Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.11.23
PowerBook, iBook, iPod, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review. News about Apple's
transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in
The Macintel Report. iPod news is
covered in The iNews Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Products
News & Opinion
Contour to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
PR: It has been just ten short years since Contour
Design, Inc., headquartered in Windham, NH, introduced its multiple
award-winning Perfit mice. With nearly 150,000 of them shipped
worldwide, Contour has followed these revolutionary, formfitting
for both right- and left-handed users, mice with an even more
extraordinary RollerMouse product line. Even more recently, to aid
in the battle against HAI (healthcare associated infections), has
come the introduction of the MediMousePro line of IT products that
can be disinfected for safe use in "red zone" environments.
Recognizing over ten years ago that software application
products, especially the CAD/CAM products of that era, were placing
inordinate demands on users through mousing operations, Contour
developed and began marketing the Perfit (contraction for Perfect
Fit) family of mice. It took several years of rigorous alpha and
beta testing to perfect the design and release the product in 1995.
Since that time, the original Perfits, with embedded ball-equipped
positioning mechanisms have been replaced with the latest
state-of-the-art optical drives and improved button hardware and
software.
As new and pervasive software applications have followed the
lead of the earlier CAD/CAM solutions, the demands for more
intensive mousing have moved into the offices, call centers, and -
more recently - the healthcare industry. This industry is being
motivated by cost containment, needs for improved healthcare
delivery, and pushed by the Federal Government to upgrade their
operations into EMR/EHR (electronic medical records/electronic
health records) systems. The "spill-over" effects resulting from
these upgrades has been a marked, alarming, and expensive rash of
repetitive strain injuries (RSI) among endusers who blame such
injuries on reaching for a mouse.ection 508 of the Federal
Rehabilitation Act provides for a centralized repository - a
database - of information where Federal agencies (and private
citizens, should they choose to do so) may go to find information
on products that their manufacturers claim to be compliant with the
Act. The database is a valuable resource for gaining information
about products that may be of use in helping to accommodate a
certain disability - or in finding a product that will help prevent
or provide remedial help with a repetitive strain injury (RSI),
such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).
Contour responded with its "classic" RollerMouse then did a
"one-plus" on that innovative design with the RollerMousePro,
introduced at NECE 2004. Subsequent to this introduction, the
RollerMouse has been integrated into public and private sector
computing operations on a worldwide scale. Over the past year since
it was announced the product has won a plethora of awards.
The Contour parade of new products just keeps marching on. At
this year's NECE (Booth 347) Contour will be competing for an
Attendees' Choice Award for its recently announced MediMousePro
line of products. In response to global concern for the problem of
HAI (healthcare-associated infections) which annually affects some
2 million Americans, killing a reported 90,000 of them, Contour has
introduced this family of products. Contour Design's MediMousePro
product line includes high duty cycle mice for mousing-intensive
work and low-duty cycle mice for hospital carts. These products
come with medical-grade polyurethane covers for disinfecting to
prevent the spread of HAI (healthcare-associated infections); and
accompanied with similar-grade covers for keyboards, notebook
computers, and touch screen displays.
"It is only fitting that NECE 2005 is the venue for the
celebration of our tenth year of making exceptional ergonomic
products." Says Steve Wang, Contour's founder, CEO, and chief
design engineer. "We take a great deal of pride in our ability to
anticipate needs users have for computer input devices that are
safe and comfortable to use, that aid them in doing their jobs, and
- in the case of the new MediMousePro line - helping to combat the
serious problem of healthcare-associated infections."
Link: Contour
Design
Reviews
iMac G5: The Best Gets Better
Business Week's Stephen H. Wildstrom says:
"Improving an excellent machine was the happy challenge facing
Apple Compute designers as they worked up new versions of the iMac
G5 desktop. Against the odds, they have succeeded. Though the
changes in the new 17-inch ($1,299) and 20-inch ($1,699) iMacs are
relatively small, they help keep it atop the heap as the best
consumer desktop around.
