::: bisonium.com :::

Todays latest installment of Bank of America stupidity comes from an "analyst" (gotta love those titles) doing a regular review. Hmmm. Ok. Said analyst calls from an unknown number asking me creepy questions about my business account. After asking him who the hell he was and verifying it was in fact BofA, I asked "am I late?", no. Thank you for your last payment. I ask "have I EVER been late?" No. Then "WTF in holy hell are you calling me about?" Oh, we are just making sure you were doing ok and didn't need any "assistance". Oh, you mean the kind where if I say yes you cut off my card and ask for a full balance due immediately? Yeah, no thanks.

So I in turn ask them to lower my rate based on my outstanding payment and credit history. I get transferred to yet another "analyst" who then tells me that I haven't paid off the balance fast enough for their liking. Now wait a minute here. You make money the longer I keep the balance going right? Yes. Now you want me to pay it off faster? Yes. Hmmm. Ok genius. If you lower the interest, and it cuts my payment in half, yet I continue to pay you the same amount, you get your money faster. Make sense there Ms. Smarty Pants "analyst?" Yes, but you have to pay down more before we can lower your rate. Hmmm. I see. Makes perfect sense. Did I mention I have banked here over 20 years with a flawless history? Have you seen the balances in my account? Yes, they are outstanding. Hmmm. ok.

I'll be promptly paying off that balance today and finally closing my account with you bastards. Now go "F" Off. Thank you. I HATE BANK OF AMERICA. Apparently so do many other people...

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have had a long-time beef with Verizon (for reasons I won't go into here) and here is yet one more story that gives me reason not to ever even consider the thought of using them.  For those of you who have ever been to some kind of Photoshop conference (especially the NAPP ones), you most certainly probably know who Ben Willmore is.  Over the past year, Ben had decided to sell his home and live aboard a motor-home full-time.  Ben has been blogging his travels and experiences throughout the entire process and it's been fun to watch where he is going and what he's doing.  I can't help but feel green with envy at him being able to do something so cool! :-)

In any case, in these days we all need to be connected and Ben is no exception.  Ben decided to get his broadband fix by using Verizon's EVDO broadband service.  So apparently "unlimited" access is not really "unlimited" in today's corporate contracts or advertising.  This is actually not unusual, but it doesn't make it right.  Corporate America is fast and furious to take your money and hold you to ridiculous contracts when it is in their favor, but lord help you if you try to actually use the service you are paying for in any kind of "unlimited" capacity.

"I've been using a Verizon EVDO card since I started living on the bus. It seems that they don't like people who actually need to use the net for their daily business life. I just received notice that they will cut off service for my card starting on 9/6/2006 because I used 10 Gigabytes of bandwidth over the last 30 days. I guess they have no idea that some people actually have to upload/download high resolution photography and do business on the net. I guess getting the satellite dish has become a major priority right now."

This is just WRONG.  It's time that the public began to hold these corporations to their advertising.  If you don't really mean UNLIMITED, then dammit, DO NOT say it is and then cry wolf when someone attempts to actually use it for business.  If you are going to cut someone off, at least have the common courtesy to give them a warning before just canceling their contract.  So the funny thing is that I am sure there are many of you out there that signed up for that EVDO service with "unlimited" data, yet for some reason need to or want to cancel, but are afraid to get hit with the penalties for doing so.  Why not give Verizon a taste of their own medicine and start jamming that pipe?  ;-)  Now I am not advocating violating the terms of your service agreement, but surely they can't prevent you from say...uploading content via FTP to your server, or some other creative use of mega-sized files that need to be sent somewhere right?  Let Verizon cancel you and you just got out of your contract.  They like games?  Just play them right back people.

You can check out the rest of the story on Ben's site and while you are at it, go ahead and subscribe to his feed!  Let him know bisonium.com sent ya and you support him in the fight for what's right.

Technorati Tags: Clueless, EVDO, Mobility, Peripherals, Stupidity, Verizon, Wireless

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Technorati Tags: Automobiles, Comedy, Video

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes folks, the good-ol white-hood wearing boys in Missouri are still alive and well. What kind of country is it where we live in a place in which fire-fighters will let someone's home / property burn while the owner pleas with them and even offers them money to help him put out the fire? Last time I checked, as a public servant, your primary duty is to protect and serve right? It just so happens to be that this poor soul who's home was on fire was a hispanic fellow you see. The AP story won't tell you flat out, but it just seems awful clear that this is a case of "yer kind don't belong here boy". The fire fighters claim that this person did not pay his membership dues and as such, was not entitled to fire-fighting "protection."

I hate to play that race card, but this kind of shit really burns me a new one. There is absolutely no excuse for something like this to happen in today's day and age. This is just dumb-ass hillbilly back-woods stupidity. There just isn't a polite way to put it. It sure would be a shame if that hispanic fella happened to be a doctor while one of those firefighters was fighting for his own life in the ER. I bet ya things would play out a little different if that firefighter hadn't paid his insurance that month huh? What ever happened to human decency and just plain old doing the right thing in America?

Technorati Tags: Ethics, Raciscm, Stupidity

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Things have been a bit hectic around these parts lately, so I apologize for the lack of fresh content every day.  Don't forget to check out my posts on Gearlive.com and the I4U Network.  I am spending most of my time blogging over there lately. 

So back to the point here.  I get these feeds from Simply Hired coming into my RSS News Aggregator, just to see what's happening out there and what people are looking for in my field.  I happened to stumble across this job posting and I just had to ask, are people really this stupid?  Just look at the job description:

DAVIS / FAIRFIELD Apple Expert: MUST BE NEARBY Reply to: job-132969328@craigslist.org Date: 2006-02-11, 11:32AM PST

Work Part or Full Time. Word for Apple OS X Needed. Ongoing technical support is part time. Days and or evenings according to your schedule. If you prefer full time, most of your days will be researching diverse electronic products online, and communicating with engineers plus manufacturers of conusmer related electronics.

YOU MUST BE IN OR WEST OF DAVIS.

Sample Issues Needing Your Help:

1) State of windows. When a document is opened in word, he would like it to be placed in a certain location every time and the window to be maximized. Upon reopening, the files often ignore the size it was last saved in.

2) Default Zoom. When a document is opened, he would like the zoom to always be 125%.

3) When pasting from Word to Apple's Mail program, formatting is not always as expected.

4) When using file save as to make a change in the name of the document, the newly created file rarely will go into the correct folder.

Please email me if you can solve these problems. Thank You.

Now did you catch that?  Am I really reading this?  The level of stupidity when it comes to people posting jobs these days is astounding.  The best ones are those that want the skill-set of 3 high-level professional people and also want you to be the manager and end up offering $30,000 a year to do it.  A perfect example of this practice can be found here.  The interesting question there is WHO (if anyone) actually responds to these ads.  Stupidity seems to be taking over the world, and most of the idiots appear to be in management.  Go figure.  For those of you managers with a brain and some common sense, I applaud you.  Consider yourselves a rare breed.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The morons in charge of the federal government  have yet again fallen victim to the brain flatulance that impedes progress in this great nation of ours.  As if it isn't already difficult enough to find a good job and make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd, the federal government has just added some additional barriers to helping you find a job.

New federal guidelines meant to standardize how employers track data on the diversity of their job-applicant pool are taking effect starting today for jobs at federal contractors -- and similar rules will kick in later this year at U.S. companies with more than 50 employees. And resumes and search approaches that worked perfectly well before may no longer do the trick.

Continue reading "Looking for a job by using the net? Read this..." »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yet another addition to the idiots that are the reason we have so many problems in the USA.  Litigation happy attorneys and morons who file this kind of lawsuit should themselves be thrown in jail for wasting tax dollars on foolish things like this.

So this idiot files a law because Apple doesn't adorn their product with warning labels that playing your iPod too loud is bad for your hearing.  Does any normal competent adult actually need to be told this?  Like everyting else in this society, people just refuse to accept any responsibility for their own actions and expect others to pay for their stupidity.  So wait, I guess I should go sue the US Navy for exposing me to all the jet noise for the years I served in the Navy huh?  Or wait, maybe I should sue the National Guard because firing my weapon made too much noise and scared me.  Come on people....when are we going to say enough is enough and just slap these morons silly and be done with it?  The full story is after the jump...

Continue reading "Apple sued over hearing loss in iPod buyers" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jon Maddox gives us an update on Henrico County's woes after switching to Dell and dumping their iBooks.  All I have to say is: I'm GLAD it is happening to them.  SUCKS TO BE HENRICO.  Now FIRE every idiot that was involved in the decision making process to go all Dell.  There's nothing better than watching your tax dollars being thrown in the garbage I tell you...

After a much publicized move from Apple iBooks to Dell Laptops, it looks the Henrico county school system isn't having much fun with the Dells.

This is what I've heard from a buddy of mine that works hand in hand with the computers.

About 100 dells are reimaged each week in henrico and after 5 months, the Dells have the same amount of laptops being sent in for repairs as we did once the iBooks turned 4 years old.

Wow, well no one saw that coming. Duh. We all know that Dell laptops are made very very "cost effectivly" and couldn't last one year under the stress of high school students. Especially when they know they aren't theirs. Thats one of the reasons Negroponte wants the $100 laptop to be owned by its users, so they last longer.

And like Gruber said "PCs typically cost less than Macs because they're pieces of crap, not because Intel CPUs are less expensive than IBM's or Freescale's."

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey there blogsphere and friends,

It's been a few days since my last post, things here have been utterly insane.  In addition to running my business, I decided to accept an offer of employment that was too good to turn down.  So back to working 2 jobs I go!  It's all good though, I am learning more each day and I work with some absolutely great people.

But the real story behind this post is that the main reason I haven't been able to post much is because Bellsouth has completely screwed my DSL service and they have no clue what to do about it.  Yeah, you read right...Bellsouth doesn't have a clue.  Surprise surprise. 

The nightmare begins after the jump....

Continue reading "Eradicating Bellsouth Services...by a pissed off blogger" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please, please please....SOMEONE tell me that this is a BAD joke.  This DEMOCRAT did NOT just say that we Americans must just "learn to deal with it" when it comes to losing our jobs to overseas companies in the name of CORPORATE GREED.  I would expect this from a Republican.  Did someone actually vote this idiot into office?  So now that we must deal with being unemployed because we actually want to be able to afford a home and feed out children, where is this training, education and tax incentive he is talking about?  What about those people who are out of work NOW because of this?  Don't those tax paying AMERICANS have a right to work and not live in fear that their job will be outsourced? 

"Critics in the West say outsourcing puts skilled people out of work just so big companies can save money. But supporters argue that it actually creates jobs by helping companies grow faster. "

Are you seriously kidding me?  So now that these companies have "grown faster", where are the jobs?  Are we supposed to believe that those put out of work by outsourcing were re-hired into better positions?  Who the hell are we kidding here?

This is the most classic example of why each and every American on this planet needs to get out and VOTE.  If we only let the rich and corrupt have a vote in society, you have no right to bitch and complain about losing your job.

Senator calls outsourcing of white-collar jobs a fact of life:

Sen. Max Baucus, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, said Friday that outsourcing white-collar jobs to low-wage countries such as India has become a global fact of life -- and that America must learn to live with it.

Read the rest after the jump...

Continue reading "Senator calls outsourcing of white-collar jobs a fact of life" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here we go again with more legal stupidity.  So let me get this straight...now WE are supposed to HELP the studios preserve evidence of something that has never happened, so that THEY can win a case against us?  Lately, this country has become a land of "GUILTY until proven innocent".  It seems that only large organizations and corporations with huge money, legal teams, and political influence get any "justice".  Something is just fundamentally WRONG here.  You know it's getting really bad when there is now a TV show on ABC, In Justice,  based on this very concept.  The show is VERY good by the way, the pilot was excellent last night.  It's just a shame that there are actually innocent people in prison because the very system that is supposed to protect them, and give them life and liberty, has FAILED them.  Does the constitution even exist anymore?  As of lately, it just seems that anyone from the President on down can make (or break) the law as they please.

[ via Tech Republic ]

| Police blotter: Alleged eDonkey pirate gets trial | Latest Technology News from TechRepublic.com:

"Police blotter" is a weekly report on the intersection of technology and the law.

What: A Philadelphia man with a cable modem is sued by Paramount Pictures for alleged copyright infringement of a movie through the eDonkey file-sharing network.

When: U.S. District Judge Thomas O'Neill in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled on Dec. 2.

Outcome: O'Neill denied each side's requests for summary judgment, clearing the way for an eventual civil trial.

