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Engadget: Houston overrun by electronics-killing ants

2008-05-15T22:00:00Z

It sounds like the plot of a Roger Corman film, I know, but as reported on our sister blog, apparently swaths of Texas are being overrun by "Crazy Rasberry Ants," named for their discoverer (and exterminator) Tom Rasberry, not for the tasty fruit.

The ants, for some reason, are attracted to electrical equipment, including your Mac. A friendly chat with an AppleCare representative revealed that AppleCare policies do not cover insect infestation. Instead, the rep helpfully suggested that your renter's or homeowner's policy might cover the computer instead.

The ants arrived in the U.S. via a shipping container. They reproduce quickly, and are very difficult to kill. Might be worth it to keep an eye out. Apparently, they've been spotted near Johnson Space Center, and who knows what secrets they could be after.

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Macworld’s New Rules for Buying a Mac

2008-05-14T18:46:49Z

Spot-on advice from Macworld’s Jonathan Seff and Jason Snell on how to choose which Mac to buy.

★

The highest form of flattery?

2008-05-13T10:11:10Z

Creating a new design always involves a recombination or evolution of existing design patterns and styles. It happens ever so often that one is inspired by another site’s design and that certain aspects are carried over into the new design – albeit in a transformed and adapted way. This is the reason why web design galleries exist and we are both proud and flattered that our current design has been featured in numerous galleries last summer, for example here, here, here, and here.

A different matter, however, are pixel by pixel rip-offs. The software developer Panic, for example, has gathered a whole collection of those.

Yesterday one of our users (thanks Vitor!) pointed us to a complete rip-off of our current web design. It turned out to be the most blatant one I had ever seen. See for yourself:

I not only had quite some fun dissecting what the plagiator did do or rather didn’t do, I also learned a lot in the process. I am happy to present to you today our new tutorial:

Learn how to become a kick-ass rip-off artist in 8 easy steps.

Be sure to use the same color scheme. This makes Cultured Code users feel right at home.
Pay attention even to the smallest of details, like the little silhoutte icons in the navigation bar, the smaller dollar sign… Only cowards cover their tracks.
Treat inconsistencies with respect. The original designer must have had a reason to use Helvetica in the navigation bar and Lucida Grande for everything else.
(Which reminds me of something I forgot to update when I changed the whole website to Lucida Grande…)
Don’t even think about changing one pixel of an icon. You don’t want to mess up someone else’s work. Also, keeping the same filename makes maintenance a lot easier in case the original website updates their graphics.
Paying hommage to Panic’s Transmit truck is a must for every serious rip-off artist.
If the original website doesn’t have a contact form to copy, create your own. It’s not that hard. You can do it!
And for those who still don’t get it: Leave one link unchanged to prove beyond any doubt, that you must have completely copied the entire source code.
Claim a copyright.

What can we learn from all of this? The bold variant of Lucida Grande looks kind of nice in the sidebar. We should try that too.

Are Macs a smart career move?

2008-05-01T04:10:00Z

The Macalope had to do a double take at this piece on eWEEK that argues that a well-rounded IT background should include knowledge of the Mac.

An article on Macs in business that reasonably lays out the pro case?

A quote about religion that is about Microsoft instead of Apple?

A reporter who didn't get a quote from Rob Enderle?

A planet where apes evolved from man?!

"There is almost a religious belief by existing IT staff in the Windows religion, and it's a symbiotic relationship: They keep getting Microsoft certifications and they keep telling their bosses to continue buying Windows," Technology Business Research analyst Ezra Gottheil told eWEEK.

Ezra, you're lucky you're not in the same room as the Macalope right now, because he wants to sweep you up and give you a great big hug and that would be embarrassing for both of us.

Probably more so for you.

Definitely for you.

But it's true. Mac home users are constantly derided as some kind of "cult", completely in thrall to Steve Jobs. But it's Microsoft that has created an entire church, with priests, acolytes and altar boys (also known as "Access developers").

Though consumer and enterprise technologies function in largely separate universes guided by wildly different demands, the uptick in Mac use puts pressure on enterprises to allow employees to use what they're used to.

Well, the Macalope doesn't know about that. Since when does corporate IT care about your needs?

Since never, that's when.

What does make a difference is when the IT professionals themselves get sick and tired of Microsoft's licensing requirements or Dell's build quality and try using the Mac. You know this guy, right? After years of dismissing the Mac, he's all, "Boy, it turns out Macs aren't so bad after all! Boy, if it hadn't been for those obnoxious Mac users who keep saying how great they are, I would have converted years ago! It's obviously their fault and not because I'm a pig-headed ignoramus!"

Mmm-hmm.

Well, whatever these people tell themselves in the mirror, the horny one has seen an increasing number of these once-straight IT professionals who are now taking a walk on the wild side.

OK, that may not have been the best analogy.

"I've spoken to IT directors who have liked many things about Macs, but the rarity of Mac technicians and the commonness of Windows skills was an issue for them," said Kay.

For "issue" you may feel free to read "excuse".

Until Microsoft refuses to give companies loopholes that allow them to use XP and Microsoft to claim it as a Vista sale, there's probably going to be little movement toward the Mac. It's a down economy, so corporations aren't exactly chomping at the bit to undertake a big software and/or hardware conversion. They're content to sit on XP.

Again, the Macalope's not sure he necessarily agrees with the entire premise. Sure, there's little doubt that some companies are going to give the Mac a try, but it's not going to be a wholesale switching. There's too much investment and cultural bias to overcome for substantial movement to happen. Still, this piece was a pleasant change from the usual claptrap we've been forced to endure.

Guillermo Del Toro Will Direct ‘The Hobbit’

2008-04-25T06:38:43Z

Earlier today it was announced that the amazing Guillermo del Toro will be directing the upcoming The Hobbit movie. But that’s not all, he’ll also be directing a sequel to The Hobbit which deals with the 60 year period between where The Hobbit ends and Lord of the Rings begins. In fact he’s so commited to the movie that he’s moving to New Zealand for the next four years so he can film the movies back to back.

I’ve been a big fan of del Toro’s since I saw The Devil’s Backbone (which has one of the VERY best ghosts I’ve ever seen in a movie) and of course the amazing job he did on Pan’s Labyrinth as well. I think that he’ll do an amazing job, but it sucks that we all have to wait until 2011 and 2012 to see these movies!

For more info check out the Variety article here.

Bobby

Adobe Discontinues GoLive

2008-04-28T07:46:00Z

I’m guessing most people are surprised only insofar as they were under the impression GoLive had been killed a few years ago.

★

In Brief: If this Logo's a Rockin' don't come a Knockin'

2008-04-26T15:42:13Z

Apologies for the being late to the party on this one, I was enjoying a warm beach view all week. So, the UK's Office of Government Commerce recently unveiled a new logo designed by FHD that, on a 90-degree rotation, proved to be irresistibly puerile in its evident self-gratifying visual. It's hard to admit it but, yes, it's quite giggle-inducing.

Free Your Mind

2008-04-19T23:23:18Z

Steven Poole, on the results of making a PDF version of a previously-published book available as a free download:

If the breathless advocates of “the free distribution of ideas” are serious, they need either a) to come up with a realistic proposal as to how I am to keep feeding myself while giving the fruits of my labours away for free; or b) come out and say honestly that they don’t think any such thing as a “professional writer” ought to exist, and that I should just get a job like anyone else. In a way, I’d respect people who came out and said the second thing. What I don’t respect is people who can’t see that those are the choices.

★

MacMod.com - Powerbook to Desktop

2008-04-16T10:44:06Z

I have an old titanium powerbook, and fancy having a go at this!

O2 Slash iPhone Price - as expected!

2008-04-16T10:22:36Z

This report from MacWorld.co.uk:

O2 has officially confirmed its anticipated £100 discount on the 8GB iPhone, offering the device for just £169 until 1 June 2008.

The move matches a discount recently initiated by Apple’s German network partner, T-Mobile, but the discount isn’t being applied on sales of the 16GB iPhone, which continues to cost £329.

