Switching To Apple Mac OS X

[ComputerWorld] Massive Android malware op may have infected 5 million users

2012-01-30T08:24:00.001-08:00

The largest-ever Android malware campaign may have duped as many as 5 million users into downloading infected apps from Google's Android Market, Symantec said today.

Dubbed "Android.Counterclank" by Symantec, the malware was packaged in 13 different apps from three different publishers, with titles ranging from "Sexy Girls Puzzle" to "Counter Strike Ground Force." Many of the infected apps were still available on the Android Market as of 3 p.m. ET Friday.

"They don't appear to be real publishers," Kevin Haley, a director with Symantec's security response team, said in an interview today. "These aren't rebundled apps, as we've seen so many times before."

Haley was referring to a common tactic by Android malware makers to repackage a legitimate app with attack code, then re-release it to the marketplace in the hope that users will confuse the fake with the real deal.

Symantec estimated the impact by combining the download totals -- which the Android Market shows as ranges -- of the 13 apps, arriving at a figure between 1 million on the low end and 5 million on the high. "Yes, this is the largest malware [outbreak] on the Android Market," said Haley.

Android.Counterclank is a Trojan horse that when installed on an Android smartphone collects a wide range of information, including copies of the bookmarks and the handset maker. It also modifies the browser's home page.

The hackers have monetized the malware by pushing unwanted advertisements to compromised Android phones.

Although the infected apps request an uncommonly large number of privileges -- something that the user must approve -- Haley argued that few people bother reading them before giving their okay.

"If you were the suspicious type, you might wonder why they're asking for permission to modify the browser or transmit GPS coordinates," said Haley. "But most people don't bother."

Android.Counterclank is a minor variation on an older Android Trojan horse called Android.Tonclank that was discovered in June 2011.

Some of the 13 apps that Symantec identified as infected have been on the Android Market for at least a month, according to the revision dates posted on the e-store. Symantec, however, discovered them only yesterday.

Users had noticed something fishy before then.

"The game is decent ... but every time you run this game, a 'search icon gets added randomly to one of your screens," said one user on Jan. 16 after downloading "Deal & Be Millionaire," one of the 13. "I keep deleting the icon, but it always reappears. If you tap the icon you get a page that looks suspiciously like the Google search page."

Symantec has published a list of the 13 infected apps on its website.

Full article at http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223777/Massive_Android_malware_op_may_have_infected_5_million_users

Madison, Wisconsin schools buy 1,400 Apple iPads - using Microsoft's money

2012-01-30T08:20:00.001-08:00

Madison teachers will soon be handing out Apples to students.

The School District for the first time plans to buy more than 600 iPads for use in the majority of schools this spring. Another 800 iPads are expected to be in classrooms by next fall, all paid for with money from a state settlement with Microsoft.

District officials are enthusiastic about the possibilities presented by tablets, from students wirelessly sharing classroom work to replacing workbooks purchased each year with online "apps." Other districts in Dane County and around the state are already experimenting with tablets.

In Madison, the popular computing device presents a "jumping off" moment for technology in classrooms that hasn't happened with desktop and laptop computers, said Bill Smojver, the district's director of technical services.

"This is the most significant transition point for having digital learning at the optimal level," Smojver said.

Compared with computers, tablets are cheaper, more portable and easier to use, Smojver said. And as Madison administrators found at a recent demonstration in Chicago Public Schools, students were more engaged in classrooms using tablets, deputy superintendent Sue Abplanalp said.

Apple recently announced it would make textbooks available through its iBooks application, which Smojver called a "significant development." Abplanalp said the district will proceed cautiously in considering whether to replace textbooks with electronic versions.

"We're very open to what technology is going to bring us next," she said.

Pending School Board approval Monday, the iPads will debut in 20 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and Memorial, Shabazz and West high schools by mid-March.

Principals have proposed using the tablets in a variety of ways. Sandburg Elementary, which is receiving the most iPads with 105, plans to experiment with each student in four classrooms accessing a device. Other schools, like Gompers Elementary, which is receiving two iPads, are allowing teachers to experiment with use in their planning and record-keeping.

Paid for by settlement

The iPads are being paid for with part of $3.4 million from a state-negotiated settlement with Microsoft. Wisconsin received nearly $80 million in technology vouchers as part of the 2009 settlement related to a consumer lawsuit over software.

In December the School Board approved a plan to divide $2.1 million of the settlement among the schools with each getting $85.09 per student.

Some schools chose to spend that money on iPads while others spent it on laptops, smart boards, projectors or other technology upgrades.

The district plans to spend an additional $442,000 of settlement funds on iPads, which it can buy for $479 apiece.

The state doesn't track how many districts are using tablet technology or other 21st century learning tools, but Naomi Harm, a Minnesota-based tech consultant, said her company has worked with more than 50 school districts in Wisconsin implementing iPad technology.

State Superintendent Tony Evers is expected next week to release a statewide digital learning plan that has been developed over the past year by a group of state and local technology experts.

Kurt Kiefer, assistant state superintendent for libraries, technology and community learning, said Utah has recently announced a project to develop open source digital textbooks. The digital learning plan will recommend exploring those kinds of options more aggressively, he said.

HP makes printing from an iPad easier with Wireless Direct printing

2012-01-30T08:00:00.001-08:00

Hewlett Packard is showing off a range of new printers at Macworld|iWorld 2012, largely aimed at the home office and small-to-medium business segments. However, a new feature of its latest printer models is what really caught our eye on the show floor. HP's Wireless Direct makes it possible to print documents and images from an iOS device via AirPrint without even knowing the name or password of the local wireless network.

All of HP's printers now include the company's ePrint feature, which enables options like wireless printing, sending documents to print via e-mail from anywhere in the world, and directly accessing documents in the cloud. These ePrint capabilities also enable support for Apple's AirPrint standard, according to Marketing Manager Annamaria Pardini, which lets iPhones and iPads to print to a networked printer without any setup, configuration, or driver installation.

Read the full article here.

Interactive graphic: Why Apple dominates

2012-01-26T12:21:00.001-08:00

The Globe and Mail reports, “The backbone of Apple’s explosive growth has been the iPhone, introduced in 2007. The smartphone got a boost in 2011 with the launch of the 4S model – which includes a personal digital butler known as Siri – and accounted for more than half of revenue in Apple’s historically strong ‘Christmas’ first quarter, ended Dec. 31.”

Have a look on the complete interactive graphs here.

Apple announces iBooks 2, iBooks Author to "reinvent textbooks"

2012-01-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

"iBooks" are no longer old Apple laptops made out of white plastic, nor are they simply e-books to be purchased within Apple's iBookstore. Apple announced what it's calling "iBooks 2" during its media event in New York on Thursday, a textbook software program that allows textbook-makers and instructors to create rich, interactive teaching media for the iPad. As we first reported earlier this week, the announcement is akin to "GarageBand for e-books," giving authors access to easy-to-use tools on the computer in order to create multimedia content for the iPad.

Books created for iBooks 2 can have all manner of media attached, complete with multitouch capabilities. The company listed numerous ways in which iBooks 2 authors can create engaging content for students, including multiple-choice questions with immediate feedback within the text, the ability to make notes and highlights that can be found in a single location as note cards or sprinkled throughout the text, ways to explore embedded graphics and 3D animations, full-motion movies, and more.

iBooks 2 itself is an app for the iPad, but books for the application can be found within the already existing iBookstore under a new "textbook" category, with free samples available to those who want to try out the books first. Students can use codes to redeem them for books and can re-download them whenever they need to.

But how does one create a textbook for iBooks 2? Apple also announced a Mac application on Thursday called "iBooks Author," which Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller described as "powerful and feature-rich." The interface, as demoed to the audience, is similar to Apple's iWork applications and allows authors to format books through WYSIWYG interaction and format the pages in a variety of ways. (It's worth noting that news broke on Wednesday that Apple had commandeered its VP of productivity applications Roger Rosne to head up this project.)

In addition to the WYSIWYG interface, authors can further customize their books with HTML5 or JavaScript, and the application provides live previews so that authors can see what the final result will be before publishing. The price of the books is capped at $14.99 or less (the company specifically said "high school" books, so it's unclear as to whether the cap applies to all books), though instructors can sell individual chapters at what Schiller described as a "very aggressive price."

"If you've ever been involved with creating e-books before, you know this is a total miracle in terms of time savings," Apple told the audience in NYC.

But that's not all! Apple brought out its Senior VP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue to discuss a new iTunes U app for iPad. The app will allow college and university students to download full courses from Apple's iTunes U section on iTunes and view them in an easy-to-use manner. The app lets students navigate through a course overview and outline, and professors can customize their course offerings by adding office hours and credits as well. Instructors can post notes that get sent to students' iPads and even make assignments through the app.

Like the offerings through iBooks 2, the iTunes U app allows for materials beyond the usual, boring college texts. Instructors can add things like audio, various documents (such as Keynote presentations or PDFs), and even other apps for students to use. Cue pointed out that numerous universities are already using iTunes U, such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, and University of Paris. Up to this point, however, K-12 schools have been excluded from iTunes U, but Cue said that was changing on Thursday, with the company allowing K-12 institutions to create iTunes U offerings as well.

All three of the apps discussed in Thursday's announcement—iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and iTunes U—are free to download from their respective app stores. Apple clearly wants to make the effort accessible to everyone, including instructors, though we have no doubt the company plans to charge its usual 30 percent fee for the sales of books and other educational materials through the iBookstore and iTunes U.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/01/apple-announces-ibooks-2-to-reinvent-textbooks.ars

Polish parliament to buy 500 iPads for lawmakers

2011-12-27T11:11:00.001-08:00

Politicians in Poland will switch from paper to digital when working on laws in the country's parliament, following an approval to purchase up to 500 top-of-the-line iPads for Sejm legislators, according to a report in the Polish business publication Wyborcza. Each of the 460 members will get a 64GB 3G-enabled iPad 2 at a cost of roughly $400,000. The move will replace paper and notebook computers currently in use by February....

Apple's Santa Claus-themed iPhone 4S

2011-12-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

Apple's Santa Claus-themed iPhone 4S ad being the most effective of the holidays.

Apple launches full iTunes Match website, FAQ, video

2011-12-27T11:05:00.001-08:00

Apple's iTunes Match, an add-on service that makes most users' entire iTunes music library available to their other devices for an annual $25 fee, now has its own dedicated website that includes a walk-through video, setup guide, product description and Frequently Asked Questions column. The site may be part of an effort to combat user confusion over what exactly the service offers and to more formally separate it from the company's free iCloud service.

The video walkthrough can be seen on the iTunes Match website.

