Blog @ MoreWhat.com

This can be considered a follow-up to other posts here on the recent entry of Apple’s iPad to the consumer gadget offerings. While the sentiment here is that WSJ and in terms of this post, Wired Magazine are competent and capable sources of information they both fall short this time.

Previous iPad posts here have panned the product. Yup, without even having one to study or review this blog gives the enthusiastic thumbs down. Why? You could read the other posts to find out but if you’re lazy enough to see benefit or utility in the iPad the reason will be repeated in summary. Who needs another gadget to do what other gadgets already do? The only thing the iPad does is cater to the lifestyle of the couch potato. Too lazy to use a pc or mac, they just want to lay on the couch and get ‘intimate’ with their latest Apple creation.

Here’s a piece from the WSJ suggesting what the gadget debate is about relative to the iPad’s debut.

The unveiling of Apple Inc.’s iPad renews a classic gadget debate: Do consumers want purpose-built devices that do one thing and one thing well, or all-in-one wonders that try to accomplish many different tasks?

If you do not think WSJ is missing the point on this one how about Wired Magazine? If you peruse their 2008 list of tech breakthroughs the problem becomes clear. Not only was this blogger unable to locate a 2009 list yet but the one they have provides little in the way of actual breakthroughs.

1. Apple’s app store
2. Android
3. USB 3.0
4. Video-capable SLRs
5. The Memristor
6. GPS
7. Flash memory
8. Speedo LZR
9. Edible chips
10. Flexible displays

Give me a break! 30 years ago you may have been able to make the case for GPS and even Wired admits the technology is ‘very old.’ Edible chips is the only thing on the list that may qualify as ‘breakthrough’ but even that’s a stretch. Besides, would you want to use them? I think not. Sure, let’s get old and subject ourselves to more invasive procedures of questionable value and safety.

Everyone seems to be missing the point. And the sad part is it does not appear to be due to ignorance. At least not ignorance on the part of those touting the so-called advancements or what is sought. It is the almost undeniable fact that vendors have been convinced of one thing. The consuming public is easily manipulated. If you build it they will come. And pay nearly any price you ask.

Where in the world is technological advancement? It is not in the realm of consumer products. And the one category that is pointed to here is IT. That’s right. Information technology has not had a breakthrough in decades. if it’s out there no one is bringing it to market. It is likely NOT out there.

And just to borrow a marketing strategy from Microsoft for effect, try thinking about this. You’re a pc and Windows 7 was you’re idea. Not something I would brag about. So what’s new about the latest OS from MS? That’s the point.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

In his own words at his own ‘unveiling’ of the iPad Jobs calls the iPad’more intimate’ than a laptop and ‘more capable’ than an iPhone. That translates to an item targeting the ultimate couch potato whose sedentary lifestyle does not even allow for the minimal effort required to operate a pc or mac. At the same time he disses his own iPhone as even less capable than this offering.

What more do you need to understand our technology wasteland?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

When’s the last time a politician gave us what we wanted? When’s the last time your boss gave you what you wanted? To be fair, when’s the last time an employee gave you what you wanted? And finally, how often have you purchased a product or service that really impressed you in terms of utility, overall value and price or affordability?

In the ‘tech’ world there never seems to be a shortage of those willing to buy whatever is offered. Neither does there seem to be a lack of those willing to applaud the debut of each new item touted by vendors like Microsoft and Apple. This time a mild rant is presented on Apple’s latest ‘thing.’ The iPad has the same naming convention allowing a previous Apple bash on this blog indicating the ‘i’ in iPhone is for idiot.

The same applies for the iPad. Without benefit of manufactured memory this blogger’s own recalls a brief visit to Apple dot com to obtain an official press release. Would have dealt with images but Apple’s paranoia made that option excessively annoying as well. So the use of an earlier technology that has remarkable similarities to the iPad is the substitute.

Apple dot com listed a price of $499 for the iPad versus those near $700 at various sources around the net. The 500 dollar price may have been a bare bones version. And there were availability questions which caused some laughter. More laughter was generated by the details about what the fine device can do, or not. These debuts are so silly and the response to them equally bizarre it is all one can do to remain silent observing such nonsense.

Beyond the fact that this is another ‘device’ what the hell is so different about this one from all the others over decades? Oh sure, we’ve seen dial up move to broadband like they couldn’t have done that sooner. Oh my, we have wireless, sort of. The only reason there has been massive increases in memory and storage is to accommodate no technical advancements nor real reasons to purchase additional or replacement devices. Tech is stagnant.

Apple you are no more impressive than that other outfit…. Microsoft. Although you produce funnier advertisements. Speaking of humor, here’s someone else’s reaction to the news.

Tabula Rasa: Apple’s Press Release, Before the Editing
Genius Knows No Bounds
By Peter Jeffrey

For Immediate Release. (Apple employees: Thanks for keeping it under wraps. You may reclaim your first-born sons before the close of business Friday.)

