A tiger is a lot cooler than a cow

Apple’s Tiger is ready to pounce on the OS scene while Microsoft’s Longhorn seems to still be chewing its cud with no signs of being released from the development corral. Apple, Microsoft prepare for war with new systems

Mac users and the PSP

Now there’s PocketMac For PSP, which is the first tool to automatically sync Mac users digital music, photos and contacts to the Sony PlayStation Portable.

Online schools database

Despite a 50 percent increase in per pupil spending over the past two decades, nearly one third of public high school students fail to graduate, and two thirds of all students leave high school unprepared for a four-year college, according to the Manhattan Institute. Given the diminishing economic prospects for Americans without a quality education, the need for reform is clear. And a new Web site called SchoolMatters lets you see for yourself just how well - or poorly - your schools are doing.

Supreme Court hears file sharing arguments

Lawyers for the movie studios and record producers say peer-to-peer online services are “inflicting catastrophic, multi-billion-dollar harm” on the entertainment industry.” Five years after Napster was shut down because of pirated music, Grokster and the second generation of file sharing outfits are being targeted. But technology has changed a lot since Napster and the implications are much more far-reaching. Justices Hear Arguments in File Sharing Case

Zoomerang online surveys

Zoomerang is an online service that lets you do professional surveys. It’s aimed at corporations and big outfits that send out thousands of surveys. But it also has a free service aimed at consumers. Survey your family, friends, sports team or Sunday School class. Very cool. I did this week’s NBC-TV “High Tech Talk” report on the service. Conduct your own surveys.

WI-fi state park takers few

After more than half a year of wi-fi in Michigan state parks and along highway rest areas, the number of actual users can be measured in the dozens rather than the hundreds. Seems the public isn’t clamoring for wi-fi the way some bosters thought. Wi-Fi hotspots to grow, but when and who cares?

Newspaper chains buy Topix

One of my favorite Web resources for a long time has been Topix, a sort of master news clearing house page that links stories by topic and location. When I want to know what’s happening and where, Topix is usually my first choice. I’m pleased to note that Knight Ridder newspapers - which owns the Detroit Free Press where I work - has just bought a 25 percent stake in Topix. So did two other big newspaper chains, Gannet and Tribune. That means Topix will be around now for a long time. And, hopefully, only get better.
3 newspaper companies buy majority of Topix.net

Treo 650 update

True to its promise, PalmOne has issued a sofware upgrade for Treo 650 smartphones on the Sprint network. Its supposed to imporve memory issues and - most importantly for me - the choppiness that callers complained they heard when I was talking to them. I downloaded the upgrade patch. I’ll let you know if it makes a difference. But if this does indeed take care of the problem, I renew my assessment that the Treo sets the standards for smartphones. palmOne - Support - Treo 650 Updater 1.08 (Sprint PCS branded version)

Mp3 music player in sunglasses

If looking cool and being cool is important to you, then you won’t think twice about shelling out big bucks for the Thump, from the Oakley sunglasses people. It’s a music player built into a pair of shades. The 128 MB model sells for $395, while the 254 MB version is $495. The who shebang weights about 1.9 ounces.

Are Macs really vulnerable to hackers?

Symantec says they are and that it has documented a whopping 37 cases. Really now? Who? Where? I’m sorry, but I’m always skeptical when a company whose prime tactic seems to be scaring us to buy their security software starts sounding warnings. It’s just a little too self-serving, don’t you think. That’s not to say that hackers and worms can’t get into a Mac. I just have never run across any Mac people who have been hit. How about you? Anyway, here’s the Symantec story. Macintosh Hacker Attacks Are on the Rise -Symantec

Degree Confluence Project documents planet earth

The Degree Confluence Project is one of the neatest Web sites I’ve found in a long time. The idea is to document every place on the planet where the latitude and longitude numbers line up in whole numbers. You probably have one within 49 miles of youtr house. That’s what my NBC-TV High Tech Talk segment is about this week. Grab your digital camera and add to the site by documenting the confluence near you.

WOW! cable tops competition

It may be small but when it comes to customer satiffaction WOW! cable is number one over the competition. Regional cable TV outfit pulls big approval ratings

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