[MyAppleMenu] May 16, 2001

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu Newsletter

== AppleSurf (Top Stories) ===============

In Small Oregon Town, A Schoolhouse Is Wired (Associated Press)
<http://www.oweb.com/newslink/national/WiredSchoolhouseP0217.html>
"We're out in the middle of nowhere, and we get all this stuff," said fourth-grader Anthony Pirruccello, spreading his hands to indicate the bounty of technology around him. "It's pretty amazing."

At Tysons, Apple Takes First Bite Of Retail Pie (Washington Post)
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31121-2001May15.html>
It was a picture-perfect tableau at Tysons Corner Center, where Apple Computer Inc. previewed its first store yesterday to a gallery from the media. Actually, maybe it was too perfect.

A Peek Inside Apple's Retail Experiment (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5938890.html?tag=cd_mh>
Looking through a towering glass window front, an onlooker summed up his reaction to Apple Computer's latest retail experiment: "This is quintessential cool."

Hi-Tech Alliance Expands Creative Horizons (UCLA Today)
<http://www.today.ucla.edu/html/010508alliance.html>
"When a vendor has a product that is strategic to teaching and research, then what you want is an alliance. You ask for a relationship that's give-and-take and that allows us to work with them on product development. That's what has happened here."

25 Apple Stores To Sprout This Year (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5931481.html?tag=lh>
Apple Computer plans to open 25 retail stores across the country by the end of this year, CEO Steve Jobs announced Tuesday.

== AppleSurf (News) ===============

Norton Posts OS X AntiVirus Beta (Macworld UK)
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=2905>

Apple Higher After AG Edwards Upgrades To 'Buy' From 'Maintain' (Interactive Investor International)
<http://www.iii.co.uk/uknews/?articleid=3552377&action=article>

In Small Oregon Town, A Schoolhouse Is Wired (Associated Press)
<http://www.oweb.com/newslink/national/WiredSchoolhouseP0217.html>
"We're out in the middle of nowhere, and we get all this stuff," said fourth-grader Anthony Pirruccello, spreading his hands to indicate the bounty of technology around him. "It's pretty amazing."

Steve Jobs Interviewed On CNBC, Touts Apple Stores Using BMW Analogy (Mac Observer)
<http://www.macobserver.com/stockwatch/2001/05/16.1.shtml>
We would also like to applaud the fact that Mr. Jobs is publicly pursuing the same aggressive stance about wanting the other 95% of computer users to use a Mac and have a better experience.

Third Party Browser Difficulties (Macinstein)
<http://www.macinstein.com/pressrelease.cfm?ID=933>
Will these third party browsers be in beta forever?

CodeWarrior Update At WWDC (Macworld UK)
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=2903>

FileMaker 5.5 Trial Version Posted (Macworld UK)
<http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=2902>
The trial version is available as a 12.1MB download and is time-limited to 30 days.

At Tysons, Apple Takes First Bite Of Retail Pie (Washington Post)
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31121-2001May15.html>
It was a picture-perfect tableau at Tysons Corner Center, where Apple Computer Inc. previewed its first store yesterday to a gallery from the media. Actually, maybe it was too perfect.

Does Apple Have A Future In Retail? (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5929958.html>
pple Computer's decision to get into the retail business is drawing cautious praise from analysts and longtime Mac owners, as well as criticism from some computer dealers. 

Mice To Get OS X Treatment, Too (Macworld)
<http://www.macworld.com/2001/05/11/osx-mice.html>
Kensington updates MouseWorks software to run natively in new OS.

Apple Polishes New Server OS (eWEEK)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2760765,00.html>
Though both the marketing focus and the attention of Mac-curious Unix fans have been turned by this year's release of Apple Computer's Mac OS X, the company is also prepping a new version of Mac OS X Server, a version of the operating system that aims to cater to the needs of system administrators, Web masters and other network professionals.

Apple Builds Its Own Cart (MSNBC)
<http://www.msnbc.com/news/573780.asp>
All of the displays are completely functional, and set up so customers can come in and burn an MP3 music file onto a compact disc, edit a video or take pictures and put them up on the Web.

A Peek Inside Apple's Retail Experiment (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5938890.html?tag=cd_mh>
Looking through a towering glass window front, an onlooker summed up his reaction to Apple Computer's latest retail experiment: "This is quintessential cool."