"The updated desktop boosts its already impressive credentials
with some nifty tricks, user-friendly features, and the odd
gimmick."
Link:
iMac G5: The Best Gets Better
Daystar 1.9 GHz Upgrade for iMac G4
Bare Feats' rob-ART Morgan says:
"Remember 'Luxo' Mac? I'm speaking of the January 2002 through
July 2004 'Flat Panel' iMac G4. I really dug that chrome
articulated screen arm....
"I had a chance to grab the last model (20" G4/1.25 GHz) for a
great price so I added it to our Mac 'museum.' Being who I am (heh,
heh), I'm thinking to myself, 'Too bad there's no way to upgrade
it.' Then Daystar announces a CPU upgrade with speeds up to 1.92
GHz. Whoa. That's a clock speed only slight slower than the two
most recent 20" iMac G5s. Hmmm. I feel a shootout coming on...
"The Daystar upgrade gives the . . . iMac G4 Flat
Panel a new lease on life. We saw 39 to 100% gains in speed with
productivity apps when comparing the original 1.25 GHz processor to
the 1.92 GHz upgrade. You'll see even bigger gains if you have a 1
GHz processor in your iMac G4 Flat Panel."
Link: Daystar 1.9 GHz Upgrade for
the iMac G4 Flat Panel
Products
World's First Bluetooth Trackball
PR: Chwang Yi Company has announced the availability of
The Ball, the world's first Bluetooth wireless trackball.
The Ball is
the result of a two-year design effort and represents an entirely
new approach to the concept of a 'trackball.' With a robust
wireless system based on leading Bluetooth v1.2 standards, an
elegantly small physical size and design, and a basic two-button
plus scroll wheel control layout, The Ball sets a new standard for
simplicity and ease of use for trackballs.
The left and right button actions are created by the top surface
pivoting to the left or to the right, when pressed with the
fingers.
The Ball easily pairs with any Bluetooth wireless enabled Mac or
PC running OS X 10.2.3 or higher, or Win XP SP2 or higher. The
Ball includes rechargeable AAA batteries, a USB-powered mini
docking/charging cradle, and, has an on-off switch for power
conservation.
Free MouseCommand software offers even more flexibility and
control on a Mac running OS X 10.2.3 or higher.
Preorder your The Ball for only $69. First 500 preorders will
ship by December 5th. The next 500 preorders will ship by December
15th. U.S. orders shipped via USPS Priority Mail.
Priced at $69, the Ball is available now for preorder and will
begin shipping on December 5th.
Link: The Ball
Maxtor OneTouch II Demos Available at Apple
Stores
PR: Maxtor Corporation has announced that demonstrations
of its award-winning Maxtor OneTouch II, FireWire 800 Edition are
now being featured at 115 Apple retail stores across the U.S. Ideal
for computer power users, digital content creators and creative
professionals alike, the Mac-friendly storage and backup solution
is available for purchase at Apple retail and online stores, making
it easier for Mac users to easily protect their digital memories,
professional creations and personal documents.
The Maxtor OneTouch II, FireWire 800 Edition storage solution
features a triple interface for universal connectivity and ease of
use. Consumers can connect the drive to their system using one of
its FireWire 800, FireWire 400 or USB 2.0 interfaces, depending on
application performance needs. FireWire 800, the highest performing
FireWire external drive interface on the market today, provides
twice the bandwidth of FireWire 400 and is more than 50 times
faster than USB 1.1. By selecting the Maxtor OneTouch solution,
users have peace of mind knowing that their photos, music, videos
and other important files are stored on the industry's leading
brand of external hard drives. The storage solution also features a
sleek, slim design and cool operation. Using the FireWire
interface, the Maxtor OneTouch II drive is fully bootable on a Mac
computer running OS X system software. No additional software or
hardware is required.
"Digital photographers and users of iMovie and Final Cut Pro
need enough space to safely store their large photo and video
files," said Stacey Lund, vice president of marketing, Maxtor
Branded Products Group. "This large- capacity, blazingly fast
storage solution fits the bill perfectly, and backs up all your
digital content automatically or with the single push of a button.
