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Major/Minor Threat to Apple's living room vision: Microsoft's new Xbox One game+media hub?
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Wednesday Highlights: Tim Cook goes to Washington, under fire from the US Senate over offshore tax shelters including Ireland, China, makes no apologies, defending his company and telling senators they need to fix the tax system; Cook even plays a little Genius Bar as Senator John McCain complains of having to constantly update apps on is iPhone; plenty more in our Apple/Macintosh, Op/Ed, and Finances sections; Apple claiming Samsung Galaxy S4 infringes on five patents including customizations Samsung has done on the Android Jelly Bean OS; a "sophisticated 'operation hangover' gang in India" said to be responsible for new OS X Oslo malware; Mactuts+ offers help for those having issues downloading apps from the Mac App Store; Macworld shows you where to get some nice, free or low-cost fonts; and the staff at Macworld have another tutorial for switchers from Windows to OS X; and here's how to sync calendars for those of you balancing between Mountain Lion and Snow Leopard systems; according to new stats, Samsung and Motorola have cut Apple's lead in customer satisfaction by half; Apple updates online store in preparation for Father's Day; TechHive shows you which major US carriers have the most LTE throughout the states; Tim Cook says the USA-made Macs are to be built in the great state of Texas, with Apple spending $100 billion in the endeavor; Flickr, Vimeo integration rumored for iOS 7, and a couple interesting iPhone 6 concepts hit the web; LAPTOP Mag gets a hands-on with LifeProof's Fre iPad mini case; is Apple held to different standards than other companies?; Rush Limbaugh has no love for the Senates "high-tech lynching" of Apple; Microsoft's Xbox One means "goodbye freedom".
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"Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments Increased 2.3 Percent in Second Quarter of 2011" ["Based on preliminary results, Apple showed the strongest growth among the top-tier vendors in the U.S., as it climbed from fifth place to third, overtaking Acer and Toshiba (see Table 2). The preliminary findings show Apple's performance far exceed the industry average, partly driven by an iMac refreshment that attracted both consumers and buyers in the education sector."] Gartner 7:33 AM
"PCs: Apple jumps to No. 3 in the U.S., even without the iPad" Fortune 7:39 AM
"Apple Mac sales back above 10 percent: after 10 years: As PC sales decline in the U.S., Apple's sales take off: but the story is different elsewhere in the world" InfoWorld 10:32 AM
"Apple Vaults Past Acer, Toshiba; JP Morgan Sees iPhone 'Soaring'" Barron's 9:59 AM
"PC Market Returns to Positive Growth; Apple Now No. 3 Computer Maker IN U.S. With 10.7% Market Share – IDC" MacPrices 11:25 AM
"Apple jumps to No. 3 PC retailer in US" DigitalTrends 8:36 AM
"If Apple's June Quarter Is Big, September's Going To Be a Monster" AllThingsD 10:46 AM
"Analysts: Apple set to Report record Mac sales in Q3/Estimates range from 3.8 to 4.6 million. The consensus: 4.2 million, an all-time high" Fortune 1:30 PM
"Is the tablet computer a new PC or post-PC?" ["Excluding iPads, Apple is very close to being 5th largest global PC vendor. Global share likely to be above 5%. Including iPads, Apple would be 2nd."] asymco 7:51 AM
"Amazon apes Apple in new tablet tussle" New York Post 7:35 AM
"China Telecom will offer iPhone: China Telecom Corp Ltd plans to offer its 106 million subscribers Apple Inc's iPhone by the end of 2011, sources said on Wednesday." China Daily 7:27 AM
"South Korean Lawyer Starts Class-Action Suit Against Apple: SEOUL – Apple Inc.'s South Korea unit last month paid about $950 to settle a court ruling in a case brought by a South Korean attorney who claimed damages over the disclosure earlier this year that the company's iPhone retained location information about users." WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 9:46 AM
"Apple pays S.Korean user compensation over iPhone tracking - court" Reuters 7:48 AM
"Apple pays $945 to settle iPhone tracking suit in Korea" CNET News 9:51 AM
