Tuesday, July 31, 2001
News
FireWire Gets Another Hug From Microsoft
Microsoft has adopted a vision called eHome, which is similar to Apple's Digital Hub vision.
Easiness Of Use Big Perk
The Des Moines lawyer has been addicted to Macs since she bought one in the early 1980s.
Apple's OS X Is A Work In Progress
Operating system needs more apps and driver support, say solutions providers.
Hotel Chian Offers Wireless Net Access
The Four Seasons Resort, long known for pampering guests with Jack Nicklaus golf courses and French buffets, hopes to spoil business travelers with its newest luxury: wireless Internet access.
Opinion
Discussion: License The Mac OS... Again
MacDonald's
Basically Apple would become the franchisor and would seek out entrepreneurs to start a franchise in their respective area.
Why I Prefer Macs In The Classroom
Adobe's 800-Pound Gorilla On The Apple OS X Sidelines
When it comes to Apple OS X, where does a 500-pound gorilla like Photoshop sit?
Wintel
Icons Cluttering Up Windows Space
"The Microsoft case really got off in earnest when the Texas attorney general's office began investigating Compaq's complaints that Microsoft went in and upset a deal Compaq had with Netscape," he said. And on Monday, it seemed to some people that Microsoft was interfering in a deal that Compaq had made with AOL, which is the current owner of Netscape.
Monday, July 30, 2001
News
Adobe Says Sales May Slip
Adobe Systems said Monday that it should match its targets for third-quarter earnings but cautioned that sales could fall short.
Opinion
The Best Part Of Waking Up
AirPort and Bluetooth complement each other really well.
Review
Breakout
Whether it was trying to capture a new generation of Breakout fans or simply an assumption that the traditional Breakout theme was in need of a renovation, MacSoft's Breakout falls far short of achieving a new, successful formula for the arcade classic.
Put That Mac Back To Work As AN MP3 Jukebox
Building an MP3 jukebox lets you appreciate the music you already own—in ways that only recently became possible.
G4 Upgrade Cards: Give A Boost To Your Power Mac G3
iBook (Dual USB) DVD-ROM
If you can survive the screen real-estate, you'll definitely be very satisfied with Apple's extremly serviceable consumer-line laptop.
Wintel
IBM Raises Stakes For Wireless Notebooks
IBM is trying to take a bite out of Apple Computer with the introduction of new wireless-capable notebooks.
Truce Or Dare
The BSA's Truce Campaign is giving businesses fits, causing some to consider alternative products for the first time.
Code Red: Is This The Apocalypse?
If you do nothing else today, make sure you patch your computer system against the Code Red worm.
Microsoft Wants MSN Icons On Some PCs
Microsoft Corp. will require some computer makers to post a prominent link to its MSN Internet-access service when they ship computers loaded with Microsoft's new Windows XP software this fall, the company said.
Intel Ups Ante In Notebook Race
A new line of mobile processors Intel plans to announce Monday will clear the way for notebooks that deliver more bang for the buck.
Sunday, July 29, 2001
Top Stories
Despite Raves For iBook, Tide Still Turns Against Apple
Even many of the biggest fans of Apple Computer's new iBook say they doubt that the company's latest laptop will be enough to revive Apple's fortunes in the college market.
News
Apple Computer Teaching Teachers Technology
Leaving their chalk boards in the dust, about 100 public school teachers from across the country have descended on the University of Texas at Austin to learn lessons on digital cameras and wireless lap top computers.
Wintel
Windows ME Memory Leak
Unused RAM gets hoarded, causing slowdowns and crashes.
For Now, Rivals See Microsoft As Savior
Tech firms, needing sales, shelve disputes to root for Windows XP.
Saturday, July 28, 2001
Top Stories
Mac OS X 10.0: A MacFixIt Perspective
The good news is that troubleshooting the OS has been easier than might have been expected - given the totally new nature of the OS.
News
The Apple Store Offering Refurbished Products
Apple Brand Ranks 49th In The World
Apple ranks 49th in Business Week's assessment of the world's most valuable brands.
867MHz Power Mac G4 Clocked To 1GHz+
A Japanese 867MHz Power Mac G4 owner claims to have souped his machine up to 1.067GHz with a simple (ish) flip of a few resistors on the new machine's motherboard.
Opinion
On Being A 1st-Class Citizen: Maybe Apple Shouldn't Buy DAVE And VirtualPC After All
In case you didn't hear, OS X 10.1 will have SMB (Samba) compatibility, which means that it will be able to file share and printer share with any SMB server, i.e., your everyday, modern Windows network.
Review
OS X 10.1
Certainly, this update appears promising—and much faster.
Wintel
SirCam Worm Built To Last
Antivirus experts expect the SirCam virus to take a breather over the weekend, but it may pick up new steam as vacationing Europeans return to work Monday.
Xbox's "Shrek" Steals Microsoft Show
It may not be the key to boosting profits at the world's largest software company, but a flatulent green ogre stole the limelight at Microsoft's annual pitch to Wall Street analysts.
Ballmer 'Shocked And Dismayed' By XP Criticsim
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer told analysts late yesterday that he was "shocked and dismayed" by the criticisms of Windows XP and the way competitors had attacked it.
MS Scoffs At Windows Worries
Neither flood nor famine nor pestilence nor federal intervention will prevent Windows XP from being released on Oct. 25, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft To Offer Last Windows XP Test
Microsoft is preparing to clear an important hurdle for delivering Windows XP, but outside forces still could trip up the new operating system.
Friday, July 27, 2001
News
Show 19 Is Posted Of The Macinchat Variety Show
Macinchatradio.com show 19 is ready to roll!
Thatís right, itís the show that has hit the Macintosh community with the force of 15 nuclear bombs (well, maybe 3 or 4 firecrackers if you want to get technical), itís the mind-altering ìMacinchat Variety Show,î on tap for show number 19. Yes, we have been churning out this nonsense for over 19 weeks and we have no intention of stopping, so donít bother asking!
This weekís show debuts the (canít mention sponsors here) Pirate (donít even ask). We have some new segments like ëStump the Mac Geeksí and the strange ìMacinchat Theater.î We also have tons of prizes to give away, so listen to the whole show—even the bitter end. And, yes, ëEd MacManí is back for some more lowbrow humor, as well as the Top 9.6b4, which Mr. Sac will not be writing ever again.
So sit back and join the 2 hosts that have officially changed their show names to thwart the pipe bombs, death threats, mail bombs, MX Missiles, crazy groupies, machine gun fire, and drive-by putdowns by Windows users everywhere. We also suggest you grab your favorite alcoholic beverage so you can play the Macinchat drink-along gameóafter listening to this episode, you will hear all about the NEW official Macinchat beer sponsor!
As usual, if you are sensitive to bodily noises and/or functions and/or strong language, we suggest you listen via headphones and put the children in the other room. Youíve been warned.
Hear the show at the official site: http:// www.macinchatradio.com
_______________
The Macinchat Radio Network
Upstate NY
________________
Listen to the weekly internet-based comedy show called 'The Macinchat
Variety Show,' located at http://www.macinchatradio.com, starring MrSac
and The Shark
EXCLUSIVE: Omni Boss Lauds OS X
Omni Group founder Wil Shipley has lauded Mac OS X as a dream for developers and gamers alike.
