Friday, October 24, 2008

Apple Tax

Read an interesting article at cnet news which suggests that Microsoft think that when you buy an Apple computer you pay an Apple Tax. The article can be read here http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10064580-75.html

I’m not sure what to make of the idea of an Apple Tax as I am sure that when you purchase a PC you need to buy extras such as anti-virus software, spyware blockers, etc, software that is not essential on a Mac.

What do you think? Comments welcome.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Future Of iWork

I really enjoy using the new iWork 08 office suite from Apple, and have been thinking about how it can be improved, as unlike Microsoft Office it is missing some useful features.

One of the features I think Apple should consider building in to future version of iWork is an organization tool, along the same lines of Entourage, but accessing the same data as Mail, iCal and Address Book, and including Mobile Me and iSync tools as well, as I feel that not having a program in the suite that can compete with Entourage / Outlook is a mistake as it might put corporate users off using the suite, as many users like to use an all in one e-mail / calendar / contact program.

Another useful addition would be including the database program Bento in a joint package, so that perhaps for an extra £20 you get iWork and Bento, as I think that Bento would be a useful addition to iWork and provide it with useful database functions.

All in all I think Apple have produced a great office suite at a great price (£55) and I hope that future is bright for iWork

Saturday, October 11, 2008

More Digital Rights Management

I have been reading recently, that Norway is not happy with the way the iTunes store is run, due to the fact that anything you purchase can only be viewed / listened to on your computer, or an iPod / iPhone. As I understand it the reason this is, is due to Fair Play - Apple’s DRM system. Apple have stated in the past that they would like to offer everything DRM free, yet the record labels, except for EMI and numerous independents who let Apple sell music DRM free, refuse to licence DRM free music to Apple.

I think the time has come for countries that want to let people play purchased content on any music / video device to say to the record labels that if you want to sell your music digitally in our country it must be DRM free, so that you can play your music on any device you choose.

Alternatively if the record labels still want to sell music with a DRM encoded in to the file then they should work with all the music player vendors to come up with a common DRM system so that your purchases can work on any player / PC.

Hopefully one day soon there will be a working solution to the DRM conundrum.