Ricky is THAT DUDE and I've always kinda been fascinated by him away from the football field. Don't forget that in 1999 Mike Ditka traded his ENTIRE draft to move up to pick Ricky. He's definitely a different breed kinda dude and I'm very interested to see how in-depth they go with his personal life and his time away from football. These 30 for 30 documentaries have been some of the best TV I've seen in a long time. Ricky is a different type of dude. He's always been that way. I'm eager to see how they paint this picture when profiling his off-the-field exploits with his yoga, social-anxiety, weed, photography, all his kids...airs tomorrow it's gonna be interesting.
Melo's averaging 34 points, OVER 50% from the field, 46% from three, yeah okay JR. Why don't you try shooting over 50% for a single game. What Melo was sayin in the press conference was true, but if you really wanna win you know that callin out your teammates in front of the media isn't going to bring your teammates together to play harder.
BONUS:
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/26/2010 02:49:00 PM
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I can never understand what the hell Plies is talking about. Anyway, this is a said offering of Plies new album Goon Affiliated (how long are we gonna run with the Goon theme?). Fabolous does his thing on his as well. Listen below or DOWNLOAD HERE
This shit is damn near soft-core porn haha...All that moving, shaking, touching, rubbing, gyrating OH LAWD!
Nike SB continues to have the best concept sneakers. This is actually a really versatile colorway that can be worn with a lot of different things. I will have my eyes out for these, it just kills me that SB's are pretty much the only Nike's I have to pay retail for *Jordan Shrug*
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ARTICLE via Hypebeast:
Looks like Nike SB is back to its old conceptual ways with this upcoming Dunk Hi Premium for Holiday 2010. Dubbed the “Iron Man”, for obvious reasons, the kicks take on a clean suede/leather upper with a two-tone swoosh and yellow highlights adding the finishing touches. No further information is available at the moment but stay tuned as this will surely be one of the more anticipated releases for the SB camp.
So what I’m hearing is that this joint was made for Khaled’s latest LP & didn’t make the final cut. I haven’t heard Khaled’s latest album, but I’m pretty sure this one would’ve been one of the hottest tracks on that bitch! J.Cole also produced this joint as well. Cole is too underrated right now! Click below to listen or DOWNLOAD HERE
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/16/2010 11:36:00 AM
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This guy is brilliant. You gotta love Fox News, great segment! Towner we better watch this in class today!
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
A Farewell to Arms | ||||
www.thedailyshow.com | ||||
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ARTICLE via Slickdeals:
Dell Home has 12-Month Xbox Live Gold Card for $30. Order 2 for free shipping, otherwise shipping is $7. Price ends up coming out to $2.50 a month. This is a CRAZY steal! I still got like 4 months left on my current but this is too great a deal to pass up. Thank me later. CLICK TO BUY
There is crazy hype behind these already. I've been tryin to get a black ring for the longest but didn't order online because I didn't know how they fit. Now that Revive got em in it's a wrap. Reportedly people are talking about lining up for these so do not SLEEP!!! Shoutout to the homies @REVIVEMICHIGAN , @MAYBACHMIKEY, @10MileKid and @AYOJERM keep gettin it!
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via Revive MI:
REVIVE is presenting you with another premium brand to add to the charts. You’ve seen many music artists such as Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, and Rihanna wear these jewelry pieces at its best. We are proud to house the very popular, AMBUSH® DESIGN. Produced by VERBAL (MC/Producer, TERIYAKI BOYZ) and Yoon (PR of Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream, DJ, Stylist), these 2 unique individuals stand for the words “ANYTHING GOES”. These jewelry designs represent a different outlook to the fashion industry and the creative hotspot where these mastermind plans go down is in Tokyo. Different metals, stones, plastics, and various other materials are used to produce the final phenomenal products. The very popular accessories include “POW” rings and necklaces, and the new “EYE AM NOT ALONE” 2-finger ring.
This Saturday (April 17, 2010) REVIVE will be holding a special release for AMBUSH® DESIGN. Details are stated on the flyer below including all the merchandise. Be sure to come to REVIVE to purchase your favorite pieces. We’re making magic happen here.
