In case you haven’t been following, Microsoft is said to be opening up it’s own line of retail stores, similar to what Apple has done and been so successful at.  Personally I think it’s going to be an uphill battle for Microsoft to be able to match the shopping experience that Apple has been able to provide.  Clearly they are going to have to partner with some hardware makers for the actual machines to be used in any retail outlet, since Microsoft doesn’t make the hardware like Apple does.

Here are some links covering Microsoft’s move:

• cnet
• CNN Money
• Washington Post

Brennon Slattery over at the Today @ PC World Blog has posted a very humorous take on the 10 Ways Microsoft’s Retail Stores Will Differ From Apple Stores.  My personal favorite from the list:

7) Fashioned after Microsoft’s User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, sales personnel will ask you whether you’re positive you want to purchase something at least twice.

It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft can make the shopping experience any more pleasant or personal than just going to your local Best Buy to pick up a new PC.

Reports have been streaming in across the internet that Apple’s new iPhone 3G has been developing case cracks already, particularly in the 16GB white model.  Lengthy discussions are ongoing over at MacRumors as well as Apple’s own discussion forums.

Photo courtesy of MacRumors.com

Apple made the choice in the new iPhone 3G to move away from the metal case to a plastic back body in both black and white versions.  There has been speculation that the body is not a typical plastic, but a new ceramic material, as seen in this patent filing from Apple.

I don’t have an iPhone, however the news is troubling as it seems in recent years that Apple’s quality control might be slipping due to it’s growth, as seen in the recent MacBook case cracks.  Now while Apple has never officially come out and admitted the MacBook case cracking was a problem or defect, reports in forums have been positive from users who have been able to get their top cases replaced at an Apple Genius Bar with no questions asked.  If the iPhone case cracking is a defect, I hope Apple does the right thing and takes care of any users with the problem.

Gartner reports on Worldwide and U.S. PC sales markets and the reports show that Apple continues to increase it’s market share in the U.S.  For the second quarter of 2008, Apple has moved into 3rd place for U.S. shipments ahead of the Taiwanese Acer with an 8.5% Market Share.

Table 2
Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q08 (Thousands of Units)

Note: Data includes desk-based PCs, mobile PCs and X86 servers. Acer data includes Gateway’s consumer shipments and Packard Bell shipments.
Source: Gartner (July 2008)

IDC reports similar numbers placing Apple in 4th place just behind Acer in a virtual tie with a market share of 7.8%.

Top 5 Vendors, United States PC Shipments*, Second Quarter 2008 (Preliminary) (Units Shipments are in thousands)

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, July 16, 2008

Apple continues to lag behind in the Worldwide markets, not breaking into the top 5 from either reporting agency.  U.S. growth for Apple continues to surge with growth rates  of 38% and 31% for the second quarter of 2008.

This continues to be good news for Apple in the U.S. market and with new models expected for both the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines in the 3rd quarter, I expect this number to continue increase.

Blog posts across the internet are starting to emerge discussing Apple’s decision to add a MobileMe Preference option to the Windows XP and Windows Vista Control Panels.  Most stories are reminiscent of the debate on Apple’s previous decision to “sneak” it’s Safari web browser to Windows machines running Apple’s Software Update.

While I personally don’t think Apple is doing anything malicious here, I’m sure the debate will rage on as to whether this option is Apple trying to push it’s way into the Windows world and whether it’s tactics of installing software on users machines is right way to do things.  They did take steps to improve the Apple Software Update after the Safari mess to make it more clear to the user that it’s offering New Software if they choose to install it.

Apple does clearly state in the MobileMe requirements that iTunes 7.7 is required for both Macs and Windows PCs.  Apple also states on it’s MobileMe on your PC Features page that:

“Easy setup with the Windows Control Panel. Setting up MobileMe to sync with your PC is simple. Just install the latest version of iTunes, and a MobileMe Preferences application is added to your Windows Control Panel. Sign in with your MobileMe member name and password and all of your settings are right there.”

However, the issue isn’t as much of the requirements, but as to why it’s being installed without the users knowledge.

I personally just upgraded to iTunes 7.7 on my Windows XP machine and sure enough, in the Control Panel are the MobileMe preferences.  Now, being a MobileMe subscriber, I think this integration with Windows is kind of cool on Apple’s part, however, I do see where some people might be upset that it was “slipped” into the Control Panel without their knowledge.

However after glancing through my Control Panel on my XP machine, I noticed the following items that where installed by 3rd Party software without my knowledge that they were adding a Control Panel item:

• Adobe Gamma (from Photoshop)
• Java (from Sun Microsystems)
• NVIDIA Control Panel (from NVIDIA)
• NVIDIA nView Desktop Manager (from NVIDIA)
• Sound Effect Manager (from ASUS)

I think Apple is just trying to make it easy for those that are MobileMe members to access the new features and preferences for the service, and clearly other vendors are using the same technique to install their own Control Panel items.

Personally I would have preferred that Apple only install the MobileMe Control Panel item if I was a MobileMe member and if I told iTunes to do so, otherwise, keep the item bundled within iTunes until needed.  Maybe they should have offered the option from within iTunes to install/uninstall the Control Panel item.  Who knows, much like the fuss from the Safari updates, maybe at some point enough people will complain and that’s just what Apple will do.  For me this doesn’t go just for Apple, but all 3rd party developers.  Give the option to the user as to what you put on my machine.

What are your thoughts?