Apple's iPod and Apple TV overhauls

Mr. Jobs was at it again earlier today. Apple revealed some cool overhauls and changes to their lineup. It seems like every time he gets on stage, I feel myself digging in my pockets with a deep desire to purchase what he is talking about. Though I will say, the iPod Touch overhaul is starting to make me consider on jumping in for one. But I already have an iPhone....SO WHAT!!? Here is a quick rundown:

Sixth-generation iPod nano
* New Look and Feel (Touchscreen with iPhone-ish feel) NICE!
* Integrated Clip
* No video

Fourth-generation iPod touch
* Front and Rear facing cameras
* Face Time App available
* Built-in microphone (yeaaahh... no more headphones)
* Even thinner!!

Second-generation Apple TV
* Much smaller
* Supports 720p video, Frame Rate (30fps)
* HDMI only
* Price drop to $99

For more details on these announcements, checkout this article here. [via Macworld]



by James Dunn
Senior Editor, Bmonkey

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Apple offering FREE iPhone 4 cases

You may have already heard that many people have had complaints about reception with their new iPhone 4. Apple has announced that they will be offering FREE cases. At first glance, we were shocked at some of the quality cases they are offering. I initially expected variations of the Apple Bumper only... but here is the wrap on what they are offering:

Apple iPhone 4 Bumper (MSRP $30)
The Apple Bumper Case offers minimum protection, but allows you to fully show-off your new investment. The bumper only covers the outer rim, and leaves the front and back fully exposed. It does, however, provide a slight lip for lay-down protections.



Incase Snap Case (MSRP $30)
The Incase Snap Case offers basic protection. I covers that back and the sides of your phone (buttons are exposed). The top, bottom, and screen are fully exposed. This case allows you to still use many docks and accessories sine the ports are exposed. There is a cutout on the back for the camera and flash. You have the choice between Black and Smoke.



Belkin Shield Micra (MSRP $25)
THe Belkin Shield Micra is similar to the Incase Snap Case above, but it provides protection all around your phone. They are only offering it in the CLEAR color. This case offers pretty good protection and still allows you to fancy the full details of your iPhone 4 in full view.



Griffin Motif (MSRP $20)
The Griffin Motif is made of the TPU material. They are offering it in a smoke color with a diamond pattern on the backside.



Grtiffin Reveal Etch (MSRP $30)
The Griffin Reveal Etch is has a hard polycarbonate back with a rubber rim for the side protection. The back has a black graphite etch pattern for detail. The rubber surround offers great shock protection.



Speck Fitted (Dark Tartan Plaid) (MSRP $30)
The Speck Fitted Case has a fabric pattern on the backside that offers a cool and look to it. The case fits nice and snug, without a lot of bulk. There are cutouts for the buttons and camera. If you like the design of this case, you may want to try this one out.



Speck PixelSkin HD ($30)
The Speck PixelSkin HD is a rubber feeling case that has a plastic pixel texture on the backside. The buttons are covered (except for the sleep switch), and it seems to offer pretty good shock absorption qualities.



CONCLUSION
These are some pretty good choices for free cases. We haven't done full hands-on reviews on all these, so we don't have a strong recommendation. And it really depends on what type of protection you are looking for. If it is that hard to choose, just close your eyes and throw a dart! Hey,... it's free.

For more information on the iPhone 4, go to the APPLE WEBSITE.



by James Dunn
Senior Editor, Bmonkey

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Macbook Giveaway August 27th

What is the deal?
Bmonkey is giving away a Macbook Pro 13" notebook (details) on August 27th. People have been saying we are crazy to give away Macbooks, but what would you expect anything less from a bunch of monkeys?


How to enter on TWITTER
All you have to do is Retweet the given message below and you are entered. Simply tweet the following.

RT to Win a Macbook Pro @Budgetmonkey. Details http://bit.ly/cFbJTr


RULES
1. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter. Winner will be notified and announced on August 30th, 2010.
2. Contest ends Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 11:59pm PST.
3. The winning prize will be a Macbook Pro (details).
4. One winner only.
5. Usage of scripts or automated tweeting processes of any kind will disqualify you from the contest.
6. Creating multiple Twitter accounts to increases chances of winning will disqualify you from the contest.
7. No purchase necessary to enter.
8. Once contacted, winner will be responsible for providing the correct mailing address and personal information.
9. All entrants must be 14 years of age or older.
10. 1 entry (tweet) per day only. Multiple entries in a single day will be disqualified. So please don't spam your followers... GOOD LUCK!

NEW iPhone 4 unveiled

As you may know by now, the new iPhone 4 was recently unveiled. And I have to say, Steve Jobs knows how to pack a punch! Slimmer...faster... and loaded with more improvements than I expected. Here is a quick rundown:

A new high resolution display called Retina Display increases the overall pixel count by four times, allowing for an extremely sharp display screen.

The new phone is 25% thinner and sports the A4 processor that also runs the iPad. The camera has been enhanced to 5 megapixels and has a backside illuminated sensor which can now record HD video.

It has a battery life of up to 7 hours on 3G talk time and up to 6 hours on 3G browsing, again much more than its predecessor. The iOS 4 software will also allow for high resolution text and buttons on applications.

iPhone 4 will retail at $199 for the 16GB model in white and black colors and will hit the stores on June 24th in US, France, Germany, UK and Japan.

[via Engadget]

Let's not forget that they have introduced what they call "Facetime." This is basically video phone calls over a wifi connection. Not bad! Stay tuned for more information as the release gets closer. And we already have a bunch of accessories lined up! I don't know about you... but are you having trouble keeping up?

For more information on the iPhone 4, go to the APPLE WEBSITE.



by James Dunn
Senior Editor, Bmonkey

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Macbook Pro Giveaway

What is the deal?
Bmonkey is giving away a Macbook Pro 13" notebook (details) on December 15th. There are 2 ways to enter. You can enter by using TWITTER, or YOUTUBE. You can even enter on both. People have been saying we are crazy to give away Macbooks, but what would you expect anything less from a bunch of monkeys?


How to enter on TWITTER
All you have to do is Retweet the given message and you are entered. I can only imagine how many people are Retweeting this as we speak. Simply tweet the following.


RT to Win a Macbook Pro from @Budgetmonkey. Details here: http://


How to enter on YOUTUBE
Go to our channel and follow the video instructions here.



RULES
1. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter. Winner will be announced on twitter.com/budgetmonkey and via our Youtube Channel on December 15, 2010.
2. Contest ends Monday, December 14, 2009 at 11:59pm PST.
3. The winning prize will be a Macbook Pro (details).
4. One winner only.
5. Usage of scripts or automated tweeting processes of any kind will disqualify you from the contest.
6. Creating multiple Twitter accounts to increases chances of winning will disqualify you from the contest.
7. No purchase necessary to enter.
8. Once contacted, winner will be responsible for providing the correct mailing address and personal information.
9. All entrants must be 14 years of age or older.