Nine Baud Tech News

Holy crap! How do I get a signing bonus like this?? This is running over on ThinkSecret.

Apple’s newest senior vice president and general counsel, Donald J. Rosenberg, has received 200,000 shares of restricted stock as part of the deal that saw the long-time IBM veteran leave his position there to join Apple in November.

According to filings with the SEC, Mr. Rosenberg’s 200,000 shares will be exercisable in four years on December 1, 2010. The stock is worth about $18.25 million based on Tuesday’s closing price.

Lucky bastage.

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Tags: Apple General Counsel, Signing Bonus, Apple

This is a bit stale but it is further evidence that points to the possible “iphone”.

While the patent, which is listed as Serial Number 501184, does not specifically mention the long-rumored iPhone, it does hint that Apple appears to be moving forward with its plans for a cell phone that possibly includes some type of iTunes tie-in.

According to the application, Apple is asking for a patent for “A portable computing device capable of wireless communications, the portable computing device comprising: an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device, the enclosure including a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications.”

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Tags: Apple, iPhone, USPTO

Things are getting interesting now with Apple (not that it hasn’t been interesting for the last year or so). The rumour mill has it that the Jobs megalith is entertaining the thought of moving into the video game console market.

“We think the videogame market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of videogames for its iPod through its iTunes store,” said Tortora.

“The game console device could be morphed out of some combination of the MacMini and iTV, while the handheld player could be developed as an enhancement for a future version of the widescreen iPod,” the analyst explained.

In-ter-esting.

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Tags: Apple, Video Games, Game Console

Here’s a neat tip for moving the Dock in OS X.

Okay, so you’re working in a program like Final Cut Pro or iMovie, which takes up every vertical inch of the screen, and when you go to adjust something near the bottom, the Dock keeps popping up. Oh sure, you could move the Dock to where it’s anchored on the left or right side of the screen, but that just feels weird. But what if you could move it temporarily to the left or right, and then get it back to the bottom when you close Final Cut Pro, in just one click?

Hold the shift key, click directly on the Dock’s divider line (on the far right side of the Dock), and drag the Dock to the left or right side of your screen. Bam! It moves over to the side. Then, once you quit Final Cut Pro, just shift-click on that divider line and slam it back to the bottom (okay, drag it back to the bottom). A draggable Dock — is that cool or what!

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Tags: Mac Tip, Move Dock, OS X, Apple

What the f? According to an article over on eWeek the latest models shipping from Apple contain a TPM chip. Amit Singh, a researcher with Google’s tech staff made the discovery. However the Mac OS X does not use the chip. Singh speculates that this was simply part of a delivery from Intel.

However, said Singh, it is possible for individual users to take advantage of the TPM in their Intel-based Macs; Singh has written a TPM device driver for that purpose.

Uses for this, Singh said, could include tying data to one machine by encrypting it so that only the machine with the user’s unique TPM can decrypt it.

Or the machine’s owner can encrypt the hard drive so that it only decrypts when connected to the owner’s computer. Both of these could be useful, or even mandated, in certain government or military situations.

Some other researchers agree that the TPM is not in use now, but wonder about the future.

For the full article read on.

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Tags: Apple TPM, Mac OS X, Trusted Computing, Amit Singh, Google

This is an interesting piece. This guy, Toby McKeys, wrote a script that he entitled “WalkingStudy” app. The crux of it was for it to snap a pic everytime it was awaken. The pics would then be uploaded to his Flickr account.

The really interesting part is the pics that he got when the MacBook was sent in for repairs. From Toby’s Flickr page

So, my little WakingStudy app did something unexpected. It caught images of what I think is the inside of one of Apple’s authorized repair facilities, Flextronics International in Tennessee, and uploaded them automatically to Flickr. What a surprise!

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Tags: MacBook, WalkingStudy, Apple Repair Shop, iSight Spycam, MacBook Repair

AUGH! I now have MacBook envy. Ah well, can’t really complain. For what I need my MacBook for I’m ok with my first generation model.

Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday a new line of MacBook notebook computers will use Intel Corp.’s Core 2 Duo processors and be up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation.

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Tags: MacBook, Intel, Core 2 Duo Chips, Laptop

I’m still waiting for my new MacBook to replace this lump that occupies my desk. I love this system when it works but, it won’t even start anymore. You’ll note the last time I wrote about this was back on September 6th. This is really starting to take the shine off my enthusiasm for all things Apple.

Stay tuned…

Tags: Apple, MacBook Shutdown, Service Nightmare, MacBook

Being a generally happy MacBook user I love this machine. So, it pains me that this damn thing has these sudden shutdowns. I’m freaking losing my mind with this crap. Right now as I type this out I’mon hold with Apple (37 minutes 51 sec). This is the second time I have called in on this issue. The first time I called the kind service tech had me reset the power management setting and also tried to reseat the memory. Well, this worked for a couple days.

The shutdowns returned with a VENGEANCE. Just today it has had 6, count em, 6 shutdowns. I have reverted to my SuSE linux desktop at home. Sigh.

Now I find this posting on the Powerpage.org. Apparently the problem is tied to the heatsink.

“Essentially the heatsink can expand during use, and comes into contact with the lead from the termometer’s sensor cable. A short circuit results, and the SMC pulls the plug. Once the system cools down, the heatsink resides and the contact is broken. This also explains why sometimes you cannot immediately power the MacBook back on. The heatsink is still in contact with the metal lead.”

RECALL RECALL RECALL! I’ve now been on hold for 46 minutes and 50 seconds.

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Tags: MacBook, Sudden Shutdowns, Apple, Mac OS X, MacBook Recal

In a bid to put the entire Creative lawsuit to rest Apple has doled out $100 million to make it go away. Deep pockets indeed. “The lawsuits centered around Creative’s claim that iPods infringed on its patent for a navigation system used to organize and access music on its Zen music players.

The settlement, announced Wednesday, allows Cupertino-based Apple to recoup a portion of its payment if other electronics companies license Singapore-based Creative’s technology.” To make matters worse Apple is about to issue a recall of 1.1 million laptop batteries that were initially supplied by Sony.

Apple Computer is recalling 1.1 million laptop batteries supplied by Sony, citing a fire hazard, The Associated Press reports.

This is just breaking so I’ll be sure to update it as information comes availalbe.

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Tags: Apple Battery Recall, Apple Lawsuit, 0 Million Settlement, Apple, Creative, Sony batteries