[MyAppleMenu] Jan 18, 2001

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter

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

 OS X: Thinking Too Different? (BusinessWeek)
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2001/nf20010118_221.htm>
The MacWorld crowd wasn't wowed. Worse, developers are reluctant to rewrite applications. Apple has a problem.

 Apple Loss: $247 Million (MacWEEK.com)
<http://macweek.zdnet.com/2001/01/14/0117earnings.html>
As expected, Apple Computer on Wednesday announced its first quarterly loss in three years, but in a conference call with analysts, chief financial officer Fred Anderson pointed to a silver lining as he revealed that the company has reduced channel inventories to near-normal levels. He stuck by his earlier claim that Apple will return to sustained profitability with a small gain in the current quarter, followed by bigger profits in the quarters ending in June and September.

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

 Apple Shares Shine On Outlook (CBS MarketWatch)
<http://www2.marketwatch.com/news/yhoo/story.asp?source=blq/yhoo&dist=yhoo&guid=%7B901AF1D4%2D3855%2D4FF8%2D95F3%2DF5C418F95AF5%7D>
Apple Computer's stock shone bright Thursday, after the PC maker said it anticipates posting a slight gain for its March quarter, despite reporting a wider-than-expected loss for its first quarter.

 Apple Pares Price Of iMacs (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-4509308.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
In a move that may foreshadow the introduction of new consumer desktops, Apple Computer has launched a $200 instant rebate for two iMac models.

 Apple Fights Back (Fool.com)
<http://www.fool.com/news/2001/aapl010117.htm>
Can Steve Jobs' company start churning out products that will get consumers -- and investors -- excited about Apple again? With three key new products in line for the coming week and months, the company is betting it won't be an unprofitable one for long.

 Apple's New Power Mac G4s From A Gamer's Perspective (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/17.gamers.shtml>
With each iteration of its hardware, Apple has shown tangible examples of how it's responding to user requests and industry pressure to provide better-equipped machines at lower price points than ever before, adding value wherever it can. The revamped Power Mac G4 line certain succeeds on that level -- they're faster, easier to use, and better equipped than the machines they replace.

 Apple Loss: $247 Million (MacWEEK.com)
<http://macweek.zdnet.com/2001/01/14/0117earnings.html>
As expected, Apple Computer on Wednesday announced its first quarterly loss in three years, but in a conference call with analysts, chief financial officer Fred Anderson pointed to a silver lining as he revealed that the company has reduced channel inventories to near-normal levels. He stuck by his earlier claim that Apple will return to sustained profitability with a small gain in the current quarter, followed by bigger profits in the quarters ending in June and September.

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

 iDVD Before Its Time (Macinstein)
<http://www.macinstein.com/pressrelease.cfm?ID=746>

 No Apple PDA? Good! (Macinstein)
<http://www.macinstein.com/pressrelease.cfm?ID=748>

 Apple's Calm Only Skin-Deep? (Applelinks.com)
<http://www.applelinks.com/articles/2001/01/20010117133754.shtml>

 I Am Half-Impressed By Apple's SF Announcements (The Mac Observer)
<http://www.macobserver.com/columns/flipside/2001/20010118.shtml>

 OS X: Thinking Too Different? (BusinessWeek)
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2001/nf20010118_221.htm>
The MacWorld crowd wasn't wowed. Worse, developers are reluctant to rewrite applications. Apple has a problem.

 Reacting To The Mac OS X (osOpinion)
<http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/6796.html>
However, as ironic as it may be, the bulk of negative media has come from Mac users and the press outlets that traditionally cover the Mac world. This is an unusual paradox, and one that I believe is rooted in the tradition of Mac users to defend their platform choice at all costs.

 Jobs' Compromise Completes Apple OS X (osOpinion)
<http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/6795.html>
At Macworld SF, the OS X police witnessed something that the intolerant are rarely able to stomach: Humble Pie. Apple is not like most companies. MacAdvocacy is important and active participation works.

 Apple: Hand Waving And Buring cable (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2675038,00.html>
No matter how hard Apple tries to spin OS X as a consumer OS, it isn't one now, and I have my doubts that it ever will become one.

 Buying A PowerBook G4 (Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/ibook/buyg4.html>
Why am I buying a PowerBook G4 instead of a Cube or Power Mac G4? In a word: portability.

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

 Pangea Software's Cro-Mag Rally (MacCentral)
<http://www.maccentral.com/news/0101/18.cromag.shtml>
Cro-Mag Rally's blend of console gaming and unadulterated fun is under-represented on the Mac, so you owe it to yourself to at least check out the demo.

