Are e-books worth your time?
Like many geeks, I love gadgets and I love to read. Since I've found that my rate of giving away old books is slower than the rate at which I get new ones and my bookshelf is always at eyesore-full capacity, I've wondered if e-books are everything they're cracked up to be?
Spammers, Phishers, Take Advantage of Swine Flu

Typical of any such crises, whether its the aftermath of an even such as an earthquake, or in this case, the swine flu, phishers and spammers are taking advantage of the situation.

MacChat: Apple assaults Microsoft on all fronts

“WE have to let go of this notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose.”

Those words were uttered by Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 1998 in Boston, a city synonymous with rebellion and revolution. But instead Jobs – then Apple’s interim CEO (or iCEO, as he joked) – was ushering in a new era of peace and co-operation with arch rival Microsoft as Apple struggled to survive.

As Microsoft chief and longtime Jobs rival Bill Gates stared down from a big screen at Macworld Conference and Expo, Jobs announced a landmark deal: Microsoft would buy a 5 per cent stake in Apple as a vote of confidence in the company, and continue producing its crucial Office software for Mac, in exchange for Apple dropping all legal action over Microsoft’s copying of the Mac operating system, and making Internet Explorer the default Mac web browser.

There were the predictable howls of outrage from Mac diehards over this “deal with the devil”, but it did help Apple to survive the dark times.

That was 1998. Flash forward 11 years, and Apple is a different, much stronger company that is dominating a number of emerging markets. And Microsoft, which long ago sold its small stake in Apple, is once again in its sights.

Apple is going after Microsoft on three fronts: the desktop, with its Macs stealing market share from Windows PCs; the emerging mobile computing space, where its hit iPhone and iPod touch are supported by more than 35,000 programs on its App Store; and now the back-office server room, with its Xserve poised to compete with Windows and Linux server solutions.

It is the latter area where the pieces are only now starting to fall into place. Apple has pretty much ignored the enterprise market thus far, focusing instead on small business and the art and multimedia departments of major corporations. Even the Xserve has been mainly targeted at video, graphics and scientific types who are already using Macs. But the next version of OS X, codenamed Snow Leopard, will be optimised for corporate use, with support for Microsoft Exchange Server at the system level. This means users can use Apple’s Mail, Address Book and iCal programs, and enjoy full compatibility with the corporate standard for email, contacts and calendaring.

Importantly, Apple can offer a corporate solution cheaper than Microsoft’s, as it offers unlimited-seat licenses, instead making its money from the Xserve hardware. With Snow Leopard Server running on its Xserves, Apple can offer corporations support for Mac, Windows and Linux workstations at potentially a lower price than Windows Server.

Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server are expected to be released later this year.

The iPhone will be a big part of Apple’s Trojan horse, especially as the computer industry moves more towards mobile applications. The iPhone is already compatible with Microsoft’s ActiveSync corporate email technology, and OS X iPhone 3.0 will strengthen the device’s business credentials with more secure communication and synchronisation. Together with Snow Leopard Server, the iPhone will be a compelling alternative to BlackBerrys or Windows Mobile smartphones for big business, especially if iPhone-toting employees already are demanding support in their workplace. More iPhones in corporations could also lead to more Macs, particularly if they are powered by Apple servers.

The iPhone’s importance to Apple’s larger strategy will be on display at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco from June 8 to 12. Traditionally a Mac event, WWDC has been hosting more and more iPhone developers since the release of the device, and with the number of iPhone and iPod touch applications nearing 40,000, this year will be the biggest yet for the mobile version of OS X. The third-generation iPhone will probably also be unveiled.