The offer is available from today on all O2 iPhone tariffs and is designed (according to O2) to add momentum to what it calls its “fastest-selling device”.

O2 notes that iPhone users are among its most satisfied customers and declared the aim of the deal is to “bring its benefits to an even greater number of customers.”

“The iPhone has also been hugely successful in attracting new high value customers to O2 who are also more likely to recommend O2 to their friends and family. 60 per cent of iPhone customers are new to O2 while iPhone customers spend on average 30 per cent more than other Pay Monthly customers,” O2 explained.

The move also comes as expectation continues to build that Apple will introduce a second generation iPhone that supports the fast 3G wireless standard, perhaps as soon as June. The move also seem designed to clear stock of the existing 8GB model, possibly indicating higher capacity models are on the road map. O2 explains its offer to be “subject to stock availability.”

Mac 101: see iCal events in Cover Flow

2008-04-15T15:00:00Z

Filed under: TUAW Tips, Mac 101

Continuing with yesterdays obsession with Cover Flow, here is something that you might not have known existed in Leopard. You can browse iCal events with Cover Flow right inside a finder window. All you have to do is open Spotlight up by clicking its icon in the top right corner of the screen (or pressing command + spacebar). Then type kind:ical into a new Spotlight search, and click "Show All." Your results will now be shown in a new Finder window.

Activate cover flow by going to View > Cover Flow (or press command + 4). When you find the event you want, you can double click its icon to open it in iCal.app.

[via Macworld]

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Photojojo: Photography and The Law; Know Your Rights

2008-03-17T14:39:38Z

The “ten legal commandments” of photography.

Big deal.

2008-04-03T17:25:00Z

The Macalope is in general agreement with Jupiter Research's David Card that today's announcement of hot four-way action between MySpace, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner could be huge. The reason, of course, is because the kids love the MySpace. There are also a lot of details missing and there's plenty of room for them to screw this up, as is frequently their wont.

But the horny one had to chuckle at the press release on Warner's web site:

"MySpace Music" Empowers Artists and Consumers Globally With Unprecedented Digital Music Service and E-Commerce Platform

New Company to Leverage 30 Million Unique MySpace Music Traffic to Activate Monetization Around Music Content

Boy, they really know how to talk to their customers, don't they? The Macalope doesn't know about MySpace users, but when he hears that there's a new service that "empowers" "content" "monetization" through "e-commerce", he just wants to rush right out and cut himself off a slice of that!

The Macalope realizes press releases are not really directed at customers, but they do get put into news reports that customers read. You'd never see a press release from Apple like that. Maybe that's one of the reasons why Apple's the number one music retailer in the U.S.

Change We Can Believe In

2008-04-02T19:29:36Z

Beautiful new coinage in the U.K.; horrible new five-dollar bill here in the U.S.

★

Throwing Bones in the Air as ‘2001’ Turns 40

2008-04-05T02:38:13Z

On the 40th anniversary of its release, Ray Pride looks back at the initial critical response to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

My favorite story about the premiere is from Roger Ebert, who reported that Rock Hudson angrily left the theater asking, “Will someone tell me what the hell this is about?”

★

Amish Paradise

2008-03-29T01:04:06Z

Last week's column on education clearly struck a vein. Whenever reader comments go over 200 I know I've hit upon something that probably deserves a book, that is assuming people actually read books. Well of course they do, as the Harry Potter series proves over and over. But Harry Potter isn't just a book, it is an immersive virtual reality that kids relate to as an even better video game, if a low tech one. And that leads us to this week's follow-on to last week's teaser: so what do we DO about our kids, our schools, and a seemingly inexorable generation change that still isn't clearly good OR bad, just different?

I grew up in the time warp that was Wayne County, Ohio, in the 1950s. Back then at least the majority of the population of Wayne County was Amish, which is to say they didn't go to public school (or school at all after age 14), didn't drive cars or use electricity except to keep the dairy milk cool, didn't vote, bought as little as possible, sold as much as possible, and barely paid taxes. Wayne County was NOT the middle of nowhere, however, since Rubbermaid was headquartered there as was the Wooster Brush Company (world's largest maker of paint brushes), and Smucker's jams and jellies were just across the Holmes County line where there, too, the Amish were the silent majority.

