Saturday, May 31, 2003
Top Stories
If It's Good Enough For Fido...
Given that very few companies' IT operations are so abused and so scrutinized, that Microsoft and Apple use their own technology — especially new technology — is powerfully convincing.
News
Profiles In Success: Rancho Bernardo High School
Using state-of-the-art production and postproduction tools — including Power Mac G4 systems and Final Cut Pro — the young videomakers crafted a 30-second spot that had all three dealers asking for more.
Corel Axes Bryce For Mac Development
"We have found that sales for Corel Bryce 5 are strongest with Windows customers, particular at retail. As a result we have chosen to focus our efforts on Bryce 5 for Windows."
Opinion
Steve Jobs: 'Death Is A Good Thing'
Maybe Jobs is right to factor mortality into his marketing strategy.
Does Size Matter In Your Organization?
Could you imagine what it would be like trying to use that 17-inch Apple PowerBook while scrunched into an economy class seat?
Apple Should Partner With Amazon On Amazon-Branded iTunes Music Store
Review
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood: iRide
At its winter team camp in December, the Saturn men's team looked almost like an Apple commerail, with Phil Zajicek camped near a roaring fire, loading up his PowerBook with digital photos and displaying his iPod, while Tim Johnson fiddled with his own digital music library.
Rob's Top Mac OS X Hints, Part 1
Rob Griffiths has published more than 3,500 Mac OS X tips on his Mac OS X Hints site, much to the delight of this editor and thousands of Mac SO X fans. Rob has pulled together 16 of his fvorite hints to share with Mac DevCenter readers.
XPress In The Slow Lane
Adobe's InDesign 2.0 [offers] pros the features they have craved for years.
Dual-1.42 GHz Power Mac G4: Latest Version Of The Fastest Mac Money Can Buy Provides Attractive Extras, Good Value
The dual-1.42 GHz Power Mac G4 is not a lot faster than the midlevel model — but for $700 more, it has some nice extras that make it a solid value.
SketchUp 2.2: Fun, Inspiring Program Makes 3-D Available To The Rest Of Us
We recommend SketchUp to anyone who has a need or a desire to visualize in 3-D but neither the patience nor the time to deal with complicated CAD programs.
The Game Room: Simple Pleasures
Lots of times I'm happy to just to while away a few minutes with a fast, easy-to-play game that's simply fun. Fortunately, there are plenty of those games to choose from.
Bluetooth Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer
Despite the shortcomings in OS X, I can't, in good conscience, lower the rating for this product because of it. After all, the hardware does perform flawlessly in WIndows XP.
Wintel
In Agreement With Microsoft, AOL Gets Cash And Flexibility
The settlement of AOL's antitrust suit against Microsoft does not in any way reduce the competition between the America Online division of AOL and the MSN operation of Microsoft, the two biggest Internet service providers. But it does promise to limit how much that rivalry will spill over to unrelated deals between Microsoft's software operation and AOL's media units, analysts and company executives said.
AOL, Microsoft's Peace A Sign Of Times
Microsoft planted the seeds of Thursday's surprise antitrust settlement following a sweeping management shakeup at AOL Time Warner that culminated with America Online founder Steve Case announcing his resignation as chairman in January.
Intel Concedes Centrino Snag
Intel acknowledged that a software incompatibility may cause problems for people trying to use a Centrino-based notebook with a virtual private network.
Friday, May 30, 2003
Top Stories
So Much For Economic Principle
As long as the world's programmers continue to speak Unix, Apple's economic future is secure.
Apple As Innovator
What Apple does so wellis to realize the potential in a technology, and to frame it in such a way that people discover that they need it.
News
Is This The End Of Netscape?
So much for Netscape 8.0. That's one upshot of Thursday's settlement between Microsoft and AOL Time Warner, according to industry analysts who predict that the Netscape browser will now move from a neglected orphan of AOL Time Warner to a candidate for euthanasia.
Microsoft Wins In Digital Media
AOL Time Warner's settlement with Microsoft on Thursday brings the software giant a powerful ally in extending its digital media technology — part of Microsoft's plan to keep Windows the world's dominant computer operating system and expand onto new devices.
Consumer Reports: Apple Most Reliable, Best Support
Amazon Vs. Apple In Music Downloads?
As millions of songs figuratively fly off the shelves of Apple's recently launched iTunes Music Store, analysts are looking at Amazon.com as one of the likeliest candidates to take the next crack at the retail music-download business.
Opinion
Does Apple Sauce Spell Real Opportunity?
Apple's sudden (and more restrictive) rules for songs from its iTunes service could mean a market opportunity for Real Networks.
Panther Vs. Longhorn: The Rematch
Readers weigh in on the grudge match of the decade.
The Music Store Report: Shutting The Faucet And Other Important Stuff
Review
Add-Ons For Your iPod
Accessories let you dress it up, play it through your radio and much more.
Wintel
Microsoft To Pay AOL $750 Million
Microsoft is paying $750 million to AOL Time Warner as part of a wide-ranging settlement that also calls for the companies to jointly cooperate on software distribution and digital media.
AOL, Microsoft To Talk Bout IM
As part of their major truce announced Thursday, AOL Time Warner and Microsoft pledged to discuss making their instant messenger products talk to each other. But it's not clear the talks will end IM turf wars — the companies did not provide a specific time line for allowing their rival services to communicate.
Microsoft Taps New Security Head
Microsoft this week named a new top executive for its Security Response Center, the unit responsible for addressing vulnerabilities in the company's existing products.
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Top Stories
Microsoft, Again: Apple's Old Nemesis
If Apple has a strategy for dealing with Microsoft, it isn't telling anyone.
Apple Finds The Future For Online Music Sales
Hackers were already finding a way around this new restriction, writing software that would trick iTunes into thinking that an outside user's computer was on a customer's local network. If Apple responds by limiting the functionality of the music it is selling every time that hackers find a way to trade files, it could end up with a system as unsuccessful as the record industry's own attempts, like Pressplay and Musicnet.
Opinion
Has The RIAA Ownz0r'd Your Apple? - Updated
This has the creepy feeling about it that the RIAA has essentially managed your computer more than Apple has.
Review
Wintel
Microsoft Feeling Office Heat?
Microsoft's decision to cut retail prices for some versions of its Office software is more a reaction to internal pressures than to outside competition, analysts said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Top Stories
I've Bitten The Apple: Steve Jobs Keeps Rocking My World
Based on what I've seen Jobs do over the past 20 years, I'd have to say that the company will not only keep moving forward itself but also keep pushing the entire industry along.
iTunes Update Disables Internet Playlist Sharing
iTunes 4.0.1 gains performance and network enhancements, according to Apple, but one feature has been disabled: Internet-based playlist sharing.
Hands On: Getting Macs And PCs To Play Well Together
The first issue many IT departments need to deal with is providing access to shared resources for both platforms... There are two basic tacks IT workers can take: server-based solutions and client-based solutions.
News
Apple's .Mac Mail Problems Continue
VirtualPC Update Fixes AirPort Extreme Problem
The new version of VirtualPC fixes a compatibility problem with AirPort Extreme Cards, according to Connectix.
Revolution 2.0 Released
Revolution can be used to create custom applications, database front ends, CGI processing scripts, multimedia presentations and more.
Apple Finds The Key
Its iTunes Music Store has shown that people are willing to pay to download songs.
State Of The Art: A Medium Reborn
Just as vinyl albums dictated song counts and radio gave rise to one-hit wonders, digital distribution may ultimately help revolutionize the way music is produced, packaged and even created.
The Mac Hardware Report: RAM Problems Revisited
Listen.com's announcement reflects how companies are casting about for effective strategies to lure customers in the nascent business of selling songs online.
Listen.com Fires Shot Over Apple's Bow; Lowers Burning Fee To 79 Cents Per Song
PowerMail Update Improves Searching, More
Ambrosia Releases 'Uplink' Computer Hacker Game
Uplink is a game set in the near future, in the world of high-tech computer crime and Internet-based industrial espionage.
Apple Hits The Right Notes
[Apple's new campaign] is not as simple as it looks, and that's one of the reasons it's so good.
Opinion
The OS X Transition Must Be Completed Now
So began my research into why OS 9 users refuse to join the rest of us in OS X-land.
The Point Of No Return?
The iTunes Music Store's success indicates that the gamble by both Apple and the music industry has paid off. But where is the point of no return?
Apple Force-Feeds Customers Shit, Calls It Sunshine
Apple has removed a useful feature from its software, and its customers are out in the cold.
Loyal To The Core
Loyal Macintosh users flooded The Deal's Web site with vitriol, with and wisdom in response to the suggestio that Apple has reached the point where its value as two separate companies — one a hardware maker, the other a software developer — is greater than the sum of its parts.
Review
iLife
We always suspected that Apple's little i stood for integration, and iLife is proof enough.
Pro Tools LE 6: Digital-Audio Software Makes Comfortable Transition To OS X And Adds File-Management Features
"Comfortable and stable" may seem like faint praise, but it means that owners of supported Digidesign hardware can easily move up to Pro Tools LE 6.
Servoy: A FileMaker Pro Killer Or Another Killer App?
Servoy will fit nicely in my bag of tools right alongside with FileMaker Pro.
The Jaguar Report: The Conspiracy To Make You Switch To Mac OS X
Nobody forces you to buy the new version, or to purchase a new computer if hte old one is working just fine... When it makes sense to upgrade, say when your Mac has become too troublesome or slow to get work done, and the budget allows it of course, then you can "Think Different" about the matter.
Spaceward Ho! 5
Spaceward Ho! 5 is an enjoyable game which will appeal to anyone who wants to conquer a galaxy and not spend hours learning how to do it.
Wintel
Microsoft's Thinking Outside The Office Box
Microsoft's readying a host of new 'accelerators' aimed at building demand for its Office System family of products.
Microsoft Slashes Office XP Prices
Microsoft on Wednesday will announce that it is cutting retail prices by between 15 and 30 percent on a number of products in its Office XP product family.
Microsoft Warns Of New Vulnerabiliities
Microsoft on Wednesday issued a pair of security alerts addressing potential flaws that could make its software vulnerable to attackers.
Microsoft Launches Government Security Program
Microsoft, moving to stem the tide of foreign governments embracing the Linux open-source operating system, on Tuesday announced it has formed a global initiative to provide govenrments around the world with access to Windows source code.
Microsoft Mum On Unix Licensing Move
Microsoft, which Monday announced it was licensing the Unix source code and patent from the SCO group, is remaining tight-lipped about its reasons for the move.