Hi-Tech Alliance Expands Creative Horizons (UCLA Today)
<http://www.today.ucla.edu/html/010508alliance.html>
"When a vendor has a product that is strategic to teaching and research, then what you want is an alliance. You ask for a relationship that's give-and-take and that allows us to work with them on product development. That's what has happened here."

QuickTime iBook Televsiion Ads Available (MacNN)
<http://www.macnn.com/news.php?id=6382>

Apple Considers 'Success Factors' In Launching Stores (MacCentral)
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0105/15.success.shtml>
When planning an Apple-branded line of retail stores, Apple put together a list of nine "success factors" needed for a retail operation to succeed, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said.

25 Apple Stores To Sprout This Year (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5931481.html?tag=lh>
Apple Computer plans to open 25 retail stores across the country by the end of this year, CEO Steve Jobs announced Tuesday.

Apple - Retail (Apple)
<http://www.apple.com/retail/>
Because if only 5 of those remaining 95 people switch to Macs, we'll double our market share and, more importantly, earn the chance to delight another 25 million customers.

== AppleSurf (Opinions) ===============

Abacus: The Infinitely Improbable World of Douglas Adams (Applelinks)
<http://www.applelinks.com/abacus/douglas_adams.shtml>
More than anything, Douglas Adams made us laugh

A Victimless Crime? (MacEdition)
<http://www.macedition.com/op/op_rm_20010516.shtml>
I do believe, however, that Apple is doing its part to bring the entire BSD community forward and that its early work with open-source software and Darwin will lead to more projects that are of benefit to all.

The Wireless Web, With Strings Attached (BusinessWeek)
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2001/nf20010516_732.htm>
Apple should team up with Motorola. Apple has the brand and knows computers. Motorola does phones. In this ramp-up for the mobile Web, these two need each other.

Impressions Of Apple's Retail Store (MacCentral)
<http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0105/16.backseat.shtml>
The idea of a range of solutions for customers on the consumer and pro levels is solid and well implemented.

OS X: They're Baack! (osOpinion)
<http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/9715.html>
Apple's WebObjects is pulling people back to the Mac because they realize the best platform for development and deployment will be on Mac OS X.

Why Is QuickTime Failing To Conquer? (The Mac Observer)
<http://www.macobserver.com/columns/flipside/2001/20010515.shtml>
The computer industry and the people who shape it have their quirks, and one of them is their ability to kill great tools by throwing money at important players to prevent them from adopting the best available technology.

== AppleSurf (Reviews) ===============

Low End Mac Cubed (Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/musings/cubed.html>
While the TiBook was a lot more responsive than my old SuperMac S900 and 333 MHz G3 upgrade, the Cube feels nearly that much more responsive than my TiBook.

Power Mac G4/733 (MacAddict)
<http://www.macaddict.com/issues/0106/rev.g4733.html>
There's little not to like about the new line of Power Macintosh towers. They're fast, they're solid, and they have wonderful new abilities.

Oxford 911 FireWire Bridge (Low End Mac)
<http://www.lowendmac.com/usb/oxford.html>
Having the ability to put the drive mechanism of your choice (for speed, cost, and size) in an enclosure that unleashes the drives potential is a viable option.

== The Wintel Empire (Top Stories) ===============

Why Microsoft Is Force-Feeding Customers Upgrades (ZDNet AnchorDesk)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2760919,00.html>
What Redmond is offering as a good deal speaks volumes about Microsoft's lack of confidence in Office XP and its fear of a general slowdown in its business upsetting Wall Street.

"Weenie" Bug Resurrected On Yahoo (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5933518.html?tag=owv>
More than a year after it was originally reported, the "Netscape engineers are weenies!" security hole in Microsoft software made a brief comeback Monday and Tuesday on Yahoo's Small Business portal.

== The Wintel Empire (News) ===============

Intel Xeon To Hit 2.4GHz In 2002 (The Register)
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/18981.html>

Windows XP Restrictions Put MS In Legal Hot Seat? (dmusic.com)
<http://www.dmusic.com/news/news.php?id=4861>
Microsoft's refusal to give a detailed account of the restrictions it's placing on users' ability to reinstall Windows XP could land the software giant in court.

