At Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, Steve Jobs introduced a brand-new iPhone: the iPhone 3G.

Features include:

• 3G speed ( 3x faster internet connection)

• Built-in GPS (with live tracking, no turn by turn)

• Thinner design

• Cheaper ($199 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB)

• Microsoft Exchange support (push e-mail, contacts, etc. with ActiveSync)

• Available July 11

Jobs also introduced MobileMe, a service that syncs any change you make on one device with all your other devices. For example, if you change a contact or a calendar date on your iPhone, that change will be immediately reflected on your two other laptops.

Finally, Jobs said that they will be showing some new features of 10.6 Snow Leopard, a new version of Apple’s operating system that is in the works. Developers will get a peak later today at WWDC.

Personally, I think the new iPhone looks pretty slick. However, I was hoping there would be some more significant features than just 3G and GPS. If you are as nerdy as me, you know that the internet predicted those features in the next iPhone long ago. Will the new iPhone cause me to purchase a new one right away? Probably not. Will it help Apple sell more iPhones? With the cheaper price, definitely.

[image via Apple]

Ryan,
I have received a complaint from the RIAA alleging that you engaged in illegal transmission of copyrighted files. You need to come in and meet with me regarding this complaint. Please call the number contained in my auto-signature below and ask my assistant to put you on my schedule.

Sincerely,

Katy Shannon
Graduate Assistant for Judicial Affairs

From the start, it was obvious that Northwestern was taking complaints from the RIAA very seriously. I met with Shannon in her Scott Hall office the next day. She handed me a two-page paper, which was a copy of the complaint e-mail Northwestern received from the RIAA. In what appeared to be a pre-digested response, Jeremy Landis of the RIAA’s Online Copyright Protection Department wrote that they intercepted a transmission of copyrighted work from my IP address: a unique, numerical identifier for a computer on a network.

The work in question was Amy Winehouse’s Rehab. Below that, the paper showed a list of 30 or so other IP addresses that allegedly uploaded the file via BitTorrent.

Shannon informed me that my case wasn’t unique. During April alone, the university received 85 complaints against students from the RIAA. The number has grown from the previous year, she said, where the university throughout the entire year received only 160 complaints in total.

Last year, only 16 students out of the 160 were contacted at the end of the year by the RIAA. According to Shannon, they received notices that they could either settle out of court for amounts that ranged between $3,000 to $4,000, or hire a lawyer to prepare for a court date. Fifteen of those students settled out of court. Only one student, Shannon said, hired a lawyer, but later backed down and decided to settle. This time, however, the settlement was for “somewhere in the $5,000 to $6,000 range.”

Shannon worries that Northwestern is being “unfairly targeted” in relation to other schools in the Big Ten. “We’ve called other schools. They aren’t getting as many complaints as us. Someone needs to push back.”

Wendy Woodward, director of Northwestern’s Technology Support Services, also expressed concern about the increase in the number of RIAA complaints Northwestern has received. “This year, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of reported copyright violations and are working with appropriate University officials to take action to curb any illegal activity that might be occurring,” she said in an e-mail.

One way to curb illegal activity, the university believes, is by implementing Be Aware You’re Uploading (BAYU), a program already in use at the University of Michigan since late 2007. According to Michigan’s Web site, “BAYU is an automated system that… notifies the person [via e-mail] whose computer was used to upload. The system does not look at the content being uploaded, nor does it look at the content on the computer’s hard drive.”

I was told by Shannon that Northwestern was spending a “great deal of money” to have the program implemented by the fall of 2008. But after speaking with Woodward, I was told that Northwestern is still only “investigating the launch of a similar program at NU.”

Currently, Northwestern leverages data sent to and from the university’s network by favoring information that supports the academic mission of the university. “This can be achieved through shaping and throttling resources,” Woodward says, “so that research and instruction efforts are not compromised.” Both Shannon and the University of Michigan’s BAYU Web site claim that BAYU does not stop uploading–it simply notifies the user if it is taking place.

Regarding my compliant from the RIAA, I recieved a written warning by the Office of Judicial Affairs that instructed me to write a short paragraph on two videos about copyright infringement. Additionally, I was instructed to remove all illegal content and P2P programs from my computer. To this date, I haven’t been contacted by the RIAA with a further penalty. Let’s hope it stays that way.

By sucking on the juice of just one of these berries, your taste buds will be transformed for about an hour. The result is that normally mild or sour-tasting foods will taste sweet. Eating a lemon tastes like eating a piece of candy. Drinking a Guinness tastes like sucking down a chocolate shake.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the fruit works its magic “by binding to taste buds and altering the tongue’s so-called sweet receptors to activate when sour foods are eaten.”

A recent New York Times article suggests “flavor tripping parties” are beginning to catch on. Guests are given a piece of this “miracle fruit” and then invited to taste everything from grapefruit to radishes. What happens if you drip some hot sauce in your mouth? Well, it apparently tastes like doughnut glaze according to one party-goer.

