http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/features/analysis/ en webmaster@macobserver.com Copyright 2009 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:33:14 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_preparing_us_to_live_in_app_space/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_preparing_us_to_live_in_app_space/ When all we had were PCs and Macs, we thought of apps as programs that provided a function: word processing or web browsing.  Magically, however, the portability of the iPhone has encouraged developers to think on a grander scale about what an app is -- even to the extent that every popular TV show should have its own app. That progression will change everything. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, iObserver, iPhone Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:01 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/restrained_evolution_of_ipod_touch_speaks_to_itablet/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/restrained_evolution_of_ipod_touch_speaks_to_itablet/ Apple added some considerable new features to the iPod nano today.  By comparison, the evolution of the iPod touch seems restrained. That may have implications for the forthcoming iTablet. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, iObserver, iPod Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:55:41 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_the_fcc_questions_for_apple/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_the_fcc_questions_for_apple/ The issues surrounding the FCC questions about Apple's App Store and approval process are complex.  The Mac Observer spoke with an attorney familiar with the matter and obtained a better insight into what's going on. As usual, nothing is as simple as it appears. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:17:53 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_cash_on_hand_vs._microsoft/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_cash_on_hand_vs._microsoft/ I thought it would be interesting to compare Microsoft's cash on hand (and short term securities) to Apple's. Over the last few years, Microsoft hasn't fared well compared to Apple. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:08:44 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/overheard_at_the_q309_apple_earnings_report/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/overheard_at_the_q309_apple_earnings_report/ Apple never talks about unannounced products and keeps a lot of sales info closely held for competitive reasons. Even so, CFO Peter Oppenheimer and COO Tim Cook still made some interesting remarks during Tuesday's earnings report that provide some insight into the state of Apple. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:46:34 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_repudiates_netbook_concept_sets_mac_sales_record/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_repudiates_netbook_concept_sets_mac_sales_record/ Apple's Q309 Earnings Report revealed that Apple broke its record for June quarter Mac sales and came oh-so close to breaking its all time sales record for Macs. All that in, by all accounts, the worst recession ever and amidst cries for an Apple netbook. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:23:17 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_iphone_sales_gaining_momentum/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apples_iphone_sales_gaining_momentum/ Apple is very good at building on momentum, whether it's iTunes music, App Store downloads or iPhone sales. There was a time when people wondered if Apple could meet its goal for iPhone sales in 2008 -- now the question is, posed by this afternoon's Q309 Earnings Report, can Apple even make enough to meet demand? Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, Reports, iPhone Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:25:37 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_closer_look_at_apple_antitrust/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_closer_look_at_apple_antitrust/ On Monday, I covered a report that the Obama Administration's DoJ is looking askance at the telecom industry, including the exclusive relationships that carriers and handset manufacturers have developed. I'm not a big fan of most monopolies, and this news prompted me into taking a closer look into whether or not this situation is deserving of the DoJ's attention.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, The Back Page, Reports, Apple Stock Watch, iPhone Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:30:26 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_incredible_mac_pro_demo_takes_breath_away/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_incredible_mac_pro_demo_takes_breath_away/ Some benchmarks have numbers and tables. Some have bar graphs. They're all very nice, but I just revisited a demo that I used to do at Apple, and the results on a Mac Pro will take your breath away. Buckle up, because you may not have seen this amazing visual demo ever before. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:40:29 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/wwdc_keynote_observations_and_nuances/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/wwdc_keynote_observations_and_nuances/ Observers of Apple are always in a quandary about what kind, if any, hardware will be announced during the WWDC keynote. My own expectations were low, to be sure, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a refresh of the MacBook Pro line. The rest of the keynote went pretty much according to my expectations. However, there were some significant undercurrents in the keynote worth mentioning.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Conferences, WWDC, Mac OS, Snow Leopard, iPhone Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:30:30 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_tmo_video_mystery_solved/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_tmo_video_mystery_solved/ This spring, both Ted Landau and I sold our old Power Mac G5s and bought Mac Pros. The mystery started when my colleague reported that he had no problem playing iTunes HD TV shows, protected content, on his Samsung display via DVI, and I could do no such thing with my Apple Studio display. It turned into several weeks of discussion and experimenting. Finally, the mystery was solved.