Tuesday, July 31, 2007

How to lose NINE BILLION DOLLARS!


Let's see, $ 9.67 multiplied 935 million times equals, hmmmm...... a whopping $9,041,450,000! That, my folks, is what Apple's market cap lost today based on nothing more, nothing less, than a rumor that came out of the research firm, Miller Tabak which allegedly asserted that Apple was reducing its production of iPhones from "9 million units to 4.5 million units.”

However, Miller Tabak analyst Peter Boockvar later told AppleInsider that his firm authored no such note on Apple. Instead, he said, gossip was passed along during a conversation and was subsequently overblown.

"Disregard it. There's no note on Apple today," Boockvar said. "It's pure noise."

This is insane! This is disgusting! This should be illegal and the related government bodies should look into it immediately! This is the second time this year that Apple stock suffered huge loses - loses in the billions and billions of dollars over unsubstantiated reports that weren't worth the paper that they were written on.

Seems to me, someone, somewhere, is trying to manipulate Apple's high-flying stock for illegal gain. No doubt about it, some people possibly lost their shirts today, while others, no doubt will, or have already, reaped huge profits. How in hell, can a company lose so much over so little? That's the question bugging me and it should be bugging the government agencies who regulate the market.

Something smells fishy here, and it isn't' the fish-n-chips I had for lunch!

And that's my 2 cents on this disgusting and amazing story 4 July 31, 2007

Source: www.appleinsider.com

Grandpa Hilton Not Cutting Paris' Inheritance


Recent rumors that Paris Hilton's grandfather was going to axe her from his will have been dismissed by her rep.

It was reported, by Sydney's Daily Telegraph, that Barron Hilton, was thinking of disinheriting Paris because of her recent wild ways proved to be too humiliating to the business tycoon's family name. The report stated that he cut her inheritance by some $ 60 million dollars!

However, it was later pointed out that Barron Hilton and his grand daughter, Paris, enjoy a very strong and close relationship despite the recent scandals.

Wow, what can I say? Sixty million smack-a-roo's is a lot of smack-a-roo's in anybodies piggy-bank.

Well, as much as I wish that everything goes well for Paris and her relationship with her billionaire grandfather, I would like to let it be known that, if Paris disgraces her families name again, and the elder Hilton wishes to disinherit his granddaughter, I will be most happy to take her place in line for those 60 million smack-a-roos!

And that's my 2 cents for the closing day of July 31, 2007.

Source: Fox News

Monday, July 30, 2007

Britain's Computer Warehouse & the iPhone?


Britain's Computer Warehouse has recently advertised that they have an iPhone on display in its Brentford West London retail store, as the speculation intensifies that Apple may be about to employ a multi-layered strategy for bringing the device to the European market.

The retailer's demonstration of an iPhone, in one of it's stores, has lead to speculation that it will soon be offering the device for sale there. It also adds to the speculation that Apple's strategy for shipping the device in Europe may move to a diversified supply chain in delivering the much hyped device in Europe's highly and very competitive mobile market.

Despite Apple choosing AT&T for the iPhone in the US, it's believe it will choose multiple carriers for the European market.

It has been previously understood that Apple was in talks with Vodafone, T-Mobile. Different mobile networks have different strengths in different European markets so that would make a lot of sense for the Cupertino firm.

However, so far, no specific announcement on its European plans has been made by Apple and it has been dismissing all of the present chatter as nothing but "rumour and speculation".

The European distributors will be, Apple has promised, made later this year.

And that's my 2 cents 4 Monday, July 30, 2007.

Friday, July 27, 2007

70 % of Zune Owners Plan to Switch to iPods or iPhone!


Even as Microsoft boasts about selling a little over a million Zune's, a new and recent survey claims that a whopping 70 per cent of Zune owners are planning to ditch the device, as soon as they can, in favor of either a iPod or the newly released iPhone .

Eagle Research, Group who conducted the survey, pointed out that most Zune owners are displeased with it, meaning the player has acquired little brand loyalty.

Surveyed Zune owners where most excited by the iPhone's ability to let users navigate their music using Apple's Cover Flow.

Amazingly, a whopping 36 per cent of Zune purchasers said that they would have never purchased one if only they had known that Apple was going to introduce something as compelling and innovative as the iPhone.

However, the survey pointed out that the 30 per cent of Zune owners which planed to stick with their player, could however, be tempted to purchase an iPhone with larger capacity storage.

Only 22 per cent of the 30 per cent of those owners who are vaguely loyal to the Zune were, in fact, were motivated by their "dislike of Apple."

Wow, 70% is a huge slice of the Zune's market. Microsoft used to be viewed as unstoppable in the past, but not this time. The fact remains that even though they have piles of cash, market dominance in the OS space and the office space, they don't have the corporate culture that is needed to innovate the way Google and Apple have and are continuing to do.

Can they change, maybe? It's hard to say, but for one thing, I won't be holding my breath waiting for them to do so.

And that's my 2 cents 4 the day known as Friday, July 27, 2007.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Apple Q3 Numbers in a Nutshell: WOW!


Apple Q3 numbers continue to wow after it reported the biggest June numbers in it's history. Apple made a profit of some $818 million on sales of some $5.4 billion dollars for the quarter. Apple's gross margin, as well, shot up to 36.9 percent from 30.3 percent for the same quarter last year.

At one point, yesterday, Apple's stock hit a record high of $151 dollars. It has, after profit taking, now falling back at $145,69.