Summary: Paramount detected a copy of its Jim Carrey movie "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" on the eDonkey network on Dec. 23, 2004. That was a week after it was released in theaters.

More after the jump...

Continue reading "Alleged eDonkey pirate gets trial" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today's "idiot's in authority" post comes from Akron, OH.  Yes folks, these people are actually charging this young whipper-snapper with a FELONY for allegedly creating a website that linked to his school, and directing people to hit the F5 button.  For those of you Mac heads here, F5 on a PC is the refresh button on the browser.  Wow, I never knew refreshing a browser would cause catastrophic harm to a schools computer system!  Gimme a break.  What morons.  This is the problem with judges, law enforcement, and other idiots in authority that don't know anything about technology.  This is just as bad as what happened to Kevin Mitnick.  Due to these people's lack of understanding of technology and how systems work, they are wrongfully prosecuting someone for what amounts to the same as TP'ing someone's house on Halloween.  This isn't exactly the equivalent of launching a DOS attack folks.  All this can do is bring the web server to a crawl.  And I got news for ya, if the school's entire system is tied in to the web server and they don't have a separate pipe for that server, then the moron that should be prosecuted is the "IT guy" for the school or district.

[ via Digg ]

Student arrested for deadly F5 attack:

Lake County High school senior has been charged for linking to his school website (http://lake.stark.k12.oh.us/hs) and telling people to hit F5 multiple times, No word about survivors.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a few months old, but pretty insane, so why not post it right?  In what has to be one of the most grand examples of why there should be stricter birth control in the world, this idiot takes the cake, errrrr, should I say the donughts....

[ via Ch. 6 News - Orlando, FL ]

Man Caught On Tape Sprinkling Fecal Matter On Pastries

A cab driver in Dallas, Texas, was allegedly caught on surveillance video sprinkling dried fecal matter on cookies and pastries at a grocery store.

Behrouz Nahidmobarekeh, 49, is on trial for allegedly throwing the feces on pastries at a Fiesta grocery store.  Police said that during an investigation, they found a pile of human feces by his bed. Investigators believe Nahidmobarekeh would dry the feces, either by microwave or just letting it sit out, grate it up with a cheese grater and then sprinkle it at the store.

"(We are) unable to identify him; just a young boy, maybe 3 years old, on the surveillance tape you can see him eating one of the cookies and that's the worst part about it ,I think."

Attorneys in the case were unclear about a motive in the case. Prosecutors will show a surveillance videotape of the defendant, which shows him sprinkling a substance on the food. The FBI arrested Nahidmobarekeh but turned the case over to local prosecutors after they determined it was not a national security issue.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

[ via Leftlane News ]

In the category of idiotic beyond belief, the Seattle po po has surpassed how low a cop can stoop to get a ticket...

State trooper poses as panhandler to ticket drivers

Seattle police were busy serving and protecting this weekend by posing as the homeless in an effort to catch motorists not wearing their seat-belts. On Saturday, a trooper stood on a street corner in Spanaway, Pierce County, and helped bust 30 people for not wearing their seat belts. The trooper, wearing plain clothes and a cardboard sign around his neck that read “Happy Holidays Buckle Up,” was able to keep a close eye on passing traffic. Some motorists, seeing a man on the roadside wearing a sign, offered him money, apparently figuring he was a panhandler, the State Patrol said. The trooper refused the money and issued tickets to drivers who hadn’t buckled up. John Strait, a law professor at Seattle University, said while he didn’t think the tactic was a violation of privacy rights, but he aptly pointed out that the operation “sounds tacky.” “I’m not sure it’s great public policy,” he said. [Via The Newspaper]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For you 24 fans, no this is not the CTU you are thinking of.  This is Colorado Technical University's online program.  I have been considering furthering my education and getting an advanced degree and found this program, which so far looks pretty decent.  All was going well on the phone interview until I asked the million dollar question: "Does your curriculum work on a Mac?"  All I heard was silence.  After consulting with the manager, the answer was NO.  You must use an IBM I was told.  Interesting.  I didn't realize IBM was an operating system.

So let me ask you this my blogsphere friends...don't you think that an online university should be able to not only be platform agnostic and work across the board on Mac, Linux and Windows, but also not be tied to one vendor and the limitations of proprietary software in an education environment?  Common sense would dictate that they use open source technologies and teach fundamental principals rather than specific vendor platforms (unless that is the course, like an MCSE certification or something).

This was quite an eye opener for me.  Could Microsoft have bought their way into the school by providing "incentives" to the school?  Or was it simply an oversight from an IT manager without the foresight to think that there might be some potential students out there that have not necessarily drank the Microsoft Kool-Aid, and actually own a Mac or Linux box?

If you have done the online university thing, what school did you use?  Anyone have a solid recommendation for an online school with a solid name and IT program?  Chime in via the comments link.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

OMG...I think I am going to lose control of my bladder!  This has to be one of the funniest letters I have ever seen.  I can just imagine the executives reading this letter.  This is one you don't want to miss...make sure to click on the link at the bottom.

[ via Jeff Nolan ]

Complaint from seat 29E:

I had tears reading this letter to Continental Airlines. Anyone who has ever sat in a seat in close proximity to the airplane lav knows exactly what this guy is talking about. What the hell is it about people not being conscious of the fact that their ass is in somebody's face when standing around in the aisle? This would be a good time to review my 20 simple rules for air travel.

Link via RealTechNews: Complaint from seat 29E.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is one of those things that has been pissing me off for quite some time.  What the hell is the problem with these idiots that make their show 1:01:00?  It completely screws up the Tivo and causes you to potentially miss a show if you don't catch the goof.  Glad to see Tivo fighting back!

[ via Gizmodo ]

TiVo Now Prevents Overlaps:

TiVo's 7.2.1 software update will now include overlap protection, which will prevent you from missing the beginning of a show if it overlaps with another, less important, show in your schedule. Big deal? Kind of. This essentially solves the problem of TV programmers tacking on an extra minute or so to foil PVRs and piss off TiVo owners.

The system rates the shows by importance and stops recording the "less important" shows when more important shows start. Works on Series 2 TiVos.

Update: The overlap protection gets a nice dissection at Zatz Not Funny...

TiVo Adds Overlap Protection [PVRBlog]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yet another reason why buying a Dell is just plain wrong.  How's this for misleading advertising?  Oh - by the way folks....when you order a Macintosh and it says Free Shipping, that means it gets delivered to your DOOR!  ;-)

[ via Techdirt ]

Dell Says Meet Me Half Way On Free Shipping:

I bought my first Dell computer in 1993.  Over the next eight years, between myself and my family, we ended up buying 7 computers from Dell.  In 2000, I swore off Dells after they refused to fix a 3-month old laptop whose screen stopped working (and, yes, I had the extended warranty thing).  Even though Techdirt was going strong at the time, I didn't vent my frustrations here at the time, as it didn't seem right.  However, over time, apparently, it's become quite acceptable to vent your frustrations on blogs, and Dell has been a leading recipient of it in the last year with the "Jeff Jarvis complaint."  That one incident has received so much press that it appears Dell is finally trying to change how they handle service, admitting, basically, that they can't afford to service cheap computers, so they have special phone queues for more expensive machines.  Of course, the "more expensive" part was what many of thought we were buying when we bought the extended warranties.  However, Dell's new plans to cut costs apparently go even further.  The latest plan is to "redefine free shipping" on their cheaper models.  Instead of shipping them all the way to your house, they will only ship the machine to your local Post Office and make you go and get it.  Considering the size of many computer boxes these days, that can be quite a pain.  Instead, they'll end up having a lot of people pay "extra" for home delivery -- while still being able to advertise "free delivery."  It's fine if they want to charge people for delivery.  It's an expense and there's nothing wrong with that.  But, to claim free delivery certainly implies free "home" delivery, so this certainly seems like somewhat misleading advertising.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These are the types of "hackers" that should be terminated with extreme prejudice.  Is there anything sacred in this world?  It is absolutely amazing to think that there are scumbags on this planet that can be this stupid.  Just one more reason to have a Mac....you don't have to worry about these lower than life maggots.

[ via InformationWeek ]

Katrina Scammers Try To Infect PCs, Steal IDs:

Watch out for malicious Web sites posing as news sites, often advertised through spam.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is yet another example of corporate America (and apparently China) gone wrong.  There is nobody to blame but the corporate greed mongers and idiotic state legislators that allow such ludicrous demands to be met.  Someone explain to me why the taxpayers have to pay to fund courses in Chinese?  Don't they make enough from the students which PAY to go to school?  And lets not even get into Dell, which paved the way for these ludicrous demands.  The solution to this problem is simple.  You want to hold a state hostage?  Go somewhere else.  The trick is making sure that no other state agrees to give in to a corporate entities demands.  There aren't exactly a whole lot of places where you can put a high-tech factory.

[ via The Register ]

China's Lenovo wants North Carolina to pay to keep jobs - report | Channel Register:

Chinese PC maker Lenovo wants to empty the pocketbooks of North Carolina taxpayers and pump their minds full of Asian culture, if the state hopes to keep the company's business.

The Herald-Sun has obtained documents showing that Lenovo expects up to a $14m incentive package to maintain its 1,800 strong workforce in the Research Triangle Park hi-tech area located near Durham. The company, which acquired IBM's PC business in May, appears set to play different states off each other as it decides where to build a new facility. Along with the incentives package, Lenovo requested that North Carolina subsidize courses in Chinese at local universities and create joint programs with schools in China, according to the paper.

Continue reading "China's Lenovo wants North Carolina to pay to keep jobs" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More news on the Cobb County homefront. As of Tuesday evening, Superintendent Redden has resigned.  This is just frickin unacceptable.  I am saddened to see that one of the few people who "got it" has been ousted by a bunch of idiots that couldn't see beyond their petty politics to do what was in the best interest for the kids.  Thinking Different was obviously beyond the scope of these people.  Chief Redden, a former Air Force General was grossly overqualified for the position, and that is now obvious.  Chief Redden....hold your head up high and march on.  You've still won the respect of many others and will do well in another district.  Although, why you would want to deal with the crap is beyond me.  Enjoy your retirement and thanks for your service to our great nation.

For the full story via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, click here.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And now an update on the continuing laptop saga in Cobb County, GA.  It is becoming more and more apparent that this entire mess is nothing more than a feeble attempt at railroading the current Superintendent of Cobb's school district.  This poor guy is getting hammered by people, NOT because of the laptop program, but because he spoke too soon about the planned magnitude of the program.  Forget about the fact that Cobb was going to roll out the school in a handful of pilot schools and evaluating the results before gradually proceeding with additional schools.  This was simply a pissed off former county commissioner on a witch hunt.

The real shame here is that they have hurt the very students these "parents" are claiming they want to help.  To emphasize the level of stupidity within this district, here is a comment from an East Cobb mother:

East Cobb mother Susan Halpert, who was flabbergasted at the laptop program's cost, would like to see attention get back to simpler needs in the schools. The boys' bathroom at Walton High School, one of Cobb's finest, often has no hand soap, Halpert said.
"Before there are laptops given out to everyone," she said, "I'd like for there to be soap in the bathrooms."

So lets summarize that real quick...this parent would rather have SOAP in the bathroom, than to have a laptop for their child to help bring their education into the 21st century.  Hey lady...have you ever heard of those waterless liquid soap bottles that you can drop in your kids backpack?  What an idiot.  That pretty much summarizes the general public residing in Cobb County, GA.  Amazing.  Absolutely amazing.

For more on the full story, follow the link to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bad political moves may have crashed laptop plan | ajc.com:

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ahhhh...the stupidity tirade continues full force. This one is pretty interesting as it seems to be legit. The problem I am having is....how does a foreign national have the right to file a patent (or anything for that matter) in the United States? I am no attorney and totally ignorant to patent and trademark law, but it just seems silly that we let any idiot around the world file for anything here in the US. Does this mean I can go to Hong Kong and file for a patent over there? I say give him a nickel and tell him to have a coke and a smile and shut the fuck up!

For the full scoop on continuous stupidity, follow the link to AppleInsider:

AppleInsider | Apple, Sony among those named in new DRM lawsuit:

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I think the main theme of my blog should be changed to Stupidity. There just seems to be an overwhelming proliferation of stupidity in our country. The latest addition to our collection stems from none other than the leader of all morons in this country, our very own President.

For those of you who aren't aware, ICANN has proposed creating a new top level domain (.xxx) which would be used for, you guessed it...porn. It is a way for the internet community to differentiate adult pornographic sites from commercial domains, which in turn would hopefully make it a little easier to block and filter porn at all levels in any organization. Overall, a pretty good thing you would think right?