Microsoft Loses Munich Deal To Linux
The city of Munich, the third largest in Germany, has chosen Linux and the free OpenOffice.org productivity suite for its more than 15,000 desktop systems, replacing Microsoft Windows NT, say sources close to the negotiations.
Windows Users Knocked Off Net
Microsoft withderew a security improvement for its flagship Windows XP software after it crippled Internet connection for some of the 600,000 users who installed it.
Microsoft: Longhorn Goes To Pieces
The next major client version of Windows will be designed as a series of components that Microsoft can easily combine and tailor for different markets and computing hardware, according to company executives.
Microsoft Tweaks Troubled Licensing Plan
Microsoft said Tuesday that it will throw in several services, including training and support, with the cost of software licenses, in an effort to encourage customers to buy into the program.
Microsoft CEO Sells $1.2 Billion In Stock
Microsoft Adds To Accounting Software
Microsoft has revamped its financial management applications for midsized businesses with new features designed to track project costs.
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
News
Exhibit Fair To Open Early At WWDC
The exhibit hall for WWDC normally opens later in the day, but this year Xplain will open the exhibits as soon as Apple CEO Steve Jobs is finished with his opening keynote address.
Call The Apple Store And Get Bill And Melinda Gates
The Bluetooth Truth Hurts
About the only thing that was consistent across all the devices is that Bluetooth simply didn't work.
Opinion
Giving iTunes A Careful Listen
One million downloads a week sounds nice, but a close look at the numbers shows it's not justified.
Review
Legion
If you loved Civ III or Age of Empires II, Legion is not your game. If, however, you long for the days when strategy games were about strategy and not about flashy graphics or split-second mouse clicks, then Legion will be a breath of fresh air... for a while, anyway.
Final Cut Express 1.0.1
If you're a video hobbyist who's ready to step up from iMovie, once you get your hands on this little app, you'll think you won the lottery.
Fire Down Below
Boasting most of the features found in the brawniest digital audio work stations, the Digi 002 is an exceptionally designed and priced unit that provides the perfect point of entry for people who want to explore the world of computer recording without taking out a second mortgage on their house.
Software Encourages Kids To Try Hand At Art
"Click & Create with Mia" introduces children to art on the computer.
Wintel
Justice Dept. Will Stay Out Of States' Microsoft Appeal
Bush administration decides not to file a brief in West Virginia and Massachusetts' case.
Monday, May 26, 2003
News
Bigger, Better Linux
Users of Linux databases are drooling over the list of features promised by the forthcoming upgrade to the Linux kernel, Version 2.6.
The iTunes Music Store
I went to the music event with few expectations besides the obvious.
Apple Store Coming To Tucson, AZ
Principal Of Year Reflects On Hills, Valleys Of His Job
When one of his teachers approached him last year about applying for a program that would give seventh-graders laptops, he was a little skeptical. But then he heard the pervious governor, Angus King, speak about it.
Please, Sir, Help Pay For My $6,000 Laptop
With two days to go before his 28th birthday on Wednesay, Daniel Lim has raised $1,100 towards an Apple Powerbook with a 17-inch screen.
Review
Four Ways To Update Older Computers
When the price of upgrading is half that of a new computer, just buy a new computer.
New Keyboards Offer Portability
Laptop computers are wonderful for taking notes and staying connected on the road, but they're still relatively expensive and prone to breakage. A lost-cost alternative is emerging in a new type of product I call a portable keyboard.
Wintel
Microsoft Finds Some Doubters For The Motives Of Its Largesse
Even when the Microsoft Corporation attempts to do good, its critics distrust its motives.
Sunday, May 25, 2003
News
Gates, Jobs, Other Tech Stars To Convene In Carlsbad
Carlsbad becomes the world's technology capital for three days this week when Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Barry Diller and other prominent technology and media leaders assemble for a major conference. The Tuesday-Thursday conference, called "D: All Things Digital" is billed as an intimate glimpse of the thoughts of tech luminaries.
Foiling Music Pirates
Somehow, when it comes to music, many people see pricing as a moral issue in addition to a consumer issue.
Overcoming IEEE 802.11g's Interoperability Hurdles
Early fears of slow network throughput in the presence of 802.11b nodes can be dispelled upon close examination of 802.11g operation.
Image Archiving At The Smithsonian
"Xserve RAID is such an incredible piece of equipment... It really breaks a price/performance barrier that we haven't seen in this type of storage device before."
Dr David Adelson: Cracking The Cow Code
"Mac OS X has fused the Mac interface that I've always enjoyed with the Unix stuff that I actually use for work."
New Ethernet Offers Quick Trip To The Web
Apple is ahead of the pack in pushing two faster networking ideas: gigabit Ethernet and FireWire as a networking medium.
Review
Apple's New Online Music Store Is Clearly A Pick To Click
Mistakes of the competitors further highlight the potential for Apple.
Wireless Or Not, Technology Allows All Your Computers To Speak To Each Other
Windows XP helps you with Network Wizard. Sharing files, folders, printers and other devices is a bit more complicated. Macs and Airports get along well and practically connect themselves.
Saturday, May 24, 2003
News
OpenOSX Ships Gimp Update
Version 1.2.4 has been rebuilt for Mac OS X 10.2 and purportedly delivers over 200 percent performance spikes over the previous version.
802.11g Transfer Rate Controversy Meaningless, Says Apple
The data rate has always been around 20Mbit/sec and hasn't change in the final draft standard.
Microsoft Prepares Reply To iTunes
Microsoft is betting that new security enhancements planned for later this year could make renting music, rather than owning it, more attractive to consumers. Microsoft said it is developing software that makes it easier for subscription services to transfer music to portable music players.
Review
Sidetrack
DIED, NOT BECAUSE OF SARS, BUT BECAUSE OF SARS : From Yeo Kok Seng, in a letter published in the Straits Times, a sad tale of perhaps the collateral damage caused by SARS.
"[My friend] was a patient at the National Cancer Centre and was scheduled to have chemotherapy. On the appointed day, instead of being warded to undergo treatment, he was kept in an isolation room because he had fever. For three days, until the fever subsided, he was treated with antibiotics."
"Then, instead of undergoing chemotherapy, he was discharged and put under home quarantine. He was allowed to undergo chemotherapy only after he was found free of Sars 10 days later."
"Critically-ill patients like him need plenty of rest. However, while under home quarantine, the phone rang up to nine times a day. He had to drag himself before the surveillance camera each time. With this torture, his condition deteriorated and he had to be warded in a critical condition a few days later."
"And although he was in a critical condition, none of his family members could visit him, despite many appeals to the hospital management. It was only with the help of a relative working in the hospital that a visitor was allowed. That was seven days later."
"The seven days of isolation without the presence of a loved one proved too much for him. His body deteriorated. On the eighth day, when a family member visited him, he was already unconscious. A few days later, he died."
"How many lives will we lose," asked Yeo Kok Seng, "not to Sars, but to the preventive measures that become a roadblock for those seeking treatment?"
The entire letter can be read here. This link will expire in, I think, 7 days, when Straits Times will hide this web page away from everyone, including Google.
A reply by Singapore's Ministry of Health, published on the same day, answered some of the issues raised.
"Appropriate treatment, including chemotherapy, will be given in a timely manner even if the patient is in an isolation ward or on home quarantine."
"The 'No Visitors' rule was implemented on April 29 to prevent visitors from being infected while in a hospital."
"Nevertheless, we understand that those with loved ones in hospital may find it difficult to accept the need for such a cautious and stringent measure. Thus the Ministry of Health has asked each hospital to be flexible in implementing the rule, and to permit visitors, on a case-by-case basis, for patients who are seriously ill."
"In the absence of a very good laboratory test, if the attending doctor is not able to confidently exclude the presence of Sars, it is prudent for hospitals to take appropriate precautionary measures should such patients die."
The entire reply can be found here, and the link-expiry warning applies too.
ATTENTION DOGS : We should have more of these signs in Singapore.
Wintel
Microsoft To Announce Licensing 6.0 Tweaks Next Week
Microsoft next week is expected to announce changes to Licensing 6.0 designed to steer more customers to buy into Software Assurance in the company's 2004 fiscal year, sources say.
Friday, May 23, 2003
News
TiVo CEO: Select Apple Stores To Sell TiVo Systems
TiVo CEO Michael Ramsay said thursday in the company's first quarter financial conference call that select Apple Stores will son be carry TiVo Digital Video Recorders.
Apple.com At Top Of Computer Hardware Sites, Nielsen/NetRatings Reports
Apple.com lead all computer hardware sites in number of shoppers for the week that ended May 11. Apple.com logged 3.75 million unique visitors, 73.7% of all visitors to hardware sites.
'Titanic' Studies Keep Students' Interest Afloat
"Most schools pull out a few children for the gifted-and-talented classes. We reversed it. All the children benefit."
Innovator Insight — A Chat With Brent Simmons
In this interview, I talk with Brent Simmons, creator of NetNewsWire, and the inaugural first-place winner of the Mac OS X Innovators Contest.
Open Source Version Of .Net Slated For This Year
Project Mono, an independent effort to create an open source version of the Microsoft .Net Framework, expects to release version 1.0 of its software this year, probably in the fourth quarter.
Net Names Scramble To Match iTunes
Apple's out-of-the-gate success with its digital music store was a wake-up call to record labels and Internet services that there is a market for legal, commercial downloads. However, a legitimate and unrestricted online music service for mass market consumers is still a long way off, digital music analysts say.
Apple Retailer Shuts Stores In Dispute With Computer Maker
Elite Computer and Software Inc. has closed its five Bay Area stores. Owner Thomas Armes says the problem is not the economy. Instead he blames his troubles on Apple.
Opinion
Moral And Economic Clarity
So let's drink a toast to Apple, using hard cider of course, and urge it stay the course and defend itself. There is a lot at stake, for all of us.
Review
MS's ClearType KOs Apple's Quartz In The Lightweight Division
Everyone seems to believe that Apple's Quartz rendering engine produces the best screen display. Unfortunaely, I don't think that's indisputably so.
Data And Song Coming Out Of Your Ears
[iPod] may look like something Fisher & Paykel would make, but it is the best MP3 player/storage device on the market.
12" PowerBook G4 An Improvement Over 15" Titanium In Most Respects
Wintel
Why Microsoft Won't Make Your Car Crash
"We don't have any system that controls starting, stopping, door locks, engine control, or things like that. We just handle the navigation system."
