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Not according to Glenn Lurie, Cingular's president of national distribution. From a PC Magazine article:

So Cingular and Apple will supposedly make it difficult to unlock the iPhone. Also, you're a BAD GUY (says Cingular) if you unlock your iPhone or any other phone. Besides, the GP's point was that phones were unlocked in the rest of the world (outside the USA).

As another replier hinted, you might have misinterpreted the required two year Cingular service contract that iPhone buyers must agree to. However, I think you're correct about them being clowntards...

Also, they mentioned that the Cingular name and logo would ALWAYS be on screen. Doesn't that mean they were effectively lying about the resolution, as some of the resolution will always be used only in a user-hostile fashion?

Yup. From PC Magazine's January 10 interview with Glenn Lurie, Cingular's president of national distribution:

As for them being clowntards:

"If you want an iPhone, you are going to get the luxury of being on the Cingular network," Lurie said.

My favorite part:

Bad guys? What a fucktard. I'm not blaming Apple, though. I wouldn't be surprised if all phone companies are nearly this bad.

America has caught up with the rest of the world in mobile (cell) phone technology. Traditionally, it was Asia that always had the best networks, the best new features, the cheapest prices. Fortunately this has changed.

But Asia is still very much ahead of North America in another area: the business model used to sell phones. Years ago, phones were locked to network operators in Asia too. Phones could be bought as part of a 'subscription' to a provider, and providers tried (and failed) to 'lock in' consumers to their services, their pricing.

What an un-free thing to do. It's almost ironic to see the Land of the Free still lingering, allowing, perpetuating such un-free, un-ethical monopolizing business practises in this day and age.

I quote the Cingular President of National Distribution in PCMag.com ( http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2082062,00.as p ) which illustrates this mindset, and the depths to which Apple has fallen.

"BAD" people UNlock phones?? What a travesty of a statement that is.. It's the exact other way around: BAD people who HATE FREEDOM try to lock people into their (and their partner's) technology and services!

This is nothing short of the final Turn to the Dark Side for Apple. Locking people into everything.. Why are their business practises better than Microsoft again?

Chanchao

(From Thailand, without democracy in government, but WITH freedom in choosing your phones, apps and networks)

"The rest of the interface requires no practice whatsoever." [everything except the virtual keyboard]

The first is a very positive comment, the second... a killer.

You know, when the original iPod was revealed, I was sorely disappointed and ruled out any possible success, too expensive, bulky, etc. Typical NW.LSTAN.L crowd.
Me, along with the /. folks, has been proven spectaculary wrong.

When the iPhone was revealed, I was quite impressed, but after the RDF faded and details, specs and price were digested upon, I have deja vu. I think the device too bulky, overpriced, no 3G support, crowded market, blah, blah, blah... Typical DIINAGT crowd (guess that one)

All my instincts tell me the iPhone is wrong... but reading previews such as this one... Um, think of how many PHBs are there that cannot configure his/her email client properly or many other 'simple' tasks that call techs to "fix their computers" again and again. They obviously cannot figure out SmartPhone apps or config that much. A phone that is instantly usable will be a success no matter what. Even if it's a 0.5% of the market.

Man, it's only a 0.9 version... 1.0 and 2.0 will come out and the iPhone Nano (as many have pointed out) as well, we'll see... Hell, even if its a Cube, they can always dumb it down and release an unlocked consumer $299 version... it's not that the know-how or the patents are going away.

I think Apple isn't all that interested in 'taking over' the high-end cellphone market as much as they're interested in defining a new category of communications device that's not thought of as a cellphone.

I agree with that, but think they made a pretty big mistake while doing so.

That mistake being...calling it the iPhone. It's already led to a lawsuit.

The name is corny and overplayed. "iPod" worked well because it was a new formulation. An undefined term "pod" that was given life.

After a few minutes of reflection, I think "iComm" would have been better, or "iPad", even.

