Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.10.28
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
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
The Last PowerPC Temptation?
Blogger Anand Lal Shimpi says:
"All of Apple's new Power Mac G5s feature dual-core processors,
but what it allows Apple to do is outfit the lower end Power Mac
G5s with only a single processor and still offer the same number of
concurrently executable threads as the older dual processor G5s.
Granted you do lose some performance because the two cores now must
share a single FSB, whereas the older dual processor machines had
an independent FSB per processor. But any performance loss you'd
see there is more than made up by the fact that each core now gets
a full 1 MB L2 cache.
"The previous G5 cores were stuck with a relatively small (by
today's standards) 512 KB cache. It made the 90nm G5 die very
small, but it also meant that performance wasn't as good as it
could have been. One thing Johan found in his investigations with
the G5 was that memory latency was pretty bad, and a small L2 cache
does nothing to hide that.
"For the two lower end G5s, the fact that the single CPUs are
now dual core doesn't mean much, but the move to a 1 MB L2
cache per core should result in a tangible performance increase in
a lot of scenarios.
"Apple does give up a bit of clock speed at the high end by
moving to dual core, with the fastest G5 now topping out at 2.5 GHz
vs. 2.7 GHz. The larger L2 cache will make up for some of that
difference, but not all. Obviously the high end G5 now offers more
than just a faster clock speed...."
FastMac Offers Free Macworld San Francisco
Passes
PR: If you're planning on attending Macworld Conference
& Expo in San Francisco (January 9-13th) then pick up a
complimentary exhibit hall pass ($45 value) courtesy of FastMac (no
purchase necessary).
See you at the show!
FastMac designs and manufactures upgrade products that add value
and extend usability of Apple Macintosh computers and iPod music
players. FastMac's line of optical drives, CPU upgrades, and
TruePower batteries are available through an international network
of dealers, distributors, resellers and consultants. For more
information, visit:
Products & Services
e-ttache Lets You Take Your Mac mini and Cinema
Display with You
PR:
Sometimes it's good to think inside the box
e-ttache is a revolutionary portable case that can carry your
computer components in one neat easily accessible package. No need
to worry about set up as the unit is ready to plug the power cord
in and simply push the start button. Users simply install their
components into the case and lower the cover over the unit and then
take their whole system with them.
Super quality brushed stainless case.
Apple-discounts.com Makes Purchase of
Refurbished Apple Products Quick and Easy
PR: Each day a number of hugely discounted products are
temporarily made available through Apple's online store. Though the
prices and products are excellent, navigating through the
information can be difficult. A new website, Apple-Discounts.com,
displays The Apple Store's Special Deals in an updated, convenient,
and easy-to-read format to save Apple shoppers time and money.
Product listings are updated daily at Apple-Discounts.com,
so shoppers can see right away which product offerings are new.
Apple-Discounts.com also offers a free downloadable Dashboard
widget that displays the day's current-selling "hot deals" in both
single and comprehensive formats. Or, if they prefer, shoppers can
also receive a daily email with up-to-date information on the
latest Apple bargains.
All refurbished products available through the Special Deals
section of The Apple Store are covered by Apple's one-year limited
warranty, with extended warranties also available.
Each day a number of hugely discounted products from Apple's
online store are temporarily made available until they sell out.
Apple-Discounts.com displays these current-selling "hot deals" in
an updated, convenient and easy-to-read format, saving Apple
shoppers both time and money.
Apple-discounts.com Widget Version: 1.3
Now you can have all the Apple store bargains delivered to your
desktop!
The Apple-Discounts.com widget displays the day's
current-selling "hot deals" in both single and comprehensive
formats.
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher
License: Freeware
ScreenSavrz for Cinema Displays, StuffBak
Device Recovery Service
PR: RadTech, makers of iPod and mobile computing
accessories and more, today announced immediate availability of
ScreenSavrz for Apple Cinema Displays, next in the series of
elegant, formfitting protective covers for computer LCD panels, and
StuffBak Device Recovery Service.
ScreenSavrz for Cinema Displays protect, clean and refinish
Flat-panel LCD panels for total display care. Constructed from
RadTech's unique Optex fabric, which is specifically formulated
using today's most advanced optical polishing technology.
Used as a display cover / protector, ScreenSavrz shield and
protect LCD displays from impacts, debris and scratches. As a
polishing medium, ScreenSavrz safely wipe away dust and thoroughly
clean the surface of the screen. Dampened with water, ScreenSavrz
possess the unique ability to remove light scratching and abrasions
from LCD viewing surfaces. Non-woven and wrinkle-resistant,
ScreenSavrz won't tear or fray and easily stow anywhere.
ScreenSavrz for Cinema Displays are available in two colors:
Titanium Grey and Aqua. Pricing starts at $38.95, and are
immediately available for all Apple Cinema Displays.
