New & Noteworthy: Apple 'Undisputed Leader'; StarOffice

Story Straight; Real's Open Source Bid; iPod Wins Shootout

Apple 'undisputed leader' The BBC has posted a piece proclaiming Apple as an "undisputed leader" in the multimedia field. An excerpt: "In America, Apple has started a no-holds-barred campaign at bus stops and on TV which takes direct aim at Microsoft. The fighting is certain to become fiercer in the months to come. It is clear the digital hub, on whatever platform, is becoming a major trend in computing." More.

StarOffice story straight Sun's representative apparently mis-spoke last week in his explanation to reporters that Apple and Sun were collaborating on a new version of StarOffice for Mac OS X. According to a NewsFactor report: "Volunteers were unhappy because they felt they had been blindsided by Sun, which had assured them it had no plans for a Mac version of StarOffice. According to Ed Peterlin, the lead programmer for the Mac OS X port, they would have expected to hear this news from Sun long before reading about it in the media." More.

Real's open source bid A CNET article draws a comparison between RealNetworks' current open-source initiative and Apple's Darwin project, which fostered development of both Mac OS X and the QuickTime Streaming Server. The article reads "Even critics who concede that Darwin was successful in shaping a well-received operating system contend that the QuickTime open-source streaming effort has been a disappointment." More.

iPod wins in shootout The San Francisco Gate has published a detailed review comparing three portable music players, including Apple's 20 GB iPod and the Rio Riot. Noting exceptional speed, ease-of-use, and form factor, the author writes "Apple has finally decided to produce iPods for Windows. And after getting an early peek last week at the latest models, it's clear the iPod will continue to set the pace." More.