[MyAppleMenu] Jan 13, 2005

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/>
Mac news for Mac people

[Top Stories]

*** Apple Reports $295 Million Profit, 4.5 Million iPods Sold
<http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/01/12/applefinance/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0105>
Jim Dalrymple, MacCentral

Apple on Wednesday reported the highest quarterly revenue and net income in the company's history.

[News]

*** Smaller Not Necessarily Better
<http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,66256,00.html?tw=rss.TOP>
Leander Kahney, Wired News

The iPod shuffle is clearly a hit, and Macworld attendees hope the Mac mini will be also, but there are worries it may be another Cube. And there are concerns about the changing face of the Mac tribe: Hordes of new iPod users may be sullying the Mac experience.

*** Apple Ditched Shuffle Screen - Joswiak
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=10607>
Karen Haslam, Macworld UK

Apple VP of hardware marketing Greg Joswiak has admitted that Apple considered including a screen and an interface for navigating the iPod shuffle, but was unable to devise a system with which it was happy.

*** Panic Shows Off Transmit 3
<http://www.macminute.com/2005/01/13/transmit>
MacMinute

The new version will sport a new column view, secured FTP, WebDAV support, and a new tabbed interface for multiple FTP sessions.

*** Unpacking The iPod Shuffle
<http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000177027029/>
Eric Lin, Engadget

We patiently kept our mitts off the box, biting our nails instead until we could get back to a good camera to bring you these pictures.

*** Remember Kids; Maths Can Be Fun!
<http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/wlg/6214>
Giles Turnbull, O'Reilly Network

At last! A calculator you can type into!

*** Synaptics Boosted By Surging iPod Sales
<http://www.forbes.com/markets/commodities/2005/01/12/0112automarketscan15.html>
Forbes

*** Mac Mini A Max Deal? Depends What You Want
<http://news.com.com/Mac+Mini+a+maxi+deal+Depends+what+you+want/2100-1042_3-5533989.html?part=rss&tag=5533989&subj=news.1042.20>
Michael Kanellos and John G. Spooner, CNET News.com

The price delta increases as one factors in the typical standard equipment on PCs -- neither mouse, monitor nor keyboard comes with Apple's Spartan box.

*** Merrill Lynch: iPod Shuffle Could Take Top Spot In Flash Market Soon
<http://www.ipodlounge.com/ipodnews.php?id=P6097>
Larry Angell, iPodlounge

*** Apple's Latest iPod Is Music To Creative's Ears
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/singapore/story/0,5562,295298,00.html?>
Ho Ka Wei, Straits Times

"The Apple [iPod shuffle] is a big let-down for the whole industry. It's like they have nothing better to show... they are square one. We're at square 100."

*** Apple Can't Spoil Microsoft's Home Invasion
<http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/tech/ronnaabramson/10203041.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE>
Ronna Abramson, The Street

Apple's latest offering could still keep Microsoft on its toes as the world's largest software maker continues to fight for a greater presence in consumers' living rooms.

*** How Far Can Apple Take Its Consumer Crossover?
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1750796,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594>
Brad Gibson, eWeek

While the cheaper Apple products look like winners, some believe they aren't for everyone.

*** Analysts: Mac Mini May Fuel Apple's Enterprise Traction
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1750469,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594>
Daniel Drew Turner, eWeek

Questions remain on whether the forthcoming pint-sized Mac mini can beckon Microsoft Windows users and generate market pull with IT managers.

*** Freeverse Releases ToySight Expansion Pack
<http://www.macminute.com/2005/01/12/freeverse/>
MacMinute

This expansion release features three new games.

*** Expo Attendees Enthusiastic, Making Purchases
<http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/01/12/attendees/index.php?lsrc=mcrss-0105>
Mathew Honan, MacCentral

If the long queues to check out both the Mac mini and iPod shuffle, and the throng of visitors at a nearby Apple Retail store, are any indication, this was a particularly exciting Expo for many attendees and exhibitors alike.

[Opinion]

*** Apple Tries To Break Out
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/opinion/13thur4.html?ex=1263358800&en=b4fc2f837c4e62c4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland>
New York Times

It's interesting to see a company whose customers have always regarded themselves as a lonely elite deciding to try a new direction.

*** Paul Takes On The Macworld Expo 2005 Keynote
<http://www.internet-nexus.com/2005_01_09_archive.htm#110558221384765759>
Paul Thurrott, Internet Nexus

The mile-high view is that Apple hit a home run: Most of the new products they announced are quite exciting and it appears the company has actually figured out a way to grow Mac market share. Suddenly, I'm excited about the Mac again.

*** Mac Mini: Steve Jobs Gets His Cube Back
<http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/6208>
Chuck Toporek, O'Reilly Network

Apple has proven once again that they can be innovative as hell, and the Mac mini is a (small) shining example of things done right.

*** Mac Mini Economics: My Math Wasn't Bad, Just Misguided. Witness the First Post-Megahertz Mac
<http://fortt.com/blog/2005/01/mac-mini-economics-my-math-wasnt-bad.html>
Jon Fortt, Technofile

Here are six reasons why the Mac mini isn't stupid.

*** Mac Mini And PCs That Don't Work
<http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/6212>
Jonathan Gennick, O'Reilly Network

The time is right for Apple to make a push into the mass-market.

*** Giving Shuffle A Chance
<http://www.applematters.com/comments.php?id=260_0_1_0_C>
Gregory Ng, Apple Matters

It is the same price as buying a USB memory stick only it has the simple elegance from Apple.

