Santa Claus is Coming...

[MacRumors]

For unexplained reasons, SantaClaus.com (http://www.santaclaus.com) is presently pointing to Apple.com

The SantaClaus.com domain is owned by Coral Technologies Inc.

[DHagan4755]

weird

[scem0]

just wondering, but how did you figure out about this?

Just randomly going to santaclaus.com?

Well, that is very strange. Maybe an error?

[nosaj72]

Perhaps it has something with the Will Ferrell / Santa Claus ad on the front page of the apple site perhaps?

[ChicagoMac]

It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)

[benjaminpg]

Originally posted by ChicagoMac
It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)

Once again, a hacker is not necessarily someone who tries to break into servers with malicious intent. This is how it is used often but its true meaning is outlined below. For those of you who are too lazy to read it, it says that it is a dedicated programmer.

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02):

hacker

<person, jargon> (Originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe)

1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.

2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about programming.

3. A person capable of appreciating hack value.

4. A person who is good at programming quickly.

5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in "a Unix hacker". (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.)

6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example.

7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.

8. (Deprecated) A malicious meddler who tries to discover sensitive information by poking around. Hence "password hacker", "network hacker". The correct term is cracker. The term "hacker" also tends to connote membership in the global community defined by the net (see The Network and Internet address). It also implies that the person described is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic. It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe oneself that way. Hackers consider themselves something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though one to which new members are gladly welcome. Thus while it is gratifying to be called a hacker, false claimants to the title are quickly labelled as "bogus" or a "wannabee".



Notice definition 8 is deprecated.

[skunk]

Presumably the derivation is from "hacking your way in" (rather than using the front door). Therefore your definitions 1 thru 6 are questionable.

[dricci]

Maybe the owner of the domain had nothing else to do with it and is an Apple fan?

[guenesis]

Originally posted by ChicagoMac
It's gotta be a hacker on a Mac don't you think!?!? I just read about Mac osx being the newest choice for hackers because of the unix ability. He or she probably has stock in Apple and is trying to boost it's value by getting all of those kids to get their parents to buy a Mac.;)

benjamin,

i don't see malicious intent in trying to boost apple's sales. :)

peace of the season to all.

[ShaolinMiddleFinger]

Maybe Santaclaus is a new type of computer that Apple is developing....blah blah blah..... after that, it will be iClaus, a Santa for consumers....blah blah blah.....

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

:p :) :p :) :D :D :D

p.s. Don't drink and drive

[ChicagoMac]

Ok, so maybe it wasn't a hacker. It was probably just a person using their computer to tamper with the site without permission.

Symantics!

[Marvenp]

Anybody know what Coral Technologies make and/or develop? It's not the same as Corel is it? Could it be that Apple has once again struck (in Microsoft fashion) and aquired a key technology from Coral?

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by dricci
Maybe the owner of the domain had nothing else to do with it and is an Apple fan?

The owner:

Organization:
Coral Technologies Inc
Chris Riley
830-13 A1A North, PMB Ste 141
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
US
Phone: 507-299-5283
Email: postmaster@coral.net

Registrar Name....: Register.com
Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com

Domain Name: SANTACLAUS.COM

Created on..............: Tue, Aug 30, 1994
Expires on..............: Sun, Aug 29, 2010
Record last updated on..: Sun, Dec 22, 2002

Notice the intersting last update?

I'm thinking he wouldn't sell it, but Apple made him an offer to point it to apple.com for the holiday season - why not? Everybody wins in this case.

Now why couldn't I have been smart and registered that name? ;)

D

[nosaj72]

Interestingly

http://www.santaclaus.com/index.html

does not redirect to apple.

[nosaj72]

Sorry to keep replying, but this is from Santas FAQ

<quote>
What kind of computer does Santa Claus use?

Santa uses Apple Macintosh computers -- this site is supported using three Power PC machines (PowerMac 8600/300, PowerMac 7500, PowerMac 7100, and a PowerMac 6100) and a Quadra 700, Centris 650 and IIci.
</quote>

[dboy]

Originally posted by dukestreet
I'm thinking he wouldn't sell it, but Apple made him an offer to point it to apple.com for the holiday season - why not? Everybody wins in this case.

I agree. Go to http://www.coral.net and you'll start to see why. Not sure if an offer needed to be made though... the halloween.com page has a link to Netcraft, where its made overtly obvious that the machine is running MacOS X.

Case closed, if you ask me....

dan

[jasonwmac]

Originally posted by dboy


I agree. Go to http://www.coral.net and you'll start to see why. Not sure if an offer needed to be made though... the halloween.com page has a link to Netcraft, where its made overtly obvious that the machine is running MacOS X.

Case closed, if you ask me....

dan

In addition...The halloween pages link to apple's site for the iCards. There seems to be several literal, and implied, links to Apple. That is interesting...

--
Jason

[SlowX]

I thought that S. Claus was a porn star....
heh

[saabmp3]

Right away when I saw this on the front page I checked out www.santaclause.com/index.html. It goes to this guys (weak) page. Doesn't surprise me if he puts the page out to bid every year to the company that has the most wastable money laying around. If somebody wants to do some imvestigatvie work, see what this domain pointed to last year (just check out the whois records, or netcraft). It's probably another big company.

BEN

[LimeiBook86]

Does this meen we are all getting free iPods for Christmas!!!!????:D:D:D:D:D

[TheInevitable]

Originally posted by LimeiBook86
Does this meen we are all getting free iPods for Christmas!!!!????:D:D:D:D:D

Yep. It does. Merry Christmas everyone!