Despite a massive sell-off the other day after AT&T's disclosed that it only registered some 146,000 iPhone, in it's first two days, news that Apple actually sold some 270,000 iPhone's in the first 30 hours was welcome news to investors and sent the stock, in after hour trading, rocketing to the stratosphere.

Apple disclosed that the iPod division reported a very respectable 9,815,000 units sold in Q3, representing a 21 percent increase. Apparently, the anticipation of the coming iPhone barely affected the iPod as some analysts had predicted it would.

The real surprise, however, was in the Macintosh division which saw a huge increase of some 33 percent over the same period last year. This handily beats the best ever record for the Macintosh by some 150,000 units. In the past three months this represents a total of over 1,764,000 new Macs! As with most manufacturers, most of the growth was in laptops, which many others have pointed out seems to be a growing trend in the industry.

No matter how you look or slice it, Apple's latest numbers are incredible! From a company that, for a long time, was known as a struggling enterprise and one ready to die at any moment, to the current darling of Wall Street, Apple Inc. continues not only to be the most innovative company in it's field, but easily one of the most profitable.

Steve Jobs a short while ago stated that in the new year, "Killer iMacs" would be introduced." If this is truly the case, then what we saw yesterday, the biggest June numbers in it's history, will soon be just that... history itself, and replaced by what probably will be an even bigger history making Q3 next year.

“We’re thrilled to report the highest June quarter revenue and profit in Apple’s history, along with the highest quarterly Mac sales ever,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone is off to a great start—we hope to sell our one-millionth iPhone by the end of its first full quarter of sales—and our new product pipeline is very strong.”

These statements from Jobs, ever since he returned some ten years ago to take the helm, of the then struggling computer maker, seem to be the norm for Apple these days, as it continually reports one breaking quarter after another, after another.

Will it continue? Lets' hope so. No company in it's field is quite like Apple. It virtually created the personal computer industry when it introduced to the world the venerable Apple II computer and then redefined it with the Macintosh in 1984 and continues to redefine it with OS X, the iPhone, iTunes, the iPod and, in the near future, and who knows what else it will introduce that will help change not only it's industry, but others industries as well.

Well done Apple, many, many more happy returns.

And that's my 2 cents 4 the day of July 26, 2007.

Footnote: Apple computer just surpassed computer giant HP in market cap today. HP market cap is now 124.42 B vs Apple's 127.11 B, wow indeed!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

146,000 iPhone Registrations, Disappoints!


With analysts predicting up to 500,000 iPhones being sold in the first two days of it's release, the announcement by AT&T that only 146,000 users registered them in the first two days sent Apple's stock skidding some six percent yesterday, its biggest slide in six months.

However, it is being pointed out that a lot of people have been having difficulties in registering their new iPhones, many of which had to wait several days before being able to do so. It was a news story in-and-of-itself, you might recall?

This means, of course, that the sales of the iPhone is definitely higher than what AT&T has reported. The question that everybody wants to know, of course, is by how much?

Today, Apple will be releasing it's third quarter results so the final numbers will be known, and should help answer the question as to whether the iPhone is truly the hit people that some have claimed is, or, as others are pointing out, that it is a flop.

The iPhone is truly a great product, one, no doubt, that will get even better in the future, so I wouldn't panic over the recent news. One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone, along with it being exclusively tied with AT&T, is the slower EDGE network used, and according to several analysts this will be solved soon by the introduction of new 3G models that should be out by this November.

Overly excited analysts, more than anything, are to be blamed for the recent drop in Apple's stock. Analysts are, after all, just making educated guess's, one's that unfortunately just happen to have the ability to wipe billions of dollars from a company's market cap.

Already, today Apple's stock is up a healthy $1.86 and should, hopefully, be even higher after Apple gives us the final sales figures for this 'game changing' devise. Or at least I hope so?

And that's my 2 cents 4 today, the 25th. of July, 2007.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Diet Soda Drinkers... a Warning!


Researchers were surprised by a, large but inclusive, study that showed that people who drank more than one diet soda per day were just as likely to develop the very same risks for heart disease as those who drank regular soda.

The researchers were expecting to notice a difference between diet and regular soda drinkers. However, it's believed that soda itself is not the cause, but rather, some say, a link, because it could increase a person's craving for sweets. Accordingly, Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, the senior author of the study, said that this is a link that must be studied more closely.

It was also reported that those who drank more than one soft drink a day had a 48 percent increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome than those who drank less soda.

However, there are many who disagree with the findings, as there usually are in these cases.

Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association, for example, stated that the notion that diet drinks are associated with bulging waistlines defies common sense.

"How can something with zero calories that's 99 percent water with a little flavoring in it ... cause weight gain?" she asked.

Of course it doesn't matter what type of medical or scientific study comes along, there always seems to contradictory aspects to it, so Dr. Vasan Ramachandran advice, in the mean time, for diet soda drinkers is to: "Consume in moderation and stayed tuned for more research."

After all, water is good for you, but if you get too much, you could drown; get too little and you could dehydrate and die, so what's the difference? I believe the good doctor's advice is indeed the best route to go not only on this one, but just about anything else in life.

Personally, I'm not much of a soda drinker, but if I do have a soda it will still probably be of the diet kind.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day of Tuesday, July 24, 2007.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Blogging Done Right!


I’m a clicker, I will click on anything, whether it’s good, bad, or whatever, and one day I just happened to be clicking on different blogger.com sites and I discovered, that unlike most blogging sites, which are boring to say the least, I found a delightful and interesting blog by Thomas Reestman’s, The Small Wave.

