Forums: fan speed, MXM slot, lawsuit

Forums roundup: Members are discussing the value of Apple computers and the high price myth associated with them..... Other users are taking part in a poll to surmise which users will release MXM upgrade cards for the 24-inch iMac.... Another user shares an interesting find for MacBook and MacBook Pro users looking to control their fan speeds in the form of a new application.... Another member looks for help upgrading the optical drive in an aging PowerBook.... Meanwhile, users comment on the possible class action lawsuit by MacBook owners due to "Random Shutdown Syndrome" plaguing the laptops.

Apple offers refurb Mac Pro Quad Xeon

Apple has added a refurbished Mac Pro Quad-Core Intel Xeon workstation to its list of discounted goods, featuring two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors, 1GB (two 512MB chips) of 6676MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC memory, a 250GB Serial ATA 4Gbps 7,200-rpm hard drive, a 16x double-layer SuperDrive DVD/CD burner, and an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card with 256MB of video memory for $2,199 -- 13 percent off the list price of $2,499. Apple is also offering the Mac Pro's predecessor -- Power Mac G5 systems -- which include the Dual 2.3GHz (512MB of memory, 250GB hard drive) and Quad 2.5GHz (512MB memory, 250GB hard drive) models for $1,999 and $2,699, respectively. All refurbished Apple products come with free shipping and the company's standard one-year warranty. The Apple Store Canada is also offering refurbished Power Mac G5 systems for $2,399 (Dual 2.3GHz) and $3,199 (Quad 2.5GHz), both of which include a 250GB hard drive as well as 512MB of memory.

Smart Loops launches SL Hit Tracks

Smart Loops has officially launched its SL Hit Tracks, a selection of downloadable loop packs that recreate the live drum performances of hit songs from artists like LEd Zeppelin, The Who, and The B-52's. SL Hit Tracks allow musicians to rehearse, perform, and record their own versions of hit songs with live drum track support. Each SL Hit Track is split into separate chorus, verse, fill, solo, and other song sections. Some of the SL Hit Tracks include solo performances and small groups intended for use at live shows and gigs to sound more like the original song; drum, guitar, bass, and keyboard students to slow the SL Hit Tracks down for learning or rehearsing purposes; and songwriters, producers, and remixes to create entirely new songs. Smart Loops is adding SL Hit Track titles on a weekly basis, which are available for $10 each.

Marware ships Protection Pack Plus...

Marware today introduced its Protection Pack Plus, a new case designed to protect Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. The Protection Pack Plus features an ultra-soft microfiber sleeve, while a removable hand rest protects the notebook from scratches with a cushioning layer. The dual-purpose keyboard cover guards the screen from dirt and oil build-up on the keyboard, and also serves as a screen cleaner. The sleeve protects the exterior of the portable computer and is designed to fit inside a laptop bag or briefcase. The hand rest features soft, cushioned PVC leather that is custom fitted for Apple laptops, and is easy to remove as well as reapply. The Protection Pack Plus is available for $35, and works with any 13-inch MacBook, 15-inch or 17-inch MacBook Pro.

M-Audio ships GuitarBox, GuitarBox Pro...

M-Audio today began shipping its new GuitarBox and GuitarBox Pro complete music production systems for guitarists. Both systems combine the M-Audio Black Box and Pro Tools M-Powered software. Both also feature a suite of 7 Bomb Factory plug-ins, 33 DigiRack plug-ins, Digidesign Xpand! virtual instrument, Pro Tools Method One instructional DVD, and Ableton Live Lite Digidesign Edition. The GuitarBox ships with the G-Rack premium plug-in effects bundle including SansAmp PSA-1 amp- and cabinet-modeling plug-in, Tel-Ray Variable Delay, Moogerfooger bundle, Voce Chorus/Vibrato, and Spin and TL Space Native Edition convolution reverb. The GuitarBox Pro ships with the more extensive G-Rack Producer premium plug-in effects bundle including all of the G-Rack plug-ins, plus the Fairchild 660 and 670 boutique tube-modeled compressors/limiters, Pultec Bundle vintage tube-modeled EQs, Maxim mastering limiter/sound-level maximizer, and DINR LE noise reduction plug-in to remove noise or buzz from pickups. GuitarBox and GuitarBox Pro are currently shipping for $500 and $700, respectively.