StuffBak is a loss protection service that recovers missing
possessions, with a verified recovery rate of over 75%. Rugged
StuffBak ID labels can be affixed to any piece of equipment - if
something "disappears", the label allows the finder to return it
easily - and get a reward too! One free StuffBak label is included
with all RadTech web orders; additional labels are available for
$1.95 each.
StuffBak recovery labels are easily activated online. Once
activated and attached to a device, the labels provide automatic
protection. When an item is found, the owner is contacted
immediately by phone and / or email. The StuffBak website can be
used to report the loss and offer an extra reward.
Finders are motivated to return lost property because StuffBak's
system is simple, convenient, confidential, cost-free and offers
them a reward. Finders simply provide the label number and we
arrange for a courier to pickup or direct them to a nearby drop-off
center. They don't have to try and find the owner, pack a box, or
pay for shipping. Once the property is returned to the owner, they
receive StuffBak's standard reward, $20 worth of StuffBak labels,
plus any cash reward the owner has offered.
Benq FP202W 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor
PR: The FP202W's widescreen design provides more than 43
centimeters of screen width, allowing you to display and
comfortably read two pages of text side by side. At the same time,
the format preserves the display of content such as wide format
notebook, DVD movies and games in their original glory without
cropping or compression.
The world's first 20" monitor to deliver an ultra-fast 8ms
response time, the FP202W offers a superior gaming or movie viewing
experience with its fluid video. Even fast-moving action scenes
play back flawlessly with no ghosting or other visual defects.
With support for resolutions up to 1680 x 1050 (WSXGA+), the
FP202W delivers a crisp, crystal-clear screen image, further
enhanced by Senseye™ Technology for ultra-realistic picture
quality. And 600:1 contrast ratio ensures vivid color and
exquisitely rendered details.
With its clean, refreshingly simple looks, the FP202W
complements any home or office decor, while the narrow bezel saves
spaces and keeps the focus on the content displayed onscreen. The
function keys, too, show the attention to detail lavished on this
LCD monitor, with a visually appealing interface that is also
extremely intuitive to use - including a hotkey that allows instant
switching between analog and digital signal inputs.
Easy to Use
- Input Hot Key- Switch between D-Sub and DVI just need one
touch!
- I-Key for quick image auto adjusting.
- Dual input for both D-Sub and DVI-D single
- PC and Mac. compatible
- VESA wall mounting compatible
This product complies with Energy Star® Program Requirements
for Computer Monitors. Version 4.0.
Available in Q4 2005, at a suggested retail price of $649.
ATP's Tough USB Flash Drive
PR: ATP Electronics Inc., a global manufacturer of
digital flash media products, has announced the release of its
rugged USB ToughDrive. The unique, road worthy ToughDrive is a high
speed USB 2.0 flash drive that is stylish and functional, featuring
a durable rubber housing that is both water and shock resistant.
Available today, the ToughDrive family begins at 256 MB and offers
capacities up to 2 GB, and can be partitioned and password
protected for secure storage. ToughDrives also feature a high
performance 30 MB/s data transfer speed for faster file transfers
and seamless multimedia streaming.
Tough
enough for any mobile application, the ToughDrive is designed to
withstand the rigors of everyday, in-the-field use in order to
protect the user's invaluable data. It is the first ATP product
designed with its proprietary DuraSkin construction. DuraSkin is a
protective compound layer which completely encompasses all internal
components, offering a second layer of protection against extreme
temperatures, surrounding elements including airborne dust,
particles, water and moisture, as well as shock absorption from
accidental drops or impact. The embedded lines also make the
ToughDrive extremely tactile and easy to grip while maintaining a
slim, compact size storable in any pocket, case, backpack or
bag.
The ToughDrive data transfer speed of 200x or 30 MB/sec is
designed for high quality multimedia streaming which yields less
lag time for file transfers. Using the same high quality flash
components as ATP flash cards, the ToughDrive also offers a read
and write lifetime ten times longer than other standard USB flash
drives.
"Although USB flash drives are found everywhere in business and
consumer markets, the need for data security and integrity in
extreme environments is largely untapped," said Danny Lin, ATP VP
of Sales and Marketing. "Data capture and transfer is pervasive in
almost every computing application. However, when users are working
with critical information in highly mobile, remote or severe
conditions such as on the water, intolerable heat, high winds or
altitudes, or freezing temperatures, data can not be compromised
under any circumstance. The ToughDrive is the first flash drive
specifically designed for the rugged market, giving mobile
professionals the peace of mind they need to get the job done while
in the field or in the office."
The ATP USB ToughDrive will be available at retail locations
like Microcenter and online at
Buy.com, PC Mall and others in
capacities of 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB.
Sony Speeds Up Double and Dual Layer DVD
Burning for Mac Users
PR: Macintosh computer owners will soon be able to reap
the benefits of Sony's latest generation of DVD burners with the
new Mac-compatible DRX-810UL/T model.