You can add Windows Home Server to the list:

* Easy setup - users are given a CD to install software on each networked Windows XP/Vista PC that provides auto detection of the server and helps users create profiles
* It's always on and administered from any PC in the home
* Expandable storage - WHS will allow users to add hard drives to their towers as needed [no need to power down] or they can connect external USB storage drives
* Automatic backups of media stored on networked PCs
* Central point for accessing and playing back shared media and DRM protected content
* Remote access of stored content with private and public sharing capabilities - includes upload features
* Remote access of desktop settings and applications when away from home
* Desktop snapshots of all configured network PCs to help bring users back to any point in time if something should go wrong
* Works as a central print server

The software is based on Windows Server 2003. The server console requires XP or Vista. File sharing appears to be bog standard SMB. No problems there for OSX or Linux systems on your home network.

No sales to consumers.

Ten user accounts, one guest account, four bays for SATA 2 drives, terabytes of storage, if you can afford it, four USB ports on HP's home server product. No information on RAID support. Gigabyte ethernet standard, wireless extra.

Images of {a Window's PCs] hard drive can also be saved on the HP MediaSmart, which can be restored without the "need to locate your original operating system disc." HP Reveals MediaSmart Home Server Details

"applications barrier to entry". Dvorak wrote about this last year. He thinks Microsoft should spend thier cash before they loose it.

Read more about it here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2070989,00.as p

Enjoy,

Don't want to leave cpu on the table? Easy. Just add more idle processes.

So, how do they compare against Intel Core 2 Duo PCs with better graphic cards? Because I some how doubt they are going to give worse performance.

Graphic cards aren't everything, you need fast RAM, a motherboard that can support RAM at such speeds etc.

So are you saying the iMac uses slow ram and has a motherboard that can't support it? (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300))

I still have x86 computers from seven years ago, I upgrade them a bit still, because they're capable of doing more. None of my Macs have even survived this long (mostly due to hardware issues, but also because they're becoming utterly useless in what they can do).

I've experienced the exact opposite. So much so, I'm just gonna call bull and say you don't really have a mac, otherwise you wouldn't make such wild claims. My G4 tower is 6 years old and it runs just fine. I upgraded the cpu from 350 to 800 about 2 or 3 years ago, but that's all I've ever done. The main reason I have mostly macs is because they last more than the two or three years (max) that the pc's I've owned do. Hell, this work pc I'm on now is only a couple of years old (P4 1.7GHz) and it is practically a dinosaur. It barely runs Win 2000 and probably can't even run XP (I'll have to ask the computer nerds why the rest of the PCs at school use XP, but our older ones in the office only have 2000). At least my 6 year old G4 can run the current version of Mac OS X. Old pc's, if they can muster the horsepower to run XP, still have compatibility issues with XP builds that you don't see with any of the G4 or newer Macs. This problem will only become more obvious with Vista.

But let's not let our own experiences cloud our judgement and let's look to the data instead. I'm not sure what's wrong with your Apple hardware, considering they are consistently #1 in both customer satisfaction and repair rates. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2006502,00.as p. Arguing against the quality of Apple hardware is done out of spite and not by looking at the data that exists.

Second life -- Just try all the settings maxed out.

I would say the iMac is a GREAT gaming platform for 99% of the games available. Perhaps. But then again, I don't really see how it's superior to most modern PCs (with similar specs) for sale out there.

Man, that page sure makes it seem that Blu-Ray sucks ass.

Blu-ray does suck ass and will die. It is more restrictive, has more DRM, requires java virtual machines to be implemented on all players (ugggh), requires the current DVD manufacturing plants to do serious upgrades because the surface layer is much thinner and also requires a special hard coating to be applied, and in turn is more expensive. Sure, it can theoretically hold more data but I think that will really only make a big difference for people who want to use blank discs to store data on them. Also, Sony doesn't have a very good record as far as having the public pick their formats.

Read more here:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1982533,00.as p
and
http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-d vd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/

I doubt they actually have even seen Vista or used it to know what exactly it is.

Would this be the Vista that's been available in beta form for months? That was reviewed five and six months ago?

Why would FSF launch this program without having reviewed the beta?

