Weblog of a “Switcher”

Or at least that is what the next headline should read after seeing this one:

NBC to Apple: Build antipiracy into iTunes | Tech news blog - CNET News.com:
"'One of the big issues for NBC is piracy. We are financially harmed every day by piracy. It results in us not being able to invest as much money in the next generation of film and TV products.'"

Who the hell do they think they are kidding with a statement like that. Between revenues coming in from advertising on NBC and DVD rentals/sales, are they actually trying to say that they are going broke? Or can't afford to put yet another mindless reality show on the air? Give me a break.

First off, NBC was on iTunes and they had in place a pretty darn strong DRM protecting their IP. So, why in the hell did they pull up and leave? Not because of piracy I can tell you. No, because Apple wouldn't allow them to change the prices of their products or change the way they were being sold. So, what does NBC do? They leave.

Now that Apple is the largest retail store for music in the US, NBC says that they really want to work with Apple, but they are afraid that Apple's DRM isn't secure enough?

"They can mark up the price and make a profit or use it as a loss leader to get people in the door," Kliavkoff said. "It's really difficult for us to work with any distribution partner who says 'Here's the wholesale price and the retail price,' especially when the price doesn't reflect the full value of the product."

"The music industry guys would have something to say about how the pricing has affected their product over the last few years," he added.

Ahh, so the problem here isn't the DRM issue or piracy. It's the lack of control over the revenue stream if they were to put their IP's back on iTunes. NBC wants to be in control of setting pricing, they don't want Apple to have that control.

So they are blaming Apple's pricing on the poor net profits of their business and the music business on Apple controlling the price. Yet record companies are more than willing to sell their product on Amazon.com for even less that what Apple sells music for and Amazon.com is, what, 3rd, 4th now?

These guys are just going to keep screwing themselves over and over again until they just don't have a business anymore. They want to charge even more for "Survivor" and screw over every person involved in the production of true quality shows so that they can keep as much money as possible for themselves.

Will this ever end positively?

(Via news.com.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: antipiracy, Apple, iTunes, Nbc, piracy

This doesn't have anything to do with the Macintosh or even computers...

I was watching television yesterday and an ad for our local waste removal service came up. They were talking about wasted energy in our homes due to all the electronics we have in our house. Even when those electronics are turned off.

They claimed that a Television that is turned off uses more energy than when it is on! On the surface, that just sounds absolutely insane.

They were referring to the fact that most electronic devices these days have "standby" modes. So even if something is off, it's drawing energy. OK, this is true. You should see all the LED glowing away in our house at night. Their solution suggests to plug all your electronics into power strips and simply switch the power strip off when you are done using them.

I still think that the statement is absurd, so I decided to look up some data. The manual for my Sharp Aquos 42" LCD HD television states that when it is on, it draws 247 Watts. OK, just under the amount that a 3-way lightbulb uses on it's highest setting. Not really all that much power.

The manual didn't have anything to say about when it was in standby mode and a quick search in Google took me to a site that showed me how much it uses. A whopping 3 Watts.

Now, I'm no electrician, so my math here may be wrong, but 3 Watts seems a bit smaller than 247 Watts. It's over 80 times less in fact. So doesn't that mean that I would have to leave my Television off for over 80 hours to draw as much power as when it is on for 1 hour?

If I am correct here, then the ad is full of male cow droppings!

I am certainly not going to suggest to anyone to use a power strip to turn off their electronics when they are not using them. They would have to reset clocks and other settings over and over again each time they want to use them and that is just not acceptable. Not in this day and age.

Back when all televisions had was a power switch, channel knob and volume knob, then I would say OK. The only problem with that is that those units didn't have a standby mode since they obviously didn't need one. No user settings or clock times were being saved.

