This morning Microsoft released a patch for Internet Explorer to prevent an exploit that became publicly known in the last couple of days. The fear is that the bad guys will quickly come up with ways to demagnetize your credit cards and kill your pets if you don't install the patch. Your computers will be updated automatically tonight and might restart. The patch has a severity rating of "Critical."

You should install the patch. But the usual articles are appearing about how this demonstrates that Internet Explorer is unsafe and anyone using it deserves scorn or pity, depending on how generous the author is.

The bad guys move very quickly and this exploit will presumably start being used more widely but at the moment its only public appearance has been on a few hundred Taiwanese or Chinese web sites set up to steal online gaming passwords. It's not a good time to visit porn, hacking, cracking, serials and key-gen websites. I dunno, maybe I just know nice people, but I don't know many people who will have a problem with that. If you follow the rules at the bottom of this post, none of these exploits will ever mean much to you!

It's natural to be curious about using another program when there is so much coverage of IE's patches.

A lot of people talk about Firefox, which achieved quite a distinction this week when it was named the Most Vulnerable Software Program running on Windows. "In 2008, Mozilla patched 10 vulnerabilities that could be used by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via buffer overflow, malformed URI links, documents, JavaScript and third party tools." Four of those vulnerabilities have a severity rating of "Critical," three have a rating of "Severe," and three have a rating of "Panic."

Perhaps you'll consider Opera, an open-source browser with a good reputation, which yesterday released an upgrade that fixed seven security problems that "could lead to remote code execution if an Opera user is tricked into surfing to a maliciously rigged Web page." Two of the bugs are rated "Oh My God," three of them are rated "Apocalyptic," and two of them are rated "Purple."

You'll want to look into Apple's Safari browser, whose last patch in November fixed 11 security problems - four were rated "Meltdown," and the rest were rated "Zesty."

A few of you are so tired of constant updates and security problems that you'll buy Macs for yourself this Xmas. This week Apple released Mac OS X 10.5.6, the sixth update since the Mac OS was released just over a year ago. Apple recently urged all Mac users to install antivirus software, but it's not because Macs are insecure! Don't be thinking that! It's because, um, antivirus programs can be used by the kids for fun and interesting science fair experiments. Yeah, that's it.

Wanna be safe? Use Internet Explorer, keep your computer up to date, and follow these rules.

Antivirus software will not always protect you against malware if you click OK at the wrong time!

Don't click on strange URLs! Follow links with carefree abandon to and from legitimate sites, but don't click on links that arrive in spam e-mail, instant messages, web forums, or IRC chats, or that start from an untrustworthy web site.

Never, never, never open email attachments unless you know with 100% certainty that the attachment is something you expected and want to receive.

The bad guys are liars. They will say anything to get past your defenses, without conscience or remorse.

Please, be careful out there!

Labels: Apple, IE, Microsoft, security

posted by bruceb at 12/17/2008 11:31:00 AM | permalink

Windows Live Mesh has just been updated, as of about noon on Thursday 10/30. If you are using it already, you will be notified to install the update; it will stop working until the update is installed on each computer running it. If you are not using it yet, it has been fully opened up to everyone - read about it, make sure you have your Windows Live ID set up, and you are free to sign up.

Windows Live Mesh is a place to store files online, a program that runs on your computer to keep folders in sync on multiple computers, and a way to get remote access to your computer from anywhere. Live Mesh now supports Macs, and limited testing has begun for Windows Mobile devices. (Click here for more information about the Windows Mobile client.) You will be able to take a picture with your cell phone and have the photo show up immediately on your PC and your Mac, or share files with anyone by sharing a Live Mesh folder so they can access it online or synced to their own computer.

The remote access is extremely well designed and will make it unnecessary for most people to pay for a subscription to LogMeIn or GoToMyPC. Connecting from one computer in your Mesh to another one is a single click - hover over the Mesh icon and click on "Connect." Files can be transferred between the local computer and the remote computer by dragging and dropping copying and pasting them.

[Addendum 10/31: Although files can be transferred between the local and remote computers by copying and pasting them, Live Mesh does not currently support dragging and dropping them. Live Mesh Remote Desktop also apparently does not implement any support for printing at all, so you can work on your remote computer but you can't print something directly on your local printer. Those will be compelling reasons for some of you to use LogMeIn Pro instead of Live Mesh for remote access!]

Other updated features:

• Tips for new users.
• Better support for large monitors in remote sessions.
• Permission levels for shared folders - creator, owner, contributor, reader.
• Drag and drop files between your PC and Live Desktop.
• Multiple file upload to Live Desktop.

Microsoft showed only a couple of applications built on the Mesh framework at the PDC this week. The BBC demonstrated a Meshified version of its iPlayer, an extremely popular service in England for watching TV shows online. The Mesh version will remember what you've watched and spread that information to all your devices. If you watch part of a show on your computer, the episode will start where you left off when you tune in on your cell phone or on another computer.

But that's just a taste of what's coming. Under the hood, Live Mesh has been moved to the Windows Azure framework that Microsoft announced at the PDC underlying all of their upcoming web services, and it's powerful stuff indeed. You are watching and taking part in a transition that will affect you just as deeply as the initial shift to the Internet. I'll write more about that in the next few days!

Labels: Apple, file_sharing, Internet, Microsoft, mobile, remote, software, Vista, web_services, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 10/30/2008 12:51:00 PM | permalink

Apple's software for Windows has been causing problems on more and more of my clients' computers. I've been wrestling with bluescreens caused by iTunes, file extensions hijacked by Quicktime, and now I'm suspicious that an uninvited service has been causing problems in Outlook.

An iTunes installation includes far more than a music library that syncs to your iPod. There are multiple services and kernel mode drivers and program addins, with very little of it included in any disclosure or presented with any options. Apple also installs its "software update" framework, which it has used to install additional unrelated software without adequate disclosure, notably when it used the update service to install its insecure Safari web browser a few months ago.

The last few releases of iTunes install "Bonjour," a service that's only used if you share iTunes libraries across a network or use AppleTV. You don't do that. Why is that running on your computer without your knowledge?

You've also got "Apple Mobile Device Support," which syncs with iPhones and iPod Touch. If you don't have one of those devices, you don't need that software.

And if you're running Outlook and iTunes, you're probably running an Outlook addin named "iTunes Outlook Addin" or "Outlook iTunes Sync Addin." Take a look! In Outlook 2003, click on Tools / Options / Other / Advanced Options / COM Addins. In Outlook 2007, click on Tools / Trust Center / Addins, and click on "Manage COM Addins / Go" at the bottom. Now how did that get there! Make it go away. I suspect it of causing Outlook problems for several clients in the last few months.

