Apple Intros New iMacs, 12-core Mac Pro, Magic Trackpad, 27" Cinema Display, and Safari 5, and More

MacBook, PowerBook, iBook, and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV news is covered in The iNews Review.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

News & Opinion

• Apple Updates iMac Line
• Apple Unveils New Mac Pro with Up to 12 Processing Cores
• Apple Introduces New Multi-Touch Magic Trackpad
• Apple Unveils New 27" LED Cinema Display
• Apple Updates Safari 5: Users Can Add New Features Through Extensions
• What's Useful in the Safari Extensions Gallery
• Apple's Magic Trackpad: End of the Mouse Era
• Apple's Magic Trackpad: Niche Product or the Next Big Thing?
• The Mouse Is Dead. Can We Move On?
• Mouse vs. Magic Trackpad
• No Operating System Is Replaceable
• Could Runaway iPad Adoption Be Driving Mac Sales?
• Apple Discontinues 24" & 30" Cinema Displays in Favor of 27" Model
• Nasty Surprise Inside a Portable Drive
• Shipping Your OWC Order to Canada? OWC Now Includes UPS and FedEx 'Brokerage Fees' in Shipping Costs
• Death of Film: Last Roll of Kodachrome Processed

Apple Updates

• Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update

Reviews

• 21.5" 3.06 GHz Core i3 iMac 'an Impressive Performance Improvement'
• 27" Mid 2010 iMac: Don't Bring Your Own SSD
• Mid 2010 Mac mini: Price the Only Obstacle

Products & Services

• Apple Introduces NiMH Battery Charger
• Return of the Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse
• ColorWare Colorizes New Mac mini
• OWC Multi-Mount for Adding 2.5" Drives to 3.5" Bays and 3.5" Drives to 5.25" Bays
• OWC Announces iMac (Mid 2010) Memory Upgrades to 16 GB
• Memory for New iMacs from Trans International
• Multi-View Computer Reading Glasses Announces New Styles Available Online

Software

• Fraise Free Text Editor for Snow Leopard
• MailForge Eudora-Like Email Client Updated
• Get AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac Utility for Free - Special, Limited Time Offer

Desktop Mac Deals

News & Opinion

Apple Updates iMac Line

PR: July 27, 2010 - Apple today updated its all-in-one iMac line, widely praised as the world's best desktop computers, with the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors and powerful new graphics. Starting at $1,199, the new iMac line is the fastest ever with dual-core processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz, quad-core speeds up to 2.93 GHz and discrete graphics including the powerful ATI Radeon HD 5750. The new Magic Trackpad, with a smooth glass and aluminum design, gives iMac users the same intuitive Multi-Touch™ gestures that Mac notebook customers have come to love and is available separately for $69.

The 2010 iMacs look just like the 2009 ones. All changes are under the hood.

"We took the world's best all-in-one and made it even better," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With the latest processors, high-performance graphics and signature aluminum and glass design, customers are going to love the latest iMac."

Dual-core Intel Core i3 and Core i5, and quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 processors set a new benchmark for iMac performance. The processors feature an integrated memory controller to access the system memory directly, allowing the new iMac to take full advantage of its faster 1333 MHz memory. New discrete ATI Radeon HD processors deliver incredibly smooth, crisp graphics for the most demanding 3D games, creative software and technical applications. iMac displays feature IPS technology to deliver a brilliant image across a wide 178 degree viewing angle. The SD card slot on the iMac now supports the SDXC format to handle the latest high-capacity storage cards. Customers of the 27" iMac have the option to order a 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) as a primary or secondary drive. The iMac SSD supports up to 215 MB/s data transfer rates for faster startup and application launch times.

Every iMac comes with Apple's innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order the new Magic Trackpad (more below) as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad enables users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click.

Continuing Apple's commitment to the environment, Apple's desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The iMac meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.¹ iMac features LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iMac uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants, uses highly recyclable materials and features material-efficient system and packaging designs. A new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.

Every Mac also comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Pricing & Availability

The new iMac line is shipping now and available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Specs only include changes from the previously listed model.

The new 21.5" 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199, includes:

• 21.5" 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display
• 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4 MB shared L3 cache
• 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16 GB
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics with 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM
• 500 GB SATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm
• slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold separately)
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet
• four USB 2.0 ports
• one SDXC SD card slot
• one FireWire 800 port
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.
• Configure-to-order options include up to 8 GB of RAM.

The new 21.5" 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499, includes:

• 21.5" 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display
• 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4 MB shared L3 cache
• ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512 MB GDDR3
• 1 TB SATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm
• Configure-to-order options include a faster 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2 TB hard drive and up to 8 GB of RAM.

The new 27" 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699, includes:

• 27" 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display
• Configure-to-order options include a 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2 TB hard drive, 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16 GB of RAM.

The new 27" 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999, includes:

• 27" 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display
• 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8 MB shared L3 cache
• ATI Radeon HD 5750 discrete graphics with 1 GB GDDR5
• Configure-to-order options include a 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor, a 2 TB hard drive, 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16 GB of RAM.

Additional accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wired Apple Keyboard, wired Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30" DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and preinstalled copies of iWork, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3.

*EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Link: iMac

Apple Unveils New Mac Pro with Up to 12 Processing Cores

PR: July 27, 2010 - Apple today unveiled a new Mac Pro line with up to 12 processing cores and up to 50% greater performance than the previous generation.* Featuring the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics, and the option for up to four 512 GB solid state drives (SSD), the new Mac Pro continues to deliver amazing performance and expandability for the most demanding consumers and professionals.

"The new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac we've ever made," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With up to 12 cores, the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50%, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want."

At the heart of the new Mac Pro's performance are next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. These multicore processors use a single die design so each core can share up to 12 MB L3 cache to improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. These systems feature an integrated memory controller for faster memory bandwidth and reduced memory latency; Turbo Boost to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz; and HyperThreading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1 GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1 GB of memory.

For the first time, Mac Pro customers have the option to order a 512 GB SSD for the ultimate in reliability and lightning fast performance. With the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the system's internal drive bays, the new Mac Pro can provide ultra high-speed disk bandwidth and random disk performance, two times faster than the average performance of a standard disk drive.² Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows customers to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Every Mac Pro comes with Apple's innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order Apple's new Magic Trackpad as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch™ gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad allows users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. Magic Trackpad is available separately for $69.

Continuing Apple's commitment to the environment, Apple's desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The Mac Pro meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.³ The Mac Pro enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and the interior is designed to be more material-efficient. The Mac Pro uses PVC-free internal cables and components and contains no brominated flame retardants. The new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available as an option for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.

