Apple, since its inception, has always had computers that appealed to scientists and engineers, thanks to their ease of use, technical elegance, and, since 2001, UNIX. In turn, Apple embraced that market as a sign of Apple's dedication and professionalism in supporting their endeavors. Recently, Apple dropped its Web page that focuses on the use of Apple products in science. John Martellaro attempts to shed some light on this event.
 

With regularity, in grandmaster chess, we see moves that take our breath away.  We bow before the awesomeness of a move that is so bold that we would have never dared make it -- unable to see the deep implications of a Queen or Rook sacrifice. Yet, there it stands -- the winning move that crushes another grandmaster.  Is such a move within the grasp of Apple and its cash?

Need a note taker? Vern Seward takes a look at three that are unique and free in this week's Free on iTunes. MyScript Memo, MyScript Calculator and Documents.

John Martellaro doesn't really think there would be a problem naming OS X 10.9 "Cougar."  In fact, Apple should.  It's a fairly big, strong cat, and the name connotes power and ferocity. Much more so than "Lynx."

Google chairman Eric Schmidt and Apple have been tweaking each other over Google Now for iOS. In an interview, Mr. Schmidt suggested—but did not actually say—that Apple was in way keeping Google Now from being released on iOS, but Apple made the rare move of denying in public that Google had even submitted the app for App Store approval.

Periodically, Apple updates OS X, and we get our hopes up that things will get better, not worse. That's what always happened in the past, and we loved it.  Nowadays, however, there is some concern that instead of fabulous new OS technologies to serve us, we'll be dragged into something that unnerves us.  That's a big difference.  What can Apple do to reemerge as the hero?

The world's atwitter with the latest news from Samsung—Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business, told Bloomberg on Monday that his company is making a smartwatch. As I've read over the reports and opinions on the subject I found myself coming back to a simple question: how will Samsung know what to do before Apple shows them?

Vern Seward gives your grey matter a workout with three great brain teaser apps in this week's Free on iTunes. 94 Seconds, Clockwork Brain, and Chain of Thought.

Companies that claim they make the very best product of its kind but then waffle on selling low volume, premium, awe inspiring, likely very expensive high end products will implicitly lose credibility. That seems to be the discussion around the Mac Pro lately. Will Apple's next Mac Pro light the world on fire? Or just be a case of slash and burn?

Here I am at SXSW, and it's now fully transitioned from the tech geeks (and marketing flacks) attending the Interactive festival to the music geeks attending live music showcases at night and catching a few panels during the day.