Apple's Secret Plan For Global Domination

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In This Issue:
1. Editor's Note: Apple Computer Is Secretly Plotting Global Domination. Or, Maybe Not.
2. Today's Top Story
    - Mozilla Fixes 24 Bugs In Firefox
    - Support Change Spells End For Mozilla Firefox 1.0.x
3. Breaking News
    - Microsoft Office Live Beta Gets Traffic Spike
    - Sprint Tracks Kids Via GPS Cell Phones
    - Intel Inks Deal With China's Largest Search Engine
    - Apple Upgrades Aperture Imaging Software
    - New Software Enables TiVo From Anywhere
    - Best Buy's 'Geek Squad' Accused Of Software Piracy
    - Q&A: Oracle President Charles Phillips
    - CA Buys Job-Scheduling Software Provider Cybermation For $75 Million
    - AOL Accused Of Blocking Critics' E-Mails
    - AMD Subpoenas Microsoft In Intel Antitrust Case
    - Analysis: Red Hat-JBoss Union Draws Mixed Reaction From Partners
    - Microsoft Updates Atlas Preview
    - Microsoft Sponsors World Cyber Games
    - Outsourcing Contracts Up, But Savings Questioned
4. Grab Bag:
    - Google Chief Rejects Pressuring (The New York Times)
    - China Bloggers Who Pursue Change Confront Fear And Mistrust (The Washington Post)
    - Hey, Hey, It's Michael Nesmith (Wired News)
5. In Depth:
    - Microsoft Updates Anti-Spyware Defender
    - Pirates Won't See Slickest Vista
    - World Of Warcraft Purges Thousands Of Cheaters
    - An Enigma Machine For Every Budget
6. Voice Of Authority
    - Software Security Groupies Kiss And Tell
7. White Papers
    - Accelerating Line-Of-Business Applications In The WAN-Challenged Remote Office
8. Get More Out Of InformationWeek
9. Manage Your Newsletter Subscription

Quote of the day:
"Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog." -- Doug Larson

1. Editor's Note: Apple Computer Is Secretly Plotting Global Domination. Or, Maybe Not.

Apple Computer's recent forays into Windows compatibility and Intel hardware architecture raise some interesting questions about the strategic direction for the company.

This could simply be what Apple says it is: By supporting Intel hardware, Apple might simply be looking for price/performance that the PowerPC architecture no longer provides. And the introduction of Windows Boot Camp, which lets Intel-based Macs boot Windows, could simply be a way to win market share by recruiting Windows users to try the Mac, allowing those users to switch without losing compatibility with Windows software.

But does Apple have ambitions beyond that? Is Apple looking to win back its place on the corporate desktop? For a long time, Macs have been the platform of choice for many designers, software developers, the education market, and consumers, but Microsoft has owned the corporate desktop. Could Apple be trying to take some of Microsoft's territory? Analyst Tim Bajarin, of consultancy Creative Strategies, said Apple could be looking to increase its market share from 5%--where it's been holding steady for a long time--to 9% or 10%.

Apple recently upgraded its desktop management software, which will make Macs more attractive to corporate IT managers.

If Apple is looking at Boot Camp as a major driver for grabbing market share, then Apple's got problems. Apple Boot Camp is great software, but it has limitations. Apple is classifying the software as beta, which means it's not supporting it. Users need to install the software themselves, which will be beyond the capabilities of many business users, and they'll need to pony up a couple hundred bucks for a new copy of Windows above the price of the Mac itself. Boot Camp is not for everyone.

Running Windows on the Mac opens the Mac to Windows threats, which slashes one of the biggest bragging points that Mac enthusiasts have for their platform: its greater security relative to Windows.

Users on a Mac discussion board griped about many problems with Boot Camp, including failure to boot into the Mac OS after installing Boot Camp.

What next? Could Apple be planning to run Windows applications directly on the Mac OS, either using an emulator more sophisticated than current emulation technology or via virtualization?

What do you think? Does Apple have a hidden agenda in its recent switch to Intel and Windows support? If so, what is it? Leave a message on the InformationWeek Weblog and let us know.

Mitch Wagner
[email protected]
www.informationweek.com

2. Today's Top Story

Mozilla Fixes 24 Bugs In Firefox
Most of the bugs were marked "critical," including several that could be exploited by attackers simply by duping users into visiting malicious Web sites.

Support Change Spells End For Mozilla Firefox 1.0.x
Under its new policy, support for prior versions ends six months after the introduction of the most current edition.

3. Breaking News

Microsoft Office Live Beta Gets Traffic Spike
Look out, domain registrars, Microsoft has seen more than a 50% spike in the number of users of Office Live beta.

Sprint Tracks Kids Via GPS Cell Phones
Dubbed "Family Locator Service," the $9.95-per-month service relies on Global Positioning System technology to pinpoint up to four cell phones, then maps their location on a PC or a parent's own cell phone.

Intel Inks Deal With China's Largest Search Engine
Intel China and Baidu.com signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in advancing Internet search applications for laptops, handsets, and PCs in homes.

Apple Upgrades Aperture Imaging Software
Aimed initially at professional photographers, the new lower price of Aperture 1.1 is expected to attract digital camera hobbyists, too, Apple said.

