Macsimum News - For your digital life(style)

Russia's MTS to sell iPhone
Said:

“Both MegaFon and VimpelCom said they’ll be offering iPhone 3G, but MTS didn’t specify which model it will be selling, notes CNN Money.”

Considering they’re not even manufacturing the original iPhone anymore, I have my doubts they’ll be selling that model.  I think it’s a foregone conclusion they’ll also be selling 3G. Besides, it would be kinda dumb to have your competitors sell the latest model, only to sell last year’s version yourself.

How about an iMac with HD Radio features?
Said:

Macs are already pretty high-priced.  While I’m not complaining so much about that, why should I pay for for an HD radio tuner being built into my computer?

If I want HD radio, I’ll go out and buy a separate tuner, Or better yet, I’ll just fire up my browser and find the internet stream of the radio station i want to listen to.  Most stations are streaming their audio already, making a radio strapped to my computer, HD or otherwise, kinda redundant.

How about an iMac with HD Radio features?
Said:

Good point. HD radio cannot go mainstream soon enough for me. Perhaps a HD dongle that could be applied to any Mac?
I feel this is an opportunity for Yamaha, for instance, to add HD radio to its RP-U200.

An HD radio remote for iPods/iPhones would be great as well but I’m not sure that will happen anytime soon.

How about an iMac with HD Radio features?
Said:

Why would anybody want an HD radio built into their mac?  Apple has never included regular am/fm in a pc (nor any other major manufacturer, to the best of my knowledge).  Fewer and fewer people even listen to radio anymore.  HD is a fancy stopgap measure to stem the tide of people flocking to their ipods in their cars.  I would not pay for obsolete technology in a computer when I never wanted it when it was relevant.  A poor suggestion I must tell you.

Spore Origins comes to iPhone, iPod touch
Said:

Hi Dennis,

Maybe I just can’t navigate the cumbersome iTunes interface very well, but I haven’t been able to find Spore Origins in the App store any of the past 3 days I’ve looked . . . you sure it’s been posted?

Thanks,
Wiley

PS: How ‘bout those Commodores!!!!!!!!!!!!

Info needed on Mac software for network activity monitoring, traffic logging
Said:

Would this qualify ? http://www.protemac.com/Meter/

iPhone passes BlackBerry Curve as AT&T's best-selling smartphone
Said:

... You should SAY wow!

Within a SHORT amount of time!
... And do not forget iPhone is a Work In Progress!

I do not need it yet, tho.

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Said:

The media doesn’t want facts, they prefer speculation.  Even if Steve comes out and says he’s healthy, as long as he appears thin, the media will declare him on his last legs and keep Apple’s share price sinking.  Any of us can keel over at any time, so there are no guarantees how long any of us are going to live.  It’s not like Steve’s lying on his deathbed, so I don’t know what the media’s problem is except to continue controversy to harm Apple.

Subversion client adds merge tracking, sparse checkout, more
Said:

I still can’t believe svn can’t remember branch information, that the client [which may be the end user] has to track on it’s own which revision of a file was branched, so when you merge the branch back, you only merge the changes you’ve made since you branched.

And I swear that ‘sparse checkout’ is just a rename of Perforce’s client view feature.

If you are going to bother with paying for your source control system, you might as well go with an established vendor that also provides support for the server [namely, Perforce].  And Perforce is free for up to 2 users…

Seriously, svn is like a feature-incomplete version of Perforce.

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Dave Merten Said:

Joe, that article you point out was posted right after WWDC simply pointing out Jobs’ appearance during the keynote.

Dennis’ current article is just commenting on the fact that people keep writing articles about his health and dwelling on it.

The information in Yacko’s link certainly could explain Jobs’ thin appearance.

iPhone passes BlackBerry Curve as AT&T's best-selling smartphone
Said:

Well, at least, Blackberry doesn’t have to worry at Sprint, Verizon, or T-Mobile.  iPhone won’t likely surpass their phones there.

If iPhone sales eclipse Blackberry at all 4 providers--that’s a story.

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Dennis Sellers Said:

Joe,

It’s true that in the past I have commented on Jobs’ health, mainly due to the speculation that he looked ill, Apple’s refusal to comment on the matter and CFO Peter Oppenheimer’s comments that Jobs’ health was a private matter. However, since then, Jobs has said he is cancer-free and I think we have to take his word for it until there is evidence to the contrary. And offhand, secondhand comments that he “looks like _____” offers no new info and nothing to contradict Jobs’ comment that he is okay physically.

Sorry if that looks like a flip-flop. I see it otherwise, but ya pays yer money and takes yer pick (although, in this case, the news and opinions are all free...)

Dennis

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Joe Said:

Dennis has on many occasions made the argument that Steve Jobs looked sick. His site ran an article about this subject again in June. The flip flop on this subject is pathetic. You pushed the issue to get clicks and now you’re taking the flip side of this coin. How sad.

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/steve_jobs_health_concerns_raise_questions/

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Said:

He likely does have continuing chronic health problems and it is probably not cancer but post-surgical complications. No speculation since it is common knowledge. See:

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/06/13/steve-jobs-life-after-the-whipple/

Also reference Whipple procedure in Wikipedia.

Let's not talk about Steve Jobs' health any more until we have some facts
Jason Said:

Thanks for being a voice of reason when many would rather pick sensationalism or speculation at someone else’s expense.

Apple TV could be the 'iPod of the living room'
Said:

Lou - yeah, the modular idea works for me.

I don’t like the idea of just trying to shut up the pundits, and “see if this is what people actually want and will pay for”. If Apple starts doing that then they’ll be working more like Microsoft. This is fine and makes money, but it also removes the “magic” of Apple products.

I hope Apple continues to polish its products and only release the best. (And I want that more to drive the industry forward than to benefit Apple)

Apple TV could be the 'iPod of the living room'
Said:

Wow, BDJ, that’s bad.

I bought one for my parents a year back and they bought one for my brother 6 months ago. My brother’s dlink router wouldn’t connect reliably but once that was replaced they’ve both been working great. Hot, but fine. Are you sure you didn’t get a dud? Did Apple help when you asked them about it or were you fobbed off?

On your other comment - I’m not sure that the iPod and AppleTV had different commitments from Steve. Steve seems to like to underplay his announcements and let the press and rumour sites take off… it’s worked for everything Apple for a few years - except for the AppleTV, which he continues to play down without anyone else changing his tune.

Apple TV could be the 'iPod of the living room'
Said:

Almost 3 years is a pretty long time for a hobby.  Steve’s not interested in it so it has remained a niche.

I’ve had mine since it came out, and it has offered nothing interesting since it was introduced.  It’s still riddled with bugs such as losing the wireless connection, error messages such as “Apple TV cannot play this file” which requires a hard reboot, an uncharacteristically absurd and complicated interface and lockups I imagine are attributed to the high heat the device gives off.

The iPod didn’t start off as a hobby.  It took off immediately because Steve was behind it all the way.

The Apple TV is Chunk chained to a basement dungeon.

Apple TV could be the 'iPod of the living room'
Said:

GregA, the point is not to fold all this in to a single cabinet, but to offer accessories that stack on each other. Then, see if this is what people actually want and will pay for. It would shut up the know-it-all pundits.

I expect Apple to increasingly devote attention to this area, after there is a major refresh to the Macintosh computer line. There is nothing else, that we know of, until Snow leopard 10.6 is released next spring.

I don’t believe that Apple is disappointed with the AppleTV. Apple does this: it sets things in motion. Often, it can take years before we know exactly why. Quicktime is a perfect illustration.

Apple TV could be the 'iPod of the living room'
Said:

I’d really like to know how many of those who dislike the AppleTV would like it if they used it for a week. Because that is one of the AppleTV’s problems - most people don’t really know how they would use an AppleTV or its pros and cons until they’ve used it.

PVRs have had that problem for a few years - even when people ‘get’ what it does, it’s only once they use one that they realise how much they like it. That problem is disappearing now, it’s hit a critical mass.

Unlike the iPhone, Apple hasn’t had the torrent of publicity with the aTV. It hasn’t got people wondering what the hype is about… there isn’t really any hype.

I don’t know how Apple can get the attention back. Or get people to decide to give it a go.

I’m leaning towards one simple function - enabling playback of divx/avis (but not HD files like mkv). Bring across the people who are illegally watching TV now and then show them some HD rental and better & easier setups (mkv files would be too complex for the current aTV anyway)

Another option is to get a subscription to HBO (or similar) for standard cable prices. Download anything that has shown in the last 4 days, and have a month to watch. I’m not sure if the cost of bandwidth to Apple would be too high though.

Lastly - adding a PVR or BluRay player takes Apple into new territory. It would increase its appeal for some people but may add to the cost and might make features confusing. Apple may be forced to do that kind of thing anyway as Sony & TiVo start online movie rentals - as people will see the AppleTV as lacking