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Mac Desktop Sales Slump, Portable Mac Sales Skyrocket
Apple and HP to launch LED-based notebooks - Report
Resolve Startup Issues And Perform Disk Maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
Apple Faces Risks Despite Clearing CEO Over Options
Can Apple Thrive Without Steve Jobs?
Apple, Google, Napster Sued Over Patent - Intertainer Claims Use Of Technology Without Its OK
Apple Guru Combats Month Of Bugs
Apple Designer Makes It Into Who's Who
Mozilla Rakes in $53M
Enviro Mighty Mouse?
Protect Electronic Gadgets
Half Of Businesses Will Switch To Linux - study
Suit Charges Apple With New Options Woes
Apple Faces US iTunes Lawsuit
The Mac Night Owl: Time for Apple to Reinvent the Personal Computer?
eWEEK: Month of Apple Bugs, Meet Month of Patches
eWEEK: Survey: Consumers Not Confident About Internet Security
PC Mag: Hands On with the Wii Opera Browser
The Mac Night Owl: A Macworld Expo Preview: Expect Disappointment
eWEEK: Linux Group to Simplify Software Installation
eWEEK: Programmers to Blame for Hard-to-Use Software
Gene Steinberg meets Macworld's Philip Michaels, author Kirk McElhearn and Brook Stein from MindJet this week on The Tech Night Owl
Mac Desktop Sales Slump, Portable Mac Sales Skyrocket
TechWeb's Gregg Keizer reports:
Nearly lost among the results of Apple Computer's stock option investigation in the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker's annual 10-K report was news that revenue from sales of its Mac computers increased 19% during the second quarter over the same period in 2005 and climbed 18% for the year ending Sept. 30....
Like many other computer manufacturers, Apple saw its desktop sales drop dramatically as buyers continue to shift to portables. During the second quarter, the number of desktops sold plummeted by 23% from the previous quarter, while notebook sales soared by 61%. Year-end totals were less sensational: Desktop sales were off only 3% for the year ending Sept. 30, and portable sales were up 42%.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews.jhtml?articleId=196800772
Apple and HP to launch LED-based notebooks - Report
DigiTimes.com's Max Wang and Carrie Yu report:
Although US-based brands such as Apple and Hewlett Packard (HP) are expected to launch notebooks using LEDs as the backlight source starting from the second quarter 2007, Taiwan-based LED makers will not be the major beneficiaries, according to industry sources.
HP's new LED-based notebooks will feature Microsoft's Vista operating system (OS) and will aim at high-end, multimedia uses, the sources said, adding that using LEDs as the backlight source for large-size applications will become more popular thanks to more models of such kind from US-based notebook brands.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.digitimes.com/displays/a20070103PD210.html
Resolve Startup Issues And Perform Disk Maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:
If your computer won't start up normally, you may need to use a disk repair utility to fix the issue. Mac OS X includes two utilities for this—Disk Utility and fsck. You can also use these even when your computer starts just fine but you want to check the disk for possible file system issues. For Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later, check out "About live verification in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later," below.
Note: If you're using Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you should use Disk Utility instead of fsck, whenever possible.
In some situations, file system errors may prevent your computer from starting up. This can occur after an improper shutdown, forced restart, or power interruption. If your computer shows any of the following symptoms on startup, use a disk repair utility:
• Your computer partially starts but then displays a command line in a text-only environment. You may see the message, "file system dirty, run fsck." Below it, you'll see what's called a command-line prompt, indicated by a number sign (#), that allows you to type a command. If you see this, you'll need to run fsck from the command line (see "Use fsck," below).
• Your computer starts but either it won't reach the login screen, or it may reach the login screen but not load the Desktop after you log in. However, you can start up in single-user mode.
If your computer exhibits either of the above issues, here are some things to try to get your computer back to starting up properly again. If you can't find the system discs that came with your computer, see "Use fsck," below.
Topics covered:
Try a Safe Boot
Try Disk Utility
Use fsck
About live verification in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later
You can check it out at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Apple Faces Risks Despite Clearing CEO Over Options
smartmoney.com's Nicole Ridgway reports:
BAD NEWS RARELY gets received with such a warm embrace.
Apple Computer admitted that it backdated stock options between 1997 and 2001 and that CEO Steve Jobs not only knew about the practice, but even "recommended the selection of some favorable grant dates." In addition, the company said it discovered a fictitious board meeting dated Oct. 19, 2001, that was fabricated in order to use that date to price millions of options grants, including 7.5 million awarded to Jobs. One would think investors would go running for the hills. Instead, they breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the shares 5% higher on Friday, when the report was released.
Analysts are also upbeat about the internal investigation's findings, which turned up "no misconduct by current management" and argued that since Jobs didn't profit from backdated options he isn't at fault....
I'm no SEC investigator, but I think Apple's stock options woes are far from over. As it stands now, Apple's report raises more questions than it answers, especially about Jobs's involvement, and I think authorities are going to want to dig deeper......
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.smartmoney.com/Techsmart/index.cfm?story=20070103&afl=yahoo
Can Apple Thrive Without Steve Jobs?
eWeek's David Morgenstern says:
Apple is defending CEO Steve Jobs as the company is under investigation by the feds. To some, he is Apple. But could the company make do without its very public leader?...