Well, it seems that the Bush Administration is pressuring ICANN to put a halt on creating this new TLD. The genius bible thumpers of America somehow concluded that creating this TLD would lead to a "flood of porn in our homes." Are these people that stupid? Apparently the answer is a resounding yes. Having lived right smack in the middle of the bible belt in a conservative republican town (Jacksonville, FL) for 4 years, I can tell you that these folks and this mentality is out there in full force. They are usually techno-phobes and have no clue about technology or what is good for the industry, yet they are the very decision makers passing judgement and legislation. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Follow the link below to Search Engine Journal for the more on this story...

Search Engine Journal » BushAdmin Asks For Hold On Porn .XXX Domains:

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In following yet another recurring theme (Stupidity), this one ranks among the all-time high. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Cobb County, GA apparently thinks that the school system "deceived" them when they tried to actually do something cutting edge and worthwhile for their students. Check out the story for the full scoop. Hey Cobb County, enjoy your PC boxes. Hope you actually get more than 5 days use on them after dealing with the viruses and spyware you'll have to clean up after.

Mental Note: Never move to Cobb (Snob) County, GA. General population polluted by extreme-morons.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It seems that all I am posting about lately is the stupidity of people and large organizations, like our government for example. I just read on CNET that the US Copyright Office is soliciting feedback on whether they should create an "IE Only" website for registering your copyrights. This is absolutely the most idiotic thing I have seen yet. As a tax paying citizen of the United States, I should not be forced to use ANY particular platform in order to access what I am entitled to by law. What about those who choose not to contribute to a monopolistic anti-competitive and convicted antitrust violating company like Microsoft? America is about freedom of choice, yet I am being forced to use a Microsoft product in order to do what should be available to EVERYONE? What the hell is that? To add insult to injury, there is no electronic means of voicing your feedback to the government. Is it so damn hard to create an electronic form? And how about using plain english? Does everything have to look like a damn legal document to get anything done? You have to jump through all sorts of hoops and hurdles just to get your voice heard. Yeah, I feel like they really care and want to hear my opinion. NOT.

This kind of stupidity makes me sick to my stomach. It further confirms the incompetence of the so called "professionals" that run the IT organizations within our government. They clearly know nothing about Open Standards and how to code to compliance so that EVERYONE can have equal access via products that are both commercial and FREE like Mozilla based browsers. There is an overabundance of inept, lazy and just plain BAD programmers within our government, I have worked with them firsthand, and it is sad. It is mind-boggeling how some of these people are able to get jobs in IT, much less call themselves "professionals" in the trade. Yet this is what our tax dollars are going towards.

The majority of this snafu is a result of Siebel's incompetence and inability to write proper code themselves. Apparently Siebel is being quite selective in what browsers they will support, and is it a surprise Apple's Safari is NOT one of them? Don't we as tax payers deserve a voice in this? I think so. I would urge you to write your congressman and voice your opinion about the stupidity of IT in our government today. Stand up for your rights and don't let the clueless dictate how we should be able to communicate within our government!

[ Update ]

Looks like a lot of folks have found out about this and are up in arms. Check out the slashdot trail of comments.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A while back ago I posted about a guy who got pretty creative by outfitting his apartment with nothing but furniture created out of FedEx boxes. Well, it seems that FedEx didn't like that too much and sent him some cease & desist letters going as far as citing that his website violated the DMCA and that he violated copyright law by attempting to make money from his site (which he wasn't trying to do). FedEx lawyers claimed that because the website was registered with the .com (commercial) top level domain, it was being used for business. What idiots does FedEx have working in their legal department? This stupidity combined with recent shipping disasters via FedEx have solidified that I will no longer ship via FedEx. UPS has my business from here on out. Besides, UPS is racing the TRUCK! :-)

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One thing that really irritates me is to see how some of our local community "leaders" can't seem to take responsibility for their own actions (or lack thereof). Case in point: Kutztown, PA. To make a long story short, due to a lack of common sense and simple security precautions, what is intended to be a cutting edge 1:1 laptop program in this school, gets turned into a witch hunt because the administration and technology leaders were outsmarted by a bunch of kids.

The solution here is to properly discipline and educate the kids on what it means to have this privilege. If the rules are broken, the maximum penalty should be the loss of the priviledge. This program was never intended to have the students come out of this with a criminal record. What kind of an idiot administrator resorts to this type of punishment? If you ask me, the real issue and case here is the lack of competence of the staff at this school. This is certainly not a case where the punishment fits the crime. It is an outrage that as a parent, I would not take sitting down. To be perfectly honest, I can't understand why a class-action lawsuit has not been filed against the administration and the parents of the 13 accused teens have not gone after them personally as well.

I would encourage the parents of those 13 accused kids to contact the EFF and inquire as to their rights and if they qualify for their representation.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spammers and scam artists just don't know when to quit. We have all learned to accept that we cannot control the fact that we will get spam and not all of it will make it through the filtering systems we have put in place. It's just something we have to live with for the time being. But to get spammed and scammed by someone posing to offer you a job via a "respected and trusted" career site, is an entirely different animal.

In the latest attempt to lure unsuspecting users into making some cash, a "Russian" company has given a new twist to the good 'ol Nigerian money scam. The email, which comes via CareerBuilder.com, presents you with the opportunity to work for this European based company, that wishes to expand into the US market with their great software product. They speak of their expansion plans and how much potential their product has to be successful. But the poor saps can't seem to get a normal US based bank account to receive payment for their software. Boo Hoo. So the "job" entails you accepting payment for THEIR software, via YOUR bank account. And then of course, you are supposed to make nice and WIRE them CASH via Western Union to the "manager" in Russia.

Are you friggin kidding me? The fact that their grammar is atrocious is one thing. But to insult my intelligence with this stupidity is another thing entirely. They don't even bother to mention what your "pay" will be for providing them the opportunity to sell their product via YOUR bank account, in the USA. Gotta love it.

How something like this gets through the folks at Career Builder is beyond me. Maybe I should seriously reconsider where I am putting my resume these days?

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

[ via Gizmodo ]

Just when exactly will the rest of the world actually do something original and stop copying Apple? This is a friggin disgrace. Geee, does it resemble any other device we have all seen from a certain fruit company?

'Intel mini' Prototype Picture: Code-Named 'Pandora' or 'Paradox':

No sooner do we mention the 'Intel Mini' do pictures show up online of the prototype from AOpen, code-named 'Pandora' or 'Paradox' (there seems to be conflicting information).

Intel Mini Picture [SilentPCReview]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Herald Sun has an interesting article on the future shortage of IT workers due to the decline in Comp. Sci. majors in universities.

"With a critical shortage of Information Technology workers projected in the coming years, it's crucial that university computer science departments do all they can to attract top students to the field, a local IBM official said Tuesday."

These people just don't get it. They wonder why nobody wants to dump tens of thousands of dollars into a so called "education", only to have their jobs outsourced before they can pay off their student loans. This is just typical university and corporate CRAP. What they really want is an over-abundance of IT workers in the field so that they can drive salaries DOWN and retain control.

As an IT professional, I can't imagine why anyone in this country would want a degree in this field. If anything, IT workers should have a degree in a DIFFERENT field so that when their IT jobs get shipped overseas, they have something to fall back on. When the university system and corporate america figure this out, then they will have the answers they are looking for. Changing the curriculum is not going to solve a damn thing. Keeping jobs in AMERICA and taking care of your most valuable assets (your Employees for you morons that can't figure that out) happy, THAT is what is going to attract more workers into the field.

Makes you wonder who the morons running the schools and corporate america are...and more interestingly, how they got there.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kudos to Gizmodo for finding this article. Yet another example of the kind of ludicrous SHIT that we have to put up with from MORONS in management. Best Buy and Comp USA have got to have the worst management in the history of retail. I honestly can't tell you which one of these companies is worse, because they BOTH suck. It amazes me that people this stupid can be walking the face of the earth, much less be employed in a management capacity. Come to think of it...the level of stupidity in corporate America in general is pretty amazing. Lately it seems like you have to be an incompetent idiot to be a manager in any decent sized company. Gotta love it....

Best Buy Has Customer Arrested For Using $2 Bills:

A Baltimore man tried to pay for a Best Buy car stereo installation with $2 bills—and was arrested. Apparently the man was already upset with the Best Buy's service, so thought he'd stage a minor protest by using the uncommon currency:

"I'm just here to pay the bill," Bolesta says he told a cashier. "She looked at the $2 bills and told me, 'I don't have to take these if I don't want to.' I said, 'If you don't, I'm leaving. I've tried to pay my bill twice. You don't want these bills, you can sue me.' So she took the money. Like she's doing me a favor."



He remembers the cashier marking each bill with a pen. Then other store personnel began to gather, a few of them asking, "Are these real?"

(Thanks, C0bra!)

More proof that Best Buy is actually "Worst Buy": Man arrested for paying in $2 bills [Anandtech]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Delta airlines yesterday became the latest US based airline to begin outsourcing its maintenance to another country. That's right folks...the planes you are flying in are being maintained by another country's work-force that is not regulated by the US. How's that make you feel when traveling at 38,000 feet? Delta claims the move will cost as many as 2000 workers their jobs. That's 2000 AMERICAN workers who are highly skilled professionals folks.

Delta isn't the only airline doing this. Delta is joining the ranks of United, Northwest, Alaska Air, and US Airways. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy doesn't it? Last year Delta lost $5 BILLION, and claims that outsourcing its maintenance will save them $240 Million. Does $240 Million sound like a lot in comparison to the $5 Billion they lost? It sure doesn't to me, not when you are talking about uprooting 2000 American families and turning their lives upside down. How about we start trimming the fat with those executive salaries? I bet that topic never comes up in the board room!

Now here is a quote that sums up the intelligence of the management running Delta airlines. Prepare yourself folks, this is a doozie....

"The work in Canada is domestic. Because it's North America, that's part of our domestic operation."

So as Lou Dobbs put it: "A U.S. company exporting work to a foreign country, in this case Canada, saying the work in Canada is domestic. Our quote of the day."

I for one will be cutting up my membership cards to the above mentioned airlines. The day that AMERICAN AIRLINES starts to outsource it's maintenance and other jobs outside of AMERICA is the day I will stop flying commercial airlines entirely. Time to get my pilot ratings current again...that Cirrus SR22 is looking mighty good.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This has got to be one of the worst logo's in history. What in God's earth possessed this "designer" to come up with this concept? Apparently this has gotten so bad, that the website that had posted an article about the company had to take down the page. There is quite a ruckuss about this over at Fark.com.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:08 AM | Permalink

AIM TOS Updated: Looks like iChat is Safe Again:

For previous coverage of this issue, see here and here. AOL updated the wording of their AIM Terms of Service today to eliminate the particularly horribly phrased and potentially abused statements: ”You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Content or to be compensated for any such uses.”

The new TOS (which by the way is still dated Feb. 5, 2004) removes any discussion of AOL owning your private chat conversations, while clarifying that content posted to any public forum may be used by AOL in any way they see fit: ”Once you submit or post Content to any public area on an AIM Product, AOL does not need to give you any further right to inspect or approve uses of such Content or to compensate you for any such uses. AOL owns all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or other derivative work created by AOL using or incorporating Content posted to public areas of AIM Products.”

Much better. Now, please excuse me, while I go set up my new Jabber account to work with Adium...

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So how many of you out there use AOL's AIM service (ie. iChat)? You may want to think twice about what you are writing or sending through iChat from here on out. According to the latest AOL Terms of Service:

"Although you or the owner of the Content retain ownership of all right, title and interest in Content that you post to any AIM Product, AOL owns all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or other derivative work created by AOL using or incorporating this Content. In addition, by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Content or to be compensated for any such uses."

Translation: Anything you send via iChat can be used by AOL. How you like dem Apple's? I am no attorney, but it seems like everyone else is interpreting this the same way. If this IS indeed the case, it might be a good time to start voicing your opinion VERY loudly to AOL and letting Apple know about it wouldn't hurt either. If the right industry giants place enough pressure on AOL, I am quite sure they will change their policy.

You should already be aware of the fact that sending ANYTHING via AIM is NOT secure and can be intercepted pretty easily. Not only that, but AIM conversations can be archived at the click of a button. So be careful what you say and send via iChat!!!

