Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Top Stories
Finally, Apple Speaks To The Blind
Apple is building innovative screen-reading technology into OS X. That's essential for the visually impaired — and a smart business move.
See Also : Spoken Interface
by Apple
Introducing the spoken interface for Mac OS X. THe Universal Access capabilities of Mac OS X will soon be enhanced with a spoken interface that provides a new way, through speech, audible cues, and keyboard navigation, to access the Macintosh.
Microsoft Unveils Several Office 2004 Features
Microsoft unveiled several features from the upcoming release of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac. The Flash demo introduces users to several features that have been previously announced and many more that are being shown for the first time.
See Also : Microsoft Office 2004 Demo by Microsoft
News
Apple Releases WebObjects Developer 5.2.3
Guy Kawasaki Talks About Apple, Garage, More
"You can take the evangelist out of Apple, but you can't take the Apple out of the evangelist."
Apple Brand 'Offers State Of Mind'
Apple offers a "state of mind" that embodies "stylish performance and a few moments of enjoyments," claims branding consultants Kline & Company.
HP To Bundle iTunes 'Late March'
HP web engineers have noted: "The [iTunes] icon will start shipping pre-loaded on Pavilion and Presario computers in thee late March."
Jobs: iTunes To Fall Short Of 100 Million Song Mark
Apple isn't "going to make that number," and that at its current rate, the iTunes Music Store will likely "have sold 70 million to 75 million songs" by its first anniversay.
First AppleCentre Opened In Bangalore
Apple Watchers Cast Doubt On Stock
Apple's shares might well have reached the upper limit of their valuation for the time being because of weak sales of G5 Power Macs.
Some Mushers Prefer The Sound Of Silence, But Many Find Music To Be Refreshing, Energizing
Many find solace, inspiration and rejuvenation easing out of their disc players, iPods and Walkmans.
VFXSoup Interviews Compositor, Alex Brodie
"One of the most challenging projects recently was the Apple iPod silhouette campaign. Each different music genre had a different version, in different lengths and different markets. I think I started seeing disembodied white wires dancing around in my sleep."
Opinion
Powerbook Plunge II: Wet Behind The Ears
There were a few suggestions that definitely stand out, as I thought I'd take the time to share them.
Review
You Sexy Thing!
How to look great on iChat AV, in spite of your spiteful sight.
10.3.3 Brings Satisfying Permissions Compromise
The Entry-Level Apple G5
The bottom line: The entry-level G5 may not be blazing enough to satisfy the high-end professional. But as a family or average user machine, it has major pluses.
Star Trek Elite Force II
The designers seem to have done a good job of creating a similar sofrt of game to the original, but with a new story and with most of the previous game's problems removed.
Sidetrack
As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm moving on to a new job, where I will deal with C++, DLLs, and Visual Studio. Yes, I'm taking on a Windows programming job.
So, my (future) team lead asked me to pick up a Dell, and this is my pick: Inspiron 600m, which seems light yet powerful enough for me to bring to and fro between my home and my office to work on my C++ library.
Picking a notebook from Dell doesn't seem as simple as choosing one from Apple. (I want the 12-inch PowerBook — except that I don't have spare cash at the moment.) There are so many confusing choices, and so many tradeoffs and compromise between different notebooks. It is defiitely not as simple as regular/professional and good/better/best.
Before I receive my new notebook, any warnings that I should heed? I am familiar with the Windows operating system, as that's the OS I'm using right now at my current job. (But I mainly live in Microsoft Office and Lotus Notes only.) Some comments out there indicate that I should quickly uinstall bundled Dell software, for no other reason except that they are junk. Others have indicated that the left wrist-rest tends to get warm, but I don't see any recommended solutions. Other than that, the comments generally seems positive.
Well, I'll tell you more about experience with my very first Dell soon.
Valerie Davison: "[The man] returned to the carousel, went to the ticket booth and bought a ticket. Mounting a horse a few lengths ahead of us, he secured his hat, grasped the pole, and with his other hand held firmly onto the attaché case. As we rounded see the apperance of an almost imperceptible smile. on his lips."
Have you found your carousel yet? I have. She's my daughter.
Okay. And don't sit on your iPod, iSight, or iBook either.
... between normal flu and bird flu, you ask?
Wintel
Why Microsoft 'Shared Source' Can Never Be Trusted
"You can't trust code that you did not totally create yourself."
Sources: Microsoft CEO In Talks With EU
Steve Ballmer flew to Brussels for 11th-hour talks with EU officials Tuesday, just a week ahead of a final decision on the long-running antitrust case, sources familiar with the matter said.
Attack Concerns Slow Microsoft's Pace
Security concerns are slowing things down at Microsoft, but the company is still clugging along with its more ambitious projects including Windows Longhorn, a company executive said.