[MyAppleMenu] Tuesday, Jan 6, 2004

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2004

MyAppleMenu : Top Stories
-------------------------
Apple Introduces iPod mini (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/06/ipodmini>
"The smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs."

Microsoft Readies New Mac Office (Ina Fried, CNET News.com)
<http://rss.com.com/2100-1012-5135523.html?tag=nl>
In a sign that Microsoft plans to be in the Apple market for some time, the software giant said Tuesday that a new version of Office for the Mac is on its way and that another is already in the works.

Apple Shows New Office, Multimedia Apps (John Borland and Ina Fried, CNET News.com)
<http://rss.com.com/2100-1045_3-5135865.html>
Apple CEO Steve Jobs kicked off Macworld Expo on Tuesday by announcing several new software packages, including an audio recording application called "GarageBand" and an updated version of Microsoft's Office software.

We're All Mac Users Now (Leander Kahney, Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,61730,00.html?tw=rss.TOP>
The Macintosh in 1984 was regarded by many as a toy, a childlike plaything that couldn't do serious computing. Twenty years later, Apple is a small player in the PC industry, but everyone uses a Macintosh -- even if its called Microsoft Windows.

Mac Founders Push For New Ideas (Daniel Terdiman, Wired News)
<http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,61799,00.html?tw=rss.TOP>
The crew that put together the first Mac is celebrating its 20th birthday, but some are disappointed over the apparent lack of innovation in personal computers.

MyAppleMenu : News
------------------
Virtual PC 7.0 Shipping In First Half Of 2004 (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/06/vpc7>

Dantz Launches Retrospect 6.0 With Panther Support (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/06/retrospect6>
Version 6.0 now protects Power Mac G4 and G5 computers running Mac OS X Panther, backs up Xserve RAIDs hosting multiple terabytes of data, and supports SCSI and Fibre Channel tape libraries.

Sailing Clicker Comes To P800/P900 Phones (Peter Cohen, MacCentral)
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/01/06/salling/index.php?redirect=1073371937000>
The company's expanding support for two newer popular phones -- the Sony Ericsson P800 and P900 models.

Griffin Offers SightLight Add-On For Apple's iSight (MacNN)
<http://www.macnn.com/news/22722>
Griffin has debuted the SightLight, its add-on light for Apple's iSight that helps produce a better video image in poor lighting conditions.

iTalk iPod Voice Recorder Coming In April (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/05/italk>

'Grunt Work' Brings Early Version Of KOffice To Mac OS X (Daniel Drew Turner, eWeek)
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,1426578,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594>
Even as the Mac community speculates about an impending beta version of Microsoft Office for Mac OS X, a new -- and free -- productivity suite has found a toehold on Apple Computer Inc.'s operating system.

AquaMinds Plans NoteTaker Update (MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/05/notetaker>

Gear Makers Get Jump On Macworld (Ina Fried, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-7354_3-5135323.html>
Although Apple CEO Steve Jobs' keynote speech at Macworld Expo is still hours away, companies have started to make product announcements to coincide with the San Francisco show.

Photo-Editing Experts Say Windows Is Good But Mac Is Easier (Sydney Morning Herald)
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/06/1073268003482.html>
"The user interface for Macintosh programs appears to be more consistent than that for Windows software."

Apple Preps For Macworld Harvest (Ina Fried, CNET News.com)
<http://news.com.com/2100-7354_3-5135192.html?tag=nefd_lede>
Although a winter chill still lingers in the air, the latest crop of Apples is nearly ready to be harvested.

MyAppleMenu : Opinions
----------------------
Mac Enterprise Computing: The Return Of The King (David Morgenstern, eWeek)
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,,1426801,00.asp>
Apple's admirable efforts in the consumer market have set off an echo effect among the tech-conscious. Maybe this week, Apple will look beyond this consumer beachhead to reclaim its historical territory among CIOs.

Reporter's Notebook: People, Lions And The Sunflower Cafe (Dennis Sellers, MacMinute)
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/01/06/reportersnotebook>
If you're here in town and need a good breakfast, may I recommend the Sunflower Cafe at 284 O'Farrell Street.

Apple Computer, Going Forward Into 2004 (Adam C. Engst, TidBITS)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07489>
Let's look at specific areas Apple can and should focus effort to improve both their products and the Macintosh experience for the rest of us.

