All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. News about Apple's
transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in
The Macintel Report.
"Apple has initiated a worldwide battery exchange program for
certain rechargeable batteries that were sold for use with 15-inch
MacBook Pro computer systems from February 2006 through May
2006.
"We recently discovered that some 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries
supplied to Apple do not meet our high standards for battery
performance. To give our users the best experience possible, we
will replace these batteries for customers free of charge.
"Note: The affected batteries do not pose a safety risk. You may
continue to use your current battery until a replacement
arrives."
"We're still cleaning up the data and analyzing it, but we have
some very preliminary statistics from our recent MacBook/MacBook
Pro reliability survey (and our thanks go to all the people who
contributed to it). Here are some initial notes on the data, which
comprise almost 3000 valid responses for all MacBook and MacBook
Pro models:
"Nearly 11% report sudden shutdowns, 19% 'the buzz', 12% 'the
moo', 7% warped lid, 10% AirPort dropouts, and 11% a refusal to
wake from sleep. 14% report 'other' problems, with excessive heat
being the leading write-in candidate."
"Apple has acknowledged problems with its Intel-based portables
that buyers have been banging on about for some time. In two
support documents, the company informs suffering users to contact
its AppleCare customer service team.
"That's it - just contact AppleCare. No solution is offered for
the 'high-pitched buzzing sound' affecting some MacBook Pros or the
'discolouration' seen 'on the top case [of a MacBook] after some
use'."
"One of our readers has sent us an Apple's internal document
providing additional information concerning the MacBook palmrest
issue. This information is valid world-wide."
"The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) programme is just one million
laptops away from beginning production, as the group confirmed that
Brazil, Argentina and Thailand have each placed orders for a
million machines, according to DesktopLinux.com.
"OLPC says it will begin production when it has orders for
between five million and 10m laptops. Last week, it announced that
Nigeria had signed on to the scheme, taking the total pre-ordered
to four million."
"The first working prototype of the $100 laptop. Conspicuously
missing: the hand-crank generator present in an earlier design. The
new human-powered generator will be separate from the laptop
itself, and much more efficient than a hand crank.
"As the One Laptop per Child project, a nonprofit effort based
in Cambridge, MA, nears the completion of its rugged and versatile
laptop designed for school children in poor countries, a key
component has fallen into place: an efficient, human-powered
generator that could make the computer practical for children
living in areas without reliable, affordable electricity.
"The new generators, which will be field-tested beginning this
October, abandon the bulky and inefficient hand-crank design
featured on an early mock-up of the laptop in favor of a more
compact off-laptop design that uses a pull string to spin a small
generator. It was developed by Squid Labs, Emeryville, CA, a design
and engineering group whose co-founders include several graduates
of MIT's Media Lab, where the laptop project originated."
"Incendiary photo evidence of a Dell laptop fire has thrown an
extra log on the fire of Dell's woes.
"A Dell laptop's battery caught on fire in a company's IT
department this week, burning a hole right through the casing.
Nearby techs used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. Employee
Henrik took pictures to document the affair and uploaded them to
the Toms Hardware message boards."
Does a Flaming Dell Look Better Than a Flaming
Apple?
The Inquirer's Charlie Demerjian says:
"We all know that Dell laptops have all the elegance of a third
degree burn while an Apple laptop has all the charm that a
turtlenecked journalist suing CEO can bestow on it.
"That said, when a Dell burns, it looks pretty. How about when
an Apple roasts?
"I've never bought a carrying case for any of my laptops, but
the new MacBook Pro is so sleek and lovely that I decided I would
spring for a genu-wine store-bought case this time. A little
research has deterred me, however. Word on the street is that the
case-making sector hasn't really caught up with the new Mac
laptops' dimensions yet and various vendors are claiming that old
stock designed for iBooks and PowerBooks will accommodate the
MacBook and MB Pro, with mixed reviews from users. If I'm going to
shell out $30 or £20 for my new 'Book's case, I want it to
fit like a tiny wetsuit, not blown-out rhino hide.
"So, pending the bringing to market of dedicated cases for the
MBP, it's back to my old cheap-ass DIY ways.
"Each of my previous laptops has undergone a non-invasive
procedure that results in a carrying case meant to go inside a soft
briefcase or backpack. The case you get this way has the following
virtues:
Tailor-made for your machine, with a fit as snug or loose as
you design
Provides excellent shock protection and is largely liquid-proof
[*]
Made from materials that are practically free
Looks only slightly hobo-esque, and is meant to be tucked
inside other bag anyway
Gives you the profound satisfaction of making something with
your own two hands
"[*] I use this term not as a watch-marketer but as a
beer-spiller. This case is NOT rated to any number of
atmospheres.
