[MyAppleMenu] Jan 8, 2001

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter

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

 Counting On The Mac Difference (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2671995,00.html>
Many analysts and editors seem to have a blind spot about the Mac. They look to trends in the general PC industry to derive an understanding of Apple's condition. However, there's a fundamental difference between Apple and Wintel market. Promise not to laugh: It's Mac users.

 The Greatest Thing That Apple Has Ever Done (CFO.com)
<http://63.150.151.67/article/1,1874,0%7C83%7CAD%7C1915,00.html>
Sooner or later somebody - Sony, Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, whomever - is going to have to sell something that gets consumers once again racking up charges on their MasterCards. Until then, nobodyÕs going to have any fun and games.

 Apple's Struggle To Remain Relevant (San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www0.mercurycenter.com/svtech/columns/gillmor/docs/dg010701.htm>
Apple still matters, just not as much. Once, its future preoccupied the industry and Silicon Valley. That era has faded into the haze of the old millennium.

Advertisement: The AppleSurf Reader (The AppleSurf Reader)
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
This weeK: Countee Cullen. Plus: the ascent of man, product placement in Cast Away, and how to walk in New York.

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

 Apple Tries To Regroup Just In Time For Macworld Expo (USA Today)
<http://www.cnetinvestor.com/yahoonews/newsitem-yahoo.asp?SYMBOL=Z403891>

 Macworld Promises New Products, But Are They Enough? (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4407532.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
With the start of the Macworld Expo in San Francisco still a day away, some Mac companies have jumped the gun with big announcements.

 Adobe Ships Premiere 6.0 (MacWEEK.com)
<http://macweek.zdnet.com/2001/01/07/0108premiere.html>
The latest version of the $549 video-editing software adds features designed to facilitate streaming-media production.

 The Greatest Thing That Apple Has Ever Done (CFO.com)
<http://63.150.151.67/article/1,1874,0%7C83%7CAD%7C1915,00.html>
Sooner or later somebody - Sony, Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, whomever - is going to have to sell something that gets consumers once again racking up charges on their MasterCards. Until then, nobodyÕs going to have any fun and games.

 Apple Seeks Success In 'Killer Apps' (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/15878.html>
Solutions, not systems, will win Windows users to the Mac cause and get Apple out of the financial mess it has suddenly found itself in. That's what CEO Steve Jobs is telling staffers and analysts in private, according to the Wall Street Journal.

 Rivals May Acquire Taste For Apple Price Cuts (San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-0101070524,FF.html>
Apple Computer Inc. has cut prices on its high-end computers in an effort to shed excess inventory, and other PC makers might soon follow suit.

 Iomega Sees Dip In Sales (Reuters)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4399885.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Shares of Iomega fell 5 percent Friday after the company warned that its fourth-quarter earnings will likely fall below expectations, mostly because of a dip in sales of its mainstay Zip drive.

 Mac Faithful Gather, Wait For Faster Chips (Upside)
<http://www.upside.com/HardwareSoftware/3a563ecb1_yahoo.html>
While Apple officials remain silent on what new products could be introduced at the show, which starts Tuesday, some watchers say this year's conference is likely to be more tempered.

 Adobe Announces InDesign Update (MacWEEK.com)
<http://macweek.zdnet.com/2001/01/07/0108indesign.html>
Version 1.5.2, available as a free download, incorporates non-PostScript printing support and improves compatibility with prepress systems.

 OS X Software Folder Added To iDisk (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/08.idisk.shtml>
So is this addition to the iDisk an extra goodie for those test driving the Mac OS X Public Beta or an indication of something more? This week should tell the tale.

 Jobs Looking For Apple Magic (Scripps-McClatchy Western Service)
<http://insidedenver.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=APPLE-01-07-01&cat=AS>
The co-founder and CEO of Apple Computer has a much tougher job: Convince the computer-buying public and Wall Street that Apple still has the magic to lure droves of buyers into the stores.

 Steve Jobs To Carry Extra Burden At Expo (Cox News Service)
<http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/today/business_a38550a4154d6022007e.html>
With Apple back in red, the computer maker is under pressure to once again launch turnaround.

