Wednesday, January 31, 2007
News
In-Ear-Canal Headphone Primer
What you need to know about in-ear-canal headphones (a.k.a., "canalphones")
The Silencing Of Steve Jobs' Impersonator
The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, a spoof chronicle of the narcissistic Apple chief exec's inner life, is to close down after unspecified legal threats.
SubEthaEdit For OS X Gets Tabs With Version 2.6
Pretty much all of the new features listed for the collaborative text and code editor have to do with the tabs in some way.
Opinion
5 Reasons Why I'll Be Buying A Mac
Man, I'm a total fanboy in the making.
Apple's Just Desserts A Big Win For Online Journalism
This was about journalism and little else.
Review
Apple iPod Shuffle (Second Generation, Green)
The iPod shuffle is a decent player that offers a sleek, compact form factor, an excessively simple user interface, and a low price. Fans of ultraportable gadgets will no doubt be drawn to it. But audiophiles, beware: this is not the player for you. If you're discerning about audio quality or tend to misplace things easily, steer clear.
Sidetrack
Kottke, quoting an unnamed former Apple employee: "Almost all of the photos in iLife (the ones for the themes and so on) are from employees."
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
News
Apple Quietly Releases 802.11n Enabler
The 802.11n enabler from Apple is only required if you do not end up purchasing the new Airport Extreme base station that will be available later this month.
iPod Shuffle Now Comes In Five Colors
Apple on Tuesday announced that the iPod shuffle is now available in five colors; Blue, pink, green, orange and the original silver. The 1GB iPod shuffle costs $79.
Apple TV Debate Won't Wait On product
Like the iPod, Apple TV could be a phenomenon. A disrupter of lesser technology. A product that finally converges the computer with the TV set. Or not.
Pogue's Videos Available As A Podcast
Apple Pays $700,000 For Bloggers' Legal Fees
Earlier this month, a Santa Clara County Court ordered Apple to pay the legal fees associated with the defense of subpoenas issued to online journalists in response to online reports about a confidential audio/video product — code-named "Asteroid" — under development at the Cupertino-based company.
Opinion
Apple Ads Around The World
Now is it just me or does the phrase "Just kicking it" makes the second one much finnier than the long winded multiple-phrase first one?
Rob Enderle Officially Loses It
There's a lot to love about Enderle's not-so-expert analysis here.
Monday, January 29, 2007
News
Apple Ups The Stakes With Convergence Play
No doubt iPod users will take the plunge in the expectation that Apple will deliver another killer app for digital entertainment.
Verizon Rejected Apple iPhone Deal
Among other things, Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cellphone fees, say over how and where iPhones could be sold and control of the relationship with iPhone customers, said Jim Gerace, a Verizon Wireless vice president. "We said no. We have nothing bad to say about the Apple iPhone. We just couldn't reach a deal that was mutually beneficial."
Adobe Sets Mid-February Ship Date For Lightroom
Adobe announced that version 1.0 of its photography workflow application will shiop on February 19. Lightroom will sell for $199 until April 30, 2007. After that, the price increases to $299.
UK Get A Mac Ads Now Available
They're now complete with British accents.
If The Price Isn't Right, Analyst Will Take A Pass
Fundamental analysts like Christopher J. Grant say it's unlikely a company like Apple is worth $10 billion more five days after a product launch.
UK-Specific "Get A Mac" Ads Coming
One Britain-based blogger has taken some video fo what appears to be a poster for a UK-specific "Get a Mac" ad.
Lifestyle Accessories Turn The World Into iPod's Oyster
Gecko is the latest player, and one of the few Australians, to enter the global eco-system that Apple launched five years ago with the introduction of the iPod.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
News
Apple Technology Featured In Big Apple Hotel
Outfitting hotel rooms with 21st century technology is one way to stay ahead of the competition, judging by new developments at the Westin New York at Times Square.
Windows Vista On A Mac Now On Sale
Apple resellers are set to launch a marketing campaign urging consumers to buy a Mac with an Intel Duo Core processor over a traditional PC to run their new Vista operating system.
Opinion
Apple Is About The Mac
Apple would never be content being relegated to specialized devices. Computing is in their blood.
iSight. Something I Wish Apple Would Make Again
What is up?
Life, MPEG Streamclip, QuickTime And All That...
I'm really hoping that the upcoming versions of QuickTime and iTunes hinted at in the AppleTV spec offer better video conversion and syncing capabilities to take better advantage of homebrew video resolution.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
News
Fog Creek Copilot, For All Your Remote Troubleshooting Needs
Version 2.0 adds support for the Mac, and drops the price.
Opinion
My MacBook Pro Experience - Day 16
One thing that having the Mac for sixteen days has shown me is that black and white thinking about operating systems is, at best, idealistic.
Wharton Prof Responds: Our Disagreement Is Design V. Marketing
Almost a decade after the publication of "The Innovator's Dilemma," the marketing universe still hasn't learned to diagnose a disruptive product when it shows up!
Friday, January 26, 2007
News
Apple's AirPort Extreme Constrained By UK Laws
UK bandwidth restrictions will stop Apple's AirPort Extreme achieveing its goal.
Apple Cuts Xserve RAID Prices
Apple has reduced the cost of Xserve RAID systems by up to 8.5 per cent, following the introduction of new high-capacity drives for such systems earlier this week.
AirPort Extreme Security Improved For Intel Macs
The update corrects an issue that could cause system crashes on a wireless network caused by malicious intent, according to Apple.
Apple iPhone Spat Reaches Canada With Comwave Claims
Comwave Telecom Inc. has used the iPhone brand since 2004 to sell internet phone service to its customers, and filed documents opposing Apple's motion to take the name, President Yuval Barzakay said in an interview yesterday.
Rogers Confirms Exclusive iPhone Contract In Canada
"Rogers is actively working with Apple to launch the iPhone in Canada as soon as possible and will be the exclusive provider of the iPhone in Canada."
Opinion
Why Apple Can't Send Jobs Packing
As long as investigators can't pin Jobs with any criminal activity, Apple won't climb on the horns of that dilemma. Too much is riding on a happy outcome for the board to send its Teflon CEO packing.
Going Windows Because No Mac Meets My Needs?
Apple just doesn't offer what I need right now, all OS preferences aside.
Review
First Look: ModBook: Third-Party Modifications Turn MacBook Into A Tablet Computer
Those who buy one with its strengths and limitations in mind will have the unique experience of running OS X ona Mac like nothing ever made by Apple.
Roxio's Toast 8 Titanium
Overall Toast 8 Titanium is a solid upgrade and well worth the investment.
Use Bookmarks Anywhere: Decode The Web
Once you've gathered important bookmarks, how can you use them on your different computers and, if necessary, in different browsers?
Thursday, January 25, 2007
News
Mac Will Get Boost From New Photoshop Release, Analyst Says
Sales of Apple's professional line of Macintosh desktops and notebooks could get a boost after Adobe releases the full version of its new Photoshop CS3 digital imaging software later in 2007, according to one analyst.
What's In A Name? For Apple, A Focus On The Digital Living Room
The bottom line, experts at Wharton note, is it's still early in the development of the digital living room, and that means more strategic trials and errors lie ahead.
Apple Safe From Citrix's Legal Hounds
Luckily for Apple, neither Citrix nor Nortel seem eager for an iPhone lawsuit.
Mac Tablet Distributor Recruits Dealers
Two weeks after its introdution, the Axiotron ModBook, which Apple reseller Other World Computing called "the One and Only Mac Tablet" computer, is starting to lure independent Macintosh dealers.