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:05 AM | Permalink

So here's a quick update on my pursuit of a Treo 650. Upon arriving at my house yesterday, there was yet another box from Fedex. Sure enough, a Treo 650. So as it turns out, it is Treo 650 #2 that was shipped incorrectly as an AT&T phone, not Cingular. Has anyone else on the planet had to go through this much trouble to give a company their business?!?! So far total time spent on this is 6.5 hours. Let's see if order #3 gets shipped correctly.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:17 PM | Permalink

Here's a little horror story about my switching carriers from AT&T to Cingular for you. So as many of you know, last Friday I ordered my Treo 650 and decided to switch my service from AT&T to Cingular. For all intents and purposes, you would think this would be a fairly straight forward process. Well guess again. On Friday it took me 1.5 hours on the phone with my AT&T Business rep to get a simple order processed. Although AT&T and Cingular have merged their networks, apparently you need to pick one or the other because if you choose to stay with AT&T, that phone will be locked to the AT&T Network, and won't work on Cingular. Yeah, you heard me. What the hell is that all about? And if you want to get an unlocked phone from PalmOne direct, you can do so for a cool $699. Look man, the phone kicks ass, but not $700 worth of ass.

So after crunching some numbers, the Cingular plan was by far a better choice than anything AT&T had in their list of plans. The real kicker was the Media Works data plan for $19.99 a month. It basically gives you unlimited data on the Treo so you won't get killed when downloading all that email and surfing the WAP sites on that snappy new Edge network. As of the moment, it is the best deal going from all carriers from when taking speed and features into consideration. Keep in mind this is not the same thing as their Data plans which will let you use the phone as a modem to connect to the internet. The phone (after rebate) comes to $399. Now the interesting part will be to see if I can scam the 45% discount on the phone after I get it. More on that in a minute...

So fast forward to Monday. I call AT&T to get status on the order. All of a sudden, the order can't be found in the system. The nice girl looked and looked, but nada. So she started a new order and we went through the whole schpeal again. Another hour wasted answering questions all over again. This time she GUARANTEED me it was in the system. So I get order conf. #2. All looks good in Treo-land.

So today I get home and low and behold, there is my new Treo 650! I was like a kid at Xmas. Then I opened the box, only to find that the phone was packed with an AT&T SIM Card and issued a new phone # instead of porting my old #. Now I don't understand what the heck went wrong here. My sales rep was VERY clear that I wanted to switch over to Cingular, but somehow my order was processed completely different than was intended. So I call AT&T again, and find out that the order that arrived today was the original order from FRIDAY. WTF! Ok, now I am getting pissed. We pull up the order from Monday, and that is in the system, but hasn't shipped. And to make matters worse, the 2nd order was also configured the same as the first, and it would have shipped with an AT&T phone/SIM!!! Blood pressure was starting to cook, lemme tell ya.

OK. So now I am looking at this phone, all giddy and ready to activate it, but something was feeling very wrong in my gut. I had the rep check a few things for me and sure enough, the SIM card was indeed registered under the AT&T network, and you guessed it, the Treo 650 was also an AT&T phone with their ROM. Guess what? I was FSCKED. Now mind you, this is AFTER I had already been on the phone with this lady for 45 minutes getting the billing figured out because I was supposed to be charged $449 and got billed almost $600!!! Forget about the fact that because I am under a business contract, I get 45% off on new phone upgrades (which later I found out that it conveniently doesn't cover data devices such as the Treo). So after an hour on the phone with her, I get this lady to issue me a credit for the 45% and the total price of the phone was now $301. I was happy, until I found out the phone was useless.

Fast forward to yet another rep. By now I have been trying to order this phone for over 5 hours between Friday and today. So they xfer me to yet another rep, this time, someone who pulled out the big guns. This kid knew what he was doing (or so it seems so far). He told me about how they just changed the order form AGAIN and things have changed. Mind you folks, this damn phone hasn't been on the market a week and the order process has changed a couple times already. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing and ALL AT&T to Cingular conversions are being done MANUALLY by a HUMAN!!!!!!! All the crap that the AT&T reps are filling out, has to be processed by a person, instead of it being automated into their systems.

So I finally get my order squared away with this kid, but I end up hosed again. He breaks the news about how I can't get my 45% discount on the phone. He was nice enough to give me a $60 credit. So now I will submit the rebate (form is online) as well and see if I can scam another $50 as advertised. He also gave me a $16 credit for get this.....Cingular charges a fee for transferring AT&T customer to Cingular! WTF!!!! Now I have heard of some stupid crap, but this takes the cake. They want all the AT&T folks to renew their plans and convert to Cingualr (no doubt to get them on 1 damn provisioning / billing system), but they wanna charge the customer to do it? Man, corporate America needs to wake the hell up and get a friggin reality check.

So here I am, staring at a nice new shiny Treo 650 that is completely teasing me and screaming a big FU at me. That just aint right. Let's see how long it will take to get the new one and if they get the order right this time. So far, total time wasted on this is 6 hours. Lets see....6 hours billed at my hourly rate of $125, looks like Cingular should be paying ME to switch damnit!!!!

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:55 PM | Permalink

It appears that the geniuses over at Disney are not to fond of the Mac. I was spending some good quality geekin-out time with my little girl tonight, and decided to surf over to Disney.com and see what kind of cool stuff they might have. Not knowing much about Disney's stuff, this ToonTown link caught my eye as something that might have some cool cartoons or something. When I clicked through to the page, here is what I am greeted with...

So that's how you wanna play 'eh? I'll just raise my kids on Pixar flicks instead. Hey Disney...

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:28 PM | Permalink

There are just some things in life that people must take a stand on. Big business playing dirty is one of them. It appears that Monster Cable, makers of those ridiculously expensive audio and video cables for your home entertainment systems, is on a legal rampage. Someone forgot to send their attorneys to the class on trademark law.

Monster has recently been filing lawsuits against pretty much any company that uses the name "monster" in their product, regardless of whether that company or product is competing in the same space. How someone can confuse the movie Monster's Inc. with Monster Cable is beyond me, but that is what is happening folks. They are going after companies big and small. Companies such as Disney can afford to do legal battle with Monster, but the little mom and pop shops cannot. This is just one more example of our legal system gone wrong. It is time that these big business bullies be taught a lesson.

What needs to happen is for the judicial system to not only toss out every one of the cases that are frivolous, but to file charges against the company for filing such a frivolous lawsuit in the first place, and wasting tax payers money. Penalties should not only include the legal and court costs, but carry a sentence of no less than 90 days confinement in a nice state penitentiary for the CEO and legal staff. Suspension from their state bar would be a good bonus for the attorneys as well. If we stepped up to the plate and responded to these lawsuits in this fashion, I can guarantee you that companies the likes of SCO would think very hard before filing their lawsuits.

For the time being however, it is my recommendation that you - the people, stand up against this ridiculous company in the form of boycotting their product. Help the little guy trying to make a living survive and stand up for your rights.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:37 PM | Permalink

The Back Page - Fool vs. Fool: Apple is Rotten and Macs Suck, So There!:

The Motley Fool published a new Fool vs. Fool debate over AAPL that features a cogent defense of Apple...

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:15 PM | Permalink

Kubotek's man-sized speakers:

Something is seriously mentally WRONG with the designer of these speakers. WTF!?!?!

Spotted at Tokyo’s Hi-End Show, a showcase for preposterously expensive audio gear, were these speakers from Kubotek. Aside from having a shape that suggests the result of a warped mind playing with a Donald Duck head, a jumbo pot of varnish and a mirror, they stand 174 cm tall, which is, well, bigger than the guy in the black t-shirt. When these come out in spring 2005 a pair of them will set you back Y7.35 mn ($66,000), which is probably about what it’ll cost to put a down payment on the massive, soundproofed apartment you’ll need to put them in.

[Via Impress AV Watch (Japanese)]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:13 PM | Permalink

Floridians, beware: monkey can actually hack Diebold voting machines:

All politics aside, we’re 100% for throwing monkeys at gadgets (both literally and figuratively) to see what they can (and can’t) do with them. In this case, Black Box Voting is suggesting that the Diebold voting machines are so flawed that even monkey can 0wn it. Apparently there’s a a hidden black box0like record keeping program that resides on Diebold’s election software—this is already pretty awful, as vote record keeping should always be paper-based. This application is a “secret” feature enabled by a two-digit trigger (not a “bug” or an accidental oversight; it’s a feature), and apparently even an untrained monkey (the real kind) can get in there and manipulate records. So please don’t blame us if we’re spending a little extra time in the booth trying figure this one out, we shouldn’t be more than a couple of minutes (assuming we’re of comparable intelligence with Baxter the monkey who, if allowed into a voting stall, might rule the free world with a simple hack).

[Via Newstoday]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:41 PM | Permalink

iMove lets you reposition Apple Cinema Displays:

MaxUpgrades - Are you people kidding me? $150-$190 bones for what amounts to a lazy susan the shape of the display base? ARE YOU PEOPLE STUPID, OUT OF YOUR FRIGGIN MINDS, OR JUST ON CRACK? Have you heard of Apple's VESA adapter and a wall mount or arm for less than half that price? I am still just in shock. I ask again: ARE YOU PEOPLE STUPID? JEEEZ! I'll give you $5 (only 'cause I almost feel sorry for you) including shipping....take it or leave it.

-----0-----

MaxUpgrades on Monday introduced iMove, a device that enables users of new Apple Cinema Displays to reposition them easily. Described as a "positioning table," iMove sports a groove that accommodates the foot of new Cinema Displays. Spherical rollers in its base enable the iMove to glide across a desktop. It's available for 20-, 23- and 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays. MaxUpgrades also plans a model for the new iMac G5 which will be introduced in October. iMove costs US$149 to $189 depending on the size of the Cinema Display.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:31 PM | Permalink

Watson bids Sherlock farewell:

When Apple took the wraps off Jaguar in 2001, one of the features that garnered the most amount of criticism was the new and improved Sherlock, which Steve toted as "Internet services for the rest of us." Sherlock 3 incorporated mini browsers into OS X, which brought commonly-used, customizable information to a user’s fingertips:

Continue reading "Watson bids Sherlock farewell" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:52 PM | Permalink

It is a sad day when somebody actually had to resort to writing software like this. Judging by the look of this developers site, they probably weren't harassed for being a minority, but more for being an incompetent and worthless employee. Just my $.02. BUYER BEWARE!!!

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:06 PM | Permalink

Ok people, lets get one thing straight. This is FAR, and I do mean FAR, from an iMac G5 killer. I saw one of these things up close and personal today and it is so damned ugly that it could scare donkeys away. The sheer CHEAP look and feel of this machine is absolutely ghastly. I seriously don't remember the last time I saw something so poorly made. Space saving? What a joke. Floppy drive - why? And does anyone seriously THINK that this hunk of dung can compete against a 64bit G5 processor running OS X? Come on Gateway....don't go away mad....just go away already.

-----0-----

Beleaguered Gateway launches 'iMac G5 killer'

Building upon five generations of design enhancements, Gateway, Inc. today launched the Gateway Profile 5.5, the newest version of the company's all-in-one desktop line.

With this newest upgrade to the space-saving series, the Gateway Profile 5.5 packs more processing punch per square inch, featuring Intel's next-generation 915G chipset, integrated Intel graphics with up to 128MB shared memory and higher-bandwidth serial ATA (SATA) hard drives. The fully field-serviceable desktop...
[MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:39 PM | Permalink

This is about the most ass-backwards study and report I have ever seen. Since when are names like Cisco, EMC and Network Appliance HOUSEHOLD names? In my books, a household name is something CONSUMERS know and use at home. I don't think 99% of home users know who the hell Cisco and EMC are. Not only that, but I would love to know how they chose these 13,000 corporate IT decision makers. Just another typical CNET uninformed story.

-----0-----

Loyalty study lists IT's top household names

A report indicates that many giants of the industry have been able to capture lasting feelings of customer loyalty.
[CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Here is the latest company to completely miss the customer service boat. I have owned a BookEndz docking station for my 15" TiPB for about 2 years now. I must say, it has been a rock solid and overall decent product. I have always used my docking station and connected it to a CRT monitor via the VGA port instead of the DVI port.

I just recently received my new 23" Aluminum Cinema Display (which will be used with my Dual 2.5GHz G5 whenever nVidia decides to get their act together and Apple ships me the box). So in the meantime, I figure I'll hook this bad boy up to my BookEndz Docking Station and take advantage of the real-estate on the desktop. When I hooked in the new monitor to the docking station via the DVI port, all sorts of weird stuff started happening. The display output was crackling and the video looked like it had some serious interference issues going on. I confirmed that the problem was not with the monitor by jacking into the TiPB directly and everything was fine.

