The notion of a strong Linux-based competitor to Windows and, to a lesser extent, Apple’s Mac OS X has been an enduring dream of advocates of open-source software. They champion the idea that software that can be freely altered by the masses can prove cheaper and better than proprietary code produced by stodgy corporations. Try as they might, however, Linux zealots have failed in their quest to make Linux mainstream on desktop and notebook computers. The often quirky software remains in the realm of geeks, not grandmothers.
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Internet Giants and the Future of Newspapers
Craigslist has been accused of single-handedly killing the newspaper industry by conditioning people to pay as little as zero for classified ads. Craig Newmark famously knows he is leaving perhaps 10s of millions of dollars on the table, and famously could not care less. Meanwhile, the traditional lifeblood for newspapers for your used car is being drained dry by this international classified ad network and by slightly-more-expensive-and-more-complicated auction services like eBay. You can’t blame Craiglist for innovating – despite their business model, they clean up, thank you very much – just like you can’t blame Google. You’d have to blame the entire internet.
An Inside Look at FEX’s Icon
As you can see, the Linotype L logo was common theme to all ideas, some more subtle than others.
Really beautiful stuff, from start to finish.
Speaking of CES...
Apple is ditching MacWorld to instead exhibit at CES next year instead, according to one source.
No. No. No.
At Macworld, Apple was the big dog. At CES, they would have to compete with every other electronics company on the planet for press time. Not to mention the reasons Apple left Macworld - 1,000s of Apple Store visitors each week means far more customer exposure, January is a horrible time to release products, trade shows are expensive as hell - would also apply to CES. From now on, when an Apple executive takes a stage to show off something new, it will be at an Apple-crafted event, not a trade show. Not even the granddaddy of them all, CES.
Pogue Wonders About Macworld’s Future
David Pogue of the New York Times:
What the media wants to see is the annual Steve Jobs keynote speech, where Apple’s latest products are often unveiled. So: no press throngs next year. The software companies in those hundreds of booths want to be near the mother ship, to bask in its glory and be seen by its admirers. So: fewer booths next year. And the regular Apple fans want to see that keynote, try out those Apple products and explore those booths. So: fewer attendees.
The Salvation of Palm
Palm announced their new phone, the Pré, today. Engadget has posted some videos of the OS in action, and frankly, it is stunning. Palm’s “WebOS” is beautiful and chock-full of silky transitions. It makes my iPhone feel clunky.
Palm Unleashes Wireless Charging
The new P alm Touchstone Charging Dock:
Simply place your Palm Pre on the Palm Touchstone, and magnets quickly align your phone in the correct position for charging.
Sounds like something Apple would ship.
Apple Announces iLife ’09 Upgrade Plan
Apple is bribing users to upgrade to iLife ’09 offering a special deal on iLife ’09 some customers:
If you buy a qualifying Mac between January 6, 2009, and March 28, 2009, and it does not include iLife ’09, you’re eligible to receive iLife ’09 for just $9.95 plus tax.
Obama Hangs Out With Living Presidents
CNN:
Obama’s press secretary said the presidents had a “very constructive conversation” and Obama appreciated “the spirit of bipartisanship they showed” in wishing him success.
“The president and the former presidents had helpful advice on managing the office, as well as thoughts on the critical issues facing the country right now. The president-elect is anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years,” Robert Gibbs said.
Pandora Turns 2.0
Pandora, (iTunes link) everyone’s favorite musical iPhone app hit 2.0 status this week.
Issues Upgrading to DRM-Free Music?
Apple is offering users an easy way to upgrade their music libraries to DRM-free tracks:
It’s also easy to upgrade your iTunes library to iTunes Plus. You don’t have to buy the song or album again. Just pay the 30¢ per song upgrade price. (Music video upgrades are 60¢ and entire albums can be upgraded for 30 percent of the album price.)
I upgraded my tracks tonight when I got home from work for a grand total of $26 (I previously tweeted I spent $12, but forgot to upgrade my other account until afterwards) with no issues. But some users are experiencing issues. Twitter user toddw sent me this:
Seventeen Inches of Controversy
Apple updated the 17-inch MacBook Pro today, bringing it in line with the “unibody” notebooks first unveiled in the fall. With one twist:
Apple engineers custom-designed lithium-polymer cells to create the largest possible battery, then they went even further: They built the battery right into the computer, eliminating the space-consuming mechanisms and housings that standard removable batteries require. The result is a battery that’s 40 percent bigger than the previous generation and offers up to 8 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge — all in a notebook that’s less than an inch thin, weighs just 6.6 pounds, and remains the same price as the previous-generation model.