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Apple lobs grenade into Microsoft media center camp

APC Magazine’s Dan Warne reckons Apple is about to deftly round-house kick Microsoft’s media center strategy for six. First Apple leaves a mysterious header on the Mac Mini motherboard for a non-existent iPod dock connector. Then it brings out media center software and a video iPod at the same time. Then it recruits the head of TV recording company ElGato. When you put the pieces together, it ain’t pretty for Microsoft.  [apcmag.com]

All the stuff I love thinking about. The mini as a trojan horse, and the iPod 5G as the stealth bomber that flys directly towards Redmond.

Apple has collected the pieces, maintains software and marketing superiority … we just need the public plan of action and like lemmings we’ll flock.

Seriously though Apple will likely nail it, if they decide to roll FrontRow, plus TV beyond the dorm room through the new iMac.

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In-ActiveSync

Just your standard non-sensical bug for Mobile Windows users… I like how the added security features in windows are apparently the cause of the disconnect, yet it works when connected wirelessly vs. the local cable where it does not work at all. Nice.

The software maker said some users of ActiveSync 4, the latest version of Microsoft’s synchronization software, are unable to link up to their PC, particularly on systems running firewall or parental control software. The problem occurs in devices based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 5 operating system, including recently released handhelds from Dell and HP as well as cell phones from Sprint and iMate.

The problems are limited to those connecting a device to a PC via a USB connection, Microsoft said. No problems have been reported when connecting wirelessly using a Bluetooth or infrared connection, or when connecting directly to a server. [CNET News.com]

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DS owners get WiFi with that

Nintendo is announcing a WiFi deal with McDonalds today… You know, like Starbucks for Kids.

Nintendo of America on Tuesday will announce a groundbreaking partnership with Wi-Fi provider Wayport to make available free Internet access to DS owners at McDonald’s restaurants across the nation. Nintendo and Wayport will offer complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots at McDonald’s establishments, enabling DS owners to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which launches November 14 in the states, to play online games with or against each other. [IGN]

Personally I think this deal makes an amazing amount of sense based on the shared audience of the two companies. While there are not many games for the DS supporting WiFi today this could lead to some great hacking or force developers hands a bit as the 6000 enabled locations will be quite tempting…

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Yahoo and MSN chat nicely

I received an update from both Cnet and the WSJ tonight on my blackberry that Yahoo and MSN reached an agreement to get their IM services to work together. This is great news for interoperability. Andy notes VOIP will work between platforms as well since they both use SIP. That would be very cool.

AOL … where are you? I’d love to use a single IM service / app and get it all in one. It’s silly to have to use a multi-IM app just because people have signed up with different services. Email plays nicely… IM and enhanced services should as well – especially since these things are free. Perhaps a new leaf with the Yahoo / MSN deal? AOL is pushing more free stuff now anyway…

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Network Solutions – Bad Renewal Mail

I just received a message from NSI warning me my services were about to expire… I reviewed their email a few times and can’t quite figure it out.

Here’s what I saw –

Domain 1 — Mar 08,2006
Domain 2 — Jun 16,2006
Domain 3 — Aug 17,2006

Today is October 11, 2005. Nothing is due to expire for at least 5 months…

If you need to send premature renewal notices at least confuse me like magazines do (ahem) by not printing the date. This is simply a crap email wasting my time – though clearly I’ve thought about it long enough to blog it.

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Gamers like the ads

Gary Stein notes a BusinessWeek piece which says apparently Gamers like ads in games. This is certainly good for companies like Massive and companies like EA which sell space in games.

Gamers apparently like the realism you get from seeing brands integrated. Good news all around as the gaming market is an excellent target for many companies – including my clients.

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Google Reader

Google Reader is a web-based newsreader which takes some of the solid simplicity of Google plus the AJAX goodness of Gmail and rolls things together for an almost good thing.

If you read a few feeds, I can see really liking this. I was able to import my full OPML file (which I use through Newsgator, NNW and Bloglines) and while it imported smoothly (even over GPRS on the train) I am not too psyched with how my feeds are displayed. I’m used to folders by topic with feeds rolled up within. Google Reader took my folders and applied their names as tags to the feeds listed. I frankly don’t like this at all given the numbeer of subscriptions I manage.

I really like how easy it is to navigate about and think they’ve nailed that piece. I’d like to see things go further actually and get more sophisticated.

Feedlounge – which I still can’t get access to – seems to offer desktop parity in browser which would be nice. I’m torn between wanting NNW and not being able to use it on a PC so instead I am making sacrifices to maintain sync compatibility through the Web UI.

