15″ MacBook Pro Battery Exchange

Apple has initiated a worldwide battery exchange program for certain rechargeable batteries that were sold for use with 15-inch MacBook Pro computer systems from February 2006 through May 2006.

We recently discovered that some 15-inch MacBook Pro batteries supplied to Apple do not meet our high standards for battery performance. To give our users the best experience possible, we will replace these batteries for customers free of charge.

Note: The affected batteries do not pose a safety risk. You may continue to use your current battery until a replacement arrives. Learn more.

technorati tags:Apple, MacBook Pro

The Latest on the French Connection

Apple gets reprieve from French DRM-busting law

France’s controversial copyright law is dealt a major setback as sections are ruled unconstitutional.

technorati tags:Apple, iTunes, DRM

Flip4Mac Goes Universal!

Universal Flip4Mac coming soon (Today!)

Filed under: Software, Universal Binary

People who want to play Windows Media files on their Intel Macs can rejoice, eventually. That’s right, Telestream, the makers of the very cool Flip4Mac which enables Quicktime to play Windows Media files, have posted a note on their website. It basically says that they are working on a Universal Binary and they hope to release it within the next few weeks.

Update: The real story here is that the Universal version of Flip4Mac (2.1) is available from Microsoft right now. Go forth and download. Thanks, Andy!

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Microsoft Confirms Portable Music Player

Microsoft Zune to Battle iTunes/iPod

Microsoft today confirmed the existence of a new portable music player and integrated service called Zune. Launch is scheduled for launch some time this year.

Zune is clearly aimed at Apple’s iTunes/iPod dominance. In an interview with Billboard, Chris Stephenson, Microsoft’s new GM of marketing for MSN Entertainment Business, said Zune will be an umbrella brand for what he says is “a family of hardware and software products” targeting various digital entertainment services.

It’s an ambitious project that some critics are already saying goes too far outside Microsoft’s core strengths and could end up joining other media projects on the junk heap of tech history. Perhaps after seeing how successful Robert Scoble was in making Microsoft lovable again, two company employees working on Zune are also blogging about the project. Cesar Menendez is writing ZuneInsider.com, just launched today, and Richard Winn is writing blog called Madison and Pine. The company has also set up a site to collect emails for further information at ComingZune.com.

It will be interesting to see if the company can take a position of real innovation or whether Zune will just be a case of playing catch up – at the risk of feature overload.

Microsoft, Zune

technorati tags:iPod, Microsoft, Music

TUAW Tip: shortcuts for display, audio and keyboard preferences

From the TUAW: this is just too cool. I did NOT know this. Did you? -TG

This simple tip was actually sent to us by TUAW reader Zoli Honig. It works on my MacBook Pro, and I assume other portables: if you hold the option key while pressing any of the F-key shortcuts for display brightness, keyboard brightness or audio volume settings, System Preferences will open and take you straight to the relevant preference pane. I don’t know if this is Mac OS X Tiger only, and I don’t have desktop machine to test with, so if you’re still on Panther or using some kind of desktop Mac, feel free to share whether this tip works on your machines in the comments.

TUAW Tip: shortcuts for display, audio and keyboard preferences – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW):

Gates: 80 pct. chance Vista ready in January

Sorry I’m a little late on this one. -TG

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said Tuesday there was an 80 percent chance the company’s next-generation operating system, Vista, would be ready in January.

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However, Gates said at a presentation in Cape Town to Microsoft software partners that he would delay the launch if beta testing uncovered shortcomings.

Gates: 80 pct. chance Vista ready in Jan – Yahoo! News:

SuperDuper! 2.1.3 backup utility released

If you don’t already have a backup scheme (using Apple’s Backup software, for instance) you REALLY SHOULD START NOW! This utility is one of the simplest and best. -TG

July 13, 2006 – 11:17 EDT Shirt Pocket today announced the availability of SuperDuper! 2.1.3, the latest release of the company’s fully bootable backup utility. Version 2.1.3 improves many aspects of the award winning application, and adds the ability to control ACL copying for the more advanced user. SuperDuper! 2.1.3 supports both Intel and Power PC Macs running Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, and is priced at US$27.95
SuperDuper! 2.1.3 backup utility released | MacMinute News:

Why Microsoft should fear Intel Macs

Posted on itwire: -TG

There has been much talk about the threat that Apple Macintosh computers now pose to Windows PCs – or should we say Windows only PCs. Make no mistake, the talk is well justified, as recent market research shows. However, what hasn’t been talked about as much is the very real threat that Macs now pose to the Windows operating system itself.

Stories about Apple’s Boot Camp software and vitualization software from US startup Parallels, both of which allows Windows and Mac OSX to coexist on new Mac desktops and notebooks are already sending shivers through the collective spines Windows PC vendors. The new Macs are well priced, well made and now present an attractive alternative to the one dimensional PCs in the marketplace.

iTWire – Why Microsoft should fear Intel Macs:

Technorati Tags: Apple, Macintosh

Mariner Software Special Offer

I received the following from the good folks at Mariner Software. -TG

Once every year or so, we put together a bundle with another

developer that makes us step back and say, “wow!” This year we have
partnered with our friends over at Intego and bundled two
award-winning (and Universal Binary) suites:

The MarinerPak and Internet Security Barrier X4. Here’s what you get…

MarinerPak

Mariner Calc – Macintosh OS X Spreadsheet
Turn data into information with powerful tools to analyze,
communicate, and share results. Reads Microsoft Excel files. 140
built-in functions and charts. Apple’s iWork compatible.
[Read More]

Mariner Write – Macintosh OS X Word Processor
Boasting an elegant interface, as well as hundreds of intuitive
features such as the
ability to read Microsoft Word documents and customizable headers,
footers, endnotes,
and footnotes, you will require little need for the documentation.
[Read More]

Internet Security Barrier X4

NetBarrier X4 – Macintosh OS X Internet Security
Protect your computer from intrusions by constantly filtering all the
activity that enters and leaves through the Internet or a network.
Intego NetBarrier X4 protects you from thieves, hackers and intruders,
and warns you automatically if any suspicious activity occurs.
[Read More]

VirusBarrier X4 – Macintosh OS X Anti-Virus Security
Protect yourself against viruses of all types that come from infected
files or applications, whether on CD-ROMs, DVDs, other removable
media, or on files downloaded over the Internet, consider yourself
protected.
[Read More]

Personal Backup X4 – Macintosh OS X Personal Back-Up
Backup, synchronize, restore, and clone functions that allow users to
back up and restore
data manually or automatically, synchronize data between two
computers, such as a
desktop and laptop, and clone a Mac OS X startup volume, providing a bootable
backup at all times.
[Read More]

Thanks for your interest in our products.

Best Regards,

Logan Ryan
Director of Marketing
Mariner Software

Place your order before July 16 and receive five award winning
productivity and security applications
bundled together for one incredible price!

Technorati Tags: Macintosh, Apple, Software

Nike, Apple to launch Nike+iPod sport kit on Thursday

July 12, 2006 – 21:28 EDT Nike today said it plans to launch the Nike+iPod sport kit, the first product developed through its partnership with Apple. “The Nike+iPod sport kit allows Nike+ ready footwear to communicate with Apple’s iPod nano through a sensor in the Nike+ footwear and a receiver plugged into the nano. The sport kit allows the runner to receive audible updates on speed, distance and calories burned upon request throughout the run, Nike said. The kit will be available through Apple and Nike stores starting on Thursday.”

Nike, Apple to launch Nike+iPod sport kit on Thursday | MacMinute News: