Me.com belongs to Apple; Vegas iMac deal

[AppleInsider]

Apple's Internet service strategy has become clearer with the transfer of Me.com to the company. Also, Apple has struck a deal for iMacs in a Las Vegas hotel.

Apple's ownership of Me.com

Lending further support to notions that Apple will soon rebrand and overhaul .Mac, Daring Fireball and fellow technology pundits on Twitter have discovered that Me.com is now in Apple's hands.

On Saturday, records show the domain transitioned from any EasyDNS registration to MarkMonitor, a company that manages domain name services for commercial brands -- including Apple and its host domain. MarkMonitor was most recently used to park various MacBook Air-related domains by the electronics maker.

And while it's possible to abuse such registrations, a site report for Me.com points to the domain administrator as Apple's Ken Eddings, the same employee responsible for MobileMe.com as well as many other Apple-owned domains, including iPod.com. Currently, a simple NSLOOKUP command also confirms Eddings' link to the site.

The reason for the acquisition remains unclear, although the switch would give Apple access to a simpler domain than MobileMe.com for any future service; the company's most recent Mail and Safari updates have deliberately left placeholders for .Mac's new name that would allow a simple change.

Recent discoveries in the iPhone SDK have suggested that the future service will include tighter integration with iPhones and iPod touch players.

iMacs to populate Vegas hotel

In a more public deal, the upcoming Fontainebleau hotel in Las Vegas will partner with Apple for a unique addition to its suites, according to a fresh tip sent to TUAW.

The hotel's official brochure (PDF) notes an "innovative relationship" with Apple where each of the 3,889 rooms will have an iMac to "share memories and encourages personal expression." It also suggests a connection between the two companies for online booking and planning as well as interactive content at the hotel itself.

Few details beyond this are available, though the Fontainebleau opens the doors to its Vegas location in the fall.

Apple has a relatively strong presence in Vegas, operating two existing retail stores as well as a planned third store at Caesar's Palace.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[SpamSandwich]

See it's always been about Me, Me, Me!

("Me" is the new "i")

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

iMacs to populate Vegas hotel

In a more public deal, the upcoming Fontainebleau hotel in Las Vegas will partner with Apple for a unique addition to its suites, according to a fresh tip sent to TUAW.

The hotel's official brochure (PDF) notes an "innovative relationship" with Apple where each of the 3,889 rooms will have an iMac to "share memories and encourages personal expression." It also suggests a connection between the two companies for online booking and planning as well as interactive content at the hotel itself.

Few details beyond this are available, though the Fontainebleau opens the doors to its Vegas location in the fall.

Apple has a relatively strong presence in Vegas, operating two existing retail stores as well as a planned third store at Caesar's Palace.

They must be planning on a very limited user interface for the hotel. I can't imagine how much could get screwed up by guests and little kids erasing important files from an iMac...

[NTropy]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

They must be planning on a very limited user interface for the hotel. I can't imagine how much could get screwed up by guests and little kids erasing important files from an iMac...

They may do something like Fry's has done lately. The locks they've put on the UI there seem to make it not much more than the old At Ease. Very little is accessible to the average user.

[satchmo]

Hmm...wonder if this opens the door to usernames like f**k.me.com

[melgross]

While they would likely lok up setting in the machines, it would also likely be done in a more subtle way. You don't need to simplify the interface that much to do it.

It's a good plan though. A lot of people go through those rooms in a year. That gives good exposure to Apple from people who obviously don't mind spending disposable income.

Hopefully, it will be considered a big success by the hotel. If so, perhaps we will see more such deals.

[Wiggin]

I'm curious how this fits in with .Mac. There is certainly very little "me" in the current .Mac offering. I'd bet that most people use if for the Mac-to-Mac sync and the iDisk, and little else. The online PIM clients for contacts and calendars is poor, at best; and just how many people make and maintain their own websites as a personal expression of "me" (vs static, set-it-and-forget-it web pages)?

Are the Me domains a hint that Apple is going to jump into the social networking space? I don't think that would be successful at the current $99/year price. Apple seems loath to allow advertising on their services so there would have to be some sort of fee. Perhaps this isn't simply a rebranding of .Mac, but a complimentary service with different pricing tiers? Maybe basic "Me" interactive, social networking for free with an up-sell to today's .Mac services?

I guess only time will tell...

