July 2004 Archives

"Apple Computer Inc. led online computer hardware sellers in unique visitors for the week ended July 18, Nielsen/NetRatings reports. Apple hosted 3.9 million unique visitors that week, followed by Dell Inc., with 2.9 million," Internet Retailer reports.

The top computer hardware sites by visitors, with their number of unique visitors and average stay per person in minutes and seconds, were:

Apple - 3,900,000 - 8:17 Dell - 2,900,000 - 6:32 Hewlett Packard - 2,500,000 -... [MacDailyNews]

Apple is offering free downloads of speeches from the 2004 Democratic National Convention through the... [The Mac Observer]

Fortune magazine's Dorm-Room Computers 101 recommends that parents that college-bound students purch... [MacNN]

"Less than 24 hours after Apple Computer began informing customers that it would miss the July ship date for its 2.5 GHz liquid-cooled Power Mac G5s, the company did an about-face on its statement and is actively shipping the new computers," Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.

"In an email to Power Mac G5 purchasers this morning Apple said: 'Recently, we notified you of a delay with your order. We are very pleased to report that we have revised the shipping estimate for... [MacDailyNews]

"In July, the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index rose 8.5% to a six-month high. The index has three components: the six-month economic outlook, personal financial outlook and confidence in federal economic policies," Patrick Seitz reports for Investor's Business Daily.

"Dell was the preferred brand of 50% of likely PC buyers in July. That ties its best showing ever from April. Two brands known for multimedia capabilities scored surprisingly well. Apple Computer was the No.... [MacDailyNews]

Apple Computer Inc. issued a statement on Thursday accusing RealNetworks of hacker-like tactics for its Harmony technology that will allow content from Real's music store to be played on Apple's iPod. Several hours later RealNetworks shot back saying they have done nothing wrong and reaffirmed its commitment to developing Harmony. [MacCentral]

Many iPod users have seen "iPod Your BMW" television ads, which advertise the ability to connect your iPod or iPod mini to the stereo included with several late-model BMW vehicles. That's not the only way to directly connect an iPod to a car stereo, however, and one of the most hotly anticipated solutions is coming this September from aftermarket car audio manufacturer Alpine, the same company that designed and manufactured BMW's solution. The KCA-420i is a new interface box designed to work with Alpine car stereos that include "Ai-Net" command capabilities, and the solution actually offers more functionality than BMW's offering, including the ability to view artist, album and track information. [MacCentral]

Apple today issued the following statement in response to RealNetworks's announcement earlier week that it will release new software, called Harmony, that allows songs purchased through its online music store to be played on Apple's iPod... [MacMinute]

A report in Time magazine, which named Apple's fourth generation iPod "Gadget of the Week," says that there is more to the latest models of the digital music player than meets the eye... [MacMinute]

Guitar Player magazine announced during the summer NAMM show in Nashville that it has awarded GarageBand the magazine’s reader’s choice for Best Software of 2004. [Jul 29] [Apple Hot News]

"With the campaign fundraising season in high swing, Republicans are making a play for corporate support from an industry that is regarded as a Democratic stronghold: information technology," Josephine Hearn reports for The Hill. "Information technology has had a natural bent toward Democrats, with its roots in Silicon Valley, not far from the liberal bastion of San Francisco. During the 2000 election cycle, new-economy entrepreneurs gave handily... [MacDailyNews]

Students at four Broward County public schools will get iBooks this year in a pilot program, accordi... [MacNN]

"As of July 27, consumers can go to Real's Web site and download software, dubbed Harmony, that lets them play songs purchased at Real's download store on any portable player they choose -- including the iPod. What's more, Real is in talks to license Harmony to other online stores that might also want to sell to iPod users -- without Apple's approval," Peter Burrows writes for BusinessWeek.

"Apple CEO Steven P. Jobs should clearly and firmly squelch Real's attempt... [MacDailyNews]

Holy shit! I have friggin seen it all. Is there anything the iPod CAN'T do? Man, this is out of control....

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"Sometimes, you look around at all these gadgets and in a rare moment of inspiration or madness, you look at them all a little different - connected in a way they are currently not, but perhaps should be, or at least 'could' be. There might not be anything 'new' but there are countless combinations of disparate technologies, and we think this is a great example of combining a couple of those," Phillip Torrone writes for Engadget.

"This week’s How-To is a fun one, we take... [MacDailyNews]

Motorola and Apple have announced a mobile iTunes music player that will allow Motorola's upcoming 'always with you' handsets to play music purchased from the iTunes Music Store. Although the number of songs will be limited to the flash memory storage space inside the phones, most units should be able to hold a few dozen songs, at least, making them the missing piece in Apple's music playback device plan. iPod and iPod mini for those that want a dedicated, large-capacity music device; iTunes phones for those who just need a few songs here and there.

