News for Tuesday, 30 August 2005

One thing is clear, Apple can really attract news networks by simply sending away invitation to a Special Event; and immediately the web is boiling about amazing new products, rumors, and so on.
Competitors are probably upset of seeing so much effects generated by such a cheap PR while they might need millions of dollars communication campaign to reach such attention.
Regarding, the sentence, one should notice that it is the past : "changed" and not "change"; so this special event does not describe a future product, but it will be related to the revolution initiated by the launch of the iPod.
But this new product will be available for a large number of customers; in addition it might not be only Mac-related since such announcement will be made earlier than the AppleExpo (only 3 weeks away).
so what to expect:
- a brand new flash-memory-based iPod (possible with the recent rumors regarding Apple-Samsung deal)
- a video iPod associated with iTunes Video Store.
- iPhone (but if it is the only product release during the event it will be a bit disappointing)
- A new multimedia product to compete with the poorly performing Windows Media Center.
We would love that last proposal to be true, since the market for such HD-based product is exploding. Apple has everything in its hands to gain immediately a large percentage of this market:
- G' or even intel processors
- iApps
- a well known experience to deliver a fully integrated product (obtained from the Mac mini development)
One week to go for the answer.

To celebrate its 10-year online anniversary, Opera Community is proposing Opera licenses for free.
But, this offer is valid only for 24-hours. The license number will be send to you via email.
http://my.opera.com/community/party/reg.dml

Apple is proposing a new firmware dedicated to Xserve RAID. But the quite usual, Apple has contacted all customers to inform them about it.

Dear Xserve RAID customer,
Your qctivity relies on Apple's product performance and reliability. That's the reason why it is required to keep your equipments updated with the latest Apple's software and firmwares.
By this mail, we would like to inform you that a new version of Admin RAID and dedicated firmwares are available for RAID controllers. You can download RAID Admin 1.3.3 and firmwares version 1.3.2/1.26 from the following link (in english) :
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/xserveraidadmintools133.html
Keep in mind that the update process will require the Xserve RAID to go off-line for less than 15 minutes. do not try to install this update while the RAID system is either initializing, rebuilding, checking up and/or repairing extension or rights. Wait till the end of such processes.

Then a perfect step by step protocol is provided to perform this firmware update. In addition Apple provides internet and phone support.
so either Apple has decided to increase relationship with its Pro-Customers, either it is really important to perform this update...

Creative, as every competitors from Apple on this market suffer of the supremacy of the iPod.
The firme announced they got a US patent defining "a means to select one or many music files on a digital player via a succession of screens organized hierarchically".
As could be expected, they then blamed the iPod for doing the same.
A good bet would be to suppose it won't be long until a judiciary action is taken.
One could have expected a company by the name of "Creative" would use other ways to get market shares.

A new firmware is available for the Pioneer burner DVR 109.
This version 1.58 improves burning capacities for DVD-R DL (such media are not available on the market yet) and for +R media.
http://wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/dev00001r_e.html#firmware1
We have also generated an archive (including firmware and its kernel) in order to be able to use it with DVRflash:
DVRA09_FW158.sit

According ATI Power, ATI could release a R520-based graphic card in AGP format too, not only PCI Express. For such a purpose, they might use their Rialto bridge ensuring hardware conversion PCIe <-->AGP.
If this is true, it would be a good news for us, we could enjoy new generation graphic cards while waiting for Apple to finally move to PCI Express.
Thewebsite HKEPC is publishing a confidential screenshot describing ATI GPU roadmap, and indeed R520-based graphic cards are apparently planned in AGP format without Rialto bridge.

Thanks to Sergeï and Ivan for this trick.

Advantages of a carbon-based enclosure to protect your notebook:
1-light,
2-fitting the size of your notebook
3-high mechanical resistance,
4-high tech/urban design.
Manufacturing steps:
1-prepare a mould made of carton board with the same size as your notebook slightly larger)

2-cover the mould with a light and flexible foam (such as the foam-based sleeping set used for camping).

3-Then, apply the epoxy-based resin on the mould, then wrap it (3 times) with the carbon fiber while ensuring that the carbon mesh is getting well socked by the resin. For the corner parts, try to perform a nice wrapping since it will be the most exposed part to damages. You can also reinforce those parts by adding patches of carbon fiber + epoxy resin (warning, do not forget to protect yourself with gloves, lab coat, glasses, etc...)

4-lets the resin gets hard.
5-remove the mould.
6-with a small pouncing machine remove all carbon fibers free of resin.

7-That's it, your protection enclosure will prevent damage to your notebook even serious one such as shocks and crushing. To protect your notebook from dust, one can place it into a plastic bag.
If a manufacturer was willing to bring commercial-style to such enclosure, one could expect a perfect good-looking protection for our notebook. Come on apple, let's try it!! after the socks for iPod the carbon fiber protection for your PB and iBook.