 MacSoft's Monopoly (MacDiscussion)
<http://macdiscussion.com/article_show.php3?article_id_var=223>
The game is a lot of fun; don’t get me wrong.  But MacSoft needs to release an update to the game, quick, to take care of some major interface and stability issues.

 Wacom Graphire 4x5 USB Tablet (Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/lab/010118.html>
It's a fun toy to play with, particularly if you like to draw. I seem to be doing slightly better playing Myth with the new mouse. It has limitations and may not be everything you expect.

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

 Microsoft Faces Tough Road Ahead (MSNBC)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2675513,00.html>
After a year that saw Microsoft lose a landmark antitrust case, shed 63 percent of its stock value and issue a rare warning about disappointing earnings, some analysts argue that the software giant at last has hit rock bottom.

 Ashcroft Noncommittal On Future Of Antitrust Case Against Microsoft (San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www0.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/front/docs/ms011801.htm>
Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft, who would head the Justice Department at a pivotal time in the Microsoft antitrust battle, refused Wednesday to make any commitments on the future of the government's case to break up the software giant.

 Do Antipriacy Measures Rob Consumers? (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4500456-0.html?tag=pt.abc.tech..ne_4500456>
Recently unveiled antipiracy measures aimed at eliminating even casual copying of software have some experts questioning whether companies have gone too far in controlling the use of their copyrighted material.

 Investors Look To Microsoft For Signs Of Future Growth (Bloomberg News)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4510126.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Microsoft is expected to meet reduced fiscal second-quarter profit forecasts Thursday, and investors are seeking signs that the No. 1 software maker is decreasing its dependence on the desktop PC market.

 Intel Developing New Chip For Lighter Laptops (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4510674-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
Intel is designing an entirely new mobile processor it plans to debut in 2002, raising its bet that notebooks will soon come to dominate the PC market.

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

 Microsoft Faces Tough Road Ahead (MSNBC)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2675513,00.html>
After a year that saw Microsoft lose a landmark antitrust case, shed 63 percent of its stock value and issue a rare warning about disappointing earnings, some analysts argue that the software giant at last has hit rock bottom.

 Is Ashcroft Antitrustworthy? (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,41264,00.html>
If saying little and apologizing a lot is the key to a Cabinet post, John Ashcroft seems about to become the next attorney general.

 Ashcroft Noncommittal On Future Of Antitrust Case Against Microsoft (San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www0.mercurycenter.com/svtech/news/front/docs/ms011801.htm>
Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft, who would head the Justice Department at a pivotal time in the Microsoft antitrust battle, refused Wednesday to make any commitments on the future of the government's case to break up the software giant.

 Dear Steve: Don't Stop Me From Copying My MS Office (ZDNet AnchorDesk)
<http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2675486,00.html>
As more programs -- and your next-generation "Whistler" operating system -- get copy protection, the screaming will rapidly take on the tenor of the Napster users vs. the recording industry fight (i.e. "Aren't you pigs rich enough already?").

 Do Antipriacy Measures Rob Consumers? (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4500456-0.html?tag=pt.abc.tech..ne_4500456>
Recently unveiled antipiracy measures aimed at eliminating even casual copying of software have some experts questioning whether companies have gone too far in controlling the use of their copyrighted material.

 Investors Look To Microsoft For Signs Of Future Growth (Bloomberg News)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4510126.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Microsoft is expected to meet reduced fiscal second-quarter profit forecasts Thursday, and investors are seeking signs that the No. 1 software maker is decreasing its dependence on the desktop PC market.

 Intel Developing New Chip For Lighter Laptops (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4510674-0.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..sf>
Intel is designing an entirely new mobile processor it plans to debut in 2002, raising its bet that notebooks will soon come to dominate the PC market.

 AMD Misses Estimates, Sees Gains In 2001 (CNET News.com)
<An Internet worm that affects Linux-based servers running Red Hat Inc.'s version of the open-source operating system has been causing aggravation for some users over the past week, although security analysts said they haven't yet seen any permanent damage that was caused by the so-called Ramen code. >
Advanced Micro Devices missed analyst estimates Wednesday for fourth-quarter earnings, but company executives said the general health of the PC market isn't as bad as rival Intel described Tuesday.

 Microsoft Making Splash At... Sundance? (InformationWeek)
<http://www.telecomlibrary.com/article/IWK20010117S0006>
Geordie Wilson, product manager for the software maker's digital media division, says festival attendees will be amazed at what the latest incarnation of the player, still in beta mode, can do. For the first time, Wilson says, it will let owners of online video content deliver DVD-quality images at 500 Kbps and VHS-quality at 250 Kbps, speeds that are attainable for your garden-variety broadband connection.