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:01:48 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_lurch_down_the_windows_7_rabbit_hole/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/microsofts_lurch_down_the_windows_7_rabbit_hole/ As Apple customers, we are in awe of Apple's migration from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X. While the technical details remain for true OS geeks, we know that Apple used vision, focus, technology and determination to make the urgent, much needed change to UNIX. Belatedly, Microsoft, in fact, is trying to do a similar thing right now with Windows 7 and "XP Mode," but in a much more haphazard fashion. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:04:59 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/podcast/apples_march_quarter_netbooks_a_billion_apps_baby_shaker/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/podcast/apples_march_quarter_netbooks_a_billion_apps_baby_shaker/ Vern and Bryan discuss Apple's record non-holiday quarter, the company's hints about its netbook plans, and how it only took less nine months to download more than one billion apps, though one of those apps, Baby Shaker, caused Apple to issue an apology. And let's not forget the Apple Lawsuit Express, which handed down a guilty verdict and a 19 million dollar judgement against the company. Podcasts, Apple Context Machine Podcast, Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Conferences, Mac OS, Apple Stock Watch, iPhone Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:37:03 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/details_of_intels_new_nehalem_cpu_in_the_mac_pro/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/details_of_intels_new_nehalem_cpu_in_the_mac_pro/ Apple has chosen the Intel Xeon 5500 and 3500 series CPU (code named "Nehalem") for its newest generation Mac Pro. These CPUs use a revolutionary new architecture that paves the way for processors of the future and provide the new Mac Pros from early 2009 a hefty computational punch.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:15:46 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_whats_hot_and_whats_not_at_apple/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how_to_view_whats_hot_and_whats_not_at_apple/ Wednesday's Hidden Dimensions column mentioned some observations, maybe not iron clad indicators of Apple's direction, but enough to get a healthy discussion going. It would be crazy to suggest that Apple is losing interest in classic computing vs the sex appeal of the iPhone. Sorting it out isn't easy.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:00:39 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_to_know_about_new_mac_pro/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_to_know_about_new_mac_pro/ Like many Apple customers who bought a Power Mac G5, dual processor, back in 2003 or 2004, mine is finally reaching the end of its lifetime. In my study of the new Mac Pro, I've discovered some interesting things that I want to share. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:45:43 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/gaining_personal_productivity_on_the_apple_revenue_curve/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/gaining_personal_productivity_on_the_apple_revenue_curve/ There is a direct relationship between revenue and focus in products. Apple stays on the high side of that curve while many others flop around on the low side. That means that if we want to increase our own productivity, we should avoid excessive use of technologies still in search of a revenue model and focus. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:35:41 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_closer_look_at_apples_mac_sales/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/a_closer_look_at_apples_mac_sales/ NPD recently reported that Mac sales were down 16 percent in February. If that number holds for the entire quarter, what does the mean in terms of predicted revenue for Apple? The answer is surprising.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:45:47 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/howto_-_changing_twitter_clients_was_a_tweet/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/howto_-_changing_twitter_clients_was_a_tweet/ Last Friday, I changed Twitter clients. I was not completely happy with Twitterrific 3.2, so I did some research and settled on Syrinx. However, Syrinx doesn't have the cool bird tweet alert, but must instead draw from the Mac OS X library sounds. This HOWTO shows how one can fix that. Tips, Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:00:02 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_objective_look_at_safari_4_beta_-_with_metrics/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/an_objective_look_at_safari_4_beta_-_with_metrics/ There have been many different reactions to the Safari 4 Beta, most based on a gut reaction or comparison to something comfortable. With that in mind, is there an objective way to evaluate Safari 4 calmly and rationally? A look at some fundamental browser notions proves to be fruitful.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:10:36 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/netbook_numbers_suggest_apple_has_the_right_strategy/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/netbook_numbers_suggest_apple_has_the_right_strategy/ There are those who say that Apple will remain steadfast in its pursuit of the premium notebook market and make a lot of money. Then there are those who claim that, in this economy, Apple is missing the boat by not having the right product ready, a netbook competitor The truth is in the middle, and so is Apple.  Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:14:10 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_story_of_a_scientist_living_in_windows_on_his_mac/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/the_story_of_a_scientist_living_in_windows_on_his_mac/ Ever since Apple moved to Intel CPUs capable of virtualization, Macintosh customers have been aware of the potential for Windows to be used on a Mac. For many, it's an abstract concept spiced with a little bit of disdain.  