This day makes me upset that we didn’t get to Macworld. Instead of providing actual live coverage, I will try to provide a “live synergy” of other live blogs as their feeds roll in. Here goes…

10:31 CST: There are tons of people gathered inside the Moscone center waiting for the doors to the keynote to open. Posters reading “2008 There’s something in the air” loom in the background.

10:53: The press are being lead into the room. Right now, I’m tracking Gizmodo and Engadget’s live feeds. Jason Chen of Gizmodo noted that he sees the guys from Macrumors there. This makes me wonder, how did they get a press pass? Didn’t Apple just shut down a rumor site (ThinkSecret) a month ago? Why do I have to haggle for press passes when they appear to be getting in without a problem. Oh that’s right, I’m a “student” publication. But enough with the bitterness, on to the event…

11:00: A good number of the press have been seated. New Order is playing in the background…

11:10: The Macworld site is also offering live coverage. However, their site seems to be clogged. Macrumors is not loading for me either.

[image via Gizmodo]

11:15: Lights have gone down. They are playing a “Happy New Year” get a Mac ad. Good Ol’ Justin Long is at it again.

11:20: Jobs has taken the stage. He claims he has 4 things to talk about today. He is beginning with Leopard. He goes over all the boring facts and figures. What is this going to be, a Leopard update? Yay….This better get much more exciting.

New Product Announced: Time Capsule. This is a Airport Base station (router) with an internal hard drive that works with Leopard’s Time Machine app to backup data. 500GB, $299 1TB, $499. I assume this can also be used to share files. Pretty good price point.

New Software Announced: iPhone Apps. The developer’s kit is still coming out in February, but Steve wants to give us something today. Webclips, Maps with “GPS-like” location, customizable home screen, the ability to SMS (text) multiple people, and lyrics. This is basically exactly the same stuff seen in a rumor video (post later). This appears it’s going to be paired in an iPhone update. No extra charge?

Steve demos the ability to add web bookmarks to the home screen (Webclips).

[image via Gizmodo]

New Software Announced: iPod Touch Apps: Stocks, E-mail, Weather, Maps, Notes. Pretty boring if you ask me. Oh, and it will cost Touch users $20!!!? What the hell? The new iPhone features are free! That was a bad call. People will still use Jailbreak….

New Service Announced: iTunes Movie Rentals. Studios you can rent from: Touchstone, Miramax, MGM, Lionsgate, Newline, Fox, WB, Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Sony. Pretty much all the major studios. That’s a good surprise. I could really see myself using this service. I have Netflix, but I still can’t watch online movies because I’m on a Mac. Netflix, get on this. Movies start in 30 seconds. Users have 30 days to start watching and 24 hours to finish them.

Old Titles: $2.99
New Titles: $3.99

Product Update: Apple TV 2.0. The new Apple TV does not require a computer. You can download rentals right to your computer. SD or HD (awesome). 5.1 Dolby surround. You can also access .Mac and Flickr photos. Wow, I never thought I’d say it, but this makes me want to get an Apple TV. It finally sounds cool. Will its price go down??

HD Rentals: $4.99 (100 titles available)

Apple TV Take 2 appears to have a new interface and features similar to Netflix (see what other’s enjoyed, etc.)

[image via Gizmodo]

11:55: Ahh, I have to go to class. I’ll update from there. Give me a minute.

12:04: I’m here. In the back of the class no less. Apple TV now costs $229. Not enough of a price drop for me just yet. $299 before. The CEO of FOX, the first guy to sign on with the rental program, is now taking the stage. Boring…

12:09: On to the 4th thing…could this be the new laptop?

It is!

New Product Announced: The Macbook Air. It weighs 3lbs (2lbs less than the current Macbook).

Jobs holds the laptop. Damn, it’s thin.

[image via Gizmodo]

The Macbook Air boasts a multi-touch trackpad. Pinch, zoom…stuff just like you have on the iPhone. 80GB or 64GB SSD (flash) drive. 1.6Ghz or 1.8Ghz intel core 2 duo processor.

12:20: Steve announces that Apple asked Intel to create a smaller Intel Core 2 Duo for the sub-notebook. Apparently, they did it. This just goes to show you the power Apple has over manufacturers. Kinda scary. But hey, they are worth twice as much as Dell. Intel’s CEO takes the stage…boring…

12:25: The MacBook Air does not charge by induction. It has a 45W Magsafe charger. How disappointing. 1 USB 2.0 port. Bluetooth. No optical drive. 2GB memory. 5 hours for battery life.

Optional external optical (CD/DVD Superdrive): $99

12:29: So, what’s the price point? $1,799!!! Woah. That’s a bundle. I thought the rumored $1,499 was a little much, but this….

12:35: Randy Newman, Academy Award winner and songwriter of “short people ain’t got no reason to live” takes the stage. What an apt artist choice for what’s been going on at NU this week.

[image via Macrumors]

12:41: Newman is comparing Bush to Hitler and Stalin. He wishes he could outlive the Supreme Court. Has he gone crazy like fighting midgets with staplers? Too soon?

12:44: The keynote is over. Apple’s website has been updated with the new products. Recap later. Tata.