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Snitch Different?
Coming Soon: 60GB IPods?
Beginning To Feel Tied Down By Wireless Technology
Labels To Dampen CD Burning?
Lindows Wins a Round in Court - Microsoft must pay legal fees.
eWeek: Xserve G5 Gets 64-bit Boost
CAD/CAM Sewing and Embroidery Machines
eWeek: Rothenberg's Blog: On the Road to Mac Grid
Mac Night Owl: Using Macs at Home, Windows at the Office
Paraglyph Press Announces "Degunking Your Mac"
"BSD Hacks" Released by O'Reilly
The Autumn European Revolution Conference to be held 14-15-16 November 2004 in Malta
Longing For Real-time Chat?
eWeek Scoop: Yahoo Gives Adware a Second Chance[/url]


___

Snitch Different?

macilife.com's Jim Heid says:

"Today, while surfing Apple's iTunes support area, I came across something I hadn't seen before. On the right-hand side of the page, a small box reads "Report Misuse: Report inappropriate use of iTunes or the iTunes Music Store."

"Click the link, and you're taken to a form where you can type your email address, phone number, and a "comment."

"Just what kind of "inappropriate use" are we talking about? Having a large Britney Spears library? Or maybe Apple is out to get these loners.....

"Memo to Apple: I imagine the pressure from Internet-phobic record labels is crushing, but asking your customers to rat out your customers is lame."

I agree

You can check it out at:
http://www.macilife.com/





Coming Soon: 60GB IPods?

IDG News Service's Martyn Williams reports:

"Toshiba is planning to launch a 60GB version of its 1.8-inch hard drive in the coming months and has already found a customer in Apple Computer, the company says....

"The drive will enter mass-production during July or August and represents a jump in the storage density of Toshiba's 1.8-inch drives, says Cindy Lee, deputy manager of Toshiba Digital Media Network Taiwan's hard drive division technical department.."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116360,00.asp





Beginning To Feel Tied Down By Wireless Technology

The Miami Herald's Anna Veciana-Suarez says:

"For a few terrifying hours the other week, I misplaced my PDA, the command central that keeps me focused on what I have to do and where I have to be. It felt as if the Earth's axis had shifted a degree. Though much of the data had been backed up, I was paralyzed with worry, suspicious of a nefarious plot.....

"....That brief period of separation underscored, for me at least, how reliant we've become on gizmos that didn't exist but a blinking cursor ago. For too many of us, we can't imagine life without cellular phones, portable DVD players or wireless laptops. But indeed, there was such a life, and it wasn't half bad.....

"....Technology has given me freedom, yes, but it has also taken much of it away. It has blurred the distinction between job and home, work and play. Quite frankly, this much-touted accessibility has fallen one step short of enslavement because I'm always within reach, tethered to a virtual desk by wire, satellite and radio waves..."

For the full comentary, visit here:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/features/2603693






Labels To Dampen CD Burning?

CNET News.com's John Borland reports:

"The recording industry is testing technology that would prevent consumers from making copies of CD "burns," a piracy defense that could put some significant new restrictions on legally purchased music....

"Such anticopying efforts have met with consumer resistance in the past, but if the labels have their way, it may be that not only CDs, but also iTunes-style digital downloads, will be restricted.

"Tools under review by the major labels would limit the number of backups that could be made from ordinary compact discs and prevent copied, or "burned," versions from being used to create further copies, according to Macrovision and SunnComm International, rivals that are developing competing versions of the digital rights management (DRM) software...."

For the full report, visit here:
http://news.com.com/Labels+to+dampen+CD+burning%3F/2100-1027_3-5224090.html






Lindows Wins a Round in Court - Microsoft must pay legal fees.

IDG News Service's Scarlet Pruitt reports:

"Lindows is claiming a victory in its latest trademark tussle with Microsoft this week after a Dutch court denied a request by Microsoft that the Linux-based software vendor be barred from using the Lindows name in connection with sales of its products in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

"Under the ruling, Lindows is permitted to resume sales in the three countries and Microsoft must pay the San Diego, California, company $1156 to cover legal costs, Lindows says."

For the full report, visit here:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116361,00.asp





eWeek: Xserve G5 Gets 64-bit Boost

"Thanks to its 64-bit G5 processors, Apple's new Xserve G5 server has higher processing power and improved management over its G4- powered predecessor. The Xserve G5 is a suitable choice for workgroup and small-office environments."

Read more at:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1603718,00.asp






CAD/CAM Sewing and Embroidery Machines

hiraeth.com's Maggie Grey says:

"It seems that hardly a month passes without one of the sewing machine manufacturers announcing the latest, greatest machine with whizzy new software for the embroidery unit. So what exactly do these machines do? Are they worth the investment?

