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and Apple TV news is covered in The iNews
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News & Opinion
Products
News & Opinion
Mac OS, Safari, and iPhone Gain Ground in
August
NetApplications HitsLink has posted operating system market
share stats for August 2008, showing the Mac OS's market share
advancing again, after dropping to 7.76% in July from its recent peak
of 7.94% of the OS market in June, but the big news is a major surge in
the iPhone's web browsing usage share, which increased 58% from July to
August and is now and about one-third the OS usage share Linux
enjoys.
Here's the operating system total market share rundown of the
significant players for August (July figures in parentheses):
- Windows 90.66% (91.02%)
- Mac 7.86% (7.76%)
- Linux 0.93% (0.82%)
- iPhone 0.30% (0.19%)
Comparing longer term, at 90.66% Windows is still down nearly five
percentage points since May 2006 (95.09%), while the Mac OS at 7.86%
has not quite doubled its share over the same interval from 4.43% in
May '06. Linux has more than doubled its from 0.40% to 0.93%% - up
11-hundredths of a point from July.
In terms of versions:
- Windows
- Windows XP 69.49% (70.64%)
- Windows Vista 17.85% (16.93%)
- Windows 2000 2.02%
- Windows NT 0.71%
- Windows 98 0.41%
- Windows ME 0.24%
- Windows CE 0.06%
- Macintosh
- Macintel 5.44% (5.23%)
- Mac OS (Classic) 2.42% (2.52%)
- iPhone 0.30% (0.19%)
- iPod 0.05% (0.04%)
- Linux 0.93% (0.82%)
Hitslink also posted August 2008 browser market share stats, showing
Internet Explorer dropping back slightly, with nearly a point drop from
July, Firefox modestly up again to 19.73% from 19.22%, and Safari
gaining back lost ground last month to 6.37% from 6.14%. Even Netscape,
which was discontinued half a year ago, gained a bit of ground on
Explorer, while Opera finally squeezed ahead of Netscape to become the
number four browser.
- Microsoft Internet Explorer - 72.15% (73.02%)
- Firefox - 19.73% (19.22%)
- Safari - 6.37% ( 6.14% )
- Opera - 0.74% (0.69%)
- Netscape - 0.72% (0.69%)
- Mozilla - 0.10% (0.08%)
- Opera Mini - 0.05% (0.05%)
Plans to Buy Apple Products at All-time High
The
National Post's Jonathan Ratner reports:
"In the weak market for consumer spending, there is a bright spot:
Apple Inc. The computer and electronic device maker is attracting
potential buyers like never before and is getting top marks in customer
satisfaction.
"A survey of more than 4,400 people between August 4 and August 12
conducted by RBC Capital Markets and ChangeWave Research showed that
34% plan to buy a Mac laptop in the next 90 days, compared with 31% in
May. Those planning to buy a Mac desktop rose to 30% from 27%.
Meanwhile, 81% of those who recently bought an Apple product in the
past 90 days were 'very satisfied,' while only 58% Dell Inc. buyers and
55% Hewlett-Packard Co. buyers said the same...."
Link:
Plans to Buy Apple Products at All-time High, Survey Shows
Consumers Are Most Likely to Choose Mac
Computerworld's Gregg Keizer reports:
"More US consumers plan to buy a Mac in the next 90 days than any
other brand, according to a ChangeWave Research survey of over 4,000 US
Americans conducted earlier this month.
"Of the consumers polled by ChangeWave Research who said they expect
to buy a personal computer in the next three months, 32 per cent plan
to purchase a Mac. The closest rival was Dell, which accounted for 28
per cent of planned purchases.
"Apple was also the only vendor whose plan-to-buy share increased
from July in both desktops and laptops...."
Link: US
Consumers Are Most Likely to Choose Mac
How to Migrate Time Machine to a New Drive
MacFixIt
says:
"Users may wish to change their hard drive configurations for
convenience in workflow, adding a new drive, or just for the sake of
changing things up. In many cases, users may wish to migrate their Time
Machine backups to a new, larger drive, but Apple does not provide a
good way to do this.
