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OT: Rush and the ACLU Join Forces...
Just couldn't believe this sentence and thought at least one or two of you would be amused - but it looks like Rush and the ACLU are working to keep his medical records private. So... is Rush a liberal?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,111713,00.html
"Limbaugh, his attorneys and the American Civil Liberties Union have argued the seizure violated his right to privacy and the confidentiality between patients and doctors. They want a state appeals court to rule that the records should remain under court seal."
OT: FYI - Kerry "Intern" Denies Everything
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040216/D80OG9380.html
Breaking her silence four days after the allegations surfaced on the Internet, Alexandra Polier issued a statement to The Associated Press, saying, "I have never had a relationship with Senator Kerry, and the rumors in the press are completely false."
Crazy Apple Dock Fun
1. Open a terminal window and type on the prompt: killall Dock. Don't press return.
2. Position a large window behind the terminal window, then shift-click on the large window's minimize button (so it goes slowly).
3. While still holding shift, quickly hit the return key to execute the command and kill the Dock (it comes back right away).
As soon as the dock's process is killed, the window will cease minimizing, leaving you with a working, draggable, active window halfway through the warping animation!
4. After having some fun, just press Command-M to get the window all the way into the Dock and click to get it out again.
SGI's Alias (Maya Developers) Up for Sale
http://www.alias.com/eng/press/press_releases/20040211_alias_in_acquisition_talks.shtml
Alias in Acquisition Talks with Private Equity Firm
Toronto, Ontario – February 11, 2004 – Alias, a Silicon Graphics Inc. (NYSE:SGI) company, today announced it is involved in exclusive discussions with a leading private equity investment firm for the acquisition of Alias® from SGI. Alias is the leading provider of 3D graphics technology and services for the film, video, games, web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets.
“As an independent entity, Alias would be able to further expand its business, extend customer value and create significant growth with its products and services,” said Doug Walker, president of Alias. “The investor believes that there is a great potential and synergy to having design and entertainment focused products, services and customers. The new investor has been briefed in detail on our roadmap and is attracted to Alias precisely because of our product and services portfolio.”
“This is an exciting time for Alias in its 20-year history,” continues Walker. “Our ongoing goal is to exceed the demands of our global design and entertainment customers who continue to push us to build the most innovative technology and service solutions – enabling them to unleash their creativity and bring their ideas to life.”
There will be no changes to the management team, organization, services, support or product availability as a result of the negotiations or the sale of the business.
AOL Launches Live Video Chat, Links to Apple
http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040205/tech_aol_1.html
Thursday February 5, 12:04 pm ET
NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - America Online on Thursday said it will let users of its instant messenger service communicate over a live video connection for the first time, months after federal regulators lifted limitations on the company.
AOL, the world's largest online service and owned by Time Warner Inc., also said it will link its live video chat service to Apple Computer Inc.'s iChat service.
The deal expands a May 2002 relationship between the two companies that linked their respective messaging services.
More than 35 million active users per month send on average 1.5 billion messages a day over AOL's messenger service, the company said.
The Federal Communications Commission last August lifted restrictions on AOL that prevented it from offering advanced messaging services such as live video.
The restrictions were placed as a condition in its approval of the 2001 merger of AOL and Time Warner.
Since then, AOL has been testing a video chat service, which it officially launches today in a new version of its software AOL Instant Messenger 5.5.
Likewise, Apple is releasing a new version of its software, iChat AV 2.1, that will link the two companies' products. Apple has built video-chatting functions into its latest operating system since last October.
Both services are free for users.
KERRY CLAN'S OWN WATERGATE
DEMOCRATIC presidential front-runner John Kerry and Richard M. Nixon have something in common - Sen. Kerry's political history is scarred by its own version of Watergate.
During Kerry's 1972 bid for Congress, his younger brother, Cameron Kerry, was arrested for "breaking into . . . the headquarters of a Kerry opponent," the New York Times reported on Sept. 19 of that year. Kerry's headquarters were in the same building in Lowell, Mass.
Cameron Kerry and another campaign worker pleaded not guilty to charges of "breaking and entering with the intent to commit grand larceny."
John Kerry characterized the break-in as a preemptive strike and told the Times the two men "entered the building after receiving an anonymous telephone threat . . . that the telephone lines at his [own] headquarters were to be sabotaged."
Cameron, now a partner in a Boston-based law firm, has been a key supporter of all of his brother's campaigns.
According to the Center for Public Integrity, Kerry-the-younger's law firm "has been the biggest financial backer of the Massachusetts Democrat's two decades-long political career in elected office, with its employees contributing nearly $187,000 to various Kerry races, including his current presidential campaign."
Meanwhile, State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer might want to rethink his support for Kerry, considering the records being circulated by Howard Dean's campaign.
Spitzer, who endorsed Kerry earlier this week for the nomination, has crusaded against financial shenanigans on Wall Street. And some of his investigations have targeted the same firms that made big contributions to the Kerry campaign.
Citigroup, which gave Kerry $71,500, paid $400 million in penalties as part of a settlement with regulators. Goldman Sachs, which gave Kerry $62,600, and Morgan Stanley, which gave him $40,000, were party to a $1.4 billion settlement with Spitzer over charges that their analysts gave investors bad advice to win investment banking business. FleetBoston Financial, which gave $32,050, suspended a trader last April when the New York Stock Exchange launched a probe.
One Democrat wonders: "Did Spitzer know the connections between Kerry and the financial companies he investigates?"
NY Times: Budgets of Mass Destruction
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: February 1, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/01/opinion/01FRIE.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2...