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Top Stories
It's A Party In A Pocket
While most of us see our iPods as a purely private pleasure, some music innovators and tech-heads are using it as the ultimate portable party.
iPod, Therefore I Am
There are two types of people in New York: Those who have an iPod and those who want one.
News
Griffin: Limited Edition PowerMates 'Back In Black'
It's QuickTime Over RealPlayer In New AOL Windows Beta
A Few Of Her Favorite Things: Oprah Gives iPod To Everyone In Audience
That might make you reconsider attending an Oprah taping, no?
Adobe To Drop OS 9 In Next Major Photoshop Release
Adobe's flagship product, Photoshop, will abandon Mac OS 9 support in its next major version, sources close to Adobe told MacCentral.
Apple Dons A Pinstripe Suit
"The power of Unix, the simplicity of Macintosh."
Hackers Bite Apple In Its iTunes
The news has not generated the level of distress from the recording industry one would expect, though it clearly is concerned.
Opinion
I'm Tired Of RIAA. I Want To Hear From The Musicians
I see quotes from industry analysts, RIAA, and the EFF. But once again, I don't know what the actual artists are thinking. They are the ones who
Review
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Compared with the original game, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is larger and greatly improved in almost all respects. The OS 9 scripting bug is pretty serious, and until it is fixed I can only recommend playing it under OS X.
EyeTV Works Like A PVR For A Mac
EyeTV lacks some TiVo functions... but otherwise I find it very capable.
Making The Switch: Migration Proves Difficult For Personalized Data
MSN For Mac OS X
If MSN want this service to succeed, they need to do some big changes and improvements with the Mac version and perhaps offer a free trial to users in the meantime.
Ho Hum! Opera Still Being Developed For The Mac
I don't think Opera Software can realistically expect to sell any reasonable number of user licneses to Mac users unless it can show us it has a better product, or at least one different enough to make it a compelling alternative.
17-Inch Flat Screen iMac
That Apple can continue to offer valuable performance enhancements while lowering prices is impressive, even if that is the nature of the industry. All told, the 1GHz iMac exceeded our considerable expectations.
iSkin ProTouch
It is an essential purchase for anyone with kids, companies that have Macs in public areas and even for the loyal Mac fanatic who want to keep their keyboard as new as the day they bought it.
How Apple's Spam Filter Stacks Up
Apple's filter is a step in the right direction. It may not be the best filter, but it comes with the platform, it's easy to use, and it works well most of the time.
Sidetrack
MISSING TUNE : I understand that the piece, 4'33", by John Cage, cannot be found in iTunes Music Store.
Wintel
Microsoft Plans Jupiter Landing
Microsoft will rely on its time-tested bundling strategy, key to its successful capture of the desktop market, to help jumpstart its server software business.
IE Beta Plugs Document Leaks
The Rights Management Add-on, available in a beta version, allows permitted users to view files.
Sun Tool Targets Microsoft
Sun will show off a new, simplified Java development tool next month intended to steal programmers from rival Microsoft's camp.
Amazon.com, Microsoft In Streaming Deal
Amazon.com is expecgted to announce a deal with Microsoft on Thursday to use the latest version of the software giant's digital media technology to stream music samples from its Web site.
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Top Stories
Quark Enters The Land Of OS X: An Early Look At The New Features In QuarkXPress 6.0
QuarkXPress 6.0 is a major upgrade, complete with significant features such as Layout Spaces, multiple undos,and the Synchronize Text palette. Yes, we wanted an OS X version of XPress sooner, but it's impressive that Quark has made such progress only 18 months after XPress 5 shipped.
Bohemian Apple To Open Shop In Ginza
Apple plans to set up shop in Japan's glitziest shopping area early next year as part of a global expansion drive. Analysts say that while it'll help the American PC maker's brand image, they wonder whether it can boost sales in this highly competitive market.
News
802.11g Heads For Standards Approval
The latest wireless networking specification is on track for standards approval, which should open the door for further adoption of the already popular technology.
Mac Opera Escapes Limbo
After months of uncertainty, an upgrade to Opera's browser for the Mac will be released on Thursday.
Wisconsin School District Eliminates Macs
Zoo Tycoon Coming To The Mac
Aspyr today announced that it will publish a Mac version of Zoo Tycoon, the popular game that puts you in charge of building and managing the ultimate virtual zoo.
Bare Bones 10th Anniversary Celebration Continues
The BBEdit Anthology contains every final version commercial release of BBEdit since the first one 10 years ago, including the latest version, BBEdit 7.0.
Opinion
Highway To $0.99 Hell: Apple iTunes Music Store: A Rockin' Revolution, Or Same Ol' Corporate Song And Dance?
If the money's still going to the same places, supporting the same outdated system, why should anyone care?
Panther's Most Important Feature: The Upgrade Price
While I have no objection to Apple recouping its investment for operating system development, it has to compromise.
Steve Jobs' Half Note
Online music stores or services can and probably should offer a lot more than just music downloads.
Review
Sidetrack
HOPE FOR TOMORROW : Doc Searls reminded us about educating children... "[Kids] are born with extravagantly unique souls, each with its own agenda and an endless series of questions for the purpose of its own education."
Wintel
Microsoft Makes Gains In Database Arena
Microsoft gained ground on its database rivals in 2002, despite a decline in sales for the market as a whole, according to research published Wednesday by Gartner Dataquest.
Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Executives On Upcoming WWDC
"People are going to be blwon away by Panther."
Apple Announces Chicago, Tokyo, SF Stores
Apple announced that during the next 12 months it plans to open 20 new Apple retail stores, including its first store in downtown Chicago, on North Michigan Avenue; its first store in San Francisco, in Union Square; and its first retail store outside of the U.S., in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district.
News
NetNewsWire Lite Update Fixes Bugs, More
Ranchero Software has released NetNewsWire Lite v1.0.3, a new version of the Mac OS X-native RSS newsreader.
Creative Labs I-Trigue: Giving Voice To The iPod
Now that you have your new iPod, you'll want a desktop speaker system that converts your small white wonder into a reverb room of sound.
WWDC Early Bird Registration Ends Friday
The Early Bird registration discount for this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which offers a savings of US$300, ends this Friday, May 23.
U2, Johnson Top Apple Charts
Although these initial numbers are impressive, they represent a small portion of the music industry's $11.5 billion annual revenue.
"The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers" : Compositing The Middle-Earth Adventure
The visual effects... were produced at WETA Digital, New Zealand's foremost production facility.
MacSoft To Ship Unreal Tournament 2003
Unreal Tournament 2003 is the latest version of the popular first person shooter.
Opera Updates Leave Macs In The Cold
Opera may be keeping its Linux and Windows updates synchronised, but it has deliberately let its Mac OS X development efforts lag.
Opinion
Would You Buy A Mac With Intel Inside?
When you look at one of Apple's elegant computers, and experience the joys of its easy setup and superior reliability, do you really care about the name of the processor that's making it all happen?
Is The Backlight Supposed To Be Blue?
Don't Underestimate Macworld NY Just Yet
The focus of Macworld East is for general Mac users and for creative professionals and hobbyists. For some of us, this is the really fun stuff.
Review
Taking An iTrip: Three FM Transmitters
iTrip is by far the best of the lot if you have an older iPod that works with it. I just hope Griffin can come up with a version that works with the third-generation iPods.
BookIt 3.2
BookIt 3.2 is Everyday Software's application for comprehensive bookmark managment.
MSN Messenger 3.5
[MSN Messenger] offers a very good alternative to iChat on the Mac and with newer versions of Messenger on the way... things can only get better.
Spell Catcher X
Spell Catcher X is undeniably good at what it does, and it caused no noticeable slowdowns in other applications while it ran in the background.
QuicKeys X 1.5.4: Missing Features, But Getting Better
Although we still miss power features such as conditional branching, QuicKeys X offers you the fastest route to Mac automation without having to learn AppleScript.
PocketMac Pro 2.0: Software Opens PocketPCs To Mac Market
PocketMac may be a flawed app, but for now, it's the only game in town. If you're in love with the huge power of PocketPC hardware and software, it's worth the hassle. If not, you're better off with a Mac-compatible Palm — or waiting for another company to step up with a PocketPC-to-Mac utility.
Page Sender 3.0: Top-Notch Fax Application
X-Plane 6.5: Simulator Lets You Fly — Courtesy Of Your Desktop
Complex though it may be, X-Plane is unquestionably the king of the hill in Mac flight simulators.
Traktor DJ Studio 2.0: Pro DJ Software Comes To The Mac, Mixes Great Sound
The fact that you can leave your DJ hardware at home and just bring your laptop to your next party makes this program well worth considering.
TimeLiner 5.0: Teacher's Pet
TimeLiner 5.0 provides teachers with an effective tool for teaching across the curriculum, putting any chronological or numerical information on screen for students to see.
Why I Ditched Mac OS X For Linux
For my uses, Mac OS X isn't all it claimed to be.
17-Inch PowerBook Could Be Your One And Only
This is the first PowerBook I'd be comfortable using as my one and only computer.
MSN Gives Mac Users Another Choice
Although MSN will seem a bit too tame for some (especially without community features), parents and those looking for a slightly cheaper alternative to AOL will greet MSn for Mac OS X warmly.
A Decision Well Made, And Still Loving My Little AlBook
Here is a quick overview of some of the compromises made when I bought this PowerBook and how they have stacked up over the last couple of months.
Sidetrack
STEVIE IS NOT THERE : With the absense of Steve Jobs at Macworld NY, I thought it will be a good opportunity for some other vendors to steal the show.
In the past, with Apple announcing products left and right during expos, any announcements from third-party vendors will be sidelined. This year, Apple will not do keynote, which means ample space for a good vendor with a great product to fill in.
Will we get surprised this year? Will we be delighted?
Wintel
Microsoft Still Playing Hardball
Microsoft's use of aggressive sales practices to defeat competition for other operating systems, namely the open-source Linux platform, have put the company in potential hot water again.
Bug-Zapping, Microsoft Style
Mike Nash takes offense when people (like me) bash Redmond's software, because it's up to him to make it safe. Here's his defense.
Microsoft Drafts Allies To Squash Worms
Microsoft has formed a virus information alliance with antivirus software makers Network Associates and Trend Micro.
Microsoft Sends Message With Unix Deal
Microsoft's licensing of rights to Unix technology from the SCO Group helps Microsoft combat Linux, a growing marketplace threat to its operating system, analysts said.
