Monday, January 31, 2005
Top Stories
Apple Bumps PowerBooks To 1.67GHz, Lowers Price
Apple on Monday announced a modest speed bump to its line of PowerBook G4 laptops, increasing the high-end processor from 1.5GHz to 1.67GHz. The refreshed laptop line gains 512MB of standard RAM, faster grpahics, faster hard drives and 8x "SuperDrives," as well as 802.11g-based wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.0 and two patent-pending technologies — the scrolling TrackPad and the Sudden Motion Sensor.
Hallelujiah, The Mac Is Back
Weary of spyware, tired of virus attacks, a nation turns its lonely eyes to... Apple?
News
Using A Suitcase As A Speaker For The Apple iPod
Loading Digital Music: Popular Portable Players Create Cottage Industry
While that process may seem relatively simple for savvy computer users, Robins knows there are many more consumers who don't have the time to convert an entire collection, especially if ripping one CD takes five to 10 minutes.
Beyond iPod, Apple Grows Healthy Software Business
More user-friendly software could prove critical for Apple as it tries to increase its base of Macintosh users.
Boom Of The iPod Add-Ons
Stratospheric iPod sales have created a vast opportunity for other companies to sell companion gear, but the spoils have gone to those able to keep pace with Apple, which has introduced at least a half dozen kinds of iPods since the first model arrived in late 2001.
Apple's iPod Shuffle At The Origin Of A Price War
School Laptops Win Hearts And Minds
A five-year, $1.75 million Apples-for-everyone deal met resistance but now is embraced.
Apple Edges Google As Top Brand
"Apple's just done an extraordinary job with innovation, technology and desing."
What The iPods Are Wearing These Days
For the iPod, perhaps the toy with the most toys, a couple in Sydney, Australia, want you to consider one more accessory: a sort of sleeping bag, better known as the foofpod.
iPod Fanatics Just Can't Help Themselves
Me, Myself And iPod
The iPod revolution has pushed through the ranks of young, trendy consumers and into the very heart of the local populace.
Name That Tune: iTunes Lets You Eavesdrop On What The Stars Are Groovin' To
More celebs are making their "mix tapes" available to the public on Apple's successful online music service.
Opinion
Dell: Beware The Beigh-Box Blahs
The PC maker shouldn't dismiss Apple's design-driven success. Markets historically evolve past commoditization to value style and special features.
Review
Sunday, January 30, 2005
News
Quicken Disables The Software You Paid For To Force Paid Upgrades
You'd think that if Intuit had actually made a compelling new product that it could entice its customers to buy an upgrade; seems like they've decided that instead of improving their products, they'll just extort money from customers who were stupid enough to buy from them in the first place.
iPod Therefore iAm
For a growing legion of 'Pod people, the portable music player is more than a gadget — it's a member of the family.
Opinion
It's Not About Features Anymore — It's About Geek Jewelry
Apple has made a new product category: geek jewelry.
Review
Saturday, January 29, 2005
News
Podcasting Brings Radio On Demand To Your iPod
Chances are, if you own an mp3 player like an iPod, you have it stuffed with all the music you like — just the music. Now, though, you can also start toting around the radio programming you like.
PowerSchool To Help Teachers, Parents
"PowerSchool met all the criteria above, plus it offered an online web access for parents and students and automated e-mail updates for parents."
Creating A Wireless Classroom
A slew of educational, political and business leaders gathered yesterday to celebrate a pilot program that will supply Apple laptop computers to some 2,500 students in Pittsfield and North Adams middle schools.
Opinion
Why Apple Makes A One Buttoned Mouse
Although I can envision a day where Apple will ship with a two button mouse, they have really, really, really good reasons for sticking to a one button mouse.
Unloading An Older Apple Powerbook
Making the decision to upgrade isn't always easy.
The School Of The Future
Everyone in the America of the future will have to be cmputer literate, and middle school is a good place to start.
Bloggers As Journalists: Why We Fight Apple's Subpoenas
Online journalism, whether in the form of blogs, email newsletters, or websites, is a growing part of our national discourse.
Into The Mac Trap
The combination of no pressure, the spooky quiet, and pristine white surroundings made this Apple Store feel like a mixture of a museum, a church, and the waiting room at the Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Dethroning King Gillette
In the case of Apple, is the iPod a razor or a blade?
Review
iPod Photo Is Almost A Dream Come True
The Mac/Thinkpad Shuffle
Despite a few rough points during the configuration and setup process, and despite a few adjustments she's had to make, [my daughter] Jenny is a very happy teenager. When I offer to take back the iBook and let her keep her Thinkpad, the answer is a resounding "No!"
Wintel
Regulators Tell Microsoft There's Plenty In A Name
Microsoft has agreed to rename the new slimmed-down version of Windows it's preparing to release in Europe, after antitrust regulators there balked at the title.
Tablet PCs Primed For The Mainstream
Two years after introducing Tablet PC technology, Microsoft is attempting to drive it into the mainstream in 2005 with less expensive tablets, but some analysts believe reduced prices alone won't do the trick.
Friday, January 28, 2005
News
JHymn Goes Behind Atoms And Apple To Bring DRM-Free Music
"What I say is that all I'm trying to do is to get the same flexibility to use my music that I'd have if I purchased a CD and ripped it myself, and that my efforts aid piracy no more than the existence of CDs aid piracy.
My iPod, My Self
Marketing professor Markus Giesler has some colorful ideas about Apple's music player. He argues it transforms listeners into "cyborg consumers," plugging them into a "hybrid entertainment matrix" where they can achieve "technotranscendence."
Apple Spotlight Patent Reveals 3-Year Head Start On Microsoft
iMovie HD 5.0.1 Released
iMovie HD 5.0.1 "addresses issues related to video and audio synchronization for DV projects and other minor issues," according to Apple.