Microsoft Opens Xbox Secrets (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2761032,00.html?chkpt=zdnn_rt_latest>
Microsoft's said the Xbox will be available at a estimated retail price of $299.99, making it competitive with Sony's $300 price tag for the PlayStation 2. The company said the Xbox will be available in North America on Nov. 8, 2001.

Breaking Free From Microsoft's Hold (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2760920,00.html>
If you're thinking about going to Linux, here are some steps to follow to reduce the likelihood of being caught by Microsoft's lesser known product: Withdrawal Version 3.0.

Why Microsoft Is Force-Feeding Customers Upgrades (ZDNet AnchorDesk)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2760919,00.html>
What Redmond is offering as a good deal speaks volumes about Microsoft's lack of confidence in Office XP and its fear of a general slowdown in its business upsetting Wall Street.

Take That! Linux Beats MS In Benchmark Test (eWEEK)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2760874,00.html>
Linux has finally made it onto the business map in the area of database benchmarks, helping take the wind out of Microsoft's continued contention that open-source operating systems don't make good business sense.

Handspring Browses With MSN (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5930346.html?tag=owv>
Handspring Visor owners with wireless access can now surf the Web with the likes of MSN.

Microsoft To Sign EU Privacy Pact (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5930589.html?tag=owv>

"Weenie" Bug Resurrected On Yahoo (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5933518.html?tag=owv>
More than a year after it was originally reported, the "Netscape engineers are weenies!" security hole in Microsoft software made a brief comeback Monday and Tuesday on Yahoo's Small Business portal.

== Breaking Barriers (Top Stories) ===============

Sony, RealNetworks Plan Alliance For PlayStation 2 Video-Game System (Wall Street Journal)
<http://www.msnbc.com/news/574012.asp>
Sony Corp. plans to provide Internet audio and video technology from RealNetworks Inc. with its popular PlayStation 2 video-game system, another sign of Sony's efforts to outmaneuver Microsoft Corp. in interactive entertainment.

Opera Finds Footing In Browser War (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5939924.html?tag=owv>
After years of waiting patiently for AOL Time Warner or Microsoft to stumble, Opera Software is trumpeting its relationship with IBM as evidence it's making progress against its massive rivals in the browser market.

== Breaking Barriers (News) ===============

Cultures Clash As AOL Switches To Its E-Mail (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/16/technology/16AOL.html>
In the case of AOL Time Warner, even employees who acknowledge that their previous e-mail system "isn't very good" are not convinced that America Online is the best choice for a corporate e-mail program.

Yahoo Goes Beyond Initial Plan Against Adult Sites (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/16/technology/16YAHO.html>

Government Internet Subsidy Stretched To Its Limits (New York Times)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/15/technology/16EDUCATION.html>

Sony, RealNetworks Plan Alliance For PlayStation 2 Video-Game System (Wall Street Journal)
<http://www.msnbc.com/news/574012.asp>
Sony Corp. plans to provide Internet audio and video technology from RealNetworks Inc. with its popular PlayStation 2 video-game system, another sign of Sony's efforts to outmaneuver Microsoft Corp. in interactive entertainment.

British Firm Buys Web Host Digital Island (San Francisco Chronicle)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/05/15/BU84696.DTL&type=tech_article>
Digital Island Inc., a once-soaring San Francisco company that hosts and manages business Web sites, was bought yesterday for $340 million by British telecommunications firm Cable & Wireless.

AOL, Sony To Offer Online Service For PlayStation2 (Associated Press)
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2001/05/15/financial0300EDT0018.DTL&type=tech_article>
Sony Computer Entertainment is teaming with America Online to offer high-speed Internet access, hoping the deal gives Sony's PlayStation 2 an edge over rival consoles by Microsoft and Nintendo.

The Wireless Web, With Strings Attached (BusinessWeek)
<http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/may2001/nf20010516_732.htm>
Apple should team up with Motorola. Apple has the brand and knows computers. Motorola does phones. In this ramp-up for the mobile Web, these two need each other.

Third Party Browser Difficulties (Macinstein)
<http://www.macinstein.com/pressrelease.cfm?ID=933>
Will these third party browsers be in beta forever?

Handspring Browses With MSN (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-5930346.html?tag=owv>
Handspring Visor owners with wireless access can now surf the Web with the likes of MSN.

