News for Thursday, 19 August 2004

Following a minor defect (potential overheating) detected in some batteries used in its 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptop computers, sold between January and August 2004, Apple has launched an exchange-program.
The recalled batteries have the Model NumberA1045 with one of the following serial numbers:

• HQ404
• HQ405
• HQ406
• HQ407
• HQ408

No other PowerBook or iBook batteries are concerned by the recall program. More info here.
Thanks to cram for the info and the others.. :)

Thanks a lot to all of you who informed us. Loïc summarizes the news:

A word to tell you that the Team MacBidouille just gained one place in the RC5-72 top ranking. We're now 6th. I think it will be the last one considering the difference with the 5th team, but still, it's a pleasant news.

Congratulation to the whole team for the score! Feel free to join them, it's totally free to participate!
[Trans.: If interested, just have a look on the link, in the right-hand column of the webpage =) ]

A cable-based Internet provider is launching an ADSL connection which is so far the fastest we have seen on the consumer market. Numéricâble is proposing an ADSL connection with 8Mb/s download and 512 kb/s upload. The price is 59.90€/month. We will have to wait for ADSL2+ format before we can experienced such data flow rate via standard telephone line. With 512kb/s upload, I guess a lot of iChat AV users might be interested. Numéricâble homepage
[service only available in France so far]

Duke is making an interesting statement:

We [Mac users] have sometimes lost quite some part of our critical spirit regarding Apple's computer price: for the coming school start in September, there is an increase of aggressive offers...design of your computer is not everything, what is inside is also important and especially the ratio equipment/price... among current offers

This computer is available from an online shop. Of course you can note install MacOSX on it, but for a family which would like to get equipped without the bright advice of a Mac user how can you explain that it is MacOSX, the OS, which might make the difference between a PC and a Mac...
[Translator notes: apparently the computer is sold without any OS, if marketing specs are present (big HD, DDR, USB2, P4,...) in details, this computer will definitely not attract a average PC user...since it is an integrated graphic solution-based computer, no real graphic card, nothing is mentioned regarding FSB for the P4 2.8GHz...but sure for surfing internet, and doing some gaming for kids, and banking/organization for parents...it can be considers as perfect...
Let's hope that the available specs/price for the future iMacG5 are incomplete]

Hello, At work, one of my colleague has one of the latest Sagem handy (myC-3b). You have a GUI which drives you through different parameters and settings (sounds, SMS, music, ring, ...), as usual...but when it comes to "ambiance" parameter, the displayed symbol corresponding is nothing but an iMacG4!! Apple logo has been replaced by a small green square...I do not really understand it since this parameter has nothing to do with handy-computer communication settings...maybe only visual aspect..

One of the most respected and famous French newspaper is making is front page with an iMacG4 to comment on Google entering NASDAQ.