iPhone Fanbois Make A Gangsta Rap Video…. What’s Next? Videos From PC Fanbois? (NSFW)

If the gangsta rap video from the Mac Fanbois wasn’t enough for you, check out this video called “I’m On A Phone” from a bunch of iPhone fanbois:

I can’t imagine what’s coming next.

Psystar Stops Selling Rebel EFI… Starts Selling T-Shirts And LINUX Boxes Instead

Here’s an interesting plot twist. Here’s what you see when you go to Psystar’s web site:

It appears that they’ve stopped selling the Rebel EFI tool that allows you to install Mac OS X on a PC. Here’s why:

We respectfully disagree with courts notion that we are “hardcore copyright infringers”. Psystar has never, and will never, condone software piracy. It’s your software, you should be able to use it where you want to. If you purchase an off-the-shelf copy of OS X Snow Leopard, its your right to use that software. A publisher cannot forbid you from reading a book in the bathroom or listening to a music disc while riding your bicycle. There should be no difference in the software realm, no matter how much money Apple or anyone else throws at it. That is the real issue here and what we have always been fighting for.

Good luck with that argument. So far, the courts have not agreed with you. Oh, here’s what they’ll be doing to stay alive:

Earlier this month, Psystar discontinued the sale of all its computer systems. In the coming days, we will again be offering complete systems but at discounted prices as they will be bundled with your choice of Linux operating system. In addition to using only first quality components, our hardware specifically chosen such that it is known to be compatible with OS X (via Apples own drivers or open source offerings online). This makes it easier to get up and running with your favorite XNU based operating system, including Pure Darwin.

So their plan is to let the users install Mac OS X themselves so that the legal responsibility shifts to them from Psystar. I wonder how the courts will see that plan? Oh yeah, there’s one more thing (Sorry Steve. I couldn’t resist):

They’re selling t-shirts and taking donations. How cute. Here’s the incentive to buy a t-shirt or donate:

Although Rebel EFI may be temporarily unavailable for purchase on the Psystar online store, those who purchase a t-shirt or donate over twenty dollars will receive one free copy of Rebel EFI once the court has ruled in our favor on this issue.

You’ll excuse me if I don’t fire up my PayPal account and flip them $20. It would be money that would go to waste given that I can’t see a court ever ruling in their favor.

Microsoft Has A Patch To Keep Word On The Shelves

After losing in court last week to Canadian company i4i, Microsoft was faced with two choices. Stop selling Word or fix it do it didn’t infringe on a patent that was owned by i4i. It seems that they went with fixing it. A patch is available on Microsoft’s OEM Partner Center Website, under the heading – “2007 Microsoft Office Supplement Release (October 2009)”. Here’s what the release notes say:

“After this patch is installed, Word will no longer read the Custom XML elements contained within DOCX, DOCM, or XML files. These files will continue to open, but any Custom XML elements will be removed. The ability to handle custom XML markup is typically used in association with automated server based processing of Word documents. Custom XML is not typically used by most end users of Word.”

The release notes also say that this patch is required for all US customers. You’ll note that this was available in October. So Microsoft must have figured that it was going to lose this court case and got this ready for their OEMs. This means that Microsoft can roll an end user version of this patch out at any time. Perhaps on the next “Patch Tuesday?”

This in theory should put an end to this circus. Although Microsoft did say it may consider its “legal options.” So stay tuned for more.

Nokia To Apple: Almost Everything You Makes Has One Of Our Patents In It

This whole patent lawsuit thing is getting ugly. Nokia has decided that almost everything that is blessed by Steve Jobs made by Apple has violated one of their patents. As a result, they’ve filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission:

“Nokia has been the leading developer of many key technologies in small electronic devices” said Paul Melin, General Manager, Patent Licensing at Nokia. “This action is about protecting the results of such pioneering development.  While our litigation in Delaware is about Apple’s attempt to free-ride on the back of Nokia investment in wireless standards, the ITC case filed today is about Apple’s practice of building its business on Nokia’s proprietary innovation.”

