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Macworld Vows to Carry On
Apple at CES? Unlikely
CEA confirms Apple-related exhibits at CES 2010
A Macintosh By Any Other Name Is Still as Sweet
Could Microsoft Steal Apple's Thunder With a Steve Ballmer Keynote at Macworld 2010?
The Science Behind Jobs' Hormonal Imbalance
The Search For The Next Steve Jobs
Chrome 2.0 Preview Means Mac, Linux Versions Coming Soon
iPods on the Slopes May Be Hazardous to Your Health
How Green Is Apple?
No More Microsoft Word on my Mac!
Macworld And CES Were More Fun Before The Recession
Software Should Come with a Fresh Date
Apple: 10 Things It Needs To Do In 2009
What a Legacy: The Origin of the IBM PC
Our Debt to the IBM PC
Charging Gadgets Using A Magnet
Symwave and PLDA Demonstrate World's First Multi-Vendor USB 3.0 Interoperability
NEC Electronics America Demonstrates USB 3.0 Connectivity at CES 2009
ViewSonic Introduces Netbook, All-in-One PC and Attachable PC; Announces Cloud Computing Initiative
The Mac Night Owl: Apple Confronts Yellow Journalism
The Tech Night Owl: A Short Note About Broadband Internet Speeds
Macworld Vows to Carry On
InternetNews's David Needle reports:
What's Macworld without Apple?
That was the question that the long-running tech trade show's organizers sought to answer this week, which marked the last time the event could count Apple as a participant and its chief exhibitor.
Representatives from show producer IDG Word Expo were joined by several hundred of the Macfaithful, who crowded into a hall here at the Moscone Center this week to discuss and debate the future of the event.
And IDG stressed that the Macworld expo does have a future - at least as far as next year.....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3795351
Apple at CES? Unlikely
CNET's Tom Krazit says:
A report that Apple is planning a visit to CES next year had eyes rolling Friday morning from Las Vegas to Cupertino.
Cult of Mac reports, citing a source with "friends at Apple," says that Apple is planning to "go large" at CES 2010, now that Macworld is out of the way. The source called it a "done deal," noting that since Apple is really more of a consumer electronics company these days, the Consumer Electronics Show makes more sense.
Too bad nothing else in this report makes sense......
For the full commentary visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/9wbbtc
CEA confirms Apple-related exhibits at CES 2010
CNET's Tom Krazit reports:
The Consumer Electronics Association has confirmed plans to host a Mac-centric area at CES 2010, but Apple has still not commented on whether it plans to participate.
Jason Oxman of the CEA confirmed Saturday that the group "dedicated a special area at the 2010 CES to Apple-related CE manufacturers." That immediately sets up an alternative for companies thinking about exhibiting at Macworld 2010, which will not have Apple present for the first time in 12 years....
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/8rp9gj
A Macintosh By Any Other Name Is Still as Sweet
CreativePro's Gene Gable says:
This month represents the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh computer, and with Apple pulling out of the Macworld Expo show, perhaps the end of an era of how the Mac community gathers and celebrates each year....
But first, let me shed a little light on Apple's announcement that it would no longer participate in Macworld Expo. I was employed by IDG World Expo, the producers of Macworld Expo, and I worked very closely with Apple during my years running the Seybold Seminar events.....
I can also attest to the tension that has existed for years between Apple and IDG World Expo over the Macworld event, which Apple does not own or control. It should be no surprise that Apple prefers to control its brand experience completely.... And of course Apple (and all the exhibitors at Macworld Expo) have always hated the early January dates of the show. Not only is it a poor time to introduce new products (right after the Christmas buying season), but the expense of putting up a booth is often higher because of overtime holiday labor rates and travel costs.....
....I am actually surprised Apple didn't make this move sooner.....
[Editor's note: If you're a trivia buff (far beyond Macworld Expo lore), don't miss this article - fascinating.]
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.creativepro.com/article/macintosh-any-other-name-still-sweet
Could Microsoft Steal Apple's Thunder With a Steve Ballmer Keynote at Macworld 2010?
