Other Sites
Mac Market Share Over 6 Percent In February, Says New Data
Apple Untouched by Market Woes
DRM-free music? I'm with Steve Jobs
Mr. Jobs, Tear Down This Wall
Adobe Photoshop, Now Free for the Masses?
LCD Monitors: Glossy vs. Matte
About Daylight Saving Time changes in 2007 For OS X
iPhone to allow free VoIP calls
TextWrangler: The Best Free Text Editor
Wilkes University Going All-Mac Across Campus
Apple Unveiling In April?
20 Years of Expandable Macs Started with the Macintosh SE and II in 1987
PocketMac for BlackBerry 4.0 Reviewed
Free Software Foundation Urges Computer Makers To Replace Windows Vista With Free OS
Dim Vista
Survey: Vista Used Less than 1 percent of PCs
MacRumors Vigilantes Nail UK Teen Scammer
The Tech Night Owl Newsletter: Seven Hours and Counting: A Windows User Confesses
The Tech Night Owl: So Stupid No Caveman Would Watch It
This Week's Tech Night Owl Radio Update
Mac Market Share Over 6 Percent In February, Says New Data
Ars Technica's Jacqui Cheng reports:
Ahh, Apple's market share, my favorite Friday afternoon tea talk. New data from Market Share/NetApplications says that Macs held about 6.38 percent of the total operating system market in February of 2007. That number comes from the combination of Market Share's numbers for non-Intel-based Macs with Intel Macs, which stand on their own at 4.29 percent and 2.09 percent respectively. This marks a 0.26 percent rise over the month from January of 2007.
MacDailyNews observes that Mac market share has risen an entire 2.05 percentage points from just August of last year, based on this data.....
For the full report visit here:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/3/2/7296
Apple Untouched by Market Woes
MacNewsWorld reports:
In a survey of 2,500 U.S. customers, Morgan Stanley found that "more people are interested in buying an iPhone than the combined number of people who already own or are planning to buy a similar high-end device" in the near future. According to the survey, 23 percent of customers are interested in buying the phone, while 19 percent already own or are planning to buy a similar gadget.
Shares of Apple climbed Thursday on an otherwise down day for much of the broader market, after an analyst upgraded the stock and made gushing comments about the company's upcoming iPhone.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/N0UYxJifQTdlFh/Apple-Untouched-by-Market-Woes.xhtml
DRM-free music? I'm with Steve Jobs
PCAdvisor's Matt Egan says:
There's probably more than a touch of hyperbole in Steve Jobs' assertion that Apple would embrace DRM-free iTunes 'wholeheartedly', but he's spot on when he says that music companies currently sell 90 percent of their wares without digital rights management. And I buy 100 percent of my music that way.
Actually, that's not strictly true. I have, on occasion er, 'borrowed' music from like-minded colleagues. But I reserve the right not to incriminate myself.
One hundred percent of my legitimate music consumption is purchased DRM free. You see, I buy shiny things called: 'compact discs'....
It's not as if ripping a disc is difficult and, crucially, you don't get locked out of a file if you want to move it from your PC to a different player.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=741&blogid=4
Mr. Jobs, Tear Down This Wall
ATPM's Wes Meltzer says:
No businessman manages his pulpit as well as Steve Jobs has, at least not since Lee Iacocca. When the be-turtlenecked one speaks, we listen. This is not true of RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser, for instance. Jobs has the pulpit at least twice each year, and he makes the most of it.
So this time, the earth-toned prophet got our attention by turning his all-powerful media prowess to digital rights management. In an open letter, the “old media” equivalent of a blog entry, he goes on the attack against the Recording Industry Association of America and the Big Four record labels for their insistence on DRM technologies to restrict the rights of users to the music that they own. Jobs’ “Thoughts on Music” is, somewhat unexpectedly, neither a jeremiad nor a mushy bromide—it is a well-reasoned and eloquent discussion of the current state of affairs, and an appeal to change the status quo. The first thing I thought while reading it was that it was as much an essay in the Montaigne mold as anything else, equal parts musing, complaint, and persuasion.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.atpm.com/13.03/bloggable.shtml
Adobe Photoshop, Now Free for the Masses?
Motley Fool's Anders Bylund reports:
You've heard the magic "Web 2.0" buzzword thrown around like it's the second coming of pre-sliced bagels. But while scrollable maps, real-time stock quotes, and live article recommendations are nice and all, the whole Ajax/Flex platform hasn't changed our online lives very much.