It should be clear to all by now that what we have in the Bush team is a faith-based administration. It launched a faith-based war in Iraq, on the basis of faith-based intelligence, with a faith-based plan for Iraqi reconstruction, supported by faith-based tax cuts to generate faith-based revenues. This group believes that what matters in politics and economics are conviction and will — not facts, social science or history.
Personally, I don't believe the Bush team will pay a long-term political price for its faith-based intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Too many Americans, including me, believe in their guts that removing Saddam was the right thing to do, even if the W.M.D. intel was wrong.
The Bush team's real vulnerability is its B.M.D. — Budgets of Mass Destruction, which have recklessly imperiled the nation's future, with crazy tax-cutting and out-of-control spending. The latest report from the Congressional Budget Office says the deficit is expected to total some $2.4 trillion over the next decade — almost $1 trillion more than the prediction of just five months ago. That is a failure of intelligence and common sense that threatens to make us all insecure — and people also feel that in their guts.
As Peter Peterson, the former Nixon commerce secretary and a longtime courageous advocate of fiscal responsibility, puts it in "Running on Empty," his forthcoming book: "In the 1980 election, Ronald Reagan galvanized the American electorate with that famous riff: `I want to ask every American: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?' Perhaps some future-oriented presidential candidate should rephrase this line as follows: `I want to ask every American, young people especially: Is your future better off now than it was four years ago — now that you are saddled with these large new liabilities and the higher taxes that must eventually accompany them?' "
While in his book Mr. Peterson equally indicts Democrats and Republicans as co-conspirators in the fiscal follies of our times, the Democrats should still follow his lead and make this their campaign mantra: "Is your future better off now than it was four years ago?" That's what's on people's minds. It should be coupled with the bumper sticker: "Read My Lips: No New Services. Bush Gave All the Money Away." And it should be backed up with a responsible Democratic alternative on both taxes and spending.
That is the only way to expose what the shameful coalition of Karl Rove-led cynics, who care only about winning the next election; voodoo economists preaching supply-side economics; and libertarian nuts who think that by cutting tax revenues you'll shrink the government — when all you do is balloon the deficit — is doing to our future. And please don't tell me the tax cuts are working. Of course they're working! If you put this much stimulus into our economy — three tax cuts, loose monetary policy and out-of-control spending — it will produce a boom. Eat 10 chocolate bars at once and you'll also get a rush. But at what long-term cost?
"Quite simply," argues Mr. Peterson, "those bell-bottomed young boomers of the 1960's have fully matured. The oldest of them, born in 1946, are only six years away from the median age of retirement on Social Security (63). As a result, our large pension and health care benefit programs will soon experience rapidly accelerating benefit outlays. . . . Thus, at a time when the federal government should be building up surpluses to prepare for the aging of the baby boom generation, it is engaged in another reckless experiment with large and permanent tax cuts. America cannot grow its way out of the kinds of long-term deficits we now face. . . . The odds are growing that today's ballooning trade and fiscal deficits, the so-called twin deficits, will someday trigger an explosion that causes the economy to sink — not rise."
The same Bush folks who assured us Saddam had W.M.D. now assure us these budgets of mass destruction don't matter. Sure. "During the Vietnam War," notes Mr. Peterson, "conservatives relentlessly pilloried Lyndon Johnson for his fiscal irresponsibility. But he only wanted guns and butter. Today, so-called conservatives are out-pandering L.B.J. They must have it all: guns, butter and tax cuts."
This is so irresponsible and it will end in tears. Remember, says Mr. Peterson, long-term tax cuts without long-term spending cuts are not tax cuts. They are "tax deferrals" — with the burden to be borne by your future or your kid's future.
If this isn't the election issue, I don't know what is.
SFGate: Jobs Disparages Disney
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/02/04/financial1931EST0360.DTL
"The truth is there has been little creative collaboration with Disney for years," Jobs said. "You can compare the creative quality (of Pixar films) with the creative quality of Disney's last three films and judge each company's creative ability yourselves."
Election Year Politics and The Media Cycle
Okay, I almost stayed out of it... but anybody who has followed U.S. politics of the 20th century understands how the mass media works.
When there is a sitting president running for re-election, regardless of his record or electability, or popularity, the popular trade press focuses heavily on the "horse race" from the opposing party. Candidates are analyzed up and down from a field of 7 or 9, and 2-3 favorites are selected.
When that is done, for short periods of time, the magazines and television will "select" a candidate to focus on, usually one who is running a close second or third in the polls of their own party - and champion them up as someone who is a "dark horse", the one who even if they don't gather the nomination, is the one who defines the issues. We saw that with Howard Dean this year, with John McCain in 2000, Bill Bradley in 1996, Pat Buchanan in 1992, Jesse Jackson in 1988, Gary Hart in 1984 and so on...
Remember that when Wesley Clark joined the fray, he made the cover of Newsweek with a caption of "Who is this General? Can he beat Bush?", only to be trumped by Dean's Newsweek/Time combo a month later.
By my discussing this, I am not jumping on the "media conspiracy" bandwagon. I got my degrees in Journalism and Political Science (believe it or not), and this kind of tracking was discussed all the time. As a result, the flavor of this campaign does not radically differ from those in previous years, with the exception of how fully Dean's "to the people" efforts were adopted as truth by so many.
If Dean manages to remain in the race through California, and don't get me started on how the nation's most populous state has to have Delaware and Iowa's permission to select from a pool of candidates, both my registered Republican wife and I will vote for him, based on how his stance on the issues so closely mirrors our own.
Langonisto, your take on the political discussions is literally fun to see - almost like a "behind the curtain" take, so even if some here don't always agree with the postings, I appreciate the detail. And Blue, don't get disillusioned if the "good guys" don't win this time. This process isn't intended for the faint of heart.
Go AAPL!