The Small Wave is what I call blogging done right. It’s insightful and intelligently written by a guy whom, I feel, can compete with the best of them, be it John Dvork, David Pogue, Jack Miller of Fix Your Thinking, or Paul Thurrot, whom Tom has challenged on  a few occasions, and in my opinion, easily bested.

In fact, according to Jack Miller, “Over the last two months I have found Tom's writing to be as insightful as John Gruber of Daring Fireball and as thorough as Daniel Eran Dilger of Roughly Drafted . It's great to have a new bookmark for my iPhone to catch up on Apple news - I highly recommend your adding "The Small Wave" to your bookmarks as well.”

I agree whole heartedly with Jack and I immediately bookmarked Tom’s blog,  and without the need for anybody prompting me, I might add. The Small Wave is now my favorite blogging site.

As a sufferer of Extreme Fatigue Syndrome, its not too many people who can interest me long enough to read through much of anything, for any length of time. Tom does. I have gone through his archive and enjoyed his previous posts, which shows the consistency of a great writer. Great writers are not made, they are born with the talent to write with that special spark. Tom has that spark.

Tom says that he is a "Tech blogger for the fun of it." Well, for whatever reason, I am glad that he decided to create and write, The Small Wave, and I think that you will agree with me after visiting his site.

In conclusion, I may have logged onto Tom’s blog not knowing what I would fine, but its because of what I found, that I return, time and time again. So, do yourself a favor and log onto his site today. You'll thank me later.

http://thesmallwave.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 22, 2007

The Magic of the iPhone: is Magic on the iPhone!

Click the link below and enjoy!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A3MfQIswl3k

The 2007 Great Web Crash!


Here is a great video from YouTube on the Great Web Crash of 2007!


http://youtube.com/watch?v=3ZWKSAw49eA

Friday, July 20, 2007

High Tech Ghost Hunting?


ZDNet has an interesting piece on High-Tech Ghost Hunting. I, for one, don’t believe in ghosts, goblins and what have you, but apparently some, in this world of high-tech, still do!

It’s a mystery to me how any one can believe in such things, but ever since early times, people have not only believed in them, but have used, at the time, what ever technology that was available to them to prove their point.

Do you believe in ghosts? Well, whether you do or not, ZDNet has a collection of photos on their site that shows various modern means, via high-tech equipment, that today's respected ghost hunters wouldn’t be caught dead without, so even, if like myself, your not a believer, you still may find the photos of interest. I did.

The article can be found here: http://content.zdnet.com/2346-9595_22-94964-1.html

And that's my 2 cents 4 the day on ghosts, Friday 20th., July, 2007.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Apple Grabs 4th. Spot in US Market.


With 5.6% of the U.S. market, Apple has grabbed the number 4 spot in US computer sales. This is up from 4.8% during the same quarter last year, giving Apple an increase of 26.2%. Gateway, at the same time, however, saw a significant drop from 6.5% last year down to 5.6% during the last quarter. Gateway only sold 5,000 more units than Apple, so, in reality, according to many experts, Apple and Gateway are virtually tied for the 3 rd. spot!

HP and Dell with 28.4% and 23.6% respectfully, remain in first and second place. However, Apple failed to make the top 5 in worldwide sales. Apple is reported to have sold 960,000 computers in the past quarter.

Macscoop.com reported, “Apple has seen continuous sales upside in the PC segment since the transition of its computer line-ups to the Intel chip, with progression rates well above the industry. This quarter global PC shipments grew 12.5%.”

In related news, APC.com out of Australia is reporting that the Mac maker is enjoying growth 3:1 over pc’s and stated, “No matter how you slice it, these numbers are good news for the Mac fraternity who have been somewhat fearful for the last couple of years that Apple may be turning more into a music company than a computer company (fuelled by the fact that Apple dropped "Computer" from its name recently, deciding to go with "Apple Inc" instead). However, with computer sales growth of over three times the market Apple is gaining share.

What makes these numbers even more impressive is the fact that all other PC vendors in the ranking sell machines at many more different price points than Apple offers. With the iPhone released, expect the 'halo' effect to drive more and more consumers to the Mac platform.”

Here are the US Computer rankings:

Rank Vendor 2Q07

Shipments Market

Share 2Q06

Shipments Market

Share 2Q07/2Q06

Growth


1 Dell 4,854 28.4% 5,437 34.1% -10.7%
2 HP 4,023 23.6% 3,193 20.0% 26.0%
3 Gateway 965 5.6% 1,039 6.5% -7.1%
4 Apple 960 5.6% 761 4.8% 26.2%
5 Toshiba 901 5.3% 600 3.8% 50.0%
6 Acer 888 5.2% 337 2.1% 163.8%

Others 4,492 26.3% 4,569 28.7% -1.7%


All Vendors 17,083 100.0% 15,936 100.0% 7.2%

Its amazing that seemingly not that long ago people were predicting that Apple was about to go out of business any day now, but in reality this amazing, one-of-a-kind, company has consistently proved it’s critic’s wrong time and time again.

With Apple firing on all cylinders these days Apple stock today hit another all time record. It is now trading at $146.46! This gives Apple a whopping market cap of over 121 B, and closing in fast on HP which trades at 48.47 B, and who’s market cap weighs in at just under 127 B. Truly, baring any major difficulities, Apple should surpass HP, at least in market cap, very soon. Remember: HP is the not only the largest US computer maker, but also the world’s. And yet, people say that Apple doesn't matter?

What this means, with Apple market cap in the top five of high-tech companies, that the Mac is back and making monkey’s out of it’s critics.

