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   ExtraBITS for 21 January 2013

   TidBITS Staff

   On the Web and in the news this week, Adam Engst is interviewed about
   publishing on the Generational podcast, Rene Ritchie at iMore argues
   that Apple is ready to fend off attacks from competitors in a unique
   way, and Dell CEO Michael Dell, who once famously advocated Apple shut
   itself down, is reportedly looking to push for a buyout of his company
   to private equity firms.

   [1]Adam Engst Discusses Publishing on the Generational Podcast -- In
   this lengthy but engaging discussion with Generational's host Gabe
   Weatherhead, Adam Engst shares numerous thoughts about writing,
   editing, and publishing, with forays into specifics about customer
   service, the use of DRM as a platform lock-in, issues with iBooks
   Author, why small publishers must build their own audiences, the role
   of different people in the publishing process, how we choose book
   topics, why outlines are important, and much more.

   [2]Read/post comments

   [3]Vincible: iMore on What Apple Faces in 2013 -- At iMore, Rene
   Ritchie looks at the fusillades being thrown at Apple so far in 2013 '
   endless nonsensical punditry, rumors of iPhone production cutbacks,
   possible stock price manipulation ' and how everyone is attacking the
   supposedly invincible market leader. He argues that Apple is fighting
   against psychology as much as competing products, and points out the
   company's edge. Ritchie writes: 'But here's the thing ' Apple has been
   here before. They've been to the very bottom, and they came back. Apple
   knows they're beatable ' that everyone is beatable ' and they know how
   to fight their way back. It's part of them now.'

   [4]Read/post comments

   [5]Dell to Take Its Own Advice? -- On 6 October 1997, Michael Dell, the
   CEO of Dell Inc., when asked how he would fix the then-struggling Apple
   Computer, told an audience at the Gartner Symposium that, were he in
   charge at Apple, he would 'shut it down and give the money back to the
   shareholders.' Now, Bloomberg reports that Dell is said to be in buyout
   talks with private equity firms. Meanwhile, the once-beleaguered Apple
   has something in the neighborhood of $123 billion in cash and
   securities on hand, according to its last financial statement.

   [6]Read/post comments

References

   1. http://www.70decibels.com/generational/2013/1/20/018-digital-publishing-with-adam-engst.html
   2. http://tidbits.com/article/13513#comments
   3. http://www.imore.com/vincible
   4. http://tidbits.com/article/13510#comments
   5. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-14/dell-is-said-be-in-buyout-discussions-with-private-equity-firms.html
   6. http://tidbits.com/article/13497#comments