Opinion
The Mac Mini: Apples And Oranges And Software
The truth is that for many buyers the software that comes with the Mac mini will be a significant benefit because it makes the mini more functional than similarly configured (hardware-wise) Windows PCs.
Review
Griffin RadioShark: Great White USB Device Lets You Record And Pause Live Radio
Its software could use mor epolish, but it delivers the goods.
Apple iLife '05
All but iMovie compete well with the best Microsoft Windows has to offer consumers.
Apple iWork '05
iWork '05 is a fine effort. It gives most Mac users an affordable alternative to Word, and whets the appetite for a more filled-out suite, which we hope is in the works.
A Linux Geek Embraces Mac OS X
Some of my thoughts will no doubt strike veteran Mac users as silly, stupid, or downright heretical! For that all i can say is: Hey, I'm a newbie.
GarageBand 2: Features Of Note
20 Years Late, Apple Launches $500 Mac
Despite the name, it's watered down only in size and cost. THis is as much a Mac as any other that's been sold over the years.
The Incredibles
The Incredibles game isn't all that incredible. It is a fast paced game, with excellent animated graphics and terrific cut scenes, but stumbles in the game play and finished quality department.
Build Your Own PVR (For Free) With HackTV
The secret is Apple's little-known HackTV utility. It allows you to watch TV via FireWire.
Apple's New $499 Mac Mini A Slick Little Budget Computer
Once all is said and done, the Mac Mini will cost more than comparable entry-level Windows machines. You could make the case, though, that with the software loaded on the Mini, you're getting more bang for your buck.
Sidetrack
With the speedier flow of information bought about by the web, I often found myself new gadgets and widgets that I wish I can buy, but is either not available in where I live, or the price is beyond me.
But, every so often, I find myself longing for something that I cannot even buy, because it's not for sale. Today, it's the hanging alarm clock.
(My alarm clock went off at 6.00 am this morning, but I wasn't fully awake until 7.05 am. But, you probably don't need to know that.)
Rumor Today: 512-Meg Mac Mini Is Coming
Pioneer Press: Stay tuned for at least one out-of-the-box config with 512 megabytes of RAM... as soon as next week, I've been told.
Wintel
Microsoft Reports Profit Surge
Citing strength in both the business and consumer markets, Microsoft on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly sales — and profits that doubled those of a year ago.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Top Stories
They're Off To See The Wizards
It was just past noon on a recent weekday at the Apple Store here [at San Francisco], and the Genius Bar was buzzing.
News
iPod Add-Ons: The Craze That Lasts
Makers of accessories for the digital players are profiting beyond their wildest dreams. Now Apple is offering its stamp of approval.
iPods Act As D.J.'s At Clubs Where Patrons Call The Tunes
Bar managers tend to have intimate knowledge of the jukebox, or leave music questions to the D.J. But that is changing in some bars, where customers who bring their own iPods have started to take control of the tunes.
University Of Pittsburgh: Reducing The Complexity In Complex Genetics
"We're just a bunch of scientists. We're not programmers. We write code when we need to solve our problems. Mac OS X on the Xserves allows us to run our existing and legacy statistical genetics code — originally written for Solaris and Linux systems — without having to modify it extensively."
Consumers Vote With Their Feet On iPod Shuffle
Want An iPod Shuffle? Just Pop Into 7-Eleven
For Apple and 7-Eleven [in Singapore], the tie-up is a win-win propoition. Apple gets access to a wider consumer base while the iPod Shuffle adds 'oomph' to the conveninence store chain's product range.
Apple Geek Seeks True Love, With iPod
The carefully nurtured 'Cult of Mac' helps build a hurricane of hype, but will it mean more sales?
Apple To Honor Price Difference On Mac Mini BTO Price Drops
Mac Mini SuperDrive BTO Change A Typo, Says Apple
The 4x/8x mixup was the result of a typographical error, according to an Apple spokesperson.
Opinion
Can Apple's Market Share Grow With Continuing Supply Restraints?
The glitch in the Mac system is that IBM can't deliver the G5 chip in sufficient quantities to satisfy Apple's needs.
If Only Life Were As Simple As A Mac
A computer shouldn't have to be figured out. It should just work. And also, it should smile.
Review
Think Small
What was the best hting at CES? Macworld!
Prevent Mac Disasters
Eight simple steps you cant ake now to keep your Mac from falling apart.
Quicken 2005: Premier Personal Financial App Adds iPhoto Integration And Excellent Account Setup For New Users
There's little in Quicken 2005 that will make it a must-have upgrade for all current Quicken users.
Contribute 3: Web-Page Editor Gains Speed, Tools, And Administrative Features
Current users who upgrade will benefit from its improved performance, editing tools, and administrative control.
Painter IX: Changes To Interface And Brushes May Justify High Upgrade Cost
Corel is doing an excellent job with the program's interface, and the new features are well conceived and well executed.
The Mac Mini Experience
I have to say I'm extremely satisfied with my Mini. It does everything a desktop user like me could want. And it does it without hassles and how-to's and RTFMs.
Photoshop Elements 3.0: Upgrade Offers Enhanced Editing Tools And Streamlined Interface
While Photoshop Elements 3.0's flaws are unfortunate, they don't significantly detract from this must-have upgrade for digital photographers.
Sidetrack
AppleInsider: Apple is developing a major update to Backup, its data loss prevention software created specifically for .Mac users. Backup 3.0 will simplify backups through the addition of multiple backup plans, which are designed to secure users' most critical data, such as home folders, personal data files, and iLife content. The release will also allow users to schedule backups to any destination, and back up more than one computer to the same iDisk.
Yes, the PowerBook G5 is definitely in the works, according to this article by The Inquirer.
Were there any doubts that Apple is working on the PowerBook G5?