Jordan's aside, Air Max 90's are probably my favorite sneaker. With that said the Infrared is simply the cleanest and unique colorway I have seen on this shoe. I was lucky enough to get these when they re-released in 06 for $80. This of course was prior to the hype that drove these kicks to prices of $300+ online. Look for this to be a July release and I will definitely be grabbing myself another pair.
Track is dope. It's been awhile since I've heard something from game and reportedly this is going to be on his upcoming "The Red Album". Also rumor has it Game is getting pretty close to signing with Star Trak, which could mean some epic collabos between these two. Listen below or DOWNLOAD HERE
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/14/2010 11:05:00 AM
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What I'm hoping for most is that he drops that stupid ass Borat sounding voice. Hopefully we hear the Em that killed "Forever" and the B.E.T Award Cypher.
ARTICLE via MTV:
It seems like the only time Just Blaze isn't in the sky these days is when he's working. Blaze has been DJing at places like the Winter Music Conference when he isn't busy traveling back and forth and producing for people such as Jay Electronica and Eminem.
"I'm working on Eminem's album still, so I've gotta hurry up and get back to Detroit," Just said. He was fresh off the turntables at club Grand Central during the Fool's Gold party in Miami, where he spun a two-hour house set. "I've been back and forth — Detroit, New York, Detroit, New York, Miami, back to Detroit — for like the past two and a half weeks. [The album], it's getting there, but we still got a lot of work. So I wish I could stay [in Miami] longer."
Blaze says he's sworn not to reveal too much about Eminem's album, but he's already calling it a classic, one of the ultimate efforts in Slim Shady's storied catalog.
"As far as what's going on in Detroit, a lot of good music is being made," Blaze said of Em. "He's really back spitting. The wordplay is crazy, the metaphors are crazy. He's really back on his game. He had his ups, he had his downs, he's back way, way, way up. This is definitely going to be up there with the best of his albums, for sure, for sure. The fact that he's branched out working with a lot of different people now, collaborating in a lot of different ways that he never has before, I think he's going to surprise a lot of people."
Other than Em, Blaze has Jay Electronica on his plate, but what about the super-producer linking back with the other Jay, as in Young Hova? Just says he talked to the Jiggaman right before the U.S. leg of the Blueprint 3 tour ended.
"Maybe," he answered with a sly grin about whether or not he and rap's G.O.A.T. would collaborate again. "You never know."
The last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. The day before the appointed time of execution, the prisoner will be given the meal, as well as religious rights, if he or she desires. As a general rule, inmates may not ask for an alcoholic drink as it dulls the senses.
In many countries the prisoner may have the luxury of selecting what the last meal will be (within reason), and the authorities do their best to provide a prisoner with the requested meal. This would honestly be a long decision for me. I am pretty sure that I would include a Chipotle burrito in my meal. I stumbled upon this yesterday and here's a list of them:
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Adolf Eichmann: He declined a special meal, preferring a bottle of Carmel, a dry red Israeli wine. He drank about half of it.
Aileen Wuornos: She declined a special meal, but had a hamburger and other snack food from the prison's canteen. Later, she drank a cup of coffee.
Allen Lee Davis: 350-pound "Tiny" Davis had the following last meal: one lobster tail, fried potatoes, a half-pound of fried shrimp, six ounces of fried clams, half a loaf of garlic bread, and 32 ounces of A&W root beer.
Ángel Nieves Díaz: He declined a special meal. He was then served the regular prison meal for that day, but he declined that as well.
Bruno Richard Hauptmann: Celery, olives, chicken, french fries, buttered peas, cherries, and a slice of cake.
Dennis Wayne Bagwell: Medium rare steak with A1 Steak Sauce, fried chicken breasts and thighs, BBQ ribs, French fries, onion rings, bacon, scrambled eggs with onions, fried potatoes with onions, sliced tomatoes, salad with ranch dressing, two hamburgers, peach pie, milk, coffee, and iced tea with real sugar.
Desmond Keith Carter: He declined a special meal, but had two cheeseburgers, a steak sub, and two Cokes from the prison canteen, for which he paid $4.20 from his prison account.
Dobie Gillis Williams: Twelve candy bars and some ice cream.
Edward Hartman: A Greek salad, linguini with white clam sauce, cheese cake with cherry topping, garlic bread, and a Coke.