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27 — Apple Inc. announced today a revolutionary new tablet computer offering live HDTV, 3D movie downloads, 4G broadband Internet access from anywhere on Earth or low orbit, interactive multilingual color e-books, e-newspapers, e-magazines, an e-sense of purpose in life and e-anything else we have to do to blast our “competitors” back to the Sprocket Age.

And here’s a link to the Apple iPad press release, really.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Imagine that.. Someone is interested in taking Bill Gates and his legacy, Microsoft, to task for laying off American workers. The complaint from US Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa ties the current financial crisis and the trend of increasing unemployment to companies who abuse the H-1B visa program of hiring foreign workers for American jobs.

Political life in Washington may be as fragile as anything else vulnerable to the impact of severe economic downturns. Where was all this angst over visas and foreign workers during the summer of 2007 when Congress and the White House tried to pass McCain/Kennedy shamnesty? There’s hardly a difference. A primary responsibility of the federal government is to defend its citizens from foreign attack. Whether that is from the typical source of armed forces of another country or countries, the sinister terrorism from radical groups without a well-defined geopolitical base or an economic invasion on our shores and borders from foreign sources the task is understood. You protect your own citizens first and once protected then and only then do you extend assistance to those who are not citizens.

One could say better late than never except these occasional expressions from elected officials are more often political in nature and for their vested interest and not yours. Senator Grassley is an elected official with some volatility. Similar to a company’s stock which responds wildly and unpredictably to changes in the market. But this recent press release and letter from the Senator does have some usefulness. To bring some attention to both inequities in the labor market as well as a renewal notice that immigration policies including visa programs and offshore outsourcing are by no means dead issues. With the election of the most liberal senator in the US to the Office of President of the United States you can bet the farm on the fact the issue of amnesty will rear its ugly again this year or next.

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2009
Grassley Works to Ensure American Workers are Priority

WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that in a time of economic downturn, American workers must be a top priority for American companies. Grassley reiterated those words after he sent a letter to Microsoft urging the company to make efforts to retain qualified American workers during the recently announced lay-offs.

Microsoft employs thousands of people through the H-1B visa program. This temporary work visa program allows American companies and universities to employ temporary foreign guest workers who have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in a job category that is considered by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to be a “specialty occupation.” The purpose of the h-1b program is to help companies hire foreign guest workers on a temporary basis when there is not a sufficient qualified American workforce to meet those needs. However, the program is not intended to replace qualified American workers.

In October 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released an internal report that found the H-1B program has more than a 20 percent violation rate. The fraud identified in the report included jobs not located where employers claimed, H-1B visa holders not being paid the prevailing wage, forged documents, fraudulent degrees, and shell businesses. In one instance the H-1B position described by the employer was “business development analyst.” However, it turned out that the H-1B visa holder would be working at a laundromat doing laundry and maintaining washing machines.

Grassley has been a leader in the effort to improve the H-1B visa program. In the 110th Congress, he introduced a comprehensive H-1B and L visa reform bill with Senator Dick Durbin that would give priority to American workers and crack down on unscrupulous employers who deprive qualified Americans of high-skill jobs. He has also asked questions of both American and foreign based companies about their use of the H-1B visa program.

Here is a copy of the text of Grassley’s letter

January 22, 2009
Mr. Steve Ballmer
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond , WA 98052-6399

Dear Mr. Ballmer:

I am writing to inquire about press reports that Microsoft will be cutting approximately 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months. I understand that the layoffs will affect workers in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal and corporate affairs, human resources, and information technology.

I am concerned that Microsoft will be retaining foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American employees when it implements its layoff plan. As you know, I want to make sure employers recruit qualified American workers first before hiring foreign guest workers. For example, I cosponsored legislation to overhaul the H-1B and L-1 visa programs to give priority to American workers and to crack down on unscrupulous employers who deprive qualified Americans of high-skilled jobs. Fraud and abuse is rampant in these programs, and we need more transparency to protect the integrity of our immigration system. I also support legislation that would strengthen educational opportunities for American students and workers so that Americans can compete successfully in this global economy.

Last year, Microsoft was here on Capitol Hill advocating for more H-1B visas. The purpose of the H-1B visa program is to assist companies in their employment needs where there is not a sufficient American workforce to meet their technology expertise requirements. However, H-1B and other work visa programs were never intended to replace qualified American workers. Certainly, these work visa programs were never intended to allow a company to retain foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American workers, when that company cuts jobs during an economic downturn.

It is imperative that in implementing its layoff plan, Microsoft ensures that American workers have priority in keeping their jobs over foreign workers on visa programs. To that effect, I would like you to respond to the following questions:

* What is the breakdown in the jobs that are being eliminated? What kind of jobs are they? How many employees in each area will be cut?

* Are any of these jobs being cut held by H-1B or other work visa program employees? If so, how many?

* How many of the jobs being eliminated are filled by Americans? Of those positions, is Microsoft retaining similar ones filled by foreign guest workers? If so, how many?

* How many H-1B or other work visa program workers will Microsoft be retaining when the planned layoff is completed?