"Paul Allen Lawsuit Put On Hold As Patents Are Questioned" ["But this is a win for the defendants; it's clear that there isn't going to be any quick payday for Allen on this one. ... The list includes internet giants like Google, Apple, eBay, and Facebook, as well as some online retailers. The patents he's using have been criticized because they appear to cover basic strategies for online publishing, such as the use of related links."] paidContent 4:27 PM
"Aperture 3.1.3 adds Lion fullscreen mode" FairerPlatform 9:27 AM
AppleCare/Troubleshooting
"Managing a prohibitory sign at OS X bootup" MacFixIt 9:25 PM
"Getting ready for Lion: Converting old files" Betalogue 5:25 PM
"Lion discussion includes 'forced' updates; security; the silent elimination of Rosetta and related software; migration and reversion; document support issues; electronic distribution and Apple Stores; peripheral hardware compatibility; Apple market/customer changes; Microsoft Office problems; Apple hardware updates; and questions about compatibility, replacement software and features." MacInTouch 10:14 AM
"Compressor 4: Canceling a batch" Apple Support 7:18 AM
Reviews/How-To/Tips
"Apple Mac OS X 'Lion' Review" ["Long story short, here again Apple has taken functionality that existed previously elsewhere, made it easier to use and functionality superior, and created in effect something that is both new and different. And in this case, it's just plain better. These features, in tandem with resume and other apps improvements, give Lion a measurable edge over Windows right now in terms of underlying apps functionality. This is nicely done. ... Lion shows that there's some life left yet in the Mac OS X side of the house. This isn't just a collection of minor updates and refinishes. It's a step away from the norm, finally, after a decade of steady and largely boring minor revisions. I'm excited to see where they take OS X next."] Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows 8:06 AM
"Final Cut Pro X Review: A bold step forward -- whether legacy users like it or not" Mac|Life 3:32 PM
"How To Prepare Your Mac for OS X 10.7 Lion" BYTE 7:52 AM
"Report: Verizon iPhone, iPad 2 Reduced Momentum for Android Apps" The Mac Observer 4:01 PM
"Mobile technology at a sit-still: IPad users like browsing at home/The iPad may be designed for people on the go, but most iPad owners prefer to use them as they lounge on the couch or in their bedrooms, according to a recent survey." San Francisco Chronicle 2:33 PM
"Senators Ask Spy Chief: Are You Tracking Us Through Our iPhones? Two key senators want to know if the leader of the vast U.S. intelligence apparatus believes it's legal for spooks to track where you go through your iPhone." Wired 3:21 PM
"Apple to face tougher tablet rivals: report/Nomura sees market shift next year, but some analysts disagree" MarketWatch 2:19 PM
"Amazon to Battle Apple iPad With Tablet/Amazon.com Inc. has battled Apple Inc. over digital books, digital music and mobile applications. Now the two companies are taking their clash to another front: the tablet market." WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 7:55 AM
"Amazon apes Apple in new tablet tussle" New York Post 7:39 AM
"Amazon said skimping on tablet features to undercut iPad" Electronista 3:31 PM
"Brits lose out as iTunes prices jump: Most stories covering Apple's international price rises have focused on the base price - up from 59p to 69p in the UK, a rise of 16 per cent or so - the increase is higher elsewhere." Register Hardware 3:21 PM
"Apple Updates iTunes Global Pricing" Cult of Mac 11:21 AM
"Apple tweaks iTunes music pricing" Mac.Blorge 11:55 AM
"Apple Australia slashes app prices by up to 25%" Melbourne Age 7:48 AM
"Chinese man builds 'iPad' from scrap parts" TG Daily 2:36 PM
"MTA casts net for new smart phone transit apps" Stamford Advocate 7:28 AM
"Depth of Field: Apple Photo Gallery/Even Andy Warhol loved the Apple logo." InformationWeek 8:37 AM
"Study: why bother to remember when you can just use Google?" Ars Technica 1:39 PM
"Amazon Tablet to Take on iPad in October: An Amazon tablet powered by Android will Reportedly be released with Amazon services in October." infoSync World 9:51 AM
"Paraphrasing/Rewriting vs. Aggregation" Daring Fireball 2:36 PM
"Apple Looking to Kick HTC Out of Smartphone Business" iDownload Blog 2:33 PM
"App Downloads Surpass Song Downloads On iTunes" PadGadget 2:31 PM