When the service launches in the first half of 2005, songs will be transferred from PCs to phones via the standard USB or Bluetooth interfaces, but hopefully later versions of iTunes Mobile will be able to download over the airwaves. And does this mean that Motorola has decided MP3s are the ringtones of the future? That's going to make some people (read: carriers) a little pissy, especially considering an iTunes download is cheaper than most ringtones.

Read - Press Release [Motorola]
Read - Apple, Motorola to bring iTunes to cell phones [MacCentral]
Read - Apple tunes for Motorola phones [Money.CNN]
Read - Apple to Make Music Player for Motorola Phones [Reuters]

I would love to see the total cost of this system including the RAID in comparison to a G5 XServe cluster with XServe RAID. I am willing to hang out on a limb and right off the bat say that the Apple solution would have come in SIGNIFICANTLY less for the same performance and storage capacity. Hell, I bet you anything that the G5 would have BEAT the IBM in every aspect. The golden question is: Did the NAVY even consider the Apple solution? But all is good, IBM has to win something here and there. They DO make the G5 processor so they can't be all that bad. Congrats IBM! Now go back and perfect the 90nm chip for the next gen G5 damnit!!!! I should have been ordering a Dual 3GHz G5 instead of a Dual 2.5 last night!!! BAH!

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Defense Dept. to buy second supercomputer for Naval Oceanographic Office. [CNET News.com]

Computerworld Web developer Peter Smith got his hands on the new AirPort Express wireless access point and was surfing and streaming music before he knew it. [Computerworld Macintosh News]

Apple and Motorola today announced a partnership to enable music fans to transfer songs from their iTunes library on their Mac or PC (including songs from the iTunes Music Store) to Motorola's next-generation mobile phones via a USB or Bluetooth wireless connection... [MacMinute]

Apple Computer, Inc. is close to releasing its "Motion" real-time motion graphics application, whi... [AppleInsider]

Damn, are you guys ever fast! Here are the offending Fuse ads; they are true class itself. (Thanks, Spencer and David!)

Look - Pole Dancer [Gizmodo]
Look - Self-Plaguer [Gizmodo]
Look - Beer Bong [Gizmodo]
Look - Fart Lighter [Gizmodo]

Related
Apple Fussy; Accuses Fuse Over Parody Ads [Gizmodo]

Ronin no Sakurakai Softronics has released youPod, an iPod utility that enables you to download your Address Book, iCal appointments, Web browser bookmarks and Keychain onto your iPod and take them with you. When you sit down at another Mac, run youPod from your iPod and it will add a menu that allows you to select the information you've taken from your computer. youPod also features a SafeKeeping option that backs up your ISP settings and other custom information to your iPod in case your Mac goes down while working. It requires Mac OS X v10.3 and will run as a feature-limited demo until you purchase a US$14.99 registration key. [MacCentral]

Apple is readying iSync 1.5, an update to the company's synchronizing software, sources told Think Secret. iSync 1.5 will reportedly add support for additional mobile devices; sources said the new version will synch information with newer phones from Motorola and Sony Ericsson. [Think Secret]

Hmmmm, boy - I smell a lawsuit about to go down. Better yet, could this be classified under the DMCA and have Real executives prosecuted? Now THAT is a thought!

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Real reportedly will release software this week which mimics Apple's DRM. [Insanely Great Mac]

Are you a victim of the iPod's blossoming popularity? Feel like just another pair of white headphones in the crowd? Maybe it's time you got an iPod Mod.

http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/articles/podmod/modpod1.stm [MacMerc]

It amazes me how so many people just have absolutely ZERO creativity and feel compelled to imitate someone else's hard work. This is just sad...

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Apple is threatening to take legal action over new advertisements by upstart music channel Fuse that resemble the silhouette ads for the iPod, The New York Post reports... [MacMinute]

Apple may be one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but what's that brand's actual value? Market brand consultancy Interbrand and business publication BusinessWeek have posted their fourth annual listing of 100 Best Global Brands, listed by dollar value. Apple is the biggest mover on this year's chart, up 24 percent in brand value. The consultancy attributes Apple's showing to strong sales of the iPod and high brand loyalty. [MacCentral]

U2 may turn to Apple's iTunes Music Store (iTMS) if a recently stolen copy of their next, unreleased...

The Mac Observer Spin: We've been talking for more than a year about the potential for change that the iTMS offers, but this... [The Mac Observer]

Apple may soon make some inroads into the corporate/enterprise markets, according to one analyst who... [MacNN]

I got mine and it RULES!!!!

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"Though the biggest Apple news this week centers around the latest iPod, let's not forget last month's Apple wonder, the AirPort Express, which has only just begun shipping. The Express is, like many other products on the market, a networking device that helps you wirelessly deliver music from your Mac or Windows machine to your sound system. Unlike other products, though, it's very small and simple to use, and can double as a print server and even as a standalone wireless access... [MacDailyNews]

Microsoft has delayed the release of Virtual PC 7.0 until October at the earliest, citing a rolling ... [AppleInsider]

Paul Thurrott, yes that Paul Thurrot, writes about Apple for Connected Home Media in his article this week entitled, "Apple Makes Its Case for the Connected Home in 2004." What Thurrott writes in this article may surprise you, even with some of his usual qualifications.