My point is that during a layoff, companies should not be retaining H-1B or other work visa program employees over qualified American workers. Our immigration policy is not intended to harm the American workforce. I encourage Microsoft to ensure that Americans are given priority in job retention. Microsoft has a moral obligation to protect these American workers by putting them first during these difficult economic times.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator

The following is an excerpt from Microsoft’s website on the testimony of Bill Gates at a Congressional hearing in May 2008

U.S. immigration policies need to allow American companies to hire the best talent. Gates calls on Congress to reform immigration policies to allow more highly skilled professionals to work for companies in the U.S. “At a time when talent is the key to economic success, it makes no sense to educate people in our universities, often subsidized by U.S. taxpayers, and then insist that they return home,” he said. “To address the shortage of scientists and engineers, we must … reform our education system and our immigration policies. If we don’t, American companies simply will not have the talent they need to innovate and compete.” Gates urges Congress and the White House to address this problem by extending the period that foreign students can work in the U.S. after graduation, raising the cap on H-1B visas, creating a clear path to permanent residency for high-skilled foreign-born employees and increasing the number of green cards. “The shortage of scientists and engineers is so acute that we must do both: reform our education system and reform our immigration policies.”

Funding for basic research should be increased. Gates believes basic research funding is an essential part of keeping American companies competitive and sparking new industries. “Even though we know that basic research drives economic progress, real federal spending on basic research has fallen since 2005,” he said. “I urge Congress to increase funding for basic research by 10 percent annually for the next seven years.” Gates said that federal funding for basic research supports the education of the next generation of scientists and engineers, and provides the raw material that U.S. companies transform into commercially successful products.

Here is one reaction by an elected representative obviously enamored by Mr Gates and a believer that the Darth Vader of IT brought worthwhile technology to the masses.

“Bill Gates has played a key role in our nation’s economic and technological growth for more than 20 years and I found his testimony today informative and compelling. I was most struck by Gates’ strong appeal to Congress to fully fund the America COMPETES Act. This new law makes a significant commitment to our country’s future by investing in math and science education and federal research. I will continue to vigorously advocate for funding of the America COMPETES Act,” said Rothman.

The excerpt below combined with asking government and the taxpayer to do his research for him are the things Bill Gates was really interested in.

I personally witness the ill effects of these policies on an almost daily basis at Microsoft. Under the current system, the number of H1-B visas available runs out faster and faster each year. The current base cap of 65,000 is arbitrarily set and bears no relation to U.S. industry’s demand for skilled professionals. For Fiscal Year 2007, the supply did not last even eight weeks into the filing period, and ran out more than four months before that fiscal year even began.

In summary the view from this blog is as follows. For regular readers the views here on Microsoft are known. As an example there are reports on another lawsuit against MS called ‘vista capable’ where customers are upset that hardware requirements for vista exceeded those stated or some such nonsense. While this blog detests the attitude of MS toward customers and the repeated crap software sold, if customers have not learned by now what they can expect from MS they deserve what they get. But that is not the central point of this post.

There was mention of funding research in the information provided. That’s nice. The question would be is it the taxpayer’s responsibility to pay for research or educating future employees? Is it fair for the private sector to benefit from those expenditures rather than fund their own research? There are technology transfer programs with the federal government whereby arrangements are made to move publicly funded research to the private sector. Is a fair monetary exchange made for those transfers? And for the last point is Senator Grassley’s latest expression of discontent to Microsoft just another politician trying to make points with voters?

As this post really relates to the current economic conditions and the mass frenzy to push bailouts and stimulus packages on the public dime something else needs to be said. Once government does something undoing it is nearly impossible and if it is possible there is much more pain and suffering involved than would have been present with precise and reasoned action. There is no need for speed since no one in Washington nor anywhere else can guarantee that any solution suggested will work.

If these spending programs are to be deployed then they should be done in such a way as they can be stopped on command and rather than huge outlays smaller amounts should be floated as test balloons to avoid even larger mistakes. The experience thus far with AIG and others in their arrogance to spend taxpayer money should be proof enough that planned spending will not work without deadly force as a protection. Just today CITI has decided to buy a private jet. Ya, they say it will not be paid for with bailout funds. Right. If you need bailout funds then you don’t have enough of your own money or you lied about needing bailout funds. In any event you don’t need to buy a private jet. Has this post made the point clearly?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Another report of how enthralled (had to add this, enthralled = beguiled, filled with wonder and delight) consumers are with electronics offerings from manufacturers. This post is another attempt to raise some issues regarding consumer electronics. Some long standing criticism from this blog toward those who market electronics and control the infrastructure on which much of it is used range from how internet access is manipulated between what is available, offered and how it is priced to similar issues living in other telecom areas like wireless communication. Have you noticed how cell phones are marketed and its relationship to the primary function of telephones. That’s right. Voice communication between humans has long been the need filled by telephone service. Text messaging, chocolate phones, camera phones and all manner of other bells and whistles have relegated speaking to another on the phone as an afterthought. Could it be that spending the money necessary to offer reliable and quality voice communication does not present the profit margin desired by the providers? Could it be the public has once again allowed the market to be driven by the easily manipulated younger demographic with all that loose change to spend being ‘cool’? The manufacturers know it. Ignore the more demanding demographic for the one you can manipulate and who may have the most discretionary income with the most liberal criteria for purchasing decisions.

The ridiculous nature of the coming switch from analog to digital broadcasts is a critical tipping point in electronics related markets that should require no explanation for using adjectives like ‘ridiculous.’ The reasonable method for introducing new products and services by offering value in terms of quality, utility, pricing and other factors has been supplanted by collusion between entities within the public and private sectors in the electronics industry just like the examples found in the current ‘financial crisis’ stemming from the subprime mortgage scheme and lack of regulation and oversight from Wall Street to Main Street to the halls of government.

That is all the angst this blog author can withstand for the current post on this topic. It would be gratifying if the consuming public could muster enough discretion over their buying decisions as an aggregate to apply the needed pressure on suppliers to do the right thing. The vendors certainly won’t do it on their own. But then the same could be said about the public reaction to activity in government. And we all know to well how that usually works out.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Retailers around the country are reporting a slower-than-usual holiday shopping season this year. But 2008 has been a terrific year for those who love consumer electronics - whether they are buying or just looking.

Despite the current economic downturn, large consumer electronics chains like Best Buy are doing brisk business this year

During lunch hour at the Midtown Manhattan outpost of Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics chain in America, the checkout line is 30 people deep and counting. That’s no surprise to Nicholas Thompson, a senior personal technology editor at Wired magazine.

“It’s been a cool year,” says Thompson. “There has been lots of stuff introduced that’s faster, smaller, sleeker, cheaper, better than anything we’ve had before.”

Thompson adds that product design also has improved this year, partly as the result of Apple products.

“Apple makes beautiful things, and these things sell. So now everyone is making beautiful things!”

Wired Magazine editor Nicholas Thompson says that in 2008, the smart money for portable music players is on the Sansa Fuze

One of the new products that Thompson believes deserve high marks for both design and affordability is the Sansa Fuze. It’s one of dozens of handheld digital music players on sale here.

“It’s about $80, which is much less than it would have cost a year ago, [and] you can watch TV shows. You can watch movies. You can listen to music, and you can look at photographs you can put on it, all your little media files.”

Thompson soon heads straight for the camera aisle, where he unhesitatingly picks up a stylish Sony T700. Unlike most digital cameras, which have smallish viewing screens, the entire back portion of the T700 is designed for viewing photos. He says people often put their photographs online, but relatively few people trouble themselves with viewing.

“But if you have a nice screen on your camera, it makes it a lot easier to share your photos with your friends,” he says.

The T700 digital camera has a screen almost as large as a traditional photograph

Another important feature of the Sony T700 Thompson touts is its Smile Shutter technology, which is able to detect when a person the camera is aimed at smiles. It then shoots the photo without the user having to press a button.

Nearby, shoppers are snapping up a surprisingly small and simple looking video camera called the Flip Ultra.

“Video cameras used to cost $300 to $400,” recalls Thompson. “And for a lot of people, all you want to do is take a little video of your dog and stick it on YouTube. And why pay $300 for that?”

In contrast, at $129, the Ultra is relatively inexpensive. It also has what Thompson considers another virtue: almost no buttons.

“Buttons can sometimes be good, but they can also confuse you. This very simple, very nice present for someone.”

“Next in line, please” is a request this cheerful Best Buy cashier calls out hundreds of time a day

Video games are bigger than ever in 2008. Thompson’s favorite this year is the FIFA 09 virtual football game based on the teams in the World Cup.

“For example, say you want to be the United States, or you want to be Brazil,” explains Thompson, “You actually have the simulation of all the soccer players who play on that national team. And if Brazil plays the United States, Brazil wins!”

When this Voice of America reporter asks him just why Brazil is sure to win, Thompson is quick to laughingly opine, “Brazil is better!” He adds that in the football-oriented video games of the past, the players would all look the same

“… and they would kind of run in the same direction, kick as hard, run as fast as each other. Now everybody is an individual,” he says.

Samsung high-end, flat-screen televisions offer images that can be almost too realistic for comfort

Thompson says hard-core couch potatoes who want excitement from their electronic toys without exercise - even of the virtual kind - will love Samsung’s new top-of-the-line, large-screen flat televisions. The store’s demonstration model uses liquid crystal display technology enhanced with light-emitting diodes as backlights.

“The colors are truer. The blacks are a lot better, and it’s much easier to watch for a long time,” Thompson says. “You actually feel like you are in a movie theater even though are just sitting in your own living room.”

Soon, a chase scene from The Dark Knight, the franchise’s most recent Batman film, begins to play on the television monitor. But Thomson says that virtually zooming through the streets of Gotham City at 250 kilometers per hour in the Batmobile - while sitting in one’s own living room at the same time - is only one of the high-tech thrills in store for gadget lovers during the 2008 holiday season.

