• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 1 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 1-2 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 2 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 3-1 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 3-2 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 4 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 5-1 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 5-2 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 6 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 7-1 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Part 7-2 of 7
• Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together – Highlights

These videos give great insight into the two companies and how they deal with each other. They provide some funny jabs at each other through the interview, but you can definitely tell these guys have respect for each other.

Very interesting to me was in Part 2 where Steve Jobs talks about one of the primary things he had to change in the Apple culture when he returned to the company was the idea that Microsoft had to die off for Apple to succeed. He properly mentioned that Apple is not going to kill off Microsoft and that Microsoft happens to be the single largest provider of Mac software outside of Apple itself.

Steve Jobs has a great sense of humor. Together this makes for a very interesting interview. It’ll take you about an hour to watch all of these videos, but its an interesting interview to watch when you have the time.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

Steve Jobs And Bill Gates: Together and Not Killing Each Other

Commonly seen advertised with these utilities are free scans. These free scans are small applications which will scan your computer looking for outpoints. In order to repair any of the issues it finds, you would need to purchase the full version. Some of our users have reported issues removing the free scan software. Others have reported issues in getting in touch with Uniblue regarding their order. These complaints were, by no means, rampant compared to the quantity of business done, however it was enough to take notice. For this reason, we were interested in tossing a few questions at Uniblue in the form of an interview. We wanted to get their direct take on some of these issues and learn a little more about the company.

Below is my interview of Johan Malmberg, VP of Product Strategy at Uniblue Systems.

1.Can you give me a brief history of Uniblue? How many employees does Uniblue have and where are you located?
CEO, Bosse Malmberg, launched Uniblue in 2003 with a clear vision to bring simplicity and clarity, and maybe a dash of fun, to the two unnecessarily complicated, yet essential, fields of PC security and performance. Uniblue employs around 70 staff and is based in Malta, a country in the central Mediterranean, where IT is a driving force and English is an official language.

2.Uniblue products are all sold online, correct? Any movement toward shelf-available software?
That’s correct, yes. Our eCommerce partner, Digital River Inc. handles the majority of our online transactions. We are going to continue with an online emphasis, as the model works extremely well for us, however RegistryBooster is available to buy in stores across the USA, and we will soon have a presence in Europe too.

3.What kind of resources does Uniblue use to stay on top of Windows processes, spyware threats and other changes in the industry that affect your products?
We offer a free tool at our site www.processlibrary.com; ProcessScanner scans a user’s PC, and as well as providing users with information on what is running on their PC, it also helps us to stay on top of new processes and threats as they appear. When a new process, threat or DLL is identified, it is passed to a team of dedicated reviewers who conduct in-depth research and analysis and then update the ProcessLibrary database on a daily basis with any new findings.

4.What kind of testing procedures does Uniblue have in place to ensure that products like Registry Booster do not mess up users’ computers? How do you guard against false positives?
Once a product is ready for release, then it goes into our fully equipped “Test Lab”, where it’s rigorously tested on a wide variety of hardware, supported Windows Operating Systems and on a number of virtual machines. The product is only released when we are 100% satisfied that it meets all criteria. We eliminate false positives during scans by drawing on our extensive research with ProcessLibrary, and also work with our vendor partners in this area. We always aim to cast the widest net possible to keep up-to-date on these issues.

5.What is your policy on online advertising and spam? Some of our users have reported getting spammed by Uniblue. PC Mechanic has advertised for Uniblue in the past and I know we are not spamming anyone, but I cannot speak for any other places where you guys may advertise. Do you place controls over the activity of your affiliates and monitor their activities?
Here at Uniblue, we have strict anti-spam policies which comply with anti-spam laws. We do not send spam, nor do we tolerate it – in any way – from any affiliate. All affiliates are mentored and monitored by account managers, who discuss with them how they will promote our products. If something falls outside our policy, then we do not allow them to utilize the method in question. Also, our affiliates must gain approval from us before they undertake activities concerning our products. Additionally, all affiliates sell through One Network Direct, a Digital River company, with an excellent reputation in the field of affiliate marketing which also imposes its own rigorous standards on affiliates.