There is a way to install iTunes without most of that unnecessary bloatware but be warned - it's not for the faint of heart. If you have to install iTunes, this guide will lead you through the process of locating the installation files for its individual pieces, so you can install only iTunes (and Bonjour if you need it), and leave the rest of it behind.

It doesn't help that the latest version of iTunes breaks the connection between J River Media Center and iPods. You're now forced to install iTunes if you get one of those devices, because Apple creates closed, unfriendly platforms and fiercely locks out potential competitors. Here's more info about that.

I hope my iPod Classic doesn't break - it connects to J River Media Center and I will never install iTunes or Quicktime on my computers. Apple is moving way up on the list of vendors helping send my kids to college.

Labels: Apple, audio, mobile, Outlook, phone, software

posted by bruceb at 10/07/2008 12:13:00 AM | permalink

You might find something you can use in this collection of tips from David Pogue. Take a look! These are just examples from a much longer list:

• You can enlarge the text on any Web page. In Windows, press Ctrl and the plus or minus keys (for bigger or smaller fonts); on the Mac, it's the Command key and plus or minus.
• You can also enlarge the entire Web page or document by pressing the Control key as you turn the wheel on top of your mouse. On the Mac, this enlarges the entire screen image.
• You can tap the Space bar to scroll down on a Web page one screenful. Add the Shift key to scroll back up.

Lots more. (He's wrong about the recycle bin, though - it doesn't have to be emptied manually.) And don't forget the keyboard shortcuts that I wrote up last year.

Labels: Apple, computers, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 10/04/2008 12:05:00 AM | permalink

I set up a new Dell Inspiron 518 desktop computer today - a nice home computer, a lovely case bristling with USB ports and shiny black plastic that will attract dust like nobody's business, fast and well-equipped, shipped with the correct configuration and working out of the box, as usual with Dell.

Dell ships computers with less preinstalled software than most other manufacturers, even from the Home & Home Office division, so setup is easy. There were a handful of third party apps to take off - Google's cluttered "Google Desktop" widget/search program and the rarely used Google Toolbar, one or two others. Dell is starting to load on more of its own homebrewed applications, though, so new Dell computers still have too many helpful startup screens and popup windows and balloons and taskbar icons. I remove most of them right away - in my experience, more people are annoyed than helped by the incessant notices from the "support center" and the well-meaning advertisements for services like Dell's online backup and the rest.

Maybe it's just me but I don't like the "Browser Address Error Redirector," licensed by Dell from Google. If you try to go to a nonexistent web page - a typo in the address, say - this redirects your web browser to keep you from seeing a "page not found" message. Instead, you'll get suggestions for what you might have been looking for, along with lots and lots and lots of advertisements (sample on the right).

I'd rather see a "page not found" message. I uninstall it.

The latest Dell software was introduced a few months ago - a dock that parks itself at the top of the screen to fool you into thinking you bought a Mac by mistake.

Programs are grouped, so a click on the applications icon might provide access to Word, Excel and Powerpoint. (Umm - which one of those icons would that be again?) The dock is intended to scoop up the normal desktop icons so the rest of the desktop is pristine. Here's a writeup with a few more details about the Dell dock. If you have a Dell computer running Vista and a dock would make your life complete, you can reportedly download and install it from this page.

Who uses things like this? Is there such a demand for an enhancement to Vista's desktop and menus that this is a great addition to every home computer shipped by Dell? I don't get it. I'm an old fogey. Don't get me wrong, I'm not insensitive to how personal some of these choices are. You can use the Dell dock and I'll be happy for you. Lots of people love their Macs and feed them special treats at dinner and put them to sleep on a little pillow and apparently nobody feels the same way I do - when I look at a Mac screen, I see a stupid, juvenile design that makes me so happy that I work in a PC world.

Labels: Apple, computers, Google, software, Vista

posted by bruceb at 10/03/2008 01:11:00 AM | permalink

T-Mobile introduced the first cell phone based on Google's Android operating system to much fanfare a few days ago. Although Android has some interesting features and much promise, I don't expect to see anyone holding the T-Mobile G1 in Sonoma County for a while, since T-Mobile is a fringe player with limited coverage up here (and certainly no connection anywhere nearby to its high speed 3G data network).

Android is a work in progress; comparisons to the iPhone are inevitable and at the moment Android comes up a bit short, but it's early to make any decisions. In this first iteration, Android is tied in very closely to Google's online mail, calendar and contact services, which are fully integrated and reportedly work smoothly. It's not as smooth for everyone else, since the integration is thin or nonexistent for other sources of mail and there is essentially no support for other calendar/contact programs.

In particular, businesses should be aware that there is no support for ActiveSync, the software that connects a mobile device to an Exchange Server. A Google Android phone is not currently a good choice for an office using Small Business Server. It's the same situation that an SBS user faces with a Blackberry - a solution for email can be cobbled together from forwarded messages and BCCs and the like, but it is clearly a kludge compared to the true integration provided by a Windows Mobile phone or an iPhone running ActiveSync. (It bears repeating that using an iPhone with ActiveSync causes it to suck battery power so fast it actually makes slurping noises.)

There's one other design decision for the T-Mobile device that has caused a fuss - instead of a standard headphone connector, they chose an oddball, mostly proprietary "ExtUSB" headphone connector that requires a weird dongle for every kind of headphone or earbud except the terrible earbuds that come with the phone. No one knows why but everybody hates it.

Somebody - Google or a third party - will likely make the financial arrangements with Microsoft and write an ActiveSync connector for Android, and the other carriers will be releasing their own Android devices with different hardware designs. We'll talk more about it then.

Labels: Apple, audio, Google, mail, mobile, phone, SBS

posted by bruceb at 9/29/2008 12:05:00 PM | permalink

Since the market for living room computers never developed, Microsoft decided to focus on "extenders," a different way to deliver media to your television.

Huge numbers of people already have a computer in the house running Windows Vista Home Premium, holding photos and music. An "extender" is a small box for the living room that connects to the computer over a wireless or wired connection to display the photos on the television and play music on the living room speakers. If the computer is set up for it, the extender can also handle all the TV programming and record TV shows like a Tivo. It works exclusively with a remote control - no keyboard or mouse! - and looks great from across the room. Here are some cute animations from Microsoft about how it works.

