Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2006.08.11
With the introduction of the Mac
Pro and announcement of an Intel-based Xserve (due in October), Apple
has completed its third CPU transition over its 30 year history.
(The Apple I, II, and III lines were built around the 6502 CPU.
Lisa and early Macs used Motorola 680x0 processors. And for the
past dozen years, Apple used PowerPC chips.)
Power Max has already taken apart a Mac Pro and posted photos,
and Apple has released the first security update specifically for
the new computer. Early benchmarks show the four-core Mac Pro holds
its own against the Power Mac G5
Quad - and beats it when running "universal" software.
On the software front, Microsoft has pulled the plug on Virtual
PC development, so it will never be available for Intel-based Macs.
(With Boot Camp and Parallels, there wouldn't have been much of a
market for VPC.) On the accessories front, MacMice has improved its
Bluetooth and USB mice.
PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Products
iPod Accessories
News & Opinion
Mac Pro Taken Apart
The folks at Power Max have dismantled a Mac Pro and posted photos.
Link: Mac
Pro Taken Apart!
Armchair Analysis: Mac Pro vs. Quad G5
Bare Feats rob-ART Morgan says:
"The much anticipated delivery of the first Intel based Mac Pro towers is at hand. We hope to have
our dual-dual-core 3 GHz Mac Pro Xeon delivered by next week -
which we plan to run against our 2.5
GHz Quad-Core G5 using our regular set of real world tests
along with a few new ones. Meanwhile, we have some interesting
information for you to ponder...."
Link: Arm Chair Analysis: Mac Pro
versus Quad G5
No Virtual PC for Intel Macs
VNUnet's Tom Sanders reports:
"Apple's transition from PowerPC chips to Intel processors has
not been as simple for programmers as the company promised,
Microsoft suggests. The universal code behind the switch has proven
costly for developers, and time-consuming as well.
"Microsoft will not develop a universal code version of its
Virtual PC product to run on Intel-powered Mac systems and plans to
discontinue the product.
"'We will discontinue development of Virtual PC for Mac, and we
will not be creating a universal version or a version that will run
on the old and new Apple machines,' Microsoft's director of product
management and marketing for the Macintosh business unit, Scott
Ericson, said.
"Creating a universal version of the application would take too
much effort because of Virtual PC's age, Ericson said."
Link: Microsoft to
Discontinue Its Virtual PC Product for Macs
Security Update for Mac Pro
Security Update 2006-004 was released on August 1, and details
are available via http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304063
"Mac Pro computers ship with Mac OS X v10.4.7 Build 8K1079.
Also, the existing Xserve hardware now includes Mac OS X
Server v10.4.7 Build 8K1079.
"The fixes provided in Security Update 2006-004 (August 1
release) are contained in Build 8K1079, with the exception of the
ones listed below for ImageIO and OpenSSH. The fixes for these
issues were not fully tested in time for the manufacturing of the
Mac Pro, and are being provided via this security update.
"This update is a proper subset of the full Security Update
2006-004 released on August 1. Existing systems that have already
applied Security Update 2006-004 (Aug 1 release) do not need to
install this update.
"Available for: Mac OS X v10.4.7 Build 8K1079, Mac OS X Server
v10.4.7 Build 8K1079"
Link: Security
Update 2006-004 for Mac Pro
Ergotron's LX Notebook Arm Wins Prestigious
Editors' Choice Award
PR: Ergotron, a global
leader in computer and video display mounting equipment, is pleased
to announce that they have been honored with the MacAddict Editors'
Choice Award. The award, for the innovative LX Notebook Arm,
appears in the August issue of MacAddict currently on
newsstands.
The LX Notebook Arm enables users to rediscover the value of
their notebook's display. Now anyone can lift a notebook off the
desk and use the display when docked into a networked system.
The Editors' Choice Award has
recognized Ergotron's LX Notebook Arm for its superior
construction, sturdiness and professional appearance. MacAddict's
Editors' Choice Award is identified as being the most acclaimed
award the magazine offers to technology-driven companies.
"We're very pleased MacAddict has acknowledged Ergotron by
awarding us with this prestigious award," said Jane Payfer, Vice
President of Marketing for Ergotron. "It is particularly rewarding
that Ergotron was recognized for the superior construction of the
LX Notebook Arm. Innovative, high quality products offered at an
exceptional value are the hallmark of Ergotron, and receiving the
Editors' Choice Award is proof that we have been successful with
our company goals."
Ergotron products have been
improving the human interface with digital displays for over 20
years. Ergotron's portfolio of digital display mounting solutions
includes wall and desk mount arms, desk stands, mobile carts,
pivots and vertical lifts. With the introduction of Constant Force
(CF) patented lift-and-pivot motion technology, Ergotron's products
require less user effort to achieve more motion. Each Ergotron
product is designed to enhance the viewing experience, reduce
stress and improve productivity in today's computing and
entertainment environments. Ergotron, a rapidly growing global
company focused on the channel and OEM business, expects growth
revenues in 2006 to approach 40%.