Every Mac also comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Optional Apple professional applications include Aperture, Final Cut Express, Final Cut Studio, Logic Express, and Logic Studio.

Pricing & Availability

The new Mac Pro will be available in August through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new quad-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $2,499, includes:

• one 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3530 processor with 8 MB of fully shared L3 cache
• 3 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 16 GB
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory
• two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately)
• 1 TB SATA 3 Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm
• 18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• four PCI Express 2.0 slots
• five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
• Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include:

• one 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3565 processor
• one 3.33 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon W3680 processor
• up to 16 GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory
• two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory
• one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory
• up to four 512 GB solid state drives (SSD) or up to four 1 TB or 2 TB SATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm
• Mac Pro RAID card
• dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and
• up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.

The new 8-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $3,499, includes (only differences from the 4-core model are listed here):

• two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5620 processors with 12 MB of fully shared L3 cache per processor
• 6 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 32 GB
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory

Configure-to-order options include:

• two 2.66 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5650 processors (12-cores)
• two 2.93 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5670 processors (12-cores)
• up to 32 GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory
• two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory
• one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory
• up to four 512 GB solid state drives (SSD) or up to four 1 TB or 2 TB SATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm
• Mac Pro RAID card
• dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and
• up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.

Accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wireless Apple Keyboard, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30" DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, the AppleCare Protection Plan; and preinstalled copies of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server; iWork, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3.

1. Testing conducted by Apple in July 2010 using preproduction Mac Pro 12-core 2.93 GHz units and shipping Mac Pro 8-core 2.93 GHz units, all configured with 6 GB of RAM. Based on render performance of Maxwell Render 2.0.3 using Benchwell's sculpture.mxs. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac Pro.
2. Testing conducted by Apple in July 2010 using preproduction Mac Pro 12-core 2.93 GHz units configured with 6 GB of RAM, 1 TB 7200-rpm hard disk drive and 512 GB solid-state drive. Testing conducted using Iometer 2006.07.27 with a 30-second ramp-up, 5-minute run duration, 128 KB request size, 8 outstanding IOs, and 150 GB test file. Average rotational media performance calculated by creating the test file on the outer, middle and inner sectors of the drive and averaging the results from all three measurements. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of Mac Pro.
3. EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Link: Mac Pro

Apple Introduces New Multi-Touch Magic Trackpad

Apple's Magic Trackpad complements the Mac's keyboard.

PR: Why should notebooks have all the fun?

Desktop users, your time has come. The new Magic Trackpad is the first Multi-Touch™ trackpad designed to work with your Mac desktop computer.* It uses the same Multi-Touch technology you love on the MacBook Pro. And it supports a full set of gestures, giving you a whole new way to control and interact with what's on your screen. Swiping through pages online feels just like flipping through pages in a book or magazine. And inertial scrolling makes moving up and down a page more natural than ever. Magic Trackpad connects to your Mac via Bluetooth wireless technology. Use it in place of a mouse or in conjunction with one on any Mac computer - even a notebook.

The largest Multi-Touch trackpad ever.

Magic Trackpad is just like the trackpad on the MacBook Pro - but bigger. It's made with the same advanced touch-friendly and wear-resistant glass surface. But with nearly 80% more area, it's the largest Multi-Touch trackpad made by Apple. So there's even more room for you to scroll, swipe, pinch, and rotate to your fingers' content. And since the entire surface is a button that clicks, you can use it in place of a mouse.

It fits in perfectly.

Magic Trackpad features the same sculpted aluminum design as the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and side by side the two sit flush at the same angle and height. Go from typing to gesturing in one motion, or do both at the same time. How perfect is that?

Effortless wireless.

Magic Trackpad works using Bluetooth technology, so you don't have to deal with an annoying cable that dictates where you place it. Once you pair Magic Trackpad with your Bluetooth-enabled Mac, you'll enjoy a reliable, secure connection up to 33 feet away. Magic Trackpad detects periods of inactivity, and it's equipped with an on/off switch. Together these features help to conserve battery life, so you can keep gesturing for months at a time.

Apple Battery Charger

Now there's a more environmentally friendly way to go wireless. The Apple Battery Charger comes with six high-performance AA NiMH batteries. And once they're done charging, the charger automatically reduces the amount of power it needs, so you don't have to worry about wasting energy.

Get in touch with your desktop.

The entire surface of Magic Trackpad is one large button, so you can click and double-click anywhere. Magic Trackpad also supports a full set of gestures, including two-finger scrolling, pinching to zoom, rotating with your fingertips, three-finger swiping, and activating Exposé or switching between applications with four fingers.

• Click: Press down anywhere on the Multi-Touch surface to physically click or double-click. Or, with "Tap to Click" enabled in System Preferences, simply tap or double-tap the surface.
• Scroll: Brush two fingers along the Multi-Touch surface to scroll in any direction - vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
• Swipe: Using three fingers, brush left and right along the Multi-Touch surface to page forward and back.
• Rotate: With your thumb and index finger on the Multi-Touch surface, twist clockwise or counterclockwise to rotate an image.

Your trackpad, your rules.

Even though Magic Trackpad is capable of multiple gestures, you may find one or two unnecessary. Not to worry. Simply access the Magic Trackpad pane in System Preferences to enable gestures you want and disable those you don't want.

Pricing & Availability

The new Magic Trackpad is available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999. The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort.

System Requirements

• Bluetooth-enabled Mac computer
• Two AA batteries (included)
• Mac OS X Snow Leopard v10.6.4 and latest software update

* Editor's note: More precisely, the Magic Trackpad is designed to work with your Intel-based Mac running Snow Leopard. Those still using PowerPC Macs or Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard are out in the cold on this one, creating an opportunity for third-party drivers for the Magic Trackpad or third-party alternatives to it. dk

Link: Magic Trackpad

Apple Unveils New 27" LED Cinema Display

PR: July 27, 2010 - Apple today unveiled a new 27" LED Cinema Display with stunning 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60% more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. Featuring a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector, the new LED Cinema Display is an ideal companion for the MacBook family or a Mac desktop, and is available for $999.

"With built-in MagSafe charging, iSight camera, speakers, and USB ports, the LED Cinema Display is ideal for MacBook and MacBook Pro users,"said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With its massive 2560 x 1440 resolution, the new 27" LED Cinema Display is a perfect fit with our powerful new Mac Pro, and it gives iMac users an easy way to double their screen real estate."

