[MyAppleMenu] Jan 31, 2001

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter

== AppleSurf (Top Stories) ==============

Advertisement: Oni (The Applesurf Store in association with Amazon.com)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004ZB7O/myapplemenu>
Imagine if you could marry the adventure and acrobatics of the Tomb Raider games to the martial-arts action found in pure fighting games like Tekken. If you have a clear picture of what that would be like, you've got a handle on Oni from Bungie Studios. It's a third-person-perspective action-adventure fighting game, but with a distinct Japanese animation flavor. <b>US$34.99</b>

 From Mac To PC: Apple Ideas In The PC's Future? (Sharky Extreme)
<http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/articles/apple_ideas/>
When Apple blazes a trail today, you can bet that others are paying attention and, if the idea is good, you may see it in your PC someday.

 What's Up With Steve's Drawers? (MacEdition)
<http://www.macedition.com/op/op_20010130.shtml>
C'mon, give me a HIG.

== AppleSurf (News) ==============

 Portable PC Growth Leaves Desktops Standing Still (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4634295.html?tag=ch_mh>
The desktop PC may be headed for the geriatric ward, but svelte and brawny notebooks are ready to take its place as the most significant computer product.

 Analysts Predict Possible Q2 Rebound For Apple (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2680356,00.html>
Only days before Apple Computer will hold an open conference call with financial analysts, many of those company observers have made tentative predictions that the company will likely show a slight profit in its second quarter--despite a first-quarter loss of $247 million.

 MS Hires Former Apple Exec To Head Online Strategy (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/30.lewin.shtml>

 From Mac To PC: Apple Ideas In The PC's Future? (Sharky Extreme)
<http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/articles/apple_ideas/>
When Apple blazes a trail today, you can bet that others are paying attention and, if the idea is good, you may see it in your PC someday.

 A New Era For WebObjects (MacWEEK.com)
<http://macweek.zdnet.com/2001/01/28/0130everywebo.html>
If you have a large Web development strategy, WebObjects is definitely something to consider.

 iBook Flourish In Maine School System (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/30.maine.shtml>
The state of Maine is considering a plan to allocate US$50 million to get laptops for every seventh and eighth grade student. And at least one of schools seems flooded with iBooks.

== AppleSurf (Opinions) ==============

 The OS X Police (osOpinion)
<http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/7122.html>
There is a new form of Mac advocacy. The OS X Police are here and their motto is "Stop Whining," a motto that infects nearly every Mac site on the Web.

 OS X: Full Of Promise And Pitfalls (Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/business/columns/macfocus/20010125/t000007129.html>
Ultimately, of course, it's software availability that will make or break Mac OS X. In the months ahead, Apple must work hard to help developers adapt their wares, and developers must price their upgrades reasonably.

 What's Up With Steve's Drawers? (MacEdition)
<http://www.macedition.com/op/op_20010130.shtml>
C'mon, give me a HIG.

 Does Motorola Even Give A Damn? (Low End Mac)
<http://lowendmac.com/things/010130.html>
Until Apple has OS X equipped computers to market with smart-and-edgy advertising (sorry, Jeff Goldblum, but you don't move me), Motorola will continue to give less than a damn about the Mac market and whether or not the PowerPC fares well against the Intels and AMDs of the world.

 Getting Ready For My TiBook (Low End Mac)
<http://lowendmac.com/ibook/g4ready.html>
For me, the key factors are simplification (everything in one box), portability (I can take it to Macworld with me), and OS X compatibility (everyone seems to be running into a brick wall with OS X on SuperMac computers). But the main reason for choosing the TiBook over a Cube and flat panel display is portability; I want a large screened laptop I can take on the road.

== AppleSurf (Reviews) ==============

 Version Sites (Macinstein)
<http://www.macinstein.com/pressrelease.cfm?ID=764>
VersionTracker is the most widely known website for software updates, if not the most widely known Mac site period.

== The Wintel Empire (Top Stories) ==============

 Windows 2000: Growing Up Slowly (eWEEK)
<http://www8.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2677887,00.html>
Now, after all the dust has settled and IT managers have had a full year to kick the tires, the general feeling we hear is that IT managers still want to implement Windows 2000, but not necessarily just yet.

 Intel Reveals Transmeta 'Killer' (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/16463.html>
Intel will unveil Transmeta-targeting mobile Pentium III and Celeron parts today. The new chips' clock speeds are lower than Intel's existing mobile processors, but are expected to offer significant power savings.

== The Wintel Empire (News) ==============

 Portable PC Growth Leaves Desktops Standing Still (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4634295.html?tag=ch_mh>
The desktop PC may be headed for the geriatric ward, but svelte and brawny notebooks are ready to take its place as the most significant computer product.