Thurrott writes, "In my opinion, there's never been a better time to support Apple. If you're interested in digital media, home networking, and personal computing, you should know that Apple's product... [MacDailyNews]

For the last two weeks, I have been unable to sync a P900 phone with an Apple PowerBook using Apple's iSync application. Yesterday afternoon, I solved these problems thanks to a fellow Apple user Brandon Jenkins.

I have reco... [Mac OS X Hints]

steveha writes "The FAA has just approved regulations creating a new class of pilot's license. (FAA press release here). The Sport Pilot license allows you to fly Light-Sport planes. It is much, much easier to get than a normal pilot's license; for example, you don't need to get a medical exam, and the training requirements are minimal." Read this overview, as well as some more details below. [Slashdot]

The newest release of Salling Clicker lets you check your NetNewsWire news. It works by talking to NetNewsWire via AppleScript (though you don’t have to know that to use it).

In a related vein, Alex King posted a script that creates a new task in Tasks by scripting NetNewsWire, Camino, or Safari.

You Software has released an update to its file synchronization tool You Synchronize. Version 2.1, which is a free upgrade for current users, adds the ability to sync your Mac to an iDisk, improves support for synchronizing to remote and removable volumes, as well as external storage devices, and offers bug fixes and speed enhancements. New users can expect to pay US$39.95, with a $10 mail-in rebate available until July 31. System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.2.6 or higher, 10MB free hard drive space and a .Mac subscription if you want to sync your computer to an iDisk. [MacCentral]

Deep Prose Software announced on Monday the release of Booxter 1.5, a new version of the company's book collection management application that adds the ability to scan in barcodes with an iSight or any other FireWire video camera. In addition, the upgrade adds the ability to create custom database layouts and switch between them and features several bug fixes and performance enhancements. This is a free update for existing users; new ones can download the software and enter up to 30 books before they have to pay the US$14.99 license fee. [MacCentral]

Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement of new whip antennae, QuickerTek has just announced new PowerBook carry handles. These handles are designed for the 12-inch aluminum PowerBook, 15-inch aluminum Book, 15-inch TiBook and the 17-inch PowerBook. These tough carbon fiber and aluminum handles attach to the PowerBook case and offer an easy way to carry them as well as a tilted stand for desktop computing. [MacMerc]

"Apple said that this fall Duke University will give iPods to all incoming freshman. Duke will hand out approximately 1,800 iPods that will be pre-loaded with Duke-related content and will allow students to download supplementary university material in addition to being able to play music," Rex Crum reports for CBS MarketWatch.

Full article here. [MacDailyNews]

"Greg Joswiak, vice president of hardware product marketing at Apple, shot down market rumors of 60-gigabyte models in the pipeline. 'We have no plans in regard to announcing 60-gigabyte models,' Joswiak said. "'We are trying to create a much more compelling lineup with two models for 20 and 40 gigabytes at extremely compelling prices,'" Reuters reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: "No plans in regard to announcing 60GB iPods" does not mean... [MacDailyNews]

Salling Software today released Salling Clicker 2.2, an update to its remote control utility for Mac OS X... [MacMinute]

McAfee today announced the availability of McAfee Virex 7.5 for Macintosh, the latest version of the company's enhanced anti-virus protection software offering real-time prevention of Mac, PC and UNIX viruses, worms, Trojans and other malicious code threats... [MacMinute]

Macromedia today announced version 3 of its popular Contribute software. Contribute ties in with Dreamweaver to allow users to update pages without the risk of changing elements they were not supposed to change. It's a desktop based content management system. The new updates adds some interesting Mac-only features. That was probably thanks to the high adoption rate of Contribute for Mac users... About 20% of Contribute's 200,000 users are on the Mac which is a higher percentage than other Macromedia software. MacMerc got an exclusive look at the software prior to the announcement--here's what we found: [MacMerc]

We hoped too hard, but it's still not bad. Here's Monday's Newsweek cover with Steve Jobs and the new iPod. We'll have more details as the come.

Also, what the hell is an Iraq? (Thanks, everybody!)