Gary Gilmore: A hamburger, hard-boiled eggs, a baked potato, a few cups of coffee, and three shots of whiskey.
Gary M. Heidnik: Two slices of a cheese pizza and two cups of black coffee.
Henry Martinez Porter: Flour tortillas, T-bone steak, refried beans, tossed salad, jalapeño peppers, ice cream, and chocolate cake.
James Edward Smith: A lump of dirt, denied. Settled for a small cup of yogurt.
John Wayne Gacy: A dozen deep-fried shrimps, a bucket of original recipe chicken from KFC, French fries, and a pound of strawberries.
Karl Eugene Chamberlain: A variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, lunch meat, deviled, six fried cheese-stuffed jalapenos, a chef salad with ranch dressing, onion rings, french fries, a cheesburger, two fried chicken breasts, barbecue pork rolls, an omelet, milk and orange juice.
Karla Faye Tucker: Banana, peach, and garden salad with ranch dressing.
Mark Dean Schwab: fried eggs, bacon, sausage links, hash browns, buttered toast and a quart of chocolate milk .
Perry Smith and Richard Hickock: Shrimp, French fries, garlic bread, ice cream, and strawberries with whipped cream.
Philip Workman: He declined a special meal for himself, but he asked for a large vegetarial pizza to be given to a homeless person in Nashville, Tennessee. This request was denied.
Rainey Bethea: Fried chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, cornbread, lemon pie, and ice cream.
Ringer Edwards: chicken and beer. Edwards escaped execution as a Japanese prisoner of war when his meal request could not be obtained.
Robert Alton Harris: A 21-piece bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, two large Domino's pizzas (no anchovies), ice cream, a bag of jelly beans, a six-pack of Pepsi, and a pack of Camel cigarettes.
Ted Bundy: He declined a special meal, so he was given the traditional steak (medium-rare), eggs (over-easy), hash browns, toast, milk, coffee, juice, butter, and jelly.
Timothy McVeigh: Two pints of mint chocolate-chip ice cream.
Velma Barfield: She declined a special meal, having a bag of Cheez Doodles and a can of Coca-Cola instead.
Victor Feguer: A single olive with the pit still in it.
Wesley Baker: Breaded fish, pasta marinara, green beans, orange fruit punch, bread, and milk (Maryland execution: this was what was on the prison menu that day).
William Bonin: Two pepperoni and sausage pizzas, three servings of chocolate ice cream, and fifteen cans of Coca-Cola.
Saddam Hussein: Unconfirmed - Sources say he ate boiled chicken and rice, and drank hot water with honey the day before his execution. The Times (UK) states that "he refused their offers of cigarettes and a last meal of chicken."
I'm never getting married. I'm not for murder, but I'd support Nas 100% if he were to kill that bitch, it would probably be cheaper! Dude is gonna be on tour forever just so he can make those child support payments. Jay wins again!
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ARTICLE via TMZ:
Nas went to court Monday over his divorce with Kelis -- and walked out a little lighter in the wallet.
According to documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Nas had to immediately fork over $47,249.42 in back child support and $40,454 in back spousal support.
The judge also ordered Nas to pay $10,000/month in spousal support until he pays off the $299,015.50 he owes Kelis.
Nas also has to pay 90% of Kelis' legal fees in the amount of $155,787.28.
Lastly, Nas has to pay $48,549.83 to cover Kelis' accounting expenses.
The lesson, as always -- when Laura Wasser reps your ex, settle as quickly as possible. Nas just learned that the hard way.
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/14/2010 10:36:00 AM
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The Olympicks have been on an absolute roll of late, and I really am a huge fan of their material. They have a very versatile sound and it's about time some Detroit producers got some mainstream shine. Sean came correct on this joint and definitely had some #BARS, but I don't feel like he ripped it to it's full capabilities. Nonetheless, an overall dope track was produced that will bump nice in the whip for the summer. Click below to listen or DOWNLOAD HERE
I posted the track a couple weeks back, but the video really gives the overall feel of the song. Boobie straight killed this joint, and I just got some more bangers in my inbox that will be posted very soon! More quality Detroit Hip Hop! Do you listen to music, or do you just skim through it? LISTEN! #BARS all day! AAI Ent whutupdoe!