Maybe MS is somehow is benefiting from the endless cycles of MSIE-based spyware, viruses, and general security problems. If not, then it (and we) would be much better off if MS should drop MSIE completely. Where does MS come out ahead financially? MSIE is probably the largest single public relations problem as well as one of largest security and productivity problems that MS produces these days.

The Netscape/DOJ v MS has been over for years. MSIE wastes our time, it wastes MS time. There's simply no need for anyone, even MS, to be wasting resources with MSIE. The public certainly has no reason to let MS foist on them such low quality security hole masquerading as a useful application. Drop MSIE or let users uninstall it completely.

Firefox and Opera are what people are using anyway. Go with the flow and invest the resources that would have gone into trying to keep life in MSIE go somewhere they'll actually have a chance of doing good.

Not that it matters much, since you already picked up another DAP, but...

The idea that the iPod's sound is subpar is never substantiated. For example, the shuffle reportedly has excellent audio quality.

The iPod also shows up as a standard mass storage device, but it uses a database to store the music that it will play (probably to save on having to scan the device on boot to generate the tag based menus). It also works on Linux via gtkpod as well as other tools.

Ever heard of PC Magazine?

Don't forget, the System Idle Process is out to get him.

Of course I didn't RTFA

And everything you wrote was off topic, and yet people moderated you to +4 "Insightful".

What Microsoft has done differently this time is that it used its army of lawyers to trademark, patent, copyright, and protect every aspect of the "ribbon". This is a licence to use UI designs, which Microsoft has protected. Knowing infringing patents increases the damages a good deal. So by promoting this licensing agreement, Microsoft is basically ensuring that people know that there are patents. What Slashdot is doing is propagating that knowledge.

Here's what you wrote:
Seriously - would you lose any sleep because MS won't give you a new toy? Even if OO.o wanted it, and even if MS gave them it, they probably couldn't use it because it'll probably be Vista- (or at least Windows-)only.

Microsoft isn't giving you a new toy. It's licensing the right to use patents/other IP to people who don't compete with Office.

And seeing as most critics have slammed the new MS Office UI as being generally awful, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that OO.o's similarity to the "old" MS Office UI might pick them up a few users.

I doubt it. You haven't read enough. Obviously, you haven't RTFA so you don't know WTF you are talking about. Let me give you another FA not to read here.

"Software is not interchangable, as the StarOffice marketing team is learning. Even when the price is zero, the cost of switching from Microsoft Office is non-zero. Until the switching cost becomes zero, desktop office software is not truly a commodity. And even the smallest differences can make two software packages a pain to switch between."

And seeing as most critics have slammed the new MS Office UI as being generally awful, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that OO.o's similarity to the "old" MS Office UI might pick them up a few users.

Where do you read that? Microsoft is taking a gamble with the new UI by introducing a lot of change. You apparently don't read the same reviews that I do. Maybe you just don't read reviews. So let me look around for some Office 2007 reviews...

PC Magazine
"Pros: New interface give beginners the same power as experts. Dazzling new graphics engine. Massively improved security. Smoother collaboration.

Cons:
Not all applications get an interface overhaul. New interface can't be customized--yet. Potential for document-sharing problems with users of versions before Office 2003."

Pointer to 22 page review on NeoWin I found the comments following the link to the review interesting.

There is a reason why I don't read /. very often, and your +4 insightful reply is neither +4 nor insightful.

By replying to this, I know I'm giving up my moderating/meta-moderating power, so people who do meta moderate... please do your job and remove this gibberish...

Taiwan has a population of roughly 22 million, whereas England has about 50 million. They managed to distribute and implement (and, last I checked, it's in perfect working progess) a smartCard for National Health -- i.e., an ID card with a nifty chip on it that stores medical information, etc, for under $2 million. Linearly, the UK's budget shouldn't go over $5 million or so -- but what went wrong?

As scary as this initially sounds (Microsoft Linux anyone?), the partnership makes sense. Microsoft gains the capability to run Linux better in a virtualized environment (or vice versa), and Novell gets a ton of much needed cash. For years, it's been obvious that at some point Microsoft would have to start recognizing the fast growth of Linux as an enterprise platform, and it appears that this move is Microsoft's first step.

