check it out below.

Here is a background video about the technology used in the above video:

2011 Vision

Here is Corning's original 2011 vision for the future of glass in technology.

GoPro Beautiful Crazyness

2011-08-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

GoPro Beautiful Craziness

My pal Michael just sent me this GoPro video, and he said:

"Hi Jake, Watch this, then go to their YouTube channel, it's the camera company page. So good it won't seem like you were wasting time."

George Lucas & Johathan Ive

2011-08-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

George Lucas & Johathan Ive

I came across this photo of Star Wars creator, George Lucas, hanging out with Apple's lead designer, Jonathan Ive. Pretty cool...

NGMoco Keyboard Coolness NGMoco Goes For A Ride On The BulletTrain Express

2011-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

NGMoco Keyboard Coolness

NGMoco Goes For A Ride On The BulletTrain Express

NGMoco is one of the top game platform developers in the world, and they are located in San Francisco, as is BulletTrain. Recently NGMoco reached out to us recently saying they had employees who owned a BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform for the Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad, and that other employees had been eyeing their Express' and asking questions about where to get them.

NGMoco decided they were interested in offering the BulletTrain Express to employees who like them, so they placed an order for a bunch of them and asked us to laser-etch their NGMoco logo into the unibody aluminum top and they look great! If your organization is interested in purchasing Express Keyboard platforms with laser engraving, please contact Sales@BulletTrain.com.

Jake's Top 10: Must Have Applications for Mac

2011-08-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Jake's Top 10

Must Have Applications for Mac

There are certain applications for the Mac I ALWAYS highly recommend to friends, and I decided to put together a list to share with you. In the future, I plan to go into more detail on why these are must have apps, but in the meantime, here is the list.

1. Evernote (Free)

2. DropBox (Free)

3. 1 Password

4. JumpCut (Free)

5. Size Up

6. Typinator

7. App Zapper

8. OmniDiskSweeper (Free)

9. Better Touch Tool (Free)

10. MPlayerX (Free)

...Apple Coolness... David Bowie

2011-08-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

...Apple Coolness...

David Bowie

Rockin' a PowerBook Duo & MacBook

We see David Bowie in the photo below taken in the mid 1990s sitting in front of his Apple PowerBook Duo, which was Apple's first Super-Portable laptop. The Duo slid into the DuoDock to turn it into a full desktop as seen below. In other words, the PowerBook Duo, slid into the case, below the monitor (just like and 8-track cassette) and you could eject it and it would pop out so you could use it as a portable.

Of course, I purchased the first PowerBook Duo, back in 1992, and I thought is was so cool. It had a mini-trackball and was really the Grandfather of the MacBook Air.

David Bowie has always been really into computers, and Apple in particular. We see David Bowie pictured below in 2007, working on his MacBook.

Girls Gone Wild In Madrid

2011-07-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

...Random Video Of The Day...

Girls Gone Wild In Madrid

When I was a kid, growing up in San Francisco, California, I was a skate rat, which means I was really into skateboarding. Basically, my stick (skateboard) went everywhere with me until I was 16 and got a car. I was stunned when I saw this video because I have never seen girls getting this agro on sticks (old-school California Surfer-Dude lingo for skateboarding).

Windows Magazine Editor Becomes Apple Fanboy

2011-07-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

Windows Magazine Editor Becomes Apple Fanboy

This is one of the most interesting, best write articles I have read in a long time. It was written by Mike Elgan, who is the Editor of Windows Magazine, and it is published on CultOfMac.com.

"The perfect out-of-box experience with the iPhone, the elegance of the whole experience of using an iPhone, re-set my expectations for how consumer electronics and computers should function. I started looking at the out-of-box experience of buying a Windows PC with a new contempt. The crapware. The stickers. The anti-virus software problem where the cure is worse than the disease. The flimsy hardware. It’s not so much that I despised Windows PCs, but that it felt like Microsoft and the PC makers despised them, like they all have no respect for their own platform."

–Mike Elgan (Editor of Windows Magazine)

Shelby Super Cars Tuatara

2011-07-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Shelby Super Cars

Tuatara

Shelby Super Cars (SSC) just gave their new 1,350 horse power supercar a name and it is Tuatara. Shelby claims the American made rocket ship is the fastest production car made today, but has yet to release performance numbers. Sure is a cool looking car...

The Original Apple "Think Different" Video...

2011-07-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Original Apple "Think Different" Video

...Apple Coolness... President Obama Sends First Tweet on Apple MacBook Pro

2011-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

...Presidential Technology Showcase...

...Apple Coolness...

President Obama Sends First Live Tweet

on Apple MacBook Pro

On the 4th of July, I posted an article about President Obama rockin' his 3G iPad in San Francisco. Yesterday, President Obama typed and sent his first Live Tweet on a MacBook Pro–at least publicly.

President Obama is pictured below with Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey and President Obama is typing and sending his tweet on a Macbook pro that has been enhanced with a Presidential Seal that covers the Glowing Apple Logo.

Photo Credit: Shawna Shepherd for CNN

Photo Credit: Det hvite hus

Here is the video of the Twitter Town Hall where President Obama sits down to talk about Twitter and tech.