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

 Counting On The Mac Difference (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2671995,00.html>
Many analysts and editors seem to have a blind spot about the Mac. They look to trends in the general PC industry to derive an understanding of Apple's condition. However, there's a fundamental difference between Apple and Wintel market. Promise not to laugh: It's Mac users.

 Reading The Mac Expo Tea Leaves (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2672099,00.html>
'm not prepared to say that Apple is out of the woods, but a reinvigorated processor line and an OS that can maximize its benefits will blaze a substantial trail in the right direction.

 Dump LinuxPPC for OS X? (Artificial Cheese)
<http://www.artificialcheese.com/articles/january01/linuxppc/>
Linux is an alternative OS to MacOS. There are many reasons that people turn to this alternative. Stability, speed, and being open source are all reasons that users have turned to Linux in the past. But now that MacOS X is on the horizon, many of these downfalls are being resolved. Will this compel users to drop Linux and come back to Apple's system?

 Apple's Struggle To Remain Relevant (San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www0.mercurycenter.com/svtech/columns/gillmor/docs/dg010701.htm>
Apple still matters, just not as much. Once, its future preoccupied the industry and Silicon Valley. That era has faded into the haze of the old millennium.

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

 Apple's New Operating System offers Enhancements At The Cost Of Familiarity (Seattle Times)
<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/SeattleTimes.woa/wa/gotoArticle?document_id=134258419&zsection_id=268448455&text_only=0>
Apple's upcoming leap forward in system software, Mac OS X, is a computer maker's equivalent of whipping the table cloth off the table and leaving all the plates and silverware in position.

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

 Sony Lineup Takes PC In New Direction (TechWeb)
<http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010108S0013>
Don't look now, but is Sony Electronics Inc. creating an iMac?

 Microsoft Isn't Playing Games With Xbox (Gartner Viewpoint)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-201-4407018-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
No question about it: The popularity and revenue of games and game devices are reason enough for Microsoft to enter this arena.

 New Test Version Of Whistler Arrives (ZDNet)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4405754-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
Microsoft issued the latest beta, labeled "build 2410," of its next version of Windows on Thursday, according to Whistler testers. New in this version are many user-interface tweaks, as well as the incorporation of new anti-piracy code, according to testers.

 States Will Pursue Microsoft If Bush Won't (Reuters)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4396804.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
A top economic adviser to Bush has criticized antitrust enforcement under President Clinton, but opposition to dropping the case from the states and some in Congress would make it difficult to reverse course.

Advertisement: The AppleSurf Reader (The AppleSurf Reader)
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
This weeK: Countee Cullen. Plus: the ascent of man, product placement in Cast Away, and how to walk in New York.

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

 Sony Lineup Takes PC In New Direction (TechWeb)
<http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010108S0013>
Don't look now, but is Sony Electronics Inc. creating an iMac?

 Microsoft Isn't Playing Games With Xbox (Gartner Viewpoint)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-201-4407018-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
No question about it: The popularity and revenue of games and game devices are reason enough for Microsoft to enter this arena.

 New Test Version Of Whistler Arrives (ZDNet)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4405754-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
Microsoft issued the latest beta, labeled "build 2410," of its next version of Windows on Thursday, according to Whistler testers. New in this version are many user-interface tweaks, as well as the incorporation of new anti-piracy code, according to testers.

 California Power Crunch Changes Intel Expansion Plans (Bloomberg News)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4408214.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Intel CEO Craig Barrett said the company is unlikely to expand in California anytime soon because the state's energy crisis has made power supplies unreliable and costly.

 AMD Ups Ante With 850 MHz Duron (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/15873.html>
In the endless game of tit-for-tat between AMD and Intel, the former company will intro a Duron tomorrow at 850MHz, which is set to again lower prices on entry level machines.

 Judge: Microsoft Execs Unseasoned (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4396748.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
The federal judge who ordered Microsoft split in two last year compares Bill Gates to Napoleon--even musing that the company founder should be required to write a book report on him--and said Microsoft executives behave like children.

 States Will Pursue Microsoft If Bush Won't (Reuters)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4396804.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
A top economic adviser to Bush has criticized antitrust enforcement under President Clinton, but opposition to dropping the case from the states and some in Congress would make it difficult to reverse course.

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

 Mobile Phones: Europe's Next Mnitel? (Useit.com)
<http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010107.html>
Europe's cellular phone system is far superior to that in the United States. However, telephones will not be the platform for the mobile Internet. Given this, Europe's advantage may in fact be an obstacle to real innovations, as France's experience with Minitel shows.