That may be about to change, in a very real way. Computer graphics and electronic document specialist Adobe Systems is thinking about releasing a free, ad-supported, and fully 2.0-ified version of its industry-leading Photoshop suite. It would be an entry-level variant, designed for simple, everyday image editing tasks that are beyond the capabilities of other free tools available today, but don't inspire the average user to shell out between $80 and $600 for the real thing. It's not hard to imagine a healthy market for that sort of product.
For the full report click here.
LCD Monitors: Glossy vs. Matte
Popular Mechanics' Joel Johnson reports:
Apple offers MacBook Pro buyers a choice of glossy or antiglare (matte) displays....
Each screen has its advantages and disadvantages....
For more information, visit:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how_to/4213062.html
About Daylight Saving Time changes in 2007 For OS X
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:
In 2007, several countries and regions will change the dates on which they observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). In the United States, all states except Arizona and Hawaii will begin observing Daylight Saving Time on March 11. Many provinces in Canada will also adjust their DST observance, as will some states and provinces in other countries. Daylight Saving Time observances vary between countries and regions and are subject to change by national and provincial governments.
DST rule changes for the United States and most of Canada are already available in Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later
That's right, the 2007 time zone and Daylight Saving Time rule changes for the United States and most of Canada are already available in Mac OS X 10.4.5 (released February, 2006) or later. However, some additional regions that recently adopted time zone and DST changes are available in the February, 2007 Daylight Saving Time Update, detailed below.
February, 2007 Daylight Saving Time Update
Apple is providing software updates for Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 and later based on worldwide time zone information available as of January 8, 2007. To make sure that your clock maintains the proper time, simply install the updates that are shown for your computer in Software Update. You should install these updates even if your computer is used in a time zone that is not affected. For more details about the available updates, or if you have an earlier Mac OS version, see below.
Mac OS X 10.4 and Mac OS X Server 10.4 Tiger
The 2007 time zone and Daylight Saving Time rule changes for the United States and most of Canada are already available in Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later.
Some additional regions that recently adopted time zone and DST changes are available in the February, 2007 Daylight Saving Time Update. This includes rule changes (as of January, 2007) for Australia, Brazil, the province of Alberta, Canada and several other regions.
If you've not already done so, install Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.8 and the Daylight Saving Time Update.
Mac OS X 10.3 and Mac OS X Server 10.3 Panther
All time zone and Daylight Saving Time changes described above, as of January 2007, are included in the Daylight Saving Time Update, released in February, 2007. If you've not already done so, install Mac OS X Panther 10.3.9 and the Daylight Saving Time Update. For more information about this update, see this article.
Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server versions 10.0.x through 10.2.8
If you're still using Mac OS X 10.2.8 or earlier, you can adjust your clock manually using Date & Time preferences. Deselect the option to set date and time automatically, then set the time for your local time zone as needed.
Mac OS 9.2 or earlier
Still using Mac OS 9.2? Use the Date and Time control panel to deselect the option to observe Daylight Saving Time changes automatically, then enable Daylight Saving Time manually. Applications that run in the Classic environment of Mac OS X will honor the Daylight Saving Time setting in Mac OS X.
Classic environment in Mac OS X
Applications that run in Classic will honor the Daylight Saving Time setting in Mac OS X.
For more information, visit:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056
iPhone to allow free VoIP calls
ITWire's Adam Turner reports:
iPhone owners will be able to make free calls with the help of the internet, via Jajah Mobile Web, but it's not the same as running Skype on your phone.
Jajah will allow iPhone users to bypass their cellphone network charges to make and receive Voice over IP calls, without the need for internet access. It works by getting the Jajah service to call your mobile phone via VoIP and the call the other party via VoIP. As both parties are receiving calls, they don't have to pay anything to their network provider.
To use the service you just type mobile.jajah.com into your phone's browser, enter your user name and password and then enter your phone number and the number you want to call. Jajah has announced it will support the iPhone as soon as it becomes available in June 2007, reports My!Phone.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/10111/53/
TextWrangler: The Best Free Text Editor
MacInstruct's Matthew Cone says:
I don't care what Justin Long and John Hodgman say in the Get a Mac commercials. The best thing about Macs is all of the quality freeware and shareware software. Sure, Mac users often take this software for granted, but if you really use PCs - and I mean really use them, not just play around with them at BestBuy - you'll quickly find yourself missing the third-party Mac applications.
