With Apple on a tear of updates coming on Tuesday, some folks were surprised by the Airport Express updates made this morning. You can now get 802.11 – n on your expresses for the same price ($99) as the last one. Here’s a link to it in the Apple Store:
March 12, 2008
Apple Releases Update to Airport Base Stations…Or Did They?
It seems as Apple has had a change of heart. There was an update (through software update) of new software for Airport Base Stations. When people installed it, it seemed to install the airport utility that came with Apple’s Time Capsule. There are conflicting reports coming out that Apple has pulled the update, or at least part of it. Documentation on the update is no longer available on Apple’s website. This isn’t the first time Apple has done this either. They pulled an update to the iMac’s video card once it had been released a few months ago. I am sure this will work itself out in the next few days, but the people that have installed it don’t seem to be seeing much benefit, in fact for some it has made it worse. Here is post from TUAW on the update:
March 10, 2008
Hulu.com
There is a good writeup in Fortune.com today about the joint venture between Fox and NBC called Hulu. It talks about how the venture is trying to get off the ground and how they plan to survive. I didn’t give this idea much hope seeing that the head of NBC Universal Zucker decided to declare war on Apple by creating this service. I thought it would be ridden with ads and propritary video viewing software. The service so far has been given decent reviews by the press…and I have been waiting to get invited to the Beta. It seems like my wait won’t be much longer as it is expected to be released to the public sometime this week or next. What I thought was interesting was the fact that the supplied videos are not just restricted to NBC and Fox, but there are several shows from ABC and other affliates on there for viewing. Here is the whole article if you are interested:Click Me
March 6, 2008
Sorry…
I’ve been at training this week, and that’s why it’s been so quiet these past few days. I promise I’ll be back next week with reports of Apple’s news tomorrow, and anything else newsworthy 
February 29, 2008
M$ Cutting Prices on Vista
Even though M$ wants to tout how many copies of Vista they have sold, it has been on the backs of the PC makers, not the actual consumer. As everyone knows XP has been selling almost as well in the retail market which should tell you that Vista ain’t working for a lot of people. In stem the tide, Microsoft has cut the prices of Vista in the retail market. The upgrade price of Vista Home Premium has fallen to 129 bucks from 159, and Ultimate has dropped to 219 from 259.
Hmmmm who else sells a O/S for 129 bucks??? Oh but that other company gives you a full version and not an upgrade…Nice try M$. Move along, nothing to see here.
Here’s a link to a Cnet article on the price drop
February 29, 2008
How Sony Won
I haven’t really talked about the High Def DVD war very much…now that it is over. I think as time goes on and we learn about all the back room dealings in getting the movie companies to go one way or the other, we will learn that no one really considered which technology was best, just how can I make the biggest buck. The next question is does it really matter to the consumer? I do know that you could convince me to get a new player, but there isn’t a chance I’ll spend 30 bucks on a movie so I can see it in HD…and I think that will be the stumbling block for most consumers. It was one thing to go from VHS to DVD, I don’t think the value proposition is there to upgrade from DVD to Blu-Ray for 30 bucks a movie…It will be interesting to see how the digitial movie market forms…it might make Blu-Ray the next LaserDisc.Fortune has a decent article on how some of the dealings went down between the movie studios and Sony.
February 27, 2008
A Non Apple Computer Post!!!
I’ve been looking at ways to create a home server that will create a central share for my data, and a potential backup solution. Though Everex has had some problems getting their ultra mobile laptop out (Cloudbook), their next endeavor looks like it has some potential. Though it isn’t as pretty as the Mac Mini, it follows its form factor, and provides some slick interfaces: Gig ethernet, 4 usb 2.0 ports, firewire, S-Vid, DVI, and four in one card reader. Though it comes with the gOS (aka Linux variation) it might serve home users as a secondary PC or a server…if you know your way around linux. Plus, it comes in about 300 bucks cheaper than a equally spec’ed Mini…Here’s an article on all the deets:
February 27, 2008
List of Fixes For Leopard
I have subscribed to MaxFixIt’s RSS feed, and came along a post which I thought might be helpful to other Leopard users. They have collected an issues “log” with Leopard and their potential fixes to go along with them. Though we all would like to agree that Leopard is perfect we know that not to be the case. If you are having an issue that you can’t seem to stop from happening, check out their list to see if it is there.
February 27, 2008
Data Corruption Continues On Windows Home Server
OK, I gave them some support on the EU ruling, but now I have to bash them. Windows Home Server products have been out for several months. I have even contemplated picking one up, but there are somethings that make me hesitate. One is the complete lack of Mac support. Not that I was expecting it when it came out, but since I have a mixed household of Macs and PCs, it makes it a difficult decision that I can get the Mac to interface with it. Second is this pesky issue that has now been around for awhile. It was reported back in December that certain functions, and programs have been causing data coruption on the server. That’s right, the server which you are supposed to be backing your data up with, actually destroys it…To my surprise the issue is still out there, with no fix from MS. I would figure that an issue as big as this that has now been reported for two months would be fixed by now…but I guess not. Here is a link with more info on the problem:
February 27, 2008
M$ Gets Fined a Record 1.3 Billion…That’s Right Billion
Though I enjoy seeing Microsoft getting put in its place if it oversteps the line between sound business practice and taking advantage of companies, I think that maybe the courts have taken it a bit too far. The EU has fined MS 1.3 billion dollars for failure to follow the order laid out several years ago for anti-trust business practices. The focus is on the royalties that MS charges other companies for using code that allows their software to interface with Windows. This decision comes about a week after MS stated they no longer plan on charging royalties anymore for the use of the code, and will take a more “open” stance. The EU has done this before, and I think they are just waving their saber around saying “Look what we can do to the big old American company”. There has been no word from MS regarding the decision, but it will be interesting to see if the Feds step in and make any comments about the decision. Here is the link to the CNN article if you want to know more:
