In what may prove to be one of the biggest snafus in recent years, ComputerWorld is reporting and TheGeekChannel.com has confirmed that Microsoft is warning Windows Home Server users that the new idiot-proof software that Microsoft marketed to be the answer for people wanting to easily share their files is now corrupting those same files. 

I’m sure that this proved to be a very exciting Christmas bonus for the early adopters, with the only good news being that you might not know what you spent because Quicken, Money and Outlook are on the list of products likely to experience corruption when edited on the Microsoft Home Server share.

~geek

Chalk another one up for the Apple legal team.  A press release was issued from Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher today.  It read as follows:

December 20, 2007 – PRESS RELEASE: Apple and Think Secret have settled their lawsuit, reaching an agreement that results in a positive solution for both sides. As part of the confidential settlement, no sources were revealed and Think Secret will no longer be published. Nick Ciarelli, Think Secret’s publisher, said “I’m pleased to have reached this amicable settlement, and will now be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”

My thoughts are pretty simple – someone gave him some information that they shouldn’t have and pissed off Apple.  He lost.  Too bad, so sad.

 Geek

Aston Martin and Bang & Olufsen have announced a “creative and strategic partnership” that is set on revolutionizing luxury automobiles. The press release states that designers, engineers and specialists from both companies will be working closely together in the future.

This could mean a variety of things, but I suspect what it means is that B&O will be putting their sound technology and aesthetics into the Aston Martin product line.  Not sure how I feel about this, but it will be be very interesting as both companies are already well known for their high-priced eye-candy.  And, of course, if they would like me to demo and review any of their products, I would be more than happy to do so.

~geek

I will admit to being a fan of Palm.  Despite everything, I want them to succeed, because I think that they were ten years ahead of everyone else in their thinking.  Unfortunately, I also believe that they’re now years behind the competition and that sticking to their form-factor has limited their success in some senses because they haven’t gone away from the style that made them successful in the beginning.  Changing the color just wasn’t enough for most die-hard techies.

On the plus for them, though, Verizon is now carrying and marketing their 755P smartphone that will allow Verizon users to get their fix of this now aged phone.  Thanks, but no thanks.  Too little, too late in my mind.

~geek

There was a time when buying a Dell desktop or notebook computer was like buying an original Model T Ford – you could have it in any color you wanted so long as it was black.  Or, in the case of their notebooks, some shade of black.  Like the automobile industry, the computer industry has changed and no longer following the pack, Dell has become a leader and is offering computers in a variety of colors and styles that are both unique and, dare I say, attractive.

With their push to more retail storefronts, it’s not becoming apparent the the changes at Dell are about more than slapping on a layer of paint.  Dell is changing as a company, maturing and being forced to use something other than “the lowest price” to compete.  For one, I like the change, and I look forward to what Dell will be offering in the years to come.  I just hope that the company can keep changing and growing and do it all without losing what it is that makes them special – competitive pricing, complete product offerings, and a relatively simple buying experience.

 ~geek

It’s been a rumor, and now it’s official.  CompUSA has announced that they will shut their doors after the heavily discounted holiday season.  My recommendation: don’t buy any extended warranties.

Sorry to see this group go, but it’s difficult to compete as number three and their advertising, customer service, and management haven’t matched the competition in recent years.

More information at Bloomberg.

~geek

For those of you that remember, the Sega Dreamcast was one of the best, highest quality video consoles ever made.  Unfortunately, like so many other good technologies it failed and left the market very quickly.  A rumor recently surfaced that there might be a Dreamcast 2 on the horizon and today there’s another rumor that there will not be a Dreamcast 2.  My feeling – never gonna happen.  Good and bad for the consumer, but the world just doesn’t need another console right now.

~geek

In 1984, CompUSA opened it’s doors and consumers and businesses stormed them to take advantage of value, knowledge and selection.  In recent years, it seems that the company lost it’s edge and quickly lost consumer marketshare to companies like Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics and business marketshare to companies like CDW and Dell.  In February of 2007, they shuttered 126 stores, including a handful in the Silicon Valley.  If a computer store can’t make it here…?

Therein lies the rumor – will CompUSA be closing the rest of their stores and logging out of the marketplace?  I suspect yes, but only time will tell.

~geek

Rumors are now circulating the web thta the iPhone will be getting a 1.1.3 update by the end of this week and with it two new features: voice recording and hard drive storage capabilities.  Nothing too revolutionary, but a great step forward that shows Apple will continue to enhance an already successful product.

Of course, for those of you that have hacked your iPhone… expect the usual problems.

Geek

I don’t know that I should be excited about it, because I do realize that the point of the internet and blogging as a whole is to allow researchers to easily quote and reference other works, but I am very excited that I was recently quoted in It World Canada. Apparently Briony Smith liked what I had to say about Microsoft’s sacking of CIO Stuart Scott, and I’m glad for it! Thanks for the mention, guys.

Michael