Macworld UK announces MacExpo Best of Show winners

Macworld UK has announced its Best of Show awards for London's MacExpo 2004. The 10 awards are "given to products either making their public debut at MacExpo or recently introduced and generating excitement on the show floor." This year's winners included: Apple's iPod Photo and Logic Pro 7, Epson's P-2000 Multimedia Storage Viewer, Keyspan's Express Remote, Adobe Acrobat 7.0, Microsoft's Virtual PC 7, Quark's QuarkXPress 6.5, Hewlett-Packard's Photosmart 375 Compact Photo Printer, Hermstedt's Hifidelio networked audio-CD player/recorder, and Wacom's Intuos3 graphics tablet.

Toronto Apple Store to open in 2005

Apple has confirmed that it plans to open a new retail store in Toronto, Canada, in mid-2005. The company began notifying Canadian Apple resellers of the plan earlier today. In addition to its slew of US retail stores, Apple currently has two stores in Japan, a new store in London that will tomorrow, and has said it is looking to open two new UK stores and other European locations in 2005. Are Montreal and Vancouver next? Let's hope so.

Apple releases iPod Updater

Apple today released iPod Updater 2004-11-15, which includes iPod mini Software 1.2 and iPod software 3.0.2 for Click Wheel iPods. The update brings the following features to the iPod mini: iTunes 4.7 compatibility; the ability to create and delete multiple On-The-Go playlists; the ability to shuffle and play your song library with one click; an option to select reading playback speed for audiobooks; the ability to hear Click Wheel clicker through headphones; and improved disconnect performance. iPod Updater 2004-11-15 provides iTunes 4.7 compatibility and improved USB 2.0 connectivity for Click Wheel iPods.

iPod Projections

Both AppleInsider and Think Secret are reporting that projected sales of iPods in the current quarter should be nearly 4 million units. Let's see, a iPod average 4,000 songs times 4 million units.........Shall we dance!

Andromeda announces Shadow Filter for Mac OS X

Andromeda Software, Inc. today announced the immediate availability of the Shadow filter for Mac OS X. Shadow filter applies realistic shadowing effects to images using Adobe Photoshop.

System stability firmware update offered for Power Mac G5s

Apple has issued Power Mac G5 (June 2004) Firmware Update 5.1.8.f7, an updater that Apple simply claims "improves system stability for your Power Mac G5. Wow!

Creative declares marketing 'war' against iPod

Creative Technology Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Sim Wong Hoo told reporters in Singapore his company plans to spend US$100 million in 2005 in a marketing war aimed squarely at Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod. "The MP3 war has started and I am the one who has declared war," Sim said. Full of air!

Freeverse ships Big Bang Board Games

Freeverse Software has announced the release of Big Bang Board Games, a collection of classic board games updated for the Mac. Big Bang Board Games combines the previously released Big Bang Chess with Backgammon, Checkers, Reversi, Tic-Tac-Toe, Mancala and 4-In-A-Row. All the Big Bang games integrate with Apple's iLife software -- you can play and manage iTunes music in the games, use Mail and Address Book to play games by e-mail, invite iChat buddies to play online with you, share pictures using your iSight webcam, and use Freeverse's own GameSmith matching service to find other opponents as well.

Aspyr: Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword ships Nov. 22

Aspyr Media Inc. on Wednesday announced that Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword for the Macintosh has gone gold master and will be released on November 22, 2004. The expansion pack for Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield puts you in charge of a squad of counter-terrorist operatives sent to the Mediterranean to quell an international terror network before they can complete their agenda of anarchy and devastation. Eight new missions, five new multiplayer levels, five multiplayer game modes and seven new weapons round out this add-on, which requires the original Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield in order to play.