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

 Wireless Web Fails The Screen Test (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2675511,00.html>
Why hasn't mobile surfing taken off in the U.S.? Analysts say the answer's right in front of your face. It's the screen, stupid.

 Miramax To Show Full-Length Film Online (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4520149.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
A major Hollywood studio will begin an experiment next week making full-length feature films available for download over the Internet.

 AOL Time Warner May Raise Net Access Fees (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4509424.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
AOL Time Warner, fresh from its merger triumph, may notch its America Online subscription fees higher this year, according to two analysts.

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

 Net Use Drops At Holiday Time (USA Today)
<http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ctj007.htm>
After almost a decade of double-digit growth, surfing the Net may finally be enough of a daily routine that, instead of rushing to log on whenever they have a little free time, people drop it in favor of family activities when the holidays roll around.

 Yahoo! Merger Rumors Rampant (InternetNews)
<http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article/0,,4_563631,00.html>
The price of Yahoo! stock jumped substantially in trading in Europe and Japan overnight as speculation increased that the AOL/Time Warner merger may be putting pressure on the directory and e-commerce site to find a partner.

 AOL To Close Entertaindom (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2675530,00.html>
The Web entertainment hub is being shut down Feb. 1, the latest in a long line of failed Time Warner online ventures.

 Wireless Web Fails The Screen Test (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2675511,00.html>
Why hasn't mobile surfing taken off in the U.S.? Analysts say the answer's right in front of your face. It's the screen, stupid.

 And God Said: Let There Be Net (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,41229,00.html>
In the fast-paced digital age, some believers believe a basic church Web page is no longer enough.

 Miramax To Show Full-Length Film Online (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4520149.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
A major Hollywood studio will begin an experiment next week making full-length feature films available for download over the Internet.

 Verizon Sued Over Slow Net Access Installations (Associated Press)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-4517841.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Verizon Communications is being sued by customers frustrated when the company took weeks or months to get their high-speed Internet access installed. The class-action effort is an attempt to stop Verizon from signing new subscribers as well as to force compensation of existing customers.

 Vignette To Cut Work Force On Lowered Outlook (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-4519338.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Software maker Vignette said Thursday it plans to shut some offices and trim its work force by approximately 15 percent to reduce expenses as it looks toward weaker earnings.

 DoubleClick CEO Sees Flat To Lower 2001 Ad Prices (Reuters)
<http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010118/wr/advertising_web_dc_1.html>
Stephen Moss, the chief executive officer of DoubleClick Asia, said CPM has been coming down because dotcoms have slashed prices in order to bring in revenue, and advertisers have not increased their spending quickly enough in the meantime.

 Publishing Veteran Sees The Web As Godsend (San Francisco Chronicle)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/17/BU77409.DTL&type=tech_article>
While publishers tear their hair out over slender profit margins and worry that the Internet will be the end of books as we know them, Epstein says he believes that the Web will save the book business, enable books to be published cheaper and earn bigger royalties for corporations and authors.

 Channel And Web Surfing, With AOLTV (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/18/technology/18STAT.html?pagewanted=all>
Somewhere between the whiteboard and the assembly line, most of AOL's good ideas wound up lost in the circuitry of an overpriced, undertested product that gives mediocrity a bad name.

 Web Sites Begin To Self Organize (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/18/technology/18SELF.html?pagewanted=all>
The Vines is an example of an emerging class of what are called self-organizing Web sites. Such sites are demonstrating that with a dab or two of well-written code and a bit of careful planning, a site can take a random collection of links or posts and turn them into a sophisticated, adaptive system.

 Infamous Spammer Spammed (Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,41239,00.html>
In what some see as a perfect example of the evidence of cosmic retribution, an avalanche of spam has crashed British Internet service provider Pipex's servers, and stopped delivery of e-mail to its million-plus users for the past week. Pipex is owned by UUNET, and according to statistics compiled by spam fighting and tracking sites SpamCop and SpamHaus, more spam gets spewed through UUNET than from all the other Internet service providers combined.

 AOL Time Warner May Raise Net Access Fees (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4509424.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
AOL Time Warner, fresh from its merger triumph, may notch its America Online subscription fees higher this year, according to two analysts.

 Political Ads Can Send Wrong Message Via Web (Reuters)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4513325.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni>
Online political advertisements can often backfire and erode a candidate's support among undecided voters, according to a study released Wednesday.