Apple Stores Increasing Focus On Windows Stragglers
Apple's retail stores will begin courting Windows users with added finesse this spring, as new product launches from the company help pique interest in its Mac line of personal computer, Needham and Co. analyst Charles Wolf says.
Apple To Charge 802.11n Fee Overseas As Well
Apple claims that Apple Italy and Apple Australia, while looking like their own entities for most day-to-day operations, are still arms of the main corporation that is based out of Cupertino, California.
Norway Toughens iTunes Stance
Apple could face legal ation by the Norwegian government in March if the U.S. company refuses to unlock its iTunes online music store from its iPod media player.
Opinion
Mark Hamburg Interview: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Part 1 Of 2
I spoke with Mark Hamburg, Adobe Fellow, former Photoshop architect, and founder of the Lightroom project.
The Steve Jobs Effect... On The Backdating Scandal
I predict Apple's hndling of its backdating problem will impact decision-making in many other boradrooms. Now, so long as evidence shows their CEO was less involved in backdating than Jobs was at Apple, there will be less pressure to automatically take the "throw-the-bums-out" route.
Is Apple Out To Kill Tivo?
Yeah, I'm calling it. I think Apple are about to send Cable TV and Tivo a clear message... your time is almost up.
iPod: A Love/Hate Relationship
When you need your battery replaced, suck it up and pay Apple the $66 to install it for you. If you don't, there is a very good chance that you will be sorry.
Review
A Tiny Thing Of Beauty
If you want something with fuss-free usability, ultra-portability and elegant looks, the shuffle is your best bet. That's the price of cool, I suppose.
FizzBall: Cute Action Game Hits A Home Run For Family Fun
"Cute" certainly doesn't work for all gamers, but as a dad, I can't find a bad thing to say about FizzBall.
Sidetrack
Lesson Of The Day: Don't Interrupt Steve Jobs
From MadTV, a lesson in attending Macworld Expos. :-)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Top Stories
US Investigators Condemn Apple's Options Inquiry
Government investigators in the United States have privately condemned Apple's internal inquiry into backdating stock options and have asked the computer company to hand over more documents detailing how executives were awarded the controversial bonuses, The Times has learnt. The authorities' chief complaint was that Apple had failed to describe adequately the procedure that it used to grant stock options to its executives.
News
Podcasts Come To The Classroom
Forget dioramas, posters and in-class presentations read from index cards. If you're a ninth-grader in Ralph Greco's Earth science class at Whitesboro High School, podcasts are the new plastic-bound science report.
Accountants Call Out Apple On $1.99 Fee
Managing director of research at Glass Lewis & Co. and former chief accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission Lynn Turner told the Wall Street Journal yesterday that Apple's excuse of "generally accepted accounting principles" as the reason for the fee was a bunch of bull.
jTunes: The Insanely Great Songs Apple Won't Let You Hear
There's a small but ardent underground economy among Americans in dummy addresses and e-mailed scans of Japanese iTunes Cards, picked up by friends in Tokyo conveniene stores or openly sold online.
Apple Security Update Fixes QuickTime Flaw
The update corrects a problem involving QuickTime 7.1.3 running on Mac OS X v10.3.9, Mac OS X Server v10.3.9 and higher, as well as Windows XP/2000.
Opinion
About Mac Market Share, Growth, Opinions, And Numbers
The Macworld story (and the many stories just like it) misrepresent reality using numbers that are both accurate and true.
Five Reasons To Fear For Steve Jobs
A report that securities regulators grilled the Apple CEO last week serves as a reality check. The Apple CEO's supreme self-confidence has proved an asset in product design; it's dangerous in his current tangle with the government. Steve Jobs is in jeopardy, more serious than has been acknowledged.
Review
Roxio Toast 8 Titanium With TiVoToGo
It's clear that Toast 8 Titanium still has some improvements yet to be made, both under the hood and in its Direct-to-iPod TiVo encoding process, which could be simpler.
Live 6: Loop-Based Sequencer Impvoement Over Traditional Digital Audio Workstations
If you're a musician seeking inspiration from your digital audio workstation or a DJ looking for tools more interesting than a turntable and mixer, you owe yourself a long look at Live.
Be A Power Browser
Count the number of web sites you visit daily, and you'll realize that learning even a few ways to streamline your surfing could save you loads of time.
Sidetrack
All Work And No Play? Not With A Mac
From cooking breakfast to saber fighting, here are five creative uses for the MacBook. With videos.
Rumor Today: Special Event On Feb 20
Yes, we have a date. Well, at least a date on the rumor-o-sphere.
Feb 20 is the date of the very first Apple's Very Special Event, according to a source at AppleRecon. And the word is that Leopard, iLife 07, iWork 07, as well as new Mac Pro, will be announced.
If you haven't spend the money you've reserved for Macworld, hang on to it some more. :-)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
News
Apple Pounds E-Wallet Firm In Trademark Tiff
Apple has been accused of applying double standards to trademark disputes by a UK security developer.
City's Fund Bites Apple
The New York City Employees Retirement System was named lead plaintiff in a shareholder lawsuit that claims Apple Inc. failed to properly disclose how much stock it set aside for options awards.
Apple's Shares Fall As Mac Sales Remain A Concern
Shares of Apple Inc. fell for the fourth straight day as analysts said a slowdown in Macintosh and iPod sales this quarter may damp enthusiasm for the stock.
Apple Faces Patent Claim Over iPod Touch Sensor Technology
Southampton-based touch sensor chip firm Quantum Research Group is taking legal action against Apple over the capacitive sensing technology used in iPod Click Wheels. "We are suing Apple over charge-transfer technology in iPods," Quantum's CEO Hal Philipp told EW. "Some are based on Cypress' PSoC chip and used in a way we believe infringes our patent."
European Consumer Groups Unite To Pressure iTunes
Consumer groups in Germany, France, Norway and Finland have joined forces to step up pressures on Apple to loosen the tight ties between its iTunes online music store and iPod music player. At the top of the list of demands is interoperability.
Opinion
Why I Want A Locked iPhone
While some see this as lockdown, to Jobs it's the difference between the pleasure of the iPod and hte pain of an off-brand MP3 player. I'll take the iPod — and the iPhone.
My List Of What I Really Want From Apple
We're smarter these days and Apple doesn't recognize it. We want more these days and Apple doesn't understand it.
Why I Am Dumping My Mac And Switching Back To Windows
I expect an initial period of learning and figure out how to do things on a Mac that I had do on my PC — but that learning perio dhas never ended. I am continually having to buy software or google to figure out how to do tasks that were simple on my PC.
There Are No Design Leaders In The PC World
In the PC world, taste and culture are rarely considered, and if they are, it's always as an afterthought. Ship it first, make it look good later. If you ever do.
Wrong For You, Right For Me
Pardon me for working in a different way to you.
Review
Mac Mini With EyeTV
I am very happy with my Mac Mini. It works great for watching movies and listening to music and for watching and recording TV using EyeTV and the Plextor tuner.
Note Taking Application Faceoff
Whether you're writing a simple article for a blog, piecing together the next blockbuster hit, or penning a 500 page romance novel, there are quite a few options for helping you get all of that informtion organized and drafted.
Turn Your Mac Into A Video-Analysis Tool
ScopeBox turns your Mac into a video-analysis tool that can measure a video signal's luminance and color values, among other things, to make sure that it conforms to broadcast standards.
Sidetrack
MessageBox() is the root of all evil, I tell 'ya.
If a programmer can write a piece of code to display a dialog box that says "You can't open this location using this program. Please try a different location.", then this same programmer can write another piece of code to not show these locations that cannot be opened in the first place.
To the API designers of the next great operating system, please make it extremely difficult for programmers to throw out simple dialog boxes, okay?
