Spearman - is business personal or professional or both?: May 2009

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Technical Specifications

In the box

Mac mini
Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
110W power adapter and power cord
Install/restore DVDs
Printed and electronic documentation

Processor and memory

2.0GHz or 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
1066MHz frontside bus
1GB (one 1GB SO-DIMM) or 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB

Size and weight

Height: 2 inches (5.08 cm)
Width: 6.5 inches (16.51 cm)
Depth: 6.5 inches (16.51 cm)
Weight: 2.9 pounds (1.31 kg)¹

Environmental Status Report

Mac mini is designed with the following features to reduce its environmental impact:

BFR-free
PVC-free (internal cables)
Highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate enclosure
Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
Rated EPEAT Gold

Peripheral connections

One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
Five USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)

Graphics and video support

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 128MB or 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory²
Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
Mini-DVI port
DVI output using Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (included)
VGA output using Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
Mini DisplayPort output

Communications

Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wirelessnetworking³ (based on 802.11n draft specification); IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Optional external Apple USB Modem

Audio

Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack)
Built-in speaker

Storage

120GB, 250GB, or 320GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive⁴
Slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): Writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 24x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed

Configure your Mac mini now, only at the Apple Online Store.

Configurable Options

View Configuration Options Chart

Electrical and operating requirements

Line voltage: 100-240V AC
Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
Maximum continuous power: 110W
Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
Storage temperature: -40° to 116° F (-40° to 47° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum altitude: 10,000 feet

Software

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
iLife ’09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)

You can also have the following software pre-installed, only at the Apple Online Store:

iWork ’09
Final Cut Express
Aperture
Logic Express 2
Filemaker
MobileMe

Configurations See detailed pricing and configurations

	120GB Mac mini (MB463LL/A)	320GB Mac mini (MB464LL/A)
Processor	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
L2 cache	3MB shared
System bus	1066MHz
Memory	1GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 4GB	2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 4GB
Hard drive	120GB Serial ATA⁴; 5400 rpm	320GB Serial ATA⁴; 5400 rpm
Optical drive	Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 128MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory²	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory²
Ports	One FireWire 800 port (8 watts); five USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps); mini-DVI output; VGA output (using optional adapter); Mini DisplayPort
Audio	Built-in speaker, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, combined optical digital audio output/headphone out
Networking	Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
Wireless	Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11n)³; built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Limited warranty and service	Your Mac mini comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple support or call 800-823-2775.

Options

Configure to Order

Accessories

Apple Online Store

Customize your perfect Mac mini and have it shipped to your door — free. Only at the Apple Online Store.

Configure your Mac mini now

Actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 128MB for 1GB configuration and 256MB for 2GB configuration.
Wireless Internet access requires a base station or other wireless access point and Internet access; fees may apply. Some ISPs are not currently compatible with AirPort.
1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.

Intel and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corp. in the U.S. and other countries. Internet access requires a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply. Product contains electronic documentation. Backup copy of software is included.

Twit Invite - TechCrunch Pitch

Twit Invite keeps an eye out for tweets asking for invites to websites that are in an invite-only, beta or alpha phase of testing. The service then responds to the user with a link to more information including any invite codes and signup details.

http://twitter.com/twitinvite
http://twitinvite.com
http://twitter.com/ollieparsley
http://ollieparsley.com

iToilet: Your interactive toilet

The New mac Mini! The Mactini

Is Windows 7 really too expensive?

Posted by Andrew Nusca @ 4:34 am

It’s not even on store shelves yet, but Windows 7 might come with a price tag that may be a higher hurdle than expected for some early adopters.

Windows 7 is beating Vista in just about every other aspect, but the expected higher average selling price for Windows 7 systems may be a bit of a shock for consumers, a Dell marketing executive reportedly said to Brooke Crothers on CNET.

“If there’s one thing that may influence adoption, make things slower or cause customers to pause, it’s that generally the ASPs (average selling price) of the operating systems are higher than they were for Vista and XP,” Darrel Ward, director of product management for Dell’s business client product group, said in a phone interview, referring to the various versions of the Windows 7 operating system that are expected to appear.
“In tough economic times, I think it’s naive to believe that you can increase your prices on average and then still see a strong swell than if you held prices flat or even lowered them. I can tell you that the licensing tiers at retail are more expensive than they were for Vista.”