Advertisement: The AppleSurf Reader (The AppleSurf Reader)
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
This weeK: Countee Cullen. Plus: the ascent of man, product placement in Cast Away, and how to walk in New York.

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

 Former Dot-Com Workers Find Slow Start In New Year (InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/08/010108hnslowstart.xml?p=br&s=7>
Both Challenger and technology magazine The Industry Standard, which tracks dot-com layoffs, have reported that the majority of dot-com downsizings have occurred at e-commerce sites - particularly online retail sites - as well as at services firms, such as consulting businesses.

 Free ISPs Fight Over Dwindling Ad Space (TechWeb)
<http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20010108S0015>
Competing free ISPs NetZero Inc. and Juno Online Services have each filed patent infringement suits against the other. On Monday, NetZero escalated the battle of dueling lawsuits by getting a restraining order against Juno.

 Yahoo Earnings Due: Uh Oh (Reuters)
<http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,41062,00.html>
nternet investors are braced for yet more bad news later in the week, this time from the leading online media site Yahoo, which once seemed blissfully exempt from the industry's woes.

 Sony Trots Out Web-Browsing eVilla With Be OS (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4401294.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Trying to grab what it sees as a new niche, Sony is billing the unit as a network entertainment center, stressing the device's multimedia side, such as the ability to play streaming audio and to connect to external speakers.

 Singapore's 'Slow And Painful' Shift To Internet Age (International Herald Tribune)
<http://www.iht.com/articles/6618.htm>
Nasdaq may have crashed. But the ability to think up new ways of using this technology to make life or business simpler or more pleasurable will go on and on and on.

 Buy A TV, Get A Free ISP (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,41042,00.html>
Coming soon to a Best Buy near you: the first TV to have free Internet access built-in.

 Information Poisoning (Salon)
<http://www.salonmag.com/books/feature/2001/01/08/carr/index.html>
The author of "The Alienist" says we should stop treating the Internet like print and start regulating it.

 AOL Time Warner: Analysts Vs. Investors (BusinessWeek)
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2001/nf2001018_978.htm>
Wall Street pros mostly see gold in this megamerger, while shareholders see woes. So who's right?

 CultureFinder Hopes To Find Success (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/08/technology/08ECOMMERCE.html>
For years, Internet companies have incurred jokes about how their Web sites should be classified as dot-org rather than dot- com, given how closely their balance sheets resembled those of nonprofit organizations. Now, for perhaps the first time, a dot-com is taking that advice literally.

 Mobile Phones: Europe's Next Mnitel? (Useit.com)
<http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010107.html>
Europe's cellular phone system is far superior to that in the United States. However, telephones will not be the platform for the mobile Internet. Given this, Europe's advantage may in fact be an obstacle to real innovations, as France's experience with Minitel shows.

 New York Times To Cut Internet Staff (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4397298.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
The New York Times Co. on Sunday said it was cutting the staff at its Internet division by 17 percent in hopes of meeting its financial goals by the end of 2002.

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

Advertisement: The AppleSurf Reader (The AppleSurf Reader)
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
This weeK: Countee Cullen. Plus: the ascent of man, product placement in Cast Away, and how to walk in New York.

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

 Linux Sale Seen In Corel's New Strategy (Reuters)
<http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/01/08/010108hncorelbiz.xml?p=br&s=6>
Corel Corp. is expected to announce the sale of its fledgling Linux business as part of a corporate strategy it will unveil later this month, analysts said on Monday.

 Linux Kernel To Add Big-System Capabilities (Interactive Week)
<http://www.zdnet.com/intweek/stories/news/0,4164,2671594,00.html>
The Linux operating system will be better able to support enterprise-level systems when an upgraded kernel is released by lead developer Linus Torvalds, perhaps in time for the opening of LinuxWorld on Jan. 30.

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

 New York Times To Cut Internet Staff (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4397298.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
The New York Times Co. on Sunday said it was cutting the staff at its Internet division by 17 percent in hopes of meeting its financial goals by the end of 2002.

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

 SBA Backs Meaningful Local Dramas (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,16113,00.html?>
The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) supports programmes like Stepping Out, Growing Up and Price Of Peace because they portray certain social values and heritage.