I just felt I had to get that off my chest.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Clocks, Cow, Drawing, Electrician, Electronic Devices, Google, Hd Television, Lightbulb, Macintosh, Macintosh Computers, Math, Modes, Power Strip, Power Strips, Power Switch, Search Google, Sharp Aquos, Standby Mode, Televisions, Volume Knob, Watching Television, Watts

I usually find most of the articles on "ars technica" pretty informative and well researched. However, this latest bit of "reporting":

An errant Command-Q could leave your Mac unbootable:
By Chris Foresman | Published: March 25, 2008 - 03:02PM CT

Command-Q to Quit. Many of us know that shortcut so well that it's used without conscious thought. The shortcut is even honored with its own t-shirt. But an unfortunate MacOSXHints reader ran into some trouble when he hit Command-Q while installing the latest Safari update.

The update was being installed remotely using Screen Sharing. Software Update was showing the progress before rebooting, so Chris Platts hit Command-Q to quit Screen Sharing. However, the keystroke was sent to the remote machine, causing the update to quit. Since Safari 3.1 included a major WebKit update, applications that relied on WebKit started crashing after the aborted update. Oops.
A manual install of the update package cleared things up. But if an OS X update had been in progress, it could have rendered the machine unbootable. Until Apple puts some kind of protection in place, you'll want to keep your hands off the keyboard while updates are in progress."

Leaves me to wonder if they let anyone willing to write report on their site. I almost get the impression that this author "Chris foresman" has only just started using a Macintosh.

I have been using a Mac since May of 2006. My memory of security updates and OS updates are that they are done in such a way that it's impossible to quit Software Update in the process of the update. Maybe not the download, but the actual update itself. In Leopard, I have seen Software Update download the update, then reboot the computer to do the actual install after the system boots back up but before the OS actually starts up.

If Mr./Mrs. Foresman had actually been using a Mac for longer than a week, I think he/she would actually know this fact and not be reporting that it's possible that an errant Command-Q could destroy your OS
I'm actually surprised that Software Update allowed him to quit his update for Safari 3.1. I thought that when I updated that, my system rebooted and finished the update the same way an OS update does. However, I can't say for sure because I wasn't paying that close attention to the update. Plus, I don't go around pressing Command-Q when I'm doing something as important as a software update anyway.

I do run updates via Screen Sharing to my MacBook which is upstairs. I usually let the updating computer kill the connection to screen sharing or I'll close the window with the mouse. I just don't quit Screen Sharing by trying to use Command-Q. Maybe this is because I use "Chicken of the VNC" and Command-Q doesn't work to quit that program unless you have all connections to other computers closed.

Anyway, I hope that ars technica reads the comments about this questionable post and maybe reviews future articles from Mr./Mrs Foresman before he/she is posted on their site. Articles like this make sites like ars technica look a little amateurish. Much like my blog.

(Via ars technica.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, Ars Technica, Author Chris, Keyboard, Keystroke, Macintosh, Macosxhints, March 25, Memory, Mr Mrs, Os Updates, Os X, Platts, Safari, Security Updates, Sharing Software, Software Update, System Boots, T Shirt, Unbootable

Twitter / tomit:
"I just noticed, no memory upgrades for the AIR as well. about 2 hours ago from im

Seems like the MacBook AIR is a great accessory for a larger Mac. I need to get a new PRIMARY MAC first! about 3 hours ago from web

Glad they are just doing the Apple TV update! I can't wait!!! about 4 hours ago from im

Just some issues with the AIR... Mono speaker, video mirroring only, 1USB, no switchable battery, and no apple remote for frontrow!?!? about 4 hours ago from im

Did you know the MacBook AIR only has a 'Built-in mono speaker' for audio??? about 5 hours ago from im "

(Via Tomit's Twitter page.)

Seriously, what in the world do you people want! A computer the size of the iPhone with a full size keyboard/screen 4GB's of RAM expandable to 16GB's, 160GB HDD expandable to 2TB's, super awesome CD/DVD reader/writer, video capabilities capable of playing Crysis at 1920x1600 and capable of driving 2 30" wide screen displays, surround sound speakers builtin, weighing 2lbs and costing $500!?!?!