Why does the rest of the league continue to let the Jets get so much better? In one off-season they have signed Antonio Cromartie to go alongside Darrelle Revis for the best corner duo in the league, sign LT who will serve as a great backup RB, and now they get the Super Bowl MVP from 2 years ago to pair opposite of Braylon Edwards and now Jerricho Cotchery can move to the slot? The Jets are going to be a FORCE this season, and with Sanchez's development combined with his new weapons, the Jets will truly be #Winnin!
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ARTICLE via ESPN:
Receiver Santonio Holmes, who was traded to the New York Jets on Sunday from the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, a source confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Jets acquired the talented but troubled receiver from the Steelers for a fifth-round pick in this month's draft. ESPN 1050 in New York first reported the trade, which Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly confirmed on Monday at the team's camp in Cortland, N.Y.
"He's known by members of the team," Johnson said. "Everybody has a lot of respect for him. He's tough. He's a clutch receiver. I don't think pressure gets to him in a game. We were happy to start this [relationship]."
Holmes is heading to New York Monday morning to take a physical, sources told ESPN. He will then will meet with Jets officials before the trade is officially announced.
No news conference is expected on Monday.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Monday that according to sources, the Steelers were prepared to release Holmes had they not been able to trade him.
Holmes will have to wait to get on the field. On Saturday, ProFootballTalk.com first reported Holmes was facing a suspension. The Web site reported it was unknown whether Holmes tested positive for a prohibited substance or committed some other violation of the policy, such as missing a required test, and that the Holmes' appeal process had not been finalized.
Schefter's source told him on Monday that although the four-game suspension has not officially been announced by the NFL, it has been finalized.
Holmes, the 2009 Super Bowl MVP, gives second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez another big-time target to throw to in an offense that already included receivers Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, promising tight end Dustin Keller and recently signed running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/12/2010 12:28:00 PM
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Bobby Ray just world premiered "Airplanes Part 1" featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore. The track goes on sale on iTunes at Midnight. The Adventures of Bobby Ray hits stores April 27th. Dude is on a roll right now!
Listen below or DOWNLOAD HERE
I have liked the Kobe V's since they came out, and to me this is the nicest colorway and definitely stands out on the court. I think this will be my next hooping shoe.
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ARTICLE via Nicekicks:
If you recall, Nike Basketball constructed a Nike Zoom Kobe V ID contest in which the winning design would be worn by Kobe Bryant in a game this year. The contest, which began on March 2nd and ended on March 9th, was won by Kobe fan Jason Hamilton AKA “Kid Hollywood”. Check out today’s Kicks On Court to see Hamilton’s design on Kobe and some of the Lakers’ feet.
In a down-to-the-wire loss to the Portland TrailBlazers, Kobe Bryant and a few of his teammates wore NikeiD contest winner Kid Hollywood’s fantastic Kobe V design. Sticking with the Lakers alternate jersey color scheme, Hollywood applied a primarily white-colored base with minimal yellow and purple hints on the base. However, the most glaring attributes on this shoe lie in the form of the multiple metallic silver hints throughout the shoe. We must applaud Kid Hollywood for this nice, unique, highly-detailed Kobe V color design. Is this one of, if not the best Kobe V yet?
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/12/2010 12:17:00 PM
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No doubt the shirts are nice, and would look good with a bunch of different sneakers come summer time. Not really different than what we're used to from BAPE but it is a clean design nonetheless.
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ARTICLE via Hypebeast:
The newest line of A Bathing Ape Baby Milo themed items to hit BAPE STORES is the following collection of “No Future” t-shirts. Baby Milo undergoes some interesting transformations in three different styles. Available now at BAPE STORE London.
If you're a real fan of hip hop, like him or not you know how talented Kanye is. I think Kanye appeals to a broader audience moreso than any other rapper, meaning people outside the hip hop world can find parts of his albums that they like. To me this is easily the most anticipated album in recent times, especially given what Kanye's been going through in the media of late. I think we're gonna be getting that introspective Kanye from College Dropout, and the production is guaranteed to be CRAZY!
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ARTICLE:
Hip-Hop pioneer DJ Premier recently weighed in on Kanye West's upcoming Good A** Job album and called the rapper's solo project "hard beats and rhyme."
