Sunday, November 30, 2003
Top Stories
The Guts Of A New Machine
The iPod became an instant classic by combining high design and powerful technology. But as Apple has learned before, that formula alone doesn't keep you on top.
News
Free Music
While legal downloads are selling well, Internet music merchants are not making money.
The Story Of An IT Legend
The scene is Santa Clara Valley, California, in 1976. Two Steves are busy at work in the garage. Their goal: the world's first personal computer.
Looking To Play A Different Tune
As the number of online music stores grows, carving out their own niches may get tougher.
Review
Tools And Toys To Slaver Over
While I was configuring my partner's new iBook G4 the other day, I was musing over the list of software that just had to be installed on her laptop to get it up and running.
Wintel
Worms Turn On Military Networks
A wave of destructive worms in recent months has focused attention on the potential vulnerability of military networks to malicious computer attacks.
Microsoft Preparing New Windows
Company betting upgrade will help silence critics.
Saturday, November 29, 2003
News
Satisfied iPod Owner Creates His Own Web Page To Counter The Claims Of The iPod's Dirty Little Brothers
The Golden Age Of Gadgets
Ever since Apple's little MP3 player, the best toys come from the PC biz.
Boyzone Star Hosts Virgin iPod Bash
Pop heartthrob Ronan Keating launched Apple's iPod Advent campaign at Virgin's London Oxford Street superstore last night.
Apple Leads Traffic To Computer Web Sites, Nielsen/NetRatings Reports
Ive 'Hero' — Official
Apple's vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive has been proclaimed a 'Hero', winning a prestigious BIMA award.
iPod Wins A Prize
Apple won a second BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) award last night — iPod won the Special Award for Hardware.
Opinion
Porting iChat
While porting iLife to Windows would be a bad idea, there is some merit in the idea of porting iChat.
Review
Fast And Furious G5
This is a genuinely impressive kit with loads of wow factor. In anyone's language.
Transitioning To PowerMail 4.2.1
If you want a powerful and fast email client that works reliably with large volumes of mail, PowerMail is worth a look.
Sidetrack
AN APPLE A DAY : Apple Catholic, mixing spirituality and technology.
RUMOR DU JOUR : Apple iBook will transition to IBM chipset. Bye bye, Motorola.
FAST, FASTER, FASTEST : Alienware claims the "world's fastest personal computer" title.
ORCHESTRAL BACKING provided by a spiffy Apple iPod mp3 player.
Wintel
Microsoft Probes New Explorer Holes
Microsoft is investigating a report of seven new security holes in its Internet Explorer browser discovered by a Chinese researcher, a company spokesman said on Friday.
Friday, November 28, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Store Users Receive Apology
Apple has admitted that it is having "several implementation issues" with the Apple Store after upgrading its logistics systems.
News
DVD-Jon: Critics 'Don't Understand DRM'
KidsBrowser 1.0 Is Designed For Children
KidsBrowser 1.0 is powered by Apple's Safari HTML engine and allows the user (parent) to preset authorized Web pages that they child is allowed to visit.
EyeTV Digital TV Boost
Elgato will today introduce new devices in its EyeTV range that are built for digital satellite and terrestrial TV.
Opinion
Should Apple Produce More Windows Software?
Apple needs to deliver exclusivity with the purchase of a Mac, as much as it can.
iPod's Dirty Secret Secret Revealed
The Neistat brothers had no intent on letting people know that there were solutions available for replacing the battery in iPods.
Review
Sidetrack
SECRET TRIP TO IRAQ? : Don't forget your iPod.
Wintel
Microsoft Loses To Linux In Thailand
As a result of the events in Thailand, analysts have begun to predict the end of Microsoft's long-standing "one-price-fits-all-markets policy."
Microsoft Is Programming The Programmers
Redmond is getting aspiring application developers hooked on C# at an early age.
Microsoft Plays Hardball With Dutch Lindows Resellers
Dutch Lindows resellers are accusing Microsoft of intimidation, after several received phone calls from the software giant seeking meetings to "avoid" legal action over the name of the operating system.
Oracle Forgoes Profit To Hit Microsoft's SME Plans
Oracle is giving away modules of its ERP software to smaller companies in the hope of tying them in for the long term and cutting out a challenge from Microsoft.
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Top Stories
So Why Didn't Apple Think Of This?
For an operating system that's supposed to "just work," Mac OS X needs some manual labor to keep things running smoothly. What do I mean? Well, system maintenance primarily.
News
So Why Didn't Apple Think Of This?
For an operating system that's supposed to "just work," Mac OS X needs some manual labor to keep things running smoothly. What do I mean? Well, system maintenance primarily.
First Foreign Apple Store Opens In Tokyo Sunday
The five-floor Apple Store features a 27-foot long Genius Bar, an 84-seat theater, more than 400 customer events every month, and an Internet cafe.
Mozilla 1.5.1 Update For Mac OS X
Milton School Board Votes To Replace Apple Computer
There has been an on-going connectivity problem with the Apple machines at the school, which has to this point frustrated technical personnel.
Opinion
Digital Hubris: Apple's Tablet Computer Might Finally Be That Link Between Your PC And TV
"Real computers have keyboards," Steve has said a zillion times, and he'll mean it right up to the moment he changes his mind. That moment appears to be coming soon.
Review
Panther Server: Is It Ready For The Enterprise?
Faxing In Panther
Even though you may no longer use it for dialup Internet connectivity, your modem can now become a built-in fax machine.
The Updated 12-In. PowerBook: A Hot Little Number
The 12-in. PowerBook is a delightful traveling companion, as long as you feed it enough RAM and — if you're heavily into graphics or video — have an external monitor waiting for it at the office or at home.
Wintel
Phoenix Toughens Up BIOS
The software that sits between the operating system and a PC's hardware hasn't changed much in decades. Now, Phoenix Technologies wants to introduce greater security, usability and copy protection.
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Top Stories
Panther: A Whole New Macintosh
If your Windows PC is near the end of its life, I encourage you to take a serious look at Panther (perhaps on an eMac computer) before chaining yourself to anther Windows-based machine.
News
Poll: Apple Store Miffs Many
Nearly one third of readers polled by Macworld have epxerienced prob lems with the Apple Store — with 9 percent of voters saying their experience was so bad they'll never use it again.
Fortune: Dell DJ 'Ugly And Backward Version' Of 'Handsome, Smart, And Sexy' Apple iPod
Opinion
A Picture-Perfect Opportunity For Apple
For an encore, Apple should release a version of iPhoto for Windows. If Apple could convince even 3% of all digital-camera buyers to purchase iPhoto software next year — say, for $30 — then it would grab revenues of $45 million. That could conceivably climb to $100 million or more within a few years if Apple manages to merely maintain that market share.
Review
Gifts And Gadgets For The Geek Minded
For this year's line up, I decided to relax the price requirements and include products that retail for as much as $100. You'll still find some great gifts for much less than that, but there are some really fun options if your budget is a little higher.
The Transportable Laptop: New Market Heavyweight
Apple buyers are used to paying more, but they are also used to getting more — and right now they aren't.
Cosmic Encounter Online
The game continues to evolve, with new aliens and artifacts being added on a regular basis. These changes should help keep the game fresh for regular players. It all makes the game a decent value for both casual and frequent players.
Ejection
When the Finder is the active app, the eject buttons in background windows look like they support click-through, but they don't; when the Finder is not the active app, the eject buttons look like they don't support click-through but they do.
Sidetrack
ARE YOU SURE? : In Australia, "it is illegal to transfer copyrighted music from a CD to an iPod"?
RUMOR DU JOUR : A low-end low-cost iPod, this Friday. Just in time for your Christmas shopping.
Wintel
Scripting Flaws Pose Severe Risk For IE Users
A set of five unpatched scripting vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer creates a mechanism for hackers to compromise targeted PCs.
Microsoft Revs Its Automotive Engines
The software maker has persuaded a number of carmakers to use its slimmed-down Windows CE operating system to power a variety of in-car electronics, from navigation systems to music players to information devices.
Nachi Worm Infected Diebold ATMs
The Nachi worm compromised Windows-based automated teller machines at two financial institutions last August, according to ATM-maker Diebold, in the first confirmed case of malicious code penetrating cash machines.
Trojan Horse Making Its Way Into WIndows Systems
A new Trojan horse hidden in an e-mail purported to be carrying pornographic pictures is beginning to make the rounds on the Internet.
Lindows-Microsoft Suit Hits Another Delay
The U.S. District Court of Seattle has again pushed back its starting date for jury trial proceedings in the ongoing trademark suit between software makers Microsoft and Lindows.com.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
News
Apple Experiencing Problems With iTunes Music Store
Micromat Releases TechTool Pro 4
Apple 'Loses' US$35.75 Million Michigan School Contract To Hewlett-Packard
Cheapest bids win, but Michigan students are the losers.
Opinion
Rebuttal TO Paul Thurott
Perhaps Longhorn really is technically superior to Panther, but it would take more to substantiate such a claim than to merely cite Longhorn's task-based file system.
The Future Of Transparent Computing: A Comdex Wrap-Up
The death of Sun, Apple and Novell.
Cubing The Power Mac G5
Let me explain the lack of market for the Cube and why it's destined to fail.
Review
Shootout At The Disk Repair Corral
I still think the most important data protection utility you should own is a backup program. But sometimes a good disk repair program can save the day by repairing minor damage quickly so you don't have to run through the time-consuming process of reinitializing your hard disk and restoring from backup.
Belkin Voice Recorder For iPod
If you need something to record voice memos, lectures, interviews, or speeches and you already own a 3rd generation iPod then the Belkin Voice Recorder is a great solution. If you are looking for some way to record concerts or any live music forget about it.
iLike iComic
Not only that, it's really really good.
On Safari
From a UI standpoint it still leaves much to be desired — it's a one point oh product and it shows.
Wintel
Can Microsoft's 'Longhorn' Pull It Off?
Microsoft will have to do better than it's done so far in convincing its developer constituency that the wait will be worthwhile.
Microsoft Aims For Search On Its Own Terms
Microsoft is conducting research that could help it in its quest to make search a greater part of its Windows operating system.
Major Vendors To Push Linux To The Desktop
IBM, HP, Dell, Novell try to edge in while industry waits for Longhorn.
Monday, November 24, 2003
News
CodeWarrior Gains Panther Support
The new version offers compatibility with Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
Apple Windfall From Licensing 6
Dislike of Microsoft's new licensing regime and a major cost difference has led Australian resources company Ausmelt to leave its comfort zone and cross over to Apple.
Apple Offers iPod Battery-Glitch Pointers
Some iPod owners have complained that new-generation iPods display inaccurate battery charging data, so Apple has posted a brief technical noteto help.
Apple Hits Back
Apple's PC market share might be as little as three percent, but the pundits have lately queued up to priase its sense of style and innovation.
Apple Seen Positioned To Grow Earnings
Apple To Open Second Georgia Retail Store Dec. 6th
Apple will open a retail store at the North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Saturday, December 6.
Opinion
Mac.Ars Takes On Apple's Growth Prospects (And A Guide To Used Macs)
Is Apple poised for major growth in the next year? That's debatable. Can Apple achieve incremental growth on an ongoing basis? I think so.
Review
The Tech Gear You Want This Year
If the responses I recevied are any indication, the hottest computers this year are Media Centers and Macs.
The New Power Macintosh G5
This is a very fast, well-engineered, and well-built machine.
Sidetrack
iPOD'S DIRTY SECRET : Dead batteries? Buy a new one, dude.
STAYING AT HOME : My back gave way over the weekend, and I've started taking doctor-prescribed painkillers starting this morning. I'm also staying at home to rest, and see if my back will heal by itself.
According to doctor, this is caused by bad sitting posture. I'm just glad it's not my kidney or something that gave up on me.
SEARCHING THROUGH MULTIPLE MAILBOXES : Did you know that Mail.app can search through multiple mailboxes or even your entire collection of e-mails at once? Now you know.
DEAR DIARY... : "I recently went into Macy's at Herald Square... I went over to the informationbooth and asked the woman at the counter to please tell me where I could find women's underwear."
Ellen Heidelberger continues: "With a disadainful look, she said, 'Men wear underwear; women wear lingerie.'"
