ipod

Apple turns to IBM exec

Judi Hasson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:06:48 -0500

Apple Inc. has gone outside its normal orbit with plans to hire an IBM technology executive to run its iPod and iPhone hardware engineering groups. The move is not sitting well with IBM, which last week filed a lawsuit against the executive, Mark Papermaster. IBM maintains that Papermaster, the manager in charge of the company's Blade server business, signed an agreement preventing him from accepting a job with a competitor until one year after leaving the company.

Tony Fadell, senior vice president for the company's iPod division, will stay at Apple in an advisory role. The New York Times reports that Apple may be interested in Papermaster's processor design expertise. Apple earlier this year purchased PA Semi Inc., a small microprocessor design firm that was developing microprocessors based on the IBM Power design.

For more on this corporate intrigue:
- see the New York Times article

Should the president use a computer?

Judi Hasson — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:54:47 -0400

The Wall Street Journal asks whether the president of the United States or even the top executive of a big company should use a computer and get bogged down reading email, deleting spam or closing pop-up windows.

Here's the dilemma: How can someone who never touches a computer truly be in touch with what is happening in the world? On the other hand, does anyone who spends hours in front of a computer have any time to think? Of course, there can be a happy medium. Presidents and company executives have trusted staff who can filter and summarize key information, check the inbox and provide the boss with time to ponder the great issues.

And when the urge arises, presidents could still check their favorite sites and get in touch, but only for limited amounts of time. In the current presidential campaign, Democrat Barack Obama regularly checks his BlackBerry and uses an iPod. He may be one of those who will have to exercise self-restraint. That's not the case for Republican John McCain. He is of another generation, and confesses to computer illiteracy.

For more:
- see this Wall Street Journal article

Managing consumer technology

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Every CIO knows that iPods, Skype, USB flash drives and other consumer products have invaded the workplace as employees routinely seek support for connecting their devices to the office desktop. CIO Magazine writes that IT shops must not only have policies and procedures in place but that these policies must be revised on a regular basis and communicated clearly. Moreover, says Rob Israel, the CIO of the John C. Lincoln Health Network, CIOs should involve users in policy creation, build in security and find a balance between restriction and freedom of use.

To learn more:
- See this CIO Magazine article

Lotus Notes for iPhone gets delayed

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

With all the hubbub yesterday about the corporate iPhone plans, it seemed that the stage was set for IBM's heavily-rumored Lotus Notes client for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Unfortunately, however, it looks like the product has been delayed and won't be shown at Lotusphere this week. In an interview with ZDnet Australia, an IBM spokesperson revealed that "It's not something that (is) ready to go out and market or launch." Apparently, the premature speculation, which was fueled by an AP report last week, may have been triggered by IBM's showing of the still in-development software behind closed doors. So it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for Lotus Notes support on the iPhone, though it does appear that it really is on the way. Will Lotus support have a big impact on enterprise iPhone sales? IBRS analyst Kevin McIsaac doesn't think so: "I can't really imagine someone who's really hip and cool--like an iPhone user--wanting to use Lotus Notes."

For more on Lotus Notes on the iPhone:
- see this Cnet article

Lotus Notes coming to iPhone?

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:59:58 -0500

Look out, IT department! According to the Associated Press, IBM is getting ready to announce Lotus Notes email compatibility for both the iPhone and iPod Touch. In its report, the AP claims that IBM will announce the new product, which will require Domino email server, at the annual Lotusphere conference in Orlando next week. Allegedly, the program would be free for anyone with an existing Lotus Notes license or $39 for new users. Could this be the first, official third-party application developed using the iPhone SDK? We'll have to wait and see, though if this rumor is true, the iPhone could be on verge of breaking into the enterprise space in a big way. Also on tap for this year's Lotusphere, according to the AP: Mac versions of Lotus Notes and the free Lotus Symphony productivity application suite.

For more on the rumor:
- see this AP report

Macworld rumor: iTunes-compatible DVDs

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:59:53 -0500

We've now got less than one week and counting until MacWorld 2008's "Stevenote," so let's try not to slouch on this rumor front, okay? So far, we've got an ultraportable MacBook Pro, new Cinema Displays and a 3G iPhone on the docket but that's not all, friends. If you keep your ear low to the ground, you might have already heard rumors of movie rentals via iTunes. While pricing details, participating studios and rental terms remain unclear, rumor has it that a 24-hour rentals from Disney, Fox and possibly other studios will go on sale next week for $3.99. It's hard to say whether the service would be a success at that price point, though it would certainly give Apple TV owners something else to do with their little white set-top-box.

Additionally, certain studios are said to be announcing a plan to provide iTunes/iPod compatible versions of films gratis with a DVD purchase. A Mac enthusiast who received a pre-release "Family Guy" DVD, scheduled for release on the 15th, found that the DVD included both both WMV and iPod-friendly H.264 versions of the film for download. However, the feature apparently requires version 7.6 of iTunes, which is said to be arriving--when else?--on the 15th.

For more on the iTunes video rumors:
- see this MacRumors article
- and this BusinessWeek piece on iTunes rentals

ALSO NOTED: Firefox: over 125 million served; IBM sues over flammable laptop batteries;

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> IBM sues over counterfeit, flammable laptop batteries. Article
> 8GB Asus Eee PC gets spec'd, priced, is now available. Article
> Tiny PC is dirt and waterproof. Article
> This holiday, give the gift of iPod repair. Article
> Samsung announces the world's fastest memory...again. Article
> AMD CEO Hector Ruiz claims that Intel "copied everything from AMD." Article
> Firefox: over 125 million served. Article

And Finally... Re-purpose an old CRT monitor as a cat bed. Seriously. Article

ALSO NOTED: Verizon selects LTE for 4G rollout; Powerpoint 2008 to feature iPhone, iPod compatibility;

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Verizon selects GSM-based LTE for 4G rollout. Article
> Powerpoint 2008 to feature iPhone, iPod Touch compatibility. Article
> Toshiba rolls out Carbon Neutral program in the U.K. Article
> Motorola drops in handset sales rankings. Article
> Micron develops RAM-like SSD stick. Article
> Novell-SCO case heading to trial. Article
> Nigerian keyboard manufacturer sues OLPC for patent infringement. Press release

And Finally... Linksys typo guides consumers to adult hotline. Article

ALSO NOTED: Greenpeace green tech rankings flawed?; Nokia and Apple gear up for a patent war;

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:59:51 -0500

> Greenpeace green tech rankings flawed? Article
> Optimus Keyboard: OLED keys for the bleeding-edge. Article
> How do U.S. iPhone rate plans compare to those abroad? Chart
> Nokia/Apple touchscreen patent war looming in the distance. Article
> Remember that powering an iPod with an onion trick? Sorry folks: it turns out we all got had. Article

And Finally... Man killed by an exploding mobile phone. Article

Over 50 and hot on IT

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

Theories of the grey-haired population being a bunch of Luddites were put to rest last week as research showed that the over 50s are taking up the latest technology in droves. According to an online survey of 750 people over the age of 50 by Millennium, over 90 percent of those who are Internet enabled are spending at least 10 hours a week online. Embracing technology does not end there: a total of 20 percent said they have listened to a podcast in the last month and 30 percent own an iPod/MP3 player.

Trends for the over 50 crowd:
- Check out this Computerweekly article