Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2006.02.17
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
Software
News & Opinion
Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.4.5 Update
PR: Apple has released the Mac OS X 10.4.5 Update, which
is recommended by Apple for all users and includes general
operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following
applications and technologies:
- iChat video conferencing
- Safari rendering of web pages
- usability of Dashboard and widgets
- viewing of QuickTime streaming media behind a firewall
- printing to some Epson printer models
- iDisk and Portable Home Directory syncing
- time zone and daylight savings for 2006 and 2007
- VPN connections to Cisco servers when using NAT
- using and mounting Windows formatted storage devices
- compatibility with third party applications and devices
- previous standalone security updates
This time, the incremental "Delta" updater, if you already have
version 10.4.4 installed, is a modest 16 MB, but the Combo updater
for upgrading earlier versions of Tiger is a whopping 125 MB.
The Delta update installer updates Mac OS X 10.4.4 to
10.4.5.
The Mac OS X 10.4.5 Update (combo) updates Mac OS X 10.4,
10.4.1, 10.4.2, 10.4.3, or 10.4.4 to version 10.4.5 on both
Intel-based Macs and PowerPC-based Macs.
There are two ways to update to Mac OS X 10.4.5: Use Software
Update or the standalone installer. You only need to use one of
these methods to update your computer.
Automatic Software Update
Software Update, located in the Apple menu, will automatically
download the latest Apple software. (Software Update might have
linked you to this article to learn more about the update.) Note
that the update's size may vary from computer to computer when
installed using Software Update. Some updates must be installed
prior to others, soyou may need to run Software Update more than
once to get all of the available updates.
Standalone installer
Download the update installer and run it manually. This a useful
option when you need to update multiple computers but only want to
download the update once. Two versions of the standalone installer
are available from Apple Downloads: a delta and combo at these
links:
The OS 10.4.5 Delta Updater (only for updating OS 10.4.4 to
10.4.5 - 16MB) can be downloaded here:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdate1045.html
The OS 10.4.5 Combo Updater (updates Mac OS X 10.4, 10.4.1,
10.4.2, 10.4.3, and 10.4.4 to 10.4.5. - 125MB ) can be downloaded
here:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdate1045combo.html
OS X 10.4.5 Fixes Front Row Video Glitch on
Intel-based iMac
TechWeb.com's Gregg Keizer reports:
"Apple has fixed a well-publicized video glitch plaguing Front
Row software running on its new Intel-based iMac machines. The fix
comes in the form of an update to Apple's Mac OS X (aka
Tiger), which revs the OS to version 10.4.5.
"The update had been anticipated by many Mac experts, who had
said the issue was software related, rather than hardware
based."
- Link:
Apple Fixes Intel-based iMac Video Problem
Mac mini Living Inside an SE/30
Gizmodo
reports:
"Thanks to the Mac mini, Apples are no longer getting the cold
shoulder by case modders. A Japanese fellow put a Mac mini inside
of an old-school Macintosh
SE/30. Best of all, he managed to get the grayscale monitor to
work with the Mini's DVI connection...."
iMac Core Duo Sometimes 'Twice as Fast' as iMac
G5
Barefeats' Rob Art Morgan says:
"February 9th, 2006 - Our initial Doom 3 chart only showed a 83%
gain of the iMac Core Duo 2.0 over the previous model of iMac
(G5/2.1). That was at Medium Quality with Dynamic Shadowing
disabled (1024 x 768). When we re-tested both models at High Quality
with Dynamic Shadowing enabled, the iMac Core Do was 129% faster or
'2.3 times' the frame rate of the previous model - just as Apple
showed on their graph...."
'I'm Not Buying a Mac'
Reason Gone Mad's Bill Shein says:
"Look, you can pester me all you want, mock my stubbornness, and
even point at me and laugh, but one thing is certain: I'm not
buying a Mac.
"For more than 20 years, I have used only MS-DOS- and
Windows-based computers. During that time, I have purchased enough
Microsoft software to feed a small family for a year - assuming
that I could somehow transform 600-page manuals and stacks of
3.5-inch floppy disks and those annoying 'Certificates of
Authenticity' into edible human nourishment.
"To date, I have endured 1.4 million system crashes, watched
19,874 word processing documents vanish into the ether - many of
which would certainly have won prestigious literary prizes - and
directed 455,391 expletives at 'Bill Gates' and 'Michael Dell' and
'any human being remotely involved in the creation of this hideous
device.'
"Despite all this, every few years I replace my outdated PC with
a new one. 'I already know how to do everything on a PC,' I say,
echoing the most popular explanation for not switching to
Apple."