回顧蘋果2011年：苦甜參半

2011-12-27T10:01:00.001-08:00

2011年對於蘋果來說苦甜參半，他們設立了新的標準，樹立新的里程碑等等，但是除了這些令人激動的事情之外，最悲痛的莫過於喬布斯的辭世。

　　視頻回顧了蘋果從今年12個月所經歷過事情，喬布斯辭世之後帶來的巨大震動以及喬布斯在舞台向我們推出新產品時候的精彩瞬間。視頻表示，喬布斯在他的stevenote中向我們介紹的"one last thing"最後一款產品就是iCloud。

1月

　　6日，Mac App Store正式上線

　　11日，iPhone添加新的運營商Verizon

　　18日，Q1創季度收入最高

2月

　　2日推出The Daily

　　24日，新的Mac Book Pro推出，配備Thunderbolt接口

3月

　　2日，iPad2問世以及GarageBand for iOS

　　29日，WWDC大會門票9小時售罄

4月

　　27日，白色版本iPhone4

5月

3日，全新iMac

　　10日，蘋果在全球500強中排名第35，蘋果零售店開店10週年紀念

　　31日，iWork for iPhone面世

6月

　　6日-10日，WWDC2011大會上介紹了iCloud、iOS 5 以及Mac OS X Lion

　　21日，新版視頻編輯軟件Final Cut Pro X

7月

　　20日，新的Mac Book Air、Thunderbolt Display、Mac mini

　　21日，OS X Lion下載在發佈後24小時後下載量突破百萬大關

10月

　　4日，iPhone 4S與苦等的果粉見面、Siri

　　6日，蘋果公佈喬布斯逝世的消息

　　23日，iPod 10週歲生日

　　17日，iPhone 4S銷量為400萬

12月

　　10日，紐約中央車站蘋果店正式開張

外媒評論：蘋果公司零售業務前景無限

2011-12-27T09:22:00.001-08:00

據國外媒體報道，人們都喜歡對蘋果公司的未來做一番猜測，我也不能免俗。

　　經常有人問我，應該在甚麼時候賣出蘋果的股票──這支股票的價格漲的實在太高了。我的回答很簡單：等到蘋果開始關閉門店，零售業務出現萎縮的時候，就表明風向已經變了。

12月27日消息，據國外媒體報道，人們都喜歡對蘋果公司的未來做一番猜測，我也不能免俗。

　　儘管我們都知道，喬布斯(Steve Jobs)是蘋果背後的推動力量，但我們或許也要考慮一下，這家公司的規模已經太大了，已經無法靠他的人格力量完全掌控了，畢竟今時不同以往。

　　儘管喬布斯否決了很多可疑的觀點，但現在我們知道，他自己的觀點也曾多次被否決過。蘋果公司每次推出新方案（比如在零售方面做出的努力）的時候，參與其中的有專業技術背景的咨詢人員的數量足以讓人瞠目結舌。

　　至於證據嘛，加州帕羅奧多(Palo Alto)的下一代蘋果門店開張的時候我們就能看到了。

　　2001年，蘋果有了第一家門店；10年後，門店的數量已經達到了368家，而且還會繼續增加。事實證明，這些門店都是搖錢樹──儘管人們普遍認為，在線銷售比門店銷售更受歡迎。

　　像蘋果這樣用零售店面來推廣某一單一品牌，有兩個至關重要的有利因素。汽車經銷商也學會了這一招。

　　首先，客戶能夠親身體驗相關產品，親手把玩。其次，銷售話術完全由你控制。

　　CompUSA的零售店面曾風行一時，各種品牌紛紛為貨架面積和消費者心理佔有率展開競爭，但我從未對這種零售模式動過心。一般來說，在甚麼品牌都有的綜合性店面里，銷售人員往往會受到"賄賂"（也就是現金回扣）的影響。

　　換句話說，與賣掉甲產品相比，用巧妙的言辭把乙產品推銷出去可能獲得更多傭金，因為乙產品的公司會因為你賣掉了他們的產品而給你奬勵。這種腐敗行為在單一品牌店面就不會發生。

　　那麼，蘋果的零售業務還能增加多少呢？

　　從市場飽和度的角度，我們來看一看其他商家的相關數字。比如，美國最大的零售商梅西百貨有超過800家的店面。麥當勞在全球範圍內有超過家31000餐廳──雖然麥當勞的可比性不是很強。

　　我看不出有任何原因說蘋果的門店不能達到1,000家，不能每一家都取得成功。辦公用品連鎖公司史泰博的店面已經超過了2000家。

　　看起來，蘋果在零售方面是個行家裡手，沒有理由懷疑它會說不定哪天買下一家史泰博一樣的公司，然後在這個行業里擴張。為甚麼不呢？

　　不管怎麼說，蘋果在銀行裡有逾750億美元的存款，而史泰博的估值也就在100億美元左右。其他一些零售連鎖企業的估值我們也可以算一算。機會到處都是。

　　如此看來，對蘋果公司而言，簡直可以說是海闊天空。反正我自己近期內是不會看空蘋果的。

　　至於證據嘛，加州帕羅奧多(Palo Alto)的下一代蘋果門店開張的時候我們就能看到了。

　　像蘋果這樣用零售店面來推廣某一單一品牌，有兩個至關重要的有利因素。汽車經銷商也學會了這一招。

　　首先，客戶能夠親身體驗相關產品，親手把玩。其次，銷售話術完全由你控制。

　　那麼，蘋果的零售業務還能增加多少呢？

　　我看不出有任何原因說蘋果的門店不能達到1,000家，不能每一家都取得成功。辦公用品連鎖公司史泰博的店面已經超過了2000家。

　　看起來，蘋果在零售方面是個行家裡手，沒有理由懷疑它會說不定哪天買下一家史泰博一樣的公司，然後在這個行業里擴張。為甚麼不呢？

　　如此看來，對蘋果公司而言，簡直可以說是海闊天空。反正我自己近期內是不會看空蘋果的。

Android無法主導平板市場十大理由:遭兩面夾擊

2011-12-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

導語：美國IT網站PCWorld上周撰文指出，儘管蘋果iPad問世還不到兩年時間，但它已成為教育領域一項顛覆性技術。在iPad和其他智能設備的輪番衝擊下，傳統教科書的統治地位恐怕會走向終結。

　　以下為文章全文：

　　技術變革

　　一場技術變革正在上演。PC原本希望徹底轉變課堂的認知方式，但目前這一夢想正由iPad逐步實現。在美國，無論是小學還是高校，學生和老師都在通過iPad幫助完成課堂任務，或是取代傳統教科書的作用。iPad對那些具有特殊需要的學生尤其有幫助。這款平板電腦簡化的觸摸界面和可用性幫助這些學生更為獨立的學習，而相關附件也使得iPad更適用於教學活動。

　　今年三月，美國科技記者戴維•沃辛頓(David Worthington)曾撰文談到他母親通過iPad學習基本的電腦操作(如查收電子郵件、上網瀏覽信息等)的故事，而在購買iPad以前，她甚至從未接觸過PC。各年齡段的美國學生都發現，iPad的確操作簡便，簡單易用。新澤西米爾斯頓小學三年級學生詹妮弗•科恩(Jennifer Kohn)僅經過簡單培訓，都能熟練操作iPad。

　　科恩說，大多數學生的情況都同他差不多，不需要特別培訓就知道如何使用他們的應用。科恩之所以將iPad視為珍寶，是因為它可以大大豐富、擴展學生們在課堂上學到的知識。她所在班級的學生都通過iPad與老師互動，積極開動腦筋樹立創造性寫作思維，同時用來掌握數學知識。

　　寓教於樂

　　Math Bingo便是一款以遊戲方式教小孩學習數學的應用，它目前是最暢銷的教育類iPad應用之一。科恩說，在iPad上市以前，他們都將上網本作為輔助性學習工具，但這種PC用起來很不方便，而且隨時間推移速度會越來越慢。她說：「iPad一鍵式界面給我們帶來了很大便利，比大多數設備都好用。」

　　沃爾特•艾薩克森(Walter Isaacson)在他主筆的《喬布斯傳》中就曾描述過諸如米爾斯頓小學這樣的經歷：一個目不識丁的孩子儘管以前從未接觸過PC或其他「智能」設備，但卻可以憑借本能熟練操作一位蘋果高層的iPad。

　　美國大學生也紛紛借助iPad來完成一項他們天生就十分擅長的工作：如何省錢。紐約大學職員瑪麗安•佩蒂特(Marianne Petit)最近開始用iPad替代教科書。佩蒂特說：「僅僅一個學期，我們用來買教科書的錢就足夠買下一台iPad。iPad應用的費用也低得多。對於那些通過BitTorent獲取盜版圖書的學生而言，iPad則是一個合法的途徑。」

　　艾薩克森在《喬布斯傳》中披露，史蒂夫•喬布斯(Steve Jobs)在病逝前夕仍在積極研究教科書市場。佩蒂特說，在臨床環境下，學生們對iPad的興趣尤其濃厚。除了業務學習，佩蒂特還是紐約大學帝許藝術學院交互式通信計劃(Interactive Telecommunications Project)的一位老師。帝許藝術學院組建了一個社區聯盟來開發輔助性技術，而學院學生還開發醫療保健方面的應用。

輔助性應用

　　佩蒂特說：「就在幾年前，一款沒有觸覺界面的設備還讓許多存在視覺障礙的人感到驚訝不已，但現在他們卻非常善於開發界面。」教師培訓中心GMPDC主任詹妮弗•洛頓(Jennifer Lowton)說，由於iPad簡單易用，這讓那些具有特殊需要的學生們受益匪淺。她說：「對於iPad而言，運動技能並不是必不可少的。三歲大的孩子就會用iPad，而且天生就知道如何用手指從左向右滑動操作。」

　　洛頓對蘋果在這個領域的投入十分讚賞，因為它給那些運動技能少的學生提供了諸多便利。蘋果最近發佈了一款Assistive Touch軟件，用於幫助那些具有痙攣問題和肌能障礙的人。據洛頓介紹，其他非語言界面因素(如添加至照片中的+符號)讓學生可以更容易獨立工作。她說：「它給學生們灌輸了一種信心。對孩子來說，PC操作起來更難。」

　　洛頓指出，儘管PC偶爾也會對學生有幫助，但他們常常對結果並不滿意，因為處理鼠標、雙擊和操作更大的鍵盤，都需要高度的運動技能。鑒於這些問題，特教學生和那些具有運動問題的學生，他們對PC的興趣並不大，「但iPad克服了他們遭遇的許多問題。」

　　洛頓表示，在實踐中，具有溝通問題(如發音困難)的學生可以使用插入相關短語幫助其評論的iPad應用。洛頓帶的幾個班就使用Evernote應用拍攝筆記的照片，然後將照片上傳至雲端，這樣永遠都不會丟失。那些英語是第二語言的學生可以借助相關應用，翻譯解剖學和其他學科專業詞彙。

　　非靈丹妙藥

　　科恩稱，同iPad問世以前的PC時代一樣，這款平板電腦並不是教育工作者解決一切問題的「靈丹妙藥」：它必須具有合適的時間和地點。科恩說：「我不在每節課都會用到iPad，也不是每天都使用。它並不是總適合我學習的課程或主題，必須要有最合適我們使用的應用，而不僅僅把它當作一種工具。」

　　佩蒂特說，蘋果應用商店App Store政策可能也妨礙了教育應用的開發：「帝許藝術學院的學生們就在蘋果開放性政策方面遇到了許多困難。」另外，孩子們在iPad操作時可能也會遇到一些問題。iPad標準保護套並不太適合三年級學生：一旦iPad從桌子上掉下來時，蘋果Smart Cover保護套就不能提供足夠的保護，同時顯示屏也無法調至足夠的高度，供合適的桌面使用。

　　米爾斯頓小學目前正使用一款名為iPhome的iPad附件，這是一種多邊泡沫材質保護套，可以自動調節位置，堆疊起來放在教室中保存。科恩解釋說：「它與桌面並不平行，所以我們更容易看到和使用。」

　　洛頓建議特殊學習者使用iPhome，因為iPad在多個方面實現了自動化操作，限制了學生動手能力。她說：「學生們只要緊緊握住iPhome，就能提著iPad走了。iPad非常光滑，Smart Cover保護套又不是專為學生們量身打造。」

　　面臨諸多挑戰

　　iPad恐怕還會對學校IT管理員構成挑戰，他們難以將iPad融入學校的現有技術設備，對於部分按照PC標準進行建設的學校而言，iPad普及將最為困難。文件共享、同步、打印是最主要的問題，畢竟，並非所有學校都部署了WiFi無線網絡。

　　洛頓說：「我們必須尋找頗具創造性的工作區域。」這些工作區將具有Dropbox、Evernote和Google Docs等雲計算服務。有些學校已使用藍牙適配器取代WiFi來分享文件。iOS 5和iCloud的同步功能都得到改善，但當學生利用iMovie視頻等大容量文件在線講故事時，這些功能就失去了用武之地。教師們在部署應用時可能也會不太順利。洛頓指出，儘管網絡管理員在管理、支持和跟蹤iPad方面或許會遇到許多困難，「但對老師而言，問題相對小一些。」

　　分析人士表示，老師們正在推高iPad的市場需求。洛頓本月將在一個iPad「訓練營」上作報告，這個訓練營的名額已經預訂一空：「學校正紛紛轉向電子書——紙質教科書已經過時，而且學生的負擔會更重。現在他們希望將教科書內容全部下載到設備中。在部分學校，Kindle和iPad在學生中的比例為一比一。」

　　iPad上市還不到兩年時間，但已成為教育領域的一項顛覆性技術。雖然有關數字化的討論已持續數年時間，但PC從不是紙質媒介的合適替代工具。iPad和其他智能設備的性能只會越來越突出，傳統教科書的長期統治恐怕最終會走向結束。

來自：新浪科技

Did Apple redefine photography with the iPhone?