The downside? The berries cost about $2 each. Not that expensive if you want just one, but pretty pricey for the college student in large quantities. While the berry is not FDA-approved, it’s still legal to grow and sell in the States because it’s a fresh fruit. It doesn’t appear to have any side effects, either. I really want to try one now. But at the same time, it would make taking shots a lot easier. Probably not a good thing on this campus.

Check out the NYTimes video here.

Oh, and this is my last post of the year. See you in the fall!

[Photo via Flickr]

How did you get into throwing wine and cheese parties?

I got into wine and cheese parties because I got tired of the usual fundraiser party. Living in my dorm, that’s really all I knew about that year. So I decided to establish my superiority by throwing wine and cheese parties in my room. Soon, other people were walking by and looking enviously at the wine and cheese. Of course, I would deny them the right to participate. It was a status symbol, really.

How often would you throw these parties?

Every Wednesday around 9 or 10 p.m. But once the wine and cheese became free, it was probably a bit more often.

Why did the wine and cheese become free?

The wine and cheese was complimentary because I stole it from the fine establishment known as Whole Foods. The habit started one day when I wanted a Pink Lady Apple and the line was out the door. I just decided to walk right out the door with it — it was like an Oliver Twist apple — and after that I decided I would just steal everything I saw, ever.

Did you eventually get caught?

Yes. It was my friend’s birthday and I wanted to throw a fantastic wine and cheese party. But I got a little greedy — I was a little hubris that day — and didn’t adhere to my strategy that carefully. So on my way out, a security guard stopped me and escorted me into the back room, where chaos ensued.

How did Whole Foods handle the situation?

It was really bizarre. It kind of had the feel of a dark comedy. I didn’t really take the whole thing seriously, and they thought the situation was silly. They only called the police because I had stolen over $100 worth of items. I think it was something like $101.

The manager was shocked, though. He wondered why someone who went to such a nice, expensive university would need to steal food. He asked if I couldn’t afford it and I told him that wasn’t the case — I just enjoyed doing it. So he began to empty my bag and admired the cheese and wine I had stolen. He liked the way I had paired them, the way the cheese complemented the wine. He turned to me and said, “Good taste, poor choices.” If my life were a movie, that’d be the tag line.

How would you recommend other students throw wine and cheese parties?

Purchase it. Don’t steal it. Do research online. I first found cheese that I really liked or wine that I really liked. Then I would go online and figure out what went well with that particular wine or cheese. These days, a lot of wine bottles actually recommend a cheese or a dish that will complement the taste of the wine. I know Whole Foods, World Market and Wine Styles will all give you recommendations if you ask.

Should you always keep wine and cheese parties elitist?

Not necessarily. It would be a great way to unwind with friends on Dillo Day. There are places where you can find really cheap wine. The Big Red Monster is a good one. Black Box actually makes a surprisingly good boxed wine. It’s about $20 and holds around four bottles. EV1 sells both of those.

Would you steal again?

No. I’m not going to risk getting arrested again. I’m actually banned from Whole Foods, but I still go in there sometimes with a hat on, to purchase a few things. I definitely don’t go in there with a bag, though. I don’t want them to single me out from the get-go.

[Clarification: The original article did not disclose that the anonymous source is friends with the writer. North by Northwestern regrets the error.]

GrandCentral was founded back in 2005 and it was acquired by Google soon after. It’s by no means a new service. According to its Web site, its mission is not to “replace your phone… [but] just link them together and help them do more.” And they do that by giving you a brand new number from any area code in the United States… for free.

But what else can GrandCentral let you do?

• Record and store phone calls right onto the Internet

• Have one number ring multiple phones simultaneously

• Personalize voicemail greetings by caller

• Listen in on a voicemail in progress before you take the call

• Switch phones (cell to landline, etc.) in the middle of call without interruption

• Add a WebCall button to a website for people to call you instantly

But the first reason is why I think it’s great for Medill kids. If you’re on the phone conducting an interview, you simply hit “4″ on your phone and voila, the call starts being recorded. Both parties will then hear a message from GrandCentral notifying them that call recording has begun. When you’re done, you simply log-on to your GrandCentral account and you can download the conversation as a MP3 file and edit away. Here’s a sample of the sound quality:

Best of all, GrandCentral is a free service at the moment. The downside is that they’re still in beta testing. This means that in order to get an account you must either know someone who uses the service or sign-up for the waiting list on GrandCentral’s site. But with technology this easy to use, I think Medill should invest some cash in the company and get every Medill kid an account. It’s so Medill 20/20, right?

Pooping is actually quite a complex process. On Earth, gravity is what makes it all possible. But in space, you really don’t have that luxury.

On early spaceflights, astronauts would use, according to MSNBC, “bags with sticky openings” that would catch an astronaut’s floating fecal matter. Today, astronauts use a complex contraption that uses a series of fans to make up for the lack of gravity.

However, MSNBC is reporting that the astronauts aboard the International Space Station are having a problem with the fans in the toliet. Apparently, they’ve just stopped working. And while NASA tried to give the astronauts some fixes, they don’t appear to be working either. There is a temporary toliet in their transport ship, but — as it was only intented for quick trips — it has a limited capacity. It looks like they’re going to have to start crossing their legs or start using those old-fashioned bags.