 At Gateway, Everything Old Is New Again (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4656039.html?tag=owv>
A day after founder Ted Waitt returned as CEO in a surprise management shake-up, the new executive team briefed upper- and mid-level management during a midday conference call. In the call, the executives began to flesh out the first steps in a strategy to reverse the PC maker's recent precipitous slide. The mood they conveyed was one of urgency, a Gateway insider said.

 Intel To Ship Portable Demo In Handheld Push (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4655996-0.html?tag=owv>
Intel is preparing samples of its XScale processor, as well as prototypes of the type of handheld devices it can be used in, as competition heats up in the portable market.

 MS Hires Former Apple Exec To Head Online Strategy (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/30.lewin.shtml>

 Gates Says Optimistic On Microsoft Antitrust Appeal (Reuters)
<http://www.zdii.com/industry_list.asp?mode=news&doc_id=RTA30a0142rittz>
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said on Tuesday he was optimistic the software giant's appeal against a U.S. District Court's antitrust ruling would be upheld and the case closed within a few months.

 Fatter IE 6 Means .Net Gains (Gartner Viewpoint)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-201-4653136-0.html?tag=ch_mh>
Though not yet in public beta test, Internet Explorer 6 will likely exhibit some of Microsoft's latest strategies, as well as a "back to the PC" focus, to a larger degree than previous versions of the Web browser, Gartner believes.

 Microsoft Asks For New Judge (Washington Post)
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63846-2001Jan29.html>
Microsoft Corp. yesterday urged a federal appeals court to throw out a trial judge's ruling that the software giant violated antitrust law and should be split in two, arguing that his judgments were "clearly erroneous" and citing his media interviews as evidence of bias.

 Bill Gates Sees No U.S. Recession (Reuters)
<http://www.iwon.com/home/technology/tech_article/0,2109,94656|internet|01-30-2001::11:09|reuters,00.html>
"I am not sure the U.S. economy in the next 10 years will be as strong as it has been. It will go through a cycle. I think this cycle will be longer and deeper than others have predicted. But that does not mean it will not swing back," Gates told Italian entrepreneurs at a debate on the "net economy."

 Windows 2000: Growing Up Slowly (eWEEK)
<http://www8.zdnet.com/eweek/stories/general/0,11011,2677887,00.html>
Now, after all the dust has settled and IT managers have had a full year to kick the tires, the general feeling we hear is that IT managers still want to implement Windows 2000, but not necessarily just yet.

 Microsoft Admits Defense Against Attacks Was Inadequate (InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/29/010129hnmsadmit.xml>

 Intel Reveals Transmeta 'Killer' (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/16463.html>
Intel will unveil Transmeta-targeting mobile Pentium III and Celeron parts today. The new chips' clock speeds are lower than Intel's existing mobile processors, but are expected to offer significant power savings.

 Here's What's In IE6 Build 2403 (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/16465.html>
Many of the features of the browser evident from the screenshots, show that Microsoft is tying Internet Explorer closer to its other Internet-based software and Web sites. For example the browser includes a series of icons linking to Microsoft media software and properties, such as Windows Media Player. A search engine links directly to Microsoft's travel site, Expedia.com.

== Breaking Barriers (Top Stories) ==============

 What Portal Power? Only The Very Strongest Survive (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2680394,00.html>
After hyped mergers of Internet content and broadband access, the harsh lesson for Excite at Home and other companies is that running a Web portal is an incredibly expensive proposition if you're not No. 1.

 Pink Slips Fly At Amazon (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,41514,00.html>
Amazon.com followed the rest of the Internet industry Tuesday, when it said it was laying off 15 percent of its staff as part of a plan to make the company profitable by the end of the year.

 Here's What's In IE6 Build 2403 (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/16465.html>
Many of the features of the browser evident from the screenshots, show that Microsoft is tying Internet Explorer closer to its other Internet-based software and Web sites. For example the browser includes a series of icons linking to Microsoft media software and properties, such as Windows Media Player. A search engine links directly to Microsoft's travel site, Expedia.com.

== Breaking Barriers (News) ==============

 Flaws Leave Net Open To Attack, Group Warns (Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/business/cutting/20010130/t000008703.html>
Security experts have uncovered fundamental flaws in the Internet's architecture that leave the entire system vulnerable to a crippling attack, an Internet security group warned Monday.

 Chronicle Online Chief Resigns -- Site Has Million Hits A Day (San Francisco Chronicle)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/30/BU147468.DTL&type=tech_article>
John Coate, who stepped from the pioneering online community the Well to launch and run The Chronicle's efforts in cyberspace, resigned yesterday as general manager of SFGate.com.