- louismg
Safari 1.2 Breaks Pith Helmet
For those of you who haven't tried Pith Helmet (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/18158&mode=info), it's a great tool to block ALL ads in Safari, not just pop-ups. I've gotten so used to running it, I had forgotten how many of them there are, really.
With Safari 1.2 out, Pith Helmet claims it won't run, so now I've... upgraded... but downgraded my experience. Hopefully they get an update out soon.
Otherwise, no issues with all updates.
- louismg
No Free Song Via Ad...
FYI -
For those of you lined up to try the cap top from the ad that says one free song, #1828D2DD55, it doesn't work. iTunes will declare the code invalid.
Before entering the 10-digit code, you are asked to fill in your birthdate, for demographic marketing purposes, and the code entry takes place via iTunes, not via Apple.com.
- louismg
LLNL Internal Review of Macs in the Enterprise
http://weblog.infoworld.com/techwatch/archives/000268.html
Macs in the enterprise, a study by Lawrence Livermore National Lab
Following the publication of my column on Apple and the enterprise this week I got an email with a PDF attachment from "someone" who works at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab [LLNL].
The PDF is entitled: "Case Study: What Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory has learned about integrating Macs in our Enterprise."
The results line up pretty much with the message I was trying to convey in my column.
The biggest message out of this case study has the following headline:
"Difficulties for Apple -- Apple's needed 'confidentiality' and Corporate It's need of 'road-map' information"
The summary report card gives Apple and LLNL the following grades:
* Security = A
* Integration with Enterprise apps = C
* OS 9 to X transition = B
* Getting help from Apple = C+
The study calls on Apple to have a "Stronger Enterprise focus" and concludes that "die-hard non-Mac users in the IT world slowly coming around to see Macs as an attractive platform."
Obviously security is uppermost in the minds of the folks at LLNL and the LLNL case study notes that "cross-platform applications free organizations from a monolithic OS base that by nature places them at an unacceptably high cybersecurity risk."
Here's what the study predicts about Microsoft vulnerabilities--
* "Continued increased MS vulnerabilities--analysts predict Gov't & business will in 2006 be unprepared for 30% of exploits, up from 15% in 2003"
It leaves as an open question mark whether or not the Microsoft bounty for in-formation leading to perpetrators will do anything to ameliorate the problem.
Finally under the heading Difficulties for Apple LLNL lists these:
* "Outstanding product with limited market depth due to lingering past
perceptions
* Complaints of 'lack of' enterprise applications and/or native developer tools from mainstream companies like Oracle, BEA, PeopleSoft, SAP and Siebel."
And under Good Actions for Apple to take are these two:
* "Develop a working balance between Apple's needed 'confidentiality' and Corporate IT's need of 'roadmap' information
* Engage technical staff and users at customers' Mac technical & user group mtgs"
A few background details
LLNL has approximately 6,663 Macs, 219 Appleshare, OSX servers, 10,748 Windows systems, 463 NT3, Win2000 servers, and 2,410 Unix/Linux worksta-tions, 316 servers PCs and 4700 Unix workstations.
Those numbers reflect a 51% reduction in Macs, a 34% increase in PCs and a 42% decreased Unix base up to 42%. Numbers are between the years 1997 and present.
The study was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by LLNL.
"The views represented are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the University of California or the United States Government."
Re: Latest Virus E-mails
dilleet, I've received more than 20 of them in the last 4 hours on the work Exchange account, and got them throughout the day. Our desktop anti-virus software stops them at the local PCs, and a corporate filter gets most on the way through.
None on my .Mac account yet.
- louismg
News.com: iPod may define new era of open strategy
http://news.com.com/2009-1041_3-5144714.html
For most of his life, Wayne Chang was one of the uninitiated.
While deeply into computers, he never joined the legions of militant Macintosh loyalists who have helped Apple Computer stave off the Microsoft empire. Last year, the 20-year-old Massachusetts college student and programmer finally took the leap and ordered Apple's iPod music player--but by no means does he intend to become a Mac fanatic.
"I would expect Apple to make their new products work with Macs first," Chang said. "But in the end, I do expect them to be interoperable and not just tied to the Mac."
As simple as it may seem, this expectation reflects a major change for Apple's corporate culture and practice. The company has long held the philosophy that its software and hardware should be tied almost exclusively to the Macintosh computer for both quality and profit. But it is developing and marketing the iPod with uncharacteristic openness to work with Microsoft's Windows software and other technologies.
As the Macintosh celebrates its 20th anniversary Saturday, this diplomacy appears to be a defining element in Apple's strategy. Technology companies face a broad market shift away from traditional computing products and toward consumer electronics. In this emerging era, consumers will likely show little patience for any companies that attempt to lock them into a single brand.
Like archrival Microsoft and other technology leaders, Apple has identified the digitization of home entertainment as a primary engine for growth--and, in its particular case, as an opportunity to reclaim the glory of its early years. However, while it envisions the Mac at the center of a network that encompasses music, videos, photography and other media, Apple is entering foreign territory in expanding its product lines with the iPod and other devices.
"The rules of engagement for the iPod market are new. They don't necessarily have to follow the same rules as with their old PC policies," said Roger Kay, an analyst at research firm IDC. "They may relinquish some control in order to gain access or control of a market that could be orders of magnitude larger than their old one."
Easier said than done. Apple has carefully cultivated the Macintosh's image and related products with elegant design and operational simplicity. By ensuring that most critical hardware and software components are made by Apple, the company has largely avoided the incompatibilities and set-up problems that continue to plague Windows technologies.
But the world of consumer electronics is far more chaotic than that of computing, with myriad brands, technologies and products that are given to wildly fluctuating prices. Different devices from separate manufacturers must work with each other to win wide consumer acceptance--and Apple seems to be moving in that direction.