Monday, May 19, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Sales Outstrip Growth
Apple's success in achieving sales in the UK PC market exceeded market growth in the first quarter 2003, reports IDC.
News
Wozniak To Speak At MacMania III
There's still two weeks before MacMania II sets sail from Honolulu, Hawaii on June 1, but Geek Cruise Captain Neil Bauman is already releasing news about MacMania III.
Apple Stores Worry Dealers: Resellers Fret About Competition From New Apple Computer Stores
"There's no question we're competing with [Apple] head to head. I can't say I believe Apple is doing the right thing 100 percent across the board here."
Computers At The Center Of Home Entertainment
New research to be released today could be an indication that iTunes Music Store and other online services are tapping into a fundamental shift in home entertainment habits.
Threat Is Seen To Heirloom Software
Mr Kahle [, chairman of the nonprofit Internet Archive,] said the [DMCA's] stringent anticopying provisions, and the decay of the floppy disks and other magnetic media used to store early PC software, could allow early programs like Apple Computer's AppleWriter, a word-processing program, and the VisiCalc spredasheet software to be lost forever.
Keith Hilebrandt: Designer Of Sounds And Soundscapes
Scott Sneddon: Drug Discovery On The Fast Track
"For people who are bashing out UNIX code, the PowerBook running Mac OS X is handsdown the best development environment there is."
Apple's Music Store Getting Rave Reviews
Steve Jobs has succeeded in a major coup, forcing tectonic chnage in an industry notorious for its dinosaur pace and dragon tactics.
Opinion
Of Using A Mac, Despite The Mac
While OS X, iLife, and other technologies have made Apple a darling in the media, those technologies can only carry Apple so far as it tries to diversify its markets and attempt to sell to corporate IT shops and small businesses.
Review
Apple Hits Right Note: It's Not Perfect, But iTunes Music Store Is Impressive
It's clear [Apple] has indeed come up with an impressive and promising entry into the field of paid online music services, albeit with some important limitations.
Mac Vs. PC: Which Is Better For Business?
Can you run a small business on Maicntosh? The question is too complex to be fully answered in a short column like this. The applications on which most business people depend are all available for the Mac and work great, but you may have to make trade-offs for nonstandard apps.
More Capabilities In A Slimmer iPod
MSN For Mac OS X
While more experienced users may turn up their noses, MSN for OS X is worth a look from Mac users nervous about dipping their toes into the Internet.
Sidetrack
WOZ'S 17-INCH : This photo, according to Macs Only!, is Steve Wozniak's 17-inch PowerBook, sitting comfortably on a tray table up in a plane at the first-class section.
If somebody can get me a 17-inch PowerBook and a first-class plane ticket — heck, even an economy-class plane ticket — I'll do some research on whether the PowerBook can be comfortably be used on a plane. I promise an evaluation report with photos. :-)
FLAMINGOS IN NEWTON : Call me tacky, but I like fake flamingos. Okay, I like watching the real ones too, but we only get to see them at the Bird Park here in Singapore. But the fake ones are cool too. Especially in such a fun neighborhood.
STOP THE PRINTWASH : Once it's out there, it should stay out there.
Or, as Doc Searls puts it (much nicer), "In the age of the Web, the practice of charging for access to digital archives is a collossal anachronism. It's time for The New Yrok Times and the other papers to step forward, join the real world and correct the problem. Expose the archives. Give them permanent URLs. Let i nthe bots. Let their writers, and their reputations, accept the credit they are constantly given and truly deserve."
Wintel
Microsoft To License Unix Code
Microsoft is acquiring the rights to Unix technology from SCO Group, a move that could impact the battle between Windows and Linux in the market for computer operating system.
Microsoft Losing Market Grip As Rivals Go On The Offensive
After years at the cutting edge of technology, Microsoft seems in danger of falling off the pace.
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Top Stories
The Mac That Lego Built
Daniele Procida could not bear to see a dead Mac thrown away — so he reconstructed it using Lego bricks pinched from his sons.
News
Hundreds Welcome Apple Store In Honolulu
Aloha From THe Honolulu Apple Store
Mozilla Firebird Web Browser Released For Mac OS X
Mozilla.org has released Firebird 0.6 (formerly Phoenix), a redesign of Mozilla's Web browser.
Opinion
Did Apple Goof With Their Music Store Commerical?
I did a doubletake when I looked up and see what looked like a 10-12 year old kid singing the chorus to "The Real Slim Shady" from Eminem.
Sidetrack
HOT IN SINGAPORE : It's hot! hot! hot! here in Singapore. (The weather report indicates that the hot spell will continue for a few more days, it seems.)
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Top Stories
No Passport Out Of Password Prison
The latest vulnerability found in Microsoft's Passport service illustrates the risks of trading convenience for security. And it shows what a mess identity management remains online.
Putting The Shine On
For a change, a big mainland retailer's move into the Hawaii market is actually welcomed by local competitors. Apple will open Hawaii's first Apple Store tomorrow morning, retailing direct from the factory to Hawaii residents and tourists.
News
E3: A Look At Apple's Presence
Games are important to Apple, and being at E3 gives the company an opportunity to meet with key game developers and publishers in the PC and console market.
Opinion
iPod, uPod, We AllPod
In the 12 hours that I've owned and used [iPod], I've come to appreciate all the features people have written about in the past.
Time For The MacinTiVo
The bigger picture here is that nobody has effectively connected a TV to the Internet, and Apple could provide a platform to do so.
Don't Confuse A Pretty Interface For An Easy Or Efficient Operating System
The fading menus and cool colors are great, but they doesn't mean a thing when you've got a report due and the computer keeps crashing when you try to spell check the document.
All Good Things Come To An End: An iMac Retrospective
So farewell, then, iMac. You saved Apple, and you saved the Macintosh. Not bad for a blue, bubble shaped computer that didn't even have a floppy drive.
Fixing The Small Stuff In Mac OS X: Just How Long Is It Going To Take?
Mac Users Should Not Buy Microsoft Software
I want to talk to you about buying Microsoft software. My point is simple: don't do it.
Review
Affordable Tools
Most of the low-cost Mac stuff is software, but there are plenty of companies that sell great hardware products for $100 or less.
Cleaner 6.0
Cleaner 6.0.1's improvements in performance and in codec and OS compatibility make it an essential upgrade for people with previous versions — as well as a strong temptation for anyone who desires a flexible and powerful encoding utility.
Director MX: Multimedia-Authoring Package Combines Flexibility And Accessibility For Users With Disabilities
While this is not a revolutionary release in terms of new features, it's an excellent upgrade for existing Director users.
The New 30GB iPod Reviewed
The new iPods really are perfection improved. But the new models are a significant improvement over the original model.
iTunes Music Store Revisited
Responses to some of your (printable) e-mails.
Location, Location, Location: Tips For Storing Web Site Files
Here are three common approaches — whcih address the needs of basic, intermediate, and advanced web developers on Mac OS X.
Wintel
Intel Steps Up 802.11g Plans
Intel is picking up the pace on introducing 802.11g technology into its products, as the emerging wireless networking specification gathers customer and standards support.
The Exterminator
Bug-ridden programs are savagely costly. Microsoft engineer Amitabh Srivastava may have just what we need — a software insecticide.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Store's Debut Sets Off Anticipation
Anyone driving by Arden Fair mall Saturday morning might be forgiven for wondering if it's the start of the Christmas shopping season.
News
Apple Store Opening In Ala Moana
"It's a passion for a lot of people. We're super excited to come to Hawai'i.'
New Java From Apple
Apple has released a new Java update designed specifically for Oracle 11i users.
Apple Launches 'Dads & Grads' Gift Guide
A collection of both Apple and third-party products that Apple recommends as gifts for Father's Day and graduation festivities.
Opinion
The Panther Report: But Can They Make It Faster?
Yes, there will be probably plenty of new features to talk about for the next version of Mac OS X. But superior performance must stay at the top of the list.
Why Panther May Tear Up Longhorn
Is Microsoft merely aping Apple? Or has Apple let its desktop OS lead go to the dogs?
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Top Stories
Pirates And Pioneers
For more than two decades, innovation has helped Apple endure. But as surely as Apple will keep cooking up better ways of doing things, the PC world will keep borrowing them — and vice versa.
News
Piracy Worries End iTunes Streaming
Only days after the appearance of Internet-based music streaming services that capitalize on Apple's iTunes technology, many of the web sites that hosted them have removed the feature, citing concerns about piracy.
Apple Updates Safari Beta
Apple recommends the update for all Safari users as it improves how Safari validates the authenticity of websites that use SSL certificates.
Microsoft Launches MSN For Mac OS X
Apple Voters Pick Gore
Al Gore picked up the most votes from investors in the election of Apple Computer's board of directors. Gore received 286.3 million votes, while Steve Jobs garnered only 244.4 million votes.
Apple Makes Mobile QuickTime Moves
Apple is reportedly preparing to extend the reach of its QuickTime multimedia software to mobile devices.
OmniWeb Update Improves Stability
The update corrects a memory management bug, improving the stability of the application.
Opinion
Don't Break Up Apple — Build It Up
Apple's Apocalypse
Just like when the first Apple computer was released — "landmark stuff" doesn't always win over the long haul, as Microsoft has proven. But there's nothing like hyperbole, Steve.
Memo To Apple: Bring Back The Cube And Make It Cheap
If the total amount is less, you'll probably see a lot more buyers.
Not So Bright Future For The Mac
It doesn't matter how insanely great Apple's products are.
Review
P880 Dual Analog Pad
If you are a Mac-gaming first-time gamepad buyer, you would do much better to check out the MacAlly iShock II first.
King Of All Flat Screen Monitor
There are more expensive monitors out there, but none give you the design, stunning picture and HD resolution that Apple does. And none of them give you the ease of use.
Wintel
Dell Earnings Rise With Shipments
How Microsoft Warded Off Rival
A campaign by Microsoft to quash a rival raises questions about how much its culture has changed after it violated antitrust laws.
Is Palladium Getting A Bad Rap?
According to Microsoft, a flood of FUD — spooky rumors intended to cause fear, uncertainty and doubt — are swirling around its Next Generation Secure Computing Base.
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Top Stories
iPods, Powerbooks Reloaded
More stylish than the Matrix: Apple's iPod and the Powerbook are reborn as Steve Jobs finds mor egratifying ways to not only "free your mind" but "free your wallet."
News
iTunes Music Store Now Tops Two Million Song Downloads
Over half of the songs purchased to date were purchased as albums, further dispelling concerns that selling music on a per-track basis will destroy album sales.