Here is a video of President Obama giving a demo on Healthcare on his Macbook Pro

This is a photo of President Obama when he was running for the Presidency, and somebody took a photo of him sitting next to a MacBook Pro with Pacman sticker on it. If I recall correctly this Apple MacBook (with the Pacman sticker) belong to a campaign staffer.

Apple Coolness U.S. President Barack Obama Rockin' an iPad II

2011-07-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

...Presidential Technology Showcase...

...Apple Coolness...

U.S. President Barack Obama

Rockin' a 3G iPad II in San Francisco

President Barack Obama is pictured below on a recent trip to San Francisco. In this official White House photo taken by Pete Souza, President Obama is looking at the Golden Gate Bridge on April 20, 2011, from Chrissy Field, which is located in the San Francisco Presidio.

If you look closely, you notice President Obama is holding his 3G iPad II in his hand, which is really cool. It is great to finally have a President who "gets" technology ;-) In the future, I plan to write a detailed review of the technology that surrounds the President. Since I was born and raised, and still live in San Francisco, it is really cool to see this great photo, which has a tremendous amount of positive symbolism in it.

In my mind, this image of President Obama standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge with an iPad will always be ultra iconic and profoundly symbolic of the fact that we are now definatley living in the digital age–finally!!!

So why am I so excited "that we are now definitely living in the digital age?" Because humanity has been trying to harness the power of computers for way too long. We have struggled with computers and technology that were full of unnecessary friction. The iPad, in my mind, symbolizes the future of learning. Remember when you were a kid and you had to carry a backpack that weighed almost as much as you because it was full of old heavy books? The iPad should finally do away with all that, and herald in a new age of friction-free learning.

These are truly amazing days we are living in!!!

Think Different In the 21st Century

Declaration Of Independence for the Digital Age

When I look at the image of President Obama standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge with the 3G iPad in his hand, I could not help but think back to the now-retro Apple Think Different Posters from the late nineties, and since it is Independence Day, I thought I would make a color and black and white version to share with you ;-)

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them. But the one thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." –Apple

Update on October 3, 2011: Here is a video of President Obama and he mentioned Steve Jobs gave him his iPad 2 before it even came out.

The Pope Tweets on an iPad For The First Time

2011-06-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Pope Tweets on an iPad For The First Time

I don't know why this seems so fascinating to me!?! It is good to see that the Pope is exploring the iPad. Methinks they should have put it on a BulletTrain MagicStand ;-) These are truly fascinating days we are living in.

I was just having a conversation with my bandmate, Billy yesterday, and I was saying how it is such an amazing time to be alive today, in the sense the world is quickly moving into the digital age–and this event with Pope Benedict is a shining example of this fact.

Sun Storm from NASA

2011-06-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sun Storm from NASA

NASA took this photo of the Sun which was shot by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. It shows the Sun spurting out a medium sized solar flare. Here are some fascinating facts regarding the sun:

• Located 92 Million miles from Earth

• Core temperature is approximately 27 Million degrees (Fahrenheit)

• Surface temperature is approximately 10,340 degrees (Fahrenheit)

• Sun is 4.5 Billion years old

• Traveling at the speed-of-light, it takes sunlight 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

Muhammad Ali 1998 Think Different Poster

2011-06-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

Muhammad Ali

1998 Think Different Poster

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster [V8 Model N 420]

2011-06-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

...I'm Too Sexy For Your Cat...

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

[V8 Model N 420]

Unlocking The Potential of Spotlight

2011-06-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

Unlocking The Potential of Spotlightfrom Cult Of Mac
Cult Of Mac just posted this great video that shows many power things you can do with the Spotlight search built into OS X.

Apple Facetime Genesis: Reality Is Better Than Science Fiction

2011-06-16T00:29:00.000-07:00

Apple Facetime Genesis

Reality Is Better Than Science Fiction

It's amazing how all this new Apple technology, like Facetime is changing the world. In many ways, all this technology is fulfilling dreams and ideas that have been around for a long time.

In the same way an iPhone is light years ahead of Captain Kirk's communicator, Facetime is beyond the 1950s vision in the image above. (Yes that is a real illustration that you are looking at above, from the 1950s). I imagine reality is often better than science fiction.

Notice in the picture above, it shows the kids wearing raincoats with umbrellas, as they apparently are getting home from school, while the mother remains warm and dry in her kitchen as she prepares soup and sandwiches for her kids.

One of the obvious differences between the 1950s image and Facetime on the iMac, as seen above, and Facetime on the iPad, as seen below, is in the 1950s image, both women are holding corded microphones in their left hand. In other words, in the 1950s world, they artist did not foresee speakerphones.

The BulletTrain Express Travels To The Land Of The Rising Sun

2011-06-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

...Aboard The BulletTrain Expesss In Japan...

The BulletTrain Express

Travels To The Land Of The Rising Sun

Zen & The Art Of The BulletTrain Express

When I was a small child, I used to collect and play with train sets. For as long as I can remember I was in awe of the original BulletTrains, known in Japan as the Shinkansen. The first BulletTrain ever to run on a track, ran in Japan. I have always had a deep respect for many Japanese aesthetics, and been inspired by the therapeutic nature of things like a Zen Garden, as well as being influenced by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen.

