Around the Web

Today’s highlights include: iPhone Q1 marketshare impacted as RIM, others engage in pre-3G model fight back, IDC explains; Adobe gets agile with Acrobat; Steve Jobs safe from options fall-out; Safari and Mac usage up; and Intel pushes WiMax and Centrino 2 at Computex. Oh yeah, Microsoft tells Windows users to avoid Safari, citing S.E.C.U.R.I.T.Y., because Windows is so incredibly secure without the Apple browser (yeah, right..).

iPhone Q1 marketshare

IDC reports Apple’s iPhone took 19.2 per cent of the US smartphone market in the first quarter, down from 26.7 per cent in the Christmas quarter of 2007. Research In Motion’s BlackBerry took 44.5 per cent in the first quarter, the analysts said. While being reported as some kind of tragedy, it’s pretty clear that most potential iPhone customers are now simply waiting for the 3G model, so we anticipate the marketshare equation will soon see change, it’s just a blip, we reckon.

Adobe Acrobat

Making another move to develop its online software-as-service platform/offering (AJAX, AIR, Flash et al.), Adobe’s introduced a new version of Acrobat that’s equipped with Flash support and other high-end design features. Boosting the software release, the company’s also opened up its Acrobat.com service, a free beta trial of PDF-based online collaboration, creation, storage, web conferncing and management tools as it keeps pushing the paperless office pipedream.

Steve Jobs – safe?

Well, according to Forbes, Apple CEO Steve Jobs now seems unlikely to be slammed with a US government lawsuit over stock options backdating irregularities at both Apple and Pixar. Seems SEC don’t want to take one of the most famous US businessmen down. Action has been taken against former Apple and Pixar execs, though.

Safari, Mac usage climbs

Safari usage online crossed 6 per cent for the first time last month as Mac use continues to climb online, says Net Applications. The figures? Mac OS takes 7.83 per cent, iPhone 0.16 per cent, iPod touch grabs 0.03 per cent while Safari achieves a record new 6.25 per cent marketshare.

Intel pushing WiMax

We know we’re possibly ahead of the curve in speculating Apple plans to push WiMax in future devices and computers, but with key partner Intel seemingly utterly determined to generate mass deployment of such devices and systems, we can’t believe the two firms don’t discuss it from time to time. This week, Intel will show Centrino 2 laptops equipped with WiMax support at Computex. It’s just a shame the Centrino 2 processor’s been delayed until later in the year.

Microsoft’s anti-Safari security salvo

This makes us laugh. Microsoft’s warning Windows users to avoid Apple’s Safari web browser on their platform. Why? Because a recently disclosed flaw can let attackers fill up a victim’s desktop with malicious .exe files. We reckon a safer bet for Windows users is to "ex-" Windows – and these days the market seems to agree…

IMAGE: We plan on using a picture of Award-winning artist, Adam Reeder ‘s sculpture, Pan With His iPod, which took first place in San Francisco Academy of Art University’s Annual Spring Show this year. Sculptor explains, "In mythology Pan played his flute and danced in the woods. In my sculpture, the flute is replaced with an iPod. The nature of Pan hasn’t changed, but the context in which he is seen has changed. The technology has changed what Pan is doing." (We’re just tinkering with the site at present, and images are a little troublesome…sorry…