Logitech Introduces The Cordless MX Duo
O'Reilly Releases 'Mac OS X For Java Geeks'
The book is geared specifically toward Java developers who are evaluating the operating system as their primary development platform.
Apple Won't Expense Options Before Rule Change
Apple will not expense the stock options it grants to its employees and executives until a U.S. accounting standards body announces how it wants companies to value them, according to a filing the firm made with securities regulators Tuesday.
Opinion
Digital Rights: MS Could Learn From Apple
Having total control — hardware, software, portable player, music store — makes it much easier for Apple to fit the pieces together and ensure end-to-end protection for content owners. I'm not sure how Microsoft would accomplish the same thing, but I'd like to see them try.
Review
Apple iPod (30GB)
We love almost everything about this beautifully designed player, but the battery life could be longer.
Not Just A Pretty Face, Apple's New iPod Has Bite
The iPod is a pretty product and its charms will enthrall many a buyer. But beyond the ephemeral good looks, it is also a machine of much substance.
Wintel
Crashed Computer Traps Thai Politician
Thailand's Finance Minister Suchart Jaovisidha had to be rescued today from inside his expensive BMW limousine after the onboard computer, running Windows CE at its core, crashed.
Microsoft Sidelines Longhorn Database Caper
Microsoft has scaled back its 'Big Bang', and its Future Storage initiative will build on, rather than supersede the NTFS file system, when the next version of Windows 'Longhorn' appears in 2005.
Oh, It's Not A Hoax: MS iLoo
Microsoft and its public relations firm changed their story — again — about whether the U.K. division had been developing an Internet-enabled portable toilet. But, the project is killed.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Got It Right With Its New Online Music Store
Let's dive right in and talk about all the different ways Apple engineers and designers could have screwed up their online music store, but didn't.
News
When Copy Protection Backfires
EMI's copy-protection technology has resulted in a Melbourne resident doing exactly what the company is trying to prevent — copy a music disc in order to listen to it.
Apple Hopes To Bring iTunes To Europe By Autumn
Computer innovator Apple is reported to be in advanced talks with European record labels in a push to launch a version of its iTunes mecord store in Europe before the end of the year.
Bare Bones Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Discounts
Bare Bones Software Inc. is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 10 percent discount on any direct orders between now and the end of June.
What Will It Take To Put Apple Back On Top?
There is a possibility that Apple could reshape itself as a consumer entertainment company, according to Gordon Haff, an analyst with Illuminata. In fact, he said doing so would be a smart move.
Symantec Announces New AntiVirus, Firewall, Security
In updating the three products, the goal was to take advantage of Mac OS X adoption while continuing to support the Mac OS 9 faithful, according to Bill Rosenkrantz, senior product manager of Symantec's Consumer and Client Product Delivery. To do that, the products will come with dual boot CDs for both operating systems.
Hackers: iTunes Can Be Shared Over Net
Apple Computer's iTunes software has apparently opened up a new way for Macintosh owners to share music collections across the Internet.
Review
Nascar Racing 2003
While a very demanding game from a hardware perspective, NASCAR Racing 2003 pays off even bigger in terms of impressive visuals.
Apple Keynote
For presenters who need only basic slideshow-building functionality, Keynote is a nice program and a good alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint X. But advanced users will feel restricted.
Funky Accessories For Your PowerBook
The Never-Ending Search For A Faster Mac
From almost any point of view, today's Power Macintosh is one wicked fast computer. And when you consider the lower price, the easy setup and the stability of Mac OS X, this computer rocks!
Wintel
Microsoft Pushing Support Jobs Offshore?
Software support provider Software Spectrum iis cutting 350 jobs over the next few months as a result of a loss of a support deal with Microsoft.
Microsoft Xbox Stumbles On Eve Of Gaming Show
Losses in Microsoft Corp.'s entertainment division widened compared to a year ago, according to a company regulatory filing on Monday. The division includes Microsoft's Xbox game console, entertainment software, gaming hardware, and television division.
Game Maker Snubs Microsoft's Xbox
Electronic Arts, the video game publisher, said today that it would not make online versions of its popular sports games available for Microsoft's Xbox game console for at least a year, signaling a failure of more than two years of negotiations between the companies.
Monday, May 12, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Tweaks Microsoft Over A New Computer
Apple executives took obvious glee last week in noting that the new graphics software that is scheduled to appear in "Longhorn" apes features that have been in Apple's OS X operating system since 2001.
News
Apple Bringing IP Networking To FireWire
Apple has released a new software package that allows for traditional networking over a FireWire connection. The software is a preview release, available now for Mac OS X 10.2.5.
Ranchero Releases NetNewsWire 1.0.2
Version 1.0.2 improves performance, adds new weblog editor features for Movable Type and Radio UserLand users, and fixes several bugs.
Astronomical Improvements
"I'd never written a GUI-based app in my life, but Cocoa made it ridiculously easy."
'Salling Clicker' Gets New Name, New Focus
In explaining the name change, developer Jonas Salling reiterated that the company's commitment to Sony Ericsson products remains strong.
Increasing Wi-Fi Use Raises Airline Safety Concerns
Unlike cellphones and two-way pagers, which are banned from use on planes, laptops are allowed to be used once the plane has ascended past 10,000 feet. But computer makers are now building Wi-Fi chips into the current generation of laptops, raising questions about the impact of these radio signals on the instruments used by pilots.
Apple Expo Kicks Off September 16 In Paris
Apple Expo 2003, the 20th anniversary of the premier Mac event in Europe, will take place in Paris, France from September 16-20 at Paris expo, Hall 4.
Windows Wants To Play With Apple's iTunes
A host of leading media and technology brands, as well as music subscription services, are planning to slug it out when a Windows-compatible version of Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store hits the market later this year.
IBM Preps 1GHz-Plus PowerPC 750GX 'Gobi'
IBM's next revision will finally take the G3 family to 1GHz and beyond.
Opinion
The Spirit Of Unix
To me, including Linux, BSD, and Darwin in the Unix category seems wholly appropriate given Unix's origins.
Review
Cocktail
All these great features aren't found anywhere in a single application, maybe three or four, and a couple won't be free. Cocktail is free, and that's what makes it so great.
Power Mac Versus Pentium 4 And Xeon 3D Gaming & Graphics
The fastest Pentium 4 system beats the fastest Power Mac G4 when doing graphics intensive 3D functions.
A Supersize PowerBook
If you're after a sharp-looking, well-performing laptop with screen real estate to spare, I suggest you cruise into an Apple store and check one out.
Apple Xserve
Apple's new Xserve is fast and well equipped for network use.
Upgrades For The Tray-Loading iMac
17 Programs That Will Send Students To The Head Of The Class
Fun may not be the first word that comes to mind when you mention algebra practice. But education-software makers are working to change that.
Sidetrack
THE FUTURE OF WINDOWS : Joshua Allen have this to say about the new UI in Longhorn, the next version of Windows due in 2005. "Obviously, [Mac advocates] haven't seen the product. Just wait until they actually see Longhorn UI, and their jaws drop permanently agape."
Wintel
MSN Offers Look At New Consumer IM
Microsoft's MSN unit continued a gradual unveiling of its new instant messenger application for consumers, showing screen shots of the new software and setting a summer timeframe for its release.
Bug Found In Intel's Itanium 2 Could Cause Data Loss
Intel has discovered a bug in its "McKinley" Itanium 2 processor that could cause instability, an unexpected system shutdown, and potentially loss of data, company officials said Monday morning.
Next Windows PCs To Sport Media Server Software
Microsoft Corp. detailed some of its goals for making its next version of Windows a central hub for multimedia home networks at its WinHEC in New Orleans last week.
Sunday, May 11, 2003
Opinion
iPod, Now iTunes: Is Apple Becoming A Windows Developer By Stealth?
Should Apple develop more software for Windows?
Carving Up Apple
With some hard-nosed business tactics and a new operating structure, a carved-up Apple could emerge in a few years time as a profitable and more significant pair of companies. Its operating system should have been licensed out 18 years ago — when Apple seriously considered it and when Microsoft Windows wasn't yet a monopoly — but that doesn't mean it's still not a good idea
Review
Will The Search For The Ultimate Word Processor Wind Up In Israel?
If you think that all word processors are just variations on a theme, take a close look at Mellel and maybe, just maybe, you'll change your mind.
Saturday, May 10, 2003
News
Apple Web Music Venture Ignites Industry
Apple was the first to piece everything together with virtually no restrictions, a reasonable price and a relatively easy-to-use computer jukebox program all without charging subscription.
James Gosling: Mastermind Of Java
"People in the UNIX/BSD community have gotten used to all kinds of little utilities. All of these deep tools are just there. And they just work."
Security Hole In Safari Uncovered
Users can't trust the authenticity of a SSL website.
Apple Shares Rise Sharply For The Week
Shares of Apple soared 27 percent this week, gaining over US$3 per share on news that its new iTunes Music Store sold more than one million songs during its first week.
Opinion
Apple's Online Strategy Spouts A Healthy Tune
This is a tale of two stores: one virtual, one real.
The Trouble With Widgets
It's kind of amazing to think that, because of Internet Explorer's dominance, the very way widgets have to be designed in order to avoid bad page layout must necessarily match the way widgets are designed on Windows. And people wonder why so many browser engines don't use native widgets...
iPod: My Wishlist
I just hope that Apple follows up this great product with the add-ons we are all expecting.
Review
Apple Final Cut Express
Final Cut Express is the best value in Mac-based nonlinear editing software.
Report On The Relative Quality Of ACC Audio To MP3
AAC is higher quality at the same bit rate, so you can use a smaller file to achieve the same quality as MP3 which is a good thing for portable and computer users. Ultimately, both formats still sound pretty bad in their practical ranges compared to CD.
Sidetrack
CONFUSED YET? : It's "Delete" to delete mail from Mail.app, and it's "Cmd-Delete" to delete files from the Finder. I can never remember which is which.
Wintel
Gateway Signs Up For MSN Service
Gateway has struck a deal to load Microsoft's MSN 8 software on its consumer PCs at the factory.
Friday, May 9, 2003
Top Stories
Testing iTunes Music Quality: They Just Don't Get It
It's clear from the description that Gary Krakow of MSNBC doesn't really understand how to properly check for sound quality.
News
iTunes-Service Euro Talks 'Imminent'
Apple Europe is moving to establish the iTunes Music Service across Europe, claims UK music-industry bible, Music Week.
Opinion
Is TiVO NeXT?
