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Not so fast says Microsoft on the Apple "blame game"

DailyTech reported on Tuesday that Apple had shipped a number of 5.5G iPods with the Troj/Bdoor-DIJ trojan. The Trojan, which can allow hackers to gain remote access to your computer, affected less than 1% of iPods shipped since September 12 according to Apple.

Not surprisingly, Apple tried to shift some of the blame to Microsoft for the virus. "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it."

However, Microsoft and some security analysts say that the blame should be placed squarely on Apple and its quality control inspectors. "It's not a matter of which platform the virus originated [on]. The fact that it's found on the portable player means that there's an issue with how the quality checks, specifically the content check, was done," said Jonathan Poon who scans Microsoft software products for viruses before they ship. James Abrams, director of technical education for ESET, followed up by saying "The Apple iPod incident was not about Microsoft having a hardy operating system, it was all about security and process."

Shifting blame when problems occur is a common occurrence in the business world, and neither Apple nor Microsoft are above doing it. Poon had this to say to Apple's Steve Jobs; "Steve, if you need someone to advise on how to improve your quality checks, feel free to contact me."

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gj Jobs
By Trisped on 10/19/2006 1:00:21 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
"Steve, if you need someone to advise on how to improve your quality checks, feel free to contact me."
I only charge $2000 an hour and do great work. Just look at how many viruses hav shipped in Microsoft products.

I have recieved one viruse the whole time I have been working with computers (20 years). To have one on a machine, then have the virus transfere to a product, and never catch it is just an example of bad security. It means that Apple has to cut too many corners to compete.

gj Jobs.




RE: gj Jobs
By othercents on 10/19/2006 1:05:27 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
It means that Apple has to cut too many corners to compete.

Do they have to cut corners on their overpriced product? I actually think it is more about incompetence. They really do need help on quality control.

Other


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:16:34 PM , Rating: 4
Very true, especially if you consider that other MP3 players were shipped out in the past with viruses on them. So Apple should have recognized that such a risk existed.

Also, I find it a little ironic that they are using Windows PCs in their manufacturing process. If Macs are so great, why not use them instead? Then Apple would not have to blame Microsoft at all if there was a virus.


RE: gj Jobs
By Trisped on 10/19/2006 1:36:44 PM , Rating: 4
Yeah I posted about that in the article about the problem. They blame Microsoft for not having a robust enough OS, but their's wasn't even good enough to run the programs they needed to make the iPod.

It is like when you stand up in the middle of class to laugh at the person with a booger hanging out of their nose, only to realize that you don't have any pants on and you smell. To lait, now everyone is looking at you.


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 1:48:17 PM , Rating: 5
That's just it, they don't "make the iPod." They are subcontracted out. Likely to either Foxconn or ASUS.


RE: gj Jobs
By Hare on 10/19/2006 1:37:53 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Also, I find it a little ironic that they are using Windows PCs in their manufacturing process. If Macs are so great, why not use them instead? Then Apple would not have to blame Microsoft at all if there was a virus.
Maybe because Apple has just contracted the manufacturer (Foxcon)?

I think it was really stupid to even hint that MS made it easier for the virus to spread but who can tell what really happened? Maybe a clean test computer exploded at foxcon and they just used some other machine which was infected. Bottomline: Apple's responsibility but most likely Foxcon is the one to blame for the actual spreading of the virus.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:52:10 PM , Rating: 3
Don't you think it would be absolutely reasonable for Apple to tell Foxconn something along the lines of, "Well, we strongly believe our computers are the best, so we would insist that you use them when you manufacture tens of millions of iPods for us." After all, if Macs are not good enough for Foxconn, then why would they be good enough for us consumers?

I also don't get how people let subcontractors off - it is up to Apple to set terms and conditions when they subcontract. That is both their right and responsibility.


RE: gj Jobs
By Hare on 10/19/2006 4:52:56 PM , Rating: 2
No I don't think it's reasonable. Foxconn is a huge company and why on earth should Apple care what computers they have chosen to use and what would be the benefit of them getting macs? Do you think Nokia forces it's subcontractors to get Nokia phones? That's just ridiculous...


RE: gj Jobs
By JeffDM on 10/20/2006 12:14:19 PM , Rating: 2
After all, if Macs are not good enough for Foxconn, then why would they be good enough for us consumers?

I don't think you are thinking of it the right way. It's not a matter of if Macs weren't good enough for Foxcon. Windows computers are used for testing iPods because most iPods will be used with... Windows. If you are going to test a product, it should be tested with regards to its expected environment.


