News for Friday, 10 September 2004

Several users can not connect via FTP anymore after installing the last security update. While waiting for a fix, there is a mean to recover its FTP connection capabilities thanks to Apple Discussion NewsGroups (thanks Philippe):
- download from one of the following mirror site the file : ftpd.sit.
Pour Mac OS X 10.2.8 : http://macadam.dyndns.org/downloadable/1028
Pour Mac OS X 10.3.5 : http://macadam.dyndns.org/downloadable/1035
- Uncompress it.
- Once login as root, look for the invisible element ftpd which is located into the invisible folder usr/libexec.
- rename it and place the new downloaded one in this folder.

If the FTP does not work, via the Terminal execute the following commands:
sudo chown root /usr/libexec/ftpd
sudo chmod 555 /usr/libexec/ftpd
That's it.

there are still some iPod 3G (non click wheel) to be sold on Apple Store (SpecialDeal).
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/
20 GB model is costing 289 Euros whereas 40 BG model is available for 355 Euros.
Of course those models include an wired remote, carrying case with belt clip and an iPod dock!

It is now official that apple is proposing in addition to the 3 iMacG5 models, an additional one designed for education market. In order to decrease the price even lower than the iMacG5 entry level, some technical compromises have been done:
- no optical disk
- no modem
- the graphic card is a GeForce 4Mx 32 Mo instead of a FX5200 Ultra 64 Mo
- instead of a 80GB SATA HD, there is a 40 GB ATA HD (5400 rpm)
So far to our knowledge, this model is not available in Europe.
[Update] The public price for the iMacG5 Education is 1296 Euros (all tax included, so 19.6% off for tax free price). It is only 102 Euro cheaper than the iMacG5 low-end model...

Several readers have reported incompatibility problem between Radeon 9800 MSE (ADC output) and 17,4" Formac TFT display. this problem is not affecting any other Formac TFT displays.
More in our forum (in French):
http://forum.macbidouille.com

Thomas would like to share his recent experience.

...After "iPod your BMW", introducing "BMW my iPod" ! Yesterday, while riding on my bike, my iPod fell off my pocket onto the road. A BMW was following me, I heard bone cracks, that was weird. Well, now my iPod has been screwed by a BMW ! talking about doing things backwards...

Even though the iPod isn't functionning any longer, physically it seems to be quite a tough little dude.

A reader from XLR8yourmac managed to successfully use a SATA/PATA adapter in his G5 Dual 2.5 GHz. This interface makes it possible to use an ATA hard drive in a G5. The Seriller L2 from Asus works as advertised, even after waking up the computer from sleep. Though you need a spare Molex connector to power the drive.
If you really intend to put an ATA (IDE) drive in your G5, we would like to direct you to a (in our opinion) better solution, proposed by Jefftrep, which was featured here about a year ago:
http://www.hardmac.com/niouzcontenu.php?date=2003-10-10#758

By replacing the IDE connector of the optical drive by a double one, it is possible to hook up and install an ATA drive above it.

Source : Clubic (in French)

Acer will soon introduce the first laptop using a PCI Express based video card. The chip will be a Radeon X600 Mobility. This PC will also feature a P4 3GHz and a FSB of 800 MHz.
If you wonder why Apple hasn't integrated the equivalent in a Mac laptop, just know that this PC laptop weighs a healthy 4.5Kg. Would you buy such a heavy Powerbook ?