Apple offers more $1,899 refurb Mac Pros

Apple is once again offering refurbished Mac Pros for $1,899 and up, enabling careful shoppers to purchase its top-end desktop systems at discounted rates. Refurbished Mac Pros currently include the Quad 2.0GHz Intel Xeon Mac Pro with 1GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card for $1,899; as well as the Quad 3.0GHz Mac Pro with 2GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, and an ATI Radeon X1900 XT graphics card for $3,299. Apple has also updated its refurbished iMac offerings with a 17-inch 1.9GHz G5 system featuring 512MB of memory and a 160GB hard drive for $999; as well as a 20-inch 2.1GHz G5 system with 512MB of memory and a 250GB hard drive for $1,299. The Apple Store Canada is also offering a 17-inch 1.9GHz G5 iMacs for CAD$1,179 and 20-inch 2.1GHz G5 iMacs for CAD$1,519. [click here for Apple Store Canada]

Apple, iTunes are 'music's new gatekeeper'...

While Apple growing influence in the music industry has worried execs, a new report claims that the company has become an unexpected power broker as the popularity of its iTunes software increases. With the growing value of the digital real-estate available on iTunes, the company has chosen not sell that prime promotional space, but instead use it to barter for exclusive track offerings, discount pricing, and additional exclusive content. The Wall Street Journal reports that the one million daily visitors to the iTunes Store home page are presented with several dozen albums, TV shows and movie downloads and that of the Cupertino-based company's catalog of more than four million, only a a few dozen are adorned on home page.

Forums: iMac life, (PRODUCT) RED

Forums roundup: Members are discussing what the useful life expectancy for an iMac is of the current line.... Other users are discussing the intention of one poster to buy a Mac Pro to use as a Windows box, also questioning whether it is possible to remove OS X completely.... One user is looking to solve several problems with OS 9, to save the classic-bound family business.... Other members are trying to help solve issues with a Mac switcher's iBook G4, who is considering switching back to Windows.... Meanwhile, other members are discussing the poor performance of (PRODUCT) RED, which several see as a publicity stunt for companies involved such as Apple.

WR Hambrecht initiates AAPL coverage with "buy"...

Research firm WR Hambrecht has officially initiated coverage on Apple Inc., and has issued a "buy" rating with a $110 price target on shares of the Cupertino-based company. "Apple has a very impressive desktop and notebook offering that continues to grow faster than the industry and command higher average selling prices, an iPod franchise that dominates the category and represented almost half of the total company revenue in the strongest quarter in its history (December 2006), a new operating system due out shortly that is expected to help facilitate operating both Mac OS X and Windows operating system through virtualization software, an upcoming iPhone offering in the approximately one billion unit total cellphone market and numerous other products and initiatives in place and ongoing."

Briefly: iPhone at Cingular; U-Cover review...

In brief: Cingular sets up iPhone alert mail, MacNN reviews the U-Cover Keyboard Protector, Aspyr launches a page for The Sims Life Stories, and Delkin prepares an ultra-fast CompactFlash reader. Though the iPhone is already expected to be released sometime in June, a new service from Cingular will let customers know the exact date as soon as possible. An e-mail will be sent to any interested party when the company is ready to announce an official date. Users concerned about spam and privacy should consult Cingular's policy, which does appear to protect subscribers.

FotoMagico 2 adds standalone presentations

Boinx Software today released FotoMagico 2, adding new ways to share photos presentations as standalone players or as Mac OS X screensavers. Users can present FotoMagico shows in the same high quality that the application can without requiring the viewer to download or install software, and without a FotoMagico license. The update makes the software easier to use, according to Boinx, and shows are rendered in real-time to maintain small file sizes when compared to HD video. Standalone players and screensavers start the show as soon as they are opened and can be configured to expire after a specified period of time or after playing a certain number of times. Additionally, the pricing for FotoMagico 2 has dropped from $80 to $50 (system requirements were unavailable).

Apple marketing exploits media, key tactics

Apple's marketing efforts are some of the most effective in the world, notes Jefferson Graham of USA Today. Central may be the company's ability to exploit the news media, which often covers Apple product releases as major events; the Harvard Business School's David Yoffie observes that the Steve Jobs iPhone announcement received the equivalent of $400 million in free publicity. "It's unprecedented," says Joffie. Part of the reason for this is the company's track record of invention, says Graham, but there are other less savory reasons, such as an intense campaign for product placement in movies and TV shows. Apple also casts rivals like Microsoft as enemies, and is known to value its "surprise" factor so highly that it will sue websites that reveal information prematurely. The company does however have more accepted tactics, such as memorable TV advertising, and an emphasis on spectacle when it holds public events.

Flip4Mac releases Drive-in DVD storage app

Flip4Mac has released Drive-in, a new application enabling users to store personal DVD movie libraries on a Mac. Users can create an image of a DVD disc on a laptop or home entertainment system, preserving quality and navigation as well as special features on the original DVD for playback on Apple's DVD Player or Front Row software. Drive-in preserves the DVD's original content copy protection, allowing users to play images on any computer they own but not share those images with others. The software is designed to simplify the way users search and access videos, adding information such as DVD cover art and names of actors or movie descriptions. The software is available as a public beta that requires mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Briefly: X-Session Pro promo; iSync plug-ins...