IntelliScanner Pro offers complete barcode solution

Intelli Innovations Inc. on Wednesday released IntelliScanner Pro, an updated version of its barcode and tracking software and hardware solution aimed at business and education users. It's compatible with such business applications as FileMaker Pro, QuickBooks, MYOB AccountEdge and Microsoft Excel, and it comes with Inventory 1.1, a tool that features 20 built-in database templates, as well as Collection 2.0, which tracks books, DVDs, CDs and other media. IntelliScanner Pro also includes xTagger software for creating custom barcodes as well as a set of 50 pre-printed asset tags that can be used immediately with Inventory 1.1.

MacWireless offers USB 'Stick,' broadband router

Mac networking hardware maker MacWireless on Wednesday introduced a wireless USB interface it calls the USB Stick and, in something of a departure for the company, a wired broadband router. Both are available now.

MacExpo: ElGato introduces EyeTV 610

Elgato Systems on Thursday introduced the EyeTV 610, a new version of its digital TV recorder with a DVB-C interface. Complete with a digital cable TV tuner and Common Interface, or CI, the EyeTV 610 is aimed at digital cable television subscribers in European and international markets, where up to about 10 million subscribers have DVB-C-compatible systems. The EyeTV 610 allows users to record television programs to their hard disk, then later edit the content or export it to CD-R or DVD using Apple and third-party software. To receive digital cable an active digital cable TV subscription is required; Pay TV requires an additional Common Access Module (CAM) and a Pay TV subscription.

MacExpo: Multicam Lite debuts for Final Cut Pro

London, UK-based Digital Heaven Ltd. on Thursday introduced Multicam Lite, a multicamera editing solution aimed at users of Apple Computer Inc.'s Final Cut Pro digital video editing software. Multicam Lite enables users to cut up to three cameras in real time. It's a standalone application that works in conjunction with Final Cut Pro v4.1 or later and handles the input and output of sequences through Extensible Markup Language (XML) files. The software supports video clip source in DV, DVCPRO25 and OfflineRT formats; when the cut is finished, XML is imported back into Final Cut Pro, where all the cuts are automatically recreated for further editing and output. Digital Heaven expects to ship Multicam Lite in December.

Book of the Week:Take Control of Apple Mail

Finnaly a good solid full of tips and tricks book for Apple Mail that you can use.
Peachpit press have released Joe Kissell, Adam and Tonya Engst of Tidbits Apple Mail Book.
This is the latest title in the great serie of Take Control books started with this year.
Highly informative, fill with smart problems solving solutions to make your Apple mail application
behave like never before. I have never came accross so many tips and tricks for mail.
It teaches the reader how to set up and troubleshoot this app. like nothing else.
Subjects covered are (but not limited to): 8 steps to solve mail transfert problems, solutions for password problems, fixes for mailboxes damage, how to have mail handle automatically rules, how to optimize Junk Mail Filter.
Free updates are offered, a 5$ off towards the purchase of SpamSieve, and a whole lot more.
If you are serious about Apple Mail, this might just be the only book you will ever need to empowered you.

We give Take Control of Apple Mail Book a 5* rating out of 5*
Making it the Book of the week.

Take control of Apple Mail
by Joe Kissell
Edited by Adam & Tony Engst
From Peachpit Press
ISBN 0-321-32115-4

Apple releases AirPort 4.1

AirPort 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.3, supporting all models of Apple AirPort base stations including the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express models, is now available for download from the Apple website.

New in AirPort 4.1 is support for Keyspan Express Remote for use with AirTunes (AirPort Express only), support for WPA security on WDS networks and the ability to rename a USB printer connected to a base station.

MPAA launches software snooping tool

The Motion Picture Association of America said on Tuesday that it has
filed an unspecified number of lawsuits against people who trade
copyrighted movies online, following through on plans announced earlier
in the month.

The organisation also said it will release free software to help parents
and other computer owners identify all the music, movie and peer-to-peer
software files on their machines.

The software, designed to scan hard disks for media and peer-to-peer
files, will soon be freely available from the MPAA. A representative of
the group said the program, developed by a Danish software company, does
not yet have a name.