6.Some of our users have reported difficulties in removing the free system scan software from their computers. Is there anything done to the free evaluation versions of your software that is designed to make them difficult to uninstall? How do you respond to these users. And what is the different between the free scans and the full versions?
We are aware that some users who utilized trial versions (free scans) had difficulty in uninstalling the software. This wasn’t intentional, and this was caused by the fact that the software was running in the System Tray when the user tried to delete the program. This wasn’t clear to many users, and, once alerted, we acted on it immediately. In response, we have developed a new feature which closes the program automatically when the user starts to uninstall. These free scans are diagnostic; RegistryBooster alerts the user to any potential problems in the registry, and SpeedUpMyPC tells the user if their PC performance can be improved. Clients can then install the full versions to actually fix any identified issues.

7.Some of our users have reported issues getting in touch with Uniblue to deal with support or billing questions. Can you please provide full details on how customers can contact Uniblue support to deal with issues with their purchases?
We have recently re-launched the Uniblue.com website, with clear and simple navigation. Our support team handle all inquiries from prospective and current customers. There has always been a dedicated section for support on the website, but it’s even clearer on the new website: www.liutilities.com/support/. The company’s Contact page also directs you straight to support. The FAQs on the support section of the website are updated constantly to reflect the most common questions asked by our customers.

8.Does Uniblue have direct ways for customers to interact with your development team? For example, reporting unknown Windows processes, new spyware threats, or perhaps unknown results on registry scans?
Yes – all queries sent to support are logged, and any to do with development are forwarded to the QA team who will investigate further and then compile a bug or to-do list for the development team. Sometimes fixes may take a while to be uploaded, as we tend to release a number of them in a single upgrade to the version. Any suggestions about possible enhancements to our products are reviewed carefully by the product strategy department. If anyone wished to get in contact, please go to the support section of the website: www.liutilities.com/support/ticket/ , and create a ticket.

9.How has Uniblue been dealing with the release of Windows Vista? Has Vista been any kind of a curveball for Uniblue or is the transition for Uniblue’s products fairly seamless?
New operating systems always present a challenge for software companies, and we were gearing up for Vista for quite some time. RegistryBooster 2, SpeedUpMyPC 3, SpyEraser and PowerSuite are all Vista compatible, and the biggest test was ensuring that they were all OK on the new OS. That was quite a job for our QA team. Being a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner certainly helps when faced with such a transition.

10.Lastly, I thank you for fielding a few tough questions. Can we end off by having you tell us about any future plans for Uniblue. What can we expect from Uniblue as we end the year and move into 2008?
Thanks, David for giving us the opportunity to speak to you. The coming months into the next year will be an exciting period for us. ProcessLibrary is being re-launched on a faster platform, and in several other languages – French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. WinTasks is being launched as a totally new product called TaskForce, and www.localcooling.com – the free initiative for PC Users to fight climate change – is coming out of Beta. We are continually striving to improve existing products and offerings, and we have several new products in the development stage.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

Interview: Uniblue, Makers of Registry Booster

Being that Chris now does almost everything in video, he went ahead and answered our interview questions live on the air and recorded it. So, below is a summary of his answers and the full recorded video of PC Mechanic’s interview with Chris Pirillo.

Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes

• A lot has been said about Windows Vista and whether it is ready for prime time or not. I believe you have recently downgraded to Windows XP (as have I), and you have made no secret about your frustrations with Vista. Do you think Vista will eventually be as accepted as XP, or are we looking at the beginning of the end for Windows? This is a good question. Overall, I think Vista will eventually be as widely accepted as XP. It will probably take a couple of years though.
• What, if anything, do you think Microsoft needs to do differently in their next version of Windows? In a word… EVERYTHING! Put the backward compatibility into a Virtual Machine. At this point, Microsoft needs something completely new and different in order to compete. I’m not sure whether they are going to be able to do this or not.
• I noticed you’re using your MacBook a lot. Are you turning into a dedicated Mac user? Do you plan to ditch Windows altogether when Leopard arrives? The answer to that is… possibly. I’m looking for a sponsor for a new Mac Pro. I already have one designed, and know exactly what I need. If I get one with Leopard on it, then I will be making the official switch.
• Do you have any thoughts about the closed nature of Apple? Sure, their machines may run well but that is because they control both hardware and software. Apple makes Microsoft look like an open book. Any thoughts? You are right in one way. That concerns me about Apple… the fact that they are closed in nature. It creates a great user experience, yes. However at some point you have to let it go. The iPhone has been virtually crippled because of the fact that it is so closed. Developers are in the right to complain loudly about Apple not allowing outside development software. It would make Apple even better in my opinion if it were to be more open.
• Do you think Apple hardware is much more expensive than PC hardware? Or… do you agree with some of our Mac readers when they say that is a myth? It’s a myth, yes. People who complain about expensive hardware are probably using cheap end model PCs. There are a lot of variables at play. A good gaming rig is going to cost you a lot more than any Mac ever will.
• Did you build your own computer? Do you upgrade a lot, or do you tend to stick with a machine for awhile? I used to be into building them, but then I got away from it. You never know who to blame when there is a problem. Is it the hardware? Are the drivers to blame? It just got to be too much of a nightmare. Buying off the shelf is easy, as long as you get the right components.
• Your live webcam feed is obviously a hit. What is it like having your office broadcast to the internet all day? Have you had any concerns about privacy? I had to go out and order a separate SDSL connection to dedicate specifically to the video stream. The Comcast business service I have just isn’t enough for me to run everything I need to. There are always privacy concerns, of course. As long as I keep my layers of protection in place, I’m ok.
• You are obviously well known for Lockergnome, but also for your stint on TechTV. I have to ask – has any thought gone into your current online video work evolving into an internet-based TechTV-ish network? Well, this is pretty much what I’ve done, really. I’m trying to do my best to integrate the community in as many ways as possible, and to help our members.
• Lastly, you’re from the Seattle area. Why is Peets coffee so much better than Starbucks? Let’s put it this way… you could go to the Outback to get a steak. But will it be a “good” steak? Well, maybe. In my opinion, not so much. I equate Starbucks to McDonald’s. It’s consistent, but it’s not quality. I want excellent tasting coffee, and Peets gives me that. I’ve tried many different stores, chains, brands… and none of them compare. Peets is just outstanding. You can even order it online!

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

Interview: Chris Pirillo, from Lockergnome

Signing up is free, and feel free to give it a try by sending me a message. You will notice that our “Ask a Question” page is using the Eyejot widget for people to send us video email.

So, without further smoke blowing of my own, I bring you David Geller, of Eyejot.

What work have you done in the field of email before you started Eyejot?

I founded a company named WhatCounts in 2000 that’s one of the leading permission email firms. We’ve differentiated our solutions by offering, very early, an extensive set of APIs and, later, an appliance solution for customers wanting to get away from the metered pricing models typical of email ASPs. Today WhatCounts services such well known organizations as Costco, Alaska Airlines, The Seattle Times, The Chicago Sun Time, Voice of America (in dozens of languages), and hundreds of other media and retail firms. Before WhatCounts I was an investor and CTO at Altrec.com, an earlier etailer in the outdoor and recreation space and prior to that was a Director at Starwave, a Paul Allen company famous for creating ESPN.com, ABCNews.com, TheStreet.com and many other high profile sites. Starwave merged with search vendor Infoseek before being bought by Disney. And, before that I was at Traveling Software, famous for Laplink. In all of these positions email campaign management has played an important role – either as something I had to develop or use.

How did Eyejot get started?

I was sitting around one day lamenting the fact that email sometimes plays a role in complicating conversations between people. We all use email, of course. But, quite often, especially in business situations, it’s too easy for the wrong message to get conveyed simply because it’s hard to properly impart tone in the typical emails we write. I was thinking how easy, and natural, video chat conversations have always seemed. The problem with them, of course, is that it’s often challenging to get both parties connected at the same time – and using compatible solutions. I like to tell people that video chat is great for parents with small children in that it gives distant relatives the chance to see one another – especially grandparents. However, good luck finding compatible times – and times when four year olds, especially, feel like chatting! So, Eyejot offers a real solution to a real problem – marrying email and video to provide an asynchronous solution that’s convenient but still affords the sender and receiver the chance to exchange and enjoy complex sentiments. Put another way, Eyejot video messages are easy and, for many people, fun. Good for families and, it turns out, businesses connecting distant works and service providers wanting to put a more “human face” on their messaging.