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by melgross

While they would likely lok up setting in the machines, it would also likely be done in a more subtle way. You don't need to simplify the interface that much to do it.

It's a good plan though. A lot of people go through those rooms in a year. That gives good exposure to Apple from people who obviously don't mind spending disposable income.

Hopefully, it will be considered a big success by the hotel. If so, perhaps we will see more such deals.

Leopard already has Guest accounts that reset themselves automatically when you log out. You can restrict what type of access the guest is allowed, and any files they save or other changes they make are deleted when they are done. I wouldn't imagine it would take too much more tweaking to customize if for hotel use.

[MsNly]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Hmm...wonder if this opens the door to usernames like f**k.me.com

I like your thinking

or if they won't let you have that...

screw.me.com

[quinney]

Originally Posted by Wiggin

Leopard already has Guest accounts that reset themselves automatically when you log out. You can restrict what type of access the guest is allowed, and any files they save or other changes they make are deleted when they are done. I wouldn't imagine it would take too much more tweaking to customize if for hotel use.

or the maid could wipe the HD and reinstall, while she was changing the sheets
before the next occupant checks in.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Wiggin

Leopard already has Guest accounts that reset themselves automatically when you log out. You can restrict what type of access the guest is allowed, and any files they save or other changes they make are deleted when they are done. I wouldn't imagine it would take too much more tweaking to customize if for hotel use.

That's what I'm talking about, though I didn't remember what they called it. The old days are gone, simplified interfaces aren't needed for this, except for young children who might be confused by it.

[Clive At Five]

So AI is becoming a reprint of MacRumors now, I see.

[laurence13]

Originally Posted by quinney

or the maid could wipe the HD and reinstall, while she was changing the sheets
before the next occupant checks in.

Actually, it could be even simpler than that... using ARD it could be tied to the check-in/out system. Last time I stayed at the Venetian you did the check out process using the TV remote... this would be even simpler with the iMac and a real keyboard. As soon as you're out of the room ARD can set the machine to boot off the net-boot server and automatically re-image the machine. Even if this is unnecessary most of the time it would likely be done every time so that no one could leave any data on the machine for future guests. On a gigabit connection re-imaging a machine should only take around 10 minutes even with an entire suite of software installed.

[Joe_the_dragon]

they can deep freeze them like the ones at the apple store are setup.

Also how much will it cost $15 + a day on top of the room rate just for the internet.
$8+ per hour for games. $7 - $9 for movies. $15 + for adult ones.
interactive content that is just same as the in room check out and on screen room Service.

Logenet has been doing that for years and I don't think they will let apple come in.

[SurfRat]

Originally Posted by Clive At Five

So AI is becoming a reprint of MacRumors now, I see.

I've noticed the same thing lately. Makes me wonder why I even have both sites bookmarked.

[city]

<look@me.com!

[melgross]

Originally Posted by SurfRat

I've noticed the same thing lately. Makes me wonder why I even have both sites bookmarked.

Well, MacRumors is just a reprint from other sites! AI also reprints other stuff, because it's all the same news. But MacRumors is far worse.

[jragosta]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

They must be planning on a very limited user interface for the hotel. I can't imagine how much could get screwed up by guests and little kids erasing important files from an iMac...

You don't know much about Macs, do you?

They could simply create a user account with limited access and then have the system boot to that account by default.

That wouldn't prevent someone from rebooting from a CD and reinstalling software or resetting the password, but it wouldn't be easy to prevent that on a Mac (too bad you can't password protect the BIOS like on a PC).

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

See it's always been about Me, Me, Me!

("Me" is the new "i")

Me is the service i is the product

[Joe_the_dragon]

Originally Posted by jragosta

You don't know much about Macs, do you?

They could simply create a user account with limited access and then have the system boot to that account by default.

That wouldn't prevent someone from rebooting from a CD and reinstalling software or resetting the password, but it wouldn't be easy to prevent that on a Mac (too bad you can't password protect the BIOS like on a PC).

you can put a password on that.

[ALPICH]

Originally Posted by city

<look@me.com!

I like this one because if we can buy 'me' emails it will be @me. And on that note I would be going for

<Dont_Laugh@me.com
<Please_Laugh@me.com
<Smile@me.com
<Its_all_about_me@me.com
<Here's_looking@me.com
<Holla@me.com
<Dontz_Shoot@me.com

But my favourite would be

<Who_threw_that@me.com
<U_Lookin@me.com
<R_U_Looking@me.com

[Slewis]

Null.

