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Free shirts, not apples

Want a free T-shirt?  Just go to the new Apple Store in University Park Village in Fort Worth on Saturday morning. They open at 10 am, but you can bet you  won't be alone in line.

Unlike your friends at Dell or even Microsoft, Apple will help fix your computer, iPod or iPhone for FREE at their Genius Bar. Just make sure you get an appointment - walking in the store and waiting could take hours - even at any Apple Store.

It's not a Westin hotel, but there is a Concierge who will greet you as you walk in to guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to instant checkout.

But don't forget about the FREE T-shirt!

-- Gregg Ellman

More on the Apple fire

MacWorld is reporting that the fire earlier this week at Apple’s Cupertino campus did about $2 million in damage according to local fire departments.

The story also stated that the fire started accidentally, -  attributing the cause to construction work being done on the building, where workers were welding on the buidling’s roof.

Read more about it here, but don't let my next MacBook have fire, smoke or water damage!

-- Gregg Ellman

Good for the Apple

Those looking for the iPhone will not have to search for an Apple store starting next month. This should be welcome relief, especially since they are sure to be hot sellers this coming holiday season.

Apple stores are not nearly as common as Best Buy stores (our Fort Worth Apple store opens August 23!) but we seem to have a Best Buy around as common as CVS and Walgreen's.

A Minneapolis Star Tribune report today in the Star-Telegram said the phones will be available at all of Best Buys 965 U.S. stores on Sept. 7.

I recently went with a co-worker to an Apple store for her to get an iPhone and there were no lines and took less then five minutes to sign her up and get the phone activated.

The news should be good to bring shoppers into Best Buy since their sales have slacked recently according to the report. Lets just hope no more fires (see below) at Apple low down the production.

-- Gregg Ellman

Baked apple

It was both good and bad for Apple on the news front today.

First the bad news. A report on Yahoo news said a fire damaged the Apple research facility on Tuesday around 10 p.m. where more then 60 firefighters had to battle the fire and black smoke.

The fire was contained to the second floor and was out in about three hours. Authorities felt the fire started under an air conditioning unit in the building where at least 100 Apple employees work.

Maybe a little sale in the works for some fire damaged goodies?

-- Gregg Ellman
Photo: AP

Mac keyboard

Mac users can get the Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard later this month.

Bluetooth technology will connect the rechargeable keyboard to your Mac. Included with it is TouchDisc to help launch media such as music or videos without the need of scrolling so you can use the keyboard on your lap.

One touch keys allow for instant launching of Mac programs such as Apple Mail, Safari and iTunes

It measures (L x W x H): 16.14 x 8.27 x 0.43.

Get more information at www.logitech.com.

-- Gregg Ellman

New MacBook's from Apple

This week, Apple has rolled out new models of its laptops: MacBook and MacBook Pro.

They both have the Intel Core 2 Duo processors. The MacBook Pro has up to a 2.6GHz processor, a 300GB hard drive and the Apple exclusive Multi-Touch trackpad.

The MacBook has three models with faster processors and hard drives with 120GB or 160GB.

Prices for the MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 and the MacBook at $1,099.

-- Gregg Ellman

Smaller is Bigger for less $$: iPod shuffle

Apple now has a 2GB iPod shuffle, expected to be in the stores later this month for $69.

The original 1GB shuffle will now only cost $49.

Both tiny portable music players weigh just half an ounce and can be worn on belt clips or carried in pockets. They come in five colors — silver, blue, green, purple and a RED special edition.

-- Gregg Ellman

Available now: Drive Genius 2

Drive Genius 2, a utility software for Apple computers is now available.

The software will maintain, manage and optimize a hard drive with features such as disk defrag, directory repair and repartition.

Get it online at www.prosoftengineering.com for $99 and at Apple Stores, CompUSA, Fry's Electronics, ClubMac, MacMall, Other World Computing, MacConnection and Amazon.com

-- Gregg Ellman