I put a call into Photo Control and got a call back fairly promptly the next day. After explaining my situation to Paul, he had me read him some numbers on the bottom of the docking station. Those numbers confirmed that there was indeed a defect with the docking station I received. Although the unit has a 1 year warranty, I had no way of knowing that I had a defective product. I never received any notification via email, or snail mail that there was a potential problem with my unit. So now, after 2 years, when I finally do get a DVI monitor, it doesn't work due to a MANUFACTURER DEFECT. This is not like I hosed up the unit folks, they FULLY ADMIT that there were about 500 units that shipped before the problem was discovered. I am of the belief that this should be covered by the manufacturer at no cost due to the nature of the problem being their poor quality control and manufacturing for these few units. What was their compromise? They offered to swap out the logic board for about $50 or so. As if this damn piece of plastic is not expensive enough already, now I have to pay for their mistake? These guys are starting to take their cue from Microsoft it seems.

The worst part of this is that they considered $50 to be a deal (normal price is $75). I was getting the special treatment because I was an Apple consultant. Wow. Be still my heart. Well folks, let me tell ya....I come into contact with SEVERAL HUNDRED customers on a weekly basis, heck - it may possibly be into the thousands. What do you think I will be telling customers about my experience with BookEndz products? Bad move Photo Control. You have a decent product, but your lack of customer service has not only lost you my business, but potentially a significantly larger customer base as well.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:29 PM | Permalink

Tragic....just tragic. I wonder just exactly how many jobs have been outsourced overseas? People, WAKE UP! The only way to prevent this from ever happening again is to make it economically unfeasible for corporate America to do so. That my friends, will only happen if you VOTE for the right candidate.

-----0-----

Study: 400,000 IT jobs lost since 2001

Nearly half of those jobs disappeared after the recession's official end, with San Francisco and Boston being hit the hardest.
[CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:09 PM | Permalink

iMac look-alike shown at Intel conference

At this week's Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, Ina Fried of CNET News.com spotted a new all-in-one PC from Korea's Lluon that bares a strong resemblance to Apple's iMac G5...
[MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:18 PM | Permalink

Why are Cornell's Mac students being forced to pay for useless Napster?

Cornell University student Ross Blankenship '05 has written a letter to the editor of The Cornell Daily Sun. The Cornell Daily Sun has published the letter in today's edition:

There are many problems with the deal that was made between our Student Assembly, Cornell University and Napster Inc. The first is that our Assembly members agreed to something without informing its student body of such a big decision. The decision now gives Cornell students zero options to Napster's...
[MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 6:47 PM | Permalink

Nowhere near as pretty as a new iMac, and an iMac is definitely NOT a Puta! :-)

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Product Branding is a Bitch

Judging from the available specs of this all-in-one LCD PC, I'd guess it's probably not anything too new. That being said, I have to admit to being very amused by the fact that this UK firm has named their product line "Puta." There must have been a serious lack of Spanish or Filipino focus-testing on that one.

Read - Product Page [UK2Net]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 6:43 PM | Permalink

Attention all Designers: If you are still using Quark - YOU ARE A DINOSAUR. Can't you see what this company is all about? Do yourself a favor and switch to InDesign. It is not only a better program with a tighter workflow, but you will actually be more productive than using Quark. The initial pain and learning curve is worth it ten times over once you get comfortable with InDesign. Quark as a company is dead and they just haven't figured it out yet. That is all....rock on....

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Yesterday we covered reports of QuarkXPress file corruption when saving files over a network. Today we cover a reader's workaround, as well as a report of Quark "voiding" serial numbers.

Ne [MacFixIt]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:58 AM | Permalink

This guy is such a FAT HEAD that he makes me ill. When is the public finally going to demand that this MORON be retired permanently? Dvorak - GO HOME. Nobody cares about your comment or predictions - you have been wrong every time and will always be WRONG.

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"On Tuesday, Philip Schiller walked onto a Paris stage at the Apple Expo 2004 to announce new products. Apple's senior vice president for worldwide product marketing was replacing the recuperating Steve Jobs. He mentioned that the founder and chief executive would be back in September, and that 'September cannot come soon enough.' If he checked a calendar he'd find that, in fact, September came the next day. The company seems to have lost track of time, and it showed with the G5 iMac...... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:42 AM | Permalink

How incredibly and pathetically sad. Is Apple the last frontier for innovation and creativity?

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If you can't beat 'em, copy 'em... [The Register]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:01 PM | Permalink

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:32 AM | Permalink

This friggin LOON has been popping too many Zanex. What the hell crack rock is she smoking? KEEP US JOBS IN THE FRIGGIN USA! Maybe they should outsource her overpaid ass to India and see how she feels?

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gManZboy writes "Catherine Mann, from the Institute for International Economics, has a look at What Global Outsourcing Means for U.S. IT Workers up over at Queue. She's got an interesting argument: outsourcing means cheaper IT products, meaning businesses will buy more, meaning more products to make & manage = net gain of IT jobs in the US. Ummm, did you follow that?" [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:36 PM | Permalink

A selection of recent comments from the first 333 signatures on the "Hey Apple, Don't Break My iPod!" petition to Apple Computer to which RealNetworks has linked on their so-called "Freedom of Music Choice" website:

Dear Apple, Your company has long stood for innovation and open competition. Wasn't it Apple that ran the famous Super Bowl ad encouraging consumers like us to stand up for our right to make our own choices? We're asking that you do the same now and... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:38 PM | Permalink

Ohhh, this is classic. Apparently Gateway hasn't been inside a CUSA lately. This will probably LOWER their sales!

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After shutting down its own retail stories, Gateway continues to look for ways to expand the number of outlets selling Gateway-branded products. [eWEEK Technology News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:00 AM | Permalink

whoa! can we say DESPERATION? That burn-rate eating up your corporate funding Real? Shucks....guess your plan to overthrow the iPod really failed miserably huh? So this is how you plan to win the race?

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Company launches 49-cent song downloads, marketing campaign aimed at music consumers'"choice." [CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:56 AM | Permalink

For the love of God, will somebody please bitch slap the next company that uses the legal system as a way to extort monies as thier last ditch effort because they ran their shitty company into the ground? Whew...that was a mouthful. This is just a waste of time, resources and tax payer money. It needs to stop - NOW.

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deman1985 writes "Forbes reports that Forgent Networks, Inc., developer of scheduling software and holder of a number of technology patents, has settled with both Adobe and Sony for JPEG patent infringement and is going after numerous others to collect their fair share of royalties. The company also plans to go after PVR companies, including TiVo Inc, and MP3 player makers for other various patents they claim to hold. Sounds like more fun in the courts for everyone!" We previously reported on Forgent's JPEG patent shenanigans back in April. [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:27 AM | Permalink

Ohh man. This has to go down in history as one of the most stupid moves in corporate America.

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Software company sells old business for $80 million and stakes future on digital music. [CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:13 PM | Permalink

This is ludicrous. If we allow corporations to dictate where we can work AFTER we quit, then we have a huge problem here Houston. Although these types of clauses are common these days, they are NOT enforceable in most states. What does Seagate expect this man to do for a living? The easy solution: give the man a severance package worth 3 years if they want him to stay at home. That gives him his 2 years and another extra year just in case he hasn't found work and for the inconvenience. Besides, if he didn't sign a contract agreeing to those terms, I don't see any way Seagate has a case. They should have thought about this before the guy became unhappy and left. What would they do if this guy wanted to start his own hard drive company? It's called FREE ENTERPRISE people. It is our God given American right to create a competitive marketplace to avoid monopolies. Lesson to be learned for corporate America: Keep your people happy and treat them with respect. The people are you most valuable asset - treat them as such and they will return the courtesy.

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Hard drive maker Seagate Technology LLC is seeking a court injunction to prevent a former employee, Pete Goglia, from going to work for Western Digital Corp., saying Goglia knows too much about Seagate's hard-drive reading and writing technology to work for a competitor. [MacCentral]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:02 PM | Permalink

"Open vs. closed - it's one of the oldest battles in the technology industry. [A] good example is Apple with its iPod music player and iTunes digital music software. Steve Jobs has brilliantly crafted a closed system that is uniquely effective on both ends - the software infrastructure and the portable hardware that enables users to carry music with them," David Kirkpatrick writes for Fortune.

"Other companies want to fight their way into this environment, which has proven... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:58 AM | Permalink

This is just friggin great. Our national transportation infrastructure gets taken down by a computer glitch? Lemme guess, it was being run on a Windows based system. Lovely. Just lovely.

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An anonymous reader writes "According to numerous news sources, all American Airlines and US Airways flights were grounded for two or three hours this morning. Both problems were caused by a computer glitch in the systems hosted by EDS. Quote: The operating system that drives the airline's flight plans went down." [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:17 PM | Permalink

This is just ludicrous. Another fine example of why we need to eradicate these old geezers and technophobe politicians from Congress. I vote for a new law that puts an age cap of 50 on any and all politicians. Those over 50 can serve as advisors. We need some fresh new blood in Congress that understands technology and how it can help and IMPROVE our lives, not hinder it.

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Strudelkugel writes "The Washington Post has a truly Kafka-esque article regarding TiVo, the broadcast flag, the NFL and limited file sharing. "TiVo, the company that makes the digital-video-recorder boxes that inspire such strange idolatry among their users, is in a weird spot. It's asking the Federal Communications Commission for permission to add a new feature -- the option for a TiVo user to send recorded digital TV programs via the Internet to nine other people." Just wait until your read the rest of the story..." This one is actually really worth a read to see just how bizarrely corrupt this all is. Enjoy. [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:15 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:18 AM | Permalink

"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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:50 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:52 AM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:24 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:51 AM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:37 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:32 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 8:47 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:22 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:01 PM | Permalink

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]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:51 PM | Permalink

You gotta be friggin kidding me! Ummmm, people - for $37 you can replace the iPod battery with a nice shiny new one and KEEP your state of the art, "gizmo of the century". Dell's gettin a bit desperate aren't they? :-)

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"Computer maker Dell Inc. offered a limited time $100 rebate to Digital Jukebox music player purchasers who send in an Apple Computer Inc. iPod music player for recycling, the company said Wednesday. Dell's 15-Gigabyte Digital Jukebox players retail for $199 and have a 20-hour battery, Dell said," Associated Press reports. "The company did not say when the rebate offer would expire."

From the Dell website:

Is your iPod battery starting to fade? Before you pay for... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:09 PM | Permalink

This is so stupid that the moron who suggested it and anyone who votes for it, should be deported to Iraq.

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Home and small businesses with two or more networked computers may be subject to a communications tax in Florida. No one seems to want the tax, but it's moving along anyway. By Michelle Delio. [Wired News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:29 AM | Permalink

This is just one more display of stupidity in corporate america. What a way to ruin a good thing. You know, I am sick and tired of watching morons in corporate america ruin good things. It seems that nowadays, the moronic, untalented, incompetent and useless are the ones getting promoted and running corporate america. Those that are truly talented seem to be having a hell of a time getting jobs. I suspect this is because the people doing the interviewing are scared that the more talented folks would soon prove to be worth their weight in gold and the guy who hired him would be getting the boot. So the cycle becomes useless people hiring even more useless and lesser capable people in the name of job security. What the hell is going on here folks?

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TechTV viewers aren't going to take the network's merger lying down, complaining long and loud across the Net about cancellations, the G4 invasion and botched cable deals. By Staci D. Kramer. [Wired News: DAT's Entertainment]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:42 PM | Permalink

Wow- how sad. Napster is already resorting to bribing their customers to join their service. Does anyone else smell the death of Napster AGAIN?

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"Roxio Inc.'s Napster said on Wednesday it is offering free digital music players with a one-year subscription in the latest bid by an online music service to lure consumers with promotional offers," Sue Zeidler reports for Reuters. "Napster, which was transformed into a legal service after turning the music industry on its ear with an unauthorized song-swapping platform, is now giving away MP3 devices to anyone who subscribes for a full year.""On its Web... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:35 PM | Permalink

This guy is an idiot. His website's name says it all.

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"I had my first go at paying to download music the other day and it left much to be desired. I didn't even look at Roxio because after I wrote about its earnings, I was warned that its software was intrusive. Then, I eliminated RealNetworks' Rhapsody and Time Warner's AOL because they both required that customers buy a subscription for the privilege of paying them again to download songs," Mark Mahorney writes for The Motley Fool.

"Both Sony's Connect and Apple's... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:42 AM | Permalink

Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates has agreed to pay a US$800,000 civil penalty to settle charges that he violated stock-buying requirements in 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday. [MacCentral]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:41 PM | Permalink

Way to go RIAA! Go ahead and do it. You will just be signing your own death warrant. The people will NOT put up with this shit and I am willing to bet most artists won't either.

