MacHELP

Apple has updated their iBook and Mac mini offerings.

All iBooks now offer 512M RAM standard (upgradeable to 1.5G PC2700 DDR), ATI Radeon Mobility 9550 32Mb graphics, built-in Airport Extreme and Bluetooth, and speeds of 1.33Ghz (12.1″) or 1.42Ghz (14″).

The Mac mini now offers 512M RAM standard as well, with other config options mostly unchanged except for the addition of a $699 SuperDrive model. All 1.42Ghz models now come standard with Airport Extreme and Bluetooth wireless connectivity; it remains a Built-To-Order option on the 1.25Ghz model.

Yahoo! has purchased Konfabulator, and is making it available as a free download for OS X and Windows.

Equinux has released an update to their VPN Client for Mac OS X. VPN Tracker 4.1 fully supports Mac OS X 10.4.1 and Load Balancing on Cisco VPN Concentrators.

The VPN Tracker 4.1 update is available free to all registered VPN Tracker 4.0 users.

A couple of years ago, I was a big fan of Adriaan Tijsseling’s Ecto blogging client software. Some interface changes and a required paid license (after I’d already donated quite a bit when it was freeware) soured me on it, and I switched to using MarsEdit or just posted using the WordPress web interface.

I decided to see what Ecto looked like nowdays after hearing of a recent update, and all I can say is “WOW”. Everything’s back in a single window (like I like it), the interface is great, functional, and beautiful. I’ve just paid the very reasonable $17.95 for a permanent license, and will be using it for all of my WordPress-powered sites from now on.

Technorati Tags: ecto

Apple announced their 2005 Q3 financial results today.

On revenue of $3.52 billion, profit was $320 million. This compares to $2.01 billion/$61 million in Q3 2004.

Apple released updates to their application software products today. Included are iSync 2.1, iPhoto 5.03, Final Cut Pro 5.02, DVD Studio Pro 4.01, SoundTrack Pro 1.01, and updates for Final Cut Studio.

Apple has released the Mac OS X 10.4.2 update.
According to Apple, the update includes fixes for:

* file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
* single sign-on authentication and reliable access to Active Directory servers
* autologin for managed user accounts
* AirPort and wireless access
* Core Graphics, Core Audio, Core Image, including updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
* Finder updates including finding on Kind and using Slideshow
* synchronizing your iDisk with .Mac
* installation reliability
* managing Dashboard widgets
* Address Book, Automator, iCal, iChat, Mail, Safari, and Stickies applications
* compatibility with third party applications and devices

To commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the institution of a national minimum wage (33 cents, on July 12th, 1933), Radical Breeze is reducing the price of all their software offerings by 50% until midnight July 14th. DiscBlaze, normally $29.95, is now only $14.97. A bundle of every Radical Breeze application is now only $34.97.