[MyAppleMenu] Aug 19, 2004

Thu Aug 19 13:15:00 EDT 2004

MyAppleMenu Newsletter
Thursday, August 19, 2004

MyAppleMenu
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/index.html>
Mac News for Mac Users

[Top Stories]

*** PowerBook Batteries Recalled
<http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/08/16/daily35.html>
by Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
Some 28,000 rechargeable batteries used in 15-inch Apple PowerBook G4 computers are being recalled voluntarily by Apple, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. An internal short in the batteries made by LG Chem Ltd., of South Korea, can cause the battery cells to overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

*** iPod Music Player Winning Over Japan Fans
<http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/9439443.htm>
by Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press
The iPod is proving a colossal hit on the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony's own turf. The tiny white machine is catching on as a fashion statement and turning into a cultural icon in Japan, much the same way it won a fanatic following in the United States. Although Apple doesn't release regional sales figures, six of the top eight selling music players in Japan are iPod models, according to a market research company.

[News]

*** iTMS In Oz, Apple Needs Unwired?
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=9425>
by Macworld UK
Australian ISP Unwired has hinted at an alliance with Apple that could see the two partner on a music service within a month, local reports claim.

*** Free Freeverse For .Mac Nuts
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=9426>
by Macworld UK
Apple is making two new games available to subscribers to its .Mac suite of Internet services.

*** PocketMac Blackberry Edition Announced
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/08/19/pmblackberry>
by MacMinute
Information Appliance Associates today announces the first tool to sync Mac users' data with RIM BlackBerry handhelds.

*** iBoom Turns iPod, iPod Mini Into A Boombox
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/08/19/boombox/?lsrc=mcrss-0804>
by Brad Cook, MacCentral

*** Apple Credit Account Program Launched
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/08/18/applecredit>
by MacMinute
"Apple has made financing so easy that within minutes you can own the Mac system of your dreams."

*** The Other RoadTrip
<http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/the-other-roadtrip-019872.php>
by Gizmodo
What happens when two companies come out with an FM transmitter for the car called "RoadTrip" in the same week?

[Opinion]

*** Who Is Real Actually Helping: Us, Themselves, Or Apple?
<http://www.billpalmer.net/ipodgarage/ipod000143.html>
by Henry Dee, iPod Garage
Real, through this promotion, may have shot itself in the foot... and in the long term helped Apple.

*** OS 9 Had One Thing Over OS X: Disk Copying Ability
<http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/35944.html>
by Craig Crossman, MacNewsWorld

*** My Huge Mistake About The Mini
<http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2004/tc20040819_1078_tc056.htm>
by Alex Salkever, BusinessWeek
Well, the mini is not a flop. In fact, it's a hit. I can't deny it. So, here's my apology, Steve. The mini is no Cube. I was wrong, and you were right.

[Review]

*** Built For Active People
<http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2004/8/19/prodit/8663456&sec=prodit>
by Chris Chong, Malaysia Star
With its small stature, impeccable build-quality, understated styling and wonderful user interface, the iPod mini is one of the most likeable and portable MP3 players around.

*** Still Leading The Pack
<http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2004/8/19/prodit/8679248&sec=prodit>
by Tan Kit Hoong, Malaysia Star
What can I say about the iPod except that I love it so much that the folks at Apple will have to pry it out of my cold hands if they want it back.

*** OS X In A Windows World
<http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id%3B471203871%3Bfp%3B2%3Bfpid%3B37>
by Joshua Gliddon, PC World
Your chances of running a Mac officially in the workplace, unless your job description warrants it, are pretty close to zero. That doesn't mean it can't be done. A little sleuthing, a little know-how, and your colleagues will be asking why your computer is so much cooler and easier to use than theirs.

[Sidetrack]

*** Real's Hijack Of FairPlay? No Big Deal To Apple, Real, And Their Customers 
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/2004/08/19/#20040819bg000001>
by Heng-Cheong Leong
As I like to remind my dear readers, here in Singapore, we don't even have photo prints and photo books in iPhoto yet, so, naturally, we can't participate in the grand shopping experience of either iTunes Music Store nor Real's Rhapsody store. I don't even own an iPod or any MP3 players (except my computers, of course). So, obviously, the latest issues surrounding Real's reverse engineering of FairPlay doesn't concern me. :-)

No, seriously. I believe it's not a big deal as many has made out to be.

Let's do one pretend exercise. Let's pretend that, instead of selling DRM-protected music files, Real is selling unprotected, no-DRM, plain old MP3 files.

Now, in this pretend world, of course Real's customer can purchase Real music files, and upload them to the iPod for their listening pleasure. (In fact, there are already such stores out there, just that they are not from Real.) Would Apple fans then be protesting against Real reverse-ennginnering FairPlay to allow their music to be uploaded to the iPod? Obviously not.

Now, of course, Real is not selling plain old MP3s. If, in our pretend world, Real is selling non-protected music files, while Apple is being forced to sell DRM-protected music files, wouldn't that place iTMS in a disadvantaged position? Music fans will flock to Real in huge numbers, wouldn't they?

