Clunk! That sound you can hear is a big ball being dropped in Cupertino as Apple underwhelmed with its latest product announcements. Sure, the iMac and Pro needed an update, and a more powerful Airport Extreme Base Sation and Time Capsule is more than welceom. But a refreshed Mac Mini? At $599 for the smallest model? Apple not only missed the sweet spot for no-brainer purchase by at least $100 here but also missed the chance to do something radical that would combine the Mini and Apple TV as a very cool media centre. Not only that, there’s still no sign of a smaller Mac netbook-style product – soemthing the market seems to be screaming for. What’s going on? Or are there more surprises in the offing?
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As much as I’d love to be able to buy and use Amazon’s Kindle in Bermuda, maybe I won’t have to, thanks to Shortcovers, a new service launched today by Canadian book store Indigo. Download a free app from the site and you can turn your iPhone, Blackberry or Android smartphone into an e-reader. What makes Shortcovers interesting is that you can try or buy chapters of books for free or as little as 99c – great if you just want that one section from a travel guide, for example – as well as samle or buy full books, blogs and other articles. Bookmark pages to your library and it’s available wherever you have an internet connection. I’ve just started playing with it today so I have barely scratched the surface but it’s an intruiging idea – and ideal for short-term reading while in a queue or waiting for the bus/train/ferry.
Just on our way back from a first trip to Telluride, Colorado. Two glorious weeks in the San Juan mountains have confirmed it as our family’s favourite North American ski resort. Here’s ten random reasons why:
- Awesome skiing: miles of really varied and challenging terrain (the new Revelation Bowl on a sunny day has to be experienced to be believed); fantastic instructors for kids and adults alike. Genial Aussie Howard Davis transformed my skiing in three days and had me flying down the slopes with more speed and panache than I thought possible.
- Women’s Week: The wife loved this – four days of seriously intense, extreme ski instruction, great camaeraderie, plus parties and dinners. Toss in all the store discounts and freebies and this proved to be one of skiing’s best-kept secrets. There are three a year, check them out at the resort website.
- No lines: No, really. Telluride is still remote enough not to attract the days crowds from Denver. We were there over President’s Day weekend and even at its busiest I don’t think we ever waited five minutes at the main lift.
- Free transport: No need to rent a car. The free Galloping Goose bus service runs around townevery 10-20 minutes depending on the time of day and gondolas up and across the resort are free too.
- The Boot Doctor: Magicians or technicians, we’re not sure but they made a world of difference to our feet. Great gear too.
- 221 South Oak Street: Our favourite place to eat. Intimate atmosphere, great staff and Chef Eliza Gavin’s menu is full of fresh, innovative creations. Possibly one of the best little bistros in North America. Alpino Vino up on the top of the slopes is a cozy touch of Europe for a leisurely lunch. It ain’t cheap but location, location, location …
- Telluride Truffles: Exquisite handmade chocs to die for. You’ll never eat Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory again.
- Cool history: Butch Cassidy carried out his first bank robbery here in 1889. And it was the first city in the world to have electric street lamps thanks to the world’s first AC power plant, built to serve a mining industry that by the end of the 19th century had clawed a staggering $360 million worth of gold from them thar hills. The Telluride Historical Museum is a little gem worth visiting.
- Snow mobiling: The boys at Telluride Snowmobiling Adventures took us on an spectacular two-hour tour up to the deserted old mining town of Atta.
- Western gear: I don’t know what it is about the west that gets under a man’s skin but this is the place to get kitted out like an extra from True Grit. I stopped after stocking up on leather and horsehair belts, a rancher’s palm hat (perfect nape-to-nose coverage for a Bermuda summer) and ranch-hand jeans that claimed to be “cowboy tested”. Not on Brokeback Mountain, I hope. Then again, Telluride is hosting Gay Ski Week the week after we left. Would have just loved to have seen the RuPaul Drag Race, darling.
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