RSSApple details Mac OS X 'Snow Leopard' at WWDC
By Ed Oswald and Scott M. Fulton, III | Published June 10, 2008, 1:26 PM
Don't expect the next version of Cupertino's operating system to be anything new. However, it will focus on performance and quality, to "lay the foundation" for the future.
Apple's popular "I'm a Mac; I'm a PC" commercials have recently made light of the perceived stability and unreliability of Vista. So the coming release of Mac OS X 10.6, code-named "Snow Leopard," could theoretically put Apple at risk for the same brand of criticism.
One common point of argument among its naysayers is that Apple charges a premium -- traditionally $129 -- for what some see as nothing more than an incremental release. This time -- that is exactly what Mac OS X 10.6 will be -- much like the first update to OS X (10.1) fixed many of the initial issues with the completely redesigned operating system.
"We hit the pause button on new features to focus on perfecting the world's most advanced operating system," software engineering head Bertrand Serlet said.
Most of the new features will go unrecognized by most, but will certainly provide the needed functionality for Apple to launch further developments down the road. Native support for multi-core processing, code-named "Grand Central," could be considered the cornerstone of Snow Leopard.
The technology allows developers to take advantage of the extra computing power provided by such systems much more easily, and according to Apple, support for OpenCL, which Apple says will allow developers to tap into the power of hybrid GPU functionality.
Exactly what OpenCL is, or what Apple may have meant by referring to OpenCL, is unclear. Prior to yesterday, there were two possibilities: Open Cryptographic Library (which has nothing whatsoever to do with GPUs), and Open Communications Language (an informally proposed extension to the OpenGL language set, that would deal with in-application, cross-network messaging like in gaming -- again, having nothing to do with GPUs).
As of this morning, an entry was added to Wikipedia defining OpenCL as, essentially, something Apple has come up with; and developers' forums have actively begun asking the question, just what does Apple think it's talking about?
There is a possibility that Apple meant to refer to OpenGL, the long-standing graphics language developed by the Khronos Group, of which Apple, Sony, and Nvidia are principal members. Of course, OpenGL is not at all a new technology; but it has been actively engaged in GPGPU projects since 2005. Khronos is not known to be developing anything called "Open Compute Language," and Khronos has not been known to develop projects in secret. Nvidia unveiled OpenGL's first contributions to GPGPU research at a game developers' conference in March 2006.
Since WWDC is a developers' conference, we can hope that any unveiling of an "Open Computing Language" will take place there.
Among the Snow Leopard features we can presume were spelled correctly, QuickTime X will allow for more efficient media playback, and JavaScript execution speed has been increased by 53 percent.
Something that could certainly be considered a new feature is native Microsoft Exchange support. OS X applications Mail, iCal, and Address Book will all now be able to connect directly to the system, allowing for easier integration into enterprise. While details may yet be revealed, what we can hope to see are Mac-based e-mail clients such as Entourage that are treated as valid clients for scheduling and collaboration data, without the sort of manual synchronization methods that have to take place today.
I love the trolls on this site. Apple is going to release a real update to the OS unlike the theme update known as XP, and the failed Windows ME clone, Vista which makes even monster machines slow to a crawl compared to XP.
Typical Apple pricing has a three machine license for $129 ($43 per copy) for a new OS. To try to get the same from M$, you pay how much for a single machine license of Vista Ultimate? $399? LOL. But it does have the "extras" or whatever crap M$ says it has.
Just because Apple does not reskin its OS every release as they know how to make things usable does not mean it does not incorporate major changes.
But why bother saying that on here with all the M$ drones. Here goes the: "Vista is great"
"Vista _was_ a major update"
"Vista comes in ten different versions because they all offer bigger and better things to slow your machine down"
"Vista runs faster than XP eventhough performance tests show different on every site you go to"
"Apple charges for security updates."
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Ah yes....
El Dingo commenting on something he's never even used...
...again.
How cute.
$399. Yeah. See, it's being a complete clueless moron like this that makes people laugh at you.
But please don't stop. This site would be much less entertaining without you.
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oh yeah, i forgot M$ had to lower the price on Vista as no one was buying it. Ultimate was $399....now it is $279 for that single user license.
At least Apple lets you install the $129 OS on three machines making it cost $43 per machine. $279 x 3 = $837 and it still does not equal a $129 OS from Apple.
Ah yes, PC_Tool making more personal attacks. How old are you? 10?
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"Typical Apple pricing has a three machine license for $129 ($43 per copy)"
since when?
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you can get vista home for less than 85 bux. and that would be free support for udates for the next, what 10 years or so? While apple charges for fixing their own mistakes... haha.
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$279 x 3 = $837 and it still does not equal a $129 OS from Apple.
..and you've still never once used it so your opinion of it would be worth what, exactly?
Right, nothing.