It will only identify files, not automatically delete them, the group
said.

The trade group, which is following in the path of a similar legal
strategy laid down by the Recording Industry Association of America,
declined to say how many people it is suing or what file-swapping
networks it's focusing on. However, an MPAA representative said suits
will be brought across the United States and that this will be just the
first of successive rounds of legal action against individuals.

"The motion picture industry must pursue legal proceedings against
people who are stealing our movies on the Internet," MPAA chief
executive Dan Glickman said in a statement. "The future of our industry,
and of the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports, must be protected
from this kind of outright theft using all available means."

After years of letting the RIAA take the lead in legal action, the MPAA
has stepped up its campaign against peer-to-peer networks on several
fronts, hoping in large part to frighten would-be file-swappers into
dropping the practice.

The lawsuits are being accompanied by a series of full-page newspaper
advertisements, running in college publications and in mainstream titles
including The Wall Street Journal.

One of these ads shows a finger clicking a mouse, alongside a headline
emblazoned in red: "Is this you?" That's followed by a long list of user
names and IP addresses typical of those found on file-sharing networks
such as Kazaa, eDonkey, DirectConnect, Grokster and LimeWire, which are
named specifically. "If you think you can get away with illegally
trafficking in movies, think again," the ad warns.

The ad campaign will also be supported by the Video Software Dealers
Association, which plans to post versions of the ads in 10,000 video
stores across the United States, the MPAA said.

If you don't know what bittorent is you might have just miss on a great ride.
If you do, it's Napster all over again. Witch hunt begin ounce again...

O'Reilly Releases "iPod & iTunes Hacks"

These iPod enthusiasts want to explore and experiment, create shortcuts,
and unearth cool and unexpected things to do with their iPod that have
never even occurred to their friends. Perhaps they want to use their iPod
to read email. Perhaps they want to use it as a voice recorder or a
device to store their digital photos. Or maybe they want to use iTunes
visuals as a screensaver, use Java to expand iTunes' functionally, or
use a cheap Linux box as a server and access MP3 tunes. Because, as Stern
reminds his readers, the iPod is only half the story. iTunes makes up the
other half. "With iTunes you can rip your music to digital files, organize
your collection, buy music from the iTunes Music Store, and transfer
everything to you iPod." He adds, "As your digital music collection grows,
you'll probably notice that the obsessive behavior typically reserved for
organizing your CD collection is transferred to the music on your computer."

"iPod & iTunes Hacks" takes curious and clever iPod owners beyond the
obvious with one hundred ingenious hacks that delight, entertain, and add
astonishing power to the iPod and iTunes experience. "The book includes
hacks written by experts in their field," explains Stern. "The 'Install
Linux on Your iPod' hack was written by Bernard Leech, who developed the
software. It's the same with the AppleScript iTunes chapter written by
Doug Adams, who runs the definitive site on AppleScript for iTunes." In
fact, contributors to the book come from the United States, Canada,
Romania, England, Germany, and Japan. "There's no book out there that
covers the breadth and depth of 'iPod and iTunes Hacks,'" says Stern.

Hacks in the book show iPod owners how to:

-Use their iPodsv with both Mac and PC
-Turn the iPod into an FM radio station, portable stereo, or wireless
jukebox
-Use the iPod as a portable hard drive, and access those "hidden" music
files
-Turn the iPod into a universal remote control or voice recorder
-Play and create games for the iPod
-Read email, news, RSS feeds, books, and more on the iPod
-Extend iTunes using Java or Perl

Although there are people who are content to use their iPods simply to
play music, some people want to do much more. Those people aren't
satisfied until they get under the hood and tap every iPod trick available
to them. "iPod & iTunes Hacks" will show them the way.