[Dr. Distortion]

Originally posted by nosaj72
Interestingly

http://www.santaclaus.com/index.html

does not redirect to apple.

all www.santaclaus.com does is send you a line of html code:


<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=http://www.apple.com/">


-Dr. D.

[scem0]

Originally posted by TheInevitable


Yep. It does. Merry Christmas everyone!

Don't ruin my christmas filled with getting turquise turtle-necks. ;)

[beez7777]

Originally posted by saabmp3
Right away when I saw this on the front page I checked out www.santaclause.com/index.html. It goes to this guys (weak) page

the page is www.santaclaus.com, not santaclause.com. the santa clause was a movie with tim allen. :)

[jettredmont]

Originally posted by skunk
Presumably the derivation is from "hacking your way in" (rather than using the front door). Therefore your definitions 1 thru 6 are questionable.

No, actually, the etymology stems from "a hack", which is an unskilled for-hire worker (which, as per many subculture idioms began as a derisive comment and evolved into a point of honor; see "geek"). "hack (n.)", in turn, stems from "to hack (v.)", which is to mangle a peice (of wood) (with an axe).

Etymology aside, within the computing industry definitions 1-6 are definitely the accepted meaning of "hacker". "cracker" is the term used for one who breaks in to systems and/or bypasses protective measures ("cracking" the protections open).

[ckdake]

If you head over to the internet archive, http://web.archive.org , you can see what used to be at that site. Here is the most recent one: http://web.archive.org/web/20020123010736/http://www.santaclaus.com/ and it doesn't look as if it has changed much since 1996. So my guess is that it is pretty irrelevant the company that it is registered to, just some guy's homepage that apple paid a small fee for.

[Mr. Anderson]

Ha, looks like the site hasn't be redesigned since 1994! Pretty lame, but hey, I'm sure the owner is happy.

D

[wdlove]

Suprised that they didn't setup to automatically countdown the days till Christmas, stuck at 332!

[nero007]

Originally posted by nosaj72
Interestingly

http://www.santaclaus.com/index.html

does not redirect to apple.

However, http://www.santaclaus.com/index.php does redirect.

[wdlove]

Yes it takes you directly to Apple Homepage, thanks!

[Mal]

The guy who owns the domain is apparantly a Mac guy anyways, because he says his site is optimized for OmniWeb, which is Mac-only. He was probably happy to let Apple use the domain for other reasons than just the money. You do have to wonder why Apple wanted it, though.

JW

[bretm]

Originally posted by skywalker
The guy who owns the domain is apparantly a Mac guy anyways, because he says his site is optimized for OmniWeb, which is Mac-only. He was probably happy to let Apple use the domain for other reasons than just the money. You do have to wonder why Apple wanted it, though.

JW

Uhhhh, they wanted it because every kid in america is probably hitting that site right now. And when they get there they find out that Santa Claus is a switcher, and daddy should buy a Mac.

They also find out that Santa got his ass handed to him. But the kids gotta grow up someday.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by bretm


Uhhhh, they wanted it because every kid in america is probably hitting that site right now. And when they get there they find out that Santa Claus is a switcher, and daddy should buy a Mac.

They also find out that Santa got his ass handed to him. But the kids gotta grow up someday.

good call, lol. he also listens to sheryl crow and the dooby brothers. yeah!

[saabmp3]

I just checked something intresting, santaclaus.com is an iTools account, and has been for the last 3 years. I guess that's why he redirected it to apple.com

BEN

[LimeiBook86]

Atleast I was right, I got an iPod for Christmas :D I am so happy. Nice little 5gb iPod. :)

[Kid Red]

Originally posted by jettredmont


No, actually, the etymology stems from "a hack", which is an unskilled for-hire worker (which, as per many subculture idioms began as a derisive comment and evolved into a point of honor; see "geek"). "hack (n.)", in turn, stems from "to hack (v.)", which is to mangle a peice (of wood) (with an axe).

Etymology aside, within the computing industry definitions 1-6 are definitely the accepted meaning of "hacker". "cracker" is the term used for one who breaks in to systems and/or bypasses protective measures ("cracking" the protections open).

You beat me to it. Hackers hack into programs and make something new where as crackers crack into systems usually for evil reasons.

[hoshi]

ok this is really lame.
all these people keep saying that it does redirect you to apple.

but it doesnt at all
maybe some of you are being redirected but i am not .

"Ho! Ho! Ho!
Merry Christmas everyone! Welcome
to Santa Claus' home on the Internet, since 1994 --
WWW.SANTACLAUS.COM!
Let your friends know about us!"

that is the first bit of text in the site that it does take me to.
www.santaclaus.com/index.php and all the other suggestions all take me to this site.

i dont know why it is taking some of you to apple but im begining to beleive that it is your problem and many indeviduals problem as i am able to see the corect site and you are having a bug take you to apple.

whats going on here?

[beez7777]

Originally posted by hoshi
ok this is really lame.
all these people keep saying that it does redirect you to apple.

but it doesnt at all
maybe some of you are being redirected but i am not .

"Ho! Ho! Ho!
Merry Christmas everyone! Welcome
to Santa Claus' home on the Internet, since 1994 --
WWW.SANTACLAUS.COM!
Let your friends know about us!"

that is the first bit of text in the site that it does take me to.
www.santaclaus.com/index.php and all the other suggestions all take me to this site.

i dont know why it is taking some of you to apple but im begining to beleive that it is your problem and many indeviduals problem as i am able to see the corect site and you are having a bug take you to apple.

whats going on here?

hmm, a few days ago when i tried this, it took me to apple's page. but now it's taking me to the site you are mentioning. :confused:

[Wyvernspirit]

Duh, it porbable stopped doing after christmas. He just did it for the season, which is now over. Now he has his original (1994) page up, thats all.