"Almost all the machines are dual purpose, a good quality sewing machine with the option of 'bolting on' a unit that will stitch out your design when the purpose-built frame is attached. The exception is the POEM embroidery machine which does nothing but programmed stitching and is probably the entry level machine in this market. It stitches perfectly satisfactorily but the software that controls it needs some investment in time. The POEM is actively computer-driven using software which is available for PC, Mac or Acorn, and will not work on a stand-alone basis as a sewing machine. Mac and newer Acorn software is 'best guess' and hence, highly suitable for schools. Much of the PC (and older Acorn) software is, however, complex and unsuitable..."

You can check it out at:
http://www.hiraeth.com/ytg/cadcam/cadcam.htm






eWeek: Rothenberg's Blog: On the Road to Mac Grid

"Proof that Larry Ellison's interest in Steve Jobs extends beyond the Apple boss' reasonable rates as a wedding photographer: Oracle and Apple are hitting the road together in June to promote the Mac OS X version of the Oracle 10g database. A developers' release of the grid-o-licious Mac software has been in circulation for a while now, but the final version is now available to the public."

Read more at:
http://blog.ziffdavis.com/rothenberg/archive/2004/06/01/1170.aspx






Mac Night Owl: Using Macs at Home, Windows at the Office

So how do you run your office on a Mac if there's no software?

Here's the URL for today's commentary:

http://www.macnightowl.com/index.htm#office





Paraglyph Press Announces "Degunking Your Mac"

Adding to its #1 bestselling Degunking series, Paraglyph Press has announced that it has published "Degunking Your Mac" (U.S. $24.99, 304 pp, ISBN 1-932111-94-8). Written by bestselling author and Mac expert Joli Ballew, "Degunking Your Mac" shows Mac users where operational slow-downs happen and why, and it covers all the glitches in Apple's Panther operating system, OS X 10.3.3, as well as prior versions going back to OS 9.

Any computer will naturally slow down after regular use, and Macs are no exception. Even though many long-time Mac aficionados might not realize their computers can get gunked up, all Macs slow down after months or years of use simply because of all of the gunk that builds up--unused applications, bloated fonts, unread emails, and so on. In "Degunking Your Mac," Joli Ballew shows users where gunk accumulates on a Mac. The most common culprits of slow-downs are e-mail, file organization, large graphics applications such as Photoshop and InDesign, font management, and spam and security problems. The book delves into little-known sources of slow-downs as well, including how to optimize hard disk performance, uninstalling programs and other gunk you don't need, fixing your Desktop, adding hardware to help keep your Mac running quickly and efficiently, and cleaning up the Dock, Finder, and Menu bar.

With this book, you will learn how to:
-Quickly clean up your Mac, speed it up, and secure it from hackers and viruses
-Streamline your file system so you can work faster and more efficiently
-Reduce all the clutter that fills up your hard drive, including uninstalled programs
-Get rid of annoying spyware and adware, if you have any on your Mac
-Simplify your Mac setup so you boot quickly and cleanly -Reduce or eliminate spam, and degunk your e-mail
-Tweak or upgrade applications so they don't crash

"Degunking Your Mac" contains several unique tools to help you keep your Mac running as fast as the day you bought it. It has a unique 12-Step Degunking Program that shows you how to get your Mac operating at lightning speed in twelve easy steps. "Degunking Your Mac" also has a Quick Degunking Sheet--right in the front of the book--for those of you who are time-challenged. If you only have a few minutes a day to degunk your Mac, refer to the Quick Degunking Sheet for tasks that can easily be performed on a lunch break. The book is loaded with special projects contained in The Gunkbuster's Notebook, an editorial feature that appears in every chapter. Each Gunkbuster's Notebook contains a project that anyone can do to improve their Mac's performance. And Degunking Your Mac also contains a FAQ section, with frequently asked questions about Mac and Panther performance issues.

Keith Weiskamp, President of Paraglyph Press, says, "The Degunking approach to computer problem solving is one that our customers have really responded to. "Degunking Your Mac" will be one of those resources that every Mac user and system administrator should keep by their computer. The book is fun, easy to read, easy to understand, and written by an experienced Mac user who knows all the problems of a Mac system. It will educate readers on how to maintain their Macs in top operating condition, thereby avoiding expensive upgrades, or the need to buy a new Mac. The Mac technology is really so superior that people just need to learn how to maintain their investment--and this book helps them do that."

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





"BSD Hacks" Released by O'Reilly

In the world of Unix operating systems, the various BSDs come with a long heritage of high-quality software and well-designed solutions, making them a favorite OS of a wide range of users. From budget-minded users who adopted BSD early on to developers of some of today's largest Internet sites, the popularity of BSD systems continues to grow. If you use the BSD operating system, you know that the secret of its success is not just in its price tag: practical, reliable, extraordinarily stable and flexible, BSD also offers plenty of fertile ground for creative, time-saving tweaks and tricks, and yes, even the chance to have some fun.