Everyone who has TiVo loves TiVo; it is to television what Macintosh was to computing — a revelation. Which is exactly why Apple should buy the beleaguered personal video recorder company and once again redefine the intersection of culture and technology.
The Real Megahertz Myth: Is Apple The Real Slim Shady?
Many seem to be in some kind of denial about the woeful state of performance of OS X on G4s.
The Dark Side Of Software Upgrades
Backwards compatibility and ease of use are two important things software companies all seem to forget in this age of "more dialogue boxes must mean better software."
Can Quality Boost Apple's Market Share?
Apple has two important advantages that may put it ahead of the PC pack, and that's reliability and the quality of its technical support.
The Second Coming Of The Mac OS X Innovators Contest
Generally speaking, the rules are the same with one notable exception: we now have an International category for participants who reside outside the U.S.
Could iTunes 4 Force Music Artists To Create Better Albums?
Even if their paychecks do not change significantly, which they probably won't, we still have a way to get exactly what we want with iTunes 4.
Review
Can The eMac Fill The Classic iMac's Shoes?
On paper, the eMac is certainly a bargain by historical Apple standards, especially if you don?t mind, or even prefer, a CRT Monitor, and if Apple has, hopefully, been able to effectively address the video reliability problems that plagued the first generation of the eMacs introduced a year ago and released to the consumer market last June.
Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse
This little beastie is definitely recommended.
iGriffin iTrip
It looks good and sounds great, and reminds me of our friend the iPod.
World War 2 Online Blitzkrieg
This game is most recommended for WW2 hobbyists, serious gamers, and those who like simulation games, but it may still be attractive to arcade gamers.
Mighty Mouse 1.1
Mighty Mouse 1.1 lets Mac OS X users do things with their cursors that they likely hadn't imagined, without sacrificing stability. Mighty Mouse is rock solid for an initial release.
More Buttons Better When Upgrading Mouse
While the Microsoft mouse is nice, and I use one with my PowerBook when I'm on the road, I'm a button junkie, so my input device at home is a Kensington Turbo Mouse Pro trackball.
Extensis Intellihance 4.1
If you wish that this program will let you bypass the challenging nature of some of Photoshop's enhancement capabilities, forget it. Spend time learning Intellihance Pro or spend time learning Photoshop.
Sidetrack
A POWERBOOK AND AN iMAC : So, I've gotten my PowerBook back from repair, and I still have the iMac sitting on my desk. So, what do you think I'm going to do?
Rendezvous iTunes, of course!
My plan is to connect my not-very-portable Firewire hard disk, which contain all my MP3s, to my iMac. Then, using the new Rendezvous streaming capability of iTunes 4 to stream the music to my PowerBook, which I can bring all over the house.
Setting up that is a piece of cake. Everything just works! My iMac has turned into a music server. Cool!
Except for one thing. I've set the iMac's screen to turn off after 1 minute of inactivity. But everytime a song finishes and a new song stream over from the iMac, the iMac's screen springs back into life.
Annoying, and I'm sure it will decrease the lifetime of the iMac, wouldn't it?
Anybody have a fix?
REALITY BITES : Dori Smith is "going to stick to reading The Onion, where the news makes just a little more sense."
REALITY BITES II : Allan Karl on Dell Computer changing its name to Dell. "What have they earned? Perhaps status as one of the only brands that successfully built its franchise on price. But no brand can last forever with price as its primary attribute. Sure, it can live up to ugly and poorly designed hardware and a difficult to navigate and understand online store. Hey. But its computers are cheap. And that's a brand promise Dell will always live up to — name change or not."
Wintel
From Xbox To Music Box: Game Console Expands Its Repertoire
Microsoft's Mixer software allows people to play songs from their PCs on their TVs.
Microsoft Chief Certain Of Acceptable EU Outcome
Steve Ballmer expressed certainty on Thursday that an investigation by the European Commission into possible anti-competitive practices would come up with a 'workable' solution.
Earth To Bill Gates: Thank You
Yes, Microsoft is a bullying monopoly. But the software king may go down in history as the single individual who did the most to help the world's neediest people.
South Korean Group Sues Microsoft Over Slammer
In a sign of users' increasing frustration with the security shortcomings of many software applications, a civic group in South Korea has made good on their threat to file a lawsuit against Microsoft Corp.'s Korean subsidiary, a Korean ISP and the country's Information Ministry.
The Long Arm Of Longhorn
No one, not even Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates, seems to know whether Microsoft's next operating system will be a blessing or a curse.
Passport Problems Could Cost Microsoft
Microsoft faces a possible investigation and significant fines for a security lapse that could have exposed the personal information of millions of consumers.
$2 Trillion Fine For Microsoft Security Snafu?
Microsoft's latest security lapse with its Passport information service could trigger a $2.2 trillion fine on the company courtesy of the US government.
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Top Stories
Jobs To Keynote WWDC 2003
It's no great surprise to attendees of past Worldwide Developers Conferences, but today Apple made it official.
Apple's OS 9 Overstays Its Welcome
So while a majority of Mac users may not yet be on OS X, they're on the road that will take them there — whether they realize it or not.
News
Mac OS X Server 10.2.6 Released
MacPlay To Ship 2 New Titles This Month
MacPlay has announced that its first two gaming titles developed by Virtual Programming are expected to ship this month.
Corel Painter 8 Now Shipping
The new version features improved compatibility with Adobe Photoshop, more than 400 new brushes, new creative features and a redesigned user interface.
Why The iMac Was Put To Sleep
The original iMac debuted in 1998, and more than 6 million units were sold during its lifetime, making it one of Apple's most popular products.
Apple, Macromedia To Present At Macworld Expo In July
IDG World Expo today announced that Apple and Macromedia will each deliver a feature presentation at Macworld CreativePro Conference & Expo.
DiskWarrior 3.0 Has OS X Native Directory Rebuilding
DiskWarrior fine-tunes your hard drive by ordering the directory structure efficiently and by defragmenting the disk contents.
Opinion
Music Store Deletions
Apple is apparently deleting musical selections from the iTunes Music Store.
Review
Monsoon PlanarMedia 14
They?re an acquired taste, but if you give them a chance, you?ll be more than happy you did.
Virtual PC, A PowerBook, And .NET
My experience has been that Virtual PC is quite usable for day-to-day stuff.
Windows Or OS X?
Perhaps I am shallow and it is because of the great looks but the likelihood is that it is that on a Mac you have the best software for photos, movies, music and DVDs and a much lower chance of getting a virus than a Windows PC.
Panting For An iPod!
With 30 gigabytes and a less shocking sticker price, the third-generation Apple music player puts the competition on ice.
900 MHz Pismo - Better Than Son Of Pismo?
Powerlogixí release of their new, Blue Chip 900 MHz CPU upgrade for the Pismo G3 PowerBooks last week got me to thinking.
Sidetrack
UUUH! UUUH! DIE! DIE! : Amelio threatens to have Meat Lover's Pizza delivered to Steve Jobs late at night, as reported by CARS.
Wintel
Intel Gives Glimpse Of Wireless 'Nirvana'
Kevin Kahn has a clear vision of what a "grand and glorious nirvana" looks like: a world where any mobile device can connect into any wireless spectrum at any time.
Media Centers To Become More Home-Worthy
To say that we weren't raving over the first batch of Media Center PCs is an understatement.
Windows XP To See Double
Microsoft plans to retool its Windows XP operating system so that two people can run applications on the same machine concurrently, an important step toward the company's goal of transforming the PC into a home entertainment center.
Microsoft To Broaden DVD Support
Microsoft is expanding its involvement in the rewritable DVD market, announcing Thursday that future versions of Windows will support all major formats.
Microsoft Fixes Passport Flaw
Microsoft security and product teams worked overnight to fix a flaw in the password reset feature of the Passport identity service that threatened to compromise millions of accounts.
Microsoft: A Separate Look For Security
The software giant plans to visually alter document or application windows that contain private information that's secured through Microsoft's Next-Generation Secure Computing Base.
Securing The Next Generation Of Computing?
The real challenge will be convincing hardware manufacturers to work together on this.
How One Microsoft User Made The Switch To Open Source
So why did he decide to change things?
Ballmer Details Microosft's Digital Media Protections
Microsoft Corp. has spent more than $250 million developing technology to control how users view or share copyrighted or sensitive material, and is making headway in trying to make computing more secure in the future, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said.
Windows Media Service 9 Raises Bar For Apple, Real Media
Management and performance is greatly improved over the previous release of WMS. Although shops wishing to use Unix-based operating systems as the underpinnings of their streaming media servers — or the MPEG 4 media format — are more likely to choose Real Networks' Helix, WMS9 cannot be ignored.
Microsoft Catches Up On Storage In Windows Server 2003
Judging by advances in Windows Server 2003, Microsoft is dedicating more resources toward bolstering storage capabilities.
Microsoft, Best Buy Accused Of Scam
A Los Angeles man has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Best Buy and Microsoft, accusing them of scamming customers by charging them for online services without their knowledge.
Microsoft Drops Price On Windows CE
Microsoft has lowered the price on Windows CE.Net to encourage developers to squeeze the operating system into consumer electronics devices and industrial equipment.
Microsoft: Longhorn To Arrive In 2005
Longhorn, the next major version of Windows for desktop PCs, will debut in 2005 and will usher in a new level of graphics for PCs, Microsoft executives said Wednesday.
Media Player Flaw Flays PC Security
Microsoft warned Windows Media Player users on Wednesday that a flaw in the way the application handles the download of "skins," or interface colors and motifs, could allow an attacker to take over a victim's PC.
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Dominates 2003 D&AD Awards For Product Design
Apple has again dominated the Product Design category in the prestigious D&AD (Design and Art Direction) awards for 2003, being nominated twice out of the four contenders. This year Apple is up for a gong with both the LCD iMac G4 and its Xserve rack-optimised 1U server.
The Free-Software Tango
In Argentina, a miserable economy is encouraging computer users to look for low-cost, nonproprietary solutions. Bill Gates is paying attention.
News
Mozilla Backs Down On Browser Name
After a dispute over the name of its 'Firebird' browser, the open-source group appears to be going back to using its eponymous original title.
The State Of OS X
While it may not rival Microsoft Windows in packaged commercial software, OS X supports a wealth of applications written for Unix and Linux that do not run on Windows.
iPod Used As Backup For FM Radio Station
WFMU, an independent freeform radio station, is using an iPod as an alternate music source when the station's satellite feed fails during inclement weather, according to longtime listener Brian Redman.
