Wednesday, February 28, 2007
News
Apple Bearing Fruit At UVa
Most students own products from electronics giant.
Music Executives Lament State Of Industry
The discussions at a music conference here in New York Tuesday started with an all-around bashing of Apple CEO Steve Jobs before moving to the plethora of issues plaguing the music industry.
Teachers Put iPod To Work
iPod incorporated as mobile learning aid for classrooms.
Mac OS Being Infused With The Tools Of The Corporate IT Trade, But Can It Catch On?
Apple, long a ghost in the corporate-infrastructure mainstream, is beginning to cast a shadow as IT departments discover Mac platforms that are being transformed into realistic alternatives to Windows and Linux.
Apple COO: iPhone On Track For June Launch
Apple's chief operating office,r Tim Cook, told conference-goers Tuesday that the iPhone is on track to release in June.
BookMaker 2.0 Lets You Make Books Using Photos
Books are printed using MyPublisher's book printing service.
Ms Pac-Mac Comes To The iPod
Namco Networks on Tuesday announced the release of Ms Pac-Mac for the fifth-generation (video) iPod.
Opinion
Using Safari Can Slow Your System Down As Much At 76% vS Firefox
Closing Thoughts On My MacBook Pro Experience
The initial sexiness wore off, but the stylishness remained.
Where's The iPod GPS Receiver?
The GPS receiver market is enormous and growing rapidly and it's a market I am surprised that Apple hasn't ventured into.
One Possible Reason For The Apple TV Delay
The one that sticks out to me is FCC approval.
Chris Pirillo, Time To Get A Mac
Make the switch. I should have done it years ago. You will not regret it.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
News
The Battle For The Heart Of The iPhone
Tech firms know that getting their part sin one of the most desirable gadgets on the planet means kudos — and guaranteed revenue.
As Apple 'Leopard' Launch Nears, VARs Spot Opportunities
iPhone Packs A Mighty Pinch
It may seem beyond coincidence that Mr Jefferson Han and Apple came up with the pinching gesture, but in fact the idea predates both.
Apple TV Debut Delayed Until Mid-March
Apple will delay until mid-March its Apple TV device for playing computer-based video on television sets, a spokeswoman said on Monday.
Apple, Samsung, Sandisk Sued Over MP3
Little-known Texas MP3 Technologies is taking on Apple, Samsung Electronics and Sandisk with a patent-infringement lawsuit.
Opinion
Quantum Has No Qualms About iPhone Design
Quantum has no knowledge of any infringement by Apple of Quantum's patents in regard to the iPhone or any other product other than those products alleged to be infringing in its 2005 lawsuit against Aple and Cypress Semiconductor, specifically the Powerbook trackpad, Mighty Mouse and iPod Nano scroll wheel.
Public Confidence, Thanks To iPod
For me, the most important thing my iPod has given me is the confidence to blow my nose.
MacBook Configuration Insanity
Why put customers through waiting for another machine which ultimately forces Apple to add another computer to its refurb inventory?
Apple's International iTunes Controversy
Impressions Of The New AirPort Extreme
Plus, you know, it's shiny.
The iPhone Says Hello
The ad managed to generate buzz without assaulting people with a wealth of technical details.
Hey, Apple: Remember The Newton Before Releasing iPhone
Remember that two years after Newton was introduced, a smaller, cheaper PDA appeared — the Palm Pilot — which truly did rock the world.
Review
Frenzic 1.0
If you enjoy puzzle and strategy games, odds are you'll like this game and keep coming back for more.
Round-Up: Mac Tax-Preparation Software
TaxCut and TurboTax: Which is the better choice?
Sidetrack
Nothing Is Worth That Much Protection
Deep down, as a developer, I honestly believe that no DRM schemes or protection schemes are worth doing. (Having said, that, I shall also note that the people responsible for paying me my cheque may disagree, and my family do need to eat, thougn.) It punishes honest customers while dishonest people can still get away with not paying.
But, this fiasco where a developer had to come out publicly to retreat from his earlier stand that his software will delete home directories when a pirated key has been detected, demonstrates clearly that DRM and protection schemes can even backfire on the developer.
Now, his reputation has been shattered, and he has do much much more hard work to gain a certain degree of trust back, if ever.
In The "Don't Try This At Home" Department...
A real-life proof that your MacBook Pro is truly bullet-proof.
Wintel
Is Windows Getting More Expensive?
The full answer is more complicated. There are all sorts of factors that go into one's sense of whether the leading operating system "feels" more pricey or less expensive — the cost of other PC components and what gets bundled into the operating system are just a couple of them.
VMware Attacks Microsoft License Changes
Virtualization leader VMware has published a white paper condemning what it calls Microsoft's moves to block competition in the virtualization market, the most public sign to date of the friction between the companies.
Monday, February 26, 2007
News
iPods On The Job
Some local companies ban them, others tolerate them and some like Morristown Memorial Hospital are using PDAs to offer physicians contact with patient information.
EMI To Apple, Microsoft: Ditching DRM Is Going To Cost You
EMI is willing to lose the DRM, but they demand a considerable advance payment to make it happen.
iPhone TV Commercial Debuts During Oscars
Apple began what figures to be a heavy advertising blitz for its iPhone Sunday night, with a 30-seond spot that aired during ABC's telecast of the Academy Awards.
Opinion
First iPhone TV Spot Premiers In Oscars, Sucks
It's instantly irrelevant.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
News
Wilkes University Goes All-Mac
One goal is to create a virtually virus-free IT network.
Europe's Apple Attack
There are few legal parallels between the Microsoft and Apple cases. But both reflect Europe's deep anxiety about its lack of clout in the digital world.
Opinion
My First Mac Problem
Turns out Mac Minis are notoriously bad at playing nicely with TVs through a DVI connection. This surprised me given how many people I know have connected a Mac Mini to their living room televisions.
The Apple Experience
You really don't appreciate the whole "Apple Experience" until you experience an amateurish attempt by some other company.
A Visit To Apple
And so, a gang of new Mac fans at Google visited Apple and became full on converts.