Link: Ergotron
Products
Mighty Mouse Alternative: The Mouse BT II
PR: MacMice has announced the immediate availability of
The Mouse BT II, the fourth generation version of its industry
leading Bluetooth wireless mouse - USB Charging/MicroScroll/800
dpi.
MacMice says:
"It's always fun going back and improving an already amazing
product. In updating our class-leading The Mouse BT we had a real
challenge. With almost 3-years of continuous product improvement,
the existing product was already among the best Bluetooth mice on
the market. So, what did we do to make it even better?
"While manufacturing The Mouse BT we had several ideas for
improvements that could not be readily incorporated into the
existing design. So, we decided to make a blank-sheet effort and
here is the result. Our all-new Bluetooth transceiver module is
state of the art, and incorporates the range increases and power
conservation benefits of the latest BT v1.2 standard. Since the
number one customer request from our earlier product was to move to
rechargeable batteries, we have created a mini-USB charging cradle
that takes up little desk space, but makes charging the included
AAA NiMH batteries quick and easy.
"Apple's use of a miniature scroll ball on their Mighty Mouse
product exposed many users to a new and seemingly contradictory
concept: a tiny scrolling device 'feels' more precise in usage than
a larger one. However, many of these same users have learned that a
sealed, embedded mini-trackball is not the perfect implementation
of this idea. Our MicroScroll miniature scrollwheel delivers the
precision of an ultra-small scrolling device, but without the
frustrations of a tiny trackball. It uses a 10mm diameter notchless
design that provides smoothly gliding, highly precise operation,
and a silky smooth feel.
"'We feel that The Mouse BT II delivers the right mix of
traditional functionality and modern styling elements most wanted
by today's Mac and Windows Bluetooth mouse buyers,' says M.H. Peng,
CEO of AllSpirit Co. Ltd., maker of the the new mouse, 'While Apple
has been focusing on bending the rules of how users interact with
their mouse with their 360-degree mini-scrollball and touch based
'2-button' system, we have focused more on simply improving the
time proven user interface elements everyone already uses and
enjoys."
I haven't used a Mouse BT II yet, but based on my several years
experience with Mac Mice's The Mouse Classic, which is the best
conventional optical mouse I've ever used, I'm optimistic that
MacMice's evolutionary approach with the Mouse BT II is a wise
one.
The Mouse BT II is a Bluetooth v1.2 compliant Bluetooth wireless
optical mouse with the latest in Apple-style design, with a smooth,
bright white housing and traditional shape. Its Bluetooth circuitry
is claimed to be the most stable and reliable in the industry on
either Mac OS X or Win XP systems. It is the first product to
include MacMice's MicroScroll 10mm diameter mini scrollwheel
encoder that provides precise notchless fingertip control of cursor
motion, and, it uses rechargeable AAA lithium batteries and a
plugin mini USB charging cradle to avoid unnecessary expense on
replacement batteries.
The Mouse BT II is available now for $69.99 from The MacMice
website or from any of their worldwide retailers.
Link: The Mouse BT II
The Mouse II: 'The Mouse' Design Goes
Laser
PR: MacMice has announced the immediate availability of
The Mouse II, a completely updated laser pickup version of its
highly popular The Mouse USB mouse.
"Since we first designed
our The Mouse USB mouse in 2002 we have seen it become one of the
most popular mice on the market for customers who appreciate the
clear-over-white classic Apple styling," says M.H. Peng, CEO of
AllSpirit Co. Ltd., manufacturer of MacMice input products, "Today,
we are shipping an all-new update to that product that adds the
state of the art laser tracking system expected by today's computer
users."
The Mouse II is a USB 1,600 dpi laser pickup mouse with a
classic Apple-inspired transparent shell design. It offers true
2-button plus scroll wheel plus scroll button functionality. It has
a 5' long USB cable and is compatible with either Mac OS X or
Win XP systems.
If you have not experienced the joys of using a modern laser
pickup equipped mouse, you simply must know what you have been
missing. Finally, you no longer need a mousepad; the laser pickup
is sensitive and accurate enough to work on virtually any mousing
surface . . . no more uncertain performance on glossy or
colored table tops. The feel of precision of the 1,600 dpi
resolution of this laser mechanism will make your image or video
work, your drawing or graphics projects, or, your detailed document
creation tasks a sheer joy.
The Classiest USB Mouse for Your Mac
Very few products gain the widespread reputation for style and
quality that The Mouse has gained over the past three years. Now,
with the addition of a state of the art laser pickup mechanism,
it's also one serious rodent . . . arguably the very best
USB mouse for the price in the world.
