Show notes for TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab For March 12, 2007 Direct Links: MP3 Version or AAC Enhanced Version (courtesy of eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%6a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%40%6d%61%63%6f%62%73%65%72%76%65%72%2e%63%6f%6d%3e%4d%69%63%68%61%65%6c%20%4a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29’))Michael Johnston). Today’s mailbag episode includes topics like Syncing, Recording, Networking, and Small Business software, including an impromptu rave about FileMaker by Dave. Don’t miss it! Sponsor: Yojimbo: Your effortless, reliable information…
News
ISO Moves MS Office Open XML to Approval Fast Track
The ISO Joint Technical Committee (JTC-1) on Information Technology secretariat, Lisa Rajchel, chose to move Open XML to the fast track five month balloting process after discussing the proposal with the International Technology Task Force. Microsoft proposed Open XML as an alternative standard to the already approved Open Document Format (ODF) – a document standard…
Podcast - Apple Report: CS3 Building Buzz
Direct Link: MP3 Version Adobe’s Creative Suite 3 is on its way, and Jeff is positively giddy. In the Context Machine this week, Ricky asks him what the hubbub is all about. The Apple Weekly Report will be included in TMO’s main RSS feed, and also in its own feed if you’d like to add…
Copyright Ruling May Kill Internet Radio
A ruling to change how royalties are collected from independent Internet radio stations has the potential to drive many of the sites out of business. The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), a U.S. government agency tasked with overseeing the royalty process, decided to change the way most small Webcast stations are charged from a percentage of…
FAA Considering Alternatives to Vista
The Federal Aviation Administration’s CIO is examining the possibility of replacing his agency’s 45,000 Windows systems with Linux systems, a new browser, and Google’s online business applications. The story was posted by InformationWeek on Wednesday. The FAA’s David Bowen is taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google’s apps as a possible replacement…
Hidden Dimensions - Illusion and Fear in the Entertainment Industry
“It is our illusions that create the world.” — Didier Cauwelaert I want to put a new twist on the whole DRM issue related to the music and movie industries. For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to use the term “mm-industry” to refer to both of these industries. In this column, I’m going to…
Just A Peek - Belkin TuneTalk Stereo
When referring to the amount of accessories available for the iPod you can say it in so many ways. If, for instance, you were El Guapo (of The Three Amigos fame) you could say that we have a plethora of accessories. You might mention that there is a profusion of iPod prosthetics, a multitude, an…
Google CEO: Apple/Google Collaborating On More Projects
Speaking at a technology conference in San Francisco, Google CEO Eric Schmidt confirmed that his company is collaborating with Apple Inc. on several more projects. His comments were in response to a question about rumors that the companies are co-developing a tablet-style computer, according to MarketWatch. Mr. Schmidt neither confirmed or denied that an Apple/Google…
Qnext Releases Major Update of P2Web Sharing Software
Qnext announced version 3 of its media sharing P2Web software on Tuesday. The new version includes an integrated Universal Contact Manager to manage friends and family and the eliminates the need for Qnext software on both ends. Qnext is a software package, written in Java, that generates a Webcast to deliver streamed music, shared photos,…
Analyst: Flash Memory Important for Future iPods, Macs
Flash memory prices are still relatively high compared to hard drive storage, which means that for now Appleis full-size video capable iPod will continue to rely on the same disk-based storage is has been using. As memory prices drop, however, that is likely to change. Mr. Wu commented “Our sources indicate that while AAPL plans…
You're Getting Sleepy...Sleepy: Pzizz
I was devastated when Omni shut down. While the magazine made stale and stodgy science look like a lot of fun it also poked and prodded at the fringes of science, covering topics that few “serious” science and technology journals would touch: flying saucers, cryptozoology (i.e. Big Foot, The Loch Ness Monster, and so on),…
California Demanding Open Document Standard - Microsoft Resists
California has introduced a bill that would make the Open Document Format (ODF) a mandatory requirement for its state agencies when procuring software. This is putting heat on Microsoft which is promoting its own OOXML standard, according to a report in ITWire Monday. “The new bill, introduced by Californian Democrat Mark Leno, does not name…
How Steve Jobs Threw Away $2.7 Billion
