Forum: Mac Pro, MacBook display, iMac G3

Forums roundup: Members are discussing whether or not it is worth it to fully load a Mac Pro, for uses of photo and video editing in addition to gaming.... Other users are discussing how to make a MacBook display more vivid colors, which several users find washed out and unbalanced... One user is wondering what a G3 iMac is good for besides basic tasks such as word processing.... Other members are discussing the reports of one user who had a fan in their MacBook Pro die, similar problems confirmed by other users has lead to discussion of how widespread the issue could be.... Meanwhile, other members are questioning the video quality of AppleTV compared to a DVD or other video sources.

Briefly: Apple TV upgrades; WO at WWDC...

In brief: One company is offering custom Apple TV upgrades, organizers are planning pre-WWDC WebObjects sessions, and DJ mixers are receiving certification for Traktor Scratch. With some considering the 40GB in the stock Apple TV inadequate, the Santa Clara-based MacService is offering a custom upgrade program. By paying an extra service fee, clients can have the company replace their old hard drives with a new one, with sizes ranging from 60GB to 160GB -- the latter of which should be able to hold as much as 200 hours of standard-definition video. MacService pays to have a ground courier take the Apple TV in both directions, with a 24-hour turnaround after the device arrives at its office. A 60GB drive costs $200, while the 160GB drive is $300.

$519 refurbished Mac mini returns

Apple's refurbished 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini has returned to its online store for $519, featuring 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, and a slot-loading Combo drive. The company is also offering its 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini with 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a double-layer SuperDrive for $649; as well as its 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo Mac mini with 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a double-layer SuperDrive for $699. Apple is also offering a range of reconditioned iPods which include the second-generation iPod shuffle ($49, 1GB - silver), numerous second-generation iPod nanos (2GB and 4GB capacities for $119 and $169 in varying colors), first-generation iPod nanos ($99 and $129 for 2GB and 4GB models in black or white, respectively), and an assortment of current-generation video iPods (30GB and 80GB capacities in black or white for $209 and $299, respectively).

June 11 iPhone date uncertain: report...

The alleged June 11th iPhone release date is likely the result of confusion, research has revealed. Telephone calls placed to 25 of the company's stores spread across the country presented contradictory information, with many asserting only that the Apple device would be ready sometime in June. Some pointed to delays to July or September triggered by popular demand, while one store pointed to a release as soon as "next month" and another pointed to late May.

Mac mini outperforms Xserve G5 in Web farm...

Apple's latest Mac mini system with an Intel Core Duo processor and gigabit Ethernet outperformed an older Xserve G5 server system, according to one user who offers colocation services. "We picked up an Intel Mac mini 1.66GHz Core Duo, had it upgraded to 2GB of RAM (the G4's could only handle 1GB) and started to really put it through it's paces." Citing lower power consumption and resilient performance, the Mac mini stood up to vigorous testing. "No matter how hard I tried I could not make that Mini use more than 0.37A of power. I blasted that thing with multiple concurrent CPU and disk bound processes, getting really heavy loads and disk read/writes." Following the introduction of the Mac minis, an Xserve G5 was migrated in as a Web server in a load balanced group. The forum poster had to periodically adjust the weighting rules, however, to give more and more priority to the Mac minis.

Kitty Spangles Solitaire 3.1 released

Swoop Software today released Kitty Spangles Solitaire 3.1. The update includes 38 games with favorites such as Klondike, Canfield, Freecell, Penguin, and Spider. "Widely admired for its clear and focused design, Kitty takes solitaire to another level with beautifully styled cards and luxuriously animated themes to suit any mood." Kitty Spangles Solitaire 3.1 includes Pyramid, Gold, Montana, Gaps, and Beleaguered Castle alongside clearer high-resolution card designs. The update also remembers recent games, and provides a high score table for players to compare stores or times of every game played. Kitty Spangles Solitaire 3.1 is priced at $20, and the update is free for registered users. The game requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later.

GridIron debuts Nucleo Pro 2...