"The Macalope Daily: Byte me" Macworld [Subscription Required for Full Article] 1:04 PM
"The iPhone Will Soon Help Police Catch Criminals" App Advice 12:38 PM
"The End of the Engineer" ["Exhibit 1 for this argument: Apple. In the better, faster, cheaper era of the engineer, Apple version 1.0 fell to the brink of irrelevance. The name of the game was processor speeds and memory capacity, and the successful companies of that era were consistently outdelivering Apple. Steve Jobs (full disclosure: his picture is on my wall of heroes) decided to compete using a different rule set. He pulled Apple out of the era of the engineer and into the era of marketing."] Forbes 11:56 AM
"Netflix's Rate Hike Gives iTunes a New Glow" MacNewsWorld 8:05 AM
"Apple is biting the hands that feed it: The cost of enjoying your Apple smartphone with any new games for it has just gone up." The Inquirer 7:58 AM
"It's Mango vs. Apple in a Battle of the Fruitphones: Apple and Microsoft are headed in opposite directions with their smartphone market share, but the next version of Windows Phone could change that." Network World 7:35 AM
Non-Apple
"Made in America: The state of US-based music services" GigaOM 8:39 PM
"Verizon's New Data Plans Could Really Hurt Mobile Apps" VentureBeat [Free/Paid Registration Required] 3:57 PM
"Avoid these security mistakes when setting up a wireless access point" ZDNet 3:36 PM
"Cool apps for the HP TouchPad with screenshots" ZDNet 3:35 PM
"How Long Until the Cloud Renders Hard Drives Obsolete?" Techland 3:14 PM
"Color TV helps you dream in color" TG Daily 2:50 PM
"Evidence Suggests that the Internet Changes How We Remember" Technology Review 2:46 PM
"Hacktivism moves from pranks to problems" CSO 11:56 AM
"One big Windows world. It's coming, but when and how? For months, rumors have been circulating that Microsoft was poised to make its 'Windows Everywhere' world a reality. But that reality is still a ways off, in spite of comments by Microsoft execs this week at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference about a unified ecosystem across phones, PCs and TVs." ZDNet 12:38 PM
"Bad, but inevitable: The consumerization of IT is accelerating/Everyone, led by Vice President Whatshisname, wants to use their iPhone on the corporate network. Don't IT security people have enough problems? But the onslaught of unsecurable consumer devices in the enterprise is probably unstoppable." BetaNews 10:48 AM
"Amazon's Tablet Is No Threat To Apple, It's A Huge Threat To Google" TechCrunch 10:35 AM
"5 questions about the Amazon tablet" SplatF 9:27 AM
"Sony's Tablets: Definitely Not iPads" Technologizer 8:39 AM
"Why Netflix Raised Its Prices" New York Times [Free/Paid Registration Required] 10:55 AM
"In Defense of Netflix: This price change may be too much, but we should hold off on the vitriol: Netflix has consistently been a bargain and one of the most customer-friendly services on the Web." PCWorld 8:37 AM
"Blio Now Available in Apple's App Store, Offering Seamless Experience to Readers" PRNewswire 12:04 PM
"SoundMatters Delivers foxLv2 Bluetooth For iPad Ultimate Wireless Portable Speaker" Thomas PR 11:19 AM
"Griffin's 'A-Frame' iPad Stand Drops From $49.99 To $19.99, Today Only!" RazorianFly 10:58 AM
"Jeff Gamet Discusses Jailbreaking, Security on IMP" The Mac Observer 10:49 AM
"iOS Accessory Roundup: Everything is everything" Macworld 10:34 AM
"Pocket God Keeps The Updates Coming" 148Apps 10:34 AM
"Empire Builder: Ancient Egypt out on the iPhone!" 99Games 10:31 AM
"iOS Recipes: Tips and Tricks for Awesome iPhone and iPad Apps" O'Reilly Books & Video 10:11 AM
"The Bheestie Bag Dries Out Your Gadgets, Saves Them From Water Damage" Lifehacker 9:51 AM
"Bongiovi releases universal DPS app for iOS" iLounge 9:31 AM
"Trailer for Upcoming 'Roboto' – Fast Paced Platforming with Stunning Visuals" Touch Arcade 8:37 AM
"iPhone Camera + Classical Guitar = Wild Rolling Shutter Effects" TechCrunch 8:12 AM
"Nuance 'Dragon Go' Turns Your iPhone Into a Good Listener" PC Magazine 2:14 PM
"Nuance's Dragon Go! Now Available in the Apple App Store: Revolutionary Dragon App Hears What You Say, Knows What You Want; Direct Content from 180 Providers Including Yelp, OpenTable, Fandango, ESPN, Pandora, LiveNation, Last.fm, AccuWeather, Milo.com, and Many More" Business Wire 9:31 AM