A recent deal allows Hewlett-Packard to distribute co-branded iPods. Apple appears to be open to the idea of working even with those technology companies once considered bitter enemies. And so far, the approach seems to be paying off: The number of iPods that run Windows software has quickly caught up to those using Macintosh technology, now accounting for about half of the music player's overall sales.
Yet some dangers are inherent to this common-denominator strategy. A wholly unique iPod has been able to stand above the prosaic fray of consumer electronics, bearing a higher price for its advanced features and brand name. But as more companies release players with similar features, the iPod risks becoming a commodity, with profit margins driven down by competition.
As a result, the company finds itself at a critical crossroads: It must decide whether to follow the historically proprietary approach of the Macintosh computer or the more flexible business strategy of its successful digital music player. Apple declined to comment on these issues but has been open about its grand ambitions for the little music player.
"Apple's goal is to get iPods and iTunes into the hands of every music lover around the world," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement announcing the company's deal with HP.
An exclusive history
For most of its two decades, Apple has consistently led the desktop computer industry in introducing new technology, features and designs later adopted in a wider market. But its reluctance to license its operating system to other manufacturers enabled Microsoft to achieve near ubiquity by licensing its rival Windows software to hardware makers across the industry, such as Dell, HP and Sony--reducing the Mac's market share to a single digit by the mid-1990s.
By the time Apple tried licensing its own technology to allow other companies to make Mac "clones," it was too late. Former Apple CEO John Sculley, who opposed the concept during his tenure, later said his decision against licensing the Mac was one of his biggest regrets.
The iPod represents one of the most significant exceptions to the Apple-only mantra. Apple first released an iPod that could be used with Windows computers, then released the iTunes jukebox software and song store for Windows, declaring that "hell froze over."
The new approach is illustrated most clearly in the iPod distribution deal with HP. The computing giant is a longtime Microsoft partner that sells PCs loaded with Windows operating systems and Media Center software, a digital command technology that competes directly with Apple's plans for the Macintosh.
As part of the iPod deal, Apple is creating tools that will allow HP programmers to tweak the iTunes music software and store so that they can work with features of Microsoft's Media Center, such as a remote control. While Microsoft has made no secret of its irritation over this deal, which will promote Apple's music store and media format, the arrangement will keep consumers on a computer using Windows.
Apple has shown other signs of opening technologies besides those related only to the iPod. This month, for example, it announced that it had certified the new version of its Xserve data storage system to work with the Windows and Linux operating systems.
At the same time, the company has drawn distinct limits to its technological detente.
Apple's new GarageBand and Logic music production packages are based on technology it acquired with the purchase of Germany's Emagic several years ago. That company originally released versions of its products that would work with Windows, but Apple quickly stopped the practice.
"We have no interest in a Windows version," Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of applications product marketing, said in announcing the company's new Logic Pro audio productslast week. "The market is not telling us that we need to think of anything but the Mac."
HP executives also have cited Apple's unwillingness to support Microsoft's Windows Media player format on the iPod. "We would like to see interoperability," said Tom Anderson, HP's vice president of marketing for consumer PCs, but "that is not in our current plans."
No easy answers
Apple's reluctance is understandable. Despite the iPod's success and high profit margins, analysts say it is the Macintosh computer that still accounts for the bulk of company revenue.
"In all my talks with Apple officials over the past three years, their basic goal has never been anything but to innovate on the Macintosh, to assert its role as a hub, and then make that the center of the next-generation consumer home," said Tim Bajarin, president of research firm Creative Strategies and a longtime Mac analyst who has done consulting for Apple.
However, as the digital entertainment business booms, more products will be made to support video, photography, games and other content. Companies such as Dell and Creative Labs are already entering these markets with prototype portable and home-networking devices.
That could make it increasingly difficult for Apple to maintain its proprietary strategies. Aside from iTunes, none of Apple's highly touted software products--such as iPhoto or iMovie--are available for computers running Windows.
Apple could try to expand these product lines with devices ranging from photographic or video-playing iPods to digital-recording TV set-top boxes, all of which have been the subject of much speculation. But analysts say any such products likely would be years away, citing Apple's tendency to enter a new hardware market only when it is growing close to mainstream acceptance.
Digital video--whether on a PC, a TV set or an iPod-like handheld device--remains a long way from the developmental stage that digital music was in when Apple conceived of and released the iPod. Few people are building digital video collections in the way Napster and CD-ripping software sparked MP3 libraries, and Hollywood has shown little willingness to support an iTunes-like video store.
"Apple has shown that it will not necessarily be the company to lead the market in trying to drive new trends but that it can be the company to capitalize on clear trends by doing better than its competitor," said Michael Gartenberg, a Jupiter Research analyst. "It's a question of when they think the market is mature enough for them to get involved."
In the end, simple economics may determine whether Apple extends its iPod approach to the company's other products. The music device has been hugely successful to date, with sales outpacing expectations and driving double-digit revenue growth. More than 730,000 units were sold in the last quarter alone.
That's given the company more than 30 percent of the MP3 player market and more than half of all portable digital music player revenue. Yet Apple's days of having a near monopoly on high-capacity players are over, and more companies are entering the market all the time. The likes of Dell and Samsung are offering similarly sized players with comparable storage capacity for considerably lower prices--following a traditional pattern in the consumer electronics markets, in which cutthroat competition typically drives profit margins to a bare minimum.
Apple has said the iPod will succeed by offering higher quality than its rivals, even if it costs more as a result. Many analysts say they expect Apple's consistently innovative design and aggressive marketing to perpetuate the iPod's appeal for at least the near term.