In addition to sending "I Love You" messages via balloons, you can now send plants. Specifically, a bean plant "which sprout to reveal a special message."
Wintel
Is Mandatory Windows Validation A Security Risk?
"There are [people] who will simply refuse to validate, and their unpatched machines will be a bigger threat."
Microsoft, Regulators To Meet Over Longhorn
Microsoft is slated to meet with federal and state antitrust regulators next month to discuss possible areas of concern regarding Longhorn, Microsoft's next version of Windows.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Top Stories
.Mac Maintenance Causes iDisk Problems
Apple's .Mac system maintenance this weekend has caused widespread problems with iDisks, according to MacMinute readers and reports on the .Mac discussion boards.
News
Kubrick iPod Mini iBear
Designed to match the now ubiquitous five colors of the iPod mini.
Ancient Macs Make Modern Art
Apple may have quietly killed its easy-to-use programming tool, HyperCard, but it has an afterlife — in art.
Sue Different: Apple Threatens Inside Sites After Leaks
Apple, the king of building buzz, has sued and threatened news sites that spilled product information early. But the sites are fighting back, with pro bono legal help.
Huh? Apple Doubles Price Of Mini RAM, Admits Mistake
Target Pulls Mac Mini From Online Store
Target cited availability concerns as the sole factor that prompted it to remove the product from its store.
Apple Releases New Mac OS X Security Update
The update for 10.3.7 client includes updated versions of ColorSync, libxml2, Mail, PHP, and Safari.
Apple's U2 Silhouette Spot Named 'Smartest Ad Campaign'
The iPod: Apple's Saving Grace
Apple Drops BTO Mac Mini Prices
Apple has quietly cut prices on build-to-order components for its new Mac mini.
Opinion
What If? An Alternative History Of Tech
What if Apple Computer had licensed the Mac OS?
Engadget Investigates: Is It "iPod Shuffles" Or "iPods Shuffle"?
It tooks us a few days of harrassing Apple's PR department, but we were finally able to answer one of hte most burning questions of the past seven days: Is it "iPod shuffles" or "iPods shuffle?"
Creative CEO Sim Wong Hoo Softens Up?
For a company that's supposedly at war, Creative hasn't been drawing much blood lately.
Review
iPodderX Adds To iPod's 'Gotta-Have' Status
Wireless Media Server Without The Mini
For now, my TiBook is serving my entire music collection, plus a ton of photographs... all using hardware and software I already had.
Apple's New Products Are Revolutionary In Their Own Way
How-To: Turn Your Mac Mini Into A Media Center
We'll cover the various aspects you'll need to think about when planning your Mac mini media center system, plus show you how to control your Mac mini headlessly from any computer in your house.
Tiny iPod Shuffle Chock-Full Of Pleasant Surprises
The biggest advantage of the Shuffle over all other RAM-based players is the simple fact that it's an Apple product and relies on iTunes instead of Windows Media Player. It works, period.
Sidetrack
Will We See iMac Colors Again?
Remember the wacky iMac colors, and the polka dots? Apparently, it wasn't really successful, probably because even Mac-heads cannot afford to upgrade their computers just because there's a new color out there.
But now that iPods are really fashion statements, will we see a return of the iMac colors?
:-)
Wintel
Microsoft To Require Windows Piracy Check
Windows XP and 2000 users will have to validate their copy of OS before downloading software.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
News
Pepsi's Free iTunes Promo Bottles Hit Store Shelves
Gunning For iTunes
Don't look now, but the world of digital music is about to get rocked.
Macs Power Sundance Channel Festival Dailies
"Everybody here has a PowerBoook. The whole facility is powered by Apple gear in one way or another."
Mac Media Center Project Aims To Transform Mac Mini
iTunes Music Store Downloads Top 250 Million
Apple says iTunes users are now downloading one and a quarter million songs per day, which is an annual run rate of almost half a billion songs per year.
Opinion
How Apple's iPod/iTunes Combo Could Demolish Microsoft's 'Play For Sure' Initiative
Macintosh Market Share
"It's Wintel's rapid upgrade cycle that's been getting progressively more and more out of line with norms..."
Play That Funky Music, White Toy
Apple's $99 iPod shuffle suggests a new, "less is more" strategy for the rebounding music, er, computer company.
Taking Stock Of Apple
Why do I think Apple is a good stock.
Apple Must Evolve Or Face Extinction
As more music formats and audio players emerge, is the iPod nearing the end of its reign?
iTunes 2005 Revenue Could Equal 5 Percent Of U.S. Music Sales: Call It A Powerhouse
Review
Apple's iWork Software Needs Some Work
Neither the Keynote 2 presentation software nor the new Pages word processor are as full-featured as one would like.
Tricks Keep Apple iPod In Tune On Windows PC
Connecting the iPod to your computer to transfer tunes and manage your music library isn't always simple — especially if your computer runs Windows.
The iMac Mini: Apples And Oranges, A Follow-Up
To reiterate: What the article was trying to demonstrate is not that the Mac mini is the cheapest computer on the market; rather, that it's clearly price-competitive with the budget brand-name Windows PCs, especially once you look at what you get for the money.
Why Go Pro (Audio Hijack Pro, That Is)
iPod Shuffle Big On Performance
The latest flavor, the diminutive iPod shuffle, proves that fewer bells and whistles can be just as good as more.
Building A Website With TInderbox
Mac Minis Could Make Converts
While the Mac Mini won't suddenly make Macs a more popular platform than Windows, I think it may tempt many Windows users who are curious about the Mac and/or frustrated with Windows which is far more prone to spyware, viruses and security problems.
Sidetrack
The End Is Near. Spring Is Coming.
It's winter, and we just had one whole stash of snow being dumped in the backyard. What would Calvin (of the Calvin & Hobbes fame) build?
