Saturday, January 31, 2004
News
TuneRecycler Takes Unwanted Winning iTunes/Pepsi Codes
Downhill Battle will use it to take some of the unwanted winning codes from among the 100 million being given away and use them to buy "quality music from honest independent labels," according to group member Holmes Wilson.
Apple Updates Final Cut Express
Apple Kicks Off "Better Together" Promo With Epson
"Better Together" is the name of Apple's new promotion with Epson that enables new Mac buyers to get an Epson printer for free.
Will Nemo Find An iPod?
Now that Pixar and Walt Disney have gone their separate ways, does it make sense for Apple to buy Pixar?
Opinion
The Mac As An Entertainment Server
What does a digital hub really mean?
Review
Law & Order: Dead On The Money
Unless you're a fan of the show or if you've got Sherlock Holmes or Perry Mason's DNA, it'll probably be more frustrating than entertaining.
Sidetrack
WE'RE WAITING : "Sounds like someone [in Apple] needs to get an (i)Life," remarked Robert X. Cringely© on Apple's attempt to delete posting on how to hack iLife.
Wintel
Dutch Judge Blocks Lindows Over Trademark Issue
Linux seller Lindows has lost the first of several trademark challenges by Microsoft.
Friday, January 30, 2004
Top Stories
The Mac Lovers Of Microsoft
People sometimes stare when Microsoft Corp. executive Tim McDonough opens his laptop in meetings. But that's probably to be expected when someone uses a Mac PowerBook in the center of the Windows world.
News
'Rings' Digital Dailies Circled Globe Via iPod
During the making of the "Rings" trilogy, Jackson and his Wellington, New Zealand-based Weta Digital crew upped the ante on Apple's innovative iPod storage technology.
Arlington Schools Debate Switch From Mac To PC
The Arlington Public Schools are looking at making the switch from using mostly Macintoshes to personal computers, but teachers say they have been left out of the decision-making process and want to keep their computers.
Pixar Says 'So Long' To Disney
Pixar Animation Studios ends talks with Disney aimed at striking a new deal. The Finding Nemo co-producer wants ownership over future movies, while Disney execs say the new agreement wouldn't make financial sense.
Opinion
OS X Without Tears
No one likes migrating to a new operating system, even if it is OS X.
Paying For Style
People pay for expressing themselves personally through style.
Freshening The Rotten Apple
There's precious little that makes me more annoyed than a company that miraculously decides to do right by its customers just after enough of those customers express interest in a class-action lawsuit against it.
Wintel
Gateway Makes Bid For Rival eMachines
Gateway plans to acquire rival eMachines in a bid to regain its footing in the PC game and broaden the distribution of its Gateway-branded consumer electronics devices at retail.
Microsoft Says U.S. Govt May Cancel Eolas Patent
Microsoft said on Thursday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may come to its rescue and cancel a patent that could force the world's biggest software company to rejig its most popular product.
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Top Stories
Apple Launches iBook Logic Board Repair Program
The iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program is a worldwide program covering repair or replacement of the logic board in specific iBook models manufactured between May 2002 and April 2003.
News
Some PowerBooks, iBooks Exhibit USB 2.0 Port Problems
Jef Raskin, Macintosh Inventor, Looks To The Future Of Computing
Opinion
Apple's iPod Culture: Call It Rock Of All Ages
Despite generation gap, a pair of users enjoy comparing notes.
Having Bitten The Forbidden Fruit, It Bit Me Back, Six Times
Two years ago I was smitten with OS X and the easy wireless connectivity that iBooks could give me. Two years later I'm abandoning OS X and Apple.
XGrid Or The Future Of Computing
Imagine for a second what can be done in universities or companies in which dozens — if not hundreds — of Macs stay idle at night, during lunch breaks or holidays!
Review
Burning Monkey Casino
Simple casino games like Blackjack, Video Poker, and Slots by themselves usually don't impress me much, and they can get rather tedious if played for too long. But Freeverse's quirky sense of humor and lively presentation are a big plus here.
iPhoto 4
iPhoto 4 is a darned good step forward. If you've been disappointed with iPhoto in the past, it may be time to give it another try.
Getting The Most Out Of Classicial Music With iTunes And The iPod
Wintel
Study: Small Businesses Wary Of Microsoft
Many small and midsize companies harbor some level of trepidation regarding how dependent they have become on Microsoft software, according to a survey.
Microsoft To Change IE Behavior To Block Spoofing Attacks
Microsoft Corp. has announced in a support document that it will be releasing a software update to Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer to disable the use of certain syntax in HTTP URLs.
New Explorer Hole Could Be Devastating
Browser users could be fooled into downloading executable files.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Top Stories
Pod People
Ethics, pricing and availability aside, students are reveling in the usefulness of their iPods.
Apple Signs Mysteriously Return To Store
Who swiped the Apple logo signs that once crowned the Elite Computers and Software store in Cupertino? The answer might cause red faces at a certain company whose name starts with "Apple"' and ends with "Computer."
News
FBI Agent: 'Macs Running Mac OS X Can Do Just About Anything'
'From KFO To iPod' In Less Than 48 Hours
Five songs from the show are available for purchase, allowing consumers to download the live recording from iTunes to their Macs or Windows-based PCs and iPods.
iTunes-Compatible AAC Music Store Launches
Nupha has announced the launch of its international, cross-platform digital music store.
Wednesdays Are 'Pro Days' At Apple Stores
"Every Wednesday, we open an hour early to offer free special presentations and demonstrations to help business professionals learn about all the latest technologies."
Apple's '1984' Super Bowl Commercial Still Stands As Watershed Event
Poll: Most Happy With iPod Battery
The Dawn Of The iGrill, The iPhone And The iScooter
The very fact that people argued over its shape and colour (and drink-holder suitability) was a defining characteristic of the iMac's revolutionary success.
Analyst: Apple Supercomputer No Stand-In For Strategy
Apple's goal is to be recognized as a bona fide supplier to the enterprise, but Forrester analyst Frank Gillet says the firm can only be a niche player. Its user-friendly marketing strategy rings hollow to many I.T. professionals who are focused on two dominant systems: Linux and Windows.
Opinion
Everyman's Supercomputer
The great strength of universities is to show what is possible through proof-of-principle experiments and inventions. Machines like Virginia Tech X fall squarely into this category.
Raging Against The Machine
In its '1984' commercial, Apple suggested that its computers would smash Big Brother. But technology gave him more control.
Review
Garage Daze
GarageBand is music synthesis for the rest of us.
Sidetrack
FACTS OF LIFE : "As soon as a man says, 'I do,' he loses 50 percent of his hearing."
Wintel
Micerosoft 'Supports' Chinese Internet Crackdown
Human rights group Amnesty International has attacked Microsoft and other computer giants for selling technology which allows Chinese authorities to control and monitor the internet, leading to a huge rise in the number of people detained for using the web.
XP Hole Could Compromise System
A hole has been discovered in Windows XP Professional and Home Edition that could compromise a network and be used to get into protected areas.
Microsoft Shines More Light On Longhorn
As Microsoft prepares developers and independent software vendors for Longhorn, the next version of its Windows operating system, the company wants to wean them off older Windows programming models.
Windows Sequel Gets Set To Entertain
Microsoft plans to start testing a new version of its Windows XP Media Center edition, a customized operating system designed for entertainment-oriented PCs.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Top Stories
A Very Personal Computer
Not too many 20-year-olds can say they changed the world, but the Bay Area-born Macintosh personal computer was revolutionary from the time it first blinked from its tiny 9-inch screen.
News
Gates: Windows 'By Far The Most Secure' System; Tries To Use 'Mac OS X Secure Through Obscurity' Myth
Bare Bones Offers BBEdit Maintenance Update
'Steer Clear Of Apple,' Urges Napster Boss
Virgina Tech To Upgrade Supercomputer To Xserve
By moving to the thinner servers, the supercomputer will consume less power and generate less heat, said Srinidhi Varadarajan, assistant professor of computer science, college of engineering, at Virginia Tech.
The Mac At 20: An Interview With Bruce Horn
Let me introduce you to another member of the original Macintosh team, Bruce Horn, who was responsible for a number of the key aspects of the Mac and who has continued to write innovative code.
Apple Releases AirPort 3.3 With WPA Support
Provides "support for the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) specification for the AirPort Extreme base station and AirPort Extreme and AirPort clients.
Mac OS X Lawsuit Deal Gets Final Approval
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Monday gave final approval for the class-action settlement that will allow some Mac OS X owners to get a refund for the operating system.
Opinion
Which Format Will Win?
Apple will have to be innovative if it doesn't want to be marginalized once again.
Mac.Ars Takes On The iPod Mini
Will Apple's pricing and strategy be successful?
Why No Love For Apple?
Apple gave up on the mass market in the 1980s, even before John sculley joined.
Review
Apple Program Can Turn Anyone Into A Musician
You think video games are addicting? Try Apple's new $49 music composition program, GarageBand.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
If you consider yourself a FPS gamer, you must buy this title.
Wintel
'Negative Decision' Against Microsoft In Antitrust Case
Press reports indicated that European antitrust regulators were moving ahead with plans to require Microsoft to separate its digital media-playing software from its ubiquitous Windows operating system.
Antitrust Ruling Near For Microsoft In Europe
Antitrust officials at the European Commission have drafted a final ruling in their six-year case against Microsoft, people close to the commission said on Monday.
Microsoft Launches Search Toolbar
Toolbar provides shortcuts to MSN services.
Monday, January 26, 2004
Top Stories
OK, Mac, Make A Wish
Apple's 'computer for the rest of us' is, insanely, 20.
News
Apple Opening Windows To Change
20 years after rolling out Mac, rebel firm moves toward mainstream.
Scott Barrows: Biomedical Visualization
"Our profession is overwhelmingly Macintosh. It's just so much easier to use. It's more dependable. It's more intuitive. It's faster and it's just more elegant."