O'Reilly Releases Four New Fan Books

O'Reilly's Fan Books show users how to customize preferences and learn
about the coolest cases, add-ons, and doodads that not only add
functionality but also personalize their devices. "When you bring home a
new Apple iBook, for example," says Derrick Story, author of both the
"iBook Fan Book" and "PowerBook Fan Book" , "it's really Apple's computer-
-not yours.
All of the settings were made at the factory. But you can make it your iBook
by sitting down
with it and customizing a few simple preferences. This is my goal: to make
Apple's iBook YOUR iBook as quickly as possible."

And readers can count on these full-color Fan Books to be every bit as
stylish and hip as the devices they showcase. "Attention is spent on every
word, picture, and design element," says Story. "We're hoping that you'll
like these books as much as the subjects they cover."

O'Reilly's affordable new Fan Books include:

"Treo Fan Book"--Owners of the Treo smartphone from palmOne will master
their revolutionary little do-all device in no time flat with the new
"Treo Fan Book." This unbeatable reference guide contains all the
information people need--and want--to know about the combined mobile
phone/Palm-powered organizer/wireless email, text messaging, and
web-browsing tool/digital camera.

"PowerBook Fan Book"--This is the perfect guide for mastering all the
features and taking advantage of the advanced capabilities of Apple's most
desirable laptop. The "PowerBook Fan Book" takes readers through the
process of getting familiar with their new machine and OS X Panther,
learning handy tricks and using high-end features, and finding out about
little-known but gotta-have accessories for their sleek and speedy new
PowerBook.

"iBook Fan Book"--Anyone who owns an ultra-thin iBook can count on the
"iBook Fan Book" to give them everything they need to make the stylish
little white wonder work--and play--just as hard as they do. The book
covers: getting familiar with Mac OS X Panther; organizing a digital
lifestyle; using advanced features; enjoying iBook at home, at the office,
and on the go; minimizing time and stress; and maximizing fun and
productivity.

"Xbox Fan Book"--With cool 3D graphics, mind-boggling animation, and
devastatingly real audio, Microsoft's Xbox is the most powerful and
popular gaming machine ever created. And now, the half-million (and
growing) gamers who own one have a reliable, all-purpose reference book to
guide them to the ultimate video game triumph: the top score! The "Xbox
Fan Book" covers using the console, enhancing the multimedia experience,
online play, recommended games like Halo, and accessories such as the Xbox
DVD Playback Kit.

Right on time to "stuff the Christmas Stocking"

The return of Ellen Feiss

Originally shot for Apple's Switch ad campaign, Errol Morris, the documentary filmmaker has posted several unseen Switch ads on his site. Some of the unseen ads feature such people as Wanda Sykes, Will Ferrell, and "everyone's favorite stoner" Ellen Feiss (Errol's site is loading kind of slowly, so we have set up an Ellen Feiss 2 mirror. Bebebebebep...........

Apple's new Cinema displays low down

Apple's line of Cinema Displays is shipping with faulty LCD panels, according to a report in the IT Enquirer: "Most acutely affected appears to be the 23-inch line, which can exhibit a strong pink or yellow hue across the display that cannot be cured by colour calibration. Industry reports suggest that LG, which supplies Apple with LCD panels, may be the manufacturer in question. Apple's own web board is awash with people who are mad at the problems....One poor chap is onto his fourth display, after receiving three faulty units previously. Another Mac Addict in Japan reported that every 23-inch display in the Shinsaibashi Apple store was defective, and a similar story is reported at locations across the US mainland. Wow i guess after all we are not the "pixel nation"!

Forthcoming single-core 970GX, low-power G5

A new single-core G5 processor, based on the forthcoming dual-core PowerPC 970MP, is expected to find its way into systems next year. More Power on it's way from the speed kings at Apple. Could it be that a new PowerBook be on the horizon?

Apple seeds first builds of Mac OS X 10.3.7

Just a few days after Apple released Mac OS X 10.3.6,
the first build of Mac OS X 10.3.7 has appeared on developers' radars.