Apple offers battery replacement program...

Apple is presenting MacBook and MacBook Pro owners who experience performance problems related to batteries after installing the company's battery update with three options. Notebook owners can make an appointment at the Genius Bar of a local Apple nearest Apple Store where a technician will arrange the battery's replacement, or can receive a replacement battery through an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP). Alternatively, MacBook and MacBook Pro owners can get in touch with the Apple Support Contact Center (1-800-275-2273) to discuss the issue as well as potential solutions.

Briefly: reviews; Texas Tech iTunes U...

In brief: MacNN has reviewed the Swivel Aluminum Case from Core Cases as well as the XtremeMac Tango portable iPod speaker system, and Apple has inked a deal with Texas Tech to launch an iTunes U website for students attending the University. Today marks the final day that Italian consumers can turn in winning codes from 500ml Coke+iTunes bottles before a second Coke+iTunes initiative launches in the European country, and a new book has surfaced on extending iPod capabilities beyond music from the Take Control series of eBooks. MacNN has reviewed the Swivel Aluminum Case ($30) from Core Cases -- a video iPod stand made from aircraft-grade aluminum -- as well as the Tango from XtremeMac ($200, shown at right) -- an iPod speaker system with a slick white-and-black style that comes with a remote control.

Chronos releases iScrapbook 1.0...

Chronos today released iScrapbook 1.0, an application that aims to ease the process of designing and printing scrapbooks. iScrapbook features a suite of tools to draw shapes, add graphics, arrange as well as align objects, and add special effects. More than 30 shapes with smart controls help users create custom design elements, while built-in rulers and project grid lines with zoom functionality ease the process of positioning objects. The software provides tools to crop images and create photo effects such as Sepia or shadows. More advanced special effects include selective focusing, clipping an image to any shape, and filling text with any image. iScrapbook is priced at $50, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Corsair ships tough Survivor drives...

Corsair this afternoon released what it claims is the world's toughest USB flash drive. The Flash Survivor range is built out of heavy-duty aluminum with a rubber collar that makes the drive near-shockproof. Special sealing also guards the flash stick against potentially fatal drops into the water; in-house testing shows the drive surviving depths of up to 650 feet without leaks.

Its integrity is also strong when attached to a computer, Corsair boasts. 256-bit AES encryption is built-in to password-protect information should the drive be lost or stolen.

Schools ban iPods to foil cheaters...

Schools have begun banning iPods to prevent students from cheating, according to one report. Mountain View High School in Idaho recently forbid students from bringing digital media players to school after officials discovered some students downloading formulas as well as other material on to the portable players, according to the Associated Press. "It doesn't take long to get out of the loop with teenagers," Mountain View High School principal Aaron Maybon said. "They come up with new and creative ways to cheat pretty fast."

Ballmer: iPhone has 'no chance'...

The iPhone has no hope of gaining a true foothold in the cellphone marketplace, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The company head told an interviewer at the USA Today that, as with computers, future control of the mobile handset business would primarily depend on software influence rather than hardware. Apple's insistence on attaching its code to a premium device could prevent it from getting any more than a small percentage of the world's cellphone user base, Ballmer predicted.

Aspyr ships The Sims 2 Family Fun for Mac

Aspyr Media today began shipping The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff for Mac. The expansion pack to The Sims 2 adds a new collection of furniture, clothing, and decor that enables players to decorate the home with an assortment of new furnishings such as upscale living room items and adventurous bedroom sets. "Dress your Sims in matching attire for an amusing day out with the family. With 60 new items from castle beds to cruise ship replicas, your Sims will have more stuff for more family fun!" The Sims 2 Family Fun is available for $20, and requires The Sims 2 for Mac OS X.

Survey pegs Apple as Gen Y most trusted

A new survey of respondents mostly between the ages of 21-27 suggests that Apple is the most trusted brand among first wave Generation Y consumers. The survey, designed to compile a "Trust Index" of brands that produce "deeply positive feelings" among trendsetters, asked participants which companies they most respected, and why. Results were clear, as Apple was ranked no. 1 above Trader Joes as the most trusted company. Most companies mentioned by respondents focus on simplicity, according to Outlaw strategic analyst Holly Brickley. The analyst notes that favorite companies are known for keeping products as stripped-down as possible, according to MarketingDaily. That simplicity applies not just to physical appearance but also to the way companies organize their offerings, according to Brickley. "Apple's computers and iPods are so clean and simple and easy to use," said one respondent. "No excess."

Vudu goes toe-to-toe with Apple TV...

Vudu Labs has recently provided early details of the self-titled Vudu, a networked media hub co-developed by former Apple, AT&T, and TiVo employees. The device both downloads videos directly from the Internet to the hub and eliminates the need to buffer or completely transfer videos before playing -- both limitations commonly associated with the Apple TV and similar hardware. The Vudu uses peer-to-peer technology to do this, according to the company. Similar to BitTorrent, the new box collects movie data from other systems on the Internet. This eliminates the bottleneck of centralized servers that frequently cripples cable providers or smaller services with higher costs for direct downloads.

Apple ProCare revamp to axe training...