Jim Swaffield: Creating A DVD For Wyclef Jean
"This DVD is a comprehensive demonstration of Apple's pro capabilities and workflow from start to finish."
Apple Releases January Security Update
Apple Is TV And Film Computer Product Placement Of Choice
It seems like you can't turn on the television without seeing an Apple computer.
FWB Source Code Available For Sale On eBay
Apple At 20
A fan club... for computers?
iPod 'Threatens Marriages'
The iPod is being blamed for causing rifts in relationships with a new breed of "iPod Widows" emerging.
Apple To Open New Florida Store In The Adventura Mall
The store is located in the Aventura Mall on the second floor across from the food court.
GarageBand Lures 'Em At NAMM
One of the hottest items at last weekend's NAMM conference (National Association of Music Merchants) in Anaheim, California, was GarageBand, the newest addition to Apple's iLife suite of tools.
Hundreds Line Up For Tucson Apple Store Opening
The first person got in line at midnight, said Christina Sanchez, the store's manager.
Opinion
The Revolution At 20; Save The Trip Down Memory Lane, Apple — Keep Looking Ahead
Microsoft's Attention Defecit Disorder & The Music Industry
With the iTunes music store I have variety, I have simplicity, I have speed, and I have a player that ties it all together. I don't care about the other 40 or 100 or 500 music players out there.
Apple Of My Eye
The appearance of the Mac 20 years ago wasn't an evolutionary advance, it was a macro-mutational leap.
Mac At 20 — Bringing It All Back Home
Apple watchers of all stripes have good reason to celebrate the Mac's anniversary — and applaud Apple's focus on its core values.
Apple's Overlooked Upside
All told, though, the Street might be missing the forest for the trees in Apple's latest numbers, and lots of green could shake loose if Jobs & Co. realize even a little bit of the upside that investors seem to have overlooked in the earnings report.
Review
Apple iPod Mini
Try as we might, we just can't see the appeal of the iPod mini.
Sidetrack
THE PEOPLE AND THE TIME : Folklore.org presents anecdotes about the development of Apple's original Macintoshc omputer, and the people who created it.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Top Stories
Steve Jobs On The Mac's 20th Anniversary
"I think we're leading the industry and we're having a good time."
News
Steve Jobs: "It Feels Good"
Apple's chief talks about its rapid rise to the top of the digital music biz, Pixar, and what tunes he's listening to today.
Apple Embracing Big Brother
Apple's recent moves, though perhaps painful to some Mac aficionados, are earning it profits and accolades on Wall Street.
Show Time!
Just as the Mac revolutionized computing, Apple is changing the world of online music. If Steve Jobs plays his cards right this time, Apple could end up with a big chunk of the digital-entertainment market.
Apple's Core: The Mac Turns 20
Despite Microsoft's dominance, Apple fans remain loyal.
The Machine That Changed The World
"It has made millions of people happy and lasted 20 years."
After 20 Years, Apple Adjusts
New direction could, finally, be key to market share.
Opinion
Communication, Control And Collaboration (The Mac's Next Decade)
Happy 20th Anniversary Mac
"After twenty years, I think it's safe to say it's true love."
Review
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
iLife Bundles Sophisticated Tools For Manipulating Digital Media
Panther: A Look At Mac On Its 20th Birthday
While it may not be the only choice for many types of deployments, it certainly is hard to imagine how you would go wrong with it. The big black cat means business.
Sidetrack
Wintel
Microsoft Justifies Its XML Patent Moves
Redmond claims its decisions to open its XML schemas, while seeking patents for elements of its XML implementations, are not as contradictory as they appear.
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Top Stories
The Measure Of Apple's Success
Steve Jobs says analysts should stop worrying about market share and focus on profits. And moving beyond Macs could boost both.
News
Apple's iTunes European Debut Held Up By Red Tape
Old-fashionsed red tape is delaying the eagerly awaited European launch of Apple's Internet music store iTunes, a company official said on Saturday.
iPod Row: MPs Rush To Apple's Aid
Apple has certainly got friends in high places — rather than criticise its iPod battery policy we should apparently be hailing the 'revolutionary impact' it has made, MPs now say.
The Macintosh Turns 20
You could argue that every PC is a Macintosh, because of the similarity of Windows to the original Mac OS.
Tiny iPod Is Top Of The Pops
It is this year's must-have gadget, topping hottest product lists in the developed world.
The Mac Turns 20
From 'insanely great' to 'think different,' what has Apple taught — and learned?
Opinion
Bluetooth Phones And iSync Woes
The Version Problem
Still, it would be nice if you could download Safari 1.1 without buying and installing a new operating system.
Apple's Mouth Says 'No' To The Enterprise, Yet All Signs Point To 'Yes'
The truth is, Apple cannot survive by just feeding off its installed base, and the company knows it.
Review
BYOB: Build Your Own Browser
WebKit gives developers the ability to make their applications much more powerful with very little added effort.
New iPod Mini Pricey; Rivals Ready To Rock
Wide-Screen Desktop Bliss
This is one sexy piece of Mac hardware.
GoLive CS
Changes make it more intertwined with the Adobe family.
InDesign CS
A very worthwhile upgrade.
Wintel
Microsoft Settles With Teen Over Web Site
In the end, it paid to be Mike Rowe.
Microsoft To Change Protocol Licensing
Microsoft, under pressure from antitrust regulators, plans to revamp a program that lets developers gain access to Windows protocols.
Judge Satisfied With Microsoft's Antitrust Case Compliance
A federal judge said yesterday that she was generally satisfied with Microsoft's efforts to comply with the settlement terms in the government's antitrust case, after the company announced steps to make it easier for outside companies to license its technology.
Friday, January 23, 2004
Top Stories
iPod May Define New Era Of Open Strategy
The company has long held the philosophy that its software and hardware should be tied almost exclusively to the Macintosh computer for both quality and profit. But it is developing and marketing the iPod with uncharacteristic openness to work with Microsoft's Windows software and other technologies.
News
Pepsi Ads Wink At Music Downloading
A new sort of Pepsi Generation will get air time on the Super Bowl: music downloaders.
Apple 'Will Drive Consumer Music-Making'
Apple's recent audio related announcements are "very welcome" and are likely to encourage "increased growth at the consumer end of the market", according to Emagic UK distributor Sound Technology's managing director, David Marshall.
Pepsi/iTunes Super Bowl Ad To Feature Teens Sued By RIAA
MPs Batter Apple Over iPod Batteries
The iPod's limited battery life has already caused Apple some grief. Now a collection of British politicians are putting the boot in, but Apple says their claims are inaccurate.
Now Playing On Your iPod, Words You'll Never Forget
Most iPod owners use the device mainly for entertainment. With an accessory from Griffin Technology called iTalk, however, the music player can also be put to work as a voice recorder.
Apple Bytes: The Mac At 20
Memorable beginning, lasting influence.
Apple's Groundbreaking Computer Marks 20th Anniversary
Today, as Apple celebrates another 20-year milestone, the Cupertino, Calif., company has come full circle, with regular profits, the leading online music store and player, and piles of cash on hand.
Apple Director Chris Bell On Why iTunes Rocks
Chris Bell, director of product marketing for iTunes, talked with the E-Commerce Times about how Apple has always paid attention to music — and why it always will.
Easy Elegance
After 20 years of shrinking market share, but fierce loyalty, the little computer "for the rest of us" remains a friendly, inviting machine.
Apple Sows G5 Seeds Into Server Market
"Mac OS X's value proposition from a management standpoint is very significant."
Apple: In Pursuit Of The ENterprise Customer
We caught up with senior consulting engineer Tom Weyer, who is one of the company's top resources in the enterprise-gear arena.
'Apple Confidential 2.0' Released
No Starch Press has announced the release of the second edition of journalist Owen W. Linzmayer's best-selling "Apple Confidential" book.
Opinion
What Will Become Of Apple In The Next 20 Years?
Jobs is placing his bets that Apple can win the hearts and minds of digital media and Internet consumers. If he is serious about serving up enterprise-class solutions beyond digital media, he should consider finding partners who are willing to do the heavy lifting.
Tales From The Dark Side
Apple's recent surge in education sales notwithstanding, the Macintosh is still considered barely a computer at my school.
As The Mac Turns 20, Has The PC Caught Up?
Twenty years on then, it looks as though the PC has finally grown up: the Mac was simply born mature.
Review
Adobe Photoshop CS: Speedy, Comprehensive New Tools Boost Productivity And Image Quality
Photoshop CS is an awesome upgrade for every type of Photoshop user. Its slick, user-friendly new features make a huge difference in both productivity and image quality. This version is too good to pass up.
Adobe InDesign CS: Publishing Program Poised To Topple QuarkXPress
XPress's unique strengths have dwindled to a few little-used functions, and InDesign CS is the program that will relegate QuarkXPress to PageMaker's status of a decade ago.
Adobe Illustrator CS: New Version Focuses On Typography, Gets Cool 3-D Features
Though it doesn't support a lot of new drawing tools, Illustrator CS's wealth of new typography and text-formatting controls makes this upgrade a no-brainer. In this upgrade, you'll get a few new drawing tools and improvements, and nice 3-D features.
Adobe GoLive CS: Print-Savvy Web-Authoring Tool Stumbles With Complex Interface, Flawed Support
If you depend on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign documents to fill your Web pages, GoLive CS is an invaluable tool for accelerating the Web-development process. But while the program offers many advanced features for building and managing Web sites, its lackluster support for current CSS techniques and its sometimes complex and overwhelming interface are serious drawbacks.
Suitcase X1: Font Manager Gains Speed And Better Activation Features
Aside from the dangers of accidental system-font deactivation, Suitcase X1 is a pain-free way to keep your fonts in line.