Monday, January 22, 2007
News
Windows On The Mac Changes Everything
The kind of software sold by the formidable Parallels is transforming computing and challenging Steve Jobs.
A Red Cat's Journey, Enhanced By iTunes
Over the course of his career that has spanned four decades, the guitarist and producer Ry Cooder has recorded with groups from the Rolling Stones to the Buena Vista Social Club. But he hasn't been prolific as a solo artist recently, mostly because he has had trouble capturing the sound he wanted on a compact disc. On his new album, he achieved that sould with a little help from un unlikely source: Apple's iTunes program.
Buying An iPod? You Need To Slog Out Over 112 Days
People may be going crazy over iPods, but it might not play music to ears after hearing that Indians need to work more htan five months to earn enough for buying one piece of this sleek digital music player, which is the highest compared to anywhere else in the world.
Opinion
The 10 Biggest iPod Annoyances
If I don't listen to any episodes of a podcast for awhile, iTunes decides I'm not interested and stops downloading new episodes. Um, no — sometimes I'm very interested, but there are just gaps in my listening. Having to go to iTunes and tell it to continue downloading is just maddening.
What Will Replace The iSight Firewire Camera? I Suggest A Wireless iSight Camera.
I predict it will utilize 802.11n and will work seamlessly with the new Apple Airport Extreme.
In Which I Think About Java Again, But Only For A Moment
Desktop Java never worked because Sun tried to build their OS on top of the real OS, duplicating every API and feature. THis led to terrible bloat... Worse, the GUI portions of the Java platform are awful, because Sun is a server company with no core competency at GUIs.
Apple Un-Service
How can Apple expect me to not work for 2 weeks? THis is insane... I would gladly pay extra for weekend repair, or say, 3 business day guaranteed turn around, but APple doesn't seem to want to offer this, a big mistake considering the buisness critical use of many of their machines.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
News
Apple's Way To The Living Room
Apple is using QuickTime to fast-track its way to your living room, and it's pushing support of the emerging MPEG 4 standard, which is partly based on the player, to get there.
Figuring Out The P.E. Ratio Of Steve Jobs
While Mr Jobs' ideas do not always work out, he has been on a spectacular winning streak this decade, and the company would not be the same without him. Unfortunately, investors have had to contemplate that possibility since Apple acknowledge irregular prctices involving stock options.
Opinion
Thoughts On Apple In The Big Apple
This thing rocks, I have a long way to go, but all in all my first week of being a MacBook Pro owner, it's two thumbs up from this PC veteran.
Wintel
Microsoft Considered iPod Rival, Apple Partnership
Microsoft as early as 2003 considered a partnership with Apple or creating its own digital music player to rival Apple's dominant iPod.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
News
MacFUSE Release Opens Up File Systems On Mac OS X
Amit Singh, engineering manager of the Macintosh Group at Google, developed MacFUSE and released it at the recent Macworld Expo. MacFUSE, he said, makes it easy for even casual programmers to write their own file systems, which they can build into Mac OS X user programs.
Apple, Best Buy Still Feeling Each Other Out
Early word is that Apple is asking its solution providers to dedicate swaths of storefront as demo space for AppleTVs, as a condition of being authorized to resell that product.
Opinion
What Happened To iPhone's Cover Shoot?
So here's a mystery: why did the iPhone, one of the most attention-grabbing unveilings of recent years, not make the cover of a single major magazine?
The "Mac" Name Was Also Trademarked By Another Company
Steve Jobs' trademark spat with Cisco over "iPhone" isn't the first time Jobs has brought a product to market with another company's trademark — he did it with the Mac.
Java To The iPhone: Can You Hear Me Now?
Desktop Java has never been managed right by Sun and I can see Apple not wanting to be dependent on them.
iPhone: It's The Intterface
What I remain excited about is the interface.
iPhone: The Mediocre Phone That Will Change The World
iPhone Appeal Drops Daily
Interestingly, with each person I speak with on it, I hear the same themes echoing back to me.
Friday, January 19, 2007
News
Apple's Disappointing Forecast Reduces Interest In Tech Stocks
Inside 802.11n: What You Need To Know About The Wireless Networking Standard Apple Supports
Apple Hit With Patent Infringement Lawsuit
The lawsuit claims that Apple used Opti-patended "predictive snooping" technology, which involves the transfer of data from a PCI bus controller to a PCI master bus.
Orb Brings iTunes To Wii Console
Price Cuts On Apple iPhone Likely, Analysis Finds
Apple will likely have some wiggle room to cut retail prices on the iPhone, if a report from iSuppli proves correct.
Apple Wants Two Bucks For Faster Wi-Fi
It will cost $1.99, and will be available on Apple's web site, said Lynn Fox, an Apple spokeswoman.
Opinion
Mac Pro Sales Waiting On Adobe
Reaction To The iPhone Reveals How The Electronics Industry Failed To Beat The iPod
It's as if everyone is wearning "feature" goggles. They think of smart phones as a computing tol, in which the number of features are more important than the user interface.
The Mac Still Proves A Winner For Apple
Despite all the praise lavished on the iPod and other new consumer devices, the Mac has been the real winner since Apple started using Intel chips last year.
Apple TV eletes DMA Deficiencies
You Could Call iPhone Perfect
I really, really like what I've seen so far.
Apple's Numbers Tell The Story
A little more than five years after Apple first introduced the iPod to a surprisingly receptive world, the music device generates nearly half of the company's sales. Can you really blame Apple, then, for looking at new areas like the iPhone and seeing the potential for expanding its business even further?
Is The 8GB iPhone Overpriced?
Why does it cost $100 extra for a mere extra 4GB of storage?
Review
Sidetrack
You are sick of developing applications for Windows? Tired of reading that MSDN, and figuring should you move all your MFC and WTL projects to .Net? You want in on the most exciting operating system in the world? (Sorry, got carried away...)
Late Night Cocoa is a new podcast that's just for you.
Wintel
Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting
XP successor doesn't break new ground on ease of use, but it's the best Windows yet.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
News
Big Mac Makes Way For The iPod Index
In a sign of the times, a Sydney-based bank has developed a new indicator for foreign exchange movements based on Apple's iPod music player, and as an alternative to the long-standing Big Mac Index.
Apple Unveils Three More 'Get A Mac' Ads
OS X Leopard Set For Late Spring Release
Apple experts have announced an intensive Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard training session in the UK this June — as evidence mounts of a late spring release of the hotly anticipated new OS.
Apple Results: Mac Sales Exceed Industry Sales Patterns
"We grew at three times the market," said Tim Cook. "Underneath that, if you look in some specific markets, like the US, we gew at 31 per cent versus market growth of 3 per cent."
Steve Jobs Say Aple Will, In Fact, Charge $5 For 802.11n Updater
Jobs replied, simply, "It's the law."
Apple TV Tops Best Seller List At Apple Store
Apple's iPhone Has Wall Street Chattering
Apple sold 21 million iPods during its first quarter, but financial analysts asked almost as many questions of Apple executives Wednesday about a product that won't ship until June.
Apple's Steve Jobs Is Comapny's $20 Billion Asset
If Jobs were to leave, shares of Apple might drop 25 percent or more, analysts say. That would erase about $20 billion in Apple's market value.
Apple Reports Record-Breaking $1 Billion Profit
Apple on Wednesday posted a record-breaking $1 billion profit on record revenue of $7.1 billion for the first fiscal quarter of 2007 ended December 30, 2006.
Opinion
Why Steve Jobs Is Hyping The iPhone Patents? Because He Made A Bad Deal
Apple made a really dumb business decision in locking themselves up with Cingular.