Extenders are not a new concept, and Microsoft is not the only company offering products that work this way. Apple TV is a box that streams music and video from your computer's copy of iTunes to the living room, hemmed in by Apple's fairly restrictive selection of supported formats and features. There is a rich selection of third party software and hardware that will send streams out onto a home network - Twonky, Tversity, music devices from Roku Soundbridge and Sonos, and much more. Tivo supplies software to send photos and music to the Tivo in the living room. Do-it-yourselfers and gadget freaks and technical types are having a wonderful time squabbling about the pros and cons of various setups.

Microsoft gets more attention in the mainstream because the technology it has chosen is elegant and because, well, because it's Microsoft, I guess. Media Center Extenders are based on a simple concept. The small living room box connects to the computer over the home network and displays the Vista Media Center interface, exactly as if it was running directly on the computer. Under the hood is a specialized version of Remote Desktop, which many businesspeople use to connect to their office computers from home.

All the work is done on the computer, but the computer can stay in the room suited for it. Multiple extenders can be connected to the same computer, and the computer can be used normally while it's sending media to the other rooms. The physical connections to the television for audio and video can be difficult but mating the computer with the extender is pretty straightforward.

Some people already have this technology without knowing it, because an XBox 360 can be a Media Center Extender. Chances are the XBox 360 is already on the home network to get updates and play online, so the only setup involves a bit of fumbling to bring a new blade to life in the XBox dashboard, full of photos and music. Microsoft recently announced that the XBox 360 dashboard would be completely overhauled to make it look like Media Center.

In addition to the XBox 360, there was a first generation of extenders from Linksys and others for Windows XP Media Center Edition, but they were slow and cranky and became obsolete when Microsoft rewrote everything for Vista. A new generation of extenders are now being introduced with some attractive features.

I don't have an XBox 360 - noisy things that fail a lot. (If you're interested, a good article appeared a few days ago about the XBox 360's sad history of hardware problems.) Instead, I'll tell you tomorrow about HP's MediaSmart Connect, which is the best of the extenders on the market now.

Labels: Apple, audio, hardware, Microsoft, network, photos, software, video, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 9/18/2008 12:05:00 AM | permalink

Apple reacted quickly to the reports that the latest iTunes update has caused some Windows systems to crash badly. Last night Apple posted another version of iTunes that rolls back the offending hardware driver to an older version. If your system is blue screening, all you have to do is uninstall iTunes, uninstall Apple Mobile Device Support, and then reinstall iTunes from last night's release.

That's absurd, of course. As one person commented:

"A kernel level device driver (like the USB driver that Apple installs rather than using the one built in to the OS) will always have the ability to take down the OS.

"This is true for any OS since a kernel level driver is the interface between the OS and hardware.

"That's why it requires Administrator level permission to install (it did), why it needs to be very well written and tested before it gets sent to users (it wasn't) and why the installer should notifiy users that a device driver is being installed (they weren't) and only be installed if absolutely needed to support new hardware (it wasn't)."

You might want to take my suggestion: uninstall iTunes, uninstall Apple Mobile Device Support, uninstall Apple Software Update, uninstall Quicktime, install J River Media Center for your iPod, and return your iPhone.

Incidentally, are you aware of what a disaster the new iPhone has been? iPhone users are screaming bloody murder about absurdly short battery life, dropped calls, AT&T's terrible coverage with its much-vaunted 3G network, and much more. New software was released for the iPhone last night but there is little confidence that it will actually fix the list of problems it purports to address. Apple promises that this update will deliver all of the following improvements, each one of which has been a source of anguish for iPhone users for the last couple of months:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of 3rd party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

Labels: Apple, audio, mobile, phone, software, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 9/12/2008 10:43:00 AM | permalink

New slogan for Apple: iTunes ain't done till Windows won't run!

After its iPod conference this week - more of a non-event than usual for Apple - a new version of iTunes started to roll out to Windows users. For some people, it's causing crashes and even causing blue screens after it installs broken drivers without any disclosure or warning.

The problems don't affect everybody - like so many computer problems, these are likely to be caused by unfortunate conflicts with other programs if they're installed on the same computer. It's still being investigated but one writer suggests that any of these factors might cause the iTunes upgrade to crash the computer:

• Roxio disc burning software
• An HP USB printer
• Logitech software/hardware

This writer thoroughly investigated the 80Mb (!) download delivered by the iTunes installer and discovered that it was installing two hardware drivers, including one that has a long history of causing blue screens (fatal crashes) on Windows systems. Apple is also delivering the MobileMe software and a program set to automatically load the MobileMe software when your computer starts up, whether you're using the service or not. That's the service that was a disastrous failure for the first few weeks after it was released a couple of months ago, and is still barely limping along. It's irrelevant to most people.

Apple was roundly criticized a few months ago when it used its "software update" service to distribute its buggy and insecure browser, Safari, without adequately warning people. This time it's taking the approach of not giving any warning at all that this upgrade includes anything other than a facelift for iTunes and Quicktime.

If you use iTunes, you can't really avoid this update - about all you can do is hope for the best. Personally, I'm happy to stick to my longstanding conviction not to install any Apple software on my Windows machines. Apple has proven over and over that they write crappy software for Windows. Ed Bott comments:

"Nice marketing strategy: Tweak Microsoft for an operating system that crashes, then ship code that crashes Windows. Thank goodness I'm not a cynic or I'd think this was a deliberate marketing strategy."

Labels: Apple, audio, computers, mobile, software, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 9/11/2008 12:05:00 AM | permalink

The new iPhone will be available next week, including support for Microsoft Exchange and Windows Mobile/ActiveSync. That means businesspeople in companies run by Small Business Server 2003 should be able to connect to their Outlook email, calendar and contacts over the air, continuously updating both directions. Well, we'll see - time will tell whether there are glitches or unexpected shortcomings. (I've seen one early unconfirmed report that using Exchange over the air sucks the battery dry in short order.)

David Pogue's column in the New York Times today mentions one thing that I had misunderstood. Apparently the iPhone 2.0 software will also be rolled out to current iPhone owners, enabling them to do exactly the same things.

That means all iPhone owners will have access to the new applications being developed on the iPhone 2.0 platform - there will be thousands of them, a rich new area for blogs to write about endlessly. You might see some that look tempting:

"One coming program, called iCall, will give you free phone calls when you're in a Wi-Fi hot spot. Another, called G-Park, exploits G.P.S. to help you find where you parked. Yet another, Urbanspoon, is "a cross between a magic eight ball and a slot machine:" you shake the phone, and it randomly displays the name of a good restaurant nearby, using the iPhone's G.P.S. and motion sensor.

"You can also expect to see a time and expense tracker, home-automation remote control, voice recorder, Etch-a-Sketch, a recipe box, tip calculator, currency converter, e-book reader and so on.