The MacBook Air is incredibly thin, weighing it at 3lb's, great internals and fits inside a manila folder! Sure it's expensive, what do you expect for a sub-notebook.

Sheesh people, what does it take to impress you guys!

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple Tv, Crysis, Frontrow, Internals, iPhone, Manila Folder, Memory Upgrades, People, Reader Writer, Screen Displays, Size Keyboard, Sound Speakers, Sub Notebook, Twitter, Video Capabilities

Gizmoron Runs Amok At CES | ripten: "According to Webware, the CEA (which runs CES) had this to say about the situation:

‘We have been informed of inappropriate behavior on the show floor by a credentialed media attendee from the Web site Gizmodo, owned by Gawker Media. Specifically, the Gizmodo staffer interfered with the exhibitor booth operations of numerous companies, including disrupting at least one press event. The Gizmodo staffer violated the terms of CES media credentials and caused harm to CES exhibitors. This Gizmodo staffer has been identified and will be barred from attending any future CES events. Additional sanctions against Gizmodo and Gawker Media are under discussion.’

So it looks like the guy is banned for life. A fitting punishment, if you ask me."

(Via ripten: Gizmoron runs amok at CES.)

Wow, what in the hell is up with Gizmodo? I knew I didn't like the site a long time ago (before the Apple stock debacle), but now, I have to wonder if there isn't legal actions that Motorola or CEA can't pursue.

What was going through the Gizmodo staffer's mind when he was pulling this stunt? Was he thinking that they would get a bunch of publicity for what he did?

Banning Gizmodo is one action, but I really think that they should be banned from all shows and any company still advertising with Gizmodo should be boycotted. We need to send a very strong message here that this kind of behavior from a blog is simply not to be taken.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple Stock, Attendee, Cea, Ces, Ces Exhibitors, Debacle, Exhibitor Booth, Fitting Punishment, Gawker Media, Gizmodo, Hell, Inappropriate Behavior, Legal Actions, Long Time, Media Credentials, Motorola, Publicity, Sanctions, Staffer, True Colors

Austin Heller: Promoters: "Austin Heller: Promoters

In December of 2006, John Gruber wrote a lengthy post last year questioning the ethics of the first MacHeist bundle, called The Iniquities of the Selfish. […] So, it does seem odd to see MacHeist advertising running on [Daring Fireball] - which makes me think the deal for the supporting developers might finally be fair.

John Gruber doesn’t seem like one to disregard his beliefs for sponsors, so I imagine they exchanged some emails about the treatment of developers with MacHeist II.

Edit: Gruber writes about his advertisers and sponsors:

Advertisements aren’t endorsements. They’re promotional messages from the sponsor, not me. In short, an ad is an ad, and what I write is what I write.

He goes on to day that the MacHeist is a good bundle for consumers, but not such a great deal for developers, although he has no information about this year’s MacHeist bundle.

(Via cameron i/o.)

To Cameron and others...
John Gruber is not God. He's just this guy, you know... (Sorry, couldn't resist the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy line)

He likes to post his opinion so that he can make money off his website. However, his posts are just "his opinion" and not fact.

MacHeist is a great way for developers to get their programs into users hands. Not to mention the fact that since the bundles probably have programs that the purchaser already owns, there is a good chance that the purchaser will give away the duplicate licenses to friends and family. I say this since I just purchased the MacHeist II bundle and I own just about half the software in the bundle. So I'll be giving the MacHeist bundle software I already own to friends and relatives.

If I truly use the software I have just purchased, I'll be upgrading the software when the next version comes out. That means more money for the developer. Plus there is the word of mouth thing. I'll be singing the praises of the software to others and giving the developers free advertising. Not to mention the advertising they are receiving by just being involved in the latest MacHeist.