Poll: Apple 'disappoints' At Expo
A massive 44 per cent of voters were "disappointed" with the speed-bumped iMacs and faster, silver Power Mac G4s.
Program Aims To Prepare Pupils For Artistic, Web-Enhanced World
180 seventh- and eighth-graders will be selected for after-school BananaSmart computer skills training for the school year.
Opinion
PC Or Mac? Decision Has Become Tougher This Year
The choices are particularly tough this year, with Microsoft and Apple Computer releasing Windows XP and OS X, major revisions to the most popular personal-computer operating systems in the world.
What Is A Mac OS X Application, Anyway?
With Darwin, XWindows, as well as Classic, Cocoa and Carbon APIs, Mac OS X's applications come in strange new flavors these days.
Wintel
Microsoft Reshuffles Windows Roadmap, Full .NET Delayed?
Microsoft will fire out an intermediate release to Windows XP and push back Blackcomb, which was supposed to include full .NET plumbing, to 2003 or 2004.
AMD To Take Mobile Athlon 4 To 1.3GHz By Year's End
AMD is set to accelerate its mobile Athlon 4 processor to 1.1GHz in the coming months, with 1.2GHz and 1.3GHz versions of the chip coming in Q4.
Microsoft Says It Doesn't Expect Objections To Delay Windows XP
Microsoft told financial analysts Thursday that its newest operating system will come out on schedule despite pressure from government antitrust enforcers and rivals.
Microsoft Refutes Privacy Concerns Surrounding XP
Microsoft today refuted claims that the "Passport" identification system set to be bundled with the release of Windows XP poses a threat to the privacy of Windows users.
Hotmail: How Much Filtering Is Too Much?
A new spam filter for Microsoft's Hotmail service is not only bouncing $198 Florida land deals and instant diplomas from in-boxes, it's also thwarting e-mail sent from subscribers to themselves.
Thursday, July 26, 2001
Top Stories
Time For Apple To Decide About .Net
The best way to make sure Mac users remain full Web citizens is for either Microsoft or Apple to port Microsoft's .Net Framework Common Language Runtime (CLR) to the Mac. The problem is who is going to do it.
Fun At The Apple Store
The Apple Store stood out as a unique experience, which is understandable given its mission.
News
Be Revenues Rise 615% To $715,000
For "customers" read 'customer' - Sony to be precise.
Apple Squares Off With Dell In Education Market
Apple Computer holds the largest share of the installed computer base in U.S. public schools, but Dell Computer is shipping more new units, according to research firm IDC.
Magician Jobs Runs Out Of Tricks - For Now
Steve Jobs had just three hours of sleep before he took the stage at New York's Macworld Expo and, frankly, it showed.
Opinion
There Is A Gap In Apple's Product Line And It Is Not The PDA
As much as I would like to see an LCD iMac, I think such a mid-range portable would be even more popular and significantly more profitable.
Review
Installing Mac OS X Is Quick And Easy
The new OS was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
American McGee's Alice
Although the delivery is skewed by uninteresting combat encounters and unique but unsatisfying weapons, the game has undeniable appeal for its mind-boggling environments, wacky characters, and a story befitting of the Lewis Carroll classic.
Apple iMac
With more CPU horsepower and a few extra features, Apple clearly hopes to stretch the life cycle of the iMac.
What To Do With Your Old Power Mac
What can you do with a first-generation Power Mac?
Rock With Your Dock Out
There are now a couple dozen Docklings and Dock-aware applications, whose icons display dynamic information in the Dock.
Finding The Right Flat-Panel Display
Besides the obvious desktop fashion advantages, you'll get the benefits of the single-cable ADC connection scheme and the all-digital signal path.
Wintel
Microsoft Users Told Not To Miss Deadline
The Federation Against Software Theft (Fast) has begun a campaign to urge companies not to use Microsoft's recent extension to the deadline on licensing changes as a cue to ignore them.
Swiss Microsoft Site Pulls Racy Ad
When it comes to racy Microsoft advertisements, perhaps the motto should be: Now you see it, now you don't.
Windows XP Is Good, But Don't Fall For The Hype
Windows XP, for all it's glitter and shine, doesn't fundamentally change the nature of computing and you don't have to feel guilty for ignoring the huge wave of marketing hype Microsoft is about to send crashing around us.
SirCam Worm Snatches FBI Documents
A cybercrime researcher at the FBI slipped up while handling a virulent Internet worm, allowing it to e-mail official documents to outsiders, the agency said Wednesday.
Intel At Odds With Rivals Over Standard
A group of Intel rivals is gaining steam in backing a new standard for connecting various chips inside computers, but Intel is plotting a major counterattack to solidify support for its competing standard.
Wednesday, July 25, 2001
Top Stories
AAPL Shares: Great Expectations
Apple is using the economic slowdown to prepare for eventual blue skies and rainbows.
Mac Mystique
There is something about Macs that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd and something about those who love Macs that separates them from the legions content to live under the Wintel (Windows/Intel) empire.
Opinion
The Curse Of Being Apple
It really kind of sucks to be Apple these days. No matter what they do, their adoring fans will likely clobber them.
Why SGI Should Be In Apple's Eye
Acquiring SGI would allow Apple to cover all the bases, ranging from e-mail and word processing through 3D artists, developers, all the way to enterprise servers.
Review
MacLink Plus 13
Performance is sufficient in MacLink Plus 13, although it falls victim to the slow menu re-draws, long launch time, and window opening stagger problems that plague most Carbonized apps.
Guide To Rare & Collectible Macs
This is my guide to Macs that you probably don't see every day and that might be worth more than the average Mac a few decades from now.
Font Management In Mac OS X
In 1984, the original Macintosh brought the world a visually integrated computer, and initiated what I've been calling the "Font Decade," where CEOs and homemakers alike learned the difference between Times and Helvetica.
Choices Of All-In-One Machines Starting To Add Up
All-in-one printer-copier-scanners are becoming so inexpensive that there's almost no reason to buy a plain old printer.
Wintel
Microsoft Backs Down To Kids Charity
Microsoft Australia has given some ground in its spat with a non-profit organization which uses its operating system on recycled computers donated to kids.
Microsoft To Spend $5.3 Billion For R&D
MS, Borland Go On A Youth Movement
In separate announcements this week, Microsoft and Borland are seeking to engage the loyalty of future software developers with new versions of their respective programming tools.
The Mysteries Of Windows XP
The general suspicion was that through the new Windows system, Microsoftís aim was to gather personal data to be used for reasons other than the official ones.
Open-Source Brouhaha: Missing The Point
Something strange is happening in San Diego this week.
MS Welcomed With Open-Source Arms
OK, that's exaggerating things a bit.
Save Java!
Can computer makers and rebel programmers stop Microsoft from cutting off the programming language's air supply?
Microsoft Wrestles With New OS
Microsoft has deviated from its initial plans to have the operating system code-named Blackcomb succeed Windows XP, instead adding a new release to its product rollout strategy currently code-named Longhorn.
Famous Photos Frozen Forever
Talk about creepy. Bill Gates' minions are currently laying the floor for a 10,000 square foot, tomblike facility in rural Pennsylvania to preserve, in part, an image of Albert Einstein's tongue.
Tuesday, July 24, 2001
Opinion
Macworld Lacks Flash Of The Past
The presentation dragged on for more than two hours — long enough to start veteran Apple-watchers thinking back to Jobs' predecessor, Gil Amelio.