Update: Oh hey, the article is online now, too.
Read - iPod Nation [MSNBC]

Update Update: And another article, this one describing the thinner (by one millimeter) case, the new menu options (can a brother get a firmware update?), 50% better battery life (12 hours), and multiple On-The-Go playlists that you can delete from (omg it's like 2002). Oh, and no 60GB yet (hence the "price drop.")
Read - The New iPod [MSNBC]

Independent sources in contact with MacDailyNews agree on the specs and prices of the new 4G Apple iPod line to be formally announced on Monday. MacDailyNews cannot confirm for sure the veracity of these multiple sources, but the fact that they agree on the hard drive sizes and retail prices allows us to report the following three configurations:

Apple 4G iPod 20 GB - 5,000 Songs: - Apple Earphones - AC Adapter - FireWire cable - PC FireWire adapter Retail price: US$249.00

Apple... [MacDailyNews]

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and a new iPod are shown on the cover of next week's edition of Newsweek, revealing the new models first reported at Think Secret on Saturday. The iPod shown on the Newsweek cover matches our description with a redesigned, darker scroll wheel similar to the click wheel used on the iPod mini. [Think Secret]

Apple will announce new models of its standard 'white' iPods on Monday, Think Secret has learned. According to sources, the company plans to unveil thinner, sleeker white iPods with a major announcement on Monday, July 19. While the enclosure will be the same general size as that of current iPods, it will be thinner; it will also have a new scroll wheel of different color and design. [Think Secret]

"Are Mac users smarter than PC users? I doubt it's possible to get a definitive answer, but as long as you don't take any of it too seriously you can have a lot of fun playing with proxies such as the average user's ability to read and write his or her native language," Paul Murphy writes for LinuxInsider.

Murphy writes, "[Ratings for Mac users were] significantly higher than those given Slashdot's contributors, and thus better than those given text from the PC sites, but... [MacDailyNews]

PackMyPod.com has just been launched. PackMyPod.com , a division of BK MEDIA, Inc. was founded to help encourage people to join the "digital music revolution", by making the process easier . Our CD Ripping Services make your tunes last forever, rather then the ripping process. We rip your cds for as low as $1/cd, pack them on your pod for no extra cost, you can have your ipod rockin' in as little as 3 days! There are no minimum orders, and no regional restrictions, packmypod.com services ipods worldwide. [MacMegasite]

Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf says that the combination of iPod and iTunes is causing more and more Windows users to switch to the Mac platform... [MacMinute]

Finally! Sony Ericsson finally announces the P910 smartphone -- featured previously here as the "Layla" prototype -- a Symbian OS v7.0-powered update to the very successful P800/P900 phones. Three versions will be released with differing GSM bands to operate in various markets worldwide, as well five different integrated keyboard variants to make thumb typing in different languages easier. In addition, the P910 now has expanded memory (64MB, up from 16MB) and supports Sony's Memory Stick Duo Pro in sizes up to 1GB. The screen has also been bumped from a 65K color screen to a 262K color version.

Links and higher-resolution picture inside.

You know that an application makes an impact when a college offers courses in it! Berklee College of Music is now offering, believe it or not, a GarageBand course.Announced at this week’s Macworld Conference & Expo, “Berkleemusic.com, the online extension school of Berklee College of Music, will present a new online course in Apple’s GarageBand audio editing program, this fall…” reports MacMinute.com [Lockergnome's OS X Fanatics]

Depending on who you want to believe, it just might be. ThinkSecret is reporting that "reliable sources" have confirmed a new full-sized iPod design that is smaller, sleeker, and colored -- not unlike the iPod mini. Although these pictures are speculative, it's expected that the new models of iPod -- the top end of which will use a 60GB hard drive -- will be offered in purple, orange, and yellow, and possibly the existing iPod mini colors as well (it would be classy if they were to offer a white model in the new form factor, as well).

High-resolution comparison shot with the iPod mini, links, and more inside.

Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer opened today's conference call with analysts with a recap of the points of Apple's Wednesday quarterly results press release: The company reported a US$61 million profit or $0.16 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to $19 million profit or $0.05 per diluted share for the same quarter a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $2.014 billion, up 30 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Oppenheimer also confirmed that Apple's next-generation iMac, due in September, will be based around the G5 processor. [MacCentral]

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2004 third quarter ended June 26, 2004. For the quarter, the Company posted a net profit of $61 million, or $.16 per diluted share. These results compare to a net profit of $19 million, or $.05 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the quarter was $2.014 billion, up 30 percent from the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 27.8 percent, up from 27.7 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 39... [MacDailyNews]

Yet another good reason to vote Democrat this year!!!

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The current issue of Time magazine has a photo of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry with an Apple PowerBook on his desk... [MacMinute]

When you're giving the pros and cons of a 1.6TB (terabyte) hard disk array, like the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme, and the only con is "bulky," then you're probably doing pretty good by my estimation. As a follow up to previous Bigger Disk external storage drives, there's no question the 1.6TB version is impressive, smashing together four 400GB drives into a single array that requires no special drivers to be used in Windows XP or Mac OSX. And it looks sufficiently swanky, too, if aluminum doesn't grate on you.

Apple will announce new iPod models in August, reliable sources have confirmed to Think Secret. The new models will be smaller, sleeker, and will come in a variety of colors. The new models are expected to become the new 'standard' of the iPod line and will slowly replace over time the existing white iPod models... [Think Secret]

Exclusive - Heat related issues are said to be at the root of Apple's latest iMac blunder, which has... [AppleInsider]

The waiting is over for the prosumer mini-DV world as Canon (finally) releases the XL2, the follow-up to the wildly successful (some would say ground-breaking) XL1S. With both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (film-like and TV-like, respectively), variable frame rates (again, to more closely emulate film or TV), interchangeable lens (the same as the XL1S had, including a new 20x optical zoom lens), and more, all wrapped around a 3 CCD system for maximum image, you know, fantasticness.