 How The Net Could Nuke TV: Video File-Sharing (Inside)
<http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=21241&pod_id=13>
If you believe that the success of Napster's peer-to-peer business has altered the media landscape, you know the next big quake logically will be television.

 Revenue-Challenged Salon Cuts Losses As A Break-Even Summer Beckons (Inside)
<http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=22307&pod_id=7>
Shaking off the effects of an advertising downturn, the media Web site predicts better days very soon, thanks to a new radio show, bigger ads and paid services.

 What Portal Power? Only The Very Strongest Survive (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2680394,00.html>
After hyped mergers of Internet content and broadband access, the harsh lesson for Excite at Home and other companies is that running a Web portal is an incredibly expensive proposition if you're not No. 1.

 Pink Slips Fly At Amazon (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,41514,00.html>
Amazon.com followed the rest of the Internet industry Tuesday, when it said it was laying off 15 percent of its staff as part of a plan to make the company profitable by the end of the year.

 AvantGo Reports Smaller-Than-Expected Loss (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4654974.html?tag=owv>
AvantGo, which sells software for handheld devices, reported a narrower-than-expected loss Wednesday.

 Epinions Lays off 27 Percent Of Staff (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4653577.html?tag=owv>
Epinions, one of the most highly touted second-generation Web start-ups, laid off more than a quarter of its staff Tuesday, citing a renewed push toward profitability.

 Fatter IE 6 Means .Net Gains (Gartner Viewpoint)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-201-4653136-0.html?tag=ch_mh>
Though not yet in public beta test, Internet Explorer 6 will likely exhibit some of Microsoft's latest strategies, as well as a "back to the PC" focus, to a larger degree than previous versions of the Web browser, Gartner believes.

 Disney's World Is Too Small, Critics Charge (Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/business/20010130/t000008889.html>
Mergers have boosted rivals, but the firm defends its cautious strategy, citing its profitability.

 Was Disney's Go.com A Goofy Idea? (Fool.com)
<http://www.fool.com/news/2001/dis010130.htm>
Disney's brand power has kept its sites among the Web's top destinations. But the gulf separating those at the top of the heap from even the most successful also-rans has only widened since Go.com was launched. The company's decision to shut down the portal acknowledges the limits to how well consumer brands translate between the online and offline worlds.

 Dot.com Jobs Cuts Hit Record Level (Chicago Business)
<http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=1437>
In January, dot.com companies set a new layoff record, announcing 12,828 job cuts, a 23% hike over December's record total of 10,459, according to Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas Inc.

 Microsoft Admits Defense Against Attacks Was Inadequate (InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/29/010129hnmsadmit.xml>

 Here's What's In IE6 Build 2403 (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/16465.html>
Many of the features of the browser evident from the screenshots, show that Microsoft is tying Internet Explorer closer to its other Internet-based software and Web sites. For example the browser includes a series of icons linking to Microsoft media software and properties, such as Windows Media Player. A search engine links directly to Microsoft's travel site, Expedia.com.

== PenguinSurf (Top Stories) ==============

 Will Sun Take The Linux Plunge? (TechWeb)
<http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010130S0008>
Now that the new Linux 2.4 kernel is expected to scale up the operating system to support higher levels of multiprocessing, observers said, Sun needs to better outline its Linux stance.

 Red Hat Brings Eazel Under Its Wing (InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/29/010129hneazel.xml>
Just two days before the start of LinuxWorld in New York, Eazel forged the deal, which will ensure that its flagship software is tied to the world's largest Linux operating system distribution.

 LinuxWorld Shows Software Entering Adulthood (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4642327.html?tag=ch_mh>
With Wall Street's Linux spark rained out, advocates of the comparatively new operating system have switched to quieter but likely more effective means of conquering the world.

== PenguinSurf (News) ==============

 Has Linux Bubble Burst? (Raging Bull)
<http://ragingbull.lycos.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi/a=01-16-01.txt&d=articles/cyberstock>
Despite the drumbeat of the open source community - and the outcry this column will produce - it’s my belief that until someone can figure out a way to make Linux profitable, it will never surpass Windows in popularity or acceptance.

 IBM Backs Linux Software System (Reuters)
<http://www.msnbc.com/news/524146.asp>
International Business Machines Corp.’s No. 2 executive is set to beat the drums around Big Blue’s latest plans for Linux — the alternative software system which IBM sees as a lynch pin of its long-run comeback strategy.

 Linux 2.4 Is Here, But Some Goodies Are Missing (Sm at rt Partner)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2679033,00.html>
So what’s Linux 2.4’s problem? While the Linux network operating system is second only to the Windows 2000/NT family on Intel processors, according to IDC, to make the next step forward, Linux needs nontechnology goodies to convince CIOs to take the Linux plunge.