Following the content listed in most popular news on Google and Yahoo has been a regular occurence here. At first it was disappointing that so much of what made it to the listing were stories with topics that probably shouldn’t rank as high as they did. But that just seemed to indicate a sad trend that ‘clickers’ at these venues concentrated on items that really do not matter. The tabloid type of content was getting the lion’s share of the most popular ratings by click. Again, sad that important issues were being neglected by whatever the demographic was. If one assumed that the readers were a representative slice of the general public the bulk of what they were reading was an even more dismal trend.

But over the months it seems more public affairs issues are being digested if only for a moment. A snapshot of one of this morning’s lists has been reordered below by this blog’s opinion of what matters most.along with a commentary on each. Links are maintained except for those items designated here as useless stories.

News Analysis Choice of Palin Is Bold Move by McCain, With Risks

The central argument in the NYT piece seems to be that McCain’s VP selection gives ammunition to Obama while diminishing McCain’s criticism that Obama is not ready to lead due to inexperience. Right out of the blocks, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has executive experience and a resume’s considerably more accomplished than Senator Obama’s. No one said you cannot take on the VP slot as it does not lend itself to on the job training. And as for the ability to step in to the Presidency if disaster would strike, how many former VP’s would have been ideal for that contingency? If Palin ends up spending four years as VP she will likely be quite prepared for the Office of President in 2012. Even with the unlikelihood that she would have to take over as President, by then the McCain Adminstration would be in place and the typical resources used by each President would be available to Palin for executing the office. In contrast, nothing about Barack Obama equals that assessment.

Additionally, Mr Hope and Change Obama selected a Washington insider which conflicts with his new everything claims and that McCain is more of the same. It also cnocedes his lack of foreign policy experience which most suggest will be of primary importance to the next President. Like it hasn’t been every year.

Obama campaign buoyed by convention

The report above offers more of the same from the Dems more of the same complaint against McCain/Palin. It also cites a Gallup poll showing an 8 point lead for Obma post-convention. While Obama did a fine job of bolstering his celeb status which has little to do with leading the country, the Rasmussen poll shows the lead to be a mere four points. Just a few days ago it was a dead heat as indicated by just about everyone. It would not be a surprise if the polls reflected dynamic swings over the next few weeks.

Small Change From Obama

David Broder says it for all those suspicious of Barack Obama. From reminding readers that little is known about the freshman Senator to describing his nomination speech as ordinary and focusing on traditional liberal talking points, the change meister (Obama) has squandered his big moment by making a convincing argument for his opponents that an Obama Administration would offer nothing new.

Michelle Obama: Bringing back the brooch

Ah, the significance of Michelle Obama has materialized. She wears a pin. Let the fashion statements begin. So Dems comparing Barack to JFK will lead to comparisons of Michelle to Jackie? Oh, please.

Obama: An American Dream and a Promise for Change

For those who may have missed the opportunity to drink the liberal Kook-Aid, the above link is for you. All of what the Dems would like you to believe is in this. If any of it were likely the Dems might have something but just like the long awaited Obama nomination speech it is a terrible letdown. Nothing to believe in. Nothing to hope for and nothing will change from the liberal realm.

Obama turns to Greek columns for support

The celeb strategy is alive and well in the Obama campaign. Wanting to make a connection and comparison between himself and MLK and JFK rather than Ayers and Rezko, Obama opted for the Greek thing. Just another example of smoke and mirrors that appeal to the far left. Could it be they are attracted to fantasy and fiction more than reality and logic?

Unconventional Ratings: Obama’s Speech Draws Record 38 Million Viewers

Just another example that the Obama celeb thing has the capacity to attract those inspired by fads and bells and whistles. To be fair, there is the possibility that those sincerely seeking change may have paid attention. But as reported by Broder in another item above, Obama missed his opportunity to make the case and instead optted for traditional Dems talking points and the party line.

The other items linked below are secondary in importance. The report on Russia is another reminder that cold war sentiments may resurface. The mention of Gustav and threats to the Gulf Coast remind that NOLA is still the only part of the area that will get the bulk of coverage from the MSM and we haven’t learned the lesson of not putting all our refining capacity or most of it in one vulnerable area.

The IT topics represented by Microsoft, Apple and Comcast represent a trio of standouts all compromising the digital landscape. MS continues its habit of trying to convince users that things are different now. Apple has become as notorious as a techo-gangsta’ as MS with its idiot phone marketing as the latest Comcast episode proving net neutrality is an issue.