More after the jump.

We don't normally cover PC cases on Gizmodo, not just because they aren't that interesting, as a rule, but mostly because they are usually just godawful. There are exceptions, thankfully, and this Lian Li V1000 is one of them -- all aluminum, inside and out, with a mesh front and back reminiscent of the PowerMac G5. And while reading the review at PCUnleash might occasionally challenge your English parsing abilities, I think you'll find that the $190 street price of the V1000 almost sounds reasonable when you take into account the fit and finish of a well thought-out case.

The only downside? In my experience, aluminum cases aren't as resilient to frequent hauling as steel-framed cases.
Read - Lian Li's PC-V1000 Case [PCUnleash]

Update: Dan's Data also has a very decent review, as well.
Read - Lian Li PC-V1000 computer case [DansData]

"Apple Computer Inc. is known for its remarkable ability to wow the world with its hot new products. That's why its July 2 announcement was so disappointing. Without citing specific reasons, the company said it would not roll out a new version of its iMac home PC until September, rather than in July, as it had hoped. Since the outfit also announced that it would run out of stocks of the existing iMac in a few weeks, Apple won't have a home PC to sell for the most crucial part of... [MacDailyNews]

In TidBITS today, I present the problem and solutions to dealing with AirPort Express's single Ethernet port. The new base station will ship any day now from Apple, and it includes streaming music, USB printer sharing, and but one Ethernet port. That port can't do double duty to share your... [Apple AirPort Weblog]

"Apple Computer Inc. has sold 100 million songs on its iTunes Music Store, solidifying its position as the leading legal music download site, the maker of the iPod and Macintosh computer said on Monday," Reuters reports.

"The 100 millionth song... was purchased on Sunday by Kevin Britten, of Hays, Kansas. In accordance with a promotion Apple announced recently, Britten will receive a 17-inch PowerBook notebook computer, a 40-gigabyte iPod and a gift certificate for... [MacDailyNews]

Once seen as a value play that traded at little above its cash value, Apple's stock is now attracting long-term and momentum investors. [Computerworld Macintosh News]

Alpine has finally given a mostly-firm date for its new in-car iPod interface, the KCA-420i, updating their website to show a "late September" availability. The connector is one of the most promising iPod car adapters out there, connecting to any of Alpine's head units that support its Ai-Net standard (which unfortunately explains the relatively cheap $100 price). The KCA-420i also supports Alpine's MediaXpander technology that attempts to add back in the harmonics lost in MP3 compression on the fly, making your so-so sounding compressed audio sound much closer to its CD-quality source (and although I haven't personally heard MediaXpander, I've actually heard nothing but good things about it).

More betterness, and links, after the jump.

The popularity of Apple's iPod has caused companies developing copy-protected CDs to rethink their s... [MacNN]

On July 1, 2004, Apple announced the sale of 95 million songs via their iTunes Music Store and began counting up to 100 million songs sold by giving away 50 special 20GB iPods - one to the purchaser of each 100,000th song downloaded between 95 million and 100 million songs.

Today, Apple sold its 100 millionth song at approximately 1:24 am EDT, according to the company's count of songs sold on the iTunes Music Store on apple.com.

"As we cross this historic milestone, we want to... [MacDailyNews]

"A series of highly publicized security vulnerabilities found in Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser may be having an effect on the browser's market share, according to data compiled by WebSideStory, a San Diego Web metrics company. Over the last month, Internet Explorer's share of the browser market dropped by 1 percent, the first noticeable decline since WebSideStory began tracking the browser market in late 1999," Robert McMillan reports for IDG News... [MacDailyNews]

ZDnet just continues to lose credibility these days....

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"The conventional wisdom is that most people use PCs because they have to, and Macs are the easier, safer, and more reliable option. But if you're a Mac user, you already know about their persistent fulfillment problems, the $129 price tag for all OS X updates, and gradually increasing security concerns. The latest? Apple's planning to release a new iMac, but it won't be available until September--well after Apple stores run out of the current model. Maybe it's actually time to think... [MacDailyNews]

"Apple's cinema displays have always made Macintosh fans (and indeed most people with eyes) go weak at the knees. This time, though, they've excelled themselves with a new 30" display that is truly beautiful," Fraser Lovatt writes for Digital-Lifestyles.Info in a piece headlined, "Apple 30-inch Cinema Display Possibly Single Most Desirable Piece of Technology on Planet.""You could conceivably plug it into a PC, but that's just wrong and you know it. At... [MacDailyNews]

Microsoft tries their hand at peripherale couture with a new mouse designed by industrial designer Philippe Starck, reminiscent of the hemispheres of a brain, they say. To me, it recalls the smooth contours and glowing comfort of ... the mouse. Still, I give Microsoft room to get as fruity as they want -- their mice have been my go-to interface pucks for years.