Sidetrack
Beware Of Giving Something As Cool As An iPod
As Wendy Donahue found out, when she gave her husband an iPod Nano and Nike+iPod sport kit for their wedding anniversay, she "never dreamed he'd use them to impress other women." :-)
That Error Condition Will Never Happen, Or Why Writing Bug-Free Software Can Be Hard
From Hugh Thompson, here's an account of how he managed to crash an entire in-flight entertainment system with Tetris.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
News
Is Apple In Alcatel-Lucent's Crosshairs?
Apple's licensing of MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology from Fraunhofer IIS and THOMSON multimedia could spell trouble for Apple if the Alcatel-Lucent vs. Microsoft verdict yesterday stands after appeal by Microsoft.
AirPort Extreme On USB Device Support
It supports drives formatted as HFS+, FAT16, FAT32. AirPort's NAS will not work with multiple partitiions on a single drive.
Cisco, Apple Quiet On Future Collaborations
Cicso Systems and Apple have agreed to share the "iPhone" name, but both companies are tightlipped about what future products might come from the resulting deal to collaborate on "interoperability" between the companies' products.
Study; Consumers Balking At iPhone's Price
Consumers aren't willing to pay what Apple may ask for the iPhone, but if the price drops they'll switch their mobile service to AT&T in order to get it, according to a results of a survey.
Opinion
Supporting Shareware Developers - Grumblers And Recalcitrants
Support your local shareware developer. He or she is the one who makes the programs the big guys will never release; the one who rolls in the features you request without having to get a focus group together; the one who provides the little ideas that make your Mac do so much more. He or she is the future of Mac software, and the person who makes the Mac such a useful computer.
Can't Hear Your Utopian Vision Over The Sound Of My iPod
Doctorow's strident war against DRM certainly has a goal the Macalope agrees with. But while the horny one is not naive about the motivations behind Jobs' statement, he also doesn't think Doctorow helps his own case by stretching the truth to try to scare the kiddies about Apple's DRM.
Apple TV: Why It Matters
Apple TV could make moving computer content around the house another mainstream digital activity.
From The iPod To HDTV
It was "watchable."
Sidetrack
When iTunes first appeared on everyone's Mac, one of the features touted by Apple was the visualization effects. Now, more than half a decade later, are you still using this feature? I'd admit I'm still turn on visualization once in a while, and I do feel rather bumped occasionally that Apple hasn't really updated this feature for a long time...
Friday, February 23, 2007
News
Apple iPod Shuffle Wins Design Week Award
"The shuffle is a simple, beautifully executed concept with minimal, re-useable packaging that is fantastic value for money."
Apple Files For Objective-C Trademark
Apple Announces Six WWDC Session Tracks
Sessions at Apple's annual developer conference will cover everything from the features in OS X 10.5 to tools designed to help deveopers take advantage of Apple's latest technologies.
Wanted: An Apple Security Expert
Microsoft Tells Some Users No On Vista
Microsoft's Scott Woodgate, a director in Microsoft's Vista team, insisted that the ban on virtualisation was not a marketing decision. "We are absolutely working with our partners to resolve this security issue," he said.
New Storage Service Targets iTunes Users
Terene Pua is offering to backup music, videos and other media for Mac owners for an introdutory price of $69 a year.
Analyst Suggests 'Solid Quarter' For Apple
Apple should benefit from stronger sales of its Macintosh computer products and lower component costs for its Macs and iPods, according to Prudential Equity Group, which Wednesday lifted its earnings estimate on Apple for the current quarter.
MarsEdit Blogging Software Changes Hands
Red Sweater Software announced Thursday that it has acquired MarsEdit, the Mac OS X weblog publishing software originally created by Brent Smmons, creator of NetNewsWire.
Stem E-Mail Overload
Strategies for keeping your inbox under control.
Opinion
A Requiem For An iPod
In return for all her bounty, iPod had demanded of me a certain moral dexterity that even I, a child of the digital generation, would never have anticipated.
Great Apple Service
Name me any company, anywhere, in any industry that has this kind of impact on ordinary people?
It Is Time For The Distinction Between Mac Software And PC Software To Go Away
Where you're making a Mac and Windows version of the same software available and currently require two separate licenses, collapse and simplify.
Steve Jobs' iTunes Dance
Now that Apple CEO says he would gladly sell songs without digital restrictions, if the record companies let him. That's hardly a brave definance, and besides, I don't believe him.
Would Apple Mix DRM And Non-DRM Music At The iTunes Store?
Apple could still sell everything under the same terms: that you're allowed to play downloads on up to five computers. It's just that with the DRM-free music, there'd be nothing in place to enforce the policy.
Steve Jobs Should Blog, Part II
He has a lot of interesting things to say on topics more far-reaching than just what's cool about the next version of the Mac OS or the iPod. How about it Steve?
iTunes Store And The Import Of Apple Lossless
Given the kind of music that sells large at the iTunes Store, is it any wonder that Apple hasn't rushed to issue Apple Lossless versions of its inventory?
Review
Toast 8 Titanium
This program has dozens of enhancements and improvements under the hood. With Blu-ray support, TiVoToGo, enhancements, interface streaming, and feature improvements galore, Toast 8 Titanium is the best value Roxio has offered in years.
Sidetrack
Mobile Mac? Any Mac That Has A Battery
I don't know why many people are thinking that Mobile Mac is a new product category for Apple, but I'll classify all the MacBooks, MacBooks Pro, and iPhone to be mobile Macs. And I strongly believe that the iPod is going to be a mobile Mac too.
Both the OS and iPod teams at Apple are probably all tied up doing furious work for the iPhone, so I'm not expecting any new product categories from Apple this year.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
News
Analysts Say Apple Appears To Have Topped Cisco In iPhone Agreement
Apple and Cisco Systems ended their feud over the iPhone name late Wednesday — and Apple appears to have won, tech analysts said.
Macworld Conference Shoot Results
We created nine profiles of develpoers who were exhibiting in the ADC Developer Pavilion.
Apple TV: DVD Killer?
Apple's set-top box device for consuming digital media, expected to hit stores next week, has at least one analyst optimistic that it will be a DVD killer.
Settlement Allows Apple To Continue Using 'iPhone' Name
The companies said they had reached an agreement that would allow Apple to use the name for the multimeida device in exchange for exploring wide-ranging "interoperability" between the companies' products in the areas of security, consumer and business communications.