Frankly, and monkeys they deserve to be.


And that’s my 2 cents for Wednesday, the 19th. Of July, 2007.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The First iPhone....... 1983!



1983 is the year, according to newlaunches.com, that the very first iPhone was unveiled but never marketed. According to them, hard core Apple enthusiast, Marc Esslinger, from the German site Fudder.de, posted two pictures of the device that can be seen above.

Mr. Esslinger shares a very special relationship with Apple, as it was his father, Hartmut Esslinger, who designed Apple's first original portable computer, the Apple IIc.

Wow! After viewing the photos, I must say that the pictures of the first Apple phone are not only sleek, clean and sexy, but would look good even today! I'm not sure why Apple never released the phone; I think it would have sold very well, simply based on the looks of the thing. Remember, this was way, way back in the early 80's and Apple's design mastery was fully evident even back then.

Obviously, Apple is now making up BIG time by releasing its super-hyped iPhone, you know, the one that has been selling like the proverbial hotcakes, ever since!

Looking back at the first, but old, iPhone, it kind of makes you wonder what else Apple had up its sleeves that it never released and that we never knew about?


And that's my 2 cents for today, July 18th., 2007.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Vista Helping OS X and Linux?


Andy McCue, writing for ZDNet News, in a column dated today asks, “Will Vista cause a switch to Macs, Linux?”

His question stems from the high cost of Vista, an OS that can cost as high as $499 dollars Cdn. He backs up his question with the results from a recent CIO jury IT user panel in which half of it’s 12-stong panel said that Vista is likely, because of the high cost, to lead to an increase in alternatives such as Apple OS X and Linux on the desktop.

This echoes, Mr. McCue says, the comments of Capital & Regional CIO Richard Snooks who said in an interview with silicon.com this week that given the cost of being "railroaded" by Microsoft onto Vista, Macs are now "smarter money".

The head of IT at Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Alan Shrimpton, said: "Many of our applications are mandated on us by existing national contracts and they are all based on a Windows desktop. However, from a personal perspective, if I didn't have that constraint then I would certainly want to look at all of my desktop options including Apple Macs."

Of course, many on the Jury says that any increase in OS X and Linux users would be marginalized by the fact that Windows runs most of the software that business’s need. I for one think this is silly. If gaming companies can now port Window gaming software over to the Mac in record short periods of time, so can business software companies. After all, a lot of gaming software is, by far, much more complicated than any business software, so why would it be so difficult to imagine more and more companys dropping Windows in favor of either OS X or Linux?

After all, as Alex Iskold, in readwriteweb.com, points out, “According to Apple Insider, just a year ago Apple's share of the computer market was close to 2%. Now MacWorld and CNet are reporting that - according to NDP research - Apple's Desktops have crossed 10% and the MacBooks now closing on 15% of the laptop market. This puts MacBooks in 4th place behind HP, Toshiba and Gateway. The figures are likely to increase in the 3rd quarter, which is traditionally strong for Apple, because of the back-to-school sales.”

Wow, that is not only taking away market share from Windows, but it’s doing it BIG TIME! How much longer before OS X takes a whopping 25%?

Only God could know the final answer to that, but I’m predicting it may be a whole lot sooner than a lot of people expect.

Like many people, I am waiting for Apple to post some numbers tomorrow on the state of Apple’s desktop market share. I think, as many also do, that they will easily blow past market estimates and that Macs, which are now growing at a three times greater growth rate over PC’s, will widen that even further.

And that’s my 2 cents 4 this day, Tuesday, the 17th. of July, 2007.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Apple To Start a New Music Label?


Universal Music decided to play hardball with Apple’s iTunes lately and now several sources are pointing out that Apple may be getting ready to play a little hardball itself.

Back in April of this year, rumors emerged from MediaTakeOut that Jay-Z, the rapper from Def Jam Recordings, was leaving and was about to start a new major music label with Beyonce.

“In an exclusive interview, MediaTakeOut.com spoke to a key person involved in creating the new label. And according to that insider, the new label will launch early next year. Tells our insider, "It's a done deal. [Jay Z] already has Beyonce and [Mathew Knowles] on board ... She'll be finishing up her contract [with Sony], and I expect that she'll sign on to the new label shortly afterwards."

Jay-Z is currently the president and CEO of Universal Music’s Def Jam, besides being a very popular rapper in his own right.

But now, it is being claimed by Moli.com that “an inside industry source” states that it is already a done deal. We already know that Jay-Z was shopping his new “super label” around to various major record labels as well as with Apple.

Hmmm, after reading these tidbits from macrumors.com, I must say that it is a very interesting idea, and one that is not really that far fetched. Apple has been known, in the past, for throwing a pretty good curve ball, so finally playing hardball with greedy music companies seems to be a move that, if anybody can do it, it would be Apple.

I, for one, think it would make sense. Apple, after all, is no longer just a computer company, it is one of the world’s largest consumer electronics giants and, one that just happens to be also one of the world’s biggest music distributor’s!

Could Apple really be planning to start a new music label?

I don't really know, but I say: Go Apple, Go!

And that’s my 2 cents for Monday the 16th., July, 2007.

Friday, July 13, 2007

iPhone Continues To Conquer the Competition!


In the world of iPhone news, it is being reported that Germans have completely overwhelmed Germany’s largest Apple dealer seeking iPhone info . In fact, according to a Reuters piece, "Fifty-seven thousand interested people have already registered with us," the head of retailer Gravis, Archibald Horlitz, told Germany's Tagesspiegel in comments due to be published on Friday. "Every day, we get about 1,000 more."