RE: gj Jobs
By Hare on 10/20/2006 1:49:00 PM , Rating: 2
Not to mention that Foxconn is one of the biggest pc motherboard etc manufacturers and propably has a huge infrastructure built on PC-equipment. After all it's not just one computer or one part of a factory that would need to be replaced. And what for? They could even be using linux-boxes currently and the virus could have infected the image before even arriving at the factory.

Macs are propably good enough for Foxconn but they just don't have macs. So what...


RE: gj Jobs
By retrospooty on 10/19/2006 1:46:50 PM , Rating: 5
"I find it a little ironic that they are using Windows PCs in their manufacturing process. If Macs are so great, why not use them instead? "

In Apple's defense (something I rarely do) Mac's are not realy business machines. They are great for A/V stuff, and some people prefer them as home PC's of course, but its not for business purposes at all.

To run a business you need to be compatible with what the business world uses. that is PC. Apple's vendor has to be able to deal with the rest of the PC world. Mac is nothing but a niche market.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:54:35 PM , Rating: 4
They're loading iPods HDD with pre-loaded content - why couldn't this be done with a Mac?


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:57:07 PM , Rating: 2
Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that Foxconn should be required by Apple to use Macs throughout. But Foxconn has dedicated manufacturing lines for iPods, and I think it is entirely reasonable that Macs be used for the HDD content pre-load process. I don't see that a Windows PC has any advantage in that task.


RE: gj Jobs
By peternelson on 10/19/2006 9:17:45 PM , Rating: 2
A pc costs less money to put on your production line.

A pc can be industrially protected against factory dirt ingress, whereas low end macs are designed for use in homes and clean environments.

Plus as foxconn MAKE pc components, they likely have spares knocking around from cancelled products, returns, old revisions of boards etc.

Therefore there are several reasons why apple computers would be unlikely to be chosen for the loading process.

I agree, this is a quality control failing, and a bad one.


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/06, Rating: 0
RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:53:14 PM , Rating: 3
If Apple could, why couldn't they insist on their subcontractors to do the same?


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 2:07:31 PM , Rating: 2
Because they already have existing manufacturing infrastructure, for which they are heavily invested, which runs Windows.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 2:18:14 PM , Rating: 2
What do you think the capital investment was for Foxconn to set up manufacturing lines to manufacture tens of millions of iPods? How do you think that compares to the cost of bringing some Macs into that process and integrating them with the existing systems?

I think the OP had it right on the money - the real reason this happened was incompetence, i.e., nobody considered the possibility in the first place. I was not seriously suggesting that Foxconn should use Macs - I was mainly poking fun at Apple for having to rely on Windows machines to produce their precious iPods, that's all.

That said, in my view, it should be within the realm of possibility to use Macs in the process.


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 2:43:54 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
What do you think the capital investment was for Foxconn to set up manufacturing lines to manufacture tens of millions of iPods? How do you think that compares to the cost of bringing some Macs into that process and integrating them with the existing systems?
It would probably cost some ungodly amount to do a migration of that size, which would just be passed along to the consumer in terms of a higher price for every iPod.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 2:51:02 PM , Rating: 2
...all that just to use Macs to preload content on Macs? C'mon, you must be joking!


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 2:58:33 PM , Rating: 3
It's not like they have one computer over in the corner that they soley use for the purpose of formatting iPods. Apple sells around 100,000+ iPods per day .

Plus, it's not like those systems are isolated. They are integrated into the entire process.


RE: gj Jobs
By Giaour on 10/19/2006 4:35:42 PM , Rating: 2
Lets exaggerate a bit more ... 100,000 per day ... common where is your source?


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 4:58:02 PM , Rating: 2
That's ~35M units/year, which is probably about right, I think.


RE: gj Jobs
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 7:02:54 PM , Rating: 2
Exaggerate? No. In fact, 100,000 per day is a low estimate.

In the last 12 months, Apple has sold 39 million iPods. So, that's 39m per year (and growing). They've sold about 8.7m in the last 90 days alone.

Here: http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/10/18/apple_q4_2006/
And here: http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2154

Let's work with the 39m number. If you divide spread that out evenly over the year, that's actually 106,849 per day. If you account for only weekdays, then it's 154,761 per day. At 9hrs a day, that's close to 5 iPods every second . That's the rate in which iPods need to be produced.