Obviously, this pertains to business customers as well: Windows 7 Professional is expected to be more expensive than Windows Vista Business, Ward reportedly said. The same hurdle is there for schools, small businesses and government, who may not be able to afford the extra cost, he said.

Why such a difference? Simple: Consumers have been conditioned to low Vista and XP prices. When Microsoft’s latest and greatest comes out with a price tag to match, it might be a lot to swallow for someone used to XP — and perceived as too much for someone upgrading from Vista, which looks similar to the new OS.

Oh, and did I mention that we’re in a recession? (Yeah, yeah, we all know.)

You can read the rest of what Ward said to Crothers in his article, but to me, this snag remains: Yes, Windows 7 improves markedly on the missteps of Vista. But how will Microsoft market it so that Windows 7’s price is perceived to be easily worth the revamped features?

Or: How can Microsoft convince consumers to buy Windows 7 without outright admitting that it missed the mark (and please, don’t hurt us)?

As you can see, it’s not really a question of price (though people sure get fired up about a free Windows 7, don’t they!). It’s the reality check thatcreating Windows 7 is the easy part, and selling it, on the other hand, is a tricky task indeed.

It certainly doesn’t help that this Dell executive didn’t frame the story correctly. Yes, he talked about the “momentum” behind Windows 7, but he really should have said, “Yes, the ASPs will be higher because we’re introducing new software that’s worth every penny. And wouldn’t you know it, Vista prices will likely drop considerably,” or something to that affect.

Obviously, it’s in Microsoft’s interest — logistically, fiscally — to get consumers on the same page, software-wise. What will be interesting to watch is rival Apple try to convince its customers the same thing with the introduction of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: another operating system that leaves the core back-end and front UI largely unchanged but introduces many new features and incremental improvements.

Few deny that Windows 7 is anything less than a good thing. But for the average consumer who isn’t waiting at the store, cash in hand, Microsoft will have to try to effectively sell a car with nearly the same sheet metal and an all new powertrain and suspension.

One approach is to market Windows 7’s improvements as a cost-saving upgrade, rather than as a dollar-for-feature proposition. Need a new computer? Instead of dropping a grand on a new machine, keep your old hardware and install Windows 7 for a couple hundred bucks. It’s just like new.

Complicating the situation, as has been mentioned countless times before on ZDNet, is Windows XP consumers’ resistance to change. With the next-next-generation operating system on the shelves, XP will eventually be forced to die. How will OEMs like Dell handle the neverending funeral procession for XP — particularly as netbook popularity grows?

Not to mention the potential driver debacle at Windows 7 launch. Driver preparation is good, with some exceptions, Ward said to Crothers:

“Driver readiness–it looks pretty healthy compared to the past. (There are) some things that haven’t been worked out. The WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Lab) drivers for AMT VPRO is a little behind,” he said, referring to Intel’s Active Management Technology, which allows remote access to PCs for security, maintenance, and management.

Which again suggests a trust issue with Microsoft. You had us thinking at Vista’s launch that drivers would be smooth sailing, and it didn’t pan out. So when you say Windows 7 is in much better shape than Vista, how do we believe you?

Are new features that some perceive as “shoulda, coulda” worth the headaches of switching and a couple hundred bucks less in the wallet?

I think it’s a good question. And “Laptop Hunters” distractions aside, I believe we’ll see Microsoft’s strategy come out soon enough. (Image: Flickr/AcidZero)

Andrew Nusca Andrew J. Nusca is an assistant editor for ZDNet.com. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

Source

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

OS diversity protects cell phones from virus outbreaks (ARS Technica)

I post this because I believe the practice applies to all aspects of life. So often we as a society strive to achieve conformity and uniformity. Even the concept of racism while premised on a deep rooted hatred of self projected on to others focuses on denigrading those people who are different and yet that is where the true strength of what we do and who we are resides!

Source

A well-written MMS virus could saturate an entire population of cell phones within a few hours, based on network modeling using real-world use patterns. The only reason there hasn't been a serious problem, the models suggest, is the fragmentation of the phone operating system market.

