Click here to view the embedded video.

Kind Regards

Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP

However, what if you DO want to play Windows Media Video (.WMV) and Windows Media Audio (.WMA) on your Mac?

Well, a company called flip4mac.com has, and continues to create, “plugins” for the QuickTime player so that you CAN play Windows Media content on your Mac.

(In fact they have a whole bunch of Pro tools available too.)

But for the purpose of this Blog post we are looking at their Plugin components for QuickTime.

They have been highly optimized for Power Mac G4 and G5 and Intel computers and support playback of high-definition Windows Media video files too.

Windows Media playback is provided for free. By upgrading, you can import Windows Media files for editing and create Windows Media files for distribution. To learn more about these advanced features, visit the Flip4Mac Web site.

Before you install Windows Media Components for QuickTime:

Important Make sure that your Mac OS X user account has read and write access. If your login account does not allow you to administer the computer you will be asked for an administrator name and password during the installation.

You can download the file here: Windows Media Components for QuickTime

Enjoy!

Kind Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP
www.marcliron.com

.

BUT, this shocking news reveals THEY need to be thinking twice about their own software…

In this interesting article:

Mac OS: More critical flaws than Windows in 2007

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291625,00.htm

George Ou, a writer for ZDNet.com, analysed in-depth statistics from security research company Secunia as a basis for his research. He found that Apple’s latest operating system, Mac OS X, faced more critical flaws than Windows XP and Vista combined.

..as Apple now “rush” their software to market, before it is fully ready and now their software is gaining a larger market and so receiving more hacker attention…. Apple users can no longer rest in the knowledge that they are immune to security threats.

Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP
www.marcliron.com

I must admit I like the look and feel of the iPhone and just because I am a Microsoft MVP does not mean I would not purchase one.

But a few things niggle me, enough to stop me making a purchase just yet!

Firstly, you have to “activate it” through the iTunes software from Apple. WHY? No other phone manufacturer forces you to do this.

Secondly, the iPhone is being touted as a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3.5-inch display. It allows you to sync the content from the iTunes library on your PC or Mac and access it all with the touch of a finger.

Mmmm… glad I have a massive 8Gb of memory for all my content then! What were Apple thinking? A measly 8Gb?

Thirdly, its going to cost how much?

In the UK the iPhone costs £269.00 and then you are tied into an 18 month contract, the cheapest of which will cost you £630 (Ouch!)

Fourthly, has anyone read the small print? …here it is:

Your O2 tariff for iPhone allows you unlimited use of O2 UK’s Edge/GPRS networks and The Cloud’s UK Wireless LAN network, for personal internet use, email and Visual Voicemail (VVM) on your iPhone only. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card in any other device, or use your SIM Card or iPhone to allow the continuous streaming of any audio/video content, enable P2P or file sharing or use them in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers. If O2 reasonably suspect you are not acting in accordance with this policy O2 reserves the right to impose further charges or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.

If I purchase this phone as a business owner are you telling me I am not allowed to use it?

If it’s a multimedia phone, why can’t I have continuous streaming of any audio/video ? Never heard of YouTube? …having said that the next point kind of means I won’t be able to have a meaningful audio/video experience over the net!

And coming in at number five, NO 3G ???

In summary

So Steve Jobs forces you to activate the iPhone using HIS software, so if you do NOT already have iTunes installed you now have to get it – So much for consumer choice (hey wait a min, don’t die hard Apple fans complain that Microsoft removes customer choice by forcing its customers to use Windows software applications?)

Then Steve is making me pay a minimum of £899.00 (plus VAT charges) for a “state of the art” multimedia experience that can’t use a modern 3G network!

…and wait for it, now I am being told that you can’t use it as a business user and unlimited internet access means not streaming audio/video as I may wish!

Mmmm….. does Apple not know they are not the only kid on the block when it comes to a great phone?

Sure it is great iCandy – but when you drill down to the facts I think I will pass until it’s 3G and has a 30 GB memory for my videos and music tracks.

UPDATE 11th Nov:

Looks like I am not alone in not rushing to ques for a phone on opening night…. seems the “hype” was just that.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/11/iphone_uk_flop/

http://www.dialaphone.co.uk/blog/?p=750

Regards

Marc Liron
Microsoft MVP
www.marcliron.com

.