New Software Enables TiVo From Anywhere
DVR Everywhere, from Orb Networks, allows TiVo users to play and program TV recordings for free from any networked device, including work PCs, Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, and mobile phones.

Best Buy's 'Geek Squad' Accused Of Software Piracy
A court order restraining the retailer's use of a system recovery tool was issued Wednesday by a U.S. District Court judge. The order stems from a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Winternals Software LP, maker of ERD Commander 2005.

Q&A: Oracle President Charles Phillips
Phillips talks about Oracle's plans for the SMB space, including the types of companies he's most interested in acquiring for that market.

CA Buys Job-Scheduling Software Provider Cybermation For $75 Million
The latest purchase by acquisition-happy CA is designed to help evolve job scheduling to cross platforms, as well as link in with predefined business policies to prioritize, manage, and execute jobs based on how important they are.

AOL Accused Of Blocking Critics' E-Mails
A coalition fighting AOL's paid E-mail plans says the company has been blocking the organization's own E-missives to supporters. AOL says the problems were due to a technical glitch.

AMD Subpoenas Microsoft In Intel Antitrust Case
Advanced Micro Devices is asking for a variety of documents, E-mail, and other correspondence related to Microsoft's software development plans, inclusion of AMD in technology planning, and financial discussions about AMD, according to the subpoena.

Analysis: Red Hat-JBoss Union Draws Mixed Reaction From Partners
Some partners say the move paves the way for a brand-name, end-to-end open-source stack that can compete directly against Microsoft's integrated platform and Sun Microsystems' enterprise system.

Microsoft Updates Atlas Preview
The latest prerelease of its Atlas application-development framework includes a toolkit that offers precoded functionality for an assortment of common UI elements, such as drop-down boxes and collapsible show/hide panels.

Microsoft Sponsors World Cyber Games
Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 will become the exclusive platforms for the world's largest video game tournament, which draws more than a million competitors each year.

Outsourcing Contracts Up, But Savings Questioned
The total value of all large contracts signed in the first quarter of 2006 increased 173% year-over-year to $22.7 billion, but companies aren't saving as much as expected.

All Our Latest News

Watch The News Show

In the current episode:

Jack Soat With 'It's News Or Never'
Google defends its China policy, CA makes another acquisition, and the Geek Squad finds itself in legal trouble.

Eric Chabrow With 'Surveillance Story'
A facial recognition software database makes it easier for authorities to secure the homeland.

Ivan Schneider With 'I Am A Search Engine'
Interview with artist/philosopher (and 60's relic) Mark George Lynch: He's got a lot to say...about what, I have no idea.

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4. Grab Bag: News You Need From Around The Web

Google Chief Rejects Pressuring China (The New York Times)
Google's chief executive, Eric E. Schmidt, whose company has been sharply criticized for complying with Chinese censorship, said on Wednesday that the company had not lobbied to change the censorship laws and, for now, had no plans to do so. "I think it's arrogant for us to walk into a country where we are just beginning operations and tell that country how to run itself," Mr. Schmidt told reporters from foreign news organizations.

Bloggers Who Pursue Change Confront Fear And Mistrust (The Washington Post)
Those trying to use the Internet to foster political change in China must contend not only with the censors, but also with the apathy, fear, and mistrust of their fellow citizens. Companies, including U.S. firms like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google, face competing ethical and commercial pressures as they seek to profit from the Internet in China.

Hey, Hey, It's Michael Nesmith (Wired News)
Michael Nesmith invented MTV, won a Grammy for a music video, produced cult movies Repo Man and Tapeheads, pioneered the Internet, and was the Monkee in the wool cap. He talks about digital music, MySpace, and corporate media in a Wired News interview.

5. In Depth:

Microsoft Updates Anti-Spyware Defender
Tweaks in the security software include improvements in real-time protection to better watch key parts of the operating system for potential infection, and support for 64-bit systems.

Pirates Won't See Slickest Vista
Only registered users will be able to access the new visual interface, code-named "Aero."

World Of Warcraft Purges Thousands Of Cheaters
The online fantasy game has been plagued with individual players and even marketplaces selling in-game objects, including characters and gold, for real-world money.

An Enigma Machine For Every Budget
Cryptology buffs who can't swing the cost of a vintage Enigma machine have free-of-charge options for enciphering at home like a WWII-era German intelligence officer.

6. Voice Of Authority

Software Security Groupies Kiss And Tell
Larry Greenemeier says: Bet you didn't know that software companies, like rock stars, have groupies. In my April 17 article on software companies and the security researcher groupies who love them, I spin a yarn about several instances where researchers found their way onto the proverbial tour bus. Do the people in charge of IT security really want these groupies to kiss and tell? You bet. But simply blabbing on about flaws in a vendor's code to the nearest mailing list can do more harm than good. My story points to cases where disclosure was done properly, and where it's been detrimental to the IT community as a whole.

7. White Papers

Accelerating Line-Of-Business Applications In The WAN-Challenged Remote Office
This white paper examines the WAN issues that directly affect application performance. It also looks at the various techniques that can be applied to better utilize the WAN and improve application response times.

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