Almost 58 percent of those interested in buying the much-hyped iPhone according to Horlitz, also said they would consider switching operators if necessary.

Meanwhile, Jefferson Graham writing for Yahoo said that a recent survey indicates that a whopping 90% of new iPhone purchasers are overwhelmingly happy with them and that both Apple and AT&T are both luring customers away from their rivals. The survey which was out Friday said that 85% claimed they were “extremely” or “very” likely to recommend the iPhone to others.

The survey was paid for by market researcher Interpret of Santa Monica, California. The firms surveyed 1,000 cell users between July 6 and the 10th.

Jason Kramer, Interpret's chief strategy officer stated that the results were, "pretty much off the charts."

The Associated Press also reported that the shares of the Cupertino, Calf. based Apple Inc. were up sharply due to recent patent filings that suggest a much cheaper iPhone “Nano” device may be in the works. Apple hit a high of $134.50 early Tuesday. Today the stock is trading at $135.16 which raises Apple’s market cap to a very impressive 116.88 B!

No doubt one of the reasons for Apple’s high stock recently was helped by the fact Bloomberg’s is now reporting that Apple may beat it’s own projections of selling 10 million iPhone’s by 2008 by 40%, making the product the fastest selling in Apple’s 30 year history, and certainly, one of the best selling consumer products of any company in history!

To conclude this piece, Lightspeed Research reported that after surveying 39,000 people on its US online panel in the days following the launch of the device on 29 June - found that the research findings were staggering.

The final findings were that a full third of the population of the U.S.A wanted to purchase their own iPhone. Image what would happen if and when Apple releases cheaper iPhones?

Time to buy Apple stock? I thinks so!


And that’s my 2 cents 4 this day of the 13th., Friday, July, 2007.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

OS X Still Safer than Windows!


Munir Kotadia from Silicon.com, reported in an article dated today, that despite Apple plugging approximately some 100 different vulnerabilities this year, in OS X, the fact remains, that the threat to Mac users is INSIGNIFICANT when compared to that of Windows users.

Furthermore, Munir points out that even though OS X was exposed to vulnerabilities usually only found in Windows, Apple was able to patch and negate any threat it’s users would have experienced, such as having their systems “owned” simply by executing basic actions as visiting a malicious site, watching videos files, or opening email attachments.

Silicon’s also reported that Patrik Runald, senior security specialist at anti virus company F-Secure, stated that: "There are no viruses really for OS X - there have been a few - but, from that point of view, the likelihood of you getting hit on an Apple is insignificant compared to PCs."

The article also added that, “..... despite all these vulnerabilities, the Mac's resilient platform, its advanced automatic software update tools and the apparent lack of attention from malware authors means Apple users are far safer from attack than users of Windows.”

Of course, as the article also pointed out, OS X is not bullet proof, but despite that, OS X is far less of a security threat than Windows. I agree and I’m happy to point out that after using OS X as my primary OS for the past six years I have never noticed any security problems what-so-ever. No, not a single one!

That is hardly a reason to be complacent, however, but whenever I hear of a major virus I usually don’t have to panic like a lot of my Windows friends seem to do. Its nice not having to overly worry about your OS’s security being compromised, but still, one has to always be on the alert for future attempts, some of which, sooner-or-later, will most likely succeed.

And that’s my 2 cents 4 the day on OS X’s security for this day of the 12th. of July, 2007.



http://software.silicon.com/os/0,39024651,39167818,00.htm?r=2

iPhone a Business Phone?


Mr. Needle writing for internetnews.com reports that the iPhone is quickly adding some very serious business applications. He writes,

“That was quick.

Just a few weeks after the long-awaited launch of the consumer-focused iPhone, NetSuite is launching SuitePhone, an integrated set of business management programs for the hot-selling device.

Actually, SuitePhone isn't so much a new set of applications but NetSuite for the iPhone. NetSuite officials say Apple's announcement that its Safari browser should be the target for iPhone developers was music to its ears.

It is a great read and it means that all of those doom-sayers who say that the iPhone is a lousy business phone may have to eat a lot of crow before it is all said and done.

The CEO of RIM, the makers of the hot-selling Blackberry, recently seemed very unconcerned about the arrival of the iPhone, saying that he has never even seen it! Well, I have a feeling he will not only be seeing a lot more of the iPhone, but he will be seeing a lot of red!

Mr. Ballmer on the introduction of the iPhone at Macworld last January laughed. Well, I have the sneaky and gut feeling he won’t be laughing for much longer. Mr. Ballmer didn’t just laugh at the iPhone, calling it the most expensive phone in the world, which it isn’t, he, as others have pointed out, laughed nervously. Well, he should be nervous. The iPhone already has not only outsold Microsoft’s Zune mpg player, but did so in only a week!

Mr. Needle also reported that, “ Sheryl Kingstone, director of enterprise applications and mobility at Yankee Group, is bullish on the iPhone for business use and NetSuite's support of it.

"The iPhone is one of the most gorgeous form factors to hit the market in a while and manipulation through an application is much easier using touch," said Kingstone. "What's nice about NetSuite here is that it's all one application; you don't have to worry about integrating separate parts. Also, it's SaaS (define) so you don't have to worry about VPN (define) access.”

Well, Sheryl Kingstone may be right about not having to worry about VPN access, but for one, if your Mr. Ballmer or the CEO of any of Apple’s competitors, you do... you have a lot to worry about!