Last week, I got a close-up glimpse of a working scientist exercising Windows XP to get real work done on a Mac -- and loving it. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:45:19 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_posts_leopard_security_guide_2nd_edition/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_posts_leopard_security_guide_2nd_edition/ Apple posted the second edition of its "Mac OS X Security Configuration for Version 10.5 Leopard" on Tuesday.  The guide provides system administrators with detailed guidance on how to secure a Mac OS X system in order to comply with corporate or government security policies.  However, it is also a useful -- and sobering -- introduction to hardening Mac OS X for the user who wants to take the next step in securing a Mac.   Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:40:54 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/mac_os_x_system_security_part_i/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/mac_os_x_system_security_part_i/ Mac OS X system security is a complex subject. The issue is made more complex by the contrast between a relatively benign and trusted home network and corporate use.  This multi-part series will examine a broad range of Mac security issues for both environments. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:00:11 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/optical_illusions_and_glossy_displays/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/optical_illusions_and_glossy_displays/ I have a theory, now, that the reason some people don't object to the glossy screen on modern displays, including Apple's, is because they have the mental ability to block out reflections, much like the shift in appearance with some optical illusions.  I don't have a any scientific evidence for this, but I did notice the other day that I can block out or bring in the reflections myself at will. Perhaps that's why I don't mind, and fact prefer, glossy screens.  Apocryphal evidence also supports the theory. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Macworld Expo, Macworld Expo 2009 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:40:43 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/post-christmas_hard_disk_management/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/post-christmas_hard_disk_management/ If you've received a new Macintosh for Christmas or perhaps one of those terabyte hard disks, the task now is managing all that hard disk space. Managing is the key word here, because while Time Machine can help back it all up, a schema for intelligently assigning years of files and directories to all that new storage is vital. This article will help you sort it all out. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:44:18 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it_and_i_feel_fine/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it_and_i_feel_fine/ It's amazing. Even without the benefit of iCal or blogs, the ancient Mayans managed to come within a hair's breadth of correctly predicting the end of the world. It came not in December of 2012 as they calculated, but a mere four years and one week earlier. Tuesday, in fact, when Apple announced that Steve Jobs would not deliver the keynote speech at the 2009 Macworld Conference and Expo, and that the conference would be Apple's last as a participant. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Macworld Expo, Macworld Expo 2009 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:55:25 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/would_an_apple_netbook_be_a_smart_product/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/would_an_apple_netbook_be_a_smart_product/ Technology Business Research analyst Ezra Gottheil has published a compelling conjecture on a possible Apple netbook to be announced at Macworld in January. Despite some strong arguments that address benefits and problems solved, certain challenges might offset those positives. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:55:19 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macworld_prognosis_going_with_what_works/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macworld_prognosis_going_with_what_works/ Macworld is ordinarily a time for dreaming and even fantasies about what Apple might bring forth based on all the juicy rumors, patent filings, and even the pulse of the Mac community.  However, Apple is likely to focus on realistic technical windows and iPhone mania this time around. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:20:22 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macintosh_acceptance_in_enterprise_continues_unabated/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/macintosh_acceptance_in_enterprise_continues_unabated/ What was a slow, incremental trend is turning into something stronger as more and more corporations have changed their approach to the Apple Macintosh. In the past, many emotional reasons prevented the adoption of the Mac, but in 2008, a new set of criteria has emerged in the IT culture that is leading to significant Apple penetration in the enterprise. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:25:05 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/psystar_continues_to_fight_apple_with_new_tactics/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/psystar_continues_to_fight_apple_with_new_tactics/ Now that Psystar's counterclaim against Apple, based on an antitrust argument, has been dismissed, the company has embarked on a new legal twist: arguing that Apple has exceeded its rights granted under the U.S. Copyright Act. That could be a tough sell based on precedent. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:59:46 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_do_apple_customers_need_in_this_economy/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/what_do_apple_customers_need_in_this_economy/ At this time of year, there is often a tendency to fantasize about what new product or service Apple might introduce at Macworld in January.  