THURSDAY 08TH FEB 2007
AppleInsider:

New York may ban iPods while crossing city streets

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New Yorkers who heedlessly cross city streets while listening to their Apple iPod or fumbling with other electronics devices, such as cell phones, may soon face a hefty fine from the city.

According to both NBC and the Associated Press, New York State Senator Carl Kruger is expected to introduce legislation today that would impose a $100 fine for people who continue to use their electronics gadgets -- such as iPods, Blackberries, and video games -- while crossing the street.

Kruger said Tuesday that three pedestrians in his Brooklyn district were killed in recent months upon stepping into traffic while distracted by an electronic device.

"Government has an obligation to protect its citizenry," he said in a telephone interview with the AP. "This electronic gadgetry is reaching the point where it's becoming not only endemic but it's creating an atmosphere where we have a major public safety crisis at hand."

New York's streets are frequently consumed with gadget wielding and earbud bearing residents who are looking to fire-off that extra e-mail or pass the brunt of their daily commutes with a tune.

"I'm not trying to intrude on that," Kruger said. "But what's happening is when they're tuning into their iPod or Blackberry or cell phone or video game, they're walking into speeding buses and moving automobiles. It's becoming a nationwide problem."

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Apple Inc. may begin transitioning its flagship iPod models away from hard disk drive (HDD)-based storage and towards solid-state NAND flash memory by the end of year.

According to an "IT Hardware" report from Prudential Equity Group analyst Jesse Tortora, the move would pave the way for smaller form factor players, a more diverse model mix, and improvements to both battery life and durability.

"We believe that the video iPod transition from 1.8-inch hard disk drives to NAND flash memory may occur as soon as late 2007," Tortora wrote. "Our checks indicate that Apple is considering canceling its next generation HDD-based iPod design, with the form factor refresh involving a move to NAND flash memory."

The analyst said such a move would be consistent with Apple’s penchant for placing user experience ahead of cost concerns. He also noted that recent history supports the scenario, given the economics of a similar transition where Apple in late 2005 decided to move from the 1-inch hard drive based iPod mini to the NAND flash based iPod nano.

"Flash memory is clearly more expensive on a $/GB basis than hard disk drives," he wrote. "However, the late 2005 Nano transition to flash provides a guide as to the point at which the previously mentioned non-cost advantages of flash memory outweigh the cost premium."

Given that he sees flash storage capacities up to 32GB as being cost-feasible for the initial introduction of a new flash-based video iPod later this year, Tortora said the question becomes whether or not 32GB contains sufficient capacity to store video content.

"Apple currently offers 30GB and 80GB HDD-based models, and will have the option to increase storage capacity up to 120GB this year based on new perpendicular recording technology," he wrote. "While the higher capacities would allow for more video storage, we view battery life as the key consideration for a move to flash."

Tortora explained that a 30GB of HDD-based iPod is sufficient for around 40 hours of video content, but only has about 3.5 hours of battery life for video playback. He added that replacing the hard drive with flash memory would allow for an increase of about 60 percent in battery life to 5.5 hours of video playback.

In addition to the flash-based storage, the Prudential analyst believes other specifications of Apple’s next generation video iPod are will include a wider touch screen similar to that of iPhone, Wi-Fi to enable the transfer of digital content from Apple TV, and GPS functionality.

Tortora asserted that the addition of GPS functionality "should position the iPod as the central hub for all digital content (music, movies, GPS) in automobiles."

Indeed, one of the first reports on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard published by AppleInsider affirmed that the next-generation Apple OS would introduce a geographic mapping solution, dubbed "Maps," that would employ GPS functionally.

A second report, believed to be extremely accurate at the time of publication, cited people familiar with the software as saying Apple may eventually leverage the technology to help track stolen Macs or iPods.

Apple has yet to disclose the extent of Leopard's feature set, choosing instead to keep several enhancements "top secret" until a date closer to the software's release.