Review
Burn, Baby, Burn: No SuperDrive? No Problem
Although Apple packages its iDVD application exclusively with SuperDrive-equipped G4s, Mac users can turn to several DVD-creation apps, all of which will work with the new Pioneer drive.
From Screen Saver To Eye Reliever
To add some variety, why not turn your static screen saver into a slide show?
Wintel
Time Favors Microsoft As XP's Debut Approaches
For both sides, a critical date is late August, when the final version of Microsoft's operating system, Windows XP, is scheduled to be sent to computer manufacturers for inclusion in new systems to be sold after Oct. 25, the date XP goes on sale in stores.
Buy Windows XP And Grapple Women's Breasts
Promising you "The unexpected Experience", the Beast of Redmond's new Swiss ad for the operating system features an attractive young lady and her boyfriend getting it on in a living room somewhere.
Penny-Pinching PC Makers Stash Chips
The PC industry is mired in one of its worst slumps ever, but you might not know that from looking at recent numbers for chip leaders Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.
Ballmer Talks .Net; McNealy Scoffs
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Monday the company's software-as-service strategy will not generate significant profits for several years—a position that drew a hailstorm of criticism.
SirCam Clogs Mailboxes, Spreads Secrets
The SirCam worm continued to gain momentum Monday, carrying with it the potential not only to slow corporate e-mail servers but also to send along company secrets.
Happy Birthday To The PC
The PC turns 20 on Aug. 12, and it's been a wild and tumultuous childhood.
Monday, July 23, 2001
Top Stories
Pioneering Spirit Lives On At Apple
"If we don't miss once in a while, we aren't trying hard enough."
Cool As Ice
At 4.9 pounds, Apple's new snow-white iBook is trimmer and lighter than the model it replaces, yet it dwarfs other lightweight consumer portables when it comes to features.
Wintel
Microsoft Releases CE Source Code
Friday's announcement sees a new licence which has at the very least the virtue of simplicity.
Sunday, July 22, 2001
News
Absence Of Showstopper Takes Shine Off Apple Show
Steve Jobs pulled an IOU out of the hat, not a rabbit, announcing the Sept. release of OS X 10.1, and providing faster, more bang-to-the-buck desktop machines.
This Year's Mac Meet Is Meatless
Jobs did manage to keep his sense of humor.
Opinion
Apple's Jobs Maintains Calm In The Face Of Failure
Jobs keynotes are like that. Everyone feels involved.
Saturday, July 21, 2001
Top Stories
Fervor Sustains Mac Users In A Windows World
It's not as if Windows users don't also make a conscious choice to purchase a machine with that operating system. But I don't see the same sense of mission.
Procesors Won't Keep Their Cool
Few manufacturers have shown much interest in following Apple's lead.
Macworld Expo Through Andy Ihnatko's Eyes
With this keynote, Mac OS X stops being a niche and starts being reality. The most significant thing Steve Jobs did the whole morning concerned Mac OS 9.2: he didn't mention it at all.
Best Of Show Awards Announced
"The Best of Show winners exemplify the tremendous commitment of developers to the Macintosh platform."
News
Macworld: Still The Hottest Ticket In Town
The fruits of that innovation haven't been seen just yet, but Apple continues to focus on the concept of the computer as the digital hub of the home ó a strategy that could offer consumers compelling reasons to buy new hardware.
Apple Looks Ahead
In a private meeting with eWEEK, Apple Computer Inc. executives expanded on topics raised at this week's Macworld Expo conference here. They revealed additional technical details about the company's new Power Mac G4 systems and possible directions for Mac OS X 10.1, the upcoming operating system revision.
Macworld Expo: Upgrade Or Bust
With not much in the way of fancy new hardware and with many major software titles still not optimized for Mac OS X, much of the show floor at Macworld Expo here was devoted to ways to upgrade your existing Mac.
MSN Messenger 2.0 Now Out For The Mac
MSN Messenger Service 2.0, Microsoft's Internet messaging service, is now available for the Mac.
Microsoft: Seeing The World Through Aqua-Colored Glasses
Arrival of fully native Office could spur more users to switch to OS X.
AAPL Holds The Line At $19.98
Whatever one's opinion on the topic may be, it's clear that Apple investors have reacted to the news this week by overwhelming the demand for shares of AAPL with supply.
Apple And Intel: Fuzzy Outlooks
Both companies reported decent quarterly numbers after the close Tuesday. It's the next quarter that has investors worried.
Opinion
I'm Glad Steve Jobs Didn't Announce Any New Products During His Keynote
There was more substance in Wednesday's keynote address than what is represented by the Mac web's reaction.
Start Standing In Line...
The hopes of keynote attendees, documented on film.
Review
Apple iBook Is Elegant, Affordable Laptop
The iBook is one of those gadgets that makes you smile as you fiddle with its most mundane details.
Wintel
SirCam Worm Threatens PC Damage
Security experts warned Friday of a fast-spreading new worm that could delete files and fill up the hard drives of infected computers.
Friday, July 20, 2001
News
Microsoft Outlines .Net Plans For The Mac
The current plan — and this could change — was for the MacBU to develop and offer two versions of Office.
More Power, Less Flower
On the other hand, Apple is evidently backing away from price competition with low-end PCs.
Apple Puts Emphasis On Upgrading Products
Analysts said that while Jobs' presentation lacked any flashy new products or other announcements, advances on the company's computer line were likely to keep buyers coming, especially its loyal following of artists and graphic designers.
Apple Pins Hopes On Mac OS X
"Apple's future is a lot more Mac OS X than whether a flat-panel iMac comes out three months from now."
MacNN Meets With Microsft: Office 10, More
The software includes functions that take full advantage of the Aqua interface, makes use of underlying functionality in OS X, and implements some features that Windows Office users would likely kill for, but are available only on the Mac.
Mini Optical Mouse Designed For TiPB, Mac OS X Users
With its built-in optical sensor, the MiniPRO Ti will work on just about any surface and requires no cleaning.
Review
Wintel
Hotmail Upgrade Burns Up
Microsoft's plans for a Hotmail face-lift went awry Tuesday night as the company quickly withdrew an upgrade amid undisclosed technical problems.
New Worm Keeps Them Guessing
A new, fast-spreading virus that appears to have the antivirus companies hopelessly confused is in the wild.
MS Leads Earnings Deluge
Overall, the company earned a penny a share — which is what it said it would earn.
Thursday, July 19, 2001
Top Stories
Jobs' Options: Worth $872 Million? Or Zip?
What Fortune's otherwise insightful article neglected to mention is that Apple shares have fallen off a cliff since Jobs' grant.
News
iDVD2 Announced
In a boon for would-be DVD designers, iDVD 2.0 will allow for much more free-form interface creation.
Microsoft Pumps Up Support For The Mac
In contrast to yesterday's keynote address by Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs, this morning's presentation by Kevin Browne, general manager of Microsoft Corp.'s Macintosh Business Unit, featured multiple product announcements, including MSN Messenger 2.0 and Windows Media Player for Mac OS X.
Apple Unveils No Big Surprises
The rumors about what Apple Computer would announce Wednesday at the Macworld Conference and Expo were almost universally wrong.
Nothing New At Macworld?