Based off a recent interview, Premo also credits Yeezy for bringing back the popularity of sampling old records.
"Well, first of all, if you look at all of Kanye West's output, he actually did a lot to bring back sampling and make it cool again, even though he's more of a mainstream artist" Premier explained. "But his new album is strictly hard beats and rhyme. He's totally done with electro. You're gonna be surprised what you hear." (Amajanese)
Fellow hip-hop pioneer Pete Rock recently confirmed being in the studio with Ye.
"I mean, I'm working with him," Rock told radio host Peter Rosenberg. "That's all I can say is that I'm working with him. I went out [to Hawaii.] It's beautiful man, like, he just feels like a little brother to me. You know what I'm saying? Like, my little brother that's doing it. And we got along just fine. He's definitely hip-hop, his roots, I was testing him on joints...He takes it to another level which is dope. He had these musicians and this song, they played around my little raggedy beat and made it real [big]. I love the way he works -- he goes from one room, writing rhymes then goes to another beat and goes to another room and does something else -- I love what he's done, I always thought he was clever. I used to bug out over the ego thing but once you get to know him, it's like 'Oh, okay, he's a sweetheart.' [laughs] We got along just well." (Noisemakers)
Rap veteran Q-Tip also revealed his involvement on West's album.
"I just try to work with people who I admire or whom I think has got it," he revealed in an interview. "So right now I'm working on Nas' sh*t, about to work with Kanye on his sh*t. Just trying to keep up my momentum. I'm about to work with Talib [Kweli] on his project. I been trying to work with [Jay-Z] for a while so hopefully he'll realize the heat I got and come with it [laughs]." (Brooklyn Bodega)
According to new reports, the follow-up to 2008's 808's & Heartbreak is coming out in June.
Kanye West is ensconced in his Diamond Head, Hawaii home and recording studio, putting the final touches on his forthcoming album with guest rappers like Q-Tip, RZA and Pete Rock, numerous reports have confirmed. A source close to the project -- which is tentatively titled "Good A** Job" according to G.O.O.D. Music artist Big Sean -- says it will be released in June. (Billboard)
PETE ROCK TALKIN ABOUT YEEZY'S NEW ALBUM:
Wale leaked this joint via Twitter. I like the sample a lot, and to carry over from the Rude Boy freestyle Wale's delivery continues to get better to me. Nice track. Listen below or DOWNLOAD HERE
This shit looks absolutely disgusting. It's like lemme get me get a heart attack sandwich with high blood pressure and cholesterol on the side. Throw some obesity in there too. Oh yeah...can you make my diabetes extra large? Thanks
This collection is nuts...Crazy to see these covers and notice the waves hip hop has really gone in.
Calmatic: Black Magz from itscalmatic on Vimeo.
Got visibly upset with his teammate for catching a rebound that came right to him. Didn't give Javale McGee, his teammate, a hand pound because he was mad dude MADE it and he asked Yi JianLian to let him get the rebound if his teammate misses the free throw, and then tries to sprint fullcourt in 4 seconds to get a shot off, miss it intentionally, and rebound it! I really think he would of rather have got the triple double than the win. Future cancer to an NBA team.
Jay - "I got watches I ain't seen in months/Apartment at the Trump; I only slept in once..." Nas had some lines but Jay took this one no doubt. Regardless the track is full of #BARS
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/05/2010 12:16:00 PM
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This shit is too funny hahaha...fat man crying over beef jerky! It’s just as well he’s not in jail. Where they gonna find an orange jumpsuit that big?
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ARTICLE via CBS News:
Meet George “Blimpin’ Ain’t Easy” Jolicoeur, a Florida man, who got busted scamming restaurants and convenience stores out of snacks. Pop the hood.
On Wednesday, the 38-year-old pleaded no contest to five counts of misdemeanor petty theft, was fined $1,365 in court costs, and ordered to pay an unspecified amount in restitution.
It all stemmed from a refund scam he had been running since at least 2005. Basically, he would go into a restaurant or convenience store, and buy a ton of junk food. Then he would try to get a refund by claiming that the food was inedible for one reason or another. Only, he’d already eaten the food.