The only concern I have is that Microsot continues further down the path and begins to create closed source applications or kernel modules specifically to run Microsoft apps. If they can swing this, the potential for degradation of the upward Linux momentum is high. John Dvorak of PC Magazine figures that Microsoft will develop GPL work-arounds, and eventually begin releasing Linux apps.

What then? Mac servers for everyone?

John C. Dvorak had some fairly pointed comments regarding Internet Explorer in his article: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1952995,00.as p I think he makes a great argument. For what little revenue IE brings to Microsoft, it costs a fortune in reputation, much less support costs. What is the business driver behind continued development of IE?

Why does IE use up 900+ megabytes of RAM? http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s= 1489&a=190803&po=14,00.asp

Browsing the slideshow, I found this beauty.

Please, somebody pinch me. IE is clogging up 1 GB of memory in the final build of Vista before launch?! Well, it explains the insane sys reqs though.

Another possibility might be to install a KVM switch on each computer so that the government employee could switch back and forth between a computer that is connected to the Internet and one that isn't. At one time I had a KVM switch between my new computer and my old computer. The KVM switch allowed me to switch back and forth between the two computers in about two seconds. A KVM (keyboad-video-mouse) switch allows the use of one keyboard, video and mouse to control more than one computer. One of the computers would only be connected to the Internet and the other would be on the internal network (not to the Internet).

If space for the second computer is a problem, there are now computers as small as a book that could be used to connect to the Internet. For browsing the web they could use something small possibly similar to the WinBook Jiv Mini, The Panda PC, MicroServer HP, AOpen MiniPC Duo MPO945-V, or the Apple Mac Mini Core Duo. To keep costs down, perhaps they would not need to upgrade the mini-PC that is connected to the Internet as often as their other computer. Conceivably they could use Ubuntu Linux or Mac OSX on the mini-PC that is connected to the Internet which would be an advantage because virus, worms and spyware are almost unheard of on Linux or Mac computers. They could still use Windows on their main internal network where their computers would live a more sheltered existance. The extra PC wouldn't need to use much extra electricity because some of the mini-PCs only use about 21 Watts.

I am not a computer professional (or expert), but it seems to me that isolating the internal nework from the outside world with a KVM swith might possibly be an alternative to consider. That would be especially true if they are using malware infected Windows computers, are understaffed with properly trained and motivated IT people, and have failed to secure their network by other methods. I have actually thought about doing something like that at home with one or both computers running Linux.

Here is a non-slashdotted article that explains this a bit better.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2025069,00.as p

-D

If the interface sucks you can only imagine what a train wreck the rest is. No, you don't have to imagine because every review so far has called it just that.

Like this review: "This is going to be a great release for Microsoft. I'm finding it hard to go back to XP." (http://www.mstechtoday.com/vista-build-tracker/re view-windows-vista-build-5536/). Not a 'train wreck'.

Like this review: "In conclusion, Windows Vista beta 2 is quite impressive." (http://www.windowsatoz.com/product-reviews/softwa re/windows-vista-beta-2.html). Also not a 'train wreck'.

Like this review: "a substantial improvement over Windows XP--I see it as a glass half-full" (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1974275,00.a sp). Also not a 'train wreck'.

Etc, et al.

Feel free to join us in the real world at any time.

I call troll.

And you're wrong.

I can type way faster than anyone I know can handwrite.

Sure you can. I have no doubt. I myself can type 87 wpm(i'm the anon-cow you're calling troll BTW), but can I type 87wpm standing around in a casual environment while discussing issues with managers, business owners, etc? Can I type 87wpm walking down the hall as someone reminds me of something that I had previously forgotten to write down? Can I type 87wpm when I'm at lunch and want to jot down a quick note? Can I type 87wpm when I'm standing in a public transportation terminal waiting for a train, and recieve a call from someone whose info I need to write down? Can I type 87wpm in an environment where using a laptop or desktop computer would be socially or physically awkward, or simply unwiedly? NOPE on all counts. A lot of us work on our feet and daily encounter the things I've mentioned here.