Very little has changed since I was a kid. As my friend Henry from down the road in Mansfield, Ohio, points out, the Amish have been on this same "new" educational path forever. Their ability to produce nearly 100 percent productive citizens (and very nice furniture) for about fifty bucks per student per year is especially galling to those government schools that spend $16K and turn out a lot of slackers.

Most people would see the Amish as an anomaly, but I don't. I see the Amish as a particularly successful minority that picks and chooses how it will participate in modern life. We see a lot of this, especially internationally. Yes, the Amish have no army, but then neither do, in practical terms, many countries including some of our old enemies. The Amish do not suffer from avoiding public schools OR McDonalds. They live the life they have chosen to create.

Let's consider for a moment what many readers will find to be a politically incorrect position: because of cheap computers and the Internet, the ability to solve problems ad hoc has become more efficient than teaching kids about problems and issues that will never face them. As a result, the United States has let itself become less competitive by putting so much money into a product (a kid) making both its cost and its ability globally uncompetitive. So, instead of putting more effort into making globally competitive products, we put more effort into blaming those who are smarter at using technology that was mostly invented here.

If the idea is to give everyone a nice comfortable pension, if the same money invested each year in a typical kid's education was instead invested in an IRA, it would give that kid a very comfortable living upon reaching age 65.

Well this is a terrible position to take, don't you think? It treats our children like capital goods and denies them any ability to excel, dooming them to mediocrity.

Really?

My Mom (Mrs. Cringely to you) once said, "I may not have been the best mother, but at least I got all my kids through school."

"No you didn't," I replied (this is a true story, by the way). "We would have made it through school with or without you." And we would have.

Not wanting to put too much of a Libertarian spin on it, because I am certainly not a Libertarian, this is a fact that is missed by so many people. There will always be achievers, whether they go to public schools, private schools, home schools, magnet schools, charter schools, or no schools at all. While it is fine for society to create opportunities for advancement, what's more important is removing BARRIERS to advancement. And for the most part that's not what we are about.

What we tend to be about as a society is building power structures and most of those power structures, including schools and governments, are decidedly reactive. This is not all bad. After all, the poster child for educational and government proactivity in the 20th century may have been the Taliban in Afghanistan.

There will always be governments willing to take our money and then deciding to spend some of it in ways we wouldn't approve. That's probably an inevitable social cost of avoiding anarchy. But the idea that government has a lot of power to MAKE our kids become one way or another is only true to a very limited extent.

Our society will continue to create great artists, writers, scientists and engineers because people will be internally driven to greatness in all those fields. How many Picassos do you need in a society? How many Frank Lloyd Wrights? How many Einsteins? How many Bechtolscheims, Knuths, and Brins?

When high tech executives claim that we don't have enough visas for importing programmers from Asia, they are looking for talent by the ton, not by the neuron, yet neurons are what really matter in these things. So they are wrong, too.

Yes, it is important to go to MIT and, along with losing your pants in the Charles River, make social and professional connections that will help you later in life. But how do we measure the strength or efficacy of those connections? If it is in terms of monetary success, as we tend to measure things, then we'd be better off going to some big state school in the Midwest, because more top executives -- more top earners -- come from those schools than from MIT. If we measure success in terms of patents or awards or endowed professorships, there are schools that rate higher than MIT, too.

The fact is that going to MIT can be a life-changing experience and worth any price, but then so can be going to Champaign-Urbana or San Jose State. It's what you do with it.

In my book Accidental Empires I wrote about young Bob Metcalfe who, as an MIT undergraduate, was intimidated by a fraternity brother who could complete the entire New York Times crossword puzzle during breakfast without having to look up a word or linger over his coffee. He was master of his domain. Bob, who went on to invent Ethernet, found 3Com, and is now a rabid VC, was no slouch, either, but he was not the master of any domain, which actually came to be his strength. Because he wasn't the best and the brightest (while still being very bright), Bob had to learn how to work with people and ultimately had to create his own domain that he could master. Sometimes that's the way it is.