One of the charges was from an incident in 2007, when Jolicoeur tried to get a refund from 7-Eleven. He’d bought $50 worth of beef jerky and then tried to get his money back by claiming it was moldy.
When police finally showed up at his place, Jolicoeur made his voice higher and pretended to be a woman, but they arrested him anyway.
And as they took him off to the station, he said, and I quote, “The beef jerky got me.”
The 600-pound man is currently in a nursing home, claiming he was too big and too sick to come to court Wednesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. His attorney pleaded no contest on his behalf.
I finally got a chance to play around with one, and honestly it's sort of like a giant iPhone. It does have an enhanced web browser and apps that are unique to it. One thing I noticed is that battery life is awesome as well. I will only cop if I hit a lick on one though.
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ARTICLE via Yahoo Finance:
Analysts Ask If the iPad Can Live Up to Its Hype
by Brad Stone
Monday, March 29, 2010
When the Apple (AAPL) iPad goes on sale on Saturday, most of the major questions surrounding the device will have been answered, save for one: can it live up to the hype?
Apple fans have breathlessly awaited Apple's entry into the tablet computer market. Since the company unveiled the iPad in late January, investors have jumped on the bandwagon, too, running up Apple's stock more than 10 percent.
Part of that rise can be attributed to the steady rise in sales of the iPhone and the company's Mac computers. But much of it clearly has to do with tablet fever. On the day this month when Apple made the completely unsurprising announcement that the iPad would go on sale on April 3, the stock jumped nearly 4 percent.
Expectations are clearly high. Now the iPad has to meet them.
Apple has given no public indication of what kinds of sales it expects, or what may constitute success. But at the iPad introduction in January, Steven P. Jobs, Apple's chief executive, implicitly set a lofty standard. He said the iPad would offer an experience that was superior to that of netbooks, a rapidly growing category of inexpensive and lightweight laptops that accounted for $11 billion in global sales last year.
He also said that the 75 million people who own iPhones and iPod Touches already knew how to use the iPad, which uses the same operating system and touch-screen interface.
But analysts and investors are searching for their own ways to judge the iPad over the short and long term. Their projections vary, but many Apple analysts seem to think the company will sell around a million iPads by the end of its quarter in June, and around 5 million by the end of 2010.
Analysts acknowledge that a certain amount of guesswork goes into those projections, in part because it is not yet clear what kinds of applications and content will be available for the iPad from media companies and outside developers.
"The reality for the iPad is going to be determined by what apps are made for it," said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. "People are debating the use case for it, and the use case will be largely determined by the apps. A lot of people are still on the fence whether this is a legitimate market or not."
There are other variables at work. For example, it appears the iPad will initially be available only in Apple's stores and at Best Buy (BBY). How quickly will Apple begin selling it through other retailers, and in countries other than the 10 it named this year?
Will Apple allow American wireless carriers other than AT&T (T), like Verizon (VZ), to offer data plans for the 3G version of the device? And how quickly might Apple lower the iPad's price, or introduce models with new features like a built-in camera?
In considering how the iPad may affect Apple, analysts must also navigate the fuzzy topic known as cannibalization. Consumers who spend $499 for the cheapest iPad model might be buying it in lieu of a $999 MacBook laptop or, more likely, a $199 iPod Touch.
Many analysts are looking to historical precedent to gauge the iPad's prospects in the market. Back in 2001, iPod sales started out slowly; Apple sold only 372,000 of them in its first year, then around a million in the second, after the opening of the iTunes Store.
After the iPhone's introduction in 2007, which inspired a similar media frenzy, Apple sold 1.4 million handsets in its first two quarters, and then 6.1 million during its entire first year.
But the iPhone may be a poor example: people were already comfortable buying cellphones. Few people have ever owned a tablet computer. The iPad is something almost entirely new to most consumers, more akin to, say, the Kindle from Amazon.com (AMZN) or the Apple TV set-top box. Those devices each sold less than a million units in their first year.
Achieving the mass-market penetration -- and cultural impact -- of the iPod and iPhone is ultimately Apple's biggest challenge with the iPad. "They are going to need to target mainstream users who might otherwise decide to purchase an e-book reader or a netbook," said Michael Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. "If they are successful in starting to convince those kinds of folks, and getting beyond the early adopters who will line up for anything, then it has the potential to blossom."