"We think iPod's leading position is defendable for perhaps two years and is important to Apple's 'cool' image," Merrill Lynch analyst Steven Milunovich wrote in a recent research report analyzing the company's finances.
But that approach is far from foolproof, especially in the volatile consumer electronics business. Sony has long used the power of a respected brand to charge higher prices. But the electronics giant suffered a severe market backlash and is in the midst of a corporate upheaval to regain financial health.
Apple may have a unique chance to avoid a similar fate, if it can figure out how to turn the allegiance of the iPod generation into abiding affection for a broader range of products. Many consumers increasingly associate the company's brand more with the digital music player than with the 20-year-old Macintosh brand.
"I've mainly grown up using PCs," Chang said. "But I guess I'm a closet Apple lover, and the iPod brought me out."
Mike Rowe Soft still up
Yofal, I can still get to his site, and nothing I've read says he has settled.
If the site is hard to reach, the Google cache is here:
http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:FSp2EjIGGqwJ:www.mikerowesoft.com/+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Enjoy,
- louismg
Re: iTunes Catalog
Dilleet - I recently spent a few hours with the creative minds behind KavaSoft, which makes great programs like iTunes Catalog and the addictive Risk-like iConquer.
You can see an example of how iTunes Catalog works, with my example:
http://homepage.mac.com/louisgray/music.html
It's not perfect, but easy to use. Shareware programmers really push our platform forward.
- louismg
Apple Streamlines Professional Audio Product Line
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jan/15proaudio.html
Introduces Logic Pro 6 & Logic Express 6
NAMM 2004, Anaheim, California—January 15, 2004—Apple® today streamlined its award-winning, professional audio production software line by announcing Logic® Pro 6 for professional musicians and Logic Express 6 for students and educators. Used by over 200,000 musicians worldwide, Logic is the industry-leading audio production software for professional musicians, audio engineers, producers and film composers. Logic Pro 6 consolidates 12 pre-existing, groundbreaking products into one comprehensive package for just $999 (US). Logic Express 6 provides a basic set of professional tools to allow students and educators to compose and produce music with sophisticated results at an affordable price of $299 (US).
“Logic has set the standard for professional music production with its comprehensive set of tools, including sample-accurate software instruments, non-destructive real-time editing and sophisticated DSP effects and mastering,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Marketing. “Until today, a lot of the power and flexibility of the Logic product line came from additional plug-ins and add-ons. Now, these are all included in Logic Pro 6 at one affordable price.”
Logic Pro 6 includes Logic Platinum, the award-winning audio recording and sequencer application, and the entire line of 53 audio DSP plug-ins and professional-quality software instruments. Logic Pro 6 is a recording studio in a box with everything professional musicians and audio engineers need to compose, record, edit and mix their music, including professional software instruments, multitrack recorders, mixing desks and sound effect processors. Logic Pro 6 also includes the ability to create 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, support for up to 128 audio tracks, virtually unlimited input channels and a sample rate of up to 192k.
“I’ve used Logic products for everything from producing scores for the London Symphony Orchestra to demoing songs for the Rolling Stones. It’s been my main means of musical expression for over a decade,” said Matt Clifford, professional musician, composer and producer. “With Logic Pro 6, musicians can now instantly add a comprehensive set of powerful software tools to their set up at a fraction of the cost.”
Based on Logic Pro 6, Logic Express 6 is a computer music production application designed to fit the needs of students and educators with a basic set of professional tools to compose and produce music with sophisticated results. Logic Express 6 features powerful audio production tools, including over 28 effect plug-ins and sample-based software instruments. Logic Express 6 also includes support for up to 48 audio tracks, 12 input channels and a sample rate of up to 96k. Since everything learned in Logic Express 6 is directly transferable to Logic Pro 6, Logic Express 6 offers a smooth migration path to high-end audio production.
“Apple has always provided a great platform for education, and Logic Express 6 brings a great new educational tool for musicians,” said David Mash, vice president of Information Technology for Berklee College of Music. “Logic Express 6 will become an essential part of the toolset many music students use because it offers everything an aspiring musician needs to create their songs like a pro—from the first idea through the recording and arrangement to the final mix.”
Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 are part of Apple’s complete line of music creation tools that address the needs of consumers, students, educators, creative pros and professional musicians alike. At the entry level, Apple’s new GarageBand™ music application turns a Mac® into a professional-quality musical instrument and recording studio. Jam Pack, an add-on music content package for GarageBand, expands the user’s creative options by providing additional loops, software instruments, effects presets and guitar amps. Designed specifically for videographers and motion graphics professionals, Apple’s Soundtrack music production tool provides creative pros with more than 4,000 professionally-recorded audio loops and sound effects to create professional-quality soundtracks, now available at an even more affordable price of just $199 (US).
Pricing & Availability
Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 will be available in March through Authorized Apple Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) and $299 (US) respectively. Logic Pro 6 requires Mac OS® X, version 10.2 or higher, Mac OS 9.1 or higher, a Macintosh® computer with a 300 MHz or faster PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor, 256MB of RAM and 350MB of available disk space for installation. Logic Express 6 requires Mac OS X, version 10.2 or higher, Mac OS 9.1 or higher, a Macintosh computer with a 250 MHz or faster PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor, 128MB of RAM and 100MB of available disk space for installation. More information on Logic Pro 6 and Logic Express 6 can be found atwww.apple.com/software/pro/logic.