Typing is simply a better interface. No keyboard is a step backwards.

Typing is simply a better interface, in all the ways YOU have been accustomed to using a computer. Writing opens up whole new areas where your computer becomes useful. That's the thing about real innovation, it changes things, fundamentally, in ways you can't fully appreciate it until you've tasted it.

Ergo, tablets will only pose even a hint of competition to a desktop/laptop if you can hook them up to a keyboard (thus effectively untabletising it).

Well gee sparky, most tablets have that very capability. Either through the convertibles or the docking stations that are available for pure slates(or usb keyboard/mouse combo), and the things that fall between both designs. And using the keyboard simply puts it into a different mode for an environment where the tablet aspect is not advantageous. "Re-tabletizing" it, or whatever you'd call it, is trivial. I can switch modes in about 6 seconds without rushing.

Tablets are niche because of their limited usability compared with desktop/laptop configurations.

Spoken like someone whose never used one.

They may replace palmtops in restaurants, but even UMPC's have a higher chance of succeeding in this space than a tablet simply because of the richer physical UI.

Well, it certainly has replaced my palm, and my laptop, and my yellow pad of paper. It's THIS close to replacing my cell phone, but not my cell service. While it has become my main machine, largely replacing my desktop for day to day use, the desktop has the horse power and drive space advantage that will keep it useful to me, but future tablet models will eventually make that pointless too.

Look, do some research first before you jump to conclusions and call me a troll. Everything you said here indicates you don't know much about current Tablet offerings. Here is a link to a review of the model I have(though mine has upgraded specs):
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1383088,00.as p
admittedly, you should read more than just that, google is your friend. So is Tabletpcbuzz.com

Furthermore, the only real advantage that a tablet has over a regular UMPC or laptop is the touchscreen, and laptops are beginning to include touchscreens as a matter of course... further invalidating any real benefit the tablet brings over UMPC or laptop.

You know what dumb thing I once told someone? Guy was telling me about his Dad's Macintosh, it was a whole new thing back then, and kept talking about how cool it was to use a mouse. I actually said, "You think it's better because it has pictures?" I was only 12 then.

Actually, come to think of it, I think you're the troll here.

If that's the build-a-robot, that's pretty impressive for a little over $1000. It's no QRIO, but also not the price of a luxury car, which is what Sony said they'd sell the QRIO at if they had positioned it for the home (before ceasing development).

This product could possibly provide years of invaluable fun and experience to a child of the correct age. I wish I'd had one as a kid! I'd still like one now.

The source is MacRUMORS.

Hence, it's not confirmed....a RUMOR!

Damned System Idle Process, regularly hogging 100% of my CPU! I bet it uses even more in Vista!

Shoulda included these since my post isnt a troll

June 13 2006 - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1976149,00.as p

There's also the printed mag that came out at the same time with a program by program comparison (which it was #7 of 10, scoring horrendously against many threats that #1-6 crushed it on).

Take a look here:
      http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1744196,00.as p

and look at the user reviews to see that these drives have problems.

I personally don't own one, but after reading this, I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole.

Lenovo claims that their batteries are safe. They are, however, made by Sony.

I have individually set up Linksys g and n (draft) and then also belkin g and n (draft) and tested them for range in a 20 acre area by walking around with a USB wifi detector.

The linksys g had a fairly limited range but managed to travel 500-700 feet in a strange pattern that was not circular.

The linksys n (draft) had an inferior range and a stranger pattern still. I made it out as being to lobes along the axis of the antennae. I returned the unit and do not recommend that anyone buy it. It sucks!!

The belkin g was satisfactory with a range of about 1000 feet and the Belkin n (draft) was about the same.

Here's a link of a test done by PC Mag: http://www.pcmag.com/image_popup/0,1871,iid=138336 ,00.asp

When I actually tested it with a laptop and walked around the area, the net result was a much more limited range of operability.