The Resignation Of US Attorney Kevin Ryan: What It Could Mean For Apple
My guess is that Ryan's departure means the odds of criminal charges against Apple or Steve Jobs got a bit longer today.
Blogs On The Run!
Apple's worldwide launch of the new iPhone will mobilise the next wave of user generated content.
The iPHone User Experiene: A First Look
Traditional cell phones are dull, limited, and at end-of-life. iPhone is glorious, and it is only the beginning.
Expo's Lackluster Games Pavilion
This was the most grim Games Pavilion I can remember in just about all my years of coming to Macworld Expos, and it really set my teeth on edge.
Review
Acrobat 8 Professional: Industry Standard Application Institutes New Features
Acrobat 8 Professional is a giant leap forward, especially in the area of collaboration.
Wintel
Uninspiring Vista
Ironically, playing around with Vista for more than a month has done what years of experience and exhortations from Mac-loving friends could not: It has converted me into a Mac fan.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
News
As QuickTime Hits Milestone, Apple Looks Ahead
On the eve of the annual NAMM Show celebrating the latest advances in music and audio products, Apple executives gathering for the Anaheim trade show were celebrating an ahicevement of their own — the rapid growth of QuickTime 7.
Hold The iPhone: This Thing Still Needs Marketing
This is going to be a test of the mass-affluence theory that Americans are now willing to pay big bucks for elegant design or products with great stories.
Apple Wins Six Patents Relating To iChat, Text-To-Speech, More
Opinion
Forget The Apple Phone, Give Me A Newton Anytime!
The key, I think, is to look at what's wrong with the Apple Phone and why it's not the new Newton on steroids?
Here's An iDea, Jobs: Quit Fleecing Stockholders
Sorry, Steve. Creating fabulous computers doesn't give you the right to take your fellow shareholders to the cleaners. The yays don't cancel out the boos.
Is Apple Sandbagging The iPhone?
I think Steve is trying to get a better deal from Jonathan Schwartz, CEO of Sun.
OS X
This distinction between "OS X" and "Mac OS X" is loose, but makes sense.
The "I" Of The Storm: iPhones, iPains, And iProblems
iPhone's Downsized Wide Screen
It appears that Apple's uberdevice utilizes a toally proprietary 1.5:1 aaspect ratio.
Mac + PC Sittin' In A Tree: Apple's Platform-Agnostic Push
The release of the iPhone will only reinforce this position: say goodbye to the "halo effect," the idea that increased iPod sales will encourage iPod users to get a Mac — with its major products being platform agnostic, I'm not sure that Apple needs, or even really wants, to convert PC users to the Mac.
The iPhone And "Crippleware" Claims
Find a way to satisfy both the music industry and consumers and you've made a good start. Currently, iTunes, with its 2 billion downloads, seems to have made that start.
Hands (And Fingers) On The iPhone
One of the joys of using the iPhone is understanding that it's not just a press-and-hold interface, but one that can be controlled by numerous gestures, most of them fairly intuitive.
Review
TuneCenter From Griffin Technology
All things considered, TuneCenter is not a bad little product. It does what it says even if it is a little difficult to get into the video and photo playback.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
News
Adobe Labs Ships eBook Software For Macs
Apple, Microsoft Have Designs On Your Living Room
If you're looking to give your home a digital makeover, both Apple and Microsoft have some idea.
Apple Has Toxic Core: Greenpeace
Despite Apple's launch of the eco-friendly iPhone last week, Greenpeace is demanding an environmental revolution that will shake the company to its core.
iPhone Accused Of Copycatting Korean Model
The Apple Of Your Ear
The iPhone started out the way a lot of cool things do: as something completely different. A few years ago, Steve Jobs noticed how many development dollars were being spent — particularly in the greater Seattle metropolitan area — on what are called tablet PCs: flat portable computers that work with a touch screen instead of a ouse and keyboard. Jobs, being Jobs, was curious. He had some Apple engineers noodle around with a touch screen. When they showed him what they came up with, he got excited. So execited he forgot all about tablet cmputers. He had bigger game to hunt.
US Attorney Investigating Apple Stock Options
Macworld Vs CES: Macworld Emerges As Victor
Apple Newton Versus iPhone
Curious to find out what Newton fans make of the iPhone, I emailed a few. They're drooling, but they're not going to abandon the Newton just yet.
Apple To Impose 802.11n Unlocking Fee On Intel Mac Owners
Is Your Mac Reaching End Of Support? Handy List Inside
Xserve RAID Storage Installed At South Pole
Can iPhone Relieve iPod Margin Squeeze?
iPods sales are up, prices are down. Blame cheap Nanos and Shuffles.
Cingular Exec Hints At More iPhones In Development
Apple may have additional models of iPhone in development and these could be fast-tracked to market, according to a senior Cingular executive.
Opinion
iPhone, iHope, iDream
Details, details. In iParadise, life is always dandy.
Why Apple Makes Me Cry
For someone like me, an Apple keynote speech is much more than a new product announcement. It's a sermon, a series of miracles and a rousing patriotic oration about the homeland.
The MacBook Pro The Most Desirable Laptop?
Justifying Apple's iPhone Restrictions: They Want It ToSuceed
Any flaw, any blemish, any mistake in estimating demand is fair game for consumers to state that Apple isn't living up to its brand promise.
iPhone Trails
What if I could make shapes or trails on the iPhone sceen to visit a web site, sms someone, or speed dial?
Apple's Lock-In: Deal With It
The iPhone doesn't seem like a particularly restrictive device to me. At least not yet.
iPhone Or Not: What's In A Name?
Learn Your Vision From Visionaries
The unique qualities of Jobs and Gates could foster admiration more than emulation. But while few of us possess the intelligence, ego, insight, charisma, and drive required to transform industries, the success of both men teach valuable lessons about vision and strategy that we can all apply.
Steve Jobs Too 'In' To Be Forced Out?
Options scandals have taken conventional chief executives down. But then again, they were conventional. Steve is not. He's hip.
Review
SketchFighter 4000 Alpha: Simple Graphis Belie Powerful Fun Shoot-Em-Up
SketchFighter is a retro joy, not only for its bored middle school look and feel, but for its 1980s-style shoot-em-up action. Sure to be a bona fide classic in no time.
Monday, January 15, 2007
News
Cisco Spells Out What's In The 'iPhone' Name
Cisco is understood to have demanded access to Apple's closed media distribution service, the online iTunes store, in return for sharing the "iPhone" brand name at the centre of a trademark dispute between the two groups.
Comwave Takes iPhone In Canada
Apple and Cisco might be fighting the iPhone war in the US, but the folks at Comwave Telecom have the trademark all wrapped up in Canada.
Opinion
A Plea For The Fat-Fingered
I wonder how I might fare given the "keys" are rleatively small in comparison to my fingers.
It's The Product, Stupid
Apple has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that "It's the product, Stupid." Let's take a lesson from their play book.
iPhone Delivers A Genuinely Disruptive UI
The ripple effect caused by the iPod's success on raising the profile of user experience in the industry has been truly significant. Hopefully, the iPhone's announcement will also bring about a change in attitude that will allow UI designers to unleash their creativity.
Back From Macworld
I think the Macworld Expo was a great success and a great resource for Mac enthusiasts.
Jobs Is Gravity
Apple is a unique company. There are several reasons for that, and they all revolve around Steve Jobs in various orbits.
Will The iPhone Support Exchange Direct Push?