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The Sun-Google partnership

So Sun and Google is pretty straight forward for now… all about MS their collective believe in Open Source.

Of particular note:

Solaris, OpenOffice, Java, open-source software–is there anything in the partnership that isn’t aimed directly at Microsoft?

Not really. Java competes with Microsoft’s .Net and Windows, OpenOffice competes with Microsoft Office, Solaris competes with Windows, and the Google Toolbar provides access to Google online services that compete with Microsoft’s MSN. [ZDNet]

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Google and Sun?

PaidContent.org reports on a deal pending between Google and Sun and there’s certainly a few interesting options to consider from the slightly boring to the very interesting!

InternetNews: They’re expected to announce a collaboration to bring StarOffice productivity applications to Google users.
eWeek: For months now rumors have swirled around the release of a possible desktop operating system from Google as it moves to build a comprehensive platform by turning computing into a utility.
AP: Investors suspect that the announcement will concern a sale of Sun’s recently launched Galaxy servers, the technology company’s first foray into commodity servers.
Marketwatch: One possibility is that Google could be buying Sun servers to run the Wi-Fi network. Software could also on the table, based on Schmidt’s background and ties to Sun.

I’m hoping for the GoogleOS – OpenOffice news… server sales are hardly worthy of a joint press announcement.

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Google Wifi in New York

News.com
picks up on the latest node – Bryant Park.

I am pretty sure Bryant Park was one of the original Unwire locations for Intel from a few years back but it looks like Google has muscled in on it in order to offer their own free access. I have not had a chance to check it out (though it’s not so far away really). I wonder if they upped the speed – I’ve read the SF location is really quick – or just rebranded the portal page.

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RIM picks Intel for new BlackBerrys

ZDNet covers the news on the new Blackberry (Electron) which will include Intel Inside.

The gadget rumor mill seemed pretty interested in this new one. Looks like a nice update to the existing wider format Blackberry.

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Google Video testing the waters

Just caught this on the wires… certainly an interesting move given what Google has been up to lately with wifi and buying up the darker fiber out there.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – In the latest convergence of prime time and online, Google Inc. GOOG.O on Monday began offering exclusive video streaming of the new UPN television comedy “Everybody Hates Chris” — a first for the network and the popular Internet portal.

The entire premiere episode of the new sitcom, produced and narrated by comedian Chris Rock based on his childhood, will be available for four days via Google Video at http://video.google.com/chris, both companies said. [Reuters.com]

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Unpeeling Apple’s Nano

I’ve certainly contributed more than my share to the bottom line in Cupertino, but I had no idea it was so lucrative.

Now that the Nano is on the market, attention has turned to more practical questions. Among them: How fat are Apple’s margins on it?

Market research firm iSuppli set out to satisfy the curiosity by buying the $199 2-gigabyte version of the Nano and tearing it apart. The verdict? It costs Apple $90.18 in materials to build the unit and $8 to assemble it, leaving a profit margin before marketing and distribution costs of about 50%. That’s consistent with the margins on earlier iPod versions and serves as a reminder of what a profit machine the iPod family of products has become for Apple since it was introduced in 2001. [Business Week]

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Googlenet closer than you think?

Via Om…

The vendors who have seen Google’s fiber network RFP say that the nature of the network can really only mean that Google ultimately hopes to push massive amounts of voice, video and data close to the end user.

The idea of Google creating their own network to do as they please – whether VOIP, broadband content or even IPTV must scare the pants of the Yahoo and MS. Sure they would probably play it down, and while Google is new in the are of controlling the pipes they are more than simply a force to be reckoned with.

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Dell Will Install Verizon Wireless

Big news on the wireless front… Dell will be including EVDO as a built-in option which will give you WAN as well as Wi-Fi LAN access. Pretty cool stuff! I am waiting on an EVDO card for my older Dell work system… having it all built in would be even nicer.

But the service requires customers to purchase a separate wireless card to slide into a laptop. Beginning early next year, the technology will be built directly into some of a line of Dell portable computers called the Latitude series. The service also requires a monthly subscription and annual contract. Verizon Wireless is negotiating with other laptop makers and is expected to announce shortly a similar deal with Lenovo Group Ltd., the maker of ThinkPad-brand laptops, according to a person familiar with those talks. [WSJ.com]

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MTV HD

From Ad Age MTV, is apparently brewing an HDTV channel for January…

Should be a very nice addition to HDTV lineups everywhere – though personally I hope the focus will be on music rather than on shows like Laguna Beach and My Sweet Sixteen (ahem, which my wife watches).