Apple sues itself in the foot (again) | The Register

Apple sues itself in the foot (again) The Register "Apple Computer's legal policy of shoot first, and ask questions later, has got the company into trouble again.
Apple's lawyers have gone after the popular humor community site Something Awful for posting a link to one of Apple's own internal service manuals. The link resolves to a third party website, and was posted in a useful and informed discussion about Apple's troubled MacBook Pro."

Review: Samsung Q1 Has Load of Annoyances - Yahoo! News

Review: Samsung Q1 Has Load of Annoyances - Yahoo! News: "Still, the UMPC is not a bad concept. It's easy to carry around, and apart from the annoyances, the touch screen is an intuitive interface that's much nicer than the touch pads of regular laptops.
But integration and battery life need to improve before the UMPC is going to find its market. Microsoft has a track record as a tenacious improver, and its hardware partners will no doubt figure this one out.
Just give them a year or two. "

CEO gets $1m slap for misuse of maxims - The Boston Globe

CEO gets $1m slap for misuse of maxims - The Boston Globe: "Raytheon Co.'s board voted yesterday to freeze the salary of William H. Swanson at last year's level and pare his new stock grants by 20 percent in response to the chief executive's failure to credit the sources of his 2004 book of homespun management maxims."

Page 1 of the Boston Globe lately has read like the Plagiarism Times. The business section today includes a counterpoint that notes:

"The act itself was stupid and unnecessary. The company's immediate waffling reaction appeared pathetic. But the public outcry has sounded hysterical."

Security Curve Weblog: The Gigantic "Bull's Eye" on Apple's Forehead

Security Curve Weblog: The Gigantic "Bull's Eye" on Apple's Forehead: "Now, I don't know about you but I haven't seen this kind of hubris since Oracle's 'unbreakable' campaign. Remember that? I do. I remember that at one point in time, most researchers ignored Oracle and pretty much left it alone... Then Oracle stepped up on the soapbox shouting 'we're unbreakable', only to find themselves getting the kind of scrutiny from hackers usually reserved for new flavors of Mountain Dew.
The Mac press has apparently 'bought in' to the hubristic message and has decided to run with it. For example, The Mac Observer (in the article 'Cutting Through the OS X Security Rhetoric') whitewashes Apple's recent security problems (or, in Mac Observer parlance, the 'misinformation being spread by the media') by attempting to 'debunk' the recent press that has painted Apple unfavorably. Now, I love my Mac as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to accept a statement like '...it's obvious that Mac OS X is currently a more secure and stable operating system than Windows XP...' without questioning why it's obvious. What data is being used to back up that assertion, because it's not obvious to me? "

Read the full post for another timely Security Curve reality check.

A Big Question Unanswered by a Tiny PC - New York Times

A Big Question Unanswered by a Tiny PC - New York Times: "Microsoft deserves some credit for trying to shake up the status quo. It's sad, therefore, that the Ultra Mobile PC feels so wrong. It aims to bridge the size gulf between a palmtop and a laptop, but winds up inheriting the worst aspects of each. Like a palmtop, it feels claustrophobic, clumsy for text input and, with its exposed touch screen, vulnerable. Like a laptop, it's expensive, has short battery life and requires two hands to operate.
In short, the lesson missed by the Ultra Mobile PC's creators doesn't come from journalism school; it comes from the School of Common Sense. "

Walt Mossberg also finds a lot to dislike in the Samsung device.

I guess I'll wait for version 2.0...

The Seattle Times: Microsoft: Microsoft's adCenter is Google, Yahoo! rival

The Seattle Times: Microsoft: Microsoft's adCenter is Google, Yahoo! rival: "One of the toughest questions for Gates to answer was about feeling angry.
'What pisses you off?' Deutsch asked Gates. 'I know with $50 billion it's hard to be pissed off, but what does piss you off?'
Gates started to talk about things he gets concerned about, but when pressed for a stronger answer, he paused for several seconds and eventually said: 'Not much.'
And as in many interviews Gates does these days, the conversation eventually turned to Google. Gates said that the company has done a great job on search and advertising, and that the rivalry is a rare case where Microsoft is actually being underestimated.
'We will keep them honest in the sense of being able to do better on those things, bring a new angle to it,' he said. 'The intense competition in this business is what makes it fun.'"