Ah yes, PC_Tool making more personal attacks. How old are you? 10?
34, to be honest, and as for personal attacks? It's only an attack if it's untrue. ;)
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Yes trolls like you are funny.
Vista does run faster you twit. Vista is up and running much faster than XP.
I signed up for Technet with MS gave me a ten license pack for everything that MS makes for $99. So much for that pricing scheme there.
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Kind of the way Apple is having fire sales on the iphone. Lower the price a hundred bucks then add $10 a month for a two year agreement. So in reality the phone is $199.99 + $240=NICE
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ActionPak?
I thought they'd limited the number and sSKU levels of apps through that program.
...or is this completely different?
Edit: Answered my own question. TechNet Plus. Signing up now. :)
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You get 10 installs of all products.
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Site says $349, which was the price of the actionpak back in the day.
Where'd you get the $99 bit?
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They had a promotion last week for $99. I found the deal on the hardocp forum.
Sadly the deal is over but here is some of the threads about it.
http://www.geardiary.com...technet-99-deal-is-back/
http://forums.anandtech....VAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear
http://forums.slickdeals...showthread.php?t=769633
Great deal. I am older college student so I can honestly say I am a student.
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Bah.
Figures.
Still, it'll be worth it. Office, Server, Vista, W7 when it comes out (Speaking of which, I may wait a year to subscribe...)
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Promo code TMSAML06 brings it down to $209 if you dont want to wait until the next $99 deal.
Not a bad price :) but not as good as $99
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Can apple users not read or something?
For crying out loud your first paragraph alone totally destroyed your *claim* in the very first sentence. It's clear who the troll is here..
Give us some apple users that are not part of some fanatic cult please!
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Excellent. Thank you. :)
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I thought apple products are flawless...how come there are so many "updates"...maybe because it's like other software? Hmm, I think so, but they swear they are special...hehe
all software is basically the same, people...
For the record, I love MS and Windows XP/Vista and use IE.
If you use anything else...just use it, but don't make it more than it is. If you prefer to pay for your updates or "new" versions, so be it...I prefer how it's done in the MS world.
But, Apple/Mac fanatics...you know if it's perfect, there shouldn't be any new versions right? Or is it only ok if it's not MS/Windows? ;)
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"maybe because it's like other software?"
No! It can't be! It has the Apple!!!
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How Apple conducts their advertisement business is nothing new here. Ford claims they have the best pickup truck in the world, and so does General Motors & Toyota. So debating which OS is better based on advertisement one-liners & slogans is just stupid.
I own both a PC and a Mac Pro and both do what I want them to do and both have their strengths and weaknesses so at the end of the day who gives a s**t what Apple says. Personally I prefer OS X but it may not be for everyone. If you can afford both then you're in business.
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If you can afford both then you're in business.
I agree.
Personally I prefer OS X but it may not be for everyone.
This is the fun bit. People below have basically said the same think, replacing OS X with Vista and you start flaming.
If you could be this rational regarding an OS you *don't* prefer, people might actually stop calling you a troll.
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"Personally I prefer OS X but it may not be for everyone. If you can afford both then you're in business."
I am taking a mac for a test drive tonight for a few months :) I expect great things from it but I dont expect it to replace my duties on windows/linux.
But yeah as toolie says, replacing os x for vista brings people out trolling - and with no style either.
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coool man go for it cant wait
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Sounds like $129 for what should be a free security update to me. Oh wait I forgot it has an apple on it you're not supposed to question these things! My bad!
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Is it really necessary to troll an Apple thread? Isn't Microshaft taking care of your OS needs by providing Windoze Vista 2nd edition..err Windoze 7? Let's see what M$ charges for that glorified Vista service pack. I bet it will be much more than $129. :)
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Why not? You troll the MSFT threads.
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Yes they are taken care of my OS needs. My OS works fine and my patches are free. Sorry but the whole "Vista is horrible ahh!!!" crap is nothing but a bunch of BS spread by idiots like you. I have had Vista well over a year now and it has been rock solid ever since I got it.
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^^^ What he said.
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So, everyone saying Vista sucks is an idiot? Well there are a lot of idiots out there then!
Why waste your time trying to prove to the world that Vista is great when it isn't? Clearly, it is Microsoft's most bloated and hated OS to date.
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Not trolling, EDUCATING...
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I don't have anything to prove to anyone. I like it. Anyone else I don't really give a rats a** about. The simple fact of the matter is while Vista is by no means flawless, what I am saying is that its problems are blown out of proportion by idiots like you. Does it have a few quirks? Yep. Are they enough to be a nuisance? Nope.
"Clearly, it is Microsoft's most bloated and hated OS to date."
No not clearly. Clearly that is what all of the idiots like you want everyone to think.
"Well there are a lot of idiots out there then! "
That's a given.