By John Timmer | Last updated April 2, 2009 1:00 PM CT

Events like the spread of the Conficker worm illustrate the risks posed by the combination of a sophisticated operating system and an always-on Internet connection. With the expanding popularity of smartphones, which come with multitasking operating systems and convenient software development kits, the same risk may definitely apply. But, despite the fact that exploit code has been around for several years, nothing on the scale of Conficker has ever struck the cellphone world. A study that will be released online in Science Express looks into why this might be the case, and concludes that a major contributor is the lack of an operating system monoculture in the cellphone world.

The authors say that the customized combinations of hardware and software that characterized early cellphones left little for a virus writer to target, but the rise of smartphones is changing matters rapidly. Since 2004, there have apparently been over 400 phone-specific viruses, and the authors say that many of these show a level of sophistication that indicates their authors have been following developments in the PC world (or, potentially, the authors are one and the same). Some of these viruses were even able to spread by both Bluetooth and MMS services.

So why haven't we been greeted with news reports of phone viruses run amuck? To look into the answer, the authors modeled the spread of viruses using real-world data on the connectivity of a cellphone network. For reasons that aren't clearly spelled out, they obtained a month of anonymized cellphone usage data from a carrier, which included the timing and location of every connection made by over six million users through over 10,000 cell towers. Based on that data set, they could infer both the connectivity among the nodes (phones) on the network, as well as their physical proximity. Given that data, they could run standard epidemiological models of infection spreads (one of the authors is based at a medical school) and see how different assumptions change the spread of the virtual infection.

The authors modeled two modes of infection. For bluetooth, the density of phones within a given tower's range was used to approximate the number of phones that wound up within bluetooth range, and thus would be targeted for infection. For spread via MMS, the number of calls placed among the company's customers was used to approximate whether a given user was likely to have another in their address book, which would be used to target them for MMS infection; attempts to spread would be made every two minutes. The authors assumed an effective virus that didn't require any actions on the recipient's part to infect their phone.

In both cases, the authors found what they termed a "percolation phase," in which the virus built to a critical mass that allowed its rapid propagation. The requirement for physical proximity slowed Bluetooth viruses down significantly, as these infections typically required several days to reach saturation. The authors suggested that this might be sufficiently slow to allow an antidote to be rolled out by the service provider. For viruses spread by MMS, that would be a luxury, as they reach saturation within a few hours.

The primary limit for the MMS viruses is network fragmentation—at least some collections of users are unlikely to be plugged into the wider user network, and thus the virus is unlikely to ever reach these isolated clusters of users. Hybrid viruses, also tested by the authors, eventually found their way in to these isolated clusters, though.

A key factor that moderated all of these behaviors, however, was the market penetration of the operating system involved. The researchers considered both the relatively low market share of smartphones in general (about five percent) and the fact that different operating systems have different slices of that pie, with Symbian being relatively common, and the Palm OS being quite rare. Factoring this in showed that the OS marketshare affected both the length of the percolation period (longer for the less popular ones) and the degree of network fragmentation—the less common the OS, the more common isolated clusters of users would be.

So far, competition within the smartphone space has remained fierce. If anything, Symbian users are being made safer by the arrival of new competitors on the scene, as its prevalence, and thus its risk, is dropping. At the same time, however, smartphones are becoming far more popular, which will exacerbate everyone's chances of getting their phone infected.

Again, all of this was done with the assumption that infections would be successful. For the most part, it appears that smartphone OS developers have the same advantage virus writers do: they're well aware of the sorts of vulnerabilities that have plagued the desktop world, and are placing far more restrictions on the code that runs on these devices.

Science, 2009. DOI: 10.1126/science.1167053

Celebrity Twitter Overkill [Video]

Monday, May 11, 2009

Thank an Engineer (c/o Texas Instruments)

For making our lives safer, more productive and fun

Friday, May 8, 2009

My #FollowFriday suggestions including @capelas1993 and 100 others

Below you will find the tweeps that I believe you will gain some value for following and learning from. Have segmented them into the items they typically tweet about the most..

To follow these people simply go to http://ninjafollow.com/ and copy then paste the names. However you also can look at the streams of each individually and decide for yourself.

Hope you enjoy and learn from them as much as I!

#business

#ethnic and/or #culture

@blackhippychick,