"Above all, the iPhone is about to become a dazzling hand-held game machine. The games revealed so far feature smooth 3-D graphics and tilt control; in one driving simulator, you turn the iPhone itself like a steering wheel, and your 3-D car on the screen banks accordingly. Other games exploit the multitouch screen, so you and a buddy can sit at opposite ends of the screen and fire at each other."

I'm a bit skeptical because I'm dull and unimaginative. There are hundreds of gadgets that can be added to Vista's sidebar, but I kinda turned off the sidebar because they weren't all that interesting. There are thousands and thousands of applications for Windows Mobile devices but once my phone started syncing reliably with Outlook, I was pretty much done with twiddling with it.

Interesting stuff. Just remember, the iPhone is an expensive thing to have in your pocket and there's no way around its Achilles heel.

Oh, and I finally found the map showing the Sonoma County coverage of AT&T's higher speed 3G network.

If you're outside the shaded area, data speeds will continue to be limited by AT&T's slower EDGE network, roughly the same as having web pages delivered to you by a glacier.

Labels: Apple, mail, mobile, phone, SBS

posted by bruceb at 7/10/2008 12:20:00 AM | permalink

[Originally posted October 30, 2007]

I wish we could count on the software and hardware vendors to play fair and treat us well, but it's not happening. We have to take responsibility for our computers.

When Windows XP and Vista are installed on freshly formatted hard drives, they are secure, rock-solid, and fast. Both operating systems are loaded with features. Vista has a mail program, an address book, a calendar, voice recognition, rich support for multimedia, built-in CD/DVD burning, several backup options (including automatic retention of previous versions of files), and much more.

Mac OS 10.5 offers a virtually identical list of features and a similar secure, stable, fast environment.

Yet Macs have a reputation of being easy to use and "just working" while Windows computers have a reputation of being slow and unstable. The reason has little to do with the merits of the operating systems.

Other than hooking up a printer, many Mac users add almost nothing to their computers. They use the applications supplied with the computer, which work well.

If you installed Windows Vista on a freshly formatted hard drive, installed Microsoft Office 2007, hooked up a printer, and added almost nothing else, your computer would just work - elegant and stable and fast.

It's hard to do that. It's up to you to stay as close to it as possible.

Everything conspires to interfere with your computer experience - every piece of software that adds a hundred registry entries, every startup process, every online service that installs a new ActiveX control, every printer monitor and registration reminder and duplicative function and unnecessary utility program. Software and hardware manufacturers make poor decisions about how often you want to see their logo or how much you want badly-designed free programs or how much you care about their partnerships with unrelated companies or how much you need their version of a program that duplicates a function built into Windows.
All too quickly, our Windows computers take three minutes to be usable after our desktop appears. Our programs crash. The system freezes.

Windows is rock solid out of the box. It stays that way for a remarkably long time. Whose responsibility is it when our experience starts to deteriorate?

I'm not talking about blame. There's plenty of that to go around.

The responsibility is ours. No one else is going to help us. For better or worse, Microsoft has created an environment where other manufacturers can contribute. Few of them are doing it well. Few of them are looking only for your best interests and smooth computing experience.

• Our computers arrive with too much preinstalled software. Look at the list in Add/Remove Programs, find out what the unfamiliar names are, and remove the ones that won't be used.
• Don't install programs unless you are confident that you know what they are and that you will use them to accomplish something you couldn't do before with another program already installed.
• Always do a "custom" installation. Watch every checkbox and don't install anything that isn't necessary to use the program to do what you're going to do.
• Never install a system utility or security software unless you thoroughly understand why it's necessary. Windows is able to be secure and do its own housekeeping without much help.

There are only two choices for happy computing. One is to become knowledgeable about what you install. That allows you to explore the rich world of new devices, programs and online services with a minimum of side effects, while still being conservative enough to avoid harming your computer.

The other is to buy only the simplest hardware accessories and install as little new software as possible. If your computer can't already do it, maybe you should assume it can't be done. We live in a world where too many gadgets don't work and too many programs are badly written.

The third alternative is the one that doesn't work - buy devices on a whim, avoid reading instructions or web sites or even the descriptions on a box, install whatever is presented on a setup CD, click OK whenever a website asks permission, and expect everything to just work. You already know about the bad guys, but in the long run, we can't trust the good guys either.

Labels: Apple, computers, hardware, Microsoft, software, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 6/30/2008 12:12:00 AM | permalink

Quicktime has been an annoying bit of software for ten years now. My experience tonight was the final straw. I've spent the better part of an hour cleaning it off my system and I don't intend to let it back. What is it with Apple? Every time I feel like giving Apple the benefit of the doubt, swayed by all the hype, I have an experience where I'm reminded that Apple writes crappy, invasive software.

Quicktime has been around forever, a bit of free software that will play online videos in certain formats. In the last few years YouTube and the other big video sites began using Flash for movies, so Apple shifted its focus to new high definition video formats. Most of you will only run into Quicktime now if you go look for movie trailers - the studios use it a lot.

And Quicktime has been a pain in the neck forever. When I began this news page, one of my first comments was a complaint about Quicktime. (I've got old archives here - I was ranting about Quicktime on 09/27/99. "Is it just me or is Quicktime incredibly annoying?") For years Apple released Quicktime updates that did not remove older conflicting versions; at one point Apple literally hid the free version of the program in an attempt to deceive us into downloading a paid version; recently it used a Quicktime update as a mechanism to deceptively install its unnecessary and insecure browser.

A couple of days ago I installed the Quicktime 7.5 update, supposedly an important update to cure serious security problems.

Quicktime stole my file associations. I hate it when programs steal my file associations.

An easy example: You probably have three or four or five programs on your computer that can open JPG files. One of them is the default - the one Windows will use if you just click on a JPG file. That's the file association - they're the default programs assigned to dozens of different types of files recognized by your computer.

Manufacturers have been trying to steal file associations from each other for years. Each program that you install for photos will try to become the default program for opening JPG files. When you click on a file and the wrong program starts, it's because something else has grabbed that file association.

It's possible to reassign the program of your choice but it's a pain. (Right-click on a file of the type you want to change, click on "Open with / Change default program" and you'll get a list of likely programs, along with a checkbox to "Always use this program to open this type of file." Vista has a well-organized set of controls - click on Start, type "default" and click on "Default Programs." It's not a friendly place to hang out.)

I guard my file associations jealously. When I click on an MP3 file, I want J River Media Center to play it. When I click on a JPG, I want it displayed in Windows Live Photo Gallery; when I click on a PNG, I want Microsoft Digital Image Editor. You might not think of it but you're just like me, looking for continuity and familiarity, not sudden unexplained changes in the programs that pop up.