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Damn! Now I gotta go wipe the Dr. Pepper off my shirt. Educating lmao!!! MS is da sux0rs and Apple ftw! Yah I feel educated.
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uhh i bet it will be at least $250 and for that i just go to best buy or Circuit city and take a pic to the COA or just peel that sticker off with the key and all that and i'll have a legitimate copy of windows "7"
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no sir... err troll, windows ME was the most bloated and hated OS to date and yeah i dont have any anti-viruses on my computer and im running windows vista ultimate and no virus so far BECAUSE i dont get into those porn sites or malicious sites out there and i always try to update the system so i wouldn't talk sh!t son
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So blind allegiance is now educating?
Who knew?
You can't debate to save your life, every topic thrown at you you resort to the same childish remarks.
If you made valid points you would be educating but you didn't make one single one and even resorted to name calling, yep you are a troll.
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What does a new programming framework for exploiting multicores, a new framework for exploiting GPUs, a new javascript engine to speed web browsing, and a completely new and improved QT media framework have to do with security? And those 4 features mentioned quietly while the full plans are being offered NOW a year out under NDA sounds like a whole lot more than adding multitouch to systems which won't really use it based on current (and even future hardware) to me.
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Sounds like something that should have been in the OS they just got through releasing. But hey why would they do that when they can sell you it in pieces at full price.
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Lets take a look at some of your "educating" shall we?
I just love how you and your boyfriend iLLz continue to stalk me on this thread, post for post. ^__^
But listen dikk head, it's not my fault that you're a fanboy of a company that does not innovate but instead imitates all things Apple. We both know that monkey boy, Steve Ballmer sits back on his fat a$$ and waits to see what Apple is doing. Anyone that thinks Vista is pure "innovation" should be admitted to the nearest psych ward.
What was Microshaft's answer to the iPod? Zune, "The iPod Killer" a bulky brown POS that is being pulled off of shelves from retailers even as I educate your retarded a$$.
But keep living in your sad sorry, 2nd rate, uninspiring M$ world.
Hmmm... let's see, you're an M$ fanboy right? In that case you have M$'s wonderful brown Zune! LOL.
Aww... c'mon termalx that was weak. You can do better than that. No really, post again.
Hey iLLz, don't you have something else better to do other than stalking me on this thread? Why don't you and the rest of your M$ fanboy buddies here go do something useful like suck an egg or play in traffic.
And by the way, yes, I'm EXTREMELY proud to own a Mac, the new iPhone when it is released in July and I'm even prouder to be a DIE HARD APPLE FANBOY.
No sarcasm here. I'm a die hard rabid fanboy.
WOW, talk about someone who fails to see in plain text what was CLEARLY said is absolutely amazing but sad.
I guess monumental failures like Microshaft's recent hijacking of Yahoo!, bloated Vista and the soon obsolete "iPod Killer" Zune makes your buddies at Redmond, Washington Einsteins! LOL. Yeah, we know who the REAL IDIOTS are.
But keep trying terminalx, just maybe you'll say something worthwhile that will actually make sense someday...
There's no need to hate. If you keep flipping burgers at McDonald's you too will someday be able to afford an Apple product. The new 3G is only $199. It should only take you about 5 years to save up and buy as oppose to the 10 years it would have taken you to buy the old iPhone. Aren't you grateful?
LOL. Yeah keep waiting on Nokia to innovate and bring you this type of technology and you'll be a rotten corpse.
I know, nobody does that at any Microsoft conferences or conventions. I guess that "wow" in Vista didn't exactly WOW...
Lots of "education" there! He's not a troll! I could go on. That was just from 1 news post. I think the term you are a skidmark on the underpants of society fits perfectly for you. I didn't think it was possibly for there to be a bigger fanboy than pitdingo, but hey records are broken everyday. The problem with a fanboy is your views are totally biased and you ignore anything that is bad about whatever company it is your obsessed with. Personally I have an Iphone and love it. I don't hate Macs either. I just can't stand people like you that are so far up apples a** that they don't have anything better to do, but go around putting down anything that didn't come from them. I don't mind a little heated discussion(it happens here often), but you're not discussing you are just flaming.
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...and this month's 'Most Retarded Post' Award goes to:
cescam66
(appleworld7 came close)
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Anti-virus?? What? Why are you talking about anti-virus?
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"...I don't have anything to prove to anyone." Good! Then shut it!
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whoaah dude you have a lot of time on your hands.
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Define bloated. Cos all the Windows OS have required more hard disk space, memory and more resources since Me, therefore your "bloated" argument is worth s***e.
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*laughing*
Yes, we've all had a really good lesson in Mental Illness and the effects of fanaticism.
Thanks. You can start taking your meds again...
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So, everyone saying Vista sucks is an idiot?
Exactly.
:)
...bet you weren't expecting that one.
