I had forgotten about this, but Apple publishes a RSS feed of all recently added and edited support documents here. Very handy.

Thanks, @macosxserver.

Frank Fox, over at LowEndMac:

There are many smaller brands and millions of generic no-name desktop computers call “white boxes” that get sold every year. All of these generic computers fly under the radar, and no one keeps track of what is going on. It is a perfect place to hide a million or so Hackintoshes from public scrutiny – and especially from Microsoft.

An extra million copies of Mac OS X 10.6 sold will look like more people are upgrading from Mac OS X 10.5. Analysts will just report how great Apple is doing getting people to switch. But Apple will have the actual sales data, and it will be able to spot any unusual trends.

A million Hackintoshes should not go unnoticed. They have probably estimated within a few percent exactly how many people will switch.

In order for Apple to see the spike in demand, everyone needs to wait a few months and then buy the full copy (not the upgrade). This will send a strong message to Apple when it sees the spike in full copy sales. (It’s even better if you buy the family pack and build five Hackintoshes.)

Apple is a software company, but it’s also a hardware company — their software just drives people to buy Macs. Doing this would cripple the company.

In a shockingly transparent move, Apple has posted their response to the FCC’s inquiry into the company’s removal of Google Voice apps from the App Store. Here’s a sample:

Apple alone makes the final decisions to approve or not approve iPhone applications.

There is a provision in Apple’s agreement with AT&T that obligates Apple not to include functionality in any Apple phone that enables a customer to use AT&T’s cellular network service to originate or terminate a VoIP session without obtaining AT&T’s permission. Apple honors this obligation, in addition to respecting AT&T’s customer Terms of Service, which, for example, prohibit an AT&T customer from using AT&T’s cellular service to redirect a TV signal to an iPhone. From time to time, AT&T has expressed concerns regarding network efficiency and potential network congestion associated with certain applications, and Apple takes such concerns into consideration.

It’s long, but a good look into the world of App Store approvals.

Macworld:

According to the “Gadgetology” study—culled from Retrevo’s own users—34 percent of students buying laptops are planning to purchase a netbook. Another 49 percent want a full-sized laptop, and the majority of student laptop buyers aren’t considering a Mac.
Students surveyed for the report indicate that longer battery life, small size and light weight are all factors affecting their buying decision, according to Retrevo CEO Vipin Jain, who called 2009 “the dawn of the netbook.”

“Fifty-eight percent of them plan on spending less than $750,” said Jain. Apple offers no laptop in that price range—its least expensive MacBook with educational pricing is $949. Only 18 percent of those students surveyed have a budget exceeding $1,000, according to Retrevo.

This seems contradictory to Apple’s explosive growth in this market. Just last year, Morgan Stanely said 40 percent of college students planned on buying a Mac for school.

Update: The Macalope chimes in.

TUAW:

Who knew that there were first-generation iPods still for sale on store.apple.com! This is the very first iPod model, introduced in 2001. I don’t know how they ended up there, or why they’re selling them, but they’re shipping “within 24 hours” and are available for $129.00. Remember, this is the model with the “scroll wheel,” it’s not touch sensitive, and you have to physically turn it with your thumb or finger. Note that the image Apple is using on the store is actually for a third-generation iPod, but the product description and model number are for the first-gen. Also, these iPods are refurbished, they’re not brand new.

It includes a 5GB iPod (for Mac only, the Windows-compatible versions came later) w/rechargeable lithium battery, original scroll wheel, headphones, an Apple iPod Power Adapter, an Apple FireWire Cable (2 meters), a Manual (iPod Getting Started), CD-ROM Disc w/iTunes (version unknown, but let’s take a guess and say “old”), and a One Year Limited Warranty that by rights should have expired years ago.

Apple has to keep service parts for 7 years, so my guess is that these were service parts that were simply collecting dust.

Here’s some info on the first iPod — it makes my 40GB 3rd generation iPod look all shiny and new.

AppleInsider:

A total of 99 percent of 200 respondents to a RBC/IQ ChangeWave survey in August said they are satisfied with their iPhone 3GS, with 82 percent of those “Very Satisfied.” That’s an improvement from the already-stellar statistics on the last two iterations of the iPhone, of which 73 percent of customers gave a superior ranking. Similarly, 94 percent of iPhone 3GS buyers said the product met or exceeded their expectations.

But the iPhone’s U.S. carrier, AT&T, was seen as the product’s biggest pitfall. When iPhone 3GS owners were asked to rank what they dislike about the product, 55 percent chose the AT&T network. That was followed by the 41 percent who felt the device’s battery life is too short, and 8 percent who said their company’s IT department doesn’t support the product.

Another lovely display of affection toward AT&T from their users.