Applelinks Tech Web Reader - Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Apple Prepping A New Mac mini
007 To Get A Mac?
Safari 3.1 on Windows: A True Competitor Arrives (Seriously)
TSA examines MacBook Air, declares it "completely different"
Turning Over A New Leaf At Quark
Macbook Air Could Be Grounded
An Apple Fan's Review of the MacBook
Tales From The Crypt: Our First Computers
Apple's 'Evil'-ution Credited to One Genius
1-800-FLOWERS.COM Answers Call to Duty in ''Cell Phones for Soldiers'' Effort
Apple Prepping A New Mac mini
Macworld UK's Jonny Evans reports:
Debate as to the fate of the Mac mini has circulated for months, but now it appears the product is to get a well-deserved revamp as Apple sees the sense in offering a lower cost computer.
Apple has assigned an engineering team to overhaul the machine, planning to equip it with a faster (from 2.1GHz) 45-nanometre Core 2 Duo chip (Penryn), with improved system bandwidth and a better graphics processor.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?newsid=20792
007 To Get A Mac?
Britain's real life Secret Intelligence Service, aka MI6, the agency served by Ian Fleming's James Bond, Len Deighton's Bernard Samson, and a host of other fictional cold warriors of the spy-novel world, is in the hunt for a Mac-savvy operative skilled in the use of QuarkXPress and Adobe CS.
The job recruitment advertisement notes:
"In many ways, this is an artworking job like any other. But you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that the ultimate purpose of everything you do is to protect the UK. You'll also benefit from very high-quality training in your specialist skills.
"We're sure you'll understand that as an organisation that collects secret intelligence, we can't tell you a great deal about what you'll be doing. However, we can tell you you'll use the skills you've developed to produce computer generated artwork for print, web and media. You'll also have the chance to rapidly develop your knowledge of pre-press and printing techniques in a fascinating work environment, within our friendly Design and Print team.
"Articulate, customer-focused and helpful, you'll be the ideal addition - particularly if you've worked in a Mac-based environment using Adobe CS and Quark XPress."
You can check it out at:
http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/Page688.html
Safari 3.1 on Windows: A True Competitor Arrives (Seriously)
Ars Technica's Ken Fisher reports:
While pundits have been lamenting the fact that Apple's "software update" program on Windows is now pushing Safari 3.1 to users, we thought we'd check out Safari 3.1 to find out if Apple has made any real progress on the Windows version of this browser. After all, it's about the software, right?
We put the Safari 3 beta on Windows through the wringer last summer, and we weren't too terribly impressed. The problems were significant, such that we'd have a hard time recommending the browser to any Windows user. As of last summer, Firefox was still the Windows browser of choice here at Ars. Have things improved for Safari? Wow, have they.
For the full report click here.
TSA examines MacBook Air, declares it "completely different"
Ars Technica's Justin Berka reports:
Going through airport security isn't normally one of life's more enjoyable experiences (no frisking jokes, please), so I would imagine that missing your flight due to your new, $3000 MacBook Air would be even less pleasant. The firsthand account of one flyer's Air-induced delay was quickly posted on the TSA's Evolution of Security blog, and Blogger Bob was on the case. To see what all the fuss was about, Bob got his hands on a MacBook Air, ran it through the X-ray machine, and even posted video of the test.
To read more, click here.
Turning Over A New Leaf At Quark
ZDNet.co.uk's Adrian Bridgwater reports:
Criticised heavily in recent times for selling what some believe to be an overpriced and outdated product with a lack of customer support, Quark is at pains to affirm that it has finally got its house in order.
ZDNet.co.uk spoke to Quark chief executive and president Ray Schiavone to examine the company's claim that it is revolutionising publishing — again — with its "new" architectural approach to dynamic publishing across multiple media formats.
You can check it out at:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39372587,00.htm
Macbook Air Could Be Grounded
The Inquierer's Stewart Meagher reports:
Seagate CEO Bill Watkins has said that if the current rash of notebooks using Solid State Drives (SSD) catches the imagination and the credit cards of the laptop-buying public, his legal department may well have to get involved.
Big Tech Bog reports that Watkins thinks Seagate holds patents which could leave the likes of Samsung, Apple and Intel in a spot of bother.....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/03/25/seagate-sue-ssd-patents
An Apple Fan's Review of the MacBook
Blogger James Ashberry review of the MacBook says:
First, the bad stuff. Sadly, there are 1 or 2 dead pixels on the glossy wide-screen, but a quick look around the Internet and I've realized there's not a lot of point taking it back because low end TFTs can suffer from dead pixels. It's only when you pay more for a "pixel-perfect" display that there is a return policy on dead pixels. Oh well.
That aside, it has all the trade marks of a classic Apple product. The packaging was superb, and minimal....
Once out the box, the MacBook looks simply stunning.....