Apple's PowerSchool Receives Codie Award
Honolulu And Sacramento Apple Stores Opening May 17th
The Honolulu store is located in the Ala Moana Center, while the Sacramento store can be found in the Arden Fair Mall.
CRT iMac Gone From Education Apple Store
The removal of the old iMac models coincides with updated eMac specifications and pricing.
XM Satellite Radio For Mac By Year's End, Company Confirms
The US$70 XM PC Receiver from XM Satellite Radio presently works only with Windows-based PCs allowing subscribers to listen to 101 digital music, entertainment and news channels, but a company spokesperson has confirmed software designers are working on a Mac version and will release the product by Christmas.
School Gets Funds For New Computer Lab
La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls, which integrates technology throughout its curriculum, has raised $100,000 for an advanced computer laboratory that can handle graphic design, sound and animation.
Apple Shares Continue To Climb
Today is the stock's second straight day of promising gains.
Opinion
Frustrated By Technology
As far as I am concerned, the decrease in PC sales is long overdue.
Discussion: 60G Nomad Zen Vs. The iPod
POGE Vs Microsoft?
Prepare for a major fight when Longhorn hits the streets.
More Cocoa, More Stuff: Results From The Mac DevCenter Survey
Review
Hands On: Apple Extreme A Bit Too Far Ahead Of Curve?
Apparently, Airport Extreme connections are much more sensitive to interference from microwaves and phones than the much more stable 802.11b.
The 2002 Vs 2003 eMac Value Equation
Apple Downloads Ring Sour Note
All hail Appleís iTunes Music Store. Itís very well thought out, and beautifully executed. If only as much thought had gone into the sound quality, which is far from beautiful.
Sidetrack
NOT TEMPTED... : I've decided (I hope) that I will not buy a CRT for my next machine, so I'm not tempted by the new eMac... But honestly, it is a great value, especially for someone like me who lingers mainly only on Safari and BBEdit.
Oh by the way, my PowerBook has been repaired. Turns out that the power adapter has gone sour, and I've bought a new one.
Happy, as I am short of real cash these days to buy a new Mac. Disappointed, as I don't have that perfect excuse to convince my wife that we should get a new Mac. :-)
DEAR BILL GATES, this is how you can get to the new Apple Store from your house.
Actually, I think it will be a great idea for Bill Gates to show up at Apple Store one day, and maybe give away a copy or two Microsoft Office. Maybe do a demo of the new MSN too.
ACCORDING TO CARS, it turned out that Tom Yager is just trying to fired.
GUESS? : I use Microsoft's Virtual Desktop Manager on my Windows XP machine to have multiple desktops. Guess which company's software doesn't work with the MSVDM?
Correct, Microsoft. Specifically, MSIE windows will, sometimes, disappear completely, while Excel will lose its menu bar and tool bar. All other applications that I use, including those that probably doesn't follow Microsoft's UI and API such as Lotus Notes and Mozilla, work.
Wintel
MS Takes Open-Source Security Lessons
Microsoft's global director of product security, George Stathakopoulos, has told ZDNet Australia that the software giant has learned security lessons from the wider software community.
Study: Visual Basic Use May Be Slipping
Market researcher Evans Data said Tuesday that 52 percent of software developers surveyed use Visual Basic today, but that 43 percent of them plan to move to other languages, including Java and C#, a Java-like language developed by Microsoft.
Emachines Back In The Notebook Race
Emachines is hoping to expand its horizons with a new wide-screen notebook PC.
Gates: Windows To Call On Phones
The Redmond, Wash.-based computing giant is working on future versions of its Windows operating system that will better interoperate with the telephone and other communications devices, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said Tuesday.
Microsoft Shows Off Security Prototype
The prototype is the first public showing of the controversial technology, which Microsoft hopes will help secure its future in the corporate market.
Tuesday, May 6, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.2.6
The update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: Address Book, Graphics, Printing, OpenGL, and PC Card and USB hub device compatibility.
New Apple Keyboard, Mouse Debut
The new Apple Keyboard has a larger base and sports two USB ports on the backside near the cord.
Apple Release New eMacs
The new eMacs offer up to a 1GHz PowerPC G4 processor, a faster 4x SuperDrive, high performance ATI Radeon 7500 graphics, up to 80GB hard drives and internal support for AirPort Extreme wireless networking.
Goodbye PDA, Hello iPod?
If you mainly use your PDA as a look-up device for contacts, events, and a small amount of other information, the iPod may be all you need.
News
Doing The Right Thing: Apple UI History
Bad human interface design — the sort that really gets in your way — is like a personal DoS attack.
Apple Launches 'Improve Your Image' Promo
Apple Adds Over 3,200 New Tracks To iTunes Music Store
Mozilla "Firebird" Browser Now Available For Mac
OrangeWare Creates Third-Party OS X 802.11a/b/g Driver
Custom driver developer OrangeWare Inc. has announced the development of a wireless networking driver for Mac OS X that it hopes will bring makers of wireless networking hardware to the Mac market.
Opinion
Microsoft Nicking Apple Ideas Again: Freedom To Innovate. Yeah Right.
HP tried to wriggle out of the whole thing by saying that there was "no intent to try and mimic Apple" but the similarities are a little too obvious to be accidental.
Apple Pumps Up Volume In Online Music Service Fray
The iTunes Music Store contains lots of music that people would actually want to buy and makes buying it virtually painless, at least until the bill arrives.
Apple Changes The Face Of Digital Music
Once again, Apple has shown that focusing on innovation and user experience can change the world, despite having only a small percentage of the market.
Review
The New iPod
For people new to iPods, skip the older one and go straight for the new one. Although you may not notice all the little improvements of the older one, what you will get is a cleverly designed unit that does an excellent job for what it is: An MP3 player like no other.
Apple 12in PowerBook G4
Verdict: Many PC users will be making the switch.
Wintel
Gates Cites Microsoft Breakthroughs
The current Windows interface does not take advantage of today's advanced graphics capabilities, so the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, is being designed to do so.
Microsoft Settles Montana Suit
Microsoft on Monday said it will pay $12.3 million in vouchers to settle a class-action suit brought by Montana consumers who claimed the company violated the state's antitrust laws.
Can You Bet The Server Farm On HP?
One year later a post-merger Hewlett-Packard is still tilling the soil to prove it made the right technology decisions.
Gates To Unify Windows Around Mouse Wheel
Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates is expected to show off on Tuesday a method to unify the Windows "look and feel" on several platforms, based upon the humble mouse wheel.
Tougher Microsoft Sanctions Sought
Two states that refused to settle the Microsoft antitrust case sought tougher penalties today, arguing that a deal negotiated with the Bush administration was inadequate to constrain the company.
Why You Need To Replace Those Windows 98 And NT Machines
PC software is programmed and supported by businesses that need to be efficient and profitable, just like their customers.
Microsoft Plans Windows API Cleanup
Microsoft plans a major cleanup of the Win32 API set and XML application markup language (XAML) to make its next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, as friendly for developers as it is for users.
Sneaky Software Hijacks More Browsers
A swelling throng of Internet users are being victimized by so-called spyware -ó software that gets installed over the Web without the user's awareness of what it does.
Microsoft: We're Talking EU's Language
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said on Monday the company was working constructively with the European Commission as it investigates the software giant for possible anticompetitive practices.
Microsoft To Upgrade Project Software
Microsoft is planning to introduce a new version of its software for managing large and complicated corporate projects later this year.
Monday, May 5, 2003
News
Apple In Court Battle Over Reseller
Apple Computer Australia will be back in court in July pursuing an attempt to have the liquidator of the failed reseller Buzzle removed, alleging he is "clearly not acting in the interests of all creditors".
Apple Stock Jumps On News Of Strong Music Sales
Shares of Apple rose more than 11 percent Monday, gaining US$1.64 to $16.09 each on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
EA Announces The Sims 2
The Sims 2 will allow players to control their Sims over an entire lifetime. The Sims 2 will also feature genetics, allows the DNA of Sims to be passed down through generations.
Apple Squashes E-Store ID Bug
Apple Computer said it fixed a security flaw at its online store late last week that could have enabled attackers to hijack customers' accounts and place fraudulent orders.
Opinion
Apple's Song And Dance
Apple's new digital music service may be the most liberal of legal alternatives, but it's also much grander than that. For a company struggling for switchers, it may finally have uncovered the killer app that will bring the world to its door. Good vibes. Great timing. Apple has emerged as not only the prerecorded music industry's ideal middleman but also its last potential savior.
Apple Has Right Spin On Music
Well, until I can buy a tune from Canada for a true Canadian loonie, I'll sit back and watch Mr. Jobs perform his magic.
Review
LaCie DVD Rewritable Drive
If you're looking for an external DVD recorder, you'll find little to beat the LaCie DVD Rewritable Drive.
First Impressions: 30 GB iPod
The biggest trick is that none of the buttons are really buttons at all but touch sensitive areas, and boy are they sensitive.
'Aquarium' Is A Delight, But 'Everblue' Lacks Depth
"Marine Aquarium" offers the joys of having your own aquarium without the worries of overfeeding the fish or cleaning the tank.
Wintel
Dell To Tweak Name To Fit New Identity
The board feels changing the name from Dell Computer to Dell Inc. will better reflect the Round Rock, Texas-based company's recent transition from a focus on selling mainly desktop and notebook PCs to a strategy based on a broader product line that includes servers, storage, services and other products.
Windows Server 2003 Security: Jury's Still Out
Security solution providers offered mixed reviews of the security of Microsoft's recently released Windows Server 2003.
Sunday, May 4, 2003
Top Stories
Not The Same Old Song
Amazon was caught sleeping, and now it?s Steve Jobs who?s running the coolest store on the Internet.
News
Group Hopes To Leapfrog 802.11 For Wireless Video
A working group quietly kicked off an effort this week to bring the 1394 protocol over 802.15.3 wireless networks. Backers hope the approach could leapfrog efforts on 802.11 to provide a route for consumer electronics companies to send high quality video signals over wireless home networks.
Opinion
Jobs' Performance, Especially On iPod, iTunes, Keeps Apple Shining
It's clear why he is CEO for life.
iTunes: Easier Than Stealing?
Maybe it?s not just a Trojan Horse into the Wintel world, but one into the the music industry itself. No wonder Apple didn?t buy Universal; why buy the cow when you can steal its calves?
Review
24 Hours With The New iPod
I'm glad one came home with me in the car last night. But I'm not looking forward to waiting for the various accessories to become available.