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"iTunes has been hailed as the first successful online music store, with over 50 million songs downloaded. Its success has been due largely to Apple's powerful name, the iPod, flexible use of the tracks, and the 99 cent-price per song or $9.99 for an album. More than that, it has been celebrated as a sign of things to come for an industry still in its infancy," Matt Buchanan writes for The Washington Square News.

"Despite iTunes' success and the growing success of... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:51 AM | Permalink

This guy at Real Networks is just a plain friggin idiot! I am so tired of him spelling the doom of the iPod, yet crying incessantly to the media about how Steve Jobs won't partner with him. GET OVER IT! REAL MEDIA SUCKS AND WE DONT WANT IT!!!!!

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"RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser on Tuesday brushed off a recent rebuff from Apple Computer and called on Hollywood to keep new digital technologies open for all to use. Incompatible piracy prevention tools in new digital entertainment services such as Apple's iTunes Music Store and its iPod portable music player threaten to turn off consumers, he said," Stefanie Olsen reports for CNET News.

[MacDailyNews Note: Apple's iTunes Music Store has "turned off consumers" to... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:48 PM | Permalink

Glaser came to the negotiations with no bullets in the gun. By Charles Cooper, CENT News.com (via MyAppleMenu) [myapplemenu]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:25 AM | Permalink

Rock on Dell! Way to support our US economy and US CITIZENS. Lets just offshore our asses while we are at it. Anyone who buys a DELL (including our US Government) should be publicly hanged. BUY AMERICAN.

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The majority of PC maker Dell's employees are located outside the United States, according to the company's annual report filed with securities regulators. [CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:41 AM | Permalink

Only a fucking bean-counting corporate asswipe imbecile would have the nerve to make such a statement. Try telling this to the hundreds of thousands of unemployed AMERICAN workers that lost their jobs to India.

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In the US, at least [The Register]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Classic.....if they would have been on a Mac, there wouldn't be any worries about viruses!

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AOL Time Warner internal virus. According to a source at Time Warner, a disgruntled employee has injected a virus into their internal network that tells staff they are due for a 26.75% bonus on their work. The virus encourages employees to "submit an application" for the raise, by .. [Broadbandreports]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:53 AM | Permalink

Sun really fucked up when they bought and then abandoned the Cobalt line of servers. That was mistake #1. Now this? Gimme a break. I am out. I am revoking my SUN Partner status and cashing in my chips. Next new web hosting servers: Apple XSERVES.

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"Microsoft and Sun redrew the battle lines in the computing world Friday, with news of a 10-year pact designed to better integrate the leading proprietary Unix and Windows platforms and unifying the rivals against a common enemy--IBM and Linux," Paula Rooney and Barbara Darrow report for CRN. "During a brief press conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Sun CEO Scott McNealy--megarivals whose companies have battled fiercely in the operating system market for more than... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:24 AM | Permalink

Don't you just love it when these huge conglomerate roving band of fucking THIEVES called "companies" cry foul and push the blame onto the "internet and illegal downloading" as the cause of their failure? Lets get it straight Warner....you are laying those people off and cutting acts because you are a bunch of greedy fucks and the executives don't want to slash their paychecks. Instead, they lay off those poor souls that they have been exploiting, that are actually doing the real work.

To those artists being cut...thank your lucky stars. Now click on over to the iTunes Music Store and get yourself listed there and cut out the middle man. More power to the people!

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More music job cuts [The Register]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:17 PM | Permalink

Glaser is so pathetic he makes me ill. Somebody shove a ham sandwich in his mouth and shut him the fuck up. Real Media SUX ASS and the iPod will not disgrace itself by allowing such an inferior codec to be played on itself....

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"It sounds like Rob Glaser is itching for an invite to Apple Computer's digital music party. Glaser, chief executive of multimedia software giant RealNetworks, derided the way Apple's top-selling iPod music player works only with Apple's own top-selling iTunes Music Store -- and doesn't work with rival download stores like the RealPlayer Music Store. Glaser, whose Seattle company develops RealPlayer and owns the online music site Rhapsody, shared a panel at PC Forum in Scottsdale,... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:28 PM | Permalink

Wow, corporate bullshit-speak has sunken to an all-time low. So let me get this straight. This so called accounting rule prevents companies from including additional features in their products and not charging for them. Hmmmm.....yeah. Sure. I got some cheap land to sell you out here in the Everglades too. Give me a fucking break Macromedia. That statement is an insult to our intelligence. Just admit it.....you put out a piece of shit with DW MX 2004 and had to fix it before you got sued. But God forbid you include any additional features and not charge us for it right? I wish to God someone made an open source version of Dreamweaver and Flash so you could see how quick I would dump your greedy corporate asses...

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Macromedia: We wanted to offer the updater to our users for free and, to comply with US accounting rules, we couldn't include any additional functionality and not charge for it. [myapplemenu]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:40 PM | Permalink

This company sucks the big one to say the least. I will NEVER subscribe to a Verizon plan for ANYTHING due to other bad experiences with this horrible company. Their attitude towards the Apple user base is enough reason to again justify my ban on Verizon products...

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Here's Verizon's official response: no Mac support - plus reader responses to *that*. [MacInTouch]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:23 PM | Permalink

Ohhh - this is brilliant. The purple midget wants to sell his crap on his own site and decides not to play with iTMS and use WMA. Nice knowin ya....hope your little purple venture works out....we'll be seeing you crawling back to Apple begging for acceptance. Did someone forget to tell the Purple midget that 8 out of 10 MP3 players sold are iPods?

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"Prince may have just signed a deal with major label Columbia Records, but that doesn't mean he's playing ball completely. The iconoclastic pop star -- who once characterized a previous record contract with Warner Bros. as "institutional slavery" -- is bypassing iTunes, Rhapsody and Napster in favor of his own Musicology Download Store at his site, npgmusicclub.com [New Power Generation Music Club]," RollingStone.com reports.

"The store features albums for $9.99... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:17 AM | Permalink

When will people learn? You CAN'T BEAT THE iPOD damnit! Stop crying and admit your asses have been whooped by Apple (again)!

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"According to an e-mail sent to prior customers of BuyMusic.com, the online store will become 'integrated' with its parent site, Buy.com, within several days. What this means to the fate of what was once called 'The World’s Largest Download Music Store' is unclear," Michael Simon reports for SpyMac.com.

MacDailyNews Take: This headline says it all, "BuyMusic.com not compatible with Apple iPod; founder expects to sell 1 million songs per day" - July 22, 2003. The... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:14 AM | Permalink

"Airlines are trying to come up with distinctions wherever possible in their luxury-class services, and lounge improvements are a core part of that effort. Virgin Atlantic is the latest to add to the lore of premium-class lounge opulence, with its new Virgin Clubhouse at Kennedy Airport," Bob Tedeschi reports for The New York Times.

"The Clubhouse, which opened in February, is a study in architectural élan. Open-air sitting areas surround a series of cozy enclaves,... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:31 PM | Permalink

MacDailyNews Take: "Generally, we just wanted people to get excited that they're going to have other opportunities out there," said Christine Andrews, MSN product manager. "Other opportunities," as in, not Apple's iTunes/iPod. According to The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, the term "vaporware" means, "products announced far in advance of any release (which may or may not actually take place). The term came from Atari users and was later applied by Infoworld to Microsoft's continuous lying about Microsoft Windows." [source] An important note: any current legit music download service that does not work with the market-dominating player, Apple's iPod, has proven less than successful thus far.

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"Indie-label executives who caught a sneak peek of Microsoft's music download service here March 18 at the South by Southwest Music Conference give it high marks," Reuters reports. "The software giant's offering, the MSN Music Service, is not slated to launch until the fall, at the earliest. It will compete with already up-and-running services including Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store and Roxio's Napster."

Reuters continues, "Microsoft is stressing the ease... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:44 AM | Permalink

Dell can't take the heat, so they have to resort to crybaby tactics and crabby old-lady complaining. What a bunch of fucking pussies. This only means one thing to me - Apple is making a big dent in their sales and they are losing a lot of customers. Can't wait to see the outcome of the pissing contest they just started. Lets see what idiotic campaign Dell launches and how quickly Apple or someone else files suit or throws them under a bus. It seems like anyone can file frivolous claims these days if they don't like something. The worst part....they G5 IS the fastest damn computer in the world....how you like dem apples Dell?

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"The Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Apple Computer discontinue comparative performance claims regarding its Power Mac G5 desktop. Acting on a tip from Apple rival Dell, the council's National Advertising Division (NAD) "determined that the evidence provided by Apple did not provide a reasonable basis for its broad unqualified claims that its Power Mac G5 is 'the world's fastest, most powerful personal computer' and that it 'edged out the competition... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:39 AM | Permalink

Not that I have read CNet lately, but this solidifies the fact I will NEVER read their shit again.

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'We're getting a better interface with producers of the content' [The Register]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:59 PM | Permalink

This story makes me ill.....it is absolutely AMAZING how stupid some people in positions of influence can be. www.digitalmediaevalist.com

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:50 PM | Permalink

For the love of God, who the hell is running the show at Bellsouth? Why the hell would anyone launch a beta test in a market like Palatka, FL, where there is nothing but farms and hillbillies as far as the eye can see?

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BellSouth is starting a new trial of broadband wireless in Palatka, Florida: The company is still leveraging its expensive wire base, but it's conducted ongoing tests of broadband fixed wireless as a way to reach customers beyond the range of DSL.... [802.11b Networking News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:31 PM | Permalink

This guy is such a fucking TOOL. The moron knows his format (Real Media) sucks ASS and is pissed because Apple has effectively shut him out and told Real to fuck off and that their format sucks. So what's this guy do? He makes up lies about how the iPod can only play songs bought from the iTMS and how it will hurt Apple. PLEASE BITCH!

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During a panel discussion Tuesday at PC Forum in Arizona, RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser said that Apple is creating problems for itself by using a file format (AAC with its FairPlay DRM) that forces consumers to buy legal music from Apple's own iTunes Music Store... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:28 PM | Permalink

What a hoot...someone should slap this bitch with her own book. Hey, people have bludgeoned others to death with an iPod for less....

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Man, it seems like people are trying to stick it to writers with about the same frequency as designers these days! This one is a doozy by any standards. Thanks to EF for the great listing. WTF?!?!?!? PS - flaggalaggagga... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:57 PM | Permalink

Oooohhh, these always annoy. Not content with a flagrant abuse of the intern system ("Candidate must be well versed in the art of Flash design, HTML, DHTML, and all the other technical stuff that makes my head hurt. Strong design... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 9:16 PM | Permalink

David found this one on Monster, and it really takes the cake. The fucking asshats want an affiliate specialist (sales monkey), search engine analyst, and a graphic designer with "real world website design" experience FOR FREE. Thisis the clearest abuse... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:30 PM | Permalink

People are just amazing. I seriously hope nobody is stupid enough to do this...

-----0-----

Another flaggable gem from craig's list. I especially hate when they think we're stupid enough to drool over little carrots like: "Feature Length Film script is finished and would be a much hire paying job". Really? Wow, that sounds really... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:28 PM | Permalink

This is a fucking disgrace. CNN Is hitting the crack pipe too hard. Any American citizen looking to move to India and work for the enemy should be disowned and have their citizenship revoked! If you fucking love India so much, move, wrap a towel around your head and have a great fucking time. American jobs need to stay in AMERICAN in the first place damnit! [ CNN ]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:26 PM | Permalink

It is beat-up on Real day across the net. It is unbelievable that this company has the BALLLZZZ to sue someone for NOT using their shit software! Amazing...

-----0-----

Video exclusivity spat with MLB. The Real Networks spat with Microsoft moves into the outfield, as Real files suit (Post Intelligencer) against Major League Baseball for its use of the Window's Media Player to broadcast games. Real seeks unmentioned damages claiming they have exclu.. [Broadbandreports]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:27 PM | Permalink

Ever wonder why so many other MSFT competitors have trouble getting government contracts? Here's why...the SCUMBAGS at MSFT give their virus-infected-sub-par-shit-for-code software to government employees for FREE in an attempt to BUY their mind-share. Having worked for the DOD both active duty AND as a civilian, I am here to tell you that MORONS run IT in the government. I have never seen such a level of incompetence and lack of knowledge by so-called "IT professionals". What I have witnessed and experienced personally cannot even be explained.