Wintel
Microsoft Preps 'Symphony,' 'Slalom' Media Center Releases
Next two versions of Microsoft's home-entertainment-hub version of Windows are already in the works.
'Longhorn': Huge Jump From XP
eWEEK Labs' tests show that Longhorn does represent a huge jump from XP, but it is two years from release. And with so many new subsystems, Microsoft will likely require every bit of that time to thoroughly chew all that it's bitten off.
New IE May Burst Pop-Up Bubble
Pop-up advertisements have thrived for years despite numerous efforts to eradicate them, but now online marketers are seriously wondering whether the Web's most detested ad format is about to meet its match: Microsoft.
Microsoft To Revamp Windows Security
The software giant is planning a number of changes that will make the Windows client and server platforms more secure.
Microsoft Eyes Smaller Firms' Needs
Microsoft is to invest $10 billion over the next five years to develop its software offerings for small and medium-sized businesses.
Sunday, November 23, 2003
News
Apple Dual 1.8GHz PowerMac G5 Makes Waves
Apple's First Retail Store — Tysons Corner In McLean, VA — Grand Re-Opening WIth Photos
The new look is a brushed aluminum entrance with a single Apple logo overhead.
Send iTunes Gift Certificates Via USPS
You can now send iTunes Gift Certificates purchased from the online Apple Store via the United States Postal Service.
Review
Apple iMac
This model lived up to Apple's ease-of-use pitch. It was eerie: Everything just worked, an experience that has eluded me in several years of reviewing desktop PCs.
Compiling Unix Source Code For Mac OS X
To use Unix source code on OS X, follow these steps.
Mere Speed Is Not Enough
Forget about aesthetic preferences or initial hardware costs; life is just easier on the Mac side and will remain so until Microsoft makes overdue repairs to Windows.
Wintel
"Microsoft Linux" Is Vaporware
Microsoft can't buy it. Partnering somehow doesn't ring true. Even if Microsoft did produce a version of Linux, who would use it?
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Top Stories
AppleCare For iPod Now Available
Apple is now offering an iPod AppleCare Protection Plan for both Mac and Windows users.
News
Adobe Acrobat Gets Panther Update, Adds Features
The update improves support with OS X 10.3 and also enhances PDF creation, Acrobat commenting and support for multimedia, according to information posted to Adobe's Web site.
DVD Jon Unlocks iTunes' Locked Music
While he hasn't decrypted the DRM which Apple uses, he has produced a simple Windows command line utility which willi nstall a DLL, which dumps the output of a QuickTime stream to a file.
Michael Dell On Apple: 'Just Because We Sell A Whole Lot More Doesn't Mean We're Bad'
Apple Store At Aventura Mall Grand Opening Delayed Until January 2004
"They ran into some unforeseen construction delays and could not make the November opening."
OS X 10.3 Server Admin Tools Posted
Apple last night released administration tools for server versions of Mac OS X 10.3.
Feel Free To Jack Into My iPod
Reinforcing the notion that iPod owners are members of some sort of exclusive, hip club, some of them are plugging their earbuds into total strangers' jacks.
'Creative Market Recovering' — Apple
Apple is starting to see a slight recovery in the creative markets.
Apple Delays Opening Of Second Retail In Georgia
The store opening has been pushed from Nov. 21 to Dec. 6.
Nisus Writer Express Improves Language Support, More
New to Nisus Writer Express 1.1 is more flexible multiple language support.
.Mac Offers Users iMovie And iDVD Training
With the holidays right around the corner, Apple's .Mac online service has posted a new training feature that outlines the use of key iLife applications like iMovie and iDVD.
Opinion
Get Into iPod's Groove
Apple's unorthodox strategy of legitimizing music downloads might just pay off in iPod sales.
Review
Eager For Panther? There's Reason To Pause
While Panther is a great release, I shouldn't have recommended it so wholeheartedly until these extreme problems were fixed.
Panther Maintenance Tips
If you've just upgraded to Panther, or are thinking about it, then the maintenance tips in this article will help ensure good performance throughout the life of this OS release.
Apple Wireless Keyboard
Apple's Wireless Keyboard is the perfect choice for anyone with a Bluetooth-enabled Mac. Just make sure you have the right OS first.
Hearts Of Iron
This game is for detail lovers who love to really micromanage vast amounts of options. A casual game is possible, but you probably won't get very far.
Wintel
Is Microsoft Still Committed To Pocket PC?
The fact that the man responsible for developing Microsoft's plans and goals would rather carry a handheld running a competitor's operating system isn't a good sign for the Pocket PC.
Microsoft's Security Starts To Show
The drive for better security has to start somewhere, and it has.
Microsoft Ups Open Source Battle In Europe
Microsoft has appointed a senior executive to a new position in Europe to improve relationships with governments across the continent, a move apparently designed to counter interest in open source software there.
Microsoft Investigages Possible Exchange 2003 Flaw
The potential flaw lies in the Outlook Web Access (OWA) component of Exchange Server 2003. A network administrator at a Nashville, Tennessee, provider of investment performance reporting tools found that users logging in to OWA could be logged in to another user's mailbox at random and have full access privileges.
For Security Ask Yourself... What Would Microsoft Do?
The Redmond, Washington company this week published a technical white paper that describes its internal security practices, which Microsoft hopes will "help customers successfully secure their environments," the company said.
Microsoft Signs .Net Deal In China
Microsoft has signed two agreements intended to deepen the company's ties with the Chinese government, even as the country's officials embark on programs meant to entrench rival open-source systems within the state infrastructure.
Wal-Mart To Write Own Name On Notebooks
A source familiar with the U.S. notebook industry told CNET News.com that Wal-Mart has shown interest in offering a notebook line but has not yet reached a deal with a specific manufacturer.
Friday, November 21, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Computer: Gaining The World And Losing Its Soul
So while Microsoft appears to be shooting itself in the foot with its trustworthy computing pronouncements, I get the growing impression that the Mac has, on the eve of its 20th birthday, come of age. It's a strange feeling, to be sure. Years of being thought of as someone strange because of my choice of personal computers.
News
Mac Vs. PC: The Truth About TCO
The Mac vs. PC conundrum probably will not be settled by an authoritative analyst study any time soon.
Apple At MacExpo 2003
With more than 20,000 attendees expected at Islington's Business Design Centre over the next three days and a mass of iPod advertising lending the local streets a splash of colour, this stylish corner of North London has a distinctly Apple flavour this week.
G5 Enclosure Warranty Draws Ire
Apple is taking fire from some service centers due to its requirement that when they replace a number of routine Power Mac G5 parts, they also replace the entire enclosure. At the same time, Apple is not covering the system's enclosure under warranty, charging dealers nearly $500 for a replacement.
Opinion
The Cupertino Community Playground (Or, Why Apple Owes Me Nothing)
Question them all you want, make your points known, but don't take it personally.
Review
Macs Offer More Choices At Lower Prices Than Ever
If you're in the market for a new Mac, there have never more excellent choices, nor have prices been lower.
Around The Mac Web In 80 Clicks
Check out this guide to some of the hottest Mac spots on the Internet.
Sidetrack
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! : Salon turns 8, and here's a look at the very first issue.
RUMOR DU JOUR : The 42-inch iMac... with pictures!
Wintel
Intel Rebuffs The Skeptics Of Its Itanium Chip
Intel delivered a forceful defense yesterday of its advanced Itanium microprocessor, declaring the chip well on its way to success despite considerable skepticism in the computer industry.
Critiquing Microsoft's Anti-Spam Move
Microsoft's recently-announced anti-spam add-on for Exchange Server 2003 may be a first step in the company's assault on enterprise junk mail, say analysts, but the move is neither a threat for third-party software makers already in the market, nor of much use to large corporations.
.Net Explained Again — And Again, And Again...
For Microsoft, presenting a clear and coherent .Net picture is more important than ever, as the company prepares developers for the next big bang.
Intel Sets The Bar At 4GHz
The chipmaker, which discussed its plans in a wide-ranging meeting with financial analysts on Thursday, said it aims to boost the performance of a broad range of its products next year, including cranking up its desktop PC processors.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Top Stories
Apple CFO: Co. Has 'Really Strong' Music Position
Leveraging consumer products into sales of other Apple products is the strategy, he said.
News
Macworld Announces Best Of Show 2003
Macworld today announced the winners of the "Macworld Best of Show Awards," representing the most exciting new hardware and software products announced at MacExpo 2003 in London.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University: Self-Service Math
Outfitted with nearly 550 iMac systems running Mac OS X, the Math Emporium has created a unique academic community in which students have control of their own learning.
Washington University In St. Louis: Art Works
Here's a look at why WUStL's School of Art went the Mac route, and the benefits that have been realized in the various majors.
Engineered Intelligence Brings Supercomputing To Power Mac G5 With Parallel Programming Software
District Given Technology Grant
Students at Alvarado, Barnard White and Csar Chvez middle schools will be spending a lot more time peering into computer screens this year.
iMac G4 1GB Memory Upgrades Available
Guitar.com Offers 'Great Apple Giveaway'
Apple Releases QuickTime 6 MPEG-2 Playback Component
QuickTime 6 now has the ability to play back MPEG-2 content via the QuickTime 6 MPEG-2 Playback Component. It is available as an add-on to QuickTime 6 for $19.99 in the Apple Store online.
Macintosh Users Join Kazaa Network
A new piece of file-swapping software for Macintosh computers is drawing thousands of downloads by offering peer-to-peer options previously available largely to Windows computers.
Poll: Innovation Defines Apple
Asked "What does Apple mean to you?", 36 per cent of Macworld Online readers said innovation was the company's defining characteristic.
Music Will Be Saved By Piracy Crackdown, Not iTunes: Study
Informa believes that online music sales will rise in the next five years, but will only represent a total of around 12 per cent of the market as a whole, with digital sales only making up 5.7 per cent.
Apple Crops Up In Windows World
What's a Mac person to do at Comdex? Well, although the annual trade show is a Windows-dominated event, there are a few signs of Mac life here.
Naxos: Apple Overcharging For iTunes Albums
According to Naxos, the correct pricing for their albums in the ITMS should be $6, not the standard $10 per album fee currently being charged.
Opinion
Singing A Different Tune
Although I do credit Apple for their cleverness in this venture, their timing deserves the most credit.
No, Virginia, There Is No Headless iMac
After five years of evolution, Apple's consumer offerings have reached a point where they've made the concept of a "headless iMac" as obsolete as the original bondi blue imac itself.
Linux, Microsoft And Mac
Whether Linux can overcome that accomplish what Apple hasn't in that regard remains an open question, at least on the corporate desktop.
Why Apple Is Tuning In
It seems the Big Five record companies are dragging out negotiations over the regional licences Apple needs to open download sites outside the United States. Why? It has to be money. Perhaps they see an auction developing.
Review
iPod As iGod
The iPod is fast changing the way people listen to music.
A Switcher's Story And His Review Of The New iBook G4
If you love Unix, and need a laptop that is light, durable, high-quality, quiet, has a long battery life, comes with OSX 10.3 Panther and is sheer eye-candy inside and out, then the new iBook G4 is the way to go.
Keynote's XML Connections
Keynote goes one step further than PowerPoint by making it easy to dynamically create presentations from within other applications.
15-Inch PowerBook G4s: Apple Hits The Sweet Spot, But Machines Have Inconsistent Quality
The new 15-inch PowerBook G4s are impressive pieces of engineering, with stunningly bright screens, plenty of power, all the right ports, and a solid feel. We hope that by the time you read this, Apple will have worked out the kinks in the consistency of its PowerBooks, so the laptop you receive will be the laptop you love.
FireWire Web Cams: Apple's iSight Goes Up Against Established Products
The iSight's overall picture quality was noticeably better than that of the other cameras. It almost always provided a sharp, crisply defined image and did the best job with movement and backlighting. The Pyro slightly edged out the iBot in image quality, but the two were closely matched. The Fire-i had the lowest overall picture quality, but it made up for this in other areas.
After Effects 6.0 Professional: Titling And Keying Tools Provide Terrific New Core Capabilities
After Effects 6.0 is a terrific upgrade — especially considering the lower price — for its new type-handling features alone. We recommend it to anyone involved in dynamic media.