Why John Gruber thinks this is bad for developers, I don't know. Maybe he was slighted by a bundle in the past or something. I can't say. All I can say is that, in "my humble opinion" he's completely wrong about these software bundles and folks reading his blog posts should not pay attention to such ramblings.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Advertisements, Advertisers, Bundle Software, Cameron, Daring Fireball, Developers, Endorsements, Ethics, Galaxy Line, Good Chance, Guide To The Galaxy, Hitchhiker, Iniquities, John Gruber, Macheist, Promoters, Purchaser, Relatives, Singing The Praises, Word Of Mouth

Wow guys, I thought installing Windows XP in Parallels or Boot Camp was bad...

OK, so I did something kind of stupid this weekend, I attempted to "update" my Windows XP game machine to Windows XP Pro. I thought: "How bad could it be, I'm going from XP to XP Pro?" What a freaking mistake!

So I did the upgrade and when it rebooted to finish the upgrade, it started bringing up the Windows splash screen, then went black then instantly after that, the infamous Blue Screen of Death followed immediately after that with a reboot.

Why did this happen? Well, my guess is that I had a separate partition with Vista RC2 installed and so I probably had a "dual boot" boot sector that wasn't updated properly after the update. So, I might have been able to recover the update, but I really didn't feel like it, so I wiped out the partitions, and started from scratch.

I almost decided to screw Windows and install Ubuntu. However, I am wanting to play Spore when it comes out next year. So Windows it is...

This is where things when really south. Oh sure, the install of XP Pro went easily enough. What went south was the fact that my computer was running like an IBM AT from back in the day and had no sound. Why? No drivers. Really, Windows had no drivers for my system.

At first, I was pissed. I have an install disk with Windows XP Pro SP 2. Then I realized something. There are billions of hardware combinations that Windows runs under. How in the world could Microsoft have all the drivers for all the combinations that it has to run under? Then I remembered that my Dell came with a "ResourceCD" that has all the drivers for the hardware that it came with. So I pulled out the CD, after taking about an hour to find it, and ran the installer to install the drivers I needed to get my system up to something a little more modern.

What surprises me, in this day and age, is why isn't this stored "in the computer" as a ROM drive that can be activated so that the Windows install could find it and use it to get drivers installed? This way, after installing Windows, a user will have a system that "works". Instead, I had to do things that a normal home user would have no idea how to do. It wasn't easy at all to do. I had done it once before so I actually had a clue what I was doing. Otherwise I would have been a little iffy my self.

So compared to Leopard and the Mac, the process of installing the OS from a wiped HDD is like night and day. Leopard was extremely easy and Windows XP Pro was a nightmare.

Now after all the hell I went through to get Windows installed and my hardware drivers installed. I then had the fun I have had in the past with Parallels and Boot Camp. 87 lovely updates followed by several more updates for a total of over 110. So, about 10 reboots and 110+ updates and I finally have a Dell PC that is ready to use again. With Leopard and the Mac, it was install, maybe one reboot no more than two, and I was up and running with the Mac. Yet there are still people out there that think that Windows is way easier to use than the Mac...

It's really a shame that most game developers don't make Mac versions of their games. There are a few that do. Thanks Blizzard! It's funny really, since the Mac has a limited number of graphics cards that are supported and all the rest of the hardware is built into the Mac, developing games for the platform has to be as easy to do as any XBox/Playstation/Wii game would be. Oh sure, there are not as many Macs in the home as there are PC's or Game Consoles, but still...

So that was my fun this weekend. All because I wanted to be able to access my Dell with Remote Desktop Connection instead of VNC. Ah well...

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Billions, Blue Screen Of Death, Boot Camp, Boot Sector, Dell 8400, Dual Boot, Game Machine, Guess, Hardware Combinations, Installing Windows, Mistake, Parallels, Partition, Partitions, Reboot, Rom Drive, Scratch, Surprises, Windows Splash Screen, Windows Xp

No, I'm not talking about updates to OS X Tiger or Leopard. I'm talking about installing Windows XP Pro SP2! Yes that's right. After SP2 there are 86 updates that need to be downloaded and installed after installing Windows XP Pro SP 2. Not counting the update to the updater.