The key to all this is to be able to do wireless bridging. Nowhere on Belkin's site (for example) do they mention it at all, but if you call support, they will take you through it. This is the major advantage of the throughput of the draft n standard: if you don't have the range, just daisy-chain the units and spread them to give yourself adequate coverage (to a maximum of four). NOTE: The penalty for each additional unit, is that throughput is dropped by a quarter.

PCMag did a review of the U3 technology (though the review is almost a year old)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1979143,00.as p From the review: "Bottom Line: Hands-down the best free Internet video calls offered by any Web service. You'll be amazed at the video quality and tight synchronization of audio and video when using a broadband connection and 30-frames-per-second webcam. Pros: Phenomenal video quality. Unlimited free video calls, video e-mails (up to 1 minute with 30-day storage), text messaging, and voice calls to other SightSpeed users. Windows and Mac support. Low-cost calls to traditional landline phones. Voice-only calling mode. Cons: The expected beta hiccup in the interface here and there."

Yes, it's an obvious idea. (Article dated 2005)

PCMag.com has a great article up on what Dell owners need to know and what to do about the laptop battery recall: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2003861,00.as p

True 'unbiased' reporting is a myth.

John C. Dvorak is unbiased, and he's way ahead of all of us on this one! He was talking about these hoaxed photos back in 2004. This is just like when he predected Apple would move to Intel. Why don't people listen to John? He can see the future...It's obvious he is big internet Jesus.

Granted, but the premise of /. is geeks making educated guesses. Remember all of the "educated guesses" about the wonders of WinFX (scroll down, it's there)?

Linux overtook Mac on the desktop in 2005.

Probably Mac still leads Linux in the USA, but worldwide, Linux desktop market share has been ahead of Mac for some time now. There's a reference to some data here.

You seem to have misread me. I never once thought that ODF should be the default file format for any particular office suite (since MS retains the right to make their own products / file formats / etc.), merely that not supporting it at all seems kind of like refusing to include a philips-head screwdriver in the tool sets you produce simply because your company also produces (possibly technically superior) non-philips screws. Certainly implementing the standard as a native export filter (instead of an unsupported plugin) would be cheaper and easier than the amount of lobbying that MS has done in attempting to avoid implementing it.

I'll restate my case -- There should be an office document exchange standard that covers the normal use cases of normal users, and right now the only standard is ODF. If another, better standard comes along and people want to use it, then great -- even if that standard was created at MS -- as long as people using different companies' programs can continue exchanging freely without royalties. What someone's program saves to by default is not really important to me or to the people that I read who talk about this. MS argues against setting ODF as their default file format, but that's their way of reframing the argument in their favor, since I don't know of anyone who actually wants it. That MS also continues to cry that they won't support ODF because it doesn't cover all the possible uses of MS Word is a straw man that they keep throwing up, and they must know that it is since they have no problem exporting in other formats. Your and their arguments end up being orthogonal to mine.

It's just annoying that a lot of people implicitly assume that ODF is better and is the format to use without looking at it closely.
I think that the problem people have with OpenXML is that they just don't trust MS to play fair with it, and assume that there's a catch in the deal somewhere down the line. They don't give OpenXML a good look-over in just the same way that I don't bother to check whether the three card monte hustler on the corner is legit or not: I just keep walking. Given the track record of MS, I can appreciate people's reluctance -- "Fool me once ...," right?

Finally, I think that you are arguing from your heart, not your mind and letting the rhetoric get to you. If you discard the "M$ is teh sux0rs" idiots, the disingenuous "MS has the right to write their own programs" crowd, and the trolls who pose as either side, you'll come out with the government's argument for a standard -- ODF or otherwise -- which will allow free access to government documents and the consumer's argument for major office suites to handle this standard, both of which are reasonable positions. I don't want my government to publish important tax information in iPod's Protected AAC format (requiring me to buy an iPod even if I normally use another product) and I suspect that you don't, either. This despite the fact that iPods have about a 90% market share, comparable to MS Office's almost 95%.