DVD Studio Pro 2.0: Elegant New Interface, Feature Refinement Streamline Authoring
DVD Studio Pro 2.0 is a spectacular update, but we recommend that veteran users ease into the new version of the program. By all means, buy the upgrade and start learning to use it. But as with any major upgrade, don't switch to it in the middle of a project, and don't make your first DVD Studio Pro 2 project a complex one that has a very tight deadline.
Toast 6 Titanium: A Good Program Gets Even Better
Toast 6 includes every feature you can reasonably expect from this type of app. It's ideal if you have an external DVD burner that didn't come with DVD-authoring software, or if you burn a lot of CDs and DVDs.
Pixels 3D 5.0: 3-D-Modeling And -Rendering App Blends Function And Low Price
Pixels 3D 5.0 doesn't provide the ultimate tool set for creating 3-D animations and still images. But at $399, it's certainly an excellent choice for beginners. And it may be a reasonable option for professional artists who don't need the elaborate features of high-end, and more expensive, 3-D tools.
Soundtrack 1.0: Apple's Flexible Music-Creation Application Is Fun And Easy To Use
Soundtrack won't instantly transform you into Mozart, but its easy-to-use workflow does make creating music a pleasure.
Chartsmith 1.2: Innovative OS X Charting Program Has A Few Rough Edges
Despite a few rough edges, Chartsmith is a highly capable charting tool that's easy to use once you learn its idiosyncrasies. It sells for less than half the price of DeltaGraph, and even lower educational pricing makes it attractive for students and teachers.
Reviews In Brief: 24U Email OSAX 2.2, Cookie Muncher 1.0.6, JumpDrive Secure, KidzMail 1.1.2, MacAstronomica 2.0.2, MacResponder 1.0.2, Mystical Lighting, PodQuest 1.0.1, TimeCache 5.1.5, WorkStrip 3.0, Zoom & Pan 3.0
The Game Room: Survival Of The Fittest
Mac Gems: More Fully Functional
Some of the best gems are those that let you do what you should have been able to do in the first place.
Verbatim Store 'N' Go USB Drive
Apple 'sudo' On Laptops May Let Local Users Execute Commands Without Authenticating
It is reported that the sudo application uses the graphical interface clock instead of the system clock. When sudo is executed via Apple's Terminal.app and then the laptop is placed in sleep mode and subsequently woken up, the laptop may take 10 - 20 seconds to update the graphical clock. As a result, a physically local user can wake up the laptop and execute sudo commands with root privileges without having to authenticate within the 10 - 20 second period.
Sidetrack
EXERCISE FOR THE DAY : Can somebody please go to the CompUSA store in Emeryville, CA, look for Mr. Ditson Garcia, and ask to buy a Mac. E-mail his response to me here. :-)
RUMORS DU JOUR : Second generation of Power Mac G5 is coming in March.
1 billion tunes from McDonald's, — the rumor is back.
iPod AppleCare, next week.
Wintel
Microsoft Re-Explains .Net Strategy
The software giant's elusive strategy — a hot topic a few years ago but overshadowed by other Microsoft efforts lately — was declared alive and well during a panel at the Comdex trade show.
Microsoft Settles Class Actions In Dakotas
Microsoft Corp. has agreed to pay as much as $18.33 million to settle class action lawsuits in North Dakota and South Dakota that alleged the vendor overcharged for its software.
Bill Gates: Unplugged
For two decades, Bill Gates has used his Comdex keynote speech to mark out his vision for technologies from the Internet to XML. This year he used the bully pulpit to make it clear that the industry is at one of its perennial crossroads.
Microsoft's New Security Mojo
Rather than address its own problems, Microsoft has decided to use creative marketing as a substitute for good security and software development. The problem isn't that virus writers are exploiting Windows; it's that Microsoft makes Windows easy to exploit by anyone with a modicum of programming know-how. Instead of accepting responsibility, the company is trying to pass the blame for such problems off onto others.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Top Stories
Apple PowerMac G5 With OS 10.3 "Panther"
Bottom line for the Mac users: it only gets better from here on in. Bottom line for Windows people: getting a Mac doesn't mean switching. It just means having a little more fun.
News
MacExpo 2003 Starts Tomorrow In London
Apple Releases Security Updates For Panther, Jaguar
In the release notes for the Panther version, Apple said the update includes updated OpenSSL and zlib "gzprintf()" function components. Apple said the Jaguar version includes the following updated components: gm4; groff; Mail w/CRAM-MD5 authentication; OpenSSL; Personal File Sharing; QuickTime for Java; and zlib "gzprintf()" function.
In Pleasanton, Teachers And Students Get Apples
Pleasanton decided to give out the laptops so that students graduate with the skills they need to live in a digital age.
Apple Computer Could Run Out Of Steam
Sun Cofounder Bill Joy Loves His Power Mac G5; Prefers Mac OS X To Linux; Has 'No Interest' In Windows
Opinion
.Mac Benefits Confusion
"I looked at that page also, but didn't feel deceived. I felt the page was saying, 'Look what you could have received if you had a .mac account' and [implying] that new subscribers would get equivalent offers in the future."
Apple Has Just Shot Itself In The Foot... Twice
How many Mac users will forgo purchasing the 2.0Ghz G5 during the Christmas season for the opportunity to purchase a similar machine and save $500?
Singles Make Comeback Online
Building your music collection a song at a time, a buck at a time, is most convenient of all.
Change In Spring Status
The unfortunate part is that the market doesn't always reward applications like Spring.
Review
Sidetrack
GO FIND NEMO : G4 CubeQuarium.
HACKERS, START YOUR ENGINES : The problem: how to move saved games from one Xbox to another, when couples break up.
MERRY CHRISTMAS : Get a USB-powered Christmas tree for your Mac. :-)
RUMOR DU JOUR : If you are not satisfied with the 20-inch iMac, get ready for iMac G5 by mid-2004.
Wintel
Opening Up Office XML Schemas
Overall, the schema licensing is a promising change for Microsoft customers using Office 2003. What I don't understand: Is why Microsoft didn't just take the more open, interoperable approach in the first place.
MSN Goes Hollywood
The business model is to offer video advertising services in lieu of charging subscription fees.
Why Linux Is Wealthier Than Microsoft
Linus Torvalds can muster more creativity from his far-flung rank and file than Bill Gates can from his corporate monolith.
Microsoft Gets Serious About Security
But concerns about more viruses may continue to hover over the stock for years to come.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Unveils 20-Inch iMac
"By offering a huge, gorgeous 20-inch widescreen display, Apple has once again raised the bar on what customers can expect from an all-in-one desktop."
Apple Offers Dual-Processor 1.8GHz Power Mac G5
Apple on Tuesday announced a new dual-processor Power Mac G5 operating at 1.8GHz. The new dual-processor system replaces the single-processor 1.8GHz G5 previously available, and costs US$2,499 — only $100 more than the 1.8GHz system it replaces.
News
iPod Seen As Apple's Growth Engine
Move over Mac. iPod, Apple's slim digital music player, is the engine that will drive the company's future growth, company officials said yesterday.
Apple Primes 10.3.2 'Panther' Update
Version 10.3.2 will include updates to networking, graphics drivers, and USB, sources said. The update will also improve WebDAV, international text, and AFP Server, Apple reportedly told testers in a brief release note.
PC Magazine Names Apple Power Mac G5 Winner In 2003 Awards For Technical Excellence
Apple's "Programming For Panther" Promo Ends Nov 21
"Get the software, hardware, training, and support you need to accelerate your Panther development."
Apple Offers Panther And G5-Optimized Pro Apps
Apple on Tuesday released new versions of its Final Cut Pro 4, DVD Studio Pro 2 and Shake 3 applications, all optimized for the Power Mac G5 and fine-tuned for Panther.
Opinion
.Mac Promising Software That Is No Longer Available
".Mac is being deceptive making you think that there are more free software offers than actually exist."
How To Fix What's Wrong With Windows
Windows-based PCs are too hard to use. The cure: Microsoft should let its programmers start over with a clean slate and completely revamp the OS. Want proof it'll work? Just look at Apple.
Microsoft Should Integrate Their 'eTunz Music Store' Right Into Windows
You see, leveraging Windows is a smart move, an instant win, it's already been done before, and Microsoft got away with it, too.
Shareware Reviews In Macworld
If review will only save the prospective customer time, not money, those will be the first products to be cut (or more likely, never assigned in the first place).
Macworld, "Shareware", And The Future
The best independent software companies who don't do boxed software can hope for is someone like Tim who's out on patrol, looking for the next big thing. Hopefully this will change, because a lot of the best damned software on the Mac is coming out of someone's garage - just like the original Apple-1.
Review
G4 iBook Or Titanium PowerBook — Which Is The Best Choice? (For You)
If I were currently in the market for a laptop, this would be a conundrum for me too.
Sidetrack
WAIT A LITTLE MORE for your PowerBook G5... Meanwhile, have fun with the PowerBook Dual G4.
Wintel
Novell Delays Open-Source Project
Developers and corporate customers eager to get their hands on an open-source version of Microsoft's .Net line of programming tools will need to wait a little longer.
Does MSN Get The Message?
Microsoft's MSN online service reached an important milestone when it posted its first quarter of operating profitability — but that doesn't mean its problems are behind it.
Jury Awards SPX $62 Million In Microsoft Case
Diversified manufacturer SPX said a jury awarded its Imagexpo unit $62.3 million in damages and found that Microsoft had infringed on a patent for conferencing software.
"Wronghorn" Is Just Plain Wrong — A Rational Response
Gates Targets Linux In Comdex Keynote
Fine Print On The Microsoft's New Tablet OS
Microsoft is readying a new version of the Tablet PC platform that improves upon the handwriting features in the operating system. The device and software was demonstrated by Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates in his Sunday evening keynote address.
Microsoft's SPOT Watches Will Be Late
Microsoft and watchmakers Fossil of the U.S. and Suunto Oy of Finland only recently started a large test, too late to make the December gift-giving season.
Dell Laptop Lines To Diverge In 2004
Dell plans to make its two laptop lines more distinct in the second half of 2004, a move that could better suit its products to a growing customer base.
Monday, November 17, 2003
Top Stories
Thrill Ride
"Using Macs wasn't just a design choice — it was a ruthless business decision. We crunched the numbers, and for evey scenario they spelled out Mac."
News
Swim With The Big Fish
"We're known for being extremely efficient, meaning we get the job done very economically. So the Macintosh gives us an enormous advantage over our competition."
IMG Interviews Andrew Welch
It's been over a decade since Andrew Welch created Ambrosia Software.
iCab Web Browser Updated
The update includes a new version of the OpenSSL library that fixes some security issues of previous versions of this library.
Apple Updates Bluetooth Software
The update provides enhanced stability for Bluetooth connections and improves performance with human interface devices (HID) including enhancements to wake from sleep.
FrogPad Aims To Cut Keyboard Size
The five-employee, Houston-based start-up is actively marketing a fully functional, 20-key keyboard at Comdex this week, which measures three inches by five inches—about the same size as a personal digital assistant.
Mixed Outlooks For iPod, iTunes
Apple is consolidating iPod as the world's market-leading MP3 player, but industry watchers warn that the iTunes Music Store is far less likely to enjoy such domination.
Opinion
Sony, Take A Page From Apple's Playbook
The electronic division may have its best shot at redemption by creating a content distribution business that boosts the consumer appeal of its hardware, much as Apple has buoyed its iPod MP3 player sales with its iTunes download service.
How Linux And The Mac Can Compete Against Windows
The lesson of Windows 95 is that the dominant vendor doesn't have to be better than competing platforms, it only has to be good enough.
Review
Serious Mac OS X File-Save Bug Could Delete Files
Power Mac G5 Puts Apple In The Big Leagues
Power Macs are really for power users.
15-Inch PowerBook G4
If portable power is your prime directive, the 15-inch PowerBook is the just right answer to your this one's too small, that one's too big PowerBook dilemma.
After Effects 6.0
If you use After Effects for compositing work, the Professional Edition is truly a must-have update. If you don't need such high-end compositing firepower, the AE Standard edition, with its new type engine and zippy Open-GL rendering, is a worthy upgrade.
Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5
Not only is the Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5 the fastest Mac ever, but after developers optimize all their software for the G5 processor, Apple rolls out a 64-bit OS, and developers create 64-bit applications, it'll be even faster. We can't wait.
DVD Studio Pro 2
Once you get the hang of its sprawling interface, you'll be able to build full-featured disks from scratch with relative ease and speed.
iView MediaPro 2
Advanced features such as version control; the ability to create multimedia slide shows; the option to store, back up, and burn digital files to CD-ROM and other media; and the ability to automate tasks using AppleScript make it an ideal tool for both serious creative professionals and small workgroups.
Pro Tools LE 6.1.1
It's as easy to use as ever, and much easier to set up, thanks to OS X's Core MIDI and Core Audio.
Retrospect Desktop Backup 5.1
Retrospect Desktop Backup is great for businesses that make incremental, frequent backups on multiple media. For personal use, though, it's overkill.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
No matter how mad or sad your skills are, Pro Skater will challenge you — and if you're anything like us, it will lead to obsession, sleep deprivation, unbelievably sore thumbs, and great satisfaction.
Sidetrack
MEET ANDY RUFF, your new program manager for Entourage.
WHAT AM I HEARING NOW? : Remember all those scrolling news tickers that was all the "rage" when Java applets and applications first came on the scene? Pretty annoying. If I want to read the news, I'll go to a web site and read the news.
But then, maybe there's a use for all those tickers, afterall? The idea I'm thinking is perhaps the lyrics to the song I'm listening right now. Now, somebody just need to create a tunes-to-text interface...
WHERE'S THE SUNSHINE? : "Singapore is currently in effect running on the equivalent of hte usual 'Spring Forward, Fall Back' type of Daylight Saving Time... Albeit we are on this DST throughout the year." — The long history on how Singapore got its time zone.
RUMOR DU JOUR : 20-inch iMac and Dual-1.8 GHz G5, coming soon.
Wintel
Euopean Hearing Against Microsoft Ends
Sun, RealNetworks presented arguments on last day.
Microsoft Pries Open Office 2003
Microsoft on Monday said it will license the XML-based file formats used in the latest edition of its Office applications on a royalty-free basis.
Start-Up Promises Streaming Desktop Apps
Start-up Softricity is looking to reduce the cost of managing desktop Windows applications with a server software product the company says takes a step toward an industrywide vision of utility computing.
Microsoft Tests Web News Service
Microsoft has started testing an international news search service in competition with Google's, upping the ante in the hotly contested Web search market.
Five Myths About 'Wronghorn'
Microsoft promises the world with Longhorn, but customers may call it "Wronghorn" by the time it sees the light of day, several years from now.
RealNetworks Says Windows Works Without Media Player
In a demonstration before European competition regulators on Friday, RealNetworks, maker of a music- and video-playing computer program called Real One, showed how a little-known version of Windows - Windows XP Embedded, which is licensed only for industrial use - can work without Microsoft Media Player attached, three people at the closed-door hearing said.
Microsoft Plans To Sell Music Over Web
In a move likely to send waves through the growing online music market, Microsoft plans to introduce a song-downloading service next year that will compete with similar offerings from Apple, Roxio's Napster and others, Monday's Wall Street Journal reported.
Vision Of Personal Computers As Heart Of Home Entertainment
If Intel and Microsoft have their way, the personal computer will soon be moving out of the office and den into the living room, kitchen and bedroom.
Why Computers Are Screwed Up
All I can say is it's a good thing Bill Gates didn't invent television. If it took as long to start up a television set as it takes to start up a computer, you'd need two hours to watch 60 Minutes.
Gates Addresses Spam, Security Flaws At Comdex
Addressing a more button-down crowd than in past years, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates attempted Sunday to usher in a new era of computing he dubbed "seamless computing."
Microsoft And EU To Detail Office Accord
Microsoft this week is slated to make a major announcement with an unspecified European government to ease interoperability issues between its Office software suite and third-party programs, as well as alleviate its overseas antitrust headaches.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Top Stories
Here Comes Apple
As the markets begin to understand the enormity and inevitability of Digital Media, it's clear that there will an unlikely beneficiary: Apple.
News
Tim Larkin: Composing Myst's Musical World
"With Apple technology, everything integrates so well."
School District Taps Into Laptop Technology
The Honeoye Falls-Lima school district is gearing up to launch in February a digital learning project that involves leasing laptop computers for middle school students to use in school and at home.
Opinion
Review
Crazy Golf
At 12 holes, it's only a temporary fix, but it's better than another year of withdrawals.
Ultimate PC: One Piece At A Time, We Build 3 Dream Systems And Take Them For A Spin
Suppose money was no object. Just what would you buy if you could equip your personal computer with the biggest and the best, the finest and the fastest?
The Panther Report: Can A G3 Deliver The Goods With 10.3?
I'm pleased to report that the diehard Mac OS 9 user most likely isn't going to suffer worse performance on an iMac in this category, and, in fact, will find some things noticeably quicker when upgrading to Panther.
Sidetrack
4 YEARS AGO : Linux Torvalds had this to say. "The iMac comes in five colors. Who cares from a technical standpoint? But they're obviously selling like crazy."
YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE of how to lie with statistics.
MEANWHILE IN THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, FoxTrot discovers iTunes.
Wintel
Brazil Gives Nod To Open Source
If he is to make good on his promise to improve life for the tens of millions of Brazilians who live in dire poverty, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva knows that one key challenge is to bridge a massive technology gap. And if that means shunning Microsoft software in South America's largest country, then so be it.
Intel Moves Deeper Into Supercomputing
Intel plans to dedicate $36 million for basic research into improving the performance of supercomputers made from off-the-shelf parts as it continues to expand its reach in the very high end of the computer market.
Sun's StarOffice Still Can't Rival Microsoft
This program is mainly for light users preparing basic documents who either can't afford Office, or hate Microsoft so much they'll live with some complexity and limitations.
Microsoft's Latest Media-Playing Software Wins Grudging Praise
With every .wma and .wmv I made reviewing the latest software, I couldn't help feeling that I was making a pact with the devil.
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Aims At Teens With New iPod Site
iPodrocks.com is Apple's latest effort to win the hearts and minds of teen consumers interested in its iPod digital music player. It's a new Web site and a fierce bit of guerilla marketing that combines high-impact graphics and animation along with several popular music tracks, and is chock full of creative ways that teens can try to convince their parents of how much they want, need and deserve an iPod this holiday season.
News
Mac Supercomputer Joins Elite
Virginia Tech's "Big Mac" supercomputer is officially the world's third-fastest supercomputer.
Whatever Happened To Bluetooth?
Wireless technology has improved , but it may never be mainstream.
Image Conscious
Album art decreased in size years ago in the move from vinyl records to CDs. But now, with downloadable music on the internet, is such art headed for obsolescence?
Apple To Open First Portland-Area Store
Apple Computer will open its first Portland-area store on Saturday in Washington Square, giving existing Apple dealers some competition.
Error In Downloading
Record, tech industries battle to make music pay off.
Windows Expert Slams Panther
Windows apologist Paul Thurrott has dismissed Mac OS X as offering "nothing in the way of usability advancements over previous desktop operating systems."
Impending OS 9 iDisk Hitch
"If you're using Mac OS 9 and AFP (Apple File Protocol) you'll need to download and install software that enables WebDAV for your operating system in order to maintain full access to your iDisk."
Microsoft CTO Lauds BlackBerry, iPod
Less than six months after Microsoft launched its newest mobile OS, Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, Vaskevitch was keen to point out to the delegates how useful it is to have devices with specific functionality.
No iTunes For Now-Lah
An Apple official said the company is "fully committed" to opening up its iTunes online music store to rest of the world, but would not provide a date.
Apple Offers iPod Battery Replacement Service
Apple is now offering a US$99 battery replacement program for iPods that are more than a year old.
Opinion
Never Thought I'd Say This: Why Apple Should Release Safari For Windows
Discussion: iTunes For Windows Breaking Older iPods
Capital For Mac Development
This is a sign of growing health.
The World Is A GUi Place: Apple And Longhorn
You know you're using the right software when, night after night, you have that "oh crap, I was supposed to be home an hour ago" moment. OS X engages me that way without obviously working at it, just by respecting the fact that humans use their software.
Review
DeltaGraph 5
The more I used DeltaGraph, the more I liked it.
Ghost Master
Ghost Master is a game that tries to get by on its premise alone, and it succeeds, despite a few minor flaws.
Sidetrack
WHERE'S APPLE? : Bill Palmer noted that "When the iTunes Music Store first launched, viewers of the ads were directed to visit applemusic.com. But these days, traffic is instead being shuttled to itunes.com... There's no mention of either 'Apple' or 'Mac' in either one of those domains."
Actually, I thought this has something to do with the lawsuit from the other Apple company.
Actually #2, when you do go to iTunes.com, the Apple logo stares right at your face at the top left corner.
COMMITTED? YEAH RIGHT : Apple says it is "committed to opening up its iTunes online music store to rest of the world".
I'm still waiting for my iPhoto book.
REPTILE AMONG THE REFUSE : Hong Kong currently has a crocodile problem, among others.
Wintel
Microsoft Ordered To Pay $62M In Patent Suit
A jury has ordered Microsoft to pay $62.3 million in damages for infringing on a technology patent held by a division of manufacturing and technology company SPX, the companies said Friday.
Microsoft Builds Spam Filters Into Exchange
Gates to announce plans in Comdex keynote address.
Answer The Phone; It May Be Microsoft
Greater role for enterprise telephony seen for software giant.
Friday, November 14, 2003
News
Apple CFO Lectures About Company's Marketing Methods
"Apple's an innovator, and we refused to mortgage our future."
Apple Gets High Performance Computing Nods
HPCwire, which bills itself as "the global publication of record for High Performance Computing," noted Apple several times in its recently announced 2003 Readers Choice Awards.
West Australian Students Get iBooks
The West Australian government has announced an initiative to equip 730 public high-school students with their own iBook.
Freshmen Direct Films For Inaugural iMovie Festival
The theme of the films is "capturing a moment of change" in their freshman experience.
Apple Airs New iPod/iTunes Commercial
Several MacMinute readers note that Apple began airing a new iPod/iTunes television commercial tonight featuring a remix of "Rock Star" by N.E.R.D.
Apple's Xserve: Ready For G5 Leap?
Many watchers of the Mac market await the release of a new Xserve based on the 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor. Apple has been characteristically mum on the topic.
Supervalu Donates Computers To School
Supervalu donated 20 iBook computers to Eisenhower Elementary School in Hopkins. They will be designated primarily for the school's e-mentoring program that pairs fifth-grade students with Supervalu employees.
Opinion
Panther Is Missing A Few Spokes From The Digital Hub
As an Apple user and most likely a Panther purchaser, would you spend more money on iDVD 3 or Keynote or would you at least try it if it came free?
Is Apple Giving Independent Dealers The Boot?
We will have gained the world and lost our souls in the process, but that's the way it is in the changing retail world.
Review
First Impressions Of The 14" iBook G4
Apple has managed to produce a machine that combines everything I want from a portable computer with appropriate processor performance for a competitive price.
Wintel
Microsoft Rivals Take The Stand
Microsoft's rivals will put their case to EU competition regulators on Friday, putting a lid on almost four years of investigations and legal wrangling.
Intel Chip To Run Multiple Applications
Intel said Thursday that its Itanium 2 microprocessor due in 2005 and code-named Montecito will have four times more storage capacity than its predecessor and will be able to run several applications at once.
This CEO Gives Microsoft 'Window' Pains
Michael Robertson challenged the major record labels with MP3.com. Now as founder of Lindows.com, he's heading for a court date with Bill Gates.
Microsoft's Settlement Chances In Europe Cloudy
In a statement released shortly after he concluded an eight-hour-long presentation in a three-day hearing in Brussels, the software company's general counsel, Brad Smith, gave the strongest indication yet that he is seeking a settlement to avert a negative ruling in the long-running antitrust case, which the European Commission is coming close to concluding.