This doesn't even really account for much of the new iPod nano sales, which I would guess will be the best selling iPod to date. In fact, I believe their record last year was 14m iPods in a single quarter. I definately think they can beat that this holiday season.


RE: gj Jobs
By crystal clear on 10/19/2006 3:34:43 PM , Rating: 2
*Ever thought of a situation of a disgruntled employee at Foxconn,who wishes to get even with his employer.

*That Hackers have succeeded to break into Foxconn computers,to plant viruses/spyware.

*That some employee/s being bribed to plant such viruses,with intention to discredit ipods & create fear/scare in the buyers mind about ipods.

*ever thought the buying season is about to start.

*Foxconn manufacturing plants are not situated in the USA,
rather China.Where salaries criminally low & employee loyality is ZERO.

Visit China to see for yourself to get an idea what I am talking about.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 4:14:45 PM , Rating: 2
I think incompetence is a more likely explanation, i.e., that nobody at Apple or Foxconn considered this to be a possibility.


RE: gj Jobs
By Rollomite on 10/19/2006 4:46:05 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
*Ever thought of a situation of a disgruntled employee at Foxconn,who wishes to get even with his employer.

*That Hackers have succeeded to break into Foxconn computers,to plant viruses/spyware.

*That some employee/s being bribed to plant such viruses,with intention to discredit ipods & create fear/scare in the buyers mind about ipods.

*ever thought the buying season is about to start.

*Foxconn manufacturing plants are not situated in the USA,
rather China.Where salaries criminally low & employee loyality is ZERO.



If you believe any of those theories, I suggest you place a call to Fox Mulder. This has all the signs of an X-File. The truth is out there.

Rollo




RE: gj Jobs
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 2:05:34 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Also, I find it a little ironic that they are using Windows PCs in their manufacturing process.


Windows PCs? No! No stinkin' PCs! Apple won't ever touch a single stinkin' PC! There are only 100% Genuine Apple _Macs_ there.

Intel Macs that is.

Oh wait...

:)))))))


RE: gj Jobs
By sweetpapa on 10/19/2006 3:52:12 PM , Rating: 2
This is the oldest trick in the book. Apple deliberately planted a Windows virus on a couple of their iPods and spun this for all it's worth.


RE: gj Jobs
By RandomFool on 10/19/2006 1:56:00 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Just look at how many viruses hav shipped in Microsoft products.


How many viruses have shipped with windows products?

quote:
I have recieved one viruse the whole time I have been working with computers (20 years).


Shouldn't you have more viruses if MS products ship with them? Unless you've been using unix/apples those 20 years.

Other that, I agree Apple needs to work on QA big time or at the very least keeping the problems that do pop up quite.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:58:55 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Shouldn't you have more viruses if MS products ship with them? Unless you've been using unix/apples those 20 years.

What virus has Microsoft ever shipped in Windows? Or in one of its other products? I don't get your point.


RE: gj Jobs
By RandomFool on 10/19/2006 3:30:18 PM , Rating: 2
I was just pointing out that he mentioned MS shipping viruses with thier products and then claiming to have only ever had 1 virus.


RE: gj Jobs
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 4:50:32 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, he/she said "Just look at how many viruses hav shipped in Microsoft products." In other words, zero, and why can't Apple do the same. Quality is never an accident.


RE: gj Jobs
By mblaster on 10/20/2006 9:17:13 AM , Rating: 2
Microsoft has a valid point. Doesnt matter if it is Windows, mac os, linux, unix.. If you have a piss poor IT staff, then yah, you are gonna have issues with viruses, malware, spyware, or just a plain old DUMB MISTAKE.

Mac blaming microsoft, = Mac, people not learning the basics, or installing Norton AV. And Apple cant say that there is no way to make sure. We support in excess of 3000 computers, and we dont get viruses. (but taht also means, we have AV on the firewall, on the servers, on the clients, with STRICT RULES)... But then again, APPLE you get what you pay for. You pay those guys the peanuts in money, you get the shell in performance, and support.


Idiots
By TimberJon on 10/19/2006 1:16:43 PM , Rating: 1
Theyre making so much damn money now as a cornerstone in MP3 players and gadgets that they dont care about the consumer anymore. It was ALL customer service in the beginning, but thats just marketing..
Just a beachhead. Then they invade and damn did they do a good job. Now we have sick and dying soldiers in our ranks..

Screw that! Shouldnt have even tried to put the blame on MS. How many times during production do you have the opportunity to check the HDD integrity and verify it is not seeded or corrupted?

