Thursday, October 30, 2003
Top Stories
Panther FireWire Data-Loss Scare
The flaw manifests itself in the following ways: users installing Panther while having an external FireWire drive connected to their Mac have seen data loss; similarly, users with FireWire drives connected to their systems have seen data loss once they reboot Panther.
Confessions Of The World's Largest Switcher
It's a shame that Apple no longer runs the "Switch" campaign on television. Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan would make an excellent spokesperson for moving to the Mac. "I'm Srinidhi Varadarajan and I build Supercomputers at Virginia Tech."
Looking Toward A Networked World
Technology publisher Tim O'Reilly has seen the future of software, and it's the iTunes Music Store.
News
Apple Offers Free iPod Custom Laster Engraving
Microsoft Fires Worker Over Weblog
It all started when Hanscom noticed something interesting on the loading dock on his way into work a week ago — three pallets of shiny new Apple Power Mac G5 computers, clearly destined for somewhere on the company's Redmond campus.
OS X Conference: Apple's Bud Tribble Talks Science
Tribble said that many researchers told him that Mac OS X allowed them to trade in three computers — namely a Mac, a PC and a Unix machine — for one computer, a Mac running OS X.
Mac OS X Refund Suit Gets Preliminary Nod
Apple had already reached a tentative agreement to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed that the company had failed to fully support Mac OS X on some G3-based Macs. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge gave preliminary approval to the settlement at a hearing last month.
Apple Succeeds In 1:1 Educational Computing Solutions
"We have 1:1 solutions in over 400 schools across the country, and we're excited to see what is happened in learning and teaching."
Apple To Exhibit At Digital Video Expo West
Apple Dumped In Optus Revamp
Optus has started the second phase of overhauling its information technology platforms, and will dump Apple from about 5000 desktops, ending 11 years of loyalty which began in 1992 with the rollout of the user-friendly machines across the company in the world's largest business deployment of the computers.
Opinion
Review
Apple — The OS Of The Anti-Modder?
I'm too busy to fock around with Windows all day, and too stylish to use some generic Wintel crap on the go.
The Panther Report: A Memo To Mac OS 9 Holdouts
I'm not going to say that you have to move to Mac OS X. But consider the move carefully.
One More Cool Cat: With Panther, Apple Delivers Impressive Array Of Enhancments To Mac OS X
Whether Panther is worth the money is ultimately up to each Mac user, but the abundance of cool, desirable features will pry open a lot of pocketbooks.
Paying The Piper, Round 2: The Reportory Grows
The best music store-jukebox is Apple's iTunes, for a list of reasons as long as a Wagner opera.
iTunes For Windows Is Something To Sing About
Apple Unleashes Mac OS Update 'Panther'
For the second time in just over a year, Apple is out with a major upgrade of the Mac OS X operating system, packing it with features Windows users won't see for years and attaching a price tag befitting Apple's reputation as the Porsche of computer makers.
Sidetrack
DOES APPLE'S UPGRADE POLICY MAKE SENSE : There are grumblings that Apple doesn't reward its loyal users by giving cheaper upgrade prices. For example, perhaps Apple should sell Panther for $129, but users who have 10.2 can buy Panther cheaper at, say, $90.
However, I like to look at this situation from another angle. :-)
Apple is telling us, look, the upgrade price is going to be the same, whether you are at 9.0 or 10.2. That's because I want everyone to upgrade, if system requirements meet. However, if you don't want to upgrade, because you find the new feature set unappealing, then don't. You will not lose out when an upgrade eventually arrive with the features you want.
WHAT'S NEXT, iTUNES? : Inspired by Margaret Cho, I want a mood-detector.
And iTunes must be able to differentiate between the different moods of "sad, and need a happy tune to perk me up" and "sad, and need some sad songs to confirm my feelings."
THAT'S HOW WE DEFINE SUCCESS : I am happy to see Apple's great effort in the educational market. Yes, Windows machine is invading the schools, but Apple managed to change the playing field.
QUE SERA SERA : This is my favorite song to sing to my daughter during bedtime. Only that I can remember the first two paras. So I sing it over and over again. She doesn't seem to mind. :-)
Someday, I'll memorise the rest of the verse.
Wintel
Microsoft Preps Voice Command Launch
Microsoft is revving the launch of new voice recognition software for handhelds and smart phones that will allow users to speak commands to access information and launch applications.
Microsoft Looks In The Crystal Ball
Tablet applications that quickly transform math formulas into graphics, and classrooms where professors can field instant-message queries from remote students: Both are leaping from the drawing board to reality in Microsoft Research projects.
Rethoric, Semantics, And Microsoft
So, news flash, Microsoft: you are not the underdog. You are not even the proverbial 800-pound Gorilla. You are the only Gorilla left because all the other Gorillas are dead and you have the steaming machine gun in your hands.
Microsoft's Biggest Problem
To solve the problem of politics, break up the company. Break it up symbolically now, even if you continue to resist breaking it up for real.
MS Moves To Counter Open Source Growth In UK Gov
Faced with the possibility of open source making a damaging breakthrough in UK local government, Microsoft has reacted in the usual way, with strong money. But this time around that money could be being shrewdly spent and — so far so good — there's currently no sign of Steve Ballmer.
MSN Splits In Two
Microsoft said Wednesday that its MSN business will split into two units, an effort to streamline the long-struggling Web property. The business will divide into one unit focusing on information and another focusing on communications.