The external double and dual layer DVD drive will begin shipping
next month with Roxio's Toast 6 Lite for Mac compatibility.
With the new DRX-810UL/T DVD burner and Toast 6 Lite software,
Mac users will be able to store and share home movies, digital
photos, and music at 8x maximum for DVD+R Double Layer (DL)
recording speed, enabling them to burn up to 8.5 GB of video, data,
music, or images on compatible media in about fifteen minutes.
"This burner is geared toward Mac users and provides optimum
performance and substantial storage capacity, making it an ideal
accessory for the Mac mini or an upgrade for the eMac," said Bob
DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded optical storage products in
Sony Electronics' IT products Division. "The drive is also ideal
for businesses deploying DVD video-based training and sharing large
files as well as filmmakers creating prototypes on
recordable/rewritable DVD discs before proceeding with mass
replication."
The drive also supports 4x DVD-R DL, 16x DVD±R, 8x
DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 48x CD-R and 32x CD-RW recording speeds. It also
features a unique vertical design for easy placement and
portability, and offers connectivity with both i.LINK
(FireWire/IEEE 1394) and hi-speed USB (USB 2.0) digital interfaces
for simple setup and maximum flexibility.
Toast 6 Lite enables advanced authoring, copying and video
features, and also includes the capability to create one-click
copies of CDs, DVDs and disc images, as well as standard audio
CDs.
In addition to the Toast application, the drive comes bundled
with a feature-rich software suite from Nero for Microsoft
Windows.
The DRX-810UL/T model will be available next month for less than
$150. Sony DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold directly online
through SonyStyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide and
at authorized resellers, through certain mail order catalogs, and
select online shopping sites.
Touch Screen Kiosk Digital Media Center for Mac
mini
PR: RKL Digital Services has introduced a new and
revolutionary touch screen kiosk digital media center offering any
business a unique way to communicate valuable information about
their company to the general public, increase sales potential,
expand their customer base, and provide current and new customers
with the ultimate in computer Touch Screen Technology at the touch
of a finger.
TouchTower™ integrates a host of extremely valuable
features and benefits for consumers and retailers in one
easy-to-use Apple Computer powered touch screen kiosk system.
Touch-enabling allows users to transform the world's most
innovative Apple Computer desktop into a customizable kiosk, mall
directory, ecommerce terminal, virtual multi-list real estate book,
personal communications device for Internet web browsing and email
access, phone service and more. The possibilities are truly endless
and unlimited.
Software
EchoFX Updates USBVision
EchoFX, a Macintosh software developer, has announced the
immediate availability of USBVision for Mac OS X 1.1.3 -
software support for USB 1.1 video digitizing devices including the
XLR8 InterView, Belkin VideoBus, iRez USBLive and CapSure USB,
Hauppauge USB-Live, Dazzle Digital Video Creator, Pinnacle LINX,
and others.
Version 1.1.3 addresses a problem with audio-capable devices in
the recent 1.1.2 release. In addition, the free USBVision Exporter
software can now open many more types of files and has improved
feedback during exports to iTunes/iPod video as well as other
formats.
USBVision for Mac OS X 1.1.3 is a free upgrade for all previous
EchoFX customers.
USBVision Exporter 1.1.3 is free.
The USBVision software offers Mac OS X support for a wide range
of devices including XLR8 InterView, Belkin VideoBus and VideoBus
II, iRez USB Live and CapSure USB, Global Village VideoFX, Alpha
Data USB Video Adapter, Hauppauge USBLive, Dazzle Digital Video
Creator, Pinnacle LINX and many others - including those originally
sold as "PC-only". The USBVision software also supports s-video
capturing on some TV tuner devices including Hauppage WinTV and
Pinnacle Studio PCTV.
Additionally, the USBVision software will allow up to eight
video capture devices to run simultaneously on one computer.
Multiple devices can be used with Ben Bird's SecuritySpy and
SubRosaSoft's HomeGuardian security packages allowing the
monitoring of many different video sources. Multiple devices can
also be used with video broadcast packages such as Vara Software's
Wirecast, and webcam packages such as Econ Technologies'
ImageCaster, allowing multiple video sources to be uploaded to the
Internet from a single computer.
The USBVision software has been enhanced in a number of ways
from the original InterView-only software, including the addition
of snapshot button support, audio input support, and increased
compatibility with various third-party applications. The USBVision
Capture software included, features hardware accelerated
full-screen playback, duration-based recording and AppleScript
support.
The USBVision software is available for $25 per device
activated. Customers who purchased the InterView for Mac OS X
software or InterView Lite hardware from EchoFX may upgrade to the
new USBVision software free of charge.
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers every two
weeks:
For deals on laptops, see our Best
Aluminum PowerBook G4 Deals, Best
Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, Best
iBook G4 Deals, and Best White iBook
G3 Deals. For deals on iPods, see our Best iPod Deals.
