Friday, November 30, 2001
Opinion
Macs No Bargain!
Secondhand Mac is worth a lot more than a secondhand PC.
Has Apple Quality Control Bitten The Dust?
Whose fault is it? Yours, as you wanted thin and light.
Review
Personal Finance Software
The nimble Quicken 2002 steps past the clumsy new MoneyDance.
Speed Limits
A few tricks and tweaks can make your Internet connection faster.
Sidetrack
Random
Doc Searls on OS X: In fact, I'm having a hard time finding anything that sucks.
Hocus Focus: Societé Pour La Preservation de Hocus Focus.
Kevin Werbach: The airwaves are a public resource. Thanks to technology, licensing them for exclusive use is no longer the best way to reap their benefits.
Can't decide? Give the Apple Gift Card.
Wintel
Xbox Sales Target Set For Europe
1.5 million consoles in the first three months.
Ballmer Discusses Xbox's 'Broader Concept'
It's not just a games console, it's the beginnner of an entertainment hub.
Xbox Goes Under The Knife
People just will not stop tinkering with their Xboxes!
Thursday, November 29, 2001
Top Stories
Doesn't Anybody Plan Anything Anymore?
If any corporation in America could compete for the term "dolt," Apple ranks high on the list of nominees.
Visions Of Toasters And iPods Dance In Their Heads
This year's picks, available online as well as at Apple's new retail stores,a re sure to please anyone. Except maybe Bill Gates.
News
Spreading The Power Of X
Apple's new OS was designed to run only on G3s and G4s, but a resourceful developer has circumvented such limitations.
Prudential Sees A Boost For Gateway, Apple
Retail PC foot traffic and unit sales are in some cases slightly better than prior holiday season trends.
Opinion
What If Apple Made An iCam?
Make a digital camera with all the advantages of an iPod.
Of Apples And Oranges
Apple is a different kind of company. Don't lump it in with the rest of the PC industry.
Apple For The Teacher? Not If MS Shows Up In Schools
Whatever you think about Microsoft, you have to give them credit. I mean, who else could turn a billion-dollar "gift to education" into an anti-competitive business practice?
Apple CEO Jobs Is Right, Microsoft Settlement Is Wrong
Tuesday's decision by Jobs to potentially risk this relationship with Microsoft by speaking out is an indication of just how inappropriate he feels the proposed "remedy" really is.
Review
Apple iPod
If you are willing to give up that $399.95, then the iPod will bring you joy.
My New Favorite Toy
iPod solves today's music-listening problem. That's just amazing.
What's New: Top 10 Gadgets
Can Apple breath life into a virtually dead MP3 market? The iPod has the right credentials.
A Week With The iPod
Bottom line: good for a 1.0 product, looking for the 1.1.
Sidetrack
Random
Sharp to release new handheld music, video player... The new palmtop device may be compared with Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod digital music player.
Bite.org: Complaining about a wildly speculative and unscientific survey qualifies as 'blather.'
Dan Hughes: The OS X-native version streams well and has a decent interface. Best of all, Microsoft has used the file bundling feature of OS X to its fullest. Nice!
OpenOSX: Install the world's most popular and powerful 'Unix' applications Macintosh style.
I wish I can use the phrase "I'm your huckleberry" more often.
Why is New York City called The Big Apple, and hence make my usage of search engines to look for articles about Apple a little more diffcult.
Wintel
Dell Hopes To Lure Chinese Buyers With Cheap PCs
Dell is adapting its approach to tap the consumer sector in China — one of the few healthy markets in an otherwise ailing industry.
Stop Whingeing About 'Windows Tax'
Microsoft's controversial new software licensing structure has been tipped by analysts to succeed.
Microsoft Wants Windows To Be Heart Of The Home Network
Microsoft is touting its new Windows XP operating system as the software of choice for a home "server."
Microsoft Previews Xbox In Singapore
For now, Xbox enthusiasts will just have to be satisfied with a sneak preview.
WinXP Steals Your Bandwidth
20 percent bandwidth reserved for... well, just in case.
Intel's Battle With Broadcom Comes To Court
Fight over patents.
The Microsoft Resistance
Redmond may have triumphed legally and financially — but there are still little ways to strike blows against the empire.
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Top Stories
Beware Of Geeks Bearing Gifts
Bill Gates hopes to placate trustbusters by giving computers to poor schools. Unless Apple moves quickly, Microsoft could dominate classrooms, too.
News
CDFinder Update Adds iPod Support
CDFinder is a shareware tool for cataloging hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, floppies, ZIPs and "anything else that spins."