Steve's Keynote: Step-By-Step (Andy Ihnatko, Mac Observer)
<http://www.macobserver.com/columns/ihnatko/2004/20040105.shtml>
I mean, 9 AM! Just how many farmers does Apple think will be coming to Macworld, anyway?

Were The Pismo PowerBook And The Clamshell iBook The Last Tough Apple Portables? (Charles Moore, MacOPINION)
<http://www.macopinion.com/columns/roadwarrior/04/01/05/index.html>
Newer models are flirting with quasi "disposable computer" status given the exorbitant cost of repairs and service rationalized with the cost of buying a new machine.

Expo Speculations (Michael Swaine, O'Reilly Network)
<http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2004/01/05/swaine.html>
It's really hard to resist the temptation, at this time of the year, to guess what will be revealed in Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo San Francisco keynote.

Getting To The Core Of Apple's Shortcoming (Gene Steinberg, USA Today)
<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/2004-01-05-steinberg_x.htm>
I realize that the view from the CEO's office is quite different from what I see when I sit in front of my Mac. But when it comes to matters of product reliability and customer satisfaction, we should all be on the same page.

MyAppleMenu : Reviews
---------------------
Still Life 2.2.3 (Jim Dalrymple)
<http://www.jimdalrymple.com/Reviews-index-req-showcontent-id-8.html>
Still Life is a great piece of software. Sure it's a one-trick pony, but such a pretty pony.

MyAppleMenu Tomorrow: News & Opinions
-------------------------------------
Why VoIP Is Going To Be A Big Deal This Year (David Coursey, ZDNet)
<http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7297_16-5114885.html?tag=adts>
This year, despite the competitive and regulatory battles to be fought, VoIP is the telecom technology to watch.

MyAppleMenu Reader: World
-------------------------
Second Thoughts On Free Trade (Charles Schumer and Paul Craig Roberts, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/06/opinion/06SCHU.html>
The question today is whether the case for free trade made two centuries ago is undermined by the changes now evident in the modern global economy.

MyAppleMenu Reader: Life
------------------------
Restaurant Chains, Too, Watch Their Carbs (Julie Dunn, New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/business/yourmoney/04carb.html>
Recognizing the size of the trend, nearly every part of the food industry, from manufacturers to restaurant chains, has introduced low-carb products.

MyAppleMenu Reader: Expressions
-------------------------------
The Bond (Rachel Hadas, Slate)
<http://slate.msn.com/id/2093503/>

MyAppleMenu SingaporeSurf : News & Opinions
-------------------------------------------
KL Does Not Want Public Debate Over Causeway Plans (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,228779,00.html?>
"Malaysia only undertakes its development plans or activities within its territory without trying to impinge on the legal rights of others".

Singapore Reviews Oral Sex Law (BBC News)
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3372147.stm>
Singapore is considering decriminalising oral sex between consenting men and women, after a case involving a policeman highlighted a law which many in the city-state consider antiquated.

No Plans To Scrap Guaranteed CPF Interest Despite Pension Fund Proposal (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/print/65064/1/.html>
The Central Provident Fund Board says it has no plans to scrap the guaranteed interest rates paid on its members' savings.

Opposition MP Steve Chia Cleared Of Molest Charges (AFP)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,228711,00.html?>
Non-constituency Member of Parliament Steve Chia has been cleared of allegations that he molested his Indonesian maid, police said on Tuesday following an investigation triggered by his own wife's complaint.

A Prize Too Far? (Jose Raymond, Today)
<http://www.todayonline.com/articles/12649.asp>
No CPF for Singapore's new gold-medallist citizens.

Singapore Min: Govt To Stay Out Of Rail Line Sales Talks (Dow Jones)
<http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/040106/15/3h2ei.html>
The Singapore government will stay out of any discussions over ComfortDelgro Corp.'s possible sale of its underground train service to SmRT Corp., Minister for Transport Yeow Cheow Tong said late Monday.

Slide In Fertility Rate Raises Alarm In Singapore (Jason Szep, Reuters)
<http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SIN162462.htm>
Pro-fertility programmes to create more babies in Singapore through subsidies and even a state-run dating service have failed to stop a plunge in the nation's birth rate, a senior official said on Monday.

No Stares For Chia, Only Handshakes (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,228661,00.html?>

Not Consulted On New Bridge (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,228599,00.html?>
Singapore yesterday said it had not been consulted nor had its agreement been sought for a Malaysian plan to replace its half of the Causeway with a new bridge.

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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 (C) 1996-2004 Heng-Cheong Leong. All rights reserved.