June 30, 2007 by dinofond.

Apple announces it’s apple care extended warranty program will include the iphone for a cost of $69.99US. Although you wont be able to purchase it until sometime July (the date was not announced) it covers one additional year. Other Apple care programs specifically for Macbook, Macbook Pro, Apple Displays and iMac etc. are a full two additional years from the date of purchase. iphone follows the 1 year extended ipod Apple care trend currently available for all ipods and apple TV in addition to the one year standard warranty available on all Apple products.

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June 26, 2007 by dinofond.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
~David Dixon

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
~Suzie Wagner, 1998

Yesterday it worked
Today it is not working
Windows is like that
~Margaret Segall, 1998

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.
~Peter Rothman, 1998

Stay the patient course
Of little worth is your ire
The network is down
~David Ansel, 1998

A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.
~David J. Liszewski, 1998

There is a chasm
of carbon and silicon
the software can’t bridge
~Rahul Sonnad, 1998

To have no errors
Would be life without meaning
No struggle, no joy
~Brian M. Porter, 1998

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June 25, 2007 by dinofond.

There’s people that play better than me…. But there’s no one that loves it more than me!

-Dino

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June 21, 2007 by dinofond.

Happy summer solstice!

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June 21, 2007 by dinofond.

Jim Dalrymple, Macworld

Earlier this week Microsoft had planned to allow owners of Vista Home and Home Premium to use the operating system under virtualization on the Mac platform. However, before the announcement was even made, the company reversed the decision and said the planned change would not happen after all.

“Microsoft has reassessed the Windows virtualization policy and decided that we will maintain the original policy announced last Fall,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement provided to Macworld.

However, Microsoft’s position earlier this week was decidedly different. In a meeting with Macworld the company said that due to customer feedback on virtualization, they would be changing the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) to allow virtualization of the low-end Vista products.

“We are always listening to the community with regards to licensing,” Scott Woodgate, director of the Windows Vista team, told Macworld. “Security is still a concern, but we are enabling the customer to make that choice.”

Since Microsoft will not allow Vista Home to be run under virtualization, users are back where they started — running Vista Business, Ultimate or Enterprise in order to comply with the licensing agreement.

Virtualization specialist Parallels said that they welcomed the decision to allow virtualization across the Vista product line and they will continue to work with Microsoft on virtualization.

“We were obviously disappointed,” said Ben Rudolph, Parallels director of corporate communications. “Any annoucement from any OS vendor that makes it easier to use their technology with virtualization is a welcome one.”

Rudolph said that most Parallels users are running their virtual machines with Windows XP, not Vista at this point.

“Of course, the decision to license or not license Vista for use in a virtual machine is up to Microsoft, and we will certainly respect their decision, but we will continue to advocate on behalf of our users and we’ll continue to work with Microsoft on the issue,” said Rudolph.

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June 21, 2007 by dinofond.

- Gregg Keizer, Computerworld
It’s unusual, but confirmation of the availability of Windows Vista’s first service pack came Tuesday not from Microsoft Corp., but from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tucked into the government’s 27-page joint status settlement report released late Tuesday was evidence that Microsoft will put the beta of Vista SP1 into users’ hands before the end of the year. The report also confirmed Windows XP SP3, but did not specify beta or final release dates, although it said some code would be finalized this summer.

Microsoft has been loath to talk about either service pack, but has been particularly mum about Windows Vista SP1, a widely-anticipated bug update that some enterprise users are waiting on before deploying the new operating system.

As recently as April, when Intel Corp.’s CEO Paul Otellini hinted that Vista SP1 would likely release in October or November, Microsoft refused to confirm any schedule. “We will continue to take customer feedback from programs like the TAP [Technology Adoption Program], and will ultimately determine an official delivery date as the service pack is nearer to completion,” a company spokeswoman said at the time.

In the compromise struck between Microsoft and state and federal antitrust regulators, the company must make changes to Vista’s desktop search tool so users and OEMs can pick a default search and indexing program to replace Vista’s baked-in software for running Start menu searches. The user- or OEM-selected default must also be an option in searches initiated from Windows Explorer or the Control Panel.

“Microsoft will deliver the required changes in Service Pack 1 of Windows Vista, which Microsoft currently anticipates will be available in beta form by the end of the year,” the report stated twice, albeit in slightly-different phrasing each time.

The changes to Vista’s desktop search were prompted by a complaint filed by Google, Inc. in late 2006. That complaint accused Microsoft of designing Vista to discourage users from running other developers’ indexing and search software. Specifically, Google charged that turning off Vista’s desktop search was too difficult for many users, and that with two indexers running — Microsoft’s and Google’s, presumably — PC performance suffered, a side-effect Google said convinced some users not to run its Desktop search application.