And that’s my 2 cents on the iPhone as a business tool for this Thursday, 12th. of July, 2007.

Source: http://www.internetnews.com/wireless/article.php/3688331

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

6th. GEN. Mult-Touch iPod Next Month?


With news that Taiwan-based Wintek will be the major supplier of multi-touch screens for the new OS X version of the next iPod, some sources are speculating that the new models could be out as early as next month. It is believed that the new or 6th. generation iPod would function basically as does the iPod features found on Apple’s newly released iPhone.

It was also reported, in related news, that Taiwan’s TrendON Touch Technology is supplying its’ German based partner Balda with indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass for future based iPhone touch screens.

According to Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, however, the new iPods will not incorporate the built-in wireless capabilities of the iPhone. I hope he is dead wrong on this one, because built-in wireless capabilities would be just one more reason to cement iPod's as the default mpg player for the world of mobile music listeners.

Even though the iPods have had several minor updates, the last major upgrade of the iPod was almost two full years ago when Apple used a media event to introduce 30 and 60 GB versions with color screens and video playback capabilities. Wow, it seems just like yesterday, doesn't it?

Well, when it comes to the 6th. generation iPod, I say its about time! I’ve been waiting for such a multi-touch based iPod for what seems like forever now. Will it send ripples through out the world of mpg players? Most likely it will, but for me the most sure sign of a winning product is if it can make a tight-wade like myself fork over my hard earned cash! If any one can make me part with my cash, its probably Apple, and I have a sneaky feeling that this time they will have finally done that - make me part with my precious money.

Well, come August we are about to find out if my ears are fuller and my wallet lighter.

And that’s my 2 cents for this Wednesday, the 11th. of July, 2007.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

iPhone Nano?


At last January's Macworld Expo, Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, not only announced the iPhone, probably the most hyped product in history, but he also annouced that it was only the beginning, that they had a lot more iPhones on the way. Apparently those were not idle words as reports of a’ Christmas iPhone’ or ‘iPhone Nano’ are on their way for the fourth quarter.

This news, or more correctly speculation, is based on recent patent applications that show a iPhone Nano like device. Also adding to the fire was the following report:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news) plans to launch a cheaper version of the iPhone in the fourth quarter that could be based on the ultra-slim iPod Nano music player, according to a JP Morgan report.

Kevin Chang, a JP Morgan analyst based in Taiwan, cited people in the supply channel he did not name and an application with the U.S Patent and Trademark office for his report dated July 8. Apple filed a patent application document dated July 5 that refers to a multifunctional handheld device with a circular touch pad control, similar to the Nano’s scroll wheel. […] analysts forecast that a cheaper phone from Apple, which leads the digital music player market, could pose a much bigger threat to long-established phone makers such as Nokia and Motorola Inc.

These factors seem credible enough that they helped push Apple’s stock, yet again, to a new record high of $133.81. This now gives Apple a huge and astounding market cap of 115.74 B! The ‘iPhone Nano’ is expected to go for well under $300 and could feed the frenzy of the iPhone to even more dizzying heights, if indeed that is possible!

It’s funny how Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer ridiculed the iPhone after its announcement. He said, "500 dollars for a phone, fully subsidized? That is the most expensive phone in the world!" Of course he deliberately ignored the fact that other phones like the LG Prada goes for $800 fully subsidized!

If true and Apple introduces an affordable’ iPhone Nano’ like device for the Christmas shopping season, it will be really interesting to know and see what Steve Ballmer and other Apple detractors have to say then. I predict it won’t be as condescending as Mr. Ballmer’s last statements were; or will they?

And that’s my word on the’ iPhone Nano’ for Tuesday, July 10, 2007.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Boeing: The DREAMliner begins!



After years of hard work on the part of thousands of highly skilled workers, Boeing’s new carbon-fibre and plastic mix dream - the 787 Dreamliner aircraft was unveiled to even more thousands in a splashy event held in Everett, Washington.

Its because of that composition of carbon fibre and plastic, instead of metal, used in its construction, the 787 Dreamliner will be able to cut down on the cost of both fuel and harmful emissions. Its also why the many thousands on-hand for the Dreamliner’s unveiling reached upward to touch and get a feel of the new plane’s skin, a first of its kind.

Not only the new construction material, but the wings, for example, have a twist design at their tips which also increases the efficiency of the plane. This unheard of efficiency for the 787 has already resulted in the order of some 677 Dreamliners.

The 787 Dreamliner started out in 2001, when Boeing bosses began trying to work out what aviation's next big thing would be. Originally they began designing a futuristic new airliner, the Sonic Cruiser, with a double tail-plane and Concorde-style wings and its engines built into the fuselage. However, the Sonic Cruiser never got off the ground which left the airlines in a desperate need of not faster, but more economical planes. The defunct Sonic Cruiser and it’s advance technology were, however, eventually turned into an all new aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner.

Despite all of the efficiencies of the 787 Dreamliner, some are saying that carbon-fibre composites are not sufficiently tested and that any cost reductions will only result in more planes being sold to accommodate the increase in passenger traffic it's expected to bring, thus negating any benefits to the environment that the 787 originally promise to deliver.

Time will tell and that’s my 2 cents on the unveiling of this beautiful and revolutionary plane for Monday, the 9th. of July, 2007.


MATERIALS IN THE 787 DREAMLINER
Carbon-fibre composites: 50%
Aluminium: 20%
Titanium: 15%
Steel: 10%
Other: 5%
Source: Boeing

Clay Aiken's Air Drama!