But even in those best-case situations, the iPad most likely will not change Apple's overall financial picture anytime soon. A. M. Sacconaghi Jr., an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, predicts that the iPad could contribute about 28 cents a share to Apple's bottom line in its first full year of sales. The iPhone, by contrast, is responsible for about $8 of earnings a share.
"It's going to be pretty small from a financial impact initially, but the range of ultimate outcomes for the iPad is pretty big," Mr. Sacconaghi said.
Investors are also trying to keep their expectations grounded. Erick Maronak, chief investment officer for the $1.2 billion Victory Large Cap Growth Fund, which counts Apple as its biggest holding, said he was looking forward to the iPad -- but still banking on the iPhone.
The iPad "is yet another example of how the innovation with Apple continues, and that they have not grown complacent," Mr. Maronak said. "But the much bigger driver is that this is going to be a pretty big year for the iPhone."
All the iPad and iPhone optimism leaves many analysts and investors wondering what, exactly, disappointment might look like for Apple. If Apple sells only half a million iPads during the next two months, or less than 2 million by the end of September, it could conceivably damage the company's stellar reputation with Wall Street -- and Mr. Jobs's air of infallibility in selecting and entering new markets.
"There's always a risk," said Charles Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Company, who points to past Apple failures like the Mac Cube and Apple TV, but nonetheless believes that the iPad will sell briskly.
If the iPad does fail to sell, "it could impact the stock," Mr. Wolf said. "But I doubt it would be the end of the world."
Posted by $Money Mike$ 4/02/2010 12:24:00 PM
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This is pretty damn cool. Other universities should follow suit. I can see it now. iPads replacing textbooks. Eh, it aint gonna happen though. Textbooks are a big business. Looks like I'm transferring to Seton Hall haha.
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ARTICLE:
Next fall's freshman at Seton Hill University will not only be handed a brand new Apple iPad but a MacBook laptop as well.
The Greensburg, Pa., liberal-arts school, with about 2,100 students, announced the mobile technology program this week. Freshmen will receive both an iPad, which is a tablet that can run iPhone smartphone applications, and a 13-inch MacBook laptop. After two years, the university will replace the laptop, which students can take with them on graduation. Current students will have the choice of opting into the laptop program.
"The iPad was chosen by Seton Hill because of its mobility and the ease with which faculty and students, in the future, will have immediate access to e-textbooks and comprehensive and integrated learning," according to Mary Ann Gawelek, provost and dean of the faculty at Seton Hill, in an e-mail cited in a story by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The mobile project is part of Seton Hill's Griffin Technology Advantage program, which includes a campus-wide upgrade of the wired and wireless network infrastructure, based on gear from Enterasys. The campus jumped from 100Mbps Ethernet to a 1Gbps network, and has created a Wi-Fi blanket with more than 200 Enterasys 802.11n access points. The networks support VoIP and greatly improved security and management, according to the university.
Students will be charged $500 more per semester, or $1,000 each year, for the new technology program. The university is paying for the iPads, which become generally available this Saturday.
The TechAdvantage Web site says the changes are part of the institution's move to what it calls "creative literacy" – "teaching you not just how to find the information you need, but how to process it in the way that allows you to make sense of the information, apply the information to actual situations, and solve problems." Faculty are being outfitted and trained in the same client devices.
The overall goal is create a pervasively connected environment for learning and for campus life. Other resources include Web 2.0 innovations such as blogs, wikis, and Web casts.
Other schools, such as Abilene Christian University in Texas, are also making big-time commitments to wireless Apple devices (iPod Touches and iPhones in its case) in the name of advancing education.
Posted by $Money Mike$ 3/31/2010 08:30:00 PM
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Anyone peep the Amber Rose cameo? Anyways I'm not a big fan of the song, but the video shows off Nicki's assets (pun intended hehe). Nicki's assets + Hype Williams directing = WIN
This song has that old Budden vibe. Son did his thing and the beat fits him perfectly. U asked if N's fuckin/how can u not assume/ Its like u fightin Ricky Martin in a locker room #BARS!
Easily one of the best segments on late night TV...I never seen the best of 2008 before, these are too funny!