2011-12-12T07:55:00.001-08:00

Nancy Messieh wrote for TNW:

One of the interesting facts we learned from the Steve Jobs biography is that he planned to revolutionize photography, and he may well have achieved that. Walter Isaacson wrote about Jobs, saying, “He had three things that he wanted to reinvent: the television, textbooks and photography. He really wanted to take these on.”

While diehard photographers will question just how much you can get done with an iPhone, there is no denying that the camera has steadily developed over time and, if you subscribe to the notion that the best camera is the one you have with you, the iPhone may well be the best camera in countless pockets around the world.

free "Yellow Submarine" interactive e-book

2011-12-09T21:54:00.001-08:00

Apple is showcasing a new free "Yellow Submarine" interactive e-book
on the iBookstore.

Sent from my iPhone

Computer History Museum launches online Steve Jobs exhibit

2011-12-06T12:52:00.001-08:00

The Computer History Museum launched an online exhibit about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on Monday.

Website: http://www.computerhistory.org/highlights/stevejobs/

盤點2011年度五大失敗科技產品

2011-12-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

惠普TouchPad

　　該款產品不但未能如願成為ipad殺手，而且還成為了惠普流年失利的一個像徵，惠普在嘈雜混亂的時代做出錯誤的令人懷疑的決定，並且管理層還出現了一些大變動。

　　惠普在8月份做出了一個令人震驚的決定----不再生產TouchPad。這款搭載webos系統的，萬眾期待，媒體大肆宣傳的平板電腦在上市不到兩個月之後，被判死刑。TouchPad曾經銷量良好是因為它在大幅度降價。

微軟Zune播放器

　　Zune於2006年上市，微軟曾高調宣稱該產品將成為ipod殺手。雖然Zune播放器得到了些許好評，但是仍然很難趕上ipod主導的市場份額。

　　曾有段時間，外界有關Zune消亡的謠傳不斷，儘管當時微軟一直否認，但是終於還是在十月份宣布終止生產Zune硬件，但微軟表示還會繼續為Windows Phone設備提供Zune軟件服務平台。Zune播放器的消亡證明了在市場上遲到五年是不可能獲得成功的，即使是強大如微軟，也會遭到失敗。

谷歌wave

　　它只是今年谷歌撤銷的多款產品之一。除了搜索業務之外，谷歌試圖擴展其他業務，但是均告失敗，wave的死亡便是谷歌慘痛經歷的象徵。wave是一款創新革命產品，是一個實時交流平台，被認為是即時消息，郵件與社交媒體的混合體。

　　wave的問題在於它提供的東西太多了，以致用戶不能確切地知道用wave來做什麼，谷歌也未能成功地向人們介紹它的價值，此外，谷歌也沒能成功的將wave結合到其他產品（如穀歌應用）形成一個有結合力的生態圈，所以，wave也停止了壽命。谷歌於上月宣布已停止發展wave，其產品代碼將提交至阿帕奇軟件基金會。

谷歌buzz

　　這也是一款短命的產品，谷歌笨拙的推出了這一款缺乏隱私設置的社交服務從一開始就處於不利地位。發布不到兩週，谷歌就因涉嫌侵犯隱私遭到起訴，並且美國聯邦貿易委員會也就隱私問題抱怨谷歌。最終，谷歌放棄buzz，將注意力放在google+上，這是谷歌在社交網絡服務上的最新嘗試。

思科flip

　　2009年，當思科宣布將以6億美元收購便攜式數碼攝像機製造商pure digital 的時候，包括CNR在內的眾多媒體發出疑問：為什麼思科會收購flip？

　　當時，思科野心勃勃的想要開拓如電視機頂盒以及其他消費者關注領域的市場。思科希望flip這一個數碼攝像機市場領頭羊可以幫助思科的業務提升一個高度。　　這個願望不僅未能實現，反而適得其反。思科的業務擴展範圍太廣，以致沒有著重點。思科CEO John Chambers不得不痛下決心採取重組，裁員的方式來提高盈利。在重組中，filp成了首當其衝的砲灰。思科決定關閉flip的生產線。

來自：威鋒網

2012 蘋果為何會成為世界第一大PC商？

2011-12-06T12:42:00.001-08:00

此前市場研究機構Canalys預測：計入iPad蘋果世界第一大PC商的位置指日可待，另外惠普CEO也表示蘋果將在2012年超過惠普成為世界第一大PC商。就此，美國科技界知名分析師Tim Bajarin撰文指出為何蘋果將會在2012年成為世界第一。

市場研究機構Canalys曾經大膽預測：到2012年底，計入iPad蘋果會成為世界第一大PC商。

雖然這是來自一個相對權威的市場研究機構的報告，但是上周惠普CEO Meg Whitman在接受法國媒體報導，被問及關於Canalys的報導的看法時，她表示自己也相信蘋果將會取代惠普成為世界第一大PC商，但是她還補充惠普將在2013年回歸榜首的位置。

過去10年蘋果已經成為所有OEM最大的噩夢：在便攜音樂播放器市場蘋果成為了第一，隨後成為手機市場的第一，後來iPad出現他們很快又佔領了平板市場。現在OEM不得不接受蘋果即將成為世界第一大PC商的事實，而且蘋果的另外一些作為也讓OEM十分困擾：蘋果的所有產品往往佔據了25%以上的利潤，而他們僅有5%-8 %的利潤。

但是Whitman表示惠普在2013年將再次赶超蘋果的說法實在費解。一則可能她希望到2013年，惠普的ultrabook在市場上會大熱，再次佔領筆記本電腦市場。另外可能惠普還指望他們的Windows 8平板在2013年會成為暢銷產品，他們能給商界和消費者帶來他們想要的品牌Windows 8平板。我認為這個目標很明確但是很難實現。

要記住，蘋果的原則：要比其他競爭提前發展至少2年的時間。這意味著蘋果不是靜止不前的。雖然我們不知iPad 3會帶來怎樣的驚喜，但是我確信直到2013年它都會讓蘋果保持他們的領先優勢。等到2013年第一代Windows 8平板進入市場的時候，蘋果可能要推出iPad 4 (或3S)了，而且價格可能比Windows 8平板更低。

我們聽到消息稱微軟對Windows 8平板版本要價高達68美元。如果該消息無誤，Windows 8平板的高成本會促使其售價上升，甚至高於蘋果的低端iPad的售價。另外假設蘋果從2013年開始降低售價，Windows 8相對就會顯得十分昂貴。

而且雖然目前微軟、英特爾以及他們的其他合作商對ultrabook十分看好，但是它的售價對於消費者來說還是太高。好消息是2012年我們有望看到售價低至599美元的ultrabook（不帶SSD）；壞消息就是我們不知道2012年蘋果又會有什麼錦囊妙計來增加MacBook Air系列產品的競爭優勢。即使蘋果從不是依靠價格來競爭的，但是他們也可以通過降低MBA產品的價格來贏得消費者。

未來即使Android平板的市場份額逐漸增加，但是大部分的Android平板商並非PC上。主要的PC上已經逐漸放棄他們的平板業務，從2012年開始他們都將會發展Windows 8平板。他們只能期望Windows 8平板能夠佔據一定的市場份額從而超過蘋果。

從另一個角度看，明年所有PC商將會成為的手下敗將，而且一旦蘋果一旦“登頂成功”，他們會有新的產品推出，保證他們能夠長立於不敗之地。倘若上述內容成為事實，那麼其他PC商可能就要準備好做“千年老二”，這樣的事情應該是他們做夢也想不到的吧。

來自：威鋒網

More blood on Apple iPod's touchscreen: Dell kills Streak 7, backs out of Android tablets in US

2011-12-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

“Dell on Monday confirmed that it had stopped selling the Streak 7,”

“The tablet is no longer available online and is withdrawing just months after Dell axed the Streak 5,”

“Like HP, Dell is believed to be putting most of its faith in Windows 8 tablets for the US market. It won’t have this option until mid-to-late 2012, however, and will essentially concede its share of mobile tablets for a year.”

Read more in the full article from Electronista reports here.

分析師：iPhone自身的優勢讓iOS有更好的發展勢頭

2011-12-05T07:59:00.001-08:00

蘋果iPhone以及所有蘋果的硬件軟件策略/控制等讓蘋果在用戶體驗和控制產品質量方面佔盡先機，這就是為什麼大部分iOS用戶能夠同時對他們手中的設備進行更新。

　　相對於Android複雜的硬件規格不一問題，iOS設備則顯得更統一，iOS軟件開發者也能從中受益。iOS的設備採用的是一致的硬件標準，而Android的設備則有不同的屏幕尺寸、處理器、存儲空間等，這些問題對於軟件開發者來說其實很是困擾。

　　人們關心的問題可能不僅僅局限於這兩個平台會如何競爭，他們會關心Android設備廠商之間是如何競爭的。它之所以會引起人們興趣是因為它會促使在一個平台之內的不同廠家進行競爭，但是蘋果就不會遇到這個問題。

　　Android平台內的競爭包括製造商與運營商之間的競爭。運營商不僅僅會因為三星或者是HTC的產品重疊而代理發售他們的設備，他們也會帶來發售不同廠家之間不同的產品，因此才會有不同的設備支持不同的網絡制式。但是iPhone支持的是同一網絡制式。

　　蘋果還有軟件以及應用程序方面的優勢。相信許多用戶都發現Android設備上的某些應用使用起來十分地不堪，更別提用戶體驗，但是iOS平台則有許多高質量的實用的應用程序。也許谷歌能夠在應用程序市場上推出更多高質量的應用。

　　接下來幾年，Android的發展勢頭可能或受到影響。據悉，智能手機和平板的主要OEM原始設備製造商（除了摩托羅拉）都計劃支持Windows 8以及Windows Phone。由於OEM會支持兩種平台，那麼他們相應地會分配資源，這樣Android平台和Windows 8/Windows Phone平台都會得到支持。這樣無疑會明顯放慢Android的發展勢頭，可能還會影響其市場份額。

　　未來今年，Android的市場份額可能會受到一定的影響， iOS仍然是智能手機的領頭羊，而Windows Phone的市場份額則可能會上升到兩位數。
　
來自：威鋒網

分析稱RIM或被迫賠本銷售PlayBook平板電腦

2011-12-05T07:41:00.001-08:00

據國外媒體報道，RIM在黑莓PlayBook平板電腦需求滑坡的情況下仍然不放棄挑戰蘋果iPad，意味著它將被迫賠本銷售PlayBook。RIM的戰略離不開PlayBook。

　　RIM 12月2日表示，該公司本季度將計入4.85億美元費用，減記PlayBook庫存的價值，而且預計無法實現全年利潤目標。PlayBook銷量已經連續兩個季度滑坡，目前相當於iPad的約1%，迫使RIM將PlayBook售價下調300美元——降幅超過原先售價半數，虧本銷售。

　　 Avian證券公司分析師馬特·桑頓(Matt Thornton)表示，RIM需要承擔這筆損失，因為目前PlayBook是其唯一一款運行BBX操作系統的產品。RIM將公司的未來寄托在BBX上。放棄PlayBook標誌著對BBX沒有信心，疏遠開發者，使蘋果iOS和Google的Android移動生態鏈幾乎不會面臨任何競爭。桑頓說，「RIM不能放棄PlayBook。PlayBook是RIM能向開發者展示的唯一一款BBX產品，它還沒有推出運行BBX的智能手機。」

　　減記PlayBook庫存價值是RIM遭遇的最新一個壞消息。黑莓智能手機的市場份額正受到iPhone和Android手機蠶食。蘋果和Google依靠能運行數十萬款應用的手機吸引消費者。

　　RIM表示，刺激PlayBook銷量需要幅度更大的促銷措施。第三季度PlayBook銷量由第二季度的50萬台下滑到15萬台。據桑頓稱，這意味著生產成本為250美元至300美元的PlayBook可能需要進一步降價，「如果將零售價降低到199美元，RIM就會虧損。RIM每銷售一台 PlayBook都會賠錢」。

　　市場研究公司IHS iSuppli的資料顯示，蘋果在最近一個季度銷售了1112萬台iPad，第一個季度亞馬遜Kindle Fire銷量可能達到390萬台。由於銷量過低，惠普8月份放棄了TouchPad平板電腦。

