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Yes, I did and also got $100 off a printer. Got the all in one Canon M610 - very nice!
Fusion and Vista on a Mac - DVD playing on the windows side
I haven't seen much discussion on this elsewhere and my posting on one forum didn't get much of a response so perhaps it is only an issue to me or perhaps no one has a concern about this.
I can't play DVDs while running in Windows (XP and/or Vista) under Fusion on either a MacBook Pro or MacBook.
Mac Information
MacBook Pro 17-inch 2.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, 512 Mb VRAM GeForce 8600M GT, have tried one and two processors running,
Assigned 1.79Gb of RAM to windows
Device Manager
Driver Provider VMWare
Date 10/29/2007
Driver Version: 1.6.0.4
MacBook 12-inch 2.0Ghz 2GB RAM, 64 Mb VRAM GMA 950
Fusion 1.1.3
Windows Vista on the MacBook Pro
Windows XP (with all updates) on the MacBook
When a DVD is inserted Windows Media Center starts up and then the following alert window appears
VIDEO ERROR
Files needed to display video are not installed or not working correctly. Please restart Windows Media Center or restart the computer.
Then I quit windows and quit Fusion and the movie is launched automatically in Mac OS X so i know the DVD player works (on the Mac side).
I have read that some persons have downloaded the latest drivers from NVIDIA but I don't see how that does anything because isn't the control VMWare which as shown above provides the driver which isn't reflective of what graphics card or capability you have in your Mac. But I see in various readings that it is a virtual video card of 64Mb which is what my MacBook has so why doesn't a DVD play in windows????
Some have said there is no virtual or real decoder for the DVD Player (on the windows side) and that needs to be installed. Can one be installed? Which one?
Granted perhaps I shouldn't worry about running the DVD in windows but there are enhanced DVDs which only run in Windows, and perhaps there are other programs that won't run since it only has 64Mb of VRAM and why shouldn't I be able to do it?
I have installed AutoCAD and while I haven't given it any major push at this point just simple 2-D stuff, it works fine on XP and Windows in Fusion on both Macs... with only the 64Mb of virtual VRAM. Will this be a problem when a big file is handled? Will it handle 3-D drawings (I have seen some demo showing it does but now I wonder)
What am I doing wrong? or what can be done? I hate to think that this is all the video performance you can get out of Fusion. I see the YouTube video with windows games being played so how is that done with only 64Mb of virtual VRAM?
I know you guys will have plenty of answers and solutions.
Thanks
I have always thought that Apple's timing for the back to school sales is too late. My son goes to college in two days. We bought our Mac three weeks ago. How many persons wait until a week or two before school starts to buy a computer.
As a professional procrastinator, I know perhaps a lot of people put off buying a computer until the last minute but perhaps the ads should start earlier than August 19?
Just checked the on-line Apple store and they had this list for the top selling macs
* 1.MacBook Air
* 2.MacBook
* 3.iMac
* 4.MacBook Pro
* 5.Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
* 6.iWork '08
* 7.AppleCare
The MacBook Air is selling more than the MacBook, iMac and MacBookPro?
Students and teachers will be carrying something entirely different this fall?
On Amazon, the MacBook is listed as the top seller of all laptops, the Macbook Pro (15-inch) is number 4 (after two Asus 8.9-inch models). Macbooks also show up at 6, 16 and 20 and then the MacBook Air is at #24 - still respectible.
I think the difference in the two lists is the college buying and getting a free iPod Touch (who would opt for a small nano or other iPod?). this may mean that college students and teachers are buying the macbook air.
the link to the company should be
http://www.quick-voice.com
Local (Rhode Island) developer’s iPhone application a hit
Posted Jul 30, 2008
from http://www.providencebusinessnews.com/
QUICKVOICE has continued to rise in popularity, jumping from No. 22 in the iPhone application store Friday to No. 19 this Monday.
By Ted Nesi
PBN Staff Writer
SMITHFIELD – A local company’s voice-recorder software has become one of the biggest hits in Apple Inc.’s new online store that sells applications for the iPhone 3G.
QuickVoice, a voice-recorder program created by the Smithfield-based software developer nFinity Inc., has quickly become one of the Top 25 most popular applications for sale in the company’s App Store. Late Tuesday afternoon, QuickVoice was ranked at No. 19 on the App Store’s list of top paid applications.
Although Apple does not break out specific sales figures for its online stores, QuickVoice’s high ranking means the application has been purchased by thousands of customers – and perhaps even tens of thousands – since the store went live on July 10, the day before the new iPhone was released in stores.
The QuickVoice program was originally coupled with another program and priced at $9.99, but after watching the store’s early sales response, nFinity dropped the two-program deal and slashed the price to $1.99 – and sales surged.