Microsoft will be held to its promise to deliver the search changes, the report hinted. “Plaintiffs are collectively satisfied that this agreement will resolve any issues the complaint may raise, provided that Microsoft implements it as promised,” regulators said.

Windows XP SP3 also gets a mention in the status report. In earlier updates filed with Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who oversees the 2002 consent decree, Microsoft was ordered to make changes to Windows XP, an OEM pre-installation kit, and other software, including Internet Explorer. “Nearly all outstanding issues have been resolved and the remaining issues will be addressed in the coming weeks,” the report said.

According to the May 2006 status update, the government’s technical committee was still discussing with Microsoft changes to XP’s “Set Program Access and Defaults” feature, a tool that lets users choose default programs for browsing, e-mailing, instant messaging, and playing CDs.

Although Microsoft confirmed plans to crank out a Windows XP SP3 as long ago as October 2005, it recently reiterated that it wouldn’t release the update until sometime in the first half of 2008. The XP modifications mandated by the technical committee, however, are to be finished this summer.

“The Windows XP changes will be incorporated into SP3 for Windows XP,” said the report. The changes to the code will be available for review by the TC this summer… [and] the changes… will remain in the final release of SP3.”

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June 18, 2007 by dinofond.

I wasn’t going to comment on this but recent press coverage and statements by John Lilly of Mozilla seems to warrant it. Yes folks, the Safari browser has been released for the Windows platform. Because of one pie chart in the keynote by Steve jobs John Lilly basically flipped out like a 3 year old child due to the chart not showing Mozilla’s products. He makes all kind of silly explanations for this that seem more like the 23 year old reckless Steve jobs of yesterday that had him removed as CEO of apple computers INC in the early 80’s. John, STFU! You’re a CEO of a major Tech Corporation, start acting like it!

Safari was released for Microsoft operating systems one reason and one reason only, so windows developers could write applications for the iphone. Safari is not a very good browser for computers with the exception of it’s speedy rendering (a must have for mobile web browsing). It lacks features to numerous to list here and is not very user friendly, an oddity for an apple product. The point of is that Apple wants Safari used for mobile phones not for computers, John Lilly seems to have missed that point or is using this as a big FUD excuse. Safari will never be a huge success in the computer market but it very well may dominate the mobile computing market like IE has for almost a decade. The days are now here where users will download applications for mobile products such a web browsers, email applications as well as finical and book keeping programs.

The thing the pundits and media seems to have missed was that porting Safari to the Windows OS is more then likely what held up the Leopard release of OS X. Remember what huge news that was four weeks ago? Yes the tech media has too lowered themselves to reporting news the same way as Paris Hiltons new home Porno or the rehab stint of the latest and greatest paparazzi obsession. I long for the days of real news reporting but those days seem long gone even in the Tech trades. Oh well, maybe we can see the bush daughters doing something risque next time.

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June 18, 2007 by dinofond.

Apple (AAPL : +3.41, +2.8% ) shares rose $3.65, or 3%, to $124.18 after the company said it made improvements to the iPhone’s battery life that will give it up to eight hours of cell phone talk time, six hours of Internet use and 24 hours of audio playback time. Apple had previously said the iPhone would be capable of five hours each of talk time and Internet use, and 16 hours of audio playback.

Additionally, Apple said the iPhone’s touchscreen would be made of glass instead of plastic in order to improve screen clarity and resistance to scratches.

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June 14, 2007 by dinofond.

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” –Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” –The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

“But what … is it good for?” –Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” –Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” –Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?” –David Sarnoff’s associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.” –A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” –H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

“I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.” –Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in “Gone With The Wind.”

“A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.” –Response to Debbi Fields’ idea of starting Mrs. Fields’ Cookies.

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” –Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” –Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.

“If I had thought about it, I wouldn’t have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can’t do this.” –Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M “Post-It” Notepads.

“So we went to Atari and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we’ll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we’ll come work for you.’ And they said, ‘No.’ So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, ‘Hey, we don’t need you. You haven’t got through college yet.’” –Apple Computer Inc. founder, Steve Jobs, on attempts to get Atari and H-P interested in his and Steve Wozniak’s personal computer.

“Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools.” –1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard’s revolutionary rocket work.

“Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy.” –Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

“Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.” –Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” –Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction”. –Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872

“The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon”. –Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon- Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873.

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981

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June 8, 2007 by dinofond.

It seems that Roz Ho, (the nice young lady you have seen at Apple events touting office for MAC) head of Micr$ofts MAC business unit has been reassigned at Miscr$oft. First of all lets refer to the MAC business unit what it is, office for OS X nothing else. Apparently Roz has been reassigned to the Zune staff aka the Entertainment & Devices Division because it involves “special projects that take advantage of her many years of technology experience at Mac BU and in other roles”. I see, that’s Microshafts way of saying “so we can use her knowledge of apple products to steal Apples technology once again”. Christ, the don’t even try to hide it anymore.