"Nuance Delivers iOS Voice Command with Dragon Go! App" Mac|Life 7:53 AM
"Drchrono Raises Funding To Bring Medical Records To The iPad" TechCrunch 7:50 AM
"DSLR/Digital Cinema Intensive a Favorite at Manhattan Edit Workshop" prMac 4:01 PM
"Tribal Nova releases its third app - i Learn With Poko: Additions!" prMac 10:33 AM
"GPS Cycle Computer 1.0 Most Accurate and Precise Cycle Computer" prMac 9:05 AM
"TrapIt LITE blasts its way into the iTunes App Store" prMac 7:53 AM
"Holderness Media presents The Landwhale for iPad" prMac 7:29 AM
"Chipmunk Physics 6.0: iOS Physics and more- now with Chipmunk Pro!" prMac 7:15 AM
"Milk and Coffee is Here - A beautiful Free Physics Puzzler for the iOS" prMac 7:15 AM
"YouTube mega-hit Twinkle Twinkle Little Star becomes interactive app" prMac 7:15 AM
"Red Sky launches new app - Created by a 13 year old boy" prMac 7:15 AM
"Magic Academy: New Great Hidden Object Quest Now Available on App Store" prMac 7:15 AM
"Continuing Education Tracker - New App for Certified Professionals" prMac 7:15 AM
"COO Turner Stresses Upgrade, Cloud Opportunities In Microsoft WPC Keynote" CRN 11:14 AM
"Microsoft, Yahoo and Dell face data centre challenge from local residents: Backup generators causing pollution, say campaigners" Techworld 2:47 PM
"Microsoft envisions $100 Windows Phones" TG Daily 2:50 PM
"Microsoft stirs up Windows Phone Mango for partners" ZDNet UK 3:37 PM
"Windows Server 8 to get hypervisor boost" ZDNet UK 3:37 PM
"Microsoft Imagine Cup 2011 Winners Tap Windows Phone, Cloud and Bing" eWeek 11:35 AM
"Before the PC: IBM invents virtualisation" The Register 3:11 PM
"IBM throws its source code and support behind OpenOffice" ZDNet 3:34 PM
"IBM crams Lotus Symphony back into OpenOffice: IBM is contributing Lotus Symphony to the Apache Software Foundation, re-uniting this OpenOffice fork with the 'official' version of the project." The Register 3:09 PM
"IBM Bequeaths Symphony Code to Apache" IDG News Service 2:13 PM
"IBM launches Web analytics, marketing suite in next phase of commerce push" ZDNet 3:34 PM
"IBM's Cloud Is Big in Japan With Two New Data Centers" AllThingsD 9:58 AM
"SAP-IBM Payroll System Woes Fouled up Nurses' Pay" IDG News Service 2:13 PM
"Do RIM's troubles act as a warning to Oracle?" ZDNet 3:35 PM
"Defragger salesman frags HP: Defrag software supplier Diskeeper has denounced HP for failing to mention fragmentation issues." The Register 3:12 PM
"Cisco Reminds Us Once Again How Big the Internet Is, and How Big It's Getting" AllThingsD 3:49 PM
"Cisco expands Unified Computing System networking range: Fabric interconnects, interface card and updated software boosts portfolio" Network World 2:48 PM
"Cisco speeds UCS server I/O and extends fabric" ZDNet UK 3:37 PM
"Tech Boom Drives Turnover At Popular SoMa Address" WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required] 9:40 AM
"Fears rise in IT circles over new economic downturn: Federal debt talk impasse isn't helping the mood at all, but will it affect IT spending and hiring?" Computerworld 11:21 AM
"Second quarter PC sales growth below expectations" MarketWatch 9:49 AM
"HP, Dell Lead Worldwide PC Shipments" eWeek 11:36 AM
"PC market downshifting, says Gartner: HP maintains its global lead, while Dell, Lenovo climb and Acer slips; PC market grows by just 2.3% in Q2" Computerworld 11:19 AM
"MIT grows LED array in a beaker" TG Daily 2:50 PM
"Tomorrow's Transistor, Built Atom by Atom: A more precise manufacturing method will help as electronics shrink ever smaller." Technology Review 2:46 PM
MacSurfer Headline News Staff
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: P. Pearson
Managing & Weekday Editor: D. Mahaffy
Evening Editors: S. Siegling and
D. Mahaffy
Weekend Editors: S. Siegling , C. Rogers and
D. Mahaffy
CEO: T. Jefferson
CFO: K. Midas
Editor Emeritus: W. Shakespeare
Writers Emeritus: W. Lewis, R. Chandler, W. Morris, G. Simenon, C. Vallejo, F. Garcia Lorca,
P. White, R. Adams, P. Valery, C. Aiken, R. Bradbury, F. Pessoa, S. Bellow, F. O'Connor
Art Directors: V. Van Gogh, C. Monet
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Public Relations Firm: Bits & Bytes
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Road Crew: R. Petty, J. Cooper
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General Counsel: #%@*$$$$!