The general feeling among those milling around the iMac display is that the flat-panel machine will surface "for sure" at Macworld San Francisco in January.
Apple Won't Ship Mac OS X 10.1 Until September
Since Apple will be shipping the upgrade on CD, expect it to be a very large download.
Quick Taste Of X: It's Smooth
Judging by Jobs' demo and a brief chance to play with the system after the keynote at Apple's Macworld booth, Mac OS X 10.1 does deliver improved performance over previous versions of the system.
LaCie Releases 48GB PocketDrive
The new drive features both USB and FireWire interface assuring maximum speed and compatibility, and is designed as a mobile storage solution for multimedia professionals and hobbyists.
Opinion
Apple Bites In The Big Apple
You mean we stayed up all night, high on Red Bull and Powerbars, for this?
Review
Have You Tried Desktop Video Editing Yet?
Despite its promise, digital video editing has been slow to make it into the mainstream.
Wintel
Peer Name Michael Dell Top CEO
Dell, 36, is the youngest executive to win the award, which has also been given to Intel's Andy Grove and Microsoft's Bill Gates.
Dell Says Computer Demand May Rebound In 2nd Half
A combination of new products and economic factors should help boost computer demand in a few months, Dell Computer Corp. Chairman Michael Dell said on Thursday.
Dell Reaffirms Outlook, Trumpets Success
Dell Computer reaffirmed its previous earnings outlook for the second quarter Thursday, ahead of its annual meeting with shareholders.
Viral, Bogus MS Bulletins Shuttered
The Web sites of two bogus Microsoft security bulletins were closed down on Wednesday after they were discovered to contain malicious code that could cripple infected computers.
Glitches Hinder Hotmail Upgrade
Microsoft's plans for a Hotmail face-lift went awry Tuesday night as the company quickly withdrew an upgrade amid undisclosed technical problems.
Microsoft Asks Court To Revisit Browser Ruling
Microsoft on Wednesday petitioned an appeals court to rehear part of its antitrust case.
Intel: Yes, We Have No Money
The chipmaker turns its pockets inside out, and it gets a pass from most of the press.
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Top Stories
The Real Macworld
Has any trade show done this much advertising, ever?
News
OS X: Coming Soon
Nicknamed "Puma," the OS X 10.1 update will include a faster, multi-threading-savvy kernel to improve the OS's performance, as well as enhancements to the Aqua interface. The update also sports some additions that OS X's early adopters have been crying for—namely disk burning and the long-awaited DVD playback feature.
Think Different, Look The Same
Trends in music change at the drop of a hat—and so, too, do iMac colors, apparently.
Jobs Unveils New G4s, iMacs
Wearing his trademark black turtleneck and jeans, Jobs told the packed auditorium that the key to powering through tough economic times is innovation, not fear and caution.
MW Expo: XPress 5 In Keynote Demo
Quark has been working on a native version of XPress since Mac OS X shipped, and it offers all the Web-ready features promised by XPress 5, the forthcoming version of the DTP standard that's due to enter beta-testing within the next few weeks. It also offers a unique, much-requested feature - multiple undos.
MW Expo: Painter 7 Carbonized
Corel today announced its second Carbonized application ñ Painter 7 ñ and revealed its software family is now collected under the umbrella brand-name, Procreate.
Apple Says Wait For Jobs
While the legions of Mac fans await the next visionary words from Jobs, the number-crunchers at Apple headquarters offered news that failed to set Wall Street afire the evening before the much-speculated-upon keynote.
Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Top Stories
'90s Pointers About Apple's Future Proved Prescient
Gathering a cadre of "hardcore Mac fans," editor James Daly suggested "101 Ways to Save Apple." Reading through the lengthy list, it's remarkable how many of the suggestions have been adopted, either knowingly or unknowingly, by the team in Cupertino.
PC Fan Has A Mac Attack
PCs are made in factories where huge robot arms pour molten lead. Macs are gently folded together by elves and gnomes in some tropical blueberry fairyland.
Apple's iMac: Over The Hill At Age 3?
The graying iMac should take center stage this week, but will the appearance be its swan song?
News
Thursby Releases DAVE For OS X For Free
Corel Buys Micrografx
A merger of these two Windows survivors - they were writing for the DOS shell in the 1980s, when almost everyone else was following the advice of Microsoft and IBM and writing for OS/2 - has the melancholy air of a reunion of two ancient war veterans.
Crystal-Gazing Into Macworld Expo
In what has become a semiannual tradition, this week's Macworld Expo/New York has sparked a round of speculation about the Mac wares Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs will unveil at his Wednesday morning keynote.
Analysts Brace For Quarter's Results
Value-Finding Method Leads Investment Chief To Buy Apple By Bushel
Even if the company imploded and someone came in to buy it, Apple's rich brand name and unusually loyal customers would draw at least a decent takeover premium.
A Big Week For Apple Computer
If there's one thing that Apple Computer needs right now, it's a heavy dose of new buzz, the kind of buzz that only a brilliant new product can produce.
Sony's Clie Handheld Can Color Your World
Could Newton the Sequel be on deck for this summer? The chances don't look good, for a few reasons.
Opinion
Is The Web Leaving OS X Behind?
Apple's support of browser development is critical because at this point most consumers expect web browsers to be a free, fundamental component of the OS.
Re: $70 G4 LCD iMac...
Boy did we catch hell from the Macintosh faithful when we blithely suggested last week that Apple Computer should release an iMac consumer computer for $700.
Review
Timely Software Can Sync PC To Atomic Clock
All I need is the right software to periodically check my clock against the atomic timer and make any necessary adjustments.
Magic School Bus Takes Children An Edcuation Trip
Magic School Bus Whales & Dolphins provides a surface look at these unique animals but still serves its purpose to educate and entertain.
Wintel
Microsoft Changing Corporate Sales Strategy
Charles Stevens, vice president of Microsoft's enterprise and partner group, said at the company's Fusion 2001 business partner conference here over the weekend that it will now focus more on selling combined bundles of software packages and services to enterprise users.
Wall Street Wary Ahead Of Intel Results
Analysts and investors will be keeping a close eye on Intel, which reports results after the bell Tuesday, amid more discouraging news regarding the chip sector.
Microsoft Adds Business Analysis To Office XP
Data Analyzer will help users pot sales and marketing opportunities, as the business intelligence market goes mainstream.
Buying Windows 98? Try A Linux For Idiots Guide Too
Action Computers points users towards open source
Oops! Leaked WinXP Code Contains Valid Product Key
The latest WinXP RC1 leak makes the security of Microsoft's preview program download look feeble enough, but it turns out there's more - somebody seems to have left a working product key not very deeply buried in the iso.
Lazy Users Gave IE The Advantage
They're betting on our collective laziness, complacency or ignorance to keep business going as usual.
Monday, July 16, 2001
Top Stories
Apple Stores To Stream Jobs' Expo Keynote
If you live near Glendale, Calif. or McLean, Va. and you you'd like to see Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo keynote presentation with a bunch of other Mac fans, you're in luck.
Apple Fans Await Product News From Macworld
The personal-computer business can seem numbingly predictable, except for the closest thing it has to a rock star: Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs.
News
Apple Stores To Stream Jobs' Expo Keynote
If you live near Glendale, Calif. or McLean, Va. and you you'd like to see Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo keynote presentation with a bunch of other Mac fans, you're in luck.
