Applelinks Tech Web Reader - Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Law Professor Fires Back At Song-swapping Lawsuits
25 Years Of Macintosh - The Apple Computer Report Card
Apple's DisplayPort Includes Digital Copy Protection
Apple's New MacBooks Have Built-in Copy Protection Measures
MacBook Owners Enraged As Apple Blocks Some Displays
New MacBook HDCP Impairing External Displays
Apple Now Taking Orders For 24-inch LED Cinema Display
Hello, Apple 24 inch LED Cinema Display!
Anticipating Macworld: Nehalem, Snow Tiger, and Updated Desktops
Apple Sees Mac Sales Rise 28% Amid Latest Notebook Launch
Judge Grants Apple's Motion To Dismiss Psystar's Counterclaims
Psystar Antitrust Claim Against Apple Dismissed
What Does an Obama Presidency Mean for Tech?
Apple's Apple-First Mania
The Mac Night Owl: Can Apple Withstand the Recession?
Law Professor Fires Back At Song-swapping Lawsuits
The Associated Press reports:
The music industry's courtroom campaign against people who share songs online is coming under counterattack.
A Harvard Law School professor has launched a constitutional assault against a federal copyright law at the heart of the industry's aggressive strategy, which has wrung payments from thousands of song-swappers since 2003.
The professor, Charles Nesson, has come to the defense of a Boston University graduate student targeted in one of the music industry's lawsuits. By taking on the case, Nesson hopes to challenge the basis for the suit, and all others like it.
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/5pyd9m
25 Years Of Macintosh - The Apple Computer Report Card
Former editor in chief of MacAddict and former executive editor of MacUser Rik Myslewski, who will join The Register full-time on December 1 says:
In two short months, Apple's Macintosh will turn 25 years old. My, how tempus doth fugit.
To mark the awesome inevitability of January 24, 2009 following January 24, 1984 after exactly one quarter-century, tech pundits will bloviate, Apple-bashers will execrate, and Jobsian fanboyz will venerate the munificence that flows unabated from The Great Steve. The din will be deafening.
To avoid the crowds, we at The Reg decided to go first.
Follow along as we run the rule over Apple Inc. (ne Apple Computer, Inc.). We'll examine how the company has transformed itself in recent years, how its products stack up against the rest, and what lurks beneath its outward display of iconic style, forward-looking rectitude, and edgy innovation.
We'll also give Apple its report card, slicing and dicing the 25-five-year operation into bite-sized letter grades. Just so you can easily tell your friends. Our goal is a noble one: To arm you, dear reader, against the slings and arrows of outrageous commentary that will assault you from all corners come January.
Don't say we didn't warn you......
To read more, click here.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/18/apple_25_year_report_card/
Apple's DisplayPort Includes Digital Copy Protection
MacObserver's John Martellaro reports:
Apple's new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, which use the new Mini DisplayPort connector and protocol, appear to include an industry standard digital copy protection system, HDCP, according to ars technica on Monday.
The High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) technology has been in use with high-definition TV systems for over a year now. It's included in every modern HDTV that uses the HDMI connector as well as source devices, like Blu-ray players and advanced Audio/Video receivers with HDMI. It establishes a secure, encrypted connection between the source and the HDTV to prevent the theft of HD digital content.
It appears that Apple is now including that protocol on its new MacBooks that include the Mini DisplayPort connector......
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macobserver.com/article/2008/11/18.9.shtml
Apple's New MacBooks Have Built-in Copy Protection Measures
Applkeinsider's Sam Oliver reports:
Apple's new MacBook lines include a form of digital copy protection that will prevent protected media, such as DRM-infused iTunes movies, from playing back on devices that aren't compliant with the new priority protection measures.
The Intel-developed technology is called High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and aims to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across a variety of display connectors, even if such copying is not in violation of fair use laws.
Among the connectors supported by the technology are the Mini DisplayPort found on Apple's latest MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, in addition to others such as Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF), and Unified Display Interface (UDI).
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/5o79s2
MacBook Owners Enraged As Apple Blocks Some Displays
Cult of Mac's Ed Sutherland reports:
MacBook fans are in an uproar after discovering the new laptops contain hardware-based copyright protection that prevents the viewing of iTunes movies on some external displays, such as a second monitor or a projector.
"This movie cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected," is the warning MacBook users receive when using an external display that doesn't support the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) protocol.
The HDCP technology is part of Apple's Mini DisplayPort Content Protection built into MacBooks. Hollywood studios looking to protect their movies appreciate the 128-bit copy protection measures included in DisplayPort, according to reports.
For the full report visit here:
http://cultofmac.com/macbook-owners-enraged-as-apple-blocks-some-displays/4836
New MacBook HDCP Impairing External Displays
The Apple Blog's Darrell Etherington reports:
In what seems like another addition to a long list of examples of how when you rent digital content, you're actually renting it with a strict set of conditions, Apple owners are running into trouble with High Definition Content Protection (HDCP). The problem, affecting owners of the new aluminum MacBooks and MacBook Pro, occurs when you try to play some iTunes-rented movies on an external display attached to your notebook.
