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The Personal Computer Is Dead; Apple Is The Assassin
Loyal Users Will Ruin Apple
Windows 8 To Enjoy A Huge Advantage - Intel CEO Paul Otellini
Enhance Your Computer's Sound With JoeSOFT's Hear
Dialectic v1.8.3 Telephony Software For OS X
The Personal Computer Is Dead; Apple Is The Assassin
Writing for Tchnology Review, Jonathan Zittrain says the PC is dead, with rising popularity of mobile, lightweight, cloud-centric devices not merely representing a change in form factor. Rather, he says we're witnessing an unprecedented shift of power from end users and software developers to operating system vendors, and even those who keep using PCs are being swept along.
Zittrain considers these developments to bea little for the better, and much for the worse. Your editor agrees.
Mr. Zittrain is a professor of law and computer science at Harvard University, and author of The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It, in which he forecast the transformation from product to service, noting that for decades PC users enjoyed a simple way for people to create software and share or sell it to others.
He notes that people bought general-purpose PCs, including those branded Mac, that came with operating systems that took care of the basics. Anyone could write and run software for an operating system, and up popped an endless assortment of application software.
Prof. Zittrain recalls the Microsoft anti-trust litigation of the '90s, but observes that when the iPhone came out in 2007, its design was far more restrictive than Windows ever had been, with no outside code at all allowed on Apple's phone, and all the software on it Apple's as well. Then, in 2008, Apple announced a software development kit for the iPhone, under which third-party developers would be welcome to write software for the iPhone, pretty much as they'd done for Windows and Mac OS, but witht the epic exception that users could install software on a phone only if it was offered through Apple's iPhone App Store, with 30 percent of its price siphoned off to Apple.
And now the contagion is spreading to PC space with the the Mac App Store. Developers can't duplicate functionality already on offer in the Store, and can't license their work as Free Software, because those license terms conflict with Apple's. Zittrain notes that even the height of Windows's market dominance, Microsoft never had a role in determining what software would and wouldn't run on its machines.
This also has allowed censorship to gain traction. Ziittrain cites the case Exodus International releasing an app. that, among other things, inveighed against homosexuality, of which opponents were successful in petitioning Apple to remove.
He suggests questioning those who supported the anti-Exodus petition: "would you also favor a petition demanding that Apple prevent iPhone and iPad users from getting to Exodus's website on Safari?" noting that if not, what's different?
The upshot is that today's developers are writing code predicated on not just consumer acceptance, but also vendor acceptance, and contends that both software developers and users should demand more, warning that if we allow ourselves to be lulled into satisfaction with walled gardens, we'll miss out on innovations to which the gardeners object, while setting ourselves up for censorship of code and content.
You can check it out at:
http://bit.ly/vrvgr4
Loyal Users Will Ruin Apple
Central Recorder‘s Nicholas Proch observes that at the turn of this century, the average Mac user was someone who went against societal norms and demanded a better product. They jumped off the Windows bandwagon. They ignored Linux. They didn t quit until they found what they were satisfied with. The problem was that they hopped right onto the Apple bulldozer and have never looked back, and he maintains that theor loyalty will be the downfall of an empire, and that if customers let Apple get too comfortable, they will be the cause of teh company's ultimate failure.
For the full commentary, visit:
http://bit.ly/vrIUzH
Windows 8 To Enjoy A Huge Advantage - Intel CEO Paul Otellini
CNET's Larry Dignan comments that to say Intel CEO Paul Otellini is upbeat about the prospects for Microsoft's Windows 8 may be a bit of an understatement. In fact, Otellini said Windows 8 is one of the best things that s ever happened to our company.
Speaking at a Credit Suisse technology conference, Otellini said:
"We are very excited about Windows 8. I think it s one of the best things that s ever happened to our company. And it's a very good operating system, not just for PCs, but we think also will allow tablets to really get a legitimacy into mainstream computing, particularly in enterprises that they don't have today."
Otellini cites Microsoft new Metro touch interface, noting that there will be a button that basically takes you back to the classic Windows experience - ergo: one operating system with two different GUIs not running on virtual machines, creating a huge and unique advantage for Windows 8 because it will be able to take advantage of legacy software as well as all the drivers for mice and printers and every other USB device in the world, including getting photos off your camera and onto a tablet.
For the full report, visit here:
http://cnet.co/stJ5lD
Enhance Your Computer's Sound With JoeSOFT's Hear
Enhance the sound on your computer with the newly released Mac and Windows version of JoeSOFT's Hear.
"Now you can enhance the sound on your Mac and PC with the new version of Hear. Hear is a sound enhancing software program that makes everything from music, to movies and games sound richer. Another added bonus is Hear s new lower price point of $19.99" says Greg Brewer, CEO of JoeSOFT...."Once you've listened to your music or movies with Hear, you will never want to be without it.
Hear: Your Sound + Music Better
Hear greatly improves audio quality in movies and music throughout your Mac and Windows applications. More powerful than competing applications, Hear gives you audiophile-level control over your digital output, with true DSP functions. With Hear, music is richer, movies are more explosive and engaging, dialog is clearer and games will blow you out of your chair. Hear your sound + music better.
Hear is available for purchase online at http://www.JoeSoft.com for $19.99.
