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Macintosh Freeware - Pay A Bundle For A New Computer, Get Programs For Free
Spymac follows Google on Free Gig Of Storage
Microsoft to release new Office version for Macs
iBook Production Moving To China?
Apple 'Poised To Dominate' Digital Music
Apple Computer Loses Bid To Hear Beatles Case In US
An Overbaked Apple
Linux 2.4.24 kernel for iPod is now available
SCO: IBM's Request Packs More Punch
Samsung Readies Portable Fuel Cell - Could Provide 10 Hours Of Power To A Notebook Computer
What Is Firmware?
Judge OKs Microsoft Lin---s offensive
New Workaround For Apple DRM
New Chip Would Track Movement Of Shoppers
Hidden Costs Said to Stymie Linux Growth
'What do we stand for now?' ask Sun staff
The Advanced Developers Hands On Conference - July 21-24, 2004
Mac Networkers' Retreat[/url]




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Macintosh Freeware - Pay A Bundle For A New Computer, Get Programs For Free

Gannett News Service's Kim Komando says:

"You can buy a computer these days for less than the programs that make it useful. Popular software, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop, can set you back hundreds of dollars.

"Fortunately, there are many great free programs. Some have fewer features than their paid counterparts, but they often work just as well....

"These freeware gems run under Mac's OS X operating system. They are free of hidden adware and are supported online with frequent updates."

Ms. Komando goes on to list and describe:

• TinkerTool
http://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html

• Safari Enhancer
http://www.lordofthecows.com/safari_enhancer.php

• DragThing
http://www.dragthing.com/english/download.html

• OpenOffice
http://www.openoffice.org

• Nisus Thesaurus
http://www.nisus.com/thesaurus

The GIMP
http://www.gimp.org

• JAlbum:
http://jalbum.net

• G-Force and WhiteCap
http://www.soundspectrum.com

For the full article, see:
http://www.lsj.com/news/business/040406_free_software_6c.html

There is a lot more great free software available for the Mac than listed above of course. I include several freeware offerings in every edition of Shareware Beat. There are of course the Mozilla/FireFox/Camino family of browsers, The companion ThunderBird email client, Apple's Safari browser,iCab is also pledged to retain a free version when their browser goes final. The OnyX system maintenance utility and ToyViewer image viewing and editing utility are both remarkably powerful and professionally turned out applications for freeware. The RBrowser Lite ftp client is also excellent for basic ftp work. The SweetMail email client is now freeware, and the GNUMail OS X email client always has been. The AbiWord word processor and a raft of text editors are freeware.

You really can build a perfectly serviceable suite of production applications on your Mac for free.





Spymac follows Google on Free Gig Of Storage

CNET News' Stefanie Olsen reports:

"Spymac, a Web hosting company for Macintosh aficionados, is giving away e-mail accounts that come with 1 gigabyte of storage, mimicking a move search leader Google made last week.

"From Monday, current and new subscribers to Spymac Mail will have access to the storage, according to the company. The free e-mail accounts, which can be used with any operating system, do not rely on keyword scanning or advertising, it said in a posting on the Spymac site.

"The launch could signal changes to the free e-mail business Yahoo and Microsoft's Hotmail dominate. These Internet companies impose fees of between $10 and $50 a year for a much smaller amount of e-mail storage. Yahoo subscribers, for example, get 100 megabytes storage--10 times less than Spymac's free 1GB--for $50....

"Spymac is trying to promote new Web hosting and auction services by giving away copious amounts of e-mail storage. With roughly 47,000 members, the former Apple Macintosh gossip Web site is small potatoes, compared with Google and other free-mail providers. But Spymac's move to offer more storage is among the first signs that the market is moving toward parity and indicates the relatively low cost of such a move."

For the full report, visit here:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5185461.html

Spymac:
http://www.spymac.com





Microsoft to release new Office version for Macs

American City Business Journals reports:

"Redmond software maker Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday it is taking preorders for its Microsoft Office 2004 suite for Macintosh, which will be released to manufacturers April 14. The software will be available to the public by the third week of May."

For the full report, visit here.
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2004/04/05/daily17.html?jst=b_ln_hl






iBook Production Moving To China?

DigiTimes.com Emma Wang and Steve Shen report:

"Asustek Computer will initially invest US$25 million (about NT$825 million) to build a plant in Shanghai, China, according to a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange yesterday.....

"The Chinese-language newspaper Commercial Times reported today that Apple Computer, which contracts its iBook models to Asustek, has pushed the local motherboard maker to migrate its notebook production to China from the third quarter. The migration is expected to complete by the end of this year...."

For the full report, visit here.





Apple 'Poised To Dominate' Digital Music

Macworld UK reports:

"Apple seems in position to exercise strong influence over the developing digital music distribution market, writes London's Financial Times.

"The report looks at the business plan Apple employs -- 'that of stimulating iPod sales through its iTunes Music Store. It also looks at the 99 cent per song price-point that that company introduced.'"

You can check it out at:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=8371





Apple Computer Loses Bid To Hear Beatles Case In US

Reuters reports:

"Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday lost a High Court bid to have its legal case brought by the management company for legendary Fab Four rockers, the Beatles, moved from Britain to the United States.