An Apple A Day Keeps Storage Costs Away
When Summit Energy Services looked at its future growth, company decision-makers learned it was time to find more cost-effective storage, backup and disaster recovery technology. So the company tossed out pricey systems and brought in storage, backup and disaster recovery products that could help support the company's growth.
Apple To Stay Ripe
Investors sank their teeth into Apple on Wednesday as analysts voiced positive sentiment for the computer company's near-term future.
iPod's Groovy Factor
What do flying plastic pigs, dancing daisies and robotic Barbie dolls have in common? An iPod.
Symantec: iTunes Sings Bug Song
Hackers can exploit a bug in Apple's popular iTunes music player and online store software, and they may be able to run other malicious code on the compromised PC or Macintosh, Symantec Corp. reported today.
iTunes Clues Rock Classical Music World
Classical music fans and techie musicians were agog this week over revelations of a possible fraud that was uncovered using iTunes and a musical database.
Opinion
When Was The Last Time You Had To Reboot Your Watch?
While I live my life surrounded by computers, they certainly are enormous pains in the ass half the time.
Because They All Suck
General purpose computing devices are designed to be all things to all people. As a direct consequence, they will always be rife with compromises, pitfalls, and disappointments. That's the first secret of using computers: they all suck.
Fair Enough
I think most readers assume that if it were false, that Levy would have called him on it — and so conversely, Levy's silence means it must be true, or at least mostly true.
Review
Wrangle Your Snippets: Software Can Help You Store And Organize Scraps Of Data
There are a number of snippet keepers available for the Mac. But as with any organization effort, you'll have greater success if you choose a program that mirrors the way you prefer to work.
Aperture 1.5.2: Apple's Latest Photography Workflow Update Fixes Glitches, Adds Flexibility
While there's room for Aperture to grow, version 1.5.2 brings the program even closer to fulfilling its promise as the start-to-finish, import-to-output hub of professional and advanced photographic workflow.
Photoshop Lightroom 1.0: Adobe's Rich Photographic Workflow Application Makes An Impressive Debut
Many people realized that Photoshop's power may be overkill for most editing needs, and that image management and workflow are often more crucial tasks when working with large numbers of images. With Photoshop Lightroom 1.0, Adobe has recognized this need and responded by building a strong workflow foundation for serious shooters.
Sidetrack
Your Mac Life Moves To A New Domain
If you are a fan of Shawn King's big show over at Your Mac Life, you might want to know that the show has moved to a new domain, at YourMacLifeShow.com.
Apparently, there are some disputes between Shawn and the hosting company...
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
News
Jobs, Gates To Share Stage At Digital Conference
Both Jobs and Gates are slated to jointly discuss the digital revolution's history and future at The Wall Street Journal's D; All Things Digital conference. The annual gathering, which will be held May 29-31 in Carlsbad, Calif., brings together executives from the technology and media industries to discuss trend sof the day.
Iconfactory Releases Frenzic For Mac OS X
Players work to match wedge shapes to complete circles for points.
Virtual Realities: All The World On A Mac
Macs that run Windows via virtualization are here to stay.
Opinion
Why You Should Buy A MacBook Pro
"Screen Real Estate" increases productivity for even the most menial of computer tasks.
Invention Vs. Innovation
In the computer industry, invention is often the easy step. But those inventions aren't very useful by themselves. What's really needed is the know-how to take inventions and make them understandable and affordable to ordinary consumers. That is not something the patent system does a good job of protecting.
Apple's Mac Halo: No Myth
Industry watchers may be looking in the wrong places — Apple's halo is shining on all the right people and may soon light up parts of the business market.
Review
Roxio Toast Titanium 8 For Mac
Version 8 keeps the product up to date and delivers important new tools to the advanced Mac user.
Mac Virtualization: VMware And Parallels Side By Side
Finesse Your Files: Use Shortcuts, Launchers To Get Things Done
The first step in reducing clutter is to devise a system for managing the files you create and download. How extensive this system needs to be will depend on your organizational strategy.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
News
Mac Users 'Still Lax On Security'
Apple Mac users are still too lax when it comes to security matters, an independent researcher has said.
Sensor Firm Warns Apple Over iPhone
"We will be looking very carefully at the iPhone," is the warning to Apple from Southampton-based touch sensor specialist Quantum Research, which already has one lawsuit proceeding against Apple for patent infringement, and is prepared to bring another.
A Look Inside The iPod Nation
Apple has revolutionized the portable music industry to the point where it is becoming a rarity to see students on campus without white cords dangling from their ears.
How Steve Jobs Played Hardball In iPhone Birth
Behind the scenes in the making of the iPhone, Apple bucked the rules of the cellphone industry by wresting control away from the normally powerful wireless carriers.
Opinion
Steve Jobs, Proud To Be Non-Union
Steve Jobs makes a lot of sense when he's talking about music and copyright protection, but when the topic is schools, he seems to be on a different planet.
Windows Defections
Why, when Vista is now available, are Windows experts forsaking the platform?
Why I've Switched To Mac
After eight months, I'm more than happy. I've discovered a fantastic world made of always-working applications, great user experiences, cool user interfaces and a great improvement of my daily activities.
Dock Vs Start/Taskbar
For the average Joe, the Start button and menu system makes way more sense.
Things I Miss On Each OS
All this switching around has highlighted some small differences between the experiences where I wish one behaved like the other.
iPod Recharge Runs On Empty
The Music Listening Center now offers students a chance to charge their iPods for free.
I'm In ITunes Store Authorization Hell
This is why people go crazy. They get tech support responses that read like Get Well Soon cards written by second-graders to a teacher whose malady they don't understand.
Monday, February 19, 2007
News
Jobs To Hand Off Architectural Gem After Court Bars Demolition
Steve Jobs will give away his conroversial fixer-upper house in Woodside to a local investor who plans to spend between $4 million and $6 million to relocate and restore it.
iPods Used In Ankeny Classroom
iPods in school sound like something that might get you sent to the principal's office. But, at Northview Middle school in Ankeny they're being used to help kids with reading disabilities.
Opinion
"I Own A Mac, I Am Better Than You"
What is it with companies today that love to insult potential future customers?
MacBook Shootout. What To Do?
MacBook Pro v MacBook?