Microsoft has also added a few new Special Edition finishes to their Wireless Optical and IntelliMouse Explorer lines. Since when is nice product design "performance art," though?
Read - Microsoft and Philippe Starck Unite to Create Performance Art [Microsoft via MacMinute]
Look - Image Gallery: Hardware - Microsoft Mouse Products [Microsoft]

Related
Microsoft's Groovy Special Ed Mice [Gizmodo]

"Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have designed a new system that cleverly blends a video-conference feed with a transparent image of a computer desktop into one full-screen window," Leander Kahney reports for Wired News.

"Called Facetop, the system simultaneously transmits a video feed of users along with a shared, transparent image of the desktop. It allows two colleagues to work on the same document, Web page or graphic, while... [MacDailyNews]

"Apple’s all-in-one eMac desktop computer remains in extremely limited supply this month, as the company attempts to fulfill large education orders and compensate for a blunder that has halted sales of its flagship iMac computer... Several sources note an increase in eMac orders for education following the delay of the revised iMac line," AppleInsider reports.

"Meanwhile, resellers note an ever dwindling supply of 15GB iPods, which Apple appears to be readying for an... [MacDailyNews]

"The more than 50 percent rise in Apple Computer Inc.'s stock price this year has mirrored the brisk sales of its market-leading iPod digital music player and growth at its retail stores," Duncan Martell reports for Reuters. "In the view of some analysts, the share price's ascent also reflects a transformation in the way investors are willing to value the Cupertino, California-based company, innovator of the first operating system to make personal computers friendly to... [MacDailyNews]

The Dashboarder is a new site dedicated to Dashboard gadgets. The currently available gadgets at the site will work in Panther's version of Safari. [MacMegasite]

Sony Corp.'s new hard disk-based Walkman is the product with the biggest brand recognition that Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod has had to face since its introduction. But it's not the Walkman's 25-year history that bothers Apple executives, it's Sony's marketing message. When Sony released the 20GB Walkman they claimed to have trumped Apple with the number of songs that their device could hold -- 13,000 compared to the iPod's 10,000 -- even thought the total capacity was half of the iPod's. That message is misleading to consumers, according to Apple. [MacCentral]

NewTen is now providing Newton connectivity for Mac OS X with a product that lets you install packages on a Newton MessagePad from OS X over a serial connection, without having to use any Classic applications, reports Cult of Mac... [MacMinute]

Unlock the potential built into your Mac's OEM, onboard ATI graphics [Insanely Great Mac]

In a press release issued yesterday, Adobe announced that Hearst Magazines, one of the world's largest magazine publishers with 18 U.S. titles and more than 137 international editions, has adopted the Adobe Creative Suite as its standard publishing solution. For Hearst, a color-managed, all-digital internal prepress and publishing workflow based on the Adobe InDesign CS and Adobe PDF has resulted in reduced design and production time, quality enhancements, and substantial cost savings. [MacMerc]

The results of that TiVo survey we offered up a few weeks have coalesced into a new article by Sam Whitmore at Forbes, "What TiVo Teaches Us." The gist of it all is pretty much what we already knew -- TiVo rocks, but is rocky, financially. Whitmore predicts it will be snapped up by some big fish in the near future, which would not be entirely unexpected.

And if you're really a die-hard TiVotee, Whitmore has published a 50-page digest of some of the better survey results on his website, MediaSurvey. If you want to get the scoop on what the fans think, good and bad, that's a juicy bit of data.
Read - What TiVo Teaches Us [Forbes]
Read - TiVo... from the Cutting Room Floor [MediaSurvey]

Related
TiVo Users Survey [Gizmodo]

Speakers have been announced for the first conference sponsored by the Worldwide Newton Association, which was founded in April of this year with the goal of providing "Newton users around the world with regular news about the Newton community" and to "organize international events, meetings, symposiums and conferences dedicated to the Newton."... [MacMinute]

ROCK ON!!! I just got my registration info today too!!! Who's goin with me?

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The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) on Wednesday announced that registration has opened for its PhotoshopWorld Conference & Expo event, coming to Orlando, Fla. from September 1 - 3, 2004. The show is held on both East and West Coasts and was last held in San Francisco, Calif. in March. The event features 60 classroom sessions led by industry experts like Scott Kelby, Terry White, Deke McClelland and many others. More than 60 exhibiting companies provide training and information about their latest hardware, software, cameras, printers, workstation, training materials and more. Admission costs US$499 before July 30, 2004, $599 after. NAPP members can save $100 on registration. More details are available online. [MacCentral]

OMG! Will somebody PLEASE just start slapping these so called "analysts". They are borderline insane.

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"Analysts say Sony poses the biggest challenge yet to the iPod, although they add that Apple should still be up to the challenge of defending a market that has become a key part of the company's overall success," Benny Evangelista writes for The San Francisco Chronicle.