As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say the design philosophy at BulletTrain is one of Kaizen, or constant improvement and renewal.

Of course I could not help but notice the similarity between the photo of the Japanese Shinkansen BulletTrain in the photo above that is haulin' past Mt. Fuji, and the Apple desktop wallpaper of Mount Fuji from the Lion preview, which is pictured below ;-)

Kariya's BulletTrain Express In Japan

All the photos below are from a Japanese BulletTrain customer whose name is Kariya. Kariya is extremely fortunate to live just across the waterway from Mount Fuji. This first photo is taken from his back yard, and it shows Mount Fuji with cherry blossoms in bloom.

Click On Image For Great Desktop Wallpaper

In this next photo below, we see Kariya's Apple Mac Desktop setup before he purchased a BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform. Notice he owned a Japanese Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard, and a Magic Trackpad.

On a sidenote, it is profound to see American designed goods in Japan. As a child growing up in the United States, it was common to see Japanese products like a Sony TV or Walkman in the U.S., and I think it is so cool that Kariya's setup has many Apple products.

So Kariya obviously saw the BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform, and contemplated what it would look like if he purchased one. We see in the next photo, that Kariya took a 13inch MacBook Air and put a cover over the screen to simulate what the BulletTrain Express would look and feel like.

In this next photo, we set that Kariya took it a step further and not only photographed his Japanese layout Apple keyboard and Magic Trackpad, but in Photoshop, drew a line around it in red to see what the BulletTrain Express might look like!!!

In this next photo we see the final result after Kariya purchased his BulletTrain Express and got it all setup on his desk.

In this next photo we see another photo taken from Kariya's home which has this crazy/stunning view of Mount Fuji. As the designer of the BulletTrain Express, it makes me extremely proud to know that Kariya was able to make his desktop much more Zen-like with my product, and to know he benefits from it every day, as he looks out his window at Mount Fuji, makes me feel great!!!

Here is another photo Kariya too of Mount Fuji at Sunset. This is just stunning and makes great desktop wallpaper of Mount Fuji. It is also neat that Apple used a Mount Fuji Wallpaper for the preview of OS X Lion. It all kinda ends up being a déjà vu kind of thing ;-)

Apparently Kariya like to take photos of everything he enjoys, and he took these next to photos of his sushi.

It appears Kariya was so impressed, he purchased a second BulletTrain Express, which he also photographed as seen below.

Microsoft Previews Windows 8 Will Work Great with BulletTrain Express

2011-06-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Previews Windows 8Windows 8 Will Run on the BulletTrain Express
Microsoft recently shared this video of their next operating system which is codenamed as Windows 8. The team at BulletTrain couldn't help but notice and comment that is almost looks like it was made to be used with a BulletTrain Express. Especially with all the gesturing and clicking and swiping, and yes, the Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Trackpad already work great with Windows 7 and Vista.

Leo's Grandfather's 90th Birthday Gift His First iPad with a BulletTrain MagicStand

2011-06-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Leo's Grandfather's 90th Birthday Gift

His First iPad with a BulletTrain MagicStand

Leo is a sales rep for BulletTrain. His grandfather (pictured below) just celebrated his 90th birthday, and Leo gave him a brand new iPad 2, with a BulletTrain MagicStand. Leo's grandfather grew up in Russia, so imagine his delight when he saw how the iPad 2 had a Russian keyboard.

Leo's grandfather has a kid brother who lives on the east coast of the U.S., and they are both using Facetime to video-chat on the iPad 2's. This is not only an extremely heartwarming story, and it demonstrates how powerful the iPad 2 is. I argue that the iPad is the first truly "user-friendly" computer ever made. Leo's grandfather is now free from having to set a the "computer table" and can now use his iPad anywhere he wants. Really cool and thanks for sharing your experience with us Leo!!!

All-New BulletTrain Logo iPad and iPhone 4 Wallpaper

2011-05-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

All-New BulletTrain Logo

iPad and iPhone 4 Wallpaper

It took us a really long time to update our official BulletTrain logo. During the past 3 decades of my design career, I have NEVER experienced such a design/graphics-art challenge in my life as trying to update our BulletTrain logo. I am happy we finally got it done.

We all really, really like the new logo and we are including two HD wallpaper versions of it here for the iPad and iPad 2, and we are also including an HD wallpaper version for the iPhone 4. Obviously these are for the "Lock Screens" on the iPad and iPhone:

HD iPhone 4 Walpaper for Lock Screen Below

HD iPad & iPad 2 Wallpaper Below

We plan to rollout our all-new BulletTrain.com website in the next few weeks, and it includes our updated logo and color scheme. Stay Tuned, and remember...Always Stay On The FastTrack...