Photo Printers: Strong Contenders In Latest Batch Score High On Detail And Color
Canvas 9 Professional Edition: Multifaceted Illustration Program Has New Technical Features
While Canvas is an excellent technical-illustration program, we wouldn't recommend it over a full-blown CAD program; it just doesn't have all the tools an architect or an engineer needs in order to create technical drawings. However, if you want technical- and graphic-design capabilities without extreme specialization in one package, Canvas is your best bet.
Revolution 2.1: Development Tool Breathes New Life Into Old Card Game
Revolution 2.1 is a real accomplishment: once again, we have a development environment for both newbie programmers and experienced consultants who need to get working apps quickly into the hands of clients. Just don't imagine that you'll be able to build the ambitious programs you can turn out with RealBasic and Xcode.
Photo Edit 1.3: Low-Priced Image Editor Is Underpowered
As an image editor — even as an adjunct to iPhoto — PhotoEdit 1.3 comes up short in several important ways.
The 19th Annual Editors' Choice Awards
The best Mac hardware and software.
Five Things The Next iPod Software Version Needs To Have
Here's five things Apple could put in the next update to the iPod's software that would make it a music power tool.
Sidetrack
APPLE AT BOSTON EXPO? : No change in hell, rumors Think Seceret.
Wintel
Microsoft's Revenue For Quarter Gains As Profit Declines
While sales were unusally strong, Microsoft's profit declined in the quarter because of a significant charge for stock-based compensation for employees.
Microsoft Wants Trial Moved, Questions RealNetworks' Venue Motive
Microsoft alleged that RealNetworks chose San Jose as the venue because it believed it would get a more favorable jury there.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Top Stories
Apple Plays 32-Processor War Games
G5 Xserves and Xserve RAIDs [are] now available for budget-challenged, computation-intensive situations.
Maine iBook Progam To Be Extended To High Schools
Calling the original US$37 million laptop program a success, Baldacci proposed expanding it from all public middle schools to all Maine high schools, starting next year with high school freshmen.
News
Microsoft Predicts Mac Renaissance
Microsoft's group marketing manager for home and retail products, Jonathan Hulse, said: "We anticipate a growth in Mac sales over the next two to three years."
.Mac Members Get Keynote Discount, Free Themes
Apple's latest promotion for members of its .Mac subscription-based online service rewards them with US$30 off Keynote, the presentation software, as well as seven free themes from third-party designers valued at $100.
Opinion
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
News
Microsoft's Office XML Lags On Mac
Without better XML support companies with mixed Macintosh and PC desktops could be faced with the choice of not adopting the XML features or limiting them to Windows desktops only.
iTunes Under Net Patent Threat
E-Data, a company that claims a patent covering music downloads, has secured a global agreement with digital music providers — and may already have moved to enforce its patent against Apple.
AppleCare Opinions Divided
"Prior to December is was a breeze. Now customers are telling us they have been kept on hold for over an hour."
IMSI Acquires Aladdin Systems For $8 Million
Laptop Initiative Lets Students Learn Online
The laptops will allow students Internet access anywhere on school grounds without using a phone line.
Apple Store Opening In Aventura, FL On Jan. 31
The new Apple Store, located at the Aventura Mall, will be Florida's sixth.
Opinion
Apple 's iTunes Might Not Be Only Answer To Ending Piracy
Why, in this era of eBay, is all music priced the same?
Apple Delivered
Dell may have the hype and PR. But Apple delivered.
FUD On Your Apple Opinions
The commentary denigrates the achievement of Virginia Tech, its staff and its volunteers.
Review
Puting On The iMac Inches
While bigger screens aren't always better on notebook computers, they sure are when it comes to desktops.
Command-Tabbing Across The Universe
The application switcher in Panther is simple yet quite powerful.
How To Set Up Encrypted Mail On Mac OS X
Apple just added support for S/MIME in the latest Mail version, the one that ships with Panther.
Linux On Mac: A POWER Programmer's Primer
Your favorite operating system isn't only for x86.
Wintel
Slammer: One Year Later
Watershed worm spurred policy changes for enterprise security.
Microsoft: We Took MikeRoweSoft Too Seriously
Microsoft says it may have been overaggressive in threatening Web entrepreneur Mike Rowe over the name of his Web site, Mikerowesoft.com.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Top Stories
Mac Vs. Microsoft: The Musical
Will other PC manufacturers follow in HP's footsteps? Only time will tell.
News
SightSpeed Adds Videoconferencing To Mac, Linux
SightSpeed Video Messenger 2.0 gains support for Mac OS X 10.3, with support for Linux expected to follow in the next few weeks.
Groupcal Helps Integrate iCal, Exchange Server
DVD Setback For GarageBand Punters
Mac users without a DVD-capable Mac are locked out of the new music revolution Apple is leading in 2004, its 'year of song'.
Safari Usage Nearly Doubled Since July 2003
Pepsi-iTunes Promotion: 'More Than Pop'
Apple Clarifies Logic At NAMM
Generally, Logic Express 6 can be described as a somewhat stripped-down version of Logic Pro 6.
Safari Exposes IE As A Brave Face For Poor Coding
Safari developer David Hyatt has attacked Internet Explorer for letting website developers get away with writing 'malformed code' and consequently holding back the development of Apple's browser.
Beat Goes On For Musical Instrument Makers
With new software promising to turn home computers into mini-recording studios, the industry is buzzing about its happiest prospect in years: the birth of the digital garage band.
iPod 'Could Be Industry Standard'
"To shareholders of Apple Computer the iPod is more than a miniature music player. It is, potentially, a platform."
Opinion
There Really Is Nothing Like A 'Book
How HP Invented The Market For iPod Resllers
How is it that a company with a filthy rich consumer device division, a long history pushing innovation and portable patents on hand failed to create the iPod?
Once Upon A Time In The Mac World
Did you know that there used to be a time when the Mac used to have some of the best games around?
A CNET Follow-Up
While I'm pleased with the reception of the piece, in some cases I feel my message was clouded, so I wanted to take a moment to clarify a few things so that I'm not misunderstood.
Twenty Years Of Insanely Great Macs
It seems like only yesterday: One commercial runs during the 1984 Super Bowl, and a new personal computer is born... not to mention a legend.
Review
My Beloved .Mac
After painful years spent with some of the most important hosting companies on the web, both for myself and for others, it feels great to find a service that has everything I need and offers more than actually advertised.
Macworld Expo SF 2004 Superlatives
Indiana Jones And The Emperor's Tomb
The action is great, and the story flows well. There are better games out there, and there are certainly many that are worse. Unfortunately, with all this competition, the only thing really distinguishes this game from the others is the Indiana Jones name.
Panther Uncaged
This major revamp of Mac OS X swaps eye-candy for speed and a compelling feature-set.
Sidetrack
RUMOR 20 YEARS AGO : The Macintosh is coming.
BRING ALONG A DICTIONARY : Don't understand what all those menu items at your local Starbucks? Just feel like ordering something random? Be very careful. You might not want second-hand beans.
Wintel
Mkicrosoft Gets Green Light To Punish OS-Less PC Vendors
Bagle Virus Hides As Calculator
Warnings are being issued about the rapidly spreading Bagle Windows worm.
Monday, January 19, 2004
Top Stories
Brookfields Chooses Apple Mac Upgrade Over Move To PCs
"The purchase prices of the Macs is fine and the lifespan of a Mac appears to be a little longer."
The Mac That Roared
It changed computing as we knew it.
News
Apple SVP Jon Rubinstein On The Reinvention Of Hardware
"Our objective was to make the best products in the world."
'Buy Apple' - Needham Repeats Upbeat Rating
"Apple is reinventing itself from a pure PC company into one that should be able to ride the digital revolution in the consumer electronics arena... Apple should emerge as a solid growth story moving forward."
iPod Mini Jumps To #1 At Apple Store
The recently introduced iPod mini has overtaken the top spot on the "Top Sellers" list of the online Apple Store.
Apple Store Announced In Jacksonville, FL
The shopping center (titled St. John's Town Center) will open in Spring 2005.
Opinion
Apple's Success With iPod May Presage Ascendance Of Hardware Over Software
Simply put, Jobs has managed to inject Apple's DNA into the PC world, meaning that it will be increasingly easy for his company to offer PC users any kind of iPod-style device — whether for music or other media — the company may create in the future.
Review
Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
The good news is that while this is a title not to be missed, there is a lot of room for future sequels to grow and become distinctive games in their own right.
The Virtual Virtuoso
Apple's GarageBand puts a full-scale recording studio at your fingertips.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Top Stories
Steve Jobs' Personality, Values Inseparable From The Apple Saga
In an era where bean-counters and marketeers call the shots and most valley CEOs wouldn't know a floating-point unit from a fish fork, Jobs is the last Big Kahuna still standing.
News
20 Years Ago: How The Macintosh Computer Grew
When Apple Computer Inc. rolls out its Macintosh computer on Jan. 24, the company's self-proclaimed "pirates'" will have delivered their treasure.
20 Years Ago: A Look At Secret New Apple Computer
After two years of secrecy, brainstorming and sometimes zany company maneuvering, Apple Computer Inc. will unveil a new personal computer Jan. 24 that is the size of a stack of paper and, for about the same price, contains more power than the basic IBM PC.
Jobs Among Top Business Leaders Of Last 25 Years
Apple Planning Austin, TX Retail Store
New Jukebox A Pocket Dynamo
Say hello to the iPod, the portable jukebox of the 21st century.
20 Years Of Thinking Out Of The Box
To CEO Steve Jobs, Apple is an art form — that's why its products are always head-turners.
iPod Delivers Death Sentence To Tapes
Analysts predict that [iPod] will revolutionise the way we buy and listen to music. But they also warn that introduction of the svelte memory pod will herald the death of the audio cassette within two years.
Opinion
Review
Mac OS X Makes Best Digital Photos
Everything is shown in near-perfect scaling, no matter how large or small the items.
Wintel
It's Not ALL About Linux
Let's be real. Not every move Microsoft makes is dictated by its worries over open source.
