April Fools posts

iLounge, in what they describe as "bowing to industry pressure," announced today that previously-free site offerings will now be fee-based. The new subscription service, dubbed iLounge Gold, will provide iLounge.com access for $12.95 a month. Or, if readers prefer, they can pay 99 cents -- much like iTunes -- per page visit. They're also launching a new service called iPod Buddies, "a $65/hour iTunes assistance service for needy readers."

And there's more: "iLounge will also test previously unacceptable content tweaks, including an all-nude version of its iPods Around the World photo galleries, reviews by accessory and service providers, and viral Forum advertising."

Sweet. This looks like a great deal, sign me up.

Well mark this a win in the "Stick it to Apple Corps" column: According to TheMacObserver, Apple today unveiled a brand new corporate logo, replacing the legendary bitten apple that Mac fans have grown to recognize and love. From TMO: "'We look forward to moving forward under our new corporate identity," said Apple vice president Phil Schiller in a statement. 'This gives us the opportunity to start our marketing off with a clean slate.'"

Here, here. I'm digging it, though I'm a bit skeptical that a birthday cupcake-like design may eventually get, I don't know, old. And what happens when Apple reaches 50 or 60 and starts to want to avoid birthday celebrations like some guy going through a mid-life crisis? Then what? It'll be constantly reminded every day that it's getting old and is no longer the energetic, motorcycle-drivin' ladies man it used to be.

Whatever. I'm sure Apple knows what it's doing...it just feels like the company is getting a tattoo that ten years down the road, when its arm is all wrinkly and the tattoo looks like a garbled drawing on a wet scrunched up rag, it's gonna regret it -- and no acid in the world could burn it off.

Well, good luck Apple. Here's to the future!