"...I've had enough. If the only way to get you Mac people off
my back is to go to apple.com, navigate the simple e-commerce
interface, assemble the computer of my dreams, enter some credit
card information, click 'Buy,' and then wait for FedEx to deliver
my sleek new computer, well, fine. That's what I'll do."
- Link: I'm Not
Buying a Mac
iMac Core Duo 'Simply the Best'
The Detroit Free Press's Mike Wendland says:
"Apple's new iMac running the new Intel Core Duo microprocessor
is the finest, most reliable, stable, elegant and intuitive
personal computer available anywhere.
"There. I don't think I could say it any clearer....
"This new iMac, which marks the first time Apple has used Intel
chips to power its machines, is simply astounding. As multimedia
and digital entertainment becomes more mainstream, you will find no
other machines as well suited to create, edit and display audio and
video materials."
- Link:
Apple iMac Is Simply the Best
No iPod Dock for Intel Mac mini
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Upcoming Intel-based Mac minis will not sport an integrated
iPod dock, a variety of sources said to be familiar with Apple's
plans have claimed. Such a move was predicted late last year, with
the precedent of discoveries made in March 2005 that the computer
had the internal connections necessary for a built-in dock."
- Link:
Apple Drops Intel Mac mini's Built-in iPod Dock
When Tech Reviews Go Bad
connectedhomemag.com's Paul Thurrott says:
"For the past year or so, I've been pondering methods for
writing addendums to my reviews of software products, hardware, and
services. The problem is that we live in an interconnected world,
and everyone expects to find reviews of new products on their
favorite Web sites as soon as possible. In many cases, I'm able to
work with companies such as Dell, Lenovo/ThinkPad, and Microsoft to
ensure that I have early access to products so that my reviews can
be timely but also benefit from actual real-world experience. In
other cases - Apple is a typical example - the companies involved
are secretive about new products.... I face other concerns. If I
spend a few weeks with a new Apple iMac, a digital camera, or a
laptop, and I experience no problems at all, it's to be expected
that my review would be positive. But fairly often, problems begin
to crop up with these products over time. And although I haven't
settled on a method for recording such problems, they've often
accumulated to the point at which I wish I could change an existing
review to reflect the problems I've experienced. I think of these
changes, or addendums, as my response to problems that have
occurred '28 Days Later,' in honor of the movie of the same name.
In that film, a virus appears to wipe out most of humanity,
destroying society and forcing the few healthy remaining humans to
fight for their survival. That's pretty much how I feel after a
review goes bad.
"Let me give you a few examples. Recently, I reviewed Apple's
stunning iMac Core Duo here in Connected Home Express...."
- Link:
Intel iMac 28 Days Later: When Tech Reviews Go Bad
Can the mini Pack a Giant Punch?
SpyMac's Michael Simon says:
"To be a real success, the Mac mini needs to be marketed as a
capable, full-figured Mac, not a glorified iPod for Internet
surfers.
"As I read through AppleInsider's report yesterday that Apple
had scrapped plans to include an iPod dock on its Intel-based Mac
mini, I found myself wondering two things: 1) why would anyone want
a dock protruding from their computer; and 2) whatever happened to
the mini?
"Back when it was unveiled at Macworld San Francisco in January
2005, it had so much promise....
"But in the 13 months of its existence, it's been largely
ignored by its creator....
"Now, it's been more than a year, and the Mac mini has only seen
an 80MHz speed bump, and that's only on some of the models.
"So what happened?"
Coming Next to the Mac: Linux and Windows?
Computerworld's Eric Lai says:
"Momentum is building, albeit unevenly, to bring alternate
operating systems to the Intel-based Macintosh computers that Apple
Computer recently released. Despite a lack of encouragement from
Apple, operating system vendors and enthusiasts are working to make
Linux or Windows run with the Mac OS X already installed on
the latest Apple iMacs and MacBook Pro laptops. The iMacs are
available now; the new laptops are due out later this month. Both
of the 'Mactel' lines sport Core Duo processors from Intel.
"Mandriva, the third-largest Linux distributor, said its version
of Linux is already compatible with the 32-bit dual-core Centrino
processors....
"Canonical, which is behind the fast-rising Ubuntu Linux
distribution, said that despite current technical hangups, a
Mactel-compatible version of Ubuntu could be available within the
next eight months....
"Interest is also growing among Windows users, who cite the
operating system's unparalleled selection of software and want to
port it to run on Apple's stylish hardware. A Microsoft spokesman
confirmed that neither Windows Vista nor XP will work 'out of the
box' with the MacIntels. The reason, said Microsoft, is because
Apple decided not to install a piece of firmware optional to EFI
called a Compatibility Support Module that was available from
Intel."