 Linux Update Has Corporate Appeal (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4652428-0.html?tag=ch_mh>
The keepers of the Linux operating system have made improvements to the core technology that should make it easier to find lost data.

 Will Sun Take The Linux Plunge? (TechWeb)
<http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010130S0008>
Now that the new Linux 2.4 kernel is expected to scale up the operating system to support higher levels of multiprocessing, observers said, Sun needs to better outline its Linux stance.

 Red Hat Brings Eazel Under Its Wing (InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/29/010129hneazel.xml>
Just two days before the start of LinuxWorld in New York, Eazel forged the deal, which will ensure that its flagship software is tied to the world's largest Linux operating system distribution.

 LinuxWorld Shows Software Entering Adulthood (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4642327.html?tag=ch_mh>
With Wall Street's Linux spark rained out, advocates of the comparatively new operating system have switched to quieter but likely more effective means of conquering the world.

== The AppleSurf Reader ==============

 Chronicle Online Chief Resigns -- Site Has Million Hits A Day (San Francisco Chronicle)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/30/BU147468.DTL&type=tech_article>
John Coate, who stepped from the pioneering online community the Well to launch and run The Chronicle's efforts in cyberspace, resigned yesterday as general manager of SFGate.com.

 Party's Over For Women's Magazines, As They Get Lost In The Supermarket (Inside)
<http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=21322&pod_id=7>
Lifestyle titles stay fairly steady, while trouble brews for the Seven Sisters and their teenage siblings. One big problem: the curse of Wal-Mart.

 Auleta's Winning The Microsoft Battle With His World War 3.0 (Inside)
<http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=22141&pod_id=8>
John Heilemann's book on the Redmond empire is selling about half as well as Auletta's.

 Revenue-Challenged Salon Cuts Losses As A Break-Even Summer Beckons (Inside)
<http://www.inside.com/jcs/Story?article_id=22307&pod_id=7>
Shaking off the effects of an advertising downturn, the media Web site predicts better days very soon, thanks to a new radio show, bigger ads and paid services.

 "Survivor" Community Thrives On The Net (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4650910.html?tag=owv>
David Buckley is turning the national obsession with reality TV show "Survivor" into an office challenge via the Web.

== SingaporeSurf (Top Stories) ==============

 "Homosexuals Can Change" Church Poster Prompts Protest (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,12671,00.html?>
According to a counsellor at the church, the banner was to promote a programme called Choices, aimed at helping homosexuals who aren't happy with their lifestyle to get on the "right" path. The result: 79 members of an e-mail list for gay, lesbian, transsexual and transgender Singaporeans have issued a protest online demanding the banner be taken down.

== SingaporeSurf (News) ==============

 "Homosexuals Can Change" Church Poster Prompts Protest (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,12671,00.html?>
According to a counsellor at the church, the banner was to promote a programme called Choices, aimed at helping homosexuals who aren't happy with their lifestyle to get on the "right" path. The result: 79 members of an e-mail list for gay, lesbian, transsexual and transgender Singaporeans have issued a protest online demanding the banner be taken down.

 Study On Overseas Voting (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,20516,00.html?>
A study will be done to see if arrangements can be made and what criteria should be used to decide who is eligible to vote. It will be completed by the end of the year and, if the Government decides to proceed, legislation will be passed.

 Most Singaporeans Want To Retire Before Age 62 (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,20521,00.html?>
But they want to keep occupied with part-time work, and few have planned retirement finances, a survey shows.

 SMA Not Acting To Preserve Income Of Private-Sector Doctors (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,20585,00.html?>
Goh Lee Gan, President, Singapore Medical Association: The SMA would like to state that in its position paper to the Health Minister on Jan 2, 2001, the SMA was not acting to preserve the income of private-sector doctors. Also, our position paper and the ministry's subsequent reply do not represent an oppositional or antagonistic relationship.

 SingTel Surprises With 27% Earnings Surge (Business Times Singapore)
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/3/news/nfrnt02.html>
Singapore Telecommunications has continued to show resilience nine months after the full liberalisation of the telecom industry -- its net earnings for the nine months to Dec 31 surged 27.3 per cent to $1.89 billion.

== SingaporeSurf (Technology) ==============

 No Action On Modem Splitting (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,12693,00.html?>
We won't take action against those who share their cable modem hook-ups, but we won't encourage the practice either, Singapore Cable Vision (SCV) told Eyeball yesterday.

== SingaporeSurf (Entertainment) ==============

 Taking Centre Stage (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,1870,20480,00.html?>
The stage is set for the inaugural Life! Theatre Awards, to be presented on Feb 26 in a celebration of the year's best theatre in Singapore productions.