　　RIM聯席CEO邁克·拉扎裡迪斯(Mike Lazaridis)12月2日表示，PlayBook不能放棄，因為平板電腦市場「仍然處於早期階段，『根據部分市場上促銷措施的積極反應，RIM相信這一策略將加快新操作系統的普及』，有助於為明年推出的產品創建應用生態鏈」。

　　Bahl & Gaynor投資顧問公司的馬特·麥克科米克(Matt McCormick)表示，「在推出優秀產品方面，RIM管理層的表現不夠好，這也是其股價縮水的原因所在。我看不到RIM前景近期有改善的跡象。」今年以來，RIM股價跌幅累計達到71%，同期內蘋果股價上漲了21%。

　　RIM聯席CEO吉姆·巴爾西利(Jim Balsillie)3月份向分析師表示，開發PlayBook和新操作系統的成本將「影響近期營收增長」，但是，對於一款具有「驚人市場機遇」的產品而言，這是值得的。

　　發售數周後，PlayBook被批缺乏專用電子郵件軟件。RIM承諾將通過升級包解決這一問題。根據最新計劃，RIM將於明年2月份發佈升級包。RIM表示，首款運行BBX軟件的黑莓智能手機完成開發後才會發佈，不再重申明年第一季度發售的目標。

　　公佈減記PlayBook庫存當天，RIM股價下跌了9.7%，是自上一季度業績沒有達到預期後的最大單日跌幅。目前，RIM股價比18.92美元的賬面價值低11%，表明投資者認為RIM的價值低於其現金、庫存、房地產和知識產權的淨值之和。

　　Stewart Capital共同基金董事長馬爾科姆·波利(Malcolm Polley)說，「黑莓不是一款好產品。市場認為RIM是一家失敗的公司。」

　　令RIM問題雪上加霜的是其黑莓智能手機需求滑坡。RIM 12月2日表示，第四季度該公司設備銷量與第三季度相比將有所下滑。Susquehanna國際集團分析師傑夫·菲達卡羅(Jeff Fidacaro)說，「還不僅僅是Playbook，黑莓智能手機也存在問題。」

　　市場研究公司Canalys的數據顯示，由於消費者紛紛選擇iPhone和Android手機，第三季度RIM在美國的市場份額由去年同期的24%下滑到9.2%。投資公司Rodman Renshaw分析師阿肖克·庫馬(Ashok Kumar)說，「RIM需要有吸引力的產品，其市場份額在流失，它必須扭轉市場份額繼續滑坡的頹勢，才能復甦，否則將走上不歸路。

來自：搜狐IT

New York City school system hits technological wall

2011-12-05T07:35:00.001-08:00

The deputy CTO of New York City's public school system, Tom Kambouras, has warned school principals that the widespread use of mobile devices, from iPod Touches to Android smartphones, by school employees has overrun the IT department's capabilities to the point that as of November 10th, no new devices were being allowed to register on the system-wide Wi-Fi network. The NYC Department of Education's system is run using Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync....

Below: The text of the DOE memo.

Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 6:46 AM

Subject: Important Information about iPad and Android like devices

Dear colleagues,

Over the last several months, we have seen a proliferation of mobile type devices such as the Apple iPad, the iTouch and Android being introduced into the DOE environment. While these devices are changing the way we do our business, it has also presented us with a few IT challenges as well. One of the more significant challenges is the impact that configuring these devices to receive NYCDOE email is having on our Microsoft Exchange environment. Our Exchange system is currently operating near its resource limits and in order to prevent Exchange from exceeding these limits, we need to take action to prevent any more of these devices from being configured to receive email. As of Thursday, November 10th no additional users will be allowed to receive email via NYCDOE's Exchange ActiveSync.

Please note, this notice does not apply or affect Blackberry devices, the Blackberry Playbook or if you have an iPad, iTouch or Android device and it is already configured to receive DOE email via ActiveSync. This change will only apply to new user devices being introduced into the DOE environment. Due to the limitations that we are dealing with there will be no exceptions to this policy. If you acquire a Mobile OS device and want to retrieve your DOE email you will need to do so via your mobile OS browser using OWA (see link below).

https://mail.nycboe.net

We are working on a plan to upgrade our Exchange environment to alleviate this situation and will continue to provide you with updates as more information becomes available to us.

If you do attempt to configure your new device for DOE Exchange ActiveSync, you will be prompted with an "unable to connect error" or "Unable to verify account information" after typing in your username and password. This is due to the fact that ActiveSync is disabled and cannot resolve your credentials.

As always we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Tom Kambouras | Deputy CTO

Department of Education

Source: http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/02/no-more-ipads-for-new-york-city-teachers/

JP Morgan: Apple execs not worried about Kindle Fire

2011-12-05T07:31:00.001-08:00

Says it will draw new customers to better devices

At least so far, reports JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz, Apple is not feeling the heat from the low-cost Amazon Kindle Fire e-reader tablet. In a private meeting with top Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer, Moskowitz and others from the investment firm said the iPad maker expressed strong confidence in its "position of strength" in the tablet market, AppleInsider reports.

Moskowitz also said that iPhone sales were not losing momentum, and that iPhone 4S sales had not yet "plateaued." The iPhone 3GS, now available for free with contract, had hit a price point with some markets that the iPhone previously had not reached, expanding the audience and acting as an introduction to eventual upgrades. Apple's eco-system of iTunes, iOS devices and the App Store tends to keep consumers "locked in" to the system once they begin using it, giving Apple a strong incentive to find ways to make iPhones more affordable.

In his note to investors, Moskowitz gave the impression that his recent raising of December quarter iPhone sales from 25.3 to 28 million units sold was "reasonable" -- but after meeting with Apple executives, he said he thought his recent lowering of iPad estimates "might have been too cautious." The analysts talked with the leadership of Apple in order to get a better view of where the company sees itself in the longer-term.

He reported that the company is not yet "feeling any pressure" from the popularity of the Kindle Fire, considering it a device that is low-priced enough to bring "incremental" new customers into the tablet market but ultimately making them want to upgrade to a more full-featured tablet, like the iPad. Moskowitz also asked the leaders a popular question among analysts and financial market-watchers, namely what Apple planned to do with its enormous reserve of cash. Investor groups and shareholders often express frustration with Apple's reticence to use the money to pay dividends and generally give the money to stakeholders, or at least invest it in higher-yield opportunities.

He said that Cook and Oppenheimer continued to tow the company line, discussing Apple's cash hoard in terms of strategic investments in the supply chain, retail stores and product pipeline, dismissing talk of a stock buyback or dividend payout. Investors, Moskowitz predicted, would forget all about the "use of cash issue" when they saw the December quarter's results, which Apple has already told analysts it expects will take the company to record territory on several fronts. [via AppleInsider]

麵包有幾營?

2011-12-03T19:04:00.001-08:00

Video shows secret software on millions of Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia phones logging everything you do

2011-11-30T20:37:00.001-08:00

The software, Carrier IQ, is installed on most modern Android, BlackBerry and Nokia phones...

"The Android developer who raised the ire of a mobile-phone monitoring company last week is on the attack again, producing a video of how the Carrier IQ software secretly installed on millions of mobile phones reports most everything a user does on a phone," David Kravets reports for Wired.

Watch the video and read the full article here.

AirPrint compatible printers over 100

2011-11-29T07:44:00.001-08:00

As of today, there is over 100 printers on the market supports AirPrint function.

AirPrint is a component of Apple iOS, version 4.2 or later, for printing via WiFi, either directly to any AirPrint compatible printers. AirPrint does not require printer-specific drivers.

Here is a list of printers that support AirPrint:

Canon

Model
Canon MG5310
Canon MG5320
Canon MG5330
Canon MG5340
Canon MG5350
Canon MG5370
Canon MG5380
Canon MG6210
Canon MG6220
Canon MG6230
Canon MG6240
Canon MG6250
Canon MG6270
Canon MG6280
Canon MG8220
Canon MG8230
Canon MG8240
Canon MG8250
Canon MG8270
Canon MG8280

EPSON

Model
EPSON Artisan 730
EPSON Artisan 837
EPSON EP-804A
EPSON EP-804AR
EPSON EP-804AW
EPSON EP-904A
EPSON EP-904F
EPSON ME Office 940FW
EPSON PX-1600F
EPSON PX-1700F
EPSON PX-B700
EPSON PX-B750F
EPSON Stylus NX430
EPSON Stylus NX530
EPSON Stylus NX635
EPSON Stylus Office BX535WD
EPSON Stylus Office BX630FW
EPSON Stylus Office BX635FWD
EPSON Stylus Office BX935FWD
EPSON Stylus Photo PX730WD
EPSON Stylus Photo PX830FWD
EPSON Stylus SX440W
EPSON Stylus SX445W
EPSON Stylus SX535WD
EPSON Stylus TX435W
EPSON Stylus Photo TX730WD
EPSON WorkForce 545
EPSON WorkForce 645
EPSON WorkForce 845
EPSON WP-4011
EPSON WP-4015
EPSON WP-4020
EPSON WP-4025
EPSON WP-4511
EPSON WP-4515
EPSON WP-4521
EPSON WP-4525
EPSON WP-4530
EPSON WP-4531
EPSON WP-4535
EPSON WP-4540
EPSON WP-4545

Hewlett Packard

Model
HP Deskjet 3050A J611
HP Deskjet 3070A
HP Envy 100 e-All-In-One D410
HP Envy 110 e-All-In-One D411a
HP LaserJet P1102w Printer
HP LaserJet P1606dn Printer
HP LaserJet Pro 100 color MFP M175nw
HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fn Color MFP
HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color MFP
HP LaserJet Pro CP1025nw Color Printer
HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer
HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP
HP LaserJet Pro M1213nf MFP
HP LaserJet Pro M1214nf MFP
HP LaserJet Pro M1216nf MFP
HP LaserJet Pro M1217nfw MFP
HP LaserJet Pro M1536dnf MFP
HP Officejet 6500A e-All-In-One E710a
HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-In-One E710n
HP Officejet 7500A Wide Format e-All-In-One E910a
HP Officejet Pro 8500A e-All-In-One A910a
HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus e-All-In-One A910g
HP Officejet Pro 8500A Premium e-All-In-One A910g
HP Officejet Pro 8600A e-All-in-One Printer N911a
HP Officejet Pro 8600A Plus e-All-in-One N911g
HP Officejet Pro 8600A Premium e-All-in-One N911g
HP Photosmart 5510 e-AiO B111a
HP Photosmart 5514 e-AiO B111h
HP Photosmart 6510 e-AiO B211a
HP Photosmart 7510 e-AiO C311a
HP Photosmart e-All-in-One D110a
HP Photosmart eStation C510
HP Photosmart Plus e-All-In-One B210a
HP Photosmart Premium e-All-In-One C310
HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-In-One C410a
HP Photosmart Wireless e-All-In-One B110—Europe and Asia-Pacific
HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275

Lexmark

Model
Lexmark C792
Lexmark X548
Lexmark X792

Source: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356

圖表展示那些已經被蘋果超過的產業和公司

2011-11-29T07:32:00.001-08:00

蘋果公司有多成功？蘋果公司的現金儲備已經超過美國政府，蘋果公司的市值已經達到了3700億美元。但是這些概念都比較虛幻，很難理解。這份最新的圖表展示了那些被蘋果公司超越的產業和計劃，我們一起來看看吧。

　　首先，下面的第一個方框，大方框指的是蘋果3700億的總市值，左下角的小方框是10億美元。

　　第二個方框：美國肉業零售總產值，包括300億豬肉、740億牛肉和450億家禽肉，這些加起來不到蘋果公司市值的一半。

　　第三個方框：2010年10大軟件公司的總營收為2350億美元，仍然落後蘋果1000多億。

　　第四個方框：2010年全球手機營收為1720億美元，比蘋果差2000億。

　　第五個方框：2010年所有企業的聯邦稅款為1980億美元，仍然不及蘋果。

　　第六個方框：阿波羅登月計劃耗資1700億美元，航天飛船計劃耗資1940億美元。這個加起來是最近進蘋果市值的產業了，但是還差那麼幾十億。

　　第七個方框：2010年全球體育市場的營收為1410億美元，美國市場的營收為690億美元。

　　第八個方框：2006年美國藥物市場應收為2890億美元。

　　最後一個方框是蘋果在2004、2006、2009、2010和現在的市值對比。

Beleaguered RIM liquidates BlackBerry PlayBook with employee-only $99 fire sale

2011-11-28T19:06:00.001-08:00

Beleaguered RIM liquidates BlackBerry PlayBook with employee-only $99 fire sale

"Does $199 sound like too much for the BlackBerry Playbook this holiday season? " Joanna Stern asks for The Verge.

