Applelinks.com Moore’s Tech Web Reader - Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Moore’s Tech Web Reader - Wednesday, October 17, 2007

By Charles W. Moore Wednesday, October 17, 2007.
Filed under: News � Tech-Industry �

1487

Speed Up Your Sluggish Mac
Apple Cuts Price of Unprotected Music to 99 Cents (Update2)
Canada: Is It Time to Boycott Apple?
Napster Spins Music For The Web - Linux, OS X Spoken Here
Universal Music “totally” taking on iTunes
Stop the "Sue Apple for cutting prices" madness
iPhone, PowerBook Gain Celebrity Status
Apple Raises Leopard Academic Price
Leopard: Already Used in Shops to Sell Macs
Flower Power iMac named one of the Ugliest Tech Products Ever
BBC Ropes In Adobe For Multi-platform Iplayer
How To Safely Dispose Of An Old Mac
Ubuntu 7.10 Released, Delivering Best of Open Source Software
The Mac Night Owl: The One Paragraph Leopard Arrives on October 26 Report
Desktop Linux: All Systems Go for Ubuntu 7.10 Linux Desktop Launch
The Mac Night Owl: Waiting For Leopard Book I: Kiss Your Old Mac Goodbye!

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Speed Up Your Sluggish Mac

MacInstruct's Stephen Korecky says:

Remember when you first bought your shiny new Mac a couple years ago? It was snappy, speedy, and responsive - so responsive that at times it actually seemed to know what you were thinking. These days, however, it seems to be anything but speedy. Indeed, your aging Mac is now the epitome of slow. And more and more you're finding that your Mac is unbearably sluggish and difficult to use.

But wait! Don't lose hope and give up on your "beater pile" just yet. There are plenty of ways to breathe new life into your aging Mac! That is, if you're not fishing for an excuse to score a new MacBook Pro. We'll show you how to do it.

You can check it out at:
http://www.macinstruct.com/node/223

Apple Cuts Price of Unprotected Music to 99 Cents (Update2)

Bloomberg's Connie Guglielmo reports:

Apple Inc. plans to lower the price of music sold without copyright protection to 99 cents a song, undercutting rivals less than five months after adding these tracks to its iTunes store.

The price cut, from $1.29, applies to music without so- called digital rights management software from EMI Group Plc as well as 2 million songs from independent labels, Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said today. Apple began offering DRM-free music as part of a service called ``iTunes Plus'' on May 30.

For the full report visit here:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aySI.x8qR.pw

Canada: Is It Time to Boycott Apple?

Smart Like Streetcar's richard says:

For decades, Canadians have had to pay more for Apple software and hardware, and it was almost fair, for it reflected the difference between our respective currencies. In October 2007, Canadians are still paying through the nose for Apple hardware: $150 more for a Macbook; $200 - $300 more for a Macbook Pro; $100 to $150 more for an iMac, and $300+ more for a Mac Pro.* A $149 iPod Nano carries a $20 premium.

So why does that piss me off?

It’s simple, really. Black is white, up is down, left is right, dogs and cats are living together, and the Canadian dollar is worth more than the US dollar. That’s right! It probably wasn’t big news in the US, although I remember John Gruber mentioning it in September. Nevertheless, Americans need to face a new financial truth. Your dollar is floundering. Right now, if you buy $100 Canadian dollars with US currency, it will cost you more than $102.50.

At first, the price discrepancy didn’t annoy me. It takes time to make changes, for new realities to filter through the system. But it’s been a month now, and it’s time for Apple to do the right thing by its Canadian customers....

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I drink Apple’s Kool-Aid. I bought my first Mac Plus in 1985, and I’m writing this piece on an iMac G5. But this really drives me batty.

OS X Leopard costs the same in Canada and the US, so feel free to upgrade. But I wouldn’t buy an Apple Computer or an iPod in Canada until the prices are fairer to consumers here in the Great White North.

