Dvorak predicts Apple switch to Windows?!!

John C. Dvorak recent PC Magazine article

Dvorak PC Magazine Article

Devorks argument in a nutshell

Apple is a hardware company, Strong iPods sales could allow them to drop the OS revenue. The quarter after it's launch in 05 Tiger brought in about $100 million.

Windows has better 3rd party hardware support and some people refuse to switch because of a single gadget

Apple could build an "executive" graphics layer over Windows to maintain the Mac OS interface.

What about all the great Mac Software and technology around that? Core Audio, Core Image?

Dvoraks missing soul.

The software IS why we love Macs. OS X, iLife, etc

The way the OS and apps are designed makes a connection with users that goes beyond technical. It can't just be "skinned" on. The experience is deeper than that.

Macs have a soul and life. Steve Jobs is extremely in tune with this. He has always been Philosophical and metaphysical about technology.

Dvorak is looking at this from a purely practical and technical business perspective. This thinking almost killed Apple. Remember licensing and Michael Spindler and Gil Amelio years?

"We used to dream about this stuff. Now, we get to build it. It's pretty neat." Steve Jobs in a WWDC Keynote

Apple lawyers and the OSX86 Project

Apple's lawyers served the owners of OSX86 Project web site with a notice that they were in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright act

www.osx86project.org

The issue was over links to the OS 10.4.4 hack in the OSX86 forums that pointed to the hackers (Maxxuss) website. Directly linking to the files would be a violation.

The OSX86 forums were closed briefly and as noted on the OSX86 site, rumors that Apple shut down the site were exaggerated and for there part OSX86 removed all links to the hackers site.

Details emerge on Apple Worm

Most reports are calling it a Worm, not a Virus. It installed like a Trojan, infects apps like a Virus and then replicates like a worm via iChat.

Comes in a file called "latestpics.tgz" and is being called the Leap-A—or Oompa Loompa. This is because it looks in the applications it infects for an xattr entry of 'oompa' and changes it to 'loompa'. Essentially marking the app as infected, it does not damage the app.

"xattr" is family of functions in the BSD layer. Extended attributes extend the basic attributes associated with files and directories in the file system.

The thread and investigation started by Andrew Welch on the Ambrosia Software forum has a detailed account of exactly what the Worm does

Details on OS X Worm

You cannot be infected by this unless you do all of the following:

1) Are somehow sent (via email, iChat, etc.) or download the "latestpics.tgz" file

2) Double-click on the file to decompress it

3) Double-click on the resulting file to "open" it
...and then for non-Admin users, it fails to infect most applications.

This does not appear to intentionally do any damage, but do to a bug in the code infected Applications will not launch and will need to be reinstalled.

Second OS X Worm is found

This one is a Java based worm discovered by F-Secure

OSX/Inqtana Worm

Called OSX/Inqtana. The worm tries to spread from one infected system to others by using Bluetooth OBEX Push vulnerability.

Apple fixed the vulnerability in Mac OS X 10.3.x and Mac OS X 10.4.x. It also requires that receiving Macs accept the incoming file via Bluetooth.

It is a concept WORM and has not been seen "in the wild".

Rumor of 17" MacBook Pro by WWDC in June

Apple Insider is reporting that it believes Apple is getting set to release the 17" MacBook Pro by the World Wide Developer Conference in June.

Rumor: 17" MacBook Pro

Reported to be as thin as a 15" Powerbook, but slowing progress may be that there is no 8x SuperDrive small enough to fit.

Apple and NBC offer Free Pilot Episode of Conviction, maybe?

In the NBC section of iTunes is an image for the new NBC drama Conviction.

The Conviction show is labeled "Free" for the "World Premiere Pilot Episode + Extras"

But there appears to be no way to download it yet. Which makes since because it hasn't aired.

Follow up on Grants.gov

Listener Sam emailed them and I wasn't quite correct.

They offer something for Macs called Citrix Client

Grants.gov Citrix Client

It seems to me a remote client that allows you to access a Windows server running IE pointed at their application form which still uses the PureEdge Viewer.

iWeb update allows duplicate page names between sites

Bronson points to that the new iWeb update did away with the unique page name restriction

IWeb duplicate page names

Names within a site still need to be unique.

Non-Apple Remote Control for your Mac

If you don't have a new Mac with the Apple remote here are some other options

Salling Clicker, uses your Bluetooth or WiFi enabled device to help control your Mac

Salling Clicker

Control iTunes, Keynote, PowerPoint, EyeTV, DVD Player, VLC, and more...

Plugin for FrontRow available

Salling Clicker FrontRow

Griffin Technology AirClick