In brief: M-Audio today announced that all X-Session Pro owners are eligible to receive a free copy of Torq LE, nova media has released iSync phone plug-ins 3.3.9 with support for Samsung phones, and Duel Systems has begun shipping its unique DualAdapter that plugs into ExpressCard 34 or 54 slots to treat externally connected PC cards as though they were native devices. HoMedics has unveiled the iSoundSpa clock for iPod, and Creative has launched two new iPod speaker docks in Japan. M-Audio is offering all X-Session Pro owners a free copy of Torq LE, a light version of its Torq DJ software. X-Session Pro owners can head to the X-Session Pro page on m-audio.com to register and download the software for free.

Arcam rDock goes to extremes for quality

Home theater designer Arcam today launched the rDock. As an alternative to other cradles for the iPod, the rDock is claimed to be the first to truly satisfy audiophiles. Its construction and materials are influenced by dedicated home stereo gear, and include a pre-amp as well as a low-interference power supply. The iPod's power is also carefully managed to preserve audio quality -- since even recharging the iPod can interfere, Arcam says, the charging system automatically shuts down when the battery is full. Despite this, listeners can also connect any dockable iPod to more sources through increased output options, including native RCA stereo output as well as RCA and S-video jacks for image-capable iPods. The rDock should be available in the UK now for the equivalent of $231.

Electric Image Animation System v6.6.1...

EI Technology Group has released version of 6.6.1 of the Universal Binary version of the Electric Image Animation System (EIAS). The update, now available for immediate download, takes advantage of the advancements in the new generation of Intel-based Macs for "astonishing speed and performance" improvements over previous EIAS versions on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs. "The speed improvement of Electric Image Animation System 6.6 on the new Macintosh Intel computer is simply astonishing," remarks Matt Hoffman, Vice President of Development . "Now with our update to 6.6.1 we have the speed and stability customers expect from our animating and rendering software. EIAS continues to be the world's fastest rendering engine all the while producing some of the most breathtaking imagery in 3D." It is a free update for v6.6 users and is available for $700; upgrades are $100 for v6.5 users. Customers with versions prior to 6.0 may upgrade for $400.

FastMac debuts PowerBook, iBook AC adapter

FastMac today unveiled the expansion of its TruePower line with a 65-watt AC adapter designed specifically for Apple PowerBook G4 and iBook laptops. The TruePower adapter provides constant wattage output that meets or exceeds Apple-branded adapters, according to FastMac, and features a built-in LED indicator. The compact design is compatible with all PowerBook G4 Titanium and Aluminum 12-, 15-, and 17-inch models as well as iBook G3 and G4 laptops. The TruePower adapter will begin shipping next week, and is available for pre-order for $36. The adapter comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day guarantee.

Palm hires ex-Apple engineer

Palm, a manufacturer of smarphones which could lose considerable market share to Apple when the iPhone ships in June, has hired former Apple engineer Paul Mercer to create a new line of products. While details of the new products remain secret, the recent recruiting effort suggests a direct response to Apple's iPhone. Mercer, who was swooped up by Palm just three weeks ago, is best-known for designing the Finder interface in the Mac OS 7 operating system. Mercer also founded Pixo, the company whose software backbone was responsible for the initial interface behind the iPod, according to Electronista and the New York Times. The 3GSM cellular phone expo in Barcelona last month is rumored to have centered around Apple's forthcoming handset, despite the Cupertino-based company's lack of attendance at the event.

iPods may oust hi-fi CD players...

Apple's iPods and Mac systems playback music with better sound quality than hi-fi CD systems, according to AVI's Ashley James. James cautions that Apple products are nowhere near perfect, but notes that "there are some CD players from prominent manufacturers that are miles worse. They're so bad that from the moment they're on -- if you came into this room with one of these CD players I'm telling you about -- you'd know there was something wrong with it. You wouldn't know what it was, but you'd just say 'that's bloody terrible'." The difference in quality and convenience is apparently causing CD players to lose market share, according to James. Further issues affecting sales of CD players include failed copy protection schemes, as well as the tendency for CD player mechanisms to fail.

Initial iPhone sales may fall short

Apple's iPhone, which is due to launch in June, could fall short of heightened expectations in the near-term due to its small potential market, according to Forbes.com. The market for the iPhone is, at first glance, quite appealing with worldwide handset sales expected to top more than 1 billion in 2007, but Apple's goal of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008 could prove to be wishful thinking. A closer look at the handset market shows the iPhone's price as too high for many customers, placing it right alongside other smartphones like the BlackBerry that account for just 10 percent of handset sales. Additionally, Apple's choice to offer the iPhone exclusively through Cingular further narrows its potential customer base, enabling only those users whose contracts are near expiration and die-hard fans willing to cancel current contracts for a penalty as likely customers. Nevertheless, Apple could create its own market as it did with the iPod in 2001, or generate enough buzz around the iPhone's features to create a "must have" mentality in the minds of customers who wouldn't have normally spent $499 or even $599 for a smartphone.