Experts Ready For Macworld San Francisco
This ain't your parents' Mac.
Review
Apple Computer iPod
Simply beautiful, beautifully simple.
Sidetrack
Macintosh 2001 = Windows 1992
Apple: Investigate using path-based file-system APIs.
Update on Nov 30: This tech note was subsequently removed.
Rumor Monger
According to the mole reporting to The Register, we should see PowerMac G5 this coming Macworld SF. That's less than 2 months away. And if past experience is of any guide, availability of the machines will be just a little after that.
Of course, past experience also tells us not to believe too much...
Random
Andy Serwer: Seems like old times. Steve Jobs went ballistic on Microsoft today.
Cameron Barrett: Apple is not a monopoly and is not in any position to hurt other companies financially through unethical (and sometimes illegal) business decisions.
Damien Barrett: I just moved 1.5GB of MP3's to my iPod in under 3 minutes. Speaks for itself. Are there any reasons why FireWire will not be big?
Wintel
Senate To Review Microsoft
Judiciary Committee wants to probe effectiveness of antitrust settlement.
Microsoft Secures New Vice President
Intel Admits Pentium 4 Supplies Still Tight
Volumes may not increase significantly this quarter.
Microsoft Move May Hasten Settlement Of European Case
The move is procedural, but it could hasten the path toward settlement in Europe by allowing talks to begin earlier and avoid a possibly confrontational hearing.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Top Stories
Apple Shares Hit $20 Mark
Apple's stock crossed the $20 mark in yesterday's trading, closing at $21.37.
News
Apple Hopes Stores Lure New Faces, Please Fans
Apple coming to town — whoa. It seems like manna from Cupertino.
Apple Risks Fresh Microsoft Feud
Hard-Drive Makers Want To Pick Up Speed
Compaq, IBM,and the biggest hard drive manufacturers hav ebegun a programt o revamp high-end disk drives with the same technology being brought to lower-end models.
The Dreamlike Animation Of "Waking Life"
The use of Apple technology allowed Richard Linklater to make the first ever independent feature-length animated movie for the same cost as a typical independent film.
DVD PCs — Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe
Amateur moviemakers are suddenly faced with too much of a good thing.
Latest From Apple At eWorld
Apple Computer Systems (M) Sdn Bhd is planning to spice up eWorld 2001 by hosting seminars and technology showcases.
iPod Leads The Pack
Mediafour plans to release a demo before Christmas.
Apple Shares Hit $20 Mark
Apple's stock crossed the $20 mark in yesterday's trading, closing at $21.37.
Opinion
Hooked By Apple Engineering
I'm hooked. Thank you, Apple.
Review
Why The New PowerBook G4 Is A Major Fashion Victim
TiBook Rev B offers many small improvements over the first iteration, but it still doesn't have the right balance of utility and finesse that the iBook does.
MP3 The Next Generation
Elite models can fit thousands of songs in a palm of the listen's hand.
Apple Turns In A Pair Of Winners For The Holiday Season
There are some extremely cool gadgets out this holiday season.
Sidetrack
Jobs Jobs Jobs
We need a better way to match people with jobs. And Monsters.com is not the answer.
The majority of our life is spent working — day in, day out, until we expire. One would think somebody would have invented (and patented) a good way to match people and jobs. But, no. Finding a right job is still, for most people, a tedious and luck-dependant process. And vice versa.
To me, I find it interesting to work and learn different things in my career, always able to wake up each morning and say, "I totally don't know a single thing about such and such, and I better do some learning today." But, one would also need to work on more and more challenging problems, more in-depth, more difficult, where your previous experience and learning play a great role in performing in a job.
And these two things, it seems, doesn't co-exist easily within one single job.
I envy Richard Feynman.
Wintel
Dell Campaign Reaches Most Internet Users
More than six million people in Britain were exposed to Dell Computers' online advertising campaign in October 2001.
Educators To Oppose Microsoft's Deal
The proposal will further Microsoft's competitive advantage in schools while doing little to meet the poorest schools' extensive needs.
Microsoft $1bn Schools Offer 'Would Inflict Great Harm'
The Computer and Communications Industry Association says it is tantamount to judicially sanctioned predatory pricing.
Monday, November 26, 2001
Opinion
Converting Windows Users With The iPod
Give them a voucher for 20 minutes use of a Mac in the outlet where they bought their iPod.
Review
Office V. X Added To OS X Makes The Mac Worthwhile
The Macintosh looks to be a cutting-edge and competitive computer platform thanks to OS X and Office v. X, which are impressive achievements.
To Upgrade OS Or Not To Upgarde, That Is The Question
In the long run you'll be happy you upgraded.
Bargain Hunting For The Holidays
If this is your year to buy a high tech holiday present, you might be especially gifted.
Rich Color Printing For Any Budget
Today's inexpensive inkjets are better than ever, and big spenders will find a color laser is downright unbeatable.
Sidetrack
Random
Quick Vote: Is the iPod the next iMac or G4 Cube?
Stephen H. Wildstrom, BusinessWeek: Apple Computer has taught us that computer products can be both functional and handsome.
Have you tried searching for 'google' in Google? Interesting links...
Jeff Adkins, in The Lite Site: myPCmenu.com... they list every press release related to PeeCees and have an excellent PeeCee section set in 56 point type.
I figured out something a while ago: I don't want to earn money as a programmer by the time I reach 40. Well, today, my real job officially don't need me to program. But — I still haven't figure out what I want to do at 40.
The only thing I can think of right now is to open my own sandwich shop.
Rumor Monger
Bigger screens! Bigger screen! From the consistent 17-inch iMac, to the latest 13.7 inch iBook, the rumor of bigger screens never stops.
Maybe that does tell something to Apple's engineering.
Wintel
Is It Time For Developers To Trust Microsoft?
Should small developers trust Microsoft or stay true to their instincts?
Windows XP Fails To Spark Demand For PCs
Sales of PCs loaded with Microsoft's Windows XP have been largely flat since it was launched last month.
Microsoft Unveils New eHome Unit
Some of the futuristic technology in Bill Gates' mansion could be heading for less-affluent consumers.
Best Of The Mac Web Survey
Over 2,000 people shared their opinion of some of the best known Mac-related sites on the web — as well as a few of the newest.
WinXP Effect Sends PC Sales Up And Down In Japan
The problem is that the ups or downs depend on whether you compare the laucnh week with the week before, or with the same week a year before.
BadTrans Virus Bites Windows Users Hard
Mass mailer outbreak
Intel Unveils Chip Advances
Intel will continue doubling the performance of microchips every 18 to 24 months through the end of the decade.
Sunday, November 25, 2001
Opinion
Delightful Gadget Prompts Important Reminder
This cranky columnist was reminded once again about how wide the gap remains between those who have the stuff we take for granted on the binary beat and the rest of our community.
Lessons Learned
A good backup routine and a well-stocked utility toolbox can help avoid computing disasters of all kinds.
Review
Blemishes Don't Mar Apple's iPod
Apple's stunning new iPod digital music player brings a few disappointments when actually used.
Mac OS X, Office X A Stable Team
A new office productivity suite makes the strongest case yet for a switch to OS X.
Sidetrack
My 10.1.1 Experience
Apple killed my Mail.app. Just like everyone else who moved the Mail application out of the /Application folder, I have a non-working Mail folder instead. However, copying the new stuff into my original Mail.app didn't worked, and I ended up with two copies of Mail that cannot launch. (Yeah, I didn't back-up. That's another lesson learnt.)
So, Eudora gained a customer - my wife. (I was using Eudora all along.) Thankfully, not much training required.
Mac OS X is so new, I guess it will be some time before we are all so expert in troubleshooting.
Quicktime TV
Why hasn't there been new QuickTime TV channels? Shouldn't there be hundreds and hundreds by now? (Okay, I've just gotten Cable Modem, and I have nothing to try except AdCritic and iFilm.)
Apple Retail
Doc Searls: Meanwhile, I'm revisiting what I still believe is the Utimate Retail Experience. Apple is doing an amazing job here.
I wish there is an Apple Retail here in Singapore. Some times, it's so difficult to spent money on impulse buys. :-)
And speaking of spending, why not hop over to the store to pick up some Monsters, Inc. stuff? :-)
Random Quotes
Stephen Duffy and Steven Page, in Alternative Girlfriend: Old at being young / Young at being old.
Rumor Mongers
Hey this is new! Apple buys Adobe.
Wintel
Judge To Weigh Private Microsoft Antitrust Deal
Is Microsoft a do-gooder, or up to no good?
After 'Hot' Start, Linux Now Is 'Realistic' About China Inroads
It is only slightly more difficult than it used to be to buy an inexpensive, unauthorized copy of Windows.
Build Your Own PC And Save
It's so easy, a 13-year-old can handle it. So first, go find one!