- Link: Coming
Next to the Mac: Linux and Windows?
Products
miniStack V2 Makes a Good Drive
Enclosure Even Better
PR: Other World Computing (OWC) and Newer Technology Inc.
(NewerTech) have announced the highly anticipated immediate retail
availability of the miniStack™ V2, the 2006 upgrade to the
award-winning miniStack computer enhancement storage solution.
The newly upgraded NewerTech miniStack V2 is engineered to
increase drive capacity 80- to 500GB while adding integrated 2-Port
FireWire and 3-Port USB 2.0/1.1 powered hubs that are ergonomically
divided between rear and side configurations.
Although designed to
maximize the Apple Mac mini, the NewerTech miniStack works with any
Apple or PC computer with an available FireWire or USB port
including any iMac, iMac Intel, mini PC, desktop PC, or portable
MacBook Pro (Intel), iBook, notebook, or PowerBook.
The NewerTech miniStack was named Accessory of the Year by
123Macmini, Editors' Choice by MacAddict, and Top Product by
Macworld in 2005.
OWC and NewerTech premiered the new 2006 sleek upgraded
miniStack V2 design at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San
Francisco and the Showstoppers media event at the Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"The NewerTech miniStack V2 is more than a new design, it's a
newer design from NewerTech. The miniStack V2 is an improvement on
a revolutionary NewerTech design that has already been proven to be
one of the most valuable storage solutions available," says Larry
O'Connor, CEO of OWC.
The NewerTech miniStack V2 retails for $135.99 for an 80 GB
version and is available in capacities up to 500GB at 7200RPM. An
economical "add your own hard drive" kit is available for $79.95.
The advantageous dimensions of the NewerTech miniStack are 6.5" x
6.5" x 1.5".
NewerTech also offers a full line of accessories and
professional installation services.
The NewerTech miniStack V2 is available through Other World
Computing and other fine retailers.
Logitech's White Cordless Desktop Laser
Keyboard/Mouse Combo
PR: Logitech has released the Cordless Desktop S 530
Laser - a cordless keyboard and mouse combo designed especially for
the Mac mini.
Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac Features:
- USB
- Cordless
- Multimedia Control
- Zero Degree Tilt
- Scroll wheel
- Internet Forward/Back
- Audio Control
- Right-Handed Comfort Grip
- Laser Technology
Designed specifically for your Mac, the Cordless Desktop S 530
Laser includes a comfortable ultra-flat keyboard and a
high-performance laser mouse. The stylish white and silver design
perfectly matches both consumer and pro Macs.
Dedicated One-Touch Controls for Your Mac
The one-touch controls on the Cordless Desktop S 530 Mac have
been specifically designed to work with iTunes and iPhoto, giving
you instant access to your music and photos. Dedicated keys launch
Safari, Mail, Spotlight, or any other application with a single
press. And all direct-access keys can be easily reprogrammed with
the included software.
Ergonomic Low-Profile, Zero-Degree Tilt Design
The great styling of the keyboard is matched by the outstanding
quality and feel of the Logitech typing experience. Delivering
maximum comfort through unique design, this ultra-flat keyboard is
less than 3/4" (19 mm) high to minimize wrist extension, and the
built-in palm rest provides added convenience.
Sculpted Laser Mouse for Superior Comfort and Precision
The sculpted right-handed mouse follows the natural shape of
your hand and delivers outstanding comfort. Logitech´s High
Performance Laser tracking delivers pixel-precise navigation on
virtually any surface. The innovative Tilt Wheel lets you scroll
pages top-to-bottom or side-to-side. Five re-programmable buttons
let you control volume and web browser back and forward without
taking your hand off the mouse.
Extended Battery Life
Sophisticated battery management technologies mean that
batteries last up to 6 months, or even longer! Both keyboard and
mouse include convenient LED battery level indicators. When
flashing, the LED gives approximately ten days´ notice before
batteries need changing. Additionally, the mouse features an on/off
switch to further extend battery life.
USB Mini-Receiver for Added Flexibility
The USB mini-receiver plugs easily into any Mac with a USB port,
eliminating clutter on your desk. If you use a PowerBook or iBook,
you also have the option of easily taking the mouse and
mini-receiver with you when you´re on the go!
Included USB stand
For improved range or better accessibility, the included USB
stand sits neatly on your desktop.