"'We think this is the year Sony starts breathing down Apple's neck in music,'' said technology analyst Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group. 'Customers who look to the iPod as the only advanced... [MacDailyNews]

Yet another clueless "writer" strikes again...

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"Some lucky music fan will hit the jackpot very soon. The person who downloads the 100 millionth song from Apple Computer's iTunes online music store will win a sleek new laptop, an iPod digital music player and a gift certificate to download a further 10,000 songs," Scott Morrison writes for The Financial Times.

"Generous? Certainly. But no amount of hype is too great for a company that has so much riding on the future of digital entertainment," Morrison writes.... [MacDailyNews]

Apple today announced that iPod mini, the smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs, will be available internationally on July 24. iPod mini offers music lovers the ideal combination of ultra-portable design, style, song capacity, ease-of-use and audio performance.

"The iPod mini has been a smash hit in the US, and we're thrilled to finally be able to offer it to music lovers the world over," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO in the press... [MacDailyNews]

Can someone PLEASE explain to me what has "qualified" these so called "analysts" to be dispensing SHIT for advice to the rest of the world? How long have we been hearing about the "death" of Apple? Has an "analyst" ever actually analyzed anything correctly? I fear not. Note to all analysts out there: STFU!!! Get a real job.

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While a new iMac has been expected for some time, Cupertino-based Apple Computer Inc. surprised many industry watchers when they announced late last week a shortage of iMacs leading the company to suspend order-taking for the product. Apple called the iMac shortage "less than perfect" planning as it waits for the next generation of consumer desktops to hit the market. Industry analysts see the shortage as a significant problem for the company, but one they feel Apple can recover from if the new iMac follows Apple's tradition blockbuster releases. [MacCentral]

Ok, so piracy is definitely a problem and I don't think anyone will argue that. But don't you think that if the greedy corporate sons-of-bitches lowered the prices of their software, more people would be willing to PAY for it? Does Photoshop REALLY have to cost $700? If it were more like $150, I don't think that anyone would hesitate to pay for a legit copy with tech support. Hell, a business might then be able to afford a legal copy for every machine! But until someone gets a grip on reality, people will continue to pirate software. And no matter what measures are put in place, someone will ALWAYS find a way to crack it. That's just da way it is folks...

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In its annual survey released today, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) says that software piracy reached nearly US$29 billion in 2003, notes Reuters... [MacMinute]

It takes the UN to friggin get spam under control? This is insane. Rock On UN! At least somebody thinks it is important enough to pursue. Lord knows our Congressional representatives are clueless...

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The United Nations is aiming to bring a "modern day epidemic" of junk e-mail under control within two years by standardizing legislation to make it easier to prosecute offenders. [eWEEK Technology News]

Oh my God. Today is officially MORON day. I cannot believe the level of stupidity running wild throughout the world today. This is classic...

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A tax first enacted in 1898 to pay for the Spanish-American War might be reinterpreted to apply to Internet phone calls. [CNET News.com]

This is friggin genius. Corporate stupidity never ceases to amaze me. Just what Apple needs. Someone in charge of retail operations that has no clue about the technology industry or what technology users want. This isn't like buying a Polo shirt honey. How much do you want to bet this chick doesn't even own, much less know how to use a Mac? No wonder retail stores around the world are in such disarray. You've got the blind leading the blind....

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Apple Computer, Inc. has hired former Ralph Lauren executive Bridget Ryan Berman as vice president a... [AppleInsider]

IDG, the company behind Macworld and more than 300 other publications, will soon launch iPodworld -- a magazine dedicated to Apple's iPod, iTunes and iTunes Music Store... [MacMinute]

Since there's not a ton of information about the Bluetake BT420s yet, it's hard to make any judgements (or dick jokes), but I support any stereo Bluetooth headsets at this point pretty much no matter what. Oh wait, there's a press release PDF. Let me start over.

Second attempt, this time with real details, after the jump.

Finjan's Sears added: "As a result, it is purely a question of luck as to whether you or your competitor is hit in this interim period."

Ummmm - NO. WRONG people. It isn't a matter of luck. IT is a matter of STUPIDITY. If you want to all but eliminate the threat of a virus taking down your entire infrastructure, the answer is simple. BUY A MAC.

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Majority of European businesses are bracing themselves for a barrage of viruses. Few believe they can weather the storm. [CNET News.com]

Gimme a break. How about just holding PARENTS accountable for once? The kids aren't the ones buying this shit - the parents are! And if the kids do buy it, the PARENTS are the ones who gave them the money!!! So instead lets focus on the companies making legit games for ADULTS? What the fuck is this? Are we living in Russia now? Jesus people - someone STOP THE INSANITY!!! This country is being overrun by MORONS AND ASSHOLES!!!!