Robert Mohns BulletTrain Express Setup

2011-05-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

Robert Mohns BulletTrain Express Setup

Robert Mohn took this photo of his Mac Mini Media Center setup which looks Pretty Good!!! Pretty Gooood!!!! It is amazing to me to see how the BulletTrain Express really MAKES a HTPC the way it should be!!!! The BulletTrain Express Keyboard/Trackpad Tray for Apple is really one of those things you look at and think "Why didn't I think of that!?!?" Ironically, I still think about that, even though I did think of it ;-)

Think Silly Review of the BulletTrain Express

2011-05-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Think-Silly.com Review of the BulletTrain Express

Vincent Lau from Think-Silly.com wrote this review of the BulletTrain Express and BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad:

Most Mac users process both desktop and laptop computers, ‘mix and match’ the two to maximise their use. For those who are familiar with Macbook keyboard and Trackpad, iMac and Mac Pro might take a little getting used to. Californian computer part manufacturer BulletTrain has launched ‘Express’ bluetooth keyboard and Magic Trackpad to tackle just this.

Matching Mac aesthetic and made in aluminium, cohesive surface fixes keyboard in place. The result appearance is similar to a 15″ MacBook Pro. The company also offers iPad ‘MagicStand’, using easily attachable and removable 3M Command Strips. The structure goes down from ninety degrees to a ’steep typing angle’, as well as being portable and waterproof.

Don't Worry About This Happening

2011-05-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

The BulletTrain Express Is A Really Cool Cat

"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat"

I was talking with BulletTrain's art director, Chris, recently about our BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform, and he mentioned that when he was using one at home with his 55LCD and Mac Mini Media center, he noticed that an advantage the BulletTrain Express has over any laptop is that the BulletTrain Express does not heat-up and fry your lap like a laptop.

So, you will likely never experience a decadent cat trying to get baked by taking a cat-nap while chillaxin on your BulletTrain Express ;-) Of course, this just goes to prove the BulletTrain Express is the ultimate Lion Tamer.

The Aluminum BulletTrain Express, as pictured below always remains cool to the touch

Samsung 75 inch LCD TV Model D9500

2011-05-09T00:17:00.000-07:00

Samsung 75 inch LCD TV

Model D9500

O.K. This is so over-the-top cool!!! I really need one of these 75 inch Samsung D9500 LCD TV's. Apparently it will be first available in Korea. It comes with Samsung's SmartHub and a special QWERTY remote.

I say, forget about the Samsung QWERTY mini keyboard and OS!! I want one with a Sandy Bridge Mac Mini, running OS X Lion, with 8GB of RAM and a solid state hard drive, along with a BulletTrain Express Keyboard!!! That would give you the ultimate convergent experience. Dude, you're into it!!!

I would rather control the Samsung with the BulletTrain Express!!!

AppMinute Interviewing Jake Interview by Sam Levin

2011-04-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

AppMinute Interviewing Jake

Interview by Sam Levin

Sam Levin of Appminute.com came interviewed me recently regarding the BulletTrain Express and MagicStand for iPad. Here it is:

BulletTrain MagicStand In Car Dash...

2011-04-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

BulletTrain MagicStand In Car Dash

Illinois Freeway

I was speaking with a customer of ours named Randy, and he mentioned he inserted his BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad Drawbridge into the CD slot in their car, and he told me it seems to work. Of course I was curious, so I asked Randy to send in a photo, and here it is!!!! Wow!?!?!

An iPad 2 In Car Dash

Austin Powers on The Streets of San Francisco

Here is a different car, with the BulletTrain MagicStand resting in the CD bay. It never ceases to amaze me how many places the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad can sit. We don't recommend you insert your iPad or iPad 2 which is attached to your BulletTrain MagicStand, into your CD slot on your car ;-) Groovy Baby, Yeah!!!!

Sports Video Camera Mount for iPhone 4 Video

2011-03-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Sports Video Camera Mount for iPhone 4 Video

POM (Point Of Me) Video

Leo and I were talking about developing a BulletTrain mount for iPhone 4, but it looks like these guys are already doing a great job!!!! IMPRESSIVE!!!!!! I can't wait to try this mountain biking and snowboarding!!!!!!

2 Year Old Rockin' The iPad

2011-03-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

2 Year Old Rockin' The iPad

Move Magic Trackpad Between Macs...

2011-03-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

Move Magic Trackpad Between Macs

Christopher Breen at Macworld just published an article showing how to use one Magic Trackpad between multiple Macs, which I did not realize you could do!?! Very cool...I have not tried it out yet, but I assume you can also do the same with Apple wireless keyboards?

In the future, I plan to put together a detailed guide that covers much of detail between how the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Trackpad work.

Better Touch Tool: Solution for Jumping Cursor...

2011-03-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Better Touch Tool

Solution for Jumping Cursor

A very small portion of BulletTrain Express users (less than 2%) have experienced a challenge where the cursor would randomly jump around the screen and Better Touch Tool just released a new version (0.671) of their software that completely overcomes this challenge.

Downloading and installing this solution should take less than a minute. Just follow these detailed instructions please:

If you are not familiar with Better Touch Tool, it allows you to assign just about any kind of gesture to any function for using with the Apple Magic Trackpad. Version 0.671 has a new feature added to it named "Magic Trackpad: don't allow tap to click on the left and right edge." This feature completely overcomes the Jumping Cursor Challenge and there are 2 ways to install it:

Update Option: If you already have an earlier version of Better Touch Tool installed, you can click on it in the Apple Menu Bar located at the top of every Mac screen, and select "Check for regular updates."