QuickVoice’s success in the crowded App Store – which has more than 500 applications for sale, including almost a dozen different voice recorder programs – has elated the staff at nFinity, Kerrie-Lynn Corcoran, the company’s business manager, told PBN. The company had to develop the application and submit to Apple for approval in order for it to be added to the App Store.
Corcoran credited the success of QuickVoice’s iPhone edition to customers’ prior experience with the PC and Mac versions of the program, which have received positive reviews. A few years ago, for example, the influential New York Times tech writer David Pogue called QuickVoice “the most attractive [voice recorder] software of all” and “beautifully designed.”
“We already have loyal customers and a good reputation,” Corcoran said. “When you have that to back you, your name is stronger. The product is speaking for itself.”
The company will get a better sense of how many people have bought the new version of QuickVoice when Apple sends it its monthly check. Under the App Store’s terms, Apple takes a 30-percent cut of the programs’ sales, and the rest of the money goes to nFinity and other developers.
A new version of the QuickVoice for iPhone is currently being developed, Corcoran said, and will be released in August. The update will allow customers to transfer their recordings from their iPhone to their computer and also use the iPhone’s Mail program to e-mail recordings.
More information about nFinity Inc. and QuickVoice can be found online at http.www.quick-voice.com.
So tomorrow I was planning on going to the Providence Place Apple Store with my son to buy a 17-inch MacBook Pro at the education price and get a Free iPod Touch ($299 rebate - in RI Apple doesn't do a mail in rebate = it is an immediate rebate - must be some state law on this) AND also get a $100 off on a printer.
But today I was in the mall and stopped at the Apple store and noticed they didn't have any printers on display so I asked if they had any. They said they did but they are in the back. I asked if they had all a particular model printer I was interested in and he checked and noted that they had about six models in inventory but he didn't have the one I wanted. He quickly noted that if I wanted the rebate I could order the Mac, iPod and printer on-line. I realized that the sale for the printer rebate had to be on the same invoice as the Mac ($100 rebate WITH the purchase of a Mac) but I asked him if I could buy the MacBook Pro and iPod and have them order the printer for me OR call another store and have it shipped to the Providence store for me.
He said no. He said I would have to do the order on line. He brought me over to a Mac and showed me the on-line apple store and then walked away.
A few minutes later, I asked another higher level salesperson and she told me the same thing.
So, I left and as I walked out the greeter said "have a good day, sir" and I stopped and walked back and told him what I just learned and he agreed that was what I had to do to get the printer rebate - buy it on line at the same time as the MacBook and printer or go to another Apple retail store (the closest is in the Boston area 60 miles away - $25 worth of gas). I told him as a long time Mac user and a substantive stock holder I was really disappointed that I wouldn't be able to come to the store with my son and get that immediate gratification by buying locally and walking out with the MacBook Pro and an iPod Touch knowing that my rebated printer would be shipped later. I told I wasn't going to have a good day now.
I can't believe they would get the printer for me!!!!
Maybe as a fun thing I will take a trip to Boston on Saturday (the additional annoying thing was that I was in Boston yesterday)
Stopped by the Providence (RI) Place Mall Apple Store today at about 1:30PM, there was a line of about 20 persons in front of the store. I asked if it was to get into the store and was told it was the waiting line for iPhones.
Inside the store the place was packed! Didn't see any merchandise being sold but something was happening.
Thanks, WLD
I am glad you mentioned the refurbs. I usually check there on a regular basis. There are some good deals there as you note.
I thought it would be best for AutoCAD work and other graphics work to get a 17-inch MacBook Pro with 512Mb video RAM. Otherwise, I would pursue some of the MacBook Pros below $2,000.
A new MacBook Pro is $2,599 education price with a free $299 iPod Touch (in Rhode Island - the stores have to give the rebate as a cash discount not a mail in rebate so I see that free Touch as really free - actually for the cost of sales tax - $21)
A refurb equal to a new one's specs with the 512Mb video RAM is $2,349. If I add to that a refurb $199 iPod Touch. I have spent $2,548 - I save $51.
same warranty as new but for $51 perhaps I would rather have a MacBook Pro and a new iPod Touch.
Actually, buying new will get me a NEW printer for free too after rebates so I come out ahead buying new.
Buying new also qualifies education users with a 10% discount on MS Office (which is $134.95) but it sells nationally on sale at $129.95 for the Mac version.
It is also interesting to check education pricing on software by schools and against manufacturer education pricing. For example, Apple sells Adobe Creative Suite with a new mac for $399 but Pratt sells it without buying a Mac or PC for $339!
Now if only the market was at the same level as on 12/31/2007, I would really be ahead.
