Aidan MalleyHopes for an all-you-can-eat iTunes music service should be dashed this time around, according to purported insiders. Meanwhile, the corporate world says in a new study that integrating Macs into their businesses is one of their top priorities.
While the hype surrounding Apple's "Let's Rock" event is building quickly, at least one often-discussed possibility is being dismissed before it gains traction.
Alleged sources of CNET tell the site that there will be no subscription service announced when Apple officials take the stage next week. The iPod maker has only negotiated deals for by-the-track downloads and so wouldn't have rights to let users download bulk amounts of iTunes.
The tip also shoots down content-related announcements as a whole and instead turns the attention back to new iPods widely predicted for the Apple event.
Rumors of a subscription service have surfaced periodically but gained momentum earlier this year when it was suggest that Apple make take a page from Nokia's Comes With Music business model and charge a per-iPod premium in return for a set period of unlimited access to iTunes Store songs.
Mac seen as a top priority in enterprise
Of the immediate IT-related problems in enterprise-class business, the highest priorities involve harmonizing the Mac with a Windows-dominated work environment, according to the results of a new Group Logic study.
Questioning of about 350 technology pros at US workplaces revealed that three out of the top five concerns involved Mac integration and were headed up by supporting Macs on Microsoft's Active Directory system, which was cited as a concern by about 38 percent of the entire group. Roughly 35 percent of the group was concerned about handling help calls from Mac users, while 24 percent were worried about maintaining the "full 'Mac experience'" for clients on the network.
Also, the majority of all the businesspeople polled claimed a Mac influence on their respective companies, with 70 percent having at least some of the Apple computers at their workplace. A remaining six percent said there were immediate plans to add Macs to their corporate networks where they weren't before.
"There is no doubt that companies are increasing the size and scope of their Apple Mac networks," Information Technology Intelligence Corp.'s Laura DiDio says.
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>> Rumors of a subscription service have surfaced periodically but gained momentum earlier this year when it was suggest that Apple make take a page from ... <<
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No charge! : )
The fun part is setting up Active Directory and Open Directory to create the 'Golden Triangle'
I'm not believing or dismissing anything until I see the event with my own eyes.
If Apple cares to be a serious contender in corporate I.T. departments, they ought make an expandable Macintosh that suits the needs of business users. Such a Mac would be designed to permit easy replacement of the hard drive and video card, provide space for one or two PCI cards, and not have a built-in screen. Essentially, this would be an expandable Mac Mini. (Remember the design of the IIci and IIcx machines?)
I imagine Apple would be concerned that this Enterprise Macintosh might cannibalize sales of iMacs in the consumer space -- but I recall how Apple initially restricted the eMac to educational institutions. They might consider restricting an Enterprise Mac to corporate users who buy in volume.
There is still no comparison between an all-mac environment and squeezing macs into a workplace that is primarily PC-centric.
I should know. I happen to be one of two people who uses a mac at work at my company which employs over 2600 people. The IT director hates macs so that has a lot to do with it. The rule around here is if you are going to use your own mac for work you are on your own. We officially only support PCs but I, personally, will always lend a hand to a fellow mac user. Kerio FTW.