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Patrick Crispen of the Internet Tourbus has created an article about how to create, change format, compress video files and even write to DVDs. The article is aimed at PC users, but would appear to have many good suggestions for Mac users as well. (A follow-up article from this week's newsletter will be posted shortly.) See the article in the archive See the article in the archive
I remember attending a graphic user group in Dallas where a desktop layout program was demonstrated by the company that created Freehand. It was developed for a color NeXT Cube. Since it was all postscript on the screen, it was real simple to tell the program to make an article fit the page. It really impressed us. Unfortunately for the developer, at that point only about 4 color machines were sold and not too long after that, NeXT quit making hardware.
Now, Wired is reporting the death of BANG (The Bay Area NeXT Group). According to the article, "NeXT Fans Give Up the Ghost" by Pete Mortensen, Apple thought so highly of the group that the first outside appearance of Mac OS X was to that group. However many if not most of the "experts" in the group became Apple employees, which because of non-disclosure agreements, kind of killed off the group's programs. Read the article about this truly dedicated group
I had lost respect the Inquirer sometime ago, feeling like they are not much more than a rumor sheet. But everyonce in awhile, they surprise me. This is one of those cases. In this editorial, the postulate that Apple is better because it isn't into the cost cutting that is rampant in the PC world. So Apple computers hold up much better than even the expensive, high end PCs. ... see the full story...
According to an article in Forbes, Goldman Sachs analyst is predicting that Apple will move more and more into consumer electronics and not promote its computers as much. If you look at the past two years you would have to agree with him. The Mac still provides the lion's share of sales and profit, but its growth is much slower than that of the iPod and possibly will be over taken by the "digital hub" machine that everyone is predicting for Mac World Expo in a couple of weeks. Read more...
Reading the above story (Apple moving away from Mac?) reminds me of the current DELL commercials on TV offering a tower-style desktop computer with lots of muscle and features for just $479. While that's not at all earth-shattering for a DELL, they sweeten the deal if you by including a 17-inch flat-panel display, a printer, speakers, and other assorted goodies for FREE, plus FREE shipping, if you order now.
Now, I ask "how can they do that?"
Well, one might say the products are really cheap, manufactured by Chinese (or Mexicans) who are paid fifty-cents an hour. But still, Apple's flat panel carries a hefty price tag, and even the no-name monitors at the Best-Buy and Costco are upwards to $300. I understand that printers are throw-aways, with the printer manufacturers making up the short-fall by selling $50, 100-print ink cartridges. I also understand the speakers could be in the low $30 range. But when you add it all up and do a little math, you see that either that equipment is so dangerously cheap, or DELL is losing a pile of money.
More troublesome is the fact that probably thousands of uninformed consumers will call the toll-free number and order -- simply based on the low price and give-aways.
I bought an iMac last night for my office desk. The beige G3 and the G4 tower are simply taking up too much room and are too outdated to go on. After paying close to $1,700 for the iMac, then seeing this DELL ad for $495, I feel like I've either been a) ripped off, or b) very smart. I like to think the latter is the case.
I love the iMacs in spite of my Brother's iMac melt-down, and my daughter's exploding/smoking Powerbook. So I guess I'll still take delivery on that shiny new iMac (With AppleCare!) and hope that Apple stays in the Mac business for at least a few more years.
When and if Apple does go out of the Mac business, I'll probably move to the islands and give all this up completely. Anyone want to come along?
Fred http://www.ugnn.com/imho/
How many Mac radio shows can you name? Well, MacWorld has an article that lists three:
YourMacLife - http://www.yourmaclife.com With Shawn King and Lesa Snyder
Inside Mac - http://www.insidemacradio.com with Scott Shepard They recently added http://www.insidemactv.com with Gene Steinberg
The Tech Night Owl LIVE - http://www.techbroadcasting.com/ The last two are served as Podcasts as well. Read more...
This program is visual effects software for animation. The new version streamlines the process for creating graphics by working better with third-party software. ... see the full story...
Intel, Apple and a number of other PC manufacturers have set down and worked out a spec for connecting computers to HDTV monitors/TVs. This is an exciting development and moves Apple one step closer to developing that digital hub that Steve has been talking about for 4 or 5 years. I really expect things to take off once the Intel version of the Mac mini is introduced. Read more...
O'Reilly has released XP Hacks, a new book telling what you can do to make XP look and act the way you want. One of the possible ways includes making it look and act like OS X. ... see the full story...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott expanded his lawsuit against Sony BMG Music Entertainment on Wednesday, alleging that a second form of anti-piracy technology used by the label violates the state's spyware and deceptive trade practices laws.... In a letter sent Wednesday, Abbott urged retailers who continue to carry 52 tainted CD titles to remove the CDs from their shelves. (The Letter: sony_letter.pdf - The Amended Lawsuit sony_lawsuit.pdf See the full KWTX story
SONY takes the licks
Then SONY announced that a security vulnerability may exist with regard to SunnComm MediaMax Version 5 content protection software contained on certain SONY BMG compact discs. They urge Windows users to go update their software. Shortly later they issued this link to "remove" the faulty program... again, no good to Mac users.
