Month of May , 2005

According to AppleInsider, Apple plans to release a firmware update for the iPod this month, bringing several new features.

Apple has just posted through the Software Update utility, an update for QuickTime to version 7.0.1. The update weights 26.6MB. Here are the changes:

According to macnews.net.tc, Apple has seeded a Mac OS X 10.4.2 update build, numbered 8C21, to developers.

According to Digitimes, Samsung Electronics and Toshiba are planning to ramp up their production of 8Gbit flash memory modules so as to supply Apple.

Digitimes claims that Apple will use 2GB and 4GB memory modules for its next generaton iPod shuffles, to double the capacity of its entry-level digital music players.

However, we have to note that Digitimes hasn't been very accurate in its past predictions.

Apple has just made available Pages Update 1.0. and Keynote Update 2.0.2n through its Software Update utility .

Here are te changes on this updates, according to Apple:

Pages Update (1.0.2) :
Pages 1.0.2 addresses issues with page navigation and organization.

Keynote Update (2.0.2):
Keynote 2.0.2 corrects a security issue. For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

The two updates weight respectively 28.7MB and 21.9MB.

According to IfoAppleStore, Apple plans to open retail stores in South Africa before the end of the year. Three Apple owned retail stores will open in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria.

There are also unconfirmed reports that an Apple store in Paris is planned in 2007. According to the french Mac-centric site MacPlus, a visitor who went to the Regent Street, UK, Apple Store on Tuesday saw Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive. After congratulating Steve for the UK store, he asked him when Apple plans to open its store in Paris. Jobs then answered that it’s coming in 2007.

This story could have broken a bit earlier but it didn't as few sites have reported one of the most important part of the interview of Feral's president David Stephen made by MacGamer.

Stephen actually announces the port of Colin McRae Rally 2005 on Mac when asked what we can "expect to see in the next six months":

"We will be making several significant announcements shortly. The Commandos Battle Pack will be shipping in early May- and that's keeping us plenty busy for now. We also have a very exciting new racing title called Colin McRae Rally 2005, a hugely influential rally car driving game which is a long-time favourite on the PC. While rally driving is a sport that's probably better known in Europe and Asia than it is in North America, the series has received great critical reception from American reviewers and we believe that it will set a new standard for driving games on the Mac."

MacDailyNews notes that Apple has started advertising Tiger on various Magazines.

The site provides a picture of a two-page advertisement published on the Time Magazine.

MacRumors readers also noted that Fortune, The Economist, The New Yorker, Newsweek, and BusinessWeek also feature these ads.

Rumours claiming that Apple will switch to Intel chips for the Mac have surfaced almost every year, especially since Apple launched Mac OS X, and it has happened once again. Reuters reports that Apple is in talks with Intel for a deal to use Intel processors in their Macs.

We remain sceptical about these rumours, although this could possibly mean faster and cheaper CPUs for Macs, it would be a really difficult transition for Apple.

We also have to consider that the PowerPC platform has become more attractive since companies like Microsoft and Nintento announced their plans to use it in their next-generation consoles.

Many reports from the D: All Things Digital conférence that took place last Saturday.., indicate that Steve Jobs has performed a demo of iTunes 4.9 which includes a podcasting feature and has provided some comments on the fact iTunes now provides video content.

Podcasting is a phenomen that started more than one year ago. It consists of web sites that provide audio content recorded in a format that the iPod can play. Currently this feature is supported by RSS readers such as NetNewsWire.

Steve Jobs was also asked to comment about the future video features of iTunes and the possibility to sell movies in the future. Jobs said that Apple has added music videos to iTunes so as to allow the record labels to promote their content. As for selling movies, he e-itirated his last years comments, that it would be difficult to make a device that will provide good experience on watching movies.

On Friday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Apple announced a recall of 128 000 laptop batteries.

Models that are affected by this problem are :

12-inch iBook G4: A1061, HQ441 through HQ507
12-inch PowerBook G4: A1079, 3X446 through 3X510
15-inch PowerBook G4: A1078, 3X446 through 3X509

The recall indicates that certain batteries may overheat or cause fire. If your battery is concerned by the recall, immediately sent a replacement request through

Apple has made available Mac OS X 10.4.1 Server update through the Software Update utility and its support web site.

Here is the description provided by Apple :

The 10.4.1 Server Update delivers overall improved reliability for Mac OS X Server v10.4 and is recommended for all systems.

It includes improvements for:

-file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
-Software Update Server notifications and synchronization of package downloads
-displaying published Weblog Server content after a reboot
-binding to LDAP and Active Directory during system startup
-remote management using the Server Admin application

On Monday, the first copies of Final Cut Pro Studio shipped. Final Cut Pro Studio was announced during NAB 2005 and includes Final Cut Pro 5, Motion 2, Soundtrack Pro and DVD Studio 4.

ThinkSecret reports some details on the next version of FileMaker Pro 8. According to the site, this major release will sport improved user interface and the ability to export layouts in PDF and Excel formats, among others. ThinkSecret also notes that FileMaker Developer will be renamed FileMaker Pro Advanced.

