Ron Guest

Well, you can. Here are the details via TUAW.

Updated terms specify number of installs from the Mac App Store.

IMO the Mac App store is going to be a very big deal with ramifications far beyond the Mac user base. It is going to drive changes in app delivery (obviously), license and upgrade pricing, and the definition of a “meets min” application. Not just for Macs but for Windows too. Expect to see more “bite size” apps a la smartphone apps. Also expect to see in-app purchasing down the road.

These effects won’t be limited to just the Consumer space. I expect the ripples to be felt in the Enterprise space within the year.

Apple’s Mac App Store Opens With More Than 1,000 Apps.

France has long been something of a laughing stock when it comes to business competitiveness but now they’ve launched an effort to model their tax system on the highly effective one used by Germany. In the mean time America is on track to have the highest Corporate tax rate in the world since so many of our lawmakers consider Corporations to be the “enemy” (i.e. attacking Corporate America helps with re-election even though an irresponsible act). Quite sad for the leading capitalist nation to be behind one of the most socialist.

France, Seeking Growth, Looks to German Tax Model - WSJ.com.

Popped a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Rise

Under the spell of Despicable Me

In a good year for equities (the Dow was up over 10%) Hewlett-Packard is down 18%, Oracle is up nearly 30% and IBM matched the Dow. Hurd likes to blame the board of directors but it was his self-admitted actions that cost shareholders and employees millions of dollars. He has yet to take responsibility for the harm he did to others and continues to try to keep the facts from becoming public. I don’t think his lasting reputation will ever be for anything more than a hatchet man.

Caterpillar shines among DJIA components, HP lags - MarketWatch.

Wu has a good track record so this is a credible report (though far from confirmed). BlackBerry PlayBook battery issues could delay launch, says analyst

Daughter’s first Scrabble Junior game

Daughter’s first Scrabble Junior game

Boxed set of Gary Larson’s Complete Farside - gift from my lovely wife

Karaoke star

Yum! Post gifts bacon and hash browns

Sportin’ my Christmas PJs- yep that’s Mickey

Dad’s got the cake in the oven, kids ready to lick bowl

Someone found a new “trick”…

For those directly effected the level of unemployment is certainly grim but overall the US economy is much sounder than most people realize. You will sometimes see a report about the stock market having recovered but even in these the main tone will be gloomy and other positives are not reported at all. However with the US real GDP (adjusted for inflation) now at pre-recession levels it is clear that more than the stock market has recovered. The obsession with the unemployment rate is counter-productive to helping it improve. The great majority of Americans are reasonably secure in their jobs, aren’t in foreclosure, and are able to spend. The sooner their mindset changes the sooner the unemployment rate will drop. Not only will their return to a normal level of consumption drive jobs but their improved confidence is what is needed to trigger confidence in corporate America to once again invest in capital and new employees.

via MarketWatch Real GDP now at pre-recession levels

Chi hai yuzu - very refreshing!

Sake in a new light

Google is proving their immaturity when it comes to dealing with content and the launch of products requiring an ecosystem in order to be successful. This is going to cost the manufacturers some serious dough. No such worries with our Apple TVs :-)

via BGR Google asks partners to delay Google TV launch

Or, what I really want for Christmas.

As the owner of a new MacBook Air (11”) there are a few things I need that ya’ll haven’t created yet. I’m saving you thousands in market research dollars by telling you what you need to create.

1. I want a stand. It only needs to do two things. First, securely hold the MBA in the vertical position. Second, it must act as a power dock. I.e. when I place the MBA vertically in the stand it will connect to the MagSafe port and charge the MBA.
2. Although the 12" Targus Netbook sleeve does a decent job holding the MBA it's utilitarian style clashes. And I worry the zipper will scratch the Air as I slide it in and out since the zipper parts are exposed and it is a tight fit. While you're at it, please add a very discrete handle.
3. I have a closet full of backpacks and messenger bags. They will all hold the MBA and even carry it in style. But the Air is so small putting it in a standard bag is like using a city bus to drive one person around town. Please create some bags scaled to my Air. And you better make 'em stylish. I know SF Bags has some that look good but they're impossible to obtain. Plus more options is always better.

I’ve been a very good boy so please create this ASAP. My credit card is all ready to go!

The two storytellers

Christmas Teddy

He likes his shaken,not stirred

I really prefer physical books for most things but decided a couple of books I needed to purchase provided a good chance to give e-books another try. Since I buy most books from Amazon they were my first stop and it was nice to see they have reader apps for the iPhone and Mac (as well as a bunch of other platforms). I decided to check Apple’s iBook store and - rather shockingly - they don’t have a iBook reader app for the Mac (to say nothing of Windows etc). I guess this is one of those Steve-isms but certainly not one I can agree with. Generally speaking when I purchase something I’ll go with the technology that has the best chance of living a long time (in this case, more platforms means longer life and more versatility).

Needless to say I am now a Kindle customer.

I’m a sucker for this type of collaborative music-making using new technologies. Definitely worth a watch/listen. They have some nice arrangements of the classics…

via TUAW Found Footage: Christmas songs played by an iPad band.