We all know that Apple wasn't the first company to produce an MP3 player, but do you know who created the first MP3 player>
Were you there at the launch of the Macintosh? Now, you can, thanks to the magic of QuickTime.
(P.S. Here's a list of mirrors.)
Lullabies From The Axis Of Evil
Today's podcast here at MyAppleMenu features two tunes from the album Lullabies from the Axis of Evil.
Scott Rosenberg has an interesting idea: "Major open source projects maintain public bug databases. Anyone can come along and post a bug report... The model doesn't map perfectly onto journalism, but it's not too far off: Let people file "bug reports" if they believe your publication has published something in need of correcting. The publication can respond however it seems appropriate."
Tips For Your Next Cheese Party
You'd never know when you'll be next invited to a cheese party where you'll have to bring your own cheese, and where there's a contest for the best and most interesting cheese. So, here are some tips just for you.
Wintel
Microsoft Backs Off Appeal On EU Sanctions
Microsoft has decided not to appeal a ruling by an European Union judge that upholds sanctions imposed on the company by the European Commission, a spokesman for the firm confirmed on Monday.
Monday, January 24, 2005
News
Many Faces Of The Mac Mini
Available in stores for just a few days, Apple's new Mac mini computer appears to be something of an omnia omnibus — all things to all people.
Inside iPod
Apple deosn't want to spill the secret sauce, but we tear down its mega-seller music machine.
Entangled By Ear Buds, And Other Musical Mishaps
With the ever-present ear buds has come an influx of iPod-related mishaps, some highly amusing, others potentially disastrous.
10,000 Songs, Kidnapped On The No. 9
It's more likely, the police said, that the ubiquitous white iPod headphones are a flashing signal of sorts, alerting thieves to the presence of hte prodigiously popular digital music player, which retail for $299 and up, more than most high school students are likely to be carrying in cash.
Opinion
Mac Mini — More Than Meets The Eye
To get the most out of the Mac mini, users need to — yes — think different.
Review
Keynote 2: New Themes, Improved Text Handling Highlight Major Update
With the new version, it's become an even stronger competitor to PowerPoint. From its seamless integration with iPhoto and iTunes to its greatly improved animation and slide timing features, the new version of Keynote looks like a winner.
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Top Stories
iPod Shuffle, Mac Mini Draw Crowds At Apple Stores
The word of the day at Apple retail outlets in California was "Shuffle."
News
For Apple Faithful, More Hope Than Help
The recent success of Apple's iPod has Macintosh fans salivating over a brighter future. But analysts doubt that the pouplar music player — and Apple's new $500 Mac mini — can really cause mass conversions.
Birth Of An Industry: iPod Loading
The rising popularity of Apple's sleek iPod has created a new niche service: the professional iPod loader.
Mac Mini Makes Its Retail Debut
Plenty of Mac Minis on hand at San Francisco Apple store, but dozens hoping to buy an iPod Shuffle go home empty handed.
Opinion
Does Your iPod Play Favorites?
My first iPod seemed to have a fondness for Steely Dan, while other artists were sent into exile.
PC To Mac... And Back
Unless Longhorn, the upcoming iteration of Windows, is both more stable and more virus-protected than Windows XP, Macintosh computers will continue to have the better operating system.
My Mac Mini And Me
The lesson from Apple should be taken seriously. Steve Jobs is a college dropout, not an MBA. But (unlike many MBAs) Steve is smart enough to know that if you build good products and market them, people will come — they'll even line up in front of your store on weekends.
Open The 'Pod Bay Doors, Steve
This is about a marketplace that needs to be free.
Review
Tips For Installing iPhoto 5
Back up your existing iPhoto Libraries on to an external hard drive before you launch iPhoto 5.
A Surprising New Mini-Player In The Music Game
What I can't quite figure out is which iPod is best. I suppose Apple would prefer we collected them all.
Sidetrack
Rumor Today: New iPods and iPods Mini
According to Apple's favorite rumormonger, the next iPod mini may have a 5GB disk, or it may have a 8GB or 10 GB disks. One's never too sure. Meanwhile, the next (regular) iPod will be silver in color, rather than white, probably to give it that oh-so-premium look that can commands a higher price.
Wintel
Microsofft Struggles To Sell Self As Growth Stock
After transforming itself into a blue-chip stock with predictable dividends, Microsoft faces its toughest sales pitch ever — convincing investors it's still a growth stock.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Top Stories
Apple Q4 Euro-Sales Climb 33.2% — IDC
Apple's success continues in Europe, according to analysts at IDC, noting that 2004's fourth quarter saw Apple deliver its higher quarterly growth for a year-and-a-half.
News
Two Peas In An iPod
Synaptics saw its stock jump nearly 22% Friday following a blowout quarterly report driven in large part by demand for the iPod.
Deconstructing Mini
So, with the lives of your Mac minis in mind, I began the disassembly of mine.
Filemaker Server 7 Update To Fix Stability
FileMaker Inc. has advised that in March they will release a v3 update to their FileMaker Server 7 and FileMaker Server 7 Advanced software. The update is being developed to fix reported stability issues with the software.
Opinion
Apple Quietly Raises The Stakes
An almost timid announcement adds the new SAN file system to Xserve RAID.
Welcome To The Mac, Oracle
Now that it's buying into Mac platform, IT should dig deeper into Apple's server lineup.
Dell, Creative, And The iPod: Sour Grapes?
People bought the iPod with no thought about any proprietary format, they simply wanted one.
iPod Shuffle Has No Clock
Potentially screwing up some Smart Playlists that you might have that are based on last played information.
Dell And Creative: Challenged By The iPod?