WSJ.com - With adCenter, Microsoft Bids For Web-Search Bonanza

WSJ.com - With adCenter, Microsoft Bids For Web-Search Bonanza: "Microsoft Corp. today plans to show off the auction system it hopes to use to tap into the gusher of advertising dollars flowing online. The system, called adCenter, will be introduced at a conference the software maker is holding for hundreds of advertisers in Seattle. It's Microsoft's most ambitious effort yet to catch Google Inc., whose own system has been key to that company's runaway revenue growth.
...
Microsoft's pitch yesterday and today features speeches by Messrs. Gates and Ballmer, a rare double billing that shows just how much is riding on the initiative's success. The company has rented out Safeco Field, the ballpark where the Seattle Mariners play, for the finale tonight. So far, adCenter is getting high marks from advertisers who have tested it, partly because Microsoft has taken pains to court them and solicit their feedback."

WSJ.com - Gates Says Microsoft Is Underestimated Against Google

WSJ.com - Gates Says Microsoft Is Underestimated Against Google: "'This competition will be particularly fun,' Gates said. Microsoft is increasing the investments it is making in search and online advertising technologies, he added. Last week, for instance, the company said its spending for next year would be as much as $2 billion more than Wall Street analysts had anticipated.
When it comes to online advertising, 'we are just at the beginning,' he said. 'We think we're in plenty early.'"

Microsoft Is Not Delaying Vista Again as Beta 2 Looms

Microsoft Is Not Delaying Vista Again as Beta 2 Looms: "Granted, predicting another Windows Vista delay is a fairly safe tactic. Microsoft has already delayed Vista several times, and delaying it again from January 2007 to April or June 2007 won't make a big difference from a sales perspective. And to be fair, Microsoft has said Vista was 'on track' before and then delayed the product. But there is nothing going on now to suggest that Microsoft is ready to delay Vista yet again. While Gartner could very well have seen something inside of Microsoft that caused it to believe the company is ready to delay the product again, the aforementioned comparison with Windows 2000 is completely bogus."

Apple Extends Deal for 99¢ Downloads - New York Times

Apple Extends Deal for 99¢ Downloads - New York Times: "Apple has sold more than one billion songs since introducing iTunes in 2003; the service lets customers choose from among two million music tracks.
Sales of iPods and content sold through iTunes accounted for 50 percent of Apple's sales last quarter, up from 38 percent a year earlier."

The Seattle Times: Microsoft: Technology analyst expects further delays for Windows Vista

The Seattle Times: Microsoft: Technology analyst expects further delays for Windows Vista: "Gartner's reasoning for the estimate, which it expressed with 80 percent probability, is based on the expected ship date of the second test version of Vista, known as Beta 2. With past operating systems that compare to Vista in complexity, it took Microsoft 16 months to go from Beta 2 to manufacturing."

Running my Gartner-speak emulator, I think there's a .94 probability that Gartner failed to account for some significant changes in the software development process since Windows XP was in beta during 2001 (e.g., the traditional beta cycle for software initiatives of all sizes is history...), and a .83 probability this report was designed to maximize headline fodder rather than Gartner client information value-add. It appears to have been successful on the latter, but I also suspect there's a .78 probability that at least 50% of Gartner's customers will be annoyed if they update their Vista deployment plans based on Gartner's projection only to see Vista released to enterprises during late 2006 as Microsoft plans.

Not Your Father's Software Business

Not Your Father's Software Business: "Bringing it closer to home, our team at Boston-based Adesso Systems is focused on applying the Long Tail principle to the applications software market. Adesso is providing an electronic marketplace of mobile and distributed applications built by independent individual or small-team developers leveraging our software development and delivery platform. These highly specialized applications are targeted at 'millions of markets of dozens,' a clear departure from the historic enterprise software model targeting 'dozens of markets of millions.' With Adesso providing the tools, hosting service, and a marketplace for our partners, even weekend developers can capitalize on the potential global market for their specialized 'Long Tail' software expertise, while our customers get access to a searchable database of unique and specialized applications.
The democratization of information technology, publishing, media distribution, and even applications development lays the foundation for a digitally-inspired cultural renaissance that we're only beginning to envision. As has been true throughout the history of computing, the only certainty as we look to the future is that technology and technology businesses will continue to evolve in amazing and unprecedented ways. "

John Landry's post-90s worldview published on Microsoft's "On the Issues" site.