The famous PC-centric site, AnandTech, provides some pictures of Microsoft's booth at the E3 show.

Apple announced the grand opening of its first retail store in Canada, located 3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario. The new retail store will open its doors on Saturday May the 21st.

On November, MacosXrumors was the first to reveal publicly that Apple was planning to open a store in Toronto, as anonymous sources had provided a mail that was sent to resellers in Canada.

Apple has just released Mac OS X 10.4.1 update through the Software Update utility and its support web site. Yesterday, sources told macosXrumors the software update was imminent.

The update weights 37.7MB and provides the following improvements :

The 10.4.1 Update delivers overall improved reliability for Mac OS X v10.4 and is recommended for all users. It includes improvements for:

file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services

MacRumors claims to have details about future ads promoting the Mac platform. According to the site, the ads feature users who switched from PC to Mac, like with the Switch ad campaign. However, this time its PC users who first bought iPod then switched to Mac.

AppleInsider speculates on the forthcoming release of an Airport Express remote control. The site points out many clues that indicate that such a product could be released. One of them was discovered by Hypnoticnet and is an dialog box that appeared with some users who launched iTunes 4.8 for the first time while their FireWall was activated.

According, to a MacBidouille reader, a well known French retailer, Fnac, sells boxes labelled “Upgrade Airport+Bluetooth Mac Mini� in its stores.

The reader purchased the kit for 100€, without any problem. The kit contains the Bluetooth module, Airport Extreme card as well as two antennas with their screws.

However, the reader noted that there is a sticker on the box indicating: "for AppleCare Service Providers". It is possible that Fnac has made thi

According to several anonymous sources, Apple is preparing to launch Mac OS X 10.4.1 Client and Server update in the coming days as seeds of new builds are accelerating.

Apple has seeded build 8B15 of Mac OS X Client to developers on Wednesday, as reports ThinkSecret, with only one .Mac related known bug remaining. Mac OS X Server build 8B13 has been seeded on Friday.

Mac OS X 10.4.1 Client and Server are both expected to be released most probably during the next ten days.

According to AppleInsider, TigerDirect has lost its preliminary injunction against Apple. TigerDirect had sued Apple over the use of "Tiger" trademark on late April.

Apple has released another new iPod ad, entitled "Pod-lock". The new ad features Daft Punk's "Technologic" song, along with the usual dancing silhouettes. Last week, Apple released another iPod ad featuring “Feel Good Inc.� by Gorillaz.

Apple released three updates today through the Software Update utility and its support web site download section. Here are the descriptions provided by Apple for each update :

Apple Intermediate Codec 1.0.1 :
Delivers improved compatibility and reliability for Final Cut Express HD and iLife '05 uses. It is recommended for all users of Apple Intermediate Codec 1.0 who are using QuickTime 7.0.

DVD Player 4.6 :

Yahoo announced today its own, subscription based, online music store. Subscriptions are starting at $4.99/mo for a one year subscription or $6.99 on a month-to-month basis. The subscription gives access to a library of more than one million songs.

Yahoo's subscription service is based on Microsoft's Janus technology, allowing subscribers of the music store to transfer their music on a plethora of MP3 players, but not the iPod, which does not support Microsoft's DRM technology.

Apple's shares (AAPL) plummeted -7% after the announcement, but recovered to 2.22% lower before the markets closed. Other online music market players closed significally lower. Napster (NAPS) fell 32% to $4.32 while Real Networks (RNWK) fell more than 21% to $5.79. Yahoo's shares (YHOO) closed 2.41% up to $34.88.

MacObserver reported earlier this week that Apple has been granted a patent at the USPTO, that relates what seems to be a sort of Tablet Mac. The site provides a full analysis of the patent filing.

According to several mac-centric web sites as well as some anonymous sources. Mac OS X 10.4 update builds are continuing to be seeded to developers. The latest buid, numbered 8B13, fixes several bugs and seems to be reaching the final phase of its development. The release of Tiger's first minor update is expected to happen before the end of the month.

The iTunes Music Store is now selling videos in certain countries. The videos can only be purchased with an album and cost an extra $0.99.

For example Gorillaz' "Feel Good Inc." single now includes some short videos when purchased in the USA or Canada. The videos play directly on iTunes. Yesterday, Apple has activated a video playback feature on version 4.8 of iTunes.

Other artists such as Dave Matthews Band or Morcheeba have also videos included in their latest albums.

The resolution of the videos is either 480x360 pixels or 480x272 pixels (wide) and weight around 30MB. The videos are .mp4 files and have 16Bits, 44Khz audio quality.

As expected, Apple has launched its iTunes Music Store in four new countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Currently, the new Music Stores do not offer free songs though. Actually there are still some countries un Europe in which this feature isn't offered at the moment.

The launch of the iTunes Music Store in these countries was rumoured on the web since last month. Yesterday, a

Imminent opening of iTunes Music Stores in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Swidzerland is now quite obvious as readers have hinted something interesting itunes.com page.