What will worry the other PC companies is that, in a market where everyone except Dell has struggled to make money, Apple has long been highly profitable with only a 2 percent to 3 percent market share. Should the company boost this to 4 or even 5 percent, its profits — and thus its ability to increase its spending on marketing and development — would also be significantly increased, raising the prospect of the company simply being able to blow away its less profitable rivals.
Review
Mac Mini — Is It The Best Media Center... PC?
Although Apple are pleased that people are starting to talk about the Mac Mini as more than just a cheap Mac for iPod lovers, they freely admit that they were not aiming at building a media center. Good job too, because if they were, they've failed.
Apple's Mac Mini: Low-Priced Mac Starter System Has Enough Oomph To Do Most Jobs
If I were recommending a starter system to someone, I wouldn't hestiate to send them in the direction of the Mac Mini.
Shuffle Off To A Running Start
Since the iPod shuffle can also store data and it weighs so little, I plan to keep it with me every day.
Embedded Development With Xcode
Now, with the UNIX underpinning of Mac OS X, we can benefit from the huge open source effort supporting small microprocessors.
Do The (iPod) Shuffle
Latest Apple player offers plenty of flash, but the lack of an LCD will bother some.
Apple iPod Shuffle
If you want a low-cost player that stores just hundreds (as opposed to thousands) of songs and don't need to see what's playing, the iPod shuffle is a very good choice.
Amp Gives iPod Much-Needed Boost
There's an iPod amplifier available that looks every bit as good as the iPod and helps the sound along, too. It's not cheap, but Simpl Acoustics' A1 does the job well.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Top Stories
Behold The Artful Price Tag
The design excitement last week in Apple's latest introductions was not in the Mini's small simple box or the Shuffle's stick-of-gum wand. It was in the prices.
News
Dr. Bob Arnot: Backpack Broadcasting
Given the magnitude of the mission and the volatility of the country, the surprise is in how little Arnot required beyond his Save the Children mandate to tell the story.
Harold Moss: Handcrafting In High Definition
"Composing and recording an original piece of something from scratch overnight, while you're also trying to finish the animation, starts to become a little impossible. So to just be able to sit down with Soundtrack and come up with something that works really well and sounds more than professional, it's hugely helpful."
iPod Shuffle May Not Play Well With All AAC Files
A document on Apple's support website says that users may not be able to play songs that are encoded by applications other than iTunes.
Opinion
No Cannibals
The competition is not the rest of Apple's range, it's the rest of the world.
Dell Could Take Hint From Apple's Style
Apple's continued existence is proof that design does mean somethng and that customers will pay a premium for that sort of excellence.
Pepsi iTunes Contest: The Tilt Still Works
iPod Shuffle Not Compatible With eMac Or iMac G3
The physical limitations imposed by the placement of the USB ports on those models make it impossible for the shuffle to plug into them. Luckily, many folks will already have on hand one possible piece of equipment for connecting the shuffle: a USB hub.
Is The Dock A Hopeless Kludge Or Just In Need Of A Few Tweaks?
Review
Keeping It Together
Given that the only way to be sure that my iPod suffle cap sticks around is to physically attach it to the shuffle, this would be my solution.
The Mac Mini: Inside And Out
The big question on many prospective Mac mini buyers' minds is, "How easy is it to upgrade the RAM?" First things first, you need Apple's official Mac mini Upgrade Tool Kit (otherwise known as "two very thin putty knives").
Smarter Shuffle Playlists
I mentioned that while iTunes' new Autofill feature is convenient, you can create better playlists for the shuffle with a Smart Playlist. After a couple of colleagues responded with "Care to show us how, smart guy?" I've come up with this.
Shuffle, The Newest, Cheapest iPod Yet, Will Surprise You
I had no clue which of 137 eclectic melodies would play next. And frankly, that was part of the appeal.
Hands On With The Mac Mini: Taking Apple's New Desktop Out For A Test Drive
Overall, as I suspected, the Mac mini performs well, but not spectacularly.
Sidetrack
Rumor Today: Apple To Reward Employees With Free iPod Shuffles
AppleInsider: Apple in the coming weeks will begin offering complimentary iPod shuffles to many of its employees... Several Apple employees at the company's retail stores have been told to expect a free 1GB iPod shuffle sometime in the next three weeks.
Cool. What better to simultaneously provide a little reward for your hardworking employees while equiping them with a little extra product knowledge than to do this? And, next year, if Apple's sales break through the roof again, maybe both 2006's editions of iPod and Mac mini too?
Wintel
Latest MSN Messenger Worm Can Hijack System Info
Microsoft Cuts 62 Testing Jobs
The job cuts come as Microsoft is moving some work from manual to automated testing. Workers were given the option of looking for other jobs at Microsoft.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
News
Legal Downloads Soar In iPod WOrld
Legal music downloads in the United States and Europe increased tenfold in 2004 after demand surged for iPod digital players and thousands of pirate Web sites were shut down, an industry group says.
Skype Gets Extra Friendly
The latest beta of Skype, a voice over IP application, is just out and finally includes conference calling, a long-time feature on the Windows version.
CIO Jury: Apple 'Irrelevant' To Businesses
Leading IT bosses claim that despite Apple's recent revival — largely around its consumer products — the company will continue to have little impact on corporate IT strategies.
Prominent Internet Lawyer To Defend Think Secret
Terry Gross of Gross & Belsky LLP will defend Mac news site Think Secret from a lawsuit brought against it by Apple. Gross has "been at the center of Internet law since the early days of the net," and served as the first counsel to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Opinion
Apple Users Hit Back Over "Irrelevant" Claim
Mac fans not happy at IT bosses shunning Apple for business use...
Don't Eat This Apple
I'd venture to guess that Apple's still got the musically minded held in thrall with its devices.
Group Think Part Of Corporate America's I.T. Strategy?
Doin' The Shuffle — My First Week With The New iPod
Everyone, including me, seems impressed with the iPod Shuffle.