AirPort Extreme dual-band support explored...

Apple's recently released 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station is capable of serving both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands, but offers better performance in one mode and improved range in the other, according to a new study. Apple's AirPort Extreme is one of two wireless routers that implement the new 802.11n standard, maintaining backward compatibility with 802.11b/g and 802.11a standard to support legacy wireless clients. According to eWeek's recent review, Apple's router does not implement channel bonding in the 2.4GHz band, thus restricting clients to using only 20MHz channels while 5GHz clients can use a full 40GHz client. "In 5GHz mode, each client would receive and transmit at the 300M bps link rate, while 2.4GHz clients could attach at only a maximum rate of 144M bps."

Web page manufacturing system launches

DutyCrew today launched its new Web page manufacturing system designed to help users build independent standalone websites with ease, consistency and flexibility. The software enables users to insert images as well as links to multimedia files -- including flash, MP3, and video. Uploading website components is automated, and navigation is sorted out for users while offering the flexibility to move pages and menu components unhindered. Users can export and import sites between machines as well as platforms, and can retain FTP passwords alongside server details The software is already available for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger users, comes with a backup mechanism, and is priced at £26 with a £2/month subscription fee. DustyCrew notes that its software is under development for other platforms, including Linux and Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista.

Apps: Backwards Machine, Caboodle, iVox

• Backwards Machine ($35) is a cross-platform plug-in that reverses continuous audio in real-time. It reverses and overlaps snippets of the incoming audio to produce an ongoing backwards effect as well as smoothly cross-fades between forward/backward versions of the incoming audio. It can also play the input audio backwards, twice, adding a slight vibrato during the second playback. It supports VST format for Windows and VST and Audio Unit formats for Mac OS X (Universal). [Download - 1.5MB]


• Dejal Caboodle 1.1 ($15) is a useful application to collect text, images, and other content. Users can arrange the items in an outline-like hierarchy, and include both structured fields and free-form text and pictures in each entry, along with web links, lists, tables, PDFs, etc. It supports encryption of sensitive information, searching, and now import/export in several formats and enhanced printing functions. [Download - 2.7MB]


• AudioLobe 1.2 ($20) allows you to independently alter the playback speed and pitch rate of audio files. "If you are a musician or interested in audio this means you can slow down complex sequences of audio without the vocal or instruments sounding unintelligible." All the features of AudioLobe are available in demo mode and it supports AAC (the format commonly used by iTunes, MPEG4 audio, m4a), MP3, AIFF, CD files, AIFC (AIFF Compressed), and WAV file formats. [Download - 1.5MB]


• Infovox iVox 1.1 is a new version of its voice synthesis system that enables users of Mac OS X who suffer from visual impairment and dyslexia to vocally access written information. Version 1.1 can be used on PowerPC- or Intel-based Macs and now offers a selection of new voices such as American Spanish and Canadian French in addition to the other languages available : American English, British English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian and Swedish. Infovox iVox requires Mac OS X 10.3.9. [Download - form]


• SearchBlox v4.0 (starting at $600) brings replication support and a completely re-designed AJAX-based Admin Console to the high-performance Content Search Software. The new release also supports hit highlighting of search terms in HTML and PDF documents. The J2EE Web Component supports major J2EE Application Servers (BEA Weblogic, JBoss, Websphere, etc.) and is also available as a standalone server for Windows, Mac OS X and Unix/Linux. A free edition is available can index up to 1000 documents. [Download - options]

Jets'n'Guns Gold adds levels, ships, more...

Rake in Grass has released Jets'n'Guns Gold, a new version of the classic arcade shooter game that adds higher resolution graphics and doubles the length with more than 20 new levels. Jets'n'Guns now features over 40 levels in total, boasting seven new customizable ships and 17 new weapons. The latest iteration of the game also includes 70 new enemies, secret levels, and new comic screens, music, medals, and ranks. Players have up to 10 warbirds to choose from and can equip weapons varying from 'crazy guns' to 'ultimate devastators.' The gold edition of Jegs'n'Guns is available from Macgamestore.com for $30, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Jobs ranks No. 132, has 'cultish celebrity status'...

While "only" ranking No. 132 on Forbes's annual list of richest billionaires, Jobs has quite a following. A new report, released along the magazine's annual billionaire listing, says that while the top billionaires are rich, they do not enjoy the fame of some lower ranked billionaires. "Names like Marriott and Benetton may be household words," the report says, "but the tycoons behind these brands nonetheless live in relative obscurity--billionaires next door whose faces are all but unrecognizable to the masses. Only a tiny fraction of billionaires hit it big on both counts, enjoying enormous wealth and fame." The article says Jobs, Apple's CEO and founder, is of "nerd-fame" and enjoys cultish celebrity status among fans of Apple. Jobs, worth $5.7 billion, has been "touted as a creative mastermind thanks to Apple's uber-successful launch of the iPod and this year's announcement of the much-anticipated iPhone."