During the same week that Microsoft announces that they would be removing support for UEFI from Windows Vista, some hackers finally establish a method to install Windows XP on Intel Macs (legally, I might add!).

That is exciting, and the timing is of course very comforting.

I was naturally livid when I read about Microsoft pulling UEFI support from Windows Vista on March 14. For many users who highly prefer Mac OS X but want the flexibility to use Windows when necessary, the Intel transition was an excitement followed by frustration when we realized that Windows XP was not cognizant of UEFI. For us, Windows Vista seemed the best, cleanest solution. eWeek’s David Morgenstern holds that Microsoft’s EFI pullback is Apple’s gain, which is a positive attitude but I don’t feel there is much realistic validity to his opinion; Vista’s EFI-lessness gives Mac users one more bullet on their bragging rights list. That helps us dual-boot Windows on our Macs how? And it makes Windows users wish they were running OS X for what major benefits?

Furthermore, Microsoft is not expressing any interest in expediting the development of a Universal, Intel native version of Virtual PC.

Although there have been understandable and reasonable explanations for both of these scenarios that are unrelated to Microsoft’s interest in the success of the new Macs, the zeal in us loyalists moves us to irritation and suspicion that Microsoft may be making a passive/aggressive move to frustrate the Intel transition.

Alas, another day, another innovation in this incredibly busy year in the Apple universe. Some hackers have finally been able to answer the challenge on OnMac.net to successfully get Windows XP installed on an Intel Mac! He has posted photos and even a video as proof of accomplishment, in addition to the required patched files and instructions. At this point, it has been tested and verified by numerous sources and testers.

My need to purchase a new PC just vanished.. Sorry, Dell!

Article: Web Site Reports Intel Mac Dual-Boot Breakthrough.

Having a “robot companion” in my office, as bizarre as it sounds, actually could be really useful, or at least, entertaining. But when I read about how SCOTY works, I wonder why my Mac can’t already do the things he can do.

I read about SCOTY in the PC Magazine article, “WowWee Unveils First Robot Media Hub“. He can greet you, speak to you, play your music for you, and even read your email to you. Hey, some of those things would be kind of nifty! How nice would it be to just step into the office, and after being recognized and greeted, say “Play my ‘Soft Music’ mix” or “Read my new email” and have it happen? Beam me up, SCOTY!

Then I realized that the actual physical element of SCOTY is actually unimpressive. It is just a mess of microphones, speakers, and cameras, tied together with a plastic metal frame with lights and a couple motors to keep the camera pointed at you.

Take out a couple of those luxuries (namely, the lights and the motor for the camera), and what’s SCOTY got that my Mac with an iSight doesn’t have? It has a camera, microphone, and speakers. The rest of SCOTY’s impressive behavior is managed by software, even the facial and speech recognition, and the interface for communication.

Furthermore, I already know the groundwork is there in Mac OS technology for handling speech recognition and synthesis.

So why can’t I have a SoftSCOTY on my Mac? Read my mail. Run my iTunes. All the functionality is there. I just need an app that ties them together and throws in a speech communication interface.

Mac software uberdevelopers, make it happen!