MS Win98 Support Reprieve Was Move To Block Linux, Says Gartner
The research outfit concludes that the move comes too late for it to be relevant to enterprise migration plans, but that extra life support for 98 could be important to Microsoft elsewhere.
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Opinion
As The Macworld Turns
Who cares about the iPod mini when there are servers to scrutinize?
My iBook Changed My Life — Really!
Sure, it's a cliche... But, I'm afraid that it's true.
Review
Using WebObjects: More Practical Tips And Tricks
First Look: Hands-On With GarageBand
This was one of the best computing experiences I've had in the 17+ years I've been having computing experiences on my Mac.
Wintel
Microsoft Research Looks To Extend C#
'Xen' programming language unites C#, XML and SQL programming languages.
Search May Be Microsoft's Next Target, Court Told
Microsoft may be unlawfully wielding its desktop dominance to put the squeeze on search engines and on document formats like Adobe Acrobat, the state of Massachusetts claimed on Friday.
Plantiffs Say Microsoft Still Behaves Badly
The government's agreement with Microsoft to settle its antitrust lawsuit has "fallen short" of its goal of creating competition, according to the court- ordered report issued Friday.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Top Stories
How Do You Like Those Apples?
The fortunes of the innovative computer company have been transformed by the success of its digital music player, the iPod.
News
Analysts Divided On Apple Stock
Analysts are divided in their thoughts regarding the prospects for Apple, following the release of that company's first-quarter figures on Wednesday night.
No New Hardware, But Macworld Apps Hum
Technology No Longer A Dirty Word
Technology is roaring back. Quarterly earnings from three bellwether companies — Intel, Yahoo and Apple Computer — provide convincing new evidence that a consumer-led recovery is accelerating in many technology sectors.
Apple To Be Debt-Free Feb 16; Sells Remaining Stake In Akamai
Apple will be a debt-free company after it makes a US$300 million payment on senior debt due February 16, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Opinion
iPod: Think Different For Apple
Apple Computer has a history of introducing innovative products and then seeing competitors gain all the profits. Will iPod, its iconic digital music player, be any different?
What Size Fries Would Youlike With That
What musical keyboard would you recommend to someone buying Apple's GarageBand?
Review
More On Apple Pro Mouse Problems
"I have doubts about the longevity of any repair..."
GarageBand Simplifies Process Of Making Music
With a Mac and a couple of months worth of allowance money, that high-school band can set up its own recording studio.
Apple iLife GarageBand
GarageBand doesn't break new ground for pro users. Instead, it brings a pro-quality studio into the hands of Mac users for the price of a couple of pizzas.
Sidetrack
PATENTS GALORE : Did you know that Steve Jobs has a patent on staircase? Now you know.
Wintel
Security A Work In Progress For Microsoft
Two years after Chairman Bill Gates called on Microsoft to redouble its efforts to secure its software, the company is beginning to make progress, according to customers — but much work remains.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Top Stories
Anti-Microsoft Verdict Stands In Browser Patent Case
Microsoft Corp. yesterday lost a bid to overturn a $521 million patent-infringement verdict in a lawsuit over technology used in the company's Internet Explorer browser.
News
Apple Previews Next-Generation Audio Technology
Apple today previewed its next generation professional audio technology that will be incorporated into future versions of Apple's Logic audio production software.
Apple Launches Logic Pro 6, Logic Pro Express
Logic Pro 6 consolidates 12 pre-existing, groundbreaking products into one comprehensive package.
Apple Upgraded To 'Buy' At UBS
Apple Releases SoundTrack V1.2 Update
The new version adds features, makes general fixes and performance enhancements, and is strongly recommended for all users of Soundtrack, according to Apple.
Is The War On File Sharing Over?
The music biz is declaring success, citing lawsuits and Apple's iTunes. But to music fans who recall the glory days of Napster, the fight goes on.
Corel Ends Mac Development
"Corel has not experienced that much demand for this product from Mac users."
MacBU Comments On Office 2004
Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit thinks that this is a great year to release the next major revision of Office.
Apple Offers AppleWorks 6.2.9 Update
According to the information posted on Apple's Web site, the 6.2.9 update supports mice with scroll wheels, improves performance and reliability of the presentation and spreadsheet environments, improves printing and resolves issues using Web based templates and clip-art on networks using proxy servers.
Second Apple Store Coming To Miami, Florida?
On The Road With An iPod, A Way To Beat The Battery Blues
For iPodlings who really like to drive, Digital Lifestyle Outfitters has released the latest version of the TransPod FM, a combination digital FM transmitter and iPod-battery charger designed to work with the slim redesigned iPods that appeared last spring.
'It's A Miracle That It Sold Anything At All. It Was Not A Rational Buy.'
Happy birthday, Macintosh.
IDC: Apple Macintosh Market Share Under 2% Worldwide; Under 3% In United States For 2003
Apple Quality Control Mars Bullish Results
Discussing the quarterly results today, CFO Fred Anderson said Apple had accounted for "a higher warranty expense than expected" on PowerBook and iBook lines.
Opinion
A Grain Of Salt WIth Your C|Net, Apple Still Shines
The c|net piece was nothing but spurious speculation and Mac bashing from a publisher who has a history of negative press about Apple platform.
Marginalizing The Mac And Its Users
I don't know if this problem is getting worse, but it's extremely annoying.
Bluetooth To The Rescue
How an average CTO became a wireless superhero.
Review
Baldur's Gate II: Throne Of Bhaal
As expansion packs go, ToB is one of the most highly regarded.
Apple Pro Mouse Cable Issues
In every case, the problem seems to be a lack of reinforcement or support where the USB cable enters the mouse, eventually resulting in a short or break in the cable connection.
Recording Studio In A Box
Even in version 1.0, GarageBand is an exciting breakthrough.
Wintel
Micrsoft Agrees To Modify Software For Buying Music Online
Microsoft will offer updated software for its Windows XP operating system in February or March to stop its disputed practice of compelling consumers who buy music on the Web to use only Microsoft's Internet browser. The company continues to maintain its design was legal.
Intel To Delay Next-Generation Mobile Chip
Intel plans to open the floodgates on a new generation of Pentium processors in the next few weeks, but its next chip for notebooks will not be among them.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Top Stories
Apple Posts $63M Profit
Jobs said in the statement announcing this quarter's results that Apple had an "outstanding quarter" and is kicking off the year "with strong momentum."
Booming Baritone Has His Audiences Swooning, But What Sets His Heart Singing Madly Is... His Macintosh Computer
[Thomas] Hampson confesses: He is a computer geek, and his passion for computers — as well as golf — is almost as strong as his passion for music.
News
New Apple Store Opens In Tucson Next Week
Apple's newest retail store location comes to Tucson, Ariz. next week — Apple Store La Encantada is due to open on Saturday, January 24th at 10AM.
Apple Computer Becomes More Entertaining
Apple could be looking at a new way of doing business.
Apple Ripe For Strong Quarter
After years of being lumped in with the also-rans, it may be about time for Apple to crow a little.
One-In-Six Xmas iPods Sold In UK
It appears that in the region of 125,000 iPods were sold in the UK — the largest market for the product in Europe.
Bringing Apple Back Into The Race
Thanks to IBM (once regarded by Apple as its greatest competitor) that Apple is back in the race.
iPod Mini Color Ranking According To Amazon Customers
The silver iPod mini was the top seller.
Seeing Red: Exploring Mars With Maestro
If you're marveling over the incredibly detailed pictures of Mars sent back to Earth by Spirit, the Mars Exploration Rover, prepare to be blown away by what you can do with these images right on your own Mac.
Opinion
Tablet Mac Coming Your Way?
To fully realize the usefulness of the features Microsoft demoed at the last Macworld there's going to have to be a tablet option... Or maybe not, this is speculation and worth what you paid for it.
HP Deal = QuickTime For Windows
That's an awful lot of new machines that will come with QuickTime preinstalled.
The H-Bomb
It's a big deal for HP, and it's a very big deal for Apple.
Mac Users Vs. Mac Whiners; A Schism In Macland
I'm not suggesting we write Apple a blank check. What I am suggesting is that as Mac users, we support Apple, sign up for .Mac since it is going to become a much more important, useful, and integrated part of the OS, pay for OS upgrades if we want hundreds of new features, and basically act like Mac users.
Apple + HP = iPod Forever
Despite critics who decry Apple's proprietary audio format, this deal shows that Steve Jobs's digital-music strategy is a winner.
The One Where I Visited Microsoft
Microsoft has no plans to abandon the MacBU. Period.
Review
iPhoto Takes A Backseat To Music Again
After spending some time with iPhoto 4 at Macworld, I concluded that iPhoto 4 is almost competent, but not thrilling.
Apple Pro Mouse Cable Issue?
"The cord that comes out of the mouse is not reenforced and is subject to bending and straining."
Dreamweaver MX 2004 For Mac OS X
Dreamweaver MX 2004, the recently released version, has some improvements that may affect your decision. We survey some popular new and cool features of MX 2004.
Xgrid — A First Look At Apple's New Cluster Software
I can't stress enough how easy it was to set up this software and get Xgrid up and running.
Wintel
Microsoft Update Ignores Spoofing Hole
Microsoft has released its January batch of patches but has failed to fix an Internet Explorer 'phishing' vulnerability.
Intel To Chip Away At Itanium Prices
Intel wants to remove price as a barrier to the acceptance of Itanium servers, a goal that could allow the processor to become the company's primary server chip in the second half of the decade.
Microsoft Takes On Linux With Free Tools
Microsoft plans to broaden its attack on Linux and related operating systems this week by giving away a set of tools for migrating applications to Windows.
Microsot Issues Warning About VOIP Vulnerability
Microsoft issued its first security patches of the new year.
Court: No Microsoft Claims Via Lindows Site
A judge has ruled that the Web site Linux vendor Lindows set to aid California residents in processing claims against rival software maker Microsoft will not be tolerated.
