.
Editor's Notes
Fred Showker,
Editor/Publisher, User Group Network News
- January 2002, Part 2
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- 01 Rennovation? Revelation? Or Retro?
- 02 Apple Smiling Brightly
- 03 Apple's new furniture side-line
- 04 The "Underbelly" of OS/X ?
- 05 Speaking of security holes, how'bout AOL Messenger?
- 06 Opera 5.0 for Mac Finally Released
- 07 Hack those MP3 giles
- 08 Take dictation on your Mac in OS X
- 09 Judge OKs FBI Keyboard Sniffing
- 10 Put the Spector into your Macintosh
- 11 Can we talk about it?
- Rennovation? Revelation? Or Retro?
- - Well, I guess all the excitement is over, and droves of show-weary traipse home with their booty bags brimming with junk. This year is slightly different though, Macworld, and the new iMacs seem to have made and impact on some of the main stream news channels who seldom give a second look. Below I have several links to stories on the various news services.
In the weeks preceding Macworld, the rumors had me drooling for the next big innovation from Apple. But after the initial WOW of seeing the "screen-on-a-stick" for the first time, other images began to nag me. Was this innovation? Or was it revelation? Or was it simply making a childhood vision come true. Screen-on-a-stick is certainly not a new idea.
Picture Steve Jobs on the sofa late at night, snoring soundly, wife and children asleep in their beds, an animated bluish flood of light dancing around the room. Then imagine him waking -- slightly -- just enough to see a vague image through blurry, sleep-swollen eyes.
The next day, he's bright and gung-ho with the "New" iMac, which appeared to him in a dream last night. It would be a crisp, white hemisphere -- with a 10 inch foot print -- sporting a single chrome mast holding the 15" LCD monitor! It would revolutionize the computer world for sure.
As Allan Kay once said when asked how to predict the future: "You invent it." However somehow, it doesn't seem like Jobs has invented a new future for computers. It seems he's only rekindled visions from the past.
The new iMacs are cute. Really cute. And, to a certain extent they cure the ills of adjustable monitors so many people complained about in the one-piece iMac design. They certainly are an eye-catcher, and are sure to stimulate lots of ooooos and ahhhhhhs around the office. The 10 inch footprint is wonderful, and the power specs are a home run. I only hope the monitor mast is sturdy, and well anchored into the base of the machine. You know that's the first thing people will grab to pick the machine up, or carry it.
But the thing I like best about the new iMacs, are the fond memories they conjure. Yes, Steve -- like you, I also remember the days of our youth. Up until now, the late-night re-runs are all that was left. But now, I can actually own a piece of the Jetsons.
- So, there you go...Fred . . .
The Info Manager has posted new content today.... at:
http://www.user-groups.net/InfoManager/index.html
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- Apple Smiling Brightly
- - For most tech companies 2001 was the worst of times, but for Apple it was often the best of times. Despite the nose-diving stock market and sluggish economy, Apple gave fans reasons to cheer. - Reporting from San Francisco for Wired, Farhad Manjoo
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49508,00.html?tw=wn20020107
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- Apple's new furniture side-line
- - I had to laugh when I read Leander Kahney's column last week... "Mac Boxes Make Nice Couches" so I had to pass it along to you. Apple has a well-deserved reputation for designing good-looking computers. But Apple's packaging is also beautifully designed. In fact, the boxes are so attractive, one man furnished his apartment with them. - from Leander Kahney, Wire News Service
http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,49473,00.html?tw=wn20020107
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- The "Underbelly" of OS/X ?
- - What worries me about OS/X is its vulnerability to hackers, worms and virus. While the Mac has always been a stronghold against such evils that plague the Windows and Unix worlds, I have to wonder what sorts of low-life criminals are out there right now, scheming how to wreck the X smiles off those Mac users' faces.
__ Computer worms and viruses were let loose online in record numbers in 2001, costing billions. But some coders say they are performing 'community service' by finding product flaws and teaching the less savvy about security.
__ In this Wired story by Michelle Delio, see what the coders are saying. - Thanks to Michelle Delio for this one. We'll file it under Security, virus, worms
Here's the full story http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,49483,00.html?tw=wn20020107
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- Speaking of security holes, how'bout AOL Messenger?
