Apparently Engadget readers really like Apple news.
Category: Apple
Most Quoted Quote on the Internet Tonight
Steve’s health is rapidly declining. Apple is choosing to remove the hype factor strategically vs letting the hype destroy apple when the inevitable news comes later this spring.
This strategic loss will be less of a bang with investors. This is why Macworld is a no-go anymore. No more Steve means no more hype. Saying they are no longer needing [Macworld] is the cover designed by the worldwide “loyalty” department.
Dual-Link Fail?
Gizmodo’s Jason Chen on video tearing and distortion issues with Apple’s new Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adaptor:
Our own limited testing showed that this happens really quickly (in about a minute) when there’s a USB hub plugged either into the second MacBook Pro USB port, or into the pass-through port on the actual adapter itself. If we have nothing plugged in, the display is fine, but if we have a powered hub plugged in, the distortion hits almost immediately.
Harsh Words on MobileMe
The eternal battle between Apple’s priorities with form over function played a major role in this summer’s past Mobile Me meltdown. Apple puts so much emphasis on making sure every millimeter of the screen is pixel perfect, and that the User Interface is so shiny that you want to lick it. But when it comes to the core infrastructure of the service, or the back-end functionality holding up in critical times, it seemed like an after thought. Perhaps in the future they’ll spend less time on perfecting that gradient, and more time making sure their servers scale.
On a Post-Steve Apple
Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu:
“While CEO Steve Jobs deserves a lot of credit for the revival and success of Apple and, as one of the founding fathers of technology, helping revolutionize the world with the Apple I, Apple II, Lisa, Macintosh, NeXT, Pixar, Mac OS X, the Apple Store, iTunes, iPod, and iPhone, we believe Apple today has a deep bench and its culture of innovation and execution or ‘spirit’ has more or less been institutionalized…
The Predicament of Phil Schiller
As the news of Apple’s withdraw from Macworld settles in on the Macintosh user community, the news that Steve Jobs won’t be holding the company’s last Macworld keynote still has a lot of people wondering about the health of Apple and of Jobs himself. While some believe Jobs has fallen ill and the company scrambled to figure out what to do, the general consensus is that this is the beginning of a long, gradual transfer of power and public face time from Jobs to other members of Apple’s core leadership group.
Mail Gets Stable
After updating to Mac OS X 10.5.6, Mail may unexpectedly quit. This can be caused by using a copy of Mail that wasn’t updated properly (you may need to install the Mail Update).
We’re Not As Cool As We Used To Be
Windows PC owners always pull the “Macs aren’t compatible with any decent software” card when bashing Apple. But that insult is clearly outdated if Barack Obama was able to win the U.S. presidency with a Mac as his computing weapon (while using iChat to stay in touch with his family, no less). And wait — there’s one more thing: Obama has his own official iPhone application! Can we all “think different” if we’re all using the same trendy gadgets?
A Sick Steve Means a Sick Apple?
My health is a private matter. Your health is a private matter. Steve Jobs’ health is not a private matter. Steve Jobs’ health is Apple’s health. When Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor, shows up gaunt in public or acknowledges that he is not going to show up in public at all, the company’s stock price dives.
… Apple’s record of being less than forthcoming has left us to wonder: Is Jobs too sick to attend the January show? Are Apple strategists concerned that he could become too sick by then, or even look too sick by then? Would they rather not deal with the questions and speculation should he show up healthy, but with the sniffles or looking thin or tired?
Apple Interactive Television Box on eBay
Ever heard of the Apple Interactive Television Box? Wikipedia:
The Apple Interactive Television Box was a set-top box developed by Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) in partnership with a number of national telecommunications firms, including British Telecom and Belgacom amongst others. Prototypes of the unit were tested in parts of the United States and Europe from 1994 to 1995, but the product was cancelled shortly thereafter, and was never mass produced or marketed.
Mac Mini Rumors Abound
The Mac mini is an oddball. Some people view it as the “ Starter Mac,” (fueled by Apple’s BYODKM concept) while others use the tiny desktops as servers. The unit has fans all over the place (myself included), but Apple hasn’t updated the machine since August 2007. It is the only Mac left with 802.11g instead of 802.11n. This has lead to many people claiming the Mac mini was dead or dying.
However, in the last few weeks, rumors have been popping up across the Internet that the Mac mini is about to get a refresh. Macenstein has posted two images of the next-generation Mac mini. Fake or not, I think they’re close. Apple’s new “unibody” construction system would work well on the Mac mini, which is now comprised of two major parts- the outer case, and the guts, which are built on the foot. Having everything built into the case would not only allow for a smaller Mac mini, it would be far stronger- right now, the top can flex with weight on top of the unit.
Dell Attacks Apple’s "Green" Ads
Dell:
We wish Apple would be more bold in making a difference rather than making ads. If they do both, then fantastic, run all the ads you want. But don’t forget what this is all about.
Yikes. In the same post, Dell outlines what they’re doing to make their products more environmentally friendly. The company’s efforts are praiseworthy, but picking on another company just comes across as childish. And yes, that includes these guys.