Eyejot is currently a web-based service. Are there any plans to provide better integration into an email client application like Outlook?

That’s a great question, and one my friends at Microsoft ask often. Surprisingly, it’s not one we hear through other channels, especially among consumers. I think it may be due, in part, to the dramatic rise in the number of browser-based solutions and tools we’re all using. Whether that means consumer and social platforms like Facebook or business oriented tools like Salesforce.com. Clearly, though, integration with traditional email clients has a place, and I think we’ll address it when we have a chance. We have so many features we’re working on. That’s just not one of the top ones, right now. I can say, though, that Adobe has made our job of creating desktop applications much easier with their AIR platform, and we’ve done some experimenting. Stay tuned!

What would you say is the leading barrier to people using video email rather than the traditional written word?

Getting in front of a camera too early in the morning or on a bad hair day! Joking aside, though, I think it depends upon context. If you’re, for example, sending an Eyejot to a college buddy or close family member, it might not matter that you’re wearing a sweatshirt, have a cap on or look, well, casual. They expect it. It’s natural. Of course, if you’re sending an Eyejot as part of a business introduction or to a team or group of colleagues, it’s important to be less casual. I’m confident in suggesting that sending video messages will grow in popularity. Probably dramatically over the next few years. Voice mail evolved in similar ways. Email, too, went through a growing phase when people said “why don’t you just pick up the phone and call.” Of course we know, today, that the very asynchronous, passive aspect of email is what contributed to it being so powerful and widely used.

Do you have any interesting examples of people using Eyejot?

One of the early surprises we discovered was that Eyejot is used by the hearing impaired community as a way of delivering messages using sign language. That wasn’t just surprising – it was satisfying knowing we were helping make it easier for some people to communicate. We also like to hear about distant relatives now having a new way to communicate or families with loved ones serving in the military now having a better way of exchanging very personal messages and feelings in ways email simply can’t.

How do you see the use of email evolving in the future? Has the medium pretty much topped out?

I don’t think it has has topped out at all. It certainly has evolved, and will continue to do so. The iPhone is a great example. Here’s a platform that, very quickly, has given email exposure to a broad base of mobile consumer users. Of course, business users have benefited from Blackberry devices for years. But now you have average people picking up devices, like the iPhone, and getting access to their email. And, in the case of iPhones, Blackberry Pearl and Curves, and Windows Mobile devices video messages through Eyejots! We launched mobile Eyejot (http://m.eyejot.com) last month. Right now it’s one-way; basically a video inbox on a mobile device – but we’ll deploy enhancements to that soon.

It would be great to see Eyejot integrated into something like Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail. It would all be web based. Any thoughts?

Agreed. And, I’m confident functionality like Eyejot will appear in all of those platforms, in time. We can’t be the solution for all of them, but we intend to play a major role in providing video messaging for ISPs, email providers and social networks. We’ve already completed some integration projects of this nature which will be revealed, publicly, soon.

Are you a Mac guy or a PC guy, and why?

That’s like asking an audio guy if he buys Bang & Olufsen or Radio Shack. Mac, of course! It’s funny. I made the switch when my five year old daughter was born. I had been a Unix guy in the early 80s and then a hard-core Windows programmer (building Windows applications starting with version 2) for many years. I had, at the time, nothing bad to say about Windows – especially as it matured through Windows 95 and then XP. But, even back in 2002, I thought that the Mac and OS X were better, more elegant and more stable. I wanted to try doing some home movie and photo projects when my daughter was born and thought the 12″ Mac portable would be better than my Sony Vaio. It was, and I’ve never looked back. Today I use a Macbook Pro with 4GB RAM for pretty much everything – even running XP sometimes. Its built-in camera makes using Eyejot really easy! And when I’m not on the Macbook Pro, I’m reading email, using Facebook and Twitter, and browsing the web on my iPhone.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

Interview: Eyejot.com CEO, David Geller