Bill Gates And Steve Jobs: Keynote Text Analysis
Four Stories On Why iPhone Third-Party Apps Matter, From A Long-Time Treo User
It would be smarter for Apple to figure out how they can make others (and not just Cingular) successful on top of what they build, rather than trying to own and control everything. For me that strategy is a deal-breaker, and I think it should be for you, too.
True Cost Of The iPhone - CenterNetworks Does The Math!
For a year of usage on this device, the total comes to $1,936.
iPhone, My New Book Shelf?
You have the perfect portable book reader.
Does Apple's iPhone Support Flash?
You have to ask Apple.
Should iPhone Open Wide And Say Ahhh?
Closeness is practically a precondition for simplicity.
Review
Sidetrack
Sunday, January 14, 2007
News
Apple Swipes Visual Voicemail From Citrix
Now we find Apple has grabbed an application name from poor old Citrix.
Private iCreator Is Genius Behind Apple's Polish
So impoart is Ive to Apple that at the Macworld Expo unveiling of the iPhone, the first call Jobs placed was to Ive to offer congratulations.
Apple Bullies Bloggers, Again
Apple is engaging in similar tactics against a number of bloggers who simply reported on the fact that someone created a skin for Windows Mobile phones that looks exactly like the new iPhone user interface.
Mac OS X Downloads @ Apple.com
Apple finally made some changes that are going to be very beneficial to Mac software developers.
Crunch Time For Apple Of His Eye
It will be many months until consumers are able to make up their own minds, but in the meantime, Jobs will require all his negotiation skills to ride the political climate of the mobile industry.
Want An iPhone? Beware The iHandcuffs
Even if you are ready to pledge a lifetime commitment to the iPod as your only brand of portable music player or to the iPhone as your only cellphone once it is released, you may find that FairPlay copy protection will, sooner or later, cause you grief.
Attorneys Are Focus Of Apple Probe
Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal regulators want to question two former Apple lawyers in connection with the grant, reigniting concerns about Jobs' and his company's legal exposure.
Sundance Strikes iTunes Film Deal
The Sundance Film Festival has struck a deal with Apple to allow festival films to be sold through its iTunes store.
AirPort Disk: Easy Network Storage
You can attach just about any USB hard drive and it will become available for sharing using both AFP and SMB protocols.
Opinion
Steve Jobs, The iPhone And Open Platforms
When Jobs said he doesn't want the iPhone to be an open platform, he more than likely meant that he doesn't want to allow third-party, downloadable software on the iPhone without a certification, quality assurance system in place that would ensure that the user experience continues to meet the Jobs standard.
Apple iPhone = Origami Done Right?
Apple may have created the perfect iPod killer, told a large number of people how to build it, and be unable to get the product to market timely themselves.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
News
Hackers Look For iPhone Vulnerabilities
Automakers Can Learn From Apple
Cisco Lost Rights To iPhone Trademark Last Year, Experts Say
The trademark was apparently abandoned in late 2005/early 2006 because Cisco was not using it.
Feds Probing Stock Options Grant To Jobs
Federal investigators are still examining whether any of the accounting shenanigans at Apple Inc. rose to the level of criminal behavior, even though the company has cleared CEO Steve Jobs and all current executives of any wrongdoing in an internal stock options backdating probe, according to a person close to the matter.
Why Hollywood Snubbed Jobs At Macworld
Most of Tinseltown won't buy into the Apple chief's digital vision until he ponies up more money and gets more serious about protecting content.
Glenn Fleishman Schools Us, Wi-Fi Style
"First, I'm really pissed off that they didn't change the name."
Confirmed: Macworld Expo 2008 Dates
How Apple Could Fight Cisco
Settlement is the most likely outcome of this dispute, given the burden of proof on Apple needed to overcome Cisco's trademark registration, lawyers said.
Week In Review: Apple Steals The Show
As two major tech conferences competed for the attention of the gadget-conscious world, it was Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs who stole the spotlight.
Opinion
Ultimate iPhone FAQs List, Part 2
Why Can't Apple, Cisco Just Play Nice?
Apple TV Could Have Appeal — Eventually
Apple's new Apple TV product could eventually pose a challenge to cable and satellite providers — but the hurdles are substantial, and won't be overcome any time soon.
Is Safari Headed For Windows?
It seems that the Mozilla Foundation thnks a Windows Safari port is a possibility.
Does The iPhone Need Patents?
The downside is that Apple doesn't need to keep up the same pace of innovation now.
The Ultimate iPhone Frequently Asked Questions
Jobs On The iPhone Being A Closed System
Apple's Shrinking Magic Circle
The briefings were more limited this year than usual.
Pushing No Buttons With The iPhone
I've given up on trying to convince my PC-using friends to switch to the Mac.
Sidetrack
You Want An Apple Phone Now? (Part I)
So, you are grumbling about having to wait for another six more months to buy and use an iPhone?
You should probably know that we Apple customers here in the rainy (for the past few months) Singapore are waiting for a) iPhoto photo book printing, b) iTunes Music Store, c) iPhone.
Now, your i-life isn't that bad, isn't it?
:-)
You Want An Apple Phone Now? (Part II)
How about this> (via Boing Boing)
Friday, January 12, 2007
News
Apple Confident It Will Prevail In Cisco Lawsuit
"We think Cisco's trademark lawsuit is silly," Natalie Kerris, Apple's Director of music public relations, told Macworld. "There are already several companies using the name iPhone for VOIP products, and we believe that Cisco's U.S. trademark registration is tenuous at best."
Apple's Jobs Is Denied Bid To Demolish Mansion
Steve Jobs lost a bid to demolish a Spanish Colonial Revival-style mansion he owns about 30 miles south of San Francisco. A California appeals court ruled yesterday that Jobs and the city of Woodside didn't consider alternatives to destroying the home.
Legal Experts To Steve Jobs: iPhone Your Lawyers
Maybe Apple CEO Steve Jobs should use his new iPhone to call a good trademark lawyer. That's the advice of several attorneys and IT analysts regarding Apple's decision to call its new phone — even though that name is a registered trademark held by Cisco Systems.
Want Ad Suggests iPhone Will Have Arm Inside
Mac Flaw Puts Safari Surfers At Risk
A serious security flaw in Mac OS X opens machines with Apple's Safari web browser to hijack by outsiders, Secunia has warned.
Parallels Update Adds USB 2.0, True Drag And Drop
Microsoft Updates Office 2004
The update adds several improvements and security fixes.
Opinion
Why DRM's Best Friend Might Just Be Apple Inc
What the content industry and the consumer electronics industry alike want is not the end of DRM, but a truly interoperable, robust DRM that puts them in control of their content without ceding too much power to one player (Apple). But now that PlaysForSure has gone bust in all but name and Apple steadfastly refuses to license FairPlay, that's not going to happen in the music industry.
Why Apple Doesn't Care If Cisco Sues Over The Name iPhone
iPhone Round-Up
Until you're holding the thing in your hand and living with it day-to-day, you really can't say "this is going to work this way" or "I don't like the way that functions" with anything approaching absolute confidence.
Phone Shows Apple's Impact On Consumer Products
Apple's new iPhone appears to be the clearest statement yet of what Steve Jobs's impact has been on consumer electronics. It is not that he invents new technologies. He refines existing ones.
Don't Crowd The iPhone
Apparnetly that last step forward I took had violated the iPhone's invisible Cone of Protection.
Sidetrack
Wintel
'Craplets' Could Damage Vista Launch: Microsoft Exec
A senior Microsoft executive says the company is concerned that uncertified third-party software loaded onto new computers by manufacturers ould hurt the launch of consumer versions of its Windows Vista operating system later this month.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
News
Jobs Cites Microsoft Executive's Mac Comment
In Cingular-Apple Deal, Only Phone Was Missing
When Cingular executives went to the company's board last year to get approval for a deal with Apple, they did so without so much as a prototype of an Apple phone to show the directors. The board signed off anyway.