Review
With new Mac Mini, Apple Makes Switching Attractive, Affordable
Overall, the Mac mini is a good choice for Windows users on a budget who are tempted to switch. It's not a technological breakthrough, but it may just be one of Apple's smartest business moves.
Considering iLife '05
The changes in iLife '05 are far subtler than they were in iLife '04. That may be a signal to you that the $80 upgrade isn't quite so urgent — or it may be a welcome sign that Apple has chosen to polish and refine what it had instead of junking the programs up with superfluous features.
New Ways To Manage Your Photos
In a world of software that's so bloated it actually intimidates you, the polish and grace of programs like Picasa and iPhoto are a breath of fresh air.
A RAW Look At iPhoto 5
Bottom line, existing iPhoto users should be thrilled with this overhaul, and I suspect we'll see many converts too.
Apple iPod Shuffle
In a world filled with flash-memory players, what makes it so special?
Radio Recording For The PC
Griffin Technology makes a lit of terrfic products. With a little more work, the RadioShark could have been one of them.
Wintel
Creative Shares Fall As War Costs Climb
Creative Technology's war against Apple chopped 10 per cent from its quarterly profits, analysts say.
MS Office Encryption Flaw Uncovered
The problem relates to the way Microsoft implements the encryption algorithm when re-saving documents after their initial creation.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Top Stories
Apple: Four-Week Wait For iPod Shuffle
It could be deja vu all over again for Apple. Just one week after launching the tiny iPod Shuffle, customers face a wait of two to four weeks before their order is shipped, according to the company's Web site Tuesday.
News
Griffin Delivers Wearable iPod Audio Capture
'Other' MP3 Players Getting Widespread Markdowns?
This evening I noticed that, almost universally, in every electronics store I went into, the 'other' MP3 players were marked down.
Darwin Flaws Survive In Apple's Mac OS X
A source-code audit of the open-source operating system from which Apple borrowed much of the code for Mac OS X revealed four vulnerabilities of varying severity in Apple's software, a security company said Monday.
Apple's Music Boom Not Moving Macs
Apple's consumer hit, the iPod music player, has not budged sales of the company's core Mac computer line, according to analyst IDC.
NFL Catches iPod Fever
The National Football League announced an agreement with Audible to make recordings of this year's remaining playoff games available for portable audio players, including Apple's iPod.
Jobs, Apple Design Team Up For Wired Rave Award
Steve Jobs was nominated in the Business Leader category, while the Apple industrial design team was nominated in the Industrial Designer category for the iMac G5 and iPod shuffle.
Opinion
2005: Apple's 1984?
We have one message for the company: Bullies aren't cool.
Review
iPod Shuffle: Smallest, Most Affordable iPod Yet Is A Very Big Deal
To appreciate the iPod shuffle, you must abandon some notions of what a music player must be.
Run Mac OS X On A PC
In this article, I will show you how to install and run Mac OS X Panther on your PC using PearPC, a free, architecture-independent PowerPC platform that runs on PCs.
How To Use Mutt, FastMail, And Mail.app Together On Your Mac
Would I be able to combine my command-line environment with the graphical tools available on Mac OS X? The answer is yes, and in this article I describe one part of that integration: email.
Thumbs Down To Thumbnails
I forego burning CDs within iPhoto if I want to print pictures from that CD.
Wintel
Microsoft Reverses Plan, Will Patch Media Player
One week after saying it had no plans to change the way Windows Media Player handles the download of DRM licenses, Microsoft now says it will release an update in the next 30 days to help thwart the threat of spyware infection.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Top Stories
European Mac Fans Call Mac Mini Pricing Unfair
Apple's "most affordable" Mac has drawn a storm of protest from European shoppers, who are petitioning the Mac maker to bring EU pricing better in line with that of the United States.
News
Putting The Mac Mini In Your Dashboard
There are many companies that will help you connect an iPod to your car, but a small New York business wants to go one step further.
Hacker Threat To Apple's iTunes
Users of Apple's music jukebox iTunes need to update the software to avoid a potential security threat.
iPod Won't Go To The Movies
Apple's "Mr iPod" Stan Ng has ruled out a video-capable version of the music player anytime soon.
Opening Apple's New iLife Package
Audioblogs Multiply As iPods Fly Off Shelves
Dell Dismisses "One-Product Wonder" iPod A "Fad"
And isn't too impressed with the mac mini either...
Opinion
The Mac Mini: Comparing Apples And Oranges
iPod Shuffle May Not Do What You Want
If I were in charge of iPod marketing, I'd be especially concerned that first-time buyers who get a shuffle won't fully appreciate the magic of iPod, because they'll miss the joy of getting the music they want at the exact moment they want to hear it.
Review
Must-Have Applications For The Open Source Mac Desktop
Once you've installed DarwinPorts you can run applications written for Linux under Mac OS X. Here's my list of must-have applications for Mac open source fans.
Apple iPod Shuffle New Users' Review
We would recommend the iPod shuffle far more heavily to iPod newbies — particularly young, old, or price-conscious Apple admirers — than to power users. The iPod shuffle's super-small body, ease of use, and once unthinkable price will lure millions of new people into the iPod community. To them, we say "welcome."
Apple iPod Shuffle Power Users' Review
Power users will cash will unquestionably find the iPod mini a better value, and almost equally suitable for all of their needs — it's almost equally workout-friendly and more resilient in case of an accident.
Sidetrack
Gizmodo: MacOSRumors is reporting that Apple is considering building a table-top-sized iPod that uses a 3.5-inch desktop drive, built-in wireless networking, and Sirius Satellite Radio support.
Monday, January 17, 2005
News
Mac Beautification
As much as I love the interface, I was stuck in my quest for the perfect screen backgrouund.
The Portable Mac OS X Geek
Who says you can't run Mac OS X on a Pocket PC?