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Legislators and activists who want some titles kept out of kids' hands are on the warpath again against the video-game industry. Game makers, however, seem to thumb their noses and amp up the virtual gore. [Wired News]

For the sixth straight year, Apple Computer has taken home another I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review... [The Mac Observer]

"'I'm getting a computer for my daughter. She keeps using mine and messing it up,' he said. Pause. 'But she wants a Mac. And I want to get her a PC,' he continued. Then silence, until I realized he was waiting for my thoughts (he knew I wrote these columns about computers, having for years noticed my constant incoming flood of test software and systems)," Phillip Robinson writes for Knight Ridder News.

"He finished, 'Macs are more expensive, and all she wants to do,... [MacDailyNews]

This is fucking brilliant. Lets also ban pens from the workplace. They ARE aware that pens now come with little USB drives in them right? What asshat moron of an analyst wrote this article? Oh yeah, it was the super MSFT sack lickers at Gartner. Carry on people...'nuff said.

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"Companies should consider banning portable storage devices such as Apple's iPod from corporate networks as they can be used to introduce malware or steal corporate data, according to an analyst. Small portable storage products can bypass perimeter defences like firewalls and antivirus at the mailserver, and introduce malware such as Trojans or viruses onto company networks, claimed analyst Gartner in a report issued this week. Analysts have warned for some time of the dangers of... [MacDailyNews]

This is what happens when we have people in Congress that were alive before television was invented. It is time we retire these old hags and save the planet from these morons. We need fresh, new YOUNG, blood in Congress that will lead the way into the new millennium.

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USA Today reports that if the proposed Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act in the Senate goes through, it could affect Apple in a significant way, as well as other firms whose business involves digital content... [MacMinute]

dincTYPE let us know that they are offering a set of three of their best typefaces for free today only... [MacMinute]

More on the Konfabulator “controversy”.

"Hackers sent a chill across the Web last week when they engineered a way to take over Microsoft-designed Web servers [IIS] to spread a virus onto Windows PCs. The virus was planted on Windows computers when they visited Web sites that had been attacked. Macintosh computers were not affected...," Al Fasoldt reports for The Syracuse Post-Standard.

"The breach in IIS security is considered extremely grave, considering the way hackers forced the IIS systems to become... [MacDailyNews]

"With the announcement that it is providing 1,566 servers to an Army supercomputer project, Apple Computer Inc. is making a move into the high-performance computing market that may open new doors for the company," Michael Hardy writes for Federal Computer Week.

"Historically strong in the consumer and business markets, Apple has not previously had much of a presence in the server market, especially not in high-performance clusters, according to analysts. But that may... [MacDailyNews]

"Apple is positioning the Mac client platform -- primarily OS X running on PowerBooks -- as a one-stop productivity and connectivity environment. I can sum up the impact of the Mac client platform on my daily work in one sentence: I no longer jump between my notebook and my desktop. Even when I was a devotee of Windows, I was never able to turn a Windows notebook into my primary living quarters. If I never wrote a line of code or edited one frame of video, I’d still appreciate the... [MacDailyNews]

After closing its only official subsidiary in 2001 following the country\'s economic turmoil, Apple ... [AppleInsider]

UCLA's Plasma Physics Group recently purchased some 256 Xserve G5s and is in the process of building a Virginia Tech-style parallel super computing cluster. The cluster will employ 256 Dual G5 Xserves running Mac OS X Server to form a 512=processor parallel supercomputing cluster. The cluster is being deployed for Plasma Physicist Warren Mori... [Think Secret]

Probably this is something that every Mac owner learns in kindergarten, but just in case someone else got through school without it, here it is:

I had a Toast image (with the file extension .toast) that 10.3 Disk Utility wou... [Mac OS X Hints]

What a total waste of a great TV network. Way to go corporate greedy assholes of America. Great....just fucking great....Cancel my Tech TV.

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Patrick Norton will be leaving The Screen Savers after July 2nd. I must congratulate him on the choice of using his common sense unlike some former TechTV hosts looking to make a name of themselves. (Leo excluded for obvious reasons). I hope they can live with themselves. More soon.

Source: Warlock Radio Newsbytes

Dave posted a comment, so I had to google. Well this sements it for me, I am glad I am no longer paying for G4TechTV. But I agree with this source, I think he has done the right thing. At least when Leo was there Patrick had someone to relate to. What a shameful end to such a great tech show.

We need a good tech channel.

Night vision goggled employee busts pirate. A 16-year-old boy was caught early Wednesday using a camcorder to record the first showing of "Spider-Man 2" at a Los Angeles theater, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has announced. The announcement comes a month after movie theater.. [Broadbandreports]

iPartition can resize existing disk partitions or repartition a disk without reformatting or destroying data. [MacInTouch]

Apple expects to introduce next generation iMac in September, according to the company's website. Th... [MacNN]

With the unveiling of Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) at this week's Apple Worldwide Developer Conference, the company "showed the world how to make computers more usable and appealing," Peter Burrows writes in the "Byte of the Apple" column for BusinessWeek Online... [MacMinute]