Cisco Files Infringement Suit Against Apple Over iPhone
Cisco Systems late Wednesday said it has filed a lawsuit against Apple seeking to prevent Apple from using the iPhone trademark.
QuarkXPress Gets Upgraded
The latest upgrade offers performance enhancements that make the design software more responsive.
Opinion
Thinking Beyond The First Generation iPhone, Or Whatever It's Called
The iPhone is really not a smartphone. It is a personal digital device that includes phone capabilities. It's a fusion of Macintosh and iPod.
Why Apple Left Cisco At The Altar
Cisco wanted not just a licensing agreement or the sale of a trademark but a business relationship... in a sense, Cisco wanted in.
For IT Departments, The iPhone Poses Problems
How Not To Start An Expo Presentation
Always be prepared. But if you're not prepared, make sure you're staying close enough to recover from said level of unpreparedness!
Update On Cisco's iPhone Trademark
This lawsuit is about Cisco's obligation to protect its trademark in the face of a willful violation. Our goal was collaboration. The action we have taken today is about not using people's property without permission.
How Apple Kept Its iPhone Secrets
Bogus prototypes, bullying the press, stifling pillow talk — all to keep iPhone under wraps.
Steve's Devices
In Jobs's world, users are users, creators are creators, and never the twain shall meet. Which is, of course, why the iPhone, like the iPod, is such an exquisite device. Steve Jobs is not interested in amateur productions.
Apple iPhone Have EDGE Leh
Another thing that struck me was how such an innovative product is being launched in thesuch a mobile backwater like the US. Steve, come to Asia first. We will buy your iPhone like there is no tomorrow, and you don't have to partner with the likes of Cingular here to sell one.
When Did Steve Start Showing Vaporware?
By holding his own mini-CES 500 miles away, Jobs literally stole the show.
Apple Waves Its Wand, Again
This machine is so packed with possibilities that the cellphone may actually be the least interesting part.
Apple Fails To Reinvent Telecommunications Industry — Too Bad
Microsoft Learns Less Is More
Based on what I've seen thus far, Microsoft clearly understands that the biggest problem with Office is not some sort of missing feature or capability, but rather, the fact that many users are unaware that features and capabilities they're demanding already exist.
Sidetrack
Erica Ogg, in CNET: Powercast is a radio frequency that is transmitted over a small area, and its energy is "harvested" — wirelessly — to give power to small devices like cell phones.
Steve Jobs must already have his engineers looking into this. (But, if not, can someone please notify him, please?)
Now, we can really get rid of all the unsightly wires.
Watching Your iPod Videos In Private
If you, with an iPod with Video, are watching a recorded video conference from your company discussing the latest ultra-super-top secret plans on how to steal market share from your biggest competitor, you probably wouldn't want to watch it on your train commute. You don't really know who that person sitting right next or behind you is from.
But, here's a solution: a special video glasses for your iPod.
(Of course, there's also porn.)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
iPhone
Apple Unveils iPhone
After more than two years in the making, Apple CEO Steve Jobs today announced the company's intention to enter the mobile handset market, unveiling the new Apple iPhone. The iPhone brings together several features of the iPod, digital camera, smartphones and even portable computing to one device, with a widescreen display and an innovative input method.
Finally, Apple Answers Call For iPhone
In a written response to an inquiry from CNET News.com made while Jobs' speech was still going on, a Cisco representative said, "It is ourb belief that with their announcement today, Apple intends to agree to the final document and public statements that were distributed to them last night." Cisco expects to receive a signed agreement Tuesday, according to the statement.
Apple TV
Jobs Announces Apple TV
Jobs announced the $299 device would be available in February, though the company has begun taking orders.
News
Queuing For Jobs And The iPhone
By and large, technology trade shows don't attract average people willing to camp out overnight for a chance at a prime seat. But there they were, exchanging good-natured barbs with each other about the rumored products (namely, the iPhone) expected later than mroning as they struggle to stay warm on the sidewalk.
iPhone Impresses, But Can iAfford It?
Greenpeace Protesters Dog Macworld
Thanks For The Mac Memories
At Macworld, Andy Hertzfeld, a member of the team that built the original Mac, spoke to a crowd of about 50 people about the early days of the project.
Analysis: iPhone A 'Wake-Up Call' For The Industry
Apple has put a tremendous amount of pressure on handset makers like Motorola and Nokia, according to industry analysts. Capitalizing on its legendary ease-of-use, Apple will be a competitor out of the gate.
iTunes Store Sales Going Strong
Apple has now surpassed Amazon to become the fourth largest music retailer in the U.S.
Flaw Found In Apple Bug-Fix Tool
The application, called Application Enhancer (APE), is used by the "Month of Apple Fixes" project to apply run-time patches.
Apple Drops 'Computer' From Name
"The Mac, iPod, Apple TV and iPhone. Only one of those is a computer. So we're changing the name," said Jobs.
Apple Enables 802.11n On Newer Macs
Apple Intros 802.11n-Based AirPort Base Station
Opinion
The Huge Potential Downside Of The iPhone
In all honesty, the most amzing thing to me about Apple's iPhone announcement is the exclusive multi-year pairing with Cingular, which locks Apple fans into an agreement with what might be one of the most customer-hostile companies ever.
More Apple
The Apple logo was a prominent feature in my house in my preteen days.
Some Hands-On Time With The iPhone
Today, I had meetings with Steve Jobs and then Phil Schiller, Apple's director of worldwide marketing. I basically played with the iPhone the entire hour.
The Artist Formerly Known As Apple
Changing a name to a symbol didn't work for Prince.
Macworld: A World Of Schwag
The schwag I got today as a conference speaker must have set some kind of record.
An iPhone Sans A Phone? Just Wi-Fi Access?
I'd adore one of those.
Mom Has Her Own Personal iPod
Was this some sort of test by Apple? If you can't open the case in two minutes, are yo too old to have an iPod?
Woz On The iPhone And Apple, Inc.
Regarding Apple's change of name from Apple Computer to Apple, Inc., Woz said that it took him by total surprise, but it's all good. "I never even thought of it in those terms, but it really makes sense," he said.
Apple's Son Of Newton
The iPhone's two distinguishing features will be twofo the least likely bloggers and reporters will mention: Mac OS X and synchronization.
The Apple iPhone
I grabbed some cardboard, scissors, and glue and made a scale model of the iPhone.
iPhone And The End Of PC Era
It is sweet irony that the company that sparked off the desktop computing revolution is the one announcing its passing.
ET, Phone Steve Jobs
This was the most exciting product introduction Jobs has made in 20 years. Reality-distortion field? Bring it on.
Apple Says "Does Not Compute"
The iPhone exemplifies this theory: it's a computer; it runs OS X, and yet it's also a cell phone and an iPod: it's the entire Appel product line in one device. Apple's reminding us that the computers are everywhere today.
Not Waiting On The World To Change
Will Apple become the dominant cell phone maker in the world? I kind of doubt it. But I think it'll be a serious player, and I think its presence in the market will force everyone else who develops cell phones to drop a lot of their assumptions and accept that some of their phones' features simply aren't good enough for consumers.
Expo Reaction: iDisappointed
I was really hoping for some impressive new Macs to look at, and new versions of the applications suites we've all come to rely on. It seems we'll now have to wait for the inevitable Special Event for the release of Leopard, iLife, and iWork... and maybe my highly-desired ultra-portable Mac!
Sidetrack
Any "Top Secret" Features Of iPhone Yet To Be Revealed?