The unlinked titles below, of course, represent the least important topics offered on the list of most popular news items. Have a fine Labor Day Weekend and start clicking on the important stuff. Focus on MoreWhat Matters

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia

Gustav strengthens off west Cuba
US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1)

Microsoft: No more Windows Live Mail crashes with IE8 Beta 2
Update: Steve Jobs - Alive And Kicking
Mystery ‘iPhone Girl’ On Her Way To Meme Status
Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads

Duchovny in Rehab
Lindsay Loses Grandfather, Calls for Family Peace
Earwax: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Two films will vie with ‘Tropic Thunder’ for No. 1 at box office
A-Rod abors through traffic to get to Stadium before game
Thai prime minister vows to sit tight despite anti-government protests

When the iPhone first came out this blog dubbed it the ‘i’ in iPhone is for idiot. There is no problem with adding all sorts of bells and whistles to a device with some core functionality that provides utility for the user. And since caveat emptor is still a mainstay in successful transactions in the world of capitalism, overblown claims and slick marketing promotions are not foul either. One must do their due diligence before making purchases or suffer the consequences. That is the main reason for the idiot distinction.

The secondary reason for the idiot stigma is really about telecom in general. The evolution of telecom post deregulation was a bust for the consumer and still is. What helps the manufacturers of telecom devices is the younger the buyer the better. No dissin’ of the younger folks here. It is simply they are unaware that even in the days of Ma Bell aka AT&T in years before their time, acquiring the basic idea of voice communication of state of the art quality and reasonable price was uncommon or unavailable. Deregulation and more competition was claimed to be the bonus for the public. Ya, right. You still cannot get reliable voice transmission at a reasonable price. But you can get a camera built into the device as well as text messaging and a myriad of features that are quite useless if the primary purpose of, for instance wireless phones, is to have mobile voice communications that are always there at sufficient quality and affordable.

Hence the offering of this report found on Slate:

Is Something Rotten at Apple?E-mail problems, flaky iPhones, and broken Macs. What’s Steve Jobs to do?
By Farhad Manjoo
Posted Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at 5:40 PM ET
Steve Jobs. Click image to expand.Steve Jobs

In its ubiquitous TV ads, Apple claims that its new iPhone is twice as fast as the original version and just half the price. Neither is true. The half-price fib has been obvious for some time: When you add the price of AT&T’s required two-year contract, the new phone costs slightly more than the old phone. In a lawsuit filed last week, an iPhone owner named Jessica Alena Smith argues that Apple hasn’t been honest about the phone’s speed, either. Smith, echoing thousands of complaints logged on Apple’s Web site, says that her iPhone rarely connects to AT&T’s fast 3G network, instead staying fixed to the pokey EDGE service that was the bane of the first iPhone. Smith’s iPhone doesn’t just fail on tasks like downloading e-mail and surfing the Web, she says. It also drops many of her voice calls.

Smith lives in Birmingham, Ala., but I’ve had the same problem with my iPhone 3G in cell-tower-rich San Francisco more dropped calls than I’ve ever had on a cell phone (including on the original iPhone) and terribly spotty 3G service. Last month, I raved about the great third-party programs available on the iPhone’s fantastic built-in App Store. But I’ve since soured on that system, too. As many iPhone owners have noticed, the phone often mysteriously refuses to load these apps, rendering them useless.

The iPhone still sux. But that does not mean Apple is the only culprit. They are just one of the usual suspects. Every vendor out there sells basically the same thing and the primary functional utility and price are being overlooked by the consumer. As if the mfr’s could hear the typical customer saying, ‘ I just buy what’s out there, man, it’s cool’. No, it certainly is not.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

crossposted at:
Maggie’s Notebook | Conservative Blog
FaultlineUSA
Conservative Thoughts

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Above is the only part of Steve Jobs’ Open Letter to All iPhone Customers that you need to see. The remainder of the brief letter is just some silly fill that executive types feel compelled to include so they do not feel so dumb apologizing in public. But this is just another episode of consumers being dumb and corporate executives following suit albeit for different reasons.

In the article below from MarketWatch, Apple’s stock price dropped over six percent in the Wednesday/Thursday trading. Steve Jobs may have a winner on his hands and there were obviously enough idiots wanting idiot phones. But for a guy who has pulled off some incredible achievements, he also appears to possess the ability to shoot himself in the foot. Maybe the early wars between Gates and him still haunt.

The move has put pressure on Apple’s stock, which fell more than 5% Wednesday and continued to trade down on Thursday. The shares closed trading Thursday down nearly 1.3% at $135.01.

There’s another post or two around here somewhere dealing with the iPhone. Don’t take the reference of idiot phone the wrong way. Steve Jobs is talented. Apple can be an impressive company. The idiot phone has some interesting characteristics. But number one, its not like miniaturization was just invented nor display technology still using tubes.

Number two, the real idiot part of the equation not only addresses the ’stand n line’ mentality but RE-addresses an old problem. The one that caused most people to laugh. The person who always had to have the newest things and have them first. The first premium paid was obviously the highest price for the product. And that premium also bought the purchaser first dibs on product flaws as well as the chance to convert that new technology into a boat anchor. Not to mention the follow up purchases for upgrades or newer models, etc.,etc.

The business world is now telling the gullible they need fast transactions for a fast world that demands a credit card. They don’t tell you a cashless society may only benefit them. They also don’t tell you they’re competing with debit cards on that ad. The same goes with the idiot phone.