"The California computer maker has been embroiled in a trademark dispute since September with the similarly named London-based Apple Corps., the company formed in 1968 to manage the band's business interests and act as its music label."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.forbes.com/home_europe/newswire/2004/04/06/rtr1324789.html





An Overbaked Apple

The Motley Fool's Ben McClure says:

"It's hard not to love Apple. If you've ever used a PowerMac or an iPod, you'll know that the company delivers creative products that keep it streaks ahead of the computing industry pack. Its valuation, on the other hand, is another matter. As likeable as the company may be, its price has gotten ahead of itself.

"Despite a weak computer market, Apple shares have surged almost 30% in the past three months....

"At 37 times 2004 earnings and 30 times 2005, Apple looks pricey...."

You can check it out at:
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2004/mft04040510.htm





Linux 2.4.24 kernel for iPod is now available

tonytalkstech.com reports:

"The Linux on iPod development project at SourceForge has made some significant advances. A kernel is now available and compatible on three generations of the iPod but not the iPod mini. As of April 3, 2004 this is where they stand.

"A release version of the 2.4.24 kernel is now available for download! This version includes full support for first, second and third generation iPods (no iPod mini support) including audio, firewire and remote."

You can check it out at:
http://tonytalkstech.com/2004/04/linux_2424_kernel_for_ipod_is_now_available.php





SCO: IBM's Request Packs More Punch

The Salt Lake Tribune's Bob Mims reports:

"IBM not only seeks to have Linux-related copyright infringement charges by Utah's SCO Group dismissed, it wants a federal judge to make sure the allegations are never allowed in court again.

"In the latest maneuver filed in SCO's year-old quest for a minimum of $5 billion and maximum of $50 billion in damages from Big Blue, the world's largest computer company asked U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball and Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells to reject the copyright claims 'with prejudice,' meaning SCO would be prohibited from refiling the same allegations...."

For the full report, visit here.
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Apr/04062004/Business/154471.asp





Samsung Readies Portable Fuel Cell - Could Provide 10 Hours Of Power To A Notebook Computer

IDG News Service's Martyn Williams says:

"Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, the research and development arm of South Korea's Samsung Electronics, has successfully developed a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), the company says.

"Direct methanol fuel cells mix methanol with air and water to produce electrical power and are viewed by many as a potential successor to Lithium-Ion and other batteries used in devices such as notebook personal computers and other portable electronics devices."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115549,00.asp





What Is Firmware?

Learn what firmware is and how the term is used for various Apple products in this Apple Knowledge Base Article.

You can check it out at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93772




Judge OKs Microsoft Lin---s offensive

The Register's Andrew Orlowski reports:

"A Seattle district court judge has dashed Lin---s [aka Lindows] hopes of halting Microsoft's trademark litigation outside the United States.

".....Lin---s said it would henceforth use the name 'Lindash'. However in court Microsoft argued that Lindash "bears an auditive resemblance to Windows", and that users of Microsoft's Win---s operating system would become hopelessly confused."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/06/judge_oks_lindows_suits/





New Workaround For Apple DRM

Also from The Reg's Andrew Orlowski:

"Jon Lech Johansen's code that circumvents iTunes DRM has been given a fresh workout. A project named 'playfair' allows users with an iTunes key to create unencrypted AAC files. Apple uses the AAC format in combination with FairPlay DRM to lock down the music bought from its iTunes Music Store.

"'The playfair program is quite simple,' according to the README. 'It takes one of the iTMS Protected AAC Audio Files, decodes it using a key obtained from your iPod or Microsoft Windows system and then writes the new, decoded version to disk as a regular AAC Audio File. It then optionally copies the metadata tags that describe the song, including the cover art, to the new file.'"

You can check it out at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/06/playfair_drm_circumvention/





New Chip Would Track Movement Of Shoppers

The Canadian Press reports:

"Privacy watchdogs are warning that a new technology aimed at helping retailers manage inventory and track shipments also has the potential to invade the personal privacy of their customers.

"Wal-Mart and other retailers have asked manufacturers to embed radio frequency identification (RFID) chips, which emit coded radio signals, into their merchandise."

For the full report, visit here.





Hidden Costs Said to Stymie Linux Growth

internetnews.com's Jim Wagner reports:

"Commercial Linux distributors can hold their own against rival Microsoft, but won't displace Windows' server deployment lead over open source operating systems for the next few years, a new study says.

"The report, on the cost of switching to Linux, which the Yankee Group released Monday, shows the open-source operating system also won't put a 'perceptible' dent in the 94 percent market share enjoyed by Windows on the the desktop, the research firm said.

"One finding confirmed other data about where Linux is making gains at the expense of other enterprise operating systems. The total cost of ownership (TCO) study of 1,000 administrators and C-level executives shows that most of the defections to Linux are coming at the expense of mid-range Unix shops, not Windows.

"But Laura DiDio, Yankee Group's senior analyst, anticipating skeptism over the results, said no outside agency or company funded the survey."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3336561





'What do we stand for now?' ask Sun staff

The Register's Andrew Orlowski reports:

"Sun Microsystems made peace with Microsoft last week. But if Sun doesn't stand for not being Microsoft, then what does it stand for?"