GridIron Software has unveiled an upgrade to Nucleo Pro that will allow users to render 3D applications in the Background Render Queue. The software serves to increase productivity while optimizing workflow for visual effects artists using Adobe After Effects. Nucleo Pro 2 will provide a central place to manage renders for After Effects as well as 3D Studio Max, Maya, Shake, Cinema 4D, XSI, Houdini, Metal Ray, and Brazil. The update also expands the workflow possibilities with a new type of proxy designed to optimize rendering for nested compositions. Nucleo Pro 2 is due to ship this summer for $400, though customers can pre-order Nucleo Pro 2 starting April 16th for $300 until the first day Nucleo Pro 2 begins shipping. Nucleo Pro 1 owners can upgrade for $100, and original Nucleo upgrades are priced at $350.

Apple adds Major League baseball to iTunes...

Apple today announced that it will offer Major League baseball video highlights for the 2007 season on its iTunes Store, and is kicking off the 2007 Major League Baseball season with an "MLB.com 2007 Season Preview Show" as a free download for iTunes customers. MLB video on iTunes will include a daily 25 minute "MLB.com Daily Rewind" highlight show and two weekly "Games of the Week," featuring full versions of the best games from the National and American Leagues. iTunes customers will be able to download individual episodes of "MLB.com Daily Rewind" and each "Game of the Week" for $1.99, or purchase a Multi-Pass for a month of Daily Rewind shows for $7.99 or a Season Pass for every "Game of the Week" for $19.99.

Apple store slip points to quad-core again...

Apple has again revealed in advance that it will soon introduce quad-core systems, accordting to AppleInsider. The computer company's special Adobe Creative Suite 3 page was the source of the leak, stating that all Macs "feature powerful dual-core or quad-core Intel processors" despite a lack of the latter in its current product lineup. The Mac Pro currently relies on two dual-core Xeon chips for its performance, although Intel has made its quad-core Xeon 5300 processors available since November.

Photos of first Italy Apple Store surface...

Photos have surfaced of the first Apple Store in Italy, depicting the forthcoming retail outlet in the ROMAEST mall. While the roads are still under construction, the Apple Store itself appears nearly finished. Photos reveal 12 meters of display window that offer a large viewing area into the new store. Colored metal and wood adorn the new space, which is set along a curved corridor in the new mall. Displays show off the new second-generation iPod shuffles, as well as the recently shipped Apple TV. An iPod listening area shows several listening posts as seen in other Apple Stores, offering visitors an iPod and a pair of headphones with demo music to try out the portable media players.

Avid updates Media Composer, Avid Xpress Pro...

Avid Technology today released Media Composer 2.7 and Avid Xpress Pro 5.7, offering support for Intel-based Macs as well as new workflow capabilities and an updated bundle of third-party content creation software. Both Avid products also offer expanded format support, including write-back capabilities for the popular Sony XDCAM and Panasonic P2 file-based media formats, as well as support for the emerging 720p50 HD broadcast standard in Europe. Media Composer 2.7 brings Avid ScriptSync -- a next-generation script-based editing tool that uses phonetic speech recognition technology to automatically sync text with media -- and Avid DNxHD 36, an efficient HD codec for offline editorial that runs at a data rate of 36Mbps. Avid will showcase the new Media Composer and Avid Xpress Pro systems as well as other technology at the NAB convention next month in Las Vegas. Media Composer 2.7 is priced at $5,000, while Avid Xpress Pro 5.7 is available for $1,700.

Apple TV's USB port hacked...

Hobbyists have successfully reverse-engineered the Apple TV's USB port. Although the port is officially reserved for diagnostics and service, those curious about the device have documented steps that change the media hub's Mac OS X code to allow more than just the handful of approved USB devices. Devices such as keyboards and mice are already known to work, the testers have written. The technique has already been demonstrated running third-party media center interfaces (pictured) and could be used to run general programs. (More details and video in the full story)

AT&T: iPhone to launch June 11?...

Apple's first cellphone should ship on June 11, according to a customer service manager at AT&T. The senior staffer at the company confirmed the date when reporter Declan McCullagh contacted them late Thursday. No other information about the release was available at this point, AT&T said. Apple has so far resisted committing to a precise launch date, so far only pointing to the whole month of June as its official release window.