Apple is set to restructure its ProCare service on Wednesday which will effectively double the cost of today's service. AppleInsider reports that the Cupertino-based company will split its existing $99 yearly retail service into two separate packages, with one for on-on-one Mac training and the other for repair-related services, leaving consumers just two days to receipt the current full service for $99. Teachers will receive a $20 discount on the new service, but discounts appear to be absent for customers looking to purchase both ProCare and "One-to-One" service.

Analyst expects further Mac share gains...

Apple's Mac market share rose during the company's March quarter despite a predicted slump following Microsoft's launch of Windows Vista, and Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster suspects the company will see further gains year-over-year. "Strong Mac sales in Apple's March quarter enabled the company to gain share despite stronger than normal PC sales," the analyst wrote. "With Apple heading into three quarters of significant product releases (iPhone, Leopard, new iPod) and the education buying season, we expect year-over-year market share gains to continue." Piper Jaffray maintains its 'Outperform' rating on Apple shares with a $140 price target.

Samsung ships 16Gb flash chips...

Samsung on Monday began shipping the world's first ever 16 gigabit flash memory. Originally sampled in March, the new memory is built on a 51 nanometer process that shrinks the storage enough to allow 16 gigabytes on a typical memory card. The shortened traces combined with processing data in larger chunks also greatly speeds up transfers compared to earlier large-capacity flash, according to Samsung's estimates. Where today's flash reads at 17MB per second and writes at 4.4MB, the new technology nearly doubles that claim to 30MB/sec reads and 8MB/sec writes.

Entrance generates Access-like charts

An avid Mac developer has released Entrance, a new MySQL browser that generates Access-like charts based on data in MySQL databases with a "match box" search facility that works like Apple's Spotlight technology for database tables. Charts are interactive with pan and zoom capability, allowing users to select data or answer important questions by dragging selection boxes over particular charts. Entrance also adds a new "data painting" feature that enables users to paint the points in a Scatter or Correlation Chart with color, which shows up on the chart and is recorded in the underlying database table. Entrance is available for free under the GPL license, and requires Java JRE 1.6.

SlingPlayer Mac gives Apple TV control...

Sling Media today launched the finished 1.0 version of SlingPlayer for Mac, a new version which adds controls unique to any version of the software. Designed to play content on a computer streamed from a Slingbox attached to a TV, the finished Mac version includes not only support for controlling cable boxes, DVRs, and other general media receivers but also Apple-specific devices. For the first time, SlingPlayer can control the Apple TV and play its content from any broadband Internet connection, accessing virtually the entire home iTunes library while away. The inaugural edition of the software also allows users to commandeer other devices that use the Apple Remote, including the Front Row interface on recent Macs and music from an iPod connected through an iPod Hi-Fi or Universal Dock.

PulpMotion 1.1 improves timing control

Aquafadas today released PulpMotion 1.1, adding roughly 20 new features to the slideshow and presentation tool. The update improves control over timing, allowing users to choose whether the embedded videos play in full length. The latest release also optionally exports movies with the video soundtracks mixed into the background music. PulpMotion 1.1 introduces automatic speed and timing adjustments to the length of the soundtrack, alongside a new navigation toolbar enabling users to skip to next or previous media. Additional new features include a "Zoom-On-Media" function that brings the current media in full view with more detailed information and an optional apparition effect. PulpMotion is available for $30, requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later with QuickTime 7, and comes with a new theme titled "Silly News."

Genius rolls out gaming, MP3 speakers...

Genius this morning launched a pair of speaker sets targeted at the budget crowd. The SP-i200 (pictured) caters to iPods and other portable music players with a headphone output jack, including those on the road: a relatively unique adjustable stand can either lay flat for travel and tight spaces, or else sit the speakers at a more natural angle for listening. The 6-watt stereo is also built for vacations with 10 hours of full-volume music through four AAA batteries. It ships in black or white for $30.

Media 100 v11.6 supports Intel-based Macs

Media 100 this month announced the release of Media 100 v11.6 for Intel-based Macs. The Universal Binary release of Media 100's 10-bit uncompressed HD/SD editing systems for Mac OS X includes Media 100 HD Suite, Media 100 HDe, Media 100 SDe, Media 100 Producer Suite, and Media 100 Producer. The Media 100 product line offers 10-bit uncompressed HD and SD editing capabilities, support for broadcast-quality format conversions, and increased system performance on Intel-based systems and AJA Video OEM solutions. The update represents the first step towards native integration with the Boris FX product line, bringing the advanced compositing and effects technology to the Media 100 interface. The new Media 100 Producer and Producer Suite v11.6 software-only editing solutions provide a complete mobile editing environment integrated with the Boris compositing and effects creation tools: users can record via FireWire or Panasonic P2, assemble projects in the field, and then offload to their projects to Media 100 HD Suite for HD up-conversion or faster processing of projects.

Third NYC Apple Store may be largest yet...

Following last week's announcement of a third New York City retail store, more details have begun to emerge. The company will open its newest Big Apple retail store in the Meatpacking District at 401 W. 14th St., according to the New York Post. Apple is reportedly leasing more than 32,000 feet on the cellar, ground and second floor of the 60,000-square-foot, low-rise structure on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Ninth Avenue, the report noted. Last year, reports indicated that the third Apple retail store may emerge on West 34th street, where the company had secured a lease, but the fate of that location remains unknown (plans for other locations in Manhattan have also faltered).