Oh for goodness' sake it's just a PalmPilot/PocketPC molded to fit around the arm

I would not guess it would be good for business, but, if MS has that much cash they're sitting on, and still can do business with the rest of the world...what would stop them from pulling this, and using that to leverage the EU into getting off their ass about this?

A problem with this is that Europe is a big market for Microsoft. Then there's also the possibility other regions or countries can follow their lead. Brazil for instance has been getting into open source a lot recently and it's gaining in India as well. Take a look at MIT's Nicholas Negroponte and his $100 Laptop, part of a program to put a laptop in every child's lap. Something like this can be liability as well. If Microsoft doesn't try to work with programs like this, they could pull the carpet out from MS's feet.

If a point-of-sale site pushed their transactions through Google's new GBuy service, advertisers would have no way to hide actions resulting in revenue. Perhaps the invite-only aspect of the launch is designed to focus on businesses that are planning on using GBuy?

It's XP's 'idle' process. Dvorak can tell you all about it.

I bought the LE1600 slate tablet PC from motioncomputing.com. It's just awesome. Light, powerful, bright, great viewing angles, and good battery life. I like their convertible keyboard too, you just snap it on when/if you want to make it more like a laptop. The price is spendy, but it's quality worksmanship. If you're interested, here's a few reviews: review1 review2 (w/video)

Yep. Like JavaLord above said Dv's trolled Windows users, too, e.g. here. I sort of remember some trollish article on Office couple of years bac, hmmh ... this, perhaps? Although the last sounded like legit complaints. Whatever, page-hit$ are page-hit$: ka-ching!

Article on new Seagate products was mentioned in today's Slashdot article on hybrid flash+disk drives, but farther down the article it talks about some laptop drives with built-in encryption. While I think that the OS really ought to be doing it, farming the job out to the disk is certainly a good start, and it's probably easier to use if less flexible.

although I haven't ever used a business quality AP

Net bandwidth is interesting to measure and there are quite a few products out there that do it well. However, a lot of people are simply interested in measuring the speed at which they can perform the most common activity on the internet, Web surfing. Surfing speed is not only a function of bandwidth, but also server response time, PC processor availability and speed, RAM, and so on. PCMag.com released a free tool that measures your web browsing speed (by downloading and rendering pages from popular websites, and then deriving an average speed) and gives you a number that you can compare to other SurfSpeed users dynamically. SurfSpeed is NOT a bandwidth meter, it's a real world surfing speedometer. It's a fun tool.

This must be part of the wireless patents Apple filed for a while back... The ipod could become much more than an mp3 player, and could help collect data (pedometer, etc) and stream music to different sources automatically.

This seems like exactly the thing Jobs and Apple would pursue, a seamless system of wireless integration would perfectly embody their philosophies of style, power, simplicity, and having things 'just work'. It may be just a new shoe accessory right now, but I for one could see this type of technology evolving into new areas

Nike and Philips released the MP3Run player/pedometer in July 2004. A Bluetooth module clipped onto your shoelaces and the player kept track of your time, distance, speed, and pace. In addition to the screen showing your running information, a voice announced your progress either on demand or at preset intervals. The player kept your running history by date, which could be downloaded to your PC and uploaded to the nikerunning.com training log. Does all this sound familiar?

That said, the Nike/Philips MP3Run was a typically unrefined version 1.0 product. It had a great FM tuner (strong signals, 10 presets), but it didn't work if you were using the pedometer (WTF?). The sound quality was subpar, but perhaps good enough if you only used it when exercising. The capacity (initially) was only 256MB and didn't work with DRM protected WMA or AAC. Some good points: the player was weatherproof/sweatproof and had a built-in strobe light for night running.

The Nike/Apple product looks like a much better and more refined product with updated technology (and a convenient Nike shoe lock-in), but it's not new. Also, wireless Bluetooth accessories for the iPod are already in existence for your car and home stereo. I'm sure the Apple-branded accessories, if Apple makes them, will be better and more integrated, but I don't think Apple patents or innovations apply here.