Windows Doesn't Live Here Anymore
My wife chides me for carrying a PowerBook everywhere I go. My editors are sick of seeing mention of the Mac in almost all of my columns. My 18-month-old son walks around the house babbling ?Apple-Apple-Apple-Apple.?
Saturday, May 3, 2003
Top Stories
One Bad Apple
The problem with the iTunes Music Store is that buying is too easy.
Back On Mac: PC Virus Worries, Transformed Mac Inspire Return Of Ex-Apple Addict
I realize now that some Mac users advocate their choice so fiercely because they're defending an entire approach to technology development. It will be interesting to watch how these opposite approaches unfold over time.
News
X Communication
Hot products and artists with 'X' in their names are everywhere — and it's no accident, say marketing experts.
Harris And Dougherty: Mac-Scribed Mutants Unite
"Our PowerBooks became mobile writing stations because AirPort lets us communicate really easily. And the new features in Final Draft let us constantly share revisions back and forth over the network."
Tim Bray: Search And Deploy
"Behind the user interface is all the good stuff from Unix that I can use without thinking. You may not need to type "find .-name *.java -print | xargs wc -l | perl summarize.pl" very often, but when you do, you really do."
Opinion
DRMing Up Support For Steve's Music Shop
A frantic surge of email in defense of Apple's online music service appeared yesterday. Here's a selection of letters from the week.
Apple Comes Closer To Perfect Pitch
It isn't the best possible way to download music — Apple has plenty of work to do there — but it's a real improvement from what's come before.
Review
Looking Good
It's time you do something cool with your summer pictures, even if it means slide shows on a monitor instead of a wall.
From Computer To TV, Via TiVO
The Home Media Option has room for improvement, but it's still an impressive addition to TiVo's repertoire. It should only get better.
Sidetrack
Wintel
Passport To Get Web Services Stamp
Microsoft this summer will lay out a plan to make its .Net Passport authentication service more Web services-friendly.
Friday, May 2, 2003
Top Stories
No iPods For Some Launch Festivities
An Apple specialist alerted us to delivery problems of iPods to some reseller locations, leaving some resellers without the devices for planned product launch festivities.
News
Apple Not Adverse To Closing Some Apple Stores, Exec Admits
The admission is the first indication from Apple that two years since launching its first two stores, the company is already questioning the profitability of some of its 53 locations.
Guy Kawasaki: Lookin For The Next Big Thing
Is Apple The Next Music Titan?
Yankee Group analyst Ryan Jones said Apple might well develop into a company for which digital media, rather than computer hardware, is the primary focus.
iTunes Service 'Is Watershed'
The industry now understands that it needs to find tech-savvy partners to work with to harness the Internet as a digital distribution tool.
Students Get iPods S Study Aids
A US university has given iPod digital music players to its students to help them with their coursework.
Music Biz Buzzing Over iTunes
If the number is correct, it rivals half the number of legal downloads last year from all the competing online services.
Apple To Open Two New Retail Stores May 10th
Apple will be opening new retail stores in Huntington Station, New York and Bellevue, Washington on Saturday.
Sugared Water Apple Censors Miles Davis
The dismal little online music shop that Steve Jobs opened on Monday has already received its share of lukewarm reviews.
Opinion
Raising iBrowse, Part One: Earth, Meet Safari...!
Safari has so many important implications that the actual quality of the application (in its first beta incarnation, at least) seem to be almost unimportant.
At Last, World's Best Online Music Store Is Open
It's like a dream come true.
What Goes Around Comes Arond
Apple's not treating folks as prospective criminals stands in sharp contrast to the shock-and-awe campaign undertaken by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Maybe Speed Does Matter
Apple is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the 970. It can't refute the rumors if they are, in fact, true. And it can't disclose its real processor roadmap without hurting sales even more.
Review
Worms Blast
The single-player features of Worms Blast are extremely unbalanced, limiting its usefulness to the solitary or casual gamer; but hard core Worms fans and people always looking for a new two player challenge will probably get the most out of the title.
Final Cut Express 1.0
Learning to use Final Cut Express will take some time and effort, and you'll definitely need to reprogram the editing section of your brain if you're accustomed to working with iMovie. However, if you're looking to step up to professional-level video editing and if you don't require all of Final Cut Pro's advanced capabilities, Final Cut Express will serve you well.
Interface Details: iTunes Vs. Safari
iTunes 4 gets a bunch of little interface details right, details that Safari gets wrong.
Sidetrack
MARTHA STEWART ON BILL GATES' HOUSE : "Bill Gates' house... is totally out of date now. He built it right before wireless happened. The big tunnels for all his wires — he doesn't need that stuff anymore."
Stewart also revealed that she had shopped a software idea to both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, and both are not interested. So, she's building her own software.
Does that little tale reminded anyone of HP and Apple I?
Wintel
Microsoft To Get Technical On Longhorn, 'Palladium'
Microsoft will demonstrate its much debated Next-Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB) security initiative for the first time next week at an event in New Orleans, and will also provide further details on its plans for managing IT systems.
Analysts: Slow Road To New Windows
Microsoft is touting Windows Server 2003 as an operating system capable of pushing aside Unix and mainframes. But most customers will be upgrading from Windows NT 4—and at a slow pace, analysts say.
Microsoft To Show Off PC Prototype
Developed with Hewlett-Packard, the new "Athens" prototype is intended to be the hub for communications and collaboration built around voice, video and text messaging capabilities. It will also feature a more streamlined design, Microsoft said in a statement.
IBM Unveils Itanium 2 Server
IBM may have caused a splash last week when officials said it would begin offering Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s 64-bit Opteron chip in some future servers. But that doesn't mean the tech giant is forgoing Intel Corp. technology for 64-bit computing.
Thursday, May 1, 2003
News
FairPlay Is Dead, Long Live FairPlay
"]Apple's FairPlay] appears to be DRM done the right way, achieving the right balance between anti-privacy and fair use issues."
iTunes Service 'sells 275K Tracks'
Apple's iTunes Music Service sold an estimated 275,000 tracks at 99¢ each in its first 18 hours, Billboard reports.
iPod Users Bitter Over Limited 1.3 Software Update
We can understand that hardware differences — a new processor, say — would rquire different code, but we can't come up with a plausible reason why the new features can't be coded for older iPods.
Dollar Songs: Bargain Or Rip-Off?
According to academics who've studied the economics of digital music distribution, the cost still seems too high to attract users of peer-to-peer file-trading services.
How To Pay The Piper
As lawsuits fly, a new service offers a simple way to pay for music online.
Apple Wins Raves For E-Music Solution
Apple Computer Corp. has done it yet again, grabbing headlines with a new product set to revolutionize the industry. And in return, all the company got for its efforts was polite applause from Wall Street.
Now Up-To-Date & Contact Gets Address Book Compatibility
Address Book integration is available as a free standalone sync application for users of Now Up-to-Date & Contact Version 4.1 and higher.
Apple's New Service Beats Illegal Free Sites
With Apple's new music store, honest music consumers finally have a decent alternative to the bootleg services.
Yellow Dog Linux 3.0 Boxes Ships
Terra Soft Solutions has announced that the boxed version of the PowerPC-optimized Linux operating system is now shipping.
iPods Popping Up In Educational Environments
University of Western Australia has been using the digital devices as viable classroom technologies to supplement existing efforts in computer-mediated learning.
Manufacturers Welcome Apple's iTunes Initiative
Digital audio device manufacturers and analysts welcomed Apple Computer Inc's iTunes Music Store online music service as a positive move for what's mostly been a stalled online music industry.
Steve Jobs: 'It's So Cool'
"We've now built the first real complete ecosystem for digital music age... We're the only people in the world to do this, so we feel great about it."
Opinion
Apple Isn't Changing The Music World; It's Working With It
I think Apple has brought a degree of good Karma to the music scene. But I also think it could be the start of even better Karma.
How Apple Seals The Audio Deal
The rise of remote storage in the audio industry, and the detection of some life left in CDs.
Why eMusic Gets It (And Apple Doesn't)
Apple's New Online Music Service
At this very moment, executives at Pressplay, MusicNet and their ilk are surely sprinting into hastily assembled meetings to discuss how they can mimic Apple's model. But that's all right; Apple will surely find other messy, dysfunctional institutions to reinvent. Do you suppose Mr. Jobs has seen the federal tax code lately?
Considering The Mac Web
The Mac Web, in my opinion, should play various roles, but none of these roles should include promoting the ?reality distortion field'.
Musical Fruit
Apple's buck-a-song strategy: one-hit wonder or platinum smash?
iTunes Music Store, A Tryout
The main virtue: It doesn't assume from the start that customers are thieves.
The Day The Music Revolution Died
Apple has put up the cash, lent its credibility, and created a wonderful technology, but the music industry has only allowed access primarily to the junk in the cut-out bins. And reportedly, the music company gets 65 cents per song. So who is the real winner here?
Please Don't Forget The Macintosh
I don't want to be a harbinger of doom and gloom, but I have little doubt Apple's executives are sitting up nights hoping that music will be magic as far as Mac hardware is concerned.
Steve Jobs, Music Mogul
Jobs can finally abandon that 3 percent-market-share-in-a-moribund-industry world of Apple Computer and become what he was always suited to be: a classic megalomaniacal music mogul.
New Apple Music Service Hits The Right Note
You don't need to be under CEO Steve Jobs' spell to see that this service trumps everything else out there, and is almost sure to be a hit.
What Price Musical Glory?
Now that we can buy music by the individual track, should the price depend on the age or profitability of the recording? If so, why stop there?
Review
Keynote 1.0: Create Professional-Quality Presentations
For the first release of Keynote, it has a strong position at the starting gate. In the race for great presentation tools, Keynote might just be a Triple Crown winner.
WorksWell 2.0.4: Create Vector Illustrations With Data-Driven Features
New iPod: More Music, Smaller Package
A Slimmer, Lighter iPod, With Room For More Music
Apple has tinkered with the formula, but the new iPod holds more music for less money and takes up even less pocket space. And it's still the best, and best-looking, music player on the market.
Sidetrack
STILL WAITING? : Given that Apple has promised iPhoto prints and books for customers outside of U.S. a long long time ago, and we are still waiting, I'm definitely not holding my breath for the non-U.S. edition of iTunes Music Store.
Wintel
Microsoft's Antitrust Problems Remain Unresolved In Europe
A senior European antitrust official said today that Microsoft had yet to resolve concerns about the way it competes in the European software market.