 Singapore's 'Slow And Painful' Shift To Internet Age (International Herald Tribune)
<http://www.iht.com/articles/6618.htm>
Nasdaq may have crashed. But the ability to think up new ways of using this technology to make life or business simpler or more pleasurable will go on and on and on.

 Opposition Parties Free To Speak At Speakers' Corner (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/singapore/cna/article.html?s=singapore/headlines/010108/singapore/cna/Opposition_parties_free_to_speak_at_Speakers__Corner.html>
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng has said the Opposition parties are free to speak at the Speakers' Corner and even launch their publications, as long as they keep to the rules spelt out.

 Is Education A Form Of Terrorism? (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,15861,00.html?>
Simran Kaur, a 12-year-girl, committed suicide just as her father found out that she had doctored her Primary School Leaving Examination results. Should education be executed for its role in the death of a child?

 New Faces In Opposition? Let's See Quality, Says BG Lee (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,15822,00.html?>
Alluding to reports on the formation of a youth wing in the Singapore Democratic Party, he said: 'They've got the label, but what's underneath that label? Let's see.'

Advertisement: The AppleSurf Reader (The AppleSurf Reader)
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
This weeK: Countee Cullen. Plus: the ascent of man, product placement in Cast Away, and how to walk in New York.

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

 Falungong Can Stay If It Obeys Laws (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,16092,00.html?>

 Opposition Parties Free To Speak At Speakers' Corner (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/singapore/cna/article.html?s=singapore/headlines/010108/singapore/cna/Opposition_parties_free_to_speak_at_Speakers__Corner.html>
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng has said the Opposition parties are free to speak at the Speakers' Corner and even launch their publications, as long as they keep to the rules spelt out.

 Is Education A Form Of Terrorism? (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,15861,00.html?>
Simran Kaur, a 12-year-girl, committed suicide just as her father found out that she had doctored her Primary School Leaving Examination results. Should education be executed for its role in the death of a child?

 Backpacker Land No More As Hotels Close (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,15871,00.html?>
Permits for Bencoolen hostels have not been renewed. Budget tourists say this may be the end of their stopovers.

 Advisers Meet To Discuss University Education Here (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,15865,00.html?>
Foreign panel of experts on a four-day visit will also look at the setting up of fourth university, among other issues.

 New Faces In Opposition? Let's See Quality, Says BG Lee (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,15822,00.html?>
Alluding to reports on the formation of a youth wing in the Singapore Democratic Party, he said: 'They've got the label, but what's underneath that label? Let's see.'

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

 i-One.Net Cuts Back On Kiosks (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,16159,00.html?>
Listed company scales back Internet spending in S'pore but has tied up with partner to export the concept to China.

 Singapore's 'Slow And Painful' Shift To Internet Age (International Herald Tribune)
<http://www.iht.com/articles/6618.htm>
Nasdaq may have crashed. But the ability to think up new ways of using this technology to make life or business simpler or more pleasurable will go on and on and on.

 Singapore Denies Offering Extra Incentives In 3G Mobile-License Auction (Dowjones)
<http://dowjones.work.com/index.asp?layout=story_news_asia&doc_id=27309&industry=Asia>
The government was 'very disappointed' with local media reports claiming Singapore would offer perks and tax breaks to foreign bidders, but not to local players.

 Orange In Talks To Buy Into M1 (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,15881,00.html?>
France Telecom unit is eyeing Cable & Wireless and CyberWorks' stakes in the mobile phone operator.

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

 SBA Backs Meaningful Local Dramas (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,16113,00.html?>
The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) supports programmes like Stepping Out, Growing Up and Price Of Peace because they portray certain social values and heritage.

 Take A Big Bite Out Of TVWorks' Big Buffet (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,1870,16013,00.html?>

 Moving House (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,11565,00.html?>
Touted as Singapores pioneering, longest-running English sitcom, Under One Roof is downing shutters after six seasons of slapstick and Singlish. Is it exiting with a bang, or is it more a case of good riddance?

 Reality TV In Real Time Here (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,1870,15800,00.html?>
Singapore viewers will get the same nail-biting suspense as US audiences with the simultaneous broadcast of Survivor 2 starting Jan 29.