Refurbished Quad Xeon Xserves for $2,299

Apple is currently offering reconditioned Xserve Quad Xeon server systems with two 64-bit 2.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors -- each serviced by a 1.33GHz front-side bus and 4MB of shared L2 cache per processor. Apple's Xserve systems are designed to work in high-demand back-end environments, such as working in tandem with other Xserves to ensure near-constant, speedy database services to clients over a network. The reconditioned Xserve includes 1GB of 667MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM memory, an 80GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA hard drive, a built-in ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card with 64MB of video memory, and Mac OS X Server 10.4 Unlimited-Client Edition. The Xserve Quad Xeon systems are priced at $2,299 each, and ship for free. AppleCare Premium Service and Support for Xserve is also separately available for $950.

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update released...

Apple today issued an EFI Firmware Update for its 2.2GHz and 2.4GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro models laptops that fixes a display issue. Apple's MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3 is used to create a Restoration CD by downloading the necessary file from the company's website, and when used restores the firmware of an Intel-based Mac if for a previous firmware update attempt was interrupted or somehow failed. Apple offers step-by-step instructions for restoring a computer's firmware, which include burning the restore CD and using it to replace any corrupted firmware that may reside on an Intel Mac. The firmware update requires MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0 or later, which is also available from Apple's website.

Briefly: Zimbra for iPhone; EU iPod meeting...

In brief: Zimbra has released an iPhone-specific messaging client, the first European meeting for iPod owners is scheduled for July 22nd, Gx5 has released new iPhone Wallpaper packs, MacProVideo.com has released new Photoshop CS3 tutorial videos, and MacTech has released a new CD with more than 2,900 articles from the publication's entire history with over 260 issues of the magazine. Zimbra has blogged about its new iPhone support, bringing what the company claims is the first messaging application that adopts an iPhone skin. The mobile client is designed specifically for Apple's iPhone.

PersonalBrain 4.0 storms Macs

TheBrain has released PersonalBrain 4.0, the first version of the software for the Mac. The program is intended to help visualize apps, files and websites, linking them together in ways that might not have been immediately obvious. Items can dragged-and-dropped into the program at will, and as users click on various Thoughts, new mindmaps are revealed. Images in a map can be zoomed in without loading outside software. Zooming is one of the new features in v4.0, along with broader views, searchable document contents, and the ability to personalize Thoughts with custom backgrounds. The software requires Mac OS X 10.3, as well as a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM; a basic version is free, but the Core and Pro versions are $150 and $250.

Fujifilm IS Pro caters to specialized shots...

Fujifilm has upgraded its FinePix line with the IS Pro, a special take on the S5 Pro cameras for those who need images outside of normally visible conditions. An enhanced CCD sensor and image processor combine with IR and UV filters to capture images outside of viewable light; to ensure that the intended image is the right one, the live LCD preview now includes a high contrast black-and-white mode while the sensor has a special protective glass filter to guard against dust and damage during cleaning.

Global Warning game aims to spread awareness

Independent software developer Midori has released Global Warning, a new environmental game designed to spread awareness of global warming and the ill effects of man-made pollution on planet Earth. "Global warming and environmental issues have never been so covered in the media. It needs to be talked about," says Midori. "People are beginning to realize that something must be done to help stop the ill effects of pollution and environmental irresponsibility." The game features everyday advice and tips about how players can act in real life to live a more sustainable and green existence. Players aim to stop a dump company from setting up an immense landfill by choosing strategic, earth-friendly behavior "cards." Results of player choices direct the impact on finances, morale, and health which ultimately affect whether players survive. Global Warning is priced at $10, with educational licenses available for $100. The game requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

StationFinder locates FM for iPods/iPhones

Griffin has debuted a website called SmartScan StationFinder, meant to apply to the company's FM transmitters, but which is suited to anyone with a transmitter and portable media player. The site is a guide to some of the clearest FM frequencies in the United States, and is formatted with an iPhone-style interface that sorts through states and cities with minimal hassle. Despite the focus on the iPhone, the site is also designed to work well on browsers for desktop systems, and rival mobile devices.

Marathon:Resurrection 2.0 rebirths a classic

Team Unpfhorgiven has released Marathon:Resurrection 2.0, an unofficial recreation of Bungie's classic Mac shooter, Marathon. Released in 1994, it was considered by many as a direct rival to Doom, and in some ways superior. Resurrection is an Unreal Tournament modification that features enhanced single- and multiplayer components, with improved graphics and elaborate Internet play. It is said to run on any computer that can also handle Tournament, which includes Windows systems as well as Mac OS 9 and X machines. The mod can be downloaded as either a ZIP or uMod file.

Ricoh launches 7.1MP Caplio RR750...

Ricoh has joined in the series of camera launches this week with the introduction of the Caplio RR750, a straightforward 7.1-megapixel camera for beginners and travelers. The point-and-shoot model receives six scene presets placed directly on the mode dial as well as improved ISO sensitivity for darker or faster-paced shots. It also carries 32MB of built-in flash memory that provides free space for owners who misplace an SD memory card.

Yamaha BODiBEAT challenges Nike+iPod

The upcoming BODiBEAT by Yamaha is poised to challenge the current popularity of the Nike+iPod kit with runners and walkers. While the BODiBEAT holds only 512MB of music, because it comes on a wristband, it eliminates the need for a separate holder; likewise, there is no need for special shoes or sensors, since the player has its own accelerometer. This and a pulse monitor connected to the headphones provide another function: as a runner's speed increases, so does the speed of the music. Beat loops help segue one track into another. The battery life of the player is 12 hours; Yamaha expects the BODiBEAT to ship this summer. [via Anything But iPod]

iPhone typing faster than competition?