On the bottom of the page, there is a list of the countries in which iTunes purchases are available and that list is a bit longer than expected :

"iTunes is licensed for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials or materials the user is legally permitted to reproduce. Purchases from the iTunes Music Store are available only in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. #1 music download store according to Nielsen SoundScan. See Terms of Sale."

Apple has released iTunes 4.8 through its web site. The new version officially only brings some enhancements related to iPod syncing with calendar and contacts, as mentions Apple on the "Read Before You Install iTunes.app" file that is present in the install image :

"iTunes 4.8 includes new Music Store features and support for transferring contacts and calendars from your computer to your iPod (requires Mac OS X version 10.4 on your computer)."

However, readers reported, as we could verify by ourselves, that iTunes is now capable of playing QuickTime video content that you may drag on a playlist.

Here's a recap of Apple news since we stopped publishing last Thursday :

On Thursday, AppleInsider reported that Apple has seeded Mac OS X 10.4.1 to developers. The update fixes around 20 bugs mainly related to software and hardware compatibility, according to the site.

The same day, Apple released Bonjour for Windows as a free download on its web site. Bonjour for Windows will allow Windows 2000 or Windows XP users to use Bonjour enabled devices such as Macs or printers without having to configure them.

MacosXrumors is taking a short break, we’ll resume the publication by early next week.

Apple has released a Security Update labelled "2005-005", through the Software Update utility and through its support web site.

Here is the description provided by Apple:

Security Update 2005-005 delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users. This update includes the following components:

Apache
AppKit
AppleScript
Bluetooth
Finder
Foundation
Help Viewer
lukemftpd
sudo
Terminal
VPN
X11

This update works only on Mac OS X Panther. More details c

Today, Apple has started shipping its new operating system, Mac OS X Tiger with all of its Macs.

Tiger was only shipping with recently updated PowerMacs but is now also shipping its new operating system with the other lines of computers : iMacs, eMacs, Mac minis, Powerbooks and iBooks.

It still remains unknown if Apple's Xserve are now shipping with Mac OS X Tiger Server or not. As no mention of Apple's new operating system can be found on Apple store's Xserve section, it's likely that Apple still ships its servers with Mac OS X Panther Server though.

Along with the release of new iMacs and eMacs, Apple has dropped its pricing on its BTO RAM upgrades.

For the Mac mini, the upgrade to 512MB now costs $50 (from $75) while the upgrade to 1GB now costs $225 (from $325) while for the eMac, the upgrade to 1GB is now $175.

For the iMac the upgrade to 1GB with two modules is $125, the upgrade to 1GB with one module is $175 and the upgrade to 2GB is $475.

Along with the release of the new iMac, Apple as also slightly updated its eMac line.

eMac 17" 1.42Ghz
256MB of DDR SDRAM
80GB Hard-Drive
Combo drive

eMac 17" 1.42Ghz
512MB of DDR SDRAM
160GB Hard-Drive
Double Layer 8x Superdrive

Both configurations come with an ATI Radeon 9600 graphic chip with 64MB of video RAM and ship with Tiger.

Pricing for the new eMacs is respectively, $799, and $999. In Europe, pricing is 799€, and 998.99€ (including VAT).

Apple has just released a speed-bumped line of iMacs. The new iMacs sport 512MB of standard RAM, increased storage, improved graphic chips and built-in wireless features.

Here are the three new configurations available on the Apple store:

iMac 17" 1.8Ghz
160GB Hard-Drive
Combo drive

iMac 17" 2Ghz
160GB Hard-Drive
Double Layer 8x Superdrive

iMac 20" 2Ghz
250GB Hard-Drive
Double Layer 8x Superdrive

All of the configurations come with 512MB of RAM, a ATI Radeon 9600 graphic chip with 128MB of video RAM, built-in modem, built-in Bluetooth 2.0 and built-in Airport Extreme. All of the new iMacs now ship with Tiger.

Apple has closed its online stores (US, DE, FR, IT, UK...), as it is usually the case before a new product release.

The release of new iMacs and eMacs is the most consistent expectation for this week. It is also possible that the Mac mini gets a minor update.

Apple has officially announced today that Steve Jobs wil kick off the WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference), which takes place from June the 6th to June the 10th, 2005. Apple's CEO has been performing keynotes for the event's launch since his return to Apple. Apple usually uses this occasion to present its operating system's future and to announce new products.

Apple has confirmed its deal with Cobb County School through an official press release. The first 17 000 iBooks will be deployed to Cobb County's teachers and students this fall, but two new phases of the deal, which are still pending school board approval, may bring this number to 63 000, for deployment starting in 2006. It is the biggest computer deployment deal a computer maker has ever won, according to the press release. Late last week, Henrico schools have announced that they're switchint to DELL, after three years of strong iBook-partneship with Apple.

A couple of readers wrote us during the week-end to tell us that Apple has sent them an email to inform them that they will not get their copy of Tiger in time.

In this email, Apple presents its apologizes to the customers and promises them that their copy of Tiger will arrive soon.

One of the readers that wrote us, told that he called Apple and obtained a free copy of iLife while he now expects to receive his copy of Tiger during this week.