"RIM seems to think so, but only for its employees," Stern reports. "According to multiple sources, the 16GB 7-inch tablet is now available to RIM employees through a special corporate portal for $99."

Stern reports, "We have also been told that employees can only order up to eight models."

Read more in the full article here.

喬布斯與蓋茨互評匯總：嘲笑對方但不乏敬意

2011-11-28T13:19:00.001-08:00

美國科技博客BusinessInsider今天撰文，列舉了《史蒂夫·喬布斯傳》中引述的蘋果聯合創始人史蒂夫·喬布斯(Steve Jobs)與微軟聯合創始人比爾·蓋茨(Bill Gates)對彼此的諸多評價。以下為文章全文：

　　從來沒有兩個人的關係像史蒂夫·喬布斯和比爾·蓋茨那樣：作為夥伴兼對手，他們以兩種完全不同的風格建立了PC行業。

　　喬布斯來自加州一個工人家庭，他信仰對所有產品的嚴格控制，並極其看重設計。蓋茨則出生於華盛頓州的一個富裕家庭，他信仰開放產品，而且並不非常關注優秀的設計。

　　在沃爾特·艾薩克森(Walter Isaacson)所著的《史蒂夫·喬布斯傳》中，引述了蘋果早期員工安迪·赫茨菲爾德(Andy Hertzfield)的一段話：「他們都認為自己比對方聰明，但喬布斯之所以認為蓋茨不如，自己主要是在品味和設計方面，而蓋茨看不起喬布斯則是因為他不會編程。」

　　這是他們二者關係的一個很好的寫照，但我們仍然從《史蒂夫·喬布斯傳》中匯總了一些內容，以便更為深入地瞭解他們二人對彼此的看法：

　　蓋茨：喬布斯「太過古怪」，「作為一個人，他有一些古怪的缺陷。」

　　喬布斯評蓋茨：「如果他曾經吸過毒，或者年輕時進行過修行，他應該會是一個更豁達的人。」

　　蓋茨評喬布斯：「他對科技瞭解不多，但他對什麼能夠成功卻有著不可思議的直覺。」

　　喬布斯：「蓋茨基本沒有想像力，他從未發明過任何東西，這也是我認為他更適合做慈善而非科技的原因。」

　　喬布斯評蓋茨：「他不知羞恥地剽竊他人的創意。」喬布斯曾經多次表達過類似的看法。他還曾經說過：「他們完全在剽竊我們，因為蓋茨不要臉。」蓋茨則回應道：「如果他這麼想，他就真的進入了自己的『現實扭曲場』。」

　　當蘋果考慮收購NeXT時，蓋茨曾經把該公司和喬布斯批評得一無是處。蓋茨對時任蘋果CEO的吉爾·阿梅裡奧(Gil Amelio)說：「你真的認為喬布斯有什麼料嗎？我知道他的水平，這只不過是對UNIX炒冷飯而已，你永遠沒法將它用在你們的機器上。你難道不知道，喬布斯根本對科技一無所知嗎？他只是一個超級銷售員。我不敢相信你們竟然做出這麼愚蠢的決定……他對工程一無所知，而且他的所言所思有99%都是錯誤的。你們到底為什麼要買這個垃圾？」

　　蓋茨曾經在內部郵件中說：「喬布斯擁有卓越的能力，他能夠將精力放在屈指可數的幾件事情上，能找到開發用戶界面的正確人選，並且可以將產品以革命性的方式來推廣。」

　　蓋茨還在內部對iPod評價道：「我認為我們需要證明一下，即使喬布斯又一次讓我們措手不及，但我們仍然可以快速做出反應，然後追趕並超越。」

　　蓋茨曾經在D5大會上說：「我願意拿很多東西換取喬布斯的品味。」

　　蓋茨對iPad評價道：「這是一款優秀的閱讀器，但我沒有從上面看到一些能讓我由衷感慨『真希望微軟也能做到』的功能」

　　喬布斯對微軟的終極評價是：沒有品位。「微軟的唯一問題是他們根本沒有品味，完全沒有品位。這個問題非但不小，反而很大。他們並沒有以原創思維來思考，沒有為產品引入太多文化。」他說。

　　蓋茨對蘋果的封閉模式評價道：「當喬布斯執掌帥印時，這種集成的方式效果很好。但這並不意味著今後仍然能夠持續奏效。」

　　喬布斯則對微軟的開放模式評價道：「當然，他的片段模式奏效了，但卻並沒有製造出真正偉大的產品，而是生產了很多沒有價值的東西。」

　　喬布斯對微軟的現狀評價道：「他們已經風光不再，幾乎被邊緣化……我認為，只要鮑爾默掌權，微軟就不會有任何改變。」

　　喬布斯曾經一針見血地評價蓋茨：他是個商人，不是產品經理。喬布斯說：「蓋茨喜歡將自己描繪成一個產品經理，但他並不是。他是個商人。在商業上獲得成功遠比生產偉大的產品重要。他最終成為了全球最富有的人，如果這是他的目標，他做到了。但這從來都不是我的目標，而我也好奇，這是否是他的最終目標。我欽佩他和他創建公司，這令人印象很深刻，我也很喜歡與他合作。他很聰明，而且很有幽默感。」

　　蓋茨對喬布斯評價道：「他的行事方式與眾不同，這很神奇。」

　　在《史蒂夫·喬布斯傳》出版後，蓋茨對喬布斯評價道：「我很尊敬喬布斯，我們曾經一同工作。即使作為競爭對手，我們依然彼此鞭策。他說的話都沒有令我不安。」蓋茨還說，喬布斯之所以感到「被圍攻」，是因為微軟成功出售了比蘋果更便宜的產品，而且「他感覺他是好人，我們是壞蛋」。但蓋茨說，「這完全可以理解」。

新浪科技

福布斯：用戶容忍蘋果產品瑕疵源於品牌忠誠度

2011-11-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

蘋果只是通過系統更新的方式來解決新款iPhone 4S手機電池續航時間過短的問題，該問題已經引起了全球消費者和批評家的不滿。當然，這樣的一個問題不會讓蘋果花上幾周的時間才得以承認，它也不會成為最新iOS 5系統諸多問題中影響最大的一個，因為這些問題都已經被蘋果解決。

　　那麼這會不會損害蘋果的聲譽？有更多的人開始牴觸蘋果？放棄蘋果產品轉投其他廠商？蘋果的公關團隊會不會因此恐慌？這些似乎都不會發生。

　　每當蘋果產品出現問題時，其用戶都會表現出讓人難以置信的寬容和耐心。因為他們知道蘋果產品有時也會存在問題，儘管這樣，但他們會繼續購買。

　　用戶忠誠度

　　那麼用戶為何如此忠誠於蘋果呢？

　　這主要得益於蘋果的靈魂人物喬布斯。蘋果就是喬布斯，喬布斯就是蘋果。消費者感覺到他們與蘋果存在一種個人聯繫，實質上這會讓他們想起喬布斯。

　　當你想到喬布斯對蘋果產品傾注了多少難以想像的熱情，確保產品的高品質和尖端設計時，你就會明白人們為何願意對蘋果產品如此寬容。

　　當與消費者建立了情感上的聯繫後，蘋果就幾乎實現了想要完成的目標--獲得了一批忠誠粉絲。品牌忠誠度在蘋果的全球成功中發揮了重要作用，這一點毫無疑問。

　　如何建立品牌忠誠度

　　所以即便是企業有時會犯一些錯誤，但用戶會給予原諒。那麼怎樣才能創建像蘋果這樣的品牌忠誠度呢。

　　首先，企業必須與消費者建立聯繫。這就意味著你要值得他們的信任並保持透明度，你可以圍繞著互聯網和社交媒體來建立著這種聯繫，你可開設企業博客，或者直接通過Twitter與用戶進行探討，也可以借助Facebook來展示公司內部文化。

　　其次，企業必須進行品牌營銷。這是建立品牌忠誠度的關鍵，你不必告訴消費者企業所製造的產品，而是要他們思考企業信念，這種信念必須與企業所針對的市場密切關聯。

　　喬布斯就將品牌營銷做到了極致，他告訴世界其信念就是創新、打造高品質產品，並一直努力將最好的技術帶入市場。事實上，蘋果的使命聲明並不真正談及他們的產品，而是他們的信念。

　　蘋果在其使命聲明中稱：「蘋果通過Apple II觸發了上世紀70年代的PC革命，通過Mac機徹底變革了上世紀80年代的PC市場。蘋果致力於通過創新性軟硬件和互聯網技術將最好的個人運算體驗帶給學生、教育家和富有創造力的專業人士和全球消費者。」

　　這樣鼓舞人心的使命聲明讓人記憶深刻，如果你是家汽車銷售商，你不要使用簡單的營銷口號「我們銷售汽車」，而是要挖掘與消費者情感關聯的內部文化。

　　與核心業務關聯

　　但是不管怎樣選擇，企業信念必須源於其核心業務。如果一家企業每年浪費大量紙張，那麼即便你的營銷口號是拯救環境，也不會起到任何作用。

　　蘋果取得的全球性成功是因為其使命聲明與所有運營業務產生共鳴，品牌忠誠度滲透到了公司的裡裡外外。企業不能愚弄消費者，因為忠誠度不會如此簡單的建立起來。

　　購買蘋果產品的人知道，蘋果在該產品中傾注了多少激情和心血。他們知道蘋果致力於設計最好的系統和產品，他們還將喬布斯與蘋果聯繫到一起，認為自己與蘋果存在一種情感上的聯繫。這也是為什麼消費者能夠如此寬容蘋果產品所出現問題的原因。

　　品牌忠誠度不僅能讓消費者寬容企業產品有時出現的問題，還可以保留住用戶，即便是其他對手採取低價策略。企業因此維持較高營收和市場份額，品牌忠誠度是任何企業的優先選擇。

　　企業如果要想建立品牌忠誠度，就必須清楚如何與用戶建立個人情感聯繫，並對品牌信念進行營銷。這些完成後，其他的就會隨著而來。

新浪科技

Using Apple’s Find My Mac Feature

2011-11-25T20:46:00.001-08:00

"The disappearance of a device is far and away the most serious digital security and privacy risk that owners of Apple laptops and mobile devices face,"

"For quite some time, Apple has given iPhone, iTouch and iPad owners a way to mitigate this risk by offering them a free app that can locate a lost or stolen device and, if it can't be retrieved, wipe it of its contents remotely,"
"Now, with the introduction of its iCloud service, Apple has brought this capability to its computers with a feature called Find My Mac."

Riva Richmond reports for The New York Times, read the full article here.

微軟又開玩笑了：TellMe vs Siri 對比視頻

2011-11-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

此前我們曾經報道微軟首席策略和調查官Craig Mundie在接受《福布斯》記者的採訪時對iPhone 4S的Siri不以為然，還宣稱微軟早在一年前就有了這個功能。

他認為蘋果之所以把這麼多精力放在Siri上是因為iPhone 4S沒有其他能夠吸引人的眼球的新功能了。

他極力讚揚微軟的語音識別和指令技術，稱TellMe早在一年前就已經在Windows Phone上提供類似的功能了。但是人們的卻被Siri迷得七葷八素。

但是事實又是怎樣的呢？日前國外媒體放出了一段微軟TellMe和Siri的對比視頻，我們不妨來看看就知道了。

50 free apps to be most thankful for

2011-11-24T12:56:00.001-08:00

Melanie Pinola reports for LifeHacker, “As we prepare to give thanks for our delicious Thanksgiving meals (and impending food comas), let’s not forget to pay our yearly tribute to the wonderful developers who bring us our favorite free apps,”

The 50 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

Dropbox

Google Chrome

Firefox

Evernote

Notepad++

Skype

VLC (Video Lan Client)

Gmail

7-zip

TeamViewer

uTorrent

Spotify

Google Maps

Google Reader

Google Voice

HandBrake

CCleaner

GIMP

Wordpress

FileZilla

ImgBurn

VirtualBox

KeePass

Launchy

Mint.com

Paint.NET

Rainmeter

Revo Uninstaller

Simplenote

Winamp

XBMC

CyanogenMod

Eclipse

Google Calendar

Inkscape

LastPass

Linux

Open Office

Opera

Picasa

PuTTY

SoundHound

Thunderbird

Twitter

Wunderlist

TrueCrypt

AutoHotkey

Instapaper

Quicksilver

Pidgin

See the full article here

Belkin Chef Stand and Stylus for iPad

2011-11-24T07:15:00.001-08:00

Designed with Home Chefs in Mind
Made especially for use in the kitchen, the Chef Stand + Stylus gives you the freedom to interact with your tablet while you cook - without worrying about touching your device with messy hands. The case-compatible stand has a non-slip rubber base and two different angles that are ideal for countertop use.