Download Option: If you do not have Better Touch Tool installed you can download version 0.671 by clicking here.

Usage Instructions: Once you have downloaded and installed the 0.671 version of Better Touch Tool, you can access the "Preferences" dialog box by clicking on the Better Touch Tool icon located in the Apple Menu Bar located at the top of every Mac screen.

1. You will see a toggle button located in the upper left hand corner of the "Preferences" screen, click on "Advanced."

2. You will see on the far right side of the Better Touch Tool Preferences window, a button named "Trackpad" which is located between the "Mouse" and "About" buttons. Click on "Trackpad."

3. Click on the "Taps" tab as seen below. (Highlighted in blue)

4. Click the box to turn on "Magic Trackpad: don't allow tap to click on the left and right edge."

5. I recommend starting it at 10%, and and you can always adjust it later if need be.

Better Touch Tool is an amazing piece of shareware, meaning you can use it for as long as you want without having to pay anything, but if you enjoy its features, you can make a donation by going to the Preferences dialog box and clicking on the Donate button.

In the future, I will be doing a video that showcases many of the amazing features of Better Touch Tool.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments please contact me: Jake@BulletTrain.com or call us at (415) 440-1400.

I would also like to thank Andreas at Better Touch Tool for making such an amazing piece of software, and for adding this valuable feature that allows people to better enjoy their BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform.

To learn more about the Jumping Cursor Challenge, please click here.

BulletTrain MagicStand Works With Ipad 2!!!!!

2011-03-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

BulletTrain MagicStand Works With Ipad 2!!!!!

Great news!!!! The BulletTrain MagicStand works perfectly with the iPad 2!!!! This makes it one of the very few iPad accessories that was not completely obsoleted by the iPad 2, which I believe speaks volumes about the design integrity at BulletTrain. Even Apple's own iPad case was completely, obsoleted by the iPad 2.

Ironically, the BulletTrain MagicStand appears to fit the iPad 2 even better than on the original iPad since the all-new iPad 2 has a flat-back and is slightly smaller.

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad 2 Compatibility Update...

2011-03-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

Timeless Design At Its Best

BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad 2

Compatibility Update

Top 1o Reasons the MagicStand for Ipad 2 Remains the Best Stand

A few thoughts on Apple's iPad 2. It looks great and one of the obvious questions is will it work with the BulletTrain MagicStand? Since we have not had a chance to experiment with an iPad 2, I can only say from studying the design of the iPad 2 it appears as if it will work flawlessly with the iPad 2.

As the designer of the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad, I can say if it does work perfectly with the iPad 2, I will only have to make the slightest modification to one small part and if that is the case, I have the modification ready to go. The day the iPad 2 is available for purchase, we will buy one and test it and update this story to confirm that it is 100% compatible with the iPad 2.

I have a few observations to share with you about the iPad 2 in relation to the BulletTrain MagicStand:

1. Timeless Design: The BulletTrain MagicStand is absolutely TIMELESS!!! If you examine Apple's first generation case for the iPad and you compare it to the all-new Apple iPad case/stand, they are absolute night and day. In other words, there is ZERO compatibility going each way, in that the first generation Apple iPad case/stand will not work with the second generation iPad case/stand.

2. Limited Positions: I would argue the Apple case/stand is extremely limited in that it can only be positioned in two different positions. One for steep typing, and one for a fixed TV viewing angle. The severe limitation with the TV viewing angle is if you are getting glare, you can't adjust it at all. With the MagicStand you can adjust it to any angle.

3. Stability: Also, the Apple stand looks like it would not only fall over easily (like with the 1st generation Apple iPad case), but if you tried to use it in bed, it would not be stable and would likely not even be able to stand-up, and if you move in the bed, it would likely fall over.

With the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad, it is to timeless in its design and function that it will work identically, except you will gain extra features:

4. Camera and Video Camera Tripod: MagicStand with iPad 2 gives you a perfect Tripod for taking photos and shooting video. Since the iPad incorporates an HD camera on its backside, the MagicStand can act as the perfect tripod for taking photos and shooting video at any angle. Since the BulletTrain MagicStand can sit at ANY angle between a straight right angle at 90 degree, and can sit at any angle all the way down to 22 degrees, it is perfect for taking still photos and video.

5. Facetime Stand: Since the iPad 2 has 2 video cameras built in (one of the front and one on the back) you can use the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad to hold the iPad in the perfect position for video conferencing.

6. Presentation Tool: Since the new iPad 2 has video mirroring, the MagicStand will allow the ipad to become the ultimate presentation tool In other words, you will be able to give a presentation on a remote flat screen plasma or LCD TV, wirelessly and see and control exactly what appears on the Flat Screen with the iPad with the benefit of WSIWG. This will be great for Keynote and Power Point presentations, and you will be able to do this all without having to hold up the iPad in your hands.