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.2.8 or above
- 1 available USB port
- CD-ROM drive
- Logitech S 530 cordless keyboard for Mac
- Logitech MX 600 cordless laser mouse
- USB mini-receiver
- USB desk stand
- 2 AAA (keyboard) and 2 AA (mouse) batteries
- CD with software, comfort guidelines, and help center
- Quick Start Guide
- Five-year limited hardware warranty
Price: $99.99
- Link:
Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser
RadTech Hard Drives Feature 64-bit
Hardware-based Encryption
PR: The Enova X-Wall engine provides real-time,
hardware-based encryption and decryption. X-Wall shuttles encrypted
data as fast as a standard enclosure.
Unlike
easily circumvented and platform dependant software-based
encryption, Impact enclosures strong encrypt (DES) every bit and
byte on the hard drive. The included Secure Token is a physical key
which must be present to read from, or write to the drive. Without
the secure key, the drive and its data are rendered useless and
unreadable - 2 keys are included with each enclosure.
Impact 2.5in Encrypted HDD Enclosure
Ruggedized mobile storage enclosures combine multi-layer
hardware protection and secure 64-bit data encryption.
Impact ruggedized storage enclosures provide the ultimate
physical and thermal protection for your valuable data. Protection
starts with Impact's tough, yet lightweight heat-dissipating 1mm
thick extruded 6075 Aluminum alloy shell. The tubular shell
features 2mm thick, full-length stiffening runners, providing
exceptional load-bearing capibilities and physical crush
resistance.
A full-length bridgeboard features anti-shock damper strips and
is suspended within the enclosure by full-length radial Aluminum
stand-off ribs. An array of self-limiting shoulder screws are
provided to prevent stripped screw guides and properly load the
shock-absorbing damper strips. This arrangement forms an effective
anti-shock chamber, further guarding the HDD and electronics from
impact and crush damage.
Self-aligning guide rails and a high profile IDE connector
assure hassle-free installation of virtually all 2.5 inch Hard Disk
Drives. Horizontally stackable or vertically standable via the
included rubber-footed base, Impact enclosures deliver the
flexibility you need to be productive.
Easy Set-up: Installing your Hard Disk Drive into the Impact
enclosure is fast and easy.
All hardware and high-quality connection cables are included
A #0 and #1 Phillips screwdriver are required (not included) to
access the enclosure and mount your drive.
Features:
- Maximum physical, thermal and encrypted data protection with
top-speed data transfer performance.
- Certified by the National Institute of Standards &
Technology and the Canadian Security Establishment
- Rugged extruded Aluminum enclosure provides exceptional crush
and impact protection.
- Heat dissipating design keeps hard drives running cool -
extending their lifespan.
- Easy HDD installation - all hardware and high-quality
connection cables included.
- Stack horizontally, or stand vertically using included stand
base.
- All Impact models are fully boot capable for Mac OS 9 and
10.
- Front panel-mounted status LED provides positive visual
feedback.
- Non-encrypted models also available
Model 2.5in USB 2.0 Encrypted 2.5in USB 2.0 & FireWire 800
Encrypted
Features
- Supports Hi-Speed USB data transfer speed of up to 480Mbps, and
FireWire 800 data transfer speed up to 800Mbps.
- Allows driverless installation as a USB Mass Storage Class
device under Windows XP, 2000 and ME.
- Supports most 2.5� HDDs, and ultra high capacity
HDDs larger than 137GB.
- Connects easily with plug-n-play.
- Combines enclosure and 1394 repeater functionality.
- Enables 1394 bus power via built-in DC-DC converter.
- Maximizes thermal protection with Aluminum construction.
- Provides robust HDD fixing mechanism to reduce risk of HDD
damage during movement.
- Prevents drop damage to HDD with anti-shock design.
- Supports DES hardware encryption security.