You can check it out at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/06/sun_msft_letters/





The Advanced Developers Hands On Conference - July 21-24, 2004

Sessions & papers on:
• Mac OS X
• Unix systems
• Tools
• Compilers
• Techniques
• The Business of Software

Announcing a new conference for the Macintosh and beyond: the Advanced Developers Hands On Conference. Drawing on the success of 18 years of MacHack, we are expanding to include related platforms and technologies (Palm, Unix, and more). At ADHOC, advanced software developers are immersed in a fast-paced hands-on environment where they learn from other experts, show off new technologies, and trade clever tips and workarounds.

ADHOC is also aimed at students who intend careers in software development and will include them in all conference activities and technical sessions. All attendees are invited to submit academic papers for peer review in an atmosphere of camaraderie, support, and active mentorship.

We at ADHOC are serious about having fun, and we think it’s fun to work hard. We are passionately committed to state-of-the-art development practices. Come to ADHOC for 72 hours of insanely great software development experience.

For more information, visit:
http://www.adhocconf.com/






Mac Networkers' Retreat

Part Summer School - Part Summer Camp: Network professionals from around the world will be gathering this July for the first ever Mac Networkers Retreat - and you are invited!

Held on the the beautiful oceanside campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara, attendees will move into the dorms for three intensive days of technical discussions, training classes, lectures and labs about the state of the art in Apple network and IT technology.

In a world where technical people have 24/7 access to a multitude of information resources online, the value of getting together face-to-face can have more impact - but you have to do it right. We've designed The Mac Networkers Retreat to be a fun and immersive educational environment. Fun because the information is delivered in the best spirit the Mac community (factual and no holds barred) - in a location that is conducive to learning and educational networking, (one of the most beautiful college campus' in the country) The University of California at Santa Barbara on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Immersive - well, we'll have over 10 hours of educational content to offer you each day.

General Information

Dates
July 7 - 9, 2004
Venue
University of California, Santa Barbara
Wednesday, July 7
Lectures/Discussion Groups
Thursday, July 8
Workshop Day One/Discussion Groups
Friday, July 9
Workshop Day Two/Discussion Groups

The Mac Networkers Retreat is designed for CIO/CTO’s, IT Managers/Administrators, Executive Network Managers, Technical Staff, Network Consultants, Lab Managers, or anyone responsible for providing network services to an organization with fifteen or more Macs. The Mac Networkers Retreat will provide an opportunity for these professionals to immerse themselves in three days of training courses and interactive discussions on state of the art techniques for deploying Apple networking products. Course hours will run from 9 - 5 each day and evening discussions from 7 - midnight led by experts from the user community as well as from the developer community.

Lectures

We will kick the event off on Wednesday, July 7 with a lineup of key visionaries providing overview and insight into the state of the industry. Hear how Apple's Enterprise offerings stack up against the competition, learn what other customers are asking for, and what Apple is doing to meet the future needs of it's Enterprise customer base.
   
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Tom Yager
Test Center Technical Director and Columnist, InfoWorld
The State of Apple and Mac IT Offerings and How It Relates/Competes with the Rest of the Country
 
LECTURE
Alan Oppenheimer
Founder & President, Open Door Networks
 
DISCUSSION
Q & A with the Event Faculty

The Mac Networkers Retreat is an immersive meeting experience - we cram as much as we can into your time with us, so the education doesn't stop when the sun goes down! Join us after dinner for our evening discussion group series. You'll select from a variety of topics ranging from The Lost Art of Packet Analysis and QuickTime Streaming Server Setup and many others! Some product developers will be on hand to do informal show and tell's of their latest releases. These informal gatherings give you the opportunity to ask questions of the experts and to trade tips and techniques with other attendees who are implementing solutions similar to yours and may have already solved that nagging problem you've been wrestling with! It's where social networking meets computer networking.

On Thursday and Friday you will immerse yourself in the technology of your choice during the intense two-day workshops. Taught by recognized industry experts, these courses will take you deep into the technology that interests you most. Click on the workshop title to view a full course syllabus.
 
W1: Building Really Big Wireless Networks with Airport Extreme
Bill Wiecking

W2:   Mac OS X Server - Advanced Concepts and Administration  
Schoun P Regan

W3:   Applied Network Management: Performance Tuning, VPNs, and Secure Protocols  
Joel Rennich

W4:   Cross Platform Authentication and Integration - Kerberos, Replicas, and Active Directory Integration  
Michael Bartosh

W5:   Automation and Synchronization of Disks and Images  
Dave Pooser

W6:   The Beginners Course: Mac Administrators Bootcamp  
Kevin White
 
Get ready to relive your college days! We've teamed up with UC Santa Barbara to offer the three days of Mac Networking education and training outlined above along with two nights in the university dorms and all meals beginning with lunch on Wednesday through lunch on Friday for the incredibly low price of $795. Plus, if you register before June 4, you will save $100 bringing the cost to only $695.

For more information, visit:
http://www.macretreats.com/mnr/index.html


***



Charles W. Moore


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