Approvals slow plans for Apple retail...

Plans for an Apple retail store in downtown San Luis Obispo are on hold indefinitely, after the company showed initial interest in renovating one retail location in area, but ran into a few obstacles. Following recent news of upcoming stores in Denver and Chicago as well as a third location in Manhattan, the San Luis Obispo Tribune report says despite early discussions about the company’s storefront design, momentum has slowed to a standstill. "As of now, it is in Apple’s court as to whether they are moving forward and the timing for moving forward," city officials told the publication. "The application is on hold." Apple submitted an application with the city earlier this year to take over 899 Higuera St., the previous location of the Express for Men store at the Downtown Centre. City officials speculated that momentum may have slowed because the company was unable to launch the store before the lucrative holiday shopping season

Third New York City Apple store [u]...

Apple is planning a third retail location in New York City, confirming earlier reports indicating it had signed a retail lease late last year. The company, which launched its second NYC location on Fifth Avenue in May of this year, will open its third Manhattan retail store at SL Green Realty Corp.'s retail joint venture at West 34th Street, just west of Fifth Avenue and south of the company's flagship Fifth Store location, which welcomed its one millionth visitor in mid-September. The comapny's Apple Store SoHo welcomed its five millionth visitor in April of this year. "The team had to negotiate more than six separate transactions and explore the outer reaches of the New York City building code with help of several consultants," SL Green's chief investment officer told analysts during its third-quarter conference. [updated]

Forums: MacBook Pro, RAM, Quadro

Forums roundup: Members are discussing the MacBook Pro update launched today adding the new Core 2 Duo processor and standardizing Firewire 800 to all MacBook Pro models..... Mac Pro prospective buyers are debating the value of eight processor cores potentially found in next-generation Core 2 Quadro-based Mac Pros.... Another user looks for help purchasing memory for a Mac Pro system, weighing Crucial against OWC and asking members to share experiences with each.... Another member share experiences with flickering MacBook screens and the search for potential causes.... Meanwhile, users respond to the question posed by an inquiring poster -- "What mouse are you using?"

Refurb video iPods, Nanos updated

Apple has updated its listings of refurbished video iPods and iPod nanos for sale at discounted prices, stocking the 30GB White video iPod for $179 as the only top-end player currently available. The company is offering black and white 2GB iPod nanos for $99 each, as well as black and white 4GB Nanos for $169 each. Apple's refurbished iPod shuffle with a free External Battery Pack is still available for $49, and refurbished iPod shuffles are still in stock for $49 (512MB) and $79 (1GB) each. Refurbished iPod minis are currently depleted at the U.S. Apple online store, as are refurbished Mac mini models at the Canada store. Both stores are still offering refurbished 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz MacBooks for U.S. $949, and $1,099, respectively, with the Black 2.0GHz MacBook priced $200 higher than the White model at $1,299. [Link to Canada Apple Store]

Apps: Tangerine, Watcher, Navicat

• Tangerine 1.0 ($40) is color management software that provides graphic designers and creative professionals with a unique color workflow experience, offering new enhanced color support for Mac OS X. The software integrates with several popular graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, and others to ease the process of applying color schemes across multiple unrelated applications. [Download - 3.7MB]


• Watcher 4 and Media Indexer 1.2 ($10 each) update the computer usage monitoring tool and software for indexing numerous types of media. Media Indexer 1.2 supports instant searching from the main window similar to the Google search field in Safari. Watcher 4 is entirely rewritten to use Mac OS X 10.4 technology to provide settings over the network, screen effects, and multiple-screen support. [Download - 1.2MB and 725KB]


• Navicat 6.3.3 for MySQL ($100) is the latest iteration of the database management tool featuring enhancement for Query Editor and minor bug fixes related to the Data Synchronization feature. The update is a Universal Binary and supports all versions of MySQL. Navicat is designed to synchronize databases, import/export data, perform backups, and more. [Download - 6.1MB]


• ClipDoubler 1.1 ($9) updates the clipboard enhancement utility that offers unlimited clipboards. ClipDoubler offers shortcuts to copy the time, date, or an IP address to the clipboard. The application also creates clipping files as well as internet shortcuts, and edits or processes text on the clipboard. [Download - 4MB]


• My Money Minder 1.9 ($13) allows users to easily track expenses, income, and bank account balances. All data is viewable in a spreadsheet-style grid or as graph, and the application remembers the last 100 unique items entered via a single dialog. The latest revision runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, imports QFX files, and adds Dutch as well as Japanese localizations. [Download - 7.9MB]


• Bible Buddy 1.0 (free) is Bible reading software that includes the full text of the King James version. The application provides multiple ways to navigate through the Bible including jumping directly to any book, chapter, or verse, and allows users to bookmark passages for later viewing. [Download - 2.5MB]

WatchMouse updates Site Monitor widget

Dutch network monitoring service WatchMouse has released version 2.0.4 of its Dashboard utility. The latest revision of the company's Site Monitor widget, which checks the responsiveness of a given internet site through over twenty Web-based locations, adds continuous monitoring even when the computer is disconnected from the internet by linking the widget to the user's WatchMouse account. The update also adds a version check and various bug fixes. The new Dashboard widget is a free download and supports both free trial accounts as well as all of the company's paid service plans.