[Editor's note: I agree. Apple doesn't hold large unsold inventories. The price of Apple products should now be the same in both the U.S. and Canada, and if the Canadian dollar continues to climb (personally, I hope it doesn't), then products sold in Canada should be priced commensurately cheaper than in teh US. Fair is fair. CM]

For the full report visit here:
http://smartlikestreetcar.com/?p=317

Napster Spins Music For The Web - Linux, OS X Spoken Here

The Register's Dan Goodin reports:

Sick of being a minnow in a small pond, Napster has launched a web-based version of its digital music service that for the first time allows users to listen to songs without having to download special software.

The service works on newer versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox, which means the service can now work on most internet-enabled devices, including those running on Linux and OS X. Previously, users needed applications written for Windows, some handheld media players and a handful of other mobile devices....

Even after today's move, Napster's offerings still won't play on an iPod....

For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/16/new_napster_offering/

Universal Music “totally” taking on iTunes

MacUser's Cyrus Farivar reports:

Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard it before. Everyone and their grandfather’s dog named Duke have started or want to start the ultimate “iTunes killer.” You know, the one where all the cool kids will go to grab their music.

Universal, apparently still ticked off from earlier this past summer, is poised to launch the mother of all music stores, says BusinessWeek.....

First of all, this won’t work. See Urge, Rhapsody, Napster, and pretty much every other music store ever.....

For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.macuser.com/rivals/universal_taking_on_itunes_man.php?lsrc=murss

Stop the "Sue Apple for cutting prices" madness

Blackfriars' Marketing says:

I'm finding it hard to believe my eyes, but when reading the comments over at Ars Technica about how Apple's iTunes is offering more iTunes Plus DRM-free music for $0.99, one sub-meme that seems to keep popping up is that people should sue for refunds.

Excuse me? Do people sue Kellogg for refunds when Kellogs' Cocoa Krispies go on sale at Shaw's for $1.88 instead of their regular price of $3.99? That price cut is more than 50%, whereas Apple's reduction of $1.29 to $0.99 is only 25%. And people want to sue because they are going to pay less? Is this still America?

For the full report visit here:
http://www.blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/10/suing-apple-for-cutting-prices-again

iPhone, PowerBook Gain Celebrity Status

PBCentral's Joe Leo says:

Three new shows in the Fall TV lineup all share one thing in common. Despite having different genres - one a comedy, the other a sci-fi show, and the last a crime drama - all feature journalists as main characters in the show and...? All of them use Apple portables to get the job done, making those devices, the "real" stars of the show.

This tech columnist just likes the fact that Apple's potent portables are prominent onscreen.

Back in July, we mentioned that the "real" star of Summer's hottest film, "Transformers" (by coincidence, also being released today on DVD and Blu-Ray and HD-DVD), was not the CGI robots, the former Disney Channel kid actor gone big time, nor the robot toys from the 1980s now live onscreen. It was Apple because of their presence in the film....

For the full commentary click here.

Apple Raises Leopard Academic Price

The Unofficial Apple Weblog's Scott McNulty reports:

One of the many benefits to working in Higher Ed (as I do), or being a student (other than all that book learnin') is Academically Priced software. Many software vendors offer up their products that significantly lower prices for people in the academic circle. Apple has long done this, but it seems they have adjusted their pricing. Tiger cost a mere $79 with the academic discount, but sadly that steep discount it gone.

Numerous readers have emailed us the new academic price for Leopard: $116....

For the full report click here.
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/16/apple-raises-leopard-academic-price/

Leopard: Already Used in Shops to Sell Macs

HardMac's Lionel reports:

If Leopard is not officially released yet, several reports from our readers indicate that consumer electronics shops selling Macs have already installed the future OS on demonstration models.....

For the full report click here.
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2007-10-16/#7329

Flower Power iMac named one of the Ugliest Tech Products Ever

applegazette.com 's: Michael says:

PC World recently wrote an article naming some of the ugliest Tech products ever…and the flower power iMac made the list.

[Editor's Note: And well it might. The contemporaneous "Blue Dalmatian" iMac should have been there along with it. CM.....]

