Apple earns top honors in PC Magazine survey

Apple earned top honors in both notebook and desktop categories in PC Magazine's 16th annual Service & Reliability reader survey. Apple received an "A+" along with Dell in the Desktop PC category, while earning an A for overall satisfaction after the first year (along with Gateway and Dell). Apple also earned the top ranking (along with IBM and Toshiba) for the notebook category for both overall and home use. Apple and Dell were also tops in the Server category.

Realmac Software Announce AudioX 3.1.2

Realmac Software today announced the immediate availability of AudioX 3.1.2, A sound recording application, with some amazing features.

AudioX was written for mac users who want an easy way to record sound under Mac OS X. It enables recording from any input source ie. built-in microphone, USB microphone, firewire video camera or even via your macs audio-in port. AudioX is great for recording sound FX, voice memos, interviews, vinyl records and transcribing audio to name just a few of its uses.

Visit the Realmac Software website today to download your free trial copy:

ALADDIN SYSTEMS SHIPS INTERNET CLEANUP IN JAPANESE FOR MACINTOSH

Aladdin Systems, Inc., today announced Internet Cleanup 1.0 J, a new Macintosh privacy tool
in Japanese that blocks banner ads, pop-ups, and detects the presence of spyware on the computer. Internet Cleanup resolves privacy concerns by removing cookies, history files and Internet clutter that can be traced. The built-in digital document shredder, Secure Delete(tm), allows for permanent deletion of any file or folder. Internet Cleanup works with all the popular Macintosh browsers including Safari and Internet Explorer.

"The Japanese market, like the U.S. market, continues to see significant growth in Internet traffic," said Mr. M. Kato, President of act2. "WIth that traffic has come increasing amounts of unsolicited pop-up's and advertising. We are excited to bring the new Internet Cleanup to our markets, giving Japanese greater control over their Internet experience."

Extensis Announced Free Pro Photo Raw Image Filter for Portfolio 6

Extensis Inc., today announced the immediate availability of the Pro Photo Raw Image Filter for Portfolio 6. The new filter – a free upgrade for registered owners of the company’s award-winning Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution – allows photographers to preview, sort, and archive camera-native images without having to first convert them into another format.

With the Pro Photo Raw Image Filter, Portfolio can generate high-quality thumbnails and previews from the unprocessed raw image files created by higher-end digital cameras from Nikon, Olympus, Kodak, Canon and Fuji. Portfolio can also extract EXIF metadata from the raw files and generate slideshows of the images.

“Adding support for these raw formats makes Portfolio an ideal tool for professional photographers,” said Joseph Schorr, senior product manager, Extensis. “Photographers can now go directly from camera to Portfolio, where they can preview, keyword, organize and sort thousands of images without getting bogged down in a lengthy conversion process.”

Aladdin Systems and First International Digital Team up for Summer Promo

Aladdin Systems, Inc., maker of the compression technology: StuffIt, and First International Digital, maker of irock! portable audio players and innovative MP3i interactive software, today announced an agreement to co-market their products through reciprocal product bundling and online promotion programs. 
FID is bundling Aladdin's StuffIt data compression software with the irock! line of portable audio players including the 256 MB irock! 760i which plays MP3 and MP3i files that display pictures and lyrics, and the 128MB irock! 800 series, both available through major consumer electronics retailers later this summer.

MusicMatch launching 'Apple iTunes-like' a la carte download service

"MusicMatch is the latest online service to throw itself into the music a la carte game. The online music service is launching a download version similar to Apple's iTunes Music Store, and plans to be live this fall," reports Lauren Barack for The New York Post.
"The company is the third - but certainly not the last - to offer consumers the ability to download individual songs without having to pay a subscription fee. Last week, Buy.com launched its music service BuyMusic.com by parading former hair band-er Tommy Lee before a Times Square crowd. While MusicMatch already has a subscription model - a $7 a month service - this is the first time it has offered its customers music for download."

iDVD 3 Updated

Apple has updated iDVD 3 , its popular DVD authoring software. Part of the iLife suite of applications, iDVD 3.0.1 offers "improved performance and stability for encoding, burning and managing your DVD projects." QuickTime 6.3 is required for improvements to audio sync and audio integrity. The update is available immediately via Software Update.

Napster 2 to be launch by christmas

The Top Brand in Online Music Will Be the First to Empower Music Fans with the Freedom to Choose Unlimited a la Carte Downloads or Monthly Subscriptions

Chris Gorog, Chairman and CEO of Roxio, Inc., The Digital Media Company®, will announce key elements of the launch strategy for the new Napster® in his keynote address at Jupiter's Plug-In conference today. "Napster 2.0," which will be a legal, paid music service, will be available to consumers by Christmas. Mr. Gorog also plans to reveal that at launch, Napster 2.0 will allow users access to up to 500,000 tracks any way they choose; by paying for individual downloads, by monthly subscription, via Internet radio, or in any combination.

Fuji debuts new FinePix digital cameras

Fuji Photo Film today announced its flagship FinePix S7000, a 6 megapixel camera that offers "the highest" resolution image files available to consumers. Other new cameras from the company include the FinePix S5000 ($500) with 10x optical zoom, the FinePix A310 ($300) with its advanced CCD, and two new digital cameras for consumers--the 2.1MP FinePix A205 ($280) and the 3.2MP FinePix A210 ($300). The FinePix S7000 ($800) will ship in October, while the others are expected to be available next month

Apple Confirms that Panther will be a 32-bit OS

Apple Confirms Panther As 32-bit OS

"The Register is confirming that Panther will be a 32-bit OS. It seems that IBM built a bridge mode into their processor that allows 32-bit Operating Systems to take advantage of the 64-bit address space (mentioned in the Register article). Thus, Panther will be 32-bit, but will be able to take advantage of 64-bit applications and address space. This seems like a solid strategy to hint to developers to write 64-bit applications but not leave users in the dust with no working applications for their computers."

MAXTOR ENHANCES GLOBAL SUPPORT UNDER MaxServices

Maxtor Corporation, a worldwide leader in hard disk drives, announced today that it has enhanced its support and services offerings and rebranded them as MaxServices. Maxtor MaxServices
programs streamline support processes and provides customers with access to Maxtor’s
worldwide expertise on a regional basis. MaxServices incorporates Maxtor’s current service and support programs, which include:
· Responsive phone and 24x7 online end user support.
· In-country RMA replacement programs for registered resellers in select emerging
markets around the world.
· Maxtor VIP Partner Program (www.maxtorvip.com) with phone center and online
support in the European Union (EU) and the Americas.
· MaxLabs -- a global, distributed set of design, integration and test services
to optimize hard disk drive-based platforms for the consumer electronics market
for global OEMs and qualified designers.

Included in the MaxServices offerings are MaxLabs testing and OEM customer support
centers in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ireland and Singapore. MaxServices
support programs address individual needs across the range of Maxtor customers
and channel partners, whether they are an end user, reseller, VAR or global OEM .