The new, larger 27" LED Cinema Display features a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass display on an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless. The LED Cinema Display has vivid colors and exceptionally high contrast and uses a premium display technology called in-plane switching (IPS) to provide a brilliant image across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.

Designed as a companion for any Mac notebook or desktop, the 27" display includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, built-in Mini DisplayPort connectivity for video and audio input and a powered three-port USB 2.0 hub so customers can charge their iPhone or iPod even when they take their MacBook with them.

The new LED Cinema Display now includes a new ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience. Made with mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials, the LED Cinema Display meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* The new display contains no brominated flame retardants and all cables and components are PVC-free.

Pricing & Availability

The new LED Cinema Display will be available in September through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999. The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort.

*EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Link: LED Cinema Display

Apple Updates Safari 5: Users Can Add New Features Through Extensions

PR: July 28, 2010 - Apple today released Safari 5.0.1, turning on Safari Extensions and introducing the Safari Extensions Gallery. Apple introduced extensions support in Safari 5 in June so developers could begin creating extensions with HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript web standards. With Safari Extensions Gallery, users can quickly find extensions that add powerful new features to Safari, from toolbars that display live web feeds to sophisticated programs that filter web content. Safari 5.0.1 allows users to download and install extensions either from the Safari Extensions Gallery or directly from a developer's site.

"Safari 5 has been a big hit, and user response to the innovative new Safari Reader has been fantastic," said Brian Croll, Apple's vice president of OS X Product Marketing. "We're thrilled to see so many leading developers creating great extensions and think our users are going to love being able to customize Safari."

"Millions of our customers already use Amazon Wish Lists to store items they want to buy for themselves or receive as gifts," said Gianna Puerini, vice president of Worldwide Design and Community at Amazon.com. "With Safari 5, we were able to quickly build the Add to Amazon Wish List extension that lets customers add items from any website to their Amazon Wish List with the click of a button."

"We're excited to continue working closely with Apple to bring visually compelling Bing experiences to Safari," said Jeff Henshaw, general manager of Bing User Experience. "The Bing Extension for Safari brings Bing search intelligence to everyday browsing with Safari. When a user selects text in Safari, Bing instantly recognizes what they might need and pops up helpful, informative tips, from real time maps and driving directions to real time translations to direct web search results."

"Using web standard technologies and Safari's extension builder, we developed an MLB.com extension to give fans another way to consume up-to-the-moment baseball content, including live look-ins to games, right from the Safari toolbar," said Noah Garden, executive vice president, Commerce and Sponsorship at MLB.com.

"Our extension for Safari is a great way for readers to get all of the latest breaking news and all the important stories, blogs and columns they want to see," said Denise Warren, general manager, NYTimes.com at The New York Times Company. "While you browse other sites in Safari, our extension checks for updates and slides in new headlines and thumbnails, so you won't miss a thing."

"Creating our Twitter extension in Safari couldn't have been easier," said Jason Goldman, vice president of Product at Twitter. "By providing features like the ability to tweet about a page and view trending topics, we've created a simple way to deliver relevant, interesting content to people regardless of where they are on the web."

The Safari Extensions Gallery is accessible from the Safari menu or at extensions.apple.com. Users can download and install extensions from the gallery with a single click, and there's no need to restart the browser. Extensions can be automatically updated and are easily managed within Safari. Users can enable or disable individual extensions, or turn off all extensions with one click.

Safari Extensions are built with HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript web standards, and can have all the power and functionality of advanced web applications. Every Safari Extension is signed with a digital certificate from Apple to prevent tampering and to verify that updates to the extension are from the original developer. Safari Extensions are sandboxed, so they can't access information on a user's system or communicate with websites aside from those specified by the developer. For increased stability, Safari Extensions run solely in the browser.

Safari 5 also features Safari Reader, which presents single and multipage articles on the web in a new, scrollable view without distracting content or clutter. The Nitro JavaScript engine runs JavaScript up to 30% faster than Safari 4.* Built on the open source WebKit engine developed by Apple, Safari 5 includes more than a dozen powerful new HTML5 features for creating media-rich experiences, like full screen playback and closed captions for HTML5 video.

Pricing & Availability

Safari 5 is available for both Mac OS X and Windows as a free download. Safari 5 for Mac OS X requires Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 or Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.2 or later. Safari 5 for Windows requires Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista or Windows 7, a minimum 256 MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor. The Safari Extensions Gallery is available at extensions.apple.com. The Safari Developer Program is free to join at developer.apple.com/programs/safari.

*Performance will vary based on system configuration, network connection and other factors. All testing conducted by Apple in May 2010 on an iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system running Mac OS X 10.6.3, with 4 GB of RAM. JavaScript benchmark based on the SunSpider 0.9.1 JavaScript Performance test.

Link: Safari

What's Useful in the Safari Extensions Gallery

LifeHacker's Kevin Purdy says:

"Safari's Extensions Gallery has gone live, and there's quite a bit to look through and add to your browser at launch. We took a gander through the offerings and picked out some of the extensions worth noting. Here's the (updating) list.

"To use these extensions, you'll need to have Safari installed, and have it updated to the latest version. Both Macs and Windows installations have Apple's updating software you can use to grab the 5.0.1 copy, but if you've disabled Apple's Software Update on Windows, you'll need to grab a fresh copy manually...."

Link: What's Useful in the Safari Extensions Gallery

Apple's Magic Trackpad: End of the Mouse Era

TechCrunch's MG Siegler thinks that easily the most interesting new hardware Apple unveiled on Tuesday is the new Magic Trackpad, which he thinks is about "trends and the future," noting that an Apple rep observed to him that that more folks are using trackpads, because there are more notebook users than desktop users, with laptops having been Apple's best-selling computers for some time now, meaning an increasing number of users are accustomed to using their computers via trackpads, and that "people love the trackpad . . . so we wanted to bring that kind of design to our desktop users."

Siegler notes that the Magic Trackpad has 80% more surface area than trackpads used in MacBooks and contends that Apple is moving towards a place where the majority of computer interaction is done through touch gestures, but reports that Apple spokespersons he queries hedged a bit, saying that plenty of people at Apple use the Magic Trackpad alongside the Magic Mouse, with some computing operations being better with a mouse, some with a trackpad, but acknowledging that some users will likely ditch the mouse in favor of the new device.

Siegler says the Magic Trackpad is going to replace his mouse, and that he's been using his laptop more and more of late simply because he prefers the trackpad with its multitouch gestures, speculating that the mouse could eventually be relegated to status as a precision tool for professionals like designers.

