The HBM-770 is just like every other Bluetooth headset, as I’ve said before. It has a power button, a charging port, volume controls, and you can plug it in the charge. It sits on your ear using a large loop (See image left). which starts behind the microphone and causes it to gently rest on your ear. Its the in-ear piece which defines how it sits on the side of your head, which really seems to work for me.

The speaker horn (that’s what I’m calling it… deal) sticks out a ways and rests very lightly in your ear canal. Its so light overall that there are times when I forget I’m wearing it and put my hand to my head to check. To switch the side of your head you want to headset on, you just flip the ear hoop. You don’t have to pull it out or swap it with another one. Its also nice that this one doesn’t need to invade your ear canal in order to work. I don’t think it has significant noise cancellation, but a good, loud handset makes up for that. 

I’m actually rather amazed its so light. They actually crammed the standard LG handset charger port onto this thing, which is real overkill to me, and had they not, it could have been a few grams lighter. It might have even floated. That’s fantastic since I have managed to alienate every headset I’ve ever received. It hurts the back of my ear. It hurts the front of my ear. It has too many pieces. It goes in too far. It doesn’t go in far enough. Mostly, though, they’ve never been loud enough. 

This is loud and clear, which means I can actually hear conversations instead of guessing what someone is saying to me. Even the operational tones the headset makes are useful. I can easily identify each noise that its making without the need to consult a manual or query the phone. Its simple, clean, and without drama of any kind. I like it. Hell, it even turns on and off smartly. When its off, touch the power button for a second and it comes on. When its on, hold it for 3 seconds and it turns off. There are no incantations, certifications, or teams of professionals required to operate it. 

I can’t help it, but if you need a simple, plain Bluetooth headset, there is no other choice but the LG HBM-770. It beats the pants off of anything else out there for me. Even the Jawbone. Sure, the Jawbone looks fantastic and has that wicked noise cancellation technology which can delete lawnmowers from a conversation, but it doesn’t work for me. So, for US$80 list, I cannot and will not beat this thing with a stick of any kind. I’ve found my headset soul mate. Feel free to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Purchase this and related items at Amazon now:

Just so you know right off the bat, we’re not talking US$69 special at Walmart here. This is a US$229 MSRP piece of crafted espresso machine. Well, mostly crafted. The key to the perfect cup of cappuccino is the concerted effort of a selection of tools and the skill and/or practice of the barista. Each and every part of a well oiled machine must work in harmony for the result to be palatable. So, before I can review the espresso machine, I must first talk of the coffee beans and the grinder. In my opinion, there are only two coffee beans in the entire world. One is Jose’s, a low-cost brand you can buy at CostCo, the likes of which cannot be found elsewhere, with exception to one, 8 O’clock. 8 O’clock’s peerless bean selection, blending, and roasting produces the perfectly rounded selection of coffees from a single bean. (I should note that Green Mountain Coffee is likely the single best coffee bean on the planet, but only within spitting distance of Vermont. I’m convinced that they have roasteries around the country, and not all are equal. We used to shop at the original store in Waitsfield. -TCR.)

Its all in how you grind it and how you prepare it for use. I will not detail coffee grinding here, but suffice it to say that the correct grind is required of the correct bean. You want a mostly fine grind for espresso machines. Once the grind is ready, allowing the greshly ground beans to offer their most flavorful potential, you place it into the filter (that thing with a handle on it), tamp it down just right (it takes practice with your machine to find the right amount), and then secure it to the base of the pressure head. Now, you don’t just turn on the water. You need to heat up the system first. I suggest, for the Café Roma at least, that you let it warm up for about 10 minutes (check the on-board water level first) before firing up the pump.

The Café Roma is a simplified espresso machine designed to be used by people not accustomed to brewing their own coffees outside of a Mr. Coffee or Krups drip machine. Turn the knob left to make coffee, then turn it right to make steam. This means that the Café Roma is a single pump machine. Most machines above US$200 sport dual pumps, but this one seems to work well. I also had an issue with not being able to moderate the steam pressure for preparing the froth, but Breville has managed to figure out a new tip which makes frothing as simple as peeling a pouring the milk into the mug. (I personally steam in the mug I drink from as it warms the mug and makes less to clean. -TCR.)

The Café Roma comes with two double-walled espresso shots, the filter handle and inserts for single, double, and pod, a frothing jug, a tamper and scoop, and a small cleaning tool. One thing I noticed right off is that when the pump is working the deck vibrates and the shot cups start moving around. At my wife’s suggestion, is placed a slightly damp towel under them and no more moving about. Second, when I moved over to frothing it didn’t seem like it was doing anything at first, but it certainly was. Before long my mug was warm, the milk was hot, and the froth was creamy and thick. Extended use has revealed some best practices, but I’m sure its different with everyone. Its also easy to clean and keep together. It has a heated top, like its larger brethren, and the water canister is sizable without being obtrusive. Everything about it and its accessories speaks of pretty good quality, except the tamper/scoop.

