New iRiver Clix 2 MP3 Player Looks Sweet

iRiver's new gen 2 Clix MP3 player looks like a great new alternative to the iPod Nano. Right now, it's only available in a 4gb model for an MSRP of $199, but hopefully by the holidays the prices will drop a little and they'll have an 8gb version.

Check out the stellar review over at EverythingUSB.

Here's the product page on iRiver America.

Microsoft Releases Early Beta of 'Acropolis'

Microsoft has released CTP 1 of codename 'Acropolis'. Acropolis helps developers build modular .NET applications. It's primary focus appears to be WPF, but it supports WinForms UI components as well.

These tools and components will ship as an add-on to Visual Studio 2008, and Brad Abrams says they will become part of Visual Studio and the .NET Framework in a future release beyond that.

You can download the bits here, and there are already several resources to help get you starting in building your own Acropolis-based UIs.

Acropolis page on WindowsForms.net

Getting Started video

Help File on MS Downloads

Brad Abrams' blog has several good Acropolis links


Go forth and build!

Invited to Join Microsoft Popfly

I requested an received an invitation to test drive the Microsoft Popfly Alpha. Things are really just getting rolling there, but so far it shows a lot of promise, I think. I haven't spent much time with it yet, so I'll keep this brief. More to come as I get to know the tool better...