Steve Jobs, back in 2001, was granted a set of stock options which at the time Fortune magazine calculated were worth US$872M. But with Apple stock doing poorly in 2003, Mr. Jobs surrendered the options. Today, they would have been worth US$2.5B, according to a Fortune Magazine story Monday. In fact, Mr. Jobs, in response…
Newest Apple AirPort Extreme Exceeds Apple's Claims
The Apple AirPort Extreme (Wi-Fi) base station has at least fives times the throughput and twice the range of the previous 802.11g model, according to Tom Yager at InfoWorld. Apple claims that the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n tests out at five times the top speed of 54 Mbps in the previous generation. The actual…
Just A Peek - Glance
I was chatting with a friend of mine recently and I was telling her about this sudoku habit I’ve developed and that I can’t seem to get enough of the puzzles. “I’ve never really looked at them,” she told me. “But I’d like to learn how to play.” So I started to explain some of…
RIAA Opposes Bill Reinforcing "Fair Use"
A bill before Congress that would allows customers to affirm their Fair Use rights of digital media is being opposed by the RIAA according to InfoWorld on Wednesday. The goal of the Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship (FAIR USE) Act, introduced by Reps Rick Boucher (R-VA) and John Doolittle (R-CA), is to exempt the…
Apple Attends Europe's Focus on Imaging
Apple has a large presence at Europeis largest imaging show being held in Birmingham from February 25th to 28th. Apple UK posted photos of the event on Monday. Apple said that they are using the event to showcase their professional hardware, the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro, as well as Aperture 1.5. In addition, Apple…
RadTech BT500 Mobile Mouse
Iim always a bit leery of “portable mice” and “travel mice” because more often than not those terms really mean “too small to use, and uncomfortable, too.” Thatis why Radtechis BT500 Mobile Mouse was such a surprise: It is actually a usable travel-size mouse. The BT500 is an 800dpi optical Bluetooth mouse with rechargeable batteries.…
Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #93: John and Dave Answer Your Questions
Show notes for TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab For February 25, 2007 Direct Links: MP3 Version or AAC Enhanced Version (courtesy of eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%6a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%40%6d%61%63%6f%62%73%65%72%76%65%72%2e%63%6f%6d%3e%4d%69%63%68%61%65%6c%20%4a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29’))Michael Johnston). AirPort, VNC, Music Syncing, and auto-searching are just some of the topics covered by Dave, John, and the listeners in this edition of The Mac Geek Gab Podcast! Sponsor: Audio…
Apple Customer Service Highly Ranked by Business Week
The company was dinged for the bruises it gets when problems arise right after a product warranty expires, but such bruises were far outweighed by other aspect of its customer service. “Despite frustration about iPod battery replacements,” BusinessWeek wrote, “Appleis customer service phone support ranks tops among electronics providers. In particular, customers rate its automated…
Apple Gets Positive Comments from Two Major Investment Companies
Apple is viewed in a very positive way by investment firms Bear Stearns and Prudential according to Notable Calls on Wednesday. Bear Stearns is maintaining their outperform rating at target share price of US$130. They predict a 2Q earnings per share of US$0.65 and revenues of US$5.2B with sales of 1.4M Macs and 11.2M iPods.…
Vista and IE7 Security Found Wanting
The adequacy of the security and privacy features of IE7 in Vista remain open to question. according to a report at The Register on Tuesday. Windows has been responsible for “turning the Internet into the toxic sh*thole of malware that it is today,” Thomas Green wrote. But he noted, “IE7, at least on Vista, is…
NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter
Keeping spare empty drive cases around so you can access bare hard drives is kind of a pain: You have to install the drive before you can use it, and you need different cases for each drive connection type. If you are looking for a way to quickly access hard drives that doesnit require cases,…
Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #92: Mailbag Goodies Galore With Your Questions Answered
Show notes for TMO To Go: Mac Geek Gab For February 19, 2007 Direct Links: MP3 Version or AAC Enhanced Version (courtesy of eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%6a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%40%6d%61%63%6f%62%73%65%72%76%65%72%2e%63%6f%6d%3e%4d%69%63%68%61%65%6c%20%4a%6f%68%6e%73%74%6f%6e%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29’))Michael Johnston). No audio comments today, folks… It’s all John and Dave, all the time, reading messages from the mailbag and solving your problems! Sponsor: TeachMac If you’re using iTunes to download…