For more information visit:
http://www.joesoft.com
Dialectic v1.8.3 Telephony Software For OS X
JNSoftware LLC ihas announced the immediate availability of Dialectic v1.8.3, a significant update to their telephony tool for Mac OS X. Dialectic v1.8.3 brings several enhancements and minor bug fixes. Among the enhancements are Firefox 8 compatibility, improved logging, security, and better support for many devices and services. This version of Dialectic also adds improved Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) compatibility. (A complete list of what's new in this version can be found below.)
Dialectic is a versatile tool that unites your Mac, data, and phones (mobile, landline, & VoIP) enabling you to be more productive. It allows you to find, select & dial numbers using many devices and services. With robust dialing rules, it determines the call type (e.g., local or long-distance), transforms the number as required (adds prefixes to the number, etc.) and routes it to the appropriate phone. When dialing, it can automatically configure your system (e.g., pause iTunes, change iChat's status, etc.) and restore it when the call is done.
Dialectic provides system-wide dialing of phone numbers to dozens of devices and services such as Bluetooth mobile phones - including the iPhone, landlines, several IP phones, many VoIP services, advanced telephony hardware such as magicJack, Ovolab Phlink, Parliant PhoneValet, FRITZ!Box, Asterix servers, Google Voice, and many more. With sophisticated features including a powerful AppleScript dictionary, a built-in web server, and Bonjour support, Dialectic can be extended to support virtually any device or service.
Integration with leading contact management applications including Marketcircle Daylite, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, Now Contact, Palm Desktop, FileMaker Pro, ProVUE Development's Panorama and other databases as well as Apple's iCal and Address Book makes Dialectic an invaluable tool for casual users as well as business professionals.
In addition to dialing, Dialectic provides many other key features including incoming call detection, call timers, innovative while you were out notes, and a global Address Book menu for quickly accessing -- and acting on -- all your contact data including email, instant messaging, postal addresses, URLs, notes, & phone numbers. Intuitively create new email messages, look up addresses on a map, copy data to the clipboard or insert it into your current document. It's fast & useful as well as fun & easy.
Dialectic Key features:
(*) Mac OS 10.4+ Compatibility including Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
(*) Universal Binary
(*) 64-Bit Compatibility
(*) AppleScript Automation & Extensibility
(*) Quick & Easy Integration With:
- Address Book
- Marketcircle Daylite
- Microsoft Entourage
- Microsoft Outlook
- Now Contact
- Palm Desktop
- FileMaker Pro, ProVUE Development's Panorama, OpenBase, MySQL & Other Databases
- Launchers such as Alfred, Butler, LaunchBar, & Quicksilver
- Browsers including Safari, Firefox, & Google Chrome
(*) System-Wide Dialing via Contextual Menu or Services Menu (*) Voice Activated Dialing
(*) Incoming Call Detection & Auto Redial on Busy
(*) Call Timer, Log, Notepad, & While You Were Out Notes
(*) System-Wide Quick Dial Numbers (Speed Dial)
(*) Supports Dialing With:
- Bluetooth Mobile Phones -- Including the iPhone
- Landlines
- IP Phones from Aastra, Cisco, Snom, Yealink, & Others
- Advanced Telephony Products Including Asterisk, FRITZ!Box, magicJack,
Ovolab Phlink, Parliant PhoneValet, Auerswald PBX, & Kerio PBX
- VoIP Services Such as Google Voice, BroadVoice, CallVantage,
Phone.com, Speakeasy.net, ViaTalk, Vonage, & Many More!
- VoIP Softphones Including CounterPath softphones (Bria, eyeBeam,
& X-Lite), Gizmo, iSoftPhone, JackenIAX, LoudHush, ohphoneX,
QuteCom, Skype, Telephone, VoxOx, WengoPhone, Whistle Phone,
Yahoo! Messenger, ZoiperCommunicator Biz & More!
New in Dialectic v1.8.3:
(*) Added Firefox 8 compatibility & automatic updating to Dialectic Firefox Extension
(*) Added crash reporter when running in background mode
(*) Added option to use modifier-less hotkeys
(*) Added option to save incoming requests to the HTTP Remote Server to a log file
(*) Enhanced security by code signing with secure certificate (*) Improved incoming call detection retention for USB modems after a computer restart
(*) Improved incoming call detection for some Bluetooth-enabled phones
(*) Fixed issue with duplicate AB entries after updating to iCloud on Mac OS X 10.7.2
(*) Fixed FRITZ!Box dialing using the enhanced authentication method (*) Fixed issue that prevented launch on some Mac OS X 10.4 systems
(*) Updated & augmented the documentation including improved instructions for using Dialectic & Cisco IP phones with the CallManager & CallManager Express products
(*) Other minor fixes & optimizations
(*) Posted more resources on the resources page including improved or new support for magicJack, Yealink/Tiptel IP Phone, webFones PBX,
Auerswald PBX, Kerio PBX, & VoipIT dialing.
Minimum System Requirements:
(*) Mac OS X 10.4.9 (Tiger) or newer including Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
(*) Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel-based Macs
(*) 64-bit compatible on Mac OS X 10.6+
Dialectic Webpage:
http://www.jonn8.com/dialectic/
Dialectic User's Guide:
http://www.jonn8.com/dialectic/ug/
Dialectic Resources:
http://www.jonn8.com/dialectic/resources/
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