GarageBand will be available on January 16, as part of iLife® ‘04, for a suggested retail price of $49 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The iLife ‘04 applications, which include GarageBand, will also be included with all new Macs. An iLife Up-To-Date upgrade package is available to all customers who purchased a new Mac on or after January 6 that does not include iLife ‘04. The iLife Up-To-Date package is available for a shipping and handling fee of $19.95 (US). Jam Pack will be available on January 16 for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) at the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers. Full system requirements and more information on GarageBand and Jam Pack can be found atwww.apple.com/ilife/garageband.
Soundtrack is available through The Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $199 (US). Full system requirements and more information on Soundtrack can be found at www.apple.com/soundtrack.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
Press Contacts:
Cameron Craig
Apple
(408) 974-6281
cam@apple.com
Christine Wilhelmy
Apple
(408) 974-9730
cwilhelmy@apple.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple's PR website (www.apple.com/pr/), or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, Mac OS, Logic, GarageBand, iLife and Apple Store are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
HP and Apple Partner on iPod, iTunes - Full Text
HP and Apple Partner to Deliver Digital Music Player and iTunes to HP Customers
Thursday January 8, 1:03 pm ET
LAS VEGAS, Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Working to provide consumers with the most compelling digital content whenever and wherever they desire, HP and Apple® today announced a strategic alliance to deliver an HP-branded digital music player based on Apple's iPod(TM), the number one digital music player in the world, and Apple's award-winning iTunes digital music jukebox and pioneering online music store to HP's customers.
As part of the alliance, HP consumer PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with Apple's iTunes® jukebox software and an easy-reference desktop icon to point consumers directly to the iTunes Music Store, ensuring a simple, seamless music experience. This offering is yet another way that HP is helping consumers enjoy more from their personal digital entertainment content.
"HP's goal is to bring the most compelling entertainment content and experiences to our customers," said Carly Fiorina, chairman and chief executive officer at HP. "We explored a range of alternatives to deliver a great digital music experience and concluded Apple's iPod music player and iTunes music service were the best by far. By partnering with Apple, we have the opportunity to add value by integrating the world's best digital music offering into HP's larger digital entertainment system strategy."
"Apple's goal is to get iPods and iTunes into the hands of every music lover around the world, and partnering with HP, an innovative consumer company, is going to help us do just that," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "As the industry balkanizes by offering digital music wrapped in a multitude of incompatible proprietary technologies, consumers will be reassured in getting the same unparalleled digital music solutions from both HP and Apple, two leaders in the digital music era."
According to internal HP research, more than 54 percent of current HP consumers download music to their PCs.
Over two million iPods have been sold since its introduction, solidifying its position as the number one digital music player in the world. All iPods work seamlessly with the award-winning iTunes digital music jukebox software and the iTunes Music Store, which has sold more than 30 million songs, providing music fans with the best digital music experience on either a Mac® or Windows PC.
The iTunes Music Store offers Windows and Mac users a music catalog of more than 500,000 songs, the same "gold standard" personal use rights and the same 99 cents-per-song pricing. The iTunes Music Store features online gift certificates for family and friends; Apple's innovative and patent-pending online "Allowance" feature, which allows parents to automatically deposit funds into their kids' iTunes Music Store account every month; more than 5,000 audiobooks, which can be purchased with one click and listened to on a Mac or Windows computer as well as on iPods; Celebrity Playlists; and new exclusive tracks from more than 60 artists. The iTunes Music Store offers music from all five major music companies and over 200 independent music labels.
Pricing & Availability
HP's digital music player is expected to become available this summer and be competitively priced to other digital music players currently available.
Beginning this summer, the iTunes software and a desktop icon guiding users to the music site will be preloaded on HP Pavilion, Media Center and Compaq Presario desktop and notebook consumer PCs.
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the fiscal year ending on Oct. 31, 2003, HP revenue totaled $73.1 billion. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
NOTE: All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac, Mac OS, iTunes and are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Good Day on the Market
Kevin, I think your pleasure is shared by all of us in tech hardware...
As of this post, AAPL is up .56, ALTR (Altera) is up 1.4 and SUNW is up .43.
In fact, with an average share purchase price for SUNW at 3.58, I'm up a full 51% there. Too bad I sold 2/3 of the position when I was only up 35%...
- louismg
James A. Lawrence Joins Apple's Board of Directors
Monday January 5, 8:30 am ET
Say - I thought Kelloggs made Apple Jacks? (louismg)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040105/nym027_1.html
CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple® today announced that James A. (Jim) Lawrence, executive vice president and CFO of General Mills, Inc., has joined the Company's Board of Directors.
"With his deep financial and international experience, Jim is going to be a great addition to our Board of Directors," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Jim is the seventh member on our Board, and we're all looking forward to working with him."
"Apple is clearly the most innovative company in its industry," said Jim Lawrence. "My family and I have been Mac users for many years, so I am really looking forward to working directly with such a talented group of people."
James A. Lawrence has been executive vice president and CFO of General Mills since 1998. Previously, Mr. Lawrence was executive vice president and CFO of Northwest Airlines. Prior to joining Northwest Airlines, he was at Pepsi-Cola International, serving initially as executive vice president and subsequently as president and CEO for its operations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Mr. Lawrence currently also serves on the board of directors of Avnet, Inc. and The St. Paul Companies. His previous board affiliations include American Reinsurance Inc., Continental Airlines and Intuitive Surgical.
Mr. Lawrence received his B.A. in Economics from Yale University in 1974 and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1976.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac and Mac OS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
A Request for assistance contacting Apple from a pro-iTunes DJ
*** EXCERPT ***
Apple Computer in all of their brilliant wisdom has decided to drop any station that does not have slots for at least 100 listeners. As a result, when I lost my latest donated server 3 weeks ago (don't stress, I am in the process of getting another massive doomsday system in January) they dropped me as I had to go back down to just DSL to keep the station going. After dropping me, along with several other stations from all over the world who have been listed since Day 1 of the release of iTunes in 2001, Apple then fired or otherwise "let go" the nice guy who kept the whole thing together.