It took a few weeks, but now the coffee is coming out nearly perfect. Yeah. Nearly. I don’t know what it is about the Café Roma, but its just won’t make strong coffee. I’ve adjusted the grind, modified the tamping, tried darker roasted beans, even tried several Italian incantations to no avail. I don’t know if its the pressure or the way that Breville creates its pressure head, or how the holes are made in the filter cup or what, but the higher pressure system seems to work fine, it just won’t make stronger, Turkish-style coffee. Feh. Do I like the machine? Yes, I do, and it would be perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the same extreme needs I do when it comes to variance in coffee. I’m not a fan of burnt beans. I like a well rounded, robust, complex flavor, and the Café Roma just doesn’t seem to be able to bring out the more finessed ranges.

I’m pleased to have it on my countertop, though.

* I made up this number. Sue me.

Purchase this and related items at Amazon now:

I was already impressed in late 2006 when Logitech shipped me their first model, the mm50, which looks a lot like the new model, the Pure-Fi Anywhere. They also sound much the same; great. For the units size, portability, compactness, and utility, the Pure-Fi Anywhere is a phenomenal gadget. There are some differences, though. First, the remote on the mm50 was minimal, only offering remote access to the functions on the speakers and not of the iPod. The PFA adds the ability to control the entire unit, including the iPod. Logitech also added buttons on the speakers to control looping and randomization.

Where there seems to be some change is in the sound. Yes, they both sound great, but the PFA seems to be able to handle more output, where the mm50 would start to strain at the higher ends of the power band. The bass output is still very strong with its paid of mass drivers, the two larger speakers next to the iPod dock. When you play the unit quietly it maintains a subtle, low bass impression. Crank it up, though, and it starts to apply more bass and you can really feel it. The PFA, like the mm50, seems to be designed for the single user, though since that bass starts to fade as you move away from it.

The physical controls on the unit are still stiff and hard to press. They also don’t give much tactile feedback. Volume control is also a little weird in that it seems to step more increasing the volume and steps smaller when reducing. The remote, which now is able to control the entire iPod, takes some time to get used to. I would have preferred they implemented a jog-dial approach, but it works well when you get used to it. What I can’t get used to is the very loud clicking any of the buttons make when you press them. The batteries are easily replaceable, though, not that I’ve needed to yet.

In the end, however, its all about the sound and I’m really pleased with the evolution of these speakers. They were fantastic in their first iteration and they are even better now. Now for some basics. The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere speakers for iPod are portable speakers. It comes in a nice, zipper case with included remote control and a power supply that has a wrapper for the cable. It is available in black or white, and ships with a string of adapters for various models of dockable iPods. If you have another kind of PMP (Why?) there is an external source port (1/8th” standard stereo headphone jack). Finally, there is an integrated rechargeable LiIon battery pack which genuinely runs for 9-10 hours.

The Logitech PFA is priced at US$129, which is pretty reasonable for speakers of this quality, portability, and functionality. Interestingly, its exactly the same price the mm50′s were released at.

Purchase this and related items at Amazon now:

What could it possibly mean? We can easily speculate that Apple will officially release iPhone 2.0 at the show, which is held at Moscone Center June 9th through the 13th, since they’ve already told everyone it will come out in June. There’s also a buzz around the idea that Apple will introduce the second generation iPhone hardware which could add 3G capabilities. We also know that Mssr. Jobs can’t surprise us with the iPhone SDK, the Apps Store, Exchange integration via real Microsoft ActiveSync, or even the iFund program. What draws the attention is the image above which shows two Golden Gate bridges and the statement “A landmark event. In more ways than one.” The question becomes two what? It could be a cryptic way of stating that iPhone 2.0 will be released, in which case most people will be disappointed, since we already know its coming out.

Since its an image which has clearly been Photoshopped, it could portend a future where Apple gets back into digital imaging. Back in the mid and late 90′s when Apple was hawking its seminal Newton MessagePad line of PDAs, they were also vending some of the most accessible digital cameras of the time, the QuickTake. Like many other projects at Apple at the time, the returning iCEO, Steve Jobs, axed the QuickTake line. The only other imaging products Apple has released have been the iSight which was discontinued after the technology was integrated into MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac products. You can also find cameras in the iPhone and iPod Touch, but this is no different than other PDAs and mobile handsets.

Lets walk through some of the other possibilities. It can’t be the MacBook or MacBook pro since these form factors are well loved and well entrenched and we’re well past a second generation with these systems. Its unlikely to be the MacBook Air since it just came out and is being well received. We’re already working on the second generation of Apple TV. The Mac Pro and iMac has been upgraded several times since its release. The iPod and the Mac Mini have been through several iterations each. Apple doesn’t get all excited about software, monitors, or general accessories and we’re already on the sixth major version of Mac OS X. Apple also doesn’t shout from the mountaintops about its Xserve line and other behind-the-scenes systems, which have also been through many versions.

