Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

Category: Just for Fun

Adam Engst No comments

Settle Down! Microsoft & DOJ Reach Agreement

In a surprise ending to the long-running Microsoft antitrust trial, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Microsoft jointly announced a settlement today.

Adam Engst No comments

GIF2K Problem Affects PC Security

Everyone knows that the Macintosh is Y2K-compliant - that the Mac OS knows about dates well into the next century, right? But we've learned of a Y2K-related problem that, although it doesn't affect Macs, could be serious for numerous Internet users who work with Intel-based PCs. Graphic utility developer BoxTop Software has isolated a problem with certain GIF files that results in GIF viewers (including the GIF viewing code in Web browsers) either being incapable of displaying certain images or suffering from a buffer overflow error

Geoff Duncan No comments

Apple Ups the AMTE

For the last few years, the Macintosh community has watched helplessly as the Mac has fallen painfully behind in a field it helped pioneer on personal computers: speech recognition

Jeff Carlson No comments

Taking a Step Back from Technology

Technology can be addictive. Many of us use devices like computers, cellular phones, and handheld organizers on a daily basis; many of us require them to make our livings

TidBITS Staff No comments

Bantling LLC Acquires TidBITS

ISSAQUAH, WASH. (April 1, 1999) -- TidBITS Electronic Publishing, publishers of the highly regarded free TidBITS electronic newsletter focussing on the Macintosh and Internet communities, today announced that the majority of its business operations have been acquired by Bantling LLC, a

TidBITS Staff No comments

Investing in Office

Microsoft today announced a new promotion designed to win over more Mac users to Microsoft Office 98 for the Macintosh. Starting 01-Apr-98, Microsoft will place a single share of Microsoft stock, currently valued at about $90, in 100,000 boxes of Office 98 destined for individual purchase in the retail and academic channels

TidBITS Staff No comments

ActiMates Barney Acting Out

In 1997, Microsoft's hardware group introduced the ActiMates Interactive Barney, a plush, interactive version of everyone's favorite purple dinosaur. ActiMates move, play games, sing songs, and - using optional wireless transmitters for VCRs or PCs with MIDI/game ports and Windows 95 - interact with compatible software, VHS video tapes, broadcast television programs, and even Web sites

TidBITS Staff No comments

Robin Williams Writes Another One

When Macintosh users hear about Robin Williams, chances are good that they think of the author, not the comedian. Over the years, Robin has written many successful books about the Macintosh and design

Geoff Duncan No comments

ActiMates Barney Acting Out

ActiMates Barney Acting Out -- In 1997, Microsoft's hardware group introduced the ActiMates Interactive Barney, a plush, interactive version of everyone's favorite purple dinosaur

Adam Engst No comments

Investing in Office

Investing in Office -- Microsoft today announced a new promotion designed to win over more Mac users to Microsoft Office 98 for the Macintosh. Starting 01-Apr-98, Microsoft will place a single share of Microsoft stock, currently valued at about $90, in 100,000 boxes of Office 98 destined for individual purchase in the retail and academic channels

Tonya Engst No comments

Robin Williams Writes Another One

Robin Williams Writes Another One -- When Macintosh users hear about Robin Williams, chances are good that they think of the author, not the comedian. Over the years, Robin has written many successful books about the Macintosh and design

Adam Engst No comments

The First One’s Free…

Much speculation has emerged about Apple's forthcoming foray into the nascent network computer (NC) market. Although NCs from Sun, Network Computer, Inc., and even IBM haven't exactly sold like hotcakes, Apple's entry promises to be the result of different thinking

Tonya Engst No comments

Who Needs GIFs?

These days, every program must have a "Save As HTML" feature to be competitive: the last major product missing this capability is Adobe's venerable image editing program, Photoshop

Geoff Duncan No comments

TidBITS Internet Security Challenges!

In the last few years, Internet security challenges have been a growing phenomenon. The basic idea is that a solution provider sets up an Internet service or site that it feels is secure, then offers a substantial reward - cash prizes, computer equipment, or other inducements - to the first person who follows the contest's rules and breaches the security of the site or service. Often, Internet security challenges amount to little more than publicity stunts - since the knowledge of how to break into a particular system can be more valuable than the cash or prizes offered - but they can also go a long way toward legitimizing a new or fledgling system

Matt Neuburg No comments

Apple Offers Options for QuickTime 3.0

Apple yesterday released version 3.0 of its QuickTime media software for the Mac OS plus Windows 95 and Windows NT, adding support for many new media formats (including PNG and the DV digital video format), plus QuickTime VR and QuickDraw 3D. QuickTime 3.0 can be downloaded for free from Apple (6.4 MB in MacBinary format)