Editor's note: I wouldn't dispute that claim. The original
MacMice The Mouse that I've been using for several years is the
smoothest and most comfortable conventional mouse that I've
encountered, and I find it easier on my arm and wrist than some
"ergonomic" mice I've tried. The laser pickup should make it even
better. cm
The Mouse II is shipping now and can be bought for $29.99 from
the MacMice website or from any of their worldwide retailers.
Link: The Mouse II
Clunk Click Introduces Online Mac Backup
Service
PR: An online data backup service for Mac OS X users is
being launched by data backup provider Clunk Click, giving a
simple, safe, and affordable method of protecting the precious
contents of hard drives
OnLine Pro for Macintosh OS X automatically backs up data to
secure offsite data centres via the Internet each day, meaning Mac
OS X users can recover lost data at any time from any Internet
connected computer.
The lack of choice in backing up data held on Macs has been a
headache for some time. Users have frequently been forced to back
up to external hard drives, CDs, or tape systems. These methods
have left Mac users vulnerable to data loss through hard drive
failure, fire, theft, or damage to the backup medium itself. They
also present problems with data encryption and offsite storage.
With Clunk Click, Mac users never need worry about losing their
data again.
Clunk Click managing director, Paul Roberts, explains: "Mac
users have been frustrated by the lack of choice in protecting
their data. We now offer a secure service that will simplify the
backup process, giving mirrored offsite backup and storage without
the need for additional hardware or backup media. This presents a
huge advantage for Mac users over current methods."
The benefits of OnLine Pro for Macintosh OS X are particularly
critical for business users, as data loss can have a catastrophic
effect. According to Gartner, 80% of businesses that suffer a major
data loss or failure for more than 24 hours close within a
year.
Roberts adds: "Our service is essential for Mac users on the
move. Laptop theft is rife and on the increase. Every day we
receive calls from people whose laptops have been stolen. They are
often devastated as not only have they lost their laptop but all
their data too. All my staff have backup accounts with Clunk Click
- we wouldn't be without it."
OnLine Pro for Macintosh OS X is user friendly: Following a
simple software download, users select which files to backup and
what time they want the daily backup to occur. Their data is
automatically encrypted and transmitted each day to mirrored
offsite date centres.
Further information and a free 10 day trial of OnLine Pro for
Macintosh OS X can be found online or by calling Clunk Click
on 08700 503200.
Link: Clunk
Click
New Server Rack for Xserve Previews at
WWDC
PR: GizMac Accessories LLC, designer and manufacturer of
noise reduction server rack enclosures, previews their soon to be
released 25U XRackPro2 server rack with Apple's new Xserve line at the Worldwide Developer
Conference (WWDC).
GizMac's 25U noise reduction server rack was chosen by Apple to
house, display and silence the new Xserve product line that is
being shown at the WWDC this week. Several clusters of the newest
Apple Xserve servers were unveiled to the developer community
through the use of the XRackPro 25U server rack from GizMac.
"The 25U XRackPro2 server rack is a great addition to our family
of noise reduction enclosures," says Ken Vitto, Director of
Marketing for GizMac Accessories, "We are excited that Apple chose
to show the world the new Xserve server while displayed in our soon
to be released 25U server rack."
XRackPro2 25U noise reduction server rack is a unique solution
for rackmount Apple Xserve servers and Xserve RAID storage.
Supporting Xserve peripherals such as: tape and disk backup,
networking, battery backup and other rackmount systems can also be
installed inside the 25U XRackPro2 enclosure. Although the
XRackPro2 server rack was designed primarily for rackmount
equipment, the height of the 25U XRackPro2 will also allow some
vertically standing non-rackmount equipment to fit inside the
rackmount enclosure. By reducing noise levels of Apple's Xserve
solutions, the 25U XRackPro2 rackmount enclosure allows Xserve
servers and RAID systems to be placed in areas that require low
noise.
Post production in film, video and audio editing; television,
cable and radio broadcasting; Scientific, printing and education or
any other environment that requires low noise will benefit from the
GizMac noise reduction rackmount enclosure cabinet. Pricing for the
25U XRackPro2 server rack mount cabinet is $2,199 US retail,
further information can be found on the GizMac XRackPro
website.
Link: XRackPro
iPod Accessories
iPod Cover Features Macintosh 128K
PR: We're going old school here!
This special edition cover shows the original Macintosh and is made with a
screen printed reinforced fabric, foam padding, black lining, and a
clear plastic casing.
Covers may be slightly
different due to the nature of the fabric patterns. iPod covers
will be shipped within 7-14 days.
Models for
$30-$35
Link: Computer
Rock Grey
Desktop Mac
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