Some of these people are stupid enough to use that free software, drink the kool-aid and then base an entire country's IT infrastructure on a free piece of software they got as a "incentive". The sad part is...CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS are now being brought in to run IT DOD-WIDE. The NAVY in particular will be (or already has) outsourced their IT infrastructure to be managed by an outside vendor. The beauty is that now EVERY single IT related piece of equipment will have a monthly "rental" cost associated with it. So guess what folks, WE - the TAX PAYERS, get to pay for those computers for EVER and will never be debt-free as long as some civilian contractor is getting rich. Ya gotta love America.

"Microsoft has been mailing free copies of its pricey Office productivity software to government employees, but CNET News.com has learned that at least two federal agencies are warning recipients to return the gifts or risk violating federal ethics policies," Ina Fried reports for CNET News.com.

"Since the launch of Office 2003 last year, Microsoft has given out tens of thousands of free copies of its flagship software, which retails for about $500, to workers at its... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:24 PM | Permalink

I dropped this shit-ball company's products over 5 years ago...I suggest everyone else finally wake up and do the same...Quicktime or nuttin baby....

-----0-----

jogin.com reports, “Following my previous two posts about Real Networks and about Real Player, I’ve received another e-mail, this time from an anonymous individual who used to work as a consultant for Real Networks. Read for yourselves, the following text is the mail in its entirety.” [ Via waxy.org ] [Lockergnome’s Technology News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:13 AM | Permalink

What a lame and pointless tax. The fucking French are full of MORONS. No wonder nobody likes them...we should ban all US sales to France and lets see how quick they change their tune...

-----0-----

A French association representing recorded music rights holders threatened to take Apple to court in a dispute over lost music royalties. (Associated Press via MyAppleMenu) [myapplemenu]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:28 PM | Permalink

And yet another example of why SUN has been downgraded to JUNK status in the investment world. MSFT's .Net sux monkey ass, maybe Sun should try to refocus their efforts into JAVA...

-----0-----

Sun amazes the fuck out of me sometimes. They've got themselves a chief gaming officer now.

HEY SUN! Wake up and start drinking the Java! MSFT's .NET is WHOOOOPING your ass! Get Off the Game Crack Rock!

I don't advise anyone to read this article, just illustrating a point. Chief Gaming Officer? [nidin::blogs]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:05 PM | Permalink

Ohhh whaaa-fucking whaaa. Rockwell has HUGE BALLS crying that there is no AMERICAN talent for these jobs. Well guess what? If we keep sending the work offshore, the problem will only get WORSE! What Rockwell and every other corporate whore scumbag CEO should be doing is investing AMERICAN dollars into TRAINING AMERICAN WORKERS to fill those jobs. Hell, why not be really progressive and try giving out scholarships with 100% full-paid tuition to promising minds that would not otherwise be able to afford to go to school? The talent is here, but corporate America just doesn't want to nurture it. The answers and solutions are right under our noses. Corporate America just keeps trying to sling their bullshit sympathy pleas in order to save a buck and make the CEO even richer.

-----0-----

Let'er rip people. US tech firms seek more H1-B visas Vasantha Arora (IANS) Washington, March 9 A leading California-based high tech company is pleading for more H1-B visas, of which Indians are a major beneficiary, saying enough skilled workers are... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:02 PM | Permalink

This Napster CEO, Gorog is a complete idiot. It doesn't surprise me that he has a Disney background considering the losers they have hired over the years. Gorog will never get it - just quit now while you are ahead and still have a job dude...

-----0-----

"In October, after a period of testing with 45,000 beta users, Napster relaunched as a legal download site with a library of 500,000 songs - 'the world's largest,' Chris Gorog, Napster CEO says. It offers subscriptions for US$9.95 per month, or simple downloads at 99c per track or US$9.95 per album. In the United States, the only country where it operates, it's in second place, a long way behind Apple's estimated 75 per cent of the business," Charles Arthur reports for The... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:16 AM | Permalink

Customers lose in Viacom Echostar spat. Even if you're not a Dish Network subscriber, you've probably been noticing the messages flitting across your screen on certain Viacom owned channels the past several days. They're part of a spat between Viacom and Echostar that has resulted in many.. [Broadbandreports]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:13 PM | Permalink

What a bunch of fucking morons. What were they thinking? DUH!!!

-----0-----

UK developer Starbrite Solutions has a $20 software offering called pBop that may remind you more than a little of Apple's iPod. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, pBop flattered the iPod too much as far as Apple's legal department was concerned. [MacCentral]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:40 AM | Permalink

Open-source advocates had claimed the leaked document proves Microsoft bankrolled SCO's legal assault against Linux. But SCO claims the memo's writer was simply confused. By Michelle Delio. [Wired News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:27 PM | Permalink

So now we know that Microsoft is the underhanded evil dirt scumbags we always knew they were. What a perfect match for SCO. I think some people need to go to jail on this one. It is time we drop the hammer on these corporate evil-doers. Hey Justice Dept....are you paying attention?

Take a look at this leaked memo from an inside whistleblower at SCO. [ OpenSource.org ]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:59 AM | Permalink

Way to go judge...another fucking moron sets back our right to make backups of what we LEGALLY own.

-----0-----

A federal judge handed a huge win to the movie studios on Friday, ruling that 321 Studios must stop selling software that lets customers copy their DVDs for backup and personal use. By Katie Dean. [Wired News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:21 AM | Permalink

You saw it here first. It amazes me how the board at Disney continues to let Eisner destroy such an important company with global impact.

The Walt Disney Company, the entertainment powerhouse that began more than seventy years ago with a little cartoon character named Mickey Mouse, is getting out of the traditional cartoon business. The company is closing one of its legendary animation studios in Orlando, Florida, laying off most of its once 2,000-strong army of artists, and relocating the rest to company headquarters in Burbank, California.

Continue reading "The End of a Legacy..." »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:54 PM | Permalink

The level of stupidity of this moron never ceases to amaze me. How did this fruitcake ever get to be CEO of anything?

------0-----

In a recent speech, Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney, talked about Steve Jobs. From the article: "He created the computer, or at least Windows, or whatever he created, and did a good job," Eisner said to peals of laughter from analysts attending the company conference in Orlando, Florida. [O'Reilly MacDevCenter.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:19 PM | Permalink

People are so friggin STOOOPID. Part of the MANY problems in this country is that too many assholes are litigation happy. This type of lawsuit not only has no merit, but hurts everyone from Apple to the other consumers waiting to buy an iPod. Now Apple must spend money defending a ridiculous lawsuit with no merit. Don't the morons supporting these lawsuits realize that eventually the cost of these lawsuits is passed on directly to us, the consumer? I say Apple should counter-sue based on STUPIDITY of the people suing them and in the process seek an injunction to prevent STUPID people from owning computers and other digital devices. Some people just belong in an analog world...

-----0-----

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple acknowledged it is a "defendant in five separate purporte... [MacNN]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:20 PM | Permalink

In yet another display of obsecene corporate stupidity, Disney has made a deal with the devil. First, Eisner gets his teeth kicked in by Steve Jobs for being a greedy fuckwad, now Eisner strikes back by teaming up with MSFT. Ohhh yeah - that was a smart move....does anyone else see the end of Disney coming soon?

-----0-----

securitas writes "CNet/ZDNet reports that Walt Disney has licensed Microsoft's Windows Media DRM technology for use in online movie distribution via the ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:30 PM | Permalink

I have been around the corporate world long enough to learn a few things. One thing I can state with absolute certainty is that I have NEVER come across a Harvard Business School grad that was actually worth a shit. Most of them are spoiled rotten rich kids and ignorant book worm theorists that have never had to actually work for a living and tend to get by on the fact that their shitty little diploma on the wall says Harvard on it. These are the same people I have personally seen drive pre-IPO startups into the ground time and time again. The same can be said for most of these "experts" that are teaching at Harvard. Most are teaching because they can't make it in the real world. As always, there are exceptions to the rule, but Harvard Fuck-ups seem to be the norm these days. I suppose we will have to wait and see how Apple is going to "fail" yet again for the hundredth time in the past 20 years. When will these idiots ever learn? I just can't believe they get paid to spew this shit out of their mouths...

-----0-----

David Yoffie, the Max and Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration at Harvard Business School, thinks the jury is still out on prospects for Apple's long-term success, according to a Working Knowledge article... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:11 PM | Permalink

Sounds to me like more people getting payoffs in the school system....DIRTY POLITICIANS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS need to be put in jail!

-----0-----

"It's the new age-old question, 'Which is better, Mac or PC?' The Arlington [Virginia] Public Schools are looking at making the switch from using mostly Macintoshes to personal computers, but teachers say they have been left out of the decision-making process and want to keep their computers," Gail Norheim reports for The Northern Virginia Journal. "'Why shouldn't instructional staff be the first to be addressed about instructional issues?' Lee Dorman, a sixth-grade teacher... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:53 AM | Permalink

Ohhhh - this one is a doooozie. Remember to make sure you contact this guy about this job folks...tell him how badly you want this job. :-)

-----0-----

Remember how I said $$ were a sure fire way to get on here? Well, add @@'s instead of o's to that list. Anyway, Bill C seems to be hunting for the good ones, cause he's found a bunch this... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:53 PM | Permalink

Much thanks to Eric for this one that brought a smile on this gloomy Saturday. Eric wrote to the guy and said "dude, it's called google.com -- check it out one day." I need the following function created: I provide... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:49 PM | Permalink

Have people (namely RICH EXECUTIVES) completely lost their god damned minds lately? This is a disturbing trend that I am seeing more and more of...STUPIDITY and IGNORANCE among rich people that are fucking clueless.

-----0-----

As John pointed out, the wonder of this one is not low pay, but the list of responsibilities is absolutely mind-boggling! They even list the titles of all the completely different jobs you'll be expected to do. #1 requirement: "Ability... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:49 PM | Permalink

Here's one I like from "CC". I love when you can estimate a job poster's IQ from their writing. CC says it best so I'm handing the mic to her ... ---snip-- This gem was emailed to me via Creative... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:27 PM | Permalink

Great. That's lovely. No more HP gear for me. --------- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS   WASHINGTON — Leading technology companies urged Congress and the Bush administration Wednesday not to impose new trade restrictions aimed at keeping U.S. jobs from moving overseas, where... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:24 PM | Permalink

Ohhh boy - this is PRICELESS. This is so insane that I had to read it SEVERAL times. M$FT has been caught with their pants down in a MAJOR way and their comments are just ludicrous. Read on for a great laugh...

-----0-----

A Microsoft executive said Thursday that the HP and Apple iPod/iTunes agreement would limit choice and harm consumers on the Windows platform... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:49 PM | Permalink

Digital Networks Proud Of Its Rio Being Panned By Steve Jobs (W/Pics & Corrected) [The Mac Observer]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:42 PM | Permalink

This is total BULLSHIT. Earthlink can rest assured I will NEVER be one of their customers. It is time for people to start prtoesting in MAJOR ways. KEEP AMERICAN JOBS IN AMERICA DAMNIT!!!!!!

------o------

Many support positions outsourced to India. At the end of December, rumors began circulating in our Earthlink forum that the company was planning to close the majority of their US call centers, and outsource those positions to India. As of this morning this rumor was confirmed via an e-mail s.. [Broadbandreports]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:43 PM | Permalink

GOOD! And hopefully they will get their asses sued out of existence and the fucking MORON of a CEO put in Jail for STUPIDITY!

------<>------

The controversial Unix software company reports a loss for its fourth quarter based largely on hefty legal expenses it has accrued in its intellectual property war against Linux. [CNET News.com]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:52 PM | Permalink

Who needs shitty MSNBC with that moron Rick Sanchez anyways?

------<>------

The newly redesigned MSNBC.com now has new anti-Mac requirements to view video on the popular news Web site... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:44 PM | Permalink

In yet ANOTHER unbelievable display of media monger stupidity, here is an all time loser, John C. Dvorak, spewing yet more SHIT from his mouth that he has no clue about. This guy used to be known as a decent journalist, but I think he is now on par with that other loser, Jim Louderback (another ex Tech TV flunkie and current Ziff Davis loser).

--------<>---------

Isn't it about time John C. Dvorak was simply discontinued—put down like an old dog?

The congenitally bloated John C. Dvorak writes for PC Magazine, "The Beginning of the End Dept.: I'm not sure what this means, but Microsoft is dumping Intel and switching processors in its next-generation Xbox. The company is going with an IBM design along the lines of the PowerPC or G5 chip. IBM has been... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:18 AM | Permalink

Ya know...there is NOTHING more frustrating than a journalist that speaks from his ASS without doing his homework first. It is idiots like Lance Ulanoff, which pass themselves off as some sort of authority on computers, that spread FUD about anything just to get their one-sided viewpoint across to the masses. I don't know how this guy even has a job (at ABC News nontheless) after writing stupidities like this article: Macs are not invulnerable.