Consulting firm User Centric has published a summary of the initial results of its iPhone customer study, revealing that iPhone users were generally more productive with the iPhone's keyboard when composing text messages after one week than they were using previously owned phones. One portion of the study designed to identify overall ease-of-use factors and general usability issues among motivated early iPhone adopters who had experience with the device during the first week of ownership revealed that, overall, participants were initially satisfied with visual voicemail, selecting and playing music, saving contacts, and making as well as receiving calls while using other options. Frustrations arose however with regard to text entry SMS, the Google map feature, and the Web browsing experience. Six days after the iPhone launched, 60-minute usability sessions with actual iPhone customers showed vast improvement with device's the touch-screen keyboard.

Analysts: Europe's iPhone war to raise stock...

Analysts with American Technology Research say they believe that the fight for European iPhone contracts may boost Apple's stock substantially. Having witnessed AT&T's success with a contract in the United States, the European divisions of O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone are all said to be bidding aggressively, with the last of four being tipped as a prime candidate. Although the companies may end up with separate contracts based on nationality, AmTech argues that the strength of Apple's position will allow it to dictate terms, much as it did with AT&T.

Briefly: MacNN reviews; iPhone LCD cleaner...

In brief: MacNN has reviewed the Mi Jam Stage Mic sing-a-long toy designed to offer children a chance to hear their voice over the top of any song playing through an iPod or other portable music player, and has reviewed the Everki Plunge Waterproof Case and Earphones. USBFever.com has begun shipping its own LCD cleaning product designed for Apple's iPhone and iPod players that removes fingerprints, dust, lint, and dirt that is not Petroleum-based. MacNN has reviewed the Mi Jam Stage Mic ($22, shown at right), a sing-a-long to that enables children to hear their voice on top of any song playing via an iPod or other music player.

Apple Web traffic jumps 5% in 30 days

Traffic to Apple's website grew more than any of the top 10 Web properties with a whopping 5 percent hike in traffic in just 30 days, according to research firm comScore. Google once again topped the list by reaching nearly 70 percent of the internet's 772 million 15-and-older users, serving 536 million visitors globally in May for an increase of 1.7 percent from April, reports InformationWeek. Comparatively, Apple ranked the 10th most popular Web property worldwide with 121 million unique visitors in May for an increase of 5 percent from the 115 million documented the month prior. "This increase precedes the recent U.S. release of the Apple iPhone," comScore said. Web searches for the term 'iphone' in the U.S. skyrocketed up 583 percent between the weeks ending May 26th and June 23rd, and Apple was reportedly the primary recipient of redirected traffic to accumulate 54.4 percent of those hits, according to a second research firm.

Yellow Lemon updates to Screen Sieve 1.1

Yellow Lemon Software released an upgrade to Screen Sieve, its Mac OS X utility. The software exploits the Accessibility feature to improve searching, highlighting any and all instances of the characters a user types in. It also goes beyond programs that normally have text search to include virtually any based on Cocoa or Carbon. Version 1.1 introduces the ability to scroll windows while searching, with a hit counter indicating how many results are above or below the area visible on-screen. Multiple monitors are now supported, as are localizations in French and Japanese. Screen Sieve requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.

InPreflight 2.1 improves channel listings

Zevrix has released the v2.1 update to InPreflight, its companion to Adobe InDesign. The program maintains quality control of InDesign documents, flagging problems with fonts, colors and links that need to be addressed before going to publishing. Multiple documents can be preflighted at once, saving time. The patch now recognizes Photoshop EPS DCS files saved in the CMYK+Spot color mode, and will list each spot channel. Similarly, both the fonts and spot colors in Illustrator CS3 files are listed. InPreflight is a Universal Binary for Mac OS X 10.4.2, and works with any of the Creative Suite editions of InDesign.

German store: 1000 iPhone inquiries daily...

The largest Apple retail in Germany says that it is getting more than 1000 requests per day regarding the iPhone, which will likely begin shipping in the country later this year. "Fifty-seven thousand interested people have already registered with us," the head of retailer Gravis, Archibald Horlitz, told Germany's Tagesspiegel "Every day, we get about 1,000 more." Reuters reports that the retailer's tracking shows 58 percent of those interested in buying the the iPhone said they would consider switching operators if necessary. It is currently not known which European provider will carry the iPhone; T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 are all in the running according to speculation.

iLive offers flat-panel iPod speaker dock

iLive has introduced a new flat panel speaker set and docking system for the iPod. Numbered IHT3817DT, the device offers a 2.1 CH sound system with True 3D Sound and SRS TruBass sound enhancement. It features two stereo speakers and two subwoofers. In addition to accepting audio input from the iPod, the dock includes a digital tuning AM/FM Stereo Radio with Station Memory Presets. There is also a backlit LCD Segment Display w with a clock, timer and sleep timer. Outputs include a headphone jack, and there is an aux-in jack for other audio sources. There are also 4 AV Inputs, 2 RCA connections and 2 S-Video + RCA Audio Input connections. Composite and and S-Video jacks provide video and audio output. The unit is capable of charging the iPod mini/nano/shuffle/video/photo, and has certified Apple iPod Connectors, There is a motorized iPod Docking Drawer and iPod controls on the remote. Finally, there's a mini-USB Jack for PC Communication, USB Cord, included. The new dock is priced at $350.