Any thoughts? PC vs Mac ... the choice to make for a non-Mac software??? Any thoughts?
I am the classic - I use a MacBook at home and in every opportunity I can at work but in my workplace we have PCs. I have used Macs for at least 19 years and have always avoided PCs unless the software is just not available for the PC.
I have been using Fusion to run Windows on my first generation 2Ghz intel core duo MacBook and it seems to run just fine.
My son will be going to Pratt Institute (Broolkyn) in another month for architecture. They have a "mandatory" laptop program that has you buy a Dell. (It doesn't appear that it really is "mandatory" it is just that Pratt doesn't support Macs in architecture as far as I can tell but certainly they are used by many students at Pratt. But I don't know if other architecture students will be using Macs)
see http://pratt.edu/~laptop/barch.html
I checked out the Dell that is offered and it is not a bargain ($2,349 - Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.40GHz) 3M L2 Cache, 800MHz Dual Core, 17-inch WUXGA, NVIDIA® Quadro FX 1600M 512MB TurboCache, 2Gb RAM, NO bluetooth, ONLY 120Gb hard drive, the good -3 Year Dell Next-Day Onsite Parts & Labor Warranty + CompleteCare LoJack theft deterrent and tracking device ).
The MacBook Pro education price is $2,599 and has a 2.5Ghz processor wtih 6MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed (does this mean 2.5Ghz versus the 800Mhz noted above for the Dell??) , a 512Mb NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video card and a 250Mb hard drive (2x the Dell). I would have to add the theft deterrent software if I wanted that and Applecare.
I worry about DELL quality and Windows (esp. Vista) plus the DELL laptop is big and clunky. (If he has to have a PC I would prefer a Sony, Toshiba or HP)
In his first year, the PC only software that he will have to use is AutoCAD. In his second year there are other 3-D software that is or is being converted to be available for the Mac too.
I was going to buy him a 17-inch MacBook and bring RAM up to 4Gb of RAM (not thru the Apple Store) and run Windows and AutoCAD on the MacBook using VMware Fusion. I downloaded a demo copy of AutoCAD and have run it on my lowly MacBook under Fusion and it seems fine - but then again I am not a AutoCAD power user that an architecture student will be.
Yes, I realize that if I could also start up the Mac in BootCamp and run Windows and AutoCAD that way but I think I would rather have them running side-by-side.
He would also get a free iPod Touch (education special) and a free printer.
I have read a number of discussions on this and AutoCAD seems to work with this set up (or under BootCamp or Parallels or Fusion).
I think having the Mac will be a better computer experience for him, will run software as well as on the DELL and the Mac I think will last longer than the Dell too.
So what do you think? Am I asking for trouble and problems if he is running AutoCAD at school on a Mac?
(Based on what I have read I think AutoCAD will be available on the Mac within the next two years of his five year program - but who knows?)
Thanks for your thoughts.
Just noticed that the Apple Store has "special pricing" on refurbished iPod Touches, (8Gb $199, 16Gb $299) and the iPod nano (4 & 8Gb at $99 & $149). They have 32Gb refurb'ed Touches but no "special" pricing just refurb pricing.
trying to clear out all these refurbs in combination with the nanos and touches (priced below $299) with the back to school special?
Doing this so as to introduce something new on or about September 15 (after the school special is over)???
The 32Gb doesn't have special pricing cuz, perhaps it will be the base model of Touches and iPods?????
what is coming next?
Is this related to what is coming?
no ... would that mean that 13.5% + 34% = 47.5% of all iPhone buyers ever?
I still think we are in the early adopters stage
doesn't work anymore ...
'Apple is believed to finalizing development of overhauled MacBooks and MacBook Pros (add in ... iPod Touchs and iPod nanos) that should make their way to manufacturing during this period. The hardest evidence to this end surfaced earlier"
last month when Apple announced its back-to-school education store special when you buy a Mac with your education discount between June 3 and September 15, 2008, you can get a free iPod touch or iPod nano after rebate.*
Sounds like they will clear out all the macbooks and macbook pros (that's what education buys, right?) just in time to bring out a new model in mid-October and at the same time shrink iPod inventory for a new nano and new touch (and/or a new iphone? - nano? )
I was in Boston today with my wife and we figured we would check out the new giant Apple store on Boylston Street. As we waled around the corner, my wife said "what is going up the street, what are all those people doing?"
It was a little after noon and there was, my guess, at least 200 persons in line and no one was being let in cuz no one was coming out.
There was a kid named Fernando (from Brazil) who had a sign saying he was first in line. He was posing for a photo by his mother (?) with his new iPhone (still in a box) and his sign.
We didn't stay ... too long a line.
We walked down the street and noticed another line and I thought it was for a restaurant but my wife quickly said it was an AT&T store selling iPhones. Sure enough, the 25 - 50 persons in that line were waiting to get in to that store as well. The store had big iPhone posters in its windows.
If the crowds are indicators of purchases ... Apple will sell a ton today.
The future of Apple is here today ... or is it here tomorrow?
check this out ... this is odd?!!?
apple dated these two stories released today on their website ... July 9 - tomorrow.
?
Date mistake or posting mistake?
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/
Apple introduces the new iPhone 3G
June 9, 2008
The new iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking, built-in GPS, and iPhone 2.0 software that supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs hundreds of third party applications built with the iPhone SDK. Available in 22 countries on July 11, iPhone 3G comes in two models: an 8GB model priced at $199 (US) and a 16GB model priced at $299 (US). Filed under: iPhone. Read more: apple.com/iphone
Announcing the MobileMe Internet service
June 9, 2008
The new MobileMe Internet service delivers push email, push contacts and push calendars to native applications on iPhone, iPod touch, Macs and PCs. A subscription-based service with 20GB of storage for $99 (US) per year for individuals and $149 (US) for a Family Pack, MobileMe provides a suite of elegant, ad-free web applications — Mail, Contacts and Calendar, a Gallery for viewing and sharing photos, and iDisk for storing and exchanging documents — that deliver a desktop-like experience through any modern browser. Filed under: Mac. Read more: apple.com/mobileme
Attention Apple Investors: Analysts You Don’t Know But Should
Good article
http://seekingalpha.com/article/83816-attention-apple-investors-analysts-you-dont-know-but-should?source=feed
OCZ - please explain their organizational base. Their corporate offices are in Sunnyvale and they have a link to "investor relations" but stock is not for sale in the US.
Are they not a public company? Is their stock sold elsewhere?
blackberry VS iPhone
http://blackberryforums.pinstack.com/showthread.php?t=76066
so, whadaya think?
Also next quarter (and this) is the start of the buy a mac get an iPod student promotion.
this promotion certainly will help the next quarter's numbers for iPods.
Poor Man's iPod Touch $99
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BLK-CN-45-8GB&cm_mmc=geekmail-_-daily_html-_-19jun08_KNIFE-_-KNIFEmain
No, I don't have any connection with geeks.com just thought this was interesting
*Please note this is NOT the actual Apple iTouch, it is a generic MP4 player**
Portable digital entertainment that fits in the palm of your hand!
Watch videos, listen to MP3 files, dial in your favorite FM radio station, and take pictures with this 8 GB USB portable MP4 digital media player!
It features a 2.8-inch color touchscreen and features a built-in microphone so you never miss an important note or idea! Plug in the earbuds for private listening!
This 8 GB USB portable MP4 digital media player provides a convenient way to enjoy your music, browse photos, take pictures, watch videos and more, all in a single device! Order today!
Features/Specifications:
* 8 GB USB MP4/MP3/FM/Camera with 2.8-inch Touchscreen
* General Features:
* Black profile
* 8 GB memory
* 2.8-inch color TouchScreen
* MP4 video player
* MP3 audio player
* FM Radio
* 1.3 MP Digital Camera
* DV Camera
* Built-in Microphone for Voice recording
* FM interior recording
* E-Book Function
* Picture Browse
* USB interface
* Built-in Speaker Function
* Games
* miniSD card slot
* Headphone jack
* Firmware upgradeable
* Supported Digital Camera Resolutions:
* 320 x 240
* 640 x 480
* 800 x 600
* 1024 x 768
* 1280 x 1024
* EQ:
* Normal
* 3D
* Rock
* Popular
* Classical
* Bass
* Jazz
* Unit Dimensions:
* 3.6 x 2.1 x 0.6-inches (H x W x D, approximate)
Package Includes:
* 8 GB USB MP4/MP3/FM/Camera with 2.8-inch Touchscreen
* Driver CD (on 3-inch CD)
* Earbuds
* USB cable
* Power Adapter (100 - 240V 50/60 Hz)
* User Manual
Additional Information:
* Product Requirements:
* Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
* USB port
* CD-ROM drive
* Supported memory card
* Available power outlet
Complete foolishness - a 10 year prediction.
Most predictions of the future, it has been said, overestimate the long term and underestimate the short term.
Who can predict anything with any degree of certainly (especially in technology) over a 10 year period of time (and even more especially how many units of a product that is presently made will be selling 10 years from now)/!!!!!
Absolutely absurd to think you can do this and expect it to even mean anything.
[golly with that prediction ... I don't think i should buy any aapl stock now ... I expect a lot more. what a dog that aapl stock is.]