"This takes around an hour to do, including beer-opening etc.,
and doesn't require any tools you probably don't have lying around
the place already."
[Editor's note: This might be considered the Red Green approach to laptop case
fabrication, since one of the key elements is duct tape. As Red
would say, "stuff you can trust." The article is also funny.
CM]
"For some reason hardware vendors keep producing power adapters
which continually break where the plug leaves the base unit. I've
broken five-six power adapters over the last two years and
literally in the exact same spot. This has happened with both Dell
and Apple and seems to be an issue with the whole industry.
"I'm not the first to have this problem. Tony Korologos had the
same problem with his PowerBook but just repaired it himself.
"I've now gone through two power adapters and there's no way I'm
going to throw down $80 to replace them. Instead, I just went down
to the local hardware store and bought a soldering iron for $15 and
fixed it myself."
"With its new MacBook, Apple has filled out its Intel-based
portable line with an entry-level model. But this laptop packs so
many clever, practical features into its case that it doesn't feel
like a compromise."
"What's missing? Not much, but the MacBook does have integrated
graphics rather than the faster discrete adapter that gamers and
graphics pros will want. And as standard it has no ExpressCard, PC
Card or memory-card slots, nor a dialup modem."
Daystar Has CPU Upgrades for All
Titanium PowerBook G4s
PR: Daystar Technology, the original Mac Performance
Shop, delivered another milestone in PowerBook speed today. - the
introduction of the new XLR8 CPU upgrade for the Titanium PowerBook
G4 series.
This new CPU upgrade delivers up
to 100% faster performance for owners of most classic Titanium
systems. The PowerBook G4 upgrade dubbed, "XLR8 MAChSpeed G4
Titanium" is a factory installed upgrade, has been shipping for 3
months to "prerelease" customers and is available immediately.
No Experience Required.
Like the XLR8 MAChSpeed G4 Pismo, Lombard, Aluminum and iMac
Flat Panel CPU upgrades, the PowerBook G4 upgrade is a factory
installed CPU upgrade. Users simply place their PowerBook in the
provided box. The shipping, testing, installation and 100% quality
assurance is handled completely by Daystar's Apple Certified
Technicians.
No Compromise, Just Raw Speed.
The CPU is the primary bottleneck on a PowerBook G4. To maximize
speed and compatibility, Daystar uses the latest model, highest
rated Freescale PowerPC CPUs. It runs transparent to the operating
system and is fully compatible with future OS's. The result is a
system with much faster processing power, and improved performance
in the Finder and every application.
QuickTime encoding is up to 75% faster
Photoshop performance rivals the MacBook Pro!
48 hour, factory installation via Apple Certified
Technicians.
Compatible with Classic and Mac OS 10.3.5 - 10.4.x... and
beyond.
Includes XLR8 MAChSpeed Control for 100% compatibility
All upgrades warranted with Daystar's exclusive 90/720 warranty
program.
"We have already upgraded a number of users via our prerelease
program - it is rock solid", said Gary Dailey, president of
Daystar. "This new upgrade allows users to get high performance
without sacrificing their classic compatible Titanium system, or
settling for someone else's logic board."
Performance for Most PowerBooks.
The new XLR8 MAChSpeed G4 Aluminum CPU upgrade is available for
all PowerBook G4 Titanium systems.
The base price of $449 includes all parts and labor and US
Ground Shipping.
The PowerBook G4 800-1000 MHz is upgraded to 1.33 GHz in speed
The PowerBook G4 550-667 MHz is upgraded to 1.25 GHz in speed The
PowerBook G4 400-500 MHz is upgraded to 550 MHz in speed ($249)
A "weekender" (in on Friday, back on Monday) program is also
available.
Vodafone Preps 'Super 3G' Wireless Modem
for MacBooks
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Vodafone has responded to calls from MacBook and MacBook Pro
owners for a compatible version of its 3G Mobile Connect Broadband
Datacard with a USB version of the gadget which it pledged to ship
in the autumn."
"The USB model provides . . . download speeds of
'around 1.4 Mbps' and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps."
Targus Introduces Rechargeable Bluetooth
Laser Notebook Mouse
PR: Targus Inc. expands its line of Bluetooth mice with
the introduction of the Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse.
Designed to work with Bluetooth-enabled PC or Mac notebooks, the
new mouse is compact, lightweight and does not require a receiver.
The batteries recharge while in use providing continuous operation
for business travelers, students, gamers and other on-the-go
consumers.