Under Jobs' leadership, the company has regained a solid, if still small, foothold in the industry, still as a manufacturer of computers as well as prominently a seller of consumer A/V devices and content services. This turnaround was no small accomplishment.....
However, concern on the street grew in December that Jobs' tenure may come to an end, not by a coup by the board of directors as happened in 1985, but from legal troubles around stock options and perhaps a cover-up.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2078503,00.asp
Apple, Google, Napster Sued Over Patent - Intertainer Claims Use Of Technology Without Its OK
Bloomberg News reports:
Apple Computer Inc., Google Inc. and Napster Inc. were sued by online movie distributor Intertainer Inc. and accused of infringing a patent on a way to distribute digital entertainment over the Internet.
Apple, maker of the iPod music player; Google, the most-used Internet search engine; and Napster, a seller of songs online, are using the patented technology without permission, Intertainer said in a complaint Friday in federal court in Marshall, Texas.
For the full report visit here:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/298129_intertainersuit03.html
Apple Guru Combats Month Of Bugs
ZDNet UK's Tom Espiner reports:
An attempt is being made to quickly patch flaws in Apple software that are announced by vulnerability researchers Kevin Finisterre and LMH this month.
The researchers' "Month of Apple Bugs" project (MOAB), launched on Monday, promises to feature a new Apple software bug for each day in January. However, a senior open-source developer with extensive experience working for Apple says he is attempting to offer fixes for each flaw found.
Landon Fuller was an engineer in Apple's BSD Technology Group, and one of the principal architects of the Darwin system: an open-source, Unix-like operating system designed to work as a standalone operating system as well as the core set of components for Mac OS X. He has already offered fixes for the two vulnerabilities published by MOAB so far.
For the full report visit here:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39285314,00.htm
Apple Designer Makes It Into Who's Who
ZDNet UK's Graeme Wearden reports:
Jonathan Ive, the UK designer credited with helping revitalise Apple's fortunes, has been awarded a place in Who's Who - Britain's biographical record of the great and the good.....
Who's Who has traditionally contained information about leading figures in society, both UK-based and worldwide, from aristocrats and politicians to academics and businessmen...
For the full report visit here:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39285319,00.htm
How to Throw Away that Broken iPod
technologyreview.com's David Talbot says:
The holidays are a wonderful time to open those new iPods, computers, cell phones, and digital cameras. But what to do with the old electronics and their toxic chemicals ranging from mercury to lead to cadmium?
In recent years, leading computer companies have developed programs to take back their electronics products, and some new state laws have emerged to force the issue. Now the Computer Takeback Campaign, a national coalition that pushes electronics manufacturers to accept old products, is offering a company-by-company guide to programs offered by computer makers.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17968&ch=infotech
Mozilla Rakes in $53M
internetnews.com's Sean Michael Kerner reports:
Firefox might be free, but that doesn't mean Mozilla is in the poorhouse. Although some speculated on one, higher, figure, Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation, said that Mozilla made just under $53 million in 2005.
The 2005 revenue figure is a dramatic jump from previous years for Mozilla. Baker noted that 2004 revenues were only $5.8 million, while 2003 revenues were less than half of that at $2.4 million.
Baker attributed the growth in revenue to the popularity and growth of Mozilla's flagship browser Firefox 1.0, which launched in November 2004. In 2006, Mozilla released Firefox 2.0.
Baker reported that the bulk of Mozilla's 2005 revenue came from search engine relationships. She did not disclose or name the search engine vendor in her official report, though it is widely known that Mozilla has a strategic relationship with Google.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3651761
Enviro Mighty Mouse?
greenthinkers.org reports:
According to Macsimum News, Apple has been granted a patent for a hybrid low power computer mouse. Basically, this 'green' mouse will use two different mechanisms to track its movement on your desk - an optical tracking sensor and a new feature, an accelerometer....
You can check it out at:
http://www.greenthinkers.org/blog/2007/01/enviro_mighty_mouse.html
Protect Electronic Gadgets
Scripps Howard News Service's James Derk reports:
Many of you were lucky enough to get new toys under the tree this year, ranging from computers to Nintendo Wiis all the way to the grand prize of a Sony PlayStation 3.
Now you have to take some precautions to keep your machinery in perfect working order.
Let's start with the computer. The first thing you need to purchase is a surge protector. The most economical way is to buy a power strip with surge protection. Plan on spending about $30....
A second idea to protect the computer is an uninterruptable power supply, or UPS. This is a battery backup for your computer and monitor. In case of a surge or a power failure the battery kicks in immediately before your computer feels any effect. Most UPS devices have enough juice to keep you working for 15 minutes or more before you have to power down.
[Editor's note] or if you have a laptop, you can just go on computing for several hours, perhaps one reason why portable computers are leaving desktops in the sales dust (see article link above). CM]
For the full commentary visit here:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650219849,00.html
Half Of Businesses Will Switch To Linux - study
The Inquirer's Nick Farrell reports:
A STUDY of CIOs (chief information officers) has found that more than half of them plan to install Linux in mission critical roles over the next five years.