MWNY: Mac OS X Version Of 'personal Server' Coming
The Servio Personal Server extends the power of personal computing beyond the personal computer and brings the power of Internet sites to individuals, according to info on the Memora Web site.
War Of The Macworlds
Internet news sites devoted to Macintosh computers are at war over pictures of a spiffy new PowerMac G4 machine.
Review
OS X Vs OS 9.1 Firewire Performance
OS X was consistently and significantly faster at Firewire file copies to and from a Firewire drive than OS 9.1.
Power Macintosh G4 Cube
The Cube's greatest design flaw came from design brilliance.
Wintel
Microsoft Gesture Hollow
Context is everything.
Microsoft To Charge For MP3 Ripping
Consumers looking to rip MP3s using Windows XP's media player will have to pay as much as $30 extra for the capability.
Microsoft Australia Turns Its Back On Charity
Microsoft says it has been in discussions with PC's for Kids about how they can work together to ensure compliance.
C#: A Friendlier Tune From Microsoft
The C# language and the accompanying CLI are key to .NET and the future of Windows development. As they are on the ECMA standards track, non-Windows implementations are likely to appear.
This Is Microsoft's Chance
I'm talking about last week's news that two key players in the open-source software movement — the Free Software Foundation and Ximian Inc. — plan to develop Windows-compatible .Net development tools for open-source platforms including Linux.
Does This Change Mark A Beginning?
The only question now is whether Microsoft will apply the same principles to new features in Windows XP.
The Most Powerful New Media People In The UK
You know, the bloke from Microsoft.
Microsoft: Opening Windows
The company's concession on IE icons means little, as the browser war is old news. The real question is whether the Redmond will bend on big issues, like Passport.
Sunday, July 15, 2001
Top Stories
For Cube, The End Was Near From The Very Beginning
Apple shouldn't be dispirited from this commercial failure, which came at the same time as their other unique, beautiful, affordable and performance-laden new models have taken off.
Sweet iBook Evokes Love At First Sight
I can all but guarantee that the iBook is so sweet a sidekick that the delight you'll get as a new user will push aside all of those old Mac vs. PC problems and leave you with just about the most elegant portable computing machine ever created.
The Keynote Cometh
As last year shows, Jobs speech will impact Apple's fortunes long after next week's trade show.
News
The 18th Episode Of 'The Macinchat Variety Show' Is Posted!
The glorious 18th episode of everyone's favorite ear-candy, 'The Macinchat Variety Show,' is posted for your listening pleasure.
Come hear the usual nonsense, including off- the-wall Macintosh news, phoney Mac commercials, fake phone calls to local businesses about the Mac, the top 9.6beta4 list, and everyone's favorite commentator, 'Bruce.' Of course there is more, so you just have to run over there and hear the show!
Check out the 18th episode at http:// www.macinchatradio.com and see one of the hosts (Bill) at MacWorld Expo. He will be giving out CD's and T-shirts, so have him paged!
ComputerTown To Open Under New Management
It's the first effort made by two resellers in the same area banding together in order to provide the same concept as the Apple Stores, but with much more depth.
Apple At Expo: Carpe Desktop
While Mac enthusiasts generally relish their reputation for nonconformity, the semiannual Macworld Expo gatherings have imposed a time-tested rhythm on major Mac news.
Quark Joins The Mac OS X Waiting Game
Quark has became the latest Mac kingmaker to opt for the comfort of the balance sheet over the pain of Steve Jobs' whiplash.
Wintel
Punishing Microsoft: What Would You Do?
The Mercury News asked experts in antitrust, business and technology to explain, in their own words, what they would do if faced with that decision.
All Eyes On Microsoft On Thursday
The real beef will come out of next week's analyst meeting, when CEO Steve Ballmer and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates are set to speak about Microsoft's wild year and what comes next.
Saturday, July 14, 2001
Top Stories
The VisionThing: The Blue Mouse Cometh
Come the end of 2001, all products that Macworld evaluates will be judged by how well they operate in Mac OS X, either natively or in the Classic environment. Software or hardware that does not support OS X at least in Classic mode will not be rated.
Apple Readies Next Round Of Stores
Two months after launching its first brick-and-mortar retail outlets, Apple Computer Inc. is on track to kick its efforts into high gear.
News
Product Lets Mac OS X, Windows File Servers Co-Exist
ExtremeZ-IP "uniquely allows" users of Apple's new Mac OS X to continue to use Windows NT and 2000 file servers easily, company spokesperson Dale Gardner told MacCentral.
Adobe Says It's Behind Mac OS X
In an interview with Ziff Davis Internet, the graphics software giant repeated assurances that its decision to sit out this month's Macworld Expo/New York was driven by financial concerns and that it remains on track to deliver Mac OS X-native versions with the next major revisions of most of its core graphics applications.
Opinion
Mac Myopia
Mac owners don't tend to be jealous of the Windows computers others use. We know the Macs do what we need to do, do it well, and do it with style. They work for us. They are the right tool for the job. What more can you ask of a personal computer?
Review
Customizing The Look Of OS X
There are a host of interface enhancing utilities on the market. These programs do not perform a total make over of the system, a la Classic's Kaleidoscope, but they do allow users to add a personalized touch to their OS X desktop.
Wintel
AMD's Net Profits Plummet
Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices barely beat Wall Street's dramatically lowered expectations for its second-quarter earnings Thursday and gave a grim outlook for the current quarter.
MS Chases Windows Licence Fee From Kids Charity
Reports are coming in from our cousins in Australia that Microsoft has extended its software licence crusade to include kids' charities.
MS Ponders Sweeping Price Changes
Microsoft, reacting swiftly to a recent appeals court ruling on its antitrust case, is considering sweeping changes to its pricing models for hardware vendors and its largest corporate customers.
Government Seeks To Speed Microsoft Case
The government on Friday asked an appeals court to issue an order promptly moving the Microsoft case back to the trial court.
MS Security Chief Talks Raw Sockets With The Reg
Microsoft Warns Of Outlook Vulnerability
Microsoft is warning customers about a flaw in an ActiveX control within its Outlook e-mail software that could let an intruder access their computers.
Friday, July 13, 2001
Top Stories
Apple Takes Bite Of Retail Market
For Apple, the question is whether there will be enough [customers] to make the retail venture worthwhile.
News
Quark Joins The Mac OS X Waiting Game
A Mac OS X version is in the works, but an OS X release now would compromise functionality.
Apple's Eventful Year
New hardware, financial ups and downs, and OS X have marked the last 12 months for Apple.
Corel Brings Bryce To OS X
Bryce allows users to create breathtaking 3D landscapes by including editors for trees, terrain, and other visual aspects.
Review
Apple's Future Looks Flat, And That's OK
I've switched to flat-panel displays on all of my computers, and I can't imagine going back.
TechTool Pro 3.0
Disk problems, virus checking, and extension conflicts are just a few of the ways TechTool Pro keeps your computer in shape. Its skill at tracking down almost any hardware problem makes this a valuable addition to your collection of utilities.
Wintel
Microsoft's Desktop 'Concession' Taken From Same Old Bag Of Tricks
Microsoft, master of misdirection, is up to its usual tricks.
Thursday, July 12, 2001
News
Iomega: Announcements, Demos At Macworld
Peerless is a high capacity removable storage solution that claims to combine hard drive speed and performance, pocket-sized 10GB and 20GB disks, and a reliable sealed disk design.
The Flat Screen Gets Unplugged
"When I shoed it to Bill Gates, he was very excited. Steve Jobs was shocked, even."
Review
Revamped iBook Raises The Bar
Apple has come to its senses and restyled its entry-level notebook and beefed up the features to make it a definite must-see.
Wintel
Big News, Or Windows Dressing?
The computer manufacturers' non-specific responses lent credence to the theory — being proffered by folks all over the Internet at this very moment — that Microsoft's announcement was mostly an empty bit of PR puffery.
Microsoft Shares Jump On Outlook
Microsoft on Wednesday said it would report better-than-expected sales for the fourth quarter, but added it would log an investment loss of $2.6 billion.
Wednesday, July 11, 2001
News
MacLinkPlus Deluxe Optimized For Mac OS X
MacLinkPlus Deluxe 13 for the Macintosh is now available from DataViz — and it's been optimized for Mac OS X. It includes support for the latest versions of Microsoft Word and Excel, as found in Office 2001 and Office XP.
OS X Music And Audio: When Will It Be Ready To Rock?
Sure, you can load up iTunes and listen to music on OS X. But when will OS X be a tool for writing and recording your own music and audio on your Mac? I polled major music and audio developers, and word is, it's still too soon to say
New Group Is Dedicated To QuickTime Developers
The new group aims to provide a resource for all type of QuickTime development, including Web, film, and video.
Opinion
Appearance Themes: A Sledgehammer For Your 1984 Interface
Quite an ironic stance for a company that is supposed to "think different."
Difference Engine: The Macintosh Expo
The most important message from MacWorld New York will be Apple's all-out attack on marketshare.
X On X
Mac OS X has built-in advantages that no other OS currently offers. It will keep the advanced users because of open-source developments that will ultimately take computing beyond anything that even Apple has imagined.
Adobe Has Apple In A Noose?
Either way, Apple needs Adobe.
A $1600 Titanium PowerBook Hinge?
I intend to take this up with Watchdog (a BBC Consumer Affairs TV programme), and my local trading standards office. How can Apple possibly be so arrogant that they are prepared to lose a customer for the sake of a plastic hinge!!!!
Review
Two Cheers For Mac OS X
Despite many bugs, and despite some of its warmed-over hacks, Mac OS X is a fine consumer product.
Great Classroom Computer Buys
It's one of the easiest things in the world to buy a used computer on eBay. It's also about the last place, other than the used resellers, you should look.
Wintel
Microsoft Whinges About "Naked" Computers
Intel Confirms Flaw In Xeon Chip
Intel Corp. confirmed this week it has discovered a flaw in its high-end 900MHz Pentium III Xeon chip that could cause workstations and servers to freeze.
More Layoffs At Compaq
Despite progress in cutting costs, Compaq said a sharper-than-expected slump in the European business market caused worldwide sales to decline 9 percent from the first quarter, to about $8.4 billion from $9.2 billion.
Microsoft Enlists VeriSign For .Net Security
Microsoft said on Tuesday that it has signed up VeriSign, a leading provider of Internet security services and technology, to help build defenses for its .Net array of Web services.
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Top Stories
Dell Denies New Stats Showing Apple Education Lead
According to a recent research report, Apple has over twice as many systems as Dell in use in the educational sector, although Dell maintains that it is the market leader.
The Burning (CD-R) Question
Build a playlist, click on a button and let it burn, baby. My first iTunes CD was so easy to make and so glitch free, I had tears in my eyes.
News
Analysts Positive On Apple Earnings
The recent stability of its share price, and positive predictions from analysts that it would meet its revenue targets indicate a successful quarter, according to industry observers.
OS X For Publishing Pros
New OS has built-in support for file format. Is it enough for publishing pros?
Opinion
Dell Denies New Stats Showing Apple Education Lead
According to a recent research report, Apple has over twice as many systems as Dell in use in the educational sector, although Dell maintains that it is the market leader.
20 Minute Mac Expert
I had only been exposed to that silly looking little computer for about 20 minutes, and I was already an expert!
The PowerBook G3 Power Adapter Recall And Related Issues
I always find it frustrating when issues like this come up and details supplied are maddeningly sketchy.
New Apples Look Like A Good Pick
Macworld Expo in New York next week is expected to attract record crowds, eager to see Steve Jobs feed their constant lust for things new and beautiful. All indications are that some very cool stuff will be unveiled, but precisely what, Apple, as usual, is not saying.
New eWorld Order: Apple's Revolutionary Marketing Tool
eWorld's theme of the town square provided an intuitive interface for navigation, and Apple would do well to use the theme to unify its Internet services.
At $900, iMac Is So Close And, Yet, So Far
To be fair, iMac prices have come down. But they need to inch even lower to compete with bargain PCs that still make up the lion's share of the consumer-computer market.
Review
Silent Computing
I do not want a quiet computer — like an iMac or a Cube. I want a silent computer.
BBEdit Lite
Once you find a use for BBE — and it's not the kind of program everyone needs — you'll wonder how you ever did without it.
Conflict Catcher
Conflict Catcher is absolutely not a must have program. Many users go through their lives not missing CC. However, if you're an intermediate or power-user (more than at least 1 or 2 years as a Mac aficionado), and want to truly micro-manage all those extensions and other files into several sets, then give Conflict Catcher a try.
Wintel
Analysts Skittish Ahead Of Compaq Earnings
Saying he expects Compaq Computer to disappoint investors, UBS Warburg analyst Don Young lowered estimates on the PC giant Tuesday for the second quarter.
Microsoft To Schools: Give Us Your Lunch Money!
The software giant is cracking down on piracy in the public education system. But the campaign could easily backfire.
Monday, July 9, 2001
News
Jobs' MWNY Keynote To Be Broadcast Via Satellite, QuickTime
Contrary to other published reports, Apple CEO Steve Jobs' Macworld New York keynote will be broadcast via satellite and QuickTime streaming, Apple announced today.
Opinion
Anti-Spam Measures Marginalize Low-End Macs
I appreciate why they are doing this, and I support anti-spam measures in principle, but in this case a side effect appears to be that 68K Macs are no longer supported on their network for sending POP 3 email.
The 25th Anniversay Mac
This has been bothering me, though I don't know why exactly....
Wintel
Microsoft Fine Print Tells All
What was surprising about last month's ruling — and what I think justifies Ashcroft's claim of victory — is the extent to which an appeals court that showed little deference to Jackson during oral arguments ended up accepting (unanimously, at that) his Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
'Time Bomb' In Microsoft Visual Studio.Net Beta 2
Microsoft Corp. sent attendees of its recent TechEd developer conference a notice last week stating that a 'time-bomb' bug has been found in Visual Studio.Net.
'MS Antipriacy' Hoax Triggers Paranoia Attacks
So even within the Mighty Redmond they don't entirely discount the possibility that - say - some crazy in Microsoft Research has accidentally unleashed the Enforcementbot on the world, with all that implies to them for damage-control.
Bill Gates' Nightmare
Bill Gates felt he could now sleep snugly, knowing that the U.S. government would not break up his company. So one night last week he pulled the comforter over himself, sank deep into his pillow, and settled down for a well-deserved snooze. But then he began to dream.
Microsoft Sees Clear Victory On 'Bundling'
The court ruling, the antitrust experts say, does not mean that Microsoft has an entirely free hand in designing its monopoly product, Windows. Instead, the appeals court said business efficiency and consumer benefit should be weighed against the anticompetitive effect of a design ó a balancing doctrine called the "rule of reason."
Sunday, July 8, 2001
News
OS X Survives 'Death Match'
It's official ó at least as far as the editors at CNET are concerned ó Apple's OS X operating system beats Microsoft's Windows 2000.
Wintel
Managing The Windows Mixed-Mode Monster
Third-party utilities make it easier to run Windows 2000 when you haven't yet migrated everything to Active Directory.
Microsoft Exec Betting On His Staff
Ayala prepares sales team for Internet-based strategy.
Microsoft Encarta Dictionary Defined By Usage Notes, Inconsistencies
Saturday, July 7, 2001
Top Stories
Inside OS X Server: Feature-Rich Server In Dire Need Of Badckup Solution
Mac OS X Server is a necessary building block for Apple's long-term strategy but, in its current state, raises more questions than anything else. If Apple is serious about the server market, it needs to give OS X Server all the necessary features, and it needs to offer better server hardware than its standard desktop systems today.
Apple Recalls Old Power Adapters
Apple Computer is recalling 570,000 power adapters used on some older PowerBook models after reports that the brick-shaped units can overheat, creating a potential fire hazard.
News
Bare Bones Releases Super Get Info
Bare Bones Software has released Super Get Info, a new utility for Mac OS X designed to serve as a replacement for the "Show Info" command of the X Finder.
iBook 500 Ranked #2 In Japanese Portable Sales
Apple's iBook 500 is now ranked # 2 in the Japanese portable market, and could challenge for # 1 spot. Outflanked only by Sony's Vaio Note FX, all four iBooks occupy top 20 positions in the Japanese notebook sales.
Apple Slashes G4 Dealer-Prices
The reductions apply only to the price that dealers pay when purchasing stock from Apple. It is up the dealers' discretion what, if any, benefits they pass on to customers.
Opinion
Here's Why You Should Not Buy A G4 Cube
Thank you, Apple. I'd rather you attempt something like the Cube and fail, instead of playing it safe like the Dell's and Gateway's of the world.
Review
I'm Traveling Mac: OS 9.1 Vs OS X
As operating systems go, it's also attractive, although I prefer interfaces that are less showy—enough with the throbbing icons and 3D buttons, OK? But as a laptop user, I don't see any compelling reason to run OS X.
Foreign-Language Instruction: Games Offer Limited Language Learning
Talk Now and World Talk succeed in quickly teaching basic vocabulary, but the game format doesn't effectively teach users how to engage in real, everyday dialogues beyond "Good morning" and "How are you?"
Using Mac OS X To Share Files With Windows Machines
I'll describe the tools that my colleagues and I have successfully used to implement file-sharing between machines on our heterogeneous network containing one Windows 2000 and two Mac OS X computers.
Wintel
Warning Deflates AMD; Analysts See Rebound
Shares of chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices plunged almost 17 percent in early trading, a day after the company said that second-quarter sales would miss estimates by a wide margin.
Can The European Union Tackle Microsoft?
One way or another, Microsoft is not out of the legal wood yet. With further decisions still to be made in the US, it also seems that processes in Europe may be just at a beginning.
Microsoft Critics Are 'Tying' Themselves In Knots
Should Microsoft be forced by the courts to make it easier for people to use another company's software to play MP3 files or videos, or to surf the Internet?
Friday, July 6, 2001
Top Stories
IT Majors Slam Ministry Tender
Sun, Apple and Arsenal all claim the government did not hold a proper tender for software suppliers. They say their proposals to the Education Ministry went unheeded because Microsoft was chosen before the competition was announced in March.
News
Despite Cube Flop, Still Hold Apple
S&P expects Apple to take some kind of one-time charge related to this action. S&P will make no change to its estimates on Apple.
Save Money With A Refurbished PC
One of the best ways to save up to several hundred dollars on a name-brand PC is to buy it refurbished instead of new. Most of the major computer makers sell refurbished desktops and notebooks.
Opinion
Stick With The Mac
There is nothing wrong with using a PC — but when there is a computer out there that can save you time, frustration, not to mention money (Macs usually last longer than PCs), why not use it?
Hardware Contenders
Who could survive or emerge to eventually own the consumer markets for next generation of PCs and other digital devices that drive the digital lifestyle? My picks are Apple and Sony.
Review
Yes, Novice Programmer, You Can Work Some Mac Magic
If you want to become really productive really fast, REALbasic is the way to go.
Computers For College
Well, it's almost time for college to start for many of my generation, so I thought I'd post some early tips to consider before we all rush around trying to prepare for our first years of higher education.
Centipede
The group behind it took a decent arcade game and gave it three new dimensions, literally, while retaining the original in its basic form for the purists out there. If you like action/arcade games from any generation, you can't do much better than Centipede.
Wintel
Survey Says: Settle Microsoft Case
American consumers want the parties involved with the Microsoft antitrust case to speedily resolve the dispute, rather than retry the issue, according to the findings of a poll released earlier this week by a pro-Microsoft group.
AMD: Second-Quarter Earnings To Plunge
Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices announced Thursday that earnings and sales for the second quarter of 2001 will fall far below estimates.
Thursday, July 5, 2001
Opinion
Wintel
Itanic Prices Emerge
Intel has revealed at last what it charges for its Itanic processor, and like First Class tickets on the chip's ocean-going namesake, it's not what you'd call cheap.
IBM Says Microsoft Arrogant On Open Source
IBM has called Microsoft's recent attacks on the open-source business model "arrogance," blasting them as futile and counterproductive.
Compaq Pushes Into New Services Business
Compaq Computer, suffering from falling prices for PCs, is reshaping its huge global-services division to mimic IBM, the world's largest technology-services company.
Microsoft - Still In Denial
Users are on the case. Microsoft must avoid anti-competitive behaviour in future.
Wednesday, July 4, 2001
News
Schools To Get Apples, Gateways
The plan involves the purchase of 15,000 new Gateway computers and 1,040 Apple computers.
Fireworks 4 Explodes Onto Desktops
The new release from Macromedia sports a bevy of new features — from automated generation of JavaScript to greater compatibility with Adobe Photoshop — that should please novice users and graphics mavens alike.
Requiem For A Cube: Apple To Cease Production
Apple Clubs Cube
Apple's comment smacks of a company desperately trying to spin news of the decision so it doesn't sound like an admission of failure.
Opinion
Comment On Apple's Termination Of The Cube
Personally, I think the Cube was ahead of its time.
Wintel
Who Is "Viral" Now?
Are you prepared to bet your career, or your company's existence, that Microsoft will never sue if you write code that (a) behaviorally resembles a Microsoft product, (b) competes with a Microsoft product, or © clashes with the color of Bill Gates's underwear this week?
Competing With Windows
Microsoft has a right to produce and sell Windows, but the rest of us have a right to start our own company and compete with Windows.
Microsoft, FairMarket No Longer Exclusive
Auction service provider FairMarket and Microsoft no longer have an exclusive relationship.
Tuesday, July 3, 2001
Top Stories
OS X Boosts Apple's Security Focus
The rising popularity of the current Mac OS X and the new operating system's foundation in the ubiquitous Unix operating system have started to draw the scrutiny of hackers and security experts. The result: Electronic mailing lists dedicated to security are seeing the first reports of Mac OS X vulnerabilities.
News
Gamers Get Up Close And Personal
Fingers spring into action. Game characters dart across the screen at dizzying speeds to elude gunfire from an enemy packing an arsenal of automatic rifles and bazookas.
eKiosk 2.0: Manage Machines In Public Places
eKiosk 2.0 is a $100 application (works with Internet Explorer), which is designed to manage internet and email services in public...
Multi-lingual HTML Editor Released For OS X
Muwse allows users to easily create Web sites in a number of languages, and the latest version is Carbonized to run natively under Mac OS X.
Size Does Matter When It's Small
Now, PCs are so passe that only Apple can really rustle up any enthusiasm for a new product, such as its shimmering white iBook laptop.
Hollywood Computers Grow Up
Besides watching movie trailers, those QuickTime TV channels are a nice touch.
Opinion
Switching Teams
If you told me just one year ago - heck, even just six months ago! - that I'd be totally geeking over a Mac, I would have laughed you out of the state.
[corrected Link] Del Miller: One Dead Opossum
A dead opossum in my garden box and Microsoft's .NET strategy have more in common than you might think.
Has Substance Finally Upstaged Form?
As Macworld Expo New York approaches the old rumour mill is beginning to churn out its chestnuts for the Apple fraternity. As usual they range from the intriguing to the downright impossible but, as General Custer once said about his exchanges of opinion with Chief Crazy Horse, dullness is not one of their attributes.
The Apple PDA - Cheese Looking For A Mouse
There is a strong market for an Apple PDA, and if users salivate over phony mock-ups of products that do not exist, Apple could profit considerably by making those myths become reality.
Review
Risk II
Its shortcomings are big enough to barely withhold it from an Excellent rating, but only barely.
Now Contact And Up-To-Date 4.0
Whether you're in the market for a new application with the promise of an OS X future to replace your aging PIM, or are simply drowning in appointments and phone numbers, why not give Now Contact and Up-to-Date a try?
Computer Shopping: Ask The People Who Make 'Em
Shopping for a computer for a student in high school or college may seem like a daunting task for parents, but computer companies are ready to help.
Wintel
Private Lawsuits Could Cost Microsoft Billions
An appeals court ruling to uphold a lower court decision that Microsoft Corp. illegally used its desktop operating system monopoly puts the software maker in danger of facing billions of dollars in damages from private antitrust lawsuits, analysts and legal experts said Friday.
Don't Look For An Appeal Or A New Trial For Microsoft
When you build your case theory around a couple of big points and then the appeals judges knock those out from under you, it's hard to stand in front of yet another appeals court — especially the U.S. Supremes — and say the Court of Appeals missed the point.
Microsoft's Arrogance May Backfire
It's now up to Microsoft to prove that [Jackson] was wrong. Otherwise, we'll see them back in court — and the next judge will keep his mouth shut but carry a big stick.
Microsoft Ruling: Everybody Wins
Last week's unanimous appeals court decision overturning substantive portions of the Microsoft antitrust verdict took everyone by surprise. Anticipating a complete victory for Microsoft, reporters had already lined up industry wags and economists to rail against the ruling as the death of antitrust enforcement.
Microsoft: Two-Pronged Open-Source Attack
Microsoft is launching a two-pronged offensive against what it sees as its chief competition on the Internet: open source code.
Microsoft Releases XP Preview Version
Microsoft on Monday started distributing one of the final testing versions of its Windows XP operating system to about 100,000 testers.
Analysts Slash Estimates For PC Makers
Two big names in the PC industry are likely to miss estimates in their upcoming quarters, according to analysts who lowered projections for Gateway and Compaq Computer Monday.
Kodak Tangles With Microsoft Over Win XP
Kodak's story offers a snapshot of a now-familiar tale in the software business. Despite the government's antitrust case against Microsoft, which was partly upheld and partly reversed by a U.S. Court of Appeals last week, the software giant continues to use its monopoly operating-system software as a lever to pry its way into new businesses. And companies such as Kodak are responding by crying foul, hiring antitrust lawyers and lobbyists.
Microsoft's Next Trial To Be In Europe
A European Commission probe into Microsoft's market practices could mean trouble for the company despite it having won its US battle.
Microsoft Employees Are Business As Usual
Thursday's appeals court decision, which spared Microsoft a breakup but said it illegally maintained an operating systems monopoly, seems to have landed with a dull thud on the company's Redmond, Wash., campus.
Compaq CEO Explains Processor Shift
It was sort of a transitional thing as we thought through and understood Intel's strategy and as they understood our strategy and as we really listened to what the customers wantedóand so this one was one of those that percolated through time.
Monday, July 2, 2001
News
Look Out Palm, You've Got Competition
PocketMac, from Information Appliance Associates, is a native Mac-sync tool that will allow you to sync your Mac directly with a Pocket PC device via USB.
DVD Showdown
As the personal computer gets shoved out of the spotlight at the PC Expo trade show, a three-way battle is heating up over standards for recordable digital video devices.
VisorVision Explained
The entire process from filming an interview to uploading the video to the server took less than fourty minutes per clip.
Aladdin Web-privacy App Updated
iClean removes Internet and Web browsing tracks by clearing out cache files, Internet histories and cookies. It also summarizes items to be deleted.
Review
SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 2.0
Sonicfire Pro 2.0 is as easy to use as other members of the SmartSound family, and like its siblings, it lets you create and customize dynamic, royalty-free musical scores for your video projects. If your movies would benefit from musical accompaniment, you should certainly give Sonicfire Pro 2.0 a try.
City Air
High-speed but high-priced, Metricom's wireless Ricochet service is aimed mainly at laptop-toting corporate types. But urban consumers may soon join in with newfangled Internet appliances.
Want To See All Your OS X Screen Savers? You Need SaverLab!
SpellTools Freestanding Spell Checker
SpellTools gives you a suite of text tools available to virtually all your applications, like prooflistening, rubber stamps, and text cleanup and editing tools in addition to a powerful spellchecker engine.
Wintel
Intel Ships New Pentium 4 Chips
As previously reported by CNET News.com, the chipmaker is trumpeting the availability of 1.8GHz and 1.6GHz Pentium 4 processors. Intel is also slated to launch a 2GHz Pentium 4 chip in a few months.
Call My Bluff - How Smart Is Reverse Engineering .NET?
Besting or Boosting the Beast?
Sunday, July 1, 2001
News
Opinion
Review
Epson's Stylus Color 980
Unfortunately, the Color Stylus 980 is not among the printers Epson is currently supporting in Mac OS X.
Wintel
Soft On Microsoft?
The appeals court ruling does not dispute that conclusion. Nor does it seem to rule out the sort of "conduct remedies" Judge Jackson ordered in addition to a breakup.
A Revolutionary Pursuit: Freedom From Microsoft
When the cops can't or won't stop the bully, who can? Maybe us.
Going For All The Gold
Having dodged the breakup bullet, Microsoft tackles AOL Time Warner.
Key Testing Version Of Windows XP Released
Microsoft on Friday released the first of two expected final testing versions of Windows XP.