Sven-on-Tech's Sven Rafferty says:
So Apple has left its heart in San Francisco with Tony Bennett singing farewell to the Keynote crowd on Apple's behalf this year at Macworld Expo 2009. So what's on tap for next year? Who will do the keynote? Will there even be a keynote? What is IDG, Macworld Expo presenter, going to do? Think anchor. As in one for a mall and not one that sinks a ship… Next to Apple, what company in the South Hall has the money, brand recognition, and guts to take center stage in Apple's place? Microsoft.
Imagine it. Steve Ballmer up on stage smacking out some of its own sales figures..... Want big announcements? Maybe X-Box integration with the Mac? .... Or how 'bout, 'Today we're announcing Office Live for the Mac. ....Microsoft could pull it off.....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/7gryc9
The Science Behind Jobs' Hormonal Imbalance
MacLife's Carol Pinchefsky says:
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs has addressed rumors concerning his weight loss in a statement to the press. In this statement, Jobs said, "after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause--a hormone imbalance that has been 'robbing' me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy."....
Dr. Robert Zimmerman, interim chairman of the Department of Endocrinology at the Cleveland Clinic, one of U.S. News and World Report's top ten best hospitals nationwide for endocrinology, says that weight loss is a common after-effect of the Whipple procedure, which Jobs had undergone.....
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/9ttd2u
The Search For The Next Steve Jobs
Newsweek's Daniel Lyons says:
Who will run Apple after its visionary CEO and product guru Steve Jobs leaves? The question has been hanging over the company since last summer when Jobs appeared onstage at a conference looking terribly ill. Jobs, 53, underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer four years ago, and now says he's suffering from a "hormone imbalance." He appears determined not to groom a successor, saying last week in an open letter that he intends to remain in charge, and if at some point he can't do his job, he'll make that known, thank you very much....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/178915
Chrome 2.0 Preview Means Mac, Linux Versions Coming Soon
Wired's Scott Gilbertson reports:
Google has rolled out an alpha preview of the next major revision for its Chrome web browser. Those undaunted by the current alpha status of 2.0 can get an early taste of what's to come in Chrome....
The Chrome 2.0 alpha also has some big news for for Mac and Linux users who'd like to try Chrome: Chrome 2.0 uses its own HTTP network library rather than the WinHTTP library on Windows.
The Windows-only HTTP library was one of the main stumbling blocks to cross-platform support and now that it's gone the Mac and Linux versions should see some significant progress in the near future....
For the full report visit here:
http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/01/chrome-20-previ.html
iPods on the Slopes May Be Hazardous to Your Health
The Gazette's R. Scott Rappold reports:
The iPod age has brought with it joys too numerous to count, including the opportunity to sail down ski slopes accompanied by exhilarating music that shuts out the rest of the world. That's not so cool if it's shutting out the siren of a snowmobile or someone hollering, "On your right!"....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macnewsworld.com/rsstory/65778.html
How Green Is Apple?
TechRadar says:
Macs are built to last but even Apple kit can and does die.
If it's beyond repair, that means you need to dispose of it. You wouldn't dump an old computer in landfill, but many people do.
Every year, mountains of electronic waste are shipped to Asia where they're broken down to their component parts in shocking conditions, with heavy metals and hazardous chemicals leaking into the Earth.
Back in 1997, the average lifespan of a computer was six years. By 2005, that had dropped to two years and the lifespan of a mobile phone is even shorter, with many people upgrading or replacing their phones every 18 months.....
Greenpeace estimates that up to 50 million tonnes of electronic waste is dumped each and every year....
So how green is Apple and is there anything we can do to make it greener still?
For the full report visit here:
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/how-green-is-apple--498730
No More Microsoft Word on my Mac!
ElectricLawyer says:
I did it. I finally got Microsoft-free. When I moved from PC's to Macs in August of 2007, I had to leave WordPerfect behind.... While there are several word processing applications for the Mac (OpenOffice, NisusPro), none of them seemed to have the chops necessary for my appellate practice, so I reluctantly went with Word....
Along comes Pages '09, part of Apple's iWork '09 suite....