Quicktime 7.5 has a confusing installation routine and tries to become your default program for dozens of types of files, but if you're careful during installation it's possible to deselect all of the file types so Quicktime is not the default for anything. That's my favorite result - it's a yucky program with terrible controls and insistent advertisements for a paid version. (Remember, always do a custom installation of any software and read all the things with checkboxes!)

I stopped Quicktime from grabbing any file associations and installed the update. No worries, eh?

I clicked a link tonight in Internet Explorer to download and save an MP3 file. The Quicktime logo appeared and the file started playing in Quicktime's stupid player embedded in a big empty white Internet Explorer page.

WTF?

Come to find out that Internet Explorer has its own file associations, separate from the rest of the computer. Without asking, Quicktime had installed an IE addin that took over god knows how many file types in Internet Explorer - movies, PNG files, MP3 files, more.

Research, experiment, more research, more experiments. Once Quicktime steals those Internet Explorer file associations, it's virtually impossible to put them back to the defaults. They are stored completely separately from all the regular file associations, so repairing those doesn't do anything to IE. I tried registry fixes, I tried IE7's tool to reset every browser setting to its default (Tools / Internet Options / Advanced / Reset Internet Explorer Settings). I tried disabling Quicktime's addin (Tools / Manage Add-ons) and discovered that the file associations were hosed - web pages had red Xs where PNG files should display, error messages appeared when links were clicked for some file types. According to what I was reading online, uninstalling Quicktime does not put things back to normal!

In the end, I was saved by a system restore. Once the IE file associations were back to normal I was able to set about to scrub my system of Apple software, including the "Apple Update Utility" that I had specifically told it NOT to install. (Apple: "I'll be darned. How did THAT get there? Little rascal.")

This is obviously not a huge problem - most of you would be mildly inconvenienced and a little confused, nothing more. But I'm watching our interactions with Windows computers become more complex and more confusing and it's the result of a lot of little invasions like this by companies who have only their own corporate interests at heart. So trust me, I'm only thinking of you when something like this makes me furious.

I'm not sure what the conclusion is. Quicktime occasionally comes in handy online and if it's installed then it really should be updated for security reasons. It's not so awful that I'm going to urge you to remove it. But personally, I'm going to swear off movie previews and see if I miss it. I hope not.

Labels: Apple, IE, video, Vista, WinXP

posted by bruceb at 6/23/2008 02:29:00 AM | permalink

The market for notebook computers is growing fast. Notebooks already outsell desktop computers in the US and will outsell desktops globally by next year, according to the New York Times. Here's a report released yesterday comparing global notebook shipments in the first quarters of 2007 and 2008, showing HP and Dell with hugely increased sales and more than a third of the market between them.

You probably have some vague idea that Apple owns the notebook market, right? It's part of the reality distortion field that Apple has used so brilliantly over the years. (Random example: an article from last fall about the "major shift in notebook buying patterns" and "ominous news for Dell.") Apple has been selling a lot of notebooks and its market share is definitely increasing, particularly in the US, but don't get all carried away about it. According to the report, Apple had been in eighth place for four consecutive quarters, but "surged" to seventh place in the first quarter of 2008 with a 4.6% market share, barely beating out Asus (which had an even larger percentage growth in year-over-year sales).

Still it must be great to use an Apple computer and live the easy life of a troublefree operating system, right?

• I trust all the Mac users got the updates two weeks ago that fixed more than forty security holes in OS X v. 10.4.11. Or perhaps you upgraded to OS X 10.5.3? Next time I talk to Mac users, I think I'll ask them which choice they made - Macs are so easy to maintain that it's probably obvious if they're running a fully patched version of 10.4.11 or 10.5.3.
• Oh, and did you get the update to Quicktime 7.5 that fixed security holes that could have allowed people to control your computer remotely? That was the update that followed Quicktime 7.4.5 a couple of months ago, which fixed more security problems. The Quicktime problems potentially affect Windows users too - thanks, Apple.
• It's not clear whether there's a fix for the security problem with Apple's Safari Internet browser for the Windows users who were fooled into installing it a couple of months ago by Apple's deceptive "update" utility.

Apple is pretty free to claim that the Windows world is unsafe and confusing, but it's just the teensiest bit annoying that Apple is one of the forces contributing to making it so.

Labels: Apple, business, computers, mobile

posted by bruceb at 6/16/2008 12:06:00 AM | permalink

The upgraded iPhone has a tremendous list of features! I'm looking forward to the integration with Exchange Server, which ought to let my clients with Small Business Server have a live, over-the-air connection to their contacts, calendar, and inbox. I'll write more about the new iPhone after I have some experience with it.

There are two things worth noting that may get lost in the excitement next month.

• It's not really any cheaper. The sales price is cut in half - welcome news indeed! But it's not really a discount. Instead, AT&T is subsidizing the sale price and making it back by increasing the monthly fee by $10 for the data plan. Since a two year contract is required, that means the new iPhone will be slightly more expensive than the original iPhone over the life of the contract. Most people only focus on the original sales price; AT&T is focused like a laser on your signature on the two-year contract.
• You still have to sign up with AT&T. Their much-vaunted 3G data speeds won't do any good if you don't live in the major metropolitan areas where AT&T actually provides that service. And in a recent poll, 65% of the people who had called AT&T for customer support said they would rather "have their eyes plucked out by crows" than go through that experience again. Well, something like that - I can't find that survey now, but you get the idea.

Labels: Apple, mobile, phone

posted by bruceb at 6/13/2008 12:18:00 AM | permalink

Within a month or two we'll have a second-generation iPhone, with higher data speeds through AT&T's 3G network and built-in support for connections to Microsoft Exchange Server. As always, Apple is being reticent with the details and the launch date but it's likely to be soon.

Paul Thurrott today spoke an important truth that must not be overlooked.

"Just so we're clear, if Apple ever opened up its iPhone to rival cell phone networks in the United States, AT&T would lose about 99 percent of its iPhone customers overnight, and that number is artificially low because the final one percent would leave eventually. But that's because AT&T Wireless is, perhaps, the worst wireless carrier in existence."

And really, that's about all there is to it. Verizon is no treat to deal with but - I can't sign up with AT&T. Even for an iPhone. I just can't go there.

Labels: Apple, mobile, phone

posted by bruceb at 5/09/2008 01:36:00 PM | permalink

I had a feeling of deja vu when I was talking to a friend about a new computer last week.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, I set up dozens of Gateway computers. They were comparatively inexpensive, they were pioneers in the business of custom configurations for mail-order computers, and they shipped everything in way cool cow-spotted boxes.