Apple Ships MacBook Back To Customer - But With Someone Else's Hard Drive Fitted
What's worse is that CompUSA and Apple really don't seem to care about the mistake and just expect the affected parties to delete the data and get on with their lives.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Opinion
I, Cringingly
It would've been a nice 1500-word analysis if the whole premise wasn't wrong.
How Apple Could Crush Dell
Apple is applying its integrated hardware-and-software model to running Windows via Boot Camp.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
News
eBay Watch: Apple iSight Sells For $610
Apple CEO Jobs Attacks Teacher Unions
Apple CEO Steve Jobs lambasted teacher unions today, claiming no amount of technology in the classroom would improve public schools until principals could fire bad teachers. Earlier in the panel discussion, Jobs said textbooks would be replaced with a free, online information source that was constantly updated by experts, much like the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
DRM Industry Gets Defensive Over Steve Jobs' Comments
It would appear that the DRM industry is starting to get a bit defesnsive about that whole Steve Jobs doesn't like DRM thing.
Mexican Airline Rents iPods
Mexican flight attendants now serve fistfuls of salted snacks, carbonated drinks and, for about $5, iPods.
Opinion
My Old iMac
My iMac was dead. The Power Supply probably went out during the car trip. I will always remember that iMac.
The iPhone: Mac Or iPod?
Mac or iPod? Jobs, Apple, and anyone who likes Apple's innovations had beeter hope it turns out to be the latter.
Why The iPhone Will Change The (PC) World
Imagine an iPhone the size of a big-screen TV. That's the PC of the future.
Appearances Can Be Deceiving: What's That 40-Gig Hard Drive Doing Inside My Apple TV?
Here is what I think is happening with the Apple TV hard drive. I think sometime this summer Apple will ship a firmware upgrade for the Apple TV and it will suddenly gain an important new capability. That's when the Apple TV becomes a node on the iTunes peer-to-peer video network.
Review
How Yojimbo Organizes You On Your Mac
I wasn't really adjusting my way of working so much as I finally found something that let me consolidate five or six applications into one that was easy to get started and grows with me. That's sweet. That's the Mac way.
Apple Offers 802.11n, And A Wireless Wow
Not only has Apple advanced the wireless world, it's now started users on the road to home storage networks.
AirPort Extreme Base Station
Apple's new AirPort Extreme Base Station may have been a long time coming, but it's worth the wait for anyone whose network needs either greater speed or longer distance.
Sidetrack
The Onion: Apple Hard at Work Making iPhone Obsolete
"When the second-generation iPhone comes out this fall, we want iPhone users to feel not just jealous, but downright foolish for owning such laughably primitive technology."
Friday, February 16, 2007
News
U.S. May Charge Ex-Execs At Broadcom, Apple: WSJ
Federal prosecutors are strongly considering criminal charges against former executives of Broadcom, Apple, and KLA-tencor, related to the backdating of stock optios, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.
Apple UK 'Get A Mac' Ads Backfire
Apple's new series of UK 'Get A Mac' ads appear to show Mac users as being smug.
Final Cut Pro And WebObjects Get Apple Updates
Apple, Cisco Extend Negotiations On iPhone Name
network equipment maker Cisco said it agreed to give Apple more time to respond to the lawsuit it filed over the "iPhone" trademark, extending negotiations until February 21.
Apple: Your Daylight Is Safe With Us
"Apple isproviding software updates for Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 and later based on worldwide time zone information available as of January 8, 2007."
Apple Plugs Four Security Holes
Apple issued four security updates Thursday to fix flaws in Mac OS X and iChat identified by the Month of Apple Bugs project.
Opinion
I Hate My MacBook Pro
There are some things I just can't stand; and they're ruining the whole experience for me.
A Scary Thought For Apple Users
Any problems with commitment from the Firefox team to the Mac platform could have a serious impact on the Mac unless Apple descides to get serious about fixing Safari.
Working With The System
Sometimes, it pays to work with OS X< rather than against it.
Apple Patent For Inductive iPhone Charging *Yawn*
The Annoying White iMac
While the white casing looks cool, modern, hip, luxurious, clean, and any other superlative you care to use, it's also distracting.
Another Windows User Brianwashed Into The Apple Cult
There are small things — but there's about a million of those small things in the day-to-day use of the computer, and the Mac is just better at them.
Apple Has Roped In The iGeneration
this is where Apple's brillance climaxes. With a generation hooked, they keep innovation high, prices reasonable, they'll keep wowing us until Bill Gates has an answer.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
News
Apple takes On Exchange Server
Apple is leveraging the power of open source development in a new effort to directly target Microsoft Exchange Server. A new standards based, open source Calendar Server will debut this year with Leopard Server.
Opinion
This Is Your Mac On Drugs
The Mac Thinks Different. Color #e3823c is different on Macs. Except sometimes.
Download Biz Has To Change, Or Digital Sales Will Be Playing A Swan Song
Nearly six years after the introduction of iTunes and the iPod, online music has failed to interest the vast majority of the world's music consumers.
A Lazy Web For Mac Apps?
Would developers monitor a resource like this for possible projects?
iPhone Competitors Not There Yet
Since Apple announced it would soon start selling a combined music player and mobile device called the iPhone, industry experts have predicted that competing cell phone makers would rise to the challenge and start producing equally exciting phones. They may yet to do that, but so far they haven't.
Even Mac Poseurs Are Laughing At You
You realize that even poseurs laugh at your fix...
Review
MediaCentral 2.5
If you are looking for a single point for managing and viewing your movies, streaming internet content, viewing photos, and listen to music, MediaCentral is the all-in-one app you've been waiting for.
Reclaiming Disk Space Under Mac OS X
One way to reclaim hard disk space is to actually reduce the contents of your applications themselves.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
News
The Next Class Fits In Your Pocket
Distance learning has been around for decades, but thanks to the iPod and other digital music players, higher education is becoming as portable as a pop song.
Coral To Apple: We've Got Your Interoperable DRM Right Here!
Coral is not itself a DRM scheme; it is a method for translating between DRM schemes.
Greenpeace Activists Claim Apple May Clean Up Its Act
Greenpeace activists GreenMyApple.org claim Apple may be preparing to take steps to address their criticisms of the company's environmental record.
Warner Boss Seeks Middle Way For Mobile Music
"DRM and interoperability are not the same thing," stressed Edgar Bronfman Jr, head of Warner Music. "We believe very strongly in interoperability. Consumers want it, consumers should have it."
