The .99 ending only might be because iTunes is present in so many different countries, each with their own currency. What in the US is priced at $1, is in Denmark priced at kr. 6. Amazon on the other hand uses the actualy exchange rate to give a price in different currencies, which gives very odd prices in any other currency than the intended. Im guessing that Apple uses a simple formula for currency exchange in 1-dollar intervals, for simplicity with other currencies. So if there's a currency that's something like $1 = 0.7, an item that costs $1.50 would cost 1.05 in this other currency (Ignoring ending the price on a 9). And something that would cost $1.30 would cost 0.91. So to conclude: Pricing in $1 intervals makes it simpler for Apple to make round prices in other currencies.

I do believe my first line reads something like:

And I might add that I don't believe that there is some certain patent system that works for software. But all have not been tested/tried/thought of - there might be something that works, and works better than not having it at all. Maybe, maybe not. But saying that nothing will work is sorta like closing your eyes, holding your hands over your ears, and yell out loud "lalala". And I apologize for the childish comparison from my behalf.

Another idea than the current could be that only file formats can be patented. And maybe extend this to always allow reading of patented file formats. Two types of file formats would then exist: Patented ones, and not-patented ones. It would then always be possible and legal to read patented file formats, since the complete specifications would have to be public. And it would be, maybe not possible, but at least always legal to both read and write not-patented file formats.

I agree that the current patent system doesn't work for software, but I don't agree that no system would work. If some day, I got a great idea for a new image compression format, that would take me 2-3 months to develop - I wouldn't spend that time, unless I could make some money in the process, at least enough to cover my losses from not working. Patenting the format could make me more inclined towards developing the format, doing two good things: I could make money from a great new invention, and the complete documentation would be 100% public.
Imagine if Microsoft had done the same with its document formats. You may have to pay to use them as a software developer, but at least you have the choice without having to reverse engineer it.

As to the actual article, I think it looks great compared to most other 3D desktop ideas I've seen. At least this can help me as a user. Maybe not the way the article describes it, but I certainly would be willing to sacrifice some of my screen, if I could see my other 'spaces' as the sides of the box. Instead of having to remember that Eclipse sits in 'space' number 7, and I'm currently looking at 1, wondering how to get to 7 using the arrows - I could simply look at the sides of the box, and know that Eclipse sits above the current (Or where ever). Poker is to the right, Firefox to the left, and my porn is below.
That's one of the only reasons to use 3D that I can see. And it might even be possible to implement in the current OSX.

How many songs could you buy for the average settlement of downloading songs?