Monday, May 30, 2011

bunnies and kittens

bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • Chundles
    Sep 12, 07:52 AM
    Aussie iTMS just showing the "The Store is Busy" dialogue. No splash page, just a little box.





    bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • Mattie Num Nums
    Apr 8, 02:49 PM
    I'm a current employee at Best Buy and thought I'd offer my two cents on a few issues.

    First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.

    That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.

    In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.

    I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:

    1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.

    Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.

    Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.

    Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...

    2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.

    So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.

    All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.

    Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.

    As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.

    Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.

    But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.

    At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.

    Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.

    I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.

    As a former BBY employee I can tell you a few things that are flawed.

    #1 no former or current Best Buy employee would call themselves BBemployee, BBYEmployee would seem more likely. I know its stupid but it is the culture of Best Buy to shorten it to BBY.

    #2 You would have no clue if Best Buy was in trouble. As a simple Blue Shirt or even a Black Shirt you would not have this information passed down to you.

    #3 Your rant show that you either hate Best Buy for personal reasons or possibly a former employee who has a huge vendetta against the company.

    #4 Your rant does nothing to support this discussion.





    bunnies and kittens. call baby rabbits unnies,
  • call baby rabbits unnies,



  • FriarNurgle
    Apr 8, 01:59 PM
    I realize this is a rumor site, but posting conflicting rumors in the same day is getting obnoxious. Is there ANY fact checking at all?

    We are part of the news (rumor) process. It's kinda fun seeing stuff like this develop.





    bunnies and kittens. Bunnies And Kittens.
  • Bunnies And Kittens.



  • WildCowboy
    Apr 29, 04:04 PM
    Thanks for the feedback on the preferences for the scrollbars, folks...I removed it from the article.



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    bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • darkpaw
    Jan 15, 03:30 PM
    Not overly excited about the keynote.

    I got a 17" MBP 2.6GHz back in December, and it's fine for Logic Pro 8 and Lightwave 3D on the move.

    I don't see how I would justify a $1799 thin laptop that's missing some necessary ports (FireWire 400/800, Ethernet (yes, I know there's a $29 adapter doodad)). Besides, how much will it cost in the UK? (The internet is being too slow to check...)

    As Steve Jobs said when he announced the iPhone in the UK, "It costs more to do business over here". Yes, which is why the $20 iPod touch apps update is �12.99 over here, instead of �10.20 which is what the exchange rate demands. Even with some made up tax, it's another example of "rip-off Britain".





    bunnies and kittens. unnies, bouncy kittens,
  • unnies, bouncy kittens,



  • davepoint
    Aug 8, 12:06 PM
    So am I right in thinking that the 23" now has a new 'panel' - so there shouldn't be pink cast etc issues with these new ones?
    Also seeing as they're cutting the prices is it worth waiting for true next gen monitors or what...



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    bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • firsttube
    Sep 12, 08:39 AM
    I just came here to post this info. I'll include the image in my post. Too bad it doesn't list a price. Looks like the rumors of it ONLY including Disney movies are wrong.

    http://static.flickr.com/95/241496992_e86c8584c0_d.jpg


    please read the thread....





    bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • leekohler
    Apr 27, 02:19 PM
    :o

    Back to the issue at hand, McDonalds....

    I literally almost threw up towards the end of the video. Do you think the perpetrators were aware of the victim's transgender status? I could barely make out what they were saying in the video as I had to listen to it quietly...

    Also- Let's realistically think about what the employees can/should have done... My initial instinct/gut reaction is for the manager to lock the doors to prevent the girls from running. Then you need to realize that McDonalds surely has policies in place for times like this, and the risk of an employee getting injured attempting to apprehend a criminal is a lawsuit waiting to happen....

    Another gut reaction is that if the manager had a shotgun under the counter, this situation never would have devolved into the poor victim convulsing on the floor.

    My last gut reaction is that Baltimore finally made it to my list of places to never return to.

    I think if I were her, I would consider moving to a different city as well. I can only imagine that these girls have relatives who will most likely harass her. It's sad to say, but it happens a lot.



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    bunnies and kittens. unnies (called kittens).
  • unnies (called kittens).