Visit The Apple Store In Second Life
Someone has created an unofficial virtual replica of Apple's famed retail stores. They come complete with vintage Think Different posters and a virtual Genius Bar.
When The iPod Wheezes, Some Owners Call The Doctor
A self-styled iPod Doctor, the affable Demetrios Leontaris is a full-time iPod resuscitator, part of a cotage industry catering to music devotees whose musical companions have fallen ill, usually from mistreatment.
Opinion
iWorld: Why The iPod Personalizes Everything
That's the beauty of the iPod. there's no jamming it.
Why I Don't Believe Steve Jobs
We may see the end of protected music downloads, but it won't be Apple's doing.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
News
Beatles Ready For Legal Downloading Soon
"It will be on all the services, not just one."
Apple Denies Apple TV Delay Rumors
"We're still planning to release Apple TV in February, as announced," a spokeswoman for Apple said.
Unplugging An iPod: Harder Than It Should Be
Apple has proposed a mechanism for validating the connection between two divices and leaving the iPod unmounted unless there is a communication in progress.
Lionsgate Signs Up With iTunes For Movie Deal
Lionsgate and Apple announced a distribution deal that will see the iTunes Store expand its catalog of online movies by more than 150 titles in February, including hits like "Terminator 2."
Opinion
Mac Convert?
Number one feature that I love is application installation / uninstallation.
A Windows Kinda Guy Does A Mac Kinda Thing
I've not seen anything that is as friendly as Parallels Desktop for Mac.
That Web Look
Youf eel that a typically British sarcastic barb or aside is just around the corner, as if it was a sketch.
Filtering Out iPhone Speculation
To add some measure of a reality check to all this iPhone pondering, we're taking a closer look at some of the more frequently asserted opinions to see which ones provide more noise than signal.
Command, Option, Control
The problem from the music industry's perspective is their technically ludicrous pipe dream of devising a scheme that forces everyone to pay for every single song they play. They obsess over pirates while taking their honest customers for granted.
Review
FinanceToGo 1.1: Financial Application Offers Alternative To Established Accounting Programs
While it appears that FastForward Software will aggressively update this application, there are several other programs on the market that offer more features and functionality for the same or only slightly more money.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Top Stories
Stained Glass?
Boston's first Apple flagship store is coming soon to the Black Bay — a smooth, clear jewel box of a building — and it promises to be the Hub's most exciting piece of retail architecture in years. Its arrival shows that Boston wants contemporary design to blend in with the historic. But there may be a flaw — not in Apple's vision, but in the city's.
News
IBM Aims To Lower Cost Of Using Linux, Apple PCs
IBM said on Sunday it will offer an open desktop software system for businesses that puts the cost of managing Apple or Linux computers on a more equal footing with Microsoft's Windows software, improving the economiscs of Windows alternative.
VMWare On (Not) Virtualizing OS X: "Oh Yeah, Us Too."
Neither VMWare nor Parallels is willing to risk angering the deities that reside at Apple corporate just for a few extra software sales.
Opinion
Understanding Palm: What Ed Colligan Really Said
I sympathize with reporters sometimes. If you attend an event, you're expected to write about it — even if there isn't any news.
Hosing OS X With Apple's iDea Of 'Expected Behaviour'
A demonstration of how a fully up-to-date Apple OS X computer can be destroyed.
Microsoft And Apple Agree: Blanket Virtualization Is A No-No
Parallels executives have been quoted as being angered by Microsoft's policy to allow only the pricier versions of Vista to be used with Parallels without an additional license. But the Parallels brass don't seem overly upset by similar licensing restrictions allegedly imposed by Apple.
Can A PC Guy Become A Mac Guy?
Why, after nineteen years of using PC products would I consider a Mac? Well, it isn't because I believe in being trendy. It's a mix of business reasons and technology reasons.
Why The "i" In iTunes Should Stand For "Indy"
The last frontier for iTunes isn't music, and it certainly isn't merely video. It's got to be community-generated content.
Where The Heck Is The Mac News?
The dearth of meaty Mac news means that I spend far too much time speculating about the iPhone and talking about Vista.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
News
Sneak Preview Of Europe's Internet Video Market
Apple's expected entry into online video in Europe has TV broadcasters bracing for advantage.
Xbox 360 Nixes AirPort Security
Despite being based on semi-officially endorsed standards, Apple's new AirPort Extreme Base Station isn't properly supported by Microsoft's Xbox 360.
The Buzz On The Beats
The debate resonated throughout the blogosphere.
Wintel
Vista's Successor, Longhorn Deja Vu?
To me it all sounds like: "We're going to do big, big things, but we don't know exactly what they are yet."
Biting Words On Apple Come Back To Haunt Dell
Michael Dell offered up some harsh advice a decade ago on how to fix struggling Apple Computer, words that now provide an ironic sting for the newly minted CEO of his own slumping company.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
News
Return Of MP3 Player Levy Urged
Canadian music industry representatives are re-opening an old debate about MP3 players that could see the average price of the devices climb by as much as $75.
Mac OS X 10.5: Shining The Spotlight On Spotlight
With Leopard, look for welcome refinements to Apple's search tool.
Parallels: "We Won't Virtualize OS X Until Apple Says So"
Parallels has decided that unlike VMWare's moral conflict over the issue, they have no qualms over being the good guys (in Apple's eyes), for the time being.
Opinion
Yes! They Took The Bait! Music Industry Grumbles About Jobs' Vision Of A DRM Free Future
The louder they complain, the b etter it will be for Apple and Jobs.
The Day Steve Jobs Killed Apple And Other Anecdotes
With Mac OS X Leopard features still up in the air, Apple's developers conference is now the locus of rumors. Will this WWDC prove to be as critical to ISVs (and the Mac's future) as the one held 10 years ago?
What Happened To Apple.com?
It was obvious that Steve Jobs had something to say about the Apple.com redesign back in 2000 and he was clearly interested at the time. Jobs may have lost interest or he may have allowed politics to get in the way of design, but now the Apple.com website is a mess.
Friday, February 9, 2007
News
More Options Problems For Jobs
It appears that when Jobs tried to pluck John Lasseter for Pixar, the film director was supplied with a stock options package that was backdated three months before the signing of any employment contract.
