News for Saturday, 6 November 2004

One of our readers sent us the following message:

On a forum in German-speaking Switzerland (http://www.macprime.ch), I found a very concerning news about the possible launch of iTMS in our country. Here is the text:
Ich weiss von einer verlässlichen Quelle, dass Apple sämtliche Pläne für europäische Stores ausserhalb der Eurozone vor einigen Wochen auf Eis gelegt hat (tatsächlich lief die Planung eines europaweiten Ladens bis dahin noch - allerdings hat das Finance Department den Stecker gezogen, nachdem klar wurde, dass durch die Währungsdifferenz die eh schon knappen Margen pro Song komplett weggeschmolzen wären). Es ist weder kurz- noch mittelfristig geplant, den Store auf die Schweiz oder andere Nicht-Eurozonen
Länder innerhalb Europas auszudehnen und die Margenverhandlungen mit der IFPI wurden ergebnislos abgebrochen.
To summarize, this person says she knows someone in Apple Switzerland who certified that "all expansion plans outside the Eurozone are frozen yet", partly because of currency rates fluctuations that would shrink margins to zero. Even more preoccupying, negociations about those margins didn't succeed.
I'm afraid the news is right, though I really hope I'm wrong.

We also hope for our Swiss readers and from other European countries that the situation will evolve positively.

Two readers of XLR8yourmac had a big problem after plugging iMac G5 in a MacAlly Firewire & USB Hub... In both cases, the hub litteraly burnt down after a short while!
This reminds us of what happened with Powermac G5.
It seems that, like on G5, the tension of the FireWire subsystem on the iMac is higher than the one in use with older machines. Regulators of certain hubs obviously didn't appreciate that difference...

Apple proposes a software update for DVD Studio Pro, implementing an improved compatibility of this soft with double layer burners.
Keep confident, we'll get it some days... Just unlock the 108AA, Mr. Apple!

Competition among the manufacturers of DVD burners take now place on the laptop battlefield. Faster than expected, the manufacturers are switching their production to 8x products, since the production costs are slightly the same as for 4x burners.
At this pace, it's reasonable to forecast that combos should disappear in a near future, when reaching minimum prices under which it doesn't make sense any more to build such devices.

Macfixit reports that several people had troubles with the lower memory slot in their Alubook G4. It is said to break down "just like that": the RAM module inserted in it is not recognized anymore.
However, it's too early to have a precise idea of the extent of this problem. If you have anything to report regarding that issue, please send feedback.

MacOS X.3.6 is now available for download via SU and on Apple's website. As for the previous update, you'll have the choice of using :
- The delta when upgrading from MacOS X.3.5
- The combo that can update any MacOS X.3.x install
This update covers :

- network volumes are now available in the Finder sidebar and Desktop for convenient access
- improved file sharing and directory services for Mac (AFP), UNIX (NFS) PC (SMB/CIFS), PPTP, and wireless networks
- improved support for NTFS formatted volumes
- improved reliability of user logins, mounting of home directories in a networked environment, and launch of network applications
- improved PostScript and USB printing
- improved font management
- improved disc burning and recording functionality
- improved Bluetooth compatibility for Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse and Bluetooth phones.
- iPods connected via USB 2.0 are now recognized by iTunes and iSync
- improved Open GL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
- updated Address Book, Calculator, Disk Utility, DVD Player, Image Capture, Mail, Safari, Stickies, and QuickTime applications
- improved compatibility for third party applications
- additional support for FireWire and USB devices
- FileVault, FireWire 800 and WebDAV improvements from Update 10.3.1
- previous standalone security updates and Bluetooth Update 1.5.1