Remember when telephones had wires. Remember life before cell phones or built-in cameras or wireless internet or GPS tracking or traceless, disposable models? That is when the cost and quality of telephone service were the major complaints. When the phone was a phone the cost and quality of service were the big issues. Now wireless phones are the weapon of choice. Guess what the problem is? The cost and quality of service for making a damn telephone call.

It is done over many years and usually targeted at the younger or gullible demographic. Once they lure you into secondary features the price increases follow and the old problems never get solved. Who needs less expensive, quality phone service when you can get all these cool extras?

The technology gets released in tiny increments to milk the market. The sheep create demand and continue the cycle. The best products and services at the best prices that provide the best balance of profit for business and satisfaction for consumers rarely appear.

Without the announced price reduction so soon after buyers swarmed for the initial release of the iPhone, the customers would still be fat, dumb and happy. Steve Jobs indicated the apology idea was born after ‘hundreds of emails.’ Maybe, but one might think the sale of any product would generate more than hundreds of complaints. That aside, Jobs decides to keep the discounts in place but offer rebates to current customers. The deep discounts already moved the company’s stock down significantly in two days. A case of dumb all the way around.

That is why the i in iPhone stands for idiot. Do they offer text messaging so you won’t notice when the wireless internet portable music camera phone no longer allows you to talk to someone? Sure, laugh now. It’s coming.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to Perri Nelson’s Website, The Random Yak, 123beta, Adam’s Blog, Right Truth, The Populist, The Uncooperative Radio Show! Aug. 07, 08 and 09, 2007, Nuke’s News & Views, Stuck On Stupid, The Bullwinkle Blog, Phastidio.net, , Woman Honor Thyself, 4 Time Father?, Blue Star Chronicles, Right Voices, and Church and State, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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Secure Computing Warns: iPhone Release Immediately Followed By New Web-Borne Malware Threat

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Secure Computing Corporation (NASDAQ: SCUR) , a leading enterprise gateway security company, today warned that email spam, indicating that the recipient has won a new iPhone, is directing users to a malware hosting website.

Secure Computing has discovered a website that is attempting to exploit over 10 Active X vulnerabilities in its efforts to install a malicious payload including the MSODataSourceControl vulnerability that Secure Computing warned users about only 2 weeks ago. The website is tracking visitors on the site and then redirecting repeat visitors to a different, clean webpage in efforts to thwart security researchers as well as using XOR encryption to obfuscate the attack.

“This yet again confirms the expanding trend in web-borne malware,” said Paul Henry, vice president of technology evangelism for Secure Computing. “This threat is particularly insidious in that scripts within the HTML code returned to the user contain exploit code for multiple vulnerabilities to improve the malicious hacker’s chances of gaining the necessary access to install the rootkit /spam bot malware. While most organizations fully inspect the traffic directed to their Internet facing web servers, many do not inspect the traffic that is returned to their internal users when visiting Internet web sites.”

The initial activity of the rootkit/spam bot malware is to incorporate the compromised PC into a spam sending botnet. Because the malware is rootkit- based, it would be a simple matter for the malicious hacker to at any time update the malware to include other nefarious tasks, such as key logging on the compromised PC to capture the user’s financial credentials for use in ID theft.

Viruses, worms, Trojans and other malware have traditionally been distributed over email with further propagation through each compromised users’ email address books and made to look like messages coming from them. “With this threat, we again see the addition of a web attack component to traditional email-based malware,” said Henry. “Secure Computing has recently seen other evidence of web-borne malware propagating through the use of fake video-hosting sites and fake greeting card messages.”

“Because of the popularity of the iPhone brand this is the first in what’s bound to be a series of scams involving the iPhone,” added Henry.

Customers using Secure Computing’s Webwasher(R), the industry’s first and only reputation-based Web gateway security solution, are protected against this. Webwasher protects enterprises from spyware, phishing, malware, data leakage, and Internet misuse, while ensuring policy enforcement, regulatory compliance, and a productive application environment. It incorporates global intelligence from the company’s industry-leading reputation system, TrustedSource(TM), which provides source-based reputation scores for web page content, messages, attachments and images. Webwasher employs the most sophisticated behavioral and signature-based techniques for stopping malware, as well as patented content analysis software for stopping data leakage.

About Secure Computing:

Secure Computing (NASDAQ: SCUR) , a leading provider of enterprise gateway security, delivers a comprehensive set of solutions that help customers protect their critical Web, email and network assets. Over half the Fortune 50 and Fortune 500 are part of our more than 20,000 global customers in 106 countries, supported by a worldwide network of more than 2,300 partners. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices worldwide. For more information, see http://www.securecomputing.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Secure Computing’s timely identification of security threats and its ability to protect against such threats, and such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are delays in product development, undetected software errors or bugs, competitive pressures, technical difficulties, changes in customer requirements, general economic conditions and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Secure Computing’s periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All trademarks or tradenames used herein belong to their respective owners.
Website: http://www.securecomputing.com/

The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot. Consumers pay too much for everything and then at some point complain that prices are too high. Everything costs too much because you keep buying it at ridiculous prices. The business community doles out technology products and services, as well as others, in tiny incremental phases at bloated prices and minimal or substandard capability, performance, features, quality, etc., etc., and consumers keep flocking to each new marketing ploy. The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot.