And oh, Gee.. If Windows computers are so bad, then they would be scanning their Units HDD's with APPLE computers and their anti-virus software right? Sounds like Apples blow and it proves what Ive always believed..




RE: Idiots
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 1:58:42 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
And oh, Gee.. If Windows computers are so bad, then they would be scanning their Units HDD's with APPLE computers and their anti-virus software right?
Probably, IF APPLE ACTUALLY MANUFACTURED THEIR HARDWARE, WHICH THEY DON'T.

Most Apple hardware products are manufactured by either Foxconn or ASUS. I suspect that things like iPods are actually boxed before they ever reach the states or any kind of Apple production/distrobution facility.

Apple actually does use Mac's and OS X for almost all of its own operations. If you go to an Apple store you'll notice they use custom designed software that run on MacBook Pros and PowerBooks that they use to do pretty much everything from inventory to payment processing.


RE: Idiots
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 2:02:08 PM , Rating: 2
Please see my other comments above. Apple is responsible, from a PR standpoint, for the actions of its contract manufacturers. From our viewpoint as consumers, we should view Apple and Foxconn as the same in this instance. In other words, an iPod problem is Apple's problem from our standpoint.


RE: Idiots
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 2:10:38 PM , Rating: 2
That's only because it's an Apple/Microsoft debacle. If this same thing happened with say, Dell notebooks it would be a different story. If Dell notebooks shipped with viruses, Dell would be blaming Microsoft as well, and Microsoft would likely respond something like, "We are working closely with Dell to resolve these issues of quality control, blah blah blah".


RE: Idiots
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 8:04:50 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
If Dell notebooks shipped with viruses, Dell would be blaming Microsoft as well
Heh, that's only your wishful thinking, Ralph, 'cause it's Apple and NOT Dell trying to hype itself bashing Vista. The most natural way for Apple PR to follow is to blame MS for everything, which is what they did and continue to do whenever they have an opportunity, while for Dell the most natural way to follow would be to say "it's our QA guys who suck and we're sorry and such", because Dell is not interested in bashing MS or Vista, it's against Dell's interests.

In the end all this boils down to Apple PR who loves sheep herding around Jobs and collectively bleating "Vista is baah baah and Macs are so much more baah baah" etc etc... - just a marketing brainwashing, you know :)


RE: Idiots
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 8:49:35 PM , Rating: 3
That's not really my "wishful thinking." That's what we see in the real world. Look at the Sony battery ordeal. Sure, Dell and everyone else is recalling the batteries, but who are they blaming it on? The person who manufactured it: Sony.


RE: Idiots
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 10:09:55 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly! Did you notice that nobody bothers whether Sony just put their logo on Sanyo cells or not? It's Sony because of the logo, and THE SAME happens with infected iPods - it's Apple, ALSO because of the logo, and, again, nobody bothers whether it's Foxconn manufacturing iPods with Apple sticking its logo or not, and Apple PR's bleating about Windows baah baah doesn't help them. Just like Sony blaming it on bad suppliers or some such won't help them, see? ;)


RE: Idiots
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 11:22:15 PM , Rating: 2
You completely miss the point, but oh well.


RE: Idiots
By CrazyBernie on 10/20/2006 2:09:21 PM , Rating: 2
Actually, since Dell makes their own installs based off Microsoft's OS, Microsoft would just point the finger right back at Dell :D But I get your point ;)


What are they using at Apple?
By encryptkeeper on 10/19/2006 5:24:09 PM , Rating: 2
So what Apple is admitting here is that they use Microsoft machines in their workcenters? Damn, that's a dumb thing to admit you know. That's like Microsoft admitting they use Linux on their corporate machines.




RE: What are they using at Apple?
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 7:05:27 PM , Rating: 2
You're an idiot.


RE: What are they using at Apple?
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 7:10:51 PM , Rating: 2
And you're a Mac lover, Ralph, which is a much worse diagnosis ;)


RE: What are they using at Apple?
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 7:37:12 PM , Rating: 2
I would be hard pressed to qualify as a "Mac lover."


RE: What are they using at Apple?
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 7:55:53 PM , Rating: 2
encryptkeeper is also hardly qualified as an idiot, for stating some obvious conclusions taken from Apple PR.

imagine someone saying "we have the best manufacturing tools in the world, but our products suck, because we're not using our best in the world tools to manufacture them, we use some other crappy tools, and this is NOT our fault that we use these crappy tools, it's that crappy tool supplier's fault, blame them, not us!" - now _this_ sounds like pretty funny and idiotic Apple PR to me, not encryptkeeper's words, which sound quite reasonable.


