Daniel Eran Dilger
In an effort to recognize the spectacular efforts of individuals and organizations promoting the regression of human achievement in the field of technology, a series of nominations await your vote to determine the recipients of August 2007 Zoon Awards.
Entries from August 2007 ↓
August 2007 Zoon Awards for Technical Ignorance and Incompetence
August 30th, 2007 — Tech
Origins of the Blu-ray vs HD-DVD War
August 29th, 2007 — Markets, Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
The arrival of DVD gave consumers far higher video quality in a new compact disc format with a variety of practical advantages over existing VHS tapes. There was no format war related to DVD because the two groups developing a new consumer video disc gave up their differences and worked together. Consumers didn’t have to chose a format or worry about obsolescence. So why did the world return to a format war with HD?
En Español: Origenes de la Guerra Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD
Traducción: Urian
Blu-ray vs HD-DVD in Next Generation Game Consoles
August 27th, 2007 — Markets, Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
While the war between Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 to deliver the next video game platform is being overshadowed by the success of Nintendo’s Wii on the gaming side, Microsoft and Sony are also fighting to deliver the next HD replacement for the DVD.
Microsoft’s WGA Failure Earns Zoon Nomination
August 25th, 2007 — Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
One disadvantage to Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage DRM program–which forces Windows users to verify their software as “not-stolen” in order to receive certain patches and updates, including Internet Explorer 7–is that Microsoft’s WGA server is not as highly reliable as Microsoft likes to advertise.
Nintendo Wii vs Sony PlayStation 3 vs Microsoft Xbox 360: Q2 2007
August 25th, 2007 — Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
Back in March, I outlined first quarter 2007 sales for a new generation of consumer electronics, including the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Zune, and estimated sales into the future. The numbers ended up working out largely as was predicted, as the graphics below indicate.
ZDNet’s George Ou Exposed as Ignorant Microsoft Shill (Zoon!)
August 24th, 2007 — Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
The assault on reason isn’t just a political phenomenon. Microsoft has long been developing its own cast of apologists who have eked out full time careers in the field of sputtering out ignorant, unfounded claims with such insistence and volume that the undecided simply have no alternative but to line up and applaud their seemingly convincing rhetoric. Among them is George Ou, who unsurprisingly blogs for CNET’s ZDNet branded website.
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Apple iPhone vs the FIC Neo1973 OpenMoko Linux Smartphone
August 23rd, 2007 — Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
Frequently compared to Apple’s new smartphone, the OpenMoko FIC Neo1973 is described as the free and open software community’s alternative to Apple’s officially closed iPhone platform. Here’s a look at what it really is and how it compares to the iPhone.
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SCO, Linux, and Microsoft in the History of OS: 2000s
August 22nd, 2007 — History, Markets, Software, Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
[continued from part four: SCO, Linux, and Microsoft in the History of OS: 1990s]
Apple’s Reversal of Fortune, Outlook: 1990 vs 2000.
Apple started the 1990s with seemingly bright prospects and plaudits from the press, but in reality, its management had aimed the company’s future into the ground. While often described as a “Golden Age” for Apple, the early 90s were actually the beginning of an end.
Office Wars 1 - Claris and the Origins of Apple iWork
August 19th, 2007 — Tech
Daniel Eran Dilger
How does Apple’s iWork 08 compare to Microsoft Office for Mac? One might expect the new version of iWork 08 to blow away Office for Mac, which hasn’t seen an update since 2004. That was back in the days of Mac OS X Panther, and before the release of the iMac G5 let alone Intel Macs. Office for Mac is ancient.
SCO, Linux, and Microsoft in the History of OS: 1990s
August 18th, 2007 — History, Markets, Software, Tech, the Media
Daniel Eran Dilger
[continued from part two: SCO, Linux, and Microsoft in the History of OS: 1980s]
Intel 80×86 vs Motorola 68000.
In the 80s, a new generation of graphical computers from Apple, Atari, Commodore, and NeXT–all based on the Motorola 68000 family of processors–leapt past the previous generation of 8-bit computers. That new hardware enabled more powerful software using a fully graphical user interface.
