Macgasm

On Christmas Eve, The New York Times reported that Republican legislation will soon allow electronic devices for the first time in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In a document known as the Speaker’s Announced Policies, it is proposed that “Members may use an electronic device on the House floor as long as it doesn’t ‘impair decorum.’” Brendan Buck, a Republican spokesman, said that “This is not free license to Skype or pay bills online. But we recognize that people consume information electronically these days. It’s just silly that the House wouldn’t accommodate that.”

The deeper purpose behind allowing the use of electronic devices in Congress is one of efficiency. It will give lawmakers the ability to fact-check a colleague’s statement on the spot or to keep up with the news. Additionally, the iPad’s bigger display could mean the paper bill’s days are numbered.

However, it’s possible that electronic devices in Congress could be used for more nefarious purposes—such as playing games or shopping on Amazon. It should be noted that many Congressmen have already been spotted using their devices during a session, among them Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts (and former Presidential candidate.)

Some hope that the new rules will boost representation at the House’s notoriously under-attended sessions. Jaron Lanier, the author of “You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto,” said “At least if they have a little game to play, maybe they will attend more.”

However, we here at Macgasm do not want Congresspeople to “have a little game to play.” Instead of allowing personal devices into sessions, perhaps the government could invest in (and impose restrictions on) a fleet of iPads for official use. That would ensure representatives inability to play Bejeweled, in turn forcing their concentration on more important matters. (Like the legalization of gay marriage, perhaps?)

Article Via The New York Times

Photo Credit: IntoMobile

My parents are generous and cool people. Yesterday, they made my Christmas by surprising me with an iPad. At the same time, they also bought my sister one. You can tell a lot about the difference between my sister and I based upon our initial reaction. When I first opened the gift, I apparently exclaimed “Get the fuck out of here.” I was told that I said this, but I have no recollection of this event. Perhaps I was in shock. A few moments later, my sister opened her gift and said “This is Apple’s version of the Kindle, right?” I have to admit that I winced a little bit.

I spent the next half hour dropping Jobs-ian science on her. Swiping, tapping, and rotation were abundant to say the least. Not long after that, she really began to grasp what she was given. “It’s like I get to take the best part of my computer with me,” she said. After shaking my head “No” for so long, I was very pleased that I could nod in agreement with that statement.

I’ve long, long been on record that you can’t fully explain the iPad. It has to be experienced to fully be understood. Today proved that to me beyond any reasonable doubt. My sister is now an iPad fan.

Photo Credit: Glenn Fleishman

Are you an Apple fan, but keep getting Best Buy gift cards for Christmas?

Well, you may be in luck. The retailer is offering $50 iTunes gift cards on its website for $40. Yep — that’s $10 below value.

I bought one about an hour ago with a $25 Best Buy card, meaning I spent $15 of my own money for a $50 iTunes gift card. It was like a little present to myself.

Article Via 9 to 5 Mac

Earlier today, we had articles for new Mac users and iOS users. Now, I want to know all of the cool new nerdy, techie, Apple-y things you got for Christmas.

Did you get an iPad? How about a dandy new app? Did Great Grandma get you an iTunes card? Let us know. You can either leave a comment on this post or tweet us what you got with the hashtag #macgasmxmas. Later on, we’ll compile a list of the coolest Apple loot that our readers got.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Macgasm. We hope you and yours are happy and healthy.

Photo Credit: Zink Dawk

Did you score an AppleTV, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch this morning and are already confused?

Take a deep breath — there is no reason to panic.

If you unwrapped an AppleTV, go browse Apple’s setup guide on its website. In no time, you’ll be ready to rent shows and stream music to your television like a pro.

Didn’t get an Apple TV? Well, you’re not out of luck. Apple has similar guides for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The iTunes Store, of course, is the backbone to the iOS universe. Be sure to setup an account, so you can download apps and media with your new devices. You can easily redeem any iTunes gift cards you received and give your credit card a well-deserved break.

We’ll be monitoring our comments as always — feel free to ask us questions below!

Did you unwrap a brand new Mac this morning?

First of all congrats!

If this is your first Mac, things can be a little overwhelming. Thankfully, Apple has you covered. Be sure to visit the company’s “Switch 101″ page on its website, which is designed to help ween you off your Windows machine so gently you won’t even get the shakes.

If you scored an upgrade and need a refresher, or are just switching to Snow Leopard, be sure to check out the “Mac 101″ page — full of helpful hints and reminders if you’ve been using an older machine for a while.

We’ll be monitoring our comments as always — feel free to ask us questions below!

If you’re at all a fan of science fiction, you must have seen the Back to the Future trilogy. While most of us nerds have our own opinions about which movie is the best (No ending for Part II? What the f—), I think we can all agree that the series broke some serious ground. Not only did it effectively bring the concept of time travel into the public eye once again, but it did so with humor and charm. Thanks to the good folks at Telltale Games, we now have a chance to experience a whole new adventure with Marty, Doc, and the whole gang from the franchise in Back to the Future: The Game (Warning: Adobe Flash abounds).

The game starts out in an all too familiar place: The infamous parking lot. That’s right, we begin with the scene that is most associated with the franchise on the whole. Don’t worry, though. This game doesn’t rehash the first three films. We quickly find out that Marty was simply having a dream, and we’re really still in 1986. Needless to say, we soon come to learn that Doc has gotten himself into trouble, and he needs Marty’s help ASAP. Shocking, I know.

Now that the game has us into the flow of the story, we can become more familiar with the interface. At any time during gameplay, you have four buttons on your menu: Goal Display, Inventory, Hint, and Story So Far. Pretty self-explanatory, but there are some minor quirks about the interface that you will have to get acquainted with. I won’t bore you to death with my UI critique, but just make sure you know which buttons do what before you get too far into the game.

As you might have noticed from my previous posts, I’m very familiar with Telltale’s approach to video games. While they mainly stick to licensing existing franchises, they have a distinctive look and feel that you can’t help but notice. That being said, this is by far the most cinematic-looking title they’ve ever released. Even when you’re going through dialogue trees, there is still action happening on screen. The graphics look great, and the sound levels are the best Telltale has ever done. I didn’t even have to crank down the music at all to hear the dialogue. IMPROVEMENT!

As far as the story goes, it’s par for the course. It’s not going to win over any skeptics, but Back to the Future fans should welcome this game with open arms. The game is only $24.95 USD, so what are you waiting for? Go play episode one now, and episode two will be available in February.

It’s the day before Christmas, and all of your gifts are ready for tomorrow, right? Did you forget Grandpa Smith again? *Sigh* Well, I guess I can help you out this time…

iDVD is the least loved app in the iLife suite. I know that I use it once a year — tops. Luckily, it has a pretty great feature for fast gift-making. Launch the app, and then select “Magic iDVD.” Instead of the old complex interface for iDVD, this is a streamlined drag-n-drop version. All you need to do is title it, choose a pre-made theme, and then drag the photos and movies you want from the sidebar to the applicable section.

Insert a blank DVD, and then press the burn button in the lower right-hand corner. Burn it, pop it in a jewel case, wrap it up, and BAM — a nice personalized gift with a few mouse clicks. Maybe Grandpa Smith won’t write you out of his will after all. Maybe.

Photo Credit: Oxyman