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
News
Apple Stock Up On Positive Coverage
Speculation from analysts is buoying Apple's stock price in Tuesday trading.
Portable Audio Players Duel For Listeners
OWC Reduces Prices On External FireWire Storage
Other World Computing has reduced prices by as much as 10 percent on many of its external storage solutions.
Apple Upgraded By Thomas Weisel
A Mac User's Look At The 2004 Consumer Electronics Show
The trade show offers a bountiful display of the Mac platform's possibilities, with hundreds of exhibitors displaying their wares.
Laptops Approved For Four Schools
Starting this fall, more than 3,200 students and teachers at four underperforming Jefferson County schools will receive laptop computers, with wireless Internet connections, in an effort to improve achievement.
Net iTunes-Sharing Tool Debuts
TunesAtWork is new beta software that claims to allow iTunes users to access their personal iTunes collections remotely over the Internet from their Mac.
Hewlett-Packard: No WMA For iPod
A spokesman for HP denied any [WMA] plans.
PocketMac Smartphone Edition Announced
Information Appliance Associates has released PocketMac Smartphone Edition, a new solution to allow Mac users to synchronize data between their Mac and a Microsoft Smartphone.
Opinion
Macworld Expo SF 2004: Enter The Musical Trojan Horse
Even if you're not a music aficionado, I encourage you to keep an eye on the large wooden horse with Apple logo emblazoned on its side that was just wheeled into the center of the computer industry.
Steve Jobs Keeps Wowing 'Em Just Like He Did 20 Years Ago
Whether you're an Apple-logo-tattooed member of the Cult or a mere observer, you can't deny that Jobs puts on a fabulous show.
The Mac Hardware Report: Do New Computers Make A Difference?
New computers will remain the major source of business for Apple, although music's share will grow tremendously.
20 Years Ago Today
So many possibilities are on the horizon, and an even better environment.
Apple Quietly Chases The Enterprise Customer
The unexpected appearance of a networking closet rack-mount display was what caught me off-guard, hidden as it was near the rear of the sprawling Apple layout. What was even more surprising was the fact that the rack-mounts were drawing their fair share of onlookers and tire-kickers.
Apple Nibbles At New Markets...
What's stunning isn't that Apple's engineers can, say, design a server with two 2-GHz G5 processors, 1GB of memory, storage capacity of 80 to 750GB and loads of other goodies all in a slim 1U package. No, what's stunning is that Aple's marketers will price the Xserve system at $3,999.
Review
Nostromo SpeedPad N52
The n52 feels like a much more complete product but gamers have to evaluate the games they play.
Sick Of Your Loud 12-Inch PowerBook G4? Me Too.
Apple turned this machine from a toasty but quiet machine into an endless wind machine.
Microsoft Office 2004 For Mac: A First Look
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac is all about the view.
Apple iLife '04: A First Look
Based on what we saw at Macworld, '04 looks to be a very good year.
Sidetrack
RUMOR TODAY : Apple is gonna replace replace all 1,100 Power Mac G5s at Virginia Tech with the new G5 Xserves.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Top Stories
Expo Boost For Apple
Apple directors of marketing Peter Lowe (consumer software) and Stan Ng (iPod) are on a roll, following last week's Macworld Expo.
News
AppleCare Announces Optical Drive Enhancement Program For iBooks
Student iTeams Fix Tech Troubles
As Maine's pioneering laptop initiative got under way in the state's middle schools two years ago, it quickly became clear that some of today's computer-savvy students knew more about using the portable computers than their teachers did.
SpamSieve Update Processing Messages Faster, More
Accuracy tracking with Panther Mail has been improved; catching spam is better; bugs have been fixed; and more.
Apple Winning Over Wintel Schools
Apple's efforts in the UK education sector continue to reap rewards, the company revealed at industry show BETT 2004 last week.
Apple's Supercomputing Scientists
Apple Computer and its Macintosh, which has long sat on the desktops of many molecular biologists, are now seeing wider use in genomics.
Movable Movies?
Apple has doubts, but won't rule it out.
Opinion
HP Move Hurts Customers?
Perhaps HP wil ask Microsoft to add support for AAC audio. (We'll see how that goes.)
Dead iPod Syndrome — No Volt Found?
Apple has come under fire for the iPod's power problems — but the Great Battery Rip-off is a much wider issue for the industry, and consumers.
Is Apple Ready To Face The Music?
Apple is facing the music, and we will all reap the benefits.
The Twenty-Plus't Anniversary
Sometime in the first five minutes of dragging stuff around, it hit me. I mean... it HIT me. This is why you have hardware. To DO things. Not write code.
Democratizing The Media, And More
Not everyone is an artist, of course. Not everyone has a journalist's curiosity and ability to pull together disparate facts into something that resembles a coherent first draft of reality. Not everyone can play an instrument or sing on key. Not everyone should. But it's exciting to realize that anyone who wants to try can do so.
Apple Software: The End Of Free
I am not going to suggest that Apple reverse its path... On the other hand, I do want to see Apple set as low a price point for its stuff as possible.
Review
Shadowbane: The Rise Of Chaos
Shadowbane is a damn fun game. Its just a shame that the game gets in the way of the fun most of the time.
iPhoto Deletes Camera Raw Images Without Saving!
It's not surprising that iPhoto does not read the CRW raw files, but it is unacceptable that the software deletes them from the CF card and does not save them anywhere!
Sidetrack
PERSONAL PROBLEM : Recently, I think I violated one of my own policy... :-)
When a boss says he has an "open door policy", that just means his doors are opened. That doesn't mean he's in there. Proceed, still, with caution.
Sigh.
Wintel
Microsoft Breathes Life Into Windows 98, ME
Windows 98 and Millennium Edition users will have support for their operating systems extended by over two years, Microsoft announced on Monday.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Top Stories
iPod's Creation Spawned Businesses
The momentum behind the iPod has spawned a new and already competitive market devoted to the iconic device.
Companies Flock To Identify With iPod Enthusiasts
From snowboarding companies to soda conglomerates, marketing-savvy multinationals that worship at the altar of hip are fixated on wooing the iPod generation.
News
Audiobooks Open A New Chapter In Internet Downloading
Loyal Mac Users Get An iLife
[Apple] signaled that its take on the digital life is about creating and enhancing it, not just enjoying and absorbing it.
John Mayer And Steve Jobs Live From Macworld Expo
The Man With All The Best Tunes
Last week, the ever inventive Jobs may have ignited another revolution.
We Happy Few, We Band Of Brothers
[Jobs] is betting the company on making it easy for users to create, manipulate and publish digital content. Why is this interesting?
Opinion
HP's Surprising Partnership With Apple
The HP/Apple alliance confirms that the iPod is miles ahead of the competition, not just in terms of hardware but interms of strategy.
Sidetrack
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL TO THE LIST OF POD PEOPLE : Michael Powell, chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has fallen in love with his iPod.
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Top Stories
The New Economy Hack: Turning Consumers Into Producers
Apple is giving consumers tools that make them producers. This practice radically transform both the marketplace and the economy that thrives on it.
News
The Macintosh's Twisted Truth
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs and the Macintosh are inextricably linked in the minds of most people. So it may come as a surprise to learn the Mac wasn't his idea at all.
Macworld A Little Bare, But Fun
The mood at Macworld 2004 is upbeat and boppy, but like Steve Jobs' opening keynote address on Tuesday, the show floor is a little bare.
What's In A $400 Rebate? One iPod, Or Two Manolos
What to do with the $400 that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wants to give homeowners as a rebate on the 18.5 percent property tax increase from 2002? "Buy an iPod Mini."
Displays Down, But Energy Up At Macworld Expo
This week's Macworld Expo attracted fewer exhibitors than in years past, but Macintosh computer users and shoppers are still crowding the aisles of San Francisco's Moscone Center.
HP Looks To Shine Like Apple
Shares of HP jump more than 5% after company says it will sell iPod-like music player.
HP, Apple To Be Music Partners
Rivals' deal surprises industry.
Apple At 20: New Products Have High Success Rate
The year was 1984, and upstart Apple Computer Inc. got the world's attention.
Apple Bolsters Xserve Platform
G5 to see performance gains, while XRAID expands to 3.5TB storage capacity.
Apple Steps Toward The Storage Mainstream
In a move toward the mainstream storage market, Apple has released its first storage product with support for Windows and Linux-based computing environments.
Opinion
Apple's Real Motive For Its Jaw-Dropping Deal With Hewlett-Packard
So how does this all translate into an increased number of Mac users down the road?
Wake Up And Smell The News At Macworld
I don't think [CNET] quite "got" the impact of this Macworld Expo.
iTunes At Your Local Record Store
This could be the start of the new way to buy and enjoy music — allowing the customer to once again feel the joy of browsing music in the stores, meeting fellow music lovers, and supporting the artists that they enjoy.
Steve Jobs' Keynote Dilemma
How can he change the buying cycle of Mac customers while still maintaining his Macworld showmanship?
Apple At Macworld: Is That All There Is?
Even if [the announcements] make for a lackluster show in comparison to the Jobs' performances of the past, they're still exciting for Apple users. And at some level, that's quite enough.
HP, Apple Jam
They're going to make some beautiful music together.
Is Apple Fumbling Security?
For me, Apple is on probation. I trust their system, but given Apple's fumbling of recent security issues, I would never directly connect a Mac to the Internet as a web or email server.
Command And Control
Two follow-ups from Monday's Die Hard.
Review
The Picturephone Has Arrived
Almost as good as being there: Apple's iChat AV and iSight deliver powerful audiovisual communication of the fly.
Is THe iBook Too Good For Its Own Good?
The iBook is now so close to the more expensive, high-end PowerBook, it's going to be harder to persuade buyers to spring for a machine that can cost nearly twice as much.
Apple Power Mac G5 1.66Hz
The Power Mac G5 isn't intended as a low-cost home computer. It's designed for creative applications such as video editing or audio recording; for those purposes the G5 is a very worthwhile investment.