Briefly: Google, MacExpo; Core 2 tests

In brief: Google has announced that it will attend MacExpo UK in London via its Google Mac Blog, noting that "Google and Apple users could really have a fruitful relationship".... ExtremeTech.com has run performance tests on the Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad CPU, gauging speed in 3DStudio Max 8 and DivX 6.25.... Apple has produced a video about how 37signals exclusively uses Macs to produce Web content.... Teacup Software today announced that it is sponsoring the InDesign Conference: Master Class from November 6-8th in Seattle, WA to teach Mac users about InDesign.... Fabrix Cases has launched three new designs in its laptop sleeves collection that include "Black Angus," "Red Fury," and "Black Flora."

New 12GB "mini" Monstor Drive

US Modular is preparing a high-capacity version of its mid-range Monstor Drive, the company announced on Tuesday. The updated version stores as much as 12GB of data (up from 8GB) on a 1.8-inch hard drive, providing enough room for music and other valuable data that won't fit on standard flash drives, according to Electronista. The transfer rates on the 4200RPM, USB 2.0 drive remain comparatively quick, varying between 3.3MB and 6.5MB per second depending on drive activity. The unit comes in a stainless steel enclosure rated at 1500G shock resistance. US Modular will release the larger Monstor Drive on November 1st for $130.

More thefts at Apple employee store

More thefts have been reported at Apple's Cupertino campus, as the employee store reported a third theft of nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise from the sales floor. The San Jose Mercury News reports that the "fleecing at the Apple corporate store continued Monday with the theft of two more iPods and 10 software packages from the employee store inside the headquarters at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino. The total estimated value of the latest theft was approximately $4,688, on top of the 11 music players previously reported stolen from the company's Cupertino offices." The report says that nine black 80GB iPods -- worth just over $3,000 -- were reported stolen from the Apple employee store over the weekend as well and that two iPod nanos were reported missing in a shipment from Elk Grove that arrived at the company's headquarters on Oct. 17. "The shipping boxes that should have contained the two missing silver nanos were crushed," according to the report. There are no suspects in the case.

Blizzard delays The Burning Crusade...

Blizzard today announced that it has pushed back the release date for The Burning Crusade, the expansion to its World of Warcraft online role-playing game. Blizzard notes in an official forums post that by adding a few extra weeks to the development cycle of The Burning Crusade beyond its original target date, the company hopes to extend the closed beta test and further refine the new content that will ship with the expansion. "We appreciate the enthusiasm surrounding World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, and we're excited about putting the finishing touches on all of the new content," said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "We feel confident that the extra time spent polishing the game will result in the high-quality experience that our players expect and deserve."

Sony offers apology for battery recall...

Sony has offered a public apology for the recent massive battery recall that the company began last month, following reports of short overheating notebooks. "We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the worries," said Sony CEO Yutaka Nakagawa. "We want to put this behind us. [...] I take this problem seriously and I want to finish the replacement program as quickly as possible for the sake of our users and corporate customers." Sony said its battery problems are remedied and that none of the company's top executives would resign as a result of the incident. The Japan-based company claims it has made improvements in production, design, and inspection to prevent any recurrence of laptop overheating issues, according to a report from the Associated Press.

iPhone, iTV to bolster Apple growth...

Apple's growth engine, which previously depended almost entirely on the company's enormously successful iPod digital media player, has added another 'cylinder' with the advent of surging Mac sales backed by 'switchers' -- consumers exposed to Macs via the iPod. That growth engine is set to add two additional cylinders in early 2007, however, with Apple's rumored launch of its "iPhone" mobile handset alongside the iTV media device. Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster believes that a significant addressable market remains for Apple in its iPod business, and that its iPhone and iTV will add new addressable markets within the next six months.

Early iPod development demystified

A new book is shedding light on the early development of Apple's iPod digital media player, describing the day-to-day life of Apple employees while the revolutionary device was under development. At every go or no-go checkpoint and on every detail, engineers were told to finish "builds" -- in-process prototypes of software and hardware -- on Fridays rather than the more typical midweek deadlines, according to a report from Forbes.com. "I think [...] they were giving the build to Steve [Jobs], who would take it home for the weekend and play with it," one engineer said. Mondays started with long 'to fix' lists, and "Steve would be horribly offended [if] he couldn't get to the song he wanted in less than three pushes of a button," according to another engineer. Journalist Steven Levy's 'The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture and Coolness' is a collection of essays about the iPod.