Actually, it doesn't seem to be a very risky prediction and actually kind of a gloomy outlook for Apple. ONLY a 150 million installed base for the iPhone in 2017 considering:
2007 4-6 million sold that year
2008 15 million sold this year
2009 30 millon sold next year
and in the remaining nine years (to 2017) only 99 million will be sold. that is an average annual sales rate of about 11 million a year - sales go down!!!???
and they say the iPhone is going to cannabilize iPod sales??? do ya think??
I don't think the iPod will be sold in less than two years from now. (maybe the shuffle will continue ... as a body piercing in the location of your choice)
In 10 years I don't think the iPhone will be sold either. There will be the i'mPlant which will cannabilize sales of the iPhone. (I knew Apple couldn't sustain those sales, sell now!!!)
"The addition of the iPhone halo effect increases the number of Macs sold in 2017 from 40 million units in the previous forecast to 44 million units in the updated one,"
two 13 year-olds talking in 2017:
teenager number 1: My grandfather showed me his Mac 128k that he had when he was 25.
teenager number 2: what's a Mac?
"Finally, the analyst warns: "It’s not possible to say whether our forecast of worldwide iPhone sales of 63 million units in 2017 is outrageously aggressive or outrageously conservative." "
10 year predictions - just plain goofy.
Where do these analysts come from (another planet obviously).
How much is in those 40-foot shipping containers?
http://www.cockeyed.com/inside/container/container.html
39'4" long, 7'6" tall, and 7'8" wide inside. The container holds 2261 cubic feet of area
or wikipedia says 2,385 ft³
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containerization
rough dimensions of a macbook box are 14" x 13" x 3.5"(about o.36cf) and its about 6lbs.
so many one 40 foot container could hold about 6,280 macbooks
A 15-inch macbook pro's box is about 17x16.5x3.5(about 0.55cf). The container might hold about 4,110 15-inch macbook pros
different dimensions at http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=1260
Macbook air has about 0.22cf box so one container would hold about 10,277 macbook airs.
maybe that is why is name is FOR STALL ... he takes up a bunch of time.
the iTouch vs iPhone pricing ... that's why Apple has the back to school bundle for a free iPod including the iTouch (up to a $299 rebate on the bundle).
So if they reduce the iPod Touch pricing then you can't get the full $299 rebate.
TV boxes let Netflix users bypass mail delivery
This could be a real winner for Netflix. The pricing looks excellent - $99. 10,000 movies available for download. what's the next step for AppleTV? The netflix box works with any TV. I was thinking about an Apple TV but this looks very interesting.
This looks like a modest investment on top of my basic netflix monthly fee. Very tempting.
http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080520/netflix_tv.html?.v=8
TV boxes let Netflix users bypass mail delivery
Tuesday May 20, 4:44 pm ET
By Michael Liedtke, AP Business Writer
Netflix takes evolutionary step with new players that stream movies directly to TV
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Preparing for the eventual extinction of its DVD-by-mail rental service, Netflix Inc. on Tuesday introduced its first solution for subscribers who want entertainment delivered directly to their television sets with just a few clicks on a remote control.
The breakthrough comes in the form of 5-inch-by-5-inch device tailored for a year-old service that uses high-speed Internet connections to stream more than 10,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix's library.
Although it's provided at no additional cost to most of Netflix's 8.2 million subscribers, the streaming service has had limited appeal so far because it doesn't include the latest movies and couldn't easily be watched on anything but a personal computer.
At $99.99, the Netflix set-top box is priced like a DVD player and is just as simple to hook up to a television. A high-speed Internet connection can either be plugged into the box or the device can pick up a wireless signal.
Similar Internet-to-TV devices made by Apple Inc. and Vudu Inc. cost $229 to $295.
"We think this is something that offers a big value at a low cost," said Reed Hastings, Netflix's chief executive officer.
The Netflix box, made by Silicon Valley startup Roku Inc., is the first of several devices that will pipe Netflix's streaming service to TV sets.
LG Electronics is expected to include the streaming capability in a Blu-ray DVD player that it plans to debut during the second half of this year.
Without providing further details, Netflix has said two other major consumer electronics companies are working on set-top boxes for its streaming service.
Hastings is confident that the demand for DVD rentals will remain strong for at least several more years, partly because movie studios aren't ready to fully embrace digital distribution.
But as technology makes it easier to rent and buy movies within a few minutes instead of waiting for them to be delivered through the mail, Hastings realizes his Los Gatos-based company won't survive unless it evolves.
That's why Netflix has poured more than $40 million into its streaming service, called "Watch Instantly," and is now trying to encourage its subscribers to use it more frequently even though it doesn't generate more revenue.