But Gateway was also doing something right that outweighed everything else. Gateway was making smart choices about what to put on computers. Gateway installed CD drives and modems before it was obvious they would be necessary. They put in more memory and bigger hard drives and better video and sound cards than people realized they needed.

I could send people to shop at Gateway with confidence that they would get the right equipment even if I didn't hold their hand through the entire order.

There's only one computer company doing the same thing today.

Apple.

I can get you a good PC from Dell or off the shelf at a local store - if I hold your hand through the entire process. For most people, it's easier to put together the order myself. I ask everyone else to go through a list of detailed specs and keep an eye on hard drive rotation speeds and the amount of video card memory.

PC manufacturers will let you buy equipment that will not make you happy. The options are there for you to buy PCs that don't have enough memory, that have crappy video systems, that have slow hard drives, that don't have DVD drives, that have the wrong version of Vista to use in an office, or that are missing something else that will leave you gnashing your teeth later.

I cringe at the thought of anyone using a new computer until I've had a chance to remove the unnecessary crap installed by the manufacturer that will slow the computer down and give you a terrible experience.

I was explaining this to a friend who was also considering a Mac. She asked what kind of Mac she should get.

I told her, "I don't know, but I don't think it matters - all the choices are made for you. You'll probably get something you'll like regardless."

When I realized what that meant, I had to lie down and put a wet cloth on my forehead. No wonder people are buying Macs! There's no way for a non-technical person to have that feeling of confidence when we buy PCs. People sit down at their cheap new Vista computer and it's slow and unexpected advertisements appear when they click on desktop icons and it crashes when two crappy programs collide. They blame Vista and call a friend who describes how lovable her Mac notebook is. Sound familiar?

Apple is making smart choices about what to put on computers and including things people don't realize they need, which helps ensure the customer stays happy later.

PC manufacturers are making stupid choices. The availability of underpowered hardware is a big part of the perception that Vista is a "failed" operating system; people's poor experiences with new computers are part of what's driving people to Macs.

I miss the cow-spotted boxes. I miss the philosophy that drove Gateway to sell people the right stuff on their PCs.

Labels: Apple, computers, hardware

posted by bruceb at 4/15/2008 12:57:00 AM | permalink

Many of you practice safe computing - you install security updates from Microsoft and other vendors, you run antivirus and adware/spyware programs and keep them current, your email program has a spam filter and blocks .EXE and other potentially dangerous attachments, and you don't click on strange links in email messages or on web sites.

You probably haven't seen a virus or gotten adware on your computer in a long time. You may be wondering what the security fuss is about. Is it really necessary to be so paranoid?

VIRUSES

By the end of this year, security experts expect to have identified a total of more than one million viruses. The chief technology officer for Sophos says about 25% of unique malware has been created in the last six months. Another security company executive said it identifies about 25,000 malware samples a day.

As security programs improve, virus writers get less results from email attachments, so they're switching their focus to creating web sites that can infect unpatched computers automatically just by visiting the site. A couple of years ago those attacks were limited to installing advertising programs and popups, but now malicious software is being installed without the user's knowledge.

Google owns Postini, a messaging security company, which recently promised that security challenges will grow exponentially in 2008 as the Bad Guys become more skilled at "social engineering" - presenting you with an email message or web site that in some way convinces you to make a fatal click or divulge personal information. There might be references to current events or messages that purport to be from legitimate business agencies - the IRS or Securities & Exchange Commission for example. The Bad Guys are getting better all the time at presenting messages that appear to be genuine. Their grammar is getting better, too.

BOTNETS

At one time viruses were designed to break computers. If malware is installed on your computer now you might never know it. The latest exploits are designed to hide away undetected and respond to commands from Bad Guy Central.

The most sophisticated malware authors use compromised computers to send spam. A security researcher just examined 11 "botnets" that send spam and estimated that they control over a million computers and are capable of flooding our mailboxes with more than 100 billion spam messages every day.

PHISHING

Identity theft starts with disclosure of personal information. If you can be persuaded to type in a bank account number or a password, the Bad Guys win.

Read this chilling account by a Symantec researcher about a virus that steals bank account details. The sophistication of the scheme is striking.

"Targeting over 400 banks and having the ability to circumvent two-factor authentication are just two of the features that push Trojan.Silentbanker into the limelight. The scale and sophistication of this emerging banking Trojan is worrying, even for someone who sees banking Trojans on a daily basis.

"This Trojan downloads a configuration file that contains the domain names of over 400 banks. Not only are the usual large American banks targeted but banks in many other countries are also targeted, including France, Spain, Ireland, the UK, Finland, Turkey - the list goes on.

"The ability of this Trojan to perform man-in-the-middle attacks on valid transactions is what is most worrying. The Trojan can intercept transactions that require two-factor authentication. It can then silently change the user-entered destination bank account details to the attacker's account details instead. Of course the Trojan ensures that the user does not notice this change by presenting the user with the details they expect to see, while all the time sending the bank the attacker's details instead. Since the user doesn't notice anything wrong with the transaction, they will enter the second authentication password, in effect handing over their money to the attackers. The Trojan intercepts all of this traffic before it is encrypted, so even if the transaction takes place over SSL the attack is still valid. Unfortunately, we were unable to reproduce exactly such a transaction in the lab. However, through analysis of the Trojan's code it can be seen that this feature is available to the attackers.

"The Trojan does not use this attack vector for all banks, however. It only uses this route when an easier route is not available. If a transaction can occur at the targeted bank using just a username and password then the Trojan will take that information, if a certificate is also required the Trojan can steal that too, if cookies are required the Trojan will steal those. In fact, even if the attacker is missing a piece of information to conduct a transaction, extra HTML can be added to the page to ask the user for that extra information. (In the example below the user is asked to enter their encryption key, in addition to the regular information.) . . .

"Add to all of the above the ability to steal FTP, POP, Web mail, protected storage, and cached passwords and then we start to see the capabilities of this Trojan."

PCs VS MACs

Fewer attacks are aimed at Macs than PCs, primarily because PCs have a 90%+ market share. That is sometimes misinterpreted to mean that Macs are less vulnerable and Apple does a better job of addressing security holes. This has not ever been true. Two years ago I highlighted reports that Apple was slow to respond to security flaws when they were discovered, and Apple's products have required a constant stream of updates to fix security problems. Here's Paul Thurrott's report on the most recent study reporting the same results:

"Microsoft actually fixes security vulnerabilities much more quickly than does Apple, meaning that users of Windows are, in fact, better protected by their vendor than are Mac OS X users. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology independently examined six years of data and found that 658 high- and medium-risk vulnerabilities affected Microsoft products during the time period, compared with 738 for Apple products. Then they looked at how well the companies did at fixing these bugs. The conclusion? 'The number of unpatched vulnerabilities are higher at Apple,' a researcher involved in the study said. 'Apple [was] just surprised or not as ready or not as attentive. It looks like Microsoft had good relationships earlier with the security community. Based on our findings, this is hurting [Apple].'"

