links for a new year / jon ronson

A couple of slightly interesting links courtesy of New Links:

New Apple Mac forthcoming: According to Think Secret, "With iPod-savvy Windows users clearly in its sights, Apple is expected to announce a bare bones, G4-based iMac without a display at Macworld Expo on January 11 that will retail for $499". Outrageously cheap on the current exchange rates, obviously, although Apple will presumably screw UK buyers on prices like they did with the iPod. Ah well. Interesting anyway, kinda.

And Torrent Watcher looks useful for people who - unlike me - have figured out the whole bit torrent stuff. Sam, we talked about this a while back, this might help!

And a couple of tips from me: the marvellous Jon Ronson is now blogging happily away, and his thoughts can be accessed directly by clicking here. Great stuff.

"I'm excited about 2005. 2005 is the year they'll invent floating cars and walkways in the sky. I think we should call them SkyWalks."

And if you've missed his radio show recently and want to catch up, you can download previous episodes as MP3 files from this public-spirited individual. The one on being invisible is particularly good. The most recent episode is always available on the radio 4 'listen again' page for a week after broadcast, of course.

And if you like that, my last link of the day is to the homepage for 'This American Life', a US radio show which combines Ronson's gently humourous journalistic style with the community feel which John Peel fostered on his Home Truths. The shows are lovely, and well worth an hour of your time, if you've got it to spare.