Microsoft Breaks Down Its Earnings
Microsoft saw a jump in profits from its server and tools business last quarter, while its desktop Windows and Office business posted slight declines in profits from a year earlier, according to documents filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
MS: Don't Force Us To Be Lousy
Microsoft said it would be forced to offer European consumers a substandard version of Windows if the European Union makes it rewrite its operating system, sources close to the case said on Thursday.
Microsoft's Windows XP Faces New Woes
In a potential new front in Microsoft's long-running battle with regulators, European Union antitrust officials are pursuing charges from rivals that the latest desktop operating system is designed to help extend Microsoft's dominance into new markets such as instant messaging, e-mail and hand-held devices like mobile phones.
New Windows Worm On The Way?
With the posting Wednesday of proof-of-concept exploit code for one of the newly discovered vulnerabilities in Windows, the familiar chain of events that often leads to the release of a worm has begun.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Top Stories
Windows Vs Apple
Microsoft and Apple have new operating systems. We put them head to head.
News
Two Promos Offered For Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro
Now through February 28, 2004, you can buy any Mac and save US$300 when you purchase Final Cut Pro 4 and DVD Studio Pro 2 at the same time. Or you can save $150 if you purchase Final Cut Pro 4 and DVD Studio Pro 2 without a Mac.
Your Mac Life Coming To Atlanta Apple Store
Your Mac Life, the Internet show about all things Mac, will do a live broadcast in from the Apple Retail Store in the Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. It's the first in a series of live shows to be presented in Apple retail stores around the U.S.
X For Teachers Participants Get Final Cut Express Deal
Apple has e-mailed educators who participated in this past year's X for Teachers program information about a special deal on Final Cut Express. For a limited time, those educators can score the digital video editing software for a $200 savings off the regular price for educators.
BBEdit Adds SFTP Support, Rendezvous, More
The new version of BBEdit gains support for SFTP, adds FTP and SFTP server discovery through Rendezvous and a new "Preview in BBEdit" live HTML rendering feature.
Apple Reports Panther-Specific Java 1.4.1 Update
Apple has posted a new Panther-specific Java 1.4.1 update after pulling the previous version due to compatibility issues with other software.
Thinking Smaller
Prompted by yet another round of miniaturization, computer makers finally seem willing to rethink what PCs can look like. The result could be a revolution not just in style but in convenience.
Apple Dealers Sound Off About DJs
Apple dealers are frustrated by the vendor's decision to sell its products at David Jones stores, but believe their 'specialist knowledge' will give them the upper hand when competing with the mass market retailer.
iTMS Sales Pose New Problem For Billboard Charts
Rising sales of digital tracks through music services such as the iTunes Music Store are raising questions about how such transactions should be measured on the Billboard charts.
iPod Now Available Through UK Virgin Megastores
"We're thrilled to be working with Virgin Retail to bring the iPod to even more customers."
'Panther' Sparks Software, Hardware Updates
Apple's delivery of "Panther" has prompted a wave of third-party updates. New releases range from interface enhancers to major enterprise-level databases.
Opinion
The Reality Of Bugs
People are constantly shocked and amazed that their pet bug hasn't been fixed in subsequent releases (e.g., in Mozilla or Safari), but those people simply don't understand how many hundreds of thousands of bugs their particular problem is competing with.
The School Daze Ahead
Wouldn't it be nice if Apple did for laptops as it did for institutional desktops and continue to make G3 iBooks exclusively for the education market and price them accordingly?
What I'd Like To See Addeed To The iTunes Music Store
So here goes...
Enjoyed The Music Apetizer? Try The OS Main Course
Cue the ad, please: Your life with iTunes and iPod is good, why not make it great with a new Mac?
Review
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Each provides wonderful additions to the title before it, and THPS 4 sets a new standard for interactive environment.
Neverwinter Nights
It's rich, detailed, great story, finely-tuned.
NetNewsWire
NNW is extremely useful, easy to use and simple to set up, all in all a great way to add functionality to your Mac.
The "Little" Changes In Panther: Which Ones Were Worth It?
As I went down the list of small things that had changed in Panther, I found myself repeatedly asking: "Was this change worth it?" That is, did the change improve the OS enough to justify the headache of having to revise my book? Happily, the answer was most often yes. But there were some resounding no votes as well. Here's a sampler of these smaller changes in Panther — and my vote as to whether or not the change was worth making.
Power Mac Dual G5: First Glance
Apple has made one of the finest machines in the company's history and from a gaming perspective, the G5 almost never falters.
TV's New Appeal
EyeTV is a digital video recorder that allows you to not only watch TV on your Macintosh but to record the program, play it back and even burn it to a video CD for later contemplation and possible enjoyment.
Sidetrack
COOLEST INVENTION OF THE YEAR : Get your Advanced Frozen Pea Technology. (via CARS)
RUMORS DU JOUR : Not only will Apple be unveiling new iMac in a cube, but there will be faster Power Mac G5s too.
Oh, and Xcode 1.1 is coming soon too.
Wintel
Don't Make Fred's Mistake: Protect PC From 'Meanies'
I thought I'd seen just about every kind of nasty Web infection known to man, but until a friend called a couple of weeks ago, desperate for help, I'd never seen them all on one computer. It was a frightening experience.
Asian First-Timers Prefer Linux To WIndows
Microsoft: 'We Should Learn From Open Source'
Microsoft has a soft spot for Linux, but it believes that recent developments in the open-source community have killed the free software model.
CERT Warns About New Microsoft Vulnerability
The buffer overrun vulnerability in the Workstation Service, a Windows component, is well-suited to exploitation by an Internet worm and would allow malicious hackers to remotely attack and compromise vulnerable systems, CERT said.
Microsoft, EU Square Off Behind Closed Doors
Microsoft responded to European Commission charges of market abuse Wednesday in a hearing in which a lawyer said its chief executive will be shown dismissing "monopoly" as a game he plays with his kids.
Microsoft Aims To Simplify Database Management
Microsoft on Wednesday introduced tools to ease database administration for both the current and forthcoming edition of its SQL Server database.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Top Stories
iTunes Undermines Social Security
Thanks to the ability of Apple's iTunes to share music collections over local networks, it is now possible to judge someone's taste in music — or lack of it — in a way that previously required a certain level of intimacy.
Public Schools: Why Johnny Can't Blog
At issue is a fundamental question heretical to many who have preached the power of computers in education over the last two decades: Does technology do more to improve learning than traditional teaching methods?
News
MyTunes Exploits iTunes Windows Playlist Sharing
Bill Zeller, a 20-year-old Trinity College student, wrote and released MyTunes just 10 days after the official release of iTunes for Windows. His Web site claims that the application is intended to enable users "to save music from other computers to your hard drive."
640MB iBook RAM Barrier Smashed
Trans' 1GB memory upgrade module allows the main memory of the 800MHz, 933MHz, and 1GHz G4 iBooks to be upgraded to a maximum of 1.15GB.
A Failing For Apple In The Classroom
Visually impaired students now lack a Mac screen reader. That could hurt school sales — and put Jobs & Co. on the wrong side of the ADA.
Music ISP Poses iTunes Threat
Subscribers to the PlayLouder MSP (Music Service Provider) will be allowed to legally share, download and stream, via file-sharing programs such as KaZaA, licensed tracks from labels signed up to the scheme. PlayLouder MSP director Paul Sanders confirmed that the service "will be Mac compatible". He also predicted that the Apple service and his MSP would be able to coexist happily.
iPods Seal Clubbing Fame
A new iPod craze has hit clubs in East London — with DJs using iPods rather than vinyl.
Laptop Expansion For Henrico Pupils Unclear
With a number of board members already expressing reservations about how the iBook program has been administered so far, winning approval for its expansion may not be easy.
EAST Lab Students Report On Training Session To School Board
"This is really some great equipment. I can't wait to put it to use for our project."
Apple Opens DJs Stores
The new stores within David Jones will be structured differently to Apple's previous, less than successful attempts at selling computers in the department store chain, as well as Harvey Norman. The 'stores' will be Apple branded and staffed by trained Apple employees.
'Light' Not Quite Right For This Forum
"In an attempt to encourage a lighthearted moment in this debate, a CNN producer working with Ms. Trustman clearly went too far. CNN regrets the producer's actions."
Williams Elementary School Unveils Wireless Mobile Lab
Williams Elementary School in Pittsfield is on the cutting edge of technology and will unveil their Ibook Wireless Mobile Lab today. Kindergarten children, who will work in pairs with laptop computers, will use the lab today.
Review
Panther Internet Sharing
In this article, I'm going to show you how to share an Internet connection using some IP over FireWire (more secure) and AirPort Internet broadcasting (less secure).
Power Mac G5 Dual 2 GHz
Although the G5s are pricey as simple gaming machines, the fact that today's new, triple-A games require a 700 MHz processor as a minimum configuration mean that getting your hands on a G5 now will ensure that your machine will be able to play the latest and greatest titles comfortably for a number of years to come.
Sidetrack
RUMOR DU JOUR : The cube returns, and will be branded an iMac.
OH NO, another Microsoft patch to attend to, another holiday burned. Now you've really alienated your customers. :-)
Wintel
Microsoft Keeps $51.6B Cash Hoard For Legal Contingencies
Microsoft's dividend policy will not change substantially anytime soon because of legal concerns, the company said Tuesday.
Next Explorer Breaks Everything
The next version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, due out early next year, will contain technology that breaks just about everything you're used to on the Web.
Microsoft Prepares Security Assault On Linux
In a sign that the inroads made by the Open Source community are starting to rattle the software giant, Microsoft has hired several analysts to review how fast holes are patched in the open source software and is expected to announce that Windows compares favorably.
Microsoft Releases Windows, Office Fixes
Microsoft released three security updates for the Windows operating system and one update for Office, leaving many federal system administrators with no choice but to work on a U.S. national holiday.
Shareholders Approve Microsoft Stock Plan
Microsoft shareholders on Tuesday gave their endorsement to the software maker's plan to start awarding restricted stock to employees instead of granting stock options.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
News
Flash MX 2004 Gets Performance, Stability Tweaks
Macromedia has updated Macromedia Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 to version 7.0.1, which includes performance and stability improvements as well as expanded documentation.
New Snapz Pro X 1.0.9 Works Better With Panther
Experts: Wireless Network Risk Overhyped
In reality, computer security experts say that the security risks of wireless networks are no greater than those of regular networks — provided that the wireless networks are properly configured, their users are authenticated and the data they carry is encrypted.
Opinion
The Middleman's Dwindling Value
The value of the online middleman is declining rapidly as the Internet evolves into a place where our needs and wants are perfectly understood, and geography matters less and less.
Review
iBook G4 Versus Other Apple Laptops
If cost is no object and best performance is your goral, it's hard to beat the 15" or 17" Aluminum PowerBooks.
Apple iTunes Proves Addicting
As a player and music manager, iTunes is a virtual clone of the software Mac users have raved about for months — and it's a good one.
Puzzle Pro V2
The interface is a tad confusing, complicated by a manual that explains just about everything but how to use the program, and all that I find is missing is a simple Preview button more similar to how Photoshop's Preview buttons work.
Mac OS X 10.3 Panther
Like Jaguar before it, it is nearly impossible to recommend against upgrading to Panther. Mac OS X's development process is a train that's leaving the station with or without you. The message to users is clear: "Get onboard."
Panther Application Improvements
In this article, I want to look at some of the application and utility changes that give Panther some of its sheen.
TiVo Alternatives: EyeTV
In short, while the EyeTV is a great gadget and I'm quite happy with it, its deficiencies don't take long to surface.
Rendezvous Picture Transfer With Panther
There are many clever features in Mac OS X 10.3 that don't appear on the cover of Apple's Panther page. One of my favorites is the new Image Capture application that enables you to network images directly from your digital camera to others who can view them with a Rendezvous-enabled browser.
Secure Your Network (And Hack It) With MacAnalysis
MacAnalysis is the most comprehensive security tool that we've seen on any platform, and should be a part of the security toolbox of any Mac user.
