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.