Audio Abounds At Macworld Expo
Mac Users Mark 20 Years
Twenty years ago, a group of dedicated Macintosh computer users came together to share a particular passion for their platform of choice.
Laptop Tryout Pleases Schools
Five months after a controversial $5 million experiment first put $1,200 Apple iBooks in the hands of nearly 3,000 students and teachers at four underperforming schools, Jefferson County Public Schools administrators say learning has increased and misuse has been minimal.
Mac Mini May Chip Away At Windows
The low-price Mac Mini could enhance the halo effect.
iMovie HD To Be Offered Separately For $10?
iRiver CEO 'Surprised' At Apple's iPod Shuffle
"In a sense it's not a competitor to an iRiver product because we have more features and focus on the premium area. Maybe there is a certain group of users who don't care about searching (for songs) and displays."
Opinion
Small, Cheap, And Without A Display
With millions of happy iPod users new to the Apple brand, and millions of unhappy Windows users fed up with crapware security issues, there's never been a better time for Apple to make a move into the low end of the market.
Is Apple Thinking About Mac TV?
Why did Steve Jobs spend so much time talking about HDTV at this week's Apple announcement?
Sidetrack
Have you checked out the new MyAppleMenu podcast already? :-)
"Dear Ellie: Last week was my son's 12th birthday, and all he wanted was a Sony iPod... They were nowhere [at stores]. So I looked on eBay. I outbid several people and had the owner rush delivery for my son's birthday... Turns out I got him a Sony Walkman instead of iPod."
This story is so sad on many levels... but the saddest part is the following:
"He opened [the gift], frowned, pounded his hand on the table, and snapped it in half like a spoiled kid as everyone looked on in horror."
"How could I teach him a lesson and give him a gift without being walked over?"
Wintel
Sunday, January 16, 2005
News
Do Tiny Music Players Drown Out Real Life?
Apple's Baby To Shake Computer Market To Core
Aqua OpenOffice.org 2.0 Cancelled
One iPod, Many Uses
Scientists use it. Deejays use it. Why, even thieves use it. Apple's iPod, it appears, is not just an accessory for playing music.
Just For Kicks
Ever since fitness instructor Haley Wong started using her iPod to provide music for her aerobics classes, she has shed more than 4kg. From her backpack, that is.
Homework Porter
Previously, Rachel Yeo would burn her projects onto CDs to be taken home. Now she just plugs her iPod into one of the Macs at school and downloads her work directly onto the portable hard drive.
A Music Spinner
When master of ceremonies Jeffrey Low needs some background music for an event, more often than not, he turns to his 20GB iPod rather than his stack of CDs.
Band's Best Friend
Musician Jack Ho find sthe iPod indispensable when his band EIC rehearses.
Frills And Thrills
New little add-ons for the iPod seem to show up almost every week.
Opinion
Geeks Aside, Apple Is Gospel Of Simplicity
I cried — not out of sentimentality, but because at long last, a computer finally had listened to me.
iPod Shuffles Hard To Get? Blame Word-Of-Mouth Networks
Here's a company selling a flash-based MP3 player that's very similar to tons that have been out there for months, if not years. But, notice how fast word has spread that Apple had a hot new product...
Apple's Inspirational Marketing
Why The iPod Is Music To Apple's Ears
Apple's stellar results are a truly remarkable milestone for the company: they are also a wake up call to its rivals.
iPod Shuffle Fashions
The only way for Apple to compete [in the smaller-cheaper player market] is to use Apple's design experience and move the Shuffle into becoming a fashion necklace, a piece of jewelry or a branded clothing accessory.
Thinking May Not Be All It's Thought To Be
Feel the ripple in the zeitgeist? Two new slogans are busily burrowing their way into popular culture. Steven P. Jobs introduced one last week: "Life is random."
After 20 Years, Finally Capitalizing On Cool
Apple is well positioned for the future. When consumers open their wallets to buy things that have machine intelligence, or provide digital entertainment, or link to the Internet — that is, just about everything in a household that is not edible — they are likely to be drawn to the company with cachet, offering the best-designed, best-engineered, easiest-to-use products, priced affordably thanks to Mr. Moore's old law and Mr. Jobs's new pragmatism. They'll turn to the company that best knows how to meld hardware and software, the company embodied int he ecstatically happy hipster silhouette. The company that is, in a word, cool.
Review
Shuffle: Music Or Podcasts?
Chalk one up for Apple, once again they've thought wholistically and it shows.
Sidetrack
What Is The Opposite Of Microsoft?
Microsoft wanted everyone in the world to use Windows Media Player. How did they try? By going to all the media companies and convince them to use Windows Media format so that you and I have no choice but to subscribe to Microsoft's vision in order to watch, listen, and read.
Apple didn't try to out-license Microsoft. Instead, Apple went the other way: by making the coolest and most useful platform, so that you and I will choose the platform and embrace Apple's vision. No content from the big media companies? Doesn't matter. Apple will create the music store, and the users will fill in the rest with MP3s and podcasts. Who needs Windows Media Player and Microsoft?
Joe Wilcox: Rather than watch Sonic X [on] Saturday morning, [my 10-year-old daughter] is making her own entertainment.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Top Stories
We're In The Era Of Jobs II
Apple already rivals Dell in manufacturing efficiency, and is poised to beat it on profit margins, earnings and revenue growth. On new product innovation, analysts say, Apple is unrivalled.
Announcement
MyAppleMenu Shuffle, a new podcast from me, is up and running. Please e-mail me should you encounter any problems. Life is random.
News
The Desk Set
Here are some eye-catching desks I spotted at Expo that you will be able to get your hands on — once they start shipping, that is.