Virtualization Vendor Warns Mac Users With Vista Dreams
The makers of Parallels say the licensing agreement makes it uncertain whether its customers won't hear from Microsoft's legal department in the future.
Steve Jobs Wants To End DRM, But Apple Develops New Access Control Technology
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a new Apple patent application for securing and controlling access to digital data.
Glass-Adorned Apple Store Sydney Revealed
Apple's design proposal for its retail store in Australia includes three floors at the base of Sydney sky-rise building just outside the spectacular maritime setting of the King Street Wharf.
Opinion
Please Make QuickTime Pro Free!
Apple should give it all up and set QuickTime free. After all, they have record profits, right?
Jobs Drowning In His Own Kupertino Kook-Aid
Neither Jobs nor Apple are the harmless sheep he wants you to think they are. He was well aware that the record labels wouldn't say yes and the company's growing dominance has left many its wake reeling. Beware. Underneath that while wool are fangs and dripping saliva; the stuff wolves are made of.
10 Years Of MacBU
We are setting the stage for some fast action innovation and delivery that I think is going to make folks sing, not just for Office 2008, but beyond.
Is Interoperable DRM Inherently Less Secure? The Case Of FairPlay Versus Windows Media
We can say with some certainty that in Microsoft's case, the licensed DRM model has indeed proven to be as secure as Apple's closed model, if not more so.
Windows Expert To Redmond: Buh-Bye
Bye-bye Windows! My three-month Macintosh trial has ended, but my permanent gig with the Mac is just getting started. Apple's MacBook Pro and Mac OS X are now my computer and operating system of choice.
A Few More "Thoughts On Music"
Apple's Jobs left a few music downloading scenarios off his list. Here's a suggestion for testing his proposal to ditch DRM.
Could Apple Overtake Microsoft?
Market value aside, there is no doubt that Apple currently seems to have all the momentum — in a corporate sense, at least — while Microsoft has increasingly little. Whether the smaller company can maintain that momentum, and continue to gain ground on its much larger competitor, is the billion-dollar question.
Living In A Beta World
We will continue to see companies embrace beta testing as a way to set the roadmap for their products.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
News
Goldman Bumps Apple From Conviction Buy List
Goldman Sachs on Thursday dropped Apple from its Conviction Buy list, citing the potential for negative speculation in the months leadingup to the company's June iPhone launch.
Apple May Ax Next-Gen HDD iPod In Favor Of All-Flash Models
Apple may begin transitioning its flagship iPod models away from hard disk drive (HDD)-based storage and towards solid-state NAND flash memory by the end of year. According to an "IT Hardware" report from Prudential Equity Group analyst Jesse Tortora, the move would pave the way for smaller form factor players, a more diverse model mix, and improvements to both battery life and durability.
CEO Confirms "At Least Three" ARM Processors In iPhone
Warren East, president and chief executive officer of ARM Holdings plc, has confirmed that "at least three" processor cores developed at his company are present within the iPhone from Apple Inc.
Partners, Rivals React To Jobs' Anti-DRM Comments
The recording industry's trade group urged Apple to license its FairPlay DRM to other companies, while one of the iTunes Store's biggest rivals called the advent of DRM-free online music inevitable.
Bill Banning iPods In Crosswalks Slated For Albany
First it was cell phones in cars, then trans fats. Now, a new plan is on the table to ban gadget use while crossing city streets.
RIAA Misreads Jobs' Open Letter On DRM, Thinks He's Offering To License FairPlay
We already knew that the majors are totally in denial about this stuff, but to pretent that his letter (however motivated) was anything other than a broadside against DRM is silly.
Birthday Gift For MacBU
We were celebrating MacBU's 10th anniversary!
Apple: None Of Our Products Are Windows Vista Compatible
According to a document that Apple has posted on its web site, none of the software that it's made available for Windows environment has been updated for Vista compatibility. That includes not only iTunes, but QuickTime, Airport for Windows, Bonjour for Windows, iDisk utility and AppleWorks for Windows.
Opinion
Steve Jobs Likes To Repeat Himself
We thought it would be appropriate to remind ourselves of his glorious RDF moments of yore, and there didn't seem to be much of a better way to capture it all in a nutshell than this, um, repetitive video of his favorite RDF-inducing expressions.
Send Jobs, Music And Money
The Apple guru is right — let the music play unrestricted.
OS X Is The New Linux
I can't install OS X on my PC, so why should we expect Microsoft to allow the opposite?
Gil Amelio, Where Are You?
I still believe the idea of OpenDoc is sound. What's more, I think the idea is happening all around us, just in a very poor Greenspuns 10th law type of way.
Note To Self: Don't Tick Off Apple, iTunes Community
The inference i gain from iTunes' designation is that everything not purchased from iTunes would be not "purchased", i.e. "stolen."
The Cocoa Text Editor
What's with the cocoa text editor? Who designed it? A writer? I don't think so. A programmer, probably.
On The DRM Front
Apple is saying that it believes that the iPod and iTunes and the integration of the two is so superior that it is willing to compete on no other basis.
Apple Has Been Telling Its Own Story For Years
The company's (i.e. his) paranoid secrecy is specifically designed to hype those speeches, where most of Apple's real news is released.
Is Jobs Making Nice With Europe?
Jobs could simply be using a well-worn page from his playbook — look where the market is heading, and get ahead of it.
Apple Is Now A Media Company
To me the clear subtext of the Jobs piece is that Apple is today a media company. When the CEO goes direct to the people he wants to influence, without using other media to carry the story, something not too subtle has changed.
Sidetrack
As Steve Jobs explained clearly, DRM is never foolproof. The whole idea is to keep secrets — because if the encrypted data, the encryption algorithm, and the decryption key are all in the hands of the same party, namely the customers, there is really nothing stopping the customers from cracking the code.
That's why all DRMs will eventually be broken — whether you're talking about FairPlay or PlayForSure or Zune.
That's why the music industry's cry for an industry-wide DRM solution makes no sense at all technically. It can never work.
But there's a solution out, if the music industry truly believes in music portability across devices and companies. And that's GUIDs.