So in a nice shot back at this idiot, lets hear the TRUTH from someone that is, shall we say....slightly more informed, than this dweeb Lance. Please educate yourselves properly and read on: Muckracking, the PC Way

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:21 PM | Permalink

Analyst Rob Enderle, a TechNewsWorld columnist and Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group has weighed in once again on Apple, the Mac, and Steve Jobs:

"...The only IT department I've ever seen fired was fired as a result of choosing Apple. I've been getting a lot of feedback from Apple supporters, and many seem to agree with my position that you can love the products but hate the company. This attitude seems to permeate experienced IT buyers, who seem to have a good memory of how... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:16 PM | Permalink

This is just fucking STUPID. The idiots in LA county government need to be worrying about how the hell they can alleviate the horrid traffic problem, smog, police chases, criminals, gangs, wild fires, druggies and a million other issues other than pissing off some over-sensitive fuckwads that weren't even alive during the slave era. Sometimes you just have to have the balls to tell people to SHUT THE FUCK UP.

SlashChick writes "In an interesting twist on political correctness, LA County has banned the use of the terms 'Master/Slave' (commonly used to denote hard ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:27 AM | Permalink

This guy Dell can't be serious. So wait - let me get this straight...Dell spends half a BILLION dollars a year in R&D (similar to Apple as he states), yet Dell as a company owns NOTHING and manufactures NOTHING? EVERYTHING Dell sells is a 3rd party product branded with a Dell logo. They don't actually own anything that is THEIR technolgy to the best of my knowledge. Dell is nothing more than the Costco of the computer world and their only selling point is price. So tell me Mr. Dell, what exactly are you innovating and spending so much money on? It sure can't be on creating usable and stable machines because the last time I checked, Dell's are as useless as tits on a bullfrog. Are you sure you aren't hiding some of those massive losses from dropping your pants on $500 PC's and wrapping it into the "R&D" budget?

Michael Dell compares his company's R&D spending with Apple's in an interesting interview with Karen Southwick. [MacInTouch]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:25 PM | Permalink

Who the hell would go to UF anyway? Go SEMINOLES!!!!!!!

setzman writes "According to this article, the University of Florida has implemented a software program known as ICARUS (Integrated Control Application for ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:36 PM | Permalink

This is so ridiculous that I say the government should step in and bitch slap this company and their fucking crackhead CEO. When is enough enough?

SCO Sues To Block Novell-SuSE Deal, Threatens BSD, Likens Linux Users To Drug Users [The Mac Observer]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:57 PM | Permalink

Microsoft To Attack Linux Over Security, Of All Things [The Mac Observer]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:43 AM | Permalink

You have to love someone with enough balls to post a job opening like this. This guy takes the cake for top losers in America....

This one is long, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. Seriously, it's a page-turner. Page after page of bile-inducing, skincrawling horror. Look out Lovecraft. Executive Assistant to Fast Paced Internet Entrepreneur... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:41 AM | Permalink

This is the same Gateway that used a picture of a guy with headphones using an APPLE TITANIUM POWERBOOK in one of their ads.....what do you think their MP3 player will be like?

Gateway Inc. today unveiled its DMP-X20 Digital Jukebox, a USB 2.0-based MP3 player. While the 20GB digital music player offers similar features to other products found in the Windows space, Gateway seems more interested in setting its sites on Apple as competition. Unlike the iPod, Gateway's new offering is Windows-compatible only. [MacCentral]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:06 AM | Permalink

Looks to me like this guy needs a "Brains for fucking MORONS" book. I am surprised that Adobe hasn't ripped his balls off and slapped him upside the head with them. Then again....who are we kidding? Adobe isn't exactly innocent themselves...

In his new book "Illustrator CS for Dummies," Ted Alspach, Adobe's Group Product Manager for Illustration Products, advises new computer buyers to get a PC. However, Adobe says that this certainly isn't the company's official position. [MacCentral]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:04 AM | Permalink

This one from "K" has us wondering how the job poster is able to get around, with such enormous testicles. As "K" says: "Ok, I can bite my tongue and assume that some people might find designer agency internship (unpaid),... [Fuck That Job!]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:53 AM | Permalink

Who are these people trying to kid here? Avid has cut the price of their Xpress software because NOBODY is buying it. People - this product SUCKS! Why? I'll give you ONE reason that says it all. DONGLE. This product uses a dongle to enforce anti-piracy techniques. If you were unfortunate enough to lose or worse yet, have your dongle STOLEN, you would have to practically BUY the software all over again in order to use it!!! I even called Avid about this and that is the exact response I got back. So let me ask you...say you are on a remote shoot and somehow your dongle got misplaced...your $8,000 portable editing workstation just got rendered USELESS. Explain THAT to your boss, or worse yet - your CLIENT! No thank you Avid. I am sticking to Final Cut Pro. Not only is it a BETTER product, they treat the honest customers as they should, like ADULTS. Those who are going to pirate the software are doing it and don't need a dongle!!! So Avid...who are you really hurting? YOURSELVES YOU MORONS!!! Get real....

Avid Technology today announced a new version of its award-winning Avid Xpress DV software that will be priced at US$695 (previously $1,699)... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 6:47 PM | Permalink

HA! Good luck. MTV is sooo freakin CHEAP that it will be amazing if they actually hired some competent people to put this thing together. I predict this will FLOP horribly and MTV will get spanked so hard that they will think twice before ever getting into ANYTHING dealing with computers. MTV - Stick to what you know best - REALITY TV, becaue you sure as hell don't play music or videos anymore...

"MTV Networks is preparing to launch a music download service with plans to go up against Apple's iTunes and other competitors, said MTV chief Tom Freston Monday," Kenneth Li reports for Reuters. "Freston, who addressed investors at the Harris Nesbitt Gerard Playtime conference, said the as-yet-unnamed service would debut within the first half of next year, but gave few details. 'It will compete with iTunes and everyone else,' he told Reuters in... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:41 AM | Permalink

Ya know...I am sick and tired of big companies abusing their powers and FORCING their views on how I should think, but not being upfront about it. Here is another perfect example of why Symantec SUCKS and I haven't purchased a single product they have made in over 5 years. The old Norton is gone for good...Symantec is just another useless company among many....

cluge writes "A recent American Rifleman contained small column that said that Symantec's new Internet Security 2004 would block pro gun rights sites (i.e. NRA ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:33 AM | Permalink

What You Don't Know About Dell: Management Secrets [O'Reilly Network Developer News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:37 AM | Permalink

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:15 PM | Permalink

Gee....ya think? I mean...really? With all the outsourcing to India and the rest of the world, I don't see how this could ever be a problem. I mean, hey - it makes those CEO's a lot of money right? So outsourcing must be good. Who the hell cares about American jobs. YOU FRIGGIN CORPORATE MORONS! The level of stupidity in corporate America is just amazing...

Even as many software companies have outsourced jobs overseas in recent years in response to growing competitive pressures, some of those same companies were in Washington last week urging policy-makers to do more to protect American jobs and promote U.S.-based innovation and expertise. [Technology News from eWEEK and Ziff Davis]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:01 AM | Permalink

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:31 PM | Permalink

"The Pinellas County [Florida] School District currently uses approximately 50,000 computers," reports BayNews9.com. "Officials say 68 percent of those are MacIntosh Apple Computers [sic] and 32 percent are Windows-based personal computer systems. Al Swinyard, the assistant superintendent for management information systems in the district, says all of their serves [sic] are running with Windows technology."

Wait, it gets better:

A photo of kids using Macs... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:33 AM | Permalink

Corporate stupidity at its finest...

WCityMike writes "Steve Kraus, a Chicago film projectionist, noted in this week's Movie Answer Man column that movie studios are quite purposefully putting ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:00 PM | Permalink

Sounds to me like this guy took a payoff figuring he wouldn't be around to feel the effects of his idiotic decision...

Back on September 15th we reported that Pinellas County Florida schools were forcing the migration from Mac to Windows PC. The directive came from Pinellas County superintendent Howard Hinesley, who wants to the district to use one type of computer instead of two. At last count, of 50,465 computers, laptops and servers, 34,538 of them came from Apple. Hinesley made the decison without even telling the district's own director of technology and sought no input from parents and teachers.... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:30 PM | Permalink

Folks - it is time to seriously contact your congressional representatives on this issue. The impact of this current corporate trend is not only affecting OUR jobs, but it has adverse trickle-down effects on other industries in the US as well as the economy as a whole. I won't even begin to get into the National Security implications that this has. What will we do if our entire technological infrastructure is in the hands of foreign nationals and in the future those countries decide they don't like the way we do business? By then it will be too late and we are in a serious predicament because our youth has decided not to go into engineering disciplines since there is no future in it. Think about this LONG AND HARD - NOW! By the time you decide it is time to do something, it may be too late!

Barrett's offshore confession [The Register]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 7:34 PM | Permalink

Many criticize the way the superintendent let them know of his decision to switch schools to PCs exclusively. By Richard Bockman (St Petersburg Times via MyAppleMenu) [St. Pete Times]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:09 PM | Permalink

After asking nicely once, the agency that delegates control of the TLD name servers is now formally demanding that Verisign kill SiteFinder no later than tomorrow... [Morons Dot Org]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:06 PM | Permalink

Does this look familiar to anyone?

Note Apple.com's current design preceded the site above.

Wow. And "Like no other" is their trademarked slogan, no less! Is this a joke?

[Attribution: O'Grady's PowerPage] [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:08 PM | Permalink

I am soooo sick of these corporate assholes that think because they are huge they can just disregard what is in the best interest of the internet community as a whole. Verisign should be BANNED from the internet! Use certificates from THAWTE and get your domain names elsewhere!!!!

dmehus writes "ICANN issued an advisory late today concerning VeriSign's controversial SiteFinder service. The advisory requests that VeriSign voluntarily ... [Slashdot]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:40 AM | Permalink

Time to start hiding your money under the mattress folks...this is about the most STOOOOOPID thing I have seen yet...

Most U.S. banks plan to convert their ATMs to the Windows operating system by 2005. Will this move make bank customers vulnerable to malicious Internet attacks and the infamous blue screen of death? By Elisa Batista. [Wired News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:36 PM | Permalink

Some senators and industry leaders have at last begun questioning the RIAA's ability to issue subpoenas based on nothing more than their belief that their copyright is being infringed... [Morons Dot Org]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:28 PM | Permalink

There has been a huge amount of absurdity in the world of Apple lately. Not from Apple this time, but rather the Mac community. These absurdities need to be addressed, by someone, but not by me, not today anyway. Today I thought I would simply point out a couple of them and shout “Lookit Lookit Lookit!” and maybe someone will pick one of them and run with it. Could happen, couldn’t it? [MacNETv2]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:36 AM | Permalink

"I totally endorse the decision of Howard Hinesley, the school chief in Pinellas County, to eliminate Apple computers from the public schools and switch to Windows-based computers," Howard Troxler writes for The St. Petersburg Times. "ERROR: THE FILE "WHATSIS.DLL' HAS UNEXPECTEDLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE HARD DRIVE. After all, the entire point of public education is to prepare children for the real world, and the real world is dominated by Windows.""There is... [MacDailyNews]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:34 PM | Permalink

Something definitely needs to be done about this off-shore outsourcing situation. We go to school, get in debt, pay our taxes and live in the USA. Now the very companies based here in the US are sending OUR jobs to India and other foreign countries. Does anyone else see a problem with this? When are "WE - THE PEOPLE" going to finally stand up for our rights and demand that congress create legislation preventing corporate america from going out of country when we have perfectly capable and UNEMPLOYED workers based right here in our own back yard? Stand up and fight for your rights people...when they are gone, it will be too late. The only ones winning in these game are corporate GREED MONGER executives. Time to make them feel some pain. Contact your congressional representatives and fight back with your God given American right - VOTE!

Out-of-work engineers gather at an outsourcing conference to complain that sending tech jobs overseas eventually will hurt the U.S. economy. But whether or not that's the case is not clear-cut. Amit Asaravala reports from Burlingame, California. [Wired News]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 10:21 AM | Permalink

If you can't beat 'em...just say it isn't important! Gotta love Intel...

eWeek reports that Intel's Pat Gelsinger, chief technology officer at the chip maker, said that 64-bit computing won't be needed on desktop PCs for several more years... [MacMinute]

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:02 AM | Permalink

Continue reading "Teachers losing their Apples" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:55 PM | Permalink