The Macworld Unknown Best Of Show
There are a number of products on the show floor that might interest you, but don't necessarily get picked up by the mainstream press. Here's my list of the 5 best Mac/non-Mac items of Macworld 2005.
Monster Fueled By Caffeine
Delicious Monster is the Mac software company behind the hit Delicious Library, a program for cataloging collections of books, movies and games. The software is elling like hot cakes and has garnered rave reviews and awards, yet the company's headquarters is a Seattle coffee house.
New Apps At Macworld Lure Print Professionals
Though this year's Macworld Expo here had a definite focus on consumer hardware, many third-party developers used the occasion to show off applications designed for print professionals on the Mac OS X platform.
How Big Will The Mini Be?
Windows developer Alex Gorbatchev just bought his first Mac.
Little iPod Looms Large In American Culture
The iPod is the perfection of mass customization. Everybody gets the same thing yet everybody thinks his or hers is hipper than anyone else's.
iPod Extravaganza, Part II: Macworld Expo
Little Things Are Big At Macworld SF 05
While Windows users struggle with viruses and pop-up ads, Macintosh users don't feel their machine is in the way of what they want to do.
Analyst: iPod Reaching iconic Status
"[Apple] just have incredible brand momentum at this point."
Opinion
Macworld Expo And Web Standards: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Apple's newly-annouunced Pages application looks like a wonderful little lightweight page layout program... and a terrible disaster as a HTML editor.
Thinking About The Mac Mini / The Mac Sweet Spot
The Joy Of Travel In The Digital Age
Travelling has become a much more complex endeavor than it used to be.
Like Podcasts? Pass On The iPod Shuffle
Podcasting is gaining steam and will go mainstream this year. Somebody will be well-served to offer a device that accommodates them.
Podcasters: Curb Your Whining About The Shuffle And Taking A Podcast-Centric View Of The World
This is an iPod with training wheels, so young folk in particularly can learn to use iTunes and the iTunes Music Store.
Whither iFlicks? Or Should I Say, "iFlix?"
The notice above is similar to one that appeared for an application named "SoundJam MP" a few years ago.
Review
Apple Mac OS X Tiger: A First Look
Due in mid-2005, Apple's new Mac OS X 10.4 promises more than 200 features.
Sidetrack
Madsenblog.tk: Hmmm... looks like there's room for about 4 Mac Mini's in the cabinet from a Cube.
Rumor Today: Apple G5 Notebooks Coming In Second Quarter 2005?
Ars Technica: According to Taiwan-based DigiTimes, Apple will start receiving shipments of G5-based notebooks in the second quarter of this year.
Rumor Today: HP Halts Orders For Apple's iPod Music Players
HP and Apple is in dispute, according to AppleInsider, over the lack of price protection offered by Apple.
Wintel
Does Microsoft Find Excuse For Their Security Woes In Mythology?
If mythology helps to fuel Microsoft's lagging response, I hope I can do what I can to help debunk the sily myths.
Microsoft: No Flaw In Media Player
A set of video files available on peer-to-peer networks is piggybacking on Microsoft's antipiracy tools to trick viewers into downloading adware and spyware, security experts have warned.
Friday, January 14, 2005
News
Digital Audio Vendors Not Afraid Of iPod Shuffle
iPod Shuffle: 20,000 Sold In First 4 Hours
Apple's retail store in San Francisco sold 20,000 iPod shuffle units in its first four hours of availability this week, depleting its entire inventory.
New iMac, iPod Could Bite Apple's Profits
Apple's profitability could weaken as the Mac and iPod maker goes after lower-priced consumer markets that it has shunned in its nearly 30 years of existence, analysts said.
Mac Mini: In-Dash
A New York-based company is already working out plans to use the new Mac mini as an in-car computer.
Same Song, Second Verse: iTunes Break Hymn
Apple Shares Jump On Strong iPod Sales
Shares of Apple surged 11 percent after the computer maker plowed through earnings forecasts with strong sales of its popular iPod digital music player.
Macs Play Well With Others: Macworld Attracts Enterprise Connectivity
Apple Sues Student
"I employ the same legal newsgathering practices used by any other journalist."
Mac Users Can Now iBrowse 'The New York Times Electronic Edition'
The New York Times announced a new browser-based tool for reading the Electronic Edition on the Mac: iBrowse.
TuneJuice Battery Backup For iPod, iPod Mini Announced
Mac Mini: What You Need To Know
Apple's Mini Plans Ready For The Big Time
The future is here now, it is just unevenly distributed, according to Apple's UK's managing director Mark Rogers. Will the Mac mini redress the balance?
Apple Ups The Ante With Mac Mini, iPod, And Xsan Offerings
Apple can't be assured of control of every market it targets, but it can be certain of one thing: No one else will control its participation in its chosen markets again. Wherever Apple chooses to go, it will go alone, and that should scare the hell out of any company that has to sell againast it.
Mac Mini Questions
Will users be able to upgrade the mini's RAM themselves?
For Mac Faithful, There's No Business Like Apple
More than ever, the Mac faithful are a multigenerational crowd.
Apple Macs: Objects Of Devotion
The Cult of Mac does have some rational basis.
Griffin Intros RocketFM USB Transmitter
Griffin Technology debuted RocketFM, a USB device that broadcasts your Mac's audio over any available FM frequency.
Opinion
Casualties Mount In Apple Vs Customers War
The most remarkable thing about the latest skirmish between Apple and its music customers is the sophistication of the underground medicine.
What The Mac Mini Is And Is Not
Rather than aiming to enter a crowded market, Apple is trying to find a niche and grow it.
Creative Lambasts Apple iPod Shuffle
When Creative says that its products have more functionality and better features, they're not wrong. What Creative doesn't have is the big name, the reputation and the style.
iPod Shuffle Rocks, Mac Mini Balks
Instead of focusing on switchers, Apple should market the Mac Mini as an