Monday, April 19, 2004

Apple's Freshened Wireless Line-Up Apple pushes out several wireless-related product updates and additions today: Apple announced that its entire PowerBook G4 line will have both Bluetooth (already standard) and AirPort Extreme (802.11g) built in. Previously, several models cost $99 more to have the internal and proprietary Wi-Fi card added. By including these wireless options even in the entry-level $1,600 12-inch PowerBook G4 model, Apple is competing more directly and simply against the Centrino concept. From now on, Apple hopes that buyers think PowerBook and wireless the way that Intel has branded Centrino and Wi-Fi. With integrated Bluetooth 1.2 and 802.11g connected to its own built-in antennas providing frequency avoidance that allows both to work without stepping on each other, Apple wants to score with this combination especially with their cell phone/Bluetooth synchronization and cell data networking support. Intel and Microsoft have done actually quite well with it, but Apple's trying to raise the ante in the laptop market in which they are still a competitive force. Apple also released a new AirPort Extreme Base Station (model M9397LL/A) which has Power over Ethernet support and is Plenum rated for building code conformance. They'll sell this version for $250 retail or in packages of five to the education market for $999. The three base station models are no modem, no antenna jack ($200); modem, antenna jack ($250); Plenum, PoE, antenna jack, but no modem ($250). Along with the new base station, Apple released AirPort Software 3.4, which updates the firmware on cards and base stations for improved and faster WPA support, and adds syslog daemon-based logging to the base station, which is probably a highly requested feature in institutions and enterprises. The software works alongside the new, free AirPort Management Tools 1.0, which allows mass configuration of AirPort Extreme Base Stations through a single simple interface. The AirPort Management Utility handles base station configuration as well as storing stock configuration files. The AirPort Client Monitor offers signal, noise, and bandwidth monitor in time slices for troubleshooting or designing networks. Finally, Apple also released Bluetooth Firmware Updater 1.1, which improves its wireless keyboard and mouse features and compatibility.... [802.11b Networking News] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:43:21 PM    comment []

"Mac fanatics" working at Microsoft There is "a cabal of Mac fanatics" working at Microsoft, reports Wired News writer Leander Kahney. L... [MacNN] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:33:44 PM    comment []

Interarchy 7.1 adds host of new file transfer features Australian developer Stairways Software Pty Ltd. on Monday released Interarchy 7.1, a new version of their file transfer application for Mac OS X. Interarchy 7.1's list of added features includes new preferences, the ability to copy a URL into input windows, the ability to save uploads that you want to run again, the option to arrange files by different criteria in Icon View and more. In addition, the application includes several bug fixes. [MacCentral] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:32:19 PM    comment []

A solution for Radio users and others... A solution for Radio users and others that want a simple audioblogging solution: Audblog. I have tried it and it is easy. Will make an audio post tomorrow to demonstrate. [John Robb's Radio Weblog] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 2:15:58 PM    comment []

AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth Now Standard on PowerBooks Apple announced today that the entire PowerBook G4 line would include AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth as standard, built-in features--no more build to order delays. Certain models of the PowerBook G4 already included these features, but now even the introductory 12-inch (boosted to 1.33 GHz) has all the wireless you could... [Apple AirPort Weblog] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 1:28:16 PM    comment []

Crash course: Snort Snort — The poor man’s intrusion-detection system. Open source and originally developed for Linux - but has been ported to Windows, Solaris, BSD Unix, and MacOS X among others. Read a collection of articles about it here. [Lockergnome Bytes] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 1:26:14 PM    comment []

Conceal scratches on aluminum Macs Conceal is a new scratch removing kit for aluminum PowerBook G4 and Power Mac G5 systems. Designed b... [MacNN] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:50:53 AM    comment []

Time selects Steve Jobs for 'Top 100' Time magazine (paid subscription required) has placed Apple CEO Steve Jobs in its "Top 100" list issue, which presents the magazine's choices of the 100 most influential people in the world today... [MacMinute] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:50:23 AM    comment []

Interarchy 7.1 FTP client released Stairways Software has posted Interarchy 7.1, the latest release of the company's Internet application that can download and upload files via FTP, SFTP, and FTP over SSH... [MacMinute] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:49:36 AM    comment []

Apple updates PowerBooks and iBooks Following up on five major product announcements at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas on Sunday, Apple Computer Inc. on Monday announced upgrades to its entire line of portable computing products. Apple's pro PowerBook models have been bumped to a top speed of 1.5GHz, while the consumer iBook now reaches speeds of 1.2GHz. [MacCentral] [Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "postCosmos" hasn't been defined.] 7:48:46 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 Paul W. Swansen.