The youngest among us are the easiest to fool. Haven’t been on the planet long enough or care about the trends that matter. Gotta have the newest and coolest even if it is a marketing campaign that defines the object. The trend is the business community has long known how to use hype to drive revenue. They not only target the younger demographic due to the extreme discretionary income as compared to other groups but they are keenly aware that they are largely clueless when it comes to intelligent purchasing decisions supported by fact.

As for the older demographic that follows suit, they once were part of the younger demographic that was clueless and no improvement in buying decisions has occurred over time. These two demographics are in large part responsible for the continued promotion of second rate products and services at unreasonable prices.

Why do houses cost so much? Because first time buyers only consider what they want and finding a way to qualify for a price they do not see as inflated. The mortgage industry is only too happy to invent flawed solutions like the subprime industry to accommodate such foolish transactions.

Why do cars cost so much? Why does health care cost so much? Why is the cost of an education higher than most think it should be? Although the details may vary the overall reasons for the cost of goods and services and their associated real value are so dramatically skewed. People convince themselves they need what they are buying and have no patience, discipline or any buyer sophistication adequate to the task. This is followed by subsequent complaints about how bad things are without the consumer accepting any guilt for the outcome. The ‘i’ in iPhone stands for idiot.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, The Virtuous Republic, Right Truth, Big Dog’s Weblog, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Pursuing Holiness, CatSynth.com “catback” weekend, The Magical Rose Garden, third world county, Right Celebrity, Wake Up America, Woman Honor Thyself, stikNstein… has no mercy, Pirate’s Cove, Nuke’s news and views, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily News, Church and State, The Random Yak, A Blog For All, 123beta, DeMediacratic Nation, Jeanette’s Celebrity Corner, Webloggin, Cao’s Blog, , Conservative Cat, , Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Allie Is Wired, Walls of the City, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, High Desert Wanderer, Gone Hollywood, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Try as I do, apparently I’m not getting through to you clones. (apologies to Jim Rome). It feels like a one man campaign against the onslaught of mindless acceptance to the path of least resistance. It confirms the proposition that most human beings are incapable of making choices for themselves and if the options available require more than a modicum of effort they will be ignored for the easiest answer. This happens throughout the business world and the sellers of inferior solutions couldn’t be happier. The effect of consumers making poor choices results in companies continuing business as usual as long as the public accepts it as reflected in the news story below.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Microsoft shares gain as earnings surge

MarketWatch
By John Letzing, MarketWatch. SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Microsoft Corp. shares jumped more than 3% on Friday, a day after the company posted a 65% surge in fiscal third-quarter profit thanks to sales of new products such as the Vista operating …

Microsoft cannot get it right even when it is someone else’s product.
(MoreWhat.com staff)

Microsoft ordered to pay Alcatel-Lucent $1.5 bln in patent case
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — A federal jury in San Diego on Thursday ordered Microsoft Corp. to pay a $1.52 billion judgment for infringing on digital-music patents owned by Alcatel-Lucent.

The Dems favor net neutrality and the GOP does not. This sounds a little more like traditional stands of party politics. If the internet, and more specifically the blogosphere, continues to exert influence on issues at the current rate, the face of politics may evolve as an entirely new animal. Or it may only reflect a shift in the tools of the trade.

Not unlike big business, politics requires establishing a rigid structure to limit interference from outsiders. Power and influence dictates the agenda and often the outcome. This restricts innovation and impedes the flow of ideas. Innovation is generally the domain of startups and small entities unencumbered by the desire to crush competition. The internet among other things is an environment that fosters innovation. It is possible that the opponents of equal access for all are only interested in protecting their kingdoms. However, some who claim to be in favor of innovation may only support it as a mechanism to regain the power and influence. Distinguishing the two is problematic.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Neutrality On the Net Gets High ‘08 Profile

Bloggers and other Internet activists made their marks in the past two presidential elections chiefly by building networks of political enthusiasts and raising money for candidates. Now, they are pushing aggressively into policymaking — and not just over high-profile issues such as Iraq.

Trackposted to Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Perri Nelson’s Website, basil’s blog, and Pursuing Holiness, Outside the Beltway, High Desert Wanderer, and Conservative Thoughts, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, and Right Voices Blue Star Chronicles, Stuck On Stupid, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Vista system’s full of glitches

Now Toronto, Canada
You can tell by the latest Apple ads featuring Mac personified mocking Mr. PC because Vista’s security systems are more trouble than they’re worth. ..

We would stop posting these unflattering reports on Microsoft and the great and powerful OZ, but we simply cannot HELP ourselves.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com