7. Organic Design: It is crystal-clear that the aluminum BulletTrain MagicStand looks way more consistent with the design language of the iPad 2 than the sky blue iPad 2 Smart cover.

8. Thinness: Since the new iPad is 1/3 thinner, and since the MagicStand is just over a 1/4 inch thick, that means when you have the MagicStand attached to the iPad two, it should be less than 1/16 of an inch thicker than the first generation iPad. That is pretty profound if you think about it.

9. Weight Loss: the all new iPad 2 is 15% lighter than the original, which means that with the MagicStand attached, it will get even lighter!!!

10. Obsolescence: Just about every case and stand for the Original iPad just became obsolete for the Ipad 2, but not the BulletTrain MagicStand for iPad and iPad 2.

Another point, is that if you have a BulletTrain Express Keyboard platform paired with an iPad, you will now be able to control your iPad 2 that is hooked up to your flat-screen TV via HDMI output. Let's just hope Apple has the wisdom to allow the Apple Magic Trackpad to be paired with the iPad 2!!!

Making Computer Gaming Into Video Gaming!

2011-02-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

Computer Gaming On The BulletTrain Express

When it comes to gaming I have found that I could never have my cake and eat it too. Fallout New Vegas is a great example. I love playing it on my PS3, because I get to enjoy it on my 60-inch from the comfort of my couch, but the game uses up so much of my memory and processing speed that it regularly glitches and freezes.

There is also the issue of loading times video games are so well known for. When I play it on my computer, I get seamless gameplay, but I have to sit at a desk in front of a small screen.

Many people have been looking for a solution like the Bullet Train Express for converging their computer with their entertainment center for a long time.

Since the first BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platforms reached our customers, they have been sending us love letters and rave reviews about how it's changed their lives. The Express has unchained them from their desks and they can now work from their couches, their beds, or wherever they feel comfortable. Everyone is enjoying the new freedom offered by the Express in their work, but could it offer the same experience in their play as well?

Gamers out there would never think to use a trackpad instead of a mouse, but that may be because before there never was one with 26.5 square inches of trackpad real estate. With Fallout New Vegas loaded my computer, hooked up to my 60-inch I decided to experiment with my Bullet Train Express.

After a few changes to which key does what, I have to say the Express made for the best gaming controller I have ever used (and I am not just saying that because I sell them). Using the directional keys to move and the trackpad to look around and turn made for much better and more precise control.

If you play a lot of RPG and first-person shooter games like Fallout New Vegas you will love this feature. I was able to use all my fingers, which I could not do with a controller or keyboard and mouse configuration. A few hours into it I got used to the key configuration and I was flying it like never before.

Thanks to the Bullet Train Express gamers can now benefit from all the games on your computer without the drawbacks. You can have your epic computer games and play them too. The only issue you will have is the Bullet Train Express will make you even more addicted to your games than you already are!

Mobile Mouse Pro Remote/Trackpad

2011-02-27T01:26:00.000-08:00

Mobile Mouse Pro Remote/Trackpad

I don't know what I would use Mobile Mouse Pro for, but it sure is fascinating!!!

Using A BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platrfom with a PC

2011-02-21T05:25:00.000-08:00

Using A BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform with a PC

Apple Magic Trackpad with a PC

Many people have contacted us asking if they can use a BulletTrain Express with a PC, and the answer is yes!!! I put together this guide to share all the ways in which you can achieve this goal. As we experiment and learn more (often times from our customers) we will continue to update this guide.

I imagine the first question is why anybody would want to use a BulletTrain Express with a PC? There are a zillion reasons why a PC user would benefit from using a BulletTrain Express, and you can learn all about them on the microsite for the BulletTrain Express.

Recently a potential customer of ours named Amy wrote it and asked:

"I am a PC user and would love to have something like the BulletTrain Express for PC. Do you have anything in production?

Thank you!

Amy

As I mentioned, there are several ways to make this work and here they are:

Option #1: Standard Bluetooth Pairing On A PC

According to C-NET if you pair an Apple Magic Trackpad with PC, by default only single-touch and click function work. No multi-touch work.

Option #2: Loading Apple Drivers On A PC

The following video walks you through how to download and use the Apple drivers to pair your Magic Trackpad to a PC. As mentioned in the video you get to use the left and right-mouse clicking, as well as being able to scroll with two fingers.

Update on June 11, 2011: The drivers mentioned in the YouTube video below are available on the Apple Download site and here are the links:

32 bit Apple Magic Trackpad Drivers for Windows 32bit (x86) Update 1.0

64 bit Apple Magic Trackpad Drivers for Windows 64bit (x64) Update 1.0

Option #3: Magic Trackpad Control Panel for PC

There is a dedicated piece of software named Magic Trackpad Control Panel for PC which is produced by AnimGraph. A screenshot that of the PC Control Panel is located below and it shows all the options that are available. Magic Trackpad Control Panel for PC offers a free 28 day trial version and if you like it and want to maintain the benefit of its functionality after the trail it cost $7.90. I am pretty certain, if I understand it correctly, you can get all the benefits of this piece of software for free, but following the instructions in the video above.