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FRIDAY 09TH FEBRUARY
MacWorld:

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Leather 'Signature Suit' comes to MacBook Pro

Case-mate has rolled out a new version of their leather Signature Suit, now for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. It costs $159.99. The Signature Suit was previously released to fit the MacBook.

The Signature Suit is a leather case that wraps around the outside of your MacBook Pro to protect its aluminum finish from scratches or denting. It’s made using Italian “Pebblestone” leather, and is reinforced with an impact-resistant plastic shell. A cutout shows off your Apple logo, and cut-outs on the side keep open all of your MacBook Pro’s ports.

The Signature Suit stays in place using translucent hold that wrap around the laptop to keep it in place. The case features a “slide in/slide out”-style design. Case-Mate says the case doesn’t have a significant impact on heat retention in the MacBook Pro. A cooling vent helps to promote the system’s airflow.

The 15-inch Signature Suit comes in one of three colors: Alpine White, Phantom Black and Sienna Red. Case-mate says that more colors are coming soon.

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TUESDAY 13TH FEBRUARY
MACWORLD:

Disco disc burning app hits 1.0

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DiscoApp.com has announced the release of Disco 1.0. Disco is a CD and DVD burning application for Mac OS X. It costs $14.95.

Disco provides users with the ability to burn CDs and DVDs with capabilities they don’t have in the Mac OS X finder, such as full multisession support, disc erasing, one-to-one disc copies, burning of VIDEO_TS folders (ripped from video DVDs) and more. The software sports a “3D smoke” effect that displays when you’re burning discs (the effect has been expanded to support most Macs that Disco can run on).

Disco also features Discography, a media cataloging system that lets you track all of your burns, so you can easily find content you’ve burned to CD or DVD — even importing information about discs you’ve burned before using Disco.

Disco has been available for download as part of a public beta test since October, 2006. This marks the 1.0 version’s “final” release, with a multitude of improvements such as a redesigned disc naming system, new database engine and improved Unicode support.

System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.4.3 or later and a Mac with a CD or DVD burner installed. Disco is a Universal binary.

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TUESDAY 13TH FEB
MacNN:

HighPoint unveils RocketRAID 2314 adapter

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HighPoint Technologies is planning to ship its RocketRAID 2314 eSATA host adapter this week, featuring four eSATA II ports offering 3Gbps per port. The controller card works with up to four SATA 2 hard drives -- each offering up to 750GB of storage capacity -- for up to 3TB of total potential storage. RocketRAID 2314 supports all major operating systems including Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows 2000/Server 2003/XP/x64 Edition/Vista. The PCI-e card is compatible with x4, x8, and 16 slots, and is compatible with eSATA enclosures. The adapter also supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) modes. RocketRAID 2314 ships with BIOS, Web-based RAID, and management software as well as CLI RAID management utilities. HighPoint Technologies is also offering a three-year warranty with the adapter (pricing was unavailable).

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A company called NexTune is claiming to have developed software that will bridge all the major DRM (Digital Rights Management) technologies protecting musical tracks to offer consumers a simple, unified means of acquiring music without locking them into one particular type of player. Apple in recent months has come under intense scrutiny -- especially overseas -- for binding iTunes Store customers to its iPod portable player and iTunes software. NexTune "puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and provides a complete user experience," according to NexTune president and CEO Michael DuKane. The company is planning to release NexTune 3.0 next month, offering compatibility with Apple's FairPlay DRM-protected tracks sold from the iTunes Store. Apple has thus far refused to license its FairPlay DRM to competitors, and has historically worked aggressively to update its protection scheme whenever it becomes compromised.

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15TH

MacNN:

iMedical 1.2 comes to Intel-based Macs

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Healthware today began shipping iMedical 1.2, an official release of its medical business software that runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary. iMedical 1.2 is powered by a Caché database from InterSystems to ease database woes while handling billing, insurance, reporting, scheduling, and integrated word processing; the application will support electronic statements some time during the first quarter of 2007, and electronic claims support will come built-in by the first half of the year, according to healthware. iMedical is designed to be familiar to MediMac and ChiroMac users, allowing them to work within the software with reduced training and preparation to reduce expenses as well as downtime.

