Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.06.03
This Week's Apple and Desktop Mac News
PowerBook, iBook, iPod, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review. iPod news is
covered in The iNews Review.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Products and Services
News & Opinion
Intel Preps Mac mini Look-Alike
Imitation is
the sincerest form of flattery dept.
Wired's Simon Burns reports:
"A new Wintel prototype that openly apes Apple Computer's
popular Mac mini is due out this week, sources told Wired News,
giving Intel a showcase to prove its chips are a match for anyone
when it comes to tiny PC designs."
5 Apple Products among PC World's 100
Best Products of 2005
The Editors of PC World say:
When you're buying hardware, software, and services, you want
the top combination of power, features, reliability, and value.
That's what you'll find in these World Class Award winners -
starting with the Product of the Year.
"What makes a product great? For 22 years, we've answered that
question in the form of our World Class Awards. The products,
technologies, and categories keep changing. But in 2005, as in
1983, great products meld practical features with innovation. They
help you rather than annoy you. And they do it at a fair price.
This year we chose 100 tools - the most in years - for work, home,
and everywhere in between. Then we ranked them from 1 to 100,
scrutinizing each product's design, features, performance,
innovation, and price. The resulting honor roll is as wide-ranging
as today's world of personal technology. (And 23 of our 100 winners
have the best price of all: They're free.)
Product of the Year: Mozilla Firefox
WEB BROWSER (Free) Let the browser wars begin anew: This
open-source program is streamlined, customizable, and just plain
better. No wonder it has attracted millions of users in just a few
months. Is it merely a coincidence that Microsoft finally plans to
give the aging Internet Explorer the major overhaul it has needed
for years?
Apple products in the Top 100: Apple Mac mini, Apple Mac OS X
Version 10.4 (Tiger), Apple iPod photo, Apple iTunes, Apple iTunes
Music Store
Mac mini, the Perfect Project Automation
Server
Java Buzz Forum's Wolf Paulus says:
"So I couldn't resist and shortly after Apple had lowered the
price for memory and hard drive upgrades just a bit I put my order
in. I bought the 1.25 GHz Mac
Mini configuration with memory and hard drive capacity doubled.
And against the current trend, I'm not going to use the Mini as a
domestic media server but as a development and project automation
server instead.
"The Mini came with OS X 10.3 preinstalled - still the 10.4
Tiger Upgrade DVD was part of the package and a clean install took
approximately 40 minutes. Ever since the OS install, the Mini runs
pretty much 'headless'. SSH and once in a while ARD (Apple Remote
Desktop) and Chicken of the VNC client make this easily
possible."
The 10 Best Mac Accessories
The Independent's David Phelan has posted a list of his ten
favorite Mac accessories:
- Griffin PowerMate, £37.60
- Mac OS X Tiger, £89
- AirPort Express, £88.99
- Epson RX620 all-in-one printer, £168
- iSight camera, £99.01
- Harman Multimedia JBL Creature Speakers II, £70
- iPod photo 60 GB, £309
- Vodafone 3G card, from £49 plus monthly subscription
- Microsoft Groovy wireless optical mouse, £35
- Iomega Micro Mini, £21.99
eMac Latest Revision New Features
The features that have changed from the previous eMac are listed
here with links to the sections that describe them.
- Microprocessor: The eMac has a PowerPC G4
microprocessor running at a clock speed of 1.25 GHz or 1.42
GHz.
- Memory: The computer comes with 256 MB or 512 MB of DDR333
(PC2700) SDRAM installed in an internal 184-pin DIMM expansion
slot; 512 MB and 1 GB memory is available as a build-to-order
option. The second user-accessible slot accepts a DIMM up to 512
MB. The maximum supported memory is 1 GB.
- Graphics acceleration: The video circuits provide built-in 2D
and 3D acceleration using an ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB DDR memory
or an ATI Radeon 9600 with 64 MB DDR memory.
- SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): One configuration
has an 8x SuperDrive, which supports DVR+R Double Layer (DL)
format.
- Bluetooth: Fully integrated Bluetooth is available as a
build-to-order option to enable short-range wireless connections
between desktop and laptop computers and a host of other peripheral
devices.
Link:
eMac Latest Revision New Features, Apple Developer
Connection
iMac G5 Latest Revision New Hardware
Features
Below is a list of the new hardware features of the iMac G5.
- Processor speed: The microprocessor in the iMac G5 is a PowerPC
G5 with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz or 2.0 GHz.
- Memory: The computer comes with 512 MB of DDR400 (PC3200) SDRAM
installed in one 184-pin DIMM expansion slot; a second slot is
available for expansion. The maximum supported memory is 2 GB.
- AirPort Extreme: The computer comes standard with 54 Mbps
AirPort Extreme.
- Graphics IC: The computer comes standard with the ATI Radeon
9600 with 128 MB DDR RAM.
- SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): The 20"
configuration and some 17" configurations of the iMac G5 have a 8x
SuperDrive. The SuperDrive supports DVR+R Double Layer (DL)
format.
- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR: The computer comes standard with fully
integrated Bluetooth 2.0 with enhanced data rate (EDR) to enable
short-range wireless connections between desktop and laptop
computers and a host of other peripheral devices.
- Hard disk storage: The computer has a 7200 rpm, built-in Serial
ATA (SATA) hard disk with a capacity of 160 GB or 250 GB, and
build-to-order options of 250 GB or 400 GB.
- Ethernet: The iMac G5 has a built in Ethernet port for a
10Base-T, 100Base-TX and 1000Base-T Gigabit operation.
- Ambient light sensor: The computer has an ambient light sensor
that adjusts the brightness of the sleep indicator to light
conditions.
Link:
iMac G5 Latest Revision New Hardware Features, Apple Developer
Connection
Reviews
PC Magazine: Apple eMac Review
"Users on a $999 budget should look hard at the Apple eMac with DL SuperDrive. The
eMac will make a great digital hub for your iPod, DV camera,
digital still camera, and is also a very good all-in-one basic
computing solution."
PC Magazine: Apple iMac 2 GHz
Review
"Apple took its five-star, class-defining desktop and upgraded
it. What's better than that?"
Products and Services
External FireWire Drive, Hub with Backup Button
for Mac mini
PR: MacWay, a French
leader in storage solutions, has announced the immediate
availability of its minipartner™, an external hard disk and
port extender with backup button designed to provide Apple's
Mac mini with up to 400 GB
extra fast storage, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and 3 FireWire ports
Hub.
The minipartner perfectly matches the elegant design of the Mac
mini. "Now, Mac mini owners benefit from an ultra-fast and secure
backup solution," said Vincent Lugnier, MacWay's Product Manager.
"Our innovative backup button offers peace of mind with Dantz
Retrospect Express™ (Mac & PC). The minipartner expands
Mac mini connectivity as an attractive workstation."
- Host Interface: FireWire (IEEE 1394)
- Expansion Ports: 4xUSB 2.0 - 3xFireWire
- Product Dimensions: 6.5 in x 6.5 in x 1.5 in
- Warranty: one (1) year limited
Pricing (VAT excl.):
- minipartner 80 Go 7200 rpm, €108
- minipartner 160 Go 7200 rpm, €133
- minipartner 200 Go 7200 rpm, €150
- minipartner 250 Go 7200 rpm, €183
- minipartner 400 Go 7200 rpm, €334
minipartner is available from MacWay worldwide.
AlchemyTV: TV on Your Mac
PR: Televio have reached an exclusive agreement with
Miglia, who will now sell Televio with the product name
AlchemyTV.
Alchemy TV is the only product available that enhances Apple's
Power Mac computers with a full size and high grade TV picture with
stereo audio, an IR remote (only for AlchemyTV DVR) that controls
all Mac applications, and a stereo FM radio.
The 125 channel TV tuner and the 9-bit Philips ADC stream a
crystal-clear TV video stream with a full 640 x 480 size and 29.97
fps frame rate (NTSC) resp. 736 x 576 with 25 fps (PAL). The stereo
TV sound is decoded by 2 x 16-bit 32 MHz audio ADC.
The integrated 24-key IR remote is able to send key events to
every Mac application.
To digitize your analog video just connect it to the S-video
input or to the composite video input on the AlchemyTV card.
The video is displayed with a special AlchemyTV QuickTime video
digitizer component (a.k.a. vdig) and thus available in third-party
Mac applications such as BTV Pro. You can capture movies with every
QuickTime codec available on your system.
TV audio and FM radio, as well as the onboard line audio input,
are available as a sound input in every Mac application.
The AlchemyTV channel preview shows a lot of channels at a
glance. Channels are represented by thumbnails, which are updated
at regular intervals. Watch interesting programs directly in the
channel preview or double-click to switch to the TV window.
Watch TV in the Dock, as long as you are working with other
applications. Don't miss your favorite program while working with
the text editor.
You get full remote feedback with the AlchemyTV
On-Screen-Display (OSD). You can see the volume and the chosen
station directly in the TV window.
AlchemyTV Highlight Features:
- 24-Key IR remote included (only for AlchemyTV DVR)
- Stereo TV audio, secondary audio program (SAP) supported
- Stereo FM Radio
- Captures to QuickTime movies
- Channel preview (thumbnails of selected channels in one
window)
- Uses little CPU power in preview mode
- S-video and composite video input
- Additional audio input
- Versions for NTSC, PAL, and SECAM TV standards available
AlchemyTV is distributed through Miglia.
Keyspan USB PS/2 Adapter for PC and
Macintosh
PR: Keyspan has announced it is now shipping its new USB
PS/2 Adapter. Supporting both PC and Macintosh computers, the USB
PS/2 Adapter makes it easy to connect a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2
mouse to a single USB port.
The Keyspan USB PS/2 Adapter solves a connectivity problem
resulting from the lack of PS/2 ports on most new PC laptops and
desktops, and Apple's new Mac
mini ships without a keyboard or mouse. The USB PS/2 Adapter
enables users to easily connect a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse to a
Mac mini's USB port.
On Windows, there is no software to install. Users simply plug
in the adapter to a USB port on the PC and then plug the keyboard
and mouse into the color-coded connectors on the adapter.
For Macintosh users, a software utility is provided that remaps
the PS/2 keyboard and mouse for optimal use on a Mac. This utility,
HID Helper, is available as a free download from the Keyspan
website. HID Helper functions include: Swap windows/alt keys; map
media keys to the pull down menu of QuickTime, DVD Player, and
Safari; map volume/mute keys to OS X equivalents; map F12 to
Eject, Map mouse right click to option-left click, and Map mouse
middle/wheel to scroll up/down (page up/down).
"We've done the little things that make this adapter special,"
noted Mike Ridenhour, president at Keyspan. "It features a power
LED, dual color coded PS/2 connectors, and simple software that
makes a PS/2 keyboard act like a Mac keyboard when connected to a
Mac."
Retailing at $19.99, the Keyspan USB PS/2 Adapter is available
to resellers through Ingram Micro, D&H, and Wynit, and it is
available to end users from CDW, Amazon.com, Fry's, Apple
Specialist Resellers, and other leading computer products
retailers.
PatchBurn Enables Unsupported Drives in iTunes,
Disc Burner
PR: PatchBurn is a tool to patch existing CD/DVD drivers
(under Mac OS X 10.2.x) or to generate and install new device
profiles (under Mac OS X 10.3.x and later)
It allows many otherwise unsupported burners to be used directly
with Mac OS X, iTunes, and DiscBurner.
New in this version:
- PatchBurn will now create profiles for any writer shown up in
the list, even if it is already supported. This feature is useful
for certain writers to unlock specific features (e.g. DVD-RAM
writing capability).
- added a new advanced setting "DRDeviceOverrideCanWriteDVDRAM".
You may use this option, if your drive features DVD-RAM writing,
but Mac OS X does not recognize this feature. It may work on
certain drives but I can't give any guarantee. Use this at your own
risk!
- PatchBurn will now overwrite existing profiles, you don't have
to remove all profiles any more
- added some more debug information
- changed the window size in experts mode. It is now much larger
to show more information of the debug log.
- This alpha version still does not have the final feature set
yet. It will expire at 1.8.2005
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later
PatchBurn is free.
RocketFM: FM Transmitter for Computers with
USB
PR: RocketFM uses any available FM frequency to transmit
audio through your home, car, or office stereo system. Applications
such as iTunes, GarageBand, video soundtracks, and even streaming
Internet radio can be conveniently broadcast with RocketFM.
Laptop users will find the RocketFM invaluable for
travel. Use any available radio in your hotel room or temporary
office space as wireless speakers. The RocketFM is small and light,
and it requires no additional power source.
Use RocketFM to broadcast sound for a presentation, or just kick
back and listen to your tunes outside on your portable radio. Any
Mac or PC with USB can use the RocketFM, and with the full range of
FM frequencies available, you can be sure to find a channel all
your own. Discover the easy way to play your audio wirelessly, at
home or in your travels.
Price: $39
Bochs 2.2 Open Source x86 PC Emulator
PR: Bochs is a highly portable open source IA-32 (x86) PC
emulator written in C++ that runs on most popular platforms. It
includes emulation of the Intel x86 CPU, common I/O devices, and a
custom BIOS. Currently, Bochs can be compiled to emulate a 386,
486, Pentium, Pentium Pro, or AMD64 CPU, including optional MMX,
SSE, SSE2, and 3DNow! instructions.
Bochs is capable of running most operating systems inside the
emulation including Linux, Windows 95, DOS, and Windows NT 4.
Bochs was written by Kevin Lawton and is currently maintained by
this project.
Bochs can be compiled and used in a variety of modes, some which
are still in development. The 'typical' use of Bochs is to provide
complete x86 PC emulation, including the x86 processor, hardware
devices, and memory. This allows you to run OS's and software
within the emulator on your workstation, much like you have a
machine inside of a machine. For instance, let's say your
workstation is a Unix/X11 workstation, but you want to run Win95
applications. Bochs will allow you to run Win 95 and associated
software on your Unix/X11 workstation, displaying a window on your
workstation, simulating a monitor on a PC.
Bochs 2.2 released on May 28, 2005
iEmulator PC Emulator
PR: iEmulator 1.7.6 is a high-performance PC emulator for
Macs running OS X 10.3.0 or later. It has been tested with
Windows 98, 2000, XP, and various flavors of Linux. iEmulator is a
low-cost solution for Mac users that require the use of
Windows-only applications.
The complete iEmulator 1.7.6 package includes:
- The iEmulator 1.7.6 Application
- A DOS operating systems, 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
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher, "Tiger"
Compatible
iEmulator sells for $23.95
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers every two
weeks:
For deals on laptops, see our Best PowerBook G4 Deals,
Best iBook G4 Deals,
and Best iBook G3
Deals. For deals on iPods, see our Best iPod Deals.