This is a bit of a concern. Bandwidth availability should not be a factor for stations. But because the way Apple had their listing directory set up (its all done by hand... oh how high-tech) there is not way for them to tell the iTunes player which stations are full and which are not. So, they are doing it to "reduce listener frustration" with full stations. Well, if they really want to help out their listeners, why don't they help out broadcasters with bandwidth? And firing the only person we as broadcasters had as a link to talk to apple does what to improve the situation exactly?
Well, I have been trying to find out, but I have run into nothing but resistance from Apple Corporate and believe it or not, iTunes users!
So, I call upon you to express your concern in this matter to the new "guy" in charge.
Email Don Barile @ dbarile@apple.com and tell him you would like to see the Apple policy of dropping stations due to bandwidth limitations (which we all know comes and goes).
*** END EXCERPT ***
Migration to AlBook 1.25 Complete
I got my 15-inch Aluminum PowerBook today, only a day and a half after it left Taiwan, and it is excellent. I set up the "old" TiBook in Firewire Disk mode, copied over my 15 GB user directory, applications and utilities, ran iSync once, and we're good to go.
Now my laptop is 675 MHz faster, has 4x the hard disk space, 2x the RAM, a faster hard drive, and every e-mail and document I have stored since 1995. iSync took care of my bookmarks, calendar, address book and everything else.
That was way too easy.
- louismg
Just bought new PowerBook
Product Name: PowerBook 1.25GHz (15.2" TFT)
Options:
065-4116 1.25GHz PowerPC G4
065-4140 1GB DDR333 SDRAM - 2x512 SO-DIMMs
065-4544 80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
065-4402 Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
065-4496 AirPort Extreme Card
065-4495 Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
The old TiBook has been run into the ground, and is falling apart. Now I get the Aluminum to match the rest of us at work...
Besides, the more debt on my credit cards before Xmas, the less I have to spend on everybody else!
- louismg
So who is this ideal guy anyway and is she running?
1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (75%)
3. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (68%)
4. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (67%)
5. Gephardt, Rep. Dick, MO - Democrat (60%)
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (59%)
7. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (50%)
8. Libertarian Candidate (50%)
9. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (47%)
10. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol, IL - Democrat (33%)
11. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (31%)
12. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (26%)
13. Bush, President George W. - Republican (20%)
14. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (10%)
One Source: Bush At War, by Bob Woodward
Read "Bush At War" to see some of the arguments for and against pushing the war in Iraq as part of the anti-terror campaign.
It's a good book - as are all of Woodward's pieces.
- louismg
iPod 10 GB Giveaway
http://www.apple.com/ipod/giveaway/
From November 28 to December 24, we’ll be giving away a 10GB iPod every day. Download iTunes and create a new iTunes Music Store account, and you’ll be automatically entered* into our daily drawing. Once you create an account, your name remains eligible until December 24, so the earlier you sign up, the more chances you have to win!
Discounted iPod Purchased...
My wife just got one of her Xmas presents, and doesn't know it yet.
10 GB iPod coming her way... now where do I hide it in the house?
10% off, shipping and engraving free!
- louismg
Off Topic: News.com 2 Weeks Old
It better not be just me and my browser... but has anybody noticed that http://www.news.com/ is only showing the pages from November 13?
Hmmm - needs WebObjects.
- louismg
Digital Hubba
Wow - I have just learned about the most exciting development in the Mac world to date - the release of the digital hubba at http://www.digitalhubba.com! It promises to be everything you could ever want from a Mac-oriented Web site!
It slices, it dices, and it doesn't do Windows!
http://www.digitalhubba.com - coming to a Cinema Display near you.
- louismg
Apple iTunes Music Store Poll/Trend
So... we polled one another back on that other board, to see if you used the iTunes store, and how much. Well, has anyone increased their buying or decreased it as the novelty wore off?
I'll go first.
Total: 218 purchased tracks.
November - 1
October - 15
September - 6
August - 13
July - 32
June - 14
May - 92
April - 45
So... April and May were the peaks, with the store not announced until April 28, so I got all I could quickly and waited for new stuff to debut. I expect this may be similar with a lot of us - and will for the Windows users too!
Any other takers?
- louismg
Re: AiBook White Spots
Both of the two Senior VPs here who recently switched to Mac and bought the AiBooks reported white spots on the screen. One was back to using Dell (reluctantly) while his AiBook was in the shop. I don't know that the other has gotten his fixed yet.
Not a great impression.
- louismg
CNN Mac vs. PC Question to Candidates Was a Set-up
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/11/11/cnn_planted_question_at_debate_student_says/
CNN planted question at debate, student says
By Los Angeles Times, 11/11/2003
NEW YORK -- CNN planted a question about computer preferences at last week's debate of the Democratic presidential candidates at Faneuil Hall in Boston, according to the student who posed the query and wrote about it yesterday in an online forum of the Brown (University) Daily Herald. During the debate, cosponsored by the nonprofit Rock the Vote organization, Alexandra Trustman asked the candidates whether they preferred the PC or Mac format for their computers.
Trustman wrote yesterday that she was called the morning of the debate and given the topic of the question the CNN producers wanted her to ask. She wrote that she was "confused by the question's relevance" and constructed what she thought was a "much more relevant" question.
But when she arrived in Boston for the debate, she wrote, she was "handed a note card" with the question and told she couldn't ask her alternative "because it wasn't lighthearted enough and they wanted to modulate the event with various types of questions."