For the full commentary click here.

BBC Ropes In Adobe For Multi-platform Iplayer

The Inquirer's Paul Hale reports:

Adobe is working with the BBC to make the broadcaster's Iplayer service available to to Macintosh and Linux users by the end of the year.

Adobe will take over the development of a free streaming version of the player for OS X, Linux and Windows.

For the full report click here.

How To Safely Dispose Of An Old Mac

TUAW's Dave Caolo says:

The fun of technology is how quickly improved products are released. The downside is the same. So-called "E-Waste" is a huge problem. Before leaving that old Mac at the dump, consider these alternatives....

You can check it out at:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/15/how-to-safely-dispose-of-an-old-mac/

Ubuntu 7.10 Released, Delivering Best of Open Source Software

[ Press Release ]

Canonical Ltd. has announced the upcoming availability of version 7.10 of the Ubuntu Server, Desktop, Kubuntu and Edubuntu Editions. All will be available for free download on Thursday 18 October. Canonical is the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu.

Ubuntu makes no distinction between community and enterprise editions, Ubuntu 7.10 is our best work and is available freely to all. Ubuntu has consistently ranked #1 in reviews of security update responsiveness and effectiveness. The Ubuntu platform is fully certified and supported, making it a secure choice for users looking to explore, deploy and enjoy Linux. Ubuntu 7.10 brings together the best open source and free software available in a stable, robust environment that 'just works'.

"We are privileged to have millions of users running Ubuntu every day," commented Jane Silber, Chief Operating Officer of Canonical UK. "This gives us great insight into what they want from a free, Linux-based platform. Ubuntu 7.10 is another milestone in delivering on these requirements on the desktop and server."

Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition adds an enhanced user interface, improved hardware support, multiple monitor support and integrated desktop search. Additional information is available at http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-desktop710.

Ubuntu 7.10 Server Edition features improved functionality, manageability, pro-active security and hardware compatibility and delivers a rapid deployment platform for developers and businesses. Additional information is available at:
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-server710

New versions of Kubuntu and Edubuntu, derivatives of Ubuntu aimed at KDE enthusiasts and the education community respectively, are also being released at the same time. Additional information is available at:
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-family710

Since its launch in October 2004 Ubuntu has become one of the most highly regarded Linux distributions with millions of users around the world. Ubuntu will always be free to download, free to use and free to distribute to others. With these goals in mind, Ubuntu aims to be the most widely used Linux system, and is the centre of a global open source software ecosystem. For more information visit:

http://www.canonical.com
or
http://www.ubuntu.com

The Mac Night Owl: The One Paragraph Leopard Arrives on October 26 Report

There are two things that are certain. Apple loves Friday for shipping operating system upgrades, and they were going to deliver Leopard by hook or crook before the end of the month. So these two events have coalesced with the unsurprising news that Leopard will officially arrive on October 26 at 6:00 PM local time in your city.

For the full report click here.
http://macnightowl.com/2007/10/16/the-one-paragraph-leopard-arrives-on-october-26-report/

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

Desktop Linux: All Systems Go for Ubuntu 7.10 Linux Desktop Launch

"Canonical, Ubuntu Linux distribution's commercial sponsor, has announced that the release version of Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition will launch Oct. 18.

Ubuntu, the incredibly popular desktop Linux distribution that seeks to deliver the best of open-source software every six months, will be out in a few days. Gutsy Gibbon Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition includes improvements in advanced plug-and-play printing, enhanced browsing and the option of a smooth new user interface built on top of the latest GNOME 2.20 desktop.

The latest version of Ubuntu includes numerous new features. In particular, its hardware support has been improved. Besides better plug-and-play configuration for printers, the new Ubuntu includes automatic firmware installation for Broadcom Wi-Fi cards."

Now that Apple’s latest feline is days away from arriving in your city, or at your home or office, I’m sure many of you are going to be thoroughly digesting Apple’s officially certified list of 316 new features to see which ones please you.