So far it's been a ball.....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/6vao5s
Macworld And CES Were More Fun Before The Recession
AlleyInsider's Andrea Morabito says:
Unfortunately, we saw this coming: Steve Jobs skipped Macworld this year, citing a "hormone imbalance." The keynote fell to marketing chief Phil Schiller, and it was booooring. No new Mac mini, which we were hoping for. But Apple did show off a new 17" MacBook Pro, and there are some updates to iTunes...
At the tech world's other big event, Palm unveiled its new Pre smartphone and Web OS platform, breathing life back into the tired company. Early reviews look good and shares soared on the news. Steve Ballmer gave a refreshingly dull keynote....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/8xm88q
Software Should Come with a Fresh Date
Low End Mac's Frank Fox says:
I'm one of those people who hate to throw away anything that's still good. If there is no mold or bad smell, I figure it's still is good to eat.
The problem with software is that it can't mold, and any smell is probably something wrong with your computer, not the software. It can be hard to tell that your software has expired until one day it suddenly stops working.
The problem is that software "not working" is simply too vague. Software has always been prone to bugs and strange behavior. All it takes is a single typo, a bad subroutine, or a buffer overflow, and suddenly things aren't working properly. The stars align, and you are having your worst day of the year.....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/ed/fox/09ff/software-expiry-date.html
Apple: 10 Things It Needs To Do In 2009
InformationWeek's Mitch Wagner says:
Like the rest of the business world, Apple is embarking on treacherous times in 2009. But Apple faces special challenges: It sells boutique products that cost more than the competition.
However, Apple also has special strengths: Those same products cost more because they're better, and Apple has a fiercely loyal customer base.
To help Apple successfully navigate the turbulent financial waters, here are 10 pieces of advice on what the company needs to do with its operating system, iPhone, App Store, hardware, marketing, and more.....
You can check it out at:
http://tinyurl.com/85e2oj
What a Legacy: The Origin of the IBM PC
Low End Mac's Tom Hormby says:
August 12, 1981 marks the birth of the IBM PC, the computer that single-handedly turned personal computing to the business market. IBM's success forced Apple and others to change their focus, and most personal computer companies from the pre-IBM era have become historical footnotes. By 2006, even Apple Computer had followed IBM's lead and adopted Intel CPUs and built Macs that can boot Microsoft Windows......
As the marketing efforts for the IBM PC were being finalized, the software team still needed an operating system and software. Cunningly, Microsoft had began developing an operating system for Acorn when it became clear that no deal would be reached with Digital Research.
Microsoft bought an operating system called SCP-DOS or QDOS (for quick and dirty operating system) that ran on the 8088 processor for $80,000....
When IBM agreed to use QDOS (renamed PC-DOS), it allowed Microsoft to market its own version as MS-DOS, leading to the creation of a clone industry a few years later.....
To read more, click here.
http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/ibm-pc-5150-origin.html
Our Debt to the IBM PC
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
IBM introduced the PC, its first personal computer in August 1981. As I heard on the radio over the weekend, a fully configured system (including 64 KB RAM, two floppies, monitor, and printer) cost about $4,500. Just imagine what you could buy for that amount today!
For better or worse, our biggest debt to the IBM PC was creating a set of standards that would shape the personal computing industry, a field which had already been around for five years.....
Prior to the IBM PC, some computers used 8" floppies, and most personal machines used 5.25" floppies - each computer with its own disk forma.... There was no compatibility between the Apple II, Atari, Commodore, TRS-80, and other non-CP/M brands. With the IBM PC, we had a standard 5.25" format, an ancestor of the format used on 3.5" floppy drives on today's PCs....
Prior to the PC, some computers had 24 lines of text, others 25. Some had 40 characters per line, others 64, and still others 80. Some even supported 132 characters - or as few as 22. With the IBM PC, the standard text format became 25 lines of 80 characters - or 40 characters on color displays.....
Prior to the PC, there were a few competing standards for serial and parallel ports. Except for Apple, almost everyone has followed IBM's lead in that regard.....
The great irony is that Apple, then a dominant player in the personal computing industry, welcomed IBM in 1981. The IBM PC lead to the marginalization of Apple, and Microsoft managed to turn IBM into a bit player in the PC industry.
To read more, click here.
http://lowendmac.com/musings/01/0813.html
Charging Gadgets Using A Magnet
The BBC's Mark Ward reports:
Developers say the magnetic charger can power a wide range of gadgets
Magnetic induction could soon spell the end of tangled cables and a frustrating hunt for the gadget's charger.
Two firms at CES showed off ways to use the phenomenon to re-charge batteries inside gadgets when they are laid on a special mat.....
For the full report visit here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7819732.stm
Symwave and PLDA Demonstrate World's First Multi-Vendor USB 3.0 Interoperability
[Press Release]
Symwave, Inc., a semiconductor supplier of high-performance analog/mixed-signal connectivity solutions for the PC, consumer and mobile devices, and PLDA, the industry leader in high-speed interconnect IP, today announced collaboration on a USB 3.0 interoperability demonstration at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 8-11, 2009. The demonstration will showcase real-world data transfers between a PLDA SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host and a Symwave device at 5 Gigabits per second.
Recently, at the SuperSpeed USB Developer's Conference, Symwave announced and demonstrated the world's first USB 3.0 physical layer device (PHY) at the same time as the first public release of the Revision 1.0 Specification. The USB 3.0 specification is a rapidly emerging technology that increases the speed of USB to 5 Gigabits per second, reducing system latency and improving overall system power management. Also, PLDA announced the immediate availability of a new line of SuperSpeed USB IP products designed for ASIC and FPGA. The announcement significantly expands PLDA's presence in the interconnect IP market and extends its existing leadership in the PCI space to this new standard.
"Symwave is excited to team with PLDA to demonstrate for the first time USB 3.0 interoperability. Product maturity and interoperability are the catalysts of high volume markets and SuperSpeed USB 3.0 will be no different," said John O'Neill, vice president of marketing for Symwave. "PLDA is clearly on a path to become a leading supplier of USB 3.0 technology based on their execution to date."
"We are pleased to work closely with Symwave on the development of our USB 3.0 IP," said Stephane Hauradou, PLDA's CTO. "Symwave's product developments have moved on a very aggressive timeline and are poised to have a significant time-to-market advantage in the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 markets they are pursuing."
For more information, visit:
http://www.symwave.com
NEC Electronics America Demonstrates USB 3.0 Connectivity at CES 2009
[Press Release]
Prototypes Expand Company's USB Portfolio with USB 3.0 Technologies for Feature-Rich Consumer Electronics Applications
NEC Electronics America, Inc. has announced the industry's first prototype devices based on the USB 3.0 specification, which was announced by the USB Implementers Forum last November. A working demonstration of the USB 3.0 prototype will be made in the USB TechZone, located in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) South Hall 3, during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 811, 2009. The working USB 3.0 demonstration will feature NEC Electronics' USB 3.0 PHY test chip and will be the industry's first receiver and transmitter demonstrations based on the USB 3.0 Rev1.0 specification.
NEC Electronics' USB 3.0 prototype devices will support data transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 transfer speeds, and will also support backward compatibility in consumer electronic devices based on the current USB specification. Similar to its development activities with USB 2.0 and Wireless USB, NEC Electronics is evaluating a variety of standard USB 3.0 products such as host and hub controllers, bridge chips and device IP.
"NEC Electronics continues to deliver innovative solutions to help establish and promote the adoption of new USB specifications, and USB 3.0 represents a natural evolution of the USB standard, delivering greater transfer capabilities for today's feature-rich consumer electronics products," said Katsuhiko Nakazawa, general manager, digital consumer and connectivity strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America. "As a leading supplier of USB and PCI Express technologies, we offer all of the building blocks required to develop the next generation of USB technology, and we are also working to develop new SuperSpeed USB devices that will offer the required performance increases and interoperability with existing USB standards needed to facilitate a smooth transition to the new standard."
