Check this unbiased review of Apple's poorly run business from a Mac user who is not an Apple Kool-Aid drinker:

http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=519_0_10_0

Actually, Apple might not be too mad about it. There are actually some people that don't have an iPod or use iTunes in the PC world - but their numbers are diminishing . . .

Now these people can buy an AirPort Express and use the hack to stream their music - if they can wait out the backorders. Since Apple does not have built in additional revenues, like The Music Store for the iPod, it will make no difference to them how the AirPort is used.

It is interesting to note that the hackers (Real & Johansen) have their focus not on OS X, but on the bits & pieces that Apple sells very well (AE & iPod). Soon some one will come up with a hack that allows PC users to use the new 30" display on their PC.

As a Mac user I'm not worried and as a very small shareholder in Apple I wish Johansen all the best. He might just add another dollar to the value of the share price.

I kinda disagree with the above post. I think alot of the mac-only peripherals (sp?) are made with intent to get people to come over to macs. For instance, if you were thinking about a powerbook, then the introduction of the airport express would push you over the fence into getting the powerbook, that kind of stuff. If they allow airport express to be used by just anybody, then there's no motivation for them to switch over to apple in the near future, and apple probably isn't gonna be making a whole lot of money on these things. I dunno, I just don't think they can one-off the airport express and get the success or profit from it like the iPod.

Being able to stream audio to an AirPort Express from an application other than iTunes, the result of Johansen's software, does not hurt Apple or the AirPort Express. The purpose of the encryption is not to lock third parties out of APExp, the purpose is to protect the music being transmitted from interception by those who have no legal claim to it. Johansen has figured out the public key Apple uses in the encryption, but he has not (and likely never will) figure out the private key. Since the private key remains private, there is no security breach and AirTunes's encryption continues to fulfill the function it was designed for. I would hardly classify this as a vulnerability.

Actually, I was looking for this feature once I installed my AirPort Express. Like having it appear in my Sound Control Panel as another output device. Looks like this beats Apple to the punch. I'm sure Apple would have eventually got around to it.

RC - they have such great koolaid though....It has more vitamin C and less sugar than Borgmaster Bill does... ;>)

There are two issues to consider about DVD Jon's latest moves.

1. DVD John's work around of AirPort is important, because it shows that encrypted commercial systems for entertainment are not ready for prime time. If a business is going to base its revenue stream on encrypted sales of entertainment media, and that entertainment media can be compromised so early by an idealistic hacker, then it is not a good risk for those wishing to build a long-term profit base business model.

2. Some business people seem to think that if DVD John is prosecuted then this will greatly lower the odds of others doing this. I do not think this is so, because, if their history of behavior is any indication, idealistic hackers who show the limits of encryption systems will simply work behind the scenes to undermine such commercial encryption. It's better to know who DVD John is (and others like him) so that their talents can stand as "open source" hacking. This would allow industry to continually shore-up the holes in various encryption systems. Something like this is happening for the Windows operating system, and whether done for love or hate, it at least forces fixes to be launched regularly by Microsoft. Give such hacks glory, hire them if you want to, but don't throw the in jail or fine them. They may be irritants, but at least they are indeed irritants in our favor. --Brint Montgomery

Respect?

Back in the olden days, there was a lot of resentment toward the Apple II crowd. You were considered an elitist if you were an Apple guy.

Kinda like when the Mac came out. It got laughed at by hardcore enthusiasts. Then suddenly it was a badge of honor to be able to crack Mac software.

And then there were the licensing wars, when everybody lined up to kick Apple around. Even Apple hated Apple then.

Point is, Apple's always been a lightning rod. It was only in the late 90s, when their boxes were seriously lagging, that people kinda forgot about them. Now that Apple's back leading the industry in practically every way possible, they are also taking that familiar old heat from critics, hackers, haters and "analysts." The first OSX virus can't be far away.

The more things change...


(And yes, our Kool-Aid does taste better.)

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RealityCheck wrote:
Check this unbiased review of Apple's poorly run business from a Mac user who is not an Apple Kool-Aid drinker:

Too bad he's almost as clueless as you are.

spxyu02

I understand what you are saying, but don't believe that someone with a recently purchased PC, or a business user, will rush out and buy a Mac just because AR came out.