That leaves the iPhone and iPod Touch which are both in their first version. This leads me back to the thought that I find it hard to believe Apple would try to generate so much hype to simply re-announce something everyone already knows is coming out, Apple’s iPhone 2.0. This leads me back to the feeling that Apple will be releasing the second generation of the iPhone and iPod Touch hardware. That would mean the obvious, 3G network access, possibly an EVDO or HSDPA capable version. That, however, is unlikely since Apple still has 4 years left on its exclusivity contract with AT&T. They could be expanding storage to 64GBs or adding an expansion slot. They could also be rolling out a new, less costly, smaller version of the iPhone like the oft rumored iPhone Nano, possibly with another carrier.

Well, whatever Apple is planning, you can bet that there will be a “One more thing” in the offing.

Purchase this and related items at Amazon now:

I guess now that Apple is starting to get its rightful due in the general computer and gadget markets I’m a little miffed that MacWorld isn’t shaping up to be something more than just Apple. There are a lot of companies who support Apple with accessories, software, and systems and devices which support the Mac. It just seems like Apple could make a greater effort to recognize them. After all, there likely wouldn’t be an “iPod Economy” if there weren’t so many freaking iPod accessories.

I’m pretty sure that Apple still sees Apple as a singular entity and that it doesn’t rely on anyone or anything else for its success. I’ve recently come across a posting somewhere that asked what would happen to Apple if Steve Jobs were to just vanish. I’m sure that there are some people who even think that Mr. Jobs might not even die. That, of course, is ridiculous, but he may choose to retire, get sick, or, God forbid, actually expire.

Let’s face it, Apple didn’t come back to life until Steve Jobs returned and failed CEO Gil Amelio left, making Jobs the iCEO. The 90′s were not kind to Apple, mostly because of Amelio’s missteps and the colossal failure of Apple’s ludicrous 3rd party hardware program. Job’s, on the other hand, stepped in, got Mr. Ives fired up, and Apple released its seminal and company-saving iMac in 1998. The entire line of “i” products likely wouldn’t have even existed if Steveorino hadn’t axed all of the projects which were bloating the budget at that time, even my beloved Newton MessagePad, which had recently been spun off into its own subsidiary.

In the time Jobs wasn’t at Apple, after having been fired in 1985 by the Board of Directors and then CEO, John Sculley, until 1997, when CEO Amelio was ousted by unhappy boardmembers, he learned a lot. He even said so at a Stanford University address in 2005:

I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

In that period he created NeXT Computers Inc. and became the owner of The Graphics Group, better known today as Pixar, for US$10 million from George Lucas. Jobs ended up selling NeXT to Apple in 1996, where the NeXTstep operating system would become the basis for Mac OS X. Jobs is now the single largest stockholder in Disney, which now owns Pixar, and the CEO of Apple Inc, the maker of the iPod. Hmm. He seems to be pretty smart about things, yes?

Of course, he would have been unable to be who he is and where he is without the aid of some very, very talented people. While some may believe so, Steve Jobs is not the sole source of all inspiration and technology at Apple. Jonathan Ives is one savvy mofo when it comes to industrial design, aesthetics, and  user-oriented functionality. The iMac and pretty much all other “i” products would have potentially been unrealistic without his skills. So, maybe the question could be what would Apple do if Steve Jobs, Jonathan Ives, Phil Shiller, and the rest of the current Apple command crew disappeared?

We may have a glimpse at a possible iteration of this in, of all unlikely places, Microsoft. Bill Gates, the decidedly un-enigmatic co-founder and most visible persona in Redmond, is leaving this year to devote all of his time, considerable intelligence, and even more astounding wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a place where I believe he does the most, real good. Microsoft will then be in the hands of madman Steve Ballmer, an individual whose sanity I have questioned many times in the past. In the next few years we will get to see if Microsoft can turn it around of will collapse in on its own weight.

Apple should take some lessons from Microsoft and others and do three things. One, it should revamp its entire structure to allow for a Google-like 20% personal project time for all employees. It should make a number of these projects public, both in licensing and visibility. At least with this they can start to identify the next generation of talented designers, programmers, engineers, and administrative staffers before it becomes too late.

Two,  it needs to really focus some of the fame its been garnering for its products onto its loyal partners and vendor supporters. There are some companies which have been out there and stood up for Apple, even in its darkest days, which Apple needs to recognize. Ambrosia Software anyone? What about MacAlly? Hell, even Microsoft has been with Apple since before Windows! The MacWorld show should be a real showcase for all of Apple and its constituent halo providers.

Three, Apple really, REALLY needs to beef up its enterprise division. Apple has some fantastic products in its enterprise products, but when Jobs mentioned all of the cool things Apple had announced in just two week of 2008 in his keynote, he made no mention of the new Xserve 8-core server. Apple needs to bear down and make its enterprise division a nitty-gritty, down in the dirt, ugly as sin division, because enterprise buyers don’t care about pretty. They want power and services, and Apple is only providing the power.

Apple has some really strong friends and has a great set of products and some really good people behind making new ones. It now needs to focus on all of the assets it has to really take off, not just itself.

Purchase this and related items at Amazon now: