Thursday, October 31, 2002
Top Stories
Mac OS Among Least Prone To Attack
Macintosh, which is used on between 3 percent and 5 percent of the world's computers, was the target of only 31, or .05 percent, of all overt digital attacks through October 2002.
Mac Attack!
Apple's efforts to lure new users means a business boom for Hawaii's Mac market.
Mouse Musings: Readers Weigh In On Whether Apple's One-Button Mouse Is Due For An Upgrade
Many Mac users do have sound reasons for keeping their one-button mouse.
News
Apple's Mexico Operations See 25% Growth, New Distribution Channels Being Developed
The article also says that the company expects to grow another 30% during the current fiscal year.
Apple Launches "Suiten The Deal" Promo
Security Firm Says Mac OS Least Vulnerable To Attack, Windows Most Vulnerable
Streaming Unlimited
Just what is FireWire and why is it so interesting?
Microsoft To Offer Free Fujifilm USB Drive With Office
Consumers who purchase full and upgrade versions of Microsoft Office v. X will receive a free 128 MB Fujifilm USB Drive.
Mac O'Lanterns Light Up Halloween
For a pair of Mac fans, there's no one scarier than Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer. That's why they carved his portrait into a pumpkin, along with an amazing likeness of "Switch" star Ellen Feiss.
Apple Joins Guardian In The Newsroom
Apple UK's project -ñ called the Newsroom ñ- with the Guardian and Observer newspapers has been a huge success, Apple claims.
Students Get Chance To Promote Reading, Learn About Filmmaking
The project gives students the chance to learn the skills that go into creating a movie, such as teamwork, time management, creative learning, and computer and business skills. Additionally, it gives students the chance to see what the process of making a movie is really like.
Apple Extends "X For Teachers" Program To Canada
The program gives a free copy of Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) to every K-12 teacher in Canada.
Apple Computer Opens First Area Outlet At Towson Mall
Judging by the dozen or so people browsing, trying out Mac systems and products or in deep discussions with one of the sales reps on a rainy day last week, the store's post-modern decor and attractive displays are achieving their intended effect.
Opinion
Quartz Lament: 10.2 On The Low End
The chance to start over and build a slick and fast OS has been missed.
Review
WarCraft III
Blizzard continues to push the envelope for strategy games while keeping game play balanced and fun.
Apple Xserve
Server provides impressive processing power and smooth looks but lacks good RAID implementation.
Fall Technology Guide: Code Of Honor
Sure, the PC industry is in a slump—but innovation hasn't faded. In that spirit, we've harvested the season's brightest new goods.
When Headphones Measure Up To The Music
Advances in lightweight headphones have taken the compromise out of listening to music on the go.
Sidetrack
HAPPY HALLOWEEN : "What would Halloween be without Jack O'Lanterns... with a Joy of Tech twist!
Wintel
Microsoft Thinks Small
Microsoft Corp. is developing two new versions of its Windows CE operating system that will give smart devices greater storage capabilities and, as such, a more vital role in the enterprise as a portable data repository.
Microsoft Flags Three Security Holes
Microsoft released three advisories late Wednesday that warned of security holes in its Web software, in Windows' virtual private networking features and in default settings of Windows 2000.
Microsoft Antitrust Decision Due Friday
A court ruling in the long-running Microsoft antitrust case will become public Friday afternoon.
Tablet PCs Wont' Come Cheap
When a new crop of tablet PCs debuts next week, they aren't likely to be cheap.
HP Takes Merger Into A New Year
Friday marks a significant pivot point for Hewlett-Packard. As the company enters its first full fiscal year as a combined entity with Compaq Computer, the old HP is looking to tie up loose ends, and the new one is turning toward the future.
Intel To Appeal Itanium Injunction
A U.S. District Court judge issued an injunction Wednesday that bars Intel from making and selling its Itanium processor, but immediately suspended that order to allow the chipmaker to appeal the ruling.
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Top Stories
How Apple Is Expanding Its Universe
It's making its own technology easier for other to adopt, and it's even incorporating features it hasn't invented.
Can Open Source Compete With Microsoft?
If the parallels between RealNetworks and Netscape Communications were once suggestive, they became flagrant Tuesday as the struggling streaming-media company followed the defanged browser pioneer in releasing its source code to the world.
News
Mac Game Makers Speak Out On Demos
To find out why Mac game demos are so few and far between, MacCentral sought comments from leading commercial publishers of Mac games.
Apple Doc Offer Details On CSS Bugs In IE
A new technical paper posted to Apple's developer site outlines some of the problems Mac users of Microsoft Internet Explorer encounter with Web sites that utilize Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). The documentation is written to help Web developers better understand what's happening and how to work around the issues.
Activist's Archive Preserves A Vision Of California's Coast
Some people go to the beach and come back with a snapshot. Ken Adelman has come back with 7,000 of them. And he isn't finished yet.
Opinion
Battle Of The Online Stores: Apple Vs. Dell
The Apple Store provides a better product search engine, including product illustrations with its results, but Dell's search engine outperforms Apple's for queries seeking service-related information.
Review
Flat Scream
We've been looking at the displays at local electronic stores and have made a discovery. The LCD screens are harder to read than traditional CRTs.
Sidetrack
LESSONS FROM STEVE JOBS : Always back up all your data when installing new software, even for innocent-looking software like MP3 players.
Always upgrade to the latest firmware before installing new software, even though all the hardware and software come from the same company.
Always read the full instructions, and make sure you understand — and perform — every single line. Ignore that shiny new computer that is supposed to do all that repetive and boring chores for you.
Hey, wait a minute. Someone can really make some money starting a new company to make a computer for the rest of us who believe things should just work.
Wintel
Workstation Makers Switch Off Intel Tool
Intel's hyperthreading, a performance-enhancing technology that lets one chip act something like two, has been available on workstations since April. But so far it's mostly been taking a nap.
Is Intel's Gain AMD's Pain?
Intel took a substantial amount of market share from rival Advanced Micro Devices during the third quarter, but analysts say AMD will likely bounce back as chip inventories return to normal.
Goliath Crushes David
Even as it was fighting its antitrust battle with the feds, Microsoft was already on to Round 2: Winning the streaming-media wars.
Thumbs-Up On Security For Windows 2000
Windows 2000 has passed all required tests for a security certification accepted in 15 countries, Microsoft announced Tuesday. While software vulnerabilities may still occasionally bug the operating system, the Common Criteria certification attests that the key software components of Windows 2000 meet a specific level of security.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Top Stories
Comparing Apples And Penguins
For a newcomer to the Unix market, I am actually surprised at the very decent results and stability of OS X.
News
Future Teachers Adapt To Life With Laptops
"We want to train our teachers for the future. We want the initiative to transform teaching and learning with the goal of improving education."
Opinion
Macintosh Teachers Challenge: Give Apple Education A Road Map
Once again, the real power of computing is in how much time one gets to spend being productive.
Review
Building Mac Applications Using REALbasic 4.5 For Mac OS X
The syntax of the language is very similar to Visual Basic and the online help reference is a real lifesaver.
Unleashing The Power Of The PowerMate
It is rare that I adopt such a new type of tool so quickly, but in just one week I have become convinced that this is an essential tool for any kind of computer use.
Take A Closer Look
They may be stylish, but are oversized LCD panels worth the price? Here's the flat-out truth.
Sidetrack
LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS : Something tells me that someone over at CARS received some expert advice. :-)
MAC PEOPLE : Jim O'Rourke, producer and musician.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING WARDRIVERS : As recounted by Matthew Haughey...
Drop the laptop and leave! We intercepted the message and traced the IP address. The killer's message originated from your local network.
REALISTIC INTERNET SIMULATOR : Kill the pop-ups, kill'em all! Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, install Mozilla.
Wintel
Microsoft Slammed For Palladium 'Lies'
Critics have slated a Microsoft document on its upcoming Palladium digital rights software as containing several outright "lies".
Microsoft's Media Monopoly
Bill Gates wants to control the delivery of digital entertainment into your home. And according to a lawsuit brought by a pioneering software company, he's prepared to crush anything that gets in his way.
Microsoft Tablet PC Technology A Stroke Of Genius
It regards handwriting as a normal method of communication, worthy of the same respect as any text typed into a word processor. It's the kind of innovative thinking that's not supposed to happen at Microsoft, yet here it is.
Monday, October 28, 2002
News
Why Consumers Ignore Consumer Devices
It takes a group of design, technology, venture capital, and marketing experts to explain how personal technology sucks.
Opinion
More Straight Talk About The Education Market
Teachers' comments and assessment of the situation were far harsher than anything I had written.
Review
Battle Of The Pocket Bulge: Zen Vs iPod
Apple and Creative would both like your MP3 spending dollar, and both offer pocket-sized firewire-capable MP3 players. We put the Creative Zen head to head with the Apple iPod.
Haunted House Hones Learning Skills
Take a deep breath and enter the Halloween edition of ROMper Room, where learning is a four-letter word ó- cool.
Sidetrack
NEWTON, AGAIN: GlenRaphael, on Slashdot, has this to say about Microsoft's latest operating system. "Bill Gates rolls out the 'Tablet PC' concept every few years at his CES presentation and it's always been a minor reinvention of the Apple Newton presented as if Microsoft had thought of it on their own."
POOR FUNDAMENTALS: Schwab's Greg Forsythe has this to say about Apple. "[Apple]'s fundamentals aren't great... Its earning quality is very poor."
WIN SOME STUFF, courtesy of Apple, at Minnesota Wild Games.
WHEN IN ROME, should one actually do as the Romans do or is it all a farce?
CUBAN CRISIS from the Washington Post, Oct 22 to Oct 29, in PDF format.
Wintel
Fujitsu Releases New Crusoe Notebook
This notebook PC was previously available in North America with an 867MHz Crusoe processor, but the new version uses Transmeta's fastest available processor, and is available as of today.
Media Center PCs In The Spotlight
Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard plan to officially unveil the Media Center PC on Tuesday, but Sunday newspaper inserts leaked out pricing and model information ahead of the event.
HP Pressing For More Printer Business
Hewlett-Packard's printing division doesn't have a license to print money, but it may as well have.
Dell Has Big Plans For Mini PCs
Michael Dell will today inveil the OptiPlex SX260 — a mini PC about the size and shape of a standard dictionary
Mitch Kapor: Good Luck Fighting Microsoft
Truth be told, however, I think Kapor is too late to make much of a difference.
New Branded ISP Deals "Smack Of 1995"
Branded Internet access deals are back.
Microsoft Piracy Letter Angers Partners
Microsoft has received a mixed response from resellers after it signalled a toughened stance on licence compliance in a controversial letter sent to its partners.
Sun Pitches For Leadership In War Against .NET
Sun Microsystems Inc is assuming command in Java's battle against Microsoft Corp and .NET, dismissing IBM as a potential contender.
More Than A Mouse: How MS Is Embracing Bluetooth
I won't believe Bluetooth's time has really come until I start seeing the technology built into the majority of new PCs and laptops. Once that happens, I'd expect to see a wide variety of devices start using wireless where only cables ran before.
Sunday, October 27, 2002
News
Hard Disk Drive Market Heats Up
Recent announcements by vendors Maxtor and Seagate indicate just how the hard disk drive marketplace is becoming increasingly commoditised and competitive.
All In The Brand Family
Faced with a widening array of personal-electronics devices, a growing number of shoppers now seek simplicity by limiting new purchases to a single manufacturer.
Bugdom 2 Available From iDisk For Mac.com Users
Bugdom 2 offers more varied gameplay than the original, with surfing trips down drainspouts and aerial assaults on anthills from the cockpit of a balsa wood flier.
Review
Carrara Studio 2: 3-D Animation Software Offers Realistic Rendering And Animation, Without Breaking The Bank
While the program is a sometimes inelegant amalgam of Ray Dream Studio and Infini-D, Carrara Studio 2 is a good, low-cost, easy-to-use 3-D solution for creating a wide variety of graphics and fairly modest animations.
Avid Xpress DV 3.5: Answer To Apple's Final Cut Pro Was Worth The Wait
Avid Xpress DV 3.5 will meet the expectations of video editors seeking a reliable, feature-rich DV editing solution. But if you want expandability or low-resolution offline capabilities, consider Final Cut Pro or Avid's higher-end offerings.
Wintel
A Grating And A Great MSN 8
Beginners might find something to like in MSN's just-the-basics approach too. But there isn't much to tempt users of any other Internet provider.
Sony's 'W' Can't Be Standing For 'Winner'
The W has a potentially fatal flaw: the keyboard is attached to the rest of the machine.
Saturday, October 26, 2002
Wintel
The Palladium Paradox
Why we have everything to fear about the next operating system out of Redmond.
Friday, October 25, 2002
News
1st Apple Store In Maryland Opens
Apple computers' foray into retail store sales has found its way into Maryland with the opening of the Apple Computer Inc. gallery/store in Towson Town Center earlier this month.
Impressions Of A Young Mac Geek
Ellen Feiss, the star of Apple's "Switch" advertising campaign, was the subject of a look-alike contest in the Netherlands. See the gallery for the remarkable results.
'Apple Macca' In DVD Stand
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has emerged as a defender of the Mac cause following an interview on a local US radio station ñ- winning the admiration of Apple CEO Steve Jobs in the process.
Opinion
Potholes On Apple's Chip Roadmap?
Apple now has a workstation class OS, so it needs a workstation class processor.
Review
You'll Love It, You'll Hate It, You'll Have Bluetooth
It took far too much time, research, and experimentation to get everything working. On the other hand, even with all the heartache it caused me, I think I may be in love again.
Sidetrack
IS THAT A FRITZ CHIP IN HIS POCKET, asked Andrew Orlowski about Bill Gates, "or is he just pleased to see Minnie?"
WELCOME BACK, Arts & Letters Daily.
Wintel
Europe Readies Final Say In Microsoft Case
The European Commission will issue a preliminary ruling in an antitrust case against Microsoft late this year and a final decision next year, a top official said Friday.
New York Tells Microsoft To Get Its Butterfly Decals Out Of Town
Two days after city inspectors ripped up illegal Nike advertising decals glued to sidewalks along Central Park West, Microsoft unleashed a swarm of large adhesive butterflies in Manhattan.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Top Stories
iPods To Hit Target
The Macintosh maker declined to comment on the move, but several Target stores confirmed that they had the devices—both the Mac and the Windows varieties—on hand.
News
LCD Prices 'May Fall By 40%'
Flat-panel production costs will drop, and industry observers believe these savings will be passed on to customers in what is a price-driven market.
End Of The Road For CD Burners
CD burners may have reached their limit, thanks to concerns about the structural stability of the media and the simple cost of developing faster drives.
Opinion
1 Button, 2 Or 3?
Apple sticks with its one-button mouse, even though OS X recognizes it, and many PC users are familiar with them; Is it time to move into the new millennium?
Review
Best Of The Mac Web Survey Results: October 2002
2,500 Mac fans shared their opinion of 100 of the best known Mac-related sites.
Sidetrack
APPLE IS UNIX : As Dori Smith observed, "It's great to see people in the tech biz state publicly that OS X is a full-fledged Unix box. Aple doesn't say much of this in their mainstream advertising... but techies understand that Apple stands for usability, and that OS X is the first Unix machine that actually makes sense as a desktop or laptop computer."
When I use a Windows machine to do presentation, my biggest worry is that Windows will crash on me.
When I use an OS X machine to do presentation, I don't have any worry about the machine crashing out on me, allowing me to worry about other things such as whether my presentation has real content, whether I remember to bring all my files, and whether I've forgotten to zip up after the toilet break.
LOW END MAC WEB SURVEY RESULS : A special thanks to all who have given feedback on MyAppleMenu over at Low End Mac Web Survey. If you have any specific comments or suggestions or complaints, just mail them to me.
MAC SCHOOL : Carbondale Elementary School District 95.
McDONALDS STRETCHED TOO THIN? : From the Scobleizer, "McDonalds simply doesn't have the best burgers anymore (if they ever did) and the competition is starting to kick its ass."
Is McDonald's stretching itself too thin with its wide product range? Does McDonald's need a Steve Job?
DOWN AND OUT : There may be fewer links posted these few days... my cable modem is down at the moment, and I have no idea how fast can StarHub get it back.
Update: The service is back up. Hooray.
Wintel
Tablet PC Rivalry Sets In
A start-up formed by a group of Dell Computer visionaries has high-end aspirations for tablet PCs.
PDA For Blind: Cost Out Of Sight?
Freedom Scientific, a company best known for software that reads content off computer screens, is introducing the first Pocket PC for blind people. But some say the handheld's price is too steep.
What Tablet PCs Get Right — And Wrong
It slices, it dices, and sometimes works in interesting and new ways. And for about $2,700, it is a bit pricey for a laptop. But with the right kinds of applications and software tools, this could take off.
A Move To Build PCs Without Windows
Promising cheap or free computers, challengers hope to lure users to abandon Microsoft software for lesser-known Linux.
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
News
SuperCard Comes To Mac OS X
SuperCard can be used to create a variety of application, according to its developers — games, teaching aides, utilities, productivity software, automation tools, kiosks and more.
Microsoft Posts IntelliPoint 3.1 Mouse Driver
Built On The Back Of iPod
Local accessories business booms.
Opinion
Bloggers, Macs, And The OS X Blues
Apple has to realize that they are gradually gaining a higher profile in the weblog "blogosphere".
Apple Risks Backlash With Macworld Fiasco
Alienating legions of potential PC buyers in New England may cost it more than agreeing to Macworld Boston in the first place.
Apple's Sweet-And-Sour Season
The most hopeful news is that a very risky strategy appears to be paying off. Against great odds, Apple is succeeding in establishing its own chain of stores. And they're fulfilling their purpose.
Review
QuickTime 6 Pro: Apple's Multimedia Technology Adds Welcome Compression Features And Instant-On Streaming
Although QuickTime Player's interface is somewhat commercial in nature, the benefits of the AAC codec, MPEG-4 video, and Instant-On streaming make this one of the most compelling QuickTime upgrades in years for those with more than a passing interest in multimedia — and one well worth the paltry price of admission.
Apple eMac
fFor the non-power user — someone who only requires a computer to run Web, e-mail and productivity software — the eMac is an excellent machine that will handle the most common computing requirements.
Apple's Rendezvous: Too Open For The Enterprise?
This technology has some potential uses. Systems admins spend way too much time configuring desktops. But we need more due diligence.
Top Ten Mac OS X Tips For Unix Geeks
These tips will show you the differences between Mac OS X and other flavors of Unix; help you find the bits that resemble the Unix you are used to; and even feather your nest with XFree86 and ports of popular open source applications.
Wintel
HP To Double The Processor Count In Itanium Servers
HP plans to make it possible to upgrade current servers based on the 64-bit Itanium 2 chip by allowing customers to replace existing processor cards with new ones that contain twice as many chips.
AOL, MSN Stumping For Net Software
The two tech giants on Wednesday took great pains to one-up each other ahead of Microsoft's Thursday launch of MSN 8 in New York.
Intel Looks To Be Inside Everything
Intel plans to place its silicon in as many products, markets and geographic regions as possible, the company said Tuesday.
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Top Stories
Apple's Stickiest Marketing Ploy
One of Apple's greatest — and no doubt cheapest — marketing coups is handing out decals of the company's logo, which proud users slap on everything from cars to skateboards to Windows computers.
You Are What You Command
The thing with the Mac is that once you've accomplished what you need to do with that Terminal window, you can leave it and return to Aqua. Just the environment for the new, amphibious man.
Introducing The Microcontent Client
The greatest task that remains is integration. Nearly every piece exists today.
News
PGP Reborn Makes Its Pitch For The Mainstream
Encryption products need to become as easy and transparent to use as AV software packages.
Baby Boomers Wary Of MP3 Audio
For baby boomers, the digital sound files called MP3s are merely the trend's newest incarnation.
Catching Up With Wayne Kramer
When it comes to recording, producing and Kramer has long relied on the Mac.
Apple Opens Talks On Event Venue
Apple Computer opened negotiations Monday with IDG World Expo about how to ensure Apple's participation in the Boston Macworld trade show in 2004.
Quark Pulls Out Of UK, 'Dislikes Mac'
Quark has pulled out of the UK, firing all but two of its UK staff. One former Quark employee claimed that CEO Fred Ebrahimi "does not like the Macintosh platform", implying that the UK was largely a Mac market.
Probe As Mac Retail Relaunches
Apple Australia will launch another foray into retailing this week as liquidators scrutinise the failure of the Buzzle consortium of independent retailers.
Using P2P Technology For Content Delivery
Jibe Inc. is aiming to use the advantages offered by peer-to-peer technology—including little or no hardware or monthly usage costsóin its new content delivery network software.
Opinion
Apple's US Focus Losing Customers
Plainly, Mac fans in Australia, Japan and Europe have been deserting the Apple ship in droves. When they and their needs are so obviously ignored, who can blame them?
Inside Apple's New Smaller Store: Crowds Still Come For 43rd Retail Store
43 stores later, Apple still seems to be able to draw a crowd.
Review
Six Degrees: Innovative Software Watches Your Every Move And Helps You Retrace Your Steps
Unless you're perfectly organized all the time (and who is?), you can probably make good use of Six Degrees. It makes connections more as a human being does and less as a machine does.
Have Your Photos Edited By A Pro: You
Photoshop Elements and PhotoImpact are top-grade tools that amateurs can use and afford.
PowerMail V4.0.1
CTM has built a strong feature set into their program, and now they're able to fine tune everything else.
Sidetrack
DOES IT WORK WITH OS X? : Operate a Macintosh with an Underwood.
THIS IS NEW YORK : Just because ou streets are dirty, or you've heard they are dirty does not give you the right to litter.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK : Heath Ledger did this for fun during Christmas in Australia. "Me and my mates liked to put on our thongs and grab weenies and look at the girls go by, and that was our perfect way to male bond."
Wintel
Is Microsoft Licensing Forcing Banks To Break The Law?
At issue is Microsoft's "automatic update" feature, which allows users to automatically get upgrades and patches to their systems.
3GHz Pentium 4 On Its Way
The 3GHz Pentium 4 will likely be the highest-performing desktop chip on the market when it comes out next month. Not only will the chip run at a higher clock speed than other desktop parts, but it will also contain Intel's hyperthreading technology, which lets one chip act almost like two.
IE Holes Open Up Web Booby Traps
An Israeli Web-application company has warned users of Internet Explorer that nine related security flaws in the program could be used by malicious hackers to gain access to a victim's computer files.
MS Delays Mira Until 2003
Microsoft Corp has delayed the introduction of its handheld "home companion" technology, Mira, until the New Year.
A Burning Question
If Mody can associate himself with the general vibe, then why not?
Monday, October 21, 2002
Top Stories
IDG Softens Stance In Macworld Spat
The trade show organizer said Apple will indeed take part in January's Macworld Expo in San Francisco and said the parties remain in talks about Apple's participation in future East Coast shows.
Governor Angus King Talks About Maine's Laptop Program
"Change is hard and this is a big idea. We have persevered, people in the education community have rallied around the idea, the legislature looked at it and passed the plan and now it's happening."
News
Adobe Releases Acrobat Reader 5.1
The update adds new capabilities for e-government initiatives, digital signature validating, and the ability to open file attachments from directly within Acrobat Reader.
Apple Opens The Apple Store For Business
As the name suggests the new Apple Store will cater to the business community.
Macs Making Music: A Producer's Journey
If you get a chance to check out Ken's work I'm sure you'll agree that he has not only perfected his craft but also helped many aspiring artists soar with the aid of his production skills.
Apple: Microsoft's Friend Or Foe?
Microsoft's motive for not renewing its agreement with Apple may have less to do with sales of software and more to do with what it needs — or does not need — from the relationship.
Review
Four Useful Utilities For OS X
New Flat-Panel iMac's Flash Worthy Of Its Cost
Its $2,000 price tag may cause some consumers to wince, but they'll find their purchase justified.
Hands On With The 20GB iPod For Mac, Windows
How Does The Radeon 7000 PCI Graphics Card Compare To The Others?
If you are a 3D gamer looking to speed up your favorite graphics intensive game (like Quake3 Arena), don't expect any help from the Radeon 7000.
Sidetrack
ANOTHER FOR THE CARS : John Baxter has insider knowledge. "The rumor that the problem is that Logan Airport won't handle Steve's jet is totally bogus."
ON THE RAT RACE : Scott Adams, on the differences between men and women in typical rat races. "Men can handle humiliation better... We can bascially be the bottom dog licking the paws of the top dog for 40 years, if whenit's done we get a chance at being the top dog."
Count me out.
Wintel
Ballmer: Mod Chips Threaten Xbox
CEO Steve Ballmer said Microsoft may pull its Xbox game console from the Australian market because of a court decision that legitimizes "mod chips" for hackers, an Australian newspaper reported.
Microsoft's Ballmer: Surge Is Anomaly
"We're not trying to say that we think the sales results of our first quarter will be sustainable."
I See Him On E-Mail At 6:30am And On IM At Midnight Or 1. He Sent Me Mail At 2:30 In The Morning And I Had An 8am Meeting With Him
Microsoft VP is mastermind behind ambitious plan to revamp software package.
Reborn Or Stillborn: All New For Microsoft's Languages?
Microsoft's problem with standards seems to be that it just can't stop itself from fiddling and tweaking to improve performance.
Sunday, October 20, 2002
News
Kittery School Shows Off Laptop Program
"We've got to take the long view on this and realize it's so important for our kids today, and in the future."
Wintel
Media Center PC Not Ready For The Living Room
Setting up this gear combined the worst aspects of home-theater assembly and desktop-PC installation.
Saturday, October 19, 2002
Top Stories
Trade-Show Chief Hints He'll Squeeze Apple
If Apple won't participate in the Boston Macworld show, maybe Greco won't let the company display its wares at Macworld in Tokyo or Paris, or at the San Francisco show in Apple's backyard.
Taking The Stress Out Of PC-Printer Hook Ups
Hooking up a printer to a personal computer has ruined many a weekend in the average household. Apple is now pushing a solution that aims to solve part of the problem when trying to get technology devices to work together.
Apple's Road Less Traveled
Apple Computer is flirting with the enterprise.
Mac Marks The Enterprise
The marriage of the Mac and open source could be a wellspring of innovation.
News
Apple Gets Bluetooth Bug
Hidden behind Apple Computer's summer rollout of protocols and software — dubbed iSync, iChat, and Rendezvous — is a set of strongly held beliefs about the future of pervasive devices.
Apple On The Move
Discussion about Web services, digital rights management, Bluetooth, and Apple's plans for the enterprise.
Opinion
Too Big For Its Niches
The question is, what can businesses get from Apple that they don't already get from IBM, Sun, HP, and Dell?
Presentation Matters
As Red Hat and Apple learned, two paths to graphical interfaces on one platform are two too many.
Review
Little Wonder
It's not cheap, but Apple's iPod hits all the targets.
More Than Musical?
We approached the iPod with some skepticism, but the machine quickly won us over. It's the best portable music player we've ever used.
No Worms Here
Making Apple a serious player in server hardware may have seemed impossible, but the company has pulled it off. Xserve changes everything.
Using iSync And Bluetooth
My initial impression with iSync was good. Setting up the phone was easy, but the Palm devices required some digging into the help files.
Digital Killed The Video Star
Chris Meyer has released a $10 application called Photo to Movie, which I consider a milestone in video production.
Sidetrack
I DON'T UNDERSTAND... How can Charlie Greco have any advantage over Steve Jobs? Apple do not need Macworld Expo. (Okay, Macworld Expo do not absolutely need Apple; but Apple's presense will help a lot.)
Wintel
Microsoft Shares Climb Nearly 5 Percent
Microsoft Corp. shares climbed nearly 5 percent on Friday after the world's largest software maker reported record revenue in the first quarter that was up 26 percent from the previous year and analysts raised their full-year earnings estimates.
Orange To Launch Microsoft Phone
Orange is set to let the cat out of the bag next week, announcing the release of its new handset using Microsoft's wireless software.
Friday, October 18, 2002
News
Apple Says It Won't Join Macworld In Boston
To city officials who were crowing at yesterday's press conference about Boston's victory over New York, the Apple news came as a shock.
Sour Apple
"I'd say this is a case of Apple playing hardball with IDC. Apple will have a tradeshow on the east coast in 2004."
Opinion
Straight Talk About The Education Market
Apple, particularly Apple Education, is in a death spiral.
Review
Filemaker Pro 6: Database Software Enhances Ease Of Use And Adds XML Support — Without Rocking The Boat
While we may wonder whether version 6 can justifiably be called a major release, the new features it contains are quite helpful, and FileMaker remains the easiest database to use or develop for on any platform.
OS X Makes 9 A Distant Memory In Mac Realm
OS X saves me at least three or four hours a week.
Sidetrack
DEVELOP FOR THE MAC: Duncan Wilcox tells us why it is still worthywhile to write applications for the Macintosh.
"I'd bet that the percentage of Mac users willing to compensate you for a brillant, slick application is much higher than their Windows counterpart."
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Top Stories
Apple's Life Science Efforts On Verge Of Bearing Fruit
After years of rejection by IT staffs, Apple wins support with the Xserve and Unix-based OS.
Mambo Moves: Step Back Then Forward
A return to the old ways is proving to be the way forward for irreverent Mambo clothing label.
Silencing The 'Megahertz Myth': IBM Plans A New 64-Bit Chip. Will It Snap Mac's Reputation As A Speed Laggard?
Sounds terrific, but Apple still has some work to do.
News
Tune In To The Wireless
Wires are for losers. This much is clear.
Results Signal More Gloom For Tech Sector
It's becoming an autumn of discontent for the long-depressed technology sector.
Opinion
Succumbling To A Mac Attack
After 10 years as a Windows person, the new Mac operating system does take some adjustment, but not much.
Sidetrack
SEEING DOUBLE : Gateway's store will be more like Apple's retail store.
AN APPLE A DAY : MacTable, "incredible Macintosh computer furniture".
CAN I DO A REBOOT? : Depressing weeks. Sad stuff. Can I do a reboot and start all over again?
Is there life after death? Is death just a renewal, or the end of time for that particular soul?
What is my Key Performance Indicators? When can I say I am truly contended?
Is religion an answer? Is religion the answer?
There are just some of the questions that popped into my head these few weeks.
Can you tell I am troubled? :-)
Wintel
Strategy: Microsoft Vs. Microsoft
For all the company's resources and business prowess, a combination of marketing confusion, licensing demands and software compatibility problems may have triggered a backlash among customers, in turn slowing adoption of .Net.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Top Stories
Apple Gives MPEG-4 A New Shine
Apple Computer said Tuesday that people are gravitating toward QuickTime 6 and its underlying MPEG-4 standard for digital media playback—a force to rival momentum for Microsoft's proprietary system.
News
Jaguar Sets A Ferocious Pace
When we spoke recently with Avie Tevanian, senior vicepresident in charge of software, he remarked on how the move to OS X and its tools had vastly improved the speed of development for Apple and thirdparty developers.
Apple's Efforts To Keep Us, Willing Or Not, On The Cutting Edge
There have been numerous recent incentives by Apple and third-party developers designed to get us tightwads to open up our wallets.
Apple Bets Success On iPod: Popular MP3 Player In The U.S. And Europe Launches In Taiwan
"It's definitely a 'must-have' toy for Taiwan's music and tech-crazy set."
Opinion
Can Mac Users Switch To Windows? Yes, But News.com Won't Believe Them
Although the direct and indirect ties to Apple Computer, Inc. by the "Switch" participants are blatant, CNET News.com never investigated those ties.
Review
Dual Processor G4 Power Mac
Apple proves two processors are better than one with this screamingly fast, powerful machine.
800 MHz PowerForce G4 Series 100 In A Cube
The 800 MHz PowerForce G4 Series 100 is well worth installing in a Cube.
Doing The iPod Suffle
A great invention doesn't just fulfill a need. It changes your life. And the iPod is truly great.
Sidetrack
THE REAL STORY : Wesley Falter has this to say about the new PowerPC 970 by IBM. "Most of the discussion... is missing the real point. Most Mac users will get no value from 64-bit, but that doesn't matter because the 970 looks to be very fast anyway. It's not fast because it's 64-bit; it's fast because it's well-designed."
Fast is good.
COCOA VS CARBON : Brent Simmons corrects misinformation about Cocoa and Carbon. "There is a class of user who's biased against Carbonóunreasonably, in my opinion."
JOURNALING FILE SYSTEM : The rumor of the week: Journaling File System to make its debut on Mac OS X 10.2.2.
And here's the Slashdot discussion thread.
Wintel
Beta Hack Rattles Microsoft
Microsoft is investigating a security breach on a server that hosts its Windows beta community, which allows more than 20,000 Windows users a chance to test software that is still in development.
Competitors: MS Up To Old Tricks
As Microsoft awaits court approval of its landmark antitrust settlement with the government, the company has angered some competitors by tightly limiting the technical data it promised to release.
MS Kills Another Clip-Art Fan Rave
Microsoft has yanked another of its fraudulent user testimonials, in this case a fictitious twelve-year-old boy raving about a fictional homework assignment and the indespensable insights he received from MS Encarta Reference Library in preparing it.
Big Beef: How MS Might Charge You For Security
Microsoft could grade the security of its products the same way the USDA grades beef!
Intel Reports Disappointing Quarter
Striking a sour end note to a day when the stock market rallied, the Intel Corporation, the world's largest maker of computer chips, reported earnings that sharply missed Wall Street expectations.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Top Stories
Microsoft Pulls Ad After Net Faux Pas
Who was that mysterious Windows user? Red-faced executives at Microsoft Corp. on Monday pulled a breezy advertisement purportedly by a free-lance writer who switched to using Windows software from the rival Macintosh, amid questions about whether the woman actually exists.
News
Apple Strengthens Pro-Arabic Stance
With the recent release of the acclaimed MAC OS X V10.2 'Jaguar', Apple has continued to display its commitment and resolve in serving the interests of its Middle Eastern users.
Opinion
Microsoft Ad Unravels — Lessons
This is tomorrow's journalism, a partnership of sorts between professionals and the legions of gifted amateurs out there who can help us — all of us — figure things out.
Mac Rocks! But Apple Ads Oversimplify Switch
Switching to an entirely different OS requires a more sophisticated advertising than expressing a yearning for a simpler way to get pictures out of a digital camera.
Review
Xserve Stands Out
Agencies should consider it as a platform that can easily handle middle-tier and back-end business-critical operations.
Soldier Of Fortune II: Double Helix
Soldier of Fortune II puts more effort into making the game which comes out of the box as playable as possible without the need to install mods, add-ons or patches.
The Importance Of Being Backed Up
If you have valuable files that are costly or time-consuming to recreate, don't take any chances. Make multiple backups.
Sidetrack
Wintel
Gateway Snubs Microsoft
In another blow to Microsoft, a fourth computer maker plans to bundle Corel's WordPerfect Office with its low-end consumer machines.
Microsoft Ponders Further Licence Changes
Microsoft is planning to simplify its licensing agreements, but insists that this will not lead to more costs for customers.
Monday, October 14, 2002
Top Stories
Apple-Linux Merger Powers 'Mac' Switch
The scenario goes something like this. OS X, based on a Unix variant called Berkeley Standard Distribution, is providing developers with an attractive user interface and consumer platform.
News
Creative Player Pans For iPod Crowd
Creative Technology launched on Monday a new portable music player in an effort to keep Windows users from dancing with Apple Computer's iPod.
Wintel
More Licensing Misery For Microsoft Users
Microsoft customers expecting to move to the next version of Windows as part of their new licensing agreements could find that they have paid for upgrades that they do not initially receive.
Steve Ballmer: Caught In .Net
Ballmer discusses the next steps for .Net, the challenge of Linux, and Microsoft's bold entry into the enterprise business application market.
Open Source: Rebels At The Gate
Did Microsoft suddenly find open-source religion? Hardly. It was dragged there kicking and screaming by its customers, who are increasingly drawn to open-source software like Linux, whose inner workings of code can be seen by anyone and modified.
Mad As Hell At Microsoft
A new licensing plan is ticking off lots of corporate buyers.
Microsoft Goes MSN Crazy
Alarmed about slowing world-wide software sales, Microsoft is pushing its all-in-one browser and ISP service harder than ever.
Microsoft's Less Restrictive Media Player Irks Studios
When it comes to battling video privacy, Microsoft can't seem to find a happy medium.
Sunday, October 13, 2002
News
IBM Server Chip Seen Slimmed Down For Apple Macs
IBM Monday announced a microchip for personal computers that will crunch data in chunks twice as big as the current standard and is expected by industry watchers to be used by Apple.
The Latest Audio Gear For Mac-Based Music Studios
The Audio Engineering Society Convention in Los Angeles spotlights the newest pro-oriented hardware and software, with lots of goodies coming for Mac OS X.
Opinion
Wanted: MS Mac Chief
Want to apply for the most thankless job in the world?
Review
Apple Scores With Able Server Hardware And Software
The Xserve is an impressive server with a multitude of potential uses, excellent ease of use, plenty of storage, and a software configuration that allows for an unlimited number of connections—all at a truly reasonable price.
Sidetrack
DO WHAT I MEAN Whoever says our computers are already fast enough are not looking far ahead. Sure, if you just using current applications to read e-mail and surf the web, then you probably do not need to upgrade your computer ever. But, what if you do want the next generation of e-mail applications that is really the vision of a personal digital assistant? What if you want the computer to truly understand you?
YOU WANT THIS JOB? Rob Helm: It's just not at the moment a great career move to be running the Mac unit.
RANDOM STUFF All of the music industry's top remix producers uses Macintosh G4 computers.
Wintel
The PC's New Tricks
The PC world is in a funk. Consumers don't want new machines, businesses aren't upgrading, and Michael Dell is grabbing all the profits. So what's a rival PC maker to do? Sell new software, build new devices—and pray that innovation brings customers back. Soon.
Microsoft's Software Snoops
Today, Microsoft has a small team of real, trained anthropologists who visit the homes of regular people and study them at their computers, just as they would an indigenous tribe in the Australian outback.
Saturday, October 12, 2002
Top Stories
Project Changes Face Of Learning At Nashville School
Laptop computers assigned to each student have opened new doors of learning and changed the face of education at a Nashville, Tenn., private elementary school, the school's leader says.
Apple Courts Server Subscribers
Apple Computer is giving buyers of its Mac OS X Server the option of signing on for three years of unlimited access to software upgrades for the same price it charges for a single, onetime upgrade.
News
Sony Ponders iMac Rival
It started with the Apple iMac. Then Gateway got into the act with its Profile 4. Now the whisper is that Sony is about to come out with an all-in-one personal computer.
Apple Opens Troy Store
The opening shows Apple's belief that there is a strong following in the Detroit area, says Allen Olivo, Apple's senior director of retail marketing.
Apple's Place In Home Computing
Many experts agree that one key to Apple's continued success is to remain unique and innovative.
Apple, Gateway Soup Up Server Support Programs
Apple and Gateway have altered parts of their server support programs to give customers a little more choice, the companies announced Friday, as they battle to make headway against server industry titans like Dell and Sun.
Microsoft MacBU Head Kevin Browne To Depart
Kevin Browne left to join the team that builds XBox games.
Review
A Cordless Mouse For Everyone, Even Gamers
Logitech has delivered a superb cordless mouse perfectly suited for gamers. It's not cheap, but you can finally be free of that annoying tether without having to sacrifice 3D gaming performance.
An Introduction To iMovie
For me, it's the kids, and for the amateur moviemaker, there's no better application than iMovie on Mac OS X.
Sidetrack
GOOD LUCK! : Have fun over at Xbox, Kevin.
FREE KEYBOARDS : Living in Singapore with a low end Mac? MacSingapore is giving away free ADB keyboards.
Or maybe you just want to collect stuff.
Hurry — while stocks last.
BEST 25 SITES : CareerXRoads found that Apple is among the top 25 best web sites in terms of job recruitment. (Second item)
STATING THE OBVIOUS : Just watched the open ceremony of the Esplanade over on local television, and I have just one thing to say: please use the dual-sound capability to provide us with a sound channel with no commentary by your idioic commentators. "You can now hear the music getting more exciting."
Wintel
Dell's Last Stand?
After consistently underestimating Dell's ability to slay giants over the years, yours truly is going to check the wait-and-see box and take it all in from the vantage point of the cheap seats.
Friday, October 11, 2002
Top Stories
Apple Pitches Mac OS X To Linux Fans
At this year's Expo the business giants and Linux geeks were joined for the first time by consumer-friendly Apple, which is pitching its Mac OS X operating system as the ultimate workstation environment for developers, researchers and system administrators.
News
School Software Hits Some Snags
Hatboro-Horsham's Power School program cost more than expected and some teachers struggled when it was introduced.
Q&A: Lisa Brummel On The Microsoft-Apple Relationship
New Interface Looks To Endanger Mouse, Keyboard
Researchers at the University of Delaware (UD) have invented a technology that they say will do away with the traditional mouse and keyboard, replacing them instead with a touch pad and finger motions that will allow computer users to control their machines "like magic."
Apple Store Coming To Edina, MN
Although Apple hasn't officially acknowledged the store in its opening plans, the mall's owners are confident enough to include information about the forthcoming store in their Web directory.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Released
Apple Launches Shake/Maya Promo
Orlando, Fl. Apple Store To Open Oct. 19
The store is opening at the Mall at Millenia, a new shopping mall located on Conroy Rd. in Orlando, near Route 4 at Exit 78.
Opinion
Apple's Lagging Laptops: Switching Mobile PC Users Will Take More Laptop Than Apple Is Currently Offering
If Apple can make its laptop line as inarguably superior as its desktop line currently is, and as competitively priced as its desktop line is, weíll likely have a switcher, new software and all.
The Staff Remembers Jim Seymour
Remember This? "I Wonder Which Brand Of Camera That Was!"
Every word in the commercial is true, whether longtime PC user Kearns believes it or not.
Review
Mac-PC Networks: Leaping Past Jaguar
Miramar Systems' PC Maclan gets Windows to play nicely with Macs by teaching it to speak Appletalk, which is simple to use .
Sidetrack
MY PET THEORY : Bosses are like your pet. You make them happy — scratch their bellies when they want you to, for example — and they will protect you from evil-doers and the occasional mailman.
I hope my bosses don't read this. :-)
RANDOM STUFF : Shamrock Elementary School is on a Macintosh platform "because of the child-friendly and reliable reputation of Macintosh computers."
Wintel
C# Standardization Moves Ahead
Microsoft and its allies have quietly expanded an effort to gain acceptance for C#, the software giant's competitor to Java and a foundation for its next-generation Internet services.
Microsoft Warns On E-Mail Security
The flaw, which affects the free e-mail software bundled in Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser, could allow attackers to crash the e-mail program or to potentially take over the user's machine.
Can We Trust Microsoft-Owned Slate On TiVo Story?
I don't think this story has any place on Slate in the first place, because of the perception of conflict of interest.
Microsoft Opens Passport Source To Developers
Speaking at a conference on digital identity in Denver, Microsoft CTO Craig Mundie said the company will make the source code of its Passport Manager available to licensed companies, academics, developers and governments as part of its Shared Source Initiative.
Thursday, October 10, 2002
News
Every Greenland Elementary Student To Get Laptop: Wireless Network Extends Technology-Enriched Curriculum
"When you put computers in the classroom, there are no limits to what teachers can do to take students where they have never been before."
Windsor 7th-Graders iBooking It: Revolution In The Classroom
"I liked it. It's fun. I think it's a good idea."
School Officials Worry Apple Pact Could Affect Budget
Walker County Schools superintendent Roy Sapough said he is not comfortable relying on the stateís promise to reimburse the $178,800 the county will shell out for the system.
A Mac Showplace In Towson: The New Apple Store Has Only One Goal: Hooking You Up With A Mac
"We want this to be the best place to explore, learn about and try out the Mac experience."
Windows Media 9 Steals MPEG-4's Thunder
But don't count MPEG-4 out too soon.
Microsoft Ads To Promote Mac
Microsoft is planning on Thursday to announce a new advertising campaign touting the Macintosh version of its Office suite. The ads, which play up the ability of Macs and PCs to get along, will begin showing up Saturday in magazines geared at Macintosh, business, technology and design audiences, according to an e-mail from a Microsoft representative.
Opinion
TiVo Points To Apple's Next Market
It's time for Apple to stand on the shoulders of TiVo and create the next generation set top box.
Review
Illustrator Vs. CorelDraw: Which One Is For You?
Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
Perhaps our expectations were too high but we thought that we'd get more from this game. A must-have for Star Wars or AoE freaks, but not necessary for casual game fans.
Build Dynamic Web Sites Without Leaving Your Mac
Whether you use your Mac as a live database server or just as a development environment before you transfer your dynamic site to a big Unix server, this introduction to using Apache, MySQL, and PHP is just the beginning—we've barely scratched the surface of what you can do.
Wintel
Changing Channels, On The PC
Still, the more you work with a Media Center PC, the more one question haunts you about the whole concept: What kind of nerd would watch television at a desk?
Ballmer Hints At New MS Office Apps
Microsoft is developing a category of office application aimed at supporting people attending meetings and events.
Michael Dell: The Eliminator
Michael Dell is the eliminator. It's in his and the company's genes. He eliminates costs and competitors with a relentless focus on driving costs down and in forming tight relationships with customers and suppliers.
Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Top Stories
Thinking Beyond The Box At Apple
Knowing that ever-faster machines no longer excite buyers, its push to make Macs your "digital hub" makes more sense every day.
Firm Finalizing Deal To Return Macworld To Hub
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and a spokeswoman for show sponsor IDG World Expo both said yesterday that the return of the Apple Macintosh trade show to Boston in July 2004 is virtually a done deal.
News
Opinion
Switchers Mean Apple Must Work Harder
As more people switch over to the Mac, Apple will have to be more diligent and responsive to consumer needs.
Calendar Blogging - Clogging
It will happen. Must rush — I have a calender to author.
Review
NetNewsWire Lite
It's a versatile application that has everything you need when it comes to RSS feeds.
'Stanley's Sticker House' Builds Cute Kid Stories
"Stanley's Sticker House" is a wonderfully creative CD for Windows and Macintosh computers that gently guides the budding Hemingway in your household into the art of storytelling.
Googling Your Email
What would it be like to Google your email?
Sidetrack
RANDOM THOUGHTS : Those idiots at Outlook Express for Windows think that when I am reading an e-mail and I press Ctrl-F, rather than to find a text in the mail, I really mean to forward the mail.
Clive Grinyer: Apple showed that the rules of injection moulding had to be thrown away to create something so utterly gorgeous that it gave Apple a real edge.
Wintel
Adobe Digests Microsoft Move
Investors and analysts were divided Wednesday over how Microsoft's new XDocs electronic-forms software would affect Adobe Systems, which has identified online forms as a significant new business direction.
AMD Still Playing Catch-Up With Intel
AMD's latest mobile chip launch shows the chipmaker is trying to keeping pace with archrival Intel — but the company needs to explain its mobile roadmap, according to industry analysts.
Why Microsoft Caved In On Copy Protection
Instead of protecting TV programming whether it needs protection or not, MS's decision lets copyright owners make that decision.
Microsoft To Add New Web Product To Office Suite
Microsoft will introduce a new addition to its Office suite of productivity programs by adding an XML document authoring tool, the world's largest software company said on Wednesday.
Viruses
This is surely a scandal on the part of one of the worldís wealthiest companies.
Dell Plan Angers HP Chief
While Dell's announcement doesn't leave HP "shaking in our boots," Fiorina said financial analysts have given the Austin, Texas, computer maker a too-easy ride.
Tuesday, October 8, 2002
Top Stories
The Real Battle
What's clear is that technologists on both sides are siding with the future. If you care more about opportunities than threats, put your bets on those guys.
News
A Design Studio Makes The Move To Mac OS X
"Ultimately, Mac OS X has been such a great move for us, and has been nothing but a success story in our office."
RealNetworks Gets A Taste For Apple
RealNetworks took another gradual step in launching its streaming media subscription service on the Macintosh.
Macworld Returning To Boston
Boston has beat out the Big Apple for the blockbuster 2004 Macworld show, which could pump tens of millions into the city's hard-hit economy.
New Day Dawns Thanks To Mozilla Software
Now, I can say with a straight face that you can replace Explorer with Mozilla outright, and outside of the improvements, it's possible you'll never know the difference.
Opinion
Stability Isn't Sexy
This year's model can't look like last year's.
Mac OS X: More Creative Than You Think
It's true, Mac OS X is great for geeks. Guilty as charged. But as a photographer, amateur movie maker, and former (bad) musician, I can also tell you that this is a great platform for creativity.
Review
Sonnett Piccolo
All in all, this is a must-have device if you work with more than one computers.
Sidetrack
The Unix Way?
Zimran Ahmed: Why Gnome and KDE are misguided. And similiarly for Windows and Macintosh too?
My Personal Low
You know there are times when you really hate to wake up, really hate to get onto the subway, and really hate to go home and watch tv? Basically, really inactive and lacking in energy?
I'm having one of those times right now. Sigh.
Just learnt that the personal high is four hours after waking, and 10 hours after waking. I'm waiting for that to kick in. Any moment now. Ready...
The personal low is at 1 hour and 2 hour after lunch.
Random
Mac Business: Balloon Aloft Australia, by Peter Vizzard and Judy Lynne.
Wintel
Microsoft Steps Up Efforts To Lure Unix Migrators
Microsoft on Tuesday launched a more comprehensive program to help drive customers away from Unix and onto the Windows platform.
Dell To Pitch $199 Handheld At Comdex
Dell Computer is planning to unveil two handhelds—one priced at $199—based on Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system this fall, according to sources.
Microsoft Polishing .Net Server Software
The clock is ticking for Windows .Net Server 2003, an operating system that is used to run high-end computers that manage everything from checking passwords to keeping track of a corporate payroll.
Pentium 4 Overhaul Set For 2005
Concepts in the current chip line will be found in Nehalem, but it will contain new, and largely unknown, features such as improved power management that will mark it as a distinct evolutionary step, similar to the changeover from the Pentium II to the Pentium III.
Transmeta Chief: 'We're Years Ahead Of Intel'
Chief executive Matthew Perry thinks Transmeta can hold off Intel in the mobile processor market.
Microsoft: Users May Have To Pay For Security
Microsoft is considering charging for additional security options, and admits it didn't move on security until customers were ready to pay for it.
Bugbear To Set New Virus Record
The Bugbear computer virus may be spreading more slowly this week than last, but it's still on track to be the most prolific e-mail virus to date, antivirus experts said on Monday.
Monday, October 7, 2002
Top Stories
Apple Never Promised You A Rose Garden
Do you remember the old days?
Apple's iBook: Why It's Not Just For Home, Anymore
While I'm sure that Apple's engineers have done everything they can to eke every last erg of performance out of the AirPort on Powerbook, it's just not enough.
News
iSync Puts You On The Same Page
New Apples For Teachers
The disparity among computers in Anchorage schools is clear when you wander the classrooms of Campbell Elementary School.
Review
Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue And Wireless Optical Mouse Blue
The hardware and optical mechanism are among the best money can get at the moment, but Microsoft went wrong trying to reinvent the wheel mechanism.
The Fade Factor
Ink jet photos can last for years—or a few months, depending on the printer, ink, and paper. We identify the best products and deals.
Warcraft III: Reign Of Chaos
All this gaming goodness comes at a price, however; system requirements for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos are steep.
Beefing Up OS X's Windows Networking
A Tale Of 12 Mice
Call me a curmudgeon, but I wish mouse vendors wouldn't get rid of models that work just fine — and my trusty Microsoft rodent continues to perform spectacularly.
Sidetrack
Mac People: Dr. Wichai Ekataksin, "major contributor to the world's pool of knowledge about liver disease.
Arts & Letters Daily has ended. Thanks!
Wintel
Windows Upgrade Suffers Delay
Longhorn wait will upset licensing plans, analysts warn.
IBM's ThinkPad Turns 10: What's Next?
IBM's ThinkPad notebook turned 10 on Saturday, a milestone for what has become one of the most successful products and brand names in computing history.
Microsoft Judge Takes His Case To The Public
About 15 months after the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit rebuked U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson for talking to the media in the Microsoft antitrust case, Jackson has formally filed his rebuttal. Jackson's venue of choice to file his reply brief is, naturally, the court of public opinion.
Dueling 8.0's: America Online Vs. Microsoft
While AOL scarcely deigns to mention its rival, Microsoft plans to compare itself relentlessly with AOL.
Sunday, October 6, 2002
News
Make Or Break: Picking Apple's Future
The industry slump makes it tough to gauge any tech company's progress, but analysts' wildly divergent views suggest that Apple itself is suffering from an identity crisis.
District One Researches Powerschool
Parents at Williston Public School District No. 1 may soon be able link up to grade and progress information about their students via a new technology program known as PowerSchool.
Opinion
Comparing Apples And Oranges
When measuring prices, itís not easy dealing with rapidly evolving products like computers.
Mac OS X: An Apple A Day Keeps The Pengiuns Away?
The Linux desktop's day to shine is arriving, and Apple Computer simply is not in a position to take Tux's well-deserved spotlight away.
Review
How Does The Pentium 4 And Athlon XP Running Windows XP Compare To The G4 Power Macintosh Running OS X?
Sidetrack
Danny O'Brien: Clipping services are going to have to find some added value, very very quickly.
Today's kids will grow up with telephone and Internet avaiable through the air, while television comes in via a cable. The job is done.
I'm now using my Windows XP laptop at home with my AirPort wireless software. So far so good... Okay, not that good. Because I'm sitting quite far away from the base station, the signal strength goes up and down quite frequently. (I think it has something to do with whether there is anybody in the bathroom.) And everytime the signal strength varies, my dear Windows XP pops up a dialog to tell me about that. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Idiot.
Wintel
Cheap PCs Chip Away At Microsoft's Edge
It is mighty early to write an obituary for the great "Wintel" alliance, but for the first time in a long while there is evidence of a credible challenge.
Saturday, October 5, 2002
News
Apple AirPort 2.0.5 For Mac OS X 10.1.5 Posted
Local Schools Draft Rules For Apple iBooks
Although the laptop computer initiative is statewide in scope, local control still reigns in regard to determining how the Apple iBooks are used.
Keychain Drives Gets Better
One of the more interesting portable storage products to hit the market in the last year has been the keychain-sized flash memory device.
Opinion
iPod Caption's Gaffe Was Unpardonable
Point taken, accepted, and acknowledged.
When iMacs Go Bad: A Tale Of Two Hardware Disasters
This is why Apple is the greatest computer maker there is.
Review
The State Of AppleScript
In a nutshell, AppleScript's current status at Apple is pretty inconsistent, which ends up meaning bad.
Sidetrack
Village Voice: Apple Store - Best Staircase.
For those who are, well, into things just a little geeky, here's are some reading materials about the tilde.
Friday, October 4, 2002
Top Stories
High-Tech Tools Bring Film To Life
The movie "Charly" wasn't made on a Hollywood budget. Instead, it was a collaboration brought together by Brigham Young University buddies who went for a fat, sleek look on a budgetary diet. And they edited the entire film on a laptop.
News
Real Cure For The Vileness Of Visual Basic
With Cocoa such an attractive environment for developers, it's a credit to REAL that it's maintained mindshare in the move to OS X.
Opinion
One-Third Of Slashdot Readers Find The Mac 'Very Tempting'
It does raise an eyebrow here and there.
OpenOffice/NeoOffice On Mac OS X
More work remains, but the fact is, we've been able to make enormous progress with just 2-3 people.
Review
New Crop Of Apples
The juiciest new product from Apple Computer is the Mac OS X version 10.2 operating system.
Sidetrack
David Coursey is writing a book, and he is looking for switchers. I wonder if Apple can help.
Oh, and he is rerunning his old article on why he (still) just love my iMac.
Wintel
Dell Gives Away Megahertz In Laptop War
The Austin, Texas-based computer giant is not charging for most processor upgrades on its Latitude notebooks, which are geared toward businesses.
Why You Should Wait For Dell's Handhelds
Unless you need a handheld device tomorrow, my advice to those who are looking for a PDA is to wait and see what Dell comes up with.
Thursday, October 3, 2002
Top Stories
Why Unix Matters To Mac OS X
With Mac OS X, a solid consumer version of Unix is winning back the desktop.
Go Figure
Macintosh, in fact, is the number one computer brand in the world, with 11.6 per cent of the market.
News
Webhunter
Ellen Feiss probably has a fair bit of explaining to do to her parents.
SAD 58 Embraces Laptop Program
The program's effects are already being felt in SAD 58 schools. Ron Canter, a teacher at the Kingfield School, said that his students can use the Apple iBooks to download clips and visuals from the World Book site, and can use the computers to enhance their research.
Apple Airs New Celebrity "Switch" Ads
It would appear Apple has launched a new series of "Switch" ads featuring celebrities/athletes, as a new television ad featuring professional surfer Kelly Slater has started airing.
Older Versions Of Stuffit Expander Vulnerable
ZIP archives containing files with large filenames can cause a buffer overflow when extracted with Stuffit Expander 6.5.2 and earlier.
Opinion
O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference: The Keynote Addresses
Hardware Hampers Preschool PC Users
It's time to make a plea to hardware manufacturers on behalf of young children everywhere who are experimenting with the world of computers: Start thinking smaller.
Wi-Fi Is So Good: It Even Works
My wire-free world.
Review
News-Reader Software Can Do Your Web Surfing For You
By fetching headlines and other content from the Web and dumping it onto a user's desktop, news readers can dramatically limit needless Web surfing.
Apple's iPod Sounds Great With Windows
You can buy hard disk-based music players of equal capacity for less money than the iPod. But if you want to pamper yourself, the iPod's compact size, elegant industrial design, friendly interface and superb sound quality make it a great companion.
The Apple iPod For Windows Begins A New Legacy
Even though they were, in my opinion, "late" to enter the Windows market, they were able to do it with a product that users will want to buy.
In Search Of Mice And Keys That Merit Kind Treatment
Try out any device before buying it or make sure you can return it. Designs that look good may not actually fit your hands, desk or work style. And consider black: it hides stains and dust nicely.
Do You Really Need A Calendar?
Apple's new iCal program can help you keep up with your life — but only if you have Jaguar and can endure its sluggish behavior.
Wireless Networking Insanity At OS X Con
If you're running promiscuous mode tools, do not run a firewall in OS X 10.2. If you're acting as a router... Don't run promiscuous mode utilities!
Sidetrack
Dan Gillmor noted that Apple refused to participate at a conference panel discussing digital rights management. "Disturbing".
Clueless Reporter Darek Fanton: Apple's iPod is just one of the many ways to download music from the Internet.
Five experiemnts with AOL's voice recognition software, by Ron Grunberg. It's Newton Fiasco all over again!
Play some golf and the school will get some iBooks.
Congrats to MacCentral for receiving the Standard of Excllence award from Web Marketing Association.
Wintel
Microsoft Sinks Xbox-Hacking Chipmaker
Microsoft appears to have shut down one of the world's largest distributors of "mod chips"—gray-market add-ons that allow Microsoft's Xbox and other video game consoles to play pirated games.
Ballmer On Snacks And Software
What's important to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer? Snack food, bugs and software, apparently, according to a memo he sent Wednesday to the company's customers.
Wednesday, October 2, 2002
Top Stories
Building A Better Computer Mouse
Pioneered by Norway's Opera Software, the "mouse gesture" is slowly winning converts among software developers who hope to simplify repetitive tasks in computer applications.
Apple Stands Firm Against Entertainment Cartel
Maybe Apple will cave, too. If it does, it will betray customers and principle. So far, however, so good.
News
Adobe Founder Extols Integrity
"At the end of the day, if you run a company, the only thing you're going to have left is your integrity."
Microsoft Posts Outlook Express 5.0.6
The update includes support for MSN Web mail accounts and resolves all security vulnerabilities in previous versions of the software.
Toast 5.2 Titanium Now Available
iPod Updagter 1.2.1 Available
The download page notes that the update fixes a problem with the battery icon so it correctly indicates a full charge.
Reality Check For Web Design
Despite new standards, some developers continue to build flawed websites. New software will allow producers to automatically check Web page designs for accessibility as they code.
When Advertisers Attack: Apple, EarthLink And Others Go On The Warpath
Calling attention to competitors can be risky, as is making claims of superiority.
Review
Sync This: Hands-On With iSync
Mac OS X Email Guide: Which Option Is Right For You?
Our top picks are Eudora and Entourage, with Mailsmith and PowerMail close behind.
Office X's Sorely Needed Missing Manual
This how-to book unlocks all the secrets that Microsoft doesn't bother to reveal about its truly terrific software suite.
Wintel
Minding Microsoft's Other Monopoly
Raikes, with his Tablet PC in tow, explained the still unresolved technology issues surrounding handwriting recognition as well as his ambitions for the future of Microsoft Office.
AMD's Chip Sales Sink Further
Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices said Wednesday that third-quarter sales will come to approximately $500 million, less than expected, and the company will report a "substantial operating loss" for the quarter.
Itanium Looks A 64-Bit Too Big
Four years behind schedule, the chip made its debut the other day to a less than totally enthralled public.
ePeriodicals: Microsoft's Killer App For Tablet PC?
Microsoft Corp. thinks it's found a killer app for its Tablet PC: as a home for a new breed of electronic magazines.
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
News
Home Networking Wars: PC Vs. Mac
Although Apple's AirPort components may be more expensive than comparable PC networking equipment, a Mac network may be easier to set up.
Opera Offers Cheap Browsers For Higher Education Users
In a bid to get more universities and colleges to use its Web browser, Opera Software ASA launched a special licensing program with the browser costing as little as $1 per copy when bought in volume.
.Mac Subscribers Top 180,000
Apple today announced that more than 180,000 users have signed up for the company's .Mac Web services since it was launched in July, with 80,000 of those users signing up since September 17.
Aqua Eye-Candy Comes To The PC
Stardock has released a small utility that brings several of the dazzling effects seen in Apple's Aqua UI to the PC.
Cell Phones Seek Data Unity
As cell phones and handheld devices become more ubiquitous, new technologies are emerging to give handsets the ability to exchange data with PCs and almost all other digital devices.
Opinion
The Do's And Don'ts Of Shareware
All programmers at one time or another become fed up with middle management, the quality of available software, or just needing something more, and dream of being the next Bill Gates.
Presenting Mac OS X
Obviously, people are looking to buy.
Review
Apple Has A Tiger By The Tail With Updated iPod
I think the bottom line with the iPod remains what it was last year: It wins hands-down on form and features.
The Canon I850 Photo Printer Does It All
All told, the Canon i850 Photo Printer delivers a lot of printer for the price, whether you want to print photos or are just looking for a high-quality, general purpose printer.
The Importance Of Being Sleek
Computer makers want you to forget about dull beige boxes. The hype is moving to flashier, integrated units with built-in color LCD screens.
Sidetrack
Cameron Barrett: Dead-tree books is not the only form of media that makes a person an author.
I think I've been dabbling in Perl for too long... Now, whenever I want to type a variable name in C, I have to fight this urge to start with a dollar sigh.
Wintel
Analysts See Dell Making More Market Share Gains
Dell Computer Corp. has used market share gains to stave off the technology spending downturn that has driven some competitors to losses, and analysts said they expect that push to continue as the company expands.
Athlon XP Running Out Of Steam?
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. on Tuesday announced two faster Athlon processors, but said the chips won't be available until late November, fueling speculation that the early unveiling was spurred by growing pressure from rival Intel Corp., which is set to release a 3GHz Pentium 4 in the coming weeks.
Dell Drops Prices On Flat Panels
Dell Computer is aiming to catch the eye of consumers and businesses with a new, lower priced 17-inch flat-panel display.