Oh boy. That’s a serious charge. Apple hasn’t responded to this as of yet. But you can fully expect that when they do, it will be a vigorous response. Just like when Apple countersued Nokia earlier this month.

Apple Fanbois Go Gangsta Rap (NSFW)

I got an e-mail from a bunch of Apple Fanbois today. Here’s what they had to say:

“Are you thinking about making the switch to a Mac?  You may have read many articles on The Unofficial Apple Weblog or on PC World, but here is another platform to understanding Macs and making the switch. This rap video that explicitily explains the positive benefits of Macs.  Even though grills, bling and spinning rims populate current rap videos, I’m on a Mac offers the sassiness of the 64-bit with the sexiness of unibodies and mighty mices.  You have seen I’m On A Boat by The Lonely Island featuring T-Pain, but watch what PC-Pain has to offer:”

You be the judge. Comments go below please.

I Hope You’re All Having A Happy Holiday Season…. [UPDATED]

Hopefully you’re having a good Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Festivus or whatever you celebrate. One of the things that will happen this week is that updates from me will be sporadic as I enjoy the season. For example, I’ll be going off to see Avatar tonight and while waiting in line, I’m going to help my wife get used to her new Palm Centro that magically appeared on Christmas eve.

So be happy and be safe in the meantime.

UPDATE: Just saw Avatar in IMAX 3D with my wife. BEST MOVIE EVER!!

If You Need RAM For Your Computer, I’d Get It Now

Why would I have a title like that? Simple, if you buy into what PC Magazine is saying, there’s going to be a serious RAM shortage which will cause prices to rise:

“DRAM will likely face a serious shortage in 2H10 triggered by the hot PC sales,” DRAMeXchange said. “The DRAM price decline will likely be eased in 2Q10. That is, DRAM vendors will have a great opportunity to remain in profit for the whole year.” Top U.S. memory chipmaker Micron on Tuesday delivered its first quarterly profit in nearly three years as rising prices lifted sales beyond expectations.

So this would be a really good time to throw some cash at a RAM upgrade. I for one will be upping my MacBook Pro to 8GB in the next little while as that would max the computer out. After all, it is better to have too much RAM rather than not enough.

Having said that, one has to wonder if consumers are being fleeced. Hmmm….

CRTC To Undertake Ownership Review Of A Cell Carrier….. Again

I guess they didn’t learn their lesson the first time around with Wind Mobile.

The CRTC in their infinite wisdom has decided to look at the ownership structure of Public Mobile. Who are Public Mobile? They are a new wireless company that hopes to bring a low cost wireless phone network offering $40 a month unlimited voice plans to Quebec and Ontario. Here’s the weird part, the major backer of this company is OMERS which is one of Canada’s largest pension plans. So there’s no logical reason why this should even come up as an issue. But the CRTC doesn’t see it that way:

At this time, and based on the information available, the Commission considers that the ownership structure of Public Mobile is of a complex nature and could hold precedential value for the industry and the general public. The Commission does not consider, however, that the evidentiary record would be improved by third-party submissions.

The CRTC really needs to get a clue here as it’s a safe bet that even if they find that Public Mobile doesn’t comply with their rules, the Canadian Government who are no fans of the CRTC will simply overturn it as they have made it clear that competition in the wireless market is a good thing. After all, they’ve done it once before so there’s no reason to believe that they won’t do it again.

Ex-Microsoft Employee Compares Microsoft To IBM in the 1980′s… Ouch

I’m guessing that staff at Microsoft HQ are moving the chairs out of Ballmer’s office as we speak. That’s because an interview with Don Dodge in the Seattle Post Intelligencer will likely make the Microsoft CEO throw a few chairs across his office. So, who is this Don Dodge guy? Until Microsoft laid him off, he was Director of Business Development for the Emerging Business Team. That’s a long fancy title that basically means that he was dealing with startup companies like Facebook and Myspace. Not an insignificant position. Of course he didn’t stay unemployed for long as he was quickly grabbed by Google. Another reason why chairs might soon be flying based on past history.