We're pleased that Apple recognizes the Maxtor OneTouch II,
FireWire 800 Edition as a 'must have' on this year's annual holiday
wish list."
With every Maxtor OneTouch II, FireWire 800 Edition storage
solution, consumers receive Maxtor's award-winning backup package.
This includes the Maxtor DriveLock feature for added security and
an exclusive version of EMC Dantz Retrospect Express HD software
for simple backup and restore. The storage system features a simple
user-friendly interface for easy setup and navigation.
The manufacturer's suggested retail pricing is $229.95 for the
200 GB capacity and $299.95 for the 300 GB capacity. Maxtor
OneTouch storage solutions are available worldwide.
Link: Maxtor
iEmulator Adds PC Audio Playback Support
PR: iEmulator 1.7.8 now offers audio playback from within
the emulated PC, emulating an industry-standard sound card for
maximum operating system and application compatibility.
"I can't tell you how many customers have asked for sound
support" says Richard Peters of iEmulator.com. "Audio wasn't
scheduled to be available until early 2006, but we're pleased to
offer it now. It's a phenomenal implementation as well - in my
opinion it's quite possibly the most efficient audio emulation of
any PC emulator on the Mac platform!".
Physical CD-ROM handling is also improved, as is the ability to
import PC profiles from Virtual PC 7.0. Despite regular updates and
constant improvements, iEmulator's price remains at $23.95 U.S.,
and all updates always have been and always will be free of charge
to all customers.
iEmulator also includes all of the great features from previous
versions of the software, including the ability to assign up to
1 GB of RAM to each emulated PC, virtually instantaneous PC
state saving and loading, full-screen as well as windowed mode,
printing support, support for international keyboards, CD image as
well as physical CD-ROM support, the ability to access Mac files
and folders from Windows and support for running multiple instances
of iEmulator simultaneously.
In addition, iEmulator.com continues to set the benchmark for
customer support and service. From simple thank yous for a quick
tip to comments like "iEmulator is fantastically easy to use. I was
so glad to find such an affordable, user friendly program.", "your
support is second to none: friendly and amazingly quick!" and "I am
dubbing iEmulator - the BEST way to run Windows." iEmulator.com is
proving that it has consistently set customer satisfaction as the
goal above all else.
The complete iEmulator 1.7.8 package includes:
- The iEmulator 1.7.8 Application
- A DOS Operating System, including a boot disk for Windows 9X
installation
- Comprehensive documentation, including step-by-step
instructions for installing Windows 98, 2000 and XP
- Fast-Response Email Support
- Unlimited free updates
iEmulator is a high-performance PC emulator for the Mac OS X
platform that has been available since November of 2004.
Link: iEmulator
Peerless Introduces Value-Priced Articulating
Wall Arm
PR: Peerless Industries, Inc., a leader in audio/visual
mounting solutions, has introduced the LCS-KLA LCD Flat Panel
Articulating Wall Arm, a new value-priced mounting solution for
10"-22" LCD screens used in both professional and home
environments.
"The
LCS-KLA arm is ideal for professional LCD monitor applications that
require retractable extension from the wall and easy movement of
the screen's position- like office or industrial settings" said
Michael Jasinski, associate product manager for Peerless
Industries. "This new mount is also an affordable add-on for
consumers who purchase an LCD screen as a holiday gift, greatly
increasing the value and utility of their purchase without hurting
their pocketbook."
Extremely flexible and weighing a mere two pounds, the LCS-KLA
features a sturdy two-link arm that can extend from the wall up to
15.25" then fold flat to a slim 2" depth. To ensure optimal screen
positioning and an extensive range of viewing angles, the new mount
features an adjustable three-hinge pivot system with tension
control, a one-touch tilting mechanism that ranges +/- 35 degrees
and up to 180 degrees of swivel.
The LCS-KLA mount includes a VESA 75/100 mounting plate for
compatibility with almost any 10"-22" LCD screen. It comes
pre-assembled out of the box with all the necessary hardware to
allow quick setup and easy installation. Featuring a
scratch-resistant fused epoxy finish for durability in a wide range
of applications, the LCS-KLA is available in silver to complement
both the screen and the room.