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Interwrite Learning has released Interwrite 3.0 for Mac, a new application designed to help Mac-using teachers in the classroom. The software offers Intel-based Mac support, PRS integration, and new pictures in the gallery. The update also supports Interwrite Learning's new wide-format interactive whiteboard InterWrite SchoolBoards. Interwrite 3.0 includes a localized graphical interface in Spanish (both Mexican and European), Portugues (both Brazilian and European), French, Italian, and German. A merged code base supports Mac OS X as well as Linux, and adds support for configuring the toolbar alongside a new SchoolBoard features menu. Interwrite 3.0 requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later (pricing was unavailable).

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Meizu has apparently completed its design of an iPhone look-alike handheld device code-named the M8, and is likely to release the device into the market in the near future. VR-Zone reports that Meizu named the device miniOne because it is a top end 'all-in-one' player boasting a wide array of functionality. The Chinese-made handheld measures 3.3-inches long, making it slightly shorter than Apple's iPhone with a screen resolution of 720x480, versus Apple's 320x480. The device runs Win CE 6.0, utilizes GSM+TD-SCMA, offers Bluetooth as well as TV-Out wireless connectivity, and runs on an ARM11 + Video CODEC chip. Meizu's miniOne also includes a 3.0-megapixel camera on one side and a 0.3-megapixel camera on the other. but weight and storage capacity were unavailable. Samsung last week unveiled its Ultra Smart F700 smartphone bearing a striking resemblance to Apple's iPhone, targeted at the "recent trend" in touchscreen devices.

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Apple is reportedly looking to expand its game development staff this summer; the company is recruiting students from the Savannah College of Art and Design for advanced graphics artists. According to the report, students report receiving an e-mail from a recruiter looking for game developers for Apple to create "high quality 3D and 2D art for games." The message was not specific as to whether the company was looking to expand its growing iPod gaming platform (which launched last fall) or for the upcoming iPhone or possible games for Apple TV, as hinted by execs from Popcap games. Reports emerged this past weekend indicating that Electronic Arts is in talks with EA about games for the forthcoming iPhone.

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MONDAY 19TH FEB 2007

MacWorld Review AirPort Extreme Base Station

Review

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Luxor 2 available for Mac

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MumboJumbo and Macgamestore.com have released Luxor 2, a new version of the popular color matching puzzle arcade game. It costs $19.95 and a downloadable demo is available.

Luxor 2, like its predecessor, features a trip through ancient Egypt as you try to match three or more colored spheres as chains of them progress through intricate mazes filled with twists and turns. You use the spheres equipping your mystical winged scarab to destroy the spheres before they reach the pyramids at the end of their path.

In addition to 88 all-new levels, Luxor 2 features enhancements like new power ups, including Color Cloud, Net, Dagger and Lightning Storm. Eighty new statistics and badges have been added, along with bonus rounds at the end of each stage. A new ranking system has been incorporated, along with two new game modes — Survival and Practice.

System requirements call for a G4/700MHz or faster (including Intel), 128MB RAM, 25MB hard disk space, Mac OS X v10.3.9 through 10.4.8 and 16- or 32-bit video card with at least 32MB VRAM.

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hmmmm nice

http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/general/general/new_black_imac_incoming
_________________



I don't supply backups everything supplied was owned by me and is the original.

*** Discount on discs? Logon to DiskDepot with - username: disqworld password: diskdepot ***

this could be interesting

http://stuff.tv/blogs/future/archive/2007/03/01/touch-my-mac.aspx
_________________



I don't supply backups everything supplied was owned by me and is the original.

*** Discount on discs? Logon to DiskDepot with - username: disqworld password: diskdepot ***