In any case, here’s how he sees Microsoft right now:

I think Microsoft today is a lot like IBM was in 1985. When I started my career IBM dominated the tech world. In the late ’80s Microsoft started to dominate the software world, first with desktop software and later with server software like Windows Server and SQL Server.

Microsoft is still a powerful company – $60 billion in revenue and very profitable – but I think after 20 years they are losing the innovation edge. The most innovative companies today are Google, Apple and Facebook. Very few companies can dominate an industry for more than 20 years. It is just the natural competitive cycle. Another factor – Bill Gates leaving the company. The transition was smooth, but not having Bill there every day has far-reaching implications.

Google, Apple, and Facebook are more innovative than Microsoft? Say it ain’t so! The rest of the article is a good read as well. I really encourage you to read it.

In the meantime, employees at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters should be on the lookout for flying chairs.

AT&T Wireless President Tells iPhone Users To Use WiFi…. WTF?

From the “I can’t believe this made it to print” department comes this little quote in a Business Week interview. AT&T Mobility President Ralph de la Vega was interviewed by them and this somehow made it to print:

Industry analysts have been figuring that AT&T would inevitably move from its $30-a-month, unlimited data plan for iPhone users to a “tiered pricing” model that charges according to usage. De la Vega says that no such move is imminent. “There are things people say I said that I didn’t say. We have not made any decision to implement tiered pricing,” he says—repeating the last part for emphasis.

Instead, AT&T wants to craft “incentives” that would compel iPhone owners to reduce demands on the company’s overworked 3G cellular network. The most obvious solution is to get them to switch to wireless Wi-Fi networks whenever possible.

That’s right iPhone users. AT&T who’s core business is cellular networks wants you to use WiFi whenever possible. Now, that seems like a really dumb thing to say. But it actually becomes clear why he’s saying that later on in this interview:

Other critics say AT&T isn’t investing nearly enough to keep up with rising iPhone traffic. The company’s overall capital spending is expected to drop to $17 billion this year, from $20.3 billion in 2008, although a spokesperson says the company has shifted “billions” of dollars to its wireless network.

So, AT&T isn’t spending the cash that they need to so that they can keep up with iPhone traffic which would allow them to make more cash. As a result, they’re forced to tell users not to use their network. Makes sense to me why they tell users to use WiFi which makes them absolutely no money. Using that logic, perhaps we should skip the iPhone on AT&T’s network altogether and just get an iPod touch and a copy of Skype. I bet that would make Mr. de la Vega really happy.

And with apologies to Steve Jobs, there’s one more thing:

He dismisses talk from rival carriers that say they’re having no problem taking care of iPhone users. Orange Telecom, for instance, says it’s easily serving two million European iPhone users. In response, de la Vega says AT&T’s network serves more than 24 million devices via its 3G network, including BlackBerries and wireless modems for laptops. “We’ll add two million in a quarter,” he says. “Other carriers are just getting a glimpse of what’s coming.” Analysts figure there are around 12 million iPhones, in particular, running on its 3G network.

I would disagree. Rogers Wireless in Canada who until very recently have had the iPhone exclusively to themselves have  none of the issues that AT&T has. I suspect that it has something to do with the fact that they from all reports have invested in their network capacity quite heavily and not because they don’t have the same level of iPhone usage as AT&T. That’s also true when it comes to many of the European cell providers who have the iPhone. Perhaps AT&T might want to look around and compare what they do vs. other providers out there?

I think it’s time that Apple ditch AT&T and move the iPhone to someone else who has a clue. Stuff like this from AT&T proves that they were the wrong choice for the iPhone in the USA.