Opera Finds Footing In Browser War (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-5939924.html?tag=owv>
After years of waiting patiently for AOL Time Warner or Microsoft to stumble, Opera Software is trumpeting its relationship with IBM as evidence it's making progress against its massive rivals in the browser market.

"Weenie" Bug Resurrected On Yahoo (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5933518.html?tag=owv>
More than a year after it was originally reported, the "Netscape engineers are weenies!" security hole in Microsoft software made a brief comeback Monday and Tuesday on Yahoo's Small Business portal.

== PenguinSurf (Top Stories) ===============

Consumer-Linux Company Eazel Closes (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5939697.html?tag=owv>
The start-up that was going to make Linux dead easy is dead.

== PenguinSurf (News) ===============

Breaking Free From Microsoft's Hold (ZDNet)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2760920,00.html>
If you're thinking about going to Linux, here are some steps to follow to reduce the likelihood of being caught by Microsoft's lesser known product: Withdrawal Version 3.0.

Take That! Linux Beats MS In Benchmark Test (eWEEK)
<http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2760874,00.html>
Linux has finally made it onto the business map in the area of database benchmarks, helping take the wind out of Microsoft's continued contention that open-source operating systems don't make good business sense.

Consumer-Linux Company Eazel Closes (CNET News.com)
<http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5939697.html?tag=owv>
The start-up that was going to make Linux dead easy is dead.

== SingaporeSurf (Top Stories) ===============

Voting Is A Right, Not A Privilege: Wong Kan Seng (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010516/5/pcbv.html>
Voting is a right, not a privilege, reaffirms Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, quashing all debate in Singapore over the last few weeks on the issue.

MPs Question GLCs' Record On Investment (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,44057,00.html?>
Mr Leong Horn Kee, an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, kicks off the question-and-answer session with a query on the rationale behind SingTel's proposed acquisition of Australian telecommunications company Cable and Wireless' Optus.

== SingaporeSurf (News) ===============

Voting Is A Right, Not A Privilege: Wong Kan Seng (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010516/5/pcbv.html>
Voting is a right, not a privilege, reaffirms Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, quashing all debate in Singapore over the last few weeks on the issue.

Singapore Denies Role in Overseas Forays By Government-Linked Companies (AFP)
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010516/1/pbt9.html>
The companies were driven by long-term commercial motives and not directed by the government, Finance Minister Richard Hu told parliament.

MPs Question GLCs' Record On Investment (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,44057,00.html?>
Mr Leong Horn Kee, an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, kicks off the question-and-answer session with a query on the rationale behind SingTel's proposed acquisition of Australian telecommunications company Cable and Wireless' Optus.

Applications For HDB Flats Flood In (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,44020,00.html?>
The scheme that allows buyers to decide where and when their flatsare to be built is well-received.

China TV Licence For MediaCorp (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,1870,44025,00.html?>
Move is part of its cooperation with Chinese media and Channel NewsAsia has a 'good chance' of being aired in China, says its free commuter daily.

== SingaporeSurf (Technology) ===============

Sunday In Second Try For Singapore 3G Licence (Business Times Singapore)
<http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,2276,7927,00.html?>
And to prevent a repeat of what happened in April - it failed to secure financing on time - Sunday is talking to financial institutions and potential partners to ensure that it will have adequate financing for the possible bid in Singapore.

IDA To Go Ahead With 2G Auction (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,44077,00.html?>
The extra spectrum lots would cater to the expansion and enhancement of the range and quality of services offered currently by the existing mobile operators, the IDA said in a statement yesterday.

Pacific Internet Incurs $6m Loss (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,44124,00.html?>
Falling within market expectations, the loss for the three months ended March 31 was due partly to losses incurred at its Pacfusion e-commerce unit and its Australian operations.

== SingaporeSurf (Entertainment) ===============

Singapore's Channel 8 Leads In TV Ratings War, Rival Loses Ground (Channel NewsAsia)
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/010516/5/pcoo.html>
Television ratings for Singapore Press Holding's maiden TV venture, Channel U, have nose-dived a week after its launch.

Tuck Into The Works, TV Fans (Straits Times)
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,1870,44014,00.html?>
A spicy, appetising, homegrown "channel with a difference" is what new English station, TV Works promises to be for its viewers.