Each piece of music sold can be tracked by an identification code, or a certificate, that can be verified to be authentic. (I'm a bit hazy about details here, but I'm thinking if it works for SSL, it should work here too.) An iTunes certificate for a particular song, for example, will authentic that the song has been legally purchased from iTunes store. With this certificate, the customer can, for example, play the music on five different computers or iPods.
But what if one of the computer is a Zune, which, obviously, iTunes doesn't support? Well, all the customer need to do is present the certificate to the Zune store, and the Zune store will simply verify the certificate with the iTunes store. If everything works out, the customers can download another copy of the same song from the Zune store encoded in a different DRM, and have that piece of music playable on the Zune.
Ironing out the policy issues — such as how many devices is playable, the B2B interfaces and the matter of who pays for all that downloads — is not trivial, of course. But if portability is what the music industry is going after, they need not pursue an industry-wide DRM system.
(Of course, a DRM-free world is even better.)
Will this work technically? Or, even if this works technically, is this a bigger mess than what we already have today? Feedback at webmaster@myapplemenu.com.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Top Stories
Thoughts On Music
Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free... Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.
News
Jobs' Comments Not Good Enough For Norwegian Group
Just because three major online music retailers bind their music stores to specific portable players doesn't make it acceptable, a Norwegian consumer group leading the charge against Apple's DRM policy said.
Apple To Set Up Shop In Downtown Sydney
Apple is finalising plans to build its first official retail stores in Australia, with at least one set for Sydney.
Norway Responds To Jobs' Open DRM Letter
"We're happy to see Steve Jobs take on the responsibility that follows from Apple's role as one of the leading companies in the digital sphere and comment on the complaint issued by the Norwegian Consumer Council."
Apple's Jobs Calls For DRM-Free World
Many record companies executives are unlikely to be thrilled by the letter, Gartner analyst Mike McGuire said. However, there's also the possibility that others within the record industry who have been calling for a change could seize upon the letter as evidence that the current system is broken.
Apple Sets The Date For WWDC
Apple on Tuesday set the date for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The 2007 conference will be held in San Francisco, Calif. between June 11-15, 2007.
Opinion
Steve Jobs And The Digital Rights Bugaboo
He's right, the music industry is strangling itself.
Steve's Misleading Statistics
There may be 90 million iPods sold, but not all of them are currently in use. Furthermore, it's the number of iTunes Store customers and average sales per customer that's relevant, and Apple has never disclosed these figures.
The 10 Worst Things About Apple
Arrogant, litigious, lunatic...
Imaging A World Without DRM
Even in a DRM-less world, brand loyalty and quality of service is going to keep iTunes popular. Apple seems to have no fear of competing with other online music stores.
Steve Jobs And DRM
Steve Jobs' essay is exactly what I wanted to hear from Apple. My one question to Steve would be, why doe she not sell DRM-free songs on iTunes today from smaller labels or artists who do not wish to protect their works?
Review
The World Is Your... Desktop
EarthDesk puts a map of the world on your Dekstop — a live map that's updated as frequently as you like.
Sidetrack
Steve Jobs To Universal: Not Gonna Pay You Money Per Pod
The way I read it, Steve Jobs' now famous blog post is not simply targetted at European countries, but also targetted to Universal. It's a preemptive strike before negotiations on license renewal, and the message is clear: Apple is willing to stop selling DRM-protected music by Universal. iPod customers can easily get Universal music from CDs or from other music stores because DRM-free is the future. The loss of Universal music from iTunes is not a big deal. (What is left unsaid, of couse, is that many iPod customers can continue to pirate Universal music.)
Basically, Apple still have the upper-hand.
P.S. I don't see this as Apple's call to music labels to sell DRM-free music online. I see this as Apple's early warning to music lables that they will be forced to start selling DRM-free music online.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
News
Corel Unveils Painter X
In addition to being Universal Binary, the new version of Painter adds many new features aimed at blurring the lines between traditional and digital art.
Apple Ad Lets Rip At Vista Security
Apple has unleashed an all-new 'Get a Mac' ad, and this one hits Windows where it's weakest — security.
Apple And The Beatles Give Peace A Chance
The long-standing dispute between Apple Inc and The Beatles' company Apple Corps over usage of the Apple trademark has been resolved, the companies announced today. Apple Inc (the computer company) will own all of the trademarks related to 'Apple' and will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for its continued use.
What To Expect With Lightroom 1.0
Adobe isn't planning on putting out another public beta, but the company gave Macworld a copy of the latest beta to us to play with, so we could get a sense of what the final product will look like when it ships on February 19.
Opinion
iPod Will Be The New CD
Imagine a whole range of inexpensive, special-edition iPods branded with popular bands containing a new album, or their whole catalogs.
Mac Acquired
It seems like Microsoft is more concerned about the OEM's & channels & VARs & corporate customer's users first and then individual end user second. But Apple seem to care more about you, the individual user, first, right from the start.
Cube Again
Last week, my G4 Cube was returned to me after a year's absense, looking and working quite a bit worse for the wear.
Apple's Linkblog And Its PR Influence
By linking to something on a corporate web site, you're basically making a statement without uttering a word. And that's almost like blogging.
3 Ways The Beatles May Change iPods And Apple
Apple could sell CDs and bundle music with iPods.
Does Using A Mac Get You To Think Differently?
The value of using a Mac goes beyond the physical use of the hardware and software. It exposes us to a new way of thinking.
On Apple And Anonymity: Who Was That Masked Man?
So what is it about anonymity when it comes to the Mac community?
Review
Apple AirPort Extreme
Signal strength and wireless range are stellar. The overall results in computer-to-computer data transfer tests show that the 802.11n protocol come close to half the speeds of wired networks. That's an impressive feat.
Sidetrack
Monday, February 5, 2007
News
Sony Joins iPod Accessory Market
Sony is getting into the iPod accessory market with the US launch of an iPod docking station.
Opinion
An Extended Conversation With Bill Gates
"I don't even get that." "Me neither, Bill, me neither."
Jim Allchin To Bill Gates: I Would Buy A Mac Today
So tell e, oh ye of the PC world. Am I wrong in my thinking? Is the whole basis for which Windows is now built over-complicated? Is a Mac the answer or should Microsoft embrace a more simplified approach?
MacBook Pro: Now Or Wait?
With Apple, it has become increasingly difficult to pinpoint when is the most ideal time to purchase a new machine.
