[MyAppleMenu] Mar 6, 2003

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter
Thursday, Mar 6, 2003

MyAppleMenu : Top Stories
-------------------------
For PC Buying, A New Picture (Michel Marriott, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/technology/circuits/06upgr.html?tntemail0>
The elements may be in place to inspire a new wave of interest in upgrading. An army of power-hungry software programs are beginning to explode the boundaries of what computers can do.

The Floor Plan With A Plan (Bob Parks, Business 2.0)
<http://www.business2.com/articles/mag/0,1640,47116,00.html>
Retail design guru Paco Underhill explains the little things that make such a big difference in Apple's newest and best-performing boutique.

Keynote Takes On PowerPoint (David Zeiler, Baltimore Sun)
<http://www.sunspot.net/technology/custom/pluggedin/bal-mac030603,0,6207734.column?coll=bal-business-indepth>
For a new kid on the block, Keynote has a lot to offer. That it has a little catching up to do with PowerPoint should not be a surprise; the next version almost will certainly make up a lot of that ground. But for now, Keynote offers Mac users an easy, inexpensive means to make professional, PowerPoint-compatible presentations that look better than those made in PowerPoint itself.

The Subtleties Of Mac OS X (Jason McIntosh, O'Reilly Network)
<http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2003/03/04/macosxian.html>
I thought it'd be fun to frame it as an epigram of sorts; specifically, to give you a rundown of a few of my favorite lesser-known Mac OS X features, and ones that I wrote about extensively in the actual book.

MyAppleMenu : News
------------------
Apple Releases iMovie 3.0.2 (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2003/03/06/imovie>
According to Apple, the update provides improved performance and stability.

Apple Updates Snow AirPort Firmware (Dennis Sellers, MacCentral)
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0303/06.airport.php>
AirPort 4.0.8 Firmware Update fixes an incompatibility with some customers that are unable to maintain an Internet connection using BellSouth via a DSL and/or Dial-up connection. It also provides base station support for DSL users with the Telia ISP in Sweden and expands the number of Access Control List entries.

Students View Film Festival Finalists (Lauren Bristow, Daily Kansan)
<http://www.kansan.com/stories.asp?id=200303060026>

Mac Users Get More ISP Choices (Ian Fried, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1041-991298.html>
Although Mac users have often been treated as second-class citizens by Internet service providers, they are about to have a few more choices.

Micro Warehouse Joins Apple Education Program (Russell Redman, CRN)
<http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?ArticleID=40332>

MyAppleMenu : Opinions
----------------------
Still Another Pitch For A Headless iMac (Gene Steinberg, Mac Night Owl)
<http://www.macnightowl.com/#headless>
The bottom line is that money talks. And there's not a lot of it to go around. A low-cost, headless iMac may be just the ticket to give Apple credibility in a lot of places. It may even help preserve its educational presence.

Rethink Before You Reinstall (Geoff Barrall)
<http://www.bluearc.com/barrall/0203_switch.shtml>
If like me, you have assumed for years that you could not do your job with a Mac, maybe it is time to look again. Sometimes it is important not just to Think Different but also to Be Different.

Understanding Patents & How They Apply To Apple (John Kheit, The Mac Observer)
<http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2003/03/05.1.shtml>
Design patents are filed on all kinds of mundane things in every day life: shoes, hats, furniture, silverware, lamps, fonts, etc. It helps prevent people knocking off one another's designs.

'Switcher' (Al Fasoldt, Syracuse Post-Standard)
<http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-0/104677060878889.xml>
The thing to remember is that Mac OS X is totally new and exciting, while Mac OS is irredeemably old and (dare we say?) clunky.

MyAppleMenu : Reviews
---------------------
867MHz 12-Inch PowerBook G4 (Jason Snell, Macworld)
<http://www.macworld.com/2003/04/reviews/12inchpowerbook/>
Users who care more about performance than about size (and who need to drive a digital flat-panel monitor or install a full gigabyte of RAM) will likely prefer the 15-inch Titanium or 17-inch PowerBook to this portable. On the other hand, the 12-inch PowerBook will answer the prayers of mobile professionals who need a small, light laptop.

Bullets Are Forever: Military Action, Spy Intrigue, And A Classic Arcade Revival (Peter Cohen, Macworld)
<http://www.macworld.com/2003/03/reviews/gameroom03/>
Not everyone can be a secret agent, no matter what you might think if you watch 24 or Alias. But Mac gamers can put themselves into the heat of battle, thanks to two new games that take very different approaches -- although they both end up using plenty of ammo. We've also got something for the kids and something for the kids of the 1980s inside The Game Room.

