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From pcworld.com.

Along with its new look, Vista is introducing a new Microsoft document format, XPS (XML Paper Specification). Documents created with XPS can be shared with people who don’t have the originating application but do have an XPS viewer; Microsoft showed an XPS document being viewed in Internet Explorer. While not nearly as full featured as Adobe’s popular PDF format, XPS is intended primarily to speed up and improve the quality of printing.

So what exaclty is wrong with PDFs?
I reckon “Portable Document Format” inspires a little more confidence than the roll-of-the-tongue-tastic “XML Paper Specification”!

Technorati Tags: pdf, vista, windows, xps

From Apple’s PR website:

Nike and Apple® today announced a partnership bringing the worlds of sports and music together like never before with the launch of innovative Nike+iPod products. The first product developed through this partnership is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that allows Nike+ footwear to talk with your iPod® nano to connect you to the ultimate personal running and workout experience.

This is a partnership I imagine most people won’t have seen coming, and I for one wish it hadn’t. Nike’s track record is dubious to say the least. It’s not too difficult to find information regarding their use of sweatshops in various parts of the world.
Apple itself have not been immune to some rather negative commentary, notably from Naomi Klein in her book “No Logo”, a discussion about branding and it’s impact on society.
In relation to this, an article on igorinternational.com states:

The company projects a humanistic corporate culture and a strong corporate ethic, characterized by volunteerism, support of good causes or involvement in the community. Nike blundered here. Apple, on the other hand, comes across as profoundly humanist.

Until now. Or maybe the ‘magic curtain’ has just been lifted, and I’ve seen a side to Apple that I did not want to see before. Maybe we’ll have Apple powered Starbucks WIFI spots next, or maybe even a range of Gapple clothing…….

I may not go as far as some people I know who are actually considering SELLING all their Apple equipment following the announcement of this “partnership”. I will have to think long and hard about my next Apple purchase though. The branding inbreeding is becoming too much to take.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Branding, Nike, iPod

Sorry. Couldn’t resist the title!

Regarding the new glossy screen on the Macbook (optional on 15″ Macbook Pros), John Sircusa offers the following:

Glossy displays have effectively taken over the entire laptop market. Why are they so popular? Here are three possible reasons.

They are better than matte-finish displays.
They are cheaper than matte-finish displays.
People are idiots.

Sounds fair to me.

The guys at Macserendipity disagree:

I have a Sony TFT at home with an Xblack glossy screen and I love it. The colors look vibrant and deep and switching to my Belina screen at work is frankly painful.
…
So maybe not having a choice is bad. People ( that are not idiots) should have a choice as some may not like the Glossy Screen. However some do. Those people including myself are not idiots they just have a preference.

Before I begin, I will say that I am NOT a fan of glossy screens. These “more vibrant colours” that are being spoken about and “higher contrast” make the screen almost unusable for getting an ACCURATE colour representation and are therefore fairly useless to anyone wanting to attempt some colour matching. Admittedly, this is something I do only rarely and is something that most people would not have any want or need to do, but it still annoys me! :-p

Anyway.
I’m sure a Sony XBlack TFT screen would look great in a lot of rooms. After all, indoors in a environment where you can control lighting conditions, a situation which is perfect (nay essential?) for these screens. Most showrooms, for example, are just such environments.

But the Macbook is PORTABLE computer. Thus, it would be preferrable to be able to use the laptop the conditions I happen to find myself, be it on a train, in the park having lunch, whatever…..
I should dictate where I use a portable computer, not the other way around.

As for John Siracusa’s argument about people being idiots, once you eliminate the first two options:
A: Glossy screens are better - Um, no they’re not.
B: Glossy screens are cheaper - Unsure, but can’t imagine there’s much in it. As far as I’m aware it’s only the finish that differs?

there aren’t many options left.
To say that people PREFER a glossy screen is to say that they prefer an inferior product (given A and B above), which isn’t unusual these days. As I’m oft reminded, people are entitled to their opinion, but then again, I happen to think most people are idiots anyway! :-p

From USA Today

Apple Computer Inc. is entitled to use the apple logo on its iTunes Music Store, a judge ruled Monday, rejecting a suit filed by Apple Corps Ltd., the guardian of The Beatles’ commercial interests.
Apple Corps, which contended that the U.S. company had broken a 1991 agreement in which each side agreed not to enter into the other’s field of business, said it would appeal.
Judge Edward Mann ruled that Apple Computer used the fruit logo in association with the store, not the music, and thus did not breach the agreement.