Features:
- For 10" to 22" LCD screens
- Multiple swivel points
- Ball/joint at screen for all-around motion and up to +/-35°
of tilt
- Full length: 18"
- Folds completely flat against the wall
- Durable anodized aluminum
- Comes fully kitted with screen adapter plate. Models available
for VESA® and non-VESA screens
- Hardware for installation to wood studs, concrete or side of a
cabinet included
- External cord clips to route wires
- Arm ships assembled
The LCS-KLA LCD Flat Panel Articulating Wall Arm Mount is
available now for an MSRP of only $99. For more information about
Peerless' wide assortment of mounting solutions, please call (800)
865-2112 or visit the Peerless website.
Link: LCS-KLA
LCD Flat Panel Articulating Wall Arm
XRackPro2 Featured with Apple Server
Solutions
PR: GizMac Accessories LLC, designer and manufacturer of
innovative products for the Apple platform, announces XRackPro2
featured on revised Apple Workgroup Cluster web site pages.
XRackPro2 is a rack mount enclosure cabinet designed to reduce
noise and add mobility to Apple's Xserve line of servers and RAID
systems. Noise from rack mount equipment located inside the
XRackPro2 will be reduced up to 75% while the heavy duty caster
wheels provide a method for easily moving the rolling rack
enclosure cabinet when needed.
"XRackPro2 was originally designed for the Xserve server and
Xserve RAID," says Tim Cave, founder of GizMac, "We are pleased
that our noise reduction rack mount enclosure cabinet became part
of the Apple Xserve Workgroup Cluster."
XRackPro2 rack mount enclosures are used in scientific and
medical work groups, video and audio post production, film and
broadcast applications, graphics, animation, prepress, military and
any other environment that needs noise reduction and/or flexibility
of equipment location.
Additional information on XRackPro2 and GizMac can be found on
the XRack Pro website.
Link: XRackPro
Maxell Introduces Holographic Recording
Technology
PR: Maxell Corporation of America and InPhase
Technologies are bringing a revolutionary technology to market -
holographic media. With storage capacities achieving 1.6 TeraBytes
per disk and data rates as high as 120 MBPs, holographic technology
is a true breakthrough in optical media. These features, along with
a long archival life, make holographic media a compelling choice
for storage and archival requirements.
Holographic data storage is superior to existing disc and hard
drive technologies, and is also competitive against tape
technologies in capacities and transfer rate. In addition, it
offers a 50+ year media archive life and random data access.
Finally, the media is expected to have the lowest cost per gigabyte
of any commercial quality removable storage.
"Holographic media makes it possible for millions of pages of
information and high definition images to be held on one small,
relatively inexpensive disc," said Steven Pofcher, senior marketing
manager at Maxell. "Imagine having a person's entire medical
history, complete with MRI images, or storing a broadcast network's
entire HD Library on a single disc. These are both possible with
holographic technology, which has such large capacity that
approximately a half million 300-page books can be stored on a
single disc."
Holographic recording technology utilizes intersecting signal
and reference laser beams to store data in a number of 3D hologram
images capable of saving hundreds of data pages in a single
location. One 5 1/4 inch-diameter optical disc can store up to 150
million pages - more than 63 times the capacity of DVD. Also, with
holographic recording, a multiple of form factors, such as discs,
cards, etc., and laser wavelengths (red, green, and blue) can be
used.
"Combining high storage densities and fast transfer rates with
durable, reliable, low cost media, Holographic technology is poised
to become a compelling choice for next-generation storage and
content distribution needs," said Liz Murphy, vice president of
marketing for InPhase Technologies. "Unlike other technologies that
record one data bit at a time, holography allows a million bits of
data to be written and read in parallel with a single flash of
light. This enables transfer rates significantly higher than
current optical storage devices."
The first generation of holographic media is scheduled for
release in September 2006.
Link: Maxell
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