News for Sunday, 7 September 2003

Thanks to ChuiPaKoQ for the info:

It looks like that Apple has stopped its previous ad campaign using a white background, here is an example of a commercial ad found in Macworld magazine: http://idisk.mac.com/kellykthompson/Public/iPod.gif I have found the info on macbytes.com

According to other sources, Apple should use the Apple Expo to fully launch this new campaign.
We would like to thank Macbytes and Macsurfer for referencing the US version of Macbidouille allowing a better understanding of our web site. (http://www.hardmac.com)

Polanri has already since a long time integrted his iPod in his Smart.

Just to mention to you that I have already built myself a Smart i-Move, that I am enjoying since several month; it is a really special edition with a single exemplar :o) In fact I am driving using Company-sponsored Smart car, so I am changing every 6 month, and there is not always a sound system including a CD player, or a a system with an iPod-compatible input; so I have designed and produced my solution to this problem. As you can see it on the picture, the iPod is placed in the "gloves box-drawer", exactly below the audio sound system. The iPod is inside a Styrofoam package specially fitting the little space below the sound system. As for the "true" Smart i-Move, there is also an invisible specific connectics which link the iPod to the sound system (via an iTrip). Euh....of course for the power supply I do not have any connection, but the battery life is high enough for the moment. And to finish this news, with my system, I can close the box where is located the iPod when I closing my car, so nobody can be tempted to steal it :oD

One of our source just told us that there will be one Smart i-Move at the Apple Expo Paris entrance.

You can note that there is a much better integration of the iPod with the Smart, than with the Beetle news (see previous news). In a smart, there is an invisible devoted connectics which link the iPod to the car audio sound system, and the power supply.

As we just told you about IBM and their production, here are some news from Motorola.
Motorola still have big difficulties with the lithographic mask of the 7457 CPU, which is engineered in Crolles plant [France]. This mask's failures account for the mistakes, which cause a subsequent flaw in G4s production.
As Motorola was contractually engaged to sell 7457 CPUs on a pre-defined price, they currently lose $ 125 per valid unit built.
Last week though things got better, and success rates improve.
Motorola managed to produce 30,000 1.25 GHz certified CPUs, and 20,000 1.3 GHz ones.
Apple's subcontractors in assembling iMacs and laptops have implemented "Just In Time" (ie real time) assembly lines. Between the day Apple instructs to initiate production, and shipping of the product from the plant, there are only 4 days.
As this delivered CPUs amount is quite enough to announce and launch a product, one could expect something new in one of those lines (iMacs and/or laptops) by the beginning of next week. Though the decision wasn't definitely made yesterday (Friday), the balance was obviously favorable.
"One more thing", not necessarily linked to that news, though it doesn't necessarily needs a separate one : G5 xServes are ready to be assembled, as could have been expected. Apple just expects the release of Panther server version to do so.

If you have oredered a G5, below is a link to convince you that you have bought if not a real piece of art, a nicely polished and finished computer.
the beautiful G5 is here

We have finally finished collecting all info from all our sources concerning IBM and PPC, present and future. Hereafter is the summary of what we have good cross-references.
There will be no 65nm G5 before at least 18 month.
But production of 90nm PPC970 is very well advanced. IBM has produced prototypes using wafers defined for 90nm process. A pre-production batch gave really encouraging results. A good part the produced PPC using that process were validated @ 2.8GHz.
Just to remind you, those 90nm PPC970 should be implemented in the PM G5 rev2 early 2004, it might also include the portables and most probably the iMacs.
So, Apple should not have difficulties to push the high level PM to 2.5GHz early 2004 at planned.
It is quite nice to see that IBM is able to provide a roadmap for its processor, and to be on time and follow it. This is quite a change when compared to Motorola.

It seems CD burners have reached the final stage of their carreer.
Even if Toast 6 is compatible with a 56x speed, 52/32/52 speed seems to be the deadline they wouldn't outreach.
These products also appear to have reached the lowest price they could, from which it will not be interesting to manufacture and deliver them. A high speed burner, for a particular client, will now be found around 60 Euros and even sometimes 50.
And as DVD burners' prices keep on dropping too, the 150 Euros limit is close.
Actually it is predictable 2004 will see the end of CD burners and probably of DVD/CD-RW combos, while DVD-R will reign.

Philips developed a mini optical disk, the Blue-Ray. While it is possible with this blue laser technology to write 27 Go on a 5" wide disk, Portable Blue will enable to write 1 Go on its 1.2" diameter. The Portable Ray reader will hardly be bigger with 43x36x5 mm. It is easy to imagine the many opportunities such a media will offer, especially if a Blue Ray burner would fit in a digital camera...

We are many to wait for or to dream about a G5.
To be patient (or to get upset) Kalomir sent us pictures of his "G5 unpacking".
http://www.macbidouille.com/article.php?id=126