If anything, the streaming service is eroding Netflix's profits because the company's licensing fees are based on how frequently subscribers use it. And any customer who pays at least $8.99 per month for a DVD rental plan gets unlimited access to the streaming service.
Because the new set-top box figures to spur more usage, Netflix expects its profit margins to be squeezed later this year. Even so, the company is still projecting a profit of as much as $83 million this year, up about 20 percent from last year.
The bright outlook has helped lift Netflix's stock price about 20 percent so far this year, with the company's shares rising 65 cents to $31.63 Tuesday.
Hastings eventually hopes to recoup some of the added expense by having to spend less money to attract and retain customers as more people enjoy the convenience of the streaming service. Netflix has no plans to start charging an additional fee for the streaming service this year.
Cowen and Co. analyst James Friedland believes the number of Netflix subscribers interested in purchasing the new set-top box will be relatively small.
Part of the problem is that few recent movies are available on Netflix's streaming service. That's a major shortcoming because nearly one-third of the rental requests on Netflix's DVD service are for new movie releases, Friedland said.
"You can't really drive consumers to do anything before they're ready," Friedland said. "You can only give them options. And Netflix seems to be trying to deliver as much as it can (with the streaming service), given the current limitations of the studios and technology."
Netflix offers more than 100,000 movies and TV shows on DVD, about 10 times the streaming service's selection.
Although the streaming device bears the Netflix brand, it's the brainchild of Roku's founder and CEO, Anthony Wood.
After temporarily leaving his startup to work on the streaming device as a Netflix employee, Wood returned to Roku earlier this year. At that point, Netflix paid $6 million for an undisclosed stake in Saratoga-based Roku. Several other former Netflix employees also work at Roku.
On The Net:
http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer
From wikipedia re: 3G phones
"By June 2007 the 200 millionth 3G subscriber had been connected. Out of 3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide this is only 6.7%. In the countries where 3G was launched first - Japan and South Korea - over half of all subscribers use 3G. In Europe the leading country is Italy with a third of its subscribers migrated to 3G. Other leading countries by 3G migration include UK, Austria, Australia and Singapore at the 20% migration level. A confusing statistic is counting CDMA 2000 1x RTT customers as if they were 3G customers. If using this oft-disputed definition, then the total 3G subscriber base would be 475 million at June 2007 and 15.8% of all subscribers worldwide."
and as we well know ... (From Wired.com)
Over the past two weeks alone, Apple has inked new deals with wireless carriers in Asia, India, Italy, Australia, Singapore and Canada.
No wonder Apple chose these countries.
It will be interesting to see the growth of 3G networks worldwide after Apple introduces the 3G iPhone. Another case of Apple stimulating a market by one of their products using a new (well 3G has been around since 2001) technology, like USB, etc.
This guy says it is about time to sell aapl
http://www.smartmoney.com/stock-screen/index.cfm?story=20080513-souring-on-apple-stock&cid=1122
PIMPLES MAR A lovely face more than a plain one. Likewise, my iPhone's cleverness makes its handful of shortcomings all the more peeving. Web browsing is tragically slow when I'm not near a strong public Wi-Fi signal (in Manhattan, about as common as a clean public toilet). The phone took to my Gmail account like the two were old friends, but isn't on such good terms with my Microsoft-based account at SmartMoney.com. And while this is more of a wish than a shortcoming, I wouldn't mind downloading a newspaper before a flight or touching up my Donkey Kong skills on the subway — third-party software would help.
Apple seems likely to satisfy these gripes and more by summer. In March the company said it has licensed something called ActiveSync from Microsoft; for better or worse that will give most office workers constant access to email. It also announced a third-party developer program for the iPhone. The company plays coy about new hardware, but some Wall Street analysts say a new iPhone is likely already in production, perhaps for a June debut, and that it's equipped for speedy "3G" web connections.
That might help Apple to take share from Research in Motion (RIMM: 140.84, -1.13, -0.79%), whose smartphones have a 48% share of the U.S. market, compared with 17% for Apple. But what will help most is a price cut, believes Keith Bachman of BMO Capital Markets, an investment bank. The average price for a high-end handset in the U.S. is $233, notes Bachman. The iPhone costs $399 and $499, depending on the storage capacity. According to Bachman, Apple's "onerous" revenue-sharing terms for AT&T, its sole U.S. service provider, prevent the latter from offering subsidies on the iPhone. By his math, a $100 price cut might actually add around 20 cents a share to fiscal 2009 profit by driving higher volume.