Link: Apple's Magic Trackpad Signals the End of the Mouse Era

Apple's Magic Trackpad: Niche Product or the Next Big Thing?

Writing in his Technologizer blog, Harry McCracken wonders if anyone will figure out how to make the Magic Trackpad work with Windows, or if the company would consider a PC-friendly model, noting that while he rarely uses desktop computers these days and being not exactly anti-mouse, he does find that they're sometimes hostile to southpaws like him.

Will a meaningful percentage of iMac and Mac Pro owners choose one over a mouse? McCracken muses, noting that he doesn't have a clue, but is curious, and observing that while touchpads have been the dominant integrated pointing devices on laptops for a decade and a half, he knows plenty of people who still aren't fans and who travel with mice rather than being forced to use a touchpad.

Well, maybe. I'm an exclusive laptop user, albeit much of the time in desktop substitute mode, and while my unibody MacBook has a glass, Multi-Touch trackpad, I still connect a mouse whenever practical to do so and tend to use it for all but a fraction of pointing and clicking tasks. I'm perfectly comfortable with trackpads, and like them, but I still tend to prefer that mouse precision, particularly with hard-wired mice.

Link: Apple's Magic Trackpad: Niche Product or the Next Big Thing?

The Mouse Is Dead. Can We Move On?

TechCrunch's MG Siegler says:

"This morning when I wrote a post about Apple's new Magic Trackpad, I knew it would be a little controversial. After all, I basically said that it was the beginning of the end of the mouse a device that everyone reading the post probably still uses for a good chunk of their computing on a daily basis. But I didn't expect what I said to be that controversial. To the point where we have to declare the comment section to be a war zone...."

Link: The Mouse Is Dead. I Just Killed It. Now Can We Move On?

Mouse vs. Magic Trackpad

Fortune's Philip Elmer-DeWitt says that you won't take mice away from some users until you pry them from their cold dead hands, but mouse die-hards [your humble editor is one of them - cm] should take caution in recalling the withering disdain and derision resolute keyboarders poured on the newfangled pointing devices that Apple introduced to the mass market with their Lisa and the Mac a quarter-century ago. Elmer-DeWitt cites the durable John Dvorak's 1984 comment: "There is no evidence that people want to use these things."

Elmer-DeWitt notes that with the growing popularity of laptops with their trackpads and other built-in cursor controllers, mice by the millions are gathering dust, and now that Apple has launched a new wireless peripheral that provides the last great bastion of mousers - desktop computer users - with an alternative, the emotional heat with which some of them have greeted the news takes him right back to 1984.

Link: Mouse vs. Magic Trackpad

No Operating System Is Replaceable

Linux Today says:

"So many people out there just love to talk about how Linux is now a 'drop in replacement' for Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS X. This isn't the case. The sad truth is that there are no 'drop in replacements' for most software, and especially so for operating systems.

"With OS X . . . there is no alternative to iWork. If you have a few thousand files in a pages, keynote, or numbers format nothing but iWork will open them. Likewise, finding alternatives to the iLife suite is rather difficult. iTunes works with your iPhone, iPod, and iPad . . . while Linux candle music, pictures, and some movies on those devices you are out of luck for your books, contacts, apps, bookmarks, notes, and mail. You also cannot access the iTunes store on Linux. Another thing that will be difficult to match on Linux is Adobe CS . . . if you are a professional photographer, graphic artist, or website designer who had depended upon Adobe CS, I would never advise switching to Linux from OS X...."

Link: No Operating System Is Replaceable

Could Runaway iPad Adoption Be Driving Mac Sales?

InfoWorld's Woody Leonhard reports that second-quarter reports show the Mac making big gains over Windows-based PCs; and at the very least scorching iPad sales haven't hurt Leonhard notes that while many analysts predicted that the iPad would cannibalize Mac sales, so far the reverse has obtained, with iPad sales apparently having had a "halo effect" if anything -

Apple's latest quarterly financials report showing booming Mac sales of 3.47 million units between April 1 and June 30 - the most Macs sold in a financial quarter, calculated by Gartner Group at greater than 4.2% of all PC sales globally and 9.8% domestically.

Leonhard also perceives the iPad as a breakthrough spearhead for Apple into the enterprise IT environment, with the presence of more iPads in business paving the way for more Macs as well. "The third battle line has been drawn," he observes, "and this time employees aren't overly concerned about corporate guidelines: When the boss shows off her shiny new iPad, it's hard for IT folks to bluster about security and standards," so chances of a Mac is coming to a corporate desktop near you have arguably been enhanced by the iPad.

Link: Is Runaway iPad Adoption Driving Mac Sales?

Apple Discontinues 24" & 30" Cinema Displays in Favor of 27" Model

AppleInsider's Katie Marsal reports:

"Apple's new 27-inch Cinema Display will mark the end of the 24- and 30-inch models once supplies run out, leaving the company with just one standalone monitor offering...."

Link: Apple Discontinues 24, 30-inch Cinema Displays for 27-Inch Model

Nasty Surprise Inside a Portable Drive

Macworld's Ted Landau says:

"Recently, someone I know called me with a serious problem with his Western Digital My Passport portable external drive. The drive, which was only a month old and had worked perfectly until the fateful day, failed to show up anywhere in any Mac software. It did not mount in the Finder. It did not show up in Disk Utility or other third-party repair utilities. As far as the Mac was concerned, the drive did not exist. This meant there was no way to repair the drive or otherwise attempt to recover data."

"The root cause of the symptom, according to my theory, was a failure of the drive's USB port....

"Assuming I was correct, I came up with what seemed to be a viable solution: Open up the unit's plastic case and remove the connection from the SATA port on the drive to the USB port on the case....

"Unfortunately . . . there was no SATA interface to be found . . . Western Digital had eliminated the SATA interface from these latest Passport drives."

Link: A Surprise Inside a Portable Drive

Shipping Your OWC Order to Canada? OWC Now Includes UPS and FedEx 'Brokerage Fees' in Shipping Costs

PR: Recently, we have received a few inquiries from our Canadian customers regarding shipping, brokers fees, customs & taxes and what is the best course of action for them to take when shipping products to Canada. We have investigated the situation, and have come up with these helpful insights to those affected.

If you choose to have your OWC order shipped via UPS or FedEx, OWC now includes all brokerage fees in our shipping costs to Canada. However, there still may be duty taxes and/or custom fees that would be charged separately by the carrier, on behalf of the Canadian Government, and are usually due upon delivery of your order.

