As more and more households have multiple PCs, the idea of a “family pack” (i.e., a piece of software with multiple licenses for use) makes a lot of sense. Since Apple and Microsoft are set to release new versions of their respective operating systems this fall … Read More »
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Tom Reestman
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Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer has an unimpressive track record at predictions, which is why his latest comments should be of concern to Apple and, especially, MacBook Air fans: Those new ultra-thin PCs, the first of which will be coming later this year and, presumably running Windows … Read More »
In the analysis of computer book sales, two things seem to be clear: People want to learn how to write programs on the Mac People don’t want to learn how to use programs on the Mac (or PC, for that matter) The latter is especially interesting to … Read More »
A lot of stories like this one are circulating about how NPD is saying Apple has a 91 percent market share of all PCs sold over $1,000. They give that impression by claiming something like “a 91 percent share”, or “91 percent of the market”. Truth … Read More »
It must be nice to be Verizon right now. Free from the intense scrutiny AT&T receives by having the hottest and “smartest” smartphone, it can appear to rise above it all. It can have TV ads to claim the best network on the planet, and it’s … Read More »
When reading TAB writer Darrell Etherington’s article on how Mac users were left out of the Microsoft Office 2010 launch party, the first thing that struck me was that not only that it’s true, but it’s also nothing new. For the most part, Mac user … Read More »
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Fortune has a nice article on discussions with IT professionals with regards to the iPhone. I especially like this quote from a former CIO: “What’s interesting about the iPhone is [that] the capability of the device is tremendous,” he added. “We’re looking closely at it. There … Read More »
When writing about Microsoft’s previous Laptop Hunters ad, I made the following plea: So, Microsoft, I’m begging you to bring back Lauren #1. Give her the same $1,000 budget so she can easily rule out a Mac In its newest ad, the company did reduce the … Read More »
So there’s a new OS that’s based on the web, relies primarily on a web browser, and whose native apps are web apps. Old news, you say? We already know about Palm’s Read More »
I’ve been playing with Fluent News on the iPhone for the last day, and consider it a fine first effort as a news reading app. However, when it comes to sharing the news stories you’re most interested in, it falls short. Reading On my iPhone’s first Home … Read More »
Windows 7 pricing was made official not long ago, and the general consensus is that, despite a slight drop in Home Premium pricing compared to Vista, it’s too expensive. Still, there are some in the Microsoft community that try to justify it by … Read More »
Hey, AT&T is a carrier, OK? They live and breath subscription models. So I don’t blame them for bringing their Navigator GPS app to the iPhone in the same manner as they do their other GPS phones. Still, no thanks. It’s not just the subscription model, … Read More »
Earlier this week, I wrote about how I ended up ordering an iPhone 3G S via Apple and AT&T. The former had to be reserved at an Apple store (couldn’t get it delivered, I think, because I’m on a family plan, so they need in-person … Read More »
Apple’s recent tech note regarding third parties using iTunes’ syncing has caused plenty of discussion. Should Apple “break” the Pre’s ability to sync as an iPod? Why would Cupertino do this? The comments across the web vary in their opinions, so I’ll throw mine … Read More »
I’m already on record saying that I think AT&T’s upgrade pricing for iPhone 3G owners is not only comparable to the industry, but maybe even a little better. Despite what could already be considered reasonable terms, AT&T has responded to the complaints by shortening the … Read More »
After the iPhone 3G S announcement, I knew I was getting one. Actually, I knew that even before the announcement, since for me some of the rumors were so obvious it was clear this was a device worth upgrading to. I’m a first-generation iPhone owner, so I’m … Read More »
I’ve been running the release version of Safari 4 on Mac OS and Windows XP for a few days. There are a lot of good features with Safari 4 — and I have no desire to go back to version 3 — but I do miss … Read More »
There is already a lot of noise over this all around the ‘net. Owners of the iPhone 3G saying they’re getting ripped off, or not being treated like “loyal customers,” because they’re not being offered the fully subsidized price for the new iPhone 3G S. In … Read More »
Harry McCracken at Technologizer wrote a nice piece about the virtues of hardware keyboards on smartphones. I think one reason a keyboard argument even exists is because when competing in a given market, you have to tag a competitor’s hot product with a “missing feature,” and … Read More »
Microsoft’s free antivirus software, Morro, will soon be in beta testing — a free cure for one of the Windows world’s greatest sicknesses. And you know it’s gotta be good, because who better to close those doors than the company that opened them in the … Read More »
I’ve defended AT&T on occasion regarding the iPhone, but its latest moves (or non-moves) make it hard to do so. To recap its defense, I’ve praised AT&T for the following: Without AT&T we don’t even have the iPhone as we know it. You think Verizon was gonna allow … Read More »
Dave Winer published a piece explaining his views on netbooks, and he brings up Apple because a) he uses Macs and b) Apple has publicly stated its disinterest in getting in the netbook game. (I’m setting aside whether Apple really isn’t getting in the game.) He … Read More »