The HDCP causing the problem is intended to prevent copying high-def content across an HDMI connection. It's also included in DisplayPort tech, which is the new standard for video output on current generation Mac portable computers.....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://theappleblog.com/2008/11/18/new-macbook-hdcp-impairing-external-displays/
Apple Now Taking Orders For 24-inch LED Cinema Display
AppleInsider reports:
Following a month-long wait, Apple on Tuesday finally began taking orders for its new 24-inch LED-backlit Cinema Display through its online store, saying shipments will begin sometime later this month....
The 24-inch glossy, widescreen display features a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and uses LED-backlit technology to provide instant full-screen brightness and great power efficiency.....
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/6bcqaa
Hello, Apple 24 inch LED Cinema Display!
MacUser's Scott McNulty reports:
.....Apple's web elves quietly flipped a switch making the new Apple 24 inch LED Cinema Display available for purchase at the price of $899 (though with a ship date of 'November,' which might ward off those not into uncertainty. This intrepid blogger placed an order for one despite the vague ship date).
You might recall that these new monitors have built in iSights, a glossy screen (which I am a fan of, feel free to disagree in the comments though know that I am correct and you are wrong), and an integrated MagSafe cable that makes this monitor the perfect new MacBook accessory.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macuser.com/hardware/hello_apple_24_inch_led_cinema.php
Anticipating Macworld: Nehalem, Snow Tiger, and Updated Desktops
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
Apple has spread the word that there will be no more new Macs until 2009.
The Mac mini hasn't been updated since August 2007, when it became the last Mac to move from Intel Core Duo architecture to Core 2 Duo. It tops out at 2.0 GHz.
The iMac, Apple's other consumer desktop, was last updated in April 2008, when it moved to a 1,066 MHz bus and a top speed for 3.06 GHz.
The Mac Pro, the most powerful and most expensive computer Apple makes, was updated in January 2008, and it's available in speeds up to 3.2 GHz (with two quad-core Xeon CPUs).
With the entire notebook line updated last month, these are the models Apple is most likely to update at the January 2009 Macworld Expo.
Mac Pro
iMac
Mac mini
One More Thing
For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/08mm/anticipating-macworld.html
Apple Sees Mac Sales Rise 28% Amid Latest Notebook Launch
Appleinsider's Katie Marsal reports:
A slowing global economy had little impact on Apple's computer business last month, as consumers willingly plunked down their cash for the company's new MacBook offerings, helping to drive Mac sales up more than 25 percent year-over-year.
According to data from market research firm NPD, which was relayed in a research note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, sales of Macs during the month of October were up 28 percent compared to the same month one year ago. They benefitted largely from the October 14th launch of the Unibody MacBook (review) and MacBook Pro (review), which began shipping immediately thereafter.
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/5rf26k
Judge Grants Apple's Motion To Dismiss Psystar's Counterclaims
Appleinsider's Slash Lane reports:
A California judge on Tuesday granted Apple's motion to dismiss counterclaims on the part of unauthorized Mac clone maker Psystar, who charged the Mac maker with violating antitrust laws through its vigorous attempts to block third parties from selling rival Mac OS X-based computers.
Apple sued Psystar back in July, asserting that the Florida-based firm was violating both its copyright and trademarks through the sale of computers that had been designed to run a hacked version of the Mac OS X operating system without authorization. Psystar responded a month later with a countersuit that charged Apple with violating federal and state antitrust laws by attempting to squeeze potential rivals out of the market for Mac OS-based PCs.
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/5lnl32
Psystar Antitrust Claim Against Apple Dismissed
CNET's Tom Krazit reports:
Psystar's Open Computer might be an endangered species after its antitrust claim against Apple was dismissed Tuesday.
A federal judge has tossed out Psystar's antitrust lawsuit against Apple, one of its most important avenues to remaining in business.
For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/6dbfeg
What Does an Obama Presidency Mean for Tech?
Lisa Sanders of Standard & Poor's Equity Research reports:
Before he became President-elect of the U.S., Barack Obama, who ran on a platform of change, pledged a number of things. In terms of technology, he vowed on his Web site to "ensure an open Internet, create a transparent and connected democracy, encourage a modern communications infrastructure, improve America's competitiveness, and employ science and technology to solve our nation's most pressing problems."
But what does all that really mean? Scott Kessler, head of Standard & Poor's information technology equity research group, believes that Obama's plans could be relatively beneficial for technology companies in the U.S.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/nov2008/pi20081117_677920.htm
Apple's Apple-First Mania
The Libertarians blog says:
Apple really makes some fine software. I've had a MacBook for two years, and when one of my dogs peed on it, I was forced to use a Windows XP laptop for a few weeks. It was awful.
But here's where Apple is really quite annoying. Instead of creating an open system that attempts to work seamlessly with other major networks and providers like, for instance, Google, Apple attempts to shoehorn its users into an entirely Apple-constructed world.....
Apple has, in fact, succeeded in making this model work when it comes to the iPod, which relies upon iTunes. But in most other respects, this Apple-centric model fails.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.thelibertarians.org/index.php/2008/11/17/apples-apple-first-mania/
The Mac Night Owl: Can Apple Withstand the Recession?
Unless you are one of those precious (and lucky) few who might be considered in the class of the filthy rich, you know it's been a difficult Fall. Money is tight, sales are light, and it's hard to know whether it's even worth spending large amounts of money for the holiday season.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/2008/11/can-apple-withstand-the-recession/
Notes: You can also access our new RSS feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/rss
Or our new Atom feed at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/atom
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