If you choose to send US Postal (First Class, Priority or Express), please remember that for international shipments, First Class can take up to 3+ weeks to arrive. Priority usually takes between a week to a week and a half and Express shipments typically arrive within a week.

As far as tracking your parcel goes, typically USPS First Class is the least expensive option and, as such, does not come with any tracking information. Priority shipments will have a reference number that can sometimes show the major happenings like pick up and delivery. A neat trick that many may not be aware of is that the USPS tracking information can also be tracked using canadapost.com once the parcel has entered Canada!

However, for full and complete tracking information, you probably want to use either USPS Express, UPS or Fed Ex.

Below are some links that should help our Canadian customers make a more informed decision concerning buying and shipping products from OWC:

• Duties, Taxes and Handling Fees
• Canada Border Services Agency Main Page
• Shipping Calculator

Editor's note: This brokerage fee news is huge. I live in Canada and have lost count of how many times I've had my wallet siphoned outrageously on the doorstep - especially by UPS, but also FedEx - with their with a so-called "brokerage fees" for rubber-stamping shipments originating in the US through Canadian customs and collecting Canadian value-added tax and fees. Nothing you can do about taxes, but my central beef is the amount these companies charge for this service, which are outrageous, excessive, and extortionary. Time and time again I've vowed I would never again accept shipments from the US with these extreme and outrageous brokerage charges attached, but realistically, what can you do? When they arrive at your door, you're between a rock and hard place. If you refuse to pay the absurd brokerage charge, the driver will not release the parcel, and it will be shipped back to the sender at his expense. In most cases, the consignee has already had the purchase charged to their credit card and probably will also be facing a 15% restocking fee and a lengthy wait for a refund at best if they refused the parcel. Most grit their teeth and cough up the ransom.

By contrast, Canada Post (which is a freestanding, for-profit Crown corporation and not a public service) charges a modest $5 for clearing US-originating items through customs and collecting the taxes - exactly the same service that the courier services have been hosing their customers many times that amount for, and I'm sure Canada Post makes money on it, since with the NAFTA agreement there are rarely any duties to calculate and process, so it's basically just a matter of collecting the HST or GST percentage and rubber-stamping it through.

Bravo to OWC for proactively addressing this issue. cm

Link: Shipping Your OWC Order to Canada, Eh?!

Death of Film: Last Roll of Kodachrome Processed

Wired's Charlie Sorrel reports:

"What do you know about Dwayne's Photo Service of Parsons, Kansas? It is the place where the very last roll of the Kodachrome was processed.

"Kodachrome, the slide-film that inspired songs, was discontinued by Kodak last year at 74 years of age....

"The last roll was shot by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, who shot the 36 exposures in New York . . . The pictures will be part of a National Geographic piece in the near future...."

Editor's note: Kodachrome may be history, but other negative and transparency films live on, albeit overshadowed by digital technology. For Charles W. Moore's musings on the death of Kodachrome, see An Affectionate Farewell to Kodachrome. dk

Link: Death of Film: Last Roll of Kodachrome Processed

Apple Updates

Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update

Apple has released a Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update for iMac (Mid 2010)

The Mac OS X 10.6.4 Update is recommended for all users of iMac (Mid 2010). This update contains all the applicable fixes from the Mac OS X 10.6.4 Update, plus the following specific fixes for iMac (Mid 2010):

• Resolves compatibility and performance-related graphics issues.
• Improves compatibility with large-format SDXC memory cards.
• Adds support for Magic Trackpad.

File Size: 452.62 MB

System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6.3

Link: About the Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update

Reviews

21.5" 3.06 GHz Core i3 iMac 'an Impressive Performance Improvement'

Macworld's James Galbraith says:

"On Monday, Apple updated its entire line of iMac and Mac Pro systems . . . the new iMacs are in the Macworld Lab right now.

"The first system to finish our testing regime is the new entry-level iMac, a 21.5-inch model with a 3.06 GHz Core i3 processor, and our Speedmark 6 test results show an impressive performance improvement over the system it replaces."

Link: Apple 21.5-inch Core i3 iMac/3.06 GHz

27" Mid 2010 iMac: Don't Bring Your Own SSD

OWC blogger Chris S. says:

"Well, we have good news and bad news for you.

"The good news is that the SSD bay available in the new iMacs holds a standard 2.5" form factor drive, which means you can install a high-performance OWC Mercury Extreme SSD for the speed advantage over Apple's SSDs.

"The bad news is that, unless your Mid 2010 iMac originally came with an Apple SSD, there's no graceful way to install an OWC one. The appropriate mounting bracket and connector cables are nowhere to be found on the non-SSD models.

"This unfortunate development continues Apple's proclivity toward making the iMac's inner workings less accessible than they could (or some may say should) be."

Link: 27" Mid 2010 iMac Disassembled

Mid 2010 Mac mini: Price the Only Obstacle

PC Advisor says:

"Apple has given the casework of its entry-level Mac the full unibody makeover, making the new Apple Mac mini (Mid 2010) the most significant update in the product's history. And revisions to its graphics card plus a new HDMI port will make it even more attractive as the foundation of an efficient media-centre PC

"We always thought the original Mac mini design was an understated marvel. Just two-inches high and seven-inches square, it offered so much more than the new wave of under-aspirated nettop PCs....

"Build quality is, literally, flawless. The selection of raw material quality and final fit-and-finish are so far removed from that of almost any other computer we test, it's hard to equate this as a PC alongside the rattling Windows boxes we see in the lab for our monthly group tests."

"Only the price stands in the way of making this a no-brain recommendation for purchase."

Link: Apple Mac mini (Mid 2010) Review

Products & Services

Apple Introduces NiMH Battery Charger

PR: Introducing the first battery charger designed by Apple. It recharges quickly and uses energy wisely. And it comes with six AA batteries, so you'll always have plenty of power for your wireless Mac accessories.

The Apple Battery Charger has one of the lowest standby power usage values - or "vampire draw" - of similar chargers on the market. That's the energy most chargers continue to draw after their batteries are fully charged. But the Apple Battery Charger senses when its batteries are done charging and automatically reduces the amount of power it needs. In addition, the reusable batteries that come with each Apple Battery Charger are designed to maintain a high charge capacity for hundreds of charges, so you no longer have to buy new batteries or toss them every few months.

Standby Power Usage

After your battery charge cycle is complete, the Apple Battery Charger reduces its power intake to 30 milliwatts that's more than 10 times better than the industry average.

