Granite Digital has shipped its SATA Dual Drive Internal Mounting kits for the Power Mac G5. The kits provide Power Mac G5 users a compact, affordable storage solution that is "simple, quick and easy" to install. Using the simple to install bracket and cables provided in the kit adding two drives takes only a few minutes.

The SATA Double Drive Bracket (included in the kit) can accomodate two standard 3.5-inch SATA (ATA 5 or ATA 6) drives with data transfer rates of up to 300MB/s.

Its unique aluminum bracket design works with older PCI-based and newer PCIe-based G5s using different SATA host adapters. The bracket is $50, while the kit retails for $100 and includes a SATA PCI or PCI-e two-channel host adapter, two internal SATA data cables, SATA power cable, and an aluminum mounting bracket (with screws).

Additional drives are $99.95(160GB), $159.95 (250GB), $399.95 (500GB), and $599.95 (750GB). The SATA Dual-Drive Mount kit for the Power Mac G5 kit is available at the Apple Store comes with a one year warranty.

When the infamous MacBook Pro was released to the masses back at the start of the year, it was housed in a very fetching aluminium case, gained somewhat from its predecessor. When the MacBook was released recently, that too supported a 'newish' case, which gained popularity thanks to its slimline appearance, and its choice of white and black. We have now learned that the new release of the PowerMac will be housed within a newly designed case.

The new case will be different enough to allow instant distinction between the PowerPC and Intel Core Duo variants. Together with the cases, there will be a few choices on which processors to adopt. The new Intel Core Duo will be available for the PowerMac with 2 chips, A.K.A. Quad-core platform. It is not known whether the PowerMac will adopt the soon-to-be released Core Duo 2 chip, codenamed Conroe. The mobile variant is not expected till Fall.

The MacBook Pro will also have a new case for its range. However rumour has it that this will not be released till the system adopts the Intel Core Duo 2 chip, codenamed Merom. We would hope that issues are fixed in the new case release including heat expulsion.

A plug and play internal Bluetooth upgrade is now available for PowerMac G5,  PowerMac G4 and iMac G4 systems. The chip adds Bluetooth connectivity between Macs and a wide range of Bluetooth-enabled devices such as PDAs, cellphones, cameras, headsets, printers, keyboards and mice.     

It's very easy to install as the Bluetooth module fits directly into the Mac's main logic board, attaching to the built-in Apple antenna.

It's now available for $25.95 and comes with 1-year warranty.

Compatibility:

PowerMac G4 (FW 800)
PowerMac G5
PowerMac G5 (June 2004)
PowerMac G5 (Late 2004)
iMac G4 (17-inch Flat Panel, 1 GHz)
iMac G4 (USB 2.0)

Stories similar to this one have been appearing all over the 'Net, recently:

"We have six G5Â?s all ranging from Dual 1.8Â?s to a Quad G5. Came in to work today and my computer, a Dual 2.5, wouldnÂ?t turn on. It would click on for about a third of a second and turn back off. Thought the power supply went on it. It was only a year and a half old. Disconnected everything and put it on the floor to try a different plug. I tipped the machine up to show a co-worker when another co-worker spotted liquid coming from the rear of the computer. NO WAY!! It was fine on Friday and untouched all weekend.Â?

Is Apple's much-touted liquid-cooling system defective?

The bad news appears to be yes - but the good news is that only a very few machines of a specific model seem to be affected. Apparently, the first 2.5 Ghz G5 models shipped with a Delphi radiator that had design problems. Apple seems to have been aware of the problem, because they delayed shipment for three months after the introduction of the new machine. Unfortunately, some units of the 2.5 Ghz models "slipped through the cracks."

If you have one of the first of this particular model, you first purchase an AppleCare policy immediately, as this repair could easily run $1,000 if your machine is out of warranty. Next, remove the side metal panel and inspect the bottom of the housing periodically. If you see something that looks like anti-freeze, use rubber gloves to clean (the fluid is HIGHLY toxic) and get your machine serviced immediately.

Just think of it as the notes you stick on your fridge, like your to-do list, message left for someone or just a little love note for your wife or husband before you leave for work. Take all that and put it on your desktop. iSticky is a full-featured memo assistant that allows you to stick little notes on your and other people's desktop. This is made possible by Apple's Bonjour technique.

If you have all your computers and smart devices hooked up via LAN then you can start using iSticky. Sending your notes via internet with other iSticky users is made possible by creating a free account on your iStickyServer.

If you're wondering how different it is from an email, well, makers Insist says: Notes are notes, mail is mail. Short messages and reminders should be written in notes, not in emails.

You also have the option to SMS notes to a mobile phone and the credits will be added to your iStickyServer account. Archive every note you want to keep with its unlimited searchable archive to store your notes in. Give some character to your notes with the default themes that come with the pack. But it also provides a lot options for making your own themes, so get crazy and creative with it. I'm an obsessive compulsive so I truly appreciate this feature of creating as many categories as you want to keep things organized.

Apart from that, you can choose which layers you want to be visible and specify where exactly in your desktop you'd want the note to appear having notes of the same category kept together. Simply drop a document on a note and the link is made. Every time you select that file in the Finder, the note will come to the front after the amount of time you specify. Setting an alarm to your note eliminates the chance of you forgetting to get some milk ever again. Secure your notes by encrypting your data with 128 bit AES encryption.