CNN did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
What Are the USB Ports on a TiVo Series2 DVR for?
http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv1020.htm
For information on the TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (DVR) USB ports, refer to the following information:
The two integrated USB ports on the DVR are enabled in software version 4.0 and later. Only one of the USB ports should be used at a time. You can use either USB port to connect your DVR to a home network, allowing you to take advantage of new features available in 4.0, including:
Broadband Internet Connectivity - Use a shared broadband Internet connection instead of a phone line to connect to the TiVo service.
If your DVR is connected to a home network, you also have an opportunity to enjoy additional features offered by Home Media Option, including:
Digital Music Player - Use the home entertainment center in your living room to listen to the digital MP3 music collection stored on your computer.
Digital Photo Viewer - View slideshows of digital photos stored on your computer from the comfort of your couch.
Multi-Room Viewing - Record programs in the living room and watch them in the bedroom or vice versa.
Remote Scheduling - Schedule recordings of shows anytime and anywhere you have Internet access and a standard Web browser. If you have not purchased Home Media Option, go to www.tivo.com to learn more about all the exciting new features
Knife the Baby: Microsoft Eyeing Google Takeover
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/31/technology/31net.html?ex=1068181200&en=9611591c74179e13&ei...
- louismg
Re: Three Senior VPs Switching: The Reasons
Last week you guys asked me a few questions on how I've helped get these senior VP/CxO types to switch to Macintosh at our company. Not entirely sure about one of them, I asked around... and here is what I've got.
Person #1 -- as highly circulated earlier this year, he switched because Windows and Microsoft Office products were highly unstable and required frequent reinstallations. I let him borrow my PowerBook off and on for a few days over a period of two weeks and he threw everything he could at it without hiccups. He was a prior owner of the 1st-generation Windows iPod, and later reformatted it to Mac. He first bought a 15-inch 1Ghz TiBook for the office, and has since purchased a Dual 2 GHz G5 for the home, as soon as the local Apple Store called him to say it was available. Also being a UNIX geek, this guy really likes X11 and running commands through the Terminal, saying it's as cool as Linux, but runs Office better than Windows.
Person #2 -- highly aware of Person #1's visible switch, and our tag-team of promoting Macintosh over Windows, this person has always had a hobby of video editing for home movies on his computer, nearly saturating the hard drive for both home and work machines with the data. Knowing full well that iMovie and iTunes were far superior products for creativity, he too purchased a PowerBook - this time of the 15-inch Aluminum variety, and is investigating upgrading his old Macintosh at home his kids use.
Person #3 -- Seeing the activities of Persons #1 and #2, and having me as his direct report, Person #3 was seeing an increase in Mac-focused evangelism and clear productivity gains by each compared to his hassles with Windows, and its apps, like MusicMatch. Always impressed with the PowerBook's footprint, especially important for trips to our non-US offices, combined with the fact Apple recently opened a retail store in the city where he lives, he went to the Apple Store and purchased a 15-inch Aluminum PowerBook last week.
All so far are very pleased with the switch. Of course they occasionally find bumps - though most are related to the Windows-centric views of our IT department, which has now expanded our vendor list for employee laptop/desktop purchases to two - Dell AND Apple.
Off to install Panther on the DP 450 G4 at the office...
- louismg
Re: Exposé help
Tfx - If you "hold down" F9 you can move the mouse around and the window selected when you release F9 will become the foremost window.
BUT there is an easier way. Just "click" F9 once and let go and the windows will stay "Exposed". Then you can select the app.
OR
to change apps, just use "Command-Tab", now active by default and much better than initially released with 10.1
- louismg
3rd Senior VP Buys a Mac
You guys have been watching from afar as I convert our executives to Apple... and today our Exec. VP of Marketing - following the Sr. VP of HR and our CTO... has purchased a PowerBook for his home use.
Panther arrives this afternoon.
- louismg
Re: Long uptimes
Roni - the days of having to shut down and restart your Mac are long gone.
I can't remember the last time my Mac "locked up" or froze, on the G4 at the office, or my PowerBook G4 at home. The only time I ever restart is when Apple issues some Software Update - so I sometimes just won't install them. Just put the computer to sleep when you're done and click the mouse or space bar to wake it up.
It'd be nice to see if Apple could issue system upgrades without requiring restart. You don't even have to restart to install Micro$oft Office now...
- louismg
10.2.8 Requires Restart - Bye Bye Uptime
So... the work machine has been up for more than 68 days without a restart - a sign of glory, I think. And Apple's latest update requires a restart, which will put it down to zero. Even our Win2K-favoring IT guy was impressed at 60+ days and said "I have servers that have been up that long."
Mac OS X 10.2.8 better be worth starting over.
- louismg
PowerBooks: Available Today... or not
A key line from Apple's press release announcing the new PowerBooks says: "The new 15- and 17-inch PowerBook G4 models are available immediately."
But I went and configured one at the Apple Store (15 inch, 1.25 Ghz, 80 GB ATA, blah blah blah) and it said I would expect to receive it in 4-6 weeks.
See the differences based on config changes:
PowerBook 1.25GHz (15.2" TFT) Z07E 4-6 weeks
$3,224.00
1.25GHz PowerPC G4 065-4116
80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 5400 rpm 065-4544
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) 065-4119
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English 065-4495
1GB DDR333 SDRAM - 1 SO-DIMM 065-4673
AirPort Extreme Card 065-4496
PowerBook 15.2TFT/1.25GHz/512(2 SO-DIMMS)/80G/SuperDrive/AIRPT/BT/56K M8981LL/A Same bus.day
$2,599.00
1.25GHz PowerPC G4
80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 4200 rpm
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
512MB DDR333 SDRAM - 2x256 SO-DIMMs
AirPort Extreme Card
- louismg