Wall Street forecasts anticipate rapid sales growth with a slight sacrifice in margins. For the fiscal year ending Sept. 29 sales are seen surging 36% and earnings per share 33%. Lest we credit too much of that to the iPhone, note that unit sales of Apple's Mac computers jumped 51% last quarter vs. a year ago.
Numbers like those plopped Apple among the survivors of a recent search for stocks with upside earnings surprises and rising earnings estimates. Have a look at all eight companies the screen produced if you like, or run it yourself anytime using SmartMoney's stock screener and the full list of search criteria.
This column is meant for long-term holders and not fast traders, but Apple's stock is keeping me busy. Having recommended it at $84 in November 2006 I turned on it, purely because of valuation, at $198 at the start of this year. By the end of January it plunged to $130. I called that "an optimistic price, but not an unreasonable one" and recommended that those who had long coveted the stock "nibble" but take "a bigger bite if it falls another $15. It did, briefly, in late February.
Remarkably, the stock has since marched straight back to $190. Time, then, for fresh math. Best to ignore Apple's fiscal year and focus instead on quarterly earnings estimates. That's because in Apple's fiscal first quarter, which ended December, it produced a stellar 54% surge in earnings. That flatters the full-fiscal-year number even though growth has quickly moderated since then, to 33% in the second quarter and to an estimated 17% in the current third one, which ends June. Just looking at quarters, then, Apple has grown its profits by an average of 55% over its past four, and is forecast to grow them by 17% over its next four. Presumably, those numbers already anticipate new product launches.
Apple is perhaps doing better than those numbers suggest. It has a record of beating forecasts, if by a margin that has steadily shrunk from 28% to 8% over the past four quarters. And its slowing growth mostly reflects a challenging economy and the company's own glamorous past results, which make current comparisons difficult. The numbers still suggest to me that Apple is worth 25 times trailing 12-month earnings, or around two-thirds more than the average stock. And if we assume the company will continue to beat estimates at its current pace, I can see a case for closer to 30 times trailing earnings. But that puts the stock at $121 to $145 a share.
My guess is that the iPhone frenzy might soon push shares back above $200, but I'm more comfortable with a calculator than a crystal ball. My calculator says it's about time to sell again.
Two new Mac Vs PC ads on the TV show "House" tonight.
One with chairleaders noting that the Mac is the number laptop on campus and the other with a group of PCs.
these ads are on the apple website at
http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/
(have they been already shown on TV?)
There are always lots of buyers for almost any product that have no clue about upgrade cycles or news circulating about the product and its upcoming replacement.
I typically will hear a story from a friend or relative who will tell me they bought some techno-gadget and tell me what they got and how much they paid for it. I usually won't respond completely but just say "that's great" when I want to say "why did you buy that when Apple (or someone else) just announced a new product that is much better or I can get that for you from a legitimate dealer for much less.
the reference to a "vegetation" garden is a very interesting one especially in light of the latest eco-criticism of Apple regarding climate change (see http://www.climatecounts.org/scorecard_sectors.php?id=13)` and Dan Dilger's response here
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/05/10/climate-counts-fake-attack-on-apple/#more-1805
How many of the other computer companies have retail stores OR buildings that have an "ecofriendly roof blanketed with vegetation designed to keep the building cool in the summer and insulated in the winter." like the new Apple Boylston Street store.
This type of design and construction is being advanced for new green buildings. (see http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1016&Itemid=113)
Apple thinks different and implements in almost everything they do.
Yes, hulu.com works very well with Macs. I have checked out some TV shows and movies and they work well. A couple had some starts and stops but it seems fine with a Mac
Yeah, I am very familiar with the Amazon and Apple best seller lists but I hadn't seen this list before and it is so different from any other stats that we keep hearing. Always good to see a different perspective even if we think it isn't perhaps what we would expect.
Top 20 Most "popular" laptops for April 2008 as defined by this site's number of clicks on their links for information.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4390
1. Dell XPS M1530 (previously #1) - The Dell XPS M1530 is the larger brother to the XPS M1330. It's a 15.4-inch screen sleek looking performance notebook that offers the powerful nVidia 8600m graphics card. The XPS M1530 is available in black, red, midnight blue and white colors.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad T61 (Previously #2) - The ThinkPad T61 was released in May of 2007 and is still holding strong on the most popular charts. The T61 sports the Intel Santa Rosa (Centrino Duo) platform and improves upon the popular T60 by offering an even sturdier build and extra port options.
3. Toshiba Satellite A200 (previously #3) - The Satellite A200 / A205 series is a 15.4" screen mainstream offering from Toshiba. It has Core 2 Duo inside and ATI dedicated graphics is configurable with this notebook.