*** Apple's Magic Act
<http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05011203.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y&bounce=y&bounce2=y>
Seth Jayson, Motley Fool

If you really want to "think different," try thinking differently than the rest of the Apple herd. Stop cheering every little thing Apple does, put on a Fool's cap, and ask yourself, "Is this the best place for my money?"

*** Apple Makes Max Mistake With Mac Mini
<http://weblog.infoworld.com/techwatch/archives/000977.html>
E. Schwartz, InfoWorld

I just don't see value conscious consumers who know how to shop buying a less than complete package for more money.

*** Wasn't Macworld Supposed To Be Boring?
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/webx?14@38.48aJaPoxSpb.0@.3c4f5c5c!discloc=.3c56f4a5>
Glenn Fleishman, TidBITS

Jobs pushed out a lot of news, but the mesage of the day was, "Apple is affordable. Apple owns the space. Apple is friend."

*** Apple Can Take Its Idiot Box And Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine
<http://www.billpalmer.net/2005/01/apple-can-take-its-idiot-box-and-stick.html>
Bill Palmer

You have just got to be kidding me.

*** Macworld SF 2005 Reporter's Notebook
<http://www.macintouch.com/mwsf2005notebook.html>
Henry Norr, Macintouch

[Review]

*** Test-Driving The $99 iPod
<http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/solution-20050112.html>
Walter S. Mossberg, Wall Street Journal

This is a good product that will enlarge the iPod's appeal, especially with kids, people on low budgets, or people who work out. I imagine some existing iPod owners will also buy Shuffles as sort of add-on players. And the iPod juggernaut will roll on.

[Sidetrack]

*** Mac Mini: Prior Art
Heng-Cheong Leong

Gizmodo <http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops-pcs/apple/mac-mini-prior-art-029549.php>: You know what they say about Apple: they do what's already been done, but better.

:-)

[Wintel]

*** Microsoft's Longhorn May Blend Tablet PC, Media Center
<http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/01/13/HNlonghornblend_1.html>
Joris Evers, IDG News Service

Microsoft plans to drop the "Home" and "Pro" tags with the next release of Windows, code-named Longhorn, and is looking at shipping a single product that includes the features found in today's Windows XP Media Center and Tablet PC editions.

*** Windows XP Starter Edition
<http://winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_starter_edition.asp>
Paul Thurrott, SuperSite For Windows

For from its reported destitution, XP Starter Edition is, in fact, a triumph of cooperative product design, one that simultaneously meets the needs of users, governments, PC makers, and Microsoft itself.

The Tomorrow Weblog
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/tomorrow/>
Emerging Technologies. Innovative Applications. New Economy

[News]

*** At The Heart Of The Open-Source Revolution
<http://news.com.com/At+the+heart+of+the+open-source+revolution/2008-7344_3-5519612.html?part=rss&tag=5519612&subj=news.7344.20>
Paul Festa, CNET News.com

Mitch Kapor spoke about his open-source and charity foundations, what it will take to challenge Microsoft and the movement behind Mozilla.

*** RSS Subscription Central?
<http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3457801>
Susan Kuchinskas, InternetNews.com

Blog reading could stand to be a little less complicated, according to the mac who helped create the technology behind it.

*** Tsunami Video Alliance Portends Future Distribution For Amateurs
<http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050111glaser/>
Mark Glaser, Online Journalism Review

The nascent Media Bloggers Association linked up bloggers, bandwidth providers, and the washigntonpost.com to distribute amateur tsunami videos. But is it viable without proper rights or a payment mechanism for creators?

*** Chess Players Give 'Check' A New Meaning
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/technology/circuits/13ches.html?ex=1263272400&en=9e0b9f09102d589f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt>
Dylan Loeb McClain, New York Times

Game databases, many of which are online, give players information about what opening strategies their opponents use. And rapidly improving chess computer programs can analyze games and make suggestions about what to play. In many cases, electronic game collections are replacing books as chess players' primary source of information.

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

[Life]

*** Food Bloggers Chronicle Their Delicious Obsessions
<http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2005/01/12/food_bloggers_chronicle_their_delicious_obsessions/>
Ethan Gilsdorf, Boston Globe

Armed with digital cameras, keyboards and easy-to-use software, gourmands can now create online shrines to beloved or dreaded aspects of the culinary realm.

*** Hard To Label
<http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-et-size12jan12,1,1682323.story?coll=la-headlines-lifestyle>
Lisa Rosen, Los Angeles Times

That size 8 dress may be a 6 or even a 4 at other stores. When it comes to women's clothing, sizes are in the eye of the retailer.

*** A Vegetarian Haiku In Four Dishes
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/dining/12MINI.html?oref=login&8hpib>
Mark Bittman, New York Times

"In Japan, the idea of focusing on a small aspect of something and then exploding it into many possibilities is an appealing notion, in both life and aesthetics. Working in a limited set and not letting it inhibit you but allowing it to take you to another level is part of the pleasure."

[Expressions]

*** Aubade
<http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050117&s=poem011705>
Bill Coyle, New Republic

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

[News]

*** Second Botanical Gardens To Be Built At New Downtown
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/127219/1/.html>
Joanne Leow, Channel NewsAsia

Nature lovers can look forward to a greener Garden City when Singapore gets a second national botanical gardens in the new Downtown at Marina Bay.

*** Singapore Official Warns Tsunami Distracting From Fight On Terror
<http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/13/latest/20697Singapore&sec=latest>
Associated Press

Though crippled by arrests of members in Singapore and elsewhere, regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah is regrouping and continues to pose a threat, Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan told reporters.