MySpace page helps "Stick It" at box office - Yahoo! News

MySpace page helps "Stick It" at box office - Yahoo! News: "As the first-time director of a studio feature, Jessica Bendinger worked overtime to mobilize a core constituency of sports-minded teenage girls to come out and see her film 'Stick It.'
...
... behind the scenes and online, Bendinger and one of her stars worked as evangelists to woo potential fans. Through niche sports outlets and a MySpace page, Bendinger and crew hoped to rally fans to hang up their gym bags and keyboards and turn up in droves at the 2,000 theaters playing her gymnastics movie.
...
Disney took over the MySpace site when the official campaign began two weeks ago by adding special features. A TV campaign that kicked off around the same time helped the site grow to more than 10,000 friends by Friday."

WSJ.com - Skype to Roll Out New Software

WSJ.com - Skype to Roll Out New Software: "Skype, the Internet-calling unit of eBay Inc., will introduce the latest version of its new software, packed with improvements, and it will preview a new feature which lets as many as 100 people participate in a live, moderated conversation, an effort to attract more small business users and consumers.
...
It will also preview 'Skypecasts,' which are live conversations led by a host with as many as 100 people. Hosting or participating in a Skypecast is free. Skype hopes that people with shared interests will tap this new feature.
...
Users will also be able to view their Microsoft Outlook contact list in Skype and call directly using Skype."

WSJ.com - Heard on the Street

WSJ.com - Heard on the Street: "MSN Veterans Want a Pact To Bolster Web-Search AdsAnd Better Challenge Google

One faction within Microsoft Corp. is promoting a bold strategy in the company's battle with Google Inc: Join forces with Yahoo Inc.
That would be a major departure for Microsoft, the software maker that is legendary for toiling on its own until it captures a new market. However, people familiar with the situation say that Microsoft has considered the idea of acquiring a stake in Yahoo, and that the two companies have discussed possible options over the course of the past year."

Stimulus/response...

Microsoft may delay Windows Vista again, Gartner says - Computerworld

Microsoft may delay Windows Vista again, Gartner says - Computerworld: "Microsoft Corp.'s long- awaited release of the upgrade to its flagship Windows operating system will likely be delayed again by at least three months, research group Gartner Inc. said today.
The research note, released to clients yesterday, said the new Windows Vista operating system is too complex to be able to meet Microsoft's targeted November release for volume-license customers and January launch for retail consumers.
A Microsoft spokeswoman said the company disagreed with the Gartner report and it was still on track to meet its launch dates."

The saga continues...

I've been exploring Vista lately and think it's in pretty solid shape overall. We shall see...

Key Java exec returns to run Sun's software group | InfoWorld | News | 2006-05-01 | By Robert McMillan, IDG News Service

Key Java exec returns to run Sun's software group InfoWorld News 2006-05-01 By Robert McMillan, IDG News Service: "Rich Green is returning to his former employer Sun Microsystems Inc. to head up the company's software group. His return, following a two-year stint at enterprise software vendor Cassatt, will be announced Tuesday at the company's Network Computing product launch in Washington, a Sun spokesman confirmed on Monday.
...
As executive vice president of Sun's software group, however, Green will be cast again into the public spotlight, filling a position vacated by John Loiacono, who left last month to take on the role of senior vice president of Creatives Group at Adobe Systems Inc.
Green will be in charge of Sun's large portfolio of software assets, including Java, the Solaris operating system and the StarOffice productivity suite. "

Amazon's Microsoft choice hits Google | This is Money

Amazon's Microsoft choice hits Google This is Money: "Software giant Microsoft has drawn blood in the increasingly acrimonious battle with search giant Google, with Amazon choosing its technology to power the online retailer's A9 search unit. "

Intel to Offer Its Own Plan for Global Internet Access - New York Times

Intel to Offer Its Own Plan for Global Internet Access - New York Times: "Aiming to help close the so-called digital divide, the Intel Corporation plans to announce a design for a sub-$400 educational laptop and a five-year, $1 billion program to train teachers and to extend wireless digital Internet access worldwide."
...
"He distinguished Intel's efforts from other campaigns with similar aims by saying Intel would focus on full-featured computer systems with enough power and memory to run Microsoft software."

Entropia Universe Players Can Cash Their Online Earnings at the A.T.M. - New York Times

Entropia Universe Players Can Cash Their Online Earnings at the A.T.M. - New York Times: "[...] today the makers of Entropia Universe, a popular online science-fiction game, plan to introduce a real-world A.T.M. card that will allow players instantly to withdraw hard cash automatically converted from their virtual game treasury. So a player with, say, 2,000 spare P.E.D.'s (Project Entropia Dollars) left over after purchasing a new laser rifle in the game could withdraw $200 and take a date to a real-life ballgame."