Posted by Scott Hughes
Thu, 09 Mar 2006 04:32:00 GMT
I found out about this patent via Miguel de Icaza (who found this discussion with Dave Winer). I really don’t have the patience to read the whole thing, but while scanning it I couldn’t find anything like a highlight reel (e.g. “Our patentable idea is unique because it differentiates from the way everyone else is doing it like xxxxxx”). The pieces I did read thoroughly sound no different than the way a typical news viewer (of which there are dozens of examples) does it. I found the following quote, the last section of the patent, disturbing:
[0127] It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that the above-described implementations are merely exemplary, and many changes can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
So, even if we didn’t explicitly phrase the patent to cover your application, we obviously meant it and we think it should still apply. If you can’t tell that we meant it, you must not know what the hell you’re talking about..
Posted in Technology | Tags Apple, patent | no comments
Posted by Scott Hughes
Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:31:00 GMT
The very day before the day that my MacBook Pro is set to ship, Apple announces that the palsy 1.83GHz machine that I ordered is no longer the top of the line laptop… Now you can upgrade that machine to 2.16GHz!!
The day before the day mine ships, it is suddenly obsolete. Soon, machines will be obsolete before you can order them. Then we’ll have conversations like, “Yeah, the new Intel Kismet processors are supposed to be out in 3 years, but they are already obsolete”.
Update
Wait a minute, there is no 1.67GHz option anymore (formerly $1,999) and the 1.83GHz option has changed prices (was $2,499, now $1,999). Does that mean apple is going to ship me the 1.83GHz I ordered, but charge me the lower price? Or charge me the price I paid and ship me the new model which sells at that price (2GHz)??? I think I need to get on the phone.
Update
Apparently, my 1.83GHz order will be automatically bumped up to the 2.0GHz model. I guess I’ll ignore the $300 upgrade to the 2.16GHz proc, that way Erik will have a little window room to one-up me. I one-upped him on the Mac Mini purchase, so it’s his turn.
Here’s the official announcement from Apple about the new models:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/feb/14macbookpro.html
Update
Just got the email from Apple:
Better still, prior to shipment we’ve improved the entire MacBook Pro family with configurations starting at 1.83Ghz up to 2.16GHz. We have upgraded your MacBook Pro from a 1.83GHz processor to a 2.0GHz processor at no additional cost! We anticipate shipping your upgraded order by February 28, 2006.
Those bastards! I’m all ready for my new arrival, then I found out she’s going to be better than I anticipated… Then they hit me with the shipping delay! AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
Posted in Technology | Tags Apple, MacBookPro | 2 comments
Posted by Scott Hughes
Sun, 15 Jan 2006 19:30:00 GMT
I just couldn’t resist its siren call… I’ve been looking for a good reason to upgrade and Steve Jobs finally announced it at the last MacWorld. An Intel-based Apple laptop, with a 4-5x power increase over the previous generation of PowerBooks. I’d been looking to upgrade the Mac Mini to something beefier, but the stats on the PowerBooks didn’t have me convinced that I would’ve noticed too much of a performance increase. I thought I was going to be stuck with one of the desktop G5’s, but I was really hoping that I could finally find a high-performance laptop as my next desktop replacement.
I went with the $2499 model:
- 1.83Ghz Intel Core Duo
- 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2
- 15.4” Widescreen Display
- 100GB 7200 RPM HDD (upgraded from the 5400 RPM drive)
- 802.11g, Bluetooh 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, iSight, USB 2.0, Firewire 400
It’s an expensive machine, considering that I usually self-build my machines for well under $1000. I did get a slight discount on it, which basically equated to the retail price without tax. It’s my first real laptop machine (omitting a retired clunker or two that someone’s given me), though it will spend most of it’s time docked on my 20” lcd monitor at home. I am looking forward to the ability to undock it and bring some work with me.
The Mac Mini will likely become my HTPC (Home Theater PC). I’m not sure how that’ll work out, but now that you can install Apple’s Front Row on any Mac, I just need to find some way to remote control it.
Update:
The wait is killing me!
I can’t wait for this thing to ship. Apple is torturing me with the mid-February ship date. Some folks are reporting that they are getting their units the week prior.
I guess the demand is pretty high. Hopefully that translates into making the demand for all the apps that I want to run on an Intel Mac equally as high, so I’ll see Universal Binaries without much delay.
BTW, this obsessing over ship date contrasts nicely with my wife’s treatment of her Nano. She got it in before she received the screen protectors, so she just left it in the box and waited patiently for two weeks. I guess that makes us a good pair, technology obsessive vs. technology calm and accepting.
Posted in Technology | Tags Apple, MacBookPro, MacOSX | 2 comments
Posted by Scott Hughes
Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:48:00 GMT
… Your keynote brings the entire internet to a grinding halt. All the tech news sites are at full stop as Mac geeks sit constantly refreshing the page, to see which rumors are true. Full disclosure: I’ve been refreshing TUAW’s live chatcast, so I’m contributing to the problem. So far, looks like iPhoto has added Photocasting.. But only for .Mac users. Nothing else has caught my eye yet, but I’m hoping for affordable Intel-based laptops to be announced.
Posted in OSX | Tags Apple, MacOSX | no comments
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