By Burning Bridges on 10/22/2006 10:10:34 AM , Rating: 2
You're an idiot.


Poon's job position
By Etern205 on 10/19/2006 4:40:38 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The fact that it's found on the portable player means that there's an issue with how the quality checks, specifically the content check, was done," said Jonathan Poon who scans Microsoft software products for viruses before they ship.


I'm wondering does he scan the master file
for viruses and then burns them to CDs or
are they all burned to CDs first and then scan for
viruses individually.

If he actually scans the CD individually then, my god! :o
lol




RE: Poon's job position
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 4:55:09 PM , Rating: 2
Of course he checks the master files, not the CDs themselves. Anyway, CDs are pressed, not burned, meaning that the same kind of virus contamination on CDs would be much less likely. This is different from the case of like an iPod, each of which is apparently programmed by a PC during the manufacturing process.


RE: Poon's job position
By Etern205 on 10/19/2006 8:24:07 PM , Rating: 2
I was thinking scanning the master file would
be the most logical way. And I've see how
they press CD on TV once. It was sooo cooool!!!!!


Hehehe
By exdeath on 10/19/2006 12:58:43 PM , Rating: 2
Mr. Poon




RE: Hehehe
By McTwist on 10/19/2006 1:37:56 PM , Rating: 3
I was thinking the same thing.
It reminded me of this guy my cousin worked with named Mr. Wanka.
P.S. My cousin's Irish where they actually call people wanker/wanka


why is this such a big deal!?!?
By Imazalil on 10/19/2006 2:28:07 PM , Rating: 3
It was a cheap shot on apple's part, but they did take responsibility. This is a quote from the Engadget article (can't find the originating article, but I think it's safe to assume the quotes are from apple)...

Apple is "upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses," but they're "even more upset with ourselves for not catching it."

Yeah, a little jab at Windows, but nothing to burn bridges over. Doesn't everyone have something better to do with their lives?




RE: why is this such a big deal!?!?
By dpope on 10/19/2006 2:31:58 PM , Rating: 2
This is Apple's new strategy... the commercials are getting old and blaming Microsoft for all their mistakes is too.

They best watch out because the next time the flirt with bankruptcy, Gates and company won't be there to buy their stock and give them millions like they did last time.


Good Point
By TomZ on 10/19/2006 1:01:14 PM , Rating: 4
Good point, good article. It is typical Apple arrogance to try to blame Microsoft for their virus problem.




iPod Virus HA HA HA HA HA!!!
By dpope on 10/19/2006 2:29:36 PM , Rating: 1
Apple better get their act together. Taking cheap jabs at companies is getting really old. They best be working on a new product and quit releasing eye candy upgrades!





By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/2006 2:47:04 PM , Rating: 3
Considering their latest numbers, whatever they are doing is working. iPod sales are up 35% from the same time last year, and Mac sales are up 30%, which probably puts them at an all time record high.


apples are food for dummies
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 1:00:27 PM , Rating: 1
all this pathetic Vista bashing by Apple is just for morons who trust marketing. smart guys have brains and never choose OS for the reason of worship or bashing or hippiness/fashion/trendiness - let the teens and sheep follow Steve (either of them :) but stay smart and think! while having a good laugh obesrving sheep herding around their icon ;)




RE: apples are food for dummies
By Ralph The Magician on 10/19/06, Rating: -1
RE: apples are food for dummies
By Pirks on 10/19/2006 2:11:09 PM , Rating: 1
depends on what you want from your computer. if you're not following the sheep you can actually enjoy apples too, or windows, or anything penguinic too. the point was never listen to marketing (especially at trade shows), Apple pathetic bashing of Vista being the perfect example.


RE: apples are food for dummies
By mindless1 on 10/21/2006 3:16:38 AM , Rating: 2
Actually smart guys with brains only get to choose one of the OS the sheep like, because these are the only OS that sell in enough volume to continue being developed.


By othercents on 10/19/2006 1:01:22 PM , Rating: 3
I actually think it is a good time for Microsoft to blame shift over to Symantec and McAfee stating that Vista would be more hardy if they are able to lock down the kernel.

The statement made on Apple's website was definitely wrong. Apple didn't check for viruses like they should have. Just expecting everything to be right doesn't mean it is.