Sidetrack
HELP! : I seem to have lost all drag-and-drop functionalities in my applications — including Finder, Safari and Mail.app. (I am running 10.2.8)
UPDATE: Rebooted. Still doesn't work. Removed all Login Items. (Safari, Mail, MSN Messenger). Rebooted. Now drag-and-drop works.
Haven't rebooted with the login items. I'm still at a loss what's wrong.
Wintel
Microsoft Puts New Patch Policy Into Gear
Microsoft plans to make available a series of security patches Tuesday in line with its new policy of releasing patches on a monthly basis.
Universities: A Marriage Of Convenience
"The bottom line is that universities tend to be very beholden to industry. To some extent, they are bought off."
Defiant Microsoft Seeks Deal With EU
Two days before key hearings, Microsoft Corp. said Monday that it was still seeking a settlement of its antitrust case with the European Union. But the software giant struck a defiant tone in defending itself.
Microsoft Sets Low Price For Virtual PC 2004
Virtualization product priced at $129, included in MSDN subscription.
Supreme Court To Hear Intel-AMD Document Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a foreign governmental body can view documents that were provided to U.S. courts under confidentiality agreements.
Internet Explorer To Stomp Pop-Ups
Microsoft plans to add pop-up blocking features to Internet Explorer next year as part of its Service Pack 2 update for Windows XP, a move that would go far toward stamping out the Web advertisements.
Clock Ticks For Web On A Wristwatch
Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT), which the company unveiled last year right before the Comdex trade show, is still in testing, according to a company representative, who declined to give an estimated release date. Microsoft earlier said the technology would be launched in the fall.
Microsoft Launches Windows Game Site
Microsoft launched a new Web site Monday intended to help popularize games made to run on the Windows XP operating system. The Games for Windows site includes how-to articles on game-related topics, a "Game Advisor" to help users find a game that matches their tastes, and downloadable add-ons for popular games.
Computer-In-A-Computer Idea Gains Ground
Software giant Microsoft and start-up VMware are bringing closer to mainstream use a technology for running multiple instances of an operating system on a single Intel-based computer.
Lindows-Microsoft Legal Spat Builds
In a motion filed earlier this month with the Superior Court of California for San Francisco County, Microsoft asked Judge Paul H. Alvarado to reject all claims processed by the Lindows site, which offers to help people garner benefits from Microsoft's $1.1 billion class-action settlement.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Top Stories
Mac OS X V10.3.1 Improves FileVault, FireWire 800, More
"The 10.3.1 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: FileVault, Printing, WebDav, and FireWire 800 drives. This update also includes the latest Security Updates," said Apple.
'Fastest Computer' TV Advert Banned
Computer giant Apple has been banned by British Independent Television Commission, an advertising watchdog, from claiming its latest product as "the world's fastest, most powerful personal computer."
The 99¢ Solution: Steve Jobs' Music Store Showed Foot-Dragging Record Labels And Runaway Music Pirates That There Was A Third Way
Apple's iTunes Music Store is Time's Coolest Invention of 2003.
How You Benefit From Panther
I don't know where Apple's stock price will be next year, however, I do know that when you buy an Apple Computer you'll receive dividends for years to come. Apple's design philosophy creates options that makes your life easier.
News
iTunes 'Not Affecting LimeWire Downloads'
Peer-to-peer file-sharing service LimeWire has seen no decline in the number of downloads it serves since the debut of mass-market music download services, said company chief operating officer Greg Bildson.
FileMaker Donations Solution Ships
FileMaker today announced that it is shipping FileMaker Donations, a fundraising and donor management application that helps charitable organizations and other non-profits manage a broad range of donar and fund raising information.
Iomega Plans 35GB Removable Storage In 2004
Apple Store Offers iTunes Music Store Gift Certificates
Apple's Country Manager Jack Tong Shakes Things Up In Taiwan
"Let's face it. We've got the goods. This is why I am excited about our Taiwan prospects. Apple used to occupy a niche market. We used to be a minority. That's about to change."
Zach And Wen Schieffelin: Thrill Ride
"You know, the Vespa has always been a symbol of freedom. You didn't have to be a mechanic, you didn't have to be a master of contemporary technology to use it. You just got on and drove it. And that same ease and elegance is what appelas to us in the Mac."
Opinion
In Some Cases, Openness May Be Moot Issue
Wherever the future takes us, one thing is certain: When it comes to digital content, there's no such thing as an open-and-shut case.
Apple And Microsoft: The Great Role Reversal
In its unaccustomed position as a majority player, is Apple being a good citizen?
Review
Time To Switch To Panther? Almost
Do I regret the upgrade so far? Nope. Would I switch back to Jaguar full time? No, but I do wish Apple would spend more effort getting critical tools like DiskWarrior ready on day one so I don't have to boot back into Jaguar to do regular disk maintenance.
Hands On With The Power Mac Dual 2GHz G
The Power Mac G5 has refocused attention on Apple as a viable option in the computer wars. IBM and Apple have done a great job, and users can take advantage of it right now.
7 Mac OS X System Utilities Compared
Power Mac Is Pretty On The Inside
With its spectacular performance, Apple could have built the G5 to look like an old milk crate and still have sold a few million of them.
Apple-Picking Time In PC Land
Macintosh network better with PCs than PCs do! That's my conclusion after junking my Windows laptop and getting an Apple PowerBook G4.
Burning Monkey Mahjong Solitaire
Freeverse has again taken a classic game and updated it just enough of their personality to give it a bit more life. There's nothing here to revolutionize the game, but it's Mahjong. It doesn't need to be revolutionized.
Sidetrack
HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED THE WORLD LATELY? : Things Other People Accomplished When They Were Your Age — boy, this is either going to inspire you, or it's going to seriously depress you. :-)
THE BROWSER ATTRACTION : There must be a law somewhere (along the line of "Murphy's Law") that states that no matter how hard you were working the whole morning, opening Word and Excel documents and such all over, the moment you take a break and surf the web, someone (probably your boss) will step into your cubicle/office to talk to you and find that you are not working. :-)
Wintel
Microsoft: Virtual PC Will Run Linux
"There has been some misunderstanding about this: You absolutely can run Linux in Virtual PC."
Microsoft Moves Into Chip World WIth Xbox
Microsoft will more actively participate in the design of the brains for the next version of its Xbox gaming console, tentatively called Xbox Next.
Microsoft Awaits Showdown In Europe
Microsoft faces a major showdown in Brussels this week when it gets a last chance to defend itself against European Union regulators' charges it abused its dominance of desktop computer operating systems.
Happy Birthday, Tablet PC
On the platform's first anniversary, it's worth gauging its technological progress, recalling its forerunners and evaluating its prospects.
Sunday, November 9, 2003
News
Pittsfield School Gets Laptops
Williams Elementary School recently became the city's first elementary school to purchase a mobile computer laboratory.
Va. Tech Creates Third-Fastest Computer
Apple Computer Vice President Greg Joswiak said the company is getting phone calls from other institutions interested in duplicating Big Mac's success.
Opinion
What's This Indifference To Apple?
Experts are raving about the new products. I've been praising them to anyone who will listen. But that's the problem. Apart from the few computer users who already know they have a choice, is anybody else listening?
Review
Switft 3D
With very few cons, Swift 3D is definitely a good value. If you have been using Swift 3D already, you wil find the upgrade to version 3 to be a no-brainer, especially if you are using OS X.
Sidetrack
WASTED OPPORTUNITY? : All these reviews of Panther in the newspaper have the standard Apple-supplied screenshot... should they at least create their own, with Safari opened to their home page?
I LIKE IT! : For reasons that I haven't thought through myself, I really like the new design of this blog, BWG — Adventures of a Big White Guy living in Hong Kong.
RUMOR DU JOUR : Look for Newton II in January, claims John Dvorak.
Wintel
Microsoft Unwilling To Budge On One-Price Policy
Plans by Asian governments to adopt open-source software will not affect Microsoft's policy of charging a single price worldwide, says a senior executive.
Saturday, November 8, 2003
News
iTunes Forces Windows Users To Choose
Apple's program renders Musicmatch's Jukebox unusable.
Pittsfield Elementary School Receives iBook
A group of Williams Elementary kindergarten students is the first to get its hands on the 12 Apple iBooks, which are part of the new mobile lab.
Roxio CEO Chris Gorog Tells TechNewsWorld 'We Will Take Market Share From Apple'
"We expect to be taking away market share from Apple on a weekly basis."
Microsoft Offers Windows Media Player 9 For OS X
"This new version of our player opens the world of Windows Media 9 content to Macintosh users, enabling them to access the best audio and video on the Web."
Opinion
Tools Will Make Or Break The Platform
Microsoft and Apple reach out for the serious developers they were about to lose.
Review
Reeling In What You Want From The Web
Many news sites have adopted RSS as an alternative or replacement for e-mail lists, or listservs, which are more and more frequently the victim of unintended spam filtering.
Panther Worth The Price For A Mac Upgrade
Panther is worth the upgrade price if you want to increase efficiency and take advantage of an array of new and improved tools, plus its increased speed and stability.
For Mac, PC Users, Wireless Is Way To Go
Choosing keyboards and mice is a personal thing — what feels comfortable to my fingers may not feel so good to yours. That said, I personally prefer the Microsoft keyboard for its size and spacing of keys and resting area for the heels of my hands. I also prefer the Microsoft mouse, mainly because my fingers want to manage more than one button.
Scripting Mac OS X
This tutorial strives to share tips for administrators who are relatively new to the platform (but there are some good tips for veterans too).
Panther On Slot-Loading iMacs And A 12" PowerBook
If you like some of the new features and have an extra $129 to spend, it's worth it. If you don't think any of the new features will benefit you, there's no point in spending your money. Go buy some more RAM instead.
Five Reasons Not To Buy An iPod
Six-plus hours of battery life is not always enough; Jogging with a hard drive-basd player is not cool; The iPod is expensive; You want to make high-quality digital recordings; You want a choice in online music stores.
Sidetrack
TALKING TO A REAL PERSON : Nicole Zeitzer cannot find the magic bullet to "bypass Dell, Apple, or IBM's automated voice menus." Can you help?
RUMOR DU JOUR : Napster for Mac?
Wintel
Can Microsoft Succeed With Tablet PC?
On the first anniversary of the release of the Windows XP Tablet PC operating system, the question remains whether Microsoft's latest pen computing platform can succeed where others have failed before.
More VUlnerabilities For Internet Explorer
This time, hackers have posted exploits that can insert malicious code onto systems running Microsoft's Web browser.
Microsoft Has No Plans To Change Tactics To Combat Linux Threat
It's not changing its plans 'one ounce' because of the Novell move.
Will Microsoft Wallop Friendster?
Rumors about Microsoft's Wallop have been greatly exaggerated, mostly due to the blogging community's inability to penetrate the site's invitation-only front door.
Security Flaws Rankle Microsoft
For the first time, it seemed, flaws in Microsoft's software were translating into flaws in the company's business model.
Friday, November 7, 2003
Top Stories
Filevault Headache Hits FCP
Apple advises users to "keep media and capture preferences outside of your home directory if you use FileVault and Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express".
Panther/FireWire Drive Problems: Apple's Statement; More Firmware Updates; LaCie Comments; Recommendations; More
Our reports on FireWire hard drive problems with Panther continue today with updated announcements from Apple, additional statements and firmware updates from drive vendors, comments and information from LaCie, and some more MacFixIt recommendations.
News
Apple To Open First Oregon Retail Store This Month
The Apple Store is located at the Washington Square shopping center.
Your 99c Belong To The RIAA — Steve Obs
So now we have it on record: the music store is a loss leader.
Apple Changes Tack On Channel
Apple has "fundamentally" changed its sales process, the way it deals with both the channel, and how it delivers products to market, says Apple's executive VP of worldwide sales and operations, Tim Cook.
Apple Corners Canada Schools Market
Apple now has almost half of Canada's education market, according to Apple's executive VP of worldwide sales and operations, Tim Cook.
Adobe: Use PCs Instead Of Macs, Round II
The Next Big Things
"Steve Jobs has come along and made it simple for us."
iPod Seen As Apple's Growth Engine
Move over Mac. iPod, Apple's slim digital music player, is the engine that will drive the company's future growth, company officials said yesterday.
Stalemate On Digital Content?