In all honesty, ninety percent of Windows applications suck. (Sorry. Somebody had to say it.) I'm not talking about the operating system here. Windows itself has nothing to do with this. I'm talking about trying to find a halfway decent freeware or shareware FTP client for Windows that works and doesn't look like it came straight out of Windows 3.1. Try it sometime. You'll be missing Transmit in, like, no time flat.
Anyway, all of this brings me to TextWrangler, the best free text editor for Macs. Bare Bones Software makes TextWrangler and, true to their name, they keep it bare bones. Take a gander at this simple, efficient freeware application and you'll be thanking your lucky stars you bought a Mac.
For the full review visit here:
http://www.macinstruct.com/node/63
Wilkes University Going All-Mac Across Campus
[Press Release]
Wilkes University recently became one of the first college campuses in the country to institute a university-wide switch from Windows-based PCs to Apple's new Intel-based Macs. Over the next three years, Wilkes University will become an all-Mac campus, providing faculty and students access to both Mac-only offerings such as iLife, Apple's suite of digital lifestyle applications, and Mac OS X, the world's most advanced operating system and Windows applications.
"Macs are constructed with superior technology and hardware and their ability to run Windows means we still have access to any Windows programs," said Scott Byers, vice president for finance and general counsel at Wilkes University. "We're making working and learning more efficient. It's the best of both worlds."
"For 30 years Apple has been committed to education, and worked with faculty and students across the country to enhance teaching and learning," said John Couch, Apple's vice president of Education. "We're thrilled that Wilkes is becoming an all-Mac campus, providing its students with access to the world's most advanced technology and helping to ensure they graduate with 21st Century skills."
Nearly all Wilkes University computer labs are already equipped with the new Mac computers and the university expects to replenish its 1700-computer network with Macs in the next three years. The switch to an all-Mac campus is a $1.4 million investment in campus technology.
"This is an aggressive technology refresh plan that will present students and staff with access to the latest technology," said Byers. "We're also creating a virtually virus-free IT network."
"Experience with the most advanced computers available today will provide our students with an edge when they enter today's job market with increasingly demanding technological expertise," said Wilkes president Tim Gilmour.
Local marketing, advertising and creative agencies agree and believe the new Macs can make their work more efficient.
"Apple's technology supports the latest learning trends," said Chris Vida, owner and founder of Vida Works Advertising, Marketing and Design in Clarks Summit. "Because of its ease of use, it actually reinforces learning, in and out of the classroom. The opportunity to learn both operating systems in one machine is immeasurable. It is simply a platform that prepares students for future success, both professionally and personally."
Apple Unveiling In April?
t3.co.uk says:
Mac fans at the ready! Apple’s got a special event scheduled next month.
It's edge of your seat time again...
Apple will take centre stage at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show on April 15th, with a special event set to get Mac fans' mouths foaming in anticipation.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/general/general/apple_unveiling_in_april
20 Years of Expandable Macs Started with the Macintosh SE and II in 1987
Low End Mac's Dan Knight says:
Apple made the biggest change in Macintosh history 20 years ago with the introduction of the Macintosh SE and Macintosh II.....
Introduced on March 2, 1987, the Macintosh SE appears to be a visual redesign on the original Mac design. The compact Mac form factor was the way Macs were supposed to look (and part of the reason Low End Mac's logo looks like a compact Mac); the changes were hidden to the casual viewer.
From a practical standpoint, the SE's biggest improvement was a second internal drive bay, which could hold a second floppy or - something new from Apple - an internal SCSI hard drive. It was a pretty pathetic 20 MB MiniScribe drive. (If you have an SE, consider replacing the hard drive with almost any half-height 3.5" SCSI drive built since 1989, about the same time manufacturers started putting buffers in hard drives. Old LCs can be a great source of 40 MB drives to transplant into the SE.)....
If the SE subtly broke the Mac mold, the Macintosh II blew it to pieces. There was no internal monitor. It didn't have a small footprint. It wasn't portable. It looked like a business computer, although it was far more attractive than the plethora of DOS boxes then on the market.
Going way beyond the SE, the Mac II has room for two internal floppy drives and a half-height 5.25" hard drive. Instead of a single proprietary expansion slot, Apple adopted the emerging NuBus standard and included six expansion slots in the Mac II.
For the full report visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/musings/07/0302.html
PocketMac for BlackBerry 4.0 Reviewed
PCMag's Jamie Lendino reports:
The Macintosh platform hasn't exactly achieved wide acceptance in the corporate world. Of course, Macs make great office machines, despite all the usual stereotypes about how they're ideal for individual and educational use. But though it's true that Macs have made significant gains in connectivity with enterprise systems over the years, including Windows 2003 networks and Exchange Servers, they don't work seamlessly with BlackBerry handhelds, at least not out of the box. Fortunately, PocketMac for BlackBerry 4.0 is a free app that alleviates this problem—though not as smoothly as I had hoped.