Entertainment Tonight Online reported that Clay Aiken, the 28 year-old American Idol runner up, was allegedly involved in a dispute with a woman on a Saturday Continental Airlines flight to Tulsa.

Without giving either names FBI Special Agent Gary Johnson told the Tulsa World newspaper that an argument between a man and a woman passenger broke out after the male passenger put his foot on her armrest. The agent also said that the male passenger was a former “American Idol” contestant, but nothing more.

After being questioned by the FBI the two involved in the incident where not charged since neither had disrupted the flight.

And thats my 2 cents on this piece of silliness for this Monday 9th. of July, 2007.

Friday, July 6, 2007

$ 6.2 million Award for Sexual and Racial Discrimination!

Firefighters have to face many dangers each day. Those dangers range from trying to rescue a kitten from a tree in the back yard to major fires, be they house fires, high-rise fires, chemical fires or what have you? And they are highly trained and financially rewarded for doing so.

However, one female firefighter after facing derogatory remarks from her fellow firefighters for being a lesbian and black, will never have to face those dangers again. In-fact, if the victim, Brenda Lee, so desires, she never has to worry about having to work as a firefighter or anything else ever again, thanks to a huge discrimination victory in court.

A Los Angeles jury, after hearing the harassment case which included someone mixing urine with her mouthwash, awarded the former fighter 6.2 million dollars US!

Brenda also claimed that the Angeles Fire Department superiors made derogatory comments about her and forced her to perform strenuous exercises without proper safety precautions just because of her race and sexual orientation.

Brenda's payout was the largest pay-out in a string of recent settlements for cases that involved alleged discrimination and retaliation against women and minorities within the L.A. Fire Department.

Also in relation to Brenda Lee's case a jury awarded 1.7 million dollars US in April to Lewis Bressler, who claimed he was forced into retirement for backing Lee's claims of discrimination.

As well, Gary Mellinger, who alleged the department retaliated against him after helping Lee, also settled with the city for 350,000 dollars US after a jury agreed with his claims.

Since I'm not qualify to make a judgement in the case I won't, but it seems to me that as bad as the situation may have been, the amounts awarded seems to me to be a little steep. A firefighter may indeed earn a good salary, and justifiably so, but at 6.2 million US Brenda would have to have worked for about a century to earn such a large sum. In her lifetime she could have been expected to earn about have of that.

Not only that, but even though the terrible abuse that Brenda Lee suffer was no small thing, she still could work else where, even at another fire department, couldn't she? It's not like she was so damaged that she could never ever work again, was it? Everyone, after all, suffers some type of discrimination in their lives, but it doesn't mean that we should all be compensated with huge sums of money.

As bad as I feel for Brenda Lee I feel even more so for the taxpayers who have to shell out huge sums of their hard earned tax dollars for such cases. Is it any wonder that governments are so cash strapped?

A little more balance is in order, don't you agree?

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day of Friday, the 6th. of July, 2007.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Poor Old Bill Gates!

Poor old Bill Gates, the man who formally was the world's richest man for what seems like forever, is now relegated to second place. This is because one of the worlds poorest countries can now lay claim to having the world’s richest man. That country would be Mexico and that man would be Carlos Slim Helu. The 67 year old Carlos is now worth an astounding 67.8 billion dollars US, beating long-time richest man, Bill Gates who is only worth a measly 59.2 billion US!

Carlos Slim has the recent increases in his America Movil group of companies to thank for his new-found position on the heap of the world’s billionaires list. Mr. Helu’s most important business concern is Telmex, the Mexican telephone company that he managed to take over with the help of foreign investors. Carlos Slim then turned the money losing operation into a cash cow that now controls about 98% of all Mexican phone lines and Telcel, his cell operation, some 80%! America Movil group has been buying cellphone companies all over Latin America for the past five-years and is now the regions most dominant company, with well over 100 million subscribers!

Last year the Mexican super billionaire announced that he would give away part of his vast fortune by matching, dollar for dollar, any foreign donations made in the areas of health, education and other social programs for and in Mexico.

Poor old Bill Gates, now no longer the world’s richest man, probably won’t be in need of applying for welfare assistance any time soon, but it must seem, none-the-less, strange for a man who for the past few decades been called the world’s richest man, is now forced to be called the former richest.

Poor old Bill, if only I could be half as poor as he!


And thats my 2 cents 4 Thursday, July 5 th., 2007.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Ratatouille... An Animated Masterpiece!

The genius's at Disney's Pixar have done it again, taken the top spot for this weekend's movie listings by pulling in $47.2 million for its newest film, 'Ratatouille.' All-in-all, a very fine debut indeed.

I have yet to see this movie, but I have seen the trailer at Apple's Quicktime site. From the trailer, its easy to see why this charming family film about the tale of Remy, a rat who dreams of being becoming a great French chef, would take the top spot. The characters and the sheer beauty of this film is absolutely wonderful.

Brad Bird, who both directed and wrote the script, created what JANE HORWITZ of THE WASHINGTON POST called, "... a ground breaking gorgeous computer-animated film." I agree and plan to watch the 1 hour and 50 minute film the first chance I get.

Its really nice to see family based films like Ratatouille beating out films like the latest Bruce Willis hit, 'Live Free or Die Hard.'

Ratatouille is voiced by: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo and is a great movie for any child, or anybody who is a child at heart, to see.

And that's my 2 cents on this animated movie masterpiece for the 4th. of July, 2007.

Hilton: Don't Drink and Drive!