Leadership in USB
NEC Electronics Corporation is a leading supplier of USB solutions for customers worldwide and was the industry's first company to introduce a USB 2.0 host controller and hub controller. With a USB 2.0 product line-up that includes ASSPs and ASICs, the company has shipped more than 150 million units worldwide and continues to be a leader in the development of interface technology. NEC Electronics is a USB-IF board member, which manages the compliance and certification program, branding, marketing and industry education of USB and Wireless USB technologies.
More information about NEC Electronics' USB technologies can be found at:
http://www.necel.com/usb/en/index.html
ViewSonic Introduces Netbook, All-in-One PC and Attachable PC; Announces Cloud Computing Initiative
[Press Release]
New visual computing line increases affordability, mobility, productivity and saves desktop space
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual display products, has unveiled its new computing line, which includes its first netbook, the VieBook, and its ViePC product family, consisting of an all-in-one PC, the VPC100, and the ViePC Attached PC.
VieBook netbook
ViewSonic's netbook is an ideal solution to fulfill the growing need for an ultra portable, daily use computer. At 2.6 pounds, the VieBook is highly-mobile, Internet-centric and offers users a lightweight yet powerful option for their on-the-go needs.
The VieBook features a 10.2-inch screen, Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and three-hour battery life. Its overall size, weight and functionality make it a perfect companion for road warriors and students.
The VieBook has a competitive MSRP of $429 and will be available in February 2009.
ViePC VPC100, all-in-one PC
Designed as a space-saver at 35mm thin, the VPC100 is ideal for office productivity and Web-based applications. An 18.5-inch display device, the product features a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen so users can experience razor-sharp images in crisp detail.
The VPC100 is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, 1.3 megapixel Webcam, 16x DVD + / - RW, integrated stereo speakers, 3-in-1 card reader and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Its slim size and affordability make it ideal for office workers, call centers, libraries, emergency operations centers, interactive kiosks and information terminals.
The VPC100 has an MSRP of $549 and will be available in February 2009.
ViePC Attached PC
The ViePC Attached PC is a PC box that can be attached to the back of any VESA compatible monitor, making it a cost-effective, space-saving and energy-efficient solution for basic office tasks and Internet-based programs. Existing monitors can get a facelift and be easily upgraded with the ViePC Attached PC.
The device features an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and has 1GB memory, a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g WiFi, VGA output, serial port, four USB 2.0 ports and Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
The ViePC Attached PC has an MSRP of $449 and will be available in March 2009.
Cloud computing initiative
ViewSonic's three new computing platforms are a key component of the company's cloud computing initiative, assisting with the transformation of desktop PCs evolving into Web-centric displays that communicate to software applications running on the Internet.
According to the Pew Research Center, individuals are increasingly using cloud computing. Upward to 69% of Americans use Webmail services, store data online or use software programs whose functionality is located on the Web1. This means expensive notebooks and PCs with excessive computing power are not essential as desktop applications and software are no longer a necessity. As cloud computing gains popularity, becoming a staple in corporate, commercial and organizational environments, the new ViewSonic line of visual computing products is a natural progression to aid the shift in demand for portability and mobility.
"We are excited to provide our channel partners a new line of products that offer their customers options to upgrade existing equipment and save costs on future deployments," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America. "Backed by 20 years of display experience and with strong PC partners to deliver computing demands, this powerful combination positions ViewSonic to supply affordable products at excellent quality."
For more information, visit:
http:// http://www.viewsonic.com
The Mac Night Owl: Apple Confronts Yellow Journalism
Once upon a time, you had two fundamental classes of journalists. One group worked for regular newspapers or broadcast facilities, plyingtheir trade; the others were employed by the supermarket tabloids,offering up gossip, real and otherwise, about various and sundry celebrities, political figures and notables from the business world.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://tinyurl.com/9mmmef
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The Tech Night Owl: A Short Note About Broadband Internet Speeds
I recall the days when 56K modems first came out. I actually used afew of these products, and still have a couple of Apple USB modems athand for a rainy day — or the rare occasion where I want to actually send a fax from my Mac.
Here's the link to this story:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/2009/01/newsletter-issue-476/#speeds
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