Meanwhile, the Texas Attorney General has posted a complaint form online for consumers who have purchased the CDs and would like to spout-off about the problem www.oag.state.tx.us
TheHawaiiChannel.com has reported that the Texas attorney general has sued a Kailua man for allegedly sending hundreds of thousands of spam e-mails to Texans. The suspect's name is Billy Williams and he's accused of sending the e-mails through a server in Dallas throughout 2004. The e-mails included offerings for mortgage refinancing, prescription drugs, anti-spy ware software and other products. They further discovered that Williams doesn't actually sell the products, instead he receives a commission for referring customers through a marketing firm.
Penalties: up to $10 per e-mail or $25,000 for each day under Texas laws.
Curtis Lum Staff Writer for the HonoluluAdvertiser.com has the best story on this...
The trend of free wireless Internet access in public places is growing, and that's not likely to change any time soon, according to a MarkeWatch report.
[Quote]
If your New Year's resolution is to not pay for wireless Internet access when you're out and about, you've got a good chance of keeping it. Kevin McKenzie, chief executive officer of JiWire.com, says '06 could turn out to be a year of real freedom.
"Wi-Fi is going to be ubiquitous," he said. "You're going to see more municipal hot zones going from announcement to reality." And if it's not the City of Brotherly Love, or downtown Long Beach, maybe the benefactor will be the owner of the corner café. "We've seen a huge increase in shops offering free Internet access as a way to get people in their doors," McKenzie said.
[END Quote]
But read some of the indicators, and you'll be reminded to be very careful how and where you connect wireless. There are crooks out there just waiting for you to log on at the coffee shop, library or where-ever. Some smart computer users create a totally separate "User" with iron-clad security for use just when Wi-Fi-ing around town. ... see the full story...
The best year-end wrap-up I've seen so far is this one by Matthew Clark writing for the ElectricNews.Net
Matthew says:
[quote]
Each year brings with it news stories that seem inescapable, and 2005 was no exception. In that vein, the team at ElectricNews.Net have put their heads together to consider which themes have been unavoidable these past 12 months. Only telecoms, wireless and the stock market -- subjects so pervasive they have been reviewed independently -- were excluded from the mix. Though not necessarily the most important news items of 2005, here are the subjects that simply could not be ignored
[end quote]
I think you'll enjoy the ENN Year in Review 2005: Year of the Frog www.electricnews.net ... see the full story...
e dot studios released a new widget for Mac OS X 10.4's Dashboard, iPhoto Mini, on Friday. The widget lets you browse your iPhoto library, browse individual albums, and see how many photos each album contains.
Why we like it: Photos are neatly scaled and there's a convenient little button that opens access to all your albums. 
Mac OS X (10.4 or higher), Size is a trim 153k, and you can't beat the price: "Donation" ... if you use it a lot, just make a donation.
e dot studios: www.edot-studios.com
Direct Download: iPhotoMini.zip ... see the full story...
While we all know about iPods, you know they're becoming ubiquitous when our nation's leaders use them and ABC news talks about them.
Yesterday's story about Vice President Dick Cheney's iPod was evidence enough that Jobs has finally achieved his dream of the 1980s "to invent a household appliance."
Returning to Washington after a four-day trip to the Middle East, Vice-President Dick Cheney used one of the only working power outlets on Air Force Two to charge his iPod. ... www.ugnn.com/2005/12/ipod_one.html
Thanks to Vern Seward and his "Just a Thought" column, we're treated to this wonderful little song, sung to the tune of 'Let It Snow'...
Vern says:
To those poor souls destine to spend Christmas and New Year's in a straight jacket, I dedicate this little ditty. ... see the full story...
Apple had its own vision for the Mac mini, but many adventurous users have taken the diminutive powerhouse far beyond what Apple had in mind.
The diversity of uses and modifications for the Mac mini shows just how passionate Mac users are about their computers. Apple has a Web page dedicated to clever uses for the mini, and is looking for more all the time. If you have put a Mac mini to use in a unique way, or have a modification worth sharing, let Apple know.
The (Mini) Force Be With You
Derrick Hickson managed to squeeze a mini inside a toy model of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, complete with iSight in the cockpit, and USB port ready for his iPod shuffle. Here's a Picture. MacMod includes scads more mods and hacks you can try yourself.
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream;
not only plan, but also believe."
- Anatole France
Accept the challenges, so you may feel the exhilaration of victory.
- George S. Patton
Have a great week... (See last week)
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