Other




Apple's joke was lame.
By Eug on 10/19/2006 1:56:31 PM , Rating: 3
Apple was just trying to put in "friendly" jab at Microsoft, but it just comes across as childish. They screwed up, and should have just left it at that instead of trying to be funny, cuz they failed at being funny.

OTOH, they succeeded in generating more press about the iPod.




Funny:
By Nekrik on 10/19/2006 2:25:08 PM , Rating: 3
saw this on another board:



“As you might imagine, we are upset at the iPod for not being more hardy against such viruses.”




Integrity and Responsibility
By INeedCache on 10/19/2006 5:48:39 PM , Rating: 3
Why is that that some people make a lame attempt to stand up for a company in situations like this? "In the end, Apple took responsibility." This is virtuous? Why couldn't they have taken responsibility to start with? It's the business way, you say. Well, yes it is. But that doesn't mean we should defend it. In this case it's Apple, but it could be anyone. If no one but Microsoft stood up here and said Apple was wrong, do you really think Apple would come clean? If Dell hadn't been getting lots of bad press over the exploding batteries, would they have stepped up? Probably would have been cheaper in the end for them to perhaps pay a few lawsuits than the huge recall. Say good things when a company steps up right away, not after they've been exposed. In one other unrelated item, when are we going to get rid of this inane Mac vs. PC thing? A Mac is a personal computer. Can't we do better?




Breaking news
By gsellis on 10/19/2006 6:50:52 PM , Rating: 3
Breaking news...

Apple now blames homeowners.

Apple is now claiming that recent fires were really home owner's fault. "If our customers would quit building homes out of wood and using other flammable materials, this would not have been a problem," states an unidentified source at Apple. "The batteries do have a issue with MacBooks and do have a minor problem with overheating and some visible flames, but it really is not our fault that their house burned down. Also, if they would quit insisting on the MacBooks being portable, we would have never used batteries in the first place."

submitted by wannabe "The Onion" reporter.




Getting Interesting
By SprintSlash on 10/19/2006 1:10:17 PM , Rating: 2
This is getting more interesting everyday. With Symantec/McAfee blaming Microsoft on limited Vista kernel access, and Microsoft blaming Apple for the virus, I wonder what's next.. Apple blaming Symantec/McAfee for virus scanning? Symantec/McAfee blaming Microsoft/Apple for not giving them kernel access to Zune/iPod? =)




blame game"
By crystal clear on 10/19/2006 1:15:15 PM , Rating: 2
Apple should adopt an age old quote-"HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY".

You cannot go far with the blame game plan/tactics,you think/feel you got away with this,but NO.

Sometimes its wiser to say SORRY-our mistake-we will rectify it & get ahead.
People appreciate the honest approach & even begin to like you for that.




Giggity
By DigitalFreak on 10/19/2006 3:31:08 PM , Rating: 2
Jonathan Poon likes Tang...




lawsuit?
By theslug on 10/19/2006 9:39:01 PM , Rating: 2
I think MS should sue Apple for slander. It's clearly Apple's fault (no OS is totally immune to viruses, that's why we have anti-virus software), and blaming them makes it look like Apple is basically saying "hey buy our OS! it's more secure!"




setting the record straight...
By plonk420 on 10/20/2006 2:30:59 AM , Rating: 2
a) apple's refused to name the company to blame for the virus. people are pulling the name "foxconn" out of their ass as they've mainly been in the news. asus is also making apple parts, f.ex, and i'm sure other companies as well.

b) if apple's to be believed, "52 incidents have been reported"

c) microsoft shipped some piece of software, windows xp, maybe even, with a virus in south korea .. so apple is hardly the first to have make such a blunder




Virus or no virus....
By daftrok on 10/19/2006 2:45:25 PM , Rating: 1
I will only buy i-word if they get EAX on their players, a removable battery, a microphone, an HD Radio, and the choice of NOT having iTunes just to play fricking songs on my mp3 player. Until then, Creative all the way (man I wish they had HD Radio).




iPod Virus and Macrovirus
By hiscross on 10/20/06, Rating: 0
RE: iPod Virus and Macrovirus
By Trogdor on 10/20/2006 1:04:28 PM , Rating: 1
Oh please, the market share of Macs compared to Windows is what? Absolutely miniscule. There are harldy any Viruses on Macs simply because there simply isn't a large enough userbase to warrant the effort to implement them. Windows on the other hand has such a huge marketshare that it is always to target of hackers and viruses.

Give up that superiority complex Steve Jobs has shoved up your back end.


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