There have been rumors about Apple possibly offering upgraded versions of its Intel-driven Macs which will come with Intel's forthcoming Conroe (Core 2 Duo CPU).

Back in 2005, Apple announced that it was planning to switch back to using Intel's portable CPUs (the Core Duo and Core Solo). Fortunately for the company, its machines turned out to be faster than its G4- or G5-powered predecessors.

Some or all of the Intel-driven Macs will be upgraded with the even faster Merom (Cor 2 Duo) portable CPUs that will arrive later this year. But it's still unknown as to when exactly Apple will be upgrading its desktop Power Macs with Intel's CPUs, though many people are betting that if the company decides to do this upgrade, the announcement will be made during the 2006 Worldwide Developers Conference which has been rescheduled to take place August 7 to 11.

At the opening of this event where Intel CEO Paul Otellini will be one of the keynote speakers, the expected speech from Intel will include the announcement that Conroe-powered top-end desktops will be available immediately. Details about the arrival of the faster desktop Macs, Conroe Extreme CPU-powered servers and two or more dual-core Intel Woodcrest CPUs will be revealed.

DivX released its famous codec for the Mac. Almost universally found in PCs, DivX for Mac 6.5 is the first Mac version officially released by the company.

DivX is a codec (compression/ decompression) software that crunches video from virtually any source to a size that is easy to transport over the Internet. But despite the significant reduction in file size, the original video's quality remains unchanged. The software's video compression power is so efficient it can fit the entire contents of a DVD on a regular data CD.

If you've never used a DivX before, trust us it's not complicated. The DivX for Mac 6.5 lets you convert your videos to DivX by the fool-proof drag-and-drop method. Simply drag the file to the DivX Converter and clck on the Convert button.  That's all there is to it.  The DivX for Mac download includes:

• DivX Player 1.0.1
• DivX Community Codec 6.2.2
• DDivX Community Codec 6.2.2

DivX for Mac 6.5 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and QuickTime 6 or later. The Pro Version costs $19.99 which is a good deal if you ask us.

For older machines using older Macintosh operating systems, you can use the DivX 5.2.1. DivX 5.2.1 for Mac works with Mac OS 10.2.6 to 10.3.9. However, DivX 5.2.1 is not compatible with Mac OS 10.4 or QuickTime 7. DivX 5.2.1 for Mac includes an mp3 encoder and also costs $19.99.

As we've already reported, a total of 5 flaws have been discovered in Mac OS X, however according to the security expert who discovered them, there is a total of 7. A security researcher by the name of Tom Ferris, who works for Mission Viejo, California, discovered a total of 7 'Highly Critical' flaws in Mac OS X, namely in Safari browser. The operating system thought to be one of the best when it comes to security, has been probed and a series of flaws which have multiple effects have been discovered. To prove his discovery, on his site he has posted some proof of concept codes. The flaws at the moment could be used to crash applications and even run unauthorized code by taking advantages of bugs in Safari and the Mac OS X operating system.

Apple Computer Inc. has already been made aware of the bugs and plans to fix them in "the next security release," Ferris said, "There [seem] to be some problems with the claimed solid-as-a-rock Unix OS." Since the label of being more secure than Windows OS's, Mac OS X has been tested, probed, and ripped apart by researchers such as Ferris in order to discover and publicise the weaknesses. In February a series of programs with malicious intent were released in targeting Mac's, one named OSX/Leap. The SANS Instituter's Internet Storm Center rated the revealings as "Highly Critical" and that there were no patches to solve most of them. Apple have not yet commented on the bugs.

When you purchase a new Macintosh system at any Apple store or at there online store you will receive free shipping and free environmentally friendly disposal of your old computer. Apple was named a one of the top ten environmentally progressive companies earlier this week by the Sierra club and its investment advisor, Forward Management. Apples has recycled more than 90% of electronic equipment since 2001 and are hoping that this new free take back program will heighten those numbers.

Â?Apple is committed to supporting our customers and protecting the environment throughout the entire product life cycle, from purchase through to retirement,Â? said Philip Schiller, AppleÂ?s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. Â?Now we are making it even easier for AppleÂ?s customers to safely and affordably recycle their used computers and iPods.Â?

 

Apples iPod 5th generation, iPod nano and iPod shuffle are 100% compliant and way ahead of schedule for upcoming restrictions of hazardous substance (RoHS) in California and Europe which is the new global standard for environmental regulations which is due July 1st. Apple has also exceeded the Energy Star efficiency requirements for California for its iPod power adapter the regulations are to take effect July 1 2008.

Well after a day full of events, all due to the release of the Boot Camp software which allows users to run XP on Intel Macs, it seems that one faithful individual by the name Speedeye has gone about taking pictures for us to gaze at showing the processes that Boot Camp takes you through. The screens were all sourced from Flickr, and we've compiled about 10 of our favorite screens from the 34 for you to have a look at. They all show an individual step in the process, from creating partitions to actually running Windows Update in XP. Enjoy.