Digital Photos Make The Move From Hard Drive To Hardcover (Walter S. Mossberg, Wall Street Journal)
<http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20030305.html>
These photo books make great gifts and are a beautiful way to display your pictures. I can recommend the Adobe product, but iPhoto is easier and better, both at building books and at organizing your photos in the first place.

The 12-Inch PowerBook G4 (Joseph Moran, 802.11 Planet)
<http://www.80211-planet.com/reviews/CD/article.php/2079771>
Whether you hail from the PC or Mac worlds, it's hard to imagine a better implement for the true road warrior than the PowerBook G4 12-inch.

Are Geek Cruises Too Expensive? (Dori Smith, Backup Brain)
<http://www.backupbrain.com/2003_03_02_archive.html#a003263>
Here's a quick comparison of MacMania to Macworld NY, which isn't an exact equivalent, but it's close.

PowerMate (Lucian Fong, Inside Mac Games)
<http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=358>
No doubt, the Griffin PowerMate is a slick gadget, in appearance and functionality. If you put forth the creativity and time to make use of it in your applications, it will be a blast to use.

Think Spring (Jon Udell, O'Reilly Network)
<http://webservices.xml.com/pub/a/ws/2003/03/04/spring.html>
By encouraging us to create usable XML representations of people, places, and things, Spring can help lay a foundation for improving the classic modes of search and navigation.

Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station Modem+Broadband (Joseph Moran, 802.11 Planet)
<http://www.80211-planet.com/reviews/article.php/1756051>
The Apple AirPort Extreme, is a competent product that boasts some interesting features, It deserves kudos for being the only router available with a built-in modem and USB print server. However, unless you have fairly rudimentary requirements and are just looking "to set it and forget it," the AirPort imposes many configuration limitations that can cause consternation, especially if you have a PC-centric environment.

Troubleshooting 2003-03-03 Security Update: Fix For Repeated Install Requests (MacFixIt)
<http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20030305073900634>
Try using Apple's Disk Utility to repair permissions.

A Look At iPhoto 2 And iTunes 3 (Paul Thurrott, Connected Home)
<http://www.connectedhomemag.com/Visual/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=38249>

MyAppleMenu : Wintel News
-------------------------
Is The Tablet PC Dead? No, It's Only Resting (David Coursey, ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2912067,00.html>
I like tablet PCs, but I can't really think of a reason to buy one now, especially for any kind of a price premium over a standard notebook. But I expect that to change.

More Wintel News at <http://www.myapplemenu.com/wintel/>

MyAppleMenu Tomorrow : Top Stories
----------------------------------
Hello, Tech Designers? This Stuff Is Too Small (Jefferson Graham, USA Today)
<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-03-03-tiny-tech_x.htm>
We've gotten used to phones with tiny buttons and screens, digital cameras the dimensions of an Altoids tin and smaller, and music players the size of our two middle fingers.

Return Of The Middleman (Scott McMurray, Business 2.0)
<http://www.business2.com/articles/mag/0,1640,47143,00.html>
Remember how the Internet was supposed to kill resellers like CDW? Surprise -- turns out, plenty of people don't want to buy direct.

Europe Hacker Laws Could Make Protest A Crime (Paul Meller, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/05/international/europe/05BRUS.html>
The justice ministers of the European Union have agreed on laws intended to deter computer hacking and the spreading of computer viruses. But legal experts say the new measures could pose problems because the language could also outlaw people who organize protests online, as happened recently, en masse, with protests against a war in Iraq.

MyAppleMenu Tomorrow : News & Opinions
--------------------------------------
'Next' Up On The Internet (Andrew John Ignatius Vontz, Los Angeles Times)
<http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-wk-stay6mar06,1,24143.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dtechnology>
New web technology showcases live concerts by cutting-edge acts.

Linux Spreads Fast In Asia (John Lui, CNET Asia)
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-991155.html>
The open-source Linux platform will surge ahead this year to chalk up the highest growth rate among server operating systems in Asia, says IT analysts IDC.

Web Sites Cringe Over CDA Case (Paul Festa, CNET News.com)
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-991327.html>
A controversial case before a federal appeals court could significantly restrict legal protections that have long absolved Internet companies from responsibility for their customers' actions.

On The Slopes, High-Tech Sensors Probe For An Avalanche (Anne Eisenberg, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/technology/circuits/06next.html>
People in the tight-knit community of avalanche forecasting, including Dr. Birkeland, hope that new computer-based tools may one day aid them as they monitor dangerous conditions on the slopes.

America's R&D Wake-Up Call (Mike Tarsala, CBS MarketWatch)
<http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B2B5CBF33-899B-45CC-81DD-C7DFD5959D68%7D&siteid=mktw>
If those who don't remember their history are doomed to repeat it, then Silicon Valley's tech executives had better crack open their textbooks.

Innovators Forge Ahead Despite Slow Economy (John Foley, InformationWeek)
<http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030305S0004>
The challenging economy is forcing some technology innovators to reel in the scope of their projects, but they continue to forge ahead with targeted initiatives that promise long-term and potentially dramatic business-process improvements.

Feds Make Push For Cyber-Security Plan (Dennis Fisher, eWeek)
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,917663,00.asp>
Now that the federal government has released its plan to secure the nation's critical networks, officials are asking the rank-and-file security specialists and network administrators to take an active role in implementing the strategy.

SOAP Author Says Enough Specs Already (James Niccolai, InfoWorld)
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/03/05/HNmanyspecs_1.html>
A Microsoft engineer had harsh words this week for vendors contributing to the plethora of Web services specifications, and advised developers to read less of them and get on with writing applications.

Feds Stand Behind Sun's Liberty Alliance (Jim Hu, CNET News.com)
<http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-991116.html>
The U.S. General Services Administration and the Department of Defense on Wednesday announced that they will join the Liberty Alliance Project, which aims to standardize Web authentication.

Corel Gets Set For Next WordPerfect (Sandeep Junnarkar, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-1012-991141.html>
Canadian software maker Corel on Wednesday announced it will release the newest version of its flagship office suite, WordPerfect Office 11, in late April. The new suite contains many of the same features as previous versions but adds expanded collaborative tools, the company said.

'Black Boxes' Put Rights At Risk (Dan Gillmor, San Jose Mercury News)
<http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/5320213.htm>
One of the most alarming effects of federal copyright law has been the turning of crucial electronic devices into "black boxes" -- machines that are closed to scrutiny even when a great deal rides on their robustness and accuracy.

MyAppleMenu Reader : World
--------------------------
There's More Than Just U.S. Credibility At Stake In Iraq (Josh Marshall, The Hill)
<http://www.hillnews.com/marshall/030503.aspx>
We’re all hostage to the Bush administration’s incompetence, whether we like it or not.

MyAppleMenu Reader : Life
-------------------------
Keep Out Sign Irresistible Online (Michelle Delio, Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,57922,00.html>
Despite one website creator's plea to stay away from his site, people just can't stand not clicking on the Don't Go There button. The site, programmed to go dark after 100 visitors, stayed live just shy of one hour.

The Torch Is Passed, Handle First (Amanda Hesser, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/05/dining/05FORK.html>
For at least four generations in my family, the beloved tools have been antique bone-handle forks. Although they vary in shape and size -— so much that it is nearly impossible to find two that are identical -— all of ours share a few qualities.

Steamy Tales From A Barista In A Coffee Shop (Erin Meister, Boston Globe)
<http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/064/living/Steamy_tales_from_a_barista_in_a_coffee_shop-.shtml>
Ever since I started getting milk all over my apron three years ago, the coffee industry and I have had a love-hate relationship.

MyAppleMenu SingaporeSurf : Top Stories
---------------------------------------
Bleak Outlook For Singapore (Hardev Kaur, New Straits Times)
<http://www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/20030306075653/Article/>
Singapore, which once boasted the region’s best economic performance, faces unprecedented challenges including a lack of entrepreneurship among its people and rising unemployment, which has eroded consumer confidence.

MyAppleMenu SingaporeSurf : News & Opinions
-------------------------------------------
9-Month Pay Plan For NUS Staff On The Cards (Chuang Peck Ming, Business Times)
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/premiumstory/0,4574,74477,00.html?>
The National University of Singapore is moving to pay its academic staff nine months of salary, instead of 12, in a drive to encourage them to do more research and consultancy work outside academia.

Singaproe Set To Be 24-Hour Party City (Ahmad Osman, Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,175366,00.html?>
Pub-goers could be dancing on bar-tops in pubs that stay open all night long, if an advisory panel has its way.

More Singapore News at <http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/>

More
----
Internet News <http://www.myapplemenu.com/internet/>
Linux News <http://www.myapplemenu.com/linux/>

---
Modify your subscription at <http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/applesurf-list>

MyAppleMenu is edited by Heng-Cheong Leong. This site is not affiliated with Apple Computer, Inc., or any other companies in any manner. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, PowerBook, iMac, iBook, iPod, and eMac are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks of their registered holders. Copyright &copy; 1996-2003 Heng-Cheong Leong. All rights reserved.