"In order to change the Time Machine database over to a new drive,
users cannot just copy the files manually, but instead must use a
cloning software package to mirror the current TM drive over to the new
one. The procedure is very straightforward...."
Link: How-To:
Migrate Time Machine to a New Drive (subscription required)
Products
Logitech Illuminated Keyboard and Cordless Desktop
S520 Combo
PR: To help you find the keyboard that best matches your
needs - and style - Logitech has introduced new keyboards, including
the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, which offers an optimized backlight
experience, Logitech PerfectStroke key system and Logitech's thinnest
design ever. Also unveiled today,the Logitech Cordless Desktop S520
offers a keyboard-and-mouse combination that matches a wide variety of
computer setups.
"Style - specifically the ability to choose the style that fits
one's tastes - is increasingly driving purchase decisions," said Denis
Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech keyboards
and desktops. "Our three newest keyboards address this trend, as well
as various usage scenarios, from working in low light to being more
comfortable when working on a laptop."
Logitech Illuminated Keyboard
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard makes typing easy - even in the
dark. To optimize existing backlight technology, Logitech combined
microlens reflectors, a multilayer painting process and laser etching -
creating a backlight experience that is brighter, sharper and easier to
read. Whether you're typing an e-mail or chatting with a friend, the
adjustable backlight gives you just the right amount of light.
With its transparent frame, the ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard (.37
inches or 9.3 mm from base to frame) adds an elegant touch to any desk.
Balancing form and function, the keyboard offers a full-size key layout
(including a number pad), soft-touch palm rest and a full row of
F-keys, as well as media- and volume-control keys for instant command
of your entertainment.
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard features the Logitech
PerfectStroke key system, which provides a typing experience that's
comfortable, fluid and silent. PerfectStroke is designed to create
longer key travel - 3.2 mm compared to 2.2 mm - than that of typical
notebook keyboards; as a result, the distance your fingers have to
travel to activate a key is optimized for your comfort. Micro-scissors
distribute force evenly across key surfaces - even if you strike the
edge of a key, the key stroke still feels the same.
Logitech Cordless Desktop S520
With its matte-black and grey palette, its rounded edges and gently
curved palm rest, and the straight lines of its full-size layout - the
contemporary, yet compact, S520 keyboard complements a wide range of
computers. Plus, the high-performance cordless laser mouse delivers
exceptional precision and smoother tracking, compared to optical
mice.
The new Logitech keyboard-and-mouse combination provides the
convenience of up to eight months of battery life for the mouse and 15
months for the keyboard. With one-touch access to Word, Excel and your
Internet browser - you can instantly get to your favorite applications.
Four additional programmable F-keys let you customize your keyboard the
way you want it and a full set of media and volume controls make
managing your media, photos and music easy (after installing software
available at no additional charge from www.logitech.com/downloads).
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is expected to be available in the
US and Europe in October for a suggested retail price of $79.99. The
Logitech Cordless Desktop S520 is expected to be available worldwide in
September for a suggested retail price of $59.99.
LaCie USB Speakers Bus-Powered Audio System
PR: The LaCie USB Speakers provide excellent digital
audio for your laptop or desktop PC or Mac computer. With a frequency
response of 90 Hz to 20 kHz, they deliver clear, vibrant sound for
enhancing your music, movies and games.
Created exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, their unique design
combines easy usability and chic, modern style. The built-in cables
discreetly and conveniently tuck under the speakers for a neat, clean
look.
The
widely used USB interface provides an excellent digital audio stream
and bus-power so there's no need for an AC adapter or batteries.
Compact and mobile, you can use them at home, at work, when visiting
friends or relatives or while traveling. They can even be used with
your MP3 player (additional adapter required, sold separately).
Features:
- High quality digital audio speakers
- Portable: bus-powered with built-in cable
- Plug & play and driver-free (PC/Mac)
- Low power consumption
Link: LaCie USB
Speakers Bus-Powered Audio System
Desktop Mac
Deals
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