  • lmalave
    Oct 3, 02:31 PM
    This is a little disappointing that Steve is confirming to keynote MWSF 2007 when it's just October, which means he probably wants us to wait (I hope not). :(

    Besides, hasn't Steve keynoted MWSF every year?

    Apple has already gone on record as saying that they are moving away from tying product releases to MWSF. I think updates to products before MWSF could happen only if Apple thinks that it'll help them sell more product overall. For example, Apple is *not* going to release the iPhone before because they want consumers to buy the new iPod nanos for this Christmas *and* buy a new iPhone next year. That way they dip into your wallet twice within a year.

    I think that for Macs, though, they could upgrade to Core 2 Duo for all macs (except maybe the MacBook and Mac mini initially). As part of that upgrade, I predict they will also update to 802.11n across the whole line, in preparation for the iTV launch. If they wanted to be really jerky, they could launch Core 2 Duo sometime soon (November the latest), and then early next year upgrade to 802.11n (providing a dongle for older laptops). I think iTV is too important, though, to play games like that, so I think that Apple will integrate 802.11n into its Macs as quickly as is practical...





    bunnies and kittens. Bunnies wallpaper, kittens
  • Bunnies wallpaper, kittens



  • fswmacguy
    May 4, 04:10 PM
    To a user in a bright environment, it's a glare.

    Just turn the screen brightness up. Don't be such a baby.


    Even with the brightness on maximum, the iPad, which is a tablet, gets better battery life than most smartphones.



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    bunnies and kittens. unnies and kittens.
  • unnies and kittens.



  • FleurDuMal
    Jan 12, 05:10 AM
    Steve Jobs s***s on a stage and you all gather around to share the love.


    Steve Jobs released the iCrap? Cool. I gotta get me some of that.





    bunnies and kittens. 23:38 44K Bunny You
  • 23:38 44K Bunny You



  • robogobo
    May 3, 05:45 AM
    That's the result of modifying the firmware of your phone. If you don't like it, don't do it. Nobody is forcing you to.

    I really don't see the point. If you wanted to install your own "homebrew" apps without using the App Store, you can already do so by using "ad-hoc deployment" or joining the Enterprise Developer Program. Either option makes rolling out your own apps simple.

    How's the view from under that rock?

    Is that really worth breaking compatibility with updates? I don't think so.

    If someone does think so, then they can do it... but then it is a bit rich to complain in forums about the need to re-jailbreak every time Apple releases an update.

    Must be nice.



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    bunnies and kittens. Category(s): Bunnies
  • Category(s): Bunnies



  • drsmithy
    Oct 5, 02:25 AM
    Squarely wrong. Even "The Inquirer" has talked about the vastly superior multitasking AND SMP features of OS X Leopard, as compared to what Vista seems to offer. Damn, even today any version of Windows crawls far behind OS X in that (XP Home didn't even have SMP support in the first place).

    The Inquirer is wrong (and it certainly wouldn't be the first time). Not only is Windows's SMP capability ahead of OS X's right now, it's improved even more in Vista. All those improvements in 10.4 regarding SMP ? NT was getting them 7 - 8 years ago.

    Oh, and XP Home most certainly *does* support SMP (and seeing as it uses the same kernel as other versions of Windows, it makes better use of multiple CPUs than OS X does).

    Windows NT was designed from day one for multiprocessor machines and has been running on them since 1993. It's at least as good as its contemporaries.





    bunnies and kittens. PUPPIES KITTENS AND BUNNIES
  • PUPPIES KITTENS AND BUNNIES



  • Object-X
    Sep 25, 11:20 AM
    Why are people rating this news as negative? It seems like a decent update to a good program, and it's free for existing Aperture users. What were you expecting?

    Because they didn't announce MacBook Pro's with Core 2 Duo! Why else?



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    bunnies and kittens. Napping Bunnies amp; Kittens 2
  • Napping Bunnies amp; Kittens 2



  • DevinPitcher
    Apr 15, 01:10 PM
    Is it just me, or is the writing on the 3rd photo a bit skewed, or rotated in an odd way?