Like Magic
The wand allows you to follow recipes and browse the Internet without ever laying a finger on your screen. It comes with its own storage stand and is easy to grab while you're busy handling food and other kitchen equipment. The magnetic tip works with any touchscreen, and can be used to wake up an iPad 2.

All components can be washed by hand using warm, soapy water. The stand and stylus are available at the link below for $39.99.

FW: TED Mobile

2011-11-23T07:55:00.001-08:00

Check out this application on the App Store:

TED Mobile是將舉世聞名的TED演講給搬到iPhone平台的中介者。自2006年
TED演講的影片被上傳到網路上開始，至今已在官網上的影片已經超越七百
支，且都是來自各界菁英的優秀思想，就如同TED的口號所說，充滿了Ideas
worth spreading，相信一進入TED的殿堂，你的思想一定會長出翅膀，自在
飛翔！

你尋遍App海許久都撈不到想撈的肥美大魚嗎？如果你是個求知若渴的人，
那麼TED Mobile是你不可或卻的知識數位書僮，它將TED大會中各領域的優質
演講一次呈現給你，讓你在短短18分鐘內，得到最濃縮的精華。無論你何時
想獲得知識只要打開你的iPhone，就能跟得上最具洞見的思想！所以…還在
等什麼呢？

在介紹TED Mobile之前，不得不提一下TED。這三個字是Technology、Enter
tainment、Design的縮寫，也就是科技、娛樂、設計。不過隨著時間的推移，
TED的內容也越來越豐富，除了以上的領域之外，教育、文化、藝術等範疇也
是TED所關心的。並透過著名的TED大會傳達優秀思想，他們相信透過這樣的
方法，可以改變人們對這個世界的看法，進而使人們反思自己的行為。你說，
是不是感覺超熱血的呢！

如果你目前還沒有擁有智慧型手機的話，也不要灰心。因為這些資源都在網路上面，只要打開瀏覽器，連上http://www.ted.com，也一樣可以一起來聆聽這些值得流傳的思想唷！心動嗎？那還不趕快花個18分鐘，聽一場撼動你心的演講呢？

TED Mobile

.willflow limited

Category: Education

Updated: Oct 18, 2011

301 Ratings

iTunes for Mac and Windows

Sent from my iPhone

Apple's 2011 Black Friday Discounts for iPad 2, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and More

2011-11-23T07:22:00.001-08:00

9to5Mac reveals the prices for Apple's 2011 Black Friday sales. The discounts are in-line with last year's prices with only modest discounts on their products. Price drops for their core products are as follows:

iPad 2 - $41 to $61 Off
iPod nano - $11 off
iPod Touch - $21 to $41 off
MacBook Air - $101 off
MacBook Pro - $101 off
iMac - $101 off

Meanwhile, 3rd party accessories are also seeing some small discounts ranging from $11-$101.95 in savings for accessories such as iPad Smart Covers, iPhone battery packs and external hard drives.

These prices should be available for both online and local retail Apple store locations. For those who were planning to purchase from Apple retail anyway, it makes sense to wait until Friday. For those looking for more savings, other online retailers frequently their own Black Friday sales on Apple products as well. Depending on your location, those other online retailers may provide the added advantage of not charge sales tax on online orders. Apple's online store does charge local sales tax on all orders due to its local presence in every state.

Source: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/23/apples-2011-black-friday-discounts-for-ipad-2-macbook-air-macbook-pro-imac-and-more/

Apple posts teaser for its own Black Friday sale

2011-11-22T08:11:00.001-08:00

Apple is again planning to hold a Black Friday sale on Nov. 25th as it has in recent years, where buyers can "discover amazing iPad, iPod and Mac gifts for everyone on your list." The promo, which has begun to appear on international online stores, indicates that despite Black Friday being tied to the US holiday of Thanksgiving, Apple is again making the sale a worldwide event. The company's iOS devices were found to be the most-wanted gifts with kids and teens this year....

Full article here.

Best prepaid SIM card for Hong Kong

2011-11-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Australian Business Traveler reader Rick Ramsey has contributed this fantastic write-up, explaining a cheap and easy-to-buy prepaid SIM card to save money on roaming costs while in Hong Kong.

The full article here.

Apple Black Friday 2011 Deals Predictions

2011-11-21T11:39:00.001-08:00

Despite low discounts the Apple Black Friday Sales event is always a big draw each year. Apple's strategy of keeping a tight leash on pricing makes 10% discounts a huge deal. On top of that most Apple products are ideal Christmas gifts. This year the iPad 2, iPhone 4S, new iPod touch, new iPod nano and MacBook Air will be the most gifted Apple products. The Apple Black Friday sale on the actual Black Friday (November 25) is at best the last resort to score an Apple deal. On most Apple gadgets you find a better Black Friday deal at other retailers during November.

Let's revisit the Apple Black Friday 2010 sale. Last year Apple offered a $41 discount on the iPad line, a $101 discount on the $1,299 MacBook Air, $21 off on the iPod touch and $11 off on the iPod nano. The only good deals have been the iPad and the MacBook Air deals. iPod deals and also MacBook deals have been better from other retailers (best Apple Black Friday Deals 2010). These deals often came via a free bundled gift card.

Full article here.

iPhone - AppleCare+

2011-11-18T12:55:00.001-08:00

Apple has updated its page for AppleCare+ to indicate that you only have 30 days after buying your iPhone to purchase the extended warranty.

Every iPhone comes with one year of hardware repair coverage and 90 days of telephone technical support. AppleCare+ for iPhone extends repair coverage and technical support to two years from the original purchase date of your iPhone and adds coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage due to handling, each subject to a $49 service fee.

How to get AppleCare+

● Add it to your shopping cart during the checkout process when you purchase your new iPhone.

● Buy it within 30 days of your iPhone purchase:

- At Apple Retail (requires a Genius Bar appointment, inspection of the iPhone & proof of purchase).

& nbsp; - Or call 1-800-275-2273 (requires proof of purchase).

BlackBerry PlayBook's $199 fire sale goes live in Canada

2011-11-18T07:51:00.001-08:00

Leaks of a $300 price cut on the BlackBerry PlayBook came true Friday after Canadian retailers started discounting the tablet. Best Buy, its sister chain Future Shop, and Staples all dropped prices on every capacity. The prices drop to as little as $199 for a 16GB version and peak at $399 for the 64GB model....

Source: http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/11/18/playbook.publicly.gets.300.dollar.price.cut/

Instapaper creator reviews Amazon's tiny screen Kindle Fire: Bad game player, bad app platform, bad web browser, bad video player and bad Kindle

2011-11-18T07:45:00.001-08:00

Marco Arment, creator of Instapaper, reported that in practice, it’s none of these:

I expected the Kindle Fire to be good for books, great for magazines and newspapers, great for video, and good for apps and games,”

I expected the Kindle Fire to be a compelling iPad alternative, but I can’t call it delightful, fun, or pleasant to use. Quite the opposite, actually: using the Fire is frustrating and unpleasant, and it feels like work,”

“It’s not an iPad competitor or alternative. It’s not the same kind of device at all. And, whatever it is, it’s a bad version of it.

“Almost the entire interface is sluggish, jerky, and unresponsive. Many touch targets throughout the interface are too small, and I miss a lot. It’s often hard to distinguish a miss from interface lag… It’s a bad game player, a bad app platform, a bad web browser, a bad video player, and, most disappointingly, a bad Kindle. If I didn’t need the Fire for Instapaper testing, I’d return it.

Much more detail in the full review here.

BlackBerry Playbook gets massive, temporary $300 price cut in Canada

2011-11-17T20:18:00.001-08:00

BlackBerry Playbook gets massive, temporary $300 price cut in Canada

17 November, 2011 9:47 AM
by Terrence O'Brien

So, PlayBooks haven't exactly been flying off the shelves... anywhere. Not even in RIM's native Canada. But that might actually change over the nex few days as BestBuy, Walmart, Staples and Future Shop have chopped $300 off the price of the QNX-based slate. The sale lasts from November 16th to the 22nd in Quebec, and the 18th to the 24th in the rest of Canada. Now, they're probably not going to eclipse the iPad in sales anytime soon, but a $200 16GB PlayBook is a much more compelling proposition than a $500 one. The WiFi only 32GB and 64GB models are also being discounted to $300 and $400 respectively which, in case you're not mathematically inclined, means the 64GB BlackBerry tablet will actually cost less than the 16GB version normally does. Obviously, though, you'll have to be quick -- we're sure this fire sale (tundra sale?) will have stocks running pretty low.

Setting up and troubleshooting AirPlay Mirroring

2011-11-17T07:38:00.001-08:00

Learn how to set up AirPlay Mirroring, and how to troubleshoot AirPlay Mirroring issues that may occur between your iPhone, iPad and Apple TV (2nd generation).

Read the article from http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4085

傳PC廠商明年將開始逐步退出平板電腦市場

2011-11-17T07:31:00.000-08:00

據國外媒體報道，中國台灣地區科技新聞網站DigiTimes援引「上游供應鏈消息人士」的話報道稱，宏基、華碩、戴爾、惠普等PC廠商明年開始將「逐步退出平板電腦市場」，平板電腦市場將成為既銷售硬件也銷售內容的蘋果、亞馬遜等公司的天下。

　　上述消息人士承認，沒有內容，只銷售硬件的公司沒有在平板電腦市場做大的希望，因此它們只有決定退出。

　　惠普已經關停WebOS平板電腦——TouchPad業務。有傳言稱，宏基高管曾表示消費者將很快冷落平板電腦，重新購買筆記本。

　　但是，由於Windows 8即將發佈，目前不大可能有大批廠商退出平板電腦市場。部分廠商將於明年發售配置英偉達Tegra 3處理器的平板電腦。

　　上述消息人士認為，亞馬遜和美國圖書零售商Barnes & Noble最終將向用戶免費贈送平板電腦，通過銷售內容彌補硬件成本。據悉，Kindle Fire和Nook的價格都在盈虧點上下。如果用戶向平板電腦廠商購買更多的電影、電視節目、電子圖書和音樂，平板電腦的價格還會進一步下跌。

來自：搜狐IT

Android malware up 472% since July, unlikely to slow down

2011-11-17T07:25:00.001-08:00

A new Juniper Global Threat Center study has pointed to Android malware possibly becoming a serious issue in just the past four months. The incidence in viruses, trojans, and other strains has jumped 472 percent since July, most of which has appeared in just the past two months. About 55 percent were spyware apps scraping and sending information in the background, while 44 percent were SMS trojans that send messages to premium numbers that put the bill on the caller....

Source: http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/11/16/android.malware.becoming.significant.issue/

iOS 5.0.2 Coming Soon to Address Battery Issues? iOS 5.1 to Bring New Siri Integration?

2011-11-16T20:47:00.001-08:00

by Eric Slivka

German site Macerkopf reports [Google translation] that Apple is working on two separate software updates for iOS 5, looking at both near-term battery fixes and longer-term improvements to Siri. Macerkopf tells us:

iOS 5.0.2 coming very soon, solving the battery bugs. Should arrive before the end of next week. Apple is working hard on the update. In addition Apple ist working on the first big iOS 5 Update (iOS 5.1), bringing some siri-extensions. Also the Siri hardware-control is in work "take a picture", "make a video", "switch on/off WiFi", "switch on/off BT" and more.

According to the report, a new update presumably coming as iOS 5.0.2 is set to be released "no later than next week" to address continued battery life issues even after last week's release of iOS 5.0.1 intended to target those problems. A release next week would be a fast turnaround given that there has not yet been any sign of developer testing for an iOS 5.0.2, although iOS 5.0.1 spent only about a week in testing as Apple rushed to release the update to the public.