Labels: Apple, computers, Internet, Microsoft, OneCare, security, spam

posted by bruceb at 4/14/2008 01:46:00 AM | permalink

Microsoft has updated its Remote Desktop software for Macs, allowing them to connect to a computer running Windows XP Professional or Vista Business and control the Windows computer just as if sitting in front of it.

Remote Desktop has been so thoroughly optimized on Windows computers that menus pop up and down, windows appear and disappear at virtually full speed, sounds are played, until it's easy to forget that the computer under control is in a different office (or across the world). I won't be using the Mac software but it is also reasonably mature at this point; Mac users can hope for a similar experience.

For most people, however, Remote Desktop does not work over the Internet. It's possible to configure a firewall to forward port 3389 to a computer and control it with Remote Desktop but it's difficult to set up and it's not secure.

Businesses running Small Business Server can use Remote Desktop over the Internet because SBS does a special trick - it sets up a web page with an ActiveX control that can start a Remote Desktop session on office computers. SBS users can use Remote Desktop to control their office computer from any PC running Internet Explorer, anywhere in the world.

Mac users cannot take advantage of that SBS function - and as far as I know, the new Remote Desktop software for Macs does not change that. People with Macs at home that want to work remotely with an office PC should look at LogMeIn, which has software that runs on both PCs and Macs.

So the Remote Desktop software for Macs is really only useful for computers in the same network - using a Mac to work remotely on a PC across the room or down the hall in the same home or office. That's useful but not quite as exciting as it looks at first.

Labels: Apple, computers, Microsoft, network, remote, SBS

posted by bruceb at 4/11/2008 12:14:00 AM | permalink

A client asked me about an update window that had popped up so I sat down in front of "Apple Updates" and stared at the three programs listed - "updates" to iTunes, QuickTime, and Safari. I'm as burned out as anybody on the unending stream of updates but okay, iTunes and QuickTime might plausibly have updated versions available.

But - Safari? That's Apple's Internet browser. It runs on PCs but nobody uses it, since it's got no discernible advantages over any of the other browsers. Firefox is the only alternative browser I run into - it also has no discernible advantages over Internet Explorer, but Firefox has some religious believers and it isn't worth quarreling about.

I confirmed that Safari wasn't installed on that computer. Why was an "update" being offered?

It wasn't an update. Apple is using its "update" program as a Trojan horse carrying software that is not already installed on your computer. This is a new version of Safari and its most significant selling point is that it's allegedly "faster" than IE and Firefox. I'm sure all 14 of its current PC users are happy and vocal but Safari is a completely superfluous piece of software for XP and Vista computers.

I have my own religious belief. I want as little superfluous software as possible on your computers. Each duplicative program increases the chance that your computer will slow down or crash; increases the chance that unfamiliar programs will start when you click on a file or shortcut; increases the chance that you will be frustrated instead of productive.

I don't like stealth installations. It makes me irritable when an update to Acrobat Reader tries to put on the useless "starter edition" of an obsolete version of Photoshop Elements. I get cranky when Java tries to sneak the Google Toolbar along with one of its updates. And don't get me started on the "HP Memories Disc"! There are many, many more; it's one of the important reasons I suggest always doing a "custom" installation instead of accepting the defaults on a new program or update.

Here are more details about Apple's rogue installation. I don't suggest installing Safari unless you're motivated to deal with whatever problems it introduces and willing to stay on top of the stream of updates that it will require. Apple's update to Safari version 3.1 is fixing thirteen serious security vulnerabilities in both the Mac and PC versions of the browser; it will be followed by version 3.1.0.0.1 and version 3.1.7 and version 3.14152 and on and on and on. As Joe Wilcox notes, "Safari is fairly new to Windows and has yet to really show that it has can muster the security to withstand the associated attacks. Mac OS X is a quaint neighborhood where little Safari was safe. By comparison, Windows is a gang-ridden ghetto: life is survival, and it's tough going."

On the client's computer today, in addition to declining the Safari installation, I found that Apple Updates could be separately uninstalled from Add/Remove Programs, which was precisely the right way to solve the problem.

Labels: Apple, computers, IE, software

posted by bruceb at 3/20/2008 12:42:00 AM | permalink

Apple announced today that it has licensed ActiveSync technology from Microsoft, allowing the iPhone to sync mail, contacts, and calendars with Exchange Server.  Apple also released a development kit which will result in an explosion of third party applications for the iPhone.

The iPhone is poised to be a compelling choice for businesses, including my clients running Small Business Server. Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices suddenly look very drab in comparison.

The update for the iPhone is scheduled to be delivered in June. The iPhone will still be tethered to AT&T for the foreseeable future. There is no official word about whether the iPhone will be upgraded to permit a faster 3G Internet connection but the rumor mills are predicting a 3G iPhone in June to go along with the enterprise features.

Here's an article about today's announcement of ActiveSync support for Exchange, and here's an overview of the entire Apple press conference. Apple unveiled a web site devoted to the iPhone Enterprise program and Microsoft concurrently issued a press release.

This has the potential to make the iPhone a bigger deal than anything Apple is doing with computers, and might even eclipse Apple's success in changing the music industry with the iPod. Pay attention to this story!

Labels: Apple, mail, Outlook, phone, SBS

posted by bruceb at 3/07/2008 12:57:00 AM | permalink

There have been a lot of changes in digital music recently, many of them favorable for consumers.

People are recognizing the value of the MP3 format, free of any licensing restrictions. If you are ripping your CDs, make sure you use the MP3 format at a high enough bit rate to preserve the quality of the music! This requires a simple change in the settings, regardless of what software you use. Here's my notes about that process.

Amazon.com is selling high-quality MP3 music from all major labels. The recording industry decided to use Amazon to break the de facto iTunes monopoly on online music, so Amazon was given the rights by all four major labels to sell music with no restrictions for less money than iTunes. Amazon just announced it will be selling online music internationally, just ahead of the publicity blitz that will be launched during the Superbowl for its music giveaway with Pepsi. If you're using iTunes, Amazon's software will automatically insert your new purchases into your iTunes library. It is a very appealing way to get new music! Click here to explore Amazon's MP3 store.