When the Apple Battery Charger recharges your batteries, it not only maximizes battery performance and lifespan, it also conserves energy. Thanks to an intelligent power management system, the Apple Battery Charger uses less power once your batteries are fully charged, making it one of the most energy-efficient rechargeable battery solutions ever. The Apple Battery Charger can recharge one or two batteries at a time. It's optimized for Apple-supplied batteries and it works with AA NiMH batteries from other companies, too.

Each Apple Battery Charger comes with six high-performance AA NiMH batteries: two for your keyboard, two for your mouse or trackpad, and two for charging. Unlike many other reusable batteries, these batteries have an incredibly long service life - up to 10 years - which means you can finally break the cycle of buying and disposing of those single-use alkaline batteries. The batteries that come with the Apple Battery Charger kit also have an extraordinarily low self-discharge rate. Even after a year of sitting in a drawer, they still retain 80% of their original charge. That way you always have backup power when you need it.

The Apple Battery Charger has a sleek, compact shape so you can plug it in between tangles of desk wires or pack it neatly in your computer bag when you travel. And like Apple power adapters, the Apple Battery Charger is designed with a removable AC plug, so you can replace it with plugs that fit different outlets around the world.

In the box:

• Wall outlet charger
• Six rechargeable AA NiMH batteries

The Apple Battery Charger sells for $29

Link: Apple Battery Charger

Return of the Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse

PR: In response to overwhelming market demand for ergonomic mousing devices, the Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse is back, and better than ever.

Goldtouch "Productivity through Prevention" announces the release of the Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse, adding to the award winning product portfolio of ergonomic keyboards, keypads and accessories. The new mouse is scheduled to ship on August 1st and will be available in right-handed, left-handed, and a right-handed Bluetooth wireless model. The mouse will support all popular operating systems including Macintosh, Windows, and Linux, and will be available through over 100 global resellers and distribution partners. With an MSRP price of $69 for USB models, and $89. for Bluetooth models, the mouse is positioned to mainstream ergonomic mousing at a very competitive price.

Goldtouch designed its first ergonomic mouse in 1995. The design was awarded numerous patents for its unique, sloping-angle design. The mouse was discontinued in 2005, however many are still in use today. Since then, Goldtouch has grown substantially, adding many new products such as the Goldtouch Go! Travel Keyboard and the Go! Travel Notebook Stand. In early 2010, Goldtouch began to redesign its' mouse, increasing the overall size of the mouse, while adhering to the shape and patented sloping-angle originally designed by and approved by professional ergonomists.

The new Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse not only feels good, but it looks good as well. "We've incorporated softer materials to add control to the thumb area and buttons, and we've designed a modern silver and black color scheme that we think users are going to find very attractive," explains Mark Norwalk, Goldtouch CEO.

Considering that the average office worker can spend 4-6 hours per day performing data entry of some kind, it's well known and accepted that the mouse and mousing platform are extremely important to user comfort. Users of all ages are susceptible to Repetitive Stress Injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which is why it's absolutely necessary to maintain a natural wrist position and relieve stress on sensitive pressure points.

The Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse will help thousands of users suffering from wrist and arm injuries, and it will help thousands more prevent RSI injuries from occurring.

What's New

The new Goldtouch Mouse is based on the shape of the original Goldtouch Mouse, leveraging the same patented slope angles specified by ergonomists and health safety professionals.

Primary changes in design:

• Overall size increase by approximately 10% in length, width and height
• Replaced the thumb-scroll with a scroll wheel on top of the mouse
• Rubberized, concave thumb area added to increase mouse control, and to support undersized and oversized hands and fingers
• Optical tracking system to increase mouse accuracy
• USB

Ergonomic Design

Ergonomic design supports the hand in a naturally sloping angle that places the wrist in a neutral position.

There is no need to adapt to a radically new mouse orientation to gain ergonomic benefits. Unlike mice and joysticks that require a completely vertical orientation of the hand, the Goldtouch Ergonomic mouse positions the hand and wrist in a naturally sloping angle. The user is immediately oriented to the shape and angle of the mouse, and is therefore, immediately productive.

• Supports a more neutral wrist angle of 24 degrees sloping downward to the right
• Alleviates muscle fatigue and discomfort caused by pronation of the wrist.
• As a preventative measure, the Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse has offers health benefits to the user. Users are less likely to acquire an RSI caused by the repetitive motion of every day mousing.
• As a therapeutic measure, this mouse greatly reduces wrist pronation. This is essential for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as other repetitive stress injuries to the wrist and elbow.
• The patented forward and lateral sloping angle design reduces stress on pressure points in the wrist, and provides natural contours to support the fingers.
• Increased height reduces the constant pressure on the wrist (carpals) where the base of the wrist rests against the mousing surfaces.
• Oversized buttons allow for the fingers to activate (press) without bending the fingers at the ineterphalangeal joints reduces and alleviates arthritic discomfort.
• The scroll wheel is placed forward on the mouse to minimize bending of the interphalangeal joints and provide more comfortable scrolling.
• An oversized thumb cushion helps maintain a comfortable grip for hands of every size.
• Design elements of the thumb-side of the mouse are tailored to greatly reduce stress on the thumb joints in response to increasing cases of RSI related to improper and overuse of the thumb while texting and emailing from mobile phones, BlackBerrys and PDAs.
• Concave and oversized, users may find a comfortable position for mousing
  • Forward placement for shorter fingers
  • Rear placement for longer fingers
• Rubber inlay proves increase grip without increasing the pressure applied by the thumb

Design elements of the front of the mouse are tailored to support the natural curvature of the fingers in a relaxed state.

The front of the mouse and the buttons slope downward and slightly outward to follow the natural contours of the fingers while at rest. The fingers rest naturally, minimizing the effort of extensor muscles of the hand.

Oversized buttons provide the maximum surface area to evenly distribute the workforce required for clicking.

The forward placement of the scroll wheel minimizes the effort, bending, and movement of the fingers.

Design elements of the top of the mouse are tailored to support the hand, wrist, and forearm in a natural position, minimizing pronation and supporting the hand in natural, at-rest position.

The patented, sloping design elevates the thumb and declines at a 24 degree angle toward the little finger.

The angle of slope increases from the palm area of the mouse toward the fingers, contouring to the natural shape of the hand and fingers at rest, while providing even support throughout the palm.

Specifications:

• 1000 DPI optical resolution
• USB 2.0 cable length 5 4
• Dimensions
  • Length 114 mm
  • Width 80 mm
  • Height 52 mm at the thumb, 30 mm at the small finger
• Weight 145 grams

Supported Platforms

The Goldtouch Ergonomic Mouse supports Mac, Windows PC, various flavors of LINUX, and Unix without requiring 3rd party drivers. 3 buttons support left and right click with center wheel click to activate scroll function on PC and middle click on LINUX/Unix. 1 to 3 button support for Mac as supported by the OS version.