What I do believe, however, is that when a PC user with an iPod or AE (or both) are ready to get a new computer that little iPod or AE might be a sufficient demonstration of how neat Apple is that they will take a look at Macs. At that time it will be the salesman who shows them what Macs are all about, or one that takes the old "don't buy a Mac" approach. WIth a little informed help (rare in a lot of stores) we have a new Mac user.

The iPod and AE are, for me, a way to get into the PC users life, which is a huge start in the task of getting them to switch.

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kenaustus wrote:
I understand what you are saying, but don't believe that someone with a recently purchased PC, or a business user, will rush out and buy a Mac just because AR came out.

I don't believe this. My post said that if someone was on the fence about buying a powerbook, something like this would shove them over to the apple side. I agree with you that this won't make them switch, but atleast give them a little taste of apple (god, i'm awful )

uh, i believe the airport express streams audio from pc & mac version of itunes - so the "compatibility" issue mentioned above is not relevant

i'm more annoyed that the pc version of itunes will convert (unprotected) windows media players to mp3 and aac, but the mac version will now

THAT might make some people (with big windoze media player music libraries) stay on windoze and NOT switch

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Anonymous wrote:
THAT might make some people (with big windoze media player music libraries) stay on windoze and NOT switch

Well we don't want 'em anyway! hehe, j/k

But seriously, if someone wants to switch, there are programs you can download and use the trial period to convert wma to mp3, it's not hard, i've done it

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Guest wrote:
1. DVD John's work around of AirPort is important, because it shows that encrypted commercial systems for entertainment are not ready for prime time. If a business is going to base its revenue stream on encrypted sales of entertainment media, and that entertainment media can be compromised so early by an idealistic hacker, then it is not a good risk for those wishing to build a long-term profit base business model.

The part of AirPort Express that encrypts the music has not been broken. The music streamed from iTunes to AirPort Express is still locked down and resistant to interception.

They build a subject up because it's new and it's news. After a while building the subject up isn't news any more because readers/viewers have heard it or similar before. What is news is knocking the sunject, especially as the previous positive coverage has increased public awareness.

Journalism isn't much about reporting any more it's about selling copy, newspapers now have much more comment then reporting.

OK, I may be off topic. Shoot me.

Supposed details of the new iMac have leaked, and are posted on...another site.

17 & 20" Flatscreen, all-in one design (like the Vaio W700G). 1.6 and 1.8 Ghz. 80/160GB ATA. 5.1 digital surround output. Etc., etc. Pricing supposedly about the same as old iMacs. I think an Apple Loan is in my near future.

/Off to forums to hunt more info.

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RealityCheck wrote:
Check this unbiased review of Apple's poorly run business from a Mac user who is not an Apple Kool-Aid drinker:

Unbiased? LOL. That's like saying Apple coverage from that idiot Thurrott is "fair and balanced."

If one can equate media coverage with success, then Apple seems to be moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, some of this attention is negative. On the other hand, it has been said that "any publicity is good publicity."

From the same author who proclaimed there would be an Apple PDA this year.

Take it with a grain of salt.

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RealityCheck wrote:
Check this unbiased review of Apple's poorly run business from a Mac user who is not an Apple Kool-Aid drinker:

http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=519_0_10_0

What, exactly, makes you think this is unbiased? It is opinion. It is, by definition, biased. It shows the point of view of the author. He is entitled to his opinion, but don't think that it is 100% truth.

It just happens to fit YOUR bias. It obviously didn't fit the bias of most of those who read and posted to the "article".

It was as unbiased as Fahrenheit 9/11, which was, by the director's own statements, an op-ed piece.

Try again.

No I didn't read your post RC, but I think you should change your name ... I don't read troll posts anymore, as I find them to be of no value whatsoever. I've made my computing platform choice and it serves my needs well.

Supposedly there are sites full of Mac-zealots and fanatics, but this can also be said of Windows - why a Windows troll would regularly tune in to a Mac site is beyond me ... perhaps someone needs to get a life.

I expect Apple will put some sort of firmware update out to set the hack back a day or two, but the likelihood is they knew something like this would happen. The good thing about being first to market or with a big advantage in a new market, is the chance to set a few rules. How sneaky if Apple just made apps other than iTunes that were using AE not work quite as well as the user expected.