Incompatible anticopying technologies known as digital rights management (DRM) are being applied to everything from music files to Microsoft Word documents, and the lack of rules that can make these schemes work together is increasingly prompting calls for a standards revolution.
Panther Bug: Is It Really Dead?
The nasty hard-drive-eating bug in Panther has been resolved, according to Apple Computer. But some experts say poppycock — upgrading to the latest version of Mac OS X is like playing Russian roulette with your data.
McDonald's: No iTunes Deal To Announce
"There are no agreements to announce, so anything else is pure speculation."
Opinion
Looking For Mac Content? Try Reading Blogs
We now have a seemingly inexhaustible resource for more Mac information, blogs full of speculation, commentary, insider stuff and programming notes.
Apple Gets The Little Things Right
I'm not sure Apple products have made it to the "insanely great" standard set by CEO Steve Jobs, but they are very good. If you haven't checked out a Mac lately, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you see.
Apple's Glass Is More Than Half Full With .Mac
While I think it's great that many people are renewing, I think the bigger question will be how many of those 86-87% who renewed this year will renew next year if the support and services aren't beefed up.
Is It Possible To Make Money Developing OS X Applications
Yes, it's possible. But, before you start, here's some advice.
Is Apple's Quality Control Going Down The Tubes?
Sometimes, I feel Apple could try a little harder to get it right the first time. A few of those early product defects are a bit much.
Review
Panther Two Weeks Later
Make sure your FireWire 800 drive gets the latest firmware, stay clear of FileVault for now, and confirm that the drivers for your peripherals are compatible. You get past these simple requirements, and I have no qualms about recommending that you begin a belated celebration of the Night of the Panther.
First Impressions On iBook G4/933
So basically, this is a new design material wise.
Keynote 1.1: Worth The Price?
I found the appearance of the presentation so compelling that I felt as if the purchase price was justified.
Sidetrack
WHY THE WEBSITE "LOW END MAC" HASN'T BEEN UPDATED LATELY : Dan Knight tells why.
STILL NOT SURE WHETHER TO UPGRADE : Seems like Apple is not going to issue any patches for the Panther/FireWire problem, but is relying on third-party drive manufacturers to patch. And so far, I haven't hear anything from Maxtor, the disk where I use for backups and large (iMovie) files.
Panther is tempting — just the "Fast User Switching" feature alone is enough to justify the price — but now I am having my doubts.
I'll probably still go ahead, but will need to rethink my back-up strategy.
THOSE THREE LETTERS : Just when Apple goes full steam ahead with the idea of file extensions, Longhorn — the next version of Windows — has the capability to finally drop the idea of file extensions.
NEW TOY ALERT : For those who are (unfortunately) using Windows, here's a new toy for your playtime: Google Deskbar.
GROUP BY APPLICATIONS? HOW 1984 : Windows XP's "Group Similar Taskbar Buttons" is an interesting feature, except that what I wanted is a "Group by Projects" feature.
RUMORS DU JOUR : Yes, claims Mac Rumors, McDonald's is planning for some tunes giveaway.
And, yes, the Cube is finally returning.
Wintel
Virus Writers Dismiss Microsoft's Bounty Fund
Reward program is a marketing stunt that will have no deterrent effect.
Tablet PC Troubles — Fingers Point At Microsoft
One year after Microsoft launched its tablet PC operating system, sales have been disappointing, the choice of models is still poor, and software developers have no incentive to create specialist applications, according to a report by research firm Canalys.
Microsoft Ends Silence On Hotmail Domain SNAFU
"Microsoft has resolved this issue. We have put processes in place to ensure there is no recurrence of this eventuality."
Microsoft Settles Lawsuit With North Carolina
Under the settlement, North Carolina residents who bought Microsoft Windows, Office or standalone Word or Excel products between Dec. 9, 1995, and Dec. 31, 2002, can apply for vouchers that may be used to buy desktop or notebook computers, software or select peripherals from any manufacturer, Microsoft said in a statement Thursday.
Plan A For Microsoft
Is Microsoft's new version of Windows a radical innovation or a return to the company's winner-take-all software strategy from a decade ago?
Microsoft Forgets To Renew Hotmail.co.uk Domain
Gap In WIndows Lets In Pop-Ups, Says FTC
People with Microsoft Windows on their PCs should turn off a little-used feature that could allow unscrupulous marketers to bombard them with unwanted "pop-up" ads, U.S. regulators said Thursday.
Thursday, November 6, 2003
Top Stories
FireWire 400 Data Loss Culprit Remains A Mystery
"Apple is not going to convince users to 'switch' if they cannot safeguard their personal files."
Great Tunes, But Where's The Cover?
The question for Apple and other online music retailers is what a complete music experience will mean in a digital age.
Apple Says Could Move To Intel, But Happy With IBM
The latest version of the Mac OS X operating system could easily run on Intel chips, but Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs said on Wednesday that the company has little interest in changing processors.
Apple Eyes More Sales To Government, Business
Apple sales chief Tim Cook told financial analysts that the company last month launched a direct effort that's aimed at the creative market and government entities, with 70 Apple employees working in either field sales or telephone sales.
News
McDonald's Spins Billion-Song iTunes Giveaway
Less than a month after Pepsi announced a blockbuster deal to give away 100 million downloads from Apple's iTunes music service to its customers, McDonald's is close to a announcing a much bigger deal, The Post has learned.
Apple: iTunes Outsells Napster Five To One
What's more, Apple also said that market research firm Nielsen SoundScan registers the iTunes Music Store as having more than 80 percent of the legal download market last week.
Anti-Laptop Write-Ins Just Clicked
Superintendent Kathleen Macy said Tuesday night that the contract with Apple will be executed as planned. Kunze said it wouldn't make much sense to break it because it would probably cost the district a lot of money to do so.
Apple Release Backup 2 For .Mac Members
The new version brings the ability to back up to external hard drives and mounted volumes including FireWire hard drives, iPods, and network servers. Backup 2 also lets you make backup CDs and DVDs using external drives.
Finders Keepers
The faster Finder alone makes Panther worth the money.
Opinion
Sony To Offer $60 iPod? Not Likely
Sony hasn't said that its $60 music player will feature a high capacity hard drive as the iPod does — or is as compact as the Apple machine.
Sidetrack
DIFFERENT iBOOKS? : I just discover that you can add a Bluetooth module to the 12-inch iBook in the Apple Store in US, but you can't do so in the Apple Store in Singapore.
Why?
IS STEVE ONLINE? : Seems like Jimmy Buffett gets to chat with Steve Jobs via iChat AV.
THERE ARE THREE APPLICATIONS on my Windows XP machine that, often when I switch to them, a lot of disk activities go on while I have to wait for the window to redraw itself.
The applications are: Mozilla Firebird, Mozilla Thunderbird, and iTunes.
Similarity between them: all of them probably do not make use of Windows' native GUI controls.
Just a theory. When in Rome...
A STORY ON SONY'S ANNOUNCEMENT of upcoming products to rival iPod, as appears on local free newspaper Streats (sorry, no online version) have two pictures accompaning the story: the iPod, and Steve Jobs.
Is that great (free) advertisment for Apple, or what?
IMAGINATION GONE WILD : Here at Suntec City (where I work), there are two stores next to each other. One is a beauty salon for women, with a big poster right at the door advertising hair-removal service. The other is a hair care for men, with a big poster right at the door advertising their hair-regrowing products.
I can imagine a backdoor linking the two shops, and hair passing from one to the other. :-)
JUST ONE MORE THING : Steve Jobs' blog.
Wintel
'Critical' Patch Sent Out For Office Flaw
Microsoft issued the first major patch for the new version of its Office software, fixing a flaw that could result in lost work.
Microsoft To Release Virtual PC 2004 To Manufacturing Next Week
The desktop software, expected to be available within the next 90 days, will allow customers to run multiple versions of Windows on the same desktop, as well as Mac and Linux on virtual machines.
Experts, IT Managers Say Microsoft Should Forget Bounty, Focus On Security
Microsoft 's $5 million reward fund to catch virus and worm writers drew mixed reactions today from IT security managers and experts, some of whom would rather see the company use the money to improve Windows security than chase bad guys.
Will MS Bounty Cause Mutiny Among Hackers?
Security researchers disagree on the effect Microsoft's Anti-virus Reward Program will have on the underground world of virus writing.
HP To Introduce Desktop Blades
Hewlett-Packard will try to take the desktop off the desk later this month, when it formally unveils the Consolidated Client Infrastructure, its latest blade computing system for corporations.
Wednesday, November 5, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Needs More Than Skin-Deep Security
Mac OS X users should ask Apple to do no more than what other sellers of operating systems are doing: Keep the customer in the loop, not in the dark.
A Classroom Comeback For Apple?
While K-12 sales numbers are weak, reviving strength in laptops for students and in the college market could signal a broader recovery.
News
Laptop Foes Oust Three Incumbents Via Write-In Vote
A Stillwater area school district decision to provide laptops to junior high students apparently fueled a record number of write-in votes for the school board Tuesday and led to the defeat of three incumbents.
Poll: Half Twitchy Over Windows Ports
Despite the positive reception for Apple's iTunes for Windows, nearly half (43 per cent) of Macworld Online readers believe the company should not port any more software to Windows.
DivX For Mac 5.1 Released
Version 5.1 offers improvements in speed, performance, and visual quality.
Apple's iTunes Offers Alternative To Illegal Downloading Of Music
Music lovers too anxious to wait for Penn State's proposed music download service already have an alternative to illegal downloads.
G5 Cluster Secures Elite Spot For Apple, IBM
With some help from Virginia Tech, Apple has managed to join the ranks of the high-performance computing elite, as the "Big Mac" cluster is set to capture the title of the world's third fastest supercomputer.
Stomp: A Final Cut Pro Odyssey
"Using the Apple platform enabled us to run an amazing system."
Opinion
A Happier Hour At The Genius Bar
My Genius Bar experience was really pretty optimal, but as I watched others come and go, I realized that part of that was because I was well-prepared. If you're having hardware trouble and you're thinking of taking your machine in, here are some tips that might help.
Microsoft Could Never Get Away With What Apple Is Doing
So Apple is going to do the right thing. But why did the company take so long?
Same Old Song
The Net hasn't changed music — except maybe for the worse.
Review
Confessions Of A Partitioned Hard Drive User
I have some real decisions to make soon that will impact my workflow.
Panther/FireWire Drive Issue: More Firmware Updates; Public Statements, Frequently Asked Questions; More
"Case-Sensitive HFS" And The Risks Of Using It
Implementing a case-sensitive file system in OS X has some significant hurdles, the most compelling being that many current Mac OS applications that work with files will need to be updated to provide case-sensitivity themselves.
Panther Is A Special Breed Of Cat
The upgrade is pricey. Nonetheless, it takes something excellent, the previous revision, and makes it better.
Sidetrack
THERE'S NO SUCH DISH as Singapore Noodle in Singapore, especially one that is fried with curry powder. The closest we have is sinchew fried noodle, where sinchew is a generic chinese term referring to the Singapore-Malaysia region, and where there is no curry powder in the noodle.
We do have Hong Kong noodles though. And you can't find that dish in Hong Kong either.
iPOD AT US$60? I'm game. The question is, is it really the full iPod + iTunes experience, or is it just another MP3 player?
WE DON'T THINK SO : No, Apple is not trying to hinder third party software such as MusicMatch, according to a third party developer.
RUMOR DU JOUR : Microsoft's Xbox is moving to POWER5-based chips, a "sibling to PowerPC 980, or G6," reports Mac OS Rumors.
Wintel
Microsoft Sets 100M Target For Windows Phones And PDAs
The goal was set by Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer for the company's Windows Mobile unit and shows that Microsoft is serious about this market, said Douglas Dedo, marketing manager for Windows Mobile at Microsoft.
Reshaping Dell
Kevin Rollins, Dell's president, is one of the most powerful yet least-known personalities in the PC business.
Microsoft Puts Price On Virus Writers' Heads
Microsoft will announce on Wednesday that it will offer two $250,000 bounties for information that leads to the arrest of the people who released the MSBlast worm and the SoBig virus, CNET News.com has learned.