Read the full article here.

Annie Liebovitz recommends iPhone as "snapshot camera of today"

2011-11-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

When asked by friends what kind of camera they should buy, famed photographer Annie Liebovitz says she recommends the iPhone.

In an interview with NBC's "Rock Center" promoting her new book "Pilgrimage," Liebovitz flatly answered that the iPhone is the "snapshot camera of today," perhaps suggesting a link with popular cameras of the past used to capture everyday photos.

"I'm still learning how to use mine," Liebovitz said, pulling her iPhone 4 out to take a picture of her host. "It's great. It's a pencil, it's a pen, it's a notebook. I can't tell you how many times I see people show me their children. It's the wallet with the family pictures in it. It is so accessible and easy."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619//vp/45314750#45314750

FaceTime Over 3G Is Hidden Inside iOS 5

2011-11-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

FaceTime is a video calling software application and related protocol developed by Apple for supported mobile devices running the iOS, in addition to Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.6.6 and higher. FaceTime is supported on any iOS device with a forward-facing camera (that is, all iOS devices released since theiPhone 4) and on any Macintosh computer equipped with a FaceTime Camera (formerly known as an iSightCamera).

Steve Jobs had mentioned during his keynote address at WWDC 2010that Apple is in talks with carriers to support the feature on 3G as well.

FaceTime was announced by then Apple CEO Steve Jobs at his keynote speech on June 7, 2010 at theWWDC 2010 in conjunction with the iPhone 4. Support for the fourth-generation iPod Touch, the first iPod Touch to be equipped with cameras, was announced in conjunction with this device's release on September 8, 2010.

The "FaceTime" name was purchased by Apple from FaceTime Communications, who changed their name to Actiance, Inc

It looks like Apple has managed to finally convince some of the carriers as folks at 9to5Mac have just reported that it will be possible to make FaceTime video calls over 3G.

9to5Mac has received a screenshot, which indicates that Apple will enable this feature for carriers that allow it.9to5Mac reports that carriers are testing a later build of iOS 5 than the one seeded to developers.

Read the instruction here.

斯坦福大學在iTunes U提供免費開發課程應用

2011-11-16T07:45:00.001-08:00

　常青籐大學斯坦福日前推出了含帶開發課程的iOS應用，與iTunes U當中的那些名校——比如哈佛，麻省理工，牛津等提供的網絡課程一起，為那些沒有能夠進入大學就讀的學子帶來了自學的機會。

　　用斯坦福大學的官方聲明來說，他們的課程主要是以「iCloud，視頻流推送，無線同步」的方式來提供。不過，由於這個iOS應用開發的Basic語言並沒有包含在課程裡面。所以想要學習任何信息的學子需要首先會使用Objective-C。

　　到目前為止，斯坦福所提供的這些開發課程已經達到1000萬次的點擊。對此感興趣的朋友可以通過iTunes U進行免費下載，課程視頻提供高清及標清兩種版本。

來自：威鋒網

PCworld: The Best Free iPhone and iPad Apps of 2011

2011-11-16T07:44:00.001-08:00

Many useful, innovative, or just plain fun apps can be found for iPhone and iPad with the perfect price tag: free. Check out our roundup.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243615/the_best_free_iphone_and_ipad_apps_of_2011.html

評論:亞馬遜平板採用Android平台是竊取谷歌利益

2011-11-16T07:41:00.001-08:00

      據國外媒體報道，雖然現在還看不出來，但是亞馬遜正一步步竊取谷歌的 Android 利益。很明顯，亞馬遜 Kindle Fire 平板電腦。這款將於本月上市的7 英吋平板，採用的是谷歌的 Android 操作系統。它幾乎確定將是今年最暢銷的 Android 平板，即便銷售期間只有短短兩個月不到。

       這對谷歌而言，因為移動產品是谷歌增長策略的重心之一，而 Android 又是谷歌在移動產業最重要的投資。

       谷歌利用Android 的策略是：谷歌自掏腰包，來開發、營銷該操作平台，並更新用戶界面，同時催生一整個以 Android 為基礎的應用程序群。反之，谷歌預期採用 Android 的硬件製造商，讓產品內置谷歌的各項軟件服務功能。

       這樣的規則，通常不是問題。因為採用用 Android 的移動產品製造商，往往依賴谷歌提供的各項軟件服務，從最簡單的電子郵件、數字地圖、日程表和Android Market 裡的所有應用；且如果他們想套用其一，便必須包含整組軟件，並按照谷歌的使用規則走。不過，當對像換成亞馬遜，由於他們不需要谷歌，所以只拿Android 來用，另外搭配自己建構的用戶界面、應用程序和線上軟件內容市場。

       換句話說，Kindle Fire 依然可以使用 Android 的應用，但是卻不受谷歌控制；也就是說，誰能從這款平板的平台上獲利，變成由亞馬遜主導，而非谷歌。說明白一點，谷歌投入了大量時間與金錢來推廣 Android；但亞馬遜卻從天而降，掠奪一切成果。

來自：賽迪網

Steve Jobs' Lost Interview：喬布斯揭露設計背後的魔力

2011-11-16T07:39:00.001-08:00

Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview從11月16日起將會在美國各大劇院上映。這段採訪視頻是在上世紀90年喬布斯回歸蘋果公司之前錄製的。

　　日前Time獨家獲得了從該影片中截取的一個採訪片段，該片段中喬布斯描述了他在產品設計方面的哲學。他認為，尋找新辦法來將各種完全不相干的事情以一個恰當的方式契合在一起的過程就是設計背後的「魔力」。

　　「設計一款產品就是要在腦中銘記5000件事情。然後將這些概念以新的不同的方式契合在一起，以獲得你想要的東西。」喬布斯說：「每天你都會發現一些新的事情，它們可能是新的問題也可能是一個新的機會，把這些新東西以一個稍微不同的方式契合在一起。」

　　該採訪是為電視連續短劇《呆子的勝利》的取材而進行拍攝的，它主要是關於喬布斯被逐出蘋果之後的那些「放浪不羈的年代」以及他在回到蘋果之前如何發展NeXT公司的。喬布斯在這個連續短劇中的某些評論已是臭名遠揚，這都只因他無法掩飾自己對宿敵以及微軟創始人比爾蓋茨的意見。

　　喬布斯說：「微軟唯一的一個問題就是他們沒有品位」。在喬布斯的專記中也有提到，喬布斯稱比爾蓋茨「缺乏想像力」，他「從未發明過任何東西」，「只是無恥的盜用別人的點子」。

　　比爾蓋茨稱他不會受到喬布斯的評價的影響。「我們一起共事過。即使是競爭對手我們也曾經互相鼓勵。」

　　在採訪過程中喬布斯對於John Sculley也頗有微詞。John Sculley出任蘋果CEO之後，喬布斯和他之間就開始產生衝突，最後喬布斯離開了蘋果。

　　喬布斯表示自己雇錯人了。「我用十年時間創建起來的東西都被他給毀了。從我而起，但這不是最悲哀，如果蘋果應經變成了我想看見的那樣，我會很樂意地離開。」

　　Sculley也承認自己出任蘋果CEO是一個很大的錯誤。

　
來自：威鋒網

[消息] iPhone 4 / 4S 耗電量大非硬件問題，而是軟件BUG

2011-11-15T22:21:00.001-08:00

很多人以為 iOS 5.0.1 的更新是為了解決電池的持航力短問題，不過耗電量大的問題只能解決了一部份，顯然並非完全解決。最近有一位 iOS 裝置的應用程式開發員做了一個簡單的測試，證明目前 iPhone 4S 及 iPhone 用戶遇到的耗電量問題並非傳聞中的硬件。

該iOS 裝置的應用程式開發員用了兩部 iPhone 4S 來進行測試，一部用作日常使用，一部專做測試，除了設置和安裝的應用程式 App 不同外，兩部 iPhone 4S 所使用的網絡和系統等基本設定是相同，最後只有日常使用的 iPhone 4S 存在電池持航時間短的問題。

然後再將兩部 iPhone 4S 都恢復原廠設定，再互相下載各自的備份資料，最後出現電池問題同樣是日常使用的 iPhone 4S 的應用程式及設置。

雖然這個測試很簡單，而且測試的機種有限，但至少也說明 iPhone 的電池問題並非硬件問題。

來源:http://www.appappapps.com/blog/?p=2556

AssistiveTouch Helps the Disabled Use a Smartphone

2011-11-15T12:31:00.001-08:00

New York Times columnist David Pogue reports on AssistiveTouch, an "amazingly thoughtful" iOS 5 feature that makes it possible to complete Multi-Touch gestures using one finger or a stylus. Writes Pogue: "I doubt that people with severe motor control challenges represent a financially significant number of the iPhone's millions of customers. But somebody at Apple took them seriously enough to write a complete, elegant and thoughtful feature that takes down most of the barriers to using an app phone."

Read the full article here.

Four industries Apple could impact with iOS, iCloud and Siri

2011-11-15T12:25:00.001-08:00

Over the last 10 years, Apple Inc has done a rather amazing job of disrupting quite a few industries. By my account, it has dramatically impacted the PC, Tablet, CE, Telecom, Music and TV industries in a big way, they are on the cusp of disrupting at least four more major industries in the next 3-5 years

TV industry
Auto industry
Watch industry
Appliance industry

Read the full article from Tim Bajarin here.

LinkedIn Releases CardMunch Business Card Reader for iPhone

2011-11-15T09:21:00.001-08:00

LinkedIn has released CardMunch an app that turns your business cards into contacts with LinkedIn integration.

Introducing CardMunch 3.0 by LinkedIn - the app that turns your business cards into contacts, now with LinkedIn integration. Easily see LinkedIn profile information for your new contacts -- and connect with them in a single click.

Features:
● Convert business cards to address book contacts, and then add them as connections on LinkedIn.
● View relevant LinkedIn profile info, connections in common, work history, and more, for the cards you scan.
● Improved card capture experience for faster and easier card scanning.
● Manual transcription ensures high accuracy for scanned cards.
● Newly revamped user interface and visual experience

You can download CardMunch - Business Card Reader by LinkedIn from the App Store for free.

Siri Bypasses Passcode Locks, But You Can Turn This Off

2011-11-15T09:17:00.001-08:00

Did you know that with Siri you can make a voice activated call from an iPhone 4S that has been passcode locked? It's not an oversight on the part of Apple. It's just their choice to turn the feature on by default. Some think it should be off by default and require the user to turn the feature on in Settings. If you agree, don't worry because I'll show you how to turn this feature off.

First, you must have a passcode set which you do by opening Settings and tapping General. Swipe down till you see Passcode Lock and tap that. Tap on Turn Passcode On and enter your chosen 4-digit passcode twice.

You can also choose a more complicated passcode by turning off the setting Simple Passcode before tapping on the Turn Passcode On button.

Once you have a passcode lock set, every time you wake your iPhone you will have to enter this passcode. But if you hold down the Home button while the phone is asleep, Siri will startup and let you make a call. This feature allows you to quickly and easily make a call while you are otherwise distracted, like when you are driving. It can be a good thing.

However, if a thief steals your phone or a lucky person finds it, then they can make a call even if they don't know your contact names. They can just give Siri the actual phone number, like an oversees sex chat line or their aunt in Russia, running up your cell phone bill.

Unauthorized users can also set reminders or appointments and do lots of other cool things, like ask Siri silly questions.

Those of you who want the extra level of security can turn this feature off for from the Passcode Lock settings screen. Turn the Siri option to Off and from then on your iPhone 4S will "not allow access to Siri when locked with a passcode."

This might be a pain if you want to make a call while flying down the Expressway, but so is keeping up with your car keys and remembering Internet passwords.

That's the cost of doing business in a dishonest world.