4. Dell XPS M1330 (Previously #4) - The XPS M1330 stays solid on the charts at #5 for the month. The M1330 is a 13.3" portable notebook with the Intel Santa Rosa processor, Nvidia 8400M graphics and slick looks. The M1330 is available in red, black and white color lid options.
5. HP Pavilion dv6700t (previously #8) - The HP dv6700t Entertainment Notebook PC is the replacement for the popular dv6500t. This laptop delivers a 15.4" Brightview display, dazzling high-gloss design, Intel's Core Duo processors and the option to upgrade to an Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS graphics card with 256MB dedicated video memory.
6. Sony VAIO SZ (Previously #5) - Performance in a small package, that sums up the Sony VAIO SZ. The bright glossy 13.3" display is powered by dedicated graphics and the Intel Santa Rosa platform for an extra performance boost. Sony recently released the VAIO SZ6 series.
7. Lenovo ThinkPad R61 (previously #7) - The Lenovo ThinkPad R61 is a 14.1" or 15.4" screen notebook available with a Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa) processor, optional integrated camera, roll cage in the lid and built-in media card and FireWire
8. Apple MacBook Pro (back in the top 10) - The MacBook Pro may give Apple bragging rights to the prettiest and most powerful laptop on the planet. Featuring the new Intel Core 2 Duo and Nvidia 8600 graphics card along with the Leopard Mac OS X this laptop boasts both power and style.
9. Asus Eee PC (back in the top 10) - The Asus Eee PC 701 notebook uses a Linux based OS that Asus has customized themselves. It has a 7" screen and only weighs 2 lbs. The Eee PC is now also available with Windows XP.
10. Sony VAIO FZ (back in the top 10) - The Sony VAIO FZ is a 15.4" screen notebook with Core 2 Duo processor and the latest Intel Santa Rosa chipset.
11. Dell Inspiron 1525
12. Apple MacBook
13. Lenovo ThinkPad X61
14. Dell Vostro 1500
15. Dell Inspiron 1520
16. HP Pavilion dv9700t
17. Sony VAIO NR
18. Toshiba Satellite A215
19. Sony VAIO CR
20. Dell Vostro 1400
remember , don't shoot the messenger!
Research In Motion: Canaccord Raises Estimates, Target; Citi Advises Buying The Stock Before Analyst Meeting
Research In Motion (RIMM) shares are higher today following a pair of bullish analyst notes.
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2008/05/02/research-in-motion-canaccord-raises-estimates-target-citi-advises-buying-the-stock-before-analyst-meeting/?mod=BOLBlog
Citigroup’s Jim Suva today advised investors that they should be long the stock heading into the company’s May 12 analyst day and May 13-15 Wireless Enterprise Sympsium. He notes that historically the stock has gained 14% in the 25 days after the company holds its pow-wow with analysts, which it calls Capital Markets Day. Suva does caution that it is not likely the company will introduce new products at the analyst event: “don’t look for a 3G Blackberry, a touchscreen Blackberry or the oft-discussed but never announced 9000 series.” He says the company is likely well along on both 3G and touchscreen Blackberries, though; he expects them both later in the year.
Meanwhile, Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek today raised his price target on the company to $190 from $180, and raised his estimates: for the February 2010 fiscal year he now sees revenue of $14.92 billion, up from $14 billion, with EPS of $6.31, up from $5.80. Misek sees a 3G Blackberry in the fiscal second quarter (which ends in August) with five additional SKUs in the next 12 months. The new models, he says, “could re-accelerate RIM’s growth in the back half of the year, just as the the Pearl and the Curve have done in FY ‘07 and FY ‘08, respectively.”
RIMM today is up $3.80, or 3%, to $131.80
hmm, no mention of possible impacts from the iPhone?
New Macs today? it's Monday????!!! What is coming out tomorrow, Tuesday?
When was the last time Apple introduced a new product on a Monday? or a non-Tuesday? Aren't they always announced on tuesdays?
Apple on Wallstrip ... again
http://www.wallstrip.com/
From MacRumors -- We've received a few tips about a TheStreet article which claims that Jim Cramer described a new Mac product called "Conversation" that will "bring Apple to the forefront of instant messaging."
It would be interesting except for the fact that it was terribly misquoted from the actual show which can be watched online. Cramer was simply describing iChat AV, and not a new Apple product.
but wait Mac Conversation already exists ...
http://homepage.mac.com/philrobin/conversation/
I usually don't buy Applecare when I buy an Apple product but may buy it from a third party before the first year is up.
Usually you can find a legtimate copy of Applecard on eBay or through other dealers for much less than Apple charges - don't know how this is done but I have bought at least three Applecares in the last 18 months via eBay at substantive savings. I had no problem registering such through Apple.
what does that mean?
what are the complete instructions