For the full review visit here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2099657,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530
Information Appliance Associates
http://www.pocketmac.net
Free Software Foundation Urges Computer Makers To Replace Windows Vista With Free OS
InformationWeek's W. David Gardner reports:
The Free Software Foundation, taking advantage of what it says is the rejection of Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, is urging major computer hardware manufacturers to offer consumers computers without any operating system or with a free GNU/Linux OS.
"We see Microsoft Vista as being a failure," said Peter Brown, FSF executive director, in an interview Friday. "People aren't buying new hardware because of Vista."
Brown says five proposals designed to encourage hardware manufacturers to work with the free software community were sent to Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell for comment in January. The paper, titled "The Road To Hardware Free From Restrictions," was publicly released on the FSF Web site this week.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197700816
Dim Vista
Forbes' Stephen Manes says:
Windows Vista: more than five years in the making, more than 50 million lines of code. The result? A vista slightly more inspiring than the one over the town dump. The new slogan is: "The 'Wow' Starts Now," and Microsoft touts new features, many filched shamelessly from Apple's Macintosh. But as with every previous version, there's no wow here, not even in ironic quotes. Vista is at best mildly annoying and at worst makes you want to rush to Redmond, Washington and rip somebody's liver out.
Vista is a fading theme park with a few new rides, lots of patched-up old ones and bored kids in desperate need of adult supervision running things. If I can find plenty of problems in a matter of hours, why can't Microsoft ? Most likely answer: It did - and it doesn't care.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://members.forbes.com/global/2007/0312/038.html?partner=yahoomag
Survey: Vista Used Less than 1 percent of PCs
Computerworld's Eric Lai reports:
Windows Vista may yet prove to be an unstoppable juggernaut, but statistics released Thursday by a market research firm show that the new operating system hasn't even licked its nine-year old ancestor.
Vista was being used on less than 1 percent of PCs tracked in February by Aliso Viejo-based Net Applications Inc., making it the sixth most-popular operating system. That puts it behind Windows 98, which is still used on 1.5 percent of computers.
Vista's exact share was 0.93 percent. Windows XP continued to lead, with 84.3 percent, followed by Windows 2000, with 4.8 percent. Mac OS X on PowerPC machines had 4.3 percent, while newer Intel-based PCs running OS X had 2.1 percent.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129525/article.html
MacRumors Vigilantes Nail UK Teen Scammer
The Register's Lester Haines reports:
A British teenager who tried to scam fellow MacRumors members learned the hard way that when enraged fanboys get up a head of indignant steam, you'd better run for cover.
The story of "Max On Macs" began with this post by member skoker on 23 October 2006, and ended recently with Max on Macs interviewed by Thames Valley police and promising to refund skoker for the $500 he'd taken for "a clamshell iBook, Mac mini, and PowerBook G4", which never materialised.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/02/macrumour_thread/
The Tech Night Owl Newsletter: Seven Hours and Counting: A Windows User Confesses
My friend Tim was late to personal computers. In recent years, his WebTV unit handled all his email and Web surfing. However, he didn't get full-blown a PC right away. He dreaded the task of having to set up what he presumed to be a complicated piece of electronics gear, but finally he decided to take the plunge.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/2007/03/05/newsletter-issue-379/#confe sses
Notes: You can also access our new RSS newsletter feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/rss
Or our new Atom newsletter feed at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/atom
The Tech Night Owl: So Stupid No Caveman Would Watch It
Many of you have seen those clever Geico commercials, where someone announces that the company's site, where you can sign up for its insurance policies, is so easy to use that "even a caveman can do it."
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/2007/03/05/newsletter-issue-379/#it
Notes: You can also access our new RSS newsletter feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/rss
Or our new Atom newsletter feed at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/ newsletter/atom
This Week's Tech Night Owl Radio Update
We get letters. Lots and lots of letters in fact, from listeners to both radio shows. For the most part, these letters are answered promptly. In some cases, they1re just comments to be accepted and taken at face value.
Here's the URL for this week's update on the show:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/2007/03/05/newsletter-issue-379/#update
Notes: You can also access our new RSS newsletter feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/rss
Or our Atom newsletter feed at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/newsletter/atom
Digg this
del.icio.us
Charles W. Moore
Tags: News ď Tech-Industry ď