Friday, January 9, 2004
Top Stories
The 20 Macs That Mattered Most
Twenty years after the introduction of the first Macintosh, here's a list of the 20 most memorable Mac models. Presented in chronological order, all of these machines advanced the state of the art on the Mac, and many featured innovations that influenced the computer industry at large.
Apple Drinks Its Own Juice
Trying to make the case that its products belong in large companies, Apple showed how it runs its own business using a great deal of Apple gear.
Yes, They're Cool
It might have been smart for Apple to release a frustratingly hobbled player that could have been profitably sold for $200. But it just isn't in Apple's DNA to cut corners and capture a market by cutting prices.
News
Apple Claims Storage Price Lead
BETT: Apple Making UK In-Roads
Apple's share of the UK education sector climbed to 8.5 per cent from 6.4 per cent year-on-year in the quarter ended October 2003.
Despite Fewer Exhibitors, Expo Happy With San Fran Show
Battle Of The Bands: Gates Vs. Jobs
In back-to-back keynotes in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates this week underlined the vanishing difference between consumer and enterprise markets.
Focus On The Rest Of Your Life
When you have free time to play or to create, how do you spend your time?
Gov. Benson Delivers Paul School Laptops
Seventh grade students at Paul School had an interesting morning Tuesday, one that will make the rest of their school year interesting as well.
iPod Mini Comes With iPod Mini Software 1.0 (And Other Notes)
The iPod mini does not use the same software as the iPod itself.
New RealPlayer Avoids Apple DRM License
Analysts said RealPlayer's support for iTunes songs is likely to prove controversial and could spur Apple to consider legal action, or implement software patches that would prevent playing of its music file format.
Apple To Report 'Blowout Quarter' On iPod, Music Sales
When Apple reports its earnings for the fiscal first quarter of 2004 next week, Wall Street expects the company to post a profit of 14 cents a share, compared with a profit of 3 cents a share a year earlier.
Opinion
Forget Macworld. Think Macsnore.
The more interesting announcement actually came out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where Apple announced that it will make digital music players for Hewlett-Packard.
A Grain Of Salt With Your Apple
Apple Computer once again is bragging about its role in creating supercomputing technology with the biggest bang for the buck. But don't let the marketing message carry you away.
A Day In The Life: Macworld Expo 2004
Confident Apple For 2004
Steve Jobs' first keynote of the year was relaxed, confident, and entertaining. And to me, it was a keynote for Apple in 2004 as much as it was for the Macworld conference.
Review
Sidetrack
COLD DAY AT APPLE : Has hell froze again?
O.E.M. APPLE : Anyone not surprised by the Apple-HP deal? I guess not. Who'd predict?
I wonder if the HP-version of the iPod will work on a Mac.
Wintel
Windows 98 Support Shifts To CD
Windows 98 will only be supported by Microsoft for another week; after that, users will have to rely on a free CD containing hints and tips.
Microsoft Gets Verbal About Voice-Activation Program
Microsoft detailed on Thursday its strategy for expanding the capabilities and distribution of its Voice Command software, a program that lets people control handheld devices via spoken instructions.
Intel's Future: That's Home Entertainment
Intel wasn't kidding when it said it was interested in consumer electronics.
Xbox Heads For A Million Gamers
More than a million gamers are expected to be playing online on the Xbox by the middle of the year, says Microsoft.
Thursday, January 8, 2004
Top Stories
HP, Apple Harmonize On iPod
Apple will manufacture the player, which will not have the iPod name but will have the same design and features as Apple's third-generation iPod players, In addition, HP will start preinstalling Apple's iTunes on its consumer PCs and desktops.
HP To Deliver iPod-Based Players
Apple's desire to see the iPod remain the leader in the digital music player market got a big push on Thursday when Apple and HP announced that they have formed a strategic alliance to deliver HP-branded digital music players based on the iPod.
Microsoft-Friendlier Macworld
While light on Gates-baiting at this year's confab, Steve Jobs still gets his digs in: "Microsoft is copying us again, and it's fun!"
News
Apple Seeks Dollars In Former Freebies
Apple's decision to stop offering free downloads of iMovie and iPhoto is part of a clear shift by the Mac maker to try to recoup more of the dollars it invests in creating software for the Mac.
Xserve Corporate Adoption Continues
Apple continues to attract the products, developers and credibility it requires to emerge as a serious option for corporate users in the market for infrastructure products.
iPod Mini Outcry Prompts Price Review
A senior Apple executive has said the company will review its pricing outside the US, and blamed the high pricing on the continuing weakness of the dollar against other currencies.
Apple's Unlikely Guardian Angel
Over the years, one company has stuck by Apple through thick and thin. Without the backing of this firm, Apple likely would have died. Who is Apple's guardian angel? It's the firm that Mac users most love to hate, the bogeyman of the Mac universe, the one company whose products some Mac fans refuse to use on principle: Microsoft.
Haverhill, Canaan Get Computers
7th-graders are among 600 N.H. students getting laptops for free.
Apple Announcements Draw Compliments, Criticism
Apple Computer Gains Share In Broadcast Market
26% of U.S. broadcast stations and cable systems use Apple computers as their primary system for editing/production workstations.
Sybase Ships Panther-Ready Database
The release, Adaptive Server Enterprise 12.5.1, supports larger amounts of data, includes new management tools, and better performance than previous versions, Sybase said.
Password Protection In Microsoft Word Criticized
Microsoft Word documents that use the software's built-in password protection to avoid unauthorized editing can easily be modified using a relatively simple hack that was recently published on a security Web site.
Jobs' Macworld Keynote Hits A Few Sour Notes
Although many attendees of this week's Macworld Expo San Francisco found something to lie about Steve Jobs' opening keynote, some viewed it as a tasting menu compared with the buffets of new product introductions and surprises at Expo keynotes past.
Opinion
MyiBook Failed Me
This is a love story because, in spite of myself, I still adore my little iBook laptop. But it's also a horror story.
Macwhirled
My main take-away was that Apple is doing a great job of hacking the music industry, and is playing a significant role (how intentionally is not yet clear, but credit where due) in the mass market shift from a consumer to a producer culture.
MWSF — What Today Was Like For A First Timer
Apple Got It Right
Incremental change, improving on strengths better strategy.
You're Not One Of Those Agitators, Are You?
The iPod Mini is not about being a new low-end model — it's a new small-end model. It was the rumor sites that planted this idea that the iPod Mini would be both smaller and cheaper.
Review
Active Lancer
Active Lancer is a great value. It offers intense arcade action with quality sound and cut scenes at a bargain price. The production values on this game are very high separating it from other arcade type games available on the Mac.
For Tabbed Browsing And Other New Tricks, Try Explorer's Rivals
Minor Panther Irritation
Here's something that changed in Panther that drives me nuts several times a day.
Shortcomings In Mac OS X
I just spent an hour plus doing some tech support for a client who was having problems with keychain management and getting his login information for an Earthlink account to stick in Internet Connect.
Sidetrack
WHAT IS MAC OS X? : A hacker over-friendly answer can be found here.
GOLLUM HAS A NEW PRECIOUS, my precious, and he is not going to let that fat hobbit get his filthy paws on it, will he, my precious?
Wintel
Gates Unveils New MSN
Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled updated versions of its MSN family of Web sites and services in the hope of attracting the growing number of consumers with broadband connections.
Gates Pushes PC-TV Connection
Kicking off the Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates demonstarted new technology for connecting digital content on Windows PCs to home entertainment centers, TVs and portable devices.
Gates: Convergence Is For Real
Gates, who took the stage Wednesday night to deliver the opening key note at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is convinced that recent technology advances have paved the way toward real convergence.
Microsoft Agrees To Let Treasury Buy Partial Office Software Suite
Microsoft has acceded to the Finance Ministry's demand that it be allowed to purchase individual components of Microsoft Office, rather than having to purchase the entire package, the ministry said yesterday.
Microsoft Releases Blaster Clean-Up Tool
Microsoft this week released a tool to clean up systems infected by the infamous Blaster worm and its sundry variants.
Microsoft Ads Called Bogus
Open-source advocates are crying foul over a new ad campaign from Microsoft that claims that Windows-based systems cost less in the long run than Linux-based systems.
Wednesday, January 7, 2004
Top Stories
Owners And iPods: A Love Story With The Sweetest Sounds
Photos of more than 2000 proud owners and their tiny music players are featured on a special website.
Apple Intros iLife '04, Adds GarageBand
It features new versions of iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD, along with a brand new fifth application, GarageBand, that allows you to compose and record music on your Mac.
Apple Announces Final Cut Express 2
The new version is based on Final Cut Pro 4 technology, which means it offers RT Extreme for real-time effects, filters, compositing and color correction without time spent waiting for rendering. It can also handle five DV streams simultaneously and it features an enhanced user interface.
News
Apple Continues Modest Move Into Clusters
Though Apple doesn't fancy itself a high-performance computing giant, the company says it's making some headway in regard to both supercomputers and smaller-scale clusters.
Apple Quietly Lowers The Price Of DVD-R Media
It's Time Uncle Sam Taxed Techies
One of the many things I used to admire about the high-tech industry was its disinterest in seeking special favors from Washington, other than to be left alone to turn out truly amazing stuff. Now that's changed.
Deeper Into The Music
Expo finds Apple focused on compositions, not computers.
Apple, Garageband.com Agree To Share Name
According to the press release, Apple has paid Garageband.com a one-time fee in order to use the name for its new music creation software.
Bare Bones Software Ships Mailsmith 2.1
Bare Bones Software announced the release and immediate availability of Mailsmith 2.1, an update that now supports automatic attachment encoding based on file type, a new keyboard command that quickly moves messages between mailboxes, enhanced SMTP features, and new preferences and interface changes, including improved handling of random signatures.