The first noticeable thing is how bright the 13.3 inch display is compared to my old 12 inch Powerbook. I can see me having to turn the brightness down to avoid headaches. The keyboard, which I was worried about, turns out to be almost as usable as a standard keyboard, with lovely positive feedback. Again, a definite improvement over my Powerbook.
To read more, click here.
Tales From The Crypt: Our First Computers
Computerworld's editors share stories of their first PCs, from classics to clunkers.
Quick - what was the first personal computer you ever owned? You don't have to think about it for even a second, do you? No matter how many machines you've had over the years, you always remember your first - usually with great fondness.
In that spirit, we asked several Computerworld editors to share stories of their first PCs. While most of us joined the ranks of PC owners during the '80s, one editor didn't buy his first computer until 1995, and one "personal" computing tale dates back to 1970. Some of us were lucky enough to own some of history's great PCs, while others got stuck with turkeys.
[Editor's note: Happily, I started off well, with a Mac Plus, which I do remember fondly and indeed still have. CM]
To read more, click here.
Apple's 'Evil'-ution Credited to One Genius
PBCentral's Joe Leo says:
The current issue of WIRED Magazine (April 2008) apologizes to readers for getting it all wrong back in 1997. "Our bad. We had some tips for Apple. We were wrong." Back then--as everyone from Apple fanatics and just regular people know--the Cupertino, CA-based company was headed the way of the dodo bird.
Oddly enough, it seems that they may have it all wrong again, as WIRED news editor Leander Kahney thinks different, attributing Apple's rise to fame to something far out there... evil genius.
To read more, click here.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM Answers Call to Duty in ''Cell Phones for Soldiers'' Effort
[ Press Release ]
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., a leading florist and a multi-channel retailer of thoughtful gifts for all occasions, has joined with Cell Phones for Soldiers to help make it easier for U.S. soldiers serving overseas to keep in touch with relatives and friends back home.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that collects used cell phones as well as monetary contributions donated by generous Americans. The old cell phones are sent to a recycling company which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for the donated phones. Proceeds are then utilized to purchase prepaid calling cards for soldiers stationed abroad to use in calling home.
To assist in this effort, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has set up cell phone drop-off points throughout the country in its offices, retail stores and distribution centers as well as the retail locations of it's sister brands, including Plow & Hearth® (home décor), Cheryl&Co. (cookies and baked gifts) and Harry London (chocolates). In addition, the company's BloomNet Wire Service is extending the program to its network of more than 9,000 independent florists throughout the country. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is actively encouraging the communities it serves and its employees to donate their unused cell phones. A listing of the company's drop-off locations nationwide can be obtained by visiting:
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
"We are honored to be a part of the energetic efforts Cell Phones for Soldiers is making on behalf of the brave American soldiers serving our country overseas," said Chris McCann, President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. "Helping people connect with the important people in their lives, particularly when it involves such a deserving cause, is a commitment shared by everyone at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM."
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by two teenagers, Robbie and Brittany Bergquist of Norwell, Massachusetts. The teens created the organization after reading a story about a soldier who accumulated a very large phone bill calling home from Iraq. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect 50,000 unused cell phones. To date, the organization has turned recycled cell phones into more than 12 million minutes worth of prepaid calling cards that U.S. troops can use to keep connected with their loved ones.
"We are so excited to have 1-800-FLOWERS.COM join us in our efforts to help our troops speak with their loved ones," said Robbie Bergquist. "The need for support continues to grow as more soldiers are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM's commitment to spread the word will help enable thousands of troops to phone home, free of charge." Brittany Bergquist added: "To have a company like 1-800-FLOWERS.COM join us in our efforts is very much appreciated by Cell Phones for Soldiers and our brave troops."
Customers can "call, click or come in" to shop 1-800-FLOWERS.COM 24/7 at 1-800-356-9377 or:
http://www.1800flowers.com
ARC-Based Sanyo Digital Camera Wins "Editors Choice" Award in MacLife Magazine
[ Press Release ]
ARC International has announced that one of its multimedia subsystems is being used in the Sanyo Xacti CG65 digital video camera, which recently won an "editor's choice" award in MacLife Magazine. The ARC-Based camera is ideal for the "YouTube Generation" as it was designed to provide easy drag-and-drop video file transfer via USB. It encodes video content using H.264, has a maximum resolution of 6 megapixels, and weighs only 9 ounces.
In a review of the ARC-Based digital camera, editors of MacLife Magazine commented, "Given our tendency to want to record so many of life's moments, it's nice to have a versatile, portable camera like the Xacti CG65." The full review can be read at http://www.maclife.com/article/sanyo_xacti_vpc_cg65
Featured in the Sanyo camera is a special H.264 video compression chip from Qpixel, one of ARC's first subsystem licensees. The QPixel chip leverages an ARC multimedia subsystem and encodes AVC/H.264 in real-time using low overall power consumption. The captured file size is reduced by up to 25 percent over typical MPEG-4 cameras. The result is a high quality video recording of up to 10 hours in length using an 8GB SDHC memory card in TV-HQ mode.
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