[via MSNBC, photo via Flickr]

According to Electro Plankton, Apple designer Jonathan Ive, the man behind the iconic designs of the iPod, the iPhone and the iMac, designed the charcter of Eve in the upcoming Disney/Pixar joint, Wall-E. And if you take a good look at Eve, you can definitely tell her all-white design is Apple-esque.

Recently, I just finished reading David A. Price’s The Pixar Touch, a book that takes a really interesting look at how Pixar was created. Did you know it started out as a computer hardware company? But if the book taught me anything, it was that if I want to be a Hollywood CEO, I need to start being a complete asshole. Check it out if you have the time.

[via Electro Plankton]

If you use Netflix, rejoice. The DVDs-in-your-mailbox rental service just got a little more convenient. For $99, you can purchase Roku’s Netflix Player on which you can view all the “Watch Now” movies and TV shows on your tube. Previously, Netflix’s “Watch Now” option was only available for PC user. Unless you hooked up your computer to your television, it was pretty hard to view one of these films on your home theatre set-up. The best part? There’s no monthly fee. If you have an Netflix unlimited plan (the plans that start at $8.99/month and up), you’re all set. Just plug Roku in.

I think this is a big jump for Netflix. I’ve always wanted to use the “Watch Now” feature on my Netflix account, but was unable to because I use a Mac. And no, I wasn’t planning on loading Windows on it just to use it. But now for just $99, I watch these films right on my TV without having to wait for a Netflix mailer.

Some critics, such as those over at Seeking Alpha, criticize Roku’s Player for its limited titles and the fact that you’ll just have to add another box to your living room. Granted, Netflix doesn’t have all the latest titles as “Watch Nows.” But I’m perfectly happy watching older films and catching up on the first few seasons of Heroes on my Roku.

Overall, most critics are giving it praise. Wired even called it “just shy of totally amazing.”

And hell, Netflix even has plans to upgrade everyone’s Roku through a software download so it can support HD content with 5.1 stereo surround. What’s not to like? I’m sure more titles will be added to the “Watch Now” feature in the near future.

Bye, bye Apple TV and Vudu. Netflix seems to have got it right yet again. Now I just need to wait for my Roku to come in the mail.

Now, you might be thinking, “Ryan, I’ve seen those chrome-domed 50-year-olds at The Keg, and I don’t like them, either.” No, no, that’s not my issue. In fact, I think every bar should have some of those guys. Want a free drink? Just start stroking the braided beard of the guy in the tattered leather jacket.

Really, my main complaint with The Keg is a group of girls that I call “The Watchers.” If you aren’t already too laced-up on those $6 beer pitchers, you might notice these girls standing atop the back tables like drunken giraffes, delicately sipping on their Long Islands while simultaneously trying to pull down their skimpy dresses every time a guy with a braided beard walks by. Yes, like the creepy cat-killing man in This American Life, The Watchers are only interested in one thing: being seen.

There are a few things — the aforementioned giraffes, for one, and perhaps even a few health code violations — that you must ignore altogether if you want to have a good time at The Keg. Sure, the bar can be fun, but why go every week when there is an entire safari of wildlife to be found in the bars of Chicago? If you want to expand your bar-animal horizons, here are three other classy venues (and of course, their respective exotic wildlife).

Prost!
2566 N. Lincoln Ave

Don’t let Prost!’s spartan interior scare you away. Grab a seat on one of the wooden benches and order yourself “Das Boot.” That’s right, a full 2-liter glass of authentic German beer. And if your stomach can handle it, be sure to order some of their delicious German food. The soft pretzel is a must.
Animal of choice: The dangerous DePaul grad student.

The Violet Hour
1520 N. Damen Ave.

From the outside, The Violet Hour looks like a rundown warehouse without a sign in sight. But inside, the darkened, fairy tale-like interior lives up to its hip Wicker Park location. You don’t go to The Hour for the decor — it’s the drinks that are out of sight. Bartenders — who go by mixologists here — conjure up some of the most unique and best-tasting drinks in the city.
Animal of choice: The elusive, thirty-something socialite.

The Pump Room
1301 N. State Pkwy.

Famed for being Frank Sinatra’s old hangout, The Pump Room retains that classic 1950s feel. While a meal here can be a bit pricey for those on a college budget, it’s a great after-dinner bar for you and your date. The drinks are fantastic, but the Sinatra-reminiscent band is even better. Even though they’ve recently relaxed their jacket policy, it’s still a fun bar to get dressed up for. Perhaps a great post-formal location?
Animal of choice: The prowling, after-hours executive.

Of course, The Keg is only a few blocks away, and, for most people, I realize that the giraffes are only a minor drawback to its beautifully beer-and-disease-glossed floors and odorous, graffiti-infested bathrooms. I’m certainly not going to drive the giraffes to extinction — so if you do end up at The Keg, just ignore them along with the rest of the atrocities.

But the coup de grace really comes in the form of a dance remix. In my mind, this is the video to end all O’Reilly videos.