Intel Claims Breakthrough In Chip Making
Researchers for Intel say they have discovered a new material that they believe will permit them to overcome one of the most serious obstacles facing chip makers as they struggle to shrink computer chips to ever smaller dimensions.
Microsoft Delivers Rights Management Tool
Microsoft released software on Tuesday that will let workers restrict access to documents created with the company's Office software and other applications.
Appeals Court Ponders Microsoft Antitrust Suit
A federal appeals court on Tuesday returned once again to the long-running Microsoft antitrust case, which may be nearing an end after six years of high-profile injunctions, hearings and testimony.
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Top Stories
Red Hat: Stick With Windows At Home
Red Hat's chief executive has said that Linux needs to mature further before home users will get a positive experience from the operating system, saying they should choose Windows instead.
Apple Store Ginza To Open November 30
On November 30, 2003 at 10AM, the Apple Store Ginza will open in Tokyo to become Apple's 73rd retail store location, and its first located outside the United States.
News
Hecht's Department Stores Now Selling Ipod
Xcode Developer Tools Get Updated
1.0.1 addresses an issue in the Xcode IDE that could potentially lead to data corruption or the loss of files particularly when source files contain illegal characters.
REALbasic Gets Panther Support, New Features
Apple Releases New Panther Security Update
The update addresses a potential vulnerability with the Terminal application in Mac OS X 10.3 and Mac OS X Server 10.3 that could allow unauthorized access to a system.
Apple Launches 2003 Holiday Gift Guide
Apple has posted this year's Holiday Gift Guide, its annual collection of both Apple and third-party products that it recommends as gifts for Mac users for the holiday season.
A Brand New You
Apple's presentation of its brand as an attitude rather than a product advantage is an extension of the concept that advertising superstar David Ogilvy developed in the 1950s.
Bluetooth Shipments Exceed 1M Per Week
For the first time, total Bluetooth product shipments worldwide exceeded one million units per week, in 3rd quarter 2003, according to trackers.
Apple Pushing Media 'Core' For 3G Phones Here
A slice of Apple may be served up on your mobile phone as the California-based company is targeting the soon-to-emerge third-generation (3G) phone market in Singapore. Apple is banking on the simplicity of use of its 'core' or flagship media player, QuickTime, to make this happen.
Will Mac OS X 'Panther' Help Or Hobble Small Developers?
"There's plenty of opportunity for a motivated developer to produce a product." However, any developer hoping to come up with the sole solution in a product niche will be "invariably disappointed."
4,000 Greet Cleveland Apple Store Opening
Adding Style To Substance
It used to be that only high-end companies such as Apple or Sony cared about industrial design — the distinctive look and feel of their products. But in an age when hardware has become a commodity, many more tech companies are coming to realize that aesthetics matter.
Musicmatch Tries To Stay Plugged Into iPod
On Monday, Musicmatch sent an e-mail to its customers letting them know that, despite the arrival of Apple's iTunes for Windows, customers can still use its jukebox program to connect to Apple's iPod. However, the message warns them that if they install iTunes, Musicmatch's connection to the iPod will be severed.
Burton Announces New iPod Gear
Burton Snowboards today introduced a new line of products with built-in iPod controls, including a new backpack and three new jackets.
Opinion
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Apple, Intel, and Microsoft gear up for technology's season of plenty.
Review
Addressing Apple's Keynote
Depending on how you normally present your slides and what other software you've already got on your Mac, Keynote could be the presentation tool you've been waiting for all your life. Either that, or you'll find yourself feeling somewhat frustrated at the overly simple drawing tools and the lack of more advanced layout, animation and slide interaction tools.
Extensis Pxl SmartScale V.1
If you need to expand your images to very large sizes for printing, pxl SmartScale is a wise way to do it.
Apple's Bluetooth Keyboard V. MacAlly's NetKey Keyboard
Apple's keyboard is the winner, but not by a lot. The MacAlly keyboard really falls short without the regular arrow keys, and the scroll wheel isn't terribly useful.
'Greatest OS Ever Invented'
This operating system is (mostly) terrific.
Sidetrack
WILD SPECULATIONS : Microsoft is going to use IBM's PowerPC chip for its next version of the Xbox.
Two possibly wild speculation:
1. The Xbox will drive down the cost of PowerPC chip, benefiting Apple.
2. Microsoft's acqusition of Virtual PC from Connectix will help them achieve backward compatibility with the current Xbox, which runs on an Intel chip. And Microsoft may be motivated to keep Virtual PC for Mac alive.
Update: This Wired News article seems to indicate that Microsoft is indeed using Virtual PC to achieve backward compatibility.
RUMOR DU JOUR : According to Think Secret, "Apple raised the bar Monday for some 175 independent retailers to stay as Specialist dealers and achieve certain discounts on products and equipment."
So, don't be surprise if your Apple resellers try to upsell you more vigourously the next time you visit them.
Wintel
Microsoft Xbox To Use PowerPC Chip
In a statement issued by Microsoft on Monday, the company said that Microsoft had licensed "leading edge semiconductor processor technology" from IBM, to be used in the next-generation Xbox. Sources close to IBM subsequently identified the chip as a PowerPC, but declined to state which chip will be used in the console.
Microsoft Handhelds Find Their Voice
Microsoft on Monday added voice controls to software for Pocket PC devices that use its Windows Mobile package.
Should You Buy A TV From A PC Maker?
Dell and Gateway may be able to offer more-sophisticated products at a lower price.
AMD Claims Microsoft Delays Are Not 'Substantial'
Waiting for Microsoft must be painful for AMD.
Intel Launches Pentium 4 For Gaming PCs
'Extreme Edition' improves performance.
Itanium Software Upgrade Hits Bump
A software package that lets Intel's Itanium processors run programs that are tailored to more mainstream Pentium and Xeon chips has had its launch date bumped back from this year.
Microsoft Antitrust Pact Bounces Back To Court
Attorneys for Microsoft head back to federal court on Tuesday to defend a landmark antitrust settlement from a last-ditch challenge from the Massachusetts attorney general and other critics.
Monday, November 3, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Official Weighs In On 15-In. PowerBook Problem, Laptop Successes
Dave Russell, director of product marketing for portables and wireless at Apple, said late last week that the company is aware of the white blemishes on some new 15-in. screens, but hasn't yet "captured" enough of the computers to figure out why the spots are appearing.
'Bundle iTunes', Apple Exec Urges PC Makers
Apple's applications marketing chief Peter Lowe has urged PC manufacturers to bundle iTunes for Windows with off-the-shelf PCs.
OS X Insecure — How Do You Like 'Dem Apples?
Say what you want about how great OS X is, but Apple dropped the ball when it found out there were vulnerabilities in its flagship operating system. It didn't release a patch when the issues became public, didn't ask the company that found the flaws, @Stake, for any time to produce a free fix, and has resorted to spin to save itself further embarrassment.
News
iTunes Offers Legal 'Sharing'
Yalies have rushed to download the iTunes music player and iTMS since it became available to Windows users two weeks ago. Many Yalies said they use it mainly to "share" others' music, not to buy songs from the iTMS.
FileVault Problems Continue Apple's OS Woes
FileVault is suspected of resetting or destroying the data for Safari, Address Book, the Dock, Mail and the Keychain, among others.
Apple Vendor Will Move To PC Sales
Apple retailer NextByte is planning to sell its own brand of PCs in the first of what it hopes will be a national chain of Windows-compatible outlets.
Digital Music Biz Faces Hurdles In Europe
Apple's success with its digital download store in the U.S. is irrefutably sweet, but the European market could prove to be bitter fruit.
PC Sales May Be Coming Out Of Doldrums
The numbers are encouraging to a sector that has been languishing for the past three years, battered by the dot-bomb, a flagging economy and a mountainous inventory of used equipment that sold at auction for far less than even the cheapest new computers.
Fink 0.61 Brings Panther Compatibility
Microsoft Moves Virtual PC From Linux
When Microsoft Corp. launches Virtual PC 2004, a Linux version of the software won't be along for the ride — at least not officially.
For Many, It's Still No Sale
Many industry observers say the new services will provide little lift for the beleaguered record business. In fact, they say, the pay services will only steer more people toward the freebies.
Digital Singles Close To Eclipsing Hard Copies
Digital tracks are outselling physical singles by a growing margin, a sign that consumers increasingly are embracing the brave new world of Internet downloading.
Opinion
Paying For Fewer Features
There are some new features, but the important improvements are subtle and all over the place. The end result is that the system just feels better.
Mac.Ars Takes On Apple's Quality Control
Apple is in a stronger position than it has been in some time. Capitalizing on its position and growing its market share both in the home and corporate spaces requires an increased commitment to quality.
Apple's Bad Hair Day
Let's not point fingers of blame at this point, except to point out that hard drives are a fragile lot. And you see now how easy it is for something to go awry.
Review
Huevos And iSeek
Huevos and iSeek are both solid, easy-to-use utilities, and I recommend them for most users.
An Early Eval Of Apple's Mac OS X 10.3
Will Panther tempt Linux users? Sure! But I don't think there will be widespread defections, given the price points of the Apple hardware required to run it.
Sidetrack
FLYING iPOD : Why iPods die at high altitude.
AN APPLE A DAY : Keep track of the news, via Watchster.
AN APPLE A DAY : The premiere of Matrix Revolutions, at Sydney Opera House, in QuickTime VR.
DEAR DIARY is one of my favorite columns in New York Times, and the latest proved to be a very good read again.
Wintel
SQL Server On A Non MS Platform? Never!
Gordon Mangione, corporate vice president, SQL Server Team, made a strong and clear statement that SQL Server would never be ported to other environments, when he addressed developers last week at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles.
How Intuit Bested Microsoft
What "Inside Intuit" offers is a straightforward, if not dramatic, portrait of a company in a constant state of crisis or change that accompany shifts in the software industry, software bugs, new products, acquisition decisions (good and bad) and changes in top management.
Sunday, November 2, 2003
News
Apple Store Opening In Skokie, IL Next Week
Stillwater Schools' Laptop Plan Becomes Hot Election Issue
An agreement with Apple to supply every teacher and student in Oak-Land Junior High School with a laptop computer has become the most divisive issue in this fall's school board election campaign — attracting several write-in candidates.
Opinion
Have Micropayments Arrived For Real?
Maybe this time, as the Net matures, it's genuinely worth a try.
Review
Apple's Panther OS Makes Upgrading Worthwhile
This release preserves the things that make Mac OS X worthwhile, and it has a Christmas list of new features.
The Apple Alternative
This relative security exists because OS X is a harder target. Apple has worked to make it secure out of the box, even if that means some features take extra work to activate.
Wintel
EC In Fresh Microsoft Action
Microsoft's regulatory problems in Europe grew last night after the European commission began investigating fresh allegations that the firm is abusing its dominant position.
Saturday, November 1, 2003
Top Stories
Apple Will Fix Security Flaws In Jaguar
"Apple's policy is to quickly address significantly vulnerabilities in past releases of Mac OS X whenever feasible. he shipment of Panther does not change this policy."
News
From Keynotes To Congregation: The Real Mac OS X Conference
As a conference attendee, you never really know what to expect when you attend something as new as the O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference. This was only the second year for this fledging event, designed for serious OS X geeks.
Gregg Zinn: A Digital Da Vinci
"You could do this using a workstation with software that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. I was able to achieve very similar results with Final Cut Pro."
Review
FireWire 800 Drives With Oxford 922: Apple Statement; LaCie, WiebeTech, OWC Updates; Oxford Statement; Taking Precautions
The Encyclopedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite 2004
The big advantage of a resource like this is that you have an incredible amount of information at you fingertips. You'll enjoy it more if you have a faster Mac, but it's pretty impressive on any machine.
Sidetrack
MY IMPRESSION : Seeing that I will not be installing Panther until quite a while — partly due to the FireWire issue, even though I only have an old Maxtor FireWire 400 drive, and partly due to my lack of free time — I went ahead and insalled 10.2.8.
You know what, it does really feel faster and more responsive. Which means that I really can't wait for Panther.
Wintel
Longhorn Backs Thick Client Model
Call it the revenge of the Windows client — or the revelation of Microsoft's three new technology pillars.