Apple held back some features when Steve Jobs demoed Leopard at the last WWDC so as to prevent, as the company claimed, competitors from copying them.
Are there also features yet to be revealed about iPhone? If iPhone is running the full Mac OS X operating system, does that mean InkWell is alive and well, and the soft keyboard is just a red herring? And a lot of us can probably fun and interesting things that iPhone can do with functionalities like Bonjour, Automator/AppleScript, and Speech Recognition.
iPhone Works With Yahoo Mail, And Not .Mac Mail
I speculate that .Mac will be shutting down within a year, and .Mac customers will be migrated over to Yahoo!
Poor Microsoft. Even Poorer HP and Dopod
Bloomberg: Microsoft will introduce video games for its Zune music player within 18 months to match features available on Apple's dominant iPod.
Well, too bad. Now Microsoft will have to add mobile phone features too in order to just match Apple. I'm sure the game features will most likely be great on Zune — Xbox 360 has tons of positive reviews, but who carries around a video game player to the gym anyway?
Now that Microsoft has more or less killed off PlayForSure, should the Windows Mobile phone manufacturers be next in line to worry about whether to sign up for the Made for iPod program?
Wintel
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
News
Adobe Ships Flex Builder 2 For Mac
Adobe's toolset for building rich internet applications makes it to the Mac.
Apple's iFuture Depends On Partners
Against entrenched rivals to its iPhone and iTV offerings, the iconic computer maker will succeed if it nurtures alliances.
Cingular Seen Providing Service For Apple Phone: Report
AT&T's mobile phone unit, Cingular Wireless, is expected to provide a service for a phone from Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
A Personal Computer To Carry In A Pocket
Industry executives and competitors believe that Apple has developed the first of a new generation of devices that are closer to personal computers in pocket form, meaning that they will easily handle music, entertainment, productivity tasks and communications on cellular and other wireless networks.
Questions Remain In Apple Stock Option Probe
Opinion
I Bought This Really Nice Book Yesterday
Expo Survival Tips: Connectivity
Snow Jobs
Why Steve Jobs should be punished for the options backdating chicanery at Apple. And why he won't be.
Review
Xserve: Quad Xeon 64-bit Server Offers Better Performance And New Capabilities, But Some Wrinkles Too
Most annoyances of past Xserves have been rectified, and the whole system ranks admirably among the finest available today.
Sidetrack
Google Blogsearch Getting Worse?
I don't know about you, but I seem to be getting more spams and useless information out of Google's Blogsearch. So much so that I am unsubscribing from some of my feeds at Google.
(Your mileage may differ; my search terms are pretty generic.)
iPod Phone Cannibalizing iPod Sales?
If the iPod phone cannibalizing iPod's sales, that is good news for Apple. Because that shows that Apple's iPod division is moving in the right division in creating products that people want. It is always better to be cannibalized by your company's product thatn other people's product.
Scott Rosenberg: This probably sounds like nitpicking, but I think there's something at stake in how English usage shapes how we think about the Net.
Wintel
Microsoft Used To Be Smarter
Used to be when Microsoft wanted to take a market from a successful competitor, they started by seducing their users with something comfortable, a product that worked just like the competitor's, and was better in some major way.
Monday, January 8, 2007
News
Teaser Banners Drape Macworld Venue
Attendees arriving early for this year's Macworld Expo won't find any concealed Apple banners flanking the entranceway to the Moscone Center, traditionally one of the conference's trademarks leading up to Steve Jobs' opening keynote.
Apple Expected To Launch Revolutionary Product
Expectations for Macworld are so lofty that a failure to launch an earth-shattering product this week could dent Apple's already volatile stock price, investors say.
Opinion
Who's Killing MP3 And iTunes?
Here are seven reasons why MP3 is the future of the music industry.
On The Eve Of A New Phone, Apple Appears To Want In On Cisco's "iPhone" Trademark
Review
iPod Shuffle Second Generation Review
It is incredibly well made and functions flawlessly.
Wintel
Gates Sees A Home Server In Your Future
As part of his keynote address Sunday at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, Bill Gates is showing off Windows Home Server — a consumer device to serve as a central storage place for digital photos, music and other media.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
News
Apple, Microsoft To Unveil Digital Media Systems
Mac OS X Developers Watch Month Of Apple Bugs
Developers of applications for Apple's Mac OS X have been watching the Month of Apple Bugs project closely, and are generally in favor of the project's goal of uncovering OS flaws. But they, and security companies, have questions about the MOAB group's method, which involves making their findings public immediately, instead of first alerting Apple.
Opinion
Educated Guessing About Macworld
This year, the anticipation is high because Apple has openly discussed two major near-term products: the Mac OS X 10.5 system release, named Leopard, due in spring, and the "iTV," a Mac-to-home entertainment adapter that will be released under another name.
Review
Mac OS X Shines In Comparison With Windows Vista
I've yet to see anything in Vista that blows away the Mac OS, even a version of the Mac OS that's over a year old. Microsoft still can't manage to make something simple and easy to use. Vista reeks of committee and design by massive consensus, while OS X shines from an intense focus on doing things in a simple, clear fashion and design for the user, not the programmer.
Sidetrack
Rumor Today: .Mac Upgraded To 30 Gigs?
Will Steve Jobs announce .Mac drive's disk space will be increased to 30 Gigs? This might tempt quite a few Mac users, including me, to join .Mac immediately.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
News
Apple Quietly Canned Lawyer Who Backdated
Wendy Howell, the former in-house Apple lawyer responsible for option paperwork, probably won't be attending Jobs' eagerly awaited Macworld speech Tuesday. Late last year, she became the lone person to lose her job as a result of the company's well-publicized options problems.
CES, Macworld Duel For Dollars
Big money's at stake as manufacturers compete for market share.
Apple's Macworld Opens Arms To Corporate Users
There will be a heightened focus on enterprise customers as Apple has in the past couple years bolstered its standing as a viable server alternative in corporate data centers.
Macworld Buzz: Will Mac Pros Move To Eight Cores?
Some analysts are predicting that Apple may announce a Mac desktop that sports eight processors at the Macworld Expo next week.
Opinion
Ten Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Switched To OS X
I decided to put together a list for everyone else who is new to the Macintosh operating system.
Admit It, iPod Resistance Can Be Futile
From where I sit (the comfy swivel chair, unless my wife beats me to it), I can see that Apple has taken over our living room. And I'm convinced that taking over the rest of the world is only a matter of time.
Intelligent Design In A Big Printer
While I was setting up a new printer that arrived recently, I was so blown away by a few intelligent design choices made by the manufacturer that it shot straight to the top of my list.
Friday, January 5, 2007
News
Steve Jobs And Apple Under Massive Pressure To Deliver At Macworld
Can Apple really deliver something in each category, and will the press only focus on what wasn't delivered, instead of what was?
Reseller Readies Custom-Made Tablet Mac
Rivals Battle For Connected World
Technology giants Microsoft and Apple will set out their rival visions of the digital future at two separate events in the coming days.
Macworld Expo: Organisers Confirm Strong Attendance
Next week's Macworld Expo seems set to be the best-attended in years, with show organizers, IDG World Expo, confirming a 28 per cent increase in pre-event registrations compared to last year's event.
Does VMware For Macs Have A Chance?
Although Parallels has first-mover advantage in the market, VMware's dominance in the Windows market may overcome that lead.
Luxpro Seeks $100m In Damages From Apple Over iPod Shuffle Knockoff
Luxpro Technology, a digital media player manufacturer which successfully defended a lawsuit from Apple over an imitation iPod shuffle, said Wednesday it now plans to countersue the iPod maker for $100 million in damages.
