This is another example of how Apple is *so* on top of market trends.
A couple years back (and even today!) people whined about how Apple should make a PDA -- bring back the Newton, or whatever. Steve Jobs repeatedly said Apple isn't interested in that market; now we see why.
Yes, because will all know how much more secure a little plastic card is.
If someone gets your credit card number, you call VISA and get a new card.
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your finger-print you can't change your fingers. Hence, "get ready to spend the rest of your life tracking down fraudulent purchases".
You don't need a severed finger, you just need the electronic digital copy of the finger-print.
Amazon: "I'm sorry sir, you *DID* buy 20 copies of the first season of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE. We have your finger-print scan in our computer to prove it."
If you are using a finger-print scanner to make ANY purchase, get ready to spend the rest of your life tracking down fraudulent purchases.
(NOTE: I know what I'm talking about, 5 years experience at a security/bio-metrics company.)
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your credit card number, you call VISA and get a new number.
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your finger print, you'll be chasing down fraudulent purchases FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE because you CAN'T change your finger print.
Ticketmaster, 5 years later, "I'm sorry sir, but you *DID* buy 10 first-row superbowl tickets. Our computer says you did it over the internet and we have your finger-print scan on file to prove it."
RUN, don't walk, when someone in a store asks for a scan of your finger-print.
The thing I've observed is as open source projects get better, there becomes less market to sell software. Like Eclipse 3 is such a good Java tool, it must seriously hurt JBuilder and IntelliJ sales.
Ironically, the open source developers who developer "for free" in their spare time are, in a way, under-cutting their cousins who are getting paid to develop software for a living.
Like if a bunch of mechanics openned a garage after work and fixed cars for free, wouldn't that hurt the income of the mechanics who are open for business in their off-shift?
Just saying -- hopefully the effect will be to force companies to produce better and more innovative commercial software, but I feel sorry for the poor Borland employee who lost his job because his buddy is working on Eclipse after hours.
Just saying,
Sam
Always liked the Tangerine iMac
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Top 10 Apple Flops
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· Score: 2, Interesting
I don't know what's on the list (site's slashdotted), but many people derided the Tangerine (orange) colored iMac.
Personally, I always loved that color and thought it was the most stylish one of the lot.
"she comes in colors everywhere..."
Sam
3 words: HOCKEY PUCK MOUSE
on
Top 10 Apple Flops
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· Score: 1, Insightful
I'm not offended by the nude sculpture or anything. But what's the deal with all those naked statues? I mean, why were these guys so obsessed with sculpting wieners?
Uhh since when? Maybe it was an enormously limited release but I sure didn't see it in my neck of the woods (Kelowna BC).
I'm talking about the ORIGINAL series. Go back to ~1978 and you can catch Battlestar in a Canadian theatre months before it was on TV. I saw it in the theatre myself in Ottawa -- and it went on to be my favorite TV show when I was 10.
Casting cyclons as fundamentalist murdering zealouts is SPOT ON!!!... I think they are trying to PUNISH the humans for "playing god" by creating sentient beings. The cylons are "born again" as the new "chosen people" of god.
You're saying the Cylons are methaphoric Born Again Christians? No way!
The people of Galactica have priests, prayers, prophecies, and "Lords of Kobol". It's the humans that believe in God.
The Cylons are science-worshipping techno-droids with an ultra-left wing communist society and loose sexual morals -- check out how skanky blonde Cylon; devil-in-a-red-dress!
If you ask me, it's the left-wing, pinko, atheistic Cylons that are trying to exterminate the God and peace loving "born again" humans. A pretty accurate methaphor, if you ask me.;-)
Interesting that the original series' 2-hour TV pilot was released in movie theatres in Canada the summer before the TV series premiered in the states.
I screamed for a cheaper headless iMac 2 years ago then I bought a Dell, and I screamed for a cheaper headless iMac last August then I bought a Sony.
Finally they've listened. I don't really need a new computer right now... but if I don't buy one I'll feel like a jerk. Great work Apple!
In fact, if the Apple online store wasn't dead I've have "impulse" bought one already. I wonder how many sales their losing because their web site can't handle the traffic?
Nothing earth shattering here... I could have just easily said that in north east america, the year will start out cold
Do you want accurate predictions or fantasy?
Here's my easy prediction: Aliens will land from Alpha-centari, buy Apple, release a new L-Mac that comes with Linux pre-installed, and it'll put Microsoft out of business. Tune in in twelve months to see how right I was.
Bob Cringley, on the other hand, will be right 75-80% of the time (and I hope he is on his loss-leader Mac product prediction).
Slashdot Mirror
"Programs should be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute."
- Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Wierd, I listen to wolfFM.com and local talk radio over the internet everyday. Have done so for years.
Sam
Calgary? Go Flames! ;-)
A couple years back (and even today!) people whined about how Apple should make a PDA -- bring back the Newton, or whatever. Steve Jobs repeatedly said Apple isn't interested in that market; now we see why.
Sam
If someone gets your credit card number, you call VISA and get a new card.
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your finger-print you can't change your fingers. Hence, "get ready to spend the rest of your life tracking down fraudulent purchases".
Sam
Amazon: "I'm sorry sir, you *DID* buy 20 copies of the first season of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE. We have your finger-print scan in our computer to prove it."
If you are using a finger-print scanner to make ANY purchase, get ready to spend the rest of your life tracking down fraudulent purchases.
Sam
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your credit card number, you call VISA and get a new number.
If someone gets an electronic imprint of your finger print, you'll be chasing down fraudulent purchases FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE because you CAN'T change your finger print.
Ticketmaster, 5 years later, "I'm sorry sir, but you *DID* buy 10 first-row superbowl tickets. Our computer says you did it over the internet and we have your finger-print scan on file to prove it."
RUN, don't walk, when someone in a store asks for a scan of your finger-print.
Sam
Ironically, the open source developers who developer "for free" in their spare time are, in a way, under-cutting their cousins who are getting paid to develop software for a living.
Like if a bunch of mechanics openned a garage after work and fixed cars for free, wouldn't that hurt the income of the mechanics who are open for business in their off-shift?
Just saying -- hopefully the effect will be to force companies to produce better and more innovative commercial software, but I feel sorry for the poor Borland employee who lost his job because his buddy is working on Eclipse after hours.
Just saying,
Sam
Personally, I always loved that color and thought it was the most stylish one of the lot.
"she comes in colors everywhere..."
Sam
3 words: HOCKEY PUCK MOUSE
Come one! Get to it Apple people!
Sam
Time for trekies to let Trek sleep for a while so it can make a worth while come back in ten years.
Drop Trek, and start watching Galactica -- it'd be a shame if such a well-written, well-acted, and well-produced show like Galactica doesn't do well.
Sam
Does anyone know the brand and model HD the Mac mini ships with?
Sam
Sam
I hope that's next, and soon!
Sam
I'm talking about the ORIGINAL series. Go back to ~1978 and you can catch Battlestar in a Canadian theatre months before it was on TV. I saw it in the theatre myself in Ottawa -- and it went on to be my favorite TV show when I was 10.
Sam
You're saying the Cylons are methaphoric Born Again Christians? No way!
The people of Galactica have priests, prayers, prophecies, and "Lords of Kobol". It's the humans that believe in God.
The Cylons are science-worshipping techno-droids with an ultra-left wing communist society and loose sexual morals -- check out how skanky blonde Cylon; devil-in-a-red-dress!
If you ask me, it's the left-wing, pinko, atheistic Cylons that are trying to exterminate the God and peace loving "born again" humans. A pretty accurate methaphor, if you ask me. ;-)
Sam
Interesting that the original series' 2-hour TV pilot was released in movie theatres in Canada the summer before the TV series premiered in the states.
Maybe they're just sticking with tradition. ;-)
Sam
It's fresh, original looking, well written and well acted. And faithful to the spirit of the original series.
This is the best sci-fi TV since ST:TNG and makes the new Star Wars movies look like the daggit crap they are.
Sam
I went back a couple hours later and I could add one to my cart, but couldn't complete the transaction.
Hours after that, my "impulsiveness" subsided and I have re-thought if I really want to spend that money.
So it looks like Apple may have lost a sale due to an inadequate web server.
Sam
I wouldn't think so, but I didn't think the iBook's was either and got a little burned by not being able to use my 1280x1204 LCD monitor.
Sam
Sam
Finally they've listened. I don't really need a new computer right now ... but if I don't buy one I'll feel like a jerk. Great work Apple!
In fact, if the Apple online store wasn't dead I've have "impulse" bought one already. I wonder how many sales their losing because their web site can't handle the traffic?
Sam
Do you want accurate predictions or fantasy?
Here's my easy prediction: Aliens will land from Alpha-centari, buy Apple, release a new L-Mac that comes with Linux pre-installed, and it'll put Microsoft out of business. Tune in in twelve months to see how right I was.
Bob Cringley, on the other hand, will be right 75-80% of the time (and I hope he is on his loss-leader Mac product prediction).
Sam
People (especially ladies) like the flat screens because of their super slim depth, massive picture size, and amazing light-weight.
Show me a 60" CRT -- and if you can even find one, find a rec-room it would fit in, and try and lift it!
Sam