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>> Postings for October 2007

Apple's missing advice on Leopard blue screen plague

Tue, 30 Oct 2007

I've just spent an hour on the phone with a good friend who has been plagued by Leopard's blue screen restart problem. Apple has issued advice but left out a critical slice of information - here it is.

The problem is as follows: After completing an upgrade installation of Leopard and restarting the computer, a "blue screen" may appear for an extended period of time.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Apple lays the smack down on WWE

Mon, 29 Oct 2007

Apple laid the smack down against the competition, winning big pop during one of the world's premiere "sports entertainment" events, the WWE's 'Cyber Sunday' last night, I'm told.

A cast of huge and hulking wrestlers stalked down to the WWE's wrestling ring from a set clearly based on the look and feel of a Mac Pro and an Apple Cinema Display.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


iPod is six years old

Wed, 24 Oct 2007

The iPod was six years old last night, and has transformed Apple's fortunes and been an agent of trans-industry change.

Sadly I don't have time to do justice to the iPod's sixth birthday today, but it would be churlish to let the anniversary of the incredibly popular device go unremarked.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


The iPod touch: A business tool, too

Mon, 22 Oct 2007

Apple's new iPod touch is a revolutionary device, much like its iPhone cousin. It offers in one svelte package a host of cool features, everything from web browsing over WiFi to VPN access and a host of enterprise-useful apps. Sure, you can listen to music, but there's also a practical side, the side that makes it a perfect tool for business.

(I know what a lot of you are thinking: In your dreams. Just stick with me a minute.)

Seth Weintraub, Computerworld (US online) | Read more...


Preparing for Leopard

Fri, 19 Oct 2007

Now that Apple Inc. has blessed its users with a release date for the next version of Mac OS X, it's time for users planning the upgrade to set things up for the migration.

s a move to Leopard smart? Your call, obviously. But assuming you give Apple a nod and your money, here are the questions to ponder as you prep for the Friday after next. We'll start with the basics first.

Gregg Keizer, Computerworld (US online) | Read more...


Apple has no women in power

Thu, 18 Oct 2007

The third annual UC Davis Study of California Women Business Leaders results are in and Apple has a spot in the study that’s not positive. The study takes a look at the corporate leadership of the 400 largest corporations based in California for women in those positions. One out of three companies in the study have no women at the top and Apple falls into that one of three category.

The study takes a look at the annual reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Apple’s listed no female executives or board members. While I’m not arguing that any of Apple’s leadership isn’t worthy, that Apple should have some kind of woman quota, or that any qualified women were passed over in favor of men, but it’s unusual for a company that’s known for vision and a progressive outlook to have only men.

Derik DeLong | Read more...


iTunes Plus price cuts - what price an upgrade?

Tue, 16 Oct 2007

It's being reported that Apple is cutting iTunes Plus prices by 20-pence, effectively matching the price of DRM-laden iTunes songs. Does this mean users will be able to upgrade their music from one format to the other at no charge?

The rumour seems to have generated a life of its own, with multiple news outlets claiming the price discount to be a fait accompli.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


If I was a rich man...

Mon, 15 Oct 2007

I could have been a rich man if I'd had a few thousand pounds to invest in Apple shares four years ago, as $50,000 dollars spent on that stock in mid-October 2003 would be worth a million dollars today.

While that's definitely a slice of retrospective advice that sinks down the throat like a bitter pill, it does underscore Apple's phenomenal achievement in turning itself around.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Universal and Microsoft, sitting in a tree...

Fri, 12 Oct 2007

So the big news today is that the world's largest music label is climbing into bed with Microsoft in an attempt to seize power over the digital music industry.

This fills me with questions. Should the world's largest record label be able to marshall full control over music distribution? Does a collusion (if collusion it is) between the world's leading music label and the world's biggest software company (Microsoft) to affect market development break any existing anti-trust laws? Is it appropriate that Microsoft (through a partner) is attempting to exercise market dominance to literally switch off a competitor, and does this break the terms of its oversight by the DOJ?

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Is Apple more controlling than Microsoft?

Thu, 11 Oct 2007

While still on the fringe, Apple is continually gaining ground in the corporate environment. Recent studies have shown that universities, too, are seeing a surge in OS X usage - some of which will soon translate into enterprise demand as those graduates enter the work force. While many users laud Apple for the freedom that it gives them, recent developments indicate that Apple might be even more of a "control freak" than Microsoft.

The specific controversy centres around the iPhone. While not yet a cog in the corporate computing machine, it may well become one. In any case, the iron grip that Apple is keeping on third-party developers for that platform shows a side of Apple that is rarely seen. And, Apple's behaviour can be used as a rallying point for those corporate architects that want to keep Apple out of the enterprise.

Kevin Tolly, Network World (US) | Read more...


Love Music, Hate Racism

Wed, 10 Oct 2007

October 2007 may be remembered as the month the music industry truly began changing its strategy for the digital age, with news that a large group of influential acts have begun experimenting with free music downloads.

Anti-racist campaign Love Music Hate Racism will next week launch an exciting 29-track double CD in partnership with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and  NME .

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Radiohead say 'OK Computer'

Mon, 01 Oct 2007

Radiohead continue to spurn iTunes, but the band is ready to grasp the digital opportunity, offering fans the chance to download their forthcoming album at the best possible of prices - pay what you like.

Prince is doing it. The Charlatans are doing it. Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney have done it, and Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has been at it for a while.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Why Apple's 'new Newton' will rule

Mon, 01 Oct 2007

They can send a man to the moon (or at least they could 40 years ago). Why can't they make a tiny computer people want to buy?

Mobile phone, laptop and desktop PC markets are all well established, with dominant players in each category raking in billions in sales. But in the world of mobile computers, the field for laptops that are bigger than phones but smaller than regular laptops is still wide open. A shockingly large number of companies have invested millions of dollars developing products in this category. They've shipped dozens of gadgets hyped as the Next Big Thing. But the buying public has responded with indifference.

Mike Elgan, Computerworld (US online) | Read more...