I Hate Macs
Ultimately the campaign's biggest flaw is that it perpetuates the notion that onsumers somehow "define themselves" with the technology they choose.
Review
iClip 4 For Mac
It seems so simple, and yet I have found iClip has become an irreplaceable part of my workflow.
Wintel
Uninspiring Vista
For me, if the choice is between struggling to configure every feature and being able to boot up and get to work, at long last I choose the Mac.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
News
Advertising Jabs Between Microsoft, Apple Not Getting Any Nicer
It's unclear if the ads have had a direct effect on Mac sales, but analysts say they have played a role in raising the public's awareness of Apple, alongside the immense popularity of the iPod player, Apple's growing number of retail stores and its new line of computers using Intel chips.
iPhone Demands Challenge Suppliers
Apple's new iPhone is music to the ears of Asian handset-components makers, but analysts say a runaway success for the feature-jammed phone could create huge challenges for some of those parts suppliers.
Apple Warns That It May Lose Select Listing With Nasdaq
Apple has given warning that it could be removed from the highly regarded Nasdaq Global Select Market, as the maker of iPod and Macintosh acknwoledged for the first time that it was the subject of a federal investigation into its stock option practices.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
News
Apple, Nike Sued Over iPod Sport Kit
Apple and Nike are being sued by a Colorado company accusing them of infringing a patent covering shoes that collect data on the wearer's activity in their Nike+iPod Sport Kit.
Apple Patents Point To iPhone Lockdown
If implemented, the technology could extend Apple's control over the iPod and iPhone ecosystem in ways both positive and negative for consumers.
Apple Warns Of "Distraction" Over Options Scandal
An update to Apple's latest 10-Q reiterates an attitude of transparency regarding the options scandal.
Patents Paving The Way For iTS On iPhone?
Essentially, Apple has patented a method by which a wireless device (hmm... the iPhone?) could access the iTunes Store and purchase content.
Duncan Shiek: Awakening Spring With Rock
"Our conceit in the show is to let the adolescent characters have a catharsis through indie-rock music."
Opinion
Vista Is Here. So What Does It Mean For Virtualization?
Microsoft has released a new EULA (End User License Agreement) that states that only certain versions of Vista — Business and Ultiamte (and Enterprise for corporate customers) are eligible to be run in a virtual machine. The EULA says that Home Basic and Home Premium cannot be run in a virtual machine.
Lies, Damned Lies, And Bill Gates
It's either an angry, slanderous lie, or Bill Gates is an uninformed jackass.
Review
DiskWarrior 4: Time-Honored Disk Maintenance And Repair Tool Stays Essential
Throughout many years, this program has showed its value as a data and bacon saver, and this new version continues to provide essential maintenance and repair features. This may be one of the few programs that every Mac user should own.
In-Ear Headphones Really Make A Difference
What's wrong with the Apple-supplied earphones that are included with the iPod? Nothing really — the first time I heard them, I thought they sound pretty good. But then I tried a set of in-ear headphones from Future Sonics, which is when I realized what I had been missing, both in terms of comfort and music quality.
Sidetrack
Shame on you, Apple; don't you care about your customers?
The beta versions of Windows Vista has been out for months and months, and only now you've discover that there is a problem with iTunes on Vista? And it's only now that you're advising your customers not to upgrade to Windows Vista if there are tunes bought from your store?
What a shame.
Friday, February 2, 2007
News
Apple Confirms US Regulators Want More Options Documents
Apple has confirmed that US regulators investigating its stock options backdating case have informally requested more information from the company.
Apple Issues Patch For iTunes On Vista
The company says the software update — which is for Vista users only (whether the operating system is installed on a Mac or a PC) — will: "Repair permissions for important files required by iTunes to play your iTunes store purchases."
Disney Sells 1.3m Films On iTunes
Downloads of Walt Disney films on the iTunes platform have risen sharply to more than 1.3m after only 3 months on sale, putting pressure on other Hollywood studios to join Apple's digital service.
Interarchy Interview: Peter N Lewis And Matthew Drayton
It's not every day that one of the most popular indie Mac apps in history changes hands, but that's what happened today, when Matthew Drayton and his new company, Nolobe, acquired the rights to Interarchy from Peter N Lewis' Stairways Software.
Al Gore, 'Valley Guy'
What is less known — and what could become a political problem — is the way Gore has become enmeshed, and enriched, in Silicon Valley through his association with a close-knit elite that includes Apple founder and Chief Executive Steve Jobs, Google Chief Executive Eri Schmidt and venture capitalist John Doerr, a Google director.
Sonsini Advised On Apple Options
When Apple Inc. tried to hammer out a new compensation agreement for iconic CEO Steve Jobs in 2001 — an agreement now being probed by federal prosecutors — the company called on Larry Sonsini, the lead partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Playing iTunes On Windows Vista Requires Tricky Workaround
Until Apple comes out with its update, users have to right click on the iTunes.exe program, select Properties, click on the Compatibility tab and then on 'Run This Program As An Administrator.'
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Hospital: High-Definition Endoscopy
Dr Roy Soetikno, head of the Gastrointestinal Section and Endoscopy Unit at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Hospital and an ackownledged visionary in the field has developed a simple way for physicians to revisit colonoscopies using Apple technology.
Freeverse Releases Big Bang Brain Games
If you're looking for fun games to exercise your noggin, look no further than Freeverse Software's latest release.
Opinion
A Rebuttal: Apple's Future Is Real, Not Virtual
Apple's in the business of selling experience. They spend a lot of money developing their hardware and software to give their uses the best possible experience. I certainly don't think they're about to compromise that vision jsut to make a few more bucks on hardware sales that, let's face it, they don't really need anyway.
New Chips Are Nice, But How About Some New Cases, Apple?
All of which is great for computing power but bad for satisfying that new case urge so many Mac fans secretly have.
Review
xPad Notepad Document Manager Mini-Review
xPad is a nice little minimalist note pad application. It doesn't have the power of desktop database notepads like DEVONnote or NotePad Deluxe, but they may be overkill for your needs and xPad is free.
MYOB AccountEdge 2007: Accounting Application Update Features Universal Support, Minor Enhancements
MYOB AccountEdge 2007 is a great accounting application for small and mid-size business, and this Universal version is a significant upgrade to last year's offering.
