Since the introduction of Intel-powered Macs, there have been a number of developments promising the ability to run Windows on a Mac. Typically this has either been through a dual-boot approach such as Apple’s own Boot Camp or the run within OS X virtual machine approach of Parallels Desktop.

Now software company Codeweavers, however, is promising the ability to run Windows applications within OS X but without requiring a copy of the Windows OS. The product is CrossOver Mac and looks very interesting.

From the website:

CrossOver Mac allows you to install your favorite Windows applications and games on Mac OS X. CrossOver includes an easy to use, single click interface, which makes installing Windows software simple and fast. Once installed, your application integrates seamlessly in OS X. Just click and run your application directly from the OS X Finder. Clicking a Windows file or document — including email attachments — will launch the appropriate Windows program, allowing you to work on the files. Best of all, you do it all easily and affordably, without needing a Microsoft operating system license.

The software is in beta at the moment and you must have an Intel-powered Mac (dammit!). Codeweavers are offering a free time-limited version for users to play with. Initial reports indicate that for the most part it works OK (well enough for a beta anyway).

If this approach delivers on promise it will be a boon for those who prefer OS X but need to run Windows-only apps such as Microsoft Project. It also holds out the vision of a time where applications and operating systems are largely independent (this is already there in many open source programs).

Of course the real long term question will not be whether to choose OS X, Windows or Linux but whether to go for a hardware-based OS or a web-based one. But that’s for another post.

Ah the heady scent of the incomprehensible part number. It’s taken some time but finally the tide seems to be turning against the SKU-reference-as-product-name.

LG renamed its KG800 phone, Chocolate. Apple has kept the development names (Panther, Tiger etc) for releases of its OSX operating system. And Dyson’s latest ‘hoover’ was named The Ball.

These days, it’s difficult enough for customers to remember even top-level brand names without having to memorise an essentially meaningless product name too. It’s ironic that so many companies spend so much time and money investing in creating the right associations for their brands and then dehumanise them right at the point where a customer needs to buy-in enough to part with some money.

Of course, there are still a lot of 564-3Gz V2s out there but it’s the others that will capture people’s imaginations and increased market share.

With so many companies joining the rush to pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, click fraud is becoming an increasing issue for advertisers. Essentially, click fraud is where a person or PC program repeatedly clicks on a PPC ad to create a false cost for the advertiser. It is also an area where the advertising networks providing PPC services haven’t exactly shined in their attempts to deal with the problem (some speculate that this might have something to do with the fact that they benefit from every click).

Associated Content has a good introductory article on the subject and has some recommendations on how to protect yourself against the problem. Worth a look.

Other useful articles can be found here, here and here.