Source: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/10/19/siri-bypasses-passcode-locks-but-you-can-turn-this-off/

Flash失敗教訓：太過貪婪收費策略致錯失良機

2011-11-15T08:17:00.001-08:00

曾經擔任過Palm產品規劃副總，現為信息管理初創公司Cera技術首席執行官的邁克爾•梅斯（Michael Mace）在個人博客上撰文稱，Flash失敗的根本原因就是擁有者Macromedia和Adobe的貪婪。雖然Flash在PC機上佔據主導地位，成為了事實上的標準，但在瀏覽體驗全面轉下移動設備的過程中，兩家公司沒有把握機會，卻選擇短期收入，對移動Flash播放器進行收費，白白錯失了良機。

全文概要如下：

　　Adobe停止開發移動Flash的決定理所當然在網上得到了很多關注。對於Adobe和Flash開發者來說，這是個悲傷的故事：一個在PC網絡上佔統治地位的標準在移動領域遭遇滑鐵盧，它將被漸漸拋棄，這對HTML5非常有利。但這樣的故事不僅僅發生在移動領域，就算沒有移動領域的增長，我認為Flash本身也將漸漸衰落，整幢Flash正在倒塌。

　　Flash如何從.人變為失敗者？網上出現了很多解釋。科技博客GigaOm作者艾瑞卡•奧格（Erica Ogg）列出了以下幾點理由：1）移動Flash運行效果不佳；2）遭到了史蒂夫•喬布斯（Steve Jobs）等權勢人物的反對；3）競爭不過HTML5。（順便說下，HTML5的發展如此緩慢，Flash怎麼會競爭不過它？）

　　我同意艾瑞卡的觀點，但失敗症狀總是比根本原因要多得多。這就好比說飛機墜毀是因為機翼斷了。對，沒錯，但機翼為什麼會斷？如果你要找出Flash失敗的根本原因，我想是許多年前對移動市場產生了根本性的誤讀。對於Macromedia和Adobe來說，短期的營收目標比起長期的戰略更為重要。

　　換句話說，Flash不只是死亡，而且被漸漸漠視了。

　　對於想創造並控制軟件平台的公司來說，Flash的故事就是個巨大的警示寓言，因此需要好好研究。

　　Flash簡史

　　在軟件世界中，設立廣泛標準和賺錢是一對固有的矛盾。如果你有好的軟件技術，願意把它貢獻出來，人們就會廣泛的使用它，但在這一過程中你會破產。另一方面，如果你將它變成付費技術，那你就可以在行業內生存下來，但這項技術就很難成為被廣泛使用的標準，因為人們不想受困於一直付費給你。

　　聰明的軟件公司很早就意識到該如何解決這種矛盾：它們可以貢獻出一種技術作為標準，然後再對與這個技術相關的產品收費。例如，許多開源軟件公司貢獻出了他們的核心產品，但對托管和支持等服務進行收費。Android是另外一個例子，對手機製造商來說，它是一個免費的操作系統，但如果你在手機上搭載了這個操作系統，谷歌會盡量要求你在其中捆綁它的服務，這些服務能從消費者那裡獲取收入。

　　在Flash這個案例中，播放軟件是免費的。Macromedia（當時Flash的擁有者）靠出售Flash內容開發工具賺錢。在早期的網絡中，免費的Flash播放器扮演了兩個角色：一種相對高效的視頻播放方式（因此被大量流媒體網站採用）；創造既複雜又有藝術性網站的優先方式，包括一種活躍的網絡遊戲亞文化。Flash達到了量變到質變的臨界點，大多數人認為他們必須在瀏覽器中安裝這個軟件。它變成了網絡的事實標準。

　　日本市場表現引發誤判

　　移動設備的興起，改變了Flash的境況。當今智能手機擁有複雜精巧的網絡瀏覽器，在很多年以前，日本就已經是手機創新的中心，其中占統治地位的是NTT DoCoMo具有知識產權的iMode手機平台。DoCoMo希望為自己的iMode手機創造更吸引人的多媒體體驗。因此在2003年初，他們得到了Flash移動版本Flash Lite的授權，安裝在iMode手機內。

　　這筆交易對Macromedia是一大突破。不像在PC機上那樣免費貢獻Flash客戶端，Macromedia也可以對客戶端收費了，而且它還繼續靠出售開發工具賺錢。Macromedia找到了魚和熊掌兼得的方法。2004年底，iMode交易拓展至全球。我敢肯定Macromedia已經在憧憬著佔領全世界。

　　但對於Flash不幸的事情在於，日本是個獨特的手機市場，DoCoMo是個獨特的運營商。除了iMode，DoCoMo的交易無法在大多數手機平台上複製。Macromedia和後來的Adobe都被自己的成功束縛。為了讓Flash Lite成為手機上的標準，它本應該免費提供播放器，與DoCoMo簽訂一個廉價的協議。但當你有一大隊人馬專注於從授權播放器中賺錢，免費提供意味著會丟掉一大步收入，裁掉一大批員工。Macromedia選擇了收入，Flash Lite也從來沒有成為一種移動標準。

　　沒有充分意識到這一點，Macromedia也破壞了Flash本身的商業模式。手機越流行，Flash就越弱小。

　　錯過智能手機時代

　　時間到了2007年，iPhone和其他現代智能手機讓移動網絡瀏覽變得非常實用。Flash的新東家Adobe完全沒有對此做好準備。儘管它開始免費提供Flash Lite，但Lite是為功能受限的非智能手機準備的，無法複製PC機上完整的Flash體驗。同時，完整的Flash播放器是為PC機設計的，在智能手機上顯得太過臃腫，運行效果不佳。因此互聯網開始向移動領域轉移，Adobe卻沒有跟上。Flash無處不在的標準被Adobe自己破壞了。

　　事情後來變得更糟，當時Adobe的策略就是要為了移動設備，將Flash升級成完全編程層，這個項目名叫Apollo（後改名為AIR）。AIR承諾是打造獨立的應用程序，與所有的操作系統無關，使開發人員可以跨平台和設備。當時我認為Adobe的戰略非常聰明，但項目實施的速度太過緩慢。

　　因此這些就是Adobe對自己所做的：在轉向完全移動瀏覽的過程中處置不當，事實證明消費者很願意在沒有Flash顯示的情況下進行移動瀏覽。之後，在宣佈想要控制移動平台世界時，Adobe驚動了其他平台公司，特別是蘋果。這給了它們機會和動力去打垮移動Flash。之後的事實證明，它們就是這樣做的。

　　教訓：不要貪婪

　　這個事件有兩方面的經驗教訓。首先，當你建立了一個免費的標準，收費會使你的整個事業處於危險之中。拿PDF與Flash作對比，這是Adobe創立的另一個標準。與Flash不同，Adobe漸漸放棄了對PDF標準的控制，競爭對手們可以輕而易舉的開發出自己的PDF編輯器，實際上微軟在Windows Office中就捆綁了一個。儘管網絡社區對PDF有廣泛的敵意，但它仍然作為計算機世界的事實標準存在。Adobe想從PDF閱讀器上賺錢已經不可能，但它的Acrobat PDF管理和發展業務仍然為它帶來收入。

　　其次，你的商業架構必須有與之匹配的戰略。我認為Macromedia將移動Flash歸入旗下的業務部門就是犯了一個基本的錯誤。Adobe收購Macromedia後，為它創建了一個單獨的移動事業部，繼續著這個錯誤。這種架構意味著移動Flash團隊必須要從播放器上獲得收入。如果把播放器和Flash開發工具歸到一個部門，管理層至少還有機會利用播放器的收入來壯大開發工具。

　　Adobe現在該做什麼？

　　Adobe的人表示，停止移動Flash的開發只是為了抓住重點。他們指出，開發人員仍然可以使用Flash開發應用，並使它們兼容移動設備，PC版的Flash仍然會繼續存在。從狹義的角度看Adobe在2011年末的處境，Flash的變化可能是審慎的。但相比較它2005年收購Macromedia時，聲稱要創建一個「定義業內的技術平台」，從這點來看目前的狀況無疑就是失敗。

　　我認為，很顯然作為一個平台，Flash正在慢慢死去。移動Flash播放器的終結已經使大多數富有*支持者幻想破滅。你可以到處聽見他們咒罵的聲音。Flash的兼容性將繼續在AIR和其他網絡內容開發工具中延續，這是當然，但現在Adobe已經不再控制Flash播放器，我認為這讓它的工具沒有特別的優勢，將會帶來麻煩。

　　Adobe現在該做的就是加大對HTML 5的投入，將其升級為一個完全的網絡平台，這原本就是AIR的目標。現在業內還沒有人做到這一點，網絡開發者對此也是大聲疾呼，Adobe暗示它將會這麼做。但當我看過之前Adobe董事會的一些聲明，發現它們的承諾通常都是短期的。目前，我懷疑Adobe是否有雄心和能力實現這個目標。最終它可能會退縮至自己的核心業務：一個為具有藝術氣質的人群開發軟件工具的開發商。這種小眾市場非常穩定，但離Adobe夢想的.地位相差甚遠。

來自：搜狐IT

Switching To Apple Mac OS X

[ComputerWorld] Massive Android malware op may have infected 5 million users

Madison, Wisconsin schools buy 1,400 Apple iPads - using Microsoft's money

HP makes printing from an iPad easier with Wireless Direct printing

Interactive graphic: Why Apple dominates

Apple announces iBooks 2, iBooks Author to "reinvent textbooks"

Polish parliament to buy 500 iPads for lawmakers

Apple's Santa Claus-themed iPhone 4S

Apple launches full iTunes Match website, FAQ, video

回顧蘋果2011年：苦甜參半

外媒評論：蘋果公司零售業務前景無限

Android無法主導平板市場十大理由:遭兩面夾擊

Did Apple redefine photography with the iPhone?

free "Yellow Submarine" interactive e-book

Computer History Museum launches online Steve Jobs exhibit

盤點2011年度五大失敗科技產品

2012 蘋果為何會成為世界第一大PC商？

More blood on Apple iPod's touchscreen: Dell kills Streak 7, backs out of Android tablets in US

分析師：iPhone自身的優勢讓iOS有更好的發展勢頭

分析稱RIM或被迫賠本銷售PlayBook平板電腦

New York City school system hits technological wall

JP Morgan: Apple execs not worried about Kindle Fire

麵包有幾營?

Video shows secret software on millions of Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia phones logging everything you do

AirPrint compatible printers over 100

圖表展示那些已經被蘋果超過的產業和公司

Beleaguered RIM liquidates BlackBerry PlayBook with employee-only $99 fire sale

喬布斯與蓋茨互評匯總：嘲笑對方但不乏敬意

福布斯：用戶容忍蘋果產品瑕疵源於品牌忠誠度

Using Apple’s Find My Mac Feature

"The disappearance of a device is far and away the most serious digital security and privacy risk that owners of Apple laptops and mobile devices face,"

微軟又開玩笑了：TellMe vs Siri 對比視頻

50 free apps to be most thankful for

Belkin Chef Stand and Stylus for iPad

FW: TED Mobile

TED Mobile

Apple's 2011 Black Friday Discounts for iPad 2, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and More

Apple posts teaser for its own Black Friday sale

Best prepaid SIM card for Hong Kong

Apple Black Friday 2011 Deals Predictions

iPhone - AppleCare+

BlackBerry PlayBook's $199 fire sale goes live in Canada

Instapaper creator reviews Amazon's tiny screen Kindle Fire: Bad game player, bad app platform, bad web browser, bad video player and bad Kindle

BlackBerry Playbook gets massive, temporary $300 price cut in Canada

Setting up and troubleshooting AirPlay Mirroring

傳PC廠商明年將開始逐步退出平板電腦市場

Android malware up 472% since July, unlikely to slow down

iOS 5.0.2 Coming Soon to Address Battery Issues? iOS 5.1 to Bring New Siri Integration?

by Eric Slivka

Annie Liebovitz recommends iPhone as "snapshot camera of today"

FaceTime Over 3G Is Hidden Inside iOS 5

斯坦福大學在iTunes U提供免費開發課程應用

PCworld: The Best Free iPhone and iPad Apps of 2011

Many useful, innovative, or just plain fun apps can be found for iPhone and iPad with the perfect price tag: free. Check out our roundup.

評論:亞馬遜平板採用Android平台是竊取谷歌利益

Steve Jobs' Lost Interview：喬布斯揭露設計背後的魔力

[消息] iPhone 4 / 4S 耗電量大非硬件問題，而是軟件BUG

AssistiveTouch Helps the Disabled Use a Smartphone

Four industries Apple could impact with iOS, iCloud and Siri

LinkedIn Releases CardMunch Business Card Reader for iPhone

Siri Bypasses Passcode Locks, But You Can Turn This Off

Flash失敗教訓：太過貪婪 收費策略致錯失良機

Flash失敗教訓：太過貪婪收費策略致錯失良機