"Fun?" you ask. Perhaps "fun" wasn't covered in the manual that taught you to install BSD and administer it effectively. But "BSD Hacks" (O'Reilly, US $24.95), by Dru Lavigne and a contributing team of trainers, developers, hobbyists, and administrators, offers a unique set of practical tips, tricks, tools--and even fun--for administrators and power users of BSD systems.

"BSD Hacks" takes a creative approach to saving time and getting more accomplished with fewer resources. BSD users learn to take advantage of the tools and concepts that make the world's top Unix users more productive, with each hack offering the chance to peek inside the mind of another Unix fan. And it makes no difference whether you're a new BSD user or a power hacker wanting to increase your arsenal of tools. As Lavigne notes, there's an unspoken commonality between the novice Unix user and the seasoned guru. "It doesn't matter whether you've just survived your first successful installation or you've just executed a complex script that will save you time and money, the feeling is the same," she says. "It's the excitement of venturing into unknown territory and discovering something new and wonderful. It's that sense of accomplishment that comes with figuring something out for yourself, with finding your own solution to the problem at hand."

The book begins with hacks to customize the user environment. Readers will learn how to be more productive in the command line, implement timesaving tips for setting user-defaults, automate long commands, and save long sessions for later review. Other hacks in the book show how to:

-Customize and install software exactly as you want it on one or dozens of machines
-Be a good network neighbor, even to other operating systems
-Make the most of the copious documentation or find (and document) answers when there's no documentation
-Allocate bandwidth by time, department, or use -Secure your system with good passwords, intelligent firewall rules, proper logging, and a little foresight
-Plan for and recover from disaster, including catastrophic Internet loss and hardware failures
-Automate your backups, safely and securely

If you want more than your average BSD user--you want to explore and experiment, unearth shortcuts, create useful tools, and come up with fun things to try on your own--BSD Hacks is a must-have. Written for anyone using FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Darwin (under or alongside Mac OS X), or any other BSD flavor, this book will turn regular users into power users and system administrators into super system administrators.

Several sample hacks, including "Automate Security Patches," "Build a Port without the Ports Tree," and "Fun with X," are available online at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/bsdhks/chapter/index.html

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/bsdhks/

BSD Hacks
Dru Lavigne
ISBN 0-596-00679-9,
427 pages,
$24.95 US, $36.95 CA

1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com





The Autumn European Revolution Conference to be held 14-15-16 November 2004 in Malta

Revolution is a multi-platform software development tool that enables developers to easily and quickly create powerful applications for Mac OS X, classic Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and popular Unix systems with native look and feel on all platforms. Rev is being used by professional developers, computer enthusiasts, and by many corporations because it enables users to build and deploy sophisticated applications with lightening speed.

The November 2004 EuroRevCon Features...

Kevin Miller, Rev CEO Keynote Sunday evening and daily discussions

Two full days of Rev presentations and discussions by expert Rev developers:
Malte Brill
Richard Gaskin
Klaus Major
Frederic Rinaldi
Jan Schenkel

Group and private discussion opportunities with Kevin Miller and all presenters concerning your projects and any Rev topic

Special pricing on Dan Shafer's book Revolution: Software at the Speed of Thought

CDs loaded with Rev examples and tools offered to all attendees

Special Rev License pricing for attendees
Revolution Express will be offered for just $99 (retail price $149)
Revolution Studio will be offered for $299 (retail price $399)

Conference schedule and more information:
http://www.techietours.com/Rev/

Those who wish to extend their learning holiday in sunny Malta are also offered two additional events which take place before and after the European Revolution Conference





Longing For Real-time Chat?

The San Jose Mercury News's Sam Diaz says:

"It will be tough enough for SightSpeed, a small company in Berkeley, to go head to head with America Online, Microsoft and Yahoo, the leaders in Instant Messenger services, for users.

"But the company's founders -- two Cornell University graduates and one of their professors -- are confident that the high-quality video stream that they're offering will attract users who are longing for a real-time video chat experience. That kind of service has been hit-and-miss with the others, and SightSpeed hopes users are willing to pay for it..."

You can check it out at:
http://crm.ittoolbox.com/news/dispnews.asp?i=115590&t=99

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





eWeek Scoop: Yahoo Gives Adware a Second Chance

"In its spyware-fighting tool released in beta last week, Yahoo Inc. left out for automatic detection a category of often-unwanted software for which its paid search division has a financial stake.

Yahoo's Anti-Spy beta for its browser toolbar doesn't include adware by default when it scans users' systems for unwanted programs. Instead, to include adware, users must check a box each time they conduct a scan."

Read more at:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,,1605578,00.asp


***



Charles W. Moore


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