Apple pulled a flanking maneuver on us today, catching us by surprise. While there were some rumblings about the unibody 13” MacBook possibly being brought into the “Pro” family, there were no rumors about changes to the MacBook or Pro line in general beyond perhaps the … Read More »
First, it’s great news that the “old” iPhone 3G 8GB model now sells for $99, effective today. It’s a great device that will get even better on June 17, when the new iPhone OS 3.0 arrives free of charge. This is an incredible smartphone, and Apple … Read More »
Palm’s been working hard to mastermind the Pre launch this Saturday, but I think they’re getting it all wrong. Now Sprint has joined in. It’s reached the point where they look like a couple of companies seriously in need of some business acumen. Early reviews of the … Read More »
A big story recently is how the Palm Pre syncs seamlessly with iTunes. It does so by making itself appear to be an iPod to iTunes. Further details came out during an interview at the All Things Digital conference that indicate only non-DRM music and … Read More »
You’ve got to give Microsoft credit. Having failed at making the Zune an “iPod killer,” they’ve given up and are trying to make it an “iPod touch killer.” Why go after big brother when little brother has kicked your butt for two years? Beats me; you’d … Read More »
Well, this is a fine how do you do. Today Palm just kicked Sprint in the groin while improving its own outlook greatly. Sprint is now rolling around on the ground thanks to the announcement that Verizon will sell Palm’s Pre in “about six months.” Sprint … Read More »
Recently, two articles appeared on TechRadar documenting various command line tweaks for various apps and functions of Mac OS X. While I didn’t find anything new there, it’s nice to have two articles that summarize a bunch instead of tracking them down one by … Read More »
I know some people who’ve settled on one source for digital music purchases. (I also have a friend who buys CDs and rips them himself, but that’s another topic.) This made me wonder what the buying habits of our readers are. I’m curious as to how … Read More »
Another Laptop Hunter ad is upon us, and with five of these babies under our belt it’s time to step back and see what, if anything, works, and what doesn’t. It’s not hard to see the predicament Microsoft is in. It wants to push Windows machines … Read More »
Sure, Limerick Day was actually yesterday. Think of these as either a day late or 364 days early. There once was a major OS Whose code was so clearly a mess. But we just have to cope, And hope against hope It’s fixed in the next version, I guess. There’s a … Read More »
Microsoft has lost its marbles regarding this whole “Apple is expensive” thing, which is clear with their latest “ad.” So far, they’ve only been running this ad online, which makes me wonder if even they know they’ve jumped the shark with this meme. Their latest shot … Read More »
Yes, I know “RC” designates Windows 7 as a Release Candidate, but a better designation would be Reality Check. Windows 7 is an improvement over a very bad Vista, OK? Big deal. Let’s not pretend it’s more than that. The signal-to-noise ratio from some quarters is getting … Read More »
The good news is that Time Warner has “backed away from its controversial efforts to price broadband based on consumption” in the cities where the trials were implemented. The bad news is that it’s clearly not an admission of failure on their part. In their … Read More »
Here’s a piece on IDC’s PC Tracker numbers for the first quarter of the year. They’re quite revealing when you look at them soberly. The first thing you have to do, as I’ve argued before, is pull Apple out of the “PC” mix, so Apple … Read More »
So I’ve been unwinding in Vegas the last week (yeah, I know, “unwinding” and “Vegas” do not belong in the same sentence). Now I’m back catching up on my news feeds only to see that Microsoft has attempted a return to the good ol’ days. The Way … Read More »
The latest Laptop Hunter ad is out, and it went where it had no business going. The first ad featured Lauren, and setting aside that she was cute, the best thing about her was that she … Read More »
The hoopla around Google’s Android mobile OS, and the resulting apps in the Android Market, is pretty strong. It’s laid on thick and fast. You know the drill; it’s “open” so it’ll be free from all the constraints imposed by The Man, etc. Oops, maybe not. I’m … Read More »
Have you seen the ad yet? Lauren only has to find a laptop computer with a 17-inch screen for under a grand and she gets to keep it. Lauren is a redhead. Long, thick, curly, lovely red hair. Did I mention redheads rule? Well, they do. … Read More »
I’ve had my new iPod shuffle for two days and thought I’d post my thoughts on it. We’ve already covered the out-of-the-box and setup experience elsewhere, so I won’t repeat them here. Playlist Support I experimented with a few different setups, but finally settled on using three … Read More »
And so ends the life of another would-be iTunes competitor. Spiral Frog, a Universal-backed subscription music catastrophe, has apparently called it quits. Though the service was “free” (using an ad-supported model), it still … Read More »
Those aren’t my words (thank heavens), but rather Dell’s own. Check out this video. It’s OK to admit it — I almost threw up, too. All this talk about the “love of industrial design” and “exceptional materials” coming from Dell is rather odd. And could they … Read More »
The blogosphere will be “all OS 3.0, all the time” for a while. I wanted to wait a little bit and see some reaction to the update. Predictably, Paul Thurrott didn’t approve. He cherry-picked a few things and claimed they should have been there from the … Read More »
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Oh For Pete’s Sake Apple, Will You Pull Your Head Out?
I see Apple let Ninjawords in the App Store. Good for it. But there’s just one little thing… Apple censored an English dictionary. A dictionary. A reference book. For words contained in all reasonable dictionaries. For words contained in dictionaries that are used every day in … Read More »