FastMac debuts TruePower MBP battery

FastMac today debuted the first high capacity, extended life battery upgrade for Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro (MBP). The new 62-watt/hour battery uses Lithium-Polymer cells with integrated charge indicator LEDs that utilize TruePower technology for increased safety during use, and lasts around 5 percent longer than Apple's default battery. TruePower technology incorporates sensors in the integrated circuit inside the battery that detect undesirable levels of swelling or a short circuit that will power off the battery in certain extreme conditions. TruePower batteries do not contain or use any Sony cells that are subject to the recent series of recalls issued by major computer manufacturers, according to FastMac. The TruePower battery for 15-inch MacBook Pro is scheduled to ship within 10 days for $100 with a 30-day money back guarantee, and is already available for pre-order.

FW Depot unveils new SATA PCI-X card...

FireWire Depot today introduced the SATA2-PCIE02, a new SATA PCI-X and eSATA PCI-Express card. The SATA2-PCIE02 is a 2-port ATA-to-PCI Express Host Adapter compatible with Mac OS X, and features a Silicon Image Sil3132 Serial ATA Host Controller designed to offer multiple port serial ATA connectivity with minimal host overhead and host-to-device latency. The card also supports a 1-lane 2.5 Gbps PCI Express bus and the Serial ATA Generation 2 transfer rate of 3.0Gbps (300 MB/sec). Host Protocol features include optimization for transaction-oriented designs, support for two-command issuance mechanisms providing greater efficiency with embedded implementations as well as reduced dependency on bridge behavior, and support for up to 4Mbit of external Flash for BIOS expansion. PCI Express features include an internal application interface multiplexed to two ports, full-chip command completion status that is accessible with single PCI Express access, and accessibility to all registered through input/output space. FireWire Depot's SATA2-PCIE02 card is available for $70.

Bone Act 1: Out from Boneville released...

Vanbrio Entertainment has released Bone Act 1: Out from Boneville for Mac, the first installment of an episodic interactive adventure game based on Jeff Smith's Bone series. The adventure begins with three cousins' -- Fone Bone, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone -- who become separated in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures and new mysteries that await them. "The engaging characters and storyline of Jeff Smith¹s Bone series make for a very fun and family-friendly interactive adventure," said Amy Torres, CEO of Vanbrio. "With great gameplay, beautiful animation and sound, fun puzzles and mini-games, all wrapped up in an episodic series, we knew Bone: Out from Boneville had to be on the Mac!" Bone Act 1: Out from Boneville is available for $13, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Briefly: MacBook tattoo; difusi winner

In brief: A 22-year-old Italian woman has set out to purchase a new 2GHz MacBook by promising to tattoo the names of each individual donating at least €10 toward her new laptop.... Diffusi has announced that Billy Hanna in Alabama is the first winner of its iPod nano giveaway, which offers one out every 200 orders a free iPod nano.... The semi-finals for Phill Ryu's MyDreamApp contest have begun, this time offering each voter a free copy of Voice Candy voice recording software for Mac OS X.... Sony is reportedly developing a video-enabled Walkman to compete with Apple's video iPod player, but is remaining tight-lipped about further details.... Luxology is planning to demonstrate its latest 3D tools for Mac OS X at Macworld Expo 2007, including modo 202 -- a cutting-edge modeler that won an Apple Design Award at this year's WWDC -- and will showcase its new imageSynth plug-in for Adobe Photoshop.

WebYep creates simple Web pages

Objective Development Software has released WebYep 1.1.10, a compact Web Content Management System for extremely simple creation of editable Web pages. The software focuses on Web developers whose primary concern is design, and reduces functionality to keep designers in control without the burden of complex content administration. Primary WebYep features include text editing and image management; the ability to build basic menu structures with sub-items and section titles; loops to repeat arbitrary WebYep or HTML elements on a page; and file attachment enabling users to attach any kind of document to a Web page for visitors to download. WebYep requires no PHP or HTML knowledge to use, and integrates with Macromedia Dreamweaver. WebYep 1.1.10 is available for €30 per website, and requires any modern Web browser such as Safari or Firefox.

TrailRunner route planner released

Berbie has released TrailRunner, a new application designed for all people doing long distance sports that helps plan and journalize workouts. The software is a route planner for people who enjoy running, biking, skiing, and other forms of outdoor sports, and works with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Users can plan workout routes on a geographical map, export route directions as small "NanoMaps" onto an iPod, and import workout data from the Nike + iPod Sport Kit back into the workout diary. TrailRunner also features an exercise plan, .Mac weblog publishing capability, GPS/GPX/KML import/export functionality, and an integrated map with elevation data from global mapping services such as USGS topo maps. TrailRunner is available for free, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Mac sales to offset slow iPods in FYQ4...

