"Innocent" Steve Jobs - no, he can't be canned!

When Guy Kewney at NewsWireless.net asks:" Can Apple manage without Steve Jobs?" - he's joking, right?

"CEOs have been fired for doing what Steve Jobs is supposed to have been caught doing at Apple: backdating their share options to a time when they were worth less. Suppose it's true; and suppose he has to carry the can - will Apple manage without him?"

Summary:

"Even if they were legally required to appoint another CEO (they aren't) they'd make sure he stayed in charge, and obviously so. The alternative would be a collapse in the share price. Of course, there might be those who are already shorting their options in anticipation. Not inside Apple, of coure! - they wouldn't understand that, would they?"

Technorati Tags: Steve Jobs, Apple, iPhone, Mac, backdating, options

Is "patent vampire" going to become part of the language?

Looks like the CSR vs Broadcom story is getting some air: Business Bluetooth and the vampire ran in Science Business:

The choice of firms sued suggests that the WRF is interested primarily in deep pockets, rather than in the merits of its case. A UK journalist from The Register, a specialised publication that covers IT, asserts that the WRF is not just a patent troll, it is a patent “vampire”, scavenging second-rate IP from its members and then looking for soft-touch companies who would rather settle than litigate.

Technorati Tags: bluetooth, broadcom, CSR, patent, patent vampire, patent troll

What's a "SIM box"? Here's a clue...

SIM boxes, also known as GSM gateways, are used to bypass the interconnection and divert international calls to national GSM calls, thus evading revenue that operators are entitled to. Losses can easily amount to €3,500 per SIM box annually.



More details in the PR releases section of Newswireless

Ghent, 12 January 2007. – In 2006, the company Meucci Solutions, who specialise in quality measurements between telecom networks, detected over 50,000 SIM boxes, predominantly on European mobile operators.

Technorati Tags: SIM boxes, meucci Solutions, European mobile, GSM gateways, fraud

Proper Bluetooth headphones for iPod, iPhone

I don't like in-ear earphones. I like over-the-ear things like the iMuffs - the Bluetooth stereo headset for your iPhone « Dirty Bytes reports:

Now you have your iPhone ordered, how … about some accessories?

So, you’ve graduated beyond the “I’m wearing white earplugs” look? You want a good stereo headset, for music, but it has to be wireless? AND it has to be phone-friendly? iMuffs!

Yes, a new model, at Macworld, too…

Technorati Tags: iPhone, iPod, iMuffs, headset, Bluetooth

fair warning...

I'm about to try linking Performancing to this blog again.

It used to work. Then I ran Writeley, which was then included in Google.

Result: immediately, I found my Google identity subsumed with another Google gmail account, and I was forced to pick one. Next thing I know, I can't log into this site except from my other Google gmail identity.

Naturally, that screwed up Performancing

Beta features - when do they work? or is my geography wrong?

I'm trying to play with the new features of Blogger Beta. As you can see, I appear to have the blogger beta software... complete with whizzy new drag-and-drop Templates. But every time I try to invoke any of these features, I get: "We cannot comply with your request" - no explanation.

Irritating, Google...

Responsive Google

I tried to install Google Browser Sync. It's an addon for Firefox - the "alternative" browser for Windows users. "Google Browser Sync for Firefox is an extension that continuously synchronizes your browser settings – including bookmarks, history, persistent cookies, and saved passwords – across your computers. It also allows you to restore open tabs and windows across different machines and browser sessions."

Great! Let's get it.

Google installs this by attempting to invoke a "popup." There is absolutely no need to use this. There are dozens of ways of initiating a download into a browser, none of which trigger the multiple popup protection schemes that have been built into the browsers of today. Why does Google want to use this antique technology?

The short answer is: because it opens up your computer to Google.

The software comes from http://tools.google.com and the way to install it is to go into your browser, and specifically create a loophole for Google.

Google Firefox Extensions - Terms and Conditions Agreement

To unblock installation from Google

1. Click 'Edit Options...' in the bar at the top of the page. View screenshot The Firefox 'Allowed Sites' window will appear.
   
2. Enter tools.google.com in the box under 'Address of web site'. View screenshot
3. Click 'Allow' to add Google to the list of allowed sites, then click 'Close'.
   
4. You will need to click 'Agree and Install' a second time to begin installation.

That simple step opens your browser up to any popup Google wants to impose on you. All Google has to do, now, is make sure its popup comes from tools.google.com - and you'll get it, and anything it does.

What's even worse than this, is that it doesn't work! I still wanted to install it, and I opened up my computer. Nothing happens!

So I wrote to Google to report the bug.

Response:

Thank you for your interest in the Google Browser Sync extension for Firefox. We are actively working on providing more innovative Google Labs extensions to our users. While we are unable to send personal responses to all of the email we receive, we are monitoring all of your feedback and suggestions and will keep them in mind as we work to improve Google Browser Sync.

To further assist our users, we have created a discussion forum on Google Groups where you can exchange information with other Firefox extensions users. You can access the news group and share your thoughts and expertise at: http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Firefox-Extensions

Shall we meet there?

Tags: Google, evil, trojan

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