I like the fact that Windoze users are looking at gadgets and finally coming to the realization that Microsoft really does steal apples technology. Well, it’s like watching a baby come into the world for the first time. Watching Micro$ofts ship start to sink and how the management reacts is sweet justice for the DIY and opensource enthusiast. The people up in Redmond are very scared and for good reason, Apple OS X is taking over the home market which is M$’s bread and butter even though they say it’s business systems.

Watching buffoons like Steve Balmer dis the iphone out of straight fear and a lack of knowing (or even trying to find out) what people really want in technology is nothing short of hysterical. That guy should have been a high school foot ball coach! You know, something he is qualified for. Have you ever seen M$’s OS for Wireless phones? What a complete piece of garbage it is, I guess that’s why no one uses it and It’s market share is null. Remember we are speaking of this guy here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc4MzqBFxZE

Well M$, it’s nice to see someone just flat out do it better then you have. You can’t steal it because they keep it secret, they have to after all the innovation M$ has plundered from Apple over the years. Now M$ has to wait for it to hit the market, then they steal it (Widgets / Gadgets anyone? ). May I also note that Microsoft stock opened at 29.95 this morning and Apple opened at 123.92 (you have to love those 23’s =).

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June 6, 2007 by dinofond.

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June 5, 2007 by dinofond.

Apple’s new macbook Pro’s 2.4 MHz with up to 4 GB DDR 2 RAM

Drool

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June 4, 2007 by dinofond.

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June 3, 2007 by dinofond.

“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we’d all love one another”. — Frank Zappa

“Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe”. — Frank Zappa

“The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business”. — Frank Zappa

“The whole Universe is a large joke. Everything in the Universe are just subdivisions of this joke. So why take anything too serious”. — Frank Zappa

“If you think you know what the hell is going on, you’re probably full of shit.” — Robert Anton Wilson

“The Bible tells us to be like God, and then on page after page it describes God as a mass murderer. This may be the single most important key to the political behavior of Western Civilization.” — Robert Anton Wilson

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” –Blaise Pascal

“Man made booze. God made marijuana. Who do you trust?” –Unknown

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” –Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

“Simple minds are satisfied by simplistic explanations.” — Dick Cheney

“Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope.” –the Furry Freak Brothers

“All great truths begin as blasphemies.” –George Bernard Shaw

“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” –Noam Chomsky

“If we’re all God’s children, what’s so special about Jesus?” –Jimmy Carr

“No listener gives a damn what microphone preamp you used.” –Craig Anderton

“When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” –Jonathan Swift

“The dividing line between Democrats and Republicans is at 100 IQ points.” — Ethan Winer

“When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it. But when you cannot … your knowledge is … meager and unsatisfactory. ” –Lord Kelvin

“If what you really need is outside your budget, stretch the budget. Otherwise you’re wasting all your money.” –Laurence Payne

“Microsoft is a praying mantis: It eats its partners while it’s having sex with them.” –Nicholas Petreley

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June 1, 2007 by dinofond.

Vets Back Man in Trouble Over Protest

The Associated Press
Friday, June 1, 2007; 1:11 PM

WASHINGTON — The nation’s largest veterans group on Friday urged the military to “exercise a little common sense” and call off its investigation of a group of Iraq war veterans who wore their uniforms during anti-war protests.

“Trying to hush up and punish fellow Americans for exercising the same Democratic right we’re trying to instill in Iraq is not what we’re all about,” said Gary Kurpius, national commander of the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“Someone in the Marine Corps needs to exercise a little common sense and put an end to this matter before it turns into a circus,” Kurpius said.

A military panel in Kansas City, Mo., is holding a hearing on Monday to decide whether Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh’s discharge status should be changed from honorable to “other than honorable” after he was photographed wearing fatigues _ with military insignia removed _ during a mock patrol with other veterans at a protest rally in April.

The Marine Corps is investigating whether Kokesh might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms without authorization. Kokesh was honorably discharged following a combat tour in Iraq, but he remains part of the Individual Ready Reserve, a pool of former active duty service members in unpaid, non-drill status.

Kokesh also was cited for making a disrespectful comment to a military officer investigating the incident. His attorney, Michael Lebowitz, has called the case an effort to stifle critics of the Bush administration’s Iraq policy.

Kurpius said even an implied threat to lower the discharge rating could threaten educational and other benefits Kokesh is eligible to receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The action might also prevent Kokesh from future employment opportunities that require a security clearance, Kurpius said.

“We all know that people give up some individual rights when they join the military,” Kurpius said. “But these Marines went to war, did their duty, and were honorably discharged from the active roles. I may disagree with their message, but I will always defend their right to say it.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/01/AR2007060101060.html

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