    Agreed.





    bunnies and kittens. unnies kitten kittens
  • unnies kitten kittens



  • T-Will
    Apr 5, 04:53 PM
    Awesome. Do they have an app?

    Why yes they do. And it's FREE!!!

    http://www.hsn.com/hsn-everywhere-iphone-app_at-3570_xa.aspx



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    bunnies and kittens. Kittens, puppies, and unnies
  • Kittens, puppies, and unnies



  • pdjudd
    May 2, 11:54 AM
    "Bugs". That's so funny. Like it wasn't something indented by Big Brother, make that Apple. We truly do have a new evil empire now.
    I presume you have hard proof of this unfounded claim I hope.





    bunnies and kittens. Cute Kitten and Bunny
  • Cute Kitten and Bunny



  • bakerzdosen
    Nov 23, 04:30 PM
    I haven't seen a lower price on the iSight I bought last year on BF $135 shipped incl tax. (With one possible exception, and that was a clearance/misprint at microcenter that they still honored in a couple cases.) I only paid slightly less for a used one on eBay a month before - and it's an earlier revision. Sometimes it's not that bad of a deal.





    bunnies and kittens. unny and kitten, isolated on
  • unny and kitten, isolated on



  • Cloudane
    Jan 27, 07:00 PM
    Good idea...

    In terms of new stuff I think just the thin portable, as that's the only thing there's been any leaks/evidence for (the leaks usually have everything covered!)

    The thin portable was a duh. Wasn't much else introduced, just the NAS thing. 8/10 then...

    Other than that, refreshes - in order of likelihood: MBP refresh with the new keyboard (even tho I think it'd look a bit odd if it's white), 16GB iPhone (not 3G yet), Glossy ACD option, Cheap ACD option (watch for the gradients and poor quality!), MacBook refresh, maybe some tweak to the ATV, maybe a non Glossy iMac option (just to wind up those who bought an iMac and dislike it!).

    The one I said was the most likely didn't happen. No iPhone update, no ACDs, no MacBook refresh, correct on the ATV tweak, no non-glossy iMac.
    let's give that 2/10..

    Things I don't expect them to update: the iMac (already done recently), the Mac Mini (ditto and they don't like updating it), or any of the iPods (also too soon) or the Mac Pro or XServe (that would be silly, and the place would get firebombed)

    10/10 there :p





    kdarling
    Oct 9, 11:53 AM
    Users get less dropped calls (if any) on Verizon than AT&T, partly because Verizon uses CDMA. Put simply:

    When a CDMA cell phone switches between towers, it does what is called a "soft handoff". It stays connected to the last tower even as it switches to using the next one.

    When a GSM cell phone switches between towers, it does what is called a "hard handoff". It drops the connection to the last tower, and then switches to the next one. If the next connection fails, the call fails.





    DakotaGuy
    Jan 15, 05:59 PM
    The Apple TV received a nice update and I am excited to see how movie rental will work out for them. It is also nice to see they are offering HD movies. I am not going to debate 720p versus 1080p because enough people are debating that, but considering bandwidth limitations it is nice to see HD being offered and 720p looks pretty darn good.

    I suppose the Time Capsule will be good for some people. It is not something I need, but it is a good idea for those who need it. I think the Airport Express is long overdue for an update, but I guess it still does what it is suppose to do.

    The rest was not very exciting. I am going to disagree with a few people on these message boards, but I don't think the MacBook Air is going to be a good seller. I think once people get past the, "wow it's thin" factor they will continue to purchase MacBooks which are a much better value.





    iJohnHenry
    Apr 25, 05:08 PM
    Called the cops and at most say something to the ladies but not get involved physicaly.

    And lock the bitches in (judgemental), 'till the cops get there.

    Let them sort it out.





    leekohler
    Apr 16, 05:13 PM
    Lucky girl.

    Yeah, on Friday nights her boyfriend spends all his time on the internet obsessing over gay people. That has to do a lot for her self esteem. ;)





    thejadedmonkey
    Mar 28, 02:14 PM
    Seriously Apple, how soon until the app store is the only way to install apps on your mac?



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