[MyAppleMenu] Sep 27, 2004

Mon Sep 27 13:15:00 EDT 2004

MyAppleMenu Newsletter
Monday, September 27, 2004

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

[Top Stories]

*** Apple Offers Fix For Spotted PowerBook Displays
<http://www.macworld.com/news/2004/09/24/repair/index.php/?lsrc=mcrss-0904>
by Peter Cohen, MacCentral
The worldwide program covers replacement of LCD panels that show the spots.

[News]

*** Combat In High C: Microsoft Vs. Apple
<http://www.whartonjournal.com/news/2004/09/27/TheWhartonWire/Combat.In.High.C.Microsoft.Vs.Apple-731511.shtml>
by Knowledge at Wharton
"Microsoft will ultimately be cheaper because it's not out to sell hardware. It usually starts out badly in a new market, but then it eithers get better or it terrifies the compeititon. Usually it does both."

*** Apple Extends Panther Promo; Tiger Due In Janauary?
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/09/26/panther-tiger/>
by MacMinute
Apple has extended its "Add more life to your Mac" promotion -- which offers a US$50 mail-in rebate with the purchase of Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) and iLife '04 -- until January 10, 2005. Interestingly, this is the first day of Macworld Expo San Francisco.

*** Griffi Offers iPod Flashlight, Laser Pointer Add-Ons
<http://www.macminute.com/2004/09/25/ibeam/>
by MacMinute
"The iBeam flashlight is surprisngly functional when a quick beam of light is required in a dark car or doorstep."

[Opinion]

*** iTunes Affiliate
<http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5649>
by brian d foy, O'Reilly Network
Since the actual program is not run by Apple, it's very un-Apple like: ugly and kludgey and painful to look at.

[Review]

*** Apple AirPort Express Base Station
<http://www.macsonly.com/index.html#271>
by Macs Only!
We are very pleased with AirPort Express Base Station and will continue to carry it everywhere.

*** G5 iMac Handles Tasks With Flair, Fewer Wires
<http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0409260524sep26,1,2839671.column?coll=chi-technology-nav>
by James Coates, Chicago Tribune
Be assured, if you've got the money, this machine is beyond fine -- it's downright sublime.

[Sidetrack]

*** Apple And Me 
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/2004/09/27/#20040927bg000001>
by Heng-Cheong Leong
Dave Winer has a different response -- if he is developing a RSS reader -- than Brent Simmons, on the subject of Apple and third party developers: "It's really up to the users<http://archive.scripting.com/2004/09/26#When:10:41:30AM>. If you want us to continue developing the software, you have to be sure we get enough money to do so. If you think Apple is capable of satisfying all your needs, then you have nothing to worry about. If you'd like insurance, help us stay in business."

I agree completely, but I would also like to add this little note for developers who is facing competition from Apple: don't whine about Apple not giving you a job, or not buying your company, or not conceding that you have the original idea. Even though Apple is the platform vendor, Apple does not own you a living. Be innovative. Be creative. And, as Dave noted, listen to your users. You can compete with Apple, but only if you want to. You may want to note that Brent Simmons did not whine, did not complain, and did just released a new beta which adds tons of user-requested features. I predict he will do well.

[Wintel]

*** Virgin Launches Online Music Service
<http://news.com.com/Virgin+launches+online+music+service/2100-1027_3-5381597.html>
by John Borland, CNET News.com
Virgin Digital is jumping into the market with a full-featured music jukebox written from scratch, in which it is offering a music download store and music subscription service powered by wholesaler MusicNet.

*** HP Discontinues Its Itanium Workstations
<http://news.com.com/HP+discontinues+its+Itanium+workstations/2100-1006_3-5381398.html?part=rss&tag=5381398&subj=news.1006.20>
by Michael Kanellos, CNET News.com
HP, one of the most aggressive promoters of Intel's Itanium family of processors, is 86ing its line of workstations that use the chips.

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

[Top Stories]

*** If RSS Ain't Broke...
<http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5383118.html>
by Steve Gillmor, ZDNet
Nothing indicates success more than the counterattack by those threatened by disruptive innovation.

[News]

*** Does The Patent System Need An Overhaul?
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/technology/27patent.html?ex=1254024000&#38;en=55e0c4ad8540e133&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Sabra Chartrand, New York Times
Two professors conclude that a couple of unrelated and seemingly innocuous administrative reforms of the patent system have caused a shift away from encouraging innovation in favor of exploiting patents largely for lawsuits.

*** The Case For Open Source/Closed Standards
<http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5651>
by Kevin Bedell, O'Reilly Network
It's to everyone's benefit to allow open source implementations of standard API's while preventing fragmentation of those API's.

*** Making Old Technologies New
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/09/24/39OPstrategic_1.html>
by Jon Udell, Infoworld
Is the new generation bereft of big ideas? Or is it redefining innovation?

[Internet]

*** Google Conforms To Chinese Censorship
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1651607,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594>
by Michael Liedtke, Associated Press
Google's recently launched news service in China doesn't display results from Web sites blocked by that country's authorities, raising prickly questions ffor an online search engine that has famously promised to "do no evil."

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

[Tech & Science]

*** Free To Clone
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/magazine/26IDEA.html?ex=1253937600&#38;en=38b084f0d0d1d3ee&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Brian Alexander, New York Times
Does the First Amendment protect scientific research? If so, the debate over cloning will have to begin all over again.

[Life]

*** The Director's Director
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/magazine/26KARWAI.html?ex=1253937600&#38;en=15b7ca15363f226d&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Jamie Wolf, New York Times
Wong Kar-wai makes emotionally exquisite, formally adventurous films that other filmmakers can't help cribbing from -- even if his method borders on madness.

*** Fear And Laptops On The Campaign Trail
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/magazine/26BLOGS.html?ex=1253937600&#38;en=6ace5dcb675bf750&#38;ei=5088&#38;partner=rssnyt>
by Matthew Klam, New York Times
The bloggers covering the presidential race are maverick, funny, mostly partisan and always hypercaffeinated. Are they ruining political journalism or recharging it?

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

[News]

*** Singaporean FM's Words Prompted By China, MOFA Says
<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/09/27/2003204551>
by Melody Chen, Taipei Times
Pressure from China was one of the reasons Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo warned Taiwan not to move toward independence at the UN Generaly Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

*** Singapore's First Transsexual Beauty Pageant A Sell-Out Success
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200409/s1207376.htm>
by AFP
An audience of 1,350 people watched 13 finalists compete for the title of Miss Tiffany Singapore, based on the famous Thai contest of the same name, at the city-state's biggest in-house restaurant.

*** Amnesty Launches Appeal For Singapore Opposition Politican
<http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/9/27/latest/19064Amnestyla&sec=latest>
by Associated Press
Amnesty International on Monday said that a defamation ruling likely to bankrupt a key opposition leader may "inhibit political life in Singapore" and called for a letter-writing campaign to support the embattled politician.

*** Radical Shift In School Ranking Lists
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,274769,00.html?>
by Sandra Davie, Straits Times
Banding replaces ranking of secondary schools and there is now a greater emphasis on the non-academic areas.