After spending the past week with her friend, Ashley Scott, vacationing on the island of Maui, Paris informed her MySpace fans to enjoy the Holiday, but not to drink and drive. She wrote, "Happy 4th of July everyone, and remember to be responsible and have a designated driver! Just looking out for you all. I love you and have an amazing summer!"

After writing that her Hawaiian getaway was very relaxing, she said that she was 'excited' to be working on several new projects that she would reveal later.

Paris went on to thank all of her fans who supported her with cards and letters while she was incarcerated for drinking and driving and then, now relaxed and sober, the heiress was seen participating in one of her favorite pastimes... shopping!

And that's my 2 cents on that for this day of Wednesday, July 4th., 2007.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Amazing Launch of Apple's Amazing iPhone!

A list of amazing things happened last Friday in connection with Apple’s debut of the iPhone. Here are just some of the amazing things that I witnessed:

Huge lineups of excited people that went for several blocks, including people who camped out for days to get their hands on the most hyped electronic gadget in a long time. This was truly an amazing sight to witness.

Another amazing thing about the iPhone’s launch was simply the incredible hype that it generated. Literally thousands of blogs, mine included, and thousands of traditional news sources and, of course, thousands upon thousands of other internet news sites, which covered the whole affair in minute detail from beginning to end.

The iPhone itself, of course, was pretty amazing, in and of itself, for several amazing reasons:

It’s amazing multi-touch screen.

It’s amazing video playback is both bright and clear even in the brightest day light.

It’s amazing internet capabilities. To bad it is forced to use AT&T’S Edge network.

It’s amazing iPod music player with Cover Flow, the best yet.

Another amazing fact of the iPhone’s launch was that it is estimated to have sold between 500,000 to 700,000 in it’s first three days! This is considerably more than the 50, 000 to 200, 000 that analysts estimated would be the case.

But of all the amazing things that came out of the iPhone’s launch, the most amazing thing was the way in which Apple treated it’s customers who were standing in line. Every ten to fifteen minutes Apple employees would come out and give the crowds free bottled water, Star Bucks coffee, donuts and sun screen! They would also check to make sure they were as comfortably and safe as well.... truly amazing indeed, especially in this day and age!

This was reported to be in stark contrast to those waiting inline to get their hands on an iPhone from one of AT&T stores across the US!

All-in-all, it was an amazing launch for an amazing piece of technology from one of its most amazing companies! Way to go Apple!

And that’s my 2 cents on the Apple iPhone’s launch for this day of Tuesday the 3rd., July 2007.

Monday, July 2, 2007

Moslem Leaders

According to statements made by a leading UK Islamist leader to www.Worldnetdaily.com, the recent thwarted attacks both in London and Scotland’s most important airport were completely justified.

Anjem Choudary, the founder and former chief of two disbanded Islamic groups, stated that, "There is no doubt whatsoever that there will continue to be attacks against the British government, its interests and the home front as long as we see the continued British and American occupation of Muslim land in Iraq and Afghanistan, support for criminal Israel, and draconian measures taken against Muslims in the UK.”

These truly are very strong words from a morally very weak man. Apparently, groups headed by such individuals believe that Westerners have absolutely no right to exercise their freedom of speech in their own lands, but that he and other like minds have the right to express themselves fully by burning British flags and screaming, "Down with Britain, down with the Queen."

Its remarkable, that the Taliban can host Bin Laden and from the safety of Afghanistan, they can attack and kill thousands of innocent people, but we have no right to go in and attack them, or defend ourselves! However, Moslem’s, on the other hand, can attack anybody, anywhere at anytime and for the slightest of reasons!

It’s not right, apparently, for a Danish cartoonist, for what ever reason, to say anything about their great leader, but Moslem’s can riot and kill every where because of it. They also can kill innocent Moslems and aged Catholic nuns in protest and issue evil death threats against the Pope, who obviously has no right to express his own beliefs in his own native land of Germany.

Of course, this isn't really surprising when you consider that these same Islamic minds have no difficulty in attacking other Moslem’s in other Moslem lands such as Iraq. It’s not, after all, Americans, Britons, Germans, Italians, or Japanese, etc. that are strapping bombs around their chests and walking up and killing fellow Moslems there and elsewhere. Westerners are not exactly known for putting suicide bombs around the chests of their children and sending them off to blow themselves up and others to smithereens in the process, but who is? We all know the answer to that question!

Come to think of it, who invaded a school of precious little Russian children in Beslan, resulting in their death and emotionally shattered lives? Christians, Buddhists, atheists? No, again, Moslem extremists directed by their leaders!

Who is going around killing tourists and Christians in Indonesia? Again, Moslem extremists. Who are killing and beheading Buddhist priest’s in Thailand? Hint, it isn’t anybody from the Baptists!

The day, I’m afraid, is coming when the western powers are going to get to the point of no return.... they are going to lash back at Islamic powers such as Iran and the rest of the Middle East! I just wonder how much longer the citizen’s and their governments will continue to tolerate these Islamic fundamentalists leaders before all hell breaks lose, which is, by the way, exactly what the President of Iran is planning and hoping for!

Well, the day is coming soon and the Iranian president will get his well deserved answer.... I just don’t think its going to be exactly what he was hoping and planning for.

These people, like Mr. Anjem Choudary, are doing more to bring destruction and misery on the world including, and maybe, even most of all, the Moslem people, the very one’s they claim are being victimized. Victimized indeed, by their very own extremist leaders, leaders like Mr. Choudary!

And that’s my 2 cents 4 this Monday, July 2nd, 2007.