[lundy]

Originally Posted by jragosta

You don't know much about Macs, do you?

They could simply create a user account with limited access and then have the system boot to that account by default.

That wouldn't prevent someone from rebooting from a CD and reinstalling software or resetting the password, but it wouldn't be easy to prevent that on a Mac (too bad you can't password protect the BIOS like on a PC).

But you can, easily. OS X has always had this feature. Many high schools use a firmware password to prevent the kids from booting from DVD to change the Admin password, booting into single-user to tear shit up, holding down Option to boot from an attached disk, etc. All of those can be disabled in the firmware settings.

There are various levels of security that the firmware allows. One of the features is that a firmware password can be required to change these settings.

There is of course a way to bypass it (you can't have a lock that the owner of the machine can't unlock), but that is left as an exercise for the reader.

[Johnny Mozzarella]

Originally Posted by jragosta

You don't know much about Macs, do you?

They could simply create a user account with limited access and then have the system boot to that account by default.

That wouldn't prevent someone from rebooting from a CD and reinstalling software or resetting the password, but it wouldn't be easy to prevent that on a Mac (too bad you can't password protect the BIOS like on a PC).

Yes, Apple has spent years building a super advanced operating system and killer hardware, but forgot to include a firmware password.

Or maybe they have had that feature for more than a decade. Hmmm?

[Ireland]

I'm gonna bet the new email address won't be @me, simply because the whole thing sounds stupid.

Logging in to .Mac

Logging in to Me? Sounds crazy!!? It would confuse people.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Joe_the_dragon

you can put a password on that.

Guess he doesn't know much about Macs.

[okram23]

if any of you have ever stayed at the westin in chicago they already have imacs in every room. its pretty simple. they let you use photobooth and stuff and it just gets wipped out by the maid i guess.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by jcsegenmd

This is amazing. Las Vegas has (will soon have) THREE Apple stores and all (ALL) of Europe has one?????

Wow

Who is planning Apple's global strategy?

It's no wonder that Apple has such a small market share internationally…no stores…no translations of the slick adverts that work so well in English-speaking countries…basically a lack of marketing presence. I went to Rome's store (which has the only Apple store on the continent) two weeks ago; I took the metro to the end of the line, then a bus for half an hour, then hoofed the last mile and a half to the Rome Est mall to a store vastly oversized for the volume of traffic that I saw on that particular day

The "mall strategy" that works so well in the States, where everybody has a car, isn't as effective in countries where the centre of a city is often its hub of commerce. Will somebody please whisper in Steve's ear that he needs to hire someone with expertise in high-end boutique sales in Europe, e.g., Mont Blanc, ideally Swiss (they generally speak German, French, and English as minimums, and often Italian and as well).

Three stores in Vegas?

Ooh. I didn't know that about the Vegas stores... May as well take advantage of the no state tax. They'll be popular.

[jcsegenmd]

This is amazing. Las Vegas has (will soon have) THREE Apple stores and all (ALL) of Europe has one?????

Wow

Who is planning Apple's global strategy?

It's no wonder that Apple has such a small market share internationally…no stores…no translations of the slick adverts that work so well in English-speaking countries…basically a lack of marketing presence. I went to Rome's store (which has the only Apple store on the continent) two weeks ago; I took the metro to the end of the line, then a bus for half an hour, then hoofed the last mile and a half to the Rome Est mall to a store vastly oversized for the volume of traffic that I saw on that particular day

The "mall strategy" that works so well in the States, where everybody has a car, isn't as effective in countries where the centre of a city is often its hub of commerce. Will somebody please whisper in Steve's ear that he needs to hire someone with expertise in high-end boutique sales in Europe, e.g., Mont Blanc, ideally Swiss (they generally speak German, French, and English as minimums, and often Italian and as well).

Three stores in Vegas?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by jcsegenmd

This is amazing. Las Vegas has (will soon have) THREE Apple stores and all (ALL) of Europe has one?????

Wow

Who is planning Apple's global strategy?