Harman's JBL Creature, SoundSticks Sequels
The company announced a sequel on Tuesday: JBL Creature II, which incorporates the latest Odyssey transducer technology and a proprietary design. Like the original, JBL Creature II's satellite speakers glow from the bottom for an otherworldly appearance.
RealPlayer To Play iTunes Downloads; Real Store To Work With iPod
RealNetworks plans Wednesday to launch a new version of RealPlayer for Windows that will play songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store.
Aladdin Debuts The Big Mix Collection Of Audio Tools
Aladdin Systems today announced The Big Mix, a collection of nine title for Mac OS X 10.1 or later.
Analysts Skeptical Of iPod Mini Pricing, Overall Success
Industry watchers are somewhat skeptical that Apple's newly announced iPod Mini will be as successful at its first generation portable music players because its US$249 price tag is not low enough to compete with other players and is too close in price to its 15GB model to warrant the US$50 difference.
Apple Unveils Fashion iPods
On the show floor, potential customers said they were disappointed the iPod mini cost only $50 less than the 15-GB iPod, which has nearly four times the storage capacity. Nonetheless, they anticipated Apple will sell lots of them.
Hitachi Hard Drive At Heart Of New iPod
Apple Computer is using a small hard drive from Hitachi in its new iPod, as the market for mini drives heats up.
Apple: 40% Of Users Using Mac OS X, Nearly 10M
Apple Rolls Out Xserve G5, New Xserve RAID
Apple said the new Xserve G5 delivers over 30 gigaflops of processing power per system, about 60 percent more than the PowerPC G4-based Xserve.
Apple Previews Xgrid Technology
"Xgrid helps scientists and others working in compute intensive environments to fully utilize all IT resources, including desktops and servers, by creating a grid enabled 'virtual' IT environment that takes advantage of unused computing capacity to run batch and workload processing."
Apple Posts '1984' Ad With An iPod Twist
The new spot has been updated with the sledgehammer wielding runner wearing an iPod and headphones.
iPhoto, iMovie No Longer Free Downloads?
With the introduction of iLife '04 today, Apple has quietly removed the download pages for iPhoto and iMovie.
EyeTV 200, EyeHome Turns Mac Into Media Center
Elgato Systems on Tuesday introduced two new products to Mac users that will help strengthen their abilities to turn their systems into full-blown media centers.
NaviPlay Plays iPod Music Via Bluetooth
Say good-bye to headphone cords with naviPod maker TEN Technology's naviPlay, a wireless stereo adapter and remote control that uses Bluetooth with third generation iPods.
Opinion
Macworld's Mini Disappointment
Two decades after it introduced the Macintosh, Apple proved it's still as innovative as ever by unveiling a trio of new products, most notably a smaller iPod. The only problem? Price.
The Mac At 20: What's In Store For The Future?
Jobs is placing his bets that Apple can win the hearts and minds of digital media and Internet consumers. If he is serious about serving up enterprise-class solutions beyond digital media, he should consider finding partners who are willing to do the heavy lifting.
Keynote Thoughts
The iPod mini's felt like a marketing product launch. A product developed by looking at charts and graphs, not by the magicians thinking about the needs of real people.
Reporter's Notebook: Keynote Observations
If Bruce Springstein and Beyonce were giving a free joint concert, the line couldn't have been any longer.
$249 For Apple's New 'iPod Mini' Is Brilliant Pricing Strategy
GarageBand
I've been waiting 20 years for GarageBand.
Thoughts From The Macworld Keynote
Does anyone care about Xserve? Who would serve up sites or services when you can get so much more power at a lower cost with linux or FreeBSD boxes?
Macworld Expo — More (And Less) Of The Same
Jobs has an unfortunate habit of exaggerating, or telling outright untruths, in his keynotes.
Post-Keynote Thoughts
I think that Apple is going to sell tons of $299 15 Gb iPods that suddenly look like a great deal.
Jobs Caps Snnozathon With Cut-Down Emagic, iPod
If future keynotes are as short of announcements as this year's has proved, news editors will find it harder to justify their reporters expenses, and the according MWSF coverage will dwindle.
The Death Of Macworld
Sure, there was a lot of new and improved, but that is an everyday event at Apple.
A Big Garage
What's so cool about GarageBand is that it exemplifies the market that Apple is going after.
Review
A Report On Processing Performance
The combination of faster hardware and better software has brought about a significant performance jump for pro digital photographers using the Mac. And while the PC is still quicker overall, the Mac is at least back in the race.
Sidetrack
HOW ABOUT A DISCOUNT, APPLE? : Along the same arguments for .Mac users outside of U.S., shouldn't International users pay less for iLife '04, especially for folks like me that don't have access to iTunes Music Store, iPhoto prints, and iPhoto books?
OH, WOW, but this may well be the first Expo for a while that there isn't a product that makes me wish I am rich.
The only product that I may buy — and only that's because I have a $50 (about US$25) voucher for a local Apple reseller — is iLife '04, mainly for the new iPhoto. The performance of the current iPhoto sucks. But hey, I can live with it.
(Oh, and I am not really a music-everywhere-I-go kind-of person, so your mileage will differ.)
Wintel
Whatever Happened To The Windows Media Center?
More in-fighting at Redmond is blamed for the rethink. But just as Mira has lost out to the Tablet PC initiative, which despite insignificant sales remains a "strategic" priority, Windows XP Media Center will be folded into Microsoft's ever-changing Set Top Box strategy.
Microsoft Ad Campaign Digs At Linux
Microsoft has launched a marketing assault on Linux, in a sign that the open-source solution may be a mounting threat to the company's server system sales.
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Top Stories
Apple Introduces iPod Mini
"The smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs."
Microsoft Readies New Mac Office
In a sign that Microsoft plans to be in the Apple market for some time, the software giant said Tuesday that a new version of Office for the Mac is on its way and that another is already in the works.
Apple Shows New Office, Multimedia Apps
Apple CEO Steve Jobs kicked off Macworld Expo on Tuesday by announcing several new software packages, including an audio recording application called "GarageBand" and an updated version of Microsoft's Office software.
We're All Mac Users Now
The Macintosh in 1984 was regarded by many as a toy, a childlike plaything that couldn't do serious computing. Twenty years later, Apple is a small player in the PC industry, but everyone uses a Macintosh — even if its called Microsoft Windows.
Mac Founders Push For New Ideas
The crew that put together the first Mac is celebrating its 20th birthday, but some are disappointed over the apparent lack of innovation in personal computers.
News
Virtual PC 7.0 Shipping In First Half Of 2004
Dantz Launches Retrospect 6.0 With Panther Support
Version 6.0 now protects Power Mac G4 and G5 computers running Mac OS X Panther, backs up Xserve RAIDs hosting multiple terabytes of data, and supports SCSI and Fibre Channel tape libraries.
Sailing Clicker Comes To P800/P900 Phones
The company's expanding support for two newer popular phones — the Sony Ericsson P800 and P900 models.
Griffin Offers SightLight Add-On For Apple's iSight
Griffin has debuted the SightLight, its add-on light for Apple's iSight that helps produce a better video image in poor lighting conditions.
iTalk iPod Voice Recorder Coming In April
'Grunt Work' Brings Early Version Of KOffice To Mac OS X
Even as the Mac community speculates about an impending beta version of Microsoft Office for Mac OS X, a new — and free — productivity suite has found a toehold on Apple Computer Inc.'s operating system.
AquaMinds Plans NoteTaker Update
Gear Makers Get Jump On Macworld
Although Apple CEO Steve Jobs' keynote speech at Macworld Expo is still hours away, companies have started to make product announcements to coincide with the San Francisco show.
Photo-Editing Experts Say Windows Is Good But Mac Is Easier
"The user interface for Macintosh programs appears to be more consistent than that for Windows software."
Apple Preps For Macworld Harvest
Although a winter chill still lingers in the air, the latest crop of Apples is nearly ready to be harvested.
Opinion
Mac Enterprise Computing: The Return Of The King
Apple's admirable efforts in the consumer market have set off an echo effect among the tech-conscious. Maybe this week, Apple will look beyond this consumer beachhead to reclaim its historical territory among CIOs.
Reporter's Notebook: People, Lions And The Sunflower Cafe
If you're here in town and need a good breakfast, may I recommend the Sunflower Cafe at 284 O'Farrell Street.
Apple Computer, Going Forward Into 2004
Let's look at specific areas Apple can and should focus effort to improve both their products and the Macintosh experience for the rest of us.
Steve's Keynote: Step-By-Step
I mean, 9 AM! Just how many farmers does Apple think will be coming to Macworld, anyway?
Were The Pismo PowerBook And The Clamshell iBook The Last Tough Apple Portables?
Newer models are flirting with quasi "disposable computer" status given the exorbitant cost of repairs and service rationalized with the cost of buying a new machine.
Expo Speculations
It's really hard to resist the temptation, at this time of the year, to guess what will be revealed in Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo San Francisco keynote.
Getting To The Core Of Apple's Shortcoming
I realize that the view from the CEO's office is quite different from what I see when I sit in front of my Mac. But when it comes to matters of product reliability and customer satisfaction, we should all be on the same page.
Review
Still Life 2.2.3
Still Life is a great piece of software. Sure it's a one-trick pony, but such a pretty pony.
Sidetrack
MACWORLD IS HERE : And whatever Steve Jobs says at the keynote is definitely going to generate a lot of press.
Too bad I'd be sleeping. (At 9 am PST, the start of hte keynote, it'll be 1 am here in Singapore.) So, as in past years, if you want your news fast, do visit other sites such as MacSurfer's.
Wintel
Intel Brings Out Low-Cost Laptop Chips
Intel on Monday introduced a budget chip for notebooks that the company hopes will bring wireless computing to the masses.
Microsoft Must Move On
Microsoft should move as far as possible from its business model of yesteryear and focus on improving its products without locking out competitors.