Research firm Merill Lynch today lowered its estimate for Apple's iPod sales for the September quarter while increasing its estimation of Macs sold, joining two other industry analyst firms which modified their views on Apple yesterday. "We are tweaking our Apple model to reflect slightly higher Mac estimates and lower iPod units (offset by higher ASP mix) for the September quarter," wrote Merill Lynch analyst Richard Farmer in a research note obtained by MacNN. "Our overall fiscal fourth quarter of 2006 (September) revenue estimate goes up slightly from $4.57 to $4.66 billion and earnings-per-share from $0.48 to $0.51." Farmer said the changes signify a broad shift in Apple's overall story away from iPods, toward an emphasis on Macs and new products in 2007. Numerous analysts are modifying their views on Apple shares following the release of new NPD data, which promises to offer a clearer picture of Apple's current financial situation.

Speck ships See Thru MacBook Pro case...

Speck has unveiled SeeThru, a new translucent molded shell case for Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro (MBP) notebooks. SeeThru cases for MacBook Pro laptops are made from sturdy, polycarbonate plastic and come in clear and red colors. With the easy snap-on design, users can shield their notebook from scratches and bumps while maintaining access to all features including the keyboard, drives, and ports. Each case ships for $40 with rubber feet to help prevent movement on slippery surfaces, and similar cases for Apple's 13-inch MacBook are due to ship in early November. Speck also announced that it plans to ship notebook computer sleeves in its Canvas Sport design in November as well.

Briefly: red Apple logo photos; Jumsoft

In brief: First-hand photos of Apple's glowing red logo within the glass cube at the company's Fifth Avenue Store in New York City have surfaced, lending support to the company's (Product) Red -- a new iPod nano which debuted this morning as part of Bono's campaign to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.... Jumsoft today released an update to Keynote Animations 4.1 ($45, free for 4.0 users), a collection of 150 animated objects with transparent backgrounds designed to enhance Apple Keynote presentations and Pages documents.... FastIcon has released "Avatar Girl" freeware icons, a collection of 10 icons depicting female faces designed for use with Instant messenger applications, blogs, and websites.... Palm has released its Treo 680 handset, a PalmOS-based phone with modernized EDGE broadband support on GSM-equipped models, a faster Web browser, and internet radio streaming capability.... SanDisk has introduced a 2GB microSD card in Japan, which it claims is the largest capacity of the world's smallest removable flash memory.

MacMice ships Danger Phone VoIP handset...

MacMice today began shipping the Danger Phone, its USB VoIP (Voice over IP) handset. The Danger Phone is a USB VoIP telephone handset that works with Skype or any other VoIP application with support for USB handsets, offering plug-and-play compatibility with both Mac OS X and Windows XP systems. The phone is designed as a simple device that is easy to use, emphasizing durability and ruggedness. MacMice sought to do away with gadgetry, a "fake" display, and "flashing lights," leaving only the core functionality of a VoIP phone with a simple interface. The Danger Phone is available for $30.

NI ships Komplete 4, other products...

Native Instruments today announced that Massive, Absynth 4, Battery 3, FM8 and Komplete 4 are now available in stores worldwide. Massive is a next-generation software synthesizer with unique sonic character, high audio fidelity, and a flexibility, innovative, interface. Based on an new high-resolution audio engine, Massive combines advanced Wave-Scanning synthesis with sophisticated sound-shaping and modulation options for "charismatic high-end sound full of warmth, punch, character and definition," according to the company. Massive is available for $340/€300.

efrontier debuts Poser 7...

efrontier today announced the release of the English version of Poser 7, a new version of its 3D figure design and animation software that will include many new features, new content and improvements to its architecture. Poser, first introduced in 1995, is used by graphic artists, illustrators, hobbyists and animators worldwide. Poser 7 will include two, new realistic 3D Poser figures, "Sydney" and "Simon" and a Poser 7 Special Edition will feature exclusive content of high fashion formal clothing for the new figures, a complete casino scene with props, a sports car and many extras that are essential for secret agents working a casino. Upgrades from previous versions will be $130, while the Poser 7 Special Edition will be $250. All purchases of Poser 6 between October 12, 2006 and the official Poser 7 launch date will receive a free electronic download upgrade to Poser 7 Special Edition.

Apple unveils iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED...

As anticipated yesterday, Apple today announced the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition. (RED) was created by U2 lead singer, Bono and Bobby Shriver to engage business in the fight against AIDS in Africa by getting leading companies to make uniquely branded products. A portion of the profits from these products goes directly to the Global Fund to fund programs for women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED comes in a red aluminum enclosure and features 24 hours of battery life, Apple's innovative Click Wheel and an incredibly thin and light design. Exclusively available from Apple, the company said it will contribute $10 from the sale of each iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED to the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. In addition, Apple will also offer a $25 iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card available for purchase at Apple's retail and online stores next month.