It's no wonder that Apple has such a small market share internationally…no stores…no translations of the slick adverts that work so well in English-speaking countries…basically a lack of marketing presence. I went to Rome's store (which has the only Apple store on the continent) two weeks ago; I took the metro to the end of the line, then a bus for half an hour, then hoofed the last mile and a half to the Rome Est mall to a store vastly oversized for the volume of traffic that I saw on that particular day

The "mall strategy" that works so well in the States, where everybody has a car, isn't as effective in countries where the centre of a city is often its hub of commerce. Will somebody please whisper in Steve's ear that he needs to hire someone with expertise in high-end boutique sales in Europe, e.g., Mont Blanc, ideally Swiss (they generally speak German, French, and English as minimums, and often Italian and as well).

Three stores in Vegas?

They go where the money is being spent.

I did think that Apple had several more stores in Europe though,

We do know that several have been planned.

[fastred]

Originally Posted by jcsegenmd

This is amazing. Las Vegas has (will soon have) THREE Apple stores and all (ALL) of Europe has one?????

Wrong. There are 16 Apple Stores in the UK alone. 1 in Italy, and many more planned. Facts. Help.

[GuillaumeB]

Then it's even more stupid to spread them all in the UK and it only emphasizes their lack of translations in their marketing strategy....

The UK certainly are not the biggest market in Europe especially if you combine France, Germany, Spain & co

[melgross]

Originally Posted by GuillaumeB

Then it's even more stupid to spread them all in the UK and it only emphasizes their lack of translations in their marketing strategy....

The UK certainly are not the biggest market in Europe especially if you combine France, Germany, Spain & co

You think you know more about their marketing, and where their customers are, than they do? There are, no doubt, good reasons for doing what they do. I don't pretend to understand how they figure this out, but it's pretty clear that they find the UK to be more lucrative than the continent at this time.

It's also likely that it's easier to open stores in the UK. The rules are closer to what they are here.

I'd like to know the breakdown of sales, country by country, there. I don't remember Apple doing that in the quarterly reports.

[Lorre]

Originally Posted by fastred

Wrong. There are 16 Apple Stores in the UK alone. 1 in Italy, and many more planned. Facts. Help.

And Belgium already has pseudo-Apple stores.

http://www.switchshops.be/

This is a retail chain that sells just apple, and they're doing a good job at it. They offer crash courses for pretty much everything Mac related and take the edu discounts et all. They're probably very closely tied to Apple.
I'm pretty sure retail chains like this exist in other countries too. Apple won't compete with these guys.

[Cubert]

Any takers on how long until someone uses the iSight camera to film their own Paris Hilton-style porn?

[sapporobaby]

Originally Posted by jcsegenmd

This is amazing. Las Vegas has (will soon have) THREE Apple stores and all (ALL) of Europe has one?????

Wow

Who is planning Apple's global strategy?

It's no wonder that Apple has such a small market share internationally…no stores…no translations of the slick adverts that work so well in English-speaking countries…basically a lack of marketing presence. I went to Rome's store (which has the only Apple store on the continent) two weeks ago; I took the metro to the end of the line, then a bus for half an hour, then hoofed the last mile and a half to the Rome Est mall to a store vastly oversized for the volume of traffic that I saw on that particular day

The "mall strategy" that works so well in the States, where everybody has a car, isn't as effective in countries where the centre of a city is often its hub of commerce. Will somebody please whisper in Steve's ear that he needs to hire someone with expertise in high-end boutique sales in Europe, e.g., Mont Blanc, ideally Swiss (they generally speak German, French, and English as minimums, and often Italian and as well).

Three stores in Vegas?

What???? There are 4 Apple stores and combined service centers in Helsinki alone. There is even one retail store that sells Apple products. Not sure where you are getting your info from but you are wrong.

[Bageljoey]

Originally Posted by GuillaumeB

The UK certainly are not the biggest market in Europe especially if you combine France, Germany, Spain & co

Thats true! And, to further your logic, California is not their biggest market in the US if you combine Texas, New York, & co!

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by Clive At Five

So AI is becoming a reprint of MacRumors now, I see.

I always thought this was MacRumor's Mirror site ...

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by Bageljoey

Thats true! And, to further your logic, California is not their biggest market in the US if you combine Texas, New York, & co!

Well that would depend if you count people or let the Supreme Court decide ...

[ncee]

Originally Posted by MsNly

I like your thinking

or if they won't let you have that...

screw.me.com

screwu.com
screwi.com
iscrew.com
iscrewu.com
iscrewanything.com
iscrewanyone.com
screwuscrewme.com
screwme - screwu.com
screwpc.com
screwmicrosoft.com
igotscrewed.com

sorry I could do this all day.com