Microsoft Takes On Linux In Ad Campaign
Microsoft Corp. on Monday launched a new advertising campaign, referred to as "Get the Facts," which is designed to give customers information about the advantages of using its Windows operating system versus Linux, its open-source competitor.
Monday, January 5, 2004
Top Stories
Ads For iPods Offer Big Music Gift In Small Package
The first holiday season for iTunes helped drive sales even more for popular iPods.
News
MWSF Keynote To Be Broadcast At Apple Stores
Several Apple retail stores will be presenting a live satellite feed of Steve Jobs' keynote from this year's Macworld Expo in San Francisco.
FileMaker Showcases Real-World Database Solutions
Apple database software subsidiary FileMaker will kick off Macworld Expo by demonstrating a variety of real-world database solutions, all running on Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, for small business and education.
Apple Climbs More Than 5 Percent
Shares of Apple are up to $22.37 in trading currently.
iTunes DRM Cracked Wide Open For GNU/Linux. Seriously.
Norwegian programmer Jon Lech Johansen, who broke the DVD encryption scheme, has opened iTunes locked music a tad further, by allowing people to play songs they've purchased on iTunes Music Store on their GNU/Linux computers.
Governor Presents First Laptops To Students
The white Apple iBooks — handed out by Gov. Craig Benson in Armand R. Dupont School gymnasium — were even preferable to a snow day, some students said.
Roxio Unveils Toast With Jam 6
Roxio on Monday unveiled Toast with Jam 6, a new version of its popular CD and DVD burning software, enhanced with studio quality audio tools.
Freeverse Offers Free Backgammon Deluxe 1.0
Hankering to play other Backgammon enthusiasts on the Internet? Freeverse Software is offering its new game Backgammon Deluxe v1.0 as a free download.
Twenty Years Of The Mac
As long as there are creative people, there will be a Mac to be productive with.
Will Apple's Innovations And Influence Ever Translate Into Market Share?
Market share is one thing, mindshare quite another.
General Mills Exec Joins Apple's Board Of Directors
Microsoft Has Plans To Take On... Apple?
Microsoft would like to chip away at [Apple's] lead on both fronts — as the market leader in music downloads and portable music players.
Macromedia Updates Multimedia Tools
The new Director MX 2004 adds support for the JavaScript language, intended to make the applications more accessible to developers unfamiliar with Macromedia's Lingo format.
InDesign Adopts Orphaned PageMaker Users
Adobe Systems is set to unveil a conversion strategy Monday for customers still using its orphaned PageMaker page design and layout application.
Opinion
Reporter's Notebook: MWSF Musings And Predictions
The level of excitement is, as always when the reality distortion field begins to coalesce, very high.
Review
Die Hard
A list of changes [in Mac OS X] that have resulted in hard-to-break habits for long-time users.
Sidetrack
TRADEMARKS WATCH : A glimpse at the trademarks registered by Apple might help in your Expo predictions.
EXCUSE ME... : But are you a grown-up?
Wintel
Microsoft Plans Office 2003 Service Pack For May
This release is critical because many corporate accounts hold off on upgrading to new software versions until the first service pack is available.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Beta First Look
At first thought, one might think "big deal — Service Packs from Microsoft are generally bug squashers." Things are different this time.
Sunday, January 4, 2004
Top Stories
Steve Jobs: The iPod Carrier
When the final biographies are written, Jobs may be remembered as much for introducing the world to a new way of listening to music — and taking us beyond the CD — as for his pioneering of the personal computer.
Apple Bites Back
Buoyed by a host of winning machines, from the iMac to the iPod, Apple is enjoying a renaissance.
News
Macworld Starts This Week In S.F.
One-Man News Crew
MeetRian Maelzer, the "four-in-one" man. He is a cameraman, sound technician, reporter and lighting technician all in one go.
Griffin Cancels iFM FM Tuner Accessory
VideoLAN Releases VLC 0.70 Media Player
U.S.-Bred Gadgets Are Back In Style
American producers of consumer electronics begin to put some heat on Asian companies.
Opinion
20 Years Ago, World Turned For Tech, Telecom
The technology and telecom cosmos looked mighty different in early 1984.
G4 + MP3 = Fountain Of Youth
My new gizmos suddenly made me feel more organized and in charge of my life. I feel a little cooler, a little more connected, a lot younger.
Saturday, January 3, 2004
Top Stories
iPod — Therefore I Am
It was the must-have Christmas gift of 2003: a gadget that stores your favourite 10,000 tunes and looks incredibly cool, too. So why do people become such bores when they get one?
News
Mac Maniacs Wait To Be Wowed
Rain or shine, dozens of die-hard Mac fans likely will camp overnight outside San Francisco's Moscone Center to snag seats for the opening keynote speech of the Macworld Conference & Expo, to be delivered by Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs on Tuesday morning.
Media Moguls Look To Apple Guru For Succour
In the long run, [Steve Jobs'] perfectionism may be better suited to the film theatre than the cut-throat world of technology.
Opinion
It's TIme To Rate Apple's Performance In 2003
We have high expectations for Apple, which is why I judge it so harshly on the areas it misses. It will have a chance to make good on its potential next week at Macworld Expo.
In Europe, Apple Threatens Linux
We'll see great strides from Linux in the high-end server space over the coming years, with good steps in 2004, but with stiff competition from Apple in certain server segments. Apple? Yes, this is not a misprint.
Three Steps To A Stronger Apple
After its bang-up 2003, better governance, increased quality control, and more product upgrades will make 2004 even better.
The Apple Cult Is Dead
I have seen a change in public perception towards Apple computers and other Apple products
Review
Canvas 9 Professional Edition
Canvas is a great value for a single-person shop, a student seeking a bit of everything in one box, or someone with highly specialized geographical or scientific imaging needs. Casual users can find cheaper alternatives piecemeal.
Neverwinter Nights
With unlimited adventures waiting for you to download them, Neverwinter Nights is a game you can play for months or even years.
Quicken 2004
Users of Quicken 2002 and earlier should appreciate the Aquafied 2004 upgrade. If you already use Quicken 2003 and aren't wowed by the new features, skip a year and check back in 2005.
Soundtrack
If you need sweet-sounding music for your multimedia work and don't happen to know any talented musicians, say hello to a virtual band even your mother could love — one that won't clean out the fridge after rehearsals.
Studio MX 2004
If you work the Web for a living, you'll find workarounds for Studio's quirks and buy this upgrade for its increased integration and the smattering of new features in FireWorks and Dreamweaver. The new Flash Professional makes Studio MX 2004 worth its upgrade price.
Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer
Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer has always been one of our favorite mice. It just feels right — and the newest wireless version is no different.
Wireless Optical Desktop
If you can use the extraneous keyboard buttons, this combo's quality mouse and integrated battery charger make it a solid choice.
Ending Remote Madness... The Harmony Internet Remote
What makes this device unique is the "Activity Centered" (or task oriented) approach it takes.
The Apple Of Our Eye
In spite of our minor gripes, the Power Mac G5 is a major advance over the G4. It's got enough power to make Wintel users green with envy, and when a full-blown 64-bit version of OS X arrives, this system will really fly.
When Things On Your Mac Do Cool Things You Didn't Expect Them To... Or Adventures In Mac-Based Audio
If you play an instrument, write songs, sing, or wish you could do any or all of the above, take a look at DigiDesign's amazing little Mbox, a complete audio production system with many uses.
Sidetrack
HEADLINESS POD? : Monitor sold separately.
RTFM : To transfer files from your old Mac to your brand new Mac requires one praragraph of description, which ended with the sentence "the process was effortless."
To do the same for your files on Windows XP requires a full article.
Friday, January 2, 2004
News
Opinion
Pushing The Limits Of "Disposability" Too Far?
We as consumers need to exert more pressure on manufacturers in these areas. Even if my iBook continues to work well, its resale value has been substantially diminished by this issue.
Review
These iPod Accessories Pass The Hardest Test
Here are other iPod accessories I found to be a cut above the rest.
Wintel
Beta XP Update Ready For Download
A test version of the second major update to Microsoft's Windows XP is now available to registered beta users.
Thursday, January 1, 2004
Top Stories
24-Hour Movie People
Could you write, cast, shoot, score, and edit an entire movie in a day?
News
There's Still Time To Turn Your Mac Into A Panther
Those who recently bought an Apple computer that wasn't loaded with the latest "Panther" operating system won't necessarily be forced to pay full price to get the most modern version if they order by Jan. 31.
Opinion
Privacy Glitches, Installation Hitches
From iTunes to Quicken, the fun never ends.
We Really Need To Work On Our Web Site
Have a look at the home page for Mac OS X. Now have a look at the home page for Windows XP Home. Which would you rather buy?
Review
For The Ex-Buccaneer, A Pillage-Free Playlist
We decided to test two services: the iTunes Music Store from Apple Computer, and Rhapsody, from RealNetworks.
The Mouse
If you simply want to upgrade to a better mouse, and cost is not an issue, there are a ton better mice on the market.
Why Not Buy A Mac?
If your new PC behaves badly the moment you plug it in, I have news for you. It's not going to get better. Take it back. Get a Mac.
Sidetrack
RUMORS TODAY : Safari 1.2, available early next year, will probably include features such as keyboard navigation, image blocking, and ability to turn off animation.
iBox, on the ohter hand, is the Apple's version of a hard-drive video recorder that can also burn DVDs, display slide shows with your photographs, and buy music from iTunes Music Store.
Final Cut Express 2.0 ships on MWSF.
This is not the new mini iPod.
Wintel
Longhorn Should Not Be Windows
The time has come for a bold new marketing approach. Not "more of the same old same old."
2004 — The Year Microsoft's Price Bend, Buckle Or Break?
Israel has become the first EMEA country to ask Microsoft for Thai discounts.
New Worm Spreads Via MSN Messenger
Anti-virus experts are watching a new worm that spreads through Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Messenger client. The worm is not harmful to infected machines and has infected only a few PCs at this point, according to an analysis by Trend Micro Inc.