"Targus is responding to the needs of consumers by adding in-use
charging to its wireless notebook mice, thus ensuring no more dead
batteries," said Michael Greco, director, U.S. product marketing,
for Targus. "The Bluetooth and laser-enabled mice currently on the
market consume more power than their optical counterparts. By
offering a rechargeable solution, Targus meets the increasing
demand for Bluetooth enabled peripherals that solve a critical
power issue for consumers."
Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse (AMB03US)
Featuring laser technology that provides up to 20 times the
sensitivity of a standard optical mouse, the Bluetooth Laser
Notebook Mouse can switch from 800-dpi to 1600-dpi while on the
fly, making it the ideal solution for gaming and other fast-action
applications where heightened accuracy and responsiveness are
essential. The mouse can be charged while in use with the included
USB cable and ships with two rechargeable batteries. Delivering
seamless operation from up to 33 feet away, the Bluetooth Laser
Notebook Mouse's scroll wheel provides easy navigation, and the
carrying pouch offers added convenience for travel.
The Bluetooth Laser Notebook Mouse measures 4.1" x 2.1" x 1.4"
and weighs just 2.04 oz.
PR: Wrappers peach skin
linen sleeves for Apple's MacBook feature minimal branding and can
be personalised with the owner's initial.
The sleeves consist of three layers - a linen outer with a
unique peach skin finish that instead of the usual crispness of
linen is extremely soft and luxurious, a padded middle layer and a
dark navy microfibre inner lining.
The machine washable range comes in five colours: Coconut, a
brilliant white indulgent choice for white MacBooks; Horizon Pink,
a classic hot pink; Out of the Blue, a sophisticated slate blue,
Raspberry, a soft lilac and Honey, a classic oatmeal shade of
linen.
The slimline linen sleeves are free of a logo and owner's can
personalise their sleeve by adding their initial to the
accompanying tag. Customising your linen sleeve costs an additional
£3.00. Allow 3 - 5 days build time for custom orders.
Wrappers' linen sleeves feature
exclusive tailoring that avoids leaving one end of the MacBook
exposed, without the need for zips or Velcro. Pictured is a Coconut
linen sleeve with (see below) and without (pictured above) a
MacBook showing how the sleeve folds over once you've inserted your
MacBook.
MacBook sleeve features:
Tailored sleeve for MacBook 13"
Peach skin linen outer
2 oz polyester wadding provides extra protection from
scratches
Super soft microfibre dark navy lining helps remove
fingerprints
PR: Introducing the remote controlled motion sensitive
alarm system for the MacBook Pro. Utilizing the built in motion
sensor technology, iSight camera, and the infrared remote control
your MacBook Pro can now be turned into a high tech alarm system.
iAlertU is aimed at being a tamper/theft deterrent system for those
times when you need to step away from your work momentarily.
Current features:
Mute button override
Volume max when alarm is active
Flashing screen when alarm has triggered
Idle sleep disabled when alarm is active
Features under development:
Camera integration
Email snapshot on network availability
Forced sleep disable for duration of alarm
Audio output jack disable for duration of alarm
User selectable sensitivity
Visual deterrent that alarm is set
New in this version:
When FrontRow is active iAlertU is ignored
Power button, eject button and several other keys will now set
off the alarm
Written by Randy Green:
Thanks to Paul Ingendorf of www.timespace.org the issue where
the F3 key was muting iAlertU's alarm has been resolved. The new
version 16b is now available for download. Many thanks to Paul for
finding and fixing this bug and thanks to all of you that took the
time to report it.
System requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4 or later
An Apple MacBook Pro (not compatible with PowerBooks or
iBooks)
Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New and
refurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligible
for AppleCare.
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233
MHz, the cacheless MainStreet
version and the later Series II
with a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine from
the vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included
links within this paragraph to the two models. The same goes for
the PowerBook G4/667 (VGA) and
G4/667 (DVI), the titanium vs.
aluminum 15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz, and 1.25 GHz to 1.5 GHz 15"
PowerBooks.
PowerBook, iBook, and MacBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
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We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
The Consumerist reports:
isoglossia says:
This new CPU upgrade delivers up
to 100% faster performance for owners of most classic Titanium
systems. The PowerBook G4 upgrade dubbed, "XLR8 MAChSpeed G4
Titanium" is a factory installed upgrade, has been shipping for 3
months to "prerelease" customers and is available immediately.
PR: Wrappers peach skin
linen sleeves for Apple's MacBook feature minimal branding and can
be personalised with the owner's initial.
Wrappers' linen sleeves feature
exclusive tailoring that avoids leaving one end of the MacBook
exposed, without the need for zips or Velcro. Pictured is a Coconut
linen sleeve with (see below) and without (pictured above) a
MacBook showing how the sleeve folds over once you've inserted your
MacBook.