However, in this economy, perhaps a better question is, all things considered, what do Apple customers need? Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:50:36 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_believes_deep_pockets_behind_psystar/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_believes_deep_pockets_behind_psystar/ Apple, Inc. suspects that there are deep pockets behind the Psystar Corporation, and it wants to know who they are, according to Apple's amended complaint.  The company will do that in the discovery process leading up to trial in order to find out if there are external forces trying to undermine Apple's intellectual property rights. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:59:06 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_and_microsoft_war_now_dictated_by_mathematics/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_and_microsoft_war_now_dictated_by_mathematics/ The fact that Microsoft's Internet Explorer is steadily declining in market share, monotonically, suggests that there are mathematical market forces at work that cannot be overcome by any action Microsoft takes. The same mathematics applies to Apple's OS market share, and so Microsoft's battle against Firefox is just a warmup. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:24:42 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/The_Fastest_Mac_Compared_to_Todays_Supercomputers/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/The_Fastest_Mac_Compared_to_Todays_Supercomputers/ When we run benchmarks on desktop systems, especially Macs, we tend to use standard benchmarks that relate to typical tasks: Photoshop, rendering, Quake, and so on. However, supercomputers are benchmarked on how fast they can run floating point computations in a parallel computing network with tens of thousands of nodes. On the same basis, how do those computers compare to each other? Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:00:13 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apples_Cash_in_a_Recession_Zaps_Competition/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apples_Cash_in_a_Recession_Zaps_Competition/ Observers who follow Apple are worried that Apple's customers will dry up in an economic downturn. On the the other hand, Apple, once again, has a unique opportunity to use its cash to develop products and services that will take control of the market while other companies cut back their R&D and essentially sleepwalk through the downturn. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:13 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apple_TVs_Challenge_Amidst_The_New_Convergence/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apple_TVs_Challenge_Amidst_The_New_Convergence/ Several new trends in TV and Internet viewing have been observed lately. Traditional TV viewers are asking themselves how they can better mix and match their services, and some viewers have been found to be simultaneously multitasking TV and the Internet. John Martellaro looked at the trends and discussed whether devices like the Apple TV that lock viewers into a niche for the sake of the simplicity of the user experience could miss out on new opportunities. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:00:13 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apples_Need_for_Speed_Has_a_Mission_and_its_Not_Supercomputers/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Apples_Need_for_Speed_Has_a_Mission_and_its_Not_Supercomputers/ With the transition to Intel complete, Apple has a new goal: create next generation Macs that are so fast, they outright embarrass PCs running Windows. That will create a market differentiation that will poise Apple for its next assault on Microsoft. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:13 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Its_the_Apple_Indicators_Not_Market_Share_that_Spooks_Microsoft/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Its_the_Apple_Indicators_Not_Market_Share_that_Spooks_Microsoft/ In market warfare, just as in military warfare, one of the key tools is the analysis of Critical Failure Points. The essential element is that a opponent may have mistaken assumptions about its strengths or strategy or the intentions of the opposition, and those elements constitute a set of critical failure points that can be exploited. Apple appears to be exploiting Microsoft's critical failure points. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:00:13 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Googles_Chrome_-_a_First_Blush_Look/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Googles_Chrome_-_a_First_Blush_Look/ Chrome is Google's first attempt at adding a Web Browser to its suite of Internet Services. It's still in beta, and the first version is only available for Windows XP/Vista -- with a Mac version in the works. This reporter took a quick look to see what Google has done. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:13 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Logic_Studio_Shows_Music_on_the_Mac_is_Back/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Logic_Studio_Shows_Music_on_the_Mac_is_Back/ With Logic Studio, Apple shows that the magic is all in the software. But the most encouraging news about Logic Studio is the message it sends to artists. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:00:04 -0500 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/The_New_Smarter_Apple/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/The_New_Smarter_Apple/ Think you know Apple? Think again. The Apple of today is way smarter than it used to be, and so is Steve Jobs. The smarter Apple is a story about better ads, clever partnerships, and multi-touch iPods. Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:00:21 -0400 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Abel_Cine_Hosting_Post-NAB_Open_House_Featuring_the_HVX-200/ http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Abel_Cine_Hosting_Post-NAB_Open_House_Featuring_the_HVX-200/ Abel Cine Tech has announced an upcoming post-NAB open house on May 11th featuring Panasonic cameras Columns and Opinions, Opinion, Analysis Wed, 04 May 2005 14:00:08 -0400