It's like some ignorant twit saying that a specific model of car "sucks". They know *nothing* about how it's built, the technology behind it, or what it can do. They just don't like the body style, so it..."sucks".
Just like saying Mac or Linux sucks makes you an idiot. :)
Not liking something doesn't mean it's crap.
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*laughing*
Sorry, man. Just like you can post your lame-ass opinions, so can everyone else. :)
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Take your own advice and the world will be a MUCH better place. While I still don't have anything to prove to anyone, I still don't mind tearing down a troll(you) piece by piece. It's not really very hard. All I gotta do is talk and you do the rest. In fact you will probably reply to this post making an even bigger idiot of yourself. I'll just sit back and enjoy.
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Not really. That only took a few minutes. All I did was pick "one" news article and copy and paste. I don't know about you, but I can copy and paste pretty quick...
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If you don't have anti virus software you would have no idea if a virus was there or not. You don't have to go to porn sites to get a virus. I hope were kidding about that.
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With that logic Windows 3.1 is better than XP since it uses less drive space and memory.
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You've come to the right place many people will help you understand.
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Nah... copy and paste doesn't take that long.
Now, if he were to do that on an iPhone, that would take a lot of time.
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Ubuntu server costs me $0 each time I update. I get very helpful support from the ubuntu forum's also.
Does that mean OSX and vista are both peices of s*** in comparison? I mean who the hell pays for their operating system!
I did have a giggle at you using the word troll though. For a moment I thought the sky fell down.
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lol... thats just...gold
To anyone new to these forums have a look back through the ms/apple threads from this week and last.
If that is "EDUCATING" this world is doomed. Suggest an eyecheck because you clearly cannot read what you type here.
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...and a spammer?
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...and a self righteous prick who feels it's his duty to police BetaNews?
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Ah, the troll/Apple Fanboy is back.
Knew it wouldn't be too long.
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PC_Tool....shut the hell up.
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Morsel...shut the hell up.
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Im looking at a self righteous prick right here. ^^^
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siryak... shut the hell up.
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Try stepping away from the mirror then. ^^^
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I love the mirror personally. Just because it is not friendly to you doesn't mean everyone has to banish it.
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internetworld7...go back to bed and stay there....forever. For all of us.
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man all of y'all ni99as shut the hell up
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what ^^^ said
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*laughs*
Another fan is born...
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It really took two guys and half an article to fumble around what OpenCL is and to claim that Apple screwed up there on PR when every statement, PR, page on their web site, and every other story about it is perfectly clear about what they are referring to? Jesus Christ!
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Okay, $129. But traditionally Apple doesn't package separate "upgrade" and "full" versions, so you'd be getting the full OS up to that point anyway. Second, there's a lot that needs to be done behind the scenes to make an OS work. No OS works by eye-candy alone. They focused on that in 10.5 and some people have had issues with it. (Some, not all.) Third, this is also a year away, so it's not as if it's coming down the pipe tomorrow. Finally, these are not the sort of changes that you want to download over the Internet. Especially if for whatever reason you restore your system and need to install it all again.
Man, someone gave me my Angry Whisky a little too early, today.
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Yeah...if they're going to charge $129, they should probably include something new and compelling to justify it, rather than just speed and stability updates (which are typically just 10.5.x releases!).
If they don't, I'm thinking they might do something along the lines of what they did for 10.1, for which they actually *did* make separate "full" and "upgrade" versions. Maybe let 10.5 users buy a 10.6 upgrade for a reduced price (maybe even free like it was for 10.1, but I doubt it), and everyone else buy "full."
Though maybe that's just wishful thinking, or maybe they really do have some killer new feature they're waiting to pull out of their sleeve until later so [insert company name here] doesn't try to copy it for [insert name of said company's next major product here].
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OpenCL = Open Computing Library.
See the press release at: http://www.apple.com/pr/...8/06/09snowleopard.html
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Err, I meant Open Computing *Language*. (I can't edit the post for some reason.)
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That's pretty pathetic that a news organization such as BetaNews is unable to find what "OpenCL" is... as it is clearly defined in the press release and by every other news article, and the information was available before publishing, and should have at least been updated in the article by now as this is a website not a printed paper.
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So let me get this straight...You're upset because we don't automatically believe and repeat what's said in press releases?
-SF3
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Thats why you're BN and we're not. lol =p
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...and a BetaNews meme was born.
This site gets more and more like slashdot every day.
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It was an Apple press release. Is there some reason not to believe a company when they say what their own product is?
(Except that there is apparently a conflicting report elsewhere on their website, but Jobs has stood by the definition in the press release in later comments.)
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I haven't thought about that site for a couple of years now... thanks for opening old wounds.
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Heh...
In Soviet Russia, that site thinks about *you*.
//I'm here for ya, man. ;P
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