 Microsoft Making Splash At... Sundance? (InformationWeek)
<http://www.telecomlibrary.com/article/IWK20010117S0006>
Geordie Wilson, product manager for the software maker's digital media division, says festival attendees will be amazed at what the latest incarnation of the player, still in beta mode, can do. For the first time, Wilson says, it will let owners of online video content deliver DVD-quality images at 500 Kbps and VHS-quality at 250 Kbps, speeds that are attainable for your garden-variety broadband connection.

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

 'Ramen' Worm Hits Some Red Hat Linux Servers (IDG)
<http://www.idg.net/crd_hat_375965_102.html>
An Internet worm that affects Linux-based servers running Red Hat Inc.'s version of the open-source operating system has been causing aggravation for some users over the past week, although security analysts said they haven't yet seen any permanent damage that was caused by the so-called Ramen code.

 Desktop Linux Company Wins Funding (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4514271.html?tag=st.ne.1003.thed.ni>
Helix Code, a company hoping adoption of Linux by desktop users will be a profitable business, has changed its name to Ximian and has won $15 million in venture capital.

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

 'Ramen' Worm Hits Some Red Hat Linux Servers (IDG)
<http://www.idg.net/crd_hat_375965_102.html>
An Internet worm that affects Linux-based servers running Red Hat Inc.'s version of the open-source operating system has been causing aggravation for some users over the past week, although security analysts said they haven't yet seen any permanent damage that was caused by the so-called Ramen code.

 Desktop Linux Company Wins Funding (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-4514271.html?tag=st.ne.1003.thed.ni>
Helix Code, a company hoping adoption of Linux by desktop users will be a profitable business, has changed its name to Ximian and has won $15 million in venture capital.

 VA Linux Shares Dive On Warning (Kagan.com)
<http://www.kagan.com/archive/kagan/2001/01/17/valinux.shtml>

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

 Publishing Veteran Sees The Web As Godsend (San Francisco Chronicle)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/17/BU77409.DTL&type=tech_article>
While publishers tear their hair out over slender profit margins and worry that the Internet will be the end of books as we know them, Epstein says he believes that the Web will save the book business, enable books to be published cheaper and earn bigger royalties for corporations and authors.

 New Age Dawns For The Struggling Utne Reader (Star Tribune)
<http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qview.cgi?story=83357186>
The Utne Reader's paid circulation has dropped 27 percent in the past four years, from 309,643 to 225,147. The drop is especially significant because the Utne gets about two-thirds of its revenue from circulation, compared with about 40 percent at the average magazine.

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

 What Kind Of Politics For Singapore In 2007? (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,18178,00.html?>
The Government would continue to consult citizens and welcome feedback without giving up "strict top-down policies for major policies". This scenario, which Dr Lim considered the most likely of the three, would not satisfy those who wanted "real, meaningful change", she argued.

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

 Economists Retain Confideence In Singapore Achieving GDP Target (AFP)
<http://sg.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/singapore/afp/article.html?s=singapore/headlines/010118/singapore/afp/Economists_retain_confidence_in_Singapore_achieving_GDP_target.html>
Economists said Thursday they were confident Singapore would achieve its 5-7 percent economic growth target this year despite a fall in exports, provided the US economy has a soft-landing.

 Singapore's New India Play (FEER)
<http://www.feer.com/_0101_25/p049money.html>
With a huge appetite for infrastructure coupled with a vast pool of skilled manpower, India offers Singaporean companies great opportunities.

 Self-Help Groups May Not Help (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,12086,00.html?>

 Readers 'Happy' With More Newspapers (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,18069,00.html?>
While readers are generally happy that there are more newspapers on the market, they are reserving judgment on the value of competition for when more contentious issues arise, such as the upcoming elections.

 What Kind Of Politics For Singapore In 2007? (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,18178,00.html?>
The Government would continue to consult citizens and welcome feedback without giving up "strict top-down policies for major policies". This scenario, which Dr Lim considered the most likely of the three, would not satisfy those who wanted "real, meaningful change", she argued.

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

 David Lim Heads PAP's Internet Sub-Committe (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,18058,00.html?>

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

 Diff'rent Shops For Diff'rent Folks (Project Eyeball)
<http://eyeball.asia1.com.sg/Eyeball/Story/1,1381,12094,00.html?>
Call it a shopping divide. Suburban shopping malls seem to attract the older family-type customers while younger shoppers are still gravitating towards Orchard Road.