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–Scott Adams. I am not a big fan of prediction articles for the new year. They require lot of hubris, and, honestly, no one can really make good technical predictions, even us who follow Apple very closely. If one tries, the author and the readers waste time fretting about how good the predictions were. As…

I kid, or at least I exaggerate, but there’s something here that speaks to broader issues, and that’s the ongoing transformation of the book, newspaper, and magazine publishing businesses. For context, let’s back up a bit and look at the fundamental issues behind what both John and I are on about: Apple is rumored (or…

The ‘Afghan Girl’ photo is what any photographer would love to produce. The photo is so full of color and detail, which gives it life. It is the eyes of the Afghan Girl (her real name is Sharbat Gula) that demand your attention. As you might imagine, I’m a fan of photography, and, apparently, so…

I like the idea for several reasons. First, people who work in the Apple retail stores likely have always wanted to work for Apple. While it’s a somewhat different experience than being a software engineer on Apple’s campus at 1 Infinite Loop, playing volleyball in the quadrangle lawn, and eating lunch at Cafe Macs, it’ll…

iTunes has grown from a simple re-write of Sound Jam as a CD importer in 2001 to a full-blown Internet portal and money machine for Apple. The new iTunes 9 combines a visual clean-up with some new features to keep it the premiere entertainment tool for PC and Mac users. During the September 9th “Rock…

Back in THOSE days a driver really had to pay attention not only to the road conditions immediately around him, he had to anticipate those condition many miles ahead. I recall thinking that if it were 6:40 PM then the bulk of the traffic on US 495’s outer ring will have eased some between Tyson’s…

If you ready to pack up and head away for school, be sure to check out our guide for traveling with your laptop and protecting your personal data, too. MacBook Pro Apple’s MacBook Pro mixes the power of a desktop computer with the portability of a laptop in a sleek aluminum case. It’s powerful, durable,…

Recently, I wrote about how the iPod has become a smaller and smaller percentage of Apple’s total revenues. That’s because hardware always gets cheaper as volume goes up. That’s why it was wise for Apple to plan a move from the iPod to the iPhone and iPod touch — which is really just an iPhone…

Apple’s senior executives like to believe that there is no value in reading the Mac and iPhone related Websites, and they tell their staff that. After all, Apple employees are too busy to dabble in rumors and speculation. So it’s just a time waster. Or is it? I was in an Apple retail store recently,…

— David Ogilvy There is a known market for notebook computers, and that market had been soaring until the economy went bonkers. There is a known and growing market for netbooks, and Apple can, if it wishes, carve out a piece of that market as well. But what is the market for an iTablet? When…

The International Year of Astronomy The year 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. From the website: “The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky,…

First of all, one has to remember that the management structure, as it exists with Mr. Jobs was uniquely designed by Mr. Jobs. In simple terms, Tim Cook handles the procurement and operations side, Peter Oppenheimer manages the money, Scott Forstall handles the iPhone software, Bertrand Serlet handles Mac OS X, Bob Mansfield handles the…

A recent ruling by a U.S. Court allows border patrol agents to inspect and search a notebook computer or other digital device without limitation, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Travelers cannot be forced to divulge the password for encrypted disks, but the computer can still be seized. Travelers and their employers are increasingly…