Option #4: Trackpad++ Software

There is a piece of software named "Trackpad++" Apple has a thread on their discussion forum that discusses this topic named: A NEW TRACKPAD DRIVER IS OUT

I included a photo of the PC Trackpad++ Control Panel below. You can learn about and download Trackpad++ by Clicking Here.

If you have experience using a PC with the Trackpad++ and want to share your insight, please leave a comment or send us an email to info@BulletTrain.com

In the future, as time permits we will figure out everything we can and do a video showcase to share how this experience works...

BulletTrain Express Inspires Customer To Invest another $4000 in Mac Setup

2011-02-21T03:16:00.000-08:00

A Customer's Comments On The BulletTrain Express

BulletTrain Express Inspires Customer To Invest another $4000 in Mac Setup

One of our customers's purchased a BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform and a few days after it was delivered, he wrote in and said they liked it so much he was buying a second one. I was naturally curious, so I called the customer on the phone and he said:

You will never believe where I am!?! I am at Costco right now, purchasing two new 55 LCD TVs!!! Before I had a 37inch LCD TV in my living room with a Mac Mini hooked up to it and all I could do was watch Hulu and Netflix, because the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad were so difficult to use. Then when I put them in the BulletTrain Express they got magically transformed and all of a sudden, I could do EVERYTHING I could do with my Macbook and Desktop Macs, except I could do it very comfortably from the couch.

So I am at Costco buying a 55 inch LCD TV to replace the 37 inch in my living room, and I am so impressed with the BulletTrain Express, I ordered a second one that I am buying another 55 inch LCD TV to use in my bedroom from bed.

The point that is so profound in my mind with our customer, is that our simple BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform is an accessory, that got him to purchase 2 55inch LCD TVs and another Mac Mini, and another Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. That is pretty profound when you think about it.

Then our same customer wrote this about the BulletTrain Express:

I actually have a (BulletTrain Express) keyboard/trackpad platform thingy and it is so effin sick for my mac mini set up from the living room couch. i ended up ordering a second one for my bedroom mini LCD set up too. Get one, use it, and try to live without it after a few hours of using it. So helpful, convenient. The keyboard trackpad is always exactly where they should be...never falling off the couch/bed. When my neck or back gets sore from sitting to much...voila...lay down on the couch and voila...ergo couch-o lcd-o...

The First Truly Convergent Device...

2011-02-18T02:10:00.000-08:00

The First Truly Convergent DeviceA Complete Game-Changer
What makes the BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform the first truly convergent device? 10-15 years ago, in the world of computers, convergence was a very hot topic, and the word convergence became a buzzword.
Back then, people in the tech world realized that one day in the future, TV and Computers would converge and become one. The great unanswered question on convergence back then, of course, was whether we would end up with TV on our computers screens, or computer on our TVs?
Computer screen pixels pixel resolution grew faster on computer screens than on TV screens and that question was clearly answered–we ended-up with TV and Video on our computers–and we have had it for some time now. Over the past few years, video or TV on computers has almost become the new lingua franca of the web. Many people today don't even watch traditional TV today–instead they watch all video on their computer screen.
This shift represents an evolutionary step in the way we interact with these new-age tech tools. Another example of one technology supplanting the other over the same timeframe of the last decade is the cell phone replacing the land-line phone. The future of this will come over the next decade, where all video will become available on-demand over the web.

The Missing Piece of The Convergence Puzzle
Prior to the advent of the BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform, the challenge was that there was a gaping, key piece of the convergence puzzle that was not only missing, but necessary.
Devices like TIVO and Apple TV attempt to overcome this challenge, but using a remote control which uses a 4-way toggle switch to type in show or movie names is extremely ineffective and represents a terrible economy of motion. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to type in a show or movie title and you mistype a letter or name and then you HAVE to navigate down to the delete (or clear, or space) sign and click it with the remote.
Remote controlled devices like the TIVO and Apple TV represent walled gardens that severely limit your access to content. Also, there is nothing more frustrating than when you are watching a TV show or a movie, and you see or hear something you want to look-up on the web or Wikipedia, and you can't access the web with these devices, and even if you could, doing so with a remote control would be like trying to lick the paint of the side of a barn with your tongue–you can do so, but it is painful, ineffective and it does not leave a good taste in your mouth :-P
There are many TV manufactures, including Samsung that are continually offering more web based Applications on their TVs, but once again, using a standard remote control is far, far from ideal.
Google TV offers a wireless keyboard that fits on your lap and has a trackpad. The great challenge with the Google TV keyboard is the trackpad is located in the upper right hand side of the keyboard, and it has a mini-trackpad, like most PC laptops do, that also represent a terrible economy of motion. In other words, using that tiny trackpad is like finger-painting because your index finger has to hunt so much. Google TV offers web surfing, but the experience is completely disjointed and dissimilar to your laptop or desktop experience.