Apple MagSafe Airline Power Adapter

Apple today introduced its new MagSafe Airline Power Adapter, a device that allows Mac notebook owners to plug into an airline seat power port for constant notebook power in-flight. The announcement comes alongside Apple's refreshed MacBook Pro, and follows bans on Apple and Dell laptops enacted by several airlines due to recent lithium-ion battery issues, including numerous reports of laptops bursting into flame. The new accessory features a standard connection via an "EmPower" compatible connector that users can plug into a 20mm DC power plug with the included adapter. "Because it's a MagSafe Adapter, you'll continue to enjoy MagSafe convenience just as you're already enjoying at home or work. The magnetic DC plug both ensures a tight connection and enables a clean break from the power port if there is undue tension-preventing your MacBook from being pulled off of your tray table if someone accidentally yanks the cord." The Magsafe Airline Power Adapter ($60) does not charge the battery while in use, according to Apple.

DoubleTwist markets iTunes DRM hack...

DoubleTwist -- the company founded by "DVD Jon" Lech Johansen -- has signed its first client hoping to cash in on Apple's success in the digital music industry, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Johansen recently announced plans to license iTunes DRM hack software, which allows users to remove many of the restrictions Apple imposes on video and music content purchased from the iTunes Music Store. DoubleTwist hopes to market anti-DRM software to third-party companies, and said it has signed its first client--although it declined to a provide the company's name. The software could help any of Apple's competitors and significantly alter the landscape of the music industry.

Adobe releases Digital Editions Beta...

Adobe today released Adobe Digital Editions Beta, a rich internet application for digital publishing that allows users to acquire, read, and manage content including eBooks, digital magazines, and other digital publications. Digital Editions is designed to deliver a straightforward user experience for reading and managing commercially-published digital publications. The software builds on the Adobe eBook capabilities integrated into previous versions of Adobe Reader, taking them further by adding the ability to incorporate Flash interactivity and rich media. Adobe Digital Editions Beta is initially available as a free download for Microsoft Windows, though the company announced plans to distribute an initial public beta for Mac OS X during the fourth calendar quarter of 2006. Adobe plans to unveil Digital Editions beta at Adobe MAX 2006 on October 24th in Las Vegas, offering the software as a free download from the Adobe Labs website.

Apple's laptop camera latch patent

Apple today was granted three new patents, including a patent for a laptop ‘camera latch’ and one ‘Assigning meanings to utterances in a speech recognition system,’ which was originally filed on February 18, 2004. The patent, which references spoken utterances in a speech recognition system, may be related to Apple much rumored "iPhone," according to MacNN blogger Neo. The US Patent & Trademark Office also published Apple’s newly granted patent for “Method and apparatus for mapping objects to multiple tables of a database. Finally, Neo writes about the laptop latch patent: "Apple launched their first laptop with an integrated camera in October 2005 without using this granted patent method. Whether Apple will ever choose to implement a variant application of this invention in a future laptop design is unknown at this time. However, one of the advantages associated with this method that’s interesting to note is that the latch noted in this patent could be pivoted between a first position (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) and a second position (as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D)."

Apple debuts Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros...

Apple today announced that its entire MacBook Pro line of notebooks now includes the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor and delivers performance that is up to 39 percent faster than the previous generation. All MacBook Pro models now offer double the memory and greater storage capacity than the previous generation, as well as a FireWire 800 port for connecting to high-speed peripherals. The new MacBook Pro's stunning, lightweight, aluminum enclosure is just one-inch thin, available in 15- and 17-inch models, and features a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go. The new models feature either 2.16GHz or 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo processors as well as more memory and greater storage capacity (including build-to-order options for 200GB drives). Apple said that the 15-inch models--available in $1,999 and $2,499 configurations--are expected to ship this week, while the 17-inch models will ship next week.

Apple stores closed ahead of MBP rumors

Apple's online stores are closed ahead of rumored MacBook Pro updates. The stores have a "We'll be back soon. We are busy updating the store for you and will be back shortly" message on the front page. The store closings are typical of days Apple has product introductions. Late last night, reports an imminent release of Core 2 Duo-enabled versions of Apple's professional laptop line surfaced. The new versions may bring updated, faster Core 2 Duo "Merom" processors, while other reports indicate that larger drivers, faster DVD burnersa, and FireWire 800 may also be possibilities.