I really get the feeling that Windows XP needs an SP3 and soon!

Anyone who complains about Apple and the updates that they have to go through after installing Tiger, just point them to a Windows box and have them install XP Pro SP2.

I also know there will be more to go, since I haven't updated Internet Explorer and there are also other updates that are usually not critical but are still desired.

Man, I am soooo glad I switched to Macintosh!

Why am I installing Windows XP? Oh, yea, I forgot to mention that I am installing it to my Mac Pro in Boot Camp. I lost my secondary HD which had the previous Windows installation on it. Not sure why the drive bit the bullet, but when you hear clicking and spinning down and back up, you have to assume the drive is toast. I went out and purchased a 750GB SATA drive today and used Time Machine to restore the OS X side of the disk. (That process was so damn easy a cave man could do it.) Now, I'm reinstalling Windows and a few other programs so that I can use Parallels to access it. I rarely reboot into Windows on my Mac Pro. If I am going to play a game, I switch to my Windows box behind my monitor and play there. I just like the convienence of having a Windows partition on the Mac for doing non-game things.

Well, I'm about half way through installing the 86 updates, so I guess I'll wrap up this post and get ready for the hundreds of reboots I am going to have to do to finish getting windows ready to use again.

Update: I only had to install about 20 more updates after the 86 to start with. Also, only had 4 reboots during that process. So, it's really not that bad... really... (sarcasm sign being held up and waved furiously)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Boot Camp, Cave Man, Convienence, Hd, Installing Windows, Internet Explorer, Os X, Os X Tiger, Parallels, Partition, Reinstalling Windows, Sarcasm, Sp 2, Sp3, Time Machine, Toast, Windows Box, Windows Installation, Windows Xp, Windows Xp Pro Sp2

So I'm surfing around Apple's "Hot News" RSS feed looking at reviews of Leopard that Apple saw fit to highlight.

I was rather amused to see the following:

"The bad: Leopard was afflicted in some cases by installation woes and application failures; some new features, such as geotagging, aren't obvious to find; users with older Macs can't run Leopard."

What a truly bizarre statement to make. Of course older Mac's won't be able to run Leopard. Older Windows boxes are not able to run Microsoft Windows Vista. It's a fact of life. When new software is released, older machines will suffer. That's why God made Linux.

Of course this could be taken in a good light. The only thing wrong with Leopard is that older Mac's can't run it.

Sure. OK. Whatever.

(Via Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Reviews. Macintosh OS Reviews by CNET..)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, Application Failures, Boxes, Cnet, Fact Of Life, God, Hot News, Installation Woes, Leopard, Linux, Linux Course, Mac Os X, Macintosh, Macintosh Os, Macs, Microsoft Windows Vista, New Features, New Software, Os Reviews, Os X

Here they come...

Apple, Jobs, AT&T sued over iPhone price cut, rebates: "Apple Inc., along with its chief executive and exclusive U.S. iPhone wireless partner AT&T, have been hit with a new lawsuit from a disgruntled customer who charges the trio with a variety of offenses stemming from the recent iPhone price cut." (Via AppleInsider.)

So how many suits does that make now? 20, 30, more?

I mean really, suing because a company changed the price of something? That never happens! Plus, suing because she was forced into a 2 year contract with AT&T with a $175 fee for breaking the contract. No other cell phone carrier does that either! My God! Why are these people allowed to waste our (taxpayer) money! They should be placed in jail for wasting the courts time and taxpayer money!

Excuse me while I go bang my head on a concrete wall...

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Amp, Apple, Appleinsider, Cell Phone, Chief Executive, Concrete Wall, God, iPhone, Iphone Price, Jobs, Phone Carrier, Rebates, Suits, Taxpayer Money, Wireless Partner