- - A flaw in America Online's instant messenger download software enables hackers to take control of Windows PCs. The company promises a fix real quick - By Michelle Delio Wired News. Another for the Security department.
Michelle's full story is at: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,49442,00.html?tw=wn20020103
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- Opera 5.0 for Mac Finally Released
- - Opera Software has released the final version of Opera 5.0 for Mac OS 7.5.3-9.2. Mac users can now download a final version of the browser that has received rave reviews in its alpha and beta stages for its speed, security and customizability. The browser includes features such as cookie manager, a sophisticated hotlist, muliple download monitor and keychain support.
__ The Opera browser has gained the position as the third largest browser in the market. With Opera 5.0 for Mac, Mac users all over the world have the opportunity to see what has made Opera such a popular alternative on the Windows and Linux platforms over the last year. -
Download Opera 5.0 for Mac from http://www.opera.com/mac/
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- Hack those MP3 giles
- - ID3 editor "ID3X" for the Macintosh goes Carbon -- ID3X is an editor for easy manipulation of ID3 tags in mp3 music files. ID3 tags are used to store title, artist and other information in mp3 files which can then be displayed in your favorite mp3 player application.
__ The new version of ID3X offers more batch renaming features, easier folder navigation with a Back-Button and access to the important OSX folders "Computer", "Home" and "Music". ID3X is now more compatible and faster in reading tags from MP3 files. Minor changes include cosmetical improvements and the usual bug fixes. -
Direct download link: http://www.three-2-one.com/ID3X/downloads/ID3X23.sit
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- Take dictation on your Mac in OS X
- - MacSpeech, Inc. has announced iDictate for Mac OS X, thus extending its TalkAnywhere technology to Apple's most recent operating system.
__ iDictate is designed as an introduction to the power of speech as a means to enter text into the computer. With iDictate, the user simply speaks where they used to type.
__ iDictate is similar to iListen but lacks many of the command and control functions. It will also be less expensive than iListen.
__ iDidtate features continuous Speech Recognition - Dictation in normal tone of voice and pace. Direct Dictation - Dictate and correct text directly in virtually any application. Large Vocabulary - Active vocabulary of greater than 30,000 words. 300,000 word background vocabulary developed in partnership with Oxford University Press. And, support for multiple Users: multiple users create their own speech files on the same computer. -
Download a demo from http://www.MacSpeech.com/
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- Judge OKs FBI Keyboard Sniffing
- - We've followed along as the story unfolded on the FBI's activities in the techno world. Now, a federal judge has ruled that the FBI can legally install a stealth device that captures keystrokes. The technique was used to obtain the passwords of accused mobster Nicodemo Scarfo. - reporting from Washington for Wired magazine, Declan McCullagh
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,49455,00.html?tw=wn20020104
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- Put the Spector into your Macintosh
- - Following the FBI story, now you can play FBI yourself by putting Spector in your Mac. Spector secretly records everything that happens on your computer: every website visited, every chat conversation, every program, and much more. This is an incredibly useful program for parents, spouses, employers, and anybody who wants to monitor activity on their computer. Using Spector is like having a hidden video camera pointed at your computer when you are away.
__ Spector works by periodically taking "snapshots" of your screen. An authorized user can invoke Spector by means of a hotkey and play back everything that happened on the computer---as simple as using a VCR. Spector also records every keystroke typed, and features password protection. It is virtually undetectable, and does interfere with or slow down your work. With Spector, you can see everything that happens on your computer when you are away. - Thanks to Michael Hunson for sending this one in.
It is sold by SpectorSoft Corp at a price of $69.95 US, and is available at: http://www.spectorsoft.com/products/spector_macintosh/entry.asp?affil=309
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- Can we talk about it?
- - Don't forget the UG TALK list is alive and well, and dedicated to your discussions.
We've installed an all new subscription module, so you can subscribe or unsubscribe at will. You won't find the list as heavily posted as some of the others, so it won't get in your way. -
You can get all the subscribe / unsubscribe info at: http://www.user-groups.net/subscribe.html
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Fred Showker
Editor in Chief: The User Group Network News Service
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From Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher,
User Group Network News: December 15 User Group Network News Service at http://www.user-groups.net/news/index.html.
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