Category: Science & Technology

Almerica Blog: Podcaster rejeceted because it duplicates iTunes functionality:

“That’s right folks, it duplicates the functionality of the desktop version of iTunes.
Therefore, it was denied from sale in the app store. “

(Via Almerica Blog.)

Apple better wake up before it sees a repeat of the 90’s. Idiot move. Big time.

A Product Transition: Giving MacBooks the iPhone Touch — RoughlyDrafted Magazine:

“That gives Apple the opportunity to blow away users with a feature that would clearly differentiate its mobile line for years, more closely associate its Macs with the iPhone brand, and jump from today’s 8 to 10% of the US market to a figure closer to 30% within just a year. We already know Apple has 66% of the consumer-oriented retail market for machines above $1000 in the US; why not take the rest?”

(Via RoughlyDrafted Magazine.)

The idea is crazy enough to be true.

Mac vs PC – Benchmark and Speed Tests – PC versus Mac – Apple, Windows Reviews – Popular Mechanics:

“The Verdict: Apple
Mac: In both the laptop and desktop showdowns, Apple’s computers were the winners. Oddly, the big difference didn’t come in our user ratings, where we expected the famously friendly Mac interface to shine. Our respondents liked the look and feel of both operating systems but had a slight preference toward OS X. In our speed trials, however, Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks such as boot-up, shutdown and program-launch times. We even tested Vista on the Macs using Apple’s platform-switching Boot Camp software—and found that both Apple computers ran Vista faster than our PCs did. “

(Via Popular Mechanics.)

Using Back to My Mac… to Catch a Thief! — RoughlyDrafted Magazine:

“After a burglar broke into her truck and stole her iPhone and MacBook, a woman in Santa Cruz teamed up with a friend to use Mac OS X Leopard’s ‘Back to My Mac’ screen sharing feature to track and identify the thief for the police.”

(Via RoughlyDrafted Magazine.)

Amazing.

Macworld | Gone in 2 minutes: Mac gets hacked first in contest:

“Miller, best known as one of the researchers who first hacked Apple’s iPhone last year, didn’t take much time. Within 2 minutes, he directed the contest’s organizers to visit a Web site that contained his exploit code, which then allowed him to seize control of the computer, as about 20 onlookers cheered him on.”

(Via MacWorld.)

Apparently, Safari has, or at least had, issues. The Airs shipped with 10.5.0 and there have been several security updates to the OS and Safari. I’d love to know what version exactly of the software was hacked.

Let me say, Apple is a monster and their announcements on the iPhone roadmap are no joke. I can’t do justice the possibilities, just go to the presentation on the site. It’s a long one so take some time. But I will say they really thought this one out.

• RIM/Palm/WindowsMobile hardware folks are done, well not done, but definitely baking in the oven. Microsoft is essentially subsidizing this by sacrificing them for Exchange’s continued life. Apple’s stack will soon follow, but Microsoft has no choice but to get board. Apple is not Cuba.
• Sony PSP has a strong competitor, if not killer. Battery life and storage are the two limitations that as flash RAM cheapens will probably be resolved. I never thought the accelerometer would be so key. The Super Monkey Ball demo was no joke.
• The iFund @ $100M is a bombshell: All the big developers just got a strong signal that The Next Killer App is under development and they need to get on this platform not now…but right now.
• Apple’s Mac sales received the “halo” effect from the iPod. That will only be accelerated with the iPhone. You need a Mac to develop for the thing, which means you get to try out the OS and the development suite reducing barriers to entry for Mac development.
• Circumventing iTunes and giving direct, but controlled access to users is also brilliant. It’s like iTunes DRM, not great, but livable. Clearly the Apple Store is not going to be a hugh profit center, but it will be cost neutral to Apple and not a huge burden to developers. AT&T must be emitting nocturnally at the prospect.

I recently bought an external drive for my MacBook Air and ran into some issues not with the new drive but a drive I purchased 8 months ago. The vendor was not the cheapest but with experience has proven to be the most value. Why? I was able to call for an RMA, get an advance replacement for the older drive sent to me, and send me software that I didn’t even buy. I had made an equivalent purchase to a bundle that included the software. They agreed to mail it to me at no cost. This kind of treatment is well worth the couple of bucks I pay more per item. That “cost” provides me value far in excess of what I paid.