Can Apple Overcome Latest Security Backlash?
The Month of Apple Bugs has opened old wounds in the vulnerability disclosure debate and renewed calls for a security czar to soothe Apple's relationship with hackers.
Opinion
One Bad Apple
Why corporate governance must not be loosened.
Review
Safe Eyes 2006: Internet Content Control For Parents Is Promising But Incomplete
It's difficult to recommend Safe Eyes at this time.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
News
Apple Financials Confirm Four-Fold Growth
Apple's net sales climbed almost 400 per cent in five years, financial statements reveal.
Apple In 2007 - The Only Way Is Up
Leopard, new Macs, iPods and mobile phone will generate bumper Apple corp, an analyst explains.
The Good, The Bad Of Bug Campaigns
A third monthlong parade of security flaw release has kicked off, this time focused on Macs. But some are questioning the purpose of such campaigns.
Is Steve Jobs Untouchable?
An internal inquiry gives him a pass in Apple's backdating scandal — but raises questions about whether he's getting special treatment.
Adobe Brings Premiere Back To The Mac
Adobe will announce on Thursday that it will revive a Mac version of Premiere, the software maker's video program aimed at professional editors. The new Mac version will only run on Intel-based Macs and will be part of a larger Adobe Production Studio suite that will include Adobe Encore DVD and Adobe Soundbooth.
Catch The Next Chapter On Your iPod (It's Even Cheaper)
Unlike onscreen e-books, which never quite caught on, downloadable audiobooks have taken off, driven by the explosive popularity of the iPod.
Mac Desktop Sales Slump, Portable Mac Sales Skyrocket
WriteRoom 2.0 Released For Your Attention Deficit
Additions include a new live word count, support for standard file formats, and more flexible display options.
2007: The Year In Preview
Predictions for what to expect from the coming year.
Opinion
What Jobs Told Me On The iPhone
Steve's ability to know where consumers and technology will intersect often creates a road paved in gold. That's why he'll focus his energy on mobiles.
Review
Dragster 1.0
I found this to be a useful addition to my automated file-moving arsenal.
The 24" iMac: A Quick, Subjective Review
The 24" iMac is splendid, particularly in those areas that are easy to take for granted until you actually see it in person: the all-in-one form factor and the expansive LCD panel just do it for me, and will do it for anyone else who has similar pretnetions to the simple and straighforward.
Sidetrack
Things To Try On A Rainy Afternoon
I don't have an Intel Mac, so I can't enjoy the best of both worlds (Mac OS X + Windows) on one machine. Therefore, I tried to next best thing: running VNC Server on my iBook, and connecting via my Windows laptop.
Turns out that the speed is simply too slow. I'm still using the old original AirPort (802.11b), so that may well be the bottleneck.
No, I'm not upgrading to the new AirPort Extreme just do try this trick again. I, like almost everyone else out there, am eagerly awaiting the Steve Keynote next week, to see if I will part with my hard-earned money.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
News
Apple Guru Combats Month Of Bugs
A senior open-source developer with extensive experience working for Apple says he is attempting to offer fixes for each flaw found.
At Apple, Timing Led To Overnight Windfalls
Stock option grants in 1997 came on the eve of a big share-price jump.
Patent Lawsuit Names Leading Technology Firms
Intertainer filed a broad lawsuit asserting that Apple, Google and Napster are infringing on a 2005 patent that covers the commercial distribution of audio and video over the internet.
How To Throw Away That Broken iPod
Wondering what to do with your old electronics this New Year? Online guides tell consumers how to avoid sending their computers to toxic chop shops.
UC Berkeley On iTunes U Galvanizes Campus
QuickTime Zero-Day Bug Threatens Macs, PCs
A newly disclosed security vulnerability in Apple's QuickTime software could put both Macs and Windows PCs at risk of cyberattacks, experts have warned.
Goldman Weighs In On Macworld, Says 1.8m Macs Sold In Dec Q
REALbasic 2007 Release 1 Out For Mac
Future Cut: The Logic Behind Lily
It's hard to believe Future Cut Productions churn out platinum-selling hits from such a small studio, but once you enter the Apple-logo emblazoned front door, it soon becomes obvious how much music production has changed in the digital age.
Opinion
Ex-Microsoft Exec: Why Pick On Dell, But Not Apple?
Dell and Apple have both just finished years in which each had to grapple with a massive notebook battery recall and each had to grapple with investigation into finances. But the similarities tend to end there.
Does Apple Have A Music Monopoly Issue?
I'm no lawyer, but it's hard to envivions a serious antiturst suit against Apple. However, stranger things have happened.
Reading Between Apple's Lines
I don't think the slogan on the home page is a generic New Year's announcement, nor do I think it's a general statement on Apple's mission for 2007.
Review
Sidetrack
I Want My Music, And I Want It Now
Ever feel the noise around you is going to eat you alive, while you furiously try to untangle your iPod headphone cords to get into your very own soundtrack of the world? Maybe you should learn how to wrap headphone cords correctly?
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
News
Marketer Of The Year: Apple Computer
If there's a recipe for success in the relentlessly churning PC and digital entertainment industries, it may go something like this: Combine innovative, consumer-friendly technology with sleek design. Add impeccably crafted, integrated branding and marketing strategies. Stir and serve... quickly.
Pre Macworld Expo, Apple Website Promises More
The home page of Apple's US website promises more innovation in 2007.
QuickTime Flaw Kicks Off Month of Apple Bugs
Apple's New iPod Could Bolster Music Dominance
After absolving its current management team of any wrongdoing in an ongoing stock-options scandal, Apple shifts its attention to next week's Macworld conference in San Francisco, and the much-speculated unveiling of an iPod with cellphone-like features.
Net Applications: Apple's Mac Market Share Continues Rise, Hits 5.67% In December 2006
The Year In Mac Development
There's never been a better time to make Mac software,and who knows when an opportunity like this will come along again. So just do the best work you can and don't worry about what everyone else says.
Opinion
Apple's Rotting Core?
Will Steve Jobs be able to survive Apple's backdating scandal? More importantly, should he be allowed to survive?
So I'm Marrying A Mac Geek...
So, I'm marrying a Mac Geek. He hates that I call him that, but he is, and he knows it. So he can suck it up.
Apple Trying To Avoid A Train Wreck
Some companies are choosing to avoid the potential train wreck by removing top executives, but Apple has the former almost President of the United States saying Steve's OK.
Apple's Omnious Website Graphic
I'm just dreaming. I'm sure no matter what, 2007 will be an awesome year for Apple.
The Battle For The Digital Home: Does Apple Or Microsoft Win?
No Gold Watches For Many At Apple
In most cases someone moves on, finds another job in the same or similar profession and all is well. Somehow being an Apple employee makes it a little harder.
Monday, January 1, 2007
News
Apple's Intel Migration
The leap to dual-core Woodbridge sets the stage for Leopard.
If 2006 Was 'Momentous' For Apple, What Does '07 Hold?
As exciting as 2006 was for Apple fans, 2007 promises to be even bigger.
Opinion
One Week With MacBook Pro
Apple does set a standard for integration.
Is iTunes And iPod A Monopoly?
The irony is that it was Apple fighting for a fairer deal for consumers that has probably been the biggest contributor to the success of iTunes.
Wintel
Why Vista Is IT's Big Headache
I'm guessing long-held prejudices against the Mac will prevail this year.
Why Vista Is IT's Big Opportunity
If we make prying ourselves loose from things that lock us in the focus of this Vista upgrade, our next operating system upgrade might be a lot smoother. And less painful for us and for users. And a lot less expensive.