Media Jukebox is the perfect software for your music. It is completely free, it has the Amazon MP3 store built into it, it supports iPods and all other handhelds, and it has the best features of any music software - better than iTunes in many ways. Its big brother, J River Media Center, is also able to work with photos and videos, but many of you might prefer Media Jukebox for its simplicity and focus on music.

If you listen to music on a computer, treat yourself to good speakers or headphones. You spend hours at a computer every day. Treat yourself to a big monitor and don't overlook the difference that it makes to have your music sound full and rich. Logitech's new G51 5.1 speakers not only sound great, they have a well-designed desktop console with well-chosen controls for volume, balance, mute and headphones, plus a very satisfying matrix mode to create surround sound from your 2-channel music.

I've never regretted indulging in a nice pair of headphones. It's a very personal choice but for what it's worth, these Grado SR60 headphones are an incredible value for well under a hundred bucks. I opted for these Sennheiser HD595 headphones for myself; I can wear them for hours without fatigue and the sound is crisp and pure. (Amazon is selling them for $250 today. It's unclear why they were significantly less a few weeks ago. Prices seem to jump around oddly on headphones - shop around!)

Enjoy the music!

Labels: Apple, audio, business, software

posted by bruceb at 1/28/2008 12:51:00 AM | permalink

The iPhone is a sleek, sexy device that permanently changes our expectations for handheld devices. After holding an iPhone, it's hard to pick up another cell phone and PDA without feeling a bit of a letdown.

The iPhone has a few shortcomings that are not immediately apparent when you look at one for the first time. Here's a list of the big and small issues that users are discovering about the current iPhone. The most significant problem is Apple's deal tying the iPhone to AT&T. Perhaps that was important to finance the deal or Apple thought it was necessary for marketing, but it's a shame - AT&T is a horrible company to do business with and has a much weaker network than the competitors.

Let's say you can swallow signing up for an account with AT&T. At the moment, the iPhone is not the right choice for Outlook users hoping to sync e-mail, calendar, and contacts to the iPhone. That's especially true for businesses running Exchange Server, the software powering the mail system in Small Business Server 2003. Many reports online say that the iPhone is difficult to set up with Exchange Server - possible, but difficult to configure. Worse, even when it's set up correctly, I've seen too many reports that it just doesn't work very well.

Theoretically mail can be sent to the iPhone if support for IMAP is turned on in Exchange Server. That's a protocol for retrieving mail, similar in concept to POP3 but seldom used until recently. Researching how to do that turns up warnings like this:

As I understand it, the iPhone can be set up to receive e-mail from an Exchange Server - but that's it for over-the-air syncing. No contacts, no calendar sync over the air. Calendar and contact syncing is not done directly with Outlook even when the iPhone is in the cradle, if I understand right - first, Outlook has to sync with iTunes, then iTunes syncs with the iPhone. It's a messy process that's fraught with error.

It's unclear whether mail sent from the iPhone ends up going thru the Exchange Server and showing up in Outlook Sent Items - I think not but I haven't confirmed it yet.

This is likely to change soon, possibly in the next month or two. Two weeks ago Apple posted this job opening for a QA engineer:

The iPhone Quality team is looking for a motivated, highly-technical Exchange test/sync engineer with excellent problem solving and communication skills. You will join a dynamic team responsible for qualifying the latest iPhone products. Your focus will be testing Exchange and Outlook functionality with Apple's innovative new phone. The successful candidate will complete both documented and adhoc testing to ensure high quality releases.

The hope is that an Exchange connector for the iPhone is in its final testing phase.

Watch for an announcement from Apple that a new version of the iPhone has built-in support for Exchange Server. If that's coupled with an upgrade to permit the iPhone to use AT&T's higher-speed data network instead of the godawful slow EDGE network, it will make the iPhone a much more attractive choice.

Labels: Apple, mobile, Outlook, phone, SBS

posted by bruceb at 1/03/2008 01:00:00 AM | permalink

J River Media Center is the only important program on my computer developed by a small company. J River just released Media Jukebox 12, a simpler free version focused on music that you might want to consider if you're not already using Media Center.

Media Center is the only program I use for music. Media Center organizes and tags music files, it syncs with iPods, it burns music CDs, it holds playlists and ratings, it downloads podcasts and Audible audiobooks, and it serves up music to other computers in other parts of the house. It's been a friend for years.

Media Center is also designed to work with photos and videos. Personally, I don't think it's as well suited for photos as dedicated programs like Adobe Photoshop Elements. I use Media Center for organizing and watching videos but not for many other tasks - it's not designed for editing videos like Adobe Premiere Elements, and other programs seem easier for converting formats and ripping DVDs.

Now J River is offering Media Jukebox 12, which is focused on music. All the references to photos and videos have been removed. That makes it less complicated, without giving up any of the features that make it so good for your music library.

Most people use iTunes. It's easy and perfectly fine - if you're happy with it, keep using it!

Media Jukebox is for people whose libraries are getting larger - iTunes is not very good when you've got a couple of thousand songs or more. Media Jukebox is also a welcome relief for people who find iTunes is increasingly annoying and cluttered with advertising. And Media Jukebox will seem like a breath of fresh air if you've been using Windows Media Player or any other program to manage a growing music library.

You only need one program for music. Media Jukebox can be that program. It's the only third-party program that can sync with iPods as well as any other handheld device on the market. (Not Zunes. You didn't get a Zune, did you? Oh, dear, I hope not.) An iPod can only sync with one program - if you sync with Media Jukebox, you're leaving iTunes behind.

Media Jukebox is free. Try it!

Labels: Apple, audio, software

posted by bruceb at 12/11/2007 10:17:00 AM | permalink

Monday, December 10 is expected to be the busiest online shopping day of the year.

Can I ask you for a favor?

There are a few links on the bruceb favorites page and the bruceb shopping page that lead to places you might do some shopping - any link to Amazon or Dell, plus Apple, HP, Buy.com, Adobe, Walmart, and TigerDirect.

Those are affiliate links. If you click on them and buy something, the merchants will send me a little money, or possibly a t-shirt. A tuna sandwich. Something, anyway.

As far as I know, your experience is identical whether you start from my page, from another page, or by typing in www.dell.com in your browser. The prices are the same.

Affilliates don't get much - typically it's 1%. I don't get any identification of who clicked from my site or what was purchased, so I'll be equally grateful to each and every one of you if some of you remember to start from my page before you fill your shopping cart.

If you're shopping for a computer, perhaps it will even help. On the bruceb shopping page, under the annoying bann