Well, not really. Because Apple is selling non-protected plain old AAC files too.

After all, it is well-documented (by everybody except Apple, that is) that you can simply burn your iTMS files onto audio CDs, and the DRM is automatically removed.

Even if Apple removed this functionality due to pressure from third-parties, somebody will immediately crack whatever DRM system Apple is imposing on its customers. After all, it is well known (well, at least to the Slashdot community :-) that all DRM can be broken. That's what you get when you place the encryption algorithm and all the encryption keys together in the same customer's hands.

But let's pretend some more. Even if Apple invented a perfect DRM system that cannot be broken, the channel between the speakers and your brain will still be unprotected, so I wouldn't worry too much. Until someday where the iTMS requirements include a trip to your local Apple Store to get a decryption chip implanted into your brain, we can safely pretend that Apple is selling non-protected no-DRM plain old AAC files.

So, in our pretend world, everyone is selling non-DRMed files, that can be freely uploaded to any MP3 players out there. So, you see, it's really no big deal.

Now, when viewed in this light, wouldn't you say that the fact that Real reversed engineered FairPlay to be, well, a non-issue?

P.S. Sony will be the ultimate loser in this pretend world, as their player does not play plain old MP3s.

P.P.S. The whole "freedom of choice" advertisement campaign by Real is entirely tasteless and stupid, but that's another story.

[Wintel]

*** Pros Point To Flaws In Windows Security Update
<http://news.com.com/Pros+point+to+flaws+in+Windows+security+update/2100-1002_3-5315063.html?part=rss&tag=5315063&subj=news.1002.20>
by Robert Lemos, CNET News.com
Security researchers say they're starting to find flaws in Microsoft's latest major update for Windows XP.

The Tomorrow Weblog
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/tomorrow/index.html>
Emerging Technology. Innovative Applications. New Economy.

[News]

*** Making A Web Search Feel Like A Stroll In The Library
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/technology/circuits/19next.html?ex=1250568000&#38;en=c238861f7d69b37d&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Anne Eisenberg, New York Times
Researchers are working on more flexible approaches to searching for digital information not only on the Web, but on one's own hard drive, where elusive details may be scattered through photos, e-mail and other files.

*** In The Classroom, Web Blogs Are The New Bulletin Boards
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/technology/circuits/19blog.html?ex=1250568000&#38;en=0cd89e308a310594&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Jeffrey Selingo, New York Times
Classroom Web logs, or blogs, many of which got their start in the last school year, are becoming increasingly popular with teachers as a forum for expression for students as young as the second-grade level and in almost any subject.

[Linux]

*** Lindows Backs Out Of IPO
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1637547,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594>
by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, eWeek
"Lindows won't be forced into a cut-rate IPO by a fickle stock market. We are fortunate to have cash in the bank, and we owe it to our stockholders to wait until market conditions and public company valuations improve before we proceed with a public offering."

MyAppleMenu Reader
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/index.html>
The other things in life

[World]

*** Technology Vs Torture
<http://slate.msn.com/id/2105332/fr/rss/>
by Harvey Rishikof and Michael Schrage, Slate
Psychopharmaceuticals and brain imaging could make prisoner interrogation more humane. Should we use them?

SingaporeSurf
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/index.html>
Life in the city

[Ramblings]

*** Stockpile? What stockpile? 
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/2004/08/19/#20040819bg000002>
by Heng-Cheong Leong
Lim Swee Say assured the public<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,267979,00.html?> that there are enough supply of chicken to meet demand, now that we've stopped importing chickens from Malaysia due to the bird flu incident.

"In fact, there is a stockpile of three months' supply of frozen chicken, he said."

Am I reading this correctly? There is a stockpile of three months' supply? Does that mean the frozen chicken wing that I've just bought from NTUC may well be from chickens that are already dead for three months already? Ewww....

[News]

*** Singapore No Longer Among 25 Most Expensive Cities For Expats
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/premiumstory/0,4574,126006,00.html?>
by Anna Teo, Business Times
For the first time in five years, Singapore has dropped out of the list of 25 most expensive cities for expatriates -- but mostly because European cities have become rather more costly.

*** Which Lee Is GUiding Singapore?
<http://www.iht.com/articles/534158.html>
by Associated Press
It's the son, but the founder and father remains influential.

*** Singapore's Ruling Party Seen Preparing For New Elections
<http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=8/19/2004&Cat=4&Num=006>
by AFP
Singapore's ruling party has begun interviewing potential candidates, indicating an election to give new Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong his own mandate may be looming, a report said Wednesday.

*** SMRT Corp Pulls Out Of Today Venture
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,267943,00.html?>
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Transport operator SMRT Corp has pulled out of MediaCorp Press, which publishes the loss-making free daily newspaper Today.

See Also : MediaCorp, SingTel Increase Their Stakes In Today
<http://www.todayonline.com/articles/24300.asp>
by Today