• Mac OS X 10.4 and later
• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7
• Linux
• Unix

Regular Price: $69

Special Introductory Price: $59

Link: Goldtouch Ergonomic Mice

ColorWare Colorizes New Mac mini

PR: The new Mac mini fits almost anywhere in your home or office, and has the features, power and speed you need for most computing tasks. The most energy-efficient desktop computer now offers faster graphics and a sleek unibody design. With so many features, doesn't your computer deserve more than one color option? Now you can personalize your mini with ColorWare's range of custom colors to help match your office, your home decor, or simply your favorite colors. ColorWare offers a wide array of colors and finishes to set your Mac mini apart from the rest.

The ColorWare design studio is easy to use, and can help you find the perfect color combination for your mini. Whichever way you want to view your product, from photos and videos to interactive 360 images, there's an option for you. Choose your custom color for your Mac mini, you can also specify glossy or matte finish, and a selection of solid, metallic, or pearl finishes are available.

ColorWare purchase options include:

• Buy New: ColorWare takes a brand new product, applies the coloring process to it, and then sends it to you.
• Send In: You send a product you already own into ColorWare, ColorWare applies the coloring process, and then sends it back to you.
• Parts Only: ColorWare applies the coloring process to parts for your product, sends it to you, and then you install the parts on your product.

Sample prices include $250 for colorizing your own Mac mini. New colorized minis are available from ColorWare ranging in price from $1,000 (SuperDrive model) to $1,300 (twin-hard-drive server model).

The biggest factor in the price differences are the warranties offered with each option. All new purchases from ColorWare's site carry a one year parts and labor warranty that stands in place of the original manufacturer warranty. For colorizations, where you send your product to ColorWare who will include thirty days of parts coverage and one year of free labor. Note that the colorization process will likely void the original manufacturer warranty.

Link: ColorWare Mac mini Design Studio

OWC Multi-Mount for Adding 2.5" Drives to 3.5" Bays and 3.5" Drives to 5.25" Bays

PR: Multi-Mount is a complete hardware solution for custom tailoring internal storage to meet individual needs Install the hard drives you want, where you want them.

The OWC Multi-Mount allows you the freedom to install up to two additional hard drives and/or SSDs into larger drive bays in order to meet your data storage and backup needs. Install a 2 TB hard drive in your optical drive bay, laptop hard drive in in your full size drive bay, or two solid state drives in your optical drive bay. Check out all our bundle options below each complete with the necessary mounts, screws, cables and installation instructions.

Designed to keep drives cool.

Consisting of heat dissipating aircraft grade aluminum brackets, the OWC Multi-Mount's "open air" design provides maximum air flow to keep various combinations of 2.5" and 3.5" attached drives running cool.

Designed To Keep Drives Quiet

By employing unique hard rubber dampeners to cushion the contact between drives and the computer case, the OWC Multi-Mount reduces vibration and noise transferred through the case by mechanical hard drives. Additionally, this "floating rubber suspension" protects drives from impact shocks delivered to the case as well as potentially extending hard drive use life by reducing vibrations that can cause hard drive failure.

Compatible with Mac Pro, PowerMac G5, PowerMac G4 "Mirrored Drive Doors" or desktop PC with an available 3.5" or 5.25" drive bay.

Link: OWC Multi-Mount

OWC Announces iMac (Mid 2010) Memory Upgrades to 16 GB

PR: Other World Computing (OWC) announced today the immediate availability of OWC PC3-10600 DDR3 1333 MHz Memory Upgrade Kits up to 16 GB for the new Mid 2010 iMac models introduced by Apple yesterday. OWC Memory Upgrade Kits offer all 2010 iMac owners the advantages of upgrade options not available from the factory, savings up to 50% compared to same size factory installed options, and quality assurance from a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty and Money Back Guarantee.

OWC Memory Upgrade Kits up to 16 GB for the new iMac 21.5" 3.06 GHz, 3.20 GHz, and 3.6 GHz i3; iMac 27" 3.20 GHz i3, 3.6 GHz i5 (Dual-Core), iMac 27" 2.8 GHz i5, 2.93 GHz i7 (Quad-Core) models:

• OWC 4 GB DDR3 Memory Kit (2 x 2 GB matched memory modules) - $117.99
  Add to factory installed 4 GB RAM for 8 GB total RAM, upgrade not offered as a factory option.
• OWC 8 GB DDR3 Memory Kit (2 x 4 GB matched memory modules) - $279.99
  Add to factory installed 4 GB RAM for 12 GB total RAM, upgrade not offered as a factory option.
  Compared to $400 factory 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) upgrade, OWC 8 GB upgrade delivers 50% more RAM for 30% lower cost
• OWC 16 GB DDR3 Memory Kit (4 x 4 GB matched memory modules) - $549.99
  45% lower cost than factory 16 GB option, save an additional 5% with factory module trade in rebate

Certified Compatible Plus Additional Savings Available

OWC Memory Upgrades are fully tested and certified to meet, if not surpass, all Apple memory design and compatibility specifications and come backed by a Lifetime Replacement Warranty. Additional money savings versus factory options are available for customers who take advantage of OWC's memory trade-in rebate program, which offers up to $50 cash back for Apple factory iMac memory modules. For more information on OWC's rebate program, visit: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/trade-in-rebate

Free How-To Videos for Easy Installation

OWC's extensive online library of video installation guides make adding memory, drives, and other upgrades a breeze by providing step-by-step instructions that explain in detail the upgrade process from start to finish. These videos, available for free viewing via OWC's website, are available for nearly every Apple Mac mini, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, PowerMac, and PowerBook model made. To view OWC's free, step-by-step installation videos, visit: https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/

Link: Memory Upgrades for Apple iMac

Memory for New iMacs from Trans International

PR: Trans International, a Company known for maximizing Macs, today announced the worldwide availability of up to 16 GB Memory Upgrade Kit [4 x 4 GB] PC-3 10600 DDR3 1333 MHz SO-DIMMS for the newly released Apple iMacs [July2010].