Specifications
- Bridge Chipset:
- Cypress EZ-USBAT2+ ENOVA X-WALL LX (encryption)
- Oxford UF922 ENOVA X-WALL LX (encryption)
- Bus Interface:
- USB 2.0 Port: 12Mb/480Mbps
- IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) port: 100/200/400/800 Mbps
- Connectors:
- One USB mini-B receptacle
- One security key receptacle in 6-pin 1394a form
- One USB mini-B receptacle
- Two 9-pin 1394b connectors
- IDE Standard Compliant with ATA-6
- LBA-48 Bit (large capacity 137 GB)
- UDMA: 66/100/133 models
- HED Support ATA-6, 9.5mm high 2.5" HDD
- LED Power on/Security Error/Access
- Power Supply 5V/2A Full Range AC Adapter or Bus Power from Host
via Y-cable 5V/2A 110V - 240V Full Range AC Adapter or 1394 Bus
Power
- Dimensions: (L x W x H) 130 x 83 x 23 mm 148 x 83 X 23 mm
- Weight: (w/o HDD) 210g 240g
- Certifications
- NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
- CSE (Canadian Security Establishment)
- FCC/CE
System Requirements
- Mac - Macintosh PowerPC processor
- Mac OS 9.X or higher
- Macintosh PowerPC processor
- One available USB port or IEEE 1394b port
- PC
- 266Mhz or Faster CPU
- 64MB of RAM
- Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
- One Available USB port or IEEE 1394b port
Mac OS:
- To operate HDD enclosure via USB2.0, Mac OS X 10.3, or
10.1.5/10.2.x with USB 2.0 driver installed is required to support
high speed USB2.0. Mac OS 9.x supports full speed only. Mac OS
supports USB 2.0 driver since Mac OS X 10.2.8.
- Connection of HDD enclosure via FireWire cable requires
FireWire HDD enclosures support driver. Mac OS 8.6 users may need
to download FireWire support driver in order to access HDD
enclosure.
- Operation of HDD enclosure via FireWire 800 (1394b) requires
Mac OS X 10.2.4 or newer to support FireWire 800 speed.
RadTech Impact 2.5in Encrypted HDD Enclosure
Standard and Encrypted Hard Drive Enclosures in both Firewire
800/400 and USB 2.0 models. Features two sizes and internal shock
absorber.
Impact Secure Hard Drive Enclosure 2.5in Encrypted Specs:
- Material: Extruded 6075 Aluminum
- Enclosure Wall Thickness: 1-2mm
- Dimensions: 148 x 83 x 23mm
- Weight: 240g w/o HDD
- Power Source: Bus or Ext 5VDC Source
- HDD Supported: ATA-6 2.5in x 9.5mm
- Bus Interfaces: USB1/2 & FW400 or 800
- Bus Ports:
- 1 - USB mini-B
- 2 - 9-pin 1394b (FW800)
- Data Transfer Speeds:
- USB1: ² 12 Mb/s USB2: ² 480 Mb/s
- FW800: ² 800 Mb/s
- Power Supply Input: 110-240VAC 50-60Hz
- Power Supply Output: 5VDC-2A
- Product of Taiwan
Price: $59.95 - $99.95
- Link: RadTech
Encrypted Hard Drives Feature 64-bit Hardware-Based
Encryption
Software
USB Overdrive X Universal Binary USB
Device Driver
PR: Take full advantage of any USB mouse, trackball,
joystick, or gamepad
The USB Overdrive X is a device driver for Mac OS X (Jaguar,
Panther and Tiger) that handles any USB mouse, trackball, joystick
and gamepad from any manufacturer and lets you configure them
either globally or on a per-application basis.
It reads all kinds of wheels, buttons, switches and controls and
supports scrolling, keyboard emulation, launching and all the usual
stuff like clicking, control-clicking and so forth. The USB
Overdrive can easily handle several USB devices at once.
The Classic version of the USB Overdrive has most of the
features of the Mac OS X version when used in Mac OS 9, and enables
scrolling with the mouse wheel when installed in the Classic
environment under Mac OS X 10.2 or later.
Bluetooth support and the native Preference Pane are almost
ready. I know you've been waiting for over two years and they are
still not released- sorry about that. Family sometimes comes first.
But I've been working on the Overdrive all along and I won't stop
doing so.
Next on the list are interface improvements, support for
multiple devices, better mouse speed and acceleration, chording,
and so forth.
Now supports Intel-based Macs and Apple's Mighty Mouse
The new Universal Binary version of the USB Overdrive fully
supports Apple's new Intel-based machines.
Bluetooth support and a native Preference Pane are coming soon
(I know I said that before, but other things have kept me busy for
a while).
New in version 10.4.5 (February 2006):
- workaround added for Mac OS X 10.4.5 loading problem on
Intel
New in version 10.4.4 (January 2006):
- universal binary for Intel-based macs
- better support for left-handed Mighty Mouse configurations
- added specific support for Logitech MX-518 and G5 mice
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later
System support: PPC/Intel
$20 shareware
Previous releases are available for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X
10.1.
- Link: USB Overdrive
X
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers every two
weeks:
For more deals on current, recently discontinued, and older
notebooks, see our MacBook Pro
deals, 12" PowerBook deals,
15" aluminum PowerBook deals,
17" PowerBook deals, titanium PowerBook deals, iBook G4 deals, PowerBook G3 deals, and iBook G3 deals.