According to Computerworld, the survey carried out by Saugatuck Research, which questioned 133 businesses worldwide, expects that there will be a steep rise in the number of businesses using Linux after 2007.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36678
Suit Charges Apple With New Options Woes
CNNMoney.com reports:
A shareholder suit is charging that Apple gave four executives a huge windfall by granting them options to buy almost 1 million shares of company stock the day before the then struggling computer maker announced a $150 million investment by Microsoft in 1997, according to a published report.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the suit alleges that kind of improper timing of options was common at Apple Computer for years.
For the full report visit here:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/03/technology/apple_lawsuit/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
Apple Faces US iTunes Lawsuit
The Register's John Leyden reports:
A US class-action lawsuit has been launched against Apple over links between its iTunes music store and iPod music players. The action follows similar charges in Europe, brought by a French consumer rights group.
News of the suit, filed in California in July, came in a disclosure by Apple that formed part of its report to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Apple's November submission to dismiss the suit, filed by aggrieved punter Melanie Tucker, was turned down on 11 December, Computerworld reports.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/03/apple_itunes_lawsuit/
The Mac Night Owl: Time for Apple to Reinvent the Personal Computer?
You know it 1s hard to realize that not a whole lot has changed in the way you interact with your Mac, or PC for that matter. Some years back, when I wrote my first book about Mac OS X, I remarked how the interface of the first Mac operating system resembled the new one so closely.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://macnightowl.com/2007/01/04/time-for-apple-to-reinvent-the-personal-computer/
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
eWEEK: Month of Apple Bugs, Meet Month of Patches
"It's officially a cat-and-mouse race to exploit-and fix-security vulnerabilities affecting Apple Computer's Mac operating system.
Less than 24 hours after the release of working exploits for two critical media player flaws-QuickTime and VLC-a former engineer in Apple's BSD Technology Group has launched an effort to provide run-time fixes for each flaw released during the Month of Apple Bugs project."
To read more, go to:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2078433,00.asp
eWEEK: Survey: Consumers Not Confident About Internet Security
"Trend Micro announced Jan. 2 that it has released the findings from its new research study that measures what consumers think of their Internet security.
Trend Micro, a security software provider based in Cupertino, Calif., released the Internet Confidence and Safety survey that evaluates consumers attitudes about Internet-related concerns such as how safe they feel when using the Internet, their opinions regarding the future of Internet security, their experience with Internet infections and their confidence when it comes to security software."
To read more, go to:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2078315,00.asp
PC Mag: Hands On with the Wii Opera Browser
"As promised, Nintendo delivered a custom-built version of the Opera Web browser for its Wii platform three days before Christmas. In case you missed the hubbub in all the holiday commotion, we downloaded and got very familiar with the browser here in PC Magazine Labs the day it became available. While of course no one is buying a Wii specifically for use as a Web-browsing appliance, it is definitely a must-have (and for now free) add-on, in my opinion."
To read more, go to:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2078365,00.asp
The Mac Night Owl: A Macworld Expo Preview: Expect Disappointment
Apple is already dropping tantalizing hints that "The first 30 years were just the beginning" at its site, which is certainly going to fuel heavy-duty anticipation for next week's Macworld Expo keynote, and the things you hope Steve Jobs will announce.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://macnightowl.com/2007/01/02/a-macworld-expo-preview-expect-disappointment/
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
eWEEK: Linux Group to Simplify Software Installation
"Installing a new application on Linux can be challenging, even for experts. Now, the LSB (Linux Standard Base) project and its parent organization, the FSG (Free Standards Group), have a plan for how to make it easier for both users and developers.
Last month, key people in the Linux software packaging world and ISVs got together in Berlin to discuss the future of Linux application packaging."
To read more, go to:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2078480,00.asp
eWEEK: Programmers to Blame for Hard-to-Use Software
"Retired microbiologist Diana Westmoreland is no stranger to technology-except when it comes to computers.
"The programs are intimidating. The language that's used is a foreign one to me," said Westmoreland, who lives near Cardiff, Wales. "I'm the sort of person who, when something crashes, apologizes to the screen.""
To read more, go to:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2078496,00.asp
Gene Steinberg meets Macworld's Philip Michaels, author Kirk McElhearn and Brook Stein from MindJet this week on The Tech Night Owl
On our very first episode for 2007, Gene talks to noted author and commentator Kirk McElhearn about what to do if the "machine" stops? You'll have to listen to the show to learn what that's all about. In addition, Macworld's Philip Michaels will be on hand to talk about the meaning behind the stock options "scandal" that Apple has confronted in recent weeks. You'll also hear from Brook Stein, Senior Product Manager for MindJet, publishers of MindManager.
You can tune into the broadcast Thursday night from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Pacific, 9:00 to 11:00 PM Eastern, at:
http://www.techbroadcasting.com
Our new chat room will also be open for listener participation. An archive of the show will be available for downloading and listening at your convenience within four hours after the original broadcast.
You can also access our show's Podcast feed, now available at:
http://www.techbroadcasting.com/nightowl.xml
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