TransIntl.com memory modules conform to Apple's stringent electrical and mechanical design guide lines and carry a Lifetime replacement Warranty. Trade in your Apple iMac factory memory, 4 GB Kit (2 x 2 GB) for $52.00

transintl.com offers

• 16 GB Kit [4 x 4 GB]: 488
• 8 GB Kit [2 x 4 GB]: 248
• 4 GB Kit [2 x 2 GB]: 108

Link: Memory for iMacs

Multi-View Computer Reading Glasses Announces New Styles Available Online

PR: Consumers don't have to strain their eyes looking at text or a computer screen or pay high prices for specialty glasses. Multi-View, manufacturer and retailer of computer reading glasses, with one power for text and a different power for the computer screen is now offering 29 styles of glasses and custom prescriptions to help consumers see more clearly without the constant eye strain or a stiff and sore neck.

Glasses can be expensive, even more so when needed to accommodate vision for both printed text and a computer screen. Multi-View is offering a solution with new styles of computer reading glasses for men and women.

Multi-View glasses have power on the bottom of the lens for reading printed text and a different power on top that corrects vision when looking at a computer. A nice added feature is no visible lines. Valued at $275 to $350 traditional retail, computer reading glasses from Multi-View start at $89.95. Multi-View uses only Ophthalmic quality frames, most with spring hinges and CR-39 or Polycarbonate, Ophthalmic quality materials for lenses. Customers can also order features like sun tints with UV Protection for reading outdoors, computer tints and antireflective coatings to eliminate the bright glare from their computer monitor. Multi-View will fill custom prescriptions for reading glasses online as well. Prescriptions can be faxed or emailed. Now, consumers have even more options with new styles to choose from. They've just added very light weight but extremely durable Titanium frames to the product line.

Multi-View manufactures glasses for reading. Husband and wife team, John and Linda Catania, both licensed opticians, make the glasses per the online order out of their lab in Denver, Co. "All glasses are made right the first time by licensed opticians," explains Linda Catania, owner. "It makes a difference."

She further explains how a particular lens power may work well for reading, does not always perform for other conditions, such as a looking at a computer. The lens power has to be altered because it is a different focal point. An Eye Chart located on the website will help customers choose the correct power to order. Customers simply need to order the power they use for reading and Multi-View will adjust the power on top needed for their computer monitor.

"We are the originators of ready-made discount computer reading glasses, they started out designed for use while looking at a computer, but our customers said that they found comfort when using them for other things like cooking, playing the piano, painting, playing cards and many more hobbies." continues Catania. "Our high quality and affordable pricing helps many hard working Americans improve their visual comfort through their long day."

With new styles now available, consumers can wear these quality inexpensive computer reading glasses that feel and look great. Multi-View also offers stylish accessories such as cases, cords, gift boxes and gift bags. And for those that use contacts, fancy lens cases are also offered. Other merchandise available on the site includes sunglasses and reading lamps.

"We want to help people see more clearly. Our glasses have been shown to decrease headaches and tension associated with eye strain. And because you can see clearly, you'll be happier too," adds Catania.

Editor's note: For more on this topic, see Charles Moore's You Have to Be Able to See the Screen: Buying Prescription Specs Online. dk

Link: Multi-View

Software

Fraise Free Text Editor for Snow Leopard

PR: Fraise is a free text editor for Mac OS X Leopard 10.6 which is pitched as being both easy to use and powerful - designed to neither confuse newcomers nor disappoint advanced users.

Fraise (French for strawberry) displays all open documents in a list with Quick Look icons to your left similar to iTunes so you can easily switch between many documents. you can also choose to display documents as tabs if you prefer .

Features include Snippets &; Commands to quickly access funcionalities and text you use often. Fully customizable syntax coloration system. Find and replace text quickly and easily in all your documents.

Link: Fraise

MailForge Eudora-Like Email Client Updated

PR: New in version 2.0.3:

Mailbox Sorting:

• Option-Click any field to group emails by that criteria

Export:

• Added ability to save an email as a standards compliant email, or as a clean text file (File > Save As &)
• Fixes/Enhancements

Import:

• Fixed issue that could cause Filters to not be imported at all (*)(*)
• Fixed issue that could cause Filters to not be imported at all (*)(*)
• Fixed issue that could cause blank emails to be imported
• MailForge no longer insists the folder it imports from be named "Eudora Folder"

Mailbox Display:

• Improved speed when navigating emails via Message Window
• Fixed the View Emails / View Names functionality

Sorting:

• Improved performance when sorting mailboxes

Export:

• Added descriptive headers when saving email as text

Junk:

• MailForge now launches SpamSieve on open when integrating with SpamSieve
• Fixed bug that could cause emails to not be sent to SpamSieve for analysis

Since MailForge does not (as yet) support all the filtering options that Eudora did, some filters may still be imported with no direct correlation to a MailForge filter action.

Link: MailForge

Get AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac Utility for Free - Special, Limited Time Offer

PR: AnyBizSoft, a division of Wondershare focused on PDF conversion solutions, today launched their second large-scale Giveaway on AnyBizSoft's Facebook. This time AnyBizSoft is giving away licenses for their hot-selling AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac for free. This exclusive and time-limited giveaway for AnyBizSoft's fans runs from July 26 to August 8, 2010. Anyone who is already a fan or clicks the Like button on AnyBiz's Facebook site to become a fan can get a PDF to Word for Mac license, which is worth $39.95, for free.

AnyBizSoft ran their first giveaway of PDF to Word Converter 3.0.0 for Windows on their Facebook page from June 6, 2010, and everyone can still go grab a free license of it now as well.

"There are more than 14 thousand of users from all over the world became as our fans and grabbed their free licenses of AnyBizSoft PDF to Word Converter 3.0.0 on our Facebook says Mr. Wu Taibing, Wondershare's CEO. "However, Mac users were so envious to see Windows users benefiting from our free offer, and they expressed their expectation of a free license of the Mac version. That is why we launch the second giveaway on our Facebook this time"

How to Get AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac for Free

The giveaway is exclusive for AnyBizSoft's fans on their Facebook page, so anyone who wants to grab a license for free is recommended to visit AnyBizSoft's Facebook page and click the Like button to become a fan, then fill in your name and email address to get a license for free. Please note that the free license is only for personal usages.

Key Features of AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac

1. Support conversion of restrictions encrypted PDF files directly, and password protected ones by entering password
2. Two Conversion Modes: Batch (up to 50 files at once), Partial (by selecting individual pages) and Right-click conversion modes<
3. Preserves text, tables, images and hyperlinks individually in generated Word files as original layouts

Also see Charles Moore's recent Applelinks review of AnyBizSoft PDF Converter and PDF to Word for Mac.

Link: AnyBizSoft PDF to Word for Mac
Link: Facebook Page

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