The Missing Piece of the Convergence Puzzle Has Been Found!!!BulletTrain TV has Arrived!!!
The BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform, coupled with a Mac-Mini, and a large 1080P LCD TV delivers the missing and final piece of the Convergence puzzle!!! Even if you have an Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Mouse, paired with your living room or bedroom Mac-Mini and large flat-screen TV, it is a cumbersome experience. Trying to use a mouse or even a Apple Magic Trackpad on our couch is a complete pain, yet some people try by using their leg as a surface to run the mouse over.
You can even use your keyboard and mouse on the coffee table, but then every time you want to use them, you have to sit up from your comfortable reclined position, and lean forward like with a laptop, and it feels uncomfortable, unergonomic and strange–not to mention, it puts you back in that terrible leaning forward posture stance, much like a laptop or standard desktop.
The BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform is the first device that truly delivers the first seamless and friction-free convergence experience. With a BulletTrain Express, and a Flat Screen TV, and a Mac-Mini, or even a PC hooked up to the TV, you can not only enjoy all the video on the web like a TV, but you can also use your TV identically to your laptop or Desktop, using the EXACT same methods and interface you are used to!!!!
In other words, the BulletTrain Express gives people the first truly Universal computing experience whether it is on a couch, at a desktop, or with a laptop hooked up to an external monitor, or even when paired wirelessly to an iPad!!!

The Future Of The BulletTrain ExpressFriction-Free Computing has Arrived!!!
As the designer of the BulletTrain Express I can share two more profound points with you. The first point, is the keyboard is in many ways the most important part of a computer, because it is the way you control and drive your computer–just like a car. Unfortunately the keyboard and mouse/trackpad method of control has been severely overlooked for decades. In other words, the keyboard and mouse have evolved very little in the last 30 years.
If you compare the original 128k Mac from 1984 to a 27 inch iMac today, the screens are crazy, stupid different. One was a 6 inch, low resolution, black-and-white, low contrast screen and the modern 27 inch LCD with LED backlighting is a site to behold. It is an amazing universal window into the past, present and future.
Compare the RAM and processing power between the original Mac and current 27 inch iMac and you see the same enormous delta. Look at how they work. With the original Mac, you had to install a floppy disc to load the OS, and Applications, or to save data...you get the idea. Now compare the Keyboard and Mouse on the original 1984 Mac to to the one on the 27 inch iMac. They are not that much different. The iMac is wireless, and skinnier, but not that much different.
At BulletTrain we intend to continue to evolve and innovate in the keyboard space in ways that today are almost un-imaginable. Over the course of the next 6 months to a year we will continue to roll-out super-innovative, excitinh solutions that continue to evolve the keyboard and methods of navigation in this space. Stay tuned, and Stay On The Fast Track with the BulletTrain Express!!!!!!!

Quintessential Mac Mini Media Center Component...

2011-02-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

...Kicking Back In Comfort...

Clint's BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform

Quintessential Mac Mini Media Master-Piece

Clint sent in these photos and video of him kicking it in his recliner with his feet up on the fold-out ottoman, with a message saying:

Jake

The BulletTrain Express has already become the quintessential component of my Mac Mini Media Center. Thanks!

Clint

How to Install your MagicStand for iPad

2011-02-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

How to Install your MagicStand for iPad

Installing your MagicStand for iPad is easy as pie. We just put together this video that shows you how easy it is to attach the BulletTrain MagicStand to your iPad. This video also covers how easy it is to remove your BulletTrain Express.

It is important when removing the 3M Command Strips to pull them straight away, and not at an angle. If you don't remove them straight, they could break in place in which case you just grab it and pull it again. In the highly unlikely event you were to break a strip and are not able to access it, don't worry, you just slip some dental floss in between the MagicStand and iPad and it will come off.

The reality is that once you install your MagicStand to your iPad, you will probably never want to remove it, but if you do it's really easy, and the 3M command strips leave ZERO residue. In other words, if you had a MagicStand on your iPad for 6 months, and you removed it, there would be nothing changed on the iPad that would ever indicate there was a MagicStand attached to it.

The Plaza Hotel: New York City All Guest Rooms Include iPads

2011-02-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

The Plaza Hotel: New York City

All Guest Rooms Include iPads

The Plaza is renowned for being one of the top New York hotels, and they recently announced they are offering iPads in each and every suite and guest room. The iPads allow guest access services and room controls, and beyond–you can even order room service, request wake-up calls. Luxist.com has a great overview article that goes into detail on all the great features. Methinks The Plaza needs BulletTrain MagicStands for each iPad to complete them...

Jailbroken iPad Works with Magic Trackpad or Mouse

2011-02-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

Jailbroken iPad Works with Magic Trackpad or Mouse
I have never jailbroken an Apple device, and I am not advocating that you should, but I saw this article and video of a jailbroken iPad that is being controlled by an Apple Magic Mouse, and I really hope Apple has the wisdom to turn on the ability to be able to use bluetooth pointing devices with the iPad.
There are obviously many advantages to this including not smudging up the screen with finger oils and being able to use the iPad with the BulletTrain Express, which would be really tight!!!
Apple, please ad this functionality to the iPad. You can't imagine who many people ask me if this is possible, and they really want this feature!!!
Update: A reader wrote in and said "Some of us iPad users jailbreak theirs and use a program called btstacks mouse for mouse support."