The key to last week's column and this one is generational change: it is happening and can't be avoided. The next generations will use technology even more than we do and they'll use it differently. This difference will form a feedback loop that will in turn alter the very structure of our society and its institutions. It may be no better to learn to write on a computer or by firelight on the back of a shovel as Abraham Lincoln was said to have done, but I'll stake what little reputation I still have on the fact that not many people in the future will be taking the shovel route.

As our wealth becomes less physical and more virtual, so will its disposition. Twenty years from now, when my more successful peers are getting old and starting to die, will they be putting their names on university libraries? Will there even BE university libraries then, I mean new ones? Google or Microsoft or Yahoo will have put all the books on disk and all the disks will be networked together and accessible from my house or yours. Then the library becomes, at best, a study hall. And since it is quieter to study at my house and the food is cheaper, too, maybe the library becomes just a place to hang out. This transition will not happen overnight, but it will happen, and then who will give millions to build new libraries? Nobody.

The fact is that we can't really predict with true accuracy what changes will happen in our society over the next 20-30 years, but we can make a good guess that technology will be involved with many of them. Yet there will always be a place for good old common sense.

A doctor in my town back in Ohio had built for himself a grand house, a real mansion, with a huge entrance hall and a sweeping staircase that floated down from the second floor to the first like some set from Gone With the Wind. The house was all built to the highest level of quality by the best craftsmen, only nobody in town (or even out of town) could build the sweeping banister for that grand staircase. It had to be laminated in a single piece of mahogany that somehow matched the curve of the staircase, a curve that had been drawn more by art than science. Nobody could build it.

So they called in the local Amish furniture maker. He came with his son and they spent a couple hours measuring with a ruler and a yardstick then went away and two weeks later returned with the completed banister on the back of their horse-drawn wagon. It slipped into place as if built on some CAD/CAM system, perfect in every way. How did they do it?

They took their measurements back to the farm and spent two days building in the barn a rough-hewn replica of the entire staircase, then laminated the rail in place. Of course it fit and without an algorithm in sight.

Report

2008-03-19T06:57:34Z

From time to time, I ask my Mac to do a few too many things at once and an application locks up on me. When it does, it asks me if I'd like to report the incident to Apple. It always strikes me as unnecessary, like filing an insurance claim on a fender bender that doesn't leave any damage. "I don't see any reason to make this harder on us", I say.

Lately, though, I've been wondering what would happen if I did file a report, and it is out of sheer curiosity that I decided to click on the blue button instead of the white one...

I'll let you know if I get a response from anyone at Apple. I wonder if somebody on the other side is really going to read it ... I can hear it now, the squeak of a chair pushing away from a desk as a man grinds his cigarette into an ashtray, stands up waving a printout over his head and screams "WE GOT AN iTUNES CRASH OVER HEEAH!!!" Because in my mind everything looks like a '60s era spy movie.

Giant Steps

2008-03-22T16:56:28Z

There is no single instrumental Jazz performance more revered and respected than John Coltrane's "Giant Steps". It's like a thousand sided Rubix Cube. It's like a tree falling in the woods amongst a crowd of people wearing earplugs . It's like a jigsaw puzzle where the image is a pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces.

So it's no wonder it's been the center of so much analysis and investigation:

Adobe Photoshop Express — Flash-Based Web App

2008-03-27T03:58:58Z

Impressive Flash-based web app for basic photo editing and online storage — up to 2 GB for free. “Beta”, of course. Think of it more as a web-based competitor to iPhoto than a web-based competitor to Photoshop or even Photoshop Elements. Here’s an example gallery from Andy Ihnatko, who was beta-testing it before it went public.